Optimal Power Dispatch in a Microgrid

This paper is concerned with the power dispatch in a microgrid. The dispatch problem is formulated as linear program. Thus, the proposed solution is the application of neural network that solves linear programming on-line. This proposal in motivated by the increasing electric energy demand and the rising need to incorporate sustainable energy sources to the power grid in a reliable scheme. A microgrid is an interconnection of distributed energy sources (DES), with the tendency to include renewable energies that offer many advantages to customers and utilities. The different DES that compose the microgrid are controlled independently to track the optimal reference provided by the proposed method in order to supply a demanded power output minimizing the consumed power from the main grid.ITESO, A.C.CINVESTAV-IP

The Hoopoe's Uropygial Gland Hosts a Bacterial Community Influenced by the Living Conditions of the Bird

Molecular methods have revealed that symbiotic systems involving bacteria are mostly based on whole bacterial communities. Bacterial diversity in hoopoe uropygial gland secretion is known to be mainly composed of certain strains of enterococci, but this conclusion is based solely on culture-dependent techniques. This study, by using culture-independent techniques (based on the 16S rDNA and the ribosomal intergenic spacer region) shows that the bacterial community in the uropygial gland secretion is more complex than previously thought and its composition is affected by the living conditions of the bird. Besides the known enterococci, the uropygial gland hosts other facultative anaerobic species and several obligated anaerobic species (mostly clostridia). The bacterial assemblage of this community was largely invariable among study individuals, although differences were detected between captive and wild female hoopoes, with some strains showing significantly higher prevalence in wild birds. These results alter previous views on the hoopoe-bacteria symbiosis and open a new window to further explore this system, delving into the possible sources of symbiotic bacteria (e.g. nest environments, digestive tract, winter quarters) or the possible functions of different bacterial groups in different contexts of parasitism or predation of their hoopoe host.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (projects CGL2005-06975/BOSFEDER; CGL2007-61251/BOSFEDER), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (projects CGL2009-14006/BOSFEDER; CGL2010-19233-C03-01/BOSFEDER; CGL2010-19233-C03-03/BOSFEDER), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (projects CGL2013-48193-C3-1-P/BOSFEDER; CGL2013-48193-C3-2-P/BOSFEDER), and the Junta de Andalucía (RNM 345, P09-RNM-4557). SMRR received a grant from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FPI program, BES-2011-047677)

Trends in hypertension control among the older population of Spain from 2000 to 2001 to 2008 to 2010: Role of frequency and intensity of drug treatment

This is the prepint version of the following article: Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 8.1 (2015) , which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001191Background—The use of antihypertensive medication and hypertension control has significantly increased during recent decades in some developed countries, but the impact of improved drug treatment on blood pressure (BP) control in the population is unknown. Methods and Results—Data were taken from 2 surveys representative of the population aged ≥60 years in Spain conducted with the same methodology in 2000 to 2001 and in 2008 to 2010. BP was measured 6×. The first BP reading was discarded, and the average of the remaining 3 to 5 BP readings was taken for analysis. Hypertension prevalence was 68.7% in 2000 to 2001 and 66.0% in 2008 to 2010. Between both time periods there was an improvement in hypertension awareness (63.6%–67.7%), drug treatment among those aware (84.5%–87.5%), and BP control among treated hypertensives (30.3%–42.9%). Overall, BP control among all hypertensives increased from 16.3% to 25.4%. After adjustment for age, sex, education, hypertension duration, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, sedentary behavior, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and visits to the physician through logistic regression, ≈7% of the improvement in BP control among all hypertensives was explained by higher hypertension awareness, and 36.2% was explained by a higher treatment rate. Among the treated hypertensives, 22.6% of the progress in BP control was because of the increase in the number of BP medications used in each patient. Conclusions—BP control among the older hypertensive population in Spain has improved from 2000 to 2001 to 2008 to 2010 because of a higher treatment rate and more intense antihypertensive drug treatmentThis work has been supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) grant PI13/02321 (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain) and “Cátedra Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) de Epidemiología y Control del Riesgo Cardiovascular”, Madrid, Spain

Impact of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on reclassification of hypertension prevalence and control in older people in Spain

