bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Stability on the New Alkaline Copper Bulk Slurry
Authors: Wang Juan , Wang Ru , Chen Guo Dong
Published: May 2015

At present, the chemical mechanical polishing is the only means for global planarization of an integrated circuit. After the node of the integrated circuit processing comes into 45nm, the diameter of wafer is 300mm, and the copper interconnect layer is above the 10 layer. In the same time the new low dielectric constant materials are used to the integrated circuit processing. That requires the property of the slurry used in the chemical mechanical polishing stricter. So the domestic and international companies carry out a series research works. Based on investigation and research for many years, the new alkaline copper rough slurry has been developed by the teachers and students in the Hebei University of Technology. The slurry has advantages as disadvantages. The composition of cost-effective slurry is simple and the effect of chemical mechanical polishing is good. But its stability is poor. In order to improve the stability, the compositions of the slurry need to adjust.The new alkaline copper rough slurry composed by abrasive, surface, chelating agent, oxidizing agent and deionized water. Experiments investigate the influence rule of copper polishing rate by the concentration of abrasive, the content of surface, the content of oxidizing agent and the content of chelating agent. The conclusion is arrived. When the concentration of abrasive is 4%, the content of surfactant is 10ml/l, the content of chelating agent is 10ml/l and the content of oxidizing agent is 5ml/l, the copper polishing rate keep 5000 Å /min.
Research on Low Temperature Anodic Bonding Based on Interface Pretreatment of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma
Authors: Pan Ming Qiang , Sun Lin Ning , Wang Yang Jun , Liu Ji Zhu , Chen Tao , Liu Hui Cong , Chen Li Guo
Published: May 2015

A simple composite bonding that combines dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma activation with anodic bonding has been developed to achieve strong silicon/glass bonding at low temperature. The realization of low temperature bonding is attributed to enhance the hydrophilicity and smooth of silicon and glass surfaces and form lots of free radical after the DBD plasma (including-OH, -H, O, and heat) reacts with the interfaces. And these further reduce the difficulty of chemical bond switching, and improve the speed of the intimate contact formation. The experimental result show that the bonding temperature strongly decreased 100°C by using composite anodic bonding with DBD pretreatment which strength kept constant, and 10MPa bonding strength was obtained at 250°C/900V after the bonding interface was treated for 10s under the conditions of AC1.5KV/25KHz and the clearance 100μm.
Melt Electrohydrodynamic Direct-Writing Micro/Nano Fiber with Restriction of Heated Sheath Gas
Authors: Yu Zhao Jie , Wang Lin Jie , Sun Ling Ling , Lin Yi Hong , Wang Wei , Zheng Gao Feng , Sun Dao Heng
Published: May 2015

Melt electrospinning is a novel technology in the field of 1D micro/nanostructure fabrication. Decreasing the diameter and promoting surface morphology of melt fiber are the key for the application of melt electrospinning technology. Heated sheath gas is introduced to build up melt electrospinning direct-write technology, and then orderly micro/nanofibers can be direct-written. The heated sheath gas provided a good way to increase the temperature of melt jet, by which solidification can be slowed. With the help of heated sheath gas, the diameter of melt fiber can be decreased. The affects of process parameters on the diameter of melt electrospinning fiber was investigated, the diameter of melt electrospinning fiber increased with the increasing of temperature of spinneret and feed rate, but decreased with the increasing of voltage and distance between spinneret and collector. Heated sheath gas is an excellent method to promote the application of melt electrospinning.
A Novel Micro-Machined Out-of-Plane Resonant Accelerometer with Differential Structure of Different-Height Resonant Beams
Authors: Zhao Shu Ming , Liu Yun Feng , Dong Jing Xin
Published: May 2015

A novel micro-machined out-of-plane resonant accelerometer with a differential structure is presented. The micro-machined accelerometer consists of two identical torsional structures with asymmetric mass distribution, torsion beam and two different-height resonant beams. Due to the asymmetric mass distribution, the two mirror-symmetrical-placed torsional structures turn an angle under an out-of-plane acceleration, which makes the different-height resonant beam connected to the structures bear different axial stresses, outputting a differential resonant frequency shift. A multi-layer mask etching process based on silicon-on-glass micro-machined technology was employed to fabricate the differential structure and the different-height resonant beams. Primary experiment shows the differential sensitivity of out-of-plane acceleration is 32Hz/g at the resonant frequency of 21.41 kHz.
Analysis Temperature Characteristics of Atmosphere Pressure Sensor Caused by Residual Gas
Authors: Du Li Dong , Zhao Zhan , Wu Shao Hua , Fang Zhen
Published: May 2015

In this paper, temperature characteristic of a previous developed nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) thin film atmosphere pressure sensor is analyzed caused by residual gas. As expected, the output signal of the previous fabricated sensor increases with atmosphere pressures. But when pressure load is fixed, the voltage-temperature characteristic is nonlinear. One factor of this effect is residual gas. Based on the pressure-displacement equation of membrane, the gas balance equation and Provided that the deformation of membrane is spherical crown, the relationship equation of relative change of piezoresistor is defined. Studying the First order derivative and second order derivative of relationship equation of relative change of piezoresistor, it is proved that the residual gas will affect the temperature characteristic of previous designed sensor.
Experimental Study on WEDM Machining of PCD and PCBN Compacts
Authors: Song Man Cang , Zhang Jian Lei , Yu Chao , Wang Min Jie , Liu Chong , Liu Ying
Published: May 2015

Some typical kinds of PCD and PCBN compacts are selected to be machined by WEDM, and a series of processing tests are taken. After machining, the surface roughness of cutting section, the processing quality of cobalt-rich interface layer and the edge of superhard material layer are measured by surface profiler and 3D microscope. The results show that processing quality is affected by superhard particle size and concentration greatly, and better processing quality can be obtained after several cutting of WEDM. The minimum sharpening allowance of PCD cutting tools can be controlled within 4~15μm after WEDM, and within 10μm for PCBN BNX20, while BZN6000 needs larger follow-up workload of sharpening.
An Electromagnetic Vibrating Ring Gyroscope Using SOI-MEMS Technology
Authors: Li Yu Xin , Chen De Yong , Huang Gang , Li Qi
Published: May 2015

This paper presents the design, fabrication and tests of an electro-magnetic vibrating ring gyroscope based on a control system and SOI-MEMS technology. The control system, including variable gain control (VGC), drive-frequency control and regulation module, is designed to improve mode matching. In device fabrication, and buffered hydrofluoric acid (BHF) solution is used to remove the buried oxide layer and release the suspended spring. Meanwhile, a compensate disk and negative photo resist (AZ303) coated on the backside of the wafer are employed to weaken the Lag and Footing effects during through-wafer etching process. The design of the gyroscope is optimized by FEA simulation and the fabricated devices show a rather good performance.
The Research on MEMS Micro Capacitance Sensor Detection Based on MS3110
Authors: Yu Hui Jun , Ding Zi Qiao , He Xiao Ping , Du Lian Ming , Qu Hao , Zhou Wu , Peng Bei
Published: May 2015

A universal capacitive readout integrated circuit MS3110 is used to measure capacitances in micro capacitance sensor. The configuration, operating principle and process of MS3110 are introduced and a method of programming the inner register on-chip with STM32 is presented with the control block diagram. Performance of MS3110 has been tested by the inner adjust capacitance. A comb micro accelerometer is designed and manufactured. A tentative equivalent electric model of accelerometer is built according to a series of capacitance tests, and the influence of parasitic capacitance in accelerometer system is discussed.
High Resolution Micro-Displacement Sensing Circuit for Rotor Micro-Gyroscope
Authors: Ren Ming Yuan , Liu Xiao Wei , Zhang Hai Feng , Mao Zhi Gang
Published: May 2015

A novel CMOS interface circuit with high resolution is designed and realized to achieve the integration of interface circuit for liquid suspended rotor micro-gyroscope. The detecting circuit adopts continuous-time current sensing circuit for capacitance measurement. The equivalent output noise power spectral density of phase-sensitive demodulation is 120 nV/Hz1/2. The whole circuitry is realized with 0.5 μm 2P2M CMOS process and its testing results show the circuit has a relative capacitance resolution of 1×10-8, in which the power supply is 18 V and the power consumption is 30 mW. The area of the chip is merely 18.5 mm2.
Wet Anisotropic Etching Characteristics of Si{100} in TMAH+Triton at near the Boiling Point
Authors: Yao Ming Qiu , Tang Bin , Su Wei , Tan Gang
Published: May 2015

The anisotropic silicon etching characteristics of TMAH(tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide)+Triton at near the boiling point were investigated. The etch rate of Si {100}, the convex corners, and the roughness of the etched surface contact with the fabrication of bulk microstructures and thus micromechanical devices in silicon. This study presents that the etch rate of Si {100} in 25 wt.% TMAH with 0.1% Triton at near boiling point (112°C) is 1.37μm/min, it is three times higher than it at 80°C. The surface roughness and convex corners of Si {100} after etching at different temperature were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The etching rate and smoothness of an etched surface can be improved simultaneously at near boiling point, meanwhile, the undercutting on convex corner should be accepted.
Micromachined Tri-Axis Capacitive Accelerometer Based on the Single Mass
Authors: Yuan Fei , Chen Li Guo , Chen Tao , Sun Li Ning
Published: May 2015

A novel micromachined tri-axis capacitive accelerometer based on the single mass is proposed in this paper. The presented accelerometer contains a single proof mass acting as the sensitive element which is suspended by two flexible beams above the substrate, and an array of movable and fixed electrodes is utilized. To match the sensitivity design requirement, the differential capacitive detection is utilized, and the cross-sensitivity problem of three orthogonal axes is avoided ideally. The accelerometer structure is based on the EPI-poly process to realize the 18 microns thickness. Thus the detection capacitance, sensitivity and reliability are improved, the mechanical noise is decreased. To reduce the thermomechanical stress’ effect on the offset, a special anchor-middle structure is designed. Simulation results show that the offset is insensitive to the thermomechanical stresses and the sensor has a good consistency in three axes which has been validated by the testing results.
Multi-Chip Module Design of a MEMS Air Pressure Sensor
Authors: Yao Guang Xiu , Du Han Yu , Huang Qing An , Nie Meng
Published: May 2015

A MEMS air pressure sensor system is proposed in the paper, which can monitor the air pressure by means of measuring the discharge time of the sensor. The system contains two parts: the MEMS air pressure sensor and the data acquisition system. The MEMS air pressure sensor is an enhanced pizeoresistive pressure sensor. The data acquisition system contains a time-to-digital part, which measures time interval by using of the propagation delays of logical gates. The time-to-digital part can measure the resistors’ discharge time and turn it into digital output, when the resistors on the air pressure sensor are connected to a capacitor which is full of charge. The discharge time is only related to the resistor, and then the pressure measurement is changed to time measurement. The digital output is shown through a liquid crystal display screen.
Hierarchically Ordered Porous Carbon as a Host Material for Energetic Composites
Authors: Chen Jin , He Si Min , Cai Hua Qiang , Hao Qing Li , Huang Hui
Published: May 2015

Hierarchically ordered macro-/mesoporous carbon (HOPC) was synthesized via a dual-template approach and used as the host matrixes to design the host-guest energetic composites. Monodisperse silica colloidal crystals were used as a hard template, amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 as a soft template, and soluble resols as a carbon source. The obtained HOPC is composed of highly ordered fcc macropores (225 nm), interconnected macropore windows (40 nm), and large mesopores (11.6 nm), resulting in high surface area (503.6 m2/g) and large pore volume (0.833 cm3/g). A high energy material (CL-20) had been encapsulated in HOPC by impregnation process, and the maximum loading amount was around 63 wt.%. The synthesized CL-20/HOPC host-guest energetic composites exhibit much lower thermal decomposition temperature than that of pure CL-20 and their physical mixture.
Fabrication and Formaldehyde-Sensing Property of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) Coated with PVP-MWCNTs Composites
Authors: He Ying Fei , Jiang Ya Dong , Tai Hui Ling , Xie Guang Zhong
Published: May 2015

In this paper, the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors coated with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCWNTs) nanocomposite thin films were developed by the spray process, which were used for the detection of low concentration formaldehyde at room temperature. The surface morphology and structure of films was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, respectively, and the formaldehyde-sensing properties of sensors were investigated. The results showed that the prepared QCM gas sensor exhibited the linear characteristic, fast response, good reproducibility to low concentration formaldehyde within 6 ppm, and the poisoning of films was observed when the formaldehyde concentration exceeded 6ppm. Moreover, the sensitivity of the sensor could achieve up to 1Hz/ppm and had the good stability of response values.
Microfluidic Amperometric Detection Sensor with Integrated Ag/AgCl Reference Electrode
Authors: Zhang He , Liu Xiao Wei , Tian Li , Han Xiao Wei , Dai Tong
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we presented a novel method for fabricating the integrated electrochemical sensor based on a microfluidic device. The device included: printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with vertical embedded electrodes; polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with micro structures; PMMA cover with amperometric detection sensor (ADS). The ADS employed three-electrode sensor system which was composed by two Au electrodes and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane was used as ion-exchange medium of reference electrode and installed between Au electrodes. Then, the potential changes and the standardization oxidation-reduction experiments were executed to characterize the integrated reference electrode performance. Finally, the ADS system was tested by cyclic voltammetry (CV).
Design‚ Optimization and Simulation of an Electric Field Microsensor Based on PZT Piezoelectric Interdigitated Cantilevers
Authors: Feng Ke , Tong Jian Hua , Wang Yu , Xia Shan Hong
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we demonstrate the design ‚ optimization and simulation of an electric field microsensor based on PZT piezoelectric interdigitated cantilevers driven. The working principle is introduced, and the induced charge ability of the sensitive cantilever structure is simulated and analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA) method. A multilayer compound cantilever structure (Al/Si3N4/Pt/PZT/Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si) have been designed as the sensing element and PbZrxTi(1-x)O3 (PZT) thin film is used as the piezoelectric material to drive the cantilevers vibrating. This microsensor is fabricated based on the simulation results. The electric field microsensor is tested under the direct current electric field with the field intensity from 0 to 45000 v/m, and the output voltage signal of the microsensor showed a good linear response to the intensity of applied electric field.
Design and Application of Digitally-Programmable Delay-Time Microchip in Detonating System
Authors: Lu Yu Fei , Lou Wen Zhong , Ding Xu Ran , Wang Ya Bin
Published: May 2015

A novel digitally-programmable delay-time microchip is introduced in this paper, which is based on detonating system. In order to make the detonating system more safety and reliability, C-MBUS is proposed in this paper. The programmable delay-time detonator can get power and data from Logger simultaneously. As a conclusion, the programmable delay time of this microchip ranges from 1 millisecond to 10000 milliseconds using the dedicated programming device, and the time programmable increment step can reach 1 millisecond. With its safety and reliability, its accuracy in delay time and its easy use, it will be extensively applicable to complicated blasting engineering of high quality.
A Traceable Metrological Method with Nanometer Scale Resolution for Micro-Structure
Authors: Yin Bo Hua , Chen Dai Xie , Xue Hong , Lin Yun Sheng , Gao Si Tian , Li Wei , Han Li
Published: May 2015

Micro-structure dimension metrology is a grand challenge to current metrological methods and tools. In this paper, a retraceable metrological scanning electron microscopy (M-SEM) system with precision stage and laser interferometer is presented in detail. The double stages structure is used to realize both sample positioning in 50mm×50mm range and accuracy imaging in several tens of micron scale. In order to acquiring metrological scanning image, the control system based on digital signal processing (DSP) is constructed. Furthermore, this paper focuses on demonstrating a metrological SEM image edge detection algorithm which is the essential part of the metrological SEM system to realize the traceable metrology of line width.
Intermediate Layer Bonding for Silicon and Piezoelectric on UV Adhesive
Authors: Wang Xuan Yang , Liu Huan , Lei Rui , Liu Wei Guo
Published: May 2015

During making the surface acoustic wave devices and integrated circuit hybrid integrated electronics, it needs to put the piezoelectric crystal and silicon wafer bonding together. By selecting a certain wavelengths of UV curing adhesive, then exposing with 300-436nm wavelength of exposure machine, 8mm×8mm bonding chips are got. Bonding LiNbO3, quartz and silicon wafer respectively, measured maximum shear force is 116.2 N and 117.9 N with shear force test machine. The fracture energy is 5.831 J/m2measured by crack-opening method test LiNbO3 bonding chips. The results show that piezoelectric crystal and silicon wafer bonding interface level off and the bonding of the middle layer thickness for about 3 microns observed the bonding section with SEM.
A Nano-Cantilever Bending Method for Interface Cracking in Nanoscale Materials
Authors: Wang Xiao Yuan , Yan Ya Bin
Published: May 2015

A nanocantilever bending method is developed to investigate the interface cracking in multilayered nanoscale materials basing on the technology of the focused ion beam (FIB) and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With FIB, a nanocantilever specimen consisting of 20-nm-thick copper (Cu) layer and 500-nm-thick silicon nitride (SiN) layer on a silicon (Si) substrate is fabricated from a macroscale multi-layered material (Si/Cu/SiN) with the proposed method. By using a minute loading apparatus, the loading experiment is conducted in TEM, and the crack initiation at the edge of Cu/Si interface in different specimens is in situ observed. The critical stress fields at crack initiation are analyzed with the finite element method, and both normal and shear stresses concentrate at the region of 100 nm from the interface edge in all specimens. In addition, the normal stress is much larger than the shear one. A close observation on stress fields shows that the normal stress field at the area 20 nm–30 nm away from interface edge produces the local criterion for crack initiation at the edge of Cu/Si interface in nanoscale components.
Design and Experiment Research on MEMS Vector Hydrophone Vibration Damping Structure
Authors: Guo Nan , Zhang Guo Jun , Zhang Wen Dong
Published: May 2015

A novel vibration damping structure is designed based on the existing package structure of MEMS vector hydrophone. It is desirable that this novel structure can isolate the vibration noise caused by working platform so as to improve the anti-noise ability of hydrophone. This novel structure is made of “dow corning” damping silicone rubber which is manufactured with a certain proportion because of its small Young’s Modulus. The hydrophone is fabricated in the form of original packaging structure firstly and then in vibration-isolation packaging structure. Laboratory tests by means of the shaking table test and standing-wave tube test are performed to validate the theoretical results. The test results prove that the vibration damping structure can effectively isolate the interference signal produced by working platform without affecting the sensitivity of hydrophone obviously.
The Dynamic Characteristics Research of MEMS V-Shaped SiO2/Al Electrothermal Actuator
Authors: Shen Yue Yue , Song Rong Chang , Tang Hai Mi , Chen Qing Sen , Guan Ping
Published: May 2015

Traditional MEMS V-shaped electrothermal actuator is always fabricated with doping polysilicon, which always need a big voltage due to high resistivity of material. A new structure of actuator is proposed, which embeds heating layer, AL, into structural layer, SiO2. Using the surface silicon technology, the fabrication process of new actuator is built and verified by simulation in Coventorware. Besides, through multiphysics dynamic simulation in Comsol Multiphysics, which takes some material property change with temperature into consideration, effect of structure parameter and input voltage on displacement is studied. The result proves that the new actuator structure can obtain a big displacement under a lower voltage in short time.
A new checklist of lichenised, lichenicolous and allied fungi reported from South Africa
Authors: Fryday Alan M.
Published: May 2015

Background: The last comprehensive list of lichenised, lichenicolous and allied fungi reported from South Africa was published in 1950. A checklist is important to provide basic information on the extent of the diversity, and to provide the most recent name and classification.Objective: To present a list of all the lichenised, lichenicolous and allied fungi reported from South Africa.Methods: The list presented is entirely literature based and no attempt has been made to check the report of any taxa or their status by checking the specimens upon which they are based. Firstly, all taxa that were not reported from within the modern boundaries of South Africa were excluded. Next, the Recent literature on lichens database was searched for literature on South African lichens since 1945 and all references checked for new species or new reports, which were then added to the list. These names were then checked against Index Fungorum to ensure that the most current name was being used. Finally, the list was rationalised by excluding all synonyms and dubious infraspecific taxa.Results: The current list includes 1750 taxa in 260 genera from mainland South Africa, with an additional 100 species and 23 genera from the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands, which are treated separately. The replacement name Verrucaria dagolavii Fryday is proposed for Verrucaria umbilicata Øvstedal.Conclusion: It is estimated that, when fully explored, the lichen biota of South Africa will consist of somewhere between 2500 and 3000 taxa.
Foraging range and habitat use by Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres from the Msikaba colony, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
Authors: Pfeiffer Morgan B. , Venter Jan A. , Downs Colleen T.
Published: May 2015

