Estimation and setting starting values in ARMA algorithms

For the given observations set of the ARMA (autoregressive moving average) process, the likelihood function depends, not only on model parameters, but on the starting values of the input and output. Therefore, it is called theconditional likelihood function. Theunconditional likelihood function can be obtained in two ways. The first is to set the starting values to zero, as is often done, and the second is to set them to the properly estimated values. The difference between these two types of likelihood functions is significant when the given data sequence is short, and any of the zeros of the moving average part is close to the boundary of the unit circle.In this paper the direct method of starting value estimation and its application to two off-line ARMA estimation algorithms, the maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm and the iterative inverse filtering (ITIF) algorithm, is proposed. Experimental results prove both increased efficiency and stability of these algorithms.The importance of setting the starting values properly is also significant when the recursive algorithm, with previously estimated parameters, has to be restarted. The advantage of the proposed reinitialization method is shown on the recursive lattice algorithm working in the block mode.     

Transition layer thickness in microlaminar deposits

A theoretical analysis was carried out on the change of composition of a deposit obtained by the dual pulse method of forming laminar metal foils, with transition from a low current to a high current pulse, both in the galvanostatic and the potentiostatic mode of deposition. It was shown that the existence of a transition layer of varying composition between a layer of pure metal 1 and a layer consisting predominantly of the metal 2 is an inherent consequence of the electrochemical process, primarily because of an induction period in the concentration polarization with respect to ions of metal 1. The importance of this transition layer increases as the thickness of the layers of the two metals decreases. Eventually this limits the possibility of obtaining a sharp boundary between the layers, when the nanometre region of layer thickness is reached. Equations are given for calculating the deposition current density and rate of stirring of the electrolyte which provide a deposit of a required level of metal 1 in the layer of metal 2, as well as a required sharpness of the boundary between two layers. Experimental proof of the correctness of the analysis was sought. It was found that significant changes in the properties of the deposit occur in the same range of layer thickness in which the transition of the composition takes places.Nomenclature _c,1, a_c,2 transfer coefficient of the cathodic processes - C interfacial capacitance - C₁, C₂ concentration of the ions of metals 1 and 2 at the interface r - C ₀ ¹ , C ₀ ² concentration of ions of the metals 1 and 2 in solution - D ₁ diffusion coefficient for the diffusion of ions of the metal 1 - E _r,1,E _r,2 reversible potentials of metals 1 and 2, respectively - F the Faraday constant - J ₀ ¹ ,J ₀ ² exchange current density of the metals 1 and 2, respectively - M ₁,M ₂ atomic weights of the metals 1 and 2, respectively - kinematic viscosity of solution - ₁, ₂ densities of the metals 1 and 2 respectively - rotation speed (r.p.s.) - z number of electrons exchanged in the deposition process This paper is dedicated to Professor Brian E. Conway on the occasion of his 65th birthday, and in recognition of his outstanding contribution to electrochemistry.     

Synthesis of ZnO-based varistor precursor powders by means of the reaction spray process

High-purity, fine-grained oxide ceramic powders that are commonly used for ZnO-based varistors were synthesized by means of the reaction spray process. Processing steps included formation of the solutions of zinc nitrate and/or certain metal additives and spraying of the solution into a heated reaction column using a two-phase nozzle. After water evaporation from the droplets, the precursor salts were decomposed at elevated temperatures (up to 1473 K) in order to obtain homogeneous oxide powders with complex compositions corresponding to the final multicomponent varistor system. The decomposition behaviour of the precursors, as well as the characteristics of the resulting powders: crystallinity, phase composition, particle shape, morphology and particle-size distribution, were examined. It was shown that the characteristics of the reaction spray-derived powders can be controlled by adjusting the system and the solutions parameters.     

Subsumptive general solutions and parametric general solutions of Post equations

In this paper we generalize Rudeanu’s results from [13] to Post algebras. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a Post function f such that the set of solutions of equation f(x) = 0 is a given interval. We also prove that every Post transformation is the parametric solution of some consistent Post equation.     

Request redirection paradigm in medical image archive implementation

It is widely recognized that the JPEG2000 facilitates issues in medical imaging: storage, communication, sharing, remote access, interoperability, and presentation scalability. Therefore, JPEG2000 support was added to the DICOM standard Supplement 61. Two approaches to support JPEG2000 medical image are explicitly defined by the DICOM standard: replacing the DICOM image format with corresponding JPEG2000 codestream, or by the Pixel Data Provider service, DICOM supplement 106. The latest one supposes two-step retrieval of medical image: DICOM request and response from a DICOM server, and then JPIP request and response from a JPEG2000 server. We propose a novel strategy for transmission of scalable JPEG2000 images extracted from a single codestream over DICOM network using the DICOM Private Data Element without sacrificing system interoperability. It employs the request redirection paradigm: DICOM request and response from JPEG2000 server through DICOM server. The paper presents programming solution for implementation of request redirection paradigm in a DICOM transparent manner.     

The investigation of metastable ζ-hcp phase in the Ag-rich f c c region of Ag-In alloys rapidly quenched from the melt

Stacking faults, which were detected in the Ag-In system, have been examined by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. An enhanced concentration of stacking faults in splat cooled specimens as well as the formation of a metastable hexagonal phase in the f c c region of the alloy was observed. As far as we know this is the first case of the terminal solid solubility being reduced by rapid quenching. Terminal solid solubility is reduced because of the high concentration of structural defects introduced by quenching, e.g. dislocations and stacking faults, which serve as the nuclei for the transformation from the f c c to the h c p structure. Our measurements and calculations show that the stacking fault energy minimum is shifted to lower electron concentrations with respect to the stacking fault energy minimum corresponding to the equilibrium phase boundary for the f c c-h c p transformation. The new metastable phase boundary for this transformation was confirmed by X-ray examinations. We explain this earlier h c p phase appearance in rapid quenched specimens as the consequence of enhanced interaction of the Fermi surface and contracted Brillouin zone. The Brillouin zone contraction we attributed to quenched-in vacancies.     

Oxidation of formic acid at a high surface area supported platinum modified by foreign metal adatoms

The anodic oxidation of formic acid was studied on platinum distributed in the form of small particles in a porous substrate modified by metal adatoms deposited at underpotentials. The rate of the reaction was greatly enhanced on the commercial catalyst Powercat 3000 (PC 3000). The hydrogen adsorption and the underpotential deposition of several metals at PC 3000 were shown to be dissimilar to that at smooth polycrystalline Pt. Steady-state and long-term experiments were performed to determine the stability of this electrode.     

Mechanical and fracture behavior of powder metalurgy processed Ti3Al-based alloys

This work considers structural and compression mechanical properties of three Ti₃Al-based alloys processed by powder metallurgy. Mechanically alloyed powders were compacted by hot-pressing to non-porous homogenous compacts. Prior to compression tests, all compacts were homogenized by a solution treatment at 1050°C (α + β region) for 1h, followed by water quenching. The compression tests were performed from room temperature to 500°C in vacuum at a strain rate of 2.4 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹. Detailed microstructural characterization has been evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), followed by electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction analysis. Fracture topography was examined by SEM. The Ti₃Al-Nb alloy exhibits the highest ductility in the whole temperature range, whereas addition of Mo to Ti₃Al-Nb alloy yields the highest ultimate compression strength. A correlation between ductility and the fracture mode exists for all materials.