Simple Figures Research Articles

A simple figure of merit for devices utilizing thin film evaporation

We introduce a new figure of merit to judge the performance of two-phase capillary cooling devices working on thin film evaporation. This quantity is the heat transfer coefficient of the film thickness where the liquid pressure is zero, and represents its maximum attainable value in the thin film region. It shows good agreement with four different sources of data: data from the literature, maximum heat flux limit, interline heat flow parameter and heat pipe figure of merit, for different working fluids and a wide range of saturation temperatures. The proposed quantity is very simple, requires minimal computation, and can be used to compare the performance of different working fluids for such devices.

REFUGEE INFLUX: A SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHT AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ITS CONCOMITANT EFFECT ON FOOD SECURITY IN ETUNG CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

The study examines the impact of Cameroun refugee influx and its impact on food security in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research method in eliciting information from 400 samples from two political wards in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, using the purposive and random sampling technique. a self-administered structured questionnaire was the instrument of Data collection. Data gathered from the field was meticulously collated, coded and analyzed using simple percentages, frequency distribution, figures and simple lineal regression at 0.05 confidence level. Result revealed that there is a significant relationship between refugee influx and Food Security in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study recommends That the Cross-River state synergizes with the relevant agencies of the Federal Government as well as other international Agencies to stimulate production in Etung through agricultural programs such as farmers smallholders schemes, cassava, banana, yam, plantain plantations schemes, animal husbandry, cottage industries etc. to promote aggressive food revolution within affected areas to avert serious food crisis amongst others. Article visualizations:

(Invited) A General Framework to Gauge Transport Phenomena in the Cathodic Electrocatalytic Layer of a Fuel Cell

The sluggishness of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a major bottleneck in the operation of low-temperature fuel cells (FCs), with a particular reference to proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) [1]. Hence, it is necessary to devise efficient and affordable electrocatalysts (ECs) able to minimize the overpotentials associated with the ORR. This issue is further exacerbated considering that the single chemical element affording the lowest ORR overpotentials in the highly acidic environment found at the PEMFC cathode is Pt, whose abundance in Earth’s crust is very limited [2]. This raises serious concerns towards the incipient large-scale rollout of PEMFCs, that may face serious supply bottlenecks.On these bases, massive research efforts are currently devoted to develop new ORR ECs. A serious issue faced by the researchers is that it is often very difficult to transfer the intrinsic ORR performance of an EC into a single FC. The performance of a single FC is limited by transport phenomena, that are not easy to gauge by means of the well-assessed “ex-situ” techniques routinely adopted to determine the physicochemical properties and the “pure” ORR kinetics of an EC taken on its own. Thus, the optimization of the cathodic electrocatalytic layer of the FC (that hosts the ORR EC) is a crucial step to transfer effectively the ORR performance and ultimately to maximize the current and power outputs of the FC as a whole.In order to address this issue, this work describes a characterization approach that, by combining the information derived from single fuel cell measurements collected in different current density regimes, and upon modulating the partial pressure of oxygen at the cathode, allows for the identification and quantification a few simple figures of merit. The latter: (i) picture the extent with which the intrinsic ORR performance of the cathodic EC is transferred to the single FC; and (ii) gauge the contribution of different transport phenomena in the determination of single FC performance.The results are studied with an innovative analysis framework, yielding information that is then correlated to the physicochemical properties of the cathodic EC and to its electrochemical performance as determined by “ex-situ” measurements. Important insights are thus achieved, that play a crucial role in the optimization of the cathodic electrocatalytic layer with the final purpose to maximize the performance of the FC.The proposed characterization approach and subsequent analysis framework are straightforward, and suitable for a broad variety of FCs. The latter may also include cathodic ECs (e.g., low-Pt materials exhibiting a “core-shell” morphology [3], or completely “Pt-free” systems) that are very different from the conventional Pt/C of the state of the art. In conclusion this work describes a tool, simple and of broad applicability, able to provide important contributions to facilitate the implementation of developmental cathodic ECs in single FCs in the ongoing quest to realize efficient and low-carbon energy conversion systems. Acknowledgements This work has received funding from: (a) the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement Graphene Core 2 785219; and (b) the project “Hierarchical electrocatalysts with a low platinum loading for low-temperature fuel cells – HELPER” funded by the University of Padova.

