DDFSGEN

This paper presents a functional compiler for the automatic design of Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizer (DDFS) integrated circuits (ICs) using a ROM based table look-up architecture. The compiler allows the user to specify high-level specifications such as the acceptable spurious response and it generates the IC architecture, floorplan, and layout. To construct the layout for different specifications, a library of parameterized macrocells has been developed in 1.2 m CMOS technology.A test chip with a quadrature DDFS module has been generated, using the compiler, and fabricated. The chip has two input signals: one is for frequency control while the other is for phase initialization. Input and output word lengths are 16 bits and 6 bits respectively. The chip complexity is approximately 12,000 transistors (DDFS core) and the die size is 4.8×2.9mm ². A maximum sample rate of 80 MHz has been attained implying a maximum sine (cosine) output frequency of 40 MHz and a frequency resolution of 1.22 kHz. The maximum spurious level measured is –46 dB.     

Simulation of transient process in melting section of reciprocating extruder

Plastic injection molding machine that can be classified as reciprocating extruders are among the most widely used machines in industry. However, most studies in the injector design were based on steady state models developed for extruders that involved no reciprocation. This over-simplified model leaves out the most important aspect of reciprocation. The authors of this paper have derived a transient melting model that takes care of the change from the conventional steady extrusion to that of a discontinuous transient process. This paper describes simulations conducted on the derived model to explain observation that cannot be explained by the steady extrusion model in practical experiments. The simulation was conducted by using parameters given in Donovan's experiment [Polym Engng, 11 (1971) 353]. The simulation results are found to qualitatively match with the experimental results. It proves the validity of the model. Simulation has also been conducted with the model on materials that their viscosities are temperature and shear rate dependent. The result has shown that screw rotation speed, screw axial movement speed, barrel thickness, barrel heat capacity, temperature of heater and polymer are factors affecting the melting speed and the transient effects.     

Synthesis of novel tri- and tetrasubstituted C<Subscript>18</Subscript> furan fatty esters

A methylene-interrupted C₁₈ keto-acetylenic fatty ester (methyl 12-oxo-9-octadecynoate) was obtained from methyl ricinoleate by bromination-dehydrobromination followed by oxidation. Reaction of methyl 12-oxo-9-octadecynoate with bis(benzonitrile) palladium(II) chloride, allyl bromide, or methyl-allyl bromide furnished methyl 8-[5-hexyl-3-allyl-furan-2-yl]-octanoate (1, 56%) or methyl 8-[5-hexyl-3-(2-methyl-allyl)-furan-2-yl]-octanoate (2, 55%). Reaction of methyl 12-oxo-11-chloro-or 11-fluoro-9-octadeyynoate (prepared from methyl santalbate-methyl 11-E-9-octadecynoate, found in sandalwood, Santalum album, seed oil) with bis(benzonitrile) palladium(II) chloride gave methyl 8-(4-fluoro-5-hexyl-furan-2-yl)-octanoate (3, 50%) or methyl 8-(4-fluoro-5-hexyl-furan-2-yl)-octanoate (4, 50%), respectively. And when methyl 12-oxo-11-chloro- or 11-fluoro-9-octadecynoate was treated with a mixture of bis(benzonitrile) palladium(II) chloride, allyl bromide, or methyl-allyl bromide, the reaction yielded tetrasubstituted C₁₈ furan derivatives, viz, methyl 8-(3-allyl-4-chloro-5-hexyl-furan-2-yl)-octanoate (5, 54%), methyl 8-[4-chloro-5-hexyl-3-(2-methyl-allyl)-furan-2-yl)-octanoate (6, 54%), methyl 8-(3-allyl-4-fluoro-5-hexyl-furan-2-yl]-octanoate (7, 10%), and methyl 8-[4-fluoro-5-hexyl-3-(2-methyl-allyl)-furan-2-yl]-octanoate (8, 10%). The presence of a fluorine atom in the furan derivatives 4, 7, and 8 was readily characterized by the appearance of doublets for carbon nuclei, which were coupled to the fluorine atom in the ¹³C NMR spectra. All furan fatty derivatives from this work were characterized by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. The yields of compounds 7 and 8 were very low (10%) despite attempts to improve the procedure by increasing the amounts of the reactants and catalyst.     

Ölveredelung: Produkt-, Energie-, Prozeß- und Umweltdaten,Ergebnisse von Großanlagen

Oil Refining: Data on Product, Energy, Process, Environmental Pollution, and Processing Data from Large Technical Plants The need to develope new methods for processing new raw materials, meeting wider market demands, conserving energy and providing environmental protection is discussed. Physical refinement provides the means to accomplish these ends, as well as being the only practical way to overcome certain new problems such as contamination with pesticides. Modern steam distillation equipment is flexible enough to handle a wide range of energy usage, recovering the fatty acids in a directly useable form without use of lye and soapstock splitting, and with very low oil losses. Data is provided to show the extreme economy of one particular method versus other physical refining equipment, and to give information on the product quality. A formula is presented to prove the reality of the low stripping steam usage achieved in practice.     

Laser-Printed Plasmonic Metasurface Supporting Bound States in the Continuum Enhances and Shapes Infrared Spontaneous Emission of Coupled HgTe Quantum Dots

In order to advance the development of quantum emitter-based devices, it is essential to enhance light-matter interactions through coupling between semiconductor quantum dots with high quality factor resonators. Here, efficient tuning of the emission properties of HgTe quantum dots in the infrared spectral region is demonstrated by coupling them to a plasmonic metasurface that supports bound states in the continuum. The plasmonic metasurface, composed of an array of gold nanobumps, is fabricated using single-step direct laser printing, opening up new opportunities for creating exclusive 3D plasmonic nanostructures and advanced photonic devices in the infrared region. A 12-fold enhancement of the photoluminescence in the 900–1700 nm range is observed under optimal coupling conditions. By tuning the geometry of the plasmonic arrays, controllable shaping of the emission spectra is achieved, selectively enhancing specific wavelength ranges across the emission spectrum. The observed enhancement and shaping of the emission are attributed to the Purcell effect, as corroborated by systematic measurements of radiative lifetimes and optical simulations based on the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations. Moreover, coupling of the HgTe photoluminescence to high quality factor modes of the metasurface improves emission directivity, concentrating output within an ≈20° angle.     

An economical piezoelectric phase modulator for fiber optic sensors

A homemade piezoelectric phase modulator for interfero-metric fiber optic sensors was fabricated using piezoelectric buzzers as strain elements. Six piezoelectric elements were embedded between the two halves of a bakelite cylinder split along its axis and secured tightly together again to form a cylinder. Single-mode optical fiber was then wound around the cylinder to complete the unit. Up to a frequency of 500 Hz, the phase shift produced by the modulator is linearly proportional to the amplitude of the applied voltage. The sensitivity of the phase modulator is about 3.6 rad/V and has a dynamic range of 1,000 rad, which is sufficient for most phase modulation purposes.     

A job grouping approach for planning container transfers at automated seaport container terminals

This paper proposes a practical job grouping approach, which aims to enhance the time related performance metrics of container transfers in the Patrick AutoStrad container terminal, located in Brisbane, Australia. It first formulates a mathematical model of the automated container transfers in a relatively complex environment. Apart from the consideration on collision avoidance of a fleet of large vehicles in a confined area, it also deals with many other difficult practical challenges such as the presence of multiple levels of container stacking and sequencing, variable container orientations, and vehicular dynamics that require finite acceleration and deceleration times. The proposed job grouping approach aims to improve the makespan of the schedule for yard jobs, while reducing straddle carrier waiting time by grouping jobs using a guiding function. The performance of the current sequential job allocation method and the proposed job grouping approach are evaluated and compared statistically using a pooled t-test for 30 randomly generated yard configurations. The experimental results show that the job grouping approach can effectively improve the schedule makespan and reduce the total straddle carrier waiting time.     

A Visualization Based Approach for Digital Signature Authentication

We propose a visualization based approach for digital signature authentication. Using our method, the speed and pressure aspects of a digital signature process can be clearly and intuitively conveyed to the user for digital signature authentication. Our design takes into account both the expressiveness and aesthetics of the derived visual patterns. With the visual aid provided by our method, digital signatures can be authenticated with better accuracy than using existing methods—even novices can examine the authenticity of a digital signature in most situations using our method. To validate the effectiveness of our method, we conducted a comprehensive user study which confirms positively the advantages of our approach. Our method can be employed as a new security enhancement measure for a range of business and legal applications in reality which involve digital signature authorization and authentication.     

Immunity-based hybrid evolutionary algorithm for multi-objective optimization in global container repositioning

The development of evolutionary algorithms for optimization has always been a stimulating and growing research area with an increasing demand in using them to solve complex industrial optimization problems. A novel immunity-based hybrid evolutionary algorithm known as Hybrid Artificial Immune Systems (HAIS) for solving both unconstrained and constrained multi-objective optimization problems is developed in this research. The algorithm adopts the clonal selection and immune suppression theories, with a sorting scheme featuring uniform crossover, multi-point mutation, non-dominance and crowding distance sorting to attain the Pareto optimal front in an efficient manner. The proposed algorithm was verified with nine benchmarking functions on its global optimal search ability as well as compared with four optimization algorithms to assess its diversity and spread. Sensitivity analysis was also carried out to investigate the selection of key parameters of the algorithm. It is found that the developed immunity-based hybrid evolutionary algorithm provides a useful means for solving optimization problems and has successfully applied to the problem of global repositioning of containers, which is one of a constrained multi-objective optimization problem. The developed HAIS will assist shipping liners on timely decision making and planning of container repositioning operations in global container transportation business in an optimized and cost effective manner.     

On detecting faults for Boolean expressions

Fault based testing aims at detecting hypothesized faults based on specifications or program source. There are some fault based techniques for testing Boolean expressions which are commonly used to model conditions in specifications as well as logical decisions in program source. The MUMCUT strategy has been proposed to generate test cases from Boolean expressions. Moreover, it detects eight common types of hypothesized faults provided that the original expression is in irredundant disjunctive normal form, IDNF. Software practitioners are more likely to write the conditions and logical decisions in general form rather than IDNF. Hence, it is interesting to investigate the fault detecting capability of the MUMCUT strategy with respect to general form Boolean expressions. In this article, we perform empirical studies to investigate the fault detection capability of the MUMCUT strategy with respect to general form Boolean expressions as well as mutated expressions. A mutated expression can be obtained from the original given Boolean expression by making a syntactic change based on a particular type of fault.