Multiple models,multiplicative noise and linear quadratic control—algorithmic aspects

Numerical solution of certain linear quadratic (LQ) control problems for robust design is addressed. An iterative method is suggested and analysed for solving a minimax multiple model LQ control problem. A convergent iterative method is studied for finding the constant feedback gains of a given linear controller so as to solve a spectral radius functional minimization problem for multiple plants. Furthermore, a convergent iterative method is proposed for solving the maximum entropy parametric LQ control problem with multiplicative noise.     

Newton's method for solving parametric linear quadratic control problems

Newton's method is applied to parametric linear quadratic control problems, including the optimal output feedback problem and the optimal decentralized control problem. Newton's equations are obtained as a system of coupled linear matrix equations. They are solved iteratively using the conjugate gradient method. In order to reduce the amount of work associated with the procedure, an inexact newtonian algorithm is also considered. In this algorithm, an approximate solution of the Newton equations is computed in such a way that the asymptotic convergence rate is quadratic.     

Exit pupil expander with a large field of view based on diffractive optics

Abstract— The field of view is an important parameter of a near‐to‐eye display. To achieve an immersive viewing experience, the field of view should be as high as possible. Presently, in most of the commercially available devices the field of view is between 15° and 30°. In this paper, a large‐field‐of‐view exit pupil expander that is based on diffractive optics was demonstrated. Usually these types of diffractive expanders cannot have a field of view much more than 25°. Here, an exit pupil expander with an extended field of view, based on two stacked plates, was demonstrated. The expander is designed for green light and it achieves a field of view of more than 40°.     

Preservation of protein fluorescence in embedded human dendritic cells for targeted 3D light and electron microscopy

In this study, we present a correlative microscopy workflow to combine detailed 3D fluorescence light microscopy data with ultrastructural information gained by 3D focused ion beam assisted scanning electron microscopy. The workflow is based on an optimized high pressure freezing/freeze substitution protocol that preserves good ultrastructural detail along with retaining the fluorescence signal in the resin embedded specimens. Consequently, cellular structures of interest can readily be identified and imaged by state of the art 3D confocal fluorescence microscopy and are precisely referenced with respect to an imprinted coordinate system on the surface of the resin block. This allows precise guidance of the focused ion beam assisted scanning electron microscopy and limits the volume to be imaged to the structure of interest. This, in turn, minimizes the total acquisition time necessary to conduct the time consuming ultrastructural scanning electron microscope imaging while eliminating the risk to miss parts of the target structure. We illustrate the value of this workflow for targeting virus compartments, which are formed in HIV‐pulsed mature human dendritic cells.     

Exploration of the two‐photon excitation spectrum of fluorescent dyes at wavelengths below the range of the Ti:Sapphire laser

We have studied the wavelength dependence of the two‐photon excitation efficiency for a number of common UV excitable fluorescent dyes; the nuclear stains DAPI, Hoechst and SYTOX Green, chitin‐ and cellulose‐staining dye Calcofluor White and Alexa Fluor 350, in the visible and near‐infrared wavelength range (540–800 nm). For several of the dyes, we observe a substantial increase in the fluorescence emission intensity for shorter excitation wavelengths than the 680 nm which is the shortest wavelength usually available for two‐photon microscopy. We also find that although the rate of photo‐bleaching increases at shorter wavelengths, it is still possible to acquire many images with higher fluorescence intensity. This is particularly useful for applications where the aim is to image the structure, rather than monitoring changes in emission intensity over extended periods of time. We measure the excitation spectrum when the dyes are used to stain biological specimens to get a more accurate representation of the spectrum of the dye in a cell environment as compared to solution‐based measurements.     

Automatic detection and analysis of cell motility in phase‐contrast time‐lapse images using a combination of maximally stable extremal regions and Kalman filter approaches

Phase‐contrast illumination is simple and most commonly used microscopic method to observe nonstained living cells. Automatic cell segmentation and motion analysis provide tools to analyze single cell motility in large cell populations. However, the challenge is to find a sophisticated method that is sufficiently accurate to generate reliable results, robust to function under the wide range of illumination conditions encountered in phase‐contrast microscopy, and also computationally light for efficient analysis of large number of cells and image frames. To develop better automatic tools for analysis of low magnification phase‐contrast images in time‐lapse cell migration movies, we investigated the performance of cell segmentation method that is based on the intrinsic properties of maximally stable extremal regions (MSER). MSER was found to be reliable and effective in a wide range of experimental conditions. When compared to the commonly used segmentation approaches, MSER required negligible preoptimization steps thus dramatically reducing the computation time. To analyze cell migration characteristics in time‐lapse movies, the MSER‐based automatic cell detection was accompanied by a Kalman filter multiobject tracker that efficiently tracked individual cells even in confluent cell populations. This allowed quantitative cell motion analysis resulting in accurate measurements of the migration magnitude and direction of individual cells, as well as characteristics of collective migration of cell groups. Our results demonstrate that MSER accompanied by temporal data association is a powerful tool for accurate and reliable analysis of the dynamic behaviour of cells in phase‐contrast image sequences. These techniques tolerate varying and nonoptimal imaging conditions and due to their relatively light computational requirements they should help to resolve problems in computationally demanding and often time‐consuming large‐scale dynamical analysis of cultured cells.     

The work of CIB W56

Paavo Hassinen from the Laboratory of Structural Engineering at the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and Pentti Äystö from the collaborating company YIT‐Corporation, Makrotalo, study the short term static properties of a four layer sandwich panel and compare it with the usual three layer panel. The results are based on the calculations and loading tests carried out in the laboratory at VTT.     

Block bootstrap methods for the estimation of the intensity of a spatial point process with confidence bounds

This paper deals with the estimation of the intensity of a planar point process on the basis of a single point pattern, observed in a rectangular window. If the model assumptions of stationarity and isotropy hold, the method of block bootstrapping can be used to estimate the intensity of the process with confidence bounds. The results of two variants of block bootstrapping are compared with a parametric approximation based on the assumption of a Gaussian distribution of the numbers of points in deterministic subwindows of the original pattern. The studies were performed on patterns obtained by simulation of well‐known point process models (Poisson process, two Matérn cluster processes, Matérn hardcore process, Strauss hardcore process). They were also performed on real histopathological data (point patterns of capillary profiles of 12 cases of prostatic cancer). The methods are presented as worked examples on two cases, where we illustrate their use as a check on stationarity (homogeneity) of a point process with respect to different fields of vision. The paper concludes with various methodological discussions and suggests possible extensions of the block bootstrap approach to other fields of spatial statistics.     

PV-Pilot Plants in Europe - Status of Operation

In 1980, the CEC launched a call for tenders for photovoltaic pilot projects. Since mid 1984, all the relating plants are in operation. In late summer 198S, the WIP has been charged to inspect the PV plants, so as to gather information on the operational status of the systems.

This inspection showed that most of the plants are working satisfactorily. Nevertheless, optimization measures are possible for many installations in the field of power management and conditioning systems, data acquisition and recording, battery management and charge controlling, loads and load matching, software, maintenance and documentation.

So far, the PV modules themselves, the support structures and batteries have shown to be trouble-free components of PV systems.

In order to preserve the potential of the PV plants and make good use of it, the Commission sponsors, in the frame of the current photovoltaic R & D Programme, follow-up activities on the existing installations.