A mixed-integer quadratically-constrained programming model for the distribution system expansion planning

This paper presents a mixed-integer quadratically-constrained programming (MIQCP) model to solve the distribution system expansion planning (DSEP) problem. The DSEP model considers the construction/reinforcement of substations, the construction/reconductoring of circuits, the allocation of fixed capacitors banks and the radial topology modification. As the DSEP problem is a very complex mixed-integer non-linear programming problem, it is convenient to reformulate it like a MIQCP problem; it is demonstrated that the proposed formulation represents the steady-state operation of a radial distribution system. The proposed MIQCP model is a convex formulation, which allows to find the optimal solution using optimization solvers. Test systems of 23 and 54 nodes and one real distribution system of 136 nodes were used to show the efficiency of the proposed model in comparison with other DSEP models available in the specialized literature. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The edentulous ridge expansion (ERE) technique an experimental study in the dog

Objective: To compare the healing and bony crest resorption at implants installed conventionally or applying an edentulous ridge expansion (ERE) technique in the maxilla.Material and methods: In six Labrador dogs, the first and second maxillary incisors were extracted bilaterally. In the left side of the maxilla (Test), the flaps were elevated and the buccal plate of the alveoli and septa was removed. After 3 months of healing, partial-thickness (split) flaps were dissected and the residual alveolar bone was exposed. In the right side of the maxilla, an implant was installed conventionally (Type IV; Control) while, in the left side, the ERE technique was adopted. Hence, an expansion of the buccal bony crest was obtained, and the implant was subsequently installed (Test). After 3 months of healing, biopsies were obtained and ground sections were prepared for histological analyses.Results: A buccal vertical resorption of the bony crest of 2.2 +/- 1.2 mm and 1.6 +/- 0.7 mm was found at the test and control sites, respectively. The difference, however, did not reach statistical significance. The coronal level of osseointegration at the buccal aspect was located at 3.1 +/- 1.0 mm and 2.2 +/- 0.7 mm from the implant shoulder at the test and control sites, respectively, the difference being statistically significant. The mean values of the mineralized bone-to-implant contact (MBIC%) ranged from 43% to 48% at the buccal and lingual sites. No differences reached statistical significance.Conclusions: Implants installed by applying an ERE technique may osseointegrate similarly to conventional implant installation. However, vertical and horizontal resorption of the displaced buccal bony wall occurred as well.

Influence on alveolar resorption of the buccal bony plate width in the edentulous ridge expansion (ERE) - an experimental study in the dog

Objective: To compare the hard tissue changes at implants installed applying edentulous ridge expansion (E.R.E.) at sites with a buccal bony wall thickness of 1 or 2 mm.Material and methods: In six Labrador dogs, the first and second maxillary incisors were extracted, and the buccal alveolar bony plates and septa were removed. After 3 months of healing, partial-thickness flaps were dissected, and the E.R.E. was applied bilaterally. Hence, an expansion of the buccal bony crest was obtained in both sides of the maxilla with a displacement of either a 1- or a 2-mm-wide buccal bony plate at the test and control sites, respectively. After 3 months of healing, biopsies were obtained for histological analyses.Results: A buccal vertical resorption of the alveolar crest of 2.3 +/- 0.8 and 2.1 +/- 1.1 mm, and a coronal level of osseointegration at the buccal aspect of 2.7 +/- 0.5 and 2.9 +/- 0.9 mm were found at the test (1 mm) and control (2 mm) sites, respectively. The differences did not reach statistical significance. The mean values of the mineralized bone-to-implant contact (MBIC%) ranged from 62% to 73% at the buccal and lingual sites. No statistically significant differences were found. Horizontal volume gains of 1.8 and 1.1 mm were observed at the test and control sites, respectively, and the difference being statistically significant.Conclusions: Implants installed using the E.R.E. technique yielded a high degree of osseointegration. It is suggested that the displacement of buccal bony plates of 1 mm thickness is preferable compared with that of wider dimensions.

A Modified Branch and Bound Algorithm to Solve the Transmission Expansion Planning Problem

In this paper a novel Branch and Bound (B&B) algorithm to solve the transmission expansion planning which is a non-convex mixed integer nonlinear programming problem (MINLP) is presented. Based on defining the options of the separating variables and makes a search in breadth, we call this algorithm a B&BML algorithm. The proposed algorithm is implemented in AMPL and an open source Ipopt solver is used to solve the nonlinear programming (NLP) problems of all candidates in the B&B tree. Strategies have been developed to address the problem of non-linearity and non-convexity of the search region. The proposed algorithm is applied to the problem of long-term transmission expansion planning modeled as an MINLP problem. The proposed algorithm has carried out on five commonly used test systems such as Garver 6-Bus, IEEE 24-Bus, 46-Bus South Brazilian test systems, Bolivian 57-Bus, and Colombian 93-Bus. Results show that the proposed methodology not only can find the best known solution but it also yields a large reduction between 24% to 77.6% in the number of NLP problems regarding to the size of the systems.

Transmission Expansion Planning Via a Constructive Heuristic Algorithm in Restructured Electricity Industry

The transmission expansion planning problem in modern power systems is a large-scale, mixed-integer, nonlinear and non-convex problem. this paper presents a new mathematical model and a constructive heuristic algorithm (CHA) for solving transmission expansion planning problem under new environment of electricity restructuring. CHA finds an acceptable solution in an iterative process, where in each step a circuit is chosen using a sensitivity index and added to the system. The proposed model consider multiple generation scenarios therefore the methodology finds high quality solution in which it allows the power system operate adequacy in an environment with multiple generators scenarios. Case studies and simulation results using test systems show possibility of using Constructive heuristic algorithm in an open access system.

