Further results on dissimilarity spaces for hyperspectral images RF-CBIR

Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems are powerful search tools in image databases that have been little applied to hyperspectral images. Relevance feedback (RF) is an iterative process that uses machine learning techniques and user’s feedback to improve the CBIR systems performance. We pursued to expand previous research in hyperspectral CBIR systems built on dissimilarity functions defined either on spectral and spatial features extracted by spectral unmixing techniques, or on dictionaries extracted by dictionary-based compressors. These dissimilarity functions were not suitable for direct application in common machine learning techniques. We propose to use a RF general approach based on dissimilarity spaces which is more appropriate for the application of machine learning algorithms to the hyperspectral RF-CBIR. We validate the proposed RF method for hyperspectral CBIR systems over a real hyperspectral dataset.     

Full-order observer design for linear systems with unknown inputs

In this article, a full-order observer without unknown inputs reconstruction is suggested in order to achieve finite-time reconstruction of the state vector for a class of linear systems with unknown inputs. The observer is a simple one, its derivation being direct and easy. It will be shown that the problem of full-order observers for linear systems with unknown inputs can be reduced in this case to a standard one (the unknown input vector will not interfere in the observer equations). The effectiveness of the suggested design algorithm is illustrated by a numerical example (aircraft longitudinal motion), and, for the same aircraft dynamics, we make a comparison between our new observer and other already existing observers from the existence conditions and dynamic characteristics’ point of view; the superiority of the new designed observer is demonstrated.     

Soil moisture limitations on monitoring boreal forest regrowth using spaceborne L-band SAR data

A study was carried out to investigate the utility of L-band SAR data for estimating aboveground biomass in sites with low levels of vegetation regrowth. Data to estimate biomass were collected from 59 sites located in fire-disturbed black spruce forests in interior Alaska. PALSAR L-band data (HH and HV polarizations) collected on two dates in the summer/fall of 2007 and one date in the summer of 2009 were used. Significant linear correlations were found between the log of aboveground biomass (range of 0.02 to 22.2 t ha^-1) and σ° (L-HH) and σ° (L-HV) for the data collected on each of the three dates, with the highest correlation found using the L-HV data collected when soil moisture was highest. Soil moisture, however, did change the correlations between L-band σ° and aboveground biomass, and the analyses suggest that the influence of soil moisture is biomass dependent. The results indicate that to use L-band SAR data for mapping aboveground biomass and monitoring forest regrowth will require development of approaches to account for the influence that variations in soil moisture have on L-band microwave backscatter, which can be particularly strong when low levels of aboveground biomass occur.     

Gas permeability of thin polyimide foils prepared by in-situ polymerisation

The entrance windows to the gas detector chambers as well as to the target containers used in high-energy and high-intensity accelerators must be as thin as possible to minimise energy losses of the particles used in astrophysics and nuclear physics studies. Because of their good physical properties, polyimide foils are often considered as suitable material for such windows, but commercially available foils, having a thickness greater than 7–8 μm (>1 mg/cm²), would cause energy losses of particles significant for some nuclear reactions studied. Foils prepared by in-situ polymerisation can, however, be as thin as 0.07 μm (10 μg/cm²). The permeability of 4 μm foils produced by in-situ polymerisation has been measured at room temperature for He and Ar. For He measurements were performed in the pressure range of 4–70 mbar and for Ar in the range of 20–140 mbar and the permeability was found to be in good agreement with the values published for the thicker commercial foils.     

Evolving evolutionary algorithms using linear genetic programming

A new model for evolving Evolutionary Algorithms is proposed in this paper. The model is based on the Linear Genetic Programming (LGP) technique. Every LGP chromosome encodes an EA which is used for solving a particular problem. Several Evolutionary Algorithms for function optimization, the Traveling Salesman Problem and the Quadratic Assignment Problem are evolved by using the considered model. Numerical experiments show that the evolved Evolutionary Algorithms perform similarly and sometimes even better than standard approaches for several well-known benchmarking problems.     

Polymerization of butadiene and isoprene with the NdCl3 · 3TBP-TIBA catalyst system

The isoprene and butadiene polymerization processes with the NdCl₃ · 3TBP-TIBA catalyst system (TBP: tributylphosphate, TIBA: triisobutylaluminium) are studied in detail using an original and very accurate experimental technique. The influences of the initial monomer concentration, the polymerization temperature and the catalyst and cocatalyst concentrations on the conversion, the average molar masses, the polydispersity and the microstructure of the polymers are discussed and explained considering the allylic complexes formed between the neodymium atom and the last monomer unit in the macromolecular chain. A first-order reaction with respect to the monomer was obtained. The calculated value of the activation energy (25.58 kJ mol^?1) is lower than for classical Ziegler-Natta catalysts, thus demonstrating the higher catalytic activity of the NdCl₃ · 3TBP-TIBA catalyst system used. Two types of active centers are possible, as confirmed by GPC data. One of them, which includes aluminium, is more stable and favors the transformation from “anti” allylic units to “syn” allylic units. Thus, the 1,4-cis unit content of the prepared polymers is mainly determined by the TIBA concentration. The catalyst does not react by transfer reactions as TIBA does. The obtained conversions are always higher for butadiene than for isoprene due to a higher tendency of the former to complexate with the neodymium atom and forming allylic complexes.     

Frequency mixing application based on BaTiO3 ceramic: Design and functional characterization

In the present article, we propose a ferroelectric‐based frequency mixer capable of reconfigurable functioning, a key trait in multi frequency band coverage, based on the nonlinear dielectric properties of BaSn_xTi_1?xO₃ ceramics. According to the properties of BaSn_xTi_1?xO₃ solid solutions, an optimum composition was selected to demonstrate the applicability as a discrete passive mixer with a simple coplanar geometry. A prototype device, with four coplanar capacitors, connected in a circular electric circuit was built on the surface of the selected ceramic. In this configuration, mixing products of the pumping and working signals were obtained and characterized.     

ZnO/NiO heterostructure-based microsensors used in formaldehyde detection at room temperature: Influence of the sensor operating voltage

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Recently the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere have increased dramatically with rapid development of...     

A hypergraph model for representing scientific output

Representation and analysis of publication data in the form of a network has become a common method of illustrating and evaluating the scientific output of a group or of a scientific field. Co-authorship networks also reveal patterns and collaboration practices. In this paper we propose the use of a hypergraph model—a generalized network—to represent publication data by considering papers as hypergraph nodes. Hyperedges, connecting the nodes, represent the authors connecting all their papers. We show that this representation is more straightforward than other authorship network models. Using the hypergraph model we propose a collaboration measure of an author that reflects the influence of that author over the collaborations of its co-authors. We illustrate the introduced concepts by analyzing publishing data of computer scientists and mathematicians in Romania over a 10 year period.     

A new route to graphene starting from heavily ozonized fullerenes: Part 2—oxidation in air

Graphite oxide (GO) and heavily ozonized C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes known as “fullerene ozopolymers” were studied by TGA-FTIR (Thermogravimetry coupled with FT-IR spectroscopy), DTG (Differential Thermogravimetry) and DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis) in air flow. It was found that GO burns at 70°C higher temperature than the fullerene ozopolymers. This different behavior toward the thermal oxidation of GO is due to the size of the oxidized and staked graphene layers which are expected to be significantly larger than those of the fullerene ozopolymers. Furthermore, the latter should necessarily have a buckybowl shaped structure which should favor their reactivity with oxygen.