Light field super resolution through controlled micro-shifts of light field sensor

Light field cameras enable new capabilities, such as post-capture refocusing and aperture control, through capturing directional and spatial distribution of light rays in space. Micro-lens array based light field camera design is often preferred due to its light transmission efficiency, cost-effectiveness and compactness. One drawback of the micro-lens array based light field cameras is low spatial resolution due to the fact that a single sensor is shared to capture both spatial and angular information. To address the low spatial resolution issue, we present a light field imaging approach, where multiple light fields are captured and fused to improve the spatial resolution. For each capture, the light field sensor is shifted by a pre-determined fraction of a micro-lens size using an XY translation stage for optimal performance

Spatial and Angular Resolution Enhancement of Light Fields Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Light field imaging extends the traditional photography by capturing both spatial and angular distribution of light, which enables new capabilities, including post-capture refocusing, post-capture aperture control, and depth estimation from a single shot. Micro-lens array (MLA) based light field cameras offer a cost-effective approach to capture light field. A major drawback of MLA based light field cameras is low spatial resolution, which is due to the fact that a single image sensor is shared to capture both spatial and angular information. In this paper, we present a learning based light field enhancement approach. Both spatial and angular resolution of captured light field is enhanced using convolutional neural networks. The proposed method is tested with real light field data captured with a Lytro light field camera, clearly demonstrating spatial and angular resolution improvement

Congener specific analysis of polychlorinated terphenyls

In order to identify and to quantify polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT) in environmental matrices, the chro- matographic behavior of coplanar and non-coplanar congeners was evaluated. A mixture of 16 single PCT congeners was used for method development. Four of these compounds were synthesized for the first time by SUZUKI-coupling reaction. These were p-PCT (2,200 ,6,600 -tetrachloro-, 20 ,3,300 ,4,400 ,50 ,-hexachloro-, 20 ,3,300 ,5,50 ,500 -hexachloro-) and m-PCT (2,200 ,3,300 ,5,500 -hexachloro-). They were characterized by NMR ( 1 H, 13 C) spectroscopy. By means of the new column chromatographic clean-up reported here, a good matrix removal and the separation of the coplanar PCT congeners from the non-coplanar ones was obtained. The recovery rates for all congeners were good for the PCT in different test matrices like fat, charcoal, and soil. The quality of the clean-up, the separation and the recovery rates were determined by GC/MS analysis. The method was applied for the first time to a real sample from a fire accident, where different PCT, obviously formed during the combustion process, were found. The conclusion is drawn that this method is suitable for the analysis of PCT in different environmental samples

MEMS Technologies Enabling the Future Wafer Test Systems

As the form factor of microelectronic systems and chips are continuing to shrink, the demand for increased connectivity and functionality shows an unabated rising trend. This is driving the evolution of technologies that requires 3D approaches for the integration of devices and system design. The 3D technology allows higher packing densities as well as shorter chip-to-chip interconnects. Micro-bump technology with through-silicon vias (TSVs) and advances in flip chip technology enable the development and manufacturing of devices at bump pitch of 14 μm or less. Silicon carrier or interposer enabling 3D chip stacking between the chip and the carrier used in packaging may also offer probing solutions by providing a bonding platform or intermediate board for a substrate or a component probe card assembly. Standard vertical probing technologies use microfabrication technologies for probes, templates and substrate-ceramic packages. Fine pitches, below 50 μm bump pitch, pose enormous challenges and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) processes are finding applications in producing springs, probes, carrier or substrate structures. In this chapter, we explore the application of MEMS-based technologies on manufacturing of advanced probe cards for probing dies with various new pad or bump structures

A Psychoanalytic Qualitative Study of Subjective Life Experiences of Women With Breast Cancer

This article exemplifies research on the subjective life experiences of women with breast cancer, designed from a psychoanalytic perspective. Such research aims to reveal the subjective intrapsychic processes of women suffering from breast cancer, which can provide researchers and health care professionals with useful insight. Using Biographic narrative interpretative method, the study reveals some common denominators in the subjective life experiences of women with breast cancer. The study revealed that the subjects consider the diagnosis of breast cancer as one of the four main events in their lives. Even though these events are very different from each other, in terms of type and severity, the results indicate a common process in the way these life events are experienced by the participants. These results are relevant for health care practitioners in structuring their psychosocial support programs so as to better accommodate their patients' psychological needs

Nachhaltige Praktika im Chemiestudium

Die Chemie ist wie keine andere Disziplin ein experimentelles Fach, in dem die jungen Schüler und Studenten mit Hilfe von Experimenten an die Grundlagen geführt werden, wobei die Entwicklung von “handwerklichem” Geschick im Umgang mit chemischen Experimenten einen großen Raum einnimmt. Viele der heute in der Ausbildung an gymnasialen Kollegstufen und an Hochschulen exemplarisch eingesetzten Praktikumversuche sind jedoch historischen Ursprungs. Damals war die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Umweltkontamination noch weitgehend unbekannt und die Versuche auf solche Gefahren nicht untersucht. In jüngerer Zeit spielen Aspekte der Umwelt- und Arbeitssicherheit bei der Ausbildung eine überragende Rolle, worauf auch der Gesetzgeber durch den Erlass der Gefahrstoffverordnung sowie der TRGS 451 (Umgang mit Gefahrstoffen an Hochschulen) Einfluss nimmt. Es gibt in der chemisch-präparativen Ausbildung eine Reihe von traditionellen Synthesen und Nachweisverfahren, die unter heutigen Gesichtspunkten im Hinblick auf gesundheitliche und Umweltgefahren wesentlich kritischer zu sehen sind als in der Vergangenheit. Solche Reaktionen spielen in der chemischen Technik eine außerordentlich wichtige Rolle und werden im industriellen Maßstab durchgeführt. Diese Reaktionstypen sind z.B. unter der Bezeichnung Chlorchemie in der Öffentlichkeit recht umstritten; sie sind aber ohne erhebliche wirtschaftliche Einbußen kaum zu ersetzen. Daher werden solche Reaktionstypen auch an Schulen und Hochschulen und der Laborantenausbildung in der Industrie als Ausbildungsversuche eingesetzt. Bei der Synthese von halogenierten Aromaten in chemischen Laboratorien zu Ausbildungszwecken besteht im Prinzip die Möglichkeit zur Bildung von Dioxinen und Furanen sowie anderen Schadstoffen mit hohem toxikologischen Potential. Dieser Aspekt wurde in der Vergangenheit jedoch praktisch kaum beachtet, da die umgesetzten Stoffmengen im Vergleich zu technisch bedeutsamen Synthesen um Größenordnungen kleiner sind. Es stellt sich jedoch ungeachtet dessen die Frage, bei welchen Synthesen im Laborexperiment die genannten Schadstoffe entstehen und wie dieses Problem unter Gewährleistung der Arbeitssicherheit für die Auszubildenden in unterschiedlichen Ausbildungsstufen (Schüler, Laboranten, Studenten im Grundstudium der Chemie sowie Nebenfachstudenten in chemischen Praktika) gelöst werden kann. Darüber hinaus sind Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit in dieser Stufe bisher kein Gegenstand der Ausbildung, da die Einsatzmengen der Edukte, Lösungs- und Betriebsmittel sowie die Entsorgung der Neben- und Abfallprodukte ein nur unbedeutendes Mengengerüst darstellen. Jedoch wären diese Gesichtspunkte in der Ausbildung zur Bewusstseinsentwicklung der angehenden Laboranten, Chemiker und Experimentatoren von erheblichem Interesse. Der Anlass zu detaillierten Untersuchungen, über die hier berichtet wird, war der Nachweis von halogenierten Dibenzo-p-dioxinen und Dibenzofuranen (PXDD/F mit X = Cl, Br) bei der häufig angewendeten Beilstein-Probe

Five Years of EXCEED – Excellence Center for Development Cooperation Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries

Water is among the 21st century’s key development issues. Almost one billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water, whilst around one third of mankind does not have suitable sanitary facilities or wastewater treatment. The Exceed SWM Project of Braunschweig University addresses the Millennium Development Goal MDG 7/C “Ensure Environmental Sustainability – Halve by 2015 the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation”. Exceed SWM aims to develop and to transfer competencies and knowledge on sustainable water management to future experts and decision-makers in the partner countries, enabling them to shape technological and economic-political change processes through population growth and climate change. Based on the world-wide network of 35 partner universities in 18 countries on four continents, this Excellence Centre focuses on capacity building in developing and emerging countries through training of and networking between experts. A university each in Mexico, Turkey, Burkina Faso, and Vietnam coordinate the activities within their Regional Networks, whilst Braunschweig University initiates and organizes the trans-regional measures. To achieve these goals, the existing study programs at partner universities related to sustainable water management at MSc and PhD levels are analyzed and upgraded; new courses initiated for further education of scientific and technical staff at universities, enterprises, and public authorities at the respective regions. Summer schools, regional and international workshops, and expert seminars are organized for capacity building and further education. An intense exchange of students, young scientists, and academic teachers in all directions south-north, north-south, and south-south accomplishes education for capacity building. The same topics are also subject of joint teaching and research activities at Exceed member universities and the International Exceed Guest Chair and International Guest Team established at the Braunschweig University. Climate Change is a global challenge that we have to cope with, through coordinated international efforts in education for capacity building, joint R&D, and responsible trans-national and transformation politics. With its Exceed Project, Braunschweig University aims to contribute to international activities and measures in terms of higher education and research for capacity building in developing countries: http://www.exceed.tu-braunschweig.d

Study of Solitons on submanifolds of Kenmotsu statistical manifolds

The differential geometry of Kenmotsu manifold is a valuable part of contact geometry with nice applications in other fields such as theoretical physics. Theoretical physicists have also been looking into the equation of Ricci soliton and Yamabe soliton in relation with Einstein manifolds, Quasi Einstein manifolds and string theory. In this research servey, we examine the Ricci solitons and Yamabe soliton on statistical counterpart of a Kenmotsu manifold, that is, Kenmotsu statistical manifold with some related examples. We investigate some statistical curvature properties of Kenmotsu statistical manifolds. Also, we study the almost $\eta$-Ricci solitons on submanifolds of Kenmotsu statistical manifold with concircular vector field. Furthermore, we have also discuss the behavior of almost quasi-Yamabe soliton on subamnifolds of Kenmotsu statistical manifolds endowed with concircular vector field and concurrent vector filed. Finally, we have furnish an example of $5$-dimensional Kenmotsu statistical manifolds admitting the $\eta$-Ricci soliton and almost quasi-Yamabe soliton as well.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1902.0929

Evaluating Immersive Teleoperation Interfaces: Coordinating Robot Radiation Monitoring Tasks in Nuclear Facilities

We present a virtual reality (VR) teleoperation interface for a ground-based robot, featuring dense 3D environment reconstruction and a low latency video stream, with which operators can immersively explore remote environments. At the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) facility, we applied the interface in a user study where trained robotics operators completed simulated nuclear monitoring and decommissioning style tasks to compare VR and traditional teleoperation interface designs. We found that operators in the VR condition took longer to complete the experiment, had reduced collisions, and rated the generated 3D map with higher importance when compared to non-VR operators. Additional physiological data suggested that VR operators had a lower objective cognitive workload during the experiment but also experienced increased physical demand. Overall the presented results show that VR interfaces may benefit work patterns in teleoperation tasks within the nuclear industry, but further work is needed to investigate how such interfaces can be integrated into real world decommissioning workflows

Adamantane-1-thio­amide

The title compound, C11H17NS, is an important inter­mediate for the synthesis of biologically active adamantlythia­zolo-oxadiazo­les. The adamantyl residue is disordered about a twofold rotation axis over two sites with site-occupation factors of 0.817 (3) and 0.183 (3). The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular N—H⋯S hydrogen-bonding inter­actions