Performance Analysis of ZF and RZF in Low-Resolution ADC/DAC Massive MIMO Systems

Large number of antennas and higher bandwidth usage in massive multiple-input-multipleoutput(MIMO)systems create immense burden on receiver in terms of higher power consumption.The power consumption at the receiver radio frequency(RF)circuits can be significantly reduced by the application of analog-to-digital converter(ADC)of low resolution.In this paper we investigate bandwidth efficiency(BE)of massive MIMO with perfect channel state information(CSI)by applying low resolution ADCs with Rician fadings.We start our analysis by deriving the additive quantization noise model,which helps to understand the effects of ADC resolution on BE by keeping the power constraint at the receiver in radar.We also investigate deeply the effects of using higher bit rates and the number of BS antennas on bandwidth efficiency(BE)of the system.We emphasize that good bandwidth efficiency can be achieved by even using low resolution ADC by using regularized zero-forcing(RZF)combining algorithm.We also provide a generic analysis of energy efficiency(EE)with different options of bits by calculating the energy efficiencies(EE)using the achievable rates.We emphasize that satisfactory BE can be achieved by even using low-resolution ADC/DAC in massive MIMO.

Progress in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for green energy:Catalyst engineering,mechanisms,and techno-economic feasibility

Ammonia(NH_(3))is an irreplaceable chemical that has been widely demanded to keep the sustainable development of modern society.However,its industrial production consumes a huge amount of energy and releases extraordinary greenhouse gases(GHGs),leading to various environmental issues.Achieving the green production of ammonia is a great challenge,which has been extensively pursued in the last decade.In this review,the most promising strategy,electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction(e-NO_(3)RR),is comprehensively investigated to give a complete understanding of its development and mechanism and provide guidance for future directions.However,owing to the complex reactions and limited selectivity,a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms is crucial to further development and commercialization.Moreover,NO_(3)^(-)RR is a promising strategy for simultaneous water treatment and NH_(3)production.A detailed overview of the recent progress in NO_(3)^(-)RR for NH_(3)production with nontransition and transition metal based electrocatalysts is summarized.In addition,critical advanced techniques,future challenges,and prospects are discussed to guide future research on transition metal-based catalysts for commercial NH_(3)synthesis by NO_(3)^(-)reduction.

The manipulation of rectifying contact of Co and nitrogen-doped carbon hierarchical superstructures toward high-performance oxygen reduction reaction

Rational design and construction of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)electrocatalysts with high activity,good stability,and low price are essential for the practical applications of renewable energy conversion devices,such as metal-air batteries.Electronic modification through constructing metal/semiconductor Schottky heterointerface represents a powerful strategy to enhance the electrochemical performance.Herein,we demonstrate a concept of Schottky electrocatalyst composed of uniform Co nanoparticles in situ anchored on the carbon nanotubes aligned on the carbon nanosheets(denoted as Co@N-CNTs/NSs hereafter)toward ORR.Both experimental findings and theoretical simulation testify that the rectifying contact could impel the voluntary electron flow from Co to N-CNTs/NSs and create an internal electric field,thereby boosting the electron transfer rate and improving the intrinsic activity.As a consequence,the Co@N-CNTs/NSs deliver outstanding ORR activity,impressive long-term durability,excellent methanol tolerance,and good performance as the air-cathode in the Zn-air batteries.The design concept of Schottky contact may provide the innovational inspirations for the synthesis of advanced catalysts in sustainable energy conversion fields.

Rectangular tunnel heading stability in three dimensions and its predictive machine learning models

Tunnel heading stability in two dimensions(2D)has been extensively investigated by numerous scholars in the past decade.One significant limitation of 2D analysis is the absence of actual tunnel geometry modeling with a considerable degree of idealization.Nevertheless,it is possible to study the stability of tunnels in three dimensions(3D)with a rectangular shape using finite element limit analysis(FELA)and a nonlinear programming technique.This paper employs 3D FELA to generate rigorous solutions for stability numbers,failure mechanisms,and safety factors for rectangular-shaped tunnels.To further explore the usefulness of the produced results,multivariate adaptive regression spline(MARS)is used for machine learning of big dataset and development of design equations for practical design applications.The study should be of great benefit to tunnel design practices using the developed equations provided in the paper.

Bond-Slip Behavior of Steel Bar and Recycled Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete

Recycled steel fiber reinforced concrete is an innovative construction material that offers exceptional mechanical properties and durability.It is considered a sustainable material due to its low carbon footprint and environmental friendly characteristics.This study examines the key influencing factors that affect the behavior of this material,such as the steel fiber volume ratio,recycled aggregate replacement rate,concrete strength grade,anchorage length,and stirrup constraint.The study investigates the bond failure morphology,bond-slip,and bond strength constitutive relationship of steel fiber recycled concrete.The results show that the addition of steel fibers at 0.5%,1.0%,and 1.5%volume ratios can improve the ultimate bond strength of pull-out specimens by 9.05%,6.94%,and 5.52%,respectively.The replacement rate of recycled aggregate has minimal effect on the typical bond strength of pull-out specimens.However,the ultimate bond strengths of pull-out specimens with concrete strength grades C45 and C60 have improved compared to those with C30 grade.The specimens with longer anchorage lengths exhibit lower ultimate bond strength,with a reduction of 33.19%and 46.37%for anchorage lengths of 5D and 7D,respectively,compared to those without stirrups.Stirrup restraint of 1φ8 and 2φ8 improves the ultimate bond strength by 5.29%and 6.90%,respectively.Steel fibers have a significant effect on the behavior of concrete after it cracks,especially during the stable expansion stage,crack instability expansion stage,and failure stage.

A high‐performance transition‐metal phosphide electrocatalyst for converting solar energy into hydrogen at 19.6% STH efficiency

The construction of high-efficiency and low-cost non-noble metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for water electrolysis is crucial for commercial large-scale application of hydrogen energy.Here,we report a novel strategy with erbiumdoped NiCoP nanowire arrays in situ grown on conductive nickel foam(Er-NiCoP/NF).Significantly,the developed electrode shows exceptional bifunctional catalytic activity,which only requires overpotentials of 46 and 225 mV to afford a current density of 10 mAcm^(−2) for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and the oxygen evolution reaction(OER),respectively.Density functional theory calculations reveal that the appropriate Er incorporation into the NiCoP lattice can significantly modulate the electronic structure with the d-band centers of Ni and Co atoms by shifting to lower energies with respect to the Fermi level,and optimize the Gibbs free energies of HER/OER intermediates,thereby accelerating water-splitting kinetics.When assembled as a solar-driven overall water-splitting electrolyzer,the as-prepared electrode shows a high and stable solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 19.6%,indicating its potential for practical storage of intermittent energy.

Laser additive manufacturing of zinc:formation quality,texture,and cell behavior

Laser powder bed fusion(LPBF)makes it possible for biodegradable zinc(Zn)to be used to produce customized orthopedic implants.In this research,we investigate the impact of laser power and scanning speed on the development of surface quality,relative densification,and texture during LPBF of Zn implants.Increasing laser power was able to decrease melt viscosity and surface tension,which improved the metallurgical bonding between adjacent tracks.Uneven and twisted tracks also became continuous and straight.Scanning speed could controlmolten-pool temperature to restrain grain natural orientation,achieving various crystal orientations and a weakened texture.Importantly,it further avoided the thermal expansion and contraction caused by excessive energy storage and accumulation in the matrix,thus reducing the generation of high-dislocation density.As a result,by selecting a reasonable laser power and scanning speed,the LPBF parts exhibited a flat surface morphology and a high density over 99.5%.Their average hardness,mechanical strength,and elongation reached 50.2 HV,127.8 MPa,and 7.6%,respectively.Additionally,the parts displayed a moderate degradation rate and excellent osteogenic properties.All these results provide a basis for selecting process parameters to optimize the comprehensive properties of LPBF-processed Zn parts for biodegradable applications.

A semi-immobilized sulfur-rich copolymer backbone with conciliatory polymer skeleton and conductive substrates for high-performance Li-S batteries

Sulfur-rich polymers have gained a great deal of attention as the next-generation active materials in lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries due to their low cost,environmental compatibility,naturally sulfur uniform dispersion,and distinctive structure covalently bonding with sulfur atoms.However,the poor electrical conductivity and undesirable additional shuttle effect still hinder the commercial application of sulfur-rich polymers.Herein,we report a flexible semi-immobilization strategy to prepare allylterminated hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine)-functionalized reduced graphene oxide(A-PEI-EGO)as sulfur-rich copolymer backbone.The semi-immobilization strategy can effectively reconcile the demand for polymer skeleton and conductive substrates through forming quaternary ammonium groups and reducing oxygen-containing functional groups,resulting in enhanced skeleton adsorption capacity and substrate electronic conductivity,respectively.Furthermore,the stable covalent bonding connection based on polymer molecules(A-PEI)not only completely prevents the additional shuttle effect of lithiation organic molecules and even sulfur-rich oligomers,but provides more inverse vulcanization active sites.As a result,the as-prepared A-PEI-EGO-S cathodes display an initial discharge capacity of1338 m A h g^(-1)at a rate of 0.1 C and an outstanding cycling stability of 0.046%capacity decay per cycle over 600 cycles.Even under 6.2 mg cm^(-2)S-loaded and sparing electrolyte of 6μL mg^(-1),the A-PEI-EGO-S cathode can also achieve a superior cycling performance of 98%capacity retention after 60 cycles,confirming its application potential.

Functionalized carbon dots for corrosion protection:Recent advances and future perspectives

Metal corrosion causes significant economic losses,safety issues,and environmental pollution.Hence,its prevention is of immense research interest.Carbon dots(CDs)are a new class of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials,which have been considered for corrosion protection applications in recent years due to their corrosion inhibition effect,fluorescence,low toxicity,facile chemical modification,and cost-effectiveness.This study provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis,physical and chemical properties,and anticorrosion mechanisms of functionalized CDs.First,the corrosion inhibition performance of different types of CDs is introduced,followed by discussion on their application in the development of smart protective coatings with self-healing and/or self-reporting properties.The effective barrier formed by CDs in the coatings can inhibit the spread of local damage and achieve self-healing behavior.In addition,diverse functional groups on CDs can interact with Fe^(3+)and H^(+)ions generated during the corrosion process;this interaction changes their fluorescence,thereby demonstrating self-reporting behavior.Moreover,challenges and prospects for the development of CD-based corrosion protection systems are also presented.

Expansive Soil Stabilization by Bagasse Ash in Partial Replacement of Cement

This study examined the effects of using bagasse ash in replacement of ordinary Portland cement(OPC)in the treatment of expansive soils.The study concentrated on the compaction characteristics,volume change,compressive strength,splitting tensile strength,microstructure,California bearing ratio(CBR)value,and shear wave velocity of expansive soils treated with cement.Different bagasse ash replacement ratios were used to create soil samples.At varying curing times of 7,14,and 28 days,standard compaction tests,unconfined compressive strength tests,CBR tests,Brazilian split tensile testing,and bender element(BE)tests were carried out.According to X-ray diffraction(XRD)investigations,quartz and crystobalite make up the majority of the minerals in bagasse ash.Bagasse ash contains a variety of grain sizes,including numerous fiber-shaped particles,according to a scanning electronic microscope(SEM)test.For all of the treated specimens with various replacement ratios,the overall additive content has not changed.The results of the Brazilian split tensile tests demonstrate improved tensile strength for all specimens with various replacement proportions.A lower maximum dry density and a greater optimal water content would result from the substitution of bagasse ash.When the replacement ratio is not more than 20%,the CBR values of the parts replaced specimens are even higher than the cement treatments.The results of BE testing on the treated soils show that there is significant stiffness anisotropy but that it steadily diminishes with curing time and replacement ratio.According to the study,bagasse ash is a useful mineral additive,and the best replacement ratio(CBA20)is 20%.

管节点热点应力分析中的取值方法

热点应力是与S-N曲线相联系的应力指标不同的热点应力对应的S-N曲线也不同,因此在利用热点应力研究节点疲劳性能前,须给出热点应力的定义和计算方法。文中针对管节点热点应力有限元分析中的取值方法,利用有限元软件计算了支管轴向受拉工况下7个典型试件的主管SNCF二次外推取值与直接取值的结果,并对结果进行了比较和分析,分析表明采用外推取值的方法获得热点应力的方法物理意义明确,方法可取。

Effects of Sintering Atmosphere on the Microstructure and Surface Properties of Symmetric TiO2 Membranes

The effects of sintering atmosphere on the properties of symmetric TiO2 membranes are studied with regard to sintering behavior, porosity, mean pore size, surface comPosition. and surface charge properties. The exerimental results show that the symmetric TiO2 membranes display better sintering activity in the air than in argon, and the mean pore diameters and porosities of the membrane sintered in argon are higher than those of the membrane sintered in the air at the same temperature. The surface compositions of the symmetric TiO2 membrane sintered in the air and in argon at different temperatures, as studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, are discussed in terms of their chemical composition, with particular emphasis on the valence state of the titanium ions. The correlation between the valence state of the titanium ions at the surface and the surface charge properties is examined.It is found that the presence of Ti^3＋, introduced at the surface of the symmetric TiO2 membranes by sintering in a lower partial pressure of oxygen, is related to a significant decrease in the isoelectric point. TiO2 with Ti^4＋ at the interface has an isoelectric point of 5.1, but the non-stoichiometric TiO2-x with Ti^3＋ at the interface has a lower isoelectric point of 3.6.

