Robust fuzzy stabilization of dithered chaotic systems using island-based random optimization algorithm

Applying dither to highly nonlinear systems may suppress chaotic phenomena, but dynamic performance, such as convergence rate and disturbance attenuation, is usually not guaranteed. This paper presents a dithered H_∞ robust fuzzy control scheme to stabilize chaotic systems that ensures disturbance attenuation bounds. In the proposed scheme, Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy linear models are used to describe the relaxed models of the dithered chaotic system, and fuzzy controllers are designed based on an extension to the concept of parallel distributed compensation (PDC). Sufficient condition for the existence of the H_∞ robust fuzzy controllers is presented in terms of a novel linear matrix inequalities (LMI) form which takes full consideration of modeling error and disturbances, but cannot be solved by the standard procedures. In order to solve the LMI problem and to identify the chaotic systems as T-S fuzzy modes, we propose a compound optimization strategy called the island-based random-walk algorithm (IRA). The algorithm is composed of a set of communicating random-walk optimization procedures concatenated with the down-hill simplex method. The design procedure and validity of the proposed scheme is demonstrated via numerical simulation of the dithered fuzzy control of a chaotic system.     

Safety Evaluation of Green Tea Polyphenols Consumption in Middle‐aged Ovariectomized Rat Model

This work evaluates chronic safety in middle‐aged ovariectomized rats supplemented with different dosages of green tea polyphenols (GTP) in drinking water. The experiment used 6‐mo‐old sham (n = 39) and ovariectomized (OVX, n = 143) female rats. All sham (n = 39) and 39 of the OVX animals received no GTP treatment and their samples were collected for outcome measures at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo (n = 13 per group for each). The remaining OVX animals were randomized into 4 groups receiving 0.15%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% (n = 26 for each) of GTP (wt/vol), respectively, in drinking water for 3 and 6 mo. No mortality or abnormal treatment‐related findings in clinical observations or ophthalmologic examinations were noted. No treatment‐related macroscopic or microscopic findings were noted for animals administered 1.5% GTP supplementation. Throughout the study, there was no difference in the body weight among all OVX groups. In all OVX groups, feed intake and water consumption significantly decreased with GTP dose throughout the study period. At 6 mo, GTP intake did not affect hematology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis, except for phosphorus and blood urea nitrogen (increased), total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, and urine pH (decreased). This study reveals that the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) of GTP is 1.5% (wt/vol) in drinking water, the highest dose used in this study.     

Automated targeting for inter-plant water integration

Apart from in-plant water recovery, inter-plant water integration (IPWI) offers another promising mean for the reduction of fresh water and wastewater flowrates for process plants. This paper extends the automated targeting technique that was developed for single water network into IPWI. This optimisation-based technique is based on the concept of pinch analysis, which enables the setting of various network targets prior to detailed design. The automated targeting technique is formulated as a linear programming model for which global optimum is guaranteed. The proposed technique is demonstrated using several industrial and literature examples.     

Specific interactions in miscible polymer blends of poly(2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) with polyvinylpyrrolidone

The miscibility behaviour and hydrogen‐bonding interaction in blends of poly(2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PHPMA) with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier‐transform infrared spectra. This polymer blend was miscible over the whole composition range and an unusually large positive deviation of T_g from the linearity rule was observed, indicating strong hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group of PHPMA and the carbonyl group of PVP. Infrared spectroscopic analysis provided positive evidence for the intra‐molecular hydrogen bonding of PHPMA and inter‐molecular hydrogen bonding between PHPMA and PVP at various compositions and temperatures. Furthermore, equilibrium constants and enthalpies of self‐association and inter‐association between functional groups in the blend of PHPMA and PVP were calculated to explain the results. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Application of surface treatments on releasing adhesion force during thermoplastic polyurethane injection molding process

