A new linearly constrained minimum variance beamformer for reconstructing EEG sparse sources

Brain source imaging based on EEG aims to reconstruct the neural activities producing the scalp potentials. This includes solving the forward and inverse problems. The aim of the inverse problem is to estimate the activity of the brain sources based on the measured data and leadfield matrix computed in the forward step. Spatial filtering, also known as beamforming, is an inverse method that reconstructs the time course of the source at a particular location by weighting and linearly combining the sensor data. In this paper, we considered a temporal assumption related to the time course of the source, namely sparsity, in the Linearly Constrained Minimum Variance (LCMV) beamformer. This assumption sounds reasonable since not all brain sources are active all the time such as epileptic spikes and also some experimental protocols such as electrical stimulations of a peripheral nerve can be sparse in time. Developing the sparse beamformer is done by incorporating L1-norm regularization of the beamformer output in the relevant cost function while obtaining the filter weights. We called this new beamformer SParse LCMV (SP-LCMV). We compared the performance of the SP-LCMV with that of LCMV for both superficial and deep sources with different amplitudes using synthetic EEG signals. Also, we compared them in localization and reconstruction of sources underlying electric median nerve stimulation. Results show that the proposed sparse beamformer can enhance reconstruction of sparse sources especially in the case of sources with high amplitude spikes.     

The isothermal reduction kinetics of chromium-bearing vanadium–titanium magnetite sinter

The reduction of chromium-bearing vanadium–titanium magnetite sinter (CVTMS) by CO was investigated at 1123–1223?K. The reduction degree increased with increasing temperature. The isothermal reduction kinetics of CVTMS was analysed, according to Sharp analysis and ln–ln analysis, the kinetic mechanism of reduction process for all samples in different basicity can be represented as f(α)?=?1.61(1?α)[?ln(1?α)]^1–1/1.61. The reaction activation energy of all samples (R?=?1.9, 2.1, 2.3, obtained according to the components of the materials burdening used in sintering process) at different reaction degrees were calculated by the model-free method. And the pre-exponential factors of reaction also were calculated by the mathematical method. The rate controlling step for the reduction process under the present reduction condition was chemical reaction.     

钢铁生产的水能关系分析

从钢铁生产过程中水资源使用时的能耗角度研究了钢铁联合企业的水能关系，提出了水能强度的概念来评价企业生产过程中水资源利用的节能水平，建立了钢铁企业的水能关系模型。以中国某大型钢铁联合企业为例，计算并分析了该企业的水能关系。该企业总的水能量为55 709 kW·h/h，重复用水水能量占整个钢铁企业全部水能量的82%，补水水能量占16%，排水水能量占1%；各工序中热轧工序占比最大，其次是炼铁、炼钢工序，冷轧、烧结和炼焦工序较低。该企业的吨钢水能强度为0.208 kW·h/m3，炼铁工序的水能强度最高，热轧、炼钢工序次之，烧结、冷轧和炼焦工序较低。最后，从钢铁生产过程水资源利用的角度得到节能的方向及措施。     

Spillover effects of distribution grid tariffs in the internal electricity market: An argument for harmonization?

In many countries, distribution grid tariffs are being reformed to adapt to the new realities of an electricity system with distributed energy resources. In Europe, legislative proposals have been made to harmonize these reforms across country borders. Many stakeholders have argued that distribution tariffs are a local affair, while the European institutions argued that there can be spillovers to other countries, which could justify a more harmonized approach. In this paper, we quantify these spillovers in a simplified numerical example to give insight and an order of magnitude. We look at different scenarios, and find that the spillovers can be both negative and positive. To be able to quantify these effects, we developed a long-run market equilibrium model that captures the wholesale market effects of distribution grid tariffs. The problem is formulated as a non-cooperative game involving consumers, generating companies and distribution system operators in a stylized electricity market.     

An innovative technology of directional propagation of hydraulic fracture guided by radial holes in fossil hydrogen energy development

Conventional hydraulic fracturing fails to develop low permeability reservoirs of fossil hydrogen energy that are not located in the direction of maximum principal in-situ stress. A new technology of fracture propagation guided by radial holes is proposed, which can realize directional propagation of hydraulic fracture along radial holes in fossil hydrogen energy development. In order to verify this new technology, a model of radial holes combined with hydraulic fracturing is established by the ABAQUS extended finite element method. Simulation results show that radial holes play a guiding role in fractures propagation. The influence extent of seven factors on the directional propagation of hydraulic fracture is listed as follows (from strong to weak): azimuth of radial holes > horizontal in-situ stress difference of fossil hydrogen reservoir > injection rate of fracturing fluid > Young's modulus of rock > permeability of fossil hydrogen reservoir > Poisson ratio of rock > viscosity of fracturing fluid. True tri-axial experiment is carried out to verify the accuracy of numerical simulation, and the result is consistent with numerical model, which indicates that numerical simulation is reliable.     

Determination of Acoustical Parameters of Aqueous Solution of Kolliphors Binary Mixtures Using Density,Speed of Sound,Viscosity, and Surface Tension Measurements

Measurements of density, speed of sound, and surface tension as well as viscosity of aqueous Kolliphor® ELP (ELP) and Kolliphor® RH 40 (RH40) solutions as well as binary mixtures at different surfactant mole fractions were made at 293 K to investigate their aggregation behavior. The free volume, internal pressure, and molar cohesive energy were calculated and compared to the specific acoustic impedance and intermolecular free length to obtain qualitative information about the character of interactions between the surfactant molecules in the mixture through the water phase.     

Excellent Energy Storage and Charge-discharge Performances in PbHfO3 Antiferroelectric Ceramics

Single phase PbHfO₃ antiferroelectric ceramics were prepared via rolling process. It is revealed that the rolling process can reduce the grain size and increase the bulk density, which lead to the enhanced breakdown strength up to 268 kV/cm versus 219 kV/cm of samples using the conventional solid-state method. As a result, high recoverable energy density of 7.6 J/cm³ with an efficiency of 80.8 % was achieved. Meanwhile, a large current density of 1381 A/cm² and an ultrahigh peak power density up to 170 MW/cm³ were observed under 250 kV/cm. In addition, unique electrical polarization response characteristics at different electric fields and temperature-induced structural phase transitions were also investigated. The energy storage performance and charge-discharge properties of PbHfO₃ were first studied in this communication and all the results indicate that PbHfO₃ ceramic is a promising candidate for pulse power applications.     

Composition-dependent xBa(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-(1-x)(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 bulk ceramics for high energy storage applications

This work reports the composition dependent microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and energy storage properties, and the phase transitions sequence of lead free xBa(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃-(1-x)(Ba_0.7Ca_0.3)TiO₃ [xBZT-(1-x)BCT] ceramics, with x?=?0.4, 0.5 and 0.6, prepared by solid state reaction method. The XRD and Raman scattering results confirm the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases at room temperature (RT). The temperature dependence of Raman scattering spectra, dielectric permittivity and polarization points a first phase transition from ferroelectric rhombohedral phase to ferroelectric tetragonal phase at a temperature (T_R-T) of 40?°C and a second phase transition from ferroelectric tetragonal phase - paraelectric pseudocubic phase at a temperature (T_T-C) of 110?°C. The dielectric analysis suggests that the phase transition at T_T-C is of diffusive type and the BZT-BCT ceramics are a relaxor type ferroelectric materials. The composition induced variation in the temperature dependence of dielectric losses was correlated with full width half maxima (FWHM) of A₁, E(LO) Raman mode. The saturation polarization (P_s) ≈8.3?μC/cm² and coercive fields ≈2.9?kV/cm were found to be optimum at composition x?=?0.6 and is attributed to grain size effect. It is also shown that BZT-BCT ceramics exhibit a fatigue free response up to 10⁵ cycles. The effect of a.c. electric field amplitude and temperature on energy storage density and storage efficiency is also discussed. The presence of high T_T-C (110?°C), a high dielectric constant (ε_r ≈?12,285) with low dielectric loss (0.03), good polarization (P_s ≈?8.3?μC/cm²) and large recoverable energy density (W?=?121?mJ/cm³) with an energy storage efficiency (η) of 70% at an electric field of 25?kV/cm in 0.6BZT-0.4BCT ceramics make them suitable candidates for energy storage capacitor applications.     

Application of adhesively bonded single lap joints for fracture assessment of adhesive materials

In this study, a method has been proposed to obtain the failure envelope of brittle adhesives using the experimental failure loads of precracked single lap joints (SLJs). The proposed technique is based on the principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), on J-integral relations, and on results of a numerical analysis. Compared to the previous approaches, the introduced experimental method has some advantages such as low manufacturing costs and simpler test procedure. The proposed method can also provide a wide range of mode mix ratios without the need of an additional apparatus. The fracture envelope obtained from the proposed method was then verified by performing some fracture tests including double cantilever beam (DCB), end-notched flexure (ENF), and single leg bending (SLB) specimens. Good correlation was seen between the fracture envelopes of the proposed method and the ones obtained from the fracture mechanics experiments.