Model of large scale man-machine systems with an application to vessel traffic control

Mathematical models are discussed to deal with complex large-scale man-machine systems such as vessel (air, road) traffic and process control systems. Only interrelationships between subsystems are assumed. Each subsystem is controlled by a corresponding human operator (HO). Because of the interaction between subsystems, the HO has to estimate the state of all relevant subsystems and the relationships between them, based on which he can decide and react. This nonlinear filter problem is solved by means of both a linearized Kalman filter and an extended Kalman filter (in case state references are unknown and have to be estimated). The general model structure is applied to the concrete problem of vessel traffic control. In addition to the control of each ship, this involves collision avoidance between ship

Mediterranean ocean Forecasting System: Toward Environmental Predictions-MFSTEP Executive Summary

Objectives: The Project aims at the further development of an operational forecasting system for the Mediterranean Sea based upon three main components: a) a Real Time-RT Observing system; b) a numerical forecasting system at the basin scale and for the sub-regional/shelf areas; c) the forecast products dissemination/exploitation system. The Observing system component consists of: • a SOOP-VOS system with RT data dissemination and test of new sensors that collect multidisciplinary data; • a moored buoy network (M3A) designed to serve the RT validation of the basin scale models and the calibration of the ecosystem models; • a satellite RT data analysis system using several satellites for sea surface elevation, sea surface temperature and sea surface winds; • a high space-time resolution network of autonomous subsurface profiling floats (Array for Real-Time Geostrophic Oceanography-ARGO); • a basin scale glider autonomous vehicle experiment; The sampling strategy is continuously assessed by the Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) activities and a RT data management and delayed mode archiving system has been organized

Ecological implications of pedogenesis and geochemistry of ultramafic soils in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia)

In Sabah, Malaysia, ultramafic rock outcrops are widespread (totalling 3500 km2, one of the main outcrops in the tropical zone), and predominantly of the peridotite type. However, strongly serpentinised peridotite is also locally common, particularly along fault lines in the Mt. Kinabalu area. This study aimed to determine the extent of chemical variation in ultramafic soils in relation to the degree of serpentinisation and the weathering intensity, and consequent potential ecological implications linked to resulting soil chemical fertility. It was hypothesized that young soils and soils derived from bedrock with a significant degree of serpentinisation strongly differ from typical Geric Ferralsols and result in soil chemistries with more adverse properties to plant life (e.g. low availability of the essential nutrients N, P, K and Ca and high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic Mg and Ni). Ultramafic soil diversity linked to the age of the soil or the degree of serpentinisation would thus be a main factor of plant diversity and distribution. The diverse topography of Kinabalu Park (ultramafic soils present between 400 and 2950 m asl) has given rise to high pedodiversity with the broad overall ultramafic soil types being: (i) deep laterite soils (Geric Ferralsols); (ii) moderately deep montane soils (Dystric Cambisols) with mor humus; (iii) shallow skeletal soils at high altitude (Eutric Cambisols Hypermagnesic); and (iv) bare serpentinite soils (Hypereutric Leptosols Hypermagnesic) at low altitude (200–700 m asl). Leptosols on serpentinite and Eutric Cambisols have the most extreme chemical properties in the whole Kinabalu Park area both with very high Mg:Ca molar quotients, with either high available Ni (Cambisols) or high pH (Leptosols). These soils host specific and adapted vegetation (high level of endemism) that tolerates geochemical peculiarities, including Ni hyperaccumulators. Geric Ferralsols present far less chemical constraints than Hypermagnesian Cambisols soils to the vegetation and host a tall and very diverse rainforest, not so different than that on non-ultramafic soils. It therefore appears that altitude, soil age and degree of bedrock serpentinisation are the main determining factors of soil properties: the qualifier “ultramafic” alone is not sufficient to define soil geochemical and ecological conditions in the Kinabalu Park area, probably more than in any other ultramafic region in the world

Evaluating soil extraction methods for chemical characterization of ultramafic soils in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia)

Soils derived from ultramafic bedrock are known for hosting distinct vegetation types as a consequence of atypical soil chemistries consisting of high trace elements concentrations (Ni, Cr, Co) and exchangeable cation imbalances (high Mg:Ca quotients). Ecological studies use a range of single-stage extraction methods for chemical characterization of such soils in order to be able to interpret plant response, and ultimately to explain plant community composition. Few studies to date have compared different soil extraction methods in relation to tropical ultramafic soils. This study compares eight commonly used extraction methods on a large number of ultramafic soil samples collected from Kinabalu Park (Malaysia). The tested methods were: for trace elements: NH4AC, DTPA, CaCl2, Sr(NO3)2 and Mehlich-3, for exchangeable cations: NH4Ac and silverthiorea, and for plant-available phosphorus: Mehlich-3 and Olsen-P. These single-stage extraction methods were compared and evaluated for predictive power for chemically characterizing soils, interrelatedness and ecological application. The methods were also contrasted with a sequential extraction scheme. Finally, several operational parameters including molar ratio (0.01 and 0.1 M CaCl2, Sr(NO3)2) and pH buffering (DTPA-TEA) were also evaluated. The majority of single-stage extraction methods are highly inter-correlated and predictive power could be improved by including independent soil parameters (pH, CEC, pseudo-total element concentration) in the multivariate regression equation. Ecological interpretation remains difficult because of lack of experimental studies in relation to plant uptake response and potential phytotoxicity effects on tropical native plants from ultramafic soils

Low dose Naltrexone for induction of remission in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Background: Around 30% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are refractory to current IBD drugs or relapse over time. Novel treatments are called for, and low dose Naltrexone (LDN) may provide a safe, easily accessible alternative treatment option for these patients. We investigated the potential of LDN to induce clinical response in therapy refractory IBD patients, and investigated its direct effects on epithelial barrier function. Methods: Patients not in remission and not responding to conventional therapy were offered to initiate LDN as a concomitant treatment. In total 47 IBD patients prescribed LDN were followed prospectively for 12 weeks. Where available, endoscopic remission data, serum and biopsies were collected. Further the effect of Naltrexone on wound healing (scratch assay), cytokine production and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (GRP78 and CHOP western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry) were investigated in HCT116 and CACO2 intestinal epithelial cells, human IBD intestinal organoids and patient samples. Results: Low dose Naltrexone induce

The 3^3He(e, e′'d)p Reaction in qω\omega-constant Kinematics

The cross section for the $^3$He(e, e$'$d)p reaction has been measured as a function of the missing momentum $p_m$ in q$\omega$ -constant kinematics at beam energies of 370 and 576 MeV for values of the three-momentum transfer $q$ of 412, 504 and 604 \mevc. The L(+TT), T and LT structure functions have been separated for $q$ = 412 and 504 \mevc. The data are compared to three-body Faddeev calculations, including meson-exchange currents (MEC), and to calculations based on a covariant diagrammatic expansion. The influence of final-state interactions and meson-exchange currents is discussed. The $p_m$-dependence of the data is reasonably well described by all calculations. However, the most advanced Faddeev calculations, which employ the AV18 nucleon-nucleon interaction and include MEC, overestimate the measured cross sections, especially the longitudinal part, and at the larger values of $q$. The diagrammatic approach gives a fair description of the cross section, but under(over)estimates the longitudinal (transverse) structure function.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure