Robust predictive extended state observer for a class of nonlinear systems with time-varying input delay

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with asymptotic stabilisation of a class of nonlinear input-delayed systems via dynamic output feedback in the presence of disturbances. The proposed strategy has the structure of an observer-based control law, in which the observer estimates and predicts both the plant state and the external disturbance. A nominal delay value is assumed to be known and stability conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are derived for fast-varying delay uncertainties. Asymptotic stability is achieved if the disturbance or the time delay is constant. The controller design problem is also addressed and a numerical example with an unstable system is provided to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed strategy.     

Infrequent association: massive inguinoscrotal bladder hernia, multiple scrotal lithiasis, and bilateral obstructive uropathy]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Surgical treatment of functional tricuspid regurgitation associated with advanced valvular disease remains controversial, mainly due to the difficulty in choosing between valve replacement or reconstructive surgery. Failure to correct tricuspid regurgitation during valvular surgery carries a poor prognosis, as reoperation may represent a significant risk to the patient. Thus correct tricuspid valve surgery is vital to achieve improved early and long-term clinical results. METHODS: A total of 142 patients underwent concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty with mitral valve replacement and their clinical outcome was assessed. RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality rate was 11.3%. Seven patients died during follow up. The overall actuarial survival rate for 10 years was 74.1 +/- 14.2%. Postoperatively, 75.8% of the patients had no residual tricuspid insufficiency, while 24.2% had first- or second-degree tricuspid insufficiency and were treated medically. All patients were in NHYA functional class I or II postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Clinically, it is important to assess the severity of functional tricuspid insufficiency before and/or during the operation. Bicuspidalization annuloplasty for functional tricuspid insufficiency has provided good results, with a low incidence of reoperation and significant clinical improvement. The technique could be used in most patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation.     

Word sense disambiguation for spam filtering

Spam has become a major issue in computer security because it is a channel for threats such as computer viruses, worms, and phishing. More than 86% of received e-mails are spam. Historical approaches to combating these messages, including simple techniques such as sender blacklisting or the use of e-mail signatures, are no longer completely reliable. Many current solutions feature machine-learning algorithms trained using statistical representations of the terms that most commonly appear in such e-mails. However, these methods are merely syntactic and are unable to account for the underlying semantics of terms within messages. In this paper, we explore the use of semantics in spam filtering by introducing a pre-processing step of Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD). Based upon this disambiguated representation, we apply several well-known machine-learning models and show that the proposed method can detect the internal semantics of spam messages.     

Initial stages of tin electrodeposition from sulfate baths in the presence of gluconate

Tin electrodeposition in its initial stages in acid sulfate/gluconate baths was studied with varying tin and gluconate concentrations using potential-controlled electrochemical techniques. The deposit morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A comparison with tin electrodeposition from acid sulfate baths in the absence of gluconate was also carried out. Use of a highly acidic bath leads to nonuniform deposits, even in the presence of gluconate; at pH 4 deposits are uniform, brilliant and suitable for finishing applications. Tin crystallites have a well defined morphology which depends on bath agitation conditions. In the absence of agitation, the crystallites have the same tetragonal shape as in a sulfate bath without gluconate.     

Nucleation of isolated PO4 units on CeO2 driven by high temperatures and the effect on its oxygen storage and release properties

The chemical nature of P-containing species of varying concentration present in CeO₂ after impregnation with (NH₄)₂HPO₄ and calcination at 1273 K, and their effects on the oxygen storage and release (OSR) properties of ceria are reported for the first time. The samples were characterized by different techniques and the results were compared with those recently reported on the same samples but calcined at 873 K. When P-containing ceria solids were calcined at 1273 K, CePO₄ (monazite) was the predominant P-containing species on the surface of ceria, confirming previous studies that showed that monazite exists for those samples in which the surface P loading (P atoms per nm⁻²) is larger than 5.5. For lower surface P concentrations, isolated orthophosphate units are present at the surface and within the subsurface region of the solid. Severe sintering of CeO₂ after calcination at 1273 K resulted in P concentrations >5.5 P atoms·nm⁻² in all samples. Isolated PO₄ units that could initially be present in the samples calcined at 873 K nucleated and CePO₄ was formed when samples were calcined at 1273 K. OSR properties of CeO₂ deteriorated progressively when P loading increased due to the presence of larger crystals of the very stable Ce(III) phase of CePO₄ at the surface of the P-containing ceria solids.     

The effect of tetraethylammonium cation adsorption on the pzc of the mercury—perchloric acid interphase

The acid activity dependence of pzc for the mercury—perchloric acid aqueous solution interphase was studied, and the results compared with previously reported values. Then, the pzc shift caused by tetraethylammonium (TEA) perchlorate addition to constant activity perchloric acid solutions is reported, and an expression for the Esin—Markov coefficient is given. The need for using activity values is discussed on the basis of quantitive data.     

A quantitative feedback solution to the multivariable tracking error problem

This paper introduces a novel solution for the multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) quantitative feedback theory control design problem with tracking error specifications. Looking for a minimum controller overdesign, the technique finds new controller quantitative feedback theory bounds based on necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of suitable associated prefilter matrix elements. It improves previous approaches to the subject and includes (i) the possibility of a free selection of the nominal plant, (ii) a less conservative application of the Schwartz inequality to decisively reduce the potential controller overdesign, (iii) a methodology to design independently the elements of the prefilter matrix, and (iv) a scope of application to both sequential and nonsequential MIMO controller design methods. The benefits of the new control design technique are illustrated by means of two examples. The first one, a standard 2 × 2 MIMO problem, is provided for comparison purposes with previous approaches. The second example, included as a major control challenge, deals with a well‐known demanding distillation column benchmark problem. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deformation behaviour during cold drawing of nanocomposites based on single wall carbon nanotubes and poly(ether ester) copolymers

Relationships between the macroscopic deformation behaviour and microstructure of a pure (PBT-b-PTMO) block copolymer and a polymer nanocomposite (PBT-b-PTMO + 0.2 wt% SWCNT) were investigated by simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) during tensile deformation using synchrotron radiation. The Young's modulus was found to be 15% higher for the nanocomposite than for the pure block copolymer as well as the yield strength, while the elongation-to-break was less than a half. This different behaviour can be explained by taking into account the different structural features revealed by SAXS and WAXS and thus considering that SWCNT act as anchors in the nanocomposite, sharing the applied stress with the PBT crystals and partially preventing the flexible, non-crystallisable PTMO chains to elongate.