Neural Network based p-q-r Theory for Harmonic Reduction and Neutral Current Mitigation

The power quality compensator chosen in this paper is a DSTATCOM which integrates a three phase four leg Voltage Source Converter (VSC) with a DC capacitor. The major role of the DSTATCOM is to mitigate the components of harmonic/reactive current present in the line current thereby shapes the grid current to be sinusoidal and improves the power factor nearly unity under varying conditions. In addition DSATATCOM mitigates neutral current (Isn) and balances the load currents under unbalanced conditions in three phase four wire (3P4W) distribution system. The control strategy proposed for the DSTATCOM is a Neural Network (NN) based p-q-r theory with two Artificial Neural Network (ANN) controllers for a 3P4W distribution system. The reference signal for 3P3W Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) is calculated by implementing an ANN controller. The alleviation of Isn under unbalanced condition is achieved by another ANN controller which produces reference signal for the 1Φ APF. The performance of the proposed DSTATCOM is analysed for various conditions through simulations in MATLAB SIMULINK and the simulation results justify the effectiveness of the propounded NN based control algorithm for DSTATCOM

Improved power quality buck boost converter for SMPS

In this paper, a Neural Network (NN) controlled Buck-Boost Converter (BBC) based Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) for a PC application is proposed. The proposed BBC is analyzed, modeled and designed for the rated load. Generally, the utilization of Multiple Output SMPS (MOSMPS) for PC application introduces Power Quality (PQ) issues in the power system network. Unlike conventional SMPS the proposed NN controlled BBC can accomplish improvement of power quality. The NN controller reduces the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of source current below 5%, maintains input side Power Factor (PF) to be nearly unity and improves the output voltage regulation. In the proposed system, NN controller replaces the conventional PI controller and overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional system. The proposed BBC is validated adopting MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The simulation analysis validate that the proposed NN controlled BBC performs better than conventional converter in terms of PQ indices under fluctuating conditions

Exploring prospects of novel drugs for tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains a disease with an enormous impact on public health worldwide. With the continuously increasing epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis, new drugs are desperately needed. However, even for the treatment of drug-sensitive tuberculosis, new drugs are required to shorten the treatment duration and thereby prevent development of drug resistance. Within the past ten years, major advances in tuberculosis drug research have been made, leading to a considerable number of antimycobacterial compounds which are now in the pipeline. Here we discuss a number of these novel promising tuberculosis drugs, as well as the discovery of two new potential drug targets for the development of novel effective drugs to curb the tuberculosis pandemic, ie, the coronin 1 and protein kinase G pathways. Protein kinase G is secreted by mycobacteria and is responsible for blocking lysosomal delivery within the macrophage. Coronin 1 is responsible for activating the phosphatase, calcineurin, and thereby preventing phagosome-lysosome fusion within the macrophage. Blocking these two pathways may lead to rapid killing of mycobacteri

Fuzzy Logic based Modelling and Simulation Approach for the estimation of Tire Forces

AbstractTire modeling is an important aspect of vehicle dynamics as the forces and moments required to control the vehicle's motion are eventually transmitted through the tire and the tire road interface is also an important source for the dynamic excitation of the vehicle. This paper presents a fuzzy logic based approach for estimating tire forces, aligning moment of tire for the different slip ratio and slip angles. Proposed fuzzy logic approach requires slip angle and slip ratio, as the input variables, and estimates the longitudinal force, lateral force, aligning moment as the output variables. Membership functions of input, output variables and fuzzy rules are formulated based on the values obtained using the widely adopted Magic formula for tire model. Simulation values for longitudinal, lateral forces and aligning moment of the tire using the proposed fuzzy model is found to provide good correlation with the magic model. Proposed fuzzy logic frame work does not require the estimation of model parameters used in the Magic formula and it will be useful in developing vehicle control system

Investigations on global buckling behaviour of concrete-filled double-skinned steel tubular columns

[EN] Concrete-Filled Double-skinned Steel Tubular columns (CFDST) are proved to possess exceptional structural resistance in case of fire and multi-hazard situations. This superior quality of CFDST makes it preferable in long column applications. However, studies on the long column behaviour of CFDST is very few, and their results are not in line with the behaviour of CFST long columns. Whereas, several researches on stub column CFDST shows that, the axial compression behaviour of CFDST is similar to CFST. In this paper, selected results (4 numbers of circular CFDST specimens) from a large test data is presented. Axial compression behaviour of long column CFDST specimens is studied, with non-dimensional slenderness λ around 1.0, and hollowness ratio as the governing parameter for study. Test results namely, axial load carrying capacity, axial deformation and lateral deflection are presented in this paper. Numerical models are also developed and validated with the experimental results, to carry out more parametric studies. Further, the experimental axial capacity values are compared with modified capacity equations from EC4 and AISC. Results show that extended EC4 and AISC equations gives conservative predictions for CFDST column even in the long column range. Moreover, the initial imperfections in the specimen and their corresponding boundary conditions for load application, are found to be governing parameters in long column buckling study.Sulthana, UM.; Jayachandran, SA. (2018). Investigations on global buckling behaviour of concrete-filled double-skinned steel tubular columns. En Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structures. ASCCS 2018. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 419-425. https://doi.org/10.4995/ASCCS2018.2018.7144OCS41942

The Significance of Oral Lesions in HIV/AIDS

Oral lesions are common in HIV infected individuals. All patients in the study group had oral lesions. In order of prevalence the commonest lesions we have seen are: Angular cheilitis (61.82%), Hyperpigmentation (52.73%), Lymphadenopathy (47.27%), Xerostomia (40.91%), Pseudomembranous candidiasis (39.09%), Gingivitis (37.27%), Salivary gland enlargement (34.55%), Erythematous candidiasis (28.18%), Fissured tongue(19.09%), Necrotising gingivitis (12.73%), Oral hairy leukoplakia (10.91%), Linear gingivitis (12.73%), Depapillation of Tongue (09.09%), Necrotising ulcerative periodontitis (08.18%), Apthous ulcer (05.45%), Herpes labialis (05.45%), Viral wart (04.56%), Herpes simplex infection (03.64%),Oral lymphoma (03.64%), Squamous cell carcinoma(01.82%), OSMF (1.82%), Oral leukoplakia (01.82%), Herpes zoster (0.91%). Multiple lesions are frequently seen in these patients. 48.18% of patients had 3 to 4 lesions concurrently. 63.83% of patients who were on ART had more than 5 lesions at a time in comparison to 28.57% in pre ART group. Multiple lesions were common between the age group of 31 to 50. Smoking and Tobacco chewing also favour multiple lesions. More than 5 lesions were seen in 23.73% of smokers and 21.15% of tobacco chewers. Lesions subside with standard treatment regimens suggested by NACO. Oral hygiene and nutritional counseling helps in recurrence of most of the infective lesions. Proper counseling regarding oral hygiene, nutrition and habits like smoking, chewing tobacco will prevent in the recurrence. Very extensive atypical clinical pattern of pseudomembranous candidiasis, oral ulcers were observed. It takes longer time for the lesions to subside in pre ART group. Double blind, multicentric trials can be conducted in India, to test the above findings. Longitudinal studies can be conducted to follow up these patients over a period of time to ascertain the prognostic values of common oral lesions for immune suppression. Use of definitive criteria for diagnosis of oral lesions in future studies

Health Status and Health Care Access of Farm and Rural Populations

Rural residents have higher rates of age-adjusted mortality, disability, and chronic disease than their urban counterparts, though mortality and disability rates vary more by region than by metro status. Contributing negatively to the health status of rural residents are their lower socioeconomic status, higher incidence of both smoking and obesity, and lower levels of physical activity. Contributing negatively to the health status of farmers are the high risks from workplace hazards, which also affect other members of farm families who live on the premises and often share in the work; contributing positively are farmers’ higher socioeconomic status, lower incidence of smoking, and more active lifestyle. Both farm and rural populations experience lower access to health care along the dimensions of affordability, proximity, and quality, compared with their nonfarm and urban counterparts.Health Economics and Policy, agriculture safety and health, electronic health records, farmer health, health, health care access, health care affordability, health care quality, health disparities, health IT, health status, mortality, rural health, telehealth, uninsured,

A case report on usage of rituximab on complicated steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the common yet challenging childhood disease. Treating NS with immunosuppressants like corticosteroids is typically effective. However, there are significant evidences which displayed resistance patterns to the former drugs. Here in this case, a male patient came to the nephrology department with the history of steroid dependant nephrotic syndrome with complaint of its infrequent relapse. The condition was complicated since, the patient was on multiple steroids even after which there were recurrent episodes of syndrome. Considering the status, Mycophenolate mofetil was added as a supportive treatment for the management of the disease along with steroids, still the outcome was unremarkable. Hence, rituximab was ordered (four cycles). The outcome this time was appreciable, rituximab administration produced a positive result. No events were recorded during the treatment duration.

Deep levels in silicon-oxygen superlattices

This work reports on the deep levels observed in Pt/Al2O3/p-type Si metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors containing a silicon-oxygen superlattice (SL) by deep-level transient spectroscopy. It is shown that the presence of the SL gives rise to a broad band of hole traps occurring around the silicon mid gap, which is absent in reference samples with a silicon epitaxial layer. In addition, the density of states of the deep layers roughly scales with the number of SL periods for the as- deposited samples. Annealing in a forming gas atmosphere reduces the maximum concentration significantly, while the peak energy position shifts from close-to mid-gap towards the valence band edge. Based on the flat-band voltage shift of the Capacitance-Voltage characteristics it is inferred that positive charge is introduced by the oxygen atomic layers in the SL, indicating the donor nature of the underlying hole traps. In some cases, a minor peak associated with P-b dangling bond centers at the Si/SiO2 interface has been observed as well