Beihang University

About: Beihang University is a education organization based out in Beijing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Computer science & Control theory. The organization has 67002 authors who have published 73507 publications receiving 975691 citations. The organization is also known as: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Gabor Convolutional Networks

Abstract: In steerable filters, a filter of arbitrary orientation can be generated by a linear combination of a set of “basis filters.” Steerable properties dominate the design of the traditional filters, e.g., Gabor filters and endow features the capability of handling spatial transformations. However, such properties have not yet been well explored in the deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs). In this paper, we develop a new deep model, namely, Gabor convolutional networks (GCNs or Gabor CNNs), with Gabor filters incorporated into DCNNs such that the robustness of learned features against the orientation and scale changes can be reinforced. By manipulating the basic element of DCNNs, i.e., the convolution operator, based on Gabor filters, GCNs can be easily implemented and are readily compatible with any popular deep learning architecture. We carry out extensive experiments to demonstrate the promising performance of our GCNs framework, and the results show its superiority in recognizing objects, especially when the scale and rotation changes take place frequently. Moreover, the proposed GCNs have much fewer network parameters to be learned and can effectively reduce the training complexity of the network, leading to a more compact deep learning model while still maintaining a high feature representation capacity. The source code can be found at https://github.com/bczhangbczhang .

Insurance Development and Economic Growth

Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between insurance development and economic growth by employing GMM models on a dynamic panel data set of 77 economies for the period 1994–2005. Insurance density is used to measure the development of insurance. Controlled by a simple conditioning information set and a policy information set, we can draw a conclusion that insurance development is positively correlated with economic growth. The sample is then divided into developed and developing economies. For the developing economies, the overall insurance development, life insurance and non-life insurance development play a much more important role than they do for the developed economies.

Learning from Nature: Constructing Integrated Graphene-Based Artificial Nacre

Abstract: Natural nacre supplies a number of properties that can be used in designing high-performance bioinspired materials. Likewise, due to the extraordinary properties of graphene, a series of bioinspired graphene-based materials have recently been demonstrated. Compared to other approaches for constructing graphene-based materials, bioinspired concepts result in high-loading graphene, and the resultant high-performance graphene-based artificial nacres demonstrate isotropic mechanical and electrical properties. In this Perspective, we describe how to construct integrated graphene-based artificial nacre through the synergistic relationship between interface interactions and building blocks. These integrated graphene-based artificial nacres show promising applications in many fields, such as aerospace, flexible supercapacitor electrodes, artificial muscle, and tissue engineering.

Fish Gill Inspired Crossflow for Efficient and Continuous Collection of Spilled Oil

Abstract: Developing an effective system to clean up large-scale oil spills is of great significance due to their contribution to severe environmental pollution and destruction. Superwetting membranes have been widely studied for oil/water separation. The separation, however, adopts a gravity-driven approach that is inefficient and discontinuous due to quick fouling of the membrane by oil. Herein, inspired by the crossflow filtration behavior in fish gills, we propose a crossflow approach via a hydrophilic, tilted gradient membrane for spilled oil collection. In crossflow collection, as the oil/water flows parallel to the hydrophilic membrane surface, water is gradually filtered through the pores, while oil is repelled, transported, and finally collected for storage. Owing to the selective gating behavior of the water-sealed gradient membrane, the large pores at the bottom with high water flux favor fast water filtration, while the small pores at the top with strong oil repellency allow easy oil transportation. In addition, the gradient membrane exhibits excellent antifouling properties due to the protection of the water layer. Therefore, this bioinspired crossflow approach enables highly efficient and continuous spilled oil collection, which is very promising for the cleanup of large-scale oil spills.