Finite element analysis of gradient coil deformation and vibration in NMR microscopy

Resolution degradation due to gradient coil deformation and vibration in NMR microscopy is investigated using finite element analysis. From the analysis, deformations due to the Lorentz force can be as large as 1-10 mum depending on the gradient strength and coil frame material. Thus, these deformations can be one of the major resolution limiting factors in NMR microscopy. Coil vibration, which depends on the input current waveform and resolution degradation due to time-variant deformation and time-invariant deformation are investigated by numerical simulations.     

Precoding and power allocation algorithms for device-to-device communication in massive MIMO networks

Device-to-device communication (D2D) and massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems are two emerging technologies that are being considered to improve the performance of next generation wireless cellular systems. In D2D, two mobile nodes communicate directly without traversing the base station (BS). Consequently, interference management, coordination, and/or cancellation techniques have to be adopted to target the problem of mutual interference between the D2D devices and the BS (or the normal mobiles nodes connected to the BS). In this paper, we investigate the problem of BS precoder design and D2D devices power allocation in the downlink of a single-cell network assuming existence of D2D devices as well as massive MIMO at the BS. We propose algorithms to maximize the sum of the achievable data rates of the D2D pairs while maintaining quality of service constraints on the cellular user equipment, which communicate normally with the BS. We also propose two algorithms for the precoding problem; the first is based on semi-definite programming while the second is based on gradient descent algorithms. Moreover, we investigate two solutions for the power allocation problem; the first solves an approximate convex optimization problem iteratively while the second is a suboptimal, but far less complex, heuristic. Finally, we propose a technique to apply the mentioned solutions when only partial channel state information is available at the BS. Simulation results show that the proposed solutions are superior to the conventional precoding and power allocation schemes.     

A 0.5-bit step multi-resolution adjustable-input range reconfigurable noise-shaping TDC using multi-step quantizer gated-ring oscillators

A reconfigurable noise-shaping time-to-digital converter (TDC) with adjustable resolution and input range is presented as a solution to nonlinear multi-input readout systems. By varying the frequency of a multi-step quantizer gated-ring oscillator (MSQ-GRO), the resolution and input range are adjusted without affecting the acquisition time. A prototype of a standalone second-order MASH MSQ-GRO-TDC operating over a 34 μs adjustable input range and covering five resolution modes is presented. The MSQ-GRO frequency changes by a factor of approximately \(\sqrt 2\), thus adjusting the resolution in steps of 0.5-bit. With a 12 MHz sampling frequency, the MSQ-GRO-TDC consumes 0.85 mW from a 1.2 V supply and achieves integrated noise of 42.8 and 1.9 ps_rms in 500 and 1 kHz bandwidths, respectively. The measured resolution is 13.3-to-15.3 bits with a sampling signal of 200 kHz in a 5 kHz bandwidth. The input range/resolution optimization allows up to 51% of power saving under the same supply voltage, thus extending the battery lifetime in portable devices. The MSQ-GRO-TDC is used as a data converter for a nonlinear pressure sensor. It achieves a worst-case resolution of 24.5 μbar_rms. It is realized in a standard 0.13 μm CMOS technology and occupies an area of 0.145 mm².     

UWB coplanar waveguide‐fed coplanar strips rectangular spiral antenna

This article proposes an ultra‐wideband coplanar strips (CPS) rectangular spiral antenna that is fed by coplanar waveguide (CPW). The CPS is formed by gradually reducing the width of the CPW ground planes without the need of a balun. The antenna operates in the frequency band (3.5‐10.6 GHz) and has miniaturized size of 50 × 40 × 0.508 mm on a Rogers RO4003C substrate. The CPS spiral is terminated with a 100 Ω chip resistor for matching. A parametric study was performed to choose the CPS spiral dimensions. A good agreement is found between simulations and measurements in the radiation pattern and the return loss which was found to be better than 10 dB over the band. The measured peak gain ranges between 1 and 4.7 dBi.     

A subthreshold low-power CMOS LC-VCO with high immunity to PVT variations

This paper presents a current driver with a novel high voltage (HV) switch schematic for the use as a protective switch for recording circuits during the stimulation sequence in neural measurement system. The current driver can source and sink currents of amplitudes up to ±8.2 mA with a HV tolerance from 30 V up to 120 V. The proposed HV switch also tolerates the voltage difference up to 120 V between its terminals. Between stimulation sequences the driver provides the effective isolation of the stimulation electrode from ground and HV supply voltage. The inter pulse current is no more than 60 pA. The chip was fabricated with AMS HV 0.35 \(\mu\)m CMOS technology. For test purposes the complete stimulation system including the proposed chip and the external C8051F410 controller was build. For the proposed system the mismatch between the sourced and sinked current does not exceed 20 \(\mu\)A. The possibility to stimulate with frequencies up to 1 kHz is proven by measurement along with the electrode-tissue model.     

