Detection and Removal of Long Scratch Lines in Aged Films

[[abstract]]Historical films usually have defects. We study the type of defects, and propose a series of solutions to detect defects before they are repaired by our inpainting algorithms. This paper focuses on a difficult issue to locate long vertical line defects in aged films. A progressive detection algorithm is proposed. We are able to detect more than 86% (recall rate) of effective line defects. These line defects are then removed step by step. The experiments use real historical video collected from national museum and public channel, instead of using computer generated noise. The results are visually pleasant based on our subjective evaluation by volunteers[[conferencetype]]國際[[conferencedate]]20060709~20060712[[iscallforpapers]]Y[[conferencelocation]]Toronto, Ont., Canad

Photo defect detection for image inpainting

[[abstract]]Image inpainting (or image completion) techniques use textural or structural information to repair or fill damaged portion of a picture. However, most techniques request a human to identify the portion to be inpainted. We developed a new mechanism which can automatically detect defect portions in a photo, including damages by color ink spray and scratch drawing. The mechanism is based on several filters and structural information of damages. Old photos from the author's family are used for testing. Preliminary results show that most damages can be automatically detected without human involvement. The mechanism is integrated with our inpainting algorithms to complete a fully automatic photo defects repairing system.[[conferencetype]]國際[[conferencedate]]20051212~20051214[[conferencelocation]]Irvine, CA, US

Video inpainting for non-repetitive motion

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Tribo-Mechanical Investigation of the Functional Components used in Flexible Energy Harvesting Devices

During the previous decade, the development of energy harvesting devices based on piezoelectric materials has garnered great interest. The ability to capture ambient mechanical energy and convert it to useable electricity is a potential solution to the ever-growing energy crisis. One of the most attractive functional materials used in these devices is zinc oxide (ZnO). This material\u27s relative low cost and ease of large-area processing has spurred numerous device designs based around it. The ability to grow ZnO nanostructures of various geometries with low-temperature chemical methods makes this material even more attractive for flexible devices. Although numerous device architectures have been developed, the long-term mechanical reliability has not been addressed.;This work focuses on the fabrication and mechanical failure analysis of the flexible components typically used in piezoelectric energy harvesting devices. A three-phase iterative design process was used to fabricate prototypical piezoelectric nanogenerators, based on ZnO nanowires. An output of several millivolts was achieved under normal contact and microtensile loading, but device failure occurred after only a few loading cycles, in all cases. Ex situ failure analysis confirmed the primary sources of failure, which became the focus of further, component-level studies. Failure was primarily seen in the flexible electrodes of the nanogenerating devices, but was also observed in the functional piezoelectric layer itself.;Flexible electrodes comprised of polyester substrates with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coatings were extensively investigated under various loading scenarios to mimic tribo-mechanical stresses applied during fabrication and use in flexible contact-based devices. The durability of these films was explored using microtensile testing, spherical nanoindentation, controlled mechanical buckling, stress corrosion cracking, and shear-contact reciprocating wear. The electro-mechanical performance and reliability of functional ZnO films and nanostructures were also studied. ZnO was deposited on rigid and flexible substrates for investigations including controlled buckling, and contact-based rolling/sliding scenarios. Numerous in situ and ex situ analytical techniques were used to characterize component-level failure mechanisms, including two-probe electrical resistance, optical microscopy, SEM, AFM, and stylus profilometry.;Experimental results show that there is a strong relation between crack onset strain values, during microtensile and controlled bucking loading, and coating thickness. Relatively high crack onset values were observed for both thinner coatings and those patterned using photolithography and wet chemical etching techniques. Tribological experiments show that although piezoelectric ZnO films produce a measurable electrical output during combined rolling/sliding contact, cohesive wear of the oxide and adhesive wear between oxide and substrate is present and detrimental to sustained film functionality

The conservation of polymeric materials in museum collections using advanced surface science and surface analysis techniques

This thesis describes the research work performed to determine the effect of conservation cleaning treatments on plastics that might be encountered in the museum environment. As part of this work, surface analysis techniques were used to examine the changes occurring to the surfaces of two plastics, polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate), following the application of seven different cleaning treatments. Substrates were analysed using optical microscopy, white light interferometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in conjunction with principal component analysis of the data. The use of sophisticated analysis techniques enabled the characterisation of surface changes at the sub-micron scale. Experimental data obtained for virgin sheet polystyrene substrates revealed surface damage due to cleaning in the form of scratching, attributed in part to the mechanical action of the cloth over the substrate. Residues from surfactants were also detected and were still present after repeated rinsing. The addition of an artificial carbonaceous soil to the surface was found to result in the appearance of scratches on PMMA and a change in the topography of scratches formed on polystyrene due to abrasion from the soil. Accelerated ageing of the substrates revealed changes to the plastics’ bulk properties and surface chemistry, as well as the appearance of formations on the polystyrene surface. Further indications of damage caused by cleaning also became apparent with ageing. The cleaning behaviour of aged polystyrene substrates was found to be notably different to that of the unaged substrates. Finally, the initial physical and chemical condition of a real-world object was characterised and its cleaning behaviour evaluated, enabling comparison with the virgin polystyrene substrate. The findings from this work provide valuable information regarding the microscopic changes that can occur to plastic substrates as a result of cleaning and the implications for their future stability.Open Acces

Characterization of osseointegrative phosphatidylserine and cholesterol orthopaedic implant coatings

2013 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Total joint arthroplasties/replacements are one of the most successful surgeries available today for improving patients’ quality of life. By 2030 in the US, demand for primary total hip and knee arthroplasties are expected to grow by 174% and 673% respectively to a combined total of over 4 million procedures performed annually, driven largely by an ageing population and an increased occurrence of obesity. Current patient options for load-bearing bone integrating implants have significant shortcomings. Nearly a third of patients require a revision surgery before the implant is 15 years old, and those who have revision surgeries are at an increased risk of requiring additional reoperations. A recent implant technology that has shown to be effective at improving bone to implant integration is the use of phosphatidylserine (DOPS) coatings. These coatings are challenging to analyze and measure due to their highly dynamic, soft, rough, thick, and optically diffractive properties. Previous work had difficulty investigating pertinent parameters for these coating’s development due in large part to a lack of available analytical techniques and a dearth of understanding of the micro- and nano-structural configuration of the coatings. This work addresses the lack of techniques available for use with DOPS coatings through the development of original methods of measurement, including the use of scanning white light interferometry and nanoindentation. These techniques were then applied for the characterization of DOPS coatings and the study of effects from several factors: 1. the influence of adding calcium and cholesterol to the coatings, 2. the effect of composition and roughness on aqueous contact angles, and 3. the impact of ageing and storage environment on the coatings. This project lays a foundation for the continued development and improvement of DOPS coatings, which have the promise of significantly improving current patient options for bone integrating implants. Using these newly developed and highly repeatable quantitative analysis methods, this study sheds light on the microstructural configuration of the DOPS coatings and elucidates previously unexplained phenomena of the coatings. Cholesterol was found to supersaturate in the coatings at high concentration and phase separate into an anhydrous crystalline form, while lower concentrations were found to significantly harden the coatings. Morphological and microstructural changes were detected in the coatings over the course of as little as two weeks that were dependent on the storage environment. The results and understanding gained pave the path for focused future research effort. Additionally, the methods and techniques developed for the analysis of DOPS coatings have a broader application for the measurement and analysis of other problematic biological materials and surfaces

Fabrication of Smart Intercalated Polymer - SMA Nanocomposite

Mimicking nature gives rise to many important facets of biomaterials. This study is inspired by nature and reports on the fabrication of an intercalated polymer-NiTi nanocomposite that mimics the structural order of urethral tissue performing micturition. PTFE is chosen due to its hydrophobicity, low surface energy, and thermal and chemical stability. NiTi has been selected as a prime candidate for this research due to its excellent mechanical stability, corrosion resistance, energy absorbance, shape memory and biocompatibility. Nanoscale engineering of intercalated nanocomposites is done by PVD sputtering PTFE and NiTi. FTIR spectroscopy confirms that PTFE reforms as polymer chains after sputtering. Suitable PVD sputtering parameters were selected by investigating their influence on deposition rates, microstructure and properties of PTFE and NiTi thin films. PTFE forms stable nanocomposite coatings with NiTi and displays favourable surface interactions, known as ‘intercalation’. Intercalated PTFE-NiTi films were fabricated as layered and co-sputtered thin films. Co-sputtered nanocomposites contained nearly one-third vacant sites within its internal microstructure because of intercalation while intercalation introduced minute pits in fibrous NiTi columns of layered nanocomposites. These pits allow PTFE to extend their chains and crosslinks, resulting in microstructural and functional changes in the thin films. Intercalated PTFE-NiTi nanocomposites offer a close match to the natural tissue in terms of responding to the fluid contact (wetting angle modifications), and allow the soft and hard matter to incorporate in one framework without any chemical reactions (intercalation). An intercalated microstructure in co-sputtered and layered nanocomposites was verified by EDS-SEM and EDS-TEM techniques. The functional responses were witnessed by changes in water contact angle (WCA) and coefficient of friction (CoF) values measured on the film surface. The WCA (99°) and CoF (0.1 – 0.2) of the intercalated nanocomposite (sample PNT12) were different to the NiTi (top layer). WCA and CoF indicate the internal microstructural interactions because of intercalation.Although the pseudoelastic behaviour of NiTi can provide additional fluid response but the difficulty is an absence of crystallinity in as-deposited NiTi, and the heat treatment that melts PTFE. However, DSC and XRD techniques were employed to find the optimum NiTi composition and transition temperatures for phase transformation related to pseudoelasticity. This study provides the basis to incorporate the shape memory (pseudoelasticity or thermal shape memory effect (shape memory effect)) features of NiTi into the intercalated nanocomposite in future. The intercalated PTFE-NiTi nanocomposite reveals a fascinating research precinct, having the response generating characteristics similar to that of natural tissue