A new methodology called dice game optimizer for capacitor placement in distribution systems

Purpose. Shunt capacitors are installed in power system for compensating reactive power. Therefore, feeder capacity releases, voltage profile improves and power loss reduces. However, determination optimal location and size of capacitors in distributionsystems is a complex optimization problem. In order to determine the optimum size and location of the capacitor, an objective function which is generally defined based on capacitor installation costs and power losses should be minimized According to operational limitations. This paper offers a newly developed metaheuristic technique, named dice game optimizerto determine optimal size and location of capacitors in a distribution network. Dice game optimizer is a game based optimization technique that is based on the rules of the dice game.Цель. Шунтирующие конденсаторы в энергосистеме устанавливаются для компенсации реактивной мощности. Следовательно, снижается емкость фидера, улучшается профиль напряжения и снижаются потери мощности. Однако определение оптимального местоположения и размера конденсаторов в системах распределения является сложной задачей оптимизации. Чтобы определить оптимальный размер и расположение конденсатора, целевую функцию, которая обычно определяется на основе затрат на установку конденсатора и потерь мощности, следует минимизировать в соответствии с эксплуатационными ограничениями. Данная статья предлагает недавно разработанный метаэвристический метод, называемый оптимизатором игры в кости, для определения оптимального размера и расположения конденсаторов в распределительной сети. Оптимизатор игры в кости – это игровой метод оптимизации, основанный на правилах игры в кости

Pressure effects on the magnetic structure in La0.5Ca0.5-xSrxMnO3 (0.1 -< x -< 0.4) manganites

The effect of high pressure (0 - 8 GPa) on the magnetic structure of polycrystalline samples of La0.5Ca0.5-xSrxMnO3 (0.1 -< x -< 0.4) manganites at 5 K is investigated using neutron diffraction technique. Application of pressure is found to modify the previously reported magnetic structure, observed under ambient conditions, in these compounds [I. Dhiman et al., Phys. Rev. B 77, 094440 (2008)]. In x = 0.1 composition, at 4.6(2) GPa and beyond, A-type antiferromagnetic structure is found to coexist with CE-type antiferromagnetic phase, observed at ambient pressure, with TN ~ 150 K. For x = 0.3 sample, as a function of pressure the CE-type phase is fully suppressed at 2.3(1) GPa and A-type antiferromagnetic phase is favored. Further Sr doping at x = 0.4, the A-type antiferromagnetic phase is observed at ambient pressure and for T < TN (~ 250K). This phase is retained in the studied pressure range. However, the magnetic moment progressively reduces with increasing pressure, indicating the suppression of A-type antiferromagnetic phase. The present study brings out the fragile nature of the CE-type antiferromagnetic state in half doped manganites as a function of pressure and disorder \sigma 2. We observe that pressure required for destabilizing the CE-type antiferromagnetic state is reduced with increasing disorder \sigma 2. External pressure and changing A-site ionic radii have analogous effect on the magnetic structure.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, To appear in Physical Review

HLA homozygosity does not adversely affect measles vaccine-induced cytokine responses

AbstractThe association between HLA homozygosity and measles-specific Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12p40) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine responses were assessed in a group of 339 healthy schoolchildren 12–18 years of age previously immunized with two doses of live-attenuated measles virus vaccine. No associations were observed between class I HLA homozygosity and measles-specific cytokine levels. Children who were homozygous at the class II DRB1, DQA1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci had higher median IFN-γ secretion levels compared with children who were heterozygous for DRB1 (77.7 vs. 39.5 pg/ml, p=0.05), DQA1 (60.9 vs. 36.6 pg/ml, p=0.03), DPA1 (46.1 vs. 27.1 pg/ml, p=0.01) and DPB1 (61.5 vs. 36.0 pg/ml, p=0.01) loci, respectively. Homozygosity at increasing numbers of HLA loci ( >=4) was associated with increased IFN-γ secretion levels (test for trend p-value=0.01). Our results suggest that HLA homozygosity showed no disadvantage for measles-specific cytokine responses and instead was associated with increased IFN-γ levels

Astrophysical S_{17}(0) factor from a measurement of d(7Be,8B)n reaction at E_{c.m.} = 4.5 MeV

Angular distribution measurements of $^2$H($^7$Be,$^7$Be)$^2$H and $^2$H($^7$Be,$^8$B)$n$ reactions at $E_{c.m.}\sim$~4.5 MeV were performed to extract the astrophysical $S_{17}(0)$ factor using the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) method. For this purpose a pure, low emittance $^7$Be beam was separated from the primary $^7$Li beam by a recoil mass spectrometer operated in a novel mode. A beam stopper at 0$^{\circ}$ allowed the use of a higher $^7$Be beam intensity. Measurement of the elastic scattering in the entrance channel using kinematic coincidence, facilitated the determination of the optical model parameters needed for the analysis of the transfer data. The present measurement significantly reduces errors in the extracted $^7$Be(p,$\gamma$) cross section using the ANC method. We get $S_{17}$~(0)~=~20.7~$\pm$~2.4 eV~b.Comment: 15 pages including 3 eps figures, one figure removed and discussions updated. Version to appear in Physical Review

Influence of B - site Disorder in La0.5Ca0.5Mn1−xBxO3La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}Mn_{1-x}B_{x}O_{3} (B = Fe, Ru, Al and Ga) Manganites

We have investigated the influence of B - site doping on the crystal and magnetic structure in $La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}Mn_{1-x}B_{x}O_{3}$ (B= Fe, Ru, Al and Ga) compounds using neutron diffraction, SANS, magnetization and resistivity techniques. The B - site doped samples are isostructural and possess an orthorhombic structure in \textit{Pnma} space group at 300K. A structural transition from orthorhombic to monoclinic is found to precede the magnetic transition to CE - type antiferromagnetic state in few of these samples. On doping with Fe, charge and orbitally ordered CE - type antiferromagnetic state is suppressed, followed by the growth in ferromagnetic insulating phase in $0.02\leq x\leq0.06$ compounds. At higher Fe doping in $x>0.06$, the ferromagnetic state is also suppressed and no evidence of long range magnetic ordering is observed. In Ru doped samples $(0.01\leq x\leq0.05)$, the ferromagnetic metallic state is favored at $T{}_{C}\approx200K$ and $T_{MI}\approx125K$ and no significant change in $T_{C}$ and $T_{MI}$ as a function of Ru doping is found. In contrast, with non magnetic Al substitution for $0.01\leq x\leq0.03$, the charge ordered CE - type antiferromagnetic state coexists with the ferromagnetic metallic phase. With further increase in Al doping $(0.05\leq x\leq0.07)$, both CE - type antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases are gradually suppressed. This behavior is accompanied by the evolution of A - type antiferromagnetic insulating state. Eventually, at higher Al doping $(0.10\leq x\leq0.13)$, this phase is also suppressed and signature of spin glass like transition are evident in M(T). Likewise, substitution with Ga is observed to induce similar effects as described for Al doped samples. The presence of short ranged ferromagnetic ordering has been further explored using SANS measurements in few of the selected samples.Comment: To appear in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

Hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a prognostically relevant neuropsychiatric syndrome that occurs in the course of acute or chronic liver disease. Besides ascites and variceal bleeding, it is the most serious complication of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Ammonia and inflammation are major triggers for the appearance of HE, which in patients with liver cirrhosis involves pathophysiologically low-grade cerebral oedema with oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation and disturbances of oscillatory networks in the brain. Severity classification and diagnostic approaches regarding mild forms of HE are still a matter of debate. Current medical treatment predominantly involves lactulose and rifaximin following rigorous treatment of so-called known HE precipitating factors. New treatments based on an improved pathophysiological understanding are emerging

Optimization of relativistic mean field model for finite nuclei to neutron star matter

We have optimized the parameters of extended relativistic mean-field model using a selected set of global observables which includes binding energies and charge radii for nuclei along several isotopic and isotonic chains and the iso-scalar giant monopole resonance energies for the $^{90}$Zr and $^{208}$Pb nuclei. The model parameters are further constrained by the available informations on the energy per neutron for the dilute neutron matter and bounds on the equations of state of the symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter at supra-nuclear densities. Two new parameter sets BSP and IUFSU* are obtained, later one being the variant of recently proposed IUFSU parameter set. The BSP parametrization uses the contributions from the quartic order cross-coupling between $\omega$ and $\sigma$ mesons to model the high density behaviour of the equation of state instead of the $\omega$ meson self-coupling as in the case of IUFSU* or IUFSU. Our parameter sets yield appreciable improvements in the binding energy systematics and the equation of state for the dilute neutron matter. The importance of the quartic order $\omega-\sigma$ cross coupling term of the extended RMF model, as often ignored, is realized.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, Nucl. Phys. A (in press

Antigenicity and diagnostic potential of vaccine candidates in human Chagas disease

Chagas disease is the most common cause of congestive heart failure related deaths among young adults in the endemic areas of South and Central America and Mexico. Diagnosis and treatment of T. cruzi infection has remained difficult and challenging after 100 years of its identification. In >95% of human cases, T. cruzi infection remains undiagnosed until several years later when chronic evolution of progressive disease results in clinical symptoms associated with cardiac damage. Diagnosis generally depends on the measurement of T. cruzi'specific antibodies that can result in false positives. A conclusive diagnosis of T. cruzi infection thus often requires multiple serological tests, in combination with epidemiological data and clinical symptoms. In this study, we investigated the antibody response to TcG1, TcG2, and TcG4 in clinically characterized chagasic patients. These antigens were identified as vaccine candidates and shown to elicit protective immunity to T. cruzi and Chagas disease in experimental animals. Our data show the serology test developed using the TcGmix (multiplex ELISA) is a significantly better alternative to epimastigote extracts currently used in T. cruzi serodiagnosis or the trypomastigote lysate used in this study for comparison purposes.Fil: Gupta, Shivali. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department Of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Wan, Xianxu. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department Of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Zago, María Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Sellers, Valena C.. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Silva, Trevor S.. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Assiah, Dadjah. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Dhiman, Monisha. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Nuñez, Sonia. Provincia de Salta. Hospital Público de Gestion Descentralizada San Bernardo; ArgentinaFil: Petersen, John R.. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados UnidosFil: Vazquez Chagoyán, Juan C.. Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México ; MéxicoFil: Estrada Franco, Jose G.. Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México; MéxicoFil: Garg, Nisha Jain. University Of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology; Estados Unido

Celiac disease as a potential cause of idiopathic portal hypertension: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Idiopathic portal hypertension is a disorder of unknown etiology, clinically characterized by portal hypertension, splenomegaly and anemia secondary to hypersplenism.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of malaise, weight loss, abdominal swelling and lower limb edema. His paraclinical tests revealed pancytopenia, large ascites, splenomegaly and esophageal varices consistent with portal hypertension. Duodenal biopsy and serologic findings were compatible with celiac disease. His symptoms improved on a gluten-free diet, but his clinical course was further complicated with ulcerative jejunoileitis, and intestinal T-cell lymphoma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It seems that celiac disease, by an increased immune reaction in the splenoportal axis, can result in the development of idiopathic portal hypertension in susceptible affected patients.</p