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At least 253 records · Page 14

AutoClass: A Bayesian Approach to Classification

We describe a Bayesian approach to the untutored discovery of classes in a set of cases, sometimes called finite mixture separation or clustering. The main difference between clustering and our approach is that we search for the "best" set of class descriptions rather than grouping the cases themselves. We describe our classes in terms of a probability distribution or density function, and the locally maximal posterior probability valued function parameters. We rate our classifications with an approximate joint probability of the data and functional form, marginalizing over the parameters. Approximation is necessitated by the computational complexity of the joint probability. Thus, we marginalize w.r.t. local maxima in the parameter space. We discuss the rationale behind our approach to classification. We give the mathematical development for the basic mixture model and describe the approximations needed for computational tractability. We instantiate the basic model with the discrete Dirichlet distribution and multivariant Gaussian density likelihoods. Then we show some results for both constructed and actual data.

Stutz, John↗

Overview of NASA's MODIS and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) snow-cover Earth System Data Records

Knowledge of the distribution, extent, duration and timing of snowmelt is critical for characterizing the Earth's climate system and its changes. As a result, snow cover is one of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) essential climate variables (ECVs). Consistent, long-term datasets of snow cover are needed to study interannual variability and snow climatology. The NASA snow-cover datasets generated from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra and Aqua spacecraft and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) are NASA Earth System Data Records (ESDR). The objective of the snow-cover detection algorithms is to optimize the accuracy of mapping snow-cover extent (SCE) and to minimize snow-cover detection errors of omission and commission using automated, globally applied algorithms to produce SCE data products. Advancements in snow-cover mapping have been made with each of the four major reprocessings of the MODIS data record, which extends from 2000 to the present. MODIS Collection 6 (C6) and VIIRS Collection 1 (C1) represent the state-of-the-art global snow cover mapping algorithms and products for NASA Earth science. There were many revisions made in the C6 algorithms which improved snow-cover detection accuracy and information content of the data products. These improvements have also been incorporated into the NASA VIIRS snow cover algorithms for C1. Both information content and usability were improved by including the Normalized Snow Difference Index (NDSI) and a quality assurance (QA) data array of algorithm processing flags in the data product, along with the SCE map.The increased data content allows flexibility in using the datasets for specific regions and end-user applications.Though there are important differences between the MODIS and VIIRS instruments (e.g., the VIIRS 375m native resolution compared to MODIS 500 m), the snow detection algorithms and data products are designed to be as similar as possible so that the 16C year MODIS ESDR of global SCE can be extended into the future with the S-NPP VIIRS snow products and with products from future Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) platforms.These NASA datasets are archived and accessible through the NASA Distributed Active Archive Center at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Earth System Data Record↗

Radiative cooling of bodies of arbitrary shape and variable volume in vacuum

On the basis of joint application of the Tolubinskii integral method and the perturbation method, the asymptotic unsteady temperature distribution is constructed for a region of arbitrary shape on the moving boundary of which there are located nonlinear heat sinks (sources), describing radiative cooling in a medium with zero temperature (in a vacuum).

Novikov, V. S.↗

Application of remote sensing to monitoring and studying dispersion in ocean dumping

Remotely sensed wide area synoptic data provides information on ocean dumping that is not readily available by other means. A qualitative approach has been used to map features, such as river plumes. Results of quantitative analyses have been used to develop maps showing quantitative distributions of one or more water quality parameters, such as suspended solids or chlorophyll a. Joint NASA/NOAA experiments have been conducted at designated dump areas in the U.S. coastal zones to determine the applicability of aircraft remote sensing systems to map plumes resulting from ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes. A second objective is related to the evaluation of previously developed quantitative analysis techniques for studying dispersion of materials in these plumes. It was found that plumes resulting from dumping of four waste materials have distinctive spectral characteristics. The development of a technology for use in a routine monitoring system, based on remote sensing techniques, is discussed.

Johnson, R. W.↗

Absorbable-susceptor joining of ceramic surfaces

An assembly of ceramic surfaces particularly refractory metal oxides and carbides, abutting a thin sheet of metal susceptor material are placed in a chamber of an enclosure containing inert gas. An RF coil is activated by power supply to melt the susceptor and adjacent zones of the ceramic. Reactive gas such as oxygen or a carbonizing gas is then fed to the chamber and reacts with the susceptor to form compounds which disperse and dissolve in the zones. On cooling, a strong joint is formed. The susceptor may contain inner perforations and outer perforations to aid in distribution of heat.

Schroeder, J. E.↗

Mechanical properties for durability predictions of FRP bonded joint

A discussion of current standard durability prediction methodology for bonded joints is given. The influence of time-dependent adhesive properties on lap shear stress distributions and interfacial stresses is presented. It is suggested that these effects may be important in durability considerations. Test geometries from which better durability information can be obtained are outlined and a general mechanics approach for durability prediction is suggested.

Brinson, H. F.↗

Static Pressure-Assisted Seal For Helium

Two-piece, all-metal, pressure-assisted static flange seal holds in pressurized helium satisfactorily at temperature of negative 80 degree F (negative 62 degree C). Installed between two flanges, then bolted together. New version includes one pressure-assisted metal sealing element held in place by metal plate and flanges. Certified for use in flight on helium joints of Space Shuttle main engine. Likely terrestrial applications include laboratory and industrial gas-distribution systems.

Stuck, Donald E.↗

34th JANNAF Combustion Subcommittee Meeting: MURI Technology - Volume 2

This volume is a compilation of 48 unclassified/unlimited distribution papers presented at the 1997 meeting of the JANNAF 34th Combustion Subcommittee (CS) held jointly with the Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee (PSHS), and the Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee. Proceedings of the CS, PSHS and APS meetings are published separately by CPIA. The CS Meeting Proceedings are published in four volumes. The JANNAF papers contained in this volume contributed to the Second Year Progress Review of the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Program (MURI) on 'Novel New Ingredients to Stabilize Rocket Motors'. Technical progress made on this program was presented as JANNAF CS papers contained in Volumes 2 and 4. Papers contained in this volume review bi-plateau propellant combustion, AP and metal combustion, solid propellant combustion instability fundamentals and motor applications, gas-phase and condensed-phase kinetics, and measurement techniques.

Fry, Ronald S.↗

How robust are distributed systems

A distributed system is made up of large numbers of components operating asynchronously from one another and hence with imcomplete and inaccurate views of one another's state. Load fluctuations are common as new tasks arrive and active tasks terminate. Jointly, these aspects make it nearly impossible to arrive at detailed predictions for a system's behavior. It is important to the successful use of distributed systems in situations in which humans cannot provide the sorts of predictable realtime responsiveness of a computer, that the system be robust. The technology of today can too easily be affected by worn programs or by seemingly trivial mechanisms that, for example, can trigger stock market disasters. Inventors of a technology have an obligation to overcome flaws that can exact a human cost. A set of principles for guiding solutions to distributed computing problems is presented.

Birman, Kenneth P.↗

Transfer impedance measurements of the space shuttle Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) joints, wire meshes and a carbon graphite motor case

Using three different current injection methods and a simple voltage probe, transfer impedances for Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) joints, wire meshes, aluminum foil, Thorstrand and a graphite composite motor case were measured. In all cases, the surface current distribution for the particular current injection device was calculated analytically or by finite difference methods. The results of these calculations were used to generate a geometric factor which was the ratio of total injected current to surface current density. The results were validated in several ways. For wire mesh measurements, results showed good agreement with calculated results for a 14 by 18 Al screen. SRM joint impedances were independently verified. The filiment wound case measurement results were validated only to the extent that their curve shape agrees with the expected form of transfer impedance for a homogeneous slab excited by a plane wave source.

Papazian, Peter B.↗

A Markov chain model for reliability growth and decay

A mathematical model is developed to describe a complex system undergoing a sequence of trials in which there is interaction between the internal states of the system and the outcomes of the trials. For example, the model might describe a system undergoing testing that is redesigned after each failure. The basic assumptions for the model are that the state of the system after a trial depends probabilistically only on the state before the trial and on the outcome of the trial and that the outcome of a trial depends probabilistically only on the state of the system before the trial. It is shown that under these basic assumptions, the successive states form a Markov chain and the successive states and outcomes jointly form a Markov chain. General results are obtained for the transition probabilities, steady-state distributions, etc. A special case studied in detail describes a system that has two possible state ('repaired' and 'unrepaired') undergoing trials that have three possible outcomes ('inherent failure', 'assignable-cause' 'failure' and 'success'). For this model, the reliability function is computed explicitly and an optimal repair policy is obtained.

Siegrist, K.↗

Global Interoperability of High Definition Video Streams Via ACTS and Intelsat

In 1993, a proposal at the Japan.-U.S. Cooperation in Space Program Workshop lead to a subsequent series of satellite communications experiments and demonstrations, under the title of Trans-Pacific High Data Rate Satellite Communications Experiments. The first of which is a joint collaboration between government and industry teams in the United States and Japan that successfully demonstrated distributed high definition video (HDV) post-production on a global scale using a combination of high data rate satellites and terrestrial fiber optic asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. The HDV experiment is the first GIBN experiment to establish a dual-hop broadband satellite link for the transmission of digital HDV over ATM. This paper describes the team's effort in using the NASA Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) at rates up to OC-3 (155 Mbps) between Los Angeles and Honolulu, and using Intelsat at rates up to DS-3 (45 Mbps) between Kapolei and Tokyo, with which HDV source material was transmitted between Sony Pictures High Definition Center (SPHDC) in Los Angeles and Sony Visual Communication Center (VCC) in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The global-scale connection also used terrestrial networks in Japan, the States of Hawaii and California. The 1.2 Gbps digital HDV stream was compressed down to 22.5 Mbps using a proprietary Mitsubishi MPEG-2 codec that was ATM AAL-5 compatible. The codec: employed four-way parallel processing. Improved versions of the codec are now commercially available. The successful post-production activity performed in Tokyo with a HDV clip transmitted from Los Angeles was predicated on the seamless interoperation of all the equipment between the sites, and was an exciting example in deploying a global-scale information infrastructure involving a combination of broadband satellites and terrestrial fiber optic networks. Correlation of atmospheric effects with cell loss, codec drop-out, and picture quality were made. Current efforts in the Trans-Pacific series plan to examine the use of Internet Protocol (IP)-related technologies over such an infrastructure. The use of IP allows the general public to be an integral part of the exciting activities, helps to examine issues in constructing the solar-system internet, and affords an opportunity to tap the research results from the (reliable) multicast and distributed systems communities. The current Trans- Pacific projects, including remote astronomy and digital library (visible human) are briefly described.

Hsu, Eddie↗

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission: Monitoring the Global Tropics for 3 Years and Beyond

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was launched in November 1997 as a joint U.S.-Japanese mission to advance understanding of the global energy and water cycle by providing distributions of rainfall and latent heating over the global tropics. As a part of NASA's Earth System Enterprise, TRMM seeks to understand the mechanisms through which changes in tropical rainfall influence global circulation. Additionally, a goal is to improve the ability to model these processes in order to predict global circulations and rainfall variability at monthly and longer time scales. Such understanding has implications for assessing climate processes related to El Nino/La Nina and Global Warming. TRMM has also provided unexpected and exciting new knowledge and applications in areas related to hurricane monitoring, lightning, pollution, hydrology, and other areas. This CD-ROM includes a self-contained PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of TRMM and significant science results; a set of data movies or animation; and listings of current TRMM-related publications in the literature.

Shepherd, Marshall↗

LUVOIR Primary Mirror Segment Alignment Control With Joint Laser Metrology and Segment Edge Sensing

An approach is developed for the alignment and stability maintenance of the LUVOIR segmented primary mirror using a segment state estimation and wavefront control method based on a hybrid segment motion sensing architecture of laser truss metrology and segment edge sensors. Our current computer model was generated for LUVOIR Architecture Option A with a 15-meter aperture, 120segment primary mirror. The methodology and simulation results will be presented and analyzed. JPL has a long history of technology development in laser metrology and edge sensors, including work in SIM [7], Keck and TMT [8], CCAT [3] and LUVOIR [1]. We will discuss our current efforts of LUVOIR laser metrology and edge-sensor models development, showing sensitivities of sensor measurements to various mirror eigenmodes, removing global modes and strengthening weak modes by performing joint (hybrid) laser-metrology and edge sensing. We will define and derive an important performance metric called wavefront error multiplier (WEM), and show that WEM provides a simple link between sensor errors and the closed-loop (controlled) system wavefront error. We will show WEM values for several hybrid sensor configuration options studied. We will discuss an algorithm for mirror shape control and maintenance through segment state and wavefront estimations using joint edge-metrology sensing. We will compare simulated performance of mirror state estimation, wavefront estimation and wavefront control based on joint edge-metrology sensing among several sensor configurations, and show the impact of sensor error distributions on the segmented mirror alignment performance. Mirror shape control performance will be also be evaluated in terms of imaging contrast between inner working angles (IWA) and outer working angles (OWA) of a LUVOIR coronagraph. The research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. LUVOIR is a mission concept under study for the next astronomy Decadal Survey—the information presented in this paper is pre-decisional and is provided for planning and discussion purposes only.

Shelton, Chris↗

Joint-probability Analysis of the Natural Variability of Tropical Oceanic Precipitation

Data projects pertaining to KWAJEX are described.Data sets delivered to the Goddard Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC): 1) Kwajalein Experiment (KWAJEX) S-band calibrated, quality-controlled radar data, 1221 1 files of 3D volume data and 6832 files of 2D low-level reflectivity. 2) Raw and quality-control- processed versions of University of Washington Joss-Waldvogel disdrometer measurements obtained during KWAJEX. 3) A time series of synoptic-scale gif images of the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) IR data for the KWAJEX period. The GMS satellite data set for the KWAJEX period was obtained from the University of Wisconsin and reprocessed into format amenable for comparison with radar data.Aircraft microphysics flight-leg definitions for all aircraft and all missions during KWAJEX were completed to facilitate microphysics data processing.

Yuter, Sandra E.↗

Diffusion Bonding of Silicon Carbide Ceramics using Titanium Interlayers

Robust joining approaches for silicon carbide ceramics are critically needed to fabricate leak free joints with high temperature mechanical capability. In this study, titanium foils and physical vapor deposited (PVD) titanium coatings were used to form diffusion bonds between SiC ceramics using hot pressing. Silicon carbide substrate materials used for bonding include sintered SiC and two types of CVD SiC. Microscopy results show the formation of well adhered diffusion bonds. The bond strengths as determined from pull tests are on the order of several ksi, which is much higher than required for a proposed application. Microprobe results show the distribution of silicon, carbon, titanium, and other minor elements across the diffusion bond. Compositions of several phases formed in the joint region were identified. Potential issues of material compatibility and optimal bond formation will also be discussed.

Halbig, Michael C.↗

Feedback control of vibrations in a moving flexible robot arm with rotary and prismatic joints

A robot with a long extendible flexible arm which can also undergo both vertical translation and rotary motion is considered. First, A distributed-parameter model for the robot arm dynamics is developed. It is found that the extending motion could enhance the arm vibrations. Then, a Galerkin-type approximation based on an appropriate time-dependent basis for the solution space is used to obtain an approximate finite-dimensional model for simulation studies. A feedback control for damping the motion-induced vibrations is derived by considering the time rate-of-change of the total vibrational energy of the flexible arm. The authors conclude with some simulation results for a special case with the proposed control law.

Wang, P. K. C.↗

The X-ray spectrum of Abell 665

The X-ray spectrum of the Abell 665 cluster of galaxies has been determined by the Ginga satellite. The spectrum can be well fitted by an isothermal model with kT = 8.26(+0.95; -0.81) keV and metal abundance 0.49 +/- 0.16. Joint analysis with lower energy spectral data from the Einstein Observatory is used to constrain the temperature distribution in the cluster. For a particular form of the polytropic temperature model we find the best fit to be the isothermal case, and we set an upper limit on the polytropic index of 1.35 (99-percent confidence). The virial mass of the cluster has been determined from both the X-ray data and the galaxy velocity dispersion. The mass estimates from the optical and X-ray analyses are fully consistent with each other. Abell 665 is found to be 0.82(+0.41; -0.26) times as massive as Coma if the two clusters are assumed to have the same spatial distribution of virial mass.

Hughes, John P.↗