Sequential Data Fusion via Vector Spaces: Fusion of Heterogeneous Data in the Complex Domain

A sequential data fusion approach via higher dimensional vector spaces is introduced. This is achieved by making use of the representation of directional signals within the field of complex numbers $C$ . The concept of data fusion is next introduced and the place of the proposed approach within that framework is identified. The benefits of such an approach are illustrated and a range of possible applications is shown. The concept introduced is supported by a real world case study which focuses on simultaneous forecasting of wind speed and direction. The architectures and learning algorithms which support this concept are introduced and their distributed sequential fusion nature is highlighted.     

Electrochemically grown Pd nanoparticles used for synthesis of carbon nanotube by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Pd nanoparticles of well-defined shapes with face centered cubic structure were grown electrochemically on silicon substrates with high degree of reproducibility. As direct application of these electrochemically grown Pd nanostructures they have been used as catalyst for the growth of multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT). It is observed that the MWCNTs are filled with a Pd based material during growth by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) technique. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, used to study the material inside MWCNT suggests the formation of PdH0.649 or Pd2Si during the growth of carbon nanotube. Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the structure of the MPECVD grown carbon nanotubes.     

A study on the preparation of supported metal oxide catalysts using JRC-reference catalysts. I. Preparation of a molybdena–alumina catalyst. Part 4. Preparation parameters and impact index

The effects of the volume and pH of the impregnation solution and of the calcination conditions were examined on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of a 13 wt% MoO₃/Al₂O₃ extrudate catalyst. The Al₂O₃ support and drying procedures (static conditions without flowing air) were fixed in the preparations. In the present series of catalysts, the amount of crystalline MoO₃ was marginally small. It was found that the dispersion of Mo oxide species increased as the volume of the impregnation solution increased, gradually approaching a maximum value. The increase in pH (2–8) of the impregnation solution was found to reduce the dispersion of Mo oxide species. The Mo dispersion increased slightly for the impregnation catalysts as the calcination temperature increased (673–873 K), whereas it decreased for the equilibrium adsorption catalysts. The effects of the calcination atmosphere (with or without flowing air, or with flowing humid air) were very small on the dispersion of Mo oxide species under the present preparation conditions. On the other hand, the methanol oxidation activity of MoO₃/Al₂O₃ was sensitive to the preparation parameters examined here. It was demonstrated by means of EPMA and XPS that a considerable migration of Mo took place during the calcination.

In the present study on the preparation of a 13 wt% MoO₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst, an impact index is proposed to measure the magnitude of the effects of the respective parameter(s) on the physicochemical and catalytic properties. With the Mo dispersion, the effects of the preparation parameter decreased in the order, surface area of the support >> drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination temperature and atmosphere. The size of the impact index for the dispersion of Mo sulfide species is 70–75% of that for the Mo oxide species. The HDS activity of the catalyst was less affected by the preparation parameters than the Mo sulfide dispersion. The preparation parameters affected the segregation of Mo on the outer surface of extrudates in a decreasing order: drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination conditions. It was found that the oxidation of methanol was affected most intensely by the drying procedures. The volume of the impregnation solution, calcination conditions and pH of the impregnation solution also strongly affected the oxidation activity. The impact index suggests that the sensitivity to the preparation variables of the physicochemical and catalytic properties of MoO₃/Al₂O₃ decreases in the order, methanol oxidation activity > surface Mo segregation > Mo oxide dispersion > Mo sulfide dispersion > HDS activity.     

Processing of Oriented K(Ta,Nb)O3 Films Using Chemical Solution Deposition

K(Ta,Nb)O₃ (KTN) thin films have been prepared by the chemical solution deposition method. KTN precursors consisted of a uniform mixture of K[Ta(OC₂H₅)₆] and K[Nb(OC₂H₅)₆] with interaction at the molecular level. Perovskite KTN thin films with the desired composition (Ta/Nb = 65/35, 50/50, and 35/65) were synthesized from the precursor solutions by the dip coating method. KTN thin films with (100) preferred orientation were successfully synthesized on MgO(100) and Pt(100)/MgO(100) substrates. X-ray pole figure measurements showed that grains of KTN films had a prominent three-dimensional regularity on MgO(100) and Pt(100)/MgO(100) surfaces. The Curie temperatures of KTN films decreased with increasing Ta/Nb ratio. Typical P-E hysteresis loops were observed for KTN thin films of three compositions on Pt(100)/MgO(100) substrates. The values of remanent polarization ( P _r) of KTN films increased as the Ta/Nb ratio changed from 65/35 to 35/65.     

Grain growth and grain orientation distribution of Al-Mg alloys

Grain growth behaviour of Al–Mg alloys containing 0.3, 2.7 and mass% Mg was investigated focusing on the spatial distribution of grain orientation and grain boundary character. In Al–0.3 mass% Mg alloy the cube texture developed at the first stage and then the texture declined accompanied with abnormal grain growth of non-cube grains at the second stage. The development of cube grains was suppressed by an increase of solute Mg atoms. The texture change depended strongly on spatial distribution of grain boundary character and cube clusters.     

Role of Cu film texture in grain growth correlated with twin boundary formation

To understand the role of Cu film texture in grain growth at room temperature (RT) in relation to twin boundary formation Cu films were deposited on various barrier materials and the Cu film texture was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Cu grain growth was rapid on a barrierless SiO₂/Si substrate and very slow on a Ta barrier due to strong (1 1 1) texture. The growth rate and the average grain diameter after being kept at RT for up to ∼60 days were maximum at a (2 0 0)_Cu peak to (2 2 2)_Cu peak area ratio of ∼1.0, where {1 1 1}, {1 0 0} and {5 1 1} grains coexisted. Such coexistence of three or more orientations of grains is essential in facilitating Cu grain growth at RT. Similarly, the average twin boundary (TB) density was maximum when Cu grain growth was facilitated. TB formation in nano-sized Cu grains was not controlled by grain size, but due to grain growth. The TB could be annealing twins caused by irregularities in the stacking sequence during relatively fast grain growth. The Cu film texture is concluded to be determined at the beginning of deposition, and the wettability of various barrier materials by the Cu films plays a key role in determining the film texture.     

Piecewise affine systems modelling for optimizing hormone therapy of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in men with an overall incidence of approximately 15 per cent during the normal life span. Androgen-deprivation therapy (hormone therapy) is an effective treatment of this disease when progressed to an advanced stage. Despite impressive responses, such treatment when applied on a continuous basis is not curative and eventually culminates in androgen-independent disease. On the other hand, intermittent androgen suppression (IAS) was first conceived as a potential way of delaying progression to androgen-independence, in addition offering the possibility of reducing adverse effects and improving the quality of life. Although the validity of this approach has been confirmed in several clinical studies, the optimal scheduling of the cycles of on- and off-treatment remains to be explored. In the present article, we show that IAS lends itself to mathematical modelling with hybrid dynamical systems and that the model we have developed can be used to select the best strategy for keeping prostate cancer in an androgen-dependent state as long as possible. Our results also suggest that the current way of using IAS exceeds what is necessary for optimal control; in fact, we have found that to achieve optimal control, the amount of therapy (dose and duration of drugs) can be reduced by a factor of one half.     

Gaze direction modulates the disengagement of attention from facial expression in 10-month-olds.

This study investigated whether the disengagement of attention from facial expression is modulated by gaze direction in infants. To this end, we measured the saccadic reaction time required for the 10-month-olds to disengage their attention from angry and happy expressions combined with either straight or averted gaze. The 10-month-olds' disengagement of their attention from happy faces was modulated by gaze direction. This finding indicates that gaze direction strongly influences infants' allocation of attention to facial expressions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dislocation Structures in a Cyclically Deformed Single-Slip-Oriented Fe-35?wt?pct Cr Alloy Single Crystal Containing Fine Cr-Rich Precipitates

The dislocation structures induced by the cyclic deformation of a $ [\bar{1}49] $ single-slip-oriented Fe-35?wt?pct Cr alloy single crystals containing fine Cr-rich precipitates have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) over the plastic strain amplitude ?? _pl range of 5?×?10^?4 to 5?×?10^?3. Persistent slip bands (PSBs) with different structures, such as ladder-like structure, irregular ladders, elongated cells, etc., were observed to form at plastic strain amplitudes ranging from 5.0?×?10^?4 to 2.5?×?10^?3, and the volume fraction of PSBs increases with increasing ?? _pl. As ?? _pl is as high as 5.0?×?10^?3, dislocation cells dominate the microstructure, even though a small amount of irregular PSB ladder structures still exists and they tend to evolve as labyrinth-like structures. The instability of Cr-rich precipitates during cyclic straining was believed to facilitate the formation of PSBs and thus promote some similarities of cyclic deformation characteristics between the current body-centered cubic (bcc) Fe-Cr single crystals and face-centered cubic (fcc) metal crystals. Whatever the internal structure of PSBs is, they could always carry the majority of the plastic strain in the course of cyclic deformation, thus causing the occurrence of a stress plateau region in the cyclic stress?Cstrain (CSS) curve of Fe-Cr alloy single crystals.