Model predictive control of a single-phase five-level VIENNA rectifier

Power converters and control strategies are very vital for the increasing sustainability of the power grid targeting smart grids. In these circumstances, it is proposed a novel single-phase five-level (SP5L) VIENNA rectifier digitally controlled by a model predictive control (MPC) with fixed switching frequency, which can be useful for a variety of applications with a robust current tracking. The proposed SP5L VIENNA rectifier is an advancement of the classical three-level VIENNA rectifier, also contributing to preserve power quality, and exhibiting the advantage of operating with more voltage levels at the expense of few additional switching devices. The proposed topology is introduced and correlated with the classical solutions of active rectifiers. The operation principle is introduced and used to describe the MPC, which is given in detail, as well as the necessary modulation strategy. The results were obtained for a set of various operating conditions, both in terms of reference of current and grid-side voltage, as well as in steady-state and transient-state, proving the benefits of the proposed SP5L VIENNA rectifier and the accurate and precise use of the MPC to control the grid-side current.This work has been supported by FCT -Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. This work has been supported by the FCT Project newERA4GRIDs PTDC/EEI-EEE/30283/2017, and by the FCT Project DAIPESEV PTDC/EEI-EEE/30382/2017. Tiago Sousa is supported by the doctoral scholarship SFRH/BD/134353/2017 granted by FCT

Photocatalytic performance of textiles coated with titanium dioxide-reduced graphene oxide system for degradation of crude petroleum under similar solar irradiation

The pollution caused by oil and its toxic derivatives presents a considerable risk to the public health and the environment. This work is devoted to the study of the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles immobilized on three types of textiles materials (Cotton, Entretela, and Polylactic Acid-PLA) coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to be used for degradation of crude petroleum under simulated solar irradiation. The morphological studies of the functionalized textiles substrates were performed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, which indicated an excellent dispersion and adhesion of nanoparticles of about 60% (atomic %Ti) on the textile fibers covered with RGO after washing. Ultraviolet-visible Diffuse Reflectance spectra suggest a reduction in the band gap energy of TiO2 up to 2.86 eV due to the presence of RGO. The functionalized textiles presented at least 60% of photocatalytic efficiency measured by Rhodamine B degradation, decreasing less than 12% after the rigorous washing. The excitation/emission Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopies demonstrated a great potential for photocatalytic degradation of the functionalized textiles substrates as the appearance of the hydroxyl, carboxyl, and the C-O bands confirm the photoinduced oxidation of the organic compounds implying with high prospects in petroleum and wastewater treatment areas. Moreover, this environmentally friendly, sustainable, and inclusive research work can be included in clean technologies, contributing to the novel socio-economic model recognized as "Green Recovery".[GRAPHICS].This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2019 and the project PTDC/FIS-MAC/6606/2020. Also, the third author would like to acknowledge the FCT for the Ph.D. scholarship (SFRH/BD/137421/2018). Moreover, the authors would like to acknowledge Sociedade Nacional de Combusti ' veis de Angola (Sonangol), which partially provided the crude oil samples

Asphalt binder "Skincare"? aging evaluation of an asphalt binder modified by Nano-TiO2

Aging by oxidation of asphalt roadway material promotes changes in its physical, chemical, and rheological properties, affecting its hardening and accelerating the degradation of its corresponding asphalt mixture. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been applied in engineering investigations to promote anti-aging and photocatalytic properties. In this study, a commercial binder was modified with nano-TiO2 (using contents of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 6%). It was evaluated by physicochemical and rheological tests (penetration, softening point, mass loss, dynamic viscosity, rheology, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-FTIR) before and after aging by rolling thin-film oven test (RTFOT) and pressure aging vessel (PAV). The results indicated that incorporating nano-TiO2 mitigates binder aging, pointing out 0.25% as an optimum modification content for the investigated asphalt binder.This research was partially funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/137421/2018, NanoAir PTDC/FISMAC/6606/2020, UIDB/04650/2020, and UIDB/04029/2020. V.C.B. would like to acknowledge National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the funding on behalf of the scholarship 308360/2017-6. Furthermore, we would like to thank the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) for funding the PAPPoA project (IOF/SBO/41859/2020)

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Enregistrement des produits de santé en Europe : une distinction parfois délicate entre médicaments et dispositifs médicaux

Les produits de santé mis à disposition des patients et des professionnels de santé sont multiples et d’une grande diversité. Néanmoins, quels que soient leur nature ou leur statut, ces produits doivent remplir certaines exigences règlementaires pour être conformes aux attentes des autorités de santé.Ainsi, avant d’être mis sur le marché, tout produit de santé doit obtenir le droit d’être commercialisé. Les produits répondant principalement aux trois critères « qualité », « sécurité » et « efficacité », se voient octroyer ces autorisations à l’issue de procédures réglementées et harmonisées en Europe.Ces autorisations se présentent sous la forme d’une Autorisation de Mise sur le Marché (AMM) pour les médicaments et du Marquage CE pour les Dispositifs Médicaux (DM). Ce sont ces deux statuts que nous développerons dans cette thèse. En effet, les médicaments et les DM sont issus de technologies et de processus de développement différents, ils sont donc réglementés au niveau Européen par des législations différentes et bien définies.Ainsi selon le statut, le développement, les essais à effectuer et le dossier d’enregistrement à rédiger répondent à des critères différents. L’anticipation de toutes ces étapes permet de multiplier les chances d’un aboutissement favorable et plus rapide de la procédure d’enregistrement. Or, l’évolution des connaissances et le développement de nouvelles thérapeutiques ont engendré la naissance de produits pour lesquels l’attribution d’un statut peut se révéler plus complexe. Le pharmacien industriel a donc un rôle central dans la préparation de l’attribution d’un statut réglementaire et des aspects juridiques liés