Modelling salient visual dynamics in videos

Automatic video annotation is a critical step for content-based video retrieval and browsing. Detecting the focus of interest in video frames automatically can benefit the tedious manual labeling process. However, producing an appropriate extent of visually salient regions in video sequences is a challenging task. Therefore, in this work, we propose a novel approach for modeling dynamic visual attention based on spatiotemporal analysis. Our model first detects salient points in three-dimensional video volumes, and then uses the points as seeds to search the extent of salient regions in a novel motion attention map. To determine the extent of attended regions, we use the maximum entropy in the spatial domain to analyze the dynamics derived by spatiotemporal analysis. Our experiment results show that the proposed dynamic visual attention model achieves high precision value of 70% and reveals its robustness in successive video volumes.     

Beyond the financial crisis: a way forward with development paradigm

As the impact of the financial crisis spreads worldwide, it has become a top priority of various countries, international institutions, entrepreneurs and scholars to find innovative and creative ways to face this challenge. As Hazel Henderson (2002) has pointed out, “the world has not fallen into a financial crisis, but fundamentally fell into a crisis of development paradigm.” We need to reflect seriously on this paradigm and rethink of the social and economic models and cultural values for meeting the challenges of this crisis. The paper introduces key issues of development within a global context, and explores the shift of the value system from hard technology centered to soft technology-based future direction of human development.     

Linear-Dispersion Division Multiple-Access for MIMO systems

Comprehensive study on novel Linear-Dispersion Division Multiple-Access（LDDMA） for multi-user uplink Multiple-Input Multiple-Output（MIMO）systems is proposed.In the new multiplexing scheme,each user’s information symbol is dispersed by a User-Specific Matrix（USM）both in space and time domain and linearly combined at base-station side.And a simple random search algorithm,based on capacity maximization criteria,is developed to generate a bank of USMs.Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the advantages of LDDMA.When the Bit Error Rate（BER） reaches 10^–3,the performance gains are 3dB and 5dB,compared with Time-Division Linear Dispersion Codes（TD-LDC）and BLAST,respectively.     

A New Construction of Signature Waveforms for Multi-rate Multi-cell QS-CDMA Systems

In this paper, we propose a new construction of signature waveform sets based on Generalized Loosely Synchronization (GLS) sets and different chip waveforms. The new signature sets are applied into the multi-rate multi-cell quasi-synchronous CDMA (QS-CDMA) system where each cell is assigned with a GLS set; different users in the same cell are assigned with different GLS sequences in the same GLS set; user’s different streams are assigned with the same GLS sequence but different chip waveforms. According to the properties of GLS sets, the inter-cell interference (ICI) and the multi-user interference (MUI) in the same cell can be reduced significantly. The interferences among different streams of the same user are handled by an optimal (or suboptimal) multi-stream detector(s), notice that the multi-stream detector mentioned here is also named as multi-user detector in other references. We compare the performance of the multi-rate multi-cell QS-CDMA system employing the proposed sets with that of multi-rate system employing well-known concatenated orthogonal/PN sets and that of single-rate system employing GLS sets. The results show that the multi-rate system employing the proposed sets can achieve significant interference reduction. Meanwhile the performance of multi-rate system is similar to that of single-rate system due to the inclusion of multi-user detection.

Study of the Transit-Time Limitations of the Impulse Response in Mid-Wave Infrared HgCdTe Avalanche Photodiodes

The impulse response in frontside-illuminated mid-wave infrared HgCdTe electron avalanche photodiodes (APDs) has been measured with localized photoexcitation at varying positions in the depletion layer. Gain measurements have shown an exponential gain, with a maximum value of M = 5000 for the diffusion current at a reverse bias of V _b = 12 V. When the light was injected in the depletion layer, the gain was reduced as the injection approached the N+ edge of the junction. The impulse response was limited by the diode series resistance–capacitance product, RC, due to the large capacitance of the diode metallization. Hence, the fall time is given by the RC constant, estimated as RC = 270 ps, and the rise time is due to the charging of the diode capacitance via the transit and multiplication of carriers in the depletion layer. The latter varies between t _10–90 = 20 ps (at intermediate gains M < 500) and t _10–90 = 70 ps (at M = 3500). The corresponding RC-limited bandwidth is BW = 600 MHz, which yields a new absolute record in gain–bandwidth product of GBW = 2.1 THz. The increase in rise time at high gains indicates the existence of a limit in the transit-time-limited gain–bandwidth product, GBW = 19 THz. The impulse response was modeled using a one-dimensional deterministic model, which allowed a quantitative analysis of the data in terms of the average velocity of electrons and holes. The fitting of the data yielded a saturation of the electron and hole velocity of v _e = 2.3 × 10⁷ cm/s and v _h = 1.0 × 10⁷ cm/s at electric fields E > 1.5 kV/cm. The increase in rise time at high bias is consistent with the results of Monte Carlo simulations and can be partly explained by a reduction of the electron saturation velocity due to frequent impact ionization. Finally, the model was used to predict the bandwidth in diodes with shorter RC = 5 ps, giving BW = 16 GHz and BW = 21 GHz for x _j = 4 μm and x _j = 2 μm, respectively, for a gain of M = 100.     

Thermal Conductivity of Bi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> Affected by Grain Size and Pores

A fine measurement system for measuring thermal conductivity was constructed. An accuracy of 1% was determined for the reference quartz with a value of 1.411 W/m K. Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ samples were prepared by mechanical alloying followed by hot-pressing. Grain sizes were varied in the range from 1 μm to 10 μm by controlling the sintering temperature in the temperature range from 623 K to 773 K. The thermal conductivity was 0.89 W/m K for the sample sintered at 623 K, while a grain size of 1.75 μm was measured by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal conductivity increased on the sample sintered at 673 K because of grain growth and decreased on those sintered at the temperatures from 673 K to 773 K because the increase of pore size caused to decrease thermal conductivity. The increase of thermal conductivity for the samples sintered at temperatures above 773 K was affected by the increase of carrier concentration.     

The theory of multiple peeling

In this paper we derive the theory of multiple peeling, extending the pioneering energy-based single peeling theory of Kendall, including large deformations and pre-stretching. We can thus treat a complex system of films, adhering over a substrate and having a common hinge where the pulling force is applied. Two case studies are investigated: the asymmetric V-shape double peeling and the symmetric cone-shape configuration with N peeling tapes, both requiring the solution of six nonlinear coupled equations (instead of the one needed in the simpler single peeling problem). Remarkable implications emerge: (1) for moderate deformations, the critical strain of a tape is identical to that of the single peeling; (2) an optimal peeling angle, at which adhesion is maximal, is discovered; (3) an additional optimization, even for hierarchical structures, is introduced by imposing the delamination force equal to the intrinsic fracture of the tape. Also, the length of the peeling process zone is calculated, suggesting different optimal values for flaw-tolerant peeling at different angles. Applications to gecko adhesion, for which the flaw-tolerant peeling is demonstrated, and spider silk anchors, that we are going to discuss in details in subsequent papers, are envisioned (including a new pre-stretching mechanism for adhesion control) and suggested by the evidence of a smart mechanism capable of maximizing adhesion simply by increasing the applied tension.     

Fabrication of transparent polymer-matrix nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties from chemically modified ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles

Optically transparent nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties were fabricated using stable dispersions of sub 10 nm ZrO₂ nanoparticles. The ZrO₂ dispersions were mixed with a commercially available bisphenol-A-based epoxy resin (RIMR 135i) and cured with a mixture of two amine-based curing agents (RIMH 134 and RIMH 137) after complete solvent removal. The colloidal dispersions of ZrO₂ nanoparticles, synthesized through a non-aqueous approach, were obtained through a chemical modification of the ZrO₂ nanoparticle surface, employing different organic ligands through simple mixing at room temperature. Successful binding of the ligands to the surface was studied utilizing ATR–FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles within the matrix was proven by SAXS and the observed high optical transmittance for ZrO₂ contents of up to 8 wt%. Nanocomposites with a ZrO₂ content of only 2 wt% showed a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties, e.g., an increase of the tensile strength and Young’s modulus by up to 11.9 and 12.5%, respectively. Also the effect of different surface bound ligands on the mechanical properties is discussed.     

Effects on Undercooling and Interfacial Reactions with Cu Substrates of Adding Bi and In to Sn-3Ag Solder

This study investigated the effects of adding Bi and In to Sn-3Ag Pb-free solder on undercooling, interfacial reactions with Cu substrates, and the growth kinetics of intermetallic compounds (IMCs). The amount of Sn dominates the undercooling, regardless of the amount or species of further additives. The interfacial IMC that formed in Sn-Ag-Bi-In and Sn-In-Bi solders is Cu₆Sn₅, while that in Sn-Ag-In solders is Cu₆(Sn,In)₅, since Bi enhances the solubility of In in Sn matrices. The activation energy for the growth of IMCs in Sn-Ag-Bi-In is nearly double that in Sn-Ag-In solders, because Bi in the solder promotes Cu dissolution. The bright particles that form inside the Sn-Ag-In bulk solders are the ζ-phase.