Towards high efficiency video coding: Subjective evaluation of potential coding technologies

This paper describes the details and the results of the subjective quality evaluation performed at EPFL, as a contribution to the effort of the joint collaborative team on video coding (JCT-VC) for the definition of the high efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard. The performance of twenty-seven coding technologies has been evaluated with respect to two H.264/MPEG-4 AVC anchors, for high definition (HD) test material. The test campaign involved a total of 494 naive observers and took place over a period of four weeks. While similar tests have been conducted as part of the standardization process of previous video coding technologies, the test campaign described in this paper is by far the most extensive in the history of video coding standardization. A detailed statistical analysis of the subjective results is provided. The results show high consistency and support an accurate comparison of the performance of the different coding technologies.     

The Dynamic Emission Zone in Sandwich Polymer Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells

In light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), the position of the emission zone (EZ) is not predefined via a multilayer architecture design, but governed by a complex motion of electrical and ionic charges. As a result of the evolution of doped charge transport layers that enclose a dynamic intrinsic region until steady state is reached, the EZ is often dynamic during turn‐on. For thick sandwich polymer LECs, a continuous change of the emission color provides a direct visual indication of a moving EZ. Results from an optical and electrical analysis indicate that the intrinsic zone is narrow at early times, but starts to widen during operation, notably well before the electrical device optimum is reached. Results from numerical simulations demonstrate that the only precondition for this event to occur is that the mobilities of anions (μ_a) and cations (μ_c) are not equal, and the direction of the EZ shift dictates μ_c > μ_a. Quantitative ion profiles reveal that the displacement of ions stops when the intrinsic zone stabilizes, confirming the relation between ion movement and EZ shift. Finally, simulations indicate that the experimental current peak for constant‐voltage operation is intrinsic and the subsequent decay does not result from degradation, as commonly stated.     

Slotted ALOHA multiple access and error control coding for land mobile satellite networks

This paper considers a satellite network with data messages being transmitted by land mobile users according to slotted Aloha multiple access. The mobile communication links suffering from multipath fading and signal shadowing are modelled as Gilbert-Elliott channels. FEC block coding is used to correct transmission errors. The maximum achievable information throughput and the mean packet delay are derived from a combined analysis of the multiple access and FEC/ARQ protocol. The results show that the additional overhead necessary for FEC is outweighed by the benefit in throughput and delay. Finally, the capture effect and its consequences are discussed.     

Distributed Temperature Sensors

The capabilities and technologies of a number of spatially distributed over-temperature sensors are reviewed. A new conductive polymeric sensor is described in which capacitance measurements indicate the presence and location of hot spots. Physical characteristics, operating principles, and test results are discussed. In addition to over-temperature sensors, two additional distributed temperature sensors are described which either 1) read out the actual hot spot temperature or 2) sense and locate both hot and cold spots in a single cable.     

The hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine: a technical review

A review is given of contemporary research on the hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. The emphasis is on light- to medium-duty engine research. We first describe hydrogen-engine fundamentals by examining the engine-specific properties of hydrogen and surveying the existing literature. Here it will be shown that, due to low volumetric efficiencies and frequent preignition combustion events, the power densities of premixed or port-fuel-injected hydrogen engines are diminished relative to gasoline-fueled engines. Significant progress has been made in the development of advanced hydrogen engines with improved power densities. We discuss several examples and their salient features. Finally, we consider the overall progress made and provide suggestions for future work.     

Ten-channel coherent optical fibre transmission

A laboratory ten-channel coherent fibre-optic broadband transmission system is reported. The frequency-division-multiplexed optical carriers are separated by 6 GHz and are demultiplexed by a tunable heterodyne receiver having a sensitivity of -46 dBm at a bit error rate of 10-9. In this system a maximum number of 64 channels can be installed.     

A structural optimization approach in process synthesis—II : Heat recovery networks

Several formulations of the transshipment model from Operations Research are proposed for the optimal synthesis of heat exchanger networks. The linear programming versions are used for predicting the minimum utility cost, and can handle restricted matches and multiple utilities. The mixed-integer programming version yields minimum utility cost networks in which the number of units is minimized, while allowing stream splitting and selection of most preferred matches. It is shown that the transshipment models can also be incorporated easily within a mixed-integer programming approach for synthesizing chemical processing systems. Several numerical examples are presented which show that the proposed models are computationally very efficient.     

A structural optimization approach in process synthesis—III : Total processing systems

A strategy based on mixed-integer programming is proposed for the optimal synthesis of total processing systems that consist of a chemical plant, with its heat recovery network and utility system. A mixed-integer programming model for the chemical plant is presented which is shown to be compatible with the models developed in previous papers for the utility system and heat recovery network. The strategy accounts explicitly for the interactions among the three components, and its application is illustrated with a large example problem.