Control of Dual-Output DC/DC Converters Using Duty Cycle and Frequency

As part of the integration process of the auxiliary power systems of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, this study proposes a method to control two different voltage types using two control factors of the rectangular alternating waveforms contained in DC/DC converters, namely the duty cycle and frequency. A prototype circuit consisting of an H-bridge inverter, a transformer, two series resonant filters and two diode bridge circuits was constructed. The H-bridge inverter was connected to the primary side of the transformer and the diode bridge rectifier circuit was connected to the secondary side in parallel. Series resonant filters were inserted between one of the diode bridge circuits and the transformer. Thereafter, the proposed control method was applied to the transformer voltage of the prototype circuit. Although the circuit operation became complex owing to the circulating current flowing between the ground (GND) of the two output circuits, it exhibited ideal static and dynamic characteristics, thereby confirming the possibility of controlling two voltages with the duty cycle and frequency control factors. The results of the efficiency evaluation and loss analysis demonstrated a minimum efficiency of 68.3% and a maximum efficiency of 88.9%. As the output power of the circuit containing the resonant filters increased, the current peak value increased and the circuit became less efficient. Document type: Articl

Functional expression of carnitine/organic cation transporter OCTN1 in mouse brain neurons: Possible involvement in neuronal differentiation

The aim of the present study is to clarify the functional expression and physiological role in brain neurons of carnitine/organic cation transporter OCTN1/SLC22A4, which accepts the naturally occurring antioxidant ergothioneine (ERGO) as a substrate in vivo. After intracerebroventricular administration, the distribution of [ 3H]ERGO in several brain regions of octn1 -/- mice was much lower than that in wild-type mice, whereas extracellular marker [ 14C]mannitol exhibited similar distribution in the two strains. The [ 3H]ERGO distribution in wild-type mice was well correlated with the amount of ERGO derived from food intake and the OCTN1 mRNA level in each brain region. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed colocalization of OCTN1 with neuronal cell markers microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and βIII-tubulin in mouse brain and primary cultured cortical neurons, respectively. Moreover, cultured cortical neurons exhibited time-dependent and saturable uptake of [ 3H]ERGO. These results demonstrate that OCTN1 is functionally expressed in brain neurons. The addition of ERGO simultaneously with serum to culture medium of cortical neurons attenuated mRNA and protein expressions of MAP2, βIII-tubulin and synapse formation marker synapsin I, and induced those of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2), which is required to maintain the properties of undifferentiated neural stem cells. In neuronal model Neuro2a cells, knockdown of OCTN1 by siRNA reduced the uptake of [ 3H]ERGO with concomitant up-regulation of oxidative stress marker HO-1 and Sox2, and down-regulation of neurite outgrowth marker GAP43. Interestingly, the siRNA knockdown decreased the number of differentiated Neuro2a cells showing long neurites, but increased the total number of cells. Thus, OCTN1 is involved in cellular differentiation, but inhibits their proliferation, possibly via the regulation of cellular oxidative stress. This is the first evidence that OCTN1 plays a role in neuronal differentiation and proliferation, which are required for brain development. Crown Copyright © 2012

Application of monochromatic keV X-ray source to X-ray drug delivery system

X-ray Drug Delivery System (DDS) enhances accumulation of anti-cancer drug or contrast agent by surrounding it with polymer and Enhanced Penetration and Retention (EPR) effect. DDS uses advanced nano-scaled polymers that contain and deliver drug or contrast agent to cancers without side effects. Several X-ray DDSs pose high-Z atoms such as gold to absorb X-rays effectively and used as contrast agent for inspection. Moreover, they have radiation enhancement effect by emission of Auger electron and successive characteristic X-rays. The enhancement factor of gold is more than five. This could be used even for therapy. This new modality must be very important for inspection and therapy of deep cancers. We are making use of our X-band Compton scattering monochromatic keV X-ray source for the inspection. Numerical simulation on monochromatic X-ray CT for possible concentration of gold-colloid DDS considering the X-ray property from the source was done. Enough visibility was confirmed. Furthermore, in vitro experiment analyzed its toxic effect to cells by the Alkaline comet assay and fluorescent immunostaining method for single and double strand breaks of DNA. Availability of clear imaging for the inspection has been confirmed by the numerical simulation and the in-vitro evaluation of the therapy effect is under way. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Oral infection-inflammatory pathway, periodontitis, is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: Several studies have shown that periodontitis is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. There is an association between inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who had periodontitis. Methods and results: We evaluated forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to acetylcholine (ACh), an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an endothelium-independent vasodilator, in 101 CAD patients with periodontitis (37 men and 11 women, 63 +/- 12 yr) and without periodontitis (36 men and 17 women, 62 +/- 13 yr). FBF was measured by using strain-gauge plethysmography. Circulating levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group. FBF response to ACh was significantly smaller in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group. SNP-stimulated vasodilation was similar in the two groups. Periodontal therapy reduced serum concentrations of C-reactive protein from 2.7 +/- 1.9 to 1.8 +/- 0.9 mg/L (P < 0.05) and interleukin-6 from 2.6 +/- 3.4 to 1.6 +/- 2.6 ng/L (P < 0.05) and augmented ACh-induced vasodilation from 14.7 +/- 5.2 to 20.1 +/- 6.1 mL/(min 100 mL) tissue (P < 0.05) in patients with periodontitis. The SNP-stimulated vasodilation was similar before and after treatment. After administration of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, FBF response to ACh was similar before and after treatment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that periodontitis is associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with CAD through a decrease in nitric oxide bioavailability. Systemic inflammation may be, at least in part, a cause and predictor of progression of endothelial dysfunction