Delay-dependent conditions for guaranteed cost observer-based control of uncertain neutral systems with time-varying delays

Email: chlien{at}mail.nkmu.edu.tw Received on August 10, 2006; Accepted on September 6, 2006 In this paper, delay-dependent guaranteed cost observer-basedcontrol for neutral systems with time-varying delays is considered.Control and observer gains will be given from the linear matrixinequality feasible solutions. Optimal guaranteed cost observer-basedcontrol which will minimize the guaranteed cost of the systemis provided.     

Microfluidic flow rate detection based on integrated optical fiber cantilever

We demonstrate an integrated microfluidic flow sensor with ultra-wide dynamic range, suitable for high throughput applications such as flow cytometry and particle sorting/counting. A fiber-tip cantilever transduces flow rates to optical signal readout, and we demonstrate a dynamic range from 0 to 1500 microL min(-1) for operation in water. Fiber-optic sensor alignment is guided by preformed microfluidic channels, and the dynamic range can be adjusted in a one-step chemical etch. An overall non-linear response is attributed to the far-field angular distribution of single-mode fiber output.     

Linearly Tunable Emission Colors Obtained from a Fluorescent–Phosphorescent Dual‐Emission Compound by Mechanical Stimuli

Organic mechanoluminochromic materials are mechano/piezo‐responsive and promising for applications in sensors, displays, and data storage devices. However, their switching range of emission is seriously impeded by only one kind of emission (either a fluorescent or phosphorescent peak) in the spectrum of single organic compounds. This study presents a design strategy for pure organic compounds with excellent room‐temperature fluorescent–phosphorescent dual‐emission (rFPDE) properties, which combines the effective factors of dipenylsulfone group, crystalline state, and heavy atom effect. Following the principle of color mixing, myriad emission colors with a wide range from orange to purple and across white zone in a straight line in the chromaticity diagram of the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) can be obtained by simply mechanical grinding the compound. The unique properties could be concentrated on a pure organic compound through this design strategy, which provides a new efficient channel for the discovery of efficient mechano‐responsive organic materials.     

Modification of the large-scale features of high Reynolds number wall turbulence by passive surface obtrusions

A high Reynolds number boundary-layer wind-tunnel facility at New Mexico State University was fitted with a regularly distributed braille surface. The surface was such that braille dots were closely packed in the streamwise direction and sparsely spaced in the spanwise direction. This novel surface had an unexpected influence on the flow: the energy of the very large-scale features of wall turbulence (approximately six-times the boundary-layer thickness in length) became significantly attenuated, even into the logarithmic region. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first experimental study to report a modification of ‘superstructures’ in a rough-wall turbulent boundary layer. The result gives rise to the possibility that flow control through very small, passive surface roughness may be possible at high Reynolds numbers, without the prohibitive drag penalty anticipated heretofore. Evidence was also found for the uninhibited existence of the near-wall cycle, well known to smooth-wall-turbulence researchers, in the spanwise space between roughness elements.     

Triterpenoid contents and anti-inflammatory properties of the methanol extracts of ligustrum species leaves

Ligustrum (privet) plants are used by Chinese physicians to prevent and cure hepatitis and chronic bronchitis. Three common Ligustrum plant spp., namely Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (LL), L. pricei Hayata (LP) and L. sinensis Lour. (LS) were collected to assess their analgesic/anti-inflammatory properties on chemical-induced nociception and carrageenan-induced inflammation in rodents. The methanol extracts from Ligustrum plants leaves effectively inhibited nociceptive responses induced by 1% acetic acid and 1% formalin. LP and LL reduced the edema induced by 1% carrageenan. LP exhibited the best potency of the Ligustrum plants. Furthermore, LP reduced the abdominal Evan's blue extravasations caused by lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, autocrines and sodium nitroprusside. The triterpenoid content of the three Ligustrum spp. was measured by high performance liquid chromatography using a photodiode array detector. LP contained the highest content of amyrin, betulinic acid and lupeol. LL had the highest content of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. The various degrees of analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects among three Ligustrum plants may be related to their different triterpenoid contents. LP is a potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory Ligustrum plant. The effects of LP are partially related to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 activity and a decrease in microvascular permeability via the actions of autocrines and kinins.     

