We report the development of a semi-VLBI observation system operating at 21 cm and present the measurement of visibility function toward the sun using this system. The system consists of two 2.3 meter antennas with a maximum separation of 35 meter, a conventional high speed data acquisition system, and a set of programs for software correlation. Since two local oscillators of receiver modules are independent, data had to be fringe-fitted to yield the visibility amplitude. It is found that the visibility amplitude decreases and then bounces back as baseline increases. We confirm that solar disk with brighter limb best explains the measured visibility amplitude.

We present the results of new multi-color CCD photometry for the contact binary XZ Leo, together with reasonable explanations for the period and light variations. Six new times of minimum light have been determined. A period study with all available timings confirms Qian's (2001) finding that the O-C residuals have varied secularly according to dP/dt = +8.20×10-8 d yr-l. This trend could be interpreted as a conservative mass transfer from the less massive cool secondary to the more massive hot primary in the system with a mass flow rate of about 5.37×10-8 M⊙ yr-l. By simultaneous analysis of our light curves and the previously published radial-velocity data, a consistent set of light and velocity parameters for XZ Leo is obtained. The small differences between the observed and theoretical light curves are modelled by a blue third light and by a hot spot near the neck of the primary component. Our period study does not support the tertiary light but the hot region which may be formed by gas streams from the cool secondary. The solution indicates that XZ Leo is a deep contact binary with the values of q=0.343, i=78°.8, Δ (T1-T2)=126 K, and f=33.6 %, differing much from those of Niarchos et al. (1994). Absolute parameters of XZ Leo are determined as follows: M1=1.84 M⊙, M2=0.63 M⊙, R1=1.75 R⊙, R2=1.10 R⊙, L1=7.19 L⊙, and L2=2.66 L⊙.

Recently, membrane can be prepared by two methods, phase inversion and electrospinning techniques. Phase inversion technique is a conventional but commercially preparation membrane. The most versatile of preparation in this technique is immersion of the cast film into nonsolvent bath, causing dense top layer with a finger-like pattern in the sub layer membrane. The membrane pore size getting from phase inversion is in the range of micro or submicrometer. As a result, it can be used as microfiltration and ultrafiltration applications. A new technique, electrospinning, is introduced for membrane preparation. Nonwoven nanofibrous mat or nanofibrous membrane is obtained. In this technique, electrostatic charge is introduced to the solution jet, causing a thin fiber with high surface area; hence it can be used in the applications where high surface area-to-volume or length-to-diameter ratios are required. Moreover, the pore size can be controlled by controlling the time of electrospinning. Hence, it can be used as a filter for filtering microparticles as well as nanoparticles.

The need for accurate yield prediction is increasing for estimating productivity and production costs to secure high revenues in the semiconductor industry. Corresponding to this end, we introduce new spatial modeling approaches for spatially clustered defects on an integrated circuit (IC) wafer map. We use spatial location of an IC chip on the wafer as a covariate on corresponding defects count listed in a wafer map. Analysis results indicate that yield prediction can be greatly improved by capturing spatial features of defects. Tyagi and Bayoumi's (1994) wafer map data are used to illustrate the procedure.