Influência da adição de fator de crescimento fibroblástico 10 (FGF10), durante a maturação oocitária, na produção in vitro de embriões bovinos

The Brazilian livestock stands out for having the world largest commercial herd of cattle and leads meat exportation and production of bovine embryos. The in vitro production (IVP) of embryos is considered an effective option to overcome problems such as infertility in cows with high economic value and also for genetic improvement of cattle. The in vitro oocyte maturation is an essential step to the success of IVP, but is still considered poor when compared to in vivo maturation. Recent studies have suggeested an important role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 (FGF10) on the in vitro maturation of oocytes, which favored the expression of genes related to oocyte maturation and cumulus cell expansion. Aware that maturity stage influences the final production of blastocysts, we aimed study to verify if the addition of FGF10 into the maturation medium is able to affect positively the IVP of bovine embryos. Hence, FGF10 was added to maturation in five different concentrations: 0.5 ng/mL (group 0.5), 2.5 ng/mL (group 2.5), 5 ng/mL (group 5), 10 ng/mL (group 10) and 50 ng/mL (group 50). Additionally, two other maturation groups were used, group BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin, 4 mg/mL) and group FCS (Fetal Calf Serum, 10%). The rates of cleavage, morula and blastocyst were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), differences of P<0.05 were considered significant. Cleavage rates did not differ between the seven groups. On the other hand, morula rate on FCS group was higher than groups BSA, 0.5, 10 and 50 (P<0.05), but did not differ among groups treated with intermediate doses of FGF10 (2.5 and 5). FCS group presented higher blastocyst rate compared to all other groups that were well below the FCS group (P<0.0001). Therefore, the use of FGF10 during oocyte maturation did not affect positively embryo development on the IVP of bovine embryos

New records and distribution expansion for Neotropical water-striders (Insecta: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha)

Based on material from several collections, summarized distributions and new records are presented for selected Neotropical species of Gerromorpha of the families Gerridae (Brachymetra albinervis albinervis, B. furva, B. lata, B. shawi, Cylindrostethus erythropus, C. linearis, C. palmaris, C. regulus, Halobatopsis platensis, Limnogonus aduncus aduncus, L. hyalinus, L. ignotus, L. profugus, L. recurvus, Neogerris lubricus, N. magnus, N. lotus, N. visendus, Ovatametra gualeguay, Rheumatobates crassifemur crassifemur, R. c. esakii, Tachygerris adamsoni, T. celocis and T. surinamensis), Hydrometridae (Hydrometra guianana and H. sztolcmani) and Mesoveliidae (Mesovelia amoena, M. mulsanti and Mesoveloidea williamsi).

Efeitos de diferentes inibidores da meiose sobre a maturação in vitro de oócitos bovinos e subsequente tolerância dos embriões a vitrificação

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Expressão gênica de células do cumulus e oócitos bovinos sbmetidos à maturação un vitro com diferentes macromoléculas, EGF e Butirolactina I

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lack of bone healing: an unusual complication following surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion

Bone defects at interdental osteotomy sites are as a complication of surgi-cally assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE). The replacement of osseoustissue by fibrous connective tissue impairs the spontaneous closure of adiastema between central incisors, and orthodontic tooth movementthrough the defect area may lead to root resorption. Treatment of such asituation requires an orthodontic-surgical approach. In this report, wedescribe the lack of bone healing at the midline osteotomy site after SARPE,which was treated by autogenous bone grafting as assessed by cone beamcomputed tomography. In addition, we discuss factors related to the aetiol-ogy and treatment of a bone defect after SARPE.

Otimização do meio de transporte de oócitos bovinos destinados à produção in vitro de embriões

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Sistema NPPC-NPR2 na espécie bovina: identificação em folículos antrais e modulação na concentração de nucleotídeos cíclicos e na expressão gênica de PDE3 em complexos cumulus-oócito

Pós-graduação em Biociências - FCLAS

Effects of FGF10 on bovine oocyte meiosis progression, apoptosis, embryo development and relative abundance of developmentally important genes in vitro

Contents Fibroblast growth factor (FGF10) acts at the cumulus oocyte complex, increasing the expression of cumulus cell expansion-related genes and oocyte competency genes. We tested the hypothesis that addition of FGF10 to the maturation medium improves oocyte maturation, decreases the percentage of apoptotic oocytes and increases development to the blastocyst stage while increasing the relative abundance of developmentally important genes (COX2, CDX2 and PLAC8). In all experiments, oocytes were matured for 22h in TCM-199 supplemented with 0, 2.5, 10 or 50ng/ml FGF10. In Experiment 1, after maturation, oocytes were stained with Hoechst to evaluate meiosis progression (metaphase I, intermediary phases and extrusion of the first polar body) and submitted to the TUNEL assay to evaluate apoptosis. In Experiment 2, oocytes were fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts were frozen for analysis of COX2, CDX2 and PLAC8 relative abundance. In Experiment 1, 2.5ng/ml FGF10 increased (p<0.05) the percentage of oocytes with extrusion of the first polar body (35%) compared to 0, 10 and 50ng/ml FGF10 (21, 14 and 12%, respectively) and FGF10 decreased the percentage of oocytes that were TUNEL positive in all doses studied. In Experiment 2, there was no difference in the percentage of oocytes becoming blastocysts between treatments and control. Real-time RT-PCR showed a tendency of 50ng/ml FGF10 to increase the relative abundance of COX2 and PLAC8 and of 10ng/ml FGF10 to increase CDX2. In conclusion, the addition of FGF10 to the oocyte maturation medium improves oocyte maturation in vitro, decreases the percentage of apoptotic oocytes and tends to increase the relative abundance of developmentally important genes.

Probing the Mott physics in kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X salts via thermal expansion

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Short-term expansion planning of radial electrical distribution systems using mixed-integer linear programming

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)