MPC‐based approximate dual controller by information matrix maximization

This paper proposes a method to approximate a dual controller by a computationally feasible algorithm. Dual control that optimally solves the problem of simultaneous control and identification of a system with uncertain parameters is known to be both analytically and computationally unsolvable. This paper proposes a multiple‐step active control algorithm that gives a suboptimal but tractable solution to the original dual control problem. The algorithm is based on model predictive control (MPC) and approximates persistent system excitation in terms of the increase of the lowest eigenvalue of the parameter estimate information matrix. The problem is formulated as a two‐phase optimization problem, where first an MPC solution is found and then the lowest eigenvalue of the information matrix is maximized in the next step within a given permitted input perturbation. Unlike similar methods, the proposed algorithm predicts the information matrix for more than one step of control, which makes it possible to uniformly excite the parameter space. The use of MPC in the first design phase instead of a cautious controller is justified by showing unfavorable properties of cautious control. The advantage of the multiple‐step prediction over single‐step prediction is shown by examples and simulations. The proposed algorithm is analyzed in terms of convergence and complexity, and stability issues are addressed. The formal proofs are included in the Appendix. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid pressure-less and spark plasma sintering of (Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1T0.9)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

This work shows for the first time the possibility to sinter BCZT powder compacts by rapid heating rates within one hour of sintering, while achieving good piezoelectric properties. The sintering was performed by rapid (heating rates 100 and 200 °C/min) pressure-less sintering (PLS) at 1550 °C/5-60 min and by SPS sintering (100 °C/min, 1450 °C/5?60 min and 1500 °C/15?45 min). The rapid PLS samples reached a relative density up to 94 % and grain sizes of 17–36 μm acquiring d₃₃ up to 414 pC/N. Although the SPS samples reached full density at 1450 °C, their piezoelectric properties worsened due to smaller grains (10?15 μm) as well as formation of cracks at dwell times > 30 min. At elevated SPS temperature of 1500 °C/30 min, the d₃₃ increased to 360 pC/N sustaining full density. Even higher increase in d₃₃ (424 pC/N) of SPS samples was achieved by post-rapid PLS at 1550 °C/60 min resulting from further expansion in grain size.     

Colloidally stable polypeptide-based nanogel: Study of enzyme-mediated nanogelation in inverse miniemulsion

The current work presents a pivotal study of the nanogelation of the linear poly(N⁵-2-hydroxypropyl-L-glutamine) polymer precursor containing tyramine (TYR) units in an inverse miniemulsion by horseradish peroxidase/H₂O₂-mediated crosslinking. The effects of various n_H2O2/n_TYR ratios on the kinetics of nanogelation in the inverse miniemulsion and on the reaction time are investigated by linear sweep voltammetry, while the formation of dityramine crosslinking is explored by fluorescence spectroscopy. The study is completed using dynamic light scattering measurements, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to acquire comprehensive information about the formed nanoparticulate systems. With the optimal ratio n_H2O2/n_TYR = 2, the strategy yields in the high-quality ~ 130 nm poly(amino acid)-based nanogel, which is prepared in 2 h. The nanogel is colloidally stable under different temperature and pH conditions for over 168 h. Moreover, the demonstrated nanogel is noncytotoxic for HeLa cells and human primary fibroblasts and is quickly enzymatically hydrolyzed into small fragments during a biodegradation study in human blood plasma. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48725.     

Assessment of dietary and genetic factors influencing serum and adipose fatty acid composition in obese female identical twins

