A power-aware code-compression design for RISC/VLIW architecture

We studied the architecture of embedded computing systems from the viewpoint of power consumption in memory systems and used a selective-code-compression (SCC) approach to realize our design.Based on t...     

A model for studying LCAT reaction: In vitro cholesterol esterification in pig ovarian follicular fluid

Phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase or LCAT; EC 2.3.1.43) activity was found to be present in pig ovarian follicular fluid (POFF), in addition to pig serum (PS). The cholesterol esterification rate in both POFF and PS is linear with incubation time up to 2 hr. The mean absolute rate of POFF-cholesterol esterification was 8.1±0.4 nmoles per ml per hr approximately one-fourth of that in PS. However, the fractional rate (percent of labeled cholesterol esterified per hr) of POFF-cholesterol esterification was similar to that observed in PS. There was little variation of absolute rate of cholesterol esterification in the fluid obtained from different sizes of follicles. Fatty acid or triacylglycerol did not participate in the reaction of cholesterol esterification in POFF. No appreciable change in enzymatic activity was found from storing POFF at 4 C for periods of time up to 24 hr or at −70 C up to 2 months, but activity was lost thereafter. On the other hand, PS showed a much longer period of stability (5 days at 4 C and 9 months at −70 C). A discrepancy between the fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters formed by the LCAT reaction and the fatty acid composition at the C-2 position of phosphatidylcholine led us to propose a two-step mechanism for the LCAT reaction. It is concluded that the LCAT of POFF, as well as that of plasma, is specific for individual fatty acids rather than for the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine. The fatty acid concentration of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased during prolonged incubation times (6 to 21 hr) suggesting that the increased lysophosphatidylcholine formed as a product of the LCAT reaction may be reused as substrate for the LCAT reaction or for hydrolysis by lysophosphatidylcholine hydrolase. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, New York, May 1977.     

Effects of Copper Coating on the Crystalline Structure of Fine Barium Titanate Particles

We have investigated the effect of a metal coating—copper—on the tetragonal structure of fine barium titanate (BaTiO₃) particles. The BaTiO₃ particles were synthesized by a sol-gel method and heat treated at temperatures >900°C for various amounts of time before coating. The copper coating was achieved by an electroless coating technique. The transmission electron microscopy micrographs revealed that the coated powder contained fine BaTiO₃ particles that were embedded in copper patches. The X-ray diffractometry patterns showed that the copper coating increased the c/a ratio of the fine BaTiO₃ particles. For powders that were heat treated at 900°C for 10 h and were initially cubic, the copper coating changed the c/a ratio, from 1 to 1.0034. For powders that were calcined at 900°C for 20 h and were initially tetragonal, the copper coating further enhanced the c/a ratio, from 1.0028 to 1.0043. When the copper-coated BaTiO₃ particles were oxidized, the c/a ratio was reduced to a value that was approximately equal to or below that of the uncoated powders. A conductive coating can eliminate the depolarization energy of an insulating polar particle. The fact that the copper coating promoted the polar tetragonal phase but the nonconductive copper-oxide coating did not was consistent with the interpretation that the presence of the cubic phase (nonpolar) in small BaTiO₃ particles was caused by the depolarization effect.     

The optical properties of hot-pressed magnesium fluoride and single-crystal magnesium fluoride in the 0.1 to 9.0 μm range

A polycrystalline high-density magnesium fluoride, fabricated into plates or shapes by hot-pressing, exhibits high in-line transmittance from 2.5 to 6.0 m, and single-crystal magnesium fluoride extends from 0.1 to 6.0 m. The ultimate and practical transmittance of hot-pressed magnesium fluoride using intrinsic and extrinsic reflectance, absorptance and scattering mechanisms, are investigated. The intrinsic scattering mechanism due to the polycrystalline structure is basically responsible for the tremendous difference in transmittance in the short wavelength region of the spectrum. The in-line transmittance of polycrystalline and singlecrystal MgF₂ is discussed in terms of sample thickness.     

An ultrahigh-resolution image encryption algorithm using random super-pixel strategy

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Almost all existing image encryption algorithms are only suitable for low-resolution images in the standard image library. When they are used to encrypt...     

Modeling and Control of Hybrid-driven Gliding Motion for an Underwater Gliding Snake-like Robot

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - An underwater gliding snake-like robot (UGSR) combines the advantages of an underwater glider (UG) and an underwater snake-like robot...     

Reaction mechanism and microstructure evolution of reaction sintered <Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>-BN

Hexagonal boron nitride ceramic (h-BN) based on the nitridation of B powders was obtained by reaction sintering method. The effects of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the resultant products were investigated and the reaction mechanism was discussed. Results showed that the reaction between B and N₂ occurred vigorously at temperatures ranging from 1 000 °C to 1 300 °C, which resulted in the generation of t-BN. When the temperature exceeded 1 450 °C, transformation from t-BN to h-BN began to occur. As the sintering temperature increased, the spherical particles of t-BN gradually transformed into fine sheet particles of h-BN. These particles subsequently displayed a compact arrangement to achieve a more uniform microstructure, thereby increasing the strength.     

Modal Identification of Linear Time-varying Systems Using Continuous Wavelet Transform

A wavelet based identification method for linear time-varying systems is presented,and the ridge and skeleton of the continuous wavelet transform of free response is used to extract time-varying parameters. The stiffness and damping coefficients of single-degree-of—freedom systems,frequencies and damping ratios of multi-degree-of-freedom systems are estimated without any prior information of systems. The proposed method is applied to linear time-varying systems with both abrupt and smooth variation parameters. Gaussian white noise is added to the response to test the anti-noise performance of the algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed method is capable of accurately tracking the variation of the systems.     

Influence of static pre-loading on the dynamic bending strength of concrete with particle element modeling

Experimental tests show that static pre-loading has a significant effect on the dynamic strength of concrete.Based on meso-scale particle element model,numerical simulations of dynamic bending tests with pre-loading are performed.Complete stress–strain relationships are then obtained.Significant increase in dynamic strength is found when the pre-loadings are imposed within the elastic limit of concrete.However,when the imposition of pre-loadings reaches the plastic or softening range,dynamic strengths may gradually decrease along with the increase in pre-loadings.The distribution of energy components and the failure modes are discussed to explain the mechanisms of the phenomena.     

In situ study of the mechanical properties of airborne haze particles

Particulate pollution has raised serious concerns regarding its potential impacts on human health in developing countries. However, much less attention has been paid to the threat of haze particles to machinery and industry. By employing a state-of-the-art in situ scanning electron microscope compression testing technique, we demonstrate that iron-rich and fly ash haze particles, which account for nearly 70% of the total micron-sized spherical haze particles, are strong enough to generate abrasive damage to most engineering alloys, and therefore can generate significant scratch damage to moving contacting surfaces in high precision machineries. Our finding calls for preventive measures to protect against haze related threat.