Improper Transfer Research Articles

On Strictly Positive Real Improper Transfer Matrices

In this article we consider linear systems having real rational transfer matrices that may be improper. We investigate the properties of strictly positive real and weakly strictly positive real systems and their connections. Our first contribution is to establish a necessary and sufficient condition for a rational and possibly improper transfer matrix to be strictly positive real. Beside stability, this condition only involves the properties of the transfer matrix in the imaginary axis and a geometric relation between the feedthrough term and the residue at infinity of the transfer matrix. Our condition connects some of the properties of the system with those of its proper part. This leads to our second contribution: integrate in the improper setting all the several conditions derived in the literature for the proper case that discriminate weakly strictly positive real and strictly positive real systems.

A fuzzy transfer function based on the behavior of meta-heuristic algorithm and its application for high-dimensional feature selection problems

Many discrete optimization problems are in the class of NP-hard problems; therefore, exact algorithms cannot achieve an optimum solution in reasonable time. Approximate algorithms like binary meta-heuristic algorithms have provided good results in these problems. Since many meta-heuristic algorithms have been introduced for continuous search spaces, employing a transfer function is one of the simplest methods to map the search space to the binary one. Many transfer functions have been introduced, divided in atomic and compound transfer functions. In the atomic transfer functions, a single function is applied in the algorithm, such as S-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, Z-shaped and so on. Compound transfer functions employ more than one atomic transfer function in their structures, such as Mirrored Time-Varying S-shaped, χ-shaped, and Upgrade transfer functions. An improper transfer function decreases the algorithm's performance in the binary search space. Hence, several transfer functions are usually evaluated for solving a binary problem to select the best one. In this study, a fuzzy transfer function is proposed and applied in Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (FBPSO). The behavior of PSO is analyzed, and the fuzzy transfer function and its rules create a new binary position. The performance of atomic and compound transfer functions employed in BPSO and some recently introduced binary meta-heuristic algorithms are compared with FBPSO in high-dimensional feature selection problems. The experimental results show that FBPSO achieves the best solution in terms of minimum error and feature selection rate compared with other comparative algorithms.

Research on the Factors Damaging Hydrogen Peroxide Low-Temperature Plasma Sterile Packaging Bags and the Control of Link Quality.

Objective After discussing the factors damaging hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterile packaging bags (hereinafter referred to as Tyvek packaging bags), the damage rate of Tyvek packaging bags is lowered through the control of link quality, so as to guarantee the quality of sterile packaging bags and the safety of patients. Methods Design questionnaire and registration form by investigating 8606 instrument packaging bags sterilized by hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma from January 2019 to December 2019, the controllable factors damaging Tyvek packaging bags are analyzed from four aspects: instrument packaging, sterilization, transfer, and storage. By taking targeted interventions on 8155 instrument packaging bags sterilized from January 2020 to December 2020, the intervention effects of the key links and the damage rate are evaluated. Results The main factors damaging Tyvek packaging bags mainly include improper transfer, storage, and management of instrument packing bags; improper use of instrument boxes; improper loading and uploading operations of sterilization; and the wrong size of packaging bags. For these factors, related intervention measures shall be adopted to control the link quality so as to lower the damage rate from 3.54% in the control group to 0.20% in the experimental group. The differences in damage rate are of statistical significance (P < 0.01). Conclusion Tyvek packaging bags are influenced by controllable factors. Through reasonable link control and standard operations, the sterile packaging bags can be kept sterile from the end of sterilization to the usage by patients, which guarantees the safety of patients and is worthy of reference.

Evidence-Based Guideline on Critical Patient Transport and Handover to ICU.

