87 research outputs found
Instability of equatorial water waves with an underlying current
In this paper we use the short-wavelength instability approach to derive an instability threshold for exact trapped equatorial waves propagating eastwards in the presence of an underlying current
New records of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from the Maltese Islands
A total of 95 bee species have been recorded from the Maltese Islands (central Mediterranean Sea). The aim of the present note is to report newly recorded species within the study area. A total of nine new species belonging to four families are recorded here: Andrenidae (1 species), Apidae (1 species), Halictidae (5 species), and Megachilidae (2 species)
The Uncertainty of Prosperity: Dependence and the Politics of Middle-Class Privilege in Maputo
In this essay, I examine the moral basis of a âmiddle classâ in Maputo, Mozambique, the narratives, forms of dependence and types of hegemony that the social hierarchy rests upon. I argue that the political and economic processes that have given rise to ânewâ middle classes in the global south also create conditions of precariousness. In recent years, it has been argued that these âemerging middle classesâ are central for economic growth and the safeguarding of a stable, liberal order. The case of Mozambique complicates this assertion and demonstrates an occurrence now taking place across the globe. When the relationships of dependence and obligation and the narratives that justify them erode, the structures of power that may have once been mutually constitutive between an emerging middle class and the state can become damaging as the system they once upheld loses its legitimacy
Farmland biodiversity and agricultural management on 237 farms in 13 European and two African regions
Farmland is a major land cover type in Europe and Africa and provides habitat for numerous species. The severe decline in farmland biodiversity of the last decades has been attributed to changes in farming practices, and organic and low-input farming are assumed to mitigate detrimental effects of agricultural intensification on biodiversity. Since the farm enterprise is the primary unit of agricultural decision making, management-related effects at the field scale need to be assessed at the farm level. Therefore, in this study, data were collected on habitat characteristics, vascular plant, earthworm, spider, and bee communities and on the corresponding agricultural management in 237 farms in 13 European and two African regions. In 15 environmental and agricultural homogeneous regions, 6â20 farms with the same farm type (e.g., arable crops, grassland, or specific permanent crops) were selected. If available, an equal number of organic and non-organic farms were randomly selected. Alternatively, farms were sampled along a gradient of management intensity. For all selected farms, the entire farmed area was mapped, which resulted in total in the mapping of 11 338 units attributed to 194 standardized habitat types, provided together with additional descriptors. On each farm, one site per available habitat type was randomly selected for species diversity investigations. Species were sampled on 2115 sites and identified to the species level by expert taxonomists. Species lists and abundance estimates are provided for each site and sampling date (one date for plants and earthworms, three dates for spiders and bees). In addition, farmers provided information about their management practices in face-to-face interviews following a standardized questionnaire. Farm management indicators for each farm are available (e.g., nitrogen input, pesticide applications, or energy input). Analyses revealed a positive effect of unproductive areas and a negative effect of intensive management on biodiversity. Communities of the four taxonomic groups strongly differed in their response to habitat characteristics, agricultural management, and regional circumstances. The data has potential for further insights into interactions of farmland biodiversity and agricultural management at site, farm, and regional scale
Simple scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis
BACKGROUND:
Aspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Outcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1\ub115.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in-hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty-six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate 55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in-hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734-0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in-hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered.
CONCLUSIONS:
A simple scoring system based on risk factors for in-hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE
Micro Stockage Intelligent Distribué (MSID)
Le projet OFEN MSID a rĂ©uni des acteurs acadĂ©miques (HES-SO Valais-Wallis et Icare) et les acteurs industriels (ElectrInfo, Enalpin, FMA, OIKEN, Seic-TĂ©lĂ©dis, Studer-Innotec) dans un but de rĂ©soudre deux problĂ©matiques majeures dues Ă lâinjection de photovoltaĂŻque (PV) qui sont lâoptimisation de lâautoconsommation et la gestion de la tension rĂ©seau. En effet, deux GRDs font face Ă la premiĂšre problĂ©matique avec des use-case diffĂ©rents. En ce qui concerne la SEIC-TĂ©lĂ©dis, la problĂ©matique dâautoconsommation est prĂ©sente sur deux sites, deux maisons privĂ©es voulant valoriser le stockage local. Du cĂŽtĂ© de ViĂšge, Enalpin a Ă©galement cette problĂ©matique Ă gĂ©rer mais pour le bĂątiment de la gare oĂč se trouve leurs locaux. Concernant la seconde problĂ©matique traitĂ©e par le projet, deux sites de deux GRDs diffĂ©rents ont permis de rĂ©aliser les dĂ©monstrations. Dans le cas de FMA, il sâagit dâune ferme en bout de ligne situĂ© Ă Gryon dans le canton de Vaud. Le remplacement de la gĂ©nĂ©ratrice diesel par du PV nĂ©cessite de piloter le stockage pour stabiliser la tension. Pour terminer, le dernier site se situe Ă Sierre au tennis de Pont-Chalais. La production Ă©levĂ©e des panneaux solaires de la halle de tennis pose des problĂšmes de tension sur le rĂ©seau. Le projet OFEN MSID a permis de rĂ©pondre aux diffĂ©rentes problĂ©matiques avec la mise en place dâune plateforme Virtual Power Plant (VPP) et dâun boitier de pilotage. Cet appareil pilote les diffĂ©rents onduleurs (Xtender Next3, de Studer-Innotec, Victron, de Victron Energy, ou IMEON, de IMEON Energy) en place sur les diffĂ©rents sites et rĂ©colte le plus de donnĂ©es utiles possibles gĂ©nĂ©rĂ©es par les appareils en place (onduleur, batterie, PAC, ECS, etc). Une plateforme VPP de visualisation est mise Ă disposition des GRDs et des clients finaux afin de pouvoir observer les donnĂ©es historiques et rĂ©elles mises Ă jour toutes les 15 minutes. La plateforme VPP dĂ©veloppĂ©e dans le cadre du projet OFEN MSID offre Ă©galement la possibilitĂ© de crĂ©er des algorithmes de pilotage. Ces algorithmes sont construits avec lâaide des donnĂ©es rĂ©coltĂ©es mais Ă©galement gĂ©nĂ©rĂ©es. En effet, les algorithmes de prĂ©diction de production photovoltaĂŻque ainsi que les algorithmes financiers liĂ©es Ă la place de marchĂ© OFEN GBFlex sont disponibles et utilisables dans la crĂ©ation de lâalgorithme de pilotage. Ces stratĂ©gies combinatoires ont permis dâoptimiser le pilotage intelligent et permettre ainsi une meilleure gestion de la production PV et des consommateurs Ă©nergĂ©tiques sur les sites. Les dĂ©monstrations prĂ©sentes dans ce rapport final OFEN MSID prouvent lâefficacitĂ© du systĂšme. Du cĂŽtĂ© de la problĂ©matique dâautoconsommation, nous avons testĂ© le systĂšme en condition rĂ©elle sur notre site de dĂ©veloppement OFF-GRID avant de le dĂ©ployer sur les sites des partenaires. Du cĂŽtĂ© de la stabilisation de la tension rĂ©seau, nous avons dĂ©montrĂ© quâen cas de surtension, le systĂšme Ă©tait prĂȘt Ă rĂ©agir afin de diminuer le problĂšme autant que possible en pilotant les batteries disponibles dans le projet. Vous retrouvez dans le chapitre 5 de ce prĂ©sent rapport lâensemble des stratĂ©gies combinatoires testĂ©es et validĂ©es. En conclusion, ce projet a permis dâagrĂ©ger et piloter Ă distance plusieurs sites avec des cas dâusage trĂšs diffĂ©rents mais avec des problĂ©matiques communes. Dans le cadre du projet OFEN MSID, six sites dâimplĂ©mentation ont vu le jour. Le systĂšme est scalable et nous estimons entre 500 et 1000 sites dans la version actuelle des dĂ©veloppements. Avec les dĂ©monstrateurs en place, nous sommes en mesure de prouver lâutilitĂ© de la mise en place de systĂšme intelligent pilotant les micro-stockages distribuĂ©s. Le systĂšme de crĂ©ation dâalgorithme prĂ©voit dâores et dĂ©jĂ des actions en cas de pĂ©nurie planifiĂ©e permettant dâassurer la disponibilitĂ© maximale du stockage avant une pĂ©riode de 4 heures en mode autarcique par exemple. Dans le contexte de potentielle pĂ©nurie dâĂ©lectricitĂ© du printemps 2023, le pilotage de micro-stockages intelligents distribuĂ©es (MSID) Ă distance intĂ©resse de plus en plus les gestionnaires de rĂ©seaux de distribution (GRDs).In the context of a potential electricity shortage in the spring of 2023, the remote control of intelligent
micro-distributed storage (MSID) is of increasing interest to distribution system operators (DSOs).
The SFOE MSID project brought together academic actors (HES-SO Valais-Wallis and Icare) and
industrial actors (ElectrInfo, Enalpin, FMA, OIKEN, Seic-Télédis, Studer-Innotec) with the aim of solving
two major problems caused by the injection of photovoltaic (PV) energy, which are the optimisation of
self-consumption and the management of the grid voltage. Indeed, two DSOs are facing the first issue
with different use-cases. As far as SEIC-Télédis is concerned, the issue of self-consumption is present
at two sites - two private houses wanting to make use of local storage. Visp and Enalpin also have this
problem, but for the station building where their premises are located.
Regarding the second issue addressed by the project, two sites of two different DSOs were used to
carry out the demonstrations. In the case of FMA, it is an end-of-line farm located in Gryon in the canton
of Vaud. The replacement of the diesel generator by PV needs to control the storage to stabilise the
voltage. Finally, the last site is located in Sierre at the Pont-Chalais tennis court. The high production of
the solar panels in the tennis hall causes voltage problems on the grid.
The OFEN MSID project has made it possible to respond to the various problems with the
implementation of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform and a control box. This device controls the
various inverters (Xtender Next3, from Studer-Innotec, Victron, from Victron Energy, or IMEON, from
IMEON Energy) in place on the various sites and collects as much useful data as possible generated
by the devices in place (inverter, battery, heat pump, DHW, etc.). A VPP visualisation platform is made
available to the DSOs and end customers in order to observe historical and actual data updated every
15 minutes. The VPP platform developed within the framework of the SFOE MSID project also offers
the possibility of creating control algorithms. These algorithms are built with the help of the data collected
but are also generated. The photovoltaic production prediction algorithms as well as the financial
algorithms linked to the OFEN GBFlex marketplace are available and can be used in the creation of the
control algorithm. These combinatorial strategies have allowed the optimisation of the intelligent control
and thus allow a better management of the PV production and energy consumers on the sites.
The demonstrations presented in this final SFOE MSID report prove the efficiency of the system. On the
self-consumption side, we tested the system in real conditions at our OFF-GRID development site before
deploying it at partner sites. On the grid voltage stabilisation side, we demonstrated that in the event of
a voltage surge, the system was ready to react in order to reduce the problem as much as possible by
driving the batteries available in the project. All the tested and validated combinatorial strategies can be
found in chapter 5 of this report.
In conclusion, this project has allowed us to aggregate and remotely control several sites with very
different use cases but with common problems. With the demonstrators in place, we are able to prove
the usefulness of setting up an intelligent system to control distributed micro-storage. Within the
framework of the SFOE MSID project, six implementation sites have been created. The system is
scalable, and we estimate between 500 and 1000 sites in the current version of developments. The
algorithm creation system already provides for actions in the event of a planned shortage to ensure
maximum availability of storage before a period of 4 hours in autarkic mode for example.Das BFE-Projekt MSID hat die akademischen Partner HES-SO Valais-Wallis und Icare und zusammen
mit den industriellen Partnern ElectrInfo, Enalpin, FMA, OIKEN, Seic-Télédis, und Studer-Innotec
zusammengebracht, um zwei Hauptprobleme zu lösen, die durch die Einspeisung von Photovoltaik (PV)
entstehen: die Optimierung des Eigenverbrauchs und die Steuerung der Netzspannung. In der Tat
stehen zwei Verteilnetzbetreiber (VNB) der ersten Problematik mit unterschiedlichen Fallstudien
gegenĂŒber. Bei der SEIC-TĂ©lĂ©dis ist die Problematik des Eigenverbrauchs an zwei Standorten prĂ€sent,
da zwei PrivathÀuser die lokale Speicherung verbessern wollen. In Visp hat Enalpin ebenfalls diese
Problematik zu bewĂ€ltigen, jedoch fĂŒr das BahnhofsgebĂ€ude, in dem sich ihre RĂ€umlichkeiten befinden.
In Bezug auf die zweite vom Projekt behandelte Problematik wurden die Demonstrationen an zwei
Standorten von zwei verschiedenen VNB durchgefĂŒhrt. Im Fall von FMA handelte es sich um einen Endof-Line-Bauernhof in Gryon im Kanton Waadt. Der Ersatz des Dieselgenerators durch PV erfordert die
Steuerung von Speichern, um die Spannung zu stabilisieren. Der letzte Standort befindet sich in Sierre
beim Tennisplatz Pont-Chalais. Die hohe Produktion der Solarpaneele in der Tennishalle fĂŒhrt zu
Spannungsproblemen im Netz.
Im Rahmen des BFE-Projekts MSID konnten die verschiedenen Probleme mit der Einrichtung einer
Virtual Power Plant (VPP)-Plattform und eines SteuergerÀts gelöst werden. Dieses GerÀt steuert die
verschiedenen Wechselrichter, Xtender Next3 von Studer-Innotec, Victron von Victron Energy oder
IMEON von IMEON Energy, die an den verschiedenen Standorten installiert sind, und sammelt so viele
nĂŒtzliche Daten wie möglich, die von den installierten GerĂ€ten (Wechselrichter, Batterie, WP, ECS, etc.)
erzeugt werden. Eine VPP-Plattform zur Visualisierung wird den VNB und den Endkunden zur
VerfĂŒgung gestellt, um die historischen und tatsĂ€chlichen Daten, die alle 15 Minuten aktualisiert werden,
beobachten zu können. Die im Rahmen des BFE-Projekts MSID entwickelte VPP-Plattform bietet auch
die Möglichkeit, Steuerungsalgorithmen zu erstellen. Diese Algorithmen werden mit Hilfe der
gesammelten, aber auch der generierten Daten aufgebaut. TatsÀchlich sind die Algorithmen zur
Vorhersage der Photovoltaikproduktion sowie die Finanzalgorithmen im Zusammenhang mit dem BFEMarktplatz GBFlex verfĂŒgbar und können bei der Erstellung des Steuerungsalgorithmus verwendet
werden. Diese kombinatorischen Strategien haben es ermöglicht, die intelligente Steuerung zu
optimieren und so ein besseres Management der PV-Produktion und der Energieverbraucher an den
Standorten zu ermöglichen. Die Demonstrationen in diesem Abschlussbericht BFE MSID belegen die
Effizienz des Systems. Auf der Seite der Problematik des Eigenverbrauchs haben wir das System unter
realen Bedingungen an unserem OFF-GRID-Entwicklungsstandort getestet, bevor es an den
Standorten der Partner eingesetzt wurde. In Bezug auf die Stabilisierung der Netzspannung haben wir
gezeigt, dass das System im Falle einer Ăberspannung bereit ist, zu reagieren, um das Problem so weit
wie möglich zu verringern, indem es die im Projekt verfĂŒgbaren Batterien benĂŒtzt. In Kapitel 5 dieses
Berichts finden Sie alle getesteten und validierten kombinatorischen Strategien.
Zusammenfassend lÀsst sich sagen, dass dieses Projekt die Aggregation und Fernsteuerung mehrerer
Standorte mit sehr unterschiedlichen AnwendungsfÀllen, aber mit gemeinsamen Problemen ermöglicht
hat. Im Rahmen des BFE-Projekts MSID sind sechs Implementierungsstandorte entstanden. Das
System ist skalierbar und wir schÀtzen, dass unsere VPP-Plattform 500 bis 1000 Standorte in der
aktuellen Version der Entwicklungen steuern könnte. Mit den vorhandenen Demonstratoren sind wir in
der Lage, die NĂŒtzlichkeit der EinfĂŒhrung eines intelligenten Systems zur Steuerung von verteilten
Mikrospeichern zu beweisen. Das System zur Erstellung von Algorithmen sieht bereits Aktionen im Falle
einer geplanten Knappheit vor, die es ermöglichen, die maximale VerfĂŒgbarkeit des Speichers vor einem
Zeitraum von beispielsweise 4 Stunden im autarken Modus zu gewÀhrleisten.
Vor dem Hintergrund der potenziellen Stromknappheit im FrĂŒhjahr 2023 ist die Fernsteuerung von
verteilten intelligenten Mikrospeichern (MSIDs) fĂŒr Verteilnetzbetreiber (VNBs) zunehmend interessant
Hidden diversity in European bees: Andrena amieti sp. n., a new Alpine bee species related to Andrena bicolor (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Andrenidae)
We revise the Alpine bee taxa related to Andrena bicolor (Fabricius, 1775), including A. montana Warncke, 1973 and A. allosa Warncke, 1975, the status of which has remained contentious. Phylogenetic analyses of one mitochondrial gene and one nuclear gene, as well as morphological examination reveal the presence of four Alpine species in this complex, one of which is new to science, A. amieti sp. n. This new species is widely distributed in the Alps from southern France throughout Switzerland, northern Italy and southern Germany to Austria; a single record is known from the Apennines. The type locality is located within the Unesco World Heritage site âSwiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletschâ. Two widely divergent mitochondrial lineages are found in sympatry in A. amieti sp. n.; the status of these lineages, which together form a paraphyletic unit from which A. allosa arose, is briefly discussed. We show that A. allosa, A. amieti sp. n. and A. montana are polylectic but that each species exhibits a distinct spectrum of pollen hosts: the univoltine A. allosa shows affinities for pollen of the early-blooming Alpine plant genus Crocus. A. amieti sp. n. is bivoltine and, as in A. bicolor, the summer generation exhibits a distinct preference for Campanulaceae, while the spring generation is widely polylectic. A. montana has a single generation in the summer and forages on a diversity of flowers such as Campanulaceae, Cistaceae and Caryophyllaceae. An identification key is presented for central European members of the subgenus Euandrena Hedicke, 1932. Lastly, the new Alpine species appears to represent the tip of the iceberg of substantial cryptic diversity in southern European Andrena (Euandrena): A. croatica Friese, 1887 is resurrected from synonymy with A. bicolor and treated as a valid species (stat. rev.), A. pileata Warncke, 1875, described as a subspecies of A. allosa, is elevated to species rank (stat. n.), and three additional unclear taxa are briefly described
