Good match exploration for thermal infrared face recognition based on YWF-SIFT with multi-scale fusion

Stable local feature detection is a critical prerequisite in the problem of infrared (IR) face recognition. Recently, Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) is introduced for feature detection in an infrared face frame, which is achieved by applying a simple and effective averaging window with SIFT termed as Y-styled Window Filter (YWF). However, the thermal IR face frame has an intrinsic characteristic such as lack of feature points (keypoints); therefore, the performance of the YWF-SIFT method will be inevitably influenced when it was used for IR face recognition. In this paper, we propose a novel method combining multi-scale fusion with YWF-SIFT to explore more good feature matches. The multi-scale fusion is performed on a thermal IR frame and a corresponding auxiliary visual frame generated from an off-the-shelf low-cost visual camera. The fused image is more informative, and typically contains much more stable features. Besides, the use of YWF-SIFT method enables us to establish feature correspondences more accurately. Quantitative experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm is able to significantly improve the quantity of feature points by approximately 38%. As a result, the performance of YWF-SIFT with multi-scale fusion is enhanced about 12% in infrared human face recognition.     

Dynamic stability of externally pressurized elastic rings subjected to high rates of loading

Of interest here is the influence of loading rate on the stability of structures where inertia is taken into account, with particular attention to the comparison between static and dynamic buckling. This work shows the importance of studying stability via perturbations of the initial conditions, since a finite velocity governs the propagation of disturbances. The method of modal analysis that determines the fastest growing wavelength, currently used in the literature to analyze dynamic stability problems, is meaningful only for cases where the velocity of the perfect structure is significantly lower than the associated wave propagation speeds.     

Optical multiresolution analysis with spatial localization

Multiresolution analysis is very useful for characterization of textures, segmentation tasks, and feature enhancement. The development of optical methods to perform such procedures is highly promissory for real-time applications. Usually, the optical implementations of multiresolution analysis consist in the decomposition of the input scene in different frequency bands, obtaining various filtered versions of the scene. However, under certain circumstances it could be useful to provide just one version of the scene where the different filters are applied in different regions. This procedure could be specially interesting for biological and medical applications in situations when the approximate localization of the scale information is known a priori. In this paper we present a fully optical method to perform multiresolution analysis with spatial localization. By means of the proposed technique, the multi-scale analysis is performed at once in a unique image. The experimental set-up consist of a double-pass convergent optical processor. The first stage of the device allows the multiple band decomposition, while the second stage confines the information of each band to different regions of the object and recombines it to achieve the desired operation. Numerical simulations and experimental results, which prove the very good performance of the method, are presented.     

Action of the Cremona group on a noncommutative ring

The Cremona group acts on the field of two independent commutative variables over complex numbers. We provide a noncommutative algebra that is an analog of a noncommutative field of two independent variables and prove that the Cremona group embeds in a group of outer automorphisms of this algebra. We give two proofs of it, the first proof is technical, the second one is conceptual and proceeds through a construction of a birational invariant of an algebraic variety from its bounded derived category of coherent sheaves.     

Localization or tunneling in asymmetric double-well potentials

An asymmetric double-well potential is considered, assuming that the wells are parabolic around the minima. The WKB wave function of a given energy is constructed inside the barrier between the wells. By matching the WKB function to the exact wave functions of the parabolic wells on both sides of the barrier, for two almost degenerate states, we find a quantization condition for the energy levels which reproduces the known energy splitting formula between the two states. For the other low-lying non-degenerate states, we show that the eigenfunction should be primarily localized in one of the wells with negligible magnitude in the other. Using Dekker’s method (Dekker, 1987), the present analysis generalizes earlier results for weakly biased double-well potentials to systems with arbitrary asymmetry.     

Phase Stability and Elastic Properties of Chromium Borides with Various Stoichiometries

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first‐principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB₃ and CrB₄ have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Formation enthalpy–pressure diagrams reveal that the MoB‐type structure is more energetically favorable than the TiI‐type structure for CrB. For CrB₂, the WB₂‐type structure is preferred at zero pressure. The predicted new phase of CrB₃ belongs to the hexagonal P‐6m2 space group and it transforms into an orthorhombic phase as the pressure exceeds 93 GPa. The predicted CrB₄ (space group: Pnnm) phase is more energetically favorable than the previously proposed Immm structure. The mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities of predicted CrB₃ and CrB₄ are verified by the calculated elastic constants and formation enthalpies. The full phonon dispersion calculations confirm the dynamic stability of WB₂‐type CrB₂ and predicted CrB₃. The large shear moduli, large Young’s moduli, low Poisson ratios, and low bulk and shear modulus ratios of CrB₄? PS_C and CrB₄? PS_D indicate that they are potential hard materials. Analyses of Debye temperature, electronic localization function, and electronic structure provide further understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these borides.     

Investigation on sound absorption properties of kapok fibers

Sound absorption properties of natural kapok fibers have been investigated. Kapok fibrous assemblies with different bulk density, thickness, fiber length and orientation were manufactured, and their acoustical performances were evaluated by using an impedance tube instrument. Results show that the kapok fiber has excellent acoustical damping performance due to its natural hollow structure, and the sound absorption coefficients of kapok fibrous assemblies are significantly affected by the bulk density, thickness and arrangement of kapok fibers but less dependent on the fiber length. Compared with assemblies of commercial glass wool and degreasing cotton fibers, the kapok fiber assemblies with the same thickness but much smaller bulk density may have the similar sound absorption coefficients. Theoretical modelling of the acoustical damping performance of kapok fibers shows a good agreement with the experimental data. All the results demonstrate that kapok fiber is a promising light and environment-friendly sound absorption material.     

浅海波导界面对点源振速方向的影响

采用“虚源法”分析计算了浅海波导环境中接收点处点源总振速方向与水平面夹角,侧重讨论确定性界面反射对总振速方向的影响。研究结果表明：总振速方向和接收点与声源的水平距离、两者深度,海底、海面特性以及声速剖面等有关。在等声速均匀浅海波导中,由于确定性界面反射的影响,当直达声掠射角为1°～50°时,合成总振速方向偏离直达声方向达1.5°～10.5°,声速剖面呈负梯度时,偏离程度更甚.     

某机载瞄准系统精度评估测试方法

为了评估某型机载瞄准系统的精度,根据飞行试验参数测试需要,提出了通过图像测量与DGPS融合处理方法进行瞄准精度评估的试验方案。该方案利用飞行试验获取的图像数据与其他测量数据相结合,建立精度评估的方法,该评估方法在该机载武器瞄准系统精度评估得到应用,并且可在同类试验课题中推广应用。     

Fast Fabrication and Judgement of Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Active Tips

The quality of the scanning tip is crucial for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) experiments towards large signal enhancement and high spatial resolution. In this work, we report a controllable fabrication method to prepare TERS-active tips by modifying the tip apex at the atomic scale, and propose two important criteria to in-situ judge the tip's TERS activity for tip-enhanced Raman measurements. One criterion is based on the downshift of the first image potential state to monitor the coupling between the far-field incident laser and near-field plasmon; the other is based on the appearance of the low-wavenumber Raman peaks associated with an atomistic protrusion at the tip apex to judge the coupling efficiency of emissions from the near field to the far field. This work provides an effective method to quickly fabricate and judge TERS-active tips before real TERS experiments on target molecules and other materials, which is believed to be instrumental for the development of TERS and other tip-enhanced spectroscopic techniques.