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To improve the endurance and charging flexibility of electric vehicle battery packs, this paper proposes a multi-battery block module (MBM) topology for four-phase switched reluctance motors (SRMs), which not only allows flexible electric vehicle operation, but also achieves fast demagnetization and excitation. By integrating the multi-battery block module and photovoltaic (PV) panel into an asymmetrical half-bridge (AHB) converter, the MBM topology is designed to supply a multilevel bus voltage for the SRM drive. To improve the endurance of battery packs, a PV panel is also added to the topology to charge battery packs when the system is stationary. According to the different operation requirements, multiple power supply modes and charging modes can be realized by controlling the power devices in the proposed MBM topology. The simulation results based on the MATLAB/Simulink platform and the experimental results on a four-phase 8 / 6 switched reluctance motor verify the effectiveness of the proposed design.

Objectives: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare disease resulting from autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII that leads to spontaneous bleeding. This study reports the clinical character...

Background Increasing evidence has suggested that major depression ( MD ) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease ( IHD ). We examined this association in Chinese adults using data from the China Kadoorie Biobank study. Methods and Results Over 0.5 million adults aged 30 to 79 years were followed from baseline interview (2004–2008) until December 31, 2013. Past year MD was measured with the modified Chinese version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview‐Short Form at baseline. Incident IHD cases were identified through linkage to related medical databases, and defined as having International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes of I20 to I25. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% CI s for the MD ‐ IHD association with adjustment for sociodemographic variables and established cardiovascular risk factors. During 3 423 542 person‐years of follow‐up, 24 705 incident IHD cases were documented. Higher IHD incidence was observed in participants with MD compared with those without (8.76 versus 7.21 per 1000 person‐years), and the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio was 1.32 (95% CI 1.15–1.53). Geographic location modified the association ( P for interaction=0.005), and a positive association was observed in urban residents (hazard ratio 1.72; 95% CI 1.39–2.14) but not rural residents (1.13; 0.93–1.37). Compared with participants without depressive symptoms, the hazard ratio (95% CI ) of IHD was 1.13 (1.04–1.23) for those with depressive symptoms only and 1.33 (1.15–1.53) for those with MD . Conclusions Past year major depression was associated with an increased risk of IHD in Chinese adults, independent of other major cardiovascular risk factors.

Combined factor V (FV) and factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency (F5F8D) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder caused by mutations in LMAN1 and MCFD2 gene. Though characterized with deficiencies of both FV and FVIII, it failed to lead to more severe bleeding than single defect of FVIII in similar degree. Our study on F5F8D patients revealed that mild decrease of FV and FVIII had counteractive effect on blood coagulation. Out of 5 subjects investigated, three showed potent thrombin generation as observed in thrombin generation assay (TGA), with peak heights ranging from 138 nM to 166 nM, compared with 81 nM in normal plasma when coagulation was initiated with 1pM TF. The same trend was seen when the TF concentration was increased to 5 pM. Supplement of FV and FVIII, however, demonstrated distinct impact in TGA, with FVIII addition inducing more thrombin generation whereas higher FV level failed to further boost thrombin generation despite the shortened lag time. FV is a Janus-faced protein and suppresses blood coagulation by protecting TFPI from degradation.Similar to patients with severe FV deficiency, both total and free TFPI levels also decreased slightly in F5F8D patients. Total TFPI levels decreased from healthy donors (65.95±8.35 ng/mL) to F5F8D patients (65.79±12.99 ng/mL), to severe FV-deficient patients (51.30±11.15 ng/mL, P=0.037). A more pronounced trend was observed for free TFPI levels, as free TFPI in healthy controls were 12.68±2.91 ng/mL, higher than those in F5F8D (4.73±1.31 ng/mL, P=0.004), and in severe FV-deficient patients (3.81±1.03 ng/mL, P=0.004).The lowered TFPI in patients with F5F8D may neutralize the impact of FV and FVIII deficiency on blood coagulation. Desmopressin (DDAVP) increases endogenous FVIII and is used in the management of mild hemophilia A patients. In current study, 4 patients with F5F8D were treated with DDAVP. The administration of DDAVP saw no elevation of FV yet the increase of FVIII. The mean basal FV and FVIII levels were 11.5±3.4% and 15.1±4.8% respectively. The peak value of FVIII levels rose to 66.1±20.5% 30 minutes after the administration, and was sustained at two-folds of the baseline four hours post administration. The distinctive changes brought by combined FV and FVIII deficiencies on blood coagulation functions indicates the lone FVIII replacement without FV supplement might be sufficient in bleeding management of patients with F5F8D. DDAVP can be considered as a potential substitute for FVIII concentrate in the treatment of F5F8D patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

BACKGROUND Anti-tobacco television advertisement campaigns may convey messages on smoking-related health consequences and create norms against giving cigarettes. METHODS Altogether, 156 and 112 slots of a television advertisement "Giving cigarettes is giving harm" were aired on Suzhou and Yizheng, respectively, over one month in 2010. Participants were recruited from 15 locations in Suzhou and 8 locations in Yizheng using a street intercept method. Overall 2306 residents aged 18-45 years completed questionnaires, including 1142 before the campaign and 1164 after, with respective response rates of 79.1% and 79.7%. Chi square tests were used to compare the difference between categorical variables. RESULTS After the campaign, 36.0% of subjects recalled that they had seen the advertisement. Residents of Suzhou had a higher recall rate than those of Yizheng (47.6% vs. 20.6%, P < 0.001). The rate of not giving cigarettes dropped from 32.1% before the campaign to 28.5% after (P = 0.05). In the post-campaign evaluation, participants who reported seeing the advertisement were more likely not to give cigarettes in the future than those who reported not seeing the advertisement (38.7% vs. 27.5%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that an anti-tobacco television advertisements helped change societal norms and improve health behavior. Continuous and adequate funding of anti-tobacco media campaigns targeted at different levels of the general population is needed, in conjunction with a comprehensive tobacco control effort.