Maximum Power Extraction from a Standalone Photo Voltaic System via Neuro-Adaptive Arbitrary Order Sliding Mode Control Strategy with High Gain Differentiation

In this work, a photovoltaic (PV) system integrated with a non-inverting DC-DC buck-boost converter to extract maximum power under varying environmental conditions such as irradiance and temperature is considered. In order to extract maximum power (via maximum power transfer theorem), a robust nonlinear arbitrary order sliding mode-based control is designed for tracking the desired reference, which is generated via feed forward neural networks (FFNN). The proposed control law utilizes some states of the system, which are estimated via the use of a high gain differentiator and a famous flatness property of nonlinear systems. This synthetic control strategy is named neuroadaptive arbitrary order sliding mode control (NAAOSMC). The overall closed-loop stability is discussed in detail and simulations are carried out in Simulink environment of MATLAB to endorse effectiveness of the developed synthetic control strategy. Finally, comparison of the developed controller with the backstepping controller is done, which ensures the performance in terms of maximum power extraction, steady-state error and more robustness against sudden variations in atmospheric conditions

The complex structure of Fomes fomentarius represents an architectural design for high-performance ultralightweight materials

We thank C. Li from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany, for help during synchrotron measurements at the μSpot beamline at BESSY at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie in Berlin, Germany. We acknowledge the provision of facilities and technical support by Aalto University at the OtaNano Nanomicroscopy Center (Aalto-NMC). This work was supported by the Academy of Finland project 348628, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (Centre for Young Synbio Scientists), and the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence Program (2022–2029) in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER) project number 346106, and by internal funding from the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd. We also acknowledge the Dutch Research Council (NWO, domain Applied and Engineering Sciences: MYCOAT project number 18425) and the Horizon 2020 programs of the European Union (FUNGAR; project 58132 and iNEXT-Discovery, project 871037) for NMR studies. Furthermore, the high-field NMR experiments were supported by uNMR-NL, the National Roadmap Large-Scale NMR Facility of the Netherlands (NWO grant 184.032.207), and the uNMR-NL grid (NWO grant 184.035.002).High strength, hardness, and fracture toughness are mechanical properties that are not commonly associated with the fleshy body of a fungus. Here, we show with detailed structural, chemical, and mechanical characterization that Fomes fomentarius is an exception, and its architectural design is a source of inspiration for an emerging class of ultralightweight high-performance materials. Our findings reveal that F. fomentarius is a functionally graded material with three distinct layers that undergo multiscale hierarchical self-assembly. Mycelium is the primary component in all layers. However, in each layer, mycelium exhibits a very distinct microstructure with unique preferential orientation, aspect ratio, density, and branch length. We also show that an extracellular matrix acts as a reinforcing adhesive that differs in each layer in terms of quantity, polymeric content, and interconnectivity. These findings demonstrate how the synergistic interplay of the aforementioned features results in distinct mechanical properties for each layer.Peer reviewe

Liquid|liquid interfacial photoelectrochemistry of chromoionophoreI immobilised in 4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine microdroplets

Photoelectrochemical processes are investigated for chromoionophoreI (ETH 5294) dissolved in 4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine (PPP) and deposited in the form of a microdroplet array (through evaporation deposition from a solution in acetonitrile) onto a 5mm diameter basal plane pyrolytic graphite (BPPG) electrode. Stable biphasic dark voltammetric responses (two electron/two proton) are observed in phosphate buffer solution (from pH2 to 12) with a switch in reactivity at pH5 due to a biphasic protonation step. The photoelectrochemical activity at pH2 is investigated further by phototransient amperometry. The protonated chromoionophoreI is shown to be the photoactive component (supported by EPR data) and "hole transfer" at the liquid|liquid interface to aqueous oxalate is demonstrated. This interfacial hole-transfer process can be "switched off" by hydrophobic anions (PF6-), which compete for cationic liquid|liquid PPP surface binding sites. Implications for light harvesting and liquid semiconductor properties are discussed.</p

Patients' and physicians' experiences of atrial fibrillation consultations and anticoagulation decision-making:a multi-perspective IPA design

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' and physicians' experiences of atrial fibrillation consultations and oral anticoagulation decision-making. DESIGN: Multi-perspective interpretative phenomenological analyses. METHODS: Participants included small homogeneous subgroups: AF patients who accepted (n=4), refused (n=4), or discontinued (n=3) warfarin, and four physician subgroups (n=4 each group): consultant cardiologists, consultant general physicians, general practitioners and cardiology registrars. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Transcripts were analysed using multi-perspective IPA analyses to attend to individuals within subgroups and making comparisons within and between groups. RESULTS: Three themes represented patients' experiences: Positioning within the physician-patient dyad, Health-life balance, and Drug myths and fear of stroke. Physicians' accounts generated three themes: Mechanised metaphors and probabilities, Navigating toward the 'right' decision, and Negotiating systemic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-perspective IPA design facilitated an understanding of the diagnostic consultation and treatment decision-making which foregrounded patients' and physicians' experiences. We drew on Habermas' theory of communicative action to recommend broadening the content within consultations and shifting the focus to patients' life contexts. Interventions including specialist multidisciplinary teams, flexible management in primary care, and multifaceted interventions for information provision may enable the creation of an environment that supports genuine patient involvement and participatory decision-making

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNO-HISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS-2 INFECTED PIGS

Porcine Circovirus-2 (PCV-2) is an emerging swine infection responsible for significant financial losses in the global swine industry. It has a significant negative impact on reproductive performance causing abortion, stillbirth, and other anomalies. As there is limited knowledge related to the histopathology of male and female reproductive systems in PCV-2 infected pigs, the current study was designed. Swine carcasses presented for post-mortem examination with a history of respiratory distress, anorexia, diarrhoea, wasting, and paleness of the skin collected from mid of 2021 to mid of 2022 from different parts of Kerala, India, were utilised in this study. The samples were initially screened with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were subjected to gross and histopathological studies. Out of 65 collected samples, 10 were positive for PCV-2 by PCR. The positive sample carcasses were emaciated, had poor body condition with visible bony prominences, decreased back fat thickness, rough, long hair coat, and sunken eyes. Mild oedema and congestion were seen in the testes, epididymis, and vas deferens of the male reproductive system and on accessory reproductive glands such as the bulbourethral gland, prostate gland, and seminal vesicle. In the female reproductive system, the ovary, oviduct, and uterus had mild congestion and oedema in most cases. Histopathology of the male reproductive system revealed mild degenerative changes, haemorrhage, and congestion in all cases. The vasa deferentia showed a loss of cilia in the pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The female reproductive organs had congestion, degenerative changes, and infiltration of mononuclear cells. For further confirmation, localisation of PCV-2 antigen was done in reproductive organs with immunohistochemistry (IHC). History, gross, histopathological findings, and PCR in combination with IHC highlight the pathologic effects of PCV-2 on reproductive organs in infected pigs

A high-field cellular DNP-supported solid-state NMR approach to study proteins with sub-cellular specificity

Studying the structural aspects of proteins within sub-cellular compartments is of growing interest. Dynamic nuclear polarization supported solid-state NMR (DNP-ssNMR) is uniquely suited to provide such information, but critically lacks the desired sensitivity and resolution. Here we utilize SNAPol-1, a novel biradical, to conduct DNP-ssNMR at high-magnetic fields (800 MHz/527 GHz) inside HeLa cells and isolated cell nuclei electroporated with [13C,15N] labeled ubiquitin. We report that SNAPol-1 passively diffuses and homogenously distributes within whole cells and cell nuclei providing ubiquitin spectra of high sensitivity and remarkably improved spectral resolution. For cell nuclei, physical enrichment facilitates a further 4-fold decrease in measurement time and provides an exclusive structural view of the nuclear ubiquitin pool. Taken together, these advancements enable atomic interrogation of protein conformational plasticity at atomic resolution and with sub-cellular specificity.We show that the polarising agent SNAPol-1 enters human cells yielding 800 MHz DNP solid-state NMR data of remarkable sensitivity & resolution thereby revealing structural heterogeneity of ubiquitin at atomic scale and with sub-cellular specificity.Chemical Immunolog

Low literacy and written drug information: information-seeking, leaflet evaluation and preferences, and roles for images

Background Low-literate patients are at risk to misinterpret written drug information. For the (co-) design of targeted patient information, it is key to involve this group in determining their communication barriers and information needs. Objective To gain insight into how people with low literacy use and evaluate written drug information, and to identify ways in which they feel the patient leaflet can be improved, and in particular how images could be used. Setting Food banks and an education institution for Dutch language training in the Netherlands. Method Semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews were held with low-literate participants (n = 45). The thematic framework approach was used for analysis to identify themes in the data. Main outcome measure Low-literate people’s experience with patient information leaflets, ideas for improvements, and perceptions on possible uses for visuals. Results Patient information leaflets were considered discouraging to use, and information difficult to find and understand. Many rely on alternative information sources. The leaflet should be shorter, and improved in terms of organisation, legibility and readability. Participants thought images could increase the leaflet’s appeal, help ask questions, provide an overview, help understand textual information, aid recall, reassure, and even lead to increased confidence, empowerment and feeling of safety. Conclusion Already at the stages of paying attention to the leaflet and maintaining interest in the message, low-literate patients experience barriers in the communication process through written drug information. Short, structured, visual/textual explanations can lower the motivational threshold to use the leaflet, improve understanding, and empower the low-literate target group

Convergence of Picard-Mann hybrid iterative process for generalized nonexpansive mappings in CAT(0) spaces

In this paper, we first prove existence of fixed points of generalized nonexpansive mappings in CAT(0) spaces. These are the mappings which satisfy the so-called condition (E). We then approximate them by the ?-convergence and strong convergence using Picard-Mann hybrid iterative process. Our results generalize the corresponding results of many authors.</jats:p