Code control for parametric models of induction heaters

In this paper, we describe our approach to building controllable models of induction heaters. Parameters of equivalent circuits of aluminum heating inductors include certain components tied to secondary elements. As long as metal properties are subject to change during the heating process, resistive and reactive parts of equivalent circuits should be taken into account. Adjustable resistive components have rarely been used in circuit models. To control equivalent resistive two-terminal parts, we offer pulse code control of impedance-changing switches. Controlling switching time in models with series, parallel, and mixed connection provides required softness of resistive conductivity change. Control characteristics of current and voltage were obtained with use of a simulator. As the result of our numerical experiment, the set of operating parameters for an induction device was determined.

Proxy control

The control dependency in grammar is conventionally distinguished into two classes: exhaustive (i→i) and non-exhaustive (i→i + (j)). Here, we show that, in languages like German and Italian, some speakers allow a new kind of “proxy control” which differs from both, such that, for a controller i, and a controllee j, j = proxy(i). The proxy function picks out a set of individuals that is discourse-pragmatically related to i. For such speakers, the German/Italian proxy control equivalent of the sentence: “Mariai asked Billj (for permission) [pro$_{proxy(i)}$ p r o x y ( i ) to leave work early]” would thus mean that Maria asked Bill for permission for some salient set of individuals related to herself to leave early. We examine the theoretical and empirical properties of this new control relation in detail, showing that it is irreducible to other, more familiar referential dependencies. Using standard empirical diagnostics, we then illustrate that proxy control can be instantiated both as a species of obligatory control (oc) and non-obligatory control (noc) in German and Italian and develop a syntactic and semantic model that derives each and details the factors conditioning the choice between the two. We also investigate the factors that condition different degrees of exhaustiveness (exhaustive vs. partial vs. proxy) in control, which then sheds light on why proxy control obtains in some languages, but not others and, within a language, is possible for some speakers but not others.

Calcium Carbonate Microparticles as Carriers of 224Ra: Impact of Specific Activity in Mice with Intraperitoneal Ovarian Cancer

Background: Patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer face a poor prognosis because of recurrent peritoneal cavity metastases following surgery and chemotherapy. Alpha-emitters may enable the efficient treatment of such disseminated diseases because of their short range and highly energetic radiation. Radium-224 is a candidate αemitter due to its convenient 3.6-day half-life, with more than 90% of the decay energy originating from α-particles. However, its inherent skeletal accumulation must be overcome to facilitate intraperitoneal delivery of the radiation dose. Therefore, 224Ra-labeled CaCO3 microparticles have been developed. Objective: The antitumor effect of CaCO3 microparticles as a carrier for 224Ra was investigated, with an emphasis on the ratio of activity to mass dose of CaCO3, that is, specific activity. Methods: Nude athymic mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with human ovarian cancer cells (ES-2) and treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 224Ra-labeled CaCO3 microparticles with varying combinations of mass and activity dose, or cationic 224Ra in solution. Survival and ascites volume at sacrifice were evaluated. Results: Significant therapeutic effect was achieved for all tested specific activities ranging from 0.4 to 4.6 kBq/mg. Although treatment with a mean activity dose of 1305 kBq/kg of cationic 224Ra prolonged the survival compared with the control, equivalent median survival could be achieved with 224Ra-labeled microparticles with a mean dose of only 420 kBq/kg. The best outcome was achieved with the highest specific activities (2.6 and 4.6 kBq/mg). Conclusion: Radium-224-labeled CaCO3 microparticles present a promising therapy against cancer dissemination in body cavities.

