Realizability of n-port resistive networks with 2n terminals

In this paper, we consider the realizability problem of n-port resistive networks containing 2n terminals. A necessary and sufficient condition for any real symmetric matrix to be realizable as the admittance of an n-port resistive network containing 2n terminals is obtained. The condition is based on the existence of a parameter matrix. We then focus on a three-port resistive network containing six terminals. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for any real symmetric matrix to be realizable as the admittance of a three-port resistive network containing six terminals and at most five positive elements, whose topological structure is properly restricted. © 2013 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

RMDAP: A Versatile, Ready-To-Use Toolbox for Multigene Genetic Transformation

Background: The use of transgenes to improve complex traits in crops has challenged current genetic transformation technology for multigene transfer. Therefore, a multigene transformation strategy for use in plant molecular biology and plant genetic breeding is thus needed. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we describe a versatile, ready-to-use multigene genetic transformation method, named the Recombination-assisted Multifunctional DNA Assembly Platform (RMDAP), which combines many of the useful features of existing plant transformation systems. This platform incorporates three widely-used recombination systems, namely, Gateway technology, in vivo Cre/loxP and recombineering into a highly efficient and reliable approach for gene assembly. RMDAP proposes a strategy for gene stacking and contains a wide range of flexible, modular vectors offering a series of functionally validated genetic elements to manipulate transgene overexpression or gene silencing involved in a metabolic pathway. In particular, the ability to construct a multigene marker-free vector is another attractive feature. The built-in flexibility of original vectors has greatly increased the expansibility and applicability of the system. A proof-ofprinciple experiment was confirmed by successfully transferring several heterologous genes into the plant genome. Conclusions/Significance: This platform is a ready-to-use toolbox for full exploitation of the potential for coordinate regulation of metabolic pathways and molecular breeding, and will eventually achieve the aim of what we call ‘‘one-sto

A Three-Component Gene Expression System and Its Application for Inducible Flavonoid Overproduction in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Inducible gene expression is a powerful tool to study and engineer genes whose overexpression could be detrimental for the host organisms. However, only limited systems have been adopted in plant biotechnology. We have developed an osmotically inducible system using three components of plant origin, RD29a (Responsive to Dehydration 29A) promoter, CBF3 (C-repeat Binding Factor 3) transcription factor and cpl1-2 (CTD phosphatase-like 1) mutation. The osmotic stress responsible RD29a promoter contains the CBF3 binding sites and thus RD29A-CBF3 feedforward cassette enhances induction of RD29a promoter under stress. The cpl1-2 mutation in a host repressor CPL1 promotes stress responsible RD29a promoter expression. The efficacy of this system was tested using PAP1 (Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1) transgene, a model transcription factor that regulates the anthocyanin pathway in Arabidopsis. While transgenic plants with only one or two of three components did not reproducibly accumulate anthocyanin pigments above the control level, transgenic cpl1 plants containing homozygous RD29a-PAP1 and RD29a-CBF3 transgenes produced 30-fold higher level of total anthocyanins than control plants upon cold treatment. Growth retardation and phytochemical production of transgenic plants were minimum under normal conditions. The flavonoid profile in cold-induced transgenic plants was determined by LC/MS/MS, which resembled that of previously reported pap1-D plants but enriched for kaempferol derivatives. These results establish the functionality of the inducible three-component gene expression system in plant metabolic engineering. Furthermore, we show that PAP1 and environmental signals synergistically regulate the flavonoid pathway to produce a unique flavonoid blend that has not been produced by PAP1 overexpression or cold treatment alone

Cutting improves the productivity of lucerne-rich stands used in the revegetation of degraded arable land in a semi-arid environment

Understanding the relationships between vegetative and environmental variables is important for revegetation and ecosystem management on the Loess Plateau, China. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) has been widely used in the region to improve revegetation, soil and water conservation, and to enhance livestock production. However, there is little information on how environmental factors influence long-term succession in lucerne-rich vegetation. Our objective was to identify the main environmental variables controlling the succession process in lucerne-rich vegetation such that native species are not suppressed after sowing on the Loess Plateau. Vegetation and soil surveys were performed in 31 lucerne fields (three lucerne fields without any management from 2003-2013 and 28 fields containing 11-year-old lucerne with one cutting each year). Time after planting was the most important factor affecting plant species succession. Cutting significantly affected revegetation characteristics, such as aboveground biomass, plant density and diversity. Soil moisture content, soil organic carbon, soil available phosphorus and slope aspect were key environmental factors affecting plant species composition and aboveground biomass, density and diversity. Long-term cutting can cause self-thinning in lucerne, maintain the stability of lucerne production and slow its degradation. For effective management of lucerne fields, phosphate fertilizer should be applied and cutting performed

New criteria of reachable set estimation for time delay systems subject to polytopic uncertainties

The problem of reachable set estimation for linear systems subject to both time delay and polytopic uncertainties is considered in this paper. Our aim is to find a set as small as possible to bound the states starting from the origin by inputs with peak values. The Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional together with free-weighting matrix technique are proposed to derive some sufficient conditions for the existence of an ellipsoidal bound to estimate the states. This method eliminates the conservatism generated by Jensen's inequality and obtains a much tighter reachable set bound. In addition, the number of variables to be determined is smaller than the previous result based on the maximal Lyapunov functional. Finally, an example illustrates the merits of our proposed results. © 2012 IFAC.link_to_OA_fulltex

Robust H ∞ control of discrete-time Markovian jump systems in the presence of incomplete knowledge of transition probabilities and saturating actuator

This paper deals with the problem of robust H ∞ control for a class of discrete-time Markovian jump systems subject to both actuator saturation and incomplete knowledge of transition probability. Different from the previous results where the transition probability is completely known, a more general situation where only partial information on the exact values of elements in transition probability matrix is considered. By introducing some free parameters to express the relationship for the known and the unknown elements of transition probability matrix in stability analysis, a criterion is established to guarantee the stochastic stability of the closed-loop system as well as an H ∞ performance index. The concept of domain of attraction in mean square sense is used to analyze the closed-loop stability, and the mode-dependent H ∞ state-feedback controller is designed. It is shown that, even in the absence of actuator saturation, the obtained result is less conservative than the existing one. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

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