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In this paper, we establish some upper bound estimates for the maximal modulus of a polynomial on a disk |z|=R,R≥1, when there is a restriction on its zeros. The obtained results generalize as well as sharpen some already known estimates due to Govil, Dalal and Govil, Dewan and Bhat and the classical result of Ankeny and Rivlin.

Artificial intelligence (AI) on an edge device has enormous potential, including advanced signal filtering, event detection, optimization in communications and data compression, improving device performance, advanced on-chip process control, and enhancing energy efficiency. In this tutorial, we provide a brief overview of AI deployment on edge devices, and describe the process of building and deploying a neural network model on a digital edge device. The primary challenge when deploying an AI model in circuits is to fit the model within the constraints of the limited resources as the restricted memory capacity on IoT circuits and the finite computational power impose constraints on the utilization of deep neural networks on IoT. We address this issue by elucidating methods for optimizing neural network models. Part of the tutorial also covers the deployment of deep neural network on logic circuits, as significantly enhanced computational speed can be attained by transitioning the AI paradigm from neural networks to learning automata algorithms. This shift involves a move from arithmetic-based calculations to logic-based approaches. This transformation facilitates the deployment of AI onto Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The last part of the tutorial covers the emerging topic of in-memory computation of the multiply-accumulate operation. Transferring computations to analog memories has the potential to improve speed and energy efficiency compared to digital architectures, potentially achieving improvements of several orders of magnitude. It is our hope that this tutorial will assist researchers and engineers to integrate AI models on edge devices, facilitating rapid and reliable implementation.

Memristors show great potential for being integrated into CMOS technology and provide new approaches for designing computing-in-memory (CIM) systems, brain-inspired applications, trimming circuits and other topologies for the beyond-CMOS era. A crucial characteristic of the memristor is multi-state (also often referred as multibit, and multi-level) switching. Memristors are capable of representing information in an ultra-compact fashion, by storing multiple bits per device. However, certain challenges remain in multi-state memristive circuits and systems design such as device stability and peripheral circuit complexity. In this paper, we review the state of the art of multi-state memristor technologies and their associated CMOS/Memristor circuit design, and discuss the challenges regarding device imperfection factors, modelling, peripheral circuit design and layout. We present measurement results of our in-house fabricated multi-state memristor as an example to further illustrate the feasibility of applying multi-state memristors in CMOS design, and demonstrate their related future applications such as multi-state memristive memories in machine learning, memristive neuromorphic applications, trimming and tuning circuits, etc. In the end, we summarize past and present efforts done in this field and envisage the direction of multi-state memristor related research.

ABSTRACTIn a close Brayton cycle power system, a high-temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR) turbine operating with specialized working fluid is the major component. Carbon dioxide and noble gases have quite different physical properties compared to air. This makes the performance evaluation methods for air turbine unable to evaluate carbon dioxide and noble gases turbines. In this paper, physical parameters of working fluid influencing turbine cascade performance are identified. The correlation of turbine cascade loss with different working fluids is investigated by using theoretical analysis and numerical validation. Special focus is on the relationship amid total pressure loss coefficient in a turbine cascade and working fluids’ specific heat ratios. The results show that the correlation equation between the turbine cascade total pressure loss coefficient and the specific heat ratio of working fluid obtained in this paper can accurately predict the total pressure loss coefficient for other working fluids or in other working conditions according to the existing data.

•Reproductive and grain filling phases of wheat crops are highly sensitive to heat stress.•Degree of damage to grain yield components of wheat depend on heat intensity, duration and the crop developmental phase.•High temperature influences both sink capacity and source strength to reduce wheat yield.•Inhibited carbon and water supplies to developing pollen in heat stressed wheat impair fertilization and grain setting.•High temperatures during grain-filling phase of wheat crops disrupt carbon assimilation, transport and starch deposition affecting final grain size and quality.

In the paper, a back swept impeller of centrifugal compressor is experimentally studied and numerically validated and modified to increase its pressure ratio and improve efficiency, as well as to analyse the effect of splitter blade location between two main blades. The back swept multi splitter blade impeller was designed with a big splitter positioned close to the main blade suction surface and a smaller splitter close to the pressure surface. Adding this multi splitter improves the overall performance of the modified impeller due to less intensive flow separation and smaller pressure loss. In particular, the total pressure ratio was observed to increase from 4.1 to 4.4, with one percent increase in efficiency.

Background: Polysaccharide based delivery systems have been successfully used to target drugs to colon. In some recent reports, the superiority of concomitant administration of probiotics with such systems has been established. However, the pharmacokinetics of such symbiotic therapy remain unexplored hitherto. Methods: This study deciphers the pharmacokinetic parameters of guar gum based colon targeted spheroids of sulfasalazine with co-administration of probiotics in experimental rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups using Latin square design. These were subjected to treatment with delayed release formulation, uncoated spheroids, coated spheroid and coated spheroids along with probiotics. Results: In case of delayed release formulation, negligible presence of sulfasalazine in plasma was observed in first 2h, followed by significant increase in sulfasalazine concentration after 3h. Higher plasma concentrations of sulfasalazine were detected for uncoated spheroids with and without probiotics. Negligible release of drug upto 5h and delayed Tmax in case of guar-gum coated sulfasalazine spheroids with or without probiotics clearly indicated successful formulation of colon targeted spheroids. Further, for coated spheroids (both with and without probiotics), the value of Tmax is found to be significantly higher than those with the other treatments. Conclusion: Colon targeted spheroids were therefore, found to reduce absorption of drug which, in turn, is expected to reduce the side effects as only local action in colon is required for treatment of colitis. This is the first report on pharmacokinetic study of a colon targeted delivery system co-administered with probiotics.

This paper focuses on the energy and exergy analyses of a passive vacuum solar flash desalination plant for Karachi Pakistan in order to carryout optimum performance analyses and suggest necessary changes by identifying the major losses occurring during the process. Three different novel designs have been analyzed during the course of research. Real time data of solar flux for the region of Karachi has been utilized. To check the performance of all designs throughout the year, average hourly data of solar irradiance for the month of April, June, September and December was taken depicting four major weather conditions at Karachi. Analyses showed that design-1 has higher thermal and exergy efficiency than design-2. However, design-2 promises the longer life of solar collectors by introducing a separate fresh water circuit with inclusion of heat exchanger allowing fresh water to pass through collectors. However, huge amount of exergy destroyed with the brine overboard. Design-3 utilizes economizer heat exchanger aimed to extract heat from high temperature brine overboard. Design-3 yields highest energy and exergy efficiency. Fresh water produced, energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of three designs have been compared for optimum performance. It is concluded that proposed design-3 has highest production rate.