Decoder side information generation techniques in Wyner-Ziv video coding: a review

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In Wyner-Ziv (WZ) video coding, decoder side information (SI) takes a key role in a WZ video codec among other building blocks. In this paper, we review the...     

Microwave drying performance of lignite with the assistance of biomass-derived char

Microwave lignite drying with assistance of biomass-derived char was addressed and effect of bio-char on drying rate and energy consumption was investigated in this work. Effective diffusion coefficient and activation energy for the drying process were also analyzed. The results indicated the drying process was largely dependent on the variation of sample temperature. Bio-char originated from pine wood was most favorable for lignite drying, considering its better promoting effect and advanced security. There existed an optimal bio-char addition ratio for drying process at different power. The corresponding optimal ratio was 10% at 231?W and 15% at 385?W, at which the biggest drying rate and the least energy consumption were reached. It was compared lignite drying initiated at 385?W was better for energy conservation. Effective diffusivity was improved and activation energy was simultaneously reduced, with the addition of bio-char. The minimum activation energy was 15.54?W?·?g^?1, which was gained at bio-char addition ratio of 10%. The results revealed the effect of bio-char on depressing activation energy could rival that of metal-based additives. The drying process with assistance of microwave and bio-char could present technical and economical benefits on lignite upgrading.     

Single copper sites dispersed on hierarchically porous carbon for improving oxygen reduction reaction towards zinc-air battery

The demand for high-performance non-precious-metal electrocatalysts to replace the noble metal-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is intensively increasing.Herein,single-atomic copper sites supported on N-doped three-dimensional hierarchically porous carbon catalyst(Cu₁/NC)was prepared by coordination pyrolysis strategy.Remarkably,the Cu₁/NC-900 catalyst not only exhibits excellent ORR performance with a half-wave potential of 0.894 V(vs.RHE)in alkaline media,outperforming those of commercial Pt/C(0.851 V)and Cu nanoparticles anchored on N-doped porous carbon(CuNPs/NC-900),but also demonstrates high stability and methanol tolerance.Moreover,the Cu₁/NC-900 based Zn-air battery exhibits higher power density,rechargeability and cyclic stability than the one based on Pt/C.Both experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrated that the excellent performance of the as-obtained Cu₁/NC-900 could be attributed to the synergistic effect between copper coordinated by three N atoms active sites and the neighbouring carbon defect,resulting in elevated Cu d-band centers of Cu atoms and facilitating intermediate desorption for ORR process.This study may lead towards the development of highly efficient non-noble metal catalysts for applications in electrochemical energy conversion.     

D-limonene Inhibits Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure via Adenosine A2A Receptor Modulation on GABAergic Neuronal Activity

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by the recurrence of seizures. One-third of patients with epilepsy may not respond to antiseizure drugs. Purpose: We aimed to examine whether D-limonene, a cyclic monoterpene, exhibited any antiseizure activity in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling mouse model and in vitro. Methods: PTZ kindling mouse model was established by administering PTZ (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally to mice once every 48 h. We performed immunoblot blots, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis after the behavioral study. Results: An acute injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg) induced seizure in mice, while pretreatment with D-limonene inhibited PTZ-induced seizure. Repeated administration of PTZ (30 mg/kg) increased the seizure score gradually in mice, which was reduced in D-limonene (10 mg/kg)-pretreated group. In addition, D-limonene treatment increased glutamate decarboxylase-67 (GAD-67) expression in the hippocampus. Axonal sprouting of hippocampal neurons after kindling was inhibited by D-limonene pretreatment. Moreover, D-limonene reduced the expression levels of Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 4 (Npas4)-induced by PTZ. Furthermore, the adenosine A2A antagonist {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"SCH58261","term_id":"1052882304","term_text":"SCH58261"}}SCH58261 and ZM241385 inhibited anticonvulsant activity and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission-induced by D-limonene. Conclusion: These results suggest that D-limonene exhibits anticonvulsant activity through modulation of adenosine A2A receptors on GABAergic neuronal function.     

平面桁架构建的定日镜面形支撑结构优化及实验

针对反射面成型的复杂影响因素，提出平面桁架构建的定日镜面形支撑结构优化技术路线. 利用模拟仿真、数值计算和优化算法等方法，解析20 m²定日镜面形定义技术路线的4个组成环节：面形规格及宽高比、上弦杆的截面矩、平面桁架组间距的最优值、机加工中工艺控制要点的量化. 试制小型定日镜进行实验，分析光斑形状和能流密度分布特性，并与理想球面形光斑比较，两者的拟合优度大于0.98. 实验结果表明，当反射镜宽高比取1.2，上弦杆截面矩取40 000 mm⁴，桁架组间距取950 mm，上弦杆和斜杆的开孔公差小于0.9 mm时，反射面形的质量提升. 研究从原理和实践上证明了该优化技术路线的可行性.     

Transformation of the reabsorption characteristics of lignite treated by low and high temperature drying process

Abstract

The reabsorption characteristics of the lignite treated by low and high temperature drying process were addressed in the paper. The information about the moisture form, functional groups, effective water-filled porosities and equilibrium moisture content of the lignite before and after the drying process was investigated using Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and a self-made reabsorption device, respectively. The results show that the low drying temperature (140, 190, 230?°C, 10?min, N₂) has little impact on the effective water-filled porosities of the resulted samples, whereas it has a great influence on the main oxygen-containing functional groups, which amount firstly decreases and then increases with the drying temperature increasing. In the case of the lignite samples dried under high-temperature (600, 700, 800?°C, 30?s, N₂), the amount of the effective water-filled porosity of the sample decreases and the amount of oxygen-containing functional groups increases as the temperature increasing. The reabsorption capability of the high temperature dried sample is much lower than that of the sample treated under low drying temperature. The reabsorption characteristics of the low-temperature dried samples are affected by the amount of the oxygen-containing functional groups, while the effective water-filled porosity is main factor for the lignite samples derived from high temperature drying process. Moreover, the work gives a good evidence that the high-temperature drying process is an effective choose for lignite upgrading.