Disturbance observer-based controller for inverted pendulum with uncertainties: Linear matrix inequality approach

A new approach based on linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique for stabilizing the inverted pendulum is developed in this article. The unknown states are estimated as well as the system is stabilized simultaneously by employing the observer-based controller. In addition, the impacts of the uncertainties are taken into consideration in this paper. Unlike the previous studies, the uncertainties in this study are unnecessary to satisfy the bounded constraints. These uncertainties will be converted into the unknown input disturbances, and then a disturbance observer-based controller will be synthesized to estimate the information of the unknown states, eliminate completely the effects of the uncertainties, and stabilize inverted pendulum system. With the support of lyapunov methodology, the conditions for constructing the observer and controller under the framework of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) are derived in main theorems. Finally, the simulations for system with and without uncertainties are exhibited to show the merit and effectiveness of the proposed methods

Brand publics participatory approach via influencers in strategic communications

Master of ScienceDepartment of Journalism and Mass CommunicationsKatie R OlsenThe study aims to examine current practices, experiences, and expectations of the PR industry regarding the relationship between brands-influencers-audiences in strategic communications through in-depth interviews with professional practitioners. The discussion will then be combined with the suggestions of the literature to introduce a new approach to engaging with the public through corporate communication efforts. The new approach focuses on promoting the customer participatory culture, where brands not only persuade their customers to buy their products, or increase their brand reputation through paid advertising and PR efforts, but also develop genuine two-way relationships with their public, to receive feedback and constructive comments to better serve their customers, using influencers as the facilitator

Aortic Insufficiency in LVAD Patients

Aortic insufficiency (AI) is a common complication that increases morbidity and mortality in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Significant AI during LVAD support creates a substantial regurgitant flow loop, negatively affecting cardiac recovery and exposing blood to longer residence time and higher shear stress. The mechanism of AI development and progression is linked to a lack of aortic valve opening, which alters the valvular tissue mechanics. Pre-existing AI also worsens following LVAD implantation, interfering with the pump benefits. This chapter will evaluate AI development with LVAD support compared with naturally occurring AI and present the features, mechanisms, and links to clinical treatment options

Impacts of Agriculture on the Inland Capture Fisheries in the Mekong Delta

Inland capture fisheries in the Mekong Delta play an important role in terms of food security and employment. Fish and other aquatic animals together with rice are important components in their local people's diet and many people participate in fishing mainly for household consumption. Mekong Delta is one of the most important fishing ground in Vietnam, its inland capture production accounts for 75% of the total national inland capture production. Its value contributes to the national economies with about 105 million $US in 2006. Seasonal floods are a common natural feature in the Mekong Delta. Agricultural activities take place during the dry season (6 months). Almost all agricultural activities stop cultivating due to flooding during the flood season (6 months). The level of flooding that depends on the strength of the annual monsoon is the most important driving factors to both inland fisheries (more habitat and nutrient) and agriculture sector (more productive land) in the Mekong Delta.The findings of this study showed that there is a positive relationship between annual inland capture production and water level (Pearson correlation = 0.76; pKeywords: Inland capture fisheries, Flooding, Fisheries Economics, Mekong Delta, Agriculture, Food securit

Structure evolution in poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)/lignin blends: Effect of interactions and composition

Blends were prepared from lignin and ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers to study the effect of component interactions and composition on structure. The vinyl alcohol (VOH) content of the polymers changed between 0 and 76 mol%, while the lignin content of the blends varied between 0 and 60 vol%. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) with 0 mol% VOH content was used as reference. The components were homogenized in an internal mixer and the dispersed structure of the blends was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As an effect of the strong self-interactions of lignin, this latter forms immiscible blends with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers in spite of the hydrogen bonds acting between the two components. Because of immiscibility, lignin is dispersed in the form of particles in the EVOH phase even at lignin contents as large as 60 vol%. The size of dispersed lignin particles is determined by particle break-up and coalescence, the original lignin particles of around 80 μm size break up to much smaller ones; particle sizes below one micrometer form at large vinyl alcohol contents. As equilibrium thermodynamic factors are stronger than kinetic ones in the studied system, changing shear stresses do not influence particle size much. The coalescence of particles is determined by composition and component interactions, and a simple semi-empirical model was proposed to describe the correlations of these variables quantitatively. Good agreement was found between the prediction of the model and experimental results

Design and execution of a verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification plan for a numerical model of left ventricular flow after LVAD implantation

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are implantable pumps that act as a life support therapy for patients with severe heart failure. Despite improving the survival rate, LVAD therapy can carry major complications. Particularly, the flow distortion introduced by the LVAD in the left ventricle (LV) may induce thrombus formation. While previous works have used numerical models to study the impact of multiple variables in the intra-LV stagnation regions, a comprehensive validation analysis has never been executed. The main goal of this work is to present a model of the LV-LVAD system and to design and follow a verification, validation and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) plan based on the ASME V&V40 and V&V20 standards to ensure credible predictions. METHODS: The experiment used to validate the simulation is the SDSU cardiac simulator, a bench mock-up of the cardiovascular system that allows mimicking multiple operation conditions for the heart-LVAD system. The numerical model is based on Alya, the BSC’s in-house platform for numerical modelling. Alya solves the Navier-Stokes equation with an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation in a deformable ventricle and includes pressure-driven valves, a 0D Windkessel model for the arterial output and a LVAD boundary condition modeled through a dynamic pressure-flow performance curve. The designed VVUQ plan involves: (a) a risk analysis and the associated credibility goals; (b) a verification stage to ensure correctness in the numerical solution procedure; (c) a sensitivity analysis to quantify the impact of the inputs on the four quantities of interest (QoIs) (average aortic root flow , maximum aortic root flow , average LVAD flow , and maximum LVAD flow ); (d) an uncertainty quantification using six validation experiments that include extreme operating conditions. RESULTS: Numerical code verification tests ensured correctness of the solution procedure and numerical calculation verification showed a grid convergence index (GCI)95% <3.3%. The total Sobol indices obtained during the sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the ejection fraction, the heart rate, and the pump performance curve coefficients are the most impactful inputs for the analysed QoIs. The Minkowski norm is used as validation metric for the uncertainty quantification. It shows that the midpoint cases have more accurate results when compared to the extreme cases. The total computational cost of the simulations was above 100 [core-years] executed in around three weeks time span in Marenostrum IV supercomputer. Conclusions This work details a novel numerical model for the LV-LVAD system, that is supported by the design and execution of a VVUQ plan created following recognised international standards. We present a methodology demonstrating that stringent VVUQ according to ASME standards is feasible but computationally expensive.This project was funded in part by the FDA Critical Path Initiative and by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Division of Biomedical Physics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science, and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and FDA to RAG. MV and AS acknowledge the funding from the project CompBioMed2 (H2020-EU.1.4.1.3. Grant number: 823712), SilicoFCM (H2020-EU.3.1.5. Grant number: 777204), and NEOTEC 2019 - "Generador de Corazones Virtuales" (“Ministerio de Economía y competititvidad”, EXP - 00123159 / SNEO-20191113). AS salary is partially funded by the “Ministerio de Economía y competititvidad” under the Torres Quevedo Program (grant number: PTQ2019-010528). CB salary is partially funded by the Torres Quevedo Program (grant number: PTQ2018-010290). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Role of Esrrg in the Fibrate-Mediated Regulation of Lipid Metabolism Genes in Human ApoA-I Transgenic Mice

We have used a new ApoA-I transgenic mouse model to identify by global gene expression profiling, candidate genes that affect lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in response to fenofibrate treatment. Multilevel bioinformatical analysis and stringent selection criteria (2-fold change, 0% false discovery rate) identified 267 significantly changed genes involved in several molecular pathways. The fenofibrate-treated group did not have significantly altered levels of hepatic human APOA-I mRNA and plasma ApoA-I compared with the control group. However, the treatment increased cholesterol levels to 1.95-fold mainly due to the increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The observed changes in HDL are associated with the upregulation of genes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis and lipid hydrolysis, as well as phospholipid transfer protein. Significant upregulation was observed in genes involved in fatty acid transport and β-oxidation, but not in those of fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis, Krebs cycle and gluconeogenesis. Fenofibrate changed significantly the expression of seven transcription factors. The estrogen receptor-related gamma gene was upregulated 2.36-fold and had a significant positive correlation with genes of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and mitochondrial functions, indicating an important role of this orphan receptor in mediating the fenofibrate-induced activation of a specific subset of its target genes.National Institutes of Health (HL48739 and HL68216); European Union (LSHM-CT-2006-0376331, LSHG-CT-2006-037277); the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens; the Hellenic Cardiological Society; the John F Kostopoulos Foundatio