1,362 research outputs found
Low-cost, high-resolution, fault-robust position and speed estimation for PMSM drives operating in safety-critical systems
In this paper it is shown how to obtain a low-cost, high-resolution and fault-robust position sensing system for permanent magnet synchronous motor drives operating in safety-critical systems, by combining high-frequency signal injection with binary Hall-effect sensors. It is shown that the position error signal obtained via high-frequency signal injection can be merged easily into the quantization-harmonic-decoupling vector tracking observer used to process the Hall-effect sensor signals. The resulting algorithm provides accurate, high-resolution estimates of speed and position throughout the entire speed range; compared to state-of-the-art drives using Hall-effect sensors alone, the low speed performance is greatly improved in healthy conditions and also following position sensor faults. It is envisaged that such a sensing system can be successfully used in applications requiring IEC 61508 SIL 3 or ISO 26262 ASIL D compliance, due to its extremely high mean time to failure and to the very fast recovery of the drive following Hall-effect sensor faults at low speeds. Extensive simulation and experimental results are provided on a 3.7 kW permanent magnet drive
Going beyond Local and Global approaches for localized thermal dissipation
Identifying which master equation is preferable for the description of a
multipartite open quantum system is not trivial and has led in the recent years
to the local vs. global debate in the context of Markovian dissipation. We
treat here a paradigmatic scenario in which the system is composed of two
interacting harmonic oscillators A and B, with only A interacting with a
thermal bath - collection of other harmonic oscillators - and we study the
equilibration process of the system initially in the ground state with the bath
finite temperature. We show that the completely positive version of the
Redfield equation obtained using coarse-grain and an appropriate time-dependent
convex mixture of the local and global solutions give rise to the most accurate
semigroup approximations of the whole exact system dynamics, i.e. both at short
and at long time scales, outperforming the local and global approaches
Plant Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology: Following Mariotti's Steps
This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Domenico Mariotti, who significantly contributed to establishing the Italian research community in Agricultural Genetics and carried out the first experiments of Agrobacterium-mediated plant genetic transformation and regeneration in Italy during the 1980s. Following his scientific interests as guiding principles, this review summarizes the recent advances obtained in plant biotechnology and fundamental research aiming to: (i) Exploit in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures to induce genetic variability and to produce useful metabolites; (ii) gain new insights into the biochemical function of Agrobacterium rhizogenes rol genes and their application to metabolite production, fruit tree transformation, and reverse genetics; (iii) improve genetic transformation in legume species, most of them recalcitrant to regeneration; (iv) untangle the potential of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors in plant morphogenesis as key regulators of hormonal homeostasis; and (v) elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the transition from juvenility to the adult phase in Prunus tree species
Electron-phonon coupling in undoped cuprate estimated from Raman and optical conductivity spectra
We study experimentally the Raman response of the undoped high-Tc parent
compound , and give a unified theory of the two-magnon Raman peak
and optical conductivity based on the Hubbard-Holstein model with
electron-phonon coupling (EPC). The Hubbard model without EPC can qualitatively
account for the experimentally observed resonance of the Raman response, but
only the Hubbard-Holstein model (i) reproduces asymmetry of the Raman spectrum,
(ii) validates experimental visibility of the two-magnon peak, and (iii)
predicts the correct shape and energy of the lower edge of the charge transfer
gap in optical conductivity. Comparison of experiments with the theory gives
the EPC strength = 0.6. This result convincingly indicates the vital
role of EPC in high-Tc cuprates providing a clue to the mechanism of high-Tc
Simulation, design, and test of an elliptical surface coil for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy
AbstractThe simplest design of surface coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications is circular and square loops, both producing a magnetic field perpendicular to the coil plane in the central regionâofâinterest (ROI), with an amplitude that decreases along the coil axis. However, a surface coil constituted by a loop with different geometry could be necessary when particular fieldâofâviews (FOVs) are desired, especially for performing imaging in an elongated region. This can be achieved by using an elliptical loop, which can guarantee a wide longitudinal FOV and a good penetration in deep sample regions. This work proposes the application of a method for elliptical coil SignalâtoâNoise Ratio (SNR) estimation previously developed for circular and square loop design, in which coil inductance and resistance are analytically calculated and the magnetic field pattern is estimated using the magnetostatic approach, while the sampleâinduced resistance is calculated with the vector potential calculation method. In the second part of the paper, we propose the simulation and the design of a transmit/receive elliptical coil for MRI in mice with a 3T clinical scanner. We also evaluated the coil performance in a preliminary magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study in phantom
Optimal Advance Angle for Aided Maximum-Speed-Node Design of Switched Reluctance Machines
In the design processes of Switched Reluctance Machines that operate in wide constant power speed ranges, the maximum power available at maximum speed must be evaluated for every machine candidate. This is critical to ensure compliance with the power requirement. Important parameters to include in the design routine include the duration of the energizing period and the advance of the turn-on instant (i.e. advance angle). The latter is highly related to the machine geometry and is usually evaluated through time-consuming finite-element based iterative methods. In this paper, a simple, yet novel analytical model is proposed to cater for the torque-maximising advance angle in a closed-form analytical expression, directly from the machine geometry. The goal is to provide a non-iterative design tool that speeds up the design process. Successful validations against finite element analyses and experimental results on an SR machine prototype are reported. The main outcome of this paper is shown by the improvement in computation time, without any significant loss of accuracy
Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a case of Wolman disease with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
: Wolman Disease (WD) is a severe multi-system metabolic disease due to lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency. We report on a WD infant who developed an unusual hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) phenotype related to WD treated with sebelipase alfa. A male baby came to our attention at six months of life for respiratory insufficiency and sepsis, abdominal distension, severe hepatosplenomegaly, diarrhea, and severe growth retardation. HLH was diagnosed and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, cyclosporine, broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and finally with the anti-IL-6 drug tocilizumab. WD was suspected for the presence of adrenal calcifications and it was confirmed by LAL enzyme activity and by molecular analysis of LIPA. Plasma oxysterols cholestan-3ÎČ,5α,6ÎČ-triol (C-triol), and 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) were markedly increased. Sebelipase alfa was started with progressive amelioration of biochemical and clinical features. The child died from sepsis, 2 months after sebelipase discontinuation requested by parents. Our case shows the importance of an early diagnosis of WD and confirms the difficulty to reach a diagnosis in the HLH phenotype. Sebelipase alpha is an effective treatment for LAL deficiency, also in children affected by WD. Further data are necessary to confirm the utility of measuring plasma c-triol as a biochemical marker of the disease
The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory
The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy
cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at
ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development
of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector
comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen
fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this
paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its
optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for
relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the
monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and
precision of shower reconstructions.Comment: 53 pages. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics
Research Section
Predictors of DAPSA Response in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Treated with Apremilast in a Retrospective Observational Multi-Centric Study (2023-02-07)
Background: To date, only a few real-world-setting studies evaluated apremilast effectiveness in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The aims of this retrospective observational study are to report long-term Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) response of apremilast in PsA patients and to analyze the predictors of clinical response. Methods: All PsA consecutive patients treated with apremilast in fifteen Italian rheumatological referral centers were enrolled. Anamnestic data, treatment history, and PsA disease activity (DAPSA) at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months were recorded. The MannâWhitney test and chi-squared tests assessed the differences between independent groups, whereas the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test assessed the differences between dependent samples. Logistic regressions verified if there were factors associated with achievement of DAPSA low disease activity or remission at 6 and 12 months. Results: DAPSA low disease activity or remission rates at 6 and 12 months were observed, respectively, in 42.7% (n = 125) and 54.9% (n = 161) patients. Baseline DAPSA was inversely associated with the odds of achieving low disease activity or remission at 6 months (odds ratio (OR) 0.841, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.804â0.879; p < 0.01) and at 12 months (OR 0.911, 95% CI 0.883â0.939; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Almost half of the PsA patients receiving apremilast achieved DAPSA low disease activity or remission at 6 and 12 months. The only factor associated with achievement of low disease activity or remission at both 6 and 12 months was baseline DAPSA
Anisotropy studies around the galactic centre at EeV energies with the Auger Observatory
Data from the Pierre Auger Observatory are analyzed to search for
anisotropies near the direction of the Galactic Centre at EeV energies. The
exposure of the surface array in this part of the sky is already significantly
larger than that of the fore-runner experiments. Our results do not support
previous findings of localized excesses in the AGASA and SUGAR data. We set an
upper bound on a point-like flux of cosmic rays arriving from the Galactic
Centre which excludes several scenarios predicting sources of EeV neutrons from
Sagittarius . Also the events detected simultaneously by the surface and
fluorescence detectors (the `hybrid' data set), which have better pointing
accuracy but are less numerous than those of the surface array alone, do not
show any significant localized excess from this direction.Comment: Matches published versio
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