Design of an Adaptive Controller with Online Identification Applied to a Pressure Tank

Abstract The objective is to design an adaptive controller for a pressure tank using online identification to obtain the mathematical model of the system

Randomized Phase IIb Study of Brimonidine Drug Delivery System Generation 2 for Geographic Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeat injections of Brimonidine Drug Delivery System (Brimo DDS) Generation 2 (Gen 2) containing 400-μg brimonidine in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design: A phase IIb, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, sham-controlled, 30-month study (BEACON). Participants: Patients diagnosed with GA secondary to AMD and multifocal lesions with total area of > 1.25 mm2 and ≤ 18 mm2 in the study eye. Methods: Enrolled patients were randomized to treatment with intravitreal injections of 400-μg Brimo DDS (n = 154) or sham procedure (n = 156) in the study eye every 3 months from day 1 to month 21. Main Outcome Measures: The primary efficacy endpoint was GA lesion area change from baseline in the study eye, assessed with fundus autofluorescence imaging, at month 24. Results: The study was terminated early, at the time of the planned interim analysis, because of a slow GA progression rate (∼ 1.6 mm2/year) in the enrolled population. Least squares mean (standard error) GA area change from baseline at month 24 (primary endpoint) was 3.24 (0.13) mm2 with Brimo DDS (n = 84) versus 3.48 (0.13) mm2 with sham (n = 91), a reduction of 0.25 mm2 (7%) with Brimo DDS compared with sham (P = 0.150). At month 30, GA area change from baseline was 4.09 (0.15) mm2 with Brimo DDS (n = 49) versus 4.52 (0.15) mm2 with sham (n = 46), a reduction of 0.43 mm2 (10%) with Brimo DDS compared with sham (P = 0.033). Exploratory analysis showed numerically smaller loss over time in retinal sensitivity assessed with scotopic microperimetry with Brimo DDS than with sham (P = 0.053 at month 24). Treatment-related adverse events were usually related to the injection procedure. No implant accumulation was observed. Conclusions: Multiple intravitreal administrations of Brimo DDS (Gen 2) were well tolerated. The primary efficacy endpoint at 24 months was not met, but there was a numeric trend for reduction in GA progression at 24 months compared with sham treatment. The study was terminated early because of the lower-than-expected GA progression rate in the sham/control group. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosures may be found after the references

Cardiac 123 I-MIBG Parameters at 4 Hours Derived from Earlier Acquisitions Times

Abstract Background: The clinical implementation of cardiac 123 Iodine-meta-iodobenzylguanidine ( 123 I-MIBG) scintigra

Methanolic Extract’s Activity of Artemisia absinthium, Vitexagnus-castus and Phytolacaamericana Against Leishmania major; in vitro and in vivo

Aims Leishmaniasis is the most prevalent vector- borne parasitic disease in Iran. Drug treatment is the best way to treat leishmaniasis, while the common drugs are not efficient enough and inevitable side effects limit using these drugs. The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro and in vivo activity of the methanolic extract of Artemisia absinthium, Vitex agnus-castus and Phytolaca americana Against Leishmania major. Materials & Methods The methanolic extracts of Artemisia absinthium, Vitex agnuscastus and Phytolaca americana were prepared by cold percolation method. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of the plant extracts was determined against L. major promastigotes followed by efficacy evaluation of the extracts against amastigotes and in vivo assay in the BALB/c animal model. The data was analyzed with SPSS 19 software using Student’s T test and ANOVA. Findings Artemisia absinthium had the highest amount of active compounds against promastigotes of L. major (IC50=159.45) and antiprolifrative activity of Artemisia absinthium on both forms of L. major (extracellular promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes) was the highest (MI=33%). Vitex agnus-castus had the least toxic effect for macrophages (8%). All extracts limited the progression of lesion size versus control group, however, only inhibitory effect of Artemisia absinthium extract was statistically significant. Conclusion Artemisia absinthium is the most effective growth inhibitor of amastigotes in animal lesions and it is safe for drug application in human and animals

Comparison of Poly Aluminum Chloride and Chlorinated Cuprous for Chemical Oxygen Demand and Color Removal from Kashan Textile Industries Company Wastewater

Aims Textile wastewaters are the most important health and environmental problems in Kashan. This research was aimed to compare the poly aluminum chloride and chlorinated cuprous efficiency for removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and color from Kashan Textile Industries Company wastewater. Materials & Methods This experimental bench scale study in a batch system was conducted on 20 composed wastewater samples collected from Kashan Textile Industries Company raw wastewater. During 5 months, in the beginning of every week a day was selected randomly and in the day a composed sample was taken and studied. PAC at the doses of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mg.l-1 and chlorinated cuprous at the doses of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500mg.l-1 were applied. The optimum pH also optimum concentration of PAC and chlorinated cuprous were determined using Jar test. The data was analyzed by SPSS 16 using descriptive statistics and Fisher Exact test. Findings The average concentration of COD in the raw textile wastewater was 2801.56±1398.29mg.l-1. The average COD concentration has been decreased to 1125.47±797.55mg.l-1. There was a significant difference between the effects of these two coagulants efficiency (p<0.05). The average COD removal efficiency for chlorinated cuprous and PAC was 58.52% and 72.56%, respectively. Also, the average color removal efficiency by chlorinated cuprous and PAC were 17.23 and 64.45%, respectively. Conclusion PAC is more efficient than chlorinated cuprous for both COD and color removal from KTIC wastewater

Parametric study of the combined fuel cell-gas turbine power plant

ABSTRACT Large scale electrical power generation faces two serious problems: (i) energy conservation; and (ii) protection of the environment. High temperatures fuel cells have the potential to deal with both problems. The heat rejected by the fuel cell that would otherwise be wasted may be recovered to power a gas turbine in order to improve the energy conversion efficiency as well as power output of the combined fuel cellgas turbine power plant. The added advantage of this approach would be to reduce thermal loading and the emission of greenhouse gases per MW electrical power generated. Serious research is being carried out worldwide to commercialise the fuel cell nevertheless there is still ample scope for studying the application of high temperature fuel cells in combination with the gas turbine for large scale electrical power generation. This paper presents the results of a parametric study of the fuel cell-gas turbine power plant to generate electricity. The paper should be of considerable interest to the designers and applications engineers working in power generation industry and other public utilities. The authors hope that the paper would lead to a stimulating discussion

EFFECT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, HUMANITARIAN SERVICES AND TRANSPORT LOGISTICS ON PORT OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA: EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT

This study examines the effect of emergency management, humanitarian services and transport logistics on port operations in Nigeria. Its focus is to determine the significance of both emergency management strategies and humanitarian aids during and after emergencies in Nigerian ports. The study adopts multiple regression models to analyze the primary data generated from the field using structured questionnaire. These data were validated using content and sampling validity techniques to ascertain its appropriateness for the study. It was confirmed that disasters or emergencies are retrogressive factors that can cause sudden and massive disruptions to operations in the ports leading to destruction of lives and properties, huge financial loss, destruction of infrastructure and closure of ports, either temporarily or permanently. However, it is proven that effective disaster preparedness/ awareness reduces the hardships experienced during emergencies and that humanitarian services/logistics cannot be done without in rescuing and recovery operations. The study concludes that effective disaster management strategies and efficient humanitarian services have positive and significant effects on port operations in Nigeria and recommends the following measures; every port should have a standard disaster management unit (SDMU) among others

Doppler and maternal serum screening in the prediction of pregnancy complications* Doppler e marcadores séricos maternos na predição de complicações da gestação

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of uterine artery Doppler and maternal serum screening in the prediction of pregnancy complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study with 49 primigravidae at their 18th gestational week, when a blood sample was collected for serum dosage by chemiluminescence (alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and nitric oxide) and radioimmunoassay (atrial natriuretic peptide). Uterine artery Doppler was performed between the 24th and 26th gestational weeks, for determining the presence or absence of notch in the flow velocity waveform. OBJETIVO: Comparar a eficácia do Doppler das artérias uterinas e de marcadores séricos maternos na predição de complicações da gestação. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo com 49 primigestas, incluídas no estudo na 18ª semana, sendo coletada a amostra sanguínea para a realização das dosagens séricas, realizadas pelo método de quimioluminescência (alfa-fetoproteína, gonadotrofina coriô-nica humana e óxido nítrico) e radioimunoensaio (peptídio atrial natriurético). O Doppler das artérias uterinas foi realizado entre 24-26 semanas, determinando a presença ou ausência de incisura na onda de velocidade de fluxo. Na análise estatística utilizou-se o teste de Mann-Whitney, para amostras não-paramétricas, e o teste exato de Fisher, para parâmetros qualitativos. RESULTADOS: Os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo foram, respectivamente, de 8,3%, 97,0%, 50,0% e 74,4% para a alfa-fetoproteína; 8,3%, 87,9%, 20,0% e 72,5% para a gonadotrofina coriônica humana; 16,7%, 97,0%, 33,3% e 76,2% para o peptídio atrial natriurético; e 16,7%, 93,9%, 50,0% e 75,6% para o óxido nítrico. A sensibilidade do Doppler foi de 75,0%, especificidade de 63,6%, valor preditivo positivo de 57,1% e valor preditivo negativo de 87,5%. CONCLUSÃO: O Doppler das artérias uterinas é melhor preditor de complicações da gestação quando comparado a alguns marcadores séricos em populações de baixo risco. 5. PhD, Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics several gestational disorders, especially preeclampsia. Some of these tests are simple, other, invasive; some of them have been extensively evaluated, others still remain under clinical investigation. The literature review demonstrates a high level of disagreement as far as the sensitivity and predictive value of several of these tests are concerned, and an ideal test for screening the main gestational and perinatal pathologies is still to be found (1) . The greatest majority of current studies about markers for gestational and perinaCosta FS, Rocha RS, Cunha SP, Reis FC, Berezowski AT, Antunes-Rodrigues J. Doppler e marcadores séricos maternos na predição de complicações da gestação. Radiol Bras. 2008;41(1):7-12