Estimation of a preference map of new consumers for spatial load forecasting simulation methods using a spatial analysis of points

The paper presents a spatial analysis of points especially suited to estimate a preference map for new consumers, which is then used as an analytical tool in spatial electric load forecasting. This approach is an exploratory spatial data analysis used to discover useful point patterns in the spatial location of distribution transformers to calculate a preference value for each area, rating it with respect to a hypothetical load change that may occur. We consider the locations of distribution transformers occupied land. Random points are generated in the study area where the new loads are expected; these points are referred to as unoccupied land. The method uses a generalized additive model (GAM) to estimate the probability of unoccupied land becoming occupied land. We test the approach with data from a real distribution system in a mid-size city in Brazil; the result is a preference map that shows the areas where new consumers are most likely to be allocated. The main advantage of this method is the ability work with a small-scale resolution, which enables the use of a resolution suitable for spatial load forecasting method chosen. We test the calculated probabilities in a spatial load forecasting simulation, yielding results with lower spatial error when compared with the heuristic technique.     

Living in today's world: Reflections on the interactions between technology and human relational patterns

This essay paper focuses on how the idea and use of technology is gradually reorganizing not only the structural arrangements but also redefining relationships and relational patterns. In particular reference to new technological applications and sites that are increasingly used by people for networking and bonding, there is a macro-discourse of being and staying connected through technology. Such platforms assume an easy access or an imagined availability of the other person at all times. Such availability also assumes psychological availability of the person, despite any personal circumstances he/she may be in. Experiencing the compressed space and time has given birth to the debate of quality of life and relations surrounding it vs. the constant flux of technology that restricts the psychological freedom while facilitating a structural freedom to communicate. Technology is an artifact that not only symbolizes values of ease and convenience but also has the potential to affect the deeper assumptions and values people hold about life and relationships. Thus, it mediates our personal, social and organizational realities, pushing us to live in dual worlds.     

Impact of vehicle charging on Portugal's national electricity load profile in 2030

This study aims to explore the impact of light-duty passenger (LdP) electric vehicle (EV) charging on the Portuguese national load profile (LP) in 2030. The goal is to identify EV charging strategies that enable a sustainable configuration of the Portuguese LP under different potential levels of LdP EV penetration in 2030. The research offers Portuguese utilities and policymakers information regarding potential threats and solutions of different EV charging strategies on the national grid infrastructure in 2030. Furthermore, it proposes a methodology that can also be adopted in other countries to analyse similar problems. Low, medium, and high penetration scenarios were designated based on the number of LdP EVs. The low and medium penetration scenarios indicate that an intelligent grid is not necessary to perform charging activities. However, coordinating EV charging in the evening via a smart grid (SG) is imperative in the high penetration scenario, as unsustainable levels of power demand will otherwise be reached, compared with the current production and distribution capacity. Moreover, morning charging sessions must also be addressed, as they may induce new peaks of daily consumption given the significant amount of charging activity taking place within that period.     

螯合树脂塔智能化控制的优化

介绍了螯合树脂塔的工作流程,分析了原控制系统存在的问题,提出了智能化改造方案,达到了预期效果。     

Striking Patterns: Contemporary Ikat Design and Its Future

This review presents the results of a conference on ikat textiles organized in the context of the exhibition Striking Patterns: Global Traces in Local Ikat Fashion at the Museum der Kulturen Basel, Switzerland (October 2016 to March 2017). Academics and professional experts, some of them working for NGOs, debated often neglected potentialities as well as the future of contemporary ikat design and other intricately patterned handwoven textiles: the significance of new patterns; intellectual property rights; and educational encouragement. The general focus lay on the controversially perceived innovation of textile patterns in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. We will here present the main arguments of the discussion and our own suggestions for further research.     

