bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Power Quality Improvement in Distribution System using ANN Based Shunt Active Power Filter
Authors: Jarupula Somlal , Vutlapalli Narsimha Rao , Vutlapalli Narsimha Rao
Published: March 2017

This paper focuses on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) controller based Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) for mitigating the harmonics of the distribution system. To increase the performance of the conventional controller and take advantage of smart controllers, a feed forward-type (trained by a back propagation algorithm) ANN-based technique is implemented in shunt active power filters for producing the controlled pulses required for IGBT inverter. The proposed approach mainly work on the principle of capacitor energy to maintain the DC link voltage of a shunt connected filter and thus reduces the transient response time when there is abrupt variation in the load. The entire power system block set model of the proposed scheme has been developed in MATLAB environment. Simulations are carried out by using MATLAB, it is noticed that the %THD is reduced to 2.27% from 29.71% by ANN controlled filter. The simulated experimental results also show that the novel control method is not only easy to be computed and implemented, but also very successful in reducing harmonics.

 
Design of Controllers for Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor
Authors: Deepa Somasundaram , Anipriya N. , Subbulakshmy R.
Published: March 2017

The objective of the project is to design various controllers for temperature control in Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) systems. Initially Zeigler-Nichols, modified Zeigler-Nichols, Tyreus-Luyben, Shen-Yu and IMC based method of tuned Proportional Integral (PI) controller is designed and comparisons are made with Fuzzy Logic Controller. Simulations are carried out and responses are obtained for the above controllers. Maximum peak overshoot, Settling time, Rise time,  ISE, IAE  are chosen as performance index. From the analysis it is found that the Fuzzy Logic Controller  is a promising controller than the conventional controllers.
Line and Grid Impedance Impact on the Performances of a Parallel Connected Modular Inverter System
Authors: Zebbadji Tahar , Hadji Seddik , Ibtiouen Rachid
Published: March 2017

With the rising fuel cost, increasing demand of power and the concerns for global climate change, the use of clean energy make the connection of power electronics building bloc in the heart of the current research. The high output current applications make the parallel connection of modular inverters to be a solution for the use of low power building block inverters where the output power cannot be handled by a single inverter configuration. In this context, average-modeling using average phase–leg technique allows the n-parallel connected inverters to be analyzed accurately and rapidly without requiring the complexity of the full switched inverter topology. The obtained analytical solution along with the equivalent circuit model makes easier the design of the control loop. The analytical solution of the n-parallel connected inverters shows the impact of the line and grid impedance on the performance of the overall system. The impact of this coupling has to be investigated such that the main feature of paralleling inverters is guaranteed and that the inverter mode of operation will not be compromised. The main advantage of paralleling inverters can be lost for a certain coupling impedance considerations.
Solar Photovoltaic Powered Sailing Boat Using Buck Converter
Authors: Das Soumya , Sadhu Pradip Kumar , Pal Nitai , Majumdar Gourav , Mukherjee Saswata
Published: March 2017

The main objective of this paper is to establish technical and economical aspects of the application of stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system in sailing boat using a buck converter in order to enhance the power generation and also to minimize the cost. Performance and control of dc-dc converter, suitable for photovoltaic (PV) applications, is presented here. A buck converter is employed here which extracts complete power from the PV source and feeds into the dc load. The power, which is fed into the load, is sufficient to drive a boat . With the help of matlab simulink software PV module and buck model has been designed and simulated and also compared with theoretical predictions.
Leakage Current Paths in PV Transformer-Less Single-Phase Inverter Topology and Its Mitigation through PWM for Switching
Authors: Khan M. N. H. , Ahmad K. J. , Khan S. , Hasanuzzaman M.
Published: March 2017

The Photovoltaic (PV) is a part and parcel and well known for cost-effective and easy to operatefeatures when it is used with transformer-less inverter-based grid-tied distribution generation systems. It reduces the leakage current issue that actually occurs making paths from PV penal to ground. In this paper has been addressed this issue as main problem for reducing leakage current. Moreover, here iscompared the proposed topology’s results to AC and DC-based transformer-less topologies. The possibilities of larger number of leakage current paths indicatepower loss, which is the focus of work in this paper for different switching conditions. The results on leakage current paths using PSpice with different parasitic capacitance values from inverters of different topologies are compared with the simulation results of the topology proposed in this paper.
Analysis of Binary DC Source Reduced Switch 7-level Inverter
Authors: Arun V. , Shanthi B. , Arumugam M.
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a binary DC source reduced switch 7-level inverter. Binary DC source reduced switch inverter is triggered by the Unipolar PWM strategy having sinusoidal and trapezoidal reference with triangular carriers. These Pulse Width Modulating (PWM) strategies include Phase Disposition (PD), Alternate Phase Opposition Disposition (APOD), Carrier Overlapping (CO). Performance factors like Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), VRMS (fundamental) and crest factor are evaluated for various modulation indices. Simulations were performed using MATLAB-SIMULINK. It is observed that UPDPWM strategy with trapezoidal reference provides output with relatively low distortion and UCOPWM strategy with trapezoidal reference provides relatively higher fundamental RMS output voltage.
The Switched Reluctance Electric Machine with Constructive Asymetry
Authors: Petrushin Alexander , Tchavychalov Maxim , Miroshnichenko Ekaterina
Published: March 2017

Results of researches of forces of a unilateral attraction of a rotor to a stator of switched reluctance electric machines taking into account unevenness of an air gap are given. It is offered for configurations of magnetic systems with weak magnetic communication between the coils making a phase to carry out a supply of coils in parallel or independently from each other for reduction of not compensated forces of a unilateral attraction of a rotor to a stator.
Comparison of Estimated Torques Using Low Pass Filter and Extended Kalman Filter for Induction Motor Drives
Authors: Alsofyani Ibrahim Mohd , Idris Nik Rumzi Nik , Alamri Yahya A. , Sutikno Tole , Wangsupphaphol Aree , Nordin Norjulia M.
Published: March 2017

Torque calculation process is one of the major concerns for controlling induction motors in industry, which requires very accurate state estimation of unmeasurable variables of nonlinear models. This can be solved if the variables used for torque calculation is accurately estimated.  This paper presents a torque calculation based on a voltage model represented with a low-pass filter (LPF), and an extended Kalman filter (EKF). The experimental results showed that the estimated torque at low speed based on EKF is more accurate in the expense of more complicated and larger computational time. 
Power Factor Correction in Two Leg Inverter Fed BLDC Drive Using Cuk Dc-Dc Converter
Authors: Chandra Rao A. Purna , Obulesh Y.P. , Sai Babu Ch.
Published: March 2017

Earlier for variable speed application conventional motors were used, but these motors have poor characteristics. These drawbacks were overcome by brushless Dc motor drive. Now days in most of the applications such as industrial, domestic, aerospace, defense, medical and traction etc, brushless DC motor (BLDCM) is popular for its high efficiency, high torque to weight ratio, small size, and high reliability, ease of control and low maintenance etc. BLDC motor is a electronic commutator driven drive i.e. it uses a three-phase voltage source inverter for its operation, electronic devices means there is a problem of poor power quality, more torque ripple and speed fluctuations. This paper deals with the CUK converter two leg inverter fed BLDCM drive in closed loop operation. The proposed control strategy on CUK converter two leg inverter fed BLDCM drive with split DC source is modeled and implemented using MATLAB / Simulink. The proposed method improves the efficiency of the drive system with Power factor correction feature in wide range of the speed control, less torque ripple and smooth speed control.
Modeling the Dependence of Power Diode on Temperature and Radiation
Authors: El-Ghanam S.M. , Abd El-Maksood A.M. , Soliman F.A.S.
Published: March 2017

A theoretical study had been carried out on the effect of radiation on the electrical properties of silicon power diodes. Computer program "PDRAD2013" was developed to solve the diode equations and to introduce the operating conditions and radiation effects upon its parameters. Temperature increase interrupts the electrical properties of the diode in the direction of drop voltage decrease across the p-n junction.. The model was analyzed under the influence of different radiation type (gamma-rays, neutrons, protons and electrons) with various dose levels and energies. The carriers diffusion length were seriously affected leading to a large increase in the forward voltage. These effects were found to be function of radiation type, fluence and energy.
An Efficient High Gain DC-DC Converter for Automotive Applications
Authors: T.M. Aiswarya , Prabhakar M.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a high gain DC-DC converter which uses a clamp circuit to achieve soft switching. The proposed converter is designed to supply a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp used in automobile head lamps. The converter operates from a 12V input supply and provides an output voltage of 120V at 35W output power. A clamp circuit consisting of a clamp capacitor, clamp switch and resonant inductor will help to achieve zero voltage switching (ZVS) of the both main and clamp switches. The practical performance of the converter was validated through experimental results. Results obtained from the prototype hardware prove that the converter meets the requirements of HID lamp application and can be a very good alternative to existing converters.
T Source Inverter Based Shunt Active Filter with LCL Passive Filter for the 415V 50 Hz Distribution systems
Authors: Sellakumar S. , Vijayakumar M.
Published: March 2017

