2‐D/3‐D switchable displays

Abstract— In this paper, the design of a lenticular‐based 2‐D/3‐D display for mobile applications is described. This display combines look‐around capability with good 3‐D resolution. In order to allow high‐resolution datagraphic applications, a concept based on actively switched lenses has been developed. A very noticeable problem for such displays is the occurrence of dark bands. Despite slanting the lenticular and defocusing the lens, banding becomes unacceptable when the display is viewed from an angle. As a solution, fractional viewing systems to reduce the banding intensity by almost two orders of magnitude is introduced. The resulting 3‐D display can be viewed from any horizontal direction without banding.     

Distributed algorithms for barrier coverage using relocatable sensors

We study the barrier coverage problem using relocatable sensor nodes. We assume each sensor can sense an intruder or event inside its sensing range. Sensors are initially located at arbitrary positions on the barrier and can move along the barrier. The goal is to find final positions for sensors so that the entire barrier is covered. In recent years, the problem has been studied extensively in the centralized setting. In this paper, we study a barrier coverage problem in the distributed and discrete setting. We assume that we have n identical sensors located at grid positions on the barrier, and that each sensor repeatedly executes a Look-Compute-Move cycle: based on what it sees in its vicinity, it makes a decision on where to move, and moves to its next position. We make two strong but realistic restrictions on the capabilities of sensors: they have a constant visibility range and can move only a constant distance in every cycle. In this model, we give the first two distributed algorithms that achieve barrier coverage for a line segment barrier when there are enough nodes in the network to cover the entire barrier. Our algorithms are synchronous, and local in the sense that sensors make their decisions independently based only on what they see within their constant visibility range. One of our algorithms is oblivious whereas the other uses two bits of memory at each sensor to store the type of move made in the previous step. We show that our oblivious algorithm terminates within \(\varTheta (n^2)\) steps with the barrier fully covered, while the constant-memory algorithm is shown to take \(\varTheta (n)\) steps to terminate in the worst case. Since any algorithm in which a sensor can only move a constant distance in one step requires \(\varOmega (n)\) steps on some inputs, our second algorithm is asymptotically optimal.     

Link-Node Characterization for Energy-Efficient Communication in a Static Random Wireless Sensor Network

Studies of wireless networks often work with a relatively high communication range so that each node typically communicates with a high number of neighbors. This is necessary, with a random placement, to avoid loss of coverage or connectivity. However, communicating through remote neighbors requires more energy, which can be a severe disadvantage since energy is often critical in this type of network. By comparing two-ranges, one to ensure coverage and one to save energy, we identify link-nodes which play an essential role to keep the network connected. Characterizing these nodes and their occurrence in communication routes will help to save energy and increase lifetime of the overall network. Without precautions, these link-nodes receive a high traffic load. Using simulations we find that slightly longer routes can avoid link-nodes and thus reduce average energy consumption. Network lifetime can be extended by identifying these nodes at startup and reducing their energy consumption wherever possible.     

Impact of growth rate on the quality of ZNS-MQW InGaAsP/InP laser structures grown by LP-MOVPE

We investigated the influence of the growth rate on the quality of zero-net-strained InGaAsP/InGaAsP/InP multiquantum well structures for 1.55 μm emission grown by low pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The samples consisted of fixed compressive strained wells (ɛ=+1%) and tensile strained barriers (ɛ=−0.5%) grown with different quaternary bandgap wavelengths (λ_B=1.1–1.4 μm). Using higher growth rates, we obtained for the first time high quality zero net strained multi quantum well structures, regardless having constant group V composition in the well and barriers. The samples were analyzed by x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and atomic force microscopy techniques. The amplitude of surface modulation roughness along [011] direction decreased from 20 nm to 0.53 nm with increasing growth rate and/or quaternary compositions grown outside the miscibility gap. A new deep PL broad emission band strongly correlated with the onset of wavy layer growth is also reported. Broad area and ridge waveguide lasers with 10 wells exhibited low losses (34 cm⁻¹) and low threshold current densities at infinite cavity length (1020 A·cm⁻² and 1190 A·cm⁻², respectively).     

