A genetic‐based neuro‐fuzzy controller for blind equalization of time‐varying channels

This paper presents a neuro‐fuzzy network (NFN) where all its parameters can be tuned simultaneously using genetic algorithms (GAs). The approach combines the merits of fuzzy logic theory, neural networks and GAs. The proposed NFN does not require a priori knowledge about the system and eliminates the need for complicated design steps such as manual tuning of input–output membership functions, and selection of fuzzy rule base. Although, only conventional GAs have been used, convergence results are very encouraging. A well‐known numerical example derived from literature is used to evaluate and compare the performance of the network with other equalizing approaches. Simulation results show that the proposed neuro‐fuzzy controller, all parameters of which have been tuned simultaneously using GAs, offers advantages over existing equalizers and has improved performance. From the perspective of application and implementation, this paper is very interesting as it provides a new method for performing blind equalization. The main contribution of this paper is the use of learning algorithms to train a feed‐forward neural network for M‐ary QAM and PSK signals. This paper also provides a platform for researchers of the area for further development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of chromium aging on the structural and thermal properties of chromium polyacrylate

The effects of aging time of Cr(III) solutions on the structural, thermal, magnetic, and morphological properties of chromium polyacrylate complexes were studied. Chromium retention was found to increase with longer aging periods. IR spectra revealed the formation of polychelate structures with noticeable changes on aging. The interaction of multivalent, polynuclear Cr(III) species with the polymer backbone resulted in a decrease in thermal stability for the complexes prepared from olated chromium solutions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 490–493, 2005     

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and other nucleotides stimulate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine in intact fibroblasts

Addition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to [¹⁴C]ethanolamine-prelabeled NIH 3T3 fibroblasts resulted in rapid formation of [¹⁴C]ethanolamine from the prelabeled cellular phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) pool. After 2-min exposure, 10 μM ATP had near maximal effects on PtdEtn hydrolysis. Several other nucleotides, including UTP, ITP, and the stable ATP analog adenosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS), also had stimulatory effects on PtdEtn hydrolysis with a potency comparable to that observed with ATP. The same nucleotides which acted on PtdEtn hydrolysis also had similar stimulatory effects on the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) in [¹⁴C]choline-labeled cells. In isolated membranes, Mg²⁺ greatly enhanced the stimulatory effects of ATP and ATPγS, but not of other nucleotides, on the hydrolysis of PtdEtn and PtdCho. Results indicate that in isolated membranes, both ATP and ATPγS stimulate phospholipid hydrolysis by two different mechanisms, but in intact cells only one of these mechanisms appears to be responsive to externally added nucleotides.     

Energy sector planning using multiple-index pinch analysis

Pinch analysis was initially developed as a methodology for optimizing energy efficiency in process plants. Applications of pinch analysis applications are based on common principles of using stream quantity and quality to determine optimal system targets. This initial targeting step identifies the pinch point, which then allows complex problems to be decomposed for the subsequent design of an optimal network using insights drawn from the targeting stage. One important class of pinch analysis problems is energy planning with footprint constraints, which began with the development of carbon emissions pinch analysis; in such problems, energy sources and demands are characterized by carbon footprint as the quality index. This methodology has been extended by using alternative quality indexes that measure different sustainability dimensions, such as water footprint, land footprint, emergy transformity, inoperability risk, energy return on investment and human fatalities. Pinch analysis variants still have the limitation of being able to use one quality index at a time, while previous attempts to develop pinch analysis methods using multiple indices have only been partially successful for special cases. In this work, a multiple-index pinch analysis method is developed by using an aggregate quality index, based on a weighted linear function of different quality indexes normally used in energy planning. The weights used to compute the aggregate index are determined via the analytic hierarchy process. A case study for Indian power sector is solved to illustrate how this approach allows multiple sustainability dimensions to be accounted for in energy planning.     

Cryptanalysis of RSA with two decryption exponents

In this paper, we consider RSA with N=pq, where p,q are of same bit size, i.e., q<p<2q. We study the weaknesses of RSA when multiple encryption and decryption exponents are considered with same RSA modulus N. A decade back, Howgrave-Graham and Seifert (CQRE 1999) studied this problem in detail and presented the bounds on the decryption exponents for which RSA is weak. For the case of two decryption exponents, the bound was N^0.357. We have exploited a different lattice based technique to show that RSA is weak beyond this bound. Our analysis provides improved results and it shows that for two exponents, RSA is weak when the RSA decryption exponents are less than N^0.416. Moreover, we get further improvement in the bound when some of the most significant bits (MSBs) of the decryption exponents are same (but unknown).     

Reconstruction Based Recognition of Scenes with Multiple Repeated Components

This paper proposes an invariance based recognition scheme for scenes with multiple repeated components. The scheme considers three component subsets which characterize the scene completely. Each such three component subset is reconstructed using single image based information. We have developed a mathematical framework for the projective reconstruction based on relative affine structure of each such three component building block. This is extended to the case when each of the components is a quadric. A set of projective invariants of three quadrics has also been obtained by us. Although the reconstruction scheme is general and applicable to all multiple repeated components, it requires the computation of infinite homography. The infinite homography and hence the reconstruction scheme are only image computable with the given information in the case of translational repetition. We therefore develop a recognition strategy for the specific case of translationally repeated quadrics. As a recognition strategy for scenes with multiple translationally repeated quadric components, we propose to compute and store invariant values for each such three component subsets. Experiments on real data have shown the applicability of this approach for recognition of aerial images of power plants. The discriminatory power of the invariants and the stability of the recognition results have also been experimentally demonstrated.     

An Indo-Soviet experiment on anmhd generator test section at the Soviet U-02 facility

This paper summarizes the major results of the joint Indo-Soviet experiment for testing the Indianmhd generator channel section, designed and fabricated at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, which was carried out at the U-02 facility in Moscow, USSR, in May 1980. The total test duration was 65 hours and included electrophysical tests and life tests under applied electric fields. The main purpose of the tests was to substantiate the physical concepts, computer codes, design features and special processing techniques involved in the development ofmhd generators for the Indian pilot plant at Tiruchirapalli. The experimental observations on the phenomena of heat transfer to the walls, gas dynamics in the channel, electrical characteristics of the generator and near-electrode processes including the analysis of arc spots correlate with the theoretical estimates based on present understanding of the physical processes occuring in similarmhd generators. The post-operational inspection of the channel section and extensive investigation of materials through microscopic analysis, chemical analysis and x-ray analysis are also reported in this paper. The joint test programme has clearly demonstrated the definite operating capability of the test section and has given sufficient information and encouragement for building better and improved channels for the future.     

Effect of powder treatment on the crystallization behaviour and phase evolution of Al2O3–High ZrO2 nanocomposites

Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ composites containing nominally equal volume fraction of Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ have been synthesized through combined gel-precipitation technique. Subsequently the gels were subjected to three different post gel processing treatments like ultrasonication, ultrasonication followed by water washing and ultrasonication followed by alcohol washing. It was observed that while in unwashed samples crystallization took place at low temperature, crystallization was delayed in the washed gels. The phase transition of ZrO₂ in the calcined gels followed the sequence; amorphous → cubic ZrO₂ → tetragonal ZrO₂ → monoclinic ZrO₂. On the other hand, phase transition in alumina followed the sequence amorphous to γ-Al₂O₃, the transition taking place at 650 °C. No α-Al₂O₃ could be detected even after calcination at 950 °C. However, all the sintered samples had α-Al₂O₃. In spite of high linear shrinkage (19–21%) during sintering, the sintered sample had density of only above 70% for all the four varieties of the powders. However, in spite of the low sintered density of the pellets, 31% tetragonal zirconia could be retained after sintering at 1400 °C and it reduced to about 16% at 1600 °C.     

Three dimensional solid-shell transition finite elements for heat conduction

This paper presents a finite element formulation for a special class of finite elements referred to as ‘Solid-Shell Transition Finite Elements’ for three dimensional heat conduction. The solid-shell transition elements are necessary in applications requiring the use of both three dimensional solid elements and the curved shell elements. These elements permit transition from the solid portion of the structure to the shell portion of the structure. A novel feature of the formulation presented here is that nodel temperatures as well as nodal temperature gradients are retained as primary variables. The element geometry is defined in terms of coordinates of the nodes as well as the nodal point normals for the nodes lying on the middle surface of the element. The temperature field with the element is approximated in terms of element approximation functions, nodal temperatures and nodal temperature gradients. The properties of the transition element are then derived using the weak formulation (or the quadratic functional) of the Fourier heat conduction equation in the Cartesian coordinate system and the element temperature approximation. The formulation presented here permits linear temperature distribution in the element thickness direction.

Convective boundaries as well as distributed heat flux is permitted on all six faces of the elements. Furthermore, the element formulation also permits internal heat generation and orthotropic material behavior. Numerical examples are presented firstly to illustrate the accuracy of the formulation and secondly to demonstrate its usefulness in practical application. Numerical results are also compared with the theoretical solutions.     

Improvement of lubrication and cooling in grinding

The presence of air boundary layer around a grinding wheel impedes the proper entry of cutting fluid into grinding zone and thereby lubrication and cooling are hampered. It leads to the thermal damage to the workpiece and rapid wheel wear. This experimental work is aimed at increasing the lubrication and cooling effects in grinding by a novel method of using scraper board. The experiments are conducted, using the scraper board, to find the critical region where the air pressure is zero. The coolant jet has then impinged into the grinding zone which is maintained within the critical region. The requirement of specific energy, surface texture, and mechanical properties of the ground surface are analyzed and compared with the traditional grinding and the grinding at various positions of scraper board. Results show that the grinding ratio improved by 35.6and 119%, surface roughness decreased by 36 and 54.2%, while the requirement of specific energy is reduced by 50.8 and 57.3% when scraper board is positioned at the critical distance in comparison to the 57.5° position and no scraper board, respectively. The results indicate that the introduction of fluid in the present method can improve the process efficiency and the product quality effectively.