103 research outputs found
Increasing the region of attraction in DC microgrids
No full textBased on the port-Hamiltonian framework, this paper proposes a novel control scheme for stabilising the voltage in DC networks affected by (i) unknown ZIP-loads, i.e., nonlinear loads consisting of the parallel combination of constant impedance (Z), current (I) and power (P) load types, and (ii) unknown (but bounded) time-varying disturbances. Differently from the results existing in the literature, where restrictive (sufficient) conditions on the load parameters, voltage trajectory and voltage reference are assumed to be satisfied, this is the first paper (to the best of our knowledge) proposing a controller that relaxes such conditions and guarantees the exponential stability of the desired equilibrium point, whose region of attraction can be increased by simply tuning the control gains. In the case the network is affected by unknown time-varying disturbances, local input-to-state stability (l-ISS) is ensured. Furthermore, if non-ideal P-loads are considered, excluding the unrealistic possibility that the load absorbs infinite current when the voltage approaches zero, the aforementioned stability results hold globally.(c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Identification of in vivo roles of ErbB4-JMa and its direct nuclear signaling using a novel isoform-specific knock out mouse (Scientific Reports, (2022), 12, 1, (17267), 10.1038/s41598-022-21598-2)
No full texthttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/198541/2/Author Correction Identification of in vivo roles of ErbB4-JMa and its direct nuclear signaling using a novel isoform-specif.pdfPublished versio
* Corresponding author.
No full texteffects promote coexistence in the chemostat ✩ www.elsevier.com/locate/jma
Use of Fourier phase characteristics and effective stress analyses for post-earthquake ground motion estimation: application to ESG6 blind prediction steps 2&3 dataset and JMA accelerometric data
No full textAbstract After the occurrence of a large earthquake, engineering seismologists are often requested to estimate strong ground motions at a site where strong motion data were not obtained. The goal of this study was to test the ability of a class of methods that uses Fourier phase characteristics for the post-earthquake ground motion estimation, making use of the precious opportunity provide by the ESG6 Blind Prediction Steps 2&3. It was also part of the goal of this study to test the performance of the effective stress analyses to account for soil nonlinearity. In addition to the dataset provided by the organizer of the blind prediction, the author used additional accelerometric data from a nearby JMA site. To simulate ground motions for an M5.9 earthquake at the target site “KUMA”, the Fourier amplitude spectrum was estimated from the spectral ratio between KUMA and the nearby JMA site. The Fourier phase spectrum was approximated by the spectrum of another event at KUMA. Comparison between the estimated and recorded ground motions after the blind prediction revealed that the estimated ground motions were fairly consistent with the observed ground motions, indicating the effectiveness of the method when the rupture process of the target event is simple and the soil nonlinearity at the target site is not significant. To simulate ground motions at KUMA for the M6.5 foreshock and the M7.3 mainshock of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence, the author conducted effective stress analyses using a program called “FLIP” to account for soil nonlinearity. Comparison between the estimated and recorded ground motions after the blind prediction indicated that the low-frequency components were overestimated and the high-frequency components were underestimated. The strong soil nonlinearity considered in the effective stress analyses was the main cause of the discrepancy. One explanation for this result could be that the nonlinear soil behavior at KUMA during the foreshock and the mainshock was not a strong one. Another explanation could be that the effect of soil nonlinearity was already included in the records at JMA and the effect of soil nonlinearity was double counted in the results submitted by the author. Graphical Abstrac
Book review: Rachel Moseley. Picturing Cornwall: Landscape, Region, and the Moving Image. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2018
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Cambridge University Press via the DOI in this recor
Two-dimensional, threshold-based cloud type classification using MTSAT data
No full textA new two-dimensional threshold diagram (2D-THR) has been developed based on maximum likelihood cloud classification results, which can readily be applied for Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT) split window datasets. Since 2D-THR was trained using northern summer 2010 data for Japan and its surrounding area, it is typically suitable only for summer. Comparison of snapshot cloud-type distributions showed that 2D-THR images and the corresponding night-time microphysical colour composite images as well as 2D-THR and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) cloud-type images are in good agreement. A time series inter-comparison of the hourly 2D-THR cloud classification results with the JMA cloud type classification data product was performed by calculating spatial correlation of cloud percentage for 1° × 1° grid cells. For cumulonimbus, high-level, middle-level, and low-level clouds over tropical and subtropical areas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean region, the spatial correlation between 2D-THR and JMA is moderate. Thus, 2D-THR cloud-classification algorithm can be applied in both regions
The Periphery as a Complex Adaptive Assemblage: Local Government and Enhanced Communication to Challenge Peripheralising Narratives
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from University of British Columbia, Okanagan via the DOI in this record.Despite much time and attention by academia and policy to bring about cohesion between core and peripheral regions, we still have large disparities of wealth and outcomes between them. Recent literature suggests that part of the problem lies in the ways that core regions represent peripheries in discourse and practice (Author. Forthcoming; Willett 2016; Lang et al 2015), meaning that peripheries need to find better ways to challenge negative core representations of place. This paper argues that a critical ontological perspective based on Deleuze and Guattari’s (2004) affective assemblages can help to understand this phenomenon better. The paper uses this framework to explore the periphery as a complex adaptive organism – or a periphery-assemblage. Local government is identified as an important structure within the periphery-assemblage, potentially enhancing and facilitating better adaptation to changing environment. Using this perspective and a radical research methodology that uses creative techniques to uncover the meanings underlying performed responses, the study takes a case study of local government in Cornwall in the South West of the UK. The research was conducted between May – June 2016. The paper claims that one way for peripheries to challenge core representations more effectively would be for enhanced communications within local government, which can better channel and develop information flows within peripheral regions
Cornwall’s devolution deal: Towards a more sustainable governance?
