Projeto de um Retificador Trifásico PWM Buck Isolado Aplicado como Carregador de Baterias Íon-Lítio

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Joinville. Engenharia Mecatrônica.O trabalho em questão aborda a atual situação dos veículos elétricos (VE), crescimento do mercado, desenvolvimento no setor de baterias e da tecnologia que os envolve, assim como, os problemas e barreiras que ainda enfrentam, por exemplo: autonomia da bateria, infraestrutura necessária, problemas de carga e descarga das baterias do tipo Lítio. Apresenta as normas técnicas e classificações que regem a operação dos carregadores e exigências dos veículos elétricos para os mesmos. Também são mencionadas algumas topologias utilizadas para este tipo de aplicação e é proposto a implementação do Retificador Buck Trifásico Unidirecional isolado em alta frequência em função da redução de custo e massa. Portanto, é escolhido o projeto de um protótipo do retificador com tensão de saída de 60 V e 3000 W de potência para posterior análise dos resultados calculados e simulados. Para isso são apresentadas as etapas de projeto do retificador em questão, dimensionamento e escolha do núcleo do tranformador baseados em critérios de operação especifícados, dimensionamento dos componentes passivos e ativos, como diodos, chaves, indutores e capacitores, através do cálculo dos esforços exigidos em cada um destes. Além disso é feito o dimensionamento e implementação de um circuito amostrador da tensão de sincronismo com a rede e de um driver de potência. Finalmente, com os componentes dimensionados e escolhidos, são realizadas as simulações, onde os cálculos realizados são averiguados através da comparação com os valores simulados.This paper approaches the current situation of electric vehicles (EVs), market growth,development in the battery sector and the technology that surrounds it, as well as theproblems and barriers they still face, for example: battery life, needed infrastructure,charging and discharging problems of Lithium type batteries. It presents the technicalstandards and classifications governing the operation of chargers and the requirementsof electric vehicles for them. Some topologies used for this type of application are alsomentioned and it’s proposed to implement the High Frequency Isolated Three-Way BuckRectifier as function of cost and mass reduction. Therefore, the design of a prototyperectifier with output voltage of60Vand3000Wis chosen for further analysis of thecalculated and simulated results. For this, the design steps of the rectifier mentioned,the sizing and choice of the transformer core based on specified operating criteria, thesizing of the passive and active components, such as diodes, switches, inductors andcapacitors, are presented by calculating the required loads for each one. In addition,the design and implementation of a grid synchronization voltage sampler circuit anda power driver are performed. Finally, with the calculated and chosen components,the simulations are implemented and executed, and with it’s results the performedcalculations are verified through the comparison with the obtained value

“Input/output cytokines” in epidermal keratinocytes and the involvement in inflammatory skin diseases

Considering the role of epidermal keratinocytes, they occupy more than 90% of the epidermis, form a physical barrier, and also function as innate immune barrier. For example, epidermal keratinocytes are capable of recognizing various cytokines and pathogen-associated molecular pattern, and producing a wide variety of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. Previous basic studies have shown that the immune response of epidermal keratinocytes has a significant impact on inflammatory skin diseases. The purpose of this review is to provide foundation of knowledge on the cytokines which are recognized or produced by epidermal keratinocytes. Since a number of biologics for skin diseases have appeared, it is necessary to fully understand the relationship between epidermal keratinocytes and the cytokines. In this review, the cytokines recognized by epidermal keratinocytes are specifically introduced as "input cytokines", and the produced cytokines as "output cytokines". Furthermore, we also refer to the existence of biologics against those input and output cytokines, and the target skin diseases. These use results demonstrate how important targeted cytokines are in real skin diseases, and enhance our understanding of the cytokines

The protective effect of CD40 ligand–CD40 signalling is limited during the early phase of Plasmodium infection

Abstractγδ T cells are essential for eliminating Plasmodium berghei XAT. Because administration of the agonistic anti-CD40 antibody can induce elimination of P. berghei XAT parasites in γδ T cell-deficient mice, we considered that γδ T cells might activate dendritic cells via CD40 signalling during infection. Here we report that administration of the anti-CD40 antibody to γδ T cell-deficient mice 3–10days post-P. berghei XAT infection could eliminate the parasites. Our data suggest that dendritic cell activation via γδ T cells expressing CD40 ligand is critical during the early phase of infection

JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire: initial report

AbstractBackgroundThere is no widely accepted objective evaluation for lumbar spine disorders. New outcome measures should be patient-oriented and should measure symptoms and self-reported functional status in multiple dimensions. The aim of this study was to identify items to be included in the disease-specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for the assessments of patients with lumbar spine disorders.MethodsThe draft of the QOL questionnaire that consisted of a total of 60 items, including 24 items derived from the Japanese version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and 36 items derived from the Japanese version of Short Form 36 (SF-36), were administered to patients and controls. After obtaining written informed consent, the following data were collected from the patient group (n = 328) and the control group (n = 213): (1) background characteristics, including age, diagnosis, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and finger to floor distance; (2) responses to the questionnaire; (3) the identification rate by discrimination analysis to select the candidates for adoption and by adopting explanatory variables. The items to be excluded were determined by examining the explanatory variables, which were selected after the discrimination analysis, by setting the candidate to-be-excluded items as an objective variable.ResultsBased on the distribution of the responses, two items, RDQ-15 and RDQ-19, were excluded. From the results of the correlation coefficient calculation for each question in the patient group, 33 items were excluded and 27 candidate items were adopted. Based on the adoption explanatory variable used in the discrimination analysis, 25 of the 27 candidate items for adoption were accepted.ConclusionsThis study identified the 25 specific questionnaire items that should be included in the questionnaire to evaluate QOL of patients with various lumbar spine disorders

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ): Part 2. Endorsement of the alternative item

AbstractBackgroundA new self-administered questionnaire as an outcome measure for patients with cervical myelopathy was drawn up in Part 1 (Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire, JOACMEQ). Because a question with regard to driving a car (C-41) was not suitable for this patient group, the authors composed an alternative question related to neck motion (C-41-2). The purposes of the present study were to perform a secondary survey on patients with cervical myelopathy and to statistically analyze the responses to validate the JOACMEQ, and also to determine if it was possible to convert item C-41 to the alternative question.MethodsA member of the Subcommittee on Low Back Pain and Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation from each hospital administered the questionnaire to more than 50 patients with cervical myelopathy in each hospital. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions, 24 of which were extracted in the primary survey. The authors statistically examined whether it was possible to convert question C-41 to C-41-2.ResultsThree hundred and sixty-eight patients with cervical myelopathy were enrolled in the present study. No questions elicited no answer or “I am not sure” in more than 5% of patients except question C-41. There were no questions that the patients answered with difficulty. There was no tendency that was concentrated on one option as an answer to questions. There was a high correlation between questions C-41 and C-41-2. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and κ value showed that there was high coincidence between the two questions C-41 and C-41-2. It is possible to convert the question C-41 to the alternative question C41-2.ConclusionThe questionnaire has sufficient reliability for clinical use. It is possible that the JOACMEQ will prevail and become a global standard to evaluate outcomes in patients with cervical myelopathy

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire. Part 3. Validity study and establishment of the measurement scale: Subcommittee on Low Back Pain and Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation of the Clinical Outcome Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Japan

AbstractBackgroundThe Japanese Orthopaedic Association decided to revise the JOA score for low back pain and to develop a new outcome measure. In February 2002, the first survey was performed with a preliminary questionnaire consisting of 60 evaluation items. Based on findings of that survey, 25 items were selected for a draft of the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ). The second survey was performed to confirm the reliability of the draft questionnaire. This article further evaluates the validity of this questionnaire and establishes a measurement scale.MethodsThe subjects of this study consisted of 355 patients with low back disorders of any type (201 men, 154 women; mean age 50.7 years). Each patient was asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. Superficial validity was checked in terms of the completion rate for filling out the entire questionnaire. Factor analysis was then performed to evaluate the validity of the questionnaire and establish a measurement scale.ResultsAs a result of the factor analysis, 25 items were categorized into five factors. The factors were named based on the commonality of the items: social function, mental health, lumbar function, walking ability, and low back pain. To establish a measurement scale for each factor, we determined the coefficient for each item so the difference between the maximum factor scores and minimum factor scores was approximately 100. We adjusted the formula so the maximum for each factor score was 100 and the minimum was 0.ConclusionsWe confirmed the validity of the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire and est ablished a measurement scale

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ): part 4. Establishment of equations for severity scores: Subcommittee on low back pain and cervical myelopathy, evaluation of the clinical outcome committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association

AbstractBackgroundThe project to develop a new Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score rating system for low back disorders, the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), is currently in progress. Part 1 of the study selected 25 “candidate” items for use on the JOABPEQ. The purpose of this current Part 2 of the study was to verify the reliability of the questionnaire.MethodsA total of 161 patients with low-back disorders of any type participated in the study. Each patient was interviewed twice at an interval of 2 weeks using the same questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by determining the extension of the kappa and weighted kappa coefficients.ResultsBoth kappa and weighted kappa were more than 0.50 for all but one item, which was 0.48. The lower 95% confidence interval exceeded 0.4 in all but two items, which was 0.39. This implied that the test-retest reliability of JOABPEQ was acceptable as a measure of outcome.ConclusionsThe tentative questionnaire of the JOABPEQ with 25 items was confirmed to be reliable enough to describe the quality of life of patients who suffer low back disorders

放送大学体育実技を受講した身体障害者の実態と体育・スポーツに対する意識

　本研究では、「放送大学身障者体育実技」を受講した全履修生を対象として、身障者のための体育実技に対する印象、現在行っている運動の実施状況、スポーツと運動に対する意識を明らかにすることを目的として意識調査を行った。　研究の対象は、放送大学で実施している身障者のための体育実技の受講生200名とし、調査用紙は、郵送にて2003年6月に配布し、同年7月31日までに回収した。回収できた114名（回収率57.0％）の回答結果をDr.SPSS Windows Ver 11.0を使用して統計処理した。　調査の結果から、以下の結論が得られた。1．日常的に運動を行っている者は少なかった。このことを考察した結果、地域で行われ、障害者が参加できる運動とスポーツについての詳細な情報を提供する必要性が明らかになった。2．放送大学の身障者のための体育実技を選択した理由には、講師である私たちのコンセプトが支持されていた。3．授業回数を増やすこと、および個人にあった運動量を設定することが求められていることが明らかになった。4．講義を受けた結果、運動やスポーツに対する、気持ち、考え方、行動は前向きに変化していた。このことから、これまでの体育やスポーツに対して抱いていた劣等感が減少した可能性が示唆された

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation