Realization of a Low Emission University Campus Trough the Implementation of a Climate Action Plan

AbstractThe Climate Action Plan (CAP) experience started a few years ago with the aim to manage carbon and energy more efficiently. CAP is a roadmap to get Universities to the goals of climate protection, defining a carbon footprint, identifying priority actions, milestones to measure progresss and target dates, raising funding opportunities. The methodological approach for the realization of a Low Emission Campus through the implementation of a CAP at the South East European University (SEEU) in Tetovo (Macedonia) foresees the analysis of the current energy consumptions and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and the integrated planning for the implementation of carbon friendly measures. CAP provides the cost-benefit analysis of the most suitable projects and associated yearly and cumulative GHG reductions, and defines the schedule for their gradual implementation. The Climate Action Planning process represents a valuable learning opportunity for the whole SEEU campus community, especially for students, providing additional opportunities for educational and research activities

Premonitory symptoms in migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting prevalence or relative frequency

Background Observational studies on the prevalence of premonitory symptoms in people with migraine, preceding the headache pain (or aura) phase, have shown conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence, and relative frequency among clinic populations, of premonitory symptoms in people with migraine, overall and of the multifarious individual symptoms, and to review the methodologies used to assess them. Methods We searched PubMed and Embase for studies published from database inception until 31st of May 2022. Two investigators independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. We retrieved observational studies that reported the prevalence/relative frequency of one or more premonitory symptoms in people with migraine. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Results were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Our main outcomes were the percentage of people with migraine who experienced at least one premonitory symptom and the percentages who experienced different individual premonitory symptoms. To describe our outcomes, we used the terms prevalence for data from population-based samples and relative frequency for data from clinic-based samples. We also descriptively and critically assessed the methodologies used to assess these symptoms. Results The pooled estimated prevalence in population-based studies of at least one premonitory symptom was 29% (95% CI: 8–63; I2 99%) and the corresponding pooled estimated relative frequency in clinic-based studies was 66% (95% CI: 45–82; I2 99%). The data from clinic-based studies only supported meta-analysis of 11 of 96 individual symptoms, with relative frequency estimates ranging from 11 to 49%. Risk of bias was determined as high in 20 studies, moderate in seven, and low in two. Conclusions The substantial between-study heterogeneity demands cautious interpretation of our estimates. Studies showed wide methodological variations, and many lacked rigor. Overall, the evidence was insufficient to support reliable prevalence estimation or characterization of premonitory symptoms. More data are needed, of better quality, to confirm the existence of a distinctive premonitory phase of migraine, and its features. Methodological guidelines based on expert consensus are a prerequisite

Data description: A general framework of information granules

The study is concerned with a granular data description in which we propose a characterization of numeric data by a collection of information granules so that the key structure of the data, their topology and essential relationships are described in the form of a family of fuzzy sets – information granules. A comprehensive design process is introduced in which we show a two-phase development strategy: first, numeric prototypes are built with the use of Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) that is followed by their augmentation resulting in a collection of information granules. In the design of information granules we engage the fun- damental ideas of Granular Computing, especially the principle of justifiable granularity. A series of experiments is presented to visualize the key steps of the construction of information granule

Calibration of a Virtual Instrument for Power Quality Monitoring

Abstract. The paper describes a virtual instrument for power quality monitoring based on NI LabVIEW™ platform and simultaneous measurements of electrical voltages and currents. The virtual power quality analyzer is realized by using National Instruments 9225 and 9227 modules for voltage and current measurements, respectively, NI cDAQ 9174, 4 slot USB chassis and a PC. The created virtual instrument measures power quality characteristics: power frequency, voltage variations, magnitude of rapid voltage changes, flicker severity, voltage unbalance, total harmonic distortion, as well as the elements of voltage dips, short interruptions, and long interruptions defined in the standard EN 50160 for voltage characteristics of supplied electricity. The measurement is according to the general guide on harmonics and interharmonics measurements IEC 61000-4-7. The calibration and verification of the power quality analyzer is a complex task and it is performed by using the laboratory calibrator FLUKE 5500A. The results of calibration and verification of the developed virtual instrument, as well as the results of power quality measurements near different lightning technologies are presented

Cerebrovascular effects of endothelin-1 investigated using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in healthy volunteers

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a highly potent vasoconstrictor peptide released from vascular endothelium. ET-1 plays a major role in cerebrovascular disorders and likely worsens the outcome of acute ischaemic stroke and aneurismal subarachnoid haemorrhage through vasoconstriction and cerebral blood flow (CBF) reduction. Disorders that increase the risk of stroke, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acute myocardial infarction, are associated with increased plasma levels of ET-1. The in vivo human cerebrovascular effects of systemic ET-1 infusion have not previously been investigated. In a two-way crossover, randomized, double-blind design, we used advanced 3 tesla MRI methods to investigate the effects of high-dose intravenous ET-1 on intra- and extracranial artery circumferences, global and regional CBF, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO(2)) in 14 healthy volunteers. Following ET-1 infusion, we observed a 14% increase of mean arterial blood pressure, a 5% decrease of middle cerebral artery (MCA) circumference, but no effects on extracerebral arteries and no effects on CBF or CMRO(2). Collectively, the findings indicate MCA constriction secondarily to blood pressure increase and not due to a direct vasoconstrictor effect of ET-1. We suggest that, as opposed to ET-1 in the subarachnoid space, intravascular ET-1 does not exert direct cerebrovascular effects in humans