In large distribution systems the solution of nonlinear power flow (PF) equations requires high computational burden. To reduce complexity, various approximate linear PF methods have been proposed in ...literature. However, existing linear PF methods require a revision to account for new smart controllable components, introduced to increase the flexibility of distribution systems. Recently, an accurate and efficient constrained Jacobian-based method has been presented which incorporates the presence of distributed energy resources. In this paper, this method is extended to consider the presence in the network of voltage control devices (VCDs). Firstly, a new model of the supplying system is proposed to consider variations in the operating conditions of the higher voltage network, and to incorporate the presence of a VCD in the substation. Then, the most common types of direct and indirect VCDs are included into the new generalized branch model of the network. Finally, a new solving algorithm is presented which accounts for the discrete variables that are present in some VCD models, avoiding the use of any iterative procedure. The validity of the proposed method is verified by performing PF analysis on the IEEE 123-bus test feeder with VCDs and photovoltaic systems. The accuracy and the computing time of the proposed approach are analyzed by comparing them with both the exact PF and the approximated LinDistFlow solutions, accounting for several operating conditions of the network. The presented results give evidence of the good performance of the proposed linear method, that combines computational efficiency with adequate accuracy.
To develop and evaluate a deep learning system for differentiating between eyes with and without glaucomatous visual field damage (GVFD) and predicting the severity of GFVD from spectral domain OCT ...(SD OCT) optic nerve head images.
Evaluation of a diagnostic technology.
A total of 9765 visual field (VF) SD OCT pairs collected from 1194 participants with and without GVFD (1909 eyes).
Deep learning models were trained to use SD OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness maps, RNFL en face images, and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO) images to identify eyes with GVFD and predict quantitative VF mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and mean VF sectoral pattern deviation (PD) from SD OCT data.
Deep learning models were compared with mean RNFL thickness for identifying GVFD using area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. For predicting MD, PSD, and mean sectoral PD, models were evaluated using R
and mean absolute error (MAE).
In the independent test dataset, the deep learning models based on RNFL en face images achieved an AUC of 0.88 for identifying eyes with GVFD and 0.82 for detecting mild GVFD significantly (P < 0.001) better than using mean RNFL thickness measurements (AUC = 0.82 and 0.73, respectively). Deep learning models outperformed standard RNFL thickness measurements in predicting all quantitative VF metrics. In predicting MD, deep learning models based on RNFL en face images achieved an R
of 0.70 and MAE of 2.5 decibels (dB) compared with 0.45 and 3.7 dB for RNFL thickness measurements. In predicting mean VF sectoral PD, deep learning models achieved high accuracy in the inferior nasal (R
= 0.60) and superior nasal (R
= 0.67) sectors, moderate accuracy in inferior (R
= 0.26) and superior (R
= 0.35) sectors, and lower accuracy in the central (R
= 0.15) and temporal (R
= 0.12) sectors.
Deep learning models had high accuracy in identifying eyes with GFVD and predicting the severity of functional loss from SD OCT images. Accurately predicting the severity of GFVD from SD OCT imaging can help clinicians more effectively individualize the frequency of VF testing to the individual patient.
We give an introduction to several regularization schemes that deal with ultraviolet and infrared singularities appearing in higher-order computations in quantum field theories. Comparing the ...computation of simple quantities in the various schemes, we point out similarities and differences between them.
The lightest Higgs boson mass of the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model has been recently computed diagrammatically at the three-loop order in the whole supersymmetric parameters space of the ...SUSY-QCD sector. The code FeynHiggs combines one- and two-loop fixed order with the effective-field-theory calculations for the same Higgs mass. The two numerical predictions agree considering the scenario of only one SUSY-scale and vanishing stop mixing parameter below 10 TeV. For large SUSY scales above 10 TeV, sizeable numerical differences between the two predictions have been observed. Additionally, the combined CMS/ATLAS Higgs mass value was used to derive an upper bound on the needed SUSY scale. In the considered scenario, values above the scale 12.5±1.2 TeV are excluded.
Patients with cancer may be at high risk of adverse outcomes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We analyzed a cohort of patients with cancer and coronavirus ...2019 (COVID-19) reported to the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) to identify prognostic clinical factors, including laboratory measurements and anticancer therapies.
Patients with active or historical cancer and a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis recorded between 17 March and 18 November 2020 were included. The primary outcome was COVID-19 severity measured on an ordinal scale (uncomplicated, hospitalized, admitted to intensive care unit, mechanically ventilated, died within 30 days). Multivariable regression models included demographics, cancer status, anticancer therapy and timing, COVID-19-directed therapies, and laboratory measurements (among hospitalized patients).
A total of 4966 patients were included (median age 66 years, 51% female, 50% non-Hispanic white); 2872 (58%) were hospitalized and 695 (14%) died; 61% had cancer that was present, diagnosed, or treated within the year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Older age, male sex, obesity, cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, non-Hispanic black race, Hispanic ethnicity, worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, recent cytotoxic chemotherapy, and hematologic malignancy were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Among hospitalized patients, low or high absolute lymphocyte count; high absolute neutrophil count; low platelet count; abnormal creatinine; troponin; lactate dehydrogenase; and C-reactive protein were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Patients diagnosed early in the COVID-19 pandemic (January-April 2020) had worse outcomes than those diagnosed later. Specific anticancer therapies (e.g. R-CHOP, platinum combined with etoposide, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors) were associated with high 30-day all-cause mortality.
Clinical factors (e.g. older age, hematological malignancy, recent chemotherapy) and laboratory measurements were associated with poor outcomes among patients with cancer and COVID-19. Although further studies are needed, caution may be required in utilizing particular anticancer therapies.
NCT04354701
•Among 4966 patients with COVID-19 and a history of or active cancer, 58% were hospitalized and 14% died within 30 days.•Older age, male sex, obesity, comorbidities, non-Hispanic black race, and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with higher COVID-19 severity.•Worse performance status, hematologic malignancy, and recent cytotoxic chemotherapy were associated with more severe COVID-19.•Low or high absolute lymphocyte count, high absolute neutrophil count, low platelets, abnormal creatinine, troponin, lactate dehydrogenase, or C-reactive protein were associated with more severe COVID-19.•Specific anticancer therapies were associated with high 30-day all-cause mortality.
This study presents a quantification method for the assessment of the optic nerve head (ONH) deformations of the living human eye under acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and change of ...cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) with body position. One eye from a brain-dead organ donor with open-angle glaucoma was imaged by optical coherence tomography angiography during an acute IOP and CSFP elevation test. Volumetric 3D strain was computed by digital volume correlation. With increase in IOP the shear strain consistently increased in both sitting and supine position (p < 0.001). When CSFP was increased at constant IOP by changing body position, a global reduction in the ONH strain was observed (-0.14% p = 0.0264). Strain in the vasculature was significantly higher than in the structural tissue (+0.90%, p = 0.0002). Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness strongly associated (ρ = -0.847, p = 0.008) with strain in the peripapillary sclera (ppScl) but not in the retina (p = 0.433) and lamina (p = 0.611). These initial results show that: CSFP independently to IOP modulates strain in the human ONH; ppScl strains are greater than strains in lamina and retina; strain in the retinal vasculature was higher than in the structural tissue; In this glaucoma eye, higher ppScl strain associated with lower RNFL thickness.
166Ho (T1/2≈ 26.8 h) is an emerging theragnostic radionuclide of interest in nuclear medicine due to its peculiar decay scheme, featuring high-energy β− emission (≈ 1.8 MeV) coupled with the main ...gamma-ray emission (≈ 80.6 keV). Using the new 166Ho activity standard and the well-calibrated, high-energy resolution HPGe detector, both available at ENEA-INMRI, a new determination of several 166Ho gamma-ray emission intensities, Iγ, was performed with low uncertainty. The new Iγ values contributed to the Decay Data Evaluation Project.
•166Ho and its use in nuclear medicine as theragnostic radionuclide.•Absolute activity measurements by Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) technique.•Hidex and portable ENEA-INMRI TDCR counters.•Gamma-ray spectrometry technique.•166Ho gamma-ray emission intensities.
We tested the hypothesis that there are age- and race-related differences in posterior scleral material properties, using eyes from human donors of European (20-90 years old, n = 40 eyes) and African ...(23-74 years old, n = 22 eyes) descent.
Inflation tests on posterior scleral shells were performed while full-field, three-dimensional displacements were recorded using laser speckle interferometry. Scleral material properties were fit to each eye using a microstructure-based constitutive formulation that incorporates the collagen fibril crimp and the local anisotropic collagen architecture. The effects of age and race were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equations, while accounting for intradonor correlations.
The shear modulus significantly increased (P = 0.038) and collagen fibril crimp angle significantly decreased with age (P = 0.002). Donors of African descent exhibited a significantly higher shear modulus (P = 0.019) and showed evidence of a smaller collagen fibril crimp angle (P = 0.057) compared to donors of European descent. The in-plane strains in the peripapillary sclera were significantly lower with age (P < 0.015) and African ancestry (P < 0.015).
The age- and race-related differences in scleral material properties result in a loss of scleral compliance due to a higher shear stiffness and a lower level of stretch at which the collagen fibrils uncrimp. The loss of compliance should lead to larger high frequency IOP fluctuations and changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) biomechanical response in the elderly and in persons of African ancestry, and may contribute to the higher susceptibility to glaucoma in these at-risk populations.
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