Semiparametric Additive Intensity Model with Frailty for Recurrent Events

The seminal Cox＇s proportional intensity model with multiplicative frailty is a popular approach to analyzing the frequently encountered recurrent event data in scientific studies. In the case of violating the proportional intensity assumption, the additive intensity model is a useful alternative. Both the additive and proportional intensity models provide two principal frameworks for studying the association between the risk factors and the disease recurrences. However, methodology devel- opment on the additive intensity model with frailty is lacking, although would be valuable. In this paper, we propose an additive intensity model with additive frailty to formulate the effects of possibly time-dependent covariates on recurrent events as well as to evaluate the intra-class dependence within recurrent events which is captured by the frailty variable. The asymptotic properties for both the regression parameters and the association parameters in frailty distribution are established. Fhrthermore, we also investigate the large-sample properties of the estimator for the cumulative baseline intensity function.

Image Inpainting Based on Structural Tensor Edge Intensity Model

In the exemplar-based image inpainting approach,there are usually two major problems:the unreasonable calculation of priority and only considering the color features in the patch lookup strategy.In this paper,we propose an image inpainting approach based on the structural tensor edge intensity model.First,we use the progressive scanning inpainting method to avoid the image filling order being affected by the priority function.Then,we use the edge intensity model to build the patches similarity function for correctly identifying the local image structure.Finally,the balance operator is used to restrict the excessive propagation of structural information to ensure the correct structural reconstruction.The experimental results show that the our approach is comparable and even superior to some state-of-the-art inpainting algorithms.

The stress release model and results from modelling features of some seismic regions in China

The stress release model is a stochastic point process model developed from the theory of elastic rebound. It can be used to analyse, simulate or predict the seismicity in a certain seismic region. This paper first gives a brief representation of the theory of the stress release model and the method of how to use it to analyse earthquake data, then this model is to fit the earthquake data in North China, Southwest China and Taiwan. The results show that the stress release model fits to the data better than the Poisson model. The different features of stress accumulation and release in these regions imply that the seismic activity is essentially different among these regions.

A Dugdale-Barenblatt model for a strip with a semi-infinite crack embedded in decagonal quasicrystals

The present study is to determine the solution of a strip with a semi-infinite crack embedded in decagonal quasicrystals,which transforms a physically and mathematically daunting problem.Then cohesive forces are incorporated into a plastic strip in the elastic body for nonlinear deformation.By superposing the two linear elastic fields,one is evaluated with internal loadings and the other with cohesive forces,the problem is treated in Dugdale-Barenblatt manner.A simple but yet rigorous version of the complex analysis theory is employed here,which involves a conformal mapping technique.The analytical approach leads to the establishment of a few equations,which allows the exact calculation of the size of cohesive force zone and the most important physical quantity in crack theory：stress intensity factor.The analytical results of the present study may be used as the basis of fracture theory of decagonal quasicrystals.

Simulation of Typhoon Muifa using a mesoscale coupled atmosphere–ocean model

A mesoscale coupled atmosphere–ocean model has been developed based on the GRAPES（Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction System） regional typhoon model（GRAPES_TYM） and ECOM-si（estuary, coast and ocean model（semi-implicit））. Coupling between the typhoon and ocean models was conducted by exchanging wind stress, heat, moisture fluxes, and sea surface temperatures（SSTs） using the coupler OASIS3.0. Numerical prediction experiments were run with and without coupling for the case of Typhoon Muifa in the western North Pacific. To investigate the impact of using more accurate SST information on the simulation of the track and the intensity of Typhoon Muifa, experiments were also conducted using increased SST resolution in the initial condition field of the control test. The results indicate that increasing SST resolution in the initial condition field somewhat improved the intensity forecast, and use of the coupled model improved the intensity forecast significantly, with mean absolute errors in maximum wind speed within 48 and 72 h reduced by 32% and 20%, respectively. Use of the coupled model also resulted in less pronounced over-prediction of the intensity of Typhoon Muifa by the GRAPES_TYM. Moreover, the effects of using the coupled model on the intensity varied throughout the different stages of the development of Muifa owing to changes in the oceanic mixed layer depth. The coupled model had pronounced effects during the later stage of Muifa but had no obvious effects during the earlier stage. The SSTs predicted by the coupled model decreased by about 5–6℃ at most after the typhoon passed, in agreement with satellite data. Furthermore, based on analysis on the sea surface heat flux, wet static energy of the boundary layer, atmospheric temperature, and precipitation forecasted by the coupled model and the control test, the simulation results of this coupled atmosphere–ocean model can be considered to reasonably reflect the primary mechanisms underlying the interactions between tropical cyclones and oceans.

Macroseismic intensity attenuation in Iran

Macroseismic intensity data plays an important role in the process of seismic hazard analysis as well in developing of reliable earthquake loss models. This paper presents a physical-based model to predict macroseismic intensity attenuation based on 560 intensity data obtained in Iran in the time period 1975-2013. The geometric spreading and energy absorption of seismic waves have been considered in the proposed model. The proposed easy to implement relation describes the intensity simply as a function of moment magnitude, source to site distance and focal depth. The prediction capability of the proposed model is assessed by means of residuals analysis. Prediction results have been compared with those of other intensity prediction models for Italy, Turkey, Iran and central Asia. The results indicate the higher attenuation rate for the study area in distances less than 70 km.

Fractal and chaotic laws on seismic dissipated energy in an energy system of enginering structures

Fractal and chaotic laws of engineering structures are discussed in this paper, it means that the intrinsic essences and laws on dynamic systems which are made from seismic dissipated energy intensity E d and intensity of seismic dissipated energy moment I e are analyzed. Based on the intrinsic characters of chaotic and fractal dynamic system of E d and I e, three kinds of approximate dynamic models are rebuilt one by one: index autoregressive model, threshold autoregressive model and local-approximate autoregressive model. The innate laws, essences and systematic error of evolutional behavior I e are explained over all, the short-term behavior predictability and long-term behavior probability of which are analyzed in the end. That may be valuable for earthquake-resistant theory and analysis method in practical engineering structures.

A unifying approach in simulating the shot peening process using a 3D random representative volume finite element model

Using a modified 3D random representative volume（RV）finite element model,the effects of model dimensions（impact region and interval between impact and representative regions）,model shapes（rectangular,square,and circular）,and peening-induced thermal softening on resultant critical quantities（residual stress,Almen intensity,coverage,and arc height）after shot peening are systematically examined.A new quantity,i.e.,the interval between impact and representative regions,is introduced and its optimal value is first determined to eliminate any boundary effect on shot peening results.Then,model dimensions are respectively assessed for all model shapes to reflect the actual shot peening process,based on which shape-independent critical shot peening quantities are obtained.Further,it is found that thermal softening of the target material due to shot peening leads to variances of the surface residual stress and arc height,demonstrating the necessity of considering the thermal effect in a constitutive material model of shot peeing.Our study clarifies some of the finite element modeling aspects and lays the ground for accurate modeling of the SP process.

Computer assessment of the composition of a generic wound by image processing

Aim:This paper addresses the assessment of the composition of a general wound,in terms of all identifiable categories of tissue and pigmentation in an attempt to improve accuracy in assessing and monitoring wound health.Materials and Methods:A knowledgebase of clusters was built into the hue,saturation and intensity(HSI)color space and then used for assessing wound composition.Based on the observation that the clusters are fairly distinct,two different algorithms,that is,Mahalanobis distance(MD)based and the rotated coordinate system(RCS)method,were used for classification.These methods exploit the shape,spread,and orientation of each cluster.Results:The clusters in the HSI color space,built from about 9,000(calibrated)pixels from 48 images of various wound beds,showed 8 fairly distinct regions.The inter-cluster distances were consistent with the visual appearance.The efficacy of the MD and RCS based methods in 120 experiments taken from a set of 15 test images(in terms of average percent-match)was found to be 91.55 and 93.71,respectively.Conclusion:Our investigations established eight categories of tissue and pigmentation in wound beds.These findings help to determine the stage of wound healing more accurately and comprehensively than typically permitted through use of the 4-color model reported in the literature for addressing specific wound types.