Despite the extent of subsistence farmland in Africa, little is known about endangered species that persist within them. The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is regionally endangered in southern Africa and at least 20% of the population breeds in the subsistence farmland area previously known as the Transkei in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. To understand their movement ecology, adult Cape Vultures (n = 9) were captured and fitted with global positioning system/global system for mobile transmitters. Minimum convex polygons (MCPs),and 99% and 50% kernel density estimates (KDEs) were calculated for the breeding and non breeding seasons of the Cape Vulture. Land use maps were constructed for each 99% KDE and vulture locations were overlaid. During the non-breeding season, ranges were slightly larger(mean [± SE] MCP = 16 887 km2 ± 366 km2) than the breeding season (MCP = 14 707 km2 ± 2155 km2). Breeding and non-breeding season MCPs overlapped by a total of 92%. Kernel density estimates showed seasonal variability. During the breeding season, Cape Vultures used subsistence farmland, natural woodland and protected areas more than expected. In the non-breeding season, vultures used natural woodland and subsistence farmland more than expected, and protected areas less than expected. In both seasons, human-altered landscapes were used less, except for subsistence farmland.Conservation implications: These results highlight the importance of subsistence farm land to the survival of the Cape Vulture. Efforts should be made to minimise potential threats to vultures in the core areas outlined, through outreach programmes and mitigation measures.The conservation buffer of 40 km around Cape Vulture breeding colonies should be increased to 50 km.
A study of the impact of synoptic weather conditions and water vapor on aerosol-cloud relationships over major urban clusters of China
Authors: Kourtidis K. , Stathopoulos S. , Georgoulias A. K. , Alexandri G. , Rapsomanikis S.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The relationships between Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Cloud Cover (CC) over 3 major urban clusters in China are studied under different Sea Level Pressure (SLP) and Water Vapor (WV) regimes using a decade (2003–2013) of MODIS observations. Over all urban clusters, for all SLP regimes, CC is found to increase with AOD, thus pointing out that the CC dependence on AOD is not solely due to meteorological co-variability. WV is found to have a stronger impact on CC than AOD. This impact is more pronounced at high aerosol load than at low aerosol load. Hence, studies of AOD-CC relationships based on satellite data, might greatly overestimate or underestimate the AOD impact on CC in regions where AOD and WV have similar or opposite seasonal variations, respectively. Further, this impact shows that the hydrological cycle interferes with the aerosol climatic impact and we need to improve our understanding of this interference. Our results also suggest that studies attributing Cloud Top Pressure (CTP) long-term changes to changes in aerosol load might have a WV bias.
Carbon isotope excursions in paleosol carbonate marking five early Eocene hyperthermals in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming
Authors: Abels H. A. , Lauretano V. , van Yperen A. , Hopman T. , Zachos J. C. , Lourens L. J. , Gingerich P. D. , Bowen G. J.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Transient greenhouse warming events in the Paleocene and Eocene were associated with the addition of isotopically-light carbon to the exogenic atmosphere–ocean carbon pool, leading to substantial environmental and biotic change. The magnitude of an accompanying carbon isotope excursion (CIE) can be used to constrain both the sources and amounts of carbon released during an event, as well as to correlate marine and terrestrial records with high precision. The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is well documented, but CIE records for the subsequent warming events are still rare especially from the terrestrial realm. Here, we provide new CIE records for two of the smaller hyperthermal events, I1 and I2, in paleosol carbonate, as well as two additional records of ETM2 and H2 in the Bighorn Basin. Stratigraphic comparison of this expanded, high-resolution terrestrial carbon isotope record to the deep-sea benthic foraminifera records from ODP Sites 1262 and 1263, Walvis Ridge, in the southern Atlantic Ocean corroborates that the Bighorn Basin fluvial sediments record global atmospheric change. The stratigraphic thicknesses of the eccentricity-driven hyperthermals in these archives are in line with precession-forcing of the 7 m thick fluvial overbank-avulsion sedimentary cycles. Using the CALMAG bulk oxide mean annual precipitation proxy, we reconstruct similar or slightly wetter than background soil moisture contents during the four younger hyperthermals, in contrast to drying observed during the PETM. Soil carbonate CIEs vary in magnitude proportionally with the marine CIEs for the four smaller early Eocene hyperthermals. This relationship breaks down for the PETM, with the soil carbonate CIE ~ 2–4‰ less than expected if all five linearly relate to marine CIEs. If the PETM CO2 forcing was similar but scaled to the younger hyperthermals, photosynthetic isotope fractionation or soil environmental factors are needed to explain this anomaly. We use sensitivity testing of experimentally determined photosynthetic isotope discrimination relationships to show that factors other than the recently demonstrated pCO2 sensitivity of C3 plants carbon isotope fractionation are required to explain this anomaly.
Future hydrological extremes: the uncertainty from multiple global climate and global hydrological models
Authors: Giuntoli I. , Vidal J.-P. , Prudhomme C. , Hannah D. M.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Projections of changes in the hydrological cycle from global hydrological models (GHMs) driven by global climate models (GCMs) are critical for understanding future occurrence of hydrological extremes. However, uncertainties remain large and need to be better assessed. In particular, recent studies have pointed to a considerable contribution of GHMs that can equal or outweigh the contribution of GCMs to uncertainty in hydrological projections. Using six GHMs and five GCMs from the ISI-MIP multi-model ensemble, this study aims: (i) to assess future changes in the frequency of both high and low flows at the global scale using control and future (RCP8.5) simulations by the 2080s, and (ii) to quantify, for both ends of the runoff spectrum, GCMs and GHMs contributions to uncertainty using a two-way ANOVA. Increases are found in high flows for northern latitudes and in low flows for several hotspots. Globally, the largest source of uncertainty is associated with GCMs, but GHMs are the greatest source in snow-dominated regions. More specifically, results vary depending on the runoff metric, the temporal (annual and seasonal) and regional scale of analysis. For instance, uncertainty contribution from GHMs is higher for low flows than it is for high flows, partly owing to the different processes driving the onset of the two phenomena (e.g. the more direct effect of the GCMs' precipitation variability on high flows). This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of where future hydrological extremes are projected to increase and where the ensemble spread is owed to either GCMs or GHMs. Finally, our results underline the need for improvements in modelling snowmelt and runoff processes to project future hydrological extremes and the importance of using multiple GCMs and GHMs to encompass the uncertainty range provided by these two sources.
Topographic roughness as a signature of the emergence of bedrock in eroding landscapes
Authors: Milodowski D. T. , Mudd S. M. , Mitchard E. T. A.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Rock is exposed at the Earth surface when rates of erosion locally exceed rates of soil production. The thinning of soils and emergence of bedrock has implications spanning geomorphology, ecology and hydrology. Soil mantled hillslopes are typically shaped by diffusive sediment transport processes that act to smooth topography through times, generating the familiar smooth, convex hillslope profiles that are common in low relief landscapes. Bedrock emergence represents a fundamental change in the dynamics of hillslope sediment transport, which are no longer diffusive. The resultant increase in surface roughness provides a possible means by which bedrock outcrop on hillslopes can be detected. We demonstrate that the local variability of surface normal vectors, measured from 1 m resolution airborne LiDAR data, can be used as a topographic signature to identify areas within landscapes where rock exposure is present. We then use this roughness metric to investigate the transition from soil mantled to bedrock hillslopes as erosion rates increase in two transient landscapes, Bald Rock Basin, which drains into the Middle Fork Feather River, California, and Harrington Creek, a tributary of the Salmon River, Idaho. Rather than being abrupt, as predicted by traditional soil production models, in both cases the transition from fully soil mantled to bedrock hillslopes is gradual and spatially heterogeneous, with rapidly eroding hillslopes supporting a patchwork of bedrock and soil that is well documented by changes in topographic roughness, highlighting the utility of this metric for testing hypotheses concerning the emergence of bedrock and adding to a growing body of evidence that indicates the persistence of partial soil mantles in steep, rapidly eroding landscapes.
Simple, affordable, and sustainable borehole observatories for complex monitoring objectives
Authors: Kopf A. , Freudenthal T. , Ratmeyer V. , Bergenthal M. , Lange M. , Fleischmann T. , Hammerschmidt S. , Seiter C. , Wefer G.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Seafloor drill rigs are remotely operated systems that provide a cost-effective means to recover sedimentary records of the upper sub-seafloor deposits. Recent increases in their payload included downhole logging tools or autoclave coring systems. Here we report on another milestone in using seafloor rigs: the development and installation of shallow borehole observatories. Three different systems have been developed for the MARUM-MeBo (Meeresboden-Bohrgerät) seafloor drill, which is operated by MARUM, University of Bremen, Germany. A simple design, the MeBoPLUG, separates the inner borehole from the overlying ocean by using o-ring seals at the conical threads of the drill pipe. The systems are self-contained and include data loggers, batteries, thermistors and a differential pressure sensor. A second design, the so-called MeBoCORK (Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit), is more sophisticated and also hosts an acoustic modem for data transfer and, if desired, fluid sampling capability using osmotic pumps. In these MeBoCORKs, two systems have to be distinguished: the CORK-A (A stands for autonomous) can be installed by the MeBo alone and monitors pressure and temperature inside and above the borehole (the latter for reference); the CORK-B (B stands for bottom) has a higher payload and can additionally be equipped with geochemical, biological or other physical components. Owing to its larger size, it is installed by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and utilises a hot-stab connection in the upper portion of the drill string. Either design relies on a hot-stab connection from beneath in which coiled tubing with a conical drop weight is lowered to couple to the formation. These tubes are fluid-saturated and either serve to transmit pore pressure signals or collect porewater in the osmo-sampler. The third design, the MeBoPUPPI (Pop-Up Pore Pressure Instrument), is similar to the MeBoCORK-A and monitors pore pressure and temperature in a self-contained manner. Instead of transferring data on command using an acoustic modem, the MeBoPUPPI contains a pop-up telemetry with iridium link. After a predefined period, the data unit with satellite link is released, ascends to the sea surface, and remains there for up to 2 weeks while sending the long-term data sets to shore. In summer 2012, two MeBoPLUGs, one MeBoCORK-A and one MeBoCORK-B were installed with MeBo on RV Sonne, Germany, in the Nankai Trough area, Japan. We have successfully downloaded data from the CORKs, attesting that coupling to the formation worked, and pressure records were elevated relative to the seafloor reference. In the near future, we will further deploy the first two MeBoPUPPIs. Recovery of all monitoring systems by a ROV is planned for 2016.
Advancement toward coupling of the VAMPER permafrost model within the Earth system model iLOVECLIM (version 1.0): description and validation
Authors: Kitover D. C. , van Balen R. , Roche D. M. , Vandenberghe J. , Renssen H.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The VU Amsterdam Permafrost (VAMPER) permafrost model has been enhanced with snow thickness and active layer calculations in preparation for coupling within the iLOVECLIM Earth system model of intermediate complexity (EMIC). In addition, maps of basal heat flux and lithology were developed within ECBilt, the atmosphere component of iLOVECLIM, so that VAMPER may use spatially varying parameters of geothermal heat flux and porosity values. The enhanced VAMPER model is validated by comparing the simulated modern-day extent of permafrost thickness with observations. To perform the simulations, the VAMPER model is forced by iLOVECLIM land surface temperatures. Results show that the simulation which did not include the snow cover option overestimated the present permafrost extent. However, when the snow component is included, the simulated permafrost extent is reduced too much. In analyzing simulated permafrost depths, it was found that most of the modeled thickness values and subsurface temperatures fall within a reasonable range of the corresponding observed values. Discrepancies between simulated and observed permafrost depth distribution are due to lack of captured effects from features such as topography and organic soil layers. In addition, some discrepancy is also due to disequilibrium with the current climate, meaning that some observed permafrost is a result of colder states and therefore cannot be reproduced accurately with constant iLOVECLIM preindustrial forcings.
LOCALIZATION AND RECOGNITION OF DYNAMIC HAND GESTURES BASED ON HIERARCHY OF MANIFOLD CLASSIFIERS
Authors: Favorskaya M. , Nosov A. , Popov A.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Generally, the dynamic hand gestures are captured in continuous video sequences, and a gesture recognition system ought to extract the robust features automatically. This task involves the highly challenging spatio-temporal variations of dynamic hand gestures. The proposed method is based on two-level manifold classifiers including the trajectory classifiers in any time instants and the posture classifiers of sub-gestures in selected time instants. The trajectory classifiers contain skin detector, normalized skeleton representation of one or two hands, and motion history representing by motion vectors normalized through predetermined directions (8 and 16 in our case). Each dynamic gesture is separated into a set of sub-gestures in order to predict a trajectory and remove those samples of gestures, which do not satisfy to current trajectory. The posture classifiers involve the normalized skeleton representation of palm and fingers and relative finger positions using fingertips. The min-max criterion is used for trajectory recognition, and the decision tree technique was applied for posture recognition of sub-gestures. For experiments, a dataset “Multi-modal Gesture Recognition Challenge 2013: Dataset and Results” including 393 dynamic hand-gestures was chosen. The proposed method yielded 84–91% recognition accuracy, in average, for restricted set of dynamic gestures.
MULTI-QUADRATIC DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE OF EDGE– PRESERVING DENOISING FOR MEDICAL IMAGES
Authors: Pham C. T. , Kopylov A. V.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. In this paper, we present a computationally efficient technique for edge preserving in medical image smoothing, which is developed on the basis of dynamic programming multi-quadratic procedure. Additionally, we propose a new non-convex type of pair-wise potential functions, allow more flexibility to set a priori preferences, using different penalties for various ranges of differences between the values of adjacent image elements. The procedure of image analysis, based on the new data models, significantly expands the class of applied problems, and can take into account the presence of heterogeneities and discontinuities in the source data, while retaining high computational efficiency of the dynamic programming procedure and Kalman filterinterpolator. Comparative study shows, that our algorithm has high accuracy to speed ratio, especially in the case of high-resolution medical images.
ORIENTATION SPECTRUM ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Brianskiy S. A. , Sidyakin S. V. , Vizilter Y. V.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. A morphological orientation spectra is proposed. This spectrum describes basic directions of shape parts. Fast discrete-continuous algorithm for computing orientation spectrum is presented. It is based on usage of continuous skeleton that is constructed from polygonal shape contour. A definition for disc orientation map is given. Comparison experiments for binary shapes with the usage of orientation spectra are carried out. Cyclic shift and EMD-L1 distance are used for spectra comparison. The obtained results indicate that the aggregation of the thickness spectra with orientation spectra increases the quality of inter-class recognition.
MODELING OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM USING THE COLORED PETRI NETS
Authors: Petrosyan G. R. , Ter-Vardanyan L. A. , Gaboutchian A. V.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. In this paper we present a model of biometric identification system transformed into Petri Nets. Petri Nets, as a graphical and mathematical tool, provide a uniform environment for modelling, formal analysis, and design of discrete event systems. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of Petri Nets to the researchers and practitioners, both from identification systems, who are involved in the work in the areas of modelling and analysis of biometric identification types of systems, as well as those who may potentially be involved in these areas. In addition, the paper introduces high-level Petri Nets, as Colored Petri Nets (CPN). In this paper the model of Colored Petri Net describes the identification process much simpler.
DACTYL ALPHABET GESTURE RECOGNITION IN A VIDEO SEQUENCE USING MICROSOFT KINECT
Authors: Artyukhin S. G. , Mestetskiy L. M.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. This paper presents an efficient framework for solving the problem of static gesture recognition based on data obtained from the web cameras and depth sensor Kinect (RGB-D - data). Each gesture given by a pair of images: color image and depth map. The database store gestures by it features description, genereated by frame for each gesture of the alphabet. Recognition algorithm takes as input a video sequence (a sequence of frames) for marking, put in correspondence with each frame sequence gesture from the database, or decide that there is no suitable gesture in the database. First, classification of the frame of the video sequence is done separately without interframe information. Then, a sequence of successful marked frames in equal gesture is grouped into a single static gesture. We propose a method combined segmentation of frame by depth map and RGB-image. The primary segmentation is based on the depth map. It gives information about the position and allows to get hands rough border. Then, based on the color image border is specified and performed analysis of the shape of the hand. Method of continuous skeleton is used to generate features. We propose a method of skeleton terminal branches, which gives the opportunity to determine the position of the fingers and wrist. Classification features for gesture is description of the position of the fingers relative to the wrist. The experiments were carried out with the developed algorithm on the example of the American Sign Language. American Sign Language gesture has several components, including the shape of the hand, its orientation in space and the type of movement. The accuracy of the proposed method is evaluated on the base of collected gestures consisting of 2700 frames.
CYP1B1 Gene Analysis and Phenotypic Correlation in Portuguese Children with Primary Congenital Glaucoma
Authors: Cardoso Mariana S. , Anjos Rita , Vieira Luísa , Ferreira Cristina , Xavier Ana , Brito Cristina
Published: May 2015

