Fast two-step half-pixel accuracy motion vector prediction

A new fast algorithm is presented for reducing the computational complexity of half-pixel accuracy motion estimation. A reduction in the required number of computations is obtained by limiting the number of candidate blocks by predicting the direction of minimum error. It reduces the necessary computational overhead to ~38% of that for the conventional method     

Agglomeration of polybutadiene latex by highly carboxylated functional microspheres

Polybutadiene latex (PBL) was agglomerated by highly carboxylated core-shell agglomerating agents, which contained carboxyl groups in the shell polymer [core monomers (methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, and ethyl acrylate)/shell monomer (acrylic acid)]. The effects of different parameters upon the particle size of agglomerated PBL were investigated, namely, agglomeration time, amount of agglomerating agent, pH of dispersion medium, amount of acrylic acid and combination of core monomers. The particle growth mechanism was also examined. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient Removal of Ammonia by Hierarchically Porous Carbons from a CO2 Capture Process

The amine-based post-combustion carbon capture process is one of the most efficient methods for treating large-scale CO₂, but it produces hazardous products due to chemical transition and degradation of the absorbents. In this study, carbon-based materials were used as adsorbents for the removal of NH₃, and their adsorption capacities, adsorption rates, and stabilities were examined by comparing commercial activated carbon (AC) with hierarchically porous carbon (HPC). HPC-Step4 possessed a higher number of total acid sites, resulting in higher NH₃ adsorption compared to AC. Despite the similar porosity, HPC-Step4 exhibited a higher adsorption rate constant and the improved kinetics was attributed to its increased portion of mesopores, enhancing the diffusion rate of the adsorbate. Furthermore, HPC-Step4 exhibited better reaction stability than AC.     

Stiffness, strength, and ductility of nanoscale thin films and membranes: a combined wrinkling-cracking methodology

We establish and validate a measurement method based on wrinkling-cracking phenomena that allows unambiguous measurements of three fundamental mechanical properties in nanoscale thin film geometries, including elastic modulus, strength, and fracture strain. In addition to polymer and metal thin films, the method is applied to the active nanolayers of a composite reverse osmosis membrane before and after chlorination, illustrating the ability to detect a ductile-to-brittle transition in these materials indicative of "embrittlement", a behavior that impairs long-term durability and is detrimental to membrane performance.     

High temperature phase stabilities and electrochemical properties of InBaCo4−xZnxO7 cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

InBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇ oxides have been synthesized and characterized as cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). The effect of Zn substitution for Co on the structure, phase stability, thermal expansion, and electrochemical properties of the InBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇ has been investigated. The increase in the Zn content from x = 1 to 1.5 improves the high temperature phase stability at 600 °C and 700 °C for 100 h, and chemical stability against a Gd_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 (GDC) electrolyte. Thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) values of the InBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇ (x = 1, 1.5, 2) specimens were determined to be 8.6 × 10⁻⁶ to 9.6 × 10⁻⁶/°C in the range of 80–900 °C, which provides good thermal expansion compatibility with the standard SOFC electrolyte materials. The InBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇ + GDC (50:50 wt.%) composite cathodes exhibit improved cathode performances compared to those obtained from the simple InBaCo_4−xZn_xO₇ cathodes due to the extended triple-phase boundary (TPB) and enhanced oxide-ion conductivity through the GDC portion in the composites.     

Citric based sol-gel synthesis and photoluminescence properties of un-doped and Sm doped Ca3Y2Si3O12 phosphors

The photoluminescent properties of un-doped and Sm³⁺ doped Ca₃Y₂Si₃O₁₂ phosphors were prepared by the citrate sol-gel method. Un-doped sample has shown a strong blue emission, which has its maximum intensity at 389 nm. Among all the observed emission transitions ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_J (J = 5/2, 7/2 & 9/2) of Sm³⁺, the reddish-orange (RO) emission transition ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2 is more prominent, which matches well with the emission wavelength of near UV (n-UV) LED. The reasons for the observance of such prominent visible color emissions from these phosphors have been substantiated appropriately. Besides, structural details of these samples have also been analyzed from the measured XRD, TEM, TG-DTA and FT-IR profiles.     

Interactive Design Recommendation Using Sensor Based Smart Wear and Weather WebBot

Analysis of a customer’s sensibility preferences is an important strategy in a market that is becoming increasingly more customer-oriented. In this paper, the interactive design recommendation using the sensor based smart wear and the weather WebBot (DRS-WB) is proposed. The proposed method is increasing the efficiency of merchandising for human-oriented sensibility product designs. Development of the DRS-WB included a user interface and collaborative filtering of textile and fashion designs to satisfy the user’s needs. Collaborative filtering is used to recommend designs of interest for users based on predictive relationships discovered between the current user and other previous users. Current weather information is simultaneously acquired from the sensor based smart wear and the weather WebBot. The sensor based smart wear is fabricated as a way of non-tight and comfortable style fitting for the curves of the human body based on clothes to wear in daily life. The design sample of the smart wear uses basic stretch materials and is designed to sustain its wearable property. The weather WebBot uses a database of weather forecast information extracted from the Web pages and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed of the Korea Meteorological Administration and collects information from the various links off the main URL. Information is stored in a database using XML query for collecting effective weather data and processed as a form of XML through extracting and exchanging the information. These signals are then transmitted to the connected DRS-WB. This information can be easily monitored in real time. Textile designs and fashion designs were incorporated into the survey. Pictures of fashion design details such as collar type, sleeve type, skirt type, skirt length, and color tone were evaluated in terms of sensibility. Finally, this paper suggests empirical applications to verify the adequacy and validity of this system.