Growth and optical properties of Er,Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 crystal

Single crystal of erbium, ytterbium-codoped yttrium aluminum tetraborate Er,Yb:YAl₃(BO₃)₄(Er,Yb:YAB) has been grown by the flux method. The absorption spectrum in the visible and NIR regions of Er,Yb:YAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystal are measured at room temperature and fluorescence spectrum of Er,Yb:YAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystal are also measured at room temperature, excited by 976 nm laser. Not only the strong NIR emission peaks located at 1548 nm was observed, but also the visible up-conversion luminescence has been found. The specific heat of the Er/Yb:YAB crystal at room temperature is 0.81 J/g °C.     

A Fuzzy Mechanism for Action Selection of Soccer Robots

A vision-based soccer robot system is proposed, in which vision will identify the position and heading angle of each robot, and the position of the ball. With these imaging data, values for the defense factor, the competition factor, and the angle factor, are obtained. Using the three factors as the input variables of the proposed action selection mechanism, which is expressed in terms of fuzzy rules, the action that each robot should take is then chosen from the five basic actions available for the robots. In this manner, each robot may intercept, shoot, block, sweep the ball, or just stand by. After determining the action of each robot, control commands generated by the host computer are sent to the robot directly through a wireless RS-232. To show the feasibility of the proposed method, experimental results of a robot soccer game will be used for illustration.     

基于卷积神经网络和密度分布特征的人数统计方法

在行人监控视频中,由于行人遮挡、场景光照变化,人群分布不均等因素的影响使得现有方法难以准确统计视频中人数。针对该问题,提出一种基于卷积神经网络和密度分布特征的人数统计方法。该方法首先将场景中的人群依据密度进行划分;对稀疏人群,使用Retinex算法将场景去噪后转换至HSV空间中对行人位置进行预判,并使用栅极损失函数分块训练卷积神经网络提取行人特征,实现对遮挡行人局部位置的识别;对密集人群,提取人群密度分布特征并使用多核回归函数估计人群数量。该算法在PETS2009、UCSD等数据集上进行了测试,实验结果表明所提算法具有更好的统计精度。     

Developing a dynamic neighborhood structure for an adaptive hybrid simulated annealing – tabu search algorithm to solve the symmetrical traveling salesman problem

This paper applies a hybrid simulated annealing – tabu search algorithm to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). Fully considering the characteristics of the hybrid algorithm, we develop a dynamic neighborhood structure for the hybrid algorithm to improve search efficiency by reducing the randomness of the conventional 2-opt neighborhood. A circle-directed mutation is developed to achieve this dynamic neighborhood structure. Furthermore, we propose adaptive parameters that can be automatically adjusted by the algorithm based on context specific examples. This negates the need to frequently readjust algorithm parameters. We employ benchmarks obtained from TSPLIB (a library of sample instances for the TSP) to test our algorithm, and find that the proposed algorithm can obtain satisfactory solutions within a reasonable amount of time. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid algorithm can overcome the disadvantages of traditional simulated annealing and tabu search methods. The results also show that the dynamic neighborhood structure is more efficient and accurate than the classical 2-opt. Also, adaptive parameters are appropriate for almost all of the numerical examples tested in this paper. Finally, the experimental results are compared with those of other algorithms, to demonstrate the improved accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.     

Oligothiophene-based small molecules with 3,3′-difluoro-2,2′-bithiophene central unit for solution-processed organic solar cells

Two new oligothiophene-based small molecules, namely DRCN6T-F and DRCN8T-F, with 3,3′-difluoro-2,2′-bithiophene as the central building block and 2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-rhodanine as end groups, were designed and synthesized. Compared to their non-fluorinated counterparts DRCN6T and DRCN8T, DRCN6T-F and DRCN8T-F exhibit enhanced intermolecular interactions and lower HOMO energy levels. However, PCEs of 2.26% and 5.07% were obtained for DRCN6T-F and DRCN8T-F based optimized devices, respectively, lower than those of non-fluorinated molecules DRCN6T and DRCN8T. The relatively poor performance for the DRCN6T-F and DRCN8T-F were mainly caused by their low short-circuit current densities, due to their unfavorable morphologies and low charge carrier mobilities.     

