A Posteriori analysis of discontinuous Galerkin schemes for systems of hyperbolic conservation laws

In this work we construct reliable a posteriori estimates for some semi- (spatially) discrete discontinuous Galerkin schemes applied to nonlinear systems of hyperbolic conservation laws. We make use of appropriate reconstructions of the discrete solution together with the relative entropy stability framework, which leads to error control in the case of smooth solutions. The methodology we use is quite general and allows for a posteriori control of discontinuous Galerkin schemes with standard flux choices which appear in the approximation of conservation laws. In addition to the analysis, we conduct some numerical benchmarking to test the robustness of the resultant estimator.

Dynamics of inter-modality re-weighting during human postural control

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Monitoring the process mean and variance using a synthetic control chart with two-stage testing

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Historic of therapeutic efficacy of albendazol sulphoxide administered in different routes, dosages and treatment schemes, against Taenia saginata in cattle experimentally infected

The present study aimed to notify the history of albendazole sulphoxide (ALB-SO) and albendazole (ALBZ) efficacy against Taenia saginata cysticercus (Cysticercus bovis) parasitizing experimentally infected bovines. A total of 11 efficacy trials were performed between the years of 2002 and 2010. In order to perform these trials, animals were individually inoculated with 2 x 104 eggs of T. saginata in each study's day zero (DO). For every trial, a positive control group (untreated infected animals) and a negative control group (animals that were neither infected nor treated) were used. ALB-SO or ALB were administered in the different dosages, in different days of treatments. In a last study with this formulation, this active principle was administered orally, mixed with the mineral supplement, on the 60th DPI, in a dosage of 30 mg/kg. In all trials, on the 100th DPI, all animals were euthanized and submitted to the sequenced slicing of 26 anatomical segments (fragments of approximately five millimeters) for the survey of T. saginata cysticercus. With the obtained results it is possible to verify that in the first trials, conducted in 2002, ALB-SO reached, independently of dosage and treatment scheme, efficacies superior to 98% (arithmetic means). The trials conducted in 2005 (2.5 mg/kg on the 30th, 60th, and 90th DPI) obtained values of efficacy all inferior to 60%. In 2008, the trials with 2.5 and 7.7 mg/kg demonstrated efficacy values inferior to 40%, for both dosages and treatment schemes (30th/60th/90th DPI and 60th DPI). When this formulation was administered orally on the dosage of 30 mg/kg on the 60th DPI, the efficacy against T. saginata cysticercus reached 88.28%. ALB administered orally showed efficacy values of 0.0%, 29.88% and 28.64% in the dosages of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, respectively, using the treatment schemes described above for each dosage. Based on the results of these trials, conducted in an eight year period (2002-2010) using the sequenced slicing method for evaluating the efficacy of the aforementioned formulations against T. saginata cysticercus, it is possible to observe that, amongst the few molecules used in the chemotherapic treatment against T. saginata larvae, ALB-SO, administered in varied routes, dosages and treatment schemes, the studies conducted in 2008, 2009, and 2010, have a low therapeutic efficacy against C bovis in Brazil, while ALBZ had insignificant efficacy values against T. saginata larvae parasitizing experimentally infected bovines. However, future studies using molecular biology will be necessary to assess whether the difference on the efficacy of the ALB-SO can be related to strain or another specific factor. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Double-objective economic statistical design of the VP T-2 control chart: Wald's identity approach

Research has shown that applying the T-2 control chart by using a variable parameters (VP) scheme yields rapid detection of out-of-control states. In this paper, the problem of economic statistical design of the VP T-2 control chart is considered as a double-objective minimization problem with the statistical objective being the adjusted average time to signal and the economic objective being expected cost per hour. We then find the Pareto-optimal designs in which the two objectives are met simultaneously by using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Through an illustrative example, we show that relatively large benefits can be achieved by applying the VP scheme when compared with usual schemes, and in addition, the multi-objective approach provides the user with designs that are flexible and adaptive.

Effects of Haematobia irritans infestation on weight gain of Nelore calves assessed with different antiparasitic treatment schemes

Effects of Haematobia irritans infestation on weight gain of 18 to 20 months old non-castrated Nelore calves, were investigated, under field conditions, using different antiparasitic treatments. Sixty animals were divided in three groups, with 20 bovines each: T01 (untreated control); T02 (treated with Cypermethrin 15 g + Chlorpyriphos 25 g + Citronellal 1 g, as a whole body spray, on days 0,30, 60, 90 and 120 post-treatment); and T03 (treated on day zero with an ear tag impregnated with Diazinon 6 g on the left ear). Counts of H. irritans were conducted on day 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 post-treatment (DPT). On the same experimental dates, animals were individually weighed, seeking to evaluate the effects of parasitism on the development of animals in each group. From this study it is concluded that T03 had significantly higher efficacy (>90%, till 90 DPT), based on H. irritans fly counts, compared to T02 which showed little or no effect. At the specific conditions of the present study, an average of approximately 90 flies (mean difference of flycounts between groups T01 and T03) was associated with a difference of 20 kg/animal in 150 days. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hierarchy-Based Access Control in Distributed Environments

Access control is a fundamental concern in any system that manages resources, e.g., operating systems, file systems, databases and communications systems. The problem we address is how to specify, enforce, and implement access control in distributed environments. This problem occurs in many applications such as management of distributed project resources, e-newspaper and payTV subscription services. Starting from an access relation between users and resources, we derive a user hierarchy, a resource hierarchy, and a unified hierarchy. The unified hierarchy is then used to specify the access relation in a way that is compact and that allows efficient queries. It is also used in cryptographic schemes that enforce the access relation. We introduce three specific cryptography based hierarchical schemes, which can effectively enforce and implement access control and are designed for distributed environments because they do not need the presence of a central authority (except perhaps for set- UP).

Multiple independent origins of mitochondrial control region duplications in the order Psittaciformes

mitochondrial genomes are generally thought to be under selection for compactness, due to their small size, consistent gene content, and a lack of introns or intergenic spacers. As more animal mitochondrial genomes are fully sequenced, rearrangements and partial duplications are being identified with increasing frequency, particularly in birds (Class Ayes). In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of mitochondrial control region states within the avian order Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos). To this aim, we reconstructed a comprehensive multi-locus phylogeny of parrots, used PCR of three diagnostic fragments to classify the mitochondrial control region state as single or duplicated, and mapped these states onto the phylogeny. We further sequenced 44 selected species to validate these inferences of control region state. Ancestral state reconstruction using a range of weighting schemes identified six independent origins of mitochondrial control region duplications within Psittaciformes. Analysis of sequence data showed that varying levels of mitochondrial gene and tRNA homology and degradation were present within a given clade exhibiting duplications. Levels of divergence between control regions within an individual varied from 0-10.9% with the differences occurring mainly between 51 and 225 nucleotides 3' of the goose hairpin in domain I. Further investigations into the fates of duplicated mitochondrial genes, the potential costs and benefits of having a second control region, and the complex relationship between evolutionary rates, selection, and time since duplication are needed to fully explain these patterns in the mitochondrial genome. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Advanced schemes for surface plasmon resonance and plasmon-enhanced fluorescence biosensors

Advanced optical biosensor platforms exploiting long range surface plasmons (LRSPs) and responsive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) hydrogel binding matrix for the detection of protein and bacterial pathogen analytes were carried out. LRSPs are optical waves that originate from coupling of surface plasmons on the opposite sites of a thin metallic film embedded between two dielectrics with similar refractive indices. LRSPs exhibit orders of magnitude lower damping and more extended profile of field compared to regular surface plasmons (SPs). Their excitation is accompanied with narrow resonance and provides stronger enhancement of electromagnetic field intensity that can advance the sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) biosensors. Firstly, we investigated thin gold layers deposited on fluoropolymer surface for the excitation of LRSPs. The study indicates that the morphological, optical and electrical properties of gold film can be changed by the surface energy of fluoropolymer and affect the performance of a SPFS biosensor. A photo-crosslinkable NIPAAm hydrogel was grafted to the sensor surface in order to serve as a binding matrix. It was modified with bio-recognition elements (BREs) via amine coupling chemistry and offered the advantage of large binding capacity, stimuli responsive properties and good biocompatibility. Through experimental observations supported by numerical simulations describing diffusion mass transfer and affinity binding of target molecules in the hydrogel, the hydrogel binding matrix thickness, concentration of BREs and the profile of the probing evanescent field was optimized. Hydrogel with a up to micrometer thickness was shown to support additional hydrogel optical waveguide (HOW) mode which was employed for probing affinity binding events in the gel by means of refractometric and fluorescence measurements. These schemes allow to reach limits of detection (LODs) at picomolar and femtomolar levels, respectively. Besides hydrogel based experiments for detection of molecular analytes, long range surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (LRSP-FS) was employed for detection of bacterial pathogens. The influence of capture efficiency of bacteria on surfaces and the profile of the probing field on sensor response were investigated. The potential of LRSP-FS with extended evanescent field is demonstrated for detection of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 on sandwich immunoassays . LOD as low as 6 cfu mL-1 with a detection time of 40 minutes was achieved.rn

Addressing schemes of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes: a European perspective and expert recommendation

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in type 2 diabetes has increasingly been shown to display beneficial effects on glycemic control. SMBG is not only associated with a reduction of hemoglobin A1c but has also been demonstrated to increase patients' awareness of the disease. SMBG has also the potential to visualize and predict hypoglycemic episodes. International guidelines by the International Diabetes Federation, the European Society of Cardiology, and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and also the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes emphasize that SMBG is an integral part of self-management. More recently, two European consensus documents have been published to give recommendations for frequency and timing of SMBG also for various clinical scenarios. Recently, a European expert panel was held to further facilitate and enhance standardized approaches to SMBG. The aim was to present simple, clinically meaningful, and standardized SMBG strategies for type 2 diabetes. The panel recommended a less intensive and an intensive scheme for SMBG across the type 2 diabetes continuum. The length and frequency of SMBG performance depend on the clinical circumstances and the quality of glycemic control. The expert panel also recommended further evaluation of various schemes for SMBG in type 2 diabetes in clinical studies.

An Evaluation of Compression Schemes for Wireless Networks

Data gathering, either for event recognition or for monitoring applications is the primary intention for sensor network deployments. In many cases, data is acquired periodically and autonomously, and simply logged onto secondary storage (e.g. flash memory) either for delayed offline analysis or for on demand burst transfer. Moreover, operational data such as connectivity information, node and network state is typically kept as well. Naturally, measurement and/or connectivity logging comes at a cost. Space for doing so is limited. Finding a good representative model for the data and providing clever coding of information, thus data compression, may be a means to use the available space to its best. In this paper, we explore the design space for data compression for wireless sensor and mesh networks by profiling common, publicly available algorithms. Several goals such as a low overhead in terms of utilized memory and compression time as well as a decent compression ratio have to be well balanced in order to find a simple, yet effective compression scheme.

Han Migration to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Between State Schemes and Migrants’ Strategies

Post-1949 Han migration to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China is a hotly debated issue among the Xinjiang scholars and within the region itself. While it is often discussed using statistical data as a large-scale historical process, I argue in this article for a more differentiated view of Han migrants. I demonstrate that in the popular discourse migrants are distinguished into numerous categories like Bingtuaners , Profit-Driven Migrants, Border Supporters, Qualified Personnel, Educated Youth, and others. Accordingly, I argue that Han migrants to Xinjiang should not be understood as a homogeneous category of participants in a singular state project intended to establish state control over the region. High return rates demonstrate that state attempts to make Han settle in Xinjiang are only partly successful, and that migrants follow their own strategies when situation permits, rather than fulfill the government’s plans. Individuals who have migrated since the 1980s are especially careful in their assessment of the economic incentives of settlement, and many decide to remain mobile.

