Mutual information maximizing GAN inversion for real face with identity preservation

Recent generative adversarial networks (GANs) have yielded remarkable performance in face image synthesis. GAN inversion embeds an image into the latent space of a pretrained generator, enabling it to be used for real face manipulation. However, current inversion approaches for real faces suffer the dilemma of initialization collapse and identity loss. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical GAN inversion for real faces with identity preservation based on mutual information maximization. We first use a facial domain guaranteed initialization to avoid the initialization collapse. Furthermore, we prove that maximizing the mutual information between inverted faces and their identities is equivalent to minimizing the distance between identity features from inverted and original faces. Optimization for real face inversion with identity preservation is implemented on this mutual information-maximizing constraint. Extensive experimental results show that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art solutions for inverting and editing real faces, particularly in terms of face identity preservation.     

Accelerating the decarbonization of carbonaceous gold ore by suspension oxidation roasting towards the improvement of gold leaching efficiency

Eliminating the gold preg-robbing effect of carbonaceous matter in carbonaceous gold ores is crucial for gold leaching. In this study, suspension oxidation roasting was proposed to accelerate the decarbonization of carbonaceous gold ore. The characteristics of oxidation reaction process and gas release were analyzed by TG-DTA-FTIR. The phase transformation and microstructure evolution of samples during roasting were analyzed by XRD, SEM and BET. The results show that the gold preg-robbing effect was eliminated after the gasification of carbonaceous matter, and the CaO generated by decomposition of carbonates can effectively capture the SO₂. After roasting for 75 min at 650 °C in a 20% O₂ atmosphere, the total carbon removal rate reached 99.42%, the distribution of exposed gold increased from 28.85% to 77.10% and the gold leaching efficiency increased from 4.55% to 84.83%. In addition, about 70% sulfur was mainly fixed in the roasted products in the form of sulfate. Therefore, the suspension oxidation roasting process is an efficient and clean pretreatment method for carbonaceous gold ores.     

Phase composition and property evolution of (Yb1−xHox)2Si2O7 solid solution as environmental/thermal barrier coating candidates

RE disilicates are good candidates as environmental/thermal barrier coating for SiC_f/SiC composite in harsh gas turbine engines. We designed (Yb_1?xHo_x)₂Si₂O₇ solid solutions and studied mechanical properties, thermal properties, and water vapor resistance. Powders with different compositions were synthesized by pressureless sintering, and bulk samples were prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). Polymorphic changes with temperature and composition of the solid solutions were examined. Through doping Ho into Yb₂Si₂O₇, water vapor corrosion resistance is significantly promoted, and thermal expansion coefficient is maintained close to that of Si-based ceramics. Compared with host disilicates, thermal conductivity of solid solutions are decreased, and mechanical properties, including Vickers hardness and fracture toughness, are increased. A two-phase domain is found at (Yb_1/2Ho_1/2)₂Si₂O₇, and the γ to δ phase transition of Ho₂Si₂O₇ is observed during SPS. Among all samples, γ-(Yb_1/3Ho_2/3)₂Si₂O₇ possesses superior high temperature stability, and excellent water vapor resistance, indicating its performance as environmental/thermal barrier coating.     

Thermal properties of hierarchical YSZ and LZO ceramic microspheres with multi-scaled voids investigated by using theoretical,experimental and simulation methods

Heat transfer within ceramic feedstock powders is still unclear, which impedes optimization of the thermal and mechanical properties of the thermal sprayed coatings. The microspheres (yttria-stabilized zirconia YSZ and lanthanum zirconate LZO) were prepared via the electro-spraying assisted phase inversion method (ESP). The thermal properties of the two ESP microspheres and a commercial hollow spherical powder (HOSP) were investigated by using theoretical, experimental, and simulation methods. Thermal conductivity of the single microsphere was estimated via a novel nest model that was derived from the Maxwell-Eucken 1 and the EMT model. Thermal conductivity of a single YSZ/LZO-ESP microsphere prepared at 1100–1200 °C was within 0.36–0.75 W/m K, which was ～ 20 % lower than that of a single YSZ-HOSP microsphere with a similar porosity. Heat flux simulation showed that high tortuosity around the multi-scaled voids of the ESP microsphere led to a more efficient decrease in thermal conductivity compared with total porosity.     

Directional separation of hydrogen-containing gas mixture by hydrate-membrane coupling method

Recovery of hydrogen (H₂) from H₂-containing gas mixtures has great significance for energy conservation, cost reduction and benefit increase. However, the common separation methods have the ubiquitous problem due to phase equilibrium principle and results in the conflict between H₂ concentration and H₂ recovery rate in the product gas. Consequently, an innovative conception of hydrate-membrane coupling approach is proposed in this work. In the separation process, hydration and membrane permeation two separation driving forces coexist to achieve the aim of strengthening mass transfer kinetics. H₂ and non-H₂ components (hydrocarbons) are synchronously and directionally selected by membrane and hydrate to improve different phase compositions. Therefore, the gas in feed side could keep relatively high two separation driving forces (H₂ fugacity and hydrocarbons fugacity). The results show that the coupling method could synchronously increase both the concentration and the recovery rate of H₂ in the product gas. At the same time, the volume and concentration of the hydrocarbons in hydrate both increases effectively. It indicates that hydrate and membrane separation methods support each other in the separation process. The hydrate-membrane coupling method fundamentally solves the issue of the decreasing driving force resulting from single separation method and phase equilibrium relationship.     

Understanding δ-Bi2O3 fluorite degradation mechanism and related solutions for promising applications in distributed multigeneration

Oxygen selective membrane on the base of cermet δ-Bi₂O₃/Ag with an interpenetrating structure has the maximum potential efficiency of air separation. However, the degradation processes, including the phase degradation of fluorite δ-Bi₂O₃, do not make it possible to create a membrane with the required perfection and durability. In this work, the ordering of oxygen vacancies with the transformation of fluorite into the rhombohedral phase (S.G. R-3) was studied by powder HT XRD in situ at 600 °C on dense Bi_0.78Er_0.2Hf_0.02O_1.51 ceramics. Fast regeneration of disordered fluorite occurs at T = 640–700 °C. The phase degradation of fluorite due to the segregation of dopants at the second stage leads into stable phases - sillenite, tetragonal or rhombohedral phase (S.G. R-3m), depending on the composition of δ-Bi₂O₃. Fast regeneration of fluorite occurs when heated to 820 °C, which is unacceptable for membranes. Analysis of all available data allows us to propose approaches to optimize the composition of δ-Bi₂O₃ and technical solutions for creating durable oxygen selective membranes with promising use in distributed multigeneration. As a result of the analysis, a new solid electrolyte with better parameters was obtained.     

Behavior of phase transformation of Baotou mixed rare earth concentrate during oxidation roasting

Based on the new process named “Combination Method” for metallurgy and separation of Baotou mixed rare earth concentrate (BMREC), the aim of this paper is to clearly elucidate the phase change behavior of BMREC without additives during oxidative roasting at 450–800 °C. The results indicate that the bastnaesite in BMREC is decomposed at 450–550 °C, the weight loss is about 10.3 wt%, and the activation energy (E) is 144 kJ/mol. The bastnaesite in BMREC is decomposed into rare earth fluoride, rare earth oxides (La₂O₃, Ce₇O₁₂, Pr₆O₁₁ and Nd₂O₃), and CO₂, particularly, with the increase of roasting temperature, bastnaesite in BMREC is more completely decomposed into LaF₃, which causes a decrease in leaching rate of La during the HCl leaching process. Additionally, the maximum cerium oxidation efficiency reaches about 60 wt% when the roasting temperature is equal to or above 500 °C, and the oxidation reaction rate of cerium increases with the increasing roasting temperature.     

Three distinct optical-switching states in phase-change materials containing impurities:From physical origin to material design

Ge2Sb2Tes is the most widely utilized chalcogenide phase-change material for non-volatile photonic applications,which undergoes amorphous-cubic and cubic-hexagonal phase transition under external excitations.However,the cubic-hexagonal optical contrast is negligible,only the amorphous-cubic phase transition of Ge2Sb2Te5 is available.This limits the optical switching states of traditional active dis-plays and absorbers to two.We find that increasing structural disorder difference of cubic-hexagonal can increase optical contrast close to the level of amorphous-cubic.Therefore,an amorphous-cubic-hexagonal phase transition with high optical contrast is realized.Using this phase transition,we have developed display and absorber with three distinct switching states,improving the switching perfor-mance by 50％.Through the combination of first-principle calculations and experiments,we reveal that the key to increasing structural disorder difference of amorphous,cubic and hexagonal phases is to intro-duce small interstitial impurities(like N)in Ge2Sb2Tes,rather than large substitutional impurities(like Ag)previously thought.This is explained by the formation energy and lattice distortion.Based on the impurity atomic radius,interstitial site radius and formation energy,C and B are also potential suit-able impurities.In addition,introducing interstitial impurities into phase-change materials with van der Waals gaps in stable phase such as GeSb4Te7,GeSb2Te4,Ge3Sb2Te6,Sb2Te3 will produce high optical con-trast amorphous-metastable-stable phase transition.This research not only reveals the important role of interstitial impurities in increasing the optical contrast between metastable-stable phases,but also proposes varieties of candidate matrices and impurities.This provides new phase-change materials and design methods for non-volatile optical devices with multi-switching states.     

Phase composition,microstructure and thermophysical properties of the Srx(Zr0.9Y0.05Yb0.05)O1.95+x ceramics

Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7) ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction sintering. The sintered Sr_1.0(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.95 is a single-phase solid solution while the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9?0.7) are composites, and a significant grain growth inhibition is observed in the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9). Rare-earth elements distribution in the bulk materials indicates that Yb and Y preferentially substitute Zr-sites in SrZrO₃, and the highest solubility of RE₂O₃ in pure SrZrO₃ is ～0.8 mol%. The sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x have high thermal expansion coefficients up to ～11.0×10^?6 K^-1 (1200°C). Sr_0.8(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.75 has the lowest thermal conductivity of 1.38 W·m^-1·K^-1 at 800°C. Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) show no phase transition from 600 to 1400°C, whereas Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9, 0.8) have excellent high-temperature phase stability over the whole investigated temperature range. Therefore, Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) are considered as promising TBCs materials that might be operated at higher temperatures compared to YSZ.     

The thermochromic characteristics of Zn-doped VO2 that were prepared by the hydrothermal and post-annealing process and their polyurethane composite films

In this paper, Zn-doped VO₂ nanoparticles have been successfully fabricated by a two-step hydrothermal-annealing process, and the thermally induced visible light transmittance enhancement of Zn-doped VO₂ has been studied for the first time. It is found that Zn-doped VO₂ not only exhibits excellent solar modulation ability (ΔT_sol = 15.27%) but also can reduce the phase transition temperature and increase the visible light transmittance after the heat-induced phase transition (ΔT_lum=+5.78%). Moreover, with the increase of Zn doping concentration, the phase transition temperature (T_c) and phase transition hysteresis (ΔT) both decrease. It is shown that the Zn-doped VO₂-PU films not only have good solar light modulation ability and properties of improving visible light transmission after phase transition, but also have good durability. The research result is of great significance for improving the visible light transmittance after phase transition and realizing the practical application of VO₂ in the field of smart windows.