Device and method for converting direct current into alternate current

The device for converting direct current into alternate current comprises a multilevel converter associated with at least a source of direct current and a modulation unit having piloting means for piloting the converter for the conversion of the direct current into an alternate output current, in which the modulation unit comprises comparison means for comparing the output current value with a preset positive threshold value and a preset negative threshold value, the piloting means being suitable for piloting the converter with a pulse modulation of the unipolar type in the event of the output current value being above the positive threshold value or below the negative threshold value and with a pulse modulation of the complementary type in the event of the output current value being below the positive threshold value and above the negative threshold value. The method for converting direct current into alternate current comprises a piloting phase of a multilevel converter for the conversion of a direct voltage into an alternate output voltage, a comparison phase of the output current value with a preset positive threshold value and a preset negative threshold value, the piloting phase being suitable for piloting the converter with a pulse modulation of the unipolar type in the event of the output current value being above the positive threshold value or below the negative threshold value and with a pulse modulation of the complementary type in the event of the output current value being below the positive threshold value and above the negative threshold value

The Neural Correlates of Problem States: Testing fMRI Predictions of a Computational Model of Multitasking

Background: It has been shown that people can only maintain one problem state, or intermediate mental representation, at a time. When more than one problem state is required, for example in multitasking, performance decreases considerably. This effect has been explained in terms of a problem state bottleneck. Methodology: In the current study we use the complimentary methodologies of computational cognitive modeling and neuroimaging to investigate the neural correlates of this problem state bottleneck. In particular, an existing computational cognitive model was used to generate a priori fMRI predictions for a multitasking experiment in which the problem state bottleneck plays a major role. Hemodynamic responses were predicted for five brain regions, corresponding to five cognitive resources in the model. Most importantly, we predicted the intraparietal sulcus to show a strong effect of the problem state manipulations. Conclusions: Some of the predictions were confirmed by a subsequent fMRI experiment, while others were not matched by the data. The experiment supported the hypothesis that the problem state bottleneck is a plausible cause of th

Synthesis, structural characterisation and biological studies of new mononuclear platinum(II) complexes with sterically hindered heterocyclic ligands

Three novel cisplatin analogues were synthesized, designed according to an approach which violates the ‘‘classical’’ structure–activity relationship, by replacing the diamine ligands with a planar N donor heterocycle giving a sterically hindered complex. Moreover, the sterical hindrance of antitumor drug candidates potentially makes them less susceptible to deactivation by sulphur-containing proteins and helping to overcome resistance mechanisms. The resulting mononuclear complexes of sterically hindered polidentate heterocyclic N ligands [PtCl(bbp)]Cl (1) [bbp = 2,6-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine], [PtCl2(dptdn)](H2O) (2) [dptdn = sodium 5,6-diphenyl-3-(20-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine-400,400 0-disulfonate] and [(dptdn)(dpt)Pt]Cl2(H2O) (3) [dpt = 5,6-diphenyl-3-(20-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine] have been prepared and structurally characterised. Both neutral and ionic complexes are present, with monofunctional (1) and bifunctional Pt(II) moieties (2) and coordinatively saturated Pt(II) ions in the mixed ligand complex (3), whose size and shape enable them to behave as novel scaffolds for DNA binding. All complexes were tested ‘‘in vitro’’ for their biological activity on human HT29 colorectal carcinoma and HepG2 hepatoma cells. The complexes (1) and (3), endowed with a positive charge, showed a potent cytotoxic activity and reduced cell viability with an efficacy higher than that of cisplatin; whilst the neutral bifunctional compound (2) was inactive. IC50 values have been calculated for the active compounds. The cytotoxic effects were confirmed by the accumulation of treated cells in subG0/G1 phase of cell cycle, by the loss of mitochondrial potential (Dwm) and by the chromatin condensation or fragmentation observed by means of fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining. A study on intracellular platinum uptake in HT29 cell line has been also performed and data obtained strongly suggest that the cytotoxicity of new tested complexes reported in this work is based on a different pharmacodynamic pattern with respect to cisplatin

Right circumcaval ureter and double right renal vein in the Brazilian shorthair cat (Felis catus): two case reports

Variations of the renal veins are well described in the literature, although variations concerning the ureter are considered a rare finding in cats. The circumcaval ureter is one of the rarest variations of the ureter and is characterised by a loop of the ureter posterior to the caudal vena cava. This variant is also known as preureteral vena cava and retrocaval ureter. It is thought to be caused by a deviation during embryonic development of the aforementioned vein. Due to its rarity, there are scarce reports of the circumcaval ureter in cats, and its association with two renal veins makes it less common as well. These variations should be preoperatively identified in order to avoid complications in kidney transplants, ureteral surgeries and cystoscopies, for instance. The present work aims to report two cases of a circumcaval ureter with two renal veins in two different Brazilian shorthair cats (Felis catus)

Comparison of accuracy of single crowns generated from digital and conventional impressions: An in vivo controlled trial

Aim With the advances of digital technology, intraoral digital impression (DI) technique has become a major trend in prosthodontics with respect to traditional impression (TI) techniques; despite that, very few data are available concerning its accuracy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of DI versus TI considering both marginal and internal gap (MG, IG, respectively) in cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) single crowns manufactured by mean of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Material and methods Thirty posterior teeth were considered for this study. For each abutment tooth, sixty and thirty copings were produced with the aid of TI and DI, respectively. Thirty of the sixty copings of the TI-group were then randomly selected to be veneered and cemented onto existing abutments. The space existing between the internal surface of the coping and the abutment tooth was evaluated onto an in vitro replica; the MG and IG were measured by Scanning Electron Microscope. The data were analysed by the Wilcoxon test (1-tailed). Results The mean MG was 75.04 μm (SD = 13.12) and 55.01 μm (SD = 7.01) for the TI group and DI group, respectively. As regards the mean IGs, the values recorded were of 78.36 μm (SD = 19.66) for the TI-group and 59.20 μm (SD=3.33) for the DI-group. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p-value = 0.001). Conclusions Copings manufactured from DI showed better MGs and IGs with respect to copings produced from TI. However, both approaches produced clinically acceptable results

Synthesis, characterization, crystal structures and in vitro antistaphylococcal activity of organotin(IV) derivatives with 5,7-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine

New organotin(IV) complexes of 5,7-ditertbutyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dbtp) and 5,7-diphenyl- 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dptp) with 1:1 and/or 1:2 stoichiometry were synthesized and investigated by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and 119Sn Mössbauer in the solid state and by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, in so- lution. Moreover, the crystal and molecular structures of Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2 and Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 are reported. The complexes contain hexacoordinated tin atoms: in Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2 two 5,7-ditertbutyl-1,2,4- triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine molecules coordinate classically the tin atom through N(3) atom and the coordina- tion around the tin atom shows a skew trapezoidal structure with axial ethyl groups. In Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2 (dptp)2 two ethanol molecules coordinate tin through the oxygen atom and the 5,7-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidine molecules are not directly bound to the metal center but strictly H-bonded, through N (3), to the \OH group of the ethanol moieties; Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 has an all-trans structure and the C–Sn–C fragment is linear. On the basis of Mössbauer data, the 1:2 diorganotin(IV) complexes are advanced to have the same structure of Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2, while Me2SnCl2(dptp)2 to have a regular all-trans octahedral structure. A distorted cis-R2 trigonal bipyramidal structure is assigned to 1:1 diorganotin(IV) complexes. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized complexes have been tested against a group of reference pathogen micro-organisms and some of them resulted active with MIC values of 5 μg/mL, most of all against staphylococcal strains, which shows their inhibitory effect