Hot biogas conditioning using pulsed corona

A new technology area for pulsed corona is hot biogas cleaning, important in view of the growing interest in biomass gasification. Our work concentrates on the development and optimization of pulsed electrical methods for treatment of thermally generated biogas. Corona energized by narrow voltage pulses (100 kV) makes a well ordered and concentrated deposition possible of electrical energy from a circuit into a hot polluted gas. The created plasmas can break down various contaminants. Successful introduction of pulsed corona for industrial processes very much depends on the reliability of high-voltage and pulsed power technology and on the efficiency of energy transfer. In addition, we must achieve adequate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

The role of molecular genetics in diagnosing familial hematuria(s)

Familial microscopic hematuria (MH) of glomerular origin represents a heterogeneous group of monogenic conditions involving several genes, some of which remain unknown. Recent advances have increased our understanding and our ability to use molecular genetics for diagnosing such patients, enabling us to study their clinical characteristics over time. Three collagen IV genes, COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 explain the autosomal and X-linked forms of Alport syndrome (AS), and a subset of thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN). A number of X-linked AS patients follow a milder course reminiscent of that of patients with heterozygous COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations and TBMN, while at the same time a significant subset of patients with TBMN and familial MH progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). A mutation in CFHR5, a member of the complement factor H family of genes that regulate complement activation, was recently shown to cause isolated C3 glomerulopathy, presenting with MH in childhood and demonstrating a significant risk for CKD/ESKD after 40 years old. Through these results molecular genetics emerges as a powerful tool for a definite diagnosis when all the above conditions enter the differential diagnosis, while in many at-risk related family members, a molecular diagnosis may obviate the need for another renal biopsy

HIBISCUS: Hydroxychloroquine for the secondary prevention of thrombotic and obstetrical events in primary antiphospholipid syndrome

The relapse rate in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) remains high, i.e. around 20%-21% at 5 years in thrombotic APS and 20-28% in obstetrical APS [2, 3]. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) appears as an additional therapy, as it possesses immunomodulatory and anti-thrombotic various effects [4-16]. Our group recently obtained the orphan designation of HCQ in antiphospholipid syndrome by the European Medicine Agency. Furthermore, the leaders of the project made the proposal of an international project, HIBISCUS, about the use of Hydroxychloroquine in secondary prevention of obstetrical and thrombotic events in primary APS. This study has been launched in several countries and at now, 53 centers from 16 countries participate to this international trial. This trial consists in two parts: a retrospective and a prospective study. The French part of the trial in thrombosis has been granted by the French Minister of Health in December 2015 (the academic trial independent of the pharmaceutical industry PHRC N PAPIRUS) and is coordinated by one of the members of the leading consortium of HIBISCUS

Hot biogas conditioning using pulsed corona

A new technology area for pulsed corona is hot biogas cleaning, important in view of the growing interest in biomass gasification. Our work concentrates on the development and optimization of pulsed electrical methods for treatment of thermally generated biogas. Corona energized by narrow voltage pulses (100 kV) makes a well ordered and concentrated deposition possible of electrical energy from a circuit into a hot polluted gas. The created plasmas can break down various contaminants. Successful introduction of pulsed corona for industrial processes very much depends on the reliability of high-voltage and pulsed power technology and on the efficiency of energy transfer. In addition, we must achieve adequate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

Function of Attitude Perception in Human Control Behavior in Target Tracking Tasks

In attitude target tracking tasks with a compensatory visual display, pilot tracking performance is found to increase significantly when rotational motion cues are available. The pilot utilizes the system attitude information to reduce the order of the controlled system, yielding an easier equivalent system which is controlled by the visual response. A system-theoretical sensitivity study of the multi-channel pilot-vehicle system observed in compensatory target tasks, revealed that optimal performance is attained when the required lead is generated with the motion perception channel, causing the visual lead time constant to reduce and the visual gain to increase. The interaction of visual and vestibular perception channels is such that the total open-loop response function approximates a single-integrator system. To evaluate the function of system attitude perception in human control behavior in compensatory target-following tasks, a pitch tracking experiment, in which the availability and presentation of attitude information was varied systematically, was conducted in the SIMONA Research Simulator. Analysis of the performance and control behavior of seven subjects, revealed that human pilots are able to perceive and utilize system attitude information, presented both through visual and vestibular cues, to improve tracking performance considerably. Perception capabilities of the vestibular system were found to be superior to those of the visual system, which resulted in significantly better performance for target tracking tasks with motion

Experimental program of the pulsed corona tar cracker

We are concentrating on the development of pulsed corona discharges to crack heavy tar components (hydrocarbons) into lighter ones. The method has the advantage that it can operate at a high temperature, and be retrofitted to existing installations. The corona discharge is energized by 100-150 ns wide voltage pulses (100 kV) at a continuous repetition rate of 600-1000 pulses per second. The power dissipated by the corona discharges is 1.5 kW average and 50 MW peak in each pulse. To be cracked by discharges, the hydrocarbons of the tar mixture need to be gaseous and therefore, the corona reactor must operate at a high temperature. In the first phase of the experiments the reactor will run at a modest temperature of 150°C. The reactor is a 1-3 m long stainless steel cylinder, 0.25 m diameter with a corona wire along the axis. The pressure will be 1 atmospher