Design and Measurement of Integrated Converters for Belt-driven Starter-generator in 48 V Micro/mild Hybrid Vehicles

With reference to a 48 V belt-driven starter-generator, used in micro/mild hybrid vehicles, the paper shows the design and measurement of an integrated H-bridge and of a compact DC/DC converter, both fabricated in low-cost HV-MOS technology. The H-bridge is in charge of rotor excitation and, thanks to a direct copper bonding of the HV-MOS devices on a ceramic substrate, it ensures a full-integrated solution with low ON-resistance values. The compact DC/DC converter interfaces the 48 V power domain with the lower voltage domain of sensing and control electronics, such as 5 V and 1.65 V in this case study, without using cumbersome inductors and transformers. The latter are difficult to integrate in silicon technology. The converter has a multi stage architecture, where each stage implements a switched capacitor regulation. Multiple voltage outputs are supported, with a configurable regulation factor, sustaining an input voltage variation from 6 V (in case of cranking) up to 60 V. Specific design techniques have been implemented to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI), typical of switching converters. Experimental measurements on fabricated prototype chipsets confirm the suitability of the presented designs for low-EMI 48 V application

Power, Control and Optimization

The guest editors are very grateful to all the collaborators of the journal, for their welcoming and approval of this special issue and for their guidance, help, and close advice at every stage. We guest editors wish all the readers an enjoyable, instructive, and inspiring study of the contributions of this journal special issue. Indeed, we cordially hope that our special issue will represent this journal as a rising and premium journal of science, which strongly supports research, education, and development everywhere on the globe

Antimicrobial diterpenoids and triterpenoids from the stem bark of Croton macrostachys

Antimicrobial-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extract of the stem bark of Croton macrostachys afforded five known compounds including two lupane triterpenoids, lupeol (1) and betulin (2), and three clerodane diterpenoids, floridolide A (3), hardwickic acid (4) and 12-oxo-hardwickic acid (5). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies and comparison with published data. The EtOAc extract and compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities by macro-dilutionmethod. The extract displayed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities (MIC = 31.25-1000 μg/ml). Betulin (2) and 12-oxo-hardwickic acid (5) were the most active compounds (MIC = 7.81-500 μg/ml). Themost sensitive microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25922 for bacteria and two Candida species, Candida albicans ATCC 24433 and Candida krusei ATCC 6258, for fungi. The isolation of these active antibacterial and antifungal principles supports the use of C. macrostachys in traditional medicine for the treatment of microbial infections.Keywords: Croton macrostachys; Euphorbiaceae; triterpenes; diterpenes; antibacterial; antifungal

Silver nanoparticles impair retinoic acid-inducible gene I mediated mitochondrial anti-viral immunity by blocking the autophagic flux in lung epithelial cells

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are microbicidal agents which could be potentially used as alternative to antivirals to treat human infectious diseases, especially Influenza virus infection where antivirals have generally proven unsuccessful. However, concerns about the use of AgNPs on humans arise from their potential toxicity, although mechanisms are not well-understood. We show here, in the context of Influenza virus infection of lung epithelial cells, that AgNPs down-regulated Influenza induced-CCL-5 and -IFN-β release (two cytokines important in anti-viral immunity) through RIG-I inhibition, while enhancing IL-8 production, a cytokine important for mobilizing host antibacterial responses. AgNPs activity was independent of coating and was not observed with gold nanoparticles. Down-stream analysis indicated that AgNPs disorganized the mitochondrial network and prevented the anti-viral IRF-7 transcription factor influx into the nucleus. Importantly, we showed that the modulation of RIG-I-IRF-7 pathway was concomitant with inhibition of either classical or alternative autophagy (ATG-5- and Rab-9 dependent, respectively), depending on the epithelial cell type used. Altogether, this demonstration of a AgNPs-mediated functional dichotomy (down-regulation of IFN-dependent anti-viral responses and up-regulation of IL-8 -dependent antibacterial responses) may have practical implications for their use in the clinic

IRX-2, a Novel Immunotherapeutic, Enhances Functions of Human Dendritic Cells

Background: In a recent phase II clinical trial for HNSCC patients, IRX-2, a cell-derived biologic, promoted T-cell infiltration into the tumor and prolonged overall survival. Mechanisms responsible for these IRX-2-mediated effects are unknown. We hypothesized that IRX-2 enhanced tumor antigen-(TA)-specific immunity by up-regulating functions of dendritic cells (DC). Methodology/Principal Findings: Monocyte-derived DC obtained from 18 HNSCC patients and 12 healthy donors were matured using IRX-2 or a mix of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 ("conv. mix"). Multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the DC phenotype and antigen processing machinery (APM) component expression. ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays were used to evaluate tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). IL-12p70 and IL-10 production by DC was measured by Luminex® and DC migration toward CCL21 was tested in transwell migration assays. IRX-2-matured DC functions were compared with those of conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of CD11c, CD40, CCR7 as well as LMP2, TAP1, TAP2 and tapasin than conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC migrated significantly better towards CCL21, produced more IL-12p70 and had a higher IL12p70/IL-10 ratio than conv. mix-matured DC (p<0.05 for all). IRX-2-matured DC carried a higher density of tumor antigen-derived peptides, and CTL primed with these DC mediated higher cytotoxicity against tumor targets (p<0.05) compared to the conv. mix-matured DC. Conclusion: Excellent ability of IRX-2 to induce ex vivo DC maturation in HNSCC patients explains, in part, its clinical benefits and emphasizes its utility in ex vivo maturation of DC generated for therapy. © 2013 Schilling et al

Evolutionary Trajectory of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) Genome Shrinkage during Spread in Asia

Background - White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the sole member of the novel Nimaviridae family, and the source of major economic problems in shrimp aquaculture. WSSV appears to have rapidly spread worldwide after the first reported outbreak in the early 1990s. Genomic deletions of various sizes occur at two loci in the WSSV genome, the ORF14/15 and ORF23/24 variable regions, and these have been used as molecular markers to study patterns of viral spread over space and time. We describe the dynamics underlying the process of WSSV genome shrinkage using empirical data and a simple mathematical model. Methodology/Principal Findings - We genotyped new WSSV isolates from five Asian countries, and analyzed this information together with published data. Genome size appears to stabilize over time, and deletion size in the ORF23/24 variable region was significantly related to the time of the first WSSV outbreak in a particular country. Parameter estimates derived from fitting a simple mathematical model of genome shrinkage to the data support a geometric progression (

COVID-19 outbreak and rural household food security in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo

Open Access Article; Published online: 11 Nov 2022Although global assessments of the initial impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have focused on income, jobs, and health conditions, this study constitutes one of the first studies that assessed the impact of COVID-19 on food security in DRC and established the short-term implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on rural households’ food security in DRC. In addition, the study recommendations contributed to shaping government interventions toward the pandemic in the Country. The study used data from four western provinces of the country on 1339 households. Our results show that 80 % of households experienced an increase in food prices, 61 % a noticeable decrease in the availability of food, and 54 % a decrease in their dietary diversity. Due to changes in food availability, dietary diversity, and food accessibility imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak, >70 % of households experienced either a decrease in the consumption of meat, milk, fish, and cereals or an increase in their consumption of traditional vegetables. In addition, COVID-19 significantly affected food security dimensions in larger households, households with a greater number of members aged 35 years and above, households headed by women, households where members participate in associations or cooperatives, households that depend on crop sales as the major source of income, and in poorer households. These findings highlight the significant implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on household food security in western DRC and underscore the need for emergency interventions to strengthen the resilience of rural people and accelerate their recovery and other long-term measures toward sustainable and inclusive development