High performance H2 sensor based on rGO-wrapped SnO2–Pd porous hollow spheres

Hydrogen (H₂) sensors based on metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) are promising for many applications such as a rocket propellant, industrial gas and the safety of storage. However, poor selectivity at low analyte concentrations, and independent response on high humidity limit the practical applications. Herein, we designed rGO-wrapped SnO₂–Pd porous hollow spheres composite (SnO₂–Pd@rGO) for high performance H₂ sensor. The porous hollow structure was from the carbon sphere template. The rGO wrapping was via self-assembly of GO on SnO₂-based spheres with subsequent thermal reduction in H₂ ambient. This sensor exhibited excellently selective H₂ sensing performances at 390 °C, linear response over a broad concentration range (0.1–1000 ppm) with recovery time of only 3 s, a high response of ～8 to 0.1 ppm H₂ in a minute, and acceptable stability under high humidity conditions (e. g. 80%). The calculated detection limit of 16.5 ppb opened up the possibility of trace H₂ monitoring. Furthermore, this sensor demonstrated certain response to H₂ at the minimum concentration of 50 ppm at 130 °C. These performances mainly benefited from the special hollow porous structure with abundant heterojunctions, the catalysis of the doped-PdO_x, the relative hydrophobic surface from rGO, and the deoxygenation after H₂ reduction.     

The control of paracetamol particle size and surface morphology through crystallisation in a spray dryer

The parameters governing the crystallisation of paracetamol using various conventional techniques has been extensively studied, however the factors influencing the drug crystallisation using spray drying is not as well understood. The aim of this work was to investigate the crystallisation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient through evaporative crystallisation using a spray dryer to study the physicochemical properties of the drug and to use semi-empirical equations to gain insight into the morphology and particle size of the dried powder. Paracetamol solutions were spray dried at various inlet temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C and also from a series of inlet feed solvent compositions ranging from 50/50% v/v ethanol/water to 100% ethanol and solid-state characterisation was done. The size and morphology of the dried materials were altered with a change in spray drying parameters, with an increase in inlet temperature leading to an increase in particle Sauter mean diameter (from 3.0 to 4.4 µm) and a decrease in the particle size with an increase in ethanol concentration in the feed (from 4.6 to 4.4 µm) as a result of changes in particle density and atomised droplet size. The morphology of the dried particles consisted of agglomerates of individual crystallites bound together into larger semi-spherical agglomerates with a higher tendency for particles having crystalline ridges to form at higher ethanol concentrations of the feed.     

采用信道估计法的基站VSWR实时检测

为解决无线基站宽带工作频带内电压驻波比(Voltage Standing Wave Ratio,VSWR)的实时测量，提出了一种采用信道估计法的测量方案。该方案实现简单，在基带处理单元高速率位置发送数据，依次抓取射频通道反馈和反射数据，分别求取信道响应序列，结合工厂装备测试数据，计算驻波反射系数和反射点位置。发送信号采用宽带正交频分复用信号，能检测到工作频段内任何频点处的驻波异常。有用信号前加循环前缀，并引入峰值抵消核，能正确检测到多个反射点驻波。仿真结果表明，该方案驻波测量精度和单回波点位置精度达到预期，多回波点测量能抓准外部主要故障点，在基站VSWR实时测量中具有良好的应用前景。     

基于文本与语义相关性分析的图像检索

为了更加有效地检索到符合用户复杂语义需求的图像，提出一种基于文本描述与语义相关性分析的图像检索算法。该方法将图像检索分为两步：基于文本语义相关性分析的图像检索和基于SIFT特征的相似图像扩展检索。根据自然语言处理技术分析得到用户文本需求中的关键词及其语义关联，在选定图像库中通过语义相关性分析得到“种子”图像；接下来在图像扩展检索中，采用基于SIFT特征的相似图像检索，利用之前得到的“种子”图像作为查询条件，在网络图像库中进行扩展检索，并在结果集上根据两次检索的图像相似度进行排序输出，最终得到更加丰富有效的图像检索结果。为了证明算法的有效性，在标准数据集Corel5K和网络数据集Deriantart8K上完成了多组实验，实验结果证明该方法能够得到较为精确地符合用户语义要求的图像检索结果，并且通过扩展算法可以得到更加丰富的检索结果。     

