Instrumentation and control of a two-stage 4-bed silica gel plus water adsorption cooling cum desalination system

This paper presents the instrumentation and control architecture for a laboratory based two-stage 4-bed silica gel + water adsorption system. The system consists of primarily two fluids: refrigerant (water vapour) and heat transfer fluid (water) flowing through various components. Heat input to the system is simulated using multiple heaters and ambient air is used as the heat sink. The laboratory setup incorporates a real time National Instruments (NI) controller to control several digital and analog valves, heaters, pumps and fans along with simultaneous data acquisition from various flow, pressure and temperature sensors. The paper also presents in detail the various automated and manual tasks required for successful operation of the system. Finally the system pressure and temperature dynamics are reported and its performance evaluated for various cycle times. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An out-of-plane linear motion measurement system based on optical beam deflection

Measurement of out-of-plane linear motion with high precision and bandwidth is indispensable for development of precision motion stages and for dynamic characterization of mechanical structures. This paper presents an optical beam deflection (OBD) based system for measurement of out-of-plane linear motion for fully reflective samples. The system also achieves nearly zero cross-sensitivity to angular motion, and a large working distance. The sensitivities to linear and angular motion are analytically obtained and employed to optimize the system design. The optimal shot-noise limited resolution is shown to be less than one angstrom over a bandwidth in excess of 1 kHz. Subsequently, the system is experimentally realized and the sensitivities to out-of-plane motions are calibrated using a novel strategy. The linear sensitivity is found to be in agreement with theory. The angular sensitivity is shown to be over 7.5-times smaller than that of conventional OBD. Finally, the measurement system is employed to measure the transient response of a piezo-positioner, and, with the aid of an open-loop controller, reduce the settling time by about 90%. It is also employed to operate the positioner in closed-loop and demonstrate significant minimization of hysteresis and positioning error.

Mycobacteria-responsive sonic hedgehog signaling mediates programmed death-ligand 1-and prostaglandin E-2-induced regulatory T cell expansion

CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are exploited by mycobacteria to subvert the protective host immune responses. The Treg expansion in the periphery requires signaling by professional antigen presenting cells and in particularly dendritic cells (DC). However, precise molecular mechanisms by which mycobacteria instruct Treg expansion via DCs are not established. Here we demonstrate that mycobacteria-responsive sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in human DCs leads to programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-catalyzed prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) that orchestrate mycobacterial infection-induced expansion of Tregs. While SHH-responsive transcription factor GLI1 directly arbitrated COX-2 transcription, specific microRNAs, miR-324-5p and miR-338-5p, which target PD-L1 were downregulated by SHH signaling. Further, counter-regulatory roles of SHH and NOTCH1 signaling during mycobacterial-infection of human DCs was also evident. Together, our results establish that Mycobacterium directs a fine-balance of host signaling pathways and molecular regulators in human DCs to expand Tregs that favour immune evasion of the pathogen.

Prueba avanzada de rendimiento de nueve lineas y una variedad comercial de arroz (Oryza sativa L.), bajo condiciones de riego en San Isidro, Matagalpa. Epoca lluviosa, 2005

En la época de postrera 2005, se realizó la evaluación de 9 genotipos de arroz procedentes de Colombia y una variedad comercial de Nicaragua (INTA DORADO). El experimento se realizó en la localidad de Paso Real, de San Isidro, Matagalpa, ubicado a los 12º54 ́ latitud norte y 86º11 ́ longitud oeste, a una altura de 457 msnm. La finalidad del ensayo fue identificar líneas con buen rendim iento de grano, calidad molinera, tolerancia a enfermedades y buena adaptabilidad a las condiciones de riego. El diseño experimental fue el de bloque completo al azar (BCA) con 10 tratamientos y 4 repeti ciones. Utilizándose ANDEVA y separación de media SNK ( ∞ =0.05). En la mayoría de las variables evaluadas se determino que existe efecto significativo y altamente significativo entre los diferent es tratamientos. Los principales resultados evidencian que los genotipos L-9, L-39, POB L1-34, POBL 3- 13, alcanzaron los mayores rendimie ntos con producciones de 5,312, 5,193, 5,082.50, 5,044 kg ha -1 respectivamente superando al testigo INTA DORADO que obtuvo el menor rendimiento con 3,506 kg ha -1 . Los componentes del rendimiento: núme ro de granos por panículas, porcentaje de fertilidad de las panículas, peso de 1000 granos y macollamiento por planta definieron la mayor productividad de los genotipos de mayor rendimiento (L-9, L-39, POBL1-34, POBL 3-13), siendo estos los genotipos que presentaron mayor resistencia a enfermedades. Además estos genotipo s presentan; buen porte de planta (tipo semienano), tolerancia al acame y ciclo intermedio. El testigo INTA DORADO y las líneas L-9, POBL 1-34 presentaron una calidad industrial de 94/06, 92/08 y 92/08, con respecto a la relación de grano entero/quebrado.

