Revisiting the Parallel Strategy for DOACROSS Loops

Journal of Computer Science and Technology - DOACROSS loops are significant parts in many important scientific and engineering applications, which are generally exploited pipeline/wave-front...     

Accelerated wear testing with a microfabricated surface to evaluate the lubrication ability of biomolecules on polyethylene

Wear of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and wear‐particle‐induced osteolysis and bone resorption are the major factors causing the failure of total joint replacements. It is feasible to improve the lubrication and reduce the wear of artificial joints. We need further understanding of the lubrication mechanism of the synovial fluid. The objective of this study is to evaluate the lubricating ability of three major components in the synovial fluid: albumin, globulin, and phospholipids. An accelerated wear testing procedure in which UHMWPE is rubbed against a microfabricated surface with controlled asperities has been developed to evaluate the lubrication behavior. An analysis of the wear particle dimensions and wear amount of the tests has provided insights for comparing their lubrication performance. It is concluded that the presence of biomolecules at the articulating interface may reduce friction. A higher concentration of a biological lubricant leads to a decrease in the wear particle width. In addition, in combination with the wear results and mechanical analysis, the roles of individual biomolecules contributing to friction and wear at the articulating interface are discussed. These results can help us to identify the role of the biomolecules in the boundary lubrication of artificial joints, and further development of lubricating additives for artificial joints may be feasible. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

The effect of the EAAEAE insert on the property of human metallothionein-3

MT3 shows apparently different properties and function fromMT1 even though they have 70% sequence homology. Possibly thetwo inserts, Thr5 and a negatively charged hexapeptide at position-55in MT3, play important roles. A series of MT3 variants aroundthe EAAEAE hexapeptide have been prepared by site-directed mutagenesisand their properties and reactivity towards pH, EDTA and DTNBhave been studied. Our detailed studies revealed that the EAAEAEinsert is essential to the property of MT3. It is the hexapeptideinsert, to some extent, making the MT3     

Mathematical model for the pultrusion of blocked PU–UP matrix composites

The thermokinetic behavior of blocked polyurethane (PU)–unsaturated polyester (UP)–based composites during the pultrusion of glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites was investigated utilizing a mathematical model that accounted for the heat transfer and heat generation during curing. The equations of continuity and energy balance, coupled with a kinetic expression for the curing system, were solved using a finite difference method to calculate the temperature profiles and conversion profiles in the thickness direction in a rectangular pultrusion die. A kinetic model, dP/dt = A exp(?E/RT)P^m(1 ? P)ⁿ, was proposed to describe the curing behavior of a blocked PU–UP resin. Kinetic parameters for the model were obtained from dynamic differential scanning calorimetry scans using a multiple regression technique, which was able to predict the effects of processing parameters on the pultrusion. The effects of processing parameters including pulling speed, die wall temperature, and die thickness on the performance of the pultrusion also were evaluated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1996–2002, 2003     

Synergistic effects of micro-/nano-fillers on conductive and electromagnetic shielding properties of polypropylene nanocomposites

This study presents the synergistic effects of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) and carbon fibers (CFs) additions on the electrical and electromagnetic shielding properties of GNS/CF/polypropylene (PP) composites. These composites were fabricated by the melt blending of different ratios of GNSs and CFs (20:0, 15:5, 10:10, 5:15 and 0:20 wt/wt%) into a PP polymer matrix using a Brabender mixer. Besides, the chemical and crystalline structures and the thermal stability of the resultant GNS/CF/PP composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FT-IR and XRD showed that with the addition of GNSs content, transmittances at 1373.4?cm^?1 and 1454.4?cm^?1 became smaller and the characteristic peak at 26.82° became stronger. TGA showed that the GNS/CF/PP composite can be used at high temperature below 456°C. Blending 10?wt% CFs and 10?wt% GNSs into the PP polymer resulted in excellent conductivity (0.397 S/cm), which indicated the occurrence of the critical percolation threshold phenomenon, and also reached the maximum electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) of 20?dB at 1.28–2.00?GHz. Laminated with five layers of composites, its EMSE achieved 25–38?dB at 0.3–3.0?GHz, corresponding to blocking of 94.38–98.74% electromagnetic waves.     

