Proposed in this paper is a kinetostatic performance index for the optimum dimensioning of planar manipulators of the serial type. The index is based on the concept of distance of the underlying Jacobian matrix to a given isotropic matrix that is used as a reference model for purposes of performance evaluation. Applications of the index fall in the realm of design, but control applications are ...

This study measures the performance of participating nations at the Olympics, considering the quest for medals as a two-stage Olympic process. The first stage is characterized as athlete preparation (AP) and the second stage as athlete competition (AC). We extend the relational model from the constant returns to scale framework to the variable returns to scale version. The efficiency of each pa...

Nonhomogeneous Poisson processes (NHPPs) are frequently used in stochastic simulations to model nonstationary point processes. These NHPP models are often constructed by estimating the rate function from one or more observed realizations of the process. Both parametric and nonparametric models have been developed for the NHPP rate function. The current parametric models require prior knowledge ...

We study the use of stochastic discount factor (SDF) models in evaluating the investment performance of portfolio managers. By constructing artificial mutual funds with known levels of investment ability, we evaluate a large set of SDF models. We find that the measures of performance are not highly sensitive to the SDF model, and that most of the models have a mild negative bias when performanc...

This paper presents a novel approach towards Indic handwritten word recognition using zone-wise information. Because of complex nature due to compound characters, modifiers, overlapping and touching, etc., character segmentation and recognition is a tedious job in Indic scripts (e.g. Devanagari, Bangla, Gurumukhi, and other similar scripts). To avoid character segmentation in such scripts, HMMb...

Using an object-oriented simulation model of a basic client-server scenario in a wireless ATM network, we evaluate the performance of diierent handover protocols. They are combined with diierent error-control protocols to support high-speed data communication by the ABR service class. We present simulation results of the ABR ow-control protocol ERICA+ and illustrate the performance impact of a ...

CACTUS is a hydrokinetic turbine performance code under development at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Details on it capabilities are given in [1]. CACTUS simulates arbitrary geometries, including crossflow and axial flow rotors. SNL added new capabilities to CACTUS and an outreach effort was begun to solicit interest among MHK researchers and developers who want to consider CACTUS for hydr...

This paper reviews methods to evaluate the performance of air quality models, which are tools that predict the fate of gases and aerosols upon their release into the atmosphere. Because of the large economic, public health, and environmental impacts often associated with the use of air quality model results, it is important that these models be properly evaluated. A comprehensive model evaluati...

Several prototypes for predicting the short-term market reaction to news based on text mining techniques have been developed. However, no detailed comparison of the systems and their performances is available thus far. This paper describes the main systems developed and presents a framework for comparing the approaches. The prototypes differ in the text mining methods applied and the data sets ...

This paper reexamines the issue of relative versus joint incentive schemes in a multiagent moral hazard framework. It allows to contrast the inference dimension and the insurance property of relative performance evaluation. Importantly, the widespread idea that the principal should use all the more competitive schemes that the equilibrium outcomes are more correlated is shown not to be robust. ...