Design and performance evaluation of a banyan network basedinterconnection structure for ATM switches

This paper presents a new self-routing packet network called the plane interconnected parallel network (PIPN). In the proposed design, the traffic arriving at the network is shaped and routed through two banyan network based interconnected planes. The interconnections between the planes distribute the incoming load more homogeneously over the network. The throughput of the network under uniform and heterogeneous traffic requirements is studied analytically and by simulation. The results are compared with the results of the baseline network and another banyan network based parallel interconnection network. It is shown that, for the proposed design, a higher degree of heterogeneity results in better performance     

Application of HUMF13A01 (AAAG)n STR polymorphism to the genetic diagnosis of coagulation factor XIII deficiency

Deficiency of the A subunit of coagulation factor XIII causes a severe bleeding disorder requiring life long replacement therapy. The mutations causing A subunit deficiency appear to be very heterogeneous, and it is impractical to identify each mutation before genetic counselling or prenatal diagnosis can be attempted. In this study we have shown that a highly polymorphic short tandem repeat element, HUMF13A01 (AAAG)n that occurs in the 5' flanking sequence of the factor XIII A subunit gene, can be used to follow the segregation of deficiency causing mutations. We studied 6 families with factor XIII A subunit deficiency from 5 different ethnic groups. All parents were heterozygous for the repetitive element and therefore all the families were informative. The linked polymorphism was used to carry out the first prenatal diagnosis of factor XIII A subunit deficiency. The analysis of this polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction is rapid, reliable, requires little DNA and is ideal for the genetic analysis of factor XIII A subunit deficiency.     

The synthesis of block copolyetherketones based on 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylketone,phenolphthaleine, and bisphenol A and investigation of their properties

Block structured polyethers based on phenolphthaleine, 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylketone, and bisphenol A with different degrees condensation (n = 1, 5, 10, and 20) were synthesized by means of acceptor‐catalytic polycondensation. Equaimolar quantities of chloranhydrides of iso‐ and terephthalic acids were used. Higher molecular masses were obtained from longer oligoketones with higher condensation degrees. Better molecular packing, increased thermal and mechanical properties were obtained with higher condensation degrees of oligoketones. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JAppl Polym Sci, 2008     

Deterministic Polymorphic Engineering of MoTe2 for Photonic and Optoelectronic Applications

Developing selective and coherent polymorphic crystals at the nanoscale offers a novel strategy for designing integrated architectures for photonic and optoelectronic applications such as metasurfaces, optical gratings, photodetectors, and image sensors. Here, a direct optical writing approach is demonstrated to deterministically create polymorphic 2D materials by locally inducing metallic 1T′-MoTe₂ on the semiconducting 2H-MoTe₂ host layer. In the polymorphic-engineered MoTe₂, 2H- and 1T′- crystalline phases exhibit strong optical contrast from near-infrared to telecom-band ranges (1–1.5 µm), due to the change in the band structure and increase in surface roughness. Sevenfold enhancement of third harmonic generation intensity is realized with conversion efficiency (susceptibility) of ≈1.7 × 10⁻⁷ (1.1 × 10⁻¹⁹ m² V⁻²) and ≈1.7 × 10⁻⁸ (0.3 × 10⁻¹⁹ m² V⁻²) for 1T′ and 2H-MoTe₂, respectively at telecom-band ultrafast pump laser. Lastly, based on polymorphic engineering on MoTe₂, a Schottky photodiode with a high photoresponsivity of 90 AW⁻¹ is demonstrated. This study proposes facile polymorphic engineered structures that will greatly benefit realizing integrated photonics and optoelectronic circuits.     

Optimized Machine Learning Algorithms for Investigating the Relationship Between Economic Development and Human Capital

Computational Economics - In Economic Development, human capital was previously seen as production factors but gradually evolved into endogenous growth theories. Most of the previous studies have...     

Combined forecasts in portfolio optimization: A generalized approach

In this paper a general mathematical model for portfolio selection problem is proposed. By considering a forecasting performance according to the distributional properties of residuals, we formulate an extended mean-variance-skewness model with 11 objective functions. Returns and return errors for each asset obtained using different forecasting techniques, are combined in optimal proportions so as to minimize the mean absolute forecast error. These proportions are then used in constructing six criteria related to the mean, variance and skewness of return forecasts of assets in the future and forecasting errors of returns of assets in the past. The obtained multi-objective model is scalarized by using the conic scalarization method which guarantees to find all non-dominated solutions by considering investor preferences in non-convex multi-objective problems. The obtained scalar problem is solved by utilizing F-MSG algorithm. The performance of the proposed approach is tested on a real case problem generated on the data derived from Istanbul Stock Exchange. The comparison is conducted with respect to different levels of investor preferences over return, variance, and skewness and obtained results are summarized.     

Reconstructing 3D trajectories of independently moving objects using generic constraints

The 3D reconstruction of scenes containing independently moving objects from uncalibrated monocular sequences still poses serious challenges. Even if the background and the moving objects are rigid, each reconstruction is only known up to a certain scale, which results in a one-parameter family of possible, relative trajectories per moving object with respect to the background. In order to determine a realistic solution from this family of possible trajectories, this paper proposes to exploit the increased linear coupling between camera and object translations that tends to appear at false scales. An independence criterion is formulated in the sense of true object and camera motions being minimally correlated. The increased coupling at false scales can also lead to the destruction of special properties such as planarity, periodicity, etc. of the true object motion. This provides us with a second, ‘non-accidentalness’ criterion for the selection of the correct motion among the one-parameter family.     

Performance of a Tied-Arch Reinforced Concrete Railway Bridge: Rating, Safety Assessment, and Bond Length Evaluation

This study presents investigations regarding visual inspection, dynamic testing, and finite-element modeling of an approximately 80-year old reinforced concrete tied-arch railway bridge that is still in service in Turkey. Investigations were conducted as part of a systematic periodic inspection along Ankara-Zonguldak railway line. The bridge is subject to heavy freight trains with increasing axle loads. Field tests such as material tests and dynamic tests were used to calibrate the finite-element model of the bridge. Detailed information regarding testing and model updating procedure is given. Based on test results, computer model was refined. The calibrated model of the bridge structure was then used for structural assessment and evaluation. Despite sufficient overall safety, local details were found to be problematic. Due to insufficient bond length in hanger-to-arch connection, a strengthening scheme using steel channel sections was proposed.     

Computational analysis of fouling by low energy surfaces

Fouling is a cost increasing problem for a variety of industries including aerospace, chemical, petroleum, and food. There have been studies on mitigation of fouling some of which recommend use of lower surface free energy materials, manufactured by different techniques, as an alternative to conventional materials. Although modeling of fouling for a given surface has been an area of interest; there is a lack in the models about correlating the surface free energy with deposit amount computationally. In this study, computational model, including the effect of surface energy and operational parameters, was proposed and validated to estimate amount of foulants deposits and rate of deposition. Towards this purpose, four coated surfaces (Microlube/PTFE, TM117P, AMC148, and CNT) were compared with stainless steel (SS316 as control) for flow rates of 3 and 10 g/s and inlet milk temperatures of 40 and 60 °C. The percent error for the decrease in outlet milk temperatures between the experimental data and computed results was between 2% and 18% except for CNT (29.2%). The calculations of deposit amount for each test case and the surfaces tested were in good agreement with the experiments, i.e., average percent difference values between measured and calculated values were from 11.1% to 38.1% (except CNT) with overall average of 21.5%.