实时电力市场阻塞管理算法研究

作者提出了一种新的优化类算法用于解决实时电力市场的阻塞管理问题。基于市场成员的调整报价,实时阻塞管理问题被描述为调整成本最小的优化问题。通过将优化问题转化为等价的非线性方程组,避免了起作用约束的识别问题,提高了计算效率;方程组的求解利用了半光滑牛顿类算法,从而具有较快的收敛速度;步长搜索策略的使用确保了算法的全局收敛性,从而使算法具有较强的鲁棒性。算例分析以及与传统算法的比较证明,本文的算法是一种有效的阻塞消除算法。     

输电系统固定成本分摊问题

在电力市场环境下，输电固定成本需要公平、合理地分摊给所有电网使用者。合理的分摊方法可以引导对现有输电设备的有效和合理的使用，并为将来的发电规划和负荷选址提供经济信号。文中对现有的输电固定成本分摊方法进行了全面而系统的综述，按照所分摊的成本、承担成本的主体、所基于的系统状态、冗余容量成本的分摊、对反向潮流的收费、对无功功率的处理、分摊的原则与方法等方面，对现有的输电成本分摊方法进行了详细的分析，论述了每一种方法的特点，并对各种方法进行了比较和讨论。     

The FKBP51 Inhibitor SAFit2 Restores the Pain-Relieving C16 Dihydroceramide after Nerve Injury

Neuropathic pain is a pathological pain state with a broad symptom scope that affects patients after nerve injuries, but it can also arise after infections or exposure to toxic substances. Current treatment possibilities are still limited because of the low efficacy and severe adverse effects of available therapeutics, highlighting an emerging need for novel analgesics and for a detailed understanding of the pathophysiological alterations in the onset and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Here, we show that the novel and highly specific FKBP51 inhibitor SAFit2 restores lipid signaling and metabolism in nervous tissue after nerve injury. More specifically, we identify that SAFit2 restores the levels of the C16 dihydroceramide, which significantly reduces the sensitization of the pain-mediating TRPV1 channel and subsequently the secretion of the pro-inflammatory neuropeptide CGRP in primary sensory neurons. Furthermore, we show that the C16 dihydroceramide is capable of reducing acute thermal hypersensitivity in a capsaicin mouse model. In conclusion, we report for the first time the C16 dihydroceramide as a novel and crucial lipid mediator in the context of neuropathic pain as it has analgesic properties, contributing to the pain-relieving properties of SAFit2.     

Characterization of the Human Papillomavirus 16 Oncogenes in K14HPV16 Mice: Sublineage A1 Drives Multi-Organ Carcinogenesis

The study of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced carcinogenesis uses multiple in vivo mouse models, one of which relies on the cytokeratin 14 gene promoter to drive the expression of all HPV early oncogenes. This study aimed to determine the HPV16 variant and sublineage present in the K14HPV16 mouse model. This information can be considered of great importance to further enhance this K14HPV16 model as an essential research tool and optimize its use for basic and translational studies. Our study evaluated HPV DNA from 17 samples isolated from 4 animals, both wild-type (n = 2) and HPV16-transgenic mice (n = 2). Total DNA was extracted from tissues and the detection of HPV16 was performed using a qPCR multiplex. HPV16-positive samples were subsequently whole-genome sequenced by next-generation sequencing techniques. The phylogenetic positioning clearly shows K14HPV16 samples clustering together in the sub-lineage A1 (NC001526.4). A comparative genome analysis of K14HPV16 samples revealed three mutations to the human papillomaviruses type 16 sublineage A1 representative strain. Knowledge of the HPV 16 variant is fundamental, and these findings will allow the rational use of this animal model to explore the role of the A1 sublineage in HPV-driven cancer.     

Effects of Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Stimulation on the Temporal Dynamics of Irradiated Bone Tissue Healing: A Histomorphometric Study in Rabbits

The present study evaluated the influence of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) on the regeneration processes of non-critical-size bone defects in irradiated and non-irradiated rabbit tibias. Bone defects were surgically created on both tibiae of six rabbits. The control group had no additional treatment. In one intervention group, one tibia was irradiated with 15 Gy in a single dose. A second group was treated with LIPUS, and a third with a combination of both treatments. The control samples showed 83.10% ± 17.79% of bone repair after 9 weeks, while the irradiated bone had regenerated significantly less during the same period (66.42% ± 29.36%). The LIPUS treatment on irradiated bones performed a 79.21% ± 21.07% bone fill and could not significantly improve the response compared to the non-treated irradiated specimens. However, LIPUS treatment on non-irradiated bone showed bone formations beyond the size defect (115.91% ± 33.69%), which was a highly significant increase when compared to the control group or any irradiated group. The application of ultrasound to healthy bone produced highly significant and enhanced bone formations with 36.70% more regenerated bone when compared to the same application on irradiated bone. LIPUS vibration stimuli may be considered as a promising complementary treatment approach in non-irradiated bone regeneration procedures to shorten the treatment and enhance bone healing. In irradiated bones, the effect of ultrasound application is less clear, and further studies are needed to refine the dynamics of the present results.     

