Entropic Risk Analysis by a High Level Decision Support System for Construction SMEs

The method of entropy has been useful in evaluating inconsistency on human judgments. This paper illustrates an entropy-based decision support system called e-FDSS to the solution of multicriterion risk and decision analysis in projects of construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is optimized and solved by fuzzy logic, entropy, and genetic algorithms. A case study demonstrated the use of entropy in e-FDSS on analyzing multiple risk criteria in the predevelopment stage of SME projects. Survey data studying the degree of impact of selected project risk criteria on different projects were input into the system in order to evaluate the preidentified project risks in an impartial environment. Without taking into account the amount of uncertainty embedded in the evaluation process; the results showed that all decision vectors are indeed full of bias and the deviations of decisions are finally quantified providing a more objective decision and risk assessment profile to the stakeholders of projects in order to search and screen the most profitable projects.     

Quantum Key Distribution Based on Private States: Unconditional Security Over Untrusted Channels With Zero Quantum Capacity

In this paper, we prove unconditional security for a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol based on distilling pbits (twisted ebits) from an arbitrary untrusted state that is claimed to contain distillable key. Our main result is that we can verify security using only public communication-via parameter estimation of the given untrusted state. The technique applies even to bound-entangled states, thus extending QKD to the regime where the available quantum channel has zero quantum capacity. We also show how to convert our purification-based QKD schemes to prepare/measure schemes.     

A Train-Once Approach for Location Estimation Using the Directional Propagation Model

Location estimation that is based on the mobile phone network has drawn considerable attention in the field of wireless communications. Among the different mobile location estimation methods, the one that estimates a mobile station location with reference to a wave propagation model is shown to be effective and is applicable to different kinds of cellular networks, including Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), cdmaOne, CDMA2000, and the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. We have designed a train-once approach for location estimations using the directional propagation model (DPM). The DPM is an improved model that is based on the traditional free-space wave propagation model with the directional gain and environmental factors integrated in the estimation. The train-once approach works because we observe that different types of antennas are designed for different types of environments. Thus, a parameter estimation is related to the antenna type and, in turn, related to the environment. In this paper, we report our study of the train-once approach with the DPM for location estimations. We have tested our model with 192 177 sets of real-life data that have been collected from a major mobile phone operator in Hong Kong. Experimental results show that the train-once approach with the DPM is practical and outperforms the existing location estimation algorithms in terms of accuracy, stability among different types of terrains, and success rates.     

The application of pseudo-ductile cementitious composites in the anchorage zone of post-tensioned concrete members

In China, fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) has been employed in practice for many years. In this paper, after a brief introduction to the current status of FRC applications in China, we will focus on recent research related to the use of pseudo-ductile cementitious composites (PDCC) to resist tensile splitting at the anchorage zone of post-tensioned concrete members. To simulate the situation at the anchorage zone, rectangular concrete columns were loaded under concentrated compression. Tests were performed on members made with (i) plain concrete, (ii) plain concrete and steel stirrups, as well as (iii) concrete with PDCC at the anchorage zone. According to the test results, PDCC is effective in improving the ultimate load under concentrated compression as long as failure is governed by tensile splitting. In some cases, it is found to be more effective than the steel stirrups. However, when the PDCC compressive strength is much lower than that of the concrete, compressive crushing failure may occur instead of tensile splitting, and the load capacity will then be decreased. For members that fail in splitting, a simple design method is proposed and the predicted failure load provides a close estimate of the experimental value. Based on the present study, the use of PDCC to replace all or part of the steel stirrups in the anchorage zone is proved to be feasible.     

Authoritative parenting among immigrant Chinese mothers of preschoolers.

The goals of this study were: (a) to examine authoritative parenting style among Chinese immigrant mothers of young children, (b) to test the mediational mechanism between authoritative parenting style and children’s outcomes; and (c) to evaluate 3 predictors of authoritative parenting style (psychological well-being, perceived support in the parenting role, parenting stress). Participants included 85 Chinese immigrant mothers and their preschool children. Mothers reported on their parenting style, psychological well-being, perceived parenting support and stress, and children’s hyperactivity/attention. Teacher ratings of child adjustment were also obtained. Results revealed that Chinese immigrant mothers of preschoolers strongly endorsed the authoritative parenting style. Moreover, authoritative parenting predicted increased children’s behavioral/attention regulation abilities (lower hyperactivity/inattention), which then predicted decreased teacher rated child difficulties. Finally, mothers with greater psychological well-being or parenting support engaged in more authoritative parenting, but only under conditions of low parenting stress. Neither well-being nor parenting support predicted authoritative parenting when parenting hassles were high. Findings were discussed in light of cultural- and immigration-related issues facing immigrant Chinese mothers of young children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Free vibration of a laminated composite shell of revolution: Effects of shear non-linearity

Effects of shear non-linearity on free vibration of a laminated composite shell of revolution are investigated using a semi-analytical method based on the Reissner–Mindlin shell theory. The coupling between symmetric and anti-symmetric vibration modes of the shell is considered in the shear deformable shell element employed in this study. The Hahn–Tsai non-linearly elastic shear stress–shear strain relation is adopted. Numerical examples are given for laminated composite circular cylindrical and conical shells with various boundary conditions. The numerical results indicate that shear non-linearity may reduce significantly the fundamental frequencies of cross-ply composite shells of revolution.     

走向融合的3G标准

1前言目前,全球各地的电信服务供应商和用户都在期盼着第三代（3G）无线通信标准和产品的面世。为了排除通向3G道路上的最后障碍,业内各大公司和集团都在积极组建协作联盟,以便进一步完善和推动全球融合的3G标准,并促使各标准机构通过这一标准。众多设备生产商在推动可随时实现3G的电信系统的开发方面取得了长足进步,而无线服务供应商也充分认识到有必要投资开发下一代技术。网络运营商。设计者和技术开发商己成功签署多项具有划时代意义的协议,这些协议为3G技术的进一步完善和实施指明了方向。通过消除开发过程中技术和经济方面的…     

The influence of sampling interval on the accuracy of trail impact assessment

Trail impact assessment and monitoring (IA&M) programs have been growing in importance and application in recreation resource management at protected areas. This paper addresses a fundamental issue in designing trail IA&M surveys: the choice of sampling interval. Specifically, the influence of sampling interval on the accuracy of estimates for selected trail impact problems was examined using a resampling simulation method. A complete census of four impact-types on 70 backcountry trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was utilized as the base dataset for the analyses. The census data were resampled at increasing intervals to create a series of simulated point datasets. At each sampling interval level, the accuracy of simulated datasets was evaluated by comparing the estimates of frequency of occurrence and lineal extent for each impact-type with actual census values. Simulation results indicate that increasing sampling intervals are associated with an overall increase in accuracy loss for all four impact-types. The direction of accuracy loss for lineal extent estimates is mixed, while frequency of occurrence estimates are consistently and substantially lower than the actual values. Responses of accuracy loss to increasing sampling intervals vary across impact-types on extent estimates, but are consistent on the frequency estimates. These findings suggest that systematic point sampling can be an appropriate method for estimating lineal extent but not the frequency of trail impacts. Sample intervals of less than 100 m appear to yield an excellent level of estimate accuracy for the four impact-types evaluated. The census-based trail survey and the resampling simulation method developed in this study can be a valuable first step in establishing long-term trail IA&M programs, in which an optimal sampling interval range with acceptable accuracy is determined before investing efforts in data collection.     

Energy landscapes of receptor-ligand bonds explored with dynamic force spectroscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to measure the strength of bonds between biological receptor molecules and their ligands. But for weak noncovalent bonds, a dynamic spectrum of bond strengths is predicted as the loading rate is altered, with the measured strength being governed by the prominent barriers traversed in the energy landscape along the force-driven bond-dissociation pathway. In other words, the pioneering early AFM measurements represent only a single point in a continuous spectrum of bond strengths, because theory predicts that these will depend on the rate at which the load is applied. Here we report the strength spectra for the bonds between streptavidin (or avidin) and biotins-the prototype of receptor-ligand interactions used in earlier AFM studies, and which have been modelled by molecular dynamics. We have probed bond formation over six orders of magnitude in loading rate, and find that the bond survival time diminished from about 1 min to 0.001 s with increasing loading rate over this range. The bond strength, meanwhile, increased from about 5 pN to 170 pN. Thus, although they are among the strongest noncovalent linkages in biology (affinity of 10(13) to 10(15) M(-1)), these bonds in fact appear strong or weak depending on how fast they are loaded. We are also able to relate the activation barriers derived from our strength spectra to the shape of the energy landscape derived from simulations of the biotin-avidin complex.     

Analysis for a class of winner-take-all model

Tam et al. (1996) proposed a simple circuit of winner-take-all (WTA) neural network. Assuming no external input, they derived an analytic equation for its network response time. In this paper, we further analyze the network response time for a class of winner-take-all circuits involving self-decay and show that the network response time of such a class of WTA is the same as that of the simple WTA model.