Nodal Superconvergence of SDFEM for Singularly Perturbed Problems

In this paper, we analyze the streamline diffusion finite element method for one dimensional singularly perturbed convection-diffusion-reaction problems. Local error estimates on a subdomain where the solution is smooth are established. We prove that for a special group of exact solutions, the nodal error converges at a superconvergence rate of order (ln ε ⁻¹/N)^2k (or (ln N/N)^2k ) on a Shishkin mesh. Here ε is the singular perturbation parameter and 2N denotes the number of mesh elements. Numerical results illustrating the sharpness of our theoretical findings are displayed.     

Graph-based shape indexing

Graphs have become growingly important in representing shapes in computer vision. Given a query graph, it is essential to retrieve similar database graphs efficiently from a large database. In this paper, we present a graph-based indexing technique which overcomes significant drawbacks of the previous work (Demirci et al. in Comput Vis Image Underst 110(3):312–325, 2008) using a recently developed theorem from the domain of matrix analysis. Our technique starts by representing the topological structure of a graph in a vector space. As done in the previous work, the topological structure of a graph is constructed using its Laplacian spectra. However, unlike the previous approach, which represents all sugraphs of a database graph in the vector space to account for local similarity, a database graph in the proposed framework is represented as a single vector. By performing a range search around the query, the proposed indexing technique returns a set with both partial and global similarity. Empirical evaluation of the algorithm on an extensive set of retrieval trials including a comparison with the previous approach in both 2D and 3D demonstrates the effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness of the overall approach.     

A stochastic neighborhood search approach for airport gate assignment problem

An appropriate and efficient gate assignment is of great importance in airports since it plays a major role in the revenue obtained from the airport operations. In this study, we have focused mainly on maximum gate employment, or in other words minimize the total duration of un-gated flights. Here, we propose a method that combines the benefits of heuristic approaches with some stochastic approach instead of using a purely probabilistic approach to top-down solution of the problem. The heuristic approaches are usually used in order to provide a fast solution of the problem and later stochastic searches are used in order to ameliorate the previous results of the heuristic approach whenever possible. The proposed method generates an assignment order for the whole planes that corresponds to assignment priority. The ordering process is followed by the allocation step. Since, in practice, each airport has its own physical architecture, there have been arisen many constraints mainly concerning airplane types and parking lots in this step. Sequentially handling the plane ordering and allocation phases provides us great modularity in handling the constraints. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology has been tried to be illustrated firstly on fictively generated flight schedule data and secondly on the real world data obtained from a real world application developed for ?stanbul Atatürk Airport.     

Ni implantation-induced enhancement of the crystallisation of amorphous Si

We report on the effect of Ni implantation on the crystallisation process of amorphous Si formed by ion implantation during excimer laser annealing. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy results show that NiSi₂ precipitates are formed in the Si–Ni-implanted samples. It is shown that the Ni implantation results in the enhanced crystallisation of amorphous Si during laser annealing. The Si–Ni-implanted samples become epitaxial to the Si substrate at 600 mJ/cm², while the Si-implanted samples produce epitaxial relationship at 800 mJ/cm². Possible mechanisms by which implanted Ni atoms play a role are given to describe the enhanced crystallisation process of amorphous Si.     

High-performance 94-GHz single balanced mixer using 70-nm MHEMTs and surface micromachined technology

We reported 94-GHz, low conversion loss, and high isolation single balanced active gate mixer based on 70-nm gate length InGaAs/InAlAs metamorphic high-electron mobility transistors (MHEMTs). This mixer showed that the conversion loss and isolation characteristics were 2.5/spl sim/3.5 dB and under -29 dB in the range of 92.95/spl sim/94.5 GHz, respectively. The low conversion loss of the mixer is mainly attributed to the high-performance of the MHEMTs exhibiting a maximum drain current density of 607 mA/mm, an extrinsic transconductance of 1015 mS/mm, a current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub t/) of 330 GHz, and a maximum oscillation frequency (f/sub max/) of 425 GHz. High isolation characteristics are due to hybrid ring coupler which adopted dielectric-supported air-gapped microstrip line structure using surface micromachined technology. To our knowledge, these results are the best performance demonstrated from 94 GHz single balanced mixer utilizing GaAs-based HEMTs in terms of conversion loss as well as isolation characteristics.     

