A Kalman Filter Approach for Biomolecular Systems with Noise Covariance Updating

An important part of system modeling is determining parameter values, particularly for biomolecular systems, where direct measurements of individual parameters are typically hard. While Extended Kalman Filters have been used for this purpose, the choice of the process noise covariance is generally unclear. In this chapter, we address this issue for biomolecular systems using a combination of Monte Carlo simulations and experimental data, exploiting the dependence of the process noise covariance on the states and parameters, as given in the Langevin framework. We adapt a Hybrid Extended Kalman Filtering technique by updating the process noise covariance at each time step based on estimates. We compare the performance of this framework with different fixed values of process noise covariance in biomolecular system models, including an oscillator model, as well as in experimentally measured data for a negative transcriptional feedback circuit. We find that the Extended Kalman Filter with such process noise covariance update is closer to the optimality condition in the sense that the innovation sequence becomes white and in achieving a balance between the mean square estimation error and parameter convergence time. The results of this chapter may help in the use of Extended Kalman Filters for systems where process noise covariance depends on states and/or parameters.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figure

Surface flaws control strain localization in the deformation of Cu∣\vertAu nanolaminates

We carried out matched experiments and molecular dynamics simulations of the compression of nanopillars prepared from Cu$\vert$Au nanolaminates with 25 nm layer thickness. The stress-strain behavior obtained from both techniques are in excellent agreement. Variation of the layer thickness in simulations reveals an increase of the strength with decreasing layer thickness. Pillars fail through the formation of shear bands whose nucleation we trace back to the existence of surface flaws. Our combined approach demonstrates the crucial role of contact geometry in controlling the deformation mode and suggests that modulus-matched nanolaminates should be able to suppress strain localization while maintaining controllable strength.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, supplementary material (5 pages, 4 figures

Pseudo scalar dark matter in a generic U(1)X(1)_X model

We consider a $U(1)_X$ extension of the Standard Model~(SM), where the spontaneous breaking of $U(1)_X$ gauge group results in a pseudo scalar particle which is the proposed candidate for dark matter. In the model, we introduce three right-handed neutrinos~(RHNs) $N_R^i$ and two extra scalars $\Phi$, $\chi$, which are SM gauge singlets but charged under $U(1)_X$ gauge group. Right-handed neutrinos are required to have the model anomaly free and explain the neutrino oscillation data. The heaviest scalar breaks the $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry and the other extra scalar gives a pseudo scalar DM candidate. A pseudo scalar dark matter~(DM) is an interesting candidate as it naturally evades the stringent direct detection bounds due to its coupling structure. We study the phenomenology of this pseudo-scalar DM while considering several theoretical and experimental constraints. We find that in our model, there is a feasible parameter space, which satisfies by the DM lifetime bound, relic and direct detection constraints while respecting the colliders and other bounds.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

International Trade & Health Equity: Have Benefits of Medical Tourism ‘Trickled Down’ to India’s Poor?

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the link in this record.In the late 20th century, international trade was projected as a tool for development with regard to global, social and political formations. Traditional political economic models claimed wealth generation through ostensibly maximising ‘comparative advantages’. The free market economy model claims that the whole society will receive material welfare from such international trade, as benefits of economic growth ‘trickle down’ either directly through increased income or indirectly as the increased government revenues are spent on infrastructural development, health, education, etc. Convinced by this theoretical claim, India gradually changed its stance from opponent to proponent of international trade in services during the WTO Uruguay round negotiations. Accordingly, the Indian government’s policy shifted towards capitalising India’s ‘comparative advantage’ in medical tourism, while contending that foreign exchange and revenue earned can be used to subsidise the treatment of poor patients. Thus, promotion of trade liberalisation in hospital services has been viewed as a tool to fulfil the mandate of social justice and promote health equity. However, the present paper argues that, instead, the health inequities have only grown throughout the period of neo-liberal globalisation, while there is no empirical evidence to prove the ‘trickling down’ of any material benefit to the poor resulting from opening up the healthcare sector to privatisation and internationalisation. Moreover, while the Indian health policy shift facilitated the burgeoning of a highly variable private sector, the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework and a just grievance redress system has resulted in dubious quality and unethical practices in healthcare service provision in both the public and private sectors and inflation in healthcare costs. The paper will conclude with reiterating the importance of healthcare as intrinsic to ‘health capabilities’ imperative for enjoying a meaningful life

Hypervelocity Impact Analysis of Hybrid Nanocomposite Sensors for Inflatable Space Structures

Future space exploration requires easy-to-transport, and easy-to-build and deploy space habitats. NASA and Bigelow Aerospace have collaborated so that human habitation can be made safe and easy with inflatable space habitats (Litteken, 2017). One of the biggest threats faced by these structures in outer space is impact damage by micrometeoroid orbital debris (MMOD) traveling at velocities as high as 15 km/s (Lemmens, Krag, Rosebrock, & Carnelli, 2013). This work presents fabrication and testing of hybrid nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and coarse graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) as fillers and flexible epoxy matrix, that are proposed to be used for sensing the impact damage by MMOD in space inflatable structures. CNT and GNP were chosen as fillers owing to their excellent electrical properties and piezoresistivity. A new method was developed to cut graphite sheet (composed of GNPs) in laser marker and distribute it in patterns on carbon nanotube sheet (buckypaper) in epoxy matrix. Piezoresitivity tests were carried out and results were compared with percolation-based Monte Carlo simulations from past research. A hypervelocity impact test was designed and executed at the University of Dayton Research Institute, Ohio, to test the response of the sensors to hypervelocity impacts. Aluminum spheres of 3 mm diameter and 4.5 mm diameter were accelerated to 7 km/s and shot at the sensors, and results were recorded during and after the test. A periodic scanning multichannel control circuit was designed to power the sensors. LabVIEW codes were used for data acquisition and recognizing the location of the damage. The results proved that the hybrid CNT-GNP/epoxy nanocomposites can be used to create a damage detection system which would not only detect the impact damage caused by MMOD of 3mm diameter traveling at 7km/s but also discern its location and depth of penetration by the MMOD

International Trade & Health Equity: Have Benefits of Medical Tourism ‘Trickled Down’ to India’s Poor?

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the link in this record.In the late 20th century, international trade was projected as a tool for development with regard to global, social and political formations. Traditional political economic models claimed wealth generation through ostensibly maximising ‘comparative advantages’. The free market economy model claims that the whole society will receive material welfare from such international trade, as benefits of economic growth ‘trickle down’ either directly through increased income or indirectly as the increased government revenues are spent on infrastructural development, health, education, etc. Convinced by this theoretical claim, India gradually changed its stance from opponent to proponent of international trade in services during the WTO Uruguay round negotiations. Accordingly, the Indian government’s policy shifted towards capitalising India’s ‘comparative advantage’ in medical tourism, while contending that foreign exchange and revenue earned can be used to subsidise the treatment of poor patients. Thus, promotion of trade liberalisation in hospital services has been viewed as a tool to fulfil the mandate of social justice and promote health equity. However, the present paper argues that, instead, the health inequities have only grown throughout the period of neo-liberal globalisation, while there is no empirical evidence to prove the ‘trickling down’ of any material benefit to the poor resulting from opening up the healthcare sector to privatisation and internationalisation. Moreover, while the Indian health policy shift facilitated the burgeoning of a highly variable private sector, the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework and a just grievance redress system has resulted in dubious quality and unethical practices in healthcare service provision in both the public and private sectors and inflation in healthcare costs. The paper will conclude with reiterating the importance of healthcare as intrinsic to ‘health capabilities’ imperative for enjoying a meaningful life

Ecological pedagogy vs. ecological approach in pedagogical research : selected aspects

W artykule pokazano w jak różnych kontekstach używany jest wywodzący się z biologii termin ekologia. Uczyniono to na podstawie charakterystyki pedagogiki ekologicznej oraz podejść ekologicznych w badaniach społecznych czy humanistycznych. Ukazano rozumienie pojęcia środowisko w pedagogice społecznej, także środowiska przyrodniczego. Przedstawiono również kształtowanie się pedagogiki ekologicznej jako subdyscypliny w obrębie pedagogiki społecznej. Omawiając podejście ekologiczne w badaniach społecznych (w tym w pedagogice) nawiązano do koncepcji holonu i teorii afordancji możliwych do wykorzystania w wychowaniu poprzez świat uczuć, pragnień, tęsknot, wzruszeń tworzących środowisko życia jednostki. Konkludując stwierdzono, że inspiracje z obszaru humanistyki ekologicznej - odnajdywane również w pracach G. Batesona - nie ograniczają się do ochrony środowiska przyrodniczego życia człowieka. Tym samym pedagogika ekologiczna, badająca przygotowanie człowieka do uczestniczenia w życiu społecznym przez wykształcanie zachowań i wartości odnoszących się pozytywnie do środowiska przyrodniczego, nie jest tożsama z podejściem ekologicznym w badaniach pedagogicznych.The article shows in how many different contexts the term 'ecology' originating from biology is used. This was done on the basis of characteristics of ecological pedagogy and ecological approaches in social and humanistic research. The understanding of the term ‘environment’ in social pedagogy, including the natural environment, is shown. The formation of ecological pedagogy as a subdiscipline within the scope of social pedagogy has also been presented. When discussing the ecological approach in social research (also in pedagogy), the author referred to the conception of holon and the theory of affordances that could be used in education through the world of feelings, desires, longings and emotions creating the life environment of the individual. To conclude, it was stated that inspirations from the field of ecological humanities - found also in G. Bateson’s works - are not limited to the protection of the natural environment of human life. This means that ecological pedagogy examining the preparation of the human being for participation in social life through the formation of behaviours and values referring positively to the natural environment is not identical to the ecological approach in pedagogical research