A scheduling quasi–min-max model predictive control algorithm for nonlinear systems

In this paper, a model predictive control algorithm is designed for nonlinear systems. Combination of a linear model with a linear parameter varying model approximates the nonlinear behavior. The linear model is used to express the current nonlinear dynamics, and the linear parameter varying model is used to cover the future nonlinear behavior. In the algorithm, a “quasi-worst-case” value of an infinite horizon objective function is minimized. Closed-loop stability is guaranteed when the algorithm is implemented in a receding horizon fashion by including a Lyapunov constraint in the formulation. The proposed approach is applied to control a jacketed styrene polymerization reactor.     

Morphologies of electrospun fibers of lignin in poly(ethylene oxide)/N,N‐dimethylformamide

The effects of polyethylene oxide (PEO) molecular weight (Mv), and volume fraction ( ) on the morphology of electrospun sulfur free softwood lignin nanofibers were investigated. Small amounts of PEO were used during preparations of the solutions to aid the electrospinning process. It was found that tripling the PEO volume fraction resulted in a transition from semi‐dilute un‐entangled to semi‐dilute entangled solutions. Conversely, the solution remained in the semi‐dilute un‐entangled regime as the molecular weight was increased by five times. The effects of molecular weight and volume fraction of PEO both on entanglement density and fiber morphology were unified by scaling PEO viscosities as a function of . We investigated and discussed conditions that would produce smooth fibers and conditions that would produce fibers with beads. In the case of beads‐on‐a‐string formation, bead widths remained constant regardless of the molecular weight and concentration of PEO, but the bead length changed. Additionally, we observed a decrease in the diameter of the fibers and the dimension of beads (length and width of beads) with an increase in the electric field used for electrospinning. The aspect ratio of beads increased with increases to both the electric field and the PEO molecular weight or concentration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44172.     

Wastewater Treatment with Biomass Attached to Porous Geotextile Baffles

A bench-scale study used nonwoven geotextiles as a compact biomass host media to treat wastewater from a combined sewer system. The geotextile coupons were used as baffles and suspended in an aerated reactor. Each baffle was offset in succession to form a sinuous channel with permeable boundaries. Filtering the total suspended solids (TSS) and micro-organisms formed a biomass floc in the interior of the baffles, which grew to emerge on the surface. Suspended and nonsettleable colloidal solids in the influent wastewater were captured by both filtration and adsorption from the channel flow. This bench-scale setup, named the geotextile baffle contact system, consistently provided secondary treatment to influent concentrations up to 318 mg/l of TSS and 114 mg/l of biological oxygen demand. Ammonia (NH3–N) concentrations were reduced over 90%, and mineralization of the nitrate (NO3–N) was also observed when the biofilm aged and thickened. Some of the influent TSS and sloughed biomass from the baffles settled to the bottom of the tank.     

Some characteristics of lactic acid bacteria present in commercial sucuk samples

A total of 10 sucuk samples, obtained from Denizli, Turkey were analysed for some physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. In addition, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains producing bacteriocin-like metabolites were isolated and identified. The production of some typical metabolites of the cultures isolated was investigated. At the end of the research, the average values of the pH, water and fat content were 5.1, and 37.2% and 30.5%, respectively. Microbiological analyses results were determined: average 8.34 log CFU/g TAMB, 8.91 log CFU/g LAB (at the MRS agar) and average 8.25 log CFU/g LAB (at the Elliker's lactic agar). The average counts of yeast-mould, coliform and Enterobacteriaceae were found to be 5.0 log CFU/g, 3.28 log CFU/g and 3.27 log CFU/g, respectively. In this study, counts of yeast-mould in the two samples, coliform counts in the five samples, and Enterobacteriaceae counts in the three samples were < 1.0 log CFU/g. A total of 6 of 100 LAB isolates obtained from the sucuk samples were found as a strain producing bacteriocin-like metabolites. These 6 strains were identified as follows; 3 strains Lactobacillus plantarum and 3 strains Pediococcus pentosaceus. According to the findings, these strains have the potential to be used as a sucuk starter culture. Additionally, acid and flavour compounds, other undesirable metabolite-producing activities of the strains, were determined in the model system. From these results it was concluded, after the determination of the toxicological properties, that the 4 strains of LAB identified (L. plantarum 13 P. pentosaceus 15 P. pentosaceus 74 and P. pentosaceus 75) would be useful as the starter and protective culture in the processing of the sucuk and similar fermented products.     

Tubular IKKβ Deletion Alleviates Acute Ischemic Kidney Injury and Facilitates Tissue Regeneration

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common renal injury leading to relevant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most of the clinical cases of AKI are caused by ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury with renal ischemia injury followed by reperfusion injury and activation of the innate immune response converging to NF-ĸB pathway induction. Despite the clear role of NF-ĸB in inflammation, it has recently been acknowledged that NF-ĸB may impact other cell functions. To identify NF-ĸB function with respect to metabolism, vascular function and oxidative stress after I/R injury and to decipher in detail the underlying mechanism, we generated a transgenic mouse model with targeted deletion of IKKβ along the tubule and applied I/R injury followed by its analysis after 2 and 14 days after I/R injury. Tubular IKKβ deletion ameliorated renal function and reduced tissue damage. RNAseq data together with immunohistochemical, biochemical and morphometric analysis demonstrated an ameliorated vascular organization and mRNA expression profile for increased angiogenesis in mice with tubular IKKβ deletion at 2 days after I/R injury. RNAseq and protein analysis indicate an ameliorated metabolism, oxidative species handling and timely-adapted cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as reduced fibrosis in mice with tubular IKKβ deletion at 14 days after I/R injury. In conclusion, mice with tubular IKKβ deletion upon I/R injury display improved renal function and reduced tissue damage and fibrosis in association with improved vascularization, metabolism, reactive species disposal and fine-tuned cell proliferation.     

分散控制系统内的交互量测

本文介绍非方的分散控制系统的块相对增益,并给出有关的性质和应用的例子.     

Production of a whey‐based functional beverage supplemented with soy isoflavones and phytosterols

Reconstituted whey beverages were prepared from whey powder by adding either soy isoflavones or phytosterols as functional compounds (at levels of 0%, 0.25%, 0.50% or 1.0% w/v) and probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 or Lactobacillus casei LBC‐81). The addition of nutraceuticals did not change the basic composition of the products. However, a time‐dependent increase in sedimentation/phase separation and acidity of fermented functional beverages was observed. Samples supplemented with phytosterols were more preferred by the panel group than the samples supplemented with isoflavones, and no considerable differences were noted between the control and phytosterol‐added samples in terms of overall perception.     

Crack growth resistance in fibre reinforced alkali-activated fly ash concrete exposed to extreme temperatures

This paper examines the crack growth resistance of alkali-activated fly ash concrete under extreme temperatures. Plain and hybrid fibre reinforced alkali activated concrete prepared with fly ash were subjected to a range of temperatures from ? 30 to 300 °C, sustained for 2 h. The alkali activation was effected with a blend of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. A fibre blend of steel to polypropylene in the volume ratio of 4:1 and a total as high as 1% by volume fraction reinforced the mixtures. The resulting systems were examined for residual strength under compression and splitting tension. Further, notched prisms were loaded under 4-point flexure to evaluate the residual fracture toughness. Based on the results, four different stages for fracture behaviour were identified with superior fibre efficiency seen at sub-zero temperatures. Across the breadth of temperatures examined, adding fibres led to higher residual fracture toughness for those systems that displayed a narrow range of thermal conductivity.