Concept Of Layer Research Articles

Dynamic amplification factor concept of soil layers: a case study in İzmir (Western Anatolia)

Dynamic soil amplification factor (DAF) defining which ratio earthquake acceleration will reach the soil surface by changing is one of the most important factors in seismic risk studies. When computing the value of DAF at a point without a strong motion station, peak horizontal acceleration values (PGA) at the bedrock and soil transfer function are needed. PGA value at the bedrock can be obtained by using either real seismic records or the earthquake scenario. However, the soil transfer function (soil transfer function) can be computed observationally and theoretically. Observational soil transfer function is defined by microtremor horizontal/vertical spectral ratio. In case of theoretical computation, the density belonging to the soil layers between the bedrock and the soil surface is used together with the change of P-S wave rates with the depth and the damping factor. In this study, the dynamic amplification factor (DAF) has been computed and mapped for 57 points by using observational soil transfer functions obtained by microtremor horizontal/vertical spectral ratio as well as the earthquake scenario at a new city center located within the metropolitan area of Izmir. Also, theoretical soil transfer function at 1 point was obtained through spatial autocorrelation method (SPAC) study and determined to be compatible with observational result. It was observed that both peak period values are higher than 1 s and DAF values are higher than 2 throughout the area. Also, according to the soil profile obtained from the SPAC study, S wave rate changes up to a depth of 1300 m showing that acoustic impedance differences may occur in the frequencies and the magnitudes of the earthquake waves. The fact that peak period values obtained from microtremor studies are higher than 2 s supports this result. This means that acoustic impedance differences likely to occur in these depths should also be taken into consideration while computing the dynamic amplification factor.

Effects of Concrete Pavement on Atmospheric Thermal Environment Adjacent to Ground under Solar Radiation

A numerical simulation has been conducted for concrete pavement on atmospheric thermal environment adjacent to ground under solar radiation. By computational fluent dynamics software Fluent, the finite volume method was used, and the solar radiation was described by the non-gray radiation transfer model and was solved by the Discrete Ordinate Method (DOM). The concept of constant temperature layer was introduced in order to determine the real temperature on pavement. Computed results indicate that the temperature on concrete pavement is impacted by the solar radiation significantly, and the atmospheric temperature falls down in geometric series with the increasing distance to ground. However, the effects of pavement on the temperature of ambient air beyond the near-ground region become much gentle. In comparison to the measured values, it shows that the current numerical method can simulate the interaction between pavement and ambient atmosphere effectively and can be extended to urban microclimate simulation.

Supporting the cause – a case study on social entrepreneurial identity at the Rosenlund heritage site

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study how a social venture perceives and constructs its identity. This study highlights the importance of a common cause and collective entrepreneurial identity when studying entrepreneurial cognition in a social entrepreneurship context. The study also introduces the concept of identity layers. These aspects have not been emphasized in previous research and, therefore, there is a lack of knowledge in this specific area. The research question that this paper sets out to explore is “What influences the identity perception of a social venture and how does the identity construction process affect organizational behavior?”. Design/methodology/approach – The paper starts by presenting references to previous research in social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial cognition and organizational identity, thereby building a theoretical context for the case study. The case chosen is the cultural heritage site Rosenlund located in Pietarsaari, Finland. The study is based on qualitative data. Previous research on entrepreneurial identity has often been based on narrative analysis and discourse analysis (Jones et al., 2008; Down and Warren, 2006). To get a different point of view, this analysis concentrates more on behavior and outcomes, but in combination with narratives. The data analysis starts out by mirroring Rosenlund in the categorization of Zahra et al. (2009) and then moves on to taking a closer look at the organizational identity and how it is constructed. Findings – The results from the case study show that the identity perception and the identity construction process are strongly affected by the mission (i.e. the cause) of the organization. Due to limited resources, the organization needs to be flexible, but the organization is under no circumstances ready to compromise its values. To avoid this potential dilemma, the organization has created an identity consisting of many layers, where the outer layer is thinner and more inclusive, thus providing the flexibility needed. This way of constructing identity clearly impacts the way the organization works. Research limitations/implications – The results indicate that Rosenlund identity-wise perceives itself mainly as a collective actor. The entrepreneurial actions undertaken cannot be assigned to one single actor, but instead to a group of people. This does not rhyme very well with existing entrepreneurial cognition research where the focus is on the person, i.e. individual actor. To get a better understanding of social entrepreneurship, “collective entrepreneurial cognition” therefore needs to be studied. The organization studied turned out to be a social constructionist. It remains for future research to investigate if the same layers of identity can be seen in social bricoleurs and social engineers. Practical implications – The results indicate the importance of identifying and communicating mission and values, i.e. defining core identity. Strategic decisions become easier when the organization has clearly defined its cause and its values, because then the organization will know when to compromise and when to say no in order not to jeopardize the cause. In the long run, this will have a positive effect on the organizational development. Originality/value – One important finding is the existence of different layers in the organizational identity. This aspect has not been addressed before and can certainly deepen our understanding of social entrepreneurial ventures. Moreover, the findings show that by introducing the concepts of organizational identity and identity building, the focus of the entrepreneurial cognition debate shifts from an individual perspective to a collective perspective. This aspect has not previously been explored in entrepreneurial cognition research.

Tunable MEMS piezoelectric energy harvesting device

This work is focused on low frequency (<300 Hz) vibrations due to the fact that many industrial and commercial devices operate at those frequencies. The aim of the present work is to model by numerical simulation a Si cantilever beam with an AlN piezoelectric layer concept that tunes its resonant frequency post-processing, while reducing the separation of the first two modes of resonance in order to broaden its quality factor and, therefore, to harvest more environmental energy. This paper investigates by numerical simulation the influence of perforating sections of the Si beam has on the resonant frequencies of the cantilever. The authors have found that the distance between these modes is decreased by 30 % when 0.002 mm3 is extracted in a specific location of the initial structure. This difference between modes can be reduced above 80 % if a volume of 0.004 mm3 in a specific part of the initial design is subtracted. In these conditions, the first mode is decreased about 20 % the initial value and the second mode about 60 %.

The most famous (or important) plumber of all! Caspar Friedrich Wolff ( January 18, 1735 - February 22, 1794).

We have tubes - lots of tubes. Compared to my house, my car, my bicycle - almost anything I can think of my body wins the tubing-complexity contest, hands down. The digestive system, the lymph system, the vascular system… each is remarkably complex, but efficient. The reproductive system is also heavy on very important plumbing - to get gametes in and out, for birthing young! Differences in reproductive-system plumbing between males and females are largely a consequence of early hormonal signaling. Both sexes begin with the same starting material, but either grow or degrade depending on the levels of specific hormones during development. A great deal of progress is being made to understand this embryonic endocrinology, which is particularly important in light of the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of the numerous xenobiotics in the environment. Both male and female reproductive systems first develop linear, cellular condensations in a head-to-tail direction within the mammalian embryo; these develop along both sides of the mid-line as an extension of the primitive kidney system. Eventually the tail-most segment of this developing tube degenerates in males and females, whereas the head-most part persist in males to form the efferent, or Wolffian (named after Caspar F. Wolff), ducts, within which sperm are transported out of the reproductive system. The Wolffian duct differentiates between Weeks 9 and 13 of gestation in the human male embryo (Embryonic Day 9 in mice), with the head-most region coiling to form the epididymis, while the tail-most region forms the vas deferens and, indirectly, the seminal vesicles. Thus, sperm developing in the gonad-derived seminiferous cords now have a way to get out into the world! That the Wolffian duct persists in the male is a result of the presence of testosterone in the developing male, and its absence in females. But plumbing wasn't Dr. Wolff's greatest accomplishments! He is most famous for his 1759 doctoral dissertation (Pay heed, graduate students of the world!) from the University of Halle, Theoria Generationis, in which he described embryonic development in both plants and animals as a process first involving the formation of distinct layers of cells. The conclusions of this remarkably analytical work from two kingdoms (!) seem obvious by today's standards, but at the time it was some of the best work in developmental biology. This model heavily influenced all subsequent theory and researchers of development, most notably Heinz Christian Pander and Karl Ernst von Baer, who used this foundation for building their own theories. According to von Baer, “[Wolff's thesis] is the greatest masterpiece of scientific observation which we possess.” Powerful words from an accomplished observer! The larger significance of this doctoral work is the foreshadowing of the concept of fundamental layers of an embryo, or germ layers, which Pander and von Baer explored more confidently than otherwise possible. It was not easy to come up with such a model that withstood the test of experimental time. The science was one thing, but these observations also contradicted contemporary dogma, which was the pet project of some very powerful (and close-minded) people. Wolff's work was strong support for the concept of epigenesis, the de novo development of structures within the embryo. This conclusion is diametrically opposed to the other prevailing theory of the time: preformation, or that the adult body is present within the egg, and development is an unfolding or expansion of the pre-existing structures. The preformation concept, aided by “observing/imagining” the homunculus, was a pet hypothesis (more a passion and belief) of Albrecht von Haller and his large group of followers. Given the bandwagon supporting the preformation model, it was quite difficult for Wolff to find employment after his thesis was published. Wolff was denied university professorships, so instead he began giving private, unsanctioned lectures on anatomy, physiology, and medicine in Berlin. In 1764, he published another paper, Theorie von der Generation, which responded to the criticisms of his dissertation and, in light of further consideration, emphasized his conclusions leading to epigenesist. Eventually, Wolff was offered a position in the anatomy department of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and moved to Russia in 1767, where he finished his career. There, Wolff continued to explore the anatomy of development, devoting a great deal of time to the study of embryos, and led to his discovery of the embryonic kidneys, or Wolffian bodies, whose tubes are also named in his honor. He is remembered today not just for his science, but for his strength to persevere and change the scientific world in fundamental ways through epigenesis, germ layers, and “plumbering”! Gary M. Wessel

Extended interface layer concept for higher stability and improvement of life time in bulk heterojunction solar cells

Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells has reached above ∼10%. These BHJ cells have potential for flexible thin films at low processing temperatures using roll to roll printing on flexible substrates. Further, the basic materials properties can be tailored through organic synthetic routes. However, the issues related to its durability should be addressed before its commercialization. Hence, a conventional solar cell of the poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) :(6, 6)-phenyl-C61butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) blend on ITO substrates was fabricated, and investigated, which shows improved life time by using a combinational Ca/Al cathode, wherein the deposition of calcium layer is extended beyond the aluminum layer. The extended deposition of calcium layer beyond aluminum prevents the edge degradation by its oxidation and hence protecting the active pixel area of the device, resulting in the improvement of life time of device from ∼80 hours to ∼ 400 hrs.

Institutional Layers, Connectedness and Change: Implications for Economic Evolution in Regions

The overall objective of this paper is to better understand regional change from institutional and economic perspectives. The paper introduces the concept of institutional layers in order to analyse the interdependencies between institutions of different types and spatial scales, and to investigate institutional change processes in a regional context. It suggests that the diversity and connectedness of institutional layers are key dimensions for explaining economic evolution in regions. Based on these two dimensions, the paper introduces a typology of regions and relates this typology to economic evolution and growth as well as the likelihood of fragmentation, lock-ins and disruptive changes.

Elastic and Thermal Behavior of a Layered Structure I. Experiment and Theory

Based on the measurement of Young’s modulus of a layered rod during curing of an epoxy adhesive, a method for investigating the stress-strain state of the rod is elaborated by introducing the concept of a contact layer. The layer is defined as consisting of short elastic rods-ties. The problem on the elastic and thermal behavior of the layered rod was solved, which allowed us to examine the effect of various geometric and physical parameters of the rod on its Young’s modulus, coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and thermal stresses. In an experiment, multilayer and three-section rods with the same content of adhesive (epoxy) and substrate (steel) were compared. The elastic behavior of the three-section rod, in contrast to that of the multilayer one, could be well described by the rule of mixtures. Therefore, calculation results for the multilayer rod are compared with those found by the simple rule.

On the effects of substitution, intercalation, non-stoichiometry and block layer concept in TiS2 based thermoelectrics.

