Spatial and performance optimality in power distribution networks

(c) 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.Complex network theory has been widely used in vulnerability analysis of power networks, especially for power transmission ones. With the development of the smart grid concept, power distribution networks are becoming increasingly relevant. In this paper, we model power distribution systems as spatial networks. Topological and spatial properties of 14 European power distribution networks are analyzed, together with the relationship between geographical constraints and performance optimization, taking into account economic and vulnerability issues. Supported by empirical reliability data, our results suggest that power distribution networks are influenced by spatial constraints which clearly affect their overall performance.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Direct evidence of dust growth in L183 from MIR light scattering

Theoretical arguments suggest that dust grains should grow in the dense cold parts of molecular clouds. Evidence of larger grains has so far been gathered in near/mid infrared extinction and millimeter observations. Interpreting the data is, however, aggravated by the complex interplay of density and dust properties (as well as temperature for thermal emission). We present new Spitzer data of L183 in bands that are sensitive and insensitive to PAHs. The visual extinction AV map derived in a former paper was fitted by a series of 3D Gaussian distributions. For different dust models, we calculate the scattered MIR radiation images of structures that agree agree with the AV map and compare them to the Spitzer data. The Spitzer data of L183 show emission in the 3.6 and 4.5 micron bands, while the 5.8 micron band shows slight absorption. The emission layer of stochastically heated particles should coincide with the layer of strongest scattering of optical interstellar radiation, which is seen as an outer surface on I band images different from the emission region seen in the Spitzer images. Moreover, PAH emission is expected to strongly increase from 4.5 to 5.8 micron, which is not seen. Hence, we interpret this emission to be MIR cloudshine. Scattered light modeling when assuming interstellar medium dust grains without growth does not reproduce flux measurable by Spitzer. In contrast, models with grains growing with density yield images with a flux and pattern comparable to the Spitzer images in the bands 3.6, 4.5, and 8.0 micron.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Leaders\u2019 competence and warmth: Their relationships with employees\u2019 well-being and organizational effectiveness

The aim of this work was to investigate competence and warmth \u2014 the two basic dimensions of social judgment \u2014 as dimensions employees use to evaluate their supervisors. A mediation model was tested in which supervisor\u2019s perceived competence and warmth were associated with relevant outcomes (lower burnout, weaker turnover intentions, more frequent citizenship behaviors) through the mediation of affective organizational commitment (AOC). In Study 1, data were collected from employees of a company in the water service sector. In Study 2, participants were financial promoters. In Study 3, the sample included employees from different organizations. As hypothesized, the perception of one\u2019s supervisor as competent (Studies 1-3) and warm (Study 3) was related to employees\u2019 lower burnout, weaker turnover intentions, more frequent prosocial behaviors through the mediation of AOC. Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed

What can play the role of gluten in gluten free pasta?

Defining and optimizing the technological process to improve the sensory and nutritional characteristics of gluten-free (GF) products still represent a challenge for researchers and industry. As regards pasta, several ingredients (modified starch, GF flours, additives) have been used as alternatives to gluten in order to create a starchy network that can withstand the physical stresses of cooking and impart firmness to the cooked product. Moreover, different variations of noodle-making technology have been proposed to simplify the artisan process based on repeated heating and cooling steps, which are difficult to control and monitor. This paper will overview how to replace gluten functionality in GF pasta

Coupling three-dimensional peridynamics and high-order one-dimensional finite elements based on local elasticity for the linear static analysis of solid beams and thin-walled reinforced structures

Peridynamics is a nonlocal theory which has been successfully applied to solid mechanics and crack propagation problems over the last decade. This methodology, however, may lead to large computational calculations which can soon become intractable for many problems of practical interest. In this context, a technique to couple—in a global/local sense–three-dimensional peridynamics with one-dimensional high-order finite elements based on classical elasticity is proposed. The refined finite elements employed in this work are based on the well-established Carrera Unified Formulation, which the previous literature has demonstrated to provide structural formulations with unprecedented accuracy and optimized computational efficiency. The coupling is realized by using Lagrange multipliers that guarantee versatility and physical consistency as shown by the numerical results, including the linear static analyses of solid and thin-walled beams as well as of a reinforced panel of aeronautic interest

Component-Wise Method Applied to Static and Dynamic Analysis of Reinforced Structures with Applications to Aerospace, Civil Engineering and Marine Constructions

In this work, an advanced formulation for the analysis of multi-component structures is presented. By employing the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF), one-dimensional theories of structures are unified and written in a compact form by using fundamental nuclei. The principle of virtual displacement is then used to write the governing equations and the related finite element arrays. Classical one-dimensional shape functions are utilized to discretize the problem along the beam axis and to deal with complex geometries and loadings. Thanks to CUF, various one-dimensional beam theories are included within the same hierarchical finite element. Particular attention is paid to the Component-Wise (CW) approach. CW models are generated by developing beam theories based on Lagrange polynomial expansions of the generalized displacements. The enhanced capabilities of the present CW models when applied to the analysis of short beams, thin-walled structures and multi-component constructions are widely discussed