Stabilization

A system of simultaneously triggered clocks is designed to be stabilizing: if the clock values ever differ, the system is guaranteed to converge to a state where all clock values are identical, and are subsequently maintained to be identical. For an N-clock system, the design uses N registers of 2 log N bits each and guarantees convergence to identical values within N2 "triggers".

A paradoxical task of the venom gland of snakes is the synthesis and storage of an instantly available suite of toxins to immobilize prey and the protection of the snake against its own venom components. Furthermore, autolysis of the venom constituents due to the action of venom metalloproteases is an additional problem, particularly among viperid venoms, which are typically rich in lytic enzymatic proteins. To address questions concerning these problems, the structure of the venom gland was investigated using light microscopy, SEM and TEM. The composition of the venom originating from the intact venom apparatus or from the main venom gland alone was analyzed by electrophoresis, and the pH of freshly expressed venom as well as pH optima of several representative enzymes was evaluated. Results from several species of rattlesnakes demonstrated that the venom gland is structurally complex, particularly in its small rostral portion called the accessory gland, which may be a site of activation of venom components. Secreted venom is stable in extremes of temperature and dilution, and several proximate mechanisms, including pH and endogenous inhibitors, exist which inhibit enzymatic activity of the venom during storage within the venom gland but allow for spontaneous activation upon injection into prey. Whereas acid secretion by the parietal cells activates digestive enzymes in the stomach, within the venom gland acidification inhibits venom enzymes. We propose that the mitochondria-rich cells of the main venom gland, which are morphologically and histochemically very similar to the parietal cells of the mammalian gastric pit, play a central role in the stabilization of the venom by secreting acidic compounds into the venom and maintaining the stored venom at pH 5.4. Hence, our results indicate yet another trophic link between the processes of venom production and of digestion, and demonstrate that the venom glands of snakes may represent an excellent model for the study of protein stability and maintenance of toxic proteins.

2014 was a hopeful year for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The M23 movement had been defeated in military operations in which one of the last peacekeeping experiments, the UN Force Intervention Brigade, had played a decisive role. A third UN stabilization plan, the 'islands of stability' was proposed to continue the stabilization of a country considered in a post-conflict phase. However, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has almost tripled in the country since 2007. This article will argue that DRC is still immersed into an old social conflict that existed before the Congo Wars and the roots of which are not being addressed. It will argue that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the 'islands of stability' strategy can address some of the secondary causes of the Congo conflict, such as its internationalization, the presence in DRC of foreign armed groups or the 'blood minerals', but cannot address its primary causes: land struggles, an old cycle of violence and the fragmentation of the Congolese society and political elite that is jeopardizing the restoration of the state authority. The huge dimensions of each of these factors make the Congo conflict 'one of the most complex and intricate environments ever faced by a peacekeeping mis-sion', for which MONUSCO's mandate, resources and stabilization strategy do not seem powerful enough. When the UN organized the 2006 elections legitimized a 'spoiler state', the bottleneck of all the reforms needed to stabilize the country. The UN fell thus into a trap and became part of the conflict. Lessons learned should be taken for future UN operations.

Column generation has proven to be efficient in solving the linear programming relaxation of large scale instances
of the multiple-depot vehicle scheduling problem (MDVSP). However difficulties arise when the instances are highly
degenerate. Recent research has been devoted to accelerate column generation while remaining within the linear
programming framework. This paper presents an efficient approach to solve the linear relaxation of the MDVSP. It
combines column generation, preprocessing variable fixing, and stabilization. The outcome shows the great potential
of such an approach for degenerate instances

This article assesses progress in and prospects for the US-led campaign in Afghanistan. Drawing on extensive field research, it finds that significant progress has been made at the operational level in four areas: the development of a new population-centric approach to COIN, development of Afghan security forces, growth in Afghan sub-national governance, and military momentum on the ground. However, the situation remains bleak at the strategic level. The article identifies three obstacles to campaign success: corruption in Afghan national government, war-weariness in NATO countries, and insurgent safe havens in Pakistan. Further operational progress will not be able to address this strategic obstacles. Thus there is an operational-strategic disconnect at the heart of the ISAF campaign.

The article discusses the efforts to undertake economic reconstruction in Bosnia following the end of the war. It argues that, despite certain successes such as the rehabilitation of
infrastructure and the privatization of the banking sector, overall progress has been below expectations. The study, accordingly, attempts to analyse the reasons behind the reconstruction
failure by grouping Bosnia’s problems into four different challenges for analytical purposes: the post-Dayton institutional deficiency; overcoming political fragmentation; creating appropriate conditions for economic revival; and graduating from dependency on foreign economic aid. In this respect, it is concluded that the intersection between the economic and political dimensions of post-conflict reconstruction has generated a paradox: while huge amounts of economic assistance have intended to facilitate political reconciliation, the nature of the administrative (political) structure that was established in the post-war period has in turn hindered economic
recovery and the creation of a unified economic space. Moreover, political fragmentation and slow progress in economic reconstruction have been in a mutually constitutive relationship in which the existence of the one has contributed to the sustenance of the other.

Danieli & C. in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, designed an innovative, patent pending, treatment plant to solve some issues associated to metals leaching (i.e., Ba, V, and Cr), and high free lime concentration for carbon steel EAF slag, for the production of artificial aggregates featured by mechanical properties suitable for the building purposes. The plant is featured by an innovative pneumatic transport system to convey the stabilizing agent to intercept the molten slag flux during the deslagging operation. The new system promotes stable microstructural phases' formation, able to retain metallic ions leaching, maintaining the same mechanical properties of the as-cast slag. The main advantages of the new implemented stabilization plant are a simple installation and an easy process operation.

The paper discusses the causes of failure of inflation stabilization plans. Following a description of stylized facts of inflation stabilization, a model of Balance of Payments crises is presented, highlighting some of the main factors leading to the collapse of stabilizations. Empirical results obtained when estimating a binary probit model over a panel of 34 stabilizations identify real exchange rate appreciation, lack of foreign reserves, and government budget deficits as the main causes of failure of inflation stabilization plans. This is consistent with the model presented in this paper, with the stylized facts of stabilizations, and with some of the models found in the literature.

This paper is an empirical analysis of the likelihood of failure of inflation stabilization programs. Random effects logit models are estimated on a dataset of 39 programs implemented in 10 countries, in order to determine which economic and political variables affect the probability of failure of stabilizations. This study’s main contribution is to show that political factors are very important determinants of the success or failure of stabilization programs. There is empirical evidence that political instability, party fractionalization, autocracy, longer time in office and left-wing ideological orientation of incumbents lead to higher probabilities of failure of stabilization attempts.

Electric Arc Furnace dusts are considered hazardous waste due to their high heavy metals content (zinc, lead, etc.). The Waelz process is one of the most efficient technologies, in terms of capacity and quality, able to recover nearly the 90% of zinc contained in such EAF dusts. Unfortunately, the resulting slag still has eco-compatibility problems, although its mechanical and chemical properties are suitable for civil engineering applications. Stabilization tests, by quartz addition, were performed on EAF dusts in a laboratory furnace. Temperature, treatment time and cooling rate were varied in order to define the best conditions for regulating the formation of a stable microstructure able to hinder the release of substances. Microstructural characterization was carried-out using SEM and XRD analysis. Leaching tests were performed according to EN 12457-2 standards and water analyses were performed using ICP-OES. The best chemical stability was achieved when dust powders were mixed with 20% of silica and water-cooled.

This paper analyzes the effects of International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangements on the timing of inflation stabilization programs. By providing financial support that may allow the reduction of inflation without incurring politically unacceptable economic costs, the IMF can hasten stabilization. But, since support can also reduce the costs of inflation, it may instead delay it. Empirical results obtained for 10 countries that suffered from chronic inflation fail to support the hypothesis that IMF financial assistance accelerates stabilization. Rather, they indicate that other factors have a greater impact on the timing of stabilizations: greater fragmentation of the political system delays stabilization, while a higher level of inflation hastens it.

In this study, the strength development and lechability aspects of metal-contaminated soil treated with ordinary portland cement (OPC) were investigated. The soil was collected from a scrap metal yard within the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Metal composition analysis indicated that the predominant metals present in the soil were iron (42,194 mg/kg), aluminium (8874 mg/kg), zinc (690 mg/kg), lead (428 mg/kg), copper (107 mg/kg) and chromium (52 mg/kg). The contaminated soil was treated with OPC using cement-to-dry soil (C/Sd) ratios of 0.5, 1 and 2. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by performing unconfined compressive strength (UCS) as well as crushed and whole block leaching (WBL) tests on the treated soil. The treatment results were compared to the solidified waste acceptance criteria which were compiled based on the regulatory waste disposal limit at a disposal site in the United Kingdom and the maximum concentration of contaminants for toxicity characteristic of solid wastes from United States Environmental Protection Agency. Results indicated that chemical stabilization of metal-contaminated soils using OPC was effective for prevention of metal leaching from both disintegrated samples subsequent to years of weathering (crushed block) and intact samples (whole block) into the environment. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132305003987

This article analyzes the effects of the timing of elections on the timing and character of adopted inflation stabilization plans. Multinomial logit estimations show that before elections exchange rate-based stabilizations are more likely to be implemented than money based-stabilizations, while the opposite is more likely after elections.

Venezuela is currently immersed in a severe economic crisis as a result of years of domestic mismanagement and the recent reversal in oil prices. Against this backdrop this paper attempts to formulate a proposal for stabilization and recovery which includes upfront key policy actions to deal with the drastic foreign exchange constraint. A logical and obvious priority is the redesign of the foreign exchange regime. The recovery of readily available foreign currency liquidity is of paramount importance since it will allow the lift of the exchange control and the implementation stable and competitive real exchange rate (SCRER), but also will provide the required level of liquid foreign exchange that the economy needs to remove shortages across the board and promote the recovery in economic activity. The recovery of domestic output will also require supply-side relief in the form of broad deregulation, institutional changes and a sensible policy to lift price controls. We argue that to maintain a stable and competitive exchange rate, very rapid suppression of inflation and the causal mechanisms built through the years is needed. We propose a plan that comprises three steps: (i) a rapid return to a non-inflationary vector of relative prices through price liberalization (ii) a fiscal and monetary strategy centered on the correct monitoring of the demand for money and (iii) the introduction of unit of indexed value and a new currency to deal with inflationary persistence. The support of monetary and fiscal policy for successful stabilization and recovery efforts is also discussed.

A new amperometric biosensor for lactose determinaion in raw milk was developed through the simultaneous immobilization of β-galactosidase and galactose oxidase on a derivatised polyethersulphone membrane. β-galactosidase catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose into galactose and glucose and galactose oxidase catalyses the oxidation of galactose into galactonic acid and H2O2. The membranes with the two immobilized enzymes were then used in an amperometric sensor, by oxidation of the H2O2 formed, at a Pt electrode of an Universal Sensors electrode base system. The sensitivity and the reproducibility of the biosensor thus formed were found to be 6.81 and 0.72 nA.M-1, respectively. Biosensors were found to be stable for 20 days.

This work studies the stabilization of a class of control systems that use communication networks as signal transmission medium. The lateral motion of independently actuated four-wheel vehicle is modeled as an uncertain-linear system. Time delay and quantization density are modeled as Markov chains. The networked control systems (NCSs) with plants being lateral motion are first transformed to switched linear systems with uncertain parameters. Sufficient and necessary conditions for the stochastic stability of closed-loop networked control systems are then established. By solving the matrix inequalities, this work presents an output-feedback controller that depends on the modes of time delay and quantization density. The controller performance is illustrated via a vehicular lateral motion system.

In this paper, we propose a method for effectively tracking moving objects in videos captured using a moving camera in complex scenes. The video sequences may contain highly dynamic backgrounds and illumination changes. Four main steps are involved in the proposed method. First, the video is stabilized using affine transformation. Second, intelligent selection of frames is performed in order to extract only
those frames that have a considerable change in content. This step reduces complexity and computational time. Third, the moving object is tracked using Kalman filter and Gaussian mixture model. Finally object recognition using Bag of features is performed in order to recognize the moving objects.

Venezuela está inmersa en la más severa crisis económica que haya encarado país latinoamericano alguno en la historia moderna, con sombrías perspectivas de recuperación económica en el corto plazo y sin que se vislumbre una voluntad política decisiva para diseñar e implementar un programa económico integral, que atienda
los desequilibrios macroeconómicos, las profundas distorsiones de los precios relativos y la disfuncionalidad de instituciones que mantienen la economía en un estado de caos.

— This paper deals with the control law design with an observer for models in the Takagi–Sugeno's (TS) form in the general case where the nonlinearities and the variables involved are not measurable. The proposed observer design method is based on the use of the second method of Lyapunov and the pole placement method. Based on this procedure an algorithm is proposed for stabilisation of permanent magnet synchronous machine. The convergence conditions of the observer are expressed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). Finally, an numerical simulation is given to illustrate the validity of the derived results.

This paper presents a method for the estimation of unknown disturbances for high precision gimbal systems. Alternative to the classical methods of model inversion and filtering, we employ an asymptotically stabilizing controller which achieves the estimation process even in the presence of unstable zeros. The architecture provides an input equivalent disturbance which can be thought to capture all real disturbances in the system as well as virtual ones such as unmodelled dynamics and nonlinearities. The proposed method is illustrated on a 2-axis gimbal system where system identification is followed by the design on an integral linear quadratic regulator as the stabilizing controller which forms the base of the disturbance observer. It is seen that a random unknown disturbance is estimated successfully in the presence of additional gyro noise.

In this note, the state and mode feedback control problems for a class of discrete-time Markovian jump linear systems (MJLSs) with controllable mode transition probability matrix (MTPM) are investigated. In most achievements, controller design of MJLSs pays more attention to state/output feedback control for stability, while the system cost in practice is out of consideration. In this paper, we propose a control mechanism consisting of two parts: finite-path-dependent state feedback controller design with which uniform stability of MJLSs can be ensured, and mode feedback control which aims to decrease system cost. Differing from the traditional state/output feedback controller design, the main novelty is that the proposed control mechanism not only guarantees system stability, but also decreases system cost effectively by adjusting the occurrence probability of system modes. The effectiveness of the proposed mechanism is illustrated via numerical examples.

PURPOSE The objective of the study is to critically examine the mechanisms of organizational learning in Sohar University and to identify the relationship between stages of organizational learning and mechanisms of organizational learning and to examine the effectiveness and the nurturance of the pedagogical practices. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The study was conducted with 76 employees from all the departments of Sohar University, who were selected on a simple random sampling basis and were contacted through a well-defined questionnaire. FINDINGS The study reveals that the employees of Sohar University are encouraged to attend external programs and seminars on new developments have been organized and the university prepares detailed plans reflecting contingency approaches. The study also confirmed that there is no relationship between demographic factors (Gender, age, qualification and teaching experience) and the Organizational learning. The study also reveals that there is an association between the Innovations, Implementation and Organization learning. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The study has thrown light on the organizational learning process, which is the key driver in innovating, implementing and stabilizing. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The study was restricted to the academic staff from all the faculties of Sohar University. Many of them did not understand the concept. So the researcher has to explain them in detail before furnishing the detailed questionnaire. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS The study can be extended to other colleges and universities in Oman so that the accuracy of the tools and techniques of organizational learning can be ascertained. This will induce high transmission goals to equip and uplift the participants in a positive and creative contribution. ORIGINALITY/VALUE Only a very few have examined the impact of Organization Learning in the Universities of Oman, and it is a first-hand study of its kind.

Introduction. The overview is given to systematize information on the indicators, affecting the production and stabilization of foams and emulsions, for applying the existing regularities for more complex dispersed (polyphase) systems.
Materials and methods. Analytical studies of the production and stabilization of foams and polyphase dispersed systems published over the past 20 years. The research focuses on the foams, emulsions, foam emulsion systems and the systems, being simultaneously foam, emulsion and suspension.
Results and discussion. Though foams and emulsions have similarities and their production differs in the dispersion rate, determined by the rate of surfactants adsorption. Emulsifying is faster than foaming, therefore, the production of foam emulsions can be sequential only. Coalescence, as a destruction indicator, is typical of foams and emulsions alike, and it is determined by the properties of surfactants. Other indicators are determined by the features of the dispersion medium. The study systematized the factors, ensuring the stability of dispersion systems. The structural mechanical factor is effective in stabilizing foams and emulsions. It is implemented by the usage of proteins only, or solids with partial soaking, or a combination of proteins and low-molecular surfactants or a combination of proteins and polysaccharides. The structural mechanical factor for polyphase systems stabilization, in particular, for foam emulsions, is based on selecting surfactants to regulate rheological properties of interface adsorption layers, the sequence of dispersion phases, which ensures their spatial location in the food product.
Conclusions. The rheological properties of interface adsorption layers, containing proteins, surfactants, polysaccharides and high viscosity of the dispersion medium play the vital part in ensuring the stability of food dispersion systems.

The control problem is discussed for a chaotic system without equilibrium in this paper. On the basis of the linear mathematical model of the two-wheeled self-balancing robot, a novel chaotic system which has no equilibrium is proposed. The basic dynamical properties of this new system are studied via Lyapunov exponents and Poincaré map. To further demonstrate the physical realizability of the presented novel chaotic system, a chaotic circuit is designed. By using fractional-order operators, a controller is designed based on the state-feedback method. According to the Gronwall inequality, Laplace transform and Mittag-Leffler function, a new control scheme is explored for the whole closed-loop system. Under the developed control scheme, the state variables of the closed-loop system are controlled to stabilize them to zero. Finally, the numerical simulation results of the chaotic system with equilibrium and without equilibrium illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

The engineering strength properties of expensive soils (clayey soil) such as compaction characteristics and bearing capacity can be improved by stabilization process of the soil. These properties can be improved by controlled compaction using the mechanical equipment's or by addition of suitable admixtures like cement, fly ash, lime, gypsum or by reinforcing the soil with shredded tyre, crumb rubber, plastic waste etc. But gypsum is used now a days to enhance the geotechnical properties. So, in this research paper gypsum and calcium chloride has been used to improve the various strength properties of natural soil. The objective of this research paper is to investigate the strength properties of natural clayey soil reinforced with different percentage of gypsum by the weight of soil and fixed percentage of calcium chloride as a binding material. A series of Standard Proctor test, Free swell Index and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests are conducted on both natural soil and reinforced soil with varying percentages of gypsum (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) by weight and fixed percentage of calcium chloride (1%).

This paper investigates the adaptive control and synchronization of Rössler prototype-4 system with
unknown parameters. The Rössler prototype-4 system is a classical three-dimensional chaotic system
studied by O.E. Rössler (1979). First, adaptive control laws are designed to stabilize the Rössler
prototype-4 system to its unstable equilibrium at the origin based on the adaptive control theory and
Lyapunov stability theory. Then adaptive control laws are derived to achieve global chaos synchronization
of identical Rössler prototype-4 systems with unknown parameters. Numerical simulations are shown to
validate and illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive control and synchronization schemes for
the Rössler prototype-4 system.

Previously, the study of 3D joint angle has been proven to give better interpretations on the joint and muscular activities. However, it has not been widely discovered and usually limited to normal subject and level walking activity. The inspiration of the study was based on the fact that, the obesity and staircase activity factors will significantly influence the mechanics of a joint. It has been proven significantly affected the knee rather than the hip which leading to the knee osteoarthritis disease. Moreover, since to date no experimental study has reported on hip 3D joint mechanics associating with these two factors, therefore, the analysis of hip 3D joint angle for obese and normal individuals during stair ascending activity have been proposed in order to help the hip 3D joint interpretations. Our hypothesis is that, it is hard to describe the difference of the gait strategy used between obese and normal individuals due to the effect of the mechanics adaptations of the hip joint. Therefore, with the aid of hip 3D joint angle interpretations, it is believed that these phenomena can be successfully described and investigated. The result seems to confirm that, at the late stance of stair ascending activity, the obese individuals seem to have an alternative strategy of mainly hip resistance compared to the normal' strategy of mainly hip stabilization. Otherwise, the normal and obese individuals seem to have a similar strategy of mainly hip stabilization. In addition, the obese seem to absorb or generate energy with systematically lower proportion of the 3D joint moments than normal individuals. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/845/chp%253A10.1007%252F978-3-642-21729-6_43.pdf?auth66=1393724075_e5f7595bca07a8c2fb6b12704beba604&ext=.pdf 
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-21729-6_43

Consider the interaction of populations, in which there are exactly two species, one of which the predators eats the other the prey thereby affecting each other , s growth rates. In the study of this growth rate dynamics Lotka-Volterra models have been used. This paper proposes a new modeling and analysis methodology which consists in considering the growth rate dynamics as a discrete event system. A discrete event system, is a dynamical system whose state evolves in time by the occurrence of events at possibly irregular time intervals. Place-transitions Petri nets (commonly called Petri nets) are a graphical and mathematical modeling tool applicable to discrete event systems in order to represent its states evolution. Timed Petri nets are an extension of Petri nets that model discrete event systems where now the timing at which the state changes is taken into consideration. One of the most important performance issues to be considered in a predator-pray system is its stability. Lya...

The energy crisis in the 70's forced the countries around the world to look for ecological solutions that reduce the excessive energy consumption in the construction. As a result of that issue the construction systems based on soil reached notoriety. This paper tries to support the development of the earth construction contemplating mainly the environmental impact. Nowadays there are a large amount of chemical stabilizing products that can be used in earth constructions. However there are not enough papers that show a method to choose a chemical stabilizing for some specific conditions. This paper develops a methodology that could help to make an objective selection of a chemical stabilizing product based on a pondered qualification of parameters. These parameters are: compressive strength, impermeability, environmental impact and economy. Finally the methodology is tested in a region of Ecuador named Cuenca.

In this paper, a novel non-monotonic Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional approach is proposed to deal with the stability analysis and stabilization problem of linear discrete time-delay systems. This technique is utilized to relax the monotonic requirement of the Lyapunov-Krasovskii theorem. In this regard, the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is allowed to increase in a few steps, while being forced to be overall decreasing. As a result, it relays on a larger class of Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals to provide stability of a state-delay system. To this end, using the non-monotonic Lyapunov-Krasovskii theorem, new sufficient conditions are derived regarding linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) to study the global asymptotic stability of state-delay systems. Moreover, new stabilization conditions are also proposed for time-delay systems in this article. Both simulation and experimental results on a pH neutralizing process are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.

The present work is aimed to find a new and efficient type of antioxidants for polypropylene. Hence, effects of 3,3-bis(4-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-propan-2-ylphenyl)-2-benzofuran-1-one, generally known as thymolphthalein, on thermo-oxidative stability of polypropylene in solid and melt states were evaluated and compared with those of SONGNOX 1010, an efficient commercially used antioxidant for the polymer. Oven ageing experiments followed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that thymolphthalein increased thermo-oxidative stability of the polymer outstandingly in the solid state and its stabilization efficiency was comparable to that of SONGNOX 1010. In addition, measurements of oxidative induction time (OIT) and oxidation onset temperature (OOT) revealed that thymolphthalein improved thermo-oxidative stability of the polymer in the melt state significantly. It was also observed that thymolphthalein did not interfere with the stabilization action of SONGNOX 1010 in the polymer neither in melt nor in solid state. On the basis of the obtained results, a probable mechanism for the stabilization action of thymolphthalein in the polymer is proposed.