An investigation into the effects of resonances on the time delay estimate for leak detection in buried plastic water distribution pipes

In water distribution systems, old metallic pipes have been replaced by plastic pipes due to their deterioration over time. Although acoustic methods are effective in finding leaks in metallic pipes, they have been found to be problematic when applied to plastic pipes due to the high damping within the pipe wall and the surrounding medium. This is responsible for the leak signal not traveling long distances. Moreover, the leak energy in plastic pipes is generally located at a narrow frequency range located at low frequencies. However, the presence of resonances can narrow even more this frequency range. In order to minimise the influence of background noise and resonances on the calculation of the time delay estimate, band-pass filters are often used to supress undesirable frequency components of the noise. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of resonances in the pipe system (pipe, valves, connections and hydrants), on the time delay estimate calculated using acoustic signals. Analytical models and actual leak data collected in a bespoke rig located in the United Kingdom are used to investigate this feature.

Comparison of the Polar S810i monitor and the ECG for the analysis of heart rate variability in the time and frequency domains

The aim of the present study was to compare heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and during exercise using a temporal series obtained with the Polar S810i monitor and a signal from a LYNX® signal conditioner (BIO EMG 1000 model) with a channel configured for the acquisition of ECG signals. Fifteen healthy subjects aged 20.9 ± 1.4 years were analyzed. The subjects remained at rest for 20 min and performed exercise for another 20 min with the workload selected to achieve 60% of submaximal heart rate. RR series were obtained for each individual with a Polar S810i instrument and with an ECG analyzed with a biological signal conditioner. The HRV indices (rMSSD, pNN50, LFnu, HFnu, and LF/HF) were calculated after signal processing and analysis. The unpaired Student t-test and intraclass correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the values analyzed by means of the two devices for HRV at rest and during exercise. The intraclass correlation coefficient demonstrated satisfactory correlation between the values obtained by the devices at rest (pNN50 = 0.994; rMSSD = 0.995; LFnu = 0.978; HFnu = 0.978; LF/HF = 0.982) and during exercise (pNN50 = 0.869; rMSSD = 0.929; LFnu = 0.973; HFnu = 0.973; LF/HF = 0.942). The calculation of HRV values by means of temporal series obtained from the Polar S810i instrument appears to be as reliable as those obtained by processing the ECG signal captured with a signal conditioner.

Scintigraphic validation of AC Biosusceptometry to study the gastric motor activity and the intragastric distribution of food in humans

Abnormal intragastric distribution of food (IDF) and a phasic contractility in the proximal stomach have been related to dyspeptic symptoms. Thus, the behaviour of the stomach and the proximal region, in particular, continues to attract attention and demand for reliable and comfortable techniques. The aims of this study were to employ AC Biosus-ceptometry (ACB) and scintigraphy to evaluate IDF and gastric motor activity in humans. Fifteen healthy volunteers ingested 60 mL of yogurt containing 2 mCi of Tc-99m and 4 g of ferrite. Each volunteer had gastric motility and IDF evaluated twice on separate days; on one occasion by ACB and another by scintigraphy. Digital signal processing was performed in MatLab (Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). Results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Similar results of distal accumulation time (P < 0.001) were obtained for scintigraphy (6.93 +/- 3.25 min) and for ACB (7.04 +/- 3.65 min). Fast Fourier Transform revealed two dominant frequencies (P > 0.9). Besides the well-know frequency of 3 cpm, our results showed identical frequencies in proximal stomach recordings (P < 0.001) for scintigraphic (1.01 +/- 0.01 cpm) and ACB (0.98 +/- 0.06 cpm). In summary, our data showed that scintigraphy and ACB are promising techniques to evaluate several aspects of gastric motility. Moreover, ACB is non-invasive, radiation-free and deserves the same importance as conventional methods for this kind of analysis.

Non-stationary frequency analysis of extreme daily rainfall in São Paulo, Brazil

This work is an assessment of frequency of extreme values (EVs) of daily rainfall in the city of São Paulo. Brazil, over the period 1933-2005, based on the peaks-over-threshold (POT) and Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) approach. Usually. a GPD model is fitted to a sample of POT Values Selected With a constant threshold. However. in this work we use time-dependent thresholds, composed of relatively large p quantities (for example p of 0.97) of daily rainfall amounts computed from all available data. Samples of POT values were extracted with several Values of p. Four different GPD models (GPD-1, GPD-2, GPD-3. and GDP-4) were fitted to each one of these samples by the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The shape parameter was assumed constant for the four models, but time-varying covariates were incorporated into scale parameter of GPD-2. GPD-3, and GPD-4, describing annual cycle in GPD-2. linear trend in GPD-3, and both annual cycle and linear trend in GPD-4. The GPD-1 with constant scale and shape parameters is the simplest model. For identification of the best model among the four models WC used rescaled Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with second-order bias correction. This criterion isolates GPD-3 as the best model, i.e. the one with positive linear trend in the scale parameter. The slope of this trend is significant compared to the null hypothesis of no trend, for about 98% confidence level. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall test also showed presence of positive trend in the annual frequency of excess over high thresholds. with p-value being virtually zero. Therefore. there is strong evidence that high quantiles of daily rainfall in the city of São Paulo have been increasing in magnitude and frequency over time. For example. 0.99 quantiles of daily rainfall amount have increased by about 40 mm between 1933 and 2005. Copyright (C) 2008 Royal Meteorological Society

Time Domain Analyses for Three-phase Lines with Corrected Modal Transformation Matrix

The results presented in this paper are based on a research about the application of approximated transformation matrices for electromagnetic transient analyses and simulations in transmission lines. Initially, it has developed the application of a single real transformation matrix for a double three-phase transmission lines, because the symmetry of the distribution of the phase conductors and the ground wires. After this, the same type of transformation matrix has applied for symmetrical single three-phase transmission lines. Analyzing asymmetrical single three-phase lines, it has used three different line configurations. For these transmission line types, the errors between the eigenvalues and the approximated results, called quasi modes, have been considered negligible. on the other hand, the quasi mode eigenvalue matrix for each case was not a diagonal one. and the relative values of the off-diagonal elements of the approximated quasi mode matrix are not negligible, mainly for the low frequencies. Based on this problem, a correction procedure has been applied for minimizing the mentioned relative values. For the correction procedure application, symmetrical and asymmetrical single three-phase transmission line samples have been used. Checking the correction procedure results, analyses and simulations have been carried out in mode and time domain. In this paper, the last results of mentioned research are presented and they related to the time domain simulations.

A new Pennsylvanian Oriocrassatellinae from Brazil and the distribution of the genus Oriocrassatella in space and time

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

An alternative procedure to decrease the dimension of the frequency dependent modal transformation matrices: Application in three-phase transmission lines with a vertical symmetry plane

The objective of this paper is to show an alternative representation in time domain of a non-transposed three-phase transmission line decomposed in its exact modes by using two transformation matrices. The first matrix is Clarke's matrix that is real, frequency independent, easily represented in computational transient programs (EMTP) and separates the line into Quasi-modes α, β and zero. After that, Quasi-modes α and zero are decomposed into their exact modes by using a modal transformation matrix whose elements can be synthesized in time domain through standard curve-fitting techniques. The main advantage of this alternative representation is to reduce the processing time because a frequency dependent modal transformation matrix of a three-phase line has nine elements to be represented in time domain while a modal transformation matrix of a two-phase line has only four elements. This paper shows modal decomposition process and eigenvectors of a non-transposed three-phase line with a vertical symmetry plane whose nominal voltage is 440 kV and line length is 500 km. © 2006 IEEE.

Corona effect in frequency dependent transmission line models

The inclusion of the corona effect in a frequency dependent transmission line model is proposed in this paper. The transmission line is represented through a cascade of π circuits and the frequency dependence of the longitudinal parameters is synthesized with series and parallel resistors and inductors. The corona effect will be represented using the Gary and Skilling-Umoto models. The currents and voltages along the line are calculated by using state-space technique. To demonstrate the accuracy and validity of the proposed frequency dependent line model, time domain simulations of a 10 km length single-phase line response under energization procedure will be presented. ©2008 IEEE.

Electrical Power Distribution System modeling with VHDL-AMS for the construction of a Real-Time Digital Simulator using FPGAS devices

This paper presents a distribution feeder simulation using VHDL-AMS, considering the standard IEEE 13 node test feeder admitted as an example. In an electronic spreadsheet all calculations are performed in order to develop the modeling in VHDL-AMS. The simulation results are compared in relation to the results from the well knowing MatLab/Simulink environment, in order to verify the feasibility of the VHDL-AMS modeling for a standard electrical distribution feeder, using the software SystemVision™. This paper aims to present the first major developments for a future Real-Time Digital Simulator applied to Electrical Power Distribution Systems. © 2012 IEEE.

Allele frequency of hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia in American Quarter horses in Brazil determined by quantitative real-time PCR with high resolution melting analysis

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

A Time-domain Harmonic Power-Flow Analysis in Electrical Energy Distribution Networks, Using Norton Models for Non-linear Loading

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of a three-phase harmonic propagation analysis time-domain tool, using the Norton model to approach the modeling of non-linear loads, making the harmonics currents flow more appropriate to the operation analysis and to the influence of mitigation elements analysis. This software makes it possible to obtain results closer to the real distribution network, considering voltages unbalances, currents imbalances and the application of mitigation elements for harmonic distortions. In this scenario, a real case study with network data and equipments connected to the network will be presented, as well as the modeling of non-linear loads based on real data obtained from some PCCs (Points of Common Coupling) of interests for a distribution company.

Active power reserve for frequency control provided by distributed generators in distribution networks

In a smart grid environment, attention should be paid not only to the power supplied to satisfy loads and system losses but also to the services necessary to provide security and stability to the system: the so-called ancillary services. As they are well known the benefits that distributed generation can bring to electrical systems and to the environment, in this work the possibility that active power reserve for frequency control could be provided by distributed generators (DGs) in an efficient and economical way is explored. The proposed methodology was tested using the IEEE 34-bus distribution test system. The results show improvements in the capacity of the system for this ancillary service and decrease in system losses and payments of the distribution system operator to the DGs.

Comparison of frequency and time domain electromyography parameters in women with patellofemoral pain

Despite its high incidence, patellofemoral pain etiology remains unclear. No prior study has compared surface electromyography frequency domain parameters and surface electromyography time domain variables, which have been used as a classic analysis of patellofemoral pain. Thirty one women with patellofemoral pain and twenty eight pain-free women were recruited. Each participant was asked to descend a seven step staircase and data from five successful trials were collected. During the task, the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscle activities were monitored by surface electromyography. The data were processed and analyzed in four variables of the frequency domain (median frequency, low, medium and high frequency bands) and three time domain variables (Automatic, Cross-correlation and Visual Onset between the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles). Reliability, Receiver Operating Characteristic curves and regression models were performed. The medium frequency band was the most reliable variable and different between the groups for both muscles, also demonstrated the best values of sensitivity and sensibility, 72% and 69% for the vastus medialis and 68% and 62% for the vastus lateralis, respectively. The frequency variables predicted the pain of individuals with patellofemoral pain, 26% for the vastus medialis and 20% for the vastus lateralis, being better than the time variables, which achieved only 7%. The frequency domain parameters presented greater reliability, diagnostic accuracy and capacity to predict pain than the time domain variables during stair descent and might be a useful tool to diagnose individuals with patellofemoral pain.