Impact of modern electronic equipment on the assessment of network harmonic impedance

Network harmonic impedance forms the link between harmonic currents emitted by individual devices and the harmonic voltage levels in the grid. It is essential for the definition of current emission limits in order to ensure Electromagnetic Compatibility between all equipment connected to the grid. Among all electrical equipment in future smart grid electronic devices, like PV inverters, EV chargers or lamps with electronic ballast, will have a dominating share. This is expected to have a considerable impact on the network harmonic impedance characteristic. The paper discusses the frequency-dependent input impedance of different types of modern electronic equipment and its potential impact on the network harmonic impedance. It is shown that the semiconductor switching results in a variation of the impedance within the fundamental cycle. This is not considered by the presently used assessment methods as they assume only passive network elements. Beside a method to measure these variations, several indices are introduced to quantify the level of its impact. The paper aims to provide some impulses for further discussions, particularly about the definition of network harmonic impedance in presence of electronic devices, the necessity to include these variations in realistic harmonic studies and if this has to be considered in the standardization

Diffusion tensor imaging of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy: a tract-based spatial statistics study

Although often clinically indistinguishable in the early stages, Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) have distinct neuropathological changes. The aim of the current study was to identify white matter tract neurodegeneration characteristic of each of the three syndromes. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to perform a whole-brain automated analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to compare differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between the three clinical groups and healthy control subjects. Further analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between these putative indices of white matter microstructure and clinical measures of disease severity and symptoms. In PSP, relative to controls, changes in DTI indices consistent with white matter tract degeneration were identified in the corpus callosum, corona radiata, corticospinal tract, superior longitudinal fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, superior cerebellar peduncle, medial lemniscus, retrolenticular and anterior limb of the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and external capsule bilaterally, as well as the left posterior limb of the internal capsule and the right posterior thalamic radiation. MSA patients also displayed differences in the body of the corpus callosum corticospinal tract, cerebellar peduncle, medial lemniscus, anterior and superior corona radiata, posterior limb of the internal capsule external capsule and cerebral peduncle bilaterally, as well as the left anterior limb of the internal capsule and the left anterior thalamic radiation. No significant white matter abnormalities were observed in the PD group. Across groups, MD correlated positively with disease severity in all major white matter tracts. These results show widespread changes in white matter tracts in both PSP and MSA patients, even at a mid-point in the disease process, which are not found in patients with PD

Cerebrospinal Fluid B Cells Correlate with Early Brain Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: There is accumulating evidence from immunological, pathological and therapeutic studies that B cells are key components in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methodology/Principal Findings: In this prospective study we have for the first time investigated the differences in the inflammatory response between relapsing and progressive MS by comparing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell profiles from patients at the onset of the disease (clinically isolated syndrome, CIS), relapsing-remitting (RR) and chronic progressive (CP) MS by flow cytometry. As controls we have used patients with other neurological diseases. We have found a statistically significant accumulation of CSF mature B cells (CD19+CD1382) and plasma blasts (CD19+CD138+) in CIS and RRMS. Both B cell populations were, however, not significantly increased in CPMS. Further, this accumulation of B cells correlated with acute brain inflammation measured by magnetic resonance imaging and with inflammatory CSF parameters such as the number of CSF leukocytes, intrathecal immunoglobulin M and G synthesis and intrathecal production of matri

Revealing the Functions of the Transketolase Enzyme Isoforms in Rhodopseudomonas palustris Using a Systems Biology Approach

BACKGROUND: Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris) is a purple non-sulfur anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium that belongs to the class of proteobacteria. It is capable of absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it to biomass via the process of photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Transketolase is a key enzyme involved in the CBB cycle. Here, we reveal the functions of transketolase isoforms I and II in R. palustris using a systems biology approach. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By measuring growth ability, we found that transketolase could enhance the autotrophic growth and biomass production of R. palustris. Microarray and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that transketolase isoforms I and II were involved in different carbon metabolic pathways. In addition, immunogold staining demonstrated that the two transketolase isoforms had different spatial localizations: transketolase I was primarily associated with the intracytoplasmic membrane (ICM) but transketolase II was mostly distributed in the cytoplasm. Comparative proteomic analysis and network construction of transketolase over-expression and negative control (NC) strains revealed that protein folding, transcriptional regulation, amino acid transport and CBB cycle-associated carbon metabolism were enriched in the transketolase I over-expressed strain. In contrast, ATP synthesis, carbohydrate transport, glycolysis-associated carbon metabolism and CBB cycle-associated carbon metabolism were enriched in the transketolase II over-expressed strain. Furthermore, ATP synthesis assays showed a significant increase in ATP synthesis in the transketolase II over-expressed strain. A PEPCK activity assay showed that PEPCK activity was higher in transketolase over-expressed strains than in the negative control strain. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, our results indicate that the two isoforms of transketolase in R. palustris could affect photoautotrophic growth through both common and divergent metabolic mechanisms

Untersuchungen zum HTC-Mikro-SMES. Teilvorhaben: Operationseigenschaften und Einsatzpotential von HTC-Mikro-SMES-Speichersystemen Technischer- und Abschlussbericht

In the analytical phase of the project, a demand analysis will be made in national and international network structures using concrete examples which will be analyzed for data acquisition. The cost and marketing potential of an SMES system will be assessed, and a comparison will be made with existing energy storage systems. The results will be presented in a documentation.In der Projektphase 'Energietechnische Analyse' soll durch eine Bedarfsanalyse nach exemplarischen und konkreten Anwendungsfaellen in nationalen und internationalen Netzstrukturen gesucht werden. Diese Anwendungsfaelle sollen analysiert und an dieser Stelle bezueglich ihrer energietechnischen Daten aufbereitet werden. Im Bereich der Wirtschaftlichkeitsanalyse soll auf Basis der Analyse von Ausfall- und Ausfallfolgekosten sowie einer Schaetzung der Kosten fuer ein SMES-System das Marktpotenzial von SMES eingeschaetzt werden. Hierbei wird auch ein Vergleich mit bereits vorhandenen Energiespeichersystemen vorgenommen. Die erzielten Forschungs- und Entwicklungsergebnisse sollen in einer wissenschaftlich-technischen Form dokumentiert werden. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F02B424+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung, Berlin (Germany)DEGerman