Dynamic Changes in the Endocannabinoid System during the Aging Process: Focus on the Middle-Age Crisis

Endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling is markedly decreased in the hippocampus (Hip) of aged mice, and the genetic deletion of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) leads to an early onset of cognitive decline and age-related histological changes in the brain. Thus, it is hypothesized that cognitive aging is modulated by eCB signaling through CB1. In the present study, we detailed the changes in the eCB system during the aging process using different complementary techniques in mouse brains of five different age groups, ranging from adolescence to old age. Our findings indicate that the eCB system is most strongly affected in middle-aged mice (between 9 and 12 months of age) in a brain region-specific manner. We show that 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was prominently decreased in the Hip and moderately in caudate putamen (CPu), whereas anandamide (AEA) was decreased in both CPu and medial prefrontal cortex along with cingulate cortex (mPFC+Cg), starting from 6 months until 12 months. Consistent with the changes in 2-AG, the 2-AG synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGLα) was also prominently decreased across the sub-regions of the Hip. Interestingly, we found a transient increase in CB1 immunoreactivity across the sub-regions of the Hip at 9 months, a plausible compensation for reduced 2-AG, which ultimately decreased strongly at 12 months. Furthermore, quantitative autoradiography of CB1 revealed that [³H]CP55940 binding markedly increased in the Hip at 9 months. However, unlike the protein levels, CB1 binding density did not drop strongly at 12 months and at old age. Furthermore, [³H]CP55940 binding was significantly increased in the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEnt), starting from the middle age until the old age. Altogether, our findings clearly indicate a middle-age crisis in the eCB system, which could be a potential time window for therapeutic interventions to abrogate the course of cognitive aging.     

Rheology and Structure of Amylopectin Potato Starch Dispersions without and with Emulsifier Addition

Low‐concentrated aqueous dispersions of amylopectin potato starch were characterised by light microscopy and rheological measurements. With increasing heat treatment the granular structure was more and more disintegrated. The dispersions were of transparent appearance, exhibited a shear‐thinning behaviour, and showed a time‐dependent increase in viscosity. The addition of calcium stearoyl‐lactyl‐2‐lactylate (CSL) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS), respectively, to low concentration amylopectin potato starch dispersion resulted in the formation of soft gels. Emulsifier‐emulsifier or emulsifier‐starch interactions promote the development of a weak network structure. It is also conceivable that side chains of the amylopectin in amylose‐free potato starch are able to form complexes. Results obtained by iodine colorimetry gave some evidence of a possible complex formation between amylopectin potato starch and CSL.     

Human Adenovirus Type 5 Infection Leads to Nuclear Envelope Destabilization and Membrane Permeability Independently of Adenovirus Death Protein

The human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) infects epithelial cells of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The virus causes lysis of infected cells and thus enables spread of progeny virions to neighboring cells for the next round of infection. The mechanism of adenovirus virion egress across the nuclear barrier is not known. The human adenovirus death protein (ADP) facilitates the release of virions from infected cells and has been hypothesized to cause membrane damage. Here, we set out to answer whether ADP does indeed increase nuclear membrane damage. We analyzed the nuclear envelope morphology using a combination of fluorescence and state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques, including serial block-face scanning electron microscopy and electron cryo-tomography of focused ion beam-milled cells. We report multiple destabilization phenotypes of the nuclear envelope in HAdV5 infection. These include reduction of lamin A/C at the nuclear envelope, large-scale membrane invaginations, alterations in double membrane separation distance and small-scale membrane protrusions. Additionally, we measured increased nuclear membrane permeability and detected nuclear envelope lesions under cryoconditions. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to previous hypotheses, ADP did not have an effect on lamin A/C reduction or nuclear permeability.     

Use of gibberellic acid to prolong dormancy and reduce losses during traditional storage of yams

The annual vegetative cycle of the yam (Dioscorea spp) necessitates a long period of storage. Losses during this period are high and are mainly due to germination. Trials on the effectiveness of gibberellic acid (GA₃) for controlling storage losses were carried out on the two main species of yam (D cayenensis rotundata and D alata) grown in the Ivory Coast. Methods of application at the apex adapted to the rural environment were tested. Treatment with GA₃ prolonged the dormancy period and thus reduced losses. This substance was effective at low concentration with a long soaking duration (75 mg litre⁻¹ for 2 h) and during a soaking of short duration with a higher concentration (0·5 h at 150 mg litre⁻¹). Because of its stability at ambient temperature, the solution was still active 3 days after being prepared and after reuse of the same dip six times. © 1998 SCI.