Packet loss detection in networked control systems

One of the main issues related to the reliable operation of network control systems concerns the design of mechanisms able to detect anomalies in the functioning of the communication network through which the control loops are closed. In this article, we address the problem of detecting the occurrence of packet losses and design a mechanism that can detect the occurrence of packet losses directly from process sensor data. Specifically, we propose a moving‐horizon estimation scheme that permits to detect if the packet‐loss rate exceeds prescribed thresholds, which are representative of stability and performance of the control system. We discuss theoretical properties of the proposed solution along with an approximation scheme with reduced computational burden. A numerical example is discussed to substantiate the analysis.     

Polynomial filtering for nonlinear stochastic systems with state‐ and disturbance‐dependent noises

This article is concerned with the polynomial filtering problem for a class of nonlinear stochastic systems governed by the Itô differential equation. The system under investigation involves polynomial nonlinearities, unknown‐but‐bounded disturbances, and state‐ and disturbance‐dependent noises ((x,d)‐dependent noises for short). By expanding the polynomial nonlinear functions in Taylor series around the state estimate, a new polynomial filter design method is developed with hope to reduce the conservatism of the existing results. In virtue of stochastic analysis and inequality technique, sufficient conditions in terms of parameter‐dependent linear matrix inequalities (PDLMIs) are derived to guarantee that the estimation error system is input‐to‐state stable in probability. Moreover, the desired polynomial matrix can be obtained by solving the PDLMIs via the sum‐of‐squares approach. The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method are illustrated by two numerical examples with one concerning the permanent magnet synchronous motor.     

Stochastic stabilization and destabilization of nonlinear and time‐varying hybrid systems by noise

The aim of this article is to design a suitable strength function g(t,x,r(t)) such that the Wiener noise g(t,x(t),r(t))dw(t) either stabilizes or destabilizes a given nonlinear and time‐varying hybrid system . To this end, the basic properties, including the existence and uniqueness of the local and global solutions and the nonzero property of solutions of the nonlinear and time‐varying hybrid stochastic systems, are first investigated as the theoretical basis of the article. Second, two theorems and the corresponding corollaries on the stability and instability of the hybrid stochastic systems are established. Third, the design method for the noise strength g(t,x,r(t)) is then proposed based on the established theorems. We also point out that the Markov jump r(t) may have a stabilizing (respectively, destabilizing) effect when we design the noise strength g(t,x,r(t)) so that the introduced noise g(t,x(t),r(t))dw(t) stabilizes (respectively, destabilizes) the corresponding hybrid system. Finally, we illustrate our method using two examples. Compared with the existing literature, our method is suitable for a wider class of nonlinear and time‐varying systems with weaker conditions than quasi‐linear systems.     

H∞ control for uncertain one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems in finite frequency domain

The current article discusses the H_∞ disturbance attenuation control design problem for one‐sided Lipschitz systems in finite frequency domain. Models containing norm‐bounded parameter uncertainties, disturbances, and input nonlinearities are considered. By contrast to existing full frequency methods, the H_∞ controller is computed depending on the frequency ranges of disturbances. The finite frequency disturbance attenuation index is initially defined. Thanks to Finsler's lemma, sufficient and less conservative analysis conditions are also derived for the closed‐loop system. Then, synthesis conditions in the low, middle, and high frequency ranges as well as the whole frequency range, are formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities. At last, to prove the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed approach, a physical example is used and a comparative study is done.     

Fault detection and identification for a class of continuous piecewise affine systems with unknown subsystems and partitions

This paper establishes a novel online fault detection and identification strategy for a class of continuous piecewise affine (PWA) systems, namely, bimodal and trimodal PWA systems. The main contributions with respect to the state‐of‐the‐art are the recursive nature of the proposed scheme and the consideration of parametric uncertainties in both partitions and in subsystems parameters. In order to handle this situation, we recast the continuous PWA into its max‐form representation and we exploit the recursive Newton‐Gauss algorithm on a suitable cost function to derive the adaptive laws to estimate online the unknown subsystem parameters, the partitions, and the loss in control authority for the PWA model. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is verified via simulations applied to the benchmark example of a wheeled mobile robot.     

煤样多元物性参数在煤与瓦斯突出防治中的应用研究

煤与瓦斯突出是一种复杂的动力现象，突出的类型不同、引起突出的危险因素不同，预测指标对其的敏感性也就不同，选择适应的突出危险性预测敏感指标及突出敏感指标的临界值，研究可靠的突出预测手段和方法来实现对突出危险性的准确预测，是指导突出防治工作的重要技术基础，而为了获得突出敏感指标的临界值就必须对煤的多元物性参数进行实验研究，掌握煤层的各项物化性质，是有效确定防治突出方法体系的关键基础。     

Biogenic amines assessment during different stages of the canning process of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)

The present research focused on the biogenic amines (BAs) formation in skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) throughout the whole canning process. In agreement with its wide employment on this species, on‐board brine immersion freezing (BIF) was tested as post‐mortem processing. The study included fish samples corresponding to different stages of the canning process such as frozen, thawed, cooked and canned; after cooking, two kinds of tuna muscles were considered, that is, whole fillets (main product) and grated muscle (off‐product arising from small pieces). For the BAs (tryptamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, spermidine and spermine) assessment, an HPLC‐DAD method was developed and validated in skipjack tuna samples, in agreement with different parameters such as suitability, linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, accuracy and robustness. Tuna submitted on‐board to BIF procedure provided low levels of spermine and spermidine (up to 27.6 mg kg^?1), while contents on the remaining BAs maintained below the limit of detection. Throughout the different stages of the canning process, skipjack tuna showed a low formation of most BAs; interestingly, histamine content was found below 10.6 mg kg^?1 level. The highest values were obtained for spermidine, these related to cooked grated tuna (from 22.6 to 66.7 mg kg^?1) and canned grated tuna (from 70.6 to 104.4 mg kg^?1). Values for pH assessment in all kinds of tuna samples corroborated the results obtained for BAs determination. BIF procedure proved to be an amenable post‐mortem processing to guarantee the quality of canned skipjack tuna.     

The sociotechnical constitution of cognitive work analysis: roles,affordances and malfunctions

Analysis of everyday work practices in sociotechnical systems for eliciting design/intervention requirements involves appropriate work analysis frameworks. The current article provides an extension to one such framework — Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) — by scrutinising its sociotechnical basis. CWA's forte depends on its ‘design for adaptation’, system related operations, and operators. In contrast, sociotechnical work systems require not only operators and adaptation, but also a significant emphasis on ‘users’ and ‘appropriation’. The current article extends CWA (based on Rasmussen's original concepts) for users; subsequently allowing for system flexibility and possibilities of ‘appropriation’ within acceptable boundaries of the system's correct functioning. To this end, the first phase of Work Domain Analysis is extended by adding a new layer to the abstraction hierarchy (AH), based on Rasmussen's original insights.     

Outcome‐based ventilation: A framework for assessing performance,health, and energy impacts to inform office building ventilation decisions

This article presents an outcome‐based ventilation (OBV) framework, which combines competing ventilation impacts into a monetized loss function ($/occ/h) used to inform ventilation rate decisions. The OBV framework, developed for U.S. offices, considers six outcomes of increasing ventilation: profitable outcomes realized from improvements in occupant work performance and sick leave absenteeism; health outcomes from occupant exposure to outdoor fine particles and ozone; and energy outcomes from electricity and natural gas usage. We used the literature to set low, medium, and high reference values for OBV loss function parameters, and evaluated the framework and outcome‐based ventilation rates using a simulated U.S. office stock dataset and a case study in New York City. With parameters for all outcomes set at medium values derived from literature‐based central estimates, higher ventilation rates’ profitable benefits dominated negative health and energy impacts, and the OBV framework suggested ventilation should be ≥45 L/s/occ, much higher than the baseline ~8.5 L/s/occ rate prescribed by ASHRAE 62.1. Only when combining very low parameter estimates for profitable impacts with very high ones for health and energy impacts were all outcomes on the same order. Even then, however, outcome‐based ventilation rates were often twice the baseline rate or more.     

Sarcopenia: Molecular Pathways and Potential Targets for Intervention

Aging is associated with sarcopenia. The loss of strength results in decreased muscle mass and motor function. This process accelerates the progressive muscle deterioration observed in older adults, favoring the presence of debilitating pathologies. In addition, sarcopenia leads to a decrease in quality of life, significantly affecting self-sufficiency. Altogether, these results in an increase in economic resources from the National Health Systems devoted to mitigating this problem in the elderly, particularly in developed countries. Different etiological determinants are involved in the progression of the disease, including: neurological factors, endocrine alterations, as well as nutritional and lifestyle changes related to the adoption of more sedentary habits. Molecular and cellular mechanisms have not been clearly characterized, resulting in the absence of an effective treatment for sarcopenia. Nevertheless, physical activity seems to be the sole strategy to delay sarcopenia and its symptoms. The present review intends to bring together the data explaining how physical activity modulates at a molecular and cellular level all factors that predispose or favor the progression of this deteriorating pathology.