A variable-gain output feedback control design methodology

A digital control system design technique is developed in which the control system gain matrix varies with the plant operating point parameters. The design technique is obtained by formulating the problem as an optimal stochastic output feedback control law with variable gains. This approach provides a control theory framework within which the operating range of a control law can be significantly extended. Furthermore, the approach avoids the major shortcomings of the conventional gain-scheduling techniques. The optimal variable gain output feedback control problem is solved by embedding the Multi-Configuration Control (MCC) problem, previously solved at ICS. An algorithm to compute the optimal variable gain output feedback control gain matrices is developed. The algorithm is a modified version of the MCC algorithm improved so as to handle the large dimensionality which arises particularly in variable-gain control problems. The design methodology developed is applied to a reconfigurable aircraft control problem. A variable-gain output feedback control problem was formulated to design a flight control law for an AFTI F-16 aircraft which can automatically reconfigure its control strategy to accommodate failures in the horizontal tail control surface. Simulations of the closed-loop reconfigurable system show that the approach produces a control design which can accommodate such failures with relative ease. The technique can be applied to many other problems including sensor failure accommodation, mode switching control laws and super agility

What Are the Factors that Influence Caregiver/Parent Co-sleeping Education?

poster abstractBackground: In the United States, 13% of infants routinely co-sleep with a caregiver, and 50% of infants share a bed with a caregiver for part of the night. Co-sleeping has been identified as a risk factor for infant death by Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS). The purpose of this research was to carry out a systematic review for determining best practices related to education to caregivers on the risks of co-sleeping. Method: After a rigorous multi-database search, we accessed 100 research articles related to SUIDS from years 2002-2015 for inclusion for this review. A total of 20 papers related to co-sleeping and SUIDS met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for validity by a primary and secondary reviewer via standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Due to the articles’ descriptive methods, NOTARI (Narrative, Opinion, and Text Assessment and Review Instrument) was used to appraise, extract data, and thematically organize the findings resulting in meta-aggregation. Results: The data extracted included specific details for co-sleeping. We identified that a) educational, b) family dynamics, c) racial/cultural, and d) socioeconomic factors were the significant concepts that influenced the caregivers’ attitude toward co-sleeping and their likelihood to co-sleep. Heterogeneity for the study’s methods was represented in the results. Conclusions: Many caregivers and families that practice co-sleeping display resistance to education about the discontinuation of co-sleeping based on the belief that healthcare providers do not take into account the family’s personal situation. The caregivers are more likely to be receptive to advice regarding safer co-sleeping practices as opposed to omitting the practice of co-sleeping. Family-centered interventions and tailored education delivered by nurses should be identified. Caregiver safe practices for sleep, taking into account situational factors such as socioeconomic level, race, culture, and core beliefs, should be encouraged

Supporting strong families and capable communities through cross-national research

Background Mental and behavioral ill-health are growing global problems and while there are promising evidence-based approaches aimed at reducing their impact, availability of services varies greatly, not only across nations, but also between urban, regional, and remote locations. Rural areas face accessibility and acceptability challenges related to mental health services that are similar to barriers experienced in developing countries. Initiatives to address mental health challenges in under-served rural areas can inform global mental health strategies. Methods Using a public health approach, we illustrate how innovations in rural communities build community capacity and capability in areas that are currently, and are likely to remain, under-served by specialist mental health services. We provide examples of initiatives and key principles of action from three locations in Nebraska, United States of American and New South Wales, Australia to highlight similarities of context and practice. Results While each of the initiatives was developed independently, there are striking similarities across them. Similarities in initiatives include: a) recognition that solutions developed in urban settings are not necessarily the most effective in under- served rural areas, b) engagement of community members is needed to ensure acceptance of initiatives in target communities, c) each initiative involved community members acting on their own behalf with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention, and d) research is a key aspect that informs practice and has local relevance. Commonalities of contexts and environments may have played an important role in the similarities. Conclusions Linking initiatives within and between countries can expand local, national, and global reach and impacts. If we are to meet lofty global goals related to health and wellbeing, cross-national collaborations are needed to share resources, expand expertise, and stimulate ideas necessary to develop and enhance local and global initiatives. High-income country partnerships addressing mental health in under-served areas, such as rural communities, can play a vital role in contributing to global mental health solutions

Altering SARS Coronavirus Frameshift Efficiency Affects Genomic and Subgenomic RNA Production

In previous studies, differences in the amount of genomic and subgenomic RNA produced by coronaviruses with mutations in the programmed ribosomal frameshift signal of ORF1a/b were observed. It was not clear if these differences were due to changes in genomic sequence, the protein sequence or the frequency of frameshifting. Here, viruses with synonymous codon changes are shown to produce different ratios of genomic and subgenomic RNA. These findings demonstrate that the protein sequence is not the primary cause of altered genomic and subgenomic RNA production. The synonymous codon changes affect both the structure of the frameshift signal and frameshifting efficiency. Small differences in frameshifting efficiency result in dramatic differences in genomic RNA production and TCID50 suggesting that the frameshifting frequency must stay above a certain threshold for optimal virus production. The data suggest that either the RNA sequence or the ratio of viral proteins resulting from different levels of frameshifting affects viral replication

Does an Interactive Health Promotion Website Facilitate Workplace Peer-to-Peer Substance Abuse Prevention?

Operation RedBlock, a substance abuse prevention and early intervention program at Amtrak, implemented an interactive health promotion website (On The Right Track, OTRT) for its volunteers, other employees and their families. OTRT was customized from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) -sponsored [email protected] website and implemented with the purpose of facilitating the peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention efforts of Operation RedBlock volunteers. SAMHSA’s GetFit website combines broad health and wellness messages with current substance abuse prevention resources. The OTRT customization adds Amtrak relevant and specific content concerning substance abuse prevention resources and treatment options, drug and alcohol use policies, health care coverage, support group meeting locations and dates, and local Operation RedBlock and Employee Assistance Program contact information. Using a retrospective pretest-posttest design this study evaluates whether and how OTRT facilitated peer-to-peer efforts in substance abuse prevention and early intervention. The evaluation revealed that the website significantly improved access to information and resources that helped Operation RedBlock volunteers’ in their peer-to-peer efforts. Volunteers valued the ready availability of reliable information, the confidential nature, and the ease of use of OTRT. Facilitated access to information and resources may help reduce substance abuse among employees at high risk

Cybersickness Following Repeated Exposure to DOME and HMD Virtual Environments

Virtual environments (VE) offer unique training opportunities, including training astronauts to preadapt them to the novel sensory conditions of microgravity. However, one unresolved issue with VE use is the occurrence of cybersickness during and following exposure to VE systems. Most individuals adapt and become less ill with repeated interaction with VEs. The goal of this investigation was to compare motion sickness symptoms (MSS) produced by dome and head-mounted (HMD) displays and to examine the effects of repeated exposures on MSS. Sixty-one subjects participated in the study. Three experimental sessions were performed each separated by one day. The subjects performed a navigation and pick and place task in either a dome or HMD VE. MSS were measured using a Simulator Sickness Questionnaire before, immediately after, and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours following exposure to the VEs. MSS data were normalized by calculating the natural log of each score and an analysis of variance was performed. We observed significant main effects for day and time and a significant day by time interaction for total sickness and for each of the subscales, nausea, oculomotor and disorientation. However, there was no significant main effect for device. In conclusion, subjects reported a large increase in MSS immediately following exposure to both the HMD and dome, followed by a rapid recovery across time. Sickness severity also decreased over days, which suggests that subjects become dual-adapted over time making VE training a viable pre-flight countermeasure for space motion sickness

Iron(II)-catalyzed hydroamination of isocyanates

A two-coordinate Fe(II) m-terphenyl complex acts as a precatalyst for the hydroamination of isocyanates, affording urea and biuret derivatives, with product selectivity accomplished via modification of the reaction conditions. Using a more nucleophilic amine facilitates the insertion of up to four isocyanates into the N–H bond, affording triuret and tetrauret derivatives

Dietary Intervention in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes; Protocol for the DiGest Randomised Controlled Trial.

Funder: Wellcome TrustGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) annually affects 35,000 pregnancies in the United Kingdom, causing suboptimal health outcomes to the mother and child. Obesity and excessive gestational weight gain are risk factors for GDM. The Institute of Medicine recommends weight targets for women that are overweight and obese, however, there are no clear guidelines for women with GDM. Observational data suggest that modest weight loss (0.6-2 kg) after 28 weeks may reduce risk of caesarean section, large-for-gestational-age (LGA), and maternal postnatal glycaemia. This protocol for a multicentre randomised double-blind controlled trial aims to identify if a fully controlled reduced energy diet in GDM pregnancy improves infant birthweight and reduces maternal weight gain (primary outcomes). A total of 500 women with GDM (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2015 criteria) and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 will be randomised to receive a standard (2000 kcal/day) or reduced energy (1200 kcal/day) diet box containing all meals and snacks from 28 weeks to delivery. Women and caregivers will be blinded to the allocations. Food diaries, continuous glucose monitoring, and anthropometry will measure dietary compliance, glucose levels, and weight changes. Women will receive standard antenatal GDM management (insulin/metformin) according to NICE guidelines. The secondary endpoints include caesarean section rates, LGA, and maternal postnatal glucose concentrations

Impacts of Openness

This is the recording from the Impacts of Openness lightning talk session that was held on Friday, October 25, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. - noon in Watson Library, room 455 during the KU Libraries' celebration of Open Access Week.This event brings together several speakers from a variety of fields, each of whom will give a 10-minute presentation about the impact of openness in their work. More information about this event is available at http://openaccess.ku.edu/impacts-openness-lightning-talks-october-25