The inverter topology is being used as an active filter to reduce the harmonics in the power system. The traditional voltage source or current source inverters are having the disadvantages of limited output voltage range hence it may not be able to supply enough compensating currents during heavy switching surges, Vulnerable to EMI noise and the devices gets damaged in either open or short circuit conditions and the main switching device of VSI and CSI are not interchangeable. The active filters are the type of DC-AC system with wide range of voltage regulation and integration of energy storages is often required. This cannot be achieved with conventional inverters and hence the impedance source inverters have been suggested. The T source inverters are basically impedance source inverters which can be used as an active filter in the power system. The MATLAB simulation is done and the results are discussed in this paper for both the types. The proposed dampening system is fully characterized by LCL based passive filters and T source inverter based shunt active filter. The disturbances in the supply voltage and load current due to the non linear loads are observed in the simulation. The same is studied after connecting the designed hybrid shunt active filter in the distribution system. The simulation results obtained from the proposed method proves that it gives comparatively better THD value.
Control of Indirect Matrix Converter by Using Improved SVM Method
Authors: Nannapaneni Lavanya , Rao Venu Gopala
Published: March 2017

A novel space vector modulation (SVM) method for an indirect matrix converter (IMC) is used to reduce the common -mode voltage (CMV) in the output. The process of selecting required active vectors and to describe the switching sequence in the inverter stage of the IMC is explained in this paper. This novel SVM method used to decrease the peak -to-peak amplitude voltage of CMV without using any external hardware. The other advantage of this SVM method is to reduce the total harmonic distortion of line-to-line output voltage. This new modulation technique is easily implemented through simulation and its results are used to demonstrate the improved performance of the input/output waveforms.
Open-Delta VSC Based Voltage Controller in Isolated Power Systems
Authors: Bhattacharya Shilpi , Deb Prabal , Biswas Sujit K , Banerjee Ambarnath
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a reduced switch Open-Delta (OD-VSC) voltage controller for an standalone asynchronous generator (SAG), also known as the self-excited induction generator (SEIG),used in constant power applications such as pico hydro uncontrolled turbine driven isolated induction generator (IAG) for feeding three-phase loads. The proposed reduced switch voltage controller is used to regulate and control the generator terminal voltage as it is subjected to voltage drops, dips or flickers when the isolated power system is subjected to various critical loads. Generally this purpose is carried out by a STATCOM comprising of a three-leg six-switch inverter structure. Here, in this work the DSTATCOM is realized using a three-leg four-switch insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)-based current controlled voltage-sourced converter (CC-VSC) and a self-supporting dc bus containing two split capacitors. The proposed generating system along with the controller is modeled and simulated in MATLAB along with Simulink and power system blockset (PSB) toolboxes. The system is simulated and the capability of the isolated generating system along with the reduced switch based voltage controller is presented here where the generator feeds linear and non-linear loads are investigated.
Influence Of Sensorless Control On The Noise Of Switched Reluctance Motor Drive
Authors: Petrushin Alexander , Tchavychalov Maxim
Published: March 2017

The influence of the switched reluctance motor drive sensorless control on the level of its noise is considered. Theoretically justified the increase of noise level while sensorless SRM control. The results of switched reluctance motor noise measurement with sensorless control and control using the physical position sensor are given.
Digital Implementation of DSVPWM Control for EV fed through Impedance Source Inverter
Authors: Kumar Akkarapaka Ananda , Sing Dheerendra
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a new space vector modulation technique is proposed for speedcontrol of Induction Motor using Z-source inverter powered by a low voltage DCsource. The zero states of conventional space vector modulation is used for boosting the DC link voltage to the required level. The proposed SVM techniqueestimates the required shoot through period of the Z-source inverter to maintainthe DClink voltage constant at the desired level through capacitor voltage control.A 32 bit DSP (TMS320F28335) is used to implement the proposed space vectormodulation method. The power structure and the modulation technique is wellsuited for electric vehicle application.
A Soft Switching Control Strategy Based on Interleaved Boost Converter for BLDC Motor Drive
Authors: Ramesh V. , Latha Y. Kusuma
Published: March 2017

In this paper, Zero-Voltage-Transition (ZVT) two-cell interleaved boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter for voltage source Inverter (VSI) fed permanent magnet brushless DC motor (PMBLDCM) drive has been proposed Scheme reduce the torque ripple of BLDC motor drive and also reduce the switching losses of VSI for Which an auxiliary circuit is designed and added to the interleaved boost converter.  For achieving soft switching, only one switch is used in auxiliary circuit which reduces the torque ripple and switching losses. In this proposed control strategy, the DC link voltage is controlled with interleaved boost converter which is proportional to the desired speed of the BLDC motor. In this paper, six switch and four switch VSI is also implemented with interleaved boost converter topology. A comparison is made between the six switch and Four Switch VSI fed PMBLDC Motor drive and Torque Analysis as been done. To validate the proposed work, results are presented. The results showed that proposed converter control strategy operating under soft switching mode improves the efficiency of the drive system with PFC feature in wide range of the speed control.
Modeling and Simulation of Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Sahoo Ashwin Kumar , Mohanty Nalinikanta , M Anupriya
Published: March 2017

This paper aims to model the Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System (SMES) using various Power Conditioning Systems (PCS) such as, Thyristor based PCS (Six-pulse converter and Twelve-pulse converter) and Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based PCS. Modeling and Simulation of Thyristor based PCS and VSC based PCS has been carried out. Comparison has also been carried out based on various criteria such as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), active and reactive power control ability, control structure and power handling capacity. MATLAB/Simulink is used to simulate the various Power Conditioning Systems of SMES.
Electromagnetic Performance due to Tooth-tip Design in Fractional-slot PM Brushless Machines
Authors: Mohd Jamil Mohd Luqman , Zolkapli Zulfikri Zaki , Jidin Auzani , Raja Othman Raja Nor Firdaus , Sutikno Tole
Published: March 2017

Permanent Magnet (PM) machines are favorable as an alternative to other machine topologies due to simpler construction and high torque density. However, it may result hight torque ripple due to an influence of cogging torque and electronic commutation. In this paper, comparisons of phase back-emf, static torque and cogging torque due to influence of tooth-tip asymmetry in 12-slot/10-pole double-layer and 12-slot/10-pole single layer winding machines are carried out using 2D Finite-Element Analysis. At rated condition, the stator asymmetry has great influence on the torque performance as there is significant reduction of torque ripple in 12-slot/10-pole mahine equipped with single layer winding than one equipped with double layer winding machine. It si confirmed that an optimum torque performance is desirable via stator iron modification in PM machines.
Efficiency Optimized Brushless DC Motor Drive based on Input Current Harmonic Elimination
Authors: Nag Tridibesh , Acharya Arijit , Chatterjee Debashis , Ganguli Ashoke Kumar , Chatterjee Arunava
Published: March 2017

This paper describes efficiency improvement of a position sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) motor with improved PWM scheme for the inverter compared to existing ones. This is based on Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE). The proposed method reduces total harmonic distortion (THD) from the input current and armature flux and thereby reducing the core losses. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through simulation and experimental results.
Implementation of Space Vector Modulator for Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverters
Authors: Sanusi Syamim , Jidin Auzani , Sutikno Tole , Abdul Karim Kasrul , Jamil Mohd Luqman , Ahmad Tarusan Siti Azura
Published: March 2017

The Space Vector Modulation (SVM) technique has gained wide acceptance for many AC drive applications, due to a higher DC bus voltage utilization (higher output voltage when compared with the SPWM), lower harmonic distortions and easy digital realization. In recent years, the SVM technique was extensively adopted in multilevel inverters since it offers greater numbers of switching vectors for obtaining further improvements of AC drive performances. However, the use of multilevel inverters associated with SVM increases the complexity of control algorithm (or computational burden), in obtaining proper switching sequences and vectors. The complexity of SVM computation causes a microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP) to execute the computation at a larger sampling time. This consequently may produce errors in computation and hence degrades the control performances of AC motor drives. This paper presents a developement of SVM modulator for three-level Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter (CHMI) using a hybrid controller approach, i.e. with combination between the DS1104 Controller Board and FPGA. In such way, the computational burden can be minimized as the SVM tasks are distributed into two parts, in which every part is executed by a single controller. This allows the generation of switching gates performed by FPGA at the minimum sampling time 〖DT〗_2=540 ns to obtain precise desired output voltages, as can be verified via simulation and experimental results.
Design and Implementation of Pulse Width Modulation Using Hardware/Software MicroBlaze Soft-Core
Authors: Zemmouri A. , Elgouri R. , Alareqi M. , Benbrahim M. , Hlou L.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents an embedded control application of clock frequency to control the pulse width of the output signals, implemented on field programmable get array. This control allows the creation of lines of Pulse-width modulation depending on the numbers of card outputs, without using   the specific "Timers /Counters" blocks; this method is effective to adjust the amount of power supplied to an electrical charge. The purpose of this work is to achieve a real time hardware implementation with higher performance in both size and speed. Performance of these design implemented in field programmable get array virtex5 card, and Signals displayed on an oscilloscope.
Modeling & Analysis of a Novel Adaptive Hysteresis Band Controller for Boost and Buck Converter
Authors: Roy Choudhury Tanmoy , Nayak Byamakesh
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a new topology of Adaptive Hysteresis Band controller for Boost & Buck converter has been proposed, modeled and analyzed.  The difficulties caused in Hysteresis Band (HB) controlled dc-dc converter have been eliminated using Adaptive Hysteresis Band (AHB) controller. This novel control topology can be able to maintain the switching frequency constant unlike HB controller. Thus the filter design for the converters will become easier with this controller. Again this control methodology is a robust one as it depends upon the system parameters where there was no possibility with HB controller. The Mathematical modeling of the controller is shown in this paper, further this has been simulated using Matlab /SIMULINK to generate pulse. The steady state analysis to find the parameters and the stability condition of the converter using the dynamic behavior is also portrayed in this paper. The simulation for a Boost and a Buck converter is also shown separately using AHB controller.
A Fuzzy Ga Based STATCOM for Power Quality Improvement
Authors: Deepa S. , Praba S. , Deepalakshmi V. , Jayaprakash L. , Manimurugan M.
Published: March 2017

