Performance of miniaturized direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) devices using micropump for fuel delivery

A fuel cell is a device that can convert chemical energy into electricity directly. Among various types of fuel cells, both polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) can work at low temperature (<80 °C). Therefore, they can be used to supply power for commercial portable electronics such as laptop computers, digital cameras, PDAs and cell phones. The focus of this paper is to investigate the performance of a miniaturized DMFC device using a micropump to deliver fuel. The core of this micropump is a piezoelectric ring-type bending actuator and the associated nozzle/diffuser for directing fuel flow. Based on the experimental measurements, it is found that the performance of the fuel cell can be significantly improved if enough fuel flow is induced by the micropump at anode. Three factors may contribute to the performance enhancement including replenishment of methanol, decrease of diffusion resistance and removal of carbon dioxide. In comparison with conventional mini pumps, the size of the piezoelectric micropump is much smaller and the energy consumption is much lower. Thus, it is very viable and effective to use a piezoelectric valveless micropump for fuel delivery in miniaturized DMFC power systems.     

Agent-based architecture for context-aware and personalized event recommendation

In order to offer context-aware and personalized information, intelligent processing techniques are necessary. Different initiatives considering many contexts have been proposed, but users preferences need to be learned to offer contextualized and personalized services, products or information. Therefore, this paper proposes an agent-based architecture for context-aware and personalized event recommendation based on ontology and the spreading algorithm. The use of ontology allows to define the domain knowledge model, while the spreading activation algorithm learns user patterns by discovering user interests. The proposed agent-based architecture was validated with the modeling and implementation of eAgora? application, which was illustrated at the pervasive university context.     

A fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS framework for ranking the solutions of Knowledge Management adoption in Supply Chain to overcome its barriers

The aim of this study is to identify and prioritize the solutions of Knowledge Management (KM) adoption in Supply Chain (SC) to overcome its barriers. It helps organizations to concentrate on high rank solutions and develop strategies to implement them on priority. This paper proposes a framework based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to identify and rank the solutions of KM adoption in SC and overcome its barriers. The AHP is used to determine weights of the barriers as criteria, and fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to obtain final ranking of the solutions of KM adoption in SC. The empirical case study analysis of an Indian hydraulic valve manufacturing organization is conducted to illustrate the use of the proposed framework for ranking the solutions of KM adoption in SC to overcome its barriers. This proposed framework provides a more accurate, effective and systematic decision support tool for stepwise implementation of the solutions of KM adoption in SC to increase its success rate.     

基于蚁群算法的遥感影像传输资源调度方法

针对遥感影像数据量大,多用户并发请求造成服务器负载加重,使遥感影像传输效率逐渐降低的问题,提出一种在多线服务器环境下分块调度遥感影像资源的策略。该策略采用改进的蚁群优化(IACO)算法,通过引入一个线路等待因子γ动态选择当前最优的线路进行传输,从而提高传输效率。对IACO、ACO、Max-min、Min-min和Random算法进行了对比实验,IACO算法在客户端的任务完成时间和服务器端的执行时间与其他算法相比均是最少的,且随着任务数目的增加,效果更明显;同时IACO算法的线路资源的利用率也更高。仿真结果表明:多线服务器分块调度策略与改进蚁群算法相结合,使遥感影像传输速度和线路资源利用率均有一定提高。     

基于SIM300的远程心电监护系统的设计与开发

随着现代通信技术的发展,远程患者监护,尤其是心电监护有了越来越多的需求.本系统采用GPRS技术,可以长期的随时随地的监测患者心电信号,并能通过GPRS模块SIM300传输到己接入Internet网的医师工作站的服务器上供医护人员分析,由他们提供及时而正确的诊断和医疗指导.该心电监护系统已经应用于内蒙古、福建的临床试验中,得到了患者的普遍认可.     

Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 phase relations: Thermodynamics and phase equilibria in the systems Bi2O3 – TiO2, Na2O – TiO2, and Na2O – Bi2O3 – TiO2

The lead-free piezoelectric material sodium bismuth titanate (NBT, Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃) has attracted considerable attention owing to its promising dielectric, piezoelectric, and electrical properties. However, the literature on the binary subsystems is contradictory and there are only limited data for the ternary system. The present work surveys all of the reports of the binary subsystems Bi₂O₃ – TiO₂ and Na₂O – TiO₂ and synthesizes these data into inclusive revised versions. The compatibilities for the ternary system Na₂O – Bi₂O₃ – TiO₂ were determined experimentally, thus enabling the construction of a complete isothermal section at 800 °C. The compatibilities associated with the problematic binary subsystem Na₂O – Bi₂O₃, which experiences extreme volatilisation, were determined through the generation of the absent standard-state thermodynamic functions for the relevant binary and ternary phases, thus providing a full suite of thermodynamic data for this system. The thermodynamic stability diagrams for Na₂O, Bi₂O₃, and TiO₂ thus were calculated. The isothermal section also addresses the contradictions in the literature concerning the formation of solid solutions of Bi₁₂TiO_20-x / Bi_12-xTi_1+xO_20+0.5x, pyrochlore (Bi₂Ti₂O₇ / Na_wBi_2-xTi_2-yO_7-z), BTO (Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ / Na_xBi₄Ti₃O_12+0.5x), and NBT (Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ / Bi_1±xNa_xTiO_3.5±x). Further, it was observed that the congruent melting point of NBT, which was determined to be 1225 °C, was preceded by the onset of gradual structural destabilization at 940 °C. Also, the NBT rhombohedral → tetragonal phase transformation was observed at an onset temperature of ∼250 °C. The present work thus provides platform data for the fabrication and reactivities of materials in the ternary system Na₂O – Bi₂O₃· TiO₂ and its binary subsystems.     

A fast updated algorithm to maintain the discovered high-utility itemsets for transaction modification

High-utility itemsets mining (HUIM) is a critical issue which concerns not only the occurrence frequencies of itemsets in association-rule mining (ARM), but also the factors of quantity and profit in real-life applications. Many algorithms have been developed to efficiently mine high-utility itemsets (HUIs) from a static database. Discovered HUIs may become invalid or new HUIs may arise when transactions are inserted, deleted or modified. Existing approaches are required to re-process the updated database and re-mine HUIs each time, as previously discovered HUIs are not maintained. Previously, a pre-large concept was proposed to efficiently maintain and update the discovered information in ARM, which cannot be directly applied into HUIM. In this paper, a maintenance (PRE-HUI-MOD) algorithm with transaction modification based on a new pre-large strategy is presented to efficiently maintain and update the discovered HUIs. When the transactions are consequentially modified from the original database, the discovered information is divided into three parts with nine cases. A specific procedure is then performed to maintain and update the discovered information for each case. Based on the designed PRE-HUI-MOD algorithm, it is unnecessary to rescan original database until the accumulative total utility of the modified transactions achieves the designed safety bound, which can greatly reduce the computations of multiple database scans when compared to the batch-mode approaches.     

NCTUns tool for wireless vehicular communication network researches

Several goals such as improving road safety and increasing transport efficiency are being pursued in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Wireless vehicular communication is one technology to achieve these goals. Conducting vehicular experiments on the roads is an approach to studying the effectiveness of wireless vehicular communication. However, such an approach is costly, hard-to-control (repeat), dangerous, and infeasible when many vehicles and people are involved in the field trial. In contrast, the simulation approach does not have these problems. It is a very useful approach and complements the field trial approach. This paper presents NCTUns, an open source integrated simulation platform, for wireless vehicular communication network researches. This tool tightly integrates network and traffic simulations and provides a fast feedback loop between them. Therefore, a simulated vehicle can quickly change its driving behavior such as moving speed and direction when it receives a message from the wireless vehicular communication network. This capability is required by several novel ITS applications such as active collision avoidance systems. In this paper, we present the design, implementation, validation, and performance of this tool.     

基于超表面的超宽带线极化转换特性研究

极化转换在太赫兹调制领域具有重要的研究意义和应用价值。传统的极化转换器件存在尺寸大、集成度低、损耗高、带宽窄等诸多不足。该文提出一种对称“山”型超表面共振单元结构,可用于实现反射、透射极化转换器件的设计。其中反射型器件实现了极高极化转换率的宽带线极化转换,透射型器件实现了相对带宽达135.5%的超宽带线极化转换。采用各向异性理论分析了反射型器件产生极化转换的机制,并基于多重干涉理论对共振结构阵列与金属背板构成的类F-P腔进行了计算,计算结果与仿真吻合较好。进一步使用正交线栅类F-P腔与共振结构阵列,构成透射型器件,并深入分析了共振单元结构不同部分对宽带极化转换的贡献,讨论了不同结构形成的极化转换频段间的耦合方式。研究结果为基于固定相位差的超宽带偏振极化转换器件的实现以及超表面类F-P腔应用提供了新的思路。