Generalised multivariable supertwisting algorithm

The purpose of this paper is to present an extension of the generalised supertwisting algorithm (STA) to the multivariable framework. We begin by introducing an algorithm that may be deemed as a linear, quasicontinuous, or discontinuous multivariable system, depending on the functions that define them. For the class represented by such an algorithm we prove the robust, Lyapunov stability of the origin and characterise the perturbations that preserve its stability. In particular, when its vector field is discontinuous or quasicontinuous our algorithm is endowed with finite‐time stability. Due to its resemblance to the scalar case, we denote such finite‐time stable systems as generalised multivariable STA. Furthermore, the class of finite‐time stable systems comprise the currently available versions of STAs. To finalise, by means of simulation examples, we show that our proposed finite‐time stable algorithms are well suited for signals online differentiation and highlight their dynamical traits.     

Impact of oxygenated cottonseed biodiesel on combustion,performance and emission parameters in a direct injection CI engine

In the present study, biodiesel production from the crude cotton-seed oil (CSO) and its feasibility to be used as fuel in compression ignition engine was analysed. Single-stage transesterification at molar ratio of 8:1 on crude CSO yielded 94% of cottonseed biodiesel (CBD). Gas chromatogram/mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 19.5% unsaturated and 80.5% saturated esters in cotton seed biodiesel. Taguchi approach identified the stable fuel blend with oxygenate concentration. Increased oxygen concentration up to 20% were also analysed to understand the variation. Higher peak in-cylinder pressure was observed in D80CBD20 fuel blend. Diesel–biodiesel blend with oxygenate significantly affected the ignition delay and also resulted in varied exhaust gas temperature. D80CBD20nB10 showed an increase in brake thermal efficiency, whereas D80CBD20 exhibited higher brake specific energy consumption at full load. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and smoke emission was found to be high in diesel with higher oxides of nitrogen in D80CBD20nB10. This experimental investigation finally revealed that, D80CBD20nB10 improved the combustion and performance characteristics with minimal emissions.

Abbreviations ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials; BP: brake power; BSEC: brake specific energy consumption; BTE: brake thermal efficiency; CBD: cottonseed biodiesel; CI: compression ignition; CO: carbon monoxide; CO₂: carbon dioxide; CSO: cottonseed oil; DEE: diethyl ether; DOE: design of experiments; EGT: exhaust gas temperature; FTIR: Fourier transform infrared spectrometry; GC/MS: gas chromatogram/mass spectrometry; HC: hydrocarbon; HRR: heat release rate; HSDI: high speed direct injection; IDI: indirect injection; KOH: potassium hydroxide; MFB: mass fraction burned; NaOH: sodium hydroxide; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; N₂O: nitrous oxide; NO: nitric oxide; NO₂: nitrogen dioxide; NO _x : oxides of nitrogen; ROHR: rate of heat release; ROPR: rate of pressure rise; SOC: start of combustion; aTDC: after top dead centre; bTDC: before top dead centre     

HPLC-Q-TOF MS法研究3种银杏双黄酮成分的质谱裂解途径

本研究采用高效液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱(HPLC-Q-TOF MS)在负离子模式下分析3种银杏双黄酮(7-去甲基银杏双黄酮、金松双黄酮、异银杏双黄酮)的质谱裂解途径。结果表明,3种化合物具有相似的裂解途径,均易丢失CH 3OH和CO 2,且该类成分在Ⅰ—C环和Ⅱ—C环发生多种Retro-Diels-Alder(RDA)裂解,可进一步失去取代基,得到相应的特征碎片离子。该结论可为银杏双黄酮类的结构鉴定提供依据。     

Reductionin Listeria monocytogenes,Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vitro and on tomato by sophorolipid and sanitiser as affected by temperature and storage time

Increased consumption of produce by consumers has been attributed to perceived health benefits of postharvest produce. Pathogen control is crucial because periodic occurrences and contamination of tomato and leafy greens have exacerbated food safety risks for consumers. We investigated the effects of temperatures (5 and 25 °C), storage time (30 min and 24 h) for inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 by sophorolipid (SL‐p) produced fermentatively using palmitic acid as a co‐substrate at different concentrations in vitro. Reduction in pathogenic bacteria on grape tomato by SL‐p, sanitiser (Lovit) and combinations of SL‐p and sanitiser was determined. Temperature and storage time significantly (P < 0.05) affected pathogen inactivations by SL‐p as pathogen reductions were greater at 25 °C and 24 h than at 5 °C and 30 min of storage. L. monocytogenes was the most sensitive to SL‐p treatment as reductions of 5 log relative to untreated controls were attained at 0.12% of SL‐p. Significant reductions in S. enterica (1.91–3.85 logs) and E. coli O157:H7 (0.87–4.09 logs) were recorded at 2–5% of SL‐p. Lower populations of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 were inactivated than L. monocytogenes. On grape tomato, pathogen populations inactivated increased at higher SL‐p levels at 25 °C. Sanitiser and sanitiser + SL‐p reduced bacterial populations on tomato by 5.29–5.76 logs and 0.71–3.3.66 logs, respectively. These results imply the interactions of temperature, storage time and SL‐p significantly (P < 0.05) affected pathogen strain reductions. The combination of SL‐p with sanitiser led to synergistic effect on E. coli O157:H7, but not L. monocytogenes and S. enterica.     

Switching controller design for linear time invariant plant with a single I/O delay

ABSTRACT

To deal with the problem of conflicting requirements that cannot be satisfied by only a single LTI controller, this paper focuses on the design of a switching controller, which includes several stabilising linear time-invariant (LTI) controllers designed independently with different control performance criteria, for a specific LTI plant with a single I/O delay. The switching controller design procedure is divided into three steps. First, using simple loop shifting arguments, the design problem is reducible to an equivalent delay-free one. Second, traditional LTI controller synthesis methods could be considered independently for the delay-free plant. Third, based on a quadratically stable state space realisation method, a Youla parameter including a switching strategy with these controllers is designed to guarantee different requirements. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the approach.     

Mixing of low-dose cohesive drug and overcoming of pre-blending step using a new gentle-wing high-shear mixer granulator

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of drug amount and mixing time on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a low-dose drug formulation during the dry mixing step using a new gentle-wing high-shear mixer. Moreover, the study investigated the influence of drug incorporation mode on the content uniformity of tablets manufactured by different methods. Albuterol sulfate was selected as a model drug and was blended with the other excipients at two different levels, 1% w/w and 5% w/w at impeller speed of 300?rpm and chopper speed of 3000?rpm for 30?min. Utilizing a 1?ml unit side-sampling thief probe, triplicate samples were taken from nine different positions in the mixer bowl at selected time points. Two methods were used for manufacturing of tablets, direct compression and wet granulation. The produced tablets were sampled at the beginning, middle, and end of the compression cycle. An analysis of variance analysis indicated the significant effect (p?相似文献   

Age and productivity as determinants of firm survival over the industry life cycle

This paper contributes to fill the gap between the literature on the determinants of firm survival and the empirical works on the industry life cycle (ILC). Using a representative sample of Spanish firms with 10 or more employees over the period 1993–2009, the role played by firm age and productivity in firm survival is empirically analysed across three stages of the life cycle of forty-seven 3-digit manufacturing sectors. In the ‘early’ stage of the ILC, firm age is negatively correlated with hazard rates while firm productivity is not. Firm productivity is associated with lower hazard in the ‘mature’ stage of the ILC, when competition is primarily efficiency-driven, while firm age does not play a significant role for firm survival. In the ‘intermediate’ stage, both age and productivity play a role in reducing firms’ hazard rates.     

Agreement and repeatability of four different devices to measure non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT)

PurposeSince tear film stability can be affected by fluorescein, the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWSII) recommended non-invasive measurement of tear breakup time (NIBUT). The aim of this study was to investigate the agreement and repeatability of four different instruments in the measurement of NIBUT.Methods72 participants (mean 24.2 ± 3.6 years) were recruited for this multi-centre, cross-sectional study. NIBUT was measured three times from one eye using each of the instruments in randomized order on two separate sessions during a day, separated by at least 2 h. NIBUT was performed at three sites (Switzerland, Germany and UK) using three subjective instruments, Tearscope Plus (Keeler, Windsor, UK) (TS), Polaris (bon Optic, Lübeck, Germany) (POL), EasyTear Viewplus (Easytear, Rovereto, Italy) (ET) and the objective Keratograph 5 M (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) (KER). As the latter instrument only analyses for 24 s, all data was capped at this value.ResultsNIBUT measurements (average of both sessions) between the four instruments were not statistically significantly different: TS (median 10.4, range 2.0–24.0 s), POL (10.1, 1.0–24.0 s), ET (10.6, 1.0–24.0 s) and KER (11.1, 2.6–24.0 s) (p = 0.949). The objective KER measures were on average (1.2 s ± 9.6 s, 95 % confidence interval) greater than the subjective evaluations of NIBUT with the other instruments (mean difference 0.4 s ± 7.7 s, 95 % confidence interval), resulting in a higher limits of agreement. The slope was -0.08 to 0.11 indicating no bias in the difference between instruments with the magnitude of the NIBUT. Repeated measurements from the two sessions were not significantly different for TS (p = 0.584), POL (p = 0.549), ET (p = 0.701) or KER (p = 0.261).ConclusionsThe four instruments evaluated for their measurement of tear stability were reasonably repeatable and give similar average results.     

Relating video game exposure,sensation seeking,aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance

ABSTRACT

The time displacement hypothesis has been widely used to explain the effects of media use on academic performance. This approach has been criticised for its monocausality and weak explanatory power. Utilising a combination of different theoretical perspectives is better suited than utilising only one. Considering displacement, excitement, attraction and third variable hypothesis, this paper argues that the relation between video game use and school performance is not the same for all types of gamers by considering the influence of socioeconomic, psychological and contextual factors. It investigates how gaming patterns (frequency, time of day) and psychological characteristics (sensation seeking, aggression) are related to academic performance for primary and secondary school students. Five hundred and seven students from five primary and four secondary schools in Singapore participated in a paper-pencil survey. Results showed support for a combination of displacement and third variable hypothesis, as overall time spent on video games was negatively associated with primary school children’s and active gamers’ school performances. There was no significant relationship for secondary school children. For primary school children who play games in the morning and afternoon, video game use was negatively associated with school performance. There was no support for the attraction and excitement hypotheses.