Transmission lines modelling based on RLC passive and active filter design

This paper presents a transmission line (TL) modelling which is based upon vector fitting algorithm and RLC passive filter design. Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) is utilised for behaviour prediction and fault diagnosis. The utilities of the measured FRA data points need to be enhanced with suitable modelling category to facilitate the modelling and analysis process. This research proposes a new method for modelling the transmission line based on a rational approximation function which can be extracted through the Vector Fitting (VF) method, based on the frequency response measured data points. A set of steps needs to be implemented to achieve this by setting up an extracted partial fraction approximation, which results from a least square RMS error via VF. Active and passive filter design circuits are used to construct the model of the Transmission line. The RLC design representation was implemented for modelling the system physically while MATLAB Simulink was used to verify the results

How valid are IMS DA summary statistics of children's vaccination status?

Purpose: Accurate recording of immunisation status is essential for the evaluation of any immunization program. In September 2006, 7 Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination (PCV7) was introduced into the UK’s routine childhood immunisation programme. This study validated the PCV7 immunization status of children aged 2 years recorded in the IMS Disease Analyses database. / Methods: The PCV7 vaccination uptake rate for children born in 2008 in the IMS DA database was calculated. A sample of 173 of the 2497 children not recorded as vaccinated was identified and a questionnaire was sent to each of their General Practitioners to ascertain the child’s true PCV7 vaccination status. / Results: In the IMS DA data of 15,237 children born in 2008, 12,740 (83.6%) had a vaccination record of PCV7. One hundred and eleven of the 167 questionnaires sent to the child’s general practitioners were returned, giving an adjusted response rate of 111/167 (66.5%). Based on the general practitioners’ responses, 71 (64%) of these children were fully vaccinated according to their General Practitioner’s records making the revised estimated vaccination rate for this cohort 94.1%. / Conclusion: This validation study has shown that caution is needed if using historical IMS patient-level data to analyse the effectiveness of PCV7 as there is a potential under-recording of immunization leading to underrepresentation of vaccination rates by approximately ten per cent. Coverage of other vaccines may also be underestimated in the IMS database

Optimization of Fuzzy Logic Controller for Supervisory Power System Stabilizers

This paper presents a powerful supervisory power system stabilizer (PSS) using an adaptive fuzzy logic controller driven by an adaptive fuzzy set (AFS). The system under study consists of two synchronous generators, each fitted with a PSS, which are connected via double transmission lines. Different types of PSS-controller techniques are considered. The proposed genetic adaptive fuzzy logic controller (GAFLC)-PSS, using 25 rules, is compared with a static fuzzy logic controller (SFLC) driven by a fixed fuzzy set (FFS) which has 49 rules. Both fuzzy logic controller (FLC) algorithms utilize the speed error and its rate of change as an input vector. The adaptive FLC algorithm uses a genetic algorithmto tune the parameters of the fuzzy set of each PSS. The FLC’s are simulated and tested when the system is subjected to different disturbances under a wide range of operating points. The proposed GAFLC using AFS reduced the computational time of the FLC, where the number of rules is reduced from 49 to 25 rules. In addition, the proposed adaptive FLC driven by a genetic algorithm also reduced the complexity of the fuzzy model, while achieving a good dynamic response of the system under study

Relationship between biomarkers of muscle damage and redox status in response to a weightlifting training session: effect of time-of-day

The aims of the present study were to: (1) investigate the effect of a weightlifting training session and time-of-day (TOD) upon biological parameters (i.e., oral temperature, hematological, C-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidative stress) and (2) assess their possible link with muscle damage responses. Nine weightlifters (21 ± 0.5 years) performed, in a randomized order, three Olympic-Weightlifting sessions (i.e., at 08:00, 14:00, and 18:00). Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 min and 48 h after each training session. Between pre- and post-training session, ANOVA showed significant increases in oxidative stress markers at the three TODs (p < 0.01) and significant increases for creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) only at 08:00 and 18:00 (p < 0.05). At rest, the results showed a significant diurnal variation for the majority of the selected parameters except for malondialdehyde (MDA), total bilirubin, and CRP with higher values observed at 18:00 (p < 0.05). After the training session, given the higher rate of increase during the morning session, these diurnal variations persisted for temperature and WBC (p < 0.01) and were suppressed for CK, LDH, uric acid (UA), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The main significant correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between: (1) CK and MDA (r = 0.6) and CK and UA (r = 0.66 and r = 0.82) during the morning and evening training sessions; (2) CK and CRP only during the morning session (r = 0.5); and (3) CRP and WBC during the three training sessions (r = 0.8). In conclusion, the present findings: (1) confirm that the muscle damage responses could be induced by a high level of oxidative stress and (2) suggest to avoid scheduling training sessions in the morning given the higher muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative responses at this TOD

The Attitudes of Saudi Teachers Toward Teaching Physical Education for Girls at Public Schools in Jeddah

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Saudi teachers towards teaching PE for girls at public schools in Jeddah city and to explore the factors that may affect these attitudes. The researcher explored the reasons behind the PE ban for girls in these schools. The number of participants was Four hundred and sixty-two teachers who completed the survey (N = 462). T-Test and One-Way ANNOVA were the two methods to analyze the data collected. The results indicated that about 95.1% of them agreed that regular practice of physical education can affect positively the appearance and the psychological condition of girls. Almost 89% of participants agreed that Islamic instructions imply that both males and females have the right to participate in physical activities and 66% of participants believed that the ban of women to practice sport is a part of discrimination against women. In addition, about 90% of participants agreed that PE classes should be performed for girls in public schools and throughout all educational levels (elementary, middle, and high). Participants believed that the reasons behind the PE ban for girls are the lack of knowledge about the importance of PE 75.1%, the government policy 70.4%, and the social traditions 75.1%. Statistically, male educators scored a significant larger mean on the measure of attitudes towards teaching PE for girls than female educators. Teachers from middle schools and high schools had a statistically significant larger means for the attitude towards teaching PE for girls than teachers from elementary schools, while there was no statistically significant difference between teachers from middle and high school levels

The high correlation between counts and area fractions of lipofuscin granules, a biomarker of oxidative stress in muscular dystrophies

Images of cryostat unstained sections of two skeletal muscles, diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus (EDL), from wild-type normal and dystrophic mdx mice were captured with a fluorescence microscope, binarised and analysed by an automated procedure using ImageJ free software. The numbers, Feret diameters and areas of autofluorescent lipofuscin (LF)-like granules in the sections were determined from the binary images. The mean numbers of counted LF granules per mm(3) muscle tissue correlated highly (r ≥ 0.9) with the area fractions of the granules in sections of both normal and mdx muscles. The similar distribution patterns of granule sizes in sections of diaphragm and EDL muscles are consistent with the high correlations

Risk-Return Profiles of New Ventures: An Empirical Study

This study examines how risk evolves in private, venture capital backed companies. It finds that the stochastic Ito processes assumed for public companies probably apply to young, private companies as well. However, the parameters, drift rate and standard deviation, are generally higher. Venture capitalists have viewed companies as evolving through stages, and this study assesses the probabilities of success and failure at each stage. The underlying process of price evolution appears much smoother than the stage model may suggest. The valuation mediods developed for public securities, including option pricing, should apply to private companies as well. This study is a step toward measuring the needed parameters

Recessive nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum is caused by homozygous protein-truncating mutations of WDR73.

We describe a novel nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum among 30 children (ages 1.0 to 28 years) from diverse Amish demes. Children with nephrocerebellar syndrome had progressive microcephaly, visual impairment, stagnant psychomotor development, abnormal extrapyramidal movements and nephrosis. Fourteen died between ages 2.7 and 28 years, typically from renal failure. Post-mortem studies revealed (i) micrencephaly without polymicrogyria or heterotopia; (ii) atrophic cerebellar hemispheres with stunted folia, profound granule cell depletion, Bergmann gliosis, and signs of Purkinje cell deafferentation; (iii) selective striatal cholinergic interneuron loss; and (iv) optic atrophy with delamination of the lateral geniculate nuclei. Renal tissue showed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and extensive effacement and microvillus transformation of podocyte foot processes. Nephrocerebellar syndrome mapped to 700 kb on chromosome 15, which contained a single novel homozygous frameshift variant (WDR73 c.888delT; p.Phe296Leufs*26). WDR73 protein is expressed in human cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cultured embryonic kidney cells. It is concentrated at mitotic microtubules and interacts with α-, β-, and γ-tubulin, heat shock proteins 70 and 90 (HSP-70; HSP-90), and the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 2/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase multi-enzyme complex. Recombinant WDR73 p.Phe296Leufs*26 and p.Arg256Profs*18 proteins are truncated, unstable, and show increased interaction with α- and β-tubulin and HSP-70/HSP-90. Fibroblasts from patients homozygous for WDR73 p.Phe296Leufs*26 proliferate poorly in primary culture and senesce early. Our data suggest that in humans, WDR73 interacts with mitotic microtubules to regulate cell cycle progression, proliferation and survival in brain and kidney. We extend the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum with the first description of diencephalic and striatal neuropathology

Valuation of Early-Stage Ventures: Option Valuation Models vs. Traditional Approaches

This paper presents a new method for valuing early stage ventures, a method which views new ventures as multi-stage call options. It examines the traditional methods for valuing such ventures--the ubiquitous Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Method using a risk adjusted discount rate, and the Venture Capital method which uses high discount rates to offset optimistic forecasts--and describes their conceptual disadvantages visa vis the Option Method. In order to make the Option Method a practical alternative to traditional approaches, the paper presents an algorithm for valuing multi-stage options, and it develops the needed input data using venture capital archives and public offerings. The Option Method is applied to a typical early-stage investment, producing values close to those predicted by venture capital rules of thumb. In contrast, the DCF method badly underestimates the value of the venture. At this time the Option Method is a practical way to value early-stage ventures, both internal ventures and start-up companies. It offers many advantages over the venture capitalists\u27 s rules of thumb

Systemic sclerosis in a patient with pityriasis rubra pilaris

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare, chronic erythematous squamous disorder of unknown etiology. It has been found in association with several autoimmune diseases, including thyroiditis, myositis, myasthenia gravis and vitiligo. Herein we report a case of systemic sclerosis in a patient with classic adult pityriasis rubra pilaris. A 38 year old woman with classic adult type 1 pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) developed progressive skin thickening of the trunk, face, upper and lower extremities after 2 years of PRP treatment with topical emollients and steroids. Clinical examination and immunological findings were consistent with SSc. Co-existence of these two rare conditions is documented for the first time