Convergence Analysis of the Hierarchical Least Squares Algorithm for Bilinear-in-Parameter Systems

This paper studies the convergence of the hierarchical identification algorithm for bilinear-in-parameter systems. By replacing the unknown variables in the information vector with their estimates, a hierarchical least squares algorithm is derived based on the model decomposition. The proposed algorithm has higher computational efficiency than the over-parameterization model-based recursive least squares algorithm. The performance analysis shows that the parameter estimation errors converge to zero under persistent excitation conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by simulation examples.     

Grain size refinement through gas bubble stirring in AC4CH cast aluminium alloy

A comparison has been made of the mechanical properties of gravity and squeeze cast aluminium alloys that have been grain refined using gas bubbling and those that have not. To find the optimum gas bubbling conditions, the alloy melt temperature, the gas flow rate and the gas bubbling times were varied over wide ranges. The microstructure of the gas bubbled gravity and squeeze cast materials is fine, equiaxed and non-dendritic with an average primary α size of 52 μm and 163 μm respectively. However, gas bubbling has no effect on the morphology of the eutectic Si. There seems to be no noticeable difference between the measured mechanical properties of the gravity and squeeze cast materials with or without the gas bubbling. The lack of improvement in the mechanical properties of the gravity cast alloy is due to casting defects and porosity, which offset the effects of the grain refinement. The crystal separation and showering mechanisms are operative for the formation of equiaxed grains.     

Rheological characterisation of sorbet using pipe rheometry during the freezing process

Sorbet produced without aeration is a dispersion of ice crystals distributed randomly in a freeze-concentrated liquid phase. The rheological properties of this suspension will be affected by the viscosity of the continuous liquid phase and the volume fraction of ice crystals. The knowledge of the viscosity of sorbet is essential for the improvement of product quality, the selection of process equipment, and for the optimal design of piping systems. This work aimed firstly, at studying the influence of the ice volume fraction (determined by the product temperature) on the apparent viscosity of a commercial sorbet, and secondly, to propose a rheological model that describes the evolution of the viscosity of the product as a function of the ice volume fraction. The rheology of sorbet was measured in situ by means of a pipe rheometer connected at the outlet of a continuous scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE). The pipe rheometer was composed of a series of pipes in PVC of different diameters, making it possible to apply a range of apparent shear rate from 4 to 430 s⁻¹. The flow behaviour index of sorbet decreased as the temperature of the product decreased, the effect of which indicates that the product becomes more shear thinning as the freezing of sorbet occurs. The consistency coefficient and therefore the magnitude of the apparent viscosity of sorbet increased with the decrease in product temperature and with the increase of the ice volume fraction. Results also showed that the rheological model described the experimental data within a 20% error.     

EFFECTS OF HALL CURRENT ON UNSTEADY FLOW OF A SECOND GRADE FLUID IN A ROTATING SYSTEM

Rotating flow of a second grade conducting fluid on an infinite oscillating plate is investigated when the fluid is permeated by a transverse magnetic field and the Hall effects are taken into account. It is once again found that an asymptotic solution exists in the presence of both suction and blowing at the plate. For fixed magnetic field parameter the boundary layer thickness increases with the increase in Hall parameter. The present analysis is more general than any previous investigations.     

Cadmium-induced functional and ultrastructural alterations in roots of two transgenic cotton cultivars

The toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) at increasing concentrations was studied with special attention being given to the root morphological and ultrastructural changes in two transgenic cotton cultivars viz. BR001 and GK30 and their wild relative viz. Coker 312. In comparison to their respective controls, low concentration (10 and 100microM) of Cd greatly stimulated seed germination, while it was inhibited by highest concentration of Cd (1000microM) in case of two transgenic cultivars. However, in Coker 312 the seed germination percentage progressively decreased over the control at all Cd levels. Various physiological and morphological parameters of the root and whole plant in both transgenic cotton cultivars and their relative wild cotton genotype respond differently towards the Cd toxicity. Bioavailability of Cd was concentration-dependent where seedling root captured more Cd as compared to shoot. BR001 accumulated more Cd followed by GK30, while Coker 312 was less Cd accumulator. The ultrastructural modifications in the root tip cells of both the transgenic cotton cultivars and their wild relative were also dose-dependent. With the increase in Cd levels, the fine structures of their root cells also invariably changed. Increase in plasmolysis of the plasma membrane, greater number of nucleoli and vacuoles and enlarged vacuoles could be observed in both transgenic cotton cultivars. In comparison to them, Coker 312 showed relatively well developed ultrastructures of the root tips except enlarged vacuoles and greater number of mitochondria. Moreover, the accumulation of Cd in the form of electron dense granules and crystals both in vacuoles and attached to cell walls were visible in both transgenic cotton cultivars and their wild relative. These results suggest that both transgenic cotton cultivars and their wild relative cotton genotype responded positively towards Cd stress at seedling stage, the internal Cd-detoxification might be through apoplastic and symplastic binding. Moreover, as a whole BR001 proved to be sensitive whereas; GK30 and Coker 312 were found as tolerant.     

Series Solution of Wire Coating Analysis Involving MHD Johnson-Segalman Fluid

This article looks at the wire coating analysis by withdrawal from a bath of magnetohydrodynamic Johnson-Segalman fluid. An analytic technique, the homotopy analysis method, is employed to obtain the series solution of the resulting nonlinear problem. The convergence of the obtained solution is studied. The effects of various emerging parameters are graphed and discussed.     

A Method of Generating 8 × 8 Substitution Boxes Based on Elliptic Curves

Wireless Personal Communications - A Single Frequency Network (SFN) reorganization approach for existing DTT networks is introduced that enables the clearing of the Digital Dividend 2 frequencies...     

Toxoplasmic polymyositis revisited: case report and review of literature

Toxoplasmosis can cause polymyositis either by reactivation or by recent infection. Inconsistent response to antiprotozoal therapy has been the strongest argument against toxoplasmic polymyositis as a separate entity. We report a biopsy-proven case of toxoplasmic polymyositis in a cardiac transplant patient presenting with a severe proximal weakness, myopathic, electromyographic changes and ten-fold increase of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. An early antiprotozoal therapy and plasmapheresis led to recovery. A review of previously reported cases of toxoplasmic polymyositis suggests that an early antiprotozoal therapy is the most important variable affecting the outcome of this disease. We propose that toxoplasmic polymyositis has two phases: acute, responsive to antiprotozoal therapy, and chronic, manifested by altered immune response requiring steroids. We suggest that all patients presenting with polymyositis should have serological tests for toxoplasmosis as a part of their initial evaluation and an early trial of antiprotozoal therapy in case of positive findings.     

Gain-bandwidth characteristics of thin avalanche photodiodes

The frequency-response characteristics of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with thin multiplication layers are investigated by means of a recurrence technique that incorporates the history dependence of ionization coefficients. In addition, to characterize the autocorrelation function of the impulse response, new recurrence equations are derived and solved using a parallel computer. The mean frequency response and the gain-bandwidth product are computed and a simple model for the dependence of the gain-bandwidth product on the multiplication-layer width is set forth for GaAs, InP, Al_0.2Ga_0.8As, and In_0.52Al_0.48 As APDs. It is shown that the dead-space effect leads to a reduction (up to 30%) in the bandwidth from that predicted by the conventional multiplication theory. Notably, calculation of the power-spectral density of the photocurrent reveals that the presence of dead space also results in a reduction in the fluctuations in the frequency response. This result is the spectral generalization of the reduction in the excess noise factor in thin APDs and reveals an added advantage of using thin APDs in ultrafast receivers     

Maximum-likelihood image estimation using photon-correlated beams

A theory is presented addressing the fundamental limits of image estimation in a setup that uses two photon-correlated beams. These beams have the property that their photon arrivals, as a point process, are ideally synchronized in time and space. The true image represents the spatial distribution of the optical transmittance (or reflectance) of an object. In this setup, one beam is used to probe the image while the other is used as a reference providing additional information on the actual number of photons impinging on the object. This additional information is exploited to reduce the effect of quantum noise associated with the uncertainty in the number of photons per pixel. A stochastic model for the joint statistics of the two observation matrices is developed and used to obtain a local maximum-likelihood estimator of the image. The model captures the nonideal nature of the correlation between the photons of the beams by means of a simple random translation model. The mean-square error of the estimator is evaluated and compared to the corresponding conventional techniques. Conditions for the performance advantage of the proposed estimator are examined in terms of key system parameters. The theoretical predictions are demonstrated by means of simulation.