A Novel Method of "Double delta Modulation" on Tracking Control of PWM converters

非线性跟踪控制是SPWM变换器的重要控制策略之一。提出了一种新型双重△调制跟踪控制方法,它由一个无滞环比较器和一个载波周期定时器组成。比较器产生PWM信号的上升沿,使得跟踪控制响应快,精度高;定时器决定PWM信号的下降沿,它保证了开关周期固定不变;文中提出了一个按周期对比较阈值进行预估调节的算法,该算法可使每个周期的平均跟踪误差均为零,同时可以抑制子谐振和跟踪失步。对三相四线电压跌落补偿系统电压跟踪的仿真研究证实了“双重△调制”策略和比较阈值的一步预估算法的有效性。最后对一个单相半桥逆变器的电流跟踪控制给出了实验结果。     

Stabilization of a Power System Including Inverter‐Type Distributed Generators by a Virtual Synchronous Generator

The capacity of distributed generators (DGs) connected to the grid by inverters is growing year after year. The inverters are generally controlled by a phase locked loop (PLL) in order to achieve synchronization with the power system frequency. Power systems may become unstable as the capacity of the inverter‐type DGs continues to increase, because the inverter frequency is controlled just to follow the frequency determined by other synchronous generators. It has been suggested that inverters be controlled to behave like a synchronous generator. This concept is referred to as the virtual synchronous generator (VSG). In this paper, a control scheme for a VSG is presented, and the design method for the required energy storage and the capacity for grid stabilization control by a VSG is investigated by computer simulations.     

Well‐Defined Functional Linear Aliphatic Diblock Copolyethers: A Versatile Linear Aliphatic Polyether Platform for Selective Functionalizations and Various Nanostructures

Low‐temperature anionic ring‐opening homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of two glycidol derivatives (allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) and ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE)) are studied using a metal‐free catalyst system, 3‐phenyl‐1‐propanol (PPA) (an initiator) and 1‐tert‐butyl‐4,4,4‐tris(dimethylamino)‐2,2‐bis[tris‐(dimethylamino)phosphoranylidenamino]‐2Λ⁵,4Λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene) (t‐Bu‐P₄) (a promoter) in order to obtain well‐defined functional linear polyethers and diblock copolymers. With the aid of the catalyst system, AGE is found to successfully undergo anionic ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) even at room temperature (low reaction temperature) without any side reactions, producing well‐defined linear AGE‐homopolymer in a unimodal narrow molecular weight distribution. Under the same conditions, EEGE also undergoes polymerization, producing a linear EEGE‐homopolymer in a unimodal narrow molecular‐weight distribution. In this case, however, a side reaction (i.e., chain‐transfer reaction) is found to occur at low levels during the early stages of polymerization. The chemical properties of the monomers in the context of the homopolymerization reactions are considered in the design of a protocol used to synthesize well‐defined linear diblock copolyethers with a variety of compositions. The approach, anionic polymerization via the sequential step feed of AGE and EEGE as the first and second monomers, is found to be free from side reactions at room temperature. Each block of the obtained linear diblock copolymers undergoes selective deprotection to permit further chemical modification for selective functionalization. In addition, thermal properties and structures of the polymers and their post‐modification products are examined. Overall, this study demonstrates that a low‐temperature metal‐free anionic ROP using the PPA/t‐Bu‐P₄ catalyst system is suitable for the production of well‐defined linear AGE‐homopolymers and their diblock copolymers with the EEGE monomer, which are versatile and selectively functionalizable linear aliphatic polyether platforms for a variety of post‐modifications, nanostructures, and their applications.     

CRISPR Therapeutics for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 3500–5000 males. DMD manifests as childhood-onset muscle degeneration, followed by loss of ambulation, cardiomyopathy, and death in early adulthood due to a lack of functional dystrophin protein. Out-of-frame mutations in the dystrophin gene are the most common underlying cause of DMD. Gene editing via the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system is a promising therapeutic for DMD, as it can permanently correct DMD mutations and thus restore the reading frame, allowing for the production of functional dystrophin. The specific mechanism of gene editing can vary based on a variety of factors such as the number of cuts generated by CRISPR, the presence of an exogenous DNA template, or the current cell cycle stage. CRISPR-mediated gene editing for DMD has been tested both in vitro and in vivo, with many of these studies discussed herein. Additionally, novel modifications to the CRISPR system such as base or prime editors allow for more precise gene editing. Despite recent advances, limitations remain including delivery efficiency, off-target mutagenesis, and long-term maintenance of dystrophin. Further studies focusing on safety and accuracy of the CRISPR system are necessary prior to clinical translation.     

Synthesis and Photocrosslinking Reaction of N-Allylcarbamoylmethyl Cellulose Leading to Hydrogel

Summary The reaction of the carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (Na-CMC) (degrees of substitution (DS) = 1.2) with N-hydroxysuccinimide (Su-OH) in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) was carried out in water to obtain the Su-OH ester of carboxymethyl cellulose, Su-CMC, with the DS values of 0.19 – 1.04. N-Allylcarbamoylmethyl cellulose (Allyl-CMC), which was prepared from the reaction of Su-CMC with an excess amount of allylamine, was crosslinked by UV-irradiation. In addition, the photocrosslinked Allyl-CMC film was swollen with water to form a hydrogel having a relatively high water-swelling property, e.g., the degree of swelling (ds) was ca. 360% for Allyl-CMC with the DS of 0.93.     

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/(hexafluoropropylene) coatings for mitigating the corrosion of steel in a simulated geothermal environment

Study focused on investigating the usefulness of room temperature-curable poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/(hexafluoropropylene) as a polyfluorocarbon coating for mitigating corrosion of carbon steel in a simulated geothermal environment. Coated steel panels were exposed for up to 20 days in an autoclave containing 20,000 ppm CO₂-laden 13 wt.% NaCl solution at 200°C. The appearance of the coatings after 20 days exposure revealed that they adequately protected the underlying steel substrate against corrosion in this short-term exposure. However, the superficial layer of coating suffered hydrothermal oxidation, leading to conformational transformation of the fluorocarbon structure into a fragmental fluorocarboxylic acid derivative as the oxidation reaction product. This transformation generated three undesirable features: (1) an increase in the susceptibility of the coating surfaces to moisture; (2) a decline in the thermal stability of the coatings; (3) a reduction of the crystallinity of the polymer.     

Deposition of DLC film with adhesive W-DLC layer on stainless steel and its tribological properties

Tribological properties of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating with an adhesive tungsten-containing DLC (W-DLC) layer were investigated. The coatings were deposited onto AISI316L steel substrates and Si wafers using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and tungsten co-sputtering of the metal target. Methane and argon gases were used as the precursor of the coatings. In this study, three types of coatings were evaluated: DLC/W-DLC on AISI316L (DLC-1), DLC/W-DLC on Si wafer (DLC-2), and DLC on Si wafer (DLC-3). The structural characterizations were performed by transmission electron microscopy and tapping mode atomic force microscopy. At the boundary between the W-DLC layer and the AISI316L substrate, microscopic decohesion or delamination was not observed. The surface roughness of the DLC-1 coating was greater than that of the DLC-2 coating. This feature was derived from the surface roughness of the initial surface of the AISI316L substrate. Friction tests were performed using a rotation-type ball-on-flat configuration tribometer. The observed friction of the DLC-1 coating was unstable compared with the DLC-2 or DLC-3 coatings. This was due to wear debris which had risen to the friction surface resulting in unstable friction on the DLC-1 coating. During the friction studies, the top DLC layer was removed from the adhesive W-DLC layer because the adhesive strength at this part was not enough. In order to achieve the low and stable friction of the DLC coating with the W-DLC layer on AISI316L, it is necessary to improve the smoothness of the surface and the adhesion between the DLC coating and the W-DLC layer.     

In-plane detection of scattered light from a minute particle using a resin-based light waveguide incorporated with a microfluidic channel

An optical sensor combined total analysis system (TAS) is thought to be one of the most powerful functional elements needed to realize a “ubiquitous human healthcare” system. In accordance with this concept, we have proposed a fundamental structure of detecting side scattered light from a minute cell or particle running along a microfluidic channel, partially utilizing the channel filled with water or saline solution as a light waveguide. Based on this concept, we have fabricated a trial-manufactured optical TAS chip and carefully evaluated its side scattered light measuring performance in in-plane direction, supplying and detecting visible laser power by using multiple optical fibers and their precise positioning mechanisms. We have successfully obtained experimental results of both transmitted light power change and that of side scattered light, and we confirmed that there was a strong relationship between their signal waveforms. Furthermore, we have developed a hybrid numerical calculation method on the basis of the finite-difference time-domain method, in addition to the beam propagation method. Based on this hybrid method, we tried to compare results between the experimental inverse pulse of transmitted light and a pulse of side scattered light, and those based on numerical calculations. Excellent qualitative accordance was obtained between the inverse pulse of numerical and experimental results. In contrast, the experimental pulse of side scattered light indicated a considerably spread base in comparison to the numerical results.     

Synthesis of the Orthorhombic Phase of ZrO2

Single-phase orthorhombic ZrO₂ was prepared by quenching from high temperature and high pressure. The lattice parameters are a₀=0.5042, b₀=0.5092, and c₀=0.5257 nm; the calculated density is 6.09 Mg·m⁻³. This phase is metastable under atmospheric pressure and reverts to the monoclinic phase either on heating above 300°C or when it is ground in a mortar.