Testing the oil price efficiency using various measures of long-range dependence

In this paper, we empirically examine the application of a host of techniques employed to measure price efficiency through long-range dependence using prices of monthly oil contracts. Using a series of methods, we analyse the volatility (daily absolute returns) of WTI and Brent oil prices for nine different contracts with maturity, ranging from 1 to 9 months, during the sample period of 1990-2017. We use bootstrapping to compute the confidence interval of the parameter of long-range dependence. Our results indicate that on an average, there is no long-range dependence in the volatility of oil price contracts at least at the 10-percent level of significance. Moreover, our results of rolling estimates suggest that the normality assumption does not affect the results considerably, and the results are robust to different rolling window sizes. While the results of the efficiency index suggest that the efficiency of oil returns vary with time, the futures contracts for Brent oil are found to be less efficient compared to WTI oil. The long-term futures contracts are more efficient than short-term contracts.     

往复式活塞压缩机中间喷液制冷系统的(火用)分析

通过对往复式活塞压缩机进行改造，在单级活塞压缩系统的基础上搭建了一种中间喷液冷却的准两级压缩系统并在蒸发温度为-20 ℃的工况下进行实验测量，根据实验数据对单级活塞压缩系统和新型中间喷液冷却活塞压缩系统的COP、〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗损失和〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗效率进行计算。结果表明：加入中间喷液冷却系统后，系统的COP由1.27提升至1.36，单位制冷量由155.1 kJ/kg提升至176.7 kJ/kg；单级活塞压缩系统〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗损失较大的部分是压缩机和膨胀阀，分别占压缩机输入〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗的16.2%和14.8%，加入中间喷液冷却系统后压缩机部分的〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗损失明显降低，仅占压缩机输入〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗的3.6%，冷凝器及膨胀阀的〖HT5”，7”〗火〖KG-*3〗用〖HT5”〗损比也有所下降。     

长江经济带环境污染治理投资对生态效率的影响研究

环境污染治理投资是生态环境保护的资金来源，其投资规模和投资形式对生态效率产生着重大影响。本文构建生态效率测度指标和非期望的超效率SBM模型，测定了长江经济带9省2市的生态效率水平，再利用Tobit模型量化研究环境污染治理投资的总量及各投资形式对生态效率的影响程度，得出长江经济带环境污染治理投资对生态效率具有正向影响但影响程度一般，3种环境污染治理投资类型中的当年完成环保验收项目环保投资对生态效率影响程度最大且显著。     

Self-learning residual model for fast intra CU size decision in 3D-HEVC

As an extension of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, 3D-HEVC requires to encode multiple texture views and depth maps, which inherits the same quad-tree coding structure as HEVC. Due to the distinct properties of texture views and depth maps, existing fast intra prediction approaches were presented for the coding of texture views and depth maps, respectively. To further reduce the coding complexity of 3D-HEVC, a self-learning residual model-based fast coding unit (CU) size decision approach is proposed for the intra coding of both texture views and depth maps. Residual signal, which is defined as the difference between the original luminance pixel and the optimal prediction luminance pixel, is firstly extracted from each CU. Since residue signal is strongly correlated with the optimal CU partition, it is used as the feature of each CU. Then, a self-learning residual model is established by intra feature learning, which iteratively learns the features of the previously encoded coding tree unit (CTU) generated by itself. Finally, a binary classifier is developed with the self-learning residual model to early terminate CU size decision of both texture views and depth maps. Experimental results show the proposed fast intra CU size decision approach achieves 33.3% and 49.3% encoding time reduction on average for texture views and depth maps with negligible loss of overall video quality, respectively.     

Silicon-silver dendritic nanostructures for the enhanced photoelectrochemical splitting of natural water

We report on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of natural water (pH 7) using silicon (Si) nanowires fitted with silver (Ag) dendrites (dendritic nanostructures) as working electrodes (photoanodes). A detailed study of the PEC water splitting process was carried out using linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurements. The measured photocurrent density of 1.7 mA/cm² at an external voltage of ?0.6 V under white light illumination demonstrates the efficient decomposition of natural water using dendritic nanostructures as working electrodes. This decomposition is mainly attributed to a significant strengthening of the effective interface between working electrode surface/water and to a decline in the recombination of photoinduced carriers in the presence of Ag dendrites. We propose that the Schottky barrier between Si and Ag dendritic nanostructures favors enhanced photoinduced charge carrier separation. Photoinduced holes in Si are transferred to Ag dendrites (nano branches and leaves) that serve as a charge sink to effectively carry out the PEC oxidation of water. Photoinduced charge carrier separation enhancement was corroborated by the kinetics of our carrier recombination study. We obtained a reasonably long transient period of 80 s for the photoinduced carriers. EIS results show that the charge transfer resistance (150 Ω) of the dendritic nanostructure surface is low enough to promote interfacial charge transfer. This resistance generated a large carrier concentration of ～1.1 × 10²⁰ cm^?3 at the working electrode/water interface according to an M-S analysis. An applied bias-photon-to-current-conversion efficiency level of roughly 4% is reported, demonstrating the efficient PEC splitting of natural water.     

Two‐sided matching framework for optimal user association in 5G multi‐RAT UDNs

Recently, academic and industrial research communities are paying more explicit attention to the 5G multiple radio access technology ultra‐dense networks (5G multi‐RAT UDNs) for boosting network capacity, especially in UD urban zones. To this aim, in this paper, we intend to tackle the user association problem in 5G multi‐RAT UDNs. By considering the decoupled uplink/downlink access (DUDA), we divide our user association problem into two distinct subproblems representing, respectively, the uplink and the downlink channels. Next, we formulated each one as a nonlinear optimization problem with binary variables. Then, to solve them, we were restricted by the hard complexity, as well as the hard feasibility of centralized user association schemes. Thus, to resolve our user association problem in a reasonable time and distributed manner, we formulated each subproblem as a many‐to‐one matching game based on matching theory. Next, we provide two fully distributed association algorithms to compute the uplink and downlink stable matching among user equipments (UEs) and base stations (BSs). Simulation results corroborate our theoretical model and show the effectiveness and improvement of our achieved results in terms of the overall network performance, quality of service (QoS), and energy efficiency (EE) of UEs.     

Heavy Water Additive in Formamidinium: A Novel Approach to Enhance Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency

Heavy water or deuterium oxide (D₂O) comprises deuterium, a hydrogen isotope twice the mass of hydrogen. Contrary to the disadvantages of deuterated perovskites, such as shorter recombination lifetimes and lower/invariant efficiencies, the serendipitous effect of D₂O as a beneficial solvent additive for enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of triple-A cation (cesium (Cs)/methylammonium (MA)/formaminidium (FA)) perovskite solar cells from ≈19.2% (reference) to 20.8% (using 1 vol% D₂O) with higher stability is reported. Ultrafast optical spectroscopy confirms passivation of trap states, increased carrier recombination lifetimes, and enhanced charge carrier diffusion lengths in the deuterated samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state NMR spectroscopy validate the N–H₂ group as the preferential isotope exchange site. Furthermore, the NMR results reveal the induced alteration of the FA to MA ratio due to deuteration causes a widespread alteration to several dynamic processes that influence the photophysical properties. First-principles density functional theory calculations reveal a decrease in PbI₆ phonon frequencies in the deuterated perovskite lattice. This stabilizes the PbI₆ structures and weakens the electron–LO phonon (Fröhlich) coupling, yielding higher electron mobility. Importantly, these findings demonstrate that selective isotope exchange potentially opens new opportunities for tuning perovskite optoelectronic properties.     

碎软煤层条带瓦斯地面高效抽采技术研究

为了提高碎软煤层条带瓦斯抽采效率和效果,基于目前地面瓦斯抽采主要采用垂直井或从式井的方式抽采效果差、效率低的现状,通过理论和实验分析论证了穿岩层压裂改造煤储层的可行性,提出了在目标煤层顶板岩层中钻水平井,并通过垂直向下射孔以及采用泵送桥塞分段进行压裂的方式进行地面瓦斯抽采。试验结果表明:顶板分段压裂水平井单井产量高、高稳产期更长、产量衰减更慢;有效水平井段控制区域内瓦斯下降均匀,更有利于进行条带瓦斯抽采;相同投资条件下,采用水平井的方式瓦斯抽采效率和投入产出比更高。     

薄壁弱刚性钛合金结构件制造工艺

随着新型材料冶金技术的发展与进步,钛合金作为“崛起的第三代金属”已完全替代了铝镁合金和钢构件,成为航天飞行器上应用范围最广的材料之一。从某新研制航天飞行器外部结构件用钛合金材料的特性及切削特点入手,针对薄壁弱刚性钛合金结构件在实际加工过程中遇到的诸多难点,提出了相应的解决办法,并重新设计了零件工装。结果表明,改进措施不仅保证了零件质量,而且提高了零件加工效率,使单件零件的生产周期缩短了近10h。