Inference of node attributes from social network assortativity

Neural Computing and Applications - Social networks are known to be assortative with respect to many attributes, such as age, weight, wealth, level of education, ethnicity and gender: Similar...     

Unified model for assessing checkpointing protocols at extreme‐scale

In this paper, we present a unified model for several well‐known checkpoint/restart protocols. The proposed model is generic enough to encompass both extremes of the checkpoint/restart space, from coordinated approaches to a variety of uncoordinated checkpoint strategies (with message logging). We identify a set of crucial parameters, instantiate them, and compare the expected efficiency of the fault tolerant protocols, for a given application/platform pair. We then propose a detailed analysis of several scenarios, including some of the most powerful currently available high performance computing platforms, as well as anticipated Exascale designs. The results of this analytical comparison are corroborated by a comprehensive set of simulations. Altogether, they outline comparative behaviors of checkpoint strategies at very large scale, thereby providing insight that is hardly accessible to direct experimentation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust H ∞ static output feedback stabilization of T-S fuzzy systems subject to actuator saturation

This paper proposes a method for designing robust H_?? static output feedback stabilization of Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems under actuator saturation. In this paper, the input saturation is represented by a polytopic model and the modeling error is assumed a norm-bounded uncertainty. A set invariance condition for robust H_?? static output feedback system under actuator saturation is first established. Then, the estimation of the largest domain of attraction for the system is formulated and solved as a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) optimization problem. Two examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.     

H∞ switching fuzzy control of solar power generation systems with asymmetric input constraint

This paper aims at presenting a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller for photovoltaic (PV) systems subject to asymmetric input constraint. Indeed, the output voltage of the DC‐DC converter used for adjusting the photovoltaic output power can be controlled by means of variation of duty ratio limited between 1 and 0. The control design goal is to improve the efficiency of PV systems under asymmetric saturation of duty ratio. To achieve this goal, first, a Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy model is used to represent the nonlinear behavior of the PV system. A T–S reference model is employed to give the ideal state direction which must be followed. To achieve a good steady state tracking, the integral of the state tracking error is used to define an extended system state vector. Second, the input characteristic is partitioned into several regions. In each region, the asymmetric saturation function can be considered as a symmetric saturation function. Furthermore, H∞ stabilization conditions for the resulting switching fuzzy control of the PV system under actuator saturation are formulated in term of linear matrix inequalities (LMI) using the Lyapunov approach. Simulation results are exhibited to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.     

Gestational and lactational exposure to dichlorinated bisphenol A induces early alterations of hepatic lipid composition in mice

Objective

Using non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) techniques and a histological approach, we assessed the outcomes of perinatal exposure at a low dose of 3,3′-DCBPA (2-chloro-4-[1-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]phenol) and/or 3,5-DCBPA (2,6-dichloro-4-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]phenol) on mice livers.

Materials and methods

Fertilized female Swiss mice were injected intraperitoneally during gestation and lactation with either vehicle control, 20 μg/kg/day of BPA, 3,5-DCBPA, 3,3′-DCBPA or a mixture (mix-DCBPA). Complementary methods were used to evaluate, in male and female pups, (1) liver structure by texture analysis of images obtained through MR imaging (MRI) and histology, (2) hepatic lipid composition through in vivo ¹H MR spectroscopy (¹H MRS).

Results

Principal component analysis of texture parameters showed no structural modification of the liver with BPA and DCBPA treatments. Accordingly, no hepatic microvesicular steatosis was observed through hematoxylin–eosin staining. Compared to control, MRS revealed no difference in lipid composition for BPA, 3,5-DCBPA or 3,3′-DCBPA groups. However, MRS detected a significant increase in the mix-DCBPA groups for the saturated component of fatty acids (FA), total unsaturated FA bond index and polyunsaturated FA bond index.

Conclusion

Prior to any structural changes, polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly increased in young male and female mice exposed perinatally at a low dose to a mixture of dichlorinated BPA.

     

1300-nm horizontal-cavity surface-emitting BH-DFB lasers for uncooled operation

We present a novel type of 1300-nm horizontal-cavity surface-emitting buried heterostructure distributed feedback (DFB) lasers showing high optical output power and uncooled direct modulation capability of 7.5 Gb/s. These lasers can be fabricated and tested using on-wafer techniques only, so the overall fabrication costs are considerably lower than with conventional edge-emitting DFB lasers.     

Checkpointing algorithms and fault prediction

This paper deals with the impact of fault prediction techniques on checkpointing strategies. We extend the classical first-order analysis of Young and Daly in the presence of a fault prediction system, characterized by its recall and its precision. In this framework, we provide optimal algorithms to decide whether and when to take predictions into account, and we derive the optimal value of the checkpointing period. These results allow us to analytically assess the key parameters that impact the performance of fault predictors at very large scale.     

Robust H∞ static output‐feedback control for discrete‐time fuzzy systems with actuator saturation via fuzzy Lyapunov functions

In this paper, we present a new scheme for designing a H_∞ stabilizing controller for discrete‐time Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy systems with actuator saturation and external disturbances. The weighting‐dependent Lyapunov functions approach is used to design a robust static output‐feedback controller. To address the input saturation problem, both constrained and saturated control input cases are considered. In both cases, stabilization conditions of the fuzzy system are formulated as a convex optimization problem in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Two simulation examples are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methods. A comparison with the results given in recent literature on the subject is also presented.     

Impact of Fatty Acid Structure on CALB‐Catalyzed Esterification of Glucose

Enzymatic synthesis of fatty acid glucose esters from different fatty acyl donors are performed via enzymatic catalysis in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), using acetonitrile as the solvent. The acyl donor nature (fatty acid or fatty acid vinyl ester) and structure are varied. Lower reaction rates and lower conversions are obtained with fatty acids in comparison to their corresponding vinyl esters. Moreover, the acyl donor with the longest chain length gives the highest conversions. The presence of unsaturation on the acyl donor chain is also shown to be detrimental to the conversion. Practical Applications: The practical applications of the present work are related to the production of gluco‐esters that could be used as nonionic surfactants as detergents, cosmetics and food emulsifiers, emollients or conservatives, respectively. In this study, it is shown that in order to get high production yields, each reaction parameter has to be tuned properly.