Cooperative network solution and implementation for emergency applications with enhanced position estimation capability

This paper proposes a cooperative network topology for emergency applications which comprises of incident scene networks (ISN) and external area networks. Both base stations and rescuers in ISN are modeled as nodes with the capabilities of software defined radio and signal processing. A worldwide interoperability for microwave access-based emergency protocol is proposed with which rescuers can estimate their geo-locations via time difference of arrival based on more than four known base stations coordinates. A comparative study of state-of-the-art position estimation methods have been carried out for the proposed cooperative network topology to select the most robust method. Hardware results for the most robust position estimation method without/with multipath mitigation have been implemented and presented to estimate the location of the rescuer.     

铈对Ti-V-Cr-Fe储氢合金显微组织的影响

使用V-Fe合金为原料制备了Ti24.93V31.17Cr37.40Fe6.50Cex固溶体储氢合金, 采用EPMA和XRD对合金显微组织和相结构进行了分析. 结果表明, 不含Ce的Ti24.93V31.17Cr37.40Fe6.50合金由BCC主相和分布于晶界的Ti9.7Fe3.3O3和TiO0.325相组成. 当Ce添加于合金后, 随着合金中Ce含量的增加, Ti9.7Fe3.3O3和TiO0.325相含量明显减少. Ce的添加抑制了富Ti相的析出, 促进了合金元素尤其是Ti的均匀分布. 此外, 随Ce含量增加, 合金BCC主相平均原子半径和晶格常数随之增大, 有利于增大合金的储氢容量.     

Growth,structure and thermal properties of CuAlxGa1‐xSe2 alloys

Ingots of the CuAl_xGa_1‐xSe₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloys system were prepared by direct fusion of the stoichiometric mixture of the elements. The analysis of X‐ray Powder Diffraction data showed the presence of one single phase with chalcopyrite tetragonal structure at room temperature for all the studied compositions. The lattice parameters, a and c, and the bond lengths were calculated. The phase transition temperatures were obtained by the onset method from Differential Thermal Analysis measurements performed on samples sealed in evacuated quartz ampoules. Fusion or transition enthalpies were determined from the area of the corresponding DTA peak. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On zero locations of predictor polynomials

Predictor polynomials are often used in linear prediction methods mainly for extracting properties of physical systems which are described by time series. The aforementioned properties are associated with a few zeros of large polynomials and for this reason the zero locations of those polynomials must be analyzed. We present a linear algebra approach for determining the zero locations of predictor polynomials, which enables us to generalize some early results obtained by Kumaresan in the signal analysis field. We also present an analysis of zero locations for time series having multiple zeros. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Decoupling the impact of bulk and surface point defects on the photoelectrochemical properties of LaFeO3 thin films

Point defects (PDs) play a key role in the properties of semiconductor photoelectrodes, from doping density to carrier mobility and lifetime. Although this issue has been extensively investigated in the context of photovoltaic absorbers, the role of PDs in photoelectrodes for solar fuels remains poorly understood. In perovskite oxides such as LaFeO₃ (LFO), PDs can be tuned by changing the cation ratio, cation substitution and oxygen content. In this paper, we report the first study on the impact of bulk and surface PDs on the photoelectrochemical properties of LFO thin films. We independently varied the La : Fe ratio, within 10% of the stoichiometric value, in the bulk and at the surface by tuning the precursor composition as well as selective acid etching. The structure and composition of thin films deposited by sol–gel methods were investigated by SEM-EDX, ICP-OES, XPS and XRD. Our analysis shows a correlation between the binding energies of Fe 2p_3/2 and O 1s, establishing a link between the oxidation state of Fe and the covalency of the Fe–O bond. Electrochemical studies reveal the emergence of electronic states close to the valence band edge with decreasing bulk Fe content. DFT calculations confirm that Fe vacancies generate states located near the valence band, which act as hole-traps and recombination sites under illumination. Dynamic photocurrent responses associated with oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution show that the stoichiometric La : Fe ratio provides the most photoactive oxide; however, this can only be achieved by independently tuning the bulk and surface compositions of the oxide.

This article shows, for the first time, the delicate balance between controlling bulk recombination sites and dynamics of interfacial carrier transfer via independently tuning the bulk and surface compositions of perovskite oxide thin films.     

Galerkin approach for estimating boundary data in Poisson equation on annular domain with application to heat transfer coefficient estimation in coiled tubes

Numerical Algorithms - We investigate the problem of reconstructing internal Neumann data for a Poisson equation on annular domain from discrete measured data at the external boundary. By applying...     

Hydrides compounds for electrochemical applications

Hydrides have been used since a long time for solid-state hydrogen storage and electrochemical nickel-metal hydride batteries. Besides these applications, growing attention has been devoted to their development as anode materials, as well as solid electrolytes for Li-ion and other ion batteries. Herein, we review and summarize the recent advances of hydrides as negative electrodes for Ni-MH and A-ion batteries (A = Li, Na), and as electrolyte for all solid-state batteries (ASSB). Metallic hydrides such as intergrowth compounds are highlighted as the best compromise up to now for Ni-MH. Regarding anodes of Li-ion batteries, MgH₂, especially its combination with TiH₂, provides very promising results. Complex hydrides such as Li-borohydride and related closo-borates and monovalent carborate boron clusters appear to be very attractive as solid electrolytes for Li-based ASSB, whereas closo-hydroborate sodium salts and closo-carboborates are investigated for Na- and Mg-ASSB. Finally, further research directions are foreseen for hydrides in electrochemical applications.