Risk-sensitive control of Markov jump linear systems: Caveats and difficulties

In this technical note, we revisit the risk-sensitive optimal control problem for Markov jump linear systems (MJLSs). We first demonstrate the inherent difficulty in solving the risk-sensitive optimal control problem even if the system is linear and the cost function is quadratic. This is due to the nonlinear nature of the coupled set of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations, stemming from the presence of the jump process. It thus follows that the standard quadratic form of the value function with a set of coupled Riccati differential equations cannot be a candidate solution to the coupled HJB equations. We subsequently show that there is no equivalence relationship between the problems of risk-sensitive control and H ^∞ control of MJLSs, which are shown to be equivalent in the absence of any jumps. Finally, we show that there does not exist a large deviation limit as well as a risk-neutral limit of the risk-sensitive optimal control problem due to the presence of a nonlinear coupling term in the HJB equations.

     

Maximum Likelihood Sound Source Localization and Beamforming for Directional Microphone Arrays in Distributed Meetings

In distributed meeting applications, microphone arrays have been widely used to capture superior speech sound and perform speaker localization through sound source localization (SSL) and beamforming. This paper presents a unified maximum likelihood framework of these two techniques, and demonstrates how such a framework can be adapted to create efficient SSL and beamforming algorithms for reverberant rooms and unknown directional patterns of microphones. The proposed method is closely related to steered response power-based algorithms, which are known to work extremely well in real-world environments. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on challenging synthetic and real-world datasets, including over six hours of recorded meetings.     

Research on 3D medial axis transform via the saddle point programming method

The present paper investigates the 3D medial axis transform of objects bounded by freeform surfaces via the saddle point programming method, a mathematical programming approach used to identify the saddle points of a function. After exploring the local geometry and saddle point property of 3D medial axis transform, the mathematical programming method is employed to construct the saddle point programming models. Based on the optimality conditions that the optimal solutions should satisfy, a generic algorithm for computing various medial axis points is developed. In order to identify the junction points and localize the problem, the boundary and the skeletal curves are divided into skeletal segments, and it is proved to be efficient and accurate by numerical examples.     

Microplane Model M5 with Kinematic and Static Constraints for Concrete Fracture and Anelasticity. I: Theory

Presented is a new microplane model for concrete, labeled M5, which improves the representation of tensile cohesive fracture by eliminating spurious excessive lateral strains and stress locking for far postpeak tensile strains. To achieve improvement, a kinematically constrained microplane system simulating hardening nonlinear behavior (nearly identical to previous Model M4 stripped of tensile softening) is coupled in series with a statically constrained microplane system simulating solely the cohesive tensile fracture. This coupling is made possible by developing a new iterative algorithm and by proving the conditions of its convergence. The special aspect of this algorithm (contrasting with the classical return mapping algorithm for hardening plasticity) is that the cohesive softening stiffness matrix (which is not positive definite) is used as the predictor and the hardening stiffness matrix as the corrector. The softening cohesive stiffness for fracturing is related to the fracture energy of concrete and the effective crack spacing. The postpeak softening slopes on the microplanes can be adjusted according to the element size in the sense of the crack band model. Finally, an incremental thermodynamic potential for the coupling of statically and kinematically constrained microplane systems is formulated. The data fitting and experimental calibration for tensile strain softening are relegated to a subsequent paper in this issue, while all the nonlinear triaxial response in compression remains the same as for Model M4.     

RH-KTB大型真空冶金系统智能故障诊断

研究RH-KTB系统的故障种类及特点,进行故障树分析,找出故障间的关系并建立了原始样本采集系统.利用决策树理论对炉外精练大型真空冶金系统的约简集进行快速学习和分类.最后,提出一种基于粗糙集-决策树理论的炉外精炼大型真空冶金系统故障诊断模型.从理论上保证及时对干扰数据进行排除并实现快速诊断.基于该模型开发了一套智能故障诊断系统并应用于大型真空冶金系统,应用效果良好.     

中国钢铁生产量及其能源需求和CO2排放量情景分析

从预测中国的钢铁需求量开始,利用情景分析,预测了钢铁业将来的能源需求和CO2排放量。预测结果表明,中国的钢产量还将继续增长,但应特别注意废钢回用,降低铁钢比,以减少能源需求和CO2排放。     

Prediction of Cognitive Abilities 1 Year Following Traumatic Brain Injury From Inpatient Rehabilitation Cognitive Screening.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of the Cognitive Log (Cog-Log) to predict neuropsychological outcome at 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study Design: The Orientation Log (O-Log) and Cog-Log were administered during morning rounds, and a battery of neuropsychological tests was administered at 1 year postinjury. Setting: Acute rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Fifty rehabilitation inpatients. Main Outcome Measures: Composite scores for processing speed, attention, language, memory, executive functioning, and visuospatial abilities. Results: The Cog-Log was found to significantly predict 1-year outcome in attention, executive functioning, and visuospatial abilities. The O-Log contributed significantly to memory outcome. The Disability Rating Scale was not a significant predictor. Conclusions: The Cog-Log has utility as a predictor of neuropsychological outcome, particularly when used with its companion instrument, the O-Log. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

99Tcm-葡萄糖二酸亲肿瘤显像剂的动物实验

选用＾９９Ｔｃ＾ｍ－葡萄糖二酸（＾９９Ｔｃ＾ｍ－ｇｌｕｃａｒａｔｅ,简称＾９９Ｔｃ＾ｍ－ｇｌｕ）作为肿瘤阳性示踪剂,对肺腺癌小鼠模型进行动物实验,以主要组织器官的放射性摄取百分比及Ｔ／ＮＴ作为统计指标并常规静态及延时显像观察。     

FMI-Ⅰ-600型钕铁硼真空速凝炉冷却强度对铸带组织的影响

采用Nd-Pr合金、工业硼铁、纯铁及海绵锆为原料,在不同的冷却速度下采用FMI-Ⅰ-600型真空速凝炉制备Re(Nd,Pr)FeB永磁合金铸带,分析了速凝薄带的厚度分布,采用扫描电子显微镜及能谱重点分析了铸锭的组织结构,从而确定了合理的冷却范围。本文在真空条件下加热1400～1450℃,氩气保护下在1.5～2.0m/s的冷却速度下获得的速凝薄片形成了完整的柱状晶,富稀土相均匀分散在主相周围,有效抑制α-Fe的生成。