Distributed and Decentralized Kalman Filtering for Cascaded Fractional Order Systems

This paper presents a distributed Kalman filter algorithm for cascaded systems of fractional order. Certain conditions are introduced under which a division of a fractional system into cascaded subsystems is possible. A functional distribution of a large scale system and of the state estimation algorithm leads to smaller and scalable nodes with reduced memory and computational effort. Since each subsystem performs its calculations locally, a central processing node is not needed. All data which are required by subsequent nodes are communicated to them unidirectionally. Also a comparison between the Fractional Kalman Filter (FKF) and the Cascaded Fractional Kalman Filter (CFKF) is given by an example

Current and State of Charge Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs Using Distributed Fractional Extended Kalman Filters

In this paper, a method for current and state of charge estimation of lithium-ion battery packs is proposed. On the basis of a fractional 1-RQ equivalent circuit cell model, a string model containing cells in serial connection, and a pack model containing strings in parallel connection is built up. In order to reduce computational costs, the model is distributed string-wise into subsystems. An algorithm using distributed fractional extended Kalman filters is applied to estimate the state of charge of all cells of each string, locally. To avoid costly measurements of numerous currents, a model based calculation is proposed which describes how the total battery current is split up between the strings. The algorithm is tested and validated using measurement data

Cascaded Fractional Kalman Filtering for State and Current Estimation of Large-Scale Lithium-Ion Battery Packs

In this paper, a cascaded fractional Kalman filter for state of charge and branch current estimation of large-scale battery systems is proposed. As a centralized approach for the estimation of a large-scale system is costly in terms of effort and time, a partition into smaller and, therefore, simpler subsystems is applied. Since the overall system is divided into smaller units, a local computation is allowed and complexity reduced. In these distributed systems, usually, the subsystems communicate with each other to exchange relevant data. Using a model based on mesh currents, we receive a cascaded system structure which results in a hierarchical arrangement of all subsystems. This concludes in a one-directional information flow and, therefore, reduces the overall communication effort. Using this proposed approach, it is not only possible to estimate the states of each branch locally but also to calculate the branch currents when the total current is known. Finally, a practical test with real measurement data is presented

Effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis and history of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists reduce the signs and symptoms of spondyloarthritides, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab, 40 mg every other week, for patients with AS or PsA and prior treatment with infliximab (IFX) and/or etanercept (ETN). Methods: Both trials were 12-week, open-label studies with an optional extension period up to week 20. Patients were stratified by history of anti-TNF treatment, prior anti-TNF therapy received (IFX, ETN, or both), and reason for discontinuation of prior TNF antagonist. ETN was discontinued >= 3 weeks, and IFX was discontinued >= 2 months before the first adalimumab administration. Effectiveness at week 12 was evaluated by using observed standard-outcome measurements for AS and PsA. Results: At week 12 of adalimumab treatment, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 50 responses were achieved by 40.8% of 326 patients with AS who had received prior anti-TNF therapy and by 63.0% of 924 patients with AS who were naive to TNF antagonist. Observed response rates were generally greater for patients who discontinued the prior anti-TNF therapy because of loss of response or intolerance than for patients who discontinued because of lack of response. Median changes in swollen-joint count and in enthesitis score were similar in patients with and without prior TNF-antagonist treatment. Modified PsA response criteria were fulfilled by 71.2% of 66 patients with PsA, with prior exposure to TNF antagonists, and by 78.8% of 376 patients with no history of anti-TNF therapy. The percentages of patients with PsA attaining a Physician's Global Assessment of psoriasis of "Clear/Almost clear" increased from 33.3% to 61.0% for patients with prior IFX and/or ETN treatment and from 34.6% to 69.7% for patients without anti-TNF therapy. The median change in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index was -6 for both groups. In both studies, patterns of adverse events were similar for patients with and without prior anti-TNF therapy and were consistent with the known safety profile of adalimumab. Conclusions: Patients with AS or PsA previously treated with IFX and/or ETN experienced clinically relevant improvements of their diseases after 12 weeks of adalimumab

Stereo-Specific Modulation of the Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor in Colon Cancer Cells

Pharmacological allosteric agonists (calcimimetics) of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) have substantial gastro-intestinal side effects and induce the expression of inflammatory markers in colon cancer cells. Here, we compared the effects of both CaSR-specific (R enantiomers) and -unspecific (S enantiomers) enantiomers of a calcimimetic (NPS 568) and a calcilytic (allosteric CaSR antagonists; NPS 2143) to prove that these effects are indeed mediated via the CaSR, rather than via off-target effects, e.g., on β-adrenoceptors or calcium channels, of these drugs. The unspecific S enantiomer of NPS 2143 and NPS S-2143 was prepared using synthetic chemistry and characterized using crystallography. NPS S-2143 was then tested in HEK-293 cells stably transfected with the human CaSR (HEK-CaSR), where it did not inhibit CaSR-mediated intracellular Ca2+ signals, as expected. HT29 colon cancer cells transfected with the CaSR were treated with both enantiomers of NPS 568 and NPS 2143 alone or in combination, and the expression of CaSR and the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) was measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA. Only the CaSR-selective enantiomers of the calcimimetic NPS 568 and NPS 2143 were able to modulate CaSR and IL-8 expression. We proved that pro-inflammatory effects in colon cancer cells are indeed mediated through CaSR activation. The non-CaSR selective enantiomer NPS S-2143 will be a valuable tool for investigations in CaSR-mediated processes

Investigating the origins and evolution of a glyphosate-resistant weed invasion in South America

The global invasion, and subsequent spread and evolution of weeds provides unique opportunities to address fundamental questions in evolutionary and invasion ecology. Amaranthus palmeri is a widespread glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed in the USA. Since 2015, GR populations of A. palmeri have been confirmed in South America, raising questions about introduction pathways and the importance of pre- vs. post-invasion evolution of GR traits. We used RAD-sequencing genotyping to characterize genetic structure of populations from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and the USA. We also quantified gene copy number of the glyphosate target, 5-enolpyruvyl-3-shikimate phosphate synthase (EPSPS), and the presence of an extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) replicon known to confer glyphosate resistance in USA populations. Populations in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay were only weakly differentiated (pairwise FST ≤0.043) in comparison to USA populations (mean pairwise FST =0.161, range =0.068–0.258), suggesting a single major invasion event. However, elevated EPSPS copy number and the EPSPS replicon were identified in all populations from Brazil and Uruguay, but only in a single Argentinean population. These observations are consistent with independent in situ evolution of glyphosate resistance in Argentina, followed by some limited recent migration of the eccDNA-based mechanism from Brazil to Argentina. Taken together, our results are consistent with an initial introduction of A. palmeri into South America sometime before the 1980s, and local evolution of GR in Argentina, followed by a secondary invasion of GR A. palmeri with the unique eccDNA-based mechanism from the USA into Brazil and Uruguay during the 2010s.Fil: Gaines, Todd A. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Slavov, Gancho. No especifíca;Fil: Hughes, David. No especifíca;Fil: Kupper, Anita. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Sparks, Crystal. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Oliva, Julian. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Vila Aiub, Martin Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: García, Alejandro Marcelo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Merotto, Aldo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Neve, Paul. No especifíca

Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization from Adolescence to Young Adulthood in a Nationally Representative Sample

To determine the prevalence of patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization from adolescence to young adulthood, and document associations with selected sociodemographic and experiential factors

Numeric score-based conditional and overall change-in-status indices for ordered categorical data

Planned interventions and/or natural conditions often effect change on an ordinal categorical outcome (e.g., symptom severity). In such scenarios it is sometimes desirable to assign a priori scores to observed changes in status, typically giving higher weight to changes of greater magnitude. We define change indices for such data based upon a multinomial model for each row of a c×c table, where the rows represent the baseline status categories. We distinguish an index designed to assess conditional changes within each baseline category from two others designed to capture overall change. One of these overall indices measures expected change across a target population. The other is scaled to capture the proportion of total possible change in the direction indicated by the data, so that it ranges from −1 (when all subjects finish in the least favorable category) to +1 (when all finish in the most favorable category). The conditional assessment of change can be informative regardless of how subjects are sampled into the baseline categories. In contrast, the overall indices become relevant when subjects are randomly sampled at baseline from the target population of interest, or when the investigator is able to make certain assumptions about the baseline status distribution in that population. We use a Dirichlet-multinomial model to obtain Bayesian credible intervals for the conditional change index that exhibit favorable small-sample frequentist properties. Simulation studies illustrate the methods, and we apply them to examples involving changes in ordinal responses for studies of sleep deprivation and activities of daily living