An adaptive differentiation filter for tracking instantaneous frequency in power systems

Copyright © 2007 IEEEThis paper presents an application of adaptive differentiation filter in tracking instantaneous frequency in electrical power systems. For each new sample, the filter automatically selects an optimal window length that maximizes measurement accuracy. Large window length is selected if the frequency is slow varying or steady state, to increase efficiency in filtering noise and harmonics. For fast-varying frequency, the window length is automatically reduced in order to make frequency tracking more accurate, sacrificing filtering efficiency. Automatic selection of the optimal window length that balances between tracking and filtering performance is the unique feature of this technique. This paper concludes with the presentation of the representative results obtained in the simulation study as well as in some practical applications. The results show the adaptive differentiation filter gives accurate frequency measurement under both steady-state and dynamic conditions.Rastko Zivanovi

Identification of the resonant-grounded system parameters by evaluating fault measurement records

Copyright © 2004 IEEEThe operation of a resonant-grounded network during an earth-fault condition depends on the three basic parameters: damping, detuning, and unbalance factor. These parameters are influenced by the environmental conditions (e.g. humidity, temperature, and pollution), and the network topology. Accurate values of these parameters during an earth-fault condition are required to examine the operation of the compensation system. The fault records could be used for that purpose. The recorded neutral-to-ground voltage signals have been parameterized (using damping and detuning as parameters) according to the mathematical model of the transient process. Iteratively reweighted least squares algorithm has been used to fit the model. This algorithm is the major improvement over the classical least squares approach. It is able to filter out noise more efficiently. As a direct result, very accurate parameter identification has been achieved. This paper concludes with the practical examples.Rastko Zivanovic´, Peter Schegner, Olaf Seifert, and Georg Pil

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Tuber Quality as Measured by Starch and Cyanide (HCN) Affected by Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizer Rates

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important subsistence crop for many poor rural families in Africa. Cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides (linamarin and lotaustralin) which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) during tuber processing. Once liberated, HCN attaches to the processed tuber. Continuous consumption of processed tuber containing high HCN concentration coupled with low protein intake causes Konzo – a paralyzing disorder that impacts children and women of childbearing age. There are ways to reduce HCN concentration during tuber processing; however, this can also reduce the overall starch content in the cassava tuber. A study comprising twenty treatments consisting of different combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer rates was initiated in 2013 in the coastal Dondo District of Mozambique to assess cassava tuber quality as measured by starch and HCN. Significant differences were observed in starch content (CSC) of unprocessed tubers due to combined addition of N, P and K fertilizer rates, sample size, and estimation procedure. However, no significant differences were observed in HCN concentration in tubers due to the addition of N, P and K fertilizer. The HCN concentration in cassava tuber appears to be a function of the physiology of the crop or possibly cassava variety rather than the environment or conditions under which the crop is grown

Targeting Survivin with YM155 (Sepantronium Bromide): A novel therapeutic strategy for paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia

Despite aggressive chemotherapy, approximately one-third of children with acute myeloid leukaemia(AML) relapse. More effective treatments are urgently needed. Survivin is an inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein with key roles in regulating cell division, proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, high expression of Survivin has been associated with poor clinical outcome in AML. The Survivin suppressant YM155 (Sepantronium Bromide) has pre-clinical activity against a range of solid cancers and leukemias, although data in AML is limited. Therefore, we undertook a comprehensive pre-clinical evaluation of YM155 in paediatric AML. YM155 potently inhibited cell viability in a diverse panel of AML cell lines. All paediatric cell lines were particularly sensitive, with a median IC50 of 0.038 mu M. Cell cycle analyses demonstrated concentration-dependent increases in a sub-G1 population with YM155 treatment, suggestive of apoptosis that was subsequently confirmed by an increase in annexin-V positivity. YM155-mediated apoptosis was confirmed across a panel of 8 diagnostic bone marrow samples from children with AML. Consistent with the proposed mechanism of action, YM155 treatment was associated with down-regulation of Survivin mRNA and protein expression and induction of DNA damage

