On the theory of the ceramic densification process an of recrystallization in colloidal solutions

In a short survey the analogy between the theories on diffusion in solids and in solutions is shown. As a result, analogous theories are developed for the ceramic sintering process and the recrystallization in colloidal solutions. By a thermodynamic method a description is given of the available free energy, the diffusion flux and the driving force

Linearization of dynamic equations of flexible mechanisms - a finite element approach

A finite element based method is presented for evaluation of linearized dynamic equations of flexible mechanisms about a nominal trajectory. The coefficient matrices of the linearized equations of motion are evaluated as explicit analytical expressions involving mixed sets of generalized co-ordinates of the mechanism with rigid links and deformation mode co-ordinates that characterize deformation of flexible link elements. This task is accomplished by employing the general framework of the geometric transfer function formalism. The proposed method is general in nature and can be applied to spatial mechanisms and manipulators having revolute and prismatic joints. The method also permits investigation of the dynamics of flexible rotors and spinning shafts. Application of the theory is illustrated through a detailed model development of a four-bar mechanism and the analysis of bending vibrations of two single link mechanisms in which the link is considered as a rotating flexible arm or as an unsymmetrical rotating shaft, respectively. The algorithm for the calculation of the matrix coefficients is directly emenable to numerical computation and has been incorporated into the linearization module of the computer program SPACAR

Content-based Video Retrieval by Integrating Spatio-Temporal and Stochastic Recognition of Events

As amounts of publicly available video data grow the need to query this data efficiently becomes significant. Consequently content-based retrieval of video data turns out to be a challenging and important problem. We address the specific aspect of inferring semantics automatically from raw video data. In particular, we introduce a new video data model that supports the integrated use of two different approaches for mapping low-level features to high-level concepts. Firstly, the model is extended with a rule-based approach that supports spatio-temporal formalization of high-level concepts, and then with a stochastic approach. Furthermore, results on real tennis video data are presented, demonstrating the validity of both approaches, as well us advantages of their integrated us

The influence of foreign ions on the crystal lattice of barium titanate

From investigations of phase diagrams of ternary oxides the lattice sites of foreign ions and compensating vacancies are established. Large trivalent ions occupy barium sites and are completely compensated by titanium vacancies. Small pentavalent ions occupy titanium sites and are mainly compensated by titanium vacancies. During these investigations a new compound was found, Ba La4 Ti4 O15 isomorphous with Ba5 Nb4 O15

Vote buying revisited: implications for receipt-freeness

In this paper, we analyse the concept of vote buying based on examples that try to stretch the meaning of the concept. Which ex- amples can still be called vote buying, and which cannot? We propose several dimensions that are relevant to qualifying an action as vote buy- ing or not. As a means of protection against vote buying and coercion, the concept of receipt-freeness has been proposed. We argue that, in or- der to protect against a larger set of vote buying activities, the concept of receipt-freeness should be interpreted probabilistically. We propose a general definition of probabilistic receipt-freeness by adapting existing definitions of probabilistic anonymity to voting

Velocity dependence of joint friction in robotic manipulators with gear transmissions

This paper analyses the problem of modelling joint friction in robotic manipulators with gear transmissions at joint velocities varying from close to zero until their maximum appearing values. It is shown that commonly used friction models that incorporate Coulomb, (linear) viscous and Stribeck components are inadequate to describe the friction behaviour for the full velocity range. A new friction model is proposed that relies on insights from tribological models. The basic friction model of two lubricated discs in rolling-sliding contact is used to analyse viscous friction and friction caused by asperity contacts inside gears and roller bearings of robot joint transmissions. The analysis shows different viscous friction behaviour for gears and pre-stressed bearings. The sub-models describing the viscous friction and the friction due to the asperity contacts are combined into two friction models; one for gears and one for the pre-stressed roller bearings. In this way, a new friction model [1] is developed that accurately describes the friction behaviour in the sliding regime with a minimal and physically sound parametrisation. The model is linear in the parameters that are temperature dependent, which allows to estimate these parameters during the inertia parameter identification experiments. The model, in which the Coulomb friction effect has disappeared, has the same number of parameters as the commonly used Stribeck model [2]. The model parameters are identified experimentally on a St ¨aubli RX90 industrial robot

Supporting telecom business processes by means of workflow management and federated databases

This report addresses the issues related to the use of workflow management\ud systems and federated databases to support business processes that operate on\ud large and heterogeneous collections of autonomous information systems. We\ud discuss how they can enhance the overall IT-architecture. Starting from the\ud OSCA architecture, we develop an architecture that includes workflow\ud management systems and federated databases. In this architecture, the notion of\ud information systems as a monolithic entity disappears. Instead, business\ud processes are supported directly by workflows that combine presentation\ud blocks, function blocks, and data blocks. We address the specific issues of\ud transaction management and change management in such an architecture