Energy conservation in compressed‐air systems

In this paper, we evaluate and quantify the energy losses associated with compressed‐air systems, and their costs to manufacturers. We also show how to reduce the cost of compressed air in existing facilities by making some modifications with attractive payback periods. Among the measures, we investigate to reduce the compressed air are: (1) repairing air leaks, (2) installing high‐efficiency motors, (3) reducing the average air inlet temperature by using outside air (4) reducing compressor air pressure. We also illustrate the potential saving associated with each measure by using realistic examples. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Breakdown of universal mobility curves in sub-100-nm MOSFETs

We explore the breakdown of universal mobility behavior in sub-100-nm Si MOSFETs, using a novel three-dimensional (3-D) statistical simulation approach. In this approach, carrier trajectories in the bulk are treated via 3-D Brownian dynamics, while the carrier-interface roughness scattering is treated using a novel empirical model. Owing to the high efficiency of the transport kernel, effective mobility in 3-D MOSFETs with realistic Si-SiO/sub 2/ interfaces reconstructed from a Gaussian or exponential correlation function can be simulated in a statistical manner. We first demonstrate a practical calibration procedure for the interface mobility and affirm the universal behavior in the long channel limit. Next, effective mobility in ensembles of MOSFETs with a gate length down to 10 nm is investigated. It is found that the random-discrete nature of the Si-SiO/sub 2/ interface leads to a distribution of carrier mobility below the interface, which can deviate considerably from universal mobility curves when L/sub gate/<6/spl Lambda/, where /spl Lambda/ is the correlation length for the SiO/sub 2/ interface.     

Out of Context: NMDA Receptor Antagonism in the Avian 'Prefrontal Cortex' Impairs Context Processing in a Conditional Discrimination Task.

Processing of context information is implicated in prefrontal functions as response selection or attention. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the mammalian prefrontal cortex (PFC) and in the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL) of birds, the avian functional equivalent of the PFC, are involved in learning, which also requires processing of context. The authors investigated the role of NMDA receptors in the pigeon (Columba livia) NCL for context processing and response selection in a simultaneous-matching-to-sample task with 2 trial types, requiring either processing of context information, delivered by a conditional stimulus (context dependent), or only recall of a stimulus-response association (fixed response). The competitive NMDA antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid impaired performance only in context-dependent trials. Therefore, NMDA receptors in the avian PFC participate in response selection requiring context processing rather than in response selection per se. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A numerical comparison of partial solutions in the decomposition method for linear and nonlinear partial differential equations

In this study, the decomposition method for solving the linear heat equation and nonlinear Burgers equation is implemented with appropriate initial conditions. The application of the method demonstrated that the partial solution in the x-direction requires more computational work when compared with the partial solution developed in the t-direction but the numerical solution in the x-direction are performed extremely well in terms of accuracy and efficiency.     

Evaluation of deflection amplification factor in steel moment‐resisting frames

Steel moment‐resisting frames (SMRFs) are the most common type of structural systems used in steel structures. The first step of structural design for SMRFs starts with the selection of the structural sections on the basis of story drift limitation. ASCE 7 (2010) requires that the inelastic story drifts be obtained by multiplying the deflections determined by elastic analysis under design earthquake forces with a deflection amplification factor (C_d). For special moment‐resisting frames, C_d is given as 5.5 in ASCE 7 (2010). Lower C_d values will increase the overall inelastic response of the structure. On the other hand, the inelastic response of the structure is expected to be less severe when designed for higher C_d values. The performance objective is that the structure should sustain the inelastic deformation demand imposed due to design earthquake ground motions. This study aims at investigating the inelastic seismic response that low‐rise, medium‐rise and high‐rise SMRFs can experience under design earthquake ground motions and maximum considered earthquake (MCE) level ground motions and evaluating the deflection amplification factors (C_d) for SMRFs in a rational way. For this purpose, nonlinear dynamic time history and pushover analyses will be carried out on SMRFs with 4, 9 and 20 stories. The results indicate that the current practice for computing the inelastic story drifts for SMRFs is rational and the frames designed complying with the current code requirements can sustain the inelastic deformations imposed during design earthquake ground motions when seismically designed and detailed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Epicardial fat thickness is associated with impaired coronary flow reserve in hemodialysis patients

