Optimization of a PV-Wind Hybrid Power Supply Structure with Electrochemical Storage Intended for Supplying a Load with Known Characteristics

An important aspect of the off-grid utilization of hybrid generation systems is the integration of energy storage facilities into their structures, which allows for improved power supply reliability. However, this results in a significant increase in the cost of such systems. Therefore, it is justified to use optimization resulting in the minimization of the selected economic indicator taking into account the most important technical constraints. For this reason, this work proposes an algorithm to optimize the structure of a hybrid off-grid power distribution system (with electrochemical energy storage), designed to supply a load with known daily energy demand. The authors recommend genetic algorithm utilization as well as a modified criterion for evaluating the quality of solutions based on the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) index. Several technical and economic analyses were presented, including unit costs, power distribution of the wind and solar sections, nominal battery capacity, SSSI index (System Self-Sufficiency Index), etc. The model of the system includes durability of the elements which have a significant impact on the periodic battery replacement. The tests were carried out for two types of loads and two types of electrochemical batteries (NMC-Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide; and PbO2-Lead-Acid Battery), taking into account the forecast of an increased lifetime of NMC type batteries and decreasing their price within five years. The proposed synthesis method of photovoltaic-wind (PV-wind) hybrid off-line systems leads to limiting the energy capacity of electrochemical storages. Based on the analyses, the authors proposed recommended methods to improve (reduce) the value of the criterion index (LCOE) for PV-wind off-grid systems while maintaining the assumed level of power supply reliability.Fil: Kasprzyk, Leszek. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Tomczewski, Andrzej. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Pietracho, Robert. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Nadolny, Zbigniew. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Mielcarek, Agata. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Tomczewski, Krzysztof. Opole University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Trzmiel, Grzegorz. Poznań University of Technology; PoloniaFil: Alemany, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electricidad y Electrónica. Instituto de Protecciones de Sistemas Eléctricos de Potencia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

The assessment of the implementation of the Polish Diabetes Association recommendations in the scope of metabolic control in patients with diabetes treated in endocrinological-diabetological outpatient clinic

WSTĘP. Zalecenia Polskiego Towarzystwa Diabetologicznego (PTD) określają docelowe wartości w terapii cukrzycy dotyczące ciśnienia tętniczego, gospodarki węglowodanowej i lipidowej. Celem pracy jest ocena realizacji tych zaleceń u chorych na cukrzycę leczonych w Przyklinicznej Poradni Endokrynologiczno-Diabetologicznej Szpitala Uniwersyteckiego nr 1 w Bydgoszczy. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Analizie poddano dokumentację losowo wybranych 313 pacjentów (151 mężczyzn i 162 kobiet chorych na: cukrzycę typu 1 &#8212; 21,4%, cukrzycę typu 2 &#8212; 75,4%, inne typy cukrzycy &#8212; 3,2%) leczonych w 2007 roku w Poradni. Średni wiek pacjentów wynosił 60,2 &#177; 15,3 roku, czas trwania cukrzycy &#8212; 11 &#177; 8 lat, BMI &#8212; 28,4 &#177; 7,9 kg/m2. Analizowano wartość skurczowego i rozkurczowego ciśnienia tętniczego, odsetek hemoglobiny glikowanej (HbA1c), stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego, cholesterolu frakcji HDL, LDL i triglicerydów. Obliczano średnie wartości wymienionych parametrów oraz odsetek osób, które osiągnęły docelowe wartości według zaleceń PTD na 2007 i 2009 rok. WYNIKI. Średnie wartości ocenianych parametrów oraz odsetek osób osiągających docelowe wartości, według zaleceń PTD na 2007 rok (w nawiasie), to: ciśnienie skurczowe 136 &#177; 19 mm Hg (35,3%), rozkurczowe 79 &#177; 10 mm Hg (44,5%), HbA1c 7,5 &#177; 1,6% (32,2%), cholesterol całkowity 184,2 &#177; 38,6 mg/dl (43,5%), HDL 49,3 &#177; 15,2 mg/dl (58,5% mężczyzn i 67,3% kobiet), LDL 105,5 &#177; 29,3 mg/dl (39,8%), triglicerydy 136,8 &#177; 75,3 mg/dl (69,8%). Docelową wartość HbA1c według zaleceń PTD na 2009 rok osiągnęło 17,4% chorych na cukrzycę typu 1, 58% chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 trwającą < 5 lat i 52,6% chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 trwającą &#8805; 5 lat. Złożony cel terapeutyczny według zaleceń PTD na 2007 i 2009 rok osiągnęło 4,9% pacjentów. WNIOSKI. Uzyskane przez autorów niniejszej pracy wyniki wskazują na niedostateczną kontrolę metaboliczną u chorych na cukrzycę pozostających pod opieką specjalistyczną. Sugerują one potrzebę poprawy jakości opieki diabetologicznej w poradniach specjalistycznych. (Diabet. Prakt. 2010; 11, 5: 160&#8211;166)INTRODUCTION. In the Polish Diabetes Association (PDA) recommendations treatment targets in the scope of blood pressure, glycemic control and lipids are defined. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of these recommendations in patients with diabetes treated in endocrinologicaldiabetological outpatient clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We analyzed randomly chosen sample of 313 records of patients (151 men and 162 women; 21.4% with type 1 diabetes, 75.4% with type 2 diabetes, 3.2% with other types), treated in Endocrinological-Diabetological Outpatient Clinic in University Hospital in Bydgoszcz in 2007 year. Mean age of patients was 60.2 &#177; 15.3 years, diabetes duration 11 &#177; 8 years, BMI 28.4 &#177; 7.9 kg/m2. We analyzed systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c levels, triglicerydes, total cholesterol and HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations. RESULTS. Mean values of examined parameters and the percentage of subjects achieving therapeutic goals according to PDA recommendations in 2007 (in brackets) are: systolic blood pressure 136 &#177; 19 mm Hg (35.3%), diastolic blood pressure 79 &#177; 10 mm Hg (44.5%), HbA1c 7.5 &#177; 1.6% (32.2%), total cholesterol 184.2 &#177; 38.6 mg/dL (43.5%), HDL 49.3 &#177; 15.2 mg/dL (58.5% men and 67.3% women), LDL 105.5 &#177; 29.3 mg/dL (39.8%), triglicerydes 136.8 &#177; 75.3 mg/dL (69.8%). HbA1c target recommended by PDA in 2009 year, was achieved by 17.4% of patients with type 1 diabetes, 58% of subjects with type 2 and diabetes duration < 5 years and by 52.6% of subjects with type 2 and diabetes duration &#8805; 5 years. CONCLUSIONS. Our results confirm insufficient metabolic control in patients with diabetes treated in specialist care. These results indicate the need of improvement of quality of care for patients with diabetes. (Diabet. Prakt. 2010; 11, 5: 160&#8211;166

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Improved risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation: an integrated GARFIELD-AF tool for the prediction of mortality, stroke and bleed in patients with and without anticoagulation.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an accurate, web-based tool for stratifying patients with atrial fibrillation to facilitate decisions on the potential benefits/risks of anticoagulation, based on mortality, stroke and bleeding risks. DESIGN: The new tool was developed, using stepwise regression, for all and then applied to lower risk patients. C-statistics were compared with CHA2DS2-VASc using 30-fold cross-validation to control for overfitting. External validation was undertaken in an independent dataset, Outcome Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). PARTICIPANTS: Data from 39 898 patients enrolled in the prospective GARFIELD-AF registry provided the basis for deriving and validating an integrated risk tool to predict stroke risk, mortality and bleeding risk. RESULTS: The discriminatory value of the GARFIELD-AF risk model was superior to CHA2DS2-VASc for patients with or without anticoagulation. C-statistics (95% CI) for all-cause mortality, ischaemic stroke/systemic embolism and haemorrhagic stroke/major bleeding (treated patients) were: 0.77 (0.76 to 0.78), 0.69 (0.67 to 0.71) and 0.66 (0.62 to 0.69), respectively, for the GARFIELD-AF risk models, and 0.66 (0.64-0.67), 0.64 (0.61-0.66) and 0.64 (0.61-0.68), respectively, for CHA2DS2-VASc (or HAS-BLED for bleeding). In very low to low risk patients (CHA2DS2-VASc 0 or 1 (men) and 1 or 2 (women)), the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED (for bleeding) scores offered weak discriminatory value for mortality, stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding. C-statistics for the GARFIELD-AF risk tool were 0.69 (0.64 to 0.75), 0.65 (0.56 to 0.73) and 0.60 (0.47 to 0.73) for each end point, respectively, versus 0.50 (0.45 to 0.55), 0.59 (0.50 to 0.67) and 0.55 (0.53 to 0.56) for CHA2DS2-VASc (or HAS-BLED for bleeding). Upon validation in the ORBIT-AF population, C-statistics showed that the GARFIELD-AF risk tool was effective for predicting 1-year all-cause mortality using the full and simplified model for all-cause mortality: C-statistics 0.75 (0.73 to 0.77) and 0.75 (0.73 to 0.77), respectively, and for predicting for any stroke or systemic embolism over 1 year, C-statistics 0.68 (0.62 to 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Performance of the GARFIELD-AF risk tool was superior to CHA2DS2-VASc in predicting stroke and mortality and superior to HAS-BLED for bleeding, overall and in lower risk patients. The GARFIELD-AF tool has the potential for incorporation in routine electronic systems, and for the first time, permits simultaneous evaluation of ischaemic stroke, mortality and bleeding risks. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362) and for ORBIT-AF (NCT01165710)

Two-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: results from GARFIELD-AF.

AIMS: The relationship between outcomes and time after diagnosis for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is poorly defined, especially beyond the first year. METHODS AND RESULTS: GARFIELD-AF is an ongoing, global observational study of adults with newly diagnosed NVAF. Two-year outcomes of 17 162 patients prospectively enrolled in GARFIELD-AF were analysed in light of baseline characteristics, risk profiles for stroke/systemic embolism (SE), and antithrombotic therapy. The mean (standard deviation) age was 69.8 (11.4) years, 43.8% were women, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.3 (1.6); 60.8% of patients were prescribed anticoagulant therapy with/without antiplatelet (AP) therapy, 27.4% AP monotherapy, and 11.8% no antithrombotic therapy. At 2-year follow-up, all-cause mortality, stroke/SE, and major bleeding had occurred at a rate (95% confidence interval) of 3.83 (3.62; 4.05), 1.25 (1.13; 1.38), and 0.70 (0.62; 0.81) per 100 person-years, respectively. Rates for all three major events were highest during the first 4 months. Congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, sudden/unwitnessed death, malignancy, respiratory failure, and infection/sepsis accounted for 65% of all known causes of death and strokes for <10%. Anticoagulant treatment was associated with a 35% lower risk of death. CONCLUSION: The most frequent of the three major outcome measures was death, whose most common causes are not known to be significantly influenced by anticoagulation. This suggests that a more comprehensive approach to the management of NVAF may be needed to improve outcome. This could include, in addition to anticoagulation, interventions targeting modifiable, cause-specific risk factors for death. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Social and Economic Conditioning of Recreational Activity and Migration of Inhabitants of the Poznań Metropolis

In the global economy based on knowledge it is metropolises that determine the region’s developmental potential. These are the regions of high population density and of diverse levels of life quality. Apart from intrapersonal and interpersonal features it is also environmental factors that impact on the likelihood of someone participating in physical recreation Recognizing characteristic features determining different forms of motor activity, their frequency together with the structure of recreational migrations is crucial in the process of planning and organizing recreational system in cities and metropolises. Therefore, the purpose of the following study is to determine the level of participation in recreational activity of the inhabitants of Poznań metropolis, together with the analysis of selected factors of demographic, social and economic character that have a differentiating effect onto this activity. In the study 1584 inhabitants of Poznań metropolis were examined by 5 professional interviewers between March and June 2016 by means of a standardized questionnaire. The conducted studies proved high diversification of recreational activity of the inhabitants of the Poznań Metropolis and substantiated the directional hypotheses. The obtained results made it possible to identify the groups of inhabitants who participate in recreational activity regularly, seasonally and occasionally. Moreover, the demographic, social and economic variables made it possible to identify a group of inhabitants who are extremely passive or participate in motor recreation very rarely

