The robust stabilization problem for a class of uncertain linear time-delay systems containing sector saturating actuator is considered in this paper. The uncertain time-delay systems under consideration are described by state differential equations with time-varying unknown-but-bounded uncertain parameters and delayed state. The delay is assumed to be constant bounded but unknown. The new criterion of delay-dependent robust stabilizability for uncertain time-delay systems is presented and the corresponding robust memoryless state feedback controller is derived in terms of the solutions of several linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Numerical example is presented to illustrate the obtained results.

Based on variable structure control (VSC) and fuzzy local controller network (FLCN), a new design method of robust gain-scheduling control is proposed in this paper. The proper sliding-modes and the tendency-rates for general operation-points are introduced such that the system gets into the sliding-modes\' motion as soon as possible and has the desired performance. Its good performance is due to the robustness of VSC. However, any local controller works well only in the local region of a specified operation-point. In this paper functions similar to the fuzzy-attributed function in fuzzy-systems are introduced to form FLCN. The simulation results showed that the presented method is feasible and acceptable.

In this paper, the author proposes a new virtual topology, referred to as fully connected cubic network (FCCN), for the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) multihop lightwave network. The FCCN is a multi-level, highly scalable and modular architecture. An m level FCCN is constructed by \"fully connecting\" 8 (m-1)-FCCNs. The FCCN satisfies very well all the design requirements for WDM lightwave networks. The nodal degree is no more than four, and independent of the network size. Both the diameter and the average hop distance are in the order of (Number of nodes)^1/3. Owing to the highly scalable structure, the routing algorithm proposed in this paper is very simple to implement. Wavelengths reuse technique can be applied with high efficiency to FCCN.

A great number of data associated with visual information requires usage of the popular DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) compression. This also suggests the investigation of methods for image processing directly in the DCT domain. This paper presents a fast DCT domain image up-conversion algorithm, and a DCT domain linear filter, which only involves matrix manipulations. By using the separate property of certain spatial filters, we accomplish the DCT domain up-conversion via only matrix products. Because 1) most of the matrices can be calculated beforehand, and 2) common DCT blocks are very sparse; and 3) by avoiding the conventional decode and re-encode scheme, the computational complexities are greatly reduced. Experiments on real images show good results.

A novel All-Optical type Silicon MicroResonator (AOSMR), with exciting and testing optical fibers is reported in this paper. It consists of a ridge optical waveguide and input and output optical fibers to pick up vibrations. The advantages include simplicity in structure and convenience in operation. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results showed that the new structure has large misalignment tolerance between the fiber and vibrator. The optical length of the fiber does not affect the output signal. In addition, the resonant frequency of the vibrator is independent of the internal stress of the silicon wafer.

In this paper, the authors present the results of their study on the scheme of reconstructing the atomic wave function by using a standing wave laser beam. The scheme effectively avoids the initial random phase problem of the running light wave of lasers. The paper presents the relation between measured data and the atomic wave function, whose reconstruction procedure is also analyzed.

Transport properties of Ni/W superlattices have been studied at room temperature. Small positive magnetoresistance effect has been observed in samples with thin nickel layer thickness. Lorentz force magnetoresistance is taken into account to explain the resistance variation behavior of Ni/W superlattices in externally applied magnetic field.

The Wilson and Taylor elements Q6 and QM6, the representative nonconforming finite element method(FEM), have been successfully developed and implemented in the finite element code SAP for improved displacement and stress analysis. This paper formulates an improved convergent nonconforming axisymmetric element AQM6 over the corresponding axisymmetric Q6 and QM6 elements. The proposed modified nonconforming axisymmetric element AQM6 satisfies the engineering patch test condition for convergence, and also meets the condition for suppression of spurious shear stress by using a special remedying procedure. The numerical test results are in agreement with the element performance.

The effect of measurement errors on structural damage identification using artificial neural networks (ANN) was investigated in this study. By using back-propagation (BP) networks with proper input vectors, numerical simulation tests for damage detection on a six-storey frame were conducted with measurement errors in deterministic as well as probabilistic senses. The identifiability using ANN for damage location and extent was studied for the cases of measurement errors with different degrees. The results showed that there exists a critical level of measurement error beyond which the probability of correct identification is sharply decreased. The identifiability using the neural networks in the presence of modeling and measurement errors is finally verified using experimental data on a two-storey steel frame.

In this work, two parallel implementation strategies for the numerical simulation of wind flow around buildings were developed based on a four-processor transputer system. The first parallel strategy is based on the functional decomposition of the problem. It is easily implementable, but the degree of parallelism is low. In the second strategy, both the functional and the domain parallelisms of the problem were utilized, so the degree of parallelism is highly increased. Numerical examples indicate that the parallel speed-ups and efficiencies achievable by the second strategy are significantly greater than those of the first one.

A multi-zone (multi-dimensional) model is used to model the in-cylinder radiative heat transfer of a direct injection diesel engine. The space and the surface of the &ohgr;-combustion chamber are approximated by simple geometric shapes and discretized. The model takes into consideration the complexity of the structure of the combustion chamber and the non-uniform distribution of the radiation medium, and uses the Monte-Carlo method to simulate the in-cylinder radiative heat transfer.

Based on division of the three-dimensional space from data samples, the method proposed in this paper can rapidly extract fuzzy rules by using the fuzzy information of the samples. The principle of this approach is proved theoretically. Due to its simplicity this method can be used to extract fuzzy rules in real-time for an adaptive control system. Simulation results showed that this approach is effective and practical.

