Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemInput-to-state stability analysis via averaging for parameterized discrete-time systems(Watam Press, 2010-12-15)The paper studies semi-global practical input-to-state stability (SGP-ISS) of a parameterized family of discrete-time systems that may arise when an approximate discrete-time model of a sampled-data system with disturbances is used for controller design. It is shown under appropriate conditions that if the solutions of the time varying family of discrete-time systems with disturbances converge uniformly on compact time intervals to the solutions of the average family of discrete-time systems, then ISS of the average family of systems implies SGP-ISS of the original family of systems. A trajectory based approach is utilized to establish the main result.
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ItemAveraging for a class of hybrid systems(Watam Press, 2010-12-15)Averaging theory for ordinary differential equations is extended to a class of hybrid systems. Rapid time variations in the flow map of a hybrid system generate solutions that are also solutions of a slightly perturbed time-invariant average hybrid system. Results relating solutions of the time-varying system to solutions of the average system ensue. In the absence of finite escape times for the average system, on compact time domains each solution of the time-varying system is close to a solution of the average system. If the average system is asymptotically stable, the time-varying system exhibits semi-global, practical asymptotic stability. These results rely on mild regularity properties for the average system. In particular, the average system is not required to exhibit unique solutions. Both periodic and non-periodic flow maps are considered. The results are partially motivated by the desire to justify a pulse-width modulated implementation of hybrid feedback control for nonlinear systems.
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ItemNetworked Control Systems With Communication Constraints: Tradeoffs Between Transmission Intervals, Delays and Performance(IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC, 2010-08-01)There are many communication imperfections in networked control systems (NCS) such as varying transmission delays, varying sampling/transmission intervals, packet loss, communication constraints and quantization effects. Most of the available literature on NCS focuses on only some of these aspects, while ignoring the others. In this paper we present a general framework that incorporates communication constraints, varying transmission intervals and varying delays. Based on a newly developed NCS model including all these network phenomena, we will provide an explicit construction of a continuum of Lyapunov functions. Based on this continuum of Lyapunov functions we will derive bounds on the maximally allowable transmission interval (MATI) and the maximally allowable delay (MAD) that guarantee stability of the NCS in the presence of communication constraints. The developed theory includes recently improved results for delay-free NCS as a special case. After considering stability, we also study semi-global practical stability (under weaker conditions) and performance of the NCS in terms of Lp gains from disturbance inputs to controlled outputs. The developed results lead to tradeoff curves between MATI, MAD and performance gains that depend on the used protocol. These tradeoff curves provide quantitative information that supports the network designer when selecting appropriate networks and protocols guaranteeing stability and a desirable level of performance, while being robust to specified variations in delays and transmission intervals. The complete design procedure will be illustrated using a benchmark example.
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ItemRobustness of nonlinear control systems with quantized feedback(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2010-05-01)This paper analyzes the stability of nonlinear systems with quantized feedback in the presence of exogenous disturbances. This paper is an extension of [D. Liberzon, D. Nešić, Input-to-state stabilization of linear systems with quantized state measurements, IEEE Trans. Automat. Control 52 (2007), 413-436] to nonlinear systems. Under appropriate assumptions using a nonlinear modification of the scheme proposed in [D. Liberzon, D. Nešić, Input-to-state stabilization of linear systems with quantized state measurements, IEEE Transactions on Automat. Control 52 (2007), 413-436], it is shown here that it is possible to achieve input-to-state and nonlinear gain l 2 stability for nonlinear systems with quantized feedback.
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ItemInput-to-State Stability and Averaging of Linear Fast Switching Systems(IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC, 2010-05-01)We consider the averaging method for stability of rapidly switching linear systems with disturbances. We show that the notions of strong and weak averages proposed in [1], with partial strong average defined in this note, play an important role in the context of switched systems. Using these notions of average, we show that exponential input-to-state stability (ISS) of the strong and the partial strong average system with linear gain imply exponential ISS with linear gain of the actual system. Similarly, exponential ISS of the weak average guarantees an appropriate exponential derivative ISS (DISS) property for the actual system. Moreover, using the Lyapunov method, we show that linear ISS gains of the actual system and its average converge to each other as the switching rate is increased.
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ItemSummability characterizations of uniform exponential and asymptotic stability of sets for difference inclusions(TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2010-01-01)We present several equivalent characterizations of uniform global exponential stability (UGES) and uniform global asymptotic stability (UGAS) of arbitrary closed (not necessarily compact) sets for non-linear difference inclusions. In particular, we provide several characterizations of these stability properties via summability criteria that do not require the knowledge of a Lyapunov function. We apply our results to prove novel-nested Matrosov theorems for UGES and UGAS of the origin for time-varying non-linear difference inclusions.
