Low complexity VLSI implementation of CORDIC-based exponent calculation for neural networks

This article presents a low hardware complexity for exponent calculations based on CORDIC. The proposed CORDIC algorithm is designed to overcome major drawbacks (scale-factor compensation, low range of convergence and optimal selection of micro-rotations) of the conventional CORDIC in hyperbolic mode of operation. The micro-rotations are identified using leading-one bit detection with uni-direction rotations to eliminate redundant iterations and improve throughput. The efficiency and performance of the processor are independent of the probability of rotation angles being known prior to implementation. The eight-staged pipelined architecture implementation requires an 8?×?N ROM in the pre-processing unit for storing the initial coordinate values; it no longer requires the ROM for storing the elementary angles. It provides an area-time efficient design for VLSI implementation for calculating exponents in activation functions and Gaussain Potential Functions (GPF) in neural networks. The proposed CORDIC processor requires 32.68% less adders and 72.23% less registers compared to that of the conventional design. The proposed design when implemented on Virtex 2P (2vp50ff1148-6) device, dissipates 55.58% less power and has 45.09% less total gate count and 16.91% less delay as compared to Xilinx CORDIC Core. The detailed algorithm design along with FPGA implementation and area and time complexities is presented.     

Nanoparticles of Transition Metals as Accelerants in the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate,Part 62

Four transition metal nanoparticles (TMNs) of 3d series (Cu, Co, Ni, and Fe) were prepared by hydrazine reduction of metal chloride in ethylene glycol at 60°C and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD pattern showed average particle sizes for Cu, Ni, Co, and Fe of 16.7, 40.5, 27.4, and 35.0 nm, respectively. The activity of these TMN accelerants on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated using thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and ignition delay studies. Isothermal TG data were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters by model fitting as well as an isoconversional methods. The activation energy for thermal decomposition of AP was found to be 66.8, 68.7, 78.5, and 85.4 kJmol^?1, respectively, for Co, Cu, Ni, and Fe, when they were mixed with AP. Hence, the order of activity was found to be Co > Cu > Ni > Fe. The accelerant effect of nanoparticles of TMNs was found to be better than their respective nano-oxides.     

Single Domain 10 nm Ferromagnetism Imprinted on Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles Using Chiral Molecules

The rapid growth in demand for data and the emerging applications of Big Data require the increase of memory capacity. Magnetic memory devices are among the leading technologies for meeting this demand; however, they rely on the use of ferromagnets that creates size reduction limitations and poses complex materials requirements. Usually magnetic memory sizes are limited to 30–50 nm. Reducing the size even further, to the ≈10–20 nm scale, destabilizes the magnetization and its magnetic orientation becomes susceptible to thermal fluctuations and stray magnetic fields. In the present work, it is shown that 10 nm single domain ferromagnetism can be achieved. Using asymmetric adsorption of chiral molecules, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles become ferromagnetic with an average coercive field of ≈80 Oe. The asymmetric adsorption of molecules stabilizes the magnetization direction at room temperature and the orientation is found to depend on the handedness of the chiral molecules. These studies point to a novel method for the miniaturization of ferromagnets (down to ≈10 nm) using established synthetic protocols.     

Twinned-serrated chip formation with minor shear bands in ultra-precision micro-cutting of bulk metallic glass

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have unique properties due to their amorphous atomic structure such as excellent mechanical and thermal...     

Significance of Numerical Integration in Performance Analysis of Modulation Techniques

Wireless Personal Communications - In this paper numerical integration techniques are used to derive an approximation to $$Q(a\sqrt{\gamma })Q(b\sqrt{\gamma })$$ . Further this approximation is...     

Energy finance data warehouse: Tracking revenues through the power sector

Reliable data is needed to understand financial relationships in the power sector. However, relevant data acquisition and visualization can be a challenge due to the fragmented nature of the power sector. The US DOE and ORNL leveraged a Sankey prototype to elucidate the ‘big picture’ of financial flows to understand the complex relationships between specific actors within the power sector. The continued incorporation of high quality data can improve the fidelity of such an approach and lead to an increasingly detailed understanding of financial relationships in the power sector and their implications for policymakers.     

Cradle-to-cooked-edible-meat analysis of greenhouse gas emissions

This study aimed to synthesize mean cradle-to-cooked-edible-meat greenhouse gas emission factors for bovine, ovine, pig, and poultry meat through a systematic review process. 64 studies involving 42 countries/regions, published between 1997 and 2015 were identified meeting selection criteria using Cochrane search strategies. Major emission activities were identified and synthesised into a cradle-to-cooked-edible-meat lifecycle system. 270 emission factors were identified from publications and taken as baselines. 67% baseline evaluation boundaries stopped at farm-gate, only 3% at home/restaurants. Baseline emission gaps were identified by comparing baseline evaluation systems against the synthesised system. Emission factors for major activities were identified from publications and mean values were used to fill emission gaps in order to obtain the cradle-to-cooked-edible-meat emission factors, which were then grouped to obtain a mean cradle-to-cooked-edible-meat emission factor for each meat type. Mean emission factors (kg CO₂-eq/kg) for adjusted cradle-to-cooked-edible-meats were: Bovine 61.3 (n?=?124), Ovine 61.2 (n?=?38), Pig 15.8 (n?=?56) and Poultry 9.4 (n?=?52), which are significantly higher than the adjusted means for carcass at regional-distribution-centre: Bovine 23.9 (n?=?118), Ovine 23.3 (n?=?9), Pig 5.0 (n?=?51) and Poultry 3.6 (n?=?45); or the adjusted means for saleable meat at retail: Bovine 32.3 (n?=?122), Ovine 31.2 (n?=?36), Pig 7.9 (54), and Poultry 4.2 (n?=?50). This study confirmed current meat emission evaluations reflect only a fraction of dietary impacts. Emission factors for cooked-edible-meat could be three times the amount of meat commodities at farm-gate. Emission factors vary significantly within and between meat types.     

Compact Analog-To-Digital Converter (ADC) Using Quantum Dot Gate-Quantum Dot Channel Field Effect Transistor (QDG-QDCFET)

Silicon - The generation of four states in their transfer characteristic of QDG-QDCFET makes them useful to implement four state logic or quaternary logic. On the other hand, the number of device...     

Nonspherical Noble Metal Nanoparticles: Colloid‐Chemical Synthesis and Morphology Control

Metal nanoparticles have been the subject of widespread research over the past two decades. In recent years, noble metals have been the focus of numerous studies involving synthesis, characterization, and applications. Synthesis of an impressive range of noble metal nanoparticles with varied morphologies has been reported. Researchers have made a great progress in learning how to engineer materials on a nanometer length scale that has led to the understanding of the fundamental size‐ and shape‐dependent properties of matter and to devising of new applications. In this article, we review the recent progress in the colloid‐chemical synthesis of nonspherical nanoparticles of a few important noble metals (mainly Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt), highlighting the factors that influence the particle morphology and discussing the mechanisms behind the nonspherical shape evolution. The article attempts to present a thorough discussion of the basic principles as well as state‐of‐the‐art morphology control in noble metal nanoparticles.     

Properties and Applications of Colloidal Nonspherical Noble Metal Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of noble metals belong to the most extensively studied colloidal systems in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Due to continuing progress in the synthesis of nanoparticles with controlled morphologies, the exploration of unique morphology‐dependent properties has gained momentum. Anisotropic features in nonspherical nanoparticles make them ideal candidates for enhanced chemical, catalytic, and local field related applications. Nonspherical plasmon resonant nanoparticles offer favorable properties for their use as analytical tools, or as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. This Review highlights morphology‐dependent properties of nonspherical noble metal nanoparticles with a focus on localized surface plasmon resonance and local field enhancement, as well as their applications in various fields including Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence enhancement, analytics and sensing, photothermal therapy, (bio‐)diagnostics, and imaging.