Model Predictive Control Strategy of Multi-Port Interline DC Power Flow Controller

There are issues with flexible DC transmission system such as a lack of control freedom over power flow.In order to tackle these issues,a DC power flow controller(DCPFC)is incorporated into a multi-terminal,flexible DC power grid.In recent years,a multi-port DC power flow controller based on a modular multi-level converter has become a focal point of research due to its simple structure and robust scalability.This work proposes a model predictive control(MPC)strategy for multi-port interline DC power flow controllers in order to improve their steady-state dynamic performance.Initially,the mathematical model of a multi-terminal DC power grid with a multi-port interline DC power flow controller is developed,and the relationship between each regulated variable and control variable is determined;The power flow controller is then discretized,and the cost function and weight factor are built with numerous control objectives.Sub module sorting method and nearest level approximation modulation regulate the power flow controller;Lastly,theMATLAB/Simulink simulation platformis used to verify the correctness of the establishedmathematicalmodel and the control performance of the suggestedMPC strategy.Finally,it is demonstrated that the control strategy possesses the benefits of robust dynamic performance,multiobjective control,and a simple structure.

Viral vectors as a novel tool for clinical and neuropsychiatric research applications

Background A viral vector is a genetically modified vector produced by genetic engineering. As pathogenic genes in the virus are completely or largely eliminated, it is safe to be widely used in multidisciplinary research fields for expressing genes, such as neuroscience, metabolism, oncology and so on. Neuroscience and psychiatry are the most closely related disciplines in either basic research or clinical research, but the application of viral vectors in neuropsychiatry has not received much attention or not been widely accepted.Aim This article will focus on the application of viral vectors in basic and clinical neuropsychiatric research.Methods By using viral vectors, scientists can perform neurological labelling, gene expression regulation and physiological manipulation for investigating phenomenon from molecular mechanisms to behaviours. At the same time, to treat mental or neurological disorders, viral vectors can be designed for gene therapy, which alter gene expression levels or repair mutated genes in the brains of patients.Perspective Viral vectors play an important role in basic research and clinical applications. To further understand brain function and prevent mental and neurological diseases, we hypothesize that viral vectors could be used along with various advanced technologies, such as sequencing and high-throughput expression analysis in the neuroscience research field.

Contact Characteristics of Conical Involute Gears with Crossed Axes

Based on the theory of gearing and the gear generating mechanism, this study investigates the contact characteristics of conical involute gear pairs with crossed axes. The meshing model with a reference rack as intermedium is established and tooth contact analysis （TCA） is performed to examine the meshing and bearing contact of the conical involute gear pairs composed of a pinion and a gear. Using the contact line of reference rack tooth surface, the path of contact is confirmed, and the calculation formula of principal direction, relative curvature, path of contact and ellipse of contact are derived. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate computational results and test gears are made for tooth-bearing tests. The conclusion verifies that the theory is applicable.

Timeslips—Comparing Agitation and Anxiety Rating Scales to Evaluate the Benefit of Non-Pharmacologic Creative Sessions in Nursing Home Patients with Dementia

TimeslipsTM is a group storytelling program that encourages creative expression among dementia patients without the pressure to recall the past. Analysis of the literature was conducted to determine the nine most relevant agitation and anxiety scales most appropriate for use with Timeslips in nursing home patients with dementia, who experience agitation and anxiety. Qualitative assessment of the nine scales was conducted to identify six criteria to determine the most pertinent characteristics for implementation of Timeslips within this patient population: 1) validity/reliability, 2) observation period, 3) training required, 4) time to administer, 5) most appropriate administrator and 6) accessibility/cost. Utilizing these six criteria, quantitative assessment was conducted using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to identify that the Overt Agitation Severity Scale (OASS) was optimal. IRB approvals have been attained to investigate use of the OASS with Timeslips in the nursing home setting for patients with dementia, who experience agitation and anxiety.

新媒体传播对女性消费行为影响过程研究

基于传播学、消费行为学和营销学理论,以女性对新媒体APP传播感知为自变量,以女性消费意愿为中间变量,女性消费行为为结果变量,提出了APP传播对女性消费行为影响过程的研究假设,并通过问卷调研,进行了实证研究。研究发现:女性对APP传播感知直接影响女性消费意愿;女性对APP传播感知通过女性消费意愿间接影响女性消费行为。

Vegetation actualities and feasibility of restoration for the periphery of oasis in extreme arid region: taking Qira County of Xinjiang as an example

The periphery of oasis plays an important role in mutual transformation between desert and oasis. Vegetation is an important part in the ecosystem and it is an important index indicating certain landscape. Based on several times field investigation, this paper attaches importance to the feasible measures for vegetation restoration according to the current condition of study area – Qira County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In order to improve the local ecological environment, people lived in Qira County should work hard to protect their homeland and reduce the degree of sandstorm. More protection forest should be established along with other ecological techniques. Results derived from this study contribute largely to the ecological environmental protection of oasis.

