Simulation of PID control applied to irrigation channels

Open-channel flow usually includes many hydraulic elements to help with the regulation of water supply in terms of automatic control. On the other hand, the one-dimensional Shallow Water Equations (SWE) are widely used to model and predict the flow dynamics in this kind of configurations. In this work, the unsteady SWE are used to model the water motion and they are solved using a finite volume upwind scheme able to cope with all flow regimes. Furthermore, the regulation of hydraulic structures at channels is frequently based on the PID controller. In this work, the implementation and coupling of the channel flow simulation with hydraulic elements and PID regulation is performed

Failure Artifact Scenarios to Understand High School Students' Growth in Troubleshooting Physical Computing Projects

Debugging physical computing projects provides a rich context to understand cross-disciplinary problem solving that integrates multiple domains of computing and engineering. Yet understanding and assessing students' learning of debugging remains a challenge, particularly in understudied areas such as physical computing, since finding and fixing hardware and software bugs is a deeply contextual practice. In this paper we draw on the rich history of clinical interviews to develop and pilot "failure artifact scenarios" in order to study changes in students' approaches to debugging and troubleshooting electronic textiles (e-textiles). We applied this clinical interview protocol before and after an eight-week-long e-textiles unit. We analyzed pre/post clinical interviews from 18 students at four different schools. The analysis revealed that students improved in identifying bugs with greater specificity, and across domains, and in considering multiple causes for bugs. We discuss implications for developing tools to assess students' debugging abilities through contextualized debugging scenarios in physical computing

A Riemann coupled edge (RCE) 1D–2D finite volume inundation and solute transport model

A novel 1D–2D shallow water model based on the resolution of the Riemann problem at the coupled grid edges is presented in this work. Both the 1D and the 2D shallow water models are implemented in a finite volume framework using approximate Roe’s solvers that are able to deal correctly with wet/dry fronts. After an appropriate geometric link between the models, it is possible to define local Riemann problems at each coupled interface and estimate the contributions that update the cell solutions from the interfaces. The solute transport equation is also incorporated into the proposed procedure. The numerical results achieved by the 1D–2D coupled model are compared against a complete 2D model, which is considered the reference solution. The computational time is also examined

SilvAdapt.Net: A Site-Based Network of Adaptive Forest Management Related to Climate Change in Spain

Funding: A.J. Molina is beneficiary of an “APOSTD” fellowship (APOSTD/2019/111) funded by the Generalitat Valenciana. M. Moreno-de las Heras is beneficiary of a Serra Hunter fellowship (UB-LE-9055) funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya. F.J. Ruiz-Gómez is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship of the Junta de Andalucía (Sevilla, Spain), and the European Social Fund 2014–2020 Program (DOC_0055). The authors received national and international funding through the following projects: SILVADAPT.NET (RED2018-102719-T), ESPECTRAMED (CGL2017-86161-R), Life-FOREST CO2 (LIFE14 CCM/ES/001271), ALTERACLIM (CGL2015-69773-C2-1-P), INERTIA (PID2019-111332RB-C22-BDV), CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R), DEHESACLIM (IB16185), RESILIENTFORESTS (LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063), Rhysotto (PID2019-106583RB-I00), AGL2017-83828-C2-2-R, RTI2018-096884-B-C31, ESPAS (CGL2015-65569-R), and caRRRascal (RTI2018-095037-B-I00).Acknowledgments: We thank the financial support from the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación -Redes de Investigación 2018, Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I + D + I”.Adaptive forest management (AFM) is an urgent need because of the uncertainty regarding how changes in the climate will affect the structure, composition and function of forests during the next decades. Current research initiatives for the long-term monitoring of impacts of silviculture are scattered and not integrated into research networks, with the consequent losses of opportunities and capacity for action. To increase the scientific and practical impacts of these experiences, it is necessary to establish logical frameworks that harmonize the information and help us to define the most appropriate treatments. In this context, a number of research groups in Spain have produced research achievements and know-how during the last decades that can allow for the improvement in AFM. These groups address the issue of AFM from different fields, such as ecophysiology, ecohydrology and forest ecology, thus resulting in valuable but dispersed expertise. The main objective of this work is to introduce a comprehensive strategy aimed to study the implementation of AFM in Spain. As a first step, a network of 34 experimental sites managed by 14 different research groups is proposed and justified. As a second step, the most important AFM impacts on Mediterranean pines, as one of the most extended natural and planted forest types in Spain, are presented. Finally, open questions dealing with key aspects when attempting to implement an AFM framework are discussed. This study is expected to contribute to better outlining the procedures and steps needed to implement regional frameworks for AFM.CEHYRFO-MED CGL2017-86839-C3-2-RDEHESACLIM AGL2017-83828-C2-2-R, IB16185, LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063, PID2019-106583RB-I00, RTI2018-096884-B-C31ESPAS CGL2015-65569-R, RTI2018-095037-B-I00ESPECTRAMED CGL2015-69773-C2-1-P, CGL2017-86161-R, LIFE14 CCM/ES/001271European Social Fund 2014–2020 ProgramINERTIA PID2019-111332RB-C22-BDVGeneralitat de CatalunyaGeneralitat Valenciana UB-LE-9055Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónEuropean Social Fund DOC_0055, RED2018-102719-TJunta de Andalucí

Building Fuzzy Elevation Maps from a Ground-based 3D Laser Scan for Outdoor Mobile Robots

Mandow, A; Cantador, T.J.; Reina, A.J.; Martínez, J.L.; Morales, J.; García-Cerezo, A. "Building Fuzzy Elevation Maps from a Ground-based 3D Laser Scan for Outdoor Mobile Robots," Robot2015: Second Iberian Robotics Conference, Advances in Robotics, (2016) Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol. 418. This is a self-archiving copy of the author’s accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-27149-1.The paper addresses terrain modeling for mobile robots with fuzzy elevation maps by improving computational speed and performance over previous work on fuzzy terrain identification from a three-dimensional (3D) scan. To this end, spherical sub-sampling of the raw scan is proposed to select training data that does not filter out salient obstacles. Besides, rule structure is systematically defined by considering triangular sets with an unevenly distributed standard fuzzy partition and zero order Sugeno-type consequents. This structure, which favors a faster training time and reduces the number of rule parameters, also serves to compute a fuzzy reliability mask for the continuous fuzzy surface. The paper offers a case study using a Hokuyo-based 3D rangefinder to model terrain with and without outstanding obstacles. Performance regarding error and model size is compared favorably with respect to a solution that uses quadric-based surface simplification (QSlim).This work was partially supported by the Spanish CICYT project DPI 2011-22443, the Andalusian project PE-2010 TEP-6101, and Universidad de Málaga-Andalucía Tech

Effect of the milk-whey relation over physicochemical and rheological properties on a fermented milky drink

(Eng) The effect of the milk-whey relation over the physicochemical properties (pH, total acidity, soluble solids and syneresis) and rheology (deformation rate, apparent viscosity, flow behavior index and consistency index) of a fermented dairy drink was studied. A completely randomized experimental design of two factors: percentage of whey (0, 5, 10 and 15% w/w) and type of milk (whole and skim) was used. The significance was determined using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). All properties analyzed except pH had statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The use of whole milk in comparison to skim milk generated an increase in soluble solids and viscosity of the beverage but caused a decrease in acidity and syneresis. The growth in whey concentration increased syneresis and apparent viscosity but decreased soluble solids and consistency index. The changes in properties are related to the contribution of fat from milk and the contribution of calcium and phosphate from whey, affecting both the interaction between the casein micelles and the water retention capacity, which changes the composition and fluidity of the beverage.(Spa) Se estudió el efecto de la relación leche-lactosuero sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas (pH, acidez total, sólidos solubles y sinéresis) y reológicas (velocidad de deformación, viscosidad aparente, índice de comportamiento al flujo e índice de consistencia) de una bebida láctea fermentada. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar de dos factores: porcentaje de lactosuero (0, 5, 10 y 15% p/p) y tipo de leche (entera y descremada). La significancia se determinó mediante un análisis de varianza (ANOVA). Todas las propiedades analizadas excepto el pH presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P<0,05). El uso de la leche entera en comparación con la leche descremada generó un incremento en los sólidos solubles y en la viscosidad de la bebida, pero causó una disminución en la acidez y la sinéresis. El incremento en la concentración de lactosuero aumentó la sinéresis y la viscosidad aparente pero disminuyó los sólidos solubles e índice de consistencia. Los cambios en las propiedades se relacionan con el aporte de grasa que realiza el tipo de leche y la contribución de calcio y fosfato que efectúa la adición de lactosuero, afectando tanto la interacción entre las micelas de caseína como la capacidad de retención de agua, que resulta en cambios en la composición y fluidez de la bebida

Association between the Use of Antibiotics and the Development of Acute Renal Injury in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in a Hospital in the Peruvian Amazon

"Introduction: A significant antibiotic prescribing pattern associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has been described. Multiple protocols included empirical antimicrobials, leading to a substantial increase in antimicrobial consumption in medical care. A higher mortality rate is described among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who received antibiotics. Objectives: To determine the association between the use of antibiotics and the development of acute renal injury in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in patients treated at the Hospital II EsSalud de Ucayali, 2021. Methods: A cross-sectionalanalytical study was conducted, evaluating the medical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit between July 2020 and July 2021. For the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion, statistical hypothesis contrast tests were used in relation to acute kidney injury (AKI), antibiotic use and associated factors, derived from linear regression models. Results: The factors that were positively associated with the development of AKI were sepsis (aPR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.26–6.43), shock (aPR:2.49; 95% CI: 1.28–4.86), mechanical ventilation (aPR:9.11; 95% CI: 1.23–67.57), and use of vancomycin (aPR: 3.15; 95% CI: 1.19–8.27). Conclusions: In the Peruvian Amazon, there is a high consumption and inadequate prescription of antibiotics. The drugs most commonly used for the treatment of COVID-19 were: aminoglycosides, vancomycin, ivermectin, azithromycin, tocilizumab, and corticosteroids. The development of AKI among hospitalized patients was found to be related to vancomycin administration. In addition, an association was found with the use of mechanical ventilation, a high body mass index, and the presence of complications such as sepsis or shock. Therefore, inappropriate antibiotic use for COVID-19 has been associated with multiple negative outcomes and consequences.

The effect of anode support on the electrochemical performance of microtubular solid oxide fuel cells fabricated by gel-casting

Different cell configurations of anode-supported microtubular solid oxide fuel cells (mT-SOFCs) using samaria-doped ceria (SDC) as the electrolyte were fabricated. Several cells were processed varying the porosity and wall thickness (outer diameter) of NiOSDC tubular supports. Suitable aqueous slurry formulations of NiOSDC for gel-casting were prepared using agarose, as a gelling agent, and sucrose, as a pore former. The subsequent NiOSDC anode functional layer (AFL), the SDC electrolyte and the La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-dSDC cathode were deposited by spray-coating. Pre-sintering temperatures of the supports were optimized from linear shrinkage curves, thus obtaining after co-sintering, a dense electrolyte without anode-electrolyte delamination. Electrochemical characterization of mT-SOFC cells fabricated by agarose gel-casting is reported by the first time. The cell with a support of 2.6 mm diameter, 380 mm wall thickness, an active area of 1 cm2 and added porosity, using 10 wt% sucrose, achieved a maximum power density of about 400 mW cm2 at 650 ºC

Fungal Endophytes Exert Positive Effects on Colobanthus quitensis Under Water Stress but Neutral Under a Projected Climate Change Scenario in Antarctica

Functional symbiosis is considered one of the successful mechanisms by which plants that inhabit extreme environment improve their ability to tolerate different types of stress. One of the most conspicuous type of symbiosis is the endophyticism. This interaction has been noted to play a role in the adaptation of the native vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis to the stressful environments of Antarctica, characterized by low temperatures and extreme aridity. Projections of climate change for this ecosystem indicate that abiotic conditions will be less limiting due to an increase in temperature and water availability in the soil. Due to this decrease in stress induced by the climate change, it has been suggested that the positive role of fungal endophytes on performance of C. quitensis plants would decrease. In this study, we evaluated the role of endophytic fungi on osmoprotective molecules (sugar production, proline, oxidative stress) and gene expression (CqNCED1, CqABCG25, and CqRD22) as well as physiological traits (stomatal opening, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance) in individuals of C. quitensis. Individual plants of C. quitensis with (E+) and without (E−) endophytic fungi were exposed to simulated conditions of increased water availability (W+), having the current limiting water condition (W−) in Antarctica as control. The results reveal an endophyte-mediated lower oxidative stress, higher production of sugars and proline in plants. In addition, E+ plants showed differential expressions in genes related with drought stress response, which was more evident in W− than in W+. These parameters corresponded with increased physiological mechanisms such as higher net photosynthesis, stomatal opening and conductance under presence of endophytes (E+) as well as the projected water condition (W+) for Antarctica. These results suggest that the presence of fungal endophytes plays a positive role in favoring tolerance to drought in C. quitensis. However, this positive role would be diminished if the stress factor is relaxed, suggesting that the role of endophytes could be less important under a future scenario of climate change in Antarctica with higher soil water availability.Fil: Hereme, Rasme. Universidad de Talca; ChileFil: Morales Navarro, Samuel. Universidad de Talca; ChileFil: Ballesteros, Gabriel. Universidad de Talca; ChileFil: Barrera, Andrea. Universidad de Talca; ChileFil: Ramos, Patricio. Universidad de Talca; ChileFil: Gundel, Pedro Emilio. 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: Molina Montenegro, Marco A.. Universidad de Talca; Chil