Integrated motor drives: state of the art and future trends

With increased need for high power density, high efficiency and high temperature capabilities in Aerospace and Automotive applications, Integrated Motor Drives (IMD) offers a potential solution. However, close physical integration of the converter and the machine may also lead to an increase in components temperature. This requires careful mechanical, structural and thermal analysis; and design of the IMD system. This paper reviews existing IMD technologies and their thermal effects on the IMD system. The effects of the power electronics (PE) position on the IMD system and its respective thermal management concepts are also investigated. The challenges faced in designing and manufacturing of an IMD along with the mechanical and structural impacts of close physical integration is also discussed and potential solutions are provided. Potential converter topologies for an IMD like the Matrix converter, 2-level Bridge, 3-level NPC and Multiphase full bridge converters are also reviewed. Wide band gap devices like SiC and GaN and their packaging in power modules for IMDs are also discussed. Power modules components and packaging technologies are also presented

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Dose response of a new phytse on dry matter, calcium, and phosphorus digestibility in weaned piglets

The present study evaluated the dose response of Buttiauxella phytase on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, Ca, and P in weaned pigs at 2 locations. Experimental diets fed to weaned pigs were a positive control (PC), a negative control (NC), and NC supplemented with increasing levels of Buttiauxella phytase. In Trial A, ATTD of P was 57.2% for PC, 32.5% for NC, and 59.4, 62.0, 63.8, 66.0, and 67.3% for 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 phytase units (FTU) added to NC, respectively. In Trial B, ATTD of P was 45.2% for PC, 28.4% for NC, and 58.7, 64.1, 67.9, and 70.9% for 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 FTU added to NC, respectively. In both studies, the reduction in P in the NC diets reduced (P <0.01) ATTD of P when compared with the PC diets. Phytase supplementation linearly and quadratically increased (P <0.01) ATTD of P at all inclusion levels to the NC diet. In conclusion, the average digestible P increase from Buttiauxella phytase (vs. the NC diet) was 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7 g digestible P/kg feed for 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 FTU/ kg, respectively

Visually mediated species and neighbour recognition in fiddler crabs (Uca mjoebergi and Uca capricornis)

Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Given the diversity of colourful body patterns in invertebrates, surprisingly few studies have examined the role of these visual signals in mate recognition. Here, we demonstrate the use of claw coloration as a species recognition signal in a fiddler crab (Uca mjoebergi). Furthermore, we show that distinct carapace colour patterns in Uca capricornis enable males to discriminate between their female neighbours and unfamiliar females. This is the first empirical evidence of the social importance of colour markings in fiddler crabs and the first example of visually mediated species and neighbour recognition in invertebrates other than insects