Vocal production in postpartum dairy cows: Temporal organization and association with maternal and stress behaviors

Mammalian vocalizations can encode contextual information in both the spectrographic components of their individual vocal units and in their temporal organization. Here we observed 23 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows immediately after birth during interactions with their calf and when their calf was separated to the other side of a fence line. We investigated whether the vocalizations emitted in these postpartum contexts would vary temporally. We also described the maternal and stress behaviors preceding and following postpartum vocal production using kinematic diagrams and characterized call sequence structure. The kinematic diagrams highlight the disruption of maternal responses caused by calf separation and show that behavioral and vocal patterns varied according to the cows' emotional states and proximity to the calf in both contexts. During calf interactions, cows mainly produced closed-mouth calls simultaneous to licking their calf, whereas an escalation of stress responses was observed during calf separation, with the cows approaching the fence line, becoming alert to the calf, and emitting more mixed and open-mouth calls. Call sequences were similarly structured across contexts, mostly containing repetitions of a single call type, with a mean interval of 0.57 s between calls and a greater cumulative vocalization duration, attributed to an increased number of vocal units per sequence. Overall, calf separation was associated with a greater proportion of calls emitted as a sequence (inverse of single isolated calls), a shorter interval between separate call sequences, and a greater number of vocal units per sequence, compared with calf interactions. These temporal vocal features varied predictably with the high stress expression from cows during calf separation and may represent temporal modulations of emotional expression. Despite the noisy farm soundscape, empirical call type and temporal vocal features were easy to measure; thus, findings could be applied to future cattle studies wishing to analyze vocalizations for on-farm welfare assessments.     

The Tumor Microenvironment in Liver Metastases from Colorectal Carcinoma in the Context of the Histologic Growth Patterns

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common cancer. Likewise, it is a disease that has a long survival if it is prematurely detected. However, more than 50% of patients will develop metastases, mainly in the liver (LM-CRC), throughout the evolution of their disease, which accounts for most CRC-related deaths. Treatment it is certainly a controversial issue, since it has not been shown to increase overall survival in the adjuvant setting, although it does improve disease free survival (DFS). Moreover, current chemotherapy combinations are administered based on data extrapolated from primary tumors (PT), not considering that LM-CRC present a very particular tumor microenvironment that can radically condition the effectiveness of treatments designed for a PT. The liver has a particular histology and microenvironment that can determine tumor growth and response to treatments: double blood supply, vascularization through fenestrated sinusoids and the presence of different mesenchymal cell types, among other particularities. Likewise, the liver presents a peculiar immune response against tumor cells, a fact that correlates with the poor response to immunotherapy. All these aspects will be addressed in this review, putting them in the context of the histological growth patterns of LM-CRC, a particular pathologic feature with both prognostic and predictive repercussions.     

Modeling and simulation of steam methane reforming and methane combustion over continuous and segmented catalyst beds in autothermal reactor

In this paper, a numerical analysis of the production of hydrogen via autothermal (ATR) steam methane reforming (SMR) is presented. The combustion reaction occurs over a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst, and the reforming reaction is operated using a Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst inside the same cylindrical channel. A novel configuration with18 catalytic-bed macro-patterns alternately mounted, referred to as SDB, is designed and compared with the catalytic dual-bed reactor (conventional configuration), referred to as CDB, at the same operating temperature and pressure conditions of 900 °C and 14 bars, respectively. The results showed that hydrogen yield was improved by 4.5% compared to the conventional configuration, while a decrease of 67 °C of the highest temperature was noticed. Meanwhile, the methane conversion was 63.73% and 65.44% for the CDB and SDB configurations, respectively. Furthermore, the length of the reactor can be decreased by 27%, keeping the same hydrogen yield at the outlet of the conventional reactor, indicating a potential reduction in hydrogen cost.     

Little rewards,big changes: Using exercise analytics to motivate sustainable changes in physical activity

Even using simple techniques like taking the stairs, many individuals struggle to maintain the motivation to be physically active. Health gamification systems can aid this goal by providing points earned through exercise that are redeemable for tangible extrinsic rewards. Using self-determination theory, we conduct research on one such system and investigate rewards’ effectiveness to promote exercise considering reward value, redemption frequency patterns, and fitness levels. We find that rewards do significantly increase activity levels, and this effect is larger for advanced users who redeem multiple times for higher value rewards. We close by offering future research avenues and advice to optimize reward portfolios.