Small area estimation via unmatched sampling and linking models

The authors use an empirical Bayes (EB) approach to small area estimation under area-level unmatched sampling and linking models. Model parameters are estimated by a unified expectation and maximization (EM) algorithm and used to obtain EB estimators of area parameters. Results are extended to a nonparametric linking model based on a spline approximation. Approximate EB estimators that are computationally simpler are also obtained. Different bootstrap approaches to estimating the mean squared error (MSE) of the EB estimators are proposed. Results of a simulation study on the performance of the proposed methods are presented. Proposed methods are applied to data from a survey of family income and expenditure in Japan and poverty rates in Spanish provinces.     

Quantitative analysis of double-stranded DNA amplified by a polymerase chain reaction employing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was utilized for the quantitative analysis of double-stranded (ds) DNA amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 4?, 6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI), which intercalates into ds-DNA but does not form a complex with single-stranded (ss) DNA, was added to a DNA solution after amplification by PCR. When the solution was mixed, including ds-DNA-DAPI complexes and free DAPI with silver colloid sol, only free DAPI was adsorbed on the colloid surface. The dye on the colloid gave very intense SERS signals with excitation at 514.5 nm, whereas DAPI engaging in the intercalation with ds-DNA did not show any SERS signal. The SERS spectrum of DAPI on the colloid showed a strong band at 1610 cm(-1) due to the C?N stretching mode, and a linear relationship was observed between the peak intensity of the C?N stretching band and the concentration of free DAPI. Therefore one can determine the concentration of free DAPI by the SERS measurement. The more ds-DNA there is in the solution, the less free DAPI there is. Thus it is possible to quantitatively analyze the ds-DNA amplified by PCR indirectly by using SERS. The correlation coefficient between the peak intensity of the C?N stretching band and the concentration of ds-DNA amplified by PCR was calculated to be 0.988 for a concentration range from 0.1 to 1.3 mg/ml.     

Speckle decorrelation in surface profilometry by wavelength scanning interferometry

The accuracy and the measurement range of surface profilometry by wavelength scanning interferometry applied to diffusely reflecting surfaces are investigated. The influences of surface roughness and the imaging system in the interferometer are theoretically analyzed by derivation of the autocorrelation function of interferograms arising from wavelength scanning. By using a dye laser with a tuning range of 4.2 nm to a yield resolution of 39.1 mum, we have observed interferograms and their Fourier transforms and autocorrelations to study effects of defocusing and the size ratio of speckle to the CCD pixel for a plane diffuse object positioned normal to the incident beam.     

Software agents and robots in mental therapy: psychological and sociological perspectives

This paper discusses the meaning that interactive software agents and robots have in the context of mental therapy. This theoretical discussion is undertaken from a psychological and sociological perspective. It investigates what happens when interactive agents are introduced into current social situations. Methods of mental therapy vary from therapeutic conversation between clients and human therapists to interaction between clients and therapeutic animals such as dogs. This paper focuses on applications of interactive software agents and robots that substitute as autonomous artifacts behaving like humans for human therapists. In addition, some implications and policies for applications of interactive software agents and robots in mental therapy are discussed. The research was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for scientific research no. 18500207, and by “High-Tech Research Center” project for private universities: matching fund subsidy from MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), 2002–2006.     

Image Annotation and Retrieval for Weakly Labeled Images Using Conceptual Learning

One of the most promising new technologies for widespread application is image annotation and retrieval. Nevertheless, this task is very difficult to accomplish as target images differ significantly in appearance and belong to a wide variety of categories. In this paper, we propose a new image annotation and retrieval method for miscellaneous weakly labeled images, by combining higher-order local auto-correlation (HLAC) features and a framework of probabilistic canonical correlation analysis. The distance between images can be defined in the intrinsic space for annotation using conceptual learning of images and their labels. Because this intrinsic space is highly compressed compared to the image feature space, our method achieves both faster and more accurate image annotation and retrieval. The HLAC features are powerful global features with additive and position invariant properties. These properties work well with images, which have an arbitrary number of objects at arbitrary locations. The proposed method is shown to outperform existing methods using a standard benchmark dataset.     

Multiobjective layout optimization of robotic cellular manufacturing systems

This paper proposes a multiobjective layout optimization method for the conceptual design of robot cellular manufacturing systems. Robot cellular manufacturing systems utilize one or more flexible robots which can carry out a large number of operations, and can conduct flexible assemble processes. The layout design stage of such manufacturing systems is especially important since fundamental performances of the manufacturing system under consideration are determined at this stage. In this paper, the design criteria for robot cellular manufacturing system layout designs are clarified, and objective functions are formulated. Next, layout design candidates are represented using a sequence-pair scheme to avoid interference between assembly system components, and the use of dummy components is proposed to represent layout areas where components are sparse. A multiobjective genetic algorithm is then used to obtain Pareto optimal solutions for the layout optimization problems. Finally, several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method.     

Evaluation of sludge properties in a pilot-scale UASB reactor for sewage treatment in a temperate region

In this study, continuous operation of a pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for sewage treatment was conducted for 630 days to investigate the physical and microbial characteristics of the retained sludge. The UASB reactor with a working volume of 20.2 m(3) was operated at ambient temperature (16-29 °C) and seeded with digested sludge. After 180 days of operation, when the sewage temperature had dropped to 20 °C or lower, the removal efficiency of both total suspended solids (TSS) and total biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) deteriorated due to washout of retained sludge. At low temperature, the cellulose concentration of the UASB sludge increased owing to the rate limitation of the hydrolytic reaction of suspended solids in the sewage. However, after an improvement in sludge retention (settleability and concentration) in the UASB reactor, the process performance stabilized and gave sufficient results (68% of TSS removal, 75% of total BOD removal) at an hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9.7 h. The methanogenic activity of the retained sludge significantly increased after day 246 due to the accumulation of Methanosaeta and Methanobacterium following the improvement in sludge retention in the UASB reactor. Acid-forming bacteria from phylum Bacteroidetes were detected at high frequency; thus, these bacteria may have an important role in suspended solids degradation.     

A flexible 2.1‐in. active‐matrix electrophoretic display with high resolution and a thickness of 100 μm

Abstract— A paper‐thin QVGA, flexible 2.1‐in. active‐matrix electrophoretic display (AMEPD) that features 100‐μm thick and a 192‐ppi resolution has been developed. An LTPS‐TFT backplane with integrated peripheral driver circuits was first fabricated on a glass substrate and then transferred to a very thin (30‐μm) plastic film by employing surface‐free technology by laser ablation/annealing (SUFTLA®). A micro‐encapsulated electrophoretic imaging sheet was laminated on the backplane. A supporting substrate was used to support the LTPS‐TFT backplane. Fine images were successfully displayed on the rollable AM‐EPD. The integrated driver circuits dramatically reduce the number of external connection terminals, thus easily boosting the reliability of electrical connections even on such a thin plastic film.     

A 5‐in. flexible ferroelectric liquid‐crystal display driven by organic thin‐film transistors

Abstract— An organic thin‐film‐transistor (OTFT) driven color flexible ferroelectric‐liquid‐crystal (FLC) display with 160 × 120 pixels and a resolution of 50 ppi has been developed. The flexible FLC was fabricated on a pentacene‐OTFT array using printing and lamination techniques. To drive the display at a fast driving speed, an OTFT was developed with a short channel length having a large current output. The fabricated OTFT array with a channel length of 5 μm exhibits a carrier mobility of 0.3 cm²/V‐sec and an ON/OFF ratio of over 10⁷ at a low drain voltage of ?6 V. A field‐sequential‐color system with a flexible backlight unit was also developed and used to drive the display. Color moving images were successively shown on the 5‐in. display using an active‐matrix driving technique of the OTFT.     

Use of self‐erase discharges for high‐speed and low‐voltage addressing of PDPs

Abstract— A technique called “self‐erase‐discharge addressing” has been incorporated with a address‐while‐display driving scheme, contiguous subfield, and erase addressing to obtain high‐speed and low‐voltage addressing of PDPs. The technique uses a relatively high X‐sustain pulse voltage VXsus, which produces a weak self‐erase discharge at its trailing edge. An application of a data pulse Vdata synchronous to a weak self‐erase discharge results in full erase discharge and eliminates all the wall charges. The technique assures a wider operating‐voltage margin since it provides identical amounts of priming charges as well as wall charges to all the horizontal scan lines just prior to addressing. The priming charges are generated by the weak self‐erase discharges, resulting in low Vdata of 30 V and a high addressing speed of 0.66 μsec for a Ne + 10% Xe PDP. V_Xsus = 245 V, and the voltage margins of Vdata and VXsus were 35 and 16 V, respectively. For a 30% Xe PDP, Vdata and VXsus were 30 and 335 V, respectively, with an addressing speed of 1.0 μsec. In order to obtain high dark‐room contrast, it is essential to use ramp reset pulses, with which erase addressing cannot be achieved. By adopting the write addressing only to the first subfield and the self‐erase‐discharge addressing to the subsequent subfields, a peak and background luminance in green of 3100 and 0.22 cd/m², respectively, were obtained with a dark‐room contrast of 14,000:1. The number of subfields was 28, and the light emission duty was 83%. The number of ramp reset pulse drivers could be reduced to 12 by adopting the common reset pulse technique.