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Abstract Protagonists allege that artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising contemporaneous mindscapes. Here, we authoritatively review the status quo of AI and machine learning application in irrigated agriculture, evaluating the potential of, and challenges associated with, a wide range of existential AI approaches. We contend that aspiring developers of AI irrigation systems may benefit from human-centred AI, a nascent algorithm that captures diverse end-user views, behaviours and actions, potentially facilitating refinement of proposed systems through iterative stakeholder feedback. AI-guided human–machine collaboration can streamline integration of user needs, allowing customisation towards situational farm management adaptation. Presentation of big data in intuitive, legible and actionable forms for specialists and laypeople also urgently requires attention: here, AI-explainable interpretability may help harness human expertise, enabling end-users to contribute their experience within an AI pipeline for bespoke outputs. Transfer learning holds promise in contextualising place-based AI to agroecological regions, production systems or enterprise mixes, even with limited data inputs. We find that the rate of AI scientific and software development in recent times has outpaced the evolution of adequate legal and institutional regulations, and often social, moral and ethical license to operate, revealing consumer issues associated with data ownership, legitimacy and trust. We opine that AI has great potential to elicit sustainable outcomes in food security, social innovation and environmental stewardship, albeit such potential is more likely to be realised through concurrent development of appropriate ethical, moral and legal dimensions.

Objective This study aimed to identify the physicochemical and phenotypic characteristics of circulating Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in the plasma of patients with SLE, with or without Lupus Nephritis (LN), and their potential utility as disease biomarkers.Methods Plasma-circulating EVs were concentrated using differential centrifugation from adult female patients (n=38) who met the ‘American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2019’ criteria for SLE diagnosis with (LN) or without LN (nLN), confirmed by renal biopsy. Controls (n=18) were healthy volunteers matched by gender and similar age. The structure, size and Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDS) of EVs were observed by electron microscopy. The surface charge and size distribution were evaluated using dynamic light scattering. The counts and phenotype of EVs from patients (SLE-EVs) and controls (Ctrl-EVs) were obtained using flow cytometry. Non-parametric statistical tests and exploratory analysis of multiple variables were performed. The discriminatory power of some variables as potential biomarkers of the disease was also evaluated.Results Circulating EVs were heterogeneous in morphology and size, but SLE-EVs reached larger diameters than Ctrl-EVs (p

Abstract Tissues are spatially orchestrated ecosystems composed of heterogeneous cell populations and non-cellular elements. Tissue components’ interactions shape the biological processes that govern homeostasis and disease, thus comprehensive insights into tissues’ composition are crucial for understanding their biology. Recently, advancements in the spatial biology field enabled the in-depth analyses of tissue architecture at single-cell resolution, while preserving the structural context. The increasing number of biomarkers analyzed, together with whole tissue imaging, generate datasets approaching several hundreds of gigabytes in size, which are rich sources of valuable knowledge but require investments in infrastructure and resources for extracting quantitative information. The analysis of multiplex whole-tissue images requires extensive training and experience in data analysis. Here, we showcase how a set of open-source tools can allow semi-automated image data extraction to study the spatial composition of tissues with a focus on tumor microenvironment (TME). With the use of Lunaphore COMET platform, we interrogated lung cancer specimens where we examined the expression of 20 biomarkers. Subsequently, the tissue composition was interrogated using an in-house optimized nuclei detection algorithm followed by a newly developed image artifact exclusion approach. Thereafter, the data was processed using several publicly available tools, highlighting the compatibility of COMET-derived data with currently available image analysis frameworks. In summary, we showcased an innovative semi-automated workflow that highlights the ease of adoption of multiplex imaging to explore TME composition at single-cell resolution using a simple slide in, data out approach. Our workflow is easily transferrable to various cohorts of specimens to provide a toolset for spatial cellular dissection of the tissue composition.

Summary: Background: Inflammation and immune dysregulation are hypothesized contributors to endometrial carcinogenesis; however, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We measured pre-diagnostically 152 plasma protein biomarkers in 624 endometrial cancer case-control pairs nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, accounting for confounding and multiple comparisons. Proteins considered as associated with endometrial cancer risk were further tested in a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary data from the UK Biobank (n = 52,363) and the Endometrial Cancer Association Consortium (12,270 cases and 46,126 controls). Findings: In the EPIC nested case-control study, IL-6 [OR per NPX (doubling of concentration) = 1.28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.57)], HGF [1.48 (1.06–2.07)], PIK3AP1 [1.22 (1.00–1.50)] and CLEC4G [1.52 (1.00–2.32)] were positively associated; HSD11B1 [0.67 (0.49–0.91)], SCF [0.68 (0.49–0.94)], and CCL25 [0.80 (0.65–0.99)] were inversely associated with endometrial cancer risk; all estimates had multiple comparisons adjusted P-value > 0.05. In complementary MR analysis, IL-6 [OR per inverse-rank normalized NPX = 1.19 (95% CI 1.04–1.36)] and HSD11B1 [0.91 (0.84–0.99)] were associated with endometrial cancer risk. Interpretation: Altered IL-6 signalling and reduced glucocorticoid activity via HSD11B1 might play important roles in endometrial carcinogenesis. Funding: Funding for IIG_FULL_2021_008 was obtained from Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF), as part of the World Cancer Research Fund International grant programme; Funding for INCA_15849 was obtained from Institut National du Cancer (INCa).

Natural disasters often result in failures of transportation network components and blackouts that imperil the wellbeing of vulnerable populations. In response to these events, resilience hubs have been proposed as a pre-disaster planning strategy to improve access to critical services. This paper introduces an optimization-based approach to locate and configure electric power-generating resilience hubs considering the possibility of failures in transportation and electric power systems. The model’s objective is to identify hub locations and configurations that maximize transportation accessibility to the hubs and maximize the satisfaction of basic energy needs through hub-generated electric power. Besides a budget constraint, the model accounts for limits on the levels of hub energy generation vis-à-vis community energy demands, and on the transportation network distance of communities to hubs. Three heuristics are presented for the proposed planning problem. The first heuristic is a genetic algorithm (GA) with problem-specific solution generation procedures. The other two heuristics implement greedy search techniques. Numerical experiments were conducted, using data from rural Puerto Rico, to illustrate the application of the proposed model and heuristics, and examine their performance. In the numerical experiments, the GA heuristic found better solutions than the greedy heuristics. Additionally, design solutions consisting of spatially dispersed hubs with low energy generation capacity were better than solutions with spatially concentrated high-capacity hubs. Lastly, across a wide range of hub demand scenarios, only a small number of candidate hub locations consistently ranked among the best locations for establishing a hub.

As for other viral diseases, the mechanisms behind the apparent relationship between COVID-19 and autoimmunity are yet to be clearly defined. Molecular mimicry, the existence of sequence and/or conformational homology between viral and human antigens, could be an important contributing factor. Here, we review the accumulated evidence supporting the occurrence of mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins. Both bioinformatic approaches and antibody cross-reactions have yielded a significant magnitude of mimicry events, far more common than expected to happen by chance. The clinical implication of this phenomenon is ample since many of the identified antigens may participate in COVID-19 pathophysiology or are targets of autoimmune diseases. Thus, autoimmunity related to COVID-19 may be partially explained by molecular mimicry and further research designed specifically to address this possibility is needed.

Abstract Background Compatibility of DiamondTemp (DT) radiofrequency (RF) catheter with the Rhythmia mapping system has not been manufacturer‐reported nor its tracking accuracy reported. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing macroreentrant atrial tachycardia ablation guided by Rhythmia and ablated using DT were prospectively enrolled. Following catheter configuration, ablation lines were performed and remapped to measure the RF tag to effective‐ablation‐line‐center (RFT‐ALC) distance. Results Among 20 consecutive patients (54 maps), 40 ablation lines were evaluated. Overall, the RFT‐ALC distance was 3.88 ± 2.95 mm, and the operator assessment of accuracy was high. No complications occurred. Conclusion The use of DT catheter guided by the Rhythmia mapping system is feasible and accurate.

Researchers conducting longitudinal data analysis in psychology and the behavioral sciences have several statistical methods to choose from, most of which either require specialized software to conduct or advanced knowledge of statistical methods to inform the selection of the correct model options (e.g., correlation structure). One simple alternative to conventional longitudinal data analysis methods is to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) from repeated measures and then use this new variable in one’s model. The present study assessed the relative efficacy of two AUC measures: the AUC with respect to the ground (AUC-g) and the AUC with respect to the increase (AUC-i) in comparison to latent growth curve modeling (LGCM), a popular repeated measures data analysis method. Using data from the ongoing Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we assessed the effects of four predictor variables on repeated measures of social anxiety, using both the AUC and LGCM. We used the full information maximum likelihood (FIML) method to account for missing data in LGCM and multiple imputation to account for missing data in the calculation of both AUC measures. Extracting parameter estimates from these models, we next conducted Monte Carlo simulations to assess the parameter bias and power (two estimates of performance) of both methods in the same models, with sample sizes ranging from 741 to 50. The results using both AUC measures in the initial models paralleled those of LGCM, particularly with respect to the LGCM baseline. With respect to the simulations, both AUC measures preformed as well or even better than LGCM in all sample sizes assessed. These results suggest that the AUC may be a viable alternative to LGCM, especially for researchers with less access to the specialized software necessary to conduct LGCM.

El Fondo Rotatorio para el acceso a las vacunas (FR) de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud es un fondo común de capital y compra mancomunada de vacunas, jeringas y equipo de cadena de frío para los Estados Miembros de la Organización. Con el objetivo de evaluar los resultados obtenidos durante su funcionamiento y analizar su contribución a los logros de inmunización, se llevó a cabo una revisión de documentos históricos y literatura gris relacionados con la historia del FR, y se revisaron los procesos actuales, los datos de plataformas alimentadas por los informes anuales de los países, los indicadores de crecimiento, la carga de enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación, la introducción de nuevas vacunas en la Región de las Américas, y lecciones aprendidas. Se encontró que, en sus 43 años de funcionamiento, el FR ha crecido y ha contribuido a la introducción de nuevas vacunas, y que la Región ha avanzado de manera acelerada en el ámbito de las inmunizaciones. Sin embargo, varios países y territorios de la Región todavía no han introducido ciertas vacunas debido a sus altos precios y al impacto económico del mantenimiento de su administración. La cláusula del precio más bajo posible y del precio uniforme para todos los Estados Miembros participantes ha sido fundamental para la contribución del FR a las metas de vacunación de los programas nacionales de inmunización, así como para la planeación oportuna de la demanda acompañada por la asesoría técnica. El abordaje interprogramático y la planeación de insumos auxiliares son necesarios para el éxito de los programas. La preparación ante pandemias, la producción regional de vacunas y la protección de presupuestos nacionales para la compra de vacunas de alto costo y su sostenibilidad constituyen aún retos en el presente y el futuro.

Abstract The presented work collects results from the evaluation of electrical response to mechanical deformation and formation of defects presented by different polymeric based composite materials with potential for applications in Structural Health Monitoring and Strain Detection. With the aim of showing the variety of key materials in sectors like civil aviation, wind energy, automotive or railway that present this ability, specimens of very different nature have been analyzed: a) thermoplastic commercial 3D printing filaments loaded with carbonic fillers; b) epoxy resin loaded with Carbon Nanotubes and c) long carbon fiber reinforced resin composite. Measurements of electrical properties of these materials were taken to evaluate their capability to detect the presence of structural defects of different sizes as well as its spatial location. On the other hand, simultaneous measurements of electrical resistivity and mechanical strain during tensile tests were performed to analyze the potential of materials as strain detectors. All composites studied have shown a positive response (modification of electrical performance) to external mechanical stimulus: induced damage and deformations. Graphical Abstract

Researchers interested in the assessment of substance use trajectories, and predictors of change, have several data analysis options. These include, among others, generalized estimating equations and latent growth curve modeling. One difficulty in the assessment of substance use, however, is the nature of the variables studied. Although counting instances of use (e.g., the number of cigarettes smoked per day) would seem to be the best option, such data present difficulties in that the distribution of these variables is not likely normal. Count variables often follow a Poisson distribution, and when dealing with substance use in the general population, there is a preponderance of zeros (representing not using). As such, substance use counts may approximate a zero-inflated Poisson distribution. Unfortunately, analyses with zero-inflated Poisson random variables are not easily accommodated in many types of software and may be beyond access to most researchers. As such, an easier method would benefit researchers interested in assessing substance use change. The purpose of this study is to assess the area under the curve as an option when dealing with repeated measures data and contrast it to one popular method of longitudinal data analysis, latent growth curve modeling. Using a Monte Carlo simulation study with varying sample sizes, we found that the area under the curve performed well with different sample sizes and compared favorably to the performance of latent growth curve modeling, particularly when dealing with smaller sample sizes. The area under the curve may be a simpler alternative for researchers, especially when dealing with smaller sample sizes.

El objetivo del presente artículo es proponer un procedimiento para la realización de la revisión energética según la norma ISO 50001: 2018, aplicable a los procesos y actividades que afectan el desempeño energético en la Organización, según el alcance y límites definidos por esta para su sistema de gestión de la energía. La revisión energética representa un análisis de la eficiencia energética, del uso de energía y del consumo de energía basado en datos y otra información, lo que lleva a la identificación de los usos significativos de la energía (USEn) y oportunidades para mejorar el desempeño energético.

Abstract One of humanity’s greatest challenges is space exploration, which requires an in-depth analysis of the data continuously collected as a necessary input to fill technological gaps and move forward in several research sectors. Focusing on space crew healthcare, a critical issue to be addressed is tissue regeneration in extreme conditions. In general, it represents one of the hottest and most compelling goals of the scientific community and the development of suitable therapeutic strategies for the space environment is an urgent need for the safe planning of future long-term manned space missions. Osteopenia is a commonly diagnosed disease in astronauts due to the physiological adaptation to altered gravity conditions. In order to find specific solutions to bone damage in a reduced gravity environment, bone tissue engineering is gaining a growing interest. With the aim to critically investigate this topic, the here presented review reports and discusses bone tissue engineering scenarios in microgravity, from scaffolding to bioreactors. The literature analysis allowed to underline several key points, such as the need for (i) biomimetic composite scaffolds to better mimic the natural microarchitecture of bone tissue, (ii) uniform simulated microgravity levels for standardized experimental protocols to expose biological materials to the same testing conditions, and (iii) improved access to real microgravity for scientific research projects, supported by the so-called democratization of space.

El análisis de los elementos del entorno que puedan afectar o beneficiar el desempeño energético en una organización permite alinear su sistema de gestión de la energía (SGEn) con la planeación estratégica y cultura organizacional, y de esta forma anticiparse a cambios que impacten en los resultados previstos, al aprovechar las oportunidades, potenciar las fortalezas, afrontar las amenazas y corregir las debilidades detectadas. El objetivo del presente artículo es una propuesta de procedimiento para la identificación de los factores internos y externos que definen el contexto de la organización, que dé cumplimiento al requisito “comprensión de la Organización y su contexto” de la norma ISO 50001 de 2018 sobre gestión de la energía.

CYP7B1 catalyzes mitochondria-derived cholesterol metabolites such as (25R)26-hydroxycholesterol (26HC) and 3β-hydroxy-5-cholesten-(25R)26-oic acid (3βHCA) and facilitates their conversion to bile acids. Disruption of 26HC/3βHCA metabolism in the absence of CYP7B1 leads to neonatal liver failure. Disrupted 26HC/3βHCA metabolism with reduced hepatic CYP7B1 expression is also found in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The current study aimed to understand the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial cholesterol metabolites and their contribution to onset of NASH. We used Cyp7b1−/− mice fed a normal diet (ND), Western diet (WD), or high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Serum and liver cholesterol metabolites as well as hepatic gene expressions were comprehensively analyzed. Interestingly, 26HC/3βHCA levels were maintained at basal levels in ND-fed Cyp7b1−/− mice livers by the reduced cholesterol transport to mitochondria, and the upregulated glucuronidation and sulfation. However, WD-fed Cyp7b1−/− mice developed insulin resistance (IR) with subsequent 26HC/3βHCA accumulation due to overwhelmed glucuronidation/sulfation with facilitated mitochondrial cholesterol transport. Meanwhile, Cyp7b1−/− mice fed an HCD did not develop IR or subsequent evidence of liver toxicity. HCD-fed mice livers revealed marked cholesterol accumulation but no 26HC/3βHCA accumulation. The results suggest 26HC/3βHCA-induced cytotoxicity occurs when increased cholesterol transport into mitochondria is coupled to decreased 26HC/3βHCA metabolism driven with IR. Supportive evidence for cholesterol metabolite-driven hepatotoxicity is provided in a diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver mouse model and by human specimen analyses. This study uncovers an insulin-mediated regulatory pathway that drives the formation and accumulation of toxic cholesterol metabolites within the hepatocyte mitochondria, mechanistically connecting IR to cholesterol metabolite-induced hepatocyte toxicity which drives nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This study utilized fifty bull calves of the Continental × British crossbreed, with an average body weight of 147.0 ± 1.67 kg (BW), in a completely randomized design. The objective was to examine the impact of varying levels and duration of calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation on the growth performance, body fat reserves, serum metabolites, and hemogram of high-risk newly received stocker calves. These calves were individually housed and fed a received diet for 56 d. The calves received the following treatments: (1) no CaPr (CTL), (2) 20 g CaPr/calf/d, (3) 40 g CaPr/calf/d, (4) 60 g CaPr/calf/d, and (5) 80 g CaPr/calf/d at 14, 28, 42, and 56 d after their arrival. Supplementing with 20 g CaPr from 28 to 56 d after arrival increased average daily gain (ADG) and BW (p < 0.05), and DMI was not affected (p > 0.05). This was reflected at 28 d with increases (p < 0.05) in the ADG/DMI ratio and longissimus muscle area (LMA), and at 56 d in back fat thickness (BFT) and fat thickness at the rump (FTR). Also, with 20 g, blood urea nitrogen decreased (p < 0.05), and increases were observed in the activity of gamma glutamyltransferase, monocytes (quadratic trend, p < 0.07), and granulocytes % (quadratic effect, p < 0.03). However, as the level of CaPr increased during the first 14 d after arrival, daily water intake, creatinine, total cholesterol, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (linear effect, p < 0.05), globulin, calcium, and mean corpuscular volume (linear trend, p = 0.08) increased, while alkaline phosphatase (linear trend, p = 0.07) and lymphocytes (linear effect, p = 0.05) decreased. Finally, the different levels of CaPr supplementation did not produce any significant effects or differences (p > 0.05) in the remaining serum metabolites and hemogram (p > 0.05). Ultimately, the inclusion of 20 g CaPr/calf/d in the diet for 28 d in newly received stocker calves increased ADG, ADG/DMI ratio, and LMA. If extended to 42 or 56 d, the increases in ADG persisted, but there was also a rise in body fat reserves (BFT and FTR) at the expense of a reduction in the ADG/DMI ratio. Furthermore, the different supplementation levels did not impact the reference range for most serum metabolites or the health of stocker calves.

Traditional interpolation methods, such as IDW, kriging, radial basis functions, and regularized splines, are commonly used to generate digital elevation models (DEM). All of these methods have strong statistical and analytical foundations (such as the assumption of randomly distributed data points from a gaussian correlated stochastic surface); however, when data are acquired non-homogeneously (e.g., along transects) all of them show over/under-smoothing of the interpolated surface depending on local point density. As a result, actual information is lost in high point density areas (caused by over-smoothing) or artifacts appear around uneven density areas (“pimple” or “transect” effects). In this paper, we introduce a simple but robust multigrid/multiresolution interpolation (MMI) method which adapts to the spatial resolution available, being an exact interpolator where data exist and a smoothing generalizer where data are missing, but always fulfilling the statistical requirement that surface height mathematical expectation at the proper working resolution equals the mean height of the data at that same scale. The MMI is efficient enough to use K-fold cross-validation to estimate local errors. We also introduce a fractal extrapolation that simulates the elevation in data-depleted areas (rendering a visually realistic surface and also realistic error estimations). In this work, MMI is applied to reconstruct a real DEM, thus testing its accuracy and local error estimation capabilities under different sampling strategies (random points and transects). It is also applied to compute the bathymetry of Gulf of San Jorge (Argentina) from multisource data of different origins and sampling qualities. The results show visually realistic surfaces with estimated local validation errors that are within the bounds of direct DEM comparison, in the case of the simulation, and within the 10% of the bathymetric surface typical deviation in the real calculation.

Nucleic acid sensing is a 3 decades old but still challenging area of application for different biological sub-domains, from pathogen detection to single cell transcriptomics analysis. The many applications of nucleic acid detection and identification are mostly carried out by PCR techniques, sequencing, and their derivatives used at large scale. However, these methods’ limitations on speed, cost, complexity and specificity have motivated the development of innovative detection methods among which nucleic acid biosensing technologies seem promising. Toehold switches are a particular class of RNA sensing devices relying on a conformational switch of secondary structure induced by the pairing of the detected trigger RNA with a de novo designed synthetic sensing mRNA molecule. Here we describe a streamlined methodology enabling the development of such a sensor for the RNA-mediated detection of an endangered plant species in a cell-free reaction system. We applied this methodology to help identify the rosewood Dalbergia maritima, a highly trafficked wood, whose protection is limited by the capacity of the authorities to distinguish protected logs from other unprotected but related species. The streamlined pipeline presented in this work is a versatile framework enabling cheap and rapid development of new sensors for custom RNA detection.

Background. Mallampati scoring is a common exam method for evaluating the oropharynx as a part of the airway assessment and for anticipation of difficult intubation. It partitions the oropharynx into 4 categories with scores of 1, 2, 3, and 4. Even though its reliability is known to be limited by confounding factors such as patient positioning, patient phonation, tongue protrusion, and examiner variability, the effect of respiration, i.e., inspiration and expiration, has not yet been formally studied. Methods. Mallampati scores were collected from 100 surgical patients during both inspiration and expiration and later compared to the score obtained in the medical record, determined by a board certified anesthesiologist. Results. Score deviations from the medical record reference were compared for both inspiration and expiration showing that respiration affects Mallampati scores; for some patients, the scores improved (i.e., decreased), while in others they worsened (i.e., increased). The respiratory change effect was quantified and visualized by plotting the area under the curve of the histogram of the deviations. 42% of the patients had a worsening of scores by 1 or 2 points with inspiration while 36% of the patients had a worsening of scores by 1 or 2 points with expiration. Conclusions. Mallampati scoring is commonly used in evaluating the oropharynx as a part of the airway assessment and as a screening tool for difficult intubations. However, as this study points out, the respiratory cycle substantially affects the Mallampati scoring system, with significant deviations of 1 or 2 points. In a scoring system of 4 score categories, these deviations are remarkable.

This article proposes a model predictive control (MPC) strategy for a quadrotor drone trajectory tracking based on a compact state-space model based on a quasi-linear parameter varying (qLPV) representation of the nonlinear quadrotor. The use of a qLPV representation allows for faster execution times, which can be suitable for real-time applications and for solving the optimization problem using quadratic programming (QP). The estimation of future values of the scheduling parameters along the prediction horizon is made by using the planned trajectory based on the previous optimal control actions. The performance of the proposed approach is tested by following different trajectories in simulation to show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

Diferentes condiciones experimentales fueron empleadas para evaluar el tipo de ácido y el pH adecuados para la extracción de pectina a partir de cáscaras de cacao y su aplicación en la obtención de una biopelicula. Se estudió tipo de ácido: clorhídrico y cítrico, y el pH a niveles 2, 3 y 4 a una temperatura constante de 90°C, las variables respuestas fueron: rendimiento de pectina, % de metoxilo % de esterificación, % de ácido galacturónico y % de acidez. En las extracciones de pectina, se reportó un rendimiento promedio de ácido cítrico para un pH de 2.0 de 2.17%; para un pH 3.0 de 2.56% y el pH de 4.0 de 1.03%; para el ácido clorhídrico se reportó un rendimiento promedio con pH 2.0 de 2.68%; para un pH de 3.0 de 2.13% y para un pH de 4.0 un rendimiento de 0.83%. La pectina fue caracterizada mediante la técnica de Owens para evaluar variables de acidez libre, peso equivalente y grado de esterificación, adicionalmente se realizó un análisis FTIR para conocer los grupos funcionales. Basados en el análisis del diseño experimental utilizado, se seleccionó la pectina de mejores características para la fabricación de la biopelícula mediante la mezcla de pectina con glicerina como agente plastificante. Se sometió la biopelícula a prueba de biodegradabilidad aerobia, según lo expuesto en la norma ISO 17556 de 2019 donde se obtuvo una pérdida de peso del 18,8% y producción de 53 mg de en 5 días, mostrando una buena capacidad de biodegradabilidad.

Abstract Background Culturing cells as cell spheres results in a tissue-like environment that drives unique cell phenotypes, making it useful for generating cell populations intended for therapeutic use. Unfortunately, common methods that utilize static suspension culture have limited scalability, making commercialization of such cell therapies challenging. Our team is developing an allogeneic cell therapy for the treatment of lumbar disc degeneration comprised of discogenic cells, which are progenitor cells expanded from human nucleus pulposus cells that are grown in a sphere configuration. Methods We evaluate sphere production in Erlenmeyer, horizontal axis wheel, stirred tank bioreactor, and rocking bag format. We then explore the use of ramped agitation profiles and computational fluid dynamics to overcome obstacles related to cell settling and the undesired impact of mechanical forces on cell characteristics. Finally, we grow discogenic cells in stirred tank reactors (STRs) and test outcomes in vitro (potency via aggrecan production and identity) and in vivo (rabbit model of disc degeneration). Results Computation fluid dynamics were used to model hydrodynamic conditions in STR systems and develop statistically significant correlations to cell attributes including potency (measured by aggrecan production), cell doublings, cell settling, and sphere size. Subsequent model-based optimization and testing resulted in growth of cells with comparable attributes to the original static process, as measured using both in vitro and in vivo models. Maximum shear rate (1/s) was maintained between scales to demonstrate feasibility in a 50 L STR (200-fold scale-up). Conclusions Transition of discogenic cell production from static culture to a stirred-tank bioreactor enables cell sphere production in a scalable format. This work shows significant progress towards establishing a large-scale bioprocess methodology for this novel cell therapy that can be used for other, similar cell therapies.

The rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related cirrhosis highlights the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for driving the transition of hepatic steatosis (fatty liver; NAFL) to steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis/cirrhosis. Obesity-related insulin resistance (IR) is a well-known hallmark of early NAFLD progression, yet the mechanism linking aberrant insulin signaling to hepatocyte inflammation has remained unclear. Recently, as a function of more distinctly defining the regulation of mechanistic pathways, hepatocyte toxicity as mediated by hepatic free cholesterol and its metabolites has emerged as fundamental to the subsequent necroinflammation/fibrosis characteristics of NASH. More specifically, aberrant hepatocyte insulin signaling, as found with IR, leads to dysregulation in bile acid biosynthetic pathways with the subsequent intracellular accumulation of mitochondrial CYP27A1-derived cholesterol metabolites, (25R)26-hydroxycholesterol and 3β-Hydroxy-5-cholesten-(25R)26-oic acid, which appear to be responsible for driving hepatocyte toxicity. These findings bring forth a “two-hit” interpretation as to how NAFL progresses to NAFLD: abnormal hepatocyte insulin signaling, as occurs with IR, develops as a “first hit” that sequentially drives the accumulation of toxic CYP27A1-driven cholesterol metabolites as the “second hit”. In the following review, we examine the mechanistic pathway by which mitochondria-derived cholesterol metabolites drive the development of NASH. Insights into mechanistic approaches for effective NASH intervention are provided.

Simeoni et al discuss how recent structural work has improved our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1-mediated translation inhibition and how Nsp1 inhibition could impact host immune responses and suppress viral replication.

We describe a straightforward model to implement a high volume specialty surgery program at a community hospital. Using pancreatic surgery as an example, we employed published processes in three arenas. First, mandatory multidisciplinary tumor board presentations captured all the patients considered for surgery. Then, perioperative protocols using tools such as enhanced recovery and teamwork in the perioperative arena created a reproducible and safe environment for complex surgery. We critically reviewed all complications using the Clavien-Dindo methodology, and confirmed our favorable outcomes via the targeted NSQIP program. These standard steps can be used for implementation of a new complex surgical procedure.

Abstract To determine if apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) can discriminate between posterior fossa brain tumours on a multicentre basis. A total of 124 paediatric patients with posterior fossa tumours (including 55 Medulloblastomas, 36 Pilocytic Astrocytomas and 26 Ependymomas) were scanned using diffusion weighted imaging across 12 different hospitals using a total of 18 different scanners. Apparent diffusion coefficient maps were produced and histogram data was extracted from tumour regions of interest. Total histograms and histogram metrics (mean, variance, skew, kurtosis and 10th, 20th and 50th quantiles) were used as data input for classifiers with accuracy determined by tenfold cross validation. Mean ADC values from the tumour regions of interest differed between tumour types, (ANOVA P

Controlling an automotive suspension system using an actuator is a complex nonlinear problem that requires both fast and precise solutions in order to achieve optimal performance. In this work, the nonlinear model of a quarter-car active suspension is expressed in terms of a flat output and its derivatives in order to embed the nonlinearities of the system in the flat output. Afterward, a Model Predictive Controller based on the differential flatness derivation (MPC-DF) of the quarter-car is proposed in order to achieve optimal control performance in both passenger comfort and road holding without diminishing the lifespan of the wheel. This formulation results in a linear optimization problem while maintaining the nonlinear behavior of the active suspension system. Afterward, the optimization problem is solved by means of Quadratic Programming (QP), enabling real-time implementation. Simulation results are presented using a realistic road disturbance to show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

NAFLD is an important public health issue closely associated with the pervasive epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Yet, despite NAFLD being among the most common of chronic liver diseases, the biological factors responsible for its transition from benign nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to NASH remain unclear. This lack of knowledge leads to a decreased ability to find relevant animal models, predict disease progression, or develop clinical treatments. In the current study, we used multiple mouse models of NAFLD, human correlation data, and selective gene overexpression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StarD1) in mice to elucidate a plausible mechanistic pathway for promoting the transition from NAFL to NASH. We show that oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7B1) controls the levels of intracellular regulatory oxysterols generated by the “acidic/alternative” pathway of cholesterol metabolism. Specifically, we report data showing that an inability to upregulate CYP7B1, in the setting of insulin resistance, results in the accumulation of toxic intracellular cholesterol metabolites that promote inflammation and hepatocyte injury. This metabolic pathway, initiated and exacerbated by insulin resistance, offers insight into approaches for the treatment of NAFLD.

Abstract Background The demand for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is quickly rising given the escalating global incidence of hip osteoarthritis, and it is widely accepted that the post-surgery rehabilitation is key to optimize outcomes. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new telerehabilitation solution, ReHub, for the physical function and clinical outcome improvement following THA. The specific aims of this manuscript are to describe the study design, protocol, content of interventions, and primary and secondary outcomes and to discuss the clinical rehabilitation impact of the expected experimental results. Methods/design This prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial will include 56 patients who had undergone primary THA. Patients are randomized to a control group (standard rehabilitation during the 2-week stay in the rehabilitation clinic followed by 3 weeks of unsupervised home-based rehabilitation) or an experimental group (standard rehabilitation during the 2-week stay in the rehabilitation clinic followed by 3 weeks of home-based ReHub-assisted telerehabilitation). The primary outcome is physical performance assessed through the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes include independence level, pain intensity, hip disability, hip range of motion, muscle strength, and patient’s perception of clinical improvement. Discussion Proving the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a home-based telerehabilitation program for physical and muscle function following THA could support its systematic incorporation in post-surgical rehabilitation protocols, which should be tailored to the individual and collective needs. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04176315 . Registered on 22 November 2019

An adequate food supply is widely recognized as a necessary condition for social development as well as a basic human right. Food deficits are especially common among semi-subsistence farming households in eastern and southern Africa and farm productivity is widely regarded as the locus for enhancing household food outcomes. However, knowledge gaps surrounding benefits associated with climate smart, productivity-enhancing technologies require attention. This study evaluates benefits associated with sustainable intensification farm management practices (crop residue retention, minimum tillage, manure application and use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, and improved seeds) for household calorie and protein supplies and demonstrates their scope across households with high-, moderate- and low- likelihoods of calorie and protein deficits. Household-level calorie and protein deficits were estimated from survey data on food production, acquisition and consumption for households in Ethiopia and Mozambique. Multinomial logistic models were used to identify drivers of household food deficit status and logistic model trees established “rules of thumb” to classify households by food deficit status as low, moderate or high likelihood. In Ethiopia, especially wet seasons were associated with a high likelihood of a food deficit while especially dry seasons were associated with a high likelihood of food deficit in Mozambique. The practices associated with sustainable intensification and related technologies substantially enhanced food outcomes in groups with a high- and a low-likelihood of food deficit, and associated benefits were high for the best-off households. Benefits associated with sustainable intensification technologies were not observed for households with a moderate likelihood of a food deficit and some technologies even increased risk. The sustainable intensification practices assessed here were associated with improved food outcomes yet benefits were limited in scope for households of intermediate status. Thus, there is a need to expand the technical options available to reduce food deficit.

Se revisa el estado taxonómico de Gastrotheca peruana usando métodos filogenéticos en base a secuencias de 16S rRNA. Los árboles de máxima verosimilitud y Bayesiano mostraron que las variantes génicas de G. peruana forman dos clados que no son hermanos. Uno de estos clados se distribuye en el norte de Perú, incluyendo un individuo procedente de la localidad típica de G. peruana dissimilis. El segundo clado está restringido al centro de Perú y contiene individuos de las localidades tipo de dos formas nominales, G. p. peruana y G. p. junensis, y es hermano de G. aratia. De esta forma, reconocemos dos especies dentro de lo que actualmente se conoce como G. peruana. Restringimos Gastrotheca peruana a las poblaciones del centro de Perú (departamentos de Ancash, Lima, Pasco y Junín) y asignamos Gastrotheca dissimilis a las poblaciones de los departamentos de La Libertad y Cajamarca.

Twenty percent of deaths in the United States are secondary to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In patients with hyperlipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, studies have shown high atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) event rates despite the use of statins. Given the association of high triglyceride (TG) levels with elevated cholesterol and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) cholesterol guidelines recommend using elevated TGs as a “risk-enhancing factor” for ASCVD and using omega 3 fatty acids (Ω3FAs) for patients with persistently elevated severe hypertriglyceridemia. Ω3FA, or fish oils (FOs), have been shown to reduce very high TG levels, hospitalizations, and CVD mortality in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We have published the largest meta-analysis to date demonstrating significant effects on several CVD outcomes, especially fatal myocardial infarctions (MIs) and total MIs. Despite the most intensive research on Ω3FAs on CVD, their benefits have been demonstrated to cluster across multiple systems and pathologies, including autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, chronic kidney disease, central nervous system diseases, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. A review and summary of the controversies surrounding Ω3FAs, some of the latest evidence-based findings, and the current and most updated recommendations on Ω3FAs are presented in this paper.

Background Cardiac manifestations in COVID-19 are multifactorial and are associated with increased mortality. The clinical utility and prognostic value of echocardiography in COVID-19 inpatients is not clearly defined. We aim to identify echocardiographic parameters that are associated with 30-day clinical outcomes secondary to COVID-19 hospitalization. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a large tertiary hospital in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. It included 214 adult inpatients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab and had a transthoracic echocardiogram performed during the index hospitalization. Primary outcome was 30-day all-cause inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes were 30-day utilization of mechanical ventilator support, vasopressors, or renal replacement therapy. Results Mild right ventricular systolic dysfunction (odds ratio (OR): 3.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63–7.57, p = 0.001), moderate to severe right ventricular systolic dysfunction (OR: 7.30, 95% CI: 2.20–24.25, p = 0.001), pulmonary hypertension (OR: 5.39, 95% CI: 1.96–14.86, p = 0.001), and moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (OR: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.71–9.03, p = 0.001) were each associated with increased odds of 30-day all-cause inpatient mortality. Pulmonary hypertension and moderate to severe right ventricular dysfunction were each associated with increased odds of 30-day utilization of mechanical ventilator support and vasopressors. Conclusions Right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation were associated with increased odds for 30-day inpatient mortality. This study highlights the importance of echocardiography and its clinical utility and prognostic value for evaluating hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

How plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol is controlled is poorly understood. Ablation of the gene encoding the ER stress steroidogenic acute regulatory-related lipid transfer domain (StarD)5 leads to a decrease in PM cholesterol content, a decrease in cholesterol efflux, and an increase in intracellular neutral lipid accumulation in macrophages, the major cell type that expresses StarD5. ER stress increases StarD5 expression in mouse hepatocytes, which results in an increase in accessible PM cholesterol in WT but not in StarD5−/− hepatocytes. StarD5−/− mice store higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which leads to altered expression of cholesterol-regulated genes. In vitro, a recombinant GST-StarD5 protein transfers cholesterol between synthetic liposomes. StarD5 overexpression leads to a marked increase in PM cholesterol. Phasor analysis of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy data revealed an increase in PM fluidity in StarD5−/− macrophages. Taken together, these studies show that StarD5 is a stress-responsive protein that regulates PM cholesterol and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.

This paper discusses the use of a nonlinear sensing technology based on radio frequency (RF) intermodulation response to track both the vital signs and location of human subjects. Smart health sensing was realized through the use of a wearable nonlinear tag and an intermodulation-based nonlinear sensor operating in both Doppler and frequency shift keying (FSK) modes. The Doppler mode was used to detect the heartbeat and breathing of the target subject while human subject localization was achieved in the FSK mode. One of the key advantages of this nonlinear smart sensor system was clutter rejection. This system identified the signal reflected from the wearable nonlinear tag and suppressed undesired signals and interferences that were reflected from other objects. The wearable tags used for the experiments were passive, hence they did not require any battery or power supply for their operation. Since the respiration signal is typically stronger than the heartbeat signal, the nonlinear detection setup was designed such that the respiratory signal receives less gain to avoid its sidelobes and harmonics from interfering heartbeat signal detection. This enhanced the heartbeat signal quality so that the cardiac activity could be easily tracked. Four types of experiments were performed on multiple subjects to demonstrate the advantages of this intermodulation-based nonlinear smart health sensing system. Previously, 2nd order harmonics were utilized for target localization and vital sign monitoring. However, these 2nd order harmonics suffer from high path loss and licensing issues. In this paper, target localization and smart health sensing were realized using 3rd order intermodulation with less path loss and no licensing issues compared with its harmonic counterparts. The experiment performed in nonlinear FSK mode was able to detect and locate the source of motion with high accuracy. Similarly, vital signs were recorded in the nonlinear Doppler mode. The design effectively made the amplitude of the heartbeat signal component more prominent, so that the sidelobes and harmonics of respiration do not suppress heartbeat signal.

In this paper, we present the work conducted by Vodafone to enrich the understanding of people movement in Italy during the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020, and the tool developed to support the decisions taken by the authorities during that period. We have developed a solution to anonymously monitor the daily movements of Vodafone SIMs in Italy, at aggregate level, at different spatial and temporal granularity, to provide insights into the movements of Italians.

Low back pain (LBP) is a serious medical condition that affects a large percentage of the population worldwide. One cause of LBP is disc degeneration (DD), which is characterized by progressive breakdown of the disc and an inflamed disc environment. Current treatment options for patients with symptomatic DD are limited and are often unsuccessful, so many patients turn to prescription opioids for pain management in a time when opioid usage, addiction, and drug-related deaths are at an all-time high. In this paper, we discuss the etiology of lumbar DD and currently available treatments, as well as the potential for cell therapy to offer a biologic, non-opioid alternative to patients suffering from the condition. Finally, we present an overview of an investigational cell therapy called IDCT (Injectable Discogenic Cell Therapy), which is currently under evaluation in multiple double-blind clinical trials overseen by major regulatory agencies. The active ingredient in IDCT is a novel allogeneic cell population known as Discogenic Cells. These cells, which are derived from intervertebral disc tissue, have been shown to possess both regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. Cell therapies have unique properties that may ultimately lead to decreased pain and improved function, as well as curb the numbers of patients pursuing opioids. Their efficacy is best assessed in rigorous double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical studies.

The active suspension system of a vehicle manipulated using electro-hydraulic actuators is a challenging nonlinear control problem. In this research work, a novel Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) State-Space (SS) model with a fictional input is proposed to represent a nonlinear half-car active suspension system. Four different scheduling parameters are used to embed the nonlinearities of both the suspension and the electro hydraulic actuators to represent its nonlinear behavior. A recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm is used to predict the future behavior of the scheduling parameters along the prediction horizon. A Model Predictive Control-Linear Quadratic Regulator (MPC-LQR) is implemented as the control strategy and, to ensure stability, Quadratic Stability conditions are imposed as Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) constraints. Furthermore, the inclusion of attraction sets to overcome the conservative performance imposed by the Quadratic Stability conditions is included, as well as a terminal set were the switching between the MPC and the LQR controller is made. Simulations results for the half-car active suspension model over a typical road disturbance are tested to show the effectiveness of the proposed MPC-LQR-LPV controller with quadratic stability conditions in terms of comfort and road-holding.

Abstract An accurate method for quantifying associated metabolic cost has yet to be developed for a strength training session (ST). The aim of this study was to quantify the energy expenditure (EE) in an ST session composed of eight exercises at moderate intensity using indirect calorimetry and, from the values obtained, develop a prediction equation for estimating EE. Fifteen males (22.9 ± 2.61 years old), with at least 12 months of experience in ST performed one session of strength training composed of 8 exercises. Three sets of repetitions were performed until concentric failure for each exercise at 75% of 1-repetition maximum (75% of 1RM). The model demonstrated that session time and load volume of ST was a significant predictor of EE (p

Resumo O presente estudo avaliou o impacto das práticas de integração família-escola no Brasil sobre o desempenho dos alunos, via um modelo estatístico cujas variáveis construídas buscaram representar as práticas de integração analisadas pelas pesquisas brasileiras. Foram utilizados os microdados Saeb de 2011, que possuíam informações de 3.238.506 alunos do 5º ano do ensino fundamental. Como variável dependente foi utilizado o nível de proficiência adquirido pelos alunos em matemática e língua portuguesa calculado pelo Saeb. As respostas aos questionários do Saeb, dadas pelos alunos, professores e diretores das escolas, foram empregadas para se criarem as variáveis independentes que buscaram representar as práticas: dever de casa, reunião de pais, expectativas da escola em relação aos pais do aluno e as estratégias de comunicação da escola com a família. Via um modelo de regressão múltipla observou-se um efeito positivo das práticas de integração família-escola sobre o desempenho dos alunos. Entretanto, foi também observado que: 1. certas posturas de cobrança da escola trouxeram efeitos negativos em relação ao desempenho dos alunos. 2. quando os alunos possuíam pais que sabiam ler e escrever, fazer dever de casa produziu maiores resultados do que os alunos que também faziam, mas que possuíam pais que não sabiam ler e escrever.

T-cell receptor excision circle levels are a surrogate marker of T-cell production and immune system function. We sought to determine whether non-pathological levels of infant T-cell receptor excision circles were associated with adverse events following immunization. A self-controlled case series design was applied on a sample of 231,693 children who completed newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency in Ontario, Canada between August 2013 and December 2015. Exposures included routinely administered pediatric vaccines up to 15 months of age. Main outcomes were combined health services utilization for recognized adverse events following immunization. 1,406,981 vaccination events were included in the final dataset. 103,007 children received the Pneu-C-13 or Men-C-C vaccine and 97,998 received the MMR vaccine at 12 months of age. 67,725 children received the varicella immunization at 15 months. Our analysis identified no association between newborn T-cell receptor excision circle levels and subsequent health services utilization events following DTa-IPV-Hib, Pneu-C-13, and Men-C-C vaccinations at 2-month (RI 0.94[95%CI 0.87-1.02]), 4-month (RI 0.82[95%CI 0.75-0.9]), 6-month (RI 0.63[95%CI 0.57-0.7]) and 12-month (RI 0.49[95%CI 0.44-0.55]). We also found no trends in health services utilization following MMR (RI 1.43[95%1.34-1.52]) or varicella (RI 1.14[95%CI 1.05-1.23]) vaccination. Our findings provide further support for the safety of pediatric vaccinations.

Classifying software defects according to any defined taxonomy is not straightforward. In order to be used for automatizing the classification of software defects, two sets of defect reports were collected from public issue tracking systems from two different real domains. Due to the lack of a domain expert, the collected defects were categorized by a set of annotators of unknown reliability according to their impact from IBM's orthogonal defect classification taxonomy. Both datasets are prepared to solve the defect classification problem by means of techniques of the learning from crowds paradigm (Hernández-González et al. [1]).Two versions of both datasets are publicly shared. In the first version, the raw data is given: the text description of defects together with the category assigned by each annotator. In the second version, the text of each defect has been transformed to a descriptive vector using text-mining techniques.

Abstract Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric condition characterized by low body weight, fear of weight gain/becoming fat and/or behavior that interferes with weight gain, and body disturbance. Though there have been recent advances in the treatment of AN, there continues to be an urgent need to increase treatment options. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) has been successfully used as an adjunctive treatment for individuals with AN. In this study, we pilot the use of CRT plus an innovative parent involvement component as a pre-treatment intervention on a medical unit. We hypothesize that adding CRT with parent involvement to a standard hospital stay is feasible, acceptable by patients and staff, and may improve treatment outcomes post-hospitalization. Methods/design This is a pilot randomized controlled trial with three arms. Participants are adolescents aged 12–18 with AN; 60 participants will be included. They are randomized into one of three groups: treatment as usual (TAU, standard care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), CRT + contact control (known as “Family Fun Time”), and CRT + Teach the Parent. Intervention will occur on an inpatient basis. Follow-up will be outpatient and will continue until 6 months post-discharge. Psychosocial, neurocognitive, and behavioral measures will be collected throughout the study, and group differences will be evaluated at 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-discharge. The study will take place at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Discussion This pilot randomized controlled trial will inform feasibility of the integration of a pre-treatment intervention into a medical hospital stay for AN. We will assess recruitment procedures, treatment administration, and participant retention. Finally, a comprehensive assessment battery will be evaluated. Secondary goals are to conduct a preliminary evaluation of whether or not CRT with parent involvement increases rate of weight gain and treatment engagement and decreases parental accommodation of symptoms post-discharge. If successful, this pilot study will inform a larger controlled trial fully powered to examine the secondary goals. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02883413

Chinese vegetable production cooperatives supply their members, mostly smallholder farmers, with a rotation schedule for the year. Since vegetable prices are not stable throughout the year, designing a rotation schedule that maximizes expected profits, distributes farmers' profits more equitably, maintains the diversity of produce in the market, and reduces the risk of pests and diseases, requires adaptive, price-contingent rotation schedules (here, called “self-adaptive adjustment”). This study uses an agent-based simulation (ABS) to design self-adaptive rotation schedules that deliver these aims. The self-adaptive adjustment strategy was more profitable for farmers when faced with price volatility, and more equitable as well. This work provides a decision-support tool for managers of Chinese vegetable production cooperatives to provide farmers with more profitable and equitable rotation schedules.

The control of an automotive suspension system by means of a hydraulic actuator is a complex nonlinear control problem. In this work, a linear parameter varying (LPV) model is proposed to reduce the complexity of the system while preserving the nonlinear behavior. In terms of control, a dual controller consisting of a model predictive control (MPC) and a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) is implemented. To ensure stability, quadratic stability conditions are imposed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). Simulation results for quarter-car model over several disturbances are tested in both frequency and time domain to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

The United States (US) aviation industry provides a potentially useful mental model for dealing with certain cost-benefit decisions in aesthesiology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the national aviation authority of the United States, quantifies a price for the value of a human life based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) value of a statistical life (VSL) unit. The current VSL is around $9.6 million, indexed to grow with consideration given to inflation and wage changes from the 2016 baseline of $9.4 million [1]. To illustrate the concept, if the FAA estimates that 100 people are likely to die in the future given the current practice standards then the monetary cost of this loss will be $940 million. The FAA uses this estimated monetary value as an official reference point in its regulatory decisions, and the agency publishes in detail how it derives the estimated value. When proposing new regulations, the FAA bases its decisions on comparisons of the human life cost associated with the existing regulation versus the alternative cost that the industry stakeholders will incur subsequent to the adoption of the regulation. In this example, if the cost incurred by the industry is more than the $940 million cost then the FAA will not adopt the proposed regulation and hence will not require the industry to undertake this cost.