Single-Mode, Distributed Feedback Interband Cascade Lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frez, Clifford F. (Inventor); Borgentun, Carl E. (Inventor); Briggs, Ryan M. (Inventor); Bagheri, Mahmood (Inventor); Forouhar, Siamak (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Single-mode, distributed feedback interband cascade lasers (ICLs) using distributed-feedback gratings (e.g., lateral Bragg gratings) and methods of fabricating such ICLs are provided. The ICLs incorporate distributed-feedback gratings that are formed above the laser active region and adjacent the ridge waveguide (RWG) of the ICL. The ICLs may incorporate a double-ridge system comprising an optical confinement structure (e.g., a RWG) disposed above the laser active region that comprises the first ridge of the double ridge system, a DFB grating (e.g., lateral Bragg grating) disposed above the laser active region and adjacent the optical confinement structure, and an electric confinement structure that passes at least partially through the laser active region and that defines the boundary of the second ridge comprises and the termination of the DFB grating.

The Effects of Computerized Auditory Feedback on Electronic Article Surveillance Tag Placement in an Auto-Parts Distribution Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goomas, David T.

2008-01-01

In this report from the field, computerized auditory feedback was used to inform order selectors and order selector auditors in a distribution center to add an electronic article surveillance (EAS) adhesive tag. This was done by programming handheld computers to emit a loud beep for high-priced items upon scanning the item's bar-coded Universal…

Multiwavelength generation in a random distributed feedback fiber laser using an all fiber Lyot filter.

PubMed

Sugavanam, S; Yan, Z; Kamynin, V; Kurkov, A S; Zhang, L; Churkin, D V

2014-02-10

Multiwavelength lasing in the random distributed feedback fiber laser is demonstrated by employing an all fiber Lyot filter. Stable multiwavelength generation is obtained, with each line exhibiting sub-nanometer line-widths. A flat power distribution over multiple lines is obtained, which indicates that the power between lines is redistributed in nonlinear mixing processes. The multiwavelength generation is observed both in first and second Stokes waves.

An Explanation of the Effectiveness of Written Corrective Feedback in Second-Language Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, Jason

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical explanation for the effectiveness of Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) in increasing second-language (L2) students' grammatical accuracy. WCF is examined via Skill Acquisition Theory (SAT) in order to account for uneven patterns of its effectiveness. As the study demonstrates, WCF is effective…

The results of a survey highlighting issues with feedback on medical training in the United Kingdom and how a Smartphone App could provide a solution.

PubMed

Gray, Thomas G; Hood, Gill; Farrell, Tom

2015-11-06

Feedback drives learning in medical education. Healthcare Supervision Logbook (HSL) is a Smartphone App developed at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals for providing feedback on medical training, from both a trainee's and a supervisor's perspective. In order to establish a mandate for the role of HSL in clinical practice, a large survey was carried out. Two surveys (one for doctors undertaking specialty training and a second for consultants supervising their training) were designed. The survey for doctors-in-training was distributed to all specialty trainees in the South and West localities of the Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber UK region. The survey for supervisors was distributed to all consultants involved in educational and clinical supervision of specialty trainees at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. The results confirm that specialty trainees provide feedback on their training infrequently-66 % do so only annually. 96 % of the specialty trainees owned a Smartphone and 45 % said that they would be willing to use a Smartphone App to provide daily feedback on the clinical and educational supervision they receive. Consultant supervisors do not receive regular feedback on the educational and clinical supervision they provide to trainees-56 % said they never received such feedback and 33 % said it was only on an annual basis. 86 % of consultants surveyed owned a Smartphone and 41 % said they would be willing to use a Smartphone App to provide feedback on the performance of trainees they were supervising. Feedback on medical training is recorded by specialty trainees infrequently and consultants providing educational and clinical supervision often do not receive any feedback on their performance in this area. HSL is a simple, quick and efficient way to collect and collate feedback on medical training to improve this situation. Good support and education needs to be provided when implementing this new technology.

Fuzzy distributed cooperative tracking for a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles with heterogeneous goals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kladis, Georgios P.; Menon, Prathyush P.; Edwards, Christopher

2016-12-01

This article proposes a systematic analysis for a tracking problem which ensures cooperation amongst a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), modelled as nonlinear systems with linear and angular velocity constraints, in order to achieve different goals. A distributed Takagi-Sugeno (TS) framework design is adopted for the representation of the nonlinear model of the dynamics of the UAVs. The distributed control law which is introduced is composed of both node and network level information. Firstly, feedback gains are synthesised using a parallel distributed compensation (PDC) control law structure, for a collection of isolated UAVs; ignoring communications among the swarm. Then secondly, based on an alternation-like procedure, the resulting feedback gains are used to determine Lyapunov matrices which are utilised at network level to incorporate into the control law, the relative differences in the states of the vehicles, and to induce cooperative behaviour. Eventually stability is guaranteed for the entire swarm. The control synthesis is performed using tools from linear control theory: in particular the design criteria are posed as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). An example based on a UAV tracking scenario is included to outline the efficacy of the approach.

Diode-Pumped Organo-Lead Halide Perovskite Lasing in a Metal-Clad Distributed Feedback Resonator.

PubMed

Jia, Yufei; Kerner, Ross A; Grede, Alex J; Brigeman, Alyssa N; Rand, Barry P; Giebink, Noel C

2016-07-13

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite semiconductors have recently reignited the prospect of a tunable, solution-processed diode laser, which has the potential to impact a wide range of optoelectronic applications. Here, we demonstrate a metal-clad, second-order distributed feedback methylammonium lead iodide perovskite laser that marks a significant step toward this goal. Optically pumping this device with an InGaN diode laser at low temperature, we achieve lasing above a threshold pump intensity of 5 kW/cm(2) for durations up to ∼25 ns at repetition rates exceeding 2 MHz. We show that the lasing duration is not limited by thermal runaway and propose instead that lasing ceases under continuous pumping due to a photoinduced structural change in the perovskite that reduces the gain on a submicrosecond time scale. Our results indicate that the architecture demonstrated here could provide the foundation for electrically pumped lasing with a threshold current density Jth < 5 kA/cm(2) under sub-20 ns pulsed drive.

Nonlinear compensation techniques for magnetic suspension systems. Ph.D. Thesis - MIT

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trumper, David L.

1991-01-01

In aerospace applications, magnetic suspension systems may be required to operate over large variations in air-gap. Thus the nonlinearities inherent in most types of suspensions have a significant effect. Specifically, large variations in operating point may make it difficult to design a linear controller which gives satisfactory stability and performance over a large range of operating points. One way to address this problem is through the use of nonlinear compensation techniques such as feedback linearization. Nonlinear compensators have received limited attention in the magnetic suspension literature. In recent years, progress has been made in the theory of nonlinear control systems, and in the sub-area of feedback linearization. The idea is demonstrated of feedback linearization using a second order suspension system. In the context of the second order suspension, sampling rate issues in the implementation of feedback linearization are examined through simulation.

Multiperiod-grating surface-emitting lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lang, Robert J. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

Surface-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are disclosed with hybrid gratings. A first-order grating is provided at one or both ends of the active region of the laser for retroreflection of light back into the active region, and a second-order or nonresonant grating is provided at the opposite end for coupling light out perpendicular to the surfaces of the laser or in some other selected direction. The gratings may be curved to focus light retroreflected into the active region and to focus light coupled out to a point. When so focused to a point, the DFB laser may be part of a monolithic read head for a laser recorded disk, or an optical coupler into an optical fiber.

Electrophysiological Correlates of Error Monitoring and Feedback Processing in Second Language Learning.

PubMed

Bultena, Sybrine; Danielmeier, Claudia; Bekkering, Harold; Lemhöfer, Kristin

2017-01-01

Humans monitor their behavior to optimize performance, which presumably relies on stable representations of correct responses. During second language (L2) learning, however, stable representations have yet to be formed while knowledge of the first language (L1) can interfere with learning, which in some cases results in persistent errors. In order to examine how correct L2 representations are stabilized, this study examined performance monitoring in the learning process of second language learners for a feature that conflicts with their first language. Using EEG, we investigated if L2 learners in a feedback-guided word gender assignment task showed signs of error detection in the form of an error-related negativity (ERN) before and after receiving feedback, and how feedback is processed. The results indicated that initially, response-locked negativities for correct (CRN) and incorrect (ERN) responses were of similar size, showing a lack of internal error detection when L2 representations are unstable. As behavioral performance improved following feedback, the ERN became larger than the CRN, pointing to the first signs of successful error detection. Additionally, we observed a second negativity following the ERN/CRN components, the amplitude of which followed a similar pattern as the previous negativities. Feedback-locked data indicated robust FRN and P300 effects in response to negative feedback across different rounds, demonstrating that feedback remained important in order to update memory representations during learning. We thus show that initially, L2 representations may often not be stable enough to warrant successful error monitoring, but can be stabilized through repeated feedback, which means that the brain is able to overcome L1 interference, and can learn to detect errors internally after a short training session. The results contribute a different perspective to the discussion on changes in ERN and FRN components in relation to learning, by extending the investigation of these effects to the language learning domain. Furthermore, these findings provide a further characterization of the online learning process of L2 learners.

Output Feedback Distributed Containment Control for High-Order Nonlinear Multiagent Systems.

PubMed

Li, Yafeng; Hua, Changchun; Wu, Shuangshuang; Guan, Xinping

2017-01-31

In this paper, we study the problem of output feedback distributed containment control for a class of high-order nonlinear multiagent systems under a fixed undirected graph and a fixed directed graph, respectively. Only the output signals of the systems can be measured. The novel reduced order dynamic gain observer is constructed to estimate the unmeasured state variables of the system with the less conservative condition on nonlinear terms than traditional Lipschitz one. Via the backstepping method, output feedback distributed nonlinear controllers for the followers are designed. By means of the novel first virtual controllers, we separate the estimated state variables of different agents from each other. Consequently, the designed controllers show independence on the estimated state variables of neighbors except outputs information, and the dynamics of each agent can be greatly different, which make the design method have a wider class of applications. Finally, a numerical simulation is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Business Activity Monitoring: Real-Time Group Goals and Feedback Using an Overhead Scoreboard in a Distribution Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goomas, David T.; Smith, Stuart M.; Ludwig, Timothy D.

2011-01-01

Companies operating large industrial settings often find delivering timely and accurate feedback to employees to be one of the toughest challenges they face in implementing performance management programs. In this report, an overhead scoreboard at a retailer's distribution center informed teams of order selectors as to how many tasks were…

Synthetic CO, H2 and H I surveys of the second galactic quadrant, and the properties of molecular gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duarte-Cabral, A.; Acreman, D. M.; Dobbs, C. L.; Mottram, J. C.; Gibson, S. J.; Brunt, C. M.; Douglas, K. A.

2015-03-01

We present CO, H2, H I and HISA (H I self-absorption) distributions from a set of simulations of grand design spirals including stellar feedback, self-gravity, heating and cooling. We replicate the emission of the second galactic quadrant by placing the observer inside the modelled galaxies and post-process the simulations using a radiative transfer code, so as to create synthetic observations. We compare the synthetic data cubes to observations of the second quadrant of the Milky Way to test the ability of the current models to reproduce the basic chemistry of the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM), as well as to test how sensitive such galaxy models are to different recipes of chemistry and/or feedback. We find that models which include feedback and self-gravity can reproduce the production of CO with respect to H2 as observed in our Galaxy, as well as the distribution of the material perpendicular to the Galactic plane. While changes in the chemistry/feedback recipes do not have a huge impact on the statistical properties of the chemistry in the simulated galaxies, we find that the inclusion of both feedback and self-gravity are crucial ingredients, as our test without feedback failed to reproduce all of the observables. Finally, even though the transition from H2 to CO seems to be robust, we find that all models seem to underproduce molecular gas, and have a lower molecular to atomic gas fraction than is observed. Nevertheless, our fiducial model with feedback and self-gravity has shown to be robust in reproducing the statistical properties of the basic molecular gas components of the ISM in our Galaxy.

Fractional-order positive position feedback compensator for active vibration control of a smart composite plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marinangeli, L.; Alijani, F.; HosseinNia, S. Hassan

2018-01-01

In this paper, Active Vibration Control (AVC) of a rectangular carbon fibre composite plate with free edges is presented. The plate is subjected to out-of-plane excitation by a modal vibration exciter and controlled by Macro Fibre Composite (MFC) transducers. Vibration measurements are performed by using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) system. A fractional-order Positive Position Feedback (PPF) compensator is proposed, implemented and compared to the standard integer-order PPF. MFC actuator and sensor are positioned on the plate based on maximal modal strain criterion, so as to control the second natural mode of the plate. Both integer and fractional-order PPF allowed for the effective control of the second mode of vibration. However, the newly proposed fractional-order controller is found to be more efficient in achieving the same performance with less actuation voltage. Moreover, it shows promising performance in reducing spillover effect due to uncontrolled modes.

Immediate Feedback on Accuracy and Performance: The Effects of Wireless Technology on Food Safety Tracking at a Distribution Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goomas, David T.

2012-01-01

The effects of wireless ring scanners, which provided immediate auditory and visual feedback, were evaluated to increase the performance and accuracy of order selectors at a meat distribution center. The scanners not only increased performance and accuracy compared to paper pick sheets, but were also instrumental in immediate and accurate data…

Study of gain-coupled distributed feedback laser based on high order surface gain-coupled gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Feng; Qin, Li; Chen, Yongyi; Jia, Peng; Chen, Chao; Cheng, LiWen; Chen, Hong; Liang, Lei; Zeng, Yugang; Zhang, Xing; Wu, Hao; Ning, Yongqiang; Wang, Lijun

2018-03-01

Single-longitudinal-mode, gain-coupled distributed feedback (DFB) lasers based on high order surface gain-coupled gratings are achieved. Periodic surface metal p-contacts with insulated grooves realize gain-coupled mechanism. To enhance gain contrast in the quantum wells without the introduction of effective index-coupled effect, groove length and depth were well designed. Our devices provided a single longitudinal mode with the maximum CW output power up to 48.8 mW/facet at 971.31 nm at 250 mA without facet coating, 3dB linewidth (<3.2 pm) and SMSR (>39 dB). Optical bistable characteristic was observed with a threshold current difference. Experimentally, devices with different cavity lengths were contrasted on power-current and spectrum characteristics. Due to easy fabrication technique and stable performance, it provides a method of fabricating practical gain-coupled distributed feedback lasers for commercial applications.

Distributed feedback acoustic surface wave oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elachi, C. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

An acoustic surface wave oscillator is constructed from a semiconductor piezoelectric acoustic surface wave amplifier by providing appropriate perturbations at the piezoelectric boundary. The perturbations cause Bragg order reflections that maintain acoustic wave oscillation under certain conditions of gain and feedback.

Strong quantum squeezing of mechanical resonator via parametric amplification and coherent feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Xiang; Li, Zongyang; Li, Yongmin

2017-12-01

A scheme to achieve strong quantum squeezing of a mechanical resonator in a membrane-in-the-middle optomechanical system is developed. To this end, simultaneous linear and nonlinear coupling between the mechanical resonator and the cavity modes is applied. A two-tone driving light field, comprising unequal red-detuned and blue-detuned sidebands, helps in generating a coherent feedback force through the linear coupling with the membrane resonator. Another driving light field with its amplitude modulated at twice the mechanical frequency drives the mechanical parametric amplification through a second-order coupling with the resonator. The combined effect produces strong quantum squeezing of the mechanical state. The proposed scheme is quite robust to excess second-order coupling observed in coherent feedback operations and can suppress the fluctuations in the mechanical quadrature to far below the zero point and achieve strong squeezing (greater than 10 dB) for realistic parameters.

Steady state statistical correlations predict bistability in reaction motifs.

PubMed

Chakravarty, Suchana; Barik, Debashis

2017-03-28

Various cellular decision making processes are regulated by bistable switches that take graded input signals and convert them to binary all-or-none responses. Traditionally, a bistable switch generated by a positive feedback loop is characterized either by a hysteretic signal response curve with two distinct signaling thresholds or by characterizing the bimodality of the response distribution in the bistable region. To identify the intrinsic bistability of a feedback regulated network, here we propose that bistability can be determined by correlating higher order moments and cumulants (≥2) of the joint steady state distributions of two components connected in a positive feedback loop. We performed stochastic simulations of four feedback regulated models with intrinsic bistability and we show that for a bistable switch with variation of the signal dose, the steady state variance vs. covariance adopts a signatory cusp-shaped curve. Further, we find that the (n + 1)th order cross-cumulant vs. nth order cross-cumulant adopts a closed loop structure for at least n = 3. We also propose that our method is capable of identifying systems without intrinsic bistability even though the system may show bimodality in the marginal response distribution. The proposed method can be used to analyze single cell protein data measured at steady state from experiments such as flow cytometry.

Identification and feedback control in structures with piezoceramic actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, H. T.; Ito, K.; Wang, Y.

1992-01-01

In this lecture we give fundamental well-posedness results for a variational formulation of a class of damped second order partial differential equations with unbounded input or control coefficients. Included as special cases in this class are structures with piezoceramic actuators. We consider approximation techniques leading to computational methods in the context of both parameter estimation and feedback control problems for these systems. Rigorous convergence results for parameter estimates and feedback gains are discussed.

On the nature of the sea ice albedo feedback in simple models.

PubMed

Moon, W; Wettlaufer, J S

2014-08-01

We examine the nature of the ice-albedo feedback in a long-standing approach used in the dynamic-thermodynamic modeling of sea ice. The central issue examined is how the evolution of the ice area is treated when modeling a partial ice cover using a two-category-thickness scheme; thin sea ice and open water in one category and "thick" sea ice in the second. The problem with the scheme is that the area evolution is handled in a manner that violates the basic rules of calculus, which leads to a neglected area evolution term that is equivalent to neglecting a leading-order latent heat flux. We demonstrate the consequences by constructing energy balance models with a fractional ice cover and studying them under the influence of increased radiative forcing. It is shown that the neglected flux is particularly important in a decaying ice cover approaching the transitions to seasonal or ice-free conditions. Clearly, a mishandling of the evolution of the ice area has leading-order effects on the ice-albedo feedback. Accordingly, it may be of considerable importance to reexamine the relevant climate model schemes and to begin the process of converting them to fully resolve the sea ice thickness distribution in a manner such as remapping, which does not in principle suffer from the pathology we describe.

On the nature of the sea ice albedo feedback in simple models

PubMed Central

Moon, W; Wettlaufer, J S

2014-01-01

We examine the nature of the ice-albedo feedback in a long-standing approach used in the dynamic-thermodynamic modeling of sea ice. The central issue examined is how the evolution of the ice area is treated when modeling a partial ice cover using a two-category-thickness scheme; thin sea ice and open water in one category and “thick” sea ice in the second. The problem with the scheme is that the area evolution is handled in a manner that violates the basic rules of calculus, which leads to a neglected area evolution term that is equivalent to neglecting a leading-order latent heat flux. We demonstrate the consequences by constructing energy balance models with a fractional ice cover and studying them under the influence of increased radiative forcing. It is shown that the neglected flux is particularly important in a decaying ice cover approaching the transitions to seasonal or ice-free conditions. Clearly, a mishandling of the evolution of the ice area has leading-order effects on the ice-albedo feedback. Accordingly, it may be of considerable importance to reexamine the relevant climate model schemes and to begin the process of converting them to fully resolve the sea ice thickness distribution in a manner such as remapping, which does not in principle suffer from the pathology we describe. PMID:26213674

All-Union Conference on Laser Optics, 4th, Leningrad, USSR, January 13-18, 1984, Proceedings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bukhenskii, M. F.

1984-08-01

The papers presented in this volume provide an overview of current theoretical and experimental research in laser optics. Topics discussed include electronically controlled tunable lasers, nonlinear phenomena in fiber-optic waveguides, holographic distributed-feedback dye lasers, and new developments in solid-state lasers. Papers are also presented on the generation of picosecond pulses through self-Q-switching in a distributed-feedback laser, temporal compression of light pulses during stimulated backscattering, and optimization of second harmonic generation in a multimode Nd:glass laser.

Organic holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal distributed feedback laser from different diffraction orders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Minghuan; Liu, Yonggang; Zhang, Guiyang; Peng, Zenghui; Li, Dayu; Ma, Ji; Xuan, Li

2016-11-01

Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) based distributed feedback (DFB) lasers were prepared with poly (-methoxy-5-(2‧-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene) (MEH-PPV) film as the active medium layer. The HPDLC grating film was fabricated via holographic induced photopolymerization. The pure film spectra of MEH-PPV and the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectrum were investigated. The laser device was single-longitudinal mode operation. The tunability of the HPDLC DFB laser was achieved by selecting different grating periods. The lasing performances were also characterized and compared from different diffraction orders. The lasing threshold increased with the diffraction order and the third order laser possessed the largest conversion efficiency in this device. The experimental results were in good agreement with the theoretical calculations.

Taming stochastic bifurcations in fractional-order systems via noise and delayed feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Zhongkui; Zhang, Jintian; Yang, Xiaoli; Xu, Wei

2017-08-01

The dynamics in fractional-order systems have been widely studied during the past decade due to the potential applications in new materials and anomalous diffusions, but the investigations have been so far restricted to a fractional-order system without time delay(s). In this paper, we report the first study of random responses of fractional-order system coupled with noise and delayed feedback. Stochastic averaging method has been utilized to determine the stationary probability density functions (PDFs) by means of the principle of minimum mean-square error, based on which stochastic bifurcations could be identified through recognizing the shape of the PDFs. It has been found that by changing the fractional order the shape of the PDFs can switch from unimodal distribution to bimodal one, or from bimodal distribution to unimodal one, thus announcing the onset of stochastic bifurcation. Further, we have demonstrated that by merely modulating the time delay, the feedback strengths, or the noise intensity, the shapes of PDFs can transit between a single peak and a double peak. Therefore, it provides an efficient candidate to control, say, induce or suppress, the stochastic bifurcations in fractional-order systems.

Statistics based sampling for controller and estimator design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenne, Dirk

The purpose of this research is the development of statistical design tools for robust feed-forward/feedback controllers and nonlinear estimators. This dissertation is threefold and addresses the aforementioned topics nonlinear estimation, target tracking and robust control. To develop statistically robust controllers and nonlinear estimation algorithms, research has been performed to extend existing techniques, which propagate the statistics of the state, to achieve higher order accuracy. The so-called unscented transformation has been extended to capture higher order moments. Furthermore, higher order moment update algorithms based on a truncated power series have been developed. The proposed techniques are tested on various benchmark examples. Furthermore, the unscented transformation has been utilized to develop a three dimensional geometrically constrained target tracker. The proposed planar circular prediction algorithm has been developed in a local coordinate framework, which is amenable to extension of the tracking algorithm to three dimensional space. This tracker combines the predictions of a circular prediction algorithm and a constant velocity filter by utilizing the Covariance Intersection. This combined prediction can be updated with the subsequent measurement using a linear estimator. The proposed technique is illustrated on a 3D benchmark trajectory, which includes coordinated turns and straight line maneuvers. The third part of this dissertation addresses the design of controller which include knowledge of parametric uncertainties and their distributions. The parameter distributions are approximated by a finite set of points which are calculated by the unscented transformation. This set of points is used to design robust controllers which minimize a statistical performance of the plant over the domain of uncertainty consisting of a combination of the mean and variance. The proposed technique is illustrated on three benchmark problems. The first relates to the design of prefilters for a linear and nonlinear spring-mass-dashpot system and the second applies a feedback controller to a hovering helicopter. Lastly, the statistical robust controller design is devoted to a concurrent feed-forward/feedback controller structure for a high-speed low tension tape drive.

Rotor-state feedback in the design of flight control laws for a hovering helicopter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takahashi, Marc D.

1994-01-01

The use of rigid-body and rotor-state feedback gains in the design of helicopter flight control laws was investigated analytically on a blade element, articulated rotor, helicopter model. The study was conducted while designing a control law to meet an existing military rotorcraft handling qualities design specification (ADS-33C) in low-speed flight. A systematic approach to meet this specification was developed along with an assessment of the function of these gains in the feedback loops. Using the results of this assessment, the pitch and roll crossover behavior was easily modified by adjusting the body attitude and rotor-flap feedback gains. Critical to understanding the feedback gains is that the roll and pitch rate dynamics each have second-order behavior, not the classic first-order behavior, which arises from a quasi-static rotor, six degree-of-freedom model.

Output feedback regulator design for jet engine control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merrill, W. C.

1977-01-01

A multivariable control design procedure based on the output feedback regulator formulation is described and applied to turbofan engine model. Full order model dynamics, were incorporated in the example design. The effect of actuator dynamics on closed loop performance was investigaged. Also, the importance of turbine inlet temperature as an element of the dynamic feedback was studied. Step responses were given to indicate the improvement in system performance with this control. Calculation times for all experiments are given in CPU seconds for comparison purposes.

Clarity, Consistency and Communication: Using Enhanced Dialogue to Create a Course-Based Feedback Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nixon, Sarah; Brooman, Simon; Murphy, Becky; Fearon, Damien

2017-01-01

This article examines the outcomes of a study across four discipline areas in order to develop course-based assessment strategies in closer cooperation with students. Second-year students (n = 48) from different disciplines were engaged in two phases of activity-orientated workshops. Phase 1 sought their perceptions of feedback. Phase 2 saw…

Optimization of the Laser Properties of Polymer Films Doped with N,N´-Bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N´-diphenylbenzidine

PubMed Central

Calzado, Eva M.; Boj, Pedro G.; Díaz-García, María A.

2009-01-01

This review compiles the work performed in the field of organic solid-state lasers with the hole-transporting organic molecule N,N´-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N´-diphenyl-benzidine system (TPD), in view of improving active laser material properties. The optimization of the amplified spontaneous emission characteristics, i.e., threshold, linewidth, emission wavelength and photostability, of polystyrene films doped with TPD in waveguide configuration has been achieved by investigating the influence of several materials parameters such as film thickness and TPD concentration. In addition, the influence in the emission properties of the inclusion of a second-order distributed feedback grating in the substrate is discussed.

Optical feedback in dfb quantum cascade laser for mid-infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terabayashi, Ryohei; Sonnenschein, Volker; Tomita, Hideki; Hayashi, Noriyoshi; Kato, Shusuke; Jin, Lei; Yamanaka, Masahito; Nishizawa, Norihiko; Sato, Atsushi; Nozawa, Kohei; Hashizume, Kenta; Oh-hara, Toshinari; Iguchi, Tetsuo

2017-11-01

A simple external optical feedback system has been applied to a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB QCL) for cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) and a clear effect of feedback was observed. A long external feedback path length of up to 4m can decrease the QCL linewidth to around 50kHz, which is of the order of the transmission linewidth of our high finesse ring-down cavity. The power spectral density of the transmission signal from high finesse cavity reveals that the noise at frequencies above 20kHz is reduced dramatically.

Robust controller designs for second-order dynamic system: A virtual passive approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Juang, Jer-Nan; Phan, Minh

1990-01-01

A robust controller design is presented for second-order dynamic systems. The controller is model-independent and itself is a virtual second-order dynamic system. Conditions on actuator and sensor placements are identified for controller designs that guarantee overall closed-loop stability. The dynamic controller can be viewed as a virtual passive damping system that serves to stabilize the actual dynamic system. The control gains are interpreted as virtual mass, spring, and dashpot elements that play the same roles as actual physical elements in stability analysis. Position, velocity, and acceleration feedback are considered. Simple examples are provided to illustrate the physical meaning of this controller design.

Framework and Method for Controlling a Robotic System Using a Distributed Computer Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, Adam M. (Inventor); Strawser, Philip A. (Inventor); Barajas, Leandro G. (Inventor); Permenter, Frank Noble (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A robotic system for performing an autonomous task includes a humanoid robot having a plurality of compliant robotic joints, actuators, and other integrated system devices that are controllable in response to control data from various control points, and having sensors for measuring feedback data at the control points. The system includes a multi-level distributed control framework (DCF) for controlling the integrated system components over multiple high-speed communication networks. The DCF has a plurality of first controllers each embedded in a respective one of the integrated system components, e.g., the robotic joints, a second controller coordinating the components via the first controllers, and a third controller for transmitting a signal commanding performance of the autonomous task to the second controller. The DCF virtually centralizes all of the control data and the feedback data in a single location to facilitate control of the robot across the multiple communication networks.

Two time scale output feedback regulation for ill-conditioned systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calise, A. J.; Moerder, D. D.

1986-01-01

Issues pertaining to the well-posedness of a two time scale approach to the output feedback regulator design problem are examined. An approximate quadratic performance index which reflects a two time scale decomposition of the system dynamics is developed. It is shown that, under mild assumptions, minimization of this cost leads to feedback gains providing a second-order approximation of optimal full system performance. A simplified approach to two time scale feedback design is also developed, in which gains are separately calculated to stabilize the slow and fast subsystem models. By exploiting the notion of combined control and observation spillover suppression, conditions are derived assuring that these gains will stabilize the full-order system. A sequential numerical algorithm is described which obtains output feedback gains minimizing a broad class of performance indices, including the standard LQ case. It is shown that the algorithm converges to a local minimum under nonrestrictive assumptions. This procedure is adapted to and demonstrated for the two time scale design formulations.

Two-D results on human operator perception

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siapkara, A. A.; Sheridan, T. B.

1981-01-01

The application of multidimensional scaling methodology in human factors engineering is presented. The nonorthogonality of internally perceived task variables is exhibited for first and second order plants with both dependent and independent task variables. Directions of operator preference are shown for actual performance, pilot opinion rating, and subjective measures of fatigue, adaptability, and system recognition. Improvement of performance in second order systems is exhibited by the use of bang-bang feedback information. Dissimilarity measures for system comparison are suggested in order to account for human operator rotations and subjective sense of time.

Analysis of the WRF-Chem simulations contributing to the AQMEII-Phase II exercise with respect to aerosol impact on precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werhahn, Johannes; Balzarini, Allessandra; Baró, Roccio; Curci, Gabriele; Forkel, Renate; Hirtl, Marcus; Honzak, Luka; Jiménez-Guerrero, Pedro; Langer, Matthias; Lorenz, Christof; Pérez, Juan L.; Pirovano, Guido; San José, Roberto; Tuccella, Paolo; Žabkar, Rahela

2014-05-01

Simulated feedback effects between aerosol concentrations and meteorological variables and on pollutant distributions are expected to depend on model configuration and the meteorological situation. In order to quantity these effects the second phase of the AQMEII (Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative; http://aqmeii.jrc.ec.europa.eu/) model inter-comparison exercise focused on online coupled meteorology-chemistry models. Among others, seven of the participating groups contributed simulations with WRF-Chem (Grell et al., 2005) for Europe. According to the common simulation strategy for AQMEII phase 2, the entire year 2010 was simulated as a sequence of 2-day time slices. For better comparability, the seven groups using WRF-Chem applied the same grid spacing of 23 km and shared common processing of initial and boundary conditions as well as anthropogenic and fire emissions. The simulations differ by the chosen chemistry option, aerosol module, cloud microphysics, and by the degree of aerosol-meteorology feedback that was considered. Results from this small ensemble are analyzed with respect to the effect of the different degrees of aerosol-meteorology feedback, i.e. no aerosol feedback, direct aerosol effect, and direct plus indirect aerosol effect, on large scale precipitation. Simulated precipitation fields were compared against daily precipitation observations as given by E-OBS 25 km resolution gridded dataset from the EU-FP6 project ENSEMBLES (http://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com) and the data providers in the ECA&D project (http://www.ecad.eu). As expected, a first analysis confirms that the average impact of aerosol feedback is only very small on the considered spatial and temporal scale, i.e. due to the fact that initial meteorological conditions were taken every 3rd day from a one day non-feedback spin-up run. However, the analysis of the correlations between simulation and observations for the first and the second day indicates for some particular situations and regions a slightly better correlation when the aerosol indirect effect is accounted for.

A Reduced Order Model of the Linearized Incompressible Navier-Strokes Equations for the Sensor/Actuator Placement Problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allan, Brian G.

2000-01-01

A reduced order modeling approach of the Navier-Stokes equations is presented for the design of a distributed optimal feedback kernel. This approach is based oil a Krylov subspace method where significant modes of the flow are captured in the model This model is then used in all optimal feedback control design where sensing and actuation is performed oil tile entire flow field. This control design approach yields all optimal feedback kernel which provides insight into the placement of sensors and actuators in the flow field. As all evaluation of this approach, a two-dimensional shear layer and driven cavity flow are investigated.

Written feedback and continuity of learning in a geographically distributed medical education program.

PubMed

Harvey, Pam; Radomski, Natalie; O'Connor, Dennis

2013-12-01

The provision of effective feedback on clinical performance for medical students is important for their continued learning. Written feedback is an underutilised medium for linking clinical performances over time. The aim of this study is to investigate how clinical supervisors construct performance orientated written feedback and learning goals for medical students in a geographically distributed medical education (GDME) programme. This qualitative study uses textual analysis to examine the structure and content of written feedback statements in 1000 mini-CEX records from 33 Australian undergraduate medical students during their 36 week GDME programme. The students were in their second clinical year. Forty percent of mini-CEX records contained written feedback statements. Within these statements, 80% included comments relating to student clinical performance. The way in which written feedback statements were recorded varied in structure and content. Only 16% of the statements contained student learning goals focused on improving a student's clinical performance over time. Very few of the written feedback statements identified forward-focused learning goals. Training clinical supervisors in understanding how their feedback contributes to a student's continuity of learning across their GDME clinical placements will enable more focused learning experiences based on student need. To enhance student learning over time and place, effective written feedback should contain focused, coherent phrases that help reflection on current and future clinical performance. It also needs to provide enough detail for other GDME clinical supervisors to understand current student performance and plan future directions for their teaching.

Leader-Follower Formation Control of UUVs with Model Uncertainties, Current Disturbances, and Unstable Communication

PubMed Central

Yan, Zheping; Xu, Da; Chen, Tao; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Yibo

2018-01-01

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) have rapidly developed as mobile sensor networks recently in the investigation, survey, and exploration of the underwater environment. The goal of this paper is to develop a practical and efficient formation control method to improve work efficiency of multi-UUV sensor networks. Distributed leader-follower formation controllers are designed based on a state feedback and consensus algorithm. Considering that each vehicle is subject to model uncertainties and current disturbances, a second-order integral UUV model with a nonlinear function is established using the state feedback linearized method under current disturbances. For unstable communication among UUVs, communication failure and acoustic link noise interference are considered. Two-layer random switching communication topologies are proposed to solve the problem of communication failure. For acoustic link noise interference, accurate representation of valid communication information and noise stripping when designing controllers is necessary. Effective communication topology weights are designed to represent the validity of communication information interfered by noise. Utilizing state feedback and noise stripping, sufficient conditions for design formation controllers are proposed to ensure UUV formation achieves consensus under model uncertainties, current disturbances, and unstable communication. The stability of formation controllers is proven by the Lyapunov-Razumikhin theorem, and the validity is verified by simulation results. PMID:29473919

Distributed-feedback Terahertz Quantum-cascade Lasers with Laterally Corrugated Metal Waveguides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Benjamin S.; Kumar, Sushil; Hu, Qing; Reno, John L.

2005-01-01

We report the demonstration of distributed-feedback terahertz quantum-cascade lasers based on a first-order grating fabricated via a lateral corrugation in a double-sided metal ridge waveguide. The phase of the facet reflection was precisely set by lithographically defined facets by dry etching. Single-mode emission was observed at low to moderate injection currents, although multimode emission was observed far beyond threshold owing to spatial hole burning. Finite-element simulations were used to calculate the modal and threshold characteristics for these devices, with results in good agreement with experiments.

Novel hybrid laser modes in composite VCSEL-DFB microcavities (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mischok, Andreas; Wagner, Tim; Sudzius, Markas; Brückner, Robert; Fröb, Hartmut; Lyssenko, Vadim G.; Leo, Karl

2017-02-01

Two of the most successful microcresonator concepts are the vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), where light is confined between distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), and the distributed feedback (DFB) laser, where a periodic grating provides positive optical feedback to selected modes in an active waveguide (WG) layer. Our work concerns the combination of both into a composite device, facilitating coherent interaction between both regimes and giving rise to novel laser modes in the system. In a first realization, a full VCSEL stack with an organic active layer is evaporated on top of a diffraction grating with a large period (approximately 1 micron), leading to diffraction of waveguided modes into the surface emission of the device. Here, the coherent interaction between VCSEL and WG modes, as observed in an anticrossing of the dispersion lines, facilitates novel hybrid lasing modes with macroscopic in-plane coherence [1]. In further studies, we decrease the grating period of such devices to realise DFB conditions in a second-order Bragg grating which strongly couples photons via first-order light diffraction to the VCSEL. This efficient coupling can be compared to more classical cascade-coupled cavities and is successfully described by a coupled oscillator model [2]. When both resonators are non-degenerate, they are able to function as independent structures without substantial diffraction losses. The realization of such novel devices provides a promising platform for photonic circuits based on organic microlasers. [1] A. Mischok et al., Adv. Opt. Mater., early online, DOI: 10.1002/adom.201600282, (2016) [2] T. Wagner et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., accepted, in production, (2016)

Performance, Accuracy, Data Delivery, and Feedback Methods in Order Selection: A Comparison of Voice, Handheld, and Paper Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ludwig, Timothy D.; Goomas, David T.

2007-01-01

Field study was conducted in auto-parts after-market distribution centers where selectors used handheld computers to receive instructions and feedback about their product selection process. A wireless voice-interaction technology was then implemented in a multiple baseline fashion across three departments of a warehouse (N = 14) and was associated…

Going beyond audit and feedback: towards behaviour-based interventions to change physician laboratory test ordering behaviour.

PubMed

Meidani, Z; Mousavi, G A; Kheirkhah, D; Benar, N; Maleki, M R; Sharifi, M; Farrokhian, A

2017-12-01

Studies indicate there are a variety of contributing factors affecting physician test ordering behaviour. Identifying these behaviours allows development of behaviour-based interventions. Methods Through a pilot study, the list of contributing factors in laboratory tests ordering, and the most ordered tests, were identified, and given to 50 medical students, interns, residents and paediatricians in questionnaire form. The results showed routine tests and peer or supervisor pressure as the most influential factors affecting physician ordering behaviour. An audit and feedback mechanism was selected as an appropriate intervention to improve physician ordering behaviour. The intervention was carried out at two intervals over a three-month period. Findings There was a large reduction in the number of laboratory tests ordered; from 908 before intervention to 389 and 361 after first and second intervention, respectively. There was a significant relationship between audit and feedback and the meaningful reduction of 7 out of 15 laboratory tests including complete blood count (p = 0.002), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.01), C-reactive protein (p = 0.01), venous blood gas (p = 0.016), urine analysis (p = 0.005), blood culture (p = 0.045) and stool examination (p = 0.001). Conclusion The audit and feedback intervention, even in short duration, affects physician ordering behaviour. It should be designed in terms of behaviour-based intervention and diagnosis of the contributing factors in physicians' behaviour. Further studies are required to substantiate the effectiveness of such behaviour-based intervention strategies in changing physician behaviour.

Stationary average consensus protocol for a class of heterogeneous high-order multi-agent systems with application for aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezaei, Mohammad Hadi; Menhaj, Mohammad Bagher

2018-01-01

This paper investigates the stationary average consensus problem for a class of heterogeneous-order multi-agent systems. The goal is to bring the positions of agents to the average of their initial positions while letting the other states converge to zero. To this end, three different consensus protocols are proposed. First, based on the auxiliary variables information among the agents under switching directed networks and state-feedback control, a protocol is proposed whereby all the agents achieve stationary average consensus. In the second and third protocols, by resorting to only measurements of relative positions of neighbouring agents under fixed balanced directed networks, two control frameworks are presented with two strategies based on state-feedback and output-feedback control. Finally, simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.

Modulation of Emotional Appraisal by False Physiological Feedback during fMRI

PubMed Central

Gray, Marcus A.; Harrison, Neil A.; Wiens, Stefan; Critchley, Hugo D.

2007-01-01

Background James and Lange proposed that emotions are the perception of physiological reactions. Two-level theories of emotion extend this model to suggest that cognitive interpretations of physiological changes shape self-reported emotions. Correspondingly false physiological feedback of evoked or tonic bodily responses can alter emotional attributions. Moreover, anxiety states are proposed to arise from detection of mismatch between actual and anticipated states of physiological arousal. However, the neural underpinnings of these phenomena previously have not been examined. Methodology/Principal Findings We undertook a functional brain imaging (fMRI) experiment to investigate how both primary and second-order levels of physiological (viscerosensory) representation impact on the processing of external emotional cues. 12 participants were scanned while judging face stimuli during both exercise and non-exercise conditions in the context of true and false auditory feedback of tonic heart rate. We observed that the perceived emotional intensity/salience of neutral faces was enhanced by false feedback of increased heart rate. Regional changes in neural activity corresponding to this behavioural interaction were observed within included right anterior insula, bilateral mid insula, and amygdala. In addition, right anterior insula activity was enhanced during by asynchronous relative to synchronous cardiac feedback even with no change in perceived or actual heart rate suggesting this region serves as a comparator to detect physiological mismatches. Finally, BOLD activity within right anterior insula and amygdala predicted the corresponding changes in perceived intensity ratings at both a group and an individual level. Conclusions/Significance Our findings identify the neural substrates supporting behavioural effects of false physiological feedback, and highlight mechanisms that underlie subjective anxiety states, including the importance of the right anterior insula in guiding second-order “cognitive” representations of bodily arousal state. PMID:17579718

Design and test of three active flutter suppression controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christhilf, David M.; Waszak, Martin R.; Adams, William M.; Srinathkumar, S.; Mukhopadhyay, Vivek

1991-01-01

Three flutter suppression control law design techniques are presented. Each uses multiple control surfaces and/or sensors. The first uses linear combinations of several accelerometer signals together with dynamic compensation to synthesize the modal rate of the critical mode for feedback to distributed control surfaces. The second uses traditional tools (pole/zero loci and Nyquist diagrams) to develop a good understanding of the flutter mechanism and produce a controller with minimal complexity and good robustness to plant uncertainty. The third starts with a minimum energy Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller, applies controller order reduction, and then modifies weight and noise covariance matrices to improve multi-variable robustness. The resulting designs were implemented digitally and tested subsonically on the Active Flexible Wing (AFW) wind tunnel model. Test results presented here include plant characteristics, maximum attained closed-loop dynamic pressure, and Root Mean Square control surface activity. A key result is that simultaneous symmetric and antisymmetric flutter suppression was achieved by the second control law, with a 24 percent increase in attainable dynamic pressure.

The analysis of harmonic generation coefficients in the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yan; Fan, Zhengfeng; Lu, Xinpei; Ye, Wenhua; Zou, Changlin; Zhang, Ziyun; Zhang, Wen

2017-10-01

In this research, we use the numerical simulation method to investigate the generation coefficients of the first three harmonics and the zeroth harmonic in the Ablative Rayleigh-Taylor Instability. It is shown that the interface shifts to the low temperature side during the ablation process. In consideration of the third-order perturbation theory, the first three harmonic amplitudes of the weakly nonlinear regime are calculated and then the harmonic generation coefficients are obtained by curve fitting. The simulation results show that the harmonic generation coefficients changed with time and wavelength. Using the higher-order perturbation theory, we find that more and more harmonics are generated in the later weakly nonlinear stage, which is caused by the negative feedback of the later higher harmonics. Furthermore, extending the third-order theory to the fifth-order theory, we find that the second and the third harmonics coefficients linearly depend on the wavelength, while the feedback coefficients are almost constant. Further analysis also shows that when the fifth-order theory is considered, the normalized effective amplitudes of second and third harmonics can reach about 25%-40%, which are only 15%-25% in the frame of the previous third-order theory. Therefore, the third order perturbation theory is needed to be modified by the higher-order theory when ηL reaches about 20% of the perturbation wavelength.

Control of Initialized Fractional-Order Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartley, Tom T.; Lorenzo, Carl F.

2004-01-01

Fractional-Order systems, or systems containing fractional derivatives and integrals, have been studied by many in the engineering area. Additionally, very readable discussions, devoted specifically to the subject, are presented by Oldham and Spanier, Miller and Ross, and Pudlubny (1999a). It should be noted that there are a growing number of physical systems whose behavior can be compactly described using fractional system theory. Of specific interest to electrical engineers are long lines, electrochemical processes, dielectric polarization, colored noise, viscoelastic materials, and chaos. With the growing number of applications, it is important to establish a theory of control for these fractional-order systems, and for the potential use of fractional-order systems as feedback compensators. This topic is addressed in this paper. The first section discusses the control of fractional-order systems using a vector space representation, where initialization is included in the discussion. It should be noted that Bagley and Calico and Padovan and Sawicki both present a fractional state-space representation, which do not include the important historic effects. Incorporation of these effects based on the initialized fractional calculus is presented . The control methods presented in this paper are based on the initialized fractional order system theory. The second section presents an input-output approach. Some of the problems encountered in these sections are: a) the need to introduce a new complex plane to study the dynamics of fractional-order systems, b) the need to properly define the Laplace transform of the fractional derivative, and c) the proper inclusion of the initialization response in the system and control formulation. Following this, the next section generalizes the proportional-plus-integral-control (PI-control) and PID-control (PI-plus- derivative) concepts using fractional integrals. This is then further generalized using general fractional- order compensators. Finally the compensator concept is generalized by the use of a continuum of fractions in the compensator via the concept of order-distributions. The last section introduces fractional feedback in discrete-time.

Single-mode, narrow-linewidth external cavity quantum cascade laser through optical feedback from a partial-reflector.

PubMed

Cendejas, Richard A; Phillips, Mark C; Myers, Tanya L; Taubman, Matthew S

2010-12-06

An external-cavity (EC) quantum cascade (QC) laser using optical feedback from a partial-reflector is reported. With this configuration, the otherwise multi-mode emission of a Fabry-Perot QC laser was made single-mode with optical output powers exceeding 40 mW. A mode-hop free tuning range of 2.46 cm(-1) was achieved by synchronously tuning the EC length and QC laser current. The linewidth of the partial-reflector EC-QC laser was measured for integration times from 100 μs to 4 seconds, and compared to a distributed feedback QC laser. Linewidths as small as 480 kHz were recorded for the EC-QC laser.

Time-resolved spectral characterization of ring cavity surface emitting and ridge-type distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers by step-scan FT-IR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Brandstetter, Markus; Genner, Andreas; Schwarzer, Clemens; Mujagic, Elvis; Strasser, Gottfried; Lendl, Bernhard

2014-02-10

We present the time-resolved comparison of pulsed 2nd order ring cavity surface emitting (RCSE) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and pulsed 1st order ridge-type distributed feedback (DFB) QCLs using a step-scan Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. Laser devices were part of QCL arrays and fabricated from the same laser material. Required grating periods were adjusted to account for the grating order. The step-scan technique provided a spectral resolution of 0.1 cm(-1) and a time resolution of 2 ns. As a result, it was possible to gain information about the tuning behavior and potential mode-hops of the investigated lasers. Different cavity-lengths were compared, including 0.9 mm and 3.2 mm long ridge-type and 0.97 mm (circumference) ring-type cavities. RCSE QCLs were found to have improved emission properties in terms of line-stability, tuning rate and maximum emission time compared to ridge-type lasers.

Tuning of active vibration controllers for ACTEX by genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, Moon K.; Denoyer, Keith K.

1999-06-01

This paper is concerned with the optimal tuning of digitally programmable analog controllers on the ACTEX-1 smart structures flight experiment. The programmable controllers for each channel include a third order Strain Rate Feedback (SRF) controller, a fifth order SRF controller, a second order Positive Position Feedback (PPF) controller, and a fourth order PPF controller. Optimal manual tuning of several control parameters can be a difficult task even though the closed-loop control characteristics of each controller are well known. Hence, the automatic tuning of individual control parameters using Genetic Algorithms is proposed in this paper. The optimal control parameters of each control law are obtained by imposing a constraint on the closed-loop frequency response functions using the ACTEX mathematical model. The tuned control parameters are then uploaded to the ACTEX electronic control electronics and experiments on the active vibration control are carried out in space. The experimental results on ACTEX will be presented.

Replacing Voice Input with Technology that Provided Immediate Visual and Audio Feedback to Reduce Employee Errors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goomas, David T.

2010-01-01

In this report from the field at two auto parts distribution centers, order selectors picked auto accessories (e.g., fuses, oil caps, tool kits) into industrial plastic totes as part of store orders. Accurately identifying all store order totes via the license plate number was a prerequisite for the warehouse management system (WMS) to track each…

On probability-possibility transformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klir, George J.; Parviz, Behzad

1992-01-01

Several probability-possibility transformations are compared in terms of the closeness of preserving second-order properties. The comparison is based on experimental results obtained by computer simulation. Two second-order properties are involved in this study: noninteraction of two distributions and projections of a joint distribution.

Efficient Third-Order Distributed Feedback Laser with Enhanced Beam Pattern

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hu, Qing (Inventor); Lee, Alan Wei Min (Inventor); Kao, Tsung-Yu (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A third-order distributed feedback laser has an active medium disposed on a substrate as a linear array of segments having a series of periodically spaced interstices therebetween and a first conductive layer disposed on a surface of the active medium on each of the segments and along a strip from each of the segments to a conductive electrical contact pad for application of current along a path including the active medium. Upon application of a current through the active medium, the active medium functions as an optical waveguide, and there is established an alternating electric field, at a THz frequency, both in the active medium and emerging from the interstices. Spacing of adjacent segments is approximately half of a wavelength of the THz frequency in free space or an odd integral multiple thereof, so that the linear array has a coherence length greater than the length of the linear array.

Frequency locking and monitoring based on Bi-directional terahertz radiation of a 3 rd-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

van Marrewijk, N.; Mirzaei, B.; Hayton, D.

2015-10-07

In this study, we have performed frequency locking of a dual, forward reverse emitting third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 3.5 THz. By using both directions of THz emission in combination with two gas cells and two power detectors, we can for the first time perform frequency stabilization, while monitor the frequency locking quality independently. We also characterize how the use of a less sensitive pyroelectric detector can influence the quality of frequency locking, illustrating experimentally that the sensitivity of the detectors is crucial. Using both directions of terahertz (THz) radiation has a particular advantage for the applicationmore » of a QCL as a local oscillator, where radiation from one side can be used for frequency/phase stabilization, leaving the other side to be fully utilized as a local oscillator to pump a mixer.« less

High-Order Residual-Distribution Schemes for Discontinuous Problems on Irregular Triangular Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazaheri, Alireza; Nishikawa, Hiroaki

2016-01-01

In this paper, we develop second- and third-order non-oscillatory shock-capturing hyperbolic residual distribution schemes for irregular triangular grids, extending our second- and third-order schemes to discontinuous problems. We present extended first-order N- and Rusanov-scheme formulations for hyperbolic advection-diffusion system, and demonstrate that the hyperbolic diffusion term does not affect the solution of inviscid problems for vanishingly small viscous coefficient. We then propose second- and third-order blended hyperbolic residual-distribution schemes with the extended first-order Rusanov-scheme. We show that these proposed schemes are extremely accurate in predicting non-oscillatory solutions for discontinuous problems. We also propose a characteristics-based nonlinear wave sensor for accurately detecting shocks, compression, and expansion regions. Using this proposed sensor, we demonstrate that the developed hyperbolic blended schemes do not produce entropy-violating solutions (unphysical stocks). We then verify the design order of accuracy of these blended schemes on irregular triangular grids.

Stimulated Brillouin scattering in ultra-long distributed feedback Bragg gratings in standard optical fiber.

PubMed

Loranger, Sébastien; Lambin-Iezzi, Victor; Wahbeh, Mamoun; Kashyap, Raman

2016-04-15

Distributed feedback (DFB) fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) are widely used as narrow-band filters and single-mode cavities for lasers. Recently, a nonlinear generation has been shown in 10-20 cm DFB gratings in a highly nonlinear fiber. First, we show in this Letter a novel fabrication technique of ultra-long DFBs in a standard fiber (SMF-28). Second, we demonstrate nonlinear generation in such gratings. A particular inscription technique was used to fabricate all-in-phase ultra-long FBG and to implement reproducible phase shift to form a DFB mode. We demonstrate stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) emission from this DFB mode and characterize the resulting laser. It seems that such a SBS based DFB laser stabilizes a pump's jittering and reduces its linewidth.

Investigation of the spatial distribution of second-order nonlinearity in thermally poled optical fibers.

PubMed

An, Honglin; Fleming, Simon

2005-05-02

The spatial distribution of second-order nonlinearity in thermally poled optical fibers was characterized by second-harmonic microscopy. The second-order nonlinearity was found to be confined to a thin layer close to the anode surface and progressed further into the silica as the poling time increased. Position uncertainty of the anode metal wire was observed to have an effect, as the nonlinear layers were found not always symmetrically located around the nearest points between the anode and cathode. Optical microscopy results were obtained on etched poled fiber cross-sections and compared with those from second-harmonic microscopy.

CO.sub.2 optically pumped distributed feedback diode laser

DOEpatents

Rockwood, Stephen D.

1980-01-01

A diode laser optically pumped by a CO.sub.2 coherent source. Interference fringes generated by feeding the optical pumping beam against a second beam, periodically alter the reflectivity of the diode medium allowing frequency variation of the output signal by varying the impingent angle of the CO.sub.2 laser beams.

High-Order Hyperbolic Residual-Distribution Schemes on Arbitrary Triangular Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazaheri, Alireza; Nishikawa, Hiroaki

2015-01-01

In this paper, we construct high-order hyperbolic residual-distribution schemes for general advection-diffusion problems on arbitrary triangular grids. We demonstrate that the second-order accuracy of the hyperbolic schemes can be greatly improved by requiring the scheme to preserve exact quadratic solutions. We also show that the improved second-order scheme can be easily extended to third-order by further requiring the exactness for cubic solutions. We construct these schemes based on the LDA and the SUPG methodology formulated in the framework of the residual-distribution method. For both second- and third-order-schemes, we construct a fully implicit solver by the exact residual Jacobian of the second-order scheme, and demonstrate rapid convergence of 10-15 iterations to reduce the residuals by 10 orders of magnitude. We demonstrate also that these schemes can be constructed based on a separate treatment of the advective and diffusive terms, which paves the way for the construction of hyperbolic residual-distribution schemes for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical results show that these schemes produce exceptionally accurate and smooth solution gradients on highly skewed and anisotropic triangular grids, including curved boundary problems, using linear elements. We also present Fourier analysis performed on the constructed linear system and show that an under-relaxation parameter is needed for stabilization of Gauss-Seidel relaxation.

A Simple Negative Interaction in the Positive Transcriptional Feedback of a Single Gene Is Sufficient to Produce Reliable Oscillations

PubMed Central

Miró-Bueno, Jesús M.; Rodríguez-Patón, Alfonso

2011-01-01

Negative and positive transcriptional feedback loops are present in natural and synthetic genetic oscillators. A single gene with negative transcriptional feedback needs a time delay and sufficiently strong nonlinearity in the transmission of the feedback signal in order to produce biochemical rhythms. A single gene with only positive transcriptional feedback does not produce oscillations. Here, we demonstrate that this single-gene network in conjunction with a simple negative interaction can also easily produce rhythms. We examine a model comprised of two well-differentiated parts. The first is a positive feedback created by a protein that binds to the promoter of its own gene and activates the transcription. The second is a negative interaction in which a repressor molecule prevents this protein from binding to its promoter. A stochastic study shows that the system is robust to noise. A deterministic study identifies that the dynamics of the oscillator are mainly driven by two types of biomolecules: the protein, and the complex formed by the repressor and this protein. The main conclusion of this paper is that a simple and usual negative interaction, such as degradation, sequestration or inhibition, acting on the positive transcriptional feedback of a single gene is a sufficient condition to produce reliable oscillations. One gene is enough and the positive transcriptional feedback signal does not need to activate a second repressor gene. This means that at the genetic level an explicit negative feedback loop is not necessary. The model needs neither cooperative binding reactions nor the formation of protein multimers. Therefore, our findings could help to clarify the design principles of cellular clocks and constitute a new efficient tool for engineering synthetic genetic oscillators. PMID:22205920

Randomised crossover trial of rate feedback and force during chest compressions for paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

PubMed

Gregson, Rachael Kathleen; Cole, Tim James; Skellett, Sophie; Bagkeris, Emmanouil; Welsby, Denise; Peters, Mark John

2017-05-01

To determine the effect of visual feedback on rate of chest compressions, secondarily relating the forces used. Randomised crossover trial. Tertiary teaching hospital. Fifty trained hospital staff. A thin sensor-mat placed over the manikin's chest measured rate and force. Rescuers applied compressions to the same paediatric manikin for two sessions. During one session they received visual feedback comparing their real-time rate with published guidelines. Primary: compression rate. Secondary: compression and residual forces. Rate of chest compressions (compressions per minute (compressions per minute; cpm)) varied widely (mean (SD) 111 (13), range 89-168), with a fourfold difference in variation during session 1 between those receiving and not receiving feedback (108 (5) vs 120 (20)). The interaction of session by feedback order was highly significant, indicating that this difference in mean rate between sessions was 14 cpm less (95% CI -22 to -5, p=0.002) in those given feedback first compared with those given it second. Compression force (N) varied widely (mean (SD) 306 (94); range 142-769). Those receiving feedback second (as opposed to first) used significantly lower force (adjusted mean difference -80 (95% CI -128 to -32), p=0.002). Mean residual force (18 N, SD 12, range 0-49) was unaffected by the intervention. While visual feedback restricted excessive compression rates to within the prescribed range, applied force remained widely variable. The forces required may differ with growth, but such variation treating one manikin is alarming. Feedback technologies additionally measuring force (effort) could help to standardise and define effective treatments throughout childhood. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Temperature feedback control for long-term carrier-envelope phase locking

DOEpatents

Chang, Zenghu [Manhattan, KS; Yun, Chenxia [Manhattan, KS; Chen, Shouyuan [Manhattan, KS; Wang, He [Manhattan, KS; Chini, Michael [Manhattan, KS

2012-07-24

A feedback control module for stabilizing a carrier-envelope phase of an output of a laser oscillator system comprises a first photodetector, a second photodetector, a phase stabilizer, an optical modulator, and a thermal control element. The first photodetector may generate a first feedback signal corresponding to a first portion of a laser beam from an oscillator. The second photodetector may generate a second feedback signal corresponding to a second portion of the laser beam filtered by a low-pass filter. The phase stabilizer may divide the frequency of the first feedback signal by a factor and generate an error signal corresponding to the difference between the frequency-divided first feedback signal and the second feedback signal. The optical modulator may modulate the laser beam within the oscillator corresponding to the error signal. The thermal control unit may change the temperature of the oscillator corresponding to a signal operable to control the optical modulator.

New nonlinear control algorithms for multiple robot arms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tarn, T. J.; Bejczy, A. K.; Yun, X.

1988-01-01

Multiple coordinated robot arms are modeled by considering the arms as closed kinematic chains and as a force-constrained mechanical system working on the same object simultaneously. In both formulations, a novel dynamic control method is discussed. It is based on feedback linearization and simultaneous output decoupling technique. By applying a nonlinear feedback and a nonlinear coordinate transformation, the complicated model of the multiple robot arms in either formulation is converted into a linear and output decoupled system. The linear system control theory and optimal control theory are used to design robust controllers in the task space. The first formulation has the advantage of automatically handling the coordination and load distribution among the robot arms. In the second formulation, it was found that by choosing a general output equation it became possible simultaneously to superimpose the position and velocity error feedback with the force-torque error feedback in the task space.

Active vibration mitigation of distributed parameter, smart-type structures using Pseudo-Feedback Optimal Control (PFOC)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patten, W. N.; Robertshaw, H. H.; Pierpont, D.; Wynn, R. H.

1989-01-01

A new, near-optimal feedback control technique is introduced that is shown to provide excellent vibration attenuation for those distributed parameter systems that are often encountered in the areas of aeroservoelasticity and large space systems. The technique relies on a novel solution methodology for the classical optimal control problem. Specifically, the quadratic regulator control problem for a flexible vibrating structure is first cast in a weak functional form that admits an approximate solution. The necessary conditions (first-order) are then solved via a time finite-element method. The procedure produces a low dimensional, algebraic parameterization of the optimal control problem that provides a rigorous basis for a discrete controller with a first-order like hold output. Simulation has shown that the algorithm can successfully control a wide variety of plant forms including multi-input/multi-output systems and systems exhibiting significant nonlinearities. In order to firmly establish the efficacy of the algorithm, a laboratory control experiment was implemented to provide planar (bending) vibration attenuation of a highly flexible beam (with a first clamped-free mode of approximately 0.5 Hz).

Optogenetic feedback control of neural activity

PubMed Central

Newman, Jonathan P; Fong, Ming-fai; Millard, Daniel C; Whitmire, Clarissa J; Stanley, Garrett B; Potter, Steve M

2015-01-01

Optogenetic techniques enable precise excitation and inhibition of firing in specified neuronal populations and artifact-free recording of firing activity. Several studies have suggested that optical stimulation provides the precision and dynamic range requisite for closed-loop neuronal control, but no approach yet permits feedback control of neuronal firing. Here we present the ‘optoclamp’, a feedback control technology that provides continuous, real-time adjustments of bidirectional optical stimulation in order to lock spiking activity at specified targets over timescales ranging from seconds to days. We demonstrate how this system can be used to decouple neuronal firing levels from ongoing changes in network excitability due to multi-hour periods of glutamatergic or GABAergic neurotransmission blockade in vitro as well as impinging vibrissal sensory drive in vivo. This technology enables continuous, precise optical control of firing in neuronal populations in order to disentangle causally related variables of circuit activation in a physiologically and ethologically relevant manner. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07192.001 PMID:26140329

The influence of subsurface hydrodynamics on convective precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, A. S. M. M.; Sulis, M.; Kollet, S. J.

2014-12-01

The terrestrial hydrological cycle comprises complex processes in the subsurface, land surface, and atmosphere, which are connected via complex non-linear feedback mechanisms. The influence of subsurface hydrodynamics on land surface mass and energy fluxes has been the subject of previous studies. Several studies have also investigated the soil moisture-precipitation feedback, neglecting however the connection with groundwater dynamics. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of subsurface hydrodynamics on convective precipitation events via shallow soil moisture and land surface processes. A scale-consistent Terrestrial System Modeling Platform (TerrSysMP) that consists of an atmospheric model (COSMO), a land surface model (CLM), and a three-dimensional variably saturated groundwater-surface water flow model (ParFlow), is used to simulate hourly mass and energy fluxes over days with convective rainfall events over the Rur catchment, Germany. In order to isolate the effect of groundwater dynamics on convective precipitation, two different model configurations with identical initial conditions are considered. The first configuration allows the groundwater table to evolve through time, while a spatially distributed, temporally constant groundwater table is prescribed as a lower boundary condition in the second configuration. The simulation results suggest that groundwater dynamics influence land surface soil moisture, which in turn affects the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height by modifying atmospheric thermals. It is demonstrated that because of this sensitivity of ABL height to soil moisture-temperature feedback, the onset and magnitude of convective precipitation is influenced by subsurface hydrodynamics. Thus, the results provide insight into the soil moisture-precipitation feedback including groundwater dynamics in a physically consistent manner by closing the water cycle from aquifers to the atmosphere.

Large deviation analysis of a simple information engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maitland, Michael; Grosskinsky, Stefan; Harris, Rosemary J.

2015-11-01

Information thermodynamics provides a framework for studying the effect of feedback loops on entropy production. It has enabled the understanding of novel thermodynamic systems such as the information engine, which can be seen as a modern version of "Maxwell's Dæmon," whereby a feedback controller processes information gained by measurements in order to extract work. Here, we analyze a simple model of such an engine that uses feedback control based on measurements to obtain negative entropy production. We focus on the distribution and fluctuations of the information obtained by the feedback controller. Significantly, our model allows an analytic treatment for a two-state system with exact calculation of the large deviation rate function. These results suggest an approximate technique for larger systems, which is corroborated by simulation data.

Robust fixed order dynamic compensation for large space structure control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calise, Anthony J.; Byrns, Edward V., Jr.

1989-01-01

A simple formulation for designing fixed order dynamic compensators which are robust to both uncertainty at the plant input and structured uncertainty in the plant dynamics is presented. The emphasis is on designing low order compensators for systems of high order. The formulation is done in an output feedback setting which exploits an observer canonical form to represent the compensator dynamics. The formulation also precludes the use of direct feedback of the plant output. The main contribution lies in defining a method for penalizing the states of the plant and of the compensator, and for choosing the distribution on initial conditions so that the loop transfer matrix approximates that of a full state design. To improve robustness to parameter uncertainty, the formulation avoids the introduction of sensitivity states, which has led to complex formulations in earlier studies where only structured uncertainty has been considered.

Low-to-Medium Power Single Chip Digital Controlled DC-DC Regulator for Point-of-Load Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adell, Philippe C. (Inventor); Bakkaloglu, Bertan (Inventor); Vermeire, Bert (Inventor); Liu, Tao (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A DC-DC converter for generating a DC output voltage includes: a digitally controlled pulse width modulator (DPWM) for controlling a switching power stage to supply a varying voltage to an inductor; and a digital voltage feedback circuit for controlling the DPWM in accordance with a feedback voltage corresponding to the DC output voltage, the digital voltage feedback circuit including: a first voltage controlled oscillator for converting the feedback voltage into a first frequency signal and to supply the first frequency signal to a first frequency discriminator; a second voltage controlled oscillator for converting a reference voltage into a second frequency signal and to supply the second frequency signal to a second frequency discriminator; a digital comparator for comparing digital outputs of the first and second frequency discriminators and for outputting a digital feedback signal; and a controller for controlling the DPWM in accordance with the digital feedback signal.

Time-varying higher order spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boashash, Boualem; O'Shea, Peter

1991-12-01

A general solution for the problem of time-frequency signal representation of nonlinear FM signals is provided, based on a generalization of the Wigner-Ville distribution. The Wigner- Ville distribution (WVD) is a second order time-frequency representation. That is, it is able to give ideal energy concentration for quadratic phase signals and its ensemble average is a second order time-varying spectrum. The same holds for Cohen's class of time-frequency distributions, which are smoothed versions of the WVD. The WVD may be extended so as to achieve ideal energy concentration for higher order phase laws, and such that the expectation is a time-varying higher order spectrum. The usefulness of these generalized Wigner-Ville distributions (GWVD) is twofold. Firstly, because they achieve ideal energy concentration for polynomial phase signals, they may be used for optimal instantaneous frequency estimation. Second, they are useful for discriminating between nonstationary processes of differing higher order moments. In the same way that the WVD is generalized, we generalize Cohen's class of TFDs by defining a class of generalized time-frequency distributions (GTFDs) obtained by a two dimensional smoothing of the GWVD. Another results derived from this approach is a method based on higher order spectra which allows the separation of cross-terms and auto- terms in the WVD.

Neural-network-based state feedback control of a nonlinear discrete-time system in nonstrict feedback form.

PubMed

Jagannathan, Sarangapani; He, Pingan

2008-12-01

In this paper, a suite of adaptive neural network (NN) controllers is designed to deliver a desired tracking performance for the control of an unknown, second-order, nonlinear discrete-time system expressed in nonstrict feedback form. In the first approach, two feedforward NNs are employed in the controller with tracking error as the feedback variable whereas in the adaptive critic NN architecture, three feedforward NNs are used. In the adaptive critic architecture, two action NNs produce virtual and actual control inputs, respectively, whereas the third critic NN approximates certain strategic utility function and its output is employed for tuning action NN weights in order to attain the near-optimal control action. Both the NN control methods present a well-defined controller design and the noncausal problem in discrete-time backstepping design is avoided via NN approximation. A comparison between the controller methodologies is highlighted. The stability analysis of the closed-loop control schemes is demonstrated. The NN controller schemes do not require an offline learning phase and the NN weights can be initialized at zero or random. Results show that the performance of the proposed controller schemes is highly satisfactory while meeting the closed-loop stability.

Robust non-fragile finite-frequency H∞ static output-feedback control for active suspension systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Gang; Chen, Changzheng; Yu, Shenbo

2017-07-01

This paper deals with the problem of non-fragile H∞ static output-feedback control of vehicle active suspension systems with finite-frequency constraint. The control objective is to improve ride comfort within the given frequency range and ensure the hard constraints in the time-domain. Moreover, in order to enhance the robustness of the controller, the control gain perturbation is also considered in controller synthesis. Firstly, a new non-fragile H∞ finite-frequency control condition is established by using generalized Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov (GKYP) lemma. Secondly, the static output-feedback control gain is directly derived by using a non-iteration algorithm. Different from the existing iteration LMI results, the static output-feedback design is simple and less conservative. Finally, the proposed control algorithm is applied to a quarter-car active suspension model with actuator dynamics, numerical results are made to show the effectiveness and merits of the proposed method.

A Review of Control Strategies in Closed-Loop Neuroprosthetic Systems

PubMed Central

Wright, James; Macefield, Vaughan G.; van Schaik, André; Tapson, Jonathan C.

2016-01-01

It has been widely recognized that closed-loop neuroprosthetic systems achieve more favorable outcomes for users then equivalent open-loop devices. Improved performance of tasks, better usability, and greater embodiment have all been reported in systems utilizing some form of feedback. However, the interdisciplinary work on neuroprosthetic systems can lead to miscommunication due to similarities in well-established nomenclature in different fields. Here we present a review of control strategies in existing experimental, investigational and clinical neuroprosthetic systems in order to establish a baseline and promote a common understanding of different feedback modes and closed-loop controllers. The first section provides a brief discussion of feedback control and control theory. The second section reviews the control strategies of recent Brain Machine Interfaces, neuromodulatory implants, neuroprosthetic systems, and assistive neurorobotic devices. The final section examines the different approaches to feedback in current neuroprosthetic and neurorobotic systems. PMID:27462202

Spoken Grammar Practice and Feedback in an ASR-Based CALL System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Vries, Bart Penning; Cucchiarini, Catia; Bodnar, Stephen; Strik, Helmer; van Hout, Roeland

2015-01-01

Speaking practice is important for learners of a second language. Computer assisted language learning (CALL) systems can provide attractive opportunities for speaking practice when combined with automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology. In this paper, we present a CALL system that offers spoken practice of word order, an important aspect of…

Learners' Uses of Two Types of Written Feedback on a L2 Writing Revision Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sachs, Rebecca; Polio, Charlene

2007-01-01

This study examines the effectiveness of written error corrections versus reformulations of second language learners' writing as two means of improving learners' grammatical accuracy on a three-stage composition-comparison-revision task. Concurrent verbal protocols were employed during the comparison stage in order to study the learners' reported…

Improving Second Language Speaking Proficiency via Interactional Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swanson, Peter B.; Schlig, Carmen

2010-01-01

Researchers have suggested that interactional feedback is associated with foreign/second language learning because it prompts learners to notice foreign/second language forms. Using Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and Long's interaction hypothesis as conceptual frameworks, this study explores the use of systematic explicit feedback to…

Nursing student feedback on undergraduate research education: implications for teaching and learning.

PubMed

Halcomb, Elizabeth J; Peters, Kathleen

2009-08-01

Teaching research to undergraduate students presents many challenges to nurse academics. Yet facilitating students to develop skills in critically analysing and interpreting research is vital if we are to achieve evidence-based nursing practice. This paper explores student feedback from a research unit undertaken by Australian undergraduate nurses in order to highlight the challenges for academics trying to engage students in this material. Three hundred and sixty nine (83.5%) second year nursing students provided qualitative and quantitative feedback at the completion of a research unit using a standardised student feedback form. From a combination of the qualitative and quantitative feedback, the most positive aspects of the unit were the teaching staff, the group work and interaction in the class room and the online assessment item. Participants were least satisfied with the way in which the unit was presented, the written assessment items and assessment feedback and the perceived relevance of the unit. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the theoretical underpinnings of adult learning and teaching in the development of future course materials.

High-Order Hyperbolic Residual-Distribution Schemes on Arbitrary Triangular Grids

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-22

Galerkin methodology formulated in the framework of the residual-distribution method. For both second- and third- 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 4. TITLE AND...construct these schemes based on the Low-Diffusion-A and the Streamwise-Upwind-Petrov-Galerkin methodology formulated in the framework of the residual...methodology formulated in the framework of the residual-distribution method. For both second- and third-order-schemes, we construct a fully implicit

Low Power Consumption Substrate-Emitting DFB Quantum Cascade Lasers.

PubMed

Liu, Chuan-Wei; Zhang, Jin-Chuan; Jia, Zhi-Wei; Zhuo, Ning; Zhai, Shen-Qiang; Wang, Li-Jun; Liu, Jun-Qi; Liu, Shu-Man; Liu, Feng-Qi; Wang, Zhan-Guo

2017-09-02

In the present work, an ultra-low power consumption substrate-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser (QCL) was developed. The continuous-wave (CW) threshold power dissipation is reduced to 0.43 W at 25 °C by shortening the cavity length to 0.5 mm and depositing high-reflectivity (HR) coating on both facets. As far as we know, this is the recorded threshold power dissipation of QCLs in the same conditions. Single-mode emission was achieved by employing a buried second-order grating. Mode-hop free emission can be observed within a wide temperature range from 15 to 105 °C in CW mode. The divergence angles are 22.5 o and 1.94 o in the ridge-width direction and cavity-length direction, respectively. The maximum optical power in CW operation was 2.4 mW at 25 °C, which is sufficient to spectroscopy applications.

Low Power Consumption Substrate-Emitting DFB Quantum Cascade Lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chuan-Wei; Zhang, Jin-Chuan; Jia, Zhi-Wei; Zhuo, Ning; Zhai, Shen-Qiang; Wang, Li-Jun; Liu, Jun-Qi; Liu, Shu-Man; Liu, Feng-Qi; Wang, Zhan-Guo

2017-09-01

In the present work, an ultra-low power consumption substrate-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser (QCL) was developed. The continuous-wave (CW) threshold power dissipation is reduced to 0.43 W at 25 °C by shortening the cavity length to 0.5 mm and depositing high-reflectivity (HR) coating on both facets. As far as we know, this is the recorded threshold power dissipation of QCLs in the same conditions. Single-mode emission was achieved by employing a buried second-order grating. Mode-hop free emission can be observed within a wide temperature range from 15 to 105 °C in CW mode. The divergence angles are 22.5o and 1.94o in the ridge-width direction and cavity-length direction, respectively. The maximum optical power in CW operation was 2.4 mW at 25 °C, which is sufficient to spectroscopy applications.

Textural content in 3T MR: an image-based marker for Alzheimer's disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharath Kumar, S. V.; Mullick, Rakesh; Patil, Uday

2005-04-01

In this paper, we propose a study, which investigates the first-order and second-order distributions of T2 images from a magnetic resonance (MR) scan for an age-matched data set of 24 Alzheimer's disease and 17 normal patients. The study is motivated by the desire to analyze the brain iron uptake in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's patients, which is captured by low T2 values. Since, excess iron deposition occurs locally in certain regions of the brain, we are motivated to investigate the spatial distribution of T2, which is captured by higher-order statistics. Based on the first-order and second-order distributions (involving gray level co-occurrence matrix) of T2, we show that the second-order statistics provide features with sensitivity >90% (at 80% specificity), which in turn capture the textural content in T2 data. Hence, we argue that different texture characteristics of T2 in the hippocampus for Alzheimer's and normal patients could be used as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

Second-Order Consensus in Multiagent Systems via Distributed Sliding Mode Control.

PubMed

Yu, Wenwu; Wang, He; Cheng, Fei; Yu, Xinghuo; Wen, Guanghui

2016-11-22

In this paper, the new decoupled distributed sliding-mode control (DSMC) is first proposed for second-order consensus in multiagent systems, which finally solves the fundamental unknown problem for sliding-mode control (SMC) design of coupled networked systems. A distributed full-order sliding-mode surface is designed based on the homogeneity with dilation for reaching second-order consensus in multiagent systems, under which the sliding-mode states are decoupled. Then, the SMC is applied to the decoupled sliding-mode states to reach their origin in finite time, which is the sliding-mode surface. The states of agents can first reach the designed sliding-mode surface in finite time and then move to the second-order consensus state along the surface in finite time as well. The DSMC designed in this paper can eliminate the influence of singularity problems and weaken the influence of chattering, which is still very difficult in the SMC systems. In addition, DSMC proposes a general decoupling framework for designing SMC in networked multiagent systems. Simulations are presented to verify the theoretical results in this paper.

Investigation of Spatial Control Strategies for AHWR: A Comparative Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munje, R. K.; Patre, B. M.; Londhe, P. S.; Tiwari, A. P.; Shimjith, S. R.

2016-04-01

Large nuclear reactors such as the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), are susceptible to xenon-induced spatial oscillations in which, though the core average power remains constant, the power distribution may be nonuniform as well as it might experience unstable oscillations. Such oscillations influence the operation and control philosophy and could also drive safety issues. Therefore, large nuclear reactors are equipped with spatial controllers which maintain the core power distribution close to desired distribution during all the facets of operation and following disturbances. In this paper, the case of AHWR has been considered, for which a number of different types of spatial controllers have been designed during the last decade. Some of these designs are based on output feedback while the others are based on state feedback. Also, both the conventional and modern control concepts, such as linear quadratic regulator theory, sliding mode control, multirate output feedback control and fuzzy control have been investigated. The designs of these different controllers for the AHWR have been carried out using a 90th order model, which is highly stiff. Hence, direct application of design methods suffers with numerical ill-conditioning. Singular perturbation and time-scale methods have been applied whereby the design problem for the original higher order system is decoupled into two or three subproblems, each of which is solved separately. Nonlinear simulations have been carried out to obtain the transient responses of the system with different types of controllers and their performances have been compared.

Five-Year-Olds' Systematic Errors in Second-Order False Belief Tasks Are Due to First-Order Theory of Mind Strategy Selection: A Computational Modeling Study.

PubMed

Arslan, Burcu; Taatgen, Niels A; Verbrugge, Rineke

2017-01-01

The focus of studies on second-order false belief reasoning generally was on investigating the roles of executive functions and language with correlational studies. Different from those studies, we focus on the question how 5-year-olds select and revise reasoning strategies in second-order false belief tasks by constructing two computational cognitive models of this process: an instance-based learning model and a reinforcement learning model. Unlike the reinforcement learning model, the instance-based learning model predicted that children who fail second-order false belief tasks would give answers based on first-order theory of mind (ToM) reasoning as opposed to zero-order reasoning. This prediction was confirmed with an empirical study that we conducted with 72 5- to 6-year-old children. The results showed that 17% of the answers were correct and 83% of the answers were wrong. In line with our prediction, 65% of the wrong answers were based on a first-order ToM strategy, while only 29% of them were based on a zero-order strategy (the remaining 6% of subjects did not provide any answer). Based on our instance-based learning model, we propose that when children get feedback "Wrong," they explicitly revise their strategy to a higher level instead of implicitly selecting one of the available ToM strategies. Moreover, we predict that children's failures are due to lack of experience and that with exposure to second-order false belief reasoning, children can revise their wrong first-order reasoning strategy to a correct second-order reasoning strategy.

Five-Year-Olds’ Systematic Errors in Second-Order False Belief Tasks Are Due to First-Order Theory of Mind Strategy Selection: A Computational Modeling Study

PubMed Central

Arslan, Burcu; Taatgen, Niels A.; Verbrugge, Rineke

2017-01-01

The focus of studies on second-order false belief reasoning generally was on investigating the roles of executive functions and language with correlational studies. Different from those studies, we focus on the question how 5-year-olds select and revise reasoning strategies in second-order false belief tasks by constructing two computational cognitive models of this process: an instance-based learning model and a reinforcement learning model. Unlike the reinforcement learning model, the instance-based learning model predicted that children who fail second-order false belief tasks would give answers based on first-order theory of mind (ToM) reasoning as opposed to zero-order reasoning. This prediction was confirmed with an empirical study that we conducted with 72 5- to 6-year-old children. The results showed that 17% of the answers were correct and 83% of the answers were wrong. In line with our prediction, 65% of the wrong answers were based on a first-order ToM strategy, while only 29% of them were based on a zero-order strategy (the remaining 6% of subjects did not provide any answer). Based on our instance-based learning model, we propose that when children get feedback “Wrong,” they explicitly revise their strategy to a higher level instead of implicitly selecting one of the available ToM strategies. Moreover, we predict that children’s failures are due to lack of experience and that with exposure to second-order false belief reasoning, children can revise their wrong first-order reasoning strategy to a correct second-order reasoning strategy. PMID:28293206

Influence of the UV-induced fiber loss on the distributed feedback fiber lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Wei; Chen, Bai; Qiao, Qiquan; Chen, Jialing; Lin, Zunqi

2003-06-01

It was found that the output power of the distributed feedback fiber lasers would be improved after annealing or left unused for several days after the laser had been fabricated, and the output of the fundamental mode would not increase but be clamped while the ±1 order modes would be predominant with the enhancement of the coupling coefficient during the fabrication. The paper discussed the influence of UV-induced fiber loss on the fiber phase-shifted DFB lasers. Due to the gain saturation and fiber internal loss, which included the temperament loss and permanent loss, there was an optimum coupling coefficient for the DFB fiber lasers that the higher internal fiber loss corresponded to the lower optimum values of coupling coefficient.

Assessing the Importance of the Evaporation-Wind Feedback Mechanism in the Modulation of Simulated Madden-Julian Oscillations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colon, Edward; Lindesay, James; Suarez, Max J.

1998-01-01

An examination of simulated Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) response to active and suppressed air-sea interactions is made using an aquaplanet model employing a realistic representation of the hydrologic cyle. In general, the evaporation-wind feedback (EWF) results from a coupling between tropical zonal surface wind stresses and evaporation anomalies. Recent observational and theoretical studies have questioned the significance of EWF in sustaining the predominantly wavenumber 1 eastward propagating mode commonly attributed to the interaction between large scale convergence and cumulus-scale convection (conditional instability of the second kind, CISK). To ascertain the nature of the EWF dependence on lower boundary conditions and thus quantify its effect on MJO development, a series of numerical experiments were conducted employing various zonally symmetric sea surface temperature (SST) distributions with active and suppressed EWF mechanisms. Results suggest that a correlation exists between tropical SSTs and the efficacy of the EWF in vertically redistributing heat acquired through surface wind stresses. It has been determined that the removal of the EWF is not a crucial factor in the dampening of the simulated MJO at high equatorial SSTs. The additional energy fed into the developing convective mode by the EWF selectively amplifies higher order wave modes in all numerical experiments thus boosting overall variances in oscillatory responses.

Reduced sensitivity to neutral feedback versus negative feedback in subjects with mild depression: Evidence from event-related potentials study.

PubMed

Li, Peng; Song, Xinxin; Wang, Jing; Zhou, Xiaoran; Li, Jiayi; Lin, Fengtong; Hu, Zhonghua; Zhang, Xinxin; Cui, Hewei; Wang, Wenmiao; Li, Hong; Cong, Fengyu; Roberson, Debi

2015-11-01

Many previous event-related potential (ERP) studies have linked the feedback related negativity (FRN) component with medial frontal cortex processing and associated this component with depression. Few if any studies have investigated the processing of neutral feedback in mildly depressive subjects in the normal population. Two experiments compared brain responses to neutral feedback with behavioral performance in mildly depressed subjects who scored highly on the Beck Depression Inventory (high BDI) and a control group with lower BDI scores (low BDI). In the first study, the FRN component was recorded when neutral, negative or positive feedback was pseudo-randomly delivered to the two groups in a time estimation task. In the second study, real feedback was provided to the two groups in the same task in order to measure their actual accuracy of performance. The results of experiment one (Exp. 1) revealed that a larger FRN effect was elicited by neutral feedback than by negative feedback in the low BDI group, but no significant difference was found between neutral condition and negative condition in the High BDI group. The present findings demonstrated that depressive tendencies influence the processing of neutral feedback in medial frontal cortex. The FRN effect may work as a helpful index for investigating cognitive bias in depression in future studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Adaptive neural output-feedback control for nonstrict-feedback time-delay fractional-order systems with output constraints and actuator nonlinearities.

PubMed

Zouari, Farouk; Ibeas, Asier; Boulkroune, Abdesselem; Cao, Jinde; Mehdi Arefi, Mohammad

2018-06-01

This study addresses the issue of the adaptive output tracking control for a category of uncertain nonstrict-feedback delayed incommensurate fractional-order systems in the presence of nonaffine structures, unmeasured pseudo-states, unknown control directions, unknown actuator nonlinearities and output constraints. Firstly, the mean value theorem and the Gaussian error function are introduced to eliminate the difficulties that arise from the nonaffine structures and the unknown actuator nonlinearities, respectively. Secondly, the immeasurable tracking error variables are suitably estimated by constructing a fractional-order linear observer. Thirdly, the neural network, the Razumikhin Lemma, the variable separation approach, and the smooth Nussbaum-type function are used to deal with the uncertain nonlinear dynamics, the unknown time-varying delays, the nonstrict feedback and the unknown control directions, respectively. Fourthly, asymmetric barrier Lyapunov functions are employed to overcome the violation of the output constraints and to tune online the parameters of the adaptive neural controller. Through rigorous analysis, it is proved that the boundedness of all variables in the closed-loop system and the semi global asymptotic tracking are ensured without transgression of the constraints. The principal contributions of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) based on Caputo's definitions and new lemmas, methods concerning the controllability, observability and stability analysis of integer-order systems are extended to fractional-order ones, (2) the output tracking objective for a relatively large class of uncertain systems is achieved with a simple controller and less tuning parameters. Finally, computer-simulation studies from the robotic field are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fluidic Oscillator Array for Synchronized Oscillating Jet Generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koklu, Mehti (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A fluidic oscillator array includes a plurality of fluidic-oscillator main flow channels. Each main flow channel has an inlet and an outlet. Each main flow channel has first and second control ports disposed at opposing sides thereof, and has a first and a second feedback ports disposed at opposing sides thereof. The feedback ports are located downstream of the control ports with respect to a direction of a fluid flow through the main flow channel. The system also includes a first fluid accumulator in fluid communication with each first control port and each first feedback port, and a second fluid accumulator in fluid communication with each second control port and each second feedback port.

Fluidic Oscillator Array for Synchronized Oscillating Jet Generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koklu, Mehti (Inventor)

2016-01-01

A fluidic oscillator array includes a plurality of fluidic-oscillator main flow channels. Each main flow channel has an inlet and an outlet. Each main flow channel has first and second control ports disposed at opposing sides thereof, and has a first and a second feedback ports disposed at opposing sides thereof. The feedback ports are located downstream of the control ports with respect to a direction of a fluid flow through the main flow channel. The system also includes a first fluid accumulator in fluid communication with each first control port and each first feedback port, and a second fluid accumulator in fluid communication with each second control port and each second feedback port.

Event-Triggered Distributed Approximate Optimal State and Output Control of Affine Nonlinear Interconnected Systems.

PubMed

Narayanan, Vignesh; Jagannathan, Sarangapani

2017-06-08

This paper presents an approximate optimal distributed control scheme for a known interconnected system composed of input affine nonlinear subsystems using event-triggered state and output feedback via a novel hybrid learning scheme. First, the cost function for the overall system is redefined as the sum of cost functions of individual subsystems. A distributed optimal control policy for the interconnected system is developed using the optimal value function of each subsystem. To generate the optimal control policy, forward-in-time, neural networks are employed to reconstruct the unknown optimal value function at each subsystem online. In order to retain the advantages of event-triggered feedback for an adaptive optimal controller, a novel hybrid learning scheme is proposed to reduce the convergence time for the learning algorithm. The development is based on the observation that, in the event-triggered feedback, the sampling instants are dynamic and results in variable interevent time. To relax the requirement of entire state measurements, an extended nonlinear observer is designed at each subsystem to recover the system internal states from the measurable feedback. Using a Lyapunov-based analysis, it is demonstrated that the system states and the observer errors remain locally uniformly ultimately bounded and the control policy converges to a neighborhood of the optimal policy. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the developed controller.

Finite-dimensional approximation for optimal fixed-order compensation of distributed parameter systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernstein, Dennis S.; Rosen, I. G.

1988-01-01

In controlling distributed parameter systems it is often desirable to obtain low-order, finite-dimensional controllers in order to minimize real-time computational requirements. Standard approaches to this problem employ model/controller reduction techniques in conjunction with LQG theory. In this paper we consider the finite-dimensional approximation of the infinite-dimensional Bernstein/Hyland optimal projection theory. This approach yields fixed-finite-order controllers which are optimal with respect to high-order, approximating, finite-dimensional plant models. The technique is illustrated by computing a sequence of first-order controllers for one-dimensional, single-input/single-output, parabolic (heat/diffusion) and hereditary systems using spline-based, Ritz-Galerkin, finite element approximation. Numerical studies indicate convergence of the feedback gains with less than 2 percent performance degradation over full-order LQG controllers for the parabolic system and 10 percent degradation for the hereditary system.

Measurement of distributed strain and temperature based on higher order and higher mode Bragg conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sirkis, James S. (Inventor); Sivanesan, Ponniah (Inventor); Venkat, Venki S. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

A Bragg grating sensor for measuring distributed strain and temperature at the same time comprises an optical fiber having a single mode operating wavelength region and below a cutoff wavelength of the fiber having a multimode operating wavelength region. A saturated, higher order Bragg grating having first and second order Bragg conditions is fabricated in the optical fiber. The first order of Bragg resonance wavelength of the Bragg grating is within the single mode operating wavelength region of the optical fiber and the second order of Bragg resonance wavelength is below the cutoff wavelength of the fiber within the multimode operating wavelength region. The reflectivities of the saturated Bragg grating at the first and second order Bragg conditions are less than two orders of magnitude of one another. In use, the first and second order Bragg conditions are simultaneously created in the sensor at the respective wavelengths and a signal from the sensor is demodulated with respect to each of the wavelengths corresponding to the first and second order Bragg conditions. Two Bragg conditions have different responsivities to strain and temperature, thus allowing two equations for axial strain and temperature to be found in terms of the measure shifts in the primary and second order Bragg wavelengths. This system of equations can be solved for strain and temperature.

Distributed event-triggered consensus tracking of second-order multi-agent systems with a virtual leader

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Cao; Zhi-Hai, Wu; Li, Peng

2016-05-01

This paper investigates the consensus tracking problems of second-order multi-agent systems with a virtual leader via event-triggered control. A novel distributed event-triggered transmission scheme is proposed, which is intermittently examined at constant sampling instants. Only partial neighbor information and local measurements are required for event detection. Then the corresponding event-triggered consensus tracking protocol is presented to guarantee second-order multi-agent systems to achieve consensus tracking. Numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61203147, 61374047, and 61403168).

Peer Feedback in Second Language Writing (2005-2014)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Shulin; Lee, Icy

2016-01-01

This article reviews research on peer feedback in second language (L2) writing published in the last decade (i.e. 2005-2014). We analyse first the theoretical underpinnings that have informed both peer feedback research and the pedagogical use of peer feedback in L2 writing instruction. We also provide a critical interpretation of existing peer…

Intermittent Feedback-Control Strategy for Stabilizing Inverted Pendulum on Manually Controlled Cart as Analogy to Human Stick Balancing

PubMed Central

Yoshikawa, Naoya; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Kiyono, Ken; Nomura, Taishin

2016-01-01

The stabilization of an inverted pendulum on a manually controlled cart (cart-inverted-pendulum; CIP) in an upright position, which is analogous to balancing a stick on a fingertip, is considered in order to investigate how the human central nervous system (CNS) stabilizes unstable dynamics due to mechanical instability and time delays in neural feedback control. We explore the possibility that a type of intermittent time-delayed feedback control, which has been proposed for human postural control during quiet standing, is also a promising strategy for the CIP task and stick balancing on a fingertip. Such a strategy hypothesizes that the CNS exploits transient contracting dynamics along a stable manifold of a saddle-type unstable upright equilibrium of the inverted pendulum in the absence of control by inactivating neural feedback control intermittently for compensating delay-induced instability. To this end, the motions of a CIP stabilized by human subjects were experimentally acquired, and computational models of the system were employed to characterize the experimental behaviors. We first confirmed fat-tailed non-Gaussian temporal fluctuation in the acceleration distribution of the pendulum, as well as the power-law distributions of corrective cart movements for skilled subjects, which was previously reported for stick balancing. We then showed that the experimental behaviors could be better described by the models with an intermittent delayed feedback controller than by those with the conventional continuous delayed feedback controller, suggesting that the human CNS stabilizes the upright posture of the pendulum by utilizing the intermittent delayed feedback-control strategy. PMID:27148031

Intermittent Feedback-Control Strategy for Stabilizing Inverted Pendulum on Manually Controlled Cart as Analogy to Human Stick Balancing.

PubMed

Yoshikawa, Naoya; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Kiyono, Ken; Nomura, Taishin

2016-01-01

The stabilization of an inverted pendulum on a manually controlled cart (cart-inverted-pendulum; CIP) in an upright position, which is analogous to balancing a stick on a fingertip, is considered in order to investigate how the human central nervous system (CNS) stabilizes unstable dynamics due to mechanical instability and time delays in neural feedback control. We explore the possibility that a type of intermittent time-delayed feedback control, which has been proposed for human postural control during quiet standing, is also a promising strategy for the CIP task and stick balancing on a fingertip. Such a strategy hypothesizes that the CNS exploits transient contracting dynamics along a stable manifold of a saddle-type unstable upright equilibrium of the inverted pendulum in the absence of control by inactivating neural feedback control intermittently for compensating delay-induced instability. To this end, the motions of a CIP stabilized by human subjects were experimentally acquired, and computational models of the system were employed to characterize the experimental behaviors. We first confirmed fat-tailed non-Gaussian temporal fluctuation in the acceleration distribution of the pendulum, as well as the power-law distributions of corrective cart movements for skilled subjects, which was previously reported for stick balancing. We then showed that the experimental behaviors could be better described by the models with an intermittent delayed feedback controller than by those with the conventional continuous delayed feedback controller, suggesting that the human CNS stabilizes the upright posture of the pendulum by utilizing the intermittent delayed feedback-control strategy.

Stable Single-Mode Operation of Distributed Feedback Quantum Cascade Laser by Optimized Reflectivity Facet Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dong-Bo; Zhang, Jin-Chuan; Cheng, Feng-Min; Zhao, Yue; Zhuo, Ning; Zhai, Shen-Qiang; Wang, Li-Jun; Liu, Jun-Qi; Liu, Shu-Man; Liu, Feng-Qi; Wang, Zhan-Guo

2018-02-01

In this work, quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) based on strain compensation combined with two-phonon resonance design are presented. Distributed feedback (DFB) laser emitting at 4.76 μm was fabricated through a standard buried first-order grating and buried heterostructure (BH) processing. Stable single-mode emission is achieved under all injection currents and temperature conditions without any mode hop by the optimized antireflection (AR) coating on the front facet. The AR coating consists of a double layer dielectric of Al2O3 and Ge. For a 2-mm laser cavity, the maximum output power of the AR-coated DFB-QCL was more than 170 mW at 20 °C with a high wall-plug efficiency (WPE) of 4.7% in a continuous-wave (CW) mode.

Large depth high-precision FMCW tomography using a distributed feedback laser array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DiLazaro, Thomas; Nehmetallah, George

2018-02-01

Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) has been widely employed in the medical industry for the high resolution imaging of subsurface biological structures. SS-OCT typically exhibits axial resolutions on the order of tens of microns at speeds of hundreds of kilohertz. Using the same coherent heterodyne detection technique, frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ladar has been used for highly precise ranging for distances up to kilometers. Distributed feedback lasers (DFBs) have been used as a simple and inexpensive source for FMCW ranging. Here, we use a bandwidth-combined DFB array for sub-surface volume imaging at a 27 μm axial resolution over meters of distance. 2D and 3D tomographic images of several semi-transparent and diffuse objects at distances up to 10 m will be presented.

Feed-back modulation of cone synapses by L-horizontal cells of turtle retina.

PubMed

Gerschenfeld, H M; Piccolino, M; Neyton, J

1980-12-01

Light stimulation of the periphery of the receptive field of turtle cones can evoke both transient and sustained increases of the cone Ca2+ conductance, which may become regenerative. Such increase in the cone Ca2+ conductance evoked by peripheral illumination results from the activation of a polysynaptic pathway involving a feed-back connexion from the L-horizontal cells (L-HC) to the cones. Thus the hyperpolarization of a L-HC by inward current injection can evoke a Ca2+ conductance increase in neighbouring cones. The cone Ca2+ channels thus activated are likely located at its synaptic endings and probably intervene in the cone transmitter release. Therefore the feed-back connexion between L-HC and cones by modifying the Ca2+ conductance of cones could actually modulate the transmitter release from cone synapses. Such feed-back modulation of cone synapses plays a role in the organization of the colour-coded responses of the chromaticity type-horizontal cells and probably of other second order neurones, post-synaptic to the cones. The mechanisms operating the feed-back connexion from L-HC to cones are discussed.

Effects of 3D virtual haptics force feedback on brand personality perception: the mediating role of physical presence in advergames.

PubMed

Jin, Seung-A Annie

2010-06-01

This study gauged the effects of force feedback in the Novint Falcon haptics system on the sensory and cognitive dimensions of a virtual test-driving experience. First, in order to explore the effects of tactile stimuli with force feedback on users' sensory experience, feelings of physical presence (the extent to which virtual physical objects are experienced as actual physical objects) were measured after participants used the haptics interface. Second, to evaluate the effects of force feedback on the cognitive dimension of consumers' virtual experience, this study investigated brand personality perception. The experiment utilized the Novint Falcon haptics controller to induce immersive virtual test-driving through tactile stimuli. The author designed a two-group (haptics stimuli with force feedback versus no force feedback) comparison experiment (N = 238) by manipulating the level of force feedback. Users in the force feedback condition were exposed to tactile stimuli involving various force feedback effects (e.g., terrain effects, acceleration, and lateral forces) while test-driving a rally car. In contrast, users in the control condition test-drove the rally car using the Novint Falcon but were not given any force feedback. Results of ANOVAs indicated that (a) users exposed to force feedback felt stronger physical presence than those in the no force feedback condition, and (b) users exposed to haptics stimuli with force feedback perceived the brand personality of the car to be more rugged than those in the control condition. Managerial implications of the study for product trial in the business world are discussed.

Control logic to track the outputs of a command generator or randomly forced target

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trankle, T. L.; Bryson, A. E., Jr.

1977-01-01

A procedure is presented for synthesizing time-invariant control logic to cause the outputs of a linear plant to track the outputs of an unforced (or randomly forced) linear dynamic system. The control logic uses feed-forward of the reference system state variables and feedback of the plant state variables. The feed-forward gains are obtained from the solution of a linear algebraic matrix equation of the Liapunov type. The feedback gains are the usual regulator gains, determined to stabilize (or augment the stability of) the plant, possibly including integral control. The method is applied here to the design of control logic for a second-order servomechanism to follow a linearly increasing (ramp) signal, an unstable third-order system with two controls to track two separate ramp signals, and a sixth-order system with two controls to track a constant signal and an exponentially decreasing signal (aircraft landing-flare or glide-slope-capture with constant velocity).

Stability and stabilization of the lattice Boltzmann method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brownlee, R. A.; Gorban, A. N.; Levesley, J.

2007-03-01

We revisit the classical stability versus accuracy dilemma for the lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM). Our goal is a stable method of second-order accuracy for fluid dynamics based on the lattice Bhatnager-Gross-Krook method (LBGK). The LBGK scheme can be recognized as a discrete dynamical system generated by free flight and entropic involution. In this framework the stability and accuracy analysis are more natural. We find the necessary and sufficient conditions for second-order accurate fluid dynamics modeling. In particular, it is proven that in order to guarantee second-order accuracy the distribution should belong to a distinguished surface—the invariant film (up to second order in the time step). This surface is the trajectory of the (quasi)equilibrium distribution surface under free flight. The main instability mechanisms are identified. The simplest recipes for stabilization add no artificial dissipation (up to second order) and provide second-order accuracy of the method. Two other prescriptions add some artificial dissipation locally and prevent the system from loss of positivity and local blowup. Demonstration of the proposed stable LBGK schemes are provided by the numerical simulation of a one-dimensional (1D) shock tube and the unsteady 2D flow around a square cylinder up to Reynolds number Rẽ20000 .

Real-time gas sensing based on optical feedback in a terahertz quantum-cascade laser.

PubMed

Hagelschuer, Till; Wienold, Martin; Richter, Heiko; Schrottke, Lutz; Grahn, Holger T; Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm

2017-11-27

We report on real-time gas sensing with a terahertz quantum-cascade laser (QCL). The method is solely based on the modulation of the external cavity length, exploiting the intermediate optical feedback regime. While the QCL is operated in continuous-wave mode, optical feedback results in a change of the QCL frequency as well as its terminal voltage. The first effect is exploited to tune the lasing frequency across a molecular absorption line. The second effect is used for the detection of the self-mixing signal. This allows for fast measurement times on the order of 10 ms per spectrum and for real-time measurements of gas concentrations with a rate of 100 Hz. This technique is demonstrated with a mixture of D 2 O and CH 3 OD in an absorption cell.

When money is not enough: awareness, success, and variability in motor learning.

PubMed

Manley, Harry; Dayan, Peter; Diedrichsen, Jörn

2014-01-01

When performing a skill such as throwing a dart, many different combinations of joint motions suffice to hit the target. The motor system adapts rapidly to reduce bias in the desired outcome (i.e., the first-order moment of the error); however, the essence of skill is to produce movements with less variability (i.e., to reduce the second-order moment). It is easy to see how feedback about success or failure could sculpt performance to achieve this aim. However, it is unclear whether the dimensions responsible for success or failure need to be known explicitly by the subjects, or whether learning can proceed without explicit awareness of the movement parameters that need to change. Here, we designed a redundant, two-dimensional reaching task in which we could selectively manipulate task success and the variability of action outcomes, whilst also manipulating awareness of the dimension along which performance could be improved. Variability was manipulated either by amplifying natural errors, leaving the correlation between the executed movement and the visual feedback intact, or by adding extrinsic noise, decorrelating movement and feedback. We found that explicit, binary, feedback about success or failure was only sufficient for learning when participants were aware of the dimension along which motor behavior had to change. Without such awareness, learning was only present when extrinsic noise was added to the feedback, but not when task success or variability was manipulated in isolation; learning was also much slower. Our results highlight the importance of conscious awareness of the relevant dimension during motor learning, and suggest that higher-order moments of outcome signals are likely to play a significant role in skill learning in complex tasks.

On the application of Rice's exceedance statistics to atmospheric turbulence.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, W. Y.

1972-01-01

Discrepancies produced by the application of Rice's exceedance statistics to atmospheric turbulence are examined. First- and second-order densities from several data sources have been measured for this purpose. Particular care was paid to each selection of turbulence that provides stationary mean and variance over the entire segment. Results show that even for a stationary segment of turbulence, the process is still highly non-Gaussian, in spite of a Gaussian appearance for its first-order distribution. Data also indicate strongly non-Gaussian second-order distributions. It is therefore concluded that even stationary atmospheric turbulence with a normal first-order distribution cannot be considered a Gaussian process, and consequently the application of Rice's exceedance statistics should be approached with caution.

A survey of decentralized control techniques for large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindner, D. K.; Reichard, K.

1987-01-01

Preliminary results on the design of decentralized controllers for the COFS I Mast are reported. A nine mode finite element model is used along with second order model of the actuators. It is shown that without actuator dynamics, the system is stable with collocated rate feedback and has acceptable performace. However, when actuator dynamics are included, the system is unstable.

Exploring the Influence of Video Feedback upon Teacher Candidates' Evolution of Teaching Beliefs and Second Language Acquisition Specialized Knowledge of Comprehensible Input

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Shikun

2017-01-01

Theorists agree that adequate knowledge does not guarantee better decisions or performances in the future (Gu, 2007; Dana & Yendol-Hpppery, 2008). Instead, they suggest that in order to comprehend teachers' decision and practices, researchers need to learn about both teachers' belief and knowledge. Meanwhile, in-service teachers were…

Circuitry, systems and methods for detecting magnetic fields

DOEpatents

Kotter, Dale K [Shelley, ID; Spencer, David F [Idaho Falls, ID; Roybal, Lyle G [Idaho Falls, ID; Rohrbaugh, David T [Idaho Falls, ID

2010-09-14

Circuitry for detecting magnetic fields includes a first magnetoresistive sensor and a second magnetoresistive sensor configured to form a gradiometer. The circuitry includes a digital signal processor and a first feedback loop coupled between the first magnetoresistive sensor and the digital signal processor. A second feedback loop which is discrete from the first feedback loop is coupled between the second magnetoresistive sensor and the digital signal processor.

Shaper design in CMOS for high dynamic range

DOEpatents

De Geronimo, Gianluigi; Li, Shaorui

2015-06-30

An analog filter is presented that comprises a chain of filter stages, a feedback resistor for providing a negative feedback, and a feedback capacitor for providing a positive feedback. Each filter stage has an input node and an output node. The output node of a filter stage is connected to the input node of an immediately succeeding filter stage through a resistor. The feedback resistor has a first end connected to the output node of the last filter stage along the chain of filter stages, and a second end connected to the input node of a first preceding filter stage. The feedback capacitor has a first end connected to the output node of one of the chain of filter stages, and a second end connected to the input node of a second preceding filter stage.

Self-evaluation of decision-making: A general Bayesian framework for metacognitive computation.

PubMed

Fleming, Stephen M; Daw, Nathaniel D

2017-01-01

People are often aware of their mistakes, and report levels of confidence in their choices that correlate with objective performance. These metacognitive assessments of decision quality are important for the guidance of behavior, particularly when external feedback is absent or sporadic. However, a computational framework that accounts for both confidence and error detection is lacking. In addition, accounts of dissociations between performance and metacognition have often relied on ad hoc assumptions, precluding a unified account of intact and impaired self-evaluation. Here we present a general Bayesian framework in which self-evaluation is cast as a "second-order" inference on a coupled but distinct decision system, computationally equivalent to inferring the performance of another actor. Second-order computation may ensue whenever there is a separation between internal states supporting decisions and confidence estimates over space and/or time. We contrast second-order computation against simpler first-order models in which the same internal state supports both decisions and confidence estimates. Through simulations we show that second-order computation provides a unified account of different types of self-evaluation often considered in separate literatures, such as confidence and error detection, and generates novel predictions about the contribution of one's own actions to metacognitive judgments. In addition, the model provides insight into why subjects' metacognition may sometimes be better or worse than task performance. We suggest that second-order computation may underpin self-evaluative judgments across a range of domains. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Stellar feedback strongly alters the amplification and morphology of galactic magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Kung-Yi; Hayward, Christopher C.; Hopkins, Philip F.; Quataert, Eliot; Faucher-Giguère, Claude-André; Kereš, Dušan

2018-01-01

Using high-resolution magnetohydrodynamic simulations of idealized, non-cosmological galaxies, we investigate how cooling, star formation and stellar feedback affect galactic magnetic fields. We find that the amplification histories, saturation values and morphologies of the magnetic fields vary considerably depending on the baryonic physics employed, primarily because of differences in the gas density distribution. In particular, adiabatic runs and runs with a subgrid (effective equation of state) stellar feedback model yield lower saturation values and morphologies that exhibit greater large-scale order compared with runs that adopt explicit stellar feedback and runs with cooling and star formation but no feedback. The discrepancies mostly lie in gas denser than the galactic average, which requires cooling and explicit fragmentation to capture. Independent of the baryonic physics included, the magnetic field strength scales with gas density as B ∝ n2/3, suggesting isotropic flux freezing or equipartition between the magnetic and gravitational energies during the field amplification. We conclude that accurate treatments of cooling, star formation and stellar feedback are crucial for obtaining the correct magnetic field strength and morphology in dense gas, which, in turn, is essential for properly modelling other physical processes that depend on the magnetic field, such as cosmic ray feedback.

The Potential Role of Cable Television in Wideband Distribution Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldman, N. E.

Community antenna television (CATV) is particularly important because of its potential for economically supplying a large number of channels, for providing viewer feedback, and for at least partially shifting the basis of programing support from the advertiser to the viewer. This study examines these aspects of CATV in order to accomplish the…

Reducing co-administration of proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics using a computerized order entry alert and prospective audit and feedback.

PubMed

Kandel, Christopher E; Gill, Suzanne; McCready, Janine; Matelski, John; Powis, Jeff E

2016-07-22

Antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Both a computer order entry alert to highlight this association as well as antimicrobial stewardship directed prospective audit and feedback represent novel interventions to reduce the co-administration of antibiotics and PPIs among hospitalized patients. Consecutive patients admitted to two General Internal Medicine wards from October 1, 2010 until March 31, 2013 at a teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada were evaluated. The baseline observation period was followed by the first phase, which involved the creation of a computerized order entry alert that was triggered when either a PPI or an antibiotic was ordered in the presence of the other. The second phase consisted of the introduction of an antibiotic stewardship-initiated prospective audit and feedback strategy. The primary outcome was the co-administration of antibiotics and PPIs during each phase. This alert led to a significant reduction in the co-administration of antibiotics and PPIs adjusted for month and secular trends, expressed as days of therapy per 100 patient days (4.99 vs. 3.14, p < 0.001) The subsequent introduction of the antibiotic stewardship program further reduced the co-administration (3.14 vs. 1.80, p <0.001). No change was observed in adjusted monthly CDI rates per 100 patient care days between the baseline and alert cohorts (0.12 vs. 0.12, p = 0.99) or the baseline and antibiotic stewardship phases (0.12 vs. 0.13, p = 0.97). Decreasing the co-administration of PPIs and antibiotics can be achieved using a simple automatic alert followed by prospective audit and feedback.

Organic Solid-State Tri-Wavelength Lasing from Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal and a Distributed Feedback Laser with a Doped Laser Dye and a Semiconducting Polymer Film.

PubMed

Liu, Minghuan; Liu, Yonggang; Peng, Zenghui; Wang, Shaoxin; Wang, Qidong; Mu, Quanquan; Cao, Zhaoliang; Xuan, Li

2017-05-07

Organic solid-state tri-wavelength lasing was demonstrated from dye-doped holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) distributed feedback (DFB) laser with semiconducting polymer poly[-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and laser dye [4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran] (DCM) by a one-step holography technique, which centered at 605.5 nm, 611.9 nm, and 671.1 nm. The temperature-dependence tuning range for the tri-wavelength dye-doped HPDLC DFB laser was as high as 8 nm. The lasing emission from the 9th order HPDLC DFB laser with MEH-PPV as active medium was also investigated, which showed excellent s-polarization characterization. The diffraction order is 9th and 8th for the dual-wavelength lasing with DCM as the active medium. The results of this work provide a method for constructing the compact and cost-effective all solid-state smart laser systems, which may find application in scientific and applied research where multi-wavelength radiation is required.

Configurable, wearable sensing and vibrotactile feedback system for real-time postural balance and gait training: proof-of-concept.

PubMed

Xu, Junkai; Bao, Tian; Lee, Ung Hee; Kinnaird, Catherine; Carender, Wendy; Huang, Yangjian; Sienko, Kathleen H; Shull, Peter B

2017-10-11

Postural balance and gait training is important for treating persons with functional impairments, however current systems are generally not portable and are unable to train different types of movements. This paper describes a proof-of-concept design of a configurable, wearable sensing and feedback system for real-time postural balance and gait training targeted for home-based treatments and other portable usage. Sensing and vibrotactile feedback are performed via eight distributed, wireless nodes or "Dots" (size: 22.5 × 20.5 × 15.0 mm, weight: 12.0 g) that can each be configured for sensing and/or feedback according to movement training requirements. In the first experiment, four healthy older adults were trained to reduce medial-lateral (M/L) trunk tilt while performing balance exercises. When trunk tilt deviated too far from vertical (estimated via a sensing Dot on the lower spine), vibrotactile feedback (via feedback Dots placed on the left and right sides of the lower torso) cued participants to move away from the vibration and back toward the vertical no feedback zone to correct their posture. A second experiment was conducted with the same wearable system to train six healthy older adults to alter their foot progression angle in real-time by internally or externally rotating their feet while walking. Foot progression angle was estimated via a sensing Dot adhered to the dorsal side of the foot, and vibrotactile feedback was provided via feedback Dots placed on the medial and lateral sides of the mid-shank cued participants to internally or externally rotate their foot away from vibration. In the first experiment, the wearable system enabled participants to significantly reduce trunk tilt and increase the amount of time inside the no feedback zone. In the second experiment, all participants were able to adopt new gait patterns of internal and external foot rotation within two minutes of real-time training with the wearable system. These results suggest that the configurable, wearable sensing and feedback system is portable and effective for different types of real-time human movement training and thus may be suitable for home-based or clinic-based rehabilitation applications.

Effects of speech and print feedback on spelling performance of a child with cerebral palsy using a speech generating device.

PubMed

Raghavendra, Parimala; Oaten, Rebecca

2007-09-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of three feedback conditions, using a speech-generating device, on spelling performance of Tom, an 11-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs. Tom was taught to spell 12 words under three feedback conditions. In the SPEECH condition, he received only speech feedback from the device and in the PRINT condition he received only the orthographic feedback on the display of the device. In the SPEECH-PRINT condition, Tom received both speech output and orthographic feedback. An adapted alternating treatment design was used to investigate the effects of the three-feedback conditions. To strengthen the reliability and increase the internal validity of the findings, an intrasubject direct replication was carried out using the same procedure, but teaching 12 different spelling words to Tom. Tom reached criterion with the PRINT feedback condition first, followed by SPEECH and SPEECH-PRINT conditions simultaneously for the first 12 words, and the same order for the second set of 12 words. Overall, the PRINT condition was most efficient for Tom. The results are discussed in terms of evidence for learning style preferences within spelling instruction for a child with complex communication needs. Furthermore, the implications for targeting intervention to optimise spelling achievement amongst this group are considered.

Revisiting Teacher Feedback in EFL Writing from Sociocultural Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Icy

2014-01-01

While research on teacher feedback has largely been influenced by second language writing and second language acquisition perspectives, little attention has been paid to the contextual and sociocultural dimension of teachers' work. Overall, there is a dearth of discussion on teacher feedback that is influenced by sociocultural perspectives.…

Second-order (2 +1 ) -dimensional anisotropic hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazow, Dennis; Heinz, Ulrich; Strickland, Michael

2014-11-01

We present a complete formulation of second-order (2 +1 ) -dimensional anisotropic hydrodynamics. The resulting framework generalizes leading-order anisotropic hydrodynamics by allowing for deviations of the one-particle distribution function from the spheroidal form assumed at leading order. We derive complete second-order equations of motion for the additional terms in the macroscopic currents generated by these deviations from their kinetic definition using a Grad-Israel-Stewart 14-moment ansatz. The result is a set of coupled partial differential equations for the momentum-space anisotropy parameter, effective temperature, the transverse components of the fluid four-velocity, and the viscous tensor components generated by deviations of the distribution from spheroidal form. We then perform a quantitative test of our approach by applying it to the case of one-dimensional boost-invariant expansion in the relaxation time approximation (RTA) in which case it is possible to numerically solve the Boltzmann equation exactly. We demonstrate that the second-order anisotropic hydrodynamics approach provides an excellent approximation to the exact (0+1)-dimensional RTA solution for both small and large values of the shear viscosity.

Probabilistic biosphere modeling for the long-term safety assessment of geological disposal facilities for radioactive waste using first- and second-order Monte Carlo simulation.

PubMed

Ciecior, Willy; Röhlig, Klaus-Jürgen; Kirchner, Gerald

2018-10-01

In the present paper, deterministic as well as first- and second-order probabilistic biosphere modeling approaches are compared. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the influence of the probability distribution function shape (empirical distribution functions and fitted lognormal probability functions) representing the aleatory uncertainty (also called variability) of a radioecological model parameter as well as the role of interacting parameters are studied. Differences in the shape of the output distributions for the biosphere dose conversion factor from first-order Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis using empirical and fitted lognormal distribution functions for input parameters suggest that a lognormal approximation is possibly not always an adequate representation of the aleatory uncertainty of a radioecological parameter. Concerning the comparison of the impact of aleatory and epistemic parameter uncertainty on the biosphere dose conversion factor, the latter here is described using uncertain moments (mean, variance) while the distribution itself represents the aleatory uncertainty of the parameter. From the results obtained, the solution space of second-order Monte Carlo simulation is much larger than that from first-order Monte Carlo simulation. Therefore, the influence of epistemic uncertainty of a radioecological parameter on the output result is much larger than that one caused by its aleatory uncertainty. Parameter interactions are only of significant influence in the upper percentiles of the distribution of results as well as only in the region of the upper percentiles of the model parameters. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stable Single-Mode Operation of Distributed Feedback Quantum Cascade Laser by Optimized Reflectivity Facet Coatings.

PubMed

Wang, Dong-Bo; Zhang, Jin-Chuan; Cheng, Feng-Min; Zhao, Yue; Zhuo, Ning; Zhai, Shen-Qiang; Wang, Li-Jun; Liu, Jun-Qi; Liu, Shu-Man; Liu, Feng-Qi; Wang, Zhan-Guo

2018-02-02

In this work, quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) based on strain compensation combined with two-phonon resonance design are presented. Distributed feedback (DFB) laser emitting at ~ 4.76 μm was fabricated through a standard buried first-order grating and buried heterostructure (BH) processing. Stable single-mode emission is achieved under all injection currents and temperature conditions without any mode hop by the optimized antireflection (AR) coating on the front facet. The AR coating consists of a double layer dielectric of Al 2 O 3 and Ge. For a 2-mm laser cavity, the maximum output power of the AR-coated DFB-QCL was more than 170 mW at 20 °C with a high wall-plug efficiency (WPE) of 4.7% in a continuous-wave (CW) mode.

Multiple-Try Feedback and Higher-Order Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clariana, Roy B.; Koul, Ravinder

2005-01-01

Although feedback is an important component of computer-based instruction (CBI), the effects of feedback on higher-order learning outcomes are not well understood. Several meta-analyses provide two rules of thumb: any feedback is better than no feedback and feedback with more information is better than feedback with less information. …

Matters Arising. Australian University Quality Agency Feedback in Relation to the Academic Engagement of International Students Enrolled in Onshore University Programmes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crossman, Joanna; Burdett, Jane

2012-01-01

It is now commonplace to find quality audit processes being applied in universities internationally as a means of assessing the quality of teaching and learning. This article draws upon a thematic analysis of 14 second-round Australian Universities Quality Agency reports in order to explore matters arising from the academic engagement of…

Development of a second order closure model for computation of turbulent diffusion flames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varma, A. K.; Donaldson, C. D.

1974-01-01

A typical eddy box model for the second-order closure of turbulent, multispecies, reacting flows developed. The model structure was quite general and was valid for an arbitrary number of species. For the case of a reaction involving three species, the nine model parameters were determined from equations for nine independent first- and second-order correlations. The model enabled calculation of any higher-order correlation involving mass fractions, temperatures, and reaction rates in terms of first- and second-order correlations. Model predictions for the reaction rate were in very good agreement with exact solutions of the reaction rate equations for a number of assumed flow distributions.

Design, test, and evaluation of three active flutter suppression controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, William M., Jr.; Christhilf, David M.; Waszak, Martin R.; Mukhopadhyay, Vivek; Srinathkumar, S.

1992-01-01

Three control law design techniques for flutter suppression are presented. Each technique uses multiple control surfaces and/or sensors. The first method uses traditional tools (such as pole/zero loci and Nyquist diagrams) for producing a controller that has minimal complexity and which is sufficiently robust to handle plant uncertainty. The second procedure uses linear combinations of several accelerometer signals and dynamic compensation to synthesize the model rate of the critical mode for feedback to the distributed control surfaces. The third technique starts with a minimum-energy linear quadratic Gaussian controller, iteratively modifies intensity matrices corresponding to input and output noise, and applies controller order reduction to achieve a low-order, robust controller. The resulting designs were implemented digitally and tested subsonically on the active flexible wing wind-tunnel model in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Only the traditional pole/zero loci design was sufficiently robust to errors in the nominal plant to successfully suppress flutter during the test. The traditional pole/zero loci design provided simultaneous suppression of symmetric and antisymmetric flutter with a 24-percent increase in attainable dynamic pressure. Posttest analyses are shown which illustrate the problems encountered with the other laws.

Single link flexible beam testbed project. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, Declan

1992-01-01

This thesis describes the single link flexible beam testbed at the CLaMS laboratory in terms of its hardware, software, and linear model, and presents two controllers, each including a hub angle proportional-derivative (PD) feedback compensator and one augmented by a second static gain full state feedback loop, based upon a synthesized strictly positive real (SPR) output, that increases specific flexible mode pole damping ratios w.r.t the PD only case and hence reduces unwanted residual oscillation effects. Restricting full state feedback gains so as to produce a SPR open loop transfer function ensures that the associated compensator has an infinite gain margin and a phase margin of at least (-90, 90) degrees. Both experimental and simulation data are evaluated in order to compare some different observer performance when applied to the real testbed and to the linear model when uncompensated flexible modes are included.

UWB communication receiver feedback loop

DOEpatents

Spiridon, Alex; Benzel, Dave; Dowla, Farid U.; Nekoogar, Faranak; Rosenbury, Erwin T.

2007-12-04

A novel technique and structure that maximizes the extraction of information from reference pulses for UWB-TR receivers is introduced. The scheme efficiently processes an incoming signal to suppress different types of UWB as well as non-UWB interference prior to signal detection. Such a method and system adds a feedback loop mechanism to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of reference pulses in a conventional TR receiver. Moreover, sampling the second order statistical function such as, for example, the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the received signal and matching it to the ACF samples of the original pulses for each transmitted bit provides a more robust UWB communications method and system in the presence of channel distortions.

Superthermal photon bunching in terms of simple probability distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lettau, T.; Leymann, H. A. M.; Melcher, B.; Wiersig, J.

2018-05-01

We analyze the second-order photon autocorrelation function g(2 ) with respect to the photon probability distribution and discuss the generic features of a distribution that results in superthermal photon bunching [g(2 )(0 ) >2 ]. Superthermal photon bunching has been reported for a number of optical microcavity systems that exhibit processes such as superradiance or mode competition. We show that a superthermal photon number distribution cannot be constructed from the principle of maximum entropy if only the intensity and the second-order autocorrelation are given. However, for bimodal systems, an unbiased superthermal distribution can be constructed from second-order correlations and the intensities alone. Our findings suggest modeling superthermal single-mode distributions by a mixture of a thermal and a lasinglike state and thus reveal a generic mechanism in the photon probability distribution responsible for creating superthermal photon bunching. We relate our general considerations to a physical system, i.e., a (single-emitter) bimodal laser, and show that its statistics can be approximated and understood within our proposed model. Furthermore, the excellent agreement of the statistics of the bimodal laser and our model reveals that the bimodal laser is an ideal source of bunched photons, in the sense that it can generate statistics that contain no other features but the superthermal bunching.

Extended-bandwidth frequency sweeps of a distributed feedback laser using combined injection current and temperature modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hefferman, Gerald; Chen, Zhen; Wei, Tao

2017-07-01

This article details the generation of an extended-bandwidth frequency sweep using a single, communication grade distributed feedback (DFB) laser. The frequency sweep is generated using a two-step technique. In the first step, injection current modulation is employed as a means of varying the output frequency of a DFB laser over a bandwidth of 99.26 GHz. A digital optical phase lock loop is used to lock the frequency sweep speed during current modulation, resulting in a linear frequency chirp. In the second step, the temperature of the DFB laser is modulated, resulting in a shifted starting laser output frequency. A laser frequency chirp is again generated beginning at this shifted starting frequency, resulting in a frequency-shifted spectrum relative to the first recorded data. This process is then repeated across a range of starting temperatures, resulting in a series of partially overlapping, frequency-shifted spectra. These spectra are then aligned using cross-correlation and combined using averaging to form a single, broadband spectrum with a total bandwidth of 510.9 GHz. In order to investigate the utility of this technique, experimental testing was performed in which the approach was used as the swept-frequency source of a coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry system. This system was used to interrogate an optical fiber containing a 20 point, 1-mm pitch length fiber Bragg grating, corresponding to a period of 100 GHz. Using this technique, both the periodicity of the grating in the frequency domain and the individual reflector elements of the structure in the time domain were resolved, demonstrating the technique's potential as a method of extending the sweeping bandwidth of semiconductor lasers for frequency-based sensing applications.

Extended-bandwidth frequency sweeps of a distributed feedback laser using combined injection current and temperature modulation.

PubMed

Hefferman, Gerald; Chen, Zhen; Wei, Tao

2017-07-01

This article details the generation of an extended-bandwidth frequency sweep using a single, communication grade distributed feedback (DFB) laser. The frequency sweep is generated using a two-step technique. In the first step, injection current modulation is employed as a means of varying the output frequency of a DFB laser over a bandwidth of 99.26 GHz. A digital optical phase lock loop is used to lock the frequency sweep speed during current modulation, resulting in a linear frequency chirp. In the second step, the temperature of the DFB laser is modulated, resulting in a shifted starting laser output frequency. A laser frequency chirp is again generated beginning at this shifted starting frequency, resulting in a frequency-shifted spectrum relative to the first recorded data. This process is then repeated across a range of starting temperatures, resulting in a series of partially overlapping, frequency-shifted spectra. These spectra are then aligned using cross-correlation and combined using averaging to form a single, broadband spectrum with a total bandwidth of 510.9 GHz. In order to investigate the utility of this technique, experimental testing was performed in which the approach was used as the swept-frequency source of a coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry system. This system was used to interrogate an optical fiber containing a 20 point, 1-mm pitch length fiber Bragg grating, corresponding to a period of 100 GHz. Using this technique, both the periodicity of the grating in the frequency domain and the individual reflector elements of the structure in the time domain were resolved, demonstrating the technique's potential as a method of extending the sweeping bandwidth of semiconductor lasers for frequency-based sensing applications.

Interrogative pressure in simulated forensic interviews: the effects of negative feedback.

PubMed

McGroarty, Allan; Baxter, James S

2007-08-01

Much experimental research on interrogative pressure has concentrated on the effects of leading questions, and the role of feedback in influencing responses in the absence of leading questions has been neglected by comparison. This study assessed the effect of negative feedback and the presence of a second interviewer on interviewee responding in simulated forensic interviews. Participants viewed a videotape of a crime, answered questions about the clip and were requestioned after receiving feedback. Compared with neutral feedback, negative feedback resulted in more response changes, higher reported state anxiety and higher ratings of interview difficulty. These results are consistent with Gudjonsson and Clark's (1986) model of interrogative suggestibility. The presence and involvement of a second interviewer did not significantly affect interviewee responding, although trait anxiety scores were elevated when a second interviewer was present. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are considered.

Servo control booster system for minimizing following error

DOEpatents

Wise, William L.

1985-01-01

A closed-loop feedback-controlled servo system is disclosed which reduces command-to-response error to the system's position feedback resolution least increment, .DELTA.S.sub.R, on a continuous real-time basis for all operating speeds. The servo system employs a second position feedback control loop on a by exception basis, when the command-to-response error .gtoreq..DELTA.S.sub.R, to produce precise position correction signals. When the command-to-response error is less than .DELTA.S.sub.R, control automatically reverts to conventional control means as the second position feedback control loop is disconnected, becoming transparent to conventional servo control means. By operating the second unique position feedback control loop used herein at the appropriate clocking rate, command-to-response error may be reduced to the position feedback resolution least increment. The present system may be utilized in combination with a tachometer loop for increased stability.

Self-Evaluation of Decision-Making: A General Bayesian Framework for Metacognitive Computation

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

People are often aware of their mistakes, and report levels of confidence in their choices that correlate with objective performance. These metacognitive assessments of decision quality are important for the guidance of behavior, particularly when external feedback is absent or sporadic. However, a computational framework that accounts for both confidence and error detection is lacking. In addition, accounts of dissociations between performance and metacognition have often relied on ad hoc assumptions, precluding a unified account of intact and impaired self-evaluation. Here we present a general Bayesian framework in which self-evaluation is cast as a “second-order” inference on a coupled but distinct decision system, computationally equivalent to inferring the performance of another actor. Second-order computation may ensue whenever there is a separation between internal states supporting decisions and confidence estimates over space and/or time. We contrast second-order computation against simpler first-order models in which the same internal state supports both decisions and confidence estimates. Through simulations we show that second-order computation provides a unified account of different types of self-evaluation often considered in separate literatures, such as confidence and error detection, and generates novel predictions about the contribution of one’s own actions to metacognitive judgments. In addition, the model provides insight into why subjects’ metacognition may sometimes be better or worse than task performance. We suggest that second-order computation may underpin self-evaluative judgments across a range of domains. PMID:28004960

RGB and white-emitting organic lasers on flexible glass.

PubMed

Foucher, C; Guilhabert, B; Kanibolotsky, A L; Skabara, P J; Laurand, N; Dawson, M D

2016-02-08

Two formats of multiwavelength red, green and blue (RGB) laser on mechanically-flexible glass are demonstrated. In both cases, three all-organic, vertically-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are assembled onto a common ultra-thin glass membrane substrate and fully encapsulated by a thin polymer overlayer and an additional 50 µm-thick glass membrane in order to improve the performance. The first device format has the three DFB lasers sitting next to each other on the glass substrate. The DFB lasers are simultaneously excited by a single overlapping optical pump, emitting spatially separated red, green and blue laser output with individual thresholds of, respectively, 28 µJ/cm(2), 11 µJ/cm(2) and 32 µJ/cm(2) (for 5 ns pump pulses). The second device format has the three DFB lasers, respectively the red, green and blue laser, vertically stacked onto the flexible glass. This device format emits a white laser output for an optical pump fluence above 42 µJ/cm(2).

Hybrid wireless-over-fiber transmission system based on multiple injection-locked FP LDs.

PubMed

Li, Chung-Yi; Lu, Hai-Han; Chu, Chien-An; Ying, Cheng-Ling; Lu, Ting-Chien; Peng, Peng-Chun

2015-07-27

A hybrid wireless-over-fiber (WoF) transmission system based on multiple injection-locked Fabry-Perot laser diodes (FP LDs) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Unlike the traditional hybrid WoF transmission systems that require multiple distributed feedback (DFB) LDs to support different kinds of services, the proposed system employs multiple injection-locked FP LDs to provide different kinds of applications. Such a hybrid WoF transmission system delivers downstream intensity-modulated 20-GHz microwave (MW)/60-GHz millimeter-wave (MMW)/550-MHz cable television (CATV) signals and upstream phase-remodulated 20-GHz MW signal. Excellent bit error rate (BER), carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), composite second-order (CSO), and composite triple-beat (CTB) are observed over a 40-km single-mode fiber (SMF) and a 4-m radio frequency (RF) wireless transport. Such a hybrid WoF transmission system has practical applications for fiber-wireless convergence to provide broadband integrated services, including telecommunication, data communication, and CATV services.

Spacecraft stability and control using new techniques for periodic and time-delayed systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

NAzari, Morad

This dissertation addresses various problems in spacecraft stability and control using specialized theoretical and numerical techniques for time-periodic and time-delayed systems. First, the effects of energy dissipation are considered in the dual-spin spacecraft, where the damper masses in the platform (?) and the rotor (?) cause energy loss in the system. Floquet theory is employed to obtain stability charts for different relative spin rates of the subsystem [special characters omitted] with respect to the subsystem [special characters omitted]. Further, the stability and bifurcation of delayed feedback spin stabilization of a rigid spacecraft is investigated. The spin is stabilized about the principal axis of the intermediate moment of inertia using a simple delayed feedback control law. In particular, linear stability is analyzed via the exponential-polynomial characteristic equations and then the method of multiple scales is used to obtain the normal form of the Hopf bifurcation. Next, the dynamics of a rigid spacecraft with nonlinear delayed multi-actuator feedback control are studied, where a nonlinear feedback controller using an inverse dynamics approach is sought for the controlled system to have the desired linear delayed closed-loop dynamics (CLD). Later, three linear state feedback control strategies based on Chebyshev spectral collocation and the Lyapunov Floquet transformation (LFT) are explored for regulation control of linear periodic time delayed systems. First , a delayed feedback control law with discrete delay is implemented and the stability of the closed-loop response is investigated in the parameter space of available control gains using infinite-dimensional Floquet theory. Second, the delay differential equation (DDE) is discretized into a large set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using the Chebyshev spectral continuous time approximation (CSCTA) and delayed feedback with distributed delay is applied. The third strategy involves use of both CSCTA and the reduced Lyapunov Floquet transformation (RLFT) in order to design a non-delayed feedback control law. The delayed Mathieu equation is used as an illustrative example in which the closed-loop response and control effort are compared for all three control strategies. Finally, three example applications of control of time-periodic astrodynamic systems, i.e. formation flying control for an elliptic Keplerian chief orbit, body-fixed hovering control over a tumbling asteroid, and stationkeeping in Earth-Moon L1 halo orbits, are shown using versions of the control strategies introduced above. These applications employ a mixture of feedforward and non-delayed periodic-gain state feedback for tracking control of natural and non-natural motions in these systems. A major conclusion is that control effort is minimized by employing periodic-gain (rather than constant-gain) feedback control in such systems.

Climate effects and feedback structure determining weed population dynamics in a long-term experiment.

PubMed

Lima, Mauricio; Navarrete, Luis; González-Andujar, José Luis

2012-01-01

Pest control is one of the areas in which population dynamic theory has been successfully applied to solve practical problems. However, the links between population dynamic theory and model construction have been less emphasized in the management and control of weed populations. Most management models of weed population dynamics have emphasized the role of the endogenous process, but the role of exogenous variables such as climate have been ignored in the study of weed populations and their management. Here, we use long-term data (22 years) on two annual weed species from a locality in Central Spain to determine the importance of endogenous and exogenous processes (local and large-scale climate factors). Our modeling study determined two different feedback structures and climate effects in the two weed species analyzed. While Descurainia sophia exhibited a second-order feedback and low climate influence, Veronica hederifolia was characterized by a first-order feedback structure and important effects from temperature and rainfall. Our results strongly suggest the importance of theoretical population dynamics in understanding plant population systems. Moreover, the use of this approach, discerning between the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors, can be fundamental to applying weed management practices in agricultural systems and to controlling invasive weedy species. This is a radical change from most approaches currently used to guide weed and invasive weedy species managements.

Climate Effects and Feedback Structure Determining Weed Population Dynamics in a Long-Term Experiment

PubMed Central

Lima, Mauricio; Navarrete, Luis; González-Andujar, José Luis

2012-01-01

Pest control is one of the areas in which population dynamic theory has been successfully applied to solve practical problems. However, the links between population dynamic theory and model construction have been less emphasized in the management and control of weed populations. Most management models of weed population dynamics have emphasized the role of the endogenous process, but the role of exogenous variables such as climate have been ignored in the study of weed populations and their management. Here, we use long-term data (22 years) on two annual weed species from a locality in Central Spain to determine the importance of endogenous and exogenous processes (local and large-scale climate factors). Our modeling study determined two different feedback structures and climate effects in the two weed species analyzed. While Descurainia sophia exhibited a second-order feedback and low climate influence, Veronica hederifolia was characterized by a first-order feedback structure and important effects from temperature and rainfall. Our results strongly suggest the importance of theoretical population dynamics in understanding plant population systems. Moreover, the use of this approach, discerning between the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors, can be fundamental to applying weed management practices in agricultural systems and to controlling invasive weedy species. This is a radical change from most approaches currently used to guide weed and invasive weedy species managements. PMID:22272362

Tower Based Load Measurements for Individual Pitch Control and Tower Damping of Wind Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, A. A.; Hugues-Salas, O.; Savini, B.; Keogh, W.

2016-09-01

The cost of IPC has hindered adoption outside of Europe despite significant loading advantages for large wind turbines. In this work we presented a method for applying individual pitch control (including for higher-harmonics) using tower-top strain gauge feedback instead of blade-root strain gauge feedback. Tower-top strain gauges offer hardware savings of approximately 50% in addition to the possibility of easier access for maintenance and installation and requiring a less specialised skill-set than that required for applying strain gauges to composite blade roots. A further advantage is the possibility of using the same tower-top sensor array for tower damping control. This method is made possible by including a second order IPC loop in addition to the tower damping loop to reduce the typically dominating 3P content in tower-top load measurements. High-fidelity Bladed simulations show that the resulting turbine spectral characteristics from tower-top feedback IPC and from the combination of tower-top IPC and damping loops largely match those of blade-root feedback IPC and nacelle- velocity feedback damping. Lifetime weighted fatigue analysis shows that the methods allows load reductions within 2.5% of traditional methods.

High-Precision Tests of Stochastic Thermodynamics in a Feedback Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gavrilov, Momčilo; Jun, Yonggun; Bechhoefer, John

2015-03-01

Feedback traps can trap and manipulate small particles and molecules in solution. They have been applied to the measurement of physical and chemical properties of particles and to explore fundamental questions in the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of small systems. Feedback traps allow one to choose an arbitrary virtual potential, do any time-dependent transformation of the potential, and measure various thermodynamic quantities such as stochastic work, heat, or entropy. In feedback-trap experiments, the dynamics of a trapped object is determined by the imposed potential but is also affected by drifts due to electrochemical reactions and by temperature variations in the electronic amplifier. Although such drifts are small for measurements on the order of seconds, they dominate on time scales of minutes or slower. In this talk, we present a recursive algorithm that allows real-time estimations of drifts and other particle properties. These estimates let us do a real-time calibration of the feedback trap. Having eliminated systematic errors, we were able to show that erasing a one-bit memory requires at least kT ln 2 of work, in accordance with Landauer's principle. This work was supported by NSERC (Canada).

Research on the trace detection of carbon dioxide gas and modulation parameter optimization based on the TDLAS technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Peng; Tao, Jun; Yu, Chang-rui; Li, Ye

2014-02-01

Based on the technology of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, modulation of the center wavelength of 2004 nm distributed feedback laser diode at a room-temperature, the second harmonic amplitude of CO2 at 2004nm can be obtained. The CO2 concentration can be calculated via the Beer-Lambert law. Sinusoidal modulation parameter is an important factor that affects the sensitivity and accuracy of the system, through the research on the relationship between sinusoidal modulation signal frequency, amplitude and Second harmonic linetype, we finally achieve the detection limit of 10ppm under 12 m optical path.

Reexamining the Affective Advantage of Peer Feedback in the ESL Writing Class.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Shuqiang

1995-01-01

Examines hypotheses concerning the appeal of three types of feedback in the second-language writing process: teacher-, peer-, and self-directed feedback. Results show that students overwhelmingly prefer teacher feedback to peer feedback. (Author/CK)

Investigating Mobile-Assisted Oral Feedback in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xu, Qi; Peng, Hongying

2017-01-01

This article reports on an exploratory study investigating mobile-assisted oral feedback in teaching Chinese as a second language (CSL). It is aimed at exploring the characteristics of mobile-assisted feedback on oral production with the smartphone social communication app WeChat as a case in point and examining learners' perceptions of…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, L. F., E-mail: wang-lifeng@iapcm.ac.cn; Ye, W. H.; Liu, Jie

In this research, a weakly nonlinear (WN) model has been developed considering the growth of a small perturbation on a cylindrical interface between two incompressible fluids which is subject to arbitrary radial motion. We derive evolution equations for the perturbation amplitude up to third order, which can depict the linear growth of the fundamental mode, the generation of the second and third harmonics, and the third-order (second-order) feedback to the fundamental mode (zero-order). WN solutions are obtained for a special uniformly convergent case. WN analyses are performed to address the dependence of interface profiles, amplitudes of inward-going and outward-going parts,more » and saturation amplitudes of linear growth of the fundamental mode on the Atwood number, the mode number (m), and the initial perturbation. The difference of WN evolution in cylindrical geometry from that in planar geometry is discussed in some detail. It is shown that interface profiles are determined mainly by the inward and outward motions rather than bubbles and spikes. The amplitudes of inward-going and outward-going parts are strongly dependent on the Atwood number and the initial perturbation. For low-mode perturbations, the linear growth of fundamental mode cannot be saturated by the third-order feedback. For fixed Atwood numbers and initial perturbations, the linear growth of fundamental mode can be saturated with increasing m. The saturation amplitude of linear growth of the fundamental mode is typically 0.2λ–0.6λ for m < 100, with λ being the perturbation wavelength. Thus, it should be included in applications where Bell-Plesset [G. I. Bell, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report No. LA-1321, 1951; M. S. Plesset, J. Appl. Phys. 25, 96 (1954)] converging geometry effects play a pivotal role, such as inertial confinement fusion implosions.« less

Second-order sliding mode controller with model reference adaptation for automatic train operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganesan, M.; Ezhilarasi, D.; Benni, Jijo

2017-11-01

In this paper, a new approach to model reference based adaptive second-order sliding mode control together with adaptive state feedback is presented to control the longitudinal dynamic motion of a high speed train for automatic train operation with the objective of minimal jerk travel by the passengers. The nonlinear dynamic model for the longitudinal motion of the train comprises of a locomotive and coach subsystems is constructed using multiple point-mass model by considering the forces acting on the vehicle. An adaptation scheme using Lyapunov criterion is derived to tune the controller gains by considering a linear, stable reference model that ensures the stability of the system in closed loop. The effectiveness of the controller tracking performance is tested under uncertain passenger load, coupler-draft gear parameters, propulsion resistance coefficients variations and environmental disturbances due to side wind and wet rail conditions. The results demonstrate improved tracking performance of the proposed control scheme with a least jerk under maximum parameter uncertainties when compared to constant gain second-order sliding mode control.

A lattice Boltzmann model for the Burgers-Fisher equation.

PubMed

Zhang, Jianying; Yan, Guangwu

2010-06-01

A lattice Boltzmann model is developed for the one- and two-dimensional Burgers-Fisher equation based on the method of the higher-order moment of equilibrium distribution functions and a series of partial differential equations in different time scales. In order to obtain the two-dimensional Burgers-Fisher equation, vector sigma(j) has been used. And in order to overcome the drawbacks of "error rebound," a new assumption of additional distribution is presented, where two additional terms, in first order and second order separately, are used. Comparisons with the results obtained by other methods reveal that the numerical solutions obtained by the proposed method converge to exact solutions. The model under new assumption gives better results than that with second order assumption. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Control of large flexible systems via eigenvalue relocation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denman, E. D.; Jeon, G. J.

1985-01-01

For the vibration control of large flexible systems, a control scheme by which the eigenvalues of the closed-loop systems are assigned to predetermined locations within the feasible region through velocity-only feedback is presented. Owing to the properties of second-order lambda-matrices and an efficient model decoupling technique, the control scheme makes it possible that selected modes are damped with the rest of the modes unchanged.

Efficient implementation of multidimensional fast fourier transform on a distributed-memory parallel multi-node computer

DOEpatents

Bhanot, Gyan V [Princeton, NJ; Chen, Dong [Croton-On-Hudson, NY; Gara, Alan G [Mount Kisco, NY; Giampapa, Mark E [Irvington, NY; Heidelberger, Philip [Cortlandt Manor, NY; Steinmacher-Burow, Burkhard D [Mount Kisco, NY; Vranas, Pavlos M [Bedford Hills, NY

2012-01-10

The present in invention is directed to a method, system and program storage device for efficiently implementing a multidimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a multidimensional array comprising a plurality of elements initially distributed in a multi-node computer system comprising a plurality of nodes in communication over a network, comprising: distributing the plurality of elements of the array in a first dimension across the plurality of nodes of the computer system over the network to facilitate a first one-dimensional FFT; performing the first one-dimensional FFT on the elements of the array distributed at each node in the first dimension; re-distributing the one-dimensional FFT-transformed elements at each node in a second dimension via "all-to-all" distribution in random order across other nodes of the computer system over the network; and performing a second one-dimensional FFT on elements of the array re-distributed at each node in the second dimension, wherein the random order facilitates efficient utilization of the network thereby efficiently implementing the multidimensional FFT. The "all-to-all" re-distribution of array elements is further efficiently implemented in applications other than the multidimensional FFT on the distributed-memory parallel supercomputer.

Efficient implementation of a multidimensional fast fourier transform on a distributed-memory parallel multi-node computer

DOEpatents

Bhanot, Gyan V [Princeton, NJ; Chen, Dong [Croton-On-Hudson, NY; Gara, Alan G [Mount Kisco, NY; Giampapa, Mark E [Irvington, NY; Heidelberger, Philip [Cortlandt Manor, NY; Steinmacher-Burow, Burkhard D [Mount Kisco, NY; Vranas, Pavlos M [Bedford Hills, NY

2008-01-01

The present in invention is directed to a method, system and program storage device for efficiently implementing a multidimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a multidimensional array comprising a plurality of elements initially distributed in a multi-node computer system comprising a plurality of nodes in communication over a network, comprising: distributing the plurality of elements of the array in a first dimension across the plurality of nodes of the computer system over the network to facilitate a first one-dimensional FFT; performing the first one-dimensional FFT on the elements of the array distributed at each node in the first dimension; re-distributing the one-dimensional FFT-transformed elements at each node in a second dimension via "all-to-all" distribution in random order across other nodes of the computer system over the network; and performing a second one-dimensional FFT on elements of the array re-distributed at each node in the second dimension, wherein the random order facilitates efficient utilization of the network thereby efficiently implementing the multidimensional FFT. The "all-to-all" re-distribution of array elements is further efficiently implemented in applications other than the multidimensional FFT on the distributed-memory parallel supercomputer.

Implementation of combined SVM-algorithm and computer-aided perception feedback for pulmonary nodule detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietrzyk, Mariusz W.; Rannou, Didier; Brennan, Patrick C.

2012-02-01

This pilot study examines the effect of a novel decision support system in medical image interpretation. This system is based on combining image spatial frequency properties and eye-tracking data in order to recognize over and under calling errors. Thus, before it can be implemented as a detection aided schema, training is required during which SVMbased algorithm learns to recognize FP from all reported outcomes, and, FN from all unreported prolonged dwelled regions. Eight radiologists inspected 50 PA chest radiographs with the specific task of identifying lung nodules. Twentyfive cases contained CT proven subtle malignant lesions (5-20mm), but prevalence was not known by the subjects, who took part in two sequential reading sessions, the second, without and with support system feedback. MCMR ROC DBM and JAFROC analyses were conducted and demonstrated significantly higher scores following feedback with p values of 0.04, and 0.03 respectively, highlighting significant improvements in radiology performance once feedback was used. This positive effect on radiologists' performance might have important implications for future CAD-system development.

Post-operative 3D CT feedback improves accuracy and precision in the learning curve of anatomic ACL femoral tunnel placement.

PubMed

Sirleo, Luigi; Innocenti, Massimo; Innocenti, Matteo; Civinini, Roberto; Carulli, Christian; Matassi, Fabrizio

2018-02-01

To evaluate the feedback from post-operative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) on femoral tunnel placement in the learning process, to obtain an anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A series of 60 consecutive patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction using autologous hamstrings single-bundle outside-in technique were prospectively included in the study. ACL reconstructions were performed by the same trainee-surgeon during his learning phase of anatomic ACL femoral tunnel placement. A CT scan with dedicated tunnel study was performed in all patients within 48 h after surgery. The data obtained from the CT scan were processed into a three-dimensional surface model, and a true medial view of the lateral femoral condyle was used for the femoral tunnel placement analysis. Two independent examiners analysed the tunnel placements. The centre of femoral tunnel was measured using a quadrant method as described by Bernard and Hertel. The coordinates measured were compared with anatomic coordinates values described in the literature [deep-to-shallow distance (X-axis) 28.5%; high-to-low distance (Y-axis) 35.2%]. Tunnel placement was evaluated in terms of accuracy and precision. After each ACL reconstruction, results were shown to the surgeon to receive an instant feedback in order to achieve accurate correction and improve tunnel placement for the next surgery. Complications and arthroscopic time were also recorded. Results were divided into three consecutive series (1, 2, 3) of 20 patients each. A trend to placing femoral tunnel slightly shallow in deep-to-shallow distance and slightly high in high-to-low distance was observed in the first and the second series. A progressive improvement in tunnel position was recorded from the first to second series and from the second to the third series. Both accuracy (+52.4%) and precision (+55.7%) increased from the first to the third series (p < 0.001). Arthroscopic time decreased from a mean of 105 min in the first series to 57 min in the third series (p < 0.001). After 50 ACL reconstructions, a satisfactory anatomic femoral tunnel was reached. Feedback from post-operative 3D-CT is effective in the learning process to improve accuracy and precision of femoral tunnel placement in order to obtain anatomic ACL reconstruction and helps to reduce also arthroscopic time and learning curve. For clinical relevance, trainee-surgeons should use feedback from post-operative 3DCT to learn anatomic ACL femoral tunnel placement and apply it appropriately. Consecutive case series, Level IV.

The Accuracy of Computer-Assisted Feedback and Students' Responses to It

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lavolette, Elizabeth; Polio, Charlene; Kahng, Jimin

2015-01-01

Various researchers in second language acquisition have argued for the effectiveness of immediate rather than delayed feedback. In writing, truly immediate feedback is impractical, but computer-assisted feedback provides a quick way of providing feedback that also reduces the teacher's workload. We explored the accuracy of feedback from…

Optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy with a 3.24 μm interband cascade laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Manfred, K. M.; Ritchie, G. A. D.; Lang, N.

2015-06-01

The development of interband cascade lasers (ICLs) has made the strong C-H transitions in the 3 μm spectral region increasingly accessible. We present the demonstration of a single mode distributed feedback ICL coupled to a V-shaped optical cavity in an optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (OF-CEAS) experiment. We achieved a minimum detectable absorption coefficient, α{sub min}, of (7.1±0.2)×10{sup −8} cm{sup −1} for a spectrum of CH{sub 4} at 3.24 μm with a two second acquisition time (100 scans averaged). This corresponds to a detection limit of 3 ppb CH{sub 4} at atmospheric pressure, which is comparable to previously reported OF-CEAS instruments with diodemore » lasers or quantum cascade lasers. The ability to frequency lock an ICL source in the important 3 μm region to an optical cavity holds great promise for future spectroscopic applications.« less

Distributed cooperative H∞ optimal tracking control of MIMO nonlinear multi-agent systems in strict-feedback form via adaptive dynamic programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luy, N. T.

2018-04-01

The design of distributed cooperative H∞ optimal controllers for multi-agent systems is a major challenge when the agents' models are uncertain multi-input and multi-output nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form in the presence of external disturbances. In this paper, first, the distributed cooperative H∞ optimal tracking problem is transformed into controlling the cooperative tracking error dynamics in affine form. Second, control schemes and online algorithms are proposed via adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) and the theory of zero-sum differential graphical games. The schemes use only one neural network (NN) for each agent instead of three from ADP to reduce computational complexity as well as avoid choosing initial NN weights for stabilising controllers. It is shown that despite not using knowledge of cooperative internal dynamics, the proposed algorithms not only approximate values to Nash equilibrium but also guarantee all signals, such as the NN weight approximation errors and the cooperative tracking errors in the closed-loop system, to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is shown by simulation results of an application to wheeled mobile multi-robot systems.

Investigation of local strain distribution and linear electro-optic effect in strained silicon waveguides.

PubMed

Chmielak, Bartos; Matheisen, Christopher; Ripperda, Christian; Bolten, Jens; Wahlbrink, Thorsten; Waldow, Michael; Kurz, Heinrich

2013-10-21

We present detailed investigations of the local strain distribution and the induced second-order optical nonlinearity within strained silicon waveguides cladded with a Si₃N₄ strain layer. Micro-Raman Spectroscopy mappings and electro-optic characterization of waveguides with varying width w(WG) show that strain gradients in the waveguide core and the effective second-order susceptibility χ(2)(yyz) increase with reduced w(WG). For 300 nm wide waveguides a mean effective χ(2)(yyz) of 190 pm/V is achieved, which is the highest value reported for silicon so far. To gain more insight into the origin of the extraordinary large optical second-order nonlinearity of strained silicon waveguides numerical simulations of edge induced strain gradients in these structures are presented and discussed.

Servo control booster system for minimizing following error

DOEpatents

Wise, W.L.

1979-07-26

A closed-loop feedback-controlled servo system is disclosed which reduces command-to-response error to the system's position feedback resolution least increment, ..delta..S/sub R/, on a continuous real-time basis, for all operational times of consequence and for all operating speeds. The servo system employs a second position feedback control loop on a by exception basis, when the command-to-response error greater than or equal to ..delta..S/sub R/, to produce precise position correction signals. When the command-to-response error is less than ..delta..S/sub R/, control automatically reverts to conventional control means as the second position feedback control loop is disconnected, becoming transparent to conventional servo control means. By operating the second unique position feedback control loop used herein at the appropriate clocking rate, command-to-response error may be reduced to the position feedback resolution least increment. The present system may be utilized in combination with a tachometer loop for increased stability.

High-Order Residual-Distribution Hyperbolic Advection-Diffusion Schemes: 3rd-, 4th-, and 6th-Order

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazaheri, Alireza R.; Nishikawa, Hiroaki

2014-01-01

In this paper, spatially high-order Residual-Distribution (RD) schemes using the first-order hyperbolic system method are proposed for general time-dependent advection-diffusion problems. The corresponding second-order time-dependent hyperbolic advection- diffusion scheme was first introduced in [NASA/TM-2014-218175, 2014], where rapid convergences over each physical time step, with typically less than five Newton iterations, were shown. In that method, the time-dependent hyperbolic advection-diffusion system (linear and nonlinear) was discretized by the second-order upwind RD scheme in a unified manner, and the system of implicit-residual-equations was solved efficiently by Newton's method over every physical time step. In this paper, two techniques for the source term discretization are proposed; 1) reformulation of the source terms with their divergence forms, and 2) correction to the trapezoidal rule for the source term discretization. Third-, fourth, and sixth-order RD schemes are then proposed with the above techniques that, relative to the second-order RD scheme, only cost the evaluation of either the first derivative or both the first and the second derivatives of the source terms. A special fourth-order RD scheme is also proposed that is even less computationally expensive than the third-order RD schemes. The second-order Jacobian formulation was used for all the proposed high-order schemes. The numerical results are then presented for both steady and time-dependent linear and nonlinear advection-diffusion problems. It is shown that these newly developed high-order RD schemes are remarkably efficient and capable of producing the solutions and the gradients to the same order of accuracy of the proposed RD schemes with rapid convergence over each physical time step, typically less than ten Newton iterations.

Inverse analysis of aerodynamic loads from strain information using structural models and neural networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wada, Daichi; Sugimoto, Yohei

2017-04-01

Aerodynamic loads on aircraft wings are one of the key parameters to be monitored for reliable and effective aircraft operations and management. Flight data of the aerodynamic loads would be used onboard to control the aircraft and accumulated data would be used for the condition-based maintenance and the feedback for the fatigue and critical load modeling. The effective sensing techniques such as fiber optic distributed sensing have been developed and demonstrated promising capability of monitoring structural responses, i.e., strains on the surface of the aircraft wings. By using the developed techniques, load identification methods for structural health monitoring are expected to be established. The typical inverse analysis for load identification using strains calculates the loads in a discrete form of concentrated forces, however, the distributed form of the loads is essential for the accurate and reliable estimation of the critical stress at structural parts. In this study, we demonstrate an inverse analysis to identify the distributed loads from measured strain information. The introduced inverse analysis technique calculates aerodynamic loads not in a discrete but in a distributed manner based on a finite element model. In order to verify the technique through numerical simulations, we apply static aerodynamic loads on a flat panel model, and conduct the inverse identification of the load distributions. We take two approaches to build the inverse system between loads and strains. The first one uses structural models and the second one uses neural networks. We compare the performance of the two approaches, and discuss the effect of the amount of the strain sensing information.

Parallels between control PDE's (Partial Differential Equations) and systems of ODE's (Ordinary Differential Equations)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunt, L. R.; Villarreal, Ramiro

1987-01-01

System theorists understand that the same mathematical objects which determine controllability for nonlinear control systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) also determine hypoellipticity for linear partial differentail equations (PDEs). Moreover, almost any study of ODE systems begins with linear systems. It is remarkable that Hormander's paper on hypoellipticity of second order linear p.d.e.'s starts with equations due to Kolmogorov, which are shown to be analogous to the linear PDEs. Eigenvalue placement by state feedback for a controllable linear system can be paralleled for a Kolmogorov equation if an appropriate type of feedback is introduced. Results concerning transformations of nonlinear systems to linear systems are similar to results for transforming a linear PDE to a Kolmogorov equation.

A Model for the Ordering and Distribution of the Influenza Vaccine

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

virus. The three types of human influenza viruses are H1N1, H1N2 , and H3N2. Influenza type A viruses are constantly changing and this requires...ORDERING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE INFLUENZA VACCINE by James Richard Gurr June 2006 Thesis Advisor: Walter Owen Second Reader: Moshe...Ordering and Distribution of the Influenza Vaccine 6. AUTHOR(S) James Richard Gurr 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND

Log amplifier with pole-zero compensation

DOEpatents

Brookshier, William

1987-01-01

A logarithmic amplifier circuit provides pole-zero compensation for improved stability and response time over 6-8 decades of input signal frequency. The amplifier circuit includes a first operational amplifier with a first feedback loop which includes a second, inverting operational amplifier in a second feedback loop. The compensated output signal is provided by the second operational amplifier with the log elements, i.e., resistors, and the compensating capacitors in each of the feedback loops having equal values so that each break point or pole is offset by a compensating break point or zero.

Delay-induced depinning of localized structures in a spatially inhomogeneous Swift-Hohenberg model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabbert, Felix; Schelte, Christian; Tlidi, Mustapha; Gurevich, Svetlana V.

2017-03-01

We report on the dynamics of localized structures in an inhomogeneous Swift-Hohenberg model describing pattern formation in the transverse plane of an optical cavity. This real order parameter equation is valid close to the second-order critical point associated with bistability. The optical cavity is illuminated by an inhomogeneous spatial Gaussian pumping beam and subjected to time-delayed feedback. The Gaussian injection beam breaks the translational symmetry of the system by exerting an attracting force on the localized structure. We show that the localized structure can be pinned to the center of the inhomogeneity, suppressing the delay-induced drift bifurcation that has been reported in the particular case where the injection is homogeneous, assuming a continuous wave operation. Under an inhomogeneous spatial pumping beam, we perform the stability analysis of localized solutions to identify different instability regimes induced by time-delayed feedback. In particular, we predict the formation of two-arm spirals, as well as oscillating and depinning dynamics caused by the interplay of an attracting inhomogeneity and destabilizing time-delayed feedback. The transition from oscillating to depinning solutions is investigated by means of numerical continuation techniques. Analytically, we use an order parameter approach to derive a normal form of the delay-induced Hopf bifurcation leading to an oscillating solution. Additionally we model the interplay of an attracting inhomogeneity and destabilizing time delay by describing the localized solution as an overdamped particle in a potential well generated by the inhomogeneity. In this case, the time-delayed feedback acts as a driving force. Comparing results from the later approach with the full Swift-Hohenberg model, we show that the approach not only provides an instructive description of the depinning dynamics, but also is numerically accurate throughout most of the parameter regime.

Underspecification-Based Grammatical Feedback Generation Tailored to the Learner's Current Acquisition Level in an e-Learning System for German as Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harbusch, Karin; Cameran, Christel-Joy; Härtel, Johannes

2014-01-01

We present a new feedback strategy implemented in a natural language generation-based e-learning system for German as a second language (L2). Although the system recognizes a large proportion of the grammar errors in learner-produced written sentences, its automatically generated feedback only addresses errors against rules that are relevant at…

Ribosome flow model with positive feedback

PubMed Central

Margaliot, Michael; Tuller, Tamir

2013-01-01

Eukaryotic mRNAs usually form a circular structure; thus, ribosomes that terminatae translation at the 3′ end can diffuse with increased probability to the 5′ end of the transcript, initiating another cycle of translation. This phenomenon describes ribosomal flow with positive feedback—an increase in the flow of ribosomes terminating translating the open reading frame increases the ribosomal initiation rate. The aim of this paper is to model and rigorously analyse translation with feedback. We suggest a modified version of the ribosome flow model, called the ribosome flow model with input and output. In this model, the input is the initiation rate and the output is the translation rate. We analyse this model after closing the loop with a positive linear feedback. We show that the closed-loop system admits a unique globally asymptotically stable equilibrium point. From a biophysical point of view, this means that there exists a unique steady state of ribosome distributions along the mRNA, and thus a unique steady-state translation rate. The solution from any initial distribution will converge to this steady state. The steady-state distribution demonstrates a decrease in ribosome density along the coding sequence. For the case of constant elongation rates, we obtain expressions relating the model parameters to the equilibrium point. These results may perhaps be used to re-engineer the biological system in order to obtain a desired translation rate. PMID:23720534

Percolation of a general network of networks.

PubMed

Gao, Jianxi; Buldyrev, Sergey V; Stanley, H Eugene; Xu, Xiaoming; Havlin, Shlomo

2013-12-01

Percolation theory is an approach to study the vulnerability of a system. We develop an analytical framework and analyze the percolation properties of a network composed of interdependent networks (NetONet). Typically, percolation of a single network shows that the damage in the network due to a failure is a continuous function of the size of the failure, i.e., the fraction of failed nodes. In sharp contrast, in NetONet, due to the cascading failures, the percolation transition may be discontinuous and even a single node failure may lead to an abrupt collapse of the system. We demonstrate our general framework for a NetONet composed of n classic Erdős-Rényi (ER) networks, where each network depends on the same number m of other networks, i.e., for a random regular network (RR) formed of interdependent ER networks. The dependency between nodes of different networks is taken as one-to-one correspondence, i.e., a node in one network can depend only on one node in the other network (no-feedback condition). In contrast to a treelike NetONet in which the size of the largest connected cluster (mutual component) depends on n, the loops in the RR NetONet cause the largest connected cluster to depend only on m and the topology of each network but not on n. We also analyzed the extremely vulnerable feedback condition of coupling, where the coupling between nodes of different networks is not one-to-one correspondence. In the case of NetONet formed of ER networks, percolation only exhibits two phases, a second order phase transition and collapse, and no first order percolation transition regime is found in the case of the no-feedback condition. In the case of NetONet composed of RR networks, there exists a first order phase transition when the coupling strength q (fraction of interdependency links) is large and a second order phase transition when q is small. Our insight on the resilience of coupled networks might help in designing robust interdependent systems.

MaxEnt, second variation, and generalized statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plastino, A.; Rocca, M. C.

2015-10-01

There are two kinds of Tsallis-probability distributions: heavy tail ones and compact support distributions. We show here, by appeal to functional analysis' tools, that for lower bound Hamiltonians, the second variation's analysis of the entropic functional guarantees that the heavy tail q-distribution constitutes a maximum of Tsallis' entropy. On the other hand, in the compact support instance, a case by case analysis is necessary in order to tackle the issue.

The Research of Multiple Attenuation Based on Feedback Iteration and Independent Component Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, X.; Tong, S.; Wang, L.

2017-12-01

How to solve the problem of multiple suppression is a difficult problem in seismic data processing. The traditional technology for multiple attenuation is based on the principle of the minimum output energy of the seismic signal, this criterion is based on the second order statistics, and it can't achieve the multiple attenuation when the primaries and multiples are non-orthogonal. In order to solve the above problems, we combine the feedback iteration method based on the wave equation and the improved independent component analysis (ICA) based on high order statistics to suppress the multiple waves. We first use iterative feedback method to predict the free surface multiples of each order. Then, in order to predict multiples from real multiple in amplitude and phase, we design an expanded pseudo multi-channel matching filtering method to get a more accurate matching multiple result. Finally, we present the improved fast ICA algorithm which is based on the maximum non-Gauss criterion of output signal to the matching multiples and get better separation results of the primaries and the multiples. The advantage of our method is that we don't need any priori information to the prediction of the multiples, and can have a better separation result. The method has been applied to several synthetic data generated by finite-difference model technique and the Sigsbee2B model multiple data, the primaries and multiples are non-orthogonal in these models. The experiments show that after three to four iterations, we can get the perfect multiple results. Using our matching method and Fast ICA adaptive multiple subtraction, we can not only effectively preserve the effective wave energy in seismic records, but also can effectively suppress the free surface multiples, especially the multiples related to the middle and deep areas.

Investigation of a Nonlinear Control System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flugge-Lotz, I; Taylor, C F; Lindberg, H E

1958-01-01

A discontinuous variation of coefficients of the differential equation describing the linear control system before nonlinear elements are added is studied in detail. The nonlinear feedback is applied to a second-order system. Simulation techniques are used to study performance of the nonlinear control system and to compare it with the linear system for a wide variety of inputs. A detailed quantitative study of the influence of relay delays and of a transport delay is presented.

Analysis of Dual-Order Backward Pumping Schemes in Distributed Raman Amplification System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Kulwinder; Patterh, Manjeet Singh; Bhamrah, Manjit Singh

2018-04-01

Backward pumping in fiber Raman amplifiers has been investigated in this paper in terms of on-off Raman gain, noise figure and optical signal-to-noise ratio. The results exhibit that with four first-order pumps and one second-order pump scheme can be employed to achieve 8.2 dB noise figure in 64 channel fiber optic communication system. It has also been reported that 2.65 dB gain ripple, 0.87 dB noise figure tilt and 2.02 dB OSNR tilt can be attained with the second-order pumping in fiber Raman amplifiers. The main advantage of the scheme is that only 50 mW second-order pump shows appreciable improvement in the system performance. It shows that further increase in first-order and second-order pump powers increase system noise implications.

Written Corrective Feedback: Student Preferences and Teacher Feedback Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irwin, Bradley

2017-01-01

This case study explores the intricate interaction between students' preferences for written corrective feedback and actual teacher feedback practices in a second year academic EFL writing class in a Japanese university. Specific institutional and instructional details establish the context in which written feedback is being provided. A…

Coseismic slip distribution of the 1923 Kanto earthquake, Japan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, F.F.; Nyst, M.; Nishimura, T.; Thatcher, W.

2005-01-01

The slip distribution associated with the 1923 M = 7.9 Kanto, Japan, earthquake is reexamined in light of new data and modeling. We utilize a combination of first-order triangulation, second-order triangulation, and leveling data in order to constrain the coseismic deformation. The second-order triangulation data, which have not been utilized in previous studies of 1923 coseismic deformation, are associated with only slightly smaller errors than the first-order triangulation data and expand the available triangulation data set by about a factor of 10. Interpretation of these data in terms of uniform-slip models in a companion study by Nyst et al. shows that a model involving uniform coseismic slip on two distinct rupture planes explains the data very well and matches or exceeds the fit obtained by previous studies, even one which involved distributed slip. Using the geometry of the Nyst et al. two-plane slip model, we perform inversions of the same geodetic data set for distributed slip. Our preferred model of distributed slip on the Philippine Sea plate interface has a moment magnitude of 7.86. We find slip maxima of ???8-9 m beneath Odawara and ???7-8 m beneath the Miura peninsula, with a roughly 2:1 ratio of strike-slip to dip-slip motion, in agreement with a previous study. However, the Miura slip maximum is imaged as a more broadly extended feature in our study, with the high-slip region continuing from the Miura peninsula to the southern Boso peninsula region. The second-order triangulation data provide good evidence for ???3 m right-lateral strike slip on a 35-km-long splay structure occupying the volume between the upper surface of the descending Philippine Sea plate and the southern Boso peninsula. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trapping of single β2-adrenergic receptors in the absence and presence of agonist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bockenhauer, Samuel; Fuerstenberg, Alexandre; Yao, Xiao Jie; Kobilka, Brian K.; Moerner, W. E.

2012-02-01

The ABEL trap allows trapping of single biomolecules in solution for extended observation without immobilization. The essential idea combines fluorescence-based position estimation with fast electrokinetic feedback in a microfluidic geometry to counter the Brownian motion of a single nanoscale object, hence maintaining its position in the field of view for hundreds of milliseconds to seconds. Such prolonged observation of single proteins allows access to slow dynamics, as probed by any available photophysical observables. We have used the ABEL trap to study conformational dynamics of the β2-adrenergic receptor, a key G-protein coupled receptor and drug target, in the absence and presence of agonist. A single environment-sensitive dye reports on the receptor microenvironment, providing a real-time readout of conformational change for each trapped receptor. The focus of this paper will be a quantitative comparison of the ligandfree and agonist-bound receptor data from our ABEL trap experiments. We observe a small but clearly detectable shift in conformational equilibria and a lengthening of fluctuation timescales upon binding of agonist. In order to quantify the shift in state distributions and timescales, we apply nonparametric statistical tests to place error bounds on the resulting single-molecule distributions.

The assessment of stat laboratory test ordering practice and impact of targeted individual feedback in an urban teaching hospital.

PubMed

Sorita, Atsushi; Steinberg, Daniel I; Leitman, Michael; Burger, Alfred; Husk, Gregg; Sivaprasad, Latha

2014-01-01

Overuse of inpatient stat laboratory orders ("stat" is an abbreviation of the Latin word "statim," meaning immediately, without delay) is a major problem in the modern healthcare system. To understand patterns of stat laboratory ordering practices at our institution and to assess the effectiveness of individual feedback in reducing these orders. Medicine and General Surgery residents were given a teaching session about appropriate stat ordering practice in January 2010. Individual feedback was given to providers who were the highest utilizers of stat laboratory orders by their direct supervisors from February through June of 2010. The proportion of stat orders out of total laboratory orders per provider was the main outcome measure. All inpatient laboratory orders from September 2009 to June 2010 were analyzed. The median proportion of stat orders out of total laboratory orders was 41.6% for nontrainee providers (N = 500), 38.7% for Medicine residents (N = 125), 80.2% for General Surgery residents (N = 32), and 24.2% for other trainee providers (N = 150). Among 27 providers who received feedback (7 nontrainees, 16 Medicine residents, and 4 General Surgery residents), the proportion of stat laboratory orders per provider decreased by 15.7% (95% confidence interval: 5.6%-25.9%, P = 0.004) after feedback, whereas the decrease among providers who were high utilizers but did not receive feedback (N = 39) was not significant (4.5%; 95% confidence interval: 2.1%-11.0%, P = 0.18). Monthly trends showed reduction in the proportion of stat orders among Medicine and General Surgery residents, but not among other trainee providers. The frequency of stat ordering was highly variable among providers. Individual feedback to the highest utilizers of stat orders was effective in decreasing these orders. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Distributed Containment Control for Multiple Unknown Second-Order Nonlinear Systems With Application to Networked Lagrangian Systems.

PubMed

Mei, Jie; Ren, Wei; Li, Bing; Ma, Guangfu

2015-09-01

In this paper, we consider the distributed containment control problem for multiagent systems with unknown nonlinear dynamics. More specifically, we focus on multiple second-order nonlinear systems and networked Lagrangian systems. We first study the distributed containment control problem for multiple second-order nonlinear systems with multiple dynamic leaders in the presence of unknown nonlinearities and external disturbances under a general directed graph that characterizes the interaction among the leaders and the followers. A distributed adaptive control algorithm with an adaptive gain design based on the approximation capability of neural networks is proposed. We present a necessary and sufficient condition on the directed graph such that the containment error can be reduced as small as desired. As a byproduct, the leaderless consensus problem is solved with asymptotical convergence. Because relative velocity measurements between neighbors are generally more difficult to obtain than relative position measurements, we then propose a distributed containment control algorithm without using neighbors' velocity information. A two-step Lyapunov-based method is used to study the convergence of the closed-loop system. Next, we apply the ideas to deal with the containment control problem for networked unknown Lagrangian systems under a general directed graph. All the proposed algorithms are distributed and can be implemented using only local measurements in the absence of communication. Finally, simulation examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithms.

Theory for controlling individual self-propelled micro-swimmers by photon nudging II: confinement.

PubMed

Selmke, Markus; Khadka, Utsab; Bregulla, Andreas P; Cichos, Frank; Yang, Haw

2018-04-18

Photon nudging allows the manipulation and confinement of individual self-propelled micro-swimmers in 2D and 3D environments using feedback controls. Presented in this second part of a two-part contribution are theoretical models that afford the characterization for the positioning distribution associated with active localization. A derivation for the optimal nudging speed and acceptance angle is given for minimal placement uncertainty. The analytical solutions allow for a discussion on the physical underpinning that underlies controllability and optimality.

Clinical pharmacy academic career transitions: Viewpoints from the fieldPart 1: Understanding feedback, evaluation, and advancement.

PubMed

Blackmer, Allison B; Thompson, Angela M; Jeffres, Meghan N; Glode, Ashley E; Mahyari, Nila; Thompson, Megan

2018-02-01

The six authors of this commentary series, who have recently transitioned into or within an academic career, discuss challenging aspects of an academic career change. This is a three-part commentary series that explores select challenges: 1) feedback, evaluation and advancement; 2) understanding and balancing of distribution of effort; 3) learning how and when to say yes. Faculty, or those interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy academia, can refer to this commentary series as a reference. Schools of pharmacy may utilize this as a tool for new faculty members during orientation in order to ensure smooth integration into the academic environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of trial order on learning from reward vs. punishment in a probabilistic categorization task: experimental and computational analyses.

PubMed

Moustafa, Ahmed A; Gluck, Mark A; Herzallah, Mohammad M; Myers, Catherine E

2015-01-01

Previous research has shown that trial ordering affects cognitive performance, but this has not been tested using category-learning tasks that differentiate learning from reward and punishment. Here, we tested two groups of healthy young adults using a probabilistic category learning task of reward and punishment in which there are two types of trials (reward, punishment) and three possible outcomes: (1) positive feedback for correct responses in reward trials; (2) negative feedback for incorrect responses in punishment trials; and (3) no feedback for incorrect answers in reward trials and correct answers in punishment trials. Hence, trials without feedback are ambiguous, and may represent either successful avoidance of punishment or failure to obtain reward. In Experiment 1, the first group of subjects received an intermixed task in which reward and punishment trials were presented in the same block, as a standard baseline task. In Experiment 2, a second group completed the separated task, in which reward and punishment trials were presented in separate blocks. Additionally, in order to understand the mechanisms underlying performance in the experimental conditions, we fit individual data using a Q-learning model. Results from Experiment 1 show that subjects who completed the intermixed task paradoxically valued the no-feedback outcome as a reinforcer when it occurred on reinforcement-based trials, and as a punisher when it occurred on punishment-based trials. This is supported by patterns of empirical responding, where subjects showed more win-stay behavior following an explicit reward than following an omission of punishment, and more lose-shift behavior following an explicit punisher than following an omission of reward. In Experiment 2, results showed similar performance whether subjects received reward-based or punishment-based trials first. However, when the Q-learning model was applied to these data, there were differences between subjects in the reward-first and punishment-first conditions on the relative weighting of neutral feedback. Specifically, early training on reward-based trials led to omission of reward being treated as similar to punishment, but prior training on punishment-based trials led to omission of reward being treated more neutrally. This suggests that early training on one type of trials, specifically reward-based trials, can create a bias in how neutral feedback is processed, relative to those receiving early punishment-based training or training that mixes positive and negative outcomes.

Active relearning for robust supervised classification of pulmonary emphysema

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghunath, Sushravya; Rajagopalan, Srinivasan; Karwoski, Ronald A.; Bartholmai, Brian J.; Robb, Richard A.

2012-03-01

Radiologists are adept at recognizing the appearance of lung parenchymal abnormalities in CT scans. However, the inconsistent differential diagnosis, due to subjective aggregation, mandates supervised classification. Towards optimizing Emphysema classification, we introduce a physician-in-the-loop feedback approach in order to minimize uncertainty in the selected training samples. Using multi-view inductive learning with the training samples, an ensemble of Support Vector Machine (SVM) models, each based on a specific pair-wise dissimilarity metric, was constructed in less than six seconds. In the active relearning phase, the ensemble-expert label conflicts were resolved by an expert. This just-in-time feedback with unoptimized SVMs yielded 15% increase in classification accuracy and 25% reduction in the number of support vectors. The generality of relearning was assessed in the optimized parameter space of six different classifiers across seven dissimilarity metrics. The resultant average accuracy improved to 21%. The co-operative feedback method proposed here could enhance both diagnostic and staging throughput efficiency in chest radiology practice.

Long-term population cycles in human societies.

PubMed

Turchin, Peter

2009-04-01

Human population dynamics are usually conceptualized as either boundless growth or growth to an equilibrium. The implicit assumption underlying these paradigms is that any feedback processes regulating population density, if they exist, operate on a fast-time-scale, and therefore we do not expect to observe population oscillations in human population numbers. This review asks, are population processes in historical and prehistorical human populations characterized by second-order feedback loops, that is, regulation involving lags? If yes, then the implications for forecasting future population change are obvious--what may appear as inexplicable, exogenously driven reverses in population trends may actually be a result of feedbacks operating with substantial time lags. This survey of a variety of historical and archeological data indicates that slow oscillations in population numbers, with periods of roughly two to three centuries, are observed in a number of world regions and historical periods. Next, a potential explanation for this pattern, the demographic-structural theory, is discussed. Finally, the implications of these results for global population forecasts is discussed.

Random bit generation at tunable rates using a chaotic semiconductor laser under distributed feedback.

PubMed

Li, Xiao-Zhou; Li, Song-Sui; Zhuang, Jun-Ping; Chan, Sze-Chun

2015-09-01

A semiconductor laser with distributed feedback from a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is investigated for random bit generation (RBG). The feedback perturbs the laser to emit chaotically with the intensity being sampled periodically. The samples are then converted into random bits by a simple postprocessing of self-differencing and selecting bits. Unlike a conventional mirror that provides localized feedback, the FBG provides distributed feedback which effectively suppresses the information of the round-trip feedback delay time. Randomness is ensured even when the sampling period is commensurate with the feedback delay between the laser and the grating. Consequently, in RBG, the FBG feedback enables continuous tuning of the output bit rate, reduces the minimum sampling period, and increases the number of bits selected per sample. RBG is experimentally investigated at a sampling period continuously tunable from over 16 ns down to 50 ps, while the feedback delay is fixed at 7.7 ns. By selecting 5 least-significant bits per sample, output bit rates from 0.3 to 100 Gbps are achieved with randomness examined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology test suite.

When Feedback Is Cognitively-Demanding: The Importance of Working Memory Capacity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fyfe, Emily R.; DeCaro, Marci S.; Rittle-Johnson, Bethany

2015-01-01

Feedback is generally considered a beneficial learning tool, and providing feedback is a recommended instructional practice. However, there are a variety of feedback types with little guidance on how to choose the most effective one. We examined individual differences in working memory capacity as a potential moderator of feedback type. Second-…

Performance feedback, self-esteem, and cardiovascular adaptation to recurring stressors.

PubMed

Brown, Eoin G; Creaven, Ann-Marie

2017-05-01

This study sought to examine the effects of performance feedback and individual differences in self-esteem on cardiovascular habituation to repeat stress exposure. Sixty-six university students (n = 39 female) completed a self-esteem measure and completed a cardiovascular stress-testing protocol involving repeated exposure to a mental arithmetic task. Cardiovascular functioning was sampled across four phases: resting baseline, initial stress exposure, a recovery period, and repeated stress exposure. Participants were randomly assigned to receive fictional positive feedback, negative feedback, or no feedback following the recovery period. Negative feedback was associated with a sensitized blood pressure response to a second exposure of the stress task. Positive feedback was associated with decreased cardiovascular and psychological responses to a second exposure. Self-esteem was also found to predict reactivity and this interacted with the type of feedback received. These findings suggest that negative performance feedback sensitizes cardiovascular reactivity to stress, whereas positive performance feedback increases both cardiovascular and psychological habituation to repeat exposure to stressors. Furthermore, an individual's self-esteem also appears to influence this process.

Discovery of fairy circles in Australia supports self-organization theory

PubMed Central

Getzin, Stephan; Yizhaq, Hezi; Bell, Bronwyn; Erickson, Todd E.; Postle, Anthony C.; Katra, Itzhak; Tzuk, Omer; Zelnik, Yuval R.; Wiegand, Kerstin; Wiegand, Thorsten; Meron, Ehud

2016-01-01

Vegetation gap patterns in arid grasslands, such as the “fairy circles” of Namibia, are one of nature’s greatest mysteries and subject to a lively debate on their origin. They are characterized by small-scale hexagonal ordering of circular bare-soil gaps that persists uniformly in the landscape scale to form a homogeneous distribution. Pattern-formation theory predicts that such highly ordered gap patterns should be found also in other water-limited systems across the globe, even if the mechanisms of their formation are different. Here we report that so far unknown fairy circles with the same spatial structure exist 10,000 km away from Namibia in the remote outback of Australia. Combining fieldwork, remote sensing, spatial pattern analysis, and process-based mathematical modeling, we demonstrate that these patterns emerge by self-organization, with no correlation with termite activity; the driving mechanism is a positive biomass–water feedback associated with water runoff and biomass-dependent infiltration rates. The remarkable match between the patterns of Australian and Namibian fairy circles and model results indicate that both patterns emerge from a nonuniform stationary instability, supporting a central universality principle of pattern-formation theory. Applied to the context of dryland vegetation, this principle predicts that different systems that go through the same instability type will show similar vegetation patterns even if the feedback mechanisms and resulting soil–water distributions are different, as we indeed found by comparing the Australian and the Namibian fairy-circle ecosystems. These results suggest that biomass–water feedbacks and resultant vegetation gap patterns are likely more common in remote drylands than is currently known. PMID:26976567

High voltage DC power supply

DOEpatents

Droege, T.F.

1989-12-19

A high voltage DC power supply having a first series resistor at the output for limiting current in the event of a short-circuited output, a second series resistor for sensing the magnitude of output current, and a voltage divider circuit for providing a source of feedback voltage for use in voltage regulation is disclosed. The voltage divider circuit is coupled to the second series resistor so as to compensate the feedback voltage for a voltage drop across the first series resistor. The power supply also includes a pulse-width modulated control circuit, having dual clock signals, which is responsive to both the feedback voltage and a command voltage, and also includes voltage and current measuring circuits responsive to the feedback voltage and the voltage developed across the second series resistor respectively. 7 figs.

High voltage DC power supply

DOEpatents

Droege, Thomas F.

1989-01-01

A high voltage DC power supply having a first series resistor at the output for limiting current in the event of a short-circuited output, a second series resistor for sensing the magnitude of output current, and a voltage divider circuit for providing a source of feedback voltage for use in voltage regulation is disclosed. The voltage divider circuit is coupled to the second series resistor so as to compensate the feedback voltage for a voltage drop across the first series resistor. The power supply also includes a pulse-width modulated control circuit, having dual clock signals, which is responsive to both the feedback voltage and a command voltage, and also includes voltage and current measuring circuits responsive to the feedback voltage and the voltage developed across the second series resistor respectively.

Anniversary Article--Interactional Feedback in Second Language Teaching and Learning: A Synthesis and Analysis of Current Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nassaji, Hossein

2016-01-01

The role of interactional feedback has long been of interest to both second language acquisition researchers and teachers and has continued to be the object of intensive empirical and theoretical inquiry. In this article, I provide a synthesis and analysis of recent research and developments in this area and their contributions to second language…

A feedback linearization approach to spacecraft control using momentum exchange devices. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dzielski, John Edward

1988-01-01

Recent developments in the area of nonlinear control theory have shown how coordiante changes in the state and input spaces can be used with nonlinear feedback to transform certain nonlinear ordinary differential equations into equivalent linear equations. These feedback linearization techniques are applied to resolve two problems arising in the control of spacecraft equipped with control moment gyroscopes (CMGs). The first application involves the computation of rate commands for the gimbals that rotate the individual gyroscopes to produce commanded torques on the spacecraft. The second application is to the long-term management of stored momentum in the system of control moment gyroscopes using environmental torques acting on the vehicle. An approach to distributing control effort among a group of redundant actuators is described that uses feedback linearization techniques to parameterize sets of controls which influence a specified subsystem in a desired way. The approach is adapted for use in spacecraft control with double-gimballed gyroscopes to produce an algorithm that avoids problematic gimbal configurations by approximating sets of gimbal rates that drive CMG rotors into desirable configurations. The momentum management problem is stated as a trajectory optimization problem with a nonlinear dynamical constraint. Feedback linearization and collocation are used to transform this problem into an unconstrainted nonlinear program. The approach to trajectory optimization is fast and robust. A number of examples are presented showing applications to the proposed NASA space station.

Application of IFT and SPSA to servo system control.

PubMed

Rădac, Mircea-Bogdan; Precup, Radu-Emil; Petriu, Emil M; Preitl, Stefan

2011-12-01

This paper treats the application of two data-based model-free gradient-based stochastic optimization techniques, i.e., iterative feedback tuning (IFT) and simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA), to servo system control. The representative case of controlled processes modeled by second-order systems with an integral component is discussed. New IFT and SPSA algorithms are suggested to tune the parameters of the state feedback controllers with an integrator in the linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) problem formulation. An implementation case study concerning the LQG-based design of an angular position controller for a direct current servo system laboratory equipment is included to highlight the pros and cons of IFT and SPSA from an application's point of view. The comparison of IFT and SPSA algorithms is focused on an insight into their implementation.

Asymmetric dual-loop feedback to suppress spurious tones and reduce timing jitter in self-mode-locked quantum-dash lasers emitting at 155 μm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asghar, Haroon; McInerney, John G.

2017-09-01

We demonstrate an asymmetric dual-loop feedback scheme to suppress external cavity side-modes induced in self-mode-locked quantum-dash lasers with conventional single and dual-loop feedback. In this letter, we achieved optimal suppression of spurious tones by optimizing the length of second delay time. We observed that asymmetric dual-loop feedback, with large (~8x) disparity in cavity lengths, eliminates all external-cavity side-modes and produces flat RF spectra close to the main peak with low timing jitter compared to single-loop feedback. Significant reduction in RF linewidth and reduced timing jitter was also observed as a function of increased second feedback delay time. The experimental results based on this feedback configuration validate predictions of recently published numerical simulations. This interesting asymmetric dual-loop feedback scheme provides simplest, efficient and cost effective stabilization of side-band free optoelectronic oscillators based on mode-locked lasers.

Optimal helicopter trajectory planning for terrain following flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menon, P. K. A.

1990-01-01

Helicopters operating in high threat areas have to fly close to the earth surface to minimize the risk of being detected by the adversaries. Techniques are presented for low altitude helicopter trajectory planning. These methods are based on optimal control theory and appear to be implementable onboard in realtime. Second order necessary conditions are obtained to provide a criterion for finding the optimal trajectory when more than one extremal passes through a given point. A second trajectory planning method incorporating a quadratic performance index is also discussed. Trajectory planning problem is formulated as a differential game. The objective is to synthesize optimal trajectories in the presence of an actively maneuvering adversary. Numerical methods for obtaining solutions to these problems are outlined. As an alternative to numerical method, feedback linearizing transformations are combined with the linear quadratic game results to synthesize explicit nonlinear feedback strategies for helicopter pursuit-evasion. Some of the trajectories generated from this research are evaluated on a six-degree-of-freedom helicopter simulation incorporating an advanced autopilot. The optimal trajectory planning methods presented are also useful for autonomous land vehicle guidance.

In-situ high-resolution visualization of laser-induced periodic nanostructures driven by optical feedback.

PubMed

Aguilar, Alberto; Mauclair, Cyril; Faure, Nicolas; Colombier, Jean-Philippe; Stoian, Razvan

2017-11-28

Optical feedback is often evoked in laser-induced periodic nanostructures. Visualizing the coupling between surfaces and light requires highly-resolved imaging methods. We propose in-situ structured-illumination-microscopy to observe ultrafast-laser-induced nanostructures during fabrication on metallic glass surfaces. This resolves the pulse-to-pulse development of periodic structures on a single irradiation site and indicates the optical feedback on surface topographies. Firstly, the quasi-constancy of the ripples pattern and the reinforcement of the surface relief with the same spatial positioning indicates a phase-locking mechanism that stabilizes and amplifies the ordered corrugation. Secondly, on sites with uncorrelated initial corrugation, we observe ripple patterns spatially in-phase. These feedback aspects rely on the electromagnetic interplay between the laser pulse and the surface relief, stabilizing the pattern in period and position. They are critically dependent on the space-time coherence of the exciting pulse. This suggests a modulation of energy according to the topography of the surface with a pattern phase imposed by the driving pulse. A scattering and interference model for ripple formation on surfaces supports the experimental observations. This relies on self-phase-stabilized far-field interaction between surface scattered wavelets and the incoming pulse front.

Impurity Induced Phase Competition and Supersolidity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karmakar, Madhuparna; Ganesh, R.

2017-12-01

Several material families show competition between superconductivity and other orders. When such competition is driven by doping, it invariably involves spatial inhomogeneities which can seed competing orders. We study impurity-induced charge order in the attractive Hubbard model, a prototypical model for competition between superconductivity and charge density wave order. We show that a single impurity induces a charge-ordered texture over a length scale set by the energy cost of the competing phase. Our results are consistent with a strong-coupling field theory proposed earlier in which superconducting and charge order parameters form components of an SO(3) vector field. To discuss the effects of multiple impurities, we focus on two cases: correlated and random distributions. In the correlated case, the CDW puddles around each impurity overlap coherently leading to a "supersolid" phase with coexisting pairing and charge order. In contrast, a random distribution of impurities does not lead to coherent CDW formation. We argue that the energy lowering from coherent ordering can have a feedback effect, driving correlations between impurities. This can be understood as arising from an RKKY-like interaction, mediated by impurity textures. We discuss implications for charge order in the cuprates and doped CDW materials such as NbSe2.

EFL Teachers' Attempts at Feedback Innovation in the Writing Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Icy; Mak, Pauline; Burns, Anne

2016-01-01

To date, research on feedback in second language (L2) writing has primarily focused on feedback per se, with little attention paid to the teachers' professional development with regard to feedback in writing. This study aims to explore the ways in which two secondary teachers in Hong Kong attempted to implement feedback innovation in their writing…

Collective circular motion in synchronized and balanced formations with second-order rotational dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Anoop; Ghose, Debasish

2018-01-01

This paper considers collective circular motion of multi-agent systems in which all the agents are required to traverse different circles or a common circle at a prescribed angular velocity. It is required to achieve these collective motions with the heading angles of the agents synchronized or balanced. In synchronization, the agents and their centroid have a common velocity direction, while in balancing, the movement of agents causes the location of the centroid to become stationary. The agents are initially considered to move at unit speed around individual circles at different angular velocities. It is assumed that the agents are subjected to limited communication constraints, and exchange relative information according to a time-invariant undirected graph. We present suitable feedback control laws for each of these motion coordination tasks by considering a second-order rotational dynamics of the agent. Simulations are given to illustrate the theoretical findings.

Non-local Second Order Closure Scheme for Boundary Layer Turbulence and Convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Bettina; Schneider, Tapio

2017-04-01

There has been scientific consensus that the uncertainty in the cloud feedback remains the largest source of uncertainty in the prediction of climate parameters like climate sensitivity. To narrow down this uncertainty, not only a better physical understanding of cloud and boundary layer processes is required, but specifically the representation of boundary layer processes in models has to be improved. General climate models use separate parameterisation schemes to model the different boundary layer processes like small-scale turbulence, shallow and deep convection. Small scale turbulence is usually modelled by local diffusive parameterisation schemes, which truncate the hierarchy of moment equations at first order and use second-order equations only to estimate closure parameters. In contrast, the representation of convection requires higher order statistical moments to capture their more complex structure, such as narrow updrafts in a quasi-steady environment. Truncations of moment equations at second order may lead to more accurate parameterizations. At the same time, they offer an opportunity to take spatially correlated structures (e.g., plumes) into account, which are known to be important for convective dynamics. In this project, we study the potential and limits of local and non-local second order closure schemes. A truncation of the momentum equations at second order represents the same dynamics as a quasi-linear version of the equations of motion. We study the three-dimensional quasi-linear dynamics in dry and moist convection by implementing it in a LES model (PyCLES) and compare it to a fully non-linear LES. In the quasi-linear LES, interactions among turbulent eddies are suppressed but nonlinear eddy—mean flow interactions are retained, as they are in the second order closure. In physical terms, suppressing eddy—eddy interactions amounts to suppressing, e.g., interactions among convective plumes, while retaining interactions between plumes and the environment (e.g., entrainment and detrainment). In a second part, we employ the possibility to include non-local statistical correlations in a second-order closure scheme. Such non-local correlations allow to directly incorporate the spatially coherent structures that occur in the form of convective updrafts penetrating the boundary layer. This allows us to extend the work that has been done using assumed-PDF schemes for parameterising boundary layer turbulence and shallow convection in a non-local sense.

Giant enhancement of second harmonic generation in nonlinear photonic crystals with distributed Bragg reflector mirrors.

PubMed

Ren, Ming-Liang; Li, Zhi-Yuan

2009-08-17

We theoretically investigate second harmonic generation (SHG) in one-dimensional multilayer nonlinear photonic crystal (NPC) structures with distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) as mirrors. The NPC structures have periodic modulation on both the linear and second-order susceptibility. Three major physical mechanisms, quasi-phase matching (QPM) effect, slow light effect at photonic band gap edges, and cavity effect induced by DBR mirrors can be harnessed to enhance SHG. Selection of appropriate structural parameters can facilitate coexistence of these mechanisms to act collectively and constructively to create very high SHG conversion efficiency with an enhancement by up to seven orders of magnitude compared with the ordinary NPC where only QPM works. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America

Relative contribution of feedback processes to Arctic amplification of temperature change in MIROC GCM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshimori, Masakazu; Watanabe, Masahiro; Abe-Ouchi, Ayako; Shiogama, Hideo; Ogura, Tomoo

2013-04-01

The finding that surface warming over the Arctic exceeds that over the rest of the world under global warming is a robust feature among general circulation models (GCMs). While various mechanisms have been proposed, quantifying their relative contributions is an important task in order to understand model behavior and operating mechanisms. Here we apply a recently proposed feedback analysis technique to a GCM under different external forcings including elevated and lowered CO2 concentrations, and increased solar irradiance. First, the contribution of feedbacks to Arctic temperature change is investigated. Surface air temperature response in the Arctic is amplified by albedo, water vapor, and large-scale condensation feedbacks from that without a feedback although a part of it is suppressed by evaporative cooling feedback. Second, the contribution of feedbacks to Arctic amplification (AA) relative to global average is investigated. Under the positive radiative forcings, the albedo feedback contributes to AA predominantly through warming the Arctic more than the low latitudes while the evaporative cooling feedback contributes to AA predominantly by cooling the low latitudes more than the Arctic. Their relative effects vary with the applied forcing, however, and the latter dominates over the former in the increased solar irradiance and lowered CO2 experiments. The large-scale condensation plus evaporative cooling feedback and the dynamical feedback contribute positively and negatively to AA, respectively. These results are consistent with an increase and a decrease of latent heat and dry-static energy transport, respectively, into the Arctic under the positive radiative forcings. An important contribution is thus made via changes in hydrological cycle and not via the 'dry' heat transport process. A larger response near the surface than aloft in the Arctic is maintained by the albedo, water vapor, and dynamical feedbacks, in which the albedo and water vapor feedbacks contribute through warming the surface more than aloft, and the dynamical feedback contributes by cooling aloft more than the surface. In our experiments, ocean and sea ice dynamics play a secondary role. It is shown that a different magnitude of CO2 increase introduces a latitudinal and seasonal difference into the feedbacks.

Guiding the Budding Writer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnston, Peter

2012-01-01

This article begins with examples that illustrate four important points about feedback that one often misses. First, giving feedback does not necessarily mean telling students what is good or bad. Second, feedback should be inseparable from the larger classroom conversations. Third, feedback is not merely cognitive in reach, nor merely corrective…

Paper Review Revolution: Screencasting Feedback for Developmental Writers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boone, Joni; Carlson, Susan

2011-01-01

Researchers from Kaplan University present findings from a media-rich feedback pilot program that targets students from developmental writing courses. One study of student reactions reveals how screencasting feedback encouraged more formative, holistic feedback and students' awareness of writing process, audience, and revision. A second study…

Transversely bounded DFB lasers. [bounded distributed-feedback lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elachi, C.; Evans, G.; Yeh, C.

1975-01-01

Bounded distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers are studied in detail. Threshold gain and field distribution for a number of configurations are derived and analyzed. More specifically, the thin-film guide, fiber, diffusion guide, and hollow channel with inhomogeneous-cladding DFB lasers are considered. Optimum points exist and must be used in DFB laser design. Different-modes feedback and the effects of the transverse boundaries are included. A number of applications are also discussed.

Effect of Rayleigh-scattering distributed feedback on multiwavelength Raman fiber laser generation.

PubMed

El-Taher, A E; Harper, P; Babin, S A; Churkin, D V; Podivilov, E V; Ania-Castanon, J D; Turitsyn, S K

2011-01-15

We experimentally demonstrate a Raman fiber laser based on multiple point-action fiber Bragg grating reflectors and distributed feedback via Rayleigh scattering in an ~22-km-long optical fiber. Twenty-two lasing lines with spacing of ~100 GHz (close to International Telecommunication Union grid) in the C band are generated at the watt level. In contrast to the normal cavity with competition between laser lines, the random distributed feedback cavity exhibits highly stable multiwavelength generation with a power-equalized uniform distribution, which is almost independent on power.

Decentralized control experiments on the JPL flexible spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ozguner, U.; Ossman, K.; Donne, J.; Boesch, M.; Ahmed, A.

1990-01-01

Decentralized control experiments were successfully demonstrated for the JPL/AFAL Flexible Structure. A simulation package using MATRIXx showed strong correlation between the simulations and experimental result, while providing a means for test and debug of the various control strategies. Implementation was simplified by a modular software design that was easily transported from the simulation environment to the experimental environment. Control designs worked well for suppression of the dominant modes of the structure. Static decentralized output feedback dampened the excited modes of the structure, but sometimes excited higher order modes upon startup of the controller. A second-order frequency shaping controller helped to eliminate excitation of the higher order modes by attenuating high frequencies in the control effort. However, it also resulted in slightly longer settling times.

Deconvolution of time series in the laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

John, Thomas; Pietschmann, Dirk; Becker, Volker; Wagner, Christian

2016-10-01

In this study, we present two practical applications of the deconvolution of time series in Fourier space. First, we reconstruct a filtered input signal of sound cards that has been heavily distorted by a built-in high-pass filter using a software approach. Using deconvolution, we can partially bypass the filter and extend the dynamic frequency range by two orders of magnitude. Second, we construct required input signals for a mechanical shaker in order to obtain arbitrary acceleration waveforms, referred to as feedforward control. For both situations, experimental and theoretical approaches are discussed to determine the system-dependent frequency response. Moreover, for the shaker, we propose a simple feedback loop as an extension to the feedforward control in order to handle nonlinearities of the system.

On the optimum signal constellation design for high-speed optical transport networks.

PubMed

Liu, Tao; Djordjevic, Ivan B

2012-08-27

In this paper, we first describe an optimum signal constellation design algorithm, which is optimum in MMSE-sense, called MMSE-OSCD, for channel capacity achieving source distribution. Secondly, we introduce a feedback channel capacity inspired optimum signal constellation design (FCC-OSCD) to further improve the performance of MMSE-OSCD, inspired by the fact that feedback channel capacity is higher than that of systems without feedback. The constellations obtained by FCC-OSCD are, however, OSNR dependent. The optimization is jointly performed together with regular quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (LDPC) code design. Such obtained coded-modulation scheme, in combination with polarization-multiplexing, is suitable as both 400 Gb/s and multi-Tb/s optical transport enabling technology. Using large girth LDPC code, we demonstrate by Monte Carlo simulations that a 32-ary signal constellation, obtained by FCC-OSCD, outperforms previously proposed optimized 32-ary CIPQ signal constellation by 0.8 dB at BER of 10(-7). On the other hand, the LDPC-coded 16-ary FCC-OSCD outperforms 16-QAM by 1.15 dB at the same BER.

Toward continuous-wave operation of organic semiconductor lasers

PubMed Central

Sandanayaka, Atula S. D.; Matsushima, Toshinori; Bencheikh, Fatima; Yoshida, Kou; Inoue, Munetomo; Fujihara, Takashi; Goushi, Kenichi; Ribierre, Jean-Charles; Adachi, Chihaya

2017-01-01

The demonstration of continuous-wave lasing from organic semiconductor films is highly desirable for practical applications in the areas of spectroscopy, data communication, and sensing, but it still remains a challenging objective. We report low-threshold surface-emitting organic distributed feedback lasers operating in the quasi–continuous-wave regime at 80 MHz as well as under long-pulse photoexcitation of 30 ms. This outstanding performance was achieved using an organic semiconductor thin film with high optical gain, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and no triplet absorption losses at the lasing wavelength combined with a mixed-order distributed feedback grating to achieve a low lasing threshold. A simple encapsulation technique greatly reduced the laser-induced thermal degradation and suppressed the ablation of the gain medium otherwise taking place under intense continuous-wave photoexcitation. Overall, this study provides evidence that the development of a continuous-wave organic semiconductor laser technology is possible via the engineering of the gain medium and the device architecture. PMID:28508042

Liquid-phase epitaxy grown PbSnTe distributed feedback laser diodes with broad continuous single-mode tuning range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsieh, H.-H.; Fonstad, C. G.

1980-01-01

Distributed feedback (DFB) pulsed laser operation has been demonstrated in stripe geometry Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te double-heterostructures grown by liquid-phase epitaxy. The grating structure of 0.79 micron periodicity operates in first order near 12.8 microns and was fabricated prior to the liquid-phase epitaxial growth using holographic exposure techniques. These DFB lasers had moderate thresholds, 3.6 kA/sq cm, and the output power versus current curves exhibited a sharp turn-on free of kinks. Clean, single-mode emission spectra, continuously tunable over a range in excess of 20 per cm, centered about 780 per cm (12.8 microns), and at an average rate of 1.2 per cm-K from 9 to 26 K, were observed. While weaker modes could at times be seen in the spectrum, substantially single-mode operation was obtained over the entire operating range and to over 10 times threshold.

Influence of reciprocal edges on degree distribution and degree correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zlatić, Vinko; Štefančić, Hrvoje

2009-07-01

Reciprocal edges represent the lowest-order cycle possible to find in directed graphs without self-loops. Representing also a measure of feedback between vertices, it is interesting to understand how reciprocal edges influence other properties of complex networks. In this paper, we focus on the influence of reciprocal edges on vertex degree distribution and degree correlations. We show that there is a fundamental difference between properties observed on the static network compared to the properties of networks, which are obtained by simple evolution mechanism driven by reciprocity. We also present a way to statistically infer the portion of reciprocal edges, which can be explained as a consequence of feedback process on the static network. In the rest of the paper, the influence of reciprocal edges on a model of growing network is also presented. It is shown that our model of growing network nicely interpolates between Barabási-Albert (BA) model for undirected and the BA model for directed networks.

Toward continuous-wave operation of organic semiconductor lasers.

PubMed

Sandanayaka, Atula S D; Matsushima, Toshinori; Bencheikh, Fatima; Yoshida, Kou; Inoue, Munetomo; Fujihara, Takashi; Goushi, Kenichi; Ribierre, Jean-Charles; Adachi, Chihaya

2017-04-01

The demonstration of continuous-wave lasing from organic semiconductor films is highly desirable for practical applications in the areas of spectroscopy, data communication, and sensing, but it still remains a challenging objective. We report low-threshold surface-emitting organic distributed feedback lasers operating in the quasi-continuous-wave regime at 80 MHz as well as under long-pulse photoexcitation of 30 ms. This outstanding performance was achieved using an organic semiconductor thin film with high optical gain, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and no triplet absorption losses at the lasing wavelength combined with a mixed-order distributed feedback grating to achieve a low lasing threshold. A simple encapsulation technique greatly reduced the laser-induced thermal degradation and suppressed the ablation of the gain medium otherwise taking place under intense continuous-wave photoexcitation. Overall, this study provides evidence that the development of a continuous-wave organic semiconductor laser technology is possible via the engineering of the gain medium and the device architecture.

Reduced Order Adaptive Controllers for Distributed Parameter Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-01

pitch moment [J313. Neural Network adaptive output feedback control for intensive care unit sedation and intraop- erative anesthesia . Neural network...depth of anesthesia for noncardiac surgery [C3, J15]. These results present an extension of [C8, J9, J10]. Modelling and vibration control of...for Intensive Care Unit Sedation and Operating Room Hypnosis , Submitted to 6 Special Issue of SIAM Journal of Control and Optimization on Control

Lasing in a nematic liquid crystal cell with an interdigitated electrode system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shtykov, N M; Palto, S P; Umanskii, B A

2015-04-30

Waveguide lasing in a layer of a dye-doped nematic liquid crystal has been observed. The liquid-crystal layer was sandwiched between a quartz substrate and a glass cover plate on whose surface was deposited an interdigitated electrode system. This system had a period of 3.75 μm and played a dual role, namely, it created a spatial periodicity of the waveguide medium refractive index (thus creating distributed feedback) and served as a diffraction grating coupling out a part of waveguide radiation into the glass cover plate. The distributed feedback ensured lasing in the 18th diffraction order for the TE modes and inmore » the 19th order for the TM modes of the waveguide. The generated radiation was observed at the exit from the glass plate end face at the angles to the waveguide plane of 33.1 ± 1.5° for TM modes and 21.8 ± 1.8° for TE modes. The intensity and position of the TE emission line showed no regular dependence on the voltage on the electrodes. In the case of TM radiation, an increase in the voltage led to a short-wavelength shift of the laser line and to a decrease in its intensity. (lasers)« less

Design of multivariable feedback control systems via spectral assignment using reduced-order models and reduced-order observers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, R. R.; Tung, L. J.; Carraway, P. I., III

1984-01-01

The feasibility of using reduced order models and reduced order observers with eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment procedures is investigated. A review of spectral assignment synthesis procedures is presented. Then, a reduced order model which retains essential system characteristics is formulated. A constant state feedback matrix which assigns desired closed loop eigenvalues and approximates specified closed loop eigenvectors is calculated for the reduced order model. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments made in the reduced order system are retained when the feedback matrix is implemented about the full order system. In addition, those modes and associated eigenvectors which are not included in the reduced order model remain unchanged in the closed loop full order system. The full state feedback design is then implemented by using a reduced order observer. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments of the closed loop full order system rmain unchanged when a reduced order observer is used. The design procedure is illustrated by an actual design problem.

Design of multivariable feedback control systems via spectral assignment using reduced-order models and reduced-order observers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, R. R.; Tung, L. J.; Carraway, P. I., III

1985-01-01

The feasibility of using reduced order models and reduced order observers with eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment procedures is investigated. A review of spectral assignment synthesis procedures is presented. Then, a reduced order model which retains essential system characteristics is formulated. A constant state feedback matrix which assigns desired closed loop eigenvalues and approximates specified closed loop eigenvectors is calculated for the reduced order model. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments made in the reduced order system are retained when the feedback matrix is implemented about the full order system. In addition, those modes and associated eigenvectors which are not included in the reduced order model remain unchanged in the closed loop full order system. The fulll state feedback design is then implemented by using a reduced order observer. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments of the closed loop full order system remain unchanged when a reduced order observer is used. The design procedure is illustrated by an actual design problem.

Evaluation of Uranium-235 Measurement Techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaspar, Tiffany C.; Lavender, Curt A.; Dibert, Mark W.

2017-05-23

Monolithic U-Mo fuel plates are rolled to final fuel element form from the original cast ingot, and thus any inhomogeneities in 235U distribution present in the cast ingot are maintained, and potentially exaggerated, in the final fuel foil. The tolerance for inhomogeneities in the 235U concentration in the final fuel element foil is very low. A near-real-time, nondestructive technique to evaluate the 235U distribution in the cast ingot is required in order to provide feedback to the casting process. Based on the technical analysis herein, gamma spectroscopy has been recommended to provide a near-real-time measure of the 235U distribution inmore » U-Mo cast plates.« less

Individual differences in first- and second-order temporal judgment.

PubMed

Corcoran, Andrew W; Groot, Christopher; Bruno, Aurelio; Johnston, Alan; Cropper, Simon J

2018-01-01

The ability of subjects to identify and reproduce brief temporal intervals is influenced by many factors whether they be stimulus-based, task-based or subject-based. The current study examines the role individual differences play in subsecond and suprasecond timing judgments, using the schizoptypy personality scale as a test-case approach for quantifying a broad range of individual differences. In two experiments, 129 (Experiment 1) and 141 (Experiment 2) subjects completed the O-LIFE personality questionnaire prior to performing a modified temporal-bisection task. In the bisection task, subjects responded to two identical instantiations of a luminance grating presented in a 4deg window, 4deg above fixation for 1.5 s (Experiment 1) or 3 s (Experiment 2). Subjects initiated presentation with a button-press, and released the button when they considered the stimulus to be half-way through (750/1500 ms). Subjects were then asked to indicate their 'most accurate estimate' of the two intervals. In this way we measure both performance on the task (a first-order measure) and the subjects' knowledge of their performance (a second-order measure). In Experiment 1 the effect of grating-drift and feedback on performance was also examined. Experiment 2 focused on the static/no-feedback condition. For the group data, Experiment 1 showed a significant effect of presentation order in the baseline condition (no feedback), which disappeared when feedback was provided. Moving the stimulus had no effect on perceived duration. Experiment 2 showed no effect of stimulus presentation order. This elimination of the subsecond order-effect was at the expense of accuracy, as the mid-point of the suprasecond interval was generally underestimated. Response precision increased as a proportion of total duration, reducing the variance below that predicted by Weber's law. This result is consistent with a breakdown of the scalar properties of time perception in the early suprasecond range. All subjects showed good insight into their own performance, though that insight did not necessarily correlate with the veridical bisection point. In terms of personality, we found evidence of significant differences in performance along the Unusual Experiences subscale, of most theoretical interest here, in the subsecond condition only. There was also significant correlation with Impulsive Nonconformity and Cognitive Disorganisation in the sub- and suprasecond conditions, respectively. Overall, these data support a partial dissociation of timing mechanisms at very short and slightly longer intervals. Further, these results suggest that perception is not the only critical mitigator of confidence in temporal experience, since individuals can effectively compensate for differences in perception at the level of metacognition in early suprasecond time. Though there are individual differences in performance, these are perhaps less than expected from previous reports and indicate an effective timing mechanism dealing with brief durations independent of the influence of significant personality trait differences.

Corrective Feedback, Learner Uptake, and Feedback Perception in a Chinese as a Foreign Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fu, Tingfeng; Nassaji, Hossein

2016-01-01

The role of corrective feedback in second language classrooms has received considerable research attention in the past few decades. However, most of this research has been conducted in English-teaching settings, either ESL or EFL. This study examined teacher feedback, learner uptake as well as learner and teacher perception of feedback in an adult…

From "Hello" to Higher-Order Thinking: The Effect of Coaching and Feedback on Online Chats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stein, David S.; Wanstreet, Constance E.; Slagle, Paula; Trinko, Lynn A.; Lutz, Michelle

2013-01-01

This exploratory study examined the effect of a coaching and feedback intervention in teaching presence and social presence on higher-order thinking in an online community of inquiry. Coaching occurred before each chat, and feedback was provided immediately afterwards. The findings suggest that over time, the frequency of higher-order thinking…

Evaluating Effectiveness of Modeling Motion System Feedback in the Enhanced Hess Structural Model of the Human Operator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaychik, Kirill; Cardullo, Frank; George, Gary; Kelly, Lon C.

2009-01-01

In order to use the Hess Structural Model to predict the need for certain cueing systems, George and Cardullo significantly expanded it by adding motion feedback to the model and incorporating models of the motion system dynamics, motion cueing algorithm and a vestibular system. This paper proposes a methodology to evaluate effectiveness of these innovations by performing a comparison analysis of the model performance with and without the expanded motion feedback. The proposed methodology is composed of two stages. The first stage involves fine-tuning parameters of the original Hess structural model in order to match the actual control behavior recorded during the experiments at NASA Visual Motion Simulator (VMS) facility. The parameter tuning procedure utilizes a new automated parameter identification technique, which was developed at the Man-Machine Systems Lab at SUNY Binghamton. In the second stage of the proposed methodology, an expanded motion feedback is added to the structural model. The resulting performance of the model is then compared to that of the original one. As proposed by Hess, metrics to evaluate the performance of the models include comparison against the crossover models standards imposed on the crossover frequency and phase margin of the overall man-machine system. Preliminary results indicate the advantage of having the model of the motion system and motion cueing incorporated into the model of the human operator. It is also demonstrated that the crossover frequency and the phase margin of the expanded model are well within the limits imposed by the crossover model.

Retesting personality in employee selection: implications of the context, sample, and setting.

PubMed

Holladay, Courtney L; David, Emily; Johnson, Stefanie K

2013-04-01

The present study sought to assess when and how actual job applicants change their responses when filling out an unproctored personality selection assessment for a second time. It was predicted feedback would be a key contextual motivator associated with how much applicants change their answers during the second administration. Mediation results showed that individuals receiving feedback that showed a low score on the personality assessment was the reason they did not get the job were more likely to employ faking response strategies in the second testing session, predicting the highest change in scores between the first and second testing sessions. Individuals receiving no feedback and those not experimentally motivated to fake (i.e., a comparison group of students) showed less change in responses across administrations.

Distributed Bandpass Filtering and Signal Demodulation in Cortical Network Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonnell, Mark D.

Experimental recordings of cortical activity often exhibit narrowband oscillations, at various center frequencies ranging in the order of 1-200 Hz. Many neuronal mechanisms are known to give rise to oscillations, but here we focus on a population effect known as sparsely synchronised oscillations. In this effect, individual neurons in a cortical network fire irregularly at slow average spike rates (1-10 Hz), but the population spike rate oscillates at gamma frequencies (greater than 40 Hz) in response to spike bombardment from the thalamus. These cortical networks form recurrent (feedback) synapses. Here we describe a model of sparsely synchronized population oscillations using the language of feedback control engineering, where we treat spiking as noisy feedback. We show, using a biologically realistic model of synaptic current that includes a delayed response to inputs, that the collective behavior of the neurons in the network is like a distributed bandpass filter acting on the network inputs. Consequently, the population response has the character of narrowband random noise, and therefore has an envelope and instantaneous frequency with lowpass characteristics. Given that there exist biologically plausible neuronal mechanisms for demodulating the envelope and instantaneous frequency, we suggest there is potential for similar effects to be exploited in nanoscale electronics implementations of engineered communications receivers.

Shifty: A Weight-Shifting Dynamic Passive Haptic Proxy to Enhance Object Perception in Virtual Reality.

PubMed

Zenner, Andre; Kruger, Antonio

2017-04-01

We define the concept of Dynamic Passive Haptic Feedback (DPHF) for virtual reality by introducing the weight-shifting physical DPHF proxy object Shifty. This concept combines actuators known from active haptics and physical proxies known from passive haptics to construct proxies that automatically adapt their passive haptic feedback. We describe the concept behind our ungrounded weight-shifting DPHF proxy Shifty and the implementation of our prototype. We then investigate how Shifty can, by automatically changing its internal weight distribution, enhance the user's perception of virtual objects interacted with in two experiments. In a first experiment, we show that Shifty can enhance the perception of virtual objects changing in shape, especially in length and thickness. Here, Shifty was shown to increase the user's fun and perceived realism significantly, compared to an equivalent passive haptic proxy. In a second experiment, Shifty is used to pick up virtual objects of different virtual weights. The results show that Shifty enhances the perception of weight and thus the perceived realism by adapting its kinesthetic feedback to the picked-up virtual object. In the same experiment, we additionally show that specific combinations of haptic, visual and auditory feedback during the pick-up interaction help to compensate for visual-haptic mismatch perceived during the shifting process.

Understanding Written Corrective Feedback in Second-Language Grammar Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, Jason Paul; Wulf, Douglas J.

2016-01-01

Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) is used extensively in second-language (L2) writing classrooms despite controversy over its effectiveness. This study examines indirect WCF, an instructional procedure that flags L2 students' errors with editing symbols that guide their corrections. WCF practitioners assume that this guidance will lead to…

Postidentification Feedback Affects Subsequent Eyewitness Identification Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palmer, Matthew A.; Brewer, Neil; Weber, Nathan

2010-01-01

Eyewitnesses sometimes view more than one lineup during an investigation. We investigated the effects of postidentification feedback following one lineup on responses to a second lineup. Witnesses (N = 621) viewed a mock crime and, later, attempted to identify the culprit from an initial (target-absent) lineup and a second (target-present or…

Role of Focus-on-Form Instruction, Corrective Feedback and Uptake in Second Language Classrooms: Some Insights from Recent Second Language Acquisition Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afitska, Oksana

2015-01-01

A considerable number of studies on focus-on-form instruction, corrective feedback and uptake have been carried out in the field of second language acquisition (SLA) research over the last two decades. These studies have investigated the above-mentioned concepts from different perspectives, in a number of different contexts and in a number of…

Random harmonic analysis program, L221 (TEV156). Volume 1: Engineering and usage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, R. D.; Graham, M. L.

1979-01-01

A digital computer program capable of calculating steady state solutions for linear second order differential equations due to sinusoidal forcing functions is described. The field of application of the program, the analysis of airplane response and loads due to continuous random air turbulence, is discussed. Optional capabilities including frequency dependent input matrices, feedback damping, gradual gust penetration, multiple excitation forcing functions, and a static elastic solution are described. Program usage and a description of the analysis used are presented.

A Perturbation Approach to Robot Calibration.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-01

J. Y. S., Walker, M. W., and Paul, R. P. C . 1980. On-line Computational Scheme for Mechanical Manipulators. J. Dynamic Systems, Measurement and... Rourke , J. M., Seltzer, D. S., Edsall, A. C ., Lozinski, C . A., and Kenwood, G. J. 1984 (May 21-23). Short- and Long-Term Robot Feedback: Multi-Axis...manipulator with six joints are expanded up to second order in the 24 joint parameters. * Z’S 47 EIIO O INO 5 S BSLEEUNCASSIFIED %.e .. Di~ S/N012

Robust stability of second-order systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chuang, C.-H.

1993-01-01

A feedback linearization technique is used in conjunction with passivity concepts to design robust controllers for space robots. It is assumed that bounded modeling uncertainties exist in the inertia matrix and the vector representing the coriolis, centripetal, and friction forces. Under these assumptions, the controller guarantees asymptotic tracking of the joint variables. A Lagrangian approach is used to develop a dynamic model for space robots. Closed-loop simulation results are illustrated for a simple case of a single link planar manipulator with freely floating base.

Surface-plasmon distributed-feedback quantum cascade lasers operating pulsed, room temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bousseksou, A.; Chassagneux, Y.; Coudevylle, J. R.; Colombelli, R.; Sirtori, C.; Patriarche, G.; Beaudoin, G.; Sagnes, I.

2009-08-01

We report distributed-feedback surface-plasmon quantum cascade lasers operating at λ ≈7.6μm. The distributed feedback is obtained by the sole patterning of the top metal contact on a surface plasmon waveguide. Single mode operation with more than 30dB side mode suppression ratio is obtained in pulsed mode and at room temperature. A careful experimental study confirms that by varying the grating duty cycle, one can reduce the waveguide losses with respect to standard, unpatterned surface-plasmon devices. This allows one to reduce the laser threshold current of more than a factor of 2 in the 200-300K temperature range. This approach may lead to a fabrication technology for midinfrared distributed-feedback lasers based on a very simple processing.

Combined Audience and Video Feedback With Cognitive Review Improves State Anxiety and Self-Perceptions During Speech Tasks in Socially Anxious Individuals.

PubMed

Chen, Junwen; McLean, Jordan E; Kemps, Eva

2018-03-01

This study investigated the effects of combined audience feedback with video feedback plus cognitive preparation, and cognitive review (enabling deeper processing of feedback) on state anxiety and self-perceptions including perception of performance and perceived probability of negative evaluation in socially anxious individuals during a speech performance. One hundred and forty socially anxious students were randomly assigned to four conditions: Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback + Audience Feedback + Cognitive Review (CP+VF+AF+CR), Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback + Cognitive Review (CP+VF+CR), Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback only (CP+VF), and Control. They were asked to deliver two impromptu speeches that were evaluated by confederates. Participants' levels of anxiety and self-perceptions pertaining to the speech task were assessed before and after feedback, and after the second speech. Compared to participants in the other conditions, participants in the CP+VF+AF+CR condition reported a significant decrease in their state anxiety and perceived probability of negative evaluation scores, and a significant increase in their positive perception of speech performance from before to after the feedback. These effects generalized to the second speech. Our results suggest that adding audience feedback to video feedback plus cognitive preparation and cognitive review may improve the effects of existing video feedback procedures in reducing anxiety symptoms and distorted self-representations in socially anxious individuals. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Optimization and testing of solid thin film lubrication deposition processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danyluk, Michael J.

A novel method for testing solid thin films in rolling contact fatigue (RCF) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and high rotational speeds (130 Hz) is presented in this thesis. The UHV-RCF platform is used to quantify the adhesion and lubrication aspects of two thin film coatings deposited on ball-bearings using a physical vapor deposition ion plating process. Plasma properties during ion plating were measured using a Langmuir probe and there is a connection between ion flux, film stress, film adhesion, process voltage, pressure, and RCF life. The UHV-RCF platform and vacuum chamber were constructed using off-the-shelf components and 88 RCF tests in high vacuum have been completed. Maximum RCF life was achieved by maintaining an ion flux between 10 13 to 1015 (cm-2 s-1) with a process voltage and pressure near 1.5 kV and 15 mTorr. Two controller schemes were investigated to maintain optimal plasma conditions for maximum RCF life: PID and LQR. Pressure disturbances to the plasma have a detrimental effect on RCF life. Control algorithms that mitigate pressure and voltage disturbances already exist. However, feedback from the plasma to detect disturbances has not been explored related to deposition processes in the thin-film science literature. Manometer based pressure monitoring systems have a 1 to 2 second delay time and are too slow to detect common pressure bursts during the deposition process. Plasma diagnostic feedback is much faster, of the order of 0.1 second. Plasma total-current feedback was used successfully to detect a typical pressure disturbance associated with the ion plating process. Plasma current is related to ion density and process pressure. A real-time control application was used to detect the pressure disturbance by monitoring plasma-total current and converting it to feedback-input to a pressure control system. Pressure overshoot was eliminated using a nominal PID controller with feedback from a plasma-current diagnostic measurement tool.

Measuring the Impact of High Quality Instant Feedback on Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nutbrown, Stephen; Higgins, Colin; Beesley, Su

2016-01-01

This paper examines the impact of a novel assessment technique that has been used to improve the feedback given to second year Computer Science students at the University of Nottingham. Criteria for effective, high quality feedback are discussed. An automated marking system (The Marker's Apprentice--TMA) produces instant feedback in synergy with…

Impact of a feedback device on chest compression quality during extended manikin CPR: a randomized crossover study.

PubMed

Buléon, Clément; Delaunay, Julie; Parienti, Jean-Jacques; Halbout, Laurent; Arrot, Xavier; Gérard, Jean-Louis; Hanouz, Jean-Luc

2016-09-01

Chest compressions require physical effort leading to increased fatigue and rapid degradation in the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation overtime. Despite harmful effect of interrupting chest compressions, current guidelines recommend that rescuers switch every 2 minutes. The impact on the quality of chest compressions during extended cardiopulmonary resuscitation has yet to be assessed. We conducted randomized crossover study on manikin (ResusciAnne; Laerdal). After randomization, 60 professional emergency rescuers performed 2 × 10 minutes of continuous chest compressions with and without a feedback device (CPRmeter). Efficient compression rate (primary outcome) was defined as the frequency target reached along with depth and leaning at the same time (recorded continuously). The 10-minute mean efficient compression rate was significantly better in the feedback group: 42% vs 21% (P< .001). There was no significant difference between the first (43%) and the tenth minute (36%; P= .068) with feedback. Conversely, a significant difference was evident from the second minute without feedback (35% initially vs 27%; P< .001). The efficient compression rate difference with and without feedback was significant every minute, from the second minute onwards. CPRmeter feedback significantly improved chest compression depth from the first minute, leaning from the second minute and rate from the third minute. A real-time feedback device delivers longer effective, steadier chest compressions over time. An extrapolation of these results from simulation may allow rescuer switches to be carried out beyond the currently recommended 2 minutes when a feedback device is used. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Narrow-band generation in random distributed feedback fiber laser.

PubMed

Sugavanam, Srikanth; Tarasov, Nikita; Shu, Xuewen; Churkin, Dmitry V

2013-07-15

Narrow-band emission of spectral width down to ~0.05 nm line-width is achieved in the random distributed feedback fiber laser employing narrow-band fiber Bragg grating or fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer filters. The observed line-width is ~10 times less than line-width of other demonstrated up to date random distributed feedback fiber lasers. The random DFB laser with Fabry-Perot interferometer filter provides simultaneously multi-wavelength and narrow-band (within each line) generation with possibility of further wavelength tuning.

Numeric data distribution: The vital role of data exchange in today's world

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chase, Malcolm W.

1994-01-01

The major aim of the NIST standard Reference Data Program (SRD) is to provide critically evaluated numeric data to the scientific and technical community in a convenient and accessible form. A second aim of the program is to provide feedback into the experimental and theoretical programs to help raise the general standards of measurement. By communicating the experience gained in evaluating the world output of data in the physical sciences, NIST/SRD helps to advance the level of experimental techniques and improve the reliability of physical measurements.

Distributed force feedback in the spinal cord and the regulation of limb mechanics.

PubMed

Nichols, T Richard

2018-03-01

This review is an update on the role of force feedback from Golgi tendon organs in the regulation of limb mechanics during voluntary movement. Current ideas about the role of force feedback are based on modular circuits linking idealized systems of agonists, synergists, and antagonistic muscles. In contrast, force feedback is widely distributed across the muscles of a limb and cannot be understood based on these circuit motifs. Similarly, muscle architecture cannot be understood in terms of idealized systems, since muscles cross multiple joints and axes of rotation and further influence remote joints through inertial coupling. It is hypothesized that distributed force feedback better represents the complex mechanical interactions of muscles, including the stresses in the musculoskeletal network born by muscle articulations, myofascial force transmission, and inertial coupling. Together with the strains of muscle fascicles measured by length feedback from muscle spindle receptors, this integrated proprioceptive feedback represents the mechanical state of the musculoskeletal system. Within the spinal cord, force feedback has excitatory and inhibitory components that coexist in various combinations based on motor task and integrated with length feedback at the premotoneuronal and motoneuronal levels. It is concluded that, in agreement with other investigators, autogenic, excitatory force feedback contributes to propulsion and weight support. It is further concluded that coexistent inhibitory force feedback, together with length feedback, functions to manage interjoint coordination and the mechanical properties of the limb in the face of destabilizing inertial forces and positive force feedback, as required by the accelerations and changing directions of both predator and prey.

Integrating biodiversity distribution knowledge: toward a global map of life.

PubMed

Jetz, Walter; McPherson, Jana M; Guralnick, Robert P

2012-03-01

Global knowledge about the spatial distribution of species is orders of magnitude coarser in resolution than other geographically-structured environmental datasets such as topography or land cover. Yet such knowledge is crucial in deciphering ecological and evolutionary processes and in managing global change. In this review, we propose a conceptual and cyber-infrastructure framework for refining species distributional knowledge that is novel in its ability to mobilize and integrate diverse types of data such that their collective strengths overcome individual weaknesses. The ultimate aim is a public, online, quality-vetted 'Map of Life' that for every species integrates and visualizes available distributional knowledge, while also facilitating user feedback and dynamic biodiversity analyses. First milestones toward such an infrastructure have now been implemented. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oral Corrective Feedback in Second Language Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyster, Roy; Saito, Kazuya; Sato, Masatoshi

2013-01-01

This article reviews research on oral corrective feedback (CF) in second language (L2) classrooms. Various types of oral CF are first identified, and the results of research revealing CF frequency across instructional contexts are presented. Research on CF preferences is then reviewed, revealing a tendency for learners to prefer receiving CF more…

Approaches to Treating Student Written Errors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tran, Thu H.

2013-01-01

Second language writing teachers face numerous challenges when providing feedback on student writing. There may be so many problems in the writing that is almost impossible for them to focus on or they may constantly seek a better method of giving feedback on student written errors. This paper attempts to provide second language writing teachers…

Undergraduate Student Responses to Feedback: Expectations and Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Small, Felicity; Attree, Kath

2016-01-01

This research is a qualitative exploration of first and second year university students' experiences of feedback, specifically focused on their expectations and feelings. The data (n = 46) were collected from internal and distance-learning students in their first or second year, who are of lower socio-economic status and first in family to attend.…

Analytic Development of a Reference Profile for the First Entry in a Skip Atmospheric Entry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia-Llama, Eduardo

2010-01-01

This note shows that a feasible reference drag profile for the first entry portion of a skip entry can be generated as a polynomial expression of the velocity. The coefficients of that polynomial are found through the resolution of a system composed of m + 1 equations, where m is the degree of the drag polynomial. It has been shown that a minimum of five equations (m = 4) are required to establish the range and the initial and final conditions on velocity and flight path angle. It has been shown that at least one constraint on the trajectory can be imposed through the addition of one extra equation in the system, which must be accompanied by the increase in the degree of the drag polynomial. In order to simplify the resolution of the system of equations, the drag was considered as being a probability density function of the velocity, with the velocity as a distribution function of the drag. Combining this notion with the introduction of empirically derived constants, it has been shown that the system of equations required to generate the drag profile can be successfully reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations. For completeness, the resulting drag profiles have been flown using the feedback linearization method of differential geometric control as a guidance law with the error dynamics of a second order homogeneous equation in the form of a damped oscillator. Satisfactory results were achieved when the gains in the error dynamics were changed at a certain point along the trajectory that is dependent on the velocity and the curvature of the drag as a function of the velocity. Future work should study the capacity to update the drag profile in flight when dispersions are introduced. Also, future studies should attempt to link the first entry, as presented and controlled in this note, with a more standard control concept for the second entry, such as the Apollo entry guidance, to try to assess the overall skip entry performance. A guidance law that includes an integral feedback term, as is the case in the actual Space Shuttle entry guidance and as is proposed in Ref 29, could be tried in future studies to assess whether its use results in an improvement of the tracking performance, and to evaluate the design needs when determining the control gains.

Neural network disturbance observer-based distributed finite-time formation tracking control for multiple unmanned helicopters.

PubMed

Wang, Dandan; Zong, Qun; Tian, Bailing; Shao, Shikai; Zhang, Xiuyun; Zhao, Xinyi

2018-02-01

The distributed finite-time formation tracking control problem for multiple unmanned helicopters is investigated in this paper. The control object is to maintain the positions of follower helicopters in formation with external interferences. The helicopter model is divided into a second order outer-loop subsystem and a second order inner-loop subsystem based on multiple-time scale features. Using radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) technique, we first propose a novel finite-time multivariable neural network disturbance observer (FMNNDO) to estimate the external disturbance and model uncertainty, where the neural network (NN) approximation errors can be dynamically compensated by adaptive law. Next, based on FMNNDO, a distributed finite-time formation tracking controller and a finite-time attitude tracking controller are designed using the nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode (NFTSM) method. In order to estimate the second derivative of the virtual desired attitude signal, a novel finite-time sliding mode integral filter is designed. Finally, Lyapunov analysis and multiple-time scale principle ensure the realization of control goal in finite-time. The effectiveness of the proposed FMNNDO and controllers are then verified by numerical simulations. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Free-running InGaAs single photon detector with 1 dark count per second at 10% efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korzh, B.; Walenta, N.; Lunghi, T.; Gisin, N.; Zbinden, H.

2014-02-01

We present a free-running single photon detector for telecom wavelengths based on a negative feedback avalanche photodiode (NFAD). A dark count rate as low as 1 cps was obtained at a detection efficiency of 10%, with an afterpulse probability of 2.2% for 20 μs of deadtime. This was achieved by using an active hold-off circuit and cooling the NFAD with a free-piston stirling cooler down to temperatures of -110 °C. We integrated two detectors into a practical, 625 MHz clocked quantum key distribution system. Stable, real-time key distribution in the presence of 30 dB channel loss was possible, yielding a secret key rate of 350 bps.

Neurofilament protein is differentially distributed in subpopulations of corticocortical projection neurons in the macaque monkey visual pathways

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hof, P. R.; Ungerleider, L. G.; Webster, M. J.; Gattass, R.; Adams, M. M.; Sailstad, C. A.; Morrison, J. H.; Bloom, F. E. (Principal Investigator)

1996-01-01

Previous studies of the primate cerebral cortex have shown that neurofilament protein is present in pyramidal neuron subpopulations displaying specific regional and laminar distribution patterns. In order to characterize further the neurochemical phenotype of the neurons furnishing feedforward and feedback pathways in the visual cortex of the macaque monkey, we performed an analysis of the distribution of neurofilament protein in corticocortical projection neurons in areas V1, V2, V3, V3A, V4, and MT. Injections of the retrogradely transported dyes Fast Blue and Diamidino Yellow were placed within areas V4 and MT, or in areas V1 and V2, in 14 adult rhesus monkeys, and the brains of these animals were processed for immunohistochemistry with an antibody to nonphosphorylated epitopes of the medium and heavy molecular weight subunits of the neurofilament protein. Overall, there was a higher proportion of neurons projecting from areas V1, V2, V3, and V3A to area MT that were neurofilament protein-immunoreactive (57-100%), than to area V4 (25-36%). In contrast, feedback projections from areas MT, V4, and V3 exhibited a more consistent proportion of neurofilament protein-containing neurons (70-80%), regardless of their target areas (V1 or V2). In addition, the vast majority of feedback neurons projecting to areas V1 and V2 were located in layers V and VI in areas V4 and MT, while they were observed in both supragranular and infragranular layers in area V3. The laminar distribution of feedforward projecting neurons was heterogeneous. In area V1, Meynert and layer IVB cells were found to project to area MT, while neurons projecting to area V4 were particularly dense in layer III within the foveal representation. In area V2, almost all neurons projecting to areas MT or V4 were located in layer III, whereas they were found in both layers II-III and V-VI in areas V3 and V3A. These results suggest that neurofilament protein identifies particular subpopulations of corticocortically projecting neurons with distinct regional and laminar distribution in the monkey visual system. It is possible that the preferential distribution of neurofilament protein within feedforward connections to area MT and all feedback projections is related to other distinctive properties of these corticocortical projection neurons.

The influence of trial order on learning from reward vs. punishment in a probabilistic categorization task: experimental and computational analyses

PubMed Central

Moustafa, Ahmed A.; Gluck, Mark A.; Herzallah, Mohammad M.; Myers, Catherine E.

2015-01-01

Previous research has shown that trial ordering affects cognitive performance, but this has not been tested using category-learning tasks that differentiate learning from reward and punishment. Here, we tested two groups of healthy young adults using a probabilistic category learning task of reward and punishment in which there are two types of trials (reward, punishment) and three possible outcomes: (1) positive feedback for correct responses in reward trials; (2) negative feedback for incorrect responses in punishment trials; and (3) no feedback for incorrect answers in reward trials and correct answers in punishment trials. Hence, trials without feedback are ambiguous, and may represent either successful avoidance of punishment or failure to obtain reward. In Experiment 1, the first group of subjects received an intermixed task in which reward and punishment trials were presented in the same block, as a standard baseline task. In Experiment 2, a second group completed the separated task, in which reward and punishment trials were presented in separate blocks. Additionally, in order to understand the mechanisms underlying performance in the experimental conditions, we fit individual data using a Q-learning model. Results from Experiment 1 show that subjects who completed the intermixed task paradoxically valued the no-feedback outcome as a reinforcer when it occurred on reinforcement-based trials, and as a punisher when it occurred on punishment-based trials. This is supported by patterns of empirical responding, where subjects showed more win-stay behavior following an explicit reward than following an omission of punishment, and more lose-shift behavior following an explicit punisher than following an omission of reward. In Experiment 2, results showed similar performance whether subjects received reward-based or punishment-based trials first. However, when the Q-learning model was applied to these data, there were differences between subjects in the reward-first and punishment-first conditions on the relative weighting of neutral feedback. Specifically, early training on reward-based trials led to omission of reward being treated as similar to punishment, but prior training on punishment-based trials led to omission of reward being treated more neutrally. This suggests that early training on one type of trials, specifically reward-based trials, can create a bias in how neutral feedback is processed, relative to those receiving early punishment-based training or training that mixes positive and negative outcomes. PMID:26257616

Random distributed feedback fiber laser at 2.1  μm.

PubMed

Jin, Xiaoxi; Lou, Zhaokai; Zhang, Hanwei; Xu, Jiangming; Zhou, Pu; Liu, Zejin

2016-11-01

We demonstrate a random distributed feedback fiber laser at 2.1 μm. A high-power pulsed Tm-doped fiber laser operating at 1.94 μm with a temporal duty ratio of 30% was employed as a pump laser to increase the equivalent incident pump power. A piece of 150 m highly GeO₂-doped silica fiber that provides a strong Raman gain and random distributed feedbacks was used to act as the gain medium. The maximum output power reached 0.5 W with the optical efficiency of 9%, which could be further improved by more pump power and optimized fiber length. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of random distributed feedback fiber laser at 2 μm band based on Raman gain.

Does an Observer's Content Knowledge Influence the Feedback Offered about Mathematics Lessons?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peck, Duane C.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, feedback from 3 different groups of observers: math content specialists, content specialists in areas other than mathematics, and building principals, was analyzed using an inductive approach to identify themes within the feedback. Second, differences in the feedback offered by participants of the 3…

A comparative study of AGN feedback algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wurster, J.; Thacker, R. J.

2013-05-01

Modelling active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback in numerical simulations is both technically and theoretically challenging, with numerous approaches having been published in the literature. We present a study of five distinct approaches to modelling AGN feedback within gravitohydrodynamic simulations of major mergers of Milky Way-sized galaxies. To constrain differences to only be between AGN feedback models, all simulations start from the same initial conditions and use the same star formation algorithm. Most AGN feedback algorithms have five key aspects: the black hole accretion rate, energy feedback rate and method, particle accretion algorithm, black hole advection algorithm and black hole merger algorithm. All models follow different accretion histories, and in some cases, accretion rates differ by up to three orders of magnitude at any given time. We consider models with either thermal or kinetic feedback, with the associated energy deposited locally around the black hole. Each feedback algorithm modifies the region around the black hole to different extents, yielding gas densities and temperatures within r ˜ 200 pc that differ by up to six orders of magnitude at any given time. The particle accretion algorithms usually maintain good agreement between the total mass accreted by dot{M} dt and the total mass of gas particles removed from the simulation, although not all algorithms guarantee this to be true. The black hole advection algorithms dampen inappropriate dragging of the black holes by two-body interactions. Advecting the black hole a limited distance based upon local mass distributions has many desirably properties, such as avoiding large artificial jumps and allowing the possibility of the black hole remaining in a gas void. Lastly, two black holes instantly merge when given criteria are met, and we find a range of merger times for different criteria. This is important since the AGN feedback rate changes across the merger in a way that is dependent on the specific accretion algorithm used. Using the MBH-σ relation as a diagnostic of the remnants yields three models that lie within the one-sigma scatter of the observed relation and two that fall below the expected relation. The wide variation in accretion behaviours of the models reinforces the fact that there remains much to be learnt about the evolution of galactic nuclei.

Numerical studies of identification in nonlinear distributed parameter systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, H. T.; Lo, C. K.; Reich, Simeon; Rosen, I. G.

1989-01-01

An abstract approximation framework and convergence theory for the identification of first and second order nonlinear distributed parameter systems developed previously by the authors and reported on in detail elsewhere are summarized and discussed. The theory is based upon results for systems whose dynamics can be described by monotone operators in Hilbert space and an abstract approximation theorem for the resulting nonlinear evolution system. The application of the theory together with numerical evidence demonstrating the feasibility of the general approach are discussed in the context of the identification of a first order quasi-linear parabolic model for one dimensional heat conduction/mass transport and the identification of a nonlinear dissipation mechanism (i.e., damping) in a second order one dimensional wave equation. Computational and implementational considerations, in particular, with regard to supercomputing, are addressed.

The role of community structure on the nature of explosive synchronization.

PubMed

Lotfi, Nastaran; Rodrigues, Francisco A; Darooneh, Amir Hossein

2018-03-01

In this paper, we analyze explosive synchronization in networks with a community structure. The results of our study indicate that the mesoscopic structure of the networks could affect the synchronization of coupled oscillators. With the variation of three parameters, the degree probability distribution exponent, the community size probability distribution exponent, and the mixing parameter, we could have a fast or slow phase transition. Besides, in some cases, we could have communities which are synchronized inside but not with other communities and vice versa. We also show that there is a limit in these mesoscopic structures which suppresses the transition from the second-order phase transition and results in explosive synchronization. This could be considered as a tuning parameter changing the transition of the system from the second order to the first order.

Quantifying Stock Return Distributions in Financial Markets

PubMed Central

Botta, Federico; Moat, Helen Susannah; Stanley, H. Eugene; Preis, Tobias

2015-01-01

Being able to quantify the probability of large price changes in stock markets is of crucial importance in understanding financial crises that affect the lives of people worldwide. Large changes in stock market prices can arise abruptly, within a matter of minutes, or develop across much longer time scales. Here, we analyze a dataset comprising the stocks forming the Dow Jones Industrial Average at a second by second resolution in the period from January 2008 to July 2010 in order to quantify the distribution of changes in market prices at a range of time scales. We find that the tails of the distributions of logarithmic price changes, or returns, exhibit power law decays for time scales ranging from 300 seconds to 3600 seconds. For larger time scales, we find that the distributions tails exhibit exponential decay. Our findings may inform the development of models of market behavior across varying time scales. PMID:26327593

Quantifying Stock Return Distributions in Financial Markets.

PubMed

Botta, Federico; Moat, Helen Susannah; Stanley, H Eugene; Preis, Tobias

2015-01-01

Being able to quantify the probability of large price changes in stock markets is of crucial importance in understanding financial crises that affect the lives of people worldwide. Large changes in stock market prices can arise abruptly, within a matter of minutes, or develop across much longer time scales. Here, we analyze a dataset comprising the stocks forming the Dow Jones Industrial Average at a second by second resolution in the period from January 2008 to July 2010 in order to quantify the distribution of changes in market prices at a range of time scales. We find that the tails of the distributions of logarithmic price changes, or returns, exhibit power law decays for time scales ranging from 300 seconds to 3600 seconds. For larger time scales, we find that the distributions tails exhibit exponential decay. Our findings may inform the development of models of market behavior across varying time scales.

Harmonic growth of spherical Rayleigh-Taylor instability in weakly nonlinear regime

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Wanhai; LHD, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190; Chen, Yulian

Harmonic growth in classical Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) on a spherical interface is analytically investigated using the method of the parameter expansion up to the third order. Our results show that the amplitudes of the first four harmonics will recover those in planar RTI as the interface radius tends to infinity compared against the initial perturbation wavelength. The initial radius dramatically influences the harmonic development. The appearance of the second-order feedback to the initial unperturbed interface (i.e., the zeroth harmonic) makes the interface move towards the spherical center. For these four harmonics, the smaller the initial radius is, the faster theymore » grow.« less

How Difficult is it to Reduce Low-Level Cloud Biases With the Higher-Order Turbulence Closure Approach in Climate Models?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, Kuan-Man

2015-01-01

Low-level clouds cover nearly half of the Earth and play a critical role in regulating the energy and hydrological cycle. Despite the fact that a great effort has been put to advance the modeling and observational capability in recent years, low-level clouds remains one of the largest uncertainties in the projection of future climate change. Low-level cloud feedbacks dominate the uncertainty in the total cloud feedback in climate sensitivity and projection studies. These clouds are notoriously difficult to simulate in climate models due to its complicated interactions with aerosols, cloud microphysics, boundary-layer turbulence and cloud dynamics. The biases in both low cloud coverage/water content and cloud radiative effects (CREs) remain large. A simultaneous reduction in both cloud and CRE biases remains elusive. This presentation first reviews the effort of implementing the higher-order turbulence closure (HOC) approach to representing subgrid-scale turbulence and low-level cloud processes in climate models. There are two HOCs that have been implemented in climate models. They differ in how many three-order moments are used. The CLUBB are implemented in both CAM5 and GDFL models, which are compared with IPHOC that is implemented in CAM5 by our group. IPHOC uses three third-order moments while CLUBB only uses one third-order moment while both use a joint double-Gaussian distribution to represent the subgrid-scale variability. Despite that HOC is more physically consistent and produces more realistic low-cloud geographic distributions and transitions between cumulus and stratocumulus regimes, GCMs with traditional cloud parameterizations outperform in CREs because tuning of this type of models is more extensively performed than those with HOCs. We perform several tuning experiments with CAM5 implemented with IPHOC in an attempt to produce the nearly balanced global radiative budgets without deteriorating the low-cloud simulation. One of the issues in CAM5-IPHOC is that cloud water content is much higher than in CAM5, which is combined with higher low-cloud coverage to produce larger shortwave CREs in some low-cloud prevailing regions. Thus, the cloud-radiative feedbacks are exaggerated there. The turning exercise is focused on microphysical parameters, which are also commonly used for tuning in climate models. The results will be discussed in this presentation.

Engineering Inertial and Primary-Frequency Response for Distributed Energy Resources: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dall-Anese, Emiliano; Zhao, Changhong; Guggilam, Swaroop

We propose a framework to engineer synthetic-inertia and droop-control parameters for distributed energy resources (DERs) so that the system frequency in a network composed of DERs and synchronous generators conforms to prescribed transient and steady-state performance specifications. Our approach is grounded in a second-order lumped-parameter model that captures the dynamics of synchronous generators and frequency-responsive DERs endowed with inertial and droop control. A key feature of this reduced-order model is that its parameters can be related to those of the originating higher-order dynamical model. This allows one to systematically design the DER inertial and droop-control coefficients leveraging classical frequency-domain responsemore » characteristics of second-order systems. Time-domain simulations validate the accuracy of the model-reduction method and demonstrate how DER controllers can be designed to meet steady-state-regulation and transient-performance specifications.« less

A microwave scattering model for layered vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karam, Mostafa A.; Fung, Adrian K.; Lang, Roger H.; Chauhan, Narinder S.

1992-01-01

A microwave scattering model was developed for layered vegetation based on an iterative solution of the radiative transfer equation up to the second order to account for multiple scattering within the canopy and between the ground and the canopy. The model is designed to operate over a wide frequency range for both deciduous and coniferous forest and to account for the branch size distribution, leaf orientation distribution, and branch orientation distribution for each size. The canopy is modeled as a two-layered medium above a rough interface. The upper layer is the crown containing leaves, stems, and branches. The lower layer is the trunk region modeled as randomly positioned cylinders with a preferred orientation distribution above an irregular soil surface. Comparisons of this model with measurements from deciduous and coniferous forests show good agreements at several frequencies for both like and cross polarizations. Major features of the model needed to realize the agreement include allowance for: (1) branch size distribution, (2) second-order effects, and (3) tree component models valid over a wide range of frequencies.

Building inhabitant feedback: Creating a reflective practice for environmental design using activity theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cunningham, Dara Suzanne

The way buildings are designed now, there is little feedback from use involved in the design process. Attempts to correct this problem have been made in the form of Post Occupancy Evaluations (POEs) for 50-years but have largely failed. POEs are the accepted method for environmental designers to collect feedback about buildings in use. They are infrequently conducted, after the building is built, in a one-time only evaluation, and not funded as part of the build process. Other products receive feedback about the design in use from online critiques. Online critiques could provide a platform for feedback from actors engaged with buildings in use for environmental designers to utilize in developing reflective design rationale to avoid adverse consequences in future designs or correct consequences in past and current designs. Since buildings constitute such a large part of the human environment, it's important to research the effects of buildings on their inhabitants. In order for environmental designers to act on feedback from situated use, designers need to have access to that feedback and all actors interacting with the building design need to have an easy, inexpensive, and accessible method to submit feedback. These needs can be addressed by utilizing modern networked and mobile computing to collect and access building feedback. The analysis presented in this dissertation is informed by a thorough evaluation of the theory of reflective practice, activity theory, environmental design, and cognitive science research. From this analysis, I developed the following contributions. First, I expanded Schon's reflective practice by combining his theory with a modified version of activity theory, using activity theory to enrich reflective practice and create Reflective Activity Systems Theory (RAST), which provides a new framework to develop design rationale based on feedback from use and a focus on the activity. Second, I suggest the design of an activity information system, Socio-Technical Environments for Evolutionary Design (STEED), which provides an interactive platform for actor and artifact feedback from the use situation. Third, I discuss implications for practice by discussing how the feedback from actors and artifacts in situated use can be used to create reflective design rationale.

Development of a nonlinear vortex method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kandil, O. A.

1982-01-01

Steady and unsteady Nonliner Hybrid Vortex (NHV) method, for low aspect ratio wings at large angles of attack, is developed. The method uses vortex panels with first-order vorticity distribution (equivalent to second-order doublet distribution) to calculate the induced velocity in the near field using closed form expressions. In the far field, the distributed vorticity is reduced to concentrated vortex lines and the simpler Biot-Savart's law is employed. The method is applied to rectangular wings in steady and unsteady flows without any restriction on the order of magnitude of the disturbances in the flow field. The numerical results show that the method accurately predicts the distributed aerodynamic loads and that it is of acceptable computational efficiency.

The spiral of distrust: (Non-)cooperation in a repeated trust game is predicted by anger and individual differences in negative reciprocity orientation.

PubMed

Harth, Nicole S; Regner, Tobias

2017-12-01

This study investigated state anger and individual differences in negative reciprocity orientation as predictors of individuals' willingness to cooperate with strangers. In order to observe real behaviour, we used a trust game that was played over six periods. In the trust game, a first player (sender) determines how much of a certain endowment she/he wants to share with a second player (trustee), who then can give something back. We varied whether participants received feedback [feedback (yes, no)] about the trustee's behavioural decision (amount sent back). Supporting our hypotheses, the results suggest that feedback compared with no feedback about the trustee's behaviour increased anger. Specifically, information about low back transfers triggered anger and non-cooperation in return. Importantly, participants with a strong negative reciprocity orientation reported higher levels of anger and were less willing to cooperate with the trustee compared with those with low negative reciprocity orientation. Moreover, even when anger was low, individuals with a strong negative reciprocity orientation were less willing to cooperate compared with those with a low negative reciprocity orientation. Thus, negative reciprocity orientation seems to arouse a spiral of distrust. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. © 2016 International Union of Psychological Science.

Feedback Control of Unsteady Flow and Vortex-Induced Vibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaiman, Rajeev; Yao, Weigang

2017-11-01

We present an active feedback blowing and suction (AFBS) procedure via model reduction for unsteady wake flow and the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of circular cylinders. The reduced-order model (ROM) for the AFBS procedure is developed by the eigensystem realization (ERA) algorithm, which provides a low-order representation of the unsteady flow dynamics in the neighbourhood of the equilibrium steady state. The actuation is considered via vertical suction and blowing jet at the porous surface of a circular cylinder with a body mounted force sensor. The resulting controller designed by linear low-order approximation is able to suppress the nonlinear saturated state. A systematic linear ROM-based stability analysis is performed to understand the eigenvalue distributions of elastically mounted circular cylinders. The results from the ROM analysis are consistent with those obtained from full nonlinear fluid-structure interaction simulations. A sensitivity study on the number of suction/blowing actuators, the angular arrangement of actuators, and the combined versus independent control architectures has been performed. Overall, the proposed control is found to be effective in suppressing the vortex street and the VIV for a range of reduced velocities and mass ratios.

The Physics of Ultracold Sr2 Molecules: Optical Production and Precision Measurement

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

causing stimulated emission. The wavelength of the feedback light is determined by the angle of the feedback mirror . The zeroth order is the output from...with representative mirror , diffraction grating and diode housing (right). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 2.14 Schematic of...of the feedback light is determined by the angle of the feedback mirror . The zeroth order is the output from the ECDL. . . . . . . . . . . . 23 2.15

Minimal-Approximation-Based Distributed Consensus Tracking of a Class of Uncertain Nonlinear Multiagent Systems With Unknown Control Directions.

PubMed

Choi, Yun Ho; Yoo, Sung Jin

2017-03-28

A minimal-approximation-based distributed adaptive consensus tracking approach is presented for strict-feedback multiagent systems with unknown heterogeneous nonlinearities and control directions under a directed network. Existing approximation-based consensus results for uncertain nonlinear multiagent systems in lower-triangular form have used multiple function approximators in each local controller to approximate unmatched nonlinearities of each follower. Thus, as the follower's order increases, the number of the approximators used in its local controller increases. However, the proposed approach employs only one function approximator to construct the local controller of each follower regardless of the order of the follower. The recursive design methodology using a new error transformation is derived for the proposed minimal-approximation-based design. Furthermore, a bounding lemma on parameters of Nussbaum functions is presented to handle the unknown control direction problem in the minimal-approximation-based distributed consensus tracking framework and the stability of the overall closed-loop system is rigorously analyzed in the Lyapunov sense.

Providing Graduated Corrective Feedback in an Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ai, Haiyang

2017-01-01

Corrective feedback (CF), a response to linguistic errors made by second language (L2) learners, has received extensive scholarly attention in second language acquisition. While much of the previous research in the field has focused on whether CF facilitates or impedes L2 development, few studies have examined the efficacy of gradually modifying…

The Type and Linguistic Foci of Oral Corrective Feedback in the L2 Classroom: A Meta-Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Dan

2016-01-01

Research on corrective feedback (CF), a central focus of second language acquisition (SLA), has increasingly examined how teachers employ CF in second language classrooms. Lyster and Ranta's (1997) seminal study identified six types of CF that teachers use in response to students' errors (recast, explicit correction, elicitation, clarification…

Corrective Feedback in SLA: Theoretical Relevance and Empirical Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Jin; Lin, Jianghao; Jiang, Lin

2016-01-01

Corrective feedback (CF) refers to the responses or treatments from teachers to a learner's nontargetlike second language (L2) production. CF has been a crucial and controversial topic in the discipline of second language acquisition (SLA). Some SLA theorists believe that CF is harmful to L2 acquisition and should be ruled out completely while…

Nonverbal Behavior and Corrective Feedback in Nine ESL University-Level Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Weiqing; Loewen, Shawn

2016-01-01

Nonverbal behavior is an area of recent interest in second language acquisition (SLA). Some researchers have found that teachers' nonverbal behavior plays a role in second language (L2) learners' learning. Furthermore, corrective feedback during L2 interaction can also be facilitative of L2 development; however, little is known about how nonverbal…

ELECTRON EMISSION REGULATING MEANS

DOEpatents

Brenholdt, I.R.

1957-11-19

>An electronic regulating system is described for controlling the electron emission of a cathode, for example, the cathode in a mass spectrometer. The system incorporates a transformer having a first secondary winding for the above-mentioned cathode and a second secondary winding for the above-mentioned cathode and a second secondary winding load by grid controlled vacuum tubes. A portion of the electron current emitted by the cathode is passed through a network which develops a feedback signal. The system arrangement is completed by using the feedback signal to control the vacuum tubes in the second secondary winding through a regulator tube. When a change in cathode emission occurs, the feedback signal acts to correct this change by adjusting the load on the transformer.

The Patient Feedback Response Framework - Understanding why UK hospital staff find it difficult to make improvements based on patient feedback: A qualitative study.

PubMed

Sheard, Laura; Marsh, Claire; O'Hara, Jane; Armitage, Gerry; Wright, John; Lawton, Rebecca

2017-04-01

Patients are increasingly being asked for feedback about their healthcare experiences. However, healthcare staff often find it difficult to act on this feedback in order to make improvements to services. This paper draws upon notions of legitimacy and readiness to develop a conceptual framework (Patient Feedback Response Framework - PFRF) which outlines why staff may find it problematic to respond to patient feedback. A large qualitative study was conducted with 17 ward based teams between 2013 and 2014, across three hospital Trusts in the North of England. This was a process evaluation of a wider study where ward staff were encouraged to make action plans based on patient feedback. We focus on three methods here: i) examination of taped discussion between ward staff during action planning meetings ii) facilitators notes of these meetings iii) telephone interviews with staff focusing on whether action plans had been achieved six months later. Analysis employed an abductive approach. Through the development of the PFRF, we found that making changes based on patient feedback is a complex multi-tiered process and not something that ward staff can simply 'do'. First, staff must exhibit normative legitimacy - the belief that listening to patients is a worthwhile exercise. Second, structural legitimacy has to be in place - ward teams need adequate autonomy, ownership and resource to enact change. Some ward teams are able to make improvements within their immediate control and environment. Third, for those staff who require interdepartmental co-operation or high level assistance to achieve change, organisational readiness must exist at the level of the hospital otherwise improvement will rarely be enacted. Case studies drawn from our empirical data demonstrate the above. It is only when appropriate levels of individual and organisational capacity to change exist, that patient feedback is likely to be acted upon to improve services. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Establish a Data Transmission Platform of the Rig Based on the Distributed Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Zefu; Li, Tao

In order to control in real-time ,closed-loop feedback the information, saving the money and labor,we distribute a platform of network data. It through the establishment of the platform in the oil drilling to achieve the easiest route of each device of the rig that conveying timely. The design proposed the platform to transfer networking data by PA which allows the rig control for optimal use. Against the idea,achieving first through on-site cabling and the establishment of data transmission module in the rig monitoring system. The results of standard field application show that the platform solve the problem of rig control.

Immediate Web-Based Essay Critiquing System Feedback and Teacher Follow-Up Feedback on Young Second Language Learners' Writings: An Experimental Study in a Hong Kong Secondary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Cynthia; Cheung, William Kwok Wai; Wong, Kelvin Chi Kuen; Lee, Fion Sau Ling

2013-01-01

This article is an effort to add to computer-assisted language learning by extending a study on an essay critiquing system (ECS) feedback to secondary school language learners' writing. The study compared two groups of participants' performance, namely the treatment group which received both the system feedback and teacher feedback (i.e., blended…

Explicit and Implicit Feedback, Modified Output, and SLA: Does Explicit and Implicit Feedback Promote Learning and Learner-Learner Interactions?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Rebecca; Nuevo, Ana Maria; Egi, Takako

2011-01-01

Research on interactional feedback has typically focused on feedback learners receive from native speakers (i.e., NS-learner contexts). However, for many second language (L2) learners, the majority of their opportunities to engage in interaction occur with other learners (i.e., learner-learner contexts). The literature has suggested that feedback…

Theoretical modeling of the dynamics of a semiconductor laser subject to double-reflector optical feedback

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bakry, A.; Abdulrhmann, S.; Ahmed, M., E-mail: mostafa.farghal@mu.edu.eg

2016-06-15

We theoretically model the dynamics of semiconductor lasers subject to the double-reflector feedback. The proposed model is a new modification of the time-delay rate equations of semiconductor lasers under the optical feedback to account for this type of the double-reflector feedback. We examine the influence of adding the second reflector to dynamical states induced by the single-reflector feedback: periodic oscillations, period doubling, and chaos. Regimes of both short and long external cavities are considered. The present analyses are done using the bifurcation diagram, temporal trajectory, phase portrait, and fast Fourier transform of the laser intensity. We show that adding themore » second reflector attracts the periodic and perioddoubling oscillations, and chaos induced by the first reflector to a route-to-continuous-wave operation. During this operation, the periodic-oscillation frequency increases with strengthening the optical feedback. We show that the chaos induced by the double-reflector feedback is more irregular than that induced by the single-reflector feedback. The power spectrum of this chaos state does not reflect information on the geometry of the optical system, which then has potential for use in chaotic (secure) optical data encryption.« less

Dissociating error-based and reinforcement-based loss functions during sensorimotor learning

PubMed Central

McGregor, Heather R.; Mohatarem, Ayman

2017-01-01

It has been proposed that the sensorimotor system uses a loss (cost) function to evaluate potential movements in the presence of random noise. Here we test this idea in the context of both error-based and reinforcement-based learning. In a reaching task, we laterally shifted a cursor relative to true hand position using a skewed probability distribution. This skewed probability distribution had its mean and mode separated, allowing us to dissociate the optimal predictions of an error-based loss function (corresponding to the mean of the lateral shifts) and a reinforcement-based loss function (corresponding to the mode). We then examined how the sensorimotor system uses error feedback and reinforcement feedback, in isolation and combination, when deciding where to aim the hand during a reach. We found that participants compensated differently to the same skewed lateral shift distribution depending on the form of feedback they received. When provided with error feedback, participants compensated based on the mean of the skewed noise. When provided with reinforcement feedback, participants compensated based on the mode. Participants receiving both error and reinforcement feedback continued to compensate based on the mean while repeatedly missing the target, despite receiving auditory, visual and monetary reinforcement feedback that rewarded hitting the target. Our work shows that reinforcement-based and error-based learning are separable and can occur independently. Further, when error and reinforcement feedback are in conflict, the sensorimotor system heavily weights error feedback over reinforcement feedback. PMID:28753634

Dissociating error-based and reinforcement-based loss functions during sensorimotor learning.

PubMed

Cashaback, Joshua G A; McGregor, Heather R; Mohatarem, Ayman; Gribble, Paul L

2017-07-01

It has been proposed that the sensorimotor system uses a loss (cost) function to evaluate potential movements in the presence of random noise. Here we test this idea in the context of both error-based and reinforcement-based learning. In a reaching task, we laterally shifted a cursor relative to true hand position using a skewed probability distribution. This skewed probability distribution had its mean and mode separated, allowing us to dissociate the optimal predictions of an error-based loss function (corresponding to the mean of the lateral shifts) and a reinforcement-based loss function (corresponding to the mode). We then examined how the sensorimotor system uses error feedback and reinforcement feedback, in isolation and combination, when deciding where to aim the hand during a reach. We found that participants compensated differently to the same skewed lateral shift distribution depending on the form of feedback they received. When provided with error feedback, participants compensated based on the mean of the skewed noise. When provided with reinforcement feedback, participants compensated based on the mode. Participants receiving both error and reinforcement feedback continued to compensate based on the mean while repeatedly missing the target, despite receiving auditory, visual and monetary reinforcement feedback that rewarded hitting the target. Our work shows that reinforcement-based and error-based learning are separable and can occur independently. Further, when error and reinforcement feedback are in conflict, the sensorimotor system heavily weights error feedback over reinforcement feedback.

Compressive Feedback Control Design for Spatially Distributed Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-03

NecSys 2015 & 2016 Abstract The goal of this research is the development of new fundamental insights and methodologies to exploit structural properties of...Measures One of the simplest class of dynamical networks that our proposed methodology can be explained in a simple setting is the class of first–order...developed a novel methodology to obtain tight lower and upper bounds for the class of systemic measures. In the following, some of the key ideas behind our

Sure I'm Sure: Prefrontal Oscillations Support Metacognitive Monitoring of Decision Making.

PubMed

Wokke, Martijn E; Cleeremans, Axel; Ridderinkhof, K Richard

2017-01-25

Successful decision making critically involves metacognitive processes such as monitoring and control of our decision process. Metacognition enables agents to modify ongoing behavior adaptively and determine what to do next in situations in which external feedback is not (immediately) available. Despite the importance of metacognition for many aspects of life, little is known about how our metacognitive system operates or about what kind of information is used for metacognitive (second-order) judgments. In particular, it remains an open question whether metacognitive judgments are based on the same information as first-order decisions. Here, we investigated the relationship between metacognitive performance and first-order task performance by recording EEG signals while participants were asked to make a "diagnosis" after seeing a sample of fictitious patient data (a complex pattern of colored moving dots of different sizes). To assess metacognitive performance, participants provided an estimate about the quality of their diagnosis on each trial. Results demonstrate that the information that contributes to first-order decisions differs from the information that supports metacognitive judgments. Further, time-frequency analyses of EEG signals reveal that metacognitive performance is associated specifically with prefrontal theta-band activity. Together, our findings are consistent with a hierarchical model of metacognition and suggest a crucial role for prefrontal oscillations in metacognitive performance. Monitoring and control of our decision process (metacognition) is a crucial aspect of adaptive decision making. Crucially, metacognitive skills enable us to adjust ongoing behavior and determine future decision making when immediate feedback is not available. In the present study, we constructed a "diagnosis task" that allowed us to assess in what way first-order task performance and metacognition are related to each other. Results demonstrate that the contribution of sensory evidence (size, color, and motion direction) differs between first- and second-order decision making. Further, our results indicate that metacognitive performance specifically is orchestrated by means of prefrontal theta oscillations. Together, our findings suggest a hierarchical model of metacognition. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/370781-09$15.00/0.

Effects of Heterogeniety on Spatial Pattern Analysis of Wild Pistachio Trees in Zagros Woodlands, Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erfanifard, Y.; Rezayan, F.

2014-10-01

Vegetation heterogeneity biases second-order summary statistics, e.g., Ripley's K-function, applied for spatial pattern analysis in ecology. Second-order investigation based on Ripley's K-function and related statistics (i.e., L- and pair correlation function g) is widely used in ecology to develop hypothesis on underlying processes by characterizing spatial patterns of vegetation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate effects of underlying heterogeneity of wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) trees on the second-order summary statistics of point pattern analysis in a part of Zagros woodlands, Iran. The spatial distribution of 431 wild pistachio trees was accurately mapped in a 40 ha stand in the Wild Pistachio & Almond Research Site, Fars province, Iran. Three commonly used second-order summary statistics (i.e., K-, L-, and g-functions) were applied to analyse their spatial pattern. The two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test showed that the observed pattern significantly followed an inhomogeneous Poisson process null model in the study region. The results also showed that heterogeneous pattern of wild pistachio trees biased the homogeneous form of K-, L-, and g-functions, demonstrating a stronger aggregation of the trees at the scales of 0-50 m than actually existed and an aggregation at scales of 150-200 m, while regularly distributed. Consequently, we showed that heterogeneity of point patterns may bias the results of homogeneous second-order summary statistics and we also suggested applying inhomogeneous summary statistics with related null models for spatial pattern analysis of heterogeneous vegetations.

Feedback-Equivalence of Nonlinear Systems with Applications to Power System Equations.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marino, Riccardo

The key concept of the dissertation is feedback equivalence among systems affine in control. Feedback equivalence to linear systems in Brunovsky canonical form and the construction of the corresponding feedback transformation are used to: (i) design a nonlinear regulator for a detailed nonlinear model of a synchronous generator connected to an infinite bus; (ii) establish which power system network structures enjoy the feedback linearizability property and design a stabilizing control law for these networks with a constraint on the control space which comes from the use of d.c. lines. It is also shown that the feedback linearizability property allows the use of state feedback to contruct a linear controllable system with a positive definite linear Hamiltonian structure for the uncontrolled part if the state space is even; a stabilizing control law is derived for such systems. Feedback linearizability property is characterized by the involutivity of certain nested distributions for strongly accessible analytic systems; if the system is defined on a manifold M diffeomorphic to the Euclidean space, it is established that the set where the property holds is a submanifold open and dense in M. If an analytic output map is defined, a set of nested involutive distributions can be always defined and that allows the introduction of an observability property which is the dual concept, in some sense, to feedback linearizability: the goal is to investigate when a nonlinear system affine in control with an analytic output map is feedback equivalent to a linear controllable and observable system. Finally a nested involutive structure of distributions is shown to guarantee the existence of a state feedback that takes a nonlinear system affine in control to a single input one, both feedback equivalent to linear controllable systems, preserving one controlled vector field.

Psycho-physiological assessment of a prosthetic hand sensory feedback system based on an auditory display: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Jose; Soma, Hirokazu; Sekine, Masashi; Yu, Wenwei

2012-06-09

Prosthetic hand users have to rely extensively on visual feedback, which seems to lead to a high conscious burden for the users, in order to manipulate their prosthetic devices. Indirect methods (electro-cutaneous, vibrotactile, auditory cues) have been used to convey information from the artificial limb to the amputee, but the usability and advantages of these feedback methods were explored mainly by looking at the performance results, not taking into account measurements of the user's mental effort, attention, and emotions. The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of using psycho-physiological measurements to assess cognitive effort when manipulating a robot hand with and without the usage of a sensory substitution system based on auditory feedback, and how these psycho-physiological recordings relate to temporal and grasping performance in a static setting. 10 male subjects (26+/-years old), participated in this study and were asked to come for 2 consecutive days. On the first day the experiment objective, tasks, and experiment setting was explained. Then, they completed a 30 minutes guided training. On the second day each subject was tested in 3 different modalities: Auditory Feedback only control (AF), Visual Feedback only control (VF), and Audiovisual Feedback control (AVF). For each modality they were asked to perform 10 trials. At the end of each test, the subject had to answer the NASA TLX questionnaire. Also, during the test the subject's EEG, ECG, electro-dermal activity (EDA), and respiration rate were measured. The results show that a higher mental effort is needed when the subjects rely only on their vision, and that this effort seems to be reduced when auditory feedback is added to the human-machine interaction (multimodal feedback). Furthermore, better temporal performance and better grasping performance was obtained in the audiovisual modality. The performance improvements when using auditory cues, along with vision (multimodal feedback), can be attributed to a reduced attentional demand during the task, which can be attributed to a visual "pop-out" or enhance effect. Also, the NASA TLX, the EEG's Alpha and Beta band, and the Heart Rate could be used to further evaluate sensory feedback systems in prosthetic applications.

The effect of standardized patient feedback in teaching surgical residents informed consent: results of a pilot study.

PubMed

Leeper-Majors, Kristine; Veale, James R; Westbrook, Thomas S; Reed, Kendall

2003-01-01

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of using feedback from a standardized patient (SP) to teach a surgical resident (SR) informed consent (IC) protocol. Four general case types of increasing difficulty were tested in a longitudinal experimental design format. The four types of cases were appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. Eight SRs of varying years of completion in medical school served as subjects-four in the experimental group (received performance feedback from an SP) and four in the control group (received no SP feedback). Both the control and experimental groups participated in two patient encounters per case type. The first patient encounter served as the pretest, and the second patient encounter was the posttest. In each encounter, an SP rated the resident on 14 measures using an open-ended seven-point rating scale adopted and modified from the Brown University Interpersonal Skill Evaluation (BUISE). Each resident also reviewed a videotape of an expert giving IC between pretest and the posttest for basic instructional protocol. Random stratified sampling was used to equally distribute the residents by postgraduate years. A total of 16 SPs were used in this study. All patient/SR encounters were videotaped. There was a statistically significant overall change--pretest to posttest and across cases (p = 0.001). The group effect was statistically significant (p = 0.000), with the experimental group averaging about 10 points greater than the control group. Standardized patient feedback is an effective modality in teaching surgical residents informed consent protocol. This conclusion is tentative, due to the limitations of sample size. The results of this study support continued research on the effects of standardized patient feedback to teach informed consent to surgical residents.

Self-starting, self-regulating Fourier domain mode locked fiber laser for OCT imaging

PubMed Central

Murari, Kartikeya; Mavadia, Jessica; Xi, Jiefeng; Li, Xingde

2011-01-01

We present a Fourier domain mode locking (FDML) fiber laser with a feedback loop allowing automatic startup without a priori knowledge of the fundamental drive frequency. The feedback can also regulate the drive frequency making the source robust against environmental variations. A control system samples the energy of the light traversing the FDML cavity and uses a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) to drive the tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter in order to maximize that energy. We demonstrate a prototype self-starting, self-regulating FDML operating at 40 kHz with a full width tuning range of 140 nm around 1305 nm and a power output of ~40 mW. The laser starts up with no operator intervention in less than 5 seconds and exhibits improved spectral stability over a conventional FDML source. In OCT applications the source achieved over 120 dB detection sensitivity and an ~8.9-µm axial resolution. PMID:21750775

Structural Damage Detection Using Virtual Passive Controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lew, Jiann-Shiun; Juang, Jer-Nan

2001-01-01

This paper presents novel approaches for structural damage detection which uses the virtual passive controllers attached to structures, where passive controllers are energy dissipative devices and thus guarantee the closed-loop stability. The use of the identified parameters of various closed-loop systems can solve the problem that reliable identified parameters, such as natural frequencies of the open-loop system may not provide enough information for damage detection. Only a small number of sensors are required for the proposed approaches. The identified natural frequencies, which are generally much less sensitive to noise and more reliable than the identified natural frequencies, are used for damage detection. Two damage detection techniques are presented. One technique is based on the structures with direct output feedback controllers while the other technique uses the second-order dynamic feedback controllers. A least-squares technique, which is based on the sensitivity of natural frequencies to damage variables, is used for accurately identifying the damage variables.

Effects of Different Types of Corrective Feedback on Receptive Skills in a Second Language: A Speech Perception Training Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Andrew H.; Lyster, Roy

2016-01-01

This study investigated the effects of different types of corrective feedback (CF) provided during second language (L2) speech perception training. One hundred Korean learners of L2 English, randomly assigned to five groups (n = 20 per group), participated in eight computer-assisted perception training sessions targeting two minimal pairs of…

Multiple-Choice Testing Using Immediate Feedback--Assessment Technique (IF AT®) Forms: Second-Chance Guessing vs. Second-Chance Learning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merrel, Jeremy D.; Cirillo, Pier F.; Schwartz, Pauline M.; Webb, Jeffrey A.

2015-01-01

Multiple choice testing is a common but often ineffective method for evaluating learning. A newer approach, however, using Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF AT®, Epstein Educational Enterprise, Inc.) forms, offers several advantages. In particular, a student learns immediately if his or her answer is correct and, in the case of an…

Computer-Mediated Input, Output and Feedback in the Development of L2 Word Recognition from Speech

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthews, Joshua; Cheng, Junyu; O'Toole, John Mitchell

2015-01-01

This paper reports on the impact of computer-mediated input, output and feedback on the development of second language (L2) word recognition from speech (WRS). A quasi-experimental pre-test/treatment/post-test research design was used involving three intact tertiary level English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Classes were either assigned to…

Active vibration absorber for CSI evolutionary model: Design and experimental results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruner, Anne M.; Belvin, W. Keith; Horta, Lucas G.; Juang, Jer-Nan

1991-01-01

The development of control of large flexible structures technology must include practical demonstration to aid in the understanding and characterization of controlled structures in space. To support this effort, a testbed facility was developed to study practical implementation of new control technologies under realistic conditions. The design is discussed of a second order, acceleration feedback controller which acts as an active vibration absorber. This controller provides guaranteed stability margins for collocated sensor/actuator pairs in the absence of sensor/actuator dynamics and computational time delay. The primary performance objective considered is damping augmentation of the first nine structural modes. Comparison of experimental and predicted closed loop damping is presented, including test and simulation time histories for open and closed loop cases. Although the simulation and test results are not in full agreement, robustness of this design under model uncertainty is demonstrated. The basic advantage of this second order controller design is that the stability of the controller is model independent.

Full State Feedback Control for Virtual Power Plants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Jay Tillay

This report presents an object-oriented implementation of full state feedback control for virtual power plants (VPP). The components of the VPP full state feedback control are (1) objectoriented high-fidelity modeling for all devices in the VPP; (2) Distribution System Distributed Quasi-Dynamic State Estimation (DS-DQSE) that enables full observability of the VPP by augmenting actual measurements with virtual, derived and pseudo measurements and performing the Quasi-Dynamic State Estimation (QSE) in a distributed manner, and (3) automated formulation of the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) in real time using the output of the DS-DQSE, and solving the distributed OPF to provide the optimalmore » control commands to the DERs of the VPP.« less

Linearization of microwave photonic link based on nonlinearity of distributed feedback laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Zi-jian; Gu, Yi-ying; Zhu, Wen-wu; Fan, Feng; Hu, Jing-jing; Zhao, Ming-shan

2016-02-01

A microwave photonic link (MPL) with spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) improvement utilizing the nonlinearity of a distributed feedback (DFB) laser is proposed and demonstrated. First, the relationship between the bias current and nonlinearity of a semiconductor DFB laser is experimentally studied. On this basis, the proposed linear optimization of MPL is realized by the combination of the external intensity Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) modulation MPL and the direct modulation MPL with the nonlinear operation of the DFB laser. In the external modulation MPL, the MZM is biased at the linear point to achieve the radio frequency (RF) signal transmission. In the direct modulation MPL, the third-order intermodulation (IMD3) components are generated for enhancing the SFDR of the external modulation MPL. When the center frequency of the input RF signal is 5 GHz and the two-tone signal interval is 10 kHz, the experimental results show that IMD3 of the system is effectively suppressed by 29.3 dB and the SFDR is increased by 7.7 dB.

Vibration control of large linear quadratic symmetric systems. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jeon, G. J.

1983-01-01

Some unique properties on a class of the second order lambda matrices were found and applied to determine a damping matrix of the decoupled subsystem in such a way that the damped system would have preassigned eigenvalues without disturbing the stiffness matrix. The resulting system was realized as a time invariant velocity only feedback control system with desired poles. Another approach using optimal control theory was also applied to the decoupled system in such a way that the mode spillover problem could be eliminated. The procedures were tested successfully by numerical examples.

Improving the Acquisition of Basic Technical Surgical Skills with VR-Based Simulation Coupled with Computer-Based Video Instruction.

PubMed

Rojas, David; Kapralos, Bill; Dubrowski, Adam

2016-01-01

Next to practice, feedback is the most important variable in skill acquisition. Feedback can vary in content and the way that it is used for delivery. Health professions education research has extensively examined the different effects provided by the different feedback methodologies. In this paper we compared two different types of knowledge of performance (KP) feedback. The first type was video-based KP feedback while the second type consisted of computer generated KP feedback. Results of this study showed that computer generated performance feedback is more effective than video based performance feedback. The combination of the two feedback methodologies provides trainees with a better understanding.

The Effects and Perceptions of Trained Peer Feedback in L2 Speaking: Impact on Revision and Speaking Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodríguez-González, Eva; Castañeda, Martha E.

2018-01-01

The present study examined the impact of trained peer feedback on Spanish as a second language (L2) in terms of language performance, nature of feedback, and perceptions of peer feedback in speaking tasks. Participants in the study included 17 intermediate L2 Spanish learners enrolled in a conversation course that incorporated peer feedback…

Consistent second-order boundary implementations for convection-diffusion lattice Boltzmann method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liangqi; Yang, Shiliang; Zeng, Zhong; Chew, Jia Wei

2018-02-01

In this study, an alternative second-order boundary scheme is proposed under the framework of the convection-diffusion lattice Boltzmann (LB) method for both straight and curved geometries. With the proposed scheme, boundary implementations are developed for the Dirichlet, Neumann and linear Robin conditions in a consistent way. The Chapman-Enskog analysis and the Hermite polynomial expansion technique are first applied to derive the explicit expression for the general distribution function with second-order accuracy. Then, the macroscopic variables involved in the expression for the distribution function is determined by the prescribed macroscopic constraints and the known distribution functions after streaming [see the paragraph after Eq. (29) for the discussions of the "streaming step" in LB method]. After that, the unknown distribution functions are obtained from the derived macroscopic information at the boundary nodes. For straight boundaries, boundary nodes are directly placed at the physical boundary surface, and the present scheme is applied directly. When extending the present scheme to curved geometries, a local curvilinear coordinate system and first-order Taylor expansion are introduced to relate the macroscopic variables at the boundary nodes to the physical constraints at the curved boundary surface. In essence, the unknown distribution functions at the boundary node are derived from the known distribution functions at the same node in accordance with the macroscopic boundary conditions at the surface. Therefore, the advantages of the present boundary implementations are (i) the locality, i.e., no information from neighboring fluid nodes is required; (ii) the consistency, i.e., the physical boundary constraints are directly applied when determining the macroscopic variables at the boundary nodes, thus the three kinds of conditions are realized in a consistent way. It should be noted that the present focus is on two-dimensional cases, and theoretical derivations as well as the numerical validations are performed in the framework of the two-dimensional five-velocity lattice model.

Supporting Second Language Writing Using Multimodal Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elola, Idoia; Oskoz, Ana

2016-01-01

The educational use of computer-based feedback in the classroom is becoming widespread. However, less is known about (1) the extent to which tools influence how instructors provide written and oral comments, and (2) whether receiving oral or written feedback influences the nature of learners' revisions. This case study, which expands existing…

High-order rogue waves in vector nonlinear Schrödinger equations.

PubMed

Ling, Liming; Guo, Boling; Zhao, Li-Chen

2014-04-01

We study the dynamics of high-order rogue waves (RWs) in two-component coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. We find that four fundamental rogue waves can emerge from second-order vector RWs in the coupled system, in contrast to the high-order ones in single-component systems. The distribution shape can be quadrilateral, triangle, and line structures by varying the proper initial excitations given by the exact analytical solutions. The distribution pattern for vector RWs is more abundant than that for scalar rogue waves. Possibilities to observe these new patterns for rogue waves are discussed for a nonlinear fiber.

Improved Timing Scheme for Spaceborne Precipitation Radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berkun, Andrew; Fischman, Mark

2004-01-01

An improved timing scheme has been conceived for operation of a scanning satellite-borne rain-measuring radar system. The scheme allows a real-time-generated solution, which is required for auto targeting. The current timing scheme used in radar satellites involves pre-computing a solution that allows the instrument to catch all transmitted pulses without transmitting and receiving at the same time. Satellite altitude requires many pulses in flight at any time, and the timing solution to prevent transmit and receive operations from colliding is usually found iteratively. The proposed satellite has a large number of scanning beams each with a different range to target and few pulses per beam. Furthermore, the satellite will be self-targeting, so the selection of which beams are used will change from sweep to sweep. The proposed timing solution guarantees no echo collisions, can be generated using simple FPGA-based hardware in real time, and can be mathematically shown to deliver the maximum number of pulses per second, given the timing constraints. The timing solution is computed every sweep, and consists of three phases: (1) a build-up phase, (2) a feedback phase, and (3) a build-down phase. Before the build-up phase can begin, the beams to be transmitted are sorted in numerical order. The numerical order of the beams is also the order from shortest range to longest range. Sorting the list guarantees no pulse collisions. The build-up phase begins by transmitting the first pulse from the first beam on the list. Transmission of this pulse starts a delay counter, which stores the beam number and the time delay to the beginning of the receive window for that beam. The timing generator waits just long enough to complete the transmit pulse plus one receive window, then sends out the second pulse. The second pulse starts a second delay counter, which stores its beam number and time delay. This process continues until an output from the first timer indicates there is less than one transmit pulse width until the start of the next receive event. This blocks future transmit pulses in the build-up phase. The feedback phase begins with the first timer paying off and starting the first receive window. When the first receive window is complete, the timing generator transmits the next beam from the list. When the second timer pays off, the second receive event is started. Following the second receive event, the timing generator will transmit the next beam on the list and start an additional timer. The timers work in a circular buffer fashion so there only need to be enough to cover the maximum number of echoes in flight.

Free-running InGaAs single photon detector with 1 dark count per second at 10% efficiency

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Korzh, B., E-mail: Boris.Korzh@unige.ch; Walenta, N.; Lunghi, T.

We present a free-running single photon detector for telecom wavelengths based on a negative feedback avalanche photodiode (NFAD). A dark count rate as low as 1 cps was obtained at a detection efficiency of 10%, with an afterpulse probability of 2.2% for 20 μs of deadtime. This was achieved by using an active hold-off circuit and cooling the NFAD with a free-piston stirling cooler down to temperatures of −110 °C. We integrated two detectors into a practical, 625 MHz clocked quantum key distribution system. Stable, real-time key distribution in the presence of 30 dB channel loss was possible, yielding a secret key rate of 350 bps.

[Gas pipeline leak detection based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy].

PubMed

Zhang, Qi-Xing; Wang, Jin-Jun; Liu, Bing-Hai; Cai, Ting-Li; Qiao, Li-Feng; Zhang, Yong-Ming

2009-08-01

The principle of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and harmonic detection technique was introduced. An experimental device was developed by point sampling through small multi-reflection gas cell. A specific line near 1 653. 7 nm was targeted for methane measurement using a distributed feedback diode laser as tunable light source. The linearity between the intensity of second harmonic signal and the concentration of methane was determined. The background content of methane in air was measured. The results show that gas sensors using tunable diode lasers provide a high sensitivity and high selectivity method for city gas pipeline leak detection.

Global output feedback stabilisation of stochastic high-order feedforward nonlinear systems with time-delay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kemei; Zhao, Cong-Ran; Xie, Xue-Jun

2015-12-01

This paper considers the problem of output feedback stabilisation for stochastic high-order feedforward nonlinear systems with time-varying delay. By using the homogeneous domination theory and solving several troublesome obstacles in the design and analysis, an output feedback controller is constructed to drive the closed-loop system globally asymptotically stable in probability.

Data-driven adaptive fractional order PI control for PMSM servo system with measurement noise and data dropouts.

PubMed

Xie, Yuanlong; Tang, Xiaoqi; Song, Bao; Zhou, Xiangdong; Guo, Yixuan

2018-04-01

In this paper, data-driven adaptive fractional order proportional integral (AFOPI) control is presented for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo system perturbed by measurement noise and data dropouts. The proposed method directly exploits the closed-loop process data for the AFOPI controller design under unknown noise distribution and data missing probability. Firstly, the proposed method constructs the AFOPI controller tuning problem as a parameter identification problem using the modified l p norm virtual reference feedback tuning (VRFT). Then, iteratively reweighted least squares is integrated into the l p norm VRFT to give a consistent compensation solution for the AFOPI controller. The measurement noise and data dropouts are estimated and eliminated by feedback compensation periodically, so that the AFOPI controller is updated online to accommodate the time-varying operating conditions. Moreover, the convergence and stability are guaranteed by mathematical analysis. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated both on simulations and experiments implemented on a practical PMSM servo system. Copyright © 2018 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distributed feedback acoustic surface wave oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elachi, C.

1974-01-01

Using a simple model, the feasibility of applying the distributed feedback concept to the generation of acoustic surface waves is evaluated. It is shown that surface corrugation of the piezoelectric boundary in a semiconductor-piezoelectric surface acoustic wave amplifier could lead to self-sustained oscillations.

STABILIZED FEEDBACK AMPLIFIER

DOEpatents

Fishbine, H.L.; Sewell, C. Jr.

1957-08-01

Negative feedback amplifiers, and particularly a negative feedback circuit which is economical on amode power consumption, are described. Basically, the disclosed circuit comprises two tetrode tubes where the output of the first tube is capacitamce coupled to the grid of the second tube, which in turn has its plate coupled to the cathode of the first tube to form a degenerative feedback circuit. Operating potential for screen of the second tube is supplied by connecting the cathode resistor of the first tube to the screen, while the screen is by-passed to the cathode of its tube for the amplified frequencies. Also, the amplifier incorporates a circuit to stabilize the transconductance of the tubes by making the grid potential of each tube interdependent on anode currents of both lubes by voltage divider circuitry.

Feedback brake distribution control for minimum pitch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tavernini, Davide; Velenis, Efstathios; Longo, Stefano

2017-06-01

The distribution of brake forces between front and rear axles of a vehicle is typically specified such that the same level of brake force coefficient is imposed at both front and rear wheels. This condition is known as 'ideal' distribution and it is required to deliver the maximum vehicle deceleration and minimum braking distance. For subcritical braking conditions, the deceleration demand may be delivered by different distributions between front and rear braking forces. In this research we show how to obtain the optimal distribution which minimises the pitch angle of a vehicle and hence enhances driver subjective feel during braking. A vehicle model including suspension geometry features is adopted. The problem of the minimum pitch brake distribution for a varying deceleration level demand is solved by means of a model predictive control (MPC) technique. To address the problem of the undesirable pitch rebound caused by a full-stop of the vehicle, a second controller is designed and implemented independently from the braking distribution in use. An extended Kalman filter is designed for state estimation and implemented in a high fidelity environment together with the MPC strategy. The proposed solution is compared with the reference 'ideal' distribution as well as another previous feed-forward solution.

Second Language Writing Research and Written Corrective Feedback in SLA: Intersections and Practical Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferris, Dana R.

2010-01-01

For more than a decade now, a great deal of research has been done on the topic of written corrective feedback (CF) in SLA and second language (L2) writing. Nonetheless, what those research efforts really have shown as well as the possible implications for practice remain in dispute. Although L2 writing and SLA researchers often examine similar…

Impact of a Sequential Intervention on Albumin Utilization in Critical Care.

PubMed

Lyu, Peter F; Hockenberry, Jason M; Gaydos, Laura M; Howard, David H; Buchman, Timothy G; Murphy, David J

2016-07-01

Literature generally finds no advantages in mortality risk for albumin over cheaper alternatives in many settings. Few studies have combined financial and nonfinancial strategies to reduce albumin overuse. We evaluated the effect of a sequential multifaceted intervention on decreasing albumin use in ICU and explore the effects of different strategies. Prospective prepost cohort study. Eight ICUs at two hospitals in an academic healthcare system. Adult patients admitted to study ICUs from September 2011 to August 2014 (n = 22,004). Over 2 years, providers in study ICUs participated in an intervention to reduce albumin use involving monthly feedback and explicit financial incentives in the first year and internal guidelines and order process changes in the second year. Outcomes measured were albumin orders per ICU admission, direct albumin costs, and mortality. Mean (SD) utilization decreased 37% from 2.7 orders (6.8) per admission during the baseline to 1.7 orders (4.6) during the intervention (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that the intervention was independently associated with 0.9 fewer orders per admission, a 42% relative decrease. This adjusted effect consisted of an 18% reduction in the probability of using any albumin (p < 0.001) and a 29% reduction in the number of orders per admission among patients receiving any (p < 0.001). Secondary analysis revealed that probability reductions were concurrent with internal guidelines and order process modification while reductions in quantity occurred largely during the financial incentives and feedback period. Estimated cost savings totaled $2.5M during the 2-year intervention. There was no significant difference in ICU or hospital mortality between baseline and intervention. A sequential intervention achieved significant reductions in ICU albumin use and cost savings without changes in patient outcomes, supporting the combination of financial and nonfinancial strategies to align providers with evidence-based practices.

A theoretical framework for convergence and continuous dependence of estimates in inverse problems for distributed parameter systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, H. T.; Ito, K.

1988-01-01

Numerical techniques for parameter identification in distributed-parameter systems are developed analytically. A general convergence and stability framework (for continuous dependence on observations) is derived for first-order systems on the basis of (1) a weak formulation in terms of sesquilinear forms and (2) the resolvent convergence form of the Trotter-Kato approximation. The extension of this framework to second-order systems is considered.

Continuous tank reactors in series: an improved alternative in the removal of phenolic compounds with immobilized peroxidase.

PubMed

Gómez, E; Máximo, M F; Montiel, M C; Gómez, M; Murcia, M D; Ortega, S

2012-01-01

Immobilized derivatives of soybean peroxidase, covalently bound to a glass support, were used in a continuous stirred tank reactor in series, in order to study the removal of two phenolic compounds: phenol and 4-chlorophenol. The use of two reactors in series, rather than one continuous tank, improved the removal efficiencies of phenol and 4-chlorophenol. The distribution of different amounts of enzyme between the two tanks showed that the relative distributions influenced the removal efficiency reached and the degree of the enzyme deactivation. The highest removal percentages were reached at the outlet of the second tank for a distribution of 50% of the enzyme in each tank. However, with a distribution of 75% in the first tank and 25% in the second, the elimination percentage in the second tank was slightly lower than in the previous case, and the effects of deactivation of the enzyme in the first tank were less pronounced. In all the distributions assayed it was observed that the first tank acts as a filter for the second one, which receives a feed with a smaller load of phenolic compounds, thus diminishing enzyme deactivation in the second tank.

Validation of zero-order feedback strategies for medium range air-to-air interception in a horizontal plane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shinar, J.

1982-01-01

A zero order feedback solution of a variable speed interception game between two aircraft in the horizontal plane, obtained by using the method of forced singular perturbation (FSP), is compared with the exact open loop solution. The comparison indicates that for initial distances of separation larger than eight turning radii of the evader, the accuracy of the feedback approximation is better than one percent. The result validates the zero order FSP approximation for medium range air combat analysis.

Active control of turbulent boundary layer-induced sound transmission through the cavity-backed double panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caiazzo, A.; Alujević, N.; Pluymers, B.; Desmet, W.

2018-05-01

This paper presents a theoretical study of active control of turbulent boundary layer (TBL) induced sound transmission through the cavity-backed double panels. The aerodynamic model used is based on the Corcos wall pressure distribution. The structural-acoustic model encompasses a source panel (skin panel), coupled through an acoustic cavity to the radiating panel (trim panel). The radiating panel is backed by a larger acoustic enclosure (the back cavity). A feedback control unit is located inside the acoustic cavity between the two panels. It consists of a control force actuator and a sensor mounted at the actuator footprint on the radiating panel. The control actuator can react off the source panel. It is driven by an amplified velocity signal measured by the sensor. A fully coupled analytical structural-acoustic model is developed to study the effects of the active control on the sound transmission into the back cavity. The stability and performance of the active control system are firstly studied on a reduced order model. In the reduced order model only two fundamental modes of the fully coupled system are assumed. Secondly, a full order model is considered with a number of modes large enough to yield accurate simulation results up to 1000 Hz. It is shown that convincing reductions of the TBL-induced vibrations of the radiating panel and the sound pressure inside the back cavity can be expected. The reductions are more pronounced for a certain class of systems, which is characterised by the fundamental natural frequency of the skin panel larger than the fundamental natural frequency of the trim panel.

Distributed feedback guided surface acoustic wave microresonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golan, G.; Griffel, G.; Seidman, A.; Croitoru, N.

1989-08-01

Surface acoustic wave resonators have been used in a number of applications: high-Q frequency filtering, very accurate frequency sources, etc. A major disadvantage of conventional resonators is their large dimensions, which makes them inadequate for integrated acoustics applications. In order to overcome these size limitations a new type of microresonator was designed, developed, and tested. In this paper, theoretical calculations and measurements on two kinds of such devices (a corrugated waveguide filter and a microresonator structure) are presented and their possible applications are discussed.

Assessing Command and Control System Vulnerabilities in Underdeveloped, Degraded and Denied Operational Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

simulation of complex systems (Sterman 2000, Meadows 2008): a) Causal Loop Diagrams. A Causal Loop Diagram ( CLD ) is used to represent the feedback...structure of the dynamic system. CLDs consist of variables in the system being connected by arrows to show their causal influences and relationships. It is...distribution of orders will be included in the model. 6.4.2 Causal Loop Diagrams The CLD , as seen in Figure 5, is derived from the WDA constructs for the

Theoretical study of a thermo-acousto-electric generator equipped with an electroacoustic feedback loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olivier, Come; Penelet, Guillaume; Poignand, Gaelle; Lotton, Pierrick

2015-10-01

A simplified model of a Stirling-type thermoacoustic engine coupled to a resonant mechanical system is presented. The acoustic network is presented as its temperature-dependent lumped element equivalent, and the nonlinear effects involved in such engines are accounted for in a nonlinear heat equation governing the temperature distribution through the thermoacoustic core. The low-order model is sufficient to capture the behavior of the engine, both in terms of stability and dynamic behavior.

Analytic Guidance for the First Entry in a Skip Atmospheric Entry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia-Llama, Eduardo

2007-01-01

This paper presents an analytic method to generate a reference drag trajectory for the first entry portion of a skip atmospheric entry. The drag reference, expressed as a polynomial function of the velocity, will meet the conditions necessary to fit the requirements of the complete entry phase. The generic method proposed to generate the drag reference profile is further simplified by thinking of the drag and the velocity as density and cumulative distribution functions respectively. With this notion it will be shown that the reference drag profile can be obtained by solving a linear algebraic system of equations. The resulting drag profile is flown using the feedback linearization method of differential geometric control as guidance law with the error dynamics of a second order homogeneous equation in the form of a damped oscillator. This approach was first proposed as a revisited version of the Space Shuttle Orbiter entry guidance. However, this paper will show that it can be used to fly the first entry in a skip entry trajectory. In doing so, the gains in the error dynamics will be changed at a certain point along the trajectory to improve the tracking performance.

Multiple scattering in the high-frequency limit with second-order shadowing function from 2D anisotropic rough dielectric surfaces: I. Theoretical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourlier, C.; Berginc, G.

2004-07-01

In this paper the first- and second-order Kirchhoff approximation is applied to study the backscattering enhancement phenomenon, which appears when the surface rms slope is greater than 0.5. The formulation is reduced to the geometric optics approximation in which the second-order illumination function is taken into account. This study is developed for a two-dimensional (2D) anisotropic stationary rough dielectric surface and for any surface slope and height distributions assumed to be statistically even. Using the Weyl representation of the Green function (which introduces an absolute value over the surface elevation in the phase term), the incoherent scattering coefficient under the stationary phase assumption is expressed as the sum of three terms. The incoherent scattering coefficient then requires the numerical computation of a ten- dimensional integral. To reduce the number of numerical integrations, the geometric optics approximation is applied, which assumes that the correlation between two adjacent points is very strong. The model is then proportional to two surface slope probabilities, for which the slopes would specularly reflect the beams in the double scattering process. In addition, the slope distributions are related with each other by a propagating function, which accounts for the second-order illumination function. The companion paper is devoted to the simulation of this model and comparisons with an 'exact' numerical method.

Stochastic cooling of bunched beams from fluctuation and kinetic theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chattopadhyay, S.

1982-09-01

A theoretical formalism for stochastic phase-space cooling of bunched beams in storage rings is developed on the dual basis of classical fluctuation theory and kinetic theory of many-body systems in phase-space. The physics is that of a collection of three-dimensional oscillators coupled via retarded nonconservative interactions determined by an electronic feedback loop. At the heart of the formulation is the existence of several disparate time-scales characterizing the cooling process. Both theoretical approaches describe the cooling process in the form of a Fokker-Planck transport equation in phase-space valid up to second order in the strength and first order in the auto-correlationmore » of the cooling signal. With neglect of the collective correlations induced by the feedback loop, identical expressions are obtained in both cases for the coherent damping and Schottky noise diffusion coefficients. These are expressed in terms of Fourier coefficients in a harmonic decomposition in angle of the generalized nonconservative cooling force written in canonical action-angle variables of the particles in six-dimensional phase-space. Comparison of analytic results to a numerical simulation study with 90 pseudo-particles in a model cooling system is presented.« less

Exploring Senior Residents' Intraoperative Error Management Strategies: A Potential Measure of Performance Improvement.

PubMed

Law, Katherine E; Ray, Rebecca D; D'Angelo, Anne-Lise D; Cohen, Elaine R; DiMarco, Shannon M; Linsmeier, Elyse; Wiegmann, Douglas A; Pugh, Carla M

The study aim was to determine whether residents' error management strategies changed across 2 simulated laparoscopic ventral hernia (LVH) repair procedures after receiving feedback on their initial performance. We hypothesize that error detection and recovery strategies would improve during the second procedure without hands-on practice. Retrospective review of participant procedural performances of simulated laparoscopic ventral herniorrhaphy. A total of 3 investigators reviewed procedure videos to identify surgical errors. Errors were deconstructed. Error management events were noted, including error identification and recovery. Residents performed the simulated LVH procedures during a course on advanced laparoscopy. Participants had 30 minutes to complete a LVH procedure. After verbal and simulator feedback, residents returned 24 hours later to perform a different, more difficult simulated LVH repair. Senior (N = 7; postgraduate year 4-5) residents in attendance at the course participated in this study. In the first LVH procedure, residents committed 121 errors (M = 17.14, standard deviation = 4.38). Although the number of errors increased to 146 (M = 20.86, standard deviation = 6.15) during the second procedure, residents progressed further in the second procedure. There was no significant difference in the number of errors committed for both procedures, but errors shifted to the late stage of the second procedure. Residents changed the error types that they attempted to recover (χ 2 5 =24.96, p<0.001). For the second procedure, recovery attempts increased for action and procedure errors, but decreased for strategy errors. Residents also recovered the most errors in the late stage of the second procedure (p < 0.001). Residents' error management strategies changed between procedures following verbal feedback on their initial performance and feedback from the simulator. Errors and recovery attempts shifted to later steps during the second procedure. This may reflect residents' error management success in the earlier stages, which allowed further progression in the second simulation. Incorporating error recognition and management opportunities into surgical training could help track residents' learning curve and provide detailed, structured feedback on technical and decision-making skills. Copyright © 2016 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strength of German accent under altered auditory feedback

PubMed Central

HOWELL, PETER; DWORZYNSKI, KATHARINA

2007-01-01

Borden’s (1979, 1980) hypothesis that speakers with vulnerable speech systems rely more heavily on feedback monitoring than do speakers with less vulnerable systems was investigated. The second language (L2) of a speaker is vulnerable, in comparison with the native language, so alteration to feedback should have a detrimental effect on it, according to this hypothesis. Here, we specifically examined whether altered auditory feedback has an effect on accent strength when speakers speak L2. There were three stages in the experiment. First, 6 German speakers who were fluent in English (their L2) were recorded under six conditions—normal listening, amplified voice level, voice shifted in frequency, delayed auditory feedback, and slowed and accelerated speech rate conditions. Second, judges were trained to rate accent strength. Training was assessed by whether it was successful in separating German speakers speaking English from native English speakers, also speaking English. In the final stage, the judges ranked recordings of each speaker from the first stage as to increasing strength of German accent. The results show that accents were more pronounced under frequency-shifted and delayed auditory feedback conditions than under normal or amplified feedback conditions. Control tests were done to ensure that listeners were judging accent, rather than fluency changes caused by altered auditory feedback. The findings are discussed in terms of Borden’s hypothesis and other accounts about why altered auditory feedback disrupts speech control. PMID:11414137

Log amplifier with pole-zero compensation

DOEpatents

Brookshier, W.

1985-02-08

A logarithmic amplifier circuit provides pole-zero compensation for improved stability and response time over 6-8 decades of input signal frequency. The amplifer circuit includes a first operational amplifier with a first feedback loop which includes a second, inverting operational amplifier in a second feedstock loop. The compensated output signal is provided by the second operational amplifier with the log elements, i.e., resistors, and the compensating capacitors in each of the feedback loops having equal values so that each break point is offset by a compensating break point or zero.

Type and Amount of Input-Based Practice in CALI: The Revelations of a Triangulated Research Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cerezo, Luis

2016-01-01

Research shows that computer-generated corrective feedback can promote second language development, but there is no consensus about which type is the most effective. The scale is tipped in favor of more explicit feedback that provides metalinguistic explanations, but counterevidence indicates that minimally explicit feedback of the…

Rethinking the Red Ink: Audio-Feedback in the ESL Writing Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johanson, Robert

1999-01-01

This paper describes audio-feedback as a teaching method for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing classes. Using this method, writing instructors respond to students' compositions by recording their comments onto an audiocassette, then returning the paper and cassette to the students. The first section describes audio-feedback and explains…

Micromachined diffraction based optical microphones and intensity probes with electrostatic force feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bicen, Baris

Measuring acoustic pressure gradients is critical in many applications such as directional microphones for hearing aids and sound intensity probes. This measurement is especially challenging with decreasing microphone size, which reduces the sensitivity due to small spacing between the pressure ports. Novel, micromachined biomimetic microphone diaphragms are shown to provide high sensitivity to pressure gradients on one side of the diaphragm with low thermal mechanical noise. These structures have a dominant mode shape with see-saw like motion in the audio band, responding to pressure gradients as well as spurious higher order modes sensitive to pressure. In this dissertation, integration of a diffraction based optical detection method with these novel diaphragm structures to implement a low noise optical pressure gradient microphone is described and experimental characterization results are presented, showing 36 dBA noise level with 1mm port spacing, nearly an order of magnitude better than the current gradient microphones. The optical detection scheme also provides electrostatic actuation capability from both sides of the diaphragm separately which can be used for active force feedback. A 4-port electromechanical equivalent circuit model of this microphone with optical readout is developed to predict the overall response of the device to different acoustic and electrostatic excitations. The model includes the damping due to complex motion of air around the microphone diaphragm, and it calculates the detected optical signal on each side of the diaphragm as a combination of two separate dominant vibration modes. This equivalent circuit model is verified by experiments and used to predict the microphone response with different force feedback schemes. Single sided force feedback is used for active damping to improve the linearity and the frequency response of the microphone. Furthermore, it is shown that using two sided force feedback one can significantly suppress or enhance the desired vibration modes of the diaphragm. This approach provides an electronic means to tailor the directional response of the microphones, with significant implications in device performance for various applications. As an example, the use of this device as a particle velocity sensor for sound intensity and sound power measurements is investigated. Without force feedback, the gradient microphone provides accurate particle velocity measurement for frequencies below 2 kHz, after which the pressure response of the second order mode becomes significant. With two-sided force feedback, the calculations show that this upper frequency limit may be increased to 10 kHz. This improves the pressure residual intensity index by more than 15 dB in the 50 Hz--10 kHz range, matching the Class I requirements of IEC 1043 standards for intensity probes without any need for multiple spacers.

Is the use of videotape recording superior to verbal feedback alone in the teaching of clinical skills?

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Background In recent times, medical schools have committed to developing good communication and history taking skills in students. However, there remains an unresolved question as to which constitutes the best educational method. Our study aims to investigate whether the use of videotape recording is superior to verbal feedback alone in the teaching of clinical skills and the role of student self-assessment on history taking and communication skills. Methods A randomized controlled trial was designed. The study was conducted with 52 of the Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine second year students. All students' performances of communication and history taking skills were assessed twice. Between these assessments, the study group had received both verbal and visual feedback by watching their video recordings on patient interview; the control group received only verbal feedback from the teacher. Results Although the self-assessment of the students did not change significantly, assessors' ratings increased significantly for videotaped interviews at the second time. Conclusions Feedback based on videotaped interviews is superior to the feedback given solely based on the observation of assessors. PMID:20021688

Is the use of videotape recording superior to verbal feedback alone in the teaching of clinical skills?

PubMed

Ozcakar, Nilgun; Mevsim, Vildan; Guldal, Dilek; Gunvar, Tolga; Yildirim, Ediz; Sisli, Zafer; Semin, Ilgi

2009-12-19

In recent times, medical schools have committed to developing good communication and history taking skills in students. However, there remains an unresolved question as to which constitutes the best educational method. Our study aims to investigate whether the use of videotape recording is superior to verbal feedback alone in the teaching of clinical skills and the role of student self-assessment on history taking and communication skills. A randomized controlled trial was designed. The study was conducted with 52 of the Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine second year students. All students' performances of communication and history taking skills were assessed twice. Between these assessments, the study group had received both verbal and visual feedback by watching their video recordings on patient interview; the control group received only verbal feedback from the teacher. Although the self-assessment of the students did not change significantly, assessors' ratings increased significantly for videotaped interviews at the second time. Feedback based on videotaped interviews is superior to the feedback given solely based on the observation of assessors.

Approach for Input Uncertainty Propagation and Robust Design in CFD Using Sensitivity Derivatives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Putko, Michele M.; Taylor, Arthur C., III; Newman, Perry A.; Green, Lawrence L.

2002-01-01

An implementation of the approximate statistical moment method for uncertainty propagation and robust optimization for quasi 3-D Euler CFD code is presented. Given uncertainties in statistically independent, random, normally distributed input variables, first- and second-order statistical moment procedures are performed to approximate the uncertainty in the CFD output. Efficient calculation of both first- and second-order sensitivity derivatives is required. In order to assess the validity of the approximations, these moments are compared with statistical moments generated through Monte Carlo simulations. The uncertainties in the CFD input variables are also incorporated into a robust optimization procedure. For this optimization, statistical moments involving first-order sensitivity derivatives appear in the objective function and system constraints. Second-order sensitivity derivatives are used in a gradient-based search to successfully execute a robust optimization. The approximate methods used throughout the analyses are found to be valid when considering robustness about input parameter mean values.

The Effects of Performance Feedback and Social Reinforcement on Up-Selling at Fast-Food Restaurants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiesman, Daryl W.

2006-01-01

The present study sought to evaluate the effects of feedback and positive social reinforcement on the performance of restaurant drive-thru window order-takers in asking customers to "upsize" their order at a specific prompt. A multiple baseline across settings was followed by the introduction of an intervention of weekly performance feedback and…

Frontal cortex electrophysiology in reward- and punishment-related feedback processing during advice-guided decision making: An interleaved EEG-DC stimulation study.

PubMed

Wischnewski, Miles; Bekkering, Harold; Schutter, Dennis J L G

2018-04-01

During decision making, individuals are prone to rely on external cues such as expert advice when the outcome is not known. However, the electrophysiological correlates associated with outcome uncertainty and the use of expert advice are not completely understood. The feedback-related negativity (FRN), P3a, and P3b are event-related brain potentials (ERPs) linked to dissociable stages of feedback and attentional processing during decision making. Even though these ERPs are influenced by both reward- and punishment-related feedback, it remains unclear how extrinsic information during uncertainty modulates these brain potentials. In this study, the effects of advice cues on decision making were investigated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded in healthy volunteers during a decision-making task in which the participants received reward or punishment feedback preceded by novice, amateur, or expert advice. The results showed that the P3a component was significantly influenced by the subjective predictive value of an advice cue, whereas the FRN and P3b were unaffected by the advice cues. In the second, sham-controlled experiment, cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) was administered in conjunction with EEG in order to explore the direct contributions of the frontal cortex to these brain potentials. Results showed no significant change in either advice-following behavior or decision times. However, ctDCS did decrease FRN amplitudes as compared to sham, with no effect on the P3a or P3b. Together, these findings suggest that advice information may act primarily on attention allocation during feedback processing, whereas the electrophysiological correlates of the detection and updating of internal prediction models are not affected.

Event-triggered output feedback control for distributed networked systems.

PubMed

Mahmoud, Magdi S; Sabih, Muhammad; Elshafei, Moustafa

2016-01-01

This paper addresses the problem of output-feedback communication and control with event-triggered framework in the context of distributed networked control systems. The design problem of the event-triggered output-feedback control is proposed as a linear matrix inequality (LMI) feasibility problem. The scheme is developed for the distributed system where only partial states are available. In this scheme, a subsystem uses local observers and share its information to its neighbors only when the subsystem's local error exceeds a specified threshold. The developed method is illustrated by using a coupled cart example from the literature. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Engineering Inertial and Primary-Frequency Response for Distributed Energy Resources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dall-Anese, Emiliano; Zhao, Changhong; Guggilam, Swaroop

We propose a framework to engineer synthetic-inertia and droop-control parameters for distributed energy resources (DERs) so that the system frequency in a network composed of DERs and synchronous generators conforms to prescribed transient and steady-state performance specifications. Our approach is grounded in a second-order lumped-parameter model that captures the dynamics of synchronous generators and frequency-responsive DERs endowed with inertial and droop control. A key feature of this reduced-order model is that its parameters can be related to those of the originating higherorder dynamical model. This allows one to systematically design the DER inertial and droop-control coefficients leveraging classical frequency-domain responsemore » characteristics of second-order systems. Time-domain simulations validate the accuracy of the model-reduction method and demonstrate how DER controllers can be designed to meet steady-state-regulation and transient-performance specifications.« less

Mass distribution in galaxy clusters: the role of Active Galactic Nuclei feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teyssier, Romain; Moore, Ben; Martizzi, Davide; Dubois, Yohan; Mayer, Lucio

2011-06-01

We use 1-kpc resolution cosmological Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) simulations of a Virgo-like galaxy cluster to investigate the effect of feedback from supermassive black holes on the mass distribution of dark matter, gas and stars. We compared three different models: (i) a standard galaxy formation model featuring gas cooling, star formation and supernovae feedback, (ii) a 'quenching' model for which star formation is artificially suppressed in massive haloes and finally (iii) the recently proposed active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback model of Booth and Schaye. Without AGN feedback (even in the quenching case), our simulated cluster suffers from a strong overcooling problem, with a stellar mass fraction significantly above observed values in M87. The baryon distribution is highly concentrated, resulting in a strong adiabatic contraction (AC) of dark matter. With AGN feedback, on the contrary, the stellar mass in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) lies below observational estimates and the overcooling problem disappears. The stellar mass of the BCG is seen to increase with increasing mass resolution, suggesting that our stellar masses converge to the correct value from below. The gas and total mass distributions are in better agreement with observations. We also find a slight deficit (˜10 per cent) of baryons at the virial radius, due to the combined effect of AGN-driven convective motions in the inner parts and shock waves in the outer regions, pushing gas to Mpc scales and beyond. This baryon deficit results in a slight adiabatic expansion of the dark matter distribution that can be explained quantitatively by AC theory.

Polar Amplification of Global Warming in Models Without Ice-Albedo Feedbacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, V. A.; Langen, P. L.

2004-12-01

Non-ice-albedo feedback mechanisms leading to polar amplification, as reported by Alexeev (2003), are explored in three aquaplanet climate model systems of different complexity. We analyze this pattern using three different "ghost forcing" experiments (Hansen et al, 1997). In the first one we uniformly add 4W/m2 to the oceanic mixed layer in order to roughly simulate a 2xCO2 forcing at the surface. The second forcing, of the same magnitude, is applied only within the tropics and the third forcing is applied only polewards of 30 degrees (north and south). It turns out that our systems' equilibrium responses are linear with respect to these forcings. Surprisingly, the response to the tropical-only forcing is essentially non-local with quite significant warming at higher latitudes. The response to the high-latitude-only forcing is more local and has higher amplitude near the poles. Our explanation of the polar amplification obtained in the uniform forcing experiment is therefore two-fold. Firstly, the tropics are much more difficult to warm because of the higher sensitivity of the surface budget to SST changes at higher temperatures. Secondly, any extra heat deposited in the tropics is not easily radiated to outer space because of the high opaqueness of the tropical atmosphere. The energy, most of which is latent, needs to be redistributed by transports to the extra-tropics. Consequently, the tropical "ghost forcing" results in an essentially non-local response, while the extra-tropical one yields a more localized response, because the energy in the atmosphere cannot propagate effectively equator-wards from high latitudes. The paper deals with these mechanisms in three climate model systems with no ice-albedo feedbacks - an EBM and two different GCMs - one with cloud feedbacks and the other with cloud feedbacks excluded. References. Alexeev, V.A., (2003) Sensitivity to CO2 doubling of an atmospheric GCM coupled to an oceanic mixed layer: a linear analysis. Climate Dynamics, 20: p.775-787. Hansen, J., Sato M, and R. Ruedy, (1997) Radiative forcing and climate response, JGR, 102, No. D6, 6831-6864.

Analysis of the polar amplification pattern of global warming on an aquaplanet in "ghost forcing" experiments with no ice-albedo feedbacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, V. A.; Langen, P. L.

2004-05-01

Non-ice-albedo feedback mechanisms leading to polar amplification, as reported by Alexeev (2003), are explored in three aquaplanet climate model systems of different complexity. We analyze this pattern using three different "ghost forcing" experiments (Hansen et al, 1997). In the first one we uniformly add 4W/m2 to the oceanic mixed layer in order to roughly simulate a 2xCO2 forcing at the surface. The second forcing, of the same magnitude, is applied only within the tropics and the third forcing is applied only polewards of 30 degrees (north and south). It turns out that our systems' equilibrium responses are linear with respect to these forcings. Surprisingly, the response to the tropical-only forcing is essentially non-local with quite significant warming at higher latitudes. The response to the high-latitude-only forcing is more local and has higher amplitude near the poles. Our explanation of the polar amplification obtained in the uniform forcing experiment is therefore two-fold. Firstly, the tropics are much more difficult to warm because of the higher sensitivity of the surface budget to SST changes at higher temperatures. Secondly, any extra heat deposited in the tropics is not easily radiated to outer space because of the high opaqueness of the tropical atmosphere. The energy, most of which is latent, needs to be redistributed by transports to the extra-tropics. Consequently, the tropical "ghost forcing" results in an essentially non-local response, while the extra-tropical one yields a more localized response, because the energy in the atmosphere cannot propagate effectively equator-wards from high latitudes. The paper deals with these mechanisms in three climate model systems with no ice-albedo feedback - an EBM and two different GCMs - one with cloud feedbacks and the other with cloud feedbacks excluded. References. Alexeev, V.A., (2003) Sensitivity to CO2 doubling of an atmospheric GCM coupled to an oceanic mixed layer: a linear analysis. Climate Dynamics, 20: p.775-787. Hansen, J., Sato M, and R. Ruedy, (1997) Radiative forcing and climate response, JGR, 102, No. D6, 6831-6864.

Nearly-octave wavelength tuning of a continuous wave fiber laser

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lei; Jiang, Huawei; Yang, Xuezong; Pan, Weiwei; Cui, Shuzhen; Feng, Yan

2017-01-01

The wavelength tunability of conventional fiber lasers are limited by the bandwidth of gain spectrum and the tunability of feedback mechanism. Here a fiber laser which is continuously tunable from 1 to 1.9 μm is reported. It is a random distributed feedback Raman fiber laser, pumped by a tunable Yb doped fiber laser. The ultra-wide wavelength tunability is enabled by the unique property of random distributed feedback Raman fiber laser that both stimulated Raman scattering gain and Rayleigh scattering feedback are available at any wavelength. The dispersion property of the gain fiber is used to control the spectral purity of the laser output. PMID:28198414

Dopamine Dependence in Aggregate Feedback Learning: A Computational Cognitive Neuroscience Approach

PubMed Central

Valentin, Vivian V.; Maddox, W. Todd; Ashby, F. Gregory

2016-01-01

Procedural learning of skills depends on dopamine-mediated striatal plasticity. Most prior work investigated single stimulus-response procedural learning followed by feedback. However, many skills include several actions that must be performed before feedback is available. A new procedural-learning task is developed in which three independent and successive unsupervised categorization responses receive aggregate feedback indicating either that all three responses were correct, or at least one response was incorrect. Experiment 1 showed superior learning of stimuli in position 3, and that learning in the first two positions was initially compromised, and then recovered. An extensive theoretical analysis that used parameter space partitioning found that a large class of procedural-learning models, which predict propagation of dopamine release from feedback to stimuli, and/or an eligibility trace, fail to fully account for these data. The analysis also suggested that any dopamine released to the second or third stimulus impaired categorization learning in the first and second positions. A second experiment tested and confirmed a novel prediction of this large class of procedural-learning models that if the to-be-learned actions are introduced one-by-one in succession then learning is much better if training begins with the first action (and works forwards) than if it begins with the last action (and works backwards). PMID:27596541

Exact Solution to Finite Temperature SFDM: Natural Cores without Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robles, Victor H.; Matos, T.

2013-01-01

Recent high-quality observations of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies have shown that their dark matter (DM) halos prefer flat central density profiles. However, the standard cold dark matter model simulations predict a more cuspy behavior. One mechanism used to reconcile the simulations with the observed data is the feedback from star formation. While this mechanism may be successful in isolated dwarf galaxies, its success in LSB galaxies remains unclear. Additionally, the inclusion of too much feedback in the simulations is a double-edged sword—in order to obtain a cored DM distribution from an initially cuspy one, the feedback recipes usually require one to remove a large quantity of baryons from the center of the galaxies; however, some feedback recipes produce twice the number of satellite galaxies of a given luminosity and with much smaller mass-to-light ratios from those that are observed. Therefore, one DM profile that produces cores naturally and that does not require large amounts of feedback would be preferable. We find both requirements to be satisfied in the scalar field dark matter model. Here, we consider that DM is an auto-interacting real scalar field in a thermal bath at temperature T with an initial Z 2 symmetric potential. As the universe expands, the temperature drops so that the Z 2 symmetry is spontaneously broken and the field rolls down to a new minimum. We give an exact analytic solution to the Newtonian limit of this system, showing that it can satisfy the two desired requirements and that the rotation curve profile is no longer universal.

The Feedback Process: Perspectives of First and Second Year Undergraduate Students in the Disciplines of Education, Health Science and Nursing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Douglas, Tracy; Salter, Susan; Iglesias, Miguel; Dowlman, Michele; Eri, Raj

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the current perspectives of feedback from first and second year undergraduate students enrolled in blended units of study which incorporated both face-to-face and online components. Students enrolled in a unit of study taught by the School of Health Sciences at the University of Tasmania were surveyed to…

Fast BPM data distribution for global orbit feedback using commercial gigabit ethernet technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hulsart, R.; Cerniglia, P.; Michnoff, R.

2011-03-28

In order to correct beam perturbations in RHIC around 10Hz, a new fast data distribution network was required to deliver BPM position data at rates several orders of magnitude above the capability of the existing system. The urgency of the project limited the amount of custom hardware that could be developed, which dictated the use of as much commercially available equipment as possible. The selected architecture uses a custom hardware interface to the existing RHIC BPM electronics together with commercially available Gigabit Ethernet switches to distribute position data to devices located around the collider ring. Using the minimum Ethernet packetmore » size and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based state machine logic instead of a software based driver, real-time and deterministic data delivery is possible using Ethernet. The method of adapting this protocol for low latency data delivery, bench testing of Ethernet hardware, and the logic to construct Ethernet packets using FPGA hardware will be discussed. A robust communications system using almost all commercial off-the-shelf equipment was developed in under a year which enabled retrofitting of the existing RHIC BPM system to provide 10 KHz data delivery for a global orbit feedback scheme using 72 BPMs. Total latencies from data acquisition at the BPMs to delivery at the controller modules, including very long transmission distances, were kept under 100 {micro}s, which provide very little phase error in correcting the 10 Hz oscillations. Leveraging off of the speed of Gigabit Ethernet and wide availability of Ethernet products enabled this solution to be fully implemented in a much shorter time and at lower cost than if a similar network was developed using a proprietary method.« less

An Event Related Field Study of Rapid Grammatical Plasticity in Adult Second-Language Learners

PubMed Central

Bastarrika, Ainhoa; Davidson, Douglas J.

2017-01-01

The present study used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate how Spanish adult learners of Basque respond to morphosyntactic violations after a short period of training on a small fragment of Basque grammar. Participants (n = 17) were exposed to violation and control phrases in three phases (pretest, training, generalization-test). In each phase participants listened to short Basque phrases and they judged whether they were correct or incorrect. During the pre-test and generalization-test, participants did not receive any feedback. During the training blocks feedback was provided after each response. We also ran two Spanish control blocks before and after training. We analyzed the event-related magnetic- field (ERF) recorded in response to a critical word during all three phases. In the pretest, classification was below chance and we found no electrophysiological differences between violation and control stimuli. Then participants were explicitly taught a Basque grammar rule. From the first training block participants were able to correctly classify control and violation stimuli and an evoked violation response was present. Although the timing of the electrophysiological responses matched participants' L1 effect, the effect size was smaller for L2 and the topographical distribution differed from the L1. While the L1 effect was bilaterally distributed on the auditory sensors, the L2 effect was present at right frontal sensors. During training blocks two and three, the violation-control effect size increased and the topography evolved to a more L1-like pattern. Moreover, this pattern was maintained in the generalization test. We conclude that rapid changes in neuronal responses can be observed in adult learners of a simple morphosyntactic rule, and that native-like responses can be achieved at least in small fragments of second language. PMID:28174530

Plasmon-polariton distributed-feedback laser pumped by a fast drift current in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zolotovskii, Igor O.; Dadoenkova, Yuliya S.; Moiseev, Sergey G.; Kadochkin, Aleksei S.; Svetukhin, Vyacheslav V.; Fotiadi, Andrei A.

2018-05-01

We propose a model of a slow surface plasmon-polariton distributed-feedback laser with pump by drift current. The amplification in the dielectric-semiconducting film-dielectric waveguide structure is created by fast drift current in the graphene layer, placed at the semiconductor/dielectric interface. The feedback is provided due to a periodic change in the thickness of the semiconducting film. We have shown that in such a system it is possible to achieve surface plasmon-polariton generation in the terahertz region.

Effects of Web-Based Feedback on Students' Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Kol, Simone; Rietz, Christian

2016-01-01

Feedback plays an important role in supporting students' learning process. Nonetheless, providing feedback is still rather unusual in higher education. Moreover, research on the design of ideal feedback as well as its effects is rare. In order to contribute to the development of this field, a web-based feedback system was implemented in a lecture…

Reduced-order dynamic output feedback control of uncertain discrete-time Markov jump linear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morais, Cecília F.; Braga, Márcio F.; Oliveira, Ricardo C. L. F.; Peres, Pedro L. D.

2017-11-01

This paper deals with the problem of designing reduced-order robust dynamic output feedback controllers for discrete-time Markov jump linear systems (MJLS) with polytopic state space matrices and uncertain transition probabilities. Starting from a full order, mode-dependent and polynomially parameter-dependent dynamic output feedback controller, sufficient linear matrix inequality based conditions are provided for the existence of a robust reduced-order dynamic output feedback stabilising controller with complete, partial or none mode dependency assuring an upper bound to the ? or the ? norm of the closed-loop system. The main advantage of the proposed method when compared to the existing approaches is the fact that the dynamic controllers are exclusively expressed in terms of the decision variables of the problem. In other words, the matrices that define the controller realisation do not depend explicitly on the state space matrices associated with the modes of the MJLS. As a consequence, the method is specially suitable to handle order reduction or cluster availability constraints in the context of ? or ? dynamic output feedback control of discrete-time MJLS. Additionally, as illustrated by means of numerical examples, the proposed approach can provide less conservative results than other conditions in the literature.

A second-order shock-expansion method applicable to bodies of revolution near zero lift

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1957-01-01

A second-order shock-expansion method applicable to bodies of revolution is developed by the use of the predictions of the generalized shock-expansion method in combination with characteristics theory. Equations defining the zero-lift pressure distributions and the normal-force and pitching-moment derivatives are derived. Comparisons with experimental results show that the method is applicable at values of the similarity parameter, the ratio of free-stream Mach number to nose fineness ratio, from about 0.4 to 2.

A second-order impact model for forest fire regimes.

PubMed

Maggi, Stefano; Rinaldi, Sergio

2006-09-01

We present a very simple "impact" model for the description of forest fires and show that it can mimic the known characteristics of wild fire regimes in savannas, boreal forests, and Mediterranean forests. Moreover, the distribution of burned biomasses in model generated fires resemble those of burned areas in numerous large forests around the world. The model has also the merits of being the first second-order model for forest fires and the first example of the use of impact models in the study of ecosystems.

Stability switches of arbitrary high-order consensus in multiagent networks with time delays.

PubMed

Yang, Bo

2013-01-01

High-order consensus seeking, in which individual high-order dynamic agents share a consistent view of the objectives and the world in a distributed manner, finds its potential broad applications in the field of cooperative control. This paper presents stability switches analysis of arbitrary high-order consensus in multiagent networks with time delays. By employing a frequency domain method, we explicitly derive analytical equations that clarify a rigorous connection between the stability of general high-order consensus and the system parameters such as the network topology, communication time-delays, and feedback gains. Particularly, our results provide a general and a fairly precise notion of how increasing communication time-delay causes the stability switches of consensus. Furthermore, under communication constraints, the stability and robustness problems of consensus algorithms up to third order are discussed in details to illustrate our central results. Numerical examples and simulation results for fourth-order consensus are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.

Second-Order Chlorine Decay and Trihalomethanes Formation in a Pilot-Scale Water Distribution Systems

EPA Science Inventory

It is well known that model-building of chlorine decay in real water distribution systems is difficult because chlorine decay is influenced by many factors (e.g., bulk water demand, pipe-wall demand, piping material, flow velocity, and residence time). In this paper, experiments ...

Laterally Coupled Distributed-Feedback GaSb-Based Diode Lasers for Atmospheric Gas Detection at 2 Microns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Briggs, Ryan M.; Frez, Clifford; Ksendzov, Alexander; Franz, Kale J.; Bagheri, Mahmood; Forouhar, Siamak

2012-01-01

We demonstrate single-mode laterally coupled distributed-feedback diode lasers at 2.05 microns employing low-loss etched gratings. Single-facet CW output exceeds 50 mW near room temperature with linewidth below 1 MHz over 10-ms observation times

Using Turnitin to Provide Feedback on L2 Writers' Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kostka, Ilka; Maliborska, Veronika

2016-01-01

Second language (L2) writing instructors have varying tools at their disposal for providing feedback on students' writing, including ones that enable them to provide written and audio feedback in electronic form. One tool that has been underexplored is Turnitin, a widely used software program that matches electronic text to a wide range of…

Students' Perceived Usefulness of Formative Feedback for a Computer-Adaptive Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lilley, Mariana; Barker, Trevor

2007-01-01

In this paper we report on research related to the provision of automated feedback based on a computer adaptive test (CAT), used in formative assessment. A cohort of 76 second year university undergraduates took part in a formative assessment with a CAT and were provided with automated feedback on their performance. A sample of students responded…

Transformation through Research-Based Reflection: A Self-Study of Written Feedback Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Best, Karen

2011-01-01

This study investigates the written feedback the author gave during her first year as a university English as a second language writing instructor. The article investigates the form (questions, commands, comments) and the themes (organization, content, grammar) of feedback, the use of mitigation, and the treatment of grammar errors. It shows how…

The Benefits of Computer-Generated Feedback for Mathematics Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fyfe, Emily R.; Rittle-Johnson, Bethany

2016-01-01

The goal of the current research was to better understand when and why feedback has positive effects on learning and to identify features of feedback that may improve its efficacy. In a randomized experiment, second-grade children (N = 75) received instruction on a correct problem-solving strategy and then solved a set of relevant problems.…

Learners' Beliefs about Corrective Feedback in the Language Classroom: Perspectives from Two International Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kartchava, Eva

2016-01-01

This study compared the beliefs college-level students hold about corrective feedback in different learning contexts: English as a second language (Canada, n = 197) and English as a foreign language (Russia, n = 224). The participants completed a 40-item questionnaire that dealt with various aspects of feedback found in the literature. While the…

Automated Essay Feedback Generation and Its Impact on Revision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Ming; Li, Yi; Xu, Weiwei; Liu, Li

2017-01-01

Writing an essay is a very important skill for students to master, but a difficult task for them to overcome. It is particularly true for English as Second Language (ESL) students in China. It would be very useful if students could receive timely and effective feedback about their writing. Automatic essay feedback generation is a challenging task,…

Analytical guidance law development for aerocapture at Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calise, A. J.

1992-01-01

During the first part of this reporting period research has concentrated on performing a detailed evaluation, to zero order, of the guidance algorithm developed in the first period taking the numerical approach developed in the third period. A zero order matched asymptotic expansion (MAE) solution that closely satisfies a set of 6 implicit equations in 6 unknowns to an accuracy of 10(exp -10), was evaluated. Guidance law implementation entails treating the current state as a new initial state and repetitively solving the MAE problem to obtain the feedback controls. A zero order guided solution was evaluated and compared with optimal solution that was obtained by numerical methods. Numerical experience shows that the zero order guided solution is close to optimal solution, and that the zero order MAE outer solution plays a critical role in accounting for the variations in Loh's term near the exit phase of the maneuver. However, the deficiency that remains in several of the critical variables indicates the need for a first order correction. During the second part of this period, methods for computing a first order correction were explored.

The benefits of computer-generated feedback for mathematics problem solving.

PubMed

Fyfe, Emily R; Rittle-Johnson, Bethany

2016-07-01

The goal of the current research was to better understand when and why feedback has positive effects on learning and to identify features of feedback that may improve its efficacy. In a randomized experiment, second-grade children received instruction on a correct problem-solving strategy and then solved a set of relevant problems. Children were assigned to receive no feedback, immediate feedback, or summative feedback from the computer. On a posttest the following day, feedback resulted in higher scores relative to no feedback for children who started with low prior knowledge. Immediate feedback was particularly effective, facilitating mastery of the material for children with both low and high prior knowledge. Results suggest that minimal computer-generated feedback can be a powerful form of guidance during problem solving. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Navigating complex decision spaces: Problems and paradigms in sequential choice

PubMed Central

Walsh, Matthew M.; Anderson, John R.

2015-01-01

To behave adaptively, we must learn from the consequences of our actions. Doing so is difficult when the consequences of an action follow a delay. This introduces the problem of temporal credit assignment. When feedback follows a sequence of decisions, how should the individual assign credit to the intermediate actions that comprise the sequence? Research in reinforcement learning provides two general solutions to this problem: model-free reinforcement learning and model-based reinforcement learning. In this review, we examine connections between stimulus-response and cognitive learning theories, habitual and goal-directed control, and model-free and model-based reinforcement learning. We then consider a range of problems related to temporal credit assignment. These include second-order conditioning and secondary reinforcers, latent learning and detour behavior, partially observable Markov decision processes, actions with distributed outcomes, and hierarchical learning. We ask whether humans and animals, when faced with these problems, behave in a manner consistent with reinforcement learning techniques. Throughout, we seek to identify neural substrates of model-free and model-based reinforcement learning. The former class of techniques is understood in terms of the neurotransmitter dopamine and its effects in the basal ganglia. The latter is understood in terms of a distributed network of regions including the prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobes cerebellum, and basal ganglia. Not only do reinforcement learning techniques have a natural interpretation in terms of human and animal behavior, but they also provide a useful framework for understanding neural reward valuation and action selection. PMID:23834192

Exact extreme-value statistics at mixed-order transitions.

PubMed

Bar, Amir; Majumdar, Satya N; Schehr, Grégory; Mukamel, David

2016-05-01

We study extreme-value statistics for spatially extended models exhibiting mixed-order phase transitions (MOT). These are phase transitions that exhibit features common to both first-order (discontinuity of the order parameter) and second-order (diverging correlation length) transitions. We consider here the truncated inverse distance squared Ising model, which is a prototypical model exhibiting MOT, and study analytically the extreme-value statistics of the domain lengths The lengths of the domains are identically distributed random variables except for the global constraint that their sum equals the total system size L. In addition, the number of such domains is also a fluctuating variable, and not fixed. In the paramagnetic phase, we show that the distribution of the largest domain length l_{max} converges, in the large L limit, to a Gumbel distribution. However, at the critical point (for a certain range of parameters) and in the ferromagnetic phase, we show that the fluctuations of l_{max} are governed by novel distributions, which we compute exactly. Our main analytical results are verified by numerical simulations.

Deflection of light to second order in conformal Weyl gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sultana, Joseph, E-mail: joseph.sultana@um.edu.mt

2013-04-01

We reexamine the deflection of light in conformal Weyl gravity obtained in Sultana and Kazanas (2010), by extending the calculation based on the procedure by Rindler and Ishak, for the bending angle by a centrally concentrated spherically symmetric matter distribution, to second order in M/R, where M is the mass of the source and R is the impact parameter. It has recently been reported in Bhattacharya et al. (JCAP 09 (2010) 004; JCAP 02 (2011) 028), that when this calculation is done to second order, the term γr in the Mannheim-Kazanas metric, yields again the paradoxical contribution γR (where themore » bending angle is proportional to the impact parameter) obtained by standard formalisms appropriate to asymptotically flat spacetimes. We show that no such contribution is obtained for a second order calculation and the effects of the term γr in the metric are again insignificant as reported in our earlier work.« less

Stabilization and control of distributed systems with time-dependent spatial domains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, P. K. C.

1990-01-01

This paper considers the problem of the stabilization and control of distributed systems with time-dependent spatial domains. The evolution of the spatial domains with time is described by a finite-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations, while the distributed systems are described by first-order or second-order linear evolution equations defined on appropriate Hilbert spaces. First, results pertaining to the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the system equations are presented. Then, various optimal control and stabilization problems are considered. The paper concludes with some examples which illustrate the application of the main results.

Optical frequency stabilization in infrared region using improved dual feed-back loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ružička, B.; Číp, O.; Lazar, J.

2007-03-01

Modern technologies such as DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex) need precise stability of laser frequencies. According to this fact, requirements of new etalons of optical frequencies in the telecommunication band is rapidly growing. Lasers working in near infrared telecommunication band (1500-1600 nm) can be stabilized to 12C IIH II or 13C IIH II (acetylene) gas absorption lines. The acetylene gas absorption has been widely studied and accepted by international bodies of standardization as a primary wavelength reference in the near infrared band around 1550 nm. Our aim was to design and develop a compact fibre optics laser system generating coherent light in near-IR band with high frequency stability (at least 1.10 -8). This system should become a base for realization of a primary frequency standard for optical communications in the Czech Republic. Such an etalon will be needed for calibration of wavelengthmeters and spectral analysers for DWDM communication systems. We are co-operating with CMI (Czech Metrology Institute) on this project. We present stabilized laser system based on a single frequency DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser diode with a narrow spectral profile. The laser is pre-stabilized by means of the FM-spectroscopy on a passive resonator. Thanks to a fast feed-back loop we are able to improve spectral characteristics of the laser. The laser frequency is locked by a relatively slow second feed-back loop on an absorption line of acetylene vapour which is sealed in a cell under the optimised pressure.

STABILIZED TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER

DOEpatents

Noe, J.B.

1963-05-01

A temperature stabilized transistor amplifier having a pair of transistors coupled in cascade relation that are capable of providing amplification through a temperature range of - 100 un. Concent 85% F to 400 un. Concent 85% F described. The stabilization of the amplifier is attained by coupling a feedback signal taken from the emitter of second transistor at a junction between two serially arranged biasing resistances in the circuit of the emitter of the second transistor to the base of the first transistor. Thus, a change in the emitter current of the second transistor is automatically corrected by the feedback adjustment of the base-emitter potential of the first transistor and by a corresponding change in the base-emitter potential of the second transistor. (AEC)

Finite Temperature Density Profile in SFDM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robles, Victor H.; Matos, T.

Recent high-quality observations of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies have shown that their dark matter (DM) halos prefer flat central density profiles. On the other hand the standard cold dark matter model simulations predict a more cuspy behavior. Feedback from star formation has been widely used to reconcile simulations with observations, this might be successful in field dwarf galaxies but its success in high mass LSB galaxies remains unclear. Additionally, including too much feedback in the simulations is a double-edged sword, in order to obtain a cored DM distribution from an initially cuspy one, feedback recipes require to remove a large quantity of baryons from the center of galaxies, however, other feedback recipes produce twice more satellite galaxies of a given luminosity and with much smaller mass to light ratios from those that are observed. Therefore, one DM profile that produces cores naturally and that does not require large amounts of feedback would be preferable. We find both requirements to be satisfied in the scalar field dark matter model. Here, we consider that the dark matter is an auto-interacting real scalar field in a thermal bath of temperature T with an initial Z 2 symmetric potential, as the universe expands the temperature drops so that the Z 2 symmetry is spontaneously broken and the field rolls down to a new minimum. We give an exact analytic solution to the Newtonian limit of this system and show both, that it satisfies the two desired requirements and that the rotation curve profile is not longer universal.

The novel application of Benford's second order analysis for monitoring radiation output in interventional radiology.

PubMed

Cournane, S; Sheehy, N; Cooke, J

2014-06-01

Benford's law is an empirical observation which predicts the expected frequency of digits in naturally occurring datasets spanning multiple orders of magnitude, with the law having been most successfully applied as an audit tool in accountancy. This study investigated the sensitivity of the technique in identifying system output changes using simulated changes in interventional radiology Dose-Area-Product (DAP) data, with any deviations from Benford's distribution identified using z-statistics. The radiation output for interventional radiology X-ray equipment is monitored annually during quality control testing; however, for a considerable portion of the year an increased output of the system, potentially caused by engineering adjustments or spontaneous system faults may go unnoticed, leading to a potential increase in the radiation dose to patients. In normal operation recorded examination radiation outputs vary over multiple orders of magnitude rendering the application of normal statistics ineffective for detecting systematic changes in the output. In this work, the annual DAP datasets complied with Benford's first order law for first, second and combinations of the first and second digits. Further, a continuous 'rolling' second order technique was devised for trending simulated changes over shorter timescales. This distribution analysis, the first employment of the method for radiation output trending, detected significant changes simulated on the original data, proving the technique useful in this case. The potential is demonstrated for implementation of this novel analysis for monitoring and identifying change in suitable datasets for the purpose of system process control. Copyright © 2013 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ordered materials for organic electronics and photonics.

PubMed

O'Neill, Mary; Kelly, Stephen M

2011-02-01

We present a critical review of semiconducting/light emitting, liquid crystalline materials and their use in electronic and photonic devices such as transistors, photovoltaics, OLEDs and lasers. We report that annealing from the mesophase improves the order and packing of organic semiconductors to produce state-of-the-art transistors. We discuss theoretical models which predict how charge transport and light emission is affected by the liquid crystalline phase. Organic photovoltaics and OLEDs require optimization of both charge transport and optical properties and we identify the various trade-offs involved for ordered materials. We report the crosslinking of reactive mesogens to give pixellated full-colour OLEDs and distributed bi-layer photovoltaics. We show how the molecular organization inherent to the mesophase can control the polarization of light-emitting devices and the gain in organic, thin-film lasers and can also provide distributed feedback in chiral nematic mirrorless lasers. We update progress on the surface alignment of liquid crystalline semiconductors to obtain monodomain devices without defects or devices with spatially varying properties. Finally the significance of all of these developments is assessed. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Non-fragile observer-based output feedback control for polytopic uncertain system under distributed model predictive control approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Kaiqun; Song, Yan; Zhang, Sunjie; Zhong, Zhaozhun

2017-07-01

In this paper, a non-fragile observer-based output feedback control problem for the polytopic uncertain system under distributed model predictive control (MPC) approach is discussed. By decomposing the global system into some subsystems, the computation complexity is reduced, so it follows that the online designing time can be saved.Moreover, an observer-based output feedback control algorithm is proposed in the framework of distributed MPC to deal with the difficulties in obtaining the states measurements. In this way, the presented observer-based output-feedback MPC strategy is more flexible and applicable in practice than the traditional state-feedback one. What is more, the non-fragility of the controller has been taken into consideration in favour of increasing the robustness of the polytopic uncertain system. After that, a sufficient stability criterion is presented by using Lyapunov-like functional approach, meanwhile, the corresponding control law and the upper bound of the quadratic cost function are derived by solving an optimisation subject to convex constraints. Finally, some simulation examples are employed to show the effectiveness of the method.

Decentralized Quasi-Newton Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisen, Mark; Mokhtari, Aryan; Ribeiro, Alejandro

2017-05-01

We introduce the decentralized Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (D-BFGS) method as a variation of the BFGS quasi-Newton method for solving decentralized optimization problems. The D-BFGS method is of interest in problems that are not well conditioned, making first order decentralized methods ineffective, and in which second order information is not readily available, making second order decentralized methods impossible. D-BFGS is a fully distributed algorithm in which nodes approximate curvature information of themselves and their neighbors through the satisfaction of a secant condition. We additionally provide a formulation of the algorithm in asynchronous settings. Convergence of D-BFGS is established formally in both the synchronous and asynchronous settings and strong performance advantages relative to first order methods are shown numerically.

Assessing Equating Results on Different Equating Criteria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tong, Ye; Kolen, Michael

2005-01-01

The performance of three equating methods--the presmoothed equipercentile method, the item response theory (IRT) true score method, and the IRT observed score method--were examined based on three equating criteria: the same distributions property, the first-order equity property, and the second-order equity property. The magnitude of the…

Multivariable control of the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System using linearization by state feedback. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gettman, Chang-Ching LO

1993-01-01

This thesis develops and demonstrates an approach to nonlinear control system design using linearization by state feedback. The design provides improved transient response behavior allowing faster maneuvering of payloads by the SRMS. Modeling uncertainty is accounted for by using a second feedback loop designed around the feedback linearized dynamics. A classical feedback loop is developed to provide the easy implementation required for the relatively small on board computers. Feedback linearization also allows the use of higher bandwidth model based compensation in the outer loop, since it helps maintain stability in the presence of the nonlinearities typically neglected in model based designs.

Responding Effectively to Composition Students: Comparing Student Perceptions of Written and Audio Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bilbro, J.; Iluzada, C.; Clark, D. E.

2013-01-01

The authors compared student perceptions of audio and written feedback in order to assess what types of students may benefit from receiving audio feedback on their essays rather than written feedback. Many instructors previously have reported the advantages they see in audio feedback, but little quantitative research has been done on how the…

A Model of Critical Peer Feedback to Facilitate Business English Writing Using Qzone Weblogs among Chinese Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xianwei, Gao; Samuel, Moses; Asmawi, Adelina

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore critical thinking skills in peer feedback for Business English writing in order to facilitate the quality of peer feedback and quality of Business English writing. "Critical peer feedback" was conceptualized with the integration of "critical thinking" and "peer feedback" in…

Psycho-physiological assessment of a prosthetic hand sensory feedback system based on an auditory display: a preliminary study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Prosthetic hand users have to rely extensively on visual feedback, which seems to lead to a high conscious burden for the users, in order to manipulate their prosthetic devices. Indirect methods (electro-cutaneous, vibrotactile, auditory cues) have been used to convey information from the artificial limb to the amputee, but the usability and advantages of these feedback methods were explored mainly by looking at the performance results, not taking into account measurements of the user’s mental effort, attention, and emotions. The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of using psycho-physiological measurements to assess cognitive effort when manipulating a robot hand with and without the usage of a sensory substitution system based on auditory feedback, and how these psycho-physiological recordings relate to temporal and grasping performance in a static setting. Methods 10 male subjects (26+/-years old), participated in this study and were asked to come for 2 consecutive days. On the first day the experiment objective, tasks, and experiment setting was explained. Then, they completed a 30 minutes guided training. On the second day each subject was tested in 3 different modalities: Auditory Feedback only control (AF), Visual Feedback only control (VF), and Audiovisual Feedback control (AVF). For each modality they were asked to perform 10 trials. At the end of each test, the subject had to answer the NASA TLX questionnaire. Also, during the test the subject’s EEG, ECG, electro-dermal activity (EDA), and respiration rate were measured. Results The results show that a higher mental effort is needed when the subjects rely only on their vision, and that this effort seems to be reduced when auditory feedback is added to the human-machine interaction (multimodal feedback). Furthermore, better temporal performance and better grasping performance was obtained in the audiovisual modality. Conclusions The performance improvements when using auditory cues, along with vision (multimodal feedback), can be attributed to a reduced attentional demand during the task, which can be attributed to a visual “pop-out” or enhance effect. Also, the NASA TLX, the EEG’s Alpha and Beta band, and the Heart Rate could be used to further evaluate sensory feedback systems in prosthetic applications. PMID:22682425

Unipedal balance in healthy adults: effect of visual environments yielding decreased lateral velocity feedback.

PubMed

Deyer, T W; Ashton-Miller, J A

1999-09-01

To test the (null) hypotheses that the reliability of unipedal balance is unaffected by the attenuation of visual velocity feedback and that, relative to baseline performance, deterioration of balance success rates from attenuated visual velocity feedback will not differ between groups of young men and older women, and the presence (or absence) of a vertical foreground object will not affect balance success rates. Single blind, single case study. University research laboratory. Two volunteer samples: 26 healthy young men (mean age, 20.0yrs; SD, 1.6); 23 healthy older women (mean age, 64.9 yrs; SD, 7.8). Normalized success rates in unipedal balance task. Subjects were asked to transfer to and maintain unipedal stance for 5 seconds in a task near the limit of their balance capabilities. Subjects completed 64 trials: 54 trials of three experimental visual scenes in blocked randomized sequences of 18 trials and 10 trials in a normal visual environment. The experimental scenes included two that provided strong velocity/weak position feedback, one of which had a vertical foreground object (SVWP+) and one without (SVWP-), and one scene providing weak velocity/strong position (WVSP) feedback. Subjects' success rates in the experimental environments were normalized by the success rate in the normal environment in order to allow comparisons between subjects using a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance. The normalized success rate was significantly greater in SVWP+ than in WVSP (p = .0001) and SVWP- (p = .013). Visual feedback significantly affected the normalized unipedal balance success rates (p = .001); neither the group effect nor the group X visual environment interaction was significant (p = .9362 and p = .5634, respectively). Normalized success rates did not differ significantly between the young men and older women in any visual environment. Near the limit of the young men's or older women's balance capability, the reliability of transfer to unipedal balance was adversely affected by visual environments offering attenuated visual velocity feedback cues and those devoid of vertical foreground objects.

A real-time articulatory visual feedback approach with target presentation for second language pronunciation learning.

PubMed

Suemitsu, Atsuo; Dang, Jianwu; Ito, Takayuki; Tiede, Mark

2015-10-01

Articulatory information can support learning or remediating pronunciation of a second language (L2). This paper describes an electromagnetic articulometer-based visual-feedback approach using an articulatory target presented in real-time to facilitate L2 pronunciation learning. This approach trains learners to adjust articulatory positions to match targets for a L2 vowel estimated from productions of vowels that overlap in both L1 and L2. Training of Japanese learners for the American English vowel /æ/ that included visual training improved its pronunciation regardless of whether audio training was also included. Articulatory visual feedback is shown to be an effective method for facilitating L2 pronunciation learning.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borot de Battisti, M; Maenhout, M; Lagendijk, J J W

Purpose: To develop adaptive planning with feedback for MRI-guided focal HDR prostate brachytherapy with a single divergent needle robotic implant device. After each needle insertion, the dwell positions for that needle are calculated and the positioning of remaining needles and dosimetry are both updated based on MR imaging. Methods: Errors in needle positioning may occur due to inaccurate needle insertion (caused by e.g. the needle’s bending) and unpredictable changes in patient anatomy. Consequently, the dose plan quality might dramatically decrease compared to the preplan. In this study, a procedure was developed to re-optimize, after each needle insertion, the remaining needlemore » angulations, source positions and dwell times in order to obtain an optimal coverage (D95% PTV>19 Gy) without exceeding the constraints of the organs at risk (OAR) (D10% urethra<21 Gy, D1cc bladder<12 Gy and D1cc rectum<12 Gy). Complete HDR procedures with 6 needle insertions were simulated for a patient MR-image set with PTV, prostate, urethra, bladder and rectum delineated. Random angulation errors, modeled by a Gaussian distribution (standard deviation of 3 mm at the needle’s tip), were generated for each needle insertion. We compared the final dose parameters for the situations (I) without re-optimization and (II) with the automatic feedback. Results: The computation time of replanning was below 100 seconds on a current desk computer. For the patient tested, a clinically acceptable dose plan was achieved while applying the automatic feedback (median(range) in Gy, D95% PTV: 19.9(19.3–20.3), D10% urethra: 13.4(11.9–18.0), D1cc rectum: 11.0(10.7–11.6), D1cc bladder: 4.9(3.6–6.8)). This was not the case without re-optimization (median(range) in Gy, D95% PTV: 19.4(14.9–21.3), D10% urethra: 12.6(11.0–15.7), D1cc rectum: 10.9(8.9–14.1), D1cc bladder: 4.8(4.4–5.2)). Conclusion: An automatic guidance strategy for HDR prostate brachytherapy was developed to compensate errors in needle positioning and improve the dose distribution. Without re-optimization, target coverage and OAR constraints may not be achieved. M. Borot de Battisti is funded by Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V.; M. Moerland is principal investigator on a contract funded by Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V.; G. Hautvast and D. Binnekamp are full-time employees of Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V.« less

Framing Feedback for School Improvement around Distributed Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelley, Carolyn; Dikkers, Seann

2016-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the utility of framing formative feedback to improve school leadership with a focus on task-based evaluation of distributed leadership rather than on role-based evaluation of an individual leader. Research Methods/Approach: Using data from research on the development of the Comprehensive…

Multi-peak structure of generation spectrum of random distributed feedback fiber Raman lasers.

PubMed

Vatnik, I D; Zlobina, E A; Kablukov, S I; Babin, S A

2017-02-06

We study spectral features of the generation of random distributed feedback fiber Raman laser arising from two-peak shape of the Raman gain spectral profile realized in the germanosilicate fibers. We demonstrate that number of peaks can be calculated using power balance model considering different subcomponents within each Stokes component.

Absence of jamming in ant trails: feedback control of self-propulsion and noise.

PubMed

Chaudhuri, Debasish; Nagar, Apoorva

2015-01-01

We present a model of ant traffic considering individual ants as self-propelled particles undergoing single-file motion on a one-dimensional trail. Recent experiments on unidirectional ant traffic in well-formed natural trails showed that the collective velocity of ants remains approximately unchanged, leading to the absence of jamming even at very high densities [John et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 108001 (2009)]. Assuming a feedback control mechanism of self-propulsion force generated by each ant using information about the distance from the ant in front, our model captures all the main features observed in the experiment. The distance headway distribution shows a maximum corresponding to separations within clusters. The position of this maximum remains independent of average number density. We find a non-equilibrium first-order transition, with the formation of an infinite cluster at a threshold density where all the ants in the system suddenly become part of a single cluster.

The Role of Implicit Negative Feedback in SLA: Models and Recasts in Japanese and Spanish.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Long, Michael; Inagaki, Shunji; Ortega, Lourdes

1998-01-01

Two experiments were conducted to assess relative utility of models and recasts in second-language (L2) Japanese and Spanish. Using pretest, posttest, control group design, each study provided evidence of adults' ability to learn from implicit negative feedback; in one case, support for notion that reactive implicit negative feedback can be more…

Working Smarter, Not Working Harder: Revisiting Teacher Feedback in the L2 Writing Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Icy

2011-01-01

Although second language (L2) teachers spend a significant amount of time marking students' writing, many of them feel that their efforts do not pay off. While students want teachers to give them feedback on their writing and value teacher feedback, they might experience feelings of frustration and confusion once they receive it. What is amiss in…

Can Higher-Proficiency L2 Learners Benefit from Working with Lower-Proficiency Partners in Peer Feedback?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Shulin; Hu, Guangwei

2017-01-01

Informed by Vygotsky's conceptualization of the Zone of Proximal Development, this case study investigated the benefits of peer feedback on second language (L2) writing for students with high L2 proficiency and the factors that may influence their learning in peer feedback in the Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language context. Specifically, the…

The Content Feedback Practices of Applied Linguistics Doctoral Supervisors in New Zealand and Australian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bitchener, John

2016-01-01

The focus of this article is on the written feedback that supervisors say they often give their second language (L2) doctoral students. Little is known about the focus of this feedback and about what supervisors consider as priorities in the early draft writing of dissertation chapters. Given the potentially different priorities and foci of…

The Timing of Feedback on Mathematics Problem Solving in a Classroom Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fyfe, Emily R.; Rittle-Johnson, Bethany

2015-01-01

Feedback is a ubiquitous learning tool that is theorized to help learners detect and correct their errors. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of feedback in a classroom context for children solving math equivalence problems (problems with operations on both sides of the equal sign). The authors worked with children in 7 second-grade…

PubMed

Trinker, Horst

2011-10-28

We study the distribution of triples of codewords of codes and ordered codes. Schrijver [A. Schrijver, New code upper bounds from the Terwilliger algebra and semidefinite programming, IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 51 (8) (2005) 2859-2866] used the triple distribution of a code to establish a bound on the number of codewords based on semidefinite programming. In the first part of this work, we generalize this approach for ordered codes. In the second part, we consider linear codes and linear ordered codes and present a MacWilliams-type identity for the triple distribution of their dual code. Based on the non-negativity of this linear transform, we establish a linear programming bound and conclude with a table of parameters for which this bound yields better results than the standard linear programming bound.

Characteristics research on self-amplified distributed feedback fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Zhiqiang; Qi, Haifeng; Guo, Jian; Wang, Chang; Peng, Gangding

2014-09-01

A distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser with a ratio of the backward to forward output power of 1:100 was composed by a 45-mm-length asymmetrical phase-shifted fiber grating fabricated on the 50-mm erbium-doped photosensitive fiber. Forward output laser was amplified using a certain length of Nufern EDFL-980-Hp erbium-doped fiber to absorb the surplus pump power after the active phase-shifted fiber grating and get population inversion. By using OptiSystem software, the best fiber length of the EDFL to get the highest gain was simulated. In order to keep the amplified laser with the narrow line-width and low noise, a narrow-band light filter consisting of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with the same Bragg wavelength as the laser and an optical circulator was used to filter the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise of the out-cavity erbium-doped fiber. The designed laser structure sufficiently utilized the pump power, and a DFB fiber laser with the 32.5-mW output power, 11.5-kHz line width, and -87-dB/Hz relative intensity noise (RIN) at 300 mW of 980 nm pump power was brought out.

Adaptation to changes in higher-order stimulus statistics in the salamander retina.

PubMed

Tkačik, Gašper; Ghosh, Anandamohan; Schneidman, Elad; Segev, Ronen

2014-01-01

Adaptation in the retina is thought to optimize the encoding of natural light signals into sequences of spikes sent to the brain. While adaptive changes in retinal processing to the variations of the mean luminance level and second-order stimulus statistics have been documented before, no such measurements have been performed when higher-order moments of the light distribution change. We therefore measured the ganglion cell responses in the tiger salamander retina to controlled changes in the second (contrast), third (skew) and fourth (kurtosis) moments of the light intensity distribution of spatially uniform temporally independent stimuli. The skew and kurtosis of the stimuli were chosen to cover the range observed in natural scenes. We quantified adaptation in ganglion cells by studying linear-nonlinear models that capture well the retinal encoding properties across all stimuli. We found that the encoding properties of retinal ganglion cells change only marginally when higher-order statistics change, compared to the changes observed in response to the variation in contrast. By analyzing optimal coding in LN-type models, we showed that neurons can maintain a high information rate without large dynamic adaptation to changes in skew or kurtosis. This is because, for uncorrelated stimuli, spatio-temporal summation within the receptive field averages away non-gaussian aspects of the light intensity distribution.

Dopamine dependence in aggregate feedback learning: A computational cognitive neuroscience approach.

PubMed

Valentin, Vivian V; Maddox, W Todd; Ashby, F Gregory

2016-11-01

Procedural learning of skills depends on dopamine-mediated striatal plasticity. Most prior work investigated single stimulus-response procedural learning followed by feedback. However, many skills include several actions that must be performed before feedback is available. A new procedural-learning task is developed in which three independent and successive unsupervised categorization responses receive aggregate feedback indicating either that all three responses were correct, or at least one response was incorrect. Experiment 1 showed superior learning of stimuli in position 3, and that learning in the first two positions was initially compromised, and then recovered. An extensive theoretical analysis that used parameter space partitioning found that a large class of procedural-learning models, which predict propagation of dopamine release from feedback to stimuli, and/or an eligibility trace, fail to fully account for these data. The analysis also suggested that any dopamine released to the second or third stimulus impaired categorization learning in the first and second positions. A second experiment tested and confirmed a novel prediction of this large class of procedural-learning models that if the to-be-learned actions are introduced one-by-one in succession then learning is much better if training begins with the first action (and works forwards) than if it begins with the last action (and works backwards). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An investigation on the effect of second-order additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64 sub 1-212 airfoil. [using flow equations and a CDC 7600 digital computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hague, D. S.; Merz, A. W.

1975-01-01

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64 sub 1 - 212 airfoil. Additional thickness distributions employed were in the form of two second-order polynomial arcs which have a specified thickness at a given chordwise location. The forward arc disappears at the airfoil leading edge, the aft arc disappears at the airfoil trailing edge. At the juncture of the two arcs, x = x, continuity of slope is maintained. The effect of varying the maximum additional thickness and its chordwise location on airfoil lift coefficient, pitching moment, and pressure distribution was investigated. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle-of-attack of 6 degrees on the basic NACA 64 sub 1 - 212 airfoil, and all calculations employ the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was employed for solution of the potential flow equations.

An investigation on the effect of second-order additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64-206 airfoil. [using flow equations and a CDC 7600 digital computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merz, A. W.; Hague, D. S.

1975-01-01

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64-206 airfoil. Additional thickness distributions employed were in the form of two second-order polynomial arcs which have a specified thickness at a given chordwise location. The forward arc disappears at the airfoil leading edge, the aft arc disappears at the airfoil trailing edge. At the juncture of the two arcs, x = x, continuity of slope is maintained. The effect of varying the maximum additional thickness and its chordwise location on airfoil lift coefficient, pitching moment, and pressure distribution was investigated. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle-of-attack of 6 degrees on the basic NACA 64-206 airfoil, and all calculations employ the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was employed for solution of the potential flow equations.

Evaluation of a medication order writing standards policy in a regional health authority.

PubMed

Raymond, Colette B; Sproll, Barbara; Coates, Jan; Woloschuk, Donna M M

2013-09-01

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) implemented a medication order writing standards (MOWS) policy (including banned abbreviations) to improve patient safety. Widespread educational campaigns and direct prescriber feedback were implemented. We audited orders within the WRHA from 2005 to 2009 and surveyed all WRHA staff in 2011 about the policy and suggestions for improving education and compliance. Overall, orders containing banned abbreviations, acronyms or symbols numbered 2261/8565 (26.4%) preimplementation. After WRHA-wide didactic education, the proportion declined to 1358/5461 (24.9%) (p = 0.043) and then, with targeted prescriber feedback, to 1186/6198 (19.1%) (p < 0.0001). A survey of 723 employees showed frequent violations of the MOWS, despite widespread knowledge of the policy. Respondents supported ongoing efforts to enforce the policy within the WRHA. Nonprescribers were significantly more likely than prescribers to agree with statements regarding enhancing compliance by defining prescriber/transcriber responsibilities and placing sanctions on noncompliant prescribers. Education, raising general awareness and targeted feedback to prescribers alone are insufficient to ensure compliance with MOWS policies. WRHA staff supported ongoing communication, improved tools such as compliant preprinted orders and reporting and feedback about medication incidents. A surprising number of respondents supported placing sanctions on noncompliant prescribers. Serial audits and targeted interventions such as direct prescriber feedback improve prescription quality in inpatient hospital settings. Education plus direct prescriber feedback had a greater impact than education alone on improving compliance with a MOWS policy. Future efforts at the WRHA to improve compliance will require an expanded focus on incentives, resources and development of action plans that involve all affected staff, not just prescribers. Plans include continued advertising, MOWS summaries in all charts, all-staff education, reminders and exploration of sustainable interventions for targeted feedback for prescribers.

Video-assisted feedback in general practice internships using German general practitioner's guidelines

PubMed Central

Bölter, Regine; Freund, Tobias; Ledig, Thomas; Boll, Bernhard; Szecsenyi, Joachim; Roos, Marco

2012-01-01

Introduction: The planned modification of the Medical Licenses Act in Germany will strengthen the specialty of general practice. Therefore, medical students should get to know the daily routine of general practitioners during their academic studies. At least 10% of students should get the possibility to spend one quarter of the internship, in the last year of their academic studies, in a practice of family medicine. The demonstrated teaching method aims at giving feedback to the student based on video recordings of patient consultations (student-patient) with the help of a checklist. Video-feedback is already successful used in medical teaching in Germany and abroad. This feasibility study aims at assessing the practicability of video-assisted feedback as a teaching method during internship in general practice. Teaching method: First of all, the general practice chooses a guideline as the learning objective. Secondly, a subsequent patient – student – consultation is recorded on video. Afterwards, a video-assisted formative feedback is given by the physician. A checklist with learning objectives (communication, medical examination, a structured case report according to the guideline) is used to structure the feedback content. Feasibility: The feasibility was assessed by a semi structured interview in order to gain insight into barriers and challenges for future implementation. The teaching method was performed in one general practice. Afterwards the teaching physician and the trainee intern were interviewed. The following four main categories were identified: feasibility, performance, implementation in daily routine, challenges of the teaching concept. The results of the feasibility study show general practicability of this approach. Installing a video camera in one examination room may solve technical problems. The trainee intern mentioned theoretical and practical benefits using the guideline. The teaching physician noted the challenge to reflect on his daily routines in the light of evidence-based guidelines. Conclusion: This teaching method supports quality control and standardizing of learning objectives during the internship in general practice by using general practice guidelines. The use of a checklist enhances this method in general practice. We consider the presented teaching method in the context of the planned modification of the Medical Licenses Act is part of quality control and standardisation of medical teaching during general practice internships. In order to validate these presumptions, further, evaluation of this method concerning the learning objectives using the guidelines of general practice need to be carried out. PMID:23255963

Video-assisted feedback in general practice internships using German general practitioner's guidelines.

PubMed

Bölter, Regine; Freund, Tobias; Ledig, Thomas; Boll, Bernhard; Szecsenyi, Joachim; Roos, Marco

2012-01-01

The planned modification of the Medical Licenses Act in Germany will strengthen the specialty of general practice. Therefore, medical students should get to know the daily routine of general practitioners during their academic studies. At least 10% of students should get the possibility to spend one quarter of the internship, in the last year of their academic studies, in a practice of family medicine. The demonstrated teaching method aims at giving feedback to the student based on video recordings of patient consultations (student-patient) with the help of a checklist. Video-feedback is already successful used in medical teaching in Germany and abroad. This feasibility study aims at assessing the practicability of video-assisted feedback as a teaching method during internship in general practice. First of all, the general practice chooses a guideline as the learning objective. Secondly, a subsequent patient - student - consultation is recorded on video. Afterwards, a video-assisted formative feedback is given by the physician. A checklist with learning objectives (communication, medical examination, a structured case report according to the guideline) is used to structure the feedback content. The feasibility was assessed by a semi structured interview in order to gain insight into barriers and challenges for future implementation. The teaching method was performed in one general practice. Afterwards the teaching physician and the trainee intern were interviewed. The Following four main categories were identified: feasibility, performance, implementation in daily routine, challenges of the teaching concept.The results of the feasibility study show general practicability of this approach. Installing a video camera in one examination room may solve technical problems. The trainee intern mentioned theoretical and practical benefits using the guideline. The teaching physician noted the challenge to reflect on his daily routines in the light of evidence-based guidelines. This teaching method supports quality control and standardizing of learning objectives during the internship in general practice by using general practice guidelines. The use of a checklist enhances this method in general practice. We consider the presented teaching method in the context of the planned modification of the Medical Licenses Act is part of quality control and standardisation of medical teaching during general practice internships. In order to validate these presumptions, further, evaluation of this method concerning the learning objectives using the guidelines of general practice need to be carried out.

Some new results on stability and synchronization for delayed inertial neural networks based on non-reduced order method.

PubMed

Li, Xuanying; Li, Xiaotong; Hu, Cheng

2017-12-01

In this paper, without transforming the second order inertial neural networks into the first order differential systems by some variable substitutions, asymptotic stability and synchronization for a class of delayed inertial neural networks are investigated. Firstly, a new Lyapunov functional is constructed to directly propose the asymptotic stability of the inertial neural networks, and some new stability criteria are derived by means of Barbalat Lemma. Additionally, by designing a new feedback control strategy, the asymptotic synchronization of the addressed inertial networks is studied and some effective conditions are obtained. To reduce the control cost, an adaptive control scheme is designed to realize the asymptotic synchronization. It is noted that the dynamical behaviors of inertial neural networks are directly analyzed in this paper by constructing some new Lyapunov functionals, this is totally different from the traditional reduced-order variable substitution method. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived theoretical results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Towards Adaptive Educational Assessments: Predicting Student Performance using Temporal Stability and Data Analytics in Learning Management Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thakur, Gautam; Olama, Mohammed M; McNair, Wade

Data-driven assessments and adaptive feedback are becoming a cornerstone research in educational data analytics and involve developing methods for exploring the unique types of data that come from the educational context. For example, predicting college student performance is crucial for both the students and educational institutions. It can support timely intervention to prevent students from failing a course, increasing efficacy of advising functions, and improving course completion rate. In this paper, we present our efforts in using data analytics that enable educationists to design novel data-driven assessment and feedback mechanisms. In order to achieve this objective, we investigate temporal stabilitymore » of students grades and perform predictive analytics on academic data collected from 2009 through 2013 in one of the most commonly used learning management systems, called Moodle. First, we have identified the data features useful for assessments and predicting student outcomes such as students scores in homework assignments, quizzes, exams, in addition to their activities in discussion forums and their total Grade Point Average(GPA) at the same term they enrolled in the course. Second, time series models in both frequency and time domains are applied to characterize the progression as well as overall projections of the grades. In particular, the model analyzed the stability as well as fluctuation of grades among students during the collegiate years (from freshman to senior) and disciplines. Third, Logistic Regression and Neural Network predictive models are used to identify students as early as possible who are in danger of failing the course they are currently enrolled in. These models compute the likelihood of any given student failing (or passing) the current course. The time series analysis indicates that assessments and continuous feedback are critical for freshman and sophomores (even with easy courses) than for seniors, and those assessments may be provided using the predictive models. Numerical results are presented to evaluate and compare the performance of the developed models and their predictive accuracy. Our results show that there are strong ties associated with the first few weeks for coursework and they have an impact on the design and distribution of individual modules.« less

Finite-time state feedback stabilisation of stochastic high-order nonlinear feedforward systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Xue-Jun; Zhang, Xing-Hui; Zhang, Kemei

2016-07-01

This paper studies the finite-time state feedback stabilisation of stochastic high-order nonlinear feedforward systems. Based on the stochastic Lyapunov theorem on finite-time stability, by using the homogeneous domination method, the adding one power integrator and sign function method, constructing a ? Lyapunov function and verifying the existence and uniqueness of solution, a continuous state feedback controller is designed to guarantee the closed-loop system finite-time stable in probability.

Investigation, development, and application of optimal output feedback theory. Volume 3: The relationship between dynamic compensators and observers and Kalman filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broussard, John R.

1987-01-01

Relationships between observers, Kalman Filters and dynamic compensators using feedforward control theory are investigated. In particular, the relationship, if any, between the dynamic compensator state and linear functions of a discrete plane state are investigated. It is shown that, in steady state, a dynamic compensator driven by the plant output can be expressed as the sum of two terms. The first term is a linear combination of the plant state. The second term depends on plant and measurement noise, and the plant control. Thus, the state of the dynamic compensator can be expressed as an estimator of the first term with additive error given by the second term. Conditions under which a dynamic compensator is a Kalman filter are presented, and reduced-order optimal estimaters are investigated.

Restraint Method of Voltage Total Harmonic Distortion in Distribution Network by Power Conditioner Systems using Measured Data from IT Switches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawasaki, Shoji; Shimoda, Kazuki; Tanaka, Motohiro; Taoka, Hisao; Matsuki, Junya; Hayashi, Yasuhiro

Recently, the amount of distributed generation (DG) such as photovoltaic system and wind power generator system installed in a distribution system has been increasing because of reduction of the effects on the environment. However, the harmonic troubles in the distribution system are apprehended in the background of the increase of connection of DGs through the inverters and the spread of power electronics equipment. In this paper, the authors propose a restraint method of voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) in a whole distribution network by active filter (AF) operation of plural power conditioner systems (PCS). Moreover, the authors propose a determination method of the optimal gain of AF operation so as to minimize the maximum value of voltage THD in the distribution network by the real-time feedback control with measured data from the information technology (IT) switches. In order to verify the validity of the proposed method, the numerical calculations are carried out by using an analytical model of distribution network interconnected DGs with PCS.

Remote detection of methane with a 1.66-microm diode laser.

PubMed

Uehara, K; Tai, H

1992-02-20

High-sensitivity real-time remote detection of methane in air with a 1.66-microm distributed-feedback diode laser operating at room temperature is demonstrated by laboratory simulations. The laser current was modulated at a high frequency of ~5 MHz, and the laser-center frequency was locked onto a methane-absorption line. The laser light directed toward the probed region was received after one-way transmission or further reflection from a topographic target. The methane absorption was detected by the second-harmonic component in the optical-power variation. The minimum-detectable concentration-path-length product in the transmission scheme was 0.3 part in 10(6) m for a signal averaging time of 1.3 s. In the reflection scheme, the amount of methane could be measured from the ratio of the fundamental and second-harmonic signal intensities independently of the received power.

TEAMBLOCKS: HYBRID ABSTRACTIONS FOR PROVABLE MULTI-AGENT AUTONOMY

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-28

Raspberry Pi 23 can easily satisfy control loop periods on the order of 10−3s. Thus, we assume that the time to execute a piece of control code, ∆t...Release; Distribution Unlimited. 23 State Space The state space of the aircraft is X = R3 × SO(3) × R3 × R3; states consist of • pI ∈ R3, the...the tbdemo_ghaexecution script uses this operation to make feedback system out of the product of the linear system and PI controller. tbread

Enhanced vaccine control of epidemics in adaptive networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, Leah B.; Schwartz, Ira B.

2010-04-01

We study vaccine control for disease spread on an adaptive network modeling disease avoidance behavior. Control is implemented by adding Poisson-distributed vaccination of susceptibles. We show that vaccine control is much more effective in adaptive networks than in static networks due to feedback interaction between the adaptive network rewiring and the vaccine application. When compared to extinction rates in static social networks, we find that the amount of vaccine resources required to sustain similar rates of extinction are as much as two orders of magnitude lower in adaptive networks.

Enhanced vaccine control of epidemics in adaptive networks.

PubMed

Shaw, Leah B; Schwartz, Ira B

2010-04-01

We study vaccine control for disease spread on an adaptive network modeling disease avoidance behavior. Control is implemented by adding Poisson-distributed vaccination of susceptibles. We show that vaccine control is much more effective in adaptive networks than in static networks due to feedback interaction between the adaptive network rewiring and the vaccine application. When compared to extinction rates in static social networks, we find that the amount of vaccine resources required to sustain similar rates of extinction are as much as two orders of magnitude lower in adaptive networks.

Stabilization of an inverted pendulum-cart system by fractional PI-state feedback.

PubMed

Bettayeb, M; Boussalem, C; Mansouri, R; Al-Saggaf, U M

2014-03-01

This paper deals with pole placement PI-state feedback controller design to control an integer order system. The fractional aspect of the control law is introduced by a dynamic state feedback as u(t)=K(p)x(t)+K(I)I(α)(x(t)). The closed loop characteristic polynomial is thus fractional for which the roots are complex to calculate. The proposed method allows us to decompose this polynomial into a first order fractional polynomial and an integer order polynomial of order n-1 (n being the order of the integer system). This new stabilization control algorithm is applied for an inverted pendulum-cart test-bed, and the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control are examined by experiments. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biologically inspired design of feedback control systems implemented using DNA strand displacement reactions.

PubMed

Foo, Mathias; Sawlekar, Rucha; Kulkarni, Vishwesh V; Bates, Declan G

2016-08-01

The use of abstract chemical reaction networks (CRNs) as a modelling and design framework for the implementation of computing and control circuits using enzyme-free, entropy driven DNA strand displacement (DSD) reactions is starting to garner widespread attention in the area of synthetic biology. Previous work in this area has demonstrated the theoretical plausibility of using this approach to design biomolecular feedback control systems based on classical proportional-integral (PI) controllers, which may be constructed from CRNs implementing gain, summation and integrator operators. Here, we propose an alternative design approach that utilises the abstract chemical reactions involved in cellular signalling cycles to implement a biomolecular controller - termed a signalling-cycle (SC) controller. We compare the performance of the PI and SC controllers in closed-loop with a nonlinear second-order chemical process. Our results show that the SC controller outperforms the PI controller in terms of both performance and robustness, and also requires fewer abstract chemical reactions to implement, highlighting its potential usefulness in the construction of biomolecular control circuits.

Performance validity testing in neuropsychology: a clinical guide, critical review, and update on a rapidly evolving literature.

PubMed

Lippa, Sara M

2018-04-01

Over the past two decades, there has been much research on measures of response bias and myriad measures have been validated in a variety of clinical and research samples. This critical review aims to guide clinicians through the use of performance validity tests (PVTs) from test selection and administration through test interpretation and feedback. Recommended cutoffs and relevant test operating characteristics are presented. Other important issues to consider during test selection, administration, interpretation, and feedback are discussed including order effects, coaching, impact on test data, and methods to combine measures and improve predictive power. When interpreting performance validity measures, neuropsychologists must use particular caution in cases of dementia, low intelligence, English as a second language/minority cultures, or low education. PVTs provide valuable information regarding response bias and, under the right circumstances, can provide excellent evidence of response bias. Only after consideration of the entire clinical picture, including validity test performance, can concrete determinations regarding the validity of test data be made.

Approach for Uncertainty Propagation and Robust Design in CFD Using Sensitivity Derivatives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Putko, Michele M.; Newman, Perry A.; Taylor, Arthur C., III; Green, Lawrence L.

2001-01-01

This paper presents an implementation of the approximate statistical moment method for uncertainty propagation and robust optimization for a quasi 1-D Euler CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code. Given uncertainties in statistically independent, random, normally distributed input variables, a first- and second-order statistical moment matching procedure is performed to approximate the uncertainty in the CFD output. Efficient calculation of both first- and second-order sensitivity derivatives is required. In order to assess the validity of the approximations, the moments are compared with statistical moments generated through Monte Carlo simulations. The uncertainties in the CFD input variables are also incorporated into a robust optimization procedure. For this optimization, statistical moments involving first-order sensitivity derivatives appear in the objective function and system constraints. Second-order sensitivity derivatives are used in a gradient-based search to successfully execute a robust optimization. The approximate methods used throughout the analyses are found to be valid when considering robustness about input parameter mean values.

Improving the National Board of Medical Examiners internal Medicine Subject Exam for use in clerkship evaluation.

PubMed

Elnicki, D Michael; Lescisin, Dianne A; Case, Susan

2002-06-01

To provide a consensus opinion on modifying the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Medicine Subject Exam (Shelf) to: 1) reflect the internal medicine clerkship curriculum, developed by the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) and the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM); 2) emphasize knowledge important for a clerkship student; and 3) obtain feedback about students' performances on the Shelf. Two-round Delphi technique. The CDIM Research and Evaluation Committee and CDIM members on NBME Step 2 Committees. Using 1-5 Likert scales (5 = highest ratings), the group rated test question content for relevance to the SGIM-CDIM Curriculum Guide and importance for clerkship students' knowledge. The Shelf content is organized into 4 physician tasks and into 11 sections that are generally organ system based. Each iteration of the Shelf has 100 questions. Participants indicated a desired distribution of questions by physician task and section, topics critical for inclusion on each exam, and new topics to include. They specified the types of feedback clerkship directors desired on students' performances. Following the first round, participants viewed pooled results prior to submitting their second-round responses. Of 15 individuals contacted, 12 (80%) participated in each round. The desired distribution by physician task was: diagnosis (43), treatment (23), mechanism of disease (20), and health maintenance (15). The sections with the most questions requested were the cardiovascular (17), respiratory (15), and gastroenterology (12) sections. The fewest were requested in aging/ethics (4) and neurology, dermatology, and immunology (5 each). Examples of low-rated content were Wilson's Disease, chancroid and tracheal rupture (all <2.0). Health maintenance in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease all received 5.0 ratings. Participants desired feedback by: section (4.6) and physician task (3.9), on performances of the entire class (4.0), and for individual students (3.8). Clerkship directors identified test content that was relevant to the curricular content and important for clerkship students to know, and they indicated a desired question distribution. They would most like feedback on their students' performance by organ system-based sections for the complete academic year. This collaborative effort could serve as a model for aligning national exams with course goals.

Distribution of Feedback among Teacher and Students in Online Collaborative Learning in Small Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coll, Cesar; Rochera, Maria Jose; de Gispert, Ines; Diaz-Barriga, Frida

2013-01-01

This study explores the characteristics and distribution of the feedback provided by the participants (a teacher and her students) in an activity organized inside a collaborative online learning environment. We analyse 853 submissions made by two groups of graduate students and their teacher (N1 = 629 & N2 = 224) involved in the collaborative…

Photonic generation of stable microwave signals from a dual-wavelength Al2O3:Yb3+ distributed-feedback waveguide laser.

PubMed

Bernhardi, E H; Khan, M R H; Roeloffzen, C G H; van Wolferen, H A G M; Wörhoff, K; de Ridder, R M; Pollnau, M

2012-01-15

We report the fabrication and characterization of a dual-wavelength distributed-feedback channel waveguide laser in ytterbium-doped aluminum oxide. Operation of the device is based on the optical resonances that are induced by two local phase shifts in the distributed-feedback structure. A stable microwave signal at ~15 GHz with a -3 dB width of 9 kHz was subsequently created via the heterodyne photodetection of the two laser wavelengths. The long-term frequency stability of the microwave signal produced by the free-running laser is better than ±2.5 MHz, while the power of the microwave signal is stable within ±0.35 dB.

Oscillographic and Physiological Measurements of Delayed Auditory Feedback and Anxiety Factors in Stutterers and Non-Stutterers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Timmons, Beverly A.; Boudreau, James P.

Reported are five studies on the use of delayed auditory feedback (DAF) with stutterers. The first study indicates that sex differences and age differences in temporal reaction were found when subjects (5-, 7-, 9-, 11-, and 13-years-old) recited a nursery rhyme under DAF and NAF (normal auditory feedback) conditions. The second study is reported…

Factors Influencing Oral Corrective Feedback Provision in the Spanish Foreign Language Classroom: Investigating Instructor Native/Nonnative Speaker Status, SLA Education, & Teaching Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gurzynski-Weiss, Laura

2010-01-01

The role of interactional feedback has been a critical area of second language acquisition (SLA) research for decades and while findings suggest interactional feedback can facilitate SLA, the extent of its influence can vary depending on a number of factors, including the native language of those involved in communication. Although studies have…

The Differential Effects of Implicit and Explicit Feedback on Second Language (L2) Learners at Different Proficiency Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Shaofeng

2009-01-01

The present study investigates the differential effects of explicit and implicit feedback on L2 learners at different proficiency levels as measured by L2 development and learner uptake, which is defined as the learner's responses following feedback. Twenty-three learners of Chinese as a foreign language at two different levels of proficiency at a…

Second-order Boltzmann equation: gauge dependence and gauge invariance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naruko, Atsushi; Pitrou, Cyril; Koyama, Kazuya; Sasaki, Misao

2013-08-01

In the context of cosmological perturbation theory, we derive the second-order Boltzmann equation describing the evolution of the distribution function of radiation without a specific gauge choice. The essential steps in deriving the Boltzmann equation are revisited and extended given this more general framework: (i) the polarization of light is incorporated in this formalism by using a tensor-valued distribution function; (ii) the importance of a choice of the tetrad field to define the local inertial frame in the description of the distribution function is emphasized; (iii) we perform a separation between temperature and spectral distortion, both for the intensity and polarization for the first time; (iv) the gauge dependence of all perturbed quantities that enter the Boltzmann equation is derived, and this enables us to check the correctness of the perturbed Boltzmann equation by explicitly showing its gauge-invariance for both intensity and polarization. We finally discuss several implications of the gauge dependence for the observed temperature.

Efficiency enhancement of slow-wave electron-cyclotron maser by a second-order shaping of the magnetic field in the low-gain limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Si-Jia; Zhang, Yu-Fei; Wang, Kang; Li, Yong-Ming; Jing, Jian

2017-03-01

Based on the anomalous Doppler effect, we put forward a proposal to enhance the conversion efficiency of the slow-wave electron cyclotron masers (ECM) under the resonance condition. Compared with previous studies, we add a second-order shaping term in the guild magnetic field. Theoretical analyses and numerical calculations show that it can enhance the conversion efficiency in the low-gain limit. The case of the initial velocity spread of electrons satisfying the Gaussian distribution is also analysed numerically.

Efficiency enhancement of slow-wave electron-cyclotron maser by a second-order shaping of the magnetic field in the low-gain limit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Si-Jia; Zhang, Yu-Fei; Wang, Kang

Based on the anomalous Doppler effect, we put forward a proposal to enhance the conversion efficiency of the slow-wave electron cyclotron masers (ECM) under the resonance condition. Compared with previous studies, we add a second-order shaping term in the guild magnetic field. Theoretical analyses and numerical calculations show that it can enhance the conversion efficiency in the low-gain limit. The case of the initial velocity spread of electrons satisfying the Gaussian distribution is also analysed numerically.

The enhancement of beneficial effects following audio feedback by cognitive preparation in the treatment of social anxiety: a single-session experiment.

PubMed

Nilsson, Jan-Erik; Lundh, Lars-Gunnar; Faghihi, Shahriar; Roth-Andersson, Gun

2011-12-01

According to cognitive models, negatively biased processing of the publicly observable self is an important aspect of social phobia; if this is true, effective methods for producing corrective feedback concerning the public self should be strived for. Video feedback is proven effective, but since one's voice represents another aspect of the self, audio feedback should produce equivalent results. This is the first study to assess the enhancement of audio feedback by cognitive preparation in a single-session randomized controlled experiment. Forty socially anxious participants were asked to give a speech, then to listen to and evaluate a taped recording of their performance. Half of the sample was given cognitive preparation prior to the audio feedback and the remainder received audio feedback only. Cognitive preparation involved asking participants to (1) predict in detail what they would hear on the audiotape, (2) form an image of themselves giving the speech and (3) listen to the audio recording as though they were listening to a stranger. To assess generalization effects all participants were asked to give a second speech. Audio feedback with cognitive preparation was shown to produce less negative ratings after the first speech, and effects generalized to the evaluation of the second speech. More positive speech evaluations were associated with corresponding reductions of state anxiety. Social anxiety as indexed by the Implicit Association Test was reduced in participants given cognitive preparation. Small sample size; analogue study. Audio feedback with cognitive preparation may be utilized as a treatment intervention for social phobia. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare e-Feedback Versus "Standard" Face-to-Face Verbal Feedback to Improve the Acquisition of Procedural Skill.

PubMed

Al-Jundi, Wissam; Elsharif, Mohamed; Anderson, Melanie; Chan, Phillip; Beard, Jonathan; Nawaz, Shah

Constructive feedback plays an important role in learning during surgical training. Standard feedback is usually given verbally following direct observation of the procedure by a trained assessor. However, such feedback requires the physical presence of expert faculty members who are usually busy and time-constrained by clinical commitments. We aim to evaluate electronic feedback (e-feedback) after video observation of surgical suturing in comparison with standard face-to-face verbal feedback. A prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing e-feedback with standard verbal feedback was carried out in February 2015 using a validated pro formas for assessment. The study participants were 38 undergraduate medical students from the University of Sheffield, UK. They were recorded on video performing the procedural skill, completed a self-evaluation form, and received e-feedback on the same day (group 1); observed directly by an assessor, invited to provide verbal self-reflection, and then received standard verbal feedback (group 2). In both groups, the feedback was provided after performing the procedure. The participants returned 2 days later and performed the same skill again. Poststudy questionnaire was used to assess the acceptability of each feedback among the participants. Overall, 19 students in group 1 and 18 students in group 2 completed the study. Although there was a significant improvement in the overall mean score on the second performance of the task for all participants (first performance mean 11.59, second performance mean 15.95; p ≤ 0.0001), there was no difference in the overall mean improvement score between group 1 and group 2 (4.74 and 3.94, respectively; p = 0.49). The mean overall scores for the e-feedback group at baseline recorded by 2 independent investigators showed good agreement (mean overall scores of 12.84 and 11.89; Cronbach α = 0.86). Poststudy questionnaire demonstrated that both e-feedback and standard verbal feedback achieved high mean Likert grades as recorded by the participants (4.42 [range: 2-5] and 4.71 [range: 4-5], respectively; p = 0.274). e-Feedback after watching a video recording appears to be acceptable and is not quantitatively different than standard feedback in improving suturing skills among novice trainees. Video assessment of procedural skills is reliable. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Retrieval feedback in MEDLINE.

PubMed Central

Srinivasan, P

1996-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new approach for query expansion based on retrieval feedback. The first objective in this study was to examine alternative query-expansion methods within the same retrieval-feedback framework. The three alternatives proposed are: expansion on the MeSH query field alone, expansion on the free-text field alone, and expansion on both the MeSH and the free-text fields. The second objective was to gain further understanding of retrieval feedback by examining possible dependencies on relevant documents during the feedback cycle. DESIGN: Comparative study of retrieval effectiveness using the original unexpanded and the alternative expanded user queries on a MEDLINE test collection of 75 queries and 2,334 MEDLINE citations. MEASUREMENTS: Retrieval effectivenesses of the original unexpanded and the alternative expanded queries were compared using 11-point-average precision scores (11-AvgP). These are averages of precision scores obtained at 11 standard recall points. RESULTS: All three expansion strategies significantly improved the original queries in terms of retrieval effectiveness. Expansion on MeSH alone was equivalent to expansion on both MeSH and the free-text fields. Expansion on the free-text field alone improved the queries significantly less than did the other two strategies. The second part of the study indicated that retrieval-feedback-based expansion yields significant performance improvements independent of the availability of relevant documents for feedback information. CONCLUSIONS: Retrieval feedback offers a robust procedure for query expansion that is most effective for MEDLINE when applied to the MeSH field. PMID:8653452

Identifying the subtle signatures of feedback from distant AGN using ALMA observations and the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scholtz, J.; Alexander, D. M.; Harrison, C. M.; Rosario, D. J.; McAlpine, S.; Mullaney, J. R.; Stanley, F.; Simpson, J.; Theuns, T.; Bower, R. G.; Hickox, R. C.; Santini, P.; Swinbank, A. M.

2018-03-01

We present sensitive 870 μm continuum measurements from our ALMA programmes of 114 X-ray selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the Chandra Deep Field-South and Cosmic Evolution Survey fields. We use these observations in combination with data from Spitzer and Herschel to construct a sample of 86 X-ray selected AGN, 63 with ALMA constraints at z = 1.5-3.2 with stellar mass >2 × 1010 M⊙. We constructed broad-band spectral energy distributions in the infrared band (8-1000 μm) and constrain star-formation rates (SFRs) uncontaminated by the AGN. Using a hierarchical Bayesian method that takes into account the information from upper limits, we fit SFR and specific SFR (sSFR) distributions. We explore these distributions as a function of both X-ray luminosity and stellar mass. We compare our measurements to two versions of the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments (EAGLE) hydrodynamical simulations: the reference model with AGN feedback and the model without AGN. We find good agreement between the observations and that predicted by the EAGLE reference model for the modes and widths of the sSFR distributions as a function of both X-ray luminosity and stellar mass; however, we found that the EAGLE model without AGN feedback predicts a significantly narrower width when compared to the data. Overall, from the combination of the observations with the model predictions, we conclude that (1) even with AGN feedback, we expect no strong relationship between the sSFR distribution parameters and instantaneous AGN luminosity and (2) a signature of AGN feedback is a broad distribution of sSFRs for all galaxies (not just those hosting an AGN) with stellar masses above ≈1010 M⊙.

Voluntary modulation of anterior cingulate response to negative feedback.

PubMed

Shane, Matthew S; Weywadt, Christina R

2014-01-01

Anterior cingulate and medial frontal cortex (dACC/mFC) response to negative feedback represents the actions of a generalized error-monitoring system critical for the management of goal-directed behavior. Magnitude of dACC/mFC response to negative feedback correlates with levels of post-feedback behavioral change, and with proficiency of operant learning processes. With this in mind, it follows that an ability to alter dACC/mFC response to negative feedback may lead to representative changes in operant learning proficiency. To this end, the present study investigated the extent to which healthy individuals would show modulation of their dACC/mFC response when instructed to try to either maximize or minimize their neural response to the presentation of contingent negative feedback. Participants performed multiple runs of a standard time-estimation task, during which they received feedback regarding their ability to accurately estimate a one-second duration. On Watch runs, participants were simply instructed to try to estimate as closely as possible the one second duration. On Increase and Decrease runs, participants performed the same task, but were instructed to "try to increase [decrease] their brain's response every time they received negative feedback". Results indicated that participants showed changes in dACC/mFC response under these differing instructional conditions: dACC/mFC activity following negative feedback was higher in the Increase condition, and dACC activity trended lower in the Decrease condition, compared to the Watch condition. Moreover, dACC activity correlated with post-feedback performance adjustments, and these adjustments were highest in the Increase condition. Potential implications for neuromodulation and facilitated learning are discussed.

Disentangling neighbors and extended range density oscillations in monatomic amorphous semiconductors.

PubMed

Roorda, S; Martin, C; Droui, M; Chicoine, M; Kazimirov, A; Kycia, S

2012-06-22

High energy x-ray diffraction measurements of pure amorphous Ge were made and its radial distribution function (RDF) was determined at high resolution, revealing new information on the atomic structure of amorphous semiconductors. Fine structure in the second peak in the RDF provides evidence that a fraction of third neighbors are closer than some second neighbors; taking this into account leads to a narrow distribution of tetrahedral bond angles, (8.5 ± 0.1)°. A small peak which appears near 5 Å upon thermal annealing shows that some ordering in the dihedral bond-angle distribution takes place during structural relaxation. Extended range order is detected (in both a-Ge and a-Si) which persists to beyond 20 Å, and both the periodicity and its decay length increase upon thermal annealing. Previously, the effect of structural relaxation was only detected at intermediate range, involving reduced tetrahedral bond-angle distortions. These results enhance our understanding of the atomic order in continuous random networks and place significantly more stringent requirements on computer models intending to describe these networks, or their alternatives which attempt to describe the structure in terms of an arrangement of paracrystals.

Self-oscillation of standing spin wave in ring resonator with proportional-integral-derivative control

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peng, B.; Urazuka, Y.; Chen, H.

2014-05-07

We report on numerical analysis on self-oscillation of standing spin wave excited in a nanostructured active ring resonator, consists of a ferromagnetic nanowire with perpendicular anisotropy. The confined resonant modes are along the nanowire length. A positive feedback with proportional-integral-derivative gain control was adopted in the active ring. Stable excitation of the 1st order standing spin wave has been demonstrated with micromagnetic simulations, taking into account the thermal effect with a random field model. The stationary standing spin wave with a pre-determined set variable of precession amplitude was attained within 20 ns by optimizing the proportional-integral-derivative gain control parameters. The resultmore » indicates that a monochromatic oscillation frequency f{sub osc} is extracted from the initial thermal fluctuation state and selectively amplified with the positive feedback loop. The obtained f{sub osc} value of 5.22 GHz practically agrees with the theoretical prediction from dispersion relation of the magneto static forward volume wave. It was also confirmed that the f{sub osc} change due to the temperature rise can be compensated with an external perpendicular bias field H{sub b}. The observed quick compensation time with an order of nano second suggests the fast operation speed in the practical device application.« less

Student Engagement with Computer-Generated Feedback: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Zhe

2017-01-01

In order to benefit from feedback on their writing, students need to engage effectively with it. This article reports a case study on student engagement with computer-generated feedback, known as automated writing evaluation (AWE) feedback, in an EFL context. Differing from previous studies that explored commercially available AWE programs, this…

Better Bet-Hedging with coupled positive and negative feedback loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narula, Jatin; Igoshin, Oleg

2011-03-01

Bacteria use the phenotypic heterogeneity associated with bistable switches to distribute the risk of activating stress response strategies like sporulation and persistence. However bistable switches offer little control over the timing of phenotype switching and first passage times (FPT) for individual cells are found to be exponentially distributed. We show that a genetic circuit consisting of interlinked positive and negative feedback loops allows cells to control the timing of phenotypic switching. Using a mathematical model we find that in this system a stable high expression state and stable low expression limit cycle coexist and the FPT distribution for stochastic transitions between them shows multiple peaks at regular intervals. A multimodal FPT distribution allows cells to detect the persistence of stress and control the rate of phenotype transition of the population. We further show that extracellular signals from cell-cell communication that change the strength of the feedback loops can modulate the FPT distribution and allow cells even greater control in a bet-hedging strategy.

Second-order Compton-Getting effect on arbitrary intensity distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ng, C. K.

1985-01-01

Theoretical studies of energetic particles in space are often referred to a special frame of reference. To compare theory with experiment, one has to transform the particle distribution from the special frame to the observer's frame, or vice versa. Various methods have been derived to obtain the directional distribution in the comoving frame from the directional fluxes measured on a spacecraft. These methods have become progressively complicated as increasingly detailed directional particle data become available. A set of 2nd order correct formulae for the transformation of an arbitrary differential intensity distribution, expressed as a series of spherical harmonics, between any two frames in constant relative motion is presented. These formulae greatly simplify the complicated procedures currently in use for the determination of the differential intensity distribution in a comoving frame.

Bulk properties of two-phase disordered media. I. Cluster expansion for the effective dielectric constant of dispersions of penetrable spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torquato, S.

1984-12-01

We derive a cluster expansion for the effective dielectric constant ɛ* of a dispersion of equal-sized spheres distributed with arbitrary degree of impenetrability. The degree of impenetrability is characterized by some parameter λ whose value varies between zero (in the case of randomly centered spheres, i.e., fully penetrable spheres) and unity (in the instance of totally impenetrable spheres). This generalizes the results of Felderhof, Ford, and Cohen who obtain a cluster expansion for ɛ* for the specific case of a dispersion of totally impenetrable spheres, i.e., the instance λ=1. We describe the physical significance of the contributions to the average polarization of the two-phase system which arise from inclusion-overlap effects. Using these results, we obtain a density expansion for ɛ*, which is exact through second order in the number density ρ, and give the physical interpretations of all of the cluster integrals that arise here. The use of a certain family of equilibrium sphere distributions is suggested in order to systematically study the effects of details of the microstructure on ɛ* through second order in ρ. We show, furthermore, that the second-order term can be written as a sum of the contribution from a reference system of totally impenetrable spheres and an excess contribution, which only involves effects due to overlap of pairs of inclusions. We also obtain an expansion for ɛ* which is exact through second order in φ2, where φ2 is the sphere volume fraction. We evaluate, for concreteness, some of the integrals that arise in this study, for arbitrary λ, in the permeable-sphere model and in the penetrable concentric-shell model introduced in this study.

Physical properties and scaling relations of molecular clouds: the effect of stellar feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grisdale, Kearn; Agertz, Oscar; Renaud, Florent; Romeo, Alessandro B.

2018-06-01

Using hydrodynamical simulations of entire galactic discs similar to the Milky Way, reaching 4.6{ pc} resolution, we study the origins of observed physical properties of giant molecular clouds (GMCs). We find that efficient stellar feedback is a necessary ingredient in order to develop a realistic interstellar medium (ISM), leading to molecular cloud masses, sizes, velocity dispersions and virial parameters in excellent agreement with Milky Way observations. GMC scaling relations observed in the Milky Way, such as the mass-size (M-R), velocity dispersion-size (σ-R), and the σ-RΣ relations, are reproduced in a feedback driven ISM when observed in projection, with M∝R2.3 and σ∝R0.56. When analysed in 3D, GMC scaling relations steepen significantly, indicating potential limitations of our understanding of molecular cloud 3D structure from observations. Furthermore, we demonstrate how a GMC population's underlying distribution of virial parameters can strongly influence the scatter in derived scaling relations. Finally, we show that GMCs with nearly identical global properties exist in different evolutionary stages, where a majority of clouds being either gravitationally bound or expanding, but with a significant fraction being compressed by external ISM pressure, at all times.

The effect of mystery shopper reports on age verification for tobacco purchases.

PubMed

Krevor, Brad S; Ponicki, William R; Grube, Joel W; DeJong, William

2011-09-01

Mystery shops involving attempted tobacco purchases by young buyers have been implemented in order to monitor retail stores' performance in refusing underage sales. Anecdotal evidence suggests that mystery shop visits with immediate feedback to store personnel can improve age verification. This study investigated the effect of monthly and twice-monthly mystery shop reports on age verification. Mystery shoppers visited 45 Walgreens stores 20 times. The stores were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions. Control group stores received no feedback, whereas 2 treatment groups received feedback communications on every visit (twice monthly) or on every second visit (monthly) after baseline. Logit regression models tested whether each treatment group improved verification rates relative to the control group. Postbaseline verification rates were higher in both treatment groups than in the control group, but only the stores receiving monthly communications had a significantly greater improvement compared with the control group stores. Verification rates increased significantly during the study period for all 3 groups, with delayed improvement among control group stores. Communication between managers regarding the mystery shop program may account for the delayed age-verification improvements observed in the control group stores. Encouraging interstore communication might extend the benefits of mystery shop programs beyond those stores that receive this intervention. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Understanding feedback report uptake: process evaluation findings from a 13-month feedback intervention in long-term care settings.

PubMed

Sales, Anne E; Fraser, Kimberly; Baylon, Melba Andrea B; O'Rourke, Hannah M; Gao, Gloria; Bucknall, Tracey; Maisey, Suzanne

2015-02-12

Long-term care settings provide care to a large proportion of predominantly older, highly disabled adults across the United States and Canada. Managing and improving quality of care is challenging, in part because staffing is highly dependent on relatively non-professional health care aides and resources are limited. Feedback interventions in these settings are relatively rare, and there has been little published information about the process of feedback intervention. Our objectives were to describe the key components of uptake of the feedback reports, as well as other indicators of participant response to the intervention. We conducted this project in nine long-term care units in four facilities in Edmonton, Canada. We used mixed methods, including observations during a 13-month feedback report intervention with nine post-feedback survey cycles, to conduct a process evaluation of a feedback report intervention in these units. We included all facility-based direct care providers (staff) in the feedback report distribution and survey administration. We conducted descriptive analyses of the data from observations and surveys, presenting this in tabular and graphic form. We constructed a short scale to measure uptake of the feedback reports. Our analysis evaluated feedback report uptake by provider type over the 13 months of the intervention. We received a total of 1,080 survey responses over the period of the intervention, which varied by type of provider, facility, and survey month. Total number of reports distributed ranged from 103 in cycle 12 to 229 in cycle 3, although the method of delivery varied widely across the period, from 12% to 65% delivered directly to individuals and 15% to 84% left for later distribution. The key elements of feedback uptake, including receiving, reading, understanding, discussing, and reporting a perception that the reports were useful, varied by survey cycle and provider type, as well as by facility. Uptake, as we measured it, was consistently high overall, but varied widely by provider type and time period. We report detailed process data describing the aspects of uptake of a feedback report during an intensive, longitudinal feedback intervention in long-term care facilities. Uptake is a complex process for which we used multiple measures. We demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a complex longitudinal feedback intervention in relatively resource-poor long-term care facilities to a wider range of provider types than have been included in prior feedback interventions.

Stability of Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Time-varying Feedback Delay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chunodkar, Apurva A.; Akella, Maruthi R.

2013-12-01

This paper considers the problem of stabilizing a class of nonlinear systems with unknown bounded delayed feedback wherein the time-varying delay is 1) piecewise constant 2) continuous with a bounded rate. We also consider application of these results to the stabilization of rigid-body attitude dynamics. In the first case, the time-delay in feedback is modeled specifically as a switch among an arbitrarily large set of unknown constant values with a known strict upper bound. The feedback is a linear function of the delayed states. In the case of linear systems with switched delay feedback, a new sufficiency condition for average dwell time result is presented using a complete type Lyapunov-Krasovskii (L-K) functional approach. Further, the corresponding switched system with nonlinear perturbations is proven to be exponentially stable inside a well characterized region of attraction for an appropriately chosen average dwell time. In the second case, the concept of the complete type L-K functional is extended to a class of nonlinear time-delay systems with unknown time-varying time-delay. This extension ensures stability robustness to time-delay in the control design for all values of time-delay less than the known upper bound. Model-transformation is used in order to partition the nonlinear system into a nominal linear part that is exponentially stable with a bounded perturbation. We obtain sufficient conditions which ensure exponential stability inside a region of attraction estimate. A constructive method to evaluate the sufficient conditions is presented together with comparison with the corresponding constant and piecewise constant delay. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the theoretical results of this paper.

Particle Acceleration in Mildly Relativistic Shearing Flows: The Interplay of Systematic and Stochastic Effects, and the Origin of the Extended High-energy Emission in AGN Jets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Ruo-Yu; Rieger, F. M.; Aharonian, F. A., E-mail: ruoyu@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: frank.rieger@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: aharon@mpi-hd.mpg.de

The origin of the extended X-ray emission in the large-scale jets of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) poses challenges to conventional models of acceleration and emission. Although electron synchrotron radiation is considered the most feasible radiation mechanism, the formation of the continuous large-scale X-ray structure remains an open issue. As astrophysical jets are expected to exhibit some turbulence and shearing motion, we here investigate the potential of shearing flows to facilitate an extended acceleration of particles and evaluate its impact on the resultant particle distribution. Our treatment incorporates systematic shear and stochastic second-order Fermi effects. We show that for typical parametersmore » applicable to large-scale AGN jets, stochastic second-order Fermi acceleration, which always accompanies shear particle acceleration, can play an important role in facilitating the whole process of particle energization. We study the time-dependent evolution of the resultant particle distribution in the presence of second-order Fermi acceleration, shear acceleration, and synchrotron losses using a simple Fokker–Planck approach and provide illustrations for the possible emergence of a complex (multicomponent) particle energy distribution with different spectral branches. We present examples for typical parameters applicable to large-scale AGN jets, indicating the relevance of the underlying processes for understanding the extended X-ray emission and the origin of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays.« less

Demodulation Radio Frequency Interference Effects in Operational Amplifier Circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutu, Yue-Hong

A series of investigations have been carried out to determine RFI effects in analog circuits using monolithic integrated operational amplifiers (op amps) as active devices. The specific RFI effect investigated is how amplitude-modulated (AM) RF signals are demodulated in op amp circuits to produce undesired low frequency responses at AM-modulation frequency. The undesired demodulation responses were shown to be characterized by a second-order nonlinear transfer function. Four representative op amp types investigated were the 741 bipolar op amp, the LM10 bipolar op amp, the LF355 JFET-Bipolar op amp, and the CA081 MOS-Bipolar op amp. Two op amp circuits were investigated. The first circuit was a noninverting unity voltage gain buffer circuit. The second circuit was an inverting op amp configuration. In the second circuit, the investigation includes the effects of an RFI suppression capacitor in the feedback path. Approximately 30 units of each op amp type were tested to determine the statistical variations of RFI demodulation effects in the two op amp circuits. The Nonlinear Circuit Analysis Program, NCAP, was used to simulate the demodulation RFI response. In the simulation, the op amp was replaced with its incremental macromodel. Values of macromodel parameters were obtained from previous investigations and manufacturer's data sheets. Some key results of this work are: (1) The RFI demodulation effects are 10 to 20 dB lower in CA081 and LF355 FET-bipolar op amp than in 741 and LM10 bipolar op amp except above 40 MHz where the LM10 RFI response begins to approach that of CA081. (2) The experimental mean values for 30 741 op amps show that RFI demodulation responses in the inverting amplifier with a 27 pF feedback capacitor were suppressed from 10 to 35 dB over the RF frequency range 0.1 to 150 MHz except at 0.15 MHz where only 3.5 dB suppression was observed. (3) The NCAP program can predict RFI demodulation responses in 741 and LF355 unity gain buffer circuits within 6 and 7 dB respectively for RF frequencies 0.1 to 400 MHz except near the resonant frequencies for the LF355 circuit. (4) The NCAP simulations suggest that the resonances of the LF355 unity gain buffer circuit are related to small parasitic capacitance values of the order of 1 to 5 pF. (5) The NCAP sensitivity analysis indicates that variations in a second-order transfer function are sensitive to some macromodel parameters.

Modeling the Response of Soil Organic Matter Decomposition to Warming: Effects of Dynamical Enzyme Productivity and Nuanced Representation of Respiration.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sihi, D.; Gerber, S.; Inglett, K. S.; Inglett, P.

2014-12-01

Recent development in modeling soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition includes the explicit incorporation of enzyme and microbial dynamics. A characteristic of these models is a feedback between substrate and consumers which is absent in traditional first order decay models. Second, microbial decomposition models incorporate carbon use efficiency (CUE) as a function of temperature which proved to be critical to prediction of SOC with warming. Our main goal is to explore microbial decomposition models with respect to responses of microbes to enzyme activity, costs to enzyme production, and to incorporation of growth vs. maintenance respiration. In order to simplify the modeling setup we assumed quick adjustment of enzyme activity and depolymerized carbon to microbial and SOC pools. Enzyme activity plays an important role to decomposition if its production is scaled to microbial biomass. In fact if microbes are allowed to optimize enzyme productivity the microbial enzyme model becomes unstable. Thus if the assumption of enzyme productivity is relaxed, other limiting factors must come into play. To stabilize the model, we account for two feedbacks that include cost of enzyme production and diminishing return of depolymerization with increasing enzyme concentration and activity. These feedback mechanisms caused the model to behave in a similar way to traditional, first order decay models. Most importantly, we found, that under warming, the changes in SOC carbon were more severe in enzyme synthesis is costly. In turn, carbon use efficiency (CUE) and its dynamical response to temperature is mainly determined by 1) the rate of turnover of microbes 2) the partitioning of dead microbial matter into different quality pools, and 3) and whether growth, maintenance respiration and microbial death rate have distinct responses to changes in temperature. Abbreviations: p: decay of enzyme, g: coefficient for growth respiration, : fraction of material from microbial turnover that enters the DOC pool, loss of C scaled to microbial mass, half saturation constant.

From a market of dreamers to economical shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owhadi, Houman

2004-11-01

Over the past years an intense work has been undertaken to understand the origin of the crashes and bubbles of financial markets. The explanations of these crashes have been grounded on the hypothesis of behavioral and social correlations between the agents in interacting particle models or on a feedback of the stock prices on trading behaviors in mean-field models (here bubbles and crashes are seen as collective hysteria). In this paper, we will introduce a market model as a particle system with no other interaction between the agents than the fact that to be able to sell, somebody must be willing to buy and no feedback of the price on their trading behavior. We will show that this model crashes in finite estimable time. Although the age of the market does not appear in the price dynamic the population of traders taken as a whole system is maturing towards collapse. The wealth distribution among the agents follows the second law of thermodynamics and with probability one an agent (or a minority of agents) will accumulate a large portion of the total wealth, at some point this disproportion in the wealth distribution becomes unbearable for the market leading to its collapse. We believe that the origin of the collapse in our model could be of some relevance in understanding long-term economic cycles such as the Kondratiev cycle.

Adaptation to delayed auditory feedback induces the temporal recalibration effect in both speech perception and production.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Kosuke; Kawabata, Hideaki

2014-12-01

We ordinarily speak fluently, even though our perceptions of our own voices are disrupted by various environmental acoustic properties. The underlying mechanism of speech is supposed to monitor the temporal relationship between speech production and the perception of auditory feedback, as suggested by a reduction in speech fluency when the speaker is exposed to delayed auditory feedback (DAF). While many studies have reported that DAF influences speech motor processing, its relationship to the temporal tuning effect on multimodal integration, or temporal recalibration, remains unclear. We investigated whether the temporal aspects of both speech perception and production change due to adaptation to the delay between the motor sensation and the auditory feedback. This is a well-used method of inducing temporal recalibration. Participants continually read texts with specific DAF times in order to adapt to the delay. Then, they judged the simultaneity between the motor sensation and the vocal feedback. We measured the rates of speech with which participants read the texts in both the exposure and re-exposure phases. We found that exposure to DAF changed both the rate of speech and the simultaneity judgment, that is, participants' speech gained fluency. Although we also found that a delay of 200 ms appeared to be most effective in decreasing the rates of speech and shifting the distribution on the simultaneity judgment, there was no correlation between these measurements. These findings suggest that both speech motor production and multimodal perception are adaptive to temporal lag but are processed in distinct ways.

Why do high-redshift galaxies show diverse gas-phase metallicity gradients?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiangcheng; Hopkins, Philip F.; Feldmann, Robert; Torrey, Paul; Faucher-Giguère, Claude-André; Kereš, Dušan

2017-04-01

Recent spatially resolved observations of galaxies at z ˜ 0.6-3 reveal that high-redshift galaxies show complex kinematics and a broad distribution of gas-phase metallicity gradients. To understand these results, we use a suite of high-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations from the Feedback in Realistic Environments project, which include physically motivated models of the multiphase interstellar medium, star formation and stellar feedback. Our simulations reproduce the observed diversity of kinematic properties and metallicity gradients, broadly consistent with observations at z ˜ 0-3. Strong negative metallicity gradients only appear in galaxies with a rotating disc, but not all rotationally supported galaxies have significant gradients. Strongly perturbed galaxies with little rotation always have flat gradients. The kinematic properties and metallicity gradient of a high-redshift galaxy can vary significantly on short time-scales, associated with starburst episodes. Feedback from a starburst can destroy the gas disc, drive strong outflows and flatten a pre-existing negative metallicity gradient. The time variability of a single galaxy is statistically similar to the entire simulated sample, indicating that the observed metallicity gradients in high-redshift galaxies reflect the instantaneous state of the galaxy rather than the accretion and growth history on cosmological time-scales. We find weak dependence of metallicity gradient on stellar mass and specific star formation rate (sSFR). Low-mass galaxies and galaxies with high sSFR tend to have flat gradients, likely due to the fact that feedback is more efficient in these galaxies. We argue that it is important to resolve feedback on small scales in order to produce the diverse metallicity gradients observed.

High-power, surface-emitting quantum cascade laser operating in a symmetric grating mode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boyle, C.; Sigler, C.; Kirch, J. D.

2016-03-21

Grating-coupled surface-emitting (GCSE) lasers generally operate with a double-lobed far-field beam pattern along the cavity-length direction, which is a result of lasing being favored in the antisymmetric grating mode. We experimentally demonstrate a GCSE quantum-cascade laser design allowing high-power, nearly single-lobed surface emission parallel to the longitudinal cavity. A 2nd-order Au-semiconductor distributed-feedback (DFB)/distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) grating is used for feedback and out-coupling. The DFB and DBR grating regions are 2.55 mm- and 1.28 mm-long, respectively, for a total grating length of 5.1 mm. The lasers are designed to operate in a symmetric (longitudinal) grating mode by causing resonant coupling of the guided optical modemore » to the antisymmetric surface-plasmon modes of the 2nd-order metal/semiconductor grating. Then, the antisymmetric modes are strongly absorbed by the metal in the grating, causing the symmetric mode to be favored to lase, which, in turn, produces a single-lobed beam over a range of grating duty-cycle values of 36%–41%. Simulations indicate that the symmetric mode is always favored to lase, independent of the random phase of reflections from the device's cleaved ends. Peak pulsed output powers of ∼0.4 W were measured with nearly single-lobe beam-pattern (in the longitudinal direction), single-spatial-mode operation near 4.75 μm wavelength. Far-field measurements confirm a diffraction-limited beam pattern, in agreement with simulations, for a source-to-detector separation of 2 m.« less

Dissociable effects of reward and expectancy during evaluative feedback processing revealed by topographic ERP mapping analysis.

PubMed

Gheza, Davide; Paul, Katharina; Pourtois, Gilles

2017-11-24

Evaluative feedback provided during performance monitoring (PM) elicits either a positive or negative deflection ~250-300ms after its onset in the event-related potential (ERP) depending on whether the outcome is reward-related or not, as well as expected or not. However, it remains currently unclear whether these two deflections reflect a unitary process, or rather dissociable effects arising from non-overlapping brain networks. To address this question, we recorded 64-channel EEG in healthy adult participants performing a standard gambling task where valence and expectancy were manipulated in a factorial design. We analyzed the feedback-locked ERP data using a conventional ERP analysis, as well as an advanced topographic ERP mapping analysis supplemented with distributed source localization. Results reveal two main topographies showing opposing valence effects, and being differently modulated by expectancy. The first one was short-lived and sensitive to no-reward irrespective of expectancy. Source-estimation associated with this topographic map comprised mainly regions of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. The second one was primarily driven by reward, had a prolonged time-course and was monotonically influenced by expectancy. Moreover, this reward-related topographical map was best accounted for by intracranial generators estimated in the posterior cingulate cortex. These new findings suggest the existence of dissociable brain systems depending on feedback valence and expectancy. More generally, they inform about the added value of using topographic ERP mapping methods, besides conventional ERP measurements, to characterize qualitative changes occurring in the spatio-temporal dynamic of reward processing during PM. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Performance Feedback: A Review of Its Psychological and Behavioral Effects

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-02-01

order to feel a sense of compet’nce, some means must S be provided for the individual to judge his or her perFor, fance . Feedback usually is necessary in...the nature of general feedback. Gen - eral feedback, for the most part, represents a point along an evaluation con- tinuum. The source communicates to

Interplay among Technical, Socio-Emotional and Personal Factors in Written Feedback Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chong, Ivan

2018-01-01

The centrality of written feedback is clearly seen from the proliferation of research in the context of higher education. As an increasingly expanding field in research, the majority of written feedback studies have been interested in investigating the technical aspect of how feedback should be given in order to promote student learning. More…

The E-Step of the MGROUP EM Algorithm. Program Statistics Research Technical Report No. 93-37.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Neal

Mislevy (1984, 1985) introduced an EM algorithm for estimating the parameters of a latent distribution model that is used extensively by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Second order asymptotic corrections are derived and applied along with more common first order asymptotic corrections to approximate the expectations required by…

Finite-time stability and synchronization of memristor-based fractional-order fuzzy cellular neural networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Mingwen; Li, Lixiang; Peng, Haipeng; Xiao, Jinghua; Yang, Yixian; Zhang, Yanping; Zhao, Hui

2018-06-01

This paper mainly studies the finite-time stability and synchronization problems of memristor-based fractional-order fuzzy cellular neural network (MFFCNN). Firstly, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of the Filippov solution of the MFFCNN according to the Banach fixed point theorem and give a sufficient condition for the existence and uniqueness of the solution. Secondly, a sufficient condition to ensure the finite-time stability of the MFFCNN is obtained based on the definition of finite-time stability of the MFFCNN and Gronwall-Bellman inequality. Thirdly, by designing a simple linear feedback controller, the finite-time synchronization criterion for drive-response MFFCNN systems is derived according to the definition of finite-time synchronization. These sufficient conditions are easy to verify. Finally, two examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed results.

Carrier-envelope phase stabilization with sub-10 as residual timing jitter.

PubMed

Borchers, B; Koke, S; Husakou, A; Herrmann, J; Steinmeyer, G

2011-11-01

We demonstrate carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stabilization of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire oscillator with unprecedented timing jitter of eight attoseconds. The stabilization performance is obtained by a combination of two different stabilization approaches. In a first step the drift of the CEP is stabilized with a conventional feedback loop by means of controlling the oscillator pump power with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). In a second step we utilize a recently developed feed-forward type stabilization scheme which has a much higher control bandwith. Here an acousto-optic frequency shifter (AOFS) produces the stabilized output in the first diffraction order. Moreover, we present numerical results on the optimization of the length of the photonic crystal fiber, which is used to generate an octave-spanning spectrum, in order to optimize the sensitivity in the f-to-2f interferometers.

Uncovering dispersion properties in semiconductor waveguides to study photon-pair generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laiho, K.; Pressl, B.; Schlager, A.; Suchomel, H.; Kamp, M.; Höfling, S.; Schneider, C.; Weihs, G.

2016-10-01

We investigate the dispersion properties of ridge Bragg-reflection waveguides to deduce their phasematching characteristics. These are crucial for exploiting them as sources of parametric down-conversion (PDC). In order to estimate the phasematching bandwidth we first determine the group refractive indices of the interacting modes via Fabry-Perot experiments in two distant wavelength regions. Second, by measuring the spectra of the emitted PDC photons, we gain access to their group index dispersion. Our results offer a simple approach for determining the PDC process parameters in the spectral domain, and provide important feedback for designing such sources, especially in the broadband case.

Optimal active vibration absorber: Design and experimental results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee-Glauser, Gina; Juang, Jer-Nan; Sulla, Jeffrey L.

1992-01-01

An optimal active vibration absorber can provide guaranteed closed-loop stability and control for large flexible space structures with collocated sensors/actuators. The active vibration absorber is a second-order dynamic system which is designed to suppress any unwanted structural vibration. This can be designed with minimum knowledge of the controlled system. Two methods for optimizing the active vibration absorber parameters are illustrated: minimum resonant amplitude and frequency matched active controllers. The Controls-Structures Interaction Phase-1 Evolutionary Model at NASA LaRC is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the active vibration absorber for vibration suppression. Performance is compared numerically and experimentally using acceleration feedback.

Investigation, development and application of optimal output feedback theory. Volume 2: Development of an optimal, limited state feedback outer-loop digital flight control system for 3-D terminal area operation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broussard, J. R.; Halyo, N.

1984-01-01

This report contains the development of a digital outer-loop three dimensional radio navigation (3-D RNAV) flight control system for a small commercial jet transport. The outer-loop control system is designed using optimal stochastic limited state feedback techniques. Options investigated using the optimal limited state feedback approach include integrated versus hierarchical control loop designs, 20 samples per second versus 5 samples per second outer-loop operation and alternative Type 1 integration command errors. Command generator tracking techniques used in the digital control design enable the jet transport to automatically track arbitrary curved flight paths generated by waypoints. The performance of the design is demonstrated using detailed nonlinear aircraft simulations in the terminal area, frequency domain multi-input sigma plots, frequency domain single-input Bode plots and closed-loop poles. The response of the system to a severe wind shear during a landing approach is also presented.

The Moderated Effects of Video Feedback for Social Anxiety Disorder

PubMed Central

Rodebaugh, Thomas L.; Heimberg, Richard G.; Schultz, Luke T.; Blackmore, Michelle

2010-01-01

Despite initially positive results, video feedback for social anxiety has never been shown to reduce social anxiety in a controlled experiment with diagnosed participants, and only once with undiagnosed participants. Previous studies arguably did not detect such an effect because of limited assessment of anxiety and potential moderators. We tested video feedback with cognitive preparation among treatment-seeking participants with a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. In Session 1, participants gave an extemporaneous speech and either received the intervention or not. In Session 2, 6 to 14 days later, participants gave a second extemporaneous speech. The intervention improved self-perception of performance, particularly for those participants with the most unrealistically negative impressions of their performance (i.e., high self-observer discrepancy). In addition, the intervention reduced anticipatory anxiety for the second speech for participants with high self-observer discrepancy. These findings extend previous results regarding video feedback and suggest that the intervention may be useful for people with social anxiety disorder and higher self-observer discrepancies for a specific task. PMID:20471783

Variations in algorithm implementation among quantitative texture analysis software packages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foy, Joseph J.; Mitta, Prerana; Nowosatka, Lauren R.; Mendel, Kayla R.; Li, Hui; Giger, Maryellen L.; Al-Hallaq, Hania; Armato, Samuel G.

2018-02-01

Open-source texture analysis software allows for the advancement of radiomics research. Variations in texture features, however, result from discrepancies in algorithm implementation. Anatomically matched regions of interest (ROIs) that captured normal breast parenchyma were placed in the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 20 patients at two time points. Six first-order features and six gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features were calculated for each ROI using four texture analysis packages. Features were extracted using package-specific default GLCM parameters and using GLCM parameters modified to yield the greatest consistency among packages. Relative change in the value of each feature between time points was calculated for each ROI. Distributions of relative feature value differences were compared across packages. Absolute agreement among feature values was quantified by the intra-class correlation coefficient. Among first-order features, significant differences were found for max, range, and mean, and only kurtosis showed poor agreement. All six second-order features showed significant differences using package-specific default GLCM parameters, and five second-order features showed poor agreement; with modified GLCM parameters, no significant differences among second-order features were found, and all second-order features showed poor agreement. While relative texture change discrepancies existed across packages, these differences were not significant when consistent parameters were used.

Neural-network dedicated processor for solving competitive assignment problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eberhardt, Silvio P. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A neural-network processor for solving first-order competitive assignment problems consists of a matrix of N x M processing units, each of which corresponds to the pairing of a first number of elements of (R sub i) with a second number of elements (C sub j), wherein limits of the first number are programmed in row control superneurons, and limits of the second number are programmed in column superneurons as MIN and MAX values. The cost (weight) W sub ij of the pairings is programmed separately into each PU. For each row and column of PU's, a dedicated constraint superneuron insures that the number of active neurons within the associated row or column fall within a specified range. Annealing is provided by gradually increasing the PU gain for each row and column or increasing positive feedback to each PU, the latter being effective to increase hysteresis of each PU or by combining both of these techniques.

Distributed Wireless Power Transfer With Energy Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seunghyun; Zhang, Rui

2017-04-01

Energy beamforming (EB) is a key technique for achieving efficient radio-frequency (RF) transmission enabled wireless energy transfer (WET). By optimally designing the waveforms from multiple energy transmitters (ETs) over the wireless channels, they can be constructively combined at the energy receiver (ER) to achieve an EB gain that scales with the number of ETs. However, the optimal design of EB waveforms requires accurate channel state information (CSI) at the ETs, which is challenging to obtain practically, especially in a distributed system with ETs at separate locations. In this paper, we study practical and efficient channel training methods to achieve optimal EB in a distributed WET system. We propose two protocols with and without centralized coordination, respectively, where distributed ETs either sequentially or in parallel adapt their transmit phases based on a low-complexity energy feedback from the ER. The energy feedback only depends on the received power level at the ER, where each feedback indicates one particular transmit phase that results in the maximum harvested power over a set of previously used phases. Simulation results show that the two proposed training protocols converge very fast in practical WET systems even with a large number of distributed ETs, while the protocol with sequential ET phase adaptation is also analytically shown to converge to the optimal EB design with perfect CSI by increasing the training time. Numerical results are also provided to evaluate the performance of the proposed distributed EB and training designs as compared to other benchmark schemes.

Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Sensor for Trace Detection of Formaldehyde Gas

PubMed Central

Elia, Angela; Di Franco, Cinzia; Spagnolo, Vincenzo; Lugarà, Pietro Mario; Scamarcio, Gaetano

2009-01-01

We report on the development of a photoacoustic sensor for the detection of formaldehyde (CH2O) using a thermoelectrically cooled distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser operating in pulsed mode at 5.6 μm. A resonant photoacoustic cell, equipped with four electret microphones, is excited in its first longitudinal mode at 1,380 Hz. The absorption line at 1,778.9 cm−1 is selected for CH2O detection. A detection limit of 150 parts per billion in volume in nitrogen is achieved using a 10 seconds time constant and 4 mW laser power. Measurements in ambient air will require water vapour filters. PMID:22574040

A novel use of Twitter to provide feedback and evaluations.

PubMed

Desai, Bobby

2014-04-01

Inconsistencies in work schedules and faculty supervision are barriers to monthly emergency medicine (EM) resident doctor evaluations. Direct and contemporaneous feedback may be effective in providing specific details that determine a resident's evaluation. To determine whether Twitter, an easy to use application that is available on the Internet via smartphones and desktops, can provide direct and contemporaneous feedback that is easily accessible, and easy to store and refer back to. First- to third-year EM residents were administered a survey to assess their thoughts on the current monthly evaluation system. Subsequently, residents obtained a Twitter account and were instructed to follow a single general faculty Twitter account for ease of data collection. Following completion of an 8-week study period, a second survey was administered to assess resident thoughts on contemporaneous feedback and evaluations versus the traditional form. Of the 24 EM residents, 13 were available for study. A total of 220 'tweets' were provided by seven faculty members, with a mean of 11 tweets (range 8-17) per resident. The 13 residents received a total of eight formal evaluations from 19 faculty members. The second survey demonstrated that this method provided more detailed evaluations and increased the volume of feedback. Contemporaneous feedback and evaluation provides a greater volume of feedback that is more detailed than end-of-course evaluations. Twitter is an effective and easy means to provide this feedback. Limitations included the length of study time and the inability to have all of the EM residents involved in the study. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Development of radiation tolerant monolithic active pixel sensors with fast column parallel read-out

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koziel, M.; Dorokhov, A.; Fontaine, J.-C.; De Masi, R.; Winter, M.

2010-12-01

Monolithic active pixel sensors (MAPS) [1] (Turchetta et al., 2001) are being developed at IPHC—Strasbourg to equip the EUDET telescope [2] (Haas, 2006) and vertex detectors for future high energy physics experiments, including the STAR upgrade at RHIC [3] (T.S. Collaboration, 2005) and the CBM experiment at FAIR/GSI [4] (Heuser, 2006). High granularity, low material budget and high read-out speed are systematically required for most applications, complemented, for some of them, with high radiation tolerance. A specific column-parallel architecture, implemented in the MIMOSA-22 sensor, was developed to achieve fast read-out MAPS. Previous studies of the front-end architecture integrated in this sensor, which includes in-pixel amplification, have shown that the fixed pattern noise increase consecutive to ionizing radiation can be controlled by means of a negative feedback [5] (Hu-Guo et al., 2008). However, an unexpected rise of the temporal noise was observed. A second version of this chip (MIMOSA-22bis) was produced in order to search for possible improvements of the radiation tolerance, regarding this type of noise. In this prototype, the feedback transistor was tuned in order to mitigate the sensitivity of the pixel to ionizing radiation. The performances of the pixels after irradiation were investigated for two types of feedback transistors: enclosed layout transistor (ELT) [6] (Snoeys et al., 2000) and "standard" transistor with either large or small transconductance. The noise performance of all test structures was studied in various conditions (expected in future experiments) regarding temperature, integration time and ionizing radiation dose. Test results are presented in this paper. Based on these observations, ideas for further improvement of the radiation tolerance of column parallel MAPS are derived.

Flight control synthesis for flexible aircraft using Eigenspace assignment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, J. B.; Schmidt, D. K.

1986-01-01

The use of eigenspace assignment techniques to synthesize flight control systems for flexible aircraft is explored. Eigenspace assignment techniques are used to achieve a specified desired eigenspace, chosen to yield desirable system impulse residue magnitudes for selected system responses. Two of these are investigated. The first directly determines constant measurement feedback gains that will yield a close-loop system eigenspace close to a desired eigenspace. The second technique selects quadratic weighting matrices in a linear quadratic control synthesis that will asymptotically yield the close-loop achievable eigenspace. Finally, the possibility of using either of these techniques with state estimation is explored. Application of the methods to synthesize integrated flight-control and structural-mode-control laws for a large flexible aircraft is demonstrated and results discussed. Eigenspace selection criteria based on design goals are discussed, and for the study case it would appear that a desirable eigenspace can be obtained. In addition, the importance of state-space selection is noted along with problems with reduced-order measurement feedback. Since the full-state control laws may be implemented with dynamic compensation (state estimation), the use of reduced-order measurement feedback is less desirable. This is especially true since no change in the transient response from the pilot's input results if state estimation is used appropriately. The potential is also noted for high actuator bandwidth requirements if the linear quadratic synthesis approach is utilized. Even with the actuator pole location selected, a problem with unmodeled modes is noted due to high bandwidth. Some suggestions for future research include investigating how to choose an eigenspace that will achieve certain desired dynamics and stability robustness, determining how the choice of measurements effects synthesis results, and exploring how the phase relationships between desired eigenvector elements effects the synthesis results.

CMB spectral distortions as solutions to the Boltzmann equations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ota, Atsuhisa, E-mail: a.ota@th.phys.titech.ac.jp

2017-01-01

We propose to re-interpret the cosmic microwave background spectral distortions as solutions to the Boltzmann equation. This approach makes it possible to solve the second order Boltzmann equation explicitly, with the spectral y distortion and the momentum independent second order temperature perturbation, while generation of μ distortion cannot be explained even at second order in this framework. We also extend our method to higher order Boltzmann equations systematically and find new type spectral distortions, assuming that the collision term is linear in the photon distribution functions, namely, in the Thomson scattering limit. As an example, we concretely construct solutions tomore » the cubic order Boltzmann equation and show that the equations are closed with additional three parameters composed of a cubic order temperature perturbation and two cubic order spectral distortions. The linear Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect whose momentum dependence is different from the usual y distortion is also discussed in the presence of the next leading order Kompaneets terms, and we show that higher order spectral distortions are also generated as a result of the diffusion process in a framework of higher order Boltzmann equations. The method may be applicable to a wider class of problems and has potential to give a general prescription to non-equilibrium physics.« less

Distributed feedback imprinted electrospun fiber lasers.

PubMed

Persano, Luana; Camposeo, Andrea; Del Carro, Pompilio; Fasano, Vito; Moffa, Maria; Manco, Rita; D'Agostino, Stefania; Pisignano, Dario

2014-10-01

Imprinted, distributed feedback lasers are demonstrated on individual, active electrospun polymer nanofibers. In addition to advantages related to miniaturization, optical confinement and grating nanopatterning lead to a significant threshold reduction compared to conventional thin-film lasers. The possibility of imprinting arbitrary photonic crystal geometries on electrospun lasing nanofibers opens new opportunities for realizing optical circuits and chips. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characterization and Dynamic Analysis of Long-Cavity Multi-Section Gain- Levered Quantum-Dot Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

test setup .................................................................... 8 Figure 5: Comparison of a Fabry – Perot and distributed feedback...for example Fabry – Perot and distributed-feedback designs), with each possessing advantages and disadvantages that will be discussed in detail in...contrast to Fabry – Perot cavities (two discrete mirrors) that result in lasing over multiple longitudinal modes supported by the cavity. Figure 5 shows

DBR laser with nondynamic plasma grating formed by focused ion beam implanted dopants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boenke, Myra M.; Wu, M. C.; Wang, Shyh; Clark, William M., Jr.; Stevens, Eugene H.

1989-01-01

A static plasma grating has been demonstrated experimentally (Wu et al., 1988) in a large-optical-cavity focused-ion-beam-distributed-Bragg-reflector (FIB-DBR) GaAlAs/GaAs laser diode. The grating is formed by implanting stripes of dopants with a focused ion beam. The dopants ionize to form periodic fluctuations in the carrier concentration which, through the Kramers-Kronig relations, form an index grating. A model of the grating strength for optimizaton of the laser design is developed and presented. The computed results show that the coupling coefficient k can be increased by more than an order of magnitude over the 15/cm experimentally. Therefore, FIB-DBR or FIB-distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers with performance comparable to that of conventional DBR (or DFB) lasers can be expected.

The Use of Online Corrective Feedback in Academic Writing by L1 Malay Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoke, Soo Kum; Rajendran, Cecilia Bai; Sain, Noridah; Kamaludin, Puteri Nur Hidayah; Nawi, Sofwah Md; Yusof, Suhaili

2013-01-01

Conventional corrective feedback has been widely practiced but has been said to be tedious, stressful and time consuming. As such, the focus of this study is to investigate the use of an alternative method to giving corrective feedback namely, an online corrective feedback through e-mail. In order to examine if this innovative form of corrective…

Percolation of networks with directed dependency links

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Dunbiao; Yuan, Xin; Du, Minhui; Stanley, H. Eugene; Hu, Yanqing

2016-04-01

The self-consistent probabilistic approach has proven itself powerful in studying the percolation behavior of interdependent or multiplex networks without tracking the percolation process through each cascading step. In order to understand how directed dependency links impact criticality, we employ this approach to study the percolation properties of networks with both undirected connectivity links and directed dependency links. We find that when a random network with a given degree distribution undergoes a second-order phase transition, the critical point and the unstable regime surrounding the second-order phase transition regime are determined by the proportion of nodes that do not depend on any other nodes. Moreover, we also find that the triple point and the boundary between first- and second-order transitions are determined by the proportion of nodes that depend on no more than one node. This implies that it is maybe general for multiplex network systems, some important properties of phase transitions can be determined only by a few parameters. We illustrate our findings using Erdős-Rényi networks.

A Trade Study of Thermosphere Empirical Neutral Density Models

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-01

n,m = Degree and order, respectively ′ = Geocentric latitude Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 2 λ = Geocentric ...coordinate. The ECI coordinate system also known as the Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 3 geocentric equatorial system has...seconds for numerical integration. The EGM96 model specifies V in the Earth-Center, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) coordinate frame, a geocentric coordinate

A smoothed two- and three-dimensional interface reconstruction method

DOE PAGES

Mosso, Stewart; Garasi, Christopher; Drake, Richard

2008-04-22

The Patterned Interface Reconstruction algorithm reduces the discontinuity between material interfaces in neighboring computational elements. This smoothing improves the accuracy of the reconstruction for smooth bodies. The method can be used in two- and three-dimensional Cartesian and unstructured meshes. Planar interfaces will be returned for planar volume fraction distributions. Finally, the algorithm is second-order accurate for smooth volume fraction distributions.

Decentralized Energy Management System for Networked Microgrids in Grid-connected and Islanded Modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zhaoyu; Chen, Bokan; Wang, Jianhui

This paper proposes a decentralized energy management system (EMS) for the coordinated operation of networked Microgirds (MGs) in a distribution system. In the grid-connected mode, the distribution network operator (DNO) and each MG are considered as distinct entities with individual objectives to minimize their own operation costs. It is assumed that both dispatchable and renewable energy source (RES)-based distributed generators (DGs) exist in the distribution network and the networked MGs. In order to coordinate the operation of all entities, we apply a decentralized bi-level algorithm to solve the problem with the first level to conduct negotiations among all entities andmore » the second level to update the non-converging penalties. In the islanded mode, the objective of each MG is to maintain a reliable power supply to its customers. In order to take into account the uncertainties of DG outputs and load consumption, we formulate the problems as two-stage stochastic programs. The first stage is to determine base generation setpoints based on the forecasts and the second stage is to adjust the generation outputs based on the realized scenarios. Case studies of a distribution system with networked MGs demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in both grid-connected and islanded modes.« less

Beam-plasma instability in inhomogeneous magnetic field and second order cyclotron resonance effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trakhtengerts, V. Y.; Hobara, Y.; Demekhov, A. G.; Hayakawa, M.

1999-03-01

A new analytical approach to cyclotron instability of electron beams with sharp gradients in velocity space (step-like distribution function) is developed taking into account magnetic field inhomogeneity and nonstationary behavior of the electron beam velocity. Under these conditions, the conventional hydrodynamic instability of such beams is drastically modified and second order resonance effects become important. It is shown that the optimal conditions for the instability occur for nonstationary quasimonochromatic wavelets whose frequency changes in time. The theory developed permits one to estimate the wave amplification and spatio-temporal characteristics of these wavelets.

A model for dispersion from area sources in convective turbulence. [for air pollution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crane, G.; Panofsky, H. A.; Zeman, O.

1977-01-01

Four independent estimates of the vertical distribution of the eddy coefficient for dispersion of a passive contaminant from an extensive area source in a convective layer have been presented. The estimates were based on the following methods: (1) a second-order closure prediction, (2) field data of pollutant concentrations over Los Angeles, (3) lab measurements of particle dispersion, and (4) assumption of equality between momentum and mass transfer coefficients in the free convective limit. It is suggested that K-values estimated both from second-order closure theory and from Los Angeles measurements are systematically underestimated.

Forward-Backward Emission of Target Evaporated Fragments at High Energy Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhi; Ma, Tian-Li; Zhang, Dong-Hai

The multiplicity distribution, multiplicity moments, scaled variance and entropy of target evaporated fragment emitted in forward and backward hemispheres in relativistic heavy ions induced emulsion heavy targets (AgBr) interactions are investigated. It is found that the multiplicity distribution can be fitted by the Gaussian distribution, and the fitting parameters are different between two hemispheres for all the interactions. The multiplicity moment increases with the order of the moment q, and second-order multiplicity moment is energy independent over the entire energy for all the interactions. The scaled variance is close to one for all the interactions. The entropy in forward hemisphere is greater than that in backward hemisphere for all the interactions.

The consultation and relational empathy (CARE) measure: development and preliminary validation and reliability of an empathy-based consultation process measure.

PubMed

Mercer, Stewart W; Maxwell, Margaret; Heaney, David; Watt, Graham Cm

2004-12-01

Empathy is a key aspect of the clinical encounter but there is a lack of patient-assessed measures suitable for general clinical settings. Our aim was to develop a consultation process measure based on a broad definition of empathy, which is meaningful to patients irrespective of their socio-economic background. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to develop and validate the new measure, which we have called the consultation and relational empathy (CARE) measure. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlational analysis against other validated measures in a series of three pilot studies in general practice (in areas of high or low socio-economic deprivation). Face and content validity was investigated by 43 interviews with patients from both types of areas, and by feedback from GPs and expert researchers in the field. The initial version of the new measure (pilot 1; high deprivation practice) correlated strongly (r = 0.85) with the Reynolds empathy measure (RES) and the Barrett-Lennard empathy subscale (BLESS) (r = 0.63), but had a highly skewed distribution (skew -1.879, kurtosis 3.563). Statistical analysis, and feedback from the 20 patients interviewed, the GPs and the expert researchers, led to a number of modifications. The revised, second version of the CARE measure, tested in an area of low deprivation (pilot 2) also correlated strongly with the established empathy measures (r = 0.84 versus RES and r = 0.77 versus BLESS) but had a less skewed distribution (skew -0.634, kurtosis -0.067). Internal reliability of the revised version was high (Cronbach's alpha 0.92). Patient feedback at interview (n = 13) led to only minor modification. The final version of the CARE measure, tested in pilot 3 (high deprivation practice) confirmed the validation with the other empathy measures (r = 0.85 versus RES and r = 0.84 versus BLESS) and the face validity (feedback from 10 patients). These preliminary results support the validity and reliability of the CARE measure as a tool for measuring patients' perceptions of relational empathy in the consultation.

Effects of generic versus non-generic feedback on motor learning in children.

PubMed

Chiviacowsky, Suzete; Drews, Ricardo

2014-01-01

Non-generic feedback refers to a specific event and implies that performance is malleable, while generic feedback implies that task performance reflects an inherent ability. The present study examined the influences of generic versus non-generic feedback on motor performance and learning in 10-year-old children. In the first experiment, using soccer ball kicking at a target as a task, providing participants with generic feedback resulted in worse performance than providing non-generic feedback, after both groups received negative feedback. The second experiment measured more permanent effects. Results of a retention test, performed one day after practicing a throwing task, showed that participants who received non-generic feedback during practice outperformed the generic feedback group, after receiving a negative feedback statement. The findings demonstrate the importance of the wording of feedback. Even though different positive feedback statements may not have an immediate influence on performance, they can affect performance, and presumably individuals' motivation, when performance is (purportedly) poor. Feedback implying that performance is malleable, rather than due to an inherent ability, seems to have the potential to inoculate learners against setbacks--a situation frequently encountered in the context of motor performance and learning.

Effects of Generic versus Non-Generic Feedback on Motor Learning in Children

PubMed Central

Chiviacowsky, Suzete; Drews, Ricardo

2014-01-01

Non-generic feedback refers to a specific event and implies that performance is malleable, while generic feedback implies that task performance reflects an inherent ability. The present study examined the influences of generic versus non-generic feedback on motor performance and learning in 10-year-old children. In the first experiment, using soccer ball kicking at a target as a task, providing participants with generic feedback resulted in worse performance than providing non-generic feedback, after both groups received negative feedback. The second experiment measured more permanent effects. Results of a retention test, performed one day after practicing a throwing task, showed that participants who received non-generic feedback during practice outperformed the generic feedback group, after receiving a negative feedback statement. The findings demonstrate the importance of the wording of feedback. Even though different positive feedback statements may not have an immediate influence on performance, they can affect performance, and presumably individuals' motivation, when performance is (purportedly) poor. Feedback implying that performance is malleable, rather than due to an inherent ability, seems to have the potential to inoculate learners against setbacks – a situation frequently encountered in the context of motor performance and learning. PMID:24523947

Rotorcraft pursuit-evasion in nap-of-the-earth flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menon, P. K. A.; Cheng, V. H. L.; Kim, E.

1990-01-01

Two approaches for studying the pursuit-evasion problem between rotorcraft executing nap-of-the-earth flight are presented. The first of these employs a constant speed kinematic helicopter model, while the second approach uses a three degree of freedom point-mass model. The candidate solutions to the first differential game are generated by integrating the state-costate equations backward in time. The second problem employs feedback linearization to obtain guidance laws in nonlinear feedback form. Both approaches explicitly use the terrain profile data. Sample extremals are presented.

Accreting binary population synthesis and feedback prescriptions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fragos, Tassos

2016-04-01

Studies of extagalactic X-ray binary populations have shown that the characteristics of these populations depend strongly on the characteristics of the host galaxy's parent stellar population (e.g. star-formation history and metallicity). These dependencies not only make X-ray binaries promising for aiding in the measurement of galaxy properties themselves, but they also have important astrophysical and cosmological implications. For example, due to the relatively young stellar ages and primordial metallicities in the early Universe (z > 3), it is predicted that X-ray binaries were more luminous than today. The more energetic X-ray photons, because of their long mean-free paths, can escape the galaxies where they are produced, and interact at long distances with the intergalactic medium. This could result in a smoother spatial distribution of ionized regions, and more importantly in an overall warmer intergalactic medium. The energetic X-ray photons emitted from X-ray binaries dominate the X-ray radiation field over active galactic nuclei at z > 6 - 8, and hence Χ-ray binary feedback can be a non-negligible contributor to the heating and reionization of the inter-galactic medium in the early universe. The spectral energy distribution shape of the XRB emission does not change significantly with redshift, suggesting that the same XRB subpopulation, namely black-hole XRBs in the high-soft state, dominates the cumulative emission at all times. On the contrary, the normalization of the spectral energy distribution does evolve with redshift. To zeroth order, this evolution is driven by the cosmic star-formation rate evolution. However, the metallicity evolution of the universe and the mean stellar population age are two important factors that affect the X-ray emission from high-mass and low-mass XRBs, respectively. In this talk, I will review recent studies on the potential feedback from accreting binary populations in galactic and cosmological scales. Furthermore, I will discuss which are the next steps towards a more physically realisitc modelling of accreting compact object populations in the early Universe.

Robust Distribution Network Reconfiguration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Changhyeok; Liu, Cong; Mehrotra, Sanjay

2015-03-01

We propose a two-stage robust optimization model for the distribution network reconfiguration problem with load uncertainty. The first-stage decision is to configure the radial distribution network and the second-stage decision is to find the optimal a/c power flow of the reconfigured network for given demand realization. We solve the two-stage robust model by using a column-and-constraint generation algorithm, where the master problem and subproblem are formulated as mixed-integer second-order cone programs. Computational results for 16, 33, 70, and 94-bus test cases are reported. We find that the configuration from the robust model does not compromise much the power loss undermore » the nominal load scenario compared to the configuration from the deterministic model, yet it provides the reliability of the distribution system for all scenarios in the uncertainty set.« less

Modeling and control of fuel cell based distributed generation systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Jin Woo

This dissertation presents circuit models and control algorithms of fuel cell based distributed generation systems (DGS) for two DGS topologies. In the first topology, each DGS unit utilizes a battery in parallel to the fuel cell in a standalone AC power plant and a grid-interconnection. In the second topology, a Z-source converter, which employs both the L and C passive components and shoot-through zero vectors instead of the conventional DC/DC boost power converter in order to step up the DC-link voltage, is adopted for a standalone AC power supply. In Topology 1, two applications are studied: a standalone power generation (Single DGS Unit and Two DGS Units) and a grid-interconnection. First, dynamic model of the fuel cell is given based on electrochemical process. Second, two full-bridge DC to DC converters are adopted and their controllers are designed: an unidirectional full-bridge DC to DC boost converter for the fuel cell and a bidirectional full-bridge DC to DC buck/boost converter for the battery. Third, for a three-phase DC to AC inverter without or with a Delta/Y transformer, a discrete-time state space circuit model is given and two discrete-time feedback controllers are designed: voltage controller in the outer loop and current controller in the inner loop. And last, for load sharing of two DGS units and power flow control of two DGS units or the DGS connected to the grid, real and reactive power controllers are proposed. Particularly, for the grid-connected DGS application, a synchronization issue between an islanding mode and a paralleling mode to the grid is investigated, and two case studies are performed. To demonstrate the proposed circuit models and control strategies, simulation test-beds using Matlab/Simulink are constructed for each configuration of the fuel cell based DGS with a three-phase AC 120 V (L-N)/60 Hz/50 kVA and various simulation results are presented. In Topology 2, this dissertation presents system modeling, modified space vector PWM implementation (MSVPWM) and design of a closed-loop controller of the Z-source converter which utilizes L and C components and shoot-through zero vectors for the standalone AC power generation. The fuel cell system is modeled by an electrical R-C circuit in order to include slow dynamics of the fuel cells and a voltage-current characteristic of a cell is also considered. A discrete-time state space model is derived to implement digital control and a space vector pulse-width modulation (SVPWM) technique is modified to realize the shoot-through zero vectors that boost the DC-link voltage. Also, three discrete-time feedback controllers are designed: a discrete-time optimal voltage controller, a discrete-time sliding mode current controller, and a discrete-time PI DC-link voltage controller. Furthermore, an asymptotic observer is used to reduce the number of sensors and enhance the reliability of the system. To demonstrate the analyzed circuit model and proposed control strategy, various simulation results using Matlab/Simulink are presented under both light/heavy loads and linear/nonlinear loads for a three-phase AC 208 V (L-L)/60 Hz/10 kVA.

Mode switching in a multi-wavelength distributed feedback quantum cascade laser using an external micro-cavity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sidler, Meinrad; Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, 8093 Zurich; Rauter, Patrick

2014-02-03

We demonstrate a multi-wavelength distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser (QCL) operating in a lensless external micro-cavity and achieve switchable single-mode emission at three distinct wavelengths selected by the DFB grating, each with a side-mode suppression ratio larger than 30 dB. Discrete wavelength tuning is achieved by modulating the feedback experienced by each mode of the multi-wavelength DFB QCL, resulting from a variation of the external cavity length. This method also provides a post-fabrication control of the lasing modes to correct for fabrication inhomogeneities, in particular, related to the cleaved facets position.

An Investigation on the Use of Oral Corrective Feedback in Turkish EFL Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Öztürk, Gökhan

2016-01-01

This classroom research study investigates corrective feedback implications in a sample of Turkish EFL classrooms. The types of corrective feedback, their distribution and the reasons of error ignorance were the foci. Four speaking classes in the English preparatory program of a Turkish state university were video-recorded for 12 hours in total…

Meaning in Constant Flow--University Teachers' Understanding of Examination Tasks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sellbjer, Stefan

2017-01-01

Effective feedback presupposes that students understand the task on which feedback is given. But what about the teachers formulating and assessing the task? Do they always understand it as intended? And if so, feedback on what? The purpose of this study is to examine how university teachers individually understand tasks distributed to students.…

Phase Matching in Presence of Feedback: Higher Order Terms and Enhancement of Nonlinear Interactions

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-12-01

Papers submitted for publication: M. Centini, G. D’Aguanno, L. Sciscione, C. Sibilia, M. Bertolotti, M. Scalora , M. Bloemer: “Phase matching in the...M. Centini, G. D’Aguanno, L. Sciscione, C. Sibilia, M. Bertolotti, M. Scalora , M. Bloemer: “Phase matching in the presence of feedback: High order

Second harmonic generation of off axial vortex beam in the case of walk-off effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shunyi; Ding, Panfeng; Pu, Jixiong

2016-07-01

Process of off axial vortex beam propagating in negative uniaxial crystal is investigated in this work. Firstly, we get the formulae of the normalized electric field and calculate the location of vortices for second harmonic beam in two type of phase matching. Then, numerical analysis verifies that the intensity distribution and location of vortices of the first order original vortex beam depend on the walk-off angle and off axial magnitude. It is shown that, in type I phase matching, the distribution of vortices is symmetrical about the horizontal axis, the separation distance increases as the off axial magnitude increases or the off axial magnitude deceases. However, in type II phase matching, the vortices are symmetrical along with some vertical axis, and increase of the walk-off angle or off axial magnitude leads to larger separation distance. Finally, the case of high order original off axial vortex beam is also investigated.

Model-independent analysis of the orientation of fluorescent probes with restricted mobility in muscle fibers.

PubMed Central

Dale, R E; Hopkins, S C; an der Heide, U A; Marszałek, T; Irving, M; Goldman, Y E

1999-01-01

The orientation of proteins in ordered biological samples can be investigated using steady-state polarized fluorescence from probes conjugated to the protein. A general limitation of this approach is that the probes typically exhibit rapid orientational motion ("wobble") with respect to the protein backbone. Here we present a method for characterizing the extent of this wobble and for removing its effects from the available information about the static orientational distribution of the probes. The analysis depends on four assumptions: 1) the probe wobble is fast compared with the nanosecond time scale of its excited-state decay; 2) the orientational distributions of the absorption and emission transition dipole moments are cylindrically symmetrical about a common axis c fixed in the protein; 3) protein motions are negligible during the excited-state decay; 4) the distribution of c is cylindrically symmetrical about the director of the experimental sample. In a muscle fiber, the director is the fiber axis, F. All of the information on the orientational order of the probe that is available from measurements of linearly polarized fluorescence is contained in five independent polarized fluorescence intensities measured with excitation and emission polarizers parallel or perpendicular to F and with the propagation axis of the detected fluorescence parallel or perpendicular to that of the excitation. The analysis then yields the average second-rank and fourth-rank order parameters ( and ) of the angular distribution of c relative to F, and and , the average second-rank order parameters of the angular distribution for wobble of the absorption and emission transition dipole moments relative to c. The method can also be applied to other cylindrically ordered systems such as oriented lipid bilayer membranes and to processes slower than fluorescence that may be observed using longer-lived optically excited states. PMID:10049341

Cosmic void clumps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lares, M.; Luparello, H. E.; Garcia Lambas, D.; Ruiz, A. N.; Ceccarelli, L.; Paz, D.

2017-10-01

Cosmic voids are of great interest given their relation to the large scale distribution of mass and the way they trace cosmic flows shaping the cosmic web. Here we show that the distribution of voids has, in consonance with the distribution of mass, a characteristic scale at which void pairs are preferentially located. We identify clumps of voids with similar environments and use them to define second order underdensities. Also, we characterize its properties and analyze its impact on the cosmic microwave background.

Bidirectional Classical Stochastic Processes with Measurements and Feedback

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hahne, G. E.

2005-01-01

A measurement on a quantum system is said to cause the "collapse" of the quantum state vector or density matrix. An analogous collapse occurs with measurements on a classical stochastic process. This paper addresses the question of describing the response of a classical stochastic process when there is feedback from the output of a measurement to the input, and is intended to give a model for quantum-mechanical processes that occur along a space-like reaction coordinate. The classical system can be thought of in physical terms as two counterflowing probability streams, which stochastically exchange probability currents in a way that the net probability current, and hence the overall probability, suitably interpreted, is conserved. The proposed formalism extends the . mathematics of those stochastic processes describable with linear, single-step, unidirectional transition probabilities, known as Markov chains and stochastic matrices. It is shown that a certain rearrangement and combination of the input and output of two stochastic matrices of the same order yields another matrix of the same type. Each measurement causes the partial collapse of the probability current distribution in the midst of such a process, giving rise to calculable, but non-Markov, values for the ensuing modification of the system's output probability distribution. The paper concludes with an analysis of a classical probabilistic version of the so-called grandfather paradox.

Multistate intermittency on the route to chaos of a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback from a long external cavity.

PubMed

Choi, Daeyoung; Wishon, Michael J; Chang, C Y; Citrin, D S; Locquet, A

2018-01-01

We observe experimentally two regimes of intermittency on the route to chaos of a semiconductor laser subjected to optical feedback from a long external cavity as the feedback level is increased. The first regime encountered corresponds to multistate intermittency involving two or three states composed of several combinations of periodic, quasiperiodic, and subharmonic dynamics. The second regime is observed for larger feedback levels and involves intermittency between period-doubled and chaotic regimes. This latter type of intermittency displays statistical properties similar to those of on-off intermittency.

Autonomous Rhythmic Drug Delivery Systems Based on Chemical and Biochemomechanical Oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegel, Ronald A.

While many drug delivery systems target constant, or zero-order drug release, certain drugs and hormones must be delivered in rhythmic pulses in order to achieve their optimal effect. Here we describe studies with two model autonomous rhythmic delivery systems. The first system is driven by a pH oscillator that modulates the ionization state of a model drug, benzoic acid, which can permeate through a lipophilic membrane when the drug is uncharged. The second system is based on a nonlinear negative feedback instability that arises from coupling of swelling of a hydrogel membrane to an enzymatic reaction, with the hydrogel controlling access of substrate to the enzyme, and the enzyme's product controlling the hydrogel's swelling state. The latter system, whose autonomous oscillations are driven by glucose at constant external activity, is shown to deliver gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in rhythmic pulses, with periodicity of the same order as observed in sexually mature adult humans. Relevant experimental results and some mathematical models are reviewed.

Practice Variation and Effects of E-mail-only Performance Feedback on Resource Use in the Emergency Department.

PubMed

Tavarez, Melissa M; Ayers, Brandon; Jeong, Jong H; Coombs, Carmen M; Thompson, Ann; Hickey, Robert W

2017-08-01

Higher resource utilization in the management of pediatric patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea does not correlate consistently with improved outcomes or quality of care. Performance feedback has been shown to change physician practice behavior and may be a mechanism to minimize practice variation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of e-mail-only, provider-level performance feedback on the ordering and admission practice variation of pediatric emergency physicians for patients presenting with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea. We conducted a prospective, quality improvement intervention and collected data over 3 consecutive fiscal years. The setting was a single, tertiary care pediatric emergency department. We collected admission and ordering practices data on 19 physicians during baseline, intervention, and postintervention periods. We provided physicians with quarterly e-mail-based performance reports during the intervention phase. We measured admission rate and created four categories for ordering practices: no orders, laboratory orders, pharmacy orders, and radiology orders. There was wide (two- to threefold) practice variation among physicians. Admission rates ranged from 15% to 30%, laboratory orders from 19% to 43%, pharmacy orders from 29% to 57%, and radiology orders from 11% to 30%. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients admitted or with radiology or pharmacy orders placed between preintervention, intervention, or postintervention periods (p = 0.58, p = 0.19, and p = 0.75, respectively). There was a significant but very small decrease in laboratory orders between the preintervention and postintervention periods. Performance feedback provided only via e-mail to pediatric emergency physicians on a quarterly basis does not seem to significantly impact management practices for patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea. © 2017 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

[Evoked Potential Blind Extraction Based on Fractional Lower Order Spatial Time-Frequency Matrix].

PubMed

Long, Junbo; Wang, Haibin; Zha, Daifeng

2015-04-01

The impulsive electroencephalograph (EEG) noises in evoked potential (EP) signals is very strong, usually with a heavy tail and infinite variance characteristics like the acceleration noise impact, hypoxia and etc., as shown in other special tests. The noises can be described by a stable distribution model. In this paper, Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) and pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution (PWVD) time-frequency distribution based on the fractional lower order moment are presented to be improved. We got fractional lower order WVD (FLO-WVD) and fractional lower order PWVD (FLO-PWVD) time-frequency distribution which could be suitable for a stable distribution process. We also proposed the fractional lower order spatial time-frequency distribution matrix (FLO-STFM) concept. Therefore, combining with time-frequency underdetermined blind source separation (TF-UBSS), we proposed a new fractional lower order spatial time-frequency underdetermined blind source separation (FLO-TF-UBSS) which can work in a stable distribution environment. We used the FLO-TF-UBSS algorithm to extract EPs. Simulations showed that the proposed method could effectively extract EPs in EEG noises, and the separated EPs and EEG signals based on FLO-TF-UBSS were almost the same as the original signal, but blind separation based on TF-UBSS had certain deviation. The correlation coefficient of the FLO-TF-UBSS algorithm was higher than the TF-UBSS algorithm when generalized signal-to-noise ratio (GSNR) changed from 10 dB to 30 dB and a varied from 1. 06 to 1. 94, and was approximately e- qual to 1. Hence, the proposed FLO-TF-UBSS method might be better than the TF-UBSS algorithm based on second order for extracting EP signal under an EEG noise environment.