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The development of digital radio, observed in recent years, and the advantages offered by this medium are resulting in the expansion of the audience. In order to ensure the proper quality of broadcasting, it is necessary to monitor this quality. The assessment based on listening tests is very expensive and organizationally inconvenient. The development of methods for objective evaluation of signals makes it possible to monitor the quality of transmitted content, without the need for troublesome procedures associated with subjective evaluation. The good correlation of subjective evaluation and objective measurements in the transmission of perceptually encoded signals, reported in the literature, may allow for random quality monitoring. The authors decided to test the feasibility of using two objective evaluation methods to assess the quality of the speech signal transmitted on digital radio by comparing the results obtained with the subjective evaluation. The paper presents the results of objective measurements of speech quality transmitted via Digital Audio Broadcasting+ in Wroclaw agglomeration. Measurements have been done in various city sites in order to determine the influence of the location on speech quality. The obtained results of the assessment performed by the use of two methods of testing: PESQ and POLQA, allowed to find a correlation between the objective and subjective results of quality evaluations. The method of objective testing may be used for monitoring the quality of signals in Digital Audio Broadcasting networks especially spoken broadcasts.

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The use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind causes fluctuations in power generation. Hence energy storage is necessary in standalone power systems. It is challenging to use batteries as power backups because they cannot handle rapid power fluctuations without compromising battery life. This paper proposes a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) for wind energy-based power systems that includes a battery for long-term energy management with a super capacitor for quick dynamic power regulation. Pulse charging of the proposed HESS is carried out with the help of a dual active bridge (DAB) converter. Pulse charging of the HESS will result into reduced stress on battery and eventually to a longer self-life. The operation of the wind energy fed hybrid battery-supercapacitor energy storage was investigated through simulation using MATLAB-Simulink. For validating the simulation results, an experimental test bench is created using a real DAB prototype and TI Piccolo-F280049 microcontroller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The dual active bridge (DAB) converter is a versatile DC-DC converter, which has AC components in the high-frequency transformer within the converter topology as well as DC components at the input and output sides. These AC components are constructed from infinite sinusoids of multiples of the converter's switching frequency. Different approaches have been proposed to model the DAB converter. The generalized averaging modeling (GAM) includes only the first order harmonic of the inductor current with the DC components of the input and output voltages and currents. For better model accuracy, harmonic-domain models have been employed, where the model includes all the harmonics of all the model state variables up to an arbitrary harmonic index. While the harmonic model provides a systematic approach to include the harmonics, this increases the model complexity. To avoid this complexity, the flexible harmonic model is used where harmonics can be selected per each state variable without needing to be in successive order. The aforementioned modeling approaches have been implemented on the DAB converter. This paper aims to compare between the dynamic performance of GAM and the harmonic modeling approaches under different disturbances, where the GAM approach provided a simple model with acceptable results that can be used for controller design, while the LTP model provided a more complex model with better accuracy that is suitable for harmonic studies. The models have been validated and compared using simulations executed on MATLAB /Simulink environment.

Bidirectional converters (BDCs) are important in electric vehicles (EVs). This study investigated different bidirectional power converters and their efficiencies, energy densities, and cost parameters. Control methods such as pulse width modulation (PWM) and hysteresis control are also examined. Comparisons on how well they regulate the output voltage and current in converters are performed. This paper also provides an overview of the types of BDCs used in EVs, including flyback, forward, and push-pull converters. The efficiency, energy density, and cost of each converter are assessed to identify the most appropriate model for EVs. The control methods including the advantages and disadvantages of PWM and hysteresis control and how they influence converter performance are examined. Suggestions for applying bidirectional power converters and control approaches in electric vehicles are also proposed. In summary, the paper consolidates the existing research, findings, and current gaps leading to advancements in the field and provide resources for emerging methodologies and concepts for advanced electric mobility.

