Radar backscatter from a dense discrete random medium

A dense medium phase matrix developed based on the concept of random lattice perturbation is employed in the radiative transfer theory to calculate the coand cross-polarized backscatter from a layer of randomly distributed spherical scatterers. The position randomness properties are characterized by the variance and correlation function of scatterer positions within the medium. The dense medium phase matrix differs from the conventional one in two major aspects, i.e., there is an amplitude and a phase correction. These corrections account for the effects of close spacing and position correlation between scatterers in a dense discrete random medium. This study shows that phase coherency and close-spacing amplitude modifications are two separate corrections necessary for an electrically dense medium. Results indicate that there is a need to distinguish between spatially and electrically dense medium. The phase correction is found to have a greater impact on cross-polarized than like-polarized backscatter coefficients; the converse is true of the amplitude correction. Backscattering calculations from the theory are compared with measurements from controlled microwave experiments on random media consisting of closely packed spheres, and from field measurements of dry snowpack. Predictions from such a theory agree well with the measured data     

Partially harmonic forms and models of H-series

Let G   be a real reductive Lie group, let H=TA$H=TA$ be the identity component of a Cartan subgroup, and let h$\mathfrak{h}$ be the corresponding Cartan subalgebra. This leads to a parabolic subgroup of G whose identity component is MAN. The unitary G-representations induced by MAN are known as the H  -series. We study symplectic geometry of G×h$G\times \mathfrak{h}$ and apply geometric quantization to construct unitary G-representations by partially harmonic forms. They are direct integrals of the H-series, indexed by the image of the moment map. We also perform symplectic reduction and symplectic induction, and consider their analogues in representation theory via geometric quantization.     

A facile and green synthetic approach toward fabrication of starch-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles

A facile and green synthetic approach for fabrication of starch-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles was implemented at moderate temperature. This synthesis involved the use of iron salts, potato starch,sodium hydroxide and deionized water as iron precursors, stabilizer, reducing agent and solvent respectively. The nanoparticles(NPs) were characterized by UV-vis, PXRD, HR-TEM, FESEM, EDX, VSM and FT-IR spectroscopy. The ultrasonic assisted co-precipitation technique provides well formation of highly distributed starch/Fe_3O_4-NPs. Based on UV–vis analysis, the sample showed the characteristic of surface plasmon resonance in the presence of Fe_3O_4-NPs. The PXRD pattern depicted the characteristic of the cubic lattice structure of Fe_3O_4-NPs. HR-TEM analysis showed the good dispersion of NPs with a mean diameter and standard deviation of 10.68 4.207 nm. The d spacing measured from the lattice images were found to be around 0.30 nm and 0.52 nm attributed to the Fe3O4 and starch, respectively. FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of spherical starch/Fe_3O_4-NPs with the emission of elements of C, O and Fe by EDX analysis. The magnetic properties illustrated by VSM analysis indicated that the as synthesized sample has a saturation magnetization and coercivity of 5.30 emu/g and 22.898 G respectively.Additionally, the FTIR analysis confirmed the binding of starch with Fe_3O_4-NPs. This method was cost effective, facile and eco-friendly alternative for preparation of NPs.     

Joint channel assignment and routing in multiradio multichannel wireless mesh networks with directional antennas

The aggregate capacity of a wireless mesh network (WMN) is severely affected by interflow interference. In this paper, we propose a network architecture that incorporates directional antennas with multiple orthogonal channels to effectively enhance the performance of WMNs. First, a sectored connectivity graph is introduced to model multiradio multichannel WMNs with directional antennas. Next we formulate the topology design, directional interface assignment, channel allocation, and routing mathematically as a mixed integer linear programming problem. This problem is solved using an iterated local search algorithm to obtain optimized network resource allocation. Simulation results indicate that the proposed architecture can achieve higher packet delivery ratio while providing better network fairness. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A thermal analysis evaluation of the low temperature synthesis of BaBiO3

Thermal decomposition of metal-organic precursors for the mixed oxide BaBiO₃ was studied using TG and EGA. Precursors produced by polyesterification of bifunctional acids with ethylene glycol (Pechini process) decomposed about 100°C higher than those without the diol. BaCO₃ was identified by IR and XRD as a reaction intermediate. EGA proved that the amount of BaCO₃ was below 10% of the total barium, and that the barium exists mainly as a nitro-compound up to 650°C. Phase-pure BaBiO₃ with a moderately high surface area (1.4 m²/g) could be synthesised from a citrate precursor by the Pechini process at around 850°C.     

Solid-state extrusion of chain-extended polyethylene

Billets of chain-extended polyethylene were prepared from Alathon 7050 (M_w 59,000, M_n 19,000) in an Instron capillary rheometer by crystallization at a constant pressure of 460 MPa, at a series of teimperatures from 198 to 221°C corresponding to varying degrees of undercooling. This gives chain-extended morphologies with a range of crystallinites and lamellar thicknesses. The billets were then solid-state extruded at 100°C through a conical die with 20° entrance angle up to an extrusion draw ration 23.4. Thermal behavior was studied with differential scanning calorimetry. The orientation function measured by wide-angle x-ray diffraction showed higher orientation function measured by wide-angle x-ray diffraction showed higher orientation at equivalent draw ratio when the initial billets were crystallized at lower temperatures. Drawing efficiency, defined as the ratio of molecular draw ratio (from shrinkage) to extrusion draw ratio correspondingly increases, reaching a maximum of 0.71 in our solid-state extrusion. These studies show that highly chain-extended polyethylene, i.e., with few chain entanglements, draws poorly. Drawability was improved by increasing chain entanglements by lowering the crystallization temperature. Electron micrographs of fracture surface replicas of extrudates revealed the coexistence of undeformed, tilted, partially drawn lamellae and fibrillar structure consistent with the cahange of morphologies in Peterlin's model of plastic deformation.     

Higher Order Nonlinear Effect and Limitation of Soliton Propagation in Dispersive-Nonlinear Medium for Dispersion-Shifted Fiber

A computer simulation of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation is carried out to evaluate the impact of nonlinear susceptibility of a single mode fiber on the transmission of a soliton pulse. The third and fifth order nonlinear susceptibilities are considered in the simulation. The results show that the output soliton pulse shape strongly depends on the third order nonlinear susceptibility and gets distorted when the full width half maximum (FWHM) pulse width is of the order of 10ps or less.     

Graphene-Based Advanced Membrane Applications in Organic Solvent Nanofiltration

Owing to the increasing need to mitigate excessive organic solvent waste, the efficient separation and recovery of organic solvents have received major research attention in recent years. The membrane-based organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) process has demonstrated its feasibility in addressing this problem with low energy costs, compared to conventional separation techniques, such as adsorption, liquid–liquid extraction, and solvent evaporation. Recently, membranes made of 2D graphene-based materials have shown great promise because they attain high solvent flux and solute rejection using easy processing methods. Thus, this paper focuses on state-of-the-art studies of graphene-based membranes used in OSN processes, which include syntheses, characterizations, performance evaluations, membrane fouling, and simulation studies, in combination with the development of the “upper-bound” line to indicate the performance of graphene-based membranes. In this paper, critical challenges involved in the development of graphene-based membranes are also focused on and discussed to map out the future directions of these membranes in industrial OSN processes. In addition to OSN, this paper pertains to a broader audience in other separation processes, particularly in the fields of gas separation and water treatment.