Influence of ion bombardment on the properties and microstructure of unbalanced magnetron deposited niobium coatings

The effect of the ion bombardment to unbalanced magnetron deposited, approximately 1.5 and 4.5 μm thick, Nb coatings have been investigated as the bias voltage was varied from U_B=−75 to −150 V. Increasing bias voltage increased the hardness of the coating from 4.5 to 8.0 GPa. This was associated with residual stress and Ar incorporation into the Nb lattice. Strong {110} texture developed in the samples deposited at low bias voltages, while beyond U_B=−100 V a {111} texture became dominant. However, strong {111} texture was observed only with the thicker 3Nb coatings. Secondary electron microscopy investigation of the coating topography showed fewer defects in the thicker coatings. All coatings exhibited good corrosion resistance, with the thicker coatings clearly outperforming the thinner ones. Excessive bias voltages (U_B=−150 V) was found to lead to poor adhesion and loss of corrosion resistance.     

A Study of AlN Films Prepared by Arc Ion Plating

Hexagonal AlN films have been obtained by arc ion plating at different negative biases ,X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results show that AlN films with smooth surfaces and (002) preferred orientation are obtained at low biases ,whereas those with coarse surfaces and (100) preferred orientation are obtained at high biases,The formation mechanism of AlN is analyzed and the experiment results are discussed,The effect of bias on adhesion strength has also been examined.     

Confirmation Bias in Online Searches: Impacts of Selective Exposure Before an Election on Political Attitude Strength and Shifts

Impacts of Internet use on political information seeking and subsequent processes have been subject to much debate. A 2‐session online field study presented online search results on political topics to examine selective exposure and its attitudinal impacts. Session 1 captured attitudes, including their accessibility. Session 2 tracked what online search results participants selected and how long they read them; participants then reported attitudes again. The study represented a 4x8x2x2 within‐subjects design: 4 topics, 8 browsing intervals each, with articles presenting opposing stances, with low versus high source credibility. Attitude‐consistent messages and messages from high‐credibility sources were preferred. Exposure to attitude‐consistent search results increased attitude accessibility and reinforced attitudes, whereas exposure to attitude‐discrepant content had opposite effects, regardless of messages' source credibility.     

Image segmentation and bias correction via an improved level set method

Intensity inhomogeneity causes considerable difficulty in the quantitative analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images. Thus bias field estimation is a necessary pre-processing step before quantitative analysis of MR data. This paper presents a variational level set approach for bias correction and segmentation for images with intensity inhomogeneities. Our method is based on the observation that local intensity variations in relatively smaller regions are separable, despite the inseparability of the whole image. In the beginning we define a function for clustering the image pixels in a smaller neighborhood. The cluster centers in this objective function have a multiplicative factor that estimates the bias within the neighborhood. Generally the local intensity variations are described by the Gaussian distributions with different means and variances. In this work the objective functions are integrated over the entire domain with local Gaussian distribution of fitting energy, ultimately analyzing the data with a level set framework. Our method is able to capture bias of quite general profiles. Moreover, our model can also distinguish regions with similar intensity distribution with different variances. The proposed method has been rigorously validated with images acquired on variety of imaging modalities with promising results.     

Hyper least squares fitting of circles and ellipses

This work extends the circle fitting method of Rangarajan and Kanatani (2009) to accommodate ellipse fitting. Our method, which we call HyperLS, relies on algebraic distance minimization with a carefully chosen scale normalization. The normalization is derived using a rigorous error analysis of least squares (LS) estimators so that statistical bias is eliminated up to second order noise terms. Numerical evidence suggests that the proposed HyperLS estimator is far superior to the standard LS and is slightly better than the Taubin estimator. Although suboptimal in comparison to maximum likelihood (ML), our HyperLS does not require iterations. Hence, it does not suffer from convergence issues due to poor initialization, which is inherent in ML estimators. In this sense, the proposed HyperLS is a perfect candidate for initializing the ML iterations.     

