Energy Resource Management under the Influence of the Weekend Transition Considering an Intensive use of Electric Vehicles

Energy resource scheduling is becoming increasingly important, as the use of distributed resources is intensified and of massive electric vehicle is envisaged. The present paper proposes a methodology for day-ahead energy resource scheduling for smart grids considering the intensive use of distributed generation and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). This method considers that the energy resources are managed by a Virtual Power Player (VPP) which established contracts with their owners. It takes into account these contracts, the users' requirements subjected to the VPP, and several discharge price steps. The full AC power flow calculation included in the model takes into account network constraints. The influence of the successive day requirements on the day-ahead optimal solution is discussed and considered in the proposed model. A case study with a 33-bus distribution network and V2G is used to illustrate the good performance of the proposed method.

Contextual and Environmental Awareness Laboratory for Energy Consumption Management

The recent changes on power systems paradigm requires the active participation of small and medium players in energy management. With an electricity price fluctuation these players must manage the consumption. Lowering costs and ensuring adequate user comfort levels. Demand response can improve the power system management and bring benefits for the small and medium players. The work presented in this paper, which is developed aiming the smart grid context, can also be used in the current power system paradigm. The proposed system is the combination of several fields of research, namely multi-agent systems and artificial neural networks. This system is physically implemented in our laboratories and it is used daily by researchers. The physical implementation gives the system an improvement in the proof of concept, distancing itself from the conventional systems. This paper presents a case study illustrating the simulation of real-time pricing in a laboratory.

Resource Scheduling in Residential Microgrids Considering Energy Selling to External Players

The operation of distribution networks has been facing changes with the implementation of smart grids and microgrids, and the increasing use of distributed generation. The specific case of distribution networks that accommodate residential buildings, small commerce, and distributed generation as the case of storage and PV generation lead to the concept of microgrids, in the cases that the network is able to operate in islanding mode. The microgrid operator in this context is able to manage the consumption and generation resources, also including demand response programs, obtaining profits from selling electricity to the main network. The present paper proposes a methodology for the energy resource scheduling considering power flow issues and the energy buying and selling from/to the main network in each bus of the microgrid. The case study uses a real distribution network with 25 bus, residential and commercial consumers, PV generation, and storage.

Toxoplasma gondii infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Lagos City, Southern Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii infection has been described as the most widespread zoonotic infection of humans and other animals. Information concerning T. gondii infection among schoolchildren is unavailable in Lagos City, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) from a community located in the center of Lagos, southern Nigeria, from November 2013 to March 2014. A total of 382 PSC were screened for the presence of sera anti-T. gondii antibodies using a latex agglutination test (TOXO Test-MT, Tokyo, Japan). A cutoff titer of ≥ 1:32 was considered positive, while titers ≥ 1:1,024 indicated high responders. Questionnaires were also used to obtain data on possible risk factors from parents/guardians. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 24% (91/382), and 83.5% (76/91) of seropositive PSC were classified as high responders. Among the risk factors tested, including contact with cats and soil, consumption of raw meat and vegetables, and drinking unboiled water, none showed statistical significance after multivariate adjustment. No associations were observed among age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and parents' occupation/educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study show evidence of active infection, and hence, there is need for urgent preventive measures in this city. Further investigation is required to clarify the transmission routes. Policy makers also need to initiate prevention and control programs to protect pregnant women and immunocompromised patients in particular because they are more severely affected by T. gondii infection.

Cambios políticos y evolución de los partidos en Cataluña (1995-2007)

El propósito principal de este trabajo es contribuir a mostrar la evolución de dos de las principales dimensiones del cambio en los partidos políticos: su legitimidad y su fuerza organizativa. Para ello se analiza el caso de los partidos catalanes (PSC, CDC, UDC, ERC, ICV, PP) en un periodo de tiempo relativamente corto (1995-2007), pero caracterizado por un intenso cambio político e institucional. Para mostrar mejor su evolución en términos comparados estas transformaciones se analizan en dos niveles distintos: a nivel de cada partido y a nivel de sistema de partidos. Los resultados sugieren una progresiva erosión del apoyo social de los partidos desde finales de los años noventa que no se ha traducido, por el momento, en una merma de su fuerza organizativa.

L’Evolució del vot dual a Catalunya

El principal valor afegit d’aquest treball rau en la troballa de que la valoració dels candidats a la presidència de la Generalitat és la variable que té més importància a l’hora d’explicar la propensió d’un català a emetre un vot dual. Així per exemple, i pel cas del vot dual PSC-CiU a finals dels vuitanta i principis dels noranta, els catalans que es decantaven per l’opció socialista a les eleccions generals i per la federació nacionalista als comicis autonòmics eren aquells que valoraven millor (pitjor) Jordi Pujol (Raimon Obiols). I a conclusions similars s’arriba si s’analitza aquesta mateixa modalitat de vot dual en altres punts del temps, o altres modalitats de vot dual. El treball s’estructura de la manera següent. En primer lloc, es defineix l’objecte d’estudi i les seves distintes modalitats. A continuació, s’ofereixen unes primeres dades de tipus descriptiu sobre el fenomen del vot dual a Catalunya. En els apartats següents, s’emmarquen teòricament les hipòtesis la validesa de les quals es busca comprovar a través dels models economètrics. La secció dedicada al disseny de la investigació serveix de preàmbul a l’anàlisi quantitativa de les causes del vot dual a Catalunya. Per últim, un breu apartat de conclusions recull les principals aportacions del treball, i aventura possibles línees d’investigació futures.

Descentralización y estrategias organizativas: las relaciones especiales entre partidos de ámbito estatal (PAE) y partidos de ámbito no estatal (PANE) en España

El objetivo de este artículo es desarrollar un marco analítico que permita examinar y, eventualmente, clasificar qué son y cómo han evolucionado las relaciones especiales entre Partidos de Ámbito Estatal (PAEs) y Partidos de Ámbito No Estatal (PANEs) que acuerdan un marco estable de cooperación no sólo en el ámbito electoral sino también organizativo. Este marco analítico, basado en los conceptos de integración vertical y de autonomía, se aplicará al caso español para analizar las relaciones del Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) con el Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC); el Partido Popular (PP) con Unión del Pueblo Navarro (UPN); e Izquierda Unida (IU) con Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds (ICV).

Partidos de ámbito no estatal y gobernabilidad multinivel: el caso de España (1977-2008)

Este trabajo se propone contribuir a la discusión conceptual entorno a los PANE para, elaborar una doble clasificación a partir del caso español, basada en los criterios de su presencia territorial y electoral. En conjunto, esta clasificación muestra la creciente relevancia que los PANE han jugado, desde sus inicios, en la gobernabilidad estatal y autonómica Española. Las precisiones conceptuales entorno a los PANE también han permitido mostrar un panorma de la gobernabilidad más complejo de los que hasta el momento tendían a subrayar los estudios electorales. En particular, se llama la atención sobre las peculiares características de la alianza entre PSOE y PSC, cuyas consecuencias tanto para la teoría sobre coaliciones como para la comprensión del funcionamiento del gobierno en España aún no han sido adecuadamente analizadas.

Els partits polítics catalans i la seguretat. Estudi comparatiu de les diferents estratègies

El present treball parteix de la hipòtesi de si els principals partits polítics catalans disposen, o no, d’una estratègia de seguretat internacional clara i ben definida. Per tal de respondre a la hipòtesi plantejada, i partint de l’Estratègia Europea de Seguretat de l’any 2003, amb les amenaces que s’hi estableixen, s’han estudiat els programes electorals i altre material dels cinc principals partits polítics catalans (CiU, PSC, ERC, PP i ICV). S’ha posat èmfasi en els programes de les eleccions generals de 2004 i 2008 i de les europees de 2004 i 2009, i s’han contrastat els resultats amb entrevistes als responsables de les sectorials de Seguretat, Defensa i/o Internacional de cada partit polític. Aquest assaig espera poder demostrar si els partits abans esmentats tenen una estratègia de seguretat internacional i si estan preparats per a les amenaces del segle XXI. S’ha pogut constatar que 4 dels 5 partits estan més interessats en la seguretat internacional que ens els serveis sanitaris, per posar un exemple. En un altre nivell d’anàlisi, s’ha pogut apuntar la tendència que els partits d’esquerra i centre-esquerra es centren més en la seguretat humana, mentre que els partits de centre es focalitzen en la seguretat pragmàtica i els de dretes, en la seguretat tradicional.

