Some Model Assisted Estimators Using Functional Form Calibration Approach

The Model assisted estimators are approximately design unbiased, consistent and provides robustness in the case of large sample sizes. The model assisted estimators result in reduction of the design variance if underlying model reasonably defines the regression relationship. If the model is misspecified, then model assisted estimators might result in an increase of the design variance but remain approximately design unbiased and show robustness against model-misspecification. The well-known model assisted estimators, generalized regression estimators are members of a larger class of calibration estimators. Calibration method generates calibration weights that meet the calibration constraints and have minimum distance from the sampling design weights. By using different distance measures, classical calibration approach generates different calibration estimators but with asymptotically identical properties. The constraint of distance minimization was reduced for studying the properties of calibration estimators by proposing a simple functional form approach. The approach generates calibration weights that prove helpful to control the changes in calibration weights by using different choices of auxiliary variable’s functions. This paper is an extended work on model assisted approach by using functional form of calibration weights. Some new model assisted estimators are considered to get efficient and stabilized regression weights by introducing a control matrix. The asymptotic un-biasedness of the proposed estimators is verified and the expressions for MSE are derived in three different cases. A simulation study is done to compare and evaluate the efficiency of the proposed estimators with some existing model assisted estimators.

Asthmatic Bronchial Matrices Determine the Gene Expression and Behavior of Smooth Muscle Cells in a 3D Culture Model

Asthma is associated with increased deposition and altered phenotype of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. However, little is known about the processes responsible for these changes. It has been suggested that alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) contribute to the remodeling of ASM cells in asthma. Three-dimensional matrices allow the in vitro study of complex cellular responses to different stimuli in a close-to-natural environment. Thus, we investigated the ultrastructural and genic variations of ASM cells cultured on acellular asthmatic and control bronchial matrices. We studied horses, as they spontaneously develop a human asthma-like condition (heaves) with similarities to chronic pulmonary changes observed in human asthma. Primary bronchial ASM cells from asthmatic (n = 3) and control (n = 3) horses were cultured on decellularized bronchi from control (n = 3) and asthmatic (n = 3) horses. Each cell lineage was used to recellularize six different bronchi for 41 days. Histomorphometry on HEPS-stained-recellularized matrices revealed an increased ASM cell number in the control cell/control matrix (p = 0.02) and asthmatic cell/control matrix group (p = 0.04) compared with the asthmatic cell/asthmatic matrix group. Scan electron microscopy revealed a cell invasion of the ECM. While ASM cells showed high adhesion and proliferation processes on the control ECM, the presence of senescent cells and cellular debris in the asthmatic ECM with control or asthmatic ASM cells suggested cell death. When comparing asthmatic with control cell/matrix combinations by targeted next generation sequencing, only AGC1 (p = 0.04), MYO10 (p = 0.009), JAM3 (p = 0.02), and TAGLN (p = 0.001) were differentially expressed out of a 70-gene pool previously associated with smooth muscle remodeling. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to evaluate the effects of asthmatic ECM on an ASM cell phenotype using a biological bronchial matrix. Our results indicate that bronchial ECM health status contributes to ASM cell gene expression and, possibly, its survival.

Control Strategy Development for Optimized Operational Flexibility From Humidified Micro Gas Turbine: Saturation Tower Performance Assessment

Waste heat recovery through cycle humidification is considered as an effective tool to increase the operational flexibility of micro Gas Turbines (mGTs) in cogeneration in a Decentralized Energy System (DES) context. Indeed, during periods with low heat demand, the excess thermal power can be reintroduced in the cycle under the form of heated water/steam, leading to improved electrical performance. The micro Humid Air Turbine (mHAT) has been proven to be the most effective route for cycle humidification; however, so far, all research efforts focused on optimizing the mHAT performance at nominal electrical load, and no thermal load. Nevertheless, in a DES context, the thermal and electrical load of the mGT needs to be changed depending on the demand, requiring both optimal nominal and part load performances. To address this need, in this paper, we present the first step towards the development of a control strategy for a Turbec T100 mGT-mHAT test rig. First, using experimental data, the global performance, depending on the operating point as well as the humidity level, has been assessed. Second, the performance of the saturation tower, i.e. the degree of saturation (relative humidity) of the working fluid leaving this saturator, is analyzed to assess the optimal water injection system control parameter settings. Results show that optimal mHAT performance can only be obtained when the working fluid leaving the saturation tower is fully saturated, but does not contain a remaining liquid fraction. Under these conditions, a maximal amount of waste heat is transferred from the water to the mGT working fluid in the saturation tower. From these data, some general observations can be made to optimize the performance; being maximizing injection pressure and aiming for a water flow rate of ≈5 m3/h. However, having a specific control matrix, that allows setting the saturation tower control parameters for any set of operational setpoint and the inlet conditions would be of more interest. Therefore, future work involves the development of a control matrix, using advanced data post-processing for noise reduction and accuracy improvement, as well as an experimental validation of this methodology on the actual test rig.

