Toward A Mechanistic Understanding of Re-Infiltration in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs with Surfactant-Aided Gravity Drainage Process

Surfactant-aided gravity drainage is an improved oil recovery technique for water-invaded zone in fractured carbonate reservoirs, which are mostly oil-wet or mixed-wet rocks. The re-infiltration mechanism in water-invaded zone has a considerable effect on oil vertical movement in gravity drainage processes. In this work, a mechanistic understanding of re-infiltration in surfactant-aided gravity drainage, in comparison to oil–water gravity drainage is presented using an experimentally and numerically validated model. A column model is constructed from three matrix blocks. These blocks are separated from each other by horizontal fractures. A storage tank is considered on top of the model to store depleted oil from matrix blocks. The stacked-blocks model for re-infiltration is validated and verified to simulate water and chemical flooding using a mesh independency study and experimental flooding data in a composite core experiment. Using this model, several analyses are performed to investigate effects of rock and fluid properties, rock saturation functions, wettability alteration, surfactant adsorption, and capillary continuity on re-infiltration.     

Defensive role ofAllium sulfur compounds for leek mothAcrolepiopsis assectella Z. (Lepidoptera) against generalist predators

It has been shown previously that sulfur volatiles produced byAllium plants affect the behavior of their specialist phytophages and of their specialist entomophages. The action of these compounds in protecting the leek mothAcrolepiopsis assectella against generalist entomophages was studied in comparison to the proposed original defensive role of these compounds against generalist herbivorous insects. Two ants species,Formica selysi andF. fusca, were used as generalist predators. Six behavioral criteria of the predatory behavior of the ants were studied in presence of the last-instar caterpillars (C₅). C₅ reared on artificial diets with or without leek components were tested, as well as C₅ soaked in frass of leek-reared caterpillars or disulfide solutions. In addition, the response of the ants to pure chemicals found in leek was studied using honey solutions with or without sulfur compounds. The sulfur allelochemicals ofAllium plants have a negative action on predatory ants. Interestingly, the nonvolatile precursors of sulfur volatiles ofAllium plants seem to have a protective role for their phytophagous insects against generalist entomophages.     

A systematic method for the hybrid dynamic modeling of open kinematic chains confined in a closed environment

This work presents a systematic method for the dynamic modeling of multi-rigid links confined within a closed environment. The behavior of the system can be completely characterized by two different mathematical models: a set of highly coupled differential equations for modeling the confined multi-link system when it has no impact with surrounding walls; and a set of algebraic equations for expressing the collision of this open kinematic chain system with the confining surfaces. In order to avoid the Lagrangian formulation (which uses an excessive number of total and partial derivatives in deriving the governing equations of multi-rigid links), the motion equations of such a complex system are obtained according to the recursive Gibbs–Appell formulation. The main feature of this paper is the recursive approach, which is used to automatically derive the governing equations of motion. Moreover, in deriving the motion equations, the manipulators are not limited to planar motions only. In fact, for systematic modeling of the motion of a multi-rigid-link system in 3D space, two imaginary links are added to the \(n\)-real links of a manipulator in order to model the spatial rotations of the system. Finally, a 2D and a 3D case studies are simulated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

A case study validation of a knowledge-based approach for the selection of requirements engineering techniques

Requirements engineering (RE) is a critical phase in the software engineering process and plays a vital role in ensuring the overall quality of a software product. Recent research has shown that industry increasingly recognizes the importance of good RE practices and the use of appropriate RE techniques. However, due to the large number of RE techniques, requirements engineers find it challenging to select suitable techniques for a particular project. Unfortunately, technique selection based on personal experience has limitations with regards to the scope, effectiveness and suitability of the RE techniques for the project at hand. In this paper, a Knowledge-based Approach for the Selection of Requirements Engineering Techniques (KASRET) is proposed that helps during RE techniques selection. This approach has three major features. First, a library of requirements techniques was developed which includes detailed knowledge about RE techniques. Second, KASRET integrates advantages of different knowledge representation schemata and reasoning mechanisms. Thus, KASRET provides mechanisms for the management of knowledge about requirements techniques and support for RE process development. Third, as a major decision support mechanism, an objective function evaluates the overall ability and cost of RE techniques, which is helpful for the selection of RE techniques. This paper makes not only a contribution to RE but also to research and application of knowledge management and decision support in process development. A case study using an industrial project shows the support of KASRET for RE techniques selection.

