Development of a biodegradable nerve regeneration cuff

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3325737

On-line method for optimal tuning of PID controllers using standard OPC interface

Introduction− The controlled PID is the most widely used mathematical algorithm as a regulatory control strategy in industrial environments. The applications are varied; however, its answer depends on the proper calculation of its three parameters: the proportional, the derivative, and the integral. Analytical tuning and experimental methods solve the problem, but new tuning possibilities are now enabled within the digital and process integration context. Objective− Automatically and remotely obtain the optimal parameters of the PID controller, taking advantage of an online connection via the OPC communication protocol to analyze the transient response of the system. Methodology− The study is carried out in three main phases; it begins with a PD3 SMAR thermal process with connection via OPC; in this phase, the mathematical model of the process is built analytically based on fundamental laws. In the second phase, using an analytical tuning method, the PID control architecture is created on which the online experimentation is carried out. In the third phase, the genetic algorithms for automatic tuning are implemented, extracting performance measures from the PID controller through the transient response of the process and optimally determining the values for the proportional, derivative, and integral parameters. Results− The automatic tuning method was tested with two properly instrumented industrial processes. The potential for application can be seen due to its good result and because it does not require specific mathematical knowledge compared to conventional tuning methods. Conclusions− The automatic tuning method can be used remotely to calculate the optimal parameters of a PID controller. The parameters are calculated from the transient response and the definition of design criteria adaptable to any need for control, response, and process

Effects of splitter Blade Length on disc pump performance

The disc pump operates using boundary layer principle and viscous drag with a relatively low efficiency. There are methods to increase head and efficiency, one of them is the placing of blades sectors or splitter blades in discs. This method has been applied only in the low viscosity fluids pumping (v < 0.1 stokes). This study describe an experimental research in a hight viscocity fluid (v = 2 stokes) with exit angle (32 = 35° and different splitter blades Lengths (Ls) (75, 50, 25%). The purpose is to determinate the splitter blades length that achieves the most effective combination between the blade effect and boundary layer effect in order to increase the energy transmission efficiency from the impeller to the fluid. As result, it can be established that the use of spliter blades is an alternative to increase the performance of the disc pump. The highest efficiency and head were obtained for the gapsize between two discs (b) of 12 mm using a 50% spliter blades length of the main blade length

Differences in the S value between male and female murine model for diagnostic, therapeutic and theragnostic radionuclides

The aim of this work was to calculate S values for 99mTc, 67Ga, 68Ga, 18F, 223Ra, 166Ho, 90Y, 161Tb 131I and 177Lu, using a mouse phantom (MOBY) standard and considering the anatomic sizes from males and females, the simulation of radiation transport was performed with GATE/Geant4 platform. This indicates that in the internal dosimetry the use of a customized geometry is relevant for each gender and a standard model is not a good choice

Crecimiento de Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco y Vachellia aroma en estadíos de plantín = Growth of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco y Vachellia aroma at planting stage

Las especies leñosas cumplen un rol fundamental en los sistemas de producción ganadera de los Llanos riojanos, tanto desde el punto de vista ecológico como forrajero. Por ende, el estudio relacionado a su crecimiento y asignación de biomasa es imprescindible para tomar decisiones de manejo y conservación. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la tasa de crecimiento en plantines de especies con distinta persistencia foliar, Aspidosperma quebracho blanco (perennifolia) y Vachellia aroma (caducifolia). El trabajo se realizó en el campo experimental Las Vizcacheras-INTA La Rioja. Las variables evaluadas fueron: a) morfológicos: Tasa de crecimiento relativa (RGR), Razón de área foliar (LAR), Área foliar específica (SLA), proporción de raíz (RWR), tallo (TWR) y hojas (LWR); b) fisiológica: Tasa de asimilación neta (NAR). Fueron sometidos a método destructivo, 15 plantines por especie a los 90 y 120 días después de la germinación, donde se estimó el contenido de materia seca y área foliar. Los parámetros que describen el crecimiento se calcularon siguiendo las ecuaciones propuestas por Lambers y Poorter (1992). Se utilizó un DCA, con 15 repeticiones por especie (p<0,05). Los datos fueron transformados a Ln (X) en aquellos casos en los que no se cumplieron los supuestos de normalidad y homocedasticidad. Para explicar la RGR se usó regresión lineal simple con los componentes morfológicos y fisiológicos. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas enla RGR de V. aroma (0,04±0,01 g g-1 día-1 a) y A. quebracho blanco (0,02±0,01 g g-1 día-1 b), en donde para el caso de V. aroma el crecimiento estuvo mayormente explicado por el componente morfológico, LAR (R2=0,22) y en A. quebracho blanco por el fisiológico, NAR (R2=0,72).The woody species play a fundamental role in the livestock production systems of the Llanos Rioja, both from the ecological point of view as fodder. Therefore, the study related to its growth and allocation of biomass is essential to make management and conservation decisions.The objective was to determine the growth rate in seedlings of species with different leaf persistence, Aspidosperma quebracho blanco (evergreen) and Vachellia aroma (deciduous). The work was carried out in the experimental field Las Vizcacheras-INTA La Rioja (S: 30º30`; O: 66º07`). The variables evaluated were: a) morphological: Relative growth rate (RGR), , Ratio of leaf area (LAR), Specific leaf area (SLA), and proportion of root, stem and leaves; b) physiological: Net assimilation rate (NAR). Fifteen seedlings per species were subjected to destructive method at 90 and 120 days after germination, where the content of dry matter and foliar area were estimated. Growth parameters were calculated following the equations proposed by Lambers and Poorter (1992). ANAVA was performed for a DCA, with 15 repetitions per species (p <0.05), transforming the data to Ln (X) in those cases in which the assumptions of normality and homoscedasticity were not met. To explain RGR simple linear regression was used with the morphological and physiological components. The results showed significant differences in the RGR of V. aroma (0.04 ± 0.01 g g-1 day-1a) and A. white quebracho (0.02 ± 0.01 g g-1 day-1b), where for the case of V. aroma growth was mostly explained by the morphological component, LAR (R2 = 0.22), whereas in A. white quebracho, by the physiological component, NAR (R2 = 0.72).EEA La RiojaFil: Guzman, Luis Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Ricarte, Ramon Armando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Diego Ivan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Raul Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Pelliza, Ernesto Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; Argentin

Propuesta de un plan de negocio para la implementaci?n de un bar tecnol?gico en Lima ? Per?

La propuesta de negocio @Bar busca dar una nueva alternativa para compartir con amigos y familiares la experiencia de estar en un bar llev?ndola a un entorno virtual que al mismo tiempo tambi?n sea colaborativo e interactivo. @Bar buscar? diferenciarse de otros negocios a trav?s de su variedad de cervezas artesanales de distintos fabricantes, de un servicio de delivery express que dar? tiempos reducidos de entrega (m?ximo 20 minutos), pero manteniendo la calidad debida de los productos y de su plataforma en l?nea disponible v?a web y m?vil que permitir? a los usuarios sentir que est?n en un bar, pero desde su casa o desde un lugar con acceso a internet. La plataforma emular? las zonas de un bar como son la barra las mesas y los boxes los cuales son mesas privadas. En cada una de estas zonas el nivel de interacci?n es distinto entre las personas ya al igual que en un bar la zona determina c?mo el participante desea pasar su tiempo en el bar. Asimismo, la plataforma permitir? programar reuniones con la garant?a de que se tendr? un espacio virtual reservado y garantizado para llevar a cabo dicha reuni?n

Thrombospondin-1 mediates muscle damage in brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy and systemic sclerosis

To describe the clinical, serologic and histologic features of a cohort of patients with brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and unravel disease-specific pathophysiologic mechanisms occurring in these patients. We reviewed clinical, immunologic, muscle MRI, nailfold videocapillaroscopy, muscle biopsy, and response to treatment data from 8 patients with BCIM-SSc. We compared cytokine profiles between patients with BCIM-SSc and SSc without muscle involvement and controls. We analyzed the effect of the deregulated cytokines in vitro (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and muscle cells) and in vivo. All patients with BCIM-SSc presented with muscle weakness involving cervical and proximal muscles of the upper limbs plus Raynaud syndrome, telangiectasia and/or sclerodactilia, hypotonia of the esophagus, and interstitial lung disease. Immunosuppressive treatment stopped the progression of the disease. Muscle biopsy showed pathologic changes including the presence of necrotic fibers, fibrosis, and reduced capillary number and size. Cytokines involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis were deregulated. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which participates in all these 3 processes, was upregulated in patients with BCIM-SSc. In vitro, TSP-1 and serum of patients with BCIM-SSc promoted proliferation and upregulation of collagen, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor beta in fibroblasts. TSP-1 disrupted vascular network, decreased muscle differentiation, and promoted hypotrophic myotubes. In vivo, TSP-1 increased fibrotic tissue and profibrotic macrophage infiltration in the muscle. Patients with SSc may present with a clinically and pathologically distinct myopathy. A prompt and correct diagnosis has important implications for treatment. Finally, TSP-1 may participate in the pathologic changes observed in muscle

Genome-wide association and HLA fine-mapping studies identify risk loci and genetic pathways underlying allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is the most common clinical presentation of allergy, affecting 400 million people worldwide, with increasing incidence in westernized countries1,2. To elucidate the genetic architecture and understand the underlying disease mechanisms, we carried out a meta-analysis of allergic rhinitis in 59,762 cases and 152,358 controls of European ancestry and identified a total of 41 risk loci for allergic rhinitis, including 20 loci not previously associated with allergic rhinitis, which were confirmed in a replication phase of 60,720 cases and 618,527 controls. Functional annotation implicated genes involved in various immune pathways, and fine mapping of the HLA region suggested amino acid variants important for antigen binding. We further performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens and nonallergic rhinitis, which suggested shared genetic mechanisms across rhinitis-related traits. Future studies of the identified loci and genes might identify novel targets for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis

The Fourteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey and from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment

The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) has been in operation since July 2014. This paper describes the second data release from this phase, and the fourteenth from SDSS overall (making this, Data Release Fourteen or DR14). This release makes public data taken by SDSS-IV in its first two years of operation (July 2014-2016). Like all previous SDSS releases, DR14 is cumulative, including the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since the first phase began operations in 2000. New in DR14 is the first public release of data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS); the first data from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2), including stellar parameter estimates from an innovative data driven machine learning algorithm known as "The Cannon"; and almost twice as many data cubes from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey as were in the previous release (N = 2812 in total). This paper describes the location and format of the publicly available data from SDSS-IV surveys. We provide references to the important technical papers describing how these data have been taken (both targeting and observation details) and processed for scientific use. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has been updated for this release, and provides links to data downloads, as well as tutorials and examples of data use. SDSS-IV is planning to continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V.Comment: SDSS-IV collaboration alphabetical author data release paper. DR14 happened on 31st July 2017. 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by ApJS on 28th Nov 2017 (this is the "post-print" and "post-proofs" version; minor corrections only from v1, and most of errors found in proofs corrected