Optimal linear control to parametric uncertainties in a micro electro mechanical system

This paper, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) with parametric uncertainties is considered. The non-linear dynamics in MEMS system is demonstrated with a chaotic behavior. We present the linear optimal control technique for reducing the chaotic movement of the micro-electromechanical system with parametric uncertainties to a small periodic orbit. The simulation results show the identification by linear optimal control is very effective. © 2013 Academic Publications, Ltd.

Identification of duplicated and stress-inducible Aox2b gene co-expressed with Aox1 in species of the Medicago genus reveals a regulation linked to gene rearrangement in leguminous genomes

In flowering plants, alternative oxidase (Aox) is encoded by 3-5 genes distributed in 2 subfamilies (Aox1 and Aox2). In several species only Aox1 is reported as a stress-responsive gene, but in the leguminous Vigna unguiculata Aox2b is also induced by stress. In this work we investigated the Aox genes from two leguminous species of the Medicago genus (Medicago sativa and Medicago truncatula) which present one Aox1, one Aox2a and an Aox2b duplication (named here Aox2b1 and Aox2b2). Expression analyses by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in M. sativa revealed that Aox1, Aox2b1 and Aox2b2 transcripts increased during seed germination. Similar analyses in leaves and roots under different treatments (SA, PEG, H2O2 and cysteine) revealed that these genes are also induced by stress, but with peculiar spatio-temporal differences. Aox1 and Aox2b1 showed basal levels of expression under control conditions and were induced by stress in leaves and roots. Aox2b2 presented a dual behavior, i.e., it was expressed only under stress conditions in leaves, and showed basal expression levels in roots that were induced by stress. Moreover, Aox2a was expressed at higher levels in leaves and during seed germination than in roots and appeared to be not responsive to stress. The Aox expression profiles obtained from a M. truncatula microarray dataset also revealed a stress-induced co-expression of Aox1, Aox2b1 and Aox2b2 in leaves and roots. These results reinforce the stress-inducible co-expression of Aox1/Aox2b in some leguminous plants. Comparative genomic analysis indicates that this regulation is linked to Aox1/Aox2b proximity in the genome as a result of the gene rearrangement that occurred in some leguminous plants during evolution. The differential expression of Aox2b1/2b2 suggests that a second gene has been originated by recent gene duplication with neofunctionalization. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Control design applied to a non-ideal structural system with behavior chaotic

In this paper we study the behavior of a structure vulnerable to excessive vibrations caused by an non-ideal power source. To perform this study, the mathematical model is proposed, derive the equations of motion for a simple plane frame excited by an unbalanced rotating machine with limited power (non-ideal motor). The non-linear and non-ideal dynamics in system is demonstrated with a chaotic behavior. We use a State-Dependent Riccati Equation Control technique for regulate the chaotic behavior, in order to obtain a periodic orbit small and to decrease its amplitude. The simulation results show the identification by State-Dependent Riccati Equation Control is very effective. © 2013 Academic Publications, Ltd.

Environmental isolation, biochemical identification, and antifungal drug susceptibility of Cryptococcus species

Introduction The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections has increased in recent years and is considered an important public health problem. Among systemic and opportunistic mycoses, cryptococcosis is distinguished by its clinical importance due to the increased risk of infection in individuals infected by human immunodeficiency virus. Methods To determine the occurrence of pathogenic Cryptococcus in pigeon excrement in the City of Araraquara, samples were collected from nine environments, including state and municipal schools, abandoned buildings, parks, and a hospital. The isolates were identified using classical tests, and susceptibility testing for the antifungal drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B) independently was also performed. After collection, the excrement samples were plated on Niger agar and incubated at room temperature. Results A total of 87 bird dropping samples were collected, and 66.6% were positive for the genus Cryptococcus. The following species were identified: Cryptococcus neoformans (17.2%), Cryptococcus gattii (5.2%), Cryptococcus ater (3.5%), Cryptococcus laurentti (1.7%), and Cryptococcus luteolus (1.7%). A total of 70.7% of the isolates were not identified to the species level and are referred to as Cryptococcus spp. throughout the manuscript. Conclusions Although none of the isolates demonstrated resistance to antifungal drugs, the identification of infested areas, the proper control of birds, and the disinfection of these environments are essential for the epidemiological control of cryptococcosis.

