Advanced control in factory automation: a survey

This paper provides a survey of the main advanced control techniques currently adopted in factory automation. In particular, it focuses on five classes of control approaches, namely: model-based control, control based on computational intelligence, adaptive control, discrete event systems-based control and finally event-triggered and self-triggered control. A particular focus is put on the most significant and recent contributions in these areas with attention to their application in the factory automation domain. Finally, open issues, challenges and the requirements of further research efforts for each class are pointed out.     

A thin PANI and carrageenan–gold nanoparticle film on a flexible gold electrode as a conductive and low-cost platform for sensing in a physiological environment

In this work, we report the production of a layer-by-layer (LbL) film of gold nanoparticles stabilized with carrageenan (carr-AuNPs) interspersed with a conductive polyaniline (PANI) layer. Conventionally, PANI has poor electroactivity in physiological buffers, limiting its using in electrochemical biosensors. The films were prepared on low cost and easy to manufacture flexible gold electrodes (FEAu). Two adsorption sequences were tested for production of the films—PANI/carr-AuNP and carr-AuNP/PANI. The gold nanoparticle size and colloidal stability were characterized. The films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV–visible spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results showed the synergistic effects of the carr-AuNPs (120 nm) and PANI, which improved both the electrochemical response and the stability of the conductive polymer in physiological medium by three times. The presence of the carr-AuNPs in the film caused a significant increase in roughness of the FEAu-modified electrode compared to that of an unmodified electrode, resulting in an increased active electrode area. Studies of film growth by UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated that the deposition mechanisms of both films involved an auto-regulating adsorption process, with the same amount of material adsorbed in each coating step. The PANI/carr-AUNP film showed considerable improvement in stability and conductivity compared to PANI-only films in the physiological environment, which confers advantages for use as a biosensor.     

Synthesis of Colloidal SU‐8 Polymer Rods Using Sonication

The bulk synthesis of fluorescent colloidal SU‐8 polymer rods with tunable dimensions is described. The colloidal SU‐8 rods are prepared by shearing an emulsion of SU‐8 polymer droplets and then exposing the resulting non‐Brownian rods to ultrasonic waves, which breaks them into colloidal rods with typical lengths of 3.5–10 µm and diameters of 0.4–1 µm. The rods are stable in both aqueous and apolar solvents, and by varying the composition of apolar solvent mixtures both the difference in refractive index and mass density between particles and solvent can be independently controlled. Consequently, these colloidal SU‐8 rods can be used in both 3D confocal microscopy and optical trapping experiments while carefully tuning the effect of gravity. This is demonstrated by using confocal microscopy to image the liquid crystalline phases and the isotropic–nematic interface formed by the colloidal SU‐8 rods and by optically trapping single rods in water. Finally, the simultaneous confocal imaging and optical manipulation of multiple SU‐8 rods in the isotropic phase is shown.     

GTV<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">cut</Emphasis> for neuro-radiosurgery treatment planning: an MRI brain cancer seeded image segmentation method based on a cellular automata model

Despite of the development of advanced segmentation techniques, achieving accurate and reproducible gross tumor volume (GTV) segmentation results is still an important challenge in neuro-radiosurgery. Nowadays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most prominent modality in radiation therapy for soft-tissue anatomical districts. Gamma Knife stereotactic neuro-radiosurgery is a minimally invasive technology for dealing with inaccessible or insufficiently treated tumors with traditional surgery or radiotherapy. During a treatment planning phase, the GTV is generally contoured by experienced neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists using fully manual segmentation procedures on MR images. Unfortunately, this operative methodology is definitely time-expensive and operator-dependent. Delineation result repeatability, in terms of both intra- and inter-operator reliability, can be achieved only by using computer-assisted approaches. In this paper a novel semi-automatic seeded image segmentation method, based on a cellular automata model, for MRI brain cancer detection and delineation is proposed. This approach, called GTVcut, employs an adaptive seed selection strategy and helps to segment the GTV, by identifying the target volume to be treated using the Gamma Knife device. The accuracy of GTVcut was evaluated on a dataset composed of 32 brain cancers, using both spatial overlap-based and distance-based metrics. The achieved experimental results are very reproducible, showing the effectiveness and the clinical feasibility of the proposed approach.     

Microstructural Modifications in Macroporous Oxides Prepared Via Latex Templating: Synthesis and Thermal Stability of Porous Microstructure

Titanium and zirconium oxides with interconnected macropores presenting well-defined pore sizes and controlled three-dimensional ordering were prepared using a latex templating method. Polystyrene spheres were used as pore templates, whereas metal alkoxides were used as oxide precursors. The final thermal treatment at different temperatures showed macroporous microstructure stabilities up to 600°C. At higher temperatures, a collapse of the macroporous microstructure and sintering were observed, as well as phase transformations in the oxides structures during the calcination process, as shown by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Twitter information for contributing to the strategic digital city: Towards citizens as co-managers

Actions towards an effective city management require a focus on citizens, and it is a role of local governments to search for ways to provide their participation in the decision-making process. Among other information technology resources, local governments use social platforms thus facing the challenge of extracting and classifying information for strategic use. The objective of this study is to analyze Twitter information to contribute to the strategic digital city. The research methodology used was a case study of a Brazilian city. Twitter was analyzed, and the information assessed according to its characteristics, source, nature, quality, intelligence and organizational level. Results reveal Twitter allows communication, rudiments of public services and exchange and sharing information on municipal themes inherent to strategic digital cities. Information has quality and intelligence to serve the strategic level of government. The conclusion confirms that Twitter enhances transparency and strengthens bonds between local government and citizens.     

Self‐aggregated nanoparticles of N‐dodecyl,N′‐glycidyl(chitosan) as pH‐responsive drug delivery systems for quercetin

In this study, pH‐responsive amphiphilic chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were used to encapsulate quercetin (QCT) for sustained release in cancer therapy. The novel CS derivatives were obtained by synthesis with 2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propanol, also known as glycidol, followed by acylation with dodecyl aldehyde. Characterization was performed by spectroscopic, viscosimetric, and size‐determination methods. Critical aggregation concentration, morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug release profile, cytotoxicity, and hemocompatibility studies were also carried out. The average size distribution of the self‐assembling nanoparticles measured by dynamic light scattering ranged from 140 to 300 nm. In vitro QCT release and Korsmeyer–Peppas model indicated that pH had a major role in drug release. Cytotoxicity assessments indicated that the nanoparticles were non‐cytotoxic. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay further revealed that QCT‐loaded nanoparticles could inhibit MCF‐7 cell growth. In vitro erythrocyte‐induced hemolysis indicated the good hemocompatibility of the nanoparticles. These results suggest that the synthesized copolymers might be potential carriers for hydrophobic drugs in cancer therapy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45678.     

Chemically modified babassu coconut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbignya sp.)</Emphasis> biopolymer: characterization and development of a thin film for its application in electrochemical sensors

The babassu coconut is a plant very abundant in northeast of Brazil and other countries, and any part of plant and fruit becomes residue. In this study, babassu mesocarp (Orbignya sp) (BM) was chemically modified with phthalic anhydride (BMPA) to increase its solubility in an aqueous medium, and thus facilitate its processing in the form of thin films. The reaction of modification of the babassu mesocarp with phthalic anhydride (PA), obtaining BMPA, was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, TG/DTG, Zeta Potential and SEM analysis, from the differences in the bands of the FTIR spectra, increase in crystallinity, new thermal profile, changes in zeta potential value and morphology, respectively. The thin monolayer films of BM and BMPA were produced by the self-assembly monolayer (SAM) technique, and adsorbed onto conductive glass substrates (tin-doped indium oxide, ITO). The electroactive properties of these thin films were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). BM exhibited a pair redox pair process of +0.57 V(oxidation) and?+?0.19 V (reduction) for BM. In BMPA these redox processes were observed at +0.37 V (oxidation) and 0.24 V vs. ECS (reduction), verifying that both BM and BMPA are electroactive materials that can be used in the construction of sensor platforms, without the necessity of being conjugated with other electroactive materials, such as conductive polymers, metal phthalocyanines, or dyes. Furthermore, under the experimental conditions used, the BMPA presented a more reversible redox process and higher electrochemical stability in comparison to BM. This effect occurs because BMPA has higher solubility in aqueous media, which favors the preparation of films with smaller grain sizes compared to BM films, as observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This study showed that BMPA is a new material with potential for applications in electrochemical sensors.

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Graphical abstract Obtaining and modifying babassu mesocarp for the electrochemical studies

     

A Herbivore Tag-and-Trace System Reveals Contact- and Density-Dependent Repellence of a Root Toxin

Foraging behavior of root feeding organisms strongly affects plant-environment-interactions and ecosystem processes. However, the impact of plant chemistry on root herbivore movement in the soil is poorly understood. Here, we apply a simple technique to trace the movement of soil-dwelling insects in their habitats without disturbing or restricting their interactions with host plants. We tagged the root feeding larvae of Melolontha melolontha with a copper ring and repeatedly located their position in relation to their preferred host plant, Taraxacum officinale, using a commercial metal detector. This method was validated and used to study the influence of the sesquiterpene lactone taraxinic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G) on the foraging of M. melolontha. TA-G is stored in the latex of T. officinale and protects the roots from herbivory. Using behavioral arenas with TA-G deficient and control plants, we tested the impact of physical root access and plant distance on the effect of TA-G on M. melolontha. The larvae preferred TA-G deficient plants to control plants, but only when physical root contact was possible and the plants were separated by 5 cm. Melolontha melolontha showed no preference for TA-G deficient plants when the plants were grown 15 cm apart, which may indicate a trade-off between the cost of movement and the benefit of consuming less toxic food. We demonstrate that M. melolontha integrates host plant quality and distance into its foraging patterns and suggest that plant chemistry affects root herbivore behavior in a plant-density dependent manner.