Dynamic strategy based fast decomposed GA coordinated with FACTS devices to enhance the optimal power flow

International audienceUnder critical situation the main preoccupation of expert engineers is to assure power system security and to deliver power to the consumer within the desired index power quality. The total generation cost taken as a secondary strategy. This paper presents an efficient decomposed GA to enhance the solution of the optimal power flow (OPF) with non-smooth cost function and under severe loading conditions. At the decomposed stage the length of the original chromosome is reduced successively and adapted to the topology of the new partition. Two sub problems are proposed to coordinate the OPF problem under different loading conditions: the first sub problem related to the active power planning under different loading factor to minimize the total fuel cost, and the second sub problem is a reactive power planning designed based in practical rules to make fine corrections to the voltage deviation and reactive power violation using a specified number of shunt dynamic compensators named Static Var Compensators (SVC). To validate the robustness of the proposed approach, the proposed algorithm tested on IEEE 30-Bus, 26- Bus and IEEE 118-Bus under different loading conditions and compared with global optimization methods (GA, EGA, FGA, PSO, MTS, MDE and ACO) and with two robust simulation packages: PSAT and MATPOWER. The results show that the proposed approach can converge to the near solution and obtain a competitive solution at critical situation and with a reasonable time

Fuzzy Controlled Parallel PSO to Solving Large Practical Economic Dispatch

International audienceThis paper proposes a version of fuzzy controlled parallel particle swarm optimization approach based decomposed network (FCP-PSO) to solve large nonconvex economic dispatch problems. The proposed approach combines practical experience extracted from global database formulated in fuzzy rules to adjust dynamically the three parameters associated to PSO mechanism search. The adaptive PSO executed in parallel based in decomposed network procedure as a local search to explore the search space very effectively. The robustness of the proposed modified PSO tested on 40 generating units with prohibited zones and compared with recent hybrid global optimization methods. The results show that the proposed approach can converge to the near solution and obtain a competitive solution with a reasonable time compared with recent previous approaches

Analysis of the Fractional Relativistic Polytropic Gas Sphere

Many stellar configurations, including white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, supermassive stars, and star clusters, rely on relativistic effects. The Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equation of the polytropic gas sphere is ultimately a hydrostatic equilibrium equation developed from the general relativity framework. In the modified Rieman Liouville (mRL) frame, we formulate the fractional TOV (FTOV) equations and introduce an analytical solution. Using power series expansions to solve the fractional TOV equations yields a limited physical range to the convergent power series solution. Therefore, the two techniques of Euler-Abel transformation and Pade approximation have been combined to improve the convergence of the obtained series solutions. For all possible values of the relativistic parameters (\sigma), we calculated twenty fractional gas models for the polytropic indexes n=0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2. Investigating the impacts of fractional and relativistic parameters on the models revealed fascinating phenomena; the two effects for n=0.5 are that the sphere's volume and mass decrease with increasing \sigma and the fractional parameter (\alpha). For n=1, the volume decreases when \sigma=0.1 and then increases when \sigma=0.2 and 0.3. The volume of the sphere reduces as both \sigma and \alpha increase for n=1.5 and n=2. We calculated the maximum mass and the corresponding minimum radius of the white dwarfs modeled with polytropic index n=3 and several fractional and relativistic parameter values. We obtained a mass limit for the white dwarfs somewhat near the Chandrasekhar limit for the integer models with small relativistic parameters (\alpha=1, \sigma=0.001). The situation is altered by lowering the fractional parameter; the mass limit increases to Mlimit=1.63348 M at \alpha=0.95 and \sigma=0.001

Optimizing the View Percentage, Daylight Autonomy, Sunlight Exposure, and Energy Use: Data-Driven-Based Approach for Maximum Space Utilization in Residential Building Stock in Hot Climates

This paper introduces a comprehensive methodology for creating diverse layout generation configurations, aiming to address limitations in existing building optimization studies that rely on simplistic hypothetical buildings. This study’s objective was to achieve an optimal balance between minimizing the energy use intensity (EUI) in kWh/m2, maximizing the views percentages to the outdoor (VPO), achieving spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), and minimizing annual sunlight exposure (ASE). To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the simulation, the research included calibration and validation processes using the Ladybug and Honeybee plugins, integrated into the Grasshopper platform. These processes involved comparing the model’s performance against an existing real-world case. Through more than 1500 iterations, the study extracted three multi-regression equations that enabled the calculation of EUI in kWh/m2. These equations demonstrated the significant influence of the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and space proportOptimizing the View Percentage, Daylight Autonomy, Sunlight Exposure, and Energy Use: Data-Driven-Based Approach for Maximum Space Utilization in Residential Building Stock in Hot ClimatespublishedVersio

Recycling of Brick and Road Demolition Waste in the Production of Concrete

Construction and public works sites generate a significant amount of waste that is often costly to dispose of. To reduce the environmental impact and promote sustainability, recycling and recovering this waste is increasingly being recognized as a viable solution. This paper presents the findings of an experimental program investigating the feasibility of using brick and road demolition waste as concrete components. By substituting a portion of sand and cement with recycled materials, this study compares the properties of the reference concrete with concrete containing varying amounts of brick waste and road demolition debris. The obtained results demonstrate that the produced concrete with up to 40 % recycled content achieved a compressive strength exceeding 20 MPa after 28 days. This study suggests that recycled brick and road demolition waste could be a sustainable and economical substitute for conventional aggregates. Incorporating these materials into concrete reduces the cement content while maintaining or even improving the fresh and hardened properties of the concrete. However, it is crucial to limit the use of road demolition sand to 10 %, crushed brick fines to 20%, and brick sand (CBS) to 30% to ensure optimal performance

Validity of sphenoid ostium in relation to posterior wall of maxillary sinus by computed tomography

Background: Sphenoid sinus is the most inaccessible paranasal sinus, enclosed within the sphenoid bone and intimately related to numerous vital neural and vascular structures. Anatomic variation of the sphenoid sinus is well documented and may complicate surgery in such a place.Objective: To assess the reliability of preoperative computed tomography (CT) in determination of the distance between the posterior wall of maxillary sinus (PWMS) and the sphenoid sinus ostium (SSO) in the coronal plane.Patients and methods: This was a prospective study of the distance between the SSO and the PWMS in the coronal plane, which was measured both radiologically in preoperative CT and intraoperatively during endoscopic sinus surgery for patients in need for middle meatal antrostomy and sphenoid sinusotomy at the same side. Distances obtained by both techniques have been tested for the degree of correlation. Number of the included patients was 25.Results: Forty four nasal sides were included in the study. The mean distance between the sphenoid sinus ostium and posterior wall of maxillary sinus in the coronal plane was 6.6 ± 1.8 mm when measured by preoperative CT and 6.9 ± 1.9 mm when measured directly during surgery. No significant difference was found between the mean distances measured by both techniques (p = 0.246) with good agreement between them (r = 0.864).Conclusion: Preoperative CT may be a reliable tool to preoperatively determine the difference in depth between the PWMS and the SSO

Numerical analysis of reducing tunneling effect on viaduct piles foundation by jet grouted wall

Purpose. The target of this study is divided into two parts. The first part is concerned with capability of numerical model to simulate the tunneling process. The second part is related to studying the interaction mechanism between the tunnel, protection technique, and soil. This study themes are investigated by analyzing different protection technique configuration, considering different stiffness of the grouted wall, and applying different interface coefficient between the wall and the soil. Methods. The method used in this study to check the accuracy of the proposed numerical model is 4-D ABAQUS program. The typical excavation of a tunnel is simulated step by step with an assumed rate of tunnel advancement (0.5 to 1.5 m/hr). The soil material utilized in this model is elastic perfectly plastic (the Mohr-Сoulomb criterion), while elastic material is modeled as solid element (S4R) adopted for lining, grouting, filling gaps, shielding, constructing piles, and jet grouted wall. Findings. Results showed that the closer jet grouting to the tunnel with embedded length of 1.5 times tunnel diameter, the better effect on reducing the lateral deformation and bending moment generated on piles. Otherwise, increasing wall thickness more than double grouted column diameter would not affect its shielding efficiency. Furthermore, either increasing or decreasing friction coefficient even if rough between the grouted wall and soil had no effect on the pile behavior. Additionally, applying Mohr-Coulomb criteria for grouted wall with high stiffness allowed realistic response of the pile group. Originality. Capability of the proposed model is verified by back analysis of Changsha Subway Line 1 project, where the shield tunnel would be constructed near existing pile groups of L off-ramp of the Xinzhong Road viaduct. Practical implications. Increasing grouted wall configuration is more effective than mechanical properties or its interface coefficient with surrounded soil in mitigating tunneling effect on nearby piles.Мета. Виконати чисельне моделювання опису процесу проходки тунелю, а також вивчення механізмів взаємодії між тунелем, способом кріплення та підошвою за допомогою аналізу різних конфігурацій кріплення з урахуванням різної міцності залитої цементним розчином стіни й застосування різних коефіцієнтів межі розділу між стіною і підошвою. Методика. Для перевірки точності запропонованої чисельної моделі використовувалася програма 4-D ABAQUS. Проходка тунелю моделюється покроково при передбачуваній швидкість проходки від 0.5 до 1.5 м/год. Дана модель розглядає матеріал підошви як еластичний ідеально пластичний (за критерієм Мора-Кулона). Еластичний матеріал представлений в моделі як тверда речовина (S4R), що використовується для оброблення, цементування, заповнення пустот, щитової проходки, спорудження свай та залитих струменевим розчином стінок. Результати. Результати дослідження свідчать про те, що чим ближче розташована установка струменевої цементації до тунелю, довжина якого в півтора рази більше його діаметра, тим більший вплив вона чинить на зменшення бічних деформацій і згинальні моменти свай. Встановлено, що збільшення товщини стінок до величини, що вдвічі перевищує діаметр залитих струменевим розчином свай, не впливає на їх захисну здатність. Крім того, ні збільшення, ні зменшення коефіцієнта тертя між залитою цементним розчином стіною і підошвою не чинить істотного впливу на поведінку свай. Застосування критерію Мора-Кулона для високоміцної зацементованої струменевим розчином стіни дозволяє реалістично оцінити реакцію групи свай. Наукова новизна. Надійність даної моделі підтверджена зворотним аналізом в рамках проекту 1-й лінії метро Чанши, згідно з яким тунель буде побудований методом щитової проходки навколо існуючих груп опор на L з’їзді з віадука траси Ксінжонг. Практична значимість. Зміцнена структура зацементованої стінки дозволяє зменшити вплив проходки тунелю на сваї та підвищити надійність і стійкість споруди.Цель. Выполнить численное моделирование описания процесса проходки тоннеля, а также изучение механизмов взаимодействия между тоннелем, способом крепления и грунтом посредством анализа разных конфигураций крепления с учетом различной прочности залитой цементным раствором стены и применения различных коэффициентов границы раздела между стеной и почвой. Методика. Для проверки точности предложенной численной модели использовалась программа 4-D ABAQUS. Проходка тоннеля моделируется пошагово при предполагаемой скорости проходки от 0.5 до 1.5 м/час. Данная модель рассматривает материал грунта как эластичный идеально пластичный (по критерию Мора-Кулона). Эластичный материал представлен в модели как твердое вещество (S4R), используемое для обделки, цементирования, заполнения пустот, щитовой проходки, сооружения свай и залитых струйным раствором стенок. Результаты. Результаты исследования свидетельствуют о том, что чем ближе расположена установка струйной цементации к тоннелю, длина которого в полтора раза больше его диаметра, тем большее влияние она оказывает на уменьшение боковых деформаций и сгибающего момента свай. Установлено, что увеличение толщины стенок до величины, вдвое превышающей диаметр залитых струйным раствором свай, не влияет на их защитную способность. Кроме того, ни увеличение, ни уменьшение коэффициента трения между залитой цементным раствором стеной и грунтом не оказывает существенного влияния на поведение свай. Применение критерия Мора-Кулона для высокопрочной зацементированной струйным раствором стены позволяет реалистично оценить ответную реакцию группы свай. Научная новизна. Надежность данной модели подтверждена обратным анализом в рамках проекта 1-й линии метро Чанши, согласно которому тоннель будет построен методом щитовой проходки вокруг существующих групп опор на L съезде с виадука трассы Ксинжонг. Практическая значимость. Упрочненная структура зацементированной стенки позволяет уменьшить воздействия проходки тоннеля на сваи и повысить надежность и устойчивость сооружения.The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their valuable comments

Expression of FGFR3 Protein and Gene Amplification in Urinary Bladder Lesions in Relation to Schistosomiasis

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer represents the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and death. Incidence and mortality rates have remained relatively constant over the past four decades. Urothelial bladder cancers have identified multiple risk factors.AIM: We aimed at evaluating the expression of the FGFR3 protein and gene amplification in the urothelial cells of neoplastic and non-neoplastic urothelial lesions of the urinary bladder, and correlation with tumour grade, stage and associated bilharziasis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and five different urinary bladder lesions were studied, including 15 cystitis cases (9 bilharzial and 6 non-bilharzial cystitides), 75 urothelial carcinoma cases (18 bilharzial associated and 57 non-bilharzial associated) and 15 squamous cell carcinoma associated with bilharziasis, beside 5 control cases. Data concerning age, sex, tumour grade, stage, and associated bilharziasis were obtained. Each case was studied for FGFR3 expression, and FISH technique was applied on forty malignant cases that show high protein expression.RESULTS: The highest incidence of cystitis was in the fourth decade while of bladder cancer was in the seventh decade. Tumour grade was correlated significantly with tumour stage. FGFR3 correlates significantly with tumour grade, stage and with a bilharzial infestation. FGFR3 gene amplification was reported mainly in low grade and NNMBIC tumours.CONCLUSIONS: FGFR3 overexpression in malignant cases was significantly higher than in chronic cystitis. FGFR3 gene amplification was reported mainly in low grade and NNMBIC tumours. FGFR3 may be further studied as a subject for target therapy of bladder cancer

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely