Discrimination of similar characters using nonlinear normalization based on regional importance measure

Discrimination of confusing characters is very important in recognition of character sets containing a multitude of similar characters. Confusing characters have very similar shapes and are separated by only a small difference. For a successful discrimination, we need to focus on that difference. However, the small difference can be reduced or even lost during the feature extraction process. In such a case, further analysis after the feature extraction rarely succeeds. This paper proposes a discriminative nonlinear normalization algorithm to improve discrimination ability. The proposed method emphasizes the difference between confusing characters. It measures the importance of each region in the discrimination of confusing characters. Then, it resamples the image according to the regional importance measure. As a result, it expands important regions but shrinks less important regions. Since it emphasizes important regions in the preprocessing step, it does not suffer from the information loss during the feature extraction. In experiments, the proposed method successfully detected and expanded important regions. In handwritten Hangul recognition, the proposed method outperformed other two recently developed pair-wise discrimination methods. On SERI95a data set, it improved the recognition rate from 87.69 to 90.11 %, achieving a 19.66 % error reduction rate.     

Physical and electrochemical characterizations of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene)/SiO2‐based polymer electrolytes prepared by the phase‐inversion technique

Highly porous poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF–HFP)‐based polymer membranes filled with fumed silica (SiO₂) were prepared by a phase‐inversion technique, and films were also cast by a conventional casting method for comparison. N‐Methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as a solvent was used to dissolve the polymer and to make the slurry with SiO₂. Phase inversion occurred just after the impregnation of the applied slurry on a glass plate into flowing water as a nonsolvent, and then a highly porous structure developed by mutual diffusion between the solvent and nonsolvent components. The PVdF–HFP/SiO₂ cast films and phase‐inversion membranes were then characterized by an examination of the morphology, thermal and crystalline properties, absorption ability of an electrolyte solution, ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and interfacial resistance with a lithium electrode. LiPF₆ (1M) dissolved in a liquid mixture of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate (1:1 w/w) was used as the electrolyte solution. Through these characterizations, the phase‐inversion polymer electrolytes were proved to be superior to the cast‐film electrolytes for application to rechargeable lithium batteries. In particular, phase‐inversion PVdF–HFP/SiO₂ (30–40 wt %) electrolytes could be recommended to have optimum properties for the application. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 140–148, 2006     

Modification of rubber powder with peroxide and properties of polypropylene/rubber composites

Waste tire powder was functionalized in the presence of various concentrations of allylamine and benzoyl peroxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed the presence of allylamine on the surface of the rubber powder. The surface energy of the functionalized rubber powder revealed that the introduction of allylamine onto the rubber powder surface increased the surface activity. Improvements in the tensile strength, elongation at break, and storage modulus were observed for polypropylene/modified rubber powder/maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, and this was attributed to an improvement in the compatibility due to the chemical interaction between the rubber powder and compatibilizer. Evidence for the reaction between the rubber surface and compatibilizer was observed in Fourier transform infrared studies. This peroxide‐initiated monomer‐grafting technique is feasible for large‐scale processes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2237–2243, 2007     

Large Electrostrain in K(Nb1−xMnx)O3 Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Ceramics

K(Nb_1?xMn_x)O₃ (KN_1?xM_x) ceramics with 0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.015 were sintered at 1020°C through a normal sintering process without the formation of a liquid phase. They exhibited double polarization versus electric field (P–E) hysteresis and sprout‐shaped strain versus electric field (S–E) curves owing to the presence of a defect dipole (P_D), which was formed between the acceptor Mn³⁺ ion and the oxygen vacancy. Moreover, the aging process was not required to develop the P_D. The KN_1?xM_x ceramics exhibited a large strain of ~0.2% at 6.0 kV/mm. For the KN_0.985M_0.015 ceramic, this large strain was maintained after 10⁴ cycles of an electric field of 6.0 kV/mm. This ceramic also maintained a double hysteresis curve at 200°C. Therefore, the KN_0.985M_0.015 ceramic has a large electric field‐induced strain, along with good thermal and fatigue properties for multilayer piezoelectric actuators.     

Inducible <Emphasis Type="Italic">De Novo</Emphasis> Biosynthesis of Isoflavonoids in Soybean Leaves by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera litura</Emphasis> Derived Elicitors: Tracer Techniques Aided by High Resolution LCMS

Isoflavonoids are a characteristic family of natural products in legumes known to mediate a range of plant-biotic interactions. For example, in soybean (Glycine max: Fabaceae) multiple isoflavones are induced and accumulate in leaves following attack by Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. To quantitatively examine patterns of activated de novo biosynthesis, soybean (Var. Enrei) leaves were treated with a combination of plant defense elicitors present in S. litura gut content extracts and L-α-[¹³C₉, ¹⁵N]phenylalanine as a traceable isoflavonoid precursor. Combined treatments promoted significant increases in ¹³C-labeled isoflavone aglycones (daidzein, formononetin, and genistein), ¹³C-labeled isoflavone 7-O-glucosides (daidzin, ononin, and genistin), and ¹³C-labeled isoflavone 7-O-(6″-O-malonyl-β-glucosides) (malonyldaidzin, malonylononin, and malonylgenistin). In contrast levels of ¹³C-labeled flavones and flavonol (4′,7-dihydroxyflavone, kaempferol, and apigenin) were not significantly altered. Curiously, application of fatty acid-amino acid conjugate (FAC) elicitors present in S. litura gut contents, namely N-linolenoyl-L-glutamine and N-linoleoyl-L-glutamine, both promoted the induced accumulation of isoflavone 7-O-glucosides and isoflavone 7-O-(6″-O-malonyl-β-glucosides), but not isoflavone aglycones in the leaves. These results demonstrate that at least two separate reactions are involved in elicitor-induced soybean leaf responses to the S. litura gut contents: one is the de novo biosynthesis of isoflavone conjugates induced by FACs, and the other is the hydrolysis of the isoflavone conjugates to yield isoflavone aglycones. Gut content extracts alone displayed no hydrolytic activity. The quantitative analysis of isoflavone de novo biosynthesis, with respect to both aglycones and conjugates, affords a useful bioassay system for the discovery of additional plant defense elicitor(s) in S. litura gut contents that specifically promote hydrolysis of isoflavone conjugates.     

Thermal Stability and Ionic Conductivity of Calcia‐Stabilized Zirconia with Alumina Addition

The thermal expansion and ionic conduction of 15 mol% CaO‐stabilized zirconia (CSZ) with added Al₂O₃ were investigated. Specimens with 0.5 and 1 mol% Al₂O₃ maintained the cubic phase, and the thermal diffusivity increased from 0.499 to 0.661 mm²/s with a 1 mol% addition. The addition of 5 mol% caused a decrease in the thermal diffusivity (0.609 mm²/s) with the formation of the monoclinic phase. The thermal expansion coefficient of the CSZ decreased, and the thermal diffusivity increased with the addition of Al₂O₃. The ionic conductivity was increased up to the addition of 1 mol% due to scavenging of siliceous by Al₂O₃, while the 5 mol% addition showed a decrease in conductivity with the formation of the intergranular phase.     

Biomechanical features of level walking by transtibial amputees wearing prosthetic feet with and without adaptive ankles

This study aimed to evaluate the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb in both the intact and amputated leg in individuals with transtibial amputations wearing Energy storage and return feet (ESRFs) with fixed ankles and Prosthetic feet with adaptive ankles (PFAAs) during level walking. Three individuals with transtibial amputations walked on level ground wearing their own ESRFs and PFAAs. Spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetics of the lower-extremity joints were measured in the amputated and intact legs. There were differences in the kinematics of the joints in the amputated leg and of the ankle in the intact leg between ESRFs and PFAAs. Differences in joint moments, power, and stiffness in most joints in both legs and braking impulse were found between ESRFs and PFAAs. Thus, although it was a pilot study with three subjects, ankle angle control mechanisms (ESRFs: Fixed ankle vs. propriofoot: Mechanical motor vs. élan and echelon: Hydraulic actuator) might affect biomechanical features during level walking.

     

Computation of aeolian tones from twin-cylinders using immersed surface dipole sources

Efficient numerical method is developed for the prediction of aerodynamic noise generation and propagation in low Mach number flows such as aeolian tone noise. The proposed numerical method is based on acoustic/viscous splitting techniques of which acoustic solvers use simplified linearised Euler equations, full linearised Euler equations and nonlinear perturbation equations as acoustic governing equations. All of acoustic equations are forced with immersed surface dipole model which is developed for the efficient computation of aerodynamic noise generation and propagation in low Mach number flows in which dipole source, originating from unsteady pressure fluctuation on a solid surface, is known to be more efficient than quadrupole sources. Multi-scale overset grid technique is also utilized to resolve the complex geometries. Initially, aeolian tone from single cylinder is considered to examine the effects that the immersed surface dipole models combined with the different acoustic governing equations have on the overall accuracy of the method. Then, the current numerical method is applied to the simulation of the aeolian tones from twin cylinders aligned perpendicularly to the mean flow and separated 3 diameters between their centers. In this configuration, symmetric vortices are shed from twin cylinders, which leads to the anti-phase of the lift dipoles and the in-phase of the drag dipoles. Due to these phase differences, the directivity of the fluctuating pressure from the lift dipoles shows the comparable magnitude with that from the drag dipoles at 10 diameters apart from the origin. However, the directivity at 100 diameters shows that the lift-dipole originated noise has larger magnitude than, but still comparable to, that of the drag-dipole one. Comparison of the numerical results with and without mean flow effects on the acoustic wave emphasizes the effects of the sheared background flows around the cylinders on the propagating acoustic waves, which is not generally considered by the classic acoustic analogy methods. Through the comparison of the results using the immersed surface dipole models with those using point sources, it is demonstrated that the current methods can allow for the complex interactions between the acoustic wave and the solid wall and the effects of the mean flow on the acoustic waves.     

Note: Recent achievements at the 60-MeV linac for sub-picosecond terahertz radiation at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory

A femtosecond (fs) terahertz (THz) linac has been constructed to generate fs-THz radiation by using ultrashort electron beam at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. To generate an ultrashort electron beam with 60-MeV energy, a chicane bunch compressor has been adopted. Simulation studies have been conducted to design the linac. In this note, recent achievements at 60-MeV linac are presented.     

Numerical simulation on the effect of an electromagnetic brake to continuous thin slab casting

A three-dimensional numerical model for fluid flow was solved by computer for the continuous thin slab casting process with an electromagnetic brake system. The effects of the electromagnetic brake on the meniscus properties and solidified shell thickness were investigated along with the flow pattern. The electromagnetic brake reduced the jet stream velocities of the liquid steel but increased the amount of the upper stream. It contributed to the increase of the velocity and temperature on the meniscus. It eliminated the cold spot region that generally exists at the rear of the nozzle, the optimum required electromagnetic current for this effect being calculated to be 200 amperes. The average solidified shell thickness was improved by the application of the electromagnetic force.