A strategic classification support system for brownfield redevelopment

Brownfield redevelopment (BR) is an ongoing issue for governments, communities, and consultants around the world. It is also an increasingly popular research topic in several academic fields. Strategic decision support that is now available for BR is surveyed and assessed. Then a dominance-based rough-set approach is developed and used to classify cities facing BR issues according to the level of two characteristics, BR effectiveness and BR future needs. The data for the classification are based on the widely available results of a survey of US cities. The unique features of the method are its reduced requirement for preference information, its ability to handle missing information effectively, and the easily understood linguistic decision rules that it generates, based on a training classification provided by experts. The resulting classification should be a valuable aid to cities and governments as they plan their BR projects and budgets.     

The In-Situ Technique for Measuring Input Impedance and Connection Effects of RFID Tag Antenna

In this paper, an indirect noninvasive method for measuring input impedance and the variations in the assembly of the interconnect and packaging between antenna and the integrated circuit (IC) effects of passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder (tags) antennas is presented. The analysis of different RFID tags is presented together with the experimental data.     

A robust and reliable method for detecting signals of interest in multiexponential decays

The concept of rejecting the null hypothesis for definitively detecting a signal was extended to relaxation spectrum space for multiexponential reconstruction. The novel test was applied to the problem of detecting the myelin signal, which is believed to have a time constant below 40 ms, in T2 decays from magnetic resonance imagining of the human brain. It was demonstrated that the test allowed the detection of a signal in a relaxation spectrum by using only the information in the data, thus avoiding any potentially unreliable prior information. The test was implemented both explicitly and implicitly for simulated T2 measurements. For the explicit implementation, the null hypothesis was that a relaxation spectrum existed that had no signal below 40 ms and that was consistent with the T2 decay. The confidence level by which the null hypothesis could be rejected gave the confidence level that there was signal below the 40 ms time constant. The explicit implementation assessed the test's performance with and without prior information where the prior information was the non-negative relaxation spectrum assumption. The test was also implemented implicitly with a data conserving multiexponential reconstruction algorithm that used left invertible matrices and that has been published previously. The implicit and explicit implementations demonstrated similar characteristics in detecting the myelin signal in both the simulated and experimental T2 decays, providing additional evidence to support the close link between the two tests. When the relaxation spectrum was assumed to be non-negative, the novel test required signal to noise ratios (SNRs) approaching 1000 in the T2 decays for detection of the myelin signal with high confidence. When the relaxation spectrum was not assumed to be non-negative, the SNR requirements for a detection with high confidence increased by a factor of 25. The application of the test to a T2 decay from human white matter, measured in vivo with a SNR of 650, demonstrated a solid detection of the signal below 40 ms believed to be due to the myelin water. This study demonstrated the robustness and reliability of extending the concept of rejecting the null hypothesis to relaxation spectrum space. The study also raised serious questions about the susceptibility to false positive detection of the myelin signal of the multiexponential reconstruction algorithms currently in use.     

A new bioreactor for the controlled application of complex mechanical stimuli for cartilage tissue engineering

Mechanical stimuli have been shown to enhance chondrogenesis on both animal and human chondrocytes cultured in vitro. Different mechanical stimuli act simultaneously in vivo in cartilage tissue and their effects have been extensively studied in vitro, although often in a separated manner. A new bioreactor is described where different mechanical stimuli, i.e. shear stress and hydrostatic pressure, can be combined in different ways to study the mechanobiology of tissue engineered cartilage. Shear stress is imposed on cells by forcing the culture medium through the scaffolds, whereas a high hydrostatic pressure up to 15 MPa is generated by pressurizing the culture medium. Fluid-dynamic experimental tests have been performed and successful validation of the bioreactor has been carried out by dynamic culture of tissue-engineered cartilage constructs. The bioreactor system allows the investigation of the combined effects of different mechanical stimuli on the development of engineered cartilage, as well as other possible three-dimensional tissue-engineered constructs.     

Controller design for flexible structure vibration suppression with robustness to contacts

Model-based feedback control of vibration in flexible structures can be complicated by the possibility that interaction with an external body occurs. If not accounted for, instability or poor performance may result. In this paper, a method is proposed for achieving robust vibration control of flexible structures under contact. The method uses robust linear state feedback, coupled with a state estimation scheme utilizing contact force measurement. Uncertain contact characteristics are modelled by a sector-bounded non-linear function, such that state feedback gains can be synthesized using a matrix inequality formulation of the Popov stability criterion. A separation theorem is used to establish a robust H₂ cost bound for the closed loop system. Experimental results from a multi-mode flexible structure testbed confirm that vibration attenuation and stability can be maintained over a broad range of contact characteristics, in terms of compliance and clearance.     

达到标准,收益很容易吗?

我非常钟爱办公用品商店的商业模式,就如同按下按钮那般简单。如果收益同按按钮一样简单,你能想象将会发生什么吗?现在就有这样一个例子:我们写(按钮),您接受(动),每个人都获取收益(这很简单)。标准其实就处于可盈利的按钮之间。我坚信ISA88第5部分标准的价值,如果可以得到广泛的应用,将意味着许多设施的盈     

为什么显示器也需要通过Vista认证

最近有些读者朋友问：现在微软为什么这么霸道,连显示器都要通过它的认证,没有通过Windows Vista认证的液晶显示器会有什么不同吗？液晶显示器和Windows Vista操作系统之间到底有什么必要的联系呢？通过Windows Vista认证的显示器又有什么好处呢？针对上述种种疑问,今天我们将为大家一一解答。     

Thermal conductivity of high-T c crystals: Dependence on magnitude and orientation of magnetic field,and effect of Zn doping

We present precise measurements of in-plane thermal conductivity for superconducting single crystals of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (YBCO) withT _c =92 and 60 K, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO), and of Zn-doped YBCO. Magnetization and thermal conductivity data obtained with the same 90-K YBCO crystal demonstrate a close relationship between the magnetic thermal resistivity and the internal magnetic fieldB in a superconductor in the mixed state. For all superconductors studied here, the magnetic thermal resistivity is a sublinear function of magnetic field. The origins of the nonlinearity are discussed. Angular dependences of the magnetic thermal resistivity have been shown to depart from the anisotropic 3D superconductor model and are in quantitative agreement with a quasi-2D model. Implications for spatial modulation of the order parameter are made.     

Management of advanced urogenital cancer: treatment of metastasis

In clinical trials in advanced urogenital cancer with metastasis there are cases showing a poor clinical response and poor prognosis. The cure of advanced urogenital cancer still remains a major problem in management. The present paper is a summary of 8 articles presented at the symposium on "Management of advanced urogenital cancer: Treatment of metastasis" in the 43th Annual Meeting of Center Section of Japanese Urological Association in November, 1993. The present status, problems and future conception of treatment modalities for advanced urogenital cancer were discussed.