Physical and chemical processes of air masses in the Aegean Sea during Etesians: Aegean-GAME airborne campaign.

High-resolution measurements of gas and aerosols' chemical composition along with meteorological and turbulence parameters were performed over the Aegean Sea (AS) during an Etesian outbreak in the framework of the Aegean-GAME airborne campaign. This study focuses on two distinct Etesian patterns, with similarities inside the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) and differences at higher levels. Under long-range transport and subsidence the pollution load is enhanced (by 17% for CO, 11% for O3, 28% for sulfate, 62% for organic mass, 47% for elemental carbon), compared to the pattern with a weaker synoptic system.

GA-based discrete dynamic programming approach for scheduling in FMS environments.

The paper presents a new genetic algorithm (GA)-based discrete dynamic programming (DDP) approach for generating static schedules in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment. This GA-DDP approach adopts a sequence-dependent schedule generation strategy, where a GA is employed to generate feasible job sequences and a series of discrete dynamic programs are constructed to generate legal schedules for a given sequence of jobs. In formulating the GA, different performance criteria could be easily included.

ViSOM - a novel method for multivariate data projection and structure visualization.

When used for visualization of high-dimensional data, the self-organizing map (SOM) requires a coloring scheme, such as the U-matrix, to mark the distances between neurons. Even so, the structures of the data clusters may not be apparent and their shapes are often distorted. In this paper, a visualization-induced SOM (ViSOM) is proposed to overcome these shortcomings.

A reference model approach to stability analysis of neural networks.

In this paper, a novel methodology called a reference model approach to stability analysis of neural networks is proposed. The core of the new approach is to study a neural network model with reference to other related models, so that different modeling approaches can be combinatively used and powerfully cross-fertilized. Focused on two representative neural network modeling approaches (the neuron state modeling approach and the local field modeling approach), we establish a rigorous theoretical basis on the feasibility and efficiency of the reference model approach.

Subsecond observations of EIT voltage changes on the human scalp due to brain stimulus.

A pilot study has investigated the feasibility of imaging human brain function using an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system time-locked to an evoked response (ER) system. A sixteen-electrode planar EIT configuration was used with polar current injection. We report here measurements on two volunteer patients who were fully awake in all tests.

Approximation properties of fuzzy systems generated by the min inference.

This paper discusses the approximation properties of fuzzy systems generated by the min inference. Firstly, the paper analyzes the properties of fuzzy basis functions (FBFs); Then based on the properties of FBPs, several basic approximation properties concerning approximation mechanisms, uniform approximation bounds, uniform convergency, and universal approximation are obtained. Further, the similarity and difference between the fuzzy systems generated by the product inference and by the min inference are discussed.

A relationship between membership functions and approximation accuracy in fuzzy systems.

This paper presents a relationship between membership functions and approximation accuracy in fuzzy systems. This relationship suggests an idea to design membership functions such that the approximation accuracy of fuzzy systems is improved.

PCR amplification of 40-year-old paraffin-embedded tumor-tissues - comparison of 4 different DNA extraction and purification methods.

Four different methods of DNA extraction from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were compared for their ability to produce DNA suitable as a template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seven paraffin-embedded rhabdomyosarcoma tissue blocks from the 1950s and one from 1960 were treated with the following extraction methods: 1. Proteinase K digestion and phenol/chloroform extraction; 2.

The application of a coherent image processor to the enhancement of radiological images.

Results of the investigation of the viability of using a coherent optical processor to improve image quality prior to digitization and analysis are presented. Optical processing of small (20 mmx20 mm) and large (100 mmx100 mm) radiological images to improve contrast and enhance edges is demonstrated. A brief summary of the principle of operation of the coherent optical processor is given.