aVsIs: An Analytical-Solution-Based Solver for Model-Predictive Control With Hexagonal Constraints in Voltage-Source Inverter Applications

The theory of a new analytical-solution-based algorithm for calculating the optimal solution in model-predictive control applications with hexagonal constraints is discussed in this article. Three-phase voltage-source inverters for power electronic and electric motor drive applications are the target of the proposed method. The indirect model-predictive control requires a constrained quadratic programming (QP) solver to calculate the optimal solution. Most of the QP solvers use numerical algorithms, which may result in unbearable computational burdens. However, the optimal constrained solution can be calculated in an analytical way when the control horizon is limited to the first step. A computationally efficient algorithm with a certain maximum number of operations is proposed in this article. A thorough mathematical description of the solver in both the stationary and rotating reference frames is provided. Experimental results on real test rigs featuring either an electricmotor or a resistive-inductive load are reported to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed solver, thus smoothing theway for its implementation in industrial applications. The name of the proposed solver is aVsIs, which is released under Apache License 2.0 in GitHub, and a free example is available in Code Ocean

Evaluation of aesthetic integration between composite restorations and natural tooth in NCCL: a case report

NCCL (non carious cervical lesion) is defined as irreversible loss of dental hard tissue that does not involve bacteria. It consists of erosion, attrition, abrasion and abfraction that rarely occur alone. Dentinal hypersensitivity is an early symptom of NCCL. Preventive measures and restorative treatment can avoid the progress of NCCL. This paper reports a case of NCCL treatment with aesthetic purpose. The aesthetic evaluation was made by means of spectrophotometry as a standardized method. Spectrophotometric measurements such as International Commission on Illumination (CIE-Commission Internationale de l’Eclaraige) CIE L* a* b* and ΔE between the sound enamel and resin restoration, provide all the information about the outcome of the aesthetic restorative treatment

Polymorphisms in toll-like receptor genes and susceptibility to pulmonary aspergillosis

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important components of innate immunity. We investigated the association between polymorphisms in the TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 genes and susceptibility to noninvasive forms of pulmonary aspergillosis. A significant association was observed between allele G on Asp299Gly (TLR4) and chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (odds ratio [OR], 3.46; P =.003). Susceptibility to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis was associated with allele C on T-1237C (TLR9) (OR, 2.49; P =. 043). No particular polymorphism was associated with severe asthma with fungal sensitization. These findings reinforce the importance of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of different forms of aspergillosis.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (POCI/SAU-ESP/61080/ 2004 and fellowship to A.C., contract SFRH/BD/11837/2003); CAPES (Brazilian government) (grant to A.P); and the Fungal Research Trust, United Kingdom

Development and first operation of a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy diagnostic in the negative ion source SPIDER

The Neutral Beam Injectors of the ITER experiment will rely on negative ion sources to produce 16.7 MW beams of H/D particles accelerated at 1 MeV. The prototype of these sources was built and is currently operated in the SPIDER experiment (Source for the Production of Ions o Deuterium Extracted from an RF plasma), part of the Neutral Beam Test Facility of Consorzio RFX, Padua. In SPIDER, the H-/D- ion source is coupled to a three grids 100 kV acceleration system. One of the main targets of the experimentation in SPIDER is to uniformly maximize the extracted current density; to achieve this it is important to study the density of negative ions available in proximity of the ion acceleration system. In SPIDER, line-integrated measurements of negative ion density are performed by a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) diagnostic. Its principle of operation is based on the absorption of the photons of a laser beam pulse by H-/D- photo-detachment; the absorption detection is enhanced by trapping the laser pulse in an optical cavity, containing the absorbing medium (i.e. negative ions). The paper presents and discusses the CRDS diagnostic setup in SPIDER, including the first measurements of negative ion density, correlated to the main source parameters.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures. Contributer paper for the HTPD 2020 conference. Accepted manuscrip

Retrieval of canopy water content of different crop types with two new hyperspectral indices: Water Absorption Area Index and Depth Water Index

Crop canopy water content (CWC) is an essential indicator of the crop's physiological state. While a diverse range of vegetation indices have earlier been developed for the remote estimation of CWC, most of them are defined for specific crop types and areas, making them less universally applicable. We propose two new water content indices applicable to a wide variety of crop types, allowing to derive CWC maps at a large spatial scale. These indices were developed based on PROSAIL simulations and then optimized with an experimental dataset (SPARC03; Barrax, Spain). This dataset consists of water content and other biophysical variables for five common crop types (lucerne, corn, potato, sugar beet and onion) and corresponding top-of-canopy (TOC) reflectance spectra acquired by the hyperspectral HyMap airborne sensor. First, commonly used water content index formulations were analysed and validated for the variety of crops, overall resulting in a R2 lower than 0.6. In an attempt to move towards more generically applicable indices, the two new CWC indices exploit the principal water absorption features in the near-infrared by using multiple bands sensitive to water content. We propose the Water Absorption Area Index (WAAI) as the difference between the area under the null water content of TOC reflectance (reference line) simulated with PROSAIL and the area under measured TOC reflectance between 911 and 1271 nm. We also propose the Depth Water Index (DWI), a simplified four-band index based on the spectral depths produced by the water absorption at 970 and 1200 nm and two reference bands. Both the WAAI and DWI outperform established indices in predicting CWC when applied to heterogeneous croplands, with a R2 of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, using an exponential fit. However, these indices did not perform well for species with a low fractional vegetation cover (<30%). HyMap CWC maps calculated with both indices are shown for the Barrax region. The results confirmed the potential of using generically applicable indices for calculating CWC over a great variety of crops

Seleção precoce de clones da variedade robustão capixaba irrigada por gotejamento no Norte de Minas Gerais.

O cultivo do café Conilon tem sido considerado uma alternativa para a agricultura da Região Norte de Minas Gerais, que possui disponibilidade de área e altitude favoráveis à sua exploração . Este trabalho objetivou selecionar clones superiores Coffea canephora sob cultivo irrigado, mediante o emprego do método de modelos mistos. O experimento foi instalado sob sistema de cultivo irrigado por gotejamento, sendo implantados dez clones da variedade Robustão Capixaba. Aos sete meses após o plan tio, foram avaliadas sete características de crescimento vegetativo. Foram realizadas três contagens de sobrevivênci a das mudas, aos dois, sete e doze meses. Os clones RC9, RC7, RC2 e RC1 foram os mais promissores e poderão compor populações base para o prog rama de seleção recorrente que potencialmente poderá originar vari edades clonais especificas para a regi ão. As estimativas de coeficiente de herdabilidade média entre clones, de acur ácia, e o coeficiente de variação relativ a no número de nós do primeiro ramo plagiotrópico e número de ramos plagiotrópicos sugerem a maximização dos ganhos genéticos com a seleção e a obtenção de clones superiores na região estudada

L’avvio al lavoro della persona con disabilità nella prospettiva dei Servizi specialistici di mediazione. Gli esiti di un percorso di formazione e ricerca

L'articolo esplora il complesso tema del lavoro per le persone con disabilità. Nell'analisi della situazione italiana si evidenziano gli elementi da monitorare affinché attraverso l'accesso al lavoro venga promossa l'emancipazione generale del soggetto, nell'ottica della Convenzione ONU sui diritti delle persone con disabilità. A supporto di modalità operative evidence-based, vengono presentati i risultati di una ricerca-azione svolta con gli operatori della mediazione del lavoro dell'Azienda ULSS di Treviso.The article explores the complex field of employment for people with disabilities. In the analysis of the Italian situation, the elements to be monitored are highlighted so that through access to work an overall emancipation of the person is promoted, in the perspective of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. In support of evidence-based operating methods, the results of an action-research carried out with labor mediation operators are presented

Produtividade de clones da variedade vitoria sob sistema de cultivo sequeiro no vale de Jequitinhonha-MG.

A variedade vitória que se caracteriza pela tolerância à seca, alta adaptabilidade e estabilidade de produção, surge como uma alternativa ao cultivo sequeiro na região do Vale do Jequitinhonha-MG. Entretanto, como os clones possuem heterogeneidade genética pode haver variação na sua capacidade de aclimatação. Assim, esse trabalho objetivou avaliar a produtividade inicial de clones da variedade vitória sob cultivo sequeiro no vale do Jequitinhonha. Para tanto, foram implantados 13 clones da variedade Vitória no delineamento foi blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e parcelas constituídas por seis plantas e espaçamento de 3,0 x 1,0 m. A média de produtividade de todos os clones que compõem a variedade no biênio 2011/2012 foi de 51,53 sc.benef./há, sendo que a segunda colheita apresentou produtividade média 85% maior em relação a primeira. Os clones que mais se destacaram foram os 7V, 9V e 10V, com produtividades médias do primeiro biênio oscilando entre 69,53 a 82,11 sc. benef./ha. Houve variabilidade genética e ambiental entre os clones quanto às características relação coco/beneficiado, percentagem de frutos chochos, percentagem de grãos com peneira média superior a 13 e percentagem de grãos tipo moca, porém a maioria dos clones apresentaram esses parâmetros dentro de limites aceitáveis para a variedade Vitória. De maneira geral, a variedade Vitória possui elevada capacidade produtiva inicial nas condições no Vale do Jequitinhonha

Fast determination of voriconazole in oral fluid using microextractionby packed sorbent and HPLC with fluorescence detection

A fast and reliable method for the determination of voriconazole in oral fluid using microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was developed and validated. MEPS was performed at basic pH with only 50 μL of oral fluid and the extract was injected without an evaporation step. The overall procedure, including extraction and chromatographic analysis, took only 15 min. Voriconazole and internal standard were separated on a Lichrospher RP 8ec column (250 x 4 mm, particle diameter 5 μm) eluted with a mobile phase composed of phosphate pH 2.3 (containing 0.1 % triethylamine) and acetonitrile (64:36, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.4 mL min-1 . Total run time was 11 min, with detection being performed with excitation at 254 and emission at 372 nm. The method was successfully applied to oral fluid samples, with voriconazole concentrations presenting an average of 57.6 % of those measured in paired plasma samples.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire