A network management architecture for robust packet routing in meshoptical access networks

We describe an architecture for an optical local area network (LAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN) access. The architecture allows for bandwidth sharing within a wavelength and is robust to both link and node failures. The architecture can be utilized with an arbitrary, link-redundant mesh network (node-redundancy is necessary only to handle all node failures), and assumes neither the use of a star topology nor the ability to embed such a topology within the physical mesh. Reservation of, bandwidth is performed in a centralized fashion at a (replicated) head end node, simplifying the implementation of complex sharing policies relative to implementation on a distributed set of routers. Unlike a router, however, the head end does not take any action on individual packets and, in particular, does not buffer packets. The architecture thus avoids the difficulties of processing packets in the optical domain while allowing for packetized shared access of wavelengths. We describe the route construction scheme and prove its ability to recover from single link and single node failures, outline a flexible medium access protocol and discuss the implications for implementing specific policies, and propose a simple implementation of the recovery protocol in terms of state machines for per-link devices     

Investigation of the power dissipation during IGBT turn-off using a new physics-based IGBT compact model

New compact models of the IGBTs (both non-punch through IGBT (NPTIGBT) and punch-through IGBT (PTIGBT)) are presented in this paper. The models are implemented in the SABER circuit simulator and used for a study of IGBT anode current and voltage characteristics during a device turn-off (clamped inductive load circuit with gate controlled turn-off), since these parts of the transient characteristics essentially predict the power dissipation (V×I) inside the device. It is shown that PTIGBTs are faster than NPTIGBTs, this becoming more apparent at higher clamp voltages.     

阻止抬升盆地原油生物降解的深埋灭菌作用

微生物活动造成的原油生物降解作用发生地球中大多数的油藏中，人们认为生物降解作用大大降低油藏中原油的质量，为成功寻找工业油藏，理解地质建造中生物降解作用发生的条件与过程是十分重要的，尽管最近的研究推测微生物活动在温度在150℃仍能有效地发生，但是人们普遍认为在地质时代，有效的石油生物降解作用通常发生在温度低于80℃的储层中，然而奇怪的是在温度低于80℃的储层中，还可发现未降解的原油，本文收集了一些油藏中有关生物降解程度的数据，发现未降角原油局限于埋藏浅的冷盆地，这些盆地曾是地球中更深，更热的部位，后经抬升作用形成的，我们认为这石油储层在深埋过程中，在温度为80－90℃时经历了灭菌作用，使得深部生物圈中降解烃类的生物停止活动，尽管这些储层后期抬升到较冷的部位并再次发生石油充注，也不会发生生物降解作用，表明灭菌后的沉积物不再适合降解烃类的细菌生长。     

Inertia effects on non-parallel thermal instability of natural convection flow over horizontal and inclined plates in porous media

The inertia effect on the onset of thermal instability in natural convection flow over heated horizontal and inclined flat plates embedded in fluid-saturated porous media is analyzed. The linear non-parallel flow model is employed in the instability analysis, which takes into account the streamwise variation as well as the transverse variation of the disturbance amplitude functions. The set of partial differential equations for the disturbance amplitude functions are converted to a system of homogeneous linear ordinary differential equations with homogeneous boundary conditions by the local non-similarity method. The resulting eigenvalue problem is then solved by an implicit finite-difference method. Representative neutral stability curves and critical Rayleigh numbers are presented. It has been found that as the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal increases, the surface heat transfer rate increases, whereas the flow becomes more stable to the vortex mode of instability. Also, as the inertia effect, expressed in terms of Forchheimer number, Fr, increases, the heat transfer rate decreases, but the flow becomes more stable. It is demonstrated that the non-parallel flow model predicts a more stable flow than the parallel flow model.     

高级控制系统提高巴西水电站性能

巴西的一个重要电力公司COPEL最近开发了一个水电站高级控制系统，这是在电力部门经受重大变革时期，提高水电竞争力的里程碑。     

Influence of Edible Films upon the Moisture Loss and Microstructure of Dietetic Sucrose-Free Sponge Cakes during Storage

The kinetics of changes in the bound water content in dietetic sucrose-free sponge cakes (DC) during storage was investigated. The effect of edible films of polymyxan, pectin, xanthan, and carboxymethylcellulose upon this kinetics was also investigated. The quantitative changes in both states of water (slightly bound water and strongly bound water) were registered by combined dynamic analysis (thermogravimetry analysis, TGA, and differential thermal analysis, DTA). The moisture changes in DC crumb were analyzed by drying out to constant mass. The rate constants were determined according the equation q = q_oe^-kt. The values of rate constants 'k', in day^-1, concerning the different edible films were as follows: for crumb moisture is (8.00 ≤ k ≤ 12.47) × 10^-3, for bound water is (3.07 ≤ k_w ≤ 6.26) × 10^-2, for slightly bound water is (4.22 ≤ k₁ ≤ 8.49) × 10^-2 and for strongly bound water is (2.02 ≤ k₂ ≤ 5.62) × 10^-2 as compared to 18.53 × 10^-3, 7.16 × 10^-2, 9.04 × 10^-2, and 5.36 × 10^-2 in the uncovered DC, respectively. The best water-retaining effect in respect to crumb moisture during storage was ascertained in the use of polymyxan and xanthan films. The lowest rate constant values for bound water and its two states were measured for DC covered with pectin. The relation between the kinetics of both bound water states during storage and ageing of the crumb of DC covered with different edible films and the crumb microstructure was represented. By means of scanning electron microscope was read the smallest change in crumb microstructure of pectin-covered DC on the sixth day of storage.     

Low-Temperature Materials and Thin Film Transistors for Flexible Electronics

This paper addresses the low-temperature deposition processes and electronic properties of silicon based thin film semiconductors and dielectrics to enable the fabrication of mechanically flexible electronic devices on plastic substrates. Device quality amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H), nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si), and amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiN/sub x/) films and thin film transistors (TFTs) were made using existing industrial plasma deposition equipment at the process temperatures as low as 75/spl deg/C and 120/spl deg/C. The a-Si:H TFTs fabricated at 120/spl deg/C demonstrate performance similar to their high-temperature counterparts, including the field effect mobility (/spl mu//sub FE/) of 0.8 cm/sup 2/V/sup -1/s/sup -1/, the threshold voltage (V/sub T/) of 4.5 V, and the subthreshold slope of 0.5 V/dec, and can be used in active matrix (AM) displays including organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. The a-Si:H TFTs fabricated at 75/spl deg/C exhibit /spl mu//sub FE/ of 0.6 cm/sup 2/V/sup -1/s/sup -1/, and V/sub T/ of 4 V. It is shown that further improvement in TFT performance can be achieved by using n/sup +/ nc-Si contact layers and plasma treatments of the interface between the gate dielectric and the channel layer. The results demonstrate that with appropriate process optimization, the large area thin film Si technology suits well the fabrication of electronic devices on low-cost plastic substrates.     

Interface characteristics and mechanical properties of carbon fibre reinforced copper composites

Interface characteristics of carbon fibre reinforced copper matrix composites materials with various interface states and their effect on the flexural strength of composites have been studied. Interfacial states are mechanical bonding, dissolution bonding and reaction bonding. To a certain extent, raising the interfacial strength enables an increase in the flexural strength due to prevention of carbon fibre being pulled out under low stress during fracture process of composites. Raising the interfacial bondage strength, causes the brittleness of composites to increase; the fracture surface of composites is converted from a fibre pull-out model to a fibre even model. While strengthening the interface bondage, the extent of chemical reaction and dissolution at the interface must be controlled to avoid degrading the carbon fibre.     

Medical savings accounts: opportunities for cost savings?

Interest in medical savings accounts (MSAs) as a potential tool to reduce healthcare costs has been widespread. A small number of countries have either implemented or run pilot programs of MSAs, and vigorous policy debates have taken place in several other countries about the potential merits of introducing MSAs as a method of paying for health care. In this paper we develop a model to assess the cost saving potential of MSAs in a publicly funded healthcare system. We assume that the public healthcare payer may choose between reimbursing healthcare expenditures through an MSA or through a form of third‐party payer insurance. We use the model to identify the conditions under which MSAs may reduce costs. We illustrate using data on healthcare expenditures from Canada.