Background: Stroke is a leading cause of significant physical, cognitive, and psychiatric morbidity. One risk factor for stroke is paradoxical embolization through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). In cardiac clinical practice, power M-mode Transcranial Doppler (TCD) evaluation is the gold standard for diagnosis of PFO, or right-to-left cardiac shunt (RLS). Brain micro-embolization due to diagnostic bubble contrast echocardiography may cause neurological symptoms in patients with PFO. However, the neurocognitive effects of TCD have not been studied. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive outcomes in patients who undergo routine diagnostic bubble contrast TCD. The aims of the study were (1) to determine if cognitive function declines pre- to post-TCD evaluation and, (2) to assess the relationship between cognitive function and severity of the RLS measured using the Spencer Grading System. Methods: One hundred and four participants referred to Sorensen Cardiovascular Group for diagnosis of RLS were evaluated for changes in cognitive functioning at three time points. A dual baseline (pre-test and baseline test) was administered to mitigate practice effects between the first and second administrations. All pre and post-TCD comparisons were analyzed using the baseline test and post-TCD test, controlling for the effects of practice, if present. Results: Practice effects were observed for the working memory task, with significant improvement in working memory scores occurring between the first (pre-test) and second (baseline) administrations. The main effect for shunt group (no shunt vs. moderate-to-severe shunt) and the shunt group by time interactions were not significant for processing speed, attention, or working memory, adjusting for practice effects, age, and education. Migraine did not predict group status for mood or shunt variables. Conclusion: Cardiac patients with both small and large RLS did not experience a decline in processing speed, attention, or working memory ability following TCD, suggesting that TCD-induced microemboli do not result in immediate cognitive deficits in these domains. These findings support the use of TCD for routine evaluation of PFO, even in patients with severe RLS, although findings are limited to young (30s), medically healthy, predominately Caucasian individuals assessed immediately following TCD. Results do not exclude the possibility of cognitive impairment at follow-up, on other cognitive tests, or in other cognitive domains.

Since the early 1900's demand for fuel efficient vehicles has motivated the development of electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unfortunately, some components used in these vehicles are expensive and complex. Today's consumer electric vehicles use dangerously high voltage,expensive electronic controllers, complex battery management systems and AC motors. The goal of this research at BYU is to increase safety by lowering the operating voltage and decrease cost by eliminating expensive controllers and decrease the number of battery cells. This paper specifically examines the use of a Ward Leonard Motor Control system for use in a passenger vehicle. The theory of the Ward Leonard system as an Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) is presented along with its history and past uses. Analogous systems are presented and similarities made in an attempt to enlighten designers to a broader design approach to increase safety and decrease cost of an electric or hybrid electric vehicle. The results of this research include a characterization of the Ward Leonard system as an IVT for use in an electric or hybrid (EV or HEV) passenger vehicle. These results include a study of past uses of the Ward Leonard system and what method is now used as a replacement. The theory of the Ward Leonard system and it operation is explained to an extent that someone not familiar with electronics can understand its working principles. A Control Factor metric was developed as a result of this research to measure the Ward Leonard System's ability to reduce the size of the electronic controller for application in an EV or HEV. The potential cost reduction of the electronic controller that would be used to control the Ward Leonard System compared with current EV and HEV vehicles was also research and identified. A bench top model of the Ward Leonard system was tested validating the Control Factor metric. The Ward Leonard system is capable of reducing the controller size by 77% and potentially reducing its cost by 68% or more. This work also provides performance characteristics for automotive designers and offers several design alternatives for EV and HEV architectures allowing the reduction of high voltage, the use of AC inverters, AC motors, expensive controllers and high cell count battery packs.

The Hybrid Norwood (HN) is a relatively new first stage procedure for neonates with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), in which a sustainable univentricular circulation is established in a less invasive manner than with the standard procedure. A computational multiscale model of such HLHS circulation following the HN procedure was used to obtain detailed hemodynamics. Implementation of a reverse-BT shunt (RBTS), a synthetic bypass from the main pulmonary to the innominate artery placed to counteract aortic arch stenosis, and its effects on local and global hemodynamics were studied. A synthetic and a 3D reconstructed, patient derived anatomy after the HN procedure were utilized, with varying degrees of distal arch obstruction, or stenosis, (nominal and 90% reduction in lumen) and varying RBTS diameters (3.0, 3.5, 4.0 mm). A closed lumped parameter model (LPM) for the peripheral or distal circulation coupled to a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model that allows detailed description of the local hemodynamics was created for each anatomy. The implementation of the RBTS in any of the chosen diameters under severe stenosis resulted in a restoration of arterial perfusion to near-nominal levels. Shunt flow velocity, vorticity, and overall wall shear stress levels are inverse functions of shunt diameter, while shunt perfusion and systemic oxygen delivery correlates positively with diameter. No correlation of shunt diameter with helicity was recorded. In the setting of the hybrid Norwood circulation, our results suggest: (1) the 4.0mm RBTS may be more thrombogenic when implemented in the absence of severe arch stenosis and (2) the 3.0mm and 3.5mm RBTS may be a more suitable alternative, with preference to the latter since it provides similar hemodynamics at lower levels of wall shear stress.

Research was performed at a pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant operating an adsorption/bio-oxidation (A/B) process at 20C. The study compared B-Stage performance under DO Control, Ammonia Based Aeration Control (ABAC), and Ammonia vs. NOx (AvN) control. AvN in 1) fully-intermittent and 2) intermittently-aerated MLE configurations was compared to DO Control and ABAC, each with continuous aeration, in an MLE configuration. The study also examined operation of each aeration strategy with two different feed types: A-Stage effluent (ASE) and primary clarifier effluent (PCE). Operating modes were compared on the basis of nitrogen removal performance, COD utilization efficiency for denitrification, and alkalinity consumption. AvN was found to provide comparable nitrogen removal performance to DO Control and ABAC. The highest nitrogen removal performance was seen when operating DO Control (81.4 ± 1.2%) and ABAC (81.1 ± 1.2%) with PCE. High nitrogen removal efficiency (77.5 ± 6.1%) was seen when fully-intermittent AvN operation was fed ASE containing a high particulate COD fraction. A high effluent nitrite accumulation ratio (NAR = NO2-/(NO2-+NO3-)) was seen during this period (46 ± 15%) accompanied by the out-selection of Nitrospira. Feeding effluent from AvN control to an Anammox MBBR improved removal efficiency. Increased soluble COD loading resulted in greater nitrogen removal with strategies operating in an MLE configuration while particulate COD was found to be important for processes where removal was designed to occur in downstream reactors. Efficiency of COD for denitrification was found to vary based on the amount and type of influent COD; however AvN in an MLE configuration was found to use COD more efficiently than fully-intermittent AvN. In either configuration, AvN required less alkalinity addition than DO Control or ABAC. High sCOD concentrations in PCE led to increased nutrient removal as compared to ASE but increased heterotrophic growth and mixed liquor concentrations in the B-Stage making the A-Stage an attractive option for its ability to control the C/N ratio fed to BNR processes. / Master of Science

No description available.

No description available.

