Automated dynamic detection of busy–wait synchronizations

With the advent of multicores, multithreaded programming has acquired increased importance. In order to obtain good performance, the synchronization constructs in multithreaded programs need to be carefully implemented. These implementations can be broadly classified into two categories: busy–wait and schedule‐based. For shared memory architectures, busy–wait synchronizations are preferred over schedule‐based synchronizations because they can achieve lower wakeup latency, especially when the expected wait time is much shorter than the scheduling time. While busy–wait synchronizations can improve the performance of multithreaded programs running on multicore machines, they create a challenge in program debugging, especially in detecting and identifying the causes of data races. Although significant research has been done on data race detection, prior works rely on one important assumption—the debuggers are aware of all the synchronization operations performed during a program run. This assumption is a significant limitation as multithreaded programs, including the popular SPLASH‐2 benchmark have busy–wait synchronizations such as barriers and flag synchronizations implemented in the user code. We show that the lack of knowledge of these synchronization operations leads to unnecessary reporting of numerous races. To tackle this problem, we propose a dynamic technique for identifying user‐defined synchronizations that are performed during a program run. Both software and hardware implementations are presented. Furthermore, our technique can be easily exploited by a record/replay system to significantly speedup the replay. It can also be leveraged by a transactional memory system to effectively resolve a livelock situation. Our evaluation confirms that our synchronization detector is highly accurate with no false negatives and very few false positives. We further observe that the knowledge of synchronization operations results in 23% reduction in replay time. Finally, we show that using synchronization knowledge livelocks can be efficiently avoided during runtime monitoring of programs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stator winding turn-fault detection for closed-loop induction motor drives

Sensorless diagnostics for line-connected machines is based on extracting fault signatures from the spectrum of the line currents. However, for closed-loop drives, the power supply is a regulated current source and, hence, the motor voltages must also be monitored for fault information. In this paper, a previously proposed neural network scheme for turn-fault detection in line-connected induction machines is extended to inverter-fed machines, with special emphasis on closed-loop drives. Experimental results are provided to illustrate that the method is impervious to machine and instrumentation nonidealities, and that it requires lesser data memory and computation requirements than existing schemes, which are based on data lookup tables.     

Universal Induction Motor Model With Low-to-High Frequency-Response Characteristics

A three-phase induction motor model that depicts the motor behavior over a wide range of frequencies from 10 Hz to 10 MHz is presented in this paper. The model is universal in the sense that common-mode, differential-mode, and bearing circuit models are combined into one three-phase equivalent circuit model. The proposed model is basically an extension of the low-frequency IEEE Standard 112 circuit model. The proposed model was experimentally simulated and verified with results presented.     

A robust, on-line turn-fault detection technique for induction machines based on monitoring the sequence component impedance matrix

A simple and robust sensorless technique for online stator winding turn fault detection based on monitoring an off-diagonal term of the sequence component impedance matrix is proposed in this paper. Due to the destructive and rapidly propagating nature of insulation failure, it is critical to detect turn faults in an early stage to prevent further damage to the motor. The motor nonidealities such as the variation in the supply voltage unbalance, slip-dependent influence of inherent motor asymmetry, and measurement errors must be taken into account in order to reliably detect a turn fault in its incipient stage. Simulation and experimental results on a 5 hp induction machine are given to confirm the validity of the proposed method. It is shown that the proposed turn fault detection scheme is simple and is capable of providing reliable fault detection that is immune to the motor nonidealities.     

Utilization of phosphorus in lactating cows fed varying amounts of phosphorus and forage

