Model reference adaptive control of drug infusion rate

The role of model reference adaptive control is under consideration for a computer based feedback system which will regulate the infusion rate of a drug (nitroprusside) in order to maintain desired blood pressure. Because the transfer function parameters are different for each patient and furthermore are variable with time, an adaptive algorithm is desirable for maintaining both steady-state and transient specifications. To this effect, computer simulation has shown that direct (or implicit) model reference procedures might be successfully applied to the control of blood pressure despite the uncertainty in the delays, time constant and gains. Additional efforts concerned with the actual demonstration of these concepts on dogs have further supported the role of adaptive control for blood pressure regulation.     

A study of gas and liquid distributions in structured packings

This study describes the gas and liquid distributions in a column with structured packings. The column is 0.5 m in diameter. It is equipped with a total of 1289 detectors in the top and bottom cross-sections. These detectors provide a detailed picture of the gas and liquid flows through elements of only 25 × 25 mm². The maldistribution in the gas bulk flow is negligible. Only the observed wall can contribute to malperformance. The gas flows in parallel to sheet orientation, thus introducing a radial transport. Together with the change in the orientation of subsequent packing elements, this results in good gas mixing. It was observed that the liquid wall flow rate decreases when the gas velocity exceeds 1.7 m/s. Up to the loading point, the maldistribution of the liquid is constant. Above this point, the equality of the distribution deteriorates rapidly, due to the occurrence of large-scale liquid segregation.     

RESILIENT ECOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS OF THE FENGXINGLONG ECOLOGICAL PARK,SANYA

In the past 30 years, Sanya has developed into a high-density city with fragmented ecosystems and bottlenecked urban development. In April 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development proposed “Ecological Restoration and Urban Remediation” for Sanya and prioritized the Sanya and Linchun Rivers — two rivers that run through the central city — as core causes. The Fengxinglong Ecological Park project is located at the junction of the two rivers in downtown and its surroudings are occupied for various land uses. Diversified urban interfaces, abundant green space, and numerous ecological contradictions make the site critical for the remediation and restoration of waterways in Sanya. Through a series of resilient landscape design interventions, Fengxinglong Ecological Park catches, stores, and purifies rainwater to reduce river pollution and flooding disasters in addition to offering recreational funtions. As a valuable “urban sponge” and comprehensive resilient ecological park, it has helped restore the historic ecosystem and realized the intensive use of resources.     

多处理引擎的异构系统引领边缘AI高效部署

在过去的两年里,边缘人工智能(Edge AI)实现了加速发展,这主要得益于小型化神经网络架构的进步,从而可以在微控制器级(MCU)的器件上实现高精度.这增加了边缘AI应用和设备的数量,这些应用和设备可以通过这项技术以较低的成本实现.这方面的一个示例就是关键字识别,它已经成为智能家居设备交互的标准方式.     

Modelling bacterial water quality in streams draining pastoral land

A model has been developed to predict concentrations of the faecal bacteria indicator E. coli in streams draining grazed hill-country in New Zealand. The long-term aim of the modelling is to assess effects of land management upon faecal contamination and, in the short term, to provide a framework for field-based research. A daily record of grazing livestock is used to estimate E. coli inputs to a catchment, and transport of bacteria to the stream network is simulated within surface and subsurface flows. Deposition of E. coli directly to streams is incorporated where cattle have access to them, and areas of permanent saturation ('seepage zones') are also represented. Bacteria are routed down the stream network and in-stream processes of deposition and entrainment are simulated. Die-off, both on land and in water, is simulated as a function of temperature and solar radiation. The model broadly reproduces observed E. coli concentrations in a hill-country catchment grazed by sheep and beef cattle, although uncertainty exists with a number of the processes represented. The model is sensitive to the distance over which surface runoff delivers bacteria to a stream and the amount of excretion direct to streams and onto seepage zones. Scenario analysis suggests that riparian buffer strips may improve bacterial water quality both by eliminating livestock defaecation in and near streams, and by trapping of bacteria by the riparian vegetation.     

Co-evolution of waste and electricity regimes: Multi-regime dynamics in the Netherlands (1969–2003)

This article explores how the relation between waste and electricity regimes changed in the Netherlands in a long-term perspective. The concept of socio-technical regime is used to investigate institutional, technological and social (network) changes. The conclusion is that the relationship changed from two regimes being separated into a much more symbiotic and integrated relationship through a multi-level and co-evolutionary process. The concept of ‘biomass’ has become a binding element in the relationship.     

Traffic conflicts on bicycle paths: A systematic observation of behaviour from video

In The Netherlands, on bicycle paths, single-bicycle accidents, bicycle–bicycle and bicycle–moped accidents constitute a considerable share of all bicyclist injuries. Over three quarters of all hospitalised bicyclist victims in the Netherlands cannot be directly related to a crash with motorised traffic. As the usage of bicycle paths steadily increases, it is to be expected that safety on bicycle paths will become a major issue in the coming years in The Netherlands.     

The road code: encouraging more efficient driving practices in New Zealand

Road transport contributes a significant amount towards New Zealand’s carbon emissions, mostly from light vehicles. These emissions could be partly reduced by an increase in more efficient driving practices, and reductions of 10–20% of fuel are possible without increasing trip times significantly. This study was conducted to understand whether people knew how to drive efficiently, whether they actually ever drove in an efficient manner and what ways there could be to influence people to drive more efficiently. Focus groups were conducted across New Zealand in urban and rural areas with groups of students, young professionals, parents and older people in order to cover different lifestyles and environments. These focus groups covered a wide range of topics including knowledge and practices of efficient driving, learning to drive, infrastructure and aspirations. Our results show that most people reported knowing the things they could do to be more fuel-efficient, however, despite this knowledge, they very rarely engaged in these practices. When they did consider fuel efficiency, it was almost always linked to saving fuel costs and environmental aspects were not considered. There is a clear lack of connection between carbon emissions and driving when people are in their cars. Better messages could be presented to drivers linking their driving practices to carbon emissions and therefore climate change. There are a range of other options where more efficient practices and choices could be encouraged depending on context, the driver and their way of life.