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This paper investigates the observer-based adaptive fuzzy quantized control problem for a class of fractional-order nonlinear time-delay systems with unknown control gains based on a modified fractional-order dynamic surface control (FODSC) technique and an indirect Lyapunov method. First, a fractional-order, high-gain state observer is constructed to estimate unavailable state information. Furthermore, the Nussbaum gain technique and a fractional-order filter are adopted to cope with the problem of unknown control gains and to reduce the computational complexity of the conventional recursive procedure, respectively. Moreover, through integration with the compensation mechanism and estimation model, the adaptive fuzzy quantized controllers and adaptive laws are designed to ensure that all the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. In the end, the proposed controller is applied to a numerical example and a single-machine-infinite bus (SMIB) power system; the simulation results show the validity, superiority, and application potential of the developed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases in worldwide and increasing among young children. Testing glycated hemoglobin levels as well as blood glucose levels is a method for detecting diabetes. In this article, with multivariate statistical analysis was used to monitor the blood glucose levels by the Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy. Principal component regression with direct orthogonal signal correction is developed and applied to analyze the glucose concentration with the blood Raman spectroscopy. The root means square error of calibration is 3.0824 mg/dL (0.1712 mmol/L), the root means square error of prediction is 3.2688 mg/dL (0.1816 mmol/L), the correlation coefficients (R2) is.9946 and ratio of performance to deviation is 6.4789 and, respectively. The results show that this method can be used as a strong potential diagnostic tool for diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent, anionic and ubiquitous contaminant that undergoes long-range transport within the environment. Its behavior has attracted wide-range academic and regulatory attention. In this article, a mass balance model was employed to simulate PFOS concentrations in the mainstream of Haihe River water system, encompassing sluices and artificial rivers. The dynamic simulation of PFOS concentrations in both sediment and freshwater took into account fluctuations in PFOS emissions, water levels and water discharge. Furthermore, the study delved into exploring the impacts of sluices and artificial rivers on the behavior of PFOS. The simulated concentrations of PFOS in steady state agreed with the measured concentrations in surveys carried out in Nov. 2019, July 2020, Oct. 2020, and June 2021. Every year, approximately 24 kg PFOS was discharged into the Bohai Sea with Chaobai New River being the largest contributor for 44 %. Moreover, the transport of PFOS in the original rivers is likely to be restricted by sluices and replaced by artificial rivers. Monte Carlo analysis showed that model predictions of PFOS concentrations in sediment were subject to greater uncertainty than those in freshwater as the former is impacted by more parameters, such as density of sediment. This study provides a scientific basis for the local government to manage and control PFOS. [Display omitted] • The established river model could successfully predict PFOS concentrations. • Behavior of PFOS was simulated in the mainstream with sluices and artificial rivers. • Approximately 23.2 kg of PFOS was discharged into the Bohai Sea. • Sluices restricted the PFOS transport in original rivers while artificial rivers replaced the PFOS transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates an observer-based boundary controller design for interconnected nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) systems. First, the Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model is adopted to accurately describe the target systems. Then, boundary measurements are employed to reduce the number of sensors. Next, considering the phenomenon of abnormal interference that may lead to measurement outliers and observer parameters’ uncertainties, an outlier-resistant non-fragile observer expressed by a saturation function is designed to guarantee the desired control objectives. Moreover, the boundary control approach is employed to trade-off the cost of system design and system performance. Furthermore, utilizing the membership function-dependent Lyapunov functions and free-weight matrixes, sufficient conditions ensuring the closed-loop systems’ exponential stability are obtained while decreasing the conservativeness of the system stability analysis. Finally, the proposed method’s feasibility and effectiveness are validated by an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new type of multi-arch tunnel construction method is proposed. This effort is undertaken due to the many disadvantages of the traditional multi-arch tunnel construction method. Furthermore, this method omits the construction of a middle pilot tunnel, and it has the advantages of safety, high efficiency, and being economical. When using the method of continuous arch tunneling without a middle pilot tunnel, the blasting of the first tunnel and the following tunnel has a greater impact on the surrounding rock damage, as well as on the supporting structure of the same cross-section. Therefore, this study uses LS-DYNA finite element software to construct a three-dimensional numerical model. In addition, the perimeter rock damage law and mechanical response characteristics of the supporting structure in the same cross-section of the first tunnel, as well as the following tunnel after blasting without a middle pilot tunnel, are analyzed. At the same time, the results of the study are based on optimizing the blasting program, and these are then applied to the field. Through the results, it is found that, after blasting a continuous arch tunnel without a medial pilot tunnel, the surrounding rock damage in the arch cross-region of the double-arch tunnel (where the arch top and the arch shoulder are more significant) and the effective stress of the supporting structure exceed the strength design value. In addition, the maximum adequate pressure is distributed in the medial diaphragm wall. With the optimized blasting scheme, the range of the peripheral rock damage is reduced by a maximum of 67%, and the effective stress in the supporting structure is reduced by 25.9–64.8%. The research results are of great significance in terms of improving construction safety, economic efficiency, and project quality, as well as in promoting the research and development of new work methods for double-arch tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article designs a quantised security controller for partial differential equation (PDE) systems under replay attacks. Initially, the Takagi – Sugeno fuzzy model is utilised to represent the considered nonlinear system and combines pointwise measurement and pointwise control methods to save the whole system’s costs. Moreover, to reduce network transmission pressure and simulate the network, hysteretic quantiser and replay attacks are considered. Furthermore, based on the Lyapunov direct method and the inequality technique, sufficient conditions to assure the stability of the closed-loop system are achieved. Ultimately, the effectiveness and superiority of the submitted control strategy are confirmed through numerical examples and comparative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on fuzzy wavelet neural networks-based adaptive finite-time self-triggered fault-tolerant control design with assured tracking performance for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle subject to unknown actuator faults. First, an improved finite-time performance function is integrated with the command-filtered backstepping control framework to assure the scheduled tracking performance, which can effectively constrain the transient fluctuations of the tracking error at fault occurrence. Then, two compensation mechanisms are developed to weaken the adverse impact induced by actuator faults and filter errors. Further, a fuzzy wavelet neural adaptive self-triggered fault-tolerant controller with guaranteed performance is designed to improve the fault insensitivity and tracking accuracy of the controlled vehicle, where the fuzzy wavelet neural networks are employed to approximate the unknown nonlinearities and the control signals are allowed to achieve irregular updating only when the pre-specified trigger protocol is violated. Stability analysis proves that the designed controller guarantees the attitude and position subsystems are practical finite-time stable, and the tracking errors are strictly confined to a preassigned region and never cross its allowed bounds. Finally, the validity of the developed control scheme is confirmed by the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash (FA) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) were used as a precursor for geopolymerization to develop a low-carbon pavement base construction material. Based on the orthogonal test method, three levels were set separately for the L9 (34) test considering the proportion of FA (raw fly ash to grained fly ash), ratio of sodium hydroxide to liquid alkaline activator (LAA), and proportion of GBFS mixed with FA and solid–liquid ratio [(FA + GBFS): LAA] as factors influencing the geopolymer. The influence of these factors on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of soil stabilized by geopolymer was studied. The optimal combinations of levels and factors were determined. The UCS with these ratios combined was 5.1 MPa. According to the above compositions, the mechanical (UCS, splitting tensile strength, and flexural tensile strength) and durability (drying shrinkage, water stability, freezing and thawing resistance, and wet–dry cycle) properties of soil samples stabilized using the aforementioned geopolymer were investigated. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed to determine the effect of the change in hydration silicate gel in the UCS development. According to the SEM and XRD test results, hydrated silicate gels exist in the sample, filling the pores of the soil, making the soil more compact, bonding the soil particles, and enhancing the engineering performance of the soil. This study enables waste material utilization as a replacement and partially reactive material in pavement applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid and precise monitoring of peripheral blood miRNA levels holds paramount importance for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring. In this study, we propose an innovative research strategy that combines the catalytic hairpin assembly reaction with SERS signal congregation and enhancement. This combination can significantly enhance the stability of SERS detection, enabling stable and efficient detection of miRNA. Specifically, our paper-based SERS detection platform incorporates a streptavidin-modified substrate, biotin-labeled catalytic hairpin assembly reaction probes, 4-ATP, and primer-co-modified gold nanoparticles. In the presence of miRNA, the 4-ATP and primer-co-modified gold nanoparticles can specifically recognize the miRNA and interact with the biotin-labeled CHA probes to initiate an interfacial catalytic hairpin assembly reaction. This enzyme-free high-efficiency catalytic process can accumulate a large amount of biotin on the gold nanoparticles, which then bind to the streptavidin on the substrate with the assistance of the driving liquid, forming red gold nanoparticle stripes. These provide a multitude of hotspots for SERS, enabling enhanced signal detection. This innovative design achieves a low detection limit of 3.47 fM while maintaining excellent stability and repeatability. This conceptually innovative detection platform offers new technological possibilities and solutions for clinical miRNA detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Brachytherapy has been indicated as an alternative option for treating cystic craniopharyngiomas (CPs). The potential benefits of brachytherapy for CPs have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this work was to conduct a meta-analysis to analyze the long-term efficacy and adverse reactions profile of brachytherapy for CPs. Materials and methods: The relevant databases were searched to collect the clinical trials on brachytherapy in patients with CPs. Included studies were limited to publications in full manuscript form with at least 5-year median follow-up, and adequate reporting of treatment outcomes and adverse reactions data. Stata 12.0 was used for data analysis. Results: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 6 clinical trials involving 266 patients with CPs were included in this meta-analysis. The minimum average follow-up was 5 years. The results of the meta-analysis showed that 1-year, 2–3 years and 5 years progression free survival rates (PFS) are 75% (95%CI: 66-84%), 62% (95%CI: 52-72%) and 57% (95%CI: 22-92%), respectively. At the last follow-up, less than 16% of patients with visual outcomes worser than baseline in all included studies. While, for endocrine outcomes, less than 32% of patients worser than baseline level. Conclusion: In general, based on the above results, brachytherapy should be considered as a good choice for the treatment of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This article investigates the adaptive finite‐time control design with performance assurance for nonlinear Markov jumping systems. First, the radial basis function neural networks are applied to tackle unknown nonlinear terms. Subsequently, within the framework of the command‐filtered backstepping control, the new error compensation signals are devised to remove the effect caused by filter error. Additionally, an adaptive finite‐time prescribed performance control law with an event‐triggered mechanism is developed to achieve a balance between tracking performance and bandwidth consumption, which ensures that the closed‐loop system is practically finite‐time stable in mean square and guarantees that the tracking error adjusts to the predetermined area. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to verify the validity and superiority of the devised scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the mechanical response behavior of slate and the establishment of corresponding damage-ontological relationships are crucial for improving safety and avoiding disasters in construction projects. For the study reported in this paper, we first assumed that slate is a transverse isotropic body. Next, to characterize disparities in elastic characteristics between axial and radial orientations, we introduced five distinct elastic parameters for these two directions. Specifically, these parameters were Young’s modulus E1, Poisson’s coefficient v1 (associated with parallel bedding planes), Young’s modulus E2, Poisson’s coefficient v2, and shear modulus G2 (associated with perpendicular bedding planes). We then established a statistical damage-evolution equation for transverse isotropic slate based on a lognormal distribution, and we constructed a statistical damage-constitutive model for laminated slate under three-way stress by considering the shear–slip deformation and closure deformation of the laminated surface. Finally, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our model by comparing its output data with results obtained in triaxial compression tests on slate. We found that the differential stress–strain curves obtained from the model and the tests were in good agreement in the peak front. Average relative errors of 15.62% and 16.19% were recorded for cases of 5 Mpa and 10 Mpa of enclosing pressure, respectively. The rationality of the established transverse isotropic slate damage-constitutive relationship was therefore proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an approach for finite element (FE) model updating and response prediction of frame structures based on optimal sensor placement (OSP), which integrates sensor placement optimization, mode expansion, and model updating techniques. Firstly, sensor optimization layout and modal testing analysis are conducted on a bolted laboratory frame structure. The covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-COV) method identifies the real-world structure’s natural frequencies, modal damping, and mode shapes. Secondly, the complete mode shapes are expanded using the measured incomplete modal data from the limited number of sensors. Thirdly, a multi-objective function based on frequency and mode shapes is established to adjust the parameters of the FE model. This ensures that the updated model accurately represents the dynamic properties of the actual structure within a specific frequency range. Finally, the Rayleigh damping of the frame structure is estimated, and the damping matrix is assembled to enhance the accuracy of dynamic response prediction in the updated model. By comparing the response prediction results of the updated FE model with and without considering the updated damping effects to the measurement data of the real-world structure, it is demonstrated that the proposed method considering updated damping effects can more effectively predict the structural response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huangqi Jiuni decoction (HQJND) is a prescription for the treatment of severe burns provided based on traditional Chinese and Western medicine, which is created by the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. It consists of 12 herbs and has been used clinically for decades. It has greatly shortened the course of the disease, but the mechanism by which HQJND treats the disease still remains unclear. Hence, the objective of this investigation was to utilize modern pharmacological tools to demonstrate the efficacy and mechanism of HQJND in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by severe burns. In this study, the chemical constituents in HQJND were first examined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Then, by using network pharmacology, we screened the targets of drug and disease action, and predicted the signaling pathways acting in the course of drug treatment of disease. Finally, we attempted to verify the efficacy of the drug and explored its therapeutic mechanism after the establishment of an animal model, herbal gavage treatment, collection of rat kidneys and serum for renal function, quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), Western Blotting (WB), Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). The 14 important active ingredients in HQJND was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, while network pharmacology screening was performed to identify 353 disease-associated marker genes and 286 drug targets, finally identifying the TNF/NF-κB (tumor necrosis factor/nuclear factor kappa-B) signaling site: the key pathway of burn-induced acute kidney injury when HQJND intervened. The serum renal function and histopathology of rats demonstrated that the use of HQJND significantly improved the renal function in severe burns. RT-qPCR and WB confirmed that the TNF/NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in the Model group of rats, and HQJND could curb the signaling pathway because it moderated the expressions of key proteins in the process. Based on modern pharmacology, we explored an effective herbal preparation to ameliorate the impairment of renal function after severe burns, which is most likely to function through the TNF/NF-κB signaling pathway. Diagram of research strategies for using HQJND for disease treatment. [Display omitted] • Huangqi Jiuni decoction is a herbal combination that has been used clinically for the treatment of acute kidney injury caused by severe burns over 60 years and has been recognized as National Invention Patent of China. Clinical observation has found that Huangqi Jiuni decoction can alleviate the inflammatory response but the mechanisms was unknown. By using network pharmacology, we screened the targets of drug and disease action, and revealed the potential mechanisms in the course of drug treatment of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]