Modulation Based Combination of High Level Features Generated from SCCF & Contourlet Transforms for CBIR Applications

The need for suitable and cost-effective technologies rise with the growth of the internet of things (IoT) applications. These aim at handling voluminous data transmission in addition to minimum energy and latency cost constraints. LoRa networks are recommended for applications in confined spaces, long ranges, and less battery consumption requirements. However, the end devices in these networks communicate to all gateways in their ranges, thereby expediting energy unproductively in redundant transmissions. In our article, we explore the possibilities of whether LoRa networks could employ the advantages of clustering and propose two algorithms, path-based and data-centric, for such networks. We suggest that LoRaWAN technology with clustering can be apt for long-range, low power consumption IoT applications in the future. We study the impact of network density, node range, and cluster range on the energy consumption in data transmissions. The algorithms are compared with the inherent star-based communication of LoRa networks based on energy consumed, and our results show that, for dense deployments, clustering becomes advantageous.

     

电子战装备技术发展现状与展望

信息技术的快速发展为电子战装备技术的进步提供了巨大动力,尤其是随着人工智能等技术的广泛应用,颠覆性的电子战装备技术不断涌现,将加速现代战争模式的演变。以具有代表性的军事强国为例,综述了电子战装备技术的发展战略、主要技术特点和典型前沿技术,在此基础上,对电子战装备技术的发展趋势进行了展望。     

Extended Algorithms for Approximating Variable Order Fractional Derivatives with Applications

This paper proposes accurate and robust algorithms for approximating variable order fractional derivatives of arbitrary order. The proposed schemes are based on finite difference approximations. We compare the performance of algorithms by introducing a new formulation of experimental convergence order. Two initial value problems are considered and solved by means of the proposed methods. Numerical results are provided justifying the usefulness of the proposed methods.     

Roll bonding of AA5052 and polypropylene sheets: Bonding mechanisms,microstructure and mechanical properties

Structural, microstructural and mechanical properties in roll bonding of AA5052 and polypropylene sheets have been evaluated in this study. The surface roughness of the AA5052 sheets, rolling temperature and the surface energy of polymer were selected as the bonding variables. The findings indicated that an increase in the surface energy of polypropylene by grafting maleic anhydride would result in higher bonding strength due to chemical interaction between the AA5052 and the maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH). In fact, this reaction caused the formation of an interphase layer at the polymer side of the interface and the diffusion of aluminum into the PP-g-MAH layer. It was also observed that an increase in the rolling temperature increases bonding strength because the polymer penetrates the AA5052 surface irregularities more easily, the PP-g-MAH molecules move more smoothly toward the AA5052 surface, and finally there are more chemical interactions among the layers. An Increase in the bonding strength through increasing the AA5052 surface roughness was attributed to an increase of the van der Waals force and more interaction surface among the layers along with higher mechanical interlocking in the shear tension test.     

Modeling managerial behavior in real options valuation for project-based environments

Project valuation, as a decision-making tool for initiating investments in projects, should be able to value project flexibilities and incorporate reasonable risk preferences of relevant decision makers. Real options valuation methods are the available approaches for valuing project flexibilities, whereas they have shortcomings in considering managers’ reasonable risk preferences in project decisions. Therefore, researchers have suggested approximating the perspective on risk of real options methods and practitioners in project management. This study proposes a fair real options valuation for project-based environments by a behavioral economic approach, which adopts binomial lattice method, Monte-Carlo simulation, and cumulative prospect theory. The results show that behavioral factors such as ‘risk attitude’ and ‘loss aversion’ should be accepted in project investment decisions while limited to an acceptable amount depending on the project conditions (e.g. uniqueness of decision-making scenarios). This research contributes to the project management domain by enhancing project investment decisions that include project flexibilities.