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New cell culture techniques have led to complex tissue models in biological experiments. For example, 3-D cerebral organoids provide a more realistic model of the human cortical tissue. However, these cell culture experiments are restricted by high costs and limited labor. A massively scalable and cost efficient platform for tissue experiments would benefit genomics, neuroscience, and translational medicine by enabling advanced high throughput tissue screens. Cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) provide new tools for managing multiple experiments in parallel that are remotely controlled through automation. We introduce a cloud-based IoT architecture that takes advantage of these tools to offer an environment where researchers can run thousands of cell culture experiments at once. This technology allows studies with cell cultures to be performed at scales far beyond a single lab setting, democratizing access to advanced tissue models and enabling new avenues of research. IoT Cloud LaboratoryExperiments are automated through cloud connected devices to allow scalability, reproducibility, and online monitoring. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=177 SRC="FIGDIR/small/453595v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14421e7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@dce92org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@75037borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@37afa9_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

This study assesses the feasibility of using H2-containing streams, such as biomass gasification product gas, as a source of H2 for the thermocatalytic conversion of CO2 to renewable natural gas (RNG). A heat-exchanger type, molten salt-cooled membrane reactor is analyzed using a transient mathematical model that accounts for dynamic catalyst deactivation. The effect of the distributed H2 supply via a H2-selective membrane on the catalyst deactivation was investigated in comparison to the non-membrane reactor. The simulation results showed significantly lower catalyst deactivation rates in the membrane reactor due to the distributed H2 supply that results in a more uniform temperature distribution. Space velocity and cooling rate are crucial parameters and there is a trade-off between positive and negative effects of these parameters on the membrane reactor performance. The model predicts that, with a proper selection of operating parameters, it is possible to achieve CO2 conversion and CH4 yield of 97% during an extended period of operation of 10,000 h.

A low cost remote imaging platform for biological applications was developed. The "Picroscope" is a device that allows the user to perform longitudinal imaging studies on multi-well cell culture plates. Here we present the network architecture and software used to facilitate communication between modules within the device as well as external cloud services. A web based console was created to control the device and view experiment results. Post processing tools were developed to analyze captured data in the cloud. The result is a platform for controlling biological experiments from outside the lab., The authors Pierre V Baudin and Victoria T Ly contributed equally to this work. 21 pages, 12 figures

Background Efficiently sharing health data produced during standard care could dramatically accelerate progress in cancer treatments, but various barriers make this difficult. Not sharing these data to ensure patient privacy is at the cost of little to no learning from real-world data produced during cancer care. Furthermore, recent research has demonstrated a willingness of patients with cancer to share their treatment experiences to fuel research, despite potential risks to privacy. Objective The objective of this study was to design, pilot, and release a decentralized, scalable, efficient, economical, and secure strategy for the dissemination of deidentified clinical and genomic data with a focus on late-stage cancer. Methods We created and piloted a blockchain-authenticated system to enable secure sharing of deidentified patient data derived from standard of care imaging, genomic testing, and electronic health records (EHRs), called the Cancer Gene Trust (CGT). We prospectively consented and collected data for a pilot cohort (N=18), which we uploaded to the CGT. EHR data were extracted from both a hospital cancer registry and a common data model (CDM) format to identify optimal data extraction and dissemination practices. Specifically, we scored and compared the level of completeness between two EHR data extraction formats against the gold standard source documentation for patients with available data (n=17). Results Although the total completeness scores were greater for the registry reports than those for the CDM, this difference was not statistically significant. We did find that some specific data fields, such as histology site, were better captured using the registry reports, which can be used to improve the continually adapting CDM. In terms of the overall pilot study, we found that CGT enables rapid integration of real-world data of patients with cancer in a more clinically useful time frame. We also developed an open-source Web application to allow users to seamlessly search, browse, explore, and download CGT data. Conclusions Our pilot demonstrates the willingness of patients with cancer to participate in data sharing and how blockchain-enabled structures can maintain relationships between individual data elements while preserving patient privacy, empowering findings by third-party researchers and clinicians. We demonstrate the feasibility of CGT as a framework to share health data trapped in silos to further cancer research. Further studies to optimize data representation, stream, and integrity are required.

The physics software stack of LHCb is based on Gaudi and is comprised of about 20 interdependent projects, managed across multiple GitLab repositories. At present, the continuous integration (CI) system used for regular building and testing of this software is implemented using Jenkins and runs on a cluster of about 300 cores. LHCb CI pipelines are python-based and relatively modern with some degree of modularity, i.e. the separation of test jobs from build jobs. However, these still suffer from obsoleted design choices that prevent improvements to scalability and reporting. In particular, the resource use and speed have not been thoroughly optimized due to the predominant use of the system for nightly builds, where a feedback time of 8 hours is acceptable. We describe recent work on speeding up pipelines by aggressively splitting and parallelizing checkout, build and test jobs and caching their artifacts. The current state of automatic code quality integration, such as coverage reports, is shown. This paper presents how feedback time from change (merge request) submission to build and test reports is reduced from “next day” to a few hours by dedicated on-demand pipelines. Custom GitLab integration allows easy triggering of pipelines, including linked changes to multiple projects, and provides immediate feedback as soon as ready. Reporting includes a comparison to tests on a unique stable reference build, dynamically chosen for every set of changes under testing. This work enables isolated testing of changes that integrates well into the development workflow, leaving nightly testing primarily for integration tests.

Objective. Neural activity represents a functional readout of neurons that is increasingly important to monitor in a wide range of experiments. Extracellular recordings have emerged as a powerful technique for measuring neural activity because these methods do not lead to the destruction or degradation of the cells being measured. Current approaches to electrophysiology have a low throughput of experiments due to manual supervision and expensive equipment. This bottleneck limits broader inferences that can be achieved with numerous long-term recorded samples. Approach. We developed Piphys, an inexpensive open source neurophysiological recording platform that consists of both hardware and software. It is easily accessed and controlled via a standard web interface through Internet of Things (IoT) protocols. Main results. We used a Raspberry Pi as the primary processing device along with an Intan bioamplifier. We designed a hardware expansion circuit board and software to enable voltage sampling and user interaction. This standalone system was validated with primary human neurons, showing reliability in collecting neural activity in near real-time. Significance. The hardware modules and cloud software allow for remote control of neural recording experiments as well as horizontal scalability, enabling long-term observations of development, organization, and neural activity at scale.

This cohort study evaluates the feasibility and utility of incorporating comparative gene expression information into the precision medicine framework for difficult-to-treat pediatric and young adult patients with cancer., Key Points Question Is it feasible and useful to compare the tumor RNA sequencing data of a child or young adult with the tumor RNA sequencing data of thousands of other patients (of all ages) in a research setting? Findings Among 144 tumor samples from children and young adults, comparative RNA sequencing analysis, conducted across 4 precision medicine studies in the United States and Canada, was feasible and potentially useful for 99 of 144 pediatric and young adult cancer samples. In contrast, DNA mutation information was potentially useful for only 34 of 74 samples. Meaning This study’s findings suggest that open sharing and combined analysis of tumor RNA sequencing data from pediatric and young adult patients treated on different clinical trials may represent a feasible approach and may produce useful clinical and biological information for individual patients., Importance Pediatric cancers are epigenetic diseases; therefore, considering tumor gene expression information is necessary for a complete understanding of the tumorigenic processes. Objective To evaluate the feasibility and utility of incorporating comparative gene expression information into the precision medicine framework for difficult-to-treat pediatric and young adult patients with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was conducted as a consortium between the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative and clinical genomic trials. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data were obtained from the following 4 clinical sites and analyzed at UCSC: British Columbia Children’s Hospital (n = 31), Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University (n = 80), CHOC Children’s Hospital and Hyundai Cancer Institute (n = 46), and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (n = 24). The study dates were January 1, 2016, to March 22, 2017. Exposures Participants underwent tumor RNA-Seq profiling as part of 4 separate clinical trials at partner hospitals. The UCSC either downloaded RNA-Seq data from a partner institution for analysis in the cloud or provided a Docker pipeline that performed the same analysis at a partner institution. The UCSC then compared each participant’s tumor RNA-Seq profile with more than 11 000 uniformly analyzed tumor profiles from pediatric and young adult patients with cancer, downloaded from public data repositories. These comparisons were used to identify genes and pathways that are significantly overexpressed in each patient’s tumor. Results of the UCSC analysis were presented to clinical partners. Main Outcomes and Measures Feasibility of a third-party institution (UCSC Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative) to obtain tumor RNA-Seq data from patients, conduct comparative analysis, and present analysis results to clinicians; and proportion of patients for whom comparative tumor gene expression analysis provided useful clinical and biological information. Results Among 144 samples from children and young adults (median age at diagnosis, 9 years; range, 0-26 years; 72 of 118 [61.0%] male [26 patients sex unknown]) with a relapsed, refractory, or rare cancer treated on precision medicine protocols, RNA-Seq–derived gene expression was potentially useful for 99 of 144 samples (68.8%) compared with DNA mutation information that was potentially useful for only 34 of 74 samples (45.9%). Conclusions and Relevance This study’s findings suggest that tumor RNA-Seq comparisons may be feasible and highlight the potential clinical utility of incorporating such comparisons into the clinical genomic interpretation framework for difficult-to-treat pediatric and young adult patients with cancer. The study also highlights for the first time to date the potential clinical utility of harmonized publicly available genomic data sets.

Gliomatosis peritonei is a rare pathologic finding that is associated with ovarian teratomas and malignant mixed germ cell tumors. The occurrence of gliomatosis as a mature glial implant can impart an improved prognosis to patients with immature ovarian teratoma, making prompt and accurate diagnosis important. We describe a case of recurrent immature teratoma in a 10-yr-old female patient, in which comparative analysis of the RNA sequencing gene expression data from the patient's tumor was used effectively to aid in the diagnosis of gliomatosis peritonei.

Computing and software for big science 3(1), 7 (2019). doi:10.1007/s41781-018-0018-8, Particle physics has an ambitious and broad experimental programme for the coming decades. This programme requires large investments in detector hardware, either to build new facilities and experiments, or to upgrade existing ones. Similarly, it requires commensurate investment in the R&D of software to acquire, manage, process, and analyse the shear amounts of data to be recorded. In planning for the HL-LHC in particular, it is critical that all of the collaborating stakeholders agree on the software goals and priorities, and that the efforts complement each other. In this spirit, this white paper describes the R&D activities required to prepare for this software upgrade., Published by Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland

El cambio climático impacta enormemente a las empresas, las que se ven expuestas a riesgos físicos, regulatorios, judiciales, reputacionales y financieros. Estos riesgos han obligado a las empresas a reaccionar y a gestionarlos, adaptándose a los efectos del cambio climático, disminuyendo su vulnerabilidad y aumentando su resiliencia. En paralelo, diversas iniciativas legales que apuntan a mitigar los gases de efecto invernadero, así como a promover la adaptación, han reformulado el entorno en que operan las empresas. El cambio climático y sus efectos han puesto fin a la forma tradicional de hacer negocios (business as usual), lo que pone a las empresas en un nuevo escenario de desafíos y oportunidades.

This paper presents the results of the third and final phase of the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) INTEGRATE demonstration: Smart Distribution. For this demonstration, high penetrations of solar PV and wind energy systems were simulated in a power hardware-in-the-loop set-up using a smart distribution test feeder. Simulated and real DERs were controlled by a real-time control platform, which manages grid constraints under high clean energy deployment levels. The power HIL testing, conducted at NREL's ESIF smart power lab, demonstrated how dynamically managing DER increases the grid's hosting capacity by leveraging active network management's (ANM) safe and reliable control framework. Results are presented for how ANM's real-time monitoring, automation, and control can be used to manage multiple DERs and multiple constraints associated with high penetrations of DER on a distribution grid. The project also successfully demonstrated the importance of escalating control actions given how ANM enables operation of grid equipment closer to their actual physical limit in the presence of very high levels of intermittent DER.

As the WLCG continues to consolidate the data storage resources to reduce maintaining costs, more storage elements will be decommissioned or federated in the future. In both cases data streaming would become a common method for data accessing in many LHC Tier 2 and Tier 3 computing centres which makes it vital to optimise the network usage (i.e. latency reduction and bandwidth utilisation). Consequently, the data cache service sits closely to the computing resources becomes a desirable tool. In this paper we discuss how to setup a XCache server at an example WLCG Tier 2 site (Edinburgh) and use the ATLAS analysis queue as a testbed to study the data caching performance. The results could be used to guide the future development to make the caching server more effective.