Evaluating learners’ motivational and cognitive processing in an online game-based learning environment

This paper describes the process and results of an evaluation on an online game-based learning environment (GBLE) by focusing on learners’ motivational processing and cognitive processing. The goal is to explore how online GBLE might initiate and support learners’ goal-setting activities and impact learners’ cognitive loads. The study surveyed 144 undergraduate students after their autonomous participation in the online game available at the Nobel Prize Foundation website teaching the Heckscher-Ohlin Theory on international trade. Grounded in the integrative theory of motivation, volition, and performance (MVP), the evaluation indicated that participants felt significantly confident in learning the subject. The perceived satisfaction, however, was lower than the rest of motivational components possibly due to heavy cognitive processing. The finding of cognitive load reported that learners perceived a significantly higher level of intrinsic load than the germane load due to the novelty of the subject matter. Data analysis further indicated a significant canonical correlation between learners’ motivational and cognitive processing. This particular finding could inform future research to investigate specific motivational processing components’ effects on learners’ cognitive load levels in online GBLEs.     

基于多结构形态学的港口船舶检测方法

针对港口监控摄像机与船舶目标距离远,船舶目标成像小,海面噪声干扰大等特点,采用一种基于多结构元素形态学滤波的背景抑制算法.根据船舶的几何特征,采用多组结构元素的加权形态学滤波,将船舶目标与海面背景分离,然后利用基于邻域的自适应快速中值滤波滤除脉冲噪声,最后根据海面杂波在帧间运动不连续且面积较小等特点,利用连通域计算建立船舶的形态特征模型,来排除海面杂波对船舶检测的干扰.实验结果证明,该检测方法在实际港口获取的视频中,可以有效的抑制背景噪声和海面杂波,快速的检测出船舶目标.     

一般化最小包含球的大样本快速学习方法

标准最小包含球(Minimum enclosing ball, MEB)模型的对偶问题可视为MEB问题并能够利用核心集向量机(Core vector machine, CVM)实现大样本的快速训练,但对于一般化MEB模型,对偶问题中的不等式约束发生了变化而不能视为MEB问题, 不能方便地使用CVM来解决大样本的快速训练.为此,提出了一般化MEB快速学习方法(Fast learning of generalized MEB, FL-GMEB),首先放松对偶问题中的不等式约束条件,使其等价于中心约束的MEB问题,从而利用CVM获得其核心集(Core set, CS);然后利用局部线性嵌入(Locally linear embedding, LLE)的逆思想将CS扩充为拓展核心集(Extended core set, ECS);最后将ECS及其对应的优化权作为一般化MEB模型的逼近解. UCI和USPS数据集上的实验结果表明, FL-GMEB在大样本快速训练方面具有较好的性能优势.     

An ergonomic study of visual optimization by light color managements

Light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have the advantage of controllable light colors and provide the optimal lighting quality against various color attributes required in different environments. However, from the humanized design point of view, beside satisfying physical demands of people, it is also important to achieve satisfaction. With a good match between the LED lighting equipment and ambient colors, the space imagery that complies with psychological needs of human beings can be found. This is expected to become a new market direction for future lighting. In this study, the LED light source feature of adjustable correlated color temperature is used to match wall colors of typical commercial spaces and for the investigation and analysis of the impact of colors of light sources and environments on human beings. The measures of mental and subjective feelings of a group of people under various circumstances have also been investigated. Multivariate analysis of variance has been conducted on three color temperatures of light sources, six wall colors, and measures of five emotion adjectives, and the correlation between these three variables has been further investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 72–84, 2016