Optimization of the Electronic Driver and Thermal Management of LEDs Lighting Powered by Solar PV

AbstractThe developments of efficient photovoltaic (PV) standalone systems requires advanced technology for PV cells and modules for high performance but also the application of components or loads of use with low energy consumption. In this context, the development of lighting systems using solar energy and electroluminescent components like high power white Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is proposed. The integration of the light fixture with the choice of best technologies for high efficiency LEDs and the design of an ultra-economic driver as the PWM driver permit us to obtain a high lighting efficiency. Our study has taken in consideration thermal aspect and the choice of adequate heat sinks for thermal management. This study, allowed us to consider both effects of thermal and electronic order and allowed us to the achievement of a high efficiency lighting powered by solar energy. With the implementation of the PWM electronic controls, we should reach an energy efficiency of the LEDs Driver from 85 to 90%

Dual-Band Planar Antenna with AMC Screen for On-Body Applications

[EN] This paper presents a dual-band planar meander line antenna with an AMC screen for on-body applications. The antenna is aimed to operate at 0.86 and 2.4 GHz. The AMC screen is used to mitigate the effect of the human body into the antenna performance, so it has been designed to work appropriately in the two bands. Simulations of the AMC unit cell and the integration with the meander line antenna will be shown.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) under project PID2019-107885GB-C32.Antonino Daviu, E.; Chuquitarco-Jiménez, CA.; Abderrazak, F.; Ferrando Bataller, M. (2021). Dual-Band Planar Antenna with AMC Screen for On-Body Applications. IEEE. 1623-1624. https://doi.org/10.1109/APS/URSI47566.2021.97038551623162

A genetic algorithm for shortest path with real constraints in computer networks

The shortest path problem has many different versions. In this manuscript, we proposed a muti-constrained optimization method to find the shortest path in a computer network. In general, a genetic algorithm is one of the common heuristic algorithms. In this paper, we employed the genetic algorithm to find the solution of the shortest path multi-constrained problem. The proposed algorithm finds the best route for network packets with minimum total cost, delay, and hop count constrained with limited bandwidth. The new algorithm was implemented on four different capacity networks with random network parameters, the results showed that the shortest path under constraints can be found in a reasonable time. The experimental results showed that the algorithm always found the shortest path with minimal constraints

Effect of antioxidant-rich propolis and bee pollen extracts against D-glucose induced Type 2 Diabetes in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of propolis, bee pollen and their combination on Type 2 diabetes induced by D-glucose in rats. The study was carried out by feeding daily two concentrations (100 and 200 mg/Kg BW) of propolis or bee pollen (or their combination to normal (non-diabetic) and diabetic rats for a period of 16 weeks. In vivo biochemical changes associated to diabetes are induced by drinking a solution containing 10% of D-glucose (diabetic rats). The in vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated and the chemical composition of propolis and bee pollen extracts was determined by UHPLC-DAD. Phytochemical composition of propolis and bee pollen revealed the presence of several natural antioxidants, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and stilbens. The major antioxidant compound present in propolis was Naringin (290.19±0.2 mg/Kg) and in bee pollen was apigenin (162.85±17.7 mg/Kg). These results have been related with a high antioxidant activity, more intense in propolis extract. In rats, the administration of D-glucose had induced hyperglycemia (13.2 ± 0.82 mmol/L), increased plasmatic insulin levels (25.10 ± 2.12 U/L) and HOMA-IR index (14.72 ± 0.85) accompanied with dyslipidemia, elevation of hepatic enzyme levels, and a change in both serum renal biomarkers and plasmatic calcium. The co-administration of propolis and bee pollen extracts alone or in combination restored these biochemical parameters and attenuated the deleterious effects of D-glucose on liver and kidney functions. Furthermore, these effects were better attenuated in the combined therapy-prevented diabetic rats. Hence, it is possible to conclude that propolis and bee pollen can be used as a preventive natural product against diabetes induced dyslipidemia and hepato-renal damage.This work was supported by a grant from Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and Bio Tec Norteoperation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the scope of Norte2020-Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Zlatina Genisheva is supported by the project OH2O (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029145) funded by FCT and FEDER under the scope of Programa Operacional de Competividade e Internacionalizaçao (POCI)-COMPETE 2020 and PORTUGAL2020. Pedro Santos is recipient of a fellowship supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15), funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 (NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000036).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Text Line Segmentation of Historical Documents: a Survey

There is a huge amount of historical documents in libraries and in various National Archives that have not been exploited electronically. Although automatic reading of complete pages remains, in most cases, a long-term objective, tasks such as word spotting, text/image alignment, authentication and extraction of specific fields are in use today. For all these tasks, a major step is document segmentation into text lines. Because of the low quality and the complexity of these documents (background noise, artifacts due to aging, interfering lines),automatic text line segmentation remains an open research field. The objective of this paper is to present a survey of existing methods, developed during the last decade, and dedicated to documents of historical interest.Comment: 25 pages, submitted version, To appear in International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition, On line version available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/k2813176280456k3

Detailed phytochemical characterization and bioactive properties of: Myrtus nivelii Batt & Trab

The endemic Algerian myrtle, Myrtus nivelii Batt & Trab., was evaluated for its bioactive properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities, and correlated with the individual phenolic compounds identified in its crude aqueous extract and subsequent organic fractions (ethyl acetate and butanol). Flavonols, such as myricetin, kaempferol and quercetin glycoside derivatives, were the major phenolic compounds found, along with the presence of ellagitannins. The ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds, followed by the butanol fraction and, finally, the crude aqueous extract. In general, all samples exhibited an excellent bioactivity, namely the ethyl acetate fraction that presented strong antioxidant activity, when compared to the standard trolox, strong cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity, especially against MRSA and MSSA. The present study revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of M. nivelii could be used as a source of bioactive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industries.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), L. Barros contract and S. Heleno (SFRH/BPD/101413/2014) grant. We greatly acknowledge the MESRS of Algeria for the financial support that allowed us to complete the internship period at the IPB in the PNE program. The authors are also grateful to the Interreg España-Portugal for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Protective effect of honey and propolis against gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal damages

Bee products are a promising source of phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. The present study was designed to explore the protective effect of honey, propolis, and their combination on gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal dysfunction. This study was conducted on male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin (120mg/kg BW/day, i.p.) or normal saline (1ml/kg BW/day, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days. Honey (2g/kg BW), propolis (100mg/kg BW), or their combination were given daily by gavage to normal and gentamicin groups. Honey and propolis samples were evaluated for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. The in vitro investigations showed that the evaluated samples especially propolis extract have high antioxidant power associated with the presence of several phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes, while honey contains only hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. It was also shown that simultaneous treatment with honey or propolis extract alone or in association prevented changes caused by gentamicin administration and improved hepatic and renal functions. Changes caused by gentamicin administration, observed by in vivo experiments, include significant elevation of uric acid, urea, creatinine, and hepatic enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) and kidney biochemical changes (an increase of urea, uric acid, and creatinine and a decrease of albumin and total protein) as well as remarkable changes of renal and liver oxidative stress markers (CAT, GPx, and GSH) and elevation of MDA levels. Overall, it can be concluded that honey and propolis might be useful in the management of liver and renal diseases induced by xenobiotics.This work was supported by a grant from the University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah for Laboratory Physiology-Pharmacology & Environmental Health. This research was also funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. Zlatina Genisheva is supported by the project OH2O (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029145) funded by FCT and FEDER under the scope of Programa Operacional de Competividade e Internacionalizaçao (POCI)-COMPETE 2020 and PORTUGAL2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Protective effect of honey and propolis against gentamicin- induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal damages

Bee products are a promising source of phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. The present study was designed to explore the protective effect of honey, propolis, and their combination on gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal dysfunction. This study was conducted on male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin (120 mg/kg BW/day, i.p.) or normal saline (1 ml/kg BW/day, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days. Honey (2 g/kg BW), propolis (100 mg/kg BW), or their combination were given daily by gavage to normal and gentamicin groups. Honey and propolis samples were evaluated for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. The in vitro investigations showed that the evaluated samples especially propolis extract have high antioxidant power associated with the presence of several phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes, while honey contains only hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. It was also shown that simultaneous treatment with honey or propolis extract alone or in association prevented changes caused by gentamicin administration and improved hepatic and renal functions. Changes caused by gentamicin administration, observed by in vivo experiments, include significant elevation of uric acid, urea, creatinine, and hepatic enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) and kidney biochemical changes (an increase of urea, uric acid, and creatinine and a decrease of albumin and total protein) as well as remarkable changes of renal and liver oxidative stress markers (CAT, GPx, and GSH) and elevation of MDA levels. Overall, it can be concluded that honey and propolis might be useful in the management of liver and renal diseases induced by xenobiotics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS screening of phytochemical compounds and the bioactive properties of different plant parts of: Zizyphus lotus (L.) Desf.

Zizyphus lotus L. (Desf.) has been widely used as a homemade ingredient to treat numerous diseases in Algerian folk medicine. In this context, decoction, infusion and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared from the branches, leaves, roots, and stem barks. The extracts were characterized regarding their phytochemical composition by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and were assessed for in vitro bioactivity (cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory activity, and antibacterial activity). A total of 29 compounds (flavonoid derivatives and secoiridoids) were identified in Z. lotus, 15 being detected in leaves, 10 in branches, 5 in roots and 7 in stem barks. The highest contents of these compounds, especially secoiridoids, were detected in branches followed by leaves, oleuropein being the main compound detected in leaves and oleoside in branches. The aqueous preparations of the leaves and root barks revealed the highest cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory potential. On the other hand, as for the antibacterial activity, the hydroethanolic extract of the branches showed the highest potential, especially against the MSSA strain. Hence, the chemical diversity found in Z. lotus makes it a source of bioactive ingredients that can be applied in the formulations of different ingredients in the food and pharmaceutical industries.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019); to the national funding by FCT, P. I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros and R. Calhelha and through the individual scientific employment program-contract for S. A. Heleno; to the University of Mostaganem and MESRS of Algeria for the financial support that allowed to achieve this work; and also to the Interreg España-Portugal for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio