Monitoring and robust adaptive control of fed-batch cultures of microorganisms exhibiting overflow metabolism [abstract]

Overflow metabolism characterizes cells strains that are likely to produce inhibiting by-products resulting from an excess of substrate feeding and a saturated respiratory capacity. The critical substrate level separating the two different metabolic pathways is generally not well defined. Monitoring of this kind of cultures, going from model identification to state estimation, is first discussed. Then, a review of control techniques which all aim at maximizing the cell productivity of fed-batch fermentations is presented. Two main adaptive control strategies, one using an estimation of the critical substrate level as set-point and another regulating the by-product concentration, are proposed. Finally, experimental investigations of an adaptive RST control scheme using the observer polynomial for the regulation of the ethanol concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae fed-batch cultures ranging from laboratory to industrial scales, are also presented

Efficient Simulation of Chromatographic Processes Using the Conservation Element/Solution Element Method

Chromatographic separation processes need efficient simulation methods, especially for nonlinear adsorption isotherms such as the Langmuir isotherms which imply the formation of concentration shocks. The focus of this paper is on the space–time conservation element/solution element (CE/SE) method. This is an explicit method for the solution of systems of partial differential equations. Numerical stability of this method is guaranteed when the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition is satisfied. To investigate the accuracy and efficiency of this method, it is compared with the classical cell model, which corresponds to a first-order finite volume discretization using a method of lines approach (MOL). The evaluation is done for different models, including the ideal equilibrium model and a mass transfer model for different adsorption isotherms—including linear and nonlinear Langmuir isotherms—and for different chromatographic processes from single-column operation to more sophisticated simulated moving bed (SMB) processes for the separation of binary and ternary mixtures. The results clearly show that CE/SE outperforms MOL in terms of computational times for all considered cases, ranging from 11-fold for the case with linear isotherm to 350-fold for the most complicated case with ternary center-cut eight-zone SMB with Langmuir isotherms, and it could be successfully applied for the optimization and control studies of such processes

State estimation of the time–space propagation of COVID-19 using a distributed parameter observer based on a SEIR-type model

The real-time prediction and estimation of the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19 is of paramount importance as evidenced by the recent pandemic. This work is concerned with the distributed parameter estimation of the time–space propagation of such diseases using a diffusion–reaction epidemiological model of the susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered (SEIR) type. State estimation is based on continuous measurements of the number of infections and deaths per unit of time and of the host spatial domain. The observer design method is based on positive definite matrices to parameterize a class of Lyapunov functionals, in order to stabilize the estimation error dynamics. Thus, the stability conditions can be expressed as a set of matrix inequality constraints which can be solved numerically using sum of squares (SOS) and standard semi-definite programming (SDP) tools. The observer performance is analyzed based on a simplified case study corresponding to the situation in France in March 2020 and shows promising results.Campus At

Observer design for multivariable transport-reaction systems based on spatially distributed measurements

This paper is concerned with the design of observers for a class of one-dimensional multi-state transport-reaction systems considering distributed in-domain measurements over the spatial domain. A design based on the Lyapunov method is proposed for the stabilization of the estimation error dynamics. The approach uses positive definite matrices to parameterize a class of Lyapunov functionals that are positive in the Lebesgue space of integrable square functions. Thus, the stability conditions can be expressed as a set of LMI constraints which can be solved numerically using sum of squares (SOS) and standard semi-definite programming (SDP) tools. In order to evaluate the proposed methodology, a state observer is designed to estimate the variables of a nonisothermal tubular reactor model. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the potentials of the proposed observer.Campus Arequip

Chemical genetics uncovers novel inhibitors of lignification, including p-iodobenzoic acid targeting CINNAMATE-4-HYDROXYLASE

Plant secondary-thickened cell walls are characterized by the presence of lignin, a recalcitrant and hydrophobic polymer that provides mechanical strength and ensures long-distance water transport. Exactly the recalcitrance and hydrophobicity of lignin put a burden on the industrial processing efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass. Both forward and reverse genetic strategies have been used intensively to unravel the molecular mechanism of lignin deposition. As an alternative strategy, we introduce here a forward chemical genetic approach to find candidate inhibitors of lignification. A high-throughput assay to assess lignification in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings was developed and used to screen a 10-k library of structurally diverse, synthetic molecules. Of the 73 compounds that reduced lignin deposition, 39 that had a major impact were retained and classified into five clusters based on the shift they induced in the phenolic profile of Arabidopsis seedlings. One representative compound of each cluster was selected for further lignin-specific assays, leading to the identification of an aromatic compound that is processed in the plant into two fragments, both having inhibitory activity against lignification. One fragment, p-iodobenzoic acid, was further characterized as a new inhibitor of CINNAMATE 4-HYDROXYLASE, a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway synthesizing the building blocks of the lignin polymer. As such, we provide proof of concept of this chemical biology approach to screen for inhibitors of lignification and present a broad array of putative inhibitors of lignin deposition for further characterization

De techniek van de keizersnede bij het rund zoals uitgevoerd door Vlaamse dierenartsen

For approximately 50 years the caesarean section has been carried out in Belgium. Over the years the technique has changed and has been improved several times. At present caesarean sections are carried out as a routine operation due to the evolution of the Belgian Blue breed. In this study the differences in protocol, materials and surgical techniques used by the veterinary surgeons have been examined by means of a questionnaire on the not-complicated caesarean section. In general there are differences between the methods applied by the veterinarians, but the majority of these differences, for example the choice of disinfectants or antibiotics, hardly influence the results of caesarean section. However, leaving out some particular steps in the operation procedure, such as vaginal examination, can lead to an inferior result. The risks of leaving out these particular steps are also discussed. The main reasons for choosing specific operation techniques or operation materials are time constraints, the level of experience of the practitioner and the costs of the materials used