Original Ones Research Articles

Robust subspace tracking algorithms using fast adaptive Mahalanobis distance

We consider the problem of robust subspace tracking (RST) in burst noise which appears in some applications in array signal processing and wireless communication. Our approach is based on robust adaptive covariance matrix, thus avoiding parameter fine-tuning in existing methods in the literature. However, this involves the estimation of the Mahalanobis distance, which has a quadratic computational complexity. We propose a novel algorithm to efficiently estimate the adaptive Mahalanobis distance, with linear complexity thanks to exploiting noise characteristics and the data structure. This approach can be used to robustify many existing RST algorithms. Particularly, in this paper, based on two efficient but non-robust algorithms, called YAST and LORAF, we propose their robust counterparts – RYAST and ROBUSTQR –, robust to burst noise while having the same complexity order as that of the original ones. We illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed RST algorithms by comparing them to the state-of-the-art in different scenarios.

Evolution of rotations of a spheroid with cavity containing a viscous fluid in a resistive medium

The problems of the dynamics of rigid bodies with the fluid containing cavities are classical problems of mechanics. The interest to the problems of rotations of rigid bodies with the fluid-containing cavities increased with the development of the rocket and space technology. There is a necessity to study the problems of the dynamics of bodies with cavities containing a viscous fluid, to calculate the motion of spacecraft about the its center of mass, as well as their orientation and stabilization. The torques of forces of viscous fluid in cavity, acting on the body, are often relatively small and can be considered as perturbations. It is natural to use the methods of small parameter to analyze the dynamics of rigid body under the action of applied torques. The method applied in this paper is the Krylov--Bogoliubov asymptotic averaging method. The paper develops on approximate solution by means of averaging method to the system of Euler's equations with additional perturbation terms for a spheroid filled with a viscous fluid in a resistive medium. The numerical integration of the averaged system of equations is conducted for the body motion. The graphical presentations of the solutions are represented and discussed. The main objective of this paper is to extend the previous results for the problem of motion about a center of mass of a spheroid with a cavity filled with a fluid of high viscosity (in the absence of resistive medium). Evolution of perturbed Euler--Poinsot motion under the influence of small internal and external torques is studied. We present new qualitative and quantitative results of investigations of motion in a resistive medium of a nearly dynamically spherical rigid body with a cavity containing viscous fluid with small Reynolds number. We received the system of motion equations in standard form, which refined in square approximation by small parameter. The averaging method was applied to the nonlinear system equation of rotational motion. In this paper we present the input equations of motion, conduct an averaging procedure and receive the averaged equations which, being simpler than the original ones, describe the motion over the large time interval. We establish qualitative and quantitative properties of motion and provide a description of the evolution of the body motion. Results summed up in this paper make it possible to analyze motions of artificial satellites and celestial bodies under the action of small perturbation torques.

An Empirical Method for Causal Inference of Constructs for QoE in Haptic–Audiovisual Communications

This article proposes an empirical method for inferring causal directions in multidimensional Quality of Experience (QoE) in multimedia communications, noting that causation in QoE is perceptual. As an example for modeling framework, we pick up a Bayesian structural equation model (SEM) previously built for haptic audiovisual interactive communications. The SEM includes three constructs (Audiovisual quality, Haptic quality, and User experience quality), which are latent variables each representing a group of observed variables with similar characteristics. In the SEM, the causal directions of the constructs were assumed by resorting to the domain knowledge. This article aims at proposing a methodology for inferring causal directions of constructs in general by verifying the assumption of causal directions in the SEM through their observed data alone. For that purpose, we compare six SEMs each with different causal directions of constructs, one of which is the one from the domain knowledge. The proposed method is based on QoE prediction by a Bayesian approach with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation. Setting observed scores to the indicators of exogenous variables in each SEM, we predict values of all the indicators; we then assess the mean square error (MSE) between predicted QoE and mean opinion score (MOS) from observed scores and estimate the probability distribution of the MSE in each SEM. We can compare any two SEMs to find which is more plausible by examining the probability that the MSE for one SEM is smaller than or equal to that for the other. These probabilities are estimated with MCMC simulation. The method indicates that the causal directions thus inferred for the haptic audiovisual interactive communications adequately support the original ones drawn from the domain knowledge. In addition, we demonstrate that QoE can behave like the “impact-perceive-adapt” model of the effects of delayed haptic and visual feedback on performance in a collaborative environment, which Jay, Glencross, and Hubbold proposed in 2007, and that it accompanies reversal of plausible causal directions like a flip–flop.

