The optical flow has been one of the common approaches for image tracking. Its advantage is that no prior knowledge for image features is required. Since movement information can be obtained based on brightness data only, this method is suitable for tracking tasks of unknown objects. Besides, insects are always masters in chasing and catching preys in the natural world due to their unique compound eye structure. If the edge of the compound eye can be applied to tracking of moving objects, it is highly expected that the tracking performance will be greatly improved. Conventional images are built on a Cartesian reference system, which is quite different from the hexagonal framework for the compound eye of insects. This thesis explores the distinction of the hexagonal image framework by incorporating the hexagonal concept into the optical flow technology. Consequently, the reason behind why the compound eye is good at tracking moving objects can be revealed. According to simulation results for test images with different features, the hexagonal optical flow method appears to be superior to the traditional optical flow method in the Cartesian reference system.

Two-dimensional graphene, a single layer of graphite, has emerged as an excellent candidate for future electronic material due to its unique electronic structure and remarkably high carrier mobility. Even higher carrier mobility has been demonstrated in graphene devices using hexagonal boron nitride as an underlying dielectric support instead of silicon oxide. Interestingly, both graphene and boron nitride exhibit superior thermal properties, therefore may potentially offer a solution to the increasingly severe heat dissipation problem in nanoelectronics caused by increased power density. In this thesis, we focus on the investigation of the thermal properties of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. First, scanning thermal microscopy based on a sub-micrometer thermocouple at the apex of a microfabricated tip was employed to image the temperature profiles in electrically biased graphene devices with ~ 100 nm scale spatial resolution. Non-uniform temperature distribution in the devices was observed, and the "hot spot" locations were correlated with the charge concentrations in the channel, which could be controlled by both gate and drain-source biases. Hybrid contact and lift mode scanning has enabled us to obtain the quantitative temperature profiles, which were compared with the profiles obtained from Raman-based thermometry. The temperature rise in the channel provided an important insight into the heat dissipation mechanism in Joule-heated graphene devices. Next, thermal conductivity of suspended single and few-layer graphene was measured using a micro-bridge device with built-in resistance thermometers. Polymer-assisted transfer technique was developed to suspend graphene layers on the pre-fabricated device. The room temperature thermal conductivity values of 1-7 layer graphene were measured to be lower than that of bulk graphite, and the value appeared to increase with increasing sample thickness. These observations can be explained by the impact of the phonon scattering by polymer residue remaining on the sample surfaces. Lastly, thermal conductivity of few-layer hexagonal boron nitride sample was measured by using the same device and technique used for suspended graphene. Measurements on samples with different suspended lengths but similar thickness allowed us to extract the intrinsic thermal conductivity of the samples as well as the contribution of contact thermal resistance to the overall thermal measurement. The room temperature thermal conductivity of 11 layer sample approaches the basal-plane value reported in the bulk sample. Lower thermal conductivity was measured in a 5 layer sample than an 11 layer sample, which again supports the polymer effect on the thermal transport in few-layer hexagonal boron nitride. / text

Chemnitz, Techn. Univ., Diplomarb., 2008.

The visual processing in the real world is different from the digital world. Monkey’s and a human’s visual world is richer and more colourful affording sight of flies, regardless of whether they are immobile or airborne. The study of the evolutionary process of our visual system indicates the existence of variationally spatial arrangement; from densely hexagonal in the fovea to a sparse circular structure in the peripheral retina. Normally we use a rectangular grid for the processing of images. But as per the perspective of the human eyes, the new approach is to change the grid from rectangular to hexagonal. Applying hexagonal grid in image processing is very advantageous and easy for mimicking human visual system. The main advantages for using the hexagonal structure in image processing is its resemblance to the arrangement of photoreceptors in the human eyes. The visual processing in the real world is different from the digital world. Monkey’s and a human’s visual world is richer and more colourful affording sight of flies, regardless of whether they are immobile or airborne. The study of the evolutionary process of our visual system indicates the existence of variationally spatial arrangement; from densely hexagonal in the fovea to a sparse circular structure in the peripheral retina. Normally we use a rectangular grid for the processing of images. But as per the perspective of the human eyes, the new approach is to change the grid from rectangular to hexagonal. Applying hexagonal grid in image processing is very advantageous and easy for mimicking human visual system. The main advantages for using the hexagonal structure in image processing is its resemblance to the arrangement of photoreceptors in the human eyes.

[EN] The project of this Ph.D. thesis is based on a co-supervised collaboration between Università di Bologna, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM (Italy) and Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València ITQ-UPV (Spain). This Ph.D. thesis is about the synthesis, characterization and catalytic testing of complex mixed-oxide catalysts mainly related to the family of Hexagonal Tungsten Bronzes (HTBs). These materials have been little explored as catalysts, although they have a great potential as multifunctional materials. Their peculiar acid properties can be coupled to other functionalities (e.g. redox sites) by isomorphous substitution of tungsten atoms with other transition metals such as vanadium, niobium and molybdenum. In this PhD thesis, it was demonstrated how it is possible to prepare substituted-HTBs by hydrothermal synthesis; these mixed-oxide were fully characterize by a number of physicochemical techniques such as XPS, HR-TEM, XAS etc. They were also used as catalysts for the one-pot glycerol oxidehydration to acrylic acid; this reaction might represent a viable chemical route to solve the important issue related to the co-production of glycerin along the biodiesel production chain. Acrylic acid yields as high as 51% were obtained and important structure-reactivity correlations were proved to govern the catalytic performance; only fine tuning of acid and redox properties as well as the in-framework presence of vanadium are fundamental to achieve noteworthy yields into the acid monomer. The overall results reported herein might represent an important contribution for future applications of HTBs in catalysis as well as a general guideline for a multifaceted approach for their physicochemical characterization. / [ES] El proyecto de esta tesis doctoral está basado en un convenio de cotutela firmado por la Università di Bologna, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM (Italia) y el Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València ITQ-UPV (España). La presente tesis doctoral muestra el estudio sobre la síntesis, caracterización y ensayos catalíticos de materiales complejos a base de óxidos mixtos relacionados con la familia de los bronces de tungsteno hexagonales. Estos materiales han sido utilizados minoritariamente como catalizadores, aunque tienen un potencial importante come materiales multifuncionales. Sus peculiares propiedades acidas pueden ser acopladas con otras características (por ejemplo, sitios oxido-reductivos) a través de la substitución isomórfica de átomos de tungsteno con otros metales de transición como vanadio, niobio y molibdeno. En esta tesis doctoral se ha demostrado como sea posible preparar bronces de tungsteno hexagonales substituidos a través de síntesis hidrotermal; estos óxidos mixtos fueron caracterizados por completo empleando numerosas técnicas de caracterización quimico-fisicas como XPS, HR-TEM, XAS etc. Fueron también utilizados como catalizadores para la síntesis directa de acido acrílico de glicerol; esta es una reacción que puede representar una solución viable para el problema relacionado con la coproducción de glicerina a lo largo de la cadena productiva del biodiesel. Rendimientos en acido acrílico hasta el 51% fueron obtenidos y importantes relaciones entre las estructuras y la actividad catalítica fueron demostradas ser determinantes para el proceso catalítico; solo la afinación de las propiedades acidas y redox tanto como la presencia en-red de vanadio son esenciales para conseguir rendimientos relevantes en el monómero acido. En general, los resultados presentados en esta tesis doctoral pueden ser una contribución relevante para futuras aplicaciones de los bronces de tungsteno hexagonales en catálisis y también como una guía general para un completa caracterización quimico-fisica de estos oxidos. / [CAT] Esta tesi doctoral està basada en un conveni de cotutela signat per la Università di Bologna, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM (Italia) i el Institut de Tecnologia Química , Universitat Politècnica de València ITQ-UPV(Espanya). La present tesi doctoral estudia la síntesis, caracterització i assajos catalítics de òxids mixtes relacionats amb la família dels bronzes de tungstèn hexagonals. Aquestos materials presenten un gran potencial com materials multi funcionals, encara que no han sigut molt emprats com catalitzadors. Les propietats àcides particulars de aquestos materials poden ser potenciades amb altres característiques (per exemple, llocs redox) mitjançant la substitució isomòrfica d'àtoms de tungstèn amb altres metalls de transició com vanadi, niobi i molibdè. En aquesta tesi doctoral es demostra com es possible sintetitzar bronzes de tungstèn hexagonals substituïts a partir de síntesis hidrotermal. Aquestos òxids mixtes han segut caracteritzats emprant diverses tècniques de caracterització físico-químiques com XPS, HR-TEM, XAS, etc... Per altra part, s'han utilitzat com catalitzadors per a la síntesis directa de àcid acrílic a partir de glicerol, aquesta reacció pot representar una solució viable per al problema relacionat amb la coproducció de glicerina al llarg de la cadena productiva de biodiesel. S'han obtingut rendiments a àcid acrílic del 51%. A més, s'han observat importants relacions entre les estructures i la activitat catalítica, les quals han sigut determinants per al procés catalític. El ajust de les propietats àcides i redox i la presència en red de vanadi són essencials per a obtindre rendiments rellevants en el monòmer àcid. En general, el resultats presentats en aquesta tesi doctoral poden ser una contribució rellevant per a futures aplicacions del bronzes de tungstèn hexagonal en catàlisis i també com una guia general per a una completa caracterització físico-química d'aquestos òxids. / Chieregato, A. (2015). Glycerol oxidehydration to acrylic acid on complex mixed-metal oxides [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/49558 / TESIS

<p> A unified approach, employing effective phonon frequency distributions, is used to investigate effects of phonon anisotropy in the hcp metals.</p> <p> Phonon information is included by means of empirical force constant models, and pseudopotentials are used to describe the electron-ion interaction.</p> <p> Zinc and thallium superconducting gaps are determined as a function of position on the Fermi surface. The gap anisotropy is used to calculate thermodynamic properties.</p> <p> The normal state electron-phonon mass enhancement and the imaginary part of the electron self-energy are calculated as a function of temperature and Fermi surface position. Anisotropic transport scattering times are defined, calculated and used to obtain the polycrystalline and single crystal resistivities. Comparison is made with resistivities obtained by the variational approach.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Two-dimensional (2D) layered hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has become a very popular material in nanoelectronics in recent years because of its extraordinary chemical stability and thermal conductivity [1]. Recently, h-BN is also commonly used as a dielectric material [2], and research in this area is still in its early stages. The commonly used methods for fabricating h-BN include mechanical exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). CVD is a recognized industry-compatible method for producing large-area h-BN. However, studies have shown that multilayer h-BN grown by CVD is polycrystalline and contains multiple local defects [3]. These defects and inhomogeneity cannot be avoided and lead to small amounts of atom-wide amorphous regions that have weak dielectric strength [3]. Although the general characteristics of h-BN prepared by these two fabrication methods can be learned from different works in the literature, it is difficult to study the quality of h-BN without systematically comparing the differences between the two growth methods under the same experimental conditions and with large number of samples. This also makes it difficult for researchers to choose the best-quality h-BN. In this work, the morphological characteristics and electrical properties of mechanically exfoliated h-BN and CVD-grown h-BN from different sources have been compared under different conditions. Commercially available h-BN flakes mechanically exfoliated from NIMS h-BN bulk crystal show no leakage current at electrical fields up to 25.9 MV/cm, and above this applied electrical force, the size of the conductive spots is extremely small (1.99 ± 1.81 nm2). On the contrary, “monolayer” CVD-grown h-BN samples from Graphene Supermarket were shown to be amorphous in ~20% of their area, which makes them appear discontinuous from an electrical point of view, plus they contain large thickness fluctuations up to 6 layers. Moreover, in nanoelectronic measurements collected with a conductive atomic force microscope (CAFM) working in vacuum, mechanically exfoliated h-BN showed better electrical homogeneity and presented later dielectric breakdown compared to the h-BN samples fabricated by the CVD method.

No / The present work explores inner structuration of in situ gelling system consisting of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) and oleic acid (OA). The system under study involves investigation of microstructural changes which are believed to govern the pharmaceutical performance of final formulation. The changes which are often termed mesophasic transformation were analysed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology and plane polarised light (PPL) microscopy. The current work revealed transformation of blank system from W/O emulsion to reverse hexagonal structure upon addition of structural analogues of ibuprofen. Such transformations are believed to occur due to increased hydrophobic volume within system as probed by SAXS analysis. The findings of SAXS studies were well supported by DSC, rheology and PPL microscopy. The study established inverse relationship between log P value of structural analogues of ibuprofen and the degree of binding of water molecules to surfactant chains. Such relationship had pronounced effect on sol-gel transformation process. The prepared in situ gelling system showed sustained drug release which followed Higuchi model.

The superior advantage of a nodal method for reactor cores with hexagonal fuel assemblies discretized as cells consisting of equilateral triangles is its mesh refinement capability. In this thesis, a diffusion and a simplified P3 (or SP3) neutron transport nodal method are developed based on trigonal geometry. Both models are implemented in the reactor dynamics code DYN3D. As yet, no other well-established nodal core analysis code comprises an SP3 transport theory model based on trigonal meshes. The development of two methods based on different neutron transport approximations but using identical underlying spatial trigonal discretization allows a profound comparative analysis of both methods with regard to their mathematical derivations, nodal expansion approaches, solution procedures, and their physical performance. The developed nodal approaches can be regarded as a hybrid NEM/AFEN form. They are based on the transverse-integration procedure, which renders them computationally efficient, and they use a combination of polynomial and exponential functions to represent the neutron flux moments of the SP3 and diffusion equations, which guarantees high accuracy. The SP3 equations are derived in within-group form thus being of diffusion type. On this basis, the conventional diffusion solver structure can be retained also for the solution of the SP3 transport problem. The verification analysis provides proof of the methodological reliability of both trigonal DYN3D models. By means of diverse hexagonal academic benchmark and realistic detailed-geometry full-transport-theory problems, the superiority of the SP3 transport over the diffusion model is demonstrated in cases with pronounced anisotropy effects, which is, e.g., highly relevant to the modeling of fuel assemblies comprising absorber material.

Orientadores: Abner de Siervo, Richard Landers / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T18:41:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DeLima_LuisHenrique_D.pdf: 24142455 bytes, checksum: b13ea70fe8434614a9b9ec40d25b3770 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Monocamadas sp2 de grafeno e nitreto de boro hexagonal (h-BN) têm atraído muita atenção devido ao descobrimento de importantes propriedades, por exemplo, alta resistência mecânica, boa condutividade térmica e excelente estabilidade química e térmica. Porém, enquanto o grafeno é um semicondutor de gap nulo com alta mobilidade dos portadores de carga; o h-BN é um isolante com um largo band gap. Além disso, quando estas monocamadas sp2 são obtidas na superfície de uma variedade de substratos, elas podem exibir superestruturas corrugadas com parâmetro de rede no plano da ordem de nanômetros. Estas superestruturas são importantes para o autoordenamento de moléculas, átomos ou aglomerados de átomos e também para a intercalação de partículas e átomos em posições específicas na interface entre a monocamada sp2 e o substrato. Nesta tese, realizou-se um estudo, básico e aplicado, de monocamadas sp2 de grafeno e h-BN obtidas sobre a superfície do SiC(0001) e do Rh(111), respectivamente. Do ponto de vista básico, foi aplicada a técnica de Difração de Fotoelétrons (XPD) para um estudo da estrutura atômica do grafeno obtido por aquecimento na superfície do SiC(0001) e para a camada de interface entre o grafeno e o SiC, denominada buffer layer (BL). Os resultados de XPD mostraram particularidades distintas na estrutura atômica dessas monocamadas, o que explicaria a diferen_ca na estrutura eletrônica entre a BL e o grafeno. Do ponto de vista aplicado, foi mostrada a viabilidade do nanotemplate de grafeno/BL/SiC(0001) para a obtenção de aglomerados de Co e subsequente estudo das suas propriedades magnéticas por Dicroísmo Circular Magnético de Raios X (XMCD). Os aglomerados de Co foram obtidos sobre a camada de grafeno e os resultados evidenciam uma possível interação cluster-cluster de longo alcance, com influência nas propriedades magnéticas das partículas. Foi investigada também a intercalação dos átomos de Co entre o grafeno e a BL, formando uma rede quase periódica de clusters 2D. O grafeno forma uma barreira de proteção contra oxidação, preservando o caráter metálico das partículas. A monocamada de h-BN sobre a superfície do Rh(111) foi utilizada para a implantação de átomos de Rb. Para a implantação, foi construída uma evaporadora de íons de Rb que permite acelera-los numa faixa de energia possível para penetrar a monocamada de h-BN. Imagens de STM mostraram que os átomos de Rb termalizam entre a monocamada de h-BN e a superfície do Rh(111) em posições especificas da superestrutura, formando o que se denominou de nanotent. A formação dos nanotents e dos defeitos de vacância gerados pelo choque dos íons é uma forma de funcionalização do h-BN, sendo estas estruturas possíveis pontos de ancoragem de moléculas, átomos ou clusters de átomos / Abstract: Graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sp2 monolayers have attracted much attention due the discoveries of their important properties, such as high mechanical strength, good thermal conductivity and excellent chemical and thermal stability. However, while graphene is a zero band gap semiconductor with high carrier mobility; h-BN is a wide band gap insulator. Furthermore, when these sp2 monolayers are obtained on the surface of a variety of substrates, they can exhibit corrugated superstructures with a few nanometers in-plane lattice constants. Such superstructures are important for the self-assembly of molecules, atoms or clusters of atoms and also for the intercalation of these structures at specific positions between the sp2 monolayer and the substrate. In this thesis, we performed a study, fundamental and applied, of sp2 monolayers of graphene and h-BN obtained on the surface of SiC(0001) and Rh(111), respectively. From a fundamental point of view, the Photoelectron Di_raction (XPD) technique was applied for the study of the atomic structure of graphene obtained by heating the surface of the SiC(0001) and for the interface layer between the SiC and graphene, named buffer layer (BL). The XPD results showed distinct peculiarities in the atomic structure of these monolayers, which would explain the difference in electronic structure between BL and graphene. From the applied point of view, it has shown the feasibility of graphene/BL/SiC(0001) nanotemplate to obtain Co clusters and subsequent study of their magnetic properties by X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD). The Co clusters were obtained on the graphene layer and the results suggest a possible clustercluster long-range interaction, that has influence on the magnetic properties of the particles. It was also investigated the intercalation of Co atoms between graphene, forming a quasi-periodic lattice of 2D-clusters. Moreover, graphene acts as a barrier to oxidation, preserving the metallic character of the clusters. The h-BN monolayer on the surface of Rh(111) was used for the implantation of Rb atoms. For the implantation, it was constructed an evaporator that allows the acceleration of Rb ions to an energy that enables the penetration through the h-BN monolayer. STM images show that the Rb atoms thermalize between the h-BN monolayer and the surface of the Rh(111) at specific positions of the superstructure, forming what is called a \\nanotent\". The formation of the nanotents and the vacancy defects generated by the collision of the ions is a form to functionalize the h-BN, with these structures being possible points for the anchoring of molecules, atoms or clusters of atoms / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências