Resource constrained deep reinforcement learning

In urban environments, supply resources have to be constantly matched to the "right" locations (where customer demand is present) so as to improve quality of life. For instance, ambulances have to be matched to base stations regularly so as to reduce response time for emergency incidents in EMS (Emergency Management Systems); vehicles (cars, bikes, scooters etc.) have to be matched to docking stations so as to reduce lost demand in shared mobility systems. Such problem domains are challenging owing to the demand uncertainty, combinatorial action spaces (due to allocation) and constraints on allocation of resources (e.g., total resources, minimum and maximum number of resources at locations and regions). Existing systems typically employ myopic and greedy optimization approaches to optimize allocation of supply resources to locations. Such approaches typically are unable to handle surges or variances in demand patterns well. Recent research has demonstrated the ability of Deep RL methods in adapting well to highly uncertain environments. However, existing Deep RL methods are unable to handle combinatorial action spaces and constraints on allocation of resources. To that end, we have developed three approaches on top of the well known actor critic approach, DDPG (Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient) that are able to handle constraints on resource allocation. More importantly, we demonstrate that they are able to outperform leading approaches on simulators validated on semi-real and real data sets

Model Predictive Control System Analysis for Sugarcane Crushing Mill Process

MPC is a computer based technique that requires the process model to anticipate the future outputs of that process. An optimal control action is taken by MPC based on this prediction. The MPC is so popular since its control performance has been reported to be best among other conventional techniques to control the multivariable dynamical plants with various inputs and outputs constraints. In this paper the performance of an MPC controller on a single stage of milling train of sugar mill is analyzed. A linear model of the plant is taken with flap position and turbine speed set point as manipulated variables and mill torque and buffer chute height as controlled variables. The set point tracking responses are compared for constrained and unconstrained cases. The effect of presence of unmeasured disturbance also is investigated

Model Predictive Control System Design for Boiler Turbine Process

MPC is a computer based technique that requires the process model to anticipate the future outputs of that process. An optimal control action is taken by MPC based on this prediction. The MPC is so popular since its control performance has been reported to be best among other conventional techniques to control the multivariable dynamical plants with various inputs and outputs constraints. In the present work the control of boiler turbine process with three manipulated variables namely fuel flow valve position, steam control valve position and feed water flow valve position and three controlled variables namely drum pressure, output power and drum water level deviation [8] has been attempted using MPC technique. Boiler turbine process is very complex and nonlinear multivariable process. A linearized model obtained using Taylor series expansion around operating point has been used

Immunosuppressive and anti-cancer potential of aqueous extract of Solanum Xanthocarpum

451-457In this study whole plant aqueous extract of Solanum Xanthocarpum (HAESX) was investigated to assess its effect on humoral immune response along with interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and its expression in Wistar albino rats splenocytes culture. Anticancer potential of HAESX was investigated using rat lever hepatoma (N1S1 cancerous cell line). The effect of HAESX over humoral immune response was studied using four groups of five animals each (Group-I as control, Group -II orally fed with 125 mg/kg body weight, Group -III orally fed with 250 mg/kg body weight and Group -IV orally fed with 500 mg/kg body weight of HAESX). Quantification of IL-2 was done by sandwich ELISA and its expression was detected by the real time PCR. SRB assay (Sulforhodamine B) was done for detecting the effect of HAESX on N1S1 cell line. Dose dependent decrease in antibody titer was observed and production of IL-2 was also decreased significantly. Suppression of IL-2 production at 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL dose was also confirmed by the Real time PCR. Relative fold change in the expression of IL-2 gene was 592.22 and 10.77 at 250, 500 μg/mL HAESX concentrations respectively with respect to control. Dose dependent suppression of percent growth of N1S1 cells with increasing concentrations (10, 20, 40 and 80 µg/mL) of HAESX was found. It was concluded that S. xanthocarpum have the immunosuppressive, and anti cancer activity that can be further explore in treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disease

Immunosuppressive and anti-cancer potential of aqueous extract of Solanum Xanthocarpum

