Improved prediction methods for scalable predictive animated mesh compression

Animated meshes represented as sequences of static meshes sharing the same connectivity require efficient compression. Among the compression techniques, layered predictive coding methods efficiently encode the animated meshes in a structured way such that the successive reconstruction with an adaptable quality can be performed. The decoding quality heavily depends on how well the prediction is performed in the encoder. Due to this fact, in this paper, three novel prediction structures are proposed and integrated into a state of the art layered predictive coder. The proposed structures are based on weighted spatial prediction with its weighted refinement and angular relations of triangles between current and previous frames. The experimental results show that compared to the state of the art scalable predictive coder, up to 30% bitrate reductions can be achieved with the combination of proposed prediction schemes depending on the content and quantization level.     

Jitter‐minimized reliability‐maximized management of networks

We propose a joint optimization network management framework for quality‐of‐service (QoS) routing with resource allocation. Our joint optimization framework provides a convenient way of maximizing the reliability or minimizing the jitter delay of paths. Data traffic is sensitive to droppage at buffers, while it can tolerate jitter delay. On the other hand, multimedia traffic can tolerate loss but it is very sensitive to jitter delay. Depending on the type of data, our scheme provides a convenient way of selecting the parameters which result in either reliability maximization or jitter minimization. We solve the optimization problem for a GPS network and provide the optimal solutions. We find the values of control parameters which control the type of optimization performed. We use our analytical results in a multi‐objective QoS routing algorithm. Finally, we provide insights into our optimization framework using simulations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of Concretions from the Baltic Sea

The composition and specific features of the dissolution of iron manganese concretions from the Baltic Sea are investigated using an echelle spectrometer and atomic absorption spectrometry. The concretion samples used in the analysis are treated in diluted solutions of hydrochloric and nitric acids with additives of hydrogen peroxide. The as-analyzed ratio Mn : Fe in the samples studied is equal to 1.7, which is an important characteristic of the ratio of d elements involved in concretions from the Baltic Sea. The results of the investigations performed can be used to develop more efficient methods for selective extraction of manganese from similar concretions and to determine the isotope content in noble gases of ancient artifact origin that survive in concretions of the World Ocean.     

A novel silk fibroin‐supported iron catalyst for hydroxylation of phenol

The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of silk fibroin (SF) as a catalyst support material for phenol hydroxylation reactions. Iron‐substituted silk fibroin fibers were prepared using formic acid at room temperature and characterized using inductively coupled plasma atomic‐emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and optical microscopy. Measurement of an FTIR spectrum showed that the secondary structure was β‐structure before and after iron substitution. To evaluate the catalytic properties of prepared catalyst, phenol hydroxylation reaction was carried out using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. An excellent transformation of phenol into dihydroxybenzenes (catechol and hydroquinone) was achieved. Phenol conversions of 3.3%, 61.2%, and 80.3% were obtained at room temperature, 40 °C and 60 °C respectively. It was found that no further phenol conversion proceeded because catalysts became separated from the reaction system during the reaction. No significant leaching of the iron was detected. Catalyst could be reused several times without a significant change in activity. Parent silk fibroin fibers without iron were inactive. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reduction Annealing for Cast Iron Powder and Its Effect on Sintered Antifriction Material Properties

The effect of reduction annealing for powder obtained from cast iron shavings on powder specimen properties is studied. An approximate mechanism is suggested for the oxidation-reduction process during annealing of cast iron powder. An increase in annealing temperature leads to an increase in carbon gasification rate and change in absolute powder weight. Prior reduction annealing for cast iron powder improves its compactability, and increases the mechanical properties of sintered material. The best mechanical properties were obtained for specimen made from cast iron powder reduced at 1000°C. Alloying an iron-cast iron charge with 3 mass% of nickel-chromium alloy leads to a marked improvement in the mechanical properties of a sintered composite.     

Energy and exergy analysis of Salihli geothermal district heating system in Manisa,Turkey

This study deals with an energy and exergy analysis of Salihli geothermal district heating system (SGDHS) in Manisa, Turkey. In the analysis, actual system data are used to assess the district heating system performance, energy and exergy efficiencies, specific exergy index, exergetic improvement potential and exergy losses. Energy and exergy losses throughout the SGDHS are quantified and illustrated in the flow diagram. The exergy losses in the system, particularly due to the fluid flow, take place in the pumps and the heat exchanger, as well as the exergy losses of the thermal water (e.g. geothermal fluid) and the natural direct discharge of the system. As a result, the total exergy losses account for 2.22, 17.88 and 20.44%, respectively, of the total exergy input to the entire SGDHS. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the SGDHS components are also studied to evaluate their individual performances and determined to be 55.5 and 59.4%, respectively. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophase: change of rod-like micelle sizes with changes in concentrations

In the present work, change of rod-like micelle sizes with change of amphiphile concentration in hexagonal mesophase and the effect of inorganic salt additions on the effective length of these micelles have been studied. The investigations were made by the using of electrical conductivity method in shear flow. The dependence of form factor on the anisometricity parameter of rod-like micelles were determined for investigated lyotropic systems.     

Investigation of the Saturated Vapor Pressure of Zinc,Selenium, and Zinc Selenide

Temperature dependences of the saturated vapor pressure of elemental zinc (873–1234 K) and selenium (730–1063 K), as well as zinc selenide (673–1373 K), are investigated using the gravimetric method. Analysis of the experimental data demonstrates that these dependences can be adequately described by equations of the form logP = ?A/T+B. The saturated vapor pressures calculated for zinc from the data obtained with the developed gravimetric method are in good agreement with those available in the literature.     

Collapse of acrylamide‐based polyampholyte hydrogels in water

The swelling behavior of balanced acrylamide (AAm)‐based polyampholyte hydrogels in water and in aqueous salt (NaCl) solutions was investigated. Equimolar ratio of the ionic comonomers 4‐vinylpyridine (cationic monomer) and acrylic acid (anionic monomer) were used together with the nonionic monomer AAm in the hydrogel preparation. The variations of the hydrogel volume in response to changes in pH were measured. It was found that the hydrogels are in a collapsed state not only at the pH of the isoelectric point pH_IEP but also over a wide range of pH including pH_IEP. The width of the collapsed plateau increased and the hydrogels assumed a more compact state as the ionic group content is increased. The antipolyelectrolyte behavior was observed along the collapsed plateau region, where the gel occupies a larger volume in salt solution. The experimental swelling data were compared with the predictions of the Flory‐Rehner theory of swelling equilibrium including the ideal Donnan equilibria. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009