This paper deals with a cascaded multilevel converter which has multiple dc voltage values (multivoltage cascade converter or hybrid multilevel converter) for a 6.6-kV transformerless distribution ...static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM). A control method is proposed to realize dc voltage regulation of series-connected multiple cells in the STATCOM operation, making it possible to remove dc sources from all H-bridge cells. The simplified configuration without the dc sources makes the STATCOM small and lightweight. A downscaled STATCOM model rated at 220 V and 10 kVA is built and a series of verification tests is executed. Theoretical analysis and experimental results prove the stable operating performance of the proposed method in steady states and transient states.
A prenylated coumarin (diversin,
1) together with four new sesquiterpene lactones (diversolides A, D, F and G,
2-5) isolated from the roots of
Ferula diversivittata were studied for their possible ...inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-
O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). All of the tested compounds were active against EBV-EA activation. Among these compounds diversin (IC
50: 7.7) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect and was selected to examine its effects on
in vivo two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzaanthracene (DMBA) as initiator and TPA as promoter. Treatment with compound
1 (85
nmol) along with DMBA/TPA inhibited papilloma formation up to week 7 and the percentage of papilloma bearers was approximately 93.3% at week 20. The average number of papillomas formed per mouse was only 5.5 even at week 20. The results of the present investigation indicated that diversin might be valuable as a potent cancer chemopreventive agent and its potency was comparable with those of curcumin and quercetin, two well-known cancer chemopreventive agents.
Summary
This study investigated the long-term survival and incidence of secondary fractures after fragility hip fractures. The 5-year survival rate was 62%, and the mortality risk was seen in ...patients with GNRI < 92. The 5-year incidence of secondary fracture was 22%, which was significantly higher in patients with a BMI < 20.
Background
Malnutrition negatively influences the postoperative survival of patients with fragility hip fractures (FHFs); however, little is known about their association over the long term.
Objective
This study evaluated the ability of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) as a risk factor for long-term mortality after FHFs.
Methods
This study included 623 Japanese patients with FHFs over the age of 60 years. We prospectively collected data on admission and during hospitalization and assessed the patients’ conditions after discharge through a questionnaire. We examined the long-term mortality and the incidence of secondary FHFs and assessed the prognostic factors.
Results
The mean observation period was 4.0 years (range 0–7 years). The average age at the time of admission was 82 years (range 60–101 years). The overall survival after FHFs (1 year, 91%; 5 years, 62%) and the incidence of secondary FHFs were high (1 year, 4%; 5 years, 22%). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed the risk factors for mortality as older age (hazard ratio HR 1.04), male sex (HR 1.96), lower GNRI score (HR 0.96), comorbidities (malignancy, HR 2.51; ischemic heart disease, HR 2.24; revised Hasegawa dementia scale ≤ 20, HR 1.64), no use of active vitamin D3 on admission (HR 0.46), and a lower Barthel index (BI) (on admission, HR 1.00; at discharge, HR 0.99). The GNRI scores were divided into four risk categories: major risk (GNRI, < 82), moderate risk (82–91), low risk (92–98), and no risk (> 98). Patients at major and moderate risks of GNRI had a significantly lower overall survival rate (
p
< 0.001). Lower body mass index (BMI) was also identified as a prognostic factor for secondary FHFs (HR 0.88
p
= 0.004).
Conclusions
We showed that older age, male sex, a lower GNRI score, comorbidities, and a lower BI are risk factors for mortality following FHFs. GNRI is a novel and simple predictor of long-term survival after FHFs.
This paper presents the development of an active 3-degree-of-freedom (DoF) vibration isolation system using zero-power magnetic suspension. The developed system is capable to suppress direct ...disturbances and isolate ground vibrations of the 3-DoF motions, associated with vertical translational and rotational modes. Two categories of control strategy for the actuators are proposed, i.e., local control and mode control. The latter method allows to overcome limitations of the poor performances for rotational modes exhibited by the former. A mathematical model of the system is derived and each DoF motion is treated separately for the control system. It is demonstrated analytically that the infinite stiffness to static direct disturbances can be generated and the resonance peak due to floor vibration can effectively be suppressed for the system. Moreover, the experiments have been carried out to measure the static and dynamic responses of the isolation table to direct disturbances, and transmissibility characteristic of the isolator from the floor. The results indicate good vibration isolation and attenuation performances, and show the efficacy of the developed isolator for industrialization
Measuring microforce is inevitable in the current technical world of micro-assembly and micromanipulation. Zero-compliance principle is implemented in measuring microforce. There are two floators ...suspended in series to achieve zero-compliance in force measurement. The first floator is denoted as detection point and the second floator is denoted as point of force. If external force is applied at the point of force, the detection point displaces to balance the force and in result, the point of force maintains its position. The amount of the applied force is estimated from the displacement of the detection point. A novel multi-dimensional force measurement apparatus is designed and developed based on the zero-compliance principle to measure microforce. Evaluation of the apparatus in microforce measurement is demonstrated in this paper by using vertical direction force measurement results.
Immunolocalization of 14-3-3 proteins in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains was investigated using isoform-specific antibodies. Weak granular immunoreactivity of 14-3-3 proteins was found in neuronal ...cytoplasm in control subjects and AD brains. Both intracellular and extracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), as well as neuropil thread-like structures, were immunopositive for 14-3-3 proteins. This was corroborated by triple-fluorolabeling method visualizing paired helical filament (PHF) tau and 14-3-3 epitopes in relation to fibrillary state detected by thiazin red. Pretangle neurons (positive for PHF-tau without fibrillary structure detected by thiazin red) only contained fine granular immunoreactivity (IR) of 14-3-3, which was similarly found in unaffected neurons. Granular cytoplasmic IR of 14-3-3 proteins in pretangle neurons was not colocalized to granular tau-like IR, which suggests that participation of 14-3-3 proteins in NFT formation was restricted to its later stages. Its zeta isoform was most prominent in these NFTs, suggesting that this isoform is a major component involved in the formation of NFTs. In contrast, IR of epsilon isoform was found in the neuropil of the hippocampus and that of sigma isoform was localized to granule cells of the dentate gyrus in AD brains, as seen in the age-matched controls. Expression of 14-3-3 proteins were found to be highly variable and dependent on their isoforms, regions and cell types. Molecular, as well as topographical, dissection of 14-3-3 proteins will provide us with an improved understanding of this molecule in normal and pathological conditions.
The aim of this SPECT study was to investigate the effects of donepezil on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) using statistical parametric ...mapping.
rCBF was noninvasively measured using (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer in 35 AD patients with a Mini-Mental State Examination score > 16 on initial evaluation. Baseline and follow-up SPECT studies with a mean interval of 12 mo were performed on these patients. We used the adjusted rCBF images in the relative flow distribution (normalization of global cerebral blood flow for each patient to 50 mL/100 g/min with proportional scaling) to compare these groups through statistical parametric mapping.
In the follow-up study, the adjusted rCBF was significantly preserved in the right and left anterior cingulate gyri, right middle temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobules, and prefrontal cortex of donepezil-treated AD patients, compared with placebo-treated AD patients.
Treatment with donepezil for 1 y appears to reduce the decline in rCBF, suggesting preservation of functional brain activity.
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