Novel Calibration systems for the dynamic and steady-state testing of digital instrument transformers

Within the frame of the European project 'Future Grid II-Metrology for the next-generation digital substation instrumentation', several partners developed traceable calibration systems which allow the calibration of conventional or non-conventional instrument transformers (IT) even with a sampled value (digital) output according to IEC 61869-9. Different setups are prepared to allow the calibration with complex test waveforms to emulate steady state, dynamic or temporary events during the assessment of the ITs. The laboratory calibration setups for either current transformers or voltage transformers are briefly described. Several results obtained for different kind of voltage or current transformers are presented

The Neural Substrates of Infant Sleep in Rats

Sleep is a poorly understood behavior that predominates during infancy but is studied almost exclusively in adults. One perceived impediment to investigations of sleep early in ontogeny is the absence of state-dependent neocortical activity. Nonetheless, in infant rats, sleep is reliably characterized by the presence of tonic (i.e., muscle atonia) and phasic (i.e., myoclonic twitching) components; the neural circuitry underlying these components, however, is unknown. Recently, we described a medullary inhibitory area (MIA) in week-old rats that is necessary but not sufficient for the normal expression of atonia. Here we report that the infant MIA receives projections from areas containing neurons that exhibit state-dependent activity. Specifically, neurons within these areas, including the subcoeruleus (SubLC), pontis oralis (PO), and dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (DLPT), exhibit discharge profiles that suggest causal roles in the modulation of muscle tone and the production of myoclonic twitches. Indeed, lesions in the SubLC and PO decreased the expression of muscle atonia without affecting twitching (resulting in “REM sleep without atonia”), whereas lesions of the DLPT increased the expression of atonia while decreasing the amount of twitching. Thus, the neural substrates of infant sleep are strikingly similar to those of adults, a surprising finding in light of theories that discount the contribution of supraspinal neural elements to sleep before the onset of state-dependent neocortical activity

Systemic hydrocortisone to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants (the SToP-BPD study); a multicenter randomized placebo controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Randomized controlled trials have shown that treatment of chronically ventilated preterm infants after the first week of life with dexamethasone reduces the incidence of the combined outcome death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). However, there are concerns that dexamethasone may increase the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Hydrocortisone has been suggested as an alternative therapy. So far no randomized controlled trial has investigated its efficacy when administered after the first week of life to ventilated preterm infants.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The SToP-BPD trial is a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study including 400 very low birth weight infants (gestational age < 30 weeks and/or birth weight < 1250 grams), who are ventilator dependent at a postnatal age of 7 - 14 days. Hydrocortisone (cumulative dose 72.5 mg/kg) or placebo is administered during a 22 day tapering schedule. Primary outcome measure is the combined outcome mortality or BPD at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Secondary outcomes are short term effects on the pulmonary condition, adverse effects during hospitalization, and long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae assessed at 2 years corrected gestational age. Analysis will be on an intention to treat basis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This trial will determine the efficacy and safety of postnatal hydrocortisone administration at a moderately early postnatal onset compared to placebo for the reduction of the combined outcome mortality and BPD at 36 weeks postmenstrual age in ventilator dependent preterm infants.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): <a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2768">NTR2768</a></p

Remembrance.

https://mosaic.messiah.edu/artistsbooks/1106/thumbnail.jp

Physiological responses coupled with plankton productivity and chemical oceanographic monitoring in a dynamic coastal BC environment.

Coastal margins are under increasing human-induced pressures including eutrophication and ocean acidification, which interact with natural environmental fluctuations in ways that can exacerbate calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mineral corrosivity. The temporal and spatial patterns of these pressures are in general very under-studied. Ocean acidification negatively impacts a range of species, especially those dependent on CaCO3 saturation states for shell formation like marine shellfish. Marine shellfish are socio-economically important as worldwide aquaculture organisms and bioindicator species, used for generating indicators of coastal health. The capacity for marine populations to adapt to these changes is unknown, and the loss of dominant coastal and estuarine organisms such as shellfish may significantly alter marine ecosystem structure and function, as well as threaten food security. This research combines lower trophic level monitoring (plankton analysis), physiological responses (functional genomics of multiple species of shellfish) and oceanographic monitoring at a field site in the northern Salish Sea in British Columbia (BC), Canada. This initial project is a novel pairing of these technologies in situ, and provides information on coastal variability and impacts on ecosystem productivity in a poorly sampled portion of the BC coastal margin. This work is currently ongoing, but preliminary results of gene expression studies of multiple commercial shellfish species and accompanying plankton work will be discussed. In addition linkages of the biological research to variability of coastal carbonate chemistry will be discussed, with a view to determining the impact of ocean acidification on the long-term health and productivity of coastal ecosystems in BC

State-Dependent Neuronal Discharges within the Pontine Tegmentum

<div><p>(A) Recording sites of state-dependent neurons reconstructed on a coronal section of the brainstem. Note the predominance of EMG-on neurons.</p> <p>(B) Averaged waveform of a representative EMG-on neuron.</p> <p>(C) Upper trace: multiunit activity. Lower trace: concurrently recorded nuchal EMG. One EMG-on neuron was isolated from the multiunit record; note its tonic discharge during the period of high muscle tone.</p> <p>(D) Upper trace: multiunit activity. Lower trace: concurrently recorded nuchal EMG.</p> <p>(E) Expanded view of the boxed area from (D). Note how multiunit activity precedes the twitch. Asterisks identify a single isolated unit.</p> <p>(F) Peristimulus histogram and raster plot for the twitch-on neuron identified in (E) during a 10-min recording session in a P7 rat (83 total twitches). Inset depicts 55 superimposed action potential waveforms for this unit. This unit's mean discharge rate peaks 5–10 ms before the twitch (red line).</p> <p>(G) Averaged nuchal EMG for all 83 twitches represented in (F). AQ, cerebral aqueduct; DT, dorsal tegmental nucleus; LDT, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus; PO, nucleus pontis oralis</p></div