Wpływ turystyczno-rekreacyjnych zachowań mieszkańców na rozwój innowacyjnej oferty metropolii na przykładzie Poznania

Problematyka podjęta w artykule obejmuje rozpoznanie różnic w modelach oddziaływania czynników osobistych, takich jak wiek, płeć, etap życia, zawód, warunki ekonomiczne, oraz motywów podejmowania aktywności fizycznej na zachowania turystyczno- -rekreacyjne mieszkańców metropolii Poznań. Pomiaru źródeł pierwotnych dokonano za pomocą ilościowych metod i technik badań (sondaż diagnostyczny, standaryzowany kwestionariusz ankietowy), którymi objęto 1584 pełnoletnich mieszkańców metropolii Poznań. Wyniki badań dowodzą, że czynniki osobiste, takie jak wiek, płeć, etap życia, zawód, warunki ekonomiczne, oraz motywy podejmowania aktywności rekreacyjnej różnicują zachowania turystyczno- rekreacyjne mieszkańców metropolii Poznań. Wyniki badania zostały wykorzystane w opracowaniu propozycji rozwoju innowacyjnej oferty turystycznej i rekreacyjnej miasta dla mieszkańców metropolii Poznań

The Impact of Degradation of PV/Battery-Independent System Components on Technical and Economic Indicators and Sizing Process

This article presents research on modelling the operation of an independent electricity generation system consisting of a photovoltaic installation and energy storage in the form of electrochemical batteries (PV/BAT). The generation system was considered primarily in the context of its sizing process, i.e., the selection of the installed power of the photovoltaic installation (PV) and the rated capacity of the battery (BAT). Traditionally, the model includes a one-year analysis of the generation system based on initial (nominal) parameters without considering component performance degradation. The novelty of this research lies in the long-term simulation of the system operation, considering the degradation of its components. The sizing process was based on the numerical method. The best solution is selected on the basis of the economic criterion, while satisfying the reliability condition. The simulations were conducted using Matlab software. Using a comparative analysis, the scale of technical and economic oversizing of the system was determined by considering long-term reliability. For the assumed customer load profile, insolation profile, and battery operation in the range of 25–100% of the available capacity, providing the assumed level of reliability after accounting for degradation in the sizing process resulted in a 33.33% increase in the rated battery capacity, an 18.75% increase in the installed photovoltaic plant capacity, and a 19.5% increase in the system cost of electricity (LCOE) relative to the results of the sizing process without accounting for component performance degradation over the years of operation

Degradation of Drug Delivery Nanocarriers and Payload Release: A Review of Physical Methods for Tracing Nanocarrier Biological Fate

Nanoformulations offer multiple advantages over conventional drug delivery, enhancing solubility, biocompatibility, and bioavailability of drugs. Nanocarriers can be engineered with targeting ligands for reaching specific tissue or cells, thus reducing the side effects of payloads. Following systemic delivery, nanocarriers must deliver encapsulated drugs, usually through nanocarrier degradation. A premature degradation, or the loss of the nanocarrier coating, may prevent the drug’s delivery to the targeted tissue. Despite their importance, stability and degradation of nanocarriers in biological environments are largely not studied in the literature. Here we review techniques for tracing the fate of nanocarriers, focusing on nanocarrier degradation and drug release both intracellularly and in vivo. Intracellularly, we will discuss different fluorescence techniques: confocal laser scanning microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, lifetime imaging, flow cytometry, etc. We also consider confocal Raman microscopy as a label-free technique to trace colocalization of nanocarriers and drugs. In vivo we will consider fluorescence and nuclear imaging for tracing nanocarriers. Positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography are used for a quantitative assessment of nanocarrier and payload biodistribution. Strategies for dual radiolabelling of the nanocarriers and the payload for tracing carrier degradation, as well as the efficacy of the payload delivery in vivo, are also discussed