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At least 685 records · Page 38

Pressure feedback control of electro-hydraulic actuators using fixed displacement hydraulic machines

This paper presents the development of a control strategy for Electro-Hydraulic Actuator (EHA) systems based on fixed displacement hydraulic machines. Although some previous studies on EHAs show benefits in terms of energy efficiency and regeneration capability compared to conventional hydraulic systems, few studies focus on the dynamic performance of EHAs. Unlike traditional valve-controlled systems, an EHA based on a fixed displacement pump typically relies on variation of the electric motor shaft speed to control the actuator velocity. This study shows that pressure feedback can be used to control the speed of the electric machine, thus achieving the required actuator/machine dynamic response. A simulation model is developed by including the EM, the hydraulic system, and the actuation system, which can give a realistic prediction of the EHA performance for a typical duty cycle. An open-circuit EHA previously proposed by the authors is used to validate the control strategy, and the simulation results show superior dynamic performance, exhibiting a reduction in response time and oscillatory behavior, compared to a feedforward EHA controller. Following the method presented in this study, it is possible to design a controller with a pressure feedback strategy for EHA systems with different size and actuation requirements

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

On the use of moderating material to enhance the feedback coefficients in SFR cores with high minor actinide content

The use of fine distributed moderating material to enhance the feedback effects and to reduce the sodium void effecting sodium cooled fast reactor cores is described. The influence of the moderating material on the neutron spectrum, the power distribution, and the burnup distribution is shown. The consequences of the use of fine distributed moderating material into fuel assemblies with fuel configurations foreseen for minor actinide transmutation is analyzed and the transmutation efficiency is compared. The degradation of the feedback effects due to the insertion of minor actinides and the compensation by the use of moderating materials is discussed. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Lessons Learned from PEP-II LLRF and Longitudinal Feedback

The PEP-II B-Factory collider ended the final phase of operation at nearly twice the design current and 4X the design luminosity. To highlight the evolution from the original conceptual design through to the 1.2E34 final machine we choose one example each from the broadband feedback and from the LLRF system. They illustrate the original design estimation missed some very significant details, and how in the course of PEP-II operation unexpected difficulties led to significant insights and new approaches which allowed higher machine performance. We present valuable 'lessons learned' which are of interest to designers of next generation feedback and impedance controlled LLRF systems.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The fan of influence of streams and channel feedbacks to simulated land surface water and carbon dynamics

Large-scale land models assume unidirectional land-to-river hydrological interactions, without considering feedbacks between channels and land. Using a tested, physically based model with explicit multiway interactions between overland, channel, wetland, and groundwater flows, we assessed how the representation and properties of channels influence simulated land surface hydrologic, biogeochemical, and ecosystem dynamics. A zone near the channels where various fluxes and states are significantly influenced by the channels, referred to as the fan of influence (FoI) of channels, has been identified. We elucidated two mechanisms inducing the model-derived FoI: the base flow mechanism, in which incised, gaining streams lower the water table and induce more base flow, and the relatively more efficient conveyance of the channel network compared to overland flow. We systematically varied drainage density and grid resolution to quantify the size of the FoI, which is found to span a large fraction of the watershed (25-50%) for hydrologic variables including depth to water table and recharge, etc. The FoI is more pronounced with low-resolution simulations but remains noticeable in hyperresolution (25 m) subbasin simulations. The FoI and the channel influence on basin-average fluxes are also similar in simulations with alternative parameter sets. We found that high-order, entrenched streams cause larger FoI. In addition, removing the simulated channels has disproportionally large influence on modeled wetland areas and inundation duration, which has implications for coupled biogeochemical or ecological modeling. Our results suggest that explicit channel representation provides important feedbacks to land surface dynamics which should be considered in meso or large-scale simulations. Since grid refinement incurs prohibitive computational cost, subgrid channel parameterization has advantages in efficiency over grid-based representations that do not distinguish between overland flow and channel flow.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Cloud and circulation feedbacks in a near‐global aquaplanet cloud‐resolving model

Abstract A near‐global aquaplanet cloud‐resolving model (NGAqua) with fixed meridionally varying sea‐surface temperature (SST) is used to investigate cloud feedbacks due to three climate perturbations: a uniform 4 K SST increase, a quadrupled‐CO 2 concentration, and both combined. NGAqua has a horizontal resolution of 4 km with no cumulus parameterization. Its domain is a zonally periodic 20,480 km‐long tropical channel, spanning 46°S–N. It produces plausible mean distributions of clouds, rainfall, and winds. After spin‐up, 80 days are analyzed for the control and increased‐SST simulations, and 40 days for those with quadrupled CO 2 . The Intertropical Convergence Zone width and tropical cloud cover are not strongly affected by SST warming or CO 2 increase, except for the expected upward shift in high clouds with warming, but both perturbations weaken the Hadley circulation. Increased SST induces a statistically significant increase in subtropical low cloud fraction and in‐cloud liquid water content but decreases midlatitude cloud, yielding slightly positive domain‐mean shortwave cloud feedbacks. CO 2 quadrupling causes a slight shallowing and a statistically insignificant reduction of subtropical low cloud fraction. Warming‐induced low cloud changes are strongly correlated with changes in estimated inversion strength, which increases modestly in the subtropics but decreases in the midlatitudes. Enhanced clear‐sky boundary layer radiative cooling in the warmer climate accompanies the robust subtropical low cloud increase. The probability distribution of column relative humidity across the tropics and subtropics is compared between the control and increased‐SST simulations. It shows no evidence of bimodality or increased convective aggregation in a warmer climate.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Modeling East Asian Dust and Its Radiative Feedbacks in CAM4-BAM

East Asian dust and its radiative feedbacks are analyzed by the use of the fourth version of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM4) with a bulk aerosol model parameterization (BAM) for the dust size distribution (CAM4-BAM). Two numerical experiments are conducted and intercompared: one with (Active) and one without (Passive) the radiative effects of dust aerosols. This CAM4-BAM captures the main spatial distribution of the dust aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the dust surface concentrations over East Asia, with positive correlations with the local observational data on annual and seasonal means. A comparative analysis of the Active and Passive experiments reveals that consideration of the dust-radiation interaction can significantly reduce dust emissions, loading, transport, and dry and wet depositions over East Asia, which is opposite to the enhanced dust cycle over North Africa. Further analysis of the contrasting dust-radiation feedbacks between North Africa and East Asia shows that over North Africa, the dust radiative forcing significantly increases the surface temperature and 10-m wind speed, whereas it decreases the surface temperature and the surface wind speeds over East Asia. These contrasting radiative effects, in turn, result in distinct dust cycle changes over these two regions. Thus, mechanistic analysis reveals that the radiative contrasts between East Asia and North Africa are mainly due to the differences in their regional surface albedo, dust vertical distribution and size distribution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A Global Methane Observation System to Reduce Uncertainty for Anthropogenic and Natural Sources and Sinks for Detecting and Attributing Climate Feedbacks

Atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations are accelerating global warming as net emissions increase. Observing systems that quantify sources remain too sparse and fragmented to detect trends—especially in remote regions where climate‐driven natural emissions may be rising. We provide a framework for quantifying uncertainty reductions through the implementation of a global ecosystem‐methane observing system designed to: (i) substantially lower uncertainty in sectoral and regional emissions, (ii) separate co‐occurring anthropogenic and natural fluxes, and (iii) trend detection at regional scales to verify mitigation progress and provide early warning of natural feedbacks. Using bottom‐up inventories and process‐model ensembles for 2014–2023, we show that anthropogenic emissions remain uncertain by ∼32% globally, while natural sources—tropical and boreal‐arctic wetlands, fires, and inland waters—carry far larger uncertainties (+ 70%) and trend uncertainties reaching ∼200%. Additional observations must match spatial emission structure to increase observability of emissions: high‐resolution satellite constellations for point sources combined with expanded flux networks and wetland mapping for diffuse sources, and denser ground‐based atmospheric column measurements to restore observability in under‐sampled tropics and high latitudes. Notional analyses indicate that targeted additions of flux towers and ∼20 in situ atmospheric column concentration instruments per key tropical region could reduce continental‐scale uncertainties at modest cost. Conceptual illustration of a Global Ecosystem Methane Observing System (GEM‐OS) integrating satellites, aircraft, atmospheric networks, and ecosystem measurements to quantify methane emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. The multi‐scale observing framework improves source attribution, reduces uncertainty in regional methane budgets, and enables early detection of climate‐driven feedbacks from wetlands, fires, permafrost, agriculture, and fossil‐fuel emissions.

Ciais, P↗

Examining the peatland shrubification-evapotranspiration feedback following multi-decadal water table manipulation

Northern peatlands are globally important long-term sinks of carbon due to their predominantly saturated conditions. However, these ecosystems are expected to become drier with climate change, potentially leading to shrubification. As such, the response of the shrubification–evapotranspiration (ET) feedback may be of critical importance to future peatland energy, water and carbon dynamics. Here we examined the effect of multi-decadal peatland water table (WT) alteration at three adjacent sites with increasing depth to WT (WET, INTermediate, and DRY). In order to better understand the WT–shrubification–ET feedback, we measured peatland vegetation composition, microtopography and ET partitioning, where ET was measured at the ecosystem, microform, and leaf level using eddy covariance (EC), chambers and porometry, respectively. Averaged across microforms and WT treatments, there was a difference in the median measured leaf resistance (r leaf ) between plant functional types ranging from 213 s m -1 for erect dwarf shrubs, 325 s m -1 for graminoids/sedges, and 520 s m -1 for prostrate dwarf shrubs. Scaled based on LAI, the low r leaf of erect dwarf shrubs dominated hummocks, where sites with a higher proportion of hummocks had lower median canopy resistance (r v ) of 141, 133 and 130 s m -1 at the WET, INT and DRY sites respectively. Nevertheless, ET was highest at the WET site and similar between the INT and DRY sites, with greater evaporation from the moss surface at the WET site. Porometry and EC data along with a three-source model were used to independently assess the evaporative contribution from the moss surface, which ranged from 17% to 40%. For moderate and persistent changes in WT from land-use or climate change, our results suggest vegetation succession is minimal, but the microtopographic development and the concomitant differences in LAI for the various plant functional types is key to understanding changes in total ET and partitioning.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Atmospheric and oceanic energy transport during North Atlantic freshening events: influences of moisture transport and hydrologic cycle feedbacks

Analogs of present-day rapid ice melt can be found in episodic discharges of icebergs that occurred during glacial periods called Heinrich events. This introduces excess meltwater into the North Atlantic and weakens the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (AMOC), triggering a hydrologic cycle–AMOC collapse feedback as the atmospheric energy transport compensates for reduced northward heat transport. Here we employ a novel series of 100-year North Atlantic “hosing” simulations to investigate atmospheric and oceanic energy transport response from freshwater forcing, focusing in particular on the role of atmospheric rivers (ARs) within atmospheric energy transport. Importantly, we use an “overwriting” methodology that allow us to attribute AMOC weakening to added North Atlantic meltwater and subsequent hydrologic cycle responses, respectively. In contrast to far-reaching response of transient eddies, our results show a substantial increase in moisture convergence from ARs that is geographically constrained to the North Atlantic midlatitudes. Such AR changes nevertheless comprise an important component of net precipitation changes over the Euro-Atlantic sector, with the amount being comparable to that from transient eddies over the subpolar Atlantic. Over the course of the century-long simulations, we demonstrate that hydrologic cycle responses to North Atlantic freshening and subsequent feedbacks, including those from ARs, account for approximately half of the simulated AMOC collapse. Furthermore, our work highlights the dynamics of atmospheric moisture transport response to North Atlantic freshening events and elucidates how intensifying moisture transport may accelerate AMOC collapse in the future.

Atmospheric Science↗

Capturing the run-in of a pebble-bed reactor by using thermal feedback and high-fidelity neutronics simulations

Modeling the run-in of a pebble-bed reactor (PBR) can be challenging as a result of changes in the power, fuel type, and temperatures that occur throughout the run-in period. Previous work utilized high-fidelity neutronics simulations or lower-fidelity coupled neutronics/thermal-hydraulics models to capture the general characteristics of the run-in process. Here, the present work employs high-fidelity neutronics simulations (using Serpent) coupled with thermal-hydraulics simulations (using Griffin–Pronghorn) to capture the thermal feedback present during the run-in and approach to equilibrium for a PBR. Incorporating thermal feedback enables important distinctions to be made about conditions occurring inside the core, as the power distribution, discharge burnup, and isotopic compositions are all affected by the temperature distribution.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Feedback-Based Fault-Tolerant and Health-Adaptive Optimal Charging of Batteries

The key technology barriers that hinder the growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) are long charging time, the shorter life-time of EV batteries, and battery safety. Specifically, EV charging protocols have significant effects on battery lifetime and safety. If not charged properly, the battery could end up with shorter life, and more importantly, improper charging can cause battery faults leading to catastrophic failures. To overcome these barriers, we propose a closed-loop feedback based approach, that enables real-time optimal fast charging protocol adaptation to battery health and possess active diagnostic capabilities in the sense that, during charging, it detects real-time faults and takes corrective action to mitigate such fault effects. We utilize battery electrical-thermal model, explicit battery capacity and power fade aging models, and thermal fault model to capture battery behavior. In conjunction with the models, we adopt linear quadratic optimal control techniques to realize the feedback-based control algorithm. Simulation studies are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

batteries↗

A negative feedback loop between nuclear factor 90 (NF90) and an anti-oncogenic microRNA, miR-7

Highlights: • miR-7, an anti-oncogenic miRNA, represses NF90 at the mRNA level. • The coding region of the NF90 mRNA is directly targeted by miR-7. • A rise in NF90 is attributed to negative feedback between NF90 and miR-7 in tumors. Alterations in microRNAs (miRNAs) levels deeply correlate with tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanism for the regulation of the miRNA production in tumors is not fully understood. We previously reported that downregulation of miR-7, which is an anti-oncogenic miRNA, was caused by overexpression of the nuclear factor 90 (NF90)-nuclear factor 45 (NF45) complex through the binding of double-stranded (ds) RNA-binding proteins to primary miR-7, resulting in promotion of tumorigenesis (Higuchi et al 2016). During this study, we found that the level of NF90 protein was dramatically decreased by overexpression of miR-7. Interestingly, the miR-7-mediated reduction in NF90 family proteins was only observed in NF90 protein, but not in NF110 protein, which is a longer form of the NF90 gene. Luciferase reporter analysis indicated that the overexpression of miR-7 significantly repressed the luciferase activity in the coding region of NF90 mRNA harboring a predicted target sequence of miR-7. The luciferase activity of the reporter vector, which has a mutated miR-7 target site in the coding region, was the same in the control and miR-7 overexpressed cells. Furthermore, the translation of TARGET-tagged NF90 mRNA without the 3′UTR of the NF90 mRNA was inhibited by the overexpression of miR-7. These results imply that miR-7 suppresses NF90 at the protein level through the binding of miR-7 to the complementary site of the seed sequence in the coding region of the NF90 mRNA. We further confirmed increased endogenous NF90 protein levels in SK-N-SH cells transfected with antisense oligonucleotides targeting miR-7, indicating that miR-7-mediated translational repression of NF90 is a physiological event. Taken together with our previous findings (Higuchi et al 2016), it suggests that the level of NF90 is increased by a negative feedback loop between NF90 and miR-7 in tumor tissues under physiological conditions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

MiR-374b-5p-FOXP1 feedback loop regulates cell migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators in tumorigenesis and progression of multiple human cancers, including ovarian cancer (OC). As a member of miRNAs family, miR-374b-5p has been reported to be a tumor suppressive gene in human cancers. In this study, the lower expression of miR-374b-5p was identified in OC tissues and cell liens using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1) can act as an oncogene in human cancers. Mechanism experiments revealed that FOXP1 is a target of miR-374b-5p. Functionally, miR-374b-5p suppressed cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovarian cancer. Moreover, the sensitivity of OC cells to cisplatin was markedly enhanced by miR-374b-5p. However, FOXP1 reversed However, FOXP1 reversed miR-374b-5p-mediated biological functions. Previous reports demonstrated the inhibitory effect of FOXP1 on transcription FOXP1. Thus, we further examined the effect of FOXP1 on the transcription activity of miR-374b-5p in OC cells. The results showed that FOXP1 decreased miR-374b-5p expression by inhibiting the transcription activity of miR-374b-5p. Rescue assays revealed the regulatory effect of miR-374b-5p-FOXP1 feedback loop on ovarian cancer progression. In conclusion, miR-374b-5p-FOXP1 feedback loop regulates tumor progression and chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

LncRNA ZEB1-AS1/miR-409–3p/ZEB1 feedback loop is involved in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer

Highlights: • ZEB1-AS1 was increase in NSCLC cells and ZEB1-AS1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. • ZEB1-AS1 positively regulates ZEB1 through sponging miR-409–3p. • ZEB1 could bind to the promoter region of ZEB1-AS1 to activate its expression. • The positive feedback loop of ZEB1-AS1/miR-409–3p/ZEB1 could facilitate the NSCLC oncogenesis. Emerging evidence has illustrated that long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) ZEB1 antisense RNA 1 (ZEB1-AS1) involved in the development of various type of human cancers. However, the role of ZEB1-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still elusive and poorly understood. The present study aimed to provide functional evidence and elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which the ZEB1-AS1 promotes oncogenesis of NSCLC. Our study found that ZEB1-AS1 was upregulated in NSCLC cells and knockdown of ZEB1-AS1 significantly inhibited cell growth and induced cell apoptosis. Mechanically, miR-409–3p was confirmed as a direct target of ZEB1-AS1 and negatively regulated by ZEB1-AS1 via competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism; miR-409–3p inhibited ZEB1 expression by directly binding to the 3′UTR. Importantly, as predicted by JASPAR and further confirmed by luciferase reporter gene and ChIP assays, we found ZEB1 could bind to the promoter region of ZEB1-AS1 to activate its expression. Restoration of ZEB1 could partially abolished the action of ZEB1-AS1 silencing on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Collectively, the results suggested that ZEB1-AS1/miR-409–3p/ZEB1 constitutes a positive feedback loop to promote the tumorigenesis of NSCLC, highlighting the possibility of improving NSCLC treatment by targeting the ZEB1-AS1 signaling pathway.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Visual feedback and guided balance training in an immersive virtual reality environment for lower extremity rehabilitation

Balance training is essential for physical rehabilitation procedures, as it can improve functional mobility and enhance cognitive coordination. However, conventional balance training methods may have limitations in terms of motivation, real-time objective feedback, and personalization, which a virtual reality (VR) setup may provide a better alternative. In this work, we present an immersive VR training environment for lower extremity balance rehabilitation with real-time guidance and feedback. The VR training environment immerses the user in a 3D ice rink model where a virtual coach (agent) leads them through a series of balance poses, and the user controls a trainee avatar with their own movements. Here we developed two coaching styles: positive-reinforcement and autonomous-supportive, and two viewpoints of the trainee avatar: first-person and third-person. The proposed environment was evaluated in a user study with healthy, non-clinical participants (n = 16, 24.4 ± 5.7 years old, 9 females). Our results show that participants showed stronger performance in the positive-reinforcement style compared to the autonomous-supportive style. Additionally, in the third-person viewpoint, the participants exhibited more stability in the positive-reinforcement style compared to the autonomous-supportive style. For viewpoint, participants exhibited stronger performance in the first-person viewpoint compared to third-person in the autonomous-supportive style, while they were comparable in the positive-reinforcement style. We observed no significant effects on the foot height and number of mistakes. Furthermore, we report the analysis of user performance with balance training poses and subjective measures based on questionnaires to assess the user experience, usability, and task load. The proposed VR balance training could offer an interactive, adaptive, and engaging environment and open new potential research directions for lower extremity rehabilitation.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A self-learning disturbance observer for nonlinear systems in feedback-error learning scheme

Here this paper represents a novel online self-learning disturbance observer (SLDO) by benefiting from the combination of a type-2 neuro-fuzzy structure (T2NFS), feedback-error learning scheme and sliding mode control (SMC) theory. The SLDO is developed within a framework of feedback-error learning scheme in which a conventional estimation law and a T2NFS work in parallel. In this scheme, the latter learns uncertainties and becomes the leading estimator whereas the former provides the learning error to the T2NFS for learning system dynamics. A learning algorithm established on SMC theory is derived for an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system. In addition to the stability of the learning algorithm, the stability of the SLDO and the stability of the overall system are proven in the presence of time-varying disturbances. Thanks to learning process by the T2NFS, the simulation results show that the SLDO is able to estimate time-varying disturbances precisely as distinct from the basic nonlinear disturbance observer (BNDO) so that the controller based on the SLDO ensures robust control performance for systems with time-varying uncertainties, and maintains nominal performance in the absence of uncertainties.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Feedback Control Approaches for Restoration of Power Grids from Blackouts

The automated restoration of power systems with variable energy resources is a timely problem to tackle. Automated restoration advice can support operators in deciding on strategic actions to restore power grids from a blackout with a mix of conventional and renewable generation resources. To this end, this paper frames the restoration process of power grids with solar resources as a nonlinear dynamic model with algebraic constraints in discrete time which is steered by feedback control loops. We discuss two feedback-control strategies based on greedy and reinforcement learning algorithms, and contrast their performance with restoration plans generated by a mixed-integer linear program. We found that the reinforcement learning algorithm infers restoration actions faster than the greedy one. However, the tuning process of the reinforcement learning parameters is slower than for the greedy one.

machine learning↗

Feedforward-feedback ammonia control at a water resource recovery facility based on a digital twin with hybrid model

Ammonia-based aeration control (ABAC) at full-scale Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) can be challenged by diurnal loading and transport delays. This work addressed these challenges using a hybrid feedforward–feedback controller built on Activated Sludge Model 1 (ASM1), marking the first full-scale deployment to pair a mechanistic feedforward core with data-driven corrections. The objectives were to improve ammonia setpoint tracking, assess performance of the mechanistic model when enhanced with data-driven corrections, and document full-scale operation. The hybrid model incorporates two data-driven components: (1) a Mechanistic Error Forecasting Engine (MEFE), consisting of a multivariate linear regressor and a long short-term memory (LSTM) ensemble. Defying expectations, low-parameter models outperformed more complex alternatives, reducing the mechanistic error by 71%. (2) A Residual Oscillation Forecasting Engine (ROFE), based on Fast Fourier Transform, reduced the remaining error by another 35%. Two proportional–integral (PI) feedback loops further (i) trim the feedforward output and (ii) eliminate residual controller error in the final aerobic zone. In full-scale operation, the controller reduced mean-squared error (MSE) by 94% over the baseline and produced more stable dissolved oxygen (DO) setpoints. Overall, it was proven that layering multi-timescale data-driven models on a mechanistic core can yield reliable ABAC performance at WRRFs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