Dynamic Model Predictive Control

In this paper an alternative approach to model predictive control is presented. In traditional MPC a finite horizon open loop optimal control problem is solved in each sampling instance. When uncertainties such as computational delays are present, one can encounter problems. We propose to parametrize the control sequence in each sampling instant in terms of a linear feedback controller, i.e. in each sample a dynamic feedback compensator is computed. Thus, if computational delays are present the control system runs in closed loop, decreasing the need for ad hoc solutions used in traditional MPC

Profitable starch potato production

During the cultivation season there are a several cropping activities to carry out. At what time these activities are carried out is affecting the result and also on the economy of the crop production. As the production costs are high in potato production, it is important to keep an eye on the economy. Profitability is the most important factor in most crop production systems. If the costs are not covered, it is difficult to justify the production. In the starch potato cultivation this is no exception. In this study, the relationships between the timing of certain plant cultivation measures have been drawn together with the financial results of the starch potato cultivation. This has been done together with Lyckeby Starch AB and five farmers in southern Sweden. The material has been collected from the cultivation records, interviews and field observations on the farms. All financial calculations are made for standard-value cost. In this study it was concluded that there are a differences between the economic performances of the different farms. This is because they are maximizes efforts but not get the yield they need to cover their costs. In 2009, it was more profitable to decrease the input intensity and receive a lower yield. The last kg getting in harvest high-stakes do not cover the cost as in the cases studied. Several studies on this area are needed to clarify if you can get a higher income by adapting the cultivation activities. This study has not demonstrated that the timing of planting, weed control, irrigation, fungicidal and insecticidal has had impact on the profitability of starch potato cultivation. But it is likely that the timing is nonetheless of great importance. In short, the important thing to keep track on is, kg starch received per input cost, instead of just trying to maximize yield

Diagnostic accuracy of foot length measurement for identification of preterm newborn in rural Sindh, Pakistan

Introduction: Assessing gestational age accurately is crucial for saving preterm newborns. In low and middle-income countries, such as Pakistan, where access to antenatal ultrasonography (A-USG) is limited, alternative methods are needed. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of foot length (FL) measurement for identifying preterm newborns in rural Pakistan using A-USG as the reference standard.Methods: A test validation study was conducted between January and June 2023 in rural Sindh, Pakistan, within the catchment area of the Global Network for Maternal Newborn Health Registry, Thatta. Singleton newborns whose mothers had an A-USG before 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled. A research assistant measured FL three times using a rigid transparent plastic ruler within 48 hours of birth and the average FL was reported. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) and likelihood ratios were calculated. The optimal FL cut-off for the identification of preterm newborns was determined using the Youden Index.Results: A total of 336 newborns were included in the final analysis, of whom 75 (22.3%) were born before 37 weeks of gestation. The median gestational age of the newborns was 38.2 weeks, and the median FL was 7.9 cm. The area under the curve was 97.6%. The optimal FL cut-off for identifying preterm newborns was considered as ≤7.6 cm with a sensitivity of 90.8%, specificity of 96.0%, PPV of 86.7% and NPV of 97.3%. A lower cut-off of ≤7.5 cm had a sensitivity of 95.4%, specificity of 84.0%, PPV of 63.1% and NPV of 98.5%.Conclusion: In conclusion, this study highlights the utility of FL measurement for identifying preterm newborns in rural settings where A-USG is unavailable before 20 weeks of gestation. Optimal cut-offs of ≤7.6 and ≤7.5 cm provide a simple, cost-effective and reliable tool for clinicians and frontline healthcare providers in rural areas, respectively

Efforts to improve attractiveness of lower level engineering education

There are nine study programmes awarding the degree bachelor in engineering (högskoleingenjör) at the University of Gävle. Some of these have only a few applicants, even though the graduates are appreciated by a relatively large regional primary and secondary sector industry. A major revision of the programmes is planned. One objective is to increase the attractiveness of the programmes. In the revised programmes, students are proposed to study most courses together during the first year of study, even if they belong to different engineering specializations. This is intended to improve the study environment. Students in programmes with low numbers of applicants will become part of a richer and livelier student collective. However, the attractiveness could further be problematized by asking to whom higher education is attractive. A special focus will be on increasing the admission of students from groups in society that have been underrepresented in higher education. More specifically this may be linked to individual factors such as the educational level of parents, family income, immigrational background and geography. There may also be societal explanations in traditions of gendered professions. Engineering programmes, and especially some of the specializations at the university, are dominated by male students. This study focuses on how universities can take action to further increase the attractiveness of the engineering programmes, with a special regard to groups that are known to be underrepresented among the students

Unexpected selections of Plasmodium falciparum polymorphisms in previously treatment-naïve areas after monthly presumptive administration of three different anti-malarial drugs in Liberia 1976-78.

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect on malaria prevalence, village specific monthly administrations of pyrimethamine, chlorproguanil, chloroquine or placebo were given to children in four previously treatment-naïve Liberian villages, 1976-78. Plasmodium falciparum in vivo resistance developed to pyrimethamine only. Selection of molecular markers of P. falciparum resistance after 2 years of treatment are reported. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 191 study children in a survey in 1978. Polymorphisms in pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmrp1 and pfnhe1 genes were determined using PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Pfcrt 72-76 CVIET was found in one chloroquine village sample, all remaining samples had pfcrt CVMNK. Pfmdr1 N86 prevalence was 100%. A pfmdr1 T1069ACT→ACG synonymous polymorphism was found in 30% of chloroquine village samples and 3% of other samples (P = 0.008). Variations in pfnhe1 block I were found in all except the chloroquine treated village (P < 0.001). Resistance associated pfdhfr 108N prevalence was 2% in the pyrimethamine village compared to 45-65% elsewhere, including the placebo village (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chloroquine treatment possibly resulted in the development of pfcrt 72-76 CVIET. Selection of pfmdr1 T1069ACG and a pfnhe1 block 1 genotypes indicates that chloroquine treatment exerted a selective pressure on P. falciparum. Pyrimethamine resistance associated pfdhfr 108N was present prior to the introduction of any drug. Decreased pfdhfr 108N frequency concurrent with development of pyrimethamine resistance suggests a non-pfdhfr polymorphisms mediated resistance mechanism

CYP2C8 status of patients with malaria influences selection of Plasmodium falciparum pfmdr1 Alleles after Amodiaquine-Artesunate treatment

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Position controlled self-catalyzed growth of GaAs nanowires by molecular beam epitaxy

GaAs nanowires are grown by molecular beam epitaxy using a self-catalyzed, Ga-assisted growth technique. Position control is achieved by nano-patterning a SiO2 layer with arrays of holes with a hole diameter of 85 nm and a hole pitch varying between 200 nm and 2 \mum. Gallium droplets form preferentially at the etched holes acting as catalyst for the nanowire growth. The nanowires have hexagonal cross-sections with {110} side facets and crystallize predominantly in zincblende. The interdistance dependence of the nanowire growth rate indicates a change of the III/V ratio towards As-rich conditions for large hole distances inhibiting NW growth.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Electron-spectroscopy study of LiC60: Charge transfer and dimer formation

Li−C60 compounds Lix¯C60 were studied for average Li concentration x¯<~1 using photoelectron spectroscopy. Strong evidence is found for the formation of LiC60 dimers, as well as a second phase. The study suggests that the smallest alkali-metal Li bonds to C60 largely ionically for certain configurations. An investigation of the Li 1s level shows that under certain conditions the energetics favor a backdonation of the transferred electron to the Li ion

Prevalence of resistance associated polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from southern Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Scarce data are available on <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>anti-malarial drug resistance in Pakistan. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence of <it>P. falciparum </it>resistance associated polymorphisms in field isolates from southern Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples from 244 patients with blood-slide confirmed <it>P. falciparum </it>mono-infections were collected between 2005-2007. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the <it>P. falciparum </it>chloroquine resistance transporter (<it>pfcrt </it>K76T), multi drug resistance (<it>pfmdr1 </it>N86Y), dihydrofolate reductase (<it>pfdhfr </it>A16V, N51I, C59R, S108N, I164L) and dihydropteroate synthetase (<it>pfdhps </it>A436S, G437A and E540K) genes and <it>pfmdr1 </it>gene copy numbers were determined using PCR based methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>pfcrt </it>76T and <it>pfmdr1 </it>86Y was 93% and 57%, respectively. The prevalence of <it>pfdhfr </it>double mutations 59R + 108N/51R + 108N was 92%. The <it>pfdhfr </it>triple mutation (51I, 59R, 108N) occurred in 3% of samples. The <it>pfdhfr </it>(51I, 59R, 108N) and <it>pfdhps </it>(437G, 540E) quintuple mutation was found in one isolate. <it>Pfdhps </it>437G was observed in 51% and 540E in 1% of the isolates. One isolate had two <it>pfmdr1 </it>copies and carried the <it>pfmdr1 </it>86Y and <it>pfcrt </it>76T alleles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate high prevalence of <it>in vivo </it>resistance to chloroquine, whereas high grade resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine does not appear to be widespread among <it>P. falciparum </it>in southern Pakistan.</p

Genetic diversity among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Pakistan measured with PCR genotyping of the merozoite surface protein 1 and 2

Background:The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum has been extensively studied in various parts of the world. However, limited data are available from Pakistan. This study aimed to establish molecular characterization of P. falciparum field isolates in Pakistan measured with two highly polymorphic genetic markers, i.e. the merozoite surface protein 1 (msp-1) and 2 (msp-2).Methods:Between October 2005 and October 2007, 244 blood samples from Patients with symptomatic blood-slide confirmed P. falciparum mono-infections attending the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, or its collection units located in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, Pakistan were collected. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum was analysed by length polymorphism following gel electrophoresis of DNA products from nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting block 2 of msp-1 and block 3 of msp-2, including their respective allelic families KI, MAD 20, RO33, and FC27, 3D7/IC.Results:A total of 238/244 (98%) Patients had a positive PCR outcome in at least one genetic marker, the remaining six were excluded from analysis. A majority of Patients had monoclonal infections. Only 56/231 (24%) and 51/236 (22%) carried multiple P. falciparum genotypes in msp-1 and msp-2, respectively. The estimated total number of genotypes was 25 msp-1 (12 KI, 8 MAD20, 5 RO33) and 33 msp-2 (14 FC27, 19 3D7/IC).Conclusion:This is the first report on molecular characterization of P. falciparum field isolates in Pakistan with regards to multiplicity of infection. The genetic diversity and allelic distribution found in this study is similar to previous reports from India and Southeast Asian countries with low malaria endemicity