An optical gate for simultaneous fusion of four photonic W or Bell states

In order to create large-scale polarization entangled W states, there have been several proposals and some experimental demonstrations. An outstanding proposal is a simple setup which probabilistically fuses two W states of arbitrary sizes $n\ge 3$ and $m\ge 3$ , creating a W state of size $n+m-2$ (Ozdemir et al., in: New J Phys 13:103003, 2011). Using this setup as building blocks, we propose a new setup which can fuse four W states simultaneously. The proposed setup can fuse W states of size 2, i.e. Bell states, as well. We study the resource cost of our fusion process for two main scenarios, i.e. starting from sizes 2 and 3. We present some cost efficient cases, as compared to the previous work.     

Personnel selection based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets

One of the most important activities carried out by human resource management is personnel selection, concerned with identifying an individual from a pool of candidates suitable for a vacant position. Traditionally, personnel selection is a group decision‐making problem under multiple criteria containing subjectivity, imprecision, and vagueness, which are best represented with fuzzy data. In this article, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method extended to intuitionistic fuzzy environments is proposed to select appropriate personnel among candidates. An intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS), which is characterized by membership function, nonmembership function, and hesitation margin, is a more suitable way to deal with vagueness when compared to a fuzzy set. To demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method, a numerical example of personnel selection in a manufacturing company for a sales manager position is given. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A new congestion control algorithm for improving the performance of a broadcast-based multiprocessor architecture

Congestion occurring in the input queues of broadcast-based multiprocessor architectures can severely limit their overall performance. The existing congestion control algorithms estimate congestion based on a node’s output channel parameters such as the number of free virtual channels or the number of packets waiting at the channel queue. In this paper, we have proposed a new congestion control algorithm to prevent congestion on broadcast-based multiprocessor architectures with multiple input queues. Our algorithm performs congestion control at the packet level and takes into account the next input queue number which will be accessed by the processor, which form the fundamental differences between our algorithm and the algorithms based on the idea of virtual channel congestion control. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated by OPNET Modeler with various synthetic traffic patterns on a 64-node Simultaneous Optical Multiprocessor Exchange Bus (SOME-Bus) architecture employing the message passing protocol. Performance measures such as average input waiting time, average network response time and average processor utilization have been collected before and after applying the algorithm. The results show that the proposed algorithm is able to decrease the average input waiting time by 13.99% to 20.39%, average network response time by 8.76% to 20.36% and increase average processor utilization by 1.92% to 6.63%. The performance of the algorithm is compared with that of the other congestion control algorithms and it is observed that our algorithm performs better under all traffic patterns. Also, theoretical analysis of the proposed method is carried out by using queuing networks.     

A multi-criteria intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making for supplier selection with TOPSIS method

Supplier selection, the process of finding the right suppliers who are able to provide the buyer with the right quality products and/or services at the right price, at the right time and in the right quantities, is one of the most critical activities for establishing an effective supply chain. On the other hand, it is a hard problem since supplier selection is typically a multi criteria group decision-making problem involving several conflicting criteria on which decision maker’s knowledge is usually vague and imprecise. In this study, TOPSIS method combined with intuitionistic fuzzy set is proposed to select appropriate supplier in group decision making environment. Intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging (IFWA) operator is utilized to aggregate individual opinions of decision makers for rating the importance of criteria and alternatives. Finally, a numerical example for supplier selection is given to illustrate application of intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method.     

Dynamically adaptive channel reservation scheme for cellular networks

In personal communications networks (PCN) supporting network-wide handoffs, new and handoff requests compete for connection resources in both mobile and backbone networks. Forced call terminations due to handoff call blocking are generally more objectionable than new call blocking. In general, most of the previously proposed schemes for radio channel allocation in cellular networks reduce handoff call blocking probability substantially at the expense of increasing the new call blocking probability by giving higher priority to handoff calls over new calls in admission control. This reduces the total admitted traffic and results in inefficient utilization of wireless channels. The tradeoff between the new and handoff calls blocking probabilities should be defined on importance basis. In this paper, we propose a performance metric equation that makes a trade off between the two probabilities depending on the network preferences. Using this equation, we study the performance of various proposed channel reservation schemes. Also in this paper, a new dynamically adaptive channel reservation scheme (DACRS) is developed and compared with other schemes proposed in the literature. The DACRS assigns handoff-reserved channels to new calls depending on the locality principle in which the base station with the help of location estimation algorithms in the mobile location center predicts the position of the mobile terminal. Eventually, the DACRS is designed to improve channel utilization while satisfying the QoS of the calls. As will be shown analytically and through simulation, the DACRS outperforms current reservation schemes and results in more statistical gain, and powerful channel utilization.     

Multiaxial fatigue of extruded ZK60 magnesium alloy

Multiaxial monotonic and cyclic behaviors of ZK60‐T5 magnesium extrusion are investigated. Strain‐controlled tests were performed at standard laboratory condition with fully reversed straining. Twinning‐detwinning deformation plays an important role in the cyclic axial behavior for tests that were performed under strain amplitudes higher than 0.4%. However, the hysteresis loop for the 0.4% was found symmetric and no sign of twinning‐detwinning deformation was observed. On the contrary, the cyclic shear behavior was found to be similar to conventional alloys and no significant asymmetric or twinning‐detwinning deformations were observed. The multiaxial fatigue tests suggest that multiaxiality and nonproportionality are not detrimental to fatigue life. Three multiaxial fatigue damage models were used: Smith‐Watson‐Topper, Fatemi‐Socie, and Jahed‐Varvani. While Fatemi‐Socie and Jahed‐Varvani models show comparable estimation, Smith‐Watson‐Topper overestimates shear and nonproportional lives.     

Effect of laser glazing on the thermo-mechanical properties of plasma-sprayed LaTi2Al9O19 thermal barrier coatings

Conventional duplex (DL) and functionally graded (FG) LaTi₂Al₉O₁₉ (LTA) coatings were deposited over C263 nickel alloy by air plasma spray (APS) and compared with subsequent laser glazing processes. The effect of laser glazing on adhesion strength and thermal barrier performance was investigated. The thermal barrier effect was measured using the temperature difference technique involving infrared (IR) rapid heater and the adhesion strength was measured using the scratch tester. The surface morphology and microstructure were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and 3D profilometer. Based on the experimental results, the laser glazing showed a remarkable temperature drop after IR rapid heating. The changes in porosity and grain refinement make more contributions to the temperature drop of the laser-glazed coatings than that of as-sprayed coatings. The temperature drop is about 110°C for laser-glazed LTA FG coating after 100?s of IR flash, while the drop in DL as-sprayed coating is 60°C compared to the base material.     

Laser material processing of nickel superalloy for improved erosion resistance

A nickel-based superalloy was laser surface treated, and its erosion behavior was evaluated. The laser power and scan speed were varied in different levels to impart variations in microstructure and mechanical properties. The microstructure of specimens exhibited fine equiaxed grains to columnar structure at different parameters. A high cooling rate improved the hardness of the laser-treated specimen up to 603?HV_0.3 compared to the base material hardness of 430?HV_0.3. The rate of erosion increased linearly from 30° to 60° impingement angle and decreased at 75° impingement angle. The accumulation of the erodent inside the crater and the consequent absorbtion of the incident kinetic energy might have caused this reduction. The laser surface treated specimens exhibited ～1.5 factor of improvement in high temperature erosion resistance. This was attributed to the minimized energy transfer from impinging particle to the substrate achieved through laser surface melting.     

Determining Rainwater Harvesting Storage Capacity with Particle Swarm Optimization

Water Resources Management - A reduction in the amount of available clean water is a universal problem, and the harvest of rainwater is one of the methods that can solve this issue. In this study,...     

Hydrothermal analysis of nanoparticles transportation through a porous compound cavity utilizing two temperature model and radiation heat transfer under the effects of magnetic field

In current text, we developed CVFEM code for nanomaterial hydrothermal management through a permeable compound cavity including two temperature model. Radiation and Lorentz source terms were added in formulations. Impacts of radiation parameter, Rayleigh, Hartmann number, interface heat transfer parameter and nanoparticles’ shape on nanofluid behavior were demonstrated. Contours indicate that convective mode becomes stronger with augment of buoyancy term. By increasing Nhs, conduction becomes more effective and Nusselt number reduces. As radiation term enhances, Nusselt number augments.