TOPICAL CARTEOLOL WITH AND WITH-OUT BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE: EF-FECT ON THE OCULAR SURFACE AND INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE

Purpose: Long term use of antiglaucoma medication may induce changes in both tear film and ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on ocular surface of carteolol with and without 0.004% benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Methods: Forty-three patients (age 61 ±11, m±SD) with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT)

Nonphytotoxic copper oxide nanoparticles are powerful“nanoweapons”that trigger resistance in tobacco against the soil-borne fungal pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae

Investigations into the potential application of nanoparticles acting as nanofungicides in sustainable agriculture are rapidly expanding due to the high antimicrobial properties of these compounds,which do not risk inducing pathogen resistance to fungicides.A detailed understanding of the impact of copper oxide nanoparticles(CuO NPs)on soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi is yet to be obtained.This study aimed to explore the in vitro antifungal activity and control efficacy of CuO NPs applied via irrigation with respect to tobacco black shank(TBS)disease caused by Phytophthora nicotianae.The results revealed that CuO NPs greatly interfered with the reproductive growth process of this fungus,repressing hyphal growth,spore germination and sporangium production.Additionally,morphological damage,intracellular ROS accumulation and increased SOD enzyme activity in hyphae were the antifungicidal mechanisms of these NPs.In pot experiments,treatment with CuO NPs at 100 mg L^(–1)significantly suppressed TBS development,compared with the effect on control plants,and the control efficacy reached 33.69%without inducing phytotoxicity.Exposure to CuO NPs significantly activated a series of defense enzymes,and resistance genes in tobacco can further explain the mechanisms by which CuO NPs suppressed fungal infection.The Cu content in both the leaves and roots of P.nicotianae-infested plants increased by 50.03 and 27.25%,respectively,after treatment with 100 mg L^(–1)CuO NPs,compared with that of healthy plants.In particular,a higher Cu content was observed in infected roots than in leaves.Therefore,this study showed the potential of CuO NPs applied as nanofungicides and as nanoinducers of fungus resistance genes for the management of TBS through inhibition of pathogen infection and stimulation of plant defenses.

Exploring the Main Factors Affecting Consumer Choice of Mobile Phone Service Provider Contracts

This study aims to investigate the main factors affecting a consumer’s choice of mobile phone service provider contracts, and to determine which of these factors are important in a consumer’s decision-making process. As this decision is particularly pertinent within the contractual behavior setting, there is a need to explore the main factors that shape mobile phone subscriber choices when entering into a mobile phone telecommunication service contract. To do so, a set of mobile interrelated contract dimensions and a set of mobile service provider interrelated dimensions were identified and tested. The convenience sampling technique was employed and 400 questionnaires were distributed to mobile phone subscribers in Jordan with a response rate of 78.5%. By using the regression analysis, result analysis revealed that the main factor affecting consumer choices was “contract features”, with a relative importance of 41%. After a set of mobile phone contract hypotheses were identified and tested, it was found that contract price, with about 15% relative importance, was the main contract feature that affected consumer choices, followed by the size of data that were related to the number of minutes and/or number of messages offered within the mobile service contract package. In addition, “company factors”, with about 18% relative importance, were found to affect consumer choice of service provider contracts. The principal issue affecting consumer choice decisions was “switching cost”, which was the highest relative importance element of company interrelated factors and found to influence mobile subscriber contracts choice significantly. However, other company factors like signal strength and sales outlet availability had no significant impact on consumer choices and ranked less for consumer-choice priority. More attention is needed from scholars to study the effect of other possible mobile phone contract dimensions from customers’ perspective.

Effects of Silk Fibroin Moisturizing Cream on Acetone/Ether-Induced Dry Skin Pruritus in Mice

Objectives: The morbidity of dry and itchy skin was high during a person’s lifetime and it had a significant negative impact. This study aimed to investigate the positive effect of silk fibroin moisturizing cream on dry skin pruritus induced by acetone/ether-water (AEW) method in mice. Method: We established a dry skin model in mice with AEW treatment, and the control group was treated with ultrapure water. The mice in AEW model group were locally administrated with silk fibroin moisturizing cream (SilkArmor)&reg;. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL), scratching behavior, condition of skin erythema, skin histology (by hematoxylin-eosin staining) and the results of electron microscopy were measured to evaluate the positive effect of SilkArmor on dry and itchy skin in mice. Results: The TEWL value, spontaneous scratching behavior and erythema score were significantly increased after AEW modeling compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the TEWL value, scratching behavior and erythema score between the SilkArmor group and the control group (P > 0.05). Compared with the AEW group, the value of TEWL, scratching behavior and the erythema score of mice in the AEW + SilkArmor group were improved, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Skin histopathology and electron microscopy also showed that SilkArmor had certain improvement and repairment on AEW-induced skin pathological changes. Conclusions: A dry skin model was successfully established in this experiment, showing that SilkArmor brought an obvious alleviation to AEW-induced dry and itchy skin in mice.

Investigation on Active and Reactive Combined Spot Price Integrated with Wind Farm

An active and reactive combined spot price model and the corresponding algorithm are introduced in this paper based on the theory of optimal power flow. Different from the traditional economic dispatch in the field of spot price, the objective function is to minimize generation costs based on pricing reactive power. Then considering the characteristics of wind turbines, processing methods of wind farms in optimal power flow is discussed. Finally, the feasibility of the model and the algorithm is verified through the simulation results of IEEE 30 system.

Work Stress and Death from Overwork

The Japanese have a word for death from overwork –“Karoshi” and in China it is called as “guolaosi”, it is an occupational sudden death. The major medical causes of Karoshi deaths are heart attack and stroke due to stress including subarachnoidal hemorrhage (18.4%), cerebral hemorrhage (17.2%), cerebral thrombosis or infraction (6.8%), myocardial infraction (9.8%), heart failure (18.7%), and other causes (29.1%). Victims of Karashi are seldom compensated under the Japanese workers’ compensation system; nearly 1000 victims of death from work in Japan applied for workers’ compensation each year and just have 5 to 10% granted approval. In 2002, there were 160 persons recognized as "death from over work” by Ministry of Labor in Japan. Estimated by scholars Etsuro Totsuka and Toshio Ueyanangi in their essay published in 1991 that more than 10,000 workers die from work-related cardiovascular diseases in Japan each year. From the report, the ages between 40 to 60 occupied 70% and male workers occupied 94%. At present, “death from over work” is no longer unique to Japan. Following by economic competition and development, the workers in China are also suffering high work stress and the cases of death from overwork are getting more and more. In North America and Western Europe, a number of studies have demonstrated a significant relationship between high work stress (high production demands and low levels of control and social support) and cardiovascular disease.

Belleli Energy SpA在位于卡塔尔Pearl地区中部的天然气制液体燃料工厂中建造反应器

三年内，Belleli SpA将在迪拜、阿联酋为卡塔尔石油公司和壳牌位于Pearl的天然气制液体燃料装置（这套位于卡塔尔地岬拉斯拉法工业城的装置目前正在建造中）建造12个反应器。这些反应器采用厚壁和耐高压的容器用钢作为材质，从而满足了石油与天然气工业对优质反应器的需求.

Analysis on Well Drilling Example of Deepwater Block in the Gulf of Mexico

With the innovation and development of offshore oil drilling technology, drilling wells in deep waters areas have become an important activity for the development of new hydrocarbon reservoirs in this type of environment. CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation) won the rights to exploit two unexplored deepwater blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, in a bid realized by the Mexican Government (CNH), in 2016. The challenge to combine the newest technology with the oil industry experienced knowledge to lead the exploration and development of these deep-water blocks in Mexico is around the corner. Therefore, the basic techniques for deep waters wells drilling and the main potential risks are expounded in this paper. A set of deep waters wells drilling processes and methodologies are previously designed, and a specific case is demonstrated next, which provides a referential model for deep waters wells drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Postmarketing studies on safety of Dengfeng~ shenmai injection

OBJECTIVE: To systematically research the postmarketing safety of Dengfeng shenmai injection, identify potential risk factors, and ensure its clinical safety. METHODS: We investigated a comprehensive series of studies on the production process, quality standards, pharmacology, postmarketing clinical studies, and safety evaluation of Shenmai injection, including literature analysis of adverse drug reaction(ADR) case analysis and systematic review. Data from the hospital information system(HIS) and spontaneous reporting system(SRS) were also analyzed. RESULTS: The approximate dosage leading to death in dogs is 45.0-67.5 g raw drug/kg and the toxic reactions are restlessness, skin irritation, salivation, and vomiting. The results of chronic toxicity tests in mice and dogs, and the other tests such as 6-month toxicity, drug safety, genetic toxicity, and reproductive toxicity of rats and dogs, were positive or qualified. Patient ADR history and ADR family history were closely associated with itching based on the data analysis from SRS. There was no damage to renal function from Shenmai injection use at a dosage and a treatment course outside the recommended dosage and treatment course as specified based on data analysis from HIS. The most common ADR from Shenmai injection are difficulty breathing, facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, skin itching, rash, and back pain. CONCLUSION: This study includes complete information on Shenmai injection ADR incidence rate. We found that Shenmai injection is safe and this study can provide clinical, research, and production institutions with an objective, reliable, and scientific basis for use of Shenmai injection.

CUSTOMER EQUITY: MAKING MARKETING STRATEGY FINANCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE

The article presents an overview of the literature on customer equity and how customer equity provides an opportunity for marketers to make marketing strategy financially accountable. Traditionally, Return on Investment (ROI) models have been used to evaluate the financial expenditures required by the strategies as well as the financial returns gained by them. However in addition to requiring lengthy longitudinal data, these models also have the disadvantage of not evaluating the effect of the strategies on a firm’s customer equity. The dominance of customer-centered thinking over product-centered thinking calls for a shift from product-based strategies to customer-based strategies. Hence, it is important to evaluate a firm’s marketing strategies in terms of the drivers of its customer equity. The article summarizes a unified strategic framework that enables competing marketing strategy options to be traded off on the basis of projected financial return, which is operationalized as the change in a firm’s customer equity relative to the incremental expenditure necessary to produce the change.

Postmarketing evaluation on the safety and effectiveness of Dengzhanxixin injection made from Dengzhanxixin(Herba Erigerontis Breviscapi)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of Dengzhanxixin injection(DZI) extracted from Dengzhanxixin(Herba Erigerontis Breviscapi) and identify its potential risks.METHODS: A series of studies were conducted on the production process, quality standards, and pharmacology. Postmarketing clinical studies and literature reviews including adverse reactions(ADR),adverse events(ADE), case analysis and systematic reviews were also conducted. Data from the hospital information system and spontaneous reporting system were analyzed.RESULTS: The acute toxicity test indicated that the Lethal Dose 50 test( LD 50) dosage was 250 times more than the clinical maximum daily dosage(6mg/kg). In long-term toxicity tests, rats experi-enced renal tubular damage at 480 mg/kg. However, the dose of 120 mg/kg is safe and non-toxic,which is 40 times above the clinical daily maximum. Beagles had increased serum creatinine at160 mg/kg. In a prospective study, 15 962 cases experienced 16 ADR/ADE. The rate of ADR/ADE was0.1002%. ADR symptoms included rash(16.00%),chills(16.00%), and fever(16.00%).CONCLUSION: There is significant evidence that DZI is safe and effective in a clinical setting.

Development of the Scientific,Transparent and Applicable Rankings (STAR) tool for clinical practice guidelines

Background:This study aimed to develop a comprehensive instrument for evaluating and ranking clinical practice guidelines,named Scientific,Transparent and Applicable Rankings tool(STAR),and test its reliability,validity,and usability.Methods:This study set up a multidisciplinary working group including guideline methodologists,statisticians,journal editors,clinicians,and other experts.Scoping review,Delphi methods,and hierarchical analysis were used to develop the STAR tool.We evaluated the instrument’s intrinsic and interrater reliability,content and criterion validity,and usability.Results:STAR contained 39 items grouped into 11 domains.The mean intrinsic reliability of the domains,indicated by Cronbach’sαcoefficient,was 0.588(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.414,0.762).Interrater reliability as assessed with Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.774(95%CI:0.740,0.807)for methodological evaluators and 0.618(95%CI:0.587,0.648)for clinical evaluators.The overall content validity index was 0.905.Pearson’s r correlation for criterion validity was 0.885(95%CI:0.804,0.932).The mean usability score of the items was 4.6 and the median time spent to evaluate each guideline was 20 min.Conclusion:The instrument performed well in terms of reliability,validity,and efficiency,and can be used for comprehensively evaluating and ranking guidelines.