Enzymatic Synthesis of Ampicillin: Nonlinear Modeling, Kinetics Estimation, and Adaptive Control

Nowadays, the use of advanced control strategies in biotechnology is quite low. A main reason is the lack of quality of the data, and the fact that more sophisticated control strategies must be based on a model of the dynamics of bioprocesses. The nonlinearity of the bioprocesses and the absence of cheap and reliable instrumentation require an enhanced modeling effort and identification strategies for the kinetics. The present work approaches modeling and control strategies for the enzymatic synthesis of ampicillin that is carried out inside a fed-batch bioreactor. First, a nonlinear dynamical model of this bioprocess is obtained by using a novel modeling procedure for biotechnology: the bond graph methodology. Second, a high gain observer is designed for the estimation of the imprecisely known kinetics of the synthesis process. Third, by combining an exact linearizing control law with the on-line estimation kinetics algorithm, a nonlinear adaptive control law is designed. The case study discussed shows that a nonlinear feedback control strategy applied to the ampicillin synthesis bioprocess can cope with disturbances, noisy measurements, and parametric uncertainties. Numerical simulations performed with MATLAB environment are included in order to test the behavior and the performances of the proposed estimation and control strategies

Design of a knowledge and management system for starch bioconversion

AbstractIn this paper a knowledge acquisition and management system (KAMS) which allows the collection, analysis, ordering and storage of informations generated at starch liquefaction was developed. KAMS was structured on three levels: PostgreSQL as a backend, D2RQ as middle tier and Seaside as frontend. The system was used to store knowledge about the liquefaction process with the goal to be used as a decision support system in chosing the condition for this operation. The tests had shown that the implemented KAMS provides support for: Distributed acquisition of the scientific data generated by the researchers; Structured data storage; Support for the generation and storage of knowledge on the starch bioconversion

Contributions to the Study of Dynamic Absorbers, a Case Study

Dynamic absorbers are used to reduce torsional vibrations. This paper studies the effect of a dynamic absorber attached to a mechanical system formed of three reduced masses which are acted on by one, two or three order x harmonics of a disruptive force

065 The prognostic value of Heart Rate Recovery and Chronotropic Index in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and betablocker therapy

BackgroundA HRR<12 beats/min at 1 min and <22 b/min at 2 min and a HRCI < 70% are two strong predictors of mortality of any causes. These parameters were not yet studied in patients (pts) recovering from STEMI) under BB.ObjectiveTo assess the HRR and HRCI in pts. with STEMI, receiving BBs.MethodsIn 102 patients with STEMI (age 32–83 years, ejection fraction (EF) > 40% BB therapy), submaximal exercise ramp treadmill test (ETT) at 9–12-th days, and maximal ETTs at 21–30 day, 1 and 3 years were performed. The target maximal parameter was the number of METs required according to Buehlmann Nomogram. The HRR and HRCI and their correlation with Duke Treadmill Score (DTS), and clinical events during 5 years after STEMI (mortality, heart failure = HF, reinfarctization,) were assesed.Results41.1% pts. had pathological HRR values; 2 from them had a: low risk DTS, 29 had a moderate and high-risk DTS, and from all pts with low risk DTS (45), those with impaired HRR developped clinical events after 5 yrs (OR = 6.34) All pts with Borg scala >15 had impaired HRR. Ten pts with low HRR at 2 min had HF NYHA class II-III after 5 years. The re-infarction occured in 2 pts, (1 pt with low HRR) 94.11% had an HRCI <70%, but 93 had EF >45%, with no association with the HF. No relation between impaired HRR and HRCI was found. The Borg corrected HRCI seemed to be more sensitive with the occurrence of HF.Conclusions1. The BB therapy strongly influences the HRCI i No association with HF was notticed suggesting that under BBs, a lower cut-off HRCI value should be considered. The Borg corrected HRCI could be an alternative. 2. BB in STEMI does not seem to influence the HRR index. 3. An impaired HRR value seems to be a good criteria in prediction of the development of heart failure in STEMI pts and an independent predictor of cardiac events in a 5 yrs follow-up

Benchmarking of Flexibility and Needs - 2004

ITRC interviewed irrigation district personnel from 25 agricultural districts in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana. Data were analyzed to determine the degree of water delivery flexibility provided to farmers and the extent of existing and planned district modernization. This is the fourth such report the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) has published for irrigation districts in the western US. The first two evaluations were conducted on behalf of the Mid-Pacific Region of the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and included California irrigation districts that had long-term federal contracts. The third report was prepared on behalf of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and did not include irrigation districts with long-term federal contracts. The first three evaluations were conducted in 1996, 2000 and 2002, respectively. All three reports can be downloaded from the ITRC’s Reports web page (http://www.itrc.org/reports/reportsindex.html). This report was prepared on behalf of the USBR Yakima Office of Water Conservation, Upper Columbia Area of the Pacific Northwest Region and includes districts that receive at least some water from federal facilities. The interview process identified a strong perceived need by the districts for more direct technical assistance and training. This perceived need is greater than what ITRC has seen in California irrigation districts. These needs varied by district and region. In addition to general support, some districts acknowledged interest in small, specialized training efforts customized for single or small groups of districts at local facilities. Interest is especially high for information about automation and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The data also indicated that more Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) visits are needed to determine possible physical and operational improvements (modernization and efficiency) for districts to accommodate the ever-changing needs of their consumers and the environment. Direct technical assistance to individual districts has been and will continue to be a key element of continuing success in modernization. Other key items include: Many of the districts, and their farmers, are heavily dependent upon electric power to convey and distribute irrigation water. Presently, the power rates are lower than in other areas of the West. Irrigation district personnel, on the average, consider on-farm water usage/conservation to be beyond their scope of responsibility. This indicates that the “Bridging the Headgate” initiative by USBR and others may need more effort. Although 24 of the 25 districts provide water on at least an “arranged” basis, there is still room for improvement of the water delivery flexibility provided to farmers. The overall Flexibility Index was 11.5 (max. possible = 15; min. possible = 3). This compares with an overall Flexibility Index of 10.9 for sixteen non-Federal irrigation districts ranked by ITRC in 2002, and an Index of 12.9 for 58 Federal irrigation districts ranked by ITRC in 2000. Since 1995 the irrigation districts have made numerous improvements, including both software and hardware. This report summarizes the results and provides brief comments on various aspects of those results

Pelvic floor disorders in gynecological malignancies. An overlooked problem?

Cervical, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and vaginal cancers affect women of a broad age spectrum. Many of these women are still sexually active when their cancer is diagnosed. Treatment options for gynecological malignancies, such as gynecological surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, are proven risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction. The prevalence of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction before cancer treatment is still unclear. Hypotheses have been raised in the literature that these manifestations could represent early symptoms of pelvic cancers, but most remain overlooked even in cancer surviving patients. The primary focus of therapy is always cancer eradication, but as oncological and surgical treatment options become more successful, the number of cancer survivors increases. The quality of life of patients with gynecological cancers often remains an underrated subject. Pelvic floor disorders are not consistently reported by patients and are frequently overlooked by many clinicians. In this brief review we discuss the importance of pelvic floor dysfunction in patients with gynecological malignant tumors