Automatic design support and image evaluation of two-coloured products using colour association and colour harmony scales and genetic algorithm

Colour plays a key role in determining a consumer’s response to a product’s appearance. Accordingly, this study proposes an automatic design support system which enables a designer either to emulate the colour scheme of a two-coloured product and then to determine its corresponding image perception, or to search for the two-colour combination which most closely meets the required image perception. The proposed system combines a gray theory-based colour-association evaluation method and a colour-harmony-based aesthetic evaluation method to design and evaluate different product-colour schemes. Since colour-harmony theories cannot be implemented directly using the additive primaries (i.e. R (Red), G (Green) and B (Blue)) used in most computer-based colour emulations, this study develops a RGB-based colour-association and colour-harmony measurement scheme to evaluate the image perception of a particular product-colour scheme. In an inverse process, a genetic algorithm is applied to search for the near-optimal colour combination which satisfies the specified product colour-association goal and achieves a high degree of colour harmony. Various case studies involving the design and evaluation of a two-coloured thermos flask are provided for illustration purposes to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Lattice-Distortion-Enhanced Yield Strength in a Refractory High-Entropy Alloy

Severe distortion is one of the four core effects in single-phase high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and contributes significantly to the yield strength. However, the connection between the atomic-scale lattice distortion and macro-scale mechanical properties through experimental verification has yet to be fully achieved, owing to two critical challenges: 1) the difficulty in the development of homogeneous single-phase solid-solution HEAs and 2) the ambiguity in describing the lattice distortion and related measurements and calculations. A single-phase body-centered-cubic (BCC) refractory HEA, NbTaTiVZr, using thermodynamic modeling coupled with experimental verifications, is developed. Compared to the previously developed single-phase NbTaTiV HEA, the NbTaTiVZr HEA shows a higher yield strength and comparable plasticity. The increase in yield strength is systematically and quantitatively studied in terms of lattice distortion using a theoretical model, first-principles calculations, synchrotron X-ray/neutron diffraction, atom-probe tomography, and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. These results demonstrate that severe lattice distortion is a core factor for developing high strengths in refractory HEAs.     

Electrical behaviors for growth of LAST alloys using vapor phase deposition

The well-dispersed crystal structures of LAST (Lead Antimony Silver Tellurium) alloys grown by a vapor phase deposition method are demonstrated to have excellent electrical characteristics in this study. The atomic ratio of Pb to Te in the alloys are kept at 0.85-0.88. The distribution of component concentrations depends on the deposition temperature, and the Ag- and Sb-rich segments are fabricated at high deposition temperature. Experimental data suggest that the higher Sb content in the crystal increases carrier concentration up to ∼10¹⁹ (per cm). The electrical behavior of the crystal is n-type under Sb doping, and it was transferred into p-type once the samples are dominated by Ag doping, which also raises the mobility to a level as high as ∼10³ cm²/V. Test results of this study have indicated that both Ag and Sb elements contribute to the electrical conductivity enhancement, however, an excess amount of Ag may significantly deteriorate the electrical performance instead.     

Effects of augmented reality-based multidimensional concept maps on students’ learning achievement,motivation and acceptance

Universal Access in the Information Society - In this study, an augmented reality-based multidimensional concept map (ARMCM) learning system is proposed for conducting mobile learning activities....     

Rotational copy-move forgery detection using SIFT and region growing strategies

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The proposed scheme detects the copy–move forgery regions using SIFT, invariant moments calculation, and the region growing strategy. First, the SIFT-based...     

Interaction of coal-derived synthesis gas impurities with solid oxide fuel cell metallic components

Oxidation-resistant alloys find use as interconnect materials, heat exchangers, and gas supply tubing in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, especially when operated at temperatures below ∼800 °C. If fueled with synthesis gas derived from coal or biomass, such metallic components could be exposed to impurities contained in those fuel sources. In this study, coupons of ferritic stainless steels Crofer 22 APU and SS 441, austenitic nickel-chromium superalloy Inconel 600, and an alumina-forming high nickel alloy alumel were exposed to synthesis gas containing ≤2 ppm phosphorus, arsenic and antimony, and reaction products were tested. Crofer 22 APU coupons coated with a (Mn,Co)₃O₄ protective layer were also evaluated. Phosphorus was found to be the most reactive. On Crofer 22 APU, the (Mn,Cr)₃O₄ passivation layer reacted to form an Mn-P-O product, predicted to be manganese phosphate from thermochemical calculations, and Cr₂O₃. On SS 441, reaction of phosphorus with (Mn,Cr)₃O₄ led to the formation of manganese phosphate as well as an Fe-P product, predicted from thermochemical calculations to be Fe₃P. Minimal interactions with antimony or arsenic in synthesis gas were limited to Fe-Sb and Fe-As solid solution formation. Though not intended for use on the anode side, a (Mn,Co)₃O₄ spinel coating on Crofer 22 APU reacted with phosphorus in synthesis gas to produce products consistent with Mn₃(PO₄)₂ and Co₂P. A thin Cr₂O₃ passivation layer on Inconel 600 did not prevent the formation of nickel phosphides and arsenides and of iron phosphides and arsenides, though no reaction with Cr₂O₃ was apparent. On alumel, an Al₂O₃ passivation layer rich in Ni did not prevent the formation of nickel phosphides, arsenides, and antimonides, though no reaction with Al₂O₃ occurred. This work shows that unprotected metallic components of an SOFC stack and system can provide a sink for P, As and Sb impurities that may be present in fuel gases, and thus complicate experimental studies of impurity interactions with the anode.     

Digital circularly polarized heterodyne ellipsometer

In this research, a digital circularly polarized heterodyne ellipsometer (DCPHE) is developed, which has a heterodyne interferometer based on a dual-frequency paired circularly polarized laser beam integrated with a digital storage oscilloscope. DCPHE is an amplitude-sensitive ellipsometer that is applicable to real time and precise measurement of ellipsometric parameters. The systematic errors are likewise derived and analyzed. When the incident angle α are set at 60° and 70° in DCPHE, an accuracy of less than 0.7% of the ellipsometric parameter measurement of the SiO₂ thin film deposited on silicon substrate is achieved.     

The susceptibility of Streptococcus thermophilus 14085 to organic acid,simulated gastric juice,bile salt and disinfectant as influenced by cold shock treatment

Streptococcus thermophilus is a thermophilic lactic acid bacterium which is used as the starter organism for the fermentation of yoghurt and some cheese. In the present study, S. thermophilus BCRC 14085 was subjected to cold shock treatment by exposure at 10 °C for 2 h. The effect of cold shock on the susceptibility of S. thermophilus in subsequent lethal stress environments such as simulated gastric juice (pH 2.0–3.0), bile solution (2.0%) and various organic acids (0.75 M, pH 3.5) including propionic, lactic, acetic, citric and tartaric acid was investigated. In addition, the survival of cold-shocked and non-shocked S. thermophilus exposed to disinfectants, Clidox-S and Quatricide, were compared. Results revealed that cold shock enhanced the tolerance of S. thermophilus in the presence of simulated gastric juice (pH 2.5 and 2.8), while in bile solution, the population increase of cold-shocked cells is higher than that of non-shocked cells after 12 h of incubation. Furthermore, the susceptibility of S. thermophilus, regardless of cold shock, to organic acid varied with the kinds of organic acid examined. The cold-shocked S. thermophilus showed a significantly less survival (P < 0.05) than that of the non-shocked cells when exposed to lactic or acetic acid. Furthermore, cold shock reduced the survival of S. thermophilus when exposed to Quatricide but not Clidox-S.