Risk-Based Capacitor Placement in Distribution Networks

In this paper, the problem of sizing and placement of constant and switching capacitors in electrical distribution systems is modelled considering the load uncertainty. This model is formu- lated as a multicriteria mathematical problem. The risk of voltage violation is calculated, and the stability index is modelled using fuzzy logic and fuzzy equations. The instability risk is introduced as the deviation of our fuzzy-based stability index with respect to the stability margin. The capacitor placement objectives in our paper include: (i) minimizing investment and installation costs as well as loss cost; (ii) reducing the risk of voltage violation; and (iii) reducing the instability risk. The proposed mathematical model is solved using a multi-objective version of a genetic algorithm. The model is implemented on a distribution network, and the results of the experiment are discussed. The impacts of constant and switching capacitors are assessed separately and concurrently. Moreo- ver, the impact of uncertainty on the multi-objectives is determined based on a sensitivity analysis. It is demonstrated that the more the uncertainty is, the higher the system cost, the voltage risk and the instability risk are

Magnetic Kronig-Penney model for Dirac electrons in single-layer graphene

The properties of Dirac electrons in a magnetic superlattice (SL) on graphene consisting of very high and thin (delta-function) barriers are investigated. We obtain the energy spectrum analytically and study the transmission through a finite number of barriers. The results are contrasted with those for electrons described by the Schrodinger equation. In addition, a collimation of an incident beam of electrons is obtained along the direction perpendicular to that of the SL. We also highlight the analogy with optical media in which the refractive index varies in space.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, to appear in New Journal of Physic

Asymmetric Localization by Second-Harmonic Generation

We introduce a nonlinear photonic system that enables asymmetric localization and unidirectional transfer of an electromagnetic wave through the second-harmonic generation process. Our proposed scattering setup consists of a noncentrosymmetric nonlinear slab with nonlinear susceptibility χ(2) placed to the left side of a one-dimensional periodic linear photonic crystal with an embedded defect. We engineered the linear lattice to allow the localization of a selected frequency 2ω⋆ while frequency ω⋆ is in the gap. Thus in our proposed scattering setup, a left-incident coherent transverse electric wave with frequency ω⋆ partially converts to frequency 2ω⋆ and becomes localized at the defect layer while the unconverted remaining field with frequency ω⋆ exponentially decays throughout the lattice and gets reflected. For a right-incident wave with frequency ω⋆ there will not be any frequency conversion and the incident wave gets fully reflected. Our proposed structure will find application in designing optical components such as optical sensors, switches, transistors, and logic elements

Asymmetric Localization by Second-Harmonic Generation

We introduce a nonlinear photonic system that enables asymmetric localization and unidirectional transfer of an electromagnetic wave through the second-harmonic generation process. Our proposed scattering setup consists of a noncentrosymmetric nonlinear slab with nonlinear susceptibility χ(2) placed to the left side of a one-dimensional periodic linear photonic crystal with an embedded defect. We engineered the linear lattice to allow the localization of a selected frequency 2ω⋆ while frequency ω⋆ is in the gap. Thus in our proposed scattering setup, a left-incident coherent transverse electric wave with frequency ω⋆ partially converts to frequency 2ω⋆ and becomes localized at the defect layer while the unconverted remaining field with frequency ω⋆ exponentially decays throughout the lattice and gets reflected. For a right-incident wave with frequency ω⋆ there will not be any frequency conversion and the incident wave gets fully reflected. Our proposed structure will find application in designing optical components such as optical sensors, switches, transistors, and logic elements

Tunable Non-Hermitian Acoustic Filter

We propose, design, and experimentally test a non-Hermitian acoustic superlattice that acts as a tunable precise filter. The superlattice is composed of two concatenated sublattices. The first sublattice is Hermitian, while the other can be adjusted to be Hermitian or non-Hermitian. The existence of non-Hermiticity, in terms of an induced loss in the second sublattice, results in the generation of absorption resonances that appear in the reflected spectrum. This provides us with a powerful knob to absorb or reflect several frequencies at will with high accuracy. The number of filtered frequencies can be controlled by designing the resonances in the first sublattice. Our proposed tunable acoustic filter can be extended to higher-frequency ranges, such as ultrasound, and other areas, such as photonics

Efficacy of a modified bier�s block in patients undergoing upper limb bone surgery

Background: Intravenous regional block, called the Bier's block, refers to an analgesic technique applied for soft tissue surgeries and closed bone manipulations of the limbs. There are a number of complications in traditional method of block, including pain in tourniquet site, immediate return of pain after tourniquet deflation, wound hemostasis and some others. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes and complications of our new method of blockage. Patients and Methods: In this experimental study, twenty-five patients undergoing hand surgery were prospectively studied. Induced anesthesia was a modifcation of the Bier's block with two concurrent changes including insertion of the intravenous cannula at the antecubital region rather than distal and the proximal anesthetic direction by an elastic band wrapped tightly around the proximal forearm distal to the cannulation site. The pain relief was measured by the verbal descriptive scale at intervals after block, during the operation, after deflation of the tourniquet and one hour after the operation. Results: This study showed the presence of analgesia at surgical and tourniquet sites during the operation in 96 of patients, as well as considerable pain relief at surgical site during one hour after deflation of the tourniquet. Conclusions: The study indicated advantages of this modified Bier's block compared to the traditional one including ability to perform surgery on upper limb bones and considerable pain relief at surgical and tourniquet sites during the operation until one hour thereafter. © 2015, Iranian Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ISRAPM)

Use of Equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian for PTPT-Symmetric Sinusoidal Optical Lattices

We show how the band structure and beam dynamics of non-Hermitian $PT$-symmetric sinusoidal optical lattices can be approached from the point of view of the equivalent Hermitian problem, obtained by an analytic continuation in the transverse spatial variable $x$. In this latter problem the eigenvalue equation reduces to the Mathieu equation, whose eigenfunctions and properties have been well studied. That being the case, the beam propagation, which parallels the time-development of the wave-function in quantum mechanics, can be calculated using the equivalent of the method of stationary states. We also discuss a model potential that interpolates between a sinusoidal and periodic square well potential, showing that some of the striking properties of the sinusoidal potential, in particular birefringence, become much less prominent as one goes away from the sinusoidal case.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Magnetron sputtering technique for analyzing the influence of RF sputtering power on microstructural surface morphology of aluminum thin films deposited on SiO2/Si substrates

In this research, aluminum (Al) thin films were deposited on SiO2/Si substrates using RF magnetron sputtering technique for analyzing the influence of RF sputtering power on microstructural surface morphologies. Different sputtering RF powers (100–400 W) were employed to form Al thin films. The characteristics of deposited Al thin films are investigated using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier-transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that the deposited films in low sputtering power have amorphous nature. By increasing the sputtering power, crystallization is observed. AFM analysis results show that the RF power of 300 W is the optimum sputtering power to grow the smoothest Al thin films. FTIR results show that the varying RF power affect the chemical structure of the deposited films. The SEM results show that by increasing the sputtering power leads to the formation of isolated texture on the surface of substrate. In conclusion, RF power has a significant impact on the properties of deposited films, particularly crystallization and shape

A suggested prototype for assessing bone health

Background- Osteoporosis is becoming a health concern worldwide. Considering the fact that prevention plays an important role in reducing the burden of this silent disease and in view of the limited resources available, many countries have adopted certain programs to fight osteoporosis through shifting their attention towards at-risk individuals. The Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS) is one of these programs. The program aims to assess bone health and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in different parts of Iran with various altitudes, latitudes and lifestyle habits in a way that the results could be generalized to the country. Method- The present article presents the protocol used in the third phase of the study. It was designed based on the experiences gathered in the previous phases to overcome the shortcomings particularly subject loss. The questionnaire applied in this study was developed based on a thorough literature review of the risk factors and secondary causes of osteoporosis and was approved by an expert panel. It should be added that while the majority of the existing studies aim to study a certain aspect of osteoporosis, the present protocol provides the information needed for policy makers and researchers to study different osteoporosis-related issues. Conclusion- The authors believe the protocol, to be implemented with small modifications, can help policymakers in different parts of the world, particularly developing countries, gather accurate information on different aspects of bone health at the national level. © 2015, Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved

PT-Symmetric Electronics

We show both theoretically and experimentally that a pair of inductively coupled active LRC circuits (dimer), one with amplification and another with an equivalent amount of attenuation, display all the features which characterize a wide class of non-Hermitian systems which commute with the joint parity-time PT operator: typical normal modes, temporal evolution, and scattering processes. Utilizing a Liouvilian formulation, we can define an underlying PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, which provides important insight for understanding the behavior of the system. When the PT-dimer is coupled to transmission lines, the resulting scattering signal reveals novel features which reflect the PT-symmetry of the scattering target. Specifically we show that the device can show two different behaviors simultaneously, an amplifier or an absorber, depending on the direction and phase relation of the interrogating waves. Having an exact theory, and due to its relative experimental simplicity, PT-symmetric electronics offers new insights into the properties of PT-symmetric systems which are at the forefront of the research in mathematical physics and related fields.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure