Comparison Analysis of Model Predictive Controller with Classical PID Controller For pH Control Process

pH control plays a important role in any chemical plant and process industries. For the past four decades the classical PID controller has been occupied by the industries. Due to the faster computing   technology in the industry demands a tighter advanced control strategy. To fulfill the needs and requirements Model Predictive Control (MPC) is the best among all the advanced control algorithms available in the present scenario. The study and analysis has been done for First Order plus Delay Time (FOPDT) model controlled by Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) and MPC using the Matlab software. This paper explores the capability of the MPC strategy, analyze and compare the control effects with conventional control strategy in pH control. A comparison results between the PID and MPC is plotted using the software. The results clearly show that MPC provide better performance than the classical controller

Amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles stabilize bacillus anthracis protective antigen

Advancements toward an improved vaccine against Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, have focused on formulations composed of the protective antigen (PA) adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide. However, due to the labile nature of PA, antigen stability is a primary concern for vaccine development. Thus, there is a need for a delivery system capable of preserving the immunogenicity of PA through all the steps of vaccine fabrication, storage, and administration. In this work, we demonstrate that biodegradable amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles, which have previously been shown to provide controlled antigen delivery, antigen stability, immune modulation, and protection in a single dose against a pathogenic challenge, can stabilize and release functional PA. These nanoparticles demonstrated polymer hydrophobicity-dependent preservation of the biological function of PA upon encapsulation, storage (over extended times and elevated temperatures), and release. Specifically, fabrication of amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles composed of 1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane and 1,8-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-3,6- dioxaoctane best preserved PA functionality. These studies demonstrate the versatility and superiority of amphiphilic nanoparticles as vaccine delivery vehicles suitable for long-term storage

The signaling helix: a common functional theme in diverse signaling proteins

BACKGROUND: The mechanism by which the signals are transmitted between receptor and effector domains in multi-domain signaling proteins is poorly understood. RESULTS: Using sensitive sequence analysis methods we identify a conserved helical segment of around 40 residues in a wide range of signaling proteins, including numerous sensor histidine kinases such as Sln1p, and receptor guanylyl cyclases such as the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor and nitric oxide receptors. We term this helical segment the signaling (S)-helix and present evidence that it forms a novel parallel coiled-coil element, distinct from previously known helical segments in signaling proteins, such as the Dimerization-Histidine phosphotransfer module of histidine kinases, the intra-cellular domains of the chemotaxis receptors, inter-GAF domain helical linkers and the α-helical HAMP module. Analysis of domain architectures allowed us to reconstruct the domain-neighborhood graph for the S-helix, which showed that the S-helix almost always occurs between two signaling domains. Several striking patterns in the domain neighborhood of the S-helix also became evident from the graph. It most often separates diverse N-terminal sensory domains from various C-terminal catalytic signaling domains such as histidine kinases, cNMP cyclase, PP2C phosphatases, NtrC-like AAA+ ATPases and diguanylate cyclases. It might also occur between two sensory domains such as PAS domains and occasionally between a DNA-binding HTH domain and a sensory domain. The sequence conservation pattern of the S-helix revealed the presence of a unique constellation of polar residues in the dimer-interface positions within the central heptad of the coiled-coil formed by the S-helix. CONCLUSION: Combining these observations with previously reported mutagenesis studies on different S-helix-containing proteins we suggest that it functions as a switch that prevents constitutive activation of linked downstream signaling domains. However, upon occurrence of specific conformational changes due to binding of ligand or other sensory inputs in a linked upstream domain it transmits the signal to the downstream domain. Thus, the S-helix represents one of the most prevalent functional themes involved in the flow of signals between modules in diverse prokaryote-type multi-domain signaling proteins. REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Frank Eisenhaber, Arcady Mushegian and Sandor Pongor

PyCARL: A PyNN Interface for Hardware-Software Co-Simulation of Spiking Neural Network

We present PyCARL, a PyNN-based common Python programming interface for hardware-software co-simulation of spiking neural network (SNN). Through PyCARL, we make the following two key contributions. First, we provide an interface of PyNN to CARLsim, a computationally-efficient, GPU-accelerated and biophysically-detailed SNN simulator. PyCARL facilitates joint development of machine learning models and code sharing between CARLsim and PyNN users, promoting an integrated and larger neuromorphic community. Second, we integrate cycle-accurate models of state-of-the-art neuromorphic hardware such as TrueNorth, Loihi, and DynapSE in PyCARL, to accurately model hardware latencies that delay spikes between communicating neurons and degrade performance. PyCARL allows users to analyze and optimize the performance difference between software-only simulation and hardware-software co-simulation of their machine learning models. We show that system designers can also use PyCARL to perform design-space exploration early in the product development stage, facilitating faster time-to-deployment of neuromorphic products. We evaluate the memory usage and simulation time of PyCARL using functionality tests, synthetic SNNs, and realistic applications. Our results demonstrate that for large SNNs, PyCARL does not lead to any significant overhead compared to CARLsim. We also use PyCARL to analyze these SNNs for a state-of-the-art neuromorphic hardware and demonstrate a significant performance deviation from software-only simulations. PyCARL allows to evaluate and minimize such differences early during model development.Comment: 10 pages, 25 figures. Accepted for publication at International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN) 202

One pion events by atmospheric neutrinos: A three flavor analysis

We study the one-pion events produced via neutral current (NC) and charged current (CC) interactions by the atmospheric neutrinos. We analyze the ratios of these events in the framework of oscillations between three neutrino flavors. The ratios of the CC events induced by $\nu_e$ to that of the NC events and a similar ratio defined with $\nu_\mu$ help us in distinguishing the different regions of the neutrino parameter space.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures (separate postscript files

Management of the n0 neck in early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue.

BACKGROUND : Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity accounts for about 30% of all cancers in India1. It is the second most common cancer in India2. This high incidence is attributed to the widespread usage of tobacco, especially oral tobacco. There is a geographical variation among the distribution, with oral cavity cancers being more common in certain parts of India3. The treatment requires a multimodal approach involving surgery and radiotherapy. Currently chemotherapy also is becoming an integral component of the treatment regimes. The single most important prognostic factor in oral cavity carcinoma is the presence of cervical lymph nodes. The occurrence of neck nodal metastases reduces the survival by 50 % and the presence of extracapsular involvement reduces survival by another 50 %4. Contemporary management incorporating advanced radiation techniques, better reconstructive facilities and modern chemotherapy and targeted therapeutic drugs have resulted in better locoregional control. As the main cause of treatment failure is locoregional, the better control rates achieved by the advances in treatment is likely to translate to better survival. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : To study the incidence and patterns of cervical nodal metastases in patients clinically presenting with T1 / T2, N0 squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue. 2. To study the various risk factors which predict the development of cervical nodal metastases. 3. To compare the survival outcomes of observation and elective neck treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A retrospective study of patients who presented with malignancies of the oral tongue treated in Cancer Institute (W.I.A) from 1995 to 2005 was done. There were 332 patients who presented with cT1/T2 N0 tongue cancers amongst 890 patients who were treated for oral tongue cancers. Inclusion Criteria : • All patients with biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma and who underwent their treatment in Cancer Institute. • Clinical T1 / T2 lesions with no palpable neck nodes Exclusion Criteria : • Patients with other histologies • Patients who had undergone treatment elsewhere and presented with recurrent T1 / T2 lesions Pretreatment evaluation consisted of a thorough history and clinical evaluation of the primary site & regional lymph nodes, a biopsy confirmation of histology and Chest Xray for metastatic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS : The incidence of occult ipsilateral neck nodal metastases is around 20 % in T1 & T2 tongue carcinomas • The rates of ipsilateral neck nodal recurrences are much higher (45 %) in patients whose necks are observed. • The incidence of contralateral neck metastases is in the order of 5 % across all treatment groups. • Higher T stage and an infiltrating pattern of growth of the primary were the only significant predictive factors of higher incidence of neck metastases among the factors analyzed. • There was no survival advantage for the elective neck treatment group compared to the observation group. However patients undergoing elective neck dissection had a significantly better disease free and overall survival advantage compared to the observation group. • Neck salvagability rate for the observation group was 76.5% in our series, though 16.5 % of all potentially salvageable patients refused treatment. • Elective neck dissection is to be considered for treatment of all N0 necks in early tongue carcinomas. • Better models predicting occult metastases are required to identify patients with higher incidence of neck node metastases and further randomized prospective studies comparing the treatment options are also the need of the hour