270 research outputs found
Robust control of heart rate for cycle ergometer exercise
The objective was to assess the performance and robustness of a novel strategy for automatic control of heart rate (HR) during cycle ergometry. Control design used a linear plant model and direct shaping of the closed-loop input-sensitivity function to achieve an appropriate response to disturbances attributable to broad-spectrum heart rate variability (HRV). The controller was evaluated in 73 feedback control experiments involving 49 participants. Performance and stability robustness were analysed using a separately identified family of 73 plant models. The controller gave highly accurate and stable HR tracking performance with mean root-mean-square tracking error between 2.5 beats/min (bpm) and 3.1 bpm, and with low average control signal power. Although plant parameters varied over a very wide range, key closed-loop transfer functions remained invariant to plant uncertainty in important frequency bands, while infinite gain margins and large phase margins (>62◦) were preserved across the whole plant model family. Highly accurate, stable and robust HR control can be achieved using LTI controllers of remarkably simple structure. The results highlight that HR control design must focus on disturbances caused by HRV. The input-sensitivity approach evaluated in this work provides a transparent method of addressing this challenge
Cornelius Lanczos's derivation of the usual action integral of classical electrodynamics
The usual action integral of classical electrodynamics is derived starting
from Lanczos's electrodynamics -- a pure field theory in which charged
particles are identified with singularities of the homogeneous Maxwell's
equations interpreted as a generalization of the Cauchy-Riemann regularity
conditions from complex to biquaternion functions of four complex variables. It
is shown that contrary to the usual theory based on the inhomogeneous Maxwell's
equations, in which charged particles are identified with the sources, there is
no divergence in the self-interaction so that the mass is finite, and that the
only approximation made in the derivation are the usual conditions required for
the internal consistency of classical electrodynamics. Moreover, it is found
that the radius of the boundary surface enclosing a singularity interpreted as
an electron is on the same order as that of the hypothetical "bag" confining
the quarks in a hadron, so that Lanczos's electrodynamics is engaging the
reconsideration of many fundamental concepts related to the nature of
elementary particles.Comment: 16 pages. Final version to be published in "Foundations of Physics
Persistent left superior vena cava in cardiac congenital surgery.
Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a relatively frequent finding in congenital cardiac malformation. The scope of the study was to analyze the timing of diagnosis of persistent LSVC, the timing of diagnosis of associated anomalies of the coronary sinus, and the global impact on morbidity and mortality of persistent LSVC in children with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery. Retrospective analysis of a cohort of children after cardiac surgery on bypass for congenital heart disease. Three hundred seventy-one patients were included in the study, and their median age was 2.75 years (IQR 0.65-6.63). Forty-seven children had persistent LSVC (12.7 %), and persistent LSVC was identified on echocardiography before surgery in 39 patients (83 %). In three patients (6.4 %) with persistent LSVC, significant inflow obstruction of the left ventricle developed after surgery leading to low output syndrome or secondary pulmonary hypertension. In eight patients (17 %), persistent LSVC was associated with a partially or completely unroofed coronary sinus and in two cases (4 %) with coronary sinus ostial atresia. Duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the control group (1.2 vs. 3.0 days, p = 0.04), whereas length of stay in intensive care did not differ. Mortality was also significantly lower in the control group (2.5 vs. 10.6 %, p = 0.004). The results of study show that persistent LSVC in association with congenital cardiac malformation increases the risk of mortality in children with cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. Recognition of a persistent LSVC and its associated anomalies is mandatory to avoid complications during or after cardiac surgery
Clock-dependent chromatin topology modulates circadian transcription and behavior.
The circadian clock in animals orchestrates widespread oscillatory gene expression programs, which underlie 24-h rhythms in behavior and physiology. Several studies have shown the possible roles of transcription factors and chromatin marks in controlling cyclic gene expression. However, how daily active enhancers modulate rhythmic gene transcription in mammalian tissues is not known. Using circular chromosome conformation capture (4C) combined with sequencing (4C-seq), we discovered oscillatory promoter-enhancer interactions along the 24-h cycle in the mouse liver and kidney. Rhythms in chromatin interactions were abolished in arrhythmic <i>Bmal1</i> knockout mice. Deleting a contacted intronic enhancer element in the <i>Cryptochrome 1</i> ( <i>Cry1</i> ) gene was sufficient to compromise the rhythmic chromatin contacts in tissues. Moreover, the deletion reduced the daily dynamics of <i>Cry1</i> transcriptional burst frequency and, remarkably, shortened the circadian period of locomotor activity rhythms. Our results establish oscillating and clock-controlled promoter-enhancer looping as a regulatory layer underlying circadian transcription and behavior
Irreducible holonomy algebras of Riemannian supermanifolds
Possible irreducible holonomy algebras \g\subset\osp(p,q|2m) of Riemannian
supermanifolds under the assumption that \g is a direct sum of simple Lie
superalgebras of classical type and possibly of a one-dimensional center are
classified. This generalizes the classical result of Marcel Berger about the
classification of irreducible holonomy algebras of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds.Comment: 27 pages, the final versio
Maxwell Fields and Shear-Free Null Geodesic Congruences
We study and report on the class of vacuum Maxwell fields in Minkowski space
that possess a non-degenerate, diverging, principle null vector field (null
eigenvector field of the Maxwell tensor) that is tangent to a shear-free null
geodesics congruence. These congruences can be either surface forming (the
tangent vectors proportional to gradients) or not, i.e., the twisting
congruences. In the non-twisting case, the associated Maxwell fields are
precisely the Lienard-Wiechert fields, i.e., those Maxwell fields arising from
an electric monopole moving on an arbitrary worldline. The null geodesic
congruence is given by the generators of the light-cones with apex on the
world-line. The twisting case is much richer, more interesting and far more
complicated. In a twisting subcase, where our main interests lie, it can be
given the following strange interpretation. If we allow the real Minkowski
space to be complexified so that the real Minkowski coordinates x^a take
complex values, i.e., x^a => z^a=x^a+iy^a with complex metric g=eta_abdz^adz^b,
the real vacuum Maxwell equations can be extended into the complex and
rewritten as curlW =iWdot, divW with W =E+iB. This subcase of Maxwell fields
can then be extended into the complex so as to have as source, a complex
analytic world-line, i.e., to now become complex Lienard-Wiechart fields. When
viewed as real fields on the real Minkowski space, z^a=x^a, they possess a real
principle null vector that is shear-free but twisting and diverging. The twist
is a measure of how far the complex world-line is from the real 'slice'. Most
Maxwell fields in this subcase are asymptotically flat with a time-varying set
of electric and magnetic moments, all depending on the complex displacements
and the complex velocities.Comment: 3
The Morphology of N=6 Chern-Simons Theory
We tabulate various properties of the language of N=6 Chern-Simons Theory, in
the sense of Polyakov. Specifically we enumerate and compute character formulas
for all syllables of up to four letters, i.e. all irreducible representations
of OSp(6|4) built from up to four fundamental fields of the ABJM theory. We
also present all tensor product decompositions for up to four singletons and
list the (cyclically invariant) four-letter words, which correspond to
single-trace operators of length four. As an application of these results we
use the two-loop dilatation operator to compute the leading correction to the
Hagedorn temperature of the weakly-coupled planar ABJM theory on R \times S^2.Comment: 41 pages, 1 figure; v2: minor correction
Estimating network related risks: A methodology and an application in the transport sector
Networks such as
transportation, water, and power are critical lifelines for society. Managers
plan and execute interventions to guarantee the operational state of their
networks under various circumstances, including after the occurrence of
(natural) hazard events. Creating an intervention program demands knowing the
probable direct and indirect consequences (i.e., risk) of the various hazard
events that could occur in order to be able to mitigate their effects. This paper
introduces a methodology to support network managers in the quantification of
the risk related to their networks. The methodology is centered on the
integration of the spatial and temporal attributes of the events that need to
be modeled to estimate the risk. Furthermore, the methodology supports the
inclusion of the uncertainty of these events and the propagation of these
uncertainties throughout the risk modeling. The methodology is implemented
through a modular simulation engine that supports the updating and swapping
of models according to the needs of network managers. This work demonstrates
the usefulness of the methodology and simulation engine through an
application to estimate the potential impact of floods and mudflows on a road
network located in Switzerland. The application includes the modeling of
(i) multiple time-varying hazard events; (ii) their physical and functional
effects on network objects (i.e., bridges and road sections); (iii) the
functional interrelationships of the affected objects; (iv) the resulting
probable consequences in terms of expected costs of restoration, cost of
traffic changes, and duration of network disruption; and (v) the restoration
of the network.</p
Geosciences Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2025–2028 by the Swiss Geosciences Community
This community roadmap presents an integrative approach including the most urgent infrastructure requests for the future development of geosciences in Switzerland. It recommends to strengthen the multidisciplinary nature of the geosciences by putting all activities under the roof of the Integrated Swiss Geosciences supported by four specific research infrastructure pillars. The roadmap represents the view of the Swiss scientific community in the field of geosciences and is a formal element of the process to elaborate the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2023. This bottom-up contribution to the identification and selection of important national and international research infrastructures has been coordinated by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) on a mandate by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).ISSN:2297-1564ISSN:2297-157
An applied methodology for stakeholder identification in transdisciplinary research
In this paper we present a novel methodology for identifying stakeholders for the purpose of engaging with them in transdisciplinary, sustainability research projects. In transdisciplinary research, it is important to identify a range of stakeholders prior to the problem-focussed stages of research. Early engagement with diverse stakeholders creates space for them to influence the research process, including problem definition, from the start. However, current stakeholder analysis approaches ignore this initial identification process, or position it within the subsequent content-focussed stages of research. Our methodology was designed as part of a research project into a range of soil threats in seventeen case study locations throughout Europe. Our methodology was designed to be systematic across all sites. It is based on a snowball sampling approach that can be implemented by researchers with no prior experience of stakeholder research, and without requiring significant financial or time resources. It therefore fosters transdisciplinarity by empowering physical scientists to identify stakeholders and understand their roles. We describe the design process and outcomes, and consider their applicability to other research projects. Our methodology therefore consists of a two-phase process of design and implementation of an identification questionnaire. By explicitly including a design phase into the process, it is possible to tailor our methodology to other research projects
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