First-order and second-order statistical analysis of 3D and 2D image structure

In the first part of this article, we analyze the relation between local image structures (i.e., homogeneous, edge-like, corner-like or texture-like structures) and the underlying local 3D structure (represented in terms of continuous surfaces and different kinds of 3D discontinuities) using range data with real-world color images. We find that homogeneous image structures correspond to continuous surfaces, and discontinuities are mainly formed by edge-like or corner-like structures, which we discuss regarding potential computer vision applications and existing assumptions about the 3D world. In the second part, we utilize the measurements developed in the first part to investigate how the depth at homogeneous image structures is related to the depth of neighbor edges. For this, we first extract the local 3D structure of regularly sampled points, and then, analyze the coplanarity relation between these local 3D structures. We show that the likelihood to find a certain depth at a homogeneous image patch depends on the distance between the image patch and a neighbor edge. We find that this dependence is higher when there is a second neighbor edge which is coplanar with the first neighbor edge. These results allow deriving statistically based prediction models for depth interpolation on homogeneous image structures.     

The ratio of crystallinity and thermodynamical interactions of polycaprolactone with some aliphatic esters and aromatic solvents by inverse gas chromatography

Summary The retention diagrams of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, chloro benzene, n-propyl benzene, isopropyl benzene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate and isoamyl acetate on the polycaprolactone were plotted at temperatures between 70 and 140^oC by inverse gas chromatography technique. Percent crystallinity of polycaprolactone were obtained at temperatures below melting point from the retention diagrams of benzene, toluene and ethyl benzene. It was concluded that the data obtained by inverse gas chromatography were comparable those of obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. Specific retention volume, V_g^o, Flory-Huggins polymer-solvent interaction parameters, ₁₂, the weight fraction activity coefficients of the solvents at infinite dilution, ₁, effective exchange energy parameters, X_eff were determined. Later, the partial molar heat of sorption, H_1,sorp and the partial molar heat of mixing, H₁ were obtained from the slope of the logarithm of specific retention volume, Ln V_g^o versus 1/T plot and from the slope of the logarithm of the weight fraction activity coefficients, ₁versus 1/T plot, respectively.     

Effects of waste material–lime additive mixtures on mechanical properties of granular soils

Granular soil was stabilized using different proportions of silica fume–lime and fly ash–lime and compacted at optimum water content. Compaction, compressive strength and California Bearing Ratio tests were undertaken which confirmed that the use of waste materials and lime mixtures improved the strength properties of the crushed granular soils.     

Mechanochemical processing and microstructural characterization of pure Fe2B nanocrystals

The results of current investigation demonstrate that mechanochemical processing can be used to synthesize high purity Fe₂B nanocrystals by selecting well-optimized milling conditions, reaction paths and proper starting materials. Microstructure, phase analyses, specific surface area, and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanocrystals were examined by using X-ray diffraction/spectroscopy, electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption methods following Brunauer-Emmett-Teller equation and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques, respectively. Removal of MgO impurity phase by leaching the resulting powder in the acetic acid solution yielded single phase Fe₂B nanocrystals with the crystallite size and specific surface area of 12.5 nm and 29 m²/g, respectively. Magnetization results clearly indicated the ferromagnetic behavior of Fe₂B nanocrystals with saturation magnetization observed around 96.26 emu·g^?1. Electron microscope images revealed coaxial/spherical powder shape and morphology of the single-phase Fe₂B nanocrystals.     

Sustainable resilience of hydrogen energy system

Resilience is the capacity of complex system to be recovered after a sudden change of the indicator. Energy resilience is the ability of energy system to provide and maintain an acceptable level of service in the face of various challenges to normal operation. Loss of resilience can cause loss of valuable energy system services, and may even lead to rapid transitions or shifts into qualitatively different situations and configurations,     

A comparative study on water-based coatings prepared in the presence of oligomeric and conventional protective colloids

Poly(vinyl acetate-co-butyl acrylate) latexes were prepared by using semi-continuous emulsion polymerization method in presence of two different protective colloids which were oligomeric N-methylol acrylamide and conventional poly(vinyl alcohol). The effects of these protective colloids on colloidal, surface and film properties of latexes were examined. Poly(vinyl acetate-co-butyl acrylate) synthesized with oligomeric N-methylol acrylamide, which was characterized by FT-IR, NMR and MALDI-TOF MS, was found to have lower viscosity, finer particle size, better latex stability, lower polydispersity, higher T_g and better film forming behavior compared to those synthesized from the poly(vinyl alcohol).     

Effects of silica fume on the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soils exposed to freeze and thaw

Both the landfill liner and cover systems are the most important parts on a waste disposal landfill site. These systems are generally constructed using compacted fine-grained soils. It is known that the strength and permeability are particularly affected by freezing and thawing cycles in the cold regions. The aim of this study is to reduce the effects of freezing and thawing cycles on the strength and permeability. To modify the fine-grained soils, silica fume generated during silicon metal production as very fine dust of silica from a blast furnace and historically considered a waste product has been used as a stabilizer. The natural fine-grained soils and soil–silica fume mixtures have been compacted at the optimum moisture content and subjected to the laboratory tests. The test results show that the stabilized fine-grained soil samples containing silica fume exhibit high resistance to the freezing and thawing effects as compared to natural fine-grained soil samples. The silica fume decreases the effects of freezing and thawing cycles on the unconfined compressive strength and permeability. We have concluded that silica fume can be successfully used to reduce the effects of freezing and thawing cycles on the strength and permeability in landfill liner and cover systems constructed from compacted fine-grained soils.     

Electrical Switching in TlSbSe2 Chalcogenide Semiconductors

Electrical measurements were performed on TlSbSe₂ ternary crystals in the temperature range 293–413 K. The obtained I–V characteristics consist of two regions: an Ohmic region at low current densities, and nonlinear regions having negative differential resistance (NDR) at moderate and higher current densities. The nonlinear behavior of the I–V curves was studied at different ambient temperatures. The sample temperature and the threshold voltage of the NDR region were also examined as a function of the ambient temperature. We detected that the investigated samples exhibit threshold-type switching and propose that the switching mechanism has an electronic origin.     

Swelling behavior of polystyrene networks in some aliphatic esters and linear polystyrene solutions

Summary Polystyrene networks were synthesized by free radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of dibenzoyl peroxide as an initiator, divinylbenzene as a crosslinker at 50 °C in toluene under nitrogen atmosphere. The swelling behavior of the synthesized polystyrene networks were studied at different temperatures in methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate, and isopentyl acetate. Equations were given for the variation of the polymer-solvent interaction parameter, χ₁₂, as a function of reciprocal absolute temperature in the temperature range from 25 to 75 °C. Polystyrene networks were swollen in linear polystyrene solutions in toluene of different concentrations. Linear polystyrene samples were almost monodisperse and of high molecular weight. The equilibrium swelling degrees were evaluated using the Flory-Rehner theory. The relation of volume swelling ratio, q_v, to the volume fraction of the linear polymer in solution, φ, was evaluated and characterized by interaction parameter of crosslinked polystyrene with linear polystyrene, χ₂₃. The parameter χ₂₃ was found around zero as expected from mixtures of similar chemical structures by extrapolating the values of χ₂₃ at tested concentrations to zero solvent concentration.