The MOBH35 Metal-Organic Barrier Heights Reconsidered: Performance of Local-Orbital Coupled Cluster Approaches in Different Static Correlation Regimes.

We have revisited the MOBH35 (Metal–Organic Barrier Heights, 35 reactions) benchmark [Iron, Janes, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2019, 123 ( (17), ), 3761−378130973722; ibid. 2019, 123, 6379–6380] for realistic organometallic catalytic reactions, using both canonical CCSD(T) and localized orbital approximations to it. For low levels of static correlation, all of DLPNO-CCSD(T), PNO-LCCSD(T), and LNO-CCSD(T) perform well; for moderately strong levels of static correlation, DLPNO-CCSD(T) and (T1) may break down catastrophically, and PNO-LCCSD(T) is vulnerable as well. In contrast, LNO-CCSD(T) converges smoothly to the canonical CCSD(T) answer with increasingly tight convergence settings. The only two reactions for which our revised MOBH35 reference values differ substantially from the original ones are reaction 9 and to a lesser extent 8, both involving iron. For the purpose of evaluating density functional theory (DFT) methods for MOBH35, it would be best to remove reaction 9 entirely as its severe level of static correlation makes it just too demanding for a test. The magnitude of the difference between DLPNO-CCSD(T) and DLPNO-CCSD(T1) is a reasonably good predictor for errors in DLPNO-CCSD(T1) compared to canonical CCSD(T); otherwise, monitoring all of T1, D1, max|tiA|, and 1/(εLUMO – εHOMO) should provide adequate warning for potential problems. Our conclusions are not specific to the def2-SVP basis set but are largely conserved for the larger def2-TZVPP, as they are for the smaller def2-SV(P): the latter may be an economical choice for calibrating against canonical CCSD(T). Finally, diagnostics for static correlation are statistically clustered into groups corresponding to (1) importance of single excitations in the wavefunction; (2a) the small band gap, weakly separated from (2b) correlation entropy; and (3) thermochemical importance of correlation energy, as well as the slope of the DFT reaction energy with respect to the percentage of HF exchange. Finally, a variable reduction analysis reveals that much information on the multireference character is provided by T1, IND/Itot, and the exchange-based diagnostic A100[TPSS].

Detecting selection using extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH)-based statistics in unphased or unpolarized data.

Analysis of population genetic data often includes a search for genomic regions with signs of recent positive selection. One of such approaches involves the concept of extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH) and its associated statistics. These statistics typically require phased haplotypes, and some of them necessitate polarized variants. Here, we unify and extend previously proposed modifications to loosen these requirements. We compare the modified versions with the original ones by measuring the false discovery rate in simulated whole-genome scans and by quantifying the overlap of inferred candidate regions in empirical data. We find that phasing information is indispensable for accurate estimation of within-population statistics (for all but very large samples) and of cross-population statistics for small samples. Ancestry information, in contrast, is of lesser importance for both types of statistic. Our publicly available R package rehh incorporates the modified statistics presented here.

