Optimizing plug-in electric vehicle charging in interaction with a small office building

This paper considers the integration of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in micro-grids. Extending a theoretical framework for mobile storage connection, the economic analysis here turns to the interactions of commuters and their driving behavior with office buildings. An illustrative example for a real office building is reported. The chosen system includes solar thermal, photovoltaic, combined heat and power generation as well as an array of plug-in electric vehicles with a combined aggregated capaci-ty of 864 kWh. With the benefit-sharing mechanism proposed here and idea-lized circumstances, estimated cost savings of 5% are possible. Different pricing schemes were applied which include flat rates, demand charges, as well as hourly variable final customer tariffs and their effects on the operation of intermittent storage were revealed and examined in detail. Because the plug-in electric vehicle connection coincides with peak heat and electricity loads as well as solar radiation, it is possible to shift energy demand as desired in order to realize cost savings. --Battery storage,building management systems,dispersed storage and generation,electric vehicles,load management,microgrid,optimization methods,power system economics,road vehicle electric propulsion

The Distance Geometry of Music

We demonstrate relationships between the classic Euclidean algorithm and many other fields of study, particularly in the context of music and distance geometry. Specifically, we show how the structure of the Euclidean algorithm defines a family of rhythms which encompass over forty timelines (\emph{ostinatos}) from traditional world music. We prove that these \emph{Euclidean rhythms} have the mathematical property that their onset patterns are distributed as evenly as possible: they maximize the sum of the Euclidean distances between all pairs of onsets, viewing onsets as points on a circle. Indeed, Euclidean rhythms are the unique rhythms that maximize this notion of \emph{evenness}. We also show that essentially all Euclidean rhythms are \emph{deep}: each distinct distance between onsets occurs with a unique multiplicity, and these multiplicies form an interval $1,2,...,k-1$. Finally, we characterize all deep rhythms, showing that they form a subclass of generated rhythms, which in turn proves a useful property called shelling. All of our results for musical rhythms apply equally well to musical scales. In addition, many of the problems we explore are interesting in their own right as distance geometry problems on the circle; some of the same problems were explored by Erd\H{o}s in the plane.Comment: This is the full version of the paper: "The distance geometry of deep rhythms and scales." 17th Canadian Conference on Computational Geometry (CCCG '05), University of Windsor, Canada, 200

Desarrollo de un prototipo de simulacion para un modelo conceptual de financiamiento de estudios de pregrado

85 p.El presente proyecto tiene como finalidad desarrollar un Prototipo de un modelo de simulación para la problemática del Fondo Solidario de Crédito Universitario. Para Iograr este objetivo se utilizó, la metodología de dinámica de sistemas, con la ayuda de la herramienta informática "Vensim" para la construcción del prototipo. El diseño se base, en información historica de acceso publico, dado que el organismo regulador es una entidad del Estado, la cual maneja los datos que se incluyen en el desarrollo del estudio, veridicamente. Los parámetros recopilados desde boletines comerciales, hasta bases de datos en sus respectivas paginas Web, en especial MINEDUC, MIDEPLAN, entre otras, permiten que el prototipo represente en gran medida la problemática existente. Si bien una parte del modelo se encuentra aun en etapa de exploración y estudio, ya se puede extraer de este importante información acerca de dos aspectos fundamentales de la problemática en estudio; la primera tiene relación con el crecimiento proyectado de los futuros estudiantes para los periodos considerados en prototipo, que representan una fracción de la población total; por otro lado se puede observar la implicancia en la totalidad del modelo, la política de congelamiento del arancel universitario que se estima ocurrirá en un periodo de cinco anos

Hill of Banchory Geothermal Energy Project Feasibility Study Report

This feasibility study explored the potential for a deep geothermal heat project at Hill of Banchory, Aberdeenshire. The geology of the Hill of Fare, to the north of Banchory, gives cause to believe it has good geothermal potential, while the Hill of Banchory heat network, situated on the northern side of the town, offers a ready-made heat customer. The partners in the consortium consisted of academics and developers with relevant expertise in deep geothermal energy, heat networks, and financial analysis, together with representatives of local Government. They conducted geological fieldwork around the Hill of Fare, engaged with local residents to establish their attitudes to geothermal energy, and built business models to predict the conditions under which the heat network at Hill of Banchory would be commercial if it utilised heat from the proposed geothermal well. They also estimated the potential carbon emission reductions that could be achieved by using deep geothermal energy, both at Hill of Banchory and more widely

Stem cells and bronchial stump healing

ObjectiveBronchial stump dehiscence is still the most feared complication for the thoracic surgeon, with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 75%. This study reports the histologic effect of adult stem cells in the healing process of the bronchial stump after lung resection.MethodsA left pneumonectomy was performed in 36 Wistar rats. Half of them received previously labeled bone marrow-derived stem cells applied to the bronchial stump. In each group, 7 rats were sacrificed on day 7 and 11 rats were sacrificed on day 21. Macroscopic variables and histopathologic features were analyzed.ResultsOn days 7 and 21, there were fewer adhesions in the stem cell group (P = .042 and .031, respectively). Bronchial stump restitutio ad integrum on day 21 was found predominantly in rats from the stem cell group (P = .012). At that time, the same group showed significantly less inflammation in every layer of the stump (P < .050).ConclusionsBone marrow-derived stem cells administered topically on a bronchial stump are able to migrate, reach the bronchial wall, and participate in the healing process. This induces fewer adhesions, less inflammatory response, and better regeneration of the tissue

Blues for Gary: Design Abstractions for a Jazz Improvisation Assistant

AbstractWe describe the design and implementation of a tool to help students learn the art of jazz improvisation. The tool integrates elements of database, AI in the form of automatic melody generation, and human interface design. We describe the philosophy of using several coordinated mini-languages to provide user specifications for various aspects of the tool, including melody and chord representation, styles, melody generation, and other musical knowledge

Crystalline Silicate Emission in the Protostellar Binary Serpens--SVS20

We present spatially resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy of the class I/flat-spectrum protostellar binary system SVS20 in the Serpens cloud core. The spectra were obtained with the mid-infrared instrument T-ReCS on Gemini-South. SVS20-South, the more luminous of the two sources, exhibits a mid-infrared emission spectrum peaking near 11.3 \micron, while SVS20-North exhibits a shallow amorphous silicate absorption spectrum with a peak optical depth of $\tau \sim 0.3$. After removal of the the line-of-sight extinction by the molecular common envelope, the ``protostar-only'' spectra are found to be dominated by strong amorphous olivine emission peaking near 10 \micron. We also find evidence for emission from crystalline forsterite and enstatite associated with both SVS20-S and SVS20-N. The presence of crystalline silicate in such a young binary system indicates that the grain processing found in more evolved HAeBe and T Tauri pre-main sequence stars likely begins at a relatively young evolutionary stage, while mass accretion is still ongoing.Comment: Accepted for publication by The Astrophysical Journa

Effects of okadaic acid on the activities of two distinct phosphatidate phosphohydrolases in rat hepatocytes

AbstractIncubation of hepatocytes with okadaic acid displaced the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the membrane fraction into the cytosol and partially prevented the oleate-induced movement of phosphohydrolase from cytosol to membranes. However, higher concentrations of oleate still caused translocation and activation of the phosphohydrolase. This enzyme is stimulated by Mg2+, and is probably involved in glycerolipid synthesis. Okadaic acid also decreased the concentration of diacylglycerol within the hepatocytes. Okadaic acid had no observable effect on the activity of an N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive phosphatidate phosphohydrolase which remained firmly attached to membranes. This activity is not stimulated by Mg2+ and is probably involved in signal transduction by the phospholipase D pathway

Predistorsion Digital Aplicada al Amplificador de Potencia de un Sistema EER

A linealized RF power amplifier using Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) and predistortion techniques is shown. Measurements on a circuit prototype are presented. The EER system uses a linear regulator to amplify the envelope and a high efficiency broadband VHF class E power amplifier for the phase component. Different digital modulations have been tested in the circuit prototype. Adjacent Channel Power Ratio (ACPR) reaches over 46 dBc for monocarrier modulations and over 34 dBc for multicarrier modulations, for a 2MHz bandwidth on VHF carrier (from 88 MHz to 114 MHz). The system shown provides double efficiency level than an equivalent ideal class A amplifier

Mejora de la Linealidad de un amplificador de Potencia para un Sistema EER Mediante Predistorsion Digital

En este trabajo se presenta un amplificador de potencia de RF linealizado mediante la combinaci n de t cnicas de Eliminaci n y Recuperaci n de Envolvente (EER) y Predistorsi n. Se utiliza para ello procesado digital de la se al en banda base y la identificaci n de modelos en el dominio del tiempo para describir el funcionamiento del amplificador de potencia. Empleando m todos basados en la t cnica de error de salida, se calcula e implementa la funci n complementaria no lineal del amplificador de potencia de RF del sistema EER en Matlab, para su posterior linealizaci n. Se han conseguido mejoras de hasta 20 dB usando esta t cnica con respecto a un sistema EER sin linealizar