SEPIC Converter based-Drive for Unipolar BLDC Motor

Front-end single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) and a switch in series with each phase is proposed for driving a permanent magnet brushless dc (BLDC) motor with unipolar currents. All the switches are ground-referenced, which simplifies their gate drives. The available input voltage can be boosted for better current regulation, which is an advantage for low voltage applications. The SEPIC converter is designed to operate in the discontinuous conduction mode for operation with an ac supply. In this operation mode, the line current follows the line voltage waveform to a certain extent. The reduction in low-order harmonics and improved power factor is achieved without the use of any voltage or current sensors. The simplicity and reduced parts count of the proposed topology make it an attractive low-cost choice for many variable speed drive applications. The proposed topology is simulated and verified by using MATLAB/SIMULINK.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v2i2.30

Characterization of Distributive and Standard Ideals in Semilattices

This paper investigates the concepts of distributive ideal, dually distributive ideal and standard ideal in a join semilattice. It concerns with the property of ideals in a distributive semilattice. We obtain a characterization theorem for distributive (dually distributive) and standard ideal in a join semilattice. We establish the necessary and sufficient condition for a distributive ideal to be standard ideal. Finally, we bear out the fundamental theorem of homomorphism and Isomorphism theorem of standard ideal. Keywords: Distributive ideal, Distributive semilattice, Dually Distributive ideal, Standard ideal, Join Semi Lattice

Binge eating and sitting behavior as a risk cluster in obesity among software employees

Introduction: Binge eating disorder (BED) was underdiagnosed, underestimated eating disorder known to be responsible for obesity in both children and adults. Sedentary behavior estimated by measuring the sitting time was one of the major contributing factors in the development of metabolic syndrome in adults. People working in Information Technology (IT) sector possess both of these determinants in a significant capacity and thereby might be at risk for obesity, which in turn can be responsible for various cardio-metabolic events in their life. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 513 working adults belonging to the IT sector, using a face-to-face interview with a pre-tested questionnaire along with anthropometric measurements to measure BMI for obesity. Binge-eating disorder screener-7 for adults was adopted to assess the disorder, and the Marshall Sitting Questionnaire was used to evaluate their sitting behavior. Results: The study found that the prevalence of BED (23%) was higher in unmarried individuals, and moderate BED is significantly associated with higher BMI among them. Conversely, sitting time (Mean=8.83 hours/day) was seen mostly in married adults, and is also associated with higher BMI. As a risk cluster, both BED and sitting time combined had higher odds of resulting in Obesity than existing separately. Conclusion: Several lifestyle factors such as binge-watching TV, late working hours, higher salaries, etc., have contributed to developing Binge eating disorder and higher sitting time, which pose a significant risk for metabolic disorders like obesity

A preliminary timing analysis of two intermediate polars: UU Col and Swift J0939.7-3224

We present the preliminary timing analysis of confirmed intermediate polar UU Col and possible intermediate polar Swift J0939.7-3224 in the optical band with the help of long-term, high-cadence continuous photometry from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). For UU Col, we revise previously reported orbital and spin periods as 3.464 $\pm$ 0.005 h and 863.74 $\pm$ 0.08 s, respectively. Using the second harmonic of the beat frequency, the beat period is estimated as $\sim$928 s. These findings indicate that UU Col is a disc-fed dominated disc-overflow accretor. For J0939, we establish the spin period as 2671.8 $\pm$ 0.8 s and refine the provisionally suggested orbital period as 8.49 $\pm$ 0.03 h. The absence of beat frequency in J0939 signifies that it might be a pure disc-fed accretor; however, an X-ray study of this source will help to understand its true nature.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Proceeding paper of the 3$^{rd}$ Belgo-Indian Network for Astronomy and Astrophysics (BINA) workshop, Accepted for publication in the Bulletin of Li\`{e}ge Royal Society of Science

Metabolism-driven high-throughput cancer identification with GLUT5-specific molecular probes

Point-of-care applications rely on biomedical sensors to enable rapid detection with high sensitivity and selectivity. Despite advances in sensor development, there are challenges in cancer diagnostics. Detection of biomarkers, cell receptors, circulating tumor cells, gene identification, and fluorescent tagging are time-consuming due to the sample preparation and response time involved. Here, we present a novel approach to target the enhanced metabolism in breast cancers for rapid detection using fluorescent imaging. Fluorescent analogs of fructose target the fructose-specific transporter GLUT5 in breast cancers and have limited to no response from normal cells. These analogs demonstrate a marked difference in adenocarcinoma and premalignant cells leading to a novel detection approach. The vastly different uptake kinetics of the analogs yields two unique signatures for each cell type. We used normal breast cells MCF10A, adenocarcinoma cells MCF7, and premalignant cells MCF10AneoT, with hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2 as the negative control. Our data indicated that MCF10AneoT and MCF7 cells had an observable difference in response to only one of the analogs. The response, observed as fluorescence intensity, leads to a two-point assessment of the cells in any sample. Since the treatment time is 10 min, there is potential for use in rapid on-site high-throughput diagnostics

Aerosolized adenovirus-vectored vaccine as an alternative vaccine delivery method

Conventional parenteral injection of vaccines is limited in its ability to induce locally-produced immune responses in the respiratory tract, and has logistical disadvantages in widespread vaccine administration. Recent studies suggest that intranasal delivery or vaccination in the respiratory tract with recombinant viral vectors can enhance immunogenicity and protection against respiratory diseases such as influenza and tuberculosis, and can offer more broad-based generalized protection by eliciting durable mucosal immune responses. Controlled aerosolization is a method to minimize vaccine particle size and ensure delivery to the lower respiratory tract. Here, we characterize the dynamics of aerosolization and show the effects of vaccine concentration on particle size, vector viability, and the actual delivered dose of an aerosolized adenoviral vector. In addition, we demonstrate that aerosol delivery of a recombinant adenoviral vaccine encoding H1N1 hemagglutinin is immunogenic and protects ferrets against homologous viral challenge. Overall, aerosol delivery offers comparable protection to intramuscular injection, and represents an attractive vaccine delivery method for broad-based immunization campaigns

Some results on thermal stress of layered plates and shells by using Unified Formulation

This work presents some results on two-dimensional modelling of thermal stress problems in multilayered structures. The governing equations are written by referring to the Unified Formulation (UF) introduced by the first author. These equations are obtained in a compact form, that doesn't depend on the order of expansion of variables in the thickness direction or the variable description (layer-wise models and equivalent single layers models). Classical and refined theories based on the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD) and advanced mixed theories based on the Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT) are both considered. As a result, a large variety of theories are derived and compared. The temperature profile along the thickness of the plate/shell is calculated by solving the Fourier's heat conduction equation. Alternatively, thermo-mechanical coupling problems can be considered, in which the thermal variation is influenced by mechanical loading. Exact closed-form solutions are provided for plates and shells, but also the applications of the Ritz method and the Finite Element Method (FEM) are presented

Comparative Efficacy of Hemagglutinin, Nucleoprotein, and Matrix 2 Protein Gene-Based Vaccination against H5N1 Influenza in Mouse and Ferret

Efforts to develop a broadly protective vaccine against the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 virus have focused on highly conserved influenza gene products. The viral nucleoprotein (NP) and ion channel matrix protein (M2) are highly conserved among different strains and various influenza A subtypes. Here, we investigate the relative efficacy of NP and M2 compared to HA in protecting against HPAI H5N1 virus. In mice, previous studies have shown that vaccination with NP and M2 in recombinant DNA and/or adenovirus vectors or with adjuvants confers protection against lethal challenge in the absence of HA. However, we find that the protective efficacy of NP and M2 diminishes as the virulence and dose of the challenge virus are increased. To explore this question in a model relevant to human disease, ferrets were immunized with DNA/rAd5 vaccines encoding NP, M2, HA, NP+M2 or HA+NP+M2. Only HA or HA+NP+M2 vaccination conferred protection against a stringent virus challenge. Therefore, while gene-based vaccination with NP and M2 may provide moderate levels of protection against low challenge doses, it is insufficient to confer protective immunity against high challenge doses of H5N1 in ferrets. These immunogens may require combinatorial vaccination with HA, which confers protection even against very high doses of lethal viral challenge