With injection molding process, thermoplastic polyurethane is generally used to fabricate shoes, boots, rollers and golf balls, etc. However, serious adhesion causes molded part difficult to be released from tool surface. To alleviate adhesion force during ejection stage, chromium‐nitride (CrN) based and diamond like carbon (DLC) coatings prepared by physical vapor deposition were coated on mold cavity surface. Single layer CrN and modifying CrN coatings were found to be beneficial to alleviate adhesion force whereas multilayer CrN and DLC surface treatments were ineffective during continuous experiments. Further investigation found that single layer CrN and modifying CrN both had excellent water‐repellency properties with low surface energy and exhibited the distinctive conical structure with uniform grain size. Although multilayer CrN coating exhibited similar morphology as that of single layer CrN coating, it showed significant variations in grain size and height. In contrary, although DLC coating adequately showed uniform topography, its larger grain size and wider valley between grains both lead to larger adhesion force due to mechanical anchoring. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:299–305, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Oxidative stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids and soybean oil in an aqueous solution with emulsifiers

The oxidative stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and soybean oil homogenized with emulsifiers was investigated. Model emulsions were prepared from PUFA, including linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and from soybean oil emulsified with different emulsifiers: three Tween emulsifiers (Tween 20, Tween 60, Tween 80) and two sucrose esters (S-1170 and S-1570) were used. The results showed that the emulsions prepared from LA and the various emulsifiers, oxidized at 40°C, were unstable. However, the corresponding AA, EPA, and DHA emulsions were stable, indicating that PUFA with a higher degree of unsaturation were more stable with emulsifiers than without the emulsifiers. In the soybean oil-in-water model system, the oxidation of soybean oil with various emulsifiers was less than without the emulsifiers.     

Plasma surface modification of graphene oxide nanosheets for the synthesis of GO/PES nanocomposite ultrafiltration membrane for enhanced oily separation

In this study, two different monomers, namely hexafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) and diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) were individually used to modify graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets via environmentally friendly plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. The results from instrumental analyses confirmed the successful deposition of respective functional material onto the nanomaterials. Modified GOs were used as the nano-fillers to develop composite polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane with improved surface properties for oily solution treatment. All the developed membranes were characterized with a series of analytical instruments to support the findings of membrane filtration performance. The results indicated that the membrane incorporated with DEAEMA-GOs (coated with hydrophilic polymer) could achieve better results in terms of oil rejection, antifouling resistance and water recovery rate than the membrane incorporated with HFBA-GOs (coated with hydrophobic polymer). This is due to the reduced agglomeration between modified GOs as well as better interaction of hydrophilic-coated GOs with polymer membrane. Compared to the pure water flux of the membrane incorporated with unmodified GO, the membrane incorporated with DEAEMA-GO achieve approximately 85% higher value with oil removal rate remained almost unchanged (98.94% rejection).     

An extended graphical targeting technique for direct reuse/recycle in concentration and property-based resource conservation networks

Minimum flowrate targeting methods for resource conservation networks (RCNs) have been developed over the last decades. The existing methodologies still have certain drawbacks. Their design insights could be deepened and some steps should be more convenient for the users. A targeting tool called the material surplus composite curve (MSCC), which is an improvement of the surplus diagram for water and hydrogen networks is introduced. The approach is illustrated on several cases selected from the literature. Using this technique, it is possible to determine rigorous flowrate targets for different variants of the RCN problem.     

More than biofuels – Potential uses of microalgae as sources of high‐value lipids

Cultivation of microalgae has potential in producing a feedstock for biofuels and, in addition, high‐value lipid bioproducts such as long‐chain (⪈C₂₀, LC) omega‐3 oils, carotenoid pigments and squalene, as well as other non‐lipid materials including exopolysaccharide. The high‐value LC omega‐3 oils have been conventionally sourced from fish. This paper provides a perspective on our recent study of the heterotrophic growth of thraustochytrids for their wider biotechnological potential, including as a source of a range of higher value lipids in addition to biofuels.