A second-order blind source separation method for bilinear mixtures

In this paper, we are interested in the problem of Blind Source Separation using a Second-order Statistics (SOS) method in order to separate autocorrelated and mutually independent sources mixed according to a bilinear (BL) model. In this context, we propose a new approach called Bilinear Second-order Blind Source Separation, which is an extension of linear SOS methods, devoted to separate sources present in BL mixtures. These sources, called extended sources, include the actual sources and their products. We first study the statistical properties of the different extended sources, in order to verify the assumption of identifiability when the actual sources are zero-mean and when they are not. Then, we present the different steps performed in order to estimate these actual centred sources and to extract the actual mixing parameters. The obtained results using artificial mixtures of synthetic and real sources confirm the effectiveness of the new proposed approach.     

High-voltage and high-frequency inverter controlled by DPLL for cold plasma applications

In this paper, the design and construction of a high-voltage high-frequency serial resonant bridge inverter endowed with a fast resonant frequency following capability, using the digital phase locked loop (DPLL) technique, is described. The main characteristics of this inverter are: high voltage (10?kV), high frequency (94.3?kHz), and low losses in the commutation devices. This inverter is used for the excitation of a dielectric barrier discharge cell (DBDC) for cold plasma generation. The system has been applied in hazardous organic compound degradation. In particular, benzene has been degraded to the order of 99.85%, according to measurements obtained by gas chromatography.     

Understanding and Predicting Data Hotspots in Cellular Networks

The unprecedented growth in mobile data usage is posing significant challenges to cellular operators. One key challenge is how to provide quality of service to subscribers when their residing cell is experiencing a significant amount of traffic, i.e. becoming a traffic hotspot. In this paper, we perform an empirical study on data hotspots in today’s cellular networks using a 9-week cellular dataset with 734K+ users and 5327 cell sites. Our analysis examines in details static and dynamic characteristics, predictability, and causes of data hotspots, and their correlation with call hotspots. We show that using standard machine learning methods, future hotspots can be accurately predicted from past observations. We believe the understanding of these key issues will lead to more efficient and responsive resource management and thus better QoS provision in cellular networks. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to empirically characterize traffic hotspots in today’s cellular networks.     

Photoresponsive Transistors Based on Lead‐Free Perovskite and Carbon Nanotubes

Lead‐free perovskite materials are exhibiting bright application prospects in photodetectors (PDs) owing to their low toxicity compared with traditional lead perovskites. Unfortunately, their photoelectric performance is constrained by the relatively low charge conductivity and poor stability. In this work, photoresponsive transistors based on stable lead‐free bismuth perovskites CsBi₃I₁₀ and single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are first reported. The SWCNTs significantly strengthen the dissociation and transportation of the photogenerated charge carriers, which lead to dramatically improved photoresponsivity, while a decent I_light/I_dark ratio over 10² can be maintained with gate modulation. The devices exhibit high photoresponsivity (6.0 × 10⁴ A W^?1), photodetectivity (2.46 × 10¹⁴ jones), and external quantum efficiency (1.66 × 10⁵%), which are among the best reported results in lead‐free perovskite PDs. Furthermore, the excellent stability over many other lead‐free perovskite PDs is demonstrated over 500 h of testing. More interestingly, the device also shows the application potential as a light‐stimulated synapse and its synaptic behaviors are demonstrated. In summary, the lead‐free bismuth perovskite‐based hybrid phototransistors with multifunctional performance of photodetection and light‐stimulated synapse are first demonstrated in this work.     

A Multifunctional Blue‐Emitting Material Designed via Tuning Distribution of Hybridized Excited‐State for High‐Performance Blue and Host‐Sensitized OLEDs

Actualizing full singlet exciton yield via a reverse intersystem crossing from the high‐lying triplet state to singlet state, namely, “hot exciton” mechanism, holds great potential for high‐performance fluorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, incorporating comprehensive insights into the mechanism and effective molecular design strategies still remains challenging. Herein, three blue emitters (CNNPI, 2TriPE‐CNNPI, and 2CzPh‐CNNPI) with a distinct local excited (LE) state and charge‐transfer (CT) state distributions in excited states are designed and synthesized. They show prominent hybridized local and charge‐transfer (HLCT) states and aggregation‐induced emission enhancement properties. The “hot exciton” mechanism based on these emitters reveals that a balanced LE/CT distribution can simultaneously boost photoluminescence efficiency and exciton utilization. In particular, a nearly 100% exciton utilization is achieved in the electroluminescence (EL) process of 2CzPh‐CNNPI. Moreover, employing 2CzPh‐CNNPI as the emitter, emissive dopant, and sensitizing host, respectively, the EL performances of the corresponding nondoped pure‐blue, doped deep‐blue, and HLCT‐sensitized fluorescent OLEDs are among the most efficient OLEDs with a “hot exciton” mechanism to date. These results could shed light on the design principles for “hot exciton” materials and inspire the development of next‐generation high‐performance OLEDs.     

Node cooperation in hybrid ad hoc networks

A hybrid ad hoc network is a structure-based network that is extended using multihop communications. Indeed, in this kind of network, the existence of a communication link between the mobile station and the base station is not required: A mobile station that has no direct connection with a base station can use other mobile stations as relays. Compared with conventional (single-hop) structure-based networks, this new generation can lead to a better use of the available spectrum and to a reduction of infrastructure costs. However, these benefits would vanish if the mobile nodes did not properly cooperate and forward packets for other nodes. In this paper, we propose a charging and rewarding scheme to encourage the most fundamental operation, namely packet forwarding. We use "MAC layering" to reduce the space overhead in the packets and a stream cipher encryption mechanism to provide "implicit. authentication" of the nodes involved in the communication. We analyze the robustness of our protocols against rational and malicious attacks. We show that-using our solution-collaboration is rational for selfish nodes. We also show that our protocols thwart rational attacks and detect malicious attacks.     

Single Molecule with Dual Function on Nanogold: Biofunctionalized Construct for In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging and SERS Biosensing

Multimodal imaging provides complimentary information that is advantageous in studying both cellular and molecular mechanisms in vivo, which has tremendous potential in pre‐clinical research and clinical translational imaging. It is desirable to design probes for multimodal imaging that can be administered minimally but provides multifaceted information. Herein, we demonstrate the complementary dual functional ability of a nanoconstruct for molecular imaging in both photoacoustic (PA) and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensing simultaneously in tandem. To realize this, a group of NIR active organic molecules are designed and synthesized that possess both SERS and PA activity. Nanoconstructs realized by anchoring such molecules onto gold nanoparticles are demonstrated for targeting cancer biomarkers in vivo while providing complimentary information about biodistribution and targeting efficiency. In future, such nanoconstructs could play a major role in identifying surgical margins and also for disease monitoring in translational medicine.     

Quantum light source devices of In(Ga)As semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots

A brief introduction of semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) applied in single-photon sources is given. Single QDs in confined quantum optical microcavity systems are reviewed along with their optical properties and coupling characteristics. Subsequently, the recent progresses in In(Ga)As QDs systems are summarized including the preparation of quantum light sources, multiple methods for embedding single QDs into different microcavities and the scalability of single-photon emitting wavelength. Particularly, several In(Ga)As QD single-photon devices are surveyed including In(Ga)As QDs coupling with nanowires, InAs QDs coupling with distributed Bragg reflection microcavity and the In(Ga)As QDs coupling with micropillar microcavities. Furthermore, applications in the field of single QDs technology are illustrated, such as the entangled photon emission by spontaneous parametric down conversion, the single-photon quantum storage, the chip preparation of single-photon sources as well as the single-photon resonance-fluorescence measurements.