A PV installation framework concerning electricity variable rates

This paper assesses building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installation parameters based on the profit generated by a photovoltaic system. It takes into consideration a home building case study and it investigates its monthly energy demand based on a specific location and a typical occupancy. The capability of a photovoltaic (PV) system to generate more profit occurs when solar intensity is maximum while the electric energy price is at its highest rate. The paper traces a framework that encompasses different aspects such as energy demand, energy price, and solar intensity. This framework identifies profit alternatives according to different installation parameters. A tool that predicts a PV installation hourly electric energy production is developed. The profit generated is simulated for home buildings located in Beirut (Lebanon) and Xihua (China), both at 33.8° latitude north. The paper highlights a new approach for BIPV installations, taking into account weather conditions, energy demand, and electric energy utility rates.     

Simulation of induced current densities in the human body atindustrial induction heating frequencies

At industrial workplaces in the vicinity of induction heating and melting devices, workers are exposed to strong magnetic fields. Up until now, little knowledge about the coupling of external fields into the human body at low frequencies existed. This paper provides numerical investigations to clarify the ratio between external homogeneous magnetic fields and induced current densities inside the human body in the frequency range from 250 Hz up to 10 kHz. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to calculate the induced current density in a realistic inhomogeneous 1 cm resolution human body model with appropriate tissue parameters. The magnitude of the external magnetic field equals the reference value for occupational exposure in the current guideline of the International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). It was found that the calculated maximum current densities inside the body may exceed the basic restrictions of the ICNIRP guideline at least up to a factor of two. Finally, the suitability of the human body model for dosimetric investigations is discussed in view of fine-resolution models presented in the literature     

Ethanol-induced anaphylaxis following ingestion of overripe rock melon, Cucumis melo

In a macerated skull from a 20 year-old body we found, bilaterally, a variation corresponding to the nasoturbinal concha of quadrupeds. According to the data in the literature, the remnants of this concha may be named either "agger nasi" or "agger cell". These formations may impede the approach to the frontal sinus or the lacrimal sac, respectively. A nasoturbinal concha is extremely rare in adults and should be considered when approaching the frontal sinus.     

The effect of the repeated experience of aggression in daily confrontations on the individual and social behavior of male mice

The influence of repeated experience of aggression in daily intermale confrontations on individual and social behaviour was studied in male mice of C57BL/6J (C57) and CBA/Lac (CBA) strains. Repeated experience of aggression led to a decrease of emotionality in males of highly emotional CBA strain and increase in exploratory activity in the open field and exploratory activity tests, decrease of immobility time in Porsolt's test and pain sensitivity estimated by the "hot plate" test. Low emotional C57 males did not change their individual behaviour in different situations under the influence of repeated experience of aggression. However, aggressive C57 mice demonstrated anxiety-like behaviour estimated in the plus-maze test. In the partition test aggressive mice of both strains showed an increase in communicative level (as a reaction to a familiar male) in comparison with their behaviour before aggressive confrontations. Behavioural reaction to a receptive female under unfamiliar conditions decreased which testified to a decrease in sexual motivation. It is concluded that formation of the aggressive type of social behaviour is accompanied by changes in the individual and social behaviour of male mice. Characteristics of these changes are genetically determined and depend on the duration of confrontations.     

Characterization of low angle grain boundaries in yttrium orthovanadate

Single crystals of Nd:YVO₄ grown with the Czochralski technique frequently exhibit light scattering defects that are detrimental to their lasing and optical properties. Defects in the form of low angle grain boundaries have been characterized in what are nominally ‘single crystals’. The misorientation angles of the boundaries were determined to be typically < 1°, which corresponds to formation energies of approximately 1 Jm⁻². It was found that dislocations generated during crystal growth and cooling have enough mobility in certain growth directions to form low angle grain boundaries through polygonization. Despite the relatively high energies the boundaries were stable, being immobile at annealing temperatures up to 97% of the melting point (2083 K). Suggestions are made to reduce or eliminate polygonization, including the addition of atoms with a size either much larger or smaller than Y³⁺.     

