Full AC analysis of value of DER to the grid and optimal DER scheduling

This paper presents part of the work ComEd and Quanta Technology have performed to quantify the locational and temporal value of DER to avoid distribution grid upgrade investments. It focuses on the formulation of a robust and efficient algorithm for DER optimal dispatch on a distribution feeder to mitigate the violation of current and voltage limits using the allocated cost of capacity and locational marginal value of real and reactive DER injection/withdrawal.     

Tackling the needs of foreign academic writers: a case study

Foreign engineers and scientists must publish their research in professional journals in English, but they often lack the proficiency and skills to do so successfully. The commentary describes a course that teaches these skills to Ph.D. students before they enter the job market. The techniques described are also effective tools for teaching professionals in the workplace     

Race differences in stress-induced reactivity in young adults.

Studied the cardiovascular response to the stress of mental arithmetic in 121 young Black and White adults. Stress-induced reactivity was studied before and following 14 days of oral sodium loading (10 gm NaCl per day). Marginal hypertensives, both Black and White, had greater systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels and greater diastolic BP levels in response to stress. Whites had a greater SBP level during mental stress than Blacks and greater reactivity. The prevalence of sodium sensitivity was greater in Blacks (37.3%) than in Whites (18.4%). Sodium loading did not augment the BP reactivity to the mental stress in any of the racial or BP groups. Data demonstrate racial variation in the cardiovascular response to centrally medicated adrenergic stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Crystallization studies of semi-crystalline polymers under oscillatory shear using the rheometrics mechanical spectrometer

A method has been developed on the Rheometrics mechanical spectrometer using the eccentric rotating disks mode to study the crystallization kinetics of different semi-crystalline polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(butylene terephthalate) and Nylon 11) under oscillatory shear. Dynamic shear moduli (storage G′ and loss G″), loss tangent (tan δ), and dynamic viscosity (η′) were simultaneously, monitored during the crystallization process. The onset and completion of crystallization were characterized by the initial rise and final levelling off of G′, while the peak time, of crystallization (t_p) is calculated from the time elapsed between the onset and peak of crystallization which is indicated by the G″ or η′ maximum. In the case of polypropylene, going from a low frequency of ?0.1 rad/s, to higher frequencies of up to 10 rad/s, there is a monotonic decrease in peak time of crystallization (t_p) together with a progressive decrease in spherulitic morphology. The observed acceleration in crystallization is due predominantly to the increase in nucleation rate and orientation of chains in melt crystalline aggregate. The progressive disappearance of the spherulitic morphology is attributed to the disruption of the spherulite superstructure at higher frequencies of shear.     

On closed-loop adaptive noise cancellation

Given the mean limit ordinary differential equation for the stochastic approximation defining the adaptive algorithm for a closed-loop adaptive noise cancellation, we characterize the limit points. Under appropriate conditions, it is shown that as the dimension of the weight vector increases, the sequence of corresponding limit points converges in the sense of l₂ to the infinite-dimensional optimal weight vector. Also, the limit point of the algorithm is nearly optimal if the dimension of the weight vector is large enough. The gradient of the mean-square error with respect to the weight vector, evaluated at the limit, goes to zero in l₁ and l₂ as the dimension increases, as does the gradient with respect to the coefficients in the transfer function connecting the reference noise signal with the error output. Thus the algorithm is “nearly” a gradient descent algorithm and is error-reducing for large enough dimension. Under broad conditions, iterative averaging can be used to get a nearly optimal rate of convergence     

Evidence for a Turner syndrome locus or loci at Xp11.2-p22.1

Turner syndrome is the complex human phenotype associated with complete or partial monosomy X. Principle features of Turner syndrome include short stature, ovarian failure, and a variety of other anatomic and physiological abnormalities, such as webbed neck, lymphedema, cardiovascular and renal anomalies, hypertension, and autoimmune thyroid disease. We studied 28 apparently nonmosaic subjects with partial deletions of Xp, in order to map loci responsible for various components of the Turner syndrome phenotype. Subjects were carefully evaluated for the presence or absence of Turner syndrome features, and their deletions were mapped by FISH with a panel of Xp markers. Using a statistical method to examine genotype/phenotype correlations, we mapped one or more Turner syndrome traits to a critical region in Xp11.2-p22.1. These traits included short stature, ovarian failure, high-arched palate, and autoimmune thyroid disease. The results are useful for genetic counseling of individuals with partial monosomy X. Study of additional subjects should refine the localization of Turner syndrome loci and provide a rational basis for exploration of candidate genes.     

The measurement of magnetic field strength near the surface of a ferromagnetic object

A technique for measuring field strength near the surface of a ferromagnetic object using a polarized local tape magnetic carrier (LTMC) is described. The calibration characteristics of a demagnetized and polarized LTMC made of И4701-35 tape are given.