Electricity distribution networks’ analysis with particular references to distributed generation and protection

Electric power systems have served well the consumers need for continuous, uninterrupted power supply of good quality and at the minimum possible cost. However, nowadays, the worldwide increasing demand on electric power, coupled with governmental policy changes towards “green” energy and emissions reduction have led to significant changes in the electric power generation. These changes have introduced many serious issues and problems to the electric power systems and although they have been efficiently addressed in the past years, now they need to be restudied and reanalysed taking into consideration all new developments. Distributed generation (DG), constitutes one of the most important developments in modern electric power systems and introduced many benefits as well as drawbacks. DG units are connected to the electric power system near load centres, thus, directly to the distribution network. DG units are larger in number than the more massive conventional power stations and are linked to the introduction of bidirectional power flow. As a result, the configuration of the traditional electric power systems and the networks’ operation have been prominently altered over the last years as soon as DG was introduced into the electric network. This progress has offered many challenges that need to be addressed such as those in terms of control and protection of electric power systems and particularly of distribution networks. The current PhD Thesis attempts to offer a contribution to the electricity distribution networks’ studies with particular reference to distributed generation and protection. In particular, the problems and the issues arising from the installation of DG units in distribution networks are studied. Research on the methods for improving voltage profiles and for reducing real and reactive power losses in distribution networks caused by DGs installation is conducted. Moreover, a decision making algorithm is developed and proposed for selecting the optimum size and location of DG in distribution networks. Furthermore, a new technique based on syntactic pattern recognition for the identification of power system signals used by protective relays is developed in an effort to contribute in the deterrence and reduction of faults. Finally, extensive studies in a distribution network have been conducted, with and without DGs, which aimed to identify the influence of several important parameters in the network’s lightning performance and with its main goal the limitation of lightning faults

Prosodic Patterns in Ramari Hatohobei

With only one grammar describing the languages of Sonsorol-Tobi and only its phonetics, this dissertation focuses on describing prosodic patterns in Ramari Hatohobei, or Tobian, a severely endangered Micronesian language. The primary aim is to contribute to the description of Ramari Hatohobei based on data from the ELAR collection, “Documenting Ramari Hatohobei, the Tobian language, a severely endangered Micronesian language” (Black and Black, 2014). Another aim is to identify the extent to which such data could be useful for linguistic description and in particular to the field of phonology and phonetics. Spectrograms have been extracted using Praat from conversations, descriptions and stories and the ToBI conventions have been used for the analysis of prosodic patterns. Furthermore, the curators and speakers have been consulted in order to investigate particular hypotheses. Due to my personal interest in documenting Sonsorolese, a closely related language, this dissertation could potentially become an axis in distinguishing the different prosodic patterns between the two languages

Preliminary orthographic design for Ramari Dongosaro

This paper aims at providing a detailed account of a standardisation project currently underway for Ramari Dongosaro, or Sonsorolese (ISO 639-3: sov), an endangered language spoken by less than 400 speakers (Eberhard, Simons & Fennig 2021) in the Republic of Palau. The purpose of this paper is to function as a record of the project, providing a preliminary phonological analysis, along with recommendations for an alphabet for Sonsorolese and potential applications of it. Finally, with this paper, we aim to gain input and feedback from Micronesian languages specialists and linguists specialising in standardisation

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

virALLanguages bridging new and traditional media in Cameroon for the fight against Covid-19

This presentation aims to inform and encourage an interdisciplinary (linguists, anthropologists, developmentalists, IT and health specialists, community members) discussion on how the virALLanguages project has potentially created a transitional environment in Cameroon, according to Chetley (2006), necessary for when introducing ICT for health information to developing and indigenous language contexts

Development of a Decision-Making Algorithm for the Optimum Size and Placement of Distributed Generation Units in Distribution Networks

The paper presents a decision-making algorithm that has been developed for the optimum size and placement of distributed generation (DG) units in distribution networks. The algorithm that is very flexible to changes and modifications can define the optimal location for a DG unit (of any type) and can estimate the optimum DG size to be installed, based on the improvement of voltage profiles and the reduction of the network’s total real and reactive power losses. The proposed algorithm has been tested on the IEEE 33-bus radial distribution system. The obtained results are compared with those of earlier studies, proving that the decision-making algorithm is working well with an acceptable accuracy. The algorithm can assist engineers, electric utilities, and distribution network operators with more efficient integration of new DG units in the current distribution networks

Machine Learning Techniques for the Prediction of the Magnetic and Electric Field of Electrostatic Discharges

The magnetic and electric fields of electrostatic discharges are assessed using the Naïve Bayes algorithm, a machine learning technique. Laboratory data from electrostatic discharge generators were used for the implementation of this algorithm. The applied machine learning algorithm can be used to predict the radiated field knowing the discharge current. The results of the Naïve Bayes algorithm are compared to a previous software tool derived by Artificial Neural Networks, proving its better outcome. The Naïve Bayes algorithm has excellent performance on most classification tasks, despite its simplicity, and usually is more accurate than many sophisticated methods. The proposed algorithm can be used by laboratories that conduct electrostatic discharge tests on electronic equipment. It will be a useful software tool, since they will be able to predict the radiating electromagnetic field by simply measuring the discharge current from the electrostatic discharge generators

Machine Learning Techniques for the Prediction of the Magnetic and Electric Field of Electrostatic Discharges

The magnetic and electric fields of electrostatic discharges are assessed using the Naïve Bayes algorithm, a machine learning technique. Laboratory data from electrostatic discharge generators were used for the implementation of this algorithm. The applied machine learning algorithm can be used to predict the radiated field knowing the discharge current. The results of the Naïve Bayes algorithm are compared to a previous software tool derived by Artificial Neural Networks, proving its better outcome. The Naïve Bayes algorithm has excellent performance on most classification tasks, despite its simplicity, and usually is more accurate than many sophisticated methods. The proposed algorithm can be used by laboratories that conduct electrostatic discharge tests on electronic equipment. It will be a useful software tool, since they will be able to predict the radiating electromagnetic field by simply measuring the discharge current from the electrostatic discharge generators