Review on the Molecular Tools for the Understanding of the Epidemiology of Animal Trypanosomosis in West Africa

The epidemiology of animal trypanosomosis around Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso, West Africa) benefited a lot in the last years from the progress of molecular tools. The two most used molecular techniques were the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of the disease in cattle and the characterization of the trypanosomes in the host and the vector on one hand, and the microsatellite DNA polymorphism in tsetse flies to study the intraspecific genetic variability of the vector on the other hand. The results obtained in the Sideradougou area during a recent two year survey with these techniques, associated with many other georeferenced informations concerning vector and cattle distribution, natural environment, landuse, ground occupation, livestock management, were combined in a Geographical Information System. This new approach of a complex pathogenic system led to a better evaluation of the risk of trypanosome transmission.

The Strategic Adaptation of Party Organizations to New Information and Communication Technologies : A Study of Catalan and Spanish Parties

Aquest document se centra en els casos dels dos principals partits espanyols (PP i PSOE) i catalans (PSC i CDC) en el període immediatament després de les eleccions generals espanyoles de maig de 2008, quan aquests celebraren els seus congressos. En general, es poden distingir tres tipus d'actors: en primer lloc, els ciberactivistes que tracten d'obtenir el reconeixement formal de la seva activitat en els seus partits. Així com, els líders del partit que poden intentar promoure la presència del partit en el ciberespai, però que també poden romandre indecisos perquè no és clar l'impacte electoral a la xarxa del ciberactivisme. Finalment, alguns militants tradicionals (off-line) solen ser reticents al reconeixement del ciberactivisme perquè amenaça les recompenses previstes dins del partit. Aquest article mostra com els nostres partits varen respondre al desafiament del ciberactivisme i arriba a la conclusió que la seva situació electoral, mediada per la seva ideologia, estructura organitzativa i el tipus de militància, poden ajudar-nos a comprendre el grau diferent d'institucionalització en l'organització del partit.

Chronology of extraintestinal manifestations relative to IBD diagnosis in the Swiss IBD Cohort

Background and Aims: Due to a p aucity of s uch data we aimed to a ssess the type and f requency o f extraintestinal manifestations ( EIM) in I BD p atients and to e valuate their chronologic behavior. Methods: A nalysis of d ata from t he Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort (SIBDCS) which c ollects data since 2 005 on a large sample o f IBD patients f rom hospitals and private practices across Switzerland. Results: A t total o f 1,143 patients were a nalyzed ( 572 (50%) female, mean age 42.1 ± 14.4 years), 629 with Crohn's disease (CD), 501 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 13 with indeterminate colitis ( IC). Of t hese, 3 74 (32.7%) presented o ne to five E IM (65% w ith CD, 3 3% w ith UC, 2% w ith IC). O f those patients suffering from EIM, 4 1.7% p resented two, 1 2.4% t hree, 5 .3% four, and 3.2% f ive E IM d uring lifetime. T he initial EIM presented with the following frequencies: p eripheral a rthritis (PA) 6 3.4%, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) 8 .1%, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) 6%, uveitis 5.7%, oral a phthosis 5.7%, erythema nodosum (EN) 5 %, other 3 .6%, pyoderma gangrenosum 1.8%, psoriasis 0.7%. In only 7.1% of cases, the EIM m anifested before IBD diagnosis was made (median time 28 months b efore IBD diagnosis, I QR 7 -60 months), in 9 2.9% EIM m anifested a fter e stablished IBD d iagnosis (median 72 months, IQR 9-147 months). Conclusions: EIM are a frequent problem in IBD patients. The vast m ajority of E IM m anifest a fter I BD d iagnosis has b een established. P eripheral a rthritis, a nkylosing spondylitis, a nd PSC represent the most frequent first manifestations of an EIM.

Oxidative folding of synthetic polypeptides S-protected as tert-butylthio derivatives.

A new method for oxidative folding of synthetic polypeptides assembled by stepwise solid phase synthesis is introduced. Folding is obtained in excellent yields by reacting S-tert-butylthiolated polypeptides with a 100-fold molar excess of cysteine at 37 degrees C in a slightly alkaline buffer containing chaotropic salts, and in the presence of air-oxygen. This novel protocol has been applied to the folding of S-tert-butylthiolated human thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (hu-TARC) derivatives as well as to larger segments of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite proteins. Folded P. falciparum polypeptides have been used as substrates of endoproteinase Glu-C (Glu-C) and endoproteinase Asp-N (Asp-N) in an attempt to identify their disulfide connectivities. Particular practical advantages of the present method are (i) easy purification and storage of the S-protected peptide derivatives, (ii) elimination of the risk of cysteine alkylation during the acidolytic cleavage deprotection and resin cleavage steps, (iii) possibility to precisely evaluate the extent of folding and disulfide bond formation by mass spectrometry, and (iv) facile recovery of the final folded product.

Synthetic RGD-containing alpha-helical coiled coil peptides promote integrin-dependent cell adhesion.

Integrin receptors are the main mediators of cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. They bind to their ligands by interacting with short amino acid sequences, such as the RGD sequence. Soluble, small RGD-based peptides have been used to block integrin-binding to ligands, thereby interfering with cell adhesion, migration and survival, while substrate-immobilized RGD sequences have been used to enhance cell binding to artificial surfaces. This approach has several important medical applications, e.g. in suppression of tumor angiogenesis or stimulation of bone formation around implants. However, the relatively weak affinity of short RGD-containing peptides often results in incomplete integrin inhibition or ineffective ligation. In this work, we designed and synthesized several new multivalent RGD-containing molecules and tested their ability to inhibit or to promote integrin-dependent cell adhesion when used in solution or immobilized on substrates, respectively. These molecules consist of an oligomeric structure formed by alpha-helical coiled coil peptides fused at their amino-terminal ends with an RGD-containing fragment. When immobilized on a substrate, these peptides specifically promoted integrin alphaVbeta3-dependent cell adhesion, but when used in solution, they blocked alphaVbeta3-dependent cell adhesion to the natural substrates fibronectin and vitronectin. One of the peptides was nearly 10-fold more efficient than fibronectin or vitronectin in promoting cell adhesion, and almost 100-fold more efficient than a linear RGD tripeptide in blocking adhesion. These results indicate that alpha-helical coiled coil peptides carrying an amino-terminal RGD motif can be used as soluble antagonists or surface-immobilized agonists to efficiently inhibit or promote integrin alphaVbeta3-mediated cell adhesion, respectively.

Micorrizas arbusculares no crescimento pós-transplantio de mudas de árvores em solo com excesso de metais pesados

Os efeitos adversos dos metais pesados para as diversas formas de vida dificultam a recuperação de solos contaminados por estes elementos. Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se os efeitos da inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares no crescimento e absorção de metais de mudas de cinco espécies arbóreas, transplantadas para misturas que continham diferentes proporções de um solo contaminado (PSC). Mudas de Senna multijuga (L.C. Rich.) Irwin et Barneby (cássia verrugosa), Luehea grandiflora Mart. et Zucc. (açoita-cavalo), Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (tamboril), Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (albizia) e Senna macranthera (Collard.) Irwin et Barneby (fedegoso), inoculadas e sem inoculação, foram transplantadas para as misturas de solos e desenvolvidas por 180 dias, no período de abril a novembro de 1996, em vasos, em casa de vegetação do Departamento de Ciência do Solo da UFLA, Lavras (MG). Verificou-se que a elevação na PSC na mistura reduziu o desenvolvimento das mudas e a colonização micorrízica (CM), sendo isto causado pela elevada absorção de metais pelas plantas, especiamente, de Cd e Zn. A inoculação favoreceu o crescimento das mudas após transplantio, sendo esse efeito mais evidente nas misturas de solo com baixa PSC. A CM foi reduzida de 70 a 90% no solo não contaminado para valores próximos de zero na mistura com alta PSC. Os níveis críticos de toxidez (redução de 10% na matéria seca das plantas inoculadas) dos metais no solo foram, em mg dm-3, de 83, 57, 153, 256 e 16, para o Zn, e de 1,3; 0,9; 0,8; 4,0 e 1,6, para Cd, para açoita-cavalo, cássia verrugosa, fedegoso, tamboril e albizia, respectivamente. Observando esses níveis críticos, as plantas não inoculadas apresentaram produção de matéria seca relativa, média para todas as espécies, de apenas 39%, evidenciando os benefícios da inoculação para o crescimento pós-transplantio das mudas. Esses benefícios relacionaram-se com menores teores de metais na parte aérea. Mesmo desconhecendo os mecanismos envolvidos nestas respostas, os resultados deste trabalho evidenciaram a importância das micorrizas arbusculares para o crescimento de mudas de árvores e para a recuperação de áreas tropicais contaminadas com metais pesados.