Sharif Digital Repository

This paper develops a novel insight and procedure that includes a variety of algorithms for finding the best solution in a structured multi-agent system with internal communications and a global purpose. In other words, it finds the optimal communication structure among agents and the optimal policy in this structure. First, a unique reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed to find the optimal policy of each agent in a fixed structure with non-linear function approximators like artificial neural networks (ANN) and with eligibility traces. Secondly, a mechanism is presented to perform self-organization based on the information of the learned policy. Finally, an algorithm that can discover... 

The compute-and-forward (CMF) method has shown a great promise as an innovative approach to exploit interference towards achieving higher network throughput. The CMF was primarily introduced by means of information theory tools. Although there have been some recent works discussing different aspects of efficient and practical implementation of CMF, there are still some issues that are not covered. In this study, the authors first introduce a method to decrease the implementation complexity of the CMF method. They then evaluate the exact outage probability of the authors proposed simplified CMF scheme, and hereby provide an upper bound on the outage probability of the optimum CMF in all... 

This paper is a complete survey of flowshop-scheduling problems and contributions from early works of Johnson of 1954 to recent approaches of metaheuristics of 2004. It mainly considers a flowshop problem with a makespan criterion and it surveys some exact methods (for small size problems), constructive heuristics and developed improving metaheuristic and evolutionary approaches as well as some well-known properties and rules for this problem. Each part has a brief literature review of the contributions and a glimpse of that approach before discussing the implementation for a flowshop problem. Moreover, in the first section, a complete literature review of flowshop-related scheduling... 

The biodegradability rates of two different kinds of polyethylene bonded with corn and potato starch are studied in this paper. While it is usual to use soil as the environment for biodegradation, an aerated sludge tank was used in this studywhich offers a richermicrobialmediumand increases the rate of biodegradation. The biodegradability is determined by two ways: first, comparing differences in the weight change of two samples, one placed inside distilled water and the other placed in aerated sludge tank. Second test for biodegradation is by examination of FTIR spectroscopy. Through FTIR spectroscopy, the biodegradability rate and reduction in some of the existing bonds in polymer before... 

Zeolite-based photocatalysts were prepared by the sol-gel and deposition methods. The photocatalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The activity of the prepared photocatalysts was evaluated by the UV-induced degradation of acid blue 92, a textile dye in common use. The effect of various parameters, such as catalyst concentration, initial dye concentration, thiosulphate concentration and pH, on the rate and efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of acid blue 92 was investigated. The results showed that each parameter influenced the degradation... 

We propose a novel cooperative transmission scheme called Convolutional Network-Coded Cooperation (CNCC) for a network including N sources, one M-antenna relay, and one common destination. The source-relay (S-R) channels are assumed to be Nakagami-m fading, while the source-destination (S-D) and the relay-destination (R-D) channels are considered Rayleigh fading. The CNCC scheme exploits the generator matrix of a good (N + M', N,v) systematic convolutional code, with the free distance of dfree designed over GF(2), as the network coding matrix which is run by the network's nodes, such that the systematic symbols are directly transmitted from the sources, and the parity symbols are sent by the... 

In this paper a new passive imaging method is introduced that is mainly suitable for Geo-locating LPI radars. The method uses two Electronic Support (ES) receivers located on a fast moving platform (e.g. an airplane or a satellite). The proposed method has a high processing gain which makes it absolutely suitable against very weak LPI signals. It is also capable in radar location finding against complex radars and complicated electromagnetic environment  

A kinetic model for growth of ZnO nanorods via vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism based on the bulk diffusion of Zn atoms through the Au-Zn droplet is presented. The dependences of the growth rate on size are given quantitatively. A general expression for the growth rate of nanorods during VLS process is derived. The derived formula shows the dependences of growth rate on lateral size of nanorods, concentration and supersaturation of Zn atoms in the liquid droplet. Based on the presented kinetic model the smaller nanorods have faster growth rate. Au-catalyzed ZnO nanorods are grown by chemical vapor transport and condensation (CVTC) process experimentally. Theoretical and experimental... 

We study the collective excitations in a relativistic fluid with an anomalous U(1) current. In 3+1 dimensions at zero chemical potential, in addition to ordinary sound modes we find two propagating modes in presence of an external magnetic field. The first one which is a transverse degenerate mode, propagates with a velocity proportional to the coefficient of gravitational anomaly; this is in fact the Chiral Alfvén wave recently found in [1]. Another one is a wave of density perturbation, namely a chiral magnetic wave (CMW). The velocity dependence of CMW on the chiral anomaly coefficient is well known. We compute the dependence of CMW's velocity on the coefficient of gravitational anomaly... 

In this study the effect of HPGR operational parameters on the dimensional properties of pellet feed was examined and optimized using factorial methodology. The operational parameters considered include feed moisture, specific pressure and roll speed. For this study, size and shape of particles with Blaine number in the range 1800–2200 cm2 g−1 was thoroughly investigated. It was deduced that increasing the specific pressure and decreasing the roll speed would result in reduction of D80 but would increase the Blaine number. The circularity, aspect ratio and roughness descriptors of the particles were measured by SEM micrographs and image analysis software. It was observed that particles... 

In this study the effect of HPGR operational parameters on the dimensional properties of pellet feed was examined and optimized using factorial methodology. The operational parameters considered include feed moisture, specific pressure and roll speed. For this study, size and shape of particles with Blaine number in the range 1800–2200 cm2g−1 was thoroughly investigated. It was deduced that increasing the specific pressure and decreasing the roll speed would result in reduction of D80 but would increase the Blaine number. The circularity, aspect ratio and roughness descriptors of the particles were measured by SEM micrographs and image analysis software. It was observed that particles tended... 

This study demonstrates a new kind of photocatalytic system via utilization of the superior specific properties inherent in Pickering emulsion. We designed the new photocatalytic system using a novel p–n heterojunction Ag3PO4/BiPO4 (AB) as a photocatalytic active component, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene (GR) as a hydrophobic conducting nanostructure to form the stabilized Pickering emulsion. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared stabilized Pickering emulsion-based system (Pe-bp system) was studied by monitoring the change in Acid Blue 92 dye (AB92) concentration under both visible and UV light irradiation. The results revealed that the Pe-bp system exhibits a...