The Hollow Cathode Gas Flow Sputtering (GFS) provides special plasma conditions and is of extensive interest as a more affordable alternative to the high vacuum sputtering techniques. In the case of the tubular cathode a circular outlet symmetry stipulates homogeneity issues for both metallic and reactive deposition regimes. Using the results of Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC), we propose an external coaxial attachment which is manufactured and examined in a nozzle and a diffuser positioning. The impact on the homogeneity of Ti and ${\mathrm{TiO}}_2$ films is examined using profilometry and spectral ellipsometry. Our results demonstrate that the use of the nozzle attachment significantly enhances film homogeneity from about 3 ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ to more than 12 ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$. It also secures better process control in terms of oxygen stoichiometry and film thickness. Some crucial general issues of the reactive GFS process are discussed.

Urban elevated-road exits concentrate deceleration, merging and surface-road control within a short transition, yet their emission responses are difficult to resolve from routine vehicle records. This study analyzed six dates of 1 Hz GPS and on-board diagnostics from one China VI diesel commercial vehicle operating in Nanjing. Sequence map matching linked the trajectories to a frozen OpenStreetMap network and identified 92 stable layer 1 → 0 exit occurrences. Leave-one-date-out telemetry models estimated the downstream OBD-derived NOx indicator expected from recorded vehicle, engine and aftertreatment states without using road variables. The trip-balanced post-minus-pre residual contrast was 0.084 log units (95% confidence interval, 0.020–0.151), whereas same-trip non-exit controls balanced on recorded operating changes showed a smaller contrast. The direction persisted across alternative models, map-matching settings, timing falsification, continuity thresholds, low-speed inclusion and an analysis restricted to recurring sites. Twenty sites were observed on multiple dates. These findings identify a recurrent, map-aligned OBD-derived NOx response signature within the observed operation and provide a practical basis for prioritizing targeted field measurements of emissions, traffic and road geometry at complex urban transitions.