Total Least Squares Fitting of k-Spheres in n-D Euclidean Space Using an (n+2)-D Isometric Representation

We fit k-spheres optimally to n-D point data, in a geometrically total least squares sense. A specific practical instance is the optimal fitting of 2D-circles to a 3D point set. Among the optimal fitting methods for 2D-circles based on 2D (!) point data compared in Al-Sharadqah and Chernov (Electron. J. Stat. 3:886–911, 2009), there is one with an algebraic form that permits its extension to optimally fitting k-spheres in n-D. We embed this ‘Pratt 2D circle fit’ into the framework of conformal geometric algebra (CGA), and doing so naturally enables the generalization. The procedure involves a representation of the points in n-D as vectors in an (n+2)-D space with attractive metric properties. The hypersphere fit then becomes an eigenproblem of a specific symmetric linear operator determined by the data. The eigenvectors of this operator form an orthonormal basis representing perpendicular hyperspheres. The intersection of these are the optimal k-spheres; in CGA the intersection is a straightforward outer product of vectors. The resulting optimal fitting procedure can easily be implemented using a standard linear algebra package; we show this for the 3D case of fitting spheres, circles and point pairs. The fits are optimal (in the sense of achieving the KCR lower bound on the variance). We use the framework to show how the hyperaccurate fit hypersphere of Al-Sharadqah and Chernov (Electron. J. Stat. 3:886–911, 2009) is a minor rescaling of the Pratt fit hypersphere.     

Foam fractionation of spent sulphite liquor: Part I: Separation of surfactants

The surface activity of spent sulphite liquor (SSL) and the separation of surface active components by foam fractionation were studied. The maximum activity (lowest surface tension) of SSL was observed at a high pH. The surface tension was found to be 42 mN/m and 38 mN/m at acidic and basic pH values, respectively, and also a maximum foaminess (Σ) of 7 min was observed at pH 10. Foam fractionation reduced the surfactant concentration by 90% at an optimum pH of 10. The surfactants were concentrated in the collapsed foam as shown by the fact that the critical micelle concentrations of the unfractionated SSL and foam were 70% (v/v) and 10% (v/v), respectively. The removed surfactants were concentrated in 20% of the original liquid volume.     

Measurement of intrinsic rates for homogeneous gas‐phase reactions at high temperatures

A coiled quartz tubular reactor has been designed to measure the intrinsic reaction kinetics for homogeneous reactions at high temperatures up to 1100°C. Actual gas residence times were less than 100 ms. A simple and well‐studied test reaction (i.e., the decomposition of nitrous oxide, N₂O), with published intrinsic kinetics, was used to verify the operation of the experimental reactor. For this system, Peclet numbers (Pe = uL/DL) computed from experimental conversion data were greater than 1000, indicating that the plug flow assumption could be used with this reactor system to determine intrinsic rate expressions with errors of less than 5% for the conditions studied.     

Tool wear mechanism in turning of novel wear-resisting aluminum bronze

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Effect of sintering parameters on warm compacted iron-based material

1　INTRODUCTIONItiswellknownthatincreasingdensityisthebestwaytoincreasetheperformanceofpowdermet allurgy(P/M ) parts.ConventionalP/Mprocessingcanproduceiron basedpartswithdensitylessthan 7.1g/cm3(arelativedensityof 90 %approximately) .Theirmechanicalpropertiesaresubstantiallylessthanthoseoftheirfulldensitycounterpart .TherearemanymethodsthatcanproduceP/M partswithrela tivelyhighdensitysuchaswarmcompaction ,hightemperaturesintering ,doublepress/doublesinteringandforging .Warmcompactioni…     

Rapidly solidified hypereutectic Al-Si alloys prepared by powder hot extrusion

Rapidly solidified hypereutectic Al-Si alloys were prepared by powder hot extrusion.By eliminating vacuum degassing procedure.the fabrication routine was simplified.The tensile fracture mechanisms at room temperature and elevated temperature were investigated by SEM fractography.Compared with KS282 casting material,the tensile strength of rapidly solidified Al-Si alloy is greatly improved due to silicon particles refining while its density and coefficient of thermal expansion are lower.than those of KS282.The wear resistance of RS AlSi is better than that of KS282.     

Cryptanalyzing an image encryption algorithm based on scrambling and Veginère cipher

Recently, an image encryption algorithm based on scrambling and Veginère cipher has been proposed. However, it was soon cryptanalyzed by Zhang et al. using a method composed of both chosen-plaintext attack and differential attacks. This paper briefly reviews the two attack approaches proposed by Zhang et al. and outlines their mathematical interpretations. Based on these approaches, we present an improved chosen-plaintext attack to further reduce the number of chosen-plaintexts required, which is proved to be optimal. Moreover, it is found that an elaborately designed known-plaintext attack can efficiently compromise the image cipher under study. This finding is confirmed by both mathematical analysis and numerical simulations. The cryptanalyzing techniques developed in this paper provide some insights for designing secure and efficient multimedia ciphers.     

Rationally Designed Anti-Glare Panel Arrays as Highway Wind Energy Harvester

The anti-glare panels along highways can block the dazzling lights of opposing vehicles at night, playing an important role in the highway safety. Inspired by the highway anti-glare panels, wind energy harvesting triboelectric nanogenerator (AG-TENG) arrays to properly capture energy from highway moving vehicles is developed. A single AG-TENG installation module can achieve a high power density of 0.2 Wm⁻² at a wind speed of 3 m s⁻¹. This wind speed is too low to drive conventional wind energy harvesting equipment. The performance of the AG-TENG shows no degradation after 80 h of continuous operation (1 440 000 times). Thus, with the rational consideration and features, the system can generate enough power to drive internet of things (IoT) devices and environmental sensors, as well as offer wireless alarming and radio frequency identification vehicle monitoring. This study provides a promising strategy to properly harvest wind energy on highways using existing infrastructures under the condition of even no natural wind, showing broad application prospects in distributed environmental monitoring, intelligent highways, and the IoT.     

A review of vision-based systems for soccer video analysis

This paper presents a survey of soccer video analysis systems for different applications: video summarization, provision of augmented information, high-level analysis. Computer vision techniques have been adapted to be applicable in the challenging soccer context. Different semantic levels of interpretation are required according to the complexity of the corresponding applications. For each application area we analyze the computer vision methodologies, their strengths and weaknesses and we investigate whether these approaches can be applied to extensive and real time soccer video analysis.     

Formal methods for security in the Xenon hypervisor

This paper reports on the Xenon project’s use of formal methods. Xenon is a higher-assurance secure hypervisor based on re-engineering the Xen open-source hypervisor. The Xenon project used formal specifications both for assurance and as guides for security re-engineering. We formally modelled the fundamental definition of security, the hypercall interface behaviour, and the internal modular design. We used three formalisms: CSP, Z, and Circus for this work. Circus is a combination of Standard Z, CSP with its semantics given in Hoare and He’s unifying theories of programming. Circus is suited for both event-based and state-based modelling. Here, we report our experiences to date with using these formalisms for assurance.