Optimal motion control and vibration suppression of flexible systems with inaccessible outputs

This work addresses the optimal control problem of dynamical systems with inaccessible outputs. A case in which dynamical system outputs cannot be measured or inaccessible. This contradicts with the nature of the optimal controllers which can be considered without any loss of generality as state feedback control laws for systems with linear dynamics. Therefore, this work attempts to estimate dynamical system states through a novel state observer that does not require injecting the dynamical system outputs onto the observer structure during its design. A linear quadratic optimal control law is then realized based on the estimated states which allows controlling motion along with active vibration suppression of this class of dynamical systems with inaccessible outputs. Validity of the proposed control framework is evaluated experimentally

Ekspresija E-selektina u mišjem sjemeniku nakon njegove pokusne torzije (ishemije/reperfuzije).

Germ cell-specific apoptosis occurs after ischemia/reperfusion of the testis and is dependent on E-selectin expression. The aim of the study was to determine differences in E-selectin expression in testes tissues of control, sham and treatment groups after ischemia/reperfusion in mice. Mice were subjected to 720° testicular torsion for 1 h or 2 h duration (ischemia) followed by detorsion (reperfusion). After 2 h of reperfusion, the testes were fixed in Bouin fixative and immunohistochemical analysis performed for E-Selectin expression. E-selectin expression increased in the ischemic testis and contralateral testis after 2 h of reperfusion in mice. This increase in E-selectin expression may confirm that E-selectins play a key role in mediating of apoptosis in germ cells after ischemia/reperfusion. Thus, the blockage of E-selectins might be a strategy for rescue of post-ischemic testes.Apoptoza germinativnih stanica javlja se nakon ishemije i reperfuzije sjemenika, a ovisna je o ekspresiji E-selektina. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je odrediti razlike u ekspresiji E-selektina u tkivu sjemenika kontrolne, placebo i pokusne skupine nakon ishemije/reperfuzije u miševa. Miševi su bili podvrgnuti torziji sjemenika od 7200 tijekom jednog ili dva sata (ishemija), nakon čega je slijedila detorzija (reperfuzija). Nakon dva sata reperfuzije tkivo sjemenika bilo je fiksirano u Bouinovom fiksativu i pretraženo imunohistokemijski na ekspresiju E-selektina. Ekspresija E-selektina povećala se u ishemičnih sjemenika nakon dva sata reperfuzije. Može se reći da povećanje ekspresije E-selektina potvrđuje njhovu ključnu ulogu u nastanku apoptoze germinativnih stanica nakon ishemije/reperfuzije pa bi blokada E-selektina mogla biti od važnosti za spašavanje sjemenika nakon ishemije

Does Fiscal Decentralization Promote Fiscal Discipline?

We investigate the efficiency and equity implications of a redistributive rule that takes into account both local tax collection efforts and deviation of local incomes from respective targets under alternative fiscal mechanisms. We show that, if the general budget constraint is binding, the proposed transfer rule leads to higher fiscal discipline under fiscal decentralization (FD) than under centralized redistribution. Although the centralized decision yields better income distribution than FD, FD also improves income distribution unambiguously when equalization across regions is targeted explicitly. When localities act strategically, the private sectors utility weight enhances the disciplinary effect of decentralization. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Sympathetic Skin Response and Boston Questionnaire in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

We aimed to determine relations between the sudomotor efferent nerve fiber function and Boston questionnaire (BQ) in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Median nerve-induced sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) evoked by wrist stimulation were recorded in 108 CTS patients and compared with those in 88 healthy volunteers. The Boston questionnaire form (BQF) was applied to the subjects. All patients and healthy individuals were questioned about the autonomic symptoms in the hand (red or purple skin coloration, excessive sweating, and feeling cold). The average SSR latencies of the patients with CTS were significantly longer than those in the control group (P < 0.001). Positive significant, while weak, correlations were found between the SSR latency, autonomic symptoms, and total sympathetic system scores. No statistically significant relationship was found between the Boston symptom severity, functional capacity scores, and SSR latency. The latter obtained through wrist stimulation was sensitive to support the sudomotor sympathetic dysfunction in patients with CTS. No relationship between the BQF and SSR can be related to the fact that these indices evaluate different aspects of CTS.Ми намагалися встановити взаємовідносини судомоторної функції еферентного нерва та показників Бостонського опитувальника (BQ) у випадках ідіопатичного синдрому зап’ястного каналу (СЗК). Шкірні симпатичні відповіді (ШСВ) відводилися після стимуляції медіанного нерва на рівні зап’ястка у 108 пацієнтів із діагностованим СЗК; ці характеристики порівнювались із такими у 88 здорових добровольців. Усім суб’єктам пропонували форму BQF. Усі пацієнти та здорові особи опитувалися щодо вегетативних симптомів, які проявлялися на кисті (червоне або пурпурове забарвлення шкіри, надмірне потовиділення та відчуття холоду). Середнє значення латентного періоду ШСВ у пацієнтів із СЗК вірогідно перевищувало таке в контрольній групі (P < 0.001). Істотна позитивна, хоча й слабка, кореляція була виявлена між латентним періодом ШСВ, вегетативними симптомами та бальною загальною оцінкою стану симпатичної системи. Не було встановлено вірогідних відносин між показником тяжкості симптомів (згідно з BQF), оцінкою функціональної здатності та латентним періодом ШСВ. Останній параметр, отриманий при стимуляції на рівні зап’ястка, був чутливим щодо судомоторної симпатичної дисфункції у пацієнтів із цим синдромом. Відсутність зв’язку між оцінками BQF та ШСВ може бути зумовлена тим, що дані показники оцінюють різні аспекти ШСВ

A SEPALLATA gene is involved in the development and ripening of strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) fruit, a non-climacteric tissue

Climacteric and non-climacteric fruits have traditionally been viewed as representing two distinct programmes of ripening associated with differential respiration and ethylene hormone effects. In climacteric fruits, such as tomato and banana, the ripening process is marked by increased respiration and is induced and co-ordinated by ethylene, while in non-climacteric fruits, such as strawberry and grape, it is controlled by an ethylene-independent process with little change in respiration rate. The two contrasting mechanisms, however, both lead to texture, colour, and flavour changes that probably reflect some common programmes of regulatory control. It has been shown that a SEPALLATA(SEP)4-like gene is necessary for normal ripening in tomato. It has been demonstrated here that silencing a fruit-related SEP1/2-like (FaMADS9) gene in strawberry leads to the inhibition of normal development and ripening in the petal, achene, and receptacle tissues. In addition, analysis of transcriptome profiles reveals pleiotropic effects of FaMADS9 on fruit development and ripening-related gene expression. It is concluded that SEP genes play a central role in the developmental regulation of ripening in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. These findings provide important information to extend the molecular control of ripening in a non-climacteric fruit beyond the limited genetic and cultural options currently available

Magnetic resonance imaging study of corpus callosum abnormalities in patients with different subtypes of schizophrenia

Background. Reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) have been described for schizophrenia patients, but little is known about the possible regional differences in schizophrenia subtypes (paranoid, disorganised, undifferentiated, residual).  Methods. We recruited 58 chronically schizophrenic patients with different subtypes, and 31 age-and-gender matched healthy controls. The callosum was extracted from a midsagittal slice from T1 weighted magnetic resonance images, and areas of the total CC, its five subregions, CC length and total brain volume were compared between schizophrenia subtypes and controls. Five subregions were approximately matched to fibre pathways from cortical regions.  Results. Schizophrenia patients had reduced CC total area and length when compared with controls. Disorganised and undifferentiated schizophrenics had a smaller prefrontal area, while there was no significant difference for the paranoid and residual groups. The premotor/supplementary motor area was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes. The motor area was smaller only in the disorganised group. A smaller sensory area was found in all subtypes except the residual group. Parietal, temporal and occipital areas were smaller in the paranoid and undifferentiated groups. Total brain volume was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes compared with controls, but did not reach statistical significance.  Conclusion. These findings suggest that the heterogeneity of symptoms may lead to the different CC morphological characteristics in schizophrenia subtypes

Autoimmunity conferred by chs3-2D relies on CSA1, its adjacent TIR-NB-LRR encoding neighbour

Plant innate immunity depends on the function of a large number of intracellular immune receptor proteins, the majority of which are structurally similar to mammalian nucleotidebinding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) proteins. CHILLING SENSITIVE 3 (CHS3) encodes an atypical Toll/Interleukin 1 Receptor (TIR)-type NLR protein with an additional Lin-11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 (LIM) domain at its C-terminus. The gain-of-function mutant allele chs3-2D exhibits severe dwarfism and constitutively activated defense responses, including enhanced resistance to virulent pathogens, high defence marker gene expression, and salicylic acid accumulation. To search for novel regulators involved in CHS3-mediated immune signaling, we conducted suppressor screens in the chs3-2D and chs3-2D pad4-1 genetic backgrounds. Alleles of sag101 and eds1-90 were isolated as complete suppressors of chs3-2D, and alleles of sgt1b were isolated as partial suppressors of chs3-2D pad4-1. These mutants suggest that SAG101, EDS1-90, and SGT1b are all positive regulators of CHS3-mediated defense signaling. Additionally, the TIR-type NLR-encoding CSA1 locus located genomically adjacent to CHS3 was found to be fully required for chs3-2D-mediated autoimmunity. CSA1 is located 3.9kb upstream of CHS3 and is transcribed in the opposite direction. Altogether, these data illustrate the distinct genetic requirements for CHS3-mediated defense signaling

Cd81 Interacts with the T Cell Receptor to Suppress Signaling

CD81 (TAPA-1) is a ubiquitously expressed tetraspanin protein identified as a component of the B lymphocyte receptor (BCR) and as a receptor for the Hepatitis C Virus. In an effort to identify trans-membrane proteins that interact with the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR), we performed a membrane yeast two hybrid screen and identified CD81 as an interactor of the CD3delta subunit of the TCR. We found that in the absence of CD81, in thymocytes from knockout mice, TCR engagement resulted in stronger signals. These results were recapitulated in T cell lines that express low levels of CD81 through shRNA mediated silencing. Increased signaling did not result from alterations in the levels of TCR on the surface of T lymphocytes. Although CD81 is not essential for normal T lymphocyte development, it plays an important role in regulating TCR and possibly pre-TCR signal transduction by controlling the strength of signaling. CD81 dependent alterations in thymocyte signaling are evident in increased CD5 expression on CD81 deficient double positive (DP) thymocytes. We conclude that CD81 interacts with the T cell receptor to suppress signaling. © 2012 Cevik et al

Transgressive segregation reveals mechanisms of Arabidopsis immunity to Brassica-infecting races of white rust (Albugo candida)

Arabidopsis thaliana accessions are universally resistant at the adult leaf stage to white rust (Albugo candida) races that infect the crop species Brassica juncea and Brassica oleracea. We used transgressive segregation in recombinant inbred lines to test if this apparent species-wide (nonhost) resistance in A. thaliana is due to natural pyramiding of multiple Resistance (R) genes. We screened 593 inbred lines from an Arabidopsis multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) mapping population, derived from 19 resistant parental accessions, and identified two transgressive segregants that are susceptible to the pathogen. These were crossed to each MAGIC parent, and analysis of resulting F2 progeny followed by positional cloning showed that resistance to an isolate of A. candida race 2 (Ac2V) can be explained in each accession by at least one of four genes encoding nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors. An additional gene was identified that confers resistance to an isolate of A. candida race 9 (AcBoT) that infects B. oleracea. Thus, effector-triggered immunity conferred by distinct NLR-encoding genes in multiple A. thaliana accessions provides species-wide resistance to these crop pathogens