Application of Object-Based Metrics for Recognition of Well-Designed Dashboards

Measuring the characteristics of visually emphasized objects displayed on a screen seems to be a promising way to rate user interface quality. On the other hand, it brings us problems regarding the ambiguity of object recognition caused by the subjective perception of the users. The goal of this research is to analyze the applicability of chosen object-based metrics for the evaluation of dashboard quality and the ability to distinguish well-design samples, with the focus on the subjective perception of the users. This article presents the model for the rating and classification of object-based metrics according to their ability to objectively distinguish well-designed dashboards. We use the model to rate 13 existing object-based metrics of aesthetics. Then, we present a new approach for the improvement of the rating of one object-based metric—Balance. We base the improvement on the combination of the object-based metric with the pixel-based analysis of color distribution on the screen.     

Yield can explain interannual variation in optimum nitrogen rates in continuous corn

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Nitrogen (N) fertilizer decision support systems that rely primarily on corn grain yield often perform poorly because year-to-year variations in net soil N...     

Improved trapped field performance of single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors containing artificial holes

The intrinsic mechanical properties of single-grain RE-Ba-Cu-O bulk high-temperature superconductors can be improved by employing a thin-wall geometry. This is where the samples are melt-processed with a predefined network of artificial holes to decrease the effective wall thickness. In this study, the tensile strengths of thin-wall YBCO disks were determined using the Brazilian test at room temperature. Compared with conventional single grain YBCO disks, the thin-wall YBCO disks displayed an average tensile strength that is 93% higher when the holes were filled with Stycast epoxy resin. This implies a thin-wall sample should, in theory, be able to sustain a trapped field that is 39% higher without exceeding the mechanical limit of the sample. High-field magnetization experiments were performed by applying magnetization fields of up to 11.5 T, specifically to break the samples in order to verify the effect of increased mechanical strength (and improved cooling) on the ability of bulk (RE)BCO to trap field successfully. The standard YBCO sample failed when it was magnetized with a field of 10 T at 35 K, suffering permanent damage. As a result, the standard sample could only trap a maximum surface field of 7.6 T without failure. On the other hand, the thin-wall YBCO sample survived all magnetization cycles, including a maximum magnetization field of 11.5 T at 35 K, demonstrating a greater intrinsic ability to withstand significantly higher electromagnetic stresses. By subsequently field-cooling the thin-wall sample with 11 T at 30 K, a surface field of 8.8 T was trapped successfully without requiring any external ring reinforcement.     

Far Apart and Close Together: Fritz Haber and Chaim Weizmann

Fritz Haber (1868–1934) and Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952) were both prominent German-speaking Jewish chemists with rather divergent views on Jewish assimilation and Zionism that only converged upon the rise of the Nazis to power in Germany.  While Haber converted to Protestantism and followed the calling of a German patriot during World War One and the turmoil of the Weimar Republic, Weizmann became the leader of the Zionist movement whose efforts led to the founding of Jewish academic institutions in British Mandate Palestine and eventually to the creation of the State of Israel. Weizmann won the support of the British political establishment for the Zionist cause through his invaluable services to the British military as a chemist during World War One. Guided by the timeline of their encounters as well as their mutual correspondence, we trace the ever-closer relationship between these two towering figures of the 20th century. Had it not been for his ill health, Haber would have likely assumed a leading position at what is today the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot as well as played a direct role in shaping other academic institutions, including The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the future State of Israel.     

Extrusion of polypropylene/chitosan/poly(lactic-acid) films: Chemical,mechanical, and thermal properties

Development of extruded films composed of biopolymers blended with synthetic polymers aims to minimize the environmental impact of plastic waste-materials and lead to the sustainable plastic industry. To produce biodegradable polymeric blends, the weight content of biopolymers must be maximum without compromising the performance properties of the extruded films. Using a solvent-free extrusion method, films composed of polypropylene, poly(lactic-acid), and Chitosan, can be obtained with the use of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride and glycerol as compatibilizer and plasticizer, respectively. Extruded films with up to a 50 wt% content of biopolymers show acceptable thermal and mechanical properties, where the use of compatibilizer improves the processing characteristics and homogeneous distribution of chitosan throughout the films. Therefore, the extruded films can be considered as alternatives to conventional synthetic-polymer films, due to their acceptable mechanical and thermal properties with direct potential applications in extrusion-method mass production of biodegradable polymers.     

Topic space trajectories

Scientometrics - The annual number of publications at scientific venues, for example, conferences and journals, is growing quickly. Hence, even for researchers it becomes harder and harder to keep...     

Discrete adjoint gradient evaluations for linear stress and vibration analysis

This paper presents methods used to perform discrete adjoint gradient evaluations for linear stress and vibration analysis. The methods are implemented within the framework of a discrete adjoint structural solver being developed for multidisciplinary adjoint optimizations of turbomachinery components. The code is differentiated using the algorithmic differentiation tool CoDiPack in tandem with manual treatment of the iterative solvers. Stress analysis leads to a linear system of equations that is typically solved by an iterative solver (e.g. GMRES). To ensure accuracy, the adjoint problem is formulated as a new linear system of equations to be solved. Vibration analysis results in a generalized eigenvalue problem that is also typically solved by an interative solver. The adjoint problem takes out the generalized eigenvalue solve and replaces it by one outer product per eigenfrequency, leading to significantly cheap eigenfrequency gradients for vibration analysis.