Output Peak Control of Nonhomogeneous Markov Jump System with Unit-Energy Disturbance

This paper considers output peak controller design for discrete nonhomogeneous Markov jump systems under unit-energy disturbance. The mode-dependent output peak feedback controller is designed to ensure that the resulting closed-loop system is stochastically stable and the peak of the output is within a specified range. Furthermore, the optimal energy-to-peak gain indices of the mode-dependent and the mode-independent state feedback controllers are evaluated and compared. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the applicability of the results obtained.     

Polarization dynamics and non-equilibrium switching processes in ferroelectrics

Time- and temperature-dependent effects are critical for the operation of non-volatile memories based on ferroelectrics. In this paper, we assume a domain nucleation process of the polarization reversal and we discuss the polarization dynamics in the framework of a non-equilibrium statistical model. This approach yields analytical expressions which can be used to explain a wide range of time- and temperature-dependent effects in ferroelectrics. Domain wall velocity derived in this work is consistent with a domain wall creep behavior in ferroelectrics. In the limiting case of para-electric equilibrium, the model yields the well-known Curie law. We also present experimental P-E loops data obtained for soft ferroelectrics at various temperatures. The experimental coercive fields at various temperatures are well predicted by the coercive field formula derived in our theory.     

Interface,thermal, and Fourier transform—infrared spectroscopy investigation on polylactic acid/polyhydroxyalkanoate composites with silane-treated aluminum particles and intercalated montmorillonite inclusions for semiconductor devices

In this investigation, the dielectric properties of silane-influenced aluminum conductive particles in polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and intercalated montmorillonite (MMT) composite were assessed for enhancing the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and AC conductivities. Eight different sets of samples were fabricated with untreated and silane-treated batches of biopolymer composites where the highest recorded dielectric constant was 3.98 at relaxation frequency of 10 kHz. One of the notable observations in the dielectric loss was with PLA/PHA/iMMT/Al (10 wt%) (silane-treated) composites exhibited the lowest losses past relaxation frequencies. Furthermore, FT-IR spectra were conducted on the samples to identify stretching and bonds created by silane and aluminum particles. The IR spectra confirm the formation of the Si O Al bond when treated with 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) solution and confirm the bond of Al OH hydroxyl bonds in the untreated composite samples. Other IR spectra information that was gathered would include carbonyl group stretching at 1750 cm⁻¹ and absorption bands of hydroxy acids, between 3511 and 3640 cm⁻¹, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on the sample to observe the formation of matrix cracks and exfoliation. A rough surface can be seen on PLA/PHA blends and the crystallization of these polymer blends regions can be vividly seen from the micrographs. Lastly, thermogravimetry analysis on the composite samples shows a predominant mass loss at 300°C before complete degradation and the notable composite with the lowest mass loss would be PLA/PHA/iMMT/Al (10 wt%) (ST) composite samples and with the inclusion of a constant 5 wt% organoclay MMT fillers imposed a high-onset degradation temperature, which was remarkable for composites that were fabricated through standard hot-press compression molding and cooling procedures.     

Effect of CR and FT-paraffin versus SBS modification in terms of conventional and rheological properties

In this study, the rheological and conventional properties of binders prepared with crumb rubber (CR) and FT-paraffin were compared to styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified binders’ properties. The objective of this study was to determine which modified binders in different combinations of the CR and the FT-paraffin exhibited better performance than the SBS-modified binders, in terms of conventional and rheological properties. Results showed that the additives exhibited different performances for different types of tests. Many of the combinations including the common usage of the CR and the FT-paraffin performed better at high temperature than the SBS modification. Overall, the test results show that the binders prepared by 6% CR with 3 and 4% FT-paraffin and those prepared with 8% CR with 3% FT-paraffin were better binders than the 4% SBS-modified binder, in terms of low and high temperature properties.     

New Foot Pressure Activated Sensory Compensation System for Posture-Control Enhancement in Amputees

A computerized foot pressure activated sensory compensation system using subsensory electrical stimulation combined with visual-auditory biofeedback was developed. The proposed system was used for enhancing standing balance and gait performance for amputees. In this pilot study, we hypothesized that the static balance with single limb support and gait performance during treadmill walking could be improved by providing proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation using subsensory stimulation and visual-auditory biofeedback in amputee, respectively. To test this hypothesis, five unilateral transtibial amputees who consecutively wore prosthetics over two years were recruited. Experimental results show a reduction in all of the postural sway indexes and increase in single-leg support time index during single-leg quiet standing by applying subsensory stimulation. With visual-auditory biofeedback for providing clue for heel contact and toe push-off condition during treadmill ambulation, an improvement in all four dynamic gait performance indexes in amputees was verified. These findings suggest that the proposed system with subsensory electrical stimulation and visual-auditory biofeedback mechanisms may be effective in compensating sensory loss and improving posture control for amputees.     

Internet-based monitoring of distributed control systems-Anundergraduate experiment

This paper presents the development of an Internet-based system to allow monitoring of important process variables from a distributed control system (DCS). The system is formulated as an add-on to an undergraduate experiment on the development of a desktop DCS. This paper describes the hardware and software design considerations which enable the users to access the process variables on the DCS, remotely and effectively, using only a commonly available Web browser     

Convergence analysis of blind image deconvolution via dispersion minimization

A new non‐linear adaptive filter called blind image deconvolution via dispersion minimization has recently been proposed for restoring noisy blurred images blindly. This is essentially a two‐dimensional version of the constant modulus algorithm that is well known in the field of blind equalization. The two‐dimensional extension has been shown capable of reconstructing noisy blurred images using partial a priori information about the true image and the point spread function in a variety of situations by means of simulations. This paper analyses the behaviour of the algorithm by investigating the static properties of the cost function and the dynamic convergence of the parameter estimates. The theoretical results are supported with computer simulations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recursive blind image deconvolution via dispersion minimization

This paper presents an adaptive autoregressive (AR) approach to the blind image deconvolution problem which has several advantages over standard adaptive FIR filters. There is no need to figure out the optimum filter support when using an AR deconvolution filter because it is the same as the support of the blur. Thus there is no distortion introduced by the finite support of the FIR filter. While an FIR filter provides an approximate inverse to the blur at convergence, the AR filter converges to an approximation of the blur itself. Hence, the method can be used for blur identification. Simulations suggest that convergence of the adaptive AR filter coefficients occur rapidly and the improvement in signal‐to‐noise ratios are higher than in the FIR case for a given blur (and with the same step‐size for the adaptive algorithms). When the adaptive AR method is derived naively to minimize the dispersion, it requires a recursion within a recursion which is computationally complex. We propose a simplification that removes the inner recursion, and prove conditions under which this simplification is valid when dealing with binary images. Simulations are used to show that the method may also be applied to certain multi‐valued images as well. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemistry of long-chain peroxy acids under laundry conditions

Peroxycarboxylic acids are increasingly used as bleaching agents for the laundering process. These peroxy acids can be added as such to the wash liquor or may be generated in situ by reaction of a precursor component with hydrogen peroxide. Bleaching effectiveness appears to be determined by a delicate balance of chemical reactions of peroxy acid with the staining dyes and the rate of peroxy acid decomposition under the prevailing conditions. To improve our understanding of the chemistry involved we have carried out a systematic study using a range of aromatic and aliphatic mono- and diperoxycarboxylic acids with various carbon chain lengths and degrees of branching. We investigated peroxy acid decomposition, bleaching of stained fabric and bleaching of a water-soluble dye, and showed that the alkyl chain length of the peroxy acids, the presence of detergent components and the pH of the medium are important factors. Combination of the kinetic data for decomposition and bleaching reactions allows the selection of structures and conditions for optimum performance. Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans in May 1987.