General Control Principles Research Articles

Optimal social distancing in epidemic control: cost prioritization, adherence and insights into preparedness principles

The COVID-19 pandemic experience has highlighted the importance of developing general control principles to inform future pandemic preparedness based on the tension between the different control options, ranging from elimination to mitigation, and related costs. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing has been confirmed to be the critical response tool until vaccines become available. Open-loop optimal control of a transmission model for COVID-19 in one of its most aggressive outbreaks is used to identify the best social distancing policies aimed at balancing the direct epidemiological costs of a threatening epidemic with its indirect (i.e., societal level) costs arising from enduring control measures. In particular, we analyse how optimal social distancing varies according to three key policy factors, namely, the degree of prioritization of indirect costs, the adherence to control measures, and the timeliness of intervention. As the prioritization of indirect costs increases, (i) the corresponding optimal distancing policy suddenly switches from elimination to suppression and, finally, to mitigation; (ii) the “effective” mitigation region—where hospitals’ overwhelming is prevented—is dramatically narrow and shows multiple control waves; and (iii) a delicate balance emerges, whereby low adherence and lack of timeliness inevitably force ineffective mitigation as the only accessible policy option. The present results show the importance of open-loop optimal control, which is traditionally absent in public health preparedness, for studying the suppression–mitigation trade-off and supplying robust preparedness guidelines.

Cell size homeostasis is tightly controlled throughout the cell cycle.

To achieve a stable size distribution over multiple generations, proliferating cells require a means of counteracting stochastic noise in the rate of growth, the time spent in various phases of the cell cycle, and the imprecision in the placement of the plane of cell division. In the most widely accepted model, cell size is thought to be regulated at the G1/S transition, such that cells smaller than a critical size pause at the end of G1 phase until they have accumulated mass to a predetermined size threshold, at which point the cells proceed through the rest of the cell cycle. However, a model, based solely on a specific size checkpoint at G1/S, cannot readily explain why cells with deficient G1/S control mechanisms are still able to maintain a very stable cell size distribution. Furthermore, such a model would not easily account for stochastic variation in cell size during the subsequent phases of the cell cycle, which cannot be anticipated at G1/S. To address such questions, we applied computationally enhanced quantitative phase microscopy (ceQPM) to populations of cultured human cell lines, which enables highly accurate measurement of cell dry mass of individual cells throughout the cell cycle. From these measurements, we have evaluated the factors that contribute to maintaining cell mass homeostasis at any point in the cell cycle. Our findings reveal that cell mass homeostasis is accurately maintained, despite disruptions to the normal G1/S machinery or perturbations in the rate of cell growth. Control of cell mass is generally not confined to regulation of the G1 length. Instead mass homeostasis is imposed throughout the cell cycle. In the cell lines examined, we find that the coefficient of variation (CV) in dry mass of cells in the population begins to decline well before the G1/S transition and continues to decline throughout S and G2 phases. Among the different cell types tested, the detailed response of cell growth rate to cell mass differs. However, in general, when it falls below that for exponential growth, the natural increase in the CV of cell mass is effectively constrained. We find that both mass-dependent cell cycle regulation and mass-dependent growth rate modulation contribute to reducing cell mass variation within the population. Through the interplay and coordination of these 2 processes, accurate cell mass homeostasis emerges. Such findings reveal previously unappreciated and very general principles of cell size control in proliferating cells. These same regulatory processes might also be operative in terminally differentiated cells. Further quantitative dynamical studies should lead to a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell size control.

Distribution network reconfiguration using improved colonial competition optimization algorithm

The implementation of a distribution network is generally aimed at increasing system efficiency, increasing the level of optimal operation, increasing the stability of the power grid, reducing blackouts, and increasing reliability. By providing general definitions of networks and the principles of optimal operation and reliability indicators and loss reduction in power systems, the general principles of network control and optimal operation are presented and finally, practical ideas for the optimal operation of power networks with The approach of increasing system reliability and maximum productivity of distributed production resources is presented. In the presence of a distribution network and by using appropriate control algorithms, it is possible to optimize the power network in different working conditions; After the occurrence of a disturbance in the network, the power system is exposed to instability. The network can restore the stability of the system by communicating critical conditions to the subscribers as well as rearranging the network structure and shut down the least number of subscribers. Implementation of a distribution network in general with the aim of increasing system efficiency, increasing the level of optimal exploitation, increasing the stability of the power grid, reducing outages and increasing reliability.

Парламентский контроль в субъектах Российской Федерации: проблемы правового регулирования и практики реализации

Introduction. The development of the institution of parliamentary control in the Russian Federation actualizes the issues of achieving a balance of branches of government at the regional level and improving legal regulation in order to increase the effectiveness of the constitutional and legal mechanism to meet the interests and needs of residents of the respective regions. Theoretical analysis. At the present stage, there is a variety of forms of legal regulation of parliamentary control at the regional level, different legal models of its legislative regulation, characterized by certain advantages and disadvantages, are used. This determines the need to unify the conceptual and terminological apparatus of this institution, that reflects its essence and characteristic features, as well as the legislative consolidation of basic parameters, internal constitutive principles and procedures that ensure the inclusion of subjects of regional parliamentary control in the system of parliamentary control of the Russian Federation. Empirical analysis. The analysis of the legislative consolidation of procedural issues of the implementation of various forms of parliamentary control by regional parliaments indicates the conciseness of the relevant legal regulations, the planned nature of control procedures, the reproduction of the powers of the federal legislature at the regional level based on the results of verification activities with some expansion of such opportunities. The powers of a regional legislative authority based on the results of the exercised control, which are not provided for by similar norms of federal legislation on parliamentary control, can be differentiated into recommendations addressed to regional state structures, personnel decisions, initiating communications in the form of drafting a draft law of a subject of the Russian Federation, a draft federal law for its introduction by the legislative authority of a subject of the Russian Federation in the exercise of the right of legislative initiatives to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Results. The authors conclude that the legislation and practice of parliamentary control in the Russian regions need to be improved, which is aimed at detailing the legal regulation in this area and increasing effectiveness of its implementation. In this regard, the prospects for the adoption of the federal law “On general principles of parliamentary control in the subjects of the Russian Federation” are substantiated.

Speech and Nonspeech Parameters in the Clinical Assessment of Dysarthria: A Dimensional Analysis.

Nonspeech (or paraspeech) parameters are widely used in clinical assessment of speech impairment in persons with dysarthria (PWD). Virtually every standard clinical instrument used in dysarthria diagnostics includes nonspeech parameters, often in considerable numbers. While theoretical considerations have challenged the validity of these measures as markers of speech impairment, only a few studies have directly examined their relationship to speech parameters on a broader scale. This study was designed to investigate how nonspeech parameters commonly used in clinical dysarthria assessment relate to speech characteristics of dysarthria in individuals with movement disorders. Maximum syllable repetition rates, accuracies, and rates of isolated and repetitive nonspeech oral-facial movements and maximum phonation times were compared with auditory-perceptual and acoustic speech parameters. Overall, 23 diagnostic parameters were assessed in a sample of 130 patients with movement disorders of six etiologies. Each variable was standardized for its distribution and for age and sex effects in 130 neurotypical speakers. Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to examine the factor structure underlying the diagnostic parameters. In the first analysis, we tested the hypothesis that nonspeech parameters combine with speech parameters within diagnostic dimensions representing domain-general motor control principles. In a second analysis, we tested the more specific hypotheses that diagnostic parameters split along effector (lip vs. tongue) or functional (speed vs. accuracy) rather than task boundaries. Our findings contradict the view that nonspeech parameters currently used in dysarthria diagnostics are congruent with diagnostic measures of speech characteristics in PWD.

ЕВРАЗИЯ ЭКОНОМИКАЛЫК БИРИМДИГИ ЖӨНҮНДӨ КЕЛИШИМГЕ КАТЫШКАН МАМЛЕКЕТТЕРДИН МЫЙЗАМДАРЫН ШАЙКЕШ КЕЛТИРҮҮ ЖАНА УНИФИКАЦИЯЛОО МЕХАНИЗМДЕРИН ӨРКҮНДӨТҮҮ

Harmonization implies a coordinated policy of legal regulation, including on the basis of the actions of the EAEU bodies, to the extent that this is important for achieving the goals of the EAEU provided for by the agreements. There are many positive results of integration cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and other EAEU countries, but there are not only achievements but also difficulties when the organization of joint contractual legislative activities of the EAEU countries is often late. For example, there are protracted procedures for discussing the general principles of banking regulation and control, in particular, the general conditions for the creation and operation of international financial centers in the EAEU, etc.

Joint Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and Infection Prevention Society (IPS) guidelines for the prevention and control of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthcare facilities

Joint Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and Infection Prevention Society (IPS) guidelines for the prevention and control of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthcare facilities

Modulation of macrophage functions by ECM-inspired wound dressings- a promising therapeutic approach for chronic wounds.

Nonhealing chronic wounds are among the most common skin disorders with increasing incidence worldwide. However, their treatment is still dissatisfying, that is why novel therapeutic concepts targeting the sustained inflammatory process have emerged. Increasing understanding of chronic wound pathologies has put macrophages in the spotlight of such approaches. Herein, we review current concepts and perspectives of therapeutic macrophage control by ECM-inspired wound dressing materials. We provide an overview of the current understanding of macrophage diversity with particular view on their roles in skin and in physiological and disturbed wound healing processes. Based on this we discuss strategies for their modulation in chronic wounds and how such strategies can be tailored in ECM-inspired wound dressing. The latter utilize and mimic general principles of ECM-mediated cell control, such as binding and delivery of signaling molecules and direct signaling to cells specifically adapted for macrophage regulation in wounds. Inthis review, we present examples of most recent approaches and discuss ideas for their further development.

МЕХАНІЗМ ПРОТИДІЇ ШАХРАЙСТВУ ІНСТРУМЕНТАМИ ВНУТРІШНЬОГО КОНТРОЛЮ

The article reveals the formation of a mechanism for combating fraud and economic crimes with the tools of internal control. An assessment of the most common types of economic crimes and fraud and describes their impact and consequences for the company. Attention is focused on the fact that today fraud is a threat to the stable development of any enterprise. Fraud has affected more than half of Ukrainian businesses in recent years, and these losses tend to go far beyond financial losses. The article discusses the consequences of fraud and economic crimes, which can cause significant damage to intangible assets (relationships with business partners, reputation, brand), and are extremely important factors for the successful operation and development of any organization. The necessity of building an internal control mechanism as an effective tool to combat fraud is proved. It is determined that the mechanism for combating economic crimes and fraud should use the tool of internal control as an effective means of management, the purpose of which is to timely detect deviations from the normal business process and implement adequate management measures to improve financial condition. The paper examines the general scientific principles of control, and describes the need for their use for internal control. In view of this, the authors propose to follow the following principles of internal control to form a mechanism to combat fraud: efficiency, legality, continuity of control, independence and objectivity, inevitability of control and punishment and publicity. The elements of the internal control mechanism for counteracting fraud are evaluated, and the mechanism of counteracting fraud is described using such elements as legal, organizational and economic. The legal mechanism allows to ensure the cessation of dishonest actions on the part of staff in the process of internal conflict and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The organizational mechanism for fraud prevention allows the formation of a system of relationships between owners and employees, with an important element is the internal control service. The economic mechanism provides an effective system of staff motivation, allows to create a system to prevent fraud in the enterprise, in which fraud and economic crimes for each employee in the enterprise are unprofitable.

Investigation of electromagnetic radiation of the control channel of a small-sized unmanned aerial vehicle for attenuation

An urgent problem of our time is to counteract the illegal use of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (quadrocopter type). The problem of detecting quadrocopters is related to their low visibility, including in the electromagnetic wavelength range. As a result, it is relevant and appropriate to develop a budget device for countering such aircraft. At the initial stage to achieve this goal, we studied the General principles of control of the civil quadcopter “Xiaomi Mi Drone 4k”, determined its most significant unmasking feature (electromagnetic radiation of the control channel), measured the electrical component of the electromagnetic field from its control panel in order to further calculate the signal attenuation coefficient for detecting the operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Are Central Government Rules Okay? Assessing the Hidden Costs of Centralised Discipline for Municipal Borrowing

In the EU, the specialty municipal banks have been the traditional funding source besides tax sharing and governmental transfers for Local Governments (LGs). With the decentralization process, LGs experienced different market-based options so that banks were no longer the only source of funding. However, with the onset of the Eurozone crisis, public sector debt is no more risk-free, and the cost of borrowing became unstable over time. To minimise such risks, Central Governments forced LGs to adopt general principles of control of local borrowing. Previous studies evidenced that centralised controls affect unitary countries more than federations. This paper investigates the Centralised Discipline and Control Model to understand whether it generates hidden costs. For such a purpose, the paper compares municipal bonds against borrowing from banks in Italy, a European unitary country. This paper highlights the existence of hidden costs for Italian LGs because the Central Government set up an expensive system for controlling the entire public sector debt. Policy makers should pay particular attention to which model of control to adopt by considering their country’s specific characteristics and the potential impacts of the different models on them, according to the present economic circumstances.

An Algorithmic Approach to Natural Behavior.

