Performability indicators for the traffic analysis of wide area networks

In this paper, a repairable circular consecutive-k-out-of-n:F system with one repairman is studied. It is assumed that the working time and the repair time of each component are both exponentially distributed and every component after repair is ‘as good as new’. Each component is classified as either a key component or an ordinary component. Key components have priority in repair when failed. By using the definition of generalized transition probability, the state transition probabilities of the system are derived. Important reliability indices are evaluated for an example.     

Robust inverse optimal control laws for nonlinear systems

This work proposes a robust inverse optimal controller design for a class of nonlinear systems with bounded, time‐varying uncertain variables. The basic idea is that of re‐shaping the scalar nonlinear gain of an L_gV controller, based on Sontag's formula, so as to guarantee certain uncertainty attenuation properties in the closed‐loop system. The proposed gain re‐shaping is shown to yield a control law that enforces global boundedness of the closed‐loop trajectories, robust asymptotic output tracking with an arbitrary degree of attenuation of the effect of uncertainty on the output, and inverse optimality with respect to a meaningful cost that penalizes the tracking error and the control action. The performance of the control law is illustrated through a simulation example and compared with other controller designs. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Titania Loaded Cd-MCM-41

Catalysts consisting of cadmium incorporated into MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves (Cd-MCM-41) with Si/Cd = 80 have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method using cadmium acetate as the source of cadmium. This was then loaded with titania via the sol-gel method to explore the photoactivity in UV light. These two materials were characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as N₂ physisorption, O₂ chemisorption, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The pore size of the Cd-MCM-41 was higher and the BET surface area was lower than those commonly found in our siliceous MCM-41. This is due to the partial pore breakage, as recorded by pore size distribution analysis. The oxygen chemisorption results shows that the dispersion of cadmium is quite high, and decreased after loading of titania. The XRD patterns of Cd-MCM-41 and 25%TiO₂/Cd-MCM-41 are similar to those of siliceous MCM-41; however, the intensity of the d ₁₀₀ peak is decreased and the unit-cell parameter increased with titania loading. Raman spectra could not detect any peaks, whereas peaks were detected at 144, 397, 518 and 641 cm_-1 with loading of titania, these peaks being associated with the anatase phase of titania. The surface composition and binding energy of the Cd 3d_5/2 peak for Cd-MCM-41 and 25%TiO₂/Cd-MCM-41 was analyzed by XPS and showed considerable infusion of cadmium ions on to the surface upon loading of titania. The Cd/Si surface atomic ratio measured by XPS increases 10 times with loading of titania on Cd-MCM-41, indicating that the two separate surface electronic levels such as Cd-O-Si and Cd-O-Ti were found for 25%TiO₂/Cd-MCM-41. The 25%TiO₂/Cd-MCM-41 showed higher activity than 25%TiO₂/MCM-41 for photocatalytic degradation of formic acid. The activity results are compared with the pure titania based on the transformation per site of Ti.     

Convective heat-transfer measurements in liquid metals under different fluid flow conditions

In this study an experimental method to measure convective heat transfer characteristics in liquid metals is presented. This method involves the immersion into a metal bath of a solid specimen whose melting point is equal to or lower than that of the metal or alloy in the metal bath, and which will not react chemically with the liquid metal or alloys used. The specimen should have a hollow bore whose opening is held above the surface of the liquid metal; immersion continues until such a time as the liquid metal penetrates the hollow bore. The apparent weight of the specimen is monitored to determine the rate at which the net downward force changes. Experimental results are reported for liquid aluminum, liquid copper, and liquid steel. Those experimental results were conducted under different fluid flow conditions. The applicability of this method to liquid slags is also discussed. Formerly Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Toronto     

Free-radical synthesis of narrow polydispersed 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-based tetrapolymers for dilute aqueous base developable negative photoresists

Novel (meth)acrylate tetrapolymers based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized via free-radical polymerization in refluxing xylene under monomer-starved conditions for use in negative photoresist formulations. 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile) was used as initiator and 2-mercaptoethanol as chain transfer agent. Optimized resist formulations were obtained with a relatively narrow polydispersed (D=1.86) low molecular weight copolymer (M_n=1677) of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBMA), cyclohexyl methacrylate (CHMA) and acrylic acid (AA), in a 40/30/23/7 weight ratio. A novel high-resolution single layer negative tone photoresist suitable for 193 nm and e-beam lithography that meets basic performance requirements (aqueous-base development, enhanced etch resistance, sub-0.2 μm resolution) was developed from the aforementioned (meth)acrylate tetrapolymer, the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-cyclohexyl methacrylate-co-isobornyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) (PHECIMA) and a sulfonium salt photo acid generator. The key-components for the negative image formation (photoacid induced crosslinking) are the hydroxyl groups of the HEMA moieties. The swelling-free negative resist material was developed in diluted aqueous base [tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, (TMAH) 0.26×10⁻²N] and presented enhanced etch resistance without the use of etch resistance promoters. 0.20-0.14 μm lines were obtained upon 193 nm and/or e-beam lithography.     

Exponentially convergent control laws for nonholonomic systems in power form

This paper introduces a method for constructing exponentially convergent control laws for n-dimensional nonholonomic systems in power form. The methodology is based on the construction of a series of nested invariant manifolds for the closed-loop system under a linear control law. A recursive algorithm is presented which uses these manifolds to construct a three-dimensional system in power form. It is shown that the feedback controller for the original system is the one for this three-dimensional system with a proper choice of the gains.     

Policies for the reconfiguration of cognitive wireless infrastructures to 3G Radio Access Technologies

The ceaseless evolution of wireless communications is reflected nowadays on the introduction of Beyond-3G (B3G) systems, characterized by the coexistence and cooperation of various Radio Access Technologies (RATs), over a common infrastructure. Major facilitator of this convergence is the advent of cognitive networks, which deploy elements (base stations and mobile terminals) that are able to proactively adapt to environmental stimuli, so that to optimize their performance. Part of the adaptation action takes place in cognitive base stations that own several reconfigurable transceivers, which are controlled by appropriate management functionality and may dynamically change their operating parameters. Each reconfiguration set includes a specific RAT, carrier frequency, as well as demand volume to be allocated per transceiver. Accordingly, proper evaluation of the various candidate reconfiguration sets appears to be of high significance. To this effect, in this paper we consider a cognitive network segment with transceivers operating at 3G RAT/carrier and we solve the DAMC problem (Demand Allocation into Multiple Carriers problem), which aims at evaluating and selecting the optimum policy to allocate the demand into the available 3G carrier frequencies. Optimality is expressed in terms of minimizing the total transmitted/received power per base station, thus deciding for the reconfigurations with the least impact on network interference. Indicative simulation scenarios and results are also presented for the validation and verification of the proposed functionality.

Photooxidation Products of Ethanol During Photoelectrochemical Operation Using a Nanocrystalline Titania Anode and a Two Compartment Chemically Biased Cell

ZnMe^IIIFeO₄ catalysts with different trivalent metal (Me^III = Fe, Al, Cr, Mn, and Co) were prepared by a co-precipitation method, and were applied to the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene. Successful formation of ZnMe^IIIFeO₄ catalysts was confirmed by XRD and ICP-AES analyses. Catalytic performance of ZnMe^IIIFeO₄ catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene strongly depended on the identity of trivalent metal (Me^III). Acid properties of ZnMe^IIIFeO₄ catalysts were measured by NH₃-TPD experiments, with an aim of correlating the catalytic performance with the surface acid property of the catalysts. It was revealed that yield for 1,3-butadiene increased with increasing surface weak-acid density of ZnMe^IIIFeO₄ catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, ZnFeFeO₄ catalyst with the largest surface weak-acid density showed the best catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene.