Robust nonlinear feedback–feedforward control of a coupled kinetic Monte Carlo–finite difference simulation

Robust nonlinear feedforward–feedback controllers are designed for a multiscale system that dynamically couples kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) and finite difference (FD) simulation codes. The coupled codes simulate the copper electrodeposition process for manufacturing on-chip copper interconnects in electronic devices. The control objective is to regulate the current density subject to the condition that the steady-state fluctuation of the overpotential remains bounded within ±0.01 V. The controller designs incorporate a low-order stochastic model that captures the input–output behavior of the coupled KMC–FD code. The controllers achieve the objectives and the closed-loop responses implemented on the low-order model and the coupled KMC–FD code match well within stochastic variations. The nonlinear feedforward control reduces the rise time of the controller response while the feedback control ensures robustness in the presence of model uncertainty.     

Pyrolysis and combustion of cellulose. VIII. Thermally initiated reactions of phosphonomethyl amide flame retardants

Several N-(phosphonomethyl) amides have previously been reported to act as particularly effective flame retardants for cellulose. It has also been demonstrated previously that the efficiency of a flame retardant on cellulose frequently parallels its ability to phosphorylate cellulosic hydroxyls at elevated temperatures. This study of the hydrolysis and alcoholysis reactions of N-(phosphonomethyl) amides establishes their unique reactivity. An explanation for this high reactivity is proposed on the basis of intramolecular assistance of the attack of water or alcohols at phosphorus by the carbonyl oxygen of the amide moiety.     

Comparison of the eye's wave-front aberration measured psychophysically and with the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor

The Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor offers many theoretical advantages over other methods for measuring aberrations of the eye; therefore it is essential that its accuracy be thoroughly tested. We assessed the accuracy of a Shack-Hartmann sensor by directly comparing its measured wave-front aberration function with that obtained by the Smirnov psychophysical method for the same eyes. Wave-front profiles measured by the two methods agreed closely in terms of shape and magnitude with rms differences of approximately lambda/2 and approximately lambda/6 (5.6-mm pupil) for two eyes. Primary spherical aberration was dominant in these profiles, and, in one subject, secondary coma was opposite in sign to primary coma, thereby canceling its effect. Discovery of an unusual, subtle wave-front anomaly in one individual further demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity of the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor for measuring the optical quality of the human eye.     

The organization of Patent databanks at the Ilmenau Institute of Technology

With the establishment of the Polytechnical Patent Library at the Ilmenau Institute of Technology in April 1981, an efficient patent information centre was set up for the southern districts of the German Democratic Republic (Suhl, Gera, Erfurt). First, the manual methods of search were complemented by two subsystems of the automized patent pre-search system, namely the selective dissemination of information and the field-oriented patent family service. In 1985, the set-up of patent databanks was begun. The present paper explains their specific features, thus complementing the conception of the patent pre-search system presented in previous papers.^(1,2) The information services are rendered by order of the Inventions and Patent Office.     

Quality of care problems among Medicare and Medicaid patients

The purpose of this study was to characterize quality of care problems among Medicare and Medicaid inpatients in New York State. The patients selected for this study comprised 1991 and 1992 Medicare and all 1992 Medicaid inpatients in whom quality of care problems with actual or potential adverse effects were found. The patients in this study were drawn from public, proprietary, voluntary and teaching hospitals. A total of 1000 quality of care problems with either actual or potential adverse effects were found in 706 Medicare patients. Two hundred and seventy-five (275) quality of care problems with actual or potential adverse effects were found in 154 Medicaid patients. Premature death occurred in 53 (7.4%) of the 706 Medicare and in 42 (27.2%) of the 154 Medicaid patients. Treatment problems and monitoring failures accounted for the majority of quality of care problems with actual or potential adverse effects for both Medicare (63.0%) and Medicaid (75.7%) patients. Among Medicare patients, the treatment of infections and antibiotic use, fluid and electrolyte management, and inappropriate drug use were among the leading causes of quality of care problems. Attending physicians were associated with the majority of Medicare quality of care problems while house staff and attending physicians were associated with the majority of those among Medicaid patients. The results of this study indicate that there are several leading causes of quality of care problems among Medicare and Medicaid patients. Treatment problems and monitoring failures together comprise the majority of such problems. Among Medicare patients, it was found that most quality of care problems were associated with the treatment of infections and antibiotic use, fluid and electrolyte management, and inappropriate drug use. Most quality of care problems among Medicaid patients were associated with these categories as well as with labor and delivery problems, and poor discharge planning. The results of this study reflect the peer-review process in which providers are given an opportunity to respond to physician-reviewer decisions about the presence of actual or potential adverse effects. Such a process, which permits the presentation of additional data and information by providers, produces fewer final adverse outcome determinations than a process uniquely based on chart review. The quality of care problems observed in this study are amenable to focused educational interventions. Such remedial interventions could yield significant improvements in the quality of care for all patients.     

Full expression of the exaggerated salt appetite of the spontaneously hypertensive rat requires a prenatal factor

1. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) exhibits a lower bodyweight in utero and an exaggerated salt appetite post partum. To determine whether salt appetite is affected by the perinatal environment, we measured the salt appetite of embryo-cross-transferred SHR and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats at maturity. 2. One-cell embryos were collected from the oviducts of donor rats and transferred into the oviducts of recipients through the infundibulum. The salt appetite of the resultant female offspring for 0.10 and 0.15 mol/L saline was measured at 20-30 weeks of age. 3. Salt intake of SHR gestated in WKY rats was significantly lower than that of SHR gestated in SHR, while that of WKY rats gestated in SHR was higher than that of WKY rats gestated in WKY rats. 4. Therefore, some maternal factor plays a role in the development of the exaggerated salt appetite of the SHR. This factor is also able to affect the later salt appetite of WKY rat offspring born to SHR surrogates.     

Enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli isolated from acute gastroenteritis patients in Lagos, Nigeria

Enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli were isolated from 52 (4.8%) of 1,082 patients with acute gastroenteritis reporting at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria between October 1979 and March, 1981. Of the 52 strains of E. coli isolated, 35 (67.3%) were enteropathogenic, 12 (23.1%) were enterotoxigenic and five (9.6%) were enteroinvasive. E. coli 0111 (25.7%) was the most predominant among the serotypes of the "classical" enteropathogenic strains found in this study. Diarrhoea associated with enteropathogenic E. coli occurred only in children aged less than five years, whereas enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive E. coli were found primarily in adults. The study has highlighted for the first time the important role that enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive E. coli strains could play in acute diarrhoeal diseases in Lagos, Nigeria.     

COVID-19 and Lung Mast Cells: The Kallikrein–Kinin Activation Pathway

Mast cells (MCs) have relevant participation in inflammatory and vascular hyperpermeability events, responsible for the action of the kallikrein–kinin system (KKS), that affect patients inflicted by the severe form of COVID-19. Given a higher number of activated MCs present in COVID-19 patients and their association with vascular hyperpermeability events, we investigated the factors that lead to the activation and degranulation of these cells and their harmful effects on the alveolar septum environment provided by the action of its mediators. Therefore, the pyroptotic processes throughout caspase-1 (CASP-1) and alarmin interleukin-33 (IL-33) secretion were investigated, along with the immunoexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), bradykinin receptor B1 (B1R) and bradykinin receptor B2 (B2R) on post-mortem lung samples from 24 patients affected by COVID-19. The results were compared to 10 patients affected by H1N1pdm09 and 11 control patients. As a result of the inflammatory processes induced by SARS-CoV-2, the activation by immunoglobulin E (IgE) and degranulation of tryptase, as well as Toluidine Blue metachromatic (TB)-stained MCs of the interstitial and perivascular regions of the same groups were also counted. An increased immunoexpression of the tissue biomarkers CASP-1, IL-33, ACE2, B1R and B2R was observed in the alveolar septum of the COVID-19 patients, associated with a higher density of IgE⁺ MCs, tryptase⁺ MCs and TB-stained MCs, in addition to the presence of intra-alveolar edema. These findings suggest the direct correlation of MCs with vascular hyperpermeability, edema and diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) events that affect patients with a severe form of this disease. The role of KKS activation in events involving the exacerbated increase in vascular permeability and its direct link with the conditions that precede intra-alveolar edema, and the consequent DAD, is evidenced. Therapy with drugs that inhibit the activation/degranulation of MCs can prevent the worsening of the prognosis and provide a better outcome for the patient.