The term photonic crystals appears because of the analogy between electron waves in crystals and the light waves in artificial periodic dielectric structures. During the recent years the investigation of one-, two-and three-dimensional periodic structures has attracted a widespread attention of the world optics community because of great potentiality of such structures in advanced applied optical fields. The interest in periodic structures has been stimulated by the fast development of semiconductor technology that now allows the fabrication of artificial structures, whose period is comparable with the wavelength of light in the visible and infrared ranges.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6354/16969/00781867.pdf

Photonic crystals

In the real world, a realistic setting for computer vision or multimedia recognition problems is that we have some classes containing lots of training data and many classes contain a small amount of training data. Therefore, how to use frequent classes to help learning rare classes for which it is harder to collect the training data is an open question. Learning with Shared Information is an emerging topic in machine learning, computer vision and multimedia analysis. There are different level of components that can be shared during concept modeling and machine learning stages, such as sharing generic object parts, sharing attributes, sharing transformations, sharing regularization parameters and sharing training examples, etc. Regarding the specific methods, multi-task learning, transfer learning and deep learning can be seen as using different strategies to share information. These learning with shared information methods are very effective in solving real-world large-scale problems. This special issue aims at gathering the recent advances in learning with shared information methods and their applications in computer vision and multimedia analysis. Both state-of-the-art works, as well as literature reviews, are welcome for submission. Papers addressing interesting real-world computer vision and multimedia applications are especially encouraged. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:  • Multi-task learning or transfer learning for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Deep learning for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Multi-modal approach for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Different sharing strategies, e.g., sharing generic object parts, sharing attributes, sharing transformations, sharing regularization parameters and sharing training examples, • Real-world computer vision and multimedia applications based on learning with shared information, e.g., event detection, object recognition, object detection, action recognition, human head pose estimation, object tracking, location-based services, semantic indexing. • New datasets and metrics to evaluate the benefit of the proposed sharing ability for the specific computer vision or multimedia problem. • Survey papers regarding the topic of learning with shared information.  Authors who are unsure whether their planned submission is in scope may contact the guest editors prior to the submission deadline with an abstract, in order to receive feedback.

IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence

Advances in soft robotics, materials science, and stretchable electronics have enabled rapid progress in soft grippers. Here, a critical overview of soft robotic grippers is presented, covering different material sets, physical principles, and device architectures. Soft gripping can be categorized into three technologies, enabling grasping by: a) actuation, b) controlled stiffness, and c) controlled adhesion. A comprehensive review of each type is presented. Compared to rigid grippers, end-effectors fabricated from flexible and soft components can often grasp or manipulate a larger variety of objects. Such grippers are an example of morphological computation, where control complexity is greatly reduced by material softness and mechanical compliance. Advanced materials and soft components, in particular silicone elastomers, shape memory materials, and active polymers and gels, are increasingly investigated for the design of lighter, simpler, and more universal grippers, using the inherent functionality of the materials. Embedding stretchable distributed sensors in or on soft grippers greatly enhances the ways in which the grippers interact with objects. Challenges for soft grippers include miniaturization, robustness, speed, integration of sensing, and control. Improved materials, processing methods, and sensing play an important role in future research.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/adma.201707035

Soft Robotic Grippers.

Finite element methods for Maxwell's equations.

Driven by functionality and purity demand for applications of inorganic nanoparticle colloids in optics, biology, and energy, their surface chemistry has become a topic of intensive research interest. Consequently, ligand-free colloids are ideal reference materials for evaluating the effects of surface adsorbates from the initial state for application-oriented nanointegration purposes. After two decades of development, laser synthesis and processing of colloids (LSPC) has emerged as a convenient and scalable technique for the synthesis of ligand-free nanomaterials in sealed environments. In addition to the high-purity surface of LSPC-generated nanoparticles, other strengths of LSPC include its high throughput, convenience for preparing alloys or series of doped nanomaterials, and its continuous operation mode, suitable for downstream processing. Unscreened surface charge of LSPC-synthesized colloids is the key to achieving colloidal stability and high affinity to biomolecules as well as support materials,...

Laser Synthesis and Processing of Colloids: Fundamentals and Applications

We introduce a novel EM solver for the accurate analysis of complex problems in the areas of MMIC and optical integrated circuits. The basic idea is to construct a unique tool which involves two efficient 3D full-wave methods, GTRD (generalized transverse resonance diffraction) and TLMIE (transmission line matrix integral equation), acting in the frequency and time domains, respectively. This tool is integrated in EM3DS, an existing tool based on the GTRD method, and is equipped with a user-friendly graphic interface and pre/post-processing instruments. The accuracy of the solver is demonstrated by modeling complex structures like MEMS, RF-package and photonic band gap.

Development of a novel full-wave 3D-solver for the analysis of MMIC and optical integrated circuits

The paper provides an overview of the approach used for the result validation of the Smart District 4.0 (SD 4.0) project. The experimental phase of this project considered six applications based on Artificial Intelligence techniques. In particular, the project addressed some typical use cases, such as predictive maintenance in the mechatronics sector, traceability of the agro-food chain, management of suppliers in textile sector, technical-commercial virtual assistant for the business of automated warehouses, continuous monitoring of diabetic drivers in public transport, Decision Support System (DSS) for the automation in fertigation. The validation approach considers four key evaluation elements, such as (i) prototype readiness, (ii) probability to use the prototype, (iii) business impact and (iv) knowledge gain. The paper then discusses the macro functionalities of each prototype development for the six case studies, providing a metric based on a four-value scale radar chart. 

Smart District 4.0 Project: Validation of Results and Exploitation Perspectives

We present an accurate theoretical approach in view to design discontinuous optical waveguides at high frequencies. The model is based on the Floquet's theory and on the variational equivalent circuit. The distributed circuit model is developed through the use of the microwave network theory and the optical theory of the step discontinuities. This accurate approach considers dielectric periodic structures with high dielectric contrast and the transmission line model applied to guided modes of a discontinuous slab waveguide. The method is applicable to microwave and optical planar waveguides.

Floquet's design and circuit modelling of discontinuous planar waveguides at high frequencies

Different aspects concerning the use of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) film, as coating for biomedical prostheses, is discussed An overview is done on diamond implementation in prostheses, on the NCD mechanical properties and on the technological aspects concerning the NCD growth process ie Microwave Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor deposition Then, the attention is focused on a possible improvement of NCD growth on titanium (Ti) substrate Further, a theoretical study by finite element method is discussed in order to model the adhesion properties of a NCD layer on Ti and Ti/Titanium Carbide (TiC) substrates The goal of the proposed work is to provide a study about the use of thin NCD coating on Ti based prostheses The function of the NCD coating on Ti material is to improve the implanted prosthesis with a long duration time, thus decreasing the total costs and the invasive surgery treatments

/pdf/biomedical-prostheses-coated-by-tailored-mwpecvd-1wwm68jrjr.pdf

Biomedical prostheses coated by tailored MWPECVD nanocrystalline diamond films

Innovative conductive nanocomposite materials (NCM) could represent an important evolution for sensors and electronics applications. The design and processing of conductive elements as electrodes directly in a polymeric bulk material can be considered as an interesting improvement. By this way, the use of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) instrument with its accurate and precise motorized table and its implemented laser can be used for designing conductive elements in polymeric materials. In that case, 805 nm infrared (IR) laser light from the AFM instrument inducing surface texturing on Chitosan/Au Precursor (C/AuP) substrate is reported. Surface patterns consisting of designed structures were produced by laser texturing. By fine-tuning key parameters as the programmed movement of the motorized table supporting the substrate in accordance to the laser movement as well as the working distance, Au nanoparticles (AuNP) were locally generated. Micro patterns have been generated on the nanocomposite C/AuP surface. By the use of NCM able to generate in-situ nanoparticles (NP) under light stimulation, micro structures can be generated on the NCM surfaces, preserving their flexibility and easy processability. Control of conductive properties is desirable in a wide range of domains as medicine, health care and industry in particular, especially, if the material properties can be modified by a simple technique.

Alessandro Massaro

Papers

Development of a novel full-wave 3D-solver for the analysis of MMIC and optical integrated circuits

Smart District 4.0 Project: Validation of Results and Exploitation Perspectives

Floquet's design and circuit modelling of discontinuous planar waveguides at high frequencies

Biomedical prostheses coated by tailored MWPECVD nanocrystalline diamond films

AFM Laser Texturing on Chitosan/Au Precursor nanocomposite Materials for Lithography Technique