New mathematical model for analysing three-phase controlled rectifier using switching functions

This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in IET Power Electronics and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at IET Digital Library.The aim of this study is to present a set of closed-form analytical equations in order to enable the computation of the three-phase bridge rectifier steady-state performance estimation. The proposed method presented in this study is a fast, accurate and effective mathematical model for analysing three-phase full-wave controlled rectifiers. The steady-state mathematical model is based on the derivation of an appropriate set of switching functions using the general switching matrix circuit (GSMC) techniques. Once the switching functions are derived, the output current, input current and output dc voltage can all be easily derived and generated from the application of this technique. The effect of overlap is accurately modelled and the distortion (notches), frequency content on the input (voltage and current) and output voltage distortion are derived. The proposed mathematical model, unlike conventional analytical methods, can be integrated in the design of active filters. Furthermore, the output voltage reduction, the rms, average and peak values of voltages and currents for the thyristors and any other semiconductor devices used are readily available for the designer by direct substitution into closed-form equations without any need for the waste of time for worst-case scenario simulations. This method can also be applied to other types of converters, specifically to all voltage fed power converters

Spatial accessibility and social inclusion: The impact of Portugal's last health reform

Health policies seek to promote access to health care and should provide appropriate geographical accessibility to each demographical functional group. The dispersal demand of health‐careservices and the provision for such services atfixed locations contribute to the growth of inequality intheir access. Therefore, the optimal distribution of health facilities over the space/area can lead toaccessibility improvements and to the mitigation of the social exclusion of the groups considered mostvulnerable. Requiring for such, the use of planning practices joined with accessibility measures. However,the capacities of Geographic Information Systems in determining and evaluating spatial accessibility inhealth system planning have not yet been fully exploited. This paper focuses on health‐care services planningbased on accessibility measures grounded on the network analysis. The case study hinges on mainlandPortugal. Different scenarios were developed to measure and compare impact on the population'saccessibility. It distinguishes itself from other studies of accessibility measures by integrating network data ina spatial accessibility measure: the enhanced two‐stepfloating catchment area. The convenient location forhealth‐care facilities can increase the accessibility standards of the population and consequently reducethe economic and social costs incurred. Recently, the Portuguese government implemented a reform thataimed to improve, namely, the access and equity in meeting with the most urgent patients. It envisaged,in terms of equity, the allocation of 89 emergency network points that ensured more than 90% of thepopulation be within 30 min from any one point in the network. Consequently, several emergency serviceswere closed, namely, in rural areas. This reform highlighted the need to improve the quality of the emergencycare, accessibility to each care facility, and equity in their access. Hence, accessibility measures becomean efficient decision‐making tool, despite its absence in effective practice planning. According to anapplication of this type of measure, it was possible to verify which levels of accessibility were decreased,including the most disadvantaged people, with a larger time of dislocation of 12 min between 2001 and 2011

Conceptual Profiles: Theoretical-methodological Grounds and Empirical Studies

AbstractIn this paper, we briefly address the theoretical and methodological grounds of the conceptual profile theory and discuss two empirical studies aiming at constructing conceptual profile models and using them to analyze classroom discourse in different sciences, chemistry (entropy and spontaneity) and biology (adaptation). The basic idea is to illustrate how these models were built, considering differences and similarities between the methods used for this purpose. Conceptual profiles are models of different modes of seeing and conceptualizing the world used by individuals to signify their experience. They are built for a given concept and are constituted by several zones, each representing a particular mode of thinking about that concept, related to a particular way of speaking. Each zone is individuated by ontological, epistemological, and axiological commitments underlying discourse. We will show how different concepts, situated in sciences with different levels of conceptual polysemy, demand different methodologies to deal with the variation found in meaning making in the sociocultural, ontogenetic, and microgenetic domains

“Bone-shot fracture” – An unusual iliac wing fracture caused by a projectile of autologous bone fragment. A case report

Case: A young adult male sustained a high-energy crash suffering multiple injuries including a comminuted right femoral shaft fracture and an ipsilateral iliac wing fracture. The iliac fracture was caused by a femoral fragment which was projected and pierced the iliac wing. The patient underwent surgery with retrieval of the femoral fragment and fixation of the iliac and femoral fractures. The lesions healed uneventfully. Conclusion: This is the first reported case of an iliac fracture caused by a projectile of autologous bone. High-energy trauma may present unusual or never seen injury patterns to the trauma surgeon

A novel six3 mutation segregates with holoprosencephaly in a large family

Holoprosencephaly is the most common structural malformation of the forebrain in humans and has a complex etiology including chromosomal aberrations, single gene mutations and environmental components. Here we present the pertinent clinical findings among members of an unusually large kindred ascertained over 15 years ago following the evaluation and subsequent genetic work-up of a female infant with congenital anomalies. A genome-wide scan and linkage analysis showed only suggestive evidence of linkage to markers on chromosome 2 among the most likely of several pedigree interpretations. We now report that a novel missense mutation in the SIX3 holopro- sencephaly gene is the likely cause in this family. Molecular genetic analysis and/or clinical characterization now show that at least 15 members of this family are presumed SIX3 mutation gene carriers, with clinical manifestations ranging from pheno- typically normal adults (non-penetrance) to alobar holoprosen- cephaly incompatible with postnatal life. This particular family represents a seminal example of the variable manifestations of gene mutations in holoprosencephaly and difficulties encountered in their elucidation.Fil: Solomon, Benjamin D.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Lacbawan, Felicitas. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos. State University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Jain, Mahim. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Domene, Sabina. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Roessler, Erich. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Moore, Cynthia. Indiana University School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Dobyns, William B.. University of Chicago; Estados UnidosFil: Muenke, Maximilian. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unido

Identification of an Ascaris G protein-coupled acetylcholine receptor with atypical muscarinic pharmacology

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in the nematode nervous system and induces its effects through interaction with both ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The structure, pharmacology and physiological importance of LGICs have been appreciably elucidated in model nematodes, including parasitic species where they are targets for anthelmintic drugs. Significantly less, however, is understood about nematode ACh GPCRs, termed GARs (G protein-linked ACh receptors). What is known comes from the free-livingCaenorhabditis elegans as no GARs have been characterized from parasitic species. Here we clone a putative GAR from the pig gastrointestinal nematode Ascaris suum with high structural homology to the C. elegans receptor GAR-1. Our GPCR, dubbed AsGAR-1, is alternatively spliced and expressed in the head and tail of adult worms but not in dorsal or ventral body wall muscle, or the ovijector. ACh activated AsGAR-1 in a concentration-dependent manner but the receptor was not activated by other small neurotransmitters. The classical muscarinic agonists carbachol, arecoline, oxotremorine M and bethanechol were also AsGAR-1 agonists but pilocarpine was ineffective. AsGAR-1 activation by ACh was partially antagonized by the muscarinic blocker atropine but pirenzepine and scopolamine were largely ineffective. Certain biogenic amine GPCR antagonists were also found to block AsGAR-1. Our conclusion is that Ascaris possesses G protein-coupled ACh receptors that are homologous in structure to those present in C. elegans, and that although they have some sequence homology to vertebrate muscarinic receptors, their pharmacology is atypically muscarinic

Nouvelle approche géologique et géodinamique du Complexe Hydrothermal de Moulay Yacoub, bordure septentrionale du Sillon Sud Rifain

As águas termais de Moulay Yacoub surgem em formações miocénicas do Sulco Sul do Rife. São caracterizadas por forte mineralização, relacionada com a natureza do seu local de armazenamento e circulação em reservatórios de litologias variadas. Apresentam duas fácies químicas principais: uma Cl-Na, pouco diluída, e outra, Cl-Ca-Mg, dominada por águas imaturas. A comparção geoquímica e geotermométrica com outras fontes regionais sugere uma origem mais profunda que o reservatório liássico. A recente descoberta de extrusões de blocos de calcário liássico, de magmatitos paleozóicos, de metassedimentos e de grandes massas de doleritos triássicos, sugere a existência de formações permeáveis sob a cobertura margosa do Miocénico. Os acidentes profundos NE-SW, associados a um cavalgamento cego, sugerem uma relação estreita entre estas águas termais e as extrusões do soco ante-neogénicos. Durante a sua passagem para a superfície, as águas termais de Moulay Yacoub terão sido diluídas através de misturas ocorridas principalmente no reservatório liássico