This is the submitted version of the following article: Impact of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on reclassification of hypertension prevalence and control in older people in Spain, Journal of Clinical Hypertension 17.6:453-61 which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jch.12525. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Wiley Self-Archiving Policy wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id- 820227.htmlAmbulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) accurately classifies blood pressure (BP) status but its impact on the prevalence and control of hypertension is little known. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in 2012 among 1047 individuals 60 years and older from the follow-up of a population cohort in Spain. Three casual BP measurements and 24-hour ABPM were performed under standardized conditions. Approximately 68.8% patients were hypertensive based on casual BP (≥140/90 mm Hg or current BP medication use) and 62.1% based on 24-hour ABPM (≥130/80 mm Hg or current BP medication use) (P=.009). The proportion of patients with treatment-eligible hypertension who met BP goals increased from 37.4% based on the casual BP target to 54.1% based on the 24-hour BP target (absolute difference, 16.7%; P<.01). These results were consistent across alternative BP thresholds. Therefore, compared with casual BP, 24-hour ABPM led to a reduction in the proportion of older patients recommended for hypertension treatment and a substantial increase in the proportion of those with hypertension controlData collection was funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) grants 09/1626 and 12/1166 (Ministry of Health of Spain) and by the ‘Cátedra UAM de Epidemiología y Control del Riesgo Cardiovascular’. Specific funding for this analysis was obtained from FIS grant PI13/02321

MODASC: ASIC for mobile data acquisition systems using satellite communications

MODASC is an ASIC that performs wide area mobile data acquisition using satellite communication to provide global coverage. This circuit provides two operation modes: an autonomous mode, that periodically establishes connection with the control center, and a slave mode, working as a peripheral connected to a general purpose micro controller. This experiment has been realized under FUSE special action in collaboration with SAINSEL

Social support and ambulatory blood pressure in older people

This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Journal of Hypertension 34.10 (2016): 2045-2052. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001036Objective: Social support has been associated with greater nocturnal decline (dipping) in blood pressure (BP) in younger and middle-Aged individuals. However, it is uncertain if aggregated measures of social support are related to ambulatory SBP in older adults, where high SBP is frequent and clinically challenging. Methods: We studied 1047 community-living individuals aged at least 60 years in Spain. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP was determined under standardized conditions. Social support was assessed with a seven-item questionnaire on marital status, cohabitation, frequency of contact with relatives, or with friends and neighbors, emotional support, instrumental support, and outdoor companionship. A social support score was built by summing the values of the items that were significantly associated with SBP variables, such that the higher the score, the better the support. Results: Participants' mean age was 71.7 years (50.8% men). Being married, cohabiting, and being accompanied when out of home were the support items significantly associated with SBP variables. After adjustment for sociodemographic (age, sex, education), behavioral (BMI, alcohol, tobacco, salt consumption, physical activity, Mediterranean diet score), and clinical variables [sleep quality, mental stress, comorbidity, BP medication, and ambulatory BP levels and heart rate (HR)], one additional point in the social support score built with the abovementioned three support variables, was associated with a decrease of 0.93mmHg in night-Time SBP (P=0.039), totaling 2.8mmHg decrease for a score of 3 vs. 0. The three-item social support score was also inversely associated with the night/day SBP ratio (β=-0.006, P=0.010). Conclusion: In older adults, social support is independently associated with lower nocturnal SBP and greater SBP dipping. Further research is needed in prospective studies to confirm these resultsData collection was funded by Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS) grants 09/1626 and 12/1166 (Ministry of Health of Spain and FEDER/FSE) and by the Catedra UAM de Epidemiologia y Control del Riesgo Cardiovascular. Specific funding for this analysis was obtained from FIS grant PI13/0232

Efectividad del clorhidrato de zilpaterol en la finalización de corderos: Patente vs. Genérico

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of the patent vs. generic sources of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on the productive performance, carcass characteristics, primary cut yields, and meat quality of lambs finished in feedlot. Thirty (30) Dorper×Pelibuey male lambs were distributed into 10 blocks, each with three lambs of similar initial live weight which were randomly assigned to the following treatments: 1) without ZH (control), 2) with patent ZH (PZH), and 3) with generic ZH (GZH). Treatment means were compared through two orthogonal contrasts: control vs. ZH (PZH+GZH) and PZH vs. GZH. ZH did not affect (P≥0.15) the productive performance, carcass weight, backfat thickness, or fat percentages (kidney-pelvic-heart, mesenteric or omental), but increased (P≤0.05) Longissimus dorsi muscle area and yields of carcass, shoulder, leg, and plain loin. As for the meat quality, ZH did not affect (P≥0.24) pH and shear force, but reduced (P<0.05) redness, yellowness, and chroma color values at 24 h post mortem, as well as the redness value (P<0.01) at 14 days of aging. With exception of carcass yield which tended (P=0.07) to increase with PZH, all measured variables were similar (P³0.14) between PZH and GZH. It has been concluded that both types of ZH at a dose of 0.10 mg per kg of live weight promote muscular hypertrophy in finishing lambs; however, this dosage is not sufficient to result in a better productive performance or carcass weight.El objetivo del estudio fue comparar el efecto de la fuente del clorhidrato de zilpaterol (CZ;  patente vs genérico) sobre el comportamiento productivo, características de la canal, rendimientos de cortes primarios y calidad de la carne de corderos finalizados en corral. Se distribuyeron 30 corderos Dorper ×Pelibuey en 10 bloques donde cada bloque tenía tres corderos de similar peso vivo inicial, los cuales se asignaron aleatoriamente a los siguientes tratamientos: 1) sin CZ (testigo), 2) con CZ de patente (CZP), y 3) con CZ genérico (CZG). Las medias de tratamientos se compararon a través de dos contrastes ortogonales: testigo vs. CZ (CZP+CZG) y CZP vs. CZG. El CZ no afectó (P≥0.15) el comportamiento productivo, peso de la canal, espesor de grasa dorsal, ni los porcentajes de grasa (riñón-corazón-pelvis, mesentérica u omental), pero aumentó (P≤0.05) el área del músculo Longissimus dorsi y los rendimientos de canal, paleta, pierna y lomo plano. En calidad de la carne, el CZ no afectó (P≥0.24) el pH y esfuerzo al corte, pero redujo (P<0.05) los valores de color rojizo, amarillento y chroma a las 24 h post mortem, y también los valores de rojizo (P<0.01) a los 14 días de maduración. Con excepción del rendimiento en canal que tendió (P=0.07) a ser mayor con CZP, todas las variables medidas fueron similares (P³0.14) entre CZP y CZG. Se concluye que ambos tipos de CZ a una dosis de 0.10 mg/kg de peso vivo promueven hipertrofia muscular en corderos de finalización, pero no es suficiente para reflejarse en mejor comportamiento productivo y peso de la canal

Efecto del lactosuero fresco y enriquecido sobre la ganancia de peso y fermentación ruminal en becerras Jersey criadas artificialmente

In artificial calf rearing it is necessary to replace milk to reduce feed costs. Therefore, the objective of the work was to evaluate the use of fresh and enriched whey as a substitute for whole milk in the artificial rearing system of Jersey calves. Twenty-four calves weighing 31 ± 2.8 kg were used, divided into three treatments: T1) whole milk + concentrate + grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis), T2) enriched fresh whey + concentrate + grass and T3) fresh whey + concentrate + grass. Daily weight gain, concentrate consumption, ruminal fermentation parameters and in vitro degradation of the pasture were evaluated. A completely randomized design was used. Weight gain was similar for T1 and T2 (0.840 and 0.780 kg; P&lt;0.05). While the consumption of concentrate was similar for all treatments. The maximum volume (Vm: T1: 174.36, T2: 196.30 and T3: 200.46 mL / g of MS; P&gt;0.05) and lag phase (L: T1: 1.36; T2: 1.22 and T3: 0.68 h; P&gt;0.05) of the pasture was similar between the evaluated treatments. At 30 days, the greatest degradation was found in T1. However, at 90 days no differences were found. It is concluded that the use of enriched fresh whey is viable to replace milk in artificial rearing of Jersey calves.En la crianza artificial de becerras es necesario reemplazar la leche para disminuir los costos de alimentación. Por ello, el objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el uso de lactosuero fresco y enriquecido como sustituto de la leche entera en el sistema de crianza artificial de becerras Jersey. Se utilizaron 24 becerras de 31 ± 2,8 kg de peso, repartidas en tres tratamientos: T1) leche entera + concentrado + pasto (Cynodon nlemfuensis), T2) lactosuero fresco enriquecido + concentrado + pasto y T3) lactosuero fresco + concentrado + pasto. Se evaluó ganancia diaria de peso, consumo de concentrado, parámetros de fermentación ruminal y degradación in vitro del pasto. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar. La ganancia de peso fue similar para T1 y T2 (0,840 kg y 0,780 kg; p &lt; 0,05), mientras que el consumo de concentrado fue similar para todos los tratamientos. El volumen máximo (VM: T1: 174,36 mL/g de MS, T2: 196,30 mL/g de MS y T3: 200,46 mL/g de MS; p &gt; 0,05) y fase lag (L: T1: 1,36 h; T2: 1,22 h y T3: 0,68 h; p &gt; 0,05) del pasto fue similar entre los tratamientos evaluados. A los 30 días, la mayor degradación se encontró en T1; sin embargo, a los 90 días no se encontraron diferencias. Se concluye que el uso del lactosuero fresco enriquecido es viable para reemplazar la leche en la crianza artificial de becerras Jersey

Urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies the risk of renal damage posed by subclinical tubular alterations

Nephrotoxicity is an important limitation to the clinical use of many drugs and contrast media. Drug nephrotoxicity occurs in acute, subacute and chronic manifestations ranging from glomerular, tubular, vascular and immunological phenotypes to acute kidney injury. Pre-emptive risk assessment of drug nephrotoxicity poses an urgent need of precision medicine to optimize pharmacological therapies and interventional procedures involving nephrotoxic products in a preventive and personalized manner. Biomarkers of risk have been identified in animal models, and risk scores have been proposed, whose clinical use is abated by their reduced applicability to specific etiological models or clinical circumstances. However, our present data suggest that the urinary level of transferrin may be indicative of risk of renal damage, where risk is induced by subclinical tubular alterations regardless of etiology. In fact, urinary transferrin pre-emptively correlates with the subsequent renal damage in animal models in which risk has been induced by drugs and toxins affecting the renal tubules (i.e. cisplatin, gentamicin and uranyl nitrate); whereas transferrin shows no relation with the risk posed by a drug affecting renal hemodynamics (i.e. cyclosporine A). Our experiments also show that transferrin increases in the urine in the risk state (i.e. prior to the damage) precisely as a consequence of reduced tubular reabsorption. Finally, urinary transferrin pre-emptively identifies subpopulations of oncological and cardiac patients at risk of nephrotoxicity. In perspective, urinary transferrin might be further explored as a wider biomarker of an important mechanism of predisposition to renal damage induced by insults causing subclinical tubular alterations.Research from the authors’ laboratory supporting part of the information incorporated into this article was funded by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI14/01776, DT15S/00166, PI15/01055 and PI17/01979, and Retic RD016/0009/0025, REDINREN), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (IPT-2012-0779-010000), Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Sanidad, BIO/SA20/14, BIO/SA66/15; and Consejería de Educación, SA359U14), and FEDER funds

Constraining scalar fields with stellar kinematics and collisional dark matter

The existence and detection of scalar fields could provide solutions to long-standing puzzles about the nature of dark matter, the dark compact objects at the centre of most galaxies, and other phenomena. Yet, self-interacting scalar fields are very poorly constrained by astronomical observations, leading to great uncertainties in estimates of the mass $m_\phi$ and the self-interacting coupling constant $\lambda$ of these fields. To counter this, we have systematically employed available astronomical observations to develop new constraints, considerably restricting this parameter space. In particular, by exploiting precise observations of stellar dynamics at the centre of our Galaxy and assuming that these dynamics can be explained by a single boson star, we determine an upper limit for the boson star compactness and impose significant limits on the values of the properties of possible scalar fields. Requiring the scalar field particle to follow a collisional dark matter model further narrows these constraints. Most importantly, we find that if a scalar dark matter particle does exist, then it cannot account for both the dark-matter halos and the existence of dark compact objects in galactic nucleiComment: 23 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication by JCAP after minor change