A hierarchical approach for planning a multisensor multizone search for a moving target

This paper deals with a well-known problem in the general area of search theory: optimize the search resources sharing so as to maximize the probability of detection of a (moving) target. However, the problem we consider here considerably differs from the classical one. First, there is a bilevel search planning and we have to consider jointly discrete and continuous optimization problems. To this perspective original methods are proposed within a common framework. Furthermore, this framework is sufficiently general and versatile so as to be easily and successfully extended to the difficult problem of the multizone multisensor search planning for a Markovian target.     

物理学中的自然单位方法

分析了物理学中自然单位的特点，用自然单位方法给出了原子物理学中玻尔理论的全部结果．     

Reliability-based performance simulation for optimized pavement maintenance

Roadway pavement maintenance is essential for driver safety and highway infrastructure efficiency. However, regular preventive maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities are extremely costly. Unfortunately, the funds available for the M&R of highway pavement are often given lower priority compared to other national development policies, therefore, available funds must be allocated wisely. Maintenance strategies are typically implemented by optimizing only the cost whilst the reliability of facility performance is neglected. This study proposes a novel algorithm using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) technique to evaluate the cost-reliability tradeoff in a flexible maintenance strategy based on non-dominant solutions. Moreover, a probabilistic model for regression parameters is employed to assess reliability-based performance. A numerical example of a highway pavement project is illustrated to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed MOPSO algorithms. The analytical results show that the proposed approach can help decision makers to optimize roadway maintenance plans.     

Purification and characterization of parvalbumins from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthy molitrix)

BACKGROUND: As the largest producer and consumer of freshwater fish in the world, many people suffer from allergy for consuming freshwater fish in China. However, the allergen profiles of freshwater fish are rarely known. RESULTS: Parvalbumins (PVs) from the white muscle of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthy molitrix) were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatography including DEAE‐Sepharose and Superdex 75. Three PV isoforms—PV‐I, PV‐II, and PV‐III—were obtained and their molecular masses as estimated by tricine–sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 12, 11, and 14 kDa, respectively. All the PVs could be detected by anti‐frog PV monoclonal antibody. PV‐I and PV‐II were quite possibly glycoproteins, while PV‐III was not glycosylated, as analyzed by periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining. Thermal stability revealed that PV‐I and PV‐II easily formed polymers, while these proteins were stable in a pH range of 4.0–10.0. A PV gene encoding 110 amino acid residues was cloned and it revealed high identity with PVs from other species of fish. CONCLUSION: Three isotypes of PV were purified to homogeneity and one distinct PV gene was cloned in silver carp white muscle. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Identification of boundary conditions of tapered beam-like structures using static flexibility measurements

The integrity and reliability of the beam-like structures are dependent in part on their boundary conditions, which can vary with time due to damage or aging, thus the identification of boundary conditions might be one of the most significant aspects for damage detection of such structures. This paper investigates a direct method for identifying the boundary conditions of tapered beam-like structures using static flexibility measurements. The beam is modeled by a flexible tapered beam, which is constrained at one end by translational and rotational springs. The translational and rotational springs are utilized to simulate the boundary conditions of the tapered beam, and the purpose of this paper is to identify the stiffnesses of the translational and rotational springs, i.e. translational root stiffness and rotational root stiffness. It is theoretical proved that the static flexibility measured on the beam can be expressed as a function of the flexural rigidity of the beam at its constrained end, translational root stiffness and rotational root stiffness. Then, a set of linear equations for identifying the translational and rotational root stiffnesses are formed by three or more different static flexibility measurements. Finally, the proposed method is validated using both simulative and experimental examples.     

Optimization for simulation of WL-CSP subjected to drop-test with plasticity behavior

A simulation of the board-level drop-test is performed to evaluate some WL-CSP (wafer-level chip-scale packages) performances. An elasto-plastic model is applied on both solder bump and copper pad materials. It intends to demonstrate that copper plasticity is mandatory due to the large plastic strain occuring in these materials. A statistical analysis discusses the required accuracy for the modeling analysis. This analysis is combined with a components’ lifetime prediction based on a representative plastic strain. Finally, it is possible to do a relatively fast calculation while meeting the determined accuracy.     

The limits of testing particle-mediated oxidative stress in vitro in predicting diverse pathologies; relevance for testing of nanoparticles

In vitro studies with particles are a major staple of particle toxicology, generally used to investigate mechanisms and better understand the molecular events underlying cellular effects. However, there is ethical and financial pressure in nanotoxicology, the new sub-specialty of particle toxicology, to avoid using animals. Therefore an increasing amount of studies are being published using in vitro approaches and such studies require careful interpretation. We point out here that 3 different conventional pathogenic particle types, PM₁₀, asbestos and quartz, which cause diverse pathological effects, have been reported to cause very similar oxidative stress effects in cells in culture. We discuss the likely explanation and implications of this apparent paradox, and its relevance for testing in nanotoxicology.     

Preparation and dielectric properties of polymer-derived SiCTi ceramics

SiCTi ceramics were prepared by a polymer-derived-ceramic route, with allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) and bis(cyclopentadienyl) titanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) as starting materials. The cross-linking and ceramization of the AHPCS/Cp₂TiCl₂ hybrid precursors were characterized by means of FT IR, NMR, TGA and EDS. The results indicate that the cross-linking of hybrid precursors was significantly catalyzed by using Cp₂TiCl₂ as a catalyst, which might be responsible for a high ceramic yield of 80.8% at 1200 °C. The polymer-to-ceramic conversion was completed at 900 °C to give an amorphous ceramic. The chemical composition of the final ceramics could be tailored by the weight ratio of Cp₂TiCl₂ to AHPCS in feed. The microstructure and dielectric properties of final SiCTi ceramics were investigated by means of XRD, Raman spectroscopy and vector network analyzer. The results indicate that the 1600 °C SiCTi ceramics are composed of amorphous SiCTi, SiC crystal, TiC crystal and graphite. The dielectric loss of SiCTi is up to 0.34, which is 6 times higher than that of SiC (0.058), indicating that the SiCTi ceramics are promising wave-absorbing materials.     

Fault detection and identification for a class of continuous piecewise affine systems with unknown subsystems and partitions

This paper establishes a novel online fault detection and identification strategy for a class of continuous piecewise affine (PWA) systems, namely, bimodal and trimodal PWA systems. The main contributions with respect to the state‐of‐the‐art are the recursive nature of the proposed scheme and the consideration of parametric uncertainties in both partitions and in subsystems parameters. In order to handle this situation, we recast the continuous PWA into its max‐form representation and we exploit the recursive Newton‐Gauss algorithm on a suitable cost function to derive the adaptive laws to estimate online the unknown subsystem parameters, the partitions, and the loss in control authority for the PWA model. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is verified via simulations applied to the benchmark example of a wheeled mobile robot.