Interference management via access control and mobility prediction in two-tier heterogeneous networks

Abstract： Two-tier heterogeneous networks （HetNets）, where the current cellular networks, i.e., macrocells, are overlapped with a large number of randomly distributed femtocells, can potentially bring significant benefits to spectral utilization and system capacity. The interference management and access control for open and closed femtocells in two-tier HetNets were focused. The contributions consist of two parts. Firstly, in order to reduce the uplink interference caused by MUEs （macrocell user equipments） at closed femtocells, an incentive mechanism to implement interference mitigation was proposed. It encourages femtoeells that work with closed-subscriber-group （CSG） to allow the interfering MUEs access in but only via uplink, which can reduce the interference significantly and also benefit the marco-tier. The interference issue was then studied in open-subscriber-group （OSG） femtocells from the perspective of handover and mobility prediction. Inbound handover provides an alternative solution for open femtocells when interference turns up, while this accompanies with PCI （physical cell identity） confusion during inbound handover. To reduce the PCI confusion, a dynamic PCI allocation scheme was proposed, by which the high handin femtocells have the dedicated PCI while the others share the reuse PCIs. A Markov chain based mobility prediction algorithm was designed to decide whether the femtoeell status is with high handover requests. Numerical analysis reveals that the UL interference is managed well for the CSG femtocell and the PCI confusion issue is mitigated greatly in OSG femtocell compared to the conventional approaches.     

Fabrication and densification enhancement of SiC-particulate-reinforced copper matrix composites prepared via the sinter-forging process

The fabrication of copper （Cu） and copper matrix silicon carbide （Cu/SiCp） particulate composites via the sinter-forging process was investigated. Sintering and sinter-forging processes were performed under an inert Ar atmosphere. The influence of sinter-forging time, temperature, and compressive stress on the relative density and hardness of the prepared samples was systematically investigated and subsequently compared with that of the samples prepared by the conventional sintering process. The relative density and hardness of the composites were enhanced when they were prepared by the sinter-forging process. The relative density values of all Cu/SiCp composite samples were observed to decrease with the increase in SiC content.     

Effects of magnetic fields on Fe-Si composite electrodeposition

Coatings containing Fe-Si particles were electrodeposited on 3.0wt% Si steel sheets under magnetic fields. The effects of magnetic flux density （MFD）, electrode arrangement and current density on the surface morphology, the silicon content in the coatings and the cathode current efficiency were investigated. When a magnetic field was applied parallel to the current and when the MFD was less than 0.5 T, numerous needle-like structures appeared on the coating surface. With increasing MFD, the needle-like structures weakened and were transformed into dome-shaped structures. Meanwhile, compared to results obtained in the absence of a magnetic field, the silicon content in the coatings significantly increased as the MFD was increased for all of the samples obtained using a vertical electrode system. However, in the case of an aclinic electrode system, the silicon content decreased. Furthermore, the cathode current efficiency was considerably diminished when a magnetic field was applied. A possible mechanism for these phenomena was discussed.     

Large-scale two-dimensional nonlinear FE analysis on PGA amplification effect with depth and focusing effect of Fuzhou Basin

Based on the explicit finite element（FE） method and platform of ABAQUS,considering both the inhomogeneity of soils and concave-convex fluctuation of topography,a large-scale refined two-dimensional（2D） FE nonlinear analytical model for Fuzhou Basin was established.The peak ground motion acceleration（PGA） and focusing effect with depth were analyzed.Meanwhile,the results by wave propagation of one-dimensional（1D） layered medium equivalent linearization method were added for contrast.The results show that：1） PGA at different depths are obviously amplified compared to the input ground motion,amplification effect of both funnel-shaped depression and upheaval areas（based on the shape of bedrock surface） present especially remarkable.The 2D results indicate that the PGA displays a non-monotonic decreasing with depth and a greater focusing effect of some particular layers,while the 1D results turn out that the PGA decreases with depth,except that PGA at few particular depth increases abruptly; 2） To the funnel-shaped depression areas,PGA amplification effect above 8 m depth shows relatively larger,to the upheaval areas,PGA amplification effect from 15 m to 25 m depth seems more significant.However,the regularities of the PGA amplification effect could hardly be found in the rest areas; 3） It appears a higher regression rate of PGA amplification coefficient with depth when under a smaller input motion; 4） The frequency spectral characteristic of input motion has noticeable effects on PGA amplification tendency.     

Basic dynamic characteristics and seismic design of anchorage system

Based on some assumptions, the dynamic governing equation of anchorage system is established. The calculation formula of natural frequency and the corresponding vibration mode are deduced. Besides, the feasibility of the theoretical method is verified by using a specific example combined with other methods. It is found that the low-order natural frequency corresponds to the first mode of vibration, and the high-order natural frequency corresponds to the second mode of vibration, while the third mode happens only when the physical and mechanical parameters of anchorage system meet certain conditions. With the increasing of the order of natural frequency, the influence on the dynamic mechanical response of anchorage system decreases gradually. Additionally, a calculating method, which can find the dangerous area of anchorage engineering in different construction sites and avoid the unreasonable design of anchor that may cause resonance, is proposed to meet the seismic precautionary requirements. This method is verified to be feasible and effective by being applied to an actual project. The study of basic dynamic features of anchorage system can provide a theoretical guidance for anchor seismic design and fast evaluation of anchor design scheme.     

Dielectric,piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of lanthanum-modified PZTFN ceramics

Specimens of Pb1-1.5xLax（Zr0.53 Ti0.47）1-y-zFeyNb2O3 （x = 0, 0.004, 0.008, 0.012, and 0.016, y = z = 0.01） （PZTFN） ceramics were synthesized by a semi-wet route. In the present study, the effect of La doping was investigated on the structural, microstructural, dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics. The results show that, the tetragonal （space group P4mm） and rhombohedral （space group R3c） phases are observed to coexist in the sample at x = 0.012. Microstructural investigations of all the samples reveal that La doping inhibits grain growth. Doping of La into PZTFN improves the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. The hys- teresis loops of all specimens exhibit nonlinear behavior. The dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties show a maximum response atx 〉 0.012, which corresponds to the morphotropic phase boundary （MPB）.     

Thermodynamics and density functional theory study of potassium dichromate interaction with galena

The adsorption heat and reaction rate constant of potassium dichromate on the surface of galena were studied. The results indicate that potassium dichromate tends to adsorption on the galena surface. The reaction order is only 0.08385, suggesting that the concentration of potassium dichromate has little influence on its adsorption on the galena surface. In addition, the simulation of CrO2 4- adsorption on the PbS （100） surface in the absence and presence of O2 was carried out by density functional theory （DFT）. The calculated results show that CrO2 4- species adsorb energetically at the Pb-S bond site, and the presence of O2 can enhance this adsorption.     

Fluidized bed coating efficiency and morphology of coatings for producing Al-based nanocomposite hollow spheres

Abstract： We performed fluidized bed coating ofAl-based nanoeomposite powder-binder suspensions onto polymer substrates. The effects of the type and amount of the binder and nanoparticle additive on the coating process efficiency and coating characteristics were investigated. The efficiency decreased from 52% to 49% as the processing time increased from 15 to 20 min. However, the amount and thickness of the coating also increased as the processing time and amount of the binder were increased. The addition of nanoparticles to the system decreased the thickness of the coating from 222 to 207 μm when polyvinyl alcohol （PVA） was used as a binder. The suspension containing 3wt% R-4410 binder exhibited the greatest efficiency of 60%.     

Effects of sintering temperature on the microstructural evolution and wear behavior of WCp reinforced Ni-based coatings

This article focuses on the microstructural evolution and wear behavior of 50wt%WC reinforced Ni-based composites prepared onto 304 stainless steel substrates by vacuum sintering at different sintering temperatures. The microstructure and chemical composition of the coatings were investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, differential thermal analysis （DTA）, scanning and transmission electron microscopy （SEM and TEM） equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS）. The wear resistance of the coatings was tested by thrust washer testing. The mechanisms of the decomposition, dissolution, and precipitation of primary carbides, and their influences on the wear resistance have been discussed. The results indicate that the coating sintered at 1175℃ is composed of fine WC particles, coarse M6C （M=Ni, Fe, Co, etc.） carbides, and discrete borides dispersed in solid solution. Upon increasing the sintering temperature to 1225℃, the microstructure reveals few incompletely dissolved WC particles trapped in larger M6C, Cr-rich lamellar M23C6, and M3C2 in the austenite matrix. M23C6 and M3C2 precipitates are formed in both the γ/M6C grain boundary and the matrix. These large-sized and lamellar brittle phases tend to weaken the wear resistance of the composite coatings. The wear behavior is controlled simultaneously by both abrasive wear and adhesive wear. Among them, abrasive wear plays a major role in the wear process of the coating sintered at 1175℃, while the effect of adhesive wear is predominant in the coating sintered at 1225℃.     

Influences of synthesis methods and modifier addition on the properties of Ni-based catalysts supported on reticulated ceramic foams

A method of synthesizing Ni-based catalysts supported on α-Al2O3-based foams was developed. The foams were impregnated with aqueous solutions of metal chlorides under an air atmosphere using an aerosol route. Separate procedures involved calcination to form oxides and drying to obtain chlorides on the foam surface. The synthesized samples were subsequently reduced with hydrogen. With respect to the Ni/Al2O3 catalysts, the chloride reduction route enabled the formation ofa Ni coating without agglomerates or cracks. Further research included catalyst modification by the addition of Pd, Cu, and Fe. The influences of the additives on the degree of reduction and on the low-temperature reduction effectiveness （533 and 633 K） were examined and compared for the catalysts obtained from oxides and chlorides. Greater degrees of reduction were achieved with chlorides, whereas Pd was the most effective modifier among those investigated. The reduction process was nearly complete at 533 K in the sample that contained 0.1wt% Pd. A lower reduction temperature was utilized, and the calcination step was avoided, which may enhance the economical and technological aspects of the developed catalyst production method.     

Waveforms analysis and optimization of new electro-hydraulic excitation technology

A new electro-hydraulic exciter that consists of rotary valve and micro-displacement double-functioned hydraulic cylinder was proposed to realize different kinds of waveforms. Calculated fluid dynamics （CFD） simulation of rotary valve orifice reveals that orifice exists the two-throttle phenomenon. According to the finding, the revised flow area model was established. Vibration waveforms analysis was carried out by means of mathematic model and the related experiments were validated. Furthermore, as a new analysis indicator, saturation percentage was introduced first. The experimental results indicate that the revised flow area model is more accurate compared to the original one, and vibration waveforms can be optimized through suitable spool parameters and the revised cylinder structure.     

Preparation and characterization of Andalusite ceramic used for solar thermal power generation

High-temperature thermal storage material is one of the critical materials of solar thermal power generation system. Andalusite, kaolin, talc, γ-Al 2 O 3 and partially stabilized zirconia were used as the raw materials, and in-situ synthesis of cordierite was adopted to fabricate thermal storage material for solar thermal power generation via pressureless sintering. The phase compositions, microstructures and thermal shock resistances of the sintered samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM and EDS, and the corresponding mechanical properties were measured. The results show that the major phases of the samples are mullite and zirconium silicate, and the pores distribute uniformly. After being sintered at 1 460 ℃, A4 sample exhibits a better mechanical performance and thermal shock resistance, its loss rate of bending strength after 30 cycles thermal shock is 3.04%, the bulk density and bending strength are 2.86 g·cm-3 and 139.66 MPa, respectively. The better thermal shock resistance of the sample is closely related to the effect of zirconium silicate, such as its uniform distribution, nested growth with mullite, low thermal expansion coeffi cient, high thermal conductivity, etc. This ceramic can be widely used as one of potential thermal storage materials of solar thermal power generation system.     

Effect of substrate doping on threshold voltages of buried channel pMOSFET based on strained-SiGe technology

The effect of substrate doping on the threshold voltages of buried channel pMOSFET based on strained-SiGe technology was studied. By physically deriving the models of the threshold voltages, it is found that the layer which inversely occurs first is substrate doping dependent, giving explanation for the variation of plateau observed in theC-V characteristics of this device, as the doping concentration increases. The threshold voltages obtained from the proposed model are-1.2805 V for buried channel and-2.9358 V for surface channel at a lightly doping case, and-3.41 V for surface channel at a heavily doping case, which agrees well with the experimental results. Also, the variations of the threshold voltages with several device parameters are discussed, which provides valuable reference to the designers of strained-SiGe devices.     

High-temperature performance prediction of iron ore fines and the ore-blending programming problem in sintering

The high-temperature performance of iron ore fmes is an important factor in optimizing ore blending in sintering. However, the application of linear regression analysis and the linear combination method in most other studies always leads to a large deviation from the desired results. In this study, the fuzzy membership functions of the assimilation ability temperature and the liquid fluidity were proposed based on the fuzzy mathematics theory to construct a model for predicting the high-temperature performance of mixed iron ore. Comparisons of the prediction model and experimental results were presented. The results illustrate that the prediction model is more accurate and effective than previously developed models. In addition, fuzzy constraints for the high-temperature performance of iron ore in this research make the results of ore blending more comparable. A solution for the quantitative calculation as well as the programming of fuzzy constraints is also introduced.     

Joint analysis of urban shopping destination and travel mode choice accounting for potential spatial correlation betweenalternatives

In recent years, there have been important developments in the joint analysis of the travel behavior based on discrete choice models as well as in the formulation of increasingly flexible closed-form models belonging to the generalized extreme value class. The objective of this work is to describe the simultaneous choice of shopping destination and travel-to-shop mode in downtown area by making use of the cross-nested logit （CNL） structure that allows for potential spatial correlation. The analysis uses data collected in the downtown areas of Maryland-Washington, D.C. region for shopping trips, considering household, individual, land use, and travel-related characteristics. The estimation results show that the dissimilarity parameter in the CNL model is 0.37 and significant at the 95% level, indicating that the alternatives have high spatial correlation for the short shopping distance. The results of analysis reveal detailed significant influences on travel behavior of joint choice shopping destination and travel mode. Moreover, a Monte Carlo simulation for a group of scenarios arising from transportation policies and parking fees in downtown area, was undertaken to examine the impact of a change in car travel cost on the shopping destination and travel mode switching. These findings have important implications for transportation demand management and urban planning.     