Effective Natural Killer Cell Degranulation Is an Essential Key in COVID-19 Evolution

NK degranulation plays an important role in the cytotoxic activity of innate immunity in the clearance of intracellular infections and is an important factor in the outcome of the disease. This work has studied NK degranulation and innate immunological profiles and functionalities in COVID-19 patients and its association with the severity of the disease. A prospective observational study with 99 COVID-19 patients was conducted. Patients were grouped according to hospital requirements and severity. Innate immune cell subpopulations and functionalities were analyzed. The profile and functionality of innate immune cells differ between healthy controls and severe patients; CD56dim NK cells increased and MAIT cells and NK degranulation rates decreased in the COVID-19 subjects. Higher degranulation rates were observed in the non-severe patients and in the healthy controls compared to the severe patients. Benign forms of the disease had a higher granzymeA/granzymeB ratio than complex forms. In a multivariate analysis, the degranulation capacity resulted in a protective factor against severe forms of the disease (OR: 0.86), whereas the permanent expression of NKG2D in NKT cells was an independent risk factor (OR: 3.81; AUC: 0.84). In conclusion, a prompt and efficient degranulation functionality in the early stages of infection could be used as a tool to identify patients who will have a better evolution.     

Downstream environmental effects of dam operations: Changes in habitat quality for native fish species

Hydropeaking dam operation and water extractions for irrigation have been broadly stated as alterations to natural flow regimes, which have also been noticed in the Biobío Watershed, in Central Chile, since 1996. In the Biobío River, most of native fish species are endemic and very little is known about them. Their ecological and social values have never been estimated, and there is lack of information about their habitat preferences. Furthermore, changes on fish habitat availability due to natural and/or man‐made causes have not been evaluated. In this study, eight native fish species, in a representative reach of the Biobío River, were studied and their preferred habitats were surveyed and characterized. A hydrodynamic model was built and linked to the fish habitat simulation model CASiMiR. Fuzzy rules and fuzzy sets were developed for describing habitat preference of the native fish species. CASiMiR was then used to simulate how physical habitat conditions vary due to flow control (i.e. upstream dams). Results show how overall habitat quality, expressed as weighted usable area (WUA) and hydraulic habitat suitability (HHS), changes and fluctuates due to the dam operation and how the daily hydropeaking is influencing quantity, quality and location of different habitats. The study suggests that the analysed fish are highly susceptible to flow control, as dams are currently operated, and fish habitat improvement suggestions are proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of the effect of processing conditions on the co‐injection of PBS/PBAT and PTT/PBT blends for parts with increased bio‐content

This work studies the effect of processing parameters on mechanical properties and material distribution of co‐injected polymer blends within a complex mold shape. A partially bio‐sourced blend of poly(butylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) PTT/PBT was used for the core, with a tough biodegradable blend of poly (butylene succinate) and poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) PBS/PBAT for the skin. A ½ factorial design of experiments is used to identify significant processing parameters from skin and core melt temperatures, injection speed and pressure, and mold temperature. Interactions between the processing effects are considered, and the resulting statistical data produced accurate linear models indicating that the co‐injection of the two blends can be controlled. Impact strength of the normally brittle PTT/PBT blend is shown to increase significantly with co‐injection and variations in core to skin volume ratios to have a determining role in the overall impact strength. Scanning electron microscope images were taken of co‐injected tensile samples with the PBS/PBAT skin dissolved displaying variations of mechanical interlocking occurring between the two blends. © 2014 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41278.     

Optimization of the silane treatment of cellulosic fibers from eucalyptus wood using response surface methodology

Viscose cellulosic fibers from eucalyptus wood were treated with organosilanes to introduce specific functionalities on the fibers and enhance their wettability and adhesion with phenolic matrices in composites. Modeling procedures were employed to optimize the conditions of the treatments of the fibers with the silanes (3‐aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APS) and 3‐(2‐aminoethylamino) propyltrimethoxysilane (AAPS). The analyzed responses were relative intensities of the bands 1565/897 and 1120/897 cm⁻¹, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the silicon amount incorporated into the cellulosic fibers, which was determined by energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. In addition, surface morphology of the silane treated fibers was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The treatments of the cellulosic fibers with 2.2% APS for 120 min and 1.5% AAPS for 100 min were selected as optimums. According to contact angle measurements, both treatments enhanced the wettability between the fibers and a resol‐type phenolic resin, revealing the possible use of the silane treated fibers as reinforcement in phenolic composites. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42157.