scholarly journals Low-entropy expressions: the key to design-oriented analysis

Author(s):  
R.D. Middlebrook
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
S.D. Smith ◽  
R.J. Spontak ◽  
D.H. Melik ◽  
S.M. Buehler ◽  
K.M. Kerr ◽  
...  

When blended together, homopolymers A and B will normally macrophase-separate into relatively large (≫1 μm) A-rich and B-rich phases, between which exists poor interfacial adhesion, due to a low entropy of mixing. The size scale of phase separation in such a blend can be reduced, and the extent of interfacial A-B contact and entanglement enhanced, via addition of an emulsifying agent such as an AB diblock copolymer. Diblock copolymers consist of a long sequence of A monomers covalently bonded to a long sequence of B monomers. These materials are surface-active and decrease interfacial tension between immiscible phases much in the same way as do small-molecule surfactants. Previous studies have clearly demonstrated the utility of block copolymers in compatibilizing homopolymer blends and enhancing blend properties such as fracture toughness. It is now recognized that optimization of emulsified ternary blends relies upon design considerations such as sufficient block penetration into a macrophase (to avoid block slip) and prevention of a copolymer multilayer at the A-B interface (to avoid intralayer failure).


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2765
Author(s):  
Maria Cerreta ◽  
Gaia Daldanise ◽  
Eleonora Giovene di Girasole ◽  
Carmelo Maria Torre

According to the current European and Italian scenario related to urban regeneration, cultural and landscape heritage valorization is being enhanced by the activation of innovative processes and new emerging approaches. These involve the development of methodologies and tools that can address decision-making processes based on creative practices consistent with a concept named “low-entropy economy” in this paper. The low-entropy economy represents an economic approach based on the minimization of physical urban transformation and the enhancement of the existing heritage. In this perspective, the research aims to develop the Cultural Heritage Low Entropy Enhancement (CHLEE) approach by exploring how some frugal experiences have promoted cultural heritage enhancement and related complex values through a program of temporary uses and activities able to produce new values, where the human experience is essential. A crucial role is represented by the heterogeneity of creative practices that contribute to identifying and implementing innovative management and governance models. The analysis of creative practices, based upon the ex post evaluation of some Italian case studies across the PROMETHEE-GAIA multicriteria method, is able to show how these experiences build innovation ecosystems and improve the ex ante evaluation for new strategies and policies, underlining strengths, weaknesses, and milestones that shape creative experiences as drivers of urban competitiveness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 3694-3708
Author(s):  
Jingdian Ming ◽  
Yongbin Zhou ◽  
Wei Cheng ◽  
Huizhong Li ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais Azam ◽  
Jonathan Loo ◽  
Aboubaker Lasebae ◽  
Sardar Kashif Ashraf Khan ◽  
Waleed Ejaz
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dellong ◽  
Florent Le Courtois ◽  
Jean-Michel Boutonnier ◽  
Bazile G. Kinda

<p>Maps of underwater noise generated by shipping activity became a useful tool to support international regulations on marine environments. They are used to infer the risk of impact on biodiversity. Maps are performed by 1) computing the emitted noise levels from ships, 2) propagating the acoustic signal in the environment and 3) using localized measurements to validate the results. Because of mismatches in environmental data and a limited number of measurements, noise maps remain highly uncertain.</p><p>In this work, the uncertainty of the noise maps is investigated through the potential complexity of soundscape. The acoustic signal at each receiving cell is computed from the convolution of the source of the ships by the transmission losses of the environment. Complexity is mapped by computing Shannon's entropy of the transmission losses for each receiver. High entropy areas only reflect high shipping densities and favorable acoustic propagation properties of the local environment. Low entropy areas reflect: low shipping density and/or poor acoustic propagation properties. An area with high shipping densities and poor acoustic propagation properties will still have low entropy values.</p><p>Entropy maps allow classifying areas depending on their environmental features. Thus, scenarios of uncertainty are defined. Results highlight the necessity to consider the diversity of the environmental properties in support of the production of noise maps. The methodology could help in optimizing spatial and temporal resolution of map computations, as well as optimizing acoustic monitoring strategies.</p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 2150111
Author(s):  
Fei-Quan Tu ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
Meng Wan ◽  
Qi-Hong Huang

Entropy is a key concept widely used in physics and other fields. At the same time, the meaning of entropy with different names and the relationship among them are confusing. In this paper, we discuss the relationship among the Clausius entropy, Boltzmann entropy and information entropy and further show that the three kinds of entropy are equivalent to each other to some extent. Moreover, we point out that the evolution of the universe is a process of entropy increment and life originates from the original low entropy of the universe. Finally, we discuss the evolution of the entire universe composed of the cosmological horizon and the space surrounded by it and interpret the entropy as a measure of information of all microstates corresponding to a certain macrostate. Under this explanation, the thermodynamic entropy and information entropy are unified and we can conclude that the sum of the entropy of horizon and the entropy of matter in the space surrounded by the horizon does not decrease with time if the second law of thermodynamics holds for the entire universe.


Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 685
Author(s):  
Raylin Tso

With the developments of mobile communications, M-commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, most M-commerce schemes ignore user anonymity during online transactions. As a result, user transactions may easily be traced by shops, banks or by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). To deal with this problem, we introduce a new anonymous mobile payment scheme in this paper. Our new scheme has the following features: (1) Password-based authentication: authentication of users is done by low-entropy password; (2) Convenience: the new scheme is designed based on near field communication (NFC)-enabled devices and is compatible with EuroPay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV-compatible); (3) Efficiency: users do not need to have their own public/private key pairs and confidentiality is achieved via symmetric-key cryptography; (4) Anonymity: users use virtual accounts in the online shopping processes, thereby preventing attackers from obtaining user information even if the transaction is eavesdropped; (5) Untraceablity: no one (even the bank, Trusted Service Manager (TSM), or the shop) can trace a transaction and link the real identity with the buyer of a transaction; (6) Confidentiality and authenticity: all the transaction is either encrypted or signed by the sender so our new scheme can provide confidentiality and authenticity. We also present the performance and the security comparison of our scheme with other schemes. The results show that our scheme is applicable and has the most remarkable features among the existing schemes.


Author(s):  
Aslan Tatarkanov ◽  
Islam Alexandrov ◽  
Rasul Glashev

This paper proposes an algorithm for synthesizing a neural network (NN) structure to analyze complex structured, low entropy, ocular fundus images, characterized by iterative tuning of the adaptive model’s solver modules. This algorithm will assist in synthesizing models of NNs that meet the predetermined characteristics of the classification quality. The relevance of automating the process of ocular diagnostics of fundus pathologies is due to the need to develop domestic medical decision-making systems. Because of using the developed algorithm, the NN structure is synthesized, which will include two solver modules, and is intended to classify the dual-alternative information. Automated hybrid NN structures for intelligent segmentation of complex structured, low entropy, retinal images should provide increased efficiency of ocular diagnostics of fundus pathologies, reduce the burden on specialists, and decrease the negative impact of the human factor in diagnosis.


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