Search

The fault location of an active distribution network is a vital analysis to prevent major outages in the power system. Considering the influence of renewable distributed generations on fault characteristics, this paper proposes a novel location method based on a dynamic quantum genetic algorithm to solve for fault locations in active distribution networks. In the method, the fault current code is measured based on feeder terminal units. A universal switching function is presented to convert the feeder switch status into an uploaded fault current code. The fault location model is defined as an optimization problem that presents the evaluation objective function with an anti-false-positive factor. The dynamic quantum genetic algorithm is developed to locate the fault feeder according to the uploaded fault current code of the feeder terminal unit. The algorithm adopts dynamic rotating gate strategy and adaptive quantum crossover strategy to satisfy the requirements of quickness and accuracy for fault location. Moreover, the method avoids easily falling into a local optimum by integrating the discrete quantum mutation. The proposed fault location technique is tested and compared to other existing techniques on a 33-bus active distribution network. The simulation results show that the proposed fault location method can locate fault feeders accurately with fast computational times under conditions of single or multiple faults and with an information distortion of the feeder terminal unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents an experimental investigation on geopolymeric recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tubular (GRACFST) columns in fire. A total of 12 specimens were tested, including 6 circular columns and 6 square columns subjected to combined fire and loading. The test parameters include: (a) cross-section type (circular and square); (b) column load ratio (0.3, 0.4 and 0.6); and (c) fire scenario (all around fire exposure and two surfaces fire exposure). The failure mode, temperature development, deformation development and fire resistance of GRACFST columns were obtained and discussed. Finally, the fire resistance design method for conventional CFST columns proposed in Eurocode 4 was used to predict the ultimate cross sectional load bearing capacity of the GRACFST column at a specified fire exposure time, and the comparison between the prediction and the test results reported in this paper indicated that the Eurocode 4 method gave an overestimation to the GRACFST column. To improve the prediction accuracy, suitable material models for the passively confined GRAC in CFST columns should be developed in the future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese giant silkworm Caligula japonica Moore is an emerging defoliator pest of forest and fruit trees, causing severe economic losses in East Asia. To identify biological control agents for this pest, we comparatively evaluated six indigenous eupelmid egg parasitoids (Anastatus fulloi, A. gansuensis, A. japonicus, A. meilingensis, Mesocomys albitarsis and M. trabalae) from China, in terms of their performances (number of parasitized eggs, developmental time, offspring emergence and sex ratio) on C. japonica eggs of four different ages (0, 10, 20 and 30-d old). Results showed that all six parasitoids readily parasitized C. japonica eggs of all tested ages, but A. japonicus was the most efficient species based on the number of parasitized eggs, followed by M. albitarsis and M. trabalae, and the other three parasitoid species. All four Anastatus species parasitized more old than young eggs, while M. albitarsis did not show a strong host age preference and M. trabalae parasitized the oldest less than young eggs. For all host ages, developmental time was longest in A. gansuensis and shortest in M. albitarsis, offspring emergence was high (> 90%), and progeny was strongly female biased (> 70%) among all parasitoids except for A. gansuensis which produced all female progeny. Portions of A. japonicus offspring (< 13.1%) entered diapause as pre-pupae. Accordingly, A. japonicus, M. albitarsis and M. trabalae were identified as the most suitable agents against C. japonica. This information may also help improve rearing and field-release protocols, in terms of host age-related effects on these parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate how DANCR can alter the growth and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells by regulating miR-216a-5p. The expression of DANCR and miR-216a-5p in OSCC patients and cells were measured. SCC15 and CAL-27 cells were selected to divide into Control, sh-NC, DANCR shRNA, DANCR, miR-216a-5p mimic, and DANCR + miR-216a-5p mimic groups. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed for the verification of the targeting relationship between miR-216a-5p and DANCR/Bcl-2/KLF12. We also quantified the abilities of OSCC cells regarding proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were measured. Finally, the tumor-bearing nude mice were established to verify the effect of DANCR in vivo. Up-regulated DANCR expression and down-regulated miR-216a-5p expression were observed in both OSCC tissues and cells, and they were proven strongly correlated to the histological grade, clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of OSCC patients. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed a target relationship between DANCR and miR-216a-5p, as well as between miR-216a-5p and Bcl-2/KLF12. Both DANCR shRNA and miR-216a-5p mimic decreased proliferative, migration and invasive abilities of OSCC cells with increased cell apoptosis. However, DANCR group showed completely opposite trends. Moreover, miR-216a-5p mimic could reverse the role of DANCR in promoting tumor growth. In-vivo experiment confirmed the inhibitory role of DANCR shRNA in tumor growth and metastasis. We concluded that DANCR may promote the growth and metastasis of OSCC cells and suppress OSCC cell apoptosis by sponging miR-216a-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We study the DeGroot model for continuous opinion dynamics under the influence of innovations. In the original model, individuals' opinions, after given their initial values, evolve merely according to the given learning topology. The main contribution of this paper is that external innovation effects are introduced: each individual is given the opportunity to change her opinion to a randomly selected opinion according to a given distribution on the opinion space and then the external opinion is either adapted by the individual, or combined into her learning process. It turns out that all the classical results of the DeGroot model are violated in this new model. We prove that convergence can still be guaranteed in the expectation sense, regardless of the learning topology. We also study the steady distributions of opinions among the society and the time spent to reach a steady state by means of Monte-Carlo simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]