Simulation is essential for embedded control systems with task jitter

Sampling or task jitter affects the performance of digital control systems but realistic simulation of this effect has not been possible to date. Our previous work has developed a novel method to simulate sampling jitter in MATLAB/Simulink simulation software where the jitter is generated randomly. What has been missing is a way to capture sampling jitter from a target platform and then feed this timing information into the simulation. This paper presents a low-cost and novel solution to these problems. The method uses an Arduino board to capture task jitter from two different hardware platforms with multiple stressing conditions. Then the recorded performance data is used to drive realistic simulations of a control system. Measurement shows that the task jitter data does not follow any specific random distribution such as Gaussian or Uniform. Furthermore, very occasional timing patterns, which may not be picked up while testing a real system, can result in extreme controller responses. This novel method allows comparisons of different platforms and reduces the effort required to choose the most appropriate platform for full implementation.

     

Ornament and function

The architects and builders in the past lacked our knowledge concerning fluid dynamics, but they exhibited a deep rooted ability to observe and reflect - thus, different cultures have developed by trial and error. The authors have produced a stimulating analysis which couples the science of fluid dynamics and a sensitive understanding of past cultures. The paper is recommended reading.     

The current and future role of the Internet in patient education

The Internet technology known as the World Wide Web is rapidly emerging as the most powerful medium of mass communication this century and it can be harnessed to dispense global, cost-effective, high-quality, multimedia patient education material. This paper reviews how the Internet has progressed from delivering simple static, text-based material to sophisticated interactive Web sites based on CGI Technology. Interactive Web sites can be used to deliver health assessment questionnaires and Web-based decision-support systems can give patients advice on the emergency management of acute medical problems. The advantages and drawbacks of this new technology, including information regulation and quality are discussed. The role of the Hospital Intranet as a patient education resource is described. The paper concludes by illustrating how patients can appreciate the 3-D structure of bones and organs using virtual reality in a VRML Web environment.     

Hash算法在数据库安全中的应用

介绍了Hash算法在数据库加密系统中的应用,包括在用户身份验证中的应用,在数据库完整性认证中的应用,以及在密文检索中的应用。     

Somatic mosaicism in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

Using loss of heterozygosity analysis, a method designed to detect moderate to large gene deletions, we have identified a new-mutation neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patient who is somatically mosaic for a large maternally derived deletion in the NF1 gene region. The deletion extends at least from exon 4 near the 5' end of the gene to intron 39 near the 3' end. The gene-coding region is, therefore, mostly or entirely deleted, encompassing a loss of > or = 100 kb. We hypothesize that the deletion occurred at a relatively early developmental timepoint, since signs of NF1 in this patient are not confined to a specific body region, as seen in "segmental" NF, and since both mesodermally and ectodermally derived cells are affected. This report provides the first molecular evidence of somatic mosaicism in NF1 and, taken together with a recent report of germ-line mosaicism in NF1, adds credence to the concept that mosaicism plays an important role in phenotypic and genetic aspects of NF1 and may even be a relatively common phenomenon.     

基于SEBAL模型的浙江省区域蒸散发量估算研究

地表蒸散发(ET)是地气相互作用中水分平衡的重要部分.利用新一代对地观测数据MODIS,基于地表能量平衡的SEBAL模型,对浙江省2006年8月2日和11月4日的蒸散发进行了反演.结果表明,蒸散发具有明显的时空差异性,由于温度更高,夏季的日蒸散发量明显高于冬季,可达到10 mm/d以上.另外,在地表水含量丰富、风速较大处以及水体周围蒸散发量相对较高.     

Hammerstein-Wiener nonlinear model based predictive control for relative QoS performance and resource management of software systems

Runtime management of Quality of Service (QoS) performance and resource provisioning is a vital issue in shared resource software environments. A useful performance management technique for such software systems is the relative guarantee feedback control scheme. The existing approaches for this class of control systems are mainly based on off-line linear or on-line model identification and control techniques, which tend to have performance issues in the presence of nonlinearities induced by this scheme. Instead of using such modeling techniques, this paper proposes a new approach for QoS performance management and resource provisioning by using an off-line identification of Hammerstein and Wiener nonlinear block structural model. Using the characteristic structure of the nonlinear model, a predictive feedback controller based on a gain schedule technique is incorporated in the design to achieve the performance objectives. The proposed approach is validated using experiments based on a prototype, demonstrating superior runtime QoS performance management and resource provisioning in a complex software system.     

保温时间对废催化裂化平衡剂合成莫来石的影响

采用X射线粉末衍射和扫描电子显微镜研究了保温时间对废催化裂化平衡剂合成莫来石的影响。结果表明，二次莫来石化反应发生在1 450 ℃，保温3 h后，莫来石质量分数达94%，晶体发育良好；当保温时间超过4 h，由于反应物中Si4+被Al3+取代，导致空位增多，过渡金属进入结构的空位，使莫来石熔点降低，表现为保温时间越长，液相越多，莫来石晶体粘结于液相之中，使机械性能降低。由此可见，保温时间对二次莫来石生成反应影响较大。     

Applications of confocal microscopy to the study of myelin development and neuron structure

Confocal laser scanning microscopy has been used to study the localization of myelin basic proteins expressed in nonglial cells, and to probe the three-dimensional structure of central auditory neurons in the lateral superior olive. The paper focuses on the techniques used to obtain the results. The key roles of confocal microscopy and computer image processing of the images obtained are emphasized as they relate to the discovery of essential structural information about these specimens.