Sharif Digital Repository

The belief propagation algorithm is a state of the art decoding technique for a variety of linear codes such as LDPC codes. The iterative structure of this algorithm is reminiscent of a neural network with multiple layers. Indeed, this similarity has been recently exploited to improve the decoding performance by tuning the weights of the equivalent neural network. In this paper, we introduce a new network architecture by increasing the number of variable-node layers, while keeping the check-node layers unchanged. The changes are applied in a manner that the decoding performance of the network becomes independent of the transmitted codeword; hence, a training stage with only the all-zero... 

This paper addresses design of an adaptive fuzzy decentralized fault-tolerant controller for a class of uncertain multi-input multi-output (MIMO) large-scale nonlinear systems with unmodeled dynamics subject to unknown state time-varying delay, external disturbances, unknown input saturation and actuator faults. It is shown that the proposed fault-tolerant control (FTC) scheme can handle infinite number of actuator failures including partial and total loss of effectiveness. System uncertainties have been approximated by the fuzzy logic systems (FLSs). To cope with the unknown state time-varying delay, the Razumikhin lemma has been utilized and unmodeled dynamics has been tackled by... 

Mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are highly important in applications like H2 storage, catalysis/biocatalysis, adsorption, separation, and particularly in biomedical applications. The typical methods for producing MSPs are fast self-assembly, soft and hard templating, and the modified Stöber method. These approaches have drawbacks like high cost, being time-consuming, and low scale. Herein, as a novel strategy, a polymer-derived ceramic method for large-scale production of mesoporous and dense silica submicron particles with high yield and low cost is presented. This method requires commercial silicone resin, polydimethylsiloxane, as the main precursor of silica. However, this technique... 

In this paper, the design of an adaptive tracking control for a class of switched uncertain multiple-input–multiple-output nonlinear systems in the strict-feedback form with unmodeled dynamics in the presence of three types of input nonlinearity under arbitrary switching has been addressed. By means of an intelligent approximator like a fuzzy logic system or a neural network, the unknown dynamics are estimated. The unmodeled dynamics have been tackled with a dynamic signal. A universal framework for describing different types of input nonlinearity including saturation, backlash, and dead zone has been utilized. By applying the backstepping approach and the common Lyapunov function method,... 

Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) nano-powders were synthesized by a gel combustion method. To analyse the effect of processing factors and their interactions and to achieve an equation for nano-powder particle size in terms of code factors, D-optimal factorial design was used. Stannous chloride penta-hydride, ammonium fluoride and citric acid were used to synthesize the FTO nano-powders. The structure, morphology and composition of the synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The results revealed the formation of homogenous FTO nano-powders with an average particle size of 20 nm... 

Angiogenesis is crucial in bone tissue engineering due to expediting the healing rate and remarkably enhancing the regeneration process. Further, vascular sprouting progression is controlled by cellular autocrine and paracrine secretion of growth factors. Boron ions significantly stimulate cells in terms of excessive angiogenic growth factors secretion, therefore, could lead to excessive angiogenesis, contingent upon receiving an appropriate dose of the ion. In the current work, akermanite-octacalcium phosphate glass-ceramics were elicited from polymeric precursors, the method of synthesis that is so-called polymer-derived ceramics (PDC), and boron-containing moieties were employed to dope... 

This paper addresses an adaptive observer-based control for a switched fractional-order uncertain nonlinear system subject to input nonlinearities and asymmetric output constraints. The switching signal is arbitrary, and the designed controller needs no information regarding this signal. By employing a universal framework, the designed controller can cope with different input nonlinearities in different modes without having any information about their characteristics. It is assumed that only system output is measured, and a designed observer estimates the system states for control implementation. The uncertainties are approximated by intelligent approximators like fuzzy logic systems (FLS)... 

In this paper, an adaptive quantized output feedback event-triggered (ET) distributed consensus control approach for an uncertain nonstrict nonlinear switched fractional-order (FO) multi-agent system (SFOMAS) subject to communication limitation is proposed. By relying on the common Lyapunov function method, the switch signals are arbitrarily, and no information regarding the switching instants is required. The consensus error of each agent has its own asymmetric time-varying constraints (ATCs). By adopting the common barrier Lyapunov function (BLF), violation of these constraints is prevented. For each agent, different input nonlinearities can be considered in different modes, and the... 

Carbon-based quantum dots (CDs) are mainly divided into two sub-groups; carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which exhibit outstanding photoluminescence (PL) properties, low toxicity, superior biocompatibility and facile functionalization. Regarding these features, they have been promising candidates for biomedical science and engineering applications. In this work, we reviewed the efforts made to modify these zero-dimensional nano-materials to obtain the best properties for bio-imaging, drug and gene delivery, cancer therapy, and bio-sensor applications. Five main surface modification techniques with outstanding results are investigated, including doping, surface... 

Carbon-based quantum dots (CDs) are mainly divided into two sub-groups; carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which exhibit outstanding photoluminescence (PL) properties, low toxicity, superior biocompatibility and facile functionalization. Regarding these features, they have been promising candidates for biomedical science and engineering applications. In this work, we reviewed the efforts made to modify these zero-dimensional nano-materials to obtain the best properties for bio-imaging, drug and gene delivery, cancer therapy, and bio-sensor applications. Five main surface modification techniques with outstanding results are investigated, including doping, surface... 

Nanomaterials adorned on graphene comprise an essential component of a wide range of devices wherein graphene-based copper oxide nanocomposites have garnered significant attention in recent years. Copper oxides (CuO and Cu2O) are semiconductors with distinctive optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Their earth abundance, low cost, narrow bandgap, high absorption coefficient, and low toxicity of copper oxides are just a few key advantages. CuO is superior to Cu2O in optical switching applications because of its narrower bandgap. Therefore, integrating graphene with copper oxides renders the ensuing nanocomposites much more valuable for various applications. Not surprisingly, a wide... 

In the bone tissue engineering field (BTE), it is of significant importance to develop bioactive multifunctional scaffolds with enhanced osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and antibacterial properties required for lost bone tissue regeneration. In this work, a bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold was manufactured via a novel polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) manufacturing method. To gain antibacterial properties, the silver ions were incorporated in controlled amount along with other precursors in the PDC processing stage. Microstructural and structural properties of the fabricated silicate-phosphate glass-ceramic scaffold were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy... 

In the bone tissue engineering field (BTE), it is of significant importance to develop bioactive multifunctional scaffolds with enhanced osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and antibacterial properties required for lost bone tissue regeneration. In this work, a bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold was manufactured via a novel polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) manufacturing method. To gain antibacterial properties, the silver ions were incorporated in controlled amount along with other precursors in the PDC processing stage. Microstructural and structural properties of the fabricated silicate-phosphate glass-ceramic scaffold were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy... 

MXenes are a prominent group within 2D materials with extensive utilization in various electrochemical applications due to their notable specific capacitance, swift ion intercalation kinetics, and favorable hydrophilicity. Despite this, they suffer from low oxidation resistance and ease of layer restacking. Herein, an effective approach to overcome this inherent weakness of MXenes was employed by embedding MoS2 nanopetals as pillars into the backbone of Ti3C2Tx MXene by a one-step hydrothermal technique. It not only alleviates the restacking problem of Ti3C2Tx but also shorten the diffusion path of sodium ions. Meanwhile, ammonium bicarbonate as a guest ion agent was utilized to achieve the... 

Gene therapy involves replacing a faulty gene or adding a new gene inside the body's cells to cure disease or improve the body's ability to fight disease. Its popularity is evident from emerging concepts such as CRISPR-based genome editing and epigenetic studies and has been moved to a clinical setting. The strategy for therapeutic gene design includes; suppressing the expression of pathogenic genes, enhancing necessary protein production, and stimulating the immune system, which can be incorporated into both viral and non-viral gene vectors. Although non-viral gene delivery provides a safer platform, it suffers from an inefficient rate of gene transfection, which means a few genes could be... 

Formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers lacking of thermal stability in non-aqueous electrolytes of rechargeable batteries is the main bottleneck for their long-life cycling, especially at elevated temperatures. Inclusion of a small dose of functional electrolyte additives into the batteries' electrolyte can be highly beneficial to surmount this issue. Of these additives, vinylene carbonate (VC) has drawn particular attention thanks to its high ability to build protective layers at anodes showing good integrity and outstanding thermal stability. In addition to its primary roles in present-day lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), VC additive has also been examined in other... 

Significant attention has been devoted to bioactive implants for bone tissue applications, particularly composite scaffolds based on hydroxyapatite (HaP). This study explores the effects of Magnesium and Titanium oxides on the characteristics of HaP-based composite (HMT) scaffolds. The ceramic nanopowders were synthesized using in situ sol-gel, and then the scaffolds were fabricated by gel-casting technique, followed by heat treatment at 1200 °C. The thermal, microstructural, and structural properties of the samples were investigated by different characterization techniques. It was observed that the formation of the MgTiO3 phase in the composite scaffold was likely the key factor... 

Due to organ donor shortages, long transplant waitlists, and the complications/limitations associated with auto and allotransplantation, biomaterials and tissue-engineered models are gaining attention as feasible alternatives for replacing and reconstructing damaged organs and tissues. Among various tissue engineering applications, bone tissue engineering has become a promising strategy to replace or repair damaged bone. We aimed to provide an overview of bioactive ceramic scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, focusing on angiogenesis and the effect of different biofunctionalization strategies. Different routes to angiogenesis, including chemical induction through signaling molecules... 

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  

Spinel ferrites (MFe2O4) and their binary composites with polymers are frequently used to remove and degrade organic dyes due to their magnetic, optical, and biocompatible features. In this study, NiFe2O4, as a superparamagnetic core, was coated using the deposition of polyethylenimine (PEI) and in-situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (py). Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to analyze NiFe2O4, NiFe2O4@PEI, and NiFe2O4@PPy nanospheres. The morphology and chemical composition of nanoparticles were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The formation of core–shell...