Identification and Optimization of Microbial Attractants for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Philornis downsi</Emphasis>, an Invasive Fly Parasitic on Galapagos Birds

We investigated the role of olfactory cues from actively fermenting yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in attraction of adult Philornis downsi and identified two synergistically attractive yeast volatiles. Larvae of this invasive fly parasitize the hatchlings of passerines and threaten the Galapagos avifauna. Gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and field trapping experiments were used to identify volatile compounds from a yeast-sugar solution. EAD responses were consistently elicited by 14 yeast volatiles. In a series of field trapping experiments, a mixture of the 14 EAD-active compounds was similarly attractive to P. downsi when compared to the yeast-sugar solution, and we found that acetic acid and ethanol were essential for attraction. A mixture of 0.03 % acetic acid and 3 % ethanol was as attractive as the 14-component blend, but was not as attractive as the yeast-sugar solution. Philornis downsi showed positive and negative dose-responses to acetic acid in the ranges of 0.01 ~ 0.3 % and 0.3 ~ 9 %, respectively. Further optimization showed that the mixture of 1 % acetic acid and 3 % ethanol was as attractive as the yeast-sugar solution. Both mixtures of acetic acid and ethanol were more selective than the yeast-sugar solution in terms of non-target moths and Polistes versicolor wasps captured. These results indicate that acetic acid and ethanol produced by yeasts are crucial for P. downsi attraction to fermented materials on which they feed as adults and can be used to manage this invasive fly in Galapagos.     

Dissolution kinetics of alumina in molten CaO–Al2O3–FetO–MgO–SiO2 oxide representing the RH slag in steelmaking process

In order to effectively remove alumina inclusions suspending in ultra-low C steel during RH process, the dissolution kinetics of alumina in molten CaO–Al₂O₃–Fe_tO–MgO–SiO₂ oxide was investigated. A crucible dissolution technique was used where the alumina crucible was allowed to dissolve in the slag of various conditions ((% CaO)/(% Al₂O₃), (% Fe_tO), temperature). The obtained data were interpreted using a kinetic mass transport equation to obtain the mass transport coefficient (k_m) in each condition. Increasing (% CaO)/(% Al₂O₃), (% Fe_tO), and temperature increased the dissolution rate as well as the k_m provided that the slag composition is not close to its saturation composition by alumina. In order to simulate the dissolution of alumina inclusion in the RH slag, which cannot be measured by a confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) at present due to the opaqueness of the slag, the modified invariant interface approximation was employed. Along with the obtained k_m, the viscosity of slag, and a reference experiment using the CSLM, the dissolution kinetics of alumina inclusion in the Fe_tO-containing RH slag was predicted. The time required for the dissolution of alumina inclusions from liquid steel to RH slag was discussed.     

Quantum Dots for Hybrid Energy Harvesting: From Integration to Piezo‐Phototronics

Energy harvesting, which converts wasted environmental energy into electricity by utilizing various physical effects, hasattracted tremendous research interests as is one of the key technologies to realize advanced electronics in the future. In this review, we introduce recent progress in the field of hybrid energy harvesting technology. In particular, we focus on a quantum dots (QD)‐based hybrid energy harvesting device. Attributed to fascinating material properties that QD possess, employment of QDs into hybrid energy harvesting has shown great potential for independent and sustainable energy supply.First, an integration of a QD solar cell into a mechanical energy harvester is discussed to harness different types of environmental energy sources simultaneously. Second, a comprehensive explanation of a piezotronic and piezo‐phototronic effect is provided, which is followed by QD‐based piezo‐phototronic applications. Finally, we summarize recent progress that has been made in energy harvesting technology involving a photovoltaic and piezo/triboelectric effect     

Depth-Fused 3D Imagery on an Immaterial Display

We present an immaterial display that uses a generalized form of depth-fused 3D (DFD) rendering to create unencumbered 3D visuals. To accomplish this result, we demonstrate a DFD display simulator that extends the established depth-fused 3D principle by using screens in arbitrary configurations and from arbitrary viewpoints. The feasibility of the generalized DFD effect is established with a user study using the simulator. Based on these results, we developed a prototype display using one or two immaterial screens to create an unencumbered 3D visual that users can penetrate, examining the potential for direct walk-through and reach-through manipulation of the 3D scene. We evaluate the prototype system in formative and summative user studies and report the tolerance thresholds discovered for both tracking and projector errors.     

Performance of TZCD-MBOK watermarking scheme in T-DMB systems

Recently, watermarking based data transmission techniques using terrestrial digital TV signal have been proposed since they are also cost-free and can overcome the limitations of GPS. However, in the previous watermarking based methods, the detection accuracy is low and additional data rate is too low. Thus, we propose the throughput enhancement method by employing the TZCD-MBOK watermarking technique in T-DMB system. By applying the proposed scheme to T-DMB, it allows additional data transmission for disaster broadcasting and improves efficiency of data transmission in shadow region and indoor to mobile environment through watermarking spread code. From the simulation results, we confirm the proposed watermarking scheme affected on the existing T-DMB signal. Moreover, it was also confirmed that the system capacity increases as the power of additional watermarking signal rose. The results of the paper can be applied to wireless multimedia digital broadcasting systems.     

Low temperature wafer direct bonding

A pronounced increase of interface energy of room temperature bonded hydrophilic Si/Si, Si/SiO₂, and SiO₂/SiO ₂ wafers after storage in air at room temperature, 150°C for 10-400 h has been observed. The increased number of OH groups due to a reaction between water and the strained oxide and/or silicon at the interface at temperatures below 110°C and the formation of stronger siloxane bonds above 110°C appear to be the main mechanisms responsible for the increase in the interface energy. After prolonged storage, interface bubbles are detectable by an infrared camera at the Si/Si bonding seam. Desorbed hydrocarbons as well as hydrogen generated by a reaction of water with silicon appear to be the major contents in the bubbles. Design guidelines for low temperature wafer direct bonding technology are proposed     

基于G2的实时生产调度系统研究

该文以实时专家系统工具G2作为生产调度的平台 ,通过对G2中的知识表达、知识库管理以及实时推理等关键问题的探讨 ,以某钢厂炼钢车间调度为例 ,建立调度的复合知识模型 ,最终开发一个调度的原型系统 ,并给出仿真结果     

Validating Real-Time Constraints in Heterogeneous Multiprocessor and Distributed Systems

A heterogeneous system or distributed system typically contains different types of processors. Some jobs can execute on certain types of processors but not other types. Processors of different types may have different speeds. We present several worst-case upper bounds and efficient algorithms for determining the completion times of independent jobs that have arbitrary timing constraints and variable execution times and are scheduled on available processors dynamically in a priority-driven manner. Bounds and algorithms take into account the effects of nonmigratability, nonpreemptability and different levels of migratability.     

用RCR特征和NN识别实时手绘工程草图

针对实时手绘工程草图(简称手绘草图)的识别，引入草图重心、重径距和正规化重径(RCR)等图形特征概念，提出手绘草图的神经网识别方法．该方法以图素具有统计意义的正规化重径作为特征、以图素交叉方式组织正规化重径的值作为学习样本，应用弹力传播的Rprop算法训练BP神经网，一次训练即可得到能够识别任意倾角和位置手绘草图图素的识别器．从而达到了理想的识别效果．