Acoustic emission study of the plastic deformation of quenched and partitioned 35CrMnSiA steel

Acoustic emission （AE） monitored tensile tests were performed on 35CrMnSiA steel subjected to different heat treatments. The results showed that quenching and partitioning （Q-P） heat treatments enhanced the combined mechanical properties of high strength and high ductility for commercial 35CrMnSiA steel, as compared with traditional heat treatments such as quenching and tempering （Q-T） and austempering （AT）. AE signals with high amplitude and high energy were produced during the tensile deformation of 35CrMnSiA steel with retained austenite （RA） in the microstructure （obtained via Q-P and AT heat treatments） due to an austenite-to-martensite phase transformation. Moreover, additional AE signals would not appear again and the mechanical properties would degenerate to a lower level once RA degenerated by tempering for the Q-P treated steel.     

Preparation and infrared emissivities of alkali metal doped ZnO powders

Alkali metal（Li, Na, K） doped ZnO powders were synthesized by solid-state reaction at different calcination temperatures and holding time. Effects of holding time and K sources on the infrared emissivity of ZnO were investigated. The structure and surface morphologies of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The UV-Vis absorption and infrared emissivities were investigated by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and an infrared emissometer, respectively. XRD patterns confirm the wurtzite structure of the as prepared samples with single phase. Smooth grain surfaces are detected in all doped ZnO samples, while ZnO：Li and ZnO：Na present the aggregation of grains. The redshifts in the optical band-gap are observed in K-, Na-, and Li-doped ZnO with the values 3.150, 3.144, and 3.142 eV. Due to better crystalline quality, ZnO：K shows a lower emissivity than others. The emissivity of K-doped ZnO decreases to the minimum value（0.804）, at 1200 °C and holding 2 h. Compared with KNO3 as K source, K2CO3 doped ZnO has lower emissivities.     

Influence of gangue existing states in iron ores on the formation and flow of liquid phase during sintering

Gangue existing states largely affect the high-temperature characteristics of iron ores. Using a micro-sintering method and scan- ning electron microscopy, the effects of gangue content, gangue type, and gangue size on the assimilation characteristics and fluidity of liquid phase of five different iron ores were analyzed in this study. Next, the mechanism based on the reaction between gangues and sintering mate- dais was unraveled. The results show that, as the SiO2 levels increase in the iron ores, the lowest assimilation temperature （LAT） decreases, whereas the index of fluidity of liquid phase （IFL） increases. Below 1.5wt%, Al2O3 benefits the assimilation reaction, but higher concentra- tions proved detrimental. Larger quartz particles increase the SiO2 levels at the local reaction interface between the iron ore and CaO, thereby reducing the LAT. Quartz-gibbsite is more conductive to assimilation than kaolin. Quartz-gibbsite and kaolin gangues encourage the forma- tion of liquid-phase low-Al2O3-SFCA with high IFL and high-Al2O3-SFCA with low IFL, respectively.     

Dual optimization image repair algorithm based on linear structure and optimal texture

The performances of repaired image depend on the local information in the repaired area and the consistency between the repair directions with structural content. Image repair algorithm with texture information performs well in repairing seriously damaged images, but it has bad performances when the images have the abundant structure information. The dual optimization image repair algorithm based on the linear structure and the optimal texture is proposed. The algorithm uses the double-constraint sparse model to reconstruct the missed information in large area in order to improve the clarity of repaired images. After adopting the preference of Criminisi priority, the image repair algorithm of self-similarity characteristics is proposed to improve the fault and fuzzy distortion phenomena in the repaired image. The results show that the proposed algorithm has more clarity in the image texture and structure and better effectiveness, and the peak signal-to-noise ratio of the repaired images by proposed algorithm is superior to that by other algorithms.     

In situ fabrication and properties of AlN dispersion strengthened 2024 aluminum alloy

Nanoscaled aluminum nitride （AlN） dispersion strengthened 2024 aluminum alloy was fabricated using a novel approach in which Al-Mg-Cu compacts were partially nitrided in flowing nitrogen gas. The compacts were subsequently consolidated by sintering and hot extrusion. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the material were preliminarily investigated. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results revealed that AlN particles were generated by the nitridation of Al-Mg-Cu compacts. The material exhibited excellent mechanical properties after hot extrusion and heat treatment. The ultimate tensile and yield strengths of the extruded samples containing 8.92vol% AlN with the T6 heat treatment were 675 and 573 MPa, respectively.