MDCT: Angiography of anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery

The aim of this study was to detect and describe the existence and incidence of anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The study was conducted on 150 persons, who underwent abdominal Multi- Detector Computer Tomography (MDCT) angiography, from April 2010 until November 2012. CT images were obtained with a 64-row MDCT scanner in order to analyze the vascular anatomy and anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. In our study, we found that 78% of patients have a classic anatomy of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The most frequent variation was the origin of the common hepatic artery from the superior mesenteric artery (10%). The next variation, according to frequency, was the origin of the left gastric artery direct from the abdominal aorta (4%). The arc of Buhler as an anastomosis between the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery, was detected in 3% of cases, as was the presence of a common trunk of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (in 3% of cases). Separate origin of the splenic artery and the common hepatic artery was present in 2% of patients. The MDCT scanner gives us an insight into normal anatomy and variations of the abdominal blood vessels, which is very important in the planning of surgical interventions, especially transplantation, as well as in the prevention of complications due to ischemia

DFFR: A New Method for High-Throughput Recalibration of Automatic Force-Fields for Drugs

We present drug force-field recalibration (DFFR), a new method for refining of automatic force-fields used to represent small drugs in docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The method is based on fine-tuning of torsional terms to obtain ensembles that reproduce observables derived from reference data. DFFR is fast and flexible and can be easily automatized for a high-throughput regime, making it useful in drug-design projects. We tested the performance of the method in a few model systems and also in a variety of druglike molecules using reference data derived from: (i) density functional theory coupled to a self-consistent reaction field (DFT/SCRF) calculations on highly populated conformers and (ii) enhanced sampling quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) where the drug is reproduced at the QM level, while the solvent is represented by classical force-fields. Extension of the method to include other sources of reference data is discussed

UV-B Radiation Impacts Shoot Tissue Pigment Composition in Allium fistulosum L. Cultigens

Plants from the Allium genus are valued worldwide for culinary flavor and medicinal attributes. In this study, 16 cultigens of bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) were grown in a glasshouse under filtered UV radiation (control) or supplemental UV-B radiation [7.0 mol⋅m −2 ⋅s −2 (2.68 W⋅m −2 )] to determine impacts on growth, physiological parameters, and nutritional quality. Supplemental UV-B radiation influenced shoot tissue carotenoid concentrations in some, but not all, of the bunching onions. Xanthophyll carotenoid pigments lutein and -carotene and chlorophylls a and b in shoot tissues differed between UV-B radiation treatments and among cultigens. Cultigen "Pesoenyj" responded to supplemental UV-B radiation with increases in the ratio of zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin to zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin + violaxanthin, which may indicate a flux in the xanthophyll carotenoids towards deepoxydation, commonly found under high irradiance stress. Increases in carotenoid concentrations would be expected to increase crop nutritional values

Influence of Application of Hottels Zonal Model and Six-Flux Model of Thermal Radiation on Numerical Simulations Results of Pulverized Coal Fired Furnace

Difference of results of numerical simulation of pulverized coal fired furnace when mathematical models contain various radiation models has been described in the paper. Two sets of numerical simulations of pulverized coal fired furnace of 210 MWe power boiler have been performed. One numerical simulation has contained Hottels zonal model, whereas the other numerical simulation has contained six-flux model. Other details of numerical simulations have been identical. The influence of radiation models has been examined through comparison of selected variables (gas-phase temperature, oxygen concentration, and absorbed radiative heat rate of surface zones of rear and right furnace walls), selected global parameters of furnace operation (total absorbed heat rate by all furnace walls and furnace exit gas-phase temperature). Computation time has been compared as well. Spatially distributed variables have been compared through maximal local differences and mean differences. Maximal local difference of gas-phase temperature has been 8.44%. Maximal local difference of absorbed radiative heat rate of the surface zones has been almost 80.0%. Difference of global parameters of furnace operation has been expressed in percents of value obtained by mathematical model containing Hottels zonal model and has not been bigger than 7.0%. Computation time for calculation of 1000 iterations has been approximately the same. Comparison with other radiation models is necessary for assessment of differences

Electronic patient-reported outcomes from home in patients recovering from major gynecologic cancer surgery: A prospective study measuring symptoms and health-related quality of life

We previously reported on the feasibility of a Web-based system to capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the immediate postoperative period. The purpose of this study was to update the experience of these patients and assess patient and provider satisfaction and feedback regarding the system