A novel open-loop high-speed CMOS sample-and-hold

A new open-loop high-speed CMOS sample-and-hold is presented. Based on new method for further reduction of voltage-dependent charge injection, a new CMOS sample-and-hold was designed. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of this method. Over 10 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, compared to the signal-to-noise ratio of conventional bottom plate sampling S/Hs was achieved with this method. A comparison between newly designed S/H and the bottom-plate sampling S/H is presented.     

Heat transfer in a turbulent jet impinging on a moving plate considering high plate-to-jet velocity ratios

In this paper, heat transfer characteristics of a turbulent slot jet impinging orthogonally on an isothermal moving hot plate is studied numerically. The governing equations were discretized using the finite volume method and the υ ² — f turbulence model was employed for turbulence modeling. The effect of the jet Reynolds number and the plate-to-jet velocity ratio (R) on the Nusselt were investigated. Despite of most previous studies, which have been restricted to R≤2, in the present research higher values of R, also were considered (0≤R≤6). Range of studied jet Reynolds number was between 3000 and 60000. The results indicate that at a fixed plate-to-jet velocity ratio increment of the Reynolds number leads to the enhancement of the average Nusselt number. For each Reynolds number, the average Nusselt number reduces with increasing the plate-to-jet velocity ratio until it becomes minimum at R = 1.25. For R>1.25 trend changes so that these parameters increase. In addition, it was found that only for R>2.5 the average Nusselt number is improved due to the plate motion in comparison with the stationary jet. The results are validated against available experimental data, showing good agreement.     

Recent advances in plant-based compounds for mitigation of mycotoxin contamination in food products: current status,challenges and perspectives

There are numerous strategies to control the growth of mycotoxigenic fungi and reduce mycotoxins in food, including physical, chemical and biological treatments. However, consumers prefer organic food and natural inhibitors because they are biodegradable and safe for human and animal health. This review summarises the current advances in plant-based compounds to mitigate contamination of food products by mycotoxigenic fungi and their toxins. In addition, a clear understanding of the roles of plant-based extracts in food products, their mechanisms of action and challenges and perspectives in mycotoxin degradation are presented. Essential oils and plant-based extracts are complex mixtures of major and minor chemical compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In general, the mechanisms of antifungal activity of plant-based compounds are attributed to the reduction of the ergosterol content, disruption of cell membrane integrity, enhancing of membrane ion leakage and permeability, disruption to the organisation of mitochondrial structure, interference in enzymatic reactions of cell wall synthesis, disturbance of oxidative balance, inhibition of carbohydrate metabolism, suppression of mycotoxin biosynthetic genes and alterations in the molecular structure of mycotoxins.     

An enhanced folded cascode Op-Amp using positive feedback and bulk amplification in 0.35 μm CMOS process

In this paper a new operational amplifier is presented which is based on the conventional folded cascode Op-Amp structure. A new method of positive feedback is used to increase dc-gain. This method does not limit the range of the output voltage swing. True performance of the Op-Amp in higher output voltage swings is another advantage of the proposed Op-Amp in comparison with the conventional structures. Bulk amplification and positive feedback are used to improve the Op-Amp specifications. Proposed structure has been simulated by HSPICE software using level 49 parameters (BSIM3v3) in a typical 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The HSPICE simulation confirms the theoretical estimated improvements.     

Linearity performance comparison of cascode current source and single-device current source IDPs; analyses,simulations and measurements

The input differential pair (IDP) is usually a major source of nonlinear distortion in any op-amp. This is especially true if the input signal has a large common-mode component, as is the case when an op-amp functions as a unity-gain buffer or as part of a single-ended sample-hold (S/H) circuit. In this paper, we analyse the distortion of the commonly used cascode current source IDP structure and explain the sources of its nonlinear behaviour. Next, a special design technique is proposed which enhances the linearity of IDPs. The circuit uses a single device current source that has the same channel length while its width is double those of IDP devices. Theoretical analysis, as well as simulation and experimental results, is given to confirm the improved linearity of a unity gain buffer. Simulations predict improvements up to 20 dB. 15 dB total harmonic distortion (THD) reduction was also achieved for a 15 MHz input signal based on measurement of a test chip. The method is valuable as power supply voltages shrink, and the design offers extra voltage headroom at input.     

运用蚁群优化法对钢结构进行基于性能的抗震设计

运用蚁群优化法(ACO)对钢结构进行了基于性能的抗震设计。这个离散的数学运算法比其他算法更为有效并精确。采用了非线性分析以得到结构在各种地震性能水平下的结构响应,采用一个简单的计算机程序,对包含一阶弹性和二阶几何刚度的特性进行推覆分析。采用两个实例说明了ACO在轻钢结构中的应用,证明其可满足抗弯钢结构在多种地震性能水平下的要求,同时也与标准遗传算法的结果进行对比,表明ACO更适合解决此类优化问题。     

An investigation on the behavior of stiffened coupled shear walls considering axial force effect

In most of tall buildings, the main contribution of lateral loads is carried by coupled shear walls. In some cases, the necessary stiffness to withstand the lateral load may not be afforded due to low depth of connecting beams. In order to increase the capacity of the coupled shear walls, beams with high stiffness are added to the system at particular levels. Hence, stiffened coupled shear walls (SCSW) will be produced. Such walls are under axial load resulting from their weight, and this axial load affects the behavior of walls because of their excessive height. In this paper, a new method considering the effect of axial force for geometrically nonlinear analysis of the SCSW has been presented. A computer program has been developed in matlab , and numerical examples have been solved to demonstrate the reliability of this method. The results of the examples show the agreement between the present method and the other methods given in the literature. The effects of the various positions and rigidities of the stiffening beam on the internal forces and the lateral deflection of the structure considering axial force effect have also been investigated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic Approach to the Solution of Inverse Problems in Civil Engineering

A wide range of important problems in civil engineering can be classified as inverse problems. In such problems, the observational data regarding the performance of a system is known, and the characteristics of the system and/or the input are sought. There are two general approaches to the solution of inverse problems: deterministic and probabilistic. Traditionally, inverse problems in civil engineering have been solved using a deterministic approach. In this approach, the objective is to find a specific model of a system that its theoretical response best fits the observed data. Obtaining the best fit solution, however, does not provide any information regarding the effect of data and/or theoretical uncertainties on the obtained solution. In this paper, a general probabilistic approach to the solution of the inverse problems is introduced, which provides uncertainty measures for the obtained solution. Techniques for direct analytical evaluation and numerical approximation of the probabilistic solution using Monte Carlo Markov Chains, with and without neighborhood algorithm approximation, are introduced and explained. The presented concepts and techniques and their application are then illustrated in practical terms using a simple example of a modulus determination experiment.