An approach for stability analysis of a single-bit high-order digital sigma-delta modulator

In this work we considered the stability of a single-bit high-order sigma-delta modulator under dc input. A new approach for stability analysis is proposed. A nonlinear circle map is suggested to model the dynamics of the modulator. An analogy between the dynamics of the sigma-delta modulator and the sinusoidal digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) is studied and an approximate fixed point solution is presented with stability criteria. Suggestions for designing stabilized high-order systems are presented.     

Optical Burst Switching Router With 40-,10-Gb/s Bit-Rate Transparent Contention Resolution

We report a bit-rate transparent optical burst switching (OBS) router prototype using a fast 5 times 5 PLZT [(Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O₃ ] optical matrix switch. Dynamic switching in a two-wavelength, 2 times 2 OBS switch is demonstrated. Contention resolution using a tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer wavelength converter for both 40- and 10-Gb/s bursts is demonstrated for the first time. Error-free operation was achieved for both bit rates under the same settings, as required in autonomous networks     

Area-efficient high-speed carry chain

An improved carry chain circuit with carry-skip capability is described. The carry-skip logic allows an arbitrarily long carry chain without the need for intermediate buffers for signal restoration, leading to an implementation that is both fast and area-efficient. The chain can flexibly accommodate technology-imposed maximum depth of NMOS transistor pull-down stack.     

Sorption of Mo(VI) on zirconium molybdosilicate gel and potential application as a <Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo/<Superscript>99<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis> </Superscript>Tc generator

Sorption of Mo(VI) from aqueous nitrate solutions onto zirconium molybdosilicate (ZrMoSi) gel was studied using ⁹⁹Mo radiotracer. The acid–base titration curve showed that the prepared ZrMoSi gel was an amphoteric material with the point of zero charge (PZC) at pH 2.5. The highest distribution coefficient (600 mL g^–1) of ⁹⁹Mo(VI) on ZrMoSi from nitrate media was achieved at pH 2.1. The sorption kinetics of ⁹⁹Mo(VI) onto ZrMoSi obeyed the pseudo-second-order model. The breakthrough sorption capacity of ZrMoSi gel was found to be 4.25 × 10^–2 [mmol Mo(VI)] g^–1. The prepared ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc chromatographic column generator showed a good performance: The ^99mTc elution yield was 87.7%, pH of the eluate ranged from 5.6 to 7.2, and the radionuclidic purity of the eluted ^99mTc was >99.99% with a radiochemical purity of 98.31% (as ^99mTcO₄^–).     

Production planning and worker training in dynamic manufacturing systems

Production planning is a vital activity in any manufacturing system, and naturally implies assigning the available resources to the required operations. This paper develops and analyzes a comprehensive mathematical model for dynamic manufacturing systems. The proposed model integrates production planning and worker training considering machine and worker time availability, operation sequence and multi-period planning horizon. The objective is to minimize machine maintenance and overhead, system reconfiguration, backorder and inventory holding, training and salary of worker costs. Computational results are presented to verify the proposed model.     

Structural controllability of multi-agent networks: Robustness against simultaneous failures

In this paper, structural controllability of a leader–follower multi-agent system with multiple leaders is studied from a graph-theoretic point of view. The problem of preservation of structural controllability under simultaneous failures in both the communication links and the agents is investigated. The effects of the loss of agents and communication links on the controllability of an information flow graph are previously studied. In this work, the corresponding results are exploited to introduce some useful indices and importance measures that help characterize and quantify the role of individual links and agents in the controllability of the overall network. Existing results are then extended by considering the effects of losses in both links and agents at the same time. To this end, the concepts of joint (r,s)$(r,s)$-controllability and joint t$t$-controllability are introduced as quantitative measures of reliability for a multi-agent system, and their important properties are investigated. Lastly, the class of jointly critical digraphs is introduced, and it is stated that if a digraph is jointly critical, then joint t$t$-controllability is a necessary and sufficient condition for remaining controllable following the failure of any set of links and agents, with cardinality less than t$t$. Various examples are exploited throughout the paper to elaborate on the analytical findings.     

Gate All Around Dopingless Nanotube TFET Biosensor with Si0.5Ge0.5 – Based Source

Silicon - Through this paper, we discuss how Tunnel Field Effect Transistors can be utilized for the detection of biomaterials hence acting as a biosensor. The device proposed is a 3-D Doping less...     

Weight loss, polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, SEM and EDX studies of the corrosion inhibition of copper in aerated NaCl solutions

This work reports results of weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance measurements on the corrosion inhibition of copper in aerated non-stirred 3% NaCl solutions in the temperature range 15–65 °C using sodium oleate (SO) as an anionic surfactant inhibitor. These studies have shown that SO is a very good ”green”, mixed-type inhibitor. The inhibition process was attributed to the formation of an adsorbed film on the metal surface that protects the metal against corrosive agents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) observations of the electrode surface confirmed the existence of such an adsorbed film. The inhibition efficiency increases with increasing surfactant concentration and time of immersion, while it decreases with solution temperature. Maximum inhibition efficiency of the surfactant is observed at concentrations around its critical micellar concentration (CMC). The potential of zero charge (pzc) of copper was studied by ac impedance, and the mechanism of adsorption is discussed. The sigmoidal shape of the adsorption isotherm confirms the applicability of Frumkin’s equation to describe the adsorption process. Thermodynamic functions for the adsorption process were determined.