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary forage proportion and P content on fecal P excretion. Four dietary treatments were formed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The P content was 0.33 or 0.42%, and the forage proportion was 48 or 58% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The neutral detergent fiber content was 27 and 30% for the low and high forage diets, respectively. The P amount was varied by using monosodium phosphate, and the forage amount by changing the proportions of alfalfa silage and corn. The diets were fed to 44 midlactation Holsteins for 14 wk. Fecal P excretion was estimated using Cr marker and grab sampling. Dietary P content did not affect DM intake, milk yield, or milk composition. The P intake averaged 74 and 96 g/d and fecal P averaged 0.69 and 0.92% (DM basis) or 49 and 65 g/d for the low and high P diets, respectively. Thus, reducing dietary P from 0.42 to 0.33% resulted in approximately 25% less estimated fecal P excretion. Increasing dietary forage reduced milk yield (34.0 vs. 36.5 kg/d), but increased milk fat content (3.66 vs. 3.25%). Estimated apparent digestibility of P tended to decrease (31.1 vs. 36.6%) when the forage proportion increased, but most of the change occurred when the diets contained the low amount of P. Overall, the effect of forage proportion on estimated fecal P excretion was small when diets contained 48 or 58% forage, varied by alfalfa silage. Phosphorus intake has a much larger impact on fecal P excretion than forage proportion, and it does not seem necessary to adjust the dietary P content according to the forage proportion to provide the same amount of absorbed P.     

Transient model for induction machines with stator winding turnfaults

A transient model for an induction machine with stator winding turn faults is derived using reference frame transformation theory. A state-space representation of the dynamic equations, suitable for digital simulation is provided. Steady-state equivalent circuits are derived, from which the sequence components of the line currents can be estimated as a function of fault severity. Experimental results are provided to validate the derived model     

Ovarian follicular activity in lactating Holstein cows supplemented with monensin

The objective of this study was to determine effects of monensin on ovarian follicular development and reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows. Forty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to receive either a control total mixed ration (n = 24) or the same diet plus 22 mg of monensin/kg (n = 24) from 21 d before anticipated calving until cows were either confirmed pregnant or were >180 d postpartum. Monensin had no effect on development of the first dominant follicle postpartum or the numbers of class 1 (3 to 5 mm), 2 (6 to 9 mm), or 3 (10 to 15 mm) follicles. Control cows had more class 4 (>15 mm) follicles at 10 to 13 d postpartum than cows in the monensin group. The first dominant follicle postpartum ovulated, regressed, or became cystic unrelated to differences between diets. However, the first ovulation postpartum occurred earlier in monensin-fed cows than in the control group (27.2 +/- 2.1 d vs. 32.4 +/- 1.5 d), with no dietary effects on the diameter of the ovulating follicle. Similarly, treatments did not differ in the proportion of cows with 2 or 3 waves of ovarian follicular development per cycle, nor in the number of follicles of all classes during the breeding period. Times of ovulation following treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha were not different between dietary groups. Pregnancy rates after timed artificial insemination were similar between diets. Supplementation with monensin resulted in a shorter postpartum interval to first ovulation but did not affect other reproductive measures in healthy, lactating dairy cows.     

A Failure Mode for PWM Inverter-Fed AC Motors Due to the Antiresonance Phenomenon

A failure mode for pulsewidth-modulation inverter-fed ac motors due to the antiresonance phenomenon is introduced and investigated in this paper. At high frequencies, an ac motor behaves as a series RLC circuit with a resonance point, so-called antiresonance, typically above 1.0 MHz. If the voltage oscillation frequency caused by the reflected-wave phenomenon matches the motor antiresonance frequency, an amplified voltage will appear internally between the turns of the stator windings. This externally unobservable state can cause winding insulation failure in the ac motor. This phenomenon is experimentally verified using a rewound permanent-magnet motor with accessible taps along the stator windings, and the results are presented in this paper.     

Determination of Parameters in the Universal Induction Motor Model

A systematic procedure to determine the parameters of a previously proposed low- to high-frequency induction motor model is presented. An analysis of the high-frequency behavior with regard to the impact of magnetic core selection, parasitic interturn and winding-to-frame capacitors, and skin effects of windings is investigated in greater detail for the proposed universal model of an induction motor. The model is universal in the sense that it is derived by extending the low-frequency standard T-equivalent circuit (IEEE Standard 112) to include high-frequency effects under both common- and differential-mode domains and can be used for transient reflected-wave studies and electromagnetic interference emissions in motor drive systems. A test-based method and an analytical approach, which are useful in application and design stages, respectively, are presented to determine the frequency characteristics of the induction motor. Findings of the investigation were verified experimentally with results presented in this paper.