Digital Deadbeat Control Tuning for dc-dc Converters Using Error Correlation

This letter proposes a simple tuning algorithm for digital deadbeat control based on error correlation. By injecting a square-wave reference input and calculating the correlation of the control error, a gain correction for deadbeat control is obtained. The proposed solution is simple, it requires a short tuning time, and it is suitable for different DC-DC converter topologies. Simulation and experimental results on synchronous buck converters confirm the properties of the proposed tuning algorithm.

Metabolites of PPI-2458, a selective, irreversible inhibitor of methionine aminopeptidase-2: structure determination and In vivo activity

The natural product fumagillin exhibits potent antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties. The semisynthetic analog PPI-2458, (3R,4S,5S,6R)-5-methoxy-4-(2R,3R)-2-methyl-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl) oxiran-2-yl]-1-oxaspiro2.5]octan-6-yl] N-(2R)-1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]carbamate, demonstrates rapid inactivation of its molecular target, methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP2), and good efficacy in several rodent models of cancer and inflammation with oral dosing despite low apparent oral bioavailability. To probe the basis of its in vivo efficacy, the metabolism of PPI-2458 was studied in detail. Reaction phenotyping identified CYP3A4/5 as the major source of metabolism in humans. Six metabolites were isolated from liver microsomes and characterized by mass spectrometry and nuclear resonance spectroscopy, and their structures were confirmed by chemical synthesis. The synthetic metabolites showed correlated inhibition of MetAP2 enzymatic activity and vascular endothelial cell growth. In an ex vivo experiment, MetAP2 inhibition in white blood cells, thymus, and lymph nodes in rats after single dosing with PPI-2458 and the isolated metabolites was found to correlate with the in vitro activity of the individual species. In a phase 1 clinical study, PPI-2458 was administered to patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At 15 mg administered orally every other day, MetAP2 in whole blood was 80% inactivated for up to 48 hours, although the exposure of the parent compound was only similar to 10% that of the summed cytochrome P450 metabolites. Taken together, the data confirm the participation of active metabolites in the in vivo efficacy of PPI-2458. The structures define a metabolic pathway for PPI-2458 that is distinct from that of TNP-470 ((3R, 4S, 5S, 6R)-5-methoxy-4-(2R, 3R)-2-methyl-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)oxiran-2-yl]-1-oxaspiro2.5]octan-6 -yl] N-(2-chloroacetyl)carbamate). The high level of MetAP2 inhibition achieved in vivo supports the value of fumagillin-derived therapeutics for angiogenic diseases.

La necesidad del capital social para el desarrollo económico

Muchas gracias por el interés. Como expresó el Dr. Resico en la presentación me he dedicado por muchos años a los temas relacionados con el capital social. Para exponer de forma ordenada daré primero una definición del capital social, así entendemos de qué estamos hablando. Cuando nos referimos al “capital social”, nos estamos refiriendo a normas y redes sociales que permiten que confiemos o nos fiemos de los demás y que colaboremos con ellos. Esa es la idea general de capital social. No es una idea muy pulida o acabada y podemos quedar con la impresión que, si la tratamos de definir con precisión absoluta, se nos escape. En el curso de doctorado utilicé mucho tiempo para ver cómo los economistas y otros, como los sociólogos y los politólogos, tratan de hilar más fino y definir más precisamente qué es el capital social, pero entrar en esto ahora nos llevaría demasiado tiempo, así que les propongo quedarnos con esa definición bastante general, para entender por lo menos al área a la que nos estamos refiriendo. Entonces, estamos pensando en normas y redes sociales que permiten el desarrollo de la confianza y de la colaboración.

La dimensione salvifica e pastorale del diritto canonico

Introducción: Il diritto canonico – autentica ed originale realtà della Chiesa, che affonda le sue radici nel medesimo mistero della chiesa come comunità divino-umana1 –, è uno strumento che aiuta l’uomo nel raggiungimento dello scopo finale, che è la salvezza. Poiché questo diritto è esercitato nella Chiesa, il suo scopo è quello di costruire una comunità, e dunque dovrebbe tendere a realizzare una vita comunitaria ecclesiale. Papa Paolo VI, tra gli altri, ha voluto vedere, nella realizzazione della comunità, lo scopo del diritto canonico, nonché il criterio normativo di tutta la legislazione ecclesiastica. Anche Pio XII e Giovanni Paolo II hanno indicato tale direzione riguardo al compito di realizzare lo scopo della Chiesa attraverso il diritto canonico

