At operational level, fossil fuel phase-out and high shares of non-dispatchable renewable energy resources (RES) will challenge the system operator’s (SO) ability to balance generation, and the ...demand at any time. The variability of RES output ranges from one hour to a season, and critical events such as low supply and high demand might occur more frequently and for more extended periods. When evaluating the role of Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) in this context, the need for a long time scope to capture the different RES variabilities must be reconciled with the need for modeling the hourly chronology. This paper presents a medium-term operation planning model, addressing both the energy dispatch and the balancing services. This study shows that representing the combined chronological variability of demand and RES production is essential to properly assess the roles of different kinds of ESSs in the future 2030 electricity mix. Otherwise, it would not be possible to appropriately capture the frequency, depth, and length of events for which ESSs are activated. The analysis also highlights the importance of considering balancing services, given the significant contribution of batteries to the reserve market. Finally, the results show that batteries and Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) have different roles in the Spanish electricity system with a high renewable penetration. While PSH is mainly used to provide energy during critical periods, batteries mostly provide balancing services.
Cromoglycate (SCG) is widely used for allergy processes, and inflammatory states acting as a mast cell membrane stabilizer that inhibits the histamine and mediator release. Currently, SCG topical ...extemporaneous compounding formulations are prepared in hospitals and community pharmacies, as no industrial fabricated medicines are available in Spain. The stability of these formulations is unknown. Additionally, there are no clear guidelines on which concentration and vehicle are more suitable to enhance permeation across the skin. In this work, the stability of commonly prescribed topical SCG formulations in clinical practice was evaluated. Different vehicles commonly employed by pharmacists daily for formulating topical SCG were investigated (Eucerinum, Acofar Creamgel, and Beeler's base) at different concentrations, ranging from 0.2 to 2%. The stability of topical extemporaneous compounded SCG formulations can be extended for up to three months at room temperature (25 °C). Creamgel 2% formulations significantly improved the topical permeation of SCG across the skin, being 4.5-fold higher than formulations prepared with Beeler's base. The reason attributed to this performance can be related to the lower droplet size formed upon dilution in aqueous media combined with a lower viscosity, which facilitates its application and extensibility on the skin. The higher the SCG concentration in Creamgel formulations, the higher the permeability across both synthetic membranes and pig skin (
-value < 0.05). These preliminary results can be used as a guide to prompt a rational prescription of topical SCG formulations.
To describe the methodological design of the National Health and Nutrition Survey in localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants (Ensanut 100k).
The Ensanut 100k is a probabilistic survey that ...over-represents households with less economic capabilities. This paper describes the scope of the survey, sampling procedures, measurement and inference and logistics organization.
10 461 home interviews and 26 161 individual interviews were obtained. The household response rate was 89 and 92% from individuals.
The probabilistic design of the Ensanut 100k allows to make valid statistical inferences about parameters of interest for public health in localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants, localities where 52% of the population lives according to the 2010 census. The comparability of the results with the Ensanut 2012 faci- litates the assessment of the government's support actions to populations with lower economic capacities in the period 2012-2018.
Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (rI/R) generates an oxidative condition causing the death of neuronal cells. Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. ...Nonetheless, its correlation with the pathway of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) for the protection of the retina is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of single-doses of EGCG in rI/R and its association with
expression. In albino rabbits, rI/R was induced and single-doses of EGCG in saline (0-30 mg/kg) were intravenously administered to select an optimal EGCG concentration that protects from retina damage. To reach this goal, retinal structural changes, gliosis by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining, and lipid peroxidation level by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) assay were determined. EGCG in a dose of 15 mg/kg (E15) presented the lowest levels of histological damage, gliosis, and oxidative stress in the studied groups. To determine the neuroprotective efficacy of E15 in a timeline (6, 24, and 48 h after rI/R), and its association with the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, the following assays were done by immunofluorescence: apoptosis (TUNEL assay), necrosis (high-mobility group box-1; HMGB1), Nrf2, and HO-1. In addition, the
mRNA (qPCR) and lipid peroxidation levels were evaluated. E15 showed a protective effect during the first 6 h, compared to 24 and 48 h after rI/R, as revealed by a decrease in the levels of all damage markers. Nuclear translocation Nrf2 and HO-1 staining were increased, including
mRNA levels. In conclusion, a single dose of E15 decreases the death of neuronal cells induced by oxidative stress during the first 6 h after rI/R. This protective effect is associated with the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and with an elevation of
expression.
In this article we aim at empirically testing cross-country impacts of commodity prices shocks to aggregate Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth for a sample of emerging economies. Under a growth ...accounting framework, we estimate country-specific TFP growth (1992-2014) and select their robust determinants by means of a Bayesian Model Averaging approach. To identify the effects of structural shocks, we propose a panel Bayesian VAR and compute cyclically-adjusted TFP growth net of demand shocks (i.e., output gap) and commodity prices. Our results suggest that: (i) the relationship of commodity prices and TFP growth has been very high in small commodity-exporting economies (i.e., an increase of 10% commodity prices is associated with a sizable expansion of TFP growth in a year for an average commodity exporter); (ii) albeit our evidence is not sufficient to empirically distinguish among theoretical explanations, our results favor an interpretation that weights short-term effects of commodity prices on productivity, either through transitional dynamics to the manufacturing sector or through mismeasurement of TFP; and (iii) cyclically adjusted TFP growth highlights the importance of negative supply shocks in commodity-exporting countries. All in all, much of the increase in TFP growth in the last decade was related to a favorable cyclical environment, a result that may raise significant policy implications for commodity-dependent economies.
•Children were more sedentary, less active and had lower sleep quality in the pandemic.•Changes in movement behaviors were associated with each other.•Children with socioeconomic disadvantage and ...higher screen access experienced greater changes.•Having screen-time limits and playmates were associated with smaller changes.
Little is known about physical activity, screen time and sleep among Mexican toddlers and preschoolers. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of childcare education centers and restrictions to spend time outdoors. This study aimed to investigate the correlates of changes in movement behaviors from before to during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown in a national sample of toddlers and preschoolers in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an open online survey completed by caretakers of children aged 1–5 years from April to July 2020. The questionnaire enquired about the time spent in each movement behavior during a regular week before and during lockdown, and family and household characteristics. Factors associated with changes in movement behaviors were explored using adjusted linear regression models. A total of 631 children (3.3y, 95% CI: 3.1, 3.4) were included in the study. During lockdown, physical activity decreased by 25%, screen time doubled, and sleep quality declined in 17% (p < 0.001). Toddlers and preschoolers of older age, attending a childcare education center before the lockdown, with a screen in their bedroom, higher access to electronic devices, and lower socioeconomic level experienced greater changes during this period. Those with limits on the use of electronic devices, who had someone available to play with them, and availability of toys experienced less pronounced changes. Pandemic restrictions have impacted movement behaviors of toddlers and preschoolers, with disproportionate effects among lower socioeconomic levels. Interventions with a multi-level equity-oriented approach are urgently needed to mitigate these effects.
To evaluate the natural occurrence of the plant growth‐promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense and petunia plants, local strains were isolated and characterized by biochemical and molecular ...methods. Three strains were assessed in greenhouse conditions using Petunia × hybrida Ultra™. Treatments: Plants without bacterial inoculation or chemical fertilization; fertilized with NPK and KNO3; and independently inoculated with the strains 2A1, 2A2, and 2E1 by submerging their roots in a bacterial suspension (~106 CFU·ml−1). Root length, dry weight of roots and shoots, leaf area, leaf greenness, and nutrient content were evaluated. The number of days from transplanting to the opening of the first flower and the number of flowers per plant were also determined. As a result, five isolates were characterized as A. brasilense, showing the capacity to produce indoles and siderophores, to solubilize phosphate, nitrogenase activity, and nifH‐PCR amplification. In general, all the parameters of the plant assay were improved in plants inoculated with A. brasilense, with variations among the strains, as well as the onset of flowering and the number of flowers per plant, compared with uninoculated or fertilized plants. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of A. brasilense in petunia with the capacity to improve plant growth and flowering.
First law of quantum field thermodynamics Teixidó-Bonfill, Adam; Ortega, Alvaro; Martín-Martínez, Eduardo
Physical review. A,
11/2020, Letnik:
102, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Quantum seismology Brown, Eric G; Donnelly, William; Kempf, Achim ...
New journal of physics,
10/2014, Letnik:
16, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We propose a quantum mechanical method of detecting weak vibrational disturbances inspired by the protocol of entanglement farming. We consider a setup where pairs of atoms in their ground state are ...successively sent through an optical cavity. It is known that in this way it is possible to drive that cavity toward a stable fixed-point state. Here we study how that fixed-point state depends on the time interval between pairs of atoms and on the distance between the cavityʼs mirrors. Taking advantage of an extremely precise resonance effect, we find that there are special values of these parameters where the fixed-point state is highly sensitive to perturbations, even harmonic vibrations with frequencies several orders of magnitude below the cavityʼs natural frequency. We propose that this sensitivity may be useful for high precision metrology.
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