Design by framework completion

An object-oriented framework in essence defines an architecture for a family of applications or subsystems in a given domain. Every application in the family obeys these architectural restrictions. Such frameworks are typically delivered as collections of inter-dependent abstract classes, together with their concrete subclasses. The abstract classes and their interdependencies implicitly realize the architecture. Developing a new application reusing classes of a framework requires a thorough understanding of the framework architecture.We introduce an approach called Design by Framework Completion, in which an exemplar (an executable visual model for a minimal instantiation of the architecture) is used for documenting frameworks. We propose exploration of exemplars as a means for learning the architecture, following which new applications can be built by replacing selected pieces of the exemplar. For the piece to be replaced, the inheritance lattice around its class provides the space of alternatives, one of these classes may be suitably adapted (say, by sub-classing) to create the new replacement.Design by Framework Completion proposes a paradigm shift when designing in presence of reusable components: It enables a much simpler top-down approach for creating applications, as opposed to the prevalent search for components and assemble them bottom-up strategy. We believe that this paradigm shift is essential because components can only be fitted together if they all obey the same architectural rules that govern the framework.     

On the lower bounds of the second order nonlinearities of some Boolean functions

The rth order nonlinearity of a Boolean function is an important cryptographic criterion in analyzing the security of stream as well as block ciphers. It is also important in coding theory as it is related to the covering radius of the Reed-Muller code R(r,n). In this paper we deduce the lower bounds of the second order nonlinearities of the following two types of Boolean functions:

1.

with d=2^2r+2^r+1 and , where n=6r.

2.

, where x,y∈F_2^t,n=2t,n?6 and i is an integer such that 1?i<t,gcd(2^t-1,2ⁱ+1)=1.

For some λ, the functions of the first type are bent functions, whereas Boolean functions of the second type are all bent functions, i.e., they possess the maximum first order nonlinearity. It is demonstrated that in some cases our bounds are better than the previously obtained bounds.     

Multimode co-clustering for analyzing terrorist networks

The phenomenon of terrorism is deemed one of the fundamental challenges in national security. Creating defensive technologies to mitigate terrorist attacks requires a simultaneous investigation of contextual relationships among their various dimensions. We proposed and evaluated a graph-based methodology to analyze terrorist networks through co-clustering in a multimode basis. Since there are many heterogeneous relationships in terrorist networks depending on the dimensions used during analysis, we utilized the clustering indicators of the multimode structure discovered in bi- and multimode graphs. Objects and activities that co-occur during terrorist attacks are identified by applying conventional clustering on those indicators. The novelty of our method is in the incremental creation of the multimode structure using its bi-mode counterparts. Our approach is evaluated using these measures: clustering stability and association confidence. The experimental results yields encouraging results in terms of simultaneous clustering of heterogeneous objects in terrorist networks.     

Friction and Wear Reduction Mechanism of Polyalkylene Glycol-Based Engine Oils

Polyalkylene glycols (PAG) have been explored as a possible base stock for engine oil formulation. The friction, wear, and load-carrying capacity of five different PAG chemistries were evaluated either as a base stock or as formulated oils in pure sliding and sliding-rolling conditions using various laboratory bench test rigs operating under boundary and mixed lubrication regimes. The results were compared against GF-5 SAE 5W-20 and a mineral-based oil. The wear surfaces were also characterized using various surface-sensitive techniques for analysis of tribofilms to understand the mechanism of friction reduction. The results indicated that PAG oils show lower friction/traction coefficients and improved load-carrying capability, depending on the formulation, than those of the GF-5 SAE 5W-20 and mineral-based oil. The adsorption of PAG molecules on the surface appeared to be responsible for the lower friction characteristics.     

Nonwoven geotextiles from nettle and poly(lactic acid) fibers for slope stabilization using bioengineering approach

This article deals with needle-punched nonwoven geotextiles prepared from nettle and poly(lactic acid) fibers in different weight proportions for potential slope stabilization application using bioengineering approach. The geotextiles were tested for tensile strength, biodegradability, and enhancement of soil fertility. The tensile strength of the geotextiles was found to decrease with addition of stronger nettle fibers. This apparently surprising behavior was explained in the light of theoretical tensile mechanics of nonwovens. Further, the nettle fibers displayed higher biodegradability than the poly(lactic acid) fibers, and when buried under soil, all the geotextiles exhibited a loss in tensile strength. Interestingly, the fertility of the soil was remarkably improved after biodegradation of poly(lactic acid) fibers. Overall, the nonwoven geotextiles prepared in this work were found to be promising for slope stabilization application.     

Nanoparticle ordering by dewetting of Co on SiO2

Most metals on SiO₂ have a finite contact angle and are therefore subject to dewetting during thermal processing. The resulting dewetting morphology is determined primarily by nucleation and growth or instabilities. The dewetting mechanism implies a disordered spatial arrangement for homogeneous nucleation, but an ordered one for instabilities such as spinodal decomposition. Here, we show that the morphology of laser-melted ultrathin Co film (4-nm thick) can be attributed to dewetting via an instability. Dewetting leads to breakup of the continuous Co film into nanoparticles with a monomodal size distribution with an average particle diameter of 75 nm±23 nm. These nanoparticles have short-range order (SRO) of 130 nm in their separation. This result has important implications for nanomanufacturing with a robust spacing or size selection of nanoparticles in addition to spatial ordering.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of ZnGeP2 crystal for infrared laser device applications: revisited

Measurement of refractive indices in the spectral bands 9-11 microm and 1.32 microm from a cw CO2 laser and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, respectively, is reported in a ZnGeP2 crystal. A new set of Sellmeier dispersion relations has been derived from the measured refractive indices data in this crystal. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) of CO2 laser radiation in this crystal is also reported. It is also seen that the previously reported phase-matching data for others experiments in SHG and optical parametric devices is explained satisfactorily with this new set of Sellmeier dispersion relation.     

ASTER‐derived emissivity and coal‐fire related surface temperature anomaly: a case study in Wuda,north China

Subsurface and surface coal fires form serious environmental, economic and safety problems in coal‐producing countries like China and India. Remote sensing offers the possibility of detecting and studying thermal anomalies due to coal fires. Emissivity plays an important role in determining the surface temperature of a body using remotely sensed data. In the present study an attempt is made to use satellite‐derived emissivity to estimate the surface temperature in Wuda, north China. With the use of multispectral thermal Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data (five bands in 8.125–11.65 µm region) in combination with a Temperature/Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm, the anomalous pixels due to coal fires can be extracted from the background to achieve a qualitative study of coal fires. In the present study, during night‐time overpass of ASTER, satellite images have been recorded and simultaneous field measurements were collected. These field measurements were used to process the satellite thermal data and to validate the results obtained. Using the TES approach, satellite‐based temperature corresponded well with actual field measurements at selected locations.     

The relations between the shear modulus, the bulk modulus and Young's modulus for porous isotropic ceramic materials

A relation between the shear modulus and Young's modulus of isotropic porous ceramics has been derived based on the Mori–Tanaka mean-field approach. The applicability of the relation has been evaluated using the experimental values available in the literature for the shear modulus, the bulk modulus and Young's modulus of porous ceramics prepared using various processing techniques and powder sizes. It is also shown that the ratio of the shear to Young's modulus of porous ceramics can be approximated by a constant value of 0.391.