Multi-functional biochip for medical diagnostics and pathogen detection

We describe a multi-functional biochip (MFB), which uses two different types of bioreceptors, including nucleic acid and antibody probes, on a single platform. The multi-functional capability of the MFB device for biomedical diagnostics is illustrated by measurements of DNA probes specific to gene fragments of Bacillus anthracis and antibody probes targeted to Escherichia coli. Calibration curves for monitoring pathogenic species using antibody probes against E. coli and DNA probes for B. anthracis illustrate the capability of the device for medical diagnostics and for quantitative detection of pathogenic agents.     

Effects of vertical vibration on passenger activities: writing and drinking.

Two laboratory studies have investigated how handwriting ability and holding a cup of liquid depend on the characteristics of whole-body vertical vibration. The effects of vibration magnitude (0.16 to 2.5 ms-2 r.m.s.), vibration frequency (0.5 to 10 Hz), and vibration duration (2 cycles to 10 s) on handwriting were studied with 20 subjects. Subjects were asked to copy letters of the alphabet by writing on a hand-held surface. Writing speed decreased and subjective ratings of writing difficulty increased with increasing vibration magnitude, particularly in the frequency range 4 to 8 Hz. Writing difficulty also increased with increasing duration of vibration. A 10 s exposure to 5 Hz vibration at 2.0 ms-2 r.m.s. resulted in subjective estimates corresponding to 'extremely difficult'. The effects of vibration magnitude (0.63 to 1.6 ms-2 r.m.s.), vibration frequency (0.5 to 10 Hz), and vibration duration (2 cycles to 10 s) on the spilling of liquid from a hand-held cup were also investigated in a group of 20 subjects. The probability of spilling the liquid, the quantity of liquid spilt, and subject's estimates of the probability of spillage were determined for all conditions. Greatest interference with the task occurred at 4 Hz, with the lowest vibration magnitude (0.63 ms-2 r.m.s.) causing measured and estimated spillage probabilities of approximately 85%. The interference was much less at other frequencies, with 0.63 ms-2 r.m.s. causing less than 10% measured probability of spillage below 3 Hz and above 5 Hz. The estimated probability of spillage was generally greater than the observed probability of spillage when the spillage probability was low, but less than the observed probability when the spillage probability was high. Increasing the duration of vibration increased the probability of spillage, and also increased the volume of liquid spilt.     

Discomfort of seated persons exposed to low frequency lateral and roll oscillation: Effect of seat cushion

The discomfort caused by lateral oscillation, roll oscillation, and fully roll-compensated lateral oscillation has been investigated at frequencies between 0.25 and 1.0 Hz when sitting on a rigid seat and when sitting on a compliant cushion, both without a backrest. Judgements of vibration discomfort and the transmission of lateral and roll oscillation through the seat cushion were obtained with 20 subjects. Relative to the rigid seat, the cushion increased lateral acceleration and roll oscillation at the lower frequencies and also increased discomfort during lateral oscillation (at frequencies less than 0.63 Hz), roll oscillation (at frequencies less than 0.4 Hz), and fully roll-compensated lateral oscillation (at frequencies between 0.315 and 0.5 Hz). The root-sums-of-squares of the frequency-weighted lateral and roll acceleration at the seat surface predicted the greater vibration discomfort when sitting on the cushion. The frequency-dependence of the predicted discomfort may be improved by adjusting the frequency weighting for roll acceleration at frequencies between 0.25 and 1.0 Hz.     

A matrix-free line-search algorithm for nonconvex optimization

In this paper, we have developed a new algorithm for solving nonconvex large-scale problems. The new algorithm performs explicit matrix modifications adaptively, mimicing the implicit modifications used by trust-region methods. Thus, it shares the equivalent theoretical strength of trust-region approaches, without needing to accommodate an explicit step-size constraint. We show that the algorithm is well suited for solving very large-scale nonconvex problems whenever Hessian-vector products are available. The numerical results on the CUTEr problems demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in the context of a line-search method for large-scale unconstrained nonconvex optimization. Moreover, applications in deep-learning problems further illustrate the usefulness of this algorithm. It does not share any of the prohibitive traits of popular matrix-free algorithms such as truncated conjugate gradient (CG) due to the difficult nature of deep-learning problems. Thus the proposed algorithm serves to bridge the gap between the needs of data-mining community and existing state-of-the-art approaches embraced foremost by the optimization community. Moreover, the proposed approach can be realized with minimal modification to the CG algorithm itself with negligible storage and computational overhead.     

An approach to fuzzy control of nonlinear systems: stability anddesign issues

Presents a design methodology for stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems. First, the authors represent a nonlinear plant with a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model. Then a model-based fuzzy controller design utilizing the concept of the so-called “parallel distributed compensation” is employed. The main idea of the controller design is to derive each control rule so as to compensate each rule of a fuzzy system. The design procedure is conceptually simple and natural. Moreover, the stability analysis and control design problems can be reduced to linear matrix inequality (LMI) problems. Therefore, they can be solved efficiently in practice by convex programming techniques for LMIs. The design methodology is illustrated by application to the problem of balancing and swing-up of an inverted pendulum on a cart     

Neutron scattering as a probe of particle-like excitations in superfluid4He: A model calculation

In the microscopic theory of Bose-condensed liquids, the condensate wave function leads to a coupling of the density fluctuations and the single-particle excitations. A simple parametrized model of this based on coupling weakly damped zero-sound modes with strongly damped free-particle-like excitations Q ²/2m* explains why the phonon-roton resonance inS(Q, ) for superfluid⁴He exists above and belowT but only plays the role of an elementary excitation belowT . It is pointed out that this model also predicts thatS(Q, ) should exhibit a weak, low-frequency peak centered atQ ²/2m*, with weight roughly proportional to the condensate fractionn ₀. As a stimulus to further experimental searches for this branch, some model calculations are given forS(Q, ) forQ1 Å^–1.     

The use of a uniquely encoded light pattern for range data acquisition

Building a three-dimensional vision system requires three-dimensional scene information in the form of range data. Using a structured light system accompanied by the triangulation method is a typical approach to obtain such data. In this paper, we present a ranging method using an encoded grid light pattern. Our method is different from the previous approaches in such a way that the codes are unique for any grid intersection points and maximal for a given set of code primitives. An efficient data acquisition procedure is obtained by applying the uniqueness of a code. The encoding scheme for the light pattern and the decoding scheme for the imaged illuminated pattern are presented. We also discuss a fault-tolerant approach which makes the ranging system robust.