Multivariable nonlinear advanced control of copolymerization processes

A reliable multivariable model of a process is a fundamental prerequisite for the design of an efficient control strategy. Though, such a model is often very hard to obtain via a first-principles approach. The development of two fuzzy model-based multivariable nonlinear predictive control schemes and their implementation on a copolymerization process are described in this paper. Multi-input/single-output models are developed using fuzzy logic and combined to form a parallel system model for simulation and online prediction. The behavior of the outlined controllers were compared to the dynamic matrix control (DMC) and to a typical nonlinear model-based predictive control (NMPC) for regulatory problem and the obtained results showed the effectiveness of the proposed structures

Pericardial Fat Is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification in Non-Dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Pericardial fat (PF) a component of visceral adipose tissue has been consistently related to coronary atherosclerosis in the general population. This study evaluated the association between PF and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This is a post-hoc cross sectional analysis of the baseline of a prospective cohort of 117 outward CKD patients without manifest coronary artery disease (age, 56.9 +/- 11.0 years, 64.1% males, 95.1% hypertensives, 25.2% diabetics, 15.5% ever smokers, CKD stage 2 to 5 with estimated glomerular filtration rate 36.8 +/- 18.1 ml/min). CAC scores, PF volume and abdominal visceral fat (AVF) areas were measured by computed tomography. the association of PF as a continuous variable with the presence of CAC was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. CAC (calcium score >0) was present in 59.2% patients. Those presenting CAC were on average 10 years older, had a higher proportion of male gender (78.7% vs. 42.9%, p<0.001), and had higher values of waist circumference (95.9 +/- 10.7 vs. 90.2 +/- 13.2 cm, p=0.02), PF volumes (224.8 +/- 107.6 vs. 139.1 +/- 85.0 cm(3), p<0.01) and AVF areas (109.2 +/- 81.5 vs. 70.2 +/- 62.9 cm(2), p=0.01). in the multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, gender, diabetes, smoking and, left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, PF was significantly associated with the presence of CAC (OR: 1.88 95% CI: 1.03-3.43 per standard deviation). PF remained associated with CAC even with additional adjustments for estimated glomerular filtration rate or serum phosphorus (OR: 1.85 95% CI: 1.00-3.42, p=0.05). PF is independently associated with CAC in non-dialysis dependent CKD patients.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Sch Med, Lipid Clin Heart Inst InCor, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Cardiovasc Magnet Resonance & Computed Tomog Sect, Heart Inst InCor, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/14201-2Web of Scienc

Effectiveness Of Dental Bleaching In Depth After Using Different Bleaching Agents.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of low- and high-concentration bleaching agents on enamel and deep dentin. Stained bovine incisors fragments were randomized placed into 10 groups (n=5), according to the sample thicknesses (2.0 mm or 3.5 mm) and bleaching agent: 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) (4 h a day/21 days); 6% hydrogen peroxide (HP) with calcium (1:30 h a day/21 days); HP 20% with calcium (50 min a day/3 sessions with a 7-day interval); HP 35% (3 x 15 min a day/3 sessions with a 7-day interval); HP 35% with calcium (40 min a day/3 sessions with a 7-day interval). The samples were stored in artificial saliva during the experiment. The color change was evaluated using a spectrophotometer at the initial analysis, after artificially staining with black tea and after each of the bleaching weeks, and data was expressed in CIE Lab System values. The L* coordinate data was submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey-Kramer test and the ?E values data was submitted for analysis of variance in a split-plot ANOVA and Tukey's test (?=0.05). None of the bleaching agents tested differed from the reflectance values on the enamel surface. For deep dentin HP 20% and HP 35%, both with calcium, showed the lowest reflectance values, which differed from CP 10%. It is concluded that high concentration hydrogen peroxide with calcium was less effective in deep dentin than 10% carbamide peroxide. Key words:Dental bleaching; hydrogen peroxide; carbamide peroxide; dental staining.5e100-