The relation between compressive strength of carbon/epoxy fabrics and micro-tow geometry with various bias angles

In this paper compressive tests of carbon/epoxy (plain weave, 3k) fabric composites were performed to investigate the relation between compressive strength and various bias angles and shear angles. Compressive properties such as chord modulus and maximum strength of the fabric composite materials are essential to analyze the drape behaviour and estimate the quality of the final products. Various specimens with different bias and shear angles which were fabricated by using autoclave de-gassing moulding process were prepared to estimate the strength and chord modulus with respect to the bias and shear angle variations. The stacking sequences of the compressive test specimens are [0]_10T, [15]_10T, [30]_10T and [45]_10T for bias specimens and [±37]_10T, [±32]_10T, [±28]_10T, [±22]_10T for sheared specimens. Micro-tow structures were observed to correlate the fabric compressive strength with crimp angle. Anti-buckling rig was involved to prevent specimens from buckling during the compressive tests. The compressive test was performed with 1.3 mm/min strain rates. Compressive test results were compared with calculation results. Facture modes which were classified in two different modes were analyzed using microscopic observation.     

实现快速乘法的几种改进贝斯算法

分析并评价了在传统贝斯算法基础上改进的几种算法,它们分别是完全冗余贝斯算法、局部冗余贝斯算法,以及有偏差的贝斯算法。通过将仿真结果与传统贝斯算法的比较,证明局部冗余贝斯算法有与传统贝斯算法几乎相同的速度,但其面积和功耗节省不多。完全冗余算法比传统贝斯算法速度慢,但其面积和功耗节省较多。有偏差的冗余算法是完全冗余算法和局部冗余算法的综合,兼容了两种算法的优点,所以其面积和功耗效率均较高,运算速度也较快。综合来讲,有偏差的贝斯算法是其中最好的一种算法。     

On the Consistency of the Normalized Eight-Point Algorithm

A recently proposed argument to explain the improved performance of the eight-point algorithm that results from using normalized data (Chojnacki, W., et al. in IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 25(9):1172–1177, 2003) relies upon adoption of a certain model for statistical data distribution. Under this model, the cost function that underlies the algorithm operating on the normalized data is statistically more advantageous than the cost function that underpins the algorithm using unnormalized data. Here we extend this explanation by introducing a more refined, structured model for data distribution. Under the extended model, the normalized eight-point algorithm turns out to be approximately consistent in a statistical sense. The proposed extension provides a link between the existing statistical rationalization of the normalized eight-point algorithm and the approach of Mühlich and Mester for enhancing total least squares estimation methods via equilibration. The paper forms part of a wider effort to rationalize and interrelate foundational methods in vision parameter estimation.     

Interference in the Manufacture of Nuclepore Filters

In connection with the manufacture of Nuclepore filters at Vallecitos, considerations that are probabilistic in nature become important. One such consideration deals with the probabilities of interference of circles of uniform radius placed at random on a surface. Such probabilities have been found by several investigators in different contexts. A second consideration is three dimensional in that one must find the probability that cyclinders formed by passing the circles through a plate of given thickness at random angles will intersect completely through the plate. An approximate solution is found to this problem as a function of the ratio of plate thickness to circle radius. Small scale simulations are included to check the adequacy of the approximations.     

抗直流偏磁的变压器中性点接地方式探讨

直流偏磁现象将影响变压器的正常运行,变压器承受直流偏磁的能力是电力系统稳定运行的前提。为此,建立宜昌地区变压器中性点直流电流分布模型,根据变压器噪声限值,确定变压器中性点电流的最大值,据此提出一种抑制直流偏磁的中性点优化接线方式配置。并且基于宜昌地区Relay CAC模型,对优化后零序电流保护的灵敏度进行了校核。仿真结果显示,通过使同一变电站内投运的两台变电站同时接地,每一台变压器中性点通过的电流均能降低至限值以下,同时,Relay CAC仿真结果验证了中性点接地方式调整后,各线路零序保护的灵敏度出现了一定程度的变化,但均满足灵敏度要求。