Numerical method for impulse control of piecewise deterministic Markov processes

This paper presents a numerical method to calculate the value function for a general discounted impulse control problem for piecewise deterministic Markov processes. Our approach is based on a quantization technique for the underlying Markov chain defined by the post jump location and inter-arrival time. Convergence results are obtained and more importantly we are able to give a convergence rate of the algorithm. The paper is illustrated by a numerical example.     

Terahertz Real-Time Imaging Uncooled Arrays Based on Antenna-Coupled Bolometers or FET Developed at CEA-Leti

Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves - Sensitive and large-format terahertz focal plane arrays (FPAs) integrated in compact and hand-held cameras that deliver real-time terahertz...     

Impact of oxygen concentration during the deposition of window layers on lowering the metastability effects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CBD Zn(S,O) based solar cell

The purpose of the present paper is to focus on the impact of oxygen gas partial pressure during the sputtering of i‐ZnO and ZnMgO on the transient behavior of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGSe) based solar cells parameters when a CBD‐Zn(S,O) buffer layer is used. Based on electrical characterization of cells, it is observed that the effect of light soaking is different on J–V characteristics depending on whether oxygen is or is not present during the first deposition time of the i‐ZnO or ZnMgO layers. In fact, when cells are prepared with standard i‐ZnO, the efficiencies are very low and a pronounced transient behavior is observed. However, when the first 10 nm of i‐ZnO or ZnMgO is formed by sputtered layer without adding oxygen during the process, depending on the thickness of the buffer layer, the transient effects strongly decreases. It is then possible to get stable cells reaching efficiencies quite similar to the CdS reference cells, especially with ZnMgO, without any post‐treatments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The catalysis of the Ruff oxidative degradation of aldonic acids by titanium‐containing zeolites

Ti‐BEA and Ti‐FAU, obtained by post‐synthesis treatment, and TS‐1, obtained by direct hydrothermal synthesis, have been tested as catalysts for the Ruff oxidative degradation of calcium d‐gluconate to d‐arabinose using diluted hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Only large‐pore zeolites Ti‐BEA and Ti‐FAU were found to be active. It was shown, in particular, that a very rapid leaching of titanium occurred and that the titanium species present in the solution were responsible for the catalytic activity observed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

IEA Mobility Model (MoMo) and its use in the ETP 2008

The IEA published “Energy Technology Perspectives” (ETP) in June 2008. That document reports on IEA scenarios for baseline and low-CO₂ alternative scenarios to 2050, across the energy economy. The study included creating scenarios for transport, using the IEA Mobility Model (MoMo). This paper reports on the transport-related ETP scenarios and describes the model used in the analysis. According to the ETP Baseline scenario, world transport energy use and CO₂ emissions will more than double by 2050. In the most challenging scenario, called “BLUE”, transport emissions are reduced by 70% in 2050 compared to their baseline level in that year (and about 25% below their 2005 levels). There are several versions of the BLUE scenario, but all involve: a 50% or greater improvement in LDV efficiency, 30–50% improvement in efficiency of other modes (e.g. trucks, ships and aircraft), 25% substitution of liquid fossil fuels by biofuels, and considerable penetration of electric and/or fuel-cell vehicles. In the second half of this paper, an overview of the MoMo model is provided. Details on the complete analysis are contained in the ETP 2008 document, available at www.iea.org. Details of the LDV fuel economy analysis are contained in a separate paper in this collection.     

Anaerobic methane oxidation and aerobic methane production in an east African great lake (Lake Kivu)

We investigated CH₄ oxidation in the water column of Lake Kivu, a deep meromictic tropical lake with CH₄-rich anoxic deep waters. Depth profiles of dissolved gases (CH₄ and N₂O) and a diversity of potential electron acceptors for anaerobic CH₄ oxidation (NO₃^?, SO₄^2?, Fe and Mn oxides) were determined during six field campaigns between June 2011 and August 2014. Denitrification measurements based on stable isotope labelling experiments were performed twice. In addition, we quantified aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation, NO₃^? and SO₄^2? consumption rates, with and without the presence of an inhibitor of SO₄^2?-reducing bacteria activity. Aerobic CH₄ production was also measured in parallel incubations with the addition of an inhibitor of aerobic CH₄ oxidation. The maximum aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation rates were estimated to be 27?±?2 and 16?±?8?μmol/L/d, respectively. We observed a difference in the relative importance of aerobic and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation during the rainy and the dry season, with a greater role for aerobic oxidation during the dry season. Lower anaerobic CH₄ oxidation rates were measured in presence of molybdate in half of the measurements, suggesting the occurrence of linkage between SO₄^2? reduction and anaerobic CH₄ oxidation. NO₃^? consumption and dissolved Mn production rates were never high enough to sustain the measured anaerobic CH₄ oxidation, reinforcing the idea of a coupling between SO₄^2? reduction and CH₄ oxidation in the anoxic waters of Lake Kivu. Finally, significant rates (up to 0.37?μmol/L/d) of pelagic CH₄ production were also measured in oxygenated waters.     

Commercial farmers’ strategies to control water resources in South Africa: an empirical view of reform

This article shows how large-scale commercial farmers, individually and collectively, are responding to land and water reform processes in the Thukela River basin, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With a high degree of innovative agency, commercial farmers have effectively executed four strategies, enabling them to adapt and use their access to resources to neutralize multiple water reform efforts that once promised to be catalysts for inclusive change in the post-apartheid era. It is likely that policy alone will not facilitate the envisioned transformation, if local practices are not sufficiently understood and anticipated by the governmental officials charged with the implementation of water reform processes.     

Switched-capacitor high-speed emulator for real-time fault location in electrical power systems

This research presents a discrete-time transmission line model based on the propagation of travelling waves. In this approach, the transmission line is emulated by means of many interconnected unit delay cells implemented with switched-capacitor (SC) circuits. The accuracy and limitations of this method is compared to existing transconductance–capacitor solutions and is evaluated in the frame of a novel power network fault location method based on the electromagnetic time-reversal principle. The impact of the non-ideal effects associated to analog CMOS SC circuits, such as amplifier finite gain, offset and switch charge injection is evaluated in the same context. A possible application of the model for the simulation of interconnected or multi-conductor lines is also discussed. After an AMS 0.35 µm process implementation, it is shown that the present method allows a fault location within 1% resolution and is a hundred times faster than nowadays digital solutions. This speed improvement allows a fault location within 160 ms, making thus real-time applications realistic.     

Local strain measurements of yarns inside of 3D warp interlock fabric during forming process

The final geometry of 3D warp interlock fabric needs to be check during the 3D forming step to ensure the right locations of warp and weft yarns inside the final structure. Thus, a new monitoring approach has been proposed based on sensor yarns located in the fabric thickness. To ensure the accuracy of measurements, the observation of the surface deformation of the 3D warp interlock fabric has been joined to the sensor yarns measurements. At the end, it has been revealed a good correlation between strain measurement done globally by camera and locally performed by sensor yarns. Additionally, sensor yarns located in the two directions of the 3D warp interlock fabric have revealed a different forming behaviour depending on the architecture and the different slope values of the punch.