Parallelized extreme learning machine for online data classification

Applied Intelligence - The challenges raised by the massive data are being managed by the community through the advancements of infrastructure and algorithms, and now the processing of fast data is...     

Simulation of temperature and reaction time prediction of the torrefaction process: case of hard-wood biomass

Direct utilisation of biomass for energy application is less profound due to the problems of low calorific value, high water content, and low grindability of biomass. For this reason, pre-heating treatment, sometimes called torrefaction, is necessary to improve the physical properties of biomass similar to ‘coal-like’ material. Unfortunately, only few comprehensive but simple theoretical models focused on hard-wood biomass were available to describe the torrefaction process. In this discussion, a simple proposed torrefaction model was developed and reported. The model has ability to estimate the yield of product mass and energy after the torrefaction process and determine the optimum conditions.     

Crosslinked natural rubber nanocomposites reinforced with cellulose whiskers isolated from bamboo waste: Processing and mechanical/thermal properties

Crosslinked natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites were prepared using cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) that were extracted from bamboo pulp residue of newspaper production, as the reinforcing phase. The coagulated NR latex containing bamboo nanowhiskers (master batch) was compounded with solid NR and vulcanizing agents using a two-roll mill and subsequently cured to introduce crosslinks in the NR phase. No evidence of micro-scaled aggregates of cellulose nanowhiskers in NR matrix was observed in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The addition of CNWs had a positive impact on the tensile strength, E-modulus, storage modulus, tan delta peak position and thermal stability of the crosslinked NR. Theoretical modeling of the mechanical properties showed a lower performance than predicated and therefore further process optimization and/or compatibilization are required to reach the maximum potential of these nanocomposites.     

Serum lipid analysis and isotopic enrichment is suggestive of greater lipogenesis in young long-term cannabis users: A secondary analysis of a case–control study

Cannabis is now legal in many countries and while numerous studies have reported on its impact on cognition and appetite regulation, none have examined fatty acid metabolism in young cannabis users. We conducted an exploratory analysis to evaluate cannabis impact on fatty acid metabolism in cannabis users (n = 21) and non-cannabis users (n = 16). Serum levels of some saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, including palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids were higher in cannabis users compared to nonusers. As palmitic acid can be derived from diet or lipogenesis from sugars, we evaluated lipogenesis using a de novo lipogenesis index (palmitate/linoleic acid) and carbon-specific isotope analysis, which allows for the determination of fatty acid ¹³C signature. The significantly higher de novo lipogenesis index in the cannabis users group along with a more enriched ¹³C signature of palmitic acid suggested an increase in lipogenesis. In addition, while serum glucose concentration did not differ between groups, pyruvate and lactate were lower in the cannabis user group, with pyruvate negatively correlating with palmitic acid. Furthermore, the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol was elevated in cannabis users and could contribute to lipogenesis by activating the cannabinoid receptor 1. Because palmitic acid has been suggested to increase inflammation, we measured peripheral cytokines and observed no changes in inflammatory cytokines. Finally, an anti-inflammatory metabolite of palmitic acid, palmitoylethanolamide was elevated in cannabis users. Our results suggest that lipogenic activity is increased in cannabis users; however, future studies, including prospective studies that control dietary intake are required.     

Initial Beam Test Results from a Silicon-Strip Detector with VLSI Readout

Silicon detectors with 256 strips, having a pitch of 25 ?m, and connected to two 128 channel NMOS VLSI chips each (Microplex), have been tested in relativistic charged particle beams at CERN and at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The readout chips have an input channel pitch of 47.5 ?m and a single multiplexed output which provides voltages proportional to the integrated charge from each strip. The most probable signal height from minimum ionizing tracks was 15 times the rms noise in any single channel. Two-track traversals with a separation of 100 ?m were cleanly resolved.     

Proportional Plus Integral Control for Set-Point Regulation of a Class of Nonlinear RLC Circuits

In this paper we identify graph-theoretic conditions which allow us to write a nonlinear RLC circuit as port-Hamiltonian with constant input matrices. We show that under additional monotonicity conditions on the network’s components, the circuit enjoys the property of relative passivity, an extended notion of classical passivity. The property of relative passivity is then used to build simple, yet robust and globally stable, proportional plus integral controllers. This work was partially supported by CONACyT, México.     

Robustness analysis of systems' safety through a new notion of input‐to‐state safety

In this paper, we propose a new robustness notion that is applicable for certifying systems' safety with respect to external disturbance signals. The proposed input‐to‐state safety notion allows us to certify systems' safety in the presence of the disturbances, which is analogous to the notion of input‐to‐state stability for analyzing systems' stability.     

Contested access: improving water security through benefit sharing

ABSTRACT

This article examines the potential and limits of benefit-sharing regimes in improving water security. It draws on a case study of benefit-sharing regimes focusing on the non-consumptive use of the Zambezi River basin. It demonstrates how these regimes have transformed over time from hierarchical to egalitarian benefit-sharing arrangements through the application of conflict-resolution mechanisms. This case analysis is aimed at informing benefit-sharing policies for African river basins.     

A review of silicon-based wafer bonding processes,an approach to realize the monolithic integration of Si-CMOS and Ⅲ-Ⅴ-on-Si wafers

The heterogeneous integration of Ⅲ-Ⅴ devices with Si-CMOS on a common Si platform has shown great promise in the new generations of electrical and optical systems for novel applications,such as HEMT or LED with integrated control cir-cuitry.For heterogeneous integration,direct wafer bonding(DWB)techniques can overcome the materials and thermal mis-match issues by directly bonding dissimilar materials systems and device structures together.In addition,DWB can perform at wafer-level,which eases the requirements for integration alignment and increases the scalability for volume production.In this paper,a brief review of the different bonding technologies is discussed.After that,three main DWB techniques of single-,double-and multi-bonding are presented with the demonstrations of various heterogeneous integration applications.Mean-while,the integration challenges,such as micro-defects,surface roughness and bonding yield are discussed in detail.