A fitting procedure for probability density functions of service restoration times. Application to underground cables in medium-voltage networks

Distribution companies have the responsibility to provide a quality service to their customers, according to the existing regulation. Reliability issues, such as power outages, are registered in databases for a quantitative evaluation of this quality. This paper uses one of these historical records to make a statistical analysis of service restoration times, applied to the particular case of underground cables in medium voltage networks. An algo-rithm is proposed to fit the raw data to the probability density functions typically used in reliability analysis. The best-fitted distribution is determined in each case according to the information provided by a set of goodness-of -fit tests. Different groups are considered for the elements of the systems, concerning their functionality and voltage level. The presented procedure is applied to an electrical network with more than 350 feeders. Results have been obtained globally, showing that the observed service restoration time is lower than the estimated maximum limit in 98.00% of cases. The probability functions provided by the proposed algorithm can be used to improve the accuracy of the reliability models for the electric power system.8 página

Investigation of optical and physico-chemical properties of titanium-doped V2O5 nanofilms

In this paper, undoped and Ti-doped V2O5 thin films were fabricated and deposited onto glass substrates using a > method. Then, the effects of Ti-doping on the optical properties of the thin films were investigated. Titanium doping concentration of 0.25-0.75 at.% has been investigated. After treatment in air at different temperatures, the obtained films was characterised by various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL). It was found that the as-obtained doped films possessed thermochromic properties and optical switching characters. According to optical tests, thin linings of vanadium dioxide alloyed with Ti have optical properties that are effective for application. Because of their capacity to automatically control interior solar irradiation, lower air-conditioning energy consumption, and maintain a comfortable internal thermal climate, smart windows have drawn increased interest in recent years. The doping strategy and integrating with functional coatings can regulate the properties of obtained V2O5 films.6 página

Electrical and Thermal Behaviour of Crystalline Photovoltaic Solar Modules in Shading Conditions

The shadow effect caused by nearby objects or the lack of cleaning significantly affects the performance of photovoltaics (PV) installations. This article analyses the bypass diode electrical behaviour and the thermal response of a PV crystalline module under shading or soiling conditions. PV cells of different substrings were covered progressively to simulate the effect of shading or soiling while a programmable electronic DC load was connected to a PV module to set an operating voltage. Three different tests were made to different PV crystalline technology. The paper characterizes in real conditions the I-V curve, bypass diode current, and front and back side PV cell temperature with contact sensor and infrared (IR) thermography, respectively. The results showed that the operation voltage established in the PV module defines the electrical bypass diode current and thermal response under normal operating conditions, shading or soiling. To show the bypass diode behaviour in such conditions, I-V curves were obtained, pointing out the value of the current that flows through bypass diodes in the whole voltage range

Brain Sparing Effect on Neurodevelopment in Children with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Systematic Review.

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a pregnancy complication. Multiple studies have connected FGR to poor cognitive development, behavior disorders, and academic difficulties during childhood. Brain sparing has traditionally been defined as an adaptive phenomenon in which the brain obtains the blood flow that it needs. However, this adaptive phenomenon might not have a complete protective effect. This publication aims to systematically review the consequences of brain redistribution on neurodevelopment in children who presented with placental intrauterine growth restriction. Methods: We performed a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines. It included studies on intrauterine growth restriction or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses, which middle cerebral artery was measured, and neurodevelopment assessed during childhood. PUBMED and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant published studies. Results: Of the 526 studies reviewed, only 12 were included. Brain sparing was associated with poor cognitive function and lower scores in IQ. Cerebral redistribution was related to better executive function and better behavior at 4 years old but not at 12 years old. Conclusions: We can assume that fetal brain sparing could not be a fully protective phenomenon. We could not find clinical differences in behavioral and executive functions because the results were heterogeneous. Some cognitive abilities could be affected in FGR brain sparing fetuses