The influence of inner material with different average thermal conductivity on the performance of whole insulation system for liquid hydrogen on orbit storage

At present, several composite insulation systems were proposed that can be used for passive insulation systems, including foam-variable density multilayer insulation (VDMLI), aerogel-VDMLI and hollow glass microspheres (HGMs)-VDMLI. The passive insulation systems with different inner material (IM) showed different performances. However, the relationship between the average thermal conductivity of IM and the insulation performance of the whole system has rarely been investigated. It is of great significance for efficient configuration and matching of the passive insulation system. In this paper, a series of average thermal conductivity of IM were assumed to predict the insulation performance of the whole system at 20 K–300 K and high vacuum. In order to further illustrate the relationship between IM and MLI/VDMLI, the foam was replaced by the HGMs as 5 mm a unit forming a series of HGMs-foam-MLI/VDMLI insulation systems. The performance of the systems was investigated. After the foam was completely replaced by the HGMs, the performance of MLI and VDMLI systems was improved 33% and 13%, respectively. Moreover, each mode of heat transfer including solid conduction, radiation, and gas conduction for foam-MLI/VDMLI and HGMs-MLI/VDMLI insulation systems were calculated and analyzed.     

熔融制样-X射线荧光光谱法测定硅铁中硅磷锰铝钙铬

熔融制样-X射线荧光光谱法(XRF)测定硅铁合金样品,需重点解决样品前处理中合金样品侵蚀铂-黄坩埚的难题。硅铁样品以四硼酸锂-碳酸锂预氧化剂在石墨垫底瓷坩埚中高温预氧化熔融后,再将熔融物转移至铂-黄坩埚中,用四硼酸锂熔融制成玻璃熔片,实现了熔融制样-X射线荧光光谱法对硅铁合金中硅、磷、锰、铝、钙、铬的测定。实验讨论了预氧化熔融的熔剂体系及氧化方法、试样与熔剂的稀释比,结果表明,试样与熔剂以1∶35的稀释比,以10滴300g/L碘化钾溶液为脱模剂,在1100℃熔融30min,熔融制得的玻璃片均匀、透明、无气泡,符合测定要求。用具有浓度梯度的系列硅铁有证标准样品制作校准曲线,各待测元素校准曲线的线性相关系数均大于0.9995。方法应用于硅铁合金实际样品中硅、磷、锰、铝、钙、铬的测定, 结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=11)在0.1%~5.8%之间;正确度试验表明,硅铁标准样品的测定结果与认定值相符,硅铁实际样品的测定结果与国家标准方法测定值一致,能满足常规分析要求。     

A new sustainable hydrogen clean energy paradigm

We analyze the feasibility of a novel, hydrogen fuel cell electric generator to provide power with zero noise and emissions for myriad ground based applications. The hydrogen fuel cell electric generator utilizes a novel, scalable apparatus that safely generates hydrogen (H₂) on demand according to a novel method, using a controlled chemical reaction between water (H₂O) and sodium (Na) metal that yields hydrogen gas of sufficient purity for direct use in fuel cells without risk of contaminating sensitive catalysts. The sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct of the hydrogen producing reaction, is collected within the apparatus for later reprocessing by electrolysis, to recover the Na reactant. The detailed analysis shows that the novel, hydrogen fuel cell electric generator will be capable of meeting the clean power requirements for residential and commercial buildings including single family homes and light commercial establishments under a wide range of geographic and climatic conditions.     

Why stop after 20 minutes? Breaks and target prevalence in a 60-minute X-ray baggage screening task

Current EU regulation restricts continuously reviewing X-ray images of passenger baggage to 20-min duration as a precautionary measure to prevent performance decrements in airport security officers (screeners). However, this 20-min limit is not based on clear empirical evidence on how well screeners can sustain their performance over time. Our study tested screeners in a 60-min simulated X-ray cabin baggage screening task. One group took 10-min breaks after 20 min of screening; the other group worked without breaks. We found no decrease in performance over 60 min in either group. Breaks did not affect performance, but they did reduce the amount of subjective distress. By varying target prevalence, we found that d_a with a slope of about 0.6 is a more valid measure of detection performance than d'. Target prevalence caused a criterion shift. Our results provide a basis for conducting field studies of prolonged screening durations, and open the discussion on whether more flexible break policies and work schedules should be considered.