Meetings and meeting modeling in smart environments

In this paper we survey our research on smart meeting rooms and its relevance for augmented reality meeting support and virtual reality generation of meetings in real time or off-line. The research reported here forms part of the European 5th and 6th framework programme projects multi-modal meeting manager (M4) and augmented multi-party interaction (AMI). Both projects aim at building a smart meeting environment that is able to collect multimodal captures of the activities and discussions in a meeting room, with the aim to use this information as input to tools that allow real-time support, browsing, retrieval and summarization of meetings. Our aim is to research (semantic) representations of what takes place during meetings in order to allow generation, e.g. in virtual reality, of meeting activities (discussions, presentations, voting, etc.). Being able to do so also allows us to look at tools that provide support during a meeting and at tools that allow those not able to be physically present during a meeting to take part in a virtual way. This may lead to situations where the differences between real meeting participants, human-controlled virtual participants and (semi-) autonomous virtual participants disappear.

A rapid method of oxymyoglobin purification

Oxymyoglobin was isolated from bovine Longissimus lumborum muscle by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and purification in rapid conditions with only one chromatographic step on Mono-Q HR column with a HPLC system. Purity of oxymyoglobin was controlled by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing.     

Simultaneous external and internal stabilization of linear systems with input saturation and non-input-additive sustained disturbances

In this paper, we study simultaneous external and internal stabilization of the linear system under input saturation and non-input additive sustained disturbances. For systems that are asymptotic null controllable with bounded control, it is shown that a nonlinear dynamic feedback controller can be designed so that the closed-loop states remain bounded for any initial condition and for two classes of sustained disturbances, and that the equilibrium in the absence of disturbances is globally asymptotically stable.     

Thermochemische Kennwerte für die Reaktion,Mo + O2 ⇌ MoO2 sowie in Eisenschmelzen

Zusammenstellung von Schrifttumsangaben für die Änderung der freien Standardenthalpien der Reaktionen , Mo + O₂ ? MoO₂ und in Eisenschmelzen. Neubestimmung der Temperaturabhängigkeiten der Größen ΔG^oCr₂O₃, ΔG^oMoO₂ und ΔG^o_O im Eisen bei Temperaturen zwischen 1460 bzw. 1530 und 1725 °C. Nachweis der Anwendbarkeit der neu ermittelten thermodynamischen Funktionen durch EMK-Parallelmessungen an ThO₂ (Y₂O₃)- und ZrO₂ (MgO)-Festelektrolytzellen mit Cr-Cr₂O₃- und Mo-MoO₂-Referenzelektroden in Reineisenschmelzen bei 1600 °C. Ermittlung des Parameters p_e′ der Elektronenteilleitfähigkeit für einen teilstabilisierten ZrO₂-Festelektrolyten mit einem Stoffmengengehalt von 5% MgO.     

On the convergence of stationary sequences in topology optimization

We consider structural topology optimization problems including unilateral constraints arising from non‐penetration conditions in contact mechanics. The resulting non‐convex non‐smooth problems are instances of mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPEC), or bi‐level programs. Applying nested (implicit programming) algorithms to this class of problems is problematic owing to the singularity of the feasible set. We propose a perturbation strategy combining the relaxation of the equilibrium constraint with the restriction of the design domain to its regular part only. This strategy allows us to attack the problem numerically using standard non‐linear programming algorithms. We rigorously study the optimality conditions for the original singular problem as well as the convergence of stationary points and globally optimal solutions to approximating problems towards respective stationary points and globally optimal solutions to the original problem. A limited numerical benchmarking of the algorithm is performed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Output regulation of discrete‐time linear plants subject to state and input constraints

Discrete‐time output regulation of linear systems with state and/or input constraints on magnitude is considered. Structural properties of linear plants are identified under which the so‐called constrained semi‐global and global output regulation problems are solvable. As in the case of continuous‐time systems, an important aspect of our development is a taxonomy of constraints showing a clear relationship between the constraint types and the output regulation results. Solvability conditions are developed for semi‐global and global output regulation problems. Appropriate regulators are constructed for problems that are solvable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multipurpose modular experimental station for the DiProI beamline of Fermi@Elettra free electron laser

We present a compact modular apparatus with a flexible design that will be operated at the DiProI beamline of the Fermi@Elettra free electron laser (FEL) for performing static and time-resolved coherent diffraction imaging experiments, taking advantage of the full coherence and variable polarization of the short seeded FEL pulses. The apparatus has been assembled and the potential of the experimental setup is demonstrated by commissioning tests with coherent synchrotron radiation. This multipurpose experimental station will be open to general users after installation at the Fermi@Elettra free electron laser in 2011.     

Counting Fluorescent Dye Molecules on DNA Origami by Means of Photon Statistics

Obtaining quantitative information about molecular assemblies with high spatial and temporal resolution is a challenging task in fluorescence microscopy. Single‐molecule techniques build on the ability to count molecules one by one. Here, a method is presented that extends recent approaches to analyze the statistics of coincidently emitted photons to enable reliable counting of molecules in the range of 1–20. This method does not require photochemistry such as blinking or bleaching. DNA origami structures are labeled with up to 36 dye molecules as a new evaluation tool to characterize this counting by a photon statistics approach. Labeled DNA origami has a well‐defined labeling stoichiometry and ensures equal brightness for all dyes incorporated. Bias and precision of the estimating algorithm are determined, along with the minimal acquisition time required for robust estimation. Complexes containing up to 18 molecules can be investigated non‐invasively within 150 ms. The method might become a quantifying add‐on for confocal microscopes and could be especially powerful in combination with STED/RESOLFT‐type microscopy.     

Subspace identification analysis of RFX and T2R reversed-field pinches

Input–output datasets from two magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) experiments of the reversed-field pinch (RFP) type are examined. The RFP datasets, which are samples of the distributed magnetic field dynamics, are naturally divided into many smaller batches due to the pulsed-plasma operation of the experiments. The two RFP experiments considered are (i) EXTRAP T2R (T2R) with 64 inputs and 64 outputs and (ii) RFX-mod (RFX) with 192 inputs and 192 outputs. Both T2R and RFX are magnetohydrodynamically unstable and operates under magnetic feedback with optional dither injection. Using subspace system identification techniques and randomised cross-validation (CV) methods to minimise the generalisation error, state-space orders of the empirical systems are suggested. These system orders are compared to “stabilisation diagrams” commonly used in experimental modal analysis practice. The relation of the CV system order to the decay of the singular values from the subspace method is observed. Both (i) stable vacuum diffusion and (ii) unstable plasma response datasets are analysed. Apparent simulation and prediction errors are quantified for both cases using a deviation-accounted-for index. These results are purely data-driven. A simple approach towards exploitation of the subspace techniques for finite-element model refinement and data confrontation is presented.