Accuracy enhancement of fatigue damage counting using design sensitivity analysis

Recent studies have suggested fatigue damage counting of a linear elastic system using only the output data; design sensitivity analysis based on the transmissibility function was studied in order to identify the most sensitive response location under intact conditions. The design sensitivity index was derived to be proportional to the response energy at the measured point through reformulation of the previous equation for the sensitivity index. The accuracy of the damage counting method can be enhanced with design sensitivity analysis by selecting the location with the maximum response energy; the method is optimally robust against unexpected noise in the output data. Simulation and testing of a notched simple specimen under uniaxial excitation were used to verify that sensitivity analysis enhances the accuracy of the predicted damage counting.     

A robust image watermarking technique using SVD and differential evolution in DCT domain

In this paper we applied differential evolution (DE) algorithm to balance the tradeoff between robustness and imperceptibility by exploring multiple scaling factors in image watermarking. First of all, the original image is partitioned into blocks and the blocks are transformed into Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) domain. The DC coefficients from each block are collected to construct a low-resolution approximation image and apply Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) on this approximation image. After that watermark is embedded by modifying singular values with the singular values of the watermark. The role of DE algorithm is to identify the best multiple scaling factors for embedding process in order to achieve the best performance in terms of robustness without compromising with the quality of the image. To enhance the security, watermark is scrambled by Arnold transform before embedding. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme maintains a satisfactory image quality and watermark can still be identified from a seriously distorted image.     

Simultaneous imaging of locus coeruleus and substantia nigra with a quantitative neuromelanin MRI approach

Quantitative MRI of neuromelanin (NM) containing structures (referred to as NM-MRI) in the brainstem, namely the locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN), may assist with the early detection of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as well as differential diagnosis in the early disease stages. In this study, two gradient echo (GRE) sequences with magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) preparation pulses were developed to simultaneously image the LC and SN. This has been a challenge with NM-MRI techniques used in previous studies due to the relatively high specific absorption rate (SAR) induced by these techniques. In addition, a semi-automated quantitative analysis scheme was applied to estimate volumes and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of the LC and SN based on segmentation of both structures. Compared to a T₁-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence typically used for simultaneous imaging of the LC and SN, the two GRE-MTC sequences exhibited improved performance in terms of higher sensitivity (in CNR) in imaging the SN and lower SAR during the scans. A multiple-measurement protocol was adopted as well so that motion degraded measurements could be removed and artifacts associated with motion could be corrected. The present approach has demonstrated advantages in image acquisition (lower SAR and higher sensitivity), image pre-processing (with motion correction) and quantitative image analysis (segmentation-based estimation of volume and CNR) when compared with existing NM-MRI approaches. This approach has potential for detection and monitoring of neurodegeneration in LC and SN in disease states including AD and PD.     

Exponentially convergent state estimation for delayed switched recurrent neural networks

This paper deals with the delay-dependent exponentially convergent state estimation problem for delayed switched neural networks. A set of delay-dependent criteria is derived under which the resulting estimation error system is exponentially stable. It is shown that the gain matrix of the proposed state estimator is characterised in terms of the solution to a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be checked readily by using some standard numerical packages. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed state estimator.     

A facile approach for decorating quantum dots deep inside of anodically grown self‐organized TiO2 nanotubes

We demonstrate here a simple but very effective approach to decorate anodically grown TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs) uniformly with CdS and PbS quantum dots (QDs) deep inside the NT walls. This approach is based on SILAR (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction) technique assisted with evacuation of the NTs. The basic idea of evacuation is to remove air pockets trapped inside the NTs so as to clear the passage for the penetration of QD precursors down the bottom of the NTs.

     

Design sensitivity analysis of a system under intact conditions using measured response data

Design sensitivity requires knowledge of the accurate characteristics of system dynamics to determine the solution parameters—eigenvalues or eigenvectors. This paper presents a new form of sensitivity analysis based on transmissibility functions that can indicate the appropriate candidate node for minimal design modification. The proposed sensitivity analysis uses only measured response data and is performed under intact conditions without any system identification. The feasibility of the proposed sensitivity analysis is first verified through both an experiment and a computer-aided analysis of the uniaxial vibration of a notched beam; then its methodology is investigated by simulation involving a 5-degrees-of-freedom system.     

Thickness dependent surface microstructure evolution of bismuth thin film prepared by molecular beam deposition method

The evolution of surface microstructure on bismuth thin film deposited by molecular beam deposition method is investigated. Morphological, topographical, structural, and electrical property changes of the film with various thicknesses are studied by means of AFM, XRD, XRR, and 4-point probe. Drastic change of surface grain in shape, which transforms from round shape to polyhedral shape, is detected around 13–18 nm film thickness. Abrupt horizontal profile change of surface grain is verified with power spectral density (PSD) function. At this threshold thickness, the film shows very low roughness value and surface area ratio. Then both increase steeply as the film thickness surpasses the thickness. As the bismuth film is deposited thicker, it has textured structure and high roughness on surface. With increment of the thickness, the electrical sheet resistance of the films is significantly decreased. We explain this surface microstructure evolution on the bismuth film with the evolutionary selection model.