Relaxed stability and performance conditions for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with knowledge on membership function overlap.

This correspondence presents a relaxation of some earlier linear matrix inequality (LMI) conditions, which allow setting up less conservative stability or performance conditions for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models. Unlike the previous literature, this correspondence takes into account the knowledge of the membership functions' shape by considering bounds on them and their cross products (interpreted as an overlap measure), introducing auxiliary LMI variables. Numerical examples illustrate the achieved improvements.     

Simultaneous Spark Plasma Synthesis and Densification of TiC–TiB2 Composites

The simultaneous synthesis and densification of dense TiC–TiB₂ composite has been investigated starting from Ti, B₄C, and C as reactants, and using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The optimal conditions for complete conversion of the reactants to the composite were determined for different applied DC current levels. A kinetic investigation performed allows us to conclude that solid-state diffusion is the mechanism governing the synthesis process. It is seen that TiC is the first phase formed, while TiB₂ formation occurs afterward. Two intermediate boride phases, i.e. TiB and Ti₃B₄, are also formed but, as the SPS holding time was augmented, they were gradually and completely converted to TiB₂. Moreover, it is found that in order to reach relatively high dense products, an electric current needs to be applied for time intervals longer than those required for obtaining complete conversion. A pure dense product (relative density ∼98%) was obtained when an electric pulsed current of 1100 A and a mechanical pressure of 20 MPa were applied for about 4 min.     

Should patients with sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome be diagnosed and managed on the basis of home sleep studies?

The purpose of this study was to analyse the validity and the economic efficiency of a portable monitor of respiratory parameters (PMRP), used in a home setting for the diagnosis of sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS). Eighty nine patients with suspected SAHS were studied in two settings: in the sleep laboratory using full-polysomnography (full-PSG); and at the patient's home using a PMRP. In the home setting, 50 patients were assisted by a technician and 39 set up the equipment themselves. SAHS (apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) >10 events x h(-1) by means of full-PSG) was diagnosed in 75 of the 89 patients. An acceptable agreement was obtained between the AHI measured by full-PSG and PMRP, according to the Bland and Altman method of concordance (mean bias 2.56; 95% confidence interval 3.25). Sensitivity and specificity of PMRP were adequate for diagnostic purposes; however, their values rely on the prior PMRP-AHI cut-off point selected with reference to full-PSG-AHI >10. The clinical therapeutic decision taken after PMRP agreed with that taken with full-PSG in 79 patients (89%). Although 10% of the studies with an individual set-up needed repetition, both of the domiciliary modalities (with and without a technician's intervention) were, economically, about three times more efficient than full-PSG. In conclusion, we believe that patients with a suspected sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome should initially be studied in a home setting with a portable monitor of respiratory parameters, since it is a reliable method with an acceptable cost-effective profile.     

Sex pheromone of the oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii: structural characterization and absolute configuration of an unusual functionalized cyclobutane

The sex pheromone emitted by the female oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii (Homoptera, Diaspididae), has been isolated and characterized as (1R, 2S)-cis-2-isopropenyl-1-(4'-methyl-4'-penten-1'-yl)cyclobutaneethanol acetate by using advanced MS and NMR spectroscopic methods, as well as a variety of microderivatization sequences. The structure has been confirmed by stereo- and enantioselective synthesis of the four possible stereoisomers. The absolute configuration has been determined by comparison of the activity of the cis (1S,2R) and (1R, 2S) enantiomers with that exhibited by the natural material in greenhouse bioassays and field tests. The structure of this sesquiterpenoid pheromone is new in the coccids and in the pheromone field in general.     

基于Proteus的汽车空调控制系统的设计与仿真

介绍了利用Atmegal6单片机、Proteus仿真软件开发的汽车空调自动控制系统。利用Atmegal6单片机构建了一个智能型汽车空调控制系统,并对系统的液晶模块、热电阻温度采集、液晶模块显示、继电器控制、键盘输入、风向步进电机控制器进行了设计,用Proteus软件对系统进行仿真。结果表明该系统具有电路结构简单、分立元件少、系统界面友好、操作简单等优点,能满足一般要求的汽车空调的自动控制。     

A novel compact low-power direct conversion receiver for mobile UHF RFID reader

A novel direct conversion receiver with low cost and low power is implemented in a 0.18 μm 1P6M standard CMOS process for a Mobile UHF RFID reader.A highly linear active mixer with low flicker noise and low noise active load is proposed.An efficient and low cost on-chip DC offset voltage canceling scheme is adopted with a high-input-impedance four-input OPAMP to buffer the output of the DC offset canceller(DCOC) block.The receiver has a measured input 1 dB compression point of 2 dBm and a sensitivity of 72 dBm in the presence of the large leakage signal from the transmitter.Only occupying a silicon area of 2.5 mm 2 and consuming 21 mA from a 1.8 V supply,the receiver makes the mobile UHF RFID reader to communicate with a transponder in a distance of 1 m conveniently.     

Generation of Graphs for the Identification of Various Types of Scientific Collaboration in an Academic Institution

Programming and Computer Software - Scientific collaborations have made important contributions to the scientific community. Various institutions have considered publications made by various...     

Transporting Deformations of Face Emotions in the Shape Spaces: A Comparison of Different Approaches

Studying the changes of shape is a common concern in many scientific fields. We address here two problems: (1) quantifying the deformation between two given shapes and (2) transporting this deformation to morph a third shape. These operations can be done with or without point correspondence, depending on the availability of a surface matching algorithm, and on the type of mathematical procedure adopted. In computer vision, the re-targeting of emotions mapped on faces is a common application. We contrast here four different methods used for transporting the deformation toward a target once it was estimated upon the matching of two shapes. These methods come from very different fields such as computational anatomy, computer vision and biology. We used the large diffeomorphic deformation metric mapping and thin plate spline, in order to estimate deformations in a deformational trajectory of a human face experiencing different emotions. Then we use naive transport (NT), linear shift (LS), direct transport (DT) and fanning scheme (FS) to transport the estimated deformations toward four alien faces constituted by 240 homologous points and identifying a triangulation structure of 416 triangles. We used both local and global criteria for evaluating the performance of the 4 methods, e.g., the maintenance of the original deformation. We found DT, LS and FS very effective in recovering the original deformation while NT fails under several aspects in transporting the shape change. As the best method may differ depending on the application, we recommend carefully testing different methods in order to choose the best one for any specific application.