Non-Wire Alternatives to Capacity Expansion

Distributed energy resources (DERs) can serve as non-wire alternatives to capacity expansion by managing peak load to avoid or defer traditional expansion projects. In this paper, we study a planning problem that co-optimizes DERs investment and operation (e.g., energy efficiency, energy storage, demand response, solar photovoltaic) and the timing of capacity expansion. We formulate the problem as a large scale (in the order of millions of variables because we model the operation of DERs over a period of decades) non-convex optimization problem. Despite its non-convexities, we find its optimal solution by decomposing it using the Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition Algorithm and solving a series of small linear problems. Finally, we present a real planning problem at the University of Washington Seattle Campus.Comment: This document is an online supplement for a paper submitted to the 2018 Power and Energy Society General Meetin

4-Nitro­phenyl 2-methyl­benzoate

The title compound, C14H11NO4, crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The major conformational difference between these two mol­ecules is the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings, namely 36.99 (5) and 55.04 (5)°. The nitro groups are coplanar with the phenyl rings to which they are attached, the O—N—C—C torsion angles being −1.9 (3) and 1.0 (3)° in the two mol­ecules

Economic growth and its relationship with the macroeconomic factors: An analysis of Oman

This study determines Oman’s most important macroeconomic factors between 1990 and 2019. The ARDL bound test findings for co-integration show that both long and short runs exist. The error-correcting mechanism further states that when the divergence from long-run equilibrium is rectified at an adaptation speed of 78.9%, it signals an inversion to a long-run stable state. In response to a change in the previous year’s economic growth, the final consumption expenditure indicates a rise of 0.472; the gross fixed capital formation and export indicate hikes of 0.149 and 0.358 at a 1% significance level. Additionally, the findings of co-integration regression using fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS), and canonical co-integration regression (CCR) were used to strengthen and validate the results that export ranks first in Oman, followed by final consumption spending. Therefore, export, gross fixed capital formation, and final consumption expenditure are vital macroeconomic elements supporting Oman’s economic development

4-Nitro­phenyl 1-naphthoate

In the title compound, C17H11NO4, the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 8.66 (3)°. The nitro group is twisted by 4.51 (9)° out of the plane of the aromatic ring to which it is attached. The presence of inter­molecular C—H⋯O contacts in the crystal structure leads to the formation of chains along the c axis

Assessing emergency medical care in low income countries: A pilot study from Pakistan

Background: Emergency Medical Care is an important component of health care system. Unfortunately it is however, ignored in many low income countries. We assessed the availability and quality of facility-based emergency medical care in the government health care system at district level in a low income country - Pakistan. Methods: We did a quantitative pilot study of a convenience sample of 22 rural and 20 urban health facilities in 2 districts - Faisalabad and Peshawar - in Pakistan. The study consisted of three separate cross-sectional assessments of selected community leaders, health care providers, and health care facilities. Three data collection instruments were created with input from existing models for facility assessment such as those used by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals and the National Center for Health Statistics in USA and the Medical Research Council in Pakistan. Results: The majority of respondents 43/44(98%), in community survey were not satisfied with the emergency care provided. Most participants 36/44(82%) mentioned that they will not call an ambulance in health related emergency because it does not function properly in the government system. The expenses on emergency care for the last experience were reported to be less than 5,000 Pakistani Rupees (equivalent to US$ 83) for 19/29(66%) respondents. Most health care providers 43/44(98%) were of the opinion that their facilities were inadequately equipped to treat emergencies. The majority of facilities 31/42(74%) had no budget allocated for emergency care. A review of medications and equipment available showed that many critical supplies needed in an emergency were not found in these facilities. Conclusion: Assessment of emergency care should be part of health systems analysis in Pakistan. Multiple deficiencies in emergency care at the district level in Pakistan were noted in our study. Priority should be given to make emergency care responsive to needs in Pakistan. Specific efforts should be directed to equip emergency care at district facilities and to organize an ambulance network

A multicentre matched case control study of risk factors for Preeclampsia in healthy women in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality world-wide. The risk for developing preeclampsia varies depending on the underlying mechanism. Because the disorder is heterogeneous, the pathogenesis can differ in women with various risk factors. Understanding these mechanisms of disease responsible for preeclampsia as well as risk assessment is still a major challenge. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with preeclampsia, in healthy women in maternity hospitals of Karachi and Rawalpindi.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a hospital based matched case-control study to assess the factors associated with preeclampsia in Karachi and Rawalpindi, from January 2006 to December 2007. 131 hospital-reported cases of PE and 262 controls without history of preeclampsia were enrolled within 3 days of delivery. Cases and controls were matched on the hospital, day of delivery and parity. Potential risk factors for preeclampsia were ascertained during in-person postpartum interviews using a structured questionnaire and by medical record abstraction. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate matched odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In multivariate analysis, women having a family history of hypertension (adjusted OR 2.06, 95% CI; 1.27-3.35), gestational diabetes (adjusted OR 6.57, 95% CI; 1.94 -22.25), pre-gestational diabetes (adjusted OR 7.36, 95% CI; 1.37-33.66) and mental stress during pregnancy (adjusted OR 1.32; 95% CI; 1.19-1.46, for each 5 unit increase in Perceived stress scale score) were at increased risk of preeclampsia. However, high body mass index, maternal age, urinary tract infection, use of condoms prior to index pregnancy and sociodemographic factors were not associated with higher risk of having preeclampsia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Development of preeclampsia was associated with gestational diabetes, pregestational diabetes, family history of hypertension and mental stress during pregnancy. These factors can be used as a screening tool for preeclampsia prediction. Identification of the above mentioned predictors would enhance the ability to diagnose and monitor women likely to develop preeclampsia before the onset of disease for timely interventions and better maternal and fetal outcomes.</p

Insights into structure and function of SHIP2-SH2: homology modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics study

SRC homology 2 (SH2)-containing inositol 5′-phosphatase protein (SHIP2) is a potential target for type 2 diabetes. Its ability to dephosphorylate the lipid messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3], important for insulin signaling, makes it an important target against type 2 diabetes. The insulin-induced SHIP2 interaction with Shc is very important for the membrane localization and functioning of SHIP2. There is a bidentate relationship between the two proteins where two domains each from SHIP2 and Shc are involved in mutual binding. However in the present study, the SHIP2-SH2 domain binding with the phosphorylated tyrosine 317 on the collagen-homology (CH) domain of Shc, has been studied due to the indispensability of this interaction in SHIP2 localization. In the absence of the crystal structure of SHIP2-SH2, its structural model was developed followed by tracking its molecular interactions with Shc through molecular docking and dynamics studies. This study revealed much about the structural interactions between the SHIP2-SH2 and Shc-CH. Finally, docking study of a nonpeptide inhibitor into the SHIP2-SH2 domain further confirmed the structural interactions involved in ligand binding and also proposed the inhibitor as a major starting point against SHIP2-SH2 inhibition. The insights gained from the current study should prove useful in the design of more potent inhibitors against type 2 diabetes

The effect of fusidic acid on Plasmodium falciparum elongation factor G (EF-G)

Inhibition of growth of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by known translation-inhibitory antibiotics has generated interest in understanding their action on the translation apparatus of the two genome containing organelles of the malaria parasite: the mitochondrion and the relic plastid (apicoplast). We report GTPase activity of recombinant EF-G proteins that are targeted to the organelles and further use these to test the effect of the EF-G inhibitor fusidic acid (FA) on the factor–ribosome interface. Our results monitoring locking of EF-G·GDP onto surrogate Escherichia coli ribosomes as well as multi-turnover GTP hydrolysis by the factor indicate that FA has a greater effect on apicoplast EF-G compared to the mitochondrial counterpart. Deletion of a three amino acid (GVG) sequence in the switch I loop that is conserved in proteins of the mitochondrial EF-G1 family and the Plasmodium mitochondrial factor, but is absent in apicoplast EF-G, demonstrated that this motif contributes to differential inhibition of the two EF-Gs by FA. Additionally, the drug thiostrepton, that is known to target the apicoplast and proteasome, enhanced retention of only mitochondrial EF-G on ribosomes providing support for the reported effect of the drug on parasite mitochondrial translation