A fast two-step block type decision algorithm for intra prediction in H.264/AVC high profile

Intra coding in H.264/AVC can significantly improve the compression efficiency but at the cost of high computational complexity. To reduce the complexity, this paper presents an efficient block type decision algorithm for intra prediction. In H.264/AVC high profile, three kinds of block types are supported. This algorithm determines the optimal block type by two steps. The first step is based on the fact that the block type of intra prediction is highly dependent on the smoothness of macroblock. An edge-based feature is introduced to characterize the smoothness, by comparing it with two thresholds impossible block type is firstly filtered out. Then the second step is based on the correlation of block type chosen for different chroma modes. Experimental results show that the proposed fast algorithm can achieve 72.8% time saving on average for encoding the all intra-frame sequence with average 0.75% bit rate increase and 0.05dB PSNR degradation when comparing with the reference software.     

MicroPort: A general simulation platform for seaport container terminals

Seaport container terminals are essential nodes in sea cargo transportation networks. As such, the operational efficiency of container terminals in handling containers passing through them plays a critical role in a globalized world economy. Many models and algorithms have been developed to address various decision problems in container terminals to help improve operational efficiency. These decision support tools are usually used separately for specific purposes. However, the problems they are trying to tackle are often interrelated. Therefore, in this regard, an evaluation tool which can capture as many operational conditions as possible for different decision problems is necessary. This paper introduces a general simulation platform, named MicroPort, which aims to provide an integrated and flexible modeling system for evaluating the operational capability and efficiency of different designs of seaport container terminals. The software structure of MicroPort comprises three programming layers: (1) the Functions layer; (2) the Applications layer; and (3) the Extensions layer. Different layers are bound by Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Basic functions built in the Functions layer support the Applications layer in which major operation processes can be modeled by an agent-based method. External modules and decision support tools in the Extensions layer then use APIs to adjust the system to produce suitable simulation models for specific purposes.     

Intelligent control of doubly‐fed induction generator systems using PIDNNs

An intelligent control for a stand‐alone doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG) system using a proportional‐integral‐derivative neural network (PIDNN) is proposed in this study. This system can be applied as a stand‐alone power supply system or as the emergency power system when the electricity grid fails for all sub‐synchronous, synchronous, and super‐synchronous conditions. The rotor side converter is controlled using field‐oriented control to produce 3‐phase stator voltages with constant magnitude and frequency at different rotor speeds. Moreover, the grid side converter, which is also controlled using field‐oriented control, is primarily implemented to maintain the magnitude of the DC‐link voltage. Furthermore, the intelligent PIDNN controller is proposed for both the rotor and grid side converters to improve the transient and steady‐state responses of the DFIG system for different operating conditions. Both the network structure and online learning algorithm are introduced in detail. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control scheme is verified through experimentation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Ionic transport studies of the glassy silver vanadomolybdate system

Ionic conductivity of the Ag₂O-MoO₃-V₂0₅ system has been studied over a wide range of frequency, temperature and composition. A narrower glass forming region has been found in comparison to the corresponding Ag₂O-MoO₃-P₂O₅ and Ag₂O-B₂O₃-P₂O₅ systems. The highest conductivity at room temperature, _rt, = 3.21 × 10^–6–1 cm^–1 (d.c.) with an activation energy,E _act, of 0.466 eV, was observed for the glass former's ratio of unity. Further, it reached a maximum value of 2.2 × 10^–2¨-1 cm^–1 withE _act = 0.153 eV when the oxide-base glass was dissolved with Agl. D.c. conductivity, hopping rate and relaxation time in the present system have been found to be characterized by the same activation energy.     

Facile synthesis of nitrogen and oxygen co-doped hierarchical porous carbon materials for high performance super capacitors

Journal of Porous Materials - Nitrogen and oxygen co-doped hierarchical porous carbons (NOPCs) is prepared by the pyrolysis of polyethylene glycol-200 (PEG) and triazine carbon forming agent (CFA)...     

无芯胶管的研制、工艺现状和发展建议

20世纪60年代初,我国胶管领域自主开发创新研制了无芯胶管制造技术,并且形成定型技术,一直沿用至今,笔者参与、见证了该产品从试验到投产的全过程。本文对该产品的工艺进行了新旧对比,提出了今后发展的建议。     

Optimum sweeps of simple polygons with two guards

A polygon P admits a sweep if two mobile guards can detect an unpredictable, moving target inside P  , no matter how fast the target moves. Two guards move on the polygon boundary and are required to always be mutually visible. The objective of this study is to find an optimum sweep such that the sum of the distances travelled by the two guards in the sweep is minimized. We present an O(n²)$O(n^2)$ time and O(n)$O(n)$ space algorithm for optimizing this metric, where n   is the number of vertices of the given polygon. Our result is obtained by reducing this problem to finding a shortest path between two nodes in a graph of size O(n)$O(n)$.     

Reciprocating flow ion exchange part II: Application to saline water softening

The “hardness” components in sea water can be considerably reduced by means of a new economical fixed bed technique called “Reciprocating Flow Ion Exchange”, when used in conjunction with a closed cycle exchanger-evaporator system. Removal of 87.9% of the calcium and 54.5% of the magnesium in sea water has been obtained with an overall flow rate of 5.0 U. S. g. p. m./sq. ft. Results from bench scale and a 5,000 g. p. d. pilot plant were identical. The virtually continuous cyclic steady-state process requires a small amount of exchanger (0.5 to 2% of the usual ion exchange methods, such as conventional fixed beds or fluidized beds). The effects of variation in operating parameters are discussed.