Removal of polystyrene nanoplastics from water by Cu[sbnd]Ni carbon material: The role of adsorption

Nanoplastics have attracted wide attention worldwide as a new potentially threatening pollutant, and they can cause harm to the organisms and pose threat to the water environment. Therefore, efficient removal techniques for nanoplastics are urgently needed. In this study, CuNi carbon material (CuNi@C) was prepared by hydrothermal method for the removal of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics from water. CuNi@C was effectively adsorbed on PS nanoplastics. When the CuNi@C dosage increased from 0.1 g/L to 0.3 g/L, the removal efficiency of PS nanoplastics (10 mg/L) elevated from 32.72% to 99.18%. The images of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of CuNi@C confirmed the adsorption of PS nanoplastics on the CuNi@C. The fitting results of adsorption kinetic models and isotherms equations demonstrated that physical adsorption and monolayer coverage were the predominant mechanisms of the PS nanoplastics adsorption on CuNi@C. Thermodynamics analysis illustrated the adsorption of PS nanoplastics on CuNi@C was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The electrostatic attraction occurred in adsorption progress, and the removal efficiency of PS nanoplastics in the acidic system was generally higher than that in the alkaline system. CuNi@C can be recycled via washing and drying treatment and these CuNi@C comparable PS nanoplastics removal performance to the original ones. After four times cycles, CuNi@C can still remove ~75% of total PS nanoplastics from water. This study reveals that CuNi@C can be used as promising techniques for the removal of PS nanoplastics from the aqueous environment.

Imaging Diagnostics Coupled with Non-Invasive and Micro-Invasive Analyses for the Restoration of Ethnographic Artifacts from French Polynesia

In this paper, two different objects from the ethnographic collection of the museum of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Rome), a Polynesian barkcloth (tapa) and a Polynesian headdress in feathers (pa’e ku’a), were investigated to characterize the materials, to evaluate their state of conservation and address the restoration activities. Imaging methods such as multispectral imaging, 3D ultraviolet induced fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy have been integrated with analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Imaging investigations allowed us to differentiate constitutive materials and study their distribution, such as the yellow dye in the tapa used to trace the geometrical pattern and the psittacofulvins responsible for the feathers’ colors in the headdress. The combination of molecular spectroscopy, supported by observation under a scanning electron microscope, allowed us to propose a characterization of the organic painting materials (Morinda citrifolia, Curcuma longa) used for the tapa, and of the type of feathers (from Vini kuhlii bird) and vegetal fibers (Cocos nucifera L.) used to realize the headdress, as well as enabling the identification of degradation products and microorganisms affecting the artifacts before restoration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detected the organic materials used as adhesives for the tapa and headdress: a polysaccharide, probably starch, for the tapa and a natural rubber from Cerbera manghas L. for the headdress. The results of the multi-analytic diagnostic campaign enabled the choice of proper restoration materials, compatible with the original ones, and helped us develop effective protocols for the artifacts’ conservation, such as laser cleaning of the feathers.

Concealing–restoring system for physical layer data: Based on stochastic filtering theory

We propose a nonlinear concealing–restoring system (CRS) set on the data link layer of the open-systems-interconnection (OSI) reference model to secure the data on physical layer. CRS conceals those data by disturbing them with some random noises, and restores the data from the concealed ones to the original ones by the noise elimination based on a proper stochastic filtering theory.

Slovenian Validation of the Children's Perceived Use of Self-Regulated Learning Inventory.

The importance of self-regulated learning (SRL) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and measures for assessing students’ self-regulation skills and knowledge are greatly needed. We present the results of the first thorough adaptation of the Children’s Perceived use of Self-Regulated Learning Inventory (CP-SRLI). The inventory, consisting of 15 scales measuring nine components of SRL, was administered to a sample of 541 Slovenian ninth graders. Confirmatory factor analyses supported internal structure validity of most components, but two components required some structural modifications. Internal consistency coefficients were acceptable for the majority of scale scores and were highly comparable to the original ones. While metric invariance across gender was confirmed, the scalar invariance of some scales needs further examination. Meaningful correlations with relevant externally assessed and self-reported self-regulation and school performance variables indicated good criterion validity of the inventory. The Slovenian version of the CP-SRLI thus proved to be a sufficiently valid and reliable instrument for assessing pupils’ learning self-regulation.

Abelian Categories from Triangulated Categories via Nakaoka–Palu’s Localization

The aim of this paper is to provide an expansion of Abe–Nakaoka’s heart construction to the following two different realizations of the module category over the endomorphism ring of a rigid object in a triangulated category: Buan–Marsh’s localization and Iyama–Yoshino’s subfactor. Our method depends on a modification of Nakaoka–Palu’s HTCP localization, a Gabriel–Zisman localization of extriangulated categories which is also realized as a subfactor of the original ones. Besides of the heart construction, our generalized HTCP localization involves the following phenomena: (1) stable category with respect to a class of objects; (2) recollement of triangulated categories; (3) recollement of abelian categories under a certain assumption.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Persister Biofilm Cells of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The present study evaluates the antimicrobial susceptibility of persister cells of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens after their regrowth in suspension and as biofilms. Two conventional (benzalkonium chloride—BAC and peracetic acid—PAA) and two emerging biocides (glycolic acid—GA and glyoxal—GO) were selected for this study. Persister cells resulted from biofilms subjected to a critical treatment using the selected biocides. All biocide treatments developed B. cereus persister cells, except PAA that effectively reduced the levels of vegetative cells and endospores. P. fluorescens persister cells comprise viable and viable but non-culturable cells. Afterwards, persister cells were regrown in suspension and in biofilms and were subjected to a second biocide treatment. In general, planktonic cultures of regrown persister cells in suspension lost their antimicrobial tolerance, for both bacteria. Regrown biofilms of persister cells had antimicrobial susceptibility close to those regrown biofilms of biocide-untreated cells, except for regrown biofilms of persister P. fluorescens after BAC treatment, which demonstrated increased antimicrobial tolerance. The most active biocide against persister cells was PAA, which did not promote changes in susceptibility after their regrowth. In conclusion, persister cells are ubiquitous within biofilms and survive after critical biocide treatment. The descendant planktonic and biofilms populations showed similar properties as the original ones.

A New Model-Data Co-Driven Method for Radar Ship Detection

Target detection played a vital role in radar image interpretation. The early studies usually relied on the model-driven strategy, such as the constant false alarm rate technique. This family of a method aimed to find the statistical anomaly points. The detection performance was, therefore, dependent on the statistical modeling of clutter. They suffered from the model mismatch in realistic scenarios. Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of deep neural networks, by which the high-level representations can be learned. They achieved amazing performance in many fields. However, large amounts of training samples were required to estimate the weights and the bias. For radar sensors, it is costly and difficult to collect much data with label information. To solve the problem, this article presents a model-data co-driven ship detection strategy. The clutter of radar images is first modeled by the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\mathcal{ G}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> distribution. The scale and the shape parameters are estimated by the data available. They are used to simulate the sea clutters. Second, the labeled targets available are extended to several different azimuths to construct the target set. Finally, the targets randomly chosen from the target set are embedded into the sea clutter. The synthesized images and the original ones are combined to train the deep architecture. Multiple comparative studies are performed to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed strategy.

Recovering recycled carbon fiber by pyrolysis of cured prepregs

Due to the rapid growth of the composite market, several European laws have emerged to minimize their environmental impact (EU 2000/53 / EC, End of life vehicles), as well as to make rational use of landfills (EU 1999/31 / EC). For example, in the aeronautical sector, composites can reach 50% by weight of the aircraft. Consequently, recyclability is a key issue. The objective of this work is the study of the recycling techniques of carbon fiber composites with thermoset polymer matrix in order to obtain fibers with similar properties to the original ones. In this way, the fibers could be reused in new composites by themselves or together with flass fibers in the manufacture of new hybrid composite materials. By this hybridization, materials with properties far superior to the GFRP would be obtained, but at much lower cost than the original CFRP. Therefore, this recycling and reprocesing strategies provides great economical attractiveness.&nbsp; The main objective of the project is to study and optimize the recyclability of cured carbon fiber / epoxy prepregs for use in hybrid materials. Starting from a pyrolysis in a controlled atmosphere reactor, followed by a oxidation, carbon fibers with properties similar to virgin fibers are obtained, with a loss less than 20% of the tensile strength. An evaluation of the different parameters of the recycling process has been carried out in order to optimize the procedure. The characterization of the fibers includes tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

LNIFT: Locally Normalized Image for Rotation Invariant Multimodal Feature Matching

Severe nonlinear radiation distortion (NRD) is the bottleneck problem of multimodal image matching. Although many efforts have been made in the past few years, such as the radiation-variation insensitive feature transform (RIFT) and the histogram of orientated phase congruency (HOPC), almost all these methods are based on frequency-domain information that suffers from high computational overhead and memory footprint. In this article, we propose a simple but very effective multimodal feature matching algorithm in the spatial domain, called locally normalized image feature transform (LNIFT). We first propose a local normalization filter to convert original images into normalized images for feature detection and description, which largely reduces the NRD between multimodal images. We demonstrate that normalized matching pairs have a much larger correlation coefficient than the original ones. We then detect oriented FAST and rotated brief (ORB) keypoints on the normalized images and use an adaptive nonmaximal suppression (ANMS) strategy to improve the distribution of keypoints. We also describe keypoints on the normalized images based on a histogram of oriented gradient (HOG), such as a descriptor. Our LNIFT achieves rotation invariance the same as ORB without any additional computational overhead. Thus, LNIFT can be performed in near real-time on images with 1024 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times 1024$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pixels (only costs 0.32 s with 2500 keypoints). Four multimodal image datasets with a total of 4000 matching pairs are used for comprehensive evaluations, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR)–optical, infrared–optical, and depth–optical datasets. Experimental results show that LNIFT is far superior to RIFT in terms of efficiency (0.49 s versus 47.8 s on a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1024 \times 1024$ </tex-math></inline-formula> image), success rate (99.9% versus 79.85%), and number of correct matches (309 versus 119). The source code and datasets will be publicly available at <uri xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://ljy-rs.github.io/web</uri> .

«Преступление и наказание» в зарубежных киноверсиях: трансформации хронотопа

The paper analyses the only preserved foreign silent screen version and twelve foreign sound film versions and adaptations of Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment, produced in Europe, Asia, both Americas, and Australia from 1923 to 2016 — and defined as “faithful”, “based on”, “associated with”, “with reference to” etc. Specific objects of the analysis are the basic attitudes of cinema makers towards literary sources (originals) and the artistic potentials of the common motto of film directors: “This is how I see it”, applied to the process of translating a book into a film. The contents and quality of various screen versions of Crime and Punishment are here explored from the point of view of the transformations of the chronotope. To what time and place is the plot of the novel transferred, when it does not remain in its original ones? What happens with the plot, the characters, and the meaning of the novel, if the events are transferred to another cultural milieu and/or to another historical period? How is the novel’s epilogue (the perspective of Raskolnikov’s renewal and rebirth in the time after the novel) interpreted? An analysis of the screen versions shows that the fate of Raskolnikov remains a painful moment for the cinema worldwide: the central character of the novel is too deeply connected with the last century, he rhymes too much with its tragic fate.

Assessment of the effectiveness of land consolidation works, as illustrated with the case of Bielcza village

Land consolidation is a process consisting in the designation of new cadastral plots with a differ- ent shape compared to the original ones, in order to reduce the number of small and scattered plots of land that make up a farm, and to increase the average size of homesteads. Within the scope of a land consolidation project, works related to post-consolidation land development are also carried out, which mainly include the creation of a functional network of access roads to agricultural and forest land, and the implementation of tasks, which impact the regulation of hydrographic conditions within the area covered by the consolidation, and which affect land reclamation. Having understood the opportunities as well as threats related to the construction of the high- way, the Self-government of the Małopolska region (Małopolskie Voivodship) initiated activities related to the implementation of the first infrastructural consolidations in Poland in relation to the proposed highway-adjoining areas. On September 21, 2005, an agreement was signed with the General Directorate for National Roads and Highways in Warsaw [Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad w Warszawie], pertaining to cooperation regarding the consolidation of land related to the Kraków-Tarnów section of the A4 highway, currently under construction. Infrastructural consolidation, otherwise known as highway-related land consolidation, is a pro- cedure that consists in ordering the space adjacent to the highway construction area, as well as to another investment project in linear form. The purpose of the present article is to investigate the effectiveness of land consolidation works in connection with the construction of the highway, as il- lustrated with the example of a part of the village of Bielcza, in Borzęcin municipality, Brest district.