Ginger (Gin) has numerous therapeutic properties. One of Gin's most potent components is 6-gingerol, a naturally occurring phenol. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic impact of gingerol and/or sorafenib on the ATG4/CASP3 and COIIV/COX-2/NF-B Expression as a potential therapy for DAB-induced HCC. Gin was administered to HCC mice induced by p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) alone or combined with sorafenib (Sor). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as biochemical markers including AST, ALT, ALP, Albumin, and Bilirubin, were examined. The expression of oncogenes (COIIV, COX-2, NF-κB, and survivin) and tumor suppressor genes (ATG4 and CASP3) was evaluated using qPCR. According to the results, the levels of MDA have been markedly decreased, while SOD and CAT have been increased. Further, the expression levels of tumor suppressor genes were upregulated, whereas the expression levels of oncogene genes were downregulated. Furthermore, in a dose-dependent manner, gingerol has shown the potential to alleviate hepatic portal vein (PV) dilatation and could offer a reliable therapy for HCC. This suggests combining the two compounds may be more effective than alone and that Gin could be a promising therapeutic option for HCC. The binding of Gin and Sor to the active sites of the target genes prevents them from functioning normally, which in turn stops the pathways from carrying out their oncogenic functions. Additionally, COX-2 inhibition reduces the production of certain pro-inflammatory compounds, which further averts oncogenesis. Conclusively, this study indicated that Gin has cytoprotective properties and anti-cancer activity that may be related to controlling oxidative stress. This effect may be achieved by suppressing the COIIV/COX-2/NF-κB pathway and upregulating the ATG4 /CASP3 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Dispute resolution mechanism by the Dispute Board according to the FIDIC contract form and experience for Vietnam" researches the theoretical issues related to the FIDIC Contract and the Dispute Settlement Board of the FIDIC. In addition, the article also focuses on researching and analyzing the practice of applying dispute settlement mechanisms by Dispute Settlement Boards in various nations throughout the world. The article's usefulness stems from the knowledge gained while researching this dispute resolution mechanism in countries throughout the world, as well as the present situation of Vietnamese law, which provides solutions and recommendations based on Vietnamese law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development and application of renewable energy, the advantages of DC distribution system are becoming more and more obvious. In the DC distribution system, the DC transformer is a component that connects different voltage DC bus and realizes the connection between DC bus and the renewable energy. Its efficiency and dynamic performance are of great significance. Among them, DAB has been widely studied. In DAB, the current stress is related to the conduction loss of switches. Therefore, this paper first studies the basic principle and basic electrical characteristics under DPS control, and uses the KKT condition to solve the optimization problem with the goal of optimizing the current stress. In order to improve the dynamic performance, this paper proposes power compensation control considering the difference between the theoretical calculation and the actual transmission power. Finally, the simulation is built in PLECS. By comparing SPS control and the optimized control in this paper, it is proved that the optimized control in this paper can reduce the current stress and reduce the loss under the same transmission power. Compared with the traditional PI control, the power compensation control can improve the start-up time and reduce the output voltage variation and recovery time when the load suddenly changes.

β-N-Methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid produced by cyanobacteria, which has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is postulated that chronic exposure to BMAA can lead to formation of protein aggregates, oxidative stress, and/or excitotoxicity, which are mechanisms involved in the etiology of ALS. While specific genetic mutations are identified in some instances of ALS, it is likely that a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to the neurotoxin BMAA, contributes to disease. We used a transgenic zebrafish with an ALS-associated mutation, compared with wild-type fish to explore the potential neurotoxic effects of BMAA through chronic long-term exposures. While our results revealed low concentrations of BMAA in the brains of exposed fish, we found no evidence of decreased swim performance or behavioral differences that might be reflective of neurodegenerative disease. Further research is needed to determine if chronic BMAA exposure in adult zebrafish is a suitable model to study neurodegenerative disease initiation and/or progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the optimization of current stress with low voltage ratio and full ZVS, a control method combining variable duty cycle and phase shift was proposed based on dual active bridge (DAB) converters with DC blocking capacitors. By adding DC bias to the DC blocking capacitors, asymmetric duty modulation (ADM) can adjust the bias as needed. Based on the theoretical analysis of steady-state operation, the operating modes can be divided into eight modes. According to the features of each mode, equivalent circuits are established. The transmission power and the boundary of zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) are deduced through a detailed analysis of each mode. Based on the theoretical deduction, ADM is more suitable for a low voltage ratio. Verified by experiment, optimized asymmetric duty modulation (OADM) can increase efficiency by 3.58%, 6.57%, 8.81%, and 10.33% compared with DPS when P is equal to 0.36 and m is equal to 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1, respectively. Using this method, the current stress of the converter is lighter than that under regular modulation when the voltage ratio m ≤ 0.5 with full ZVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technique of colour EM that was recently developed enabled localisation of specific macromolecules/proteins of interest by the targeted deposition of diaminobenzidine (DAB) conjugated to lanthanide chelates. By acquiring lanthanide elemental maps by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) and overlaying them in pseudo-colour over the conventional greyscale TEM image, a colour EM image is generated. This provides a powerful tool for visualising subcellular component/s, by the ability to clearly distinguish them from the general staining of the endogenous cellular material. Previously, the lanthanide elemental maps were acquired at the high-loss M4,5 edge (excitation of 3d electrons), where the characteristic signal is extremely low and required considerably long exposures. In this paper, we explore the possibility of acquiring the elemental maps of lanthanides at their N4,5 edge (excitation of 4d electrons), which occurring at a much lower energy-loss regime, thereby contains significantly greater total characteristic signal owing to the higher inelastic scattering cross-sections at the N4,5 edge. Acquiring EFTEM lanthanide elemental maps at the N4,5 edge instead of the M4,5 edge, provides ∼4× increase in signal-to-noise and ∼2× increase in resolution. However, the interpretation of the lanthanide maps acquired at the N4,5 edge by the traditional 3-window method, is complicated due to the broad shape of the edge profile and the lower signal-above-background ratio. Most of these problems can be circumvented by the acquisition of elemental maps with the more sophisticated technique of EFTEM Spectrum Imaging (EFTEM SI). Here, we also report the chemical synthesis of novel second-generation DAB lanthanide metal chelate conjugates that contain 2 lanthanide ions per DAB molecule in comparison with 0.5 lanthanide ion per DAB in the first generation. Thereby, fourfold more Ln3+ per oxidised DAB would be deposited providing significant amplification of signal. This paper applies the colour EM technique at the intermediate-loss energy-loss regime to three different cellular targets, namely using mitochondrial matrix-directed APEX2, histone H2B-Nucleosome and EdU-DNA. All the examples shown in the paper are single colour EM images only.

This study explores the use of a magnetically controlled transformer within a dual active bridge (DAB) converter. This novel approach introduces a new degree of freedom to the control of the topology through the variation of the equivalent turns ratio of its high-frequency transformer. By adjusting the turns ratio, the converter maintains a primary referred DC voltage gain of one, regardless of varying input/output voltages. This theoretical approach represents the simplest solution to achieve minimum effective currents and enables zero voltage switching (ZVS) under light-load conditions, particularly for unmatched voltage scenarios. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the converter’s currents, output power, efficiency, and their relationship with the magnetic flux density conditions in the transformer. Furthermore, the trade-off between the total turns ratio variation and the circulating currents in the converter is described in detail. Additionally, considering the specific characteristics of this controllable magnetic device, a straightforward modulation strategy to minimize the effective currents under wide output voltage variations is introduced. An experimental prototype with an input voltage of 100 V and a rated power of 1.2 kW presents a minimum efficiency of 90% under light-load conditions (5% of the maximum load), considering output voltage variations ranging from 130 V to 180 V.

In this paper, a bidirectional full-bridge phase-shift converter with high transformation ratio scheme is proposed. The main architecture of this converter is dual active full-bridge circuit. By using phase-shift modulation, the energy can be transmitted between high-voltage-side and low-voltage-side, and also can make the power switches have the function of soft-switching. This converter is designed with the transmission power of 1kW and the digital signal processor TMS320F28335 is utilized as the main system controller core. Finally, it realizes the bidirectional power conversion mechanism between battery 50 $\text{V}_{\mathrm {dc}}$ and DC grid 400 $\text{V}_{\mathrm {dc}}$ . The experimental results show that the maximum conversion efficiency of this converter when operating in the forward charging mode (G2V mode) is up to 92.25 %, and in the reverse discharging mode (V2G mode), the maximum conversion efficiency is up to 93.02 %. In comparison with the related studies for dual active full-bridge converters, the conventional transformation ratio is lower or equal to 4. This study with high transformation ratio can reach 8 for practical high-low voltage bidirectional applications. After the validation for both modes, the proposed concept is practical in the high transformation scenarios.

Abstract Background Drosophila melanogaster lipophorin receptors (LpRs), LpR1 and LpR2, are members of the LDLR family known to mediate lipid uptake in a range of organisms from Drosophila to humans. The vertebrate orthologs of LpRs, ApoER2 and VLDL-R, function as receptors of a glycoprotein involved in development of the central nervous system, Reelin, which is not present in flies. ApoER2 and VLDL-R are associated with the development and function of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, important association areas in the mammalian brain, as well as with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders linked to those regions. It is currently unknown whether LpRs play similar roles in the Drosophila brain. Results We report that LpR-deficient flies exhibit impaired olfactory memory and sleep patterns, which seem to reflect anatomical defects found in a critical brain association area, the mushroom bodies (MB). Moreover, cultured MB neurons respond to mammalian Reelin by increasing the complexity of their neurite arborization. This effect depends on LpRs and Dab, the Drosophila ortholog of the Reelin signaling adaptor protein Dab1. In vitro, two of the long isoforms of LpRs allow the internalization of Reelin, suggesting that Drosophila LpRs interact with human Reelin to induce downstream cellular events. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that LpRs contribute to MB development and function, supporting the existence of a LpR-dependent signaling in Drosophila, and advance our understanding of the molecular factors functioning in neural systems to generate complex behaviors in this model. Our results further emphasize the importance of Drosophila as a model to investigate the alterations in specific genes contributing to neural disorders.

In a DC distribution network, the solid-state transformer (SST) and energy storage systems require an isolated bidirectional DC–DC converter (IBDC). Among the many IBDCs, the dual active bridge (DAB) converter has been widely studied due to its advantages in terms of high power density and high efficiency. The traditional control strategy for DAB is phase shift control. However, when the primary and secondary side voltages do not match, the soft-switching characteristic and increasing current in the phase shift control affect the application of DAB in scenarios involving input and output voltage changes. To improve the above-mentioned defects, a novel asymmetric duty modulation (ADM) control is proposed in this paper. Among the various multi-variable ADM controls, the two-variable ADM control is simple, but its current is higher under light loads. To improve this defect, this paper introduces trapezoidal modulation (TZM) control proposed for phase shift control into ADM to form a similar TZM (STZM) control corresponding to TZM control. This paper first expounds the basic principle of STZM control. On this basis, its basic characteristics are researched. With current stress as the optimization goal, an optimal STZM (OSTZM) control scheme with minimum current stress is proposed, and the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis is verified on the experimental bench. The result shows that STZM control can improve efficiency under light loads by reducing the current and ensuring full ZVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel isolated bi-directional dc/dc converter suitable for high-power applications is proposed. The converter uses system parasitics effectively in transferring power. The power output of the converter is controlled by varying the duty ratio and phase-shift angle between the primary and secondary bridges. In the proposed topology, control of the phase-shift angle and duty cycle enables controlled-current stresses in the switching devices over a wide source voltage range. Furthermore, soft switching is available throughout all the switching devices when, so called, a flat-top condition is obtained. This paper presents analytical derivations of the device current and output power equations. Using the equations, the performance of the converter is characterized. Throughout the characterization, it is proven that the total-device rating and power loss are at minimum when a specific condition is obtained. Furthermore, soft switching capability of the switching devices is also analyzed for the control inputs, showing soft switching regions of this topology. Finally, multi kilowatt experimental verification is presented to prove the converter's operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand of electric vehicles is booming on account of its advantages like reduced carbon footprint, economy of traveling, almost noise free operation etc. However, the construction of controller for electric vehicle is facing many problems in terms of suitability of power electronics drive, implementation of regenerative braking, selection of power converter, battery management etc. The DC to DC converter is an important element in electric vehicles and many researchers are focusing on development of bidirectional DC to DC converter and their control unit. A dual active bridge converter is a preferred choice for the same on account of its advantages like complete isolation between input and output, high voltage gain etc. This paper presents a fuzzy logic controlled bidirectional Dual Active Bridge converter for electric vehicle application. The fuzzy logic controller is developed by using MATLAB Simulink and simulation results are presented. The performance of developed controller is compared with PID controller for same converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A serious problem affecting the local radio industry in Cyprus is radio interference from the Middle East. This problem is especially acute on the highway along the coast during the summer months because interference degrades the sound quality in vehicle receivers due to chirping noise, hissing, fading and distortion. During the last decade the issue was explored by monitoring the field strength intensity of unwanted signals with respect to atmospheric conditions that excacerbate interference. According to the research outcomes presented in this paper, severe interference occurs due to "Tropospheric Ducting", i.e., radio energy becomes trapped between two boundaries in the lower layers of Earth's atmosphere. Thereby, this phenomenon acts as a waveguide that favors radio waves to propagate beyond the horizon with very strong field strength intensity where under certain atmospheric conditions exceeding the expected free space theoretical value. Because the commercial Band FM is already oversaturated for years, it was considered important to expand this research to explore the impact of interference on the new digital DAB, DAB+ radio, that will soon be launched in Cyprus, as it is discussed below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the optimization of current stress with low voltage ratio and full ZVS, a control method combining variable duty cycle and phase shift was proposed based on dual active bridge (DAB) converters with DC blocking capacitors. By adding DC bias to the DC blocking capacitors, asymmetric duty modulation (ADM) can adjust the bias as needed. Based on the theoretical analysis of steady-state operation, the operating modes can be divided into eight modes. According to the features of each mode, equivalent circuits are established. The transmission power and the boundary of zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) are deduced through a detailed analysis of each mode. Based on the theoretical deduction, ADM is more suitable for a low voltage ratio. Verified by experiment, optimized asymmetric duty modulation (OADM) can increase efficiency by 3.58%, 6.57%, 8.81%, and 10.33% compared with DPS when P is equal to 0.36 and m is equal to 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1, respectively. Using this method, the current stress of the converter is lighter than that under regular modulation when the voltage ratio m ≤ 0.5 with full ZVS.

The Input-serial-output-parallel (ISOP) dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter is an attractive solution to be used as a DC transformer (DCT) in the DC power distribution system. However, due to zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) limitation and large circulating current, the efficiency of the converter will be reduced. To improve the efficiency, an ISOP DAB converter based on a modulated coupled inductor, and a corresponding hybrid SPS control are proposed in this paper. With the hybrid SPS control strategy, the equivalent leakage inductance of modulated coupled inductor can be controllable. The large inductance is adopted at light load and the small inductance for the transformer is applied at heavy load to reduce circulating current and extend the ZVS range. By optimizing the root-mean-square (RMS) current of two operation modes of the converter, a control boundary of the hybrid SPS control can be obtained to modulate the coupled inductor. Meanwhile, the additional magnetizing inductance is utilized to achieve ZVS for all switches. The analysis based on the RMS current optimization and ZVS condition is given. Based on the conditions of the full load range ZVS and small RMS current, the parameters of the modulated coupled inductor, the turn ratio of the transformer, and magnetizing inductance are designed. Finally, a 250kHz, 800/400V, 2000W ISOP DAB prototype is built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Meanwhile, a comparison experiment with the conventional individual leakage inductors solution is given, which shows performance improvements of the proposed solution.

Background & aimsMulticopper ferroxidases (MCFs) facilitate intestinal iron absorption and systemic iron recycling, likely by a mechanism involving the oxidization of Fe2+ from the iron exporter ferroportin 1 for delivery to the circulating Fe3+ carrier transferrin. Hephaestin (HEPH), the only MCF known to be expressed in enterocytes, aids in the basolateral transfer of dietary iron to the blood. Mice lacking HEPH in the whole body (Heph-/- ) or intestine alone (Hephint/int ) exhibit defects in dietary iron absorption but still survive and grow. Circulating ceruloplasmin (CP) is the only other known MCF likely to interact with enterocytes. Our aim was to assess the effects of combined deletion of HEPH and CP on intestinal iron absorption and homeostasis in mice.MethodsMice lacking both HEPH and CP (Heph-/-Cp-/- ) and mice with whole-body knockout of CP and intestine-specific deletion of HEPH (Hephint/intCp-/- ) were generated and phenotyped.ResultsHeph-/-Cp-/- mice were severely anemic and had low serum iron, but they exhibited marked iron loading in duodenal enterocytes, the liver, heart, pancreas, and other tissues. Hephint/intCp-/- mice were moderately anemic (similar to Cp-/- mice) but were iron loaded only in the duodenum and liver, as in Hephint/int and Cp-/- mice, respectively. Both double knockout models absorbed iron in radiolabeled intestinal iron absorption studies, but the iron was inappropriately distributed, with an abnormally high percentage retained in the liver.ConclusionsThese studies indicate that HEPH and CP, and likely MCFs in general, are not essential for intestinal iron absorption but are required for proper systemic iron distribution. They also point to important extra-intestinal roles for HEPH in maintaining whole-body iron homeostasis.

This paper proposes a control scheme based on an optimal triple phase-shift (TPS) control for dual active bridge (DAB) DC–DC converters to achieve maximum efficiency. This is performed by analyzing, quantifying, and minimizing the total power losses, including the high-frequency transformer (HFT) and primary and secondary power modules of the DAB converter. To analyze the converter, three operating zones were defined according to low, medium, and rated power. To obtain the optimal TPS variables, two optimization techniques were utilized. In local optimization (LO), the offline particle swarm optimization (PSO) method was used, resulting in numerical optimums. This method was used for the low and medium power regions. The Lagrange multiplier (LM) was used for global optimization (GO), resulting in closed-form expressions for rated power. Detailed analyses and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Additionally, obtained results are compared with the traditional single phase-shift (SPS) method, the optimized dual phase-shift (DPS) method, and TPS method with RMS current minimization to better highlight the performance of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drosophila melanogaster lipophorin receptors (LpRs), LpR1 and LpR2, are members of the LDLR family known to mediate lipid uptake in a range of organisms from Drosophila to humans. The vertebrate orthologs of LpRs, ApoER2 and VLDL-R, function as receptors of a glycoprotein involved in development of the central nervous system, Reelin, which is not present in flies. ApoER2 and VLDL-R are associated with the development and function of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, important association areas in the mammalian brain, as well as with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders linked to those regions. It is currently unknown whether LpRs play similar roles in the Drosophila brain. Results: We report that LpR-deficient flies exhibit impaired olfactory memory and sleep patterns, which seem to reflect anatomical defects found in a critical brain association area, the mushroom bodies (MB). Moreover, cultured MB neurons respond to mammalian Reelin by increasing the complexity of their neurite arborization. This effect depends on LpRs and Dab, the Drosophila ortholog of the Reelin signaling adaptor protein Dab1. In vitro, two of the long isoforms of LpRs allow the internalization of Reelin, suggesting that Drosophila LpRs interact with human Reelin to induce downstream cellular events. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that LpRs contribute to MB development and function, supporting the existence of a LpR-dependent signaling in Drosophila, and advance our understanding of the molecular factors functioning in neural systems to generate complex behaviors in this model. Our results further emphasize the importance of Drosophila as a model to investigate the alterations in specific genes contributing to neural disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage technology has become critical for supporting China's large-scale access to renewable energy. As the interface between the battery energy storage system (BESS) and power grid, the stability of the PCS (power conversion system) plays an essential role. Here, we present a topology of a 10 kV high-voltage energy storage PCS without a power frequency transformer for the establishment of a large-scale energy storage system. We analyzed the energy storage converter's mechanism and characteristics and also introduced the power-control strategy of the HVAC (high-voltage AC) and LVDC (low-voltage DC) converter module. On this basis, a 10 kV/1 MW high-capacity PCS prototype was designed. Additionally, by simulation and experiment, we proved the correctness of the PCS scheme. The topology and control strategy proposed in this paper can provide cases and technical support for the subsequent promotion and application of new energy and power station energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is considered as heterogeneous matrix that contains complex profile of secondary metabolites, where more than 100 are classified as phytocannabinoids, present with an uneven distribution. In order to ensure its quality, application of suitable sample preparation techniques as well as time- and cost-efficient analytical methods is required. The DAB method depicts the obligatory procedure for potency testing of cannabinoids in cannabis flower in the EU. In this study we have performed method transfer in order to confirm the applicability of the method in determination of varying quantities of cannabioniods in different cannabis strains, focusing on samples with low content of CBD or THC or samples where one of these two cannabiniods is not detected. The HPLC-DAD method was validated and used for routine control of the content and consistency of medical cannabis. Limits of detection, limits of quantitation, accuracy, precision, and intermediate precision were found to be highly satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a reduced-stage three-phase isolated AC/DC converter topology used for auxiliary power units (APUs) in avionics and electric vehicle (EV) applications. Traditional two-stage cascaded AC/DC converters are widely used for these applications due to their ease of implementation and simple control schemes. With the objective of improving the power density of the APUs, the proposed converter achieves reduction in the number of active power devices along with a smaller DC link capacitance by implementing an unconventional structure with a bandpass filter, to allow only the required frequency components to transfer the rated power. To accurately characterize the proposed converter, a detailed formulation of the filter design for the circuit along with mathematical derivation of the control scheme is presented. In terms of achieving enhancement in the overall efficiency, a comparative study is presented that focusses on the conduction and switching losses incurred in the proposed topology as compared to the state of the art (SOA) two-stage AC/DC conversion topologies. The analyses portray efficiency improvement of 0.8% for a 6 kW rated load, with significant reduction in active device losses. Additionally, to support the formulations and derivations, simulation studies and experimental verifications are also presented. The results show an input power factor of 0.9918 (lagging) with a conversion efficiency of 97.6%, a tightly regulated output voltage with less than 1% peak-peak ripple and the input current total harmonic distortion (THD) of as low as 1.57%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a dual active bridge (DAB) converter with reactive power control capability (Q-capability) for a battery energy storage system (BESS) or an electric vehicle (EV) to deliver vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services. The DAB topology is preferable for EV charging systems due to its galvanic isolation and bidirectional power flow capabilities. However, this topology increases reactive current peak and loses zero voltage switching (ZVS) operation at light loads if it is not controlled with improved modulation strategies and proper Q control. This paper proposes a mixed modulation method and a reactive power optimization (RPO) algorithm based on power system load flow concepts. Due to the complexities associated with the analytical solution using time domain analysis, this paper develops detailed universal expressions of a DAB converter using the harmonic analysis method. Analytical identification of ZVS boundaries and DSP implementation of the RPO algorithm become easier with these universal expressions. Multiple modes analysis for different operational states is no longer required. Simulation results have been shown for different modulation strategies of the DAB converters. The theoretical analysis of modulation strategies, RPO algorithm and ZVS operation are validated by experimental results on a DAB prototype. Results show that the proposed control strategy reduces the reactive power and provide ZVS operation over a wide ranges of voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio performance is very important in the automotive industry. It is necessary to provide a careful assessment of radio reception of each vehicle project development. It is well known that the vehicle radio performance may be affected by electromagnetic interferences from the components of the vehicle itself. These interferences degrade the radio signals and prevent the on-board receiver from retrieving correctly the baseband signal. Generally, the car manufacturers rely on the international special committee on radio interference (CISPR) 25 standard to decide whether radio reception tests pass or fail according to the interference limits set in advance. However, although the standard is able to detect interferences and determine their type and level according to various detectors, their consequence on radio reception quality (if any) cannot be assessed in a quantitative manner. This is even more difficult with digital communication systems such as digital analog broadcasting (DAB). For the time being, the final quality of the radio reception is evaluated in a totally independent way, through driving tests. This article introduces an improved test setup that performs both interference level measurements and assessment of the radio reception performance. Two operating modes are described. They are based either on the conducted or the radiated injection of the transmitted radio signal. Although dedicated to analog and digital transmissions, we will deal only with the analog radio (FM) in this article. From a set of experiments, we conclude that interferences measured with average detectors are more likely correlated to radio reception issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-active-bridge (DAB) converters are widely used in bidirectional power transmission and voltage conversion. At present, phase-shift (PS) control is one of the most common and mature control methods for DAB converters. To improve the efficiency and performance of DAB converters, the soft switching and current stress are optimized by increasing the inner phase-shift ratio. However, under different PS controls, it is difficult to establish a unified mathematical model using the traditional instantaneous integral method. To solve this problem, based on the approximate equivalence of the fundamental component of a high-frequency link decomposed by Fourier series, an optimal fundamental modulation strategy is proposed, which takes the fundamental reactive power as the objective of optimization. The trajectories for each of the electrical parameters are analyzed intuitively through a vector diagram of the phasor. A practical optimal control strategy scheme for engineering is obtained. Finally, the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis and the proposed method are verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes a new model for a dual active bridge DC-DC converter. The model is developed in time-domain and it takes into account the effective waveform of all the quantities of interest. The paper introduces some algebraic and integral operations useful for modeling the converter defining some "support functions". Starting by these functions a full analytical model of the DAB is deduced. The effectiveness of the suggested analytical model has been tested and confirmed by simulations and experiments with a 3 kW prototype 28/270 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) is becoming a reality in the Czech Republic. The first nationwide DAB+ network, based on the regular broadcasting, is being completed. This paper presents the principles that were used to achieve a quick and efficient penetration of the DAB+ signal in the Czech population and the highways. Attention is focused on practical experience with the use of High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding (HE-AAC) emphasizing maximum efficiency of the multiplex. This is done with respect to the subjective perception of sound quality by the audience. Final audio processing and appropriate signal pre-processing are considered. The paper also focuses on how to use Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding to increase the reach of transmitters and the reasons for employing the specific transmitter network configuration, including indoor reception. The results of this complex method are demonstrated on the network rollout in particular periods, while the key assumptions were verified. The entire development process can be monitored on the maps of coverage.

