A reinforcement learning approach for optimal control in microgrids

The increasing integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) is transforming traditional power grid networks, which require new approaches for managing decentralized energy production and consumption. Microgrids (MGs) provide a promising solution by enabling localized control over energy generation, storage, and distribution. This paper presents a novel reinforcement learning (RL)-based methodology for optimizing microgrid energy management. Specifically, we propose an RL agent that learns optimal energy trading and storage policies by leveraging historical data on energy production, consumption, and market prices. A digital twin (DT) is used to simulate the energy storage system dynamics, incorporating degradation factors to ensure a realistic emulation of the analysed setting. Our approach is validated through an experimental campaign using real-world data from a power grid located in the Italian territory. The results indicate that the proposed RL-based strategy outperforms rule-based methods and existing RL benchmarks, offering a robust solution for intelligent microgrid management

Desempenho de linhagens de feijoeiro comum de grão preto no ensaio de VCU 2003/2004 da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a adaptabilidade e estabilidade das linhagens com tipo comercial de grão preto nos ensaio de Valor de Cultivo e Uso (VCU) ciclo 2003/2004

A novel digital twin for battery energy storage systems in micro-grids

Nowadays, traditional power grids, conventionally designed with a centralized paradigm, are evolving toward more decentralized configurations with numerous smaller nodes (prosumers), leading to increased interactions and complexity. In this context, digital twins (DTs) come in handy to replicate the behavior of a physical process in a fast, virtual, and safe way. This paper introduces a novel DT of a battery energy storage system (BESS), designed as a general-purpose framework adaptable for employment in complex scenarios. In addition to the DT design, this work presents a practical implementation of the proposed framework, rigorously validated through an extensive experimental campaign using real-world data. Specifically, the model is tested on realistic datasets, including a photovoltaic (PV) power profile, an experimental microgrid setup, and aged battery data. The results demonstrate the DT’s strong emulation capabilities, with a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) consistently below 0.50% across all experiments

BRS Cometa: cultivar de feijoeiro comum do tipo comercial carioca de porte ereto.

O programa de melhoramento genético do feijoeiro comum da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão está focado na busca de cultivares mais produtivas, mais resistentes às doenças e de porte ereto, que possibilitem inclusive a colheita mecanizada, para que os agricultores possam ofertar um produto de melhor qualidade ao consumidor final e auferir melhores rendimentos com a cultura. É com esta filosofia que está sendo lançada a cultivar de feijão com tipo de grão comercial carioca BRS Cometa para Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás/Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Bahia, Sergipe e Alagoas, com destaque para seu porte ereto, seu ciclo mais reduzido, além da resistência a três patótipos do fungo causador da antracnose, ao mosaico-comum e a moderada resistência à ferrugem e à mancha-angular.bitstream/CNPAF/25039/1/comt_131.pd

The role of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in oncological and non-oncological clinical settings: Highlights from the 7th Meeting of AIRO - Young Members Working Group (AIRO Giovani)

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is a modern cancer treatment strategy able to deliver highly focused radiation in one or a few fractions with a radical intent in several clinical settings. Young radiation oncologists need a constant and tailored update in this context to improve patient care in daily clinical practice. A recent meeting of AIRO Giovani (AIRO - Young Members Working Group) was specifically addressed to this topic, presenting state-of-the-art knowledge, based on the latest evidence in this field. Highlights of the congress are summarized and presented in this report, including thorough contributions of the speakers dealing with the role of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in both oncological and non-oncological diseases, divided according to anatomical and clinical scenarios: intra-cranial settings (brain malignant primary tumors, metastases, benign tumors and functional disorders) and extra-cranial indications (lung primary tumors and metastases, thoracic re-irradiation, liver, lymph node and bone metastases, prostate cancer). With literature data discussed during the congress as a background, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy has proved to be a consolidated treatment approach in specific oncological and non-oncological scenarios, as well as a promising option in other clinical settings, requiring a further prospective validation in the near future. We herein present an updated overview of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy use in the clinic

PERSIAN trial (NCT05717660): an ongoing randomized trial testing androgen deprivation therapy, apalutamide and stereotactic body radiotherapy. An alternative “triplet” for oligometastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer patients

Earlier treatment intensification with systemic potent androgen receptor inhibition has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer. Nonetheless, oligometastatic patients may benefit from local treatment approaches such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Aiming to explore the benefit of SBRT in this scenario, we designed this trial to specifically test the hypothesis that SBRT will improve clinical outcomes in select population affected by metachronous oligometastatic HSPC treated with androgen deprivation therapy + apalutamide. Enrolled patients will be randomized to receive the standard systemic treatment alone or in combination with SBRT on all metastatic sites of disease. Here we report the protocol design and an overview of the ongoing trials testing different integration strategies between RT and systemic therapies

Single-shot transverse coherence in seeded and unseeded free-electron lasers: A comparison

The advent of x-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) drastically enhanced the capabilities of several analytical techniques, for which the degree of transverse (spatial) coherence of the source is essential. FELs can be operated in self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) or seeded configurations, which rely on a qualitatively different initialization of the amplification process leading to light emission. The degree of transverse coherence of SASE and seeded FELs has been characterized in the past, both experimentally and theoretically. However, a direct experimental comparison between the two regimes in similar operating conditions is missing, as well as an accurate study of the sensitivity of transverse coherence to key working parameters. In this paper, we carry out such a comparison, focusing in particular on the evolution of coherence during the light amplification process