Solution of a class of stochastic linear-convex control problems using deterministic equivalents

In this paper, we identify a new class of stochastic linearconvex optimal control problems, whose solution can be obtained by solving appropriate equivalent deterministic optimal control problems. The term linear-convex is meant to imply that the dynamics is linear and the cost function is convex in the state variables, linear in the control variables, and separable. Moreover, some of the coefficients in the dynamics are allowed to be random and the expectations of the control variables are allowed to be constrained. For any stochastic linear-convex problem, the equivalent deterministic problem is obtained. Furthermore, it is shown that the optimal feedback policy of the stochastic problem is affine in its current state, where the affine transformation depends explicitly on the optimal solution of the equivalent deterministic problem in a simple way. The result is illustrated by its application to a simple stochastic inventory control problem.This research was supported in part by NSERC Grant A4617, by SSHRC Grant 410-83-0888, and by an INRIA Post-Doctoral Fellowship.     

Effects of delayed linear electrical perturbation of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction: a case of complex mixed mode oscillations in a batch reactor

Delayed feedbacks are quite common in many physical and biological systems and in particular many physiological systems. Delay can cause a stable system to become unstable and vice versa. One of the well-studied non-biological chemical oscillators is the Belousov-Zhabotinskii (BZ) reaction. This gives relaxation oscillations for a considerable period of time under batch conditions. This paper deals with the effect of perturbing the limit cycle oscillation of BZ reaction by employing a delayed electrical feedback to the system under batch conditions. The parameters chosen to study are external resistance and delay. For various resistances and delays the system was electrically perturbed and found to exhibit various complex mixed mode oscillations. The dynamic features are accounted for by the Oregonator model, with time delay incorporated in one of the variables. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The quality of leadership (QL): the EFQM leadership criterion in relation to the 360° feedback evaluation method

The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) integral quality management model covers nine issues: five so-called enabler criteria and four so-called result-oriented criteria. The first enabler criterion concerns leadership and covers all kind of strategic management aspects. However, directly or indirectly, the leadership of the board of directors or its individual members is characterized and scored. An even more explicate technique, originated in a totally different way, is the 360° feedback evaluation method. In this paper both methods are compared and practiced on various individuals. A checklist was developed to facilitate scoring in the EFQM leadership submodel. Both methods, although from a different origin, could be linked easily, covered very similar aspects and gave results that were in excellent agreement with each other. The scoring showed almost identical results, supporting in large the use of the integral EFQM model. Received: 25 May 2002 Accepted: 17 July 2002 Presented at the European Conference on Quality in the Spotlight in Medical Laboratories, 7–9 October 2001, Antwerp, Belgium Correspondence to H. M. J. Goldschmidt     

On guaranteed stability of uncertain linear systems via linear control

This paper addresses the problem of stabilizing an uncertain linear system. The uncertaintyq(·) which enters the dynamics is nonstistical in nature. That is, noa priori statistics forq(·) are assumed; only boundsQ on the admissible variations ofq(·) are taken as given. The results given here applied to so-called matched systems differ from previous results in two ways. Firstly, the stabilizing control in this paper is linear; for this same class of problems, many of the existing results would require a nonlinear control. Furthermore, those results which do in fact yield linear controls are only valid when a certain matrix (q) (formed using the given data) is negative definite for allq Q. In contrast, the theory given here only requires compactness of the bounding setQ. Secondly, we show that the so-called matching conditions (used in earlier work) can be generalized so as to encompass a larger class of dynamical systems.This research was supported by the US Department of Energy under Contract No. ET-78-S-01-3390.     

Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Triplet State Excitons for High-Performance Organic Photodetectors: A Novel Strategy

Photoinduced charge-trapping is a promising strategy for boosting the photosensitivity of organic photodetectors at the expense of their response time. In addition, they have a low carrier extraction yield due to the formation of low-energy triplet excitons through the recombination of a photogenerated hole–electron pair. Materials with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) exhibit a long-lived (≈µs) excited spin-triplet nearly iso-energetically aligned with that of an excited spin-singlet, which results in suppressed exciton losses and is widely used in organic light-emitting diodes. The extraction and population of triplet state excitons in TADFs is a sought-after but underexplored aspect of photoinduced gating in photodetectors. A 1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)4,6-Dicyanobenzene (4CzIPN) TADF blend with a high-mobility Poly[2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT-C₁₄) polymer via bulk type-II offset can increase free carrier extraction yield (fast response) and retain trapped electrons in TADF triplet states (high gain). The PBTTT-C₁₄/4CzIPN ultraviolet photodetector device maintains a trade-off between high photogain (≈10³) and fast response time (79 ms) at 300 nm while operating at a shallow dark current (≈pA). Furthermore, the device shows high external quantum efficiency (≈10⁴ %) and detectivity (≈10¹¹ Jones) for low light power (<pW). The innovative application of TADF material can lead to exciting new developments in organic-based high-performance photodetection.     

耳蜗力学研究进展

耳蜗力学是听觉科学和生理声学研究的核心话题,同时也是一个极具代表性的生物力学话题. 深入总结和揭示耳蜗力学特性能够推动相关问题的深入研究和促进心理声学的发展与应用. 该文分宏观力学和微观力学两部分进行综述,然后结合近几年的研究动态,总结耳蜗力学的发展趋势和应用前景. 表明耳蜗作为一个杰出的频率选择和高灵敏度的声信号感应器官,可以对20~20 000 Hz 这样跨度达千倍的频率做出精确响应,且刺激信号可以放大4 000 倍以上.     

夹层式光纤激光水听器探头优化设计

为改善分布反馈式(DFB)光纤激光器水声探测性能,利用有限元软件ANSYS,以相对加速度灵敏度为目标函数,结构尺寸参数为设计变量,结构第一阶固有频率和探头声压灵敏度为状态变量,对夹层式封装结构进行了优化设计,对其声压探测及抗加速度机理进行了分析。分析表明,基于优化结果设计的探头在采用100 m非平衡干涉仪时,其声压灵敏度约为-135.1 dB,相对加速度灵敏度可达到-19.6 dB。结果表明,基于封装结构敏感部分分别承受声压激励和加速度激励时的不同响应机理,对夹层式封装结构关键部位尺寸进行优化设计后,通过合理选择承压梁与中间变形梁的厚度以及上下连接点的位置,封装制得的光纤激光水听器具有较高的声压灵敏度和良好的抗加速度性能。     

剪切力模式近场扫描光学显微镜的恒幅反馈控制方法研究

剪切力模式近场扫描光学显微镜(Near-field Scanning Optical Microscopy,NSOM) 的音叉探针间距控制系统中,用相位反馈控制和检测剪切力,同时采用比例＋积分（PI）技术实现对音叉探针振幅的反馈控制,使探针振幅在扫描过程中保持为恒定值.用相位信号作为探针与样品间距控制信号,分别在无振幅反馈和有振幅反馈两种情况下,以不同速率扫描得到标准CD_RW光盘光栅的两组图像,并进行了比较分析.实验表明,恒振幅反馈电路的引入有助于提高探针系统的响应速度和灵敏度,改善所得图像的质量及分辨率.     

Manipulation of Organic Afterglow by Thermodynamic and Kinetic Control

The fabrication of room-temperature organic phosphorescence and afterglow materials, as well as the transformation of their photophysical properties, has emerged as an important topic in the research field of luminescent materials. Here, we report the establishment of energy landscapes in dopant-matrix organic afterglow systems where the aggregation states of luminescent dopants can be controlled by doping concentrations in the matrices and the methods of preparing the materials. Through manipulation by thermodynamic and kinetic control, dopant-matrix afterglow materials with different aggregation states and diverse afterglow properties can be obtained. The conversion from metastable aggregation state to thermodynamic stable aggregation state of the dopant-matrix afterglow materials to leads to the emergence of intriguing afterglow transformation behavior triggered by thermal and solvent annealing. The thermodynamically unfavorable reversible afterglow transformation process can also be achieved by coupling the dopant-matrix afterglow system to mechanical forces.     

基于气体浓度定量的嗅觉刺激器优化设计

现有的基于磁共振测量的嗅觉刺激器,通过调节嗅剂液体浓度的方法可以实现不同浓度的嗅觉刺激,但随着实验进行,受到嗅剂挥发以及实验环境（温度、湿度、气流量）变化的影响,很难确保输送至鼻腔的嗅剂气体浓度的稳定性,进而影响实验结果的准确性．本研究对本实验室前期开发的嗅觉刺激装置进行改进,实现了气体浓度精确定量．改进后的嗅觉刺激器主要分为三个部分：控制系统、反馈系统和气路系统．控制系统主要实现气路系统的送气控制和嗅剂气体浓度调节;反馈系统则负责对气体浓度进行测量;气路系统则在原有基础上添加活性炭装置,降低无关因素干扰．装置改进之后,不同气路切换时间为75.2 ms,比原装置减少了1 s,有效提高刺激精度．实验结果显示,气体浓度调节前,300 s内乙醇、吡啶、乙酸戊酯嗅剂气体浓度分别下降6.7%、71.4%、79.2%,嗅剂气体浓度短时间内发生较大改变．加入气体浓度调节功能后,当气体浓度下降至目标浓度的90%时,可通过调节气泵电压改变嗅剂气流与空气气流比例,从而调节嗅剂气体浓度至目标值,其中吡啶、乙酸戊酯用时13 s．