Tactile colour pictogram to improve artwork appreciation of people with visual impairments

A recent development in tactile technology enables an improvement in the appreciation of the visual arts for people with visual impairment (PVI). The tactile sense, in conjunction with, or a possibly as an alternative to, the auditory sense, would allow PVIs to approach artwork in a more self‐driven and engaging way that would be difficult to achieve with just an auditory stimulus. Tactile colour pictograms (TCPs), which are raised geometric patterns, are ideographic characters that are designed to enable PVIs to identify colours and interpret information by touch. In this article, three TCPs are introduced to code colours in the Munsell colour system. Each colour pattern consists of a basic cell size of 10 mm × 10 mm to represent the patterns consistently in terms of regular shape. Each TCP consists of basic geometric patterns that are combined to create primary, secondary, and tertiary colour pictograms of shapes indicating colour hue, intensity and lightness. Each TCP represents 29 colours including six hues; they were then further expanded to represent 53 colours. Two of them did not increase the cell size, the other increased the cell size 1.5 times for some colours, such as yellow‐orange, yellow, blue, and blue‐purple. Our proposed TCPs use a slightly larger cell size compared to most tactile patterns currently used to indicate colour, but code for more colours. With user experience and identification tests, conducted with 23 visually impaired adults, the effectiveness of the TCPs suggests that they were helpful for the participants.     

Using a Discrete-Event System Specifications (DEVS) for designing a Modelica compiler

We introduce a new architecture for the design of a tool for modeling and simulation of continuous and hybrid systems. The environment includes a compiler based on Modelica, a modular and a causal standard specification language for physical systems modeling (the tool supports models composed using certain component classes defined in the Modelica Standard Library, and the instantiation, parameterization and connection of these MSL components are described using a subset of Modelica). Models are defined in Modelica and are translated into DEVS models. DEVS theory (originally defined for modeling and simulation of discrete event systems) was extended in order to permit defining these of models. The different steps in the compiling process are show, including how to model these dynamic systems under the discrete event abstraction, including examples of model simulation with their execution results.     

Expression of Main Toll-Like Receptors in Patients with Different Types of Colorectal Polyps and Their Relationship with Gut Microbiota

Abnormal activation of Toll-like receptor (TLRs) signaling can result in colon cancer development. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of important TLRs in different histological types of colorectal polyps and evaluate their relationship with intestinal microbiota. The expression levels of TLR2, 3, 4, and 5 were analyzed in intestinal biopsy specimens of 21 hyperplastic polyp (HP), 16 sessile serrated adenoma (SSA), 29 tubular adenoma (TA), 21 villous/tubulovillous (VP/TVP) cases, and 31 normal controls. In addition, selected gut bacteria including Streptococcus bovis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., Roseburia spp., and Bifidobacterium spp. were quantified in fecal samples using absolute qRT PCR, and, finally, the association between TLRs and these gut microbiota- was evaluated by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Higher expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in VP/TVP and TA, and lower expression levels of TLR3 and TLR5 in all type of polyps were observed. The differences in TLR expression patterns was not only dependent on the histology, location, size, and dysplasia grade of polyps but also related to the intestinal microbiota patterns. TLR2 and TLR4 expression was directly associated with the F. nucleatum, E. faecalis, S. bovis, Porphyromonas, and inversely to Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia quantity. Furthermore, TLR3 and TLR5 expression was directly associated with Bifidobacterium, Roseburia, and Lactobacillus quantity. Our results suggest a possible critical role of TLRs during colorectal polyp progression. An abnormal regulation of TLRs in relation to gut microbial quantity may contribute to carcinogenesis.     

Parameter estimation for a morphochemical reaction-diffusion model of electrochemical pattern formation

The process of electrodeposition can be described in terms of a reaction-diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) system that models the dynamics of the morphology profile and the chemical composition. Here we fit such a model to the different patterns present in a range of electrodeposited and electrochemically modified alloys using PDE constrained optimization. Experiments with simulated data show how the parameter space of the model can be divided into zones corresponding to the different physical patterns by examining the structure of an appropriate cost function. We then use real data to demonstrate how numerical optimization of the cost function can allow the model to fit the rich variety of patterns arising in experiments. The computational technique developed provides a potential tool for tuning experimental parameters to produce desired patterns.     

