Sharif Digital Repository

In this paper, we present an assertion-based verification methodology for system-level design. Transactionlevel concepts are integrated with an assertion language to introduce a useful, effective and familiar assertion description language. Our assertion verification language is capable of specifying system-level assertions for validating performance as well as functional properties. Proper-ties can be verified using offline simulation trace analysis. C++ trace checkers are automatically generated to validate particular simulation runs or to analyze their performance characteristic(s). Using a JPEG decoder as a case study, we demonstrate that the assertion-based verification is highly useful... 

As contemporary digital systems specifically embedded systems become more and more complex, taking advantage of system-level design is being more widespread. Many embedded systems must operate under strict timing constraints. One of the best methods for examining timing constraints in an embedded system can be done via the performance verification. In this paper an assertion-based verification methodology has been proposed for verifying system-level timing constraints in an embedded system. Performance assertions are specified by an assertion language at the transaction-level of abstraction. A Turing machine and a structure named performance evaluator have been coupled to provide a... 

Nowadays, distributed network systems are broadly using in embedded, real-time and networked control systems. Since they often operate under strict timing constraints, the timing verification is an important and critical phase during the design of them. On the other hand, as contemporary digital systems become more and more complex, taking advantage of the systemlevel design is gaining more widespread acceptance. Beginning from the transaction-level of abstraction is a common and effective method for deploying the system-level design. This paper presents a methodology for evaluation of timing constraints in a distributed network system specified at transactionlevel of abstraction. Timing... 

The use of cell phone is a significant source of driver distraction. Phone use while driving can impair a number of factors critical for safe driving which can cause serious traffic safety problems. The objective of this paper was to investigate the frequency of using cell phones while driving in Iran's roads through an observational survey with a random sample of drivers, to recognize contributing factors to cell phone usage and to understand the magnitude of the problem. A total of 1794 observations were collected from 12 sites at controlled intersections, entrance and exit points of highways. The cell phone use rate among drivers (talking or texting) was estimated at 10% which is... 

The use of cell phone is a significant source of driver distraction. Phone use while driving can impair a number of factors critical for safe driving which can cause serious traffic safety problems. The objective of this paper was to investigate the frequency of using cell phones while driving in Iran's roads through an observational survey with a random sample of drivers, to recognize contributing factors to cell phone usage and to understand the magnitude of the problem. A total of 1794 observations were collected from 12 sites at controlled intersections, entrance and exit points of highways. The cell phone use rate among drivers (talking or texting) was estimated at 10% which is... 

In the present work, nano-composites of Ni-P-SiO2-Al2O3 were coated on AZ91HP magnesium alloy. The surface morphology of the nano-composite coating was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The amount of SiO2 in the coating was determined by energy-dispersive analysis of x-ray (EDX), and the crystalline structure of the coating was examined by x-ray diffractometer (XRD). All the experiments concerning the corrosion behavior of the coating carried out in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization technique. The results showed that an incorporation of SiO2 and Al2O3 in Ni-P coating at the SiO2 concentration of... 

Performing maneuvers such as braking and lane changing can hinder the occurrence of a crash. The driver tends to escape from the crash occurrence or reduce its severity by doing the maneuver, so finding the factors affecting this type of maneuver can help the driver to react better. This work aims to discover the effect of distraction-related factors on the performance of a crash avoidance maneuver. In order to pave the way for a more thorough comprehension of this matter, variables related to the characteristics of the driver, road, crash, vehicle, and environmental properties are also considered in the analysis. The used data is based on General Estimate System 2010 dataset, a dataset... 

The axisymmetric contact problem of a rigid inclusion embedded in the piezoelectric bimaterial frictionless interface subjected to simultaneous far-field compression and electric displacement is addressed. With the aid of a robust technique, the coupled governing integral equations of this mixed boundary-value problem are reduced to decoupled Fredholm integral equations with a constraint equation. A useful limiting case for the contact problem of transversely isotropic bimaterials is addressed. The present solution is analytically in agreement with the existing solution for an isotropic bimaterial. Selected numerical results of interest to engineering applications including the radius of... 

A carbon paste electrode (CPE), modified with novel hydroquinone/TiO2 nanoparticles, was designed and used for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and folic acid (FA). The magnitude of the peak current for modified TiO2-nanoparticle CPE (MTNCPE) increased sharply in the presence of ascorbic acid and was proportional to its concentration. A dynamic range of 1.0-1400.0 μM, with the detection limit of 6.4x10-7M for AA, was obtained using the DPV technique (pH=7.0). The prepared electrode was successfully applied for the determination of AA, UA, and FA in real samples  

A carbon paste electrode (CPE) chemically modified with TiO2 nanoparticles and quinizarine (QZ) was used as a selective electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of minor amounts of d-penicillamine (D-PA) and tryptophan (Trp). This modified electrode showed very efficient electrocatalytic activity for anodic oxidation of both d-PA and Trp. Substantial decreases of anodic overpotentials for both compounds made this analysis possible. Results of square wave voltammetry (SWV) using this modified electrode showed two well-resolved anodic waves for the oxidation of d-PA and Trp, which makes the simultaneous determination of both compounds possible. The peak potential for the... 

