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With the rapid development of cloud computing, major cloud providers have launched various cloud services with different functions to meet customer's needs. Therefore, flexibility is extremely important when developers use these cloud services. However, APIs of cloud services change dozens of times annually without backward compatibility. It means developers have to adapt these clouds with manual efforts. Such efforts make the multi-cloud collaboration extremely complex and cannot meet the demand of flexibility. This paper describes a configuration-based multi-cloud collaboration framework, which can support new clouds with comprehensible configurations. Meanwhile, if cloud APIs are updated without backward compatibility, it can restore services during runtime with minimized configuration. The main technologies used in this article include automatic discovery, unified abstraction, dynamic mapping and incremental update. We tested the virtual machine and container services of seven well-known cloud providers. The system can support heterogeneous clouds well. When the APIs are updated, the system can restore services in less than 200 milliseconds. At the same time, the extra cost of our framework is acceptable to cloud users.

In this paper, a novel model predective control algorithm is proposed. By discretizing the sampled-data system and transforming it into a polytopic uncertain system, a reliable model predictive controller is designed for the sampled-data system. Based on this transfer, a class of linear matrix inequalities is formulated as the sampled-data controller. Finally, a simulation of numerical example is presented to verify the result.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) still lacks a rapid diagnosis strategy. In this paper, we propose a low-power nose-on-a-chip for rapid COPD screening. This chip is designed for implementation in a personal handheld device that detects patient breath for COPD diagnosis. The chip has 36 on-chip sensors, a 36-channel adaptive interface with an integrated programmable amplifier, a four-channel frequency readout interface, one on-chip temperature sensor, a two-channel successive approximation analog-to-digital converter, a scalable learning kernel cluster, and a reduced instruction set computing core with low-voltage static random-access memory. This chip is fabricated in 90 nm CMOS and consumes 1.68 mW at 0.5 V. In simulation, the system distinguished between undiseased and diseased patients with 90.82% accuracy for a set of diseases including COPD and asthma and exhibited 92.31% accuracy for identifying patients with COPD or asthma. The system classified severity levels of COPD under four labels (normal, mild, moderate, and severe) with 92.00% accuracy. Accordingly, this work provides a promising solution for the unmet medical need of rapid COPD screening.

Analog-to-time conversion has been one alternative method of converting continuous-valued, biomedical signals into pulse-width-modulated (PWM) digital signals for reliable data transmission and signal processing. As most data classification algorithms rely on inner product with feature vectors, this paper presents a compact architecture for performing multiplication and accumulation on PWM signals. The proposed architecture contains a dual-scale counter (DSC) and a two-dimensional multiply-accumulate (2D-MAC) operator. The DSC converts a time-mode (PWM) signal to digital data containing one coarse-count value and one fine-count value. The 2D-MAC then performs a multiply-accumulate (MAC) operation based on the coarse-count and fine-count values. The full architecture has been realized in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for demonstration. A comparison of the proposed 2D-MAC operator with an 8 bit resolution MAC operator from the FPGA intellectual property library is also presented. Experimental results reveal that the 2D-MAC with DSC operator can reduce the chip area, while consumes compatible power with the FPGA IP library.

The electronic nose (eNose) mimicking the mammalian olfactory system has each sensor respond to different odours to different extents. However, the real environment contains multiple odours interacting with each other, such that the sensory signals of an eNose exhibit high variability and the responses to different odours usually overlap with each other. This paper presents the development of a scalable and adaptable probabilistic model for recognising eNose signals and realising the model as customer-designed integrated circuits. The scalability refers to interconnecting multiple chips to form a large network of probabilistic model for processing high-dimensional sensory signals, or to form a multi-expert system that is able to estimate the likelihood of belonging to different types of odours. The latter case could provide extra information for clinical diagnosis. Furthermore, on-chip adaptability is incorporated to learn new data distribution or variability in real time. By integrating the adaptable probabilistic model with eNose sensor arrays, analog-to-digital converters, and a digital processor on a single chip, an intelligent eNose microsystem will be formed for a variety of biomedical applications.

The elimination of leakage current is of first importance for transformerless grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) inverters. A unified leakage current analytical model for single phase inverters, which unifies topologies of both transformer and transformerless, is presented in this paper. It is suitable for the analysis of leakage current elimination mechanism for all the bridge topologies, which are systematically analyzed and categorized. After that, the topologies of H5, Heric and a H6-type configuration are optimized. The leakage current of these optimized inverters can be better eliminated by changing the topology configuration and substituting the suppressor way of changing the common impedance with the way of constant common voltage. On the other hand, the inverters can operate in any power factors by means of the optimization of the modulation strategies. A grid-tied photovoltaic inverter experiment is conducted with a 5kW optimized Heric prototype, and the theoretical analysis is verified.