Maintaining mobile transactional consistency in hybrid broadcast environments

Recently there have been attempts in several research areas at efficiently utilizing the resources of mobile computers. Considering the properties in mobile computing environments, push-based data dissemination systems have lately attracted considerable attention. However, skewed access patterns among mobile clients makes response time worse, and they prefer to send data requests to the server explicitly through an uplink channel. A broadcast supporting an uplink channel is called a hybrid broadcast. In this paper, we devise new transaction processing algorithms for hybrid broadcasts. It is assumed that data objects that the server maintains are divided into Push_Data for periodic broadcasting and Pull_Data for on-demand service. That is, clients have to explicitly request data objects in Pull_Data. Maintaining transactional consistency in this environment without much additional cost is our main concern. Finally, we evaluate performance behavior through simulation study.Received: 15 November 2002, Published online: 5 August 2004This work was done as part of the Information & Communication Fundamental Technology Research Program, supported by the Ministry of Information & Communication in the Republic of Korea.     

A study on the thermal behavior in microaccelerometer manufacturing processes

Single crystal silicon (SCS) is used in a variety of microsensor applications in which stresses and other mechanical effects may dominate device performance. One of major problems associated with the manufacturing processes of the microaccelerometer based on the tunneling current concept is temperature gradient and thermal stressess. This paper deals with finite element analyses of residual stresses causing popping up, which are induced in micromachining processes of a microaccelerometer. The authors model temperature-dependent mechanical properties during focused ion beam (FIB) cutting and Pt deposition processes. The maximum thermal strain of 0.0012 occurred at the readout gap of the microaccelerometer during the Pt deposition process. The stress produced during the heating process of FIB cut was also found to be about 33–36 MPa and cooling process the maximum equivalent stress of about 34MPa still at the right corner of readout gap. The calculated maximum displacement occurred at the readout gap was 0.14 μm. This is still smaller than the popping up of about 2 μm observed in the experiment. The reason for this popping up phenomenon in munufacturing processes of microaccelerometer may be the bending of the whole wafer or it may come from the way the underetch occurs. Different SOI material and a new geometry of the accelerometer are under investigation. We want to seek after the real cause of this pop up phenomenon and diminish this by changing munufacturing processes of microaccelerometer.     

Integrated maintenance and mission planning using remaining useful life information

The modern world requires high reliability and availability with minimum ownership cost for complex industrial systems (high-value assets). Maintenance and mission planning are two major interrelated tasks affecting availability and ownership cost. Both tasks play critical roles in cost savings and effective utilization of the assets, and cannot be performed without taking each other into consideration. Maintenance schedule may make an asset unavailable or too risky to use for a mission. Mission type and duration affect the health of the system, which affects the maintenance schedule. This article presents a mathematical formulation for integrated maintenance and mission planning for a fleet of high-value assets, using their current and forecast health information. An illustrative example for a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles is demonstrated and evolutionary-based solutions are presented.     

Coating of TiO2 nanoparticles with PbS thin films and preparation of PbS nanoparticles using a one-pot sonochemical reaction under the multibubble sonoluminescence conditions

Preparations of PbS-coated titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles under ultrasonic field at the multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) conditions were tested in water solutions. Under the optimal MBSL conditions (20 kHz and 220 W power input), PbS nanoparticles (diameter = 40-50 nm) were prepared by treating lead nitrate and thioacetamide for 20 min in water solutions. The size of PbS nanoparticles was found to be easily increased to about 90 nm in diameter by increasing the reactant concentration twice. A similar sonochemical reaction with TiO₂ nanoparticles (about 20-30 nm in diameter) gave rise to PbS-coated TiO₂ nanoparticles with a core/shell structure. The PbS thin film coating was quite uniform and the average coating depth of PbS on the TiO₂ nanoparticles was about 2-3 nm under the described conditions. It is interesting to note that the coating depth was found to be controlled to 2-10 nm range by increasing the amounts of reactants for Pb and S twice with a sonication time of 30 min.     

Novel Maskless Bumping for 3D Integration

A novel, maskless, low‐volume bumping material, called solder bump maker, which is composed of a resin and low‐melting‐point solder powder, has been developed. The resin features no distinct chemical reactions preventing the rheological coalescence of the solder, a deoxidation of the oxide layer on the solder powder for wetting on the pad at the solder melting point, and no major weight loss caused by out‐gassing. With these characteristics, the solder was successfully wetted onto a metal pad and formed a uniform solder bump array with pitches of 120 µm and 150 µm.