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.This article considers the Devolution Deal signed by Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the summer of 2015. It asks if the Deal constitutes a more sustainable approach to governance, concluding that whilst there are some factors that help to enhance sustainability, other areas urgently require more attention. These claims are made through an analysis of a model of sustainability which emphasises the importance of networks and feedback loops envisaging civil society as an adaptive organism. This helps to show that although power is significantly dispersed in some aspects of the ‘Cornwall Deal’, this latter does little to alter the highly centralised nature of governance across England, or provide spaces where local actors can feed back into central policy
Trade Liberalization and Poverty in Nepal: an Applied General Equilibrium Analysis
No full textNepal aggressively liberalized its foreign trade during the 1990s. This paper attempts to estimate the impact of trade liberalization on household welfare and poverty in Nepal through the construction of a regional CGE model. The model disaggregates factors of production - capital, land, and labor - by region (urban, Terai and hills/mountains) in order to establish direct links between sector of activity, factor remuneration, and household income. In particular, certain activities are more intensive in factors from a given region (e.g. the manufacturing sector is more intensive in urban factors of production and the agriculture sector is more intensive in Terai factor of production). Regional factor remuneration in turn maps into regional household income. We find that trade liberalization reduces the nominal returns to urban factors of production in comparison with rural factors of production, resulting in a reduction in the relative income of urban households. Rural and urban households consume roughly the same share of industrial goods, but rural households consume relatively more agricultural goods and fewer services. As the fall in consumer prices in the latter two sectors are similar, there is little rural-urban difference in the variation in consumer price indices. Consumer prices generally fall in roughly the same proportion as nominal incomes such that there are negligible welfare changes. However, poverty falls substantially, with the greatest impact in rural Terai, followed by the rural hills and the mountain region, and least in urban areas.Computable general equilibrium modeling, international trade, poverty, Nepal
Evaluation of the accuracy of serum MMP-9 as a test for colorectal cancer in a primary care population
No full textBackground
Bowel cancer is common and is a major cause of death. Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials estimates that screening for colorectal cancer using faecal occult blood (FOB) test reduces mortality from colorectal cancer by 16%. However, FOB testing has a low positive predictive value, with associated unnecessary cost, risk and anxiety from subsequent investigation, and is unacceptable to a proportion of the target population. Increased levels of an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) have been found to be associated with colorectal cancer, and this can be measured from a blood sample. Serum MMP-9 is potentially an accurate, low risk and cost-effective population screening tool. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of serum MMP-9 as a test for colorectal cancer in a primary care population.
Methods/Design
People aged 50 to 69 years, who registered in participating general practices in the West Midlands Region, will be asked to complete a questionnaire that asks about symptoms. Respondents who describe any colorectal symptoms (except only abdominal bloating and/or anal symptoms) and are prepared to provide a blood sample for MMP9 estimation and undergo a colonoscopy (current gold standard investigation) will be recruited at GP based clinics by a research nurse. Those unfit for colonoscopy will be excluded. Colonoscopies will be undertaken in dedicated research clinics. The accuracy of MMP-9 will be assessed by comparing the MMP-9 level with the colonoscopy findings, and the combination of factors (e.g. symptoms and MMP-9 level) that best predict a diagnosis of malignancy (invasive disease or polyps) will be determined.
Discussion
Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Most colorectal cancers arise from adenomas and there is a period for early detection by screening, but available tests have risks, are unacceptable to many, have high false positive rates or are expensive.
This study will establish the potential of serum MMP-9 as a screening test for colorectal cancer. If it is confirmed as accurate and acceptable, this serum marker has the potential to assist with reducing the morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer
- …
