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.     

Characterization of microwave and terahertz dielectric properties of single crystal La2Ti2O7 along one single direction

New generation wireless communication systems require characterisations of dielectric permittivity and loss tangent at microwave and terahertz bands. La₂Ti₂O₇ is a candidate material for microwave application. However, all the reported microwave dielectric data are average value from different directions of a single crystal, which could not reflect its anisotropic nature due to the layered crystal structure. Its dielectric properties at the microwave and terahertz bands in a single crystallographic direction have rarely been reported. In this work, a single crystal ferroelectric La₂Ti₂O₇ was prepared by floating zone method and its dielectric properties were characterized from 1 kHz to 1 THz along one single direction. The decrease in dielectric permittivity with increasing frequency is related to dielectric relaxation from radio frequency to microwave then to terahertz band. The capability of characterizing anisotropic dielectric properties of a single crystal in this work opens the feasibility for its microwave and terahertz applications.     

Model checking response times in Networked Automation Systems using jitter bounds

Response time (RT) of Networked Automation Systems (NAS) is affected by timing imperfections induced due to the network, computing and hardware components. Guaranteeing RT in the presence of such timing imperfections is essential for building dependable NAS, and to avoid costly upgrades after deployment in industries.This investigation proposes a methodology and work-flow that combines modelling, simulation, verification, experiments, and software tools to verify the RT of the NAS during the design, rather than after deployment. The RT evaluation work-flow has three phases: model building, modelling and verification. During the model building phase component reaction times are specified and their timing performance is measured by combining experiments with simulation. During the modelling phase, component based mathematical models that capture the network architecture and inter-connection are proposed. Composition of the component models gives the NAS model required for studying the RT performance on system level. Finally, in the verification step, the NAS formal models are abstracted as UPPAAL timed automata with their timing interfaces. To model timing interfaces, the action patterns, and their timing wrapper are proposed. The formal model of high level of abstraction is used to verify the total response time of the NAS where the reactions to be verified are specified using a subset of timed computation tree logic (TCTL) in UPPAAL model checker. The proposed approach is illustrated on an industrial steam boiler deployment.     

多元混沌时间序列的因子回声状态网络预测模型

针对采用回声状态网络预测多元混沌时间序列时存在的病态解问题, 本文建立了因子回声状态网络模型, 通过因子分析(Factor analysis, FA)方法提取高维储备池状态矩阵的公因子, 去除冗余和噪声成分. 利用降维后的因子变量与期望输出之间的线性回归关系, 求解网络未知参数. 基于Lorenz序列和大连月平均气温--降雨量的仿真实验验证了本文所提模型的有效性.     

Infra-chromatic bound for exact maximum clique search

Many efficient exact branch and bound maximum clique solvers use approximate coloring to compute an upper bound on the clique number for every subproblem. This technique reasonably promises tight bounds on average, but never tighter than the chromatic number of the graph.Li and Quan, 2010, AAAI Conference, p. 128–133 describe a way to compute even tighter bounds by reducing each colored subproblem to maximum satisfiability problem (MaxSAT). Moreover they show empirically that the new bounds obtained may be lower than the chromatic number.Based on this idea this paper shows an efficient way to compute related “infra-chromatic” upper bounds without an explicit MaxSAT encoding. The reported results show some of the best times for a stand-alone computer over a number of instances from standard benchmarks.     

Experimental investigation of stochastic parafoil guidance using a graphics processing unit

Control of autonomous systems subject to stochastic uncertainty is a challenging task. In guided airdrop applications, random wind disturbances play a crucial role in determining landing accuracy and terrain avoidance. This paper describes a stochastic parafoil guidance system which couples uncertainty propagation with optimal control to protect against wind and parameter uncertainty in the presence of impact area obstacles. The algorithm uses real-time Monte Carlo simulation performed on a graphics processing unit (GPU) to evaluate robustness of candidate trajectories in terms of delivery accuracy, obstacle avoidance, and other considerations. Building upon prior theoretical developments, this paper explores performance of the stochastic guidance law compared to standard deterministic guidance schemes, particularly with respect to obstacle avoidance. Flight test results are presented comparing the proposed stochastic guidance algorithm with a standard deterministic one. Through a comprehensive set of simulation results, key implementation aspects of the stochastic algorithm are explored including tradeoffs between the number of candidate trajectories considered, algorithm runtime, and overall guidance performance. Overall, simulation and flight test results demonstrate that the stochastic guidance scheme provides a more robust approach to obstacle avoidance while largely maintaining delivery accuracy.     

Predictive control of an activated sludge process: An application to the Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant

In this work, we discuss the application of multivariable predictive control for the activated sludge process in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant. Emphasis is given to the selection of a control configuration that contributes to minimising the economic costs while improving the removal efficiency of the nitrogen compounds. For this task, a simple dynamic matrix control algorithm is favoured for controlling the nitrogen concentrations at the end of the biological process. The behaviour of the activated sludge process is reproduced in a commercial simulator that acts as a real-time testing platform and that is also used for identifying the multivariable input–output models for the predictive controller. For demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach, different control configurations are considered and compared against the aeration control strategies currently used at the plant. Based on the simulation results, this work shows the potentiality of the dynamic matrix control which is able to decrease the energy consumption costs and, at the same time, reduce the ammonia peaks and nitrate concentration in the effluent.     

Categorization of risk factors for distributed agile projects

ContextOrganizations combine agile approach and Distributed Software Development (DSD) in order to develop better quality software solutions in lesser time and cost. It helps to reap the benefits of both agile and distributed development but pose significant challenges and risks. Relatively scanty evidence of research on the risks prevailing in distributed agile development (DAD) has motivated this study.ObjectiveThis paper aims at creating a comprehensive set of risk factors that affect the performance of distributed agile development projects and identifies the risk management methods which are frequently used in practice for controlling those risks.MethodThe study is an exploration of practitioners’ experience using constant comparison method for analyzing in-depth interviews of thirteen practitioners and work documents of twenty-eight projects from thirteen different information technology (IT) organizations. The field experience was supported by extensive research literature on risk management in traditional, agile and distributed development.ResultsAnalysis of qualitative data from interviews and project work documents resulted into categorization of forty-five DAD risk factors grouped under five core risk categories. The risk categories were mapped to Leavitt’s model of organizational change for facilitating the implementation of results in real world. The risk factors could be attributed to the conflicting properties of DSD and agile development. Besides that, some new risk factors have been experienced by practitioners and need further exploration as their understanding will help the practitioners to act on time.ConclusionOrganizations are adopting DAD for developing solutions that caters to the changing business needs, while utilizing the global talent. Conflicting properties of DSD and agile approach pose several risks for DAD. This study gives a comprehensive categorization of the risks faced by the practitioners in managing DAD projects and presents frequently used methods to reduce their impact. The work fills the yawning research void in this field.