Intelligent approach on sensorless control of permanent magnet synchronous generator

In this paper, a standalone permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) system is designed to generate power at maximum power point (MPP). The variable speed operation of wind energy conversion system consists of PMSG, controlled rectifier and voltage source inverter co to the load. Proportional integral (PI), sliding mode (SM), and feed forward neural network (FFNN) control strategies are applied in field oriented control (FOC) at generator side converter. A comparative study on power generated at maximum power point (MPP) is done with these controllers using simulation. Hill climb search (HCS) method is applied to attain MPP. Load side inverter control strategy involves the PI and SM controllers in order to maintain the unity power factor and to control the active and reactive power for nonlinear load. The control strategies are modelled and simulated with MATLAB/Simulink. The effectiveness of proposed control method is demonstrated using simulation results

Distribution scenario of diseases in sugarcane germplasm at Kannur, Kerala

Survey and monitoring were done at monthly intervals during 2017-2019 for the occurrence of diseases in sugarcane germplasm at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute Institute Research Centre, Kannur. The study revealed the occurrence of ring spot in Saccharum species as well as in hybrid clones. Other diseases recorded were smut, rust, stalk rot, banded sclerotial disease and YLD. Among these diseases, only few clones such as IJ 76 552 and 28 NG 82 (Saccharum robustum), Co 844 and Co 62175 (Indian hybrids) were affected by smut. Rust is the common disease in the 32 hybrid clones and in four clones of S. spontaneum viz. IND 81-20, IND 81-74, IND 81-82 and IND 81-83. Only one S. officinarum clone IJ 76 501 was affected by rust till now. Stalk rot was observed mostly in S. officinarum clones and in few hybrid clones, respectively during 2017-2019. For the first time, leaf blight due to banded sclerotial disease was noticed in NG 77-145 of S. robustum, Agoul, Baroukha, Chin and Dark Pindaria of S. barberi and IS 76-168 of S. officinarum during 2019

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa: an underutilized fruit with high nutraceutical values: a review

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Bael) fruit, a member of the Rutaceae family, is a major cultivated fruit plant in tropical and subtropical regions in countries of southeast Asia. Bael fruit has been a major topic for studies in recent years mainly due to its high nutritional (carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and vitamins) value and presence of various phytochemicals, which attributed to its high medicinal value. These phytochemicals include various compounds, e.g., alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, gallic, and ellagic acid). The fruit extract of bael has been also an important study area for its pharmacological activities, including antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, radioprotective, anticancer, antiulcer properties. The current review mainly highlighted the nutritional and pharmacological activities of bael fruit. The nutritional profile and phytochemical profile were discussed in the review, along with their concentration in the fruit. Moreover, the experiments carried out in vivo and in vitro of bael fruit extracts with respect to their pharmacological activities were also discussed in the article. The recent literature based on nutritional and pharmacological values of bael fruit showed its high potential as a food and pharmaceutical product. Despite having high nutritional and pharmacological value, research related to molecular mechanisms of bael fruit is still limited, and clinical trials are needed to ensure its safety as a product in the food and pharma industries

Snakebite and its socio-economic impact on the rural population of Tamil Nadu, India

BACKGROUND: Snakebite represents a significant health issue worldwide, affecting several million people each year with as many as 95,000 deaths. India is considered to be the country most affected, but much remains unknown about snakebite incidence in this country, its socio-economic impact and how snakebite management could be improved. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a study within rural villages in Tamil Nadu, India, which combines a household survey (28,494 people) of snakebite incidence with a more detailed survey of victims in order to understand the health and socio-economic effects of the bite, the treatments obtained and their views about future improvements. Our survey suggests that snakebite incidence is higher than previously reported. 3.9% of those surveyed had suffered from snakebite and the number of deaths corresponds to 0.45% of the population. The socio-economic impact of this is very considerable in terms of the treatment costs and the long-term effects on the health and ability of survivors to work. To reduce this, the victims recommended improvements to the accessibility and affordability of antivenom treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Snakebite has a considerable and disproportionate impact on rural populations, particularly in South Asia. This study provides an incentive for researchers and the public to work together to reduce the incidence and improve the outcomes for snake bite victims and their families

