Optimal Distributed Power Generation Under Network-Load Constraints

In electrical power networks nowadays more and more customers are becoming power-producers, mainly because of the development of novel components for decentralized power generation (solar panels, small wind turbines and heat pumps). This gives rise to the question how many units of each type (solar panel, small wind turbine or central heating power units) can be inserted into any transmission line in the network, such that under given distributions on the typical production and consumption over time, the maximum loads on the lines and components will not be exceeded. In this paper, we present a linear programming model for maximizing the amount of decentralized power generation while respecting the load limitations of the network. We describe a prototype showing that for an example network the maximization problem can be solved efficiently. We also modeled the case were the power consumption and decentralized power generation are considered as stochastic variables, which is inherently more complex

Theta Phase Entrainment of Single-Cell Spiking in Rat Somatosensory Barrel Cortex and Secondary Visual Cortex Is Enhanced during Multisensory Discrimination Behavior

Phase entrainment of cells by theta oscillations is thought to globally coordinate the activity of cell assemblies across different structures, such as the hippocampus and neocortex. This coordination is likely required for optimal processing of sensory input during recognition and decision-making processes. In quadruple-area ensemble recordings from male rats engaged in a multisensory discrimination task, we investigated phase entrainment of cells by theta oscillations in areas along the corticohippocampal hierarchy: somatosensory barrel cortex (S1BF), secondary visual cortex (V2L), perirhinal cortex (PER), and dorsal hippocampus (dHC). Rats discriminated between two 3D objects presented in tactile-only, visual-only, or both tactile and visual modalities. During task engagement, S1BF, V2L, PER, and dHC LFP signals showed coherent theta-band activity. We found phase entrainment of single-cell spiking activity to locally recorded as well as hippocampal theta activity in S1BF, V2L, PER, and dHC. While phase entrainment of hippocampal spikes to local theta oscillations occurred during sustained epochs of task trials and was nonselective for behavior and modality, somatosensory and visual cortical cells were only phase entrained during stimulus presentation, mainly in their preferred modality (S1BF, tactile; V2L, visual), with subsets of cells selectively phase-entrained during cross-modal stimulus presentation (S1BF: visual; V2L: tactile). This effect could not be explained by modulations of firing rate or theta amplitude. Thus, hippocampal cells are phase entrained during prolonged epochs, while sensory and perirhinal neurons are selectively entrained during sensory stimulus presentation, providing a brief time window for coordination of activity

Uncorking the potential of wine language for young wine tourists

Effective communication with consumers underpins growth in wine knowledge that, in turn, contributes to growth in wine consumption. Indeed, tasting notes may enhance consumers’ experiences of wine. Yet wine language is full of fuzzy concepts. In this chapter, we consider the language used to talk about wine, specifically the humanlike features of wine (e.g., wine is described as honest, sexy, shy, or brooding). We demonstrate that metaphoric language is integral to the experience of wine and influences consumer behaviour. We discuss practical implications for the cellar door experience, and for effective and ethical wine communication. We conclude that metaphoric language is a pedagogical and cultural platform for engaging younger wine tourists in the cellar door experience, which is a significant revenue source for micro, small, and medium wineries

Large Ly α opacity fluctuations and low CMB τ in models of late reionization with large islands of neutral hydrogen extending to z < 5.5

High-redshift QSO spectra show large spatial fluctuations in the Ly-alpha opacity of the intergalactic medium on surprisingly large scales at z>~5.5. We present a radiative transfer simulation of cosmic reionization driven by galaxies that reproduces this large scatter and the rapid evolution of the Ly-alpha opacity distribution at 5<z<6. The simulation also reproduces the low Thomson scattering optical depth reported by the latest CMB measurement and is consistent with the observed short near-zones and strong red damping wings in the highest-redshift QSOs. It also matches the rapid disappearance of observed Ly-alpha emission by galaxies at z>~6. Reionization is complete at z=5.3 in our model, and 50% of the volume of the Universe is ionized at z=7. Agreement with the Ly-alpha forest data in such a late reionization model requires a rapid evolution of the ionizing emissivity of galaxies that peaks at z~6.8. The late end of reionization results in a large scatter in the photoionisation rate and the neutral hydrogen fraction at redshifts as low as z<~5.5 with large residual neutral 'islands' that can produce very long Gunn-Peterson troughs resembling those seen in the data

Bragg Grating Sensors in Laser-written Single Mode Polymer Waveguides

AbstractWe present a technology for integrating Bragg gratings with single mode polymer waveguides fabricated in the EpoCore/EpoClad material system. The gratings were inscribed in a photosensitive polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) coatingusing a phase mask and then transferred in the lower cladding layer using reactive ion etching maintaining compatibility withstandard waveguide fabrication technologies. Subsequently, the waveguide core was patterned on top using laser direct-write lithography of a spin-coated polymer layer. When exciting the waveguides with a broadband spectrum around 1550nm, 2 reflection peaks around 1580nm were found corresponding to the fundamental TE and TM mode in the polymer waveguide. Eventually, this technology will be used for structural health monitoring in concrete constructions or composite materials

Alteration in membrane protein band 3 associated with accelerated erythrocyte aging.

We report a human band 3 alteration that is associated with anemia as determined by a reticulocyte count of 20%. Erythrocyte defects included increased IgG binding, increased breakdown products of band 3, and altered anion- and glucose-transport activity in middle-aged cells. These changes were observed during normal erythrocyte aging in situ. Binding of ankyrin to band 3 was normal. Serum/cell crossover studies indicated that a neoantigen appears on the propositus' erythrocytes to which IgG from both propositus and control serum binds as measured with a protein A binding assay. IgG eluted from the propositus' erythrocytes appeared to have a specificity for senescent cell antigen as determined by a phagocytosis inhibition assay. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that antibodies to band 3, which do not normally bind to intact erythrocytes, bound to the propositus' erythrocytes. Antibody 980 binds to normal old cells but not young or middle-aged cells. It also binds to a distinct region of band 3 in immunoblots of membranes from the propositus' middle-aged cells. Cells from both of the propositus' parents exhibited increased IgG binding and altered anion and glucose transport. The results of these studies suggest that (i) band 3 is aging prematurely in erythrocytes from the propositus, (ii) senescent cell antigen appears on the propositus' middle-aged red cells, and (iii) band 3 alterations observed in the propositus may have a genetic component