Completely eliminating the metal barrier cracks on Nafion for suppressing methanol crossover with anodic aluminum oxide substrates

Methanol crossover is one of the main challenges for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Depositing a metal barrier on Nafion can reduce the crossover but usually faces the metal cracking issues. This study presents a new composite membrane in which an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate is impregnated with a Nafion solution and then coated with a layer of Au. The AAO/Nafion/Au composite membrane shows an ideal metal crack-free surface. Higher and more stable voltage has been achieved for the cell with the membrane, indicating an effectively suppressed methanol-crossover. Results reveal that there is a tradeoff between suppressing the methanol crossover and increasing the ion transmission. By optimizing the membrane, it can not only suppress the methanol crossover but also enhance the output performance of DMFCs. The current density and power density of the cells can be enhanced by 59% and 52.85%, respectively, compared to the cell with a commercial Nafion 117. Overall, this work provides a new approach to designing crack-free membranes for DMFCs.     

Multidirectional focus measure for accurate three-dimensional shape recovery of microscopic objects

Shape from focus (SFF) is a technique to recover the shape of an object from multiple images taken at various focus settings. Most of conventional SFF techniques compute focus value of a pixel by applying one of focus measure operators on neighboring pixels on the same image frame. However, in the optics with limited depth of field, neighboring pixels of an image have different degree of focus for curved objects, thus the computed focus value does not reflect the accurate focus level of the pixel. Ideally, an accurate focus value of a pixel needs to be measured from the neighboring pixels lying on tangential plane of the pixel in image space. In this article, a tangential plane on each pixel location (i, j) in image sensor is searched by selecting one of five candidate planes based on the assumption that the maximum variance of focus values along the optical axis is achieved from the neighborhood lying on tangential plane of the pixel (i, j). Then, a focus measure operator is applied on neighboring pixels lying on the searched plane. The experimental results on both the synthetic and real microscopic objects show the proposed method produces more accurate three-dimensional shape in comparison to conventional SFF method that applies focus measures on original image planes.     

A RBF based finite difference method for option pricing under regime-switching jump-diffusion model

Abstract

In this article, we presented a method for option pricing problem under regime-switching jump-diffusion models. We have proposed a numerical method for solving a partial integro-differential equation (PIDE) for pricing European option and for solving linear complementarity problem (LCP), to evaluate the price of American options. We use implicit explicit method for time semi discretization, followed by radial basis function based finite difference (RBF-FD) method for spatial discretization to solve PIDE. The proposed method is further extended to solve the LCP by coupling it with operator splitting method. Numerical simulation is done for European and American option to demonstrate efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.     

基于变异算子和邻域值自适应的MOEA/D算法

基于分解的多目标进化算法（MOEA/D）在解决多目标问题时，具有简单有效的特点。但多数MOEA/D采用固定的控制参数，导致全局搜索能力差，难以平衡收敛性和多样性。针对以上问题提出一种基于变异算子和邻域值自适应的多目标优化算法。该算法根据种群中个体适应度值的分散或集中程度进行判断，并据此对变异算子进行自适应的调节，从而增强算法的全局搜索能力；根据进化所处的阶段以及个体适应度值的集中程度，自适应地调节邻域值大小，保证每个个体在不同的进化代数都有一个邻域值大小；在子问题邻域中，统计子问题对应个体的被支配数，通过判断被支配数是否超过设定的上限，来决定是否将Pareto支配关系也作为邻域内判断个体好坏的准则之一。将提出的算法与传统的MOEA/D在标准测试问题上进行对比。实验结果表明，提出的算法求得的解集具有更好的收敛性和多样性，在求解性能上具有一定的优势。     

Fermatean fuzzy linguistic set and its application in multicriteria decision making

In this paper, we propose the concept of Fermatean fuzzy linguistic term sets based on linguistic term sets and Fermatean fuzzy sets. The basic operational laws, the score function, and the accuracy function of Fermatean fuzzy linguistic numbers are provided. Then we propose the Fermatean fuzzy linguistic weighted aggregation operator, the Fermatean fuzzy linguistic weighted geometric operator, and the Fermatean fuzzy linguistic distance measures. Furthermore, we extend the TOPSIS method to the proposed distance measures, and the ranking of alternatives is obtained under a Fermatean fuzzy linguistic environment. An example is provided to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, and a comparison with the existing method is also analyzed. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of the parameter in the proposed distance measure is also discussed.     

Multicriteria decision-making using Archimedean aggregation operators in Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy environment

In multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), the existing aggregation operators are mostly based on algebraic t-conorm and t-norm. But, Archimedean t-conorms and t-norms are the generalized forms of t-conorms and t-norms which include algebraic, Einstein, Hamacher, Frank, and other types of t-conorms and t-norms. From that view point, in this paper the concepts of Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm are introduced to aggregate Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy information. Some new operational laws for Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy numbers based on Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm have been proposed. Using those operational laws, Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm-based Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy weighted averaging operator and weighted geometric operator are developed. Some of their desirable properties have also been investigated. Afterwards, these operators are applied to solve MCDM problems in Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy environment. The developed Archimedean aggregation operators are also applicable in Pythagorean fuzzy contexts also. To demonstrate the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of the proposed method, a practical problem is considered, solved, and compared with other existing method.     

Effects of air purification of indoor PM2.5 on the cardiorespiratory biomarkers in young healthy adults

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), as one of the predominant air pollutants, has achieved effective control in recent years in China. Whether the use of indoor air purifiers is still necessary needs further exploration. A randomized crossover trial was conducted in 54 healthy students in Beijing, China. Participants were randomized assigned to the use of real or sham high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) for a week and changed the status after a washout period. Health measurements of cardiorespiratory biomarkers were performed at the end of each period. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between PM_2.5 exposure and cardiorespiratory biomarkers. Compared with sham air purification, average diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and 8-isoprostane (8-isoPGF2α) levels decreased significantly in the real purification. The effects of indoor air purification on lung function indicators including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between the 25th and 75th percentile of forced vital capacity (FEF_25%–75%) were also significant. Our findings showed a protective effect of indoor HEPA air purifiers on cardiorespiratory health of young healthy adults reflected by the decreased blood pressure, respiratory inflammation, and systematic oxidative stress and improved lung function.     

结合MNF变换和Canny算子的遥感影像变化检测

针对大面积区域的多时相遥感影像变化检测的需求，提出了一种基于最小噪声分离（MNF）的Canny边缘检测提取影像变化信息的检测方法。对多时相影像采用多种变换组合成具有多维波段信息的影像，采用最小噪声分离法分离噪声并得到单波段差异图，通过Canny边缘检测法计算梯度幅值，采用高低双阈值法细化边缘，从而提取差异图变化边缘，有效突出了变化信息。以1995年和2003年加扎勒河的两期遥感影像为例，利用两时相影像进行土地覆被变化检测。实验结果表明，该方法适用于监测大面积区域内地物的突变情况。在数据基础上进行最小噪声分离可以有效解决传统Canny边缘检测提取边缘时造成的伪边缘现象，同时采用高低双阈值法有效去除伪边缘点，从而获得更加精确、直观的变化检测效果，在自然地理变化监测、地理国情灾害监测等有很好的应用价值。     

具有双通道数据包丢失的Delta算子系统故障检测

研究同时存在双通道数据包丢失和时变时延的Delta算子网络控制系统（NCSs）故障检测问题.假定数据包丢失发生在控制器到执行器、传感器至控制器的数据传输过程中，并且利用两个相互独立的伯努利随机变量描述是否发生丢包.将上述的NCSs建模为网络切换系统，提出任意切换律下故障检测滤波器的设计方法.利用线性矩阵不等式（LMIs）方法、Lyapunov-Krasovskii泛函和平均驻留时间等得出所考虑的网络切换系统具备指数均方稳定性的充分条件.证明了所用的网络切换系统满足H_∞性能，并推导出了滤波器参数的显式表达.数值仿真结果验证了所提方法的有效性.