miR396-OsGRFs Module Balances Growth and Rice Blast Disease-Resistance

Fitness cost is a common phenomenon in rice blast disease-resistance breeding. MiR396 is a highly conserved microRNA (miRNA) family targeting Growth Regulating Factor (OsGRF) genes. Mutation at the target site of miR396 in certain OsGRF gene or blocking miR396 expression leads to increased grain yield. Here we demonstrated that fitness cost can be trade-off in miR396-OsGRFs module via balancing growth and immunity against the blast fungus. The accumulation of miR396 isoforms was significantly increased in a susceptible accession, but fluctuated in a resistant accession upon infection of Magnaporthe oryzae. The transgenic lines over-expressing different miR396 isoforms were highly susceptible to M. oryzae. In contrast, overexpressing target mimicry of miR396 to block its function led to enhanced resistance to M. oryzae in addition to improved yield traits. Moreover, transgenic plants overexpressing OsGRF6, OsGRF7, OsGRF8, and OsGRF9 exhibited enhanced resistance to M. oryzae, but showed different alteration of growth. While overexpression of OsGRF7 led to defects in growth, overexpression of OsGRF6, OsGRF8, and OsGRF9 resulted in better or no significant change of yield traits. Collectively, our results indicate that miR396 negatively regulates rice blast disease- resistance via suppressing multiple OsGRFs, which in turn differentially control growth and yield. Therefore, miR396-OsGRFs could be a potential module to demolish fitness cost in rice blast disease-resistance breeding

Prevalence of Depression in a Large Urban South Indian Population — The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (Cures – 70)

BACKGROUND: In India there are very few population based data on prevalence of depression. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of depression in an urban south Indian population. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), involving 26,001 subjects randomly recruited from 46 of the 155 corporation wards of Chennai (formerly Madras) city in South India. 25,455 subjects participated in this study (response rate 97.9%). Depression was assessed using a self-reported and previously validated instrument, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) - 12. Age adjustment was made according to the 2001 census of India. The overall prevalence of depression was 15.1% (age-adjusted, 15.9%) and was higher in females (females 16.3% vs. males 13.9%, p<0.0001). The odds ratio (OR) for depression in female subjects was 1.20 [Confidence Intervals (CI): 1.12-1.28, p<0.001] compared to male subjects. Depressed mood was the most common symptom (30.8%), followed by tiredness (30.0%) while more severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts (12.4%) and speech and motor retardation (12.4%) were less common. There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of depression with age among both female (p<0.001) and male subjects (p<0.001). The prevalence of depression was higher in the low income group (19.3%) compared to the higher income group (5.9%, p<0.001). Prevalence of depression was also higher among divorced (26.5%) and widowed (20%) compared to currently married subjects (15.4%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest population-based study from India to report on prevalence of depression and shows that among urban south Indians, the prevalence of depression was 15.1%. Age, female gender and lower socio-economic status are some of the factors associated with depression in this population

A case of Candida famata sepsis in a very low birth weight infant successfully treated with fluconazole following antifungal susceptibility testing

Late onset of fungal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is common and has a high mortality and morbidity. Many of these infants were also receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. Amphotericin is often started when invasive neonatal candidiasis is suspected and has significant side effects. Antifungal susceptibility testing can be extremely useful in deciding optimal antifungal therapy. We report a case of successful treatment of fungal sepsis due to Candida famata in a VLBW infant where fluconazole was continued in therapeutic dose following sensitivity testing. This case report highlights the growing number of cases arising due to nonalbicans Candida infections in the neonatal intensive care units and the usefulness of antifungal susceptibility testing in deciding optimal antifungal therapy and preventing the emergence of drug resistance