Co-design of a controller and its digital implementation: the MOBY-DIC2 toolbox for embedded model predictive control

Several software tools are available in the literature for the design and embedded implementation of linear model predictive control (MPC), both in its implicit and explicit (either exact or approximate) forms. Most of them generate C code for easy implementation on a microcontroller, and the others can convert the C code into hardware description language code for implementation on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). However, a unified tool allowing one to generate efficient embedded MPC for an FPGA, starting from the definition of the plant and its constraints, was still missing. The MOBY-DIC2 toolbox described in this brief bridges this gap. To illustrate its functionalities, the tool is exploited to embed the controller and observer for a real buck power converter in an FPGA. This implementation achieves a latency of about 30 µs with the implicit controller and 240 μs with the approximate explicit controller

Predictive control co-design for enhancing flexibility in residential housing with battery degradation

Buildings are responsible for about a quarter of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Consequently, the decarbonisation of the housing stock is essential in achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Global decarbonisation targets can be achieved through increased efficiency in using energy generated by intermittent resources. The paper presents a co-design framework for simultaneous optimal design and operation of residential buildings using Model Predictive Control (MPC). The framework is capable of explicitly taking into account operational constraints and pushing the system to its efficiency and performance limits in an integrated fashion. The optimality criterion minimises system cost considering time-varying electricity prices and battery degradation. A case study illustrates the potential of co-design in enhancing flexibility and self-sufficiency of a system operating under different conditions. Specifically, numerical results from a low-fidelity model show substantial carbon emission reduction and bill savings compared to an a-priori sizing approach

Fast and accurate method for computing non-smooth solutions to constrained control problems

Introducing flexibility in the time-discretisation mesh can improve convergence and computational time when solving differential equations numerically, particularly when the solutions are discontinuous, as commonly found in control problems with constraints. State-of-the-art methods use fixed mesh schemes, which cannot achieve superlinear convergence in the presence of non-smooth solutions. In this paper, we propose using a flexible mesh in an integrated residual method. The locations of the mesh nodes are introduced as decision variables, and constraints are added to set upper and lower bounds on the size of the mesh intervals. We compare our approach to a uniform fixed mesh on a real-world satellite reorientation example. This example demonstrates that the flexible mesh enables the solver to automatically locate the discontinuities in the solution, has superlinear convergence and faster solve time

Genetic parameters and genomic regions associated with piglet response to vaccination for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and co-infection with PRRS virus and porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b)

Citation: Dunkelberger, J. R., Serao, N. V. L., Kerrigan, M. A., Lunney, J. K., Rowland, R. R. R., & Dekkers, J. C. M. (2016). Genetic parameters and genomic regions associated with piglet response to vaccination for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and co-infection with PRRS virus and porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b). Journal of Animal Science, 94, 52-53. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-112Objectives of this research were to estimate genetic parameters and to identify genomic regions associated with PRRS viral load (VL), PCV2b VL, and average daily gain (ADG) in nursery pigs vaccinated or non-vaccinated for PRRS virus (PRRSV), followed by co-infection with PRRSV and PCV2b. Data used included 396 commercial crossbred pigs from two PRRS Host Genetics Consortium trials, all from the same genetic supplier. Pigs were sent to Kansas State University after weaning and randomly sorted into two rooms. All pigs in one room were vaccinated for PRRS, and 28 d later, pigs in both rooms were co-infected with PRRSV and PCV2b, followed for 42 d, and genotyped using the 80K BeadChip. PRRS VL after vaccination and post co-infection and PCV2b VL were calculated as area under the curve of serum viremia from ?28 to 0, 0 to 21, and 0 to 42 d post co-infection, respectively. Genetic parameters were estimated by fitting multivariate animal models in ASReml4 with litter and pen (trial) as additional random effects. Trait-specific fixed effects of trial and weight and age at vaccination were also fitted. Genome-wide association (GWA) studies were performed by fitting SNPs as fixed effects one at a time in bivariate animal models for the non-vaccinated (Non-Vx) and vaccinated (Vx) groups for each trait. Heritability estimates following vaccination were 0.31, 0.07, and 0.10 for ADG Non-Vx, ADG Vx, and PRRS Vx, respectively. During the co-infection period, heritability estimates were slightly higher at 0.53, 0.57, 0.56, 0.20, 0.18, and 0.15 for ADG Non-Vx, ADG Vx, PRRS Non-Vx, PRRS Vx, PCV2b Non-Vx, and PCV2b Vx, respectively. Standard errors ranged from 0.14 to 0.22. A strong, positive genetic correlation (0.95 ± 1.01) was observed for PRRS VL post-vaccination with PRRS VL Non-Vx. Unique genomic regions were identified between Vx and Non-Vx pigs for each trait, the most significant of which was identified for PCV2b VL and located near the major histocompatibility complex, an important region for response to infection. The chromosome 4 region, which has been associated with VL following PRRSV-only infection, was associated with PRRS VL Non-Vx but not PRRS Vx or PRRS VL post-vaccination. Together, these results suggest that selection for improved performance under co-infection of PRRS and PCV2b is possible. Additionally, identification of unique genomic regions between Vx and Non-Vx pigs may enable selection of pigs with better response to vaccination. This research was supported by USDA-NIFA grants 2012–38420–19286 and 2013–68004–20362

Revisiting the West Clearwater Lake Impact Structure, Canada

The West and East Clearwater Lake impact structures are two of the most distinctive and recognizable impact structures on Earth. Known regionally as the "Clearwater Lake Complex", these structures are located in northern Quebec, Canada (56 deg 10 N, 74 deg 20 W) approximately 125 km east of Hudson Bay. The currently accepted diameters are 36 km and 26 km for the West and East structures, respectively. Long thought to represent a rare example of a double impact, recent age dating has called this into question with ages of approximately 286 Ma and approximately 460-470 Ma being proposed for the West and East structures, respectively. Relatively little is known about the East Clearwater Lake structure. There is no surface exposure and what information there is comes from geophysics and two drill cores obtained in the 1960s. In contrast, the West Clearwater Lake structure is relatively well preserved with large ring of islands in the approximately 30 km diameter lake. Much of the work done on West Clearwater stems from field investigations carried out in 1977 driven by the Apollo program, with a focus on the impact melt rocks and other impactites, which are well exposed on the ring of islands. To our knowledge, the Clearwater Lake impact structures have not been the focus of detailed impact geology field investigations since the 1977 expedition and the only geological map that exists is from the 1960s and is at the reconnaissance level. Our knowledge of impact cratering processes have increased substantially since this time, as have the analytical techniques available for samples. This provided the motivation for a joint Canadian-US-UK expedition to the West Clearwater Lake impact structure in August and September 2015, under the auspices of the FINESSE (Field Investigations to Enable Solar System Science and Exploration) project, part of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). We focus here on the impactites of the West Clearwater Lake impact structure. Other ongoing studies, also presented at this conference, focus on central uplift formation, the impact-generated hydrothermal system, xxxx and using WCIS as an analog test site for crew studies of sampling protocols]

Chip formation mechanism during orthogonal cutting of rubber microparticles and silica nanoparticles modified epoxy of polymers

The addition of well-dispersed nanoparticles can significantly increase the mechanical properties and toughness of epoxy polymers. In this study, an epoxy resin was modified by addition of silica nanoparticles, (CTBN) rubber microparticles and a combination of both. An in-situ orthogonal cutting rig combined with high magnification and high-speed imaging system was used to determine the effects on the chip formation mechanism and machining induced damage to the material. This study indicates that chip formation in silica-modified epoxy is governed by a fracture process with large cracks both at the machined surface level and subsurface within the chip formation zone. The presence of rubber enables larger plastic deformation within the epoxy-modified polymer as the toughening mechanism of the rubber deflects the generated cracks within the primary deformation zone. The magnitude of machining induced damage was found to be lower for rubber microparticles and was correlated with a rubber toughening mechanism observed during cutting. The higher magnitude of machining induced damage of silica-modified epoxy was linked to the material’s poor resistance to crack initiation and growth. These findings of the effect of rubber microparticles and silica nanoparticles on chip formation process will give engineers a greater ability to create a trade-off between filler properties vs material properties vs machining induced damage during Design for Manufacturing (DFM) stages of a product design

Genome sequence of the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus reveals mechanisms governing adaptation to a humic-rich ecological niche

Agaricus bisporus is the model fungus for the adaptation, persistence, and growth in the humic-rich leaf-litter environment. Aside from its ecological role, A. bisporus has been an important component of the human diet for over 200 y and worldwide cultivation of the "button mushroom" forms a multibillion dollar industry. We present two A. bisporus genomes, their gene repertoires and transcript profiles on compost andduringmushroomformation.The genomes encode a full repertoire of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes similar to that of wood-decayers. Comparative transcriptomics of mycelium grown on defined medium, casing-soil, and compost revealed genes encoding enzymes involved in xylan, cellulose, pectin, and protein degradation aremore highly expressed in compost. The striking expansion of heme-thiolate peroxidases and β-etherases is distinctive from Agaricomycotina wood-decayers and suggests a broad attack on decaying lignin and related metabolites found in humic acid-rich environment. Similarly, up-regulation of these genes together with a lignolytic manganese peroxidase, multiple copper radical oxidases, and cytochrome P450s is consistent with challenges posed by complex humic-rich substrates. The gene repertoire and expression of hydrolytic enzymes in A. bisporus is substantially different from the taxonomically related ectomycorrhizal symbiont Laccaria bicolor. A common promoter motif was also identified in genes very highly expressed in humic-rich substrates. These observations reveal genetic and enzymatic mechanisms governing adaptation to the humic-rich ecological niche formed during plant degradation, further defining the critical role such fungi contribute to soil structure and carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. Genome sequence will expedite mushroom breeding for improved agronomic characteristics

Opportunistic pathology-based screening for diabetes

OBJECTIVE To determine the potential of opportunistic glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing of pathology samples to detect previously unknown diabetes. DESIGN Pathology samples from participants collected for other reasons and suitable for HbA1c testing were utilised for opportunistic diabetes screening. HbA1c was measured with a Biorad Variant II turbo analyser and HbA1c levels of ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) were considered diagnostic for diabetes. Confirmation of previously unknown diabetes status was obtained by a review of hospital medical records and phone calls to general practitioners. SETTING Hospital pathology laboratory receiving samples from hospital-based and community-based (CB) settings. PARTICIPANTS Participants were identified based on the blood sample collection location in the CB, emergency department (ED) and inpatient (IP) groups. Exclusions pretesting were made based on the electronic patient history of: age <18 years, previous diabetes diagnosis, query for diabetes status in the past 12 months, evidence of pregnancy and sample collected postsurgery or transfusion. Only one sample per individual participant was tested. RESULTS Of the 22 396 blood samples collected, 4505 (1142 CB, 1113 ED, 2250 IP) were tested of which 327 (7.3%) had HbA1c levels ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Of these 120 (2.7%) were determined to have previously unknown diabetes (11 (1%) CB, 21 (1.9%) ED, 88 (3.9%) IP). The prevalence of previously unknown diabetes was substantially higher (5.4%) in hospital-based (ED and IP) participants aged over 54 years. CONCLUSIONS Opportunistic testing of referred pathology samples can be an effective method of screening for diabetes, especially in hospital-based and older persons.This project was supported by a grant from the Canberra Hospital Private Practice Trust Fund

Activation of the innate immune receptor Dectin-1 upon formation of a 'phagocytic synapse'.

Innate immune cells must be able to distinguish between direct binding to microbes and detection of components shed from the surface of microbes located at a distance. Dectin-1 (also known as CLEC7A) is a pattern-recognition receptor expressed by myeloid phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils) that detects β-glucans in fungal cell walls and triggers direct cellular antimicrobial activity, including phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast to inflammatory responses stimulated upon detection of soluble ligands by other pattern-recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), these responses are only useful when a cell comes into direct contact with a microbe and must not be spuriously activated by soluble stimuli. In this study we show that, despite its ability to bind both soluble and particulate β-glucan polymers, Dectin-1 signalling is only activated by particulate β-glucans, which cluster the receptor in synapse-like structures from which regulatory tyrosine phosphatases CD45 and CD148 (also known as PTPRC and PTPRJ, respectively) are excluded (Supplementary Fig. 1). The 'phagocytic synapse' now provides a model mechanism by which innate immune receptors can distinguish direct microbial contact from detection of microbes at a distance, thereby initiating direct cellular antimicrobial responses only when they are required