Optical and chemical characterization of thin TiNx films deposited by DC-magnetron sputtering

Thin titanium nitride (TiN_x) films were deposited on silicon substrates by means of a reactive DC-magnetron plasma. Layers were synthesized under various conditions of discharge power and nitrogen flows in two operation modes of the magnetron (the so-called “balanced” and “unbalanced” modes). The optical constants of the TiN_x films were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the relative atomic concentration and chemical states of the TiN_x films. The density and thickness of the films have been investigated by means of grazing incidence X-ray reflectometry (GIXR). The results of the layer analyses were combined with plasma investigations carried out by means of energy resolved mass spectrometry (ERMS) under the same conditions. It is shown that the magnetron mode has a clear influence on the titanium deposition rate and the incorporation of nitrogen into the layers.     

基于基塘系统的珠江三角洲多尺度水敏设计研究

珠江三角洲是位于中国东南部以河流为主导的洪泛平原。由于堤防建设、河流渠化和城市化带来纳水空间的减少,珠江三角洲地区的河流、雨水和海洋所引起的洪水风险增加。为了防范洪水风险,需要采取更具适应性的城市化战略,在考虑多尺度研究视角的同时,重视珠江三角洲传统水利方法(即生态农业),例如利用传统水管理方法的基塘系统。确定基于该地区传统水陆混合农业实践的多尺度水敏设计的景观设计原则。顺德地区地处珠江三角洲西江和北江之间洪水易发的低地,这种传统水陆混合农业系统已经有着悠久的历史并促使其形成了与水共生的传统。通过学习传统的水陆混合农业实践,发现新的设计原则,从而减轻洪水风险,同时促进可持续的城市化。这种新的方法将不仅服务于顺德区,而且包括整个珠江三角洲,以增加对于洪水的适应性。     

Hindsight ≠ hindsight: Experimentally induced dissociations between hindsight components.

Hindsight bias has recently been conceived of not as a unitary phenomenon but as a conglomerate of 3 separate phenomenological manifestations (“hindsight components”; Blank, Nestler, von Collani, & Fischer, 2008): memory distortions, impressions of foreseeability, and impressions of inevitability. These components are thought to be fundamentally different in nature, to be influenced by different processes, and to serve different functions. This article provides strong evidence for the separate components view and its underlying assumptions by demonstrating theoretically predicted dissociations between the components. In Experiment 1, for example, we used a memory encoding manipulation to specifically influence the amount of hindsight memory distortion but not participants' inevitability impressions. Conversely, varying the number of provided reasons for an event outcome affected inevitability impressions but left memory distortion untouched. Similar results—using different theoretically derived manipulations—were obtained between foreseeability impressions and memory distortions (Experiment 2) and between inevitability and foreseeability impressions (Experiment 3). Theoretical and practical consequences of these results and of the separate components view are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strain rate sensitivity of closed cell aluminium fly ash foam

With the increasing use of metal foams in various engineering applications, investigation of their dynamic behaviour under varying strain rate is necessary. Closed cell aluminium fly ash foam developed through liquid metallurgy route was investigated for its stress—strain behaviour at different strain rates ranging from 700 s^?1 to 1950 s^?1. The numerical model of split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was simulated using commercially available finite element code Abaqus/Explicit. Validation of numerical simulation was carried out using available experimental and numerical results. Full scale stress—strain curves were developed for various strain rates to study the effect of strain rate on compressive strength and energy absorption. The results showed that the closed cell aluminium fly ash foam is sensitive to strain rate.     

Geocoded digital videography for validation of land cover mapping in the Amazon basin

Four Validation Overflights for Amazon Mosaics (VOAM) aerial video surveys have been carried out in the Brazilian Amazon to provide ground verification for mapping of wetland cover with the Global Rain Forest Mapping (GRFM) Project JERS-1 (Japanese Earth Remote Sensing Satellite) mosaics of the Amazon basin. Surveys in 1995 and 1996, acquired with handheld analog camcorders from small aircraft, were timed to imaging of the GRFM low- and high-water mosaics, and limited to within 600 km of Manaus. For the 1997 and 1999 flights, digital camcorder systems were installed in the Bandeirante survey plane operated by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. The VOAM97 and VOAM99 surveys circumscribed the Brazilian Amazon, documenting ground conditions at resolutions on the order of 1 m (wide-angle format) and 10 cm (zoom format) for wetlands, forests, savannas, and human-impacted areas. Global Positioning System (GPS) information encoded on the video audio track was extracted by mosaicking software that automatically generates geocoded digital mosaics from video clips. On the 1999 survey, a laser altimeter recorded profiles of terrain and vegetation canopy heights. A validation dataset was compiled from the videography for a portion of the GRFM mosaics extending 6° by 4° in longitude and latitude, using randomly selected points along flight lines. Other applications of the VOAM videography include acquisition of ground control points for image geolocation, creation of a high-resolution geocoded mosaic of a forest study area, forest biomass estimation, and rapid assessment of fire damage. Geocoded digital videography provides a cost-effective means of compiling high-resolution validation datasets for land cover mapping in remote, cloud-covered regions.     

Analyzing Morphology and Thermal History of Polybutylene Terephthalate by THz Time-domain Spectroscopy

We have measured the frequency-dependent dielectric function of semi-crystalline polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) in the terahertz region between 100 GHz and approximately 2.8 THz. A characteristic band is observed around 2.38 THz. The intensity of this band is a good indicator of the degree of crystallinity of the different samples. A potential assignment of this band is proposed, based on the comparison with spectroscopic data of the structurally very similar polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Furthermore, the frequency-dependent index of refraction of PBT reveals more insight about the morphology and different thermal history of the samples under investigation.