Morphological diagram of diffusion driven aggregate growth in plane: Competition of anisotropy and adhesion

Two-dimensional structures grown with Witten and Sander algorithm are investigated. We analyze clusters grown off-lattice and clusters grown with antenna method with Nfp=3,4,5,6,7 and 8 allowed growth directions. With the help of variable probe particles technique we measure fractal dimension of such clusters D(N) as a function of their size N. We propose that in the thermodynamic limit of infinite cluster size the aggregates grown with high degree of anisotropy (Nfp=3,4,5) tend to have fractal dimension D equal to 3/2, while off-lattice aggregates and aggregates with lower anisotropy (Nfp>6) have D≈1.710. Noise-reduction procedure results in the change of universality class for DLA. For high enough noise-reduction value clusters with Nfp?6 have fractal dimension going to 3/2 when N→∞.     

The reduction of driving voltage in organic light-emitting devices by inserting step barrier layer

The electron injection and transport in OLEDs have been improved by using a tris-[8-hydroxyquinoline] gallium (Gaq) layer as step barrier between tris-[8-hydroxyquinoline]aluminum (Alq₃) (or 4,7-diphyenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen)) and 2-t-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene (TBADN). Since the LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of Gaq (2.9 eV) lies in between that of Alq₃ (3.1 eV) (or Bphen (3.0 eV)) and TBADN (2.8 eV), step barrier from Alq₃ (or BPhen) though Gaq to TBADN can be formed. The experimental results indicate that the J–V characteristics of both the electron-only and the complete devices show the increase of the current density in devices with step barrier compared with the devices without step barrier. For electron-only devices, the driving voltage at the current density of 20 mA/cm² is reduced from 7.9 V to 4.9 V for devices with Alq₃, and from 4.2 V to 3.1 V for devices with BPhen, respectively, owing to the introduction of step barrier. For the complete devices, when Gaq step barrier is introduced, at 20 mA/cm², the driving voltage is reduced from 7 V to 5.8 V for devices with Alq₃ and from 6.2 V to 5.1 V for devices with BPhen. It has also been observed that for devices with step barrier layer, the luminance at 200 mA/cm² is increased from 1992 cd/m² to 3281 cd/m² for device with Alq₃, and from 1745 cd/m² to 2876 cd/m² for devices with BPhen, respectively. The highest luminance reaches 3420 cd/m² in devices with Alq₃ as ETL and 3176 cd/m² in devices with BPhen as ETL after the introduction of step barrier. The phenomena are explained by using tunnel theory.     

Sweat distribution and perceived wetness across the human foot: the effect of shoes and exercise intensity

Abstract

This study investigates foot sweat distribution with and without shoes and the relationship between foot sweat distribution and perceived wetness to enhance guidance for footwear design. Fourteen females performed low-intensity running with nude feet and low- and high-intensity running with shoes (55%VO_2max and 75%VO_2max, respectively) on separate occasions. Right foot sweat rates were measured at 14 regions using absorbent material applied during the last 5?min of each work intensity. Perceptual responses were recorded for the body, foot and four foot regions. Foot sweat production was 22% greater nude (p?<?.001) and with shoes did not increase with exercise intensity (p?=?.14). Highest sweat rates were observed at the medial ankle and dorsal regions; lowest sweat rates at the toes. Perceptions of wetness and foot discomfort did not correspond with regions of high sweat production or low skin temperature but rather seemed dominated by tactile interactions caused by foot movement within the shoe.

Practitioner summary: This study provides a detailed view of foot sweat distribution for female runners with and without shoes, providing important guidance for sock and footwear design. Importantly, perceptions of wetness and foot discomfort did not correspond with areas of high sweat production. Instead tactile interactions between the foot, sock/shoe play an important role.

Abbreviations: VO_2max: maximal oxygen consumption; HR: heart rate; RH: relative humidity; GSL: gross sweat loss; Nude-I1: without socks and shoes, low intensity running; Shod-I1: with socks and shoes, low intensity running; Shod-I2: with socks and shoes, high intensity running     

Detection of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) by displacement of antibodies

A molecular layer with low non-specific binding enabling determination of low concentrations of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by the displacement of antibodies has been developed. Antibody Fab′-fragments at various concentrations have been site-directly immobilised on gold and intercalated with a hydrophilic non-ionic polymer that reduces non-specific binding. Bovine serum albumin conjugated with MDMA and various concentrations of anti-MDMA antibodies were bound to the layer. The amount of conjugates and antibodies bound was dependent on the amount of Fab′-fragments in the layer. Antibodies were also bound to the conjugates physisorbed directly onto the gold surface and in mixtures with the polymer or with a lipoamide. A high displacement of antibodies was observed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on interaction of MDMA with the different layers in buffer solution. No displacement could, however, be observed in saliva with the pure conjugate layer because of a high non-specific binding of proteins. When the conjugates were coupled to the surface through the antibody Fab-fragment/polymer layer, MDMA concentrations as low as 0.02 ng mL⁻¹ (0.14 nM) could easily be detected in buffer. In diluted saliva the lowest limit of detection was 0.4 ng mL⁻¹ enabling determination of drugs from saliva with a cut-off concentration of 2 ng mL⁻¹. The molecular layer of antibody Fab′-fragments and polymer thus shows great potential for binding conjugates and antibodies that can be displaced on the interaction with very low concentrations of small-sized molecules. A low non-specific binding is guaranteed by the presence of the hydrophilic polymer.     

拟（h,k）存贮有限自动机的可逆性

主要研究拟（h,k）阶存贮有限自动机的延迟k步与k＋1步弱可逆性,以及它的弱逆,得到了拟（h,k）阶存贮有限自动机的延迟k步与k＋1步弱可逆的充分必要条件,并且通过所得结果可以比较简便地构造出延迟k步与k＋1步弱可逆拟（h,k）阶存贮有限自动机的延迟k步与k＋1步弱逆。     

Enhancing performance of FSP SnO2-based gas sensors through Sb-doping and Pd-functionalization

Via flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), SnO₂ gas sensing layers have been doped with 0.01-4 wt% Sb as well as 0.01 wt% Pd in combination with 1 wt% Sb. Characterization of these materials through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed particle grain sizes and crystallinity unchanged by the presence of Sb and/or Pd. The addition of Sb to SnO₂ resulted in the significant decrease in baseline resistance; up to two orders of magnitude in dry air at 300 °C and three orders of magnitude in humid air at 300 °C, which is significant for FSP-prepared gas sensors with high porosity and low particle coordination number since they typically suffer from high baseline resistance. While the baseline resistance was improved with Sb-doping, the sensor signal (R₀/R_gas) remained constant over all concentrations explored. Moreover, regarding the surface functionalization of SnO₂ with Pd in combination with Sb-doping, the reduction of baseline resistance was preserved without influencing sensor signal.     

On ℓ∞ and L∞ gains for positive systems with bounded time-varying delays

This paper is devoted to the analysis of the ?_∞ and L_∞ gains for positive linear systems with interval time-varying delays. Through exploiting the monotonicity of the state trajectory, we first prove that for positive systems with constant delays, the ?_∞ and L_∞ gains are fully governed by the system matrices but independent of the delay size. Moreover, for positive systems with bounded time-varying delays, by comparing with the nominal systems with constant delays, it turns out that the ?_∞ and L_∞ gains are exactly the same as that of the constant delay systems. The results in this paper reveal that the ?_∞ and L_∞ gains of positive linear systems are not sensitive to the magnitude of time delays and hence the computation of ?_∞ and L_∞ gains of positive systems with bounded time-varying delays can be reduced to computing the ?_∞ and L_∞ gains of the corresponding delay-free systems. Both continuous-time and discrete-time cases are considered in this paper.     

Clustering Collision Power Attack on RSA-CRT

In this paper, we propose two new attack algorithms on RSA implementations with CRT (Chinese remainder theorem). To improve the attack efficiency considerably, a clustering collision power attack on RSA with CRT is introduced via chosen-message pairs. This attack method is that the key parameters d_p and d_q are segmented by byte, and the modular multiplication collisions are identified by k-means clustering. The exponents d_p and d_q were recovered by 12 power traces of six groups of the specific message pairs, and the exponent d was obtained. We also propose a second order clustering collision power analysis attack against RSA implementation with CRT, which applies double blinding exponentiation. To reduce noise and artificial participation, we analyze the power points of interest by preprocessing and k-means clustering with horizontal correlation collisions. Thus, we recovered approximately 91% of the secret exponents manipulated with a single power curve on RSA-CRT with countermeasures of double blinding methods.     

A thermodynamic reassessment of the La–Sn system

Thermodynamic modelling of the La–Sn binary system was carried out with the help of the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) method. The liquid phase has been described with the association solution model with a ‘ La₁Sn₁’ associated complex. The intermetallic compounds were treated as stoichiometric phases. The calculated phase diagram and the thermodynamic properties of the system are in satisfactory agreement with the majority of the experimental data.     

On packing shortest cycles in graphs

We study the problems to find a maximum packing of shortest edge-disjoint cycles in a graph of given girth g (g-ESCP) and its vertex-disjoint analogue g-VSCP. In the case g=3, Caprara and Rizzi (2001) have shown that g-ESCP can be solved in polynomial time for graphs with maximum degree 4, but is APX-hard for graphs with maximum degree 5, while g-VSCP can be solved in polynomial time for graphs with maximum degree 3, but is APX-hard for graphs with maximum degree 4. For g∈{4,5}, we show that both problems allow polynomial time algorithms for instances with maximum degree 3, but are APX-hard for instances with maximum degree 4. For each g?6, both problems are APX-hard already for graphs with maximum degree 3.     

On the equivalence of single machine earliness/tardiness problems with job rejection

We present optimal algorithms for single-machine scheduling problems with earliness criteria and job rejection and compare them with the algorithms for the corresponding problems with tardiness objectives. We present an optimal O(n log n) algorithm for minimizing the maximum earliness on a single machine with job rejection. Our algorithm also solves the bi-criteria scheduling problem is which the objective is to simultaneously minimize the maximum earliness of the scheduled jobs and the total rejection cost of the rejected jobs. We also show that the optimal pseudo-polynomial time algorithm for the total tardiness problem with job rejection can be used to solve the corresponding total earliness problem with job rejection.     

Multiple design approach of dual‐band Wilkinson power divider with arbitrary transmission line ratio

A dual‐band (DB) Wilkinson power divider with multiple design approach is proposed in this article, which consists of two‐section transmission lines (TLs) with arbitrary length ratio, one parallel LC circuit, and one resistor. Compared with the former works with equal physical lengths, the total physical size of the two‐section TLs can be decreased effectively. For a given DB frequency ratio, the maximum size reduction can be newly summarized as (n‐1)/(2n), where n indicates the length ratio of two‐section TLs. From the close‐formed design equations, multiple solutions of circuit parameters are newly summarized for DB operation, thus circuit design could be much more flexible and more efficient. Furthermore, in order to compact the proposed circuit size, compensation technology for two coupled‐line sections is also considered in circuit fabrication. Finally, design charts and an experimental circuit show good agreement with the theoretical simulation. Compared with the former work under the same design conditions: f₂/f₁ = 3.2, f₁ = 1 GHz and f₂ = 3.2 GHz, the proposed work provides compact circuit size and the size reduction is 25% with n = 2, m = 1.     

Micrometer-sized nanoporous tin dioxide spheres for gas sensing

We report the synthesis of mesoporous tin dioxide (SnO₂) materials with well-defined particle morphology. The products consist of uniform spheres with a diameter of 5 μm. The spheres are hierarchically porous with two distinct pore modes of 5.0 nm and 52 nm, respectively. This special porosity is the result of a synthesis procedure which involves a ‘hard templating’ (nanocasting) process. The product forms an approximately homogeneous monolayer of spheres on a sensor substrate and shows promising response to methane gas with low cross-sensitivity to water. The structural properties and gas-sensing performance are compared with a mesoporous SnO₂ material without defined morphology, prepared by a ‘soft templating’ procedure.     

Five-axis pencil-cut planning and virtual prototyping with 5-DOF haptic interface

In this paper, techniques of 5-axis pencil-cut machining planning with a 5-DOF (degree of freedom) output haptic interface are presented. Detailed techniques of haptic rendering and tool interference avoidance are discussed for haptic-aided 5-axis pencil-cut tool path generation. Five-axis tool path planning has attracted great attention in CAD/CAM and NC machining. For efficient machining of complex surfaces, pencil-cut uses relatively smaller tools to remove the remaining material at corners or highly curved regions that are inaccessible with larger tools. As a critical problem for 5-axis pencil-cut tool path planning, the tasks of tool orientation determination and tool collision avoidance are achieved with a developed 5-DOF haptic interface. A Two-phase rendering approach is proposed for haptic rendering and force-torque feedback calculation with haptic interface. A Dexel-based volume modeling method is developed for global tool interference avoidance with surrounding components in a 5-axis machining environment. Hardware and software implementation of the haptic pencil-cut system with practical examples are also presented in this paper. The presented technique can be used for CAD/CAM, 5-axis machining planning and virtual prototyping.     

Construction of an instrument to measure student information and communication technology skills,experience and attitudes to e-learning

Over the past 20 years self-report measures of healthcare students’ information and communication technology skills have been developed with limited validation. Furthermore, measures of student experience of e-learning emerged but were not repeatedly used with diverse populations. A psychometric approach with five phases was used to develop and test a new self-report measure of skills and experience with information and communication technology and attitudes to computers in education. Phase 1: Literature review and identification of key items. Phase 2: Development and refinement of items with expert panel (n = 16) and students (n = 3) to establish face and content validity. Phase 3: Pilot testing of draft instrument with graduate pre-registration nursing students (n = 60) to assess administration procedures and acceptability of the instrument. Phase 4: Test–retest with further sample of graduate pre-registration nursing students (n = 70) tested stability and internal consistency. Phase 5: Main study with pre-registration nursing students (n = 458), further testing of internal consistency. The instrument proved to have moderate test–retest stability and the sub-scales had acceptable internal consistency. When used with a larger, more diverse population the psychometric properties were more variable. Further work is needed to refine the instrument with specific reference to possible cultural and linguistic response patterns and technological advances.     

State-feedback implementation of cascade compensators

For general dynamical system Σ and cascade compensator conditions are developed for the existence of a state-feedback law F which when applied to Σ causes the resulting closed-loop system Σ_F to exhibit the same input-output behavior as the cascade connection of Σ with . For a controllable, observable linear system Σ with transfer matrix T_Σ, it is shown that an invertible linear cascade compensator with transfer matrix can be implemented with state feedback if and only if the McMillan degree of T_Σ equal the McMillan degree of .     

Separation of circulating tokens

Self-stabilizing distributed control is often modeled by token abstractions. A system with a single token may implement mutual exclusion; a system with multiple tokens may ensure that immediate neighbors do not simultaneously enjoy a privilege. In models of process control, tokens may represent physical objects whose movement is controlled. The problem studied in this paper is to ensure that a synchronous system with m circulating tokens has at least d distance between tokens. This problem is first considered in a ring where d is given whilst m and the ring size n are unknown. The protocol solving this problem can be uniform, with all processes running the same program, or it can be non-uniform, with some processes acting only as token relays. The protocol for this first problem is simple, and can be expressed with a Petri net formalism. A second problem is to maximize d when m is given, and n is unknown. For the second problem, this paper presents a non-uniform protocol with a single corrective process.     

The relationships between Turkish adolescents’ Internet addiction,their perceived social support and family activities

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the relationships between adolescents’ Internet addiction, their perceived social support and the activities carried out with the mother, father and family. The study designed with the survey model involved 166 adolescents who applied to Merkez Efendi Public Hospital Moris ?inasi Children’s Clinic, Child Development Polyclinic between February 2012 and June 2012 for problems specific to the period of adolescence. The age range of the participants was between 12 and 18 with the average age of 15.5. The findings of the study revealed a medium level of negative relationship (r = −.37) between perceived social support and Internet addiction. The adolescents spending time with their mothers had a higher level of perceived social support and a lower level of Internet addiction. Also, t-test was applied to see whether the adolescents’ perceived social support and Internet addiction differed with respect to the activities they carried out with the mother, father and family. It was found out that a number of activities (watching TV, eating meals, chatting, shopping and spending time outside) the adolescents carried out with their mother increased their level of perceived social support although the levels of Internet addiction did not differ with respect to the types of activities carried out only with the mother, only with the father and with the family.