Task assignment of multi-UCAV is one of the key technologies of task planning system. To get a reliable decision results, the uncertain indicators of task assignment are considered in this paper, and the indicators are represented as interval-uncertain information. Then, the task allocation model under uncertain environment is established, and the task assignment method based on the ideal point method is given. Finally, the simulation analysis for task assignment with uncertain information is carried out. The simulation results proved the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

A new active islanding detection method based on 2nd harmonic impedance measurement is studied. With this method, the inverter current reference is slightly modified by an injected signal which affecting the in-grid current in a negligible way. When the grid becomes unavailable, the value of grid impedance moves outside of a preset threshold value, and the 2nd harmonic voltage of the inverter becomes bigger enough to identify the islanding. Influence on the in-grid current and Non-Detection-Zones (NDZ) by the islanding detection method is analyzed in detail. This method is promised smaller disturbance to the grid and almost no NDZ. In addition, the method is highly robust to different grid disturbances and stiffness, and effective for multiple inverters running in parallel. A NDZ map which illustrates the NDZ by quality factor of the loads and 2nd harmonic component of the grid voltage is proposed. The new islanding detection method has been tested on a prototype inverter successfully, and it is verified that the new method meets the standard requirements IEEE 929–2000 well.

Image-based and minutiae-based are two major methods of fingerprint recognition. In this work, we presented an image-based fingerprint recognition method by using wavelet transformation and this method is efficient even for low quality fingerprint. The features extraction of the proposed method differing with previous wavelet methods is based on the blocks of enhanced region of interest (ROI). The alignment is required to build ROI including location the reference point and rotation alignment. Fingerprint matching was performed on simply Euclidian distance of feature vector extracted from wavelet domain. These features consist of mean energy, standard deviation and Shannon entropy for the purpose of making these features more discriminative. The good recognition accuracy was achieved on the FVC2002 database.

To analyze the reliability of automobile braking system, the reliability module and Markov module of Relex studio 2009 are adopted in this paper. Firstly, braking system is analyzed systematically, including function, braking process, components. Then Competitive failure models are identified and reliability model is established. Failure rate of each subsystem is obtained using the reliability prediction. According to the reliability prediction results, Markov transfer model and data are presented. This indicated that the Markov result is consistent to the prediction module. This study provides instructiveness through design and operations of braking system.

Collisions are studied as the main risks of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) offloading operations in this paper. The large application of FPSO in offshore industry has highlighted the safety issues during offloading operation. Firstly, the research progress about offshore collisions and the related risk analysis methods are studied. Secondly, a compact analysis of collisions and near miss cases is done in order to identify the risk factors associated with the collisions. The results are illustrated using fault tree analysis method. Finally, qualitative analyses of collisions are discussed regarding excessive surge and horizontal oscillation based on the feature of FPSO operations in China seas. The status of FPSO with diverse relative positions is studied and the corresponding risk control measures are presented. The works herein are instructive for the operation process during FPSO offloading.

Relex studio 2009 is applied in this paper to analyze the reliability problems of automotive braking system. Firstly, the components of braking system are analyzed and the reliability model is established. Secondly, the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is done both qualitatively and quantitatively, which helps identify the weakness to avoid accidents occurrence and minimize losses. Thirdly, the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is processed. Significant data are collected including failure rate, the evaluation of failures paths and the Risk Priority Number (RPN) values. Some important conclusions are presented and serve as instructions to the braking system design.

According to less attention has been paid to the problem of path planning in partially know environment. An improved Focused D* algorithm is proposed for solving the problem that three-dimensional path planning for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) in dynamic and uncertain environments with both pop-up and unknown threat. First, a grid model of configuration space were constructed which combination of terrain and threat information. Then, the approach could update the environment information instantly when a pop-up threat turn up. Depending on the environment information, the improved Focused D* algorithm is capable of collision avoidance in three-dimensional, and re-planning on line to obtain a new global optimal trajectories. A final set of computer simulations is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the dynamic motion planning algorithm based on the improved Focused D* algorithm which rapid construction of feasible, yet agile, trajectories.

A real-time task assignment scheme for multiple Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) operating in uncertain environment is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the situation in the uncertain environment and the uncertainty of the battlefield are analyzed. Then, a stochastic system model and a team utility Kfunction which take several indicators into account are established for multi-UCAV real-time task assignment in uncertain environments. A set of tasks are executed by the UCAV team cooperatively. Finally, the real-time task assignment is carried out with genetic algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and suitability of the model.

