Improved cascade control structure for enhanced performance

In conventional single feedback control, the corrective action for disturbances does not begin until the controlled variable deviates from the set point. In this case, a cascade control strategy can be used to improve the performance of a control system particularly in the presence of disturbances. In this paper, an improved cascade control structure and controller design based on standard forms, which was initially given by authors, is suggested to improve the performance of cascade control. Examples are given to illustrate the use of the proposed method and its superiority over some existing design methods

FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBOXONE RELAPSE: A SURVEY IN A NORTHWESTERN VERMONT RURAL PRIVATE FAMILY PRACTICE

The opioid crisis has warranted nationwide attention towards not only the current prescribing patterns of pain medications, but also towards rehabilitating affected members of the community. Current interventions include the use of Suboxone (buprenorphine + naloxone) as well as Subutex (buprenorphine). As the implementation of partial opioid antagonists increase on a statewide level, investigating factors such as drivers of substance relapse are worth considering to further improve adherence to currently available treatment regimens.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1565/thumbnail.jp

Contribution of vision, touch, and hearing to the use of sham devices in acupuncture-related studies

Derek Santos - ORCID 0000-0001-9936-715X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9936-715XThis study investigates whether visual deprivation influences participants' accuracy in differentiating between real and sham acupuncture needles. It also evaluates the relative contributions of tactile, visual, and auditory cues that participants use in their decision-making processes. In addition, a simple sensory decision-making model for research using acupuncture sham devices as comparative controls is proposed. Forty healthy individuals underwent two conditions (blindfolded and sighted) in random sequence. Four sham and four real needles were randomly applied to the participants' lower limb acupoints (ST32 to ST39). Participants responded which needle type was applied. Participants then verbally answered a questionnaire on which sensory cues influenced their decision-making. The proportion of correct judgments, P(C), was calculated to indicate the participants' accuracy in distinguishing between the needle types. Visual deprivation did not significantly influence the participants' discrimination accuracy. Tactile cues were the dominant sensory modality used in decision-making, followed by visual and auditory cues. Sharp and blunt sensations were associated with the real and sham needles, respectively, for both conditions. This study confirmed that tactile cues were the main sensory modalities used in participant decision-making during acupuncture administration. Also, short-term blindfolding of participants during procedures will unlikely influence blinding effectiveness.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2019.12.00313pubpub

A study of customer retention and churn rate management through data mining and customer profiling of Malaysian mobile user

This study aims to investigate the needs and wants of prepaid mobile service subscribers in Malaysia and identify usage patterns of industry churners, ultimately to offer the right product and value to target customers within a highly competitive market. This paper discusses the challenges faced by mobile companies in relation to high churn rates (sometimes called attrition rate), maintaining customer loyalty and the presence of stiff competition. Data was collected through database extraction from a telecommunication company in Malaysia which includes available demographic and behavioral data of the subscribers. Apriori association algorithm was employed to determine product bundling and C&R decision trees were used for customer profiling. It was discovered that there were three main product bundles subscribed by the prepaid mobile consumers. A brief look at the behavioral usage pattern of churners was also discussed. These information help mobile service providers to be more aware of their customer needs and to intelligently predict potential market churners

Inhibition of NAADP signalling on reperfusion protects the heart by preventing lethal calcium oscillations via two-pore channel 1 and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

Aims In the heart, a period of ischaemia followed by reperfusion evokes powerful cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations that can cause lethal cell injury. These signals represent attractive cardioprotective targets, but the underlying mechanisms of genesis are ill-defined. Here, we investigated the role of the second messenger nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP), which is known in several cell types to induce Ca2+ oscillations that initiate from acidic stores such as lysosomes, likely via two-pore channels (TPCs, TPC1 and 2). Methods and results An NAADP antagonist called Ned-K was developed by rational design based on a previously existing scaffold. Ned-K suppressed Ca2+ oscillations and dramatically protected cardiomyocytes from cell death in vitro after ischaemia and reoxygenation, preventing opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Ned-K profoundly decreased infarct size in mice in vivo. Transgenic mice lacking the endo-lysosomal TPC1 were also protected from injury. Conclusion NAADP signalling plays a major role in reperfusion-induced cell death and represents a potent pathway for protection against reperfusion injury

An N-terminal extension to the hepatitis B virus core protein forms a poorly ordered trimeric spike in assembled virus-like particles

Virus-like particles composed of the core antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBcAg) have been shown to be an effective platform for the display of foreign epitopes in vaccine development. Heterologous sequences have been successfully inserted at both amino and carboxy termini as well as internally at the major immunodominant epitope. We used cryogenic electron microscopy (CryoEM) and three-dimensional image reconstruction to investigate the structure of VLPs assembled from an N-terminal extended HBcAg that contained a polyhistidine tag. The insert was seen to form a trimeric spike on the capsid surface that was poorly resolved, most likely owing to it being flexible. We hypothesise that the capacity of N-terminal inserts to form trimers may have application in the development of multivalent vaccines to trimeric antigens. Our analysis also highlights the value of tools for local resolution assessment in studies of partially disordered macromolecular assemblies by cryoEM

High strain (0.4%) Bi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3-BaTiO3-BiFeO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics and multilayers

The relationship between the piezoelectric properties and the structure/microstructure for 0.05Bi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3-(0.95-x)BaTiO3-xBiFeO3 (BBFT, x = 0.55, 0.60, 0.63, 0.65, 0.70, and 0.75) ceramics has been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a homogeneous microstructure for x < 0.75 but there was evidence of a core-shell cation distribution for x = 0.75 which could be suppressed in part through quenching from the sintering temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) suggested a gradual structural transition from pseudocubic to rhombohedral for 0.63<x<0.70, characterised by the coexistence of phases. The temperature dependence of relative permittivity, polarisation-electric field hysteresis loops, bipolar strain-electric field curves revealed that BBFT transformed from relaxor-like to ferroelectric behaviour with an increase in x, consistent with changes in the phase assemblage and domain structure. The largest strain was 0.41 % for x = 0.63 at 10 kV/mm. The largest effective piezoelectric coefficient (d33*) was 544 pm/V for x = 0.63 at 5 kV/mm but the largest Berlincourt d33 (148 pC/N) was obtained for x = 0.70. We propose that d33* is optimised at the point of crossover from relaxor to ferroelectric which facilitates a macroscopic field induced transition to a ferroelectric state but that d33 is optimised in the ferroelectric, rhombohedral phase. Unipolar strain was measured as a function of temperature for x = 0.63 with strains of 0.30% achieved at 175oC, accompanied by a significant decrease in hysteresis with respect to room temperature measurements. The potential for BBFT compositions to be used as high strain actuators is demonstrated by the fabrication of a prototype multilayer which achieved 3 m displacement at 150 oC

Imaging Alzheimer's genetic risk using Diffusion MRI: a systematic review

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is an imaging technique which probes the random motion of water molecules in tissues and has been widely applied to investigate changes in white matter microstructure in Alzheimer’s Disease. This paper aims to systematically review studies that examined the effect of Alzheimer’s risk genes on white matter microstructure. We assimilated findings from 37 studies and reviewed their diffusion pre-processing and analysis methods. Most studies estimate the diffusion tensor (DT) and compare derived quantitative measures such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity between groups. Those with increased AD genetic risk are associated with reduced anisotropy and increased diffusivity across the brain, most notably the temporal and frontal lobes, cingulum and corpus callosum. Structural abnormalities are most evident amongst those with established Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent studies employ signal representations and analysis frameworks beyond DT MRI but show that dMRI overall lacks specificity to disease pathology. However, as the field advances, these techniques may prove useful in pre-symptomatic diagnosis or staging of Alzheimer’s disease

Understanding and Evaluating Quality of Life for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: A Northwestern Vermont Population Study

Introduction There are 7-8 million individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in the US. • 91,795 of this population lives in Vermont • Historically marginalized and isolated community • Socioeconomic, health-related, and emotional burden • Public health-related disparity Champlain Community Services (CCS): non-profit service provider and coordinator for 86 persons with intellectual disabilities in Northwestern Vermont Objectives: • Develop and apply measures to better understand and evaluate quality of life in the population CCS serves. • Recommend improvement to CCS data collection and evaluation methods. • Provide a basis for future recommendations to CCS services that are aligned to the needs of consumers.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1275/thumbnail.jp