Lineage divergence detected in the malaria vector Anopheles marajoara (Diptera: Culicidae) in Amazonian Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cryptic species complexes are common among anophelines. Previous phylogenetic analysis based on the complete mtDNA <it>COI </it>gene sequences detected paraphyly in the Neotropical malaria vector <it>Anopheles marajoara</it>. The "Folmer region" detects a single taxon using a 3% divergence threshold.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To test the paraphyletic hypothesis and examine the utility of the Folmer region, genealogical trees based on a concatenated (<it>white </it>+ 3' <it>COI </it>sequences) dataset and pairwise differentiation of <it>COI </it>fragments were examined. The population structure and demographic history were based on partial <it>COI </it>sequences for 294 individuals from 14 localities in Amazonian Brazil. 109 individuals from 12 localities were sequenced for the nDNA <it>white </it>gene, and 57 individuals from 11 localities were sequenced for the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Distinct <it>A. marajoara </it>lineages were detected by combined genealogical analysis and were also supported among <it>COI </it>haplotypes using a median joining network and AMOVA, with time since divergence during the Pleistocene (<100,000 ya). <it>COI </it>sequences at the 3' end were more variable, demonstrating significant pairwise differentiation (3.82%) compared to the more moderate 2.92% detected by the Folmer region. Lineage 1 was present in all localities, whereas lineage 2 was restricted mainly to the west. Mismatch distributions for both lineages were bimodal, likely due to multiple colonization events and spatial expansion (~798 - 81,045 ya). There appears to be gene flow within, not between lineages, and a partial barrier was detected near Rio Jari in Amapá state, separating western and eastern populations. In contrast, both nDNA data sets (<it>white </it>gene sequences with or without the retention of the 4th intron, and ITS2 sequences and length) detected a single <it>A. marajoara </it>lineage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Strong support for combined data with significant differentiation detected in the <it>COI </it>and absent in the nDNA suggest that the divergence is recent, and detectable only by the faster evolving mtDNA. A within subgenus threshold of >2% may be more appropriate among sister taxa in cryptic anopheline complexes than the standard 3%. Differences in demographic history and climatic changes may have contributed to mtDNA lineage divergence in <it>A. marajoara</it>.</p

Applications of fractional calculus in electrical and computer engineering

Fractional Calculus (FC) goes back to the beginning of the theory of differential calculus. Nevertheless, the application of FC just emerged in the last two decades, due to the progress in the area of chaos that revealed subtle relationships with the FC concepts. In the field of dynamical systems theory some work has been carried out but the proposed models and algorithms are still in a preliminary stage of establishment. Having these ideas in mind, the paper discusses a FC perspective in the study of the dynamics and control of several systems. This article illustrates several applications of fractional calculus in science and engineering. It has been recognized the advantageous use of this mathematical tool in the modeling and control of many dynamical systems. In this perspective, this paper investigates the use of FC in the fields of controller tuning, electrical systems, digital circuit synthesis, evolutionary computing, redundant robots, legged robots, robotic manipulators, nonlinear friction and financial modeling.N/

Preliminarno ispitivanje antimikotskog i citotoksičnog djelovanja derivata cikloalkil[b]tiofena PLS-DA analizom

A series of 2-[(arylidene)amino]-cycloalkyl[b]thiophene-3-carbonitriles (2a-x) was synthesized by incorporation of substituted aromatic aldehydes in Gewald adducts (1a-c). The title compounds were screened for their antifungal activity against Candida krusei and Criptococcusneoformans and for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of 3 human cancer cell lines (HT29, NCI H-292 and HEP). Forantiproliferative activity, the partial least squares (PLS) methodology was applied. Some of the prepared compounds exhibited promising antifungal and proliferative properties. The most active compounds for antifungal activity were cyclohexyl[b]thiophene derivatives, and forantiproliferative activity cycloheptyl[b]thiophene derivatives, especially 2-[(1H-indol-2-yl-methylidene)amino]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-cyclohepta[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile (2r), which inhibited more than 97 % growth of the three cell lines. The PLS discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)applied generated good exploratory and predictive results and showed that the descriptors having shape characteristics were strongly correlated with the biological data.Koristeći supstituirane aromatske aldehide u Gewaldovim aduktima 1a-c sintetizirani su derivati 2-[(ariliden)amino]-cikloalkil[b]tiofen-3-karbonitrila (2a-x). Ispitano je antimikotsko djelovanje tih spojeva na gljivice Candida krusei i Criptococcus neoformans te antiproliferativno djelovanje na tri humane tumorske stanične linije (HT29, NCI H-292 i HEP). Za antiproliferativno djelovanje primijenjena je metoda parcijalnih najmanjih kvadrata (PLS) koristeći softverski program Pentacle. Neki od ispitanih spojeva pokazuju obećavajuće antimikotsko i antiproliferativno djelovanje. Najjače antimikotsko djelovanje imaju cikloheksil[b]tiofen derivati, a najjače antiproliferativno djelovanje cikloheptil[b]tiofen derivati, posebice 2-[(1H-indol-2-il-metiliden)amino]-5,6,7,8-tetrahidro-4H-ciklohepta[b]tiofen-3-karbonitril (2r), koji inhibira više od 97 % rast svih triju ispitivanih staničnih linija. Primijenjena PLS diskriminirajuća analiza dala je dobre istraživačke i prognostičke rezultate i pokazala da deskriptori dobro koreliraju s biološkim rezultatima

