Nonlinear Dynamic System Identification and Model Predictive Control Using Genetic Programming

During the last century, a lot of developments have been made in research of complex nonlinear process control. As a powerful control methodology, model predictive control (MPC) has been extensively applied to chemical industrial applications. Core to MPC is a predictive model of the dynamics of the system being controlled. Most practical systems exhibit complex nonlinear dynamics, which imposes big challenges in system modelling. Being able to automatically evolve both model structure and numeric parameters, Genetic Programming (GP) shows great potential in identifying nonlinear dynamic systems. This thesis is devoted to GP based system identification and model-based control of nonlinear systems. To improve the generalization ability of GP models, a series of experiments that use semantic-based local search within a multiobjective GP framework are reported. The influence of various ways of selecting target subtrees for local search as well as different methods for performing that search were investigated; a comparison with the Random Desired Operator (RDO) of Pawlak et al. was made by statistical hypothesis testing. Compared with the corresponding baseline GP algorithms, models produced by a standard steady state or generational GP followed by a carefully-designed single-objective GP implementing semantic-based local search are statistically more accurate and with smaller (or equal) tree size, compared with the RDO-based GP algorithms. Considering the practical application, how to correctly and efficiently apply an evolved GP model to other larger systems is a critical research concern. Currently, the replication of GP models is normally done by repeating other’s work given the necessary algorithm parameters. However, due to the empirical and stochastic nature of GP, it is difficult to completely reproduce research findings. An XML-based standard file format, named Genetic Programming Markup Language (GPML), is proposed for the interchange of GP trees. A formal definition of this standard and details of implementation are described. GPML provides convenience and modularity for further applications based on GP models. The large-scale adoption of MPC in buildings is not economically viable due to the time and cost involved in designing and adjusting predictive models by expert control engineers. A GP-based control framework is proposed for automatically evolving dynamic nonlinear models for the MPC of buildings. An open-loop system identification was conducted using the data generated by a building simulator, and the obtained GP model was then employed to construct the predictive model for the MPC. The experimental result shows GP is able to produce models that allow the MPC of building to achieve the desired temperature band in a single zone space

GPML: an XML-based standard for the interchange of genetic programming trees

We propose a Genetic Programming Markup Language (GPML), an XML based standard for the interchange of genetic programming trees, and outline the benefits such a format would bring in allowing the deployment of trained genetic programming (GP) models in applications as well as the subsidiary benefit of allowing GP researchers to directly share trained trees. We present a formal definition of this standard and describe details of an implementation. In addition, we present a case study where GPML is used to implement a model predictive controller for the control of a building heating plant

Four homobinuclear lanthanide complexes with 3-D coordination networks based on 3-methyloxysalicylaldoxime: syntheses, crystal structures, and properties

<div><p>Four new homobinuclear lanthanide(III) complexes of multidentate 3-methyloxysalicylaldoxime (MeOsaloxH₂), [Ln₂(MeOsaloxH)₄(PhCOO)₂(CH₃OH)₂] (Ln = Pr, <b>1</b>; Nd, <b>2</b>; Sm, <b>3</b>) and [Gd₂(MeOsaloxH)₄(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (<b>4</b>), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In these complexes, the two Ln^III ions are bridged by two phenolate oxygens from two <i>η</i>¹ : <i>η</i>² : <i>η</i>¹ : <i>μ</i>₂-[MeOsaloxH]⁻ ligands and two carboxylate groups to form a [Ln₂O₂(RCOO)₂] binuclear structure (R = Ph, <b>1–3</b>; CH₃, <b>4</b>). The noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds and weak C–H···O interactions) led to two types of 3-D supramolecular architectures. Magnetic and luminescence properties of these complexes have also been studied.</p></div

Physicochemical Response of External Plant Growth Regulator in the Cutting Process of Mulberry

Adventitious roots play a crucial role in the nourishment and propagation of arboreal vegetation. In order to shed light on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the challenging-to-propagate mulberry tree species, an investigation was conducted. This study aimed to compare the responses of various root morphological indicators, endogenous hormones, and oxidase activities in the “Yueshenda 10” fruit mulberry, at different stages of treatment. The ultimate objective was to identify the factors influencing the process of root development. The findings revealed a distinct ”/\“ pattern in the levels of IAA and JA within the cuttings. Conversely, the changes in ABA, ZR, and GA3 exhibited a ”/\/“ pattern. The fluctuation of the IAA/ABA values followed a ”\/\“ mode, whereas the IAA/ZR values initially increased, followed by a subsequent decrease. The correlation between the initial concentrations of these five endogenous hormones and the rooting rate displayed variations. Notably, IAA demonstrated the strongest association with the rooting rate, exhibiting a positive correlation with both IAA and ZR. Regarding the activity of three antioxidant enzymes (IAAO, POD, and PPO), a ”/\“ trend was observed, wherein the enzyme activity increased under ABT1 treatment. However, the peak activity levels of the enzymes appeared during different periods: callus generation, rooting induction, and adventitious root expression, respectively. Overall, the most effective treatment for promoting root development and significantly enhancing the root growth parameters of mulberry was found to be 800 mg/L ABT1. Exogenous hormone treatment expedited the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes, thereby shortening the rooting time and facilitating root formation

A Novel STAT3-Mediated GATA6 Pathway Contributes to tert-Butylhydroquinone- (tBHQ-) Protected TNFα-Activated Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in Vascular Endothelium

The activation of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in vascular endothelial cells has been well considered implicating in the initiation and processing of atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress is mechanistically involved in proatherosclerotic cytokine-induced VCAM-1 activation. tert-Butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant used for preventing lipid peroxidation of food, possesses strongly antioxidant capacity against oxidative stress-induced dysfunction in various pathological process. Here, we investigated the protective role of tBHQ on tumor necrosis factor alpha- (TNFα-) induced VCAM-1 activation in both aortic endothelium of mice and cultured human vascular endothelial cells and uncovered its potential mechanisms. Our data showed that tBHQ treatment significantly reversed TNFα-induced activation of VCAM-1 at both transcriptional and protein levels. The mechanistic study revealed that inhibiting neither nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) nor autophagy blocked the beneficial role of tBHQ. Alternatively, tBHQ intervention markedly alleviated TNFα-increased GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6) mRNA and protein expressions and its translocation into nucleus. Further investigation indicated that tBHQ-inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway contributed to its protective role against VCAM-1 activation via regulating GATA6. Collectively, our data demonstrated that tBHQ prevented TNFα-activated VCAM-1 via a novel STAT3/GATA6-involved pathway. tBHQ could be a potential candidate for the prevention of proatherosclerotic cytokine-caused inflammatory response and further dysfunctions in vascular endothelium

Construction of Structure-Tunable Si@Void@C Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries through Controlling the Growth Kinetics of Resin

Silicon (Si), a promising candidate for next-generation lithium-ion battery anodes, is still hindered by its volume change issue for (de)lithiation, thus resulting in tremendous capacity fading. Designing carbon-modified Si materials with a void-preserving structure (Si@void@C) can effectively solve this issue. The preparation of Si@void@C, however, usually depended on template-based routes or chemical vapor deposition, which involve toxic reagents, tedious operation processes, and harsh conditions. Here, a facile templateless approach for preparing Si@void@C materials is reported through controlling the growth kinetics of resin, without the use of toxic hydrofluoric acid or harsh conditions. This approach allows great flexibility in tuning the crucial parameters of Si@void@C, such as the carbon shell thickness, the reserved void size, and the number of Si cores coated by a carbon shell. The optimized Si@void@C delivers a large specific capacity (1993.2 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1), excellent rate performance (799.4 mAh g-1 at 10.0 A g-1), and long cycle life (73.5% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1). In addition, a full cell fabricated with a Si@void@C anode and commercial LiFePO4 cathode also displays an impressive cycling performance

The micro-743a-3p–GSTM1 pathway is an endogenous protective mechanism against alcohol-related liver disease in mice

Abstract Background and aims Epidemiological evidence suggests that the phenotype of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1), a hepatic high-expressed phase II detoxification enzyme, is closely associated with the incidence of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, whether and how hepatic GSTM1 determines the development of ALD is largely unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the role and potential mechanism(s) of hepatic GSTM1 in the pathological process of ALD. Methods GSTM1 was detected in the liver of various ALD mice models and cultured hepatocytes. Liver-specific GSTM1 or/and micro (miR)-743a-3p deficiency mice were generated by adenoassociated virus-8 delivered shRNA, respectively. The potential signal pathways involving in alcohol-regulated GSTM1 and GSTM1-associated ALD were explored via both genetic manipulation and pharmacological approaches. Results GSTM1 was significantly upregulated in both chronic alcohol-induced mice liver and ethanol-exposed murine primary hepatocytes. Alcohol-reduced miR-743a-3p directly contributed to the upregulation of GSTM1, since liver specific silencing miR-743a-3p enhanced GSTM1 and miR-743a-3p loss protected alcohol-induced liver dysfunctions, which was significantly blocked by GSTM1 knockdown. GSTM1 loss robustly aggravated alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and early fibrotic-like changes, which was associated with the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. GSTM1 antagonized ASK1 phosphorylation and its downstream JNK/p38 signaling pathway upon chronic alcohol consumption via binding with ASK1. ASK1 blockage significantly rescued hepatic GSTM1 loss-enhanced disorders in alcohol-fed mice liver. Conclusions Chronic alcohol consumption-induced upregulation of GSTM1 in the liver provides a feedback protection against hepatic steatosis and liver injury by counteracting ASK1 activation. Down-regulation of miR-743a-3p improves alcohol intake-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury via direct targeting on GSTM1. The miR-743a-3p–GSTM1 axis functions as an innate protective pathway to defend the early stage of ALD. Graphical Abstrac