WavNet — Visual saliency detection using Discrete Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network

In the recent advancements in image and video analysis, the detection of salient regions in the image becomes the initial step. This plays a crucial role in deciding the performance of such algorithms. In this work, a Multi-Resolution Feature Extraction (MRFE) technique that makes use of Discrete Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network (DWCNN) for generating features is employed. An Enhanced Feature Extraction (EFE) module extracts additional features from the high level features of the DWCNN, which are used to frame both channel as well as spatial attention models for yielding contextual attention maps. A new hybrid loss function is also proposed, which is a combination of Balanced Cross Entropy (BCE) loss and Edge based Structural Similarity (ESSIM) loss that effectively identifies and segments the salient regions with clear boundaries. The method is tested exhaustively with five different benchmark datasets and is proved superior to the existing state-of-the-art methods with a minimum Mean Absolute error (MAE) of 0.03 and F-measure of 0.956.     

Enhancement of process modelling and simulation evaluation by deploying a test for assessment and feedback individualisation

This paper demonstrates a novel approach for a computer-based course assessment. A test is introduced in which computers are deployed. This significantly contributes to the enhancement of the marking consistency, individual performance distinction and feedbacks, and widen the questions range for computer-based modules. The proposed test method, for the first time, uses the simulation files marking for individualised evaluation purposes. The methodology has successfully been implemented in practice for three modules including Process Simulation (CE2105), Advanced Process Simulation (CE4023), and Process Computation (CE3021) at Aston University (UK) over three academic years, from 2016 to 2019. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been evaluated using several factors, including final marks, consistency multiple academic years, and mark distribution. In contrast to the common teamwork assessments, individualised feedback became possible. While ASPEN has been used for CE4023 and CE2105 tests, MATLAB has been applied as the computation platform for CE3021 module. This reveals the applicability of different software in proposed methodology. The number of students in the cohorts studied was from 52 to 204, demonstrating the applicability of the method for various cohort sizes. Even though the methodology has been demonstrated based on the chemical engineering discipline modules, it allows digitalising the delivery and assessment of a wide range of simulation techniques in many disciplines.     

Optimized microwave absorption properties by tailoring the morphology of carbon coated TiC nanoparticles by N2 pressure

Increasing the dielectric loss capacity plays an important role in enhancing the electromagnetic absorption performance of materials. It remains a challenge to simultaneously introduce multiple types of dielectric losses in the material. In this work, we show that the atomic and interfacial dipole polarizations can be simultaneously enhanced by substituting N species into both carbon coating layers and bulk TiC lattices of a core-shell TiC@C material. Additionally, substitution of N species results more exposed TiC(111) facets and refines the TiC grain sizes in the bulk material, which is beneficial for enhancing the scattering of the external electromagnetic waves. The maximum reflection loss of the N substituted TiC@C material is measured as ?47.1 dB with an effective absorbing bandwidth of 4.83 GHz at 1.9 mm, which illustrates a valuable way to further tuning the electromagnetic absorption performance of this type of materials.     

Nonlinear dielectric response and positive dielectric tunability in antipolar CaTiSiO5

Dielectric tunability has been extensively investigated in ferroelectric materials, which exhibit a negative tunability of dielectric permittivity in an external electric field. In contrast, positive tunability is rare and has been reported only in a few antiferroelectric materials. We present positive (and negative) tunability in the titanite, CaTiSiO₅. The dielectric property of CaTiSiO₅ was measured up to an extraordinarily high electric field of 40 MV/m. A nonlinear polarization field loop with no hysteresis was obtained. The dielectric permittivity of ε_r ~ 25 increases up to ε_r ~ 40 at 20 MV/m and room temperature. Although titanite has an antipolar structure and is expected to be “antiferroelectric,” its dielectric response in high electric fields up to ~40 MV/m differs from that of conventional antiferroelectrics. We demonstrate that the phase-transition temperature and dielectric tunability could be modulated through the chemical substitution of Ca_1−xLa_xTiSi_1−xAl_xO₅, in which the destabilization of the long-range antipolar order is revealed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. These results indicate that the observed dielectric response to an electric field may originate from the unique features of the antipolar and domain structures in CaTiSiO₅.     

基于测绘地理信息技术的涉地税源风险识别模式应用研究

为解决沧州市涉地税源管理手段单一等问题,文中提出以测绘地理信息技术为支撑,通过对多源数据组织管理,建立风险分析指标,采用多种GIS空间分析方法构建了涉地风险税源识别模式并在沧州进行应用。结果表明:该模式能有效识别多种涉地风险,为涉地税源管理提供了支撑。     

Use of a smartphone-based Student Response System in large active-learning Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics classrooms

Smartphones are a promising tool as student response systems (SRS) for interactive teaching due to their widespread diffusion. Here, the main purpose is to assess the efficacy of smartphone-based SRS in large classroom settings of undergraduate Thermodynamics, as representative of engineering courses requiring high-level cognitive skills for problem solving. Four sets of multiple-choice questions were presented during the course. Overall, the results refer to 1055 students between control and SRS classes, each corresponding to a3 years period.One of the main results of this work is the strong linear correlation between the average questionnaire score and the final exam grade (R² = 0.91). A similar correlation, although with a lower value of R², is already found in the first questionnaire, thus showing the SRS high predictive power of class performance. The results of this study provide guidance for a quantitative use of smartphone-based SRS in teaching basic disciplines. The SRS monitoring capability allows early detection of struggling students, thus paving the way to personalized tutoring and improved student engagement in active learning practices. This approach is especially important in emergency situations, such as the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, when distance learning is widely adopted, and remote interactive tools are highly needed.     

碳中和背景下配电网差异化节能降耗潜力评估分

为了提高配电网差异化节能降耗效果，解决现有潜力评估方法存在的应用性能差的问题，提出碳中和背景下配电网差异化节能降耗潜力优化评估方法。根据配电网的空间结构，构建相应的等值电路模型。在该模型下，从设备损耗和运行附加损耗2个方面计算配电网的损耗量。根据损耗量计算结果，确定配电网差异化碳中和节能降耗方式。从静态和动态2个角度设置潜力评估指标，通过指标数据处理、指标权重求解等步骤，得出配电网差异化节能降耗潜力的综合量化评估结果。将设计潜力评估方法应用到配电网的差异化节能降耗改造工作中，能够有效降低配电网的实际线损量、降低区域损耗费用，并具有较高的应用价值。     

地表径流速度对城市内涝影响规律

为分析地表径流速度对城市内涝的影响,采用一维地下排水管网与二维城区地形的动态耦合模型,选取大连市某排水区块作为研究区域,设置4种地表径流速度10种设计降雨场景,模拟分析在不同重现期设计降雨及不同地表径流速度下研究区的内涝积水特性。结果表明:随着地表径流速度降低,管道排水压力变小,管道排水达标率最高可提升48.05%,且降雨重现期越短,地表径流流速对管道排水压力的削减效果越明显;地表径流流速对检查井溢流量影响显著,随着地表径流速度降低,检查井溢流量峰值最高可减小2 750 m~3,峰现时间最长可滞后56 min,同时随着降雨重现期增长,地表径流流速对检查井溢流量的削减效果减弱;研究区低、高风险区淹没面积随地表径流速度降低,最高可分别减小1.64万、8.37万m~2,但中风险区淹没面积变化反复。     

Theoretical estimation of dielectric loss of oxide glasses using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations

To theoretically explore amorphous materials with a sufficiently low dielectric loss, which are essential for next-generation communication devices, the applicability of a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation employing an external alternating electric field was examined using alkaline silicate glass models. In this method, the dielectric loss is directly evaluated as the phase shift of the dipole moment from the applied electric field. This method enabled us to evaluate the dielectric loss in a wide frequency range from 1 GHz to 10 THz. It was observed that the dielectric loss reaches its maximum at a few THz. The simulation method was found to qualitatively reproduce the effects of alkaline content and alkaline type on the dielectric loss. Furthermore, it reasonably reproduced the effect of mixed alkalines on the dielectric loss, which was observed in our experiments on sodium and/or potassium silicate glasses. Alkaline mixing was thus found to reduce the dielectric loss.     

关于COVID-19、膜脂质与公众健康（网络首发、推荐阅读）

冠状病毒具有一层脂质膜。虽然复制需要劫持宿主的RNA工具来合成病毒体蛋白，但必须将其包裹在脂质膜中，促其萌生以扩展感染。最近研究表明，某些必需脂肪酸可以抑制其复制活性。脂质膜通常被认为是水溶物的脂肪屏障，但它对细胞和亚细胞的功能是高度有序和组分特异性的，其对病毒外壳可能也有最佳的特异性。虽然复制中DNA、RNA和蛋白质组成不受饮食影响，但脂质膜受其影响。此外，自1960年代以来，人们就知道男性对这些必需脂肪酸和膜完整性不足的敏感性高于女性。有证据表明，花生四烯酸和二十二碳六烯酸具有抗病毒、免疫、抗炎、控制血压和消退素活性，因此，迫切需要考察它们在Covid-19预防和治疗中的地位，也需重新评估现行的膳食指导。当前，有关脑、神经、血管和免疫系统等富含膜系统对脂质需求还尚未被详细认识。毫无疑问，这些脂质在几百万年来塑造人类基因组方面具有重要意义，因此，如果这些膜脂质失衡将会使人类面临机体紊乱和感染风险，且男性比女性风险更大。