Enantiotropic Nematics From Cross‐Like 1,2,4,5‐Tetrakis(4′‐alkyl‐4‐ethynylbiphenyl)benzenes and Their Biaxiality Studies

The theoretically predicted optimum length/breadth/width ratio for maximizing shape biaxiality was investigated experimentally by the facile and successful synthesis of cross‐shaped compound 3 , which showed enantiomeric nematic phase behavior. This cross‐like core structure could alternatively be viewed as two fused V‐shaped mesogens, which have recently immerged as a new direction in biaxial nematic research, at the bending tips that can act as a new structure for biaxial investigations. Whilst the thermal analysis data of compound 3 did not meet the expected theoretical values for biaxial nematics, surface‐induced biaxiality was evidenced by optical studies. Cluster‐size analysis within the nematic phase of compound 3 revealed the formation of meta‐cybotactic nematics, which approached the cluster sizes of cybotactic nematics. The split small‐angle 2D X‐ray diffraction patterns of magnetic‐field‐aligned samples indicated that the nematic phase was composed of small smectic C‐like clusters with the tilting of molecules within the clusters. The wide‐temperature‐range enantiomeric nematic phase of cross‐like compound 3 enabled the molecular skeleton to serve as an alternative skeleton to bent‐rod mesogens, which exhibited nematic phases with the potential competition of transitions to higher‐order liquid‐crystalline phases and crystallization, for future biaxial investigations.     

Photofragmentation translational spectroscopy of methyl azide (CH3N3) photolysis at 193 nm: molecular and radical channel product branching ratio

We describe molecular-beam photofragment translational spectroscopy (PTS) experiments using electron impact (EI) ionization product detection to investigate the 193 nm photodissociation of methyl azide (CH(3)N(3)) under collision-free conditions. These experiments are used to derive the branching ratio between channels 1 and 2 [(1) radical channel: CH(3)N(3) + hν (λ = 193 nm) → CH(3) + N(3); (2) molecular channel: CH(3)N(3) + hν (λ = 193 nm) → CH(3)N + N(2)], which have been reported in a previous VUV-photoionization based PTS study. (1) Using electron impact ionization cross sections and ion fragmentation ratios for the various detected products, we derive the branching ratio (X(CH(3)-N(3)))/(X(CH(3)N-N(2))) = (0.017 ± 0.004)/(0.983 ± 0.004). Based on analysis of the kinetic energy release in the radical channel, we find that the cyclic form of N(3) is the dominant product in the radical channel. Only a small fraction of the radical channel produces ground state linear N(3).     

Characterization of HF-PECVD a-Si:H thin film solar cells by using OES studies

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films show considerable potential for the fabrication of thin film solar cells. In this study, the a-Si:H thin films have been deposited in a parallel-plate radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor fed with pure SiH₄. The plasma diagnostics were performed simultaneously during the a-Si:H solar cell deposition process using an optical emission spectrometer (OES) in order to study their correlations with growth rate and microstructure of the films. During the deposition, the emitting species (SiH*, Si*, H*) was analyzed. The effect of RF power on the emission intensities of excited SiH, Si and H on the film growth rate has been investigated. The OES analysis revealed a chemisorption-based deposition model of the growth mechanism. Finally, the a-Si:H thin film solar cell with an efficiency of 7.6% has been obtained.     

Irresolvable complex mixture of hydrocarbons in soybean oil deodorizer distillate

Aliphatic hydrocarbons (HCs) can be used as a fingerprint of a given seed oil. Only by characterization of aliphatic HCs could contamination by mineral oil in that seed oil be confirmed. During the isolation of squalene from soybean oil deodorizer distillate, a significant amount of unknown HCs, ca. 44 wt%, was obtained. These seemingly‐easy‐to‐identify HCs turned out to be much more difficult to elucidate due to the presence of an irresolvable complex mixture (ICM). The objective of this study was to purify and identify the unknown ICM of aliphatic HCs from soybean oil deodorizer distillate. Purification of the ICM was successfully achieved by using modified Soxhlet extraction, followed by modified preparative column chromatography, and finally by classical preparative column chromatography. FT‐IR, TLC, elemental analysis, GC/FID, NMR and GC‐MS analyses were then performed on the purified HCs. The GC chromatogram detected the presence of ICM peaks comprising two major peaks and a number of minor peaks. Validation methods such as IR and NMR justified that the unknowns are saturated HCs. This work succeeded in tentatively identifying the two major peaks in the ICM as cycloalkane derivatives.     

Feedback-controlled forcing in hybrid LES/RANS

The computational cost of large eddy simulation (LES) increases rapidly with the Reynolds number when applied to attached boundary layers. This problem can be avoided by use of a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) model in the inner part of the boundary layer, which reduces the computational cost drastically. Such hybrid LES/RANS methods yield accurate results in general, but suffer from an artificial buffer layer and a shift in the velocity profile around the modeling interface. This velocity shift can be removed by use of additional forcing, but the results are very sensitive to the forcing amplitude.

The present paper proposes a feedback algorithm which efficiently finds the appropriate amplitude and thus yields accurate flow statistics. The feedback algorithm is relatively robust, both in that it is insensitive to the values of the parameters involved and that it yields accurate results with different forcing fields and for different Reynolds numbers. It is argued that the feedback algorithm is consistent with the underlying assumptions of hybrid LES/RANS and that it does not introduce additional empiricism into the method.