Proactive task migration with a self-adjusting migration threshold for dynamic thermal management of multi-core processors

Request for more computation power steadily forces designers to provide more powerful processors using more number of cores on a single chip. The increasing complexity of processors leads to higher integration density, power density, and temperature. For avoiding thermal emergencies, various dynamic thermal management techniques have been presented. In this paper, we present a novel online self-adjusting temperature threshold schema for dynamic thermal management to minimize both average and peak temperature with very low performance overhead. Our proposed algorithm adjusts migration threshold according to workload and hardware platforms. The experimental results indicate that our technique can significantly decrease the average and peak temperature compared to Linux standard scheduler, and two well-known thermal management techniques: PDTM and TAS.     

Detection of forest reserve incursion in south-western Nigeria from a combination of multi-date aerial photographs and high resolution satellite imagery

Forest reserves were established in Nigeria to serve as repositories of the primary habitats of the forest ecosystems.However, with increasing population pressure and the need to feed the population, the peasant farmers are already making incursion into these reserves. This phenomenon has not attracted the serious attention of relevant government establishments, perhaps because they do not know the extent of the incursion in order to appreciate the magnitude of the danger it poses to the environment at large. This paper is therefore an attempt to quantify the extent of biotic degradation consequent upon the incursion. The study makes use of aerial photos and SPOT XS imagery and demonstrates the importance of combination of the two data sources to environmental monitoring in a country like Nigeria, with a poor geo-information/data bank.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene tetrasulfide)/graphene oxide nanocomposites by in situ polymerization method

Poly(ethylene tetrasulfide) (PSP) is synthesized via interfacial polycondensation of 1,2 dichloroethane and sodium tetrasulfide, in the presence of graphene oxide (GO). This process resulted in homogeneously dispersed PSP/GO nanocomposites. Nanocomposites of 0.3 and 0.5?wt% of GO are synthesized and their morphology, chemical characteristics behavior are studied employing field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Thermal characterization of composites is performed by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. Results indicate that the addition of only small amounts (0.5?wt%) of well-dispersed GO can increase the melting point more than 16°C resulting in better thermal properties for the composite. The solubility of nanocomposite is also studied and results show that the solubility depends on solvent concentration in addition to reinforcement (GO) deals.     

Analysis of transient multiexponential signals using exponential compensation deconvolution

A three-step procedure for the parameter estimation of transient multiexponential signals is proposed. The first step involves the use of the classical Gardner transform to convert the data signal into a convolution model which is deconvolved using exponential compensation deconvolution technique in the second step. In the third step, eigenvector algorithms are used to process the resulting complex exponentials to obtain better estimates of decay rates and number of components. Simulation and experimental results show that this method outperforms previous approaches if a number of preprocessing parameters are correctly selected.     

Algorithms for the weighting matrices in sampled-data linear time-invariant optimal regulator problems

In this paper we develop Algorithms For Weighting Matrices required to implement the Sampled-Data Linear Optimal Regulator Problems. The knowledge of Continuous Optimal Regulator designs helps in producing digital state variable feedback control laws which satisfy the continuous system performance specifications on one hand, and are equally useful for implementing the equivalent Sampled-Data System on the other hand. Howeve, the difficulty in applying the Sampled-Data Regulator Theory lies in the fact that certain digital performance index weighting matrices need be computed. In this paper, a general form of the dynamical system is considered (including system disturbances). Infinite series representation is used. Only Time-Invariant Linear Optimal Sampled-Data Regulator Systems are considered. Results of error bounds are given. A typical Example is presented. Details of these and Computer program can be found in Ref. [11].     