The perioperative period is a time in which significant physiological change occurs. Improper transfer of information at this point can lead to medical errors. Planning and preparation for critical patient transport to ICU is vital to prevent adverse events. Critical patient transport to ICU must be as safe as possible and should not cause additional risks. It needs good communication, planning, and appropriate staffing with standard monitoring. Evidence shows inconsistency and variability on the use of standardized protocols during critical patient transfer and handover to the ICU. There is a variety of controversial approaches about the need of sedation, use of end-tidal CO2 monitoring, and manual versus mechanical ventilation based on different evidence. The objective of this review was to recommend safer options of critical patient transfer to the ICU that help reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Methods. Google Scholars, PubMed through HINARI, and other search engines were used to search high-quality evidence that help reach appropriate conclusions. Discussion. Critical patient transfer and handover to ICU is a complex procedure that needs experienced hands, availability of appropriate team members, standard monitoring, and necessary emergency and patient-specific medications. Appropriate and adequate transfer of patient information to the receiving team decreases patient morbidity and mortality when the transfer team uses standardized checklist. Conclusion. Involvement of senior physicians, use of standard monitoring, and appropriate transfer of information have been shown to decrease critical patient morbidity and mortality.

Converting Series Biquad Filters Into Delayed Parallel Form: Application to Graphic Equalizers

Digital filter transfer functions can be converted between the direct form and parallel connections of elementary sections, typically second-order (“biquad”) sections. The conversion from direct to parallel form is performed using a partial fraction expansion, which usually requires long division of polynomials when expanding proper and improper transfer functions. This paper focuses on the conversion of a series of biquad sections to the parallel form, and proposes a novel way to implement the partial-fraction expansion without the use of long division. Additionally, the resulting structure is the delayed parallel form in which the section gains remain small. The new design and previous methods are compared in a case study on graphic equalizer design. The delayed parallel filter is shown to use the same number of operations as the series form during filtering. The conversion of a recently proposed series graphic equalizer into the delayed parallel form leads to an improved parallel graphic equalizer design relative to all known prior approaches. The proposed conversion technique is widely applicable to the design of parallel infinite impulse response filters, which are becoming popular as they are well suited to implementation using parallel computers.

Robust stabilization of discrete generalized systems

The robust stabilization problem for generalized discrete-time systems described by polynomial or improper transfer function matrices, subject to perturbations acting on the normalized coprime factors, is solved. The maximum achievable stability margin and the robust stabilizing controller are given in terms of realizations and solutions to appropriate Riccati equations.

The Application of Mitraclip in the Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation: A Clinical Policy

Context: The mitral valve conducts blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Mitral regurgitation occurs when the valve couldn’t be closed properly at the end of ventricular filling. Mitraclip, a catheter-based device that can reduce mitral regurgitation without requiring open surgery, is routinely used for patients with unacceptable risk of conventional mitral valve repair or replacement. The purpose of this study is assessing the safety, efficacy, and economic aspects of Mitraclip treatment for mitral regurgitation. Evidence Acquisition: The Cochrane Library, the TRIP database, and Google Scholar have been searched through appropriate strategies. Seven studies were included in the final phase based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collected from these studies were analyzed based on four main themes; applications, safety, efficacy, and economic evaluation. Results: The most potential side effects were related to an improper transfer of catheters and low durability of the device. One of the included studies showed that improved outcomes of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) was more in the clip group with better quality of life that were observed after 1 to 12 months in 192 patients and also one-year mortality rate after using clip ranged between 10% and 24%. This included study found that 72% to 100% of patients with Mitraclip have been successfully treated and the duration of hospital stays in these patients was between 5 to 10 days. The cost-effectiveness of the procedure still needs more robust evidence. Conclusions: Given the lack of high quality evidence and relatively high cost of Mitraclip, it seems that until further robust evidence is produced; it should be used in research and in high risk patients selected after detailed examination with strict indications and appropriate opinions of cardiologists.

MISTRANSLATION OF LEGAL TERMINOLOGY RECONSIDERED

This study aims to explore different causes for the mistranslation of legal terminology in international agreements that are enforced through domestic legislation, and attempt to provide some solutions. It is said that legal training will help legal translators to render terminology correctly. This should be held true because many legal terms from different legal systems are ‘false friends’, in that even a well-trained lawyer may need to undertake extensive legal and linguistic research to render them in another language or legal system. This study, by use of a comparison of several translated legal terms from People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan, shows that besides the cause of ‘legal knowledge’, the disparities between international law and national law and different legal traditions can also lead to an improper transfer of legal terminology. Examples of these terms are “Copyright piracy” (Daoban 盗版 vs. qinhai zhuzuoquan 侵害著作权), “Good Faith” (Chengshi shouxin 诚实守信 vs. shanyi 善意), and “Inventive Step” (Famingxing de buzhou 发明性的步骤 vs. jinbuxing 进步性). In order to enhance translators’ legal knowledge, it is proposed that they be presented with some substantive laws together with simple illustrations of their structures. Translators should crosscheck their translations against a wide range of sources at work.

Effects of Phase Transformation in Hot Stamping of 22MnB5 High Strength Steel

In automotive industry, hot forming of high strength steels offers the possibility to obtain significant reduction of weight without affecting the structural performances of the car-body-in-white. The sheets used in the hot stamping process are heated above the austenitization temperature, and, then, formed and quenched in cooled dies by using a minimum cooling rate of 27°C/s in order to obtain the direct martensitic transformation from the initial austenite. However, improper transfer times from the furnaces to the dies may be unacceptable with regard to the phase changes to be realized during the quenching. Furthermore, strain induced effects influence the phase transformations, so making the process difficult to design and control in case of new part shapes: variations of the applied strains determine changes in the Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) curves and, consequently, the cooling rate becomes fundamental to control the material phase transformations, in order to obtain the desired mechanical properties. The paper investigates the effects of the soaking time and cooling rate in the nose area of the CCT curves, where the time represents a critical aspect to control the phase changes in the microstructure. It was found that the phase transformations at the critical temperature of 550°C determine an increase of the flow stress that depends on the specific cooling rate during the dies quenching and on the percentage of bainitic transformation.

Structural Health Monitoring Methods for the Evaluation of Prestressing Forces and Prerelease Cracks

Prestressed concrete bridges currently account for 45% of bridges built in the last five years in the United States. This has resulted in an increase in the number of deficient bridges composed of prestressed concrete, which requires a better understanding of the on-site performance of this building material. The use of new materials, such as high performance concrete, in conjunction with prestressing provides additional motivation for the creation of structural health monitoring (SHM) methods for prestressed concrete. This paper identifies two parameters relevant to prestressed concrete, along with methods for their evaluation. The parameters evaluated are the prestressing force value at transfer and the width of pre-release cracks, both of which are indicators of structural performance. Improper transfer of the prestressing force can result in tensile stresses in the concrete that exceed capacity and result in cracks and/or excessive deflections. Pre-release cracks occur in the concrete prior to transfer of the prestressing force and are mainly caused by autogenous shrinkage and thermal gradients. Closure of the cracks is expected by virtue of prestressing force transfer. However, the extent of crack closure is important in order to guarantee durability and structural integrity. This paper presents an integral overview of two novel methods for the statistical evaluation of the two monitored parameters: prestressing forces and the width of pre-release cracks. Validation of the methods is performed through application to two structures, both of which are components of Streicker Bridge on the Princeton University campus. Uncertainties are evaluated and thresholds for unusual behavior are set through the application.

Sociotechnical probabilistic risk modeling to predict injurious falls in community living centers.

The goal of this study was to apply sociotechnical probabilistic risk assessment to prioritize risks and prevention strategies for serious injurious falls of residents in nursing homes. Risk modeling teams consisted of 26 clinical and nonclinical staff from three Department of Veterans Affairs community living centers and one state Veteran's nursing home. Participants met in groups several times to identify and assign probabilities to provider and resident at-risk behaviors and equipment failures. They identified prevention strategies for the failures that accounted for the highest levels of risk. Six scenarios were modeled: (1) transferring from bed to wheelchair, (2) propelling from bedside to bathroom, (3) transferring from wheelchair to toilet, (4) transferring from toilet to wheelchair, (5) propelling from bathroom to bedside, and (6) transferring from wheelchair to bed. The greatest paths of risk were for residents with impaired mobility and high fragility. A 26% reduction in injurious falls could be achieved by (1) reducing the number of unassisted transfers through a modest improvement in response time to alarms, (2) installing automatic brake locks on 90% of wheelchairs, (3) making the wheelchair maintenance process highly reliable, and (4) decreasing improper transfer techniques by 10%.

Heat Transfer Characteristic of Thermal Barrier Coated Piston Crown for a Compressed Natural Gas Direct Injection Engine

Compressed natural gas with direct injection (CNGDI) engine produces high temperature and pressure ultimately leading to high thermal stress. The piston crown material fails to withstand high temperature and operate ineffectively due to improper heat transfer. By insulating the surface namely; thermal barrier coating (TBC) such as ceramic based yttria partially stabilised zirconia (YPSZ), heat transfer to the piston might be reduced and lead to improvement of piston durability. Hence, in this research, YPSZ/NiCrAl coating was utilised to differentiate with the uncoated piston crowns in terms of the ability to reduce thermal stresses to the piston using finite element method and burner rig test. Several samples of AC8A aluminium alloy piston crowns were coated with bonding element of NiCrAl and ZrO2-7.5Y2O3namely the YPSZ as the top coat by using air-plasma spraying technique and were assessed by burner rig test. The results exhibited the durability of the YPSZ/NiCrAl coating could withstand the test and the heat flux for the YPSZ/NiCrAl-coated piston crown was about 98% reduction compared to the uncoated piston crown. Also, the lower the gradient value of the heat flux, the higher the heat resistance.

The periosteal pulley technique for orbital fat realignment and correction of nasojugal groove in lower lid blepharoplasty

Removal of orbital fat in lower lid blepharoplasty has been widely replaced by fat realignment over the orbital rim. However, incomplete correction or recurrence of fat bulging is still common compared to a simple fat removal procedure due to improper transfer and fixation of fat over the orbital rim. The authors present a novel technique of orbital fat transfer under the periosteal strip to secure the fat along the orbital rim and prevent recurrence of fat bulging from reherniation. Of the patients who underwent lower blepharoplasties using the periosteal pulley technique during January 2010 to September 2012, 115 were included in this prospective uncontrolled clinical trial. There were 107 females and eight males. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years (average 1 year). The results on the last follow-up were categorised into four grades: excellent, good, fair and poor. Of the 115 patients, 10, 81 and 24 patients achieved excellent, good and fair results, respectively. We have three cases of temporary lower lid retraction or ectropion that developed 1 month after surgery and were resolved within 3-4 months. No revision surgery is needed. We propose the periosteal pulley technique as an alternative way of orbital fat transfer in lower lid blepharoplasty. This technique can provide a secure fixation of fat that not only corrects the nasojugal groove but also prevents further herniation of the remaining fat.

PERSISTÊNCIA E RELEVÂNCIA DOS ACCRUALS: EVIDÊNCIAS DO MERCADO DE CAPITAIS BRASILEIRO

The main objective in this research is to analyze the persistence and relevance of accruals, as well as the existence of the accrual anomaly in the Brazilian capital market. Therefore, this study is conducted by three research hypotheses: (i) the accruals are less persistent than the cash flows in the explanation of future earnings; (ii) the market does not correctly recognize the information contained in the accruals; and (iii) extraordinary gains can be obtained when using the magnitude of the accrual levels as an investment strategy. The sample included all non-financial companies traded on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BMF&BOVESPA) between January 1st 1995 and December 31st 2011. The results indicated that the estimated coefficient of the accrual persistence was lower than the cash flow coefficient, thus sustaining the first research hypothesis. In the second part of the research, it was verified that the market correctly prices the accrual component of earnings, as a positive and statistically significant relation exists between accruals and future stock returns, which was not expected. Finally, the results found in the third hypothesis sustain the non-existence of the accrual anomaly in the Brazilian market, as the hedge portfolios were positive in only five out of 15 years under analysis. The results obtained in this study can encourage the establishment of policies to reduce the information asymmetry, making the improper transfer of wealth to companies with a low earnings quality impossible.