The maximum length of an high voltage underground cable (HV UGC) cable is oftenconstrained by the criterion that the cable cannot have more than 50% reactivepower compensation. If this limit is exceeded the current in the circuit breaker maynot have a zero crossing after energization, which is referred to as the zero missingphenomenon. This is problematic if a fault occur shortly after energization. Inthe past 10 years, different methods have been proposed which would allow greaterreactive power compensation. These methods either prevent the zero missing phenomenon(preventive methods) or provide a way to open the circuit breaker if afault occurs (handling methods).A new 200 km, 220 kV line has been proposed in Iceland referred to as Sprengisandslína.One proposed option is to build it as an OHL-UGC-OHL line as the voltagecriteria is not fulfilled if Sprengisandslína is built as an UGC with a 50% reactivepower compensation. The aim of this thesis is to see whether the zero missing phenomenoncan be avoided by implementing countermeasures - this gives a preliminaryresults whether Sprengisandslína can be built as an UGC. In this thesis the four differentpreventive methods are analyzed with a transient study for Sprengisandslína:(1) Pre-insertion resistor, (2) simultaneous synchronized switching, (3) synchronizedswitching where the cable is energized before the shunt reactor, and (4) synchronizedswitching where the shunt reactor is energized before the cable.Preliminary steady state studies were performed to determine the minimum numberof shunt reactors needed to fulfill the voltage criteria. The results showed thatthe minimum number needed were three assuming they are all of equal size locatedevenly along the cable (one at each end and one in the middle). Additionally, it isnecessary to see whether the generators would become underexcited if the cable isiiienergized with 100% reactive power compensation as it can reduce the lifetime ofthe generators. The results showed that the generators did not become underexcited.The countermeasure of synchronized switching where the shunt reactor is energizedbefore the cable and the countermeasure of simultaneous synchronized switchingwere shown to eliminate the zero-missing phenomenon when the cable was energizedwith 100% reactive power compensation. Synchronized switching where theshunt reactor is energized before the cable was seen to have lower switching overvoltages,21% higher than the nominal value, and the lower inrush current of 2.38kA. However, the method of simultaneous synchronized switching is cheaper andthe switching overvoltages and inrush current were within an acceptable margin(switching overvoltages were 35:9% higher than the nominal value and the inrushcurrent was 4.01 kA).The results of the study indicate that Sprengisandslína can be energized as an UGCwith 100% reactive power compensation if either the countermeasure of simultaneoussynchronized switching or synchronized switching where the shunt reactor isenergized before the cable are used. However, a detailed frequency study must beperformed before either of the countermeasures can be recommended. / Högsta längden på en högspänning underjordisk kabel begränsas ofta av de kriteriersom kabeln inte kan ha mer än 50% reaktiv effektkompensation. Om denna gränsöverskrids kan strömmen i strömbrytaren inte ha noll genomgang efter aktivering,kallad noll saknad fenomen. Detta är problematiskt om ett fel inträffar strax efteraktivering. Under de senaste 10 åren har olika metoder föreslagits, vilket skullemöjliggöra större reaktiv effektkompensation. Dessa metoder hindrar antingen detnollbristande fenomenet (förebyggande metoder) eller ger ett sätt att öppna strömbrytarenom ett fel uppstår (hanteringsmetoder).En ny 200 km, 220 kV linje har föreslagits på Island kallad Sprengisandslína. Ettföreslaget alternativ för att den här linjen ska byggas är att bygga den som en OHLUGC-OHL-linje, eftersom spänningskriterierna inte är uppfyllda om Sprengisandslínaär byggt som en UGC med en 50% reaktiv effektkompensation. Syftet meddenna avhandling är att se huruvida det saknade fenomenet kan undvikas genomatt genomföra motåtgärder - detta ger ett preliminärt resultat om Sprengisandslínakan byggas som en UGC. I denna avhandling analyseras de fyra olika förebyggandemetoderna med en övergående studie för Sprengisandslína: (1) Förinsättningsresistor,(2) Synkroniserad samtidigkoppling, (3) Synkroniserad inkoppling där kabelnaktiveras före shuntreaktorn och (4) ) synkroniserad inkoppling där shuntreaktornaktiveras före kabeln.Preliminära steady state studier utförs för att bestämma det minsta antalet shuntreaktorersom behövs för att uppfylla spänningskriterierna. Resultaten visade att detminsta antalet som behövdes var tre förutsatt att de alla är lika stora som liggerjämnt längs kabeln (en i varje ände och en i mitten). Dessutom är det nödvändigtatt se om generatorer skulle bli underexiterad om kabeln är energiserad med 100%iiiivreaktiva effektkompensation eftersom det kan minska generatorns livslängd. Resultatenvisade att generatorer inte blev underexiterad.Motståndet för synkroniserad omkoppling där shuntreaktorn aktiveras före kabelnoch motmätningen av samtidig synkroniserad omkoppling visades för att elimineradet nollmissande fenomenet när kabeln aktiverades med 100% reaktiv effektkompensation.Synkroniserad omkoppling där shuntreaktorn aktiveras innan kabeln visadesig ha lägre omkopplingsvolymer, 21% högre än nominellt värde och den lägre inbrusningsströmmenpå 2,38 kA. Metoden för samtidig synkroniserad omkopplingär emellertid billigare och omkopplingsvolymen och inströmmen var inom en acceptabelmarginal (omkopplingsvolymer var 35; 9% högre än nominellt värde ochinströmningsströmmen var 4,01 kA).De resultaten av studien indikerar att Sprengisandslína kan energiseras som en UGCmed 100% reaktiv effektkompensation om antingen motspelet av samtidig synkroniseradomkoppling eller synkroniserad omkoppling där shuntreaktorn aktiveras innankabeln installeras. En detaljerad frekvensstudie måste dock utföras innan någon avmotåtgärderna kan rekommenderas.

AC and DC impedances of switching power converters are used for the stability analysis of modern power electronics systems at three-phase AC and single-phase DC interfaces. Therefore, a small-signal characterization algorithm for switching power converter, which is based on FFT, will be presented and explained. The presented extraction algorithm is general and can be used to obtain other small-signal transfer functions of arbitrary power converter switching simulation models. Furthermore, FFT algorithm is improved by using cross power spectral density functions for identification, resulting in an algorithm, which is more noise immune. Both small-signal identification algorithms are validated in simulations, and CPSD algorithm is used in experimental measurement procedure. Several wide bandwidth injection signals, among which are chirp, multi-tone, pulse and white noise, are compared and theoretically analyzed. Several hardware examples are included in the analysis. The second part of the dissertation will focus on the modeling of small-signal input dq admittance of multi-pulse diode rectifiers, providing comparison between well-known averaged value models (AVMs), parametric averaged value models (PAVM), the switching simulation model and hardware measurements. Analytical expressions for all four admittances present in the dq matrix are derived and analyzed in depth, revealing the accuracy range of the averaged models. Furthermore, a hardware set-up is built, measured and modeled, showing that the switching simulation model captures nonlinear sideband effects accurately. In the end, a multi-pulse diode rectifier feeding a constant power load is analyzed with modified AVM and through detailed simulations of switching model, proving effectiveness of the proposed modifications. The third part describes implementation and design of a single-phase multi-level single-phase shunt current injection converter based on cascaded H-bridge topology. Special attention is given toward the selection of inductors and capacitors, trying to optimize the selected component values and fully utilize operating range of the converter. The proposed control is extensively treated, including inner current, outer voltage loop and voltage balancing loops. The designed converter is constructed and integrated with measurement system, providing experimental verification. The proposed multi-level single-phase converter is a natural solution for single-phase shunt current injection with the following properties: modular design, capacitor energy distribution, reactive element minimization, higher equivalent switching frequency, capability to inject higher frequency signals, suitable to perturb higher voltage power systems and capable of generating cleaner injection signals. Finally, a modular interleaved single-phase series voltage injection converter, consisting of multiple paralleled H-bridges is designed and presented. The decoupling control is proposed to regulate ac injection voltage, providing robust and reliable strategy for series voltage injection. The designed converter is simulated using detailed switching simulation model and excellent agreement between theory and simulation results are obtained. The presented control analysis treats different loads, examining robustness of the circuit to load variations. Simulation model and hardware prototype results verify the effectiveness of the proposed wide-bandwidth identification of small-signal dq impedances via single-phase injections. / Ph. D.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of actively controlled piezoceramics with positive position feedback (PPF) for reducing structural vibrations. A comparison is made between active control with PPF and a parallel resistor-inductor (RLC) shunt technique. The primary objectives of this study are to: 1. Explore the feasibility of using smart materials and fiber optics for simultaneous health monitoring and active damping of a representative aircraft panel. 2. Determine how optical fiber sensors may be used to detect vibration modes of an aircraft panel by investigating their use on a representative test article. 3. Determine how piezoelectric patches may be used to detect and counteract fundamental resonances of a representative test article. 4. Determine a control algorithm and hardware system to increase substantially the damping in the fundamental mode of the representative test article over a wide temperature range. 5. Develop a health-monitoring algorithm based on fiber optic sensors to detect impedance changes in a representative test article. 6. Make a comparison between active control with PPF and an RLC shunt technique. To achieve the objectives of this study, a special test rig was used to evaluate the performance of piezoelectric materials (PZTs) for vibration suppression. The test rig was used to rigidly clamp a flat 20-guage steel plate, and then excite the plate in various frequency ranges with an electromagnetic shaker. For each test, a data acquisition system was used to acquire the data to evaluate the performance of each PPF controller. Once the data was obtained, a comparison was made between active damping with PPF and passive damping with the RLC shunt technique. The active damping technique used for this study combined piezoelectric actuators with fiber optic sensors to achieve simultaneous active control and health monitoring of a test plate. The results of the active damping tests show that piezoelectric materials can provide substantial narrowband and broadband frequency reductions, while at the same time detecting damage on the test plate. More specifically, the test results indicate that smart damping materials can decrease the fundamental mode of vibration of the test plate by 23 dB and detect damage such as a loose bolt in the clamping frame, with the addition of only 0.04 lb of PZT on the test plate. The active damping technique reduced the plate vibrations at each mode within the frequency range of interest, with only one-third the amount of piezoelectric material needed for an RLC shunt circuit technique. / Master of Science

No description available.