Full Closed-Loop Tests for the Relay Feedback Autotuning of Stable, Integrating, and Unstable Processes.

The relay (on-off) controller can stabilize wide ranges of processes including open-loop stable, integrating, and unstable processes, producing sustained oscillations. For improved proportional-integral-derivative controller tunings, methods to find process models with mixed closed-loop tests of relay feedback and proportional-derivative (PD) controllers are proposed. For unknown processes with arbitrary initial states, relay feedback tests are first applied and, after cyclic steady states are obtained, PD controllers or other relay feedback tests with set point changes are followed.

Strengthening Health Systems While Responding to a Health Crisis: Lessons Learned by a Nongovernmental Organization During the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic in Sierra Leone.

An epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) beginning in 2013 has claimed an estimated 11 310 lives in West Africa. As the EVD epidemic subsides, it is important for all who participated in the emergency Ebola response to reflect on strengths and weaknesses of the response. Such reflections should take into account perspectives not usually included in peer-reviewed publications and after-action reports, including those from the public sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), survivors of Ebola, and Ebola-affected households and communities.

Smart Manufacturing.

Historic manufacturing enterprises based on vertically optimized companies, practices, market share, and competitiveness are giving way to enterprises that are responsive across an entire value chain to demand dynamic markets and customized product value adds; increased expectations for environmental sustainability, reduced energy usage, and zero incidents; and faster technology and product adoption. Agile innovation and manufacturing combined with radically increased productivity become engines for competitiveness and reinvestment, not simply for decreased cost. A focus on agility, productivity, energy, and environmental sustainability produces opportunities that are far beyond reducing market volatility.

Modeling of tumor growth undergoing virotherapy.

Tumor growth models subject to virotherapy treatment are analyzed and compared in this paper. Tumor growth conditions are obtained for each model type based on the virus infection rate and immune suppressive drug delivery. Equilibrium conditions resulted into quadratic functions for which the tumor radius remained constant during virotherapy.

Effectiveness of Intravenous Infusion Algorithms for Glucose Control in Diabetic Patients Using Different Simulation Models.

The effectiveness of closed-loop insulin infusion algorithms is assessed for three different mathematical models describing insulin and glucose dynamics within a Type I diabetes patient. Simulations are performed to assess the effectiveness of proportional plus integral plus derivative (PID) control, feedforward control, and a physiologically-based control system with respect to maintaining normal glucose levels during a meal and during exercise. Control effectiveness is assessed by comparing the simulated response to a simulation of a healthy patient during both a meal and exercise and establishing maximum and minimum glucose levels and insulin infusion levels, as well as maximum duration of hyperglycemia.

The association of smoking and alcohol use with age-related macular degeneration in the oldest old: the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures.

Purpose: To estimate the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the association of smoking and alcohol in a population of older women.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Subjects were women who attended the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures year-10 and year-15 follow-up clinic visits and had fundus photographs taken at both visits (n = 1958; 245 Black and 1713 White subjects; mean age at year 10 visit, 78.

In Vivo Simulations of the Intravenous Dynamics of Submicron Particles of pH-Responsive Cationic Hydrogels in Diabetic Patients.

A mathematical model describing glucose-dependent pH swelling and insulin release is developed for pH-sensitive cationic hydrogels in which glucose oxidase and catalase have been immobilized and insulin imbibed. Glucose based swelling and insulin release are simulated for intravenously injected particles at various design conditions. The effects of particle size, the number of injected particles, insulin loading, enzyme loading, monomer functional group loading and pK(a), and hydrogel crosslinking ratio on insulin release and glucose sensitivity are investigated in order to optimally design the device for use.

Parameter set uniqueness and confidence limits in model identification of insulin transport models from simulation data.

Background: The use of patient models describing the dynamics of glucose, insulin, and possibly other metabolic species associated with glucose regulation allows diabetes researchers to gain insights regarding novel therapies via simulation. However, such models are only useful when model parameters are effectively estimated with patient data.

Methods: The use of least squares to effectively estimate model parameters from simulation data was investigated by observing factors that influence the accuracy of estimates for the model parameters from a data set generated using a model with known parameters.

The future of open- and closed-loop insulin delivery systems.

We have analysed several aspects of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, including the glucose metabolic system, diabetes complications, and previous and ongoing research aimed at controlling glucose in diabetic patients. An expert review of various models and control algorithms developed for the glucose homeostasis system is presented, along with an analysis of research towards the development of a polymeric insulin infusion system. Recommendations for future directions in creating a true closed-loop glucose control system are presented, including the development of multivariable models and control systems to more accurately describe and control the multi-metabolite, multi-hormonal system, as well as in-vivo assessments of implicit closed-loop control systems.

Squalamine lactate for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Squalamine lactate inhibits angiogenesis by a long-lived, intracellular mechanism of action. The drug is taken up into activated endothelial cells through caveolae, small invaginations in the cellular membrane. Subsequently, the drug binds to and "chaperones" calmodulin to an intracellular membrane compartment and blocks angiogenesis at several levels.

Long-term safety and efficacy of repositioning dislocated plate haptic intraocular lenses in the ciliary sulcus.

Purpose: To report safety and efficacy outcomes of repositioning posterior dislocated plate haptic lenses (PHLs) in the ciliary sulcus (CS).

Design: Retrospective interventional case series.

Methods: Fifteen consecutive eyes with dislocated PHL repositioned in the CS were reviewed retrospectively.

Safety results of two phase III trials of an intravitreous injection of highly purified ovine hyaluronidase (Vitrase) for the management of vitreous hemorrhage.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety of intravitreous ovine hyaluronidase for the management of vitreous hemorrhage.

Design: Two prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked studies. Pooled efficacy data are presented in a companion article in this issue of The Journal.

Pooled efficacy results from two multinational randomized controlled clinical trials of a single intravitreous injection of highly purified ovine hyaluronidase (Vitrase) for the management of vitreous hemorrhage.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreous ovine hyaluronidase for the management of vitreous hemorrhage.

Design: Two prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked studies. Safety data are presented in a companion article in The Journal.

Nitrogen removal in laboratory model leachfields with organic-rich layers.

Septic system leachfields can release dissolved nitrogen in the form of nitrate into ground water, presenting a significant source of pollution. Low cost, passive modifications, which increase N removal in traditional leachfields, could substantially reduce the overall impact on ground water resources. Bench-scale laboratory models were constructed to evaluate the effect of placing an organic layer below the leachfield on total N removal.

Efficacy of verteporfin photodynamic therapy on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization and the ancillary effect on diabetic microvasculopathy.

Purpose: To demonstrate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating choroidal neovascularization (CNV) induced by laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema and its ancillary effect on surrounding diabetic microvascular abnormalities.

Methods: A retrospective interventional case series study in a clinical practice setting of four patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macular edema who had developed classic CNV in proximity to the area of previous laser photocoagulation. The lesions were treated with verteporfin PDT and followed with serial fluorescein angiography.

Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: photodynamic therapy.

Purpose: To demonstrate, using optical coherence and fluorescien angiography, the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Design: Interventional case series.

Methods: A retrospective study in a clinical practice setting of four patients (five eyes) with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.