Control Programming Research Articles

Cashew Production and Breeding in 5 West African Countries

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Is an evergreen perennial tree crop that produce hard greyish nut enclosing a white nutritious kernel. The kernel is one of the major edible nuts or snacks with increasing global demand. The world's largest and most active cashew production region is in West Africa; where Cote d’ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Guinea-bissau and Ghana top the list of countries where it thrives best. Since 2014, cashew has become the second-main crop after cocoa in terms of export value, in these countries. It is one of the essential agricultural commodities that have significantly boosted the continent of Africa's GDP, foreign exchange profits, and overall worth due to the rising demand for raw cashew nuts. Cote d'ivoire has profited from a few research and development programs in nut quality control. Efforts are on to enhance the peel-ability of Nigerian cashews and to produce improved planting material with the help of private sector investment. Cashew cultivars development of Guinea-bissau has not made significant progress, due to few resources available for doing research. In Ghana, there are efforts to increase the genetic diversity of cashews, and in Benin, numerous farmers have reported inadequate output from their cashew fields. Narrow genetic diversity has been reported in west African cashew gene pools. Low productivity, poor nut quality, infestation of pests and diseases, poor funding, and other factors continue to limit cashew production in West Africa. Improvement in nut yield, nut quality, and broadening of cashew genetic base is important to the sustainability of the region’s cashew sector. This paper provides an overview of current status of cashew production and breeding in the top five cashew producing countries of West African; the challenges, and opportunities for future improvement.

Remote Patient Monitoring: What Have We Learned and Where Are We Going?

Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is an important part of patient follow-up. The increasing number of patients with CIEDs and the recent pandemic pose several challenges for already limited device clinic resources. This review focuses on recent evolutions in RM and identifies future needs to improve RM. RM has been associated with multiple clinical benefits, including improved survival, early detection of actionable events, reduction in inappropriate shocks, longer battery lives, and more efficient healthcare utilization. The survival benefit was driven by studies using alert-based continuous RM with daily transmissions and fast reaction times. Patients report a high satisfaction rate without significant differences in quality of life between RM and in-office follow-up.The increasing workload, due to the increasing number of CIEDs implanted with daily remote transmissions, results in several challenges for the future of RM. RM requires appropriate reimbursement for RM device clinics to optimize patient/staff ratios, including sufficient non-clinical and administrative support. Universal alert programming and data processing may minimize inter-manufacturer differences, improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and allow the development of standard operating protocols and workflows. In the future, programming by remote control and true remote programming may further improve remote CIED management, patient quality of life, and device clinic workflows. RM should be considered standard of care in management of patients with CIEDs. The clinical benefits of RM can be maximized by an alert-based continuous RM model. Adapted healthcare policies are required to keep RM manageable for the future.

On the application of modified dynamic programming in operational and organizational control

The methodology of application of dynamic programming and its modification in operational and organizational control is developed. To reduce dimensionality, computational difficulties, comparison of the methods and maximum use of all resources of computational means the principle of complexity is used. Computational procedures of dynamic programming are implemented in such a way that access to external computer memory is carried out as rarely as possible and at the same time all the output information is used effectively.

130 Awareness and Implementation of Tobacco Control Practices in Rural Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Centers

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Tobacco use remains a significant problem in rural America. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) can help reduce the burden of tobacco use in rural areas. Still, we know little about center awareness and implementation of best practices for tobacco control. We assessed the knowledge and existence of tobacco control strategies in rural FQHCs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We electronically surveyed health administrators and providers (n=33) in three rural Louisiana FQHCs between March and April 2021. The assessment measured awareness of the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use, center priority given to smoking cessation programming, the presence of best practices for tobacco control programming such as having a tobacco control champion and team, treatment and smoke-free campus policies, and referral to external cessation services. Descriptive statistics characterize survey respondents and responses. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were female (88.5%), White (53.8%), between 35 and 54 years of age (69.2%), and non-smokers (65.4%). Among all respondents, 69.7% reported awareness of the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use. Less than half (48%) said their health center gave smoking cessation high priority relative to other health priorities. Only a third (36%) reported having a tobacco champion, and a quarter (25%) had a tobacco control team at their facility. Although all centers had a smoke-free campus policy, a quarter (27%) were unaware of the policy. Only a quarter (27%) reported having a written policy for smoking cessation treatment at their center, and a little more than half (56.7%) knew about cessation services to which they could refer tobacco users. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Centers had limited knowledge of the U.S. guideline for tobacco use treatment. Smoking cessation lacked priority, and tobacco control best practices implementation was low. FQHCs serving rural populations can implement guideline-recommend policies and clinical treatments, and future studies should test strategies to increase implementation.

Utility of intervention programs in the evolutional control of patients with heart failure

Utility of intervention programs in the evolutional control of patients with heart failure

Event-triggered adaptive dynamic programming for optimal tracking control of unmanned surface vessel with input constraints

In this paper, an event-triggered control mechanism scheme based on dynamic surface control and adaptive dynamic programming (DSC-ETCADP) is proposed for optimal trajectory tracking of the unmanned surface vessel (USV) with input constraints. First, the control structure is designed using dynamic surface control (DSC) as feedforward control and adaptive dynamic programming as feedback control, which not only ensures the tracking of reference trajectory but also improves the control accuracy. Second, due to the data-driven nature of adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) and the ability to adjust parameters online, it can be solved by USV with unknown disturbance. Third, the event-triggered mechanism can save computation and reduce the number of executions of the controller, in addition to avoiding Zeno behavior. Finally, according to the Lyapunov stability theory, all signals in the closed-loop system are globally uniformly and ultimately bounded (UUB). The DSC-ETCADP scheme is compared with DSC method. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

An Automatic Monitoring and Control System inside the Greenhouse

In this work, we have proposed a structure that can accumulate information related to nursery climate and yield status and control the framework naturally considering the assembled information. By deeply noticing occasional conditions, this study has the justification behind getting an association between sensor banners and reference assessments. Control programming will give data findings of the continuous show. Through long-time running and functional utilization, the framework has been demonstrated that it has numerous points of interest. To monitor the environment inside the greenhouse different parameters have been considered such as light, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, etc. using different sensors like DHT22 temperature and humidity Sensor, LDR, grove-moisture sensor, etc. which will be interfaced with a microcontroller. A shut circle framework will execute control activity to change temperature, mugginess, light power and soil dampness if any undesirable blunders (high/low) happen.

Path integral control of a stochastic multi-risk SIR pandemic model.

In this paper a Feynman-type path integral control approach is used for a recursive formulation of a health objective function subject to a fatigue dynamics, a forward-looking stochastic multi-risk susceptible-infective-recovered (SIR) model with risk-group's Bayesian opinion dynamics toward vaccination against COVID-19. My main interest lies in solving a minimization of a policy-maker's social cost which depends on some deterministic weight. I obtain an optimal lock-down intensity from a Wick-rotated Schrödinger-type equation which is analogous to a Hamiltonian-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. My formulation is based on path integral control and dynamic programming tools facilitates the analysis and permits the application of algorithm to obtain numerical solution for pandemic control model.

Studies on the Numerical Control Programming for Multi-Axis Machining of Turbomolecular Pump Rotor

Turbomolecular pumps (TMPs), boasting advantageous high pumping rates, stability, and cleanliness, have been widely used in the semiconductor and photoelectric industries. In the aviation industry, the lightweight rotors of turbomolecular pumps can enhance the performance of generators. With technological advancements and increased industrial performance demands, various designs for turbomolecular pump rotors utilizing twisted and curved blade surfaces have been proposed. This increase in complexity runs parallel with machining difficulties. Contact and noncontact reverse engineering equipment was used to reconstruct a computer-aided design (CAD) model of turbomolecular pump rotors. The machining of thin and long blades, cutting tool arrangement, and toolpath was planned. Postprocessing was used to convert the toolpath into numerical control (NC) programming codes, which were combined with solid model cutting simulation software to verify the efficacy of the generated machining NC program for turbomolecular pump rotors. A five-axis horizontal machining center (CK type) with aluminum alloy AL6061-T6 was used to conduct actual machining tests measuring the efficiency of the machining methods. The rapid prototyping (RP) blocks can be creatively used as a jig and stuffed between the blades to suppress the chatter problem during processing, and the roughness of the surface of the blades can be reduced from 4.4 μm to 1.3 μm. The processed rotor can meet the flow test requirements, and the overall research can be used as a reference for the industry.

Integrated malaria prevention in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

BackgroundAs many countries aim to eliminate malaria, use of comprehensive approaches targeting the mosquito vector and environment are needed. Integrated malaria prevention advocates the use of several malaria prevention measures holistically at households and in the community. The aim of this systematic review was to collate and summarize the impact of integrated malaria prevention in low- and middle-income countries on malaria burden.MethodsLiterature on integrated malaria prevention, defined as the use of two or more malaria prevention methods holistically, was searched from 1st January 2001 to 31st July 2021. The primary outcome variables were malaria incidence and prevalence, while the secondary outcome measures were human biting and entomological inoculation rates, and mosquito mortality.ResultsA total of 10,931 studies were identified by the search strategy. After screening, 57 articles were included in the review. Studies included cluster randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, programme evaluations, experimental hut/houses, and field trials. Various interventions were used, mainly combinations of two or three malaria prevention methods including insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), topical repellents, insecticide sprays, microbial larvicides, and house improvements including screening, insecticide-treated wall hangings, and screening of eaves. The most common methods used in integrated malaria prevention were ITNs and IRS, followed by ITNs and topical repellents. There was reduced incidence and prevalence of malaria when multiple malaria prevention methods were used compared to single methods. Mosquito human biting and entomological inoculation rates were significantly reduced, and mosquito mortality increased in use of multiple methods compared to single interventions. However, a few studies showed mixed results or no benefits of using multiple methods to prevent malaria.ConclusionUse of multiple malaria prevention methods was effective in reducing malaria infection and mosquito density in comparison with single methods. Results from this systematic review can be used to inform future research, practice, policy and programming for malaria control in endemic countries.

Numerical Control Simulation and Programming Based on SinuTrain Bearing Bracket (Five-axis)

At present, the development of numerical control processing technology has entered a new period and has gradually developed in the direction of artificial intelligence. Along with the development of science and technology in recent years, the present stage of our country has made a significant breakthrough in the application of numerical control processing technology. Hence, learning to master CNC machining technology is necessary. Numerical control simulation software is used to NC machining the bearing bracket (five-axis), and numerical control simulation software SinuTrain is used to NC programming the parts and simulation verification of the machining process. SinuTrain is a CNC training software that functions exactly like the controller itself. The use of this software for bearing bracket (five-axis) numerical control simulation and programming, can make us master the use of this software, and can also help us understand the mechanical processing process and programming technology.

Cross-Layer Resource Allocation in HetNet NOMA Systems With Dynamic Traffic Arrivals

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has become a promising candidate aiming to enhance the system performance in the fifth generation of wireless communication. However, most existing studies on the resource allocation of NOMA systems only consider the short-term performance improvement but ignore the problems caused by the imperfect time-varying channels and the dynamic traffic arrivals, which will result in unsuccessful transmission issues. Different from the existing approaches, we propose a long-term cross-layer resource allocation model with dynamic traffic arrivals and limited channel information. With the low-overhead one-bit feedback, the optimal decoding order, user scheduling, and power allocation are analyzed. Specifically, the problem is formulated as a stochastic optimization framework to minimize long-term power consumption. By applying the Lyapunov optimization framework, the problem can be transformed into a joint traffic rate control and mixed-integer programming resource allocation problem. This NP-hard problem is difficult to be solved directly. Therefore, we devise an efficient sub-optimal algorithm with the dynamic penalty factor. In our theoretical analysis, we prove that the delay-power tradeoff can be achieved by tuning a control parameter. The simulation results confirm that our proposed algorithms can efficiently reduce the power consumption compared with the baseline algorithms while satisfying the QoS requirements.

Research on Cutting Parameters Database Based on Spacecraft Product Characteristics

Cutting parameters affect the production and processing efficiency and the quality of products. The characteristics of single-piece and small-batch production of spacecraft products result in a large number of cutting parameters. Due to the lack of centralized management methods, cutting parameters in the production site are not unified, which seriously affects the processing efficiency and quality of products. In response to a large number of cutting parameters and the lack of centralized management, the production resource library is completed by establishing a spacecraft product feature pedigree. Taking the product characteristics as the carrier, the production resources as the optional factors, and the forces in the cutting process as the evaluation criteria, the whole life management mechanism of cutting parameters is established to unify the cutting parameters in the production process and complete the establishment of the cutting parameter database. The interface between the programming platform and the cutting parameters library is developed for a low reuse rate of cutting parameters. With typical features as the carrier, the cutting parameters are packaged and transmitted to the programming platform to provide reliable cutting parameters for feature automatic programming, which improves the reuse rate of cutting parameters and simplifies the numerical control programming operation. The results show that the reuse times of cutting parameters are more than 8000 times, effectively ensuring the machining efficiency and quality consistency of products.

The Future of Networking: Embracing Software-Defined Solutions

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a unique approach to network administration with the potential to radically alter how companies approach network design, implementation, and management. By decoupling the control plane from the data plane, SDN makes it possible for businesses to centralise and automate network design, management, and optimization. Hence, the organisation gains in speed, adaptability, and scalability. This research looks into where networking is headed and how businesses may use software-defined networking to speed up digital transformation, cut costs, and boost efficiencies. The concepts and components of software-defined networking (SDN), such as the controller, southbound and northbound application programming interfaces (APIs), and network virtualization, are introduced in this article. The advantages of SDN in terms of network programmability, security, and application performance are also explored. It also draws attention to some of the challenges of putting SDN into practise, such as integrating it with existing systems, being tied to a single vendor, and a lack of adequate industry standards. Finally, this research presents case studies of businesses that have successfully used SDN and seen significant benefits as a result of this implementation. It concludes that software-defined networking (SDN) is the networking technology of the future and that companies that adopt this technology will have an advantage in the modern digital economy.

Fresh Approaches for Structured Text Programmable Logic Controllers Programs Verification

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are everywhere today and perform critical tasks in industries. They are considered as a key component for the Industry 4.0. Before they are put into operation, it is necessary to check the accuracy of the PLC programs. This verification operation can be performed using model checkers. This stage is often long and costly and requires a domain expert who can understand the system, as well as the different model checker tools able to verify the code implemented in the controller. Furthermore, this verification often requires a conversion of the PLC code into a language understood by a model checker which can influence the behavior of the observed PLC. Hence, there is a need to propose methods and tools which could be used by technicians and engineers. The aim of this paper is to propose methods that require little work to set up and are robust to program sizes used in Industry 4.0. This paper explores some fresh ideas for human-adapted PLC code verification. We present different methods to test codes in structured text (ST) compliant with the IEC 61131-3 standard. Hence, the first idea is to test the ST code that will be directly implemented on a controller. For that, we propose a method using the model checker UPPAAL which allows us to obtain exact results on short codes. Second, we propose verifying the generic properties that a PLC program must avoid: deadlocks, non-accessible states and fugitive states or actions. To solve combinatory explosion problems encountered with the UPPAAL software, the third proposition consists of using relational databases. The same verification as previously followed can be obtained, but the search time is longer. The fourth and last proposal is to process the ST code with a neural network composed of long short-term memory layers (LSTM) to quickly determine the validity of the code. This method could give an approximation of code errors in a few seconds. The different proposed methods are supported with several examples.

Trajectory Optimization of Chance-Constrained Nonlinear Stochastic Systems for Motion Planning Under Uncertainty

In this article, we present generalized polynomial chaos-based sequential convex programming (gPC-SCP) to compute a suboptimal solution for a continuous-time chance-constrained stochastic nonlinear optimal control (SNOC) problem. The approach enables motion planning for robotic systems under uncertainty. The gPC-SCP method involves two steps. The first step is to derive a surrogate problem of deterministic nonlinear optimal control (DNOC) with convex constraints by using gPC expansion and the distributionally robust convex subset of the chance constraints. The second step is to solve the DNOC problem using sequential convex programming for trajectory generation and control. We prove that in the unconstrained case, the optimal value of the DNOC converges to that of SNOC asymptotically and that any feasible solution of the constrained DNOC is a feasible solution of the chance-constrained SNOC. We also present the predictor–corrector extension (gPC-SCP <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^\text{PC}$</tex-math></inline-formula> ) for real-time motion trajectory generation in the presence of stochastic uncertainty. In the gPC-SCP <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^\text{PC}$</tex-math></inline-formula> method, we first predict the uncertainty using the gPC method and then optimize the motion plan to accommodate the uncertainty. We empirically demonstrate the efficacy of the gPC-SCP and the gPC-SCP <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^\text{PC}$</tex-math></inline-formula> methods for the following two test cases: first, collision checking under uncertainty in actuation and physical parameters and second, collision checking with stochastic obstacle model for 3DOF and 6DOF robotic systems. We validate the effectiveness of the gPC-SCP method on the 3DOF robotic spacecraft testbed.

Health Risks Assessment from Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining Fugitive Styrene Emissions in Laterals

The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of styrene emissions in sewer laterals, resulting from the installation and steam curing of a resin impregnated cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) liner, within a sanitary sewer. The study included development and performance assessment of a controlled field test program that measures and records styrene emissions before, during, and after steam-curing a CIPP liner. Measured styrene emissions are then compared with those of published studies and regulatory exposure guidelines to assess the potential risk exposure. The field study measurements confirmed that high styrene concentrations can exist in sewer laterals during the steam-curing of the CIPP liner. They also confirm that water, in proper functioning P-traps, will prevent high styrene emissions from exiting the lateral and into buildings. Fugitive emission modeling shows that the risk of exceeding the acute exposure guideline limits is very low, even when high styrene concentrations exist in a lateral with a dry P-trap, and the styrene odor threshold is exceeded within the building, that is, when the building occupants smell styrene.

School-based intervention to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity in Palestinian girls - Process evaluation

Aim: School-based interventions have the potential to intervene with the students and teachers, and to reach their families. A controlled program trial was designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity among Palestinian females, while the process evaluation aimed to monitor the program’s implementation and identify factors that led to its success. Methods: A randomized controlled program trial was conducted in 14-Palestinian schools under 4-different jurisdictions, divided into 7-control and 7-intervention schools chosen randomly after applying a sample size calculation. A monitoring system, elucidated factors which contributed to improved outcomes, was applied in the intervention schools only, while the control schools continued with their regular curriculum. The process evaluation tracked the timing and implementation of interventions including changes in the school strategy, policy and structure, teachers’ capacity building, mothers’ education and involvement, the school’s supportive health environment, and integration food consumption records and physical activity into the daily class routine. Results: The intervention included 3,805 schoolchildren and their mothers’ as-well-as 147 teachers. At the completion of the 18-month intervention the schools had successfully participated in the various intervention activities. Only the private school did not sustain some of the interventions, which put it at 55% completion of the school supportive environment activities compared to the other schools which all reached the 100% completion of planned activities. Conclusion: This process evaluation approach enabled a more comprehensive understanding of the intervention implementation and outcomes and identified factors that contribute to the sustainability of the intervention. Each school required a different amount of time for understanding, applying and implementing the program depending on its needs. Acknowledgments: The authors thank the participating schools, the Palestinian Ministry of Education, the UNRWA Office of Education and Jerusalem Municipality for facilitating fieldwork. I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to my doctoral thesis supervisors, Prof. Elliot Berry and Prof. Ziad Abdeen. Source of funding: This study is a part of Ph.D. degree. The researcher received scholarship from Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). The author thanks Nutrition and Health Research Institute Al-Quds University for funding part of the research. The Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women at the Division of Cardiology of Hadassah University Medical Center, directed by Dr. Donna Zfat funded the mothers’ activities and lectures towards the end of the intervention, as well as the implementation of the program at the control schools one year after the study ended, as they were promised when they got selected

Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing: Bridging the Gap between Design and Material Extrusion

Nowadays, the use of 3D printing is becoming a key process for on-demand and customized manufacturing. One of the most flexible 3D printing techniques is fused deposition modeling (FDM), where the combination of multiple materials was recently introduced. A quantum leap in part design is possible by integrating local variations between materials that allow for expanded functionality to be built into a single part. Therefore, the process of co-extrusion and material mixing is becoming more and more popular. The process of management and design of the engineered part are still complicated, and there are no commercially available tools that follow the process from design to production of these highly engineered products. This paper proposes a methodology to fill this gap and allow any designer to be able to produce multi-material parts by editing a G-code (computer numerical control programming language) with engineered gradients for FDM technology. More specifically, the proposed approach is based on the modification of the G-code according to a volumetric model describing the local combination of two or more materials. This original aspect allows for a wide extension of the current software capabilities. To explain and test the method, a simple test case was investigated, in which two components of an earphone are consolidated and developed gradually by combining polylactic acid and thermoplastic polyurethane. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach within the limits of the material coextrusion additive manufacturing process.

Assessing the acceptability of the health education program in Dengue prevention and control in Buon Ma Thuot city in Dak Lak province, Vietnam

Dengue fever is a serious human arboviral infection that globally spreads and is a top concern amongst health care professionals and governments including Vietnam. The best measure to prevent and control dengue is vector control which is supported by social mobilization and health education. This study assessed the acceptability of health education programs in dengue fever prevention and control for the first time in Dak Lak Province, which is located in the endemic area of dengue fever in Vietnam. This study was an implementation research with qualitative methods. Nine in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions involving thirty-four informants were conducted at province, district, and ward levels. The acceptability was analyzed based on the seven components of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Thirty-four informants ranging from ages 26 to 54 years participated. All belonged to the delivering or receiving groups of the health education program. The years of experience of the delivering group were at least two years with the health education program in dengue prevention and control and all individuals in the receiving group participated in the program. Six components, namely affective attitude, perceived effectiveness, intervention coherence, ethicality, and self-efficacy, were coded in all transcripts. Meanwhile, none of the interviews mentioned the opportunity cost. Overall, the acceptability of the health education program in dengue fever prevention and control was considered to be positive. However, the transformation from education to behavior requires time for acceptance and the persistence of the education program. Besides, the major burden of the program was the limited budget that could lead to inadequate facilities for indirect communication and low human resources.