A novel power management and control design framework for resilient operation of microgrids

This thesis concerns the investigation of the integration of the microgrid, a form of future electric grids, with renewable energy sources, and electric vehicles. It presents an innovative modular tri-level hierarchical management and control design framework for the future grid as a radical departure from the ‘centralised’ paradigm in conventional systems, by capturing and exploiting the unique characteristics of a host of new actors in the energy arena - renewable energy sources, storage systems and electric vehicles. The formulation of the tri-level hierarchical management and control design framework involves a new perspective on the problem description of the power management of EVs within a microgrid, with the consideration of, among others, the bi-directional energy flow between storage and renewable sources. The chronological structure of the tri-level hierarchical management operation facilitates a modular power management and control framework from three levels: Microgrid Operator (MGO), Charging Station Operator (CSO), and Electric Vehicle Operator (EVO). At the top level is the MGO that handles long-term decisions of balancing the power flow between the Distributed Generators (DGs) and the electrical demand for a restructure realistic microgrid model. Optimal scheduling operation of the DGs and EVs is used within the MGO to minimise the total combined operating and emission costs of a hybrid microgrid including the unit commitment strategy. The results have convincingly revealed that discharging EVs could reduce the total cost of the microgrid operation. At the middle level is the CSO that manages medium-term decisions of centralising the operation of aggregated EVs connected to the bus-bar of the microgrid. An energy management concept of charging or discharging the power of EVs in different situations includes the impacts of frequency and voltage deviation on the system, which is developed upon the MGO model above. Comprehensive case studies show that the EVs can act as a regulator of the microgrid, and can control their participating role by discharging active or reactive power in mitigating frequency and/or voltage deviations. Finally, at the low level is the EVO that handles the short-term decisions of decentralising the functioning of an EV and essential power interfacing circuitry, as well as the generation of low-level switching functions. EVO level is a novel Power and Energy Management System (PEMS), which is further structured into three modular, hierarchical processes: Energy Management Shell (EMS), Power Management Shell (PMS), and Power Electronic Shell (PES). The shells operate chronologically with a different object and a different period term. Controlling the power electronics interfacing circuitry is an essential part of the integration of EVs into the microgrid within the EMS. A modified, multi-level, H-bridge cascade inverter without the use of a main (bulky) inductor is proposed to achieve good performance, high power density, and high efficiency. The proposed inverter can operate with multiple energy resources connected in series to create a synergized energy system. In addition, the integration of EVs into a simulated microgrid environment via a modified multi-level architecture with a novel method of Space Vector Modulation (SVM) by the PES is implemented and validated experimentally. The results from the SVM implementation demonstrate a viable alternative switching scheme for high-performance inverters in EV applications. The comprehensive simulation results from the MGO and CSO models, together with the experimental results at the EVO level, not only validate the distinctive functionality of each layer within a novel synergy to harness multiple energy resources, but also serve to provide compelling evidence for the potential of the proposed energy management and control framework in the design of future electric grids. The design framework provides an essential design to for grid modernisation

Quadtree partitioning scheme of color image based

Image segmentation is an essential complementary process in digital image processing and computer vision, but mostly utilizes simple segmentation techniques, such as fixed partitioning scheme and global thresholding techniques due to their simplicity and popularity, in spite of their inefficiency. This paper introduces a new split-merge segmentation process for a quadtree scheme of colour images, based on exploiting the spatial and spectral information embedded within the bands and between bands, respectively. The results show that this technique is efficient in terms of quality of segmentation and time, which can be used in standard techniques as alternative to a fixed partitioning scheme

Application of Metaheuristic Algorithms and ANN Model for Univariate Water Level Forecasting

With the rapid development of machine learning (ML) models, the artificial neural network (ANN) is being increasingly applied for forecasting hydrological processes. However, researchers have not treated hybrid ML models in much detail. To address these issues, this study herein suggests a novel methodology to forecast the monthly water level (WL) based on multiple lags of the Tigris River in Al-Kut, Iraq, over ten years. The methodology includes preprocessing data methods, and the ANN model optimises with a marine predator algorithm (MPA). In the optimisation procedure, to decrease uncertainty and expand the predicting range, the slime mould algorithm (SMA-ANN), constriction coefficient-based particle swarm optimisation and chaotic gravitational search algorithms (CPSOCGSA-ANN), and particle swarm optimisation (PSO-ANN) are applied to compare and validate the MPA-ANN model performance. Analysis of results revealed that the data pretreatment methods improved the original data quality and selected the ideal predictors' scenario by singular spectrum analysis and mutual information methods, respectively. For example, the correlation coefficient of the first lag improved from 0.648 to 0.938. Depending on various evaluation metrics, MPA-ANN tends to forecast WL better than SMA-ANN, PSO-ANN, and CPSOCGSA-ANN algorithms with coefficients of determination of 0.94, 0.81, 0.85, and 0.90, respectively. Evidence shows that the proposed methodology yields excellent results, with a scatter index equal to 0.002. The research outcomes represent an additional step towards evolving various hybrid ML techniques, which are valuable to practitioners wishing to forecast WL data and the management of water resources in light of environmental shifts

Computing Cutting Time in Turning Operation Based on AutoCAD Drawings.

In view of importance the cutting time, it is considered one of the most important factors in different machining processes where it affects production time, cycle time, and product cost consequently. This research aims to build up a system for computing cutting time in turning operations from AutoCAD drawings. The proposed system has been built using Visual Basic programming language and interfacing it with AutoCAD by Visual Basic for Application (VBA) Technique. The system is able to compute cutting time from the drawings according to the color of each solid entity; these colors were defined previously in the system. They are related to the type of turning operation (external, internal, and facing turning operations) as well as the rough and finish machining operations. The system was examined with two models, and it was accurate and efficient. It is possible consideration the proposed system step toward the integration between CAPP/CAM system

The Influence of Strontium Oxide on the Physio-Mechanical Properties of Biomedical-Grade Titanium in Ti-SrO Composites

Dental implants can be made of various materials, and amongst them, titanium and titanium alloy were the materials of choice for dental implants for many years because of their biocompatibility. The two alloys have a high level of biocompatibility, a lower modulus of elasticity, and better corrosion resistance than other alloys. Thus, they are frequently utilized in biomedical applications and mostly replace stiff fabrics. The latest advances in a new strontium oxide–cp titanium composite alloy are the main topic of this research. With regard to biomedical applications, additions of strontium oxide were synthesized at three distinct weight percentages (2%, 4%, and 6% by wt%). Powder metallurgy was used to create the alloys, which were then sintered by heating the samples. The effects of adding strontium oxide were analyzed by utilizing measurements of the Brinell hardness, X-ray diffraction, porosity, diametral tensile strength, roughness, and wettability of the finished surfaces. The results show that adding more strontium oxide (gradually increasing the ratio from 2% SrO to a 6% addition) raised the roughness and porosity. However, the microhardness and diametral tensile strength were enhanced with an increase in the volume fraction of strontium oxide particles. In conclusion, the alloy that contained 6 wt% strontium oxide microparticles had reasonably high mechanical properties and might be regarded as suitable for use in dental and medical applications due to its high wettability or, in other words, its low contact angle. The Brinell testing results for the diametral tensile strength, microhardness, and porosity of the generated strontium oxide–cp titanium composite alloy demonstrate its high potential for usage as a biomaterial, particularly in dental applications

Immunohistochemical Study of Estrogen, Progesterone Receptor and Her- 2neu Oncogene with Her-2neu Biomarker Estimation by ELISA Technique in Primary Breast Cancer before Chemical Therapy ‫لمستقبل‬ ‫مناعية‬ ‫نسيجية‬ ‫اسة‬ ‫در‬ ‫هر‬ ‫الهير‬ ‫و‬ ‫البروجستيرو

Abstract Breast cancer is one of the comments malignant tumors worldwide especially in Iraq; it is a leading cause of death in Iraqi women. Determination of estrogen and progesterone receptors status is helpful in selecting the patients most likely to receive benefit from endocrine therapy, and provide prognostic information on recurrence and survival since their expression is related to the degree of the tumor differentiation. From November 2012 to March 2013, 150 breast cancer patients at Al-Amal Hospital in Baghdad were attended to start treatment of disease for the first time. All patients included in this study did not receive chemotherapy. Patients were asked to bring their paraffin embedded tissue blocks to participate in estrogen, progesterone and Her-2/nue receptors estimation. Blood samples were also collected from the patients to estimate positive Her-2nue cases in serum. Age distribution in women with breast cancer showed that 44%of cases at age group (40 -49) years. 23% of the patients had a positive family history (first and second degree). Histological types of breast carcinoma showed that 82%, 14% and 4% were ductal, lobular and mixed carcinoma respectively. The Makee classification showed that Grade I, II, and III were detected in 10%, 64% and 26% respectively. TNM staging revealed that 16% of the patients were recorded in stage I, 44% in stage II, 32% in stage III and 8% in stage IV. It was demonstrated that 72% and 70% of breast carcinomas were positive for ER and PR respectively; both markers correlated with age, family history, type, histological grade and stage of the disease. Her-2/neu showed 28% expression in Iraqi breast cancer cases. HER2/neu over-expression (>15 ng/ml) was observed in 36 out of 150 patients (24%) Her-2/neu serum level at ELISA diagnosis and in 42 out of 150 (28%) at immunohistochemistry method (IHC).There were significant (P <0.001) association between tissue HER-2/neu and serum HER-2 levels. Detection Her-2/neu in serum by ELISA technique could be used as a method for detection with high rate reached to 78% after mastectomy, also it considered as an excellent method for follow up. Al -Khafaji et.al. Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.1, pp:132-144 Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Worldwide, more than one million women are affected by this disease every year Several risk factors for the development of the breast cancer have been established, and been proposed that the common denominator for most of these factors is prolonged estrogen stimulation operating on a genetically susceptible background There are risk factors associated with breast cancer development; age, family history, personal history of breast cancer, hormones, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption The proto-oncogene HER-2/neu is amplified and as a result it is over-expressed in 25% to 30% of human breast cancer and is usually associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis, Ten In breast cancer, several studies identified the value of analyzing HER-2/neu as an approach to predict the response of individual tumors to chemotherapy as well as in the use of recombinant humanized antibodies (transtuzumab) to the HER-2neu protein in the active management of patients with metastatic breast disease Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most commonly used method of testing for ER, PR, and HER2/neu statu

Success of replantation of avulsed teeth using human colostrum as an interim storage medium

الملخص: أهداف البحث: يعرف قلع الأسنان بأنه إزاحة كاملة للأسنان من التجويف السنخي وأفضل علاج هو إعادة زرع السن. يؤثر حليب الأم على صحة الجسم ونموه وتطوره المرتبط بوجود مكونات غذائية دقيقة وكبيرة. صممت الدراسة لتسجيل تأثير اللبأ البشري كوسيط تخزين على نجاح إعادة زرع السن. طريقة البحث: تم إشراك ثلاثين من ذكور الجرذان البالغة في قلع القاطع الأيسر العلوي ووفقا لوسط تخزين الأسنان المقتطعة لإعادة الزرع، تم تقسيم الجرذان إلى 3 مجموعات. مجموعة محلول هانك ومجموعة مياه الصنبور ومجموعة اللبأ. تم إجراء اختبار الجدوى باستخدام 3- (4،5-ثنائي ميثيل ثيازول-2-يل) -2،5-ثنائي فينيل -2 لفحص المواد والتقييم النسيجي، وقدر التحليل النسيجي في فترة 45 يوما بعد الجراحة لتحديد نخر اللب، والتطعيم اللثوي، والنسبة المئوية للمنطقة التي تمت إعادة امتصاصها وربط الرباط اللثوي. النتائج: أظهر وسط اللبأ نسبة مئوية أعلى من صلاحية الخلية متبوعا بمحلول هانك مع قيمة فرق كبيرة. أظهرت النتائج النسيجية للسن المخلوع المعاد زرعه والذي تم غرسه في ماء الصنبور كوسيط تخزين ارتشاف جذر خارجي وداخلي واضح. نخر اللب وتلطخ الرباط اللثوي مع وجود اختلافات كبيرة في القيم مقارنة بمحلول هانك ومجموعات اللبأ. بينما تظهر مجموعة اللبأ رباطا جديدا معاد ربطه جيدا مع اللب الطبيعي ولا يوجد دليل على ارتشاف الجذر. الاستنتاجات: يتم تقليل فقدان الأسنان إلى الحد الأدنى باستخدام اللبأ البشري كوسيط تخزين في إعادة زرع الأسنان المخلوعة بعد فترة ساعة واحدة مقارنة بمحلول هانك والماء. Abstract: Objectives: Tooth avulsion is defined as total tooth displacement from the alveolar socket; the best treatment is replantation of the tooth. Human milk influences body health, growth, and development related to the presence of micro and macro nutrient components. This study assessed the effects of human colostrum as a storage medium on the success of tooth replantation. Methods: The upper left incisor of 30 adult male Wistar rats was extracted, and the rats were divided into three groups according to the storage medium of the extracted tooth for replantation: Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), tap water, and colostrum groups. The MTT cell viability assay was conducted, and histological evaluation and histomorphometric analyses were performed on postoperative day 45 for identification of pulp necrosis, periodontal hyalinization, percentage of resorbed area, and the periodontal ligament attachment. Results: The colostrum medium showed a higher percentage of cell viability followed by HBSS with statistical significance. Histological findings of the replanted avulsed tooth that soaked in tap water as storage medium showed obvious external and internal root resorption. Pulp necrosis and periodontal ligament hyalinization and with a significant differences values in comparison to HBSS and colostrum groups (p > 0.05), whereas the colostrum group showed new well-reattached periodontal ligament with normal pulp and no evidence of root resorption. Conclusion: Tooth loss is minimized by using human colostrum as storage medium in replantation of an avulsed tooth after a 1 h period compared to HBSS and water

Top soil layer equi-electrical conductivity and pollution with salts mapping for a region located within Baghdad city. Baghdad Science JournalVol.8(2)2011

<div>Abstract:</div><div>This research deals with the study of top soil electrical conductive regions located within Baghdad City. The research included measuring the dissolved soil material extraction Electrical Conductivity (EC) with an aqueous solution for the top (0-30 cm) soil layer of the study area. As the electrical conductivity values increase by increasing the amount of dissolved salts in principle, we can consider that the aim of this research is to predict the amount and distribution of (soil contamination with salts) which is represented by the (Salt Index), this factor calculated for each soil representative sample taken from the region with a depth of (30 cm). Laboratory (EC) test values measured by the use of solutions (EC) digital meter for the extract of the dissolved soils with a distilled de-ionized water using the ratio of (2:1) .The distributed (EC) values for the field representative soil samples used lately to plot a contour equi-electrical conductivity map and EC soil fluctuation profiles, in which reflected the top soil layer salinity distribution according to Tigris river position in the study area , also it reflects the increase and decrease of this layer salinity in a relation to the river position. This study concluded that the highest soil salinity concentrations located at the southern east part of the study area, while the lowest concentrations are located on the intersection areas with Tigris river stream, other areas in which are few kilometers far from the river stream showed moderate salinity concentrations. These results could be helpful for Environmental and agricultural benefits, through identifying the salty soil pollution region and look for ways of treatment.</div

Assessment of topoisomerase II-alpha gene status by dual color chromogenic in situ hybridization in a set of Iraqi patients with invasive breast carcinoma

Background: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) proto-oncogene is overexpressed or amplified in approximately 15%–25% of invasive breast cancers. Approximately 35% of HER2-amplified breast cancers have coamplification of the topoisomerase II-alpha (TOP2A) gene encoding an enzyme that is a major target of anthracyclines. Hence, the determination of genetic alteration (amplification or deletion) of both genes is considered as an important predictive factor that determines the response of breast cancer patients to treatment. The aims of this study are to determinate TOP2A status gene amplification in a set of Iraqi patients with breast cancer that have had an equivocal (2+) and positive HER2/neu by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to compare the results with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu status. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study done on 53 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. Twenty-six out of total 53 cases were positive HER2/neu (3+), the remaining 27 equivocal HER2-IHC (2+) cases reanalyzed using dual-color chromogenic in situ hybridization (ZytoVision) probe kit for further identification of HER2/neu gene amplification. Using chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), TOP2A gene status determination was done for all cases. Results: There is a direct significant correlation between TOP2A gene amplification and HER2/neu positivity, P < 0.05 in that 15 (39.4%) out of 38 positive HER2/neu cases were associated with topoisomerase gene amplification. Regarding relation of topoisomerase gene to hormone receptor status (ER and PR), there was a significant negative relationship between the gene and ER receptor status. The higher level of gene amplification was noticed in ER and PR negative cases in about 13 (43.3%) and 14 (48.2%) for ER and PR, respectively. Conclusion: TOP2A gene status has a significantly positive correlation with HER2/neu status while it has a significantly negative correlation with hormone receptor status