Multi-objective optimal power flow considering the multi-terminal direct current

Introduction. In recent years, transmission systems comprise more direct current structures; their effects on alternating current power system may become significant and important. Also, multi-terminal direct current is favorable to the integration of large wind and solar power plants with a very beneficial ecological effect. The novelty of the proposed work consists in the effects of the aforementioned modern devices on transient stability, thus turn out to be an interesting research issue. In our view, they constitute a new challenge and an additional complexity for studying the dynamic behavior of modern electrical systems. Purpose. We sought a resolution to the problem of the transient stability constrained optimal power flow in the alternating current / direct current meshed networks. Convergence to security optimal power flow has been globally achieved. Methods. The solution of the problem was carried out in MATLAB environment, by an iterative combinatorial approach between optimized power flow computation and dynamic simulation. Results. A new transient stability constrained optimal power flow approach considering multi-terminal direct current systems can improve the transient stability after a contingency occurrence and operate the system economically within the system physical bounds. Practical value. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method is tested on the modified IEEE 14-bus test system with multi-objective optimization problem that reflect active power generation cost minimization and stability of the networks. It should be mentioned that active power losses are small in meshed networks relative to the standard network. The meshed networks led to a gain up to 46,214 % from the base case.Вступ. В останні роки системи передачі електроенергії включають в себе більше структур постійного струму; їх вплив на енергосистему змінного струму може стати значним і важливим. Крім того, багатотермінальний постійний струм є сприятливим для інтеграції великих вітрових та сонячних електростанцій з дуже позитивним екологічним ефектом. Новизна запропонованої роботи полягає у впливі вищезазначених сучасних пристроїв на перехідну стабільність, що виявляється цікавим питанням для дослідження. На наш погляд, вони становлять нову проблему та додаткову складність для вивчення динамічної поведінки сучасних електричних систем. Мета. Ми шукали розв’язання задачі перехідної стабільності, обмеженої оптимальним потоком потужності в мережах змінного/постійного струму. Збіжність для забезпечення оптимального потоку енергії була глобально досягнута. Методи. Розв’язання задачі було здійснено в середовищі MATLAB за допомогою ітеративного комбінаторного підходу між оптимізованим обчисленням потоку потужності та динамічним моделюванням. Результати. Новий підхід, що обмежує перехідну стабільність, з урахуванням багатотермінальних систем постійного струму може покращити перехідну стабільність після виникнення непередбачених ситуацій та економічно експлуатувати систему у фізичних межах системи. Практичне значення. Ефективність та надійність запропонованого методу перевіряється на модифікованій тестовій 14-шинній системі IEEE з використанням багатоцільової задачі оптимізації, яка відображає мінімізацію витрат на активну генерацію електроенергії та стабільність мереж

Multi-objective optimal power flow based gray wolf optimization method

Introduction. One of predominant problems in energy systems is the economic operation of electric energy generating systems. In this paper, one a new evolutionary optimization approach, based on the behavior of meta-heuristic called grey wolf optimization is applied to solve the single and multi-objective optimal power flow and emission index problems. Problem. The optimal power flow are non-linear and non-convex very constrained optimization problems. Goal is to minimize an objective function necessary for a best balance between the energy production and its consumption, which is presented as a nonlinear function, taking into account of the equality and inequality constraints. Methodology. The grey wolf optimization algorithm is a nature inspired comprehensive optimization method, used to determine the optimal values of the continuous and discrete control variables. Practical value. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method have been examined and tested on the standard IEEE 30-bus test system with multi-objective optimization problem. The results of proposed method have been compared and validated with hose known references published recently. Originality. The results are promising and show the effectiveness and robustness of proposed approach.Вступ. Однією з головних проблем енергетичних системах є економічна експлуатація систем виробництва електроенергії. У цій статті один новий підхід до еволюційної оптимізації, заснований на поведінці метаевристики, яка називається оптимізацією сірого вовка, застосовується для вирішення одно- та багатокритеріальних завдань оптимального потоку потужності та індексу викидів. Проблема. Оптимальний потік потужності - це нелінійні та неопуклі задачі оптимізації з дуже обмеженнями. Метою є мінімізація цільової функції, необхідної для найкращого балансу між виробництвом та споживанням енергії, яка представлена у вигляді нелінійної функції з урахуванням обмежень рівності та нерівності. Методологія. Алгоритм оптимізації сірого вовка - це натхненний природою комплексний метод оптимізації, що використовується для визначення оптимальних значень безперервних і дискретних змінних, що управляють. Практична цінність. Ефективність та надійність запропонованого методу були перевірені та протестовані на стандартній 30-шинній тестовій системі IEEE із завданням багатокритеріальної оптимізації. Результати запропонованого методу були зіставлені та підтверджені нещодавно опублікованими відомими посиланнями. Оригінальність. Результати є багатообіцяючими та показують ефективність та надійність запропонованого підходу.

