Operating principles of the cerebral cortex as a six-layered network in primates: beyond the classic canonical circuit model

The cerebral cortex performs its computations with many six-layered fundamental units, collectively spreading along the cortical sheet. What is the local network structure and the operating dynamics of such a fundamental unit? Previous investigations of primary sensory areas revealed a classic “canonical” circuit model, leading to an expectation of similar circuit organization and dynamics throughout the cortex. This review clarifies the different circuit dynamics at play in the higher association cortex of primates that implements computation for high-level cognition such as memory and attention. Instead of feedforward processing of response selectivity through Layers 4 to 2/3 that the classic canonical circuit stipulates, memory recall in primates occurs in Layer 5/6 with local backward projection to Layer 2/3, after which the retrieved information is sent back from Layer 6 to lower-level cortical areas for further retrieval of nested associations of target attributes. In this review, a novel “dynamic multimode module (D3M)” in the primate association cortex is proposed, as a new “canonical” circuit model performing this operation.     

反射式红外传感器在智能型节水系统中的应用

利用反射式红外传感器和少量的电子器件(单稳态触发器),研制了智能型节水控制系统。该系统能够识别是否有人入厕,酌情产生冲洗信号, 躯动进水电磁阀开启,向浮球式水箱内注水,待注满足以冲刷干净所需的两水箱水后,便自动地切断电磁阀中电源,达到了既卫生又节约的目的。在某一教学楼应用该系统一年多来,与无使用此系统的同规模另一教学楼相比,节水约70％。该系统元件少、成本低、结构合理、工作可靠、安装容易、维修方便,有广阔的应用前景。     

Contact between two plastically deformable crystals: a discrete dislocation dynamics study

It is customary to simplify the analysis of contact between two elastically deformable bodies by treating an equivalent problem where only one body is deformable and the other is rigid. This is possible provided that the gap geometry and the effective elastic modulus of the bodies in the simplified problem are the same as in the original problem. However, the question arises on whether – and to which extent – the simplification is still valid even when (size-dependent) plasticity occurs. Studies using discrete dislocation plasticity have also, so far, addressed simple contact problems where only one body can deform plastically. Here, we extend the analysis to two bodies in contact that can both deform by dislocation plasticity and investigate under which conditions the response agrees with that of an equivalent simplified problem. The bodies in contact are metal single crystals with sinusoidal and flat surface. It is found that the response of two plastically deformable bodies in contact can be simplified to an equivalent problem where one body is rigid and the other can deform plastically. Also, a plasticity size effect is observed, but the effect fades when the platen becomes more plastically deformable.     

THEORY OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS

In response to a stimulus, a soft material deforms, and the deformation provides a function. We call such a material a soft active material （SAM）. This review focuses on one class of soft active materials： dielectric elastomers. When a membrane of a dielectric elastomer is subject to a voltage through its thickness, the membrane reduces thickness and expands area, possibly straining over 100%. The dielectric elastomers are being developed as transducers for broad applications, including soft robots, adaptive optics, Braille displays, and electric generators. This paper reviews the theory of dielectric elastomers, developed within continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, and motivated by molecular pictures and empirical observations. The theory couples large deformation and electric potential, and describes nonlinear and nonequilibrium behavior, such as electromechanical instability and viscoelasticity. The theory enables the finite element method to simulate transducers of realistic configurations, predicts the efficiency of electromechanical energy conversion, and suggests alternative routes to achieve giant voltage-induced deformation. It is hoped that the theory will aid in the creation of materials and devices.     

高能激光能量计溯源问题研究北大核心

由于高能激光能量计标定过程中没有标准的能量测量装置和标准的激光源,无法采用常规方法对其进行标校。提出了一种利用现有小能量计从低到高逐级多次传递不确定度的方法,以及一种利用能量等效原理对激光能量计进行标校的方法。不确定度传递法方法简单,但环节较多导致不确定度较大。等效标定法包括电标法和光标法,电标法对设计要求较高,但求解过程相对简单。光标法工程实现难度要低得多,但必须事先对灯组余热及热损失进行测算。等效法的三个条件与误差大小关系紧密,在结构设计中必须严格考虑,它是提高测量准确性的根本,其次要尽量减少不确定度传递的中间环节,最后需要对误差项进行科学分析和测定,在此基础上对这些项进行相应的修正和补偿。     

Behavior of a PZT ring under non-uniform mechanical stress

Ring-shaped lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric vibrators were subjected to non-uniform mechanical stress applied by bolt clamping. The effect of mechanical stress on the effective electromechanical coupling factor (k_eff) and mechanical quality factor (Q_m) of the thickness and wall thickness modes was studied by an equivalent electric circuit analysis. The initiation and propagation of cracks under mechanical stress were also discussed based on the resonance method and the indentation technique. k_eff for both the thickness and wall thickness modes decreased with increase in mechanical stress due to de-poling of the PZT. Q_m of the thickness mode dropped sharply with increase in mechanical stress while Q_m of the wall thickness mode remained almost unchange. Existence of microcracks in a PZT vibrator can be detected by the occurrence of spurious vibrations at the wall thickness mode in the electrical impedance vs. frequency spectra.     

Construction of Certain Cyclic Distance-Preserving Codes Having Linear-Algebraic Characteristics

An ordered list of binary words of length n is called a distance-preserving m, n-code, if the list distance between two words is equal to their Hamming distance, for distances up to m. A technique for constructing cyclic m, n-codes is presented, based on the standard Gray code and on some simple tools from linear algebra.     

RL-C并联谐振态量与Q的几个关系式

对ＲＬ－Ｃ并联谐振电路中的几个谐振态量与Ｑ之间的关系作了详尽的推导。     

锁相环的相位模型与实验电路

讨论了锁相环的相位数学模型,给出了一种适合于数学的锁相环实验电路．     

A combinatorial interior point method for network flow problems

For solving minimum cost flow problems, we develop a combinatorial interior point method based on a variant of the algorithm of Karmarkar, described in Gonzaga [3, 4]. Gonzaga proposes search directions generated by projecting certain directions onto the nullspace ofA. By the special combinatorial structure of networks any projection onto the nullspace ofA can be interpreted as a flow in the incremental graph ofG. In particular, to evaluate the new search direction, it is sufficient to choose a negative circuit subject to costs on the arcs depending on the current solution. That approach results in an O(mn ² L) algorithm wherem denotes the number of vertices,n denotes the number of arcs, andL denotes the total length of the input data.