Large-scale quantum mechanical simulations of high- Z metals

High-Z metals constitute a particular challenge for large-scale ab initio electronic-structure calculations, as they require high resolution due to the presence of strongly localized states and require many eigenstates to be computed due to the large number of electrons and need to accurately resolve the Fermi surface. Here, we report recent findings on high-Z metals, using an efficient massively parallel planewave implementation on some of the largest computational architectures currently available. We discuss the particular architectures employed and methodological advances required to harness them effectively. We present a pair-correlation function for U, calculated using quantum molecular dynamics, and discuss relaxations of Pu atoms in the vicinity of defects in aged and alloyed Pu. We find that the self-irradiation associated with aging has a negligible effect on the compressibility of Pu relative to other factors such as alloying. The US Goverment’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Web-based systems design: a study of contemporary practices and an explanatory framework based on “method-in-action”

This paper reports the findings of a detailed study of Web-based systems design (WBSD) practices in Ireland based on data collected over a 3-year period (2002–2005), the objectives of which were to (1) contribute towards a richer understanding of the current “real-world” context of WBSD by characterising the profile of a typical project (team size, timeframe, nature of requirements, etc.) and identifying the key challenges, constraints, and imperatives (i.e. “mediating factors”) faced by Web-based system designers, and (2) understand how those contextual parameters and mediating factors influence the activity of WBSD as regards the selection and enactment of whatever design practices are therefore engaged (i.e. the use of methods, procedures, etc.). Data was gathered through a survey which yielded 165 usable responses, and later through a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews. Using grounded theory, an explanatory conceptual framework is derived, based on an extension of the “method-in-action” model, the application of which to WBSD has not been previously investigated in depth. It is proposed that this framework of WBSD issues is valuable in a number of ways to educators, researchers, practitioners, and method engineers.     

含钡合金在钢液中的脱氧行为研究

在MoSi2炉上采用MgO质坩蜗对钢管进行了含钡合金脱氧行为的研究。实验中钡系合金主要选取SiAUBa、SiCaBa、SiAlBaCa、SiAlBeCaSr及用于钙处理的SiCa包芯线，选用Al作为对比脱氧剂，考察了钡系合金脱氧的全氧含量，脱氧产物的分布、尺寸和形貌，探讨了钡系合金脱氧和对夹杂物变性作用的机理。     

Signal processing using cellular neural networks

The cellular neural network (CNN) architecture combines the best features from traditional fully-connected analog neural networks and digital cellular automata. The network can rapidly process continuous-valued (gray-scale) input signals (such as images) and perform many computation functions which traditionally were implemented in digital form. Here, we briefly introduce the the theory of CNN circuits, provide some examples of CNN applications to image processing, and discuss work toward a CNN implementation in custom CMOS VLSI. The role of analog computer-aided design (CAD) will be briefly presented as it relates to analog neural network implementation.This work is supported in part by the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-89-J1402, and the National Science Foundation under grant MIP-8912639.     

A fuzzy-based impulse noise detection and cancellation for real-time processing in video receivers

In this paper, a simple fuzzy-based algorithm to remove the impulse noise from images is proposed. To achieve real-time applications, the proposed filter architecture, which combines fuzzy noise detection and noise filtering, is also designed. With low computational complexity, simulation results show that the proposed filters effectively remove the impulse noise.     

Comment on Y.-H. Hsu et al., "electrical and mechanical fully coupled theory and experimental verification of Rosen-type piezoelectric transformers" [see reference [1]]

This letter discusses the difference between piezoelectric constitutive relations for the case of one-dimensional stress and the case of one-dimensional strain, and its implications in the modeling of Rosen piezoelectric transformers.     

Occlusion-resistant camera design for acquiring active environments.

In this article, we present a detailed theoretical analysis and a prototype implementation of a family of cameras designed with the explicit goal of detecting and removing interfering dynamic occluders in real time, during live capture, as opposed to fixing the resulting artifacts a posteriori. Such an early-acquisition approach improves efficiency: more valid samples are acquired faster without worrying about moving occluders. One option for designing a camera to be unaffected by moving occluders is to sample through the occluder, but true x-ray-like vision is technically impractical. Another option is to sample around the occluder using a camera with a large effective aperture, but such an approach requires a bulky acquisition device. Yet another possibility of sampling around an occluder is to rely on second and higher order reflected rays that indirectly sample surfaces not directly visible. However, devising an acquisition device sufficiently sensitive and efficient to capture large environments using reflected rays will remain challenging for the foreseeable future.     

基于MEMS技术的新型加速度计开发及其在故障诊断中的应用

提出了开发一种新颖电容式MEMS微加速计的思路,使其具有较宽的量程和合适的频响范围,较高的测量精度,能满足汽轮发电机组、风机和离心机等旋转机械的故障诊断技术要求.针对提出的微结构理论模型,给出了基于ANSYS有限元计算模拟结果和优化设计方法.考虑低成本制造因素,给出了硅底材料刻蚀加工的基本工艺方案.探讨了在碟片式分离机智能化故障诊断中的一体化设计及应用.