Robust H∞ control of networked control systems with access constraints and packet dropouts

We consider a class of networked control systems (NCSs) where the plant has time-varying norm-bounded parameter uncertainties, the network only provides a limited number of simultaneous accesses for the sensors and actuators, and the packet dropouts occur randomly in the network. For this class of NCSs with uncertainties and access constraints as well as packet dropouts, we derive sufficient conditions in the form of linear matrix inequalities that guarantee robust stochastic stabilisation and synthesis of H∞ controller. An example is provided to illustrate our proposed method

Observation of whispering gallery modes in the mid-infrared with a quantum cascade laser: possible applications to nanoliter chemical sensing

Excitation of the whispering gallery modes (WGM) of a CaF_2 ball resonator is demonstrated at 4.5 micron with a pulsed Quantum Cascade laser. A prism coupling scheme for mid-infrared is described. Future applications of WGM resonators as hyphenated inline chromatography sensors are discussed

Quantum Cascade Laser Enabled Nano-liter Polymer Waveguide Sensor

To improve the Mid-Infrared (IR) chemical sensing capabilities in liquids and gases, a polymer based waveguide that has 100% interaction with Quantum Cascade (QC) laser field is proposed and demonstrated. The waveguide has thickness down to 10s nanometers so that chemical diffusion and preconcentration could happen very fast; the path length is increased from several microns to over centimeters due to the high spectral and diffraction brightness of QC lasers. Efficient prism coupling into whispering gallery resonators’ coated with submicron polymers and planar slab polymer waveguide are demonstrated, high signal to noise ratio is obtained and potential applications discussed

Diverse Phytochemicals and Bioactivities in the Ancient Fruit and Modern Functional Food Pomegranate (Punica granatum).

Having served as a symbolic fruit since ancient times, pomegranate (Punica granatum) has also gained considerable recognition as a functional food in the modern era. A large body of literature has linked pomegranate polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins (ATs) and hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), to the health-promoting activities of pomegranate juice and fruit extracts. However, it remains unclear as to how, and to what extent, the numerous phytochemicals in pomegranate may interact and exert cooperative activities in humans. In this review, we examine the structural and analytical information of the diverse phytochemicals that have been identified in different pomegranate tissues, to establish a knowledge base for characterization of metabolite profiles, discovery of novel phytochemicals, and investigation of phytochemical interactions in pomegranate. We also assess recent findings on the function and molecular mechanism of ATs as well as urolithins, the intestinal microbial derivatives of pomegranate HTs, on human nutrition and health. A better understanding of the structural diversity of pomegranate phytochemicals as well as their bioconversions and bioactivities in humans will facilitate the interrogation of their synergistic/antagonistic interactions and accelerate their applications in dietary-based cancer chemoprevention and treatment in the future