Increased integration of distributed energy resources (DER) depends on addressing a number of technical challenges, both on the planning side—the interconnection process—and likewise how the DER interacts with distribution operations. These two domains are obviously linked. This paper presents the results of the first phase of a project considering the testing and demonstration of DER and a real-time control platform for managing grid constraints under high clean energy deployment levels. The power hardware in the loop testing, conducted at NREL's ESIF smart power lab, demonstrated improved integration of a smart home and its associated DER using active network management (ANM). Results are presented and discussed for management of reverse reactive power constraints. The team also successfully demonstrated management of voltage rise and import constraints.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a rare and invasive pediatric brain tumor with limited treatment options. The Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative at UC Santa Cruz has developed a comparative gene expression analysis method which identifies outlier genes in gene expression data from tumor samples. This method may be useful for identifying consistently activated pathways in difficult-to-treat tumors such as DIPG. We show here that this method can be used to identify HARS and HMGCR as over-expressed genes in a cohort of DIPG patient tumor samples. Differential expression analysis demonstrates that these genes are significantly over-expressed in DIPG tumors as compared to normal brain tissue, indicating that they may be therapeutically relevant. Targeting these genes in vitro with FDA-approved drugs significantly reduces cell line viability, and targeting both genes at once in combinatorial therapy is more effective than targeting each gene separately. Testing these drugs in human astrocytes and neural stem cells shows no reduction in cell viability. Pathway enrichment analyses demonstrate that the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, which is driven by HMGCR expression and is a known driver pathway in gliomas, is enriched in DIPG cell lines and in DIPG patient samples. Our results indicate that the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway may be enriched in a subset of DIPG tumors and may be a viable therapeutic target. Future experiments will test our results on a larger cohort of DIPG cell lines.

Genomic data sharing is increasingly recognized as critical to genomic research. The need is acute in pediatric cancer research due to the rarity of pediatric tumor types and paucity of pediatric cancer data, and in translational research to assess the impact of genomic research on human health. However, genomic data sharing is hindered by an absence of standards regarding timing, patient privacy, use agreement standards, and data characterization and quality. At UC Santa Cruz Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative (treehousegenomics.soe.ucsc.edu), we examine individual pediatric cancer tumor RNA sequencing profiles against a database of over 11,000 tumor RNA sequencing profiles from public genomic datasets such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, Therapeutically Applicable Research To Generate Effective Treatments, International Cancer Genome Consortium, and Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International, and pediatric cancer clinical trials with which we partner, such as those at Stanford University, UC San Francisco, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and British Columbia Children’s Hospital. For over 18 months, we have worked systematically to enhance the Treehouse dataset by adding pediatric cancer data and presently underrepresented tumor types. The NIH and other leading funding agencies now regularly require grantees to make genomic data generated available to the research community, either post-publication or after an embargo period. We have combed websites and public repositories, searched PubMed, and contacted researchers directly. Finding data requires a mining of literature, often with limited information, and initiating the many different processes for requesting permission for these datasets, with different and often cumbersome data use obligations. The combination of cryptically named datasets, multiple data types and the practice of grouping datasets from multiple papers under a single study accession makes zeroing in on the correct dataset challenging. Downloading the genomic data is time-consuming, such that a dataset of under a 100 files can take up to a week to download under optimal conditions. Matching metadata is inconsistently available, often vague, sparse or error ridden. Only after months of identifying, permissioning for use, committing to use- and sharing-restricting terms, and downloading the genomic and metadata, is it possible to assess the quality, often discovering that data quality is low. We evaluate the barriers to data sharing based on the Treehouse experience and offer guidelines for timing, use agreement standards, and data characterization and quality, to enhance data sharing and outcomes for all pediatric cancer patients. Citation Format: Katrina Learned, Ann Durbin, Robert Currie, Holly Beale, Du Linh Lam, Theodore Goldstein, Sofie R. Salama, David Haussler, Olena Morozova, Isabel Bjork. A critical evaluation of genomic data sharing: Barriers to accessing pediatric cancer genomic datasets: a Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative experience [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-338. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-338

The 'Flexible Plug and Play Low Carbon Networks' (FPP) project aims to facilitate faster and cheaper connections of renewable generation onto the distribution network, by using innovative technical and commercial solutions. In order to move from a passive 'fit and forget' to a more active 'fit and flex' approach, the FPP project have specified an Active Network Management (ANM) platform and will trial it to effectively demonstrate this new approach. This paper describes the technical solution which will be implemented to dynamically mitigate constraints caused by the connection of generators to existing networks. It details the different smart applications and smart devices which will be deployed to manage power flows and voltage as well as to provide real time rating of overhead lines. Specifically two platforms will be delivered during the project: a pre-production platform to integrate the overall system and a production platform for the trial. The platforms, by implementing the IEC 61850 standard, will aim to demonstrate the capability to develop a vendor agnostic open standards architecture to enable end-to-end communication between distributed smart network technologies and generation.

The Active Network Management (ANM) scheme on the Orkney Islands in the UK was the first of its kind and remains at the cutting edge of smart grid implementation. The first generation deployment has facilitated the connection of almost 19 MW of new wind capacity to a network that was considered `full'. The paper describes a range of second generation technologies and initiatives that are now being implemented, illustrating how the ANM scheme provides a foundation for further work and an environment for testing a range of techniques with much broader applicability. This includes enhancements to communications, the introduction of real time ratings and voltage management, a new energy storage park, demand side management, small-scale generators and distribution state estimation. The collaborative nature of the developments on Orkney is noted. (4 pages)

It is difficult to estimate how much distributed generation (DG) capacity will be connected to distribution systems in the coming years; however, it is certain that increasing penetration levels require robust tools that help assess the capabilities and requirements of the networks in order to produce the best planning and control strategies. The work of this Task Force is focused on the numerous strategies and methods that have been developed in recent years to address DG integration and planning. This paper contains a critical review of the work in this field. Although there have been numerous publications in this area, widespread implementation of the methods has not taken place. The barriers to implementation of the advanced techniques are outlined, highlighting why network operators have been slow to pick up on the research to date. Furthermore, key challenges ahead which remain to be tackled are also described, many of which have come into clear focus with the current drive towards smarter distribution networks. Science Foundation Ireland Deposited by bulk import

Active Network Management (ANM) presents an effective approach to facilitating the connection of renewable generation onto increasingly congested networks. Estimating the severity of constraint experienced by managed generators is a key requirement in order to successfully evaluate the impact of implementing ANM solutions. This paper describes an established method of constraint analysis, its requirements, and outcomes. This approach to constraint analysis is developed further, introducing a probabilistic method for the estimation of curtailment volumes. Examples are provided illustrating the outcomes from such studies. (4 pages)

Ongoing research and development (R&D) and demonstration activities are resulting in the maturation of a number of SmartGrid systems, technologies and devices. Deployed SmartGrid systems are evident in the areas of Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA) and Active Network Management (ANM), although solutions available on the market are few in number. ADA systems tend to address reliability and security concerns, whereas ANM is concerned with the connection and operation of increased levels of distributed and renewable generation. This paper presents a model for the development of a SmartGrid solution or technology, with particular emphasis on ANM systems. The authors are well placed to present this material based on experience of developing an ANM solution in the UK from research and development through to full deployment.

The desire to reduce harmful emissions from electricity production has led to an increase in the connection of renewable energy generation. Active network management (ANM) is one proposed method for allowing additional network connections without reinforcement of electricity networks. This paper presents a case study exploring the initial layers of a modelling and simulation framework for active networks. A second study is presented which highlights specific areas where current power system simulation techniques may fall short when investigating ANM schemes. Finally, several fundamental research challenges that must be met if ANM schemes are to succeed are identified.

The emerging international concepts for future distribution networks represent a more active mode of operation. This is now being reflected in the power industry, particularly within the UK, as distribution networks begin to become more active with a view towards facilitating the connection and operation of distributed generation (DG). Active network management (ANM) schemes are emerging that address the communications and control requirements of managing constraints on the distribution network in real time. This represents a significant change to the mode of operation, which is something the existing distribution network was not designed to support. This paper presents the issues associated with active networks, with a view towards the development of a modelling and analysis framework. The authors present the fundamental layers of the framework - to be expanded upon in future work - and a case study of the implementation of the proposed framework on a generic distribution system. (4 pages)

Distribution networks in the UK, as in other developed countries, were designed to operate passively and deliver unidirectional power flows to dispersed end users. The introduction of distributed generation (DG) can render the existing operational philosophy invalid. Active network management (ANM) solutions are being developed to enable the increased connection of DG, often on a case by case basis as an economically preferable alternative to network reinforcement. A recent study undertaken by the University of Strathclyde has updated a register of completed and ongoing active management pilots, trials, research, development and demonstration activities. By considering the type and technical focus of each activity, the register demonstrates technical areas where much focus has been directed to date, where solutions have been implemented and where solutions are only now emerging. For solutions which have been implemented, the register provides an overview of the scale and impact of the activity, making the register a valuable resource for network planners. Analysis of the register content provides a snapshot of the current state of ANM, and provides recommendations to the key parties involved in the development and deployment of ANM solutions and technologies.

The increased connection of distributed and renewable generation to UK distribution networks in line with national targets requires the implementation of new operational management arrangements. The UK renewable resource is abundant; particularly in the north and west of Scotland. These areas are serviced by weaker distribution networks not capable of accepting large generator connections. Within the UK, active management is now emerging as an economically and technically viable alternative to network reinforcement for the connection and operation of distributed or renewable generation. One key component of emerging active management solutions is active power flow management (APFM). This paper summarises ongoing activities in the UK relating to APFM and demonstrate the application of a novel APFM scheme within a multiple generating unit context . It was shown that the implementation of APFM can result in around three times the generation capacity connecting to the distribution network under conventional approaches. Such schemes are crucial to the meeting UK national renewable energy targets in a cost effective manner.

This paper presents a vision of a future power system with "ubiquitous energy storage", where storage would be utilized at all levels of the electricity system. The growing requirement for storage is reviewed, driven by the expansion of distributed generation. The capabilities and existing applications of various storage technologies are presented, providing a useful review of the state of the art. Energy storage will have to be integrated with the power system and there are various ways in which this may be achieved. Some of these options are discussed, as are commercial and regulatory issues. In two case studies, the costs and benefits of some storage options are assessed. It is concluded that electrical storage is not cost effective but that thermal storage offers attractive opportunities.

In order to meet national and international renewable energy targets, new methods of operating and managing electricity distribution networks are required. Renewable energy sources are abundant in Scotland but mainly exist in the west and north of the country, away from the main load centres. These sparsely populated areas are serviced by weaker distribution networks, which struggle to accommodate the introduction of large generator connections. These connections challenge the mode of operation of the distribution network, which was designed originally to operate passively and deliver unidirectional power flows to dispersed customers. If renewable energy connections to the distribution network are to be realised, without expensive uprating of existing network infrastructure, active network management is required.

Objectives To investigate the frequency and general practitioner awareness of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and to evaluate a cardiac algorithm and document cardiac investigations performed in establishing this diagnosis. Design and setting Between March and August 1998, consecutive patients aged 60 years and older presenting to their GP were assessed. In patients previously diagnosed with CHF, aetiology and diagnostic assessments were documented. In patients with suspected CHF (by a standardised algorithm, based on World Health Organization guidelines), further investigations and GP diagnosis were recorded. Patients 80 consecutive patients were assessed by each of 341 GPs throughout Australia, reflecting the Australian metropolitan/rural population mix of 1996. This provided a total of 22060 evaluable patients. Main outcome measures Estimated numbers of patients with CHF in general practice (previously and newly diagnosed); major aetiological factors; use of ancillary diagnostic tests; drugs prescribed. Results CHF was diagnosed in 2905 of 22060 patients (13.2%) (2485 previously diagnosed and 420 newly diagnosed). Major aetiological factors were ischaemic heart disease and hypertension. Echocardiography had been performed in 64% of previously diagnosed patients, but was performed in only 22% of possible CHF patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were prescribed in 58.1% of patients with CHF. Patients with evidence of left ventricular dysfunction were more likely to have received ACE inhibitors. Conclusions CHF appears to be very common in the elderly, based on GP diagnosis of the condition. Of 100 patients aged 60 years and over presenting to their GP, two new cases of CHF will be detected using a simple clinical algorithm in conjunction with appropriate diagnostic tests. ACE inhibitors appear to be underutilised.

This letter presents the outcomes of a trial of an active network management (ANM) scheme on part of the North-Scotland electricity network. The ANM scheme has as its goal the facilitation of increased connections of distributed generation (DG) from renewable resources on the Orkney Isles. The ANM scheme is the first multigenerator application of ANM at distribution level in the U.K. The ANM scheme is briefly discussed prior to the trial of the ANM scheme being introduced. The implications of the trial for full ANM roll-out are discussed. The results of the trial of the ANM scheme are of direct relevance to those working in the areas of ANM, smart grids, and advanced distribution automation. The results confirm that wind farms can be controlled within the thermal constraints of a distribution network subject to certain operating margin considerations.

Active management provides a method to extend capacity for generation connections to distribution networks through the coordinated control of multiple network components in real-time. Identifying principles and strategies for active network management that hold for all situations will provide support to network operators and planners and form the basis for a new paradigm in utility strategy concerning the connection of distributed generation. The authors build upon previous work regarding the initial specification and economic evaluation of an active power- flow management (APFM) scheme concerned with facilitating increased generator connections. Operating margins have been identified as an essential element of the APFM scheme for the provision of network security and play a significant role in determining the economic viability of generation connected under the APFM scheme. An approach to the definition of the operating margins required to trigger generator output regulation (trimming) and tripping is introduced. These concepts are demonstrated through a case study using one of the UK generic distribution system models. The analysis considers technical, regulatory and economic factors, resulting in practical recommendations for future work and the identification of the factors that affect the implementation of such a scheme.

This paper presents the Distribution Working Group run by the University of Strathclyde is undertaking a project to provide a clear picture of the activities of active management in distributed generation. Active network management (ANM) solutions are developed to enable the increase connection of DG. ANM can be described as the control and management of network equipment and the devices they serve in normal conditions to enhance the utilisation of the network assets and minimise the requirement for their reinforcement to enable development of the system. The main outcomes of a recent project to collate and analyse activities that are ongoing or completed in the area of active management are described in the article

Increased penetration of renewable energy in line with current national targets will necessitate the implementation of new operational management arrangements for the control of distribution networks. The traditional distribution network and accompanying operational philosophy is incapable of accommodating large amounts of distributed renewable energy generation. These existing distribution networks were designed to operate passively and deliver unidirectional power flows to dispersed customers. Changing the mode of operation to 'active network management' will allow increased connection of distributed generation, while also avoiding the need for expensive reinforcement of circuits and providing adequate network security for the distribution network operator. A method for actively managing power flows associated with the connection of multiple renewable generators to the distribution network is introduced. The accompanying benefits in terms of exploitable distribution network capacity are demonstrated through the determination of an economic 'cutoff' point for new connections, thus maximising the utilisation of the existing distribution network capacity.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a mix of 5/4- and 5-ton payload trucks, with associated trailers, would be a more cost effective program solution than the proposed Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 2 1/2- and 5-ton solution. A substitution algorithm based upon individual vehicle missions was developed and four alternative truck and trailer fleets were defined for 260 Army TOEs representing about 72% of the 2 1/2-ton truck fleet. Each alternative had at least the payload capability of the FMTV Baseline Fleet. These results were extrapolated to the entire 2 1/2-ton truck fleet. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. Elimination of the 2 1/2-ton truck from the force was found to be feasible. Further, each alternative had greater weight and cube capability than the Baseline (an assessment of the utility of this added capability was beyond the scope of this study) and slightly improved mobility. Alternative fleets where HMMWVS and CUCVs and associated trailers substituted for LMTVs had somewhat less mobility than those where only MTVs substituted for LMTVs. An assessment of the impact of mobility on mission capability was beyond the scope of this analysis. However, each alternative was found to be more costly, require more operating cost, have less strategic deployability, and require about 1,200 more drivers and maintenance personnel. No compelling reason was found for eliminating the 2 1/2-ton truck from the FMTV family.

For a binary symmetric channel, a code V with only evenweighted words performs better than a corresponding code V? with both odd- and even-weighted words, from the point of the probability of undetected errors. We derive an estimate of the improvement in the performance.

This paper describes Digidesign's Sound Accelerator, a digital signal processing card for the Apple Macintosh II and SE based on Motorola's 56001 digital signal processing (DSP) chip. The card also includes dual 16-bit digital-to-analog converters allowing 44.1 KHz stereo playback. An expansion port on the card provides connection to a stereo 16-bit analog-to-digital conversion box as well as an Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcast Union (AES/EBU) digital interface for digital audio tape (DAT) or compact disk (CD) player interfacing. This paper describes the card's hardware and then outlines the development environment that has been created for the Sound Accelerator. Finally, there is a discussion of the limits of this environ