Influence of Firing Temperature on Properties of Gun Propellants

Initial firing temperatures play an important role on the combustion rate of propellant. In gun propellants, initial temperature is a key factor for both accuracy and safety. Ideally, the initial temperature of the propellant should not influence the ballistic properties of the round. Nevertheless, constant initial temperature coefficients can not be achieved easily. This work focuses on the influence of the firing temperature on the ballistic properties, the mechanical integrity and the sensitivity to impact of nitrocellulose based propellants. Combustion rates have been determined by closed vessel tests. Ballistic properties have been investigated by firing 5.56 cartridges. The propellants have been conditioned at temperatures ranging from -54 ℃ to ＋71 ℃ before firing. The largest temperature coefficient is observed at high temperatures. The temperature sensitivity of the peak pressure in the combustion chamber can not be fully explained by the results from the closed vessel test. The authors speculated that the mechanical behaviour of the propellant grains at low temperatures influences also the overall ballistic properties of the round. Impact tests with propellants conditioned at low and high temperatures permit to investigate their mechanical strength under extreme temperatures and to better understand the propellant performance during firing. Tests on aged propellants have been conducted as well.

Recent applications of carbon-based composites in defence industry: A review

Carbon-based composites, including carbon reinforced composites and carbon-matrix composites, in defence technologies have raised a lot of attention due to its significant physical capabilities, superior thermal and mechanical stability, and its eco-friendly nature. Carbon-based composite which incorporating with various carbonaceous materials such as coke, char, black carbon, activated carbon, carbon fibre and other carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres, graphene and graphite) are the greatest viable option for the development of advanced defence technologies. In this review article the characteristics of carbon-based materials and its composites are discussed for their distinct application in defence sectors;aeronautics, maritime, automotive, electronics, energy storage, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and structures. The origin of carbonaceous materials and its production techniques were discussed. Carbon-based composites have a promising future in defence technology, particularly in chemical sensors, drug delivery agents, radar technologies, and nanocomposites due to their low cost, easy availability, flexibility in design and processing.

Manipulator Neural Network Control Based on Fuzzy Genetic Algorithm

The three-layer forward neural networks are used to establish the inverse kinematics models of robot manipulators. The fuzzy genetic algorithm based on the linear scaling of the fitness value is presented to update the weights of neural networks. To increase the search speed of the algorithm, the crossover probability and the mutation probability are adjusted through fuzzy control and the fitness is modified by the linear scaling method in FGA. Simulations show that the proposed method improves considerably the precision of the inverse kinematics solutions for robot manipulators and guarantees a rapid global convergence and overcomes the drawbacks of SGA and the BP algorithm.

Allelochemical p-hydroxybenzoic acid inhibits root growth via regulating ROS accumulation in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)

Allelopathy is prevalent in agricultural ecosystems and mediated by plant-derived secondary metabolites(allelochemicals).Allelochemicals are released by donor plants and affect the root growth and development of receptor plants.Allelopathy is responsible for the continuous cropping obstacles in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.).p-Hydroxybenzoic acid(pHBA),an autotoxin from root exudates of cucumber,has been proposed to be an important allelopathic chemical.However,the molecular mechanism by which pHBA affect root growth and development in cucumber is unknown.Here,we found that pHBA treatment suppressed root growth of cucumber by reducing the meristem activity and cell length.This root growth defect is caused by reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)accumulation in root tips.After pHBA treatment,the expression levels of several ROS-scavenging-related genes were increased,including peroxidase(POD),catalase(CAT)and metallothionein(MT).Moreover,exogenously application of salicylhydroxamate(SHAM),a peroxidase inhibitor,can partially restore the pHBA treatment induced root growth inhibition.Furthermore,we found that there is natural variation for the inhibitory effect of pHBA on root growth.We also showed that pHBA treatment could maintain higher level of ROS accumulated in the pHBA less sensitive cucumber than that in the pHBA-sensitive cucumber.These results suggest that pHBA inhibits root growth by reducing root tip ROS level in cucumber.

High-Entropy Perovskite Oxide: A New Opportunity for Developing Highly Active and Durable Air Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

Reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cell(R-PCEC)is regarded as the most promising energy conversion device,which can realize efficient mutual conversion of electrical and chemical energy and to solve the problem of large-scale energy storage.However,the development of robust electrodes with high catalytic activity is the main bottleneck for the commercialization of R-PCECs.Here,a novel type of high-entropy perovskite oxide consisting of six equimolar metals in the A-site,Pr_(1/6)La_(1/6)Nd_(1/6)Ba_(1/6)Sr_(1/6)Ca_(1/6)CoO_(3−δ)(PLN-BSCC),is reported as a high-performance bifunctional air electrode for R-PCEC.By harnessing the unique functionalities of multiple ele-ments,high-entropy perovskite oxide can be anticipated to accelerate reaction rates in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes.Especially,an R-PCEC utilizing the PLNBSCC air electrode achieves exceptional electrochemical performances,demonstrating a peak power density of 1.21 W cm^(−2)for the fuel cell,while simultaneously obtaining an astonishing current density of−1.95 A cm^(−2)at an electrolysis voltage of 1.3 V and a temperature of 600℃.The significantly enhanced electrochemical performance and durability of the PLNBSCC air electrode is attributed mainly to the high electrons/ions conductivity,fast hydration reactivity and high configurational entropy.This research explores to a new avenue to develop optimally active and stable air electrodes for R-PCECs.

Differences and Similarities of Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis in Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials:Strategies,Traps,Applications and Challenges

Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis have been essential parts of electrochemical processes for over half a century.Recent progress in the controllable synthesis of 2D nanomaterials has exhibited enhanced catalytic performance compared to bulk materials.This has led to significant interest in the exploitation of 2D nanomaterials for catalysis.There have been a variety of excellent reviews on 2D nanomaterials for catalysis,but related issues of differences and similarities between photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in 2D nanomaterials are still vacant.Here,we provide a comprehensive overview on the differences and similarities of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in the latest 2D nanomaterials.Strategies and traps for performance enhancement of 2D nanocatalysts are highlighted,which point out the differences and similarities of series issues for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.In addition,2D nanocatalysts and their catalytic applications are discussed.Finally,opportunities,challenges and development directions for 2D nanocatalysts are described.The intention of this review is to inspire and direct interest in this research realm for the creation of future 2D nanomaterials for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.

Atomic-level insights into surface engineering of semiconductors for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction

Photocatalytic conversion of CO_(2)into solar fuels provides a bright route for the green and sustainable development of human society.However,the realization of efficient photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)is still challenging owing to the sluggish kinetics or unfavorable thermodynamics for basic chemical processes of CO_(2)RR,such as adsorption,activation,conversion and product desorption.To overcome these shortcomings,recent works have demonstrated that surface engineering of semiconductors,such as introducing surface vacancy,surface doping,and cocatalyst loading,serves as effective or promising strategies for improved photocatalytic CO_(2)RR with high activity and selectivity.The essential reason lies in the activation and reaction pathways can be optimized and regulated through the reconstruction of surface atomic and electronic structures.Herein,in this review,we focus on recent research advances about rational design of semiconductor surface for photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.The surface engineering strategies for improved CO_(2)adsorption,activation,and product selectivity will be reviewed.In addition,theoretical calculations along with in situ characterization techniques will be in the spotlight to clarify the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction process.The aim of this review is to provide deep understanding and rational guidance on the design of semiconductors for photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.

Machine Learning−based Weather Support for the 2022 Winter Olympics

1.A key support for the 2022 Winter Olympics The XXIV Olympic Winter Games are scheduled to take place from 4 to 22 February 2022,followed by the Paralympic Games from 4 to 13 March,in Beijing and towns in the neighboring Hebei Province,China.Weather plays an extremely important role in the outcome of the games(Chen et al.,2018).It can not only cause a difference between a medal or not,but affect the safety of athletes.Success of the Winter Olympics will greatly depend on weather conditions at the outdoor competition venues,dealing with many weather elements including the snow surface temperature,apparent temperature,gust wind speed,snow,visibility,etc.To ensure that the scheduled games go smoothly,it is imperative to have hourly or even every 10-minutely forecasts as well as updated weather-related risk assessments at the venues for the next 240 hours.So far,the Beijing/Hebei Meteorological Observatory has already started intelligent weather forecasting at 3-km resolution based on the results of numerical weather prediction(NWP)models.However,these experiments have suggested that the current forecasting techniques are incapable of capturing the complex mountain weather variations around some venues.The forecasting capability of NWP is constrained partly by limited knowledge of the local weather mechanisms.