Identification of Novel Compounds Inhibiting Chikungunya Virus-Induced Cell Death by High Throughput Screening of a Kinase Inhibitor Library

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne arthrogenic alphavirus that causes acute febrile illness in humans accompanied by joint pains and in many cases, persistent arthralgia lasting weeks to years. The re-emergence of CHIKV has resulted in numerous outbreaks in the eastern hemisphere, and threatens to expand in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, no effective treatment is currently available. The present study reports the use of resazurin in a cell-based high-throughput assay, and an image-based high-content assay to identify and characterize inhibitors of CHIKV-infection in vitro. CHIKV is a highly cytopathic virus that rapidly kills infected cells. Thus, cell viability of HuH-7 cells infected with CHIKV in the presence of compounds was determined by measuring metabolic reduction of resazurin to identify inhibitors of CHIKV-associated cell death. A kinase inhibitor library of 4,000 compounds was screened against CHIKV infection of HuH-7 cells using the resazurin reduction assay, and the cell toxicity was also measured in non-infected cells. Seventy-two compounds showing >= 50% inhibition property against CHIKV at 10 mu M were selected as primary hits. Four compounds having a benzofuran core scaffold (CND0335, CND0364, CND0366 and CND0415), one pyrrolopyridine (CND0545) and one thiazol-carboxamide (CND3514) inhibited CHIKV-associated cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values between 2.2 mu M and 7.1 mu M. Based on image analysis, these 6 hit compounds did not inhibit CHIKV replication in the host cell. However, CHIKV-infected cells manifested less prominent apoptotic blebs typical of CHIKV cytopathic effect compared with the control infection. Moreover, treatment with these compounds reduced viral titers in the medium of CHIKV-infected cells by up to 100-fold. In conclusion, this cell-based high-throughput screening assay using resazurin, combined with the image-based high content assay approach identified compounds against CHIKV having a novel antiviral activity -inhibition of virus-induced CPE - likely by targeting kinases involved in apoptosis.

Role of the lateral parabrachial nucleus in the control of sodium appetite

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mitochondrial DNA control region diversity in a population from Espirito Santo state, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Use of anatomical, chemical, and molecular genetic characteristics in the quality control of medicinal species: a case study of sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quantitative methods for the identification of cefuroxime sodium

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Innovative molecular approach to the identification of Colossoma macropomum and its hybrids

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is the fish species most commonly raised in the Brazilian fish farms. The species is highly adaptable to captive conditions, and is both fast-growing and relatively fecund. In recent years, artificial breeding has produced hybrids with Characiform species, known as “Tambacu” and “Tambatinga”. Identifying hybrids is a difficult process, given their morphological similarities with the parent species. This study presents an innovative molecular approach to the identification of hybrids based primarily on Multiplex PCR of a nuclear gene (a-Tropomyosin), which was tested on 93 specimens obtained from fish farms in northern Brazil. The sequencing of a 505-bp fragment of the Control Region (CR) permitted the identification of the maternal lineage of the specimen, all of which corresponded to C. macropomum. Unexpectedly, only two CR haplotype were found in 93 samples, a very low genetic diversity for the pisciculture of Tambaqui. Multiplex PCR identified 42 hybrids, in contrast with 23 identified by the supplier on the basis of external morphology. This innovative tool has considerable potential for the development of the Brazilian aquaculture, given the possibility of the systematic identification of the genetic traits of both fry-producing stocks, and the fry and juveniles raised in farms.

Introdução à identificação de sistemas utilizando o System Identification Toolbox do MATLAB em conjunto com o Arduino para o laboratório de controle linear

The education designed and planned in a clear and objective manner is of paramount importance for universities to prepare competent professionals for the labor market, and above all can serve the population with an efficient work. Specifically, in relation to engineering, conducting classes in the laboratories it is very important for the application of theory and development of the practical part of the student. The planning and preparation of laboratories, as well as laboratory equipment and activities should be developed in a succinct and clear way, showing to students how to apply in practice what has been learned in theory and often shows them why and where it can be used when they become engineers. This work uses the MATLAB together with the System Identification Toolbox and Arduino for the identification of linear systems in Linear Control Lab. MATLAB is a widely used program in the engineering area for numerical computation, signal processing, graphing, system identification, among other functions. Thus the introduction to MATLAB and consequently the identification of systems using the System Identification Toolbox becomes relevant in the formation of students to thereafter when necessary to identify a system the base and the concept has been seen. For this procedure the open source platform Arduino was used as a data acquisition board being the same also introduced to the student, offering them a range of software and hardware for learning, giving you every day more luggage to their training