Sharif Digital Repository

This paper presents a kinetic data structure (KDS) for maintenance of the Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST) on a set of moving points in 2-dimensional space. For a set of n points moving in the plane we build a KDS of size O(n) in O(nlogn) preprocessing time by which the EMST is maintained efficiently during the motion. This is done by applying the required changes to the combinatorial structure of the EMST which is changed in discrete timestamps. We assume that the motion of the points, i.e. x and y coordinates of the points, are defined by algebraic functions of constant maximum degree. In terms of the KDS performance parameters, our KDS is responsive, local, and compact. The... 

This paper presents the first kinetic data structure (KDS) for maintenance of the Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST) on a set of n moving points in 2-dimensional space. We build a KDS of size O(n) in O(nlogn) preprocessing time by which their EMST is maintained efficiently during the motion. In terms of the KDS performance parameters, our KDS is responsive, local, and compact  

In this paper, we enumerate the number of combinatorial changes of the the Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST) of a set of n moving points in 2- dimensional space. We assume that the motion of the points in the plane, is defined by algebraic functions of maximum degree s of time. We prove an upper bound of O(n3β2s(n2)) for the number of the combinatorial changes of the EMST, where βs(n)= λs(n)/n and λs(n) is the maximum length of Davenport-Schinzel sequences of order s on n symbols which is nearly linear in n. This result is an O(n) improvement over the previously trivial bound of O(n4)  

Individuals have been regarded as independent decision makers in majority of transportation analysis. However, agents’ behaviors are usually affected by the interactions among the members in a group; and therefore, individual decision-making paradigms may result in unrealistic outcomes and erroneous interpretations of the results. In light of this, the present study develops discrete choice models in individual and group levels and compares their prediction power in predicting the choice of escort pattern in dual-worker households with at least one under-18-year-old student. The main purpose is to reveal the efficiency of each approach in analyzing parent-child joint activities and highlight... 

We use the weighted integral form of spherical Bessel functions and introduce a new analytical set of complete and biorthogonal potential-density basis functions. The potential and density functions of the new set have finite central values and they fall off, respectively, similar to r-(1+ l) and r-(4+ l) at large radii, where l is the latitudinal quantum number of spherical harmonics. The lowest order term associated with l = 0 is the perfect sphere of de Zeeuw. Our basis functions are intrinsically suitable for the modelling of three-dimensional, soft-centred stellar systems and they complement the basis sets of Clutton-Brock, Hernquist & Ostriker and Zhao. We test the performance of our... 

Iran has been experiencing slow growth for the past ten years. Using plant-level information, we show that on average firm-specific productivity in manufacturing sectors declined at the rate of 2.6 percent annually, while large top decile firms experienced a modest growth in productivity between 2005 and 2011. We decompose this trend and find that within-plant variation is its main driving force while the between firms and industries component is insignificant. We test several alternative explanations that may contribute to these negative trends. We show that the subsidy reform had a negative effect, while privatization seems to have had no effect. Private management not affected on... 

Using plant level panel data of manufacturing firms in Iran from 2003 to 2013, we test the Dutch disease predictions, including the impact of a rise in oil prices on intensive and extensive margins of trade. Our findings indicate that during periods of high oil prices domestic currency appreciates, but contrary to resource curse theories, domestic firms export more, and new firms enter foreign markets. We reconcile this paradox by proposing a new channel, which we call “subsidy disease.” Despite rising oil prices, the government of Iran kept domestic energy prices at low levels, which increased the implicit subsidy accruing to energy intensive firms. In effect, these firms gain a competitive... 

A set of bi-orthogonal potential-density basis functions is introduced to model the density and its associated gravitational field of three dimensional stellar systems. Radial components of our basis functions are weighted integral forms of spherical Bessel functions. We discuss on the properties of our basis functions and demonstrate their shapes for the latitudinal Fourier number l = 2. © 2008 Copyright International Astronomical Union 2008  

At least four source impedances are required to characterize the noise parameters of a two-port network. The accuracy of the noise parameters depends on the configuration of the employed source impedances (pattern). The configuration of a specified pattern, generated generally by an impedance tuner, changes with frequency, and as such, the accuracy is usually degraded in a wideband characterization. To realize a low-error wideband noise characterization, the present article thoroughly investigates the method of choosing a four-source impedance pattern. A Monte Carlo simulation-based approach is proposed to obtain the desired impedance patterns. The measurement and simulation results show... 

The majority of the city of Tehran, Iran has been developed on cemented coarse-grained alluvium. In order to understand the mechanical behavior of this soil, a series of triaxial compression tests (CD, CU) were performed on uncemented and artificially cemented samples. Hydrated lime was used as the cementation agent for sample preparation to model the Tehran cemented deposit. The tests were performed on artificially cemented samples after an appropriate curing time. The effect of confining pressure, cement content and fine content is investigated in this research. The tests results show that peak shear strength is followed by strain softening for all cemented samples. Shear strength... 

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies have been carried out on the adsorption of uranium(VI) by Amberlite IRA-910 resin. The adsorption process has been investigated as a function of adsorbate concentration, solution acidity, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The experiments were preformed in batch mode, where uranium initial concentration on the solution samples were 185.5, 277.6 and 456.8 (mg/lit), sulfuric acid concentration range was 0.02-9 (mol/lit) and sorbent dosages were 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 g. Equilibrium isotherm data were analyzed using Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The results showed that the adsorption process was well described by Freundlich... 

In this paper, we consider the exponential stabilization problem of a Timoshenko beam with interior local controls with input delays. In the past, most of the stabilization results for the Timoshenko beam were on the boundary control with input delays. In the present paper we shall extend the method treating the boundary control with delays to the case of interior local control with delays. Essentially we design a new dynamic feedback control laws that stabilizes exponentially the system. Detail of the design procedure of the dynamic feedback controller and analysis of the exponential stability are given. © 2018 World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All Rights Reserved  

Reaction of the zwitterions generated from isoquinoline or pyridine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate with tetronic acid leads to 1,2- dihydroisoquinoline or 1,2-dihydropyridine tetronic acid derivatives without using any catalyst or activation at room temperature  

This work presents a novel melatonin sensor based on unfunctionalized macroporous graphene networks decorated with gold nanoparticles for the differential pulse voltammetric detection of melatonin in pharmaceutical products. Highly porous graphene structures were prepared by metallic template-assisted chemical vapor deposition, and their active surface area and electrocatalytic activity were improved by electrochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles (50-250 nm) on their struts. The graphene-gold electrodes present a highly sensitive performance toward electro-oxidation of melatonin with a wide linear range of 0.05-50 μM, a low detection limit of 0.0082 μM (3σ/m), and a significant... 

To what extent can a short-term decline in the output of a small open economy be explained by trade barriers? To answer this, we extend the Business Cycle Accounting method of Chari et al. (2007) to a small open economy model. We include an additional time-varying wedge to model financial trade frictions caused by barriers on imports. International sanctions on Iran provide an empirical opportunity to apply this method to data on Iran's recession in 2012-13. The results indicate that efficiency and investment wedges account for most of the fluctuations in aggregate variables during the sanctions, and trade barriers had little contemporaneous explanatory power. The effect of oil boycotts... 

To what extent can a short-term decline in the output of a small open economy be explained by trade barriers? To answer this, we extend the Business Cycle Accounting method of Chari et al. (2007) to a small open economy model. We include an additional time-varying wedge to model financial trade frictions caused by barriers on imports. International sanctions on Iran provide an empirical opportunity to apply this method to data on Iran's recession in 2012-13. The results indicate that efficiency and investment wedges account for most of the fluctuations in aggregate variables during the sanctions, and trade barriers had little contemporaneous explanatory power. The effect of oil boycotts... 

The pool boiling is one of the heat transfer mechanisms used in cooling systems. Using an external force to improve the efficiency of thermo-fluid systems is among the most effective approaches, and also highly applicable in enhancing heat transfer. In this study, the pool boiling of water, as the working fluid, in the presence of a variable magnetic field, is studied. To this end, ferromagnetic beads were placed on the boiling surface, and the effect of their movements due to a variable magnetic field was observed and measured. The number of beads was selected such that they would cover 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 of the surface in different cases and the magnetic field was controlled by altering... 

The price elasticity of gasoline demand is a key parameter in evaluation of various policies. However, most of the literature uses aggregate data to identify this elasticity. Temporal and spatial aggregation make such elasticity estimates biased. We employ a unique dataset of all gasoline transactions in Iran during a 4-month period around an unexpected exogenous price change to identify that price elasticity. We also identify a significant withholding behavior by consumers in response to anticipated price changes. The consumers reduce or postpone their purchases when they expect a decrease in prices. Controlling for date fixed effects would eliminate homogeneous withholding responses.... 

This paper presents a small open economy, dynamic general equilibrium model with cash-in advance constraint and a currency attack to explain the dynamic effects of changes in trade barriers in the short and long run. The model is calibrated using data on macroeconomic variables in Iran's economy from 1990 to 2013 to identify and analyze the effects of barriers imposed on trade. We analyze the effects of counterfactual fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies in response to trade barriers and show how the economy would respond in different time horizons. We also evaluate the effects of eliminating each of the factors causing this stagflation. Our findings show that the short-term drop in... 

For a set of n points in the plane, this paper presents simple kinetic data structures (KDSs) for solutions to some fundamental proximity problems, namely, the all nearest neighbors problem, the closest pair problem, and the Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST) problem. Also, the paper introduces KDSs for maintenance of two well-studied sparse proximity graphs, the Yao graph and the Semi-Yao graph. We use sparse graph representations, the Pie Delaunay graph and the Equilateral Delaunay graph, to provide new solutions for the proximity problems. Then we design KDSs that efficiently maintain these sparse graphs on a set of n moving points, where the trajectory of each point is assumed to be...