Design of Enhanced MPPT Techniques for Solar and Wind Energy Conversion Systems in a Microgrid

DC Microgrid is one feasible and effective solution to integrate renewable energy sources as well as to supply electricity. This paper proposes the enhanced Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques for wind and solar energy systems in a microgrid. In this paper, the PV system power generation is enhanced by introducing a two-model MPPT technique that combines incremental conductance and constant voltage MPPT algorithms. Also, for the Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) with pitch angle controlling technique, an Optimal Power Control MPPT technique is added. The Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation technique is introduced on grid side converter to improve the supply to the grid. The performance of proposed system is analyzed and the efficiency obtained with these methods is enhanced as compared with the MPPT methods that work independently. Keywords: PV system, WECS, two-model MPPT, Optimal Power Control, SVPWM technique

Ezetimibe in combination with a statin does not reduce all-cause mortality

BACKGROUND: Although the ezetimibe-statin combination has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by 12% compared to a statin alone, its effect on hard clinical endpoints such as mortality is less certain. Prior trials evaluated this combination in highly select population groups, but impact on all- cause mortality in the general population has not been reported. METHODS: A total of 3,827 subjects who were prescribed either a statin (group 1) or the combination of statin with ezetimibe (group 2) between January 1st, 2005 and January 1st, 2008 were studied. Socio-demographic and clinical variables and mortality records were analyzed. Univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the impact of ezetimibe on all-cause mortality, controlling for patient characteristics, selected cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, and medications. RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 2,909), and group 2 (n = 918) were similar in regards to most demographic variables, 152 patients died from any cause during the study period. There was no difference in all cause mortality between the groups. Hypertension, higher HDL-C and omega-3 fatty acid use were associated with ezetimibe use in this cohort of patients and were considered as covariates in the analysis. Patients on the drug combination did not experience lower mortality after controlling for covariates and other significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: No significant mortality benefit was found with the use of ezetimibe in combination with a statin over use of a statin alone. Omega-3 fatty acid use and higher HDL-C demonstrated a substantial survival benefit

Multiple Antibiotic Resistance pattern of Vibrio harveyi from Luminous Vibriosis affected cultured Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus monodon in Andhra Pradesh, India

An investigation was undertaken to determine the extent of antibiotic resistance exhibited by Vibrio harveyi, isolated from diseased Penaeus monodon, collected from culture ponds located in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 159 isolates of Vibrio harveyi, of which 110 are from four Modified-Extensive ponds (ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4) and 49 are from four Semi-Intensive ponds (SIA, SIB, SIC, SID), were screened for their susceptibility to 22 antibiotics. All the isolates from ME and SI ponds were resistant to penicillin G and 100% susceptibility was observed in the case of all the isolates of ME ponds towards Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin. The isolates from ME ponds were more resistant than those from SI ponds and the isolates of ME 1 pond exhibited 100% resistance towards eight antibiotics, whereas those of SI ponds were 100% resistant to only one antibiotic. A significant difference was observed in the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) of the isolates from ME ponds, whereas the difference was not significant in the case of isolates from SI ponds. MAR against 4 - 10 antibiotics was highest in the isolates from pond ME 4 (90.5%), followed by those from ME 3 (76.7%) and ME 2 (11.4%) and it was highest with 40 % in the isolates from SI D pond. The study revealed the occurrence of highly virulent strains of Vibrio harveyi in shrimp culture ponds, which developed resistance to many antibiotics due to indiscriminate usage of antibiotics

Isolation and characterization of a novel agarolytic bacterium vibrio SP.B4-6A from coral reef ecosystem off Tutiocorin

Isolation and characterization of a novel agarolytic bacterium vibrio SP.B4-6A from coral reef ecosystem off Tutiocori

Development of innovative automated solutions for the assembly of multifunctional thermoplastic composite fuselage

In this study, the development of innovative tooling and end-effector systems for the assembly of a multifunctional thermoplastic fuselage is presented. The increasing demand for cleaner and new aircraft requires utilising novel materials and technologies. Advanced thermoplastic composites provide an excellent material option thanks to their weldability, low density, low overall production cost, improved fracture toughness and recyclability. However, to fully appreciate their potentials, new manufacturing approaches and techniques are needed. Hence, this project develops three end-effector solutions to demonstrate the feasibility of assembling a full-scale multifunctional-integrated thermoplastic lower fuselage shell, including the integration of a fully equipped floor and cargo structure. The developed assembly solution comprises three individual yet well-integrated tooling systems that allow housing the skin and assembly; picking, placing and welding of the assembly parts, i.e. clips and stringers; and welding of frames and floor beam sub-assemblies. The process of developing these systems including the end-user requirements, technical challenges, tooling and end-effectors design and manufacturing process are detailed in this paper.This study is part of the TCTool project, which has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 865131. Project partners: GKN-Fokker Aerospace (Topic Manager), TWI Ltd., Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development – Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies, Brunel University London (Brunel Composites Centre), London South Bank University, Acroflight Ltd., and Smart Advanced Manufacturing XL (SAM|XL)

Biodegradation of the pyrethroid pesticide Cyflutrin by the halophilic Bacterium Photobacterium Ganghwense isolated from Coral Reef Ecosystem

Biodegradation of the pyrethroid pesticide Cyflutrin by the halophilic Bacterium Photobacterium Ganghwense isolated from Coral Reef Ecosyste

Biodegradation of the pyrethroid pesticide cyfluthrin by the halophilic bacterium Photobacterium ganghwense isolated from coral reef ecosystem

A halophilic bacterial strain T14 isolated from the mucus of coral Acropora formosa was found to be highly effective in degrading the pyrethroid pesticide, cyfluthrin. T14 was identified as Photobacterium ganghwense (GenBank Accession No. MT360254) based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The pyrethroid degrading efficiency of P. ganghwense T14 strain was examined under different culture conditions. It was observed that P. ganghwense T14 was able to utilise cyfluthrin as a sole carbon source and was found to grow on mineral medium with pesticide concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg l-1

Characterization and antibacterial activity of violacein producing deep purple pigmented bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea (Gauthier, 1982) isolated from coral reef ecosystems

The present study describes the isolation, characterization and antibacterial activity of two strains of the deep purple pigmented bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea designated P42 (Accession no. MN647538) and M64 (Accession no. MN647537), isolated from two coral reef regions viz. Minicoy Lagoon in the Lakshadweep Sea and Palk Bay, off Olaikuda village in Tamil Nadu, India. Ultrastructural examinations were done using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Presence of violacein pigment was qualitatively analysed by chemical methods; UV-VIS spectrophotometry and FTIR spectroscopy. The strains, P42 and M64 were found to have antibacterial activity against 13 out of the 36 marine bacterial species tested. Antibiogram analysis revealed the sensitivity of both the strains to all the antibiotics tested, except for the resistance of P42 to Penicillin G and Trimethoprim. This study reports the isolation and characterization of P. luteoviolacea for the first time from India. Since both the isolated strains have shown clear evidence for the presence of violacein as well as antibacterial activity against selected marine bacteria, both P42 and M64 can be suggested as potent antibacterial agents