A General Version of the Triple Π Operator

Recent developments of sensors and computers have raised the problem of handling huge amounts of complex data that users try to synthesize for decision making. Aggregation operators, such as those appearing in fuzzy sets theory, are useful tools for this synthesis but in their present formulation, these operators only deal with a finite set of arguments. In this paper, we introduce , an extension of both Yager–Rybalov Triple Π and Mean Triple Π operators to general measure spaces that can deal with temporal or spatiotemporal intensive data streams. Known properties and inequalities are extended in this more general setting. The notion of moving is also introduced and it can be applied to a solar radiation data stream. This may lead to further works on data fusion and on similar extensions of some other operators.     

Distributed hierarchical search for balanced energy consumption routing spanning trees in wireless sensor networks

We provide a new heuristic method approach to search for degree-balanced and small weight routing spanning trees in a network. The method is a modification of Kruskal’s minimum spanning tree search algorithm and is based on a distributed search by hierarchical clusters. It provides spanning trees with a lower maximum weighted degree, a bigger diameter, and can be used for balanced energy consumption routing in wireless sensor networks (WSN’s). The method can be naturally implemented in parallel or as a simple locally distributed algorithm. Simulations for a realistic case scenario WSN are done based on the transmission energy matrix. The simulation results show that the proposed approach can extend the functional lifetime of a WSN in terms of sensor transmission energy by 3–4 times. We also show that the results can be further improved by using a preliminary clustering of the input network.     

TeleInViVo: Towards collaborative volume visualization environments

Converging technologies in the areas of telecommunications, volume visualization, and computer hardware and peripherals have made possible in recent years the development of new tools for collaboration that extend the reach of health care professionals and other consumers of volumetric data around the world. We describe a recent development at the Center for Research in Computer Graphics in Providence, RI, that makes a significant contribution to this area. TeleInViVo^™ is an application that supports collaborative volumetric data visualization and exploration. It is an extension and partial reworking of InViVo^™, a volume visualization application developed at the Fraunhofer IGD, in Darmstadt, Germany. InViVo, which is largely focused around the medical community and with an emphasis on diagnostic ultrasound, has been augmented with new modes of interaction, an intuitive collaboration mechanism, and an architectural modification to support future developments in this area.     

Multivariable extension of global finite‐time HOSM based differentiator for output‐feedback unit vector and smooth binary control

In this paper, we propose a unit vector control law by output feedback to solve the problem of global exact output tracking for a class of multivariable uncertain plants with nonlinear disturbances. In order to face the nonuniform arbitrary relative degree obstacle, we extend our earlier estimation scheme based on global finite‐time differentiators using dynamic gains to a multivariable architecture. A diagonally stable condition over the system high‐frequency gain (HFG) matrix has to be assumed. Preserving the simplicity of its mono variable framework, variable gain super‐twisting algorithm (STA) is employed to obtain the robust and exact multivariable differentiator. Moreover, state‐norm observers for the unmeasured state variables are constructed to upper bound the disturbances as well as to update the differentiator gains, being both state dependent. Uniform global exponential stability and ultimate exact tracking are proved. As an alternative to chattering alleviation, we appeal to the Emelyanov's concept of binary control in order to obtain a continuous control signal replacing the unit vector function in the controller by a high‐gain gradient adaptive law with parameter projection. As shown in the existing literature for mono variable systems, the proposed multiparameter binary‐adaptive formulation tends to the unit vector control as the adaptation gain increases to infinity, also smoothing the transition from adaptive to sliding mode control. A numerical example is portrayed to illustrate the potentialities of the developed multivariable techniques.     

Nickel Silicide Nanowire Arrays for Anti‐Reflective Electrodes in Photovoltaics

Conductive nanowires (NWs) provide several advantages as a template and electrode material for solar cells due to their favorable light scattering properties. While the majority of NW solar cell architectures studied are based on semiconductor materials, metallic NWs could provide equivalent anti‐reflection properties, while acting as a low‐resistance back contact for charge transport, and facilitate light scattering in thin layers of semiconductors coated on the surface. However, fabrication of single‐crystalline highly anti‐reflective NWs on low‐cost, flexible substrates remains a challenge to drive down the cost of NW solar cells. In this study, metallic Ni_xSi NW arrays are fabricated by a simple, bottom‐up, and low‐cost method based on the thermal decomposition of silane on the surface of flexible Ni foil substrates without the need for lithography, etching or catalysts. The optical properties of these NW arrays demonstrate broadband suppression of reflection to levels below 1% from 350 nm to 1100 nm, which is among the highest values reported for NWs. A simple route to control the diameter and density of the NWs is introduced based on variations in a carrier gas flow rate. A high‐resolution TEM, XRD and TEM‐EDS study of the NWs reveals that they are single crystalline, with the phase and composition varying between Ni₂Si and NiSi. The nanowire resistivity is measured to be 10^?4 Ω‐cm, suggesting their use as an efficient back electrode material for nanostructured solar cells with favorable light scattering properties.     

High-Pressure Synthesis and Thermal Conductivity of Semimetallic θ-Tantalum Nitride

The lattice thermal conductivity (κ_ph) of metals and semimetals is limited by phonon-phonon scattering at high temperatures and by electron-phonon scattering at low temperatures or in some systems with weak phonon-phonon scattering. Following the demonstration of a phonon band engineering approach to achieve an unusually high κ_ph in semiconducting cubic-boron arsenide (c-BAs), recent theories have predicted ultrahigh κ_ph of the semimetal tantalum nitride in the θ-phase (θ-TaN) with hexagonal tungsten carbide (WC) structure due to the combination of a small electron density of states near the Fermi level and a large phonon band gap, which suppress electron-phonon and three-phonon scattering, respectively. Here, measurements on the thermal and electrical transport properties of polycrystalline θ-TaN converted from the ε phase via high-pressure synthesis are reported. The measured thermal conductivity of the θ-TaN samples shows weak temperature dependence above 200 K and reaches up to 90 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹, one order of magnitude higher than values reported for polycrystalline ε-TaN and δ-TaN thin films. These results agree with theoretical calculations that account for phonon scattering by 100 nm-level grains and suggest κ_ph increase above the 249 Wm⁻¹ K⁻¹ value predicted for single-crystal WC when the grain size of θ-TaN is increased above 400 nm.     

On Quantum-Like Probabilistic Structure of Mental Information

We describe methodology of cognitive experiments (based on interference of probabilities for mental observables) which could verify quantum-like structure of mental information, namely, interference of probabilities for incompatible observables. In principle, such experiments can be performed in psychology, cognitive, and social sciences. In fact, the general contextual probability theory predicts not only quantum-like trigonometric (cos ) interference of probabilities, but also hyperbolic (cosh ) interference of probabilities (as well as hyper-trigonometric). In principle, statistical data obtained in experiments with cognitive systems can produce hyperbolic (cosh ) interference of probabilities. We introduce a wave function of (e.g., human) population. In general, we should not reject the possibility that cognitive functioning is neither quantum nor classical. We discuss the structure of state spaces for cognitive systems.     

Influence of ion irradiation on internal residual stress in DLC films

The dependence of internal residual stress in thin diamond-like carbon films grown on Si substrate by PECVD technique on most important growth parameters, namely RF-power, DC bias voltage and substrate temperature, is described. Results show that compressive stress reaches the highest value of 2.7 GPa at low RF-power and DC bias. Increase of substrate temperature from 250 to 350 °C leads to nonlinear increase of stress value. Inhomogeneity of residual stress along the film surface disappears when film is deposited at temperatures above 275 °C. Post-growth film irradiation by P⁺ and In⁺ ions cause decrease of compressive stress followed by its inversion to tensile. For all ion energy combinations used residual stress changes linearly with normalized fluence up to 0.2 DPA with slope (8.7 ± 1.3) GPa/DPA.     

Mass Spectrometric Measurements of the Gas Phase Composition over Mould Powder Samples in Vacuum Conditions at 50‐1550°C

Heating and melting of mould powders in a steel caster may lead to harmful gaseous emissions into the atmosphere. In the present work the volatility of commercial mould powders used in continuous casting processes was studied by the mass spectrometric Knudsen effusion method. Partial pressures of the vapour phase components were measured under vacuum conditions in the temperature range 50‐1550°C at a heating rate of 100°C/hour. In the temperature interval 50‐600°C gas phase is formed by H₂O and CO₂. At higher temperatures the principle vapour species are Na, NaF, Na₂F₂, KF, SiF₄, SiF₂, SiO, CaF₂, and CO. Gaseous AIF₃, MgF₂ and AIOF were identified less reliably. A preliminary decarburised sample exhibited a noticeably different vaporisation pattern. HF was not detected. Under plant conditions SiF₄ was pointed out as the most probable air polluting vapour component.     

Results on catalytic and evolution-communication P systems

In this paper we give several improved universality results for two important classes of P systems: P systems with catalysts and evolution-communication P systems. First, the result from Reference,¹⁴⁾ stating that six catalysts ensure the universality, has been improved in two ways: using bistable catalysts and using moving catalysts. Specifically, the universality can be reached with one bistable catalyst and 2 usual catalysts (using five membranes), as well as with one moving catalyst and three membranes, or with two moving catalysts and only two membranes. The second part of the paper deals with evolution-communication P systems, and we also give improved universality results for this type of systems, in terms of the weight of symport/antiport rules, number of membranes, or number of catalysts. Shankara Narayanan Krishna: She is an Assistant Professor in Dept. Computer Science & Engg, IIT Bombay, India. Her research interests are Natural Computing and Formal Methods. Andrei Paun, Ph.D.: He obtained his bachelor degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Bucharest, Romania. He obtaind his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, at University of Western Ontario, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sheng Yu, with the thesis “Unconventional Models of Computation: DNA and Membrane Computing”. After graduation he received a postdoctoral felloship from NSERC, Canada and after six months he accepted an assistant professor position in US at Louisiana Tech University.