Sharif Digital Repository

This paper introduces the connection-graph-stability method and uses it to establish a new lower bound on the algebraic connectivity of graphs (the second smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix of the graph) that is sharper than the previously published bounds. The connection-graph-stability score for each edge is defined as the sum of the lengths of the shortest paths making use of that edge. We prove that the algebraic connectivity of the graph is bounded below by the size of the graph divided by the maximum connection-graph-stability score assigned to the edges  

Recurrent neural networks based on reservoir computing are increasingly being used in many applications. Optimization of the topological structure of the reservoir and the internal connection weights for a given task is one of the most important problems in reservoir computing. In this paper, considering the fact that one can construct a large matrix using Kronecker products of several small-size matrices, we propose a method to optimize the reservoir. Having a small number of parameters to optimize, a gradient based algorithm is applied to optimize parameters, and consequently the reservoir. In addition to reducing the number of parameters for optimization, potentially, the method is able... 

In an introductory course of computer architecture, it is of high value that students use a simple and special CPU designed for this purpose and also its graphical simulator for better understanding of the computer hardware operation. In this paper, we present Abu-Reiahn, a simple 8-bit processor which we have specifically designed and built as the introduction part of computer architecture course to help students familiarize with hardware and software of a real CPU. Effective use of our computer graphical simulator along with the hardware allow the students to deepen their knowledge of logic circuits and the need for desired timing signals in a CPU to perform specific tasks  

In this paper, we briefly present our design decisions and challenges involved in designing the hardware/software tools that we prepared based on our several years of experience in teaching logic circuits and computer architecture which help students of the first course in computer architecture to familiarize themselves with the basic operations of a computer. In fact, we first present the hardware of an 8-bit processor and its I/O and memory board that we have specifically designed and built using basic logic ICs for pedagogical purposes. We then go over the features and design challenges of a special monitor program we created. This monitor program directly runs on the top of our 8-bit... 

All-flash storage (AFS) systems have become an essential infrastructure component to support enterprise applications, where sub-millisecond latency and very high throughput are required. Nevertheless, the price per capacity ofsolid-state drives (SSDs) is relatively high, which has encouraged system architects to adoptdata reduction techniques, mainlydeduplication andcompression, in enterprise storage solutions. To provide higher reliability and performance, SSDs are typically grouped usingredundant array of independent disk (RAID) configurations. Data reduction on top of RAID arrays, however, adds I/O overheads and also complicates the I/O patterns redirected to the underlying backend SSDs,... 

An ultra-fast step response synchronous buck converter has been developed for battery-powered and hand-held electronic applications. The proposed converter has an impressive settling time of only two clock periods and a 1.8A output current capability. This fast step response makes the proposed converter an ideal choice for dynamic voltage scaling technique in the mentioned applications. The proposed design utilizes an analog multiplier controller (AMC), which provides an optimum disturbance-damping mechanism to remove any output voltage error in just two clock periods. In addition, the synchronization feature of the AMC buck converter eliminates the electromagnetic interference concern in... 

Pipelines are one of the most important and efficient ways for transporting energy like water, gas, oil and etc. between different places all across the world. As these pipelines are located in different conditions and situations, they are all sensitive to a wide variety of damages like vibration, so monitoring their structural behavior is an essential task. Monitoring pipeline vibration caused by cavitation through an orifice by a piezoelectric sensor is presented in this paper  

In this paper, we list four different interpretations of synchronizability, study their profile in different network structures and give evidence that they do not coincide, in general. By changing the network topological properties, their behavior is tracked and compared with each other. It is shown that their trend goes in different directions in heterogeneous networks such as scale-free ones, whereas in homogeneous ones such as random networks they go hand in hand, as networks' structural parameters change. We also consider networks whose synchronization properties are enhanced through proper weighting or rewiring. The weighting procedure considers information on the node-degrees, node and... 

Synchronizability of dynamical networks can be defined as the ease by which the network synchronizes its activity. We propose a method for enhancing the synchronizability of dynamical networks by efficient rewirings. The method is based on the eigenvectors corresponding to the second smallest and the largest eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix and a modified version of the simulated annealing approach is used to perform the optimization task. Starting from a simple network, i.e. an undirected and unweighted network, and at each step, an edge is selected for disconnection and two non-adjacent nodes for creating at edge in between. The effectiveness of the algorithm is tested on artificially... 