Human placental villous stromal extracellular matrix regulates fetoplacental angiogenesis in severe fetal growth restriction

Pregnancies complicated by severe, early-onset fetal growth restriction with abnormal Doppler velocimetry (FGRadv) have a sparse villous vascular tree secondary to impaired angiogenesis. As endothelial cell (EC) and stromal matrix interactions are key regulators of angiogenesis, we investigated the role of placental stromal villous matrix on fetoplacental EC angiogenesis. We have developed a novel model of generating placental fibroblast (FB) cell-derived matrices (CDM), allowing us to interrogate placental-specific human EC and stromal matrix interactions and their effects on fetoplacental angiogenesis. We found that as compared to control ECs plated on control matrix, FGRadv ECs plated on FGRadv matrix exhibited severe migrational defects, as measured by velocity, directionality, accumulated distance, and Euclidean distance in conjunction with less proliferation. However, control ECs, when interacting with FGRadv CDM, also demonstrated significant impairment in proliferation and migratory properties. Conversely several angiogenic attributes were rescued in FGRadv ECs subjected to control matrix, demonstrating the importance of placental villous stromal matrix and EC-stromal matrix interactions in regulation of fetoplacental angiogenesis.

Method for the transformation of complex automatic control systems to integrable form

The article considers a class of automatic control systems that is described by a multi- dimensional system of ordinary dil'erential equations. The right hand-side of the system additively contains a linear part and the product of a control matrix by a vector that is the sum of a control vector and an external perturbation vector. The control vector is defined by a nonlinear function dependent on the product of a feedback matrix by a vector of current coordinates. The authors solve the problem of constructing a matrix of a nonsingular transformation, which leads the matrix of the linear part of the system to the Jordan normal form or the first natural normal form. The variables included in this transformation allow us to vary the system settings, which are the parameters of both the control matrix and the feedback matrix, as well as to convert the system to an integrable form. Integrable form is understood as a form in which the system can be integrated in a final form or reduced to a set of subsystems of lower orders. Furthermore, the sum of the subsystem orders is equal to the order of the original system. In the article, particular attention is paid to cases when the matrix of the linear part has complex conjugate eigenvalues, including multiple ones.

New formulations of algebraic criteria for controllability and observability of a linear MIMO-system

New formulations of algebraic criteria for controllability and observability of a linear dynamical system with multiple inputs and outputs (MIMO-systems) are given, the corresponding theorems are formulated. The criteria are based on algebraic relations between linear combinations of the control matrix columns and own vectors of the free dynamics matrix. Keywords algebraic criterion; controllability; observability; linear MIMO-system; own value; own vector; Krylov vector and matrix; kernel; cokernel

Fuel efficiency optimization of high-aspect-ratio aircraft via variable camber technology considering aeroelasticity

In this study, variable camber technology is applied to improve the fuel efficiency of high-aspect-ratio aircraft with aeroelasticity considered. The nonlinear static aeroelastic analyses are conducted for CFD/CSD (computational fluid dynamics/computational structural dynamics) numerical simulations. The RBF (radial basis function) method is adopted for the transmission of aerodynamic loads and structural displacements, the diffusion smoothing method is employed for grid deformation in each iteration of CFD/CSD coupling, and the FFD (free-form deformation) method is introduced for the parameterization of variable camber wing. Based on the aerodynamic characteristic curves under different cambers, the discrete variable camber control matrix for the high-aspect-ratio aircraft during the cruise phase is established. The Fibonacci method is employed to optimize the fuel efficiency by utilizing the control matrix. The results indicate that the drag during the cruise phase is reduced obviously and the fuel efficiency is improved evidently comparing to the original configuration.

A Single-Loop MIMO Trajectory Tracking Controller for Autonomous Quadrotors: The Control Point Concept

SUMMARY In this paper, a sliding mode control using a control point concept is proposed for an under-actuated quadrotor. The proposed controller controls the position of the control point, a displaced point from the quadrotor’s geometric center, and the yaw angle. This method solves singularity issues in control matrix inversion and enables the utilization of the multi-input multi-output equation to derive the control inputs. The sliding surface is designed to control four outputs while stabilizing roll and pitch angles. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed controller in the tracking of a trajectory under parametric uncertainties.