Kinetic study of styrene atom transfer radical polymerization from hydroxyl groups of graphene nanoplatelets: Heterogeneities in chains and graft densities

Confinement effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the kinetics of styrene atom transfer radical polymerization was studied by a “grafting from” reaction. Graphene oxide was modified by different amounts of (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane and then alpha‐bromoisobutyryl bromide from the hydroxyl groups. Polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified graphene and free initiator, ethyl alpha‐bromoisobutyrate, was accomplished at 110°C. Then, effect of various graft densities and different graphene loadings on the heterogeneous graft and free polystyrene chains characteristics and also kinetics of polymerization was studied by gas and gel permeation chromatographies. Efficiency of grafting reactions along with the graft contents was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Confinement effects of graphene on the relaxation behavior of polystyrene chains and also morphology of the graphenes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1720–1732, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Electrical and rheological properties of PMMA/LDPE blends filled with carbon black

Conductive immiscible multiphase blends of PMMA/LDPE filled with carbon black (CB) were studied in this work. Thermo-electrical behavior of the blends was compared with the composites made up of individual polymers in the blend, PMMA and LDPE filled with CB. The conductivity of the immiscible binary blend at different CB content was followed and modeled using a model circuit in which resistors resembling different phases and the interface between them present in the blend. Electrical percolation threshold was measured for the blend and compared with the single component polymers in order to judge the preferred phase for CB distribution in it. Rheological network formation by CB particles in the blend was also studied using dynamic rheology. The effect of CB loading on the morphology of the multiphase blend was also studied using FESEM images. Theoretical models were also used to predict the percolation thresholds for electrical and rheological network formation and compared with the experimental values.     

Self-aligned locally diffused emitter (SALDE) silicon solar cell

This paper presents, for the first time, a low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing approach for fabricating n-base dendritic web silicon solar cells with selectively doped emitters and self-aligned aluminum contacts using rapid thermal processing (RTP) and screen printing. The self-aligned locally diffused emitter (SALDE) structure is p⁺ nn⁺⁺ where aluminum is screen-printed on a boron-doped emitter and fired in a belt furnace to form a deep self-doped p⁺-layer and a self-aligned positive contact to the emitter according to the well-known aluminum-silicon (Al---Si) alloying process. The SALDE structure preserves the shallow emitter (20.2 μm) everywhere except directly beneath the emitter contact. There the junction depth is greater than 5 μm, as desired, in order to shield carriers in the bulk silicon from that part of the silicon surface covered by metal where the recombination rate is high. This structure is realized by using n-base (rather than p-base) substrates and by utilizing screen-printed aluminum (rather than silver) emitter contacts. Prototype dendritic web silicon (web) cells (25 cm² area) with efficiencies up to 13.2% have been produced.     

Synthesis and characterization of exfoliated poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite via miniemulsion atom transfer radical polymerization: an activators generated by electron transfer approach

Exfoliated poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites were synthesized using activators generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP). Miniemulsion polymerization was used for its abundant advantages to encapsulate inorganic materials and eliminate organic solvents from products for environmentally friendly purposes. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant, which is an effective surfactant at higher temperatures, was used to stabilize the miniemulsion system. Successful miniemulsion AGET ATRP was carried out by using 4,4'‐dinonyl‐2,2'‐bipyridine (dNbPy) as a hydrophobic ligand. Formation of monodispersed droplets and particles with sizes in the range of 200nm was examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Conversion and molecular weight study were also carried out using gravimetry and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. By adding clay content, a decrease in the conversion and molecular weight of the nanocomposites are observed. However, an increase in the PDI values of nanocomposites was observed by the addition of nanoclay content. Thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrate that thermal stability of all the nanocomposites in comparison with the neat copolymer increases. Differential scanning calorimetry results show that T_g decreases by increasing clay content. Monodisperse distribution of spherical shape particles with sizes in the range of ∼ 200 nm was demonstrated by using scanning electron microscopy images of nanocomposite containing 1 wt% of nanoclay, which is more compiled with DLS results. Transmission electron microscopy results shows well‐dispersed exfoliated clay layers in the polymer matrix of PSMNM 1, which is coincidence with X‐ray diffraction data. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers