A speculative transmission scheme for scheduling-latency reduction

Low latency is a critical requirement in some switching applications, specifically in parallel computer interconnection networks. The minimum latency in switches with centralized scheduling comprises two components, namely, the control-path latency and the data-path latency, which in a practical high-capacity, distributed switch implementation can be far greater than the cell duration. We introduce a speculative transmission scheme to significantly reduce the average control-path latency by allowing cells to proceed without waiting for a grant, under certain conditions. It operates in conjunction with any centralized matching algorithm to achieve a high maximum utilization and incorporates a reliable delivery mechanism to deal with failed speculations. The speculative transmission scheme is employed in a non-blocking N ×N R input-queued crossbar switch with R receivers per output. The control-path latency can be almost entirely eliminated for loads up to 50%. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Some New Orders of Hadamard and Skew‐Hadamard Matrices

We construct Hadamard matrices of orders and , and skew‐Hadamard matrices of orders and . As far as we know, such matrices have not been constructed previously. The constructions use the Goethals–Seidel array, suitable supplementary difference sets on a cyclic group and a new efficient matching algorithm based on hashing techniques.     

Non-Extensive Statistical Analysis of Acoustic Emissions: The Variability of Entropic Index q during Loading of Brittle Materials Until Fracture

Non-extensive statistical mechanics (NESM), introduced by Tsallis based on the principle of non-additive entropy, is a generalisation of the Boltzmann–Gibbs statistics. NESM has been shown to provide the necessary theoretical and analytical implementation for studying complex systems such as the fracture mechanisms and crack evolution processes that occur in mechanically loaded specimens of brittle materials. In the current work, acoustic emission (AE) data recorded when marble and cement mortar specimens were subjected to three distinct loading protocols until fracture, are discussed in the context of NESM. The NESM analysis showed that the cumulative distribution functions of the AE interevent times (i.e., the time interval between successive AE hits) follow a q-exponential function. For each examined specimen, the corresponding Tsallis entropic q-indices and the parameters β_q and τq were calculated. The entropic index q shows a systematic behaviour strongly related to the various stages of the implemented loading protocols for all the examined specimens. Results seem to support the idea of using the entropic index q as a potential pre-failure indicator for the impending catastrophic fracture of the mechanically loaded specimens.     

NMR study of solid C60(γ-cyclodextrin)2

A solid complex of C₆₀ with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CyD) was examined with NMR spectroscopic methods in order to understand the dynamics of C₆₀, and the interaction between C₆₀ and γ-CyD. A ¹³C solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectra shows C₆₀ resonance at 142.6 ppm. This provides the evidence of interaction between ¹³C spins in C₆₀ and ¹H spins in the γ-CyD host. Ambient temperature experiments on the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, with varying contact time, shows that the water associated with γ-CyDs plays an important role in the nuclear relaxation processes. The dynamics of C₆₀ in γ-CyD was investigated using temperature and field-dependent ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation time measurements. The influence of water on the dynamics of C₆₀ was less significant below 250 K.     

A screening strategy for the development of enantiomeric separation methods in capillary electrophoresis

Method development of enantiomeric separations in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a time-consuming task, since finding the appropriate chiral selector is usually a "trial and error" process. It is impossible to predict the selectivity of a selector towards a certain enantiomer. Therefore, the affinity of all selectors has to be examined one at a time. In order to speed up this process, a strategy is proposed based on simple experimental design methodology. The approach includes first a screening in function of the pH to determine the optimal migration conditions followed by a selection of the right chiral selector by means of Taguchi designs. In the approach several variables, such as the type and concentration of cyclodextrin, the concentration of buffer electrolyte, and the percentage of organic modifier, are varied simultaneously to find initial separation conditions rapidly. The resulting initial separation conditions can be optimized in further steps to be more reproducible. We discuss the results of the approach when applied on a number of selected compounds that are recently in development at Johnson & Johnson--Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Parameters, such as quality of the separation and analysis time, are evaluated to determine initial separation conditions for each compound.     

Universal Padé approximants and their behaviour on the boundary

There are several kinds of universal Taylor series. In one such kind the universal approximation is required at every boundary point of the domain of definition \({\varOmega }\) of the universal function f. In another kind the universal approximation is not required at any point of \(\partial {\varOmega }\) but in this case the universal function f can be taken smooth on \(\overline{\varOmega }\) and, moreover, it can be approximated by its Taylor partial sums on every compact subset of \(\overline{\varOmega }\). Similar generic phenomena hold when the partial sums of the Taylor expansion of the universal function are replaced by some Padé approximants of it. In the present paper we show that in the case of Padé approximants, if \({\varOmega }\) is an open set and S, T are two subsets of \(\partial {\varOmega }\) that satisfy some conditions, then there exists a universal function \(f\in H({\varOmega })\) which is smooth on \({\varOmega }\cup S\) and has some Padé approximants that approximate f on each compact subset of \({\varOmega }\cup S\) and simultaneously obtain universal approximation on each compact subset of \((\mathbb {C}{\backslash }\overline{\varOmega })\cup T\). A sufficient condition for the above to happen is \(\overline{S}\cap \overline{T}=\emptyset \), while a necessary and sufficient condition is not known.     

An infinite-order two-component relativistic Hamiltonian by a simple one-step transformation

The authors report the implementation of a simple one-step method for obtaining an infinite-order two-component (IOTC) relativistic Hamiltonian using matrix algebra. They apply the IOTC Hamiltonian to calculations of excitation and ionization energies as well as electric and magnetic properties of the radon atom. The results are compared to corresponding calculations using identical basis sets and based on the four-component Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian as well as Douglas-Kroll-Hess and zeroth-order regular approximation Hamiltonians, all implemented in the DIRAC program package, thus allowing a comprehensive comparison of relativistic Hamiltonians within the finite basis approximation.     

Effects of hydrostaticity on the structural stability of carbonates at lower mantle pressures: the case study of dolomite

We have conducted high pressure far-infrared absorbance and Raman spectroscopic investigations on a natural iron-free dolomite sample up to 40?GPa. Comparison between the present observations and literature results unraveled the effect of hydrostatic conditions on the high pressure dolomite polymorph adopted close to 40?GPa, i.e. the triclinic Dol-IIIc modification. In particular, non-hydrostatic conditions impose structural disorder at these pressures, whereas hydrostatic conditions allow the detection of an ordered Dol-IIIc vibrational response. Hence, hydrostatic conditions appear to be a key ingredient for modeling carbon subduction at lower mantle conditions. Our complementary first-principles calculations verified the far-infrared vibrational response of the ambient- and high pressure dolomite phases.     

Polymer complexes stabilized through hydrogen bonds: A semiquantitative theoretical model

Many studies have been devoted to the formation and behavior of polymer complexes. Unfortunately, the complexity of such systems do not allow a rigorous theoretical approach presently. In this paper we develop a semiquantitative theoretical model for cooperative association between macromolecules. The model is especially adapted for reversible polymer complexes stabilized through weak interactions, e.g., through hydrogen bonds. Theoretical predictions are compared with potentiometric and viscometric experimental results of poly(acrylic acid)/polybase system and a good agreement is established. The influence of parameters such as degree of neutralization of the polyacid, concentration, and molecular weight of polymers is also conveniently predicted.