Summary: The dual active bridge (DAB) converter has high efficiency and versatility; hence, such a converter has been used to design photovoltaic (PV) applications with both step‐up and step‐down voltage capabilities. However, PV systems require maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers to track the optimal operation conditions; moreover, PV voltage controllers are required to reject load perturbations that reduce the MPPT performance. This paper describes the operation of a DAB converter in PV systems and compares the performance of the DAB converter with a classical boost solution. In addition, this paper also presents a systematic analysis of the control techniques for DAB converters in PV applications, which provides useful information for selecting the most suitable approach for a particular application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a control scheme based on an optimal triple phase-shift (TPS) control for dual active bridge (DAB) DC–DC converters to achieve maximum efficiency. This is performed by analyzing, quantifying, and minimizing the total power losses, including the high-frequency transformer (HFT) and primary and secondary power modules of the DAB converter. To analyze the converter, three operating zones were defined according to low, medium, and rated power. To obtain the optimal TPS variables, two optimization techniques were utilized. In local optimization (LO), the offline particle swarm optimization (PSO) method was used, resulting in numerical optimums. This method was used for the low and medium power regions. The Lagrange multiplier (LM) was used for global optimization (GO), resulting in closed-form expressions for rated power. Detailed analyses and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Additionally, obtained results are compared with the traditional single phase-shift (SPS) method, the optimized dual phase-shift (DPS) method, and TPS method with RMS current minimization to better highlight the performance of the proposed approach.

Processing digital radio - either on the transmitter or the receiver side - requires a significant amount of digital processing. A receiver for digital radio usually consists of two parts, a ”hardware” part, handling the conversion from an analog antenna signal to a stream samples, and a ”software part”, a decoder, decoding the samples and generating audio, text, images and video. In this paper some aspects of the design and implementation of Qt-DAB, a software decoder for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB and DAB+), is discussed. The Qt-DAB decoder runs on a variety of hardware platforms, hardware as small as creditcard sized computers as the Raspberry PI 2, and home computers. In the design performance and flexibility were key. The design is such that it is easy to interface to different hardware SDR devices and easy to add new features. While the core of the Qt-DAB software is formed by the signal processing part, interpreting the incoming sample stream and generating audio, text and images, by far the largest part of the software is handling user interaction and user comfort. Qt-DAB provides a large amount of options, options to select a device, to inspect the signal, to store signals, and options to set the configuration. All in all, it shows that about three quarters of the amount of code is involved is the non signal processing part.

I summarize here the history of the use of abbreviations, mostly in subject areas related to dyes, stains and fluorescent probes used in biology and medicine. The dozen most popular abbreviations in these fields are identified and their salient characteristics noted. The pros and cons of each abbreviation are discussed with relevant citations. Certain abbreviations that are not in the list, e.g., AZAN and LN, are mentioned because they have an unusual origin; while others, i.e., INEPT and INADEQUATE are presented because they are bizarre. A related topic is abbreviations used for citations, which require further efforts to decipher. In the past, brevity helped conserve materials, such as ink and paper, and promoted more rapid publishing. I suggest that the use of many abbreviations in the current era of electronic publishing may not be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing digital radio - either on the transmitter or the receiver side - requires a significant amount of digital processing. A receiver for digital radio usually consists of two parts, a "hardware" part, handling the conversion from an analog antenna signal to a stream samples, and a "software part", a decoder, decoding the samples and generating audio, text, images and video. In this paper some aspects of the design and implementation of Qt-DAB, a software decoder for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB and DAB+), is discussed. The Qt-DAB decoder runs on a variety of hardware platforms, hardware as small as creditcard sized computers as the Raspberry PI 2, and home computers. In the design performance and flexibility were key. The design is such that it is easy to interface to different hardware SDR devices and easy to add new features. While the core of the Qt-DAB software is formed by the signal processing part, interpreting the incoming sample stream and generating audio, text and images, by far the largest part of the software is handling user interaction and user comfort. Qt-DAB provides a large amount of options, options to select a device, to inspect the signal, to store signals, and options to set the configuration. All in all, it shows that about three quarters of the amount of code is involved is the non-signal processing part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage technology has become critical for supporting China’s large-scale access to renewable energy. As the interface between the battery energy storage system (BESS) and power grid, the stability of the PCS (power conversion system) plays an essential role. Here, we present a topology of a 10 kV high-voltage energy storage PCS without a power frequency transformer for the establishment of a large-scale energy storage system. We analyzed the energy storage converter’s mechanism and characteristics and also introduced the power-control strategy of the HVAC (high-voltage AC) and LVDC (low-voltage DC) converter module. On this basis, a 10 kV/1 MW high-capacity PCS prototype was designed. Additionally, by simulation and experiment, we proved the correctness of the PCS scheme. The topology and control strategy proposed in this paper can provide cases and technical support for the subsequent promotion and application of new energy and power station energy storage.

This article focuses on the considerable scale and pace of change in broadcast radio over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, an on-going process showing little sign of abating. Developments in digital broadcasting, the increasing consumption of audio via internet protocol and the arrival of the smart speaker are all major factors impacting the future of radio broadcasting. No longer a stand-alone medium, this article argues that the future of broadcast radio rests on the way in which it addresses the various challenges and opportunities offered by its use of new technologies and multiple platforms. Change is not simply being driven by technological and regulatory developments within the industry (although there have been plenty of those over the past two decades). Equally importantly, change is also being driven by external factors and by wider societal pressures. Arguably, today, radio faces greater levels of challenge and competition than at any time in its century, or so, long history. Any process of change creates both winners and losers. In the medium term, which side of that equation radio broadcasting finds itself on will be determined by its response to the changes, challenges and opportunities encountered over the next few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of cannabis concentrate is dramatically rising and sparking major safety concerns. Cannabis concentrate contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potencies up to 90%, yet there has been little research on motor impairment after concentrate use (commonly referred to as “dabbing”). This study measured postural control and motor speed after the use of high potency concentrates in males and females.Methods: Experienced concentrate users (N = 65, Female: 46%, 17 ± 11 days/month of concentrate use) were assessed for motor performance in a mobile laboratory before, immediately after, and 1 h after ad-libitum cannabis concentrate use. Plasma levels of THC were obtained via venipuncture at each timepoint. We used a remotely deployable motor performance battery to assess arm and leg movement speed, index finger tapping rate, and balance. The sensors on a smart device (iPod Touch) attached to the participant provided quantitative measures of movement.Results: Arm speed slowed immediately after concentrate use and remained impaired after 1 h (p < 0.001), leg speed slowed 1 h after use (p = 0.033), and balance decreased immediately after concentrate use (eyes open: p = 0.017, eyes closed: p = 0.013) but not at 1 h post-use. These effects were not different between sexes and there was no effect of concentrate use on finger tapping speed. Acute changes in THC plasma levels after use of concentrates were minimally correlated with acute changes in balance performance.Conclusions: Use of cannabis concentrates in frequent users impairs movement speed and balance similarly in men and women. The motor impairment is largely uncorrelated with the change in THC plasma levels. These results warrant further refinement of cannabis impairment testing and encourage caution related to use of cannabis concentrates in work and driving settings.

In order to study the toxicity of the cyanobacterial non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) L-β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its structural isomer L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) in the forage crop plant alfalfa (Medicago sativa), seedlings were exposed to NPAA-containing media for four days. Root growth was significantly inhibited by both treatments. The content of derivatised free and protein-bound BMAA and DAB in seedlings was then analysed by LC-MS/MS. Both NPAAs were detected in free and protein-bound fractions with higher levels detected in free fractions. Compared to shoots, there was approximately tenfold more BMAA and DAB in alfalfa roots. These results suggest that NPAAs might be taken up into crop plants from contaminated irrigation water and enter the food chain. This may present an exposure pathway for NPAAs in humans.

The inhaled route is still a relatively novel route for delivering biologics and poses additional challenges to those encountered with inhaled small molecules, further complicating the design and interpretation of toxicology studies. A working group formed to summarize the current knowledge of inhaled biologics across industry and to analyze data collated from an anonymized cross-industry survey comprising 12 inhaled biologic case studies (18 individual inhalation toxicity studies on monoclonal antibodies, fragment antibodies, domain antibodies, oligonucleotides, and proteins/peptides). The output of this working group provides valuable insights into the issues faced when conducting toxicology studies with inhaled biologics, including common technical considerations on aerosol generation, use of young and sexually mature nonhuman primates, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling, exposure and immunogenicity assessment, maximum dose setting, and no observed adverse effect levels determination. Although the current data set is too small to allow firm conclusions, testing of novel biologics remains an active area and is likely to remain so for molecules where delivery via the inhaled route is beneficial. In the future, it is hoped others will continue to share their experiences and build on the conclusions of this review to further improve our understanding of these complex issues and, ultimately, facilitate the safe introduction of inhaled biologics into clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]