The personalization of security selection: An application of fuzzy set theory

We apply the theory of fuzzy subsets to the multiple objective decision problem of stock selection. We allow our objectives to have varying degrees of importance. We discuss various criteria used in selecting stocks. We indicate some procedures for subjectively evaluating the membership functions associated with these criteria.     

A logical characterization of coherence for imprecise probabilities

Whilst supported by compelling arguments, the representation of uncertainty by means of (subjective) probability does not enjoy a unanimous consensus. A substantial part of the relevant criticisms point to its alleged inadequacy for representing ignorance as opposed to uncertainty. The purpose of this paper is to show how a strong justification for taking belief as probability, namely the Dutch Book argument, can be extended naturally so as to provide a logical characterization of coherence for imprecise probability, a framework which is widely believed to accommodate some fundamental features of reasoning under ignorance. The appropriate logic for our purposes is an algebraizable logic whose equivalent algebraic semantics is a variety of MV-algebras with an additional internal unary operation representing upper probability (these algebras will be called UMV-algebras).     

Applying the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) to Dysphonic and Nondysphonic Hebrew Speakers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a translated version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) as a diagnostic tool for people with and without a laryngeal pathology, among Hebrew speakers. STUDY DESIGN: Parallel group design. METHODS: The VHI was translated and adapted to Hebrew. The translated version was, then, administered to a group of 182 patients with various laryngeal pathologies and a control group of 171 people with no laryngeal pathology. Based on the participants' responses to the VHI, statistical analyses were, initially, performed to assess validity and reliability, and then to evaluate group differences between the pathological and control groups and among the different pathological groups included in the study. RESULTS: Statistical analyses showed high reliability values of the Hebrew version of the VHI (overall Cronbach's alpha r = 0.976). Participants' scores were not affected by their age (P = 0.156) or gender (P = 0.261). The participants in the control group obtained significantly lower scores on the overall VHI score, as well as on all three subscale scores, in comparison with the pathological group (P < 0.001). In addition, within the pathological group, patients with neurogenic pathologies received higher scores than all other pathological groups, whereas patients with laryngeal inflammation received lower scores than all other pathological groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The VHI is a powerful tool for quantifying patients' perceptions of their voice handicaps, and it maintained its power across translation. The VHI was shown to be valuable for the assessment of speakers with, as well as without laryngeal pathologies.     

主客观相结合眼波面像差分析系统

利用Hartmann-Shack波面传感器对眼出瞳位置的波面像差进行测量,根据所测像差控制可变形镜对像差进行实时补偿.眼像差以Zernike多项式表示,通过对可变形镜的精确控制,可在光路中生成特定模式和幅值的像差.因此,被测者根据视觉的主观感觉,调节视标像差,直至获得最满意的视觉效果.该系统采用移动三棱镜和柱镜的方法对离焦和散光进行预补偿,弥补了波面传感器测量范围和可变形镜矫正范围受限制的缺点.该系统把快速、客观的测量及补偿和主观调整相结合,更加符合人眼工作的特性,可用于在人眼像差与视觉分辩的基础和临床研究.     

有机化学实验教学的探索与改进

在有机化学实验教学中,采用对实验各环节提出具体要求的教学方法,如明确学习目的、改善课前预习、改进课堂教学及重视课后回溯等,可有效地调动学生能动性,取得较好的教学效果。     

低频纯音不愉悦感主观评价的实验研究

本文提出分别采用“不愉悦度”和“不愉悦概率”作为衡量低频噪声主观感觉的整体评价指标,并确定出评价等级与相应的计算公式。在此基础上,以人工产生的低频纯音为研究对象,结合“5点4级”评价尺度,采用语义细分法,设计并完成了实验室主观评价实验。分析处理实验数据后发现：（1）“不愉悦度”与“不愉悦概率”两种感觉指标的评价结果之间及其各自所确定的评价等级之间存在较高相关性;（2）A,C及线性声级均可用于衡量低频纯音的不愉悦度,三者的衡量效果基本一致;（3）不同频率低频纯音的不愉悦度随声压级的变化趋势不同。     

立体图像质量的主观评价方案

立体图像质量评价在立体图像压缩、处理以及通信领域中有着十分重要的作用,一种好的立体图像质量客观评价方法也要依赖于立体图像的主观评价.本文基于人眼的立体视觉特性,提出了相对完整的立体图像质量主观评价方案,该方案主要分为立体图像库的建立、评测者的选择、观看条件的描述、评测者的训练和测试、数据处理和实验结果分析六个方面.实验中,评测者根据自己的主观感受,对所选取的立体图像进行评分,最后用数理统计理论对所得数据进行处理.结果表明,本文所提出的主观评价方案可行,能够正确反映立体图像质量的优劣.     

Basic Principles in the Design of Spider Silk Fibers

The prominence of spider silk as a hallmark in biomimetics relies not only on its unrivalled mechanical properties, but also on how these properties are the result of a set of original design principles. In this sense, the study of spider silk summarizes most of the main topics relevant to the field and, consequently, offers a nice example on how these topics could be considered in other biomimetic systems. This review is intended to present a selection of some of the essential design principles that underlie the singular microstructure of major ampullate gland silk, as well as to show how the interplay between them leads to the outstanding tensile behavior of spider silk. Following this rationale, the mechanical behavior of the material is analyzed in detail and connected with its main microstructural features, specifically with those derived from the semicrystalline organization of the fibers. Establishing the relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure in spider silk not only offers a vivid image of the paths explored by nature in the search for high performance materials, but is also a valuable guide for the development of new artificial fibers inspired in their natural counterparts.     

A new approach to assessing the performance of noise indices in buildings

The results of a wide acoustic environment survey are presented. Sound pressure measurements were carried out in a group of offices. These measurements lasted for five minutes and the resulting noise spectra were used to calculate the most significant acoustic parameters. During each measurement a questionnaire was administered to workers near each measuring position. The questionnaire asked them to indicate their subjective judgement about noise annoyance, noise loudness and dissatisfaction induced by noise present in the environment. The aim of the research was to investigate the performance of the measured noise indices in describing subjective responses to noise. A new method to calculate the average subjective responses is proposed. The performance of the noise indices was studied by means of linear regression analysis. Finally the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level proved to be the best index among those analysed in describing subjective auditory sensations.