An intuitionistic fuzzy system for time series analysis in plant monitoring and diagnosis

We describe in this paper a proposed new approach for fuzzy inference in intuitionistic fuzzy systems. The new approach combines the outputs of two traditional fuzzy systems to obtain the final conclusion of the intuitionistic fuzzy system. The new method provides an efficient way of calculating the output of an intuitionistic fuzzy system, and as consequence can be applied to real-world problems in many areas of application. We illustrate the new approach with a simple example to motivate the ideas behind this work. We also illustrate the new approach for fuzzy inference with a more complicated example of monitoring a non-linear dynamic plant.     

An analogy between the operational voltage amplifier and the PLL

Fundamental characteristics of phase locked loop (PLL) and delay locked loop (DLL) circuits including their block diagrams and operating principles are briefly presented. The voltage follower constructed with an operational voltage amplifier (OVA) is related to those devices and considered by analogy as a voltage locked loop (VLL). A set of characteristics of this VLL and an analyzed example with a Zener diode in its feedback loop, sounds the proposed analogy. It is pointed out that a current follower built using an operational current amplifier (OCA) is susceptible to an analogous treatment. Therefore, those devices can be considered as a family of locked loops. Afterwards, the importance of phase/delay in electronic systems nowadays is highlighted putting as “laws” their circuital performance. An application example built using a PLL was feedback with a particular phase to phase converter, obtaining through PSPICE simulations, instead of a phase change between the input signal and that of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) a change in the duty cycle of the last one. The result could be explained based on the phase laws. The generalization obtained through the proposed analogy is favourable from the didactic standpoint and may lead to the development of new applications of the locked loop family.     

Second harmonic generation diagnostic of layer-by-layer deposition from Disperse Red 1 – functionalized maleic anhydride copolymer

Layer-by-layer (LBL) electrostatic assembly of polyelectrolytes is proving to be an increasingly rich and versatile technique for the formation of multilayered thin films with a wide range of electrical, magnetic, and optical properties. In the present work we synthesized a new non-linear optical (NLO) maleic acid copolymer containing Disperse Red 1 moieties, built-up multilayer assemblies by alternate adsorption of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and maleic copolymer derivative, and carried out an investigation on their second harmonic generation (SHG) properties. The resulting multilayer assemblies exhibit SHG which arises from the non-centrosymmetric alignment of the chromophores in the copolymer. The SHG signal increases with the number of chromophore-containing polymer layers, up to five layers. Further assembly reduces the signal.     

An environment for motor skill transfer based on wearable haptic communication

Personal and Ubiquitous Computing - We propose an environment for assisting in the transfer of motor skills by supporting nonverbal communication with wearable haptic technology. The proposed...     

Plastic Deformation and Ductility of AA7075 and AA6013 at Warm Temperatures Suitable to Retrogression Forming

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - A warm forming process with a simultaneous retrogression heat treatment, termed retrogression forming, can achieve good formability in high-strength...     

STRAIN RATE RELAXATION EFFECT ON FREEZING FRONT GROWTH INSTABILITY DURING PLANAR SOLIDIFICATION OF PURE METALS,PART 1. UNCOUPLED THEORY

Previous models of thermomechanically induced freezing front growth instability have assumed that the casting accumulates elastic strains as it solidifies. While this assumption is useful in providing insight into solidification thermomechanics, it fails to account for inelastic strains that normally accompany elevated temperature deformations. In this paper, growth instability during solidification of a pure metal is reexamined, assuming that the strain rate within the solidifying shell is the sum of elastic, thermal, and viscous components. This requires that a theoretical framework for plane strain thermoviscoelasticity be developed for a solidifying metal. The viscous component leads to strain rate relaxation within the casting and subsequently influences the evolution of the contact pressure and macromorphology of the freezing front. We define a strain rate relaxation parameter that determines the extent to which the casting deforms due to viscous creep. Both short-time and long-time solutions for the contact pressure are developed and subsequently examined for selected values of the strain rate relaxation parameter. The thermal and mechanical fields are assumed to be uncoupled along the metal /mold interface in the present paper while they are coupled along this interface in the companion paper.     

In vitro removal of ochratoxin A by wine lactic acid bacteria

A study was carried out to determine the in vitro interaction between ochratoxin A (OTA) and wine lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Fifteen strains belonging to five relevant oenological LAB species were grown in liquid synthetic culture medium containing OTA. The portion of OTA removed during the bacterial growth was 8 to 28%. The OTA removed from the supernatants was partially recovered (31 to 57%) from the bacterial pellet. Cell-free extracts of three representative strains were produced by disrupting cells in a French pressure cell. The ability of crude cell-free extracts to degrade OTA was studied. OTA was not degraded by cell-free extracts of wine LAB strains, and no degradation products of OTA were detected in the high-performance liquid chromatograms of the methanol extract of the bacterial pellet. On the basis of these results, we conclude that OTA removal by wine LAB is a cell-binding phenomenon. The chemistry and the molecular basis of OTA binding to wine LAB remains unknown.     

A national programme for patient and staff dose monitoring in interventional cardiology

A national programme on patient and staff dose evaluation in interventional cardiology made in cooperation with the haemodynamic section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology has recently been launched. Its aim is to propose a set of national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for patients as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and to initiate several optimisation actions to improve radiological protection of both patients and staff. Six hospitals have joined the programme and accepted to submit their data to a central database. First to be acquired were the quality control data of the X-ray systems and radiation doses of patients and professionals. The results from 9 X-ray systems, 1467 procedures and staff doses from 43 professionals were gathered. Provisional DRLs resulted in 44 Gy cm(2) for coronary angiography and 78 Gy cm(2) for interventions. The X-ray systems varied up to a factor of 5 for dose rates in reference conditions. Staff doses showed that 50 % of interventional cardiologists do not use their personal dosemeters correctly.     

Overlap Arrhythmia Syndromes Resulting from Multiple Genetic Variations Studied in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are used for genetic models of cardiac diseases. We report an arrhythmia syndrome consisting of Early Repolarization Syndrome (ERS) and Short QT Syndrome (SQTS). The index patient (MMRL1215) developed arrhythmia-mediated syncope after electrocution and was found to carry six mutations. Functional alterations resulting from these mutations were examined in patient-derived hiPSC-CMs. Electrophysiological recordings were made in hiPSC-CMs from MMRL1215 and healthy controls. ECG analysis of the index patient showed slurring of the QRS complex and QTc = 326 ms. Action potential (AP) recordings from MMRL1215 myocytes showed slower spontaneous activity and AP duration was shorter. Field potential recordings from MMRL1215 hiPSC-CMs lack a “pseudo” QRS complex suggesting reduced inward current(s). Voltage clamp analysis of I_Ca showed no difference in the magnitude of current. Measurements of I_Na reveal a 60% reduction in I_Na density in MMRL1215 hiPSC-CMs. Steady inactivation and recovery of I_Na was unaffected. mRNA analysis revealed ANK2 and SCN5A are significantly reduced in hiPSC-CM derived from MMRL1215, consistent with electrophysiological recordings. The polygenic cause of ERS/SQTS phenotype is likely due to a loss of I_Na due to a mutation in PKP2 coupled with and a gain of function in I_K,ATP due to a mutation in ABCC9.