Performance of human observers and an automatic 3-dimensional computer-vision-based locomotion scoring method to detect lameness and hoof lesions in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine if a 3-dimensional computer vision automatic locomotion scoring (3D-ALS) method was able to outperform human observers for classifying cows as lame or nonlame and for detecting cows affected and nonaffected by specific type(s) of hoof lesion. Data collection was carried out in 2 experimental sessions (5 mo apart). In every session all cows were assessed for (1) locomotion by 2 observers (Obs1 and Obs2) and by a 3D-ALS; and (2) identification of different types of hoof lesions during hoof trimming (i.e., skin and horn lesions and combinations of skin/horn lesions and skin/hyperplasia). Performances of observers and 3D-ALS for classifying cows as lame or nonlame and for detecting cows affected or nonaffected by types of lesion were estimated using the percentage of agreement (PA), kappa coefficient (κ), sensitivity (SEN), and specificity (SPE). Observers and 3D-ALS showed similar SEN_lame values for classifying lame cows as lame (SEN_lame comparison Obs1-Obs2 = 74.2%; comparison observers-3D-ALS = 73.9–71.8%). Specificity values for classifying nonlame cows as nonlame were lower for 3D-ALS when compared with observers (SPE_nonlame comparison Obs1-Obs2 = 88.5%; comparison observers-3D-ALS = 65.3–67.8%). Accordingly, overall performance of 3D-ALS for classifying cows as lame and nonlame was lower than observers (Obs1-Obs2 comparison PA_lame/nonlame = 84.2% and κ_lame/nonlame = 0.63; observers-3D-ALS comparisons PA_lame/nonlame = 67.7–69.2% and κ_lame/nonlame = 0.33–0.36). Similarly, observers and 3D-ALS had comparable and moderate SEN_lesion values for detecting horn (SEN_lesion Obs1 = 68.6%; Obs2 = 71.4%; 3D-ALS = 75.0%) and combinations of skin/horn lesions (SEN_lesion Obs1 = 51.1%; Obs2 = 64.5%; 3D-ALS = 53.3%). The SPE_nonlesion values for detecting cows without lesions when classified as nonlame were lower for 3D-ALS than for observers (SPE_nonlesion Obs1 = 83.9%; Obs2 = 80.2%; 3D-ALS = 60.2%). This was translated into a poor overall performance of 3D-ALS for detecting cows affected and nonaffected by horn lesions (PA_{lesion/nonlesion} Obs1 = 80.6%; Obs2 = 78.3%; 3D-ALS = 63.5% and κ_{lesion/nonlesion} Obs1 = 0.48; Obs2 = 0.44; 3D-ALS = 0.25) and skin/horn lesions (PA_{lesion/nonlesion} Obs1 = 75.1%; Obs2 = 75.9%; 3D-ALS = 58.6% and κ_{lesion/nonlesion} Obs1 = 0.35; Obs2 = 0.42; 3D-ALS = 0.10), when compared with observers. Performance of observers and 3D-ALS for detecting skin lesions was poor (SEN_lesion for Obs1, Obs2, and 3D-ALS <40%). Comparable SEN_lame and SEN_lesion values for observers and 3D-ALS are explained by an overestimation of lameness by 3D-ALS when compared with observers. Thus, comparable SEN_lame and SEN_lesion were reached at the expense high number of false positives and low SPE_nonlame and SPE_nonlesion. Considering that observers and 3D-ALS showed similar performance for classifying cows as lame and for detecting horn and combinations of skin/horn lesions, the 3D-ALS could be a useful tool for supporting dairy farmers in their hoof health management.     

Dietary energy restriction does not inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis-2-(oxopropyl)amine in the Syrian hamster

Dietary energy restriction was previously shown to be effective in preventing a wide range of experimentally induced cancers. Studies were conducted to assess the influence on pancreatic carcinogenesis of dietary energy restrictions (reduced fat and carbohydrate) of 10%, 20% or 40% in comparison with control in Syrian hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). Two carcinogenesis studies were conducted. One used a single treatment with 20 mg BOP/kg body weight and followed hamsters for 102 weeks following treatment, and the other used three weekly treatments of 20 mg BOP/kg body weight and followed hamsters for 45 weeks after treatment. Hamsters were fed control or energy restricted diet beginning the week following the last BOP treatment. Pancreatic carcinomas were induced in 9-18% of the hamsters in the first experiment and in 59-66% of the animals in the second. Dietary energy restriction did not influence carcinoma incidence in either study, and in the second experiment the multiplicity of tumors was higher in the 40% energy restriction (ER) group than in control hamsters. Plasma corticosterone was suppressed by BOP treatment, particularly in the 20% and 40% ER hamsters in the second experiment, and diet or BOP treatment did not significantly alter plasma cortisol. Pancreatic protein kinase Czeta measured by Western blot was highest in the cytosol and particulate fractions of the 40% ER hamsters in the first experiment. These results indicate that dietary energy restriction is not effective in the prevention of BOP induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in the Syrian hamster.