How solar cell efficiency is governed by the αμτ product

This work demonstrates how the solar cell efficiency of any real-world absorber material depends on the three material parameters absorption coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ ,mobility $\ensuremath{\mu}$, and lifetime $\ensuremath{\tau}$. Simple figures of merit for solar cell performance are found which support both experimental and computational efforts on identifying promising absorbers for novel solar cells.

Impaired perception of simultaneous stimuli in a patient with posterior cortical atrophy: an attentional account

ABSTRACTWe assessed visuospatial abilities in PCA. Sequential display of two simple geometric figures enhanced detection and discrimination relative to simultaneous display (Exps 1 & 2). Comparing edges of a single object enhanced discrimination relative to comparing edges of two separate objects, consistent with object-based attention (Exp. 3). Recognition of complex line drawings was spared for a single object but disrupted by an attention-grabbing small circle (Exp. 4). A covert orienting task showed difficulty disengaging from previous locations and attentional bias toward the right visual field (Exp. 5). These findings shed light on the role of visual attention in perceptual awareness.

Interactions symboliques en milieu insulaire : les roches gravées précolombiennes de Guadeloupe et leur relation au paysage

Située au coeur de la Caraïbe, l’île volcanique de Guadeloupe, ou Basse-Terre, recèle le plus important ensemble d’art rupestre précolombien des Petites Antilles. Ces manifestations graphiques sont généralement attribuées aux communautés céramistes horticoles très mobiles ayant vécu dans les Antilles au Néoindien entre env. 300 av. et 1200 apr. J.-C. Suite aux récentes recherches de terrain menées sur ces sites ornés de plein-air, de nombreuses données nouvelles ont été acquises. Leur analyse spatiale est proposée ici sur des bases quantitatives afin d’aborder les modalités socioculturelles d’ornementation et de fréquentation des sites ornés et, plus largement, le rapport à l’espace insulaire des sociétés précolombiennes ainsi que leurs interactions physiques et symboliques au sein de ce dernier. Les résultats obtenus font ressortir l’existence de plusieurs contextes topographiques distincts du point de vue de l’altitude et de la distance aux ressources en eau douce (source et/ ou rivière). Ils montrent par ailleurs que les sites côtiers occupent préférentiellement les zones du littoral les plus favorables au niveau pluviométrique, mais aussi les plus proches des îles avoisinantes. Une corrélation directe entre la position topographique des sites ornés, le degré d’élaboration et les dimensions des figures qu’ils comprennent est également relevée. Cette corrélation se traduit par une plus forte proportion de grandes figures élaborées aux embouchures et/ ou près de sources côtières comparativement aux sites de plateau et de rivière. Mis en perspective avec les réflexions actuelles sur la dimension archipélique des territoires précolombiens, ceci suggère une utilisation des sites ornés du littoral par une pluralité de groupes différents dans le cadre de leur approvisionnement en eau lors de trajets interinsulaires ou lors de rassemblements périodiques. Par contraste avec l’art rupestre de l’intérieur des terres, la forte proportion de grandes figures élaborées présentes sur les côtes est alors à envisager comme l’expression performative d’un rapport à des espaces partagés et aux autres groupes humains susceptibles de les fréquenter également.

Roberto Bolaño: pensar a la mujer entre la condición diádica y el espacio geométrico

En el presente trabajo se hace una inscripción crítica sobre la mujer en el espacio a partir de cuatro obras fundamentales de Roberto Bolaño —Los detectives salvajes (1998), Amuleto (1999), Putas asesinas (2001) y 2666 (2003) —, en éstas se analizan los conceptos de espacio de la realidad y tiempo que se presentan en la narración literaria. Previamente a la perspectiva ofrecida por Roberto Bolaño se encuentra la visión del filósofo alemán Peter Sloterdijk, quien reflexiona sobre las relaciones y circunstancias mundanas espaciales a través del concepto del poshumanismo. El objetivo es reconstruir la crítica de la ciudad literaria y trazar los posibles horizontes a través de una interpretación filosófica en torno a la exposición de los iconos femeninos; es decir, la voz de la mujer en la época de la ciudad industrial que estalla en el Capitalismo gore, propuesto por Sayak Valencia, ramificaciones con la intimidad, de la violencia y de los contornos urbanos en necrosis. Algo comparable en geometría con las figuras gráciles y sencillas como los círculos, y en este caso la esfera. Esas voces que a priori se pierden entre la inmensidad del capitalismo, la opresión masculina, y se conciertan con la sensación de vacío. La vacuidad de las esferas que ruedan sin parar a través de las palabras que otros narran en un mundo cambiante. En el presente trabajo se procederá a contraponer esa asociación entre la voz femenina y la geometría bolañiana más simple y compleja: lo diádico y el espacio Gore.

<p><strong>Seed Shape Diversity in families of the Order Ranunculales</strong></p>

Seed shape in the order Ranunculales is described with the objective of characterizing the morphological seed types in the families of this order and to establish a correlation between seed shape, plant structure and life style. Based on previous work in model plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula), we have used the J index to estimate the percentage of similarity of the image of a seed with a geometric shape. The images of seeds of model plants resemble cardioid or cardioid-derived models, while seeds from other species with rapid life cycles resemble other, also simple geometrical figures. In general, seed shape may help establishing the relationships between taxonomic groups. Three types of seed morphology are distinguished in the Ranunculales based on values of J index. In the first type, seeds in the Berberidaceae, Euptelaceae and Lardizabalaceae, adjust well to an oval. The second type, seeds in the Papaveraceae, adjust well to the cardioid model, and the third type, seeds in the Ranunculaceae, adjust well to diverse geometric shapes, including the oval, truncated cardioid, Fibonacci spiral and ellipse. In the Ranunculales, seed shape is varied and often related to geometrical figures. The presence of cardioid derived models in the Papaveraceae supports our hypothesis that seeds resembling the cardioid are frequent in plants with rapid life cycles.Ranunculales

Applying Matching Coefficients in the 2D Stick-Model to Classify Human Motion: An Experimental Study in Applied Mathematics

Recently, different techniques have been employed toward motion estimation. Some of these approaches include image based, model based, and silhouette based estimations. Despite their promising nature and outcomes, it remains notable that the techniques rely on motion data quality before producing optimal classification with precision and accuracy. Also, most of the existing algorithms have been complex relative to motion estimation, making interpretation challenging. Therefore, this study strived to respond to these dilemmas by modeling simple human motions through which various patterns of activity behavior could be recognized and aid in classification analyses. Three body components were used to develop the framework. These components included the lower body (LB), the upper body (UB), and the backbone (BB). Indeed, it was through these parts that a simple 2D human stick figure was formed. It is also notable that upon completion, the motion estimation mathematical model was compared to the performance of real motion phases to determine its efficiency in classification. The classifiers to which the model’s performance was compared included Rules and Tress, Misc, Meta, Function, Lazy, and Bayes classifiers. From the results, it was established that the 2D stick-model matching estimation was feasible and could be used to play a crucial rule in analyzing human motion classification.

ПОРІВНЯННЯ МЕТОДІВ ВИДІЛЕННЯ ХАРАКТЕРНИХ ТОЧОК КОНТУРУ ДЛЯ СИСТЕМ ВІДЕОСПОСТЕРЕЖЕННЯ

Comparison of the contour inflection point selection of the: interpolation and differential methods and the method based on wavelet analysis of the function curvature were performed in the article according to the following criteria: probability of the correct detection, probability of the false detection and an error in coordinate evaluation for systems of video vision that are based on the model task results. Work results of the methods were analyzed and graphically presented. It was demonstrated that for simple geometrical figures the interpolation method has low accuracy (it displaces inflection points). And differential method in its turn possesses the best accuracy indices though it selects excessive inflection points (it has low obstacle resistance). And the method based on wavelet analysis of the function curvature shows best results in noisy conditions.

Nano gold coated hierarchically porous zinc titanium oxide sol–gel based thin film: fabrication and photoelectrochemical activity

In this work, for the first time homogeneously distributed near periodic macroporous (HDPM) with nested mesoporous (hierarchically porous) semicrystalline zinc titanium oxide (ZTO) thin film on pure silica glass and fluorine doped tin oxide coated glass substrates was deposited by sol–gel dip coating technique from an optimized precursor solution of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and titanium isopropoxide with acetylacetone in low boiling solvents. The HDPM film formation was carried out by simple breath figure method where the pore formation occurred from the generated water droplets via molecular condensation onto the as-deposited cold solution film surface owing to solvent evaporation. Zinc to titanium ratio in precursor solution, room relative humidity and other critical parameters were tailored towards optimization of the periodic macropores formation. Gold nanoparticles (NPs) were further deposited onto the ZTO thin films by solution technique. Crystallinity, surface morphology and microstructure of the thin films were critically analyzed by X-ray diffraction, atomic force, scanning, and transmission electron microscopic studies. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the films was examined under visible light irradiation. A significant improvement in PEC activity was observed in nano Au coated hierarchically porous thin film. This facile fabrication process could be applied in different mixed metal oxide thin films for improving the PEC activity of the materials.

Acoustophoretic volumetric displays using a fast-moving levitated particle

Displays have revolutionized the way we work and learn, and thus, the development of display technologies is of paramount importance. The possibility of a free-space display in which 3D graphics can be viewed from 360° without obstructions is an active area of research—holograms or lightfield displays can realize such a display, but they suffer from clipping and a limited field of view. Here, we use a phased array of ultrasonic emitters to realize a volumetric acoustophoretic display in which a millimetric particle is held in midair using acoustic radiation forces and moved rapidly along a 3D path. Synchronously, a light source illuminates the particle with the target color at each 3D position. We show that it is possible to render simple figures in real time (10 frames per second) as well as raster images at a lower frame rate. Additionally, we explore the dynamics of a fast-moving particle inside a phased-array levitator and identify potential sources of degradation in image quality. The dynamics are nonlinear and lead to distortion in the displayed images, and this distortion increases with drawing speed. The created acoustophoretic display shows promise as a future form of display technology.

Geographic information systems visualization of wind farm operational data to inform maintenance and planning discussions

As utility scale wind farms age, maintenance and contingency planning become increasingly important. Decisions about when and how to repair or replace major turbine components can critically influence profitability. Condition monitoring and prognostic reliability modelling are sometimes used to support these decision-making processes. These often resource intensive, sophisticated techniques are frequently administered by third parties and can be black boxes to wind farm stakeholders. Early experience from the YR21 Investment Decision Support Program has highlighted the importance of broad engagement across wind farm teams in maintenance and planning discussions. The utilization of geographic information systems to illustrate data trends across wind farms proved to be a valuable tool in fostering fundamental understanding of an operation’s signature performance characteristics. This graphical representation of the farm provides a useful visualization of the operation’s best and worst performers in terms of power produced, wind speeds experienced, total revolutions, or highest gear box temperature. These transparent representations of the data represent valuable starting points for discussion of performance or potential maintenance issues across farms. In some cases, it can reveal unexpected trends that may raise bigger questions about how the farm is operating in general. Finally, these simple figures can serve as complementary inputs to larger, more complex data-driven decision systems. Geographic information system plots are presented for three wind farms to demonstrate the potential utility in simple, transparent, and accessible data visualization.

Retro-atlases II: a new edition of the first Statistical Atlas of Switzerland (1897)

