Mocarts: a lightweight radiation transport simulator for easy handling of complex sensing geometries

In functional neuroimaging (fNIRS), elaborated sensing geometries pairing multiple light sources and detectors arranged over the tissue surface are needed. A variety of software tools for probing forward models of radiation transport in tissue exist, but their handling of sensing geometries and specification of complex tissue architectures is, most times, cumbersome. In this work, we introduce a lightweight simulator, Monte Carlo Radiation Transport Simulator (MOCARTS) that attends these demands for simplifying specification of tissue architectures and complex sensing geometries. An object-oriented architecture facilitates such goal. The simulator core is evolved from the Monte Carlo Multi-Layer (mcml) tool but extended to support multi-channel simulations. Verification against mcml yields negligible error (RMSE~4-10e-9) over a photon trajectory. Full simulations show concurrent validity of the proposed tool. Finally, the ability of the new software to simulate multi-channel sensing geometries and to define biological tissue models in an intuitive nested-hierarchy way are exemplified

Efficiency Evaluation of Fully Integrated On-board EV Battery Chargers with Nine-Phase Machines

A fully integrated on-board battery charger for future electric vehicles (EVs) has been recently introduced. It re-utilizes all the propulsion components of an EV in charging/vehicle-to-grid (V2G) modes, it does not require any additional components or hardware reconfiguration, and charging/V2G modes are realized with zero electromagnetic torque production. Both fast (three-phase) and slow (single-phase) charging are possible, with unity power factor operation at the grid side. The solution is based on the use of a triple three-phase machine and a nine-phase inverter/rectifier. This paper reports on the results of efficiency evaluation for the said system. Testing is performed using both a nine-phase induction machine and a nine-phase permanent magnet (PM) machine for a range of operating conditions in charging/V2G modes, with both three-phase and single-phase grid connection. Additionally, the impact of converter interleaving on the losses and efficiency is also studied. Losses are separated for different subsystems, thus providing an insight into the importance of optimization of different EV power train components from the efficiency point of view. Promising efficiencies, in the order of 90%, are achieved although none of the system components have been optimized

Fuzzy synchronization of chaotic systems with hidden attractors

Chaotic systems are hard to synchronize, and no general solution exists. The presence of hidden attractors makes finding a solution particularly elusive. Successful synchronization critically depends on the control strategy, which must be carefully chosen considering system features such as the presence of hidden attractors. We studied the feasibility of fuzzy control for synchronizing chaotic systems with hidden attractors and employed a special numerical integration method that takes advantage of the oscillatory characteristic of chaotic systems. We hypothesized that fuzzy synchronization and the chosen numerical integration method can successfully deal with this case of synchronization. We tested two synchronization schemes: complete synchronization, which leverages linearization, and projective synchronization, capitalizing on parallel distributed compensation (PDC). We applied the proposal to a set of known chaotic systems of integer order with hidden attractors. Our results indicated that fuzzy control strategies combined with the special numerical integration method are effective tools to synchronize chaotic systems with hidden attractors. In addition, for projective synchronization, we propose a new strategy to optimize error convergence. Furthermore, we tested and compared different Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models obtained by tensor product (TP) model transformation. We found an effect of the fuzzy model of the chaotic system on the synchronization performance

An Integrated On-Board Battery Charger with a Nine-Phase PM Machine

A fully integrated on-board battery charger for electrical vehicles (EVs) has been developed recently using a nine-phase machine. All the components used for propulsion are employed in the charging process, no additional components are required, and there is no need for hardware reconfiguration between charging and propulsion modes of operation. The proposed solution can be connected directly to single-phase or three-phase grid to perform charging, so that the expensive off-board charger infrastructure is not needed. The only requirement is to use a nine-phase machine in combination with a nine-phase inverter in the powertrain of the EV. This however inevitably brings in further advantages in the propulsion mode, such as increased fault tolerance and the current subdivision into more phases. The benefits of the topology, originally developed for an induction machine, make it interesting for further investigation. Therefore, the performance of the charger is examined here using a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). The results show that the charger topology is applicable to other types of synchronous machines and is, even more importantly, independent of the angular spatial shift between the individual three-phase windings of the nine-phase machine’s stator. The results are comparable with those obtained using an induction machine and confirm the viability of the solution in conjunction with the PMSM as a propulsion motor

Ultrastructural studies on dengue virus type 2 infection of cultured human monocytes

BACKGROUND: Early interaction of dengue virus and monocyte/macrophages could be an important feature for virus dissemination after its initial entry via the mosquito vector. Since ultrastructural analysis of this interaction has not been reported, dengue type 2 (DEN2) virus-infected human monocyte cultures were studied at 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours after infection. RESULTS: Typical dengue particles and fuzzy coated viral particles were 35 to 42 nm and 74 to 85 nm respectively. Viruses were engulfed by phagocytosis and macropicnocytosis leading to huge vacuoles and phagosomes inside the monocytes. Interaction of monocytes with DEN2 virus induced apoptosis, characterized by nuclear condensation and fragmentation, cellular shrinkage, blebbing and budding phenomena and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by neighboring monocytes. This finding was confirmed by TUNEL. Ultrastructural features associated to DEN2 virus replication were not observed. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that clearance of the virus by monocytes and cellular death are the main features during the initial interaction of DEN2 virus and monocytes and this could be important in the rapid elimination of the virus after infection by mosquito vector

Detecting affective states in virtual rehabilitation

Virtual rehabilitation supports motor training following stroke by means of tailored virtual environments. To optimize therapy outcome, virtual rehabilitation systems automatically adapt to the different patients' changing needs. Adaptation decisions should ideally be guided by both the observable performance and the hidden mind state of the user. We hypothesize that some affective aspects can be inferred from observable metrics. Here we present preliminary results of a classification exercise to decide on 4 states; tiredness, tension, pain and satisfaction. Descriptors of 3D hand movement and finger pressure were collected from 2 post-stroke participants while they practice on a virtual rehabilitation platform. Linear Support Vector Machine models were learnt to unfold a predictive relation between observation and the affective states considered. Initial results are promising (ROC Area under the curve (mean±std): 0.713 ± 0.137). Confirmation of these opens the door to incorporate surrogates of mind state into the algorithm deciding on therapy adaptation