Balloon-Assisted Retrograde Puncture of Distal Vessels in Patients Unsuitable for a Conventional Transpedal Approach

Purpose: To describe a novel bailout technique to approach below-the-knee chronic total occlusions after a failed bidirectional recanalization attempt using the plantar loop maneuver in patients who are poor candidates for a retrograde puncture. Technique: After a failure of recanalization of the opposite tibial artery using the plantar loop maneuver, an assisted direct retrograde transpedal approach can be performed regardless of poor vessel caliber or even arterial occlusion. After crossing the plantar arch, a low profile angioplasty balloon is used as a landmark for the pedal puncture and to give guidance for the wire advancement from the new access. Conclusion: A balloon-assisted retrograde transpedal approach may be considered for below-the-knee recanalization after standard plantar loop technique failure in patients who are not candidates for conventional retrograde puncture.

FPGA in the Loop Implementation for Observer Sliding Mode Control of DFIG-Generators for Wind Turbines

This paper presents a new contribution of the nonlinear control technique of electrical energy in a wind energy system. The nonlinear sliding mode technique used to control the powers of the DFIG-Generator is connected to the power grid by two converters (grid side and machine side). The proposed model is validated using tracking and robustness tests with a real wind speed. The control was developed under Matlab/Simulink, and the FPGA in the Loop technique was used to design the DFIG model. By employing a co-simulation, the purpose is to test the controller for the FPGA simulated model or system in its entirety. The results obtained by the cο-simulation show the efficiency of the proposed model in terms of speed and robustness with a rate THD = 0.95, and the proposed model of the sliding mode controller shows a significant improvement in the quality of energy produced by the wind system.

Using a ligate intestinal loop mouse model to investigate Clostridioides difficile adherence to the intestinal mucosa in aged mice

Interaction of Clostridioides difficile spores with the intestinal mucosa contributes to the persistence and recurrence of the infection. Advanced age is one of the main risk factors for C. difficile infection and recurrence of the disease. However, interaction of C. difficile spores with the intestinal mucosa during aging has not been evaluated. In the present work, using intestinal ligated loop technique in a mouse model, we analyzed C. difficile spore adherence and internalization to the ileum and colonic mucosa during aging. Additionally, we provide visual documentation of the critical steps of the procedure. Consequently, our data suggest that spore internalization in the ileum and colonic mucosa is higher in elderly mice rather than adults or young mice. Also, our data suggest that spore adherence to the ileum and colonic mucosa decreases with aging.