Learning Robust and Correct Controllers from Signal Temporal Logic Specifications Using BarrierNet

In this paper, we consider the problem of learning a neural network controller for a system required to satisfy a Signal Temporal Logic (STL) specification. We exploit STL quantitative semantics to define a notion of robust satisfaction. Guaranteeing the correctness of a neural network controller, i.e., ensuring the satisfaction of the specification by the controlled system, is a difficult problem that received a lot of attention recently. We provide a general procedure to construct a set of trainable High Order Control Barrier Functions (HOCBFs) enforcing the satisfaction of formulas in a fragment of STL. We use the BarrierNet, implemented by a differentiable Quadratic Program (dQP) with HOCBF constraints, as the last layer of the neural network controller, to guarantee the satisfaction of the STL formulas. We train the HOCBFs together with other neural network parameters to further improve the robustness of the controller. Simulation results demonstrate that our approach ensures satisfaction and outperforms existing algorithms.Comment: Submitted to CDC 202

Impacts of natural factors and farming practices on greenhouse gas emissions in the North China Plain : A meta-analysis

This work received support from the National Science and Technology Support Program (No. 2012BAD14B01), the National 948 Project (No. 2011-G30), and the Non-profit Research Foundation for Agriculture (201103039). Thanks are expressed to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Structure selection and coordination in dual-channel supply chains

Purpose: This paper investigates the influence of channel structures and channel coordination on the supplier, the retailer, and the entire supply chain in the context of two different kinds of marketing models: the common retailer and the exclusive shop. Design/methodology/approach: With suppliers who manufacture the alternative commodities and retailers in the dual-channel supply chains as the object of the research, this paper compares suppliers' profits, consumer utility without coordination and contrasts suppliers' and retailers' profits with coordination to determine the range of the revenue sharing rates and which parameters are related. Findings: The analysis suggests the preference lists of the supplier and the retailer over channel structures with and without coordination are different, and depend on parameters like channel basic demand, channel cost and channel substitutability. Originality/value: In this research, new sales model for two suppliers should choose the same retailer or the exclusive retailers to sell their commodities.Peer Reviewe

Structure selection and coordination in dual-channel supply chains

Purpose: This paper investigates the influence of channel structures and channel coordination on the supplier, the retailer, and the entire supply chain in the context of two different kinds of marketing models: the common retailer and the exclusive shop. Design/methodology/approach: With suppliers who manufacture the alternative commodities and retailers in the dual-channel supply chains as the object of the research, this paper compares suppliers' profits, consumer utility without coordination and contrasts suppliers' and retailers' profits with coordination to determine the range of the revenue sharing rates and which parameters are related. Findings: The analysis suggests the preference lists of the supplier and the retailer over channel structures with and without coordination are different, and depend on parameters like channel basic demand, channel cost and channel substitutability. Originality/value: In this research, new sales model for two suppliers should choose the same retailer or the exclusive retailers to sell their commodities.Peer Reviewe

Co-delivery of Cisplatin(IV) and Capecitabine as an Effective and Non-toxic Cancer Treatment

A strategy for preparing composite micelles (CM) containing both cisplatin(IV) [CisPt(IV)] prodrug and capecitabine using a co-assembly method is described in this study. The CM are capable of an effective release of the anticancer drug cisplatin(II) [CisPt(II)] and capecitabine via acid hydrolysis once they are internalized by cancer cells. Moreover, the CM display a synergistic effect in vitro and the combination therapy in the micellar dosage form leads to reduced systemic toxicity and enhanced antitumor efficacy in vivo

Release Profile of Nitrogen during Thermal Treatment of Waste Wooden Packaging Materials

In this paper, the fast pyrolysis experiment of particle board was carried out on a fixed bed reactor and a Py-GC/MS equipment. The effects of temperature and gas phase residence time on the product yields and its components distribution were investigated. The effect of components of particle board on product yields and its components distribution was also investigated. The results showed that the temperature has a great influence on the yields of fast pyrolysis products, and the yield of pyrolysis oil reached the highest at 550°C. The urea-formaldehyde resin would prevent the pyrolysis of particle board. Compared with the bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of wood, the major components of the bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of particle board did not change much

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on vascular endothelial function in patients with slow coronary flow

   Background: To improve therapy for slow coronary flow (SCF), the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on vascular endothelial function in SCF patients is the focus of this investigation. Methods: Ninety-eight patients who exhibited chest discomfort were retrospectively analyzed, and di­agnosed with SCF by coronary artery angiography at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China from 2014 to 2016. The patients were divided into two groups according to the following treatment: HBO group (n = 48) and the control group (n = 50). Patients in the control group were administrated with conventional treatment, while those in the HBO group were administrated HBO therapy for 4 weeks in addition to conventional treatment. To evaluate the effects of HBO on vas­cular endothelial functions, plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), endothelin-1 (ET-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as well as endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery were measured in both groups before and after their respective treatments. Results: There were no significant differences in plasma levels of NO, ET-1, CGRP, hsCRP nor in FMD measurements between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). Moreover, the levels of all the parameters measured showed no significant changes before and after treatment in the control group. However, when comparing the control group, FMD and plasma NO and CGRP levels were significantly increased in the HBO group after treatment (p < 0.01), whereas hsCRP and ET-1 levels decreased dramatically (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The HBO treatment in addition to conventional therapy may significantly improve the vascular endothelial function in SCF patients. (Cardiol J 2018; 25, 1: 106–112

Enhanced effect of microdystrophin gene transfection by HSV-VP22 mediated intercellular protein transport

Background: Duchenne musclar dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disease caused by mutations of dystrophin gene, there is no effective treatment for this disorder at present. Plasmidmediated gene therapy is a promising therapeutical approach for the treatment of DMD. One of the major issues with plasmid-mediated gene therapy for DMD is poor transfection efficiency and distribution. The herpes simplex virus protein VP22 has the capacity to spread from a primary transduced cell to surrounding cells and improve the outcome of gene transfer. To improve the efficiency of plasmid-mediated gene therapy and investigate the utility of the intercellular trafficking properties of VP22-linked protein for the treatment for DMD, expression vectors for C-terminal versions of VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein was constructed and the VP22-mediated shuttle effect was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Results: Our results clearly demonstrate that the VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein could transport into C2C12 cells from 3T3 cells, moreover, the VP22-microdystrophin fusion protein enhanced greatly the amount of microdystrophin that accumulated following microdystrophin gene transfer in both transfected 3T3 cells and in the muscles of dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice. Conclusion: These results highlight the efficiency of the VP22-mediated intercellular protein delivery for potential therapy of DMD and suggested that protein transduction may be a potential and versatile tool to enhance the effects of gene delivery for somatic gene therapy of DMD.National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370510, 30170337); CMB Fund (4209347); the Key Project of the State Ministry of Public Health (2001321); and National Nature Science Foundation of China (30400322)