This paper deals with various power issues such as voltage sag, swell, harmonics, and surges using static synchronous compensator (STATCOM).The conventional controller suffers from uncertain parameters and non-linear qualities. However they are computationally inefficient extending to optimize the fuzzy controller (FC) parameters, since they exhaustively search the optimal values to optimize the objective functions. To overcome this drawback, a genetic algorithm (GA) based Fuzzy controller parameter optimization is presented in this paper. The GA algorithm is used to find the optimal fuzzy parameters for minimizing the objective functions. The feasibility of the proposed GA technique for distribution systems to improve the sag and total harmonic distortion (THD) as major power quality indices in sensitive loads at fault conditions has been simulated and tested. Therefore, the multi-objective optimization algorithm is considered in order to attain a better performance in solving the related problems.
A Modified Dual Input DC-DC Converter for Hybrid Energy Application
Authors: Athikkal Sivaprasad , Sundaramoorthy Kumaravel , Sankar Ashok
Published: March 2017

Power electronic interface has reached a new level in the area of  hybrid energy integration nowadays. The existence for the concept of  hybrid energy integration is truly questionable without a proper power electronic interface. In this paper, a modified dual input DC-DC converter which is capable of incorporating two distinct V-I characteristic sources such as solar-PV, battery, fuel cell, etc., is proposed. The converter has the ability to operate in both unidirectional and bidirectional mode with buck, buck-boost and boost operation. The software simulation of the proposed converter has been conducted in MATLAB/Simulink platform in a detailed manner and an experimental prototype of the propsed converter has been built to validate the simulation results.
Cardiac Regeneration
Authors: Galdos Francisco X. , Guo Yuxuan , Paige Sharon L. , VanDusen Nathan J. , Wu Sean M. , Pu William T.
Published: March 2017

Palliative surgery for congenital heart disease has allowed patients with previously lethal heart malformations to survive and, in most cases, to thrive. However, these procedures often place pressure and volume loads on the heart, and over time, these chronic loads can cause heart failure. Current therapeutic options for initial surgery and chronic heart failure that results from failed palliation are limited, in part, by the mammalian heart’s low inherent capacity to form new cardiomyocytes. Surmounting the heart regeneration barrier would transform the treatment of congenital, as well as acquired, heart disease and likewise would enable development of personalized, in vitro cardiac disease models. Although these remain distant goals, studies of heart development are illuminating the path forward and suggest unique opportunities for heart regeneration, particularly in fetal and neonatal periods. Here, we review major lessons from heart development that inform current and future studies directed at enhancing cardiac regeneration.
Genetics and Genomics of Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Zaidi Samir , Brueckner Martina
Published: March 2017

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, and because of major advances in medical and surgical management, there are now more adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD) than children. Until recently, the cause of the majority of CHD was unknown. Advances in genomic technologies have discovered the genetic causes of a significant fraction of CHD, while at the same time pointing to remarkable complexity in CHD genetics. This review will focus on the evidence for genetic causes underlying CHD and discuss data supporting both monogenic and complex genetic mechanisms underlying CHD. The discoveries from CHD genetic studies draw attention to biological pathways that simultaneously open the door to a better understanding of cardiac development and affect clinical care of patients with CHD. Finally, we address clinical genetic evaluation of patients and families affected by CHD.
Current Status and Future Potential of Transcatheter Interventions in Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Kenny Damien P. , Hijazi Ziyad M.
Published: March 2017

Percutaneous therapies for congenital heart disease have evolved rapidly in the past 3 decades. This has occurred despite limited investment from industry and support from regulatory bodies resulting in a lack of specific device development. Indeed, many devices remain off-label with a best-fit approach often required, spurning an innovative culture within the subspecialty, which had arguably laid the foundation for many of the current and evolving structural heart interventions. Challenges remain, not least encouraging device design focused on smaller infants and the inevitable consequences of somatic growth. Data collection tools are emerging but remain behind adult cardiology and cardiac surgery and leading to partial blindness as to the longer-term consequences of our interventions. Tail coating on the back of developments in other fields of adult intervention will soon fail to meet the expanding needs for more precise interventions and biological materials. Increasing collaboration with surgical colleagues will require development of dedicated equipment for hybrid interventions aimed at minimizing the longer-term consequences of scar to the heart. Therefore, great challenges remain to ensure that children and adults with congenital heart disease continue to benefit from an exponential growth in minimally invasive interventions and technology. This can only be achieved through a concerted collaborative approach from physicians, industry, academia, and regulatory bodies supporting great innovators to continue the philosophy of thinking beyond the limits that has been the foundation of our specialty for the past 50 years.
VEGFR3 Modulates Vascular Permeability by Controlling VEGF/VEGFR2 Signaling
Authors: Heinolainen Krista , Karaman Sinem , D’Amico Gabriela , Tammela Tuomas , Sormunen Raija , Eklund Lauri , Alitalo Kari , Zarkada Georgia
Published: March 2017

Rationale:

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main driver of angiogenesis and vascular permeability via VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), whereas lymphangiogenesis signals are transduced by VEGFC/D via VEGFR3. VEGFR3 also regulates sprouting angiogenesis and blood vessel growth, but to what extent VEGFR3 signaling controls blood vessel permeability remains unknown.

Objective:

To investigate the role of VEGFR3 in the regulation of VEGF-induced vascular permeability.

Methods and Results:

Long-term global
Vegfr3
gene deletion in adult mice resulted in increased fibrinogen deposition in lungs and kidneys, indicating enhanced vascular leakage at the steady state. Short-term deletion of
Vegfr3
in blood vascular endothelial cells increased baseline leakage in various tissues, as well as in tumors, and exacerbated vascular permeability in response to VEGF, administered via intradermal adenoviral delivery or through systemic injection of recombinant protein.
VEGFR3
gene silencing upregulated VEGFR2 protein levels and phosphorylation in cultured endothelial cells. Consistent with elevated VEGFR2 activity, vascular endothelial cadherin showed reduced localization at endothelial cell–cell junctions in postnatal retinas after
Vegfr3
deletion, or after
VEGFR3
silencing in cultured endothelial cells. Furthermore, concurrent deletion of
Vegfr2
prevented VEGF-induced excessive vascular leakage in mice lacking
Vegfr3
.

Conclusions:

VEGFR3 limits VEGFR2 expression and VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway activity in quiescent and angiogenic blood vascular endothelial cells, thereby preventing excessive vascular permeability.
Distinct Regulatory Effects of Myeloid Cell and Endothelial Cell NAPDH Oxidase 2 on Blood Pressure
Authors: Sag Can Martin , Schnelle Moritz , Zhang Juqian , Murdoch Colin E. , Kossmann Sabine , Protti Andrea , Santos Celio X.C. , Sawyer Greta , Zhang Xiaohong , Mongue-Din Heloise , Richards Daniel A. , Brewer Alison C. , Prysyazhna Oleksandra , Maier Lars S. , Wenzel Philip , Eaton Philip J. , Shah Ajay M.
Published: March 2017

Background:

Hypertension caused by increased renin-angiotensin system activation is associated with elevated reactive oxygen species production. Previous studies implicate NADPH oxidase (Nox) proteins as important reactive oxygen species sources during renin-angiotensin system activation, with different Nox isoforms being potentially involved. Among these, Nox2 is expressed in multiple cell types, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, and microglia. Blood pressure (BP) is regulated at the central nervous system, renal, and vascular levels, but the cell-specific role of Nox2 in BP regulation is unknown.

Methods:

We generated a novel mouse model with a floxed Nox2 gene and used Tie2-Cre, LysM Cre, or Cdh5-CreERT2 driver lines to develop cell-specific models of Nox2 perturbation to investigate its role in BP regulation.

Results:

Unexpectedly, Nox2 deletion in myeloid but not endothelial cells resulted in a significant reduction in basal BP. Both Tie2-CreNox2 knockout (KO) mice (in which Nox2 was deficient in both endothelial cells and myeloid cells) and LysM CreNox2KO mice (in which Nox2 was deficient in myeloid cells) had significantly lower BP than littermate controls, whereas basal BP was unaltered in Cdh5-CreERT2 Nox2KO mice (in which Nox2 is deficient only in endothelial cells). The lower BP was attributable to an increased NO bioavailability that dynamically dilated resistance vessels in vivo under basal conditions without a change in renal function. Myeloid-specific Nox2 deletion had no effect on angiotensin II–induced hypertension, which, however, was blunted in Tie2-CreNox2KO mice, along with preservation of endothelium-dependent relaxation during angiotensin II stimulation.

Conclusions:

We identify a hitherto unrecognized modulation of basal BP by myeloid cell Nox2, whereas endothelial cell Nox2 regulates angiotensin II–induced hypertension. These results identify distinct cell-specific roles for Nox2 in BP regulation.
Moral Theology, Culture of Counsel, and the Society of Jesus in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Gay Jean-Pascal
Published: March 2017

This paper explores the connection between the early modern debates over Probabilism and political counsel. It argues that the issue of counsel was important in the polemics against Jesuit moral theology. Theological challenges to Probabilism clearly show that many intellectuals were worried it could lead political counsellors astray and encourage them to defer to the whims of political authorities. This was not merely a theoretical issue. Three French cases evidence the fact that political counsellors could claim an obligation to put obedience to their sovereign before obedience to religious authority—the pope in particular—on religious grounds. The discussion between anti-probabilists and probabilists during the second half of the seventeenth century shows the degree of unrest among theological and ecclesiastical authorities confronted with the demands of the state on individual conscience, and on the conscience of counsellors in particular.
Knowledge and Counsel in Giovanni Botero’s Ragion di stato
Authors: Braun Harald E.
Published: March 2017

