Quantitative Investigations about the Surface Texture Characteristics of the Nickel-Carbon Composite Thin Films using Stereometric Analysis

The purpose of this study was to describe the 3-D nano-scaled surface texture of the Nickel–Carbon (Ni–C) nanocomposite thin films composed of Ni nanoparticles with different average sizes embedded in amorphous hydrogenated carbon using stereometric analysis. The 3-D nanoscaled surface texture was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and stereometric analysis. In a wider context, we also discuss our findings with regard to manufacture of the Nickel-Carbon composite thin films with desired surface characteristics

Some theoretical and practical aspects of educational portal design based on CMS System

In this paper the authors describe and review their own experience as well as the experience of other countries in the use of of CMS for the development of educational portals. In addition, the paper includes a preview of system side requirements for such CMS as Joomla!, Drupal, WordPress, PHP-Fusion, Web@all CMS, Mambo and eXtreme-Fusion. The authors propose a concept of an educational portal that meets the needs of students, academic teachers, lecturers and administrative staff of the university. A description of the layers and target groups of this educational portal is provided, too. Moreover, the article examines results of a student survey relating to their expectations concerning the faculty’s educational portal. The last section of the article provides advice for designers of CMS-based portals, based on the authors' many years of experience in the field and an analysis of the available examples.Uniwersytet Śląsk

Multifractal characterization of epitaxial silicon carbide on silicon

The purpose of this study was to investigate the topography of silicon carbide films at two steps of growth. The topography was measured by atomic force microscopy. The data were processed for extraction of information about surface condition and changes in topography during the films growth. Multifractal geometry was used to characterize three-dimensional micro- and nano-size features of the surface. X-ray measurements and Raman spectroscopy were performed for analysis of the films composition. Two steps of morphology evolution during the growth were analyzed by multifractal analysis. The results contribute to the fabrication of silicon carbide large area substrates for micro- and nanoelectronic applications

3_D surface stereometry of Ag/DLC nanocomposite prepared by RF-PECVD

In this study, a stereometric analysis of the three-dimensional (3-D) surfaces of the Ag/diamond-like carbon (DLC) nanocomposite films was done. The nanocomposite thin films were fabricated by Radio Frequency Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (RF-PECVD). The 3-D surface microtexture was studied by high-resolution Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) records combined with statistical analyses. More detailed information about surface statistical parameters and topographic features of analyzed samples were performed. The statistical parameters relating to the segmented motifs consistent with ISO 25178-2: 2012 have been generated using MountainsMap® Premium software. The analysis was performed by modeling Ag/DLC nanocomposite surface microtexture based on motif analysis (detection of essential characteristics in terms of surface dimensions, volume, curvature, shape) to be included in computer interactive simulation algorithms

Surface morphology of titanium nitride thin films synthesized by DC reactive magnetron sputtering

In this paper the influence of temperature on the 3-D surface morphology of titanium nitride (TiN) thin films synthesized by DC reactive magnetron sputtering has been analyzed. The 3-D morphology variation of TiN thin films grown on p-type Si (100) wafers was investigated at four different deposition temperatures (473 K, 573 K, 673 K, 773 K) in order to evaluate the relation among the 3-D micro-textured surfaces. The 3-D surface morphology of TiN thin films was characterized by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fractal analysis applied to the AFM data. The 3-D surface morphology revealed the fractal geometry of TiN thin films at nanometer scale. The global scale properties of 3-D surface geometry were quantitatively estimated using the fractal dimensions D, determined by the morphological envelopes method. The fractal dimension D increased with the substrate temperature variation from 2.36 (at 473 K) to 2.66 (at 673 K) and then decreased to 2.33 (at 773 K). The fractal analysis in correlation with the averaged power spectral density (surface) yielded better quantitative results of morphological changes in the TiN thin films caused by substrate temperature variations, which were more precise, detailed, coherent and reproducible. It can be inferred that fractal analysis can be easily applied for the investigation of morphology evolution of different film/substrate interface phases obtained using different thin-film technologies

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan coatings on the Ti15Mo biomedical alloy from a citric acid solution

Chitosan biocoatings were successfully deposited on the Ti15Mo alloy surface via cataphoretic deposition from a solution of 1 g dm−3 of chitosan in 4% (aq) citric acid. The influence of the cataphoretic deposition parameters on quality and morphology of the obtained coatings were investigated using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The functional groups' presence in chitosan chine were confirmed by ATR-FTIR methods. X-ray analysis revealed the amorphous structure of the chitosan coatings on the Ti15Mo alloy surface. The conducted studies also include assessing the abrasion resistance and adhesion to the substrate of the obtained chitosan coatings. The results show that utilizing the citric acid as a solvent results in the formation of pore free coatings. The yield of the electrophoretic deposition process was in the range of 2–10 mg of deposited chitosan per 1 cm2. The obtained coatings through the unique properties of chitosan are a promising biomaterial for application in medicine

Multifractal characteristics of titanium nitride thin films

The study presents a multi-scale microstructural characterization of three-dimensional (3-D) micro-textured surface of titanium nitride (TiN) thin films prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering in correlation with substrate temperature variation. Topographical characterization of the surfaces, obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis, was realized by an innovative multifractal method which may be applied for AFM data. The surface micromorphology demonstrates that the multifractal geometry of TiN thin films can be characterized at nanometer scale by the generalized dimensions Dq and the singularity spectrum f(α). Furthermore, to improve the 3-D surface characterization according with ISO 25178-2:2012, the most relevant 3-D surface roughness parameters were calculated. To quantify the 3-D nanostructure surface of TiN thin films a multifractal approach was developed and validated, which can be used for the characterization of topographical changes due to the substrate temperature variation

Analysis of normal human retinal vascular network architecture using multifractal geometry

AIM: To apply the multifractal analysis method as a quantitative approach to a comprehensive description of the microvascular network architecture of the normal human retina. METHODS: Fifty volunteers were enrolled in this study in the Ophthalmological Clinic of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between January 2012 and January 2014. A set of 100 segmented and skeletonised human retinal images, corresponding to normal states of the retina were studied. An automatic unsupervised method for retinal vessel segmentation was applied before multifractal analysis. The multifractal analysis of digital retinal images was made with computer algorithms, applying the standard box-counting method. Statistical analyses were performed using the GraphPad InStat software. RESULTS: The architecture of normal human retinal microvascular network was able to be described using the multifractal geometry. The average of generalized dimensions (Dq) for q=0, 1, 2, the width of the multifractal spectrum (Δα=αmax - αmin) and the spectrum arms’ heights difference (│Δf│) of the normal images were expressed as mean±standard deviation (SD): for segmented versions, D0=1.7014±0.0057; D1=1.6507±0.0058; D2=1.5772±0.0059; Δα=0.92441±0.0085; │Δf│= 0.1453±0.0051; for skeletonised versions, D0=1.6303±0.0051; D1=1.6012±0.0059; D2=1.5531± 0.0058; Δα=0.65032±0.0162; │Δf│= 0.0238±0.0161. The average of generalized dimensions (Dq) for q=0, 1, 2, the width of the multifractal spectrum (Δα) and the spectrum arms’ heights difference (│Δf│) of the segmented versions was slightly greater than the skeletonised versions. CONCLUSION: The multifractal analysis of fundus photographs may be used as a quantitative parameter for the evaluation of the complex three-dimensional structure of the retinal microvasculature as a potential marker for early detection of topological changes associated with retinal diseases

Evaluation of Topographical Co-Cr-Mo Alloy Surface Changes After Various Finishing Treatments

Svrha: Kvantificiran je utjecaj triju različitih postupaka završne obrade površine kobalt-krom-molibdenovom (Co-Cr-Mo) legurom s pomoću parametara stereometrijske analize. Materijal i metode: Izliveno je 18 uzoraka ekstra tvrde legure (Wironit®, BEGO, Bremen, Njemačka). Uzorci su podijeljeni u tri skupine (n = 6 uzoraka u svakoj), ovisno o primijenjenoj tehnici poliranja i to kako slijedi: A skupina – samo elektropolirani uzorci (EP); B skupina – nakon EP-a površina je dodatno mehanički polirana gumenim diskovima, pastom za poliranje i rotirajućom četkom (RP); C skupina – nakon EP-a, završno mehaničko poliranje obavljeno je gumenim diskovima, pastom za poliranje i rotirajućim kolutom od jelenje kože (RPDL). Svi uzorci analizirani su mikroskopom atomskih sila (AFM-om) u kontaktnom načinu rada, na zraku i pri sobnoj temperaturi. Rezultati: Procjena mikroteksture površine uzoraka učinjena s pomoću 3D parametara za procjenu hrapavosti. Najniži parametri površine nađeni su u RP skupini, a najviši u EP skupini. Zaključci: Opisani eksperimenti mogu koristiti proizvođačima da identificiraju najpovoljnije parametre i njihove raspone za postizanje optimalnih svojstava površine.Purpose: To quantify the influence of three different finishing treatments on the cobalt-chromiummolybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) alloy surface based on stereometric analysis parameters. Materials and methods: Eighteen specimens were casted from an extra-hard alloy (Wironit®, BEGO, Bremen, Germany). The samples were distributed into three groups (n = 6 samples per group) dependent on different polishing techniques applied, as follows: A group, only electropolished (EP) samples; B group, after EP, an additional mechanical polishing process was applied to the surface by rubber discs and a polishing paste (RP); C group, after EP, an additional mechanical polishing process was completed by rubber discs, polishing paste and finally by a rotating deer leather wheel (RPDL). Samples were imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a contact mode, in air, at room temperature. Results: The evaluation of the microtexture of the sample surface was made based on the 3-D roughness parameters. The lowest statistical surface roughness parameters were found in the RP samples, whereas the highest values were obtained from the EP samples. Conclusions: The experiments described can help manufacturers identify the most appropriate parameters and their ranges within which optimal surface characteristics can be achieved

Wykorzystanie LCMS Moodle jako systemu wspomagania nauczania na odległość

Książka „WYKORZYSTANIE LCMS MOODLE JAKO SYSTEMU WSPOMAGANIA NAUCZANIA NA ODLEGŁOŚĆ” (567 s.) Redakcja: Eugenia Smyrnova-Trybulska Sebastian Stach, Autorzy: Eugenia Smyrnova-Trybulska, Sebastian Stach, Adrian Burnus, Andrzej Szczurek) jest przeznaczona dla szerokiego grona czytelników o różnym przygotowaniu informatycznym: nauczycieli, wykładowców, przyszłych pedagogów, instruktorów, tutorów, doktorantów, badaczy, naukowców, metodyków i innych. Wszystkich zainteresowanych wdrażaniem innowacji, a w szczególności e-learningu w procesie dydaktycznym, jak również do własnego doskonalenia i w pracy naukowo-badawczej. Warsztat pracy nauczyciela ciągle się zmienia, wymaga aktualizacji i dostosowania do wymogów społeczeństwa opartego o wiedzę. Właśnie e-learning staje się technologią, formą, metodą najbardziej adekwatną i dostosowaną do wyzwań XXI wieku dzięki globalizacji, giętkości, modułowości, systemowości, zmiany roli nauczyciela, zmiany roli ucznia i innym ważnym cechom, co zostało odzwierciedlone w wielu dokumentach europejskich i krajowych, dotyczących edukacji i rozwoju społeczeństwa. Książka może być pomyślnie wykorzystana jako skrypt i pomoc dydaktyczna w prowadzeniu zajęć z informatyki, technologii informacyjnej, metod komputerowego wspomagania nauczania, teoretycznych i praktycznych aspektów nauczania na odległość, i wielu innych przedmiotów informatycznych oraz interdyscyplinarnych, związanych z implementacją narzędzi informatycznych w proces dydaktyczny i metodyką ich efektywnego wykorzystania. Skrypt z powodzeniem może być wykorzystany przez wszystkich zainteresowanych również do samodzielnej nauki zastosowania jednego z najbardziej popularnych systemów wspomagania nauczania-uczenia się na odległość: Moodle. Większość ćwiczeń i przykładów podanych w książce została opracowana na zasadzie Step-by-Step (Krok-po-Kroku), co powinno ułatwić „wzorowanie się” i wykonanie podobnych ćwiczeń przez czytelników, użytkowników systemu. Książka zawiera: cztery części, 21 rozdziałów i bibliografię. Każda część książki ma hierarchiczną, modułową strukturę, a tekst jest wzbogacony w liczne ilustracje (jest ich w książce ponad 800), co podnosi jej przejrzystość i zrozumiałość