Power System Stabilizer Driven by an Adaptive Fuzzy Set for Better Dynamic Performance

This paper presents a novel application of a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) driven by an adaptive fuzzy set (AFS) for a power system stabilizer (PSS).The proposed FLC, driven by AFS, is compared with a classical FLC, driven by a fixed fuzzy set (FFS). Both FLC algorithms use the speed error and its rate of change as input vectors. A single generator equipped with FLC-PSS and connected to an infinite bus bar through double transmission lines is considered. Both FLCs, using AFS and FFS, are simulated and tested when the system is subjected to different step changes in the reference value. The simulation results of the proposed FLC, using the adaptive fuzzy set, give a better dynamic response of the overall system by improving the damping coefficient and decreasing the rise time and settling time compared with classical FLC using FFS. The proposed FLC using AFS also reduces the computational time of the FLC as the number of rules is reduced.

Neutrophil depletion reduces edema formation and tissue loss following traumatic brain injury in mice

Background: Brain edema as a result of secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major clinical concern. Neutrophils are known to cause increased vascular permeability leading to edema formation in peripheral tissue, but their role in the pathology following TBI remains unclear. Methods: In this study we used controlled cortical impact (CCI) as a model for TBI and investigated the role of neutrophils in the response to injury. The outcome of mice that were depleted of neutrophils using an anti-Gr-1 antibody was compared to that in mice with intact neutrophil count. The effect of neutrophil depletion on blood-brain barrier function was assessed by Evan's blue dye extravasation, and analysis of brain water content was used as a measurement of brain edema formation (24 and 48 hours after CCI). Lesion volume was measured 7 and 14 days after CCI. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess cell death, using a marker for cleaved caspase-3 at 24 hours after injury, and microglial/macrophage activation 7 days after CCI. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test for non-parametric data. Results: Neutrophil depletion did not significantly affect Evan's blue extravasation at any time-point after CCI. However, neutrophil-depleted mice exhibited a decreased water content both at 24 and 48 hours after CCI indicating reduced edema formation. Furthermore, brain tissue loss was attenuated in neutropenic mice at 7 and 14 days after injury. Additionally, these mice had a significantly reduced number of activated microglia/macrophages 7 days after CCI, and of cleaved caspase-3 positive cells 24 h after injury. Conclusion: Our results suggest that neutrophils are involved in the edema formation, but not the extravasation of large proteins, as well as contributing to cell death and tissue loss following TBI in mice

Neurogenic inflammation after traumatic brain injury and its potentiation of classical inflammation

Background: The neuroinflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to be a key secondary injury factor that can drive ongoing neuronal injury. Despite this, treatments that have targeted aspects of the inflammatory pathway have not shown significant efficacy in clinical trials. Main body: We suggest that this may be because classical inflammation only represents part of the story, with activation of neurogenic inflammation potentially one of the key initiating inflammatory events following TBI. Indeed, evidence suggests that the transient receptor potential cation channels (TRP channels), TRPV1 and TRPA1, are polymodal receptors that are activated by a variety of stimuli associated with TBI, including mechanical shear stress, leading to the release of neuropeptides such as substance P (SP). SP augments many aspects of the classical inflammatory response via activation of microglia and astrocytes, degranulation of mast cells, and promoting leukocyte migration. Furthermore, SP may initiate the earliest changes seen in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, namely the increased transcellular transport of plasma proteins via activation of caveolae. This is in line with reports that alterations in transcellular transport are seen first following TBI, prior to decreases in expression of tight-junction proteins such as claudin-5 and occludin. Indeed, the receptor for SP, the tachykinin NK1 receptor, is found in caveolae and its activation following TBI may allow influx of albumin and other plasma proteins which directly augment the inflammatory response by activating astrocytes and microglia. Conclusions: As such, the neurogenic inflammatory response can exacerbate classical inflammation via a positive feedback loop, with classical inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin and prostaglandins then further stimulating TRP receptors. Accordingly, complete inhibition of neuroinflammation following TBI may require the inhibition of both classical and neurogenic inflammatory pathways.Frances Corrigan, Kimberley A. Mander, Anna V. Leonard and Robert Vin

On Loss Probabilities in Presence of Redundant Packets with Random Drop

The purpose of this paper is to study the loss probabilities of messages in an M/M/1/K queueing system where in addition to losses due to buffer overflow there are also random losses in the incoming and outgoing links. We focus on the influence of adding redundant packets to the messages (as in error correction coding, e.g. Reed--Solomon code, etc.). In the first part we use multi-dimensional probability generating functions for solving the recursions which generalize those introduced by Cidon et al. [IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 39 (1) (1993) 98] for computing the loss probabilities and derive analytical formulae for a special case. In the second part of the paper we use combinatorial arguments and Ballot theorem results to alternatively obtain the loss probabilities. The analytical results allow us to investigate when does adding redundancy decrease the loss probabilities. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

On the utility of FEC mechanisms for audio applications

FEC mechanisms have been proposed to recover from packet losses, and hence to improve the perceived quality in audio applications. Recently, it has been shown in [1] that the redundancy added by a FEC scheme increases the congestion of the network and deteriorates the audio quality instead of improving it. In this work we show via a simple queuing analysis that the impact of FEC on the audio quality is not always negative and that we can get better quality in some scenarios. In particular, we show that FEC is beneficial when a small number of flows implement it or when the audio applications have some particular utility functions. We derive conditions on when to get a gain in quality as well as bounds on the maximum gain that we can obtain

Dichloromethane biodegradation in multi-contaminated groundwater: Insights from biomolecular and compound-specific isotope analyses

International audienc

Incidence and severity of scorpion stings in Algeria

Scorpion stings are a public health problem in the Maghreb region. In Algeria, epidemiological data were collected over the past twenty years by the Algerian health authorities. This study is an analysis of morbidity and mortality data collected from 2001 to 2010. Annual incidence and mortality due to scorpion envenoming were 152 ± 3.6 stings and 0.236 ± 0.041 deaths per 100,000 people (95% CI), respectively. The risk of being stung by a scorpion was dramatically higher in southern areas and central highlands due to environmental conditions. Incidence of envenoming was especially higher in the adult population, and among young males. In contrast, mortality was significantly higher among children under 15 years, particularly ages 1-4. Upper limbs were more often affected than lower limbs. Most stings occurred at night, indoors and during the summer. Data collected since 2001 showed a reduction of mortality by nearly 50%, suggesting that the medical care defined by the national anti-scorpion project is bearing fruit

Optimum compromise between optical absorption and electrical property of the planar multi-heterojunction organic solar cells based with new thiazol derivative, the (2-thioxo-3-n-(2-methoxyphenyl) thiazolidin-4-one), as electron donor

International audienceThe synthesis of a new thiazol derivative, the (2-thioxo-3-N-(2-methoxyphenyl) thiazolidin-4-one) (called TH-2) is described. After characterization of the TH-2, the cyclic voltammetry study coupled with optical absorbance measurements show that its LUMO and HOMO are −3.5 and −5.5 respectively. Then the TH-2 is used as electron donor (ED) in organic solar cells (OSCs). The anode buffer layer being CuI the devices are based on the planar heterojunction TH-2/fullerene. Homogeneous amorphous films of TH-2 are obtained when it is deposited onto CuI. For an optimum TH-2 thickness of 20 nm, a power conversion efficiency of 0.42% is obtained. Then, in order to broaden the absorption range of the OSCs, it is coupled with the tetraphenyl-dibenzoperiflanthene, whose band structure matches the band structure of TH-2. Such new multilayer structure allows achieving a power conversion efficiency of 0.49%.</p