Reliability and performance analysis of time – space – time switching networks with multiple separated space switches

Since electronic switching systems usually require very strict reliability requirements as well as good performance objectives, we need to jointly analyse the performance and reliability of switching systems. In this paper, we compare conventional time–space–time switches with single space switches with those with multiple separated space switches, from the viewpoints of reliability and performance. We consider time–space–time switching networks which consist of N incoming time switches, i.e. one NxN space switch, two (N/2)x(N/2) space switches, and four (N/4)x(N/4) space switches. We introduce a Markov reliability model to study the effect of failures and analyse the reliability and performance of three different types of switching networks in terms of average blocking probability and the mean time to unreliable operation, as we vary the offered traffic. As a result, T–S–T switching networks with multiple separated space switches exhibit better performance and reliability than those with single space switches.     

Depth of intergranular oxygen diffusion during environment-dependent fatigue crack growth in alloy 718

The elevated-temperture fatigue crack growth behavior in alloy 718, when subjected to a loading frequency lower than the transitional frequency of this alloy, is viewed as fully environment dependent. In this process, the crack growth increment per loading cycle is assumed to be equal to the intergranular oxygen diffusion depth at the crack tip during the cycle effective oxidation time. In order to identify the trend of this diffusion depth an experimental program was carried out on compact tension specimens made of alloy 718 at 650 °C in which fatigue crack growth measurements were made for cyclic load conditions with and without hold time periods at minimum load level. This work resulted in establishing a relationship correlating the intergranular oxygen diffusion depth and the value of the stress intensity factor range ΔK. This relationship, when integrated over the cycle effective oxidation time, results in a closed-form solution describing the environment-dependent fatigue crack growth rate. A comparison is made between the results of this solution when applied to different loading frequencies and the corresponding experimental results. This comparison shows good agreement between the two sets of results. Furthermore, by combining the parabolic rate law of diffusion and the equation for the intergranular oxygen diffusion depth, an explicit expression for the oxygen diffusivity of grain boundaries is derived. It is found that this diffusivity is both a ΔK- and a frequency-dependent parameter.     

Parallel simulated annealing for power system decomposition

This paper proposes a parallel optimization approach to power system decomposition for voltage control. In this paper, a parallel simulated annealing (PSA) technique is developed to decompose power systems so that subsystems are equally separated in terms of the number of nodes and control variables. System decomposition is one of difficult discrete number combinatorial problems. The PSA technique provides better solutions than the conventional SA because of searching a solution near a global minimum over a wide range. The proposed method is tested in IEEE 30, 57, and 118 node systems     

Performance evaluation of a teletext system

Four parameters are defined to measure the performance of a teletext system, namely, the probability of delivering a message within specified time, the transmission efficiency, the average number of errors per page, and the throughput. Each of them is derived and computational results are presented taking the UK teletext system as an example. These parameters are compared in their ability to characterize the performance of the teletext system     

Design concepts of a novel microwave active filter

A novel microwave active bandpass filter structure, using a combination of microstrip line resonators and FETs, is described. The resulting filter not only produces positive gain but also has good performance regarding sharpness of skirts, rejection, and input and output return losses. Capability of constructing wider bandwidth and its superior performance at harmonic band frequencies over an end-coupled filter structure are among advantages of this design.     

Effect of short-term storage on phenolic content,o-diphenolase and peroxidase activities of cut yam tubers (Dioscorea sp)

The effect of short-term storage on the protein, phosphorus and phenolic content as well as peroxidase and o-diphenolase activities of cut, harvested Jamaican yam (Dioscorea sp) tubers (D rotundata. D alata and D cayenensis) was studied. There was an initial increase in the total phenolic content up to the third week of storage followed by a gradual decrease to the sixth week. Phenolic content was found to be highest in D cayenensis followed by D rotundata and D alata. The activities of peroxidase (EC 1. 11. 1. 7) and o-diphenolase (EC 1. 10.3.1) increased steadily up to the third week of storage and thereafter decreased to the fifth week. The intensity and rapidity of browning in tubers when cut, correlated very closely with the tuber o-diphenolase and phenolic content levels while the onset of rotting correlated with the peroxidase activity levels in the species studied.     

The Influence of the Amount of Fluoride Catalyst on the Morphological Properties of the Anilinepropylsilica Xerogel Prepared in Basic Medium

Anilinepropylsilica hybrid powder was synthesized by a sol-gel route in basic medium using HF as catalyst. The effect of the amount of HF catalyst on the morphologies and on organic content was studied. The xerogels were characterized using FTIR, SEM and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. The increase in the HF quantity results in an slight increase in organic content and changes in the particle size, surface area and pore structure.     

Confirmation of anatoxin-a(s), in the cyanobacterium Anabaena lemmermannii, as the cause of bird kills in Danish lakes

Cyanobacterial blooms were implicated in bird kills at lakes in Denmark in July 1993 and June-July 1994. These blooms were dominated by Anabaena lemmermannii and were shown to contain a neurotoxin with anticholinesterase activity. In this study, the toxin was isolated by mouse lethality guided column chromatographies from the field sample collected at Lake Knud s? in 1993. Various spectroscopic data indicated that the toxin was anatoxin-a(s), an irreversible anticholinesterase, first reported in Anabaena flos-aquae. Chemical detection of the same toxin in cultured A. lemmermannii also confirmed this species as the cause of the deaths of the wild birds.