An Effective Model-Free Predictive Current Control for Synchronous Reluctance Motor Drives

The performances of a model predictive control algorithm largely depend on the knowledge of the system model. A model-free predictive control approach skips all the effects of parameters variations or mismatches, as well as of model nonlinearity and uncertainties. A finite-set model-free current predictive control is proposed in this paper. The current variations predictions induced by the eight base inverter voltage vectors are estimated by means of the previous measurements stored into lookup tables. To keep the current variations information up to date, the three current measurements due to the three most recent feeding voltages are combined together to reconstruct all the others. The reconstruction is performed by taking advantage of the relationships between the three different base voltage vectors involved in the process. In particular, 210 possible combinations of three-state voltage vectors can be found, but they can be gathered together in six different groups. A light and computationally fast algorithm for the group identification is proposed in this paper. Finally, the current reconstruction for the prediction of future steps is thoroughly analyzed. A compensation of the motor rotation effect on the input voltages is proposed, too. The control scheme is evaluated by means of both simulation and experimental evidences on two different synchronous reluctance motors

Motor Parameter-Free Predictive Current Control of Synchronous Motors by Recursive Least-Square Self-Commissioning Model

This article deals with a finite-set model predictive current control in synchronous motor drives. The peculiarity is that it does not require the knowledge of any motor parameter. The inherent advantage of this method is that the control is self-adapting to any synchronous motor, thus easing the matching between motor and inverter coming from different manufacturers. Overcoming the flaws of the existing lookup table based parameter-free techniques, the article elaborates the past current measurements by a recursive least-square algorithm to estimate the future behavior of the current in response to a finite set of voltage vectors. The article goes through the mathematical basis of the algorithm till a complete set of experiments that prove the feasibility and the advantages of the proposed technique

Contributions of implicit memory strategies to the rehabilitation of an amnesic patient: case report

Even severe amnesic patients usually are able to learn new information using implicit memory strategies. In the present study we describe our experience in the rehabilitation of an amnesic patient who had suffered cerebral anoxia. He was taught to use a computer text editor, enabling him to sheltered work. The training program lasted 14 weeks and was based on errorless learning and drilling practice techniques. The patient succeeded in all tasks, even though he could not remember accurately the training sessions. These results meet previous studies which point out that interaction between implicit and residual explicit memory can provide a basis new learning in amnesic patients. The domain-specific knowledge acquisition is demonstrating effectiveness in neuropsychological rehabilitation of brain injured patients.Mesmo pacientes severamente amnésticos são capazes de aprender informações novas, apoiados em estratégias de memória implícita. No presente estudo descrevemos uma experiência de reabilitação neuropsicológica, em que um paciente amnéstico, portador de lesão cerebral por anóxia, foi submetido a treino para uso de computador, visando sua capacitação semi-profissional. O treinamento teve duração de 14 semanas, e as técnicas de ensino utilizadas foram a prática repetitiva e a aprendizagem sem erros. O paciente obteve sucesso na realização das tarefas propostas, aprendendo a operar um editor de textos e mantendo o aprendizado após a passagem do tempo. Apesar disso, lembrava-se apenas vagamente da situação de aprendizagem. O presente estudo corrobora trabalhos anteriores que observam a interação entre mecanismos de memória implícita e resíduos de memória explícita operando na aquisição de conhecimentos em pacientes amnésticos. A aprendizagem de conhecimentos específicos vem se mostrando eficiente para a reabilitação de pacientes que sofreram lesões cerebrais.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

A sensorless initial rotor position's estimation for permanent magnet synchronous machines

Permanent magnet synchronous motors for the effective start require information about the initial position of a rotor. In this regard, most systems use position sensors, which substantially increase entirely a cost of an electrical drive [1-3]. The aim of this article is to develop a new method, allowing determining the absolute angular position of the permanent magnet synchronous motors' rotor [4,5]. With a certain voltage pulses applied to the motor, its stator is magnetized by currents leakage in the windings. This allows using a special algorithm to calculate the absolute position of the rotor without using any motor parameters [6]. Simulation results prove the simplicity and efficiency of this method for determining an initial position of the permanent magnet synchronous motors' rotor. Thus, this method can be widely used in the electrical industry

Comparison of two novel MRAS strategies for identifying parameters in permanent magnet synchronous motors

Two Model Reference Adaptive System (MRAS) estimators are developed for identifying the parameters of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) based on Lyapunov stability theorem and Popov stability criterion, respectively. The proposed estimators only need online detection of currents, voltages and rotor rotation speed, and are effective in the estimation of stator resistance, inductance and rotor flux-linkage simultaneously. Their performances are compared and verified through simulations and experiments. It shows that the two estimators are simple and have good robustness against parameter variation and are accurate in parameter tracking. However, the estimator based on Popov stability criterion, which can overcome the parameter variation in a practical system, is superior in terms of response speed and convergence speed since there are both proportional and integral units in the estimator in contrast to only one integral unit in the estimator based on Lyapunov stability theorem. In addition, there is no need of the expert experience which is required in designing a Lyapunov function

Degradation of high affinity HuD targets releases Kv1.1 mRNA from miR-129 repression by mTORC1

Little is known about how a neuron undergoes site-specific changes in intrinsic excitability during neuronal activity. We provide evidence for a novel mechanism for mTORC1 kinase–dependent translational regulation of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.1 messenger RNA (mRNA). We identified a microRNA, miR-129, that repressed Kv1.1 mRNA translation when mTORC1 was active. When mTORC1 was inactive, we found that the RNA-binding protein, HuD, bound to Kv1.1 mRNA and promoted its translation. Unexpectedly, inhibition of mTORC1 activity did not alter levels of miR-129 and HuD to favor binding to Kv1.1 mRNA. However, reduced mTORC1 signaling caused the degradation of high affinity HuD target mRNAs, freeing HuD to bind Kv1.1 mRNA. Hence, mTORC1 activity regulation of mRNA stability and high affinity HuD-target mRNA degradation mediates the bidirectional expression of dendritic Kv1.1 ion channels

Database for mRNA Half-Life of 19 977 Genes Obtained by DNA Microarray Analysis of Pluripotent and Differentiating Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Degradation of mRNA is one of the key processes that control the steady-state level of gene expression. However, the rate of mRNA decay for the majority of genes is not known. We successfully obtained the rate of mRNA decay for 19 977 non-redundant genes by microarray analysis of RNA samples obtained from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Median estimated half-life was 7.1 h and only <100 genes, including Prdm1, Myc, Gadd45 g, Foxa2, Hes5 and Trib1, showed half-life less than 1 h. In general, mRNA species with short half-life were enriched among genes with regulatory functions (transcription factors), whereas mRNA species with long half-life were enriched among genes related to metabolism and structure (extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton). The stability of mRNAs correlated more significantly with the structural features of genes than the function of genes: mRNA stability showed the most significant positive correlation with the number of exon junctions per open reading frame length, and negative correlation with the presence of PUF-binding motifs and AU-rich elements in 3′-untranslated region (UTR) and CpG di-nucleotides in the 5′-UTR. The mRNA decay rates presented in this report are the largest data set for mammals and the first for ES cells

siRNA Off-Target Effects Can Be Reduced at Concentrations That Match Their Individual Potency

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are routinely used to reduce mRNA levels for a specific gene with the goal of studying its function. Several studies have demonstrated that siRNAs are not always specific and can have many off-target effects. The 3′ UTRs of off-target mRNAs are often enriched in sequences that are complementary to the seed-region of the siRNA. We demonstrate that siRNA off-targets can be significantly reduced when cells are treated with a dose of siRNA that is relatively low (e.g. 1 nM), but sufficient to effectively silence the intended target. The reduction in off-targets was demonstrated for both modified and unmodified siRNAs that targeted either STAT3 or hexokinase II. Low concentrations reduced silencing of transcripts with complementarity to the seed region of the siRNA. Similarly, off-targets that were not complementary to the siRNA were reduced at lower doses, including up-regulated genes that are involved in immune response. Importantly, the unintended induction of caspase activity following treatment with a siRNA that targeted hexokinase II was also shown to be a concentration-dependent off-target effect. We conclude that off-targets and their related phenotypic effects can be reduced for certain siRNA that potently silence their intended target at low concentrations

Low infra red laser light irradiation on cultured neural cells: effects on mitochondria and cell viability after oxidative stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Considerable interest has been aroused in recent years by the well-known notion that biological systems are sensitive to visible light. With clinical applications of visible radiation in the far-red to near-infrared region of the spectrum in mind, we explored the effect of coherent red light irradiation with extremely low energy transfer on a neural cell line derived from rat pheochromocytoma. We focused on the effect of pulsed light laser irradiation vis-à-vis two distinct biological effects: neurite elongation under NGF stimulus on laminin-collagen substrate and cell viability during oxidative stress.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a 670 nm laser, with extremely low peak power output (3 mW/cm²) and at an extremely low dose (0.45 mJ/cm²). Neurite elongation was measured over three days in culture. The effect of coherent red light irradiation on cell reaction to oxidative stress was evaluated through live-recording of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) using JC1 vital dye and laser-confocal microscopy, in the absence (photo bleaching) and in the presence (oxidative stress) of H₂O₂, and by means of the MTT cell viability assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that laser irradiation stimulates NGF-induced neurite elongation on a laminin-collagen coated substrate and protects PC12 cells against oxidative stress.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that red light radiation protects the viability of cell culture in case of oxidative stress, as indicated by MMP measurement and MTT assay. It also stimulates neurite outgrowth, and this effect could also have positive implications for axonal protection.</p