Lyapunov-based control for switched power converters

Beginning with fundamental properties such as passivity or incremental passivity of the network elements comprised by a switched power converter, the nominal open-loop operation of a broad class of such converters is shown to be stable in the large via a Lyapunov argument. The obtained Lyapunov function is then shown to be useful for designing globally stabilizing controls that include adaptive schemes for handling uncertain nominal parameters. Numerical simulations illustrate the application of this control approach in DC-DC converters     

A vertically integrated GaAs bipolar dynamic RAM cell with storagetimes of 4.5 h at room temperature

The storage times of FET-accessed GaAs dynamic RAM cells are limited to less than 1 min at room temperature by gate leakage in the access transistor. These transistor leakage mechanisms have been eliminated by designing a vertically integrated DRAM cell in which an n-p-n bipolar access transistor is merged with a p-n-p storage capacitor. Storage times of 4.5 h are obtained at room temperature, a 1000-fold increase over the best FET-accessed cells     

Use of a doubly polarized laser for remote powering of anintegrated optical modulator

Stable operation of an integrated optic modulator is demonstrated using a 1.3 μm doubly polarized laser as a depolarized source in conjunction with a long run of ordinary fiber. The laser is found to be unusually susceptible to feedback due to gain competition between the polarization modes. The resulting low-frequency polarization noise is significantly reduced by the addition of fiber isolators to the system     

Algorithms and software tools for ordering clone libraries: application to the mapping of the genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

A complete set of software tools to aid the physical mapping of a genome has been developed and successfully applied to the genomic mapping of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Two approaches were used for ordering single-copy hybridisation probes: one was based on the simulated annealing algorithm to order all probes, and another on inferring the minimum-spanning subset of the probes using a heuristic filtering procedure. Both algorithms produced almost identical maps, with minor differences in the order of repetitive probes and those having identical hybridisation patterns. A separate algorithm fitted the clones to the established probe order. Approaches for handling experimental noise and repetitive elements are discussed. In addition to these programs and the database management software, tools for visualizing and editing the data are described. The issues of combining the information from different libraries are addressed. Also, ways of handling multiple-copy probes and non-hybridisation data are discussed.     

Accurate conductor Q-factor of dielectric resonator placed in anMIC environment

The unloaded Q-factor of a dielectric resonator is degraded due to conductor loss when it is placed in an MIC environment. The authors report approximate but quite accurate closed form expressions for the Q-factor due to conductor loss. The results obtained are in good agreement with those of rigorous numerical methods. The effect of geometrical parameters on the useful tuning range of the structure is studied. Finally, an explicit relationship between the resonant frequency sensitivity factors and the conductor Q-factor is derived     

Performance Characteristics of a Drying Heat Pump Using Superheated Steam

A complete mathematicalhumerical model is proposed, in order to simulate the performance characteristics of a novel concept of a drying heat pump based on the theory of minimum energy cyclcs. The drying heat pump involvcs vapour condensation in a Lava1 nozzle. removal of the liquid phase in a supersonic separator as well as compression of the working medium. which is superheared vapour.     

Employment and alcohol: analysis of a clinical casuistic

The relationship between alcohol and work was studied in a group of 537 voluntary patients (393 male and 144 female) admitted to the department of Medicina del Lavoro, Pavia University for alcohol rehabilitation. The highest incidence of alcohol abuse was found in non-working subjects (pensioners, unemployed, housewives) although the start of excessive drinking takes place after beginning a working activity; a cause-effect relationship between these two factors can not be clearly determined, however. It is true that the stress provoked by this new condition (introduction to the work experience) can, in certain subjects, be a contributing factor in alcohol abuse. The increasingly lower age of initiation to alcohol reconfirms the need for prevention and instruction even at scholastic level. We can deduce how no working condition, low age and low education can constitute makers of risk for alcohol abuse.     

Thin layer activation of chromium with deuterons

In view of the recent increased interest in chromium based materials, the thin layer activation of chromium has been studied. This paper considers relative activity as a function of depth for the deuteron induced reaction in natural chromium. The presented results are based on calculations using computer codes and experimental verification using the stacked foil technique and electropolishing of activated bulk samples. A very good agreement of the various methods was obtained. It is shown that using 10 MeV deuterons, a reasonable homogeneous activation over 120 μm can be obtained.