Optimization of Energy Distribution in Solar Panel Array Configurations by Graph Theory and Minkowski’s Paths

Nowadays, the development of the photovoltaic (PV) technology is consolidated as a source of renewable energy. The research in the topic of maximum improvement on the energy efficiency of the PV plants is today a major challenge. The main requirement for this purpose is to know the performance of each of the PV modules that integrate the PV field in real time. In this respect, a PLC communications based Smart Monitoring and Communications Module, which is able to monitor at PV level their operating parameters, has been developed at the University of Malaga. With this device you can check if any of the panels is suffering any type of overriding performance, due to a malfunction or partial shadowing of its surface. Since these fluctuations in electricity production from a single panel affect the overall sum of all panels that conform a string, it is necessary to isolate the problem and modify the routes of energy through alternative paths in case of PV panels array configuration.

Ambiente computacional paradesenvolvimento de aplicações de controladores lógicos programáveis baseado em linguagens SFC e ST

This work proposes an environment for programming programmable logic controllers applied to oil wells with BCP type method of artificially lifting. The environment will have an editor based in the diagram of sequential functions for programming of PLCs. This language was chosen due to the fact of being high-level and accepted by the international standard IEC 61131-3. The use of these control programs in real PLC will be possible with the use of an intermediate level of language based on XML specification PLCopen T6 XML. For the testing and validation of the control programs, an area should be available for viewing variables obtained through communication with a real PLC. Thus, the main contribution of this work is to develop a computational environment that allows: modeling, testing and validating the controls represented in SFC and applied in oil wells with BCP type method of artificially lifting

Detecção de interface em tanques de petróleo usando transmissores de nível e controladores Fuzzy

This work presents a proposal to detect interface in atmospheric oil tanks by installing a differential pressure level transmitter to infer the oil-water interface. The main goal of this project is to maximize the quantity of free water that is delivered to the drainage line by controlling the interface. A Fuzzy Controller has been implemented by using the interface transmitter as the Process Variable. Two ladder routine was generated to perform the control. One routine was developed to calculate the error and error variation. The other was generate to develop the fuzzy controller itself. By using rules, the fuzzy controller uses these variables to set the output. The output is the position variation of the drainage valve. Although the ladder routine was implemented into an Allen Bradley PLC, Control Logix family it can be implemented into any brand of PLCs

Desenvolvimento de sistemas embarcados para redes de sensores e atuadores sem fio aplicadas em unidades de elevação de petróleo do tipo Plunger-Lift

The Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) methods applied to the lifting of oil present as an area with growing demand technical and scientific in view of the optimizations that can be carried forward with existing processes. This dissertation has as main objective to present the development of embedded systems dedicated to a wireless sensor network based on IEEE 802.15.4, which applies the ZigBee protocol, between sensors, actuators and the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), aiming to solve the present problems in the deployment and maintenance of the physical communication of current elevation oil units based on the method Plunger-Lift. Embedded systems developed for this application will be responsible for acquiring information from sensors and control actuators of the devices present at the well, and also, using the Modbus protocol to make this network becomes transparent to the PLC responsible for controlling the production and delivery information for supervisory SISAL

Ambiente para avaliação de controladores fuzzy aplicados ao método de elevação artificial por bombeio centrífugo submerso

From their early days, Electrical Submergible Pumping (ESP) units have excelled in lifting much greater liquid rates than most of the other types of artificial lift and developed by good performance in wells with high BSW, in onshore and offshore environments. For all artificial lift system, the lifetime and frequency of interventions are of paramount importance, given the high costs of rigs and equipment, plus the losses coming from a halt in production. In search of a better life of the system comes the need to work with the same efficiency and security within the limits of their equipment, this implies the need for periodic adjustments, monitoring and control. How is increasing the prospect of minimizing direct human actions, these adjustments should be made increasingly via automation. The automated system not only provides a longer life, but also greater control over the production of the well. The controller is the brain of most automation systems, it is inserted the logic and strategies in the work process in order to get you to work efficiently. So great is the importance of controlling for any automation system is expected that, with better understanding of ESP system and the development of research, many controllers will be proposed for this method of artificial lift. Once a controller is proposed, it must be tested and validated before they take it as efficient and functional. The use of a producing well or a test well could favor the completion of testing, but with the serious risk that flaws in the design of the controller were to cause damage to oil well equipment, many of them expensive. Given this reality, the main objective of the present work is to present an environment for evaluation of fuzzy controllers for wells equipped with ESP system, using a computer simulator representing a virtual oil well, a software design fuzzy controllers and a PLC. The use of the proposed environment will enable a reduction in time required for testing and adjustments to the controller and evaluated a rapid diagnosis of their efficiency and effectiveness. The control algorithms are implemented in both high-level language, through the controller design software, such as specific language for programming PLCs, Ladder Diagram language.

Planung, Aufbau und Inbetriebnahme einer Steuerung für einen Kreuztisch mit modernen Steuerungs- und Antriebskomponenten vom Fabrikat Siemens

Eine alte Steuerung um einen Kreuztisch in X - und Y- Position zu verfahren wird modernisiert. Dazu werden bereits vorhandene Komponenten wie der Steuerschrank, Relais, Kabel usw. sortiert und zum Teil wieder verwendet. Der dazu gehörende Kreuztisch bleibt bis auf die zwei neuen Synchronmotoren mit geändertem Riemenantrieb und der angepassten Verdrahtung der Endschalter nahezu unverändert. Neu ist, dass die Motoren und deren Positionsgeber (Absolutwertgeber an der Y-Achse, Inkrementalgeber an der X-Achse) über eine schnelle DRIVE - CLIQ - Verdrahtung mit der Steuerung verbunden sind, welche eine genauere, einfachere und schnellere Kommunikation unter den Teilnehmern zulässt. Die Steuerung soll geplant, aufgebaut und wenn fertig gestellt eine Kontur automatisch fahren können. Die Hauptsteuerung übernimmt eine SIMATIC T - CPU von Siemens. Projektiert wird mit STEP 7 und WinCC flexible, Motion mittels PLC open Bausteinen.

Influencia de las organizaciones internacionales en el modelo de desarrollo de los países de América Latina mediante de la educación

El presente artículo de investigación aborda el rol de gobernanza global que ha venido ejerciendo con mayor fuerza las organizaciones internacionales, como la UNESCO, el BM y en especial la OCDE, en el modelo de desarrollo de los países de América Latina a través de las orientaciones que se dan para las políticas y la agenda educativa en la región. Es decir, se trata de examinar hasta qué punto esas orientaciones han permeado las líneas de desarrollo y de educación. Por consiguiente, el texto recoge algunos compromisos establecidos por dichas agendas y propone un modelo alternativo al desarrollo, que dé cuenta de nuestro contexto sociocultural y pueda construir espacios de reflexión para llenar los vacíos en la formación de la educación del individuo que generen un progreso colectivo y que se adapte a la realidad local.

SCADA configuration and control modes implementation on an experimental water supply canal

In the last years, digital controllers became a very interesting alternative (low costs and higher accuracy) to the analogue or to hydrodynamic traditional controllers in water supply canal automation, in order to match water supply to water demands. This kind of hydraulic systems needs particular research for control applications because they are big scale systems, open and characterized by big delays and great inertia. This paper presents several digital control modes tested in an experimental canal that will be used as a research platform on the automatic canal control domain. The canal operation and their control modes selection are supervised by a SCADA system developed and configured for this particular canal.

Fronteras, puentes, posibilidades: asignatura de portugués y patrimonio

Pretendemos, neste texto, equacionar a possibilidade de se considerar a construção de uma disciplina escolar como um processo semelhante ao que leva à validação do que se entenderia como património. Parte-se, para tal, num primeiro momento do texto, da identificação de um enquadramento teórico que considere este processo de construção e validação como algo de eminentemente ideológico. Num segundo momento, descrevendo e discutindo o processo de construção do Português enquanto disciplina escolar, o seu território e as suas funções, equacionamos os possíveis pontos de intersecção do conceito de património com este espaço. Refletiremos, a este respeito, sobre o caso particular da construção do cânone literário (e da importância da escola enquanto instância legitimadora).

AVALIAÇÃO REPRODUTIVA E PRODUTIVA DA RAÇA CAPRINA SERPENTINA, 1991 - 2014

As capacidades produtivas dos animais dependem de diversos fatores: genéticos e ambientais. O conhecimento da forma como os referidos fatores afetam a produtividade dos animais, carne e leite, permite ao produtor tomar as decisões técnicas necessárias para atingir um melhor índice de produtividade e rentabilidade da sua exploração. Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal evidenciar alguns dos fatores que afetam as características creatopoiéticas e lactopoiéticas da Serpentina e a forma como atuam sobre as mesmas, usando dados recolhidos pela APCRS, desde 1991 a 2014, em efetivos dos seus associados, explorados em sistemas de produção tradicionais. Foram estudados os pesos ao nascimento (PN) (3,17 kg), ajustado aos 30 dias (P30) (6,47 kg) e aos 70 dias (P70) (10,51 kg), bem como os diferentes modos de cria dos cabritos. Considerando as diversas modalidades de cria, o potencial de crescimento observado foi: (i) aleitamento natural os machos cresceram 0,108 kg e as fêmeas 0,095 kg; (ii) aleitamento em boxes os machos cresceram 0,109 kg e as fêmeas 0,099 kg; (iii) aleitamento em grupo os machos cresceram 0,141 kg e as fêmeas 0,119 kg; (iv) aleitamento em cornadi os machos cresceram 0,106 kg e as fêmeas 0,100 kg; (v) aleitamento artificial os machos cresceram 0,095 kg e as fêmeas 0,085 kg. A análise das diferentes características lactopoiéticas basearam-se na duração da lactação (DL), duração da ordenha (DO), produção total de leite (PTL), produção de leite comercializável (PLC), teor de matéria gorda (TMG) e teor de matéria proteica (TMP). Analisando os resultados de produção verificou-se: (i) duração da lactação de 207,18 dias; (ii) produção total de leite 167,81 L; (iii) produção de leite ajustado aos 210 dias de 118,46 L; (iv) teor butiroso ajustado aos 210 dias de 4,91 %; teor proteico ajustado aos 210 dias de 3,78 %. Verificou-se que os caracteres de crescimento e de produção de leite estudados apresentaram diferenças altamente significativas (P < 0,01) de forma generalizada, como consequência das diferenças técnicas e condições ambientais existentes nas diferentes explorações. Os valores médios obtidos, bem como a sua variabilidade, para as características creatopoiéticas e lactopoiéticas, revelam que a aptidão da raça para a produção de carne e leite tem um peso considerável na sua viabilidade produtiva. A existência de animais com valores produtivos elevados incute a esperança que através de um maneio mais cuidado e de um melhoramento genético mais criterioso, será possível obterem-se valores médios mais elevados aos obtidos neste estudo.

Azacitidine and Lenalidomide Combination Therapy in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Topography and Translational Relevance of Nuclear Phospholipase C β - dependent Signalling

Nuclear inositide signalling pathways, and particularly those regulated by PI-PLCβ1, are associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous spectrum of chronic myeloid hemopathies with associated symptomatic cytopenias and substantial potential for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MDS patients are currently treated with two main approaches, epigenetic (Azacitidine) and immunomodulatory (Lenalidomide: above all in cell clones bearing a deletion of the long arm of the chromosome 5 [del(5q)]). As Azacitidine and Lenalidomide alone can show adverse effects or patients can be refractory, an experimental current approach is the combination of the two drugs. Clinically, this combination therapy is promising, while its molecular effect has to be clarified. Stemming from these data, in this study the effect of an Azacitidine-Lenalidomide combination therapy was studied, in both MDS patients and hematopoietic cell lines. The specific aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of Azacitidine and Lenalidomide MDS therapy on: cell cycle regulation, hematopoietic differentiation, gene mutation and miR expression. Lenalidomide alone, via PI-PLCβ1/PKC pathway, was able to induce a selective G0/G1 arrest of the cell cycle in del(5q) cells, slowing down their rate proliferation and favouring erythropoiesis activation. In addition, although the mutation profile at baseline was not entirely capable of predicting the clinical effect of Azacitidine and Lenalidomide therapy, the presence of specific point mutations affecting three inositide genes (PI3KCD, AKT3, PLCG2) was correlated to and anticipated a negative clinical outcome. Moreover, the differential miR expression was detectable even from the 4th cycle of therapy in responder patients, as compared to non-responders. In MDS, this is the first evidence that the molecular mutation profiling of inositide genes or a specific mini-cluster of differentially expressed miRs, targeting inositide signaling molecules, can be associated with the clinical response, thus possibly predicting the effect of the therapy.

The role of Phospholipases as novel potential modulators of aggressiveness in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor in adults. The standard care of treatment is tumor resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Despite these invasive therapeutic approaches, glioblastoma prognosis remains unchanged. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving tumor transformation is needed to uncover novel therapeutic strategies. Several studies have shown the significance of lipid signaling and phospholipases (PLCs) in the regulation of different mechanisms in the central nervous system as well as in glioblastoma pathogenesis. This work suggests a potential role of PLCβ1 in the maintenance of a less aggressive phenotype of the tumor. Indeed, it was demonstrated that PLCβ1 gene was relatively less expressed in glioblastoma patients compared to their healthy/low-grade counterparts. Moreover, PLCβ1 silencing, in both immortalized and primary cell lines, led to increased cell migration, invasion, proliferation, cell survival and induced the upregulation of mesenchymal markers and metalloproteinases. Moreover, PLCγ1, another abundant PLC isoform in the brain, has been identified as a key element for the aggressiveness of glioblastoma. Data collected on patients’ biopsies and engineered cell models, suggested a strong correlation between PLCγ1 expression level and the acquisition of a more aggressive tumor phenotype. Finally, this trend was further probed using patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), which are a specific tumor population that drives aggressiveness, resistance, and recurrence in glioblastoma. GSCs analysis on the transcriptomic profiles confirmed that PLCγ1 downregulation modulated positively the activation of pathways that negatively regulate cell motility and migration and led to a decreased expression of genes involved in cancer development and progression. Taken together, these data highlight the importance of further investigating phospholipases as potential prognostic biomarkers and targets in the development of new therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma.

Acquired and inherited cardiomyopathies: evaluation of cardiotoxic effects in preclinical models

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of myocardial disorders defined by structural and functional alterations of the heart. These cardiac diseases can have both non-genetic and genetic origin. Nevertheless, a different etiology can trigger the same phenotype, as in the case of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and desmin-related cardiomyopathy (DRM). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the cellular mechanisms driving the development of these cardiotoxic conditions in in vitro models. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used antineoplastic drug for the treatment of a wide range of tumors. Besides, its clinical use is restricted because of dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Our findings provided evidence that phospholipase C Beta 2 (PLCβ2) may have a critical role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in undifferentiated and differentiated H9c2 cell line. Interestingly, the results obtained revealed that cardiomyocytes are less sensitive to DOX, following the evaluation of cellular mechanisms such as: oxidative stress, apoptosis and cell proliferation. Nonetheless, the treatment induced a significant upregulation of PLCβ2 associated to morphological changes in both models, demonstrating the implication in a hypertrophic response. On the other hand, a hereditary DRM was associated to a missense mutation of aB crystallin (CRYAB), a chaperone protein involved in the regulation of the intermediate filament network. Since research has only been conducted on transgenic (TG) mice and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, this study aimed at investigating cellular mechanisms triggered by CRYABR120G mutation in a hiPSC-derived DRM model. Our model confirmed the impairment of the cytoskeletal organization resulting in the formation of desmin and CRYAB aggregates and myofibril misalignment. Moreover, the missense mutation confirmed a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype, a feature of DRM patients, on cardiac engineered tissues. Lastly, these data obtained suggest that further research on PLCβ2 and CRYAB are needed to comprehend the molecular mechanisms behind the development of these 2 cardiac diseases.

Integration of ROS for the control of industrial robotic systems in a proprietary environment

The paper deals with the integration of ROS, in the proprietary environment of the Marchesini Group company, for the control of industrial robotic systems. The basic tools of this open-source software are deeply studied to model a full proprietary Pick and Place manipulator inside it, and to develop custom ROS nodes to calculate trajectories; speaking of which, the URDF format is the standard to represent robots in ROS and the motion planning framework MoveIt offers user-friendly high-level methods. The communication between ROS and the Marchesini control architecture is established using the OPC UA standard; the tasks computed are transmitted offline to the PLC, supervisor controller of the physical robot, because the performances of the protocol don’t allow any kind of active control by ROS. Once the data are completely stored at the Marchesini side, the industrial PC makes the real robot execute a trajectory computed by MoveIt, so that it replicates the behaviour of the simulated manipulator in Rviz. Multiple experiments are performed to evaluate in detail the potential of ROS in the planning of movements for the company proprietary robots. The project ends with a small study regarding the use of ROS as a simulation platform. First, it is necessary to understand how a robotic application of the company can be reproduced in the Gazebo real world simulator. Then, a ROS node extracts information and examines the simulated robot behaviour, through the subscription to specific topics.