A new model for PCBM phase segregation in P3HT:PCBM blends

The phase segregation in P3HT:PCBM blend films has been investigated from an experimental and theoretical viewpoint. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction show that thermal annealing of P3HT:PCBM blend films leads to the formation of PCBM aggregates. These aggregates are composed of dense randomly packed ∼50 nm PCBM crystallites with an overall aggregate density of ∼0.85 g cm⁻³. By applying the critical radius of nucleation for PCBM and the Stokes-Einstein equation for mobility of PCBM in a P3HT matrix, a model is developed which explains the formation of both crystallites and aggregates.     

A novel coupled biokinetic-equilibrium model to capture oyster metal bioaccumulation in a contaminated estuary (Sydney estuary,Australia)

Enriched concentrations of metal contaminants have been reported in surficial sediments and tissues of aquatic organisms in Sydney estuary, New South Wales, Australia. Dietary ingestion of contaminated, suspended sediments is potentially a major route of metal exposure to the filter-feeder Saccostrea glomerata. A dynamically coupled biokinetic-equilibrium bioaccumulation model was developed to explore sediment-oyster-metal uptake interactions. The biokinetic component simulated the sediment dynamics and oyster uptake and loss kinetics while the ion equilibrium model accounted for the metal speciation reactions. Results of a laboratory-based mesocosm experiment as well as data from the literature were used to parameterise the model. The model demonstrated a good fit of the experimental data and indicated that dissolved and particulate organic matter were important determinants of metal bioavailability to this species. The model served also as a unique tool to formulate testable hypotheses and help to better explain the bioaccumulation patterns observed from the experiment.     

Simple and green oxidation of cyclohexene to adipic acid with an efficient and durable silica-functionalized ammonium tungstate catalyst

A novel silica-functionalized ammonium tungstate interphase catalyst has been reported as a non-nitric acid route for adipic acid production from one-pot oxidative cleavage of 30% hydrogen peroxide and catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). The catalyst has been simply prepared by commercially available starting material. The structure of the catalyst has been investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy, atomic absorption, TEM, SEM and XRD analysis. The catalyst has shown good to high activity even up to 10 runs of reaction. Simple preparation of the catalyst, avoids using harmful phase transfer catalyst (PTC) and/or chlorinated additives are among the other benefits of this work.     

A new perspective on the temporal pattern of human activities in cities: The case of Shanghai

Time is a fundamental characteristic for understanding human activities. When analysing temporal pattern of a group of activities, most researchers tend to utilise one temporal attribute when representing time use of activities. Thus, temporal pattern of activities is usually visualised and understood as a profile of various observations listed sequentially over time. This paper aims to investigate the temporal pattern of activities in urban areas from a new perspective. Temporal pattern is visualised and analysed as the distribution of activity points in a two-dimensional temporal plane defined by the start and end time of activities as x and y axes. Kernel density estimation is used as a typical method to observe the temporal pattern of activities in Shanghai based on a one-week smart card dataset generated in the Shanghai's metro system. The results show that the proposed perspective can reveal considerably more information regarding the temporal pattern than a conventional one can.     

Transition-metal-based NiCoS/C-dot nanoflower as a stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Development of highly efficient electrocatalysts to produce hydrogen has been a significant topic over the past few decades. Currently, the platinum metal group shows the best catalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but the high cost and low abundance of these materials limit their wider application. Therefore, we synthesized transition-metal-based NiCoS along with carbon dots (C-dots) as a structure-directing agent by a hydrothermal method. We also synthesized sulfur-doped NiCo, where the sulfur enhances the conductivity of the catalysts. Herein, the synthesis temperatures were changed in the range from 120 to 240 °C. Among all, NiCoS synthesized at 150 °C shows the best HER performance capabilities. In more detail, NiCoS prepared at this temperature exhibits an onset potential of 96 mV and an overpotential of 232 mV. Especially, as-prepared NiCoS nanoflower subjects to long-term stability over 20 h at a current density of 10 mA/cm², making it a promising low-cost candidate for hydrogen production.