Impedance-based analysis of harmonic resonances in HVDC connected offshore wind power plants

During the last years, the installation and planning of offshore wind farms using HVDC-links to transmit power onshore has increased. After the first HVDC connected offshore wind power plant of this type had been commissioned, the electrical harmonic resonance at the offshore AC grid was observed. The phenomenon leads to unwanted outages on both wind turbines and the HVDC transmission system. This paper aims to present the harmonic resonances in power-electronics dominated grids such as HVDC connected wind power plants. The study focuses on harmonic frequencies identification which are excited through the resonance phenomena between the elements of the offshore AC network including power converters. The paper presents a comparison of three different methodologies existing in the literature for harmonic resonance analysis including stability analysis. Moreover, we analyse the impact of the different power converter models application. The models and methods are validated in different test cases in order to determine the relationship of such resonances with respect to the grid topology.Postprint (author's final draft

Standardization of hake LPUE series of the Galician set-longline fleet in Subarea VII

WGHMM (now WGBIE) identified a problem in the assessment of northern hake in relation to the scarce information on the abundance of large fish. 2004 WKSOUTH tested the inclusion in SS3 of Galician LPUEs from set-longline fleet targeting hake in ICES Subarea VII. This metier catches mainly adults. However, during WGBIE 2014, a serious inconsistency was detected when updating this LPUE time series, related to the assumption of the average fishing days by trip employed along the time series. The current working document provides the revision of this LPUE series by applying the actual number of fishing days by trip recorded in logbooks, which has varied greatly in the final part of the time series. The revised LPUE indices obtained were then tested in the assessment of northern hake stock. The difference in results between the assessments without LLPUE and the assessment which includes the new LPUE series were minor. In the initial part of the time series the LPUE matched the abundance closely but in the last period the increase in the LLPUE was much lower than the increase in the stock abundance

Electrical grid risk assessment against flooding in Barcelona and Bristol cities

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events and, consequently, flooding in urban and peri-urban areas. The electrical grid is exposed to an increase in fault probability because its infrastructure was designed considering historical frequencies of extreme events occurred in the past. In this respect, to ensure future energy plans and securing services is of great relevance to determine and evaluate the new zones that may be under risk and its relation to critical infrastructures for such extreme events. In this regard, the electrical distribution system is one of the key critical infrastructures since it feeds the others and with the future plans of zero-emissions (leading to the electrification of transport, buildings, renewable energies, etc.) will become even more important in the short term. In this paper, a novel methodology has been developed, able to analyze flood hazard maps quantifying the probability of failure risk of the electrical assets and their potential impacts using a probabilistic approach. Furthermore, a process to monetize the consequences of the yielded risk was established. The whole method developed was applied to the Barcelona and Bristol case study cities. In this way, two different examples of application have been undertaken by using slightly different inputs. Two main inputs were required: (1) the development of accurate GIS hazard flooding models; and (2) the location of the electrical assets (i.e., Distribution Centers (DCs)). To assess and monetize the flood risk to DCs, a variety of variables and tools were required such as water depths (i.e., flood maps), DCs’ areas of influence, fragility curves, and damage curves. The analysis was performed for different return periods under different scenarios, current (Baseline) and future (Business As Usual (BAU)) rainfall conditions. The number of DCs affected was quantified and classified into different categories of risk, where up to 363 were affected in Barcelona and 623 in Bristol. Their risk monetization resulted in maximums of 815,700 € in Barcelona and 643,500 € in Bristol. Finally, the percentage of risk increases when considering future rainfall conditions (i.e., BAU) when calculated, resulting in a 2.38% increase in Barcelona and 3.37% increase in Bristol, which in monetary terms would be an average of a 22% increase.This research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (RESCCUE project), grant number 700174. The authors want to acknowledge to the RESCCUE project where this research is framed. Also, to all the organizations that transferred the necessary data to carry out this study, in special, Western Power Distribution in UK and Endesa in Spain for the electrical data, Aquatec in Spain and Bristol City Council in UK for the flooding models and to the Bristol and Barcelona city councils for developing the Open Data Portals from where basic data was taken.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Factors influencing the progression of primary angular closure following Laser peripheral iridotomy

Introducción: los efectos de la iridotomía periférica láser están demostrados, sin embargo, no siempre logra controlar la presión intraocular ni la progresión de la enfermedad por cierre angular primario.Objetivo: analizar los factores que influyen en la progresión de la enfermedad por cierre angular primario de pacientes pinareños tratados con iridotomía periférica láser.Método: se realizó un estudio analítico de cohorte retrospectivo en el servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital General Docente Abel Santamaría, de Pinar del Río, durante el año 2019. El universo estuvo constituido por pacientes con diagnóstico de enfermedad por cierre angular primario tratados con iridotomía periférica láser. La muestra final quedó integrada por 223 ojos de 123 pacientes. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa SPSS.Resultados: el 20,6 % de la muestra experimentó progresión de la enfermedad, lo que se relacionó de forma significativa con la forma clínica (p<0,001), la edad (p=0,012), la amplitud de la cámara anterior (p<0,001), el cierre angular residual (p<0,001), la presión intraocular (p<0,001) y la medicación hipotensora (p<0,001). No arrojó diferencias significativas el sexo (p=0,427), el color de la piel (p=0,741) y la longitud axial (p=0,549).Conclusión: los factores que influyen en la progresión de la enfermedad por cierre angular primario de los pacientes pinareños tratados con iridotomía periférica láser estudiados fueron la forma clínica, menor amplitud de la cámara anterior, presencia de cierre angular residual y presión intraocular superior a 18 mmHg con uso de mayor número de colirios hipotensores oculares.ABSTRACTIntroduction: the effects of Laser peripheral iridotomy have been demonstrated; however it does not always manage to control intraocular pressure or the progression of the disease by primary angular closure.Objective: to analyze the factors influencing the disease progression by primary angular closure in Pinar del Rio patients treated with Laser peripheral iridotomy.Methods: a retrospective analytical cohort study was carried out in the Ophthalmology Service at Abel Santamaria Cuadrado General Teaching Hospital in Pinar del Río, during 2019. The target group comprised the patients diagnosed with primary angular closure disease treated with Laser peripheral iridotomy and the final sample consisted of 223 eyes from 123 patients. The statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS program.Results: of the sample (20.6%) experienced disease progression, which was significantly related to the clinical form (p<0.001), age (p=0.012), anterior chamber amplitude (p<0.001), residual angular closure (p<0.001), intraocular pressure (p<0.001) and hypotensive medication (p<0.001). Sex (p=0.427), skin color (p=0.741) and axial length (p=0.549) did not show significant differences.Conclusions: factors influencing on the progression of the disease by primary angular closure in Pinar del Rio patients who were treated with Laser peripheral iridotomy were: the clinical form, lower anterior chamber amplitude, presence of residual angular closure and intraocular pressure higher than 18 mmHg with the use of more ocular hypotensive eye drops.

Comparative Study of Semen Parameters and Hormone Profile in Small-Spotted Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula): Aquarium-Housed vs. Wild-Captured

[EN] Comprehensive knowledge of chondrichthyan reproductive biology is crucial for the development of reproductive technologies. For that reason, a male reproductive evaluation was performed on the basis of a comparison of samples collected from wild-captured and aquarium-housed small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula). Semen quality, sperm morphometry, and reproductive hormones were assessed. The results demonstrate good in vitro semen quality in aquarium-housed sharks, although there was lower plasma testosterone. Several chondrichthyan species are threatened, and we must increase our knowledge of their reproductive biology in order to establish assisted reproductive protocols for ex situ or in situ endangered species. The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is one of the most abundant shark species of the Mediterranean coast and is easy to maintain in aquaria; therefore, it is considered an ideal reproductive model. This study aimed to compare S. canicula male reproductive function in aquarium-housed (n = 7) and wild-captured animals, recently dead (n = 17). Aquarium-housed animals had lower semen volume (p = 0.005) and total sperm number (p = 0.006) than wild-captured animals, but similar sperm concentrations. In terms of sperm parameters, aquarium-housed sharks showed higher total sperm motility (p = 0.004), but no differences were observed regarding sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, or membrane integrity. A morphometric study pointed to a significantly longer head (p = 0.005) and acrosome (p = 0.001) in wild-captured animals. The results of the spermatozoa morphological study of S. canicula were consistent with previous results obtained in other chondrichthyan species. With regard to sex hormones, testosterone levels were significantly lower in aquarium-housed animals (p & LE; 0.001), while similar levels of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone were found. In short, the present study provides evidence of good in vitro semen quality in S. canicula housed in an aquarium, underlining their excellent potential for application in reproductive technologies for this and other chondrichthyan species.Muñoz-Baquero, M.; Marco-Jiménez, F.; Garcia-Domínguez, X.; Ros-Santaella, JL.; Pintus, E.; Jiménez-Movilla, M.; García-Párraga, D.... (2021). Comparative Study of Semen Parameters and Hormone Profile in Small-Spotted Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula): Aquarium-Housed vs. Wild-Captured. Animals. 11(10):1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102884114111

Respuesta fisiológica y química de clones de Ulmus minor susceptibles y resistentes a la grafiosis tras la inoculación con Ophiostoma novo-ulmi

Los motivos por los que algunos genotipos de Ulmus minor Mill. resisten más que otros a la infección con el hongo patógeno Ophiostoma novo-ulmi son aun desconocida. Con el objetivo de evaluar si la resis- tencia a la enfermedad de la grafiosis está relacionada con la posesión de ciertos rasgos fisiológicos o quí- micos, se compararon clones de U. minor resistentes y susceptibles a la grafiosis, antes y después de la ino- culación con O. novo-ulmi . Se midieron el potencial hídrico, las tasas de respiración y fotosíntesis foliar, y la conductividad hidráulica de ramas terminales y su composición química mediante espectroscopía de infrarrojo (FT-IR). La inoculación con el hongo produjo un aumento en la proporción de vasos emboliza- dos, de modo que a los 21 días la conductividad hidráulica era solo un 20% de la conductividad máxima en los clones susceptibles. Como consecuencia, el potencial hídrico y la fotosíntesis disminuyeron entor- no a un 100-200% en relación a los controles en los clones susceptibles mientras que no hubo reducciones significativas en los resistentes. Además, los clones mostraron una composición química de sus ramas di- ferente. Por ejemplo, en los árboles inoculados con agua utilizados como control, el pico de absorción en la región del espectro infrarrojo relacionado con la suberina fue más alto en los clones resistentes que en los susceptibles.Estos resultados sugieren que el perfil químico más defensivo de los clones resistentes les permite mantener la funcionalidad fisiológica tras la inoculación con O. novo-ulmi prácticamente inalterada, en comparación con los clones más susceptibles

Consideraciones quirúrgicas de la facoemulsificación del cristalino en pacientes con cierre angular primario

Introducción: la cirugía del cristalino se considera uno de los métodos quirúrgicos más seguros a nivel mundial.Objetivo: describir las consideraciones quirúrgicas a tener en cuenta para lograr el éxito de la facoemulsificación del cristalino en pacientes con cierre angular primario en el Hospital General Docente “Abel Santamaría Cuadrado” de Pinar del Río.Métodos: se realizó una búsqueda de los principales artículos científicos de los últimos años, así como de la literatura impresa que incluye el tema, siendo seleccionados los contenidos más relevantes para la confección del informe final.Desarrollo: la extracción del cristalino constituye un reto quirúrgico en pacientes con cierre angular primario por las peculiaridades anatómicas, variaciones de la presión intraocular y alteraciones del segmento anterior asociadas.Conclusiones: un detallado examen preoperatorio, una adecuada técnica quirúrgica realizada por un cirujano hábil puede reducir el índice de complicaciones y lograr total éxito

Vascular and cognitive effects of cocoa-rich chocolate in postmenopausal women: a study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Introduction The intake of polyphenols has certain health benefits. This study will aim to assess the effect of adding a daily amount of chocolate high in cocoa content and polyphenols to the normal diet on blood pressure, vascular function, cognitive performance, quality of life and body composition in postmenopausal women. Methods and analysis Here we plan a randomised clinical trial with two parallel groups involving a total of 140 women between 50 and 64 years in the postmenopausal period, defined by amenorrhoea of at least 12 consecutive months. The main variable will be the change in blood pressure. Secondary variables will be changes in vascular function, quality of life, cognitive performance and body composition. The intervention group will be given chocolate containing 99% cocoa, with instructions to add 10 g daily to their normal diet for 6 months. The daily nutritional contribution of this amount of chocolate is 59 kcal and 65.4 mg of polyphenols. There will be no intervention in the control group. All variables will be measured at the baseline visit and 3 and 6 months after randomisation, except cognitive performance and quality of life, which will only be assessed at baseline and at 6 months. Recruitment is scheduled to begin on 1 June 2018, and the study will continue until 31 May 2019. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Health Area of Salamanca, Spain (‘CREC of Health Area of Salamanca’), in February 2018. A SPIRIT checklist is available for this protocol. The clinical trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials. gov provided by the US National Library of Medicine, number NCT03492983. The results will be disseminated through open access peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, broadcast media and a presentation to stakeholders.Gerencia Regional de Castilla y León (GRS 1583/B/1

Prospective study of diagnostic accuracy in the detection of high-grade prostate cancer in biopsy-naïve patients with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer who underwent the Select MDx test

[Objectives] This study aimed to externally validate the diagnostic accuracy of the Select MDx test for Significant prostate cancer (Sig PCa) (ISUP > 1), in a contemporaneous, prospective, multicenter cohort with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) between 3 and 10 ng/ml and a non-suspicious digital rectal examination.[Methods and Participants] For all enrolled patients, the Select Mdx test, the risk calculator ERSPC3 + DRE, and a prostatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were carried out. Subsequently, a systematic 12-core trans-rectal biopsy and a targeted biopsy, in the case of a prostate imaging–reporting and data system (PIRADS) > 2 lesion (max three lesions), were performed. To assess the accuracy of the Select MDx test in the detection of clinically Sig PCa, the test sensitivity was evaluated. Secondary objectives were specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and area under the curve (AUC). A direct comparison with the ERSPC + DRE risk calculator and MRI were also performed. We also studied the predictive ability to diagnose Sig PCa from the combination of the Select MDx test with MRI using clinical decision-curve analysis.[Results] There were 163 patients enrolled after meeting the inclusion criteria and study protocol. The Select MDx test showed a sensitivity of 76.9% (95% CI, 63.2–87.5), 49.6% specificity (95% CI, 39.9–59.2), 82.09% (95% CI, 70.8–90.4) NPV, and 41.67% (95% CI, 31.7–52.2) PPV for the diagnosis of Sig PCa. COR analysis was also performed, which showed an AUC of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56–0.71). There were no differences in the accuracy of Select MDx, ERSPC + DRE, or MRI. The combination of Select MDX + MRI showed the highest impact in the decision-curve analysis, with an NPV of 93%.[Conclusion] Our study showed a worse performance for the SelectMdx test than previously reported, within a cohort of patients with a PSA 3–10 ng/ml and a normal DRE, with results similar to those from ERSPC + DRE RC and MRI, but with an improvement in the usual PSA pathway. A combination of the Select Mdx test and MRI could improve accuracy, but studies specifically evaluating this scenario with a cost-effective analysis are needed.This study received grant support from Ferrer to support the test performance, research meetings, and Central Registration Depository and CRO monitoring of the information platform for multicenter studies (AEU-PIEM/2018/0004).Peer reviewe

Influence of dietary fiber upon in vitro microbial cecal fermentation in mexican hairless and mexican cuino pigs

The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the in vitro cecal fermentation (by the gas production technique), in Mexican hairless pig (MHP) and Mexican cuino pig (MCP), adding cellulose or starch as substrates (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/g DM). 12 pigs were slaughtered (BW= 104±0.5 kg), six of each genotype were collected from the cecal contents and there was a pool for every two pigs in each genotype, and thereafter, for each substrate (cellulose or starch) in its different concentration, three flasks were incubated with inoculum for each pool and made three series of incubation. The experimental design use the effect of genotype, substrate and concentration of the substrate added on the variables of in vitro fermentation. The averages of the data were compared by Tukey's method. In vitro gas production was higher (P<0.05) (mL/g DM) for MHP (206.8) vs MCP (180.2). The degradation fractional rate rhythm (b, 0.094 and c, -0.0127) and lag time (1.79) of the MHP was higher than MCP (b, 0.074; c -0.102) and lag time (1.26); with the addition of carbohydrates as substrates, in vitro gas production of potato starch was higher (P<0.05) than cellulose (238.3 vs 148.7 mL/g DM); the fractions b, c and lag time, there were differences (P<0.05) between substrates. The increasing addition of cellulose or starch had a lineal effect (P<0.05) with the gas production, level cero mg (133.46) to 400 mg of substrate (263.16 mL/g DM). MHP had a higher cecal fermentation than MCP, being higher the gas production at 9 and 12 h, there was higher gas production (cecal fermentation) when added starch as substrate