The study of a neutron spectrum unfolding method based on particle swarm optimization combined with maximum likelihood expectation maximization

The neutron spectrum unfolding by Bonner sphere spectrometer(BSS) is considered a complex multidimensional model,which requires complex mathematical methods to solve the first kind of Fredholm integral equation. In order to solve the problem of the maximum likelihood expectation maximization(MLEM) algorithm which is easy to suffer the pitfalls of local optima and the particle swarm optimization(PSO) algorithm which is easy to get unreasonable flight direction and step length of particles, which leads to the invalid iteration and affect efficiency and accuracy, an improved PSO-MLEM algorithm, combined of PSO and MLEM algorithm, is proposed for neutron spectrum unfolding. The dynamic acceleration factor is used to balance the ability of global and local search, and improves the convergence speed and accuracy of the algorithm. Firstly, the Monte Carlo method was used to simulated the BSS to obtain the response function and count rates of BSS. In the simulation of count rate, four reference spectra from the IAEA Technical Report Series No. 403 were used as input parameters of the Monte Carlo method. The PSO-MLEM algorithm was used to unfold the neutron spectrum of the simulated data and was verified by the difference of the unfolded spectrum to the reference spectrum. Finally, the 252Cf neutron source was measured by BSS, and the PSO-MLEM algorithm was used to unfold the experimental neutron spectrum.Compared with maximum entropy deconvolution(MAXED), PSO and MLEM algorithm, the PSO-MLEM algorithm has fewer parameters and automatically adjusts the dynamic acceleration factor to solve the problem of local optima. The convergence speed of the PSO-MLEM algorithm is 1.4 times and 3.1 times that of the MLEM and PSO algorithms. Compared with PSO, MLEM and MAXED, the correlation coefficients of PSO-MLEM algorithm are increased by 33.1%, 33.5% and 1.9%, and the relative mean errors are decreased by 98.2%, 97.8% and 67.4%.

Heuristic techniques for maximum likelihood localization of radioactive sources via a sensor network

Maximum likelihood estimation(MLE)is an effective method for localizing radioactive sources in a given area.However,it requires an exhaustive search for parameter estimation,which is time-consuming.In this study,heuristic techniques were employed to search for radiation source parameters that provide the maximum likelihood by using a network of sensors.Hence,the time consumption of MLE would be effectively reduced.First,the radiation source was detected using the k-sigma method.Subsequently,the MLE was applied for parameter estimation using the readings and positions of the detectors that have detected the radiation source.A comparative study was performed in which the estimation accuracy and time consump-tion of the MLE were evaluated for traditional methods and heuristic techniques.The traditional MLE was performed via a grid search method using fixed and multiple resolutions.Additionally,four commonly used heuristic algorithms were applied:the firefly algorithm(FFA),particle swarm optimization(PSO),ant colony optimization(ACO),and artificial bee colony(ABC).The experiment was conducted using real data collected by the Low Scatter Irradiator facility at the Savannah River National Laboratory as part of the Intelligent Radiation Sensing System program.The comparative study showed that the estimation time was 3.27 s using fixed resolution MLE and 0.59 s using multi-resolution MLE.The time consumption for the heuristic-based MLE was 0.75,0.03,0.02,and 0.059 s for FFA,PSO,ACO,and ABC,respectively.The location estimation error was approximately 0.4 m using either the grid search-based MLE or the heuristic-based MLE.Hence,heuristic-based MLE can provide comparable estimation accuracy through a less time-consuming process than traditional MLE.

Joint polarization and DOA estimation based on improved maximum likelihood estimator and performance analysis for conformal array

The conformal array can make full use of the aperture,save space,meet the requirements of aerodynamics,and is sensitive to polarization information.It has broad application prospects in military,aerospace,and communication fields.The joint polarization and direction-of-arrival(DOA)estimation based on the conformal array and the theoretical analysis of its parameter estimation performance are the key factors to promote the engineering application of the conformal array.To solve these problems,this paper establishes the wave field signal model of the conformal array.Then,for the case of a single target,the cost function of the maximum likelihood(ML)estimator is rewritten with Rayleigh quotient from a problem of maximizing the ratio of quadratic forms into those of minimizing quadratic forms.On this basis,rapid parameter estimation is achieved with the idea of manifold separation technology(MST).Compared with the modified variable projection(MVP)algorithm,it reduces the computational complexity and improves the parameter estimation performance.Meanwhile,the MST is used to solve the partial derivative of the steering vector.Then,the theoretical performance of ML,the multiple signal classification(MUSIC)estimator and Cramer-Rao bound(CRB)based on the conformal array are derived respectively,which provides theoretical foundation for the engineering application of the conformal array.Finally,the simulation experiment verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Weighted Maximum Likelihood Technique for Logistic Regression

In this paper, a weighted maximum likelihood technique (WMLT) for the logistic regression model is presented. This method depended on a weight function that is continuously adaptable using Mahalanobis distances for predictor variables. Under the model, the asymptotic consistency of the suggested estimator is demonstrated and properties of finite-sample are also investigated via simulation. In simulation studies and real data sets, it is observed that the newly proposed technique demonstrated the greatest performance among all estimators compared.

基于Maximum Likelihood与HMM的文本挖掘

随着信息技术、数据库技术、网络技术的发展,各行各业均存储了大量的文本数据,怎样从这些文本数据中发掘有价值的信息和知识成为人们急需解决的问题。提出基于Maximum Likelihood与HMM的文本挖掘方法,利用Maximum Likelihood构建隐马尔可夫模型,对论文条目进行特定信息的发掘,并克服了实验过程中"零概率"的缺陷。实验结果表明准确率平均达到0.9,召回率平均达到0.85,从理论和实践上证明该方法是有效的。

EXACT MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATOR FOR DRIFT FRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION AT DISCRETE OBSERVATION

This paper deals with the problems of consistency and strong consistency of the maximum likelihood estimators of the mean and variance of the drift fractional Brownian motions observed at discrete time instants. Both the central limit theorem and the Berry-Ess′een bounds for these estimators are obtained by using the Stein’s method via Malliavin calculus.

Asymptotic properties and expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters from Weibull-Logarithmic model

In this article, we consider a lifetime distribution, the Weibull-Logarithmic distri- bution introduced by [6]. We investigate some new statistical characterizations and properties. We develop the maximum likelihood inference using EM algorithm. Asymptotic properties of the MLEs are obtained and extensive simulations are conducted to assess the performance of parameter estimation. A numerical example is used to illustrate the application.

A laboratory study of directional spectra with maximum likelihood method─I Developing wind wave

From measurements by a circular array consisting of 18 wave gauges in a large wave tank, directional spectra of wind-generated waves in deep water are systematically determined by using maximum likehood method.The investigations reveal that the angular spreading of the wave energy is consistent with cos2s(θ/2) proposed by Longuet-Higgins et al. (1963, Ocean Wad Spectra,11~136), if the bimodal distributions of wave energy are not taken into account. Bimodality occurring on higher frequency than peak frequency is too rare to affect our whole results. Surprisingly, a much broader directional spreading than that of the field, which is interpreted by the strongly nonlinear energy transfer because of the very young waves in laboratory, is found. The parameter s depends on frequency in the same way as observed by Mitsuyasu et al. (1975, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 5, 750~760)and Hasselmann et al. (1980, Journal of physical Oceanography, 10, 1264~1280) in the field, and the relationship between the four nondimensional parameters sm, fo, b1 and b2, determining the directional width, and (corresponding to the inverse of wave age) are given respectively. The observed distributions are found to agree well with the suggestion of Donelan et al. (1985, Philosophical Transaction of Royal Society of London, A315, 509~562) when applied to field waves.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the Parameters of Exponentiated Generalized Weibull Based on Progressive Type II Censored Data

Exponentiated Generalized Weibull distribution is a probability distribution which generalizes the Weibull distribution introducing two more shapes parameters to best adjust the non-monotonic shape. The parameters of the new probability distribution function are estimated by the maximum likelihood method under progressive type II censored data via expectation maximization algorithm.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the Identification Parameters and Its Correction

By taking the subsequence out of the input-output sequence of a system polluted by white noise, an independent observation sequence and its probability density are obtained and then a maximum likelihood estimation of the identification parameters is given. In order to decrease the asymptotic error, a corrector of maximum likelihood (CML) estimation with its recursive algorithm is given. It has been proved that the corrector has smaller asymptotic error than the least square methods. A simulation example shows that the corrector of maximum likelihood estimation is of higher approximating precision to the true parameters than the least square methods.