Salt effect on physiological, biochemical and anatomical structures of two Origanum majorana varieties (Tunisian and Canadian)

In this study, we evaluated the salt concentration effect on plant growth, mineral composition, antioxidant responses and anatomical structure of two varieties of Origanum majorana after exposure to NaCl treatment. Our results show an inclusive behaviour of the two varieties, since the majority of sodium was exported and accumulated in their aerial parts. The Canadian variety (CV) appeared relatively more tolerant to salt than the Tunisian one (TV). Transversal section of leaves showed a thickening of dorsal and ventral cuticle, more importantly in CV than in TV, in the presence and in absence of salt. This was accompanied by an increase in the length of palisade cells, and the width of spongy collenchyma lacuna. The stem had a subquadrangular shape in TV and quadrangular in the Canadian variety. At mature stage, the stem pit was reabsorbed in the TV and replaced by a large cavity, whereas it remained unchanged in CV. The relative salt tolerance of the CV was related to: (1) a good selectivity in favour of K+: (2) a strong peroxidase activity and (3) an increase in the lengthening of palisade cell accompanied with an increase of lacunae in spongy parenchyma in CV.Key words: Origanum majorana, salinity, growth, mineral nutrition, leaves, stems, anatomical, antioxidant

Effect of growth stages on phenolics content and antioxidant activities of shoots in sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) varieties under salt stress

We investigated the contributions of salinity and development stage on total polyphenols, flavonoids,  condensed tannins contents, phenolic content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide  scavenging activities at three phenolic stages: early vegetative stage (EVS), late or prefloral vegetative (LVS) stage and flowering stage (FS). The total phenolic, flavonoids and condensed tannins contents were more  important in the presence and absence of salt at prefloral or building stage than at EVS and FS. In addition, salt stress increased total polyphenol and individual phenolic contents in shoots of Origanum majorana. This  increase was more important in LVS than in EVS and FS. Moreover, the antiradical activity of the shoots (DPPH) decreased with the addition of NaCl. In fact, LVS extracts showed the highest antioxidant properties.  Furthermore, at LVS, marjoram grown at 75 mM showed a higher antiradical ability against DPPH radical and antioxidant activity, compared to EVS and LVS. Data reported here revealed the variation of phenolic  compound contents at different stages of growth of O. majorana, and the possible role of these changes in the response of the plant to salt was also discussed.Key words: Antiradical activity, Origanum majorana, early vegetative stage (EVS), late or prefloral vegetative (LVS) stage and flowering stage (FS), phenolic content

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

Automatic segmentation of meningioma from non-contrasted brain MRI integrating fuzzy clustering and region growing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become important in brain tumor diagnosis. Using this modality, physicians can locate specific pathologies by analyzing differences in tissue character presented in different types of MR images.</p> <p>This paper uses an algorithm integrating fuzzy-c-mean (FCM) and region growing techniques for automated tumor image segmentation from patients with menigioma. Only non-contrasted T1 and T2 -weighted MR images are included in the analysis. The study's aims are to correctly locate tumors in the images, and to detect those situated in the midline position of the brain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study used non-contrasted T1- and T2-weighted MR images from 29 patients with menigioma. After FCM clustering, 32 groups of images from each patient group were put through the region-growing procedure for pixels aggregation. Later, using knowledge-based information, the system selected tumor-containing images from these groups and merged them into one tumor image. An alternative semi-supervised method was added at this stage for comparison with the automatic method. Finally, the tumor image was optimized by a morphology operator. Results from automatic segmentation were compared to the "ground truth" (GT) on a pixel level. Overall data were then evaluated using a quantified system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The quantified parameters, including the "percent match" (PM) and "correlation ratio" (CR), suggested a high match between GT and the present study's system, as well as a fair level of correspondence. The results were compatible with those from other related studies. The system successfully detected all of the tumors situated at the midline of brain.</p> <p>Six cases failed in the automatic group. One also failed in the semi-supervised alternative. The remaining five cases presented noticeable edema inside the brain. In the 23 successful cases, the PM and CR values in the two groups were highly related.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results indicated that, even when using only two sets of non-contrasted MR images, the system is a reliable and efficient method of brain-tumor detection. With further development the system demonstrates high potential for practical clinical use.</p

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

Differential hypoglycaemic, anorectic, autonomic and emetic effects of the glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist, exendin-4, in the conscious telemetered ferret.

Background: Rodents are incapable of emesis and consequently the emetic potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists in studies designed to assess a potential blood glucose lowering action of the compound was missed. Therefore, we investigated if the ferret, a carnivore with demonstrated translation capability in emesis research, would identify the emetic potential of the GLP-1R agonist, exendin-4, and any associated effects on gastric motor function, appetite and cardiovascular homeostasis. Methods: The biological activity of the GLP-1R ligands was investigated in vivo using a glucose tolerance test in pentobarbitone-anesthetised ferrets and in vitro using organ bath studies. Radiotelemetry was used to investigate the effect of exendin-4 on gastric myoelectric activity (GMA) and cardiovascular function in conscious ferrets; behaviour was also simultaneously assessed. Western blot was used to characterize GLP-1R distribution in the gastrointestinal and brain tissues. Results: In anesthetised ferrets, exendin-4 (30 nmol/kg, s.c.) reduced experimentally elevated blood glucose levels by 36.3%, whereas the GLP-1R antagonist, exendin (9–39) (300 nmol/kg, s.c.) antagonised the effect and increased AUC0–120 by 31.0% when injected alone (P < 0.05). In animals with radiotelemetry devices, exendin-4 (100 nmol/kg, s.c.) induced emesis in 1/9 ferrets, but inhibited food intake and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) in all animals (P < 0.05). In the animals not exhibiting emesis, there was no effect on GMA, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, or core body temperature. In the ferret exhibiting emesis, there was a shift in the GMA towards bradygastria with a decrease in power, and a concomitant decrease in HRV. Western blot revealed GLP-1R throughout the gastrointestinal tract but exendin-4 (up to 300 nM) and exendin (9–39), failed to contract or relax isolated ferret gut tissues. GLP-1R were found in all major brain regions and the levels were comparable those in the vagus nerve. Conclusions: Peripherally administered exendin-4 reduced blood glucose and inhibited feeding with a low emetic potential similar to that in humans (11% vs 12.8%). A disrupted GMA only occurred in the animal exhibiting emesis raising the possibility that disruption of the GMA may influence the probability of emesis occurring in response to treatment with GLP-1R agonists

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

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