Combination of Pneumococcal Surface Protein A (PspA) with Whole Cell Pertussis Vaccine Increases Protection Against Pneumococcal Challenge in Mice

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of respiratory acute infections around the world. In Latin America, approximately 20,000 children under 5 years of age die of pneumococcal diseases annually. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is among the best-characterized pneumococcal antigens that confer protection in animal models of pneumococcal infections and, as such, is a good alternative for the currently available conjugated vaccines. Efficient immune responses directed to PspA in animal models have already been described. Nevertheless, few low cost adjuvants for a subunit pneumococcal vaccine have been proposed to date. Here, we have tested the adjuvant properties of the whole cell Bordetella pertussis vaccine (wP) that is currently part of the DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) vaccine administrated to children in several countries, as an adjuvant to PspA. Nasal immunization of BALB/c mice with a combination of PspA5 and wP or wPlow – a new generation vaccine that contains low levels of B. pertussis LPS – conferred protection against a respiratory lethal challenge with S. pneumoniae. Both PspA5-wP and PspA5-wPlow vaccines induced high levels of systemic and mucosal antibodies against PspA5, with similar profile, indicating no essential requirement for B. pertussis LPS in the adjuvant properties of wP. Accordingly, nasal immunization of C3H/HeJ mice with PspA5-wP conferred protection against the pneumococcal challenge, thus ruling out a role for TLR4 responses in the adjuvant activity and the protection mechanisms triggered by the vaccines. The high levels of anti-PspA5 antibodies correlated with increased cross-reactivity against PspAs from different clades and also reflected in cross-protection. In addition, passive immunization experiments indicated that antibodies played an important role in protection in this model. Finally, subcutaneous immunization with a combination of PspA5 with DTPlow protected mice against challenge with two different pneumococcal strains, opening the possibility for the development of a combined infant vaccine composed of DTP and PspA

Early impact of abdominal compartment syndrome on liver, kidney and lung damage in a rodent model

Background: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) sometimes occurs in critically ill patients following damage control surgery. The purpose of the present study was to develop a model of ACS and to evaluate its pathologic impact on liver, kidney, and lung morphology. Methods: Twenty Wistar rats (mass 300\u2013350 g) were randomly divided into four groups: 1) intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH): a laparotomy was performed and the abdomen packed with cotton until an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) of 15 mm Hg was reached; 2) hypovolemia (HYPO): blood was withdrawn until a mean arterial pressure ~60 mm Hg was reached; 3) IAH + HYPO (to resemble clinical ACS); and 4) sham surgery. After 3 hours of protective mechanical ventilation, the animals were euthanized and the liver, kidney and lungs removed to examine the degree of tissue damage. Results: IAH resulted in the following: oedema and neutrophil infiltration in the kidney; necrosis, congestion, and microsteatosis in the liver; and alveolar collapse, haemorrhage, interstitial oedema, and neutrophil infiltration in the lungs. Furthermore, IAH was associated with greater cell apoptosis in the kidney, liver and lungs compared to sham surgery. HYPO led to oedema and neutrophil infiltration in the kidney. The combination of IAH and HYPO resulted in all the aforementioned changes in lung, kidney and liver tissue, as well as exacerbation of the inflammatory process in the kidney and liver and kidney cell necrosis and apoptosis. Conclusions: Intra-abdominal hypertension by itself is associated with kidney, liver and lung damage; when combined with hypovolemia, it leads to further impairment and organ damage

Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets