• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.451-456
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• 2018

The use of single component distribution to describe the irregular stand structure of degraded forest often lead to bias. Such biasness can be overcome by the application of finite mixture distribution. Therefore, in this study, finite mixture distribution was used to characterise the irregular stand structure of the Gmelina arborea plantation in Omo forest reserve. Thirty plots, ten each from the three stands established in 1984, 1990 and 2005 were used. The data were pooled per stand and fitted. Four finite mixture distributions including normal mixture, lognormal mixture, gamma mixture and Weibull mixture were considered. The method of maximum likelihood was used to fit the finite mixture distributions to the data. Model assessment was based on negative loglikelihood value ($-{\Lambda}{\Lambda}$), Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the mixture distributions provide accurate and precise characterisation of the irregular diameter distribution of the degraded Gmelina arborea stands. The $-{\Lambda}{\Lambda}$, AIC, BIC and RMSE values ranged from -715.233 to -348.375, 703.926 to 1433.588, 718.598 to 1451.334 and 3.003 to 7.492, respectively. Their performances were relatively the same. This approach can be used to describe other irregular forest stand structures, especially the multi-species forest.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.671-690
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• 2004

A meshless method with novel variation of point collocation by finite mixture approximation is developed in this paper, termed the meshless finite mixture (MFM) method. It is based on the finite mixture theorem and consists of two or more existing meshless techniques for exploitation of their respective merits for the numerical solution of partial differential boundary value (PDBV) problems. In this representation, the classical reproducing kernel particle and differential quadrature techniques are mixed in a point collocation framework. The least-square method is used to optimize the value of the weight coefficient to construct the final finite mixture approximation with higher accuracy and numerical stability. In order to validate the developed MFM method, several one- and two-dimensional PDBV problems are studied with different mixed boundary conditions. From the numerical results, it is observed that the optimized MFM weight coefficient can improve significantly the numerical stability and accuracy of the newly developed MFM method for the various PDBV problems.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2002

Since the early 1980s scholars have applied latent structure and other type of finite mixture models from various academic fields. Although the merits of finite mixture model are well documented, the attempt to apply the mixture model to medical service has been relatively rare. The researchers aim to try to fill this gap by introducing finite mixture model and segmenting inpatients DB from one general hospital. In section 2 finite mixture models are compared with clustering, chi-square analysis, and discriminant analysis based on Wedel and Kamakura(2000)'s segmentation methodology schemata. The mixture model shows the optimal segments number and fuzzy classification for each observation by EM(expectation-maximization algorism). The finite mixture model is to unfix the sample, to Identify the groups, and to estimate the parameters of the density function underlying the observed data within each group. In section 3 and 4 we illustrate results of segmenting 4510 patients data including menial and ratio scales. And then, we show AHP can be identify the attractiveness of each segment, in which the decision maker can select the best target segment.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2020

Tree size distribution modelling is an integral part of forest management. Most distribution yield systems rely on some flexible probability models. In this study, a simple finite mixture of two components two-parameter Weibull distribution was compared with complex four-parameter distributions in terms of their fitness to predict tree size distribution of teak (Tectona grandis Linn f) plantations. Also, a system of equation was developed using Seemingly Unrelated Regression wherein the size distributions of the stand were predicted. Generalized beta, Johnson's SB, Logit-Logistic and generalized Weibull distributions were the four-parameter distributions considered. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and negative log-likelihood value were used to assess the distributions. The results show that the simple finite mixture outperformed the four-parameter distributions especially in stands that are bimodal and heavily skewed. Twelve models were developed in the system of equation-one for predicting mean diameter, seven for predicting percentiles and four for predicting the parameters of the finite mixture distribution. Predictions from the system of equation are reasonable and compare well with observed distributions of the stand. This simplified mixture would allow for wider application in distribution modelling and can also be integrated as component model in stand density management diagram.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.6-10
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• 2013

A numerical reproducibility of the backdraft phenomena in a compartment was investigated. The prediction performance of two combustion models, the mixture fraction and finite chemistry models, were tested for the backdraft phenomena using the FDS code developed by the NIST. The mixture fraction model could not predict the flame propagation in a fuel-air mixture as well as the backdraft phenomena. However, the finite chemistry model predicted the flame propagation in the mixture inside a tube reasonably. In addition, the finite chemistry model predicted well the backdraft phenomena in a compartment qualitatively. The flame propagation inside the compartment, fuel and oxygen distribution and explosive fire ball behavior were well simulated with the finite chemistry model. It showed that the FDS adopted with the finite chemistry model can be an effective simulation tool for the investigation of backdraft in a compartment.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1635-1656
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• 2023

In Bayesian multi-target tracking, the Poisson multi-Bernoulli mixture (PMBM) filter is a state-of-the-art filter based on the methodology of random finite set which is a conjugate prior composed of Poisson point process (PPP) and multi-Bernoulli mixture (MBM). In order to improve the random finite set-based filter utilized in multi-target tracking of sensor scanning, this paper introduces the Poisson multi-Bernoulli mixture filter into time-matching Bayesian filtering framework and derive a tractable and principled method, namely: the time-matching Poisson multi-Bernoulli mixture (TM-PMBM) filter. We also provide the Gaussian mixture implementation of the TM-PMBM filter for linear-Gaussian dynamic and measurement models. Subsequently, we compare the performance of the TM-PMBM filter with other RFS filters based on time-matching method with different birth models under directional continuous scanning and out-of-order discontinuous scanning. The results of simulation demonstrate that the proposed filter not only can effectively reduce the influence of sampling time diversity, but also improve the estimated accuracy of target state along with cardinality.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.75-97
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• 2005

The research objective is to empirically investigate the compensation packages maximizing the utilities of internal customers by applying the market segmentation theory. Data was collected from four Korean hospitals in Seoul, Busan and Gyunggi-do. The research is designed to seek the compensation package maximizing the utility of doctors by mixture regression model, which has been applied as latent structure and other type of finite mixture models from various academic fields since early 1980s. The mixture regression model shows the optimal segments number and fuzzy classification for each observation by EM(expectation-maximization algorism). The finite mixture regression model is to unmix the sample, to identify the groups, and to estimate the parameters of the density function underlying the observed data within each group. The doctors were segmented into 5 groups by their preference for the compensation package. The results of this study imply that the utility of doctors increases with differentiated compensation package segmented by their preference.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1087-1105
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• 2016

Traffic load and volume is one of the most important physical quantities for bridge safety evaluation and maintenance strategies formulation. This paper aims to conduct the statistical analysis of traffic volume information and the multimodal modeling of gross vehicle weight (GVW) based on the monitoring data obtained from the weigh-in-motion (WIM) system instrumented on the arch Jiubao Bridge located in Hangzhou, China. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based mixture parameter estimation approach is developed for derivation of the unknown mixture parameters in mixed distribution models. The statistical analysis of one-year WIM data is firstly performed according to the vehicle type, single axle weight, and GVW. The probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the GVW data of selected vehicle types are then formulated by use of three kinds of finite mixed distributions (normal, lognormal and Weibull). The mixture parameters are determined by use of the proposed GA-based method. The results indicate that the stochastic properties of the GVW data acquired from the field-instrumented WIM sensors are effectively characterized by the method of finite mixture distributions in conjunction with the proposed GA-based mixture parameter identification algorithm. Moreover, it is revealed that the Weibull mixture distribution is relatively superior in modeling of the WIM data on the basis of the calculated Akaike's information criterion (AIC) values.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.401-416
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• 2008

The paper presents a methodology to model three-dimensional reinforced concrete members by means of embedded discontinuity elements based on the Continuum Strong Discontinuous Approach (CSDA). Mixture theory concepts are used to model reinforced concrete as a 3D composite material constituted of concrete with long fibers (rebars) bundles oriented in different directions embedded in it. The effects of the rebars are modeled by phenomenological constitutive models devised to reproduce the axial non-linear behavior, as well as the bond-slip and dowel action. The paper presents the constitutive models assumed for the components and the compatibility conditions chosen to constitute the composite. Numerical analyses of existing experimental reinforced concrete members are presented, illustrating the applicability of the proposed methodology.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2004

The effect of grain refinement on the plastic deformation behaviour of nanocrystalline metallic materials is investigated. A phase mixture model in which a single phase material is considered as an effectively two-phase one is discussed. A distinctive feature of the model is that grain boundaries are treated as a separate phase deforming by a diffusion mechanism. For the grain interior phase two concurrent mechanisms are considered: dislocation glide and mass transfer by diffusion. The proposed constitutive model was implemented into a finite element code (DEFORM) using a semicoupled approach. The finite element method was applied to simulating room temperature tensile deformation of Cu down to the nanoscale grain size in order to investigate the pre- and post-necking behaviour.