Enhancement in Physical Properties of Silver-Doped Fe–Ni Invar Nano-alloy Using Chemical Reduction Method

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism - Silver-substituted Fe–Ni nano invar alloy is a new and innovative field of research due to their interesting invar, magnetic and electrical...     

Buckling of thin‐walled cylindrical shells under axial compression

Lightweight thin‐walled cylindrical shells subjected to external loads are prone to buckling rather than strength failure. The buckling of an axially compressed shell is studied using analytical, numerical and semi‐empirical models. An analytical model is developed using the classical shell small deflection theory. A semi‐empirical model is obtained by employing experimental correction factors based on the available test data in the theoretical model. Numerical model is built using ANSYS finite element analysis code for the same shell. The comparison reveals that the analytical and numerical linear model results match closely with each other but are higher than the empirical values. To investigate this discrepancy, non‐linear buckling analyses with large deflection effect and geometric imperfections are carried out. These analyses show that the effects of non‐linearity and geometric imperfections are responsible for the mismatch between theoretical and experimental results. The effect of shell thickness, radius and length variation on buckling load and buckling mode has also been studied. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation, Characterization, and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Sr2La3Nb1−x Ta x Ti4O17 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) Ceramics

Sr₂La₃Nb_1?x Ta _x Ti₄O₁₇ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ceramics were processed via a solid-state mixed oxide route. Sr₂La₃Nb_1?x Ta _x Ti₄O₁₇ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solutions were single phase in the whole range of x values within the x-ray diffraction (XRD) detection limit. The microstructure comprised elongated and needle-shaped grains. The ceramics exhibit relative permittivity (ε _r) of 73 to 68.6, product of unloaded quality factor and resonant frequency (Q _u f ₀) of 7100 GHz to 9500 GHz, and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ _f) of 78.6 ppm/°C to 56.6 ppm/°C.     

MIMO iterative receiver SNR estimation strategies for link to system interfacing

This paper presents link to system (L2S) interfacing technique for multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) iterative receivers. In L2S interfacing, usually the post detection signal to noise ratio (SNR)‐based frame error rate lookup tables (LUT) are used to predict the link level performance of receivers. While L2S interfacing for linear MIMO receivers can be conveniently implemented, it is more challenging for MIMO iterative receivers due to unavailability of the closed form SNR expressions. In this paper, we propose three methods for post detection SNR estimation for MIMO iterative receivers. The first is based on the QR decomposition of the channel matrix, the second relies on the residual noise calculation based on the soft symbols, and the third exploits the closed form SNR expressions for linear receivers. A link to system interface model for iterative receivers is developed for evaluating the reference curves for different modulation and coding schemes, and results are validated by comparing the simulated and predicted frame error rates. It is shown that linear and residual noise‐based SNR approximations result in a very good prediction performance whereas the performance of QR decomposition‐based method degrades for higher order modulations and coding schemes. This paper presents link to system interfacing technique for MIMO iterative receivers. A link to system interface model for iterative receivers is developed for evaluating the reference curves for different modulation and coding schemes, and results are validated by comparing the simulated and predicted frame error rates. Three post detection SNR evaluation schemes have been proposed for link to system interfacing all of which give good prediction performance especially at lower order modulation.     

Timely vs. delayed CEO turnover

This paper investigates changes in company performance following timely versus delayed CEO resignations due to financial wrongdoings. A timely resignation is proactively pushed by the company, and a delayed resignation is driven by investigations initiated by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Our results show significant negative abnormal returns following the announcement of CEO resignations. In addition, compared with timely resignations, delayed resignations experience a larger and longer lasting negative stock market reaction. This suggests that CEO resignations due to financial wrongdoings are not perceived as good news by investors, and the delayed resignations could make investors lose more confidence, possibly because of worries about the ineffective corporate governance and supervision mechanism. We have found a significant negative relationship between CEO-chairman duality and the timeliness of CEO resignations. Our results have important implications for investors and policy makers.     

A human-assisted knowledge extraction method for machining operations

This paper deals with a human-assisted knowledge extraction method to extract “if…then…” rules from a small set of machining data. The presented method utilizes both probabilistic reasoning and fuzzy logical reasoning to benefit from the machining data and from the judgment and preference of a machinist. Using the extracted rules, one can determine the values of operational parameters (feed, cutting velocity, etc.) to ensure the desired machining performance (keep surface roughness within the stipulated range (e.g., moderate)). Applying the presented method in a real-life machining knowledge extraction situation and comparing it with the inductive learning based knowledge extraction method (i.e., ID3), the usefulness of the method is demonstrated. As the concept of manufacturing automation is shifting toward “how to support humans by computers”, the presented method provides some valuable hints to the developers of futuristic computer integrated manufacturing systems.     

Modeling and simulation of intracellular dynamics: choosing an appropriate framework

Systems biology is a reemerging paradigm which, among other things, focuses on mathematical modeling and simulation of biochemical reaction networks in intracellular processes. For most simulation tools and publications, they are usually characterized by either preferring stochastic simulation or rate equation models. The use of stochastic simulation is occasionally accompanied with arguments against rate equations. Motivated by these arguments, we discuss in this paper the relationship between these two forms of representation. Toward this end, we provide a novel compact derivation for the stochastic rate constant that forms the basis of the popular Gillespie algorithm. Comparing the mathematical basis of the two popular conceptual frameworks of generalized mass action models and the chemical master equation, we argue that some of the arguments that have been put forward are ignoring subtle differences and similarities that are important for answering the question in which conceptual framework one should investigate intracellular dynamics.     

Asymmetric membrane fiber-based carbon dioxide removal devices for ion chromatography

The application of hollow and filament-filled single asymmetric membrane fibers, consisting of a thin silicone layer on a tubular microporous support, for removing CO(2) in suppressed ion chromatography effluents is described. With appropriate choice of the removal device and operating conditions, the CO(2) can be essentially quantitatively (99+%) removed. For carbonate-based eluents, the use of such devices greatly reduces or eliminates the water dip, permitting better quantitation of poorly retained anions that elute close to the dip, allows practical gradient chromatography, and improves noise levels and attainable detection limits. In hydroxide eluent chromatography, the device largely removes the response from CO(2) present in the samples; this greatly aids atmospheric trace gas analysis by IC. Device dimensions are such that the dispersion introduced by the device is small.