High Frequency Model of PV Systems for the Evaluation of Ground Currents

A high frequency model of a photovoltaic (PV) plant is developed and analysed to investigate the common mode (CM) currents circulating through the ground connections of the plant. The modelling method is based on the measurement of the impedance frequency response of photovoltaic module and on a high frequency representation of the power conversion unit. An overall lumped parameters circuit model is obtained and then implemented in PSpice. The CM leakage currents are evaluated by simulation

Pfaffian representations of cubic surfaces

Let K be a field of characteristic zero. We describe an algorithm which requires a homogeneous polynomial F of degree three in K[x_0,x_1,x_2,x_3] and a zero A of F in P^3_K and ensures a linear pfaffian representation of V(F) with entries in K[x_0,x_1,x_2,x_3], under mild assumptions on F and A. We use this result to give an explicit construction of (and to prove the existence of) a linear pfaffian representation of V(F), with entries in K'[x_0,x_1,x_2,x_3], being K' an algebraic extension of K of degree at most six. An explicit example of such a construction is given.Comment: 17 pages. Expanded with some remarks. Published with minor corrections in Geom. Dedicat

First recovery of bird acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris lanceoides in an Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Italy

Esemplari di cistacanti parzialmente e completamente evertiti dell'acantocefalo Sphaerirostris lanceoides sono stati rilevati nell'intestino di 1 tra 5 tassi (Meles meles) raccolti in Italia e già deceduti al momento del loro ritrovamento. Questa è la prima segnalazione di S. lanceoides nel tasso

CONSUMO DE PRESAS POR ALGUNAS AVES ACUÁTICAS EN BAHÍA DE BANDERAS, MÉXICO: DOCUMENTACIÓN FOTOGRÁFICA

Con la utilización de la fotografía digital a distancia, documentamos el consumo cualitativo de presas en siete especies de aves acuáticas (Mycteria americana, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, Anhinga anhinga, Ardea alba, Butorides virescens, Egretta thula y Nyctanassa violacea) en un campo de golf y un estero de la ciudad de Puerto Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas, México. Las presas observadas fueron dos especies de peces (Dormitator latifrons y Oreochromis niloticus) y tres de crustáceos (Cardisoma crassum, Litopenaeus vannamei y Macrobrachium tenellum). Esta es la primera vez que este tipo de presas se registran para las especies de aves acuáticas fotografiadas

Efficacia del Suboxone nel trattamento delle tossicodipendenze: monitoraggio dei pazienti in terapia presso il Ser.T. di Marsala ASL N.9 (TP).

I SerT sono i servizi pubblici del SSN dedicati alla cura, alla prevenzione e alla riabilitazione dei soggetti con problemi conseguenti all'uso di sostanze stupefacenti che generano dipendenza.Presso il SerT di Marsala dove è stato effettuato lo studio, accertato lo stato di salute psicofisica dei soggetti, è stato attuato un monitoraggio delle patologie collegate agli stati di dipendenza dei pazienti.Successivamente sono stai definiti i programmi terapeutici individuali da realizzare direttamente, o in convenzione con strutture di recupero sociale, valutando periodicamente l'andamento e i risultati del trattamento con Suboxone sui singoli tossicodipendenti

Breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. proposal for a monitoring protocol

BACKGROUND: The authors report four cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) from a single institution and propose a multidisciplinary protocol. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, four breast implant-associated ALCL cases were diagnosed. The authors performed the original operation, and no patients were referred to their practice. Cases 1, 2, and 4 were CD4/CD30/ALK ALCL with previous textured-implant reconstruction, whereas case 3 was CD8/CD30/ALK ALCL with previous polyurethane-implant augmentation. A retrospective study of all patients who underwent breast implant positioning was performed to identify any misdiagnosed cases. RESULTS: Of 483 patients, 226 underwent reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and prosthesis, 115 had skin-sparing/nipple-sparing mastectomy and prosthesis, 117 underwent an expander/implant procedure, and 25 underwent breast augmentation. Fifty-eight cases (12 percent) underwent implant replacement for capsular contracture, 15 (3.1 percent) experienced late-onset seroma, and four (0.83 percent) had both capsular contracture and seroma. Seventy-seven symptomatic patients (16 percent) underwent surgical revision (capsulectomy/capsulotomy) and/or seroma evacuation. The second look on histologic specimens did not identify misdiagnosed cases. A multidisciplinary protocol for suspected implant-associated ALCL was established. Ultrasound and cytologic examinations are performed in case of periprosthetic effusion. If implant-associated ALCL is diagnosed, implant removal with capsulectomy is performed. If disseminated disease is detected through positron emission tomography/computed tomography of the total body, the patient is referred to the oncology department. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary protocol is mandatory for both early diagnosis and patient management. Until definitive data emerge regarding the exact etiopathogenesis of breast implant-associated ALCL, the authors suggest offering only autologous reconstruction if patients desire it

DIFFERENT AQUAPORIN-4 EXPRESSION IN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT SEIZURES

Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), the most important water channel in the brain, is expressed by astrocyte endfeet abutting microvessels. Altered expression levels of AQP-4 and redistribution of the protein throughout the membranes of cells found in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) lead to development of the oedema often found surrounding the tumour mass. Dysregulation of AQP-4 also occurs in hippocampal sclerosis and cortical dysplasia in patients with refractory partial epilepsy. This work reports on analysis of the relationship between AQP-4 expression and the incidence of epileptic seizures in patients with GBM. Immunohistochemical and PCR techniques were used to evaluate AQP-4 in biopsy specimens from 19 patients with GBM, 10 of whom had a history of seizures prior to surgery. AQP-4 mRNA levels were identical in the two groups of patients, but AQP-4 expression was more frequently detected on the GBM membranes from specimens of patients with seizures than from those without (10 vs. 2,

Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. Urban ecosystems

Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 requires member states to Map and Assess the state of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). This report provides guidance for mapping and assessment of urban ecosystems. The MAES urban pilot is a collaboration between the European Commission, the European Environment Agency, volunteering Member States and cities, and stakeholders. Its ultimate goal is to deliver a knowledge base for policy and management of urban ecosystems by analysing urban green infrastructure, condition of urban ecosystems and ecosystem services. This report presents guidance for mapping urban ecosystems and includes an indicator framework to assess the condition of urban ecosystems and urban ecosystem services. The scientific framework of mapping and assessment is designed to support in particular urban planning policy and policy on green infrastructure at urban, metropolitan and regional scales. The results are based on the following different sources of information: a literature survey of 54 scientific articles, an online-survey (on urban ecosystems, related policies and planning instruments and with participation of 42 cities), ten case studies (Portugal: Cascais, Oeiras, Lisbon; Italy: Padua, Trento, Rome; The Netherlands: Utrecht; Poland: Poznań; Spain: Barcelona; Norway: Oslo), and a two-day expert workshop. The case studies constituted the core of the MAES urban pilot. They provided real examples and applications of how mapping and assessment can be organized to support policy; on top, they provided the necessary expertise to select a set of final indicators for condition and ecosystem services. Urban ecosystems or cities are defined here as socio-ecological systems which are composed of green infrastructure and built infrastructure. Urban green infrastructure (GI) is understood in this report as the multi-functional network of urban green spaces situated within the boundary of the urban ecosystem. Urban green spaces are the structural components of urban GI. This study has shown that there is a large scope for urban ecosystem assessments. Firstly, urban policies increasingly use urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in their planning process. Secondly, an increasing amount of data at multiple spatial scales is becoming available to support these policies, to provide a baseline, and to compare or benchmark cities with respect to the extent and management of the urban ecosystem. Concrete examples are given on how to delineate urban ecosystems, how to choose an appropriate spatial scale, and how to map urban ecosystems based on a combination of national or European datasets (including Urban Atlas) and locally collected information (e.g., location of trees). Also examples of typologies for urban green spaces are presented. This report presents an indicator framework which is composed of indicators to assess for urban ecosystem condition and for urban ecosystem services. These are the result of a rigorous selection process and ensure consistent mapping and assessment across Europe. The MAES urban pilot will continue with work on the interface between research and policy. The framework presented in this report needs to be tested and validated across Europe, e.g. on its applicability at city scale, on how far the methodology for measuring ecosystem condition and ecosystem service delivery in urban areas can be used to assess urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions

Immigrant community integration in world cities

As a consequence of the accelerated globalization process, today major cities all over the world are characterized by an increasing multiculturalism. The integration of immigrant communities may be affected by social polarization and spatial segregation. How are these dynamics evolving over time? To what extent the different policies launched to tackle these problems are working? These are critical questions traditionally addressed by studies based on surveys and census data. Such sources are safe to avoid spurious biases, but the data collection becomes an intensive and rather expensive work. Here, we conduct a comprehensive study on immigrant integration in 53 world cities by introducing an innovative approach: an analysis of the spatio-temporal communication patterns of immigrant and local communities based on language detection in Twitter and on novel metrics of spatial integration. We quantify the "Power of Integration" of cities --their capacity to spatially integrate diverse cultures-- and characterize the relations between different cultures when acting as hosts or immigrants.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures + Appendi

Do adults with high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome differ in empathy and emotion recognition?

The present study examined whether adults with high functioning autism (HFA) showed greater difficulties in (i) their self-reported ability to empathise with others and/or (ii) their ability to read mental states in others’ eyes than adults with Asperger syndrome (AS). The Empathy Quotient (EQ) and ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ Test (Eyes Test) were compared in 43 adults with AS and 43 adults with HFA. No significant difference was observed on EQ score between groups, while adults with AS performed significantly better on the Eyes Test than those with HFA. This suggests that adults with HFA may need more support, particularly in mentalizing and complex emotion recognition, and raises questions about the existence of subgroups within autism spectrum conditions