Stabilization of switched systems with polytopic uncertainties via composite quadratic functions

This paper studied the stabilization of switched linear systems with polytopic uncertainties by employing the methods of nonsmooth analysis and the composite quadratic Lyapunov functions. Above all, the minimum quadratic functions and the directional derivatives along the vertex directions of subsystems are applied to construct the new switching law. Then, some sufficient conditions for stabilization of switched linear systems are established considering the sliding modes and the directional derivatives along sliding modes. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the synthesis results.     

Surface analysis of high performance carbon/bismaleimide composites exposed to electron irradiation

The aim of this article was to investigate the effects of electron irradiation in ultrahigh vacuum environment on the surface properties of high‐performance carbon/bismaleimide (BMI) composites used in aerospace. The changes in surface chemical composition with increasing irradiation fluence were studied by XPS. The evolution of surface morphology and surface roughness were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mass loss behavior occurring in the surface layer of the composites was examined. The results indicated that the electron irradiation in high vacuum caused rupture of chemical bonds and cross‐linking process in the surface layer, thereby leading to the mass loss behavior and the formation of carbonification layer in the surface of the carbon/BMI composites. The changes in the surface chemical composition were determined by a competing effect existing between the rupture of chemical bonds and the cross‐linking process at lower irradiation fluence, and by a degradation process only at higher fluence of electron irradiation. The surface morphology was altered and the surface roughness was increased significantly after electron irradiation. The mass loss ratio first increased obviously at lower fluences, and then reached a plateau value of 0.45% beyond 5 × 10¹⁵ cm^?2 fluence of electron irradiation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of ionic liquid on dielectric, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polychloroprene rubber composites

This paper focuses on the influence of ionic liquid on carbon nanotube based elastomeric composites. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are modified using an ionic liquid at room temperature, 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulphonyl) imide (BMI) and modified MWCNTs exhibit physical (cation–π/π–π) interaction with BMI. The polychloroprene rubber (CR) composites are prepared using unmodified and BMI modified MWCNTs. The presence of BMI not only increases the alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity and polarisability of the composites but also improves the state of dispersion of the tubes as observed from dielectric spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively. In addition to the hydrodynamic reinforcement, the formation of improved filler–filler networks is reflected in the dynamic storage modulus (E′) for modified MWCNTs/CR composites in amplitude sweep measurement upon increasing the proportion of BMI. Hardness and mechanical properties are also studied for the composites as a function of BMI.     

Effect of chemical structure on the crosslinking behavior of bismaleimides: Rheological study

The effect of molecular structure on the cure characteristics of bismaleimides (BMIs) was investigated by rheological measurements. BMI resins of different chemical structures were used, prepared from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and N-(3-carboxy phenyl) maleimide or N-(4-carboxy phenyl) maleimide. Temperature dependence of the rheological data was correlated to the Arrhenius equation, from which the activation energy of crosslinking was calculated.Upon heating in dynamic curing, viscosity passed through a minimum then sharply increased due to increasing amount of the crosslinking reaction. The temperature at minimum viscosity increased as the chain length became longer. After passing the minimum point, viscosity increased much faster for meta BMIs (3BE1, 3BE2) than para BMIs, however, the difference in the chain length did not show any appreciable difference in the viscosity increase rate (dη^∗/dT). Nonetheless, the final viscosity was lower for longer chains, because their crosslinking density would be lower.In isothermal curing, the final crosslinking density was expected to increase with temperature, which was shown via the increase in the final viscosity. The gelation time decreased with temperature, and the activation energy of the crosslinking reaction was obtained. Using the reaction kinetics parameters obtained from dynamic scanning calorimeter and Arrhenius type equation, the viscosity change during the isothermal curing was simulated and compared with the measurements.     

关于我国体质指数BMI的分布研究

生活水平的提高,使肥胖症患的人数逐年增加。大量研究证明,肥胖是诱发高血压、冠心病、糖尿病、高脂血症等慢性病的一种主要危险因素,对肥胖症的预防是主要的。确定肥胖的一个简单而又有效的办法是利用世界卫生组织推荐的体质指数ＢＭＩ（Ｂｏｄｙ Ｍａｓｓ Ｉｎｄｅｘ）。本基于上海市延吉地区近万名３０岁以上成年人的调查结果,对体质指数的分布进行了研究,并利用被污染的正态分布族模型对其进行了拟合。     

Osteoporosis detection in postmenopausal women using axial transmission multi-frequency bone ultrasonometer: Clinical findings

The objective of this study was to evaluate if the Bone UltraSonic Scanner (BUSS) can detect osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. BUSS is an axial transmission multi-frequency ultrasonometer for acquisition of wave propagation profiles along the proximal anterior tibia. We derived 10 diagnostically significant BUSS parameters that were then compared with the DXA spine T-score, which was used in this study as the “gold standard” for the assessment of osteoporosis (T-score <−2.5). BUSS wave parameters were studied in 331 postmenopausal women examined by 9 trained operators at 3 clinical sites with use of 3 devices. The efficiency of each BUSS parameter in osteoporosis detection was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Area under the curve (AUC) for each of 10 parameters ranged from 58.1% to 70.2%. Using these parameters a linear classifier was derived which provided at its output 83.0% AUC, 87.7% sensitivity and 63.2% specificity to DXA-identified osteoporosis. The results of this study confirm BUSS’s capability to detect osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.     

Exploring Neurofeedback Training for BMI Power Augmentation of Upper Limbs: A Pilot Study

Electroencephalography neurofeedback (EEG-NFB) training can induce changes in the power of targeted EEG bands. The objective of this study is to enhance and evaluate the specific changes of EEG power spectral density that the brain-machine interface (BMI) users can reliably generate for power augmentation through EEG-NFB training. First, we constructed an EEG-NFB training system for power augmentation. Then, three subjects were assigned to three NFB training stages, based on a 6-day consecutive training session as one stage. The subjects received real-time feedback from their EEG signals by a robotic arm while conducting flexion and extension movement with their elbow and shoulder joints, respectively. EEG signals were compared with each NFB training stage. The training results showed that EEG beta (12–40 Hz) power increased after the NFB training for both the elbow and the shoulder joints’ movements. EEG beta power showed sustained improvements during the 3-stage training, which revealed that even the short-term training could improve EEG signals significantly. Moreover, the training effect of the shoulder joints was more obvious than that of the elbow joints. These results suggest that NFB training can improve EEG signals and clarify the specific EEG changes during the movement. Our results may even provide insights into how the neural effects of NFB can be better applied to the BMI power augmentation system and improve the performance of healthy individuals.     

含磷聚芳醚酮颗粒层间增韧碳纤维/双马树脂RTM复合材料

选用一种在RTM双马来酰亚胺树脂(BMI)注射温度下不溶解的含磷聚芳醚酮(P-PAEK)热塑性树脂作为增韧剂,制备层间颗粒增韧碳纤维增强双马来酰亚胺树脂基复合材料.研究了不同热塑树脂含量对树脂浇铸体冲击性能的影响,利用扫描电镜表征了复相体系的微观形貌并分析其增韧机制,并通过层间断裂韧性测试表征了RTM双马树脂基复合材料增韧前后的层间韧性性能.结果表明,当附载热塑颗粒面密度为2 g/m2时,复合材料的I型层间断裂韧性(GIC)为0.54 k J/m2,II型层间断裂韧性(G_(IIC))为1.36 k J/m~2,较未增韧复合材料分别提升约56%和42%.增韧后的复合材料在保持原有力学性能的同时,其冲击后压缩强度(CAI)提升约29%,层间剪切强度达到111.7 MPa.     

Spectral bundle methods for non-convex maximum eigenvalue functions: first-order methods

Many challenging problems in automatic control may be cast as optimization programs subject to matrix inequality constraints. Here we investigate an approach which converts such problems into non-convex eigenvalue optimization programs and makes them amenable to non-smooth analysis techniques like bundle or cutting plane methods. We prove global convergence of a first-order bundle method for programs with non-convex maximum eigenvalue functions. Dedicated to R. T. Rockafellar on the occasion of his 70th anniversary     

Dose assessment according to changes in algorithm in cardiac CT

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of the application of the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique in combination with another two factors (body mass index (BMI) and tube potential) on radiation dose in cardiac computed tomography (CT). For quantitative analysis, regions of interest were positioned on the central region of the great coronary artery, the right coronary artery, and the left anterior descending artery, after which the means and standard deviations of measured CT numbers were obtained. For qualitative analysis, images taken from the major coronary arteries (right coronary, left anterior descending, and left circumflex) were graded on a scale of 1–5, with 5 indicating the best image quality. Effective dose, which was calculated by multiplying the value of the dose length product by a standard conversion factor of 0.017 for the chest, was employed as a measure of radiation exposure dose. In cardiac CT in patients with BMI of less than 25 kg/m², the use of 40% ASIR in combination with a low tube potential of 100 kVp resulted in a significant reduction in the radiation dose without compromising diagnostic quality. Additionally, the combination of the 120 kVp protocol and the application of 40% ASIR application for patients with BMI higher than 25 kg/m² yielded similar results.