Consensus based overlapping decentralized estimation with missing observations and communication faults

In this paper a new algorithm for discrete-time overlapping decentralized state estimation of large scale systems is proposed in the form of a multi-agent network based on a combination of local estimators of Kalman filtering type and a dynamic consensus strategy, assuming intermittent observations and communication faults. Under general conditions concerning the agent resources and the network topology, conditions are derived for the convergence to zero of the estimation error mean and for the mean-square estimation error boundedness. A centralized strategy based on minimization of the steady-state mean-square estimation error is proposed for selection of the consensus gains; these gains can also be adjusted by local adaptation schemes. It is also demonstrated that there exists a connection between the network complexity and efficiency of denoising, i.e., of suppression of the measurement noise influence. Several numerical examples serve to illustrate characteristic properties of the proposed algorithm and to demonstrate its applicability to real problems.     

Arrays of iso-oriented gold nanobelts

For the first time single crystalline gold nanobelt arrays with identical crystallographic orientation were obtained. A combined method consisting of directional solid-state transformation of a Fe-Au eutectoid and a well controlled electrochemical treatment enables production of arrays of nanobelts with a desired length. They have an average thickness of 25 nm and width of 200-250 nm, respectively. The obtained gold nanobelt arrays were characterized by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), X-ray diffraction, and XPS. The underlying mechanisms and the potential of this method for the production of nanosensors are discussed.     

Analog circuit sizing using local biasing

The analog circuit design approach based on local biasing is shown to be very attractive as it removes the nonlinearity in the biasing procedure. Based on this design approach, we offer a new technique for the sizing of analog integrated circuits. The proposed technique is based on the relations that exist between linear elements of a cut-set or a loop when the voltages and currents in the remaining elements are held fixed. These relations enable the designer to fix a circuit variable (biasing current or voltage of a transistor) in exchange for a set of interrelated element values that can be independently changed. The proposed procedure allows us to directly change the element values or the DC parameter values for the active loads without being concerned about the DC biasing. Therefore, the circuit designer is able to manage tradeoffs in the design by comparing multiple solutions that meet the desired criteria. Moreover, multiple circuit simulations are not necessary in the case when any of the calculated element values is not realistic or workable.     

Contractibility of overlapping decentralized control

The purpose of this paper is to generalize the concept of contractibility of decentralized control laws in the Inclusion Principle. After a system with overlapping subsystems is expanded into a larger space, and decentralized control laws are formulated for the disjoint subsystems, the laws need to be contracted for implementation in the original space. We propose broader definitions of restriction and aggregation in the framework of inclusion, which provide more flexibility in the contraction phase of the expansion–contraction process. In particular, we discuss contractibility conditions for dynamic output controllers including state observers which have been of special interest in applications.     

Diffusion of drugs from hydrogels and liposomes as drug carriers

BACKGROUND: The mass transfer of model drugs Lidocaine hydrochloride and Dihydroquercetin from hydrogels (the usual carriers for topical drugs), and hydrogels containing liposomes, as novel drug vehicles, was studied. Diffusion experiments were performed using a Franz diffusion cell. Experimental data were used to calculate drug diffusion coefficients across membranes, and their effective diffusion coefficients from hydrogels and liposome containing hydrogels. For the first time the diffusion resistance of all drug carriers was determined from corresponding diffusion coefficients. The main aim of this work was the study of drug diffusion coefficients from liposomes and their comparison with related diffusion coefficients from hydrogels to find how liposomes contribute to prolonged and controlled drug release. RESULTS: Drug diffusion coefficients were: 1.38 · 10^?8m² s^?1 for Lidocaine hydrochloride and 5.96 · 10^?9m² s^?1 for Dihydroquercetin, while corresponding effective diffusion coefficients from hydrogels were: 7.82 · 10^?10m² s^?1 and 7.98 · 10^?10m² s^?1, respectively. Effective diffusion coefficients from liposome‐containing hydrogels were:4.82 · 10^?10m² s^?1 (Lidocaine hydrochloride) and 4.305 · 10^?10m² s^?1 (Dihydroquercetin). Diffusion resistances for the two hydrogels were almost the same. Very similar values of diffusion resistances for all liposome dispersions were obtained. CONCLUSION: Calculated diffusion coefficients and resistances demonstrate that liposomes, as drug carriers, significantly affect diffusion rates. The results obtained could be used whenever diffusion‐controlled drug release is required. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

On the brachistochronic motion of the Chaplygin sleigh

This paper deals with the brachistochronic motion of the Chaplygin sleigh on a horizontal plane surface. Two cases are considered, such as: the case when the magnitude of the horizontal reaction force at the contact point of the knife edge with the surface is unbounded, and the case when the magnitude of this force is bounded. The problem is solved by applying Pontryagin’s maximum principle and singular optimal control theory. The angular acceleration of the sleigh is taken for a control variable. The problem considered is reduced to solving the corresponding two-point boundary value problem. In order to solve the obtained boundary value problem, an appropriate numerical procedure based on the shooting method is presented. Also, the paper analyzes the influence of the bounded magnitude of the reaction force on the structure of the controller sequence. It is shown that in the case of unbounded magnitude of the reaction force, the control is singular, and in the case of bounded magnitude, the control is, in a general case, a combination of singular and bang–bang controls.     

Two dimensional time-frequency analysis based eigenvalue decomposition applied to image watermarking

An application of two-dimensional time-frequency analysis and corresponding two-dimensional eigenvalue decomposition for image watermarking purpose is proposed. The eigenvalue decomposition is used to provide a criterion for watermarking coefficients selection. It is primarily used to select pixels suitable for watermarking that belong to busy image regions. The watermark embedding is performed in the space/spatial-frequency domain by using middle frequency components, whose number is determined from the eigenvalue decomposition, as well. In order to provide its imperceptibility, watermark is modelled and adapted to the local frequency content of each considered pixel. For an efficient watermark modelling procedure, the concept of space-varying filtering is employed. Furthermore, the watermark detection is done within the space/spatial-frequency domain, which facilitates detection process due to the larger number of coefficients comparing to the space or frequency domain, separately. The efficiency of the proposed procedure and its robustness in the presence of various attacks is proven on the examples.     

Self-Cleaning Surfaces for Heat Recovery During Industrial Hydrocarbon-Rich Gas Cooling: An Experimental and Numerical Study

The cooling of hydrocarbon-rich gases in industrial processes often leads to severe fouling, which impedes heat recovery, restricts operative conditions, and increases maintenance costs. The present work investigates whether self-cleaning surfaces represent a possible solution to overcome this technological bottleneck. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic treatments of compact heat exchanger plates are experimentally and numerically investigated during cooling of syngas produced from biomass gasification. The experimental evidences related to the operation of heat exchanger plates are assessed first, and a deeper insight into the relevant phenomena is thereafter obtained by performing numerical simulations. Our analysis identifies the hydrophobic treatment as the most promising solution and unveils the induced self-cleaning mechanism: the formation of small-sized and movable condensed droplets that enhance the collection and removal of gas impurities. These findings open up new routes toward the development of cheaper, more efficient, and sustainable gas cooling systems. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 317–325, 2019