•Nonlinear modeling of a hydroelectric pumped-storage station.•Hybrid reduced order model of a hydroelectric pumped-storage station.•Evaluation of Gain Scheduling Predictive Controller in a ...hydropower station model.
This work deals with the evaluation of the performance of a predictive control applied to a nonlinear model of Dinorwig a pumped storage hydropower plant. The controller uses a piecewise-linear plant model for prediction and is gain-scheduled according to the number of active hydro-generation Units (ranging from 1 to 6). Simulated results are presented to evaluate the performance of the predictive controller, which is compared with a gain-scheduled PI controller that has anti-windup features; this controller was tuned using the current practical values. The results show that the response, to various changes in the plant operating conditions, obtained with the predictive controller is faster and less sensitive than the one obtained from the PI controller. The results also show how reduced-order models can be used for prediction, allowing the reduction of the computing time (or the computing cost) without compromising the closed-loop performance control signal.
During fern spore germination, lipid hydrolysis primarily provides the energy to activate their metabolism. In this research, fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic) were quantified in ...the spores exposed or not to priming (hydration–dehydration treatments). Five fern species were investigated, two from xerophilous shrubland and three from a cloud forest. We hypothesised that during the priming hydration phase, the fatty acids profile would change in concentration, depending on the spore type (non‐chlorophyllous and crypto‐chlorophyllous). The fatty acid concentration was determined by gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer. Chlorophyll in spores was vizualised by epifluorescence microscopy and quantified by high‐resolution liquid chromatography with a DAD‐UV/Vis detector. Considering all five species and all the treatments, the oleic acid was the most catabolised. After priming, we identified two patterns in the fatty acid metabolism: (1) in non‐chlorophyllous species, oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids were catabolised during imbibition and (2) in crypto‐chlorophyllous species, these fatty acids increased in concentration. These patterns suggest that crypto‐chlorophyllous spores with homoiochlorophylly (chlorophyll retained after drying) might not require the assembly of new photosynthetic apparatus during dark imbibition. Thus, these spores might require less energy from pre‐existing lipids and less fatty acids as ‘building blocks’ for cell membranes than non‐chlorophyllous spores, which require de novo synthesis and structuring of the photosynthetic apparatus.
When colonizing new ranges, plant populations may benefit from the absence of the checks imposed by the enemies, herbivores, and pathogens that regulated their numbers in their original range. ...Therefore, rates of plant damage or infestation by natural enemies are expected to be lower in the new range. Exposing both non-native and native plant populations in the native range, where native herbivores are present, can be used to test whether resistance mechanisms have diverged between populations.
is native to the Americas but widely distributed in Spain, where populations show lower herbivore damage than populations in the native range. We established experiments in two localities in the native range (Mexico), exposing two native and two non-native
populations to natural herbivores. Plant performance differed between the localities, as did the abundance of the main specialist herbivore,
. In Teotihuacán, where
is common, native plants had significantly more adult beetles and herbivore damage than non-native plants. The degree of infestation by the specialist seed predator
differed among populations and between sites, but the native Ticumán population always had the lowest level of infestation. The Ticumán population also had the highest concentration of the alkaloid scopolamine. Scopolamine was negatively related to the number of eggs deposited by
in Teotihuacán. There was among-family variation in herbivore damage (resistance), alkaloid content (scopolamine), and infestation by
and
, indicating genetic variation and potential for further evolution. Although native and non-native
populations have not yet diverged in plant resistance/constitutive defense, the differences between ranges (and the two experimental sites) in the type and abundance of herbivores suggest that further research is needed on the role of resource availability and adaptive plasticity, specialized metabolites (induced, constitutive), and the relationship between genealogical origin and plant defense in both ranges.
A design methodology for mechatronic systems is proposed, relying on an integrated framework for engineering solutions with continuous interaction among different fields of knowledge. It incorporates ...the full life-cycle of mechatronic design, from the problem statement to the attainment of conditions for physical implementations. MBSE domains are addressed into a three dimensional cube shape model where each face is focused on a local analysis through individual and interacting V-models with their own time lines. The design is developed under a centralized tool framework with dependency conditions allowing traceability capabilities in multiple hierarchy levels of analysis for generation, updating and management of information among conceptual analysis, specifications, logical architecture, tasks, detailed design, and manufacturing conditions for production.
Magnetic hyperthermia has a significant potential to be a new breakthrough for cancer treatment. The simple concept of nanoparticle-induced heating by the application of an alternating magnetic field ...has attracted much attention, as it allows the local heating of cancer cells, which are considered more susceptible to hyperthermia than healthy cells, while avoiding the side effects of traditional hyperthermia. Despite the potential of this therapeutic approach, the idea that local heating effects due to the application of alternating magnetic fields on magnetic nanoparticle-loaded cancer cells can be used as a treatment is controversial. Several studies indicate that the heating capacity of magnetic nanoparticles is largely reduced in the cellular environment because of increased viscosity, aggregation, and dipolar interactions. However, an increasing number of studies, both in vitro and in vivo, show evidence of successful magnetic hyperthermia treatment on several different types of cancer cells. This apparent contradiction might be due to the use of different experimental conditions. Here, we analyze the effects of several parameters on the cytotoxic efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles as heat inductors under an alternating magnetic field. Our results indicate that the cell-nanoparticle interaction reduces the cytotoxic effects of magnetic hyperthermia, independent of nanoparticle coating and core size, the cell line used, and the subcellular localization of nanoparticles. However, there seems to occur a synergistic effect between the application of an external source of heat and the presence of magnetic nanoparticles, leading to higher toxicities than those induced by heat alone or the accumulation of nanoparticles within cells.
Brain correlates comparing pleasant and unpleasant states induced by three dissimilar masterpiece excerpts were obtained. Related emotional reactions to the music were studied using Principal ...Component Analysis of validated reports, fMRI, and EEG coherent activity. A piano selection by Bach and a symphonic passage from Mahler widely differing in musical features were used as pleasing pieces. A segment by Prodromidès was used as an unpleasing stimulus. Ten consecutive 30 s segments of each piece alternating with random static noise were played to 19 non-musician volunteers for a total of 30 min of auditory stimulation. Both brain approaches identified a left cortical network involved with pleasant feelings (Bach and Mahler
vs. Prodromidès) including the left primary auditory area, posterior temporal, inferior parietal and prefrontal regions. While the primary auditory zone may provide an early affective quality, left cognitive areas may contribute to pleasant feelings when melodic sequences follow expected rules. In contrast, unpleasant emotions (Prodromidès
vs. Bach and Mahler) involved the activation of the right frontopolar and paralimbic areas. Left activation with pleasant and right with unpleasant musical feelings is consistent with right supremacy in novel situations and left in predictable processes. When all musical excerpts were jointly compared to noise, in addition to bilateral auditory activation, the left temporal pole, inferior frontal gyrus, and frontopolar area were activated suggesting that cognitive and language processes were recruited in general responses to music. Sensory and cognitive integration seems required for musical emotion.
Designs for determining nociceptive response in rodents are of great use in neurology and experimental neuroscience. Immersing mice's tails in warm water is one of the most widely used procedures to ...evaluate this response; however, a wide range of temperatures are used in different studies. Knowing the temperature that produces a powerful nociceptive response in the tail of BALB/c mice is extremely useful.
Eight 2-month-old male BALB/c mice were used. A 14-cm high beaker was filled with water up to 13cm. The animals’ tails were immersed in the container with a starting temperature of 36°C. The water temperature was raised in 1°C increments until we identified the temperatures that produced nociceptive responses. That response was determined by counting the time taken before the mouse shook its tail to remove it from the water.
Six of the 8 mice began shaking their tails at the temperature of 51°C. All animals removed their tails from the water at the temperatures of 54°C, 55°C, and 56°C, taking a mean time of 8.54, 7.99, and 5.33seconds, respectively. ANOVA applied to the response times for each of the 3 temperatures indicated revealed a value of F=2.8 (P=.123).
The response time was statistically similar for the temperatures of 54°C, 55°C, and 56°C; however, the data were less dispersed for the latter temperature.
Los diseños para determinar la respuesta nociceptiva en roedores son de gran utilidad en neurología y en neurociencias experimentales. El paradigma de inmersión de la cola de ratón en agua temperada es uno de los más empleados para evaluar dicha respuesta; sin embargo, existe amplia variación en la temperatura utilizada en las diversas investigaciones. Resulta sumamente útil determinar la temperatura que produce una mejor respuesta nociceptiva sobre la cola de ratones de la cepa Balb/c.
Se emplearon 8 ratones machos Balb/c de 2 meses de edad. Un beaker de 14cm de alto se llenó de agua hasta 13cm. Partiendo desde los 36°C se empezó a sumergir la cola del animal dentro del recipiente. Se comenzó a elevar en 1°C el agua hasta encontrar las temperaturas que produzcan las respuestas nociceptivas. Dicha respuesta se determinó contabilizando el tiempo que el ratón tardó en sacudir su cola retirándola del agua.
Los ratones empezaron a sacudir su cola a los 51°C (6 de los 8 roedores). El total de la muestra retiró su cola del agua a los 54, 55 y 56°C en el tiempo promedio de 8,54, 7,99 y 5,33s, respectivamente. Al aplicar ANOVA a los tiempos de las 3 temperaturas señaladas se obtuvo el valor F=2,8 y p=0,123.
El tiempo de respuesta fue similar estadísticamente ante las temperaturas de 54, 55 y 56°C; sin embargo se encontró menor dispersión de los datos ante esta última.
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