Analog implementation of a robust control strategy for mechanical systems

An analog implementation of a control structure with disturbance identification for mechanical systems is presented. This control structure is based on a discontinuous observer that estimates the state and the disturbances in the plant, improving the robustness of the closed loop system which also displays a control input free from chattering. The control structure, built with operational amplifiers, is simple, showing good performance for stabilization, regulation, and tracking objectives. The performance of the circuit is compared with a digital implementation based on a real-time data acquisition card to control a simple pendulum. In addition, the circuit performance is illustrated on an industrial 2-DOF robot

Structural Variations Induced by Temperature Changes in Rotavirus VP6 Protein Immersed in an Electric Field and Their Effects on Epitopes of The Region 300-396

Rotavirus diarrhea is an infectious intestinal disease that causes about 215 thousand deaths annually in infants under five years old. This virus is formed by three layers of concentric proteins that envelop its genome, from which VP6 structural protein is the most conserved among rotavirus serotypes and an excellent vaccine candidate. Recent studies have shown that structural proteins are susceptible to losing their biological function when their conformation is modified by moderate temperature increments, and in the case of VP6, its antigen efficiency decreases. We performed an in silicoanalysis to identify the structural variations in the epitopes 301-315, 357-366, and 376-384 of the rotavirus VP6 protein -in a hydrated medium- when the temperature is increased from 310 K to 322 K. In the latter state, we applied an electric field equivalent to a low energy laser pulse and calculated the fluctuations per amino acid residue. We identified that the region 301-315 has greater flexibility and density of negative electrical charge; nevertheless, at 322 K it experiences a sudden change of secondary structure that could decrease its efficiency as an antigenic determinant. The applied electric field induces electrical neutrality in the region 357-366, whereas in 376-384 inverts the charge, implying that temperature changes in the range 310 K-322 K are a factor that promotes thermoelectric effects in the VP6 protein epitopes in the region 300-396

Impacts d'un processus de coaching de gestion sur le sentiment d'efficacité personnelle au leadership

RÉSUMÉ: Le coaching de gestion constitue une pratique émergente. Il se présente comme un moyen efficace du développement personnel et professionnel (Moën et Skaalvik, 2009). Le marché mondial du coaching en 2015 s’élève à 2,356 milliards USD , dont 955 milliards USD en Amérique du Nord. Toutefois, bien que le coaching soit une pratique en pleine croissance, peu d’études empiriques sont répertoriées. Baron et Morin (2009) recensent quelques études scientifiques démontrant que le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle est le principal résultat découlant du coaching de gestion. Le but de cette recherche s’intéresse à mesurer l’effet du coaching de gestion sur le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle au leadership des gestionnaires (Moën, 2010; Moën et Federici, 2012). La variable indépendante est le coaching de gestion. La variable dépendante est le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle au leadership. Moën (2010) décline le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle au leadership en quatre dimensions clés : le management – les habiletés de gestion – le développement et l’apprentissage de ses employés – les compétences relationnelles et la gestion des objectifs. Au regard de la théorie du sentiment d’efficacité au leadership selon Moën (2010), la présente étude prévoit qu’en contexte québécois, la moyenne du sentiment d’efficacité au leadership d’un groupe de gestionnaires bénéficiant du coaching de gestion obtient des résultats supérieurs à ceux d’un groupe de gestionnaires n’en ayant pas bénéficié. Il s’agit d’un devis expérimental avec un groupe de comparaison. Trois-cent-vingt-sept (327) gestionnaires ont été invités à participer à l’étude et 33 % de ceux-ci composent l’échantillon. Tous les participants sont à l’emploi de trois entreprises différentes. Ces entreprises présentent des caractéristiques semblables et elles détiennent leur siège social dans la province du Québec au Canada. Les résultats soutiennent que le coaching de gestion a un effet positif à la hausse sur une des dimensions-clé du sentiment d’efficacité au leadership. De plus, il y a une différence significative selon que le coaching de gestion soit dispensé par un coach interne ou un coach externe. -- Mot(s) clé(s) en français : coaching, coaching de gestion, sentiment d’efficacité au leadership, sentiment d’efficacité personnelle, leadership. -- ABSTRACT: Management coaching is a developing practice, and is shown to be an effective means of individual and professional development (Moën and Skaalvik, 2009). The 2015 global coaching market is estimated at US{dollar}2.356 billion , including US{dollar}955 billion for North America. But even though coaching is ever-growing in popularity, few empirical studies about the practice have been recorded. Baron and Morin (2009) list some scientific studies, showing that the main result of management coaching is the feeling of self-efficacy. The objective of this study focuses on measuring the effect of management coaching on managers' feeling of leadership self-efficacy (Moën, 2010; Moën and Federici, 2012); the independent variable is management coaching, and the dependent variable is the feeling of leadership self-efficacy. Moën (2010) states that there are four key aspects to a feeling of leadership self-efficacy: management (managerial abilities), employees' development and learning, interpersonal relationship skills, and managing objectives. In view of Moën's (2010) theory of leadership self-efficacy, the present study foresees that in the Quebec context, the feeling of leadership self-efficacy in a group of managers receiving management coaching is, on average, superior to that of a group of managers who have not received such coaching. This is an experimental "after" approach only, using a comparison group. Three hundred and twenty seven managers were invited to participate in the research, and 33 percent of them comprise the study's sample. The participants are all employees of three separate companies, which have similar characteristics and whose head offices are in the province of Quebec, Canada. The results underscore that management coaching has an increasingly positive effect on one of the key aspects of leadership self-efficacy. As well, there is a significant difference in the results depending on if the management coaching methodology is carried out by an internal or external coach practitioner. -- Mot(s) clé(s) en anglais : coaching, management coaching, feeling of leadership effectiveness, feeling of self-efficacy, leadership

Treatment with anthelminthics during pregnancy: what gains and what risks for the mother and child?

In 1994 and 2002, respectively, the World Health Organisation proposed that treatment for hookworm and schistosomiasis could be provided during pregnancy. It was hoped that this might have benefits for maternal anaemia, fetal growth and perinatal mortality; a beneficial effect on the infant response to immunisation was also hypothesised. Three trials have now been conducted. Two have examined the effects of benzimidazoles; one (the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study) the effects of albendazole and praziquantel. All three were conducted in settings of high prevalence but low intensity helminth infection. Results suggest that, in such settings and given adequate provision of haematinics, the benefit of routine anthelminthics during pregnancy for maternal anaemia may be small; none of the other expected benefits has yet been demonstrated. The Entebbe Mother and Baby Study found a significant adverse effect of albendazole on the incidence of infantile eczema in the whole study population, and of praziquantel on the incidence of eczema among infants of mothers with Schistosoma mansoni. Further studies are required in settings that differ in helminth species and infection intensities. Further research is required to determine whether increased rates of infantile eczema translate to long-term susceptibility to allergy, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of these effects. The risks and benefits of routine anthelminthic treatment in antenatal clinics may need to be reconsidered

Lifestyle, nutrient intake, iron status, and pregnancy outcome in pregnant women of advanced maternal age

The purpose of this study was to investigate how advanced maternal age influences lifestyle, nutrient intake, iron status, and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women. The subjects of this study were 112 pregnant women who were receiving prenatal care at gynecologists located in Seoul. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their ages: those over age 35 were the advanced age group of pregnant women (AP) and those under age 35 were the young age group of pregnant women (YP). General factors, nutrient intakes, iron status, and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were then compared. It was found that 72.5% of the YP group and 51.2% of the AP group had pre-pregnancy alcohol drinking experience; indicating that the YP group had more pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption than the AP group (P < 0.05). The only difference found in nutrient intake between the two groups was their niacin intakes which were 16.83 ± 8.20 mg/day and 13.76 ± 5.28 mg/day, respectively. When gestational age was shorter than 38.7 weeks, the average infant birth weight was 2.95 ± 0.08 kg, and when gestational age was longer than 40 weeks, it averaged at about 3.42 ± 0.08 kg. In other words, as gestational age increased, infant birth weight increased (P < 0.0001), and when maternal weight increased more than 15 kg, the infant birth weight increased significantly (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in order to secure healthy human resources, with respect to advanced aged women, it is necessary to intervene by promoting daily habits that consist of strategic increases in folate and calcium intake along with appropriate amounts of exercise

Adrenergic β2 receptor activation stimulates anti-inflammatory properties of dendritic cells in vitro

Vagal nerve efferent activation has been shown to ameliorate the course of many inflammatory disease states. This neuromodulatory effect has been suggested to rest on acetylcholine receptor (AChR) activation on tissue macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs). In more recent studies, vagal anti-inflammatory activity was shown involve adrenergic, splenic, pathways. Here we provide evidence that the adrenergic, rather than cholinergic, receptor activation on bone marrow derived DCs results in enhanced endocytosis uptake, enhanced IL-10 production but a decreased IL-6, IL-12p70 and IL-23 production. In antigen specific T cell stimulation assays, adrenergic β2 receptor activation on bone marrow DCs led to an enhanced potential to induce Foxp3 positive suppressive Treg cells. These effects were independent of IL10-R activation, TGFβ release, or retinoic acid (RA) secretion. Hence, adrenergic receptor β2 activation modulates DC function resulting in skewing towards anti-inflammatory T cell phenotypes

Factors Influencing Receipt of Iron Supplementation by Young Children and their Mothers in Rural India: Local and National Cross-Sectional Studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In India, 55% of women and 69.5% of preschool children are anaemic despite national policies recommending routine iron supplementation. Understanding factors associated with receipt of iron in the field could help optimise implementation of anaemia control policies. Thus, we undertook 1) a cross-sectional study to evaluate iron supplementation to children (and mothers) in rural Karnataka, India, and 2) an analysis of all-India rural data from the National Family Health Study 2005-6 (NFHS-3).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All children aged 12-23 months and their mothers served by 6 of 8 randomly selected sub-centres managed by 2 rural Primary Health Centres of rural Karnataka were eligible for the Karnataka Study, conducted between August and October 2008. Socioeconomic and demographic data, access to health services and iron receipt were recorded. Secondly, NFHS-3 rural data were analysed. For both studies, logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with receipt of iron.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Karnataka Study recruited 405 children and 377 of their mothers. 41.5% of children had received iron, and 11.5% received iron through the public system. By multiple logistic regression, factors associated with children's receipt of iron included: wealth (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.63 [95% CI 1.11, 6.24] for top vs bottom wealth quintile), male sex (OR 2.45 [1.47, 4.10]), mother receiving postnatal iron (OR 2.31 [1.25, 4.28]), mother having undergone antenatal blood test (OR 2.10 [1.09, 4.03]); Muslim religion (OR 0.02 [0.00, 0.27]), attendance at Anganwadi centre (OR 0.23 [0.11, 0.49]), fully vaccinated (OR 0.33 [0.15, 0.75]), or children of mothers with more antenatal health visits (8-9 visits OR 0.25 [0.11, 0.55]) were less likely to receive iron. Nationally, 3.7% of rural children were receiving iron; this was associated with wealth (OR 1.12 [1.02, 1.23] per quintile), maternal education (compared with no education: completed secondary education OR 2.15 [1.17, 3.97], maternal antenatal iron (2.24 [1.56, 3.22]), and child attending an Anganwadi (OR 1.47 [1.20, 1.80]).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In rural India, public distribution of iron to children is inadequate and disparities exist. Measures to optimize receipt of government supplied iron to all children regardless of wealth and ethnic background could help alleviate anaemia in this population.</p