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ItemHistory-Dependent Excitability as a Single-Cell Substrate of Transient Memory for Information Discrimination(PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2010-12-28)Neurons react differently to incoming stimuli depending upon their previous history of stimulation. This property can be considered as a single-cell substrate for transient memory, or context-dependent information processing: depending upon the current context that the neuron "sees" through the subset of the network impinging on it in the immediate past, the same synaptic event can evoke a postsynaptic spike or just a subthreshold depolarization. We propose a formal definition of History-Dependent Excitability (HDE) as a measure of the propensity to firing in any moment in time, linking the subthreshold history-dependent dynamics with spike generation. This definition allows the quantitative assessment of the intrinsic memory for different single-neuron dynamics and input statistics. We illustrate the concept of HDE by considering two general dynamical mechanisms: the passive behavior of an Integrate and Fire (IF) neuron, and the inductive behavior of a Generalized Integrate and Fire (GIF) neuron with subthreshold damped oscillations. This framework allows us to characterize the sensitivity of different model neurons to the detailed temporal structure of incoming stimuli. While a neuron with intrinsic oscillations discriminates equally well between input trains with the same or different frequency, a passive neuron discriminates better between inputs with different frequencies. This suggests that passive neurons are better suited to rate-based computation, while neurons with subthreshold oscillations are advantageous in a temporal coding scheme. We also address the influence of intrinsic properties in single-cell processing as a function of input statistics, and show that intrinsic oscillations enhance discrimination sensitivity at high input rates. Finally, we discuss how the recognition of these cell-specific discrimination properties might further our understanding of neuronal network computations and their relationships to the distribution and functional connectivity of different neuronal types.
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ItemBoolean versus ranked querying for biomedical systematic reviews(BMC, 2010-10-12)BACKGROUND: The process of constructing a systematic review, a document that compiles the published evidence pertaining to a specified medical topic, is intensely time-consuming, often taking a team of researchers over a year, with the identification of relevant published research comprising a substantial portion of the effort. The standard paradigm for this information-seeking task is to use Boolean search; however, this leaves the user(s) the requirement of examining every returned result. Further, our experience is that effective Boolean queries for this specific task are extremely difficult to formulate and typically require multiple iterations of refinement before being finalized. METHODS: We explore the effectiveness of using ranked retrieval as compared to Boolean querying for the purpose of constructing a systematic review. We conduct a series of experiments involving ranked retrieval, using queries defined methodologically, in an effort to understand the practicalities of incorporating ranked retrieval into the systematic search task. RESULTS: Our results show that ranked retrieval by itself is not viable for this search task requiring high recall. However, we describe a refinement of the standard Boolean search process and show that ranking within a Boolean result set can improve the overall search performance by providing early indication of the quality of the results, thereby speeding up the iterative query-refinement process. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of experiments suggest that an interactive query-development process using a hybrid ranked and Boolean retrieval system has the potential for significant time-savings over the current search process in the systematic reviewing.
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ItemA minimum of two distinct heritable factors are required to explain correlation structures in proliferating lymphocytes(ROYAL SOC, 2010-07-06)During the adaptive immune response, lymphocyte populations undergo a characteristic three-phase process: expansion through a series of cell divisions; cessation of expansion; and, finally, most of the accumulated lymphocytes die by apoptosis. The data used, thus far, to inform understanding of these processes, both in vitro and in vivo, are taken from flow cytometry experiments. One significant drawback of flow cytometry is that individual cells cannot be tracked, so that it is not possible to investigate interdependencies in the fate of cells within a family tree. This deficit in experimental information has recently been overcome by Hawkins et al. (Hawkins et al. 2009 Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 13 457-13 462 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0905629106)), who reported on time-lapse microscopy experiments in which B-cells were stimulated through the TLR-9 receptor. Cells stimulated in this way do not aggregate, so that data regarding family trees can be recorded. In this article, we further investigate the Hawkins et al. data. Our conclusions are striking: in order to explain the familial correlation structure in division times, death times and propensity to divide, a minimum of two distinct heritable factors are necessary. As the data show that two distinct factors are necessary, we develop a stochastic model that has two heritable factors and demonstrate that it can reproduce the key features of the data. This model shows that two heritable factors are sufficient. These deductions have a clear impact upon biological understanding of the adaptive immune response. They also necessitate changes to the fundamental premises behind the tools developed by statisticians to draw deductions from flow cytometry data. Finally, they affect the mathematical modelling paradigms that are used to study these systems, as these are widely developed based on assumptions of cellular independence that are not accurate.
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ItemThe Effect of Visual Cues on Auditory Stream Segregation in Musicians and Non-Musicians(PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2010-06-23)BACKGROUND: The ability to separate two interleaved melodies is an important factor in music appreciation. This ability is greatly reduced in people with hearing impairment, contributing to difficulties in music appreciation. The aim of this study was to assess whether visual cues, musical training or musical context could have an effect on this ability, and potentially improve music appreciation for the hearing impaired. METHODS: Musicians (N = 18) and non-musicians (N = 19) were asked to rate the difficulty of segregating a four-note repeating melody from interleaved random distracter notes. Visual cues were provided on half the blocks, and two musical contexts were tested, with the overlap between melody and distracter notes either gradually increasing or decreasing. CONCLUSIONS: Visual cues, musical training, and musical context all affected the difficulty of extracting the melody from a background of interleaved random distracter notes. Visual cues were effective in reducing the difficulty of segregating the melody from distracter notes, even in individuals with no musical training. These results are consistent with theories that indicate an important role for central (top-down) processes in auditory streaming mechanisms, and suggest that visual cues may help the hearing-impaired enjoy music.