This paper based on summarizing traditional several cooperation models, present a kind of MAS (multi- Agent systems) cooperation model based role (dynamic cooperative model, DCMBR). This paper introduces role notion to DCMBR, host-Agent decompounds the task, utilizes the role information library, search the appropriate Agent, makes up to a dynamic union, then realize MAS cooperation by task allocation mechanism, completes specific task.. We apply DCMBR model to the team design of robot football emulation game, get the anticipant effect.

Alkaline phosphatase was isolated and purified from the cattle (Bos taurus ) liver by means of homogeni- zeation, n-butanol disposal, thermal denaturation, ultrafilt- ration, DEAE- Sepharose column chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. Its specific activity was 19863.50, and the purification fold was 228.74. Its optimum pH and temperature was 10.0 and 45℃, respectively. Na+, K+and Li+ had no effect on the activity of the enzyme. Mg2+ activated the enzyme while Zn2+, Cu2+ inhibited its activity. The Km was 0.64mmol/L.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) from Aloe saponaria (Ait) Haw was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a sequential steps ,including of acetone and heat of treatment, DEAE-sepharose and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. Three SOD components were obtained, designated as SOD-I,SOD-II,SOD-III with the molecular weight of 46,000D, 35,000D and 40,000D, and isoelectric point of 8.9, 7.6, 7.35 respectively. The three components were consisted of two identical subunits. All three SOD components from A. saponaria (Ait) Haw were Fe-SOD as confirmed by its sensitivity to KCN and H2O2, elemental analyses and the absorption spectrum analyses. Key word aloe�ƒ Aloe saponaria (Ait) Haw.�≈ ; purification; properties; superoxide dismutase (SOD)

It is very important to detect singular points (core and delta) accurately and reliably for classification and matching of fingerprint. In this paper, an improved method for singularity detection in fingerprint images, which based on continuous orientation field, is proposed to improve accuracy of the position and reliability of the singularity. Firstly, the blocks which may contain singularities are detected by computing the Poincare Index. Then, the singularities are detected in the block images. Experiment show that the proposed method can overcome the shortcoming of the traditional method to great extend and is robust to poor quality images.

The chemical modification of alginate-chitosan microcapsule in order to improve its biocompatibility was investigated. The results showed that the chemical modification of alginate-chitosan microcapsule using polyethylene glycol (PEG) did not affect the membrane-formation capability, but the biocompatibility of microcapsules was improved. Moreover, a dynamic method on viability determination of microencapsulated cells using Alamar Blue Assay was studied and testified feasible.

A dwell scheduling model which takes the time and energy constraints into account is founded from the viewpoint of scheduling gain. Dwell scheduling strategy design is turned into a nonlinear programming procedure. A dwell scheduling algorithm is then given based on the genetic algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that compared with the conventional adaptive scheduling method, the proposed algorithm not only increases the scheduling gain and the time utility of the system but also decreases the task drop rate.

Transplantation of microencapsulated transgenic mesenchymal stem cells (MCSs) is proposed as a gene therapy for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases since it allows for transplantation of endocrine cells in the absence of undesired immunosuppression as well as limited cell sources. Firstly, Alginate-Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) microcapsules were obtained using purified and non-purified sodium alginate respectively and their biocompatibility and membrane mechanical intensity were compared to investigate the necessity of purification of sodium alginate. Moreover, Alginate-Chitosan microcapsules were prepared as well as process optimization. The results showed the obviously improved biocompatibility and the membrane mechanical intensity o f purified sodium alginate-based microcapsules. Lastly, the MSCs loaded Alginate-Chitosan with good morphology microcapsules could be obtained using purified sodium alginate and chitosans of medium-molecular weight (1.0 ~ 2.5 times 105) under optimal condition. The optimal preparation technological parameters were chitosan solution of 0.1% (w/v) and 7-min-long reaction time between alginate and chitosan (5-10 min).

A Web based remote monitoring & controlling method for heat exchange system is presented in this paper. Under Internet/Intranet environment, the CAN bus technology, the embedded WEB sensor and the popular B/S structure are used to realize the remote monitoring & controlling of the heat exchange system, so it can overcome the shortage of the C/S structure, and can also predigest the course of data-processing and reduces the time of controlling. The JDBC interface technology is used to connect browser with database, and the Web page update technology can realize that the information of parameters display and heat exchange system state update automatically, so that, the user can monitor and control the remote heat exchanger by running the virtual controlling panel - ActiveX in the browser.