Design space exploration for real-time embedded stream processors

We explore tradeoffs between organization and number of ALUs and clock frequency in a stream processor. The tool provides candidate low-power configurations and estimates of their real-time performance. The tool relates instruction-level, subword, and data parallelism to functional units' organization and utilization. The exploration methodology is applicable to all embedded-processor designs in signal and media processing.     

Poly(ethyleneterephthalate) glycolysates as effective toughening agents for epoxy resin

The potential of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) glycolysates toward improving the energy absorption characteristics of cycloaliphatic epoxy resins has been explored. Microwave‐assisted glycolytic depolymerization of PET was performed in the presence of polyether diols of different molecular weights. The obtained glycolysates were blended with epoxy, and their mechanical properties were studied under both quasi‐static and dynamic conditions. Significant improvements were observed, which were found to depend both on the amount as well as nature of glycolysate. Amine functionalities were introduced at the terminal positions of glycolysates to improve the compatibility between the two phases. The amine derivatives exhibited superior performance and the Mode I fracture toughness (K_IC) of epoxy increased by ～18% in optimized compositions, which is indicative of its improved notch sensitivity. Neat epoxy specimens fractured in a brittle fashion, but all the blends exhibited ductile failure, as evidenced by surface morphological investigations. The mechanical properties of epoxy blends prepared with analogous aliphatic polyols, both before and after amine functionalization, were also studied which clearly reveal the beneficial role of aromatic groups toward improving the toughness of the base cycloaliphatic epoxy resin without compromising on the material stiffness. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39941.     

Electrical properties and the role of inhomogeneities at the polyvinyl alcohol/n‐inp schottky barrier interface

In this work, we have investigated the electrical properties of Au/n‐InP contacts with a thin layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an interlayer. The current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements are carried out in the temperature range of 175–425 K. The Au/PVA/n‐InP Schottky structure show nonideal behaviors and indicates the presence of a nonuniform distribution of interface states. The temperature dependent interface states densities (N_SS), ideality factor and barrier height are obtained. An abnormal decrease in zero‐bias barrier height (BH) and increase in the ideality factor ( ) with decreasing temperature have been explained on the basis of the thermionic emission theory with Gaussian distribution (GD) of the BHs due to the BH inhomogeneities. The experimental I–V characteristics of Au/PVA/n‐InP Schottky diode has revealed the existence of a double GD with mean BH values of ( ) of 1.246 and 0.899 eV and standard deviation ( ) of 0.176 and 0.137 V, respectively. Consequently, the modified conventional activation energy versus plot gives and Richardson constants ( ) and the values are 1.17 and 0.71 eV and 9.9 and 6.9 A/cm² K², respectively, without using the temperature coefficient of the BH. The effective Richardson constant value of 9.9 A/cm² K² is very close to the theoretical value of 9.4 A/cm² K² for n‐InP. The discrepancy between Schottky barrier heights estimated from I–V and C–V measurements is also discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39773.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of one-dimensional tungsten oxide nanostructures using cobalt ammonium sulfate as a structure-directing agent

Hydrothermal synthesis of one-dimensional tungsten oxide nanostructures was performed using cobalt ammonium sulfate as a structure-directing agent, and the effect of the concentration of cobalt ammonium sulfate on the characteristics of the tungsten oxide nanostructures was investigated. XRD measurements showed that hexagonal tungsten oxide (h-WO₃) structures were obtained at a higher concentration of cobalt ammonium sulfate (0.2 M), while cubic tungsten oxide (c-WO₃) structures were obtained at a lower concentration of cobalt ammonium sulfate (0.01M). Mixed structures of h-WO₃ and c-WO₃ were observed at an intermediate concentration of cobalt ammonium sulfate. Morphological studies revealed that h-WO3 appeared as nanowires with a diameter of about 40 nm and an average length of 1 μm. c-WO₃ was shaped in pillar-like nanorods with a diameter of about 30 nm. A red-shift in the UV/Vis absorption peak was observed with different phases of tungsten oxide nanostructures.     

On the natural structure of thermodynamic potentials and fluxes in the theory of chemically non-reacting binary mixtures

A theory describing the behavior of chemically non-reacting binary mixtures can be based on a detailed formulation of the governing equations for the individual components of the mixture or on treating the mixture as a single homogenized continuous medium. We argue that if we accept that both approaches can be used to describe the behavior of the given mixture, then the requirement on the equivalence of these approaches places restrictions on the possible structure of the internal energy, entropy, Helmholtz potential, and also of the diffusive, energy, and entropy fluxes. (The equivalence of the approaches is understood in the sense that the quantities used in one approach can be interpreted in terms of the quantities used in the other approach and vice versa. Further, both approaches must lead to the same predictions concerning the evolution of the physical system under consideration). In the case of a general chemically non-reacting binary mixture of components at the same temperature, we show that these restrictions can indeed be obtained by purely algebraic manipulations. An important outcome of this analysis is, for example, a general form of the evolution equation for the diffusive flux. The restrictions can be further exploited in the specification of thermodynamically consistent constitutive relations for quantities such as the interaction (drag) force or the Cauchy stress tensor. As an example of the application of the current framework, we derive, among others, a generalization of Fick’s law and we recover several non-trivial results obtained by other techniques. The qualitative features of the derived generalization of Fick’s law are demonstrated by a numerical experiment.     

A note on the theoretical foundations for multiphase pressure analysis for flow in porous media

The paper explores results based on the concept of the Reservoir Integral for understanding pressure analysis under multiphase flow. A theoretical framework is developed, and the use of the theory is demonstrated by considering a model problem namely that of the pressure behavior of injection wells. Limiting forms are derived. The theory provides a basis for understanding conclusions derived by numerical results for multiphase flow.     

A new class of quasi-linear models for describing the nonlinear viscoelastic response of materials

In this short note, we develop a new class of “quasi-linear” viscoelastic models wherein the linearized strain is expressed in terms of a nonlinear measure of the stress. The class of models that is developed could be regarded as counterpart to the class of models referred to popularly as “quasi-linear” models, proposed by Fung to describe the response of viscoelastic bodies; however, now the strain is expressed as an integral of a nonlinear measure of the stress. The class of models that are developed can describe response that cannot be described by the class of models proposed by Fung, and moreover, these models are more reasonable from the point of view of causality.