Distance metric learning by minimal distance maximization

Classic linear dimensionality reduction (LDR) methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), are known not to be robust against outliers. Following a systematic analysis of the multi-class LDR problem in a unified framework, we propose a new algorithm, called minimal distance maximization (MDM), to address the non-robustness issue. The principle behind MDM is to maximize the minimal between-class distance in the output space. MDM is formulated as a semi-definite program (SDP), and its dual problem reveals a close connection to “weighted” LDR methods. A soft version of MDM, in which LDA is subsumed as a special case, is also developed to deal with overlapping centroids. Finally, we drop the homoscedastic Gaussian assumption made in MDM by extending it in a non-parametric way, along with a gradient-based convex approximation algorithm to significantly reduce the complexity of the original SDP. The effectiveness of our proposed methods are validated on two UCI datasets and two face datasets.     

Scalable approach to uncertainty quantification and robust design of interconnected dynamical systems

Development of robust dynamical systems and networks such as autonomous aircraft systems capable of accomplishing complex missions faces challenges due to the dynamically evolving uncertainties coming from model uncertainties, necessity to operate in a hostile cluttered urban environment, and the distributed and dynamic nature of the communication and computation resources. Model-based robust design is difficult because of the complexity of the hybrid dynamic models including continuous vehicle dynamics, the discrete models of computations and communications, and the size of the problem. We will overview recent advances in methodology and tools to model, analyze, and design robust autonomous aerospace systems operating in uncertain environment, with stress on efficient uncertainty quantification and robust design using the case studies of the mission including model-based target tracking and search, and trajectory planning in uncertain urban environment. To show that the methodology is generally applicable to uncertain dynamical systems, we will also show examples of application of the new methods to efficient uncertainty quantification of energy usage in buildings, and stability assessment of interconnected power networks.     

Choice of a pertinent color space for color texture characterization using parametric spectral analysis

This article presents a comparison of different color spaces including RGB, IHLS and L?a*b* for color texture characterization. This comparison is based on the fusion of the independent spatial structure and color feature cues. In IHLS and L*a*b*, two channel complex color images are created from the luminance and the chrominance values. For such images, two dimensional complex multichannel linear prediction models are used to perform parametric power spectrum estimation and the structure feature cues are computed from this estimated power spectrum. Quantitative comparison of auto spectra of luminance and combined chrominance channels for different color spaces is done. This comparison is based on the degree of decorrelation between luminance and chrominance information provided by different color space transformations. Three dimensional histograms are used as color feature cues. Then, to classify color textures, Kullback-Leibler divergence based symmetric distance measures are calculated for pure color, luminance structure and chrominance structure feature cues. Individual as well as combined effect of information from all feature cues on classification results is then compared for different color spaces and different color texture data sets. The proposed color texture classification method performs better than the state of the art methods in certain cases. The L*a*b* color space gives us a better characterization of the chrominance spatial structure as well as the overall spatial structure for all of the chosen data sets. Experimental results on pixel classification of color textures are also presented and discussed.     

An approximation method of origin–destination flow traffic from link load counts

Traffic matrix (TM) is a key input of traffic engineering and network management. However, it is significantly difficult to attain TM directly, and so TM estimation is so far an interesting topic. Though many methods of TM estimation are proposed, TM is generally unavailable in the large-scale IP backbone networks and is difficult to be estimated accurately. This paper proposes a novel method of TM estimation in large-scale IP backbone networks, which is based on the generalized regression neural network (GRNN), called GRNN TM estimation (GRNNTME) method. Firstly, building on top of GRNN, we present a multi-input and multi-output model of large-scale TM estimation. Because of the powerful capability of learning and generalizing of GRNN, the output of our model can sufficiently capture the spatio-temporal correlations of TM. This ensures that the estimation of TM can accurately be attained. And then GRNNTME uses the procedure of data posttreating further to make the output of our model closer to real value. Finally, we use the real data from the Abilene Network to validate GRNNTME. Simulation results show that GRNNTME can perform well the accurate and fast estimation of TM, track its dynamics, and holds the stronger robustness and lower estimation errors.     

Comparative analysis of QCM and SPR techniques for the optimization of immobilization sequences

One of the most remarkable procedures to immobilize some biological molecules onto surfaces is the use of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The aim of this work is to analyse the influence of formation conditions in the detection capability of two different SAMs. With this purpose two techniques have been implemented: the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Thus, several parameters usually involved in the SAM protocols have been characterized, i.e. the nature of the thiolated acid. The influence of its concentration and incubation time has been also taken into account. For the validation of these biological layers, the polymyxin B sulfate salt (PmB), as ligand, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as analyte, have been used. It is demonstrated that both in the QCM and the SPR, the use of SAM improves significantly the detection and immobilization of the target compound and an optimum SAM formation protocol is provided.     

Exploiting constraint inconsistence for dimension selection in subspace clustering: A semi-supervised approach

Selecting correct dimensions is very important to subspace clustering and is a challenging issue. This paper studies semi-supervised approach to the problem. In this setting, limited domain knowledge in the form of space level pair-wise constraints, i.e., must-links and cannot-links, are available. We propose a semi-supervised subspace clustering (S³C) algorithm that exploits constraint inconsistence for dimension selection. Our algorithm firstly correlates globally inconsistent constraints to dimensions in which they are consistent, then unites constraints with common correlating dimensions, and finally forms the subspaces according to the constraint unions. Experimental results show that S³C is superior to the typical unsupervised subspace clustering algorithm FINDIT, and the other constraint based semi-supervised subspace clustering algorithm SC-MINER.     

Using SVM based method for equipment fault detection in a thermal power plant

Due to the growing demand on electricity, how to improve the efficiency of equipment in a thermal power plant has become one of the critical issues. Reports indicate that efficiency and availability are heavily dependant upon high reliability and maintainability. Recently, the concept of e-maintenance has been introduced to reduce the cost of maintenance. In e-maintenance systems, the intelligent fault detection system plays a crucial role for identifying failures. Data mining techniques are at the core of such intelligent systems and can greatly influence their performance. Applying these techniques to fault detection makes it possible to shorten shutdown maintenance and thus increase the capacity utilization rates of equipment. Therefore, this work proposes a support vector machines (SVM) based model which integrates a dimension reduction scheme to analyze the failures of turbines in thermal power facilities. Finally, a real case from a thermal power plant is provided to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed SVM based model. Experimental results show that SVM outperforms linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and back-propagation neural networks (BPN) in classification performance.