General Anesthesia and the Young Brain: The Importance of Novel Strategies with Alternate Mechanisms of Action

Over the past three decades, we have been grappling with rapidly accumulating evidence that general anesthetics (GAs) may not be as innocuous for the young brain as we previously believed. The growing realization comes from hundreds of animal studies in numerous species, from nematodes to higher mammals. These studies argue that early exposure to commonly used GAs causes widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration in brain regions critical to cognition and socio-emotional development, kills a substantial number of neurons in the young brain, and, importantly, results in lasting disturbances in neuronal synaptic communication within the remaining neuronal networks. Notably, these outcomes are often associated with long-term impairments in multiple cognitive-affective domains. Not only do preclinical studies clearly demonstrate GA-induced neurotoxicity when the exposures occur in early life, but there is a growing body of clinical literature reporting similar cognitive-affective abnormalities in young children who require GAs. The need to consider alternative GAs led us to focus on synthetic neuroactive steroid analogues that have emerged as effective hypnotics, and analgesics that are apparently devoid of neurotoxic effects and long-term cognitive impairments. This would suggest that certain steroid analogues with different cellular targets and mechanisms of action may be safe alternatives to currently used GAs. Herein we summarize our current knowledge of neuroactive steroids as promising novel GAs.     

Clocked CMOS adiabatic logic with integrated single-phasepower-clock supply

The design and experimental evaluation of a clocked adiabatic logic (GAL) is described in this paper. CAL is a dual-rail logic that operates from a single-phase AC power-clock supply. This new low-energy logic makes it possible to integrate all power control circuitry on the chip, resulting in better system efficiency, lower cost, and simpler power distribution. CAL can also be operated from a DC power supply in a nonenergy-recovery mode compatible with standard CMOS logic. In the adiabatic mode, the power-clock supply waveform is generated using an on-chip switching transistor and a small external inductor between the chip and a low-voltage DC supply. Circuit operation and performance are evaluated using a chain of inverters realized in a 1.2 μm CMOS technology. Experimental results show that energy savings are achieved at clock frequencies up to about 40 MHz as compared to the nonadiabatic mode. Since CAL can operate both in adiabatic and nonadiabatic modes, power management strategies may be based upon switching between modes when necessary     

Half-cycle control of the parallel resonant converter operated as ahigh power factor rectifier

A half-cycle control technique for the parallel resonant power converter operated as a high power factor rectifier is introduced in this paper. Switching of the bridge power transistors is determined such that the bridge input current averaged over a half switching cycle exactly follows the reference proportional to the input voltage. Zero current switching and below-resonance operation are guaranteed, while control of the input current is the fastest possible, regardless of the operating point. In contrast to conventional regulators, the performance is preserved under both small and large signal variations, and also for large variations of the power-stage parameter values. Fast response, stability and robustness are experimentally verified on a 1.4 kW prototype     

System identification of power converters with digital control through cross-correlation methods

For digitally controlled switching power converters, on-line system identification can be used to assess the system dynamic responses and stability margins. This paper presents a modified correlation method for system identification of power converters with digital control. By injecting a multiperiod pseudo random binary signal (PRBS) to the control input of a power converter, the system frequency response can be derived by cross-correlation of the input signal and the sensed output signal. Compared to the conventional cross-correlation method, averaging the cross-correlation over multiple periods of the injected PRBS can significantly improve the identification results in the presence of PRBS-induced artifacts, switching and quantization noises. An experimental digitally controlled forward converter with an FPGA-based controller is used to demonstrate accurate and effective identification of the converter control-to-output response.     

Feedforward pulse width modulators for switching power converters

This paper describes pulse width modulators (PWMs) that employ feedforward compensation to improve the steady-state and dynamic responses of power converters. It is shown how ideal feedforward PWMs (FF-PWMs) can be constructed for all duty-ratio controlled switch-mode power converters operating in the continuous conduction mode. A power converter with FF-PWM behaves at low frequencies as a linear power amplifier with constant gain independent of operating conditions. The proposed FF-PWM can be easily implemented using the same building blocks found in conventional PWM controllers. Experimental and simulation examples are included to illustrate applications of the FF-PWM     

On-chip system level protection of FM antenna pin with improved linearity

An on-chip protection against IEC 61000-4-2 discharges is presented. The protection level is tested by means of HMM stress. The failure signature is identified by means of TLP testing and physical failure analysis. It is shown that it is possible to accurately predict the HMM failure level by means of a simplified circuit model, calibrated by means of 100 ns TLP data. A second version of the on-chip protection combines an improved linearity of the FM output with a superior ESD performance.     

Contribution of lactic acid fermentation to improved nutritive quality vegetable juices enriched with brewer’s yeast autolysate

Vegetables are rich sources of the biologically active compounds which have beneficial effects in prevention of some diseases and certain types of cancer. From the point of view of protection and health, the objective of this paper was to optimize food content in order to obtain a functional food. In order to improve the nutritive and protective properties of the product, the beetroot and carrot juices enriched with brewer’s yeast autolysate were subjected to lactic-acid fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDO1748.     

A general approach to synthesis and analysis of quasi-resonantconverters

A method for systematic synthesis of quasi-resonant (QR) topologies by addition of resonant elements to a parent pulse-width modulation (PWM) converter network is proposed. It is found that there are six QR classes with two resonant elements, including two novel classes. More complex QR converters can be generated by a recursive application of the synthesis method. Topological definitions of all known and novel QR classes follow directly from the synthesis method and topological properties of PWM parents. The synthesis of QR converters is augmented by a study of possible switch realizations and operating modes. In particular, it is demonstrated that a controllable rectifier can be used to accomplish the constant-frequency control in all QR classes. Links between the QR converters and the underlying PWM networks are extended to general DC and small-signal AC models in which the model of the PWM parent is explicitly exposed. Results of steady-state analyses of selected QR classes and operating modes include boundaries of operating regions, DC characteristics, a comparison of switching transitions and switch stresses, and a discussion of relevant design trade-offs     

Modeling of Quantization Effects in Digitally Controlled DC–DC Converters

In digitally controlled dc-dc converters with a single voltage feedback loop, the two quantizers, namely the analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and the digital pulse-width modulator (DPWM), can cause undesirable limit-cycle oscillations. In this paper, static and dynamic models that include the quantization effects are derived and used to explain the origins of limit-cycle oscillations. In the static model, existence of dc solution, which is a necessary no-limit-cycle condition, is examined using a graphical method. Based on the generalized describing function method, the amplitude and offset-dependent gain model of a quantizer is applied to derive the dynamic system model. From the static and dynamic models, no-limit-cycle conditions associated with A/D, DPWM and compensator design criteria are derived. The conclusions are illustrated by simulation and experimental examples     

Total Fatigue Life Estimation of Notched Structural Components Using Low‐Cycle Fatigue Properties

Abstract: In this investigation, an efficient fatigue life computation method under variable amplitude loading of structural components has been proposed. Attention in this study is focused on total fatigue life estimation of aircraft structural components. Flat specimens with central hole made of quenched and tempered steel 13H11N2V2MF were tested as representatives of different structural components. Total fatigue life of these specimens, defined as sum of fatigue crack initiation and crack growth life, was experimentally determined. Specimens were tested by blocks of positive variable amplitude loading. Crack initiation life was computed using theory of low‐cycle fatigue (LCF) properties. Cyclic stress–strain curve, Masing’s curve and approximate Sonsino’s curve were used for determining stress–strain response at critical point of considered specimens. Computation of crack initiation life was realised using Palmgren–Miner’s linear rule of damage accumulation, applied on Morrow’s curves of LCF properties. Crack growth life was predicted using strain energy density method. In this method, the same LCF properties were used for crack initiation life and for crack growth life computations also. Computation results are compared with own experimentally obtained results.