TiS2 based layered sulfides have recently received increasing interest from the thermoelectric community. Due to its layered structure, the TiS2 compound with its enormous capacity for chemical substitution and intercalation offers different means to optimize the thermoelectric response through concomitant tuning of carrier concentration and decrease of the lattice thermal conductivity. In this review, we first discuss and summarize the crystal structures and physical/chemical properties of TiS2 based layered sulfides. Then, the approaches that successfully enhanced the thermoelectric performances in the TiS2 ceramic samples densified by Spark Plasma sintering are outlined, which include intercalation, non-stoichiometry, cationic substitution, and the block layer concept.

Spatiotemporal transcriptomics reveals the evolutionary history of the endoderm germ layer.

The germ layer concept has been one of the foremost organizing principles in developmental biology, classification, systematics and evolution for 150 years1-3. Of the three germ layers, the mesoderm is found in bilaterian animals but is absent in species in the phyla Cnidaria and Ctenophora, which has been taken as evidence that the mesoderm was the final germ layer to evolve1,4,5. The origin of the ectoderm and endoderm germ layers, however, remains unclear with models supporting the antecedence of each as well as a simultaneous origin4,6-9. Here, we determine the temporal and spatial components of gene expression spanning embryonic development for all Caenorhabditis elegans genes and use it to determine the evolutionary ages of the germ layers. The gene expression program of the mesoderm is induced after those of the ectoderm and endoderm, thus making it the last germ layer to both evolve and develop. Strikingly, the C. elegans endoderm and ectoderm expression programs do not co-induce; rather the endoderm activates earlier, and this is observed also in the expression of endoderm orthologs during the embryology of Xenopus tropicalis, Nematostella vectensis, and the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Querying for the phylogenetic ages of specifically expressed genes revealed that the endoderm is comprised of older genes. Taken together, we propose that the endoderm program dates back to the origin of multicellularity, while the ectoderm originated as a secondary germ layer freed from ancestral feeding functions.

Slice groups for post-compression region of interest encryption in H.264/AVC and its scalable extension

Encrypting regions of interest in H.264/AVC and SVC bit streams after compression is a challenging task due to drift. In this paper, we assess whether the use of slice groups makes this task easier and what its expense in terms of bit rate overhead is. We introduce the concept of all-grey base layers for SVC which simplify the encryption of regions of interest in surveillance camera applications while obeying all standard-imposed base layer restrictions. Furthermore, we show that the use of slice groups is possible with relatively low overhead for medium and high bit rates (below 5% in most of the tested configurations). This applies to H.264/AVC as well as SVC bit streams with two and three spatial layers, including those with the newly introduced all-grey base layers. Although we are able to contain spatial and inter-layer drift with our proposed encryption setup, temporal drift still remains an issue that cannot be solved by sole usage of slice groups.

Two-Dimensional Description Method of Process Information for 3D Assembly Instruction Publishing

To deal with the complete description and quick search in 3D assembly instruction publishing, a Two-dimension description method of process information for 3D assembly instruction publishing was presented. Two-dimensional description model of process information is established from operation description and granularity by this method. In order to organize process information with a certain description stage, the concept of process information layer was proposed, and the describe structure for process information layers was been build based on similarity criteria. Subsequently, an abstract matrix representation method is provided to express 3D process information and build the assembly instructions publishing model. Abstract matrix representation method was the key to influence the 3D process information description, Therefore, In-depth researched on it and an instantiated matrix is given. Finally, an illustrative example is used to explain an application of the proposed approach.

A low-temperature processed environment-friendly full-organic carrier collection layer for polymer solar cells

We constructed a concept of the full-organic carrier collection layer (CCL) used for polymer solar cells. The CCL is composed of dipyrazino[2,3-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxaline-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacarbonitrile as hole collection layer (HCL) and chlorine-free solvents (formic acid (FA)) processed 4,7-Diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen) as electron collection layer, exhibiting good solubility, and environmental protection. The FA based device shows ideal power conversion efficiency (3.75%), which is higher than that of control device (3.6%). Besides, the HCL shows a different mechanism in hole extraction by functioning as a charge recombination zone for electrons injected from anode and holes extracted from the donor materials.

Understanding hazards, consequences, LOPA, SILs, PFD, and RRFs as related to risk and hazard assessment

This article is intended for any engineer, supervisor, or manager who does not specialize in process safety engineering. It presents the concept of layers of protection analysis, safety integrity level (SIL) and its relationship to probability of failure on demand (PFD) and the related risk reduction factors (RRFs). Novel SIL/PFD/RRF graphics are presented to help the reader understand the concepts involved. An example using a safety instrument function for a gas‐fired boiler is also used to help the reader understand the concepts. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 33: 208–216, 2014

Establishment and experimental validation of a dynamic heat transfer model for concrete radiant cooling slab based on reaction coefficient method

To study the dynamic thermal response performance of concrete radiant cooling slab, this paper introduces the concept of core temperature layer. Heat transfer process in the concrete slab is divided into three sub-processes, correspondingly, and three heat transfer models are built by reaction coefficient method. Two-dimensional unsteady heat transfer model of concrete cooling slab is established ultimately. Experiments are conducted to test the slab thermal performance in steady and unsteady conditions. Error analysis and consistency verification are presented between the experimental value and calculated results of the model. The relative error between calculation and experimental value is within 2% in steady conditions and within 7% in unsteady conditions. The application scope of the heat transfer model for practical engineering is defined in this paper.

The Feeling Blend: Feeling and emotion in electroacoustic art

Starting from the assumption that meaning in electroacoustic music is an outcome of the listener's mental processes, it is the goal of this essay to explicate the mental processes whereby feeling and emotion contribute to meaning when listening to electroacoustic music. This essay begins with a broad consideration of feeling and emotion with an eye toward artistic experience, spanning from basic emotions to nuanced phenomenal qualities. It then introduces the concept of mental layers in support of the multi-levelled nature of meaning, especially in this case, meaning that is felt as well as comprehended. These two preliminary topics precede the introduction of the feeling blend, an extension of blend theory as presented by Fauconnier and Turner (2002). Core issues for blend theory, such as what constitutes a mental space and what triggers a blend, are reconsidered in the light of practical examples from the literature of electroacoustic music. In conclusion, the feeling blend is proposed as an essential concept to understanding artistic experience and an intrinsic aspect of being human.

Dissecting the Concept of the Thin Cell Layer: Theoretical Basis and Practical Application of the Plant Growth Correction Factor to Apple, Cymbidium and Chrysanthemum

A thin cell layer (TCL) is a thin layer of plant cells. TCLs have served as a simple, but important biotechnological tool in plant science, with several dozen crop species having had tissue culture regeneration protocols developed using TCLs generated from multiple explant sources. There are two types of TCLs, transverse TCLs, or tTCLs and longitudinal TCLs, or lTCLs. The former is the most common, ranging from 100 μm to 1–2 mm in thickness, usually cutting through several tissue types. In contrast, the latter usually targets a very specific layer of cells or tissues, and may vary in length but is as thick as a tTCL. The developmental question that needs to be addressed will determine the choice between one or the other and its use in plant tissue culture. The often unappreciated beauty of the TCL is not so much in its actual regeneration capacity, but rather in its potential regeneration capacity. Herein, we use data from three model species, a woody temperate fruit tree, Malus sp. (apple; Rosaceae), and two herbaceous ornamentals, Cymbidium (orchid; Orchidaceae) and Dendranthema (chrysanthemum; Asteraceae), to demonstrate the theory and functionality of TCLs. Moreover, using a new concept, the plant growth correction factor, or GCF, the ability to theoretically predicts the organogenic outcome in vitro is presented through mathematical models based on the geometric analysis of explant size and shape. A new factor, the geometric factor, or GF, was also determined for all three plants to compare regeneration from different explant types with different shapes. The GF, which is calculated, is independent of plant species or any in vitro conditions, but depends only on the size and shape of the explant and on tissue that is capable of regeneration. The GF and GCF would, in theory, allow for the direct comparison of plant in vitro studies in different laboratories provided that explant size is known, and to predict the theoretical outcome of a regeneration protocol if different explants were to be used.

Architectural concept for the ITER Plasma Control System

The plasma control system is a key instrument for successfully investigating the physics of burning plasma at ITER. It has the task to execute an experimental plan, known as pulse schedule, in the presence of complex relationships between plasma parameters like temperature, pressure, confinement and shape. The biggest challenge in the design of the control system is to find an adequate breakdown of this task in a hierarchy of feedback control functions. But it is also important to foresee structures that allow handling unplanned exceptional situations to protect the machine. Also the management of the limited number of actuator systems for multiple targets is an aspect with a strong impact on system architecture. Finally, the control system must be flexible and reconfigurable to cover the manifold facets of plasma behaviour and investigation goals.In order to prepare the development of a control system for ITER plasma operation, a conceptual design has been proposed by a group of worldwide experts and reviewed by an ITER panel in 2012. In this paper we describe the fundamental principles of the proposed control system architecture and how they were derived from a systematic collection and analysis of use cases and requirements. The experience and best practices from many fusion devices and research laboratories, augmented by the envisaged ITER specific tasks, build the foundation of this collection. In the next step control functions were distilled from this input. An analysis of the relationships between the functions allowed sequential and parallel structures, alternate branches and conflicting requirements to be identified. Finally, a concept of selectable control layers consisting of nested “compact controllers” was synthesised. Each control layer represents a cascaded scheme from high-level to elementary controllers and implements a control hierarchy. The compact controllers are used to resolve conflicts when several control functions would use the same command signals as their outputs. They consist of a collection of potentially conflicting control functions from which one at a time is exclusively activated by a mode selector signal.It can be shown that this architectural design is capable of implementing all of the presently known functional control requirements. Furthermore, this design takes already into account that the result of future experiments at ITER will create additional requirements on the functions or performance of ITER plasma control.

Gaussian Mixture Model With Advanced Distance Measure Based on Support Weights and Histogram of Gradients for Background Suppression

The proposed work is targeted toward improving the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for the background suppression-based moving object detection. The GMM has been widely used for moving object detection due to its high applicability. However, the GMM cannot properly model noisy or nonstationary backgrounds and fails to discriminate between the foreground and background modes. The extensions to GMM provide increased accuracy in expense of complex implementation and reduced applicability. In response, this work proposes two simple improvements: 1) a novel distance measure based on local support weights and histogram of gradients to provide distinct cluster values; and 2) use of background layer concept to properly segment the foreground. The method also uses variable number of clusters for generalization. The main advantages of the method are implicit use of pixel relationships through distance measure with least modification to the conventional GMM and effective background noise removal through the use of background layer concept with no postprocessing involved. The extensive experimentations on various types of video sequences are performed to validate the improvement in accuracy compared to the GMM and a number of state-of-the-art methods.

Superhydrophilic Polyelectrolyte Brush Layers with Imparted Anti-Icing Properties: Effect of Counter ions

This work demonstrates the feasibility of superhydrophilic polyelectrolyte brush coatings for anti-icing applications. Five different types of ionic and nonionic polymer brush coatings of 25-100 nm thickness were formed on glass substrates using silane chemistry for surface premodification followed by polymerization via the SI-ATRP route. The cationic [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride] and the anionic [poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate), poly(sodium methacrylate)] polyelectrolyte brushes were further exchanged with H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ag+, Ca2+, La3+, C16N+, F-, Cl-, BF4-, SO4(2-), and C12SO3- ions. By consecutive measurements of the strength of ice adhesion toward ion-incorporated polymer brushes on glass it was found that Li+ ions reduce ice adhesion by 40% at -18 °C and 70% at -10 °C. Ag+ ions reduce ice adhesion by 80% at -10 °C relative to unmodified glass. In general, superhydrophilic polyelectrolyte brushes exhibit better anti-icing property at -10 °C compared to partially hydrophobic brushes such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and surfactant exchanged polyelectrolyte brushes. The data are interpreted using the concept of a quasi liquid layer (QLL) that is enhanced in the presence of highly hydrated ions at the interface. It is suggested that the ability of ions to coordinate water is directly related to the efficiency of a given anti-icing coating based on the polyelectrolyte brush concept.