Analysis of the interaction between the dendritic conductance density and activated area in modulating alpha-motoneuron EPSP: statistical computer model

Five reconstructed alpha-motoneurons (MNs) are simulated under physiological and morphological realistic parameters. We compare the resulting excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) of models, containing voltage-dependent channels on the dendrites, with the EPSP of a passive MN and an active soma and axon model. In our simulations, we apply three different distribution functions of the voltage-dependent channels on the dendrites: a step function (ST) with uniform spatial dispersion; an exponential decay (ED) function, with proximal to the soma high-density location; and an exponential rise (ER) with distally located conductance density. In all cases, the synaptic inputs are located as a gaussian function on the dendrites. Our simulations lead to eight key observations. (1) The presence of the voltage-dependent channels conductance (g(Active)) in the dendrites is vital for obtaining EPSP peak boosting. (2) The mean EPSP peaks of the ST, ER, and ED distributions are similar when the ranges of G (total conductance) are equal. (3) EPSP peak increases monotonically when the magnitude of g(Na_step) (maximal g(Na) at a particular run) is increased. (4) EPSP kinetics parameters were differentially affected; time integral was decreased monotonically with increased g(Na_step), but the rate of rise (the decay time was not analyzed) does not show clear relations. (5) The total G can be elevated by increasing the number of active dendrites; however, only a small active area of the dendritic tree is sufficient to get the maximal boosting. (6) The sometimes large variations in the parameters values for identical G depend on the g(Na_step) and active dendritic area. (7) High g(Na_step) in a few dendrites is more efficient in amplifying the EPSP peak than low g(Na_step) in many dendrites. (8) The EPSP peak is approximately linear with respect to the MNs' R(N) (input resistance).     

Energy cost and physiological responses of males snowshoeing with rotating and fixed toe-cord designs in powdered snow conditions

The purpose of this study was to measure the energy cost and physiological responses of males while snowshoeing with two separate toe-cord designs (rotating toe-cord system vs. fixed toe-cord design) in powdered snow conditions. Eight males snowshoed at self-selected intensity for two, 1600 m trials in two snowshoes, with a rotating toe-cord system and a fixed-toe cord design. It was found that heart rate (HR) (140 vs. 134 beats min(-1)), oxygen consumption (VO(2)) (63.4 vs. 34.0 ml kg(-1)min(-1)), energy cost (56.0 vs. 52.4 kJ min(-1)), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) (13 vs. 12) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher while snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design than with the rotating toe-cord system. Snowshoeing with the rotating toe-cord system at an average speed of 3.96 km h(-1) produced mean VO(2) values that were 56% of VO(2) max, while snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design at 3.86 km h(-1) evoked mean VO(2) values that were 60% of VO(2) max. Mean HR while snowshoeing with the rotating toe-cord system was 70% of HR max, while the mean HR when snowshoeing with the fixed toe-cord design was 74% of HR max. These findings suggest that snowshoeing with a rotating toe-cord system results in lower cardiorespiratory strain in powdered snow conditions compared to snowshoeing with a fixed toe-cord design.     

中位-四[二-(3,4-羧甲氧基)苯基]卟啉及其结合Re=O的初步研究

用密度泛函理论的B3LYP法,将中位-四[二-(3,4-羧甲氧基)苯基]卟啉及结合Re=O分子的几何构型优化,初步理论研究其前沿轨道和能量等。证明,与单独的卟吩环相比,T_(3,4)CPP的卟吩环平面性良好,环上的结构参数变化很小;Re=O与T_(3,4)CPP卟吩环的结合能明显大于与T_(3,4)CPP侧链羧基的结合能,且前者所形成配合物的稳定性显然高于后者,说明T_(3,4)CPP与~(188)Re=O结合的位点应在卟吩环上,而不在侧链羧基上。T_(3,4)CPP卟吩环结合Re=O而形成配合物的结构参数,与Vicente等Zn-卟啉衍生物的测定值相近。在卟吩环上配位时,T_(3,4)CPP卟吩环上的电荷重新分布,卟吩环碳原子的电子向4个氮原子转移:配位后,卟吩环的几何构型略收缩(0.14 A-0.19 A)和马鞍形扭转(5.7°)。     

Cooperative path planning with priority target assignment and collision avoidance guidance for rescue unmanned surface vehicles in a complex ocean environment

In this paper, a novel cooperative path planning scheme of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for rescuing targets in a complex ocean environment is proposed. The primary objective of the rescue USVs is to bring all targets back safely on the premise of first rescuing priority targets, while optimizing the path length, the navigation time and the angular energy. The main contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) The proposed K-means-division (KMD) algorithm is able to identify a complex ocean environment with collision-free zone and static-obstacles zone; (2) The proposed path planning method with fast-marching-method-based ellipse guidance range (E-FMM) is able to optimize the angular energy while ensuring safety; (3) The proposed cooperative management system (including priority-target-assignment (PTA) with reward-mechanism genetic-optimization (RM-GO) and collision-avoidance (CA) guidance law with Tangent-based surge-varying wave-disturbances-observer (Tangent-SV-WDO)) can accomplish the mission of the rescue USVs. Comparative studies with the state-of-the-art methods demonstrate that the proposed cooperative path planning scheme is superior in terms of priority-target-assignment (PTA) and collision-avoidance (CA) of the actual rescue work.     

Application of functionalised carbon nanotubes immobilised into chitosan films in amperometric enzyme biosensors

A new approach for building a bio-conductive interface for enzyme immobilisation is described. This strategy permits very simple preparation of the enzyme biosensor and also reveals direct electron transfer features. A graphite-epoxy resin composite (GrEC) electrode modified with functionalised multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) immobilised by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide together with N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC–NHS) in a chitosan (Chit) matrix was prepared and characterised by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the presence of hexaammineruthenium (III) chloride. It was then used as a base for glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilisation by the simple method of crosslinking with glutaraldehyde (GA) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as carrier protein. The resulting mediator-free biosensor was applied to the determination of glucose in amperometric mode at different applied potentials and the mechanism of reaction was also investigated by cyclic voltammetry, with and without dissolved oxygen in solution. Analytical parameters, as well as reproducibility, repeatability and stability were determined. Interferences were assessed using different compounds usually present in natural samples, such as wines, juices or blood, in order to evaluate the selectivity of the developed biosensor. The novel combination of carbon nanotubes immobilised with chitosan crosslinked with EDC–NHS and glucose oxidase immobilised by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde offers an excellent, easy to make biosensor for glucose determination without interferences.     

A hybrid algorithm for a class of vehicle routing problems

In this work we propose a hybrid algorithm for a class of Vehicle Routing Problems with homogeneous fleet. A sequence of Set Partitioning (SP) models, with columns corresponding to routes found by a metaheuristic approach, are solved, not necessarily to optimality, using a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) solver, that may interact with the metaheuristic during its execution. Moreover, we developed a reactive mechanism that dynamically controls the dimension of the SP models when dealing with large size instances. The algorithm was extensively tested on benchmark instances of the following Vechicle Routing Problem (VRP) variants: (i) Capacitated VRP; (ii) Asymmetric VRP; (iii) Open VRP; (iv) VRP with Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery; (v) VRP with Mixed Pickup and Delivery; (vi) Multi-depot VRP; (vii) Multi-depot VRP with Mixed Pickup and Delivery. The results obtained were quite competitive with those found by heuristics devoted to specific variants. A number of new best solutions were obtained.     

神经网络用于三元分子混合物密度与粘度的预测

以二元系实验为基础，利用反向转播算法训练神经网络，构造混合物组成，温度等与物性关系的模型，用于对４个三元混合物体系（１）邻二甲苯－间二甲苯－对二甲苯；（２）四氯化碳－环己烷－２－丙醇；（３）甲醇－丙酮－水；（４）水－甲醇－乙二醇的密度和５个三元混合物体系（１）信甲苯－间二甲苯－对二甲苯；（２）四氯化碳－环己烷－２－丙醇；（３）氯仿－２－丙醇－２－丁醇；（４）甲醇－丙酮－水；（５）乙醇－甲醇－水的粘     

Combinatorial properties of two-level hypernet networks

The purpose of the paper is to investigate combinatorial properties of the hypernet network. The hypernet network owns two structural advantages: expansibility and equal degree. In addition, it was shown to be efficient in both communication and computation. Since the number of nodes contained in the hypernet network increases very rapidly with expansion level, we emphasize the hypernet network of two levels (denoted by HN(d, 2)) with a practical view. Recently, combinatorial properties such as container (i.e., node-disjoint paths), wide diameter, and fault diameter have received much attention due to their increasing importance and applications in networks. The following results are obtained for HN(d, 2): (1) best containers with width d-1, (2) containers with (maximum) width d, (3) the (d-1)-wide diameter, (4) the d-wide diameter, (5) the (d-2)-fault diameter, and (6) the (d-1)-fault diameter. More specifically, between every two nodes of HN(d, 2), d (or d-1) packets can be transmitted simultaneously with at most D+2 (or D+1) parallel steps, where D=2d+1 is the diameter of HN(d, 2). Besides, the diameter of HN(d, 2) will increase by at most two (or one), if there are at most d-1 (or d-2) node faults. Our results reveal that HN(d, 2) is not only efficient in parallel transmission, but robust in fault tolerance     

Combined effects of working environmental conditions in VDT work

The combined effects of city noise and luminance of the computer display were evaluated from the changes in lymphocytes and mental activities of participants. Healthy male students were tested under the following four experimental conditions: (1) a calculating task on a video display terminal (VDT) with luminance of 90 cd m(-2) without city noise; (2) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 20 cd m(-2) without city noise; (3) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 90 cd m(-2) with city noise of 70 dB(A); and (4) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 20 cd m(-2) with city noise of 70 dB(A). A visual reaction test (VRT) was performed, and critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF), heart rate (HR), numbers of circulating white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocyte subsets and subjective symptoms of fatigue were measured (1) before; (2) just after; and (3) 30 min after each 60 min test. Subjective symptoms of fatigue significantly increased just after experiments conducted under the two noisy conditions. VRT and CFF showed significant changes in the case of the high-luminance display with noise. WBCs and neutrophils showed significant increases in the two quiet conditions. These results suggested that high luminance with noise had the most effect on subjective fatigue and mental activities.     

(ρ, σ)-方法关于刚性延迟微分代数系统的非线性稳定性

本文涉及（ρ,σ）－方法应用于1－0指标的非线性刚性延迟微分代数系统的稳定性,证明了求常微分方程（ODEs）的（ρ,σ）－方法的强（G）（c,p,q）－代数稳定性导致相应延迟微分代数系统方法的（渐近）整体稳定性。     

交换超立方网络的嵌入问题研究

交换超立方网络作为超立方网络的一个变种,具有良好的递归性和理想的网络参数。根据交换超立方网络的相关性质研究了E-2DMesh网络和超立方网络的嵌入问题,并得出如下结论:(1)当max(s,t)<7时,不存在dilation=1的EM(2m,2n)到EH(s,t)的嵌入映射(m+n≤s+t+1)。(2)EM(2s,2t)可以expansion=2,dilation=4,load=1嵌入EH(s,t)。(3)当min(s,t)>1时,不存在dilation=1的Qn到EH(s,t)的嵌入映射(n=s+t)。(4)Qn可以ex-pansion=2,dilation=3,congestion=1,load=1嵌入EH(s,t)(n=s+t)。上述结论进一步说明了交换超立方网络具有良好的扩容性。     

Protective layer for high‐efficiency PDPs driven at low voltage

Abstract— The sustain pulse voltage of a panel for 66‐kPa Ne + Xe (5–30%) with an (SrCa)O protective layer is 20–40% lower than that with an MgO protective layer. The luminous efficiency of the panel with a Ne + Xe (30%) (SrCa)O protective layer is 1.5 times that of the conventional panel with a Ne + Xe (10%) MgO protective layer; the sustain pulse voltages of these panels are almost the same. The power loss caused by panel capacitance is proportional to the second power of the sustain pulse voltage. Using the (SrCa)O protective layer for Xe (5–30%), the power loss is reduced by 35–60% compared with the MgO protective layer. It follows that, using the (SrCa)O protective layer, we can increase the Xe content with little power loss and thus achieve high‐efficiency PDPs. As for MgO and CaO with Xe ions, electrons are probably ejected from only the defect states. On the other hand, as for the SrO with Xe ions, it is likely that electrons can be ejected from not only defect states but also the valance band. This seems to be the reason why the driving voltage is lower with the (SrCa)O protective layer than with the MgO protective layer.     

Label-free Growth Receptor-2 Detection and Dissociation Constant Assessment in Diluted Human Serum Using a Longitudinal Extension Mode of a Piezoelectric Microcantilever Sensor

We have investigated real-time, label-free, in-situ detection of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) in diluted serum using the first longitudinal extension mode of a lead zirconate-lead titanate (PZT)/glass piezoelectric microcantilever sensor (PEMS) with H3 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) immobilized on the 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) insulation layer of the PEMS surface. We showed that with the longitudinal extension mode, the PZT/glass PEMS consisting of a 1 mm long and 127 μm thick PZT layer bonded with a 75 μm thick glass layer with a 1.8 mm long glass tip could detect Her2 at a concentration of 6-60 ng/ml (or 0.06-0.6 nM) in diluted human serum, about 100 times lower than the concentration limit obtained using the lower-frequency flexural mode of a similar PZT/glass PEMS. We further showed that with the longitudinal mode, the PZT/glass PEMS determined the equilibrium H3-Her2 dissociation constant K(d) to be 3.3±0.3 × 10(-8) M consistent with the value, 3.2±0.28 ×10(-8) M deduced by the surface plasmon resonance method (BIAcore).     

Performance evaluation of a sequential minimal radial basisfunction (RBF) neural network learning algorithm

Presents a detailed performance analysis of the minimal resource allocation network (M-RAN) learning algorithm, M-RAN is a sequential learning radial basis function neural network which combines the growth criterion of the resource allocating network (RAN) of Platt (1991) with a pruning strategy based on the relative contribution of each hidden unit to the overall network output. The resulting network leads toward a minimal topology for the RAN. The performance of this algorithm is compared with the multilayer feedforward networks (MFNs) trained with 1) a variant of the standard backpropagation algorithm, known as RPROP and 2) the dependence identification (DI) algorithm of Moody and Antsaklis (1996) on several benchmark problems in the function approximation and pattern classification areas. For all these problems, the M-RAN algorithm is shown to realize networks with far fewer hidden neurons with better or same approximation/classification accuracy. Further, the time taken for learning (training) is also considerably shorter as M-RAN does not require repeated presentation of the training data.     

A Note on Non-Closure Property of Sublogarithmic Space-Bounded 1-Inkdot Alternating Pushdown Automata with Only Existential (Universal) States

1-inkdot alternating pushdown automaton is a slightly modified alternating pushdown automaton with the additional power of marking at most 1 tape-cell on the input （with an inkdot） once. This paper investigates the closure property of sublogarithmic space-bounded 1-inkdot alternating pushdown automata with only existential （universal） states, and shows, for example, that for any function L（n） such that L（n） ≥ log logn and L（n） = o（log n）, the class of sets accepted by weakly （strongly） L（n） space-bounded 1-inkdot two-way alternating pushdown automata with only existential （universal） states is not closed under concatenation with regular sets, length-preserving homomorphism, and Kleene closure.     

Feedforward output-feedback control for continuous exothermic reactors with isotonic kinetics

The robust feedforward (FF) output-feedback (OF) control problem of (possibly open-loop unstable) continuous exothermic jacketed reactors with isotonic kinetics with respect to reactant concentration is considered. The volume, temperature, and concentration must be regulated by manipulating the feed, exit and coolant flowrates on the basis of volume and temperature measurements. The problem is addressed as an interlaced controller-observer design within a constructive control framework. The result is a quasi linear-decentralized (qLD) FF-OF dynamic controller which: (i) recovers (up to observer convergence) the behavior of a robust nonlinear FF-SF controller, (ii) has closed-loop stability conditions coupled with conventional-like tuning guidelines, and (iii) constitutes an add-on to the PI control scheme commonly employed in industrial reactors. The approach is tested with an open-loop unstable reactor example through simulations.     

On the estimation problem of a class of continuous bioreactors with unknown input

The estimation problem of substrate–biomass reactors with isotonic or nonisotonic growth is addressed. The unmeasured reactor and time-varying feed substrate concentrations must be estimated from the dilution rate input and biomass measurements. First, the solvability conditions (nonlinear-global observability or detectability) are characterized, finding that: (i) the conditions depend on particular motions and growth mechanisms, and (ii) with isotonic (or nonisotonic) growth, the unknown input–state pair is observable in the classical (or nonstandard) single-valued (S) [or bivalued (B)] sense. Then, a robustly convergent S (or B)-observer is designed accordingly. The S-observer yields the estimate of the only unmeasured input–state trajectory pair associated with the measured input–output signal. The B-observer yields the estimates of the two possible unmeasured input–state trajectory pairs associated with the measured input–output signal, each one satisfying the reactor mass balances. The developments and findings are illustrated with representative (Monod and Haldane) examples through analytic assessment and numerical simulation.     

Saturated linear dynamic output-feedback control for a class of three-state continuous bioreactors with inhibited kinetics

The problem of designing a saturated output-feedback controller to stabilize a class of continuous three-state bioreactors with Haldane inhibited kinetics is addressed. The reactor must be maintained about the (locally stable but possibly structurally unstable) steady-state with maximum production rate by manipulating the substrate feed rate on the basis of a biomass measurement. The consideration of the problem in the light of bioreactor (bifurcation and invariant set) dynamical and (passivity and observability) structural characteristics leads to a saturated linear dynamic OF control design with: (i) PI scheme with observer-based antiwindup protection, (ii) simple construction and tuning, and (iii) closed-loop robust stability conditions in terms of control gains and limits. The PI controller recovers (up to observer convergence and saturation) the behavior of a model-based nonlinear state-feedback passive stabilizing controller equivalent to an exact nonlinear model-based predictive controller with infinite-time receding horizon. The proposed approach is illustrated with a representative case example through numerical simulations.     

Validity of self-reported duration of work postures obtained by interview

The aim of the study was to validate interview data concerning the duration of four work postures (1) sitting, (2) standing/walking with hands above shoulder level, (3) standing/walking with hands between shoulder and knuckle level, and (4) standing/walking with hands below knuckle level. The self-reported time spent in each posture was tested in relation to observations and technical measurements in 20 subjects during two full working days. The linear relationships between self-reports and observations were strong for the three postures; sitting (r²=0.55), hands above shoulder level (r²=0.58) and hands below knuckle level (r²=0.69). Thus, using this interview technique, self-reports concerning time spent in (1) sitting, (2) standing/walking with hands above shoulder level and, (3) standing/walking with hands below knuckle level may be accurate enough for studying these work postures in epidemiological studies.     

A Reinforcement Connectionist Approach to Robot Path Finding in Non-Maze-Like Environments

This paper presents a reinforcement connectionist system which finds and learns the suitable situation-action rules so as to generate feasible paths for a point robot in a 2D environment with circular obstacles. The basic reinforcement algorithm is extended with a strategy for discovering stable solution paths. Equipped with this strategy and a powerful codification scheme, the path-finder (i) learns quickly, (ii) deals with continuous-valued inputs and outputs, (iii) exhibits good noise-tolerance and generalization capabilities, (iv) copes with dynamic environments, and (v) solves an instance of the path finding problem with strong performance demands.