Long-range predictive adaptive fuzzy relational control

A class of long-range predictive adaptive fuzzy relational controllers is presented. The plant behavior is described over an extended time horizon by a fuzzy relational model which is identified based on input-output closed-loop observations of the plant variables. In this class of adaptive controllers the control law attempts to minimize a quadratic cost over an extended control horizon. When used with linear models, this approach has revealed a significant potential for overcoming the limitations of one-step ahead schemes, such as the stabilization of non-minimum phase plants. Here, a uniform framework is adopted for implementing both the fuzzy model and the fuzzy controller, namely distributed fuzzy relational structures gaining from their massive parallel processing features and from the learning capabilities typical of the connectivist approaches. Issues such as maintenance during the adaptation process of the meaning of linguistic terms used at both fuzzy systems interfaces are addressed, namely by introducing a new design methodology for on-line fuzzy systems interface adaptation. The examples presented reinforce the claim of the usefulness of this new approach.     

Three-dimensional structure of the calcite-water interface by surface X-ray scattering

The three-dimensional structure of the calcite (104)-water interface has been determined with surface X-ray scattering. Nine crystal truncation rods (including specular and non-specular rods) were measured providing both vertical and lateral sensitivity to the interfacial structure. The results reveal that calcite is nearly ideally terminated with a single surface hydration layer that includes two inequivalent water molecules having distinct heights of 2.3 ± 0.1 and 3.5 ± 0.2 Å, each with a well-defined lateral registry with respect to the calcite surface. No additional layering of water is observed beyond this surface hydration layer. Small displacements in the outer two calcium carbonate layers were also observed. These results are compared with previous experimental and computational results.     

Potential-dependent structure of the interfacial water on the gold electrode

Doubly tunable sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra demonstrate that the water molecules at gold/electrolyte interface change their orientation with applied potential. At negative potentials, water molecules in the double layer align with their oxygen atom pointing to the solution. As potential became positive to be close to the potential of zero charge (PZC), the SFG signal decreased, suggesting the OH groups of the water molecule are either in random orientation or parallel to the electrode. As potential became more positive than the PZC, the SFG signal increased again with the oxygen-up orientation as same as in the negative potential region, indicating that water molecules interact with the adsorbed sulfate anions. The peak position of the SFG spectra indicates a relatively disordered state of water molecules at the gold electrode surface, in contrast to the previously observed ice-like structure of water at electrolyte/oxide interfaces.     

Interactions of xanthines with activated carbon: II. The adsorption equilibrium

In the present work, we have studied the adsorption of xanthine derivatives by activated carbon sorbents in aqueous solutions. The study comprised both kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic aspects. The kinetic results were reported in a previous paper; the equilibrium-related results are discussed here. The two types of carbon used exhibit some differences but the equilibrium isotherms obtained are all of the H-3 type in the classification of Giles. This suggests a high affinity of the sorbents for the sorbates. We also found that the overall adsorption process comprises more than one individual adsorption-desorption process of which one leads to the formation of a “monolayer” and the other to the “precipitation” of the sorbate on the sorbent surface (multilayer adsorption); the amount of sorbate adsorbed in monolayer form was seemingly greater in C-A14.     

Characterisation of Sol-Gel TiO2 Films by Etching

This article describes the SmartKom Companion, one of three demonstrators developed within the SmartKom project whose goal has been to provide an intuitive and intelligent interface for non-expert users to everyday computer-based applications in different scenarios of use. Conceived for the SmartKom Mobile scenario, the Companion allows intuitive multimodal interaction for drivers and pedestrians. The development of the SmartKom prototypes was constantly accompanied by Wizard-of-Oz experiments as well as system evaluations at different stages of the project. Some usability evaluation results relative to the SmartKom Companion will also be presented.     

Molecular structure of mixed adsorption layers surfactant—polymer at a liquid—liquid interface

Isotherms of the binding of dodecyl sulfate anions (DDS^–)and Na⁺ counterions during their coadsorption with a nonionic polymer. proxanol (PR). at the interface of dodecane-water emulsions have been measured by conductometry and Na-selective potentiometry. The adsorption of DDS^– and PR is concurrent. The affinity constant of PR to the interface determined by the Langmuir model decreases as the concentration of PR increases, and the surface concentration of DDS^– tends to a nonzero limiting value at high concentrations of PR. The surface (_o) and electrokinetic () potentials at the interface have been determined at various polymer concentrations by the spin probe and electrophoresis methods. The average dielectric permeability and density of polymer segments in We adsorption layer have been determined by ESR. The lower boundary of the hydrodynamic thickness of the polymer adsorption layer at the interface has been estimated from the dependences of _o and on the ionic strength.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1653–1661, July, 1996.     

Adsorption-penetration studies of glucose oxidase into phospholipid monolayers at the 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface.

The interaction between glucose oxidase (GOx) and phospholipid monolayers is studied at the 1,2-dichloroethane/water interface by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical experiments show that the presence of GOx induces changes in the capacitance curves at both negative and positive potentials, which are successfully explained by a theoretical model based on the solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. These changes are ascribed to a reduced partition coefficient of GOx and an increase of the permittivity of the lipid hydrocarbon domain. Our results show that the presence of lipid molecules enhances the adsorption of GOx molecules at the liquid/liquid interface. At low lipid concentrations, the adsorption of GOx is probably the first step preceding its penetration into the lipid monolayer. The experimental results indicate that GOx penetrates better and forms more stable monolayers for lipids with longer hydrophobic tails. At high GOx concentrations, the formation of multilayers is observed. The phenomenon described here is strongly dependent on 1) the GOx and lipid concentrations, 2) the nature of the lipid, and 3) the potential drop across the interface.