Probing the degenerate pattern growth of {100}<011> orientation in a directionally solidified Al-4.5 wt% Cu alloy

Degenerate pattern is a seemingly disordered morphology but it exhibits the inherently ordered crystal connected with tip-splitting and limited stability which makes it difficult to observe in the metallic system. Here we employ (100)[011] orientated planar-front seeds using directional solidification and reveal the fundamental origins of the degenerate pattern growth in an Al-4.5 wt% Cu alloy. We find that the spacing of the tip-splitting (λ) in the degenerate of the alloys followed a power law, λ∝V^−0.5, and the frequency (f) of the splitting was related to the growth velocity (V) by ƒ∝V^1.5. The dimensionless growth direction (θ/θ₀) increased monotonously and approached 0.6 with faster velocity, attributed to its anisotropy in the interface kinetics. Once growth velocity exceeded a threshold, two types of pattern transitions from degenerate to regular dendrites were proposed. One of them exhibited a random and chaotic mode and the other underwent a rotation in growth direction.     

Flow pattern identification and measurement techniques in gas-liquid-liquid three-phase flow: A review

The simultaneous flow of gas, oil, and water forms various flow patterns due to the complex interfacial relationships. Three-phase flow patterns are classified as the gas-liquid and liquid-liquid flow patterns. Pressure drop, void fraction, liquid holdup, and phase distribution are important characteristics of the three-phase flow. These characteristics are generally associated with the three-phase flow patterns. Hence, the knowledge about flow patterns can help to predict the overall behavior of the three-phase flow. Studies have been conducted to identify three-phase flow pattern and their characteristics at various superficial velocities of gas, oil, and water. The major purpose of the studies is to gather information about the three-phase co-current flow and use it for improvement of the efficiency of the flow systems. Therefore, the accuracy of the measurement technique is critical. Several types of flow pattern identification and measurement techniques have been developed to improve accuracy and provide high-quality results. In this article, classical and advanced techniques used for the three-phase flow identification and measurement have been reviewed. The survey will help the researchers working in the area of multiphase flow to choose the right technique based on the objectives of the studies.     

四川盆地上三叠统划分对比研究

四川盆地上三叠统对比长期存在混乱，给盆地整体评价带来困难。通过岩石地层、地震地层、事件地层及高分辨率旋回地层等多种方法讨论了须家河组与香溪群各岩性段的对比关系，得出了全盆地上三叠统的对比关系；指出须四段底可近似看成等时界面；须家河组下部地层自西向东、向南逐层超覆在雷口坡组之上，上部地层在盆地西北部自东南向西北方向剥蚀层位渐次变老。文章建议四川盆地上三叠统废除“香溪群”，统一使用“须家河组”，以利于对全盆地上三叠统进行油气资源整体评价与深化研究。     

指纹考勤管理软件的研究与实现

针对企、事业单位原有的考勤系统，如打卡钟、磁卡、IC卡等考勤方式存在代打卡、卡丢失等不足和缺陷的实际，结合指纹识别技术，建立一套考勤、薪资、人事管理于一体的软件系统。给出了系统的体系结构和功能实现，能使企业考勤管理更加简便快捷、客观公正。并提出了进一步的发展方向和展望。     

网络安全事件的关联分析方法的比较研究

随着当前攻击手段和技术的日益复杂化,一次入侵事件往往需要多个步骤才能完成,这些步骤都是彼此相关的。但是传统的入侵检测集中于检测底层的入侵或异常,所检测到的结果也仅仅是一次完整入侵的一部分,所以不能将不同的报警结合起来以发现入侵的逻辑步骤或者入侵背后的攻击策略。关联分析技术将不同分析器上产生的报警进行融合与关联分析,极大地减少了报警的数量,降低了入侵检测的误报率,并且适当的减少了入侵检测的漏报率。文中在对网络安全事件关联分析方法的系统结构进行分析后,着重介绍了当前比较流行的几种网络安全事件关联分析方法,最后对各种方法进行了比较研究。