Minimal realizations of transfer-function matrices by means of matrix continued fraction

The matrix continued fraction technique is utilized to obtain the minimal realization of a transfer-function matrix with various inputs and outputs. If the ratio of the rank and the order of a square transfer-function matrix is an integer and there are no numerically ill-conditional elements in the matrix, then the matrix Routh algorithm is applied for the minimal realization. A method is also presented to deal with ill-conditional cases.     

THE EFFECTS OF SOYBEAN PROTEIN-DERIVED HYDROLYSATE ON LIPID METABOLISM IN RATS FED A HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIET

This study was performed to investigate the effects of the peptic undigested fraction derived from soybean protein hydrolysate (UDSP) on lipid metabolism in rats fed a cholesterol‐enriched diet (1%). Eighteen male Wistar rats‐weighing 205–235 g were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (20% casein), U2 (18% casein + 2% UDSP), and U5 group (15% casein + 5% UDSP). After 4 weeks, rats were sacrificed, and the lipid profiles of the plasma, liver, and feces were determined. Body weight gain, daily food intake, and liver weight showed no differences among the groups, but the feeding efficiency ratio in the U5 group was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). There were no changes in plasma cholesterol, LDL‐C, HDL‐C, and liver cholesterol levels in each group. However, the U5 group showed a significantly lower VLDL‐C compared to the control and U2 groups. In addition, the plasma and liver TG content were lower in the U2 and U5 groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the fecal bile acid and total neutral steroid excretions were higher in the U2 and U5 groups (P < 0.05) compared to the control group.     

Modelling large dynamical systems with industrial specifications

For a linear single-input, single-output time-invariant system, techniques for constructing a low-order model and modelling an approximate high-order model with industrial specifications are presented.

First, a second-order model with a phase-advance factor is established. Next, a. third-order model constructed with industrial specifications is illustrated. Finally, a method to construct an approximate high-order model from a low-order one via continued fraction technique is presented.     

OPTIMAL CONTROL OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS VIA INTEGRATED NEURAL NETWORK AND GENETIC ALGORITHMS

The successful operation of wastewater treatment plants involves many uncertain factors. Not only the physical and chemical properties of wastewater streams but also the complexity of biological mechanism would significantly influence the performance of treatment process. Due to the rising concerns of environmental and economic impacts, improved control algorithms, using artificial intelligence technologies, have gradually received wide attention in the scientific community. This paper develops a genetic algorithm-based neural network for the assistance of intelligent controller design. An industrial wastewater treatment plant in Taiwan verified the applicability of such a methodology. The hybrid intelligent control technology applied in this paper is suitable to many other types of wastewater treatment plants by a slightly modified concept.     

OBSERVER-BASED HYBRID CONTROL OF SAMPLED-DATA UNCERTAIN SYSTEM WITH INPUT TIME DELAY

This paper proposes a new digital redesign method for determining the hybrid controller of a continuous-time system with input time delay using an observer-based digital controller. The proposed method together with the genetic algorithms is used to determine: (1) the interval digital model of a continuous-time uncertain system with input time delay, (2) the interval digital redesign control law and (3) the interval digital observer of the original continuous-time uncertain observer with input time delay. Moreover, the result is less conservative than those obtained by the existing interval methods. A discrete-time observer is built by the original continuous-time observer with input-time-delay control law and a predictor such that the estimated states of the redesigned discrete-time observer closely match those of the original continuous-time observer with input time delay not only at sampling instants but also the behavior of the system state during the sampling interval is optimal by minimizing the hybrid performance index. The digitally redesigned observer-based controller can closely match the states of the digitally redesigned uncertain sampled-data system with those of the original continuous-time observer-based controlled uncertain system with input time delay.     

