Componential coding in the condition monitoring of electrical machines Part 2: application to a conventional machine and a novel machine

This paper (Part 2) presents the practical application of componential coding, the principles of which were described in the accompanying Part 1 paper. Four major issues are addressed, including optimization of the neural network, assessment of the anomaly detection results, development of diagnostic approaches (based on the reconstruction error) and also benchmarking of componential coding with other techniques (including waveform measures, Fourier-based signal reconstruction and principal component analysis). This is achieved by applying componential coding to the data monitored from both a conventional induction motor and from a novel transverse flux motor. The results reveal that machine condition monitoring using componential coding is not only capable of detecting and then diagnosing anomalies but it also outperforms other conventional techniques in that it is able to separate very small and localized anomalies

Les facteurs associés au refus de participer à un essai clinique: l’anesthésie péridurale est un élément dissuasif

Purpose To compare patients who participate in a clinical trial for pain management involving epidural anesthesia to those who refuse and document their reasons for refusing. Methods Demographic and health history information was collected from 621 female patients who were screened for inclusion in a pain management trial involving epidural anesthesia. Patients who completed the clinical trial (n = 149) were compared to those who consented to provide screening information but did not enter the trial (n = 472). Results Sixty-seven percent of women who refused cited unwillingness to have an epidural as the reason for their decision. Non-Caucasians (P < 0.01), patients with no history of mood/anxiety disorders (P < 0.0 16) or systemic disease (P < 0.02), and patients with certain types of pain (P < 0.02) were more likely to refuse to participate in the clinical trial. A longer duration between recruitment and surgery was also found to be associated with higher participation rates (P < 0.01). A logistic regression equation significantly predicted which patients would participate or refuse (P < 0.0001), indicating that a specific set of health and demographic factors strongly influence the decision to participate in a trial. Conclusions The decision to participate in a clinical trial is viewed as a risk/benefit analysis. Factors such as short recruitment to surgery intervals and pre-existing pain, which increase the salience of risks associated with the trial, may result in lower participation rates. Overall, epidural anesthesia is a strong deterrent to participation in a clinical trial.Objectif Comparer les patients qui refusent de participer à des essais cliniques sur l’analgésie comportant l’anesthésie péridurale et documenter les raisons de leur refus. Méthode Les données démographiques et médicales ont été recueillies auprès de 621 femmes choisies pour participer à un essai sur le traitement de la douleur comportant l’anesthésie péridurale. Les patientes qui ont participé à l’essai clinique (n = 149) ont été comparées à celles qui ont accepté de fournir les informations nécessaires à la sélection mais qui n’ont pas fait partie de l’étude (n = 472). Résultats Des femmes qui n’ont pas voulu participer à l’essai, 67 % ont justifé leur décision par le refus d’une anesthésie péridurale. Les patientes de race non blanche (P < 0,01), sans antécédents de trouble de l’humeur ou d’anxiété (P < 0,016) ou de maladie systémique (P < 0,02), et celles qui présentaient certains types de douleur (P < 0,02) avaient davantage tendance à refuser de participer. Un plus long intervalle entre le recrutement et l’intervention chirurgicale était aussi associé à un taux plus élevé de participation (P < 0,01). Une équation de régression logistique a permis de prédire de façon signifcative quelles patientes allaient participer ou non (P < 0,0001), indiquant qu’un ensemble spécifique de facteurs médicaux et démographiques influencent fortement la décision. Conclusion La décision de participer à un essai clinique a été considérée comme une analyse risques-avantages. Des facteurs comme un court intervalle entre le recrutement et l’opération et des douleurs préexistantes augmentent les possibilités de risques associés à l’essai et peuvent entraîner de faibles taux de participation. Dans l’ensemble, l’anesthésie péridurale est un élément dissuasif important de participation à un essai clinique.Supported in part by Grant #MOP-37845 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Ontario, Canada, a CIHR Investigator Award to Dr. Katz, and Grant #NS35480 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Nutrition in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease that causes neurological disability in young adults. Etiology of the disease is still unknown, but it has an immune-mediated basis and occurs in genetically susceptible individuals. Nutritional status and dietary habits in MS patients have not been extensively studied or reported, however individual findings suggest that many patients suffer from various forms of malnutrition. In patients with MS, malnutrition has been associated with impairment of the immune system; it affects mental function, respiratory muscle strength and increases a risk of specific nutrient deficiencies. These findings emphasize the need for nutritional support in MS patients. On the other hand, several nutritional compounds have been investigated as a possible treatment in MS, mostly polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D, however their role in the treatment is yet to be confirmed. The aim of this review is to present data on the role of nutritional assessment and treatment in patients with MS

A Concept of Power Generator using Wind Turbine, Hydrodynamic Retarder, and Organic Rankine Cycle Drive

This paper describes a concept of electric power generating system that uses a wind turbine to generate kinetic energy which converts heat through a hydrodynamic retarder. The heat so generated is utilized to drive an organic Rankine cycle that converts thermal energy into electricity power for continuous and undisrupted supply during the year. A hydrodynamic retarder converts kinetic energy into heat through hot fluid by directing the flow of the fluid into the hydrodynamic retarder in a manner that resists rotation of blades of the wind turbine. The hot fluid circulating in the hydrodynamic retarder is a thermal heat source for vapor regeneration of organic heat exchange fluid mixture(s) used in the Rankine cycle. The expansion of the organic heat exchange fluid gets converted into rotation of the generator rotor