Application of whale algorithm optimizer for unified power flow controller optimization with consideration of renewable energy sources uncertainty

Purpose. In this paper an allocation methodology of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) controllers, more specifically, the Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is proposed. As the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) into the conventional electric grid increases, its effect on this location must be investigated. Research studies have shown that the uncertainty of RESs in power generation influences the reactive power of a power system network and consequently its overall transmission losses. The novelty of the proposed work consists in the improvement of voltage profile and the minimization of active power loss by considering renewable energy sources intermittency in the network via optimal location of UPFC device. The allocation strategy associates the steady-state analysis of the electrical network, with the location and adjustment of controller parameters using the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) technique. Methodology. In order to determine the location of UPFC, approaches are proposed based on identification of a line which is the most sensitive and effective with respect to voltage security enhancement, congestion alleviation as well as direct optimization approach. The optimum location of UPFC in the power system is discussed in this paper using line loading index, line stability index and optimization method. The objective function is solved using the WOA algorithm and its performance is evaluated by comparison with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Results. The effectiveness of the proposed allocation methodology is verified through the analysis of simulations performed on standard IEEE 30 bus test system considering different load conditions. The obtained results demonstrate that feasible and effective solutions are obtained using the proposed approach and can be used to overcome the optimum location issue. Additionally, the results show that when UPFC device is strategically positioned in the electrical network and uncertainty of RES is considered, there is a significant influence on the overall transmission loss and voltage profile enhancements of the network.Мета. У статті пропонується методологія розподілу контролерів гнучких систем передачі змінного струму (FACTS), зокрема уніфікованого контролера потоку потужності (UPFC). Оскільки проникнення відновлюваних джерел енергії (ВДЕ) у звичайну електричну мережу збільшується, необхідно досліджувати їхній вплив на це. Наукові дослідження показали, що невизначеність ВДЕ у виробленні електроенергії впливає на реактивну потужність мережі енергосистеми і, отже, на її загальні втрати під час передачі. Новизна запропонованої роботи полягає в покращенні профілю напруги та мінімізації втрат активної потужності за рахунок обліку перемежування відновлюваних джерел енергії в мережі за рахунок оптимального розташування пристрою UPFC. Стратегія розподілу пов'язує стаціонарний аналіз електричної мережі з розміщенням та налаштуванням параметрів контролера з використанням методу алгоритму оптимізації кита (WOA). Методологія. Для визначення розташування UPFC пропонуються підходи, засновані на виявленні лінії, яка є найбільш чутливою та ефективною з точки зору підвищення безпеки за напругою, зменшення навантажень, а також прямий підхід до оптимізації. Оптимальне розташування UPFC в енергосистемі обговорюється в цій статті з використанням індексу завантаження лінії, індексу стійкості лінії та методу оптимізації. Цільова функція вирішується з використанням алгоритму WOA, а її продуктивність оцінюється шляхом порівняння з алгоритмом оптимізації рою частинок (PSO). Результати. Ефективність запропонованої методології розподілу перевірена за допомогою аналізу моделювання, виконаного на тестовій системі стандартної шини IEEE 30 з урахуванням різних умов навантаження. Отримані результати демонструють, що за допомогою запропонованого підходу виходять здійсненні та ефективні рішення, які можна використовувати для подолання проблеми оптимального розташування. Крім того, результати показують, що коли пристрій UPFC стратегічно розташований в електричній мережі і враховується невизначеність ВДЕ, це значно впливає на загальні втрати при передачі і поліпшення профілю напруги в мережі

Kyste hydatique du masséter: a propos d’un cas

La localisation cervico faciale et particulièrement musculaire massétérine est exceptionnelle même en zone d’endémie. Le kyste hydatique au niveau de cette localisation pose un problème de diagnostic et des difficultés thérapeutiques du fait de la présence de filets nerveux du VII. Les auteurs rapportent un cas rare de localisation primaire d’un kyste hydatique au niveau du muscle masséter.Mots clès : Kyste hydatique, face, masséter, imagerie, chirurgie

Mucormycose rhinosinusienne a extension palatine

Les mucormycoses sont des infections fongiques, aigues, rares et souvent fatales. Elles touchent avec prédilection les sujets  immunodéprimés. La forme rhinocérébrale est la plus fréquente. Le diagnostic repose sur l’examen clinique, anatomopathologique et mycologique. L’approche thérapeutique doit être multidisciplinaire. Les auteurs rapportent l’histoire clinique d’un patient, ayant présenté une mucormycose rhinosinusienne avec atteinte du palais au décours d’une infection dentaire. A travers cette observation, ils discutent les différents aspects cliniques, les moyens du diagnostic et les modalités thérapeutiques de la mucormycose rhinocérébrale.Mots clés : Infection fongique, mucormycose rhinocérébrale, zygomycètes, pronostic, traitement

A new species of spiny-backed tree frog, genus Osteocephalus (Anura, Hylidae), from the Yanachaga Chemillén National Park in central Peru

We describe a new species of Osteocephalus Fitzinger, 1843 using morphological traits of adult frogs and its larvae, as well as molecular evidence. The new species occurs in the premontane forest of the Cordillera del Yanachaga in the Andes of central Peru, at elevations between 1000 and 1150 m a.s.l. It belongs to the Osteocephalus mimeticus species group and is the sister species of O. mimeticus. It is most similar to three species with predominantly dark irises, tuberculate dorsal skin, and brown dorsal coloration: O. festae Peracca, 1904, O. mimeticus Melin, 1941, and O. verruciger Werner, 1901. Of these three species, the most similar is O. mimeticus. However, the new species can be easily distinguished from O. mimeticus by having a cream or creamy-tan venter with a well-defined pattern of brown chocolate blotches and flecks (venter cream, tan, or brown without marks in O. mimeticus). The tadpoles of O. vasquezi sp. nov. are strikingly different from the tadpoles of O. mimeticus by having a larger oral disk with nine lower labial tooth rows (only six in O. mimeticus). Tadpoles of the new species and those of O. festae are unique among Osteocephalus by belonging to the suctorial ecomorphological guild as shown by their large oral disks. Our time tree suggest that the new species diverged from its sister species at the beginning of the Pleistocene, ~2.5 million years ago

Ethanolic Extract of Algerian Propolis Induced Cell Damage in Staphylococcus aureus: A Promising Alternative as a Natural Bio-Preservative in Food Products

This study describes the antistaphylococcal mechanism of the ethanolic extract of Algerian propolis on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. To investigate the underlying mechanism of action of the ethanolic extract of propolis, bacteriolysis, bacterial death, leakage of potassium, proteins, nucleic components, and scanning electron microscopic studies were conducted. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanolic extract of propolis against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was 39 μg ml–1. The extract displayed significant bactericid activity against S. aureus in a time and concentration dependant manner. Its mode of action was evident from the increase of K+ efflux and nucleotide leakage. These results were confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) that showed remarkable morphological and ultrastructural changes in S. aureus after exposure to 1MIC and 2MIC concentrations. The overall study contributed to the understanding of the antistaphylococcal mechanism of ethanolic extract of propolis. It emphasizes its potential to be used as an important natural bio-preservatives in food products

A Constrained Fuzzy Knowledge-Based System for the Management of Container Yard Operations

The management of container yard operations is considered by yard operators to be a very challenging task due to the many uncertainties inherent in such operations. The storage of the containers is one of those operations that require proper management for the efficient utilisation of the yard, requiring rapid retrieval time and a minimum number of re-handlings. The main challenge is when containers of a different size, type, or weight need to be stored in a yard that holds a number of pre-existing containers. This challenge becomes even more complex when the date and time for the departure of the containers are unknown, as is the case when the container is collected by a third-party logistics company without any prior notice being given. The aim of this study is to develop a new system for the management of container yard operations that takes into consideration a number of factors and constraints that occur in a real-life situation. One of these factors is the duration of stay for the topmost containers of each stack, when the containers are stored. Because the duration of stay for containers in a yard varies dynamically over time, an ‘ON/OFF’ strategy is proposed to activate/deactivate the duration of stay factor constraint if the length of stay for these containers varies significantly over time. A number of tools and techniques are utilised for developing the proposed system including: discrete event simulation for the modelling of container storage and retrieval operations, a fuzzy know ledge-based model for the stack allocation of containers, and a heuristic algorithm called ‘neighbourhood’ for the container retrieval operation. Results show that by adopting the proposed ‘ON/OFF’ strategy, 5% of the number of re-handlings, 2.5% of the total retrieval time, 6.6% of the total re-handling time and 42% of the average waiting time per truck are reduced

PP2A/B55 and Fcp1 regulate Greatwall and Ensa desphorylation during mitotic exit

Entry into mitosis is triggered by activation of Cdk1 and inactivation of its counteracting phosphatase PP2A/B55. Greatwall kinase inactivates PP2A/B55 via its substrates Ensa and ARPP19. Both Greatwall and Ensa/ARPP19 are regulated by phosphorylation, but the dynamic regulation of Greatwall activity and the phosphatases that control Greatwall kinase and its substrates are poorly understood. To address these questions we applied a combination of mathematical modelling and experiments using phospho-specific antibodies to monitor Greatwall, Ensa/ARPP19 and Cdk substrate phosphorylation during mitotic entry and exit. We demonstrate that PP2A/B55 is required for Gwl dephosphorylation at the essential Cdk site Thr194. Ensa/ARPP19 dephosphorylation is mediated by the RNA Polymerase II carboxy terminal domain phosphatase Fcp1. Surprisingly, neither Fcp1 nor PP2A appear to essential to dephosphorylate the bulk of mitotic Cdk1 substrates following Cdk1 inhibition. Taken together our results suggest a hierarchy of phosphatases coordinating Greatwall, Ensa/ARPP19 and Cdk substrate dephosphorylation during mitotic exit