A boundary layer scaling technique for estimating near-surface wind energy using numerical weather prediction and wind map data

A boundary layer scaling (BLS) method for predicting long-term average near-surface wind speeds and power densities was developed in this work. The method was based on the scaling of reference climatological data either from long-term average wind maps or from hourly wind speeds obtained from high-resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, with case study applications from Great Britain. It incorporated a more detailed parameterisation of surface aerodynamics than previous studies and the predicted wind speeds and power densities were validated against observational wind speeds from 124 sites across Great Britain. The BLS model could offer long-term average wind speed predictions using wind map data derived from long-term observational data, with a mean percentage error of 1.5 % which provided an improvement on the commonly used NOABL (Numerical Objective Analysis of Boundary Layer) wind map. The boundary layer scaling of NWP data was not, however, able to improve upon the use of raw NWP data for near surface wind speed predictions. However, the use of NWP data scaled by the BLS model could offer improved power density predictions compared to the use of the reference data sets. Using a vertical scaling of the shape factor of a Weibull distribution fitted to the BLS NWP data, power density predictions with a 1 % mean percentage error were achieved. This provided a significant improvement on the use of a fixed shape factor which must be utilised when only long-term average wind speeds are available from reference wind maps. The work therefore highlights the advantages that use of a BLS model for wind speed and NWP data for power density predictions can offer for small to medium scale wind energy resource assessments, potentially facilitating more robust annual energy production and financial assessments of prospective small and medium scale wind turbine installations

Non-effect of p22-phox-930A/G polymorphism on end-organ damage in Brazilian hypertensive patients

The p22-phox subunit is an essential component of NAD(P)H oxidase enzymatic complex, which is considered the major source of oxidative stress products in the cardiovascular system. 1,2 The -930G allele of p22-phox has been associated with higher promoter activity, increased NAD( P) H oxidase-mediated oxidative stress and hypertension. 3,4 We recently reported that left ventricular hypertrophy is accompanied by increased myocardial p22-phox expression in aortic-banded rats, suggesting that this protein might be involved in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy.(2) Thus, the aim of the present report was to investigate the role of p22-phox -930A/G polymorphism on end-organ damage in hypertensive patients.21650450

Características clínicas e psicossociais do paciente com insuficiência cardíaca que interna por descompensação clínica Características clínicas y psicosociales del paciente con insuficiencia cardiaca ingresado en hospital por descompensación clínica Clinical and psycossocial features of heart failure patients admitted for clinical decompensation

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar perfil sociodemográfico e clínico, história de hospitalizações por Insuficiência Cardíaca (IC) e seguimento (consultas regulares, tratamento medicamentoso, fatores facilitadores e dificultadores do seguimento) do paciente internado por quadro de descompensação clínica. Foram entrevistados 61 pacientes com idade média de 58,1 (&plusmn; 15,9) anos, 3,5 (&plusmn; 4,4) anos de estudo e renda individual de 1,3 (&plusmn; 2,4) salários-mínimos. A maioria dos sujeitos se encontrava em classe funcional III ou IV da New York Heart Association, tendo como causa mais freqüente de hospitalização, os sinais/sintomas da forma congestiva da IC. 75,4% dos sujeitos relataram acompanhamento clínico, porém de periodicidade irregular. Constatou-se utilização de terapêutica medicamentosa em proporção inferior à recomendada pela literatura. Os achados devem auxiliar a identificação dos pacientes com maior risco de descompensação da IC e assim, desenhar e implementar intervenções específicas visando a redução das re-hospitalizações por IC.<br>Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar el perfil sociodemográfico y clínico, la historia de hospitalizaciones por Insuficiencia Cardiaca (IC) y el seguimiento (consultas regulares, tratamiento medicamentoso, y, los factores facilitadores y dificultadores del seguimiento) del paciente internado por cuadro de descompensación clínica. Fueron entrevistados 61 pacientes con edad promedio de 58,1(&plusmn;15,9) años, 3,5 (&plusmn;4,4) años de estudio y renta individual de 1,3 (&plusmn;2,4) salarios mínimos. La mayoría de los sujetos se encontraba en la clase funcional III o IV de la New York Heart Asociation, teniendo como causa más frecuente de hospitalización las señales/síntomas de la forma con-gestiva de la IC; 75,4% de los sujetos relataron acompañamiento clínico, sin embargo este era de una periodicidad irregular. Se constató la utilización de terapéutica medicamentosa en proporción inferior a la recomendada por la literatura. Lo encontrado debe auxiliar a identificar los pacientes con mayor riesgo de descompensación de la IC, y así, proyectar e imple-mentar intervenciones específicas que tengan como objetivo la reducción de las hospitalizaciones por IC.<br>This study had the purpose to identify the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, history of hospitalizations due to Heart Failure (HF) and follow-ups (regular appointments, drug treatment, facilities and difficulties for follow-up) of patients admitted for clinical decompensation. Interviews were held with 61 patients, with average age of 58.1 (&plusmn; 15.9) years, 3.5 (&plusmn; 4.4) years of education and individual income of 1.3 (&plusmn; 2.4) times the minimum wage. Most subjects were in functional classes III or IV of the New York Heart Association, having signs and symptoms of the congestive form of HF as the most frequent cause of hospitalization. Of all subjects, 75.4% reported clinical follow-ups, although they tended to be irregular. The use of drug therapy occurred in lower ratios than that recommended in the literature. The findings must help to identify patients with higher risk of HC decompensation, and, as such, design and implement specific interventions aiming at reducing re-admittances due to HF