Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort

Probabilistic Optimization of MV Distribution Network in Presence of Distributed Generation

Distributed Generation is predicted to play an increasing role in the electric power system of the near future. With so much new distributed generation being installed, the level of uncertainties that characterise the planning environment increases, particularly focused on the energy production of the DG units. These uncertainties are often so relevant that traditional deterministic paradigms can easily lead to uneconomical or unreliable solutions. To overcome this problem, a probabilistic load flow has been developed, taking into account the probability density function of the loads and of the annual power production associated to each generating unit. The possible existing correlations between DG units, between generators and loads and between loads have also been considered. This procedure has been implemented inside an heuristic optimisation algorithm to find the best MV distribution network architecture that minimises the overall cost (i.e. the costs of building, maintenance, losses and disruptions). Application examples are presented to illustrate the algorithm effectiveness, and comparative results between deterministic and probabilistic approaches are also discussed

Assessment of internal contamination hazard and fast monitoring forworkers involved in maintenance operations on pet cyclotrons

With the ever-increasing number of cyclotron installations, and therefore of the maintenance personnel involved, the possibility of swift, 'yes or no' screening for internal contamination becomes a prized asset. The present work presents one such procedure, evolved from an approximate whole body counting technique in widespread use in emergency situations. A detailed analysis of possible pathways for contamination leads to pinpointing the nuclides of interest. Different calibration methods are applied, showing moderate variation among them. The minimum detectable activity of order 1000 Bq is determined. The method proves sensitive enough to exclude significant contamination, or to identify its presence instantly 'on site' to prompt further in-depth investigation

Assessment of internal contamination hazard and fast monitoring for workers involved in maintenance operations on PET cyclotrons

With the ever increasing number of cyclotron installations, and therefore of the maintenance personnel involved, the possibility of swift, “yes or no” screening for internal contamination becomes a prized asset. The present work presents one such procedure, evolved from an approximate whole body counting technique in widespread use in emergency situations. A detailed analysis of possible pathways for contamination leads to pinpointing the nuclides of interest. Different calibration methods are applied, showing moderate variation among them. An MDA of order 1000 Bq is determined. The method proves sensitive enough to exclude significant contamination, or identify its presence instantly “on site” to prompt further in depth investigation

Comparison of planning alternatives for Active Distribution Networks

A key element on the development of the future active distribution networks is to provide the network with storage devices, in order to compensate possible negative effects brought by a large integration of unpredictable generation. Software tools to aid Distributors to correctly assess the effectiveness of the use of storage as an alternative to traditional planning solutions (e.g. upgrading of the distribution lines) can be useful to planner engineers. The tool developed by the authors assists the DSO in defining the best integration strategies of distributed storage systems in distribution networks and in assessing their potential as an option for a more efficient operation and expansion of future electricity distribution networks. Examples derived by a representative distribution network are presented

Distribution network interconnection for facilitating the diffusion of Distributed Generation

The foreseen increasing diffusion of Distributed Generation (DG) in the distribution networks is giving the impetus to the study of active distribution networks. The recent EU directive 54/2003 may help to accomplish these objectives by defining DG as a planning alternative for distribution expansion problems. In the paper, considering the importance of interconnection in active networks, meshed schemes have been deeply studied both in steady state and transient condition in order to point out the effect on the integration of DG. In particular, different types of meshed distribution networks have been examined and compared to the radial scheme. Steady state simulations have been performed in order to assess the impact on the voltage profile, on the short circuit level, on the power losses, on the continuity of service, and on the exploitation of lines and transformers. Finally, the greater attention has been paid to analyse the dynamic behaviour of meshed distribution networks. In order to complete the study a mix of different DG sources - directly connected generators or with static converters - have been considered

Active Distribution Network Cost/Benefit Analysis with Multi-objective Programming

The most innovative concept in the nowadays distribution system is that Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are active subjects of the system with new business opportunities from the active management but with the responsibility to assure a proper work of the system working in coordination with DSOs. The Civil Society, the DSO and DER owner are clearly the stakeholders of the systems, that have contrasting and opposite goals; in the paper, the points of view and the needs of system stakeholders has been simulated. For this reason, Multi-Objective approach are used to capture the relationship among players in order to constitute an objective basis to define a regulatory environment with fair incentives for those distribution operators who invest in innovative distribution operatio