A nonlinear extension of the Generalized Hebbian learning

In this letter, we introduce a nonlinear hierarchic PCA type neural network with a simple architecture. The learning algorithm is a kind of nonlinear extension of the well-known Sanger's Generalized Hebbian Algorithm (GHA). It is derived from a nonlinear optimization criterion. Experiments with sinusoidal data show that the neurons become sensitive to different sinusoids. Standard linear PCA algorithms don't have such a separation property.     

Review Paper: Diffractive backlight technologies for mobile applications

Abstract— Liquid‐crystal‐display backlight units have developed in their conventional configuration into very efficient and uniform components that allow the display to present a high‐quality image to the user. Developing the backlight unit itself further faces a challenge of diminishing returns to the investment in innovation. A system‐level redesign is required for the entire display module, and diffractive alternatives to the backlight design can allow a more‐energy‐efficient design for the display. This review concentrates on small‐to‐medium displays because diffractive backlight studies have also centered in this class of displays. The state of the art of backlight design is summarized and the motivation for energy‐efficient system design is outlined. The theoretical basis of diffractive backlights is given, and key research studies in the area of diffractive backlights are reviewed. Finally, a discussion on the performance and future outlook of diffractive backlights completes the paper.     

Convex cone-based partial order for multiple criteria alternatives

In this paper, we consider the problem of finding a preference-based strict partial order for a finite set of multiple criteria alternatives. We develop an approach based on information provided by the decision maker in the form of pairwise comparisons. We assume that the decision maker's value function is not explicitly known, but it has a quasi-concave form. Based on this assumption, we construct convex cones providing additional preference information to partially order the set of alternatives. We also extend the information obtained from the quasi-concavity of the value function to derive heuristic information that enriches the strict partial order. This approach can as such be used to partially rank multiple criteria alternatives and as a supplementary method to incorporate preference information in, e.g. Data Envelopment Analysis and Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization.     

Interfacing an aspiration ion mobility spectrometer to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

This article presents the combination of an aspiration-type ion mobility spectrometer with a mass spectrometer. The interface between the aspiration ion mobility spectrometer and the mass spectrometer was designed to allow for quick mounting of the aspiration ion mobility spectrometer onto a Sciex API-300 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The developed instrumentation is used for gathering fundamental information on aspiration ion mobility spectrometry. Performance of the instrument is demonstrated using 2,6-di-tert-butyl pyridine and dimethyl methylphosphonate.     

Designing Electronic Auctions: An Internet-Based Hybrid Procedure Combining Aspects of Negotiations and Auctions

We discuss design issues pertaining to multiple issue auctions in the WWW environment. Based on a critical evaluation of existing auctions, we propose NegotiAuction^tm, an algorithmic Internet-based auction procedure, which combines certain elements of negotiations and auctions. It can be used either in reverse or forward auctions. When defining a multiple issue (multiple attribute) auction, the auction owner has more control over the bidding process than is possible in traditional auctions, signaling bid requirements to the bidders individually. This will result in a preferred set of auction winners. It is believed to reduce the total transaction time and eliminate the necessity of holding subsequent negotiations with the set of winners.     

A novel diffractive backlight concept for mobile displays

Abstract— Power‐efficiency demands on mobile communications device displays have become severe with the emergence of full‐video‐capable cellular phones and mobile telephony services such as third‐generation (3G) networks. The display is the main culprit for power consumption in the mobile‐phone user interface and the backlight unit (BLU) of commonly used active‐matrix liquid‐crystal displays (AMLCDs) is the main power drain in the display. One way of reducing the power dissipation of a mobile liquid‐crystal display is to efficiently distribute and outcouple the light available in the backlight unit to direct the primary wavelength bands in a spectrum‐specific fashion through the respective color subpixels. This paper describes a diffractive‐optics approach for a novel backlight unit to realize this goal. A model grating structure was fabricated and the distribution of outcoupled light was studied. The results verify that the new BLU concept based on an array of spectrum‐specific gratings is feasible.     

