Tunable laser-based design and analysis for fractional lambda switches

Fractional lambda switching (FlambdaS) is a novel approach for traffic management over all-optical networks with sub-wavelength provisioning capability. The unique characteristic of FlambdaS is the utilization of UTC (coordinated universal time) for switching with minimum or no buffers. Several central research issues are still open in FlambdaS and need to be formally defined and analyzed. In this paper, we introduce three novel switch designs that are based on the use of tunable lasers (which can be replaced in the future with wavelength converters). First, the paper presents analytical results of scheduling feasibility, which measures the total number of possible different schedules for each switch design. Then it is shown that the architecture with the highest scheduling feasibility is strictly non blocking in the space domain. Next, the paper provides a closed form analysis of the blocking probability in the time domain, which is applicable for any strictly non-space blocking switch, using combinatorics. In addition, the paper provides measures of the switching hardware complexity, which, for the strictly non-blocking architecture, has the same switching complexity as Clos interconnection network, i.e., O(N'radic(N')) where N' is the number of optical channels.     

Ni/Pillared Clays as Catalysts for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides by Propene

Different and alternative methods for the preparation of Ni/pillared clays based on impregnation and encapsulation procedures are reported. Several nickel precursors and metal loadings are considered in order to evaluate their influence on the structural, textural and catalytic properties of the resulting solids. The behaviour of the optimum solids as catalysts has been proved in the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with propene, and the relevance of the oxidant nature was checked by changing the composition of the oxidant mixture. Of all the factors studied, the nature of the nickel precursors appears as the most important one, owing to the formation of different active nickel species during the synthesis procedure.     

Influence of generator load conditions on third-harmonic voltages in generator stator winding

The influence of changes in load conditions of the generator-transformer unit on the operating conditions of the 100% ground-fault protection of the generator stator winding based on the third-harmonic voltages was analyzed. The analyzed stator ground-fault protection system is by ratio of the voltages third harmonic in generator neutral and at the generator terminals. The third-harmonic voltages were determined on the base of the experimental tests (measurements) run in real conditions at changes in active and reactive load conditions of the generator. It was found that mainly the generator active load influences the voltage feeding the measuring element of ground-fault protection. Therefore, determining operating conditions of ground-fault protection the influence of the generator active and reactive load should be deeply considered. This can ensure the proper operation of the ground-fault protection based on the voltage third harmonics in the whole range of the changes in generator load. Considering the influence of changes in generator load on the third-harmonic voltages (feeding measuring element of the protection system) will allow eliminating irregular generator tripping as a result of unselective operation of these protections.     

Learning with belief levels

We study learning of predicate logics formulas from “elementary facts,” i.e. from the values of the predicates in the given model. Several models of learning are considered, but most of our attention is paid to learning with belief levels. We propose an axiom system which describes what we consider to be a human scientist's natural behavior when trying to explore these elementary facts. It is proved that no such system can be complete. However we believe that our axiom system is “practically” complete. Theorems presented in the paper in some sense confirm our hypothesis.     

Miniature in vivo robots for remote and harsh environments

Long-term human space exploration will require contingencies for emergency medical procedures including some capability to perform surgery. The ability to perform minimally invasive surgery (MIS) would be an important capability. The use of small incisions reduces surgical risk, but also eliminates the ability of the surgeon to view and touch the surgical environment directly. Robotic surgery, or telerobotic surgery, may provide emergency surgical care in remote or harsh environments such as space flight, or extremely forward environments such as battlefields. However, because current surgical robots are large and require extensive support personnel, their implementation has remained limited in forward environments, and they would be difficult, or impossible, to use in space flight or on battlefields. This paper presents experimental analysis of miniature fixed-base and mobile in vivo robots to support MIS surgery in remote and harsh environments. The objective is to develop wireless imaging and task-assisting robots that can be placed inside the abdominal cavity during surgery. Such robots will provide surgical task assistance and enable an on-site or remote surgeon to view the surgical environment from multiple angles. This approach is applicable to long-duration space flight, battlefield situations, and for traditional medical centers and other remote surgical locations.     

Modeling wireless fading channels via stochastic differential equations: identification and estimation based on noisy measurements

This paper is concerned with modeling and identification of wireless channels using noisy measurements. The models employed are governed by stochastic differential equations (SDEs) in state space form, while the identification method is based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm and Kalman filtering. The algorithm is tested against real channel measurements. The results presented include state space models for the channels, estimates of inphase and quadrature components, and estimates of the corresponding Doppler power spectral densities (DPSDs), from sample noisy measurements. Based on the available measurements, it is concluded that state space models of order two are sufficient for wireless flat fading channel characterization.     

Reflectarray research at the communications research centre Canada

It has been a decade since a research program began on reflectarray technology at the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC). This endeavor has demonstrated the advantages and shortcomings of this technology, the issues that ought to be addressed, and future opportunities. This paper summarizes the outcome of this research in the context of projects that have been carried out, and the resulting insight into reflectarray technology. Design methodology, fabrication process, and measurements results will be briefly discussed for each particular development.     

Microstructural and compositional aspects of ZnO-based varistor ceramics prepared by direct mixing of the constituent phases and high-energy milling

ZnO-based varistor samples were prepared by the direct mixing of the constituent phases (DMCP) and sintering at 1100 °C for 2 h. The influence of the starting powder mixture's composition – the amounts of the pre-reacted varistor compounds and their composition – and its preparation, either with or without mechano-chemical activation (MCA), on the microstructure, phase composition and electrical characteristics of the varistor samples was studied. It showed that MCA improved the density and microstructural homogeneity of the varistor samples. MCA strongly affected the grain growth: it enhanced the nucleation of inversion boundaries (IBs) in the ZnO grains and the IBs-induced grain-growth mechanism resulted in uniform grain growth and hence a microstructure with smaller ZnO grains and a narrower grain size distribution. The final phase composition of the samples prepared by the DMCP method mainly depended on the presence of varistor dopants that can prevent the formation of the pyrochlore phase, especially Cr₂O₃, while MCA can affect it mostly by providing a homogeneous distribution of those dopants. The DMCP varistor samples prepared with MCA had much better current–voltage characteristics than the samples of the same composition prepared from unactivated powders.     

Impact of the addition of an enzyme pool on an activated sludge system treating dairy wastewater under fat shock loads

BACKGROUND: The application of lipase‐rich enzyme pools (such as the crude solid enzymatic preparation (SEP) obtained from Penicillium restrictum solid‐state fermentation of agro‐industrial wastes) to activated sludge systems may be an effective strategy for preventing various operational problems. The continuous addition of SEP to the treatment system can become cost‐prohibitive when in situ production and/or storage are factored in. The application of SEP to high‐fat wastewater treatment would only be justified as an emergency measure, such as a sudden increase in the fat content of the bioreactor influent. Therefore, the primary objective of this work was to investigate the efficiency of a crude SEP during fat shock loads, simulated through the periodic addition of dairy industry waste containing high fat concentrations to the feed stock of an activated sludge system, operated in continuous mode. RESULTS: The test bioreactor exhibited a higher average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency than the control bioreactor (83% for control and 90% for test) and the fat accumulation in the biological flocs of the test bioreactor was 3.2 times lower than that in the control bioreactor. Turbidity was also lower in the effluent of the test bioreactor (123 and 66 FTU in control and test, respectively) and it had a shorter recovery time between shock loads, especially when the interval between loads was shorter than one month (biweekly and weekly shock loads). CONCLUSION: The addition of SEP during fat overloads in the reactor feed maintained efficient COD removal in the test bioreactor for 270 days without any operational problems. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effective factors on synthesis of the hematite–silica red inclusion pigment

The work focuses on the synthesis of a red ceramic pigment by inclusion of hematite in a fumed silica matrix with different specific surface areas. Iron(II) sulfate was used as hematite precursor. Mixtures of iron(II) sulfate and fumed silica with different mole ratios were heated at different temperatures from 1000 to 1300 °C for 4 h.