Amplification‐Free Multi‐RNA‐Type Profiling for Cancer Risk Stratification via Alternating Current Electrohydrodynamic Nanomixing

Simultaneous analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)—multi‐RNA‐type profiling—is increasingly crucial in cancer diagnostics. Yet, rapid multi‐RNA‐type profiling is challenging due to enzymatic amplification reliance and RNA‐type‐dependent characteristics. Here, a nanodevice is reported to uniquely use alterable alternating current electrohydrodynamic (ac‐EHD) forces to enhance probe–target hybridization prior to direct native RNA target detection, without target amplification or surface functionalization. To exemplify clinical applicability, noninvasive screening of next‐generation prostate cancer (PCa) RNA biomarkers (of different types) in patient urine samples is performed. A strong correlation between multi‐RNA‐type expression and aggressive PCa is found, and the nanodevice performance is statistically evaluated. It is believed that this miniaturized system exhibits great potential for cancer risk stratification via multi‐RNA‐type profiling.     

Knowledge search and people with high epistemic curiosity

Porter sites have tried to increase their business potentials by helping users easily engage in diverse online activities such as search, entertainment, online communities, and others. Knowledge search engine is one of the most successful killer applications increasing user loyalty. However, most studies have independently focused on search engine technology such as search keyword algorithm, presentation of information and user characteristics such as cognitive style, search experiences, and skill levels. However, these previous studies lack an integrated understanding of causal links among critical factors predicting user motives and intention involving more situation-specific user characteristics. To fill these gaps in the literature, the present study focuses on whether knowledge characteristics such as specialization, preciseness, and diversity, and system characteristics such as interactivity, responsiveness, and communication richness are important in forming user motives and intention. The present study also identifies a moderating role of epistemic curiosity in the links between motives and intention. Two hundred and fifty-five data from Korean university students confirmed that knowledge and services characteristics such as specialty, preciseness, diversity, communication richness improve user motives, which have a positive impact on intention. Epistemic curiosity has a moderating effect on the links between motives and intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in conclusion.     

Improving traversability of quadruped walking robots using body movement in 3D rough terrains

This paper presents a study on improving the traversability of a quadruped walking robot in 3D rough terrains. The key idea is to exploit body movement of the robot. The position and orientation of the robot are systematically adjusted and the possibility of finding a valid foothold for the next swing is maximized, which makes the robot have more chances to overcome the rough terrains. In addition, a foothold search algorithm that provides the valid foothold while maintaining a high traversability of the robot, is investigated and a gait selection algorithm is developed to help the robot avoid deadlock situations. To explain the algorithms, new concepts such as reachable area, stable area, potential search direction, and complementary kinematic margin are introduced, and the effectiveness of the algorithms is validated via simulations and experiments.     

A hybrid observer for characterization and compensation of periodic disturbances

Usage of frequency based error correction methods for repetitive disturbances becomes popular in data storage devices that use a rotating mechanical power plant. Two distinct disturbance cancellation methods, disturbance observer (DOB) and adaptive feed forward control (AFC) are the most popular approaches used for current drive servo integration. DOB reduces error using a predetermined function that is calculated thorough a complicated process. Generally the response to disturbance and initiation of control action of DOB is relatively fast even if the amount of error reduction is limited. Meanwhile the error elimination capability of AFC for the repetitive disturbance is normally better than DOB as it utilizes a Fourier coefficients updating feature that supports an enhanced fine adaptation of a certain frequency disturbance. Of course, AFC suffers for disturbances that have neighboring close frequencies due to the inherent fundamental frequency dependencies of AFC formulation. In the present work, an attempt for combining benefits of AFC and DOB is made. This might enables control action not only to generate fast response to disturbance but also perform an accurate error rejection. This feature also provides to the closed loop system a frequency selection for enabling a strategic selective error rejection. The proposed method named Hybrid Disturbance Observer (HDOB) is compared to the traditional AFC and DOB.     

Magnetic landmark-based position correction technique for mobile robots with hall sensors

We propose a precise position error compensation and low-cost relative localization method in structured environments using magnetic landmarks and hall sensors. The proposed methodology can solve the problem of fine localization as well as global localization by tacking landmarks or by utilizing various patterns of magnetic landmark arrangement. In this paper, we consider two patterns of implanted permanent magnets on the surface, namely, at each vertex of regular triangles or rectangles on a flat surface. We show that the rectangular configuration of the permanent magnetic bars is better for a robust localization under sensor noise. For the experiments, permanent magnet sets in rectangular configuration are placed on the floor as landmarks at regular intervals, and magnetic hall sensors are installed at the bottom of a mobile robot. In our implementation, the accuracy after the error compensation is less than 1 mm in the position and less than 1° in the orientation. Due to the low cost and accuracy of the proposed methodology, it would be one of the practical solutions to the pose error correction of a mobile robot in structured environments.     

Decentralised sampled-data control for large-scale systems with nonlinear interconnections

This paper presents a decentralised sampled-data control technique for a class of large-scale systems, which are considered to consist of linear subsystems and nonlinear interconnections. The decentralised sampled-data controller design problem is established using a closed-loop subsystem. Based on the controller design problem, the stability condition is derived for a closed-loop large-scale system, and the maximum interconnection bound is guaranteed to satisfy the stability condition. Also, its sufficient condition is formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed technique is verified by using an example of the multi-machine power system.     

Output feedback regulation of upper triangular nonlinear systems with uncertain time‐varying delays in states and input

In this paper, an output feedback controller is studied to regulate a class of upper triangular nonlinear systems with uncertain time‐varying delays. The key features of our considered system are that there are uncertain time‐varying delays in both states and input and the high‐order nonlinearity is in a more relaxed form over the previous results. Theoretical analysis and numerical example are presented to show the benefits of our controller. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suppression of superconductivity in the Er1− x Pr x Ba2Cu3O7−δ

Measurements of electrical resistivity. X-ray diffraction patterns, magnetic susceptibility and thermoelectric power of the Er_1-x Pr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7- system have been made. The superconducting transition temperature was found to decrease monotonically with praseodymium concentration, x. From the susceptibility data, it was determined that the valence of praseodymium lies between +3 and +4. The thermoelectric power was found to increase with x, and the slopes of dS/dT were negative except for the case x= 0. The. tendency of the thermopower to change with increasing praseodymium concentration has been qualitatively explained using the theory for strongly correlated systems.     

Recovery of magnetic ionic liquid [bmim]FeCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> using electromagnet

Recovery of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate ([bmim]FeCl₄) from its mixture with water was investigated. The [bmim]FeCl₄ rich phase in the mixture forming two-phase was successfully separated, while homogeneous mixtures could not be separated. However, the concentration of the homogeneous mixture varied as a function of the magnetic field strength. Therefore, a combination of magnetic field and conventional methods to recover magnetic ILs from reaction mixtures will be very useful and have great potential.