A Modified Sector Based Space Vector PWM Technique for Five-Phase Drives

Space vector PWM (SVPWM) is a popular and well-known technique for standard three-phase drives, which has been extended recently to multi-phase voltage source inverters (VSIs). Several SVPWM techniques, which utilize the principle of vector space decomposition (VSD), have been developed for various operating modes. The VSD approach inherently relies on considerations in two-dimensional (2-D) subspaces, while SVPWM for a multi-phase VSI is in essence a multi-dimensional problem. Hence, an alternative approach to SVPWM, which is based on the direct multi-dimensional space consideration in the space vector selection process rather than on space vector selection in 2-D subspaces obtained by vector space decomposition, has been recently introduced. Good performance has been identified, but the method is complex and difficult for the real-time implementation. This article therefore combines multi-dimensional SVPWM approach with off-line calculations to achieve required output voltage generation under non-sinusoidal and/or unbalanced voltage requirements, which represent the most challenging operating conditions from the point of view of the vector selection for PWM. As a consequence, the implementation becomes rather simple in standard DSPs. The performance of the algorithm is verified by simulation and experimentation. © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pesticide Residues in Strawberries sampled from the Market of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg in the Period between 2002 and 2005

Within the framework of food surveillance a total number of 593 conventionally grown strawberry samples mainly originating from Germany, Spain, Italy and Morocco were analysed for pesticide residues at the Chemisches und Veterin?runtersuchungsamt Stuttgart between 2002 and 2005 using the QuEChERS multiresidue method. Pesticide residues were detected in 98% of the samples and 93% of all strawberry samples were found to contain multiple pesticide residues. The German or EU-harmonised MRLs were exceeded by 54 strawberry samples (9%) with mepanipyrim being the most frequently violative compound. The average total concentration of pesticides per sample was 0.41 mg/kg which is similar to the average value for fruits in general, with Italian products containing the highest and the German ones the lowest residue concentrations. A general trend observed was the decline of the total pesticide residue concentration as the harvest season is progressing. For more efficient analysis, the spectrum of pesticides to be targeted in instrumental analysis was regularly being adjusted to include compounds that are relevant for strawberry samples. The information was extracted from the internet database Pesticides- Online. In total, 105 different pesticide compounds were identi- fied with 65% of the positive residue findings being < 0.05 mg/kg and 96 of them being < 0.5 mg/kg. Fungicides were much more often detected than insecticides and herbicides with cyprodinil, fludioxonil, fenhexamid, tolylfluanid and azoxystrobin being the most frequently detected compounds together accounting for 50% of the total detections. A toxicological risk assessment with the emphasis on multiple residues was performed using the results obtained for the strawberry samples.     

Construction and uses of a concentric catheter for gas sampling in lung airways

A catheter for intra-airway sampling of gas concentrations was constructed from concentric polyethylene tubes. The internal tube (0.58 mm ID, 0.91 mm OD) was connected to a gas analyzer while the external tube (1.20 mm ID, 1.75 mm OD) was constantly flushed by air or a calibration gas, except during sampling. Injection and sampling dead spaces were 0.35 and 0.28 ml, respectively. Delay at 4-ml/min sampling rate was 4.0 +/- 0.2 s. The 0-90% step response to a sudden change in gas composition was 0.24 s when connected to a mass spectrometer. This catheter was used to assess tracer gas dispersion during oscillatory flow (1-20 Hz) in a straight long tube. Local concentrations measured through the catheter, after a small bolus of tracer gas was injected through the external tube, compared favorably with direct measurements through needles inserted via the tube wall and with theoretical predictions. The catheter was also used to measure intra-airway gas concentrations in dog airways during spontaneous breathing, conventional mechanical ventilation, high-frequency ventilation, high-frequency vibration ventilation, and constant-flow ventilation. It ws placed by a fiber-optic bronchoscope and used to measure local quasi-steady concentrations of CO2 and local dispersion with the bolus method. The occurrence of catheter clogging with secretions was substantially reduced with flow through the external tube. Transmitting a calibration gas through the external tube facilitated in situ recalibration of the gas analyzer without removing the catheter. The use of this catheter improved the efficiency and accuracy of measurements of gas concentrations inside lung airways.     

Comparison of regularly scheduled with as-needed use of albuterol in mild asthma. Asthma Clinical Research Network

This in vitro study investigated the temperature changes experienced during electric welding of titanium to determine if the welding heat presented a potential danger to pulpal vitality. Welds were applied to cast titanium simulations of a three-unit fixed partial denture containing two thermocouples measuring temperature changes. Mean maximal temperature changes were 127.4 degrees F near the weld and 68.6 F degrees at the axial wall. The mean times for the temperature to drop to within 10.0 degrees F of the starting temperature ranged from 84.1 to 133.7 seconds. The relatively low temperatures recorded in this study suggest that further investigation is warranted into the use of the welder intraorally.     

Matrix-geometric and Recursive Algorithm Solution of a Two-stage Unreliable How Line

A two stage flow line finite inventory bank and stages that can fail on completion of a task is equivalent to a C₂/C₂/1/N queueing model in which the arrival process is switched off once N customers wait for service. After transformation of the state equations, two alternative solution procedures are developed, one based on the matrix geometric algorithm and the other based on a recursive algorithm. A comparison of the two algorithms shows that there is no difference in the bank size at which numerical instability occurs, but the recursive algorithm is about eight times faster.     

Ladder tuning‐block partitioned filters for simplified tuning

In this paper, we present a procedure for the design of low‐sensitivity, active‐RC filters that permits efficient functional tuning during the manufacturing process. Filters with finite zeros, such as elliptic (Chebyshev–Cauer) low‐pass filters are primarily considered, although the method can be applied to the design of other filters, e.g. allpole filters, as well. We show how to partition a given ladder filter into two parts. The first is a ladder filter of reduced order compared to the original; the second is a second‐ or third‐order active‐RC filter section, the ‘tuning block’, which, alone is used to tune the overall filter. The ladder, the components of which are fixed, provides most of the selectivity, while the cascaded tuning block determines the band‐edge characteristics and can be tuned relatively easily. A detailed design procedure for the filter partitioning is given. By obtaining a doubly terminated ladder filter, which is cascaded with a tuning block, both the inherent low sensitivity of the ladder and the tunability of the tuning block, are maintained. A Monte Carlo analysis of the partitioned filter demonstrates that the low sensitivity with respect to component tolerances, achievable by maintaining a doubly terminated ladder structure for the larger partitioned part of the filter, is preserved. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monodisperse Spray Cooling of Small Surface Areas at High Heat Flux

Spray cooling is an effective method to remove high heat fluxes from electronic components. To understand the physical mechanisms, this work studies heat transfer rates from single and dual nozzle distilled water sprays on a small heated surface (1.3 mm × 2 mm). Thermal ink jet atomizers generate small droplets, 33 μm diameter, at known frequencies, leading to controlled spray conditions with a monodisperse stream of droplets interacting with the hot surface. Of particular interest in this work is the dissipated heat flux and its relation to the liquid film thickness, the surface superheat, and the cooling mass flow rate. Experimental results show the heat flux scales to the cooling mass flow rate. In comparison to published spreading–splashing correlations, these experiments indicate that the drops impinge on the liquid film and spread without generating splashing, leading to high-efficiency stable heat transfer. Surface temperatures range from 120 to 140°C. In addition, the liquid film thickness is investigated in relation to the heater superheat and a stable thin film is seen at superheats beyond 20°C. The efficiency of the spray system is inversely related to the film thickness and may be due to ejection of liquid from the surface due to bursting of vapor bubbles.     

A cysteinyl leukotriene 2 receptor variant is associated with atopy in the population of Tristan da Cunha

The clinical heterogeneity of asthma suggests that the contribution of genetic variability in candidate gene loci to well-defined phenotypes, such as atopy, may be examined to identify appropriate genetic risk factors for asthma. The gene encoding the cysteinyl leukotriene 2 (CysLT2) receptor has been implicated in atopy since it is localized to a region of chromosome 13q14 that has been linked to atopy in several populations and the cysteinyl leukotrienes are known to activate eosinophils and mast cells in atopy. Accordingly, we analysed the contribution of CysLT2 receptor gene variation to atopy in the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha, a population characterized by both a founder effect and a 47% prevalence of atopy. Single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis revealed four variants. Among these, the M201V [corrected] variant was activated with four-fold less potency by leukotriene D4 (LTD4) in a calcium flux assay. The CysLT2 receptor partial agonist, BAY u9773, also showed four-fold lower potency on the M201V [corrected] variant. The M201V [corrected] mutation is located within the extracellular region of the fifth transmembrane spanning domain of CysLT2 receptor, a position that may alter ligand binding and effector signalling. The novel M201V [corrected] CysLT2 receptor variant was associated with atopy (21%) on Tristan da Cunha compared with those who were non-atopic (7%) (Fisher's exact test, P=0.0016) in a manner that was independent of asthma (two-way ANOVA, P=0.0015). This represents the first association of a coding mutation in the CysLT2 receptor gene, located on chromosome 13q14, with the atopic phenotype found in the Tristan da Cunha population.     

Design of an i.v. formulation of an unstable prodrug candidate for prostate cancer treatment: solution chemistry of N-(glutaryl-hyp-ala-ser-cyclohexylglycyl-gln-ser-leu)-doxorubicin

The chemical degradation of N-(glutaryl-hyp-ala-ser-cyclohexylglycyl-gln-ser-leu)-doxorubicin (henceforth referred to as doxorubicin peptide conjugate 1) was studied in buffered aqueous solution. The pH-rate profile of degradation shows that the doxorubicin conjugate is most stable between pH 5 and 6. The dependence of log k_obsd on pH in acidic medium is characteristic of specific acid-catalysis of the sugar hemiaminal of 1 (as in the case of doxorubicin). Isolation of degradates and structural determination shows that the degradation at lower pH values yields the water-insoluble aglycone doxorubicinone, supporting the mechanism of acid-catalyzed loss of the amino sugar. At pH higher than 5, a more complicated degradation pattern is observed, including the loss of the amino sugar and the aromatization of the saturated ring to give 7,8-dehydro-9,10-desacetyldoxorubicinone as one of the major products. Around the pH of maximum stability in solution, the rate of degradation of 1 is significantly greater than that for doxorubicin, which rules out the formulation of a room temperature solution product with a sufficiently long shelflife for market use. Design of a stable lyophilized formulation for sterile reconstitution based on the physicochemical properties of 1 is described.