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of CYP1B1 mutations in Portuguese children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and to study the possible correlations between the mutation status and clinical features of the disease.

Methods

DNA sequencing analysis of the CYP1B1 gene was used to screen 21 children with PCG followed on Paediatric Ophthalmology and Medical Genetics consultations at D. Estefania's Hospital (Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Portugal). The effect of mutations on the phenotype of the patients was also assessed. Presence and type of mutations in CYP1B1 gene, age at diagnosis, bilaterality, age at first surgery, postoperative intraocular pressure and corneal diameter, final visual acuity, number of surgical reinterventions, and number of antiglaucoma medications required postoperatively were noted.

Results

Mutations in the CYP1B1 gene in 6 patients (28.57%) were detected, all compound heterozygotes. Seven types of mutations were identified: c.182G>A, c.317C>A, c.535delG, c.1064_1076del, c.1159G>A, c.1310C>T, and c.1390dupT. All patients with these mutations developed bilateral PCG, whereas in the group without mutations only 7 (46.67%) showed bilateral disease. Age at diagnosis was lower in the group of patients with these mutations (0.0 ± 0.00 vs 4.5 ± 2.63 months, p<0.01). In the remaining variables (age at first surgery, postoperative intraocular pressure and corneal diameter, final visual acuity, number of surgical reinterventions and antiglaucoma medications required postoperatively), no significant differences between the groups were detected (p>0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusions

This study is the first to report the variety of mutations in the CYP1B1 gene in a group of Portuguese children with PCG and to describe 2 new mutations. Genetic analysis of PCG must be carried out, although it has not yet been possible to establish a genotype-phenotype correlation, with the exception of bilaterality and early age at diagnosis.