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a new risk factor in CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between EFT and coronary artery flow reserve (CFR), which is an early indicator of endothelial dysfunction in coronary vessels of HD patients. We performed a cross‐sectional study including 71 chronic HD patients and 65 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Epicardial fat tissue was significantly higher in HD patients when compared to healthy controls (6.53 ± 1.01 mm vs. 5.79 ± 1.06 mm, respectively, P < 0.001). On transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, CFR values were significantly lower in HD patients when compared to healthy controls (1.73 ± 0.11 vs. 2.32 ± 0.28, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed CFR values to be inversely correlated with EFT (r = ?0.287, P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to define independent determinants of EFT in HD patients. Artery flow reserve, age, body mass index and total cholesterol levels were independently correlated with EFT thickness. This study demonstrated that EFT was significantly higher among HD patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, this study was the first to demonstrate an inverse correlation between EFT and CFR in this patient population.     

Effect of Solution Treatment on Thermal Conductivity of Porous NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

In this study, a new solution treatment “solution treatment under loading” was applied to a porous Ni–50 at.%Ti shape memory alloy (SMA), which was fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), to explore the microstructural improvement regarding single-phase NiTi. The effects of solution treatment under loading and without loading on the phase constituent and thermal conductivity were investigated and discussed. The phase constituent and thermal conductivity of the specimens considerably changed with solution treatment under loading, but they were not affected significantly with solution treatment without loading. Intermetallic phases such as B19′(NiTi), Ti₂Ni, and Ni₄Ti₃ disappeared, the density of the B2(NiTi) phase increased with solution treatment under loading, and thus the thermal conductivity was increased. It was also seen that the thermal conductivity of porous NiTi was less than that of solid NiTi.     

A review: Fibre metal laminates,background, bonding types and applied test methods

During the past decades, increasing demand in aircraft industry for high-performance, lightweight structures have stimulated a strong trend towards the development of refined models for fibre-metal laminates (FMLs). Fibre metal laminates are hybrid composite materials built up from interlacing layers of thin metals and fibre reinforced adhesives. The most commercially available fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are ARALL (Aramid Reinforced Aluminium Laminate), based on aramid fibres, GLARE (Glass Reinforced Aluminium Laminate), based on high strength glass fibres and CARALL (Carbon Reinforced Aluminium Laminate), based on carbon fibres. Taking advantage of the hybrid nature from their two key constituents: metals (mostly aluminium) and fibre-reinforced laminate, these composites offer several advantages such as better damage tolerance to fatigue crack growth and impact damage especially for aircraft applications. Metallic layers and fibre reinforced laminate can be bonded by classical techniques, i.e. mechanically and adhesively. Adhesively bonded fibre metal laminates have been shown to be far more fatigue resistant than equivalent mechanically bonded structures.     

Node pacing for small optical RAM-buffered packet-switching networks

One of the difficulties with optical packet switched (OPS) networks is buffering optical packets in the network. The only available solution that can currently be used for buffering in the optical domain is using long fiber lines called fiber delay lines (FDLs), which have severe limitations. Moreover, the research on optical RAM presently being done is not expected to achieve a large capacity soon. However, the burstiness of Internet traffic causes high packet drop rates and low utilization in very small buffered OPS networks. We therefore propose a new node-based pacing algorithm for decreasing burstiness. We show that by applying some simple pacing at the edge or core backbone nodes, the performance of very small optical RAM buffered core OPS networks with variable-length packets can be notably increased.     

Periodic variation method for blind symbol rate estimation

In order to obtain unknown symbol rate of incoming signal at a receiver, in this paper, cyclostationary features of linear digitally modulated signals are exploited by proposed periodic variation method. A low complexity but highly accurate symbol rate estimation technique is obtained. The proposed method is based on a superposed epoch analysis over autocorrelations obtained blindly in different sampling frequencies. The obtained autocorrelations are analyzed in the frequency domain, and it is seen that there are large oscillations when the autocorrelation is obtained around the symbol rate. Then, a superposed epoch analysis is developed in order to estimate symbol rate based of the periodic variations on the frequency responses of autocorrelations. The proposed algorithm is quite accurate in the noisy environment because the noise is having no frequency component after taking Fourier transform of autocorrelations in all sampling rates, and this feature is also valid for the offset frequency that the purposed estimation is not affected by offset frequency. Thus, a successful blind symbol rate estimation algorithm is obtained, and it performs much better error performance than those using the well‐known cyclic correlation based symbol rate estimations, as it is proven by the obtained performances presented in the paper. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.