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Background: Genotyping and amyloid fibril detection in tissues are generally considered the diagnostic gold standard in transthyretin-related amyloidosis. Patients carry less stable TTR homotetramers prone to dissociation into non-native monomers, which rapidly self-assemble into oligomers and, ultimately, amyloid fibrils. Thus, the initial event of the amyloid cascade produces the smallest transthyretin species: the monomers. This creates engineering opportunities for diagnosis that remain unexplored. Methods: We hypothesise that molecular sieving represents a promising method for isolating and concentrating trace TTR monomers from the tetramers present in plasma samples. Subsequently, immunodetection can be utilised to distinguish monomeric TTR from other low molecular weight proteins within the adsorbed fraction. A two-step assay was devised (ImmunoSieve assay), combining molecular sieving and immunodetection for sensing monomeric transthyretin. This assay was employed to analyse plasma microsamples from 10 individuals, including 5 pre-symptomatic carriers of TTR-V30M, the most prevalent amyloidosis-associated TTR variant worldwide, and 5 healthy controls. Results: The ImmunoSieve assay enable sensitive detection of monomeric transthyretin in plasma microsamples. Moreover, the circulating monomeric TTR levels were significantly higher in carriers of amyloidogenic TTR mutation. Conclusions: Monomeric TTR can function as a biomarker for evaluating disease progression and assessing responses to therapies targeted at stabilising native TTR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the sensitivity of the square cup forming process. It analyses how the uncertainties in the material properties, friction and process conditions affect the results of the square cup, such as equivalent plastic strain, geometry change, thickness reduction, punch force and springback. The cup flange and the die curvature region are identified as highly affected areas, while the cup bottom is least affected by the uncertainties. Two sensitivity analysis techniques, PAWN and Sobol indices, are compared. In particular, the study shows that PAWN indices require a significantly smaller number of simulations than Sobol indices, making them a more efficient choice for sensitivity analysis. While both PAWN and Sobol indices generally give comparable results, discrepancies arise in the analysis of springback, where PAWN indices show superior accuracy, particularly when dealing with multimodal distributions. This observation highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate sensitivity analysis method based on the nature of the data being analysed. These results provide insights for optimizing stamping processes to reduce production time and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloidosis is a group of protein misfolding diseases, which include spongiform encephalopathies, Alzheimer's disease and transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis; all of them are characterized by extracellular deposits of an insoluble fibrillar protein. TTR amyloidosis is a highly debilitating and life-threatening disease. Patients carry less stable TTR homotetramers that are prone to dissociation into non-native monomers, which in turn rapidly self-assemble into oligomers and, ultimately, amyloid fibrils. Liver transplantation to induce the production of wild-type TTR was the only therapeutic strategy until recently. A promising approach to ameliorate transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is based on the so-called TTR kinetic stabilizers. More than 1000 TTR stabilizers have already been tested by many research groups, but the diversity of experimental techniques and conditions used hampers an objective prioritization of the compounds. One of the most reliable and unambiguous techniques applied to determine the structures of the TTR/drug complexes is X-ray diffraction. Most of the potential inhibitors bind in the TTR channel and the crystal structures reveal the atomic details of the interaction between the protein and the compound. Here we suggest that the stabilization effect is associated with a compaction of the quaternary structure of the protein and propose a scoring function to rank drugs based on X-ray crystallography data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conjunctival cysts of the orbit development are a rare complication in enucleated patients. They result from the entrapment of conjunctival epithelium within the orbit. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old man with a history of enucleation for a retinoblastoma of the right eye who presented with difficulty in fitting his eye prothesis. On his past medical records, there was no reference to the placement of any orbital implant at the time of the surgery. Biomicroscopy of the right eye revealed a thickened bulbar conjunctiva, an inferior symblepharon, and a translucid central area with vascularization. Imaging was remarkable for a cystic cavity filling the whole right orbit. Biopsy revealed the diagnosis of a conjunctival cyst, and drainage was performed, alleviating the patient's symptoms. Conclusion: Orbital conjunctival cysts may pose a clinical problem, and treatment modalities include surgical excision, absolute alcohol injection, and trichloroacetic acid injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the growth in the consumption of avocado in recent years, the amount of waste caused by avocado peel and seed has increased. Avocado waste can be transformed into valuable products such as energy, biofuels, and biological products using integrated processes in a biorefinery. This paper considers the detailed modeling, simulation, and optimization of a biorefinery for the production of phenolic compounds, bioethanol, biological xylitol, syngas, and electrical power from avocado seed and peel, using Aspen Plus in equation-oriented mode as a process simulation tool. For a biorefinery in nominal conditions, it is possible to achieve a gross profit of approximately 30 × 10 6 USD/year for capital costs of USD 31.4 × 10 6 , while the combined effect of process optimization and heat integration allows reaching a gross profit of 37 × 10 6 USD/year for capital costs of USD 30.7 × 10 6 . These results of the optimized plant show its potential to take advantage of avocado seed and peel in a profitable and sustainable way. This detailed equation-based model paves the way for superstructure optimization of a biorefinery for avocado waste processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of different non‐invasive methods for the assessment of peri‐implant mucosal thickness. Methods: Subjects with two adjacent dental implants in the central maxillary region were included in this study. Three different methods to assess facial mucosal thickness (FMT) were compared: digital file superimposition using Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) and stereolithography (STL) files of the arch of interest (DICOM‐STL), DICOM files alone, and non‐ionizing ultrasound (US). Inter‐rater reliability agreements between different assessment methods were analyzed using inter‐class correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: A total of 50 subjects with 100 bone‐level implants constituted the study population. Assessment of FMT using STL and DICOM files demonstrated excellent inter‐rater reliability agreement. Mean ICC values of 0.97 and 0.95 were observed in the DICOM‐STL and DICOM groups, respectively. Comparison between the DICOM‐STL and US revealed good agreement, with an ICC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74 to 0.88) and a mean difference of –0.13 ± 0.50 mm (–1.13 to 0.86). Comparison between DICOM files alone versus US showed good agreement, with an ICC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.89) and a mean difference of –0.23 ± 0.46 mm (–1.12 to 0.67). Comparison between DICOM‐STL and DICOM files revealed excellent agreement, with an ICC of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91 to 0.96) and a mean difference of 0.1 ± 0.29 mm (LOA –0.47 to 0.46). Conclusions: Quantification of peri‐implant mucosal thickness via analysis of DICOM‐STL files, DICOM files, or US assessment are comparably reliable and reproducible methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between periodontal supracrestal soft tissue dimensions (PSSTDs) and other phenotypic features in non‐molar maxillary teeth. Materials and Methods: Adult subjects in need of comprehensive dental treatment were recruited. Periodontal phenotypic variables (i.e., facial and palatal gingival thickness [GT], alveolar bone thickness [BT], and PSSTDs, namely distance from the gingival margin to the bone crest defined as periodontal supracrestal tissue height [PSTH] and distance from the cementoenamel junction to the bone crest [CEJ‐BC]) were recorded using cone‐beam computed tomography scans. Standardized intraoral photographs were obtained to assess facial keratinized tissue width (KTW) and other anatomical parameters (i.e., tooth type, gingival architecture, and interproximal papilla height). Results: The study sample was constituted of 87 participants that contributed with a total of 522 maxillary anterior teeth. Differences in mean values of PSSTDs, KTW, GT, and BT were observed between tooth types and sex. Males exhibited a thicker GT and BT, and taller PSTH and KTW compared to females. Shorter CEJ‐BC was associated with shorter PSTH, wider KTW, and thicker GT and BT. Shorter PSTH was associated with thicker facial BT. Notably, BT and GT were positively correlated at both facial and palatal sites, meaning that the thicker the gingival phenotype, the thicker the bone morphotype. Facial BT and facial GT were positively correlated with KTW. A flat gingival architecture was associated with the thick periodontal phenotype. Square teeth had shorter CEJ‐BC, wider KTW, and thicker GT. Conclusions: Periodontal phenotypic features vary across and within subjects, between facial and palatal sites at different apico‐coronal levels, and as a function of sex and tooth type. The shorter the PSSTDs, the wider the KTW and the thicker the GT and BT. PSSTDs, particularly PSTH, should be considered an integral component of the periodontal phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing gap between water demands and availability is a significant challenge for sustainable water management, particularly in the context of growing irrigation needs driven by climate change. In the Côa region (inner-north Portugal), agriculture plays a vital role in the local economy, ensuring food security and contributing to the conservation of natural resources, though also threatened by climate change. The present study assesses how streamflow in the Côa River can be affected by climate change. The HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN) hydrological model was coupled with three global–regional climate model chains to simulate historical monthly and annual streamflow (1986–2015), and to predict future (2040–2099) streamflow under RCP8.5. Irrigation scenarios were subsequently developed considering a potential future increase from 10% to 50% per decade. The evaluation of HSPF performance during the historical period revealed good agreement (R2 > 0.79) between simulated and observed flows. A general decrease in streamflow is found in the future, particularly in 2070–2099, with annual mean streamflow projected to decrease by −30% until 2099. Interannual variability is also expected to increase. Generally, the simulations indicated higher future flows in winter/early spring, whilst they are expected to decrease over the rest of the year, suggesting drought intensification. An increase in water demands for irrigation, potentially rising from 46 hm3·yr−1 (baseline scenario) up to 184 hm3·yr−1 (50% increase per decade) may lead to unsustainable irrigation. Managing these opposite trends poses significant challenges, requiring a comprehensive and integrated approach from stakeholders and policymakers. Strategies should focus on both demand-side and supply-side measures to optimize water use, improve water efficiency, and preserve water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research proposes a low-inclined orbit concept and design for the Internet-of-Things (IoT) using lean satellite standards in near-equatorial regions. The study aims to evaluate the coverage of various inclination angles at various latitudes and inclination angles in order to determine the most suitable satellite design for providing IoT coverage in these regions. The main methods applied in the study included analyzing the coverage performance of different inclination angles, the link budget analysis using simulations and the definition of the mission criteria. The results of the study show that the overall coverage performance decreases with an increase in the inclination angle. Satellites with lower inclination angles have ground tracks that are more closely aligned with the equator, while satellites with higher inclination angles have ground tracks that are inclined further toward the poles. In addition, the results show that the fraction of orbits with coverage (expressed as a percentage) declines with increasing latitude. Based on these findings, a low-inclined orbit of 24° provides the best coverage for IoT in near-equatorial regions within ±20 and 26° latitude, with a peak coverage of 27% at 24° latitude and a minimum coverage of 10% in the region spanning from 0° to ±27° latitude. This design offers more coverage time and a shorter revisit time to the selected regions for communication missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of epigenetics in chronic pain at the supraspinal level is yet to be fully characterized. DNA histone methylation is crucially regulated by de novo methyltransferases (DNMT1-3) and ten-eleven translocation dioxygenases (TET1-3). Evidence has shown that methylation markers are altered in different CNS regions related to nociception, namely the dorsal root ganglia, the spinal cord, and different brain areas. Decreased global methylation was found in the DRG, the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala, which was associated with decreased DNMT1/3a expression. In contrast, increased methylation levels and mRNA levels of TET1 and TET3 were linked to augmented pain hypersensitivity and allodynia in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. Since epigenetic mechanisms may be responsible for the regulation and coordination of various transcriptional modifications described in chronic pain states, with this study, we aimed to evaluate the functional role of TET1-3 and DNMT1/3a genes in neuropathic pain in several brain areas. In a spared nerve injury rat model of neuropathic pain, 21 days after surgery, we found increased TET1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex and decreased expression in the caudate-putamen and the amygdala; TET2 was upregulated in the medial thalamus; TET3 mRNA levels were reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex and the caudate-putamen; and DNMT1 was downregulated in the caudate-putamen and the medial thalamus. No statistically significant changes in expression were observed with DNMT3a. Our results suggest a complex functional role for these genes in different brain areas in the context of neuropathic pain. The notion of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation being cell-type specific and not tissue specific, as well as the possibility of chronologically differential gene expression after the establishment of neuropathic or inflammatory pain models, ought to be addressed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify and report the current landmarks used for measuring gingival thickness (GT) in healthy maxillary anterior teeth. Material and methods: The protocol of this Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020-compliant systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. A literature search was conducted to identify articles that met the eligibility criteria published up to 2022. The methods of assessing gingival thickness and the landmarks adopted on the studies were described. Primary outcomes were identified, and the frequency of reporting in the selected articles was calculated. Additionally, risk-of-bias assessments were performed for individual articles. Results: Fifty-eight articles (34 with low risk of bias and 24 with medium risk of bias) were selected. A total of 3638 individuals had their gingival thickness measured. Thirty-nine different landmarks were adopted in the studies. Fifty-six articles with 22 landmarks were included in the meta-analysis. A higher heterogeneity was found between the studies (GT ranged from 0.48 to 2.59 mm, mean GT 1.074; 95% CI: 1.024–1.104). The 3 most used landmarks were 2 mm from gingival margin (10 studies, mean GT 1.170 mm, 95% CI: 1.085–1.254), bone crest (9 studies, mean GT 1.01 mm; 95% CI: 0.937–1.083), and cemento-enamel junction (7 studies, mean GT 1.172 mm; 95% CI: 1.105, 1.239). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, a large heterogeneity in GT was found, and there was no consensus on the ideal landmark for GT measurement. Clinical relevance: The landmark 2 mm from gingival margin, located at attached gingiva, can be used for GT measurement by clinical and image-based devices. This is an important step for a quantitative instead of a qualitative evaluation of phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fullerenes are reactive as dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions. Their distinctive molecular shape and properties result in interesting and sometimes elusive reaction patterns. Herein, to contribute to the understanding of fullerene reactivity, we evaluate the energies of reactions for Diels–Alder cycloadditions of C60, C70, and IC60MA with anthracene (Ant), by means of DFT computational analysis in vacuum and solution. The methods used showed little differentiation between the reactivity of the different fullerenes. The C70-Ant adducts where addition takes place near the edge of the fullerene were found to be the most stable regioisomers. For the IC60MA-Ant adducts, the calculated energies of reaction increase in the order: equatorial > trans-3 > trans-2 ≈ trans-4 ≈ trans-1 > cis-3 > cis-2. The change in the functional suggests the existence of stabilizing dispersive interactions between the surface of the fullerene and the addends. HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) analysis indicated an increase in aromaticity in the fullerene hexagons adjacent to the bonded addend. This increase is bigger in the rings of bisadduct isomers that are simultaneously adjacent to both addends, which helps explain the extra stability of the equatorial isomers. Solvation by m-xylene decreases the exothermicity of the reactions studied but has little distinguishing effect on the possible isomers. Thermal corrections reduce the exothermicity of the reactions by ~10 kJ∙mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This cross‐sectional study assessed the role of gingival landmarks (GLs) and cutting points (CPs) for gingival phenotype (GP) determination. Methods: Six maxillary anterior teeth (70 subjects) were evaluated using soft tissue cone‐beam computed tomography (ST‐CBCT). Gingival thickness was measured at different GLs: 1) tissue zone (gingival margin [GM], 1 and 2 mm apical to GM, cemento‐enamel junction, above the bone crest); 2) bone zone (buccal bone crest [BBC], 1, 2, and 3 mm apical to BBC). CPs of 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.5 mm were used to discriminate between thin and thick GP. The clinical determination of GP was made based on transparency of the periodontal probe (TRAN). Results: The prevalence of thin and thick GP depended on the GL and CP. Considering the CP (1 mm), thin GP at the tissue zone ranged from 99% at the GM to 10.2% above the bone crest. In the bone zone, thick GP ranged from 28% at the BBC to 6% at 3 mm apical to the BBC. The predictability of a correct assessment of GP