This article examines the relationship between knowledge, political counsel, and reason of state in Giovanni Botero (1544–1617). Botero is primarily known as the champion of Catholic reason of state, mainly on account of his treatise Ragion di stato. I argue that Botero marks a watershed in the history of European political thought not because of his response to Machiavelli, but on account of his conscious and innovative integration of different field of knowledge into a new language of the state. He is the first to capture convincingly the reality of the Counter-Reformation state and European global expansion. While Botero writes with a view to serve the universal church and Catholic secular princes, his language transcends confessional boundaries. This argument is made with reference to Delle cause della grandezza delle città (1588) and Ragion di stato (1589), though it could be extended into his Le relazioni universali (1591–96).
Simira robusta (Rubiaceae, Condamineeae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of south-eastern Brazil
Authors: MARGALHO LUCIANO FERREIRA , SIQUEIRA GEOVANE DE SOUZA , DELPRETE PIERO G. , GROPPO MILTON
Published: March 2017

Simira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo state, south-eastern Brazil, is here described and illustrated, and compared with similar species. It most resembles S. grazielae, from which it differs by the larger inflorescences, antrorse pubescent flowers and fruits, and by its larger fruits. Its habitat and conservation status are discussed. A key to the species of Simira from Espírito Santo state is provided.
Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey
Authors: DÖKER İSMAİL , KAZAK CENGİZ , KARUT KAMİL
Published: March 2017

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from various plants in Turkey—Eharius denizliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov., Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) karaisaliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) papadoulisi Döker & Kazak sp. nov.
Review of the genus Sophonia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with three new species from India
Authors: MESHRAM NARESH M.
Published: March 2017

A review of the genus Sophonia Melichar from India is presented. Fifteen valid species are recognized of which three new species, Sophonia tridenta sp. nov. (Sikkim: Gangtok), Sophonia vidarvya sp. nov. (Meghalaya: Barapani) and Sophonia intricata sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Katrain) from India are described and illustrated. Habitus photographic illustrations, a checklist and a modified key for all species from the Indian subcontinent are provided.
Evaluation of Optical Depths and Self-Absorption of Strontium and Aluminum Emission Lines in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Authors: Alfarraj Bader A. , Bhatt Chet R. , Yueh Fang Yu , Singh Jagdish P.
Published: March 2017

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a widely used laser spectroscopic technique in various fields, such as material science, forensic science, biological science, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In most LIBS work, the analysis is performed using radiative transitions from atomic emissions. In this study, the plasma temperature and the product [Formula: see text] (the number density N and the absorption path length [Formula: see text]) were determined to evaluate the optical depths and the self-absorption of Sr and Al lines. A binary mixture of strontium nitrate and aluminum oxide was used as a sample, consisting of variety of different concentrations in powder form. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra were collected by varying various parameters, such as laser energy, gate delay time, and gate width time to optimize the LIBS signals. Atomic emission from Sr and Al lines, as observed in the LIBS spectra of different sample compositions, was used to characterize the laser induced plasma and evaluate the optical depths and self-absorption of LIBS.
Assessing the Coverage and Representativeness of the National Incident-Based Reporting System
Authors: McCormack Philip D. , Pattavina April , Tracy Paul E.
Published: March 2017

This article examines the coverage of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) as of 2013. We use NIBRS, Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), and Supplementary Homicide Reports to assess the population coverage and index crime coverage of NIBRS. We also examine the correspondence of crime rates between the UCR and agencies that do and do not participate in NIBRS. We found that NIBRS covers 29.3% of the U.S. population and 28% of UCR index crimes. We also found that the crime rates in NIBRS jurisdictions are appreciably lower than jurisdictions that do not participate in NIBRS. As of 2013, therefore, NIBRS data are not representative of the U.S. population, crime counts, or crime rates.
A Socialist–Capitalist joint venture: Citroën in Romania during the 1980s
Authors: Gatejel Luminita
Published: March 2017

After summarising 1960s first Romanian industrial deals with the West countries, this paper explores the 1976–94 cooperation with the French automobile manufacturer Citroën to build a new automotive plant in Romania. The contract with Citroën established a joint venture in Romania to produce the Citroën Axel for Western markets (branded Oltcit in Romania, after the name of the Romanian company). The deal highlighted the importance of transport for state-building processes and for creating a modern society in socialist Romania through industrial capacity building. Citroën was instead looking for peripheral production centres to lower production costs and boost sales. Unmet production volumes and standards, and shaky supply lines, gradually undermined the project. The Oltcit–Citroën deal failed because, even with Citroën’s assistance, Romanian car manufactures proved incapable of producing flawless cars and of meeting delivery terms.
Neurological examination in healthy chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)
Authors: Snow Renata , Mans Christoph , Rylander Helena
Published: March 2017

