This paper gives a characteristic condition of finite nilpotent group under the assumption that all minimal subgroups of G are well-suited in G.

Let k, m, n be positive integers, and k≤2, α∈(0,1], 0k,α(R^m, Rⁿ), A=C_r(f)={x∈R^m|rank(Df(x))≤r}, then f(A) is d-null. Thus the statement posed by Arthur Sard in 1965 can be completely solved when k≥2.

Suppose that U is a norm closed nest algebra module. Using the characterization of rank one operators in U_⊥, a complete description of the extreme points of the unit ball U₁ is given.

Flower image retrieval is a very important step for computer-aided plant species recognition. In this paper, we propose an efficient segmentation method based on color clustering and domain knowledge to extract flower regions from flower images. For flower retrieval, we use the color histogram of a flower region to characterize the color features of flower and two shape-based features sets, Centroid-Contour Distance (CCD) and Angle Code Histogram (ACH), to characterize the shape features of a flower contour. Experimental results showed that our flower region extraction method based on color clustering and domain knowledge can produce accurate flower regions. Flower retrieval results on a database of 885 flower images collected from 14 plant species showed that our Region-of-Interest (ROI) based retrieval approach using both color and shape features can perform better than a method based on the global color histogram proposed by Swain and Ballard (1991) and a method based on domain knowledge-driven segmentation and color names proposed by Das et al.(1999).

Pose and structure estimation from a single image is a fundamental problem in machine vision and multiple sensor fusion and integration. In this paper we propose using rigid constraints described in different coordinate frames to iteratively estimate structural and camera pose parameters. Using geometric properties of reflected correspondences we put forward a new concept, the reflected pole of a rigid transformation. The reflected pole represents a general analysis of transformations that can be applied to both 2D and 3D transformations. We demonstrate how the concept is applied to calibration by proposing an iterative method to estimate the structural parameters of objects. The method is based on a coarse-to-fine strategy in which initial estimation is obtained through a classical linear algorithm which is then refined by iteration. For a comparative study of performance, we also implemented an extended motion estimation algorithm (from 2D-2D to 3D-2D case) based on epipolar geometry.

This article presents two approaches for automated building of knowledge bases of soil resources mapping. These methods used decision tree and Bayesian predictive modeling, respectively to generate knowledge from training data. With these methods, building a knowledge base for automated soil mapping is easier than using the conventional knowledge acquisition approach. The knowledge bases built by these two methods were used by the knowledge classifier for soil type classification of the Longyou area, Zhejiang Province, China using TM bi-temporal imageries and GIS data. To evaluate the performance of the resultant knowledge bases, the classification results were compared to existing soil map based on field survey. The accuracy assessment and analysis of the resultant soil maps suggested that the knowledge bases built by these two methods were of good quality for mapping distribution model of soil classes over the study area.

Unique correct correspondence cannot be obtained only by use of gray correlation technique, which describes gray similar degree of feature points between the left and right images too unilaterally. The gray correlation technique is adopted to extract gray correlation peaks as a coarse matching set called multi-peak set. The disparity gradient limited constraint is utilized to optimize the multi-peak set. Unique match will be obtained by calculating the correlation of hybrid matrices consisting of reference differences and disparities from the multi-peak set. Two of the known corresponding points in the left and right images, respectively, are set as a pair of reference points to determine search direction and search scope at first. After the unique correspondence is obtained by calculating the correlation of the hybrid matrices from the multi-peak set, the obtained match is regarded as a new reference point till all feature points in the left (or right) image have been processed. Experimental results proved that the proposed algorithm was feasible and accurate.

Pure position permutation image encryption algorithms, commonly used as image encryption investigated in this work are unfortunately frail under known-text attack. In view of the weakness of pure position permutation algorithm, we put forward an effective decryption algorithm for all pure-position permutation algorithms. First, a summary of the pure position permutation image encryption algorithms is given by introducing the concept of ergodic matrices. Then, by using probability theory and algebraic principles, the decryption probability of pure-position permutation algorithms is verified theoretically; and then, by defining the operation system of fuzzy ergodic matrices, we improve a specific decryption algorithm. Finally, some simulation results are shown.

Rough set axiomatization is one aspect of rough set study to characterize rough set theory using dependable and minimal axiom groups. Thus, rough set theory can be studied by logic and axiom system methods. The classic rough set theory is based on equivalent relation, but rough set theory based on reflexive and transitive relation (called quasi-ordering) has wide applications in the real world. To characterize topological rough set theory, an axiom group named RT, consisting of 4 axioms, is proposed. It is proved that the axiom group reliability in characterizing rough set theory based on similar relation is reasonable. Simultaneously, the minimization of the axiom group, which requires that each axiom is an equation and each is independent, is proved. The axiom group is helpful for researching rough set theory by logic and axiom system methods.

(m, k)-firm real-time or weakly hard real-time (WHRT) guarantee is becoming attractive as it closes the gap between hard and soft (or probabilistic) real-time guarantee, and enables finer granularity of real-time QoS through adjusting m and k. For multiple streams with (m, k)-firm constraint sharing a single server, an on-line priority assignment policy based on the most recent k-length history of each stream called distance based priority (DBP) has been proposed to assign priority. In case of priority equality among these head-of-queue instances, Earliest Deadline First (EDF) is used. Under the context of WHRT schedule theory, DBP is the most popular, gets much attention and has many applications due to its straightforward priority assignment policy and easy implementation. However, DBP combined with EDF cannot always provide good performance, mainly because the initial DBP does not underline the rich information on deadline met/missed distribution, specially streams in various failure states which will travel different distances to restore success states. Considering how to effectively restore the success state of each individual stream from a failure state, an integrated DBP utilizing deadline met/missed distribution is proposed in this paper. Simulation results validated the performance improvement of this proposal.

This paper proposes a new approach for multi-objective robust control. The approach extends the standard generalized l₂(Gl₂) and generalized H₂(GH₂) conditions to a set of new linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints based on a new stability condition. A technique for variable parameterization is introduced to the multi-objective control problem to preserve the linearity of the synthesis variables. Consequently, the multi-channel multi-objective mixed Gl₂/GH₂control problem can be solved less conservatively using computationally tractable algorithms developed in the paper.

Cellular automata modeling techniques and the characteristics of mixed traffic flow were used to derive the 2-dimensional model presented here for simulation of pedestrian’s crossing dynamics. A conception of “stop point” is introduced to deal with traffic obstacles and resolve conflicts among pedestrians or between pedestrians and the other vehicles on the crosswalk. The model can be easily extended, is very efficient for simulation of pedestrian’s crossing dynamics, can be integrated into traffic simulation software, and has been proved feasible by simulation experiments.

For linear switched system with both parameter uncertainties and time delay, a delay-dependent sufficient condition for the existence of a new robust H_∞ feedback controller was formulated in nonlinear matrix inequalities solvable by an LMI-based iterative algorithm. Compared with the conventional state-feedback controller, the proposed controller can achieve better robust control performance since the delayed state is utilized as additional feedback information and the parameters of the proposed controllers are changed synchronously with the dynamical characteristic of the system. This design method was also extended to the case where only delayed state is available for the controller. The example of balancing an inverted pendulum on a cart demonstrates the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed design methods.

Many engineering optimization problems frequently encounter continuous variables and discrete variables which adds considerably to the solution complexity. Very few of the existing methods can yield a globally optimal solution when the objective functions are non-convex and non-differentiable. This paper presents a hybrid swarm intelligence approach (HSIA) for solving these nonlinear optimization problems which contain integer, discrete, zero-one and continuous variables. HSIA provides an improvement in global search reliability in a mixed-variable space and converges steadily to a good solution. An approach to handle various kinds of variables and constraints is discussed. Comparison testing of several examples of mixed-variable optimization problems in the literature showed that the proposed approach is superior to current methods for finding the best solution, in terms of both solution quality and algorithm robustness.

A novel current-source active power filter (APF) based on multi-modular converter with carrier phase-shifted SPWM (CPS-SPWM) technique is proposed. With this technique, the effect of equivalent high switching frequency converter is obtained with low switching frequency converter. It is very promising in current-source APF that adopt superconducting magnetic energy storage component.

Swarm intelligence inspired by the social behavior of ants boasts a number of attractive features, including adaptation, robustness and distributed, decentralized nature, which are well suited for routing in modern communication networks. This paper describes an adaptive swarm-based routing algorithm that increases convergence speed, reduces routing instabilities and oscillations by using a novel variation of reinforcement learning and a technique called momentum. Experiment on the dynamic network showed that adaptive swarm-based routing learns the optimum routing in terms of convergence speed and average packet latency.

The authors used Landau-Pekar variational method to investigate a strong-coupling singlet optical bipolaron in different configuration of quantum confinement. Numerical and analytical results showed that when configuration changes from quantum dot and wire to well, confinement shows different effect on the formation of a bipolaron. In contrast to a bipolaron in a quantum dot or wire, the binding energy of a bipolaron in a quantum well increases with increasing confinement, indicating that confinement favors bipolaron formation in a quantum well.

To improve ground vehicle efficiency, shift schedule energy saving was proposed for the ground vehicle automatic transmission by studying the function of the torque converter and transmission in the vehicular drivetrain. The shift schedule can keep the torque converter working in the high efficiency range under all the working conditions except in the low efficiency range on the left when the transmission worked at the lowest shift, and in the low efficiency range on the right when the transmission worked at the highest shift. The shift quality key factors were analysed. The automatic transmission’s bench-test adopting this shift schedule was made on the automatic transmission’s test-bed. The experimental results showed that the shift schedule was correct and that the shift quality was controllable.

This paper proposes a new continuity model for engineering in rock masses and a new schematic method for reporting the engineering of rock continuity. This method can be used to evaluate the mechanics of every kind of medium; and is a new way to determine the mechanical parameters used in engineering design in rock masses. In the numerical simulation, the experimental parameters of intact rock were combined with the structural properties of field rock. The experimental results for orthogonally-jointed rock are given. The results included the curves of the stress-strain relationship of some rock masses, the curve of the relationship between the dimension Δ and the uniaxial pressure-resistant strength σ_c of these rock masses, and pictures of the destructive procedure of some rock masses in uniaxial or triaxial tests, etc. Application of the method to engineering design in rock masses showed the potential of its application to engineering practice.

Tolerance is essential for integration of CAD and CAM. Unfortunately, the meaning of tolerances in the national standard is expressed in graphical and language forms and is not adaptable for expression, processing and data transferring with computers. How to interpret its semantics is becoming a focus of relevant studies. This work based on the mathematical definition of form tolerance in ANSI Y14.5.1M-1994, established the mathematical model of form tolerance for cylindrical feature. First, each tolerance in the national standard was established by vector equation. Then on the foundation of tolerance’s mathematical definition theory, each tolerance zone’s mathematical model was established by inequality based on degrees of feature. At last the variance area of each tolerance zone is derived. This model can interpret the semantics of form tolerance exactly and completely.