Abstract. In 2018, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office celebrated the 125th edition of its most prominent annual publication – the “Statistical Yearbook of Switzerland”. This celebration was also an opportunity of reissuing as a supplement a selection of attractive, but not well-known visualisations from the first Statistical Atlas of Switzerland initially published in 1897 and yearbooks from the 19th century. The original atlas produced issued by the Swiss Federal Statistical Bureau contained 22 coloured “plates”, including 6 maps and 16 diagrams. The techniques of visual display of statistical information were still in their infancy in statistical offices at this time, but this remarkable atlas already shows an expertise and judicious use of these techniques borrowed from the then reference book of Dr Georg von Mayr. The foreword of the original atlas gives a clue of what the authors intended with this visual collection: their main objective was to democratise interest in public statistics and their results using visualisations. In an educational effort, also an explanatory preamble on the methods of graphical representation in general was offered.The data used were relatively recent at the time of publication and the datasets even contain first long-time series, ranging from 1850 to 1898. The themes addressed testify to the development of public statistics at the time and the historical context. We find the traditional demographic themes (birth rate, mortality, marriage, population structure, emigration and health), territorial aspects (surfaces and occupation and land use), political life (elected representatives and voting result), trade aspects (imports and exports) and the development of means of communications (railways, telegraph and telephone). The data visualisation techniques that were used already reflect a certain diversity: choropleth and proportional symbol maps, bar charts, pie charts, line charts and population pyramids, displayed as simple figures or as small multiples.Following a similar first publication of a retro-atlas (The “Graphical-statistical Atlas 1914–2014”), published in 2015, he this latest atlas edition combines the 22 plates from the 1897 atlas as well as 7 older visualisations from the 1891–1899 yearbooks, and enriches this “retro” selection with their counterpart visualisations produced with recent data and modern tools around the year 2017. As the original atlas, the new atlas is fully bilingual and was printed in 2000 copies.It is thus possible for the reader to compare different themes and developments in a broad historical perspective, as well as to appreciate the statistics bureau’s early know-how in visual communication. This anniversary edition is therefore an opportunity to bring the first statistical atlas back to the public's attention, and to show the early interest of official statistics in this excellent “intuitive means of teaching, particularly suitable for popularising the interest in the work of statistics”.

Slippery liquid-infused porous electric heating coating for anti-icing and de-icing applications

Unexpected ice accretion on surfaces can cause well-known severe problems that will disturb normal function of aircrafts, wind turbines, high-speed trains and power lines, and seriously threaten the security of life and property. Here, we proposed a novel self-assembly method of fabricating slippery porous electric heating coating and characterized its static de-icing and dynamic anti-icing performance. Direct construction of close-aligned micropores on MWCNTs/polymer-based electric heating coating was realized by a simple breath figure method, and then silicone oil is infused into the micropores to achieve the slippery liquid infused porous electric heating coating (SEHC), which possesses superior “oil film isolating effect” for ultralow ice adhesion. De-icing tests demonstrated that SEHC can remarkably shorten the de-icing process and thus reduce electric heating energy consumption by up to 53%, and the thermal resistance-based heat transfer model of SEHC-ice interface has been adopted and the superiority of slippery electric heating coating in de-icing has been analyzed. Better durability of SEHC than superhydrophobic porous electric heating coating was confirmed by continuous high-speed scour tests, static icing/de-icing cycles and dynamic anti-icing tests. The semi-closed porous structure enhanced the immobilization of the infused oil even under dynamic conditions like high-speed airflow, and further ensured its long-lasting performance.

The influence of placing orientation on searching for food in a virtual restaurant

We conducted three experiments to investigate the influence of placing orientation on the visual search for foods. In the first two experiments, the participants were asked to identify whether one of the foods or containers with angular ends had a different orientation from the other foods or containers on the same table in a virtual restaurant. The results of Experiment 1 revealed that searching for a food was faster when its angular end pointed towards the observers than when the same food pointed away from the observers; whereas an opposite trend was found for containers. In Experiment 2, foods were presented in containers whose angular ends pointed to the same or opposite directions, and the results revealed a faster detection of inward-pointing foods served in outward-pointing containers. Then Experiment 3 was run with simple geometric figures, and the results revealed that searching for an inward-pointing triangular target was faster and more accurate than when the same target pointed outward. Collectively, these results demonstrate how the visual detection of foods is influenced by the incidental aspects of their visual appearances.

Recombination between Photogenerated and Electrode-Induced Charges Dominates the Fill Factor Losses in Optimized Organic Solar Cells.

Charge extraction in organic solar cells (OSCs) is commonly believed to be limited by bimolecular recombination of photogenerated charges. However, the fill factor of OSCs is usually almost entirely governed by recombination processes that scale with the first order of the light intensity. This linear loss was often interpreted to be a consequence of geminate or trap-assisted recombination. Numerical simulations show that this linear dependence is a direct consequence of the large amount of excess dark charge near the contact. The first-order losses increase with decreasing mobility of minority carriers, and we discuss the impact of several material and device parameters on this loss mechanism. This work highlights that OSCs are especially vulnerable to injected charges as a result of their poor charge transport properties. This implies that dark charges need to be better accounted for when interpreting electro-optical measurements and charge collection based on simple figures of merit.

Is Handedness Information Critical for Discriminating Figure Pairs?

Mirror-reflected or axisymmetric (Ax) pairs of figures are known to be difficult to discriminate. If non-identical pairs of figures with specific feature values impede discrimination to the same extent as the discrimination of Ax pairs, the feature values concerned would be expected to cause discrimination difficulty and may be critical for figure recognition in general. In the present study, we examined whether handedness information (i.e., the left or right side of a disoriented figure) is critical for the discrimination of figure pairs with pairs of complex figures (Experiment 1) and simpler figures (Experiment 2). Participants performed a task requiring discrimination of whether the figures in a pair had the same shape regardless of orientation. Three basic pair types were prepared: identically shaped pairs, Ax pairs, and non-identical, non-axisymmetric (Nd) pairs. Non-axisymmetric pairs were further classified into same-handedness pairs and opposite-handedness pairs. The results revealed that discrimination latencies were longer for Ax pairs than for both same-handedness pairs and opposite-handedness pairs. These findings suggest that handedness information is not a critical feature in figure recognition.

Sympathie élocutoire, transparence du style et langage de la passion : la rhétorique selon Hume et Smith, prélude à la poétique du (pré)romantisme

Alors que se théorise une nouvelle rhétorique de communication, le concept de sympathie chez Hume et Smith réarticule l’équivoque entre expérience et pouvoir persuasif de la passion présente au sein du couple èthos-pathos depuis Aristote. La vis rhetorica de la sympathie humienne procède d’une esthétique réfléchissante aux effets moraux immotivés. Construisant un dispositif du moi projection du spectateur impartial, Smith objective sympathie et sentiments moraux. Il accentue le caractère linguistique de la communication et identifie le style dénué de figures à la transparence éthique de la sociabilité. La préface des Lyrical Ballads conjoint pathos et sympathie poétique. La simplicité de figures créatrices jaillit du langage idéal de la passion, à la différence de l’ enargeia performative du verbe blakien, parousie du logos où s’auto-réfléchit une sympathie absolue. Dans les odes de Gray et Collins, le poète en quête de sympathie affronte encore la personnification abstraite. Mais le pathème de l’écriture lyrique dans « The Mad Mother » et les deux « Nurse’s Song » atteste, outre la labilité de l’ èthos locutoire, une indétermination métrique et grammaticale des figures.

Brain structural changes after multi-strategic metamemory training in older adults with subjective memory complaints: A randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundMetamemory is the process of monitoring and controlling one's memory. Improving metamemory may reduce the memory problem in old age. We hypothesized that metamemory training (MMT) would improve cognition in older adults with subjective memory complaints and change the brain region related to metacognition.MethodWe recruited and randomized older adults to the multi‐strategic memory training of 10 weekly 90‐min sessions, based on the metamemory concept or usual care. Cognitive tests including the Elderly Verbal Learning Test, Simple Rey Figure Test, Digit Span, Spatial Span, Categorical Fluency, and the Boston Naming Test were done in 201 participants, together with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 49 participants before and after training.ResultsA total of 112 in the training group and 89 in the control group participated. The training group had a significant increase in long‐term delayed free recall, categorical fluency, and the Boston Naming test. In MRI, the mean diffusivity of the bundles of axon tracts passing from the frontal lobe to the posterior end of the lateral sulcus decreased in the training group.ConclusionThese results indicate that the MMT program has a positive impact on enhancing older people’ cognitive performance. Improved white matter integrity in the anterior and posterior cerebrum and increased cortical thickness of prefrontal regions, which related to metacognition, possibly suggest that the effects of the MMT would be induced via the enhancement of cognitive control.