Academic literature on the topic 'Fast search algorithm'

The tableau algorithm implemented in the FaCT knowledge representation system decides satisfiability and subsumption in SHIQ, a very expressive description logic providing, e.g., inverse and transitive roles, number restrictions, and general axioms. Intuitively, the algorithm searches for a tree-shaped abstraction of a model. To ensure termination of this algorithm without comprimising correctness, it stops expanding paths in the search tree using a so-called 'double-blocking' condition.

We present a systematic investigation of computational approaches to the modeling of granular materials. Granular materials are ubiquitous in everyday life and in a variety of engineering and industrial applications. Despite the apparent simplicity of the laws governing particle-scale interactions, predicting the continuum mechanical response of granular materials still poses extraordinary challenges. This is largely due to the complex history dependence resulting from continuous rearrangement of the microstructure of granular material, as well as the mechanical interlocking due to grain morphology and surface roughness. X-Ray Computed Tomography (XRCT) is used to characterize the grain morphology and the fabric of the granular media, naturally deposited sand in this study. The Level-Set based Discrete Element Method (LS-DEM) is then used to bridge the granular behavior gap between the micro and macro scale. The LS-DEM establishes a one-to-one correspondence between granular objects and numerical avatars and captures the details of grain morphology and surface roughness. However, the high-fidelity representation significantly increases the demands on computational resources. To this end a parallel version of LS-DEM is introduced to significantly decrease the computational demands. The code employs a binning algorithm, which reduces the search complexity of contact detection from O(n2) to O(n), and a domain decomposition strategy is used to elicit parallel computing in a memory- and communication-efficient manner. The parallel implementation shows good scalability and efficiency. High fidelity LS avatars obtained from XRCT images of naturally deposited sand are then used to replicate the results of triaxial tests using the new, parallel LS-DEM code. The result show that both micro- and macro-mechanical behavior of natural material is well captured and is consistent with experimental data, confirming experimental observation that the primary source of peak strength of sand is the mechanical interlocking between irregularly shaped grains. Specifically, triaxial test simulations with a flexible membrane produce a very good match to experimentally observed relationships between deviatoric stress and mobilized friction angle for naturally deposited sand. We then explore the viability of modeling dynamic problems with a new formulation of an impulse based LS-DEM. The new formulation is stable, fast, and energy conservative. However, it can be numerically stiff when the assembly has substantial mass differences between particles. We also demonstrate the feasibility of modeling deformable structures in the rigid body framework and propose several enhancements to improve the convergence of collision resolution, including a hybrid time integration scheme to separately handle at rest contacts and dynamic collisions. Finally, we extend the impulse-based LS-DEM to include arbitrarily shaped topographic surfaces and exploit its algorithmic advantages to demonstrate the feasibility of modeling realistic behavior of granular flows. The novel formulation significantly improves performance of dynamic simulations by allowing larger time steps, which is advantageous for observing the full development of physical phenomena such as rock avalanches, which we present as an illustrative example.

The objectives of this project were to develop nondestructive methods for detection of internal properties and firmness of fruits and vegetables. One method was based on a soft piezoelectric film transducer developed in the Technion, for analysis of fruit response to low-energy excitation. The second method was a dot-matrix piezoelectric transducer of North Carolina State University, developed for contact-pressure analysis of fruit during impact. Two research teams, one in Israel and the other in North Carolina, coordinated their research effort according to the specific objectives of the project, to develop and apply the two complementary methods for quality control of agricultural commodities. In Israel: An improved firmness testing system was developed and tested with tropical fruits. The new system included an instrumented fruit-bed of three flexible piezoelectric sensors and miniature electromagnetic hammers, which served as fruit support and low-energy excitation device, respectively. Resonant frequencies were detected for determination of firmness index. Two new acoustic parameters were developed for evaluation of fruit firmness and maturity: a dumping-ratio and a centeroid of the frequency response. Experiments were performed with avocado and mango fruits. The internal damping ratio, which may indicate fruit ripeness, increased monotonically with time, while resonant frequencies and firmness indices decreased with time. Fruit samples were tested daily by destructive penetration test. A fairy high correlation was found in tropical fruits between the penetration force and the new acoustic parameters; a lower correlation was found between this parameter and the conventional firmness index. Improved table-top firmness testing units, Firmalon, with data-logging system and on-line data analysis capacity have been built. The new device was used for the full-scale experiments in the next two years, ahead of the original program and BARD timetable. Close cooperation was initiated with local industry for development of both off-line and on-line sorting and quality control of more agricultural commodities. Firmalon units were produced and operated in major packaging houses in Israel, Belgium and Washington State, on mango and avocado, apples, pears, tomatoes, melons and some other fruits, to gain field experience with the new method. The accumulated experimental data from all these activities is still analyzed, to improve firmness sorting criteria and shelf-life predicting curves for the different fruits. The test program in commercial CA storage facilities in Washington State included seven apple varieties: Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and D'Anjou pear variety. FI master-curves could be developed for the Braeburn, Gala, Granny Smith and Jonagold apples. These fruits showed a steady ripening process during the test period. Yet, more work should be conducted to reduce scattering of the data and to determine the confidence limits of the method. Nearly constant FI in Red Delicious and the fluctuations of FI in the Fuji apples should be re-examined. Three sets of experiment were performed with Flandria tomatoes. Despite the complex structure of the tomatoes, the acoustic method could be used for firmness evaluation and to follow the ripening evolution with time. Close agreement was achieved between the auction expert evaluation and that of the nondestructive acoustic test, where firmness index of 4.0 and more indicated grade-A tomatoes. More work is performed to refine the sorting algorithm and to develop a general ripening scale for automatic grading of tomatoes for the fresh fruit market. Galia melons were tested in Israel, in simulated export conditions. It was concluded that the Firmalon is capable of detecting the ripening of melons nondestructively, and sorted out the defective fruits from the export shipment. The cooperation with local industry resulted in development of automatic on-line prototype of the acoustic sensor, that may be incorporated with the export quality control system for melons. More interesting is the development of the remote firmness sensing method for sealed CA cool-rooms, where most of the full-year fruit yield in stored for off-season consumption. Hundreds of ripening monitor systems have been installed in major fruit storage facilities, and being evaluated now by the consumers. If successful, the new method may cause a major change in long-term fruit storage technology. More uses of the acoustic test method have been considered, for monitoring fruit maturity and harvest time, testing fruit samples or each individual fruit when entering the storage facilities, packaging house and auction, and in the supermarket. This approach may result in a full line of equipment for nondestructive quality control of fruits and vegetables, from the orchard or the greenhouse, through the entire sorting, grading and storage process, up to the consumer table. The developed technology offers a tool to determine the maturity of the fruits nondestructively by monitoring their acoustic response to mechanical impulse on the tree. A special device was built and preliminary tested in mango fruit. More development is needed to develop a portable, hand operated sensing method for this purpose. In North Carolina: Analysis method based on an Auto-Regressive (AR) model was developed for detecting the first resonance of fruit from their response to mechanical impulse. The algorithm included a routine that detects the first resonant frequency from as many sensors as possible. Experiments on Red Delicious apples were performed and their firmness was determined. The AR method allowed the detection of the first resonance. The method could be fast enough to be utilized in a real time sorting machine. Yet, further study is needed to look for improvement of the search algorithm of the methods. An impact contact-pressure measurement system and Neural Network (NN) identification method were developed to investigate the relationships between surface pressure distributions on selected fruits and their respective internal textural qualities. A piezoelectric dot-matrix pressure transducer was developed for the purpose of acquiring time-sampled pressure profiles during impact. The acquired data was transferred into a personal computer and accurate visualization of animated data were presented. Preliminary test with 10 apples has been performed. Measurement were made by the contact-pressure transducer in two different positions. Complementary measurements were made on the same apples by using the Firmalon and Magness Taylor (MT) testers. Three-layer neural network was designed. 2/3 of the contact-pressure data were used as training input data and corresponding MT data as training target data. The remaining data were used as NN checking data. Six samples randomly chosen from the ten measured samples and their corresponding Firmalon values were used as the NN training and target data, respectively. The remaining four samples' data were input to the NN. The NN results consistent with the Firmness Tester values. So, if more training data would be obtained, the output should be more accurate. In addition, the Firmness Tester values do not consistent with MT firmness tester values. The NN method developed in this study appears to be a useful tool to emulate the MT Firmness test results without destroying the apple samples. To get more accurate estimation of MT firmness a much larger training data set is required. When the larger sensitive area of the pressure sensor being developed in this project becomes available, the entire contact 'shape' will provide additional information and the neural network results would be more accurate. It has been shown that the impact information can be utilized in the determination of internal quality factors of fruit. Until now,

The article talks about the philosophical foundations that characterize the mechanism of internal inducement to action. As an academic, constitutional, and socio-ideological concept, the boundaries of freedom are outlined, which are displayed in the field of modern media space. The term «freedom» is considered as several philosophical concepts that formed the basis of the modern interpretation of this concept. The totality of its meanings is generalized into one that is adapted for the modern system. Parallels are drawn between the interaction of the concept of user freedom with the plane of domestic mass media because despite, the fact that consciousness is knowledge, the incoming information directly affects the individual and collective consciousness. Using the example of the most popular digital platforms, the components of the impact on users and the legal aspect of their implementation are analyzed. When considering the issues of freedom of choice and freedom of action on the Internet, special attention is paid to methods of collecting and processing information, in particular, the limitations and possibilities of digital programs-algorithms of the popular search engine Google. The types of personal information collected by Google about the user are classified and the possible mechanisms of influence on personal choice and access to information on the Internet are characterized. The article analyzes the constitutional guarantees of freedom and the impact of digital technologies on them. Particular attention is paid to ethics, in particular journalistic, which nominally regulates the limits of the humane, permissible, a / moral (unacceptable/acceptable) in the implementation of professional information activities in the media. Thus, the issue of freedom of choice and freedom of action in the plane of domestic mass media is subject to an objective examination of its components, they are analyzed for a proper constitutionally suitable phenomenon, which must be investigated from the point of view of compliance with human rights and freedoms and professional standards within the media.