Scheduling light-trails on WDM rings

We consider the problem of scheduling communication on optical WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) networks using the light-trails technology. We seek to design scheduling algorithms such that the given transmission requests can be scheduled using a minimum number of wavelengths (optical channels). We provide algorithms and close lower bounds for two versions of the problem on an n$n$ processor linear array/ring network. In the stationary   version, the pattern of transmissions (given) is assumed to not change over time. For this, a simple lower bound is c$c$, the congestion or the maximum total traffic required to pass through any link. We give an algorithm that schedules the transmissions using O(c+logn)$O(c+logn)$ wavelengths. We also show a pattern for which Ω(c+logn/loglogn)$\Omega (c+logn/loglogn)$ wavelengths are needed. In the on-line   version, the transmissions arrive and depart dynamically, and must be scheduled without upsetting the previously scheduled transmissions. For this case we give an on-line algorithm which has competitive ratio Θ(logn)$\Theta (logn)$. We show that this is optimal in the sense that every on-line algorithm must have competitive ratio Ω(logn)$\Omega (logn)$. We also give an algorithm that appears to do well in simulations (for the classes of traffic we consider), but which has competitive ratio between Ω(log²n/loglogn)$\Omega ({log}^{2}n/loglogn)$ and O(log²n)$O\left({log}^{2}n\right)$. We present detailed simulations of both our algorithms.     

Experimental Investigation on the Performance of a Solar Still Using SiO2 Nanoparticles /Jatropha curcas L

Silicon - Now, enticing systematic civic since everywhere the world is used in green synthesis and benefit of the simple is eco-friendly with an emergent method of producing nanoparticles (NPs)....     

Analysis of Particle and Crystallite Size in Tungsten Nanopowder Synthesis

Tungsten nanopowders were synthesized by a low-temperature technique and then heat treated in a gaseous reductive atmosphere in order to study the phase evolution, crystallite size, and particle size of the powders as the heat treatment temperature was modified. Synthesis of the powders was carried out in aqueous media using NaBH₄ as a reducing agent using careful control of the pH of the solutions. The XRD patterns of the as-synthesized powders showed an amorphous phase. After washing, energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that the powders had peaks for oxygen and tungsten. In order to promote crystallization and eliminate the oxygen, the powders were heat treated at 773 K, 923 K, and 1073 K (500 °C, 650 °C, and 800 °C) in a H₂/CH₄ reducing atmosphere for 2 hours. XRD after heat treatment showed α-W peaks for the powders treated at 1073 K and 923 K (800 °C and 650 °C) and a mixture of β-W and α-W for the powders treated at 773 K (500 °C). The crystallite sizes determined from X-ray peak broadening were 12, 16, and 20 nm, whereas the average particle sizes from dynamic light scattering were 260, 450, and 750 nm, for heat treatment temperatures of 773 K, 923 K, and 1073 K (500 °C, 650 °C, and 800 °C), respectively. The average crystallite size and particle sizes increased proportionally with the treatment temperature, in contrast to what has been found for some ceramics, in which as the heat treatment temperature is increased, the crystallite size increases, but the particle size stays constant.     

Improvement in Quality and Yield of the Low Alloy Steel Ingot Casting Through Modified Mould Design

The internal quality and yield in 4 ton steel ingot of 40cmd8 grade was studied by comparing its solidification in a square cross-section mould with a slender rectangular cross-section mould, using FEM simulation. The model predicted various solidification aspects like fluid flow, thermal and solidification profiles, mushy zone, local solidification time, porosity and piping for both the molds. The convective flow of the molten metal during solidification showed higher velocity in square ingot than rectangular ingot under similar conditions due to lower surface area to volume ratio that affected the heat transfer in the rectangular ingot. Higher amount of air gap between the ingot and the mould was formed in rectangular ingots. Lower microsegregation as measured in terms of local solidification time was observed in rectangular ingot. Based on microstructure parameters such as thermal gradient and rate of solidification, it was found that the square ingot had more equiaxed zone than rectangular ingot. The rectangular ingot solidified at a faster rate and showed more propensity for core porosity than the square ingot. The ingot yield was improved by 3.6% through mould shape modification from square to rectangular. Model was validated to limited extent by carrying out a typical experiment with square mould.     

Additive manufacturing and its societal impact: a literature review

Thirty years into its development, additive manufacturing has become a mainstream manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing build up parts by adding materials one layer at a time based on a computerized 3D solid model. It does not require the use of fixtures, cutting tools, coolants, and other auxiliary resources. It allows design optimization and the producing of customized parts on-demand. Its advantages over conventional manufacturing have captivated the imagination of the public, reflected in recent mainstream publications that call additive manufacturing “the third industrial revolution.” This paper reviews the societal impact of additive manufacturing from a technical perspective. Abundance of evidences were found to support the promises of additive manufacturing in the following areas: (1) customized healthcare products to improve population health and quality of life, (2) reduced environmental impact for manufacturing sustainability, and (3) simplified supply chain to increase efficiency and responsiveness in demand fulfillment. In the mean time, the review also identified the need for further research in the areas of life-cycle energy consumption evaluation and potential occupation hazard assessment for additive manufacturing.     

Solubility studies and thermophysical properties of uranium–neodymium mixed oxides system

Uranium–neodymium mixed oxides (U_1−yNd_y)O_2±x (y=0.2–0.85) were prepared by citrate gel-combustion and characterized by XRD. Single phase fluorite structure was observed up to y=0.80. For solid solutions with y>0.80 additional lines pertaining to hexagonal neodymium oxide were observed. Lattice thermal expansion of these samples was investigated by using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). The coefficients of thermal expansion for (U_1−yNd_y)O_2±x for y=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 in the temperature range 298–1973 K were found to be 16.46, 16.64, 16.79, and 16.89×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, respectively. Heat capacity and enthalpy increment measurements were carried out by using DSC and drop calorimetry in the temperature range 298–800 K and 800–1800 K respectively. The C_p,m values at 298 K for (U_1−yLa_y)O_2±x (y=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) are 63.4, 64.3, 61.8, and 58.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ respectively.     

Optimal speedup for backtrack search on a butterfly network

We present a generic algorithm for implementing backtrack search on anN processor butterfly network. For a backtrack search tree havingM nodes the heighth, our algorithm requires timeO(M/N +h) with high probability. This is optimal and is obtained without making assumptions about the shape of the tree being searched.This research was supported in part by NSF-DARPA Grant No. CCR-9005448 and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Grant No. F49620-90-C-0029. A preliminary version of this paper appeared in theProceedings of the Third ACM Symposium on Parallel Algorithms and Architectures, July 1991, Hilton Head, South Carolina.     

Multilayer differential discrete ordinate method for inhomogeneous participating media

This paper presents a multilayer differential discrete ordinate method to solve the radiative transfer equation for an absorbing, emitting and scattering inhomogeneous plane parallel medium. This method reduces the integro-differential equation into a set of coupled first order ordinary differential equations with two point boundary conditions on using a suitable quadrature scheme. These equations are then solved numerically. Numerical validation of the method for gray medium is done by comparing the results obtained with benchmark cases available in the literature. Validation for a non-gray medium is done by considering a problem concerning radiative transfer from the atmosphere. The brightness temperature at the top of the atmosphere is calculated at various frequencies and validated with those obtained by several other numerical methods.     

Nitrate fusion synthesis and two-step sintering of nanocrystalline yttria stabilized hafnia powders

Bulk quantities of nanocrystalline yttria stabilized hafnia (YSH) powders with crystallite size ranging from 8 to 15 nm were successfully prepared for the first time through nitrate fusion synthesis at a temperature as low as 673 K. The yttrium content was varied from 6 to 30 mol%. The dependence of the properties of the final product on the quantity of the dopant was investigated. Microstructural investigations were carried out with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A maximum relative sintered density of 98.2 ± 0.3% T.D (theoretical density) was obtained for YSH containing 10 mol% yttrium by using “two-step sintering” at a final temperature of 1773 K. Anisotropic shrinkage factor (0.70–0.95) was found to vary linearly with the compaction pressure. SEM investigations reaffirmed that the sintered pellets comprised uniform distribution of faceted grains and elemental mapping revealed that yttrium is distributed uniformly in these sintered YSH monoliths.