Positive and asymptotically stable realizations for descriptor discrete-time linear systems

Abstract Conditions for the existence of positive and asymptotically stable realizations for descriptor discrete-time linear systems are established. Procedures for computation of positive and asymptotically stable realizations for improper transfer matrices are proposed. The effectiveness of the methods is demonstrated on numerical examples

Persistence and Relevance of Accruals: Evidences from the Brazilian Capital Market

The main objective in this research is to analyze the persistence and relevance of accruals, as well as the existence of the accrual anomaly in the Brazilian capital market. Therefore, this study is conducted by three research hypotheses: (i) the accruals are less persistent than the cash flows in the explanation of future earnings; (ii) the market does not correctly recognize the information contained in the accruals; and (iii) extraordinary gains can be obtained when using the magnitude of the accrual levels as an investment strategy. The sample included all nonfinancial companies traded on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (BMF&BOVESPA) between January 1 st 1995 and December 31 st 2011. The results indicated that the estimated coefficient of the accrual persistence was lower than the cash flow coefficient, thus sustaining the first research hypothesis. In the second part of the research, it was verified that the market correctly prices the accrual component of earnings, as a positive and statistically significant relation exists between accruals and future stock returns, which was not expected. Finally, the results found in the third hypothesis sustain the non-existence of the accrual anomaly in the Brazilian market, as the hedge portfolios were positive in only five out of 15 years under analysis. The results obtained in this study can encourage the establishment of policies to reduce the information asymmetry, making the improper transfer of wealth to companies with a low earnings quality impossible.

Causality issue in the heat balance method for calculating the design heating and cooling load

Thermal load calculation based on dynamic models is widely used in simulation software and it is the method recommended by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and CEN (European Committee for Standardization, in French: Comité Européen de Normalisation). The principle is to make the heat balance for the air volume of a room space considered at uniform temperature and to calculate from this equation the load, i.e. the power needed to obtain the required indoor temperature. The problem is that, by doing so, the physical causality is not respected. If the model is approximated by a piece-wise linear dynamical system, this procedure results in an improper transfer function in the case of non-negligible thermal capacity of the indoor air. In order to point out this problem, a method to obtain state-space and transfer function models from thermal networks is introduced. Then, the transfer function representation is employed to show that changing the physical causality results in an improper transfer function. The practical consequence is that when the space temperature has a step variation, the calculated load tends to infinity if the simulation time step approaches zero. The issue of causality may be a problem in equation-based simulation software, such as Modelica, in which the equations do not represent causal relations: a wrong choice of the causality in a balance equation may result in an improper transfer functions.

Positive stable realizations for fractional descriptor continuous-time linear systems

Abstract A method for computation of positive asymptotically stable realizations of fractional descriptor continuous-time linear systems with regular pencil is proposed. The method is based on the decomposition of the improper transfer matrix into strictly proper matrix and a polynomial matrix. A procedure for decomposition of a positive asymptotically stable realization is given and illustrated by a numerical example.

Improper &lt;formula formulatype="inline"&gt;&lt;tex Notation="TeX"&gt;${\cal L}_{\infty}$&lt;/tex&gt;&lt;/formula&gt; Optimal/Suboptimal Controllers

We consider L∞-control of MIMO systems and address solvability of the problem over all finite dimensional LTI controllers: i.e., controllers whose transfer functions can be proper or improper. We show that improper controllers are easily dealt with using the behavioral approach, unlike the standard state-space/transfer-matrix methods, and argue that there are cases where an improper controller can outperform a proper controller. In this setting, we next formulate and prove necessary and sufficient conditions for suboptimal L∞-control problem solvability and relate this to existing results about system invariant zeros. Further, we infer that in our formulation, assuming suboptimal solvability conditions on the system, an optimal controller always exists, possibly with an improper transfer function. In other words, the infimum L∞-norm of the closed loop system is achievable when dealing with both proper and improper controller transfer functions. We illustrate these results through an example for which the optimal L∞-controller has an improper transfer function.

Characteristics of LTI descriptor systems

AbstractLinear time‐invariant (LTI) descriptor systems Eẋ = Ax + Bu with regular matrix pencils λ(E − A) may be separated by an equivalence transformation into a “slow” and a “fast” subsystem. The consistent solution of the fast subsystem can be presented by the input u and its time‐derivatives. If these time‐derivatives appear explicitly, then the system behaviour is called improper, otherwise it is proper or even strictly proper. This contribution deals with the determination of the related characteristics based on the matrices E, A, B without applying the equivalence transformation: Index k, orders n1, n2 of the subsystems (n1 + n2 = n), (strictly) proper and improper transfer behaviour, degree of improperness of each individual input. These characteristics are calculated by rank conditions of suitable matrices composed of E, A, B. (© 2011 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)