The design of multiple feedback topology Chebyshev low-pass active filter with average differential evolution algorithm

Neural Computing and Applications - This study presents the design of a tenth-order multiple feedback Chebyshev low-pass filter (MF-C-LPF). Component selection and gain calculation of filters are...     

Effects of Prior Annealing on the Spark Plasma Sintering of Nanostructured Y2O3 Powders

The effects produced by annealing Y₂O₃ nanopowders on their spark plasma sintering (SPS) behavior are systematically investigated in this work. It is found that the annealed powders display higher sinterability with respect to the as‐received ones. Indeed, the maximum densification level reached from pristine powders is about 97.5%, whereas density decreases when further increasing either the sintering temperature or the dwell time. In contrast, the density of SPS products obtained from pretreated powder monotonically increases with temperature and processing time, thus leading to fully dense materials in 30 min at 1050°C and 60 MPa. Correspondingly, it is found that the annealing treatment markedly inhibits grain coarsening during SPS. Thus, dense translucent samples with grain size below 100 nm can be attained from annealed powders. On the other hand, white‐opaque specimens with significantly coarser microstructures (up to 1‐μm‐sized grains) are obtained when pristine powders are directly processed under the same sintering conditions. Furthermore, it is observed that the annealing treatment of SPS samples in air allows for graphite contamination removal, whereas no improvement in term of light transmittance is produced.     

A Code Assignment Algorithm for Nonblocking OVSF Codes in WCDMA

OVSF codes are used as channelization codes in WCDMA. Due to code blocking property of OVSF codes, the bandwidth available in the system is severely limited. Code reassignments mitigate the impact of the blocking property at the expense of causing delays and decreasing the throughput of the system. Nonblocking OVSF (NOVSF) codes have been proposed to alleviate the adverse effect of code reassignments. This paper presents a code assignment algorithm for NOVSF codes, which does not require any code reassignments. Simulation results show that NOVSF codes achieve better throughput than OVSF codes, even though code reassignments are allowed in the assignments of OVSF codes.     

Autocorrelation model-based identification method for ARMA systems in noise

A novel method for parameter estimation of minimum-phase autoregressive moving average (ARMA) systems in noise is presented. The ARMA parameters are estimated using a damped sinusoidal model representation of the autocorrelation function of the noise-free ARMA signal. The AR parameters are obtained directly from the estimates of the damped sinusoidal model parameters with guaranteed stability. The MA parameters are estimated using a correlation matching technique. Simulation results show that the proposed method can estimate the ARMA parameters with better accuracy as compared to other reported methods, in particular for low SNRs.     

Characterization of rheological properties of systems containing sugar substitutes and carrageenan

The effects of addition of κ-carrageenan to solutions containing 40% (w/w) sugar substitute on the rheological properties of these systems were investigated at 25 °C using a rotational viscometer at rotational speeds of 6, 12, 30, and 60 rev min⁻¹. The flow behaviour of the solutions was adequately described by the power law model with or without yield stress. The consistency index ( K ) and the flow behaviour index ( n ) were determined from shear stress vs. shear rate data. The flow parameters of the solutions depended on the carrageenan concentration. The apparent viscosities of the systems decreased with increasing shear rate, indicating pseudoplastic behaviour. The final carrageenan concentration was found to be an effective factor controlling the degree of sliminess of the model food systems studied.     

Studies on the interactions of metal oxides and Na2 SO4 at 1100 and 1200 K in oxygen

The interaction of different metal oxides such as Co₃O₄, NiO, Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ with Na₂SO₄ at a temperature of 1100 and 1200 K in flowing oxygen has been studied. The thermogravimetric studies for each system were carried out as a function of Na₂SO₄ in the mixture. The presence of different constituents in the reaction products were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis and the morphologies of the reaction products were characterized using metallography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of products was also investigated by thermodynamic computation of free energies of the reactions and the study of relevant equilibrium phase diagrams. The soluble species in the aqueous solutions of the reaction products were determined quantitatively using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The high temperature interaction products usually contain a 3-phase structure namely, Na₂O·M₂O _x , M₂O _x and metal sulphide and/or metal sulphate. The formation of Na₂O·M₂O _x depends upon the solid state solubility of metal oxide in the molten salt at high temperatures. Under limited solubility conditions Na₂O·M₂O _x is invariably formed, but as soon as this condition is relaxed the oxide. M₂O _x , precipitates and forms a separate phase.     

Fabrication of Functionally Graded SiAlON Ceramics by Tape Casting

Functionally graded SiAlON ceramics (FG-SiAlONs) were successfully prepared by the tape casting and lamination approach. Non-aqueous SiAlON slurries with five different α to β-SiAlON ratios (85α:15β, 70α:30β, 55α:45β, 40α:60β, and 25α:75β) were prepared by a 66 methyl ethyl ketone/34 ethanol (vol%) mixture. Phase and microstructure analyses incorporation with hardness measurements clearly show that the FG-SiAlONs, prepared by tape casting, exhibit a continuous and gradual change in composition and hardness. Thus, the tape casting approach is a viable method to produce FG-SiAlONs with a precisely controlled composition, and subsequently properties, as a function of position.     

Optimization of design and operating parameters in a pilot scale Jameson cell for slime coal cleaning

The Jameson flotation cell has been commonly used to treat a variety of ores (lead, zinc, copper etc.), coal and industrial minerals at commercial scale since 1989. It is especially known to be highly efficient at fine and ultrafine coal recovery. However, although the Jameson cell has quite a simple structure, it may be largely inefficient if the design and operating parameters chosen are not appropriate. In this study, the design and operating parameters of a pilot scale Jameson cell were optimized to obtain a desired metallurgical performance in the slime coal flotation. The optimized design parameters are the nozzle type, the height of the nozzle above the pulp level, the downcomer diameter and the immersion depth of the downcomer. Among the operating parameters optimized are the collector dosage, the frother dosage, the percentage of solids and the froth height. In the optimum conditions, a clean coal with an ash content of 14.90% was obtained from the sample slime having 45.30% ash with a combustible recovery of 74.20%. In addition, a new type nozzle was developed for the Jameson cell, which led to an increase of about 9% in the combustible recovery value.