Robust filtering for stochastic genetic regulatory networks with time-varying delay

This is the post print version of the article. The official published version can be obtained from the link - Copyright 2009 Elsevier LtdThis paper addresses the robust filtering problem for a class of linear genetic regulatory networks (GRNs) with stochastic disturbances, parameter uncertainties and time delays. The parameter uncertainties are assumed to reside in a polytopic region, the stochastic disturbance is state-dependent described by a scalar Brownian motion, and the time-varying delays enter into both the translation process and the feedback regulation process. We aim to estimate the true concentrations of mRNA and protein by designing a linear filter such that, for all admissible time delays, stochastic disturbances as well as polytopic uncertainties, the augmented state estimation dynamics is exponentially mean square stable with an expected decay rate. A delay-dependent linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach is first developed to derive sufficient conditions that guarantee the exponential stability of the augmented dynamics, and then the filter gains are parameterized in terms of the solution to a set of LMIs. Note that LMIs can be easily solved by using standard software packages. A simulation example is exploited in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedures.This work was supported in part by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the U.K. under Grants BB/C506264/1 and 100/EGM17735, an International Joint Project sponsored by the Royal Society of the U.K., the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong under Grant HKU 7031/06P, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 60804028, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany

Filtering for nonlinear genetic regulatory networks with stochastic disturbances

In this paper, the filtering problem is investigated for nonlinear genetic regulatory networks with stochastic disturbances and time delays, where the nonlinear function describing the feedback regulation is assumed to satisfy the sector condition, the stochastic perturbation is in the form of a scalar Brownian motion, and the time delays exist in both the translation process and the feedback regulation process. The purpose of the addressed filtering problem is to estimate the true concentrations of the mRNA and protein. Specifically, we are interested in designing a linear filter such that, in the presence of time delays, stochastic disturbances as well as sector nonlinearities, the filtering dynamics of state estimation for the stochastic genetic regulatory network is exponentially mean square stable with a prescribed decay rate lower bound beta. By using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, sufficient conditions are first derived for ensuring the desired filtering performance for the gene regulatory model, and the filter gain is then characterized in terms of the solution to an LMI, which can be easily solved by using standard software packages. A simulation example is exploited in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedures

A novel topology of high-speed SRM for high-performance traction applications

A novel topology of high-speed Switched Reluctance Machine (SRM) for high-performance traction applications is presented in this article. The target application, a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in the sport segment poses very demanding specifications on the power and torque density of the electric traction machine. After evaluating multiple alternatives, the topology proposed is a 2-phase axial flux machine featuring both segmented twin rotors and a segmented stator core. Electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical models of the proposed topology are developed and subsequently integrated in an overall optimisation algorithm in order to find the optimal geometry for the application. Special focus is laid on the thermal management of the machine, due to the tough thermal conditions resulting from the high frequency, high current and highly saturated operation. Some experimental results are also included in order to validate the modelling and simulation results

Potential solar axion signatures in X-ray observations with the XMM-Newton observatory

The soft X-ray flux produced by solar axions in the Earth's magnetic field is evaluated in the context of ESA's XMM-Newton observatory. Recent calculations of the scattering of axion-conversion X-rays suggest that the sunward magnetosphere could be an observable source of 0.2-10 keV photons. For XMM-Newton, any conversion X-ray intensity will be seasonally modulated by virtue of the changing visibility of the sunward magnetic field region. A simple model of the geomagnetic field is combined with the ephemeris of XMM-Newton to predict the seasonal variation of the conversion X-ray intensity. This model is compared with stacked XMM-Newton blank sky datasets from which point sources have been systematically removed. Remarkably, a seasonally varying X-ray background signal is observed. The EPIC count rates are in the ratio of their X-ray grasps, indicating a non-instrumental, external photon origin, with significances of 11(pn), 4(MOS1) and 5(MOS2) sigma. After examining the constituent observations spatially, temporally and in terms of the cosmic X-ray background, we conclude that this variable signal is consistent with the conversion of solar axions in the Earth's magnetic field. The spectrum is consistent with a solar axion spectrum dominated by bremsstrahlung- and Compton-like processes, i.e. axion-electron coupling dominates over axion-photon coupling and the peak of the axion spectrum is below 1 keV. A value of 2.2e-22 /GeV is derived for the product of the axion-photon and axion-electron coupling constants, for an axion mass in the micro-eV range. Comparisons with limits derived from white dwarf cooling may not be applicable, as these refer to axions in the 0.01 eV range. Preliminary results are given of a search for axion-conversion X-ray lines, in particular the predicted features due to silicon, sulphur and iron in the solar core, and the 14.4 keV transition line from 57Fe.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 67 pages total, including 39 figures, 6 table

A position sensitive phoswich hard X-ray detector system

A prototype position sensitive phoswich hard X-ray detector, designed for eventual astronomical usage, was tested in the laboratory. The scintillation crystal geometry was designed on the basis of a Monte Carlo simulation of the internal optics and includes a 3mm thick NaI(T1) primary X-ray detector which is actively shielded by a 20 mm thick CsI(T1) scintillation crystal. This phoswich arrangement is viewed by a number two inch photomultipliers. Measured values of the positional and spectral resolution of incident X-ray photons are compared with calculation

Unit Test Generation During Software Development: EvoSuite Plugins for Maven, IntelliJ and Jenkins

Different techniques to automatically generate unit tests for object oriented classes have been proposed, but how to integrate these tools into the daily activities of software development is a little investigated question. In this paper, we report on our experience in supporting industrial partners in introducing the EVOSUITE automated JUnit test generation tool in their software development processes. The first step consisted of providing a plugin to the Apache Maven build infrastructure. The move from a research-oriented point-and-click tool to an automated step of the build process has implications on how developers interact with the tool and generated tests, and therefore, we produced a plugin for the popular IntelliJ Integrated Development Environment (IDE). As build automation is a core component of Continuous Integration (CI), we provide a further plugin to the Jenkins CI system, which allows developers to monitor the results of EVOSUITE and integrate generated tests in their source tree. In this paper, we discuss the resulting architecture of the plugins, and the challenges arising when building such plugins. Although the plugins described are targeted for the EVOSUITE tool, they can be adapted and their architecture can be reused for other test generation tools as well