Is it possible to create a very large wordnet in 100 days? An evaluation

Wordnets are large-scale lexical databases of related words and concepts, useful for language-aware software applications. They have recently been built for many languages by using various approaches. The Finnish wordnet, FinnWordNet (FiWN), was created by translating the more than 200,000 word senses in the English Princeton WordNet (PWN) 3.0 in 100 days. To ensure quality, they were translated by professional translators. The direct translation approach was based on the assumption that most synsets in PWN represent language-independent real-world concepts. Thus also the semantic relations between synsets were assumed mostly language-independent, so the structure of PWN could be reused as well. This approach allowed the creation of an extensive Finnish wordnet directly aligned with PWN and also provided us with a translation relation and thus a bilingual wordnet usable as a dictionary. In this paper, we address several concerns raised with regard to our approach, many of them for the first time. We evaluate the craftsmanship of the translators by checking the spelling and translation quality, the viability of the approach by assessing the synonym quality both on the lexeme and concept level, as well as the usefulness of the resulting lexical resource both for humans and in a language-technological task. We discovered no new problems compared with those already known in PWN. As a whole, the paper contributes to the scientific discourse on what it takes to create a very large wordnet. As a side-effect of the evaluation, we extended FiWN to contain 208,645 word senses in 120,449 synsets, effectively making version 2.0 of FiWN currently the largest wordnet in the world by these statistics.     

Low‐Temperature Wafer‐Scale Deposition of Continuous 2D SnS2 Films

Semiconducting 2D materials, such as SnS₂, hold immense potential for many applications ranging from electronics to catalysis. However, deposition of few‐layer SnS₂ films has remained a great challenge. Herein, continuous wafer‐scale 2D SnS₂ films with accurately controlled thickness (2 to 10 monolayers) are realized by combining a new atomic layer deposition process with low‐temperature (250 °C) postdeposition annealing. Uniform coating of large‐area and 3D substrates is demonstrated owing to the unique self‐limiting growth mechanism of atomic layer deposition. Detailed characterization confirms the 1T‐type crystal structure and composition, smoothness, and continuity of the SnS₂ films. A two‐stage deposition process is also introduced to improve the texture of the films. Successful deposition of continuous, high‐quality SnS₂ films at low temperatures constitutes a crucial step toward various applications of 2D semiconductors.     

Ultrafast Processing of Hierarchical Nanotexture for a Transparent Superamphiphobic Coating with Extremely Low Roll‐Off Angle and High Impalement Pressure

Low roll‐off angle, high impalement pressure, and mechanical robustness are key requirements for super‐liquid‐repellent surfaces to realize their potential in applications ranging from gas exchange membranes to protective and self‐cleaning materials. Achieving these properties is still a challenge with superamphiphobic surfaces, which can repel both water and low‐surface‐tension liquids. In addition, fabrication procedures of superamphiphobic surfaces are typically slow and expensive. Here, by making use of liquid flame spray, a silicon dioxide–titanium dioxide nanostructured coating is fabricated at a high velocity up to 0.8 m s^?1. After fluorosilanization, the coating is superamphiphobic with excellent transparency and an extremely low roll‐off angle; 10 µL drops of n‐hexadecane roll off the surface at inclination angles even below 1°. Falling drops bounce off when impacting from a height of 50 cm, demonstrating the high impalement pressure of the coating. The extraordinary properties are due to a pronounced hierarchical nanotexture of the coating.     

Long-term biomass production and nutrient uptake of birch, alder and willow plantations on cut-away peatland

The leafless above-ground biomass production of planted silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), grey alder (Alnus incana), indigenous willows (Salix triandra and Salix phylicifolia) and an alder-willow mixture growing on a cut-away peatland area in Central Finland was investigated during a period of 18 (willows) or 19 (birches and alders) years. Biannual fertilization of the birches (0, NPK) and alders (0, PK) and annual fertilization of the willows (NPK1, NPK2) were continued for 10 years. S. phylicifolia had the highest yield (123 t ha⁻¹). The yield of the fertilized downy and silver birch was 112 t ha⁻¹ and 108 t ha⁻¹ respectively, and that of fertilized grey alder 85 t ha⁻¹, and alder S. triandra mixture 93 t ha⁻¹. The mean annual increment of willow was highest at the age of 10 years (S. phylicifolia 7.9 t ha⁻¹ a⁻¹; S. triandra 5.6 t ha⁻¹ a⁻¹). NPK-fertilization increased the 19-year biomass production of downy and silver birch by 14 and 29 t ha⁻¹ respectively and PK fertilization that of alders by 25 t ha⁻¹. The alder plantations bound more N, P, K, Ca and Mg per unit leafless biomass produced after 10–11 growing seasons than the silver birch and downy birch plantations. The silver birch used more N, K and Ca, but similar amounts of P and Mg per unit leafless biomass produced than the downy birch. S. triandra used more N, P, K and Mg per unit biomass produced than S. phylicifolia and both birch species.