A robust test of uncertain linear systems

In this paper, it is shown that for low-order uncertain systems, there is no need to calculate all the minimum and maximum values of the coefficients for a perturbed system which is expressed in terms of polynomials and hence no need to formulate and test all the four Kharitonov＇s polynomials. Furthermore, for higher-order systems such as n ≥ 5, the usual four Kharitonov＇s polynomials need not be tested initially for sufficient condition of perturbed systems; rather, the necessary condition can be checked before going for sufficient condition. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, numerical examples are shown and computational efficiency is highlighted.     

Halogenated ligands and their interactions with amino acids: implications for structure-activity and structure-toxicity relationships

The properties of chemicals are rooted in their molecular structure. It follows that structural analysis of specific interactions between ligands and biomolecules at the molecular level is invaluable for defining structure-activity relationships (SARs) and structure-toxicity relationships (STRs). This study has elucidated the structural and molecular basis of interactions of biomolecules with alkyl and aryl halides that are extensively used as components in many commercial pesticides, disinfectants, and drugs. We analyzed the protein structures deposited in Protein Data Bank (PDB) for structural information associated with interactions between halogenated ligands and proteins. This analysis revealed distinct patterns with respect to the nature and structural characteristics of halogen interactions with specific types of atoms and groups in proteins. Fluorine had the highest propensity of interactions for glycine, while chlorine for leucine, bromine for arginine, and iodine for lysine. Chlorine, bromine and iodine had the lowest propensity of interactions for cysteine, while fluorine had a lowest propensity for proline. These trends for highest propensity shifted towards the hydrophobic residues for all the halogens when only interactions with the side chain were considered. Halogens had equal propensities of interaction for the halogen bonding partners (nitrogen and oxygen atoms), albeit with different geometries. The optimal angle for interactions with halogens was approximately 120 degrees for oxygen atoms, and approximately 96 degrees for nitrogen atoms. The distance distributions of halogens with various amino acids were mostly bimodal, and the angle distributions were unimodal. Insights gained from this study have implications for the rational design of safer drugs and commercially important chemicals.     

Comparative evaluation of strain controlled low cycle fatigue behaviour of solution annealed and prior cold worked 316L(N) stainless steel

The effect of 20% prior cold work on low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of type 316L(N) stainless steel (SS) was studied at 873 K by conducting total axial strain controlled tests in air with strain amplitudes in the range ±0.25% to ±1.0%. The cyclic deformation behaviour of 20% prior cold worked (PCW) material was compared with the LCF response of solution annealed (SA) alloy tested under similar conditions. The cyclic stress response (CSR) of 316L(N) SS in the PCW condition was characterized by a short period of hardening followed by prolonged softening prior to failure, whereas SA material exhibited a significant hardening regime followed by stress saturation. Interrupted tests on PCW material were carried out at different stages of CSR in order to determine the underlying mechanisms as reflected in substructural changes. The fatigue life in the solution annealed condition was similar to that of the PCW material at higher strain amplitudes of testing (≥±0.5%) while at lower strain amplitudes, the PCW material exhibited longer life.     

Cloud screening in IRS-P4 OCM satellite data: potential of spatial coherence method in the absence of thermal channel information

Cloud screening of satellite data for the remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols, ocean sediments, chlorophyll, and phytoplankton in the marine environment is a major problem in the absence of information from thermal channel. This is particularly the case with the data from some of the highly potential satellite sensors such as the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM—on board the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-P4) and the SeaWiFS. Two main tests conventionally used for cloud screening of data from such satellite sensors are the threshold method applied to visible and near-IR bands and the visible to near-IR channel ratio method. These methods do not have the potential to eliminate the pixels with small cloud fractions, leading to overestimation of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) derived from satellite data, and might also identify the pixels with high values of AOD as cloudy. The purpose of this paper is to study the potential of Spatial Coherence Test (SCT) applied to the data from the near-IR bands for cloud screening of satellite data over the oceanic environment. We use here the data from IRS-P4 OCM. Though more computationally intensive, the SCT does not suffer from the serious limitations of the threshold and channel ratio methods and is found to be superior in identifying the clear sky pixels that are not affected by clouds. Although the SCT applied to near-IR channel data may be overestimating the number of cloud affected pixels, it neither leads to overestimation of AOD nor identifies the pixels with high AOD values as cloudy.     

Mathematical modelling of an aquatic ecosystem I

This paper presents a mathematicfa1 model of an aquatic ecosystem. The model differs from previous models in that it incorporates characteristics of specific phyla of phytaplankton and zooplankton, inter and intra-phyla interaction and limiting nutrient processing by decomposers.     

Minimization of interfaces and interconnections in a digital system satisfying concurrency constraints

The problem of minimizing the number of links and buses in a digital system subject to a given set of concurrency constraints among data transfers is studied. The notion of the transfer graph (TG) is introduced which depicts the data transfer paths and concurrency requirements in the system, A very simple node labelling procedure is applied on the nodes of the TG, which enables one to make a direct assignment of transfers to buses without going through any elaborate computational steps.     

The Use of Legendre Polynomial Expansions in Solving Optimal Control Problems in the Space l 2

A method for solving a class of general deterministic optimal control problems is presented here. The method consists of relating the functions involved in the problem to sequences and then converting the problem to one which deals with these sequences alone. The function-sequence correspondence is defined by representing each function by its Legendre polynomial expansion and then relating the function to the sequence of coefficients in this expansion. After this is done, the problem is converted to one in l ²; by determining the equivalents in l ²; of differentiation, inner multiplication, and multiplication.

The resulting problem in l ²; is a non-linear programming problem which consists of an infinite array of equations, inequalities, and expressions, each of which involves infinite polynomial expressions. To solve a problem of this type it must be approximated by a finite non-linear programming problem. After this is done various methods can bo used for solving the final problem.     

Modelling and simulation of combinational digital circuits using Petri nets

The P-model approach of modeling a combinational digital network using Petri nets is introduced. In this model a given logic circuit its represented by a graph With only two types of nodes, places and transitions. A logic 1 value in any line of the circuit corresponds to the presence of a so-called token, and a logic 0 corresponds to the absence of tokens, in the corresponding place of the P-model. The operation of the circuit is reflected in the execution of the P-model resulting from the firing of transitions. Several minimizing transformations in the P-model domain are discussed, which reduces the number of places and transitions by an order of magnitude. Based on this P-model representation of a logic circuit, a logic simulation algorithm is outlined. The method is faster and also simpler to implement than conventional simulation techniques.     

ON THE DESIGN OF AN ADAPTIVE CONTROLLER FOR UNCERTAIN PLANTS VIA LIAPUNOV SIGNAL SYNTHESIS METHOD

This paper presents an adaptive design approach for controlling a class of unknown nonlinear multivariable plants operating in an uncertain environment. The approach uses a “two-level” control technique, with a feedforward controller on its first-level, and a conditional feedback controller on its second-level. The procedure employs a Liapunov type signal synthesis approach. By introducing a characteristic vector, which is characteristic of the unknown plant and its environment, the design of the controller bypasses the rigid requirements of explicit identification of the plant and its environment as needed in the implementation of a controller using conventional techniques.

The applicability of this control approach is demonstrated by means of hybrid computer simulation studies which were carried out on a number of unknown plants; however, in this paper we present some simulation results for an exothermic chemical reactor.