Characterization and optimization of linearly tapered slot antenna pattern

A parametric study of linearly tapered slot antenna (LTSA) in air and a method for optimization of its pattern are presented. A method of moments code is utilized to investigate the behavior of LTSA’s as the length, height and the taper angle varies. It is shown that the antenna pattern can be improved using a top layer of dielectric material with varying permittivity.     

An application of univariate marginal distribution algorithm in MIMO communication systems

The paper discusses a sequence detector based on univariate marginal distribution algorithm (UMDA) that jointly estimates the symbols transmitted in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system. While an optimal maximum likelihood detection using an exhaustive search method is prohibitively complex, it has been shown that sphere decoder (SD) achieves the optimal bit error rate (BER) performance with polynomial time complexity for smaller array sizes. However, the worst‐case complexity of SD is exponential in the problem dimensions, this brings in question its practical implementation for larger number of spatial layers and for higher‐order signal constellation. The proposed detector shows promising results for this overly difficult and complicated operating environment, confirmed through simulation results. A performance comparison of the UMDA detector with SD is presented for higher‐order complex MIMO architectures with limited average transmit power. The proposed detector achieves substantial performance gain for higher‐order systems attaining a near optimal BER performance with reduced computational complexity as compared with SD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy petroleum products as possible feedstocks for carbon black production

The possibility of producing carbon black from Iraqi refinery products has been investigated. The products considered as feedstocks included five different furfural extracts from lube oil processing in addition to vacuum residue, reduced crude and a heavy Qaiyarah crude oil. A laboratory-scale experimental apparatus based on the oil furnace process and operated at different air/feed ratio was used to compare the suitability of the feedstocks for carbon black production. The results indicate that the most suitable feedstocks were extracts LVI 60 and LVI 150, and vacuum residue.     

Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyesters by Acrylonitrile

Propylene glycol- and diethylene glycol-based unsaturated polyesters were prepared and hardened by using styrene and acrylonitrile monomer mixtures. The addition of 12% acrylonitrile to a propylene glycol-based polyester containing 40% styrene increased the hardness from 12 BHN to 26 BHN. The addition of 20% acrylonitrile increased the impact strength of the same polyester from 14 J/m width to 39 J/m width. The diethylene glycol-based polyester containing 40% styrene and 40% acrylonitrile achieved a hardness of 23 BHN and an impact strength of 59 J/m width.     

Effect of protrusion at the ends of bondline in single lap joints under tension and bending

In this work, elasto-plastic stress analysis of single lap joints with and without protrusion in adhesive bondline subjected to tension and bending was carried out using 2D non-linear finite element analysis and confirmed experimentally. AA 2024-T3 aluminum adherends were bonded with SBT 9244 film adhesive. The protrusion was obtained by extending the adhesive film by 2?mm from the overlap length at both overlap ends. Three different adherend thicknesses and overlap lengths for each loading and bondline type were used. The joints with and without protrusion, for comparison, were loaded with the same load for each adherend thickness and overlap length. Finally, it was observed that the protrusion reduces the strength in the joint under tension, while the protrusion increases the strength in the joint under bending.     

Bipolar resistive switching in p-type Co3O4 nanosheets prepared by electrochemical deposition

Metal oxide nanosheets have potential applications in novel nanoelectronics as nanocrystal building blocks. In this work, the devices with a structure of Au/p-type Co₃O₄ nanosheets/indium tin oxide/glass having bipolar resistive switching characteristics were successfully fabricated. The experimental results demonstrate that the device have stable high/low resistance ratio that is greater than 25, endurance performance more than 200 cycles, and data retention more than 10,000 s. Such a superior performance of the as-fabricated device could be explained by the bulk film and Co₃O₄/indium tin oxide glass substrate interface effect.     

Natural Palm Olein Polyol as a Replacement for Polyether Polyols in Viscoelastic Polyurethane Foam

The impact of replacing three polyether polyols with different levels of a single palm olein‐based natural oil polyol (NOP) was systematically correlated with the changes in foaming reactivity, cell structure, physico‐mechanical properties, and morphology of viscoelastic (VE) foams. The data show that replacing the polyether polyols with the NOP slightly increased the rate of the foaming reactivity. Increasing the NOP content resulted in increased cell size and cells remained fully open. Increased NOP content contributed to higher load bearing properties of VE foam, which can be attributed to higher functionality of NOP compared to polyether polyols. Addition of the NOP slightly increased the resilience of the foams, however, the hysteresis which is the measure of energy absorption remained mostly unaffected. Age properties, characterized by dry and humid compression sets, were mostly unaffected by the replacement of the polyether polyol with the NOP. The addition of NOP did not impact the morphology of the VE foam polymer matrix, which appears to retain a low degree of hard and soft segment domain separation. Overall, the results demonstrate a feasibility that the NOP can be used to partially replace the polyether polyols in VE polyurethane foams without significant impact on the functional performance.     

Rational design on photoelectrodes and devices to boost photoelectrochemical performance of solar-driven water splitting: a mini review

As an eco-friendly, efficient, and low-cost technique, photoelectrochemical water splitting has attracted growing interest in the production of clean and sustainable hydrogen by the conversion of abundant solar energy. In the photoelectrochemical system, the photoelectrode plays a vital role in absorbing the energy of sunlight to trigger the water splitting process and the overall efficiency depends largely on the integration and design of photoelectrochemical devices. In recent years, the optimization of photoelectrodes and photoelectrochemical devices to achieve highly efficient hydrogen production has been extensively investigated. In this paper, a concise review of recent advances in the modification of nanostructured photoelectrodes and the design of photoelectrochemical devices is presented. Meanwhile, the general principles of structural and morphological factors in altering the photoelectrochemical performance of photoelectrodes are discussed. Furthermore, the performance indicators and first principles to describe the behaviors of charge carriers are analyzed, which will be of profound guiding significance to increasing the overall efficiency of the photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Finally, current challenges and prospects for an in-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms using advanced characterization technologies and potential strategies for developing novel photoelectrodes and advanced photoelectrochemical water splitting devices are demonstrated.     

Silicon Seed Priming Combined with Foliar Spray of Sulfur Regulates Photosynthetic and Antioxidant Systems to Confer Drought Tolerance in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Silicon - The present study evaluated the effect of silicon (Si) seed priming and sulfur (S) foliar spray on drought tolerance of two contrasting maize hybrids viz. drought tolerant Hi-Corn 11 and...