Sharif Digital Repository

In a typical surveillance radar, decision about the existence of a target in certain range-azimuth-elevation cell is made from the echo received in current scan, while still there is useful information in history of that range cell that is not considered in decision making. Based on the potential of the Hough Transform to use history of both range and Doppler information, a new method to increase the probability of detection in surveillance radars is proposed. The new method uses a 3D data space and a special projection to detect targets and extract range, speed, and acceleration of maneuvering targets simultaneously  

In this paper, based on a successively accuracy-increasing approximation of the ℓ0 norm, we propose a new algorithm for recovery of sparse vectors from underdetermined measurements. The approximations are realized with a certain class of concave functions that aggressively induce sparsity and their closeness to the ℓ0 norm can be controlled. We prove that the series of the approximations asymptotically coincides with the ℓ1 and ℓ0 norms when the approximation accuracy changes from the worst fitting to the best fitting. When measurements are noise-free, an optimization scheme is proposed that leads to a number of weighted ℓ1 minimization programs, whereas, in the presence of noise, we propose... 

Suppose that a solution x to an underdetermined linear system b=Ax is given. x is approximately sparse meaning that it has a few large components compared to other small entries. However, the total number of nonzero components of x is large enough to violate any condition for the uniqueness of the sparsest solution. On the other hand, if only the dominant components are considered, then it will satisfy the uniqueness conditions. One intuitively expects that x should not be far from the true sparse solution x0. It was already shown that this intuition is the case by providing upper bounds on ||x-x0|| which are functions of the magnitudes of small components of x but independent from x0. In... 

Inherent properties of UWB signals prevent both coherent and noncoherent processing with conventional methods used in narrow-band RADARs. In this paper, we show how to exploit the Hough transform, first developed to detect lines in an image distorted by noise, to detect moving objects from successive scans that are corrupted by noise and clutter. We discuss why conventional methods fail to process UWB pulses noncoherently/coherently and investigate different aspects of using the Hough transform in noncoherent integration of UWB signals. Simulation results to support our approach are also presented. © 2008 EuMA  

In this paper, the problem of matrix rank minimization under affine constraints is addressed. The state-of-the-art algorithms can recover matrices with a rank much less than what is sufficient for the uniqueness of the solution of this optimization problem. We propose an algorithm based on a smooth approximation of the rank function, which practically improves recovery limits on the rank of the solution. This approximation leads to a non-convex program; thus, to avoid getting trapped in local solutions, we use the following scheme. Initially, a rough approximation of the rank function subject to the affine constraints is optimized. As the algorithm proceeds, finer approximations of the rank... 

A multiplexing technique, which is based on duty-cycle division, is proposed. The channel multiplexing and demultiplexing are performed electrically at the single user bit rate, which is very economic. In a three-user system (3×10 Gb/s), the simulation results show that the best receiver sensitivity value achieved is -30.1 dBm with an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of 22.3 dB, while the chromatic dispersion tolerance ranges from 192 to 280 ps/nm. Migration from 30 to 120 Gb/s is achieved with the penalty of 6.4 and 5.2 dB in the receiver sensitivity and OSNR, respectively, for the worst user  

In this article, the hydrodynamic analysis and noise of the propeller and the surface vessel hull were examined. The model selected in this study is a KRISO Container Ship (KCS) with a five-bladed propeller. Initially, the hydrodynamic analysis of the propeller in open water mode and then in self-propulsion mode was investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Simulations were carried out using a commercial solver, STAR-CCM+ (RANS equations with FVM and VOF model). Finally, the emitted noise from the propeller and the vessel hull was investigated using Fox William Hawkins equations. The pressure distribution and hydrodynamic performance (thrust, torque, efficiency) of the propeller in... 

Ambient Intelligence is a new paradigm in information technology that creates environments able to detect and respond to users’ needs, actions, behaviors and feelings. User trust plays an important role in accepting Ambient Intelligence environments. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a virtual reality based testbed for studying trust in Ambient Intelligence Environments  

For the present article, a pulsating heat pipe (PHP) is fabricated and tested experimentally by bending a copper tube. The effects of working fluid, heat input, charging ratio, inclination angle, magnets location, and ferrofluid (magnetic nanofluid) volumetric concentration have been investigated on the thermal performance of this PHP. Experimental results show that using ferrofluid as a working fluid improves the thermal performance of the PHP significantly. Moreover, applying a magnetic field on a ferrofluidic PHP reduces its thermal resistance. By changing the inclination angle of the PHP from vertical mode to angles close to the horizontal mode, the present PHP has a constant and... 

In this article, the control of an electrohydrodynamic 3D printer is studied. The proposed controller has a hybrid piecewise linear feedback form which is designed based on a hybrid model of the printer. The hybrid model is obtained via a gray box identification process whose structure is proposed utilizing the results of the finite element simulation of the printer within the COMSOL Multiphysics software. The asymptotic stability of the hybrid control combined with a hybrid observer is proven using the Lyapunov theory. In addition, the obtained control is applied to the finite element model of the printer to check its performance which shows the success of the controlled system in tracking... 

Chatter is a limiting factor in machining systems with adverse effects for workpiece surface, tool and machine life and material removal rate. Proper modelling of this phenomenon requires that the dynamic characteristics of the machining system is known. It is common to obtain the dynamic of the system by modal tests in stationary condition. However, the vibration characteristics of a machine change between its operating and resting mode. The goal of this work is to study vibrations in boring using the vibrational characteristic in operational conditions using the operating deflection shape method. In this paper, vibration characteristics of the in the boring bar is obtained by both modal... 

In the present study, a bioactive silicate-phosphate glass-ceramic scaffold was fabricated via the polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) method. K2HPO4 phosphate salt was used as the P2O5 precursor in this method. The effect of K2HPO4 wt% and heat treatment temperatures (900–1100 °C) was evaluated. It was observed that although increasing the wt% of K2HPO4 led to the formation of scaffolds with higher densities and strengths, it could also increase the formation of the calcium phase, which could result in improper release behavior of scaffolds. On the other hand, higher heat treatment temperatures enhanced the strength of the scaffolds but eliminated the bioactive octacalcium phosphate (OCP) phase.... 

In the present study, a bioactive silicate-phosphate glass-ceramic scaffold was fabricated via the polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) method. K2HPO4 phosphate salt was used as the P2O5 precursor in this method. The effect of K2HPO4 wt% and heat treatment temperatures (900–1100 °C) was evaluated. It was observed that although increasing the wt% of K2HPO4 led to the formation of scaffolds with higher densities and strengths, it could also increase the formation of the calcium phase, which could result in improper release behavior of scaffolds. On the other hand, higher heat treatment temperatures enhanced the strength of the scaffolds but eliminated the bioactive octacalcium phosphate (OCP) phase.... 

In the present study, a bioactive silicate-phosphate glass-ceramic scaffold was fabricated via the polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) method. K2HPO4 phosphate salt was used as the P2O5 precursor in this method. The effect of K2HPO4 wt% and heat treatment temperatures (900–1100 °C) was evaluated. It was observed that although increasing the wt% of K2HPO4 led to the formation of scaffolds with higher densities and strengths, it could also increase the formation of the calcium phase, which could result in improper release behavior of scaffolds. On the other hand, higher heat treatment temperatures enhanced the strength of the scaffolds but eliminated the bioactive octacalcium phosphate (OCP) phase.... 

A novel voltammetric biosensor based on nano-TiO2/nafion/carbon nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (TiO2/N/CNP/GCE) was developed for the determination of dobutamine (DBA). Characterization of the surface morphology and property of TiO2/N/CNP layer was carried out by the scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical performance of the modified electrode was investigated by means of the cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Effective experimental variables, such as the scan rate, pH of the supporting electrolyte, drop size of the casted modifier suspension and accumulation... 

The performance of an HTPB/N2O hybrid motor was experimentally investigated. A hybrid motor was designed and manufactured in a laboratory with the purpose of studying the effects of various parameters on the motor's performance, including fuel regression rate and specific impulse. A series of tests were conducted to find a correlation between the fuel regression rate and the oxidizer's mass flux. The effects of chamber's pressure on the regression rate as well as other performance parameters were investigated. While the burning rate did not change dramatically, both the efficiency and ISP of the motor increased. The local fuel regression rate and the fuel port were also calculated. In...