An assessment of inter-TSO compensation algorithms in the Internal Electricity Market of the European Union

The parties involved in the implementation process of the Internal 0Electricity Market (IEM) of the European Union have agreed that countries must be compensated for the costs they incur when hosting cross-border flows. This results in a scheme of compensations, charges and net payments among the involved countries or transmission system operators (TSOs). This paper compares the most relevant methods amongst the ones that were initially considered for computing compensations and charges in the IEM.

The considered methods are described first. Then, the results produced by each of them when applied to an actual snapshot of the European system are presented. Finally, the methods are compared from a quantitative and qualitative point of view. Based on the results of this comparison, the paper recommends the adoption of the Average Participations method as the most adequate procedure to compute compensations and charges among countries in the IEM.     

Pseudospectral method of solution of the Fitzhugh–Nagumo equation

We present a study of the convergence of different numerical schemes in the solution of the Fitzhugh–Nagumo equations in the form of two coupled reaction diffusion equations for activator and inhibitor variables. The diffusion coefficient for the inhibitor is taken to be zero. The Fitzhugh–Nagumo equations, have spatial and temporal dynamics in two different scales and the solutions exhibit shock-like waves. The numerical schemes employed are a Chebyshev multidomain method, a finite difference method and the method developed by Barkley [D. Barkley, A model for fast computer simulation of excitable media, Physica D, 49 (1991) 61–70]. We consider two different models for the local dynamics. We present results for plane wave propagation in one dimension and spiral waves for two dimensions. We use an operator splitting method with the Chebyshev multidomain approach in order to reduce the computational time. Zero flux boundary conditions are imposed on the solutions.     

Physical–mechanical properties and morphological study on nylon‐6 recycling by injection molding

The effect of the multiple recycling of nylon‐6 by injection molding on its physical–mechanical properties and morphology was studied after each cycle of injection. These studies were made in order to know how many times it is possible to recycle the nylon‐6 without significant loss of the physical–mechanical properties. Optical and electronic microscopy were used to evaluated the morphology. Molecular weight changes were determinated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The nylon‐6 was recycled 10 times, until the eighth cycle the properties of the material did not suffered any change. Changes of 10–15% in the properties between nylon‐6 with 10 cycles of injection and virgin material were observed. An exception was the percentage of elongation that decreased 70% gradually until in the tenth cycle of injection. The results from GPC show that the molecular weight of nylon‐6 increased with recycling (M_w = 17% and M_n = 14%). With the reprocess was also observed the presence of gels. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 851–858, 2000     

Endoscopic cholangiography in biliary tract diseases in HIV+ patients]

We report a case of soft tissue infection with Kluyvera cryocrescens and a critical review of Kluyvera infections. A 31-year-old diabetic man used a new chemical for stripping the floor with his bare hands. Two days later he developed a blister on a finger which progressed to tenosynovitis in spite of intravenous nafcillin therapy. After 11 days culture and sensitivity results dictated treatment with intravenous ticarcillin/clavulanic acid. The wound was debrided twice, and later a skin flap was done. Wound cultures became sterile after 7 days of treatment with ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, and he recovered. This case represents the fourth clinical infection with K. cryocrescens and the eighteenth of Kluyvera to be reported. Four others were K. ascorbata, and the remaining ten Kluyvera infections in humans were not identified beyond genus. Our case and review of the 17 previous cases emphasize that while Kluyvera rarely cause disease, these opportunistic Gram-negative bacilli may be virulent in a variety of sites under as yet poorly defined host conditions. Sites of infection varied, but the brain and meninges were not among them. Two patients had diabetes mellitus, none had AIDS, and four died. Once shown clinically to be the cause of an infection, Kluyvera deserve aggressive treatment which acknowledges their ampicillin resistance.     

Hürthle cell tumors

OBJECTIVES: a) To provide a clinicopathological profile of Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCT) in our experience. b) To evaluate if there are any differences in the clinical or morphological features between three HCT categories: benign, malignant and indeterminate. c) To examine the role of the clinical and morphological features in predicting the behavior of these neoplasms. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical reports of all patients with a histological diagnosis of HCT at our Hospital between 1981 and 1996. The final study group consisted of 25 cases. The neoplasms were divided into three categories on the basis of presence and degree of capsular and vascular invasion, marked nuclear atypia, tumour necrosis and pattern of growth. A series of clinical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 25 tumors, 52% were morphologically classified as benign, 8% as indeterminate and 40% as malignant. Follow-up ranged from 10 months to 14.8 years or until death (average 3.8 years). There were four local recurrences (20%), three in the malignant group (30%) and one in the benign group (7.6%) (p = 0.15). One patient presented metastases and died because of tumor during the follow-up. Apart from capsular and vascular invasion and some aspects of therapy, no significant differences were found in the clinical and histological parameters analyzed between the three histological groups or between the groups with or without recurrence. CONCLUSION: We did not find any clinical or morphological parameter which can predict recurrence among these tumors. Our study further establishes the controversial issues surrounding the biological behavior of Hürthle cell neoplasms.     

Software tool for optimising indoor/outdoor coverage in aconstruction site

A system architecture, an empirical propagation model, and a software combined with a CAD tool, have been designed to offer mobile communication services to construction sites. Results have been validated by measurements     

Aflatoxin M1 in milk and distribution and stability of aflatoxin M1 during production and storage of yoghurt and cheese

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and occurrence of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in Brazilian milk and infant formula. The distribution and stability of AFM₁ in cheese and yoghurt were also determined. Milk samples and infant formula samples were purchased in Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil and were analyzed for AFM₁ using immunoaffinity column purification, liquid chromatography separation and fluorescence detection. AFM₁ was detected in 83% of the milk samples (>3 ng/kg) with levels ranging from 8 to 437 ng/kg for fluid milk, and 20–760 ng/kg for powdered milk. No AFM₁ was found in infant formula. Processing and storage was shown to have little effect on AFM₁ content in milk and milk products. Total AFM₁ mass in milk was reduced by 3.2% in cheese and by 6% in yoghurt (pH 4.4). The mean concentration of AFM₁ in curds was 1.9-fold higher and whey was 0.6-fold lower than in unprocessed milk.     

Structure and morphology of composites based on polyvinylidene fluoride filled with BaTiO3 submicrometer particles: Effect of processing and filler content

Composites based on polyvinylidene fluoride filled with barium titanate (PVDF/BT) submicrometric particles were prepared. To uniformly disperse BT particles within PVDF, high‐energy ball cryomilling was used. The effect of processing and the presence of BT particles on the structure and morphology of the composites were analyzed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and atomic force microscopy. In terms of the structure, it can be concluded/stated that after milling the α‐ and γ‐PVDF crystalline phases are reduced, whereas the content in the β phase is increased. On the other hand, after film formation, the α phase was recovered. It was demonstrated that the milling process is the most important factor to increase the amount of β phase, being favored by the presence of BT particles. In terms of the morphology, it was observed that the PVDF lamellar aspect ratio increases with the amount of BT in cryomilled samples processed as films. Besides, the crystallization kinetics is highly affected by the milling process and the presence of BT, being the relative crystallization rate slower with the presence of BT. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:2094–2104, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers