Bridging between load-flow and Kuramoto-like power grid models: A flexible approach to integrating electrical storage units.

In future power systems, electrical storage will be the key technology for balancing feed-in fluctuations. With increasing share of renewables and reduction of system inertia, the focus of research expands toward short-term grid dynamics and collective phenomena. Against this backdrop, Kuramoto-like power grids have been established as a sound mathematical modeling framework bridging between the simplified models from nonlinear dynamics and the more detailed models used in electrical engineering. However, they have a blind spot concerning grid components, which cannot be modeled by oscillator equations, and hence do not allow one to investigate storage-related issues from scratch. Our aim here is twofold: First, we remove this shortcoming by adopting a standard practice in electrical engineering and bring together Kuramoto-like and algebraic load-flow equations. This is a substantial extension of the current Kuramoto-like framework with arbitrary grid components. Second, we use this concept and demonstrate the implementation of a storage unit in a wind power application with realistic feed-in conditions. We show how to implement basic control strategies from electrical engineering, give insights into their potential with respect to frequency quality improvement, and point out their limitations by maximum capacity and finite-time response. With that, we provide a solid starting point for the integration of flexible storage units into Kuramoto-like grid models enabling to address current problems like smart storage control, optimal siting, and rough cost estimations.

Impact of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination on boar semen quality and quantity using two different vaccines.

Porcine circovirus type-2 (PCV2) is widespread in domestic pig populations. It can be shed with boar semen, but the role boars have in epidemiology is still unclear. Vaccinating boars against PCV2 can reduce disease and virus load in semen, but may have unwanted side effects, that is, impairment of spermatogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect and impact of two different PCV2 vaccines on boar semen quality and quantity. Healthy normospermic Large White boars in three groups of 12 each were vaccinated with either Circovac, Ingelvac CircoFLEX, or received NaCl. Eight ejaculates were collected starting 1 week after vaccination and assessed for quantitative traits. In general, sperm quantity and quality parameters did not change due to the vaccination (P > 0.05). Only DNA integrity between the Circovac and control group was P < 0.05 but remained at a low level (<2%). One boar showed clinical signs with body temperature up to 39.9 °C and went off feed. For this animal, a clear relation between vaccination, fever period, and impaired sperm quality could be observed. The results indicate that both vaccines did not have a major impact on sperm quality or quantity. Therefore, vaccination of boars against PCV2 seems to be feasible. However, one boar treated with the oil-based vaccine showed a temporarily impaired semen quality after elevated body temperature after vaccination. Thus, possible systemic reactions and the subsequent impact on sperm quality should be taken into account when choosing a PCV2 vaccine for boars.

Super-resolution segmentation of imaging mass spectrometry data: Solving the issue of low lateral resolution.

In the last decade, imaging mass spectrometry has seen incredible technological advances in its applications to biological samples. One computational method of data mining in this field is the spatial segmentation of a sample, which produces a segmentation map highlighting chemically similar regions. An important issue for any imaging mass spectrometry technology is its relatively low spatial or lateral resolution (i.e. a large size of pixel) as compared with microscopy. Thus, the spatial resolution of a segmentation map is also relatively low, that complicates its visual examination and interpretation when compared with microscopy data, as well as reduces the accuracy of any automated comparison. We address this issue by proposing an approach to improve the spatial resolution of a segmentation map. Given a segmentation map, our method magnifies it up to some factor, producing a super-resolution segmentation map. The super-resolution map can be overlaid and compared with a high-res microscopy image. The proposed method is based on recent advances in image processing and smoothes the "pixilated" region boundaries while preserving fine details. Moreover, it neither eliminates nor splits any region. We evaluated the proposed super-resolution segmentation approach on three MALDI-imaging datasets of human tissue sections and demonstrated the superiority of the super-segmentation maps over standard segmentation maps.

Soft particle model for block copolymers.

A soft particle model for diblock (AB) copolymer melts is proposed. Each molecule is mapped onto two soft spheres built by Gaussian A- and B-monomer distributions. An approximate analytical expression for the joint distribution function for the distance between both spheres and their radii of gyration is derived, which determines the entropic contribution to the intramolecular free energy. Adding a mean-field expression for the intermolecular interactions, we obtain the total free energy of the system. Based on this free energy, Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to study the kinetics of microphase ordering in the bulk and its effect on molecular diffusion. This is followed by an analysis of thin films, with emphasis on pattern transfer from walls with a periodic structure. It is shown that the level of coarse graining in the soft particle model is suitable to describe structural and kinetic properties of copolymers on mesoscopic scales.

Kinetics in one-dimensional lattice gas and Ising models from time-dependent density-functional theory.

Time-dependent density-functional theory, proposed recently in the context of atomic diffusion and nonequilibrium processes in solids, is tested against Monte Carlo simulation. In order to assess the basic approximation of that theory, the representation of nonequilibrium states by a local equilibrium distribution function, we focus on one-dimensional lattice models, where all equilibrium properties can be worked exactly from the known free energy as a functional of the density. This functional determines the thermodynamic driving forces away from equilibrium. In our studies of the interfacial kinetics of atomic hopping and spin relaxation, we find excellent agreement with simulations, suggesting that the method is also useful for treating more complex problems.

A fast algorithm to find optimal controls of multiantenna applicators in regional hyperthermia.

The goal of regional hyperthermia is to heat up deeply located tumours to temperatures above 42 C while keeping the temperatures in normal tissues below tissue-dependent critical values. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse functions which can be used for computing hyperthermia treatment plans in line with these criteria. All the functionals considered here can be optimized by efficient numerical methods. We started with the working hypothesis that maximizing the quotient of integral absorbed power inside the tumour and a weighted energy norm outside the tumour leads to clinically useful power distributions which also yield favourable temperature distributions. The presented methods have been implemented and tested with real patient data from the Charité Berlin. Campus Virchow-Klinikum. The results obtained by these fast routines are comparable with those obtained by relatively expensive global optimization techniques. Thus the described methods are very promising for online optimization in a hybrid system for regional hyperthermia where a fast response to MR-based information is important.

Density correlations in lattice gases in contact with a confining wall

A discrete version of classical density functional theory applicable to lattice gases or Ising spin systems is proposed, which accounts for the requirement of particle-hole symmetry in the presence of pairwise forces. Results of our theory for density profiles and two-particle correlation functions in two-dimensional strip geometries compare favorably with Monte Carlo simulations. Some problems with standard "weighted-density" approximation schemes, when applied to lattice gases, are pointed out.

Multiple scaling regimes in simple aging models

We investigate aging in glassy systems based on a simple model, where a point in configuration space performs thermally activated jumps between the minima of a random energy landscape. The model allows us to show explicitly a subaging behavior and multiple scaling regimes for the correlation function. Both the exponents characterizing the scaling of the different relaxation times with the waiting time and those characterizing the asymptotic decay of the scaling functions are obtained analytically by invoking a "partial equilibrium" concept.

Wavelet versus JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) and fractal compression. Impact on the detection of low-contrast details in computed radiographs.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate different lossy image compression algorithms in direct comparison. METHODS: Computed radiographs were reviewed after compression with Wavelet, Fractal, and Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) algorithms. For receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, 54 thoracic computed radiographs (31 showing pulmonary nodules) were compressed with a ratio of 1:60. Five images of a test-phantom were coded at 1:13. All images were reviewed on a PC. Uncompressed images were reviewed at a PC and at a radiologic workstation (with image processing). RESULTS: For thorax images, decrease of diagnostic accuracy was significant with Wavelets. Fractal performed worse than Wavelets. No ROC curve was observed for JPEG due to poor image quality. No diagnostic loss was noted comparing PC and Workstation review. For low-contrast details of the phantom, results of Wavelet compression were equal to uncompressed images. Fewer true positives and increased true negatives were noted with Wavelets though. Wavelets were superior to JPEG, and JPEG images were superior to Fractal. Workstation review was superior to PC review. CONCLUSIONS: Only Wavelets provided accurate review of low-contrast details at a compression of 1:13. Frequency filtering of Wavelets affects contrast even at a low compression ratio. JPEG performed better than Fractal at low and worse at high compression ratio.

The isolated perfused bovine udder as an in vitro model of percutaneous drug absorption. Skin viability and percutaneous absorption of dexamethasone, benzoyl peroxide, and etofenamate.

Using udders from slaughtered cows as a new in vitro model of percutaneous drug absorption, the tissue viability and the percutaneous absorption of dexamethasone, benzoyl peroxide, and etofenamate were studied. The organ was perfused with gassed tyrode solution for up to 6 hr. As shown by measurement of glucose consumption, lactate production, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and pH in the perfusate, the tissue was viable over a 6-hr period. This was confirmed by a histological examination. Determination of the udder skin-fold thickness demonstrated that no edema developed within the perfusion period. A maximum skin penetration of dexamethasone was found after administration of dexamethasone dissolved in acetone with dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by ointment with salicylic acid, ointment without salicylic acid, and acetone solution. Experiments with benzoyl peroxide and etofenamate demonstrated that the perfused udder skin was capable of metabolizing drugs in vitro. In conclusion, the isolated perfused bovine udder is a new in vitro model, which maintains bovine udder skin with an isolated vasculature in a viable state. Using this in vitro model, we note it is possible to compare the dermal penetration, metabolism, and absorption of substances after topical administration of different drug formulations.

Contour reconstruction in 3-D X-ray CT.

The authors derives an algorithm for reconstructing contours of an object from 3D cone beam X-ray data. By reducing the amount of the searched-for information, contours, or density jumps instead of the densities themselves, the authors are able to develop fast algorithms for data incomplete with respect to both the movement of the X-ray source and the detector reading. The method is related to local or Lambda tomography. Numerical simulations show the efficiency of the algorithm.