The design of multiple feedback topology Chebyshev low-pass active filter with average differential evolution algorithm

Neural Computing and Applications - This study presents the design of a tenth-order multiple feedback Chebyshev low-pass filter (MF-C-LPF). Component selection and gain calculation of filters are...     

Tungsten(VI) oxide supported rhodium nanoparticles: Highly active catalysts in hydrogen generation from ammonia borane

Herein, we report the use of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO₃) as support for Rh⁰ nanoparticles. The resulting Rh⁰/WO₃ nanoparticles are highly active and stable catalysts in H₂ generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). We present the results of our investigation on the particle size distribution, catalytic activity and stability of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalysts with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% wt. Rh loadings in the hydrolysis reaction. The results reveal that Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5% wt. Rh) is very promising catalyst providing a turnover frequency of 749 min^?1 in releasing 3.0 equivalent H₂ per mole of AB from the hydrolysis at 25.0 °C. The high catalytic activity of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalyst is attributed to the reducible nature of support. The report covers the results of kinetics study as well as comparative investigation of activity, recyclability, and reusability of colloidal(0) nanoparticles and Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5 % wt. Rh) catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction.     

Machine independent AND and OR parallel execution of logicprograms. I. The binding environment

We describe a binding environment for the AND and OR parallel execution of logic programs that is suitable for both shared and nonshared memory multiprocessors. The binding environment was designed with a view of rendering a compiler using this binding environment machine independent. The binding environment is similar to closed environments proposed by J. Conery. However, unlike Conery's scheme, it supports OR and independent AND parallelism on both types of machines. The term representation, the algorithms for unification and the join algorithms for parallel AND branches are presented in this paper. We also detail the differences between our scheme and Conery's scheme. A compiler based on this binding environment has been implemented on a platform for machine independent parallel programming called the Chare Kernel     

Minimum-phase filter design from linear-phase startpoint viabalanced model truncation

A new practical design approach for minimum-phase FIR or IIR filters, setting out from a high dimensionality FIR linear-phase prototype is described. The novelty of this technique lies in overcoming the inherent problem of finding the roots of a high order polynomial with repeated and/or very closely clustered roots     

Air flow through a non-airconditioned bus with open windows

Open window buses without air-conditioning are a major mode of urban and inter-city transport in most countries. High occupancy combined with hot and humid conditions makes travel in these buses quite uncomfortable. In this study air flow through a bus has been studied that could be the basis for low cost and eco-friendly methods of increasing passenger comfort and possibly reduce drag. The aerodynamics of such a road vehicle has not been studied as previous investigations have been confined to vehicles with closed windows that present a smooth exterior to air flow. Using a 1:25 scaled Perspex model of an urban bus in Delhi, flow visualization was performed in a water channel. The Reynolds numbers were one-tenth of a real bus moving at 10 m/s. Smoke and tuft visualizations were also performed on an urban bus at 40 km/h. Numerical simulations were performed at the actual Reynolds number. Even though there were Reynolds number differences, the broad features were similar. Air enters the bus from the rear windows, moves to the front (relative to the bus) and exits from the front windows. Inside air velocity relative to the bus is about one-tenth of the free-stream velocity. The flow is highly three-dimensional and unsteady.     

Some theorems on Walsh transforms of quantizer differential andintegral nonlinearity

Methods for diagnosing weight coefficient tolerances of quantizers are derived, based on the assumption of known and available data about the quantizer's nonlinearities. Two of the methods are direct and based on the Householder orthogonalization, applied to an overdetermined equation system containing data about differential or integral nonlinearities. The remaining two methods are indirect and are based on two theorems that use the Walsh transformation on the quantizer's differential or integral nonlinearities. The language MATLAB has been used to good effect for simulation of these techniques     

Reperfusion injury delays healing of intestinal anastomosis in a rat

This SAEM position paper clarifies the role of emergency medicine in health care delivery. It builds upon the working definition of emergency medicine developed by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1994 by describing the health care role of emergency physicians (EPs). EPs are first-contact providers who care for all patients regardless of age, gender, time of presentation, or ability to pay. They remain the only continuously accessible specialty for patients seeking help and solace in the health care system. They are an essential link in the health care continuum between primary care physicians, specialists, the out-of-hospital system, the patient, inpatient services, and communication services. The EP's role is in organizing and monitoring the emergency care delivery system. Part of this role is to better align the health care provider training and ability with the specific medical needs of a patient. The emergency health care system remains the essential medical safety net for all individuals needing care in this country.     

Age and ethnicity affect the risk and outcome of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

In patients with proteinuria, African-American (AA) ethnicity is reported to be a risk factor for focal segmental glomerulosclereosis (FSGS) and its progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We reviewed our single-center experience to determine the probability of FSGS and its progression to ESRD based on ethnicity and age at presentation in children with proteinuria with or without nephrotic syndrome. Proteinuria without systemic disease or acute glomerulonephritis was the presenting feature in 17% (236/1,403) of children in the renal patient database of Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Histopathological diagnoses were established in 107 of 236 patients (45%). FSGS was identified in 65 patients, accounting for 28% of all patients with proteinuria and 61% of patients who underwent renal biopsy. FSGS was more prevalent in AA (45%) than in non-AA patients (22%) (P=0.001), and AA patients with FSGS were older at presentation (12.7+/-4.4 years) than non-AA patients (5.6+/-4.6 years) (P<0.001). Among patients who underwent renal biopsy, increasing age at presentation increased the probability of having FSGS in AA but not non-AA patients (P=0.04). Five-year actuarial renal survival of FSGS was worse in AA (8%) than in non-AA patients (31%) (P=0.01). These data suggest an increased risk and worse outcome of FSGS in AA compared with non-AA children.     

Retrospective adaptive prefetching for interactive Web GIS applications

A major task of a Web GIS (Geographic Information Systems) system is to transfer map data to client applications over the Internet, which may be too costly. To improve this inefficient process, various solutions are available. Caching the responses of the requests on the client side is the most commonly implemented solution. However, this method may not be adequate by itself. Besides caching the responses, predicting the next possible requests from a client and updating the cache with responses for those requests together provide a remarkable performance improvement. This procedure is called “prefetching” and makes caching mechanisms more effective and efficient. This paper proposes an efficient prefetching algorithm called Retrospective Adaptive Prefetch (RAP), which is constructed over a heuristic method that considers the former actions of a given user. The algorithm reduces the user-perceived response time and improves user navigation efficiency. Additionally, it adjusts the cache size automatically, based on the memory size of the client’s machine. RAP is compared with four other prefetching algorithms. The experiments show that RAP provides better performance enhancements than the other methods.     

Optimum topology design of various geometrically nonlinear latticed domes using improved harmony search method

Domes are elegant and economical structures used in covering large areas. They are built in various forms. According to their form, they are given special names such as lamella, network, and geodesic domes. In this paper, optimum topological design algorithm is presented that determines the optimum number of rings, the optimum height of crown and tubular section designations for the member groups of these domes. The design algorithm developed has a routine that generates the data required for the geometry of these domes automatically. The minimum weight of each dome is taken as the objective function. The design constraints are implemented according to the provision of LRFD-AISC (Load and Resistance Factor Design–American Institute of Steel Constitution). The optimum topological design problem that considers these constraints turns out to be discrete programming problem. Improved harmony search algorithm is suggested to determine its optimum solution. The design algorithm also considers the geometric nonlinearity of these dome structures. Design examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the design optimization algorithm developed.