The interactive brain hypothesis

Enactive approaches foreground the role of interpersonal interaction in explanations of social understanding. This motivates, in combination with a recent interest in neuroscientific studies involving actual interactions, the question of how interactive processes relate to neural mechanisms involved in social understanding. We introduce the Interactive Brain Hypothesis (IBH) in order to help map the spectrum of possible relations between social interaction and neural processes. The hypothesis states that interactive experience and skills play enabling roles in both the development and current function of social brain mechanisms, even in cases where social understanding happens in the absence of immediate interaction. We examine the plausibility of this hypothesis against developmental and neurobiological evidence and contrast it with the widespread assumption that mindreading is crucial to all social cognition. We describe the elements of social interaction that bear most directly on this hypothesis and discuss the empirical possibilities open to social neuroscience. We propose that the link between coordination dynamics and social understanding can be best grasped by studying transitions between states of coordination. These transitions form part of the self-organization of interaction processes that characterize the dynamics of social engagement. The patterns and synergies of this self-organization help explain how individuals understand each other. Various possibilities for role-taking emerge during interaction, determining a spectrum of participation. This view contrasts sharply with the observational stance that has guided research in social neuroscience until recently. We also introduce the concept of readiness to interact to describe the practices and dispositions that are summoned in situations of social significance (even if not interactive). This latter idea links interactive factors to more classical observational scenarios.

Association between CASP8-652 6N Del Polymorphism (rs3834129) and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Results from a Multi-Centric Study

The common 2652 6N del variant in the CASP8 promoter (rs3834129) has been described as a putative low-penetrance risk factor for different cancer types. In particular, some studies suggested that the deleted allele (del) was inversely associated with CRC risk while other analyses failed to confirm this. Hence, to better understand the role of this variant in the risk of developing CRC, we performed a multi-centric case-control study. In the study, the variant 2652 6N del was genotyped in a total of 6,733 CRC cases and 7,576 controls recruited by six different centers located in Spain, Italy, USA, England, Czech Republic and the Netherlands collaborating to the international consortium COGENT (COlorectal cancer GENeTics). Our analysis indicated that rs3834129 was not associated with CRC risk in the full data set. However, the del allele was under-represented in one set of cases with a family history of CRC (per allele model OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69-0.90) suggesting this allele might be a protective factor versus familial CRC. Since this multi-centric case-control study was performed on a very large sample size, it provided robust clarification of the effect of rs3834129 on the risk of developing CRC in Caucasians.

A new adaptive marine policy toolbox to support ecosystem-based approach to management

4 p.

Spinal circuits can accommodate interaction torques during multijoint limb movements

The dynamic interaction of limb segments during movements that involve multiple joints creates torques in one joint due to motion about another. Evidence shows that such interaction torques are taken into account during the planning or control of movement in humans. Two alternative hypotheses could explain the compensation of these dynamic torques. One involves the use of internal models to centrally compute predicted interaction torques and their explicit compensation through anticipatory adjustment of descending motor commands. The alternative, based on the equilibrium-point hypothesis, claims that descending signals can be simple and related to the desired movement kinematics only, while spinal feedback mechanisms are responsible for the appropriate creation and coordination of dynamic muscle forces. Partial supporting evidence exists in each case. However, until now no model has explicitly shown, in the case of the second hypothesis, whether peripheral feedback is really sufficient on its own for coordinating the motion of several joints while at the same time accommodating intersegmental interaction torques. Here we propose a minimal computational model to examine this question. Using a biomechanics simulation of a two-joint arm controlled by spinal neural circuitry, we show for the first time that it is indeed possible for the neuromusculoskeletal system to transform simple descending control signals into muscle activation patterns that accommodate interaction forces depending on their direction and magnitude. This is achieved without the aid of any central predictive signal. Even though the model makes various simplifications and abstractions compared to the complexities involved in the control of human arm movements, the finding lends plausibility to the hypothesis that some multijoint movements can in principle be controlled even in the absence of internal models of intersegmental dynamics or learned compensatory motor signals.

Learning to perceive in the sensor motor approach: Piaget's theory of equilibration interpreted dynamically

Learning to perceive is faced with a classical paradox: if understanding is required for perception, how can we learn to perceive something new, something we do not yet understand? According to the sensorimotor approach, perception involves mastery of regular sensorimotor co-variations that depend on the agent and the environment, also known as the "laws" of sensorimotor contingencies (SMCs). In this sense, perception involves enacting relevant sensorimotor skills in each situation. It is important for this proposal that such skills can be learned and refined with experience and yet up to this date, the sensorimotor approach has had no explicit theory of perceptual learning. The situation is made more complex if we acknowledge the open-ended nature of human learning. In this paper we propose Piaget's theory of equilibration as a potential candidate to fulfill this role. This theory highlights the importance of intrinsic sensorimotor norms, in terms of the closure of sensorimotor schemes. It also explains how the equilibration of a sensorimotor organization faced with novelty or breakdowns proceeds by re-shaping pre-existing structures in coupling with dynamical regularities of the world. This way learning to perceive is guided by the equilibration of emerging forms of skillful coping with the world. We demonstrate the compatibility between Piaget's theory and the sensorimotor approach by providing a dynamical formalization of equilibration to give an explicit micro-genetic account of sensorimotor learning and, by extension, of how we learn to perceive. This allows us to draw important lessons in the form of general principles for open-ended sensorimotor learning, including the need for an intrinsic normative evaluation by the agent itself. We also explore implications of our micro-genetic account at the personal level.

A genealogical map of the concept of habit

The notion of information processing has dominated the study of the mind for over six decades. However, before the advent of cognitivism, one of the most prominent theoretical ideas was that of Habit. This is a concept with a rich and complex history, which is again starting to awaken interest, following recent embodied, enactive critiques of computationalist frameworks. We offer here a very brief history of the concept of habit in the form of a genealogical network-map. This serves to provide an overview of the richness of this notion and as a guide for further re-appraisal. We identify 77 thinkers and their influences, and group them into seven schools of thought. Two major trends can be distinguished. One is the associationist trend, starting with the work of Locke and Hume, developed by Hartley, Bain, and Mill to be later absorbed into behaviorism through pioneering animal psychologists (Morgan and Thorndike). This tradition conceived of habits atomistically and as automatisms (a conception later debunked by cognitivism). Another historical trend we have called organicism inherits the legacy of Aristotle and develops along German idealism, French spiritualism, pragmatism, and phenomenology. It feeds into the work of continental psychologists in the early 20th century, influencing important figures such as Merleau-Ponty, Piaget, and Gibson. But it has not yet been taken up by mainstream cognitive neuroscience and psychology. Habits, in this tradition, are seen as ecological, self-organizing structures that relate to a web of predispositions and plastic dependencies both in the agent and in the environment. In addition, they are not conceptualized in opposition to rational, volitional processes, but as transversing a continuum from reflective to embodied intentionality. These are properties that make habit a particularly attractive idea for embodied, enactive perspectives, which can now re-evaluate it in light of dynamical systems theory and complexity research.

Formulação supersimétrica de processos estocásticos com ruído multiplicativo

Os processos estocásticos com ruído branco multiplicativo são objeto de atenção constante em uma grande área da pesquisa científica. A variedade de prescrições possíveis para definir matematicamente estes processos oferece um obstáculo ao desenvolvimento de ferramentas gerais para seu tratamento. Na presente tese, estudamos propriedades de equilíbrio de processos markovianos com ruído branco multiplicativo. Para conseguirmos isto, definimos uma transformação de reversão temporal de tais processos levando em conta que a distribuição estacionária de probabilidade depende da prescrição. Deduzimos um formalismo funcional visando obter o funcional gerador das funções de correlação e resposta de um processo estocástico multiplicativo representado por uma equação de Langevin. Ao representar o processo estocástico neste formalismo (de Grassmann) funcional eludimos a necessidade de fixar uma prescrição particular. Neste contexto, analisamos as propriedades de equilíbrio e estudamos as simetrias ocultas do processo. Mostramos que, usando uma definição apropriada da distribuição de equilíbrio e considerando a transformação de reversão temporal adequada, as propriedades usuais de equilíbrio são satisfeitas para qualquer prescrição. Finalmente, apresentamos uma dedução detalhada da formulação supersimétrica covariante de um processo markoviano com ruído branco multiplicativo e estudamos algumas das relações impostas pelas funções de correlação através das identidades de Ward-Takahashi.

A versão portuguesa do mito de Édipo

Esta dissertação visa a leitura do texto dramático António Marinheiro (O Édipo de Alfama) de Bernardo Santareno, tendo como ponto de partida Édipo Rei de Sófocles. Os fundamentos teóricos para a interpretação desses textos são a obra freudiana e o ensino de Jacques Lacan. Santareno retira as suas personagens do interior das muralhas de Tebas para colocá-las em Alfama, bairro de Lisboa, na segunda metade do século XX. Nesse novo cenário, o fado, o vinho e a taberna compõem os costumes tipicamente portugueses. Escolhemos dois filmes, Édipo Rei de Pier Paolo Pasolini e Incêndios de Denis Villeneuve, para fazer uma leitura comparativa com as peças de Sófocles e de Bernardo Santareno. O início do filme de Pasolini ocorre em uma cidade pequena ao norte da Itália e depois se transfere para a Grécia antiga onde se passa a tragédia de Sófocles. Incêndios é uma adaptação da peça do libanês Wadji Mouawad e retrata a guerra civil do Líbano, a intolerância religiosa, estupro, incesto e genocídio