Unified formulation of a family of iterative solvers for power systems analysis

This paper illustrates the construction of a new class of iterative solvers for power flow calculations based on the method of Alternating Search Directions. This method is fit to the particular algebraic structure of the power flow problem resulting from the combination of a globally linear set of equations and nonlinear local relations imposed by power conversion devices, such as loads and generators. The choice of the search directions is shown to be crucial for improving the overall robustness of the solver. A noteworthy advantage is that constant search directions yield stationary methods that, in contrast with Newton or Quasi-Newton methods, do not require the evaluation of the Jacobian matrix. Such directions can be elected to enforce the convergence to the high voltage operative solution. The method is explained through an intuitive example illustrating how the proposed generalized formulation is able to include other nonlinear solvers that are classically used for power flow analysis, thus offering a unified view on the topic. Numerical experiments are performed on publicly available benchmarks for large distribution and transmission systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Bovine papillomavirus on the scene of crime: is E5 oncogene the only guilty party?

Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) induce hyperplastic and tumoral lesions not only in cows but also in other different animal species. The transforming activity of BPVs is due to its major E5 oncogene. Recent studies have highlighted the role of E5 in cancer development but very little is known about E6 and E7 oncogenes. In this letter we argue for the need of investigating E6 as well as E7 to better understand the role of these two oncogenes during carcinogenesis

Papillomavirus E5: the smallest oncoprotein with many functions

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are established agents of human and animal cancers. They infect cutaneous and mucous epithelia. High Risk (HR) Human PVs (HPVs) are consistently associated with cancer of the uterine cervix, but are also involved in the etiopathogenesis of other cancer types. The early oncoproteins of PVs: E5, E6 and E7 are known to contribute to tumour progression. While the oncogenic activities of E6 and E7 are well characterised, the role of E5 is still rather nebulous. The widespread causal association of PVs with cancer makes their study worthwhile not only in humans but also in animal model systems. The Bovine PV (BPV) system has been the most useful animal model in understanding the oncogenic potential of PVs due to the pivotal role of its E5 oncoprotein in cell transformation. This review will highlight the differences between HPV-16 E5 (16E5) and E5 from other PVs, primarily from BPV. It will discuss the targeting of E5 as a possible therapeutic agent

A spectral volume-penalisation method for thermal fluid-structure interaction in phase-separating binary systems

International audienceSpinodal decomposition of highly viscous binary mixtures near the critical composition is well described by the Cahn-Hilliard equation. In this short communication we present a model that introduces the thermal effects due to the presence of a solid structure immersed in a phase-separating mixture. The presence of solid boundaries is taken into account by means of a volume-penalisation method based on the phase-field formalism. Numerical experiments are carried out to show the influence of the temperature on the final morphology of the system

Socio-Economic Benefits from the Use of Earth Observations

This report summarizes the outcomes of the discussion of the workshop on Socioeconomic Benefit from the use of Earth Observation workshop held at JRC from 11 to 13 July 2011.JRC.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor-beta receptor and bovine papillomavirus E5 and E7 oncoproteins in equine sarcoid.

Equine sarcoids are benign fibroblastic skin tumours that are recognized throughout the world. Infection with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 has been implicated as a major factor in disease development; however, the cellular mechanisms underlying fibroblast transformation remain poorly defined. The present study further characterizes aspects of the association with BPV in 15 equine sarcoids. BPV DNA was demonstrated in 12/15 tumours collected from different areas of Italy. Nine of these 12 tumours expressed the BPV oncoproteins E5 and E7, but these oncoproteins were not expressed by normal equine cells. The BPV E5 protein is known to bind to the platelet-derived growth factor-b receptor (PDGF-bR) and this molecule was expressed by 11 of the 12 sarcoids in which E5 was demonstrated. These findings add further weight to the theory that BPV and the PDGF-bR may have a role in the pathogenesis of this disease

European Union Location Framework References - version 2

The European Union Location Framework (EULF) is a set of good practices and actions to promote more effective and efficient use of location information in e-government services across Europe. The EULF was initially developed in the ISA Programme, which supported interoperability solutions, sharing and re-use among European Public Administrations. It is now being enhanced and applied further through the European Location Interoperability Solutions for e-Government (ELISE) action in the successor ISA2 Programme. ISA² develops digital solutions that enable interoperable public services across borders and sectors for the benefit of public administrations, businesses and citizens in the EU. ISA² solutions can be used free of charge and are open source when related to IT. This document, the 'European Union Location Framework References', contains a set of inventories and links concerning the use of location information in e-government services and supplementary information related to the other EULF outputs, namely the EULF Strategic Vision, the Assessment of the Conditions for an EULF and the EULF Blueprint. It is therefore useful as an Annex to these other outputs but can be used as a self-standing reference document for anyone undertaking fact-finding or research into the use of location information in the context of e-government services. The EULF References document is updated periodically as new developments take place in the field and are added to the body of knowledge. Please contact the document owner, Francesco Pignatelli, if you discover any errors or important omissions in this document. This is a rapidly developing field, with improvements taking place in Europe and more widely on a regular basis. It is also recognised that online documents and websites change location or are removed from time to time. Therefore, your help in keeping this document as accurate as possible will be greatly appreciated.JRC.B.6 - Digital Econom

Detection of bovine papillomavirus type 2 in the peripheral blood of cattle with urinary bladder tumours: possible biological role

Bovine papillomavirus type 2 (BPV-2) infection has been associated with urinary bladder tumours in adult cattle grazing on bracken fern-infested land. In this study, we investigated the simultaneous presence of BPV-2 in whole blood and urinary bladder tumours of adult cattle in an attempt to better understand the biological role of circulating BPV-2. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 78 cattle clinically suffering from a severe chronic enzootic haematuria. Circulating BPV-2 DNA was detected in 61 of them and in two blood samples from healthy cows. Fifty of the affected animals were slaughtered at public slaughterhouses and neoplastic proliferations in the urinary bladder were detected in all of them. BPV-2 DNA was amplified and sequenced in 78% of urinary bladder tumour samples and in 38.9% of normal samples as a control. Circulating episomal BPV-2 DNA was detected in 78.2% of the blood samples. Simultaneous presence of BPV-2 DNA in neoplastic bladder and blood samples was detected in 37 animals. Specific viral E5 mRNA and E5 oncoprotein were also detected in blood by RT-PCR and Western blot/immunocytochemistry, respectively. It is likely that BPV-2 can persist and be maintained in an active status in the bloodstream, in particular in the lymphocytes, as a reservoir of viral infection that, in the presence of co-carcinogens, may cause the development of urinary bladder tumours