Development of a breadboard design of a high-performance, high-reliability switching regulator

A comparison of two potential conversion methods, the series inverter and the inductive energy transfer (IET) conversion technique, is presented. The investigations showed that a characteristic of the series inverter circuit (high equalizing current values in each half cycle) could not be accomplished with available components, and the investigations continued with the IET circuit only. An IET circuit system was built with the use of computer-aided design in a 2, 4, and 8 stage configuration, and these stages were staggered 180, 90, and 45 degrees, respectively. All stages were pulsewidth modulated to regulate over an input voltage range from 200 to 400 volts dc at a regulated output voltage of 56 volts. The output power capability was 100 to 500 watts for the 2 and 8 stage configuration and 50 to 250 watts for the 4 stage configuration. Equal control of up to eight 45 degree staggered stages was accomplished through the use of a digital-to-analog control circuit. Equal power sharing of all stages was achieved through a new technique using an inductively coupled balancing circuit. Conclusions are listed

Psychological distress in cancer patients assessed with an expert rating scale

The purpose of this study was to investigate psychosocial stress in a large sample of cancer patients using an expert rating scale. Specific aims were to analyse the relevance of setting variables (type of clinic, contact initiative, therapy) and gender. A total of 6365 patients were assessed in 105 institutions. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of setting variables indicated that patients treated in palliative care settings showed highest distress scores compared to patients recruited from hospitals and outpatient clinics (P<0.001). Significant differences were also found for contact initiative (P<0.001); lowest distress was found in patients who were recruited by routine contact. Patients who asked for psychosocial support or who were recruited by the medical staff showed the highest distress scores. The analysis of therapy groups showed that patients receiving radiotherapy or surgery were not more distressed than patients without therapy. The most distressing treatment was chemotherapy. Gender had differential effects on clinic type (P<0.001) and contact initiative (P<0.001) but not on treatment and diagnosis. Expert rating scales are an important complement for self-assessment questionnaires to evaluate psychological distress of cancer patients in psychosocial studies as well as in routine medical care

Non-cancer patients in specialized palliative care in Germany: What are the problems?

To determine the role of non-cancer palliative care in inpatient services in Germany, data from the Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation (HOPE) were analysed. Since 1999, a three-month census has been conducted annually in German palliative care units. Pooled data from 2002–2005 were tested for differences between non-cancer patients (NCs) and cancer patients (Cs). A total of 4182 patients (NC: 3.5%; C: 96.5%) were documented; functional status (using Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) measures) in NCs was lower compared to Cs (p = 0.009). NCs suffered more often from dyspnoea (40%; C: 29%; p = 0.004), weakness (92,3%; C: 84,5%; p = 0.011) and tiredness (75.4%; C: 66.7%; p = 0.03) and less from nausea (17.1%; C: 28.9%; p = 0.002), vomiting (8.2%; C: 19.4%; p = 0.001) or loss of appetite (55.5%; C: 67.9%; p = 0.002). There were no differences in pain and constipation. Other problems (nursing, psychological) were more frequent for NCs, in particular the need for support in the activities of daily life (90.3%; C: 72.8%; p < 0.001) and disorientation/confusion (32.1%; C: 17.2%; p < 0.001). There were no differences in social problems. NCs are still rare in specialized inpatient palliative care institutions in Germany. The palliative care needs in patients with non-malignant disease will challenge the health care system as the workload for these services will grow over proportionally

Functional Analysis of Phagocyte Activity in Whole Blood from HIV/Tuberculosis-Infected Individuals Using a Novel Flow Cytometry-Based Assay.

The accurate assessment of immune competence through ex vivo analysis is paramount to our understanding of those immune mechanisms that lead to protection or susceptibility against a broad range of human pathogens. We have developed a flow cytometry-based, whole blood phagocyte functional assay that utilizes the inflammatory inducer zymosan, coupled to OxyBURST-SE, a fluorescent reporter of phagosomal oxidase activity. The assay measures both phagocytic uptake and the superoxide burst in the phagocyte populations in whole blood. We utilized this assay to demonstrate impaired superoxide burst activity in the phagocytes of hospitalized HIV-positive patients with laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis. These data validate the use of the assay to assess the immune competence of patients in a clinical setting. The method is highly reproducible with minimal intraindividual variation and opens opportunities for the rapid assessment of cellular immune competence in peripheral blood in a disease setting