Uncovering the mechanisms and implications of natural behavior is a goal that unites many fields of biology. Yet, the diversity, flexibility, and multi-scale nature of these behaviors often make understanding elusive. Here, we review studies of animal pursuit and evasion - two special classes of behavior where theory-driven experiments and new modeling techniques are beginning to uncover the general control principles underlying natural behavior. A key finding of these studies is that intricate sequences of pursuit and evasion behavior can often be constructed through simple, repeatable rules that link sensory input to motor output: we refer to these rules as behavioral algorithms. Identifying and mathematically characterizing these algorithms has led to important insights, including the discovery of guidance rules that attacking predators use to intercept mobile prey, and coordinated neural and biomechanical mechanisms that animals use to avoid impending collisions. Here, we argue that algorithms provide a good starting point for studies of natural behavior more generally. Rather than beginning at the neural or ecological levels of organization, we advocate starting in the middle, where the algorithms that link sensory input to behavioral output can provide a solid foundation from which to explore both the implementation and the ecological outcomes of behavior. We review insights that have been gained through such an algorithmic approach to pursuit and evasion behaviors. From these, we synthesize theoretical principles and lay out key modeling tools needed to apply an algorithmic approach to the study of other complex natural behaviors.

PUBLIC CONTROL AS A SEPARATE AREA OF INTERACTION BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS AND THE PUBLIC

The article is devoted to the analysis of public control as an independent direction of interaction of administrative courts with the public. It is proved that the formation of civil society in Ukraine is the basis for effective public control over administrative courts. Features of modern civil society in Ukraine are characterized. The concept of public control over administrative courts is presented as an independent direction of interaction of administrative courts with the public. The content of public control as an independent direction of interaction of administrative courts with the public is revealed. The features of public control over administrative courts in Ukraine are considered. General and special principles of public control over administrative courts are defined. Forms of exercising public control over administrative courts have been established. Methods of conducting public control over administrative courts are revealed. Problematic issues of public control over administrative courts have been identified. The ways of improving the activity of civil society in Ukraine in exercising public control over the activity of administrative courts are outlined. The ways of increasing the effectiveness of civil society interaction with the administrative courts of Ukraine are outlined. The peculiarities of the foreign experience of civilian control over the judiciary are analyzed. Ways of borrowing foreign experience in exercising public control over the activities of the judiciary are proposed. The directions of improvement of public control over administrative courts are defined.

Control principles for complex biological networks.

Networks have been widely used to model the structure of various biological systems. Currently, a series of approaches have been developed to construct reliable biological networks. However, the ultimate understanding of a biological system is to steer its states to the desired ones by imposing signals. The control process is dominated by the intrinsic structure and the dynamic propagation. To understand the underlying mechanisms behind the life process, the control theory can be applied to biological networks with specific target requirements. In this article, we first introduce the structural controllability of complex networks and discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Then, we review the effective control to meet the specific requirements for complex biological networks. Moreover, we summarize the existing methods for finding the unique minimum set of driver nodes via the optimal control for complex networks. Finally, we discuss the relationships between biological networks and structural controllability, effective control and optimal control. Moreover, potential applications of general control principles are pointed out.

Control: Why, when and how? Some general principles of state control presented on the example of disqualification from performing commercial activities pursuant to § 35 of the German Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act

Control: Why, when and how? Some general principles of state control presented on the example of disqualification from performing commercial activities pursuant to § 35 of the German Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act

Burden of norovirus in healthcare facilities and strategies for outbreak control

Norovirus is the most frequently occurring cause of community-acquired acute gastroenteritis in people of all ages. It is also one of the most frequent causes of outbreaks in healthcare settings, affecting both long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals. Whereas norovirus gastroenteritis is typically mild and resolves without medical attention, healthcare-associated infections often affect vulnerable populations, resulting in severe infections and disruption of healthcare services. Globally, most norovirus outbreaks in hospitals and residential care institutions are associated with genogroup II type 4 (GII.4) strains. Recent data demonstrate that excess mortality occurs during outbreak periods in healthcare facilities. Nosocomial outbreaks can result in large economic and societal costs. Current control measures for norovirus are largely based on general infection control principles, and treatment is mainly supportive and non-specific. While neither vaccines nor antiviral agents are currently available, both are being developed with encouraging results.

Neuroscience: Dragonflies predict and plan their hunts.

An analysis reveals that the dragonfly's impressive ability to catch its prey arises from internal calculations about its own movements and those of its target — the first example of such predictions in invertebrates. See Article p.333 Primates and other vertebrates use internal models to control and predict the consequences of their movements, but invertebrates were thought to rely mostly on reflexes. In a study using motion capture to track the head and body movements of dragonflies catching flying prey, Anthony Leonardo and colleagues demonstrate a complexity of behaviour not previously seen in an insect. Approaching from below, the dragonfly's head locks onto its target while its body manoeuvres to align to the prey's flight path and reduce the distance to the prey. Rather than generating these steering movements reactively, by responding only to changes in prey motion, dragonflies using both reactive and predictive control. These predictions account for the motion of the prey and the dragonfly's own body, and are consistent with generation by internal models. The experimental accessibility of the insect nervous system, combined with the load-carrying capacity of the dragonfly, opens these general principles of motor control to detailed mechanistic dissection.

Norovirus in healthcare settings.

Purpose of reviewTo provide an overview of the burden of norovirus disease in healthcare settings and the factors responsible for outbreaks in these institutions; to assess progress on interventions aimed at reducing the burden of norovirus disease.Recent findingsNorovirus outbreaks in healthcare settings are driven by confluence of viral diversity, the built environment, and host factors. Some of these characteristics may be modifiable and the target of successful interventions.SummaryMost norovirus outbreaks in hospital and residential care institutions are associated with a particular genotype, known as GII.4. The persistence of norovirus is associated with strain diversity, which is driven by immune evasion and viral adaptation to interaction with a variety of human histo-blood group antigens. The healthcare environment presents serious challenges for control, both because of the physical structure of the built space and the high levels of contact among patient populations who may have compromised hygiene. Increased vulnerability among the populations in healthcare institutions is likely to be multifactorial and may include the following: nutritional status, immunodeficiency or senescence, chronic inflammation, and microbiome alterations. Current control measures are based on general infection control principles, and treatment is mainly supportive and nonspecific. Vaccines and antiviral agents are being developed with promising results, but none are currently available.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins in development, health, and disease.

The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins are sequence-specific mRNA binding proteins that control translation in development, health, and disease. CPEB1, the founding member of this family, has become an important model for illustrating general principles of translational control by cytoplasmic polyadenylation in gametogenesis, cancer etiology, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Although the biological functions of the other members of this protein family in vertebrates are just beginning to emerge, it is already evident that they, too, mediate important processes, such as cancer etiology and higher cognitive function. In Drosophila, the CPEB proteins Orb and Orb2 play key roles in oogenesis and in neuronal function, as do related proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans and Aplysia. We review the biochemical features of the CPEB proteins, discuss their activities in several biological systems, and illustrate how understanding CPEB activity in model organisms has an important impact on neurological disease.

Prawne regulacje systemu monitorowania i kontroli jakości paliw w kontekście wybranych zagadnień kontroli działalności gospodarczej przedsiębiorców

This article discusses the legal basis and main assumptions of the liquid fuels quality monitoring system that is in force in the member states of the European Community. The system of monitoring and scrutinizing of the quality of liquid fuels and biofuels has been in operation in Poland since 1 May 2004. The system was created mainly to enable Poland to meet the obligations resulting from its membership in the European Union – Directive 98/70/EC and amended by Directive 2003/17/EC. The liquid fuel quality monitoring and scrutinizing system in Poland was divided into two parts: the European part and the national part. This article is the subject of a legal principles for control of entrepreneurs in the light of the freedom of business activity act and fuel quality scrutiny regulations (both European and national part). Provisions of the Act on the freedom of business activity, as amended, lay down strict rules for the carrying out of a control of the entrepreneur’s activity by public administration bodies. Fuel quality monitoring plays a significant role in the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection and Trade Inspection’s operations. For these authorities the control tasks include: carrying out inspections; taking and handing over the samples for testing, which are performed by the laboratories with accreditation certificates issued by the Polish Centre for Accreditation; preparing quality results analyses. In a more detailed way, article presents the evolution of legal regulations in Poland related to the monitoring and control of fuels quality from the accession to the European Union until 2013 and main objectives of the bill. Moreover, the author presents his own analysis of the control on the quality of liquid fuels and notes there are different changes between general principles of control and fuel quality control: some of them introduce new process institutions, others modify solutions that have to date been applied, while others define unclear law provisions. Most of the changes bring a serious interpretation doubts and it must be assumed that in practice new solutions will cause troubles especially for supervision bodies. Normal 0 21 false false false PL X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Standardowy; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; line-height:150%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times New Roman,serif;}