Interfacial tension of both 36 binary and 6 ternary liquid-liquid systems at 298 K, has been predicted through a reliable thermodynamic model. To properly predict interfacial tension, it is necessary to calculate interfacial area of each constituent of the mixtures. For such estimation, two empirical correlations have been proposed for binary mixtures whose one component is water and experimental data have been used to calculate interfacial area of ternary mixtures. The UNIQUAUC Excess Gibbs Free energy model and its parameters have been used to calculate the concentration and activity coefficients in the bulk and interface phases. The overall average deviation of the predicted binary... 

The axisymmetric problem of a concentric set of energetically consistent annular and penny-shaped cracks in an infinite piezoelectric body subjected to uniform far-field electromechanical loading is addressed. With the aid of a robust innovated technique, the pertinent four-part mixed boundary value problem (MBVP) is reduced to a decoupled Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The results of two limiting cases of a single penny-shaped crack and a single annular crack are recovered. The contour plots of dimensionless intensity factors (IFs) at each crack front provide the stress and electric displacement intensity factors (SIFs and EDIFs, respectively) for all combination of crack... 

The analytical treatment of an energetically consistent annular crack in a piezoelectric solid subjected to remote opening electromechanical loading is addressed. Potential functions and Hankel transform in combination with a robust technique are employed to reduce the solution of the mixed boundary value problem into a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The limiting case of a penny-shaped crack in a piezoelectric medium with energetically consistent boundary conditions over the crack faces is extracted for the first time. The electrical discharge phenomenon within the crack gap is modeled utilizing a non-linear constitutive law and the effects of the breakdown field on the... 

In the present paper, the use of a novel carbon paste electrode modified by N,N'(2,3-dihydroxybenzylidene)-1,4-phenylenediamine (DHBPD) and TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by a simple and rapid method for the determination of dopamine (DA) was described. In the first part of the work, cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various solution pH values and at various scan rates. A linear segment was found with slope value of about 48 mV/pH in the pH range 2.0 -12.0. The apparent charge transfer rate constant (ks) and transfer coefficient (α) for electron transfer between DHBPD and TiO2 nanoparticles-carbon paste electrode were calculated. In... 

In the present paper, the use of a carbon paste electrode modified by 2,2′-[1,2 buthanediylbis (nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone (BH) and TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by a simple and rapid method was described. The modified electrode showed an excellent character for electrocatalytic oxidization of norepinephrine (NE), acetaminophene (AC) and folic acid (FA). Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), a highly selective and simultaneous determination of NE, AC and FA has been explored at the modified electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) peak currents of NE, AC and FA increased linearly with their concentration at the ranges of 4.0-1100.0 μM, 12.5-500.0 μM and 200.0-3200.0 μM,... 

The problem of edge dislocation inside the wall of a multi-walled nanotube accounting for the surface effects is addressed. Within the framework of surface elasticity the stress field is obtained, using complex potentials. Furthermore, the stress field and image forces acting on the dislocation, with and without an account of the surface stress, are compared together and discussed  

Behavior of a screw dislocation inside a nanotube (NT) is considered in the context of surface elasticity. The elastic fields as well as the image force acting over the dislocation are derived and analyzed in detail. In contrast with the result of classical elasticity, the screw dislocation is shown to be repelled by free surfaces and occupy two stable equilibrium positions near them. The image force strongly depends on the NT's inner and outer radii as well as surface elastic characteristics  

In process robustness studies, it is desirable to minimize the influence of noise factors on the system and simultaneously determine the levels of controllable factors optimizing the overall response or outcome. In the cases when a random effects model is applicable and a fixed effects model is assumed instead, an increase in the variance of the coefficient vector should be expected. In this paper, the impacts of this assumption on the results of the experiment in the context of robust parameter design are investigated. Furthermore, two criteria are considered to determine the optimum settings for the control factors. In order to better understand the proposed method and to evaluate its... 

This study investigates the impact of varied daylight illuminance levels on user preferences and cognitive performance in offices, employing a virtual reality platform and HDRI 360-degree panorama images, whose illuminance level was validated using simulation. With 46 participants, a cognitive task known as the Stroop-test was conducted under nine illuminance levels, ranging up to 1500 lux. Additionally, participants were surveyed to determine their preferred horizontal illuminance level at desk height. The results uncovered distinct user preferences, with the majority of participants favoring illuminance levels above 700 lux, specifically 1100 and 790 lux, for reading and work-related...