类别约束下的低秩优化特征字典构造方法

字典模型(BOW)是一种经典的图像描述方法,模型中特征字典的构造方法至关重要。针对特征字典构造问题,提出了一种类别约束下的低秩优化特征字典构造方法LRC-DT,通过低秩优化的方法使训练出来的特征字典在描述同类图像时表示系数矩阵的秩相对较低,从而将类别信息引入到字典学习中,提高字典对图像描述的可分辨性。在标准公测库Caltech-101和Caltech-256上的实验结果表明：将SPM、稀疏编码下的SPM(ScSPM)、局部线性编码(LLC)和线性核函数的SPM(LSPM)编码方法中的特征字典替换为加入低秩约束(LRC)的特征字典后,随着训练样本数目增多,字典模型的分类准确率与未引入低秩约束的方法相比有所提高。     

Mixing analysis in a coaxial mixer

The performance of a coaxial mixer in the laminar-transitional flow regime was numerically investigated with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. These mixers comprised two shafts: a central fast speed shaft mounted with an open turbine, and a slow speed shaft fitted with a wall scraping anchor arm. To model the complex hydrodynamics inside the vessel, the virtual finite element method (POLY3D^TM software) coupled with a Lagrange multiplier approach to cope with the non-linearity coming from the rheological model was employed. Co-rotation and counter-rotation mode were compared, based on several numerical criteria, namely, mixing time, power consumption and pumping rate. It was found that co-rotating mode is more efficient than counter-rotating mode in terms of energy, pumping rate and homogenization time.     

Taking context into account in conceptual models using a Model Driven Engineering approach

Context

In public transport, travelers (considered as information systems users) do not have the same objectives and/or concerns at the same time. For this reason it is not always easy to provide them with the right information at the right time. If personalizing the information to the user allows to do this to some extend it is not enough since the information could also depend on the use of the context and the environment (e.g., place, time, etc.).

Objective

This paper proposes a solution allowing the context to be managed inside an application’s conceptual models in order to provide more flexible web applications from the user’s point of view.

Method

Our work is based on a modeling method using the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) approach and on practical field experiences permitting us to validate our solution. Our domain of application is personalized transport information.

Results

Introducing the notion of context into rules and decision trees that are used inside conceptual models allowed us to incorporate context as important information for personalizing web applications.

Conclusion

The context should be integrated into an application during the modeling phase to allow a smooth integration inside the application and to facilitate the evolution over time. Our solution offers a better user’s experience through an extended personalization of web applications.     

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions between some C-aryl nitrogen oxides with electron-deficient dipolarophils

Both C-(2-methylphenyl)-N-phenyl and C-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenyl nitrones ( 1a, b ) reacted with N-phenylmaleinimide and fumaronitrile to give the normal primary cycloadducts. The reaction of the two nitrones ( 1a, b ) with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione and diacetylacetylene afforded rearrangement products. The unexpected 1,3,4-oxadiazolidin-2-ones were isolated from reaction with phenylisocyanate. In contrast, tetracyanoethylene forms charge-transfer complexes with both nitrones instead of cycloaddition products. The structural elucidation of the reaction products was made on the bases of the elemental analysis as well as i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectral data.     

Effect of green and black teas (Camellia sinensis L.) on the characteristic microflora of yogurt during fermentation and refrigerated storage

The effect of tea on the fermentation and survival of yogurt microorganisms was studied. Green and black teas were added to milk at the beginning of fermentation. Acidity of yogurt products and survival of their microflora were studied during 42 days at 4 °C. Results showed that the presence of tea did not significantly (P < 0.05) influence the yogurt characteristic microorganisms. HPLC studies demonstrated that yogurt bacteria did not affect tea catechins when they were incubated together for 48 h. Indeed, all five products reached about 10⁹ CFU/ml after 6 h of fermentation. Viability during 6 weeks storage at 4 °C varied very little (8.35 < log CFU/ml < 8.65). Similarly, green and black teas had no effect on lactic acid levels of the final products (after 6 weeks of storage, acidity remained above 80 °D). According to these findings, addition of teas or tea catechins to yogurt can be recommended to take advantage of their beneficial properties on human health attributed to their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.