Actualisation des connaissances sur lâabeille Megachile sculpturalis SMITH, 1853 en France et en Europe (Hymenoptera : Megachilidae)
International audienceUpdate of knowledge on the bee Megachile sculpturalis Smith, 1853 in France and Europe (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). - Megachile sculpturalis is a bee native to eastern Asia that is now also present in North America and Europe. This article follows the first synthesis on the ecology and geographical distribution in Europe of this species published in this same journal in 2018 and updates their knowledge. Megachile sculpturalis has been observed in 13 European countries. Its range now extends from the French Atlantic coast in the west to the Crimean Peninsula in the east. It has also been recorded on two Mediterranean islands, Elba (Italy) and Mallorca (Spain). In France, between 2008 and 2020, it was observed in 259 communes in 46 departments. The most northerly French observation was made in 2020 near Reims in the Marne department. Concerning feeding behaviour, new pollen analyses corroborate the results of previous ones which suggested a polylectic diet with a marked preference for shrubs of Asian origin (especially Sophora japonica and Ligustrum sp.). Regarding nesting behaviour, M. sculpturalis makes extensive use of bee hotels. However, a range of diameters (holes in logs or sections of plant stems) between 4 and 8 mm is suitable for the main native species likely to nest in the hotels, while limiting the establishment of M. sculpturalis. New observations have confirmed the tendency of M. sculpturalis to empty the nests of other species in order to establish its own larval cells. In addition, in Switzerland, a female was observed killing a bee of the genus Heriades. Such events, if frequent, could have negative impacts on native bees, but data are currently insufficient to quantify these impacts on populations.Megachile sculpturalis est une abeille originaire de l'est de l'Asie aujourd'hui Ă©galement prĂ©sente en AmĂ©rique du Nord et en Europe. Cet article fait suite Ă la premiĂšre synthĂšse sur l'Ă©cologie et la distribution gĂ©ographique en Europe de cette espĂšce parue dans cette mĂȘme revue en 2018 et propose une actualisation des connaissances. Megachile sculpturalis a Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e dans 13 pays europĂ©ens. Son aire de rĂ©partition s'Ă©tend aujourd'hui des cĂŽtes atlantiques françaises Ă l'ouest Ă la pĂ©ninsule de CrimĂ©e Ă l'est. Elle a par ailleurs Ă©tĂ© signalĂ©e dans deux Ăźles mĂ©diterranĂ©ennes, l'Ăźle d'Elbe (Italie) et Majorque (Espagne). En France, entre 2008 et 2020, elle a Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e dans 259 communes rĂ©parties dans 44 dĂ©partements. L'observation française la plus septentrionale a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e en 2020 prĂšs de Reims dans la Marne. Concernant le comportement alimentaire, de nouvelles analyses polliniques viennent corroborer les rĂ©sultats de prĂ©cĂ©dentes Ă©tudes qui suggĂ©raient un rĂ©gime polylectique avec une prĂ©fĂ©rence marquĂ©e pour les arbustes d'origine asiatique (Sophora japonica et Ligustrum sp. en particulier). Pour sa nidification, M. sculpturalis utilise massivement les hĂŽtels Ă abeilles. Cependant, une gamme de diamĂštres (trous dans des bĂ»ches ou sections de tiges vĂ©gĂ©tales) compris entre 4 et 8 mm permet d'hĂ©berger les principales espĂšces indigĂšnes susceptibles de nidifier dans les hĂŽtels, tout en limitant l'installation de M. sculpturalis. De nouvelles observations ont confirmĂ© la tendance de M. sculpturalis Ă vider les nids d'autres espĂšces pour y installer ses propres cellules larvaires. Par ailleurs, en Suisse, une femelle a Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e tuant une abeille du genre Heriades. Ce type d'Ă©vĂ©nements, s'ils s'avĂšrent frĂ©quents, pourraient avoir des impacts nĂ©gatifs sur les abeilles indigĂšnes mais les donnĂ©es sont pour l'heure insuffisantes pour quantifier ces impacts sur les populations
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