The influence of mood on categorization: A cognitive flexibility interpretation.

Three experiments test the hypothesis that positive mood facilitates cognitive flexibility in categorization. Study 1 used a sorting task and found that positive mood subjects in relation to subjects in other mood states, formed fewer (broader) categories when focusing on similarities among exemplars and more (narrower) categories when focusing on differences. Study 2 used a within-subject design and assessed more direct measures of flexibility. Study 2 found that compared with neutral mood subjects, positive mood subjects (a) perceived a greater number of both similarities and differences between items, (b) accessed more distinct types of similarities and differences, and (c) listed more novel and creative similarities and differences. Study 3 demonstrated that these effects occur for both positive (mood-congruent) and neutral stimuli and identified intrinsic interest in the task as a possible mediating factor. The implications of these findings for understanding the effects of mood on cognitive organization and processing are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An algebraic approach to H∞ output feedback control problems

We derive an output feedback controller which stabilizes a system and satisfies a prescribed H_∞ norm bound of the closed loop transfer function. The proposed design method is available for any system, i.e. there are no restrictions on D₁₂ and D₂₁. This approach utilizes only algebraic operations, thus proofs are simple and clear.     

High-Speed and Compact Quenching Circuit for Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes

In this paper, an innovative active-quenching and recharging circuit for single-photon avalanche diodes is presented. The proposed driver is very fast and extremely compact. It is based on a novel quenching paradigm that heavily reduces dead time, which now is only limited by the sensor rather than the circuit itself. To test speed performance, we designed the circuit with a dielectrically insulated 2-mum technology supplied by ST Microelectronics and carried out postlayout simulations using SPECTRE. Moreover, the functionality of the circuit was also validated with experimental measurements on a medium scale integration (MSI) discrete implementation.     

EB-PVD process and thermal properties of hafnia-based thermal barrier coating

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are being developed for the key technology of gas turbine and diesel engine applications. In general, 8 mass% Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (8YSZ) coating materials are used as the top coating of TBCs. The development of hafnia-based TBC was started in order to realize the high reliability and durability in comparison with 8YSZ, and the 7.5 mass% Y₂O₃–HfO₂ (7.5YSH) was selected for coating material. By the investigation of electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) process using 7.5YSH ceramic ingot, 7.5YSH top coating with about 200 µm thickness could be formed. The microstructure of the 7.5YSH coated at coating temperature of 850 °C showed columnars of laminated thin crystals. On the other hand, the structure of the 7.5YSH coated at coating temperature of 950 °C showed solid columnars. From the result of sintering behavior obtained by heating test of 7.5YSH coating, it was recognized that the thermal durability of 7.5YSH coating was improved up to about 100 °C in comparison with 8YSZ coating. This tendency was confirmed by the experimental result of the thermal expansion characteristics of sintered 7.5YSH and 8YSZ.

©2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Gate oxide reliability concerns in gate-metal sputtering deposition process: an effect of low-energy large-mass ion bombardment

The effects of ion species/ion bombardment energy in sputtering deposition process on gate oxide reliability have been experimentally investigated. The use of xenon (Xe) plasma instead of argon (Ar) plasma in tantalum (Ta) film sputtering deposition for gate electrode formation makes it possible to minimize the plasma-induced gate oxide damage. The Xe plasma process exhibits 1.5 times higher breakdown field and five times higher 50%-charge-to-breakdown (Q_BD). In the gate-metal sputtering deposition process, the physical bombardment of energetic ion causes to generate hole traps in gate oxide, resulting in the lower gate oxide reliability. The simplified model providing a better understanding of the empirical relation between the gate oxide damage and the ion-bombardment energy to gate oxide in gate-metal sputtering deposition process is also presented.     

Effect of Polarization Mode Coupling on Extrema Counting Fixed Analyzer PMD Measurement Method

We describe the effect of polarization mode coupling in the single-mode optical fibers on the extrema counting fixed analyzer (FA) polarization mode dispersion (PMD) measurement method. We define the polarization mode coupling coefficient for the over (or under) estimation which occurs with the FA method. We investigate the polarization mode coupling coefficient experimentally by comparison with the air-path (cross-correlation) type interferometric PMD measurement method. Moreover, we discuss the polarization mode coupling experimentally as well as analytically by using pseudo-polarization mode coupling which we obtained by splicing highly birefringent (B  4.5 × 10 ^− 4) polarization maintaining fibers (PMFs) with the random splice angles. The results show that the PMD τ of the single-mode optical fibers which has random polarization mode coupling can be approximated by multiplying the PMD τ obtained using the FA method with the random polarization mode coupling coefficient k  0.82.     

Shear Stress Relaxation of Native and Modified Potato Starch Gels

Shear stress relaxation measurements were used to characterize native potato starch gels, and modified gels, such as starch acetate, distarch phosphate, dihydroxypropyl distarch phosphate and lipid coated starch. It was found that cross-linking and lipid coating greatly increased the stiffness of the gels, which was observed as increased relaxation modulus (G). These gels behaved like viscoelastic solids, which was observed as increased relaxation times (T½) and increased apparent residual moduls (G∞). During ageing, an increase in G and T½ as well as in G∞ was observed for the native starch, the starch acetate and the distarch phosphate. The hydroxypropoyl distarch phosphate and the lipid coated starch were very stable during ageing. To interpret the results in terms of the structure of the starch gel, the gel was described as a composite material, and the stress relaxation results were discussed according to a cooperative theory of flow.     

汉语语句的自动改写

在基于转换方式的口语机器翻译中,口语的多样性和不规则性加重了转换模块的处理负担。另外,由于缺少双语语料库和懂双语的语言学家,使得翻译知识的开发很困难或成本很高。为了解决这些问题,我们提出了在翻译前对源语言的语句进行自动改写的方法,试图通过加强源语言的处理来分散转换模块的负担。本文介绍了汉日口语机器翻译系统中汉语语句改写模块的开发。作者在分析了口语句子的改写目标后,提出了基于模板匹配的改写方法和从改写语料库中获取改写模板的半自动化方法。作者还介绍了改写模块的设计与实现,以及评价试验和结果。