Multi-dimensional state smoothing in the presence of non-linear interference

Component-by-component state smoothing is discussed for multi-dimensional dynamic systems with non-linear random interference such as jamming. Each component of the observation model is a non-linear function of only one state component, arbitrary random interference, and observation noise. Each state component is first approximated by a finite state machine and then, using the Viterbi decoding algorithm of information theory, the state components are sequentially smoothed in parallel. This results in a memory reduction for the implementation of the state smoothing. Simulation results have shown that the proposed scheme performs well, whereas the classical estimation schemes cannot be used, in general, to estimate the states of dynamic models with arbitrary random interference. © 1989 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

The influence of initial xylose concentration, agitation, and aeration on ethanol production by Pichia stipitis from rice straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate

Rice straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate was used as fermentation medium for ethanol production by Pichia stipitis NRRL Y-7124. Shaking bath experiments were initially performed aiming to establish the best initial xylose concentration to be used in this bioconversion process. In the sequence, assays were carried out under different agitation (100 to 200 rpm) and aeration (V flask/V medium ratio varying from 2.5 to 5.0) conditions, and the influence of these variables on the fermentative parameters values (ethanol yield factor, Y P/S; cell yield factor, Y X/S; and ethanol volumetric productivity, Q P) was investigated through a 22 full-factorial design. Initial xylose concentration of about 50 g/l was the most suitable for the development of this process, since the yeast was able to convert substrate in product with high efficiency. The factorial design assays showed a strong influence of both process variables in all the evaluated responses. The agitation and aeration increase caused a deviation in the yeast metabolism from ethanol to biomass production. The best results (Y P/S = 0.37 g/g and Q P = 0.39 g/l.h) were found when the lowest aeration (2.5 V flask/V medium ratio) and highest agitation (200 rpm) levels were employed. Under this condition, a process efficiency of 72.5% was achieved. These results demonstrated that the establishment of adequate conditions of aeration is of great relevance to improve the ethanol production from xylose by Pichia stipitis, using rice straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate as fermentation medium.The financial support from Fapesp (Brazil) is gratefully acknowledged

4-{[(E)-(4-Chloro­phen­yl)methyl­idene]amino}-3-{2-[4-(2-methyl­prop­yl)phen­yl]eth­yl}-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C21H23ClN4S, contains nine crystallographically independent mol­ecules, labelled A to I. The orientation of the 2-[4-(2-methyl­prop­yl)phen­yl]ethyl unit with respect to the rest of the mol­ecule is significantly different in mol­ecules E, F, H and I compared to the other independent mol­ecules. The isobutyl group of mol­ecule B is disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.764 (7) and 0.236 (7). The benzene rings of the chloro­phenyl and methyl­propyl­phenyl units form dihedral angles of 21.90 (11) and 71.47 (11)°, respectively, with the triazole ring in mol­ecule A [9.15 (11) and 80.37 (11)° in B, 7.14 (11) and 84.06 (11)° in C, 25.76 (11) and 76.59 (11)° in D, 13.68 (11) and 76.82 (10)° in E, 8.38 (11) and 69.77 (10)° in F, 30.34 (11) and 78.12 (11)° in G, 21.20 (11) and 71.58 (10)° in H, and 27.65 (11) and 65.23 (11)° in I]. In each independent mol­ecule, a C—H⋯S hydrogen bond is observed. The crystal packing is stabilized by N—H⋯S and C—H⋯S hydrogen bonds, and by C—H⋯π inter­actions involving the methyl­propyl­phenyl ring

Potential applications of nanotechnology in thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass

The rapid decrease in fossil reserves has significantly increased the demand of renewable and sustainable energy fuel resources. Fluctuating fuel prices and significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels have been key impediments associated with the production and utilization of nonrenewable fossil fuels. This has resulted in escalating interests to develop new and improve inexpensive carbon neutral energy technologies to meet future demands. Various process options to produce a variety of biofuels including biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, bio-oil, and biogas have been explored as an alternative to fossil fuels. The renewable, biodegradable, and nontoxic nature of biofuels make them appealing as alternative fuels. Biofuels can be produced from various renewable resources. Among these renewable resources, algae appear to be promising in delivering sustainable energy options. Algae have a high carbon dioxide (CO2) capturing efficiency, rapid growth rate, high biomass productivity, and the ability to grow in non-potable water. For algal biomass, the two main conversion pathways used to produce biofuel include biochemical and thermochemical conversions. Algal biofuel production is, however, challenged with process scalability for high conversion rates and high energy demands for biomass harvesting. This affects the viable achievement of industrial-scale bioprocess conversion under optimum economy. Although algal biofuels have the potential to provide a sustainable fuel for future, active research aimed at improving upstream and downstream technologies is critical. New technologies and improved systems focused on photobioreactor design, cultivation optimization, culture dewatering, and biofuel production are required to minimize the drawbacks associated with existing methods. Nanotechnology has the potential to address some of the upstream and downstream challenges associated with the development of algal biofuels. It can be applied to improve system design, cultivation, dewatering, biomass characterization, and biofuel conversion. This chapter discusses thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass with recent advances in the application of nanotechnology to enhance the development of biofuels from algae. Nanotechnology has proven to improve the performance of existing technologies used in thermochemical treatment and conversion of biomass. The different bioprocess aspects, such as reactor design and operation, analytical techniques, and experimental validation of kinetic studies, to provide insights into the application of nanotechnology for enhanced algal biofuel production are addressed

Analysis of physical pore space characteristics of two pyrolytic biochars and potential as microhabitat

Background and Aims Biochar amendment to soil is a promising practice of enhancing productivity of agricultural systems. The positive effects on crop are often attributed to a promotion of beneficial soil microorganisms while suppressing pathogens e.g. This study aims to determine the influence of biochar feedstock on (i) spontaneous and fungi inoculated microbial colonisation of biochar particles and (ii) physical pore space characteristics of native and fungi colonised biochar particles which impact microbial habitat quality. Methods Pyrolytic biochars from mixed woods and Miscanthus were investigated towards spontaneous colonisation by classical microbiological isolation, phylogenetic identification of bacterial and fungal strains, and microbial respiration analysis. Physical pore space characteristics of biochar particles were determined by X-ray μ-CT. Subsequent 3D image analysis included porosity, surface area, connectivities, and pore size distribution. Results Microorganisms isolated from Wood biochar were more abundant and proliferated faster than those from the Miscanthus biochar. All isolated bacteria belonged to gram-positive bacteria and were feedstock specific. Respiration analysis revealed higher microbial activity for Wood biochar after water and substrate amendment while basal respiration was on the same low level for both biochars. Differences in porosity and physical surface area were detected only in interaction with biochar-specific colonisation. Miscanthus biochar was shown to have higher connectivity values in surface, volume and transmission than Wood biochars as well as larger pores as observed by pore size distribution. Differences in physical properties between colonised and non-colonised particles were larger in Miscanthus biochar than in Wood biochar. Conclusions Vigorous colonisation was found on Wood biochar compared to Miscanthus biochar. This is contrasted by our findings from physical pore space analysis which suggests better habitat quality in Miscanthus biochar than in Wood biochar. We conclude that (i) the selected feedstocks display large differences in microbial habitat quality as well as physical pore space characteristics and (ii) physical description of biochars alone does not suffice for the reliable prediction of microbial habitat quality and recommend that physical and surface chemical data should be linked for this purpose

Biomethanation potential of biological and other wastes

Anaerobic technology has been traditionally applied for the treatment of carbon rich wastewater and organic residues. Anaerobic processes can be fully integrated in the biobased economy concept for resource recovery. After a brief introduction about applications of anaerobic processes to industrial wastewater treatment, agriculture feedstock and organic fraction of municipal solid waste, the position of anaerobic processes in biorefinery concepts is presented. Integration of anaerobic digestion with these processes can help in the maximisation of the economic value of the biomass used, while reducing the waste streams produced and mitigating greenhouse gases emissions. Besides the integration of biogas in the existing full-scale bioethanol and biodiesel production processes, the potential applications of biogas in the second generation lignocellulosic, algae and syngas-based biorefinery platforms are discussed.(undefined

4-[(E)-4-Bromo­benzyl­ideneamino]-3-[1-(4-isobutyl­phen­yl)eth­yl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione

In the title compound, C21H23BrN4S, the 4-bromo­benzyl­idene group is disordered over two orientations with occupancies of 0.504 (5) and 0.496 (5). One of the methyl groups of the isobutyl unit is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.751 (19) and 0.249 (19). The benzene rings of the isobutylphenyl and bromo­phenyl (major disorder component) groups form dihedral angles of 71.63 (11) and 21.8 (3)°, respectively, with the triazole ring. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol­ecules exist as centrosymmetric N—H⋯S hydrogen-bonded dimers

A Multinational Study of Acute and Long‐Term Outcomes of Type 1 Galactosemia Patients Who Carry the S135L (c.404C > T) Variant of GALT

Patients with galactosemia who carry the S135L (c.404C > T) variant of galactose-1-P uridylyltransferase (GALT), documented to encode low-level residual GALT activity, have been under-represented in most prior studies of outcomes in Type 1 galactosemia. What is known about the acute and long-term outcomes of these patients, therefore, is based on very limited data. Here, we present a study comparing acute and long-term outcomes of 12 patients homozygous for S135L, 25 patients compound heterozygous for S135L, and 105 patients homozygous for two GALT-null (G) alleles. This is the largest cohort of S135L patients characterized to date. Acute disease following milk exposure in the newborn period was common among patients in all 3 comparison groups in our study, as were long-term complications in the domains of speech, cognition, and motor outcomes. In contrast, while at least 80% of both GALT-null and S135L compound heterozygous girls and women showed evidence of an adverse ovarian outcome, prevalence was only 25% among S135L homozygotes. Further, all young women in this study with even one copy of S135L achieved spontaneous menarche; this is true for only about 33% of women with classic galactosemia. Overall, we observed that while most long-term outcomes trended milder among groups of patients with even one copy of S135L, many individual patients, either homozygous or compound heterozygous for S135L, nonetheless experienced long-term outcomes that were not mild. This was true despite detection by newborn screening and both early and life-long dietary restriction of galactose. This information should empower more evidence-based counseling for galactosemia patients with S135L.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio