Voltammetric and galvanostatic studies of hydrous and anhydrous iridium oxide films

Electrolytically grown hydrous oxide films on iridium wire electrodes have been thermally treated from 473 to 773 K. Anhydrous oxide films formed by this treatment have been subjected to cathodic polarization at the potential of the hydrogen evolution reaction, square-wave pulsing of potential from –0.25 to +1.25 V with respoect to SCE and to anodic galvanostatic polarization in 0.5 mol dm^–3 H₂SO₄. Cathodic pretreatment caused an increase of the voltammetric charge in the oxide formation region while the square-wave pulsing formed a hydrous oxide film whose voltammetric charge was superimposed on the charge of the anhydrous oxide film. Both procedures restored the hydrophilic nature of the electrode/solution interface. Potential-time curves during anodic galvanostatic polarization served as a diagnostic criterion for the stability and the state of the oxide film.     

Fusion of smartphone sensor data for classification of daily user activities

Multimedia Tools and Applications - New mobile applications need to estimate user activities by using sensor data provided by smart wearable devices and deliver context-aware solutions to users...     

A hybrid tactile sensor-based obstacle overcoming method for hexapod walking robots

Intelligent Service Robotics - Walking robots are considered as a promising solution for locomotion across irregular or rough terrain. While wheeled or tracked robots require flat surface like...     

Using static suffix array in dynamic application: Case of text compression by longest first substitution

Over the last decade, enhanced suffix arrays (ESA) have replaced suffix trees in many applications. Algorithms based on ESAs require less space, while allowing the same time efficiency as those based on suffix trees. However, this is only true when a suffix structure is used as a static index. Suffix trees can be updated faster than suffix arrays, which is a clear advantage in applications that require dynamic indexing. We show that for some dynamic applications a suffix array and the derived LCP-interval tree can be used in such a way that the actual index updates are not necessary. We demonstrate this in the case of grammar text compression with longest first substitution and provide the source code. The proposed algorithm has O(N²)$O(N^2)$ worst case time complexity but runs in O(N)$O(N)$ time in practice.     

Memory leak detection in Plumbr

Platforms with automatic memory management, such as the JVM, are usually considered free of memory leaks. However, memory leaks can happen in such environments, as the garbage collector cannot free objects, which are not used by the application anymore, but are still referenced. Such unused objects can eventually fill up the heap and crash the application. Although this problem has been studied extensively, nevertheless, there are still many rooms for improvement in this area. This paper describes the statistical approach for memory leak detection, as an alternative, along with a commercial tool, Plumbr, which is based on the method. The tool is later analyzed with three case studies of real applications and in the process also analyzes strengths and weaknesses of the statistical approach for memory leak detection. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Small‐signal and noise modeling of class of HEMTs using knowledge‐based artificial neural networks

In this article, the neural network approach is exploited for development of bias‐dependent small‐signal and noise models of a class of microwave field effect transistor (FETs) made in the same technology but differing in the gate width. The prior knowledge neural approach is applied. Introducing gate width at the input of proposed neural networks, as well as the S/noise parameters of a device that belongs to the same class as the modeled device representing the prior knowledge, leads to very accurate scattering and noise parameters' modeling, as exemplified by modeling of class of pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2013.     

HFPaC: GPU friendly height field parallel compression

In this paper, we present a novel method for fast lossy or lossless compression and decompression of regular height fields. The method is suitable for SIMD parallel implementation and thus inherently suitable for modern GPU architectures. Lossy compression is achieved by approximating the height field with a set of quadratic Bezier surfaces. In addition, lossless compression is achieved by superimposing the residuals over the lossy approximation. We validated the method’s efficiency through a CUDA implementation of compression and decompression algorithms. The method allows independent decompression of individual data points, as well as progressive decompression. Even in the case of lossy decompression, the decompressed surface is inherently seamless. In comparison with the GPU-oriented state-of-the-art method, the proposed method, combined with a widely available lossless compression method (such as DEFLATE), achieves comparable compression ratios. The method’s efficiency slightly outperforms the state-of-the-art method for very high workloads and considerably for lower workloads.     

Disquiet in the plasma

The metaphor of plasma is taken up to present and discuss movement and engagement by participants in mixed reality installation arts. Two works involving full body video portraits exhibited through large plasma screens in a variety of public settings are covered. Machinic mediations of video realism are considered in terms of embodied interaction in which viewer-participants contribute to the ‘disquiet’ of gendered figuring. Processural, proximal and personal aspects of responsive engagement are discussed. This is extended to performativity that may lead us to critical reflection of our own actions and responses in mixed reality arts.     

Collaborative spaces for GIS-based multimedia cartography in blended environments

The interaction spaces between instructors and learners in the traditional face-to-face classroom environment are being changed by the diffusion and adoption of many forms of computer-based pedagogy. An integrated understanding of these evolving interaction spaces together with how they interconnect and leverage learning are needed to develop meaningful strategies for effective teaching and learning. The 18i collaborative interaction spaces model was designed based on constructivist principles, and describes 18 mixed instructor–learner spaces contextualized at a finer operational scale that makes explicit a wider range of interactions. The model was implemented during the life cycle of an undergraduate GIS-based multimedia cartography course. One output was the generation of a repository of rule-based trajectory plans for rapid planning and problem solving. The model provides an integrated workflow to manage course contents, products, interactions, individuality, and learning styles in blended environments.