History through Personality: the Romans on Imitation, Borrowing and Interpreting of Predecessor’s Texts

The paper raises and discusses the problem of the attitude of Roman authors to the practice of imitating the texts of their Latin and Greek predecessors; as well as to their interpreting of the plots of early works and borrowing from them. Based on ancient sources (including the texts of Suetonius, Cicero, Macrobius and others), an attempt is made to answer the questions whether it is possible to speak of plagiarism in relation to Antiquity and how the Romans themselves treated this phenomenon. Through the analysis of Macrobius’ The Saturnalia, it is demonstrated how the controversy around the texts of Virgil was built in Antiquity. It is noted why, despite extensive borrowings, the works of Roman authors were considered as original ones.

RASIPAM: Interactive Pattern Mining of Multivariate Event Sequences in Racket Sports.

Experts in racket sports like tennis and badminton use tactical analysis to gain insight into competitors' playing styles. Many data-driven methods apply pattern mining to racket sports data - which is often recorded as multivariate event sequences - to uncover sports tactics. However, tactics obtained in this way are often inconsistent with those deduced by experts through their domain knowledge, which can be confusing to those experts. This work introduces RASIPAM, a RAcket-Sports Interactive PAttern Mining system, which allows experts to incorporate their knowledge into data mining algorithms to discover meaningful tactics interactively. RASIPAM consists of a constraint-based pattern mining algorithm that responds to the analysis demands of experts: Experts provide suggestions for finding tactics in intuitive written language, and these suggestions are translated into constraints to run the algorithm. RASIPAM further introduces a tailored visual interface that allows experts to compare the new tactics with the original ones and decide whether to apply a given adjustment. This interactive workflow iteratively progresses until experts are satisfied with all tactics. We conduct a quantitative experiment to show that our algorithm supports real-time interaction. Two case studies in tennis and in badminton respectively, each involving two domain experts, are conducted to show the effectiveness and usefulness of the system.

Product Design for Matrix-Structured Manufacturing Systems

In recent years, the demand for smarter and more customized products has increased. Traditional manufacturing systems are typically designed for mass production, which is not suitable for producing customized products. It requires a new manufacturing system that is flexible, scalable, and reconfigurable, for example, a matrix-structured manufacturing system. As the manufacturing system and product design form a symbiotic relationship, products should also be designed for the new manufacturing system to optimize performance. This paper presents a four-stage methodology to improve the product and product family design targeted production in matrix-structured manufacturing systems. The four stages include a product family analysis, indicator calculations, product optimization, and digital twin-based verification and validation. The proposed methodology is applied in a laboratory case study. The result shows that the improved product design has a significantly higher design efficiency than the original ones. We conclude that the methodology of Design for Matrix-Structured Manufacturing Systems has a holistic view on the product family and can optimize the production efficiency in matrix-structured manufacturing systems.

The application of metaheuristic algorithms in multi-objective optimization of engineering problems

Comparative testing of three modified metaheuristic algorithms - the cyclic algorithm of the bat family (Loop BFA), the hybrid cuckoo search and the firefly algorithm (H-CS-FA) and the modified krill herd algorithm (MKH)was performed in the paper. The authors tested these algorithms in relation to original ones and the effectiveness of the modifications was confirmed for each individual algorithm. Here, the effectiveness of all three algorithms was verified on two engineering problems in the field of metal cutting - optimization of the body of the turning knife and optimization of the eccentric of the clamping tool. In both cases, multi-objective optimization with two objective functions was performed. By comparing the obtained optimization results as well as the speed of convergence, appropriate conclusions about the efficiency of the algorithms and recommendations for their application were made.