An Approach to Application of the Least Moduli Method in Constructing Linear Models

The problems of finding the best one-dimensional and multidimensional linear models are considered for a short selection of measurement results with a rather small number of erroneous measurements. Using an example, it is shown that the least moduli method allows one to find models more adequate to the process than the least squares method.     

A New BIST-based Test Approach with the Fault Location Capability for Communication Channels in Network-on-Chip

In this paper, a new BIST based test approach to detecting short faults on the communication channels data links in network-on-chip is proposed. The rationale underlying the novelty of the proposed approach is that it is capable of locating the faulty channels while simultaneously performing the testing as well as updating the Routing Tables (RT) in which irregular Mesh-based and fault tolerant NoCs that are using Table-based routing. The proposed approach encompasses TPG and TRA located in the Network Adapter (NA) as well as a Packet Comparing Module (PCM) embedded in the routers. The approach, in addition, with a high scalability leads to 100% Test Coverage (TC) and 82.3% capability of diagnosing faulty channels in NoCs with a high scale. Furthermore, the approach is capable of being performed within one Round (two phase) run with a total time of 70 clocks which is considered as cost-effective compared with the preceding methods. The simulation results demonstrate that the hardware cost of PCM is trivial compared with the hardware of RASoC, HERMES, Æthereal and Vici routers.     

Improvement of Power System Stability by Using New Switching Technique in Bridge-type Fault Current Limiter

The bridge-type fault current limiter has the capability of controlling the fault current by controlling the DC reactor current. This fault current limiter is mainly composed of a diode bridge rectifier and a DC reactor. To achieve this capability, a resistor parallel with a semiconductor switch has been used in series with a DC reactor. For this fault current limiter, a control scheme is proposed that uses the DC reactor current as a control variable to improve transient stability of the model power system without measuring any parameters of system. In this article, an analytical and simulation study was conducted on a one-machine infinite-bus system including a bridge-type fault current limiter and the proposed control scheme. Simulation results show that by controlling the turn-on and turn-off times of the switch, i.e., the switching technique, the proposed fault current limiter can not only limit the fault current but also absorb the accelerating energy of the generator, thereby improving power system transient stability. The rotor velocity, maximum output power of the generator, and critical fault clearing time are studied in this article to evaluate the effects of the proposed fault current limiter on power system transient stability.     

Implementing DEA to create a novel type of compressor

Presenting proper configuration for the context-aware compressor, a novel type of this device based on Dielectric Elastomer Actuators was designed and modeled by computer. The study was aimed at evaluating the concept potentials to operate in gas turbine engines according to an attempt to raise these engines up to context-aware systems. The study encompasses introducing a methodology to model the concept in addition to indicating its potentials. The modeling results indicated that low energy consumption and context-awareness potentially are two major characteristics of the compressor.     

Thermal Performance of an Air-Cooled Data Center With Raised-Floor and Non-Raised-Floor Configurations

In this paper, the thermal performances of an air-cooled data center with raised-floor and non-raised-floor configurations are compared with respect to the room and ceiling return strategies. The thermal performance of the data center is evaluated in terms of supply heat index, rack cooling index, total irreversible loss, and the number of racks with at least one server exceeding the maximum recommended and allowable inlet air temperature according to American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) thermal guidelines. The numerical simulations are conducted providing an insight into the flow and temperature distributions, and thus giving a better understanding of the cooling issues. It is found that using a ceiling return strategy for the return of hot exhaust air to the computer room air conditioning units gives a better thermal performance of the data center, for both raised- and non-raised-floor strategy, as compared to the room return. The findings are then extended to a geometrically complex operational data center to improve its cooling effectiveness. The paper also highlights the drawback of using supply heat index alone as a performance metric.     

Shrinkage of Mirabelle Plum during Hot Air Drying as Influenced by Ultrasound-Assisted Osmotic Dehydration

Convective drying in hot air is still the most popular method applied to reduce the moisture content of fruits and vegetables. Conventional hot-air drying of Mirabelle plum is considered to be a slow and energy intensive process. This is due to the fact that the waxy skin of Mirabelle plum has low permeability to moisture, a fact which results in high shrinkage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration pretreatment on shrinkage of Mirabelle plum as a function of moisture content with the end goal of optimizing operating conditions that minimize shrinkage of the produce during drying. Results showed that application of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in shrinkage (from 76.41 to 64.05%). A linear relation between moisture loss and shrinkage was observed. Results indicated that shrinkage may be easily estimated from changes in moisture content, and independent of the drying rate. Inversely, determination of shrinkage would provide an indirect indication of moisture content.     

Evaluation of antimicrobial and physical properties of edible film based on carboxymethyl cellulose containing potassium sorbate on some mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species in fresh pistachios

Active packaging is a relatively novel concept of packaging that changes the conditions of the packaged food to extend its shelf-life and improve its safety. In this study, antimicrobial effects of carboxymethyl cellulose based-edible film containing potassium sorbate as an antimicrobial agent were studied against Aspergillus flavus (PTCC-5004), Aspergillus parasiticus (PTCC-5286) and A. parasiticus (PTCC-5018) by using agar diffusion assay. Results showed suitable inhibition effects against A. parasiticus (PTCC-5286) and A. flavus (PTCC-5004) in comparison with A. parasiticus (PTCC-5018). Pistachios were coated with this edible antimicrobial film containing three concentrations of sorbate (1, 0.5 and 0.25 g/100 mL film solution); all concentrations showed no growth of molds. Tensile strength values of films with potassium sorbate, decreased when compared to control, and film’s flexibility, was 28.82 percent for 3 g/100 mL sorbate, while higher concentration of sorbate, decreased the flexibility. The water vapor permeability values (WVP) of films were determined to be 1.18 (g mm/m² day kPa) for films plasticized with glycerol, without sorbate while WVP values for the films containing 1 and 2 g/100 mL sorbate increased to 3.77 and 15.5 (g mm/m² day kPa), respectively. The observed glass transition temperature (T_G) depression for these polymer blends was related to the plasticizer content (water, polyethylene, and glycerol), especially water.