A new maximum likelihood polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar coherence change detection (ML-PolInSAR-CCD)

Coherent change detection (CCD) use the sample degree of coherence as a measure of the temporal change collected between two complex-valued SAR images observed in the same area and using also the same geometry and polarization. The problem of classical CCD approaches shows a temporal change only when there are in areas of the image that have high clutter-to-noise power ratio. All experiments regarding the maximum-likelihood (ML) CCD, found to estimate useful information also in lower clutter-to-noise power ratio. Experiments used only electromagnetic transmissions in the same polarization. This work extends the formulation of the probability distribution function of the CCD in a multi-dimensional version useful for multi-polarization SAR data. Results of this ML-polarimetric interferometric SAR-CCD (ML-PolInSAR-CCD) show surprising recovery of both amplitude and phase CCD information. This information recovery is useful for improved interferometric SAR (InSAR), permanent scatterers interferometry (PS-InSAR) and SAR tomography applications.     

Pressure‐Tunable Ambipolar Conduction and Hysteresis in Thin Palladium Diselenide Field Effect Transistors

Few‐layer palladium diselenide (PdSe₂) field effect transistors are studied under external stimuli such as electrical and optical fields, electron irradiation, and gas pressure. The ambipolar conduction and hysteresis are observed in the transfer curves of the as‐exfoliated and unprotected PdSe₂ material. The ambipolar conduction and its hysteretic behavior in the air and pure nitrogen environments are tuned. The prevailing p‐type transport observed at atmospheric pressure is reversibly turned into a dominant n‐type conduction by reducing the pressure, which can simultaneously suppress the hysteresis. The pressure control can be exploited to symmetrize and stabilize the transfer characteristics of the device as required in high‐performance logic circuits. The transistors are affected by trap states with characteristic times in the order of minutes. The channel conductance, dramatically reduced by the electron irradiation during scanning electron microscope imaging, is restored after an annealing of several minutes at room temperature. The work paves the way toward the exploitation of PdSe₂ in electronic devices by providing an experiment‐based and deep understanding of charge transport in PdSe₂ transistors subjected to electrical stress and other external agents.     

Experimental multiaxial fatigue tests realized with newly developed geometry specimens

In the literature there are many experimental results of multiaxial fatigue testing, usually generated by the combination of two or more cyclical loads. The cases in which samples are randomly stressed are rarer. Moreover, to generate particular stress states, the use of specific machinery for fatigue tests is usually required. For these reasons, the authors have created a particular geometry of specimens, which, when solicited by a single input of a random type, guarantees the creation of specific multiaxial stress states without using complex and costly instruments. The experimental tests were finally used for the validation of the multiaxial reduction method developed and currently utilized in the authors' design phase, though potentially used to verify all the other methodologies present in the literature.     

Nonlinear fatigue crack propagation in a baffle module of Wendelstein 7‐X under cyclic bending loads

Simulation of the fatigue crack propagation in a Wendelstein 7‐X baffle module is performed in this study using both a finite element method‐based software and the UniGrow nonlinear model for small‐scale yielding (SSY) conditions. Some experimental fatigue tests of several cracked baffle modules have been performed through a servo‐hydraulic machine. One of these experimental tests has been considered to simulate fatigue crack propagation in the baffle module. Before starting the experimental test, a first crack partly contained in the welding seam and partly in the steel pipe is found. Subsequently, owing to the applied load, the crack propagated both into the welding seam and into the steel pipe until the plastic zone in the near field attains SSY conditions. Finally, owing to the increase in the extension of the plastic zone, SSY conditions are not more valid, and the breakage of the steel pipe is produced by plastic collapse.     

Creep damage behaviors of red sandstone subjected to uniaxial compression after high-temperature heat treatment using acoustic emission technology

This work discusses the results from tests conducted to investigate the uniaxial compression and creep behavior of red sandstone. An original untreated sample and an 800°C treated sample were selected to carry out the experiments. High temperature had an obvious influence on the mechanical properties of the red sandstone. The relationship between creep strain and instantaneous strain, as well as the instantaneous deformation modulus and creep viscosity coefficient, was analyzed. High temperature reduced the ability of the red sandstone to resist instantaneous deformation and creep deformation. Acoustic emission (AE) technology was also used in the loading process of uniaxial compression and creep tests, providing a powerful means for damage evolutionary analysis of the red sandstone.     

Impact and visibility of Norwegian,Finnish and Spanish journals in the fields of humanities

Scientometrics - This article analyses the impact and visibility of scholarly journals in the humanities that are publishing in the national languages in Finland, Norway and Spain. Three types of...     

Data-driven generation of spatio-temporal routines in human mobility

The generation of realistic spatio-temporal trajectories of human mobility is of fundamental importance in a wide range of applications, such as the developing of protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks or what-if analysis in urban ecosystems. Current generative algorithms fail in accurately reproducing the individuals’ recurrent schedules and at the same time in accounting for the possibility that individuals may break the routine during periods of variable duration. In this article we present Ditras (DIary-based TRAjectory Simulator), a framework to simulate the spatio-temporal patterns of human mobility. Ditras operates in two steps: the generation of a mobility diary and the translation of the mobility diary into a mobility trajectory. We propose a data-driven algorithm which constructs a diary generator from real data, capturing the tendency of individuals to follow or break their routine. We also propose a trajectory generator based on the concept of preferential exploration and preferential return. We instantiate Ditras with the proposed diary and trajectory generators and compare the resulting algorithm with real data and synthetic data produced by other generative algorithms, built by instantiating Ditras with several combinations of diary and trajectory generators. We show that the proposed algorithm reproduces the statistical properties of real trajectories in the most accurate way, making a step forward the understanding of the origin of the spatio-temporal patterns of human mobility.     

The multi-modal interface of Robot-Era multi-robot services tailored for the elderly

Socially assistive robotic platforms are now a realistic option for the long-term care of ageing populations. Elderly users may benefit from many services provided by robots operating in different environments, such as providing assistance inside apartments, serving in shared facilities of buildings or guiding people outdoors. In this paper, we present the experience gained within the EU FP7 ROBOT-ERA project towards the objective of implementing easy-to-use and acceptable service robotic system for the elderly. In particular, we detail the user-centred design and the experimental evaluation in realistic environments of a web-based multi-modal user interface tailored for elderly users of near future multi-robot services. Experimental results demonstrate positive evaluation of usability and willingness to use by elderly users, especially those less experienced with technological devices who could benefit more from the adoption of robotic services. Further analyses showed how multi-modal modes of interaction support more flexible and natural elderly–robot interaction, make clear the benefits for the users and, therefore, increase its acceptability. Finally, we provide insights and lessons learned from the extensive experimentation, which, to the best of our knowledge, is one of the largest experimentation of a multi-robot multi-service system so far.