Neurodevelopment Outcome in Children with Fetal Growth Restriction at Six Years of Age: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: This study aimed to describe neurodevelopment in fetal growth restriction children at the age of six. Secondly, we tried to demonstrate influencing factors that can improve or exacerbate this development, as well as predictive factors that might select a population at risk to assist with early childhood support. Method: It was a study of 70 children affected with FGR. FGR was based on these definitions: birth weight below the 3rd percentile or birth weight below the 10th percentile with an abnormal hemodynamic Doppler study. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 6 years old by means of Batelle Development Inventory. A global development quotient under a 100 score was considered a neurodevelopment delay. All variables regarding pregnancy care, delivery episode, postpartum, neonatal care, sociodemographic issues, and the need for support in the first years were studied. Results: The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 33.14 weeks (standard deviation (SD = 4.31), with 32.9% of early-onset diagnoses. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.61 (SD = 3.21), and the cesarean rate was 64.3%. The average age of the children at the moment of the evaluation was 76.20-month-old (SD = 3.70). The mean global development quotient was 97.28 (SD = 13.97). We were able to record a 57.1% of global development delay. In the cases of cognition, only 17.1% of the children registered a delay. Motor and communication skills were the most frequently affected. We discovered that socioeconomic status was positively related to the global development quotient, as well as both gestational age at delivery and middle cerebral artery pulsatility index was positively related to the global development quotient. Conclusions: We found a higher neurodevelopment delay rate (57.1%). We could relate a higher gestational age at delivery and a higher MCA percentile with better global neurodevelopment quotientsBenítez Marín MJ, Blanco Elena JA, Marín Clavijo J, Jiménez López J, Lubián López DM, González Mesa E. Neurodevelopment Outcome in Children with Fetal Growth Restriction at Six Years of Age: A Retrospective Cohort Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(17):11043. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19171104

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A fitting procedure for probability density functions of service restoration times. Application to underground cables in medium-voltage networks

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Distribution companies have the responsibility to provide a quality service to their customers, according to the existing regulation. Reliability issues, such as power outages, are registered in databases for a quantitative evaluation of this quality. This paper uses one of these historical records to make a statistical analysis of service restoration times, applied to the particular case of underground cables in medium voltage networks. An algorithm is proposed to fit the raw data to the probability density functions typically used in reliability analysis. The best-fitted distribution is determined in each case according to the information provided by a set of goodness-of-fit tests. Different groups are considered for the elements of the systems, concerning their functionality and voltage level. The presented procedure is applied to an electrical network with more than 350 feeders. Results have been obtained globally, showing that the observed service restoration time is lower than the estimated maximum limit in 98.00% of cases. The probability functions provided by the proposed algorithm can be used to improve the accuracy of the reliability models for the electric power system

Methodology for Calculating the Damaged Surface and Its Relationship with Power Loss in Photovoltaic Modules by Electroluminescence Inspection for Corrective Maintenance

Photovoltaic panels are exposed to various external factors that can cause damage, with the formation of cracks in the photovoltaic cells being one of the most recurrent issues affecting their production capacity. Electroluminescence (EL) tests are employed to detect these cracks. In this study, a methodology developed according to the IEC TS 60904-13 standard is presented, allowing for the calculation of the percentage of type C cracks in a PV panel and subsequently estimating the associated power loss. To validate the methodology, it was applied to a polycrystalline silicon module subjected to incremental damage through multiple impacts on its rear surface. After each impact, electroluminescence images and I-V curves were obtained and used to verify power loss estimates. More accurate estimates were achieved by assessing cracks at the PV cell level rather than by substring or considering the entire module. In this context, cell-level analysis becomes indispensable, as the most damaged cell significantly influences the performance of the photovoltaic model. Subsequently, the developed methodology was applied to evaluate the conditions of four photovoltaic panels that had been in operation, exemplifying its application in maintenance tasks. The results assisted in decision making regarding whether to replace or continue using the panels

Automated Driving

This chapter introduces the main technology bricks and some related socioeconomic aspects of automated driving. Vehicles automation technology is advancing at a vertiginous pace. However, the complexity behind some highly uncertain and dynamic driving scenarios imposes the need to distinguish between the different automation levels. This chapter starts from these considerations to elaborate thereafter on the maturity of the currently used technologies—situation awareness, risk assessment, decision-making, human–machine interaction, planning, control—and their near future possibilities. The introduction of connectivity among vehicles and with the digital world brings a number of new opportunities, when combined with automation, that are introduced with the focus on cooperative automated driving. After presenting this technological panorama, different relevant projects are described with the aim to understand the differences between the existing prototypes and the upcoming products and services. In this connection, Verification and Validation is still a contention point that will need to provide solutions to open problems that are also evoked in the chapter. To finalize with a full picture, the current regulatory pathways and some ethical issues are also described.Peer reviewe