Оценка воздействия на атмосферный воздух деятельности компрессорной станции

Объектом исследования является поступление в атмосферный воздух выбросов от источников компрессорной станции "Вертикос", расположенной в Каргасокском районе Томской области. Цель работы – оценить загрязнение атмосферы выбросами компрессорной станции. В процессе исследования изучены стандарты Газпрома, методики расчетов выбросов загрязняющих веществ при эксплуатации компрессорной станции. В результате исследования получены значения массовых выбросов загрязняющих веществ, которые можно использовать при разработке нормативов выбросов из источников станции.The object of the research is the release of atmospheric emissions from sources of the “Verticos” compressor station located in the Kargasoksky district of the Tomsk region. The purpose of the work is to estimate the pollution of the atmosphere by the emissions from the compressor station. In the process of the research, Gazprom standards, methods for calculating pollutant emissions during the operation of the compressor station were studied. As a result of the research, the values of mass emissions of pollutants that can be used for the development of emission standards from station sources have been obtained

Создание Web-сайта предприятия

В современном мире постоянно развивающихся технологий для каждой компании как никогда важна автоматизация бизнес-процессов, позволяющая выйти на более высокий уровень. На сегодняшний день осталось немного мест на нашей планете, где люди не могут выйти в Интернет. Всемирная паутина настолько охватила мир, что пользователи зачастую чувствуют себя беспомощными без той информации, которую она может дать. Реклама в печатных изданиях не способна в полной мере осветить деятельность фирмы, информация в рекламных буклетах и брошюрах быстро теряет актуальность. Именно поэтому все больше предприятий идут на создание качественного сайта с целью более эффективной реализации своей продукции или услуг. Цель данного проекта – повышение качества услуг, предоставляемых предприятием за счет разработки интерактивного Web-сайта. При создании хорошо спланированного, интерактивного информационного сайта, приходится применять не только технологические знания, но и аналитические, что позволяет более полно раскрыть специфику специальности «прикладная информатика в экономике». Работа над проектом, целью которого является разработка Web-сайта, начинается с определения концепции ресурса. Интерфейс и конкретное наполнение (контент) сайта зависят от целого ряда факторов, главными среди них являются объем и состав задач, которые планируется решать с помощью данного сайта, а также его целевая аудитория. В заключении сделаны выводы по проекту, определены пути его внедрения на объекте и направления дальнейшего совершенствования.In today's world of evolving technologies for each company are more important than ever to automate business processes, allowing to reach a higher level. To date, there are few places on our planet where people can't get online. The world wide web so swept the world that users often feel helpless without the information that it can give. Advertising in printed publications is not able to fully cover the activities of the company, the information in the brochures and pamphlets are quickly losing relevance. That is why more and more companies are going to create a quality website to more effectively market their products or services. The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of services provided by the company through the development of an interactive Web site. When you create a well-planned, interactive information website, it is necessary to apply not only technical knowledge, but also analytical, which allows to better reveal the specifics of the specialty "applied Informatics in Economics". Work on the project, whose goal is the development of a Web site begins with the definition of the concept resource. Interface and specific content (content) of the site depend on a number of factors, chief among these are the volume and composition of tasks that will be solved with the help of this website and its target audience. In conclusion, the findings of that project, identifies ways of its implementation at the facility and areas for further improvement

A Discrete Subpopulation of Dendritic Cells Transports Apoptotic Intestinal Epithelial Cells to T Cell Areas of Mesenteric Lymph Nodes

This study identifies a dendritic cell (DC) subset that constitutively transports apoptotic intestinal epithelial cell remnants to T cell areas of mesenteric lymph nodes in vivo. Rat intestinal lymph contains two DC populations. Both populations have typical DC morphology, are major histocompatibility complex class IIhi, and express OX62, CD11c, and B7. CD4+/OX41+ DCs are strong antigen-presenting cells (APCs). CD4−/OX41− DCs are weak APCs and contain cytoplasmic apoptotic DNA, epithelial cell–restricted cytokeratins, and nonspecific esterase (NSE)+ inclusions, not seen in OX41+ DCs. Identical patterns of NSE electrophoretic variants exist in CD4−/OX41− DCs, intestinal epithelial cells, and mesenteric node DCs but not in other DC populations, macrophages, or tissues. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive DCs and strongly NSE+ DCs are present in intestinal lamina propria. Peyer's patches and mesenteric but not other lymph nodes contain many strongly NSE+ DCs in interfollicular and T cell areas. Similar DCs are seen in the ileum and in T cell areas of mesenteric nodes in gnotobiotic rats. These results show that a distinct DC subset constitutively endocytoses and transports apoptotic cells to T cell areas and suggest a role for these DCs in inducing and maintaining peripheral self-tolerance