Perspectives on Inhibiting β‐Amyloid Aggregation through Structure‐Based Drug Design

Targeting β‐amyloid (Aβ) remains the most desired strategy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug discovery research. Many peptides that specifically target Aβ aggregates are known, encompassing efforts from both industrial and academic research settings. However, in clinical terms, not much success has been gained with peptide research; in turn, small drug‐like molecules are already globally recognized as showing promise as an alternate approach. Aβ aggregation inhibitors are the most important part of the multifunctional drug design regimen for treating AD. Unfortunately, rational drug design approaches with small molecules are still in the initial stages. Herein we highlight, update, and elaborate on the structural anatomy of Aβ and known Aβ aggregation inhibitors in hopes of helping to optimize their use in structure‐based drug design approaches toward inhibitors with greater specificity. Furthermore, we present the first review of efforts to target a previously uncharacterized region of acetylcholinesterase: the N‐terminal 7–20 sub‐region, which was experimentally elucidated to participate in Aβ aggregation and deposition.     

A Robust Extended Complex Kalman Filter and Sliding-mode Control Based Shunt Active Power Filter

Abstract—This article presents the design of a new shunt active power filter that employs a modified robust extended complex Kalman filter approach with an exponential robust term embedded for reference current estimation together with a current controller based on the sliding-mode control concept. The robust extended complex Kalman filter exploits a new weighted exponential function to handle these grid perturbations to estimate the reference signal in shunt active power filter system. The current controller in the proposed shunt active power filter has been designed using a sliding-mode control strategy because of its ability to handle parameter uncertainties and ease in implementation. To test the effectiveness of the proposed shunt active power filter, extensive simulations were performed using MATLAB/Simulink (The MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA), and real-time studies were made using OPAL-RT (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Results obtained from the above studies using the proposed shunt active power filter together with the different variants of Kalman filter (Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, extended complex Kalman filter) are analyzed, and it is observed that the proposed robust extended complex Kalman filter-sliding-mode control based shunt active power filter provides accurate and improved harmonics mitigation and reactive power compensation.     

ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS: PRINCIPLE AND APPLICATION TO MODEL BASED CONTROL OF DRYING SYSTEMS - A REVIEW

Abstract

This paper reviews the developments in the model based control of drying systems using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Survey of current research works reveals the growing interest in the application of ANN in modeling and control of non-linear, dynamic and time-variant systems. Over 115 articles published in this area are reviewed. All landmark papers are systematically classified in chronological order, in three distinct categories; namely, conventional feedback controllers, model based controllers using conventional methods and model based controllers using ANN for drying process. The principles of ANN are presented in detail. The problems and issues of the drying system and the features of various ANN models are dealt with upto-date. ANN based controllers lead to smoother controller outputs, which would increase actuator life. The paper concludes with suggestions for improving the existing modeling techniques as applied to predicting the performance characteristics of dryers. The hybridization techniques, namely, neural with fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms, presented, provide, directions for pursuing further research for the implementation of appropriate control strategies. The authors opine that the information presented here would be highly beneficial for pursuing research in modeling and control of drying process using ANN     

Effects of chemical reaction on free convection flow through a porous medium bounded by a vertical surface

The effect of a chemical reaction on a free convection flow through a porous medium bounded by a vertical infinite surface has been studied. Velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles have been obtained for different values of parameters like the Grashof number, Prandtl number, and the chemical reaction parameter in the presence of homogeneous chemical reaction of first order. It is observed that the velocity and concentration increase during a generative reaction and decrease in a destructive reaction. The same is true for the behavior of the fluid temperature. The presence of the porous media diminishes the temperature.     

Growth kinetics and mechanism of the initial oxidation of Al-based Al-Mg alloys

The relationship between the growth kinetics and the local chemical states of Al, Mg and O ions in ultrathin (<3 nm) oxide films grown on Al-based Al-Mg substrates at T = 300-610 K was established by ellipsometry and XPS. At T ? 385 K, an Al-oxide film of near-limiting thickness (∼1 nm) is formed, which exhibits interfacial and bulk-like states for the Al cations. At T > 385 K, continued growth is realized by the preferential oxidation of interfacially segregated Mg, resulting in the sequential appearance of interfacial and bulk-like states for the Mg cations.     

Intracameral SF6 injection and anterior segment OCT-based documentation for acute hydrops management in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute hydrops in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD) documented with anterior segment optical segment tomography and successfully treated with sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) intracameral injection. METHODS: A 47-year-old female patient presented with spontaneous onset of pain, redness and decreased vision in her left eye. Clinical evaluation revealed bilateral PMCD with evidence of acute hydrops in the left eye. Anterior segment Slit lamp Adapted Optical Coherence Tomography (SL-OCT) examination revealed intrastromal clefts with Descemet's membrane detachment in the left eye. She was managed with descemetopexy with 0.2ml injection of iso-expansile SF6 (18%) intracameral. RESULTS: The patient showed excellent early resolution of the stromal edema with reattachment of the Descemet's membrane. CONCLUSION: Prompt intervention in acute hydrops in PMCD cases helps in achieving early good visual results and prevents potentially serious complications such as perforation. Newer imaging modalities like SL-OCT helps in better visualisation and also in monitoring the response to treatment.