Chinchillas are popular as laboratory models and companion animals, and they can be affected by a variety of infectious and non-infectious neurological diseases. Little information is available on making a neurological diagnosis in this species, in part because the neurological examination has not been standardized in chinchillas and the expected physiological findings in healthy chinchillas have not been reported. In this study, a standardized neurological examination was performed on 30 clinically normal chinchillas. The perineal reflex and the menace response were absent in all chinchillas evaluated and so should not be used as functional tests. Several tests were consistently positive, such as the oculocephalic reflex, maxillary, mandibular and auricular sensations, withdrawal reflexes, thoracic limb paw replacement, and the wheelbarrow test. Other tests, such as the cutaneous trunci reflex and pelvic limb paw replacement, had variable responses. Based on these findings, it is advised that clinicians prioritize tests that can be easily performed without undue stress to the animal, and give consistent results in a healthy patient.
Object-Spatial Imagery and Verbal Cognitive Styles in High School Students
Authors: Haciomeroglu Erhan Selcuk , LaVenia Mark
Published: March 2017

The present study investigated object-spatial imagery and verbal cognitive styles in high school students. We analyzed the relationships between cognitive styles, object imagery ability, spatial visualization ability, verbal-logical reasoning ability, and preferred modes of processing math information. Data were collected from 348 students at six high schools in two school districts. Spatial imagery style was not correlated with object imagery style and was negatively correlated with verbal style. Object imagery style did not correlate significantly with any cognitive ability measure, whereas spatial imagery style significantly correlated with object imagery ability, spatial visualization ability, and verbal-logical reasoning ability. Lastly, spatial imagery style and verbal-logical reasoning ability significantly predicted students’ preference for efficient visual methods. The results support the cognitive style model, in which visualizers are characterized as two distinct groups who process visual-spatial information and graphic tasks in different ways.
International Relations in the prison of colonial modernity
Authors: Blaney David L , Tickner Arlene B
Published: March 2017

This article argues that Justin Rosenberg’s proposal to reground IR in an ontology of societal multiplicity fails to account for the practices by which the field has erased multiplicity from its register and has sustained its identity through suppression of difference. We posit that the prison of colonial modernity, more than that of Political Science, is at the root of IR’s lack of a distinctive purpose, and that Rosenberg’s gesture toward uneven and combined development (UCD) as a sorely needed ‘big idea’ is insufficient for the jail break.
Whose international is it anyway? Women’s peace activists as International Relations theorists
Authors: Shepherd Laura J
Published: March 2017

This essay draws on insights from feminist scholarship to complicate the image presented of International Relations theory in Justin Rosenberg’s article ‘International Relations in the Prison of Political Science’. I suggest that Rosenberg’s careful and persuasive analysis proceeds from a number of assumptions about where ‘IR theory’ resides intellectually, and in whose bodies ‘IR theory expertise’ accrues.
Modeling a Predictive Energy Equation Specific for Maintenance Hemodialysis
Authors: Byham‐Gray Laura D. , Parrott J. Scott , Peters Emily N. , Fogerite Susan Gould , Hand Rosa K. , Ahrens Sean , Marcus Andrea Fleisch , Fiutem Justin J.
Published: March 2017

Background: Hypermetabolism is theorized in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who are receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We aimed to distinguish key disease‐specific determinants of resting energy expenditure to create a predictive energy equation that more precisely establishes energy needs with the intent of preventing protein‐energy wasting. Materials and Methods: For this 3‐year multisite cross‐sectional study (N = 116), eligible participants were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and were receiving MHD for at least 3 months. Predictors for the model included weight, sex, age, C‐reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum creatinine. The outcome variable was measured resting energy expenditure (mREE). Regression modeling was used to generate predictive formulas and Bland‐Altman analyses to evaluate accuracy. Results: The majority were male (60.3%), black (81.0%), and non‐Hispanic (76.7%), and 23% were ≥65 years old. After screening for multicollinearity, the best predictive model of mREE (R2 = 0.67) included weight, age, sex, and CRP. Two alternative models with acceptable predictability (R2 = 0.66) were derived with glycosylated hemoglobin or serum creatinine. Based on Bland‐Altman analyses, the maintenance hemodialysis equation that included CRP had the best precision, with the highest proportion of participants’ predicted energy expenditure classified as accurate (61.2%) and with the lowest number of individuals with underestimation or overestimation. Conclusions: This study confirms disease‐specific factors as key determinants of mREE in patients on MHD and provides a preliminary predictive energy equation. Further prospective research is necessary to test the reliability and validity of this equation across diverse populations of patients who are receiving MHD.