Fourteen pairs of obese female monozygotic twins were recruited for a study of genetic influences on serum and adipose fatty acid (FA) composition. Following 1 wk of inpatient stabilization, fasting serum and adipose tissue obtained by surgical excision were analyzed by thin-layer and gas chromatography. Intrapair resemblances (IPR) for individual FA were assessed by Spearman rank correlation and by analysis of variance and were found in serum cholesteryl esters (CE), triglycerides (TG), and adipose TG. With two exceptions (CE linoleate and adipose eicosapentaenoate), these IPR were limited to the nonessential FA. Palmitate had significant IPR in four lipid fractions; in serum CE and adipose TG palmitate was strongly correlated with multiple measures of adiposity. In contrast to other lipid fractions, serum phosphatidylcholine (PC) FA had 12 IPR, of which 6 were essential FA including arachidonate (r=0.76, P<0.0005), eicosapentaenoate (r=0.78, P<0.0005), and docosahexaenoate (r=0.86, P<0.0001). The PC IPR could not be explained by analysis of preadmission 7-d food records. After dividing the pairs into two groups differing and nondiffering according to fat intake of individuals in the pair, there was no evidence of a gene-environment interaction between fat intake and FA composition. The IPR for nonessential FA indicate that there is active genetic control of either food choices or postabsorptive metabolic processing. The high level of IPR in the PC fraction in contrast to the other lipid fractions suggests strong genetic influence over selection of specific FA for this membrane fraction independent of diet.     

Comparison of Mechanical and Superconducting Properties of YBaCuO and GdBaCuO Single Grains Prepared by Top-Seeded Melt Growth

It is known that mechanical properties of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) can affect the superconducting behaviour of the material. In this study, the mechanical and basic superconducting properties of single-domain YBaCuO and GdBaCuO were determined and compared. The bulk single-grain superconductor samples were prepared by top-seeded melt growth process. Distribution of trapped fields in the samples was mapped using the Hall probe technique. Levitation force was assessed using a dynamometer. Phase composition of the samples, was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. Microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. Microhardness and comprehensive strength of the prepared samples were measured at a room temperature. The GdBaCuO superconductor has shown higher average hardness than the YBCO sample; higher fragility was also observed by comprehensive strength measurement of both types. Maximum trapped magnetic field was 0.65 T at 77 K in the case of a Gd-based material. In comparison with YBaCuO, the values of the trapped magnetic field and levitation force of GdBaCuO were higher. The results obtained can be useful for rare earth element (RE) superconductor device engineering as well as for the research in the field of superconducting ceramics.     

Hot-Ball Method for Measuring Thermal Conductivity

This article deals with the theory and performance of a sensor for measuring thermal conductivity. The sensor, in the form of a small ball, generates heat and simultaneously measures its temperature response. An ideal model of the hollow sphere in an infinite medium furnishes a working equation of the hot-ball method. A constant heat flux through the surface of the ball generates the temperature field. The thermal conductivity of the surrounding medium is to be determined by the stabilized value of the temperature response, i.e., when the steady-state regime is attained. Error components of the sensor are discussed due to analysis of the deviations of the real hot-ball construction from the ideal model. The functionality of a set of hot balls has been tested, and the calibration for a limited range of thermal conductivities was performed. A working range of thermal conductivities of tested materials has been estimated to be from 0.06 W· m⁻¹ · K⁻¹ up to 1 W· m⁻¹ · K⁻¹.     

Diffractive-optics-based sensor as a tool for detection of biocompatibility of titanium and titanium-doped hydrocarbon samples

Adsorption of the elongated human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) and globular human serum albumin molecules on a titanium-based surface is monitored by analyzing permittivity and optical roughness of protein-modified surfaces by using a diffractive optical element (DOE)-based sensor and variable angle spectro-ellipsometry (VASE). Both DOE and VASE confirmed that fibrinogen forms a thicker and more packed surface adlayer compared to a more porous and weakly adsorbed albumin adlayer. A linear relation of the permittivity (ε(')) and dielectric loss (ε(')) was found for some of the dry titanium-doped hydrocarbon (TDHC) surfaces with excellent HPF adsorption ability. We discuss some aspects of TDHC's aging and its possible effects on fibrinogen adsorption.     

Isogeometric analysis in option pricing

ABSTRACT

Isogeometric analysis is a recently developed computational approach that integrates finite element analysis directly into design described by non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). In this paper, we show that price surfaces that occur in option pricing can be easily described by NURBS surfaces. For a class of stochastic volatility models, we develop a methodology for solving corresponding pricing partial integro-differential equations numerically by isogeometric analysis tools and show that a very small number of space discretization steps can be used to obtain sufficiently accurate results. Presented solution by finite element method is especially useful for practitioners dealing with derivatives where closed-form solution is not available.