Clinical evaluation and microbiology of oropharyngeal infection due to fluconazole-resistant Candida in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate pregnancy rates ensuing from transfer of embryos with multinucleated blastomeres. In our in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) programme, 1735 embryo transfers were performed from January 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996. In 136 of these transfers at least one embryo with one or more multinucleated blastomeres was present per transfer (study group). For each of these 136 transfers, two matched controls with transfer of exclusively mononucleated embryos were selected (control group). Matching was carried out according to age, method of fertilization (IVF or ICSI), number of transferred embryos and quality score of transferred embryos. In the study group, there were eight transfers of exclusively multinucleated embryos from which one pregnancy ensued and 128 transfers in which multinucleated and mononucleated embryos were transferred together leading to 23 pregnancies. The overall clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 16.9% in the study group versus 28.7% in the control group (P = 0.01). The ongoing pregnancy rate per transfer was 13.2% in the study group versus 23.2% in the control group (P = 0.03). The implantation rate per transferred embryo was 6.0% in the study group versus 11.3% in the control group (P = 0.003). This study shows that embryos with one or more multinucleated blastomeres have a poorer implantation potential than embryos with mononucleated blastomeres. Transfer of embryos with multinucleated blastomeres should hence only be considered when insufficient numbers of embryos with only mononucleated blastomeres are present.     

A Novel Actuator Fault-tolerant Control Strategy of DFIG-based Wind Turbines Using Takagi-Sugeno Multiple Models

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - In this paper, a new combined fuzzy observer-based fault-tolerant tracking control scheme is proposed for a doubly fed induction generator...     

Effect of edible coatings on fruit maturity and fungal growth on Berhi dates

Berhi date palm fruits were harvested at the khalal stage, coated with different edible materials: pea starch (PS), zein protein (ZP), pea starch + carnauba wax (PS + CW) and zein protein + carnauba wax (ZP + CW) and stored at 3 or 25 °C for 21 days. Different fruit maturity indicators (colour, firmness, total soluble solids, moisture and tannins) and fungal numbers were monitored during storage. PS and ZP coatings at 3 °C were the most effective in retarding fruit maturation by extending the khalal stage from 7 to >14 days. They were less effective at 25 °C, where the khalal stage was extended only ≤7 days. PS + CW and ZP + CW coatings prevented sample moisture loss, but they accelerated degradation of simple sugars at 25 °C, and this indicated a shift to anaerobic fruit respiration. The PS + CW and ZP + CW coatings, particularly at 3 °C, were the most effective in preventing fungal growth, whereas the PS coating promoted fungal growth.     

On fuzzy spaces and fuzzy group theory

The concept of fuzzy space is introduced. This concept corresponds to the concept of the universal set in the ordinary case. The algebra of fuzzy spaces and fuzzy subspaces is studied. Using the concept of fuzzy space and fuzzy binary operation, a new approach to study fuzzy group theory is given. This approach can be considered as a generalization and reformulation of the Rosenfeld theory of fuzzy subgroups. Therefore, it is an active tool to develop the theory of fuzzy groups.     

Modeling of coplanar stripline discontinuities

The paper presents a technique to obtain lumped equivalent circuit models for typical coplanar stripline (CPS) discontinuities such as an open circuit, a short circuit, and a series gap in one of the strip conductors and gives their element values as a function of the discontinuity physical dimensions for a specific substrate. The model element values are determined from the discontinuity scattering parameters which are de-embedded from the measured scattering parameters using a thru-reflect-line (TRL) algorithm. In addition, the resonant frequency of a spur-slot is presented as a function of the spur length. The experimental results are validated by data obtained using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique     

Miniaturized multi‐frequency Wilkinson power dividers based on nonuniform coplanar waveguide

In this work, the design of miniaturized dual‐ and triple‐ frequency Wilkinson power dividers using nonuniform coplanar waveguides is presented. The miniaturized configurations are achieved by replacing the conventional uniform arms with their equivalent multi‐frequency nonuniform transmission lines. The nonuniform width variation is governed by a truncated Fourier series expansion with coefficients optimized to obtain the desired multi‐frequency operation. The optimization process is carried out through the analysis of the even/odd mode circuits. The proposed dividers are simulated, fabricated, and measured to validate the design methodology. Simulated and measured results agree very well, and show input/output ports return loss and isolation better than 14.4 dB and transmission parameters in the range of ?3 ± 2 dB at the design frequencies. Size reduction of 16.7% and 17.6% are achieved for the fabricated dual‐ and triple‐frequency dividers, respectively.     

Synthesis of thinned concentric circular antenna arrays using teaching‐learning‐based optimization

In this article, the design of thinned concentric circular antenna arrays (CCAAs) of isotropic radiators with optimum side lobe level (SLL) reduction is studied. The newly proposed global evolutionary optimization method; namely, the teaching‐learning‐based optimization (TLBO) is used to determine an optimum set of turned ON elements of thinned CCAAs that provides a radiation pattern with optimum SLL reduction. The TLBO represents a new algorithm for optimization problems in electromagnetics and antennas. It is shown that the TLBO provides results that are somewhat better than those obtained using other evolutionary algorithms, like the firefly algorithm and biogeography based optimization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:443–450, 2014.     

Optimization of Extreme Load and Break-in Period in Plain ZDDP Oil with FeF3 Catalyst Using Design of Experiment and Fundamental Study under Different Speeds

The mechanism of tribofilm formation and breakdown was carefully followed and studied in 0.1 P% (percentage phosphorus content) plain zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) oil in the presence of iron fluoride (FeF₃) catalyst under extreme Hertzian contact pressure (3.0 GPa) and two different rotational speeds or variable speed with break in period (100 rpm for the first 5,000 revolutions and a 700 rpm until failure or 100,000 revolutions, whichever comes first). At the onset of large frictional fluctuations, the contact surface temperature increased significantly and reached 90°C ± 5°C. The present article describes an innovative method of reducing the surface temperature by using a break in period of 2 or 3 min and rerunning the test until failure. The two different rotational speeds or variable speed will be compared to a steady-state speed of 700 rpm.

Thermal decomposition of ZDDP is examined in the presence of powder and dispersed FeF₃ using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Surface analyses were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with X-ray of the wear tracks, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Results showed that submicrometer dispersed FeF₃ provided excellent wear protection when combined with ZDDP in the variable-speed test with break-in by forming a tribofilm that is amorphous in nature and rich in phosphorus, which was shown by the TEM and X-ray analyses.     

Performance of low frequency magnetometers to non-sinusoidal magnetic fields

This paper presents the second part of a research work dealing with the performance assessment of commercially available magnetometers. The aim of the article is to continue a comparative study of a magnetometer set, but now using non-sinusoidal signals. Nineteen magnetometers were tested using signals with two and more frequency components; some features of the meters were investigated: fft, rms value, peak value and wave capture functions.     

Performance evaluation of In-Deep Class Storage for Flow-Rack AS/RS

This article presents a new storage-retrieval method called In-Deep Class Storage, designed for Flow-Rack AS/RS. Class-based storage is a well-known method that has an extensive literature; our method is based on the fact that it is more efficient to dedicate the front layers of each bin to the class of the most popular items rather than dedicating whole bins close to the drop-off station. Clearly, this idea is not trivial to implement due to the dynamic behaviour of such racks. Thus, two separate algorithms have been defined, one for storage and one for retrieval, enabling dynamic use of our approach, with the only hypothesis of a Pareto distribution of item demand. This article presents a simulation study designed to compare the performance of random storage and retrieval with the use of the algorithms. This study shows a significant improvement of the expected retrieval delay, the main performance indicator selected for the study.