68 research outputs found

    An enhancing fault current limitation hybrid droop/V-f control for grid-tied four-wire inverters in AC microgrids

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    Microgrid integration and fault protection in complex network scenarios is a coming challenge to be faced with new strategies and solutions. In this context of increasing complexity, this paper describes two specific overload control strategies for four-wire inverters integrated in low voltage four-wire alternating current (AC) microgrids. The control of grid-tied microgrid inverters has been widely studied in the past and mainly focused on the use of droop control, which hugely constrains the time response during grid-disconnected operation. Taking into account the previous knowledge and experience about this subject, the main contribution of these two proposals regards providing fault current limitation in both operation modes, over-load capability skills in grid-connected operation and sinusoidal short-circuit proof in grid-disconnected operation. In the complex operation scenarios mentioned above, a hybrid combination of AC droop control based on dynamic phasors with varying virtual resistance, and voltage/frequency master voltage control for grid-(dis)connected operation modes are adopted as the mechanism to enhance time response. The two proposals described in the present document are validated by means of simulations using Matlab/Simulink and real experimental results obtained from CENER (The National Renewable Energy Centre) experimental ATENEA four-wire AC microgrid, obtaining time responses in the order of two-three grid cycles for all cases.Postprint (published version

    Technical, Constructive and Economic Feasibility to Turn Off-Grid an Existing Building

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    Existing educational buildings built with old normatives suffer a lack of technology, even though they are the frame of reference for our future society’s architects(/builders). These buildings, usually promoted by the public sector, don’t have significant economic investment, even if they are going to affect our children’s world perception. The object construction of this study is a building from 1978. It has an educational use located at the Pamplona campus of the Universidad de Navarra. The building is part of the Living Lab of the Campus, where technologies, solutions and strategies can be proved It is a protected building by the “Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement” (Do. Co,Mo.Mo.), so all actions that can affect its aesthetic aspects need to be justified because of the value of the building. The methodology presented concerns the development of a replicable technical, constructive, and economical feasibility model to reach an off-grid disconnection of an existing building. The steps followed for this study are classified in seven main steps. This proposal aims to define a replicable solution that is going to be applied to other buildings of campus Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona. Even that the first solution is going to be limited by the aesthetic aspect, the final objective is to develop a Plug & Play solution following the methodology, answering the energetical deficiency and complexity of existing constructions

    Nanostructured PbS-doped inorganic film synthesized by sol-gel route

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    IV-VI semiconductor quantum dots embedded into an inorganic matrix represent nanostructured composite materials with potential application in temperature sensor systems. This study explores the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a novel PbS quantum dots (QDs)- doped inorganic thin film belonging to the Al2O3 -SiO2 -P2O5 system. The film was synthesized by the sol-gel method, spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution deposited on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by drying of each deposited layer. Crystalline PbS QDs embedded in the inorganic vitreous host matrix formed a nanocomposite material. Specific investigations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible (Vis)-near infrared (NIR) domain, NIR luminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy– energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the deposited film. The dimensions of the PbS nanocrystallite phase were corroborated by XRD, SEM-EDX, and AFM results. The luminescence band from 1400 nm follows the luminescence peak of the precursor solution and that of the dopant solution. The emission of the PbS-doped film in the NIR domain is a premise for potential application in temperature sensing systems.This study was funded by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI–UEFISCDI, project ERANET-MANUNET-TEMSENSOPT, MNET20/ NMCS3732, within PNCDI III, contract 213/02.12.2020; Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization (MRID), Core Program, contracts no. 16N/2019, 18N/2019 and 21N/2019; MRID through Program I—Development of the National R & D System, Subprogram 1.2–Institutional Performance– Projects for Excellence Financing in RDI, contracts no. 13PFE/2021, 18PFE/2021 and 35PFE/2021; CCCDI-UEFISCDI project PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-2541. Support from the Public University of Navarre for Research Groups is also acknowledged

    Large-scale meta-genome-wide association study reveals common genetic factors linked to radiation-induced acute toxicities across cancer types

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    Meta-genome; Toxicities; CancerMetagenoma; Toxicidades; CáncerMetagenoma; Toxicitats; CàncerBackground This study was designed to identify common genetic susceptibility and shared genetic variants associated with acute radiation-induced toxicity across 4 cancer types (prostate, head and neck, breast, and lung). Methods A genome-wide association study meta-analysis was performed using 19 cohorts totaling 12 042 patients. Acute standardized total average toxicity (STATacute) was modelled using a generalized linear regression model for additive effect of genetic variants, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates (rSTATacute). Linkage disequilibrium score regression estimated shared single-nucleotide variation (SNV—formerly SNP)–based heritability of rSTATacute in all patients and for each cancer type. Results Shared SNV-based heritability of STATacute among all cancer types was estimated at 10% (SE = 0.02) and was higher for prostate (17%, SE = 0.07), head and neck (27%, SE = 0.09), and breast (16%, SE = 0.09) cancers. We identified 130 suggestive associated SNVs with rSTATacute (5.0 × 10‒8 < P < 1.0 × 10‒5) across 25 genomic regions. rs142667902 showed the strongest association (effect allele A; effect size ‒0.17; P = 1.7 × 10‒7), which is located near DPPA4, encoding a protein involved in pluripotency in stem cells, which are essential for repair of radiation-induced tissue injury. Gene-set enrichment analysis identified ‘RNA splicing via endonucleolytic cleavage and ligation’ (P = 5.1 × 10‒6, P = .079 corrected) as the top gene set associated with rSTATacute among all patients. In silico gene expression analysis showed that the genes associated with rSTATacute were statistically significantly up-regulated in skin (not sun exposed P = .004 corrected; sun exposed P = .026 corrected). Conclusions There is shared SNV-based heritability for acute radiation-induced toxicity across and within individual cancer sites. Future meta–genome-wide association studies among large radiation therapy patient cohorts are worthwhile to identify the common causal variants for acute radiotoxicity across cancer types.E.N. was supported by a scholarship for a PhD from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. T.D. is funded as an Academic Clinical Fellow by the National Institute for Health Research, UK. D.J.T. is supported by a grant from The Taylor Family Foundation and Cancer Research UK [C19941/A30286]. M.L.K.C. is supported by the National Medical Research Council Singapore Clinician Scientist Award (NMRC/CSA-INV/0027/2018), National Research Foundation Proton Competitive Research Program (NRF-CRP17-2017-05), Ministry of Education Tier 3 Academic Research Fund (MOE2016-T3-1-004), the Duke-NUS Oncology Academic Program Goh Foundation Proton Research Programme, NCCS Cancer Fund, and the Kua Hong Pak Head and Neck Cancer Research Programme. G.C.B. is supported by Cancer research UK RadNet Cambridge [C17918/A28870]. RADIOGEN research was supported by Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) funding, an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation partially supported by European Regional Development FEDER Funds (INT20/00071, INT15/00070, INT17/00133, INT16/00154; PI19/01424; PI16/00046; PI13/02030; PI10/00164); by AECC grant PRYES211091VEGA and through the Autonomous Government of Galicia (Consolidation and structuring program: IN607B). C.N.A. and L.M.H.S. received funding from the Danish Cancer Society (grant R231-A14074-B2537). T.R. was funded by a National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Lectureship (CL 2017-11-002) and is supported by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. This publication presents independent research funded by the NIHR. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. REQUITE received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development, and demonstration under grant agreement No. 601826. S.G.E. is supported by the government of Catalonia 2021SGR01112. L.D. was supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programs BRIDGES (grant No. 634935)

    Brief Research Report: Virus-Specific Humoral Immunity at Admission Predicts the Development of Respiratory Failure in Unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 Patients

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    Erratum for Brief Research Report: Virus-Specific Humoral Immunity at Admission Predicts the Development of Respiratory Failure in Unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 Patients. Tajuelo A, Carretero O, García-Ríos E, López-Siles M, Cano O, Vázquez M, Más V, Rodríguez-Goncer I, Lalueza A, López-Medrano F, Juan RS, Fernández-Ruiz M, Aguado JM, McConnell MJ, Pérez-Romero P. Front Immunol. 2022 Apr 25;13:878812. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878812. eCollection 2022. PMID: 35547738 Free PMC article.Introduction: There is robust evidence indicating that the SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral response is associated with protection against severe disease. However, relatively little data exist regarding how the humoral immune response at the time of hospital admission correlates with disease severity in unimmunized patients. Our goal was toidentify variables of the humoral response that could potentially serve as prognostic markers for COVID-19 progressionin unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 patients. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 160 unimmunized, adult COVID-19 patients from the Hospital Universitario 12Octubre. Participants were classified into four clinical groups based on disease severity: non-survivors with respiratory failure (RF), RF survivors, patients requiring oxygen therapy and those not receiving oxygen therapy. Serum samples were taken on admission and IgM, IgG, IgG subclass antibody titers were determined by ELISA, and neutralizing antibody titersusing a surrogate neutralization assay. The differences in the antibody titers between groups and the association between the clinical and analytical characteristics of the patients and the antibody titers were analyzed. Results: Patients that developed RF and survived had IgM titers that were 2-fold higher than non-survivors (p = 0.001), higher levels of total IgG than those who developed RF and succumbed to infection (p< 0.001), and than patients who required oxygen therapy (p< 0.05), and had 5-fold higher IgG1 titers than RF non-survivors (p< 0.001) and those who needed oxygen therapy (p< 0.001), and 2-fold higher than patients that did not require oxygen therapy during admission (p< 0.05). In contrast, RF non-survivorshad the lowest neutralizing antibodylevels, which were significantly lower compared those with RF that survived (p = 0.03). A positive correlation was found between IgM, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 titers and neutralizing antibody titers in the total cohort (p ≤ 0.0036). Conclusions: We demonstrate that patients with RF that survived infection had significantly higher IgM, IgG, IgG1 and neutralizing titers compared to patients with RF that succumb to infection, suggesting that using humoral response variables could be used as a prognostic marker for guiding the clinical management of unimmunized patients admitted to the hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection.This work was supported by Mutua Madrileña Foundation (2020/0056) “Plan Nacional de I+D+I” and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COVID-19 Research Call COV20/00181 and COV20_00679), Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016) - co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund (EDRF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) "A way to achieve Europe- The ESF invests in your future". Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), CB21/13/00079. EG-R is supported by the Sara Borrell Program (CD18CIII/00007), MLS is supported by the Sara Borrell Program (CD17CIIII/00017), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades., and AT is supported by the Garantía Juvenil Program of the Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid. IRG holds a research training contract “Río Hortega” (CM19/00163) and MFR a research contract “Miguel Servet” (CP18/00073), both from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.S

    On the Diversity of Phyllodocida (Annelida: Errantia), with a Focus on Glyceridae, Goniadidae, Nephtyidae, Polynoidae, Sphaerodoridae, Syllidae, and the Holoplanktonic Families

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    Este artículo contiene 65 páginas, 26 figuras, 1 tabla.Phyllodocida is a clade of errantiate annelids characterized by having ventral sensory palps, anterior enlarged cirri, axial muscular proboscis, compound chaetae (if present) with a single ligament, and of lacking dorsolateral folds. Members of most families date back to the Carboniferous, although the earliest fossil was dated from the Devonian. Phyllodocida holds 27 well-established and morphologically homogenous clades ranked as families, gathering more than 4600 currently accepted nominal species. Among them, Syllidae and Polynoidae are the most specious polychaete groups. Species of Phyllodocida are mainly found in the marine benthos, although a few inhabit freshwater, terrestrial and planktonic environments, and occur from intertidal to deep waters in all oceans. In this review, we (1) explore the current knowledge on species diversity trends (based on traditional species concept and molecular data), phylogeny, ecology, and geographic distribution for the whole group, (2) try to identify the main knowledge gaps, and (3) focus on selected families: Alciopidae, Goniadidae, Glyceridae, Iospilidae, Lopadorrhynchidae, Polynoidae, Pontodoridae, Nephtyidae, Sphaerodoridae, Syllidae, Tomopteridae, Typhloscolecidae, and Yndolaciidae. The highest species richness is concentrated in European, North American, and Australian continental shelves (reflecting a strong sampling bias). While most data come from shallow coastal and surface environments most world oceans are clearly under-studied. The overall trends indicate that new descriptions are constantly added through time and that less than 10% of the known species have molecular barcode information availableWe acknowledge support of the publication fees by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI) and the Open Access Publication Funds of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. This research was funded by the Spanish “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” (AEI) and the European Funds for Regional Development (FEDER), Research Project PopCOmics (CTM2017-88080) to DM; the Russian Scientific Foundation for Basic Research, grant no. RFBR 18-05-00459 to TAB; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), contract foreseen in the Decree-Law 57/2016 (Nrs 4-6, art. 23), changed by Law 57/2017 to AR and FCT/MCTES to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020) through national funds; São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), fellowship proc. 2007/53040-9 to MVF; Spanish MINECO, AEI, Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares, European Social Funds and Ramón y Cajal program, RYC-2016-20799 to MC; FCT and ESF (SFRH/BD/131527/2017) through a PhD grant to MALT.Peer reviewe

    Toxoplasmosis in transplant recipients, Europe, 2010-2014

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    Transplantation activity is increasing, leading to a growing number of patients at risk for toxoplasmosis. We reviewed toxoplasmosis prevention practices, prevalence, and outcomes for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT; heart, kidney, or liver) patients in Europe. We collected electronic data on the transplant population and prevention guidelines/regulations and clinical data on toxoplasmosis cases diagnosed during 2010-2014. Serologic pretransplant screening of allo-hematopoietic stem cell donors was performed in 80% of countries, screening of organ donors in 100%. SOT recipients were systematically screened in 6 countries. Targeted anti-Toxoplasma chemoprophylaxis was heterogeneous. A total of 87 toxoplasmosis cases were recorded (58 allo-HSCTs, 29 SOTs). The 6-month survival rate was lower among Toxoplasma-seropositive recipients and among allo-hematopoietic stem cell and liver recipients. Chemoprophylaxis improved outcomes for SOT recipients. Toxoplasmosis remains associated with high mortality rates among transplant recipients. Guidelines are urgently needed to standardize prophylactic regimens and optimize patient management

    Preliminary Target Selection for the DESI Milky Way Survey (MWS)

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    International audienceThe DESI Milky Way Survey (MWS) will observe \ge8 million stars between 16<r<1916 < r < 19 mag, supplemented by observations of brighter targets under poor observing conditions. The survey will permit an accurate determination of stellar kinematics and population gradients; characterize diffuse substructure in the thick disk and stellar halo; enable the discovery of extremely metal-poor stars and other rare stellar types; and improve constraints on the Galaxy's 3D dark matter distribution from halo star kinematics. MWS will also enable a detailed characterization of the stellar populations within 100 pc of the Sun, including a complete census of white dwarfs. The target catalog from the preliminary selection described here is public

    Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

    GTC Follow-up Observations of Very Metal-Poor Star Candidates from DESI

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    The observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will significantly increase the numbers of known extremely metal-poor stars by a factor of ~ 10, improving the sample statistics to study the early chemical evolution of the Milky Way and the nature of the first stars. In this paper we report high signal-to-noise follow-up observations of 9 metal-poor stars identified during the DESI commissioning with the Optical System for Imaging and low-Intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy (OSIRIS) instrument on the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). The analysis of the data using a well-vetted methodology confirms the quality of the DESI spectra and the performance of the pipelines developed for the data reduction and analysis of DESI data.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, to be submitted to ApJ, data available from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.802084
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