In this study whole plant aqueous extract of Solanum Xanthocarpum (HAESX) was investigated to assess its effect on humoral immune response along with interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and its expression in Wistar albino rats splenocytes culture. Anticancer potential of HAESX was investigated using rat lever hepatoma (N1S1 cancerous cell line). The effect of HAESX over humoral immune response was studied using four groups of five animals each (Group-I as control, Group -II orally fed with 125 mg/kg body weight, Group -III orally fed with 250 mg/kg body weight and Group -IV orally fed with 500 mg/kg body weight of HAESX). Quantification of IL-2 was done by sandwich ELISA and its expression was detected by the real time PCR. SRB assay (Sulforhodamine B) was done for detecting the effect of HAESX on N1S1 cell line. Dose dependent decrease in antibody titer was observed and production of IL-2 was also decreased significantly. Suppression of IL-2 production at 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL dose was also confirmed by the Real time PCR. Relative fold change in the expression of IL-2 gene was 592.22 and 10.77 at 250, 500 μg/mL HAESX concentrations respectively with respect to control. Dose dependent suppression of percent growth of N1S1 cells with increasing concentrations (10, 20, 40 and 80 µg/mL) of HAESX was found. It was concluded that S. xanthocarpum have the immunosuppressive, and anti cancer activity that can be further explore in treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disease

A RAPID METHOD FOR THE FUNCTIONALISATION OF POLYMER SUPPORTS FOR SOLID PHASE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS

ABSTRACT A rapid method is described for the covalent anchoring of appropriately protected 2'-deoxyribonucleoside-3'-O-succinates to LCAA-CPG, widely used support for solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. The method involves the reaction of nucleoside-3'-O-succinates with aminoalkyl functions of the support in the presence of improved and commercially available condensing reagent, TBTU or TPP-DTNP to generate fully functionalised polymer supports with excellent nucleoside loadings

Comparison of Clinical Performance of C-MAC Video Laryngoscope Guided vs Blind Placement of I-Gel® in Paediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Open-Label Trial

Objective:Placement of the supraglottic airway devices under direct vision has been shown to decrease the incidence of malposition in adults. This study was designed to compare the clinical performance of C-MAC guided and blind placement of i-gel® in paediatric patients.Methods:The present prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted on 102 paediatric patients scheduled to undergo elective infraumbilical surgeries under general anaesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into group “B” (blind) and group “C” (C-MAC) based on the technique used for placement of i-gel®. The primary objective of the study was to compare the incidence of malposition based on the fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) score of the glottic view. Oropharyngeal leak pressure (OPLP), hemodynamic parameters, and insertion characteristics (time taken to insert and the number of attempts) were secondary objectives. Categorical data were presented as ratio or percentage and continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation or median [95% confidence interval (CI)].Results:The incidence of malposition (Brimacombe score 1 or 2) was significantly lower in group C compared to group B (7.8% vs 49% respectively) (P < 0.001); implying a relative risk reduction of 2.42 (95% CI 1.72 to 3.40) with C-MAC. On FOB assessment, the median (interquartile range) Brimacombe score was significantly better in group C [4 (4-4)] compared to group B [3 (2-3)] (P < 0.001). The OPLP was significantly higher in group C compared to group B. Other insertion characteristics were comparable in both the study groups.Conclusion:Compared to blind placement, C-MAC guided placement ensures proper alignment of i-gel® with periglottic structures and proper functioning of i-gel®

Clinical outcome, viral response and safety profile of chloroquine in COVID-19 patients — initial experience

Introduction: Chloroquine and its analogues are currently being investigated for the treatment and post exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 due to its antiviral activity and immunomodulatory activity.Material and methods: Confirmed symptomatic cases of COVID-19 were included in the study. Patients were supposed to receive chloroquine (CQ) 500 mg twice daily for 7 days. Due to a change in institutional protocol, initial patients received chloroquine and subsequent patients who did not receive chloroquine served as negative controls. Clinical effectiveness was determined in terms of timing of symptom resolution and conversion rate of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on day 14 and day 15 of admission.Results: Twelve COVID-19 patients formed the treatment arm and 17 patients were included in the control arm. The duration of symptoms among the CQ treated group (6.3 ± 2.7 days) was significantly (p-value = 0.009) lower than that of the control group (8.9 ± 2.2 days). There was no significant difference in the rate of RT-PCR negativity in both groups. 2 patients out of 12 developed diarrhea in the CQ therapy arm.  Conclusion: The duration of symptoms among the treated group (with chloroquine) was significantly lower than that of the control group. RT-PCR conversion was not significantly different between the 2 groups