by TRAN compared with ST‐CBCT was influenced by the GLs and CPs. A slight agreement (kappa <0.2) and low accuracy (area under the curve <0.7) were found between methods. Conclusions: The determination of thin and thick GPs is related to the gingival landmarks and CPs. Further studies are required for a well‐defined treatment protocol considering different gingival landmarks in tissue and bone zones. An ST‐CBCT may be useful for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal experiment design (OED) aims to optimize the information content of experimental observations by designing the experimental conditions. In Bayesian OED for parameter estimation, the design selection is based on an expected utility metric that accounts for the joint probability distribution of the uncertain parameters and the observations. This work presents solution methods for two approximate formulations of the Bayesian OED problem based on Kullback–Leibler divergence for the particular case of Gaussian prior and observation noise distributions and the general case of arbitrary prior distributions and arbitrary observation noise distributions when the observation noise corresponds to arbitrary functions of the states and random variables with an arbitrary multivariate distribution. The proposed methods also allow satisfying path constraints with a specified probability. The solution approach relies on the reformulation of the approximate Bayesian OED problem as an optimal control problem (OCP), for which a parsimonious input parameterization is adopted to reduce the number of decision variables. An efficient global solution method for OCPs via sum-of-squares polynomials and parallel computing is then applied, which is based on approximating the cost of the OCP by a polynomial function of the decision variables and solving the resulting polynomial optimization problem to global optimality in a tractable way via semidefinite programming. It is established that the difference between the cost obtained by solving the polynomial optimization problem and the globally optimal cost of the OCP is bounded and depends on the polynomial approximation error. • Solution methods for Bayesian OED with chance path constraints are presented. • Gaussian and arbitrary prior and observation noise distributions can be handled. • A reformulation as an OCP and a parsimonious input parameterization are adopted. • A polynomial optimization problem is obtained by approximating the cost of the OCP. • Global solutions are computed in a tractable way via sum-of-squares polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical techniques can be successfully applied towards the detection of buried explosive devices, the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) being an example of one such method. This technology works through emission and reception of electromagnetic radio waves being thus able to detect the presence of a subsurface object fundamentally due to reflections from contrasting electromagnetic properties between the object and the surrounding medium (e.g., soil). Many factors can influence the success of a GPR survey (e.g., target type, soil type, environmental conditions, GPR antenna frequency, data processing techniques), being essential to know and understand their likely effects before performing GPR studies, mainly in real cases. In this paper, through the analysis of case studies related to the use of GPR technology towards the detection of buried explosive devices, we intend to arrange and layout the main prior knowledge that a forensic geophysical expert must have when dealing with this type of fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This cross-sectional study evaluated and categorized the tomographic sagittal root position (SRP) of the maxillary anterior teeth in a Brazilian population. Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomographic scans of 420 maxillary anterior teeth of 70 patients(35 men and 35 women, mean age 25.2±5.9 years) were evaluated. The SRP was classified as class I, II, III, or IV. In class I, the root is positioned against the buccal cortical plate; in class II, the root is centered in the middle of the alveolar housing; in class III, the root is positioned against the palatal cortical plate; and in class IV, at least two-thirds of the root engage both the buccal and palatal cortical plates. Results: In total, 274 teeth (65.2%) were class I, 39 (9.3%) were class II, 3 (0.7%) were class III, and 104 (24.8%) were class IV. The frequency distribution over the teeth groups was different from the overall analysis. Important differences were found in the frequencies of classes I, II, and IV compared to other populations. Sex was not associated with the SRP classes(P=0.307). Age distribution was significantly different over the classes(P=0.004). Conclusion: The findings of this study on the distribution of SRP classes among the Brazilian population compared to other populations demonstrate that the SRP should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis for an accurate treatment plan in the maxillary anterior area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of nonlinear dynamical systems are typically composed of unknown and known parts due to the existence of mismatch between the true nonlinear system dynamics and their models. This article presents a multivariable control strategy for nonlinear systems that deals explicitly with the existence of incomplete models in a data‐driven framework. The proposed strategy uses feedback linearization and continuous‐time estimation of the unknown derivatives to achieve satisfactory closed‐loop performance for fast sampling applications with simple tuning of design parameters in the absence of a fully known system model. It is shown that this strategy possesses useful steady‐state properties, such as elimination of steady‐state error and rejection of constant input disturbances without any integral term, and ensures exponential convergence to the setpoints. Another contribution of this article is the development of methods for quantitative analysis of the stability and performance of the control strategy in the continuous‐time case. The approach is illustrated via a simulated example of reactor control. The proposed control strategy is broadly applicable and simplifies control design significantly for a large variety of systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new unidimensional computational model is developed to simulate a calcination reactor in a Calcium-looping process for thermochemical energy storage in concentrating solar power systems. The proposed reactor is an absorber tube exposed to concentrated solar radiation. This tube is also the riser of a circulating fluidised bed where the calcination reaction takes place. The proposed heat transfer process models are based on the coreannulus model and the hydrodynamic model is a modified version of the Kunii-Levenspiel model. The model considers the change in the mass flow rate of species and the density change of the phases in the axial direction of the reactor, usually considered constant in the models found in the literature. A higher calcination efficiency, up to 8 p.p., is obtained for the studied reference case when assuming constant density and mass flow rate. Simulations were performed by imposing a solar-driven non-uniform heat flux distribution on the reactor wall. The results show that a 6 m height reactor allows achieving a calcination efficiency of 66% for the reference conditions used. A sensitivity analysis shows that the solids mass flow rate and the inlet bed temperature are the parameters that most affect the calcination process efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the length of the root trunk (RT) as well as the width and depth of the prefurcation area (PFA) of human mandibular first molars. Ninety-six human mandibular first molars that were extracted after being observed to be in poor condition both clinically and radiographically were used in this study. A contour-measuring instrument was used, and profiles of the buccal and lingual root surfaces of these teeth were traced on a millimeter-scaled paper. The profiles were recorded from the cementoenamel junction, millimeter by millimeter, up to the entrance of the furcation of each tooth. The width and depth of the PFA as well as the length of the RT were studied. After statistical analysis it was concluded that the mean widths of the PFA on the buccal and lingual surfaces were 3.68 ± 0.66 and 3.48 ± 0.51 mm, respectively; mean depths of the PFA on the buccal and lingual surfaces were 0.89 ± 0.42 and 0.82 ± 0.28 mm, respectively; and mean lengths of the RT on the buccal and lingual surfaces were 3.07 ± 0.82 and 3.54 ± 0.73 mm. Of the samples, the lengths of the RT and the PFA were coincident in 39.58% on the buccal surface and in 46.87% on the lingual surface. There is a concavity (PFA) in the RT region of all mandibular first molars, showing larger width and depth on the buccal surface. The RT was longer on the lingual surface in comparison with the buccal surface. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2014;34:857-861. doi: 10.11607/prd.1971) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four teeth were extracted en bloc with the marginal periodontal structures and processed for histologic purposes. Measurements were taken from the top of the gingival margin to the apical limit of the junctional epithelium (GM-JE), from the apical limit of the junctional epithelium to the top of the alveolar bone crest (JE-AB), and from the top of the gingival margin to the top of the alveolar bone crest (GM-AB). Data were histometrically analyzed. This first clinical human study demonstrated mean measurements of 1.58 ± 0.41 mm for GM-JE, 1.18 ± 0.42 mm for JE-AB, and 2.75 ± 0.59 mm for GM-AB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: This paper presents an input parameterization for dynamic optimization that allows reducing the number of decision variables compared to traditional direct methods. A small number of decision variables is likely to be beneficial for various applications such as global optimization and real‐time optimization in the presence of plant‐model mismatch. The procedure consists of three steps: (i) adjoint‐free optimal control laws are computed for all arc types that may be present in the solution, and a finite set of plausible arc sequences is postulated; (ii) the sensitivity‐seeking arcs are either described by analytical control laws or approximated by cubic splines, which results in a parsimonious input parameterization that represents the optimal inputs using only a few parameters, namely, switching times and initial conditions for the sensitivity‐seeking arcs; and (iii) for each arc sequence, optimal parameter values are computed via numerical optimization, and the sequence with the best cost is optimal. The procedure is illustrated via the simulated examples of a semibatch reactor and a distillation column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains, built around IFT-A and IFT-B complexes, are carried by opposing motors to import and export ciliary cargo. While transported by kinesin-2 on anterograde IFT trains, the dynein-2 motor adopts an autoinhibitory conformation until it needs to be activated at the ciliary tip to power retrograde IFT. Growing evidence has linked the IFT-A complex to retrograde IFT; however, its roles in this process remain unknown. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing to disable the dynein-2 autoinhibition mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans and assess its impact on IFT with high-resolution live imaging and photobleaching analyses. Remarkably, this dynein-2 "hot-wiring" approach reignites retrograde motility inside IFT-A-deficient cilia without triggering tug-of-war events. In addition to providing functional evidence that multiple mechanisms maintain dynein-2 inhibited during anterograde IFT, our data establish key roles for IFT-A in mediating motor-train coupling during IFT turnaround, promoting retrograde IFT initiation, and modulating dynein-2 retrograde motility. [Display omitted] • Hot-wiring mutations enable dynein-2 to undergo retrograde movement in IFT-A-deficient cilia • Disabling dynein-2 autoinhibition does not lead to tug-of-war during anterograde IFT • IFT-A promotes retrograde IFT initiation and efficient dynein-2 motility • IFT-A mediates dynein-2 coupling to retrograde IFT trains Gonçalves-Santos et al. show that hot-wiring C. elegans dynein-2, by disabling its autoinhibition mechanism, bypasses the need for IFT-A in the initiation of dynein-2 retrograde motility without causing tug-of-war during anterograde IFT. Notably, in the absence of IFT-A, hot-wired dynein-2 uncouples from retrograde trains and moves much slower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental assessment or prediction of plant steady state is important for many applications in the area of modeling and operation of continuous processes. For example, the iterative implementation of static real-time optimization requires reaching steady state for each successive operating point, which may be quite time-consuming. This paper presents an approach to speed up the estimation of plant steady state for imperfectly known dynamic systems that are characterized by (i) the presence of fast and slow states, with no effect of the slow states on the fast states, and (ii) the fact that the unknown part of the dynamics depends only on the fast states. The proposed approach takes advantage of measurement-based rate estimation, which consists in estimating rate signals without the knowledge or identification of rate models. Since one can use feedback control to speed up the convergence to steady state of the fast part of the plant, this rate estimation allows estimating the steady state of the slow part during transient operation. It is shown how this approach can be used to speed up the static real-time optimization of continuous processes. A simulated example illustrates its application to a continuous stirred-tank reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large information flow creates new artifacts and professional demands related to design, management and production of information. The purpose of this article is to show some subject intersections connected by the information, and also to make room for the discussion about the Design Science Research applicability in projects and subjects related to the informational artifacts and scientific knowledge production. This exploratory and bibliographic research uses theoretical contributions from Information Science, Information Design, Information Systems and from Design Science Research. The bibliographic surveys focused on the interdisciplinary relationship between the fields allowed a better comprehension of the potential cooperation of the areas in a project or a subject related to the Information Design, as it allows a glimpse of the Design Science Research application in scientific and practical proceedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]