In this paper, we first analyze a real storage system consisting of 72 SSDs utilizing either Hardware RAID (HW-RAID) or Software RAID (SW-RAID), and show that SW-RAID is up to 7× faster. We then reveal that with an increasing number of SSDs, the limited I/O parallelism in SAS controllers and multi-enclosure handshaking overheads cause a significant performance drop, minimizing the total I/O Per Second (IOPS) of a 144-SSD system to less than a single SSD. Second, we disclose the most important architectural parameters that affect a large-scale storage system. Third, we propose a framework that models a large-scale storage system and estimates the system IOPS and system resource usage for... 

In this paper, the authors analyze conditions under which they can be certain on the intensity addition of a given device, such as tapped-delay lines, used in digital incoherent all-optical communication systems. A general expression for phase-induced intensity noise that is applicable to all types of semiconductor lasers is derived by defining an optical self-SNR expression that can be used to analyze and measure phase-induced intensity noise. The result shows that in order to have a minimal phase-induced intensity noise in most digital optical incoherent systems, a large optical self-SNR, e.g., 20 dB or more, is needed. This in turn is shown to place a limit on the maximum rate of... 

An efficient algorithm for the design optimization of the compressible fluid flow problem through a flexible structure is presented. The methodology has three essential parts: first the behavior of compressible flow in a supersonic diffuser was studied numerically in quasi-one-dimensional form using a flux splitting method. Second, a fully coupled sequential iterative procedure was used to solve the steady state aeroelastic problem of a flexible wall diffuser. Finally, a robust Genetic Algorithm was implemented and used to calculate the optimum shape of the flexible wall diffuser for a prescribed pressure distribution. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved  

With the significant role that warehouse plays in connection to suppliers, distributors, and clients, and considering the costliness of storage systems, efforts have focused on the reduction of procedural expenses. Among the most significant expenses, one involves the distance traveled by operators or S/R machinery for the selection of ordered items; the common solution to which has been through the classification of stored items. Previous articles have focused on linear solutions to the abovementioned problem, such as P-Median. This article shall focus on the problems arising from the said solution, and instead a non-linear method proposed. Further, a heuristic algorithm is produced for the... 

Modern societies are strongly dependent on the continuous and efficient operation of electric power systems as a critical infrastructure. Besides, information and communication systems play a crucial role in the resiliency enhancement of the power system. As power communication systems are vulnerable against physical and cyber attack, these systems themselves can be an internal source of threat for power grids. Therefore, there is a need to identify and study the threats and weaknesses of power communication systems using a comprehensive framework. This framework helps power communication network planners evaluate all challenges and their numerous effects on the system, as a very important... 

In this paper, the compressible gas flow through a pipe subjected to wall heat flux in unsteady condition in the entrance region is investigated numerically. The coupled conservation equations governing turbulent compressible viscous flow in the developing region of a pipe are solved numerically under different thermal boundary conditions. The numerical procedure is a finite-volume-based finite-element method applied to unstructured grids. The convection terms are discretized by the well-defined Roe method, whereas the diffusion terms are discretized by a Galerkin finite-element formulation. The temporal terms are evaluated based on an explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme. The effect of... 

In this paper, the authors analyze conditions under which they can be certain on the intensity addition of a given device, such as tapped-delay lines, used in digital incoherent all-optical communication systems. A general expression for phase-induced intensity noise that is applicable to all types of semiconductor lasers is derived by defining an optical self-SNR expression that can be used to analyze and measure phase-induced intensity noise. The result shows that in order to have a minimal phase-induced intensity noise in most digital optical incoherent systems, a large optical self-SNR, e.g., 20 dB or more, is needed. This in turn is shown to place a limit on the maximum rate of... 

Adaptive Model Predictive Transmission Control Protocol (AMP-TCP) as a new TCP delay-based congestion control algorithm is introduced. Both aspects of design and implementation of the algorithm are described using simulations on the ns-2 network simulator. The design stage is composed of two steps. First, a recursive system identification approach is proposed to capture the network delay dynamics from TCP source view. Second, the proposed modeling is employed to develop an adaptive model predictive TCP congestion control strategy in the absence of any explicit congestion notification. The characteristics and performance of AMP-TCP are investigated using several network simulations. Finally a...