Channel Expansion Research Articles

Devignet: High-Resolution Vignetting Removal via a Dual Aggregated Fusion Transformer with Adaptive Channel Expansion

Vignetting commonly occurs as a degradation in images resulting from factors such as lens design, improper lens hood usage, and limitations in camera sensors. This degradation affects image details, color accuracy, and presents challenges in computational photography. Existing vignetting removal algorithms predominantly rely on ideal physics assumptions and hand-crafted parameters, resulting in the ineffective removal of irregular vignetting and suboptimal results. Moreover, the substantial lack of real-world vignetting datasets hinders the objective and comprehensive evaluation of vignetting removal. To address these challenges, we present VigSet, a pioneering dataset for vignetting removal. VigSet includes 983 pairs of both vignetting and vignetting-free high-resolution (over 4k) real-world images under various conditions. In addition, We introduce DeVigNet, a novel frequency-aware Transformer architecture designed for vignetting removal. Through the Laplacian Pyramid decomposition, we propose the Dual Aggregated Fusion Transformer to handle global features and remove vignetting in the low-frequency domain. Additionally, we propose the Adaptive Channel Expansion Module to enhance details in the high-frequency domain. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods. The code, models, and dataset are available at https://github.com/CXH-Research/DeVigNet.

Exploring Competitive Dynamics, Technological Innovations, and Sustainable Strategies for X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd.

The research objectives were as follows: 1) to analyze the competitive environment of X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd.; 2) to determine the technologies and innovation capabilities of X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd.; and 3) to formulate sustainable strategies for X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd. This research adopted qualitative research and document study. Twelve key informants, including top-level management, product development teams, head of marketing departments, and consumer groups within the company, were involved. The data analyzed the current market competition status of X Plant-Based Meat Technology Co., Ltd. using PEST, Porter’s Five Forces, and SWOT models, thus proposing sustainable development strategies. The research findings revealed that: 1) X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd. operated in a competitive market driven by government initiatives and increasing environmental awareness. Challenges included intensified competition and price sensitivity. However, the company had opportunities for growth in China's expanding plant-based food sector. Success depended on strategic differentiation, technological innovation, and adaptability to evolving market trends amidst competition from diverse players; 2) X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd. excelled in technology and innovation, operating eight cutting-edge soybean processing facilities and maintaining extensive non-GMO soybean fields. With over 250 patents, it was a global leader, prioritizing environmental sustainability and quality control. Its integrated supply chain, diverse product portfolio, and strategic partnerships contributed to its ongoing success and growth; and 3) X Plant-Based Meat Health Technology Co., Ltd. pursued a comprehensive strategy for sustainable growth in a competitive market. Key elements included niche market penetration, organizational excellence, channel expansion, production capacity enhancement, technical expertise development, and market protection through innovation. These strategies aimed to position the company for long-term success in the plant-based food industry.

Spectroscopic method to study the effect of lightning return stroke channel expansion on atmospheric pressure

Using the plasma radiation spectra of three natural cloud-to-ground multi-strike lightning discharges recorded by a slitless grating spectrograph, and based on the spectral wavelengths and relative intensities, combined with information about the lightning-synchronized ground electric field variations, we calculated the temperatures, line-charge densities, initial radii, and final radii of the lightning-strike channels. This was achieved by applying the theory of air plasma transport, lightning electrodynamics, the laws of conservation of energy and pressure. Subsequently, we determined the initial internal energies of the lightning plasma channels, the final internal energies, the work done by the return stroke channel expansion against atmospheric pressure, equivalent impedances, and the speed of charge movement. The results show that the temperature of the return stroke channel and the work done by the expansion of the return channel on the atmospheric pressure decrease with the development of the return stroke process. The final radius and the initial internal energy, as well as the initial peak electric field and the work done by the return stroke channel expansion on the atmospheric pressure, exhibit a strong linear relationship. The equivalent impedance and speed of charge movement show a nonlinear relationship with the work done by the return stroke channel expansion against atmospheric pressure. The changes in initial internal energy, final internal energy, and the expansion work of the return stroke channel against atmospheric pressure are essentially consistent and positively correlated. The initial peak electric field of the return channel increases, leading to enhanced spectral intensity. The return stroke channel temperature, initial radius, final radius, initial internal energy, final internal energy, and the work done by the return stroke channel expansion against atmospheric pressure all increase. Meanwhile, the equivalent impedance and speed of charge movement decrease.

The influence of supersonic spatial-temporal coupling disturbance on detonation in an expanded chamber

At present, the most researches on perturbed detonation only considers single factor effects, and there are few studies on the impact of multi-factor coupled perturbations on detonation. In order to match the complex inflow conditions in real situation, the initiation and propagation process of detonation disturbed by spatial-temporal coupling have been studied. This study adopts an adaptive mesh refinement program. It can dynamically capture the structure change of detonation and reduce the total calculation amount. The N-S (Navier-Stokes) equation and single-step reaction model was used in this study. The calculation model is the classic expansion channel that can enhance thrust. After analyze the effects of disturbance amplitudes and disturbance stratification, the results indicates that the stratification phenomenon of disturbance has different effects on the characteristics of flow field. The expansion wall can weaken the disturbance intensity, but its effect is limited. It can only achieve good results when the disturbance on the straight wall side is weak, but the weakening effect of expansion wall also exacerbates the instability of wave. On the other hand, the stability of detonation waves under spatial stratification is stronger, which helps to maintain the intensity of detonation wave.

Facilitating patient portal engagement: a channel expansion and behavior change wheel perspective

IntroductionGiven the low patient portal adoption rates, the contradictory findings on the relationship between patient-provider communication and patient portal use, and the unclear mechanism of why doctor-patient communication might facilitate portal use as indicated in some existing studies, patient portal engagement warrants further examination.MethodsGuided by the behavior change wheel framework and the channel expansion theory, this study examined the facilitators of patient portal engagement and tested the relationship between the facilitators (e.g., social opportunity and psychological capability) through analyzing the HINTS national survey data (N = 1251).ResultsWe found that patient portal access (a physical opportunity) and physician advocacy (a social opportunity) were two significant predictors of portal engagement while educational attainment was not. We did not find any direct correlation between patient-centered communication (PCC) and patient portal engagement, but instead, found a significant indirect relationship between the two.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to employ the behavior change wheel and channel expansion theory to explain patient portal engagement. Theoretically, our study extended the behavior change theory by further explaining the relationship between the key components (e.g., capability, opportunity) of behavior change. Practical strategies to increase patient portal engagement were proposed.

Role of tea polyphenols in enhancing the performance, sustainability, and catalytic cleaning capability of membrane separation for water-soluble pollutant removal

Tea polyphenols (TPs), like green tea polyphenol (GTP) and black tea polyphenol (BTP), with phenolic hydroxyl structures, form coordination and hydrogen bonds, making them effective for bridging inorganic catalysts and membranes. Here, TPs were employed as interface agents for the preparation of TPs-modified needle-clustered NiCo-layered double hydroxide/graphene oxide membranes (NiCo-LDH-TPs/GO). The incorporation of porous guest material, NiCo-LDH-TPs, facilitated water channel expansion, enhancing membrane permeability and resulting in the development of high-performance, sustainable catalytic cleaning membranes. The introduction of TPs through coordination weakened the surface electronegativity of NiCo-LDH, promoting a uniform mixed dispersion with GO and facilitating membrane self-assembly. NiCo-LDH-GTP/GO-5 and NiCo-LDH-BTP/GO-5 membranes demonstrated permeances of 85.98 and 90.76 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, respectively, with rejections of 98.73% and 99.54% for methylene blue (MB). Notably, the NiCo-LDH-BTP/GO-5 membrane maintained a high rejection of 97.11% even after 18 cycles in the catalytic cleaning process. Furthermore, the modification of GTP and BTP enhanced MB degradation through PMS activation, resulting in a 0.33% and 0.35% increase in the reaction rate constants of NiCo-LDH, respectively, while reducing metal ion spillover. These findings highlighted the potential of TPs in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of catalytic cleaning GO membranes for water purification and separation processes.

Nonlinear Phenomena of Fluid Flow in a Bioinspired Two-Dimensional Geometric Symmetric Channel with Sudden Expansion and Contraction

Inspired by the airway for phonation, fluid flow in an idealized model within a sudden expansion and contraction channel with a geometrically symmetric structure is investigated, and the nonlinear behaviors of the flow therein are explored via numerical simulations. Numerical simulation results show that, as the Reynolds number (Re = U0H/ν) increases, the numerical solution undergoes a pitchfork bifurcation, an inverse pitchfork bifurcation and a Hopf bifurcation. There are symmetric solutions, asymmetric solutions and oscillatory solutions for flows. When the sudden expansion ratio (Er) = 6.00, aspect ratio (Ar) = 1.78 and Re ≤ Rec1 (≈185), the numerical solution is unique, symmetric and stable. When Rec1 < Re ≤ Rec2 (≈213), two stable asymmetric solutions and one symmetric unstable solution are reached. When Rec2 < Re ≤ Rec3 (≈355), the number of numerical solution returns one, which is stable and symmetric. When Re > Rec3, the numerical solution is oscillatory. With increasing Re, the numerical solution develops from periodic and multiple periodic solutions to chaos. The critical Reynolds numbers (Rec1, Rec2 and Rec3) and the maximum return velocity, at which reflux occurs in the channel, change significantly under conditions with different geometry. In this paper, the variation rules of Rec1, Rec2 and Rec3 are investigated, as well as the maximum return velocity with the sudden expansion ratio Er and the aspect ratio Ar.

How hydraulic jumps form downstream of a negative step with channel expansion: experimental and numerical investigations of the transitions between wave jumps and submerged jets

AbstractWeirs and sills, particularly negative steps, play a pivotal role in modulating water flow, inducing hydraulic jumps that efficiently dissipate downstream energy. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these features hold crucial engineering significance. This study combines physical experiments and numerical simulations downstream of a negative step featuring an abrupt width expansion. The spontaneous alteration of water flow conditions upstream and downstream of the step results in distinct flow regimes. By considering the critical Froude number to sustain an undular jump without wave breaking on a flatbed, we establish a framework for evaluating energy loss. Our analysis successfully delineates the transition limit between wave jumps and submerged jets downstream of a negative step. The co-existence regime of both jumps is explained by the analysis showing that the additional energy loss induced by the negative step is larger for the wave jump compared to the submerged jet. The abrupt width expansion at the negative step significantly reduces the transition depth between the submerged jet and wave jump, attributed to energy loss with intricate three-dimensional vortex motions—exceeding losses incurred by the negative step alone. We delve into the detailed mechanisms of these transitions through a three-dimensional numerical simulation of the energy-loss process and water surface profiles downstream of the step with expansion. The maximum energy loss by the undular jump and the minimum energy loss by the submerged jet are defined by the wave steepness at the limit of maintaining the undular jump and the jet plunging angle capable of sustaining the submerged jet, respectively.

A numerical model for the electrical and shock wave characteristics of underwater pulsed spark discharge

Underwater pulsed spark discharge has been widely used in industrial fields as a source of shock waves or acoustic waves, and numerical modeling of the discharge and pressure wave characteristics is necessary to improve the application performance. In this paper, a numerical model is proposed that couples the circuit equation, the mass and energy conservation equations, and a momentum conservation equation based on the Rankine–Hugoniot conditions. A tabulated wide range equation of state and conductivity data of water are used, and various physical processes during the plasma channel expansion are considered, including the energy flow and mass exchange between the channel and the surrounding water due to thermal radiation, evaporation, and condensation. The model self-consistently solves the circuit current and voltage, the plasma channel parameters including composition, temperature, conductivity, pressure, etc., and the pressure profile at a certain distance from the discharge channel. The calculated results show good consistency with the experimental measurements, and three sets of experimental results from other literature are tested to further verify the applicability and effectiveness of the model.

Droplet pair breakup in microfluidic expansion channel

Previous studies on droplet splitting mainly focus on monodisperse droplets, and the understanding of the breakup of polydisperse droplet systems is still lacking. In this work, we experimentally study the breakup of droplet pairs in the expansion region of microfluidic channel. The results show that with the increase in the size ratio of the droplets in the droplet pair, the breakup mode of droplet pairs changes from rear droplet breakup to front droplet breakup, and then to front droplet alternate breakup. The expansion angle can affect the critical size ratio of the splitting mode transition, but it cannot change the transition trend. The expansion angle plays a major role in the splitting time and distance of the droplet pair. When the expansion angle is increased, the splitting time of the droplet pair is reduced and the splitting distance is shorter. Our study extends the understanding of the breakup of non-monodisperse droplet systems and provides a feasible approach for the selective and controllable splitting of droplets, which is important for laboratory-on-a-chip droplet volume manipulation and has potential applications.

Channel Expansion Strategies in the Presence of Asymmetric Competitive Retail Platforms

The success of online retail platforms with hybrid reselling and agency selling has been well documented. Recently, manufacturers are expanding channels in competitive retail platforms (such as JingDong and Tmall) on the basis of reselling. Considering two asymmetric competitive retail platforms, we investigate the incentive for channel expansion under various strategies: agency selling in the incumbent platform, agency selling, or reselling in the asymmetric competing platform. Our analysis shows that the manufacturer's channel expansion strategies depend on the market potential ratio, competition intensity, and agency channel costs. Manufacturers prefer channel expansion when agency channel costs are small or the market potential ratio is above a threshold. Interestingly, even the competing platform has a smaller market potential, manufacturers may still prefer to expand the agency selling channel in the competing platform rather than the incumbent platform. When the market potential ratio is large, under low agency channel costs, the impact of competition on channel expansion strategies is nonmonotonic, and moderate competition motivates manufacturers to expand the channel by reselling rather than agency selling in the competing platform. Furthermore, we find moderate slotting fee or commission rate could make manufacturers and the incumbent platform better off when the market potential ratio is small.

The consumer web-rooming on different sales models and retailing channel expansion

In the context of multichannel retailing, the phenomenon of web-rooming, where consumers research online and purchase offline, has become widespread. Therefore, we consider supply chain consisting of a manufacturer, an e-commerce platform, and an offline retailer, we study the impact of consumer web-rooming effect on the three sales modes of online channels, which are directly operated by the manufacturer, resold by the e-commerce platform, or co-exist with direct operation and resale, and comparatively analyze the pricing, demand, and profit of each channel under the three modes. The conditions for optimal pricing decisions are further explored through numerical simulation. It is found that profit always increases whether the online channel is opened by the manufacturer or the e-commerce company. The coexistence of direct sales and resale does not always increase profit for offline retailers, which must be discussed in the context of the sales model before channel expansion. The existence of web-rooming not only affects the decision-making of manufacturers and e-commerce platforms, but also always harms the interests of e-commerce platforms, and as the intensity of web-rooming deepens, the revenue of e-commerce platforms becomes smaller. Offline retailers benefit from web-rooming and experience a slowdown in profit growth as the intensity of the phenomenon increases. For manufacturers, the impact of changes in the intensity of the web-rooming is analyzed in relation to platform commission rates and online retail prices.

Pricing and Timing Decisions in Promotion Channels

When planning for online promotion festivals, retailers must consider both pricing and timing decisions to determine an appropriate promotion strategy. In this article, we first consider <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">retailer-promotion channel</i> where the retailer sells a new product on his marketing channel in normal and promotion sales periods. A greater number of early consumers can reduce late consumers' risk perception for product performance and increase their utilities via word-of-mouth. Consumers arriving in the promotion sales period strategically time purchases to maximize their utilities. Our analysis shows that when word-of-mouth is strong and consumers are patient to wait for price markdown, the retailer increases the price from that of the normal sales period and then provides price discounts. Otherwise, the retailer sets a high initial retail price to earlier pursue high marginal profit. We then consider <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">platform-promotion channel</i> where the retailer sells the product on the platform. Our analysis suggests that three additional factors in platform-promotion channel, commission rate, subsidy level, and market expansion, have distinct impacts on the equilibrium pricing and timing decisions. Interestingly, we find that the retailer's profit can be nonmonotonic in the subsidy level and a higher subsidy level does not necessarily induce the retailer to engage in platform-promotion channel.

Online-to-Store Channel Expansion Strategies: Cost, Heterogeneity, and Power

Online-to-Store Channel Expansion Strategies: Cost, Heterogeneity, and Power

Investigation of enhancing EDM machining performance of INCONEL alloy using composite electrodes

In this research, an attempt was made to reinforce aluminium with graphite particles and use it as a tool material with the objective of combining the properties of aluminium and graphite. The micrograph confirms that the graphite particles were uniformly distributed over the aluminium matrix, density reduces and thermal conductivity increases with the addition of graphite particles. Material Removal Rate (MRR) peaks at 12 A current before declining due to plasma channel expansion, an optimal Ton of 8 μs ws observed, with 4 μs Toff yielding higher MRR. Copper electrodes excel due to thermal conductivity, while 5% graphite in aluminum boosts MRR to 31.89 mm3 min−1, additional graphite decreases MRR. TWR rises with shorter Toff until 6 μs, then decreases. Gap control impacts TWR, with lower spark gaps causing higher TWR due to intense material removal, and higher gaps leading to increased TWR due to incomplete flushing. Copper electrodes have the lowest TWR due to their high melting temperature. The addition of graphite in aluminum reduces TWR at low currents but is less effective at higher currents. Surface roughness (Ra) decreases with higher current, reaching a minimum of 7.02 μm at 12 A. Optimal Ton is 8 μs (7.56 μm), while shorter Toff at 4 μs and a 3 mm gap yield the best Ra of 7.36 μm with A4 composite tool. Copper electrodes result in higher Ra at higher currents, while graphite in aluminum improves surface quality, especially at 5% content. Arcing, an undesirable electrical discharge phenomenon in EDM, adversely affects machining. Experiments revealed a strong correlation between high duty cycles, duty ratios, and arcing propensity, with composite tools being more susceptible due to their variable conductivity. In contrast, non-composite tools, exemplified by copper, withstand higher duty ratios without arcing.

Epibiotic Communities of the Senatorial Scallop Mimachlamys sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) from the Expansion Channel of the Suez Canal, Egypt

Epibiotic Communities of the Senatorial Scallop Mimachlamys sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) from the Expansion Channel of the Suez Canal, Egypt

Customers’ adoption of multiple platforms and retailers’ channel performance: evidence from Chinese fast-food industry

PurposeRetailers are increasingly adding multiple platform apps. For instance, Hilton Hotel is listed on booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor. The purpose of this study is to examine whether and how the adoption of a second homogenous mobile platform app by new and existing consumers affects their purchasing behavior in both the original app and the overall platform apps.Design/methodology/approachWith 604,864 unique data from a Chinese fast-food company, which sequentially add three food delivery platforms, this paper explores the influence of a second homogeneous mobile platform app adoption on consumer purchase frequency, order size and spending.FindingsThe results of the log-linear regression model show that multiplatform consumers are more profitable than single-platform consumers. For both existing and new consumers, multiplatform adoption would increase purchase frequency, decrease order size and increase total spending with the retailer. However, for existing consumers, multiplatform adopters are more likely to buy less frequently, spend less per order and have lower total spending in the original platform app.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to platform addition and multichannel literature by empirically finding that multiplatform adopters, both new and existing consumers, are more profitable than single-platform consumers. Managerially, the results suggest that companies should not hesitate to add multiple platforms and should encourage consumers to use multiple mobile apps.Originality/valueFirst, this study examines the multiplatform addition effect on both new and existing consumers, which has not been discussed yet. Second, this study contributes to multichannel literature by finding that multiplatform consumers are more profitable than single-platform consumers. Third, unlike Rong et al. (2021), this study supports that channel capability theory is still valid in the homogenous mobile-to-mobile channel expansion context.

Adaptive Gating Enhances Intelligent Membranes for Cellular Functions and Precise Separations

AbstractIntelligent membranes with adaptive gating channels play a crucial role in cellular functions and separation processes. This study introduces a novel approach to controlling channel expansion using biomimetic adaptive aggregates, fundamentally overcoming the drawbacks of existing methods relying on intertwined polyelectrolyte chains for channel blockage. Specifically, a pH‐responsive 2D material membrane is constructed through the self‐assembling of protein‐mimetic zwitterionic polydopamine (ZPDA) soft molecular aggregates within graphene oxide (GO) interlayers. Similar to the conformational switch of inserted proteins in cellular membranes, the embedded ZPDA in GO nanofluidic channels undergoes an adaptive conformational transformation in response to pH changes. This dynamic adjustment of ZPDA physicochemical properties allows for reversible regulation of GO nanofluidic channel size and charge by external pH modulation. The resulting GO/ZPDA membrane exhibits programmable separation performance for dye molecules (i.e., water permeance of 18.8–35.4 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and molecular selectivity of 73.7–32.9) and salt ions (i.e., ionic permeance of 0.69–1.25 mol m−2 h−1 and ionic selectivity of 20.8–21.9). This work sheds new light on the engineering of intelligent stimuli‐responsive 2D nanofluidic channels with adaptive gating properties, holding promise across a wide range of applications including separation, drug delivery, sensing, and catalysis.

Dual-comb-based multi-axis time-of-flight measurement via high-efficiency optical cross-correlation in a semiconductor optical amplifier

Absolute distance measurement for multiple targets is required in industrial and scientific fields such as machine monitoring, detection of distortion in large structures, wafer alignment in semiconductor manufacturing, and the formation flying of satellites. Furthermore, the expansion of measurement channels is essential for the effective application of multi-target measurement. However, because measurement channels' expansion requires high power, it is difficult due to the low conversion efficiency of conventional systems that use a non-linear crystal for optical cross-correlation. In this study, for measurement channel expansion, time-of-flight based absolute laser ranging via high-efficiency dual-comb cross-correlation using a semiconductor optical amplifier is developed. The semiconductor optical amplifier acts as a cross-correlator, and it can produce a cross-correlation signal with a laser’s power of 50 µW because of its very high conversion efficiency. This method is suitable for expanding the measurement channels and measuring non-cooperative targets as it can detect low-power signals. The repeatability of the distance measurement is 4 µm at a single shot (37 µs) and 120 nm for 5 ms. The linearity is assessed by evaluating the R-square, which is equal to 1 within the range of significant figures. Moreover, the distance measurement of targets lying on the two axes was demonstrated to ensure the measurement channels' expansion. This measurement system has the potential to determine multiple distances, making it applicable to diverse fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, smart factories, plant engineering, and satellite formation flying.

NMS-Free Oriented Object Detection Based on Channel Expansion and Dynamic Label Assignment in UAV Aerial Images

Object detection in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial images has received extensive attention in recent years. The current mainstream oriented object detection methods for aerial images often suffer from complex network structures, slow inference speeds, and difficulties in deployment. In this paper, we propose a fast and easy-to-deploy oriented detector for UAV aerial images. First, we design a re-parameterization channel expansion network (RE-Net), which enhances the feature representation capabilities of the network based on the channel expansion structure and efficient layer aggregation network structure. During inference, RE-Net can be equivalently converted to a more streamlined structure, reducing parameters and computational costs. Next, we propose DynamicOTA to adjust the sampling area and the number of positive samples dynamically, which solves the problem of insufficient positive samples in the early stages of training. DynamicOTA improves detector performance and facilitates training convergence. Finally, we introduce a sample selection module (SSM) to achieve NMS-free object detection, simplifying the deployment of our detector on embedded devices. Extensive experiments on the DOTA and HRSC2016 datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach.