Consensus-based data replication protocol for distributed cloud

The Journal of Supercomputing - Data availability ensures efficient data accessibility by the readers anytime and from anywhere. It can be addressed by creating multiple copies of each data file...     

Algorithms for computing diffuse reflection paths in polygons

Let s be a point source of light inside a polygon P of n vertices. A polygonal path from s to some point t inside P is called a diffuse reflection path if the turning points of the path lie on edges of?P. A?diffuse reflection path is said to be optimal if it has the minimum number of reflections on the path. The problem of computing a diffuse reflection path from s to t inside P has not been considered explicitly in the past. We present three different algorithms for this problem which produce suboptimal paths. For constructing such a path, the first algorithm uses a greedy method, the second algorithm uses a transformation of a minimum link path, and the third algorithm uses the edge–edge visibility graph of?P. The first two algorithms are for polygons without holes, and they run in O(n+klogn) time, where k denotes the number of reflections in the constructed path. The third algorithm is for polygons with or without holes, and it runs in O(n ²) time. The number of reflections in the path produced by this third algorithm can be at most three times that of an optimal diffuse reflection path. Though the combinatorial approach used in the third algorithm gives a better bound on the number of reflections on the path, the first and the second algorithms stand on the merit of their elegant geometric approaches based on local geometric information.     

Automatic early glaucoma detection by extracting parapapillary atrophy and optic disc from fundus image using SVM

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper presents early-automated glaucoma detection algorithm by extracting early diagnostic parameters, namely, parapapillary atrophy and Cup to Disc ratio...     

Choice of sink for air conditioning systems. Part 2

The technical superiority of water-cooled air conditioning systems for different applications in terms of overall power rating have been established by the authors in an earlier publication. This paper deals with the generalized approach for evaluating the techno-economic choice of sink for an air conditioning system. A single parameter of unit cooling cost in fils/kWh_c (100 fils = 1 Kuwaiti dinar = US$3.25), combining the system's technical performance and economic aspects, is an effective cost-benefit criterion for making the choice for the type of sink. The results of an analysis, applied to example case studies in Kuwait, favour the water-cooled system for both the direct expansion (mostly used in the residential sector) and the chilled water (commonly used for non-residential applications) air conditioning systems.     

Polyelectrolyte mediated scalable synthesis of highly stable silver nanocubes in less than a minute using microwave irradiation

Silver nanocubes were synthesized for the first time in large quantities on gold seed in the presence of a polyelectrolyte using microwave heating for 60-120?s. Our experiment indicates that the polyelectrolyte directs the growth of the particle in a specified crystallographic direction resulting in the faceted particle, i.e.?a nanocube. The nanocubes are stable for at least 2 months in ambient conditions.     

Natural circulation studies in a lead bismuth eutectic loop

Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) is increasingly getting more attraction as the coolant for advanced reactor systems. It is also the primary coolant of the Compact High Temperature Reactor (CHTR), being designed at BARC. A loop has been set up for thermal hydraulics, instrument development and material related studies relevant to CHTR. Steady state natural circulation experimental studies were carried out for different power levels. Transient studies for start-up of natural circulation in the loop, loss of heat sink and step power change have also been carried out. An 1D code named LeBENC has been developed at BARC to simulate the natural circulation characteristics in closed loops. The salient features of the code include ability to handle non-uniform diameter components, axial thermal conduction in fluid and heat losses from the piping to the environment. This paper deals with the experimental studies carried out in the loop. Detailed validation of the LeBENC code with the experimental data is also discussed in the paper.     

Synthesis of base impurity distributions for improved figure of merit of transistors

This paper deals with the problem of determining the impurity distribution which will improve the minority carrier base transit time and figure of merit of transistors. From the study of a special form of doping distribution which presents a point of inflection in the resulting built-in electric field configuration, it is concluded that the optimum doping distributions derived through variational methods [2–4] do not necessarily offer a unique minimum for base transit time. A new technique called “The Segmentation Technique” is evolved to synthesise base impurity distributions for improved high frequency performance of present-day junction transistors. It is shown that typical impurity distributions presenting retarding field over a small portion of the base and an aiding field over the rest of the base region offer a significant improvement in base transit time and the high frequency figure of merit.     

Generalized Filter Topology Using Grounded Components and Single Novel Active Element

This paper introduces a new active element combining the useful features of differential voltage, dual-X and first generation current conveyors. The new proposed active element is further utilized to introduce a new generalized filter topology employing grounded components only. The proposed single active element-based topology benefits from first-order and second-order filter realization by appropriate impedance specialization. The circuit topology with single current input provides two output currents and voltages in each case. A thorough study of proposed active element along with extensive simulations is carried out to validate the filter topology. A detailed non-ideal study is also given. To further support the usefulness of filter topology, higher-order filters are also realized. The new active element and the new filter structure provide advancement to the existing knowledge; with the scope of active element being further exploited for analog signal processing applications in general. The proposed differential voltage dual-X first generation current conveyor (DV-DXCCI) and its filtering applications are simulated using TSMC 0.25  \(\upmu \) m technology.