Optimizing Cercospora Leaf Spot Control in Table Beet Using Action Thresholds and Disease Forecasting

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, is the dominant foliar disease affecting table-beet production in New York. CLS epidemics occur annually and, if uncontrolled, will rapidly lead to defoliation. In broad-acre production, season-long maintenance of healthy leaves is important to facilitate harvest by top-pulling. Fungicides are the dominant means of CLS control and applications are initiated at an action threshold of 1 CLS lesion/leaf. Regular fungicide application occurs thereafter without regard for scheduling based on weather-based risk. The current action threshold was evaluated with selected fungicides in two replicated field trials. Copper oxychloride + copper hydroxide and propiconazole significantly improved CLS control if initiated prior to infection. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole significantly reduced area under the disease progress stairs compared with other fungicides tested and was most efficacious when applications began at 1 CLS lesion/leaf. Six replicated field trials also evaluated the utility of scheduling fungicides on weather-based risk rather than a calendar approach. Two risk thresholds (moderate and high) integrating the accumulation of daily infection values based on temperature and relative humidity from a forecaster for CLS in sugar beet were evaluated. Applications of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole were reduced from three to two by using the forecaster at either risk threshold compared with calendar applications without affecting CLS control. For propiconazole, the moderate risk threshold provided CLS control equivalent to calendar applications and saved one spray per season. Thus, there was substantial scope to reduce spray frequency by scheduling based on weather-based risk rather than calendar applications. The optimal risk thresholds for pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole and propiconazole were high and moderate, respectively. In these trials, periods of high risk occurred less frequently than moderate risk, increasing the reapplication intervals and, hence, represented a less conservative approach to disease management.

Nonlinear flexure coupling elements for precision control of multibody systems

Conventional multibody systems used in robotics and automated machinery contain bearing components that exhibit complex and uncertain tribological characteristics. These limit fundamentally the precision of the automated motion and also cause wear. Replacing traditional bearing joints with flexure couplings eliminates these tribological effects, together with wear, reducing necessary system maintenance and offering a potential for increased motion precision. A flexure-coupled multibody system is considered and a novel general solution technique is presented. Derivation of a large deflection flexure coupling model is provided and subsequently validated using an experimental facility. A focused study of a unique double-flexure-coupling rigid body system is given; the formulated nonlinear mathematical model can be used for feedforward control. Equivalent control is also applied to a corresponding system with traditional bearing joints. The feasibility of replacing bearing joints by flexure couplings is demonstrated in terms of accurate large displacement control and reduction of high-frequency disturbances.

Chaos Control in the Fractional-Order Lorenz System with Random Parameter

In this paper, we study the chaos control in the fractional-order Lorenz system with random parameter. Firstly, according to orthogonal polynomial approximation principle of the Functional analysis, the fractional-order Lorenz system with random parameter is reduced to its equivalent deterministic one. Secondly, chaos control equivalent deterministic system research using the linear feedback method. Finally, though numerical results show the effective and feasible of this method.

Comparison of the Herbicidal Activity of Phenyl Isothiocyanate with Methyl Bromide in Polyethylene-Mulched Tomato

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the herbicidal activity of phenyl isothiocyanate (ITC) on yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass in tomato grown on two polyethylene-mulched types. Treatments included two mulch types (low density polyethylene [LDPE] mulch and virtually impermeable film [VIF] mulch) and phenyl ITC at 0, 15, 75, 150, 750, and 1,500 kg ha−1. A standard rate of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. Regardless of mulch type, phenyl ITC at 1,452 (±133) and 1,719 (±426) kg ha−1was required for broad-spectrum weed control equivalent to methyl bromide in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Tomato injury was ≥ 44% at the highest phenyl ITC rate of 1,500 kg ha−1at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP) both years, irrespective of mulch type. Greater crop injury was observed from 750 kg ha−1of phenyl ITC in 2006 (≥ 27%) than in 2007 (≤ 10%). The greater injury in 2006 was attributed to a higher phenyl ITC concentration because holes in the plastic mulch for transplanting were punched at the time of transplanting in 2006; whereas, in 2007 holes were punched 2 d before transplanting, allowing 2 d of aeration before transplanting. Tomato marketable yield at all rates of phenyl ITC was lower than with methyl bromide in 2006. However, in 2007, marketable yield in plots treated with phenyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1was equivalent to methyl bromide. Overall, VIF mulch was no more effective than LDPE mulch at increasing weed control or improving the marketable yield of tomato either year.