Uniform stability of a particle approximation of the optimal filter derivative

Sequential Monte Carlo methods, also known as particle methods, are a widely used set of computational tools for inference in non-linear non-Gaussian state-space models. In many applications it may be necessary to compute the sensitivity, or derivative, of the optimal filter with respect to the static parameters of the state-space model; for instance, in order to obtain maximum likelihood model parameters of interest, or to compute the optimal controller in an optimal control problem. In Poyiadjis et al. [2011] an original particle algorithm to compute the filter derivative was proposed and it was shown using numerical examples that the particle estimate was numerically stable in the sense that it did not deteriorate over time. In this paper we substantiate this claim with a detailed theoretical study. Lp bounds and a central limit theorem for this particle approximation of the filter derivative are presented. It is further shown that under mixing conditions these Lp bounds and the asymptotic variance characterized by the central limit theorem are uniformly bounded with respect to the time index. We demon- strate the performance predicted by theory with several numerical examples. We also use the particle approximation of the filter derivative to perform online maximum likelihood parameter estimation for a stochastic volatility model.

Bayesian learning of noisy Markov decision processes

This work addresses the problem of estimating the optimal value function in a Markov Decision Process from observed state-action pairs. We adopt a Bayesian approach to inference, which allows both the model to be estimated and predictions about actions to be made in a unified framework, providing a principled approach to mimicry of a controller on the basis of observed data. A new Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler is devised for simulation from theposterior distribution over the optimal value function. This step includes a parameter expansion step, which is shown to be essential for good convergence properties of the MCMC sampler. As an illustration, the method is applied to learning a human controller.

Materials selection in mechanical design for microsensors and microactuators

Microsensors and microactuators are vital organs of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), forming the interfaces between controller and environment. They are usually used for devices ranging in size at sub-millimeter or micrometer level, transforming energy between two or more domains. Presently, most of the materials used in MEMS devices belong to the silicon material system, which is the basis of the integrated circuit industry. However, new techniques are being explored and developed, and the opportunities for MEMS materials selection are getting broader. The present paper tries to apply 'performance index' to select the material best suited to a given application, in the early stage of MEMS design. The selection is based on matching performance characteristics to the requirements. A series of performance indices are given to allow a wide range comparison of materials for several typical sensing and actuating structures, and a rapid identification of candidates for a given task. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synchronization of modified Chua's circuit with x vertical bar x vertical bar function

This paper considers the chaos synchronization of the modified Chua's circuit with x vertical bar x vertical bar function. We firstly show that a couple of the modified Chua systems with different parameters and initial conditions can be synchronized using active control when the values of parameters both in drive system and response system are known aforehand. Furthermore, based on Lyapunov stability theory we propose an adaptive active control approach to make the states of two identical Chua systems with unknown constant parameters asymptotically synchronized. Moreover the designed controller is independent of those unknown parameters. Numerical simulations are given to validate the proposed synchronization approach.

一般广义离散系统动态输出反馈H_∞控制器设计

提出一种用于一般广义离散系统的严格真动态输出反馈H_∞控制器设计方法。首先，构造辅助广义离散系统，给出该系统的状态反馈H_∞控制器设计方法，在此基础上，用两组矩阵不等式给出使一般广义离散系统是允许的且满足H_∞范数限制的控制器存在的充分条件，并给出了控制器的解析表达式。通过解这两组矩阵不等式，即可获得所需的控制器。控制器的可解性条件由系统的系数矩阵表达，因此不需要矩阵分解，可避免由矩阵分解产生的数值问题。仿真结果证实算法的有效性。

Euskarazko murgilketa haur hezkuntzan : euskara-gaztelania elebitasunaren azterketa. Ahozko ipuinen analisi diskurtsiboa eta didaktikoa

422 p. : il., gráf. col.

Caracterización estructural de complejos ribosomales de iniciación y de pre-translocación mediante microscopía electrónica

120 p : il. col.

重庆西山坪西园建材厂滑坡应急抢险治理工程设计与研究

以西山坪西园建材厂滑坡体工程地质勘察资料为依据,分析了滑坡体的岩土组成和物理力学性质以及造成滑坡的原因.认为影响山体滑坡的因素除与边坡地层岩性、微地貌特征、气象及水文条件有关外,修建厂房开挖与切割边坡坡脚则是重要的诱发原因.定性得出该滑坡的形成机制和类型为牵引式、浅层、小型土质新型滑坡.在此基础上,应用规范所推荐的极限平衡法,对该滑坡体的3个主要地质剖面(A-A'、B-B'、C-C')进行了稳定性计算与分析,得到不同工况下滑坡体稳定系数值.其中,在最不利组合工况(自重+暴雨+地震)下,滑坡体稳定系数仅为0.99～1.03,处于不稳定状态.根据计算结果,按照<长江三峡库区滑坡灾害防治规范>要求及"技术可行、安全可靠、经济合理、简单易实施"的设计原则,对该滑坡的应急抢险方案进行了设计,提出以抗滑桩拦挡工程为主、坡顶修筑截排水沟、地表裂缝回填夯实等综合治理方案.抗滑桩设置1排,分3段,根据每段不同的剩余下滑力设计抗滑桩的断面尺寸和埋设深度,使该滑坡体治理后,其安全系数分别满足不同工况下的规范要求.该方案已通过了三峡库区滑坡灾害防治专家组的审核,目前,正处于实施阶段.

About the Stabilization of a Nonlinear Perturbed Difference Equation

This paper investigates the local asymptotic stabilization of a very general class of instable autonomous nonlinear difference equations which are subject to perturbed dynamics which can have a different order than that of the nominal difference equation. In the general case, the controller consists of two combined parts, namely, the feedback nominal controller which stabilizes the nominal (i.e., perturbation-free) difference equation plus an incremental controller which completes the stabilization in the presence of perturbed or unmodeled dynamics in the uncontrolled difference equation. A stabilization variant consists of using a single controller to stabilize both the nominal difference equation and also the perturbed one under a small-type characterization of the perturbed dynamics. The study is based on Banach fixed point principle, and it is also valid with slight modification for the stabilization of unstable oscillatory solutions.

Stability of Switched Feedback Time-Varying Dynamic Systems Based on the Properties of the Gap Metric for Operators

The stabilization of dynamic switched control systems is focused on and based on an operator-based formulation. It is assumed that the controlled object and the controller are described by sequences of closed operator pairs (L, C) on a Hilbert space H of the input and output spaces and it is related to the existence of the inverse of the resulting input-output operator being admissible and bounded. The technical mechanism addressed to get the results is the appropriate use of the fact that closed operators being sufficiently close to bounded operators, in terms of the gap metric, are also bounded. That philosophy is followed for the operators describing the input-output relations in switched feedback control systems so as to guarantee the closed-loop stabilization.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotype 18 variants in patients with clinical manifestations of HPV related infections in Bilbao, Spain

Background:Human papillomavirus (HPV) variants differ in their biological and chemical properties, and therefore, may present differences in pathogenicity. Most authors classified variants based on the phylogenetic analysis of L1 region. Nevertheless, recombination in HPV samples is becoming a usual finding and thus, characterizing genetic variability in other regions should be essential. Objectives:We aimed to characterize the genetic variability of HPV 18 in 5 genomic regions: E6, E7, E4, L1 and the Upstream Regulatory Region (URR), working with both single infection and multiple HPV infection samples. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of HPV 18 variants in our region and look for possible existence of recombination as well as analyze the relationship between these variants and the type of lesion. Methods: From 2007 to 2010, Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Department analyzed 44 samples which were positive for HPV 18. Genetic variability was determined in PCR products and variants were assigned to European, Asian-amerindian or African lineage. Recombination and association of variants with different types of lesion was studied. Results: Genetic analysis of the regions revealed a total of 56 nucleotide variations. European, African and Asian-amerindian variants were found in 25/44 (56.8%), 10/44 (22.7%) and 5/44 (11.4%) samples, respectively. We detected the presence of recombinant variants in 2/44 (4.5%) cases. Samples taken from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (H-SIL) only presented variants with specific-african substitutions. Conclusions: Multiple HPV infection, non-european HPV variants prevalence and existence of recombination are considered risk factors for HPV persistence and progression of intraepithelial abnormalities, and therefore, should be taken into consideration in order to help to design and optimize diagnostics protocols as well as improve epidemiologic studies. Our study is one of the few studies in Spain which analyses the genetic variability of HPV18 and we showed the importance of characterizing more than one genomic region in order to detect recombination and classify HPV variants properly