Non-repudiation services provide the parties involved in a transaction with protection against the other party by denying that a particular event or action took place. They collect irrefutable evidence to support the resolution of any such disagreement. We address this security issue by first examining the previous work done in this area, and then propose a novel protocol to achieve mutual non-repudiation service, encompassing both mandatory evidence of origin and mandatory evidence of receipt. By using two simple ideas, a conditional signature and a public notice board, the novel protocol can achieve this security service in a simple but effective manner. By applying cryptography technology, this protocol also provides privacy for the parties using the security service.

The new genetic algorithm for training layered feedforward neural networks proposed here uses a mutation operator for performing the search behaviors of local optimization. Combining the random restart method with the local search technique, the algorithm can converge asymptotically to the optimal solution. Test with a practical example showed that the improved genetic algorithm is more efficient than the conventional genetic algorithm.

This paper presents a new molecular connectivity wherein the atomic delta value is weighted by the Mulliken bond order, and thus connects effectively the molecular orbital theory with the topological theory and converts the molecular connectivity method into a novel quantum-topology method. Comparison of the atomic delta value of the molecular connectivity with the value of the Mulliken bond order, showed that they have similar physical meanings. The calculated new molecular connectivity indexes of some typical hydrocarbons showed good correlation with their volumes, hydrophobic constants and thermodynamic properties, respectively.

A proposed method for finding an approximate solution of the nonlinear ordinary differential equations two-point boundary value problem is proposed. It simplifies the problem approximately to a problem of solving a set of nonlinear algebraic equations. The basic idea of the method is to utilize the properties of orthogonal polynomials and the approximate operational matrices of the nonlinear functional f(x(t),u(t),t), and also the transformation matrix between the back vector and the current time vector for the general orthogonal polynomials. A method for solving the nonlinear two-point boundary value problems for descriptor systems is also given.

This study explored the possibility of developing a technique combining multiple measures of mental workload. Dual task technique was applied. Twenty subjects were asked to perform computer-simulated monitoring tasks with three different levels of difficulties. A reaction time performance with digital stimuli was added as subsidiary task. The four indexes, accurate reaction time of primary task, variation rate of accurate reaction time of subsidiary task, weighted subjective workload rating and variation rate of heart rate variance, were used and tested. The correlation matrix of the four indexes was examined with principal component analysis technique, and two mathematical models of comprehensive mental workload indexes (CMWIA, CMWIB) were then advanced. It is verified that these two comprehensive indexes were far more sensitive for monitoring mental workload as compared with any one of the preceding four indexes. It was concluded that it was useful to construct some comprehensive mental workload indexes for practical industrial purposes.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the endometrial secretion and synthesis of proteins in hamsters that were subjected to ovarian stimulation with or without GnRH agonist (Leuprolide Acetate, LA). The results of protein resolution revealed that the molecular weight of the proteins increased from 31D to 66D, while the intensities of photographed protein bands in the hamsters treated with LA and pregnant mare\'s serum gonadotropin (PMSG) were less than that in those treated with PMSG alone. The amounts of low and medium weights (31kD and 45kD) proteins newly synthesized in LA+PMSG group and saline group (control) were significantly higher than that in PMSG group. The synthesized and secreted proteins in groups LA and control were similar. The data suggested that a physiologic endometrial protein secretory and synthetic change with GnRH agonist regarcded as a possible cause of the higher pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization. The degree of endometrial secretion and synthesis varied considerably with the type of ovarian stimulation used.

This study was aimed to elucidate whether there is significant relationship between the lower calyceal anatomy and stone evacuation following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL). From April 1995 to November 1999,145 patients with lower caliceal stones underwent ESWL with Storz Modulith SL20 lithotriptor. The pelvicalyecal angle, lower pole infundibular length and width, and lower pole calyceal pattern of the stone-bearing calyx were measured on pre-ESWL intravenous urograms. Abdominal plain film and ultrasonography taken of all patients at the 3-month followup showed that the overall stone-free rate was 65% after 3 months. The stone-free rate was significantly correlated to the radiographic anatomical factor, 94% in patients with a pelvicalyceal angle of 90 degrees or greater, 57% in those with less than 90 degrees pelvicalyceal angle; 80% in those with infundibular length of 30 mm or less, 59% in those with infundibular length greater than 30 mm; 73% in those with infundibular width greater than 4 mm, 48% in those with infundibular width of 4 mm or less; 85% in those with a simple calyceal pattern and 41% in those with a complex one. These findings suggest that the 4 radiographic anatomical factors of the lower pole calyx(pelvicalyceal angle, infundibular length and width and calyceal pattern) play an important role in stone evacuation after ESWL. Pelvicalyceal angle of 90 degrees or greater, infundibular length of 30 mm or less and width greater than 4 mm, and simple calyceal pattern are respectively noted to relate to an improved stone-free status. In contrast, an acute pelvicalyceal angle, long infundibular length and narrow infundibular width and complex calyceal pattern are individually unfavorable factors for stone emptying following ESWL.

As China is readily embracing information technology (IT) revolution, it has to deal with an accompanying problem: regulation of the Internet, which cuts to the heart of issues that are key to China\'s future, such as how much market competition will be allowed and whether the free flow of information, crucial for economic development, will be hindered by political concerns. While the newly promulgated rules on the Internet feature the usual restrictive rhetoric, they should not be so restrictive as to deny free access to the Internet.

Since the 1950s, modern international cities have sprung up around the world and have become centers of world political and economic affairs. In the 1990s, major objectives of establishing international cities were put forward by more than forty central cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The main theme of the 21st century development of central cities in China will be urban modernization, internationalization, and topicalization. This study was conducted with the intention of researching the regional development strategy for the Changjiang River Delta (CRD) conurbation, with focus on the strategic development and positioning of Hangzhou, the central city of Zhejiang Province. Results from international urban studies in China and abroad were incorporated into this article from the theoretical viewpoints of urban science, regional economics and tourism economics. The findings of this study could provide some important implications for future research and practice.