WOMBAT—A tool for mixed model analyses in quantitative genetics by restricted maximum likelihood (REML)

WOMBAT is a software package for quantitative genetic analyses of continuous traits, fitting a linear, mixed model; estimates of covariance components and the resulting genetic parameters are obtained by restricted maximum likelihood. A wide range of models, comprising numerous traits, multiple fixed and random effects, selected genetic covariance structures, random regression models and reduced rank estimation are accommodated. WOMBAT employs up-to-date numerical and computational methods. Together with the use of efficient compilers, this generates fast executable programs, suitable for large scale analyses. Use of WOMBAT is illustrated for a bivariate analysis. The package consists of the executable program, available for LINUX and WINDOWS environments, manual and a set of worked example, and can be downloaded free of charge from http://agbu. une.edu.au/~kmeyer/wombat.

Stochastic Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator in Logistic Regression Model

In the presence of multicollinearity in logistic regression, the variance of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) becomes inflated. Siray et al. (2015) [1] proposed a restricted Liu estimator in logistic regression model with exact linear restrictions. However, there are some situations, where the linear restrictions are stochastic. In this paper, we propose a Stochastic Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator (SRMLE) for the logistic regression model with stochastic linear restrictions to overcome this issue. Moreover, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted for comparing the performances of the MLE, Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator (RMLE), Ridge Type Logistic Estimator(LRE), Liu Type Logistic Estimator(LLE), and SRMLE for the logistic regression model by using Scalar Mean Squared Error (SMSE).

Extraction of Information from Crowdsourcing: Experimental Test Employing Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood, and Maximum Entropy Methods

A crowdsourcing experiment in which viewers (the “crowd”) of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television show submitted estimates of the number of coins in a tumbler was shown in an antecedent paper (Part 1) to follow a log-normal distribution ∧(m,s2). The coin-estimation experiment is an archetype of a broad class of image analysis and object counting problems suitable for solution by crowdsourcing. The objective of the current paper (Part 2) is to determine the location and scale parameters (m,s) of ∧(m,s2) by both Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) methods and to compare the results. One outcome of the analysis is the resolution, by means of Jeffreys’ rule, of questions regarding the appropriate Bayesian prior. It is shown that Bayesian and ML analyses lead to the same expression for the location parameter, but different expressions for the scale parameter, which become identical in the limit of an infinite sample size. A second outcome of the analysis concerns use of the sample mean as the measure of information of the crowd in applications where the distribution of responses is not sought or known. In the coin-estimation experiment, the sample mean was found to differ widely from the mean number of coins calculated from ∧(m,s2). This discordance raises critical questions concerning whether, and under what conditions, the sample mean provides a reliable measure of the information of the crowd. This paper resolves that problem by use of the principle of maximum entropy (PME). The PME yields a set of equations for finding the most probable distribution consistent with given prior information and only that information. If there is no solution to the PME equations for a specified sample mean and sample variance, then the sample mean is an unreliable statistic, since no measure can be assigned to its uncertainty. Parts 1 and 2 together demonstrate that the information content of crowdsourcing resides in the distribution of responses (very often log-normal in form), which can be obtained empirically or by appropriate modeling.

The Maximum Likelihood Method of Aerodynamic Parameter Identification

In this paper a method of aerodynamic parameter identification of vehicle, the maximum likelihood method, is introduced. The aerodynamic model of vehicle is identified and the basic equations using maximum likelihood method are established. After that, the simulation data is identified to verify the correctness of the mathematic model and identification method. Last, the practical flight data is identified and analyzed.

Fast method for spreading sequence estimation of DSSS signal based on maximum likelihood function

To estimate the spreading sequence of the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal, a fast algorithm based on maximum likelihood function is proposed, and the theoretical derivation of the algorithm is provided. By simplifying the objective function of maximum likelihood estimation, the algorithm can realize sequence synchronization and sequence estimation via adaptive iteration and sliding window. Since it avoids the correlation matrix computation, the algorithm significantly reduces the storage requirement and the computation complexity. Simulations show that it is a fast convergent algorithm, and can perform well in low signal to noise ratio (SNR).

Low-angle estimation using frequency-agile refined maximum likelihood algorithm based on optimal fusion

Low elevation estimation,which has attracted wide attention due to the presence of specular multipath,is essential for tracking radars.Frequency agility not only has the advantage of strong anti-interference ability,but also can enhance the performance of tracking radars.A frequency-agile refined maximum likelihood(RML)algorithm based on optimal fusion is proposed.The algorithm constructs an optimization problem,which minimizes the mean square error(MSE)of angle estimation.Thereby,the optimal weight at different frequency points is obtained for fusing the angle estimation.Through theoretical analysis and simulation,the frequency-agile RML algorithm based on optimal fusion can improve the accuracy of angle estimation effectively.

Parameter Estimation of Maneuvering Target Using Maximum Likelihood Estimation for MIMO Radar with Colocated Antennas

The estimation of target parameters in MIMO radar signal processing is one of the most important research topics. An efficient implementation of the Maximum Likelihood estimator is presented in this paper to estimate the DOA (Direction of Arrival), initial velocity and acceleration of a maneuvering target in colocated MIMO radar. The target’s DOA is estimated in the first place, then a Maximum-Likelihood (ML) estimation based on peak search is applied to a two-dimensional grids providing estimation of initial velocity and acceleration. Simulations show that the MIMO radar has a better performance in DOA estimation than the phased array radar. By means of Monte Carlo simulations, the estimation error of initial velocity and acceleration on different SNRs are calculated. The results also suggest the effectiveness of this method.

An Iterative Maximum Likelihood Synchronization Method for OFDM System

OFDM system divides a wideband transmission bandwidth into several overlapped narrowband subcarriers to avoid the serious frequency selective fading problem. However, if Timing Offset (TO) and Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) exist between the Transmitter (Tx) and Receiver (Rx), OFDM system will suffer the Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) and Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) that degrade the system performance dramatically. In this paper, we propose an iterative maximum likelihood method for synchronization. We also adopt the overlap concept to reduce the plateau problem. Simulation results show that the proposed method can predict the time delay and frequency offset correctly even under the multipath fading scenarios.

Rate of strong consistency of the maximum quasi-likelihood estimator in quasi-likelihood nonlinear models

Quasi-likelihood nonlinear models （QLNM） include generalized linear models as a special case. Under some regularity conditions, the rate of the strong consistency of the maximum quasi-likelihood estimation （MQLE） is obtained in QLNM. In an important case, this rate is O（n-^1/2（loglogn）^1/2）, which is just the rate of LIL of partial sums for i.i.d variables, and thus cannot be improved anymore.

Studies on unfolding energy spectra of neutrons using maximumlikelihood expectation–maximization method

Energy spectra of neutrons are important for identification of unknown neutron sources and for determination of the equivalent dose. Although standard energy spectra of neutrons are available in some situations, e.g., for some radiotherapy treatment machines, they are unknown in other cases, e.g., for photoneutrons created in radiotherapy rooms and neutrons generated in nuclear reactors. In situations where neutron energy spectra need to be determined, unfolding the required neutron energy spectra using the Bonner sphere spectrometer (BSS) and nested neutron spectrometer (NNS) has been found promising. However, without any prior knowledge on the spectra, the unfolding process has remained a tedious task. In this work, a standalone numerical tool named ‘‘NRUunfold’’ was developed which could satisfactorily unfold neutron spectra for BSS or NNS, or any other systems using similar detection methodology. A generic and versatile algorithm based on maximum-likelihood expectation– maximization method was developed and benchmarked against the widely used STAY’SL algorithm which was based on the least squares method. The present method could output decent results in the absence of precisely calculated initial guess, although it was also remarked that employment of exceptionally bizarre initial spectra could lead to some unreasonable output spectra. The neutron count rates computed using the manufacturer’s response functions were used for sensitivity studies. The present NRUunfold code could be useful for neutron energy spectrum unfolding for BSS or NNS applications in the absence of a precisely calculated initial guess.