Fault isolation schemes for a class of continuous-time stochastic dynamical systems

In this paper a new method for fault isolation in a class of continuous-time stochastic dynamical systems is proposed. The method is framed in the context of model-based analytical redundancy, consisting in the generation of a residual signal by means of a diagnostic observer, for its posterior analysis. Once a fault has been detected, and assuming some basic a priori knowledge about the set of possible failures in the plant, the isolation task is then formulated as a type of on-line statistical classification problem. The proposed isolation scheme employs in parallel different hypotheses tests on a statistic of the residual signal, one test for each possible fault. This isolation method is characterized by deriving for the unidimensional case, a sufficient isolability condition as well as an upperbound of the probability of missed isolation. Simulation examples illustrate the applicability of the proposed scheme.

Análisis y Diseño de Algoritmos de Control Discreto de Sistemas MIMO Lineales y No Lineales Aplicando Técnicas de Control de Estructura Variable

Dentro de las técnicas de control de procesos no lineales, los controladores de estructura variable con modos deslizantes (VSC-SM en sus siglas en inglés) han demostrado ser una solución robusta, por lo cual han sido ampliamente estudiados en las cuatro últimas décadas. Desde los años ochenta se han presentado varios trabajos enfocados a especificar controladores VSC aplicados a sistemas de tiempo discreto (DVSC), siendo uno de los mayores intereses de análisis obtener las mismas prestaciones de robustez e invarianza de los controladores VSC-SM. El objetivo principal del trabajo de Tesis Doctoral consiste en estudiar, analizar y proponer unos esquemas de diseño de controladores DVSC en procesos multivariable tanto lineales como no lineales. De dicho estudio se propone una nueva filosofía de diseño de superficies deslizantes estables donde se han considerado aspectos hasta ahora no estudiados en el uso de DVSC-SM como son las limitaciones físicas de los actuadores y la dinámica deslizante no ideal. Lo más novedoso es 1) la propuesta de una nueva metodología de diseño de superficies deslizantes aplicadas a sistemas MIMO lineales y la extensión del mismo al caso de sistemas multivariables no lineales y 2) la definición de una nueva ley de alcance y de una ley de control robusta aplicada a sistemas MIMO, tanto lineales como no lineales, incluyendo un esquema de reducción de chattering. Finalmente, con el fin de ilustrar la eficiencia de los esquemas presentados, se incluyen ejemplos numéricos relacionados con el tema tratado en cada uno de los capítulos de la memoria. ABSTRACT Over the last four decades, variable structure controllers with sliding mode (VSC-SM) have been extensively studied, demonstrating to be a robust solution among robust nonlinear processes control techniques. Since the late 80s, several research works have been focused on the application of VSC controllers applied to discrete time or sampled data systems, which are known as DVSC-SM, where the most extensive source of analysis has been devoted to the robustness and invariance properties of VSC-SM controllers when applied to discrete systems. The main aim of this doctoral thesis work is to study, analyze and propose a design scheme of DVSC-SM controllers for lineal and nonlinear multivariable discrete time processes. For this purpose, a new design philosophy is proposed, where various design features have been considered that have not been analyzed in DVSC design approaches. Among them, the physical limitations and the nonideal dynamic sliding mode dynamics. The most innovative aspect is the inclusion of a new design methodology applied to lineal sliding surfaces MIMO systems and the extension to nonlinear multivariable systems, in addition to a new robust control law applied to lineal and nonlinear MIMO systems, including a chattering reduction scheme. Finally, to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed schemes, several numerical examples applied to lineal and nonlinear systems are included.

High-fidelity measurement and quantum feedback control in circuit QED

Circuit QED is a promising solid-state quantum computing architecture. It also has excellent potential as a platform for quantum control-especially quantum feedback control-experiments. However, the current scheme for measurement in circuit QED is low efficiency and has low signal-to-noise ratio for single-shot measurements. The low quality of this measurement makes the implementation of feedback difficult, and here we propose two schemes for measurement in circuit QED architectures that can significantly improve signal-to-noise ratio and potentially achieve quantum-limited measurement. Such measurements would enable the implementation of quantum feedback protocols and we illustrate this with a simple entanglement-stabilization scheme.