Compressive Stress-Strain Relationships of Two Puffed Cereals in Bulk

The compressive stress-strain relationships of two puffed cereals, rice and corn based, in bulk were determined using a Universal Testing Machine. The general sigmoid shape of the relationship could be described by a four parameter empirical model originally developed for cellular solids. Jaggedness could be expressed in terms of an apparent fractal dimension and/or the mean magnitude of the power spectrum determined using the Fast Fourier Transform. Both measures as well as a particular parameter of the empirical model were sensitive indicators of the changes in the stress-strain relationships resulting from exposure to different relative humidities. Although the stress strain relationship, especially of dry samples, had an irregular, irreprodu-cible shape, the magnitude of the two roughness measures was highly reproducible.     

Recognizing the importance of scale in the ecology and management of riverine fish

Processes affecting fish populations range in scale from local to global. Fish response is also scale‐dependent, with some activities varying locally while others depend on large‐scale connectivity within or between watersheds. These issues are still only partly recognized, with large‐scale research often affected by non‐independent sampling, weak inference, poor model testing or model over‐extrapolation. Available multi‐scale studies can reach different conclusions about factors affecting fishes from local studies, but results vary between examples. Potential explanations are (i) effects on fishes are context‐dependent; (ii) different species or life‐stages are limited in different ways; (iii) multi‐scale studies are too few for generalization. We advocate improved use of geostatistical tools to guide sampling or interpret the spatial extent of management problems, and we illustrate this using brown trout in Welsh streams. Our strongest recommendation is that fish ecologists recognize the importance of interactions across scales in quantifying effects on fishes so that management decisions can be better based on evidence rather than judgement or extrapolation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complementary metamaterial transmission line for monoband and dual‐band bandpass filters application

A novel composite right‐/left‐handed transmission line (CRLH TL) and its equivalent circuit model are proposed based on cascaded complementary single split ring resonator (CCSSRR). It features an intrinsically balanced wider band and an additional transmission zero above the right‐handed band relative to CRLH TL using complementary single split ring resonator and complementary split ring resonators. Moreover, two single negative (SN) metamaterial (MTM) TLs constructed by using complementary electric inductive‐capacitive resonator on the conductor strip and on the ground, respectively, are researched. Both SN MTM TLs exhibit electric resonance above the fundamental magnetic resonance. For application, a monoband (MB) bandpass filter (BPF) covered WLAN band, and a dual‐band (DB) BPF covered satellite DMB band and WiMAX band are designed, fabricated, and measured. The SN MTM TLs are adopted for the sake of deep and wide out‐of‐band suppression while CRLH MTM TLs using square‐shaped and Sierpinski‐shaped CCSSRR are critical factors of the MB and DB behavior. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2012.     

Hilbert‐shaped complementary ring resonator and application to enhanced‐performance low pass filter with high selectivity

In this article, a novel single negative metamaterial (MTM) transmission line (TL) consisting of a Hilbert‐shaped complementary ring resonator (H‐CRR) on the ground plane is initially presented and studied in depth. Then based on the proposed MTM TL, a novel six‐section Hi‐Lo microstrip low‐pass filter (LPF) with a cut‐off frequency 2.5 GHz is developed, fabricated, and measured. Measurement results indicate that: by integrating H‐CRR, the selectivity has been significantly improved which is 77.3 dB/GHz due to the single negative permittivity; by etching a crown square on low‐impedance section, the bandwidth characterized by 20 dB return loss was obviously enhanced by 26.2% and the maximal sidelobe level of in‐band return loss was reduced from 22 to 24.6 dB. What' more, the developed LPF achieved a 36.3% size reduction with respect to its conventional counterpart. The design concept, which was confirmed by the measurement data, is of practical value and can be popularized in other microwave devices where high selectivity is requested. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

基于GEP的分形图像压缩并行算法

传统图像压缩算法存在图像压缩率不高、寻找最优分形图像压缩编码速度慢的不足。为此,提出一种基于基因表达式编程(GEP)的分形图像压缩并行算法。分析二值图像压缩变换的求解过程,给出分形图像基因和染色体的编码表示,设计适应度函数,研究GEP遗传进化操作的编码步骤。在PC机群上的实验结果表明,与串行算法相比,该算法的图像压缩率较高、运行速度较快,具有线性加速比。     

一种基于IFS的二维真彩分形变形方法

提出了一种由迭代函数系统(IFS)所描述的二维真彩分形变形的新方法。首先建立二维真彩IFS分形模型,然后通过仿射变换的对应、规范化、匹配及插值实现了变形过程。实验结果表明:分形吸引子形状颜色过渡自然,这为分形的生成与动画提供了新的有效途径。     

基于分形理论的人体骨二维微观结构建模方法研究

利用人体骨二维微观结构多区域上的自相似这一分形特性，采用分形理论和蒙特卡罗（Monte-Carlo)模拟法来代替传统建模方法建立人体骨微观结构的二维模型。     

Scaling of quasibrittle fracture: hypotheses of invasive and lacunar fractality, their critique and Weibull connection

Considerable progress has been achieved in fractal characterization of the properties of crack surfaces in quasibrittle materials such as concrete, rock, ice, ceramics and composites. Recently, fractality of cracks or microcracks was proposed as the explanation of the observed size effect on the nominal strength of structures. This explanation, though, has rested merely on intuitive analogy and geometric reasoning, and did not take into account the mechanics of crack propagation. In this paper, the energy-based asymptotic analysis of scaling presented in the preceding companion paper in this issue [1] is extended to the effect of fractality on scaling. First, attention is focused on the propagation of fractal crack curves (invasive fractals). The modifications of the scaling law caused by crack fractality are derived, both for quasibrittle failures after large stable crack growth and for failures at the initiation of a fractal crack in the boundary layer near the surface. Second, attention is focused on discrete fractal distribution of microcracks (lacunar fractals), which is shown to lead to an analogy with Weibull's statistical theory of size effect due to material strength randomness. The predictions ensuing from the fractal hypothesis, either invasive or lacunar, disagree with the experimentally confirmed asymptotic characteristics of the size effect in quasibrittle structures. It is also pointed out that considering the crack curve as a self-similar fractal conflicts with kinematics. This can be remedied by considering the crack to be an affine fractal. It is concluded that the fractal characteristics of either the fracture surface or the microcracking at the fracture front cannot have a significant influence on the law of scaling of failure loads, although they can affect the fracture characteristics. Walter P. Murphy, Professor| of This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.