This paper describes various practical aspects, in some detail, of inmplementiing an algorithm for the design of large-scale radial distribution networks. This algorithm is one which has been ...published previously, so this paper should be considered as the second part of that work. This algorithm simultaneously optimizes the line layout and type of conductor used. A branch-exchange algorithm for layout optimization, a dynamic programming algorithm for conductor optimization, and a decomposition algorithm enabling large-scale problem solving are all combined in this algorithm. To demonstrate the benefits of the proposed algorithm, numerical results have been provided from a reference network built for a low-voltage rural zone comprised of 1088 loads and 20 distribution substations. It can be verified that using the decomposition technique enables large-scale problem solving and produces results that are better than those techniques which come from a mere partition of the original problem into smaller parts.
Impact of a 1755-like tsunami in Huelva, Spain Lima, V. V.; Miranda, J. M.; Baptista, M. A. ...
Natural hazards and earth system sciences,
01/2010, Letnik:
10, Številka:
1
Journal Article
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Coastal areas are highly exposed to natural hazards associated with the sea. In all cases where there is historical evidence for devastating tsunamis, as is the case of the southern coasts of the ...Iberian Peninsula, there is a need for quantitative hazard tsunami assessment to support spatial planning. Also, local authorities must be able to act towards the population protection in a preemptive way, to inform "what to do" and "where to go" and in an alarm, to make people aware of the incoming danger. With this in mind, we investigated the inundation extent, run-up and water depths, of a 1755-like event on the region of Huelva, located on the Spanish southwestern coast, one of the regions that was affected in the past by several high energy events, as proved by historical documents and sedimentological data. Modelling was made with a slightly modified version of the COMCOT (Cornell Multi-grid Coupled Tsunami Model) code. Sensitivity tests were performed for a single source in order to understand the relevance and influence of the source parameters in the inundation extent and the fundamental impact parameters. We show that a 1755-like event will have a dramatic impact in a large area close to Huelva inundating an area between 82 and 92 km2 and reaching maximum run-up around 5 m. In this sense our results show that small variations on the characteristics of the tsunami source are not too significant for the impact assessment. We show that the maximum flow depth and the maximum run-up increase with the average slip on the source, while the strike of the fault is not a critical factor as Huelva is significantly far away from the potential sources identified up to now. We also show that the maximum flow depth within the inundated area is very dependent on the tidal level, while maximum run-up is less affected, as a consequence of the complex morphology of the area.
Abstract Introduction Posttransplant early calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced neurotoxicity (ECIIN) was related to high CNI levels, among other factors. Minimizing exposure could modify its ...incidence or clinical evolution. Objective To compare the incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical evolution of ECIIN after immunosuppressive induction with low-dose tacrolimus-MR (Advagraf) or conventional dose tacrolimus (Prograf). Patients and Methods We matched 71 patients treated with an immunosuppression induction schedule with basiliximab and low doses of Advagraf (cases group) 1:1 by recipient age and indication for liver transplantation (OLT) with patients treated with a conventional tacrolimus regimen (control group). Baseline characteristics, liver and kidney function, operative technical characteristics, kidney function, and C0 tacrolimus levels at several time points after liver OLT were analyzed. Results There were 31 cases of ECIIN (21%), 14 in the cases group (20%) and 17 in the control group (24%; P < .001). The incidence of ECIIN was higher in alcoholic liver disease (odds ratio OR, 8.2; 95% CI, 2.3–28.6; P < .001) and past history of encephalopathy (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.16–5.9; P < .02). Among cases, the incidence of ECIIN was higher when encephalopathy signs were present at time of transplantation (36% vs 12%; P < .001). Control of ECIIN required a switch to cyclosporine therapy in all those in the cases group, whereas this was only needed for 9 cases in the control group (47%; P < .001). Conclusion In this study, although the incidence rate of neurotoxicity induced by Advagraf was lower than the induced by Prograf, it did not respond to routine treatment and required a significantly higher rate of switch to cyclosporine for its control.
Coronary Vasoconstrictor Effects of Atriopeptin II Wangler, R. D.; Breuhaus, B. A.; Otero, H. O. ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
1985-Nov-01, Letnik:
230, Številka:
4725
Journal Article
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Atrial natriuretic peptides lower arterial pressure, cardiac filling pressure, and cardiac output. In isolated, Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts, atriopeptin II, the 23-amino acid atrial ...natriuretic peptide, is also a potent coronary vasoconstrictor. The median effective dose for atriopeptin II in guinea pig hearts is 26 nanomoles, the threshold constrictor dose is 5 nanomoles, and flow nearly ceases at a dose of 100 nanomoles in perfused hearts at constant pressure. Similar concentrations of atriopeptin II also cause coronary vasoconstriction in rat and dog heart preparations. The disulfide bridge is necessary for vasoconstrictor activity; reduction of this bridge abolishes the activity, as it does the other biological activities of atrial natriuretic peptides.
A high power diode laser (HPDL) was used to produce laser surface melting (LSM) treatments on the surface of the Mg alloy AZ91D. Different treatments with different microstructures were produced by ...varying the laser-beam power and laser-scanning speed. Corrosion evaluation, using hydrogen evolution and electrochemical measurements, led to a relationship between microstructure and corrosion. Most corrosion rates for LSM treated specimens were within the scatter of the as-received AZ91D, whereas some treatments gave higher corrosion rates and some of the samples had corrosion rates lower than the average of the corrosion rate for AZ91D. There were differences in corroded surface morphology. Nevertheless laser treatments introduced surface discontinuities, which masked the effect of the microstructure. Removing these surface defects decreased the corrosion rate for the laser-treated samples.
•Corrosion behavior of AZ91D Mg alloys is intimately related with its microstructure.•Laser surface melting treatments allows surface modification of the microstructure.•Different laser parameters can achieve different microstructures.•Controlling laser parameters can produce different corrosion rates and morphologies.•Increase of surface roughness due to laser treatment is relevant to the corrosion rate.
The increasing awareness of animal welfare in public and science induces a need for objective evaluation. Particularly animal welfare during transport is discussed due to the variable transport ...conditions in Europe. Therefore an objective evaluation of animal transport is relevant and the first attempts to develop animal welfare risk assessment guidelines for animal transport are made. A report of the development of a guideline on animal welfare risk assessment during animal transport (
Dalla Villa et al., 2009) bases on other recent reports and guidelines of animal welfare risk assessment published by
EFSA (2009) and adapts the method to animal transport condition. For the implementation of a model for quantitative risk assessment, transport conditions were defined to develop multiple scenarios. Hazard identification was prepared for each scenario and for three selected scenarios a complete risk assessment was performed. Within the exemplary risk assessment potential hazards were initially identified and furthermore hazard description and exposure assessment were evaluated by expert opinion which resulted in risk characterisation. Within risk characterisation of each hazard, magnitude and risk estimate were calculated to afford an individual ranking of these values in order to obtain a graphical illustration of the ten highest estimated risks.
Properties of Daily Helium Fluxes Aguilar, M.; Cavasonza, L. Ali; Ambrosi, G. ...
Physical review letters,
06/2022, Letnik:
128, Številka:
23
Journal Article
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We present the precision measurement of 2824 daily helium fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 in the rigidity interval from 1.71 to 100 GV based on 7.6×108 helium nuclei ...collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The helium flux and the helium to proton flux ratio exhibit variations on multiple timescales. In nearly all the time intervals from 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent helium flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. In the entire time period, we found that below ∼7 GV the helium flux exhibits larger time variations than the proton flux, and above ∼7 GV the helium to proton flux ratio is time independent. Remarkably, below 2.4 GV a hysteresis between the helium to proton flux ratio and the helium flux was observed at greater than the 7σ level. This shows that at low rigidity the modulation of the helium to proton flux ratio is different before and after the solar maximum in 2014.
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