Hybrid suboptimal control of multi-rate multi-loop sampled-data systems

A hybrid state-space control scheme for suboptimal digital control of a cascaded continuous-time system using dual rate sampling is presented. First, an optimal regional-pole placement technique is utilized to find an optimal state-feedback control law for a subsystem connected in the inner loop of the overall system. Next, the designed analogue control law is converted into an equivalent fast-rate digital control law using the recently developed digital redesign technique. Then, the digitally redesigned subsystem is converted into an equivalent continuous-time model. As a result, the overall continuous-time model can be formulated from the converted analogue subsystem and the rest of the analogue subsystems to be designed. Moreover, the optimal regional-pole placement technique is applied again to the overall continuous-time model in order to obtain the overall analogue state-feedback control law. Finally, the digital redesign technique is employed again to convert the overall analogue control law obtained to an equivalent slow-rate digital control law. For practical implementations of the developed digital control laws with various sampling rates, the existing ideal state reconstructor method is redeveloped to construct the ideal discrete-lime states using multi-rate input-output data. A practical semi-active terminal homing missile is used as an illustrative example to demonstrate the proposed design method.     

Effect of Dose on Gamma Irradiation Induced Formation of Free Radicals in Freeze-Dried Natural Actomyosin

Freeze-dried preparations of actomyosin from chicken breast muscle were irradiated in liquid nitrogen with gamma radiation from a ce-sium-137 source at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kGy. The ESR spectra at – 130°C were recorded with an EPR spectrometer. Signal intensities increased linearly with radiation. Analysis of data indicated a ten-fold rise in dose resulted in an almost seven-fold increase in number of free radicals generated. Determining the extent of such interaction on a major structural protein can help assess type and extent of reactions which might occur on irradiation of animal products.     

台北101大楼钢结构工程之施工监造(Ⅰ)

坐落于台北盆地软弱地质以及饱受地震、台风等天灾侵袭的“TAIPEI 101”成为了世界最高建筑物大楼的代名词,相较于海外超高层大楼的环境与条件。508m高的台北101大楼有着截然不同的困难与挑战。然而在众人的瞩目下。台北101大楼已昂首耸立于台北新天空,其整体工程亦已实质完工。“Bringing Taipci to The World”一直是业主团队期望打造的远大愿景,在国际观的思维考量下,安全、品质与专业分工为本工程最重要诉求,在“边设计、边施工”的模式下．业主一台北金融大楼股份有限公司选择了结合海内、外优秀国际团队进行联合承揽规划设计、监造管理与营建施工。在钢结构相关工程之施工与监造上,如特殊钢板规格以及相称焊材的研发与量产、巨型钢柱分节与吊运设备、巨柱制造电焊工法与过程控制、钢结构现场吊装与电焊品质控制、10,000psi（69MPa）之巨柱柱内灌浆规划与施工、429m高度的柱内灌浆验证与施工、裙楼80m跨距之造型屋顶构架制造与安装、5.5m直径及660t重之大型调质阻尼器质量块吊装与电焊、508m高度之塔尖顶升施工、331地震造成之损害与修护。以及配合多次施工中进行之大幅度补充设计及变更设计等等均为本工程艰困的施工特性。本公司有幸实质参与兴建台北101大楼之结构设计与结构监造工作长达七年时间,在所有团队的不懈努力下,台北101之结构工程终告圆满完成。本文旨在概要说明本工程钢结构工程之施工与监造之历程与结果,并佐以相关检讨与说明,期能供为学术界与工程界之参考。本文为第一部分。     

Physical and Chemical Changes in Fermented Peanut and Soybean Pastes Containing Kojis Prepared Using Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus

Studies were made to determine and compare physical and chemical changes occurring during 90 days of fermentation of miso-like products containing peanuts and soybeans as well as a combination of these oilseeds. Two koji molds (Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus) and two levels of NaCl (6 and 12%) were evaluated. The L color values decreased more rapidly in misos containing A. oryzae koji compared to misos containing R. oligosporus koji and changes occurred earlier in low-salt formulae than in high-salt formulae. The type of mold koji had no apparent effect on changes in viscosity. The free fatty acid content of misos increased dramatically during the first 4 days of fermentation. Misos containing A. oryzae koji had higher soluble nitrogen and free amino acid content in the final product than did those containing R. oligosporus kojis. Peanut miso products had higher soluble nitrogen contents than did respective soybean products; however, the type of oilseed had little effect on accumulation of free amino acids.