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The value proposition for energy storage systems (ESSs) is a key topic for creating and advancing its acceptance within the electric power sector, particularly for electric utilities. Although ESS as a technology is gaining popularity within the electric utility industry, its anticipated value streams are not fully understood, quantified, and demonstrated. The unavailability of suitable demonstration sites/projects, the lack of a deep understanding of available economic opportunities, and the deployment complexities associated with pursuing those opportunities are some of the reasons that complicate its value demonstration. The lessons learned from holistic demonstration projects covering key steps, e.g., economic value stream identification, evaluation, and its subsequent realization via suitable control strategies, could help electric utilities learn to manage ESS adoption challenges better.

MotivationAs the number of public data resources continues to proliferate, identifying relevant datasets across heterogenous repositories is becoming critical to answering scientific questions. To help researchers navigate this data landscape, we developed Dug: a semantic search tool for biomedical datasets utilizing evidence-based relationships from curated knowledge graphs to find relevant datasets and explain why those results are returned.ResultsDeveloped through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) BioData Catalyst ecosystem, Dug has indexed more than 15,911 study variables from public datasets. On a manually curated search dataset, Dug’s total recall (total relevant results/total results) of 0.79 outperformed default Elasticsearch’s total recall of 0.76. When using synonyms or related concepts as search queries, Dug (0.36) far outperformed Elasticsearch (0.14) in terms of total recall with no significant loss in the precision of its top results.Availability and ImplementationDug is freely available at https://github.com/helxplatform/dug. An example Dug deployment is also available for use at https://search.biodatacatalyst.renci.org/.Contactawaldrop@rti.org or scox@renci.org

Motivation As the number of public data resources continues to proliferate, identifying relevant datasets across heterogenous repositories is becoming critical to answering scientific questions. To help researchers navigate this data landscape, we developed Dug: a semantic search tool for biomedical datasets utilizing evidence-based relationships from curated knowledge graphs to find relevant datasets and explain why those results are returned. Results Developed through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) BioData Catalyst ecosystem, Dug has indexed more than 15 911 study variables from public datasets. On a manually curated search dataset, Dug’s total recall (total relevant results/total results) of 0.79 outperformed default Elasticsearch’s total recall of 0.76. When using synonyms or related concepts as search queries, Dug (0.36) far outperformed Elasticsearch (0.14) in terms of total recall with no significant loss in the precision of its top results. Availability and implementation Dug is freely available at https://github.com/helxplatform/dug. An example Dug deployment is also available for use at https://search.biodatacatalyst.renci.org/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Hybrid AC–DC microgrid (HMG) allows direct integration of both AC distributed generators (DGs) and DC DGs, AC and DC loads into the grid. The AC and DC sources and loads are separated out and are connected to respective subgrid mainly to reduce the power conversion; thus the overall efficiency of the system increases. This study aims to introduce a novel HMG planning model within a microgrid market environment to maximise net social welfare (NSW). NSW is defined as the present value of total demand payment minus the present value of total planning cost, including the investment cost of distributed energy sources (DERs) and converters, operation cost of DERs, and the cost of energy exchange with the utility grid subject to network constraints. The scenario tree approach is used to model the uncertainties related to load demand, wind speed, and solar irradiation. The effectiveness of the proposed model is validated through the simulation studies on a 28-bus real HMG.

The use of semi-autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to support emergency response scenarios, such as fire surveillance and search and rescue, offers the potential for huge societal benefits. However, designing an effective solution in this complex domain represents a "wicked design" problem, requiring a careful balance between trade-offs associated with drone autonomy versus human control, mission functionality versus safety, and the diverse needs of different stakeholders. This paper focuses on designing for situational awareness (SA) using a scenario-driven, participatory design process. We developed SA cards describing six common design-problems, known as SA demons, and three new demons of importance to our domain. We then used these SA cards to equip domain experts with SA knowledge so that they could more fully engage in the design process. We designed a potentially reusable solution for achieving SA in multi-stakeholder, multi-UAV, emergency response applications., 10 Pages, 5 Figures, 2 Tables. This article is publishing in CHI2020

Summary Knowledge graphs (KGs) are quickly becoming a common-place tool for storing relationships between entities from which higher-level reasoning can be conducted. KGs are typically stored in a graph-database format, and graph-database queries can be used to answer questions of interest that have been posed by users such as biomedical researchers. For simple queries, the inclusion of direct connections in the KG and the storage and analysis of query results are straightforward; however, for complex queries, these capabilities become exponentially more challenging with each increase in complexity of the query. For instance, one relatively complex query can yield a KG with hundreds of thousands of query results. Thus, the ability to efficiently query, store, rank and explore sub-graphs of a complex KG represents a major challenge to any effort designed to exploit the use of KGs for applications in biomedical research and other domains. We present Reasoning Over Biomedical Objects linked in Knowledge Oriented Pathways as an abstraction layer and user interface to more easily query KGs and store, rank and explore query results. Availability and implementation An instance of the ROBOKOP UI for exploration of the ROBOKOP Knowledge Graph can be found at http://robokop.renci.org. The ROBOKOP Knowledge Graph can be accessed at http://robokopkg.renci.org. Code and instructions for building and deploying ROBOKOP are available under the MIT open software license from https://github.com/NCATS-Gamma/robokop. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

The Significant growth of wind and photovoltaic generation experienced in many countries around the world will soon challenge the ability of transmission system operators (TSOs) to guarantee the security of supply. To cope with such future low-carbon electricity systems, it is imperative to increase the portfolio of flexibility sources in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. This is likely to require exploring solutions beyond the use of traditional players connected at higher voltages, such as fast-acting generation plants and large customers.

With the integration of intermittent renewable generation, transmission voltage problems have become more dynamic. The deployment and tuning of numbers of VAr compensators at various locations may not be cost-effective. This paper presents an alternative method, which utilizes existing parallel transformers in distribution networks, to provide reactive power absorption services for transmission systems with low demands. The operation of parallel transformers in small different tap positions, that is, with staggered taps, can provide a means of absorbing reactive power. The aggregated VAr absorption from many pairs of parallel transformers could be used to provide voltage support to the upstream transmission network. This paper focuses on the economic and technical analyses of using the tap staggering method. For the economic analysis, the associated costs of applying the tap staggering technique are investigated through static load-flow studies. The IEEE Reliability Test System is used to carry out the studies and the results are compared with the installation of shunt reactors. In the technical studies, the dynamic impacts of tap staggering or reactor switching on transmission voltages are analyzed. From the results, the tap staggering technique has more economic advantages than reactors and can reduce the voltage damping and overshoots during the transient states.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a novel, regulatory-compliant approach for openly exposing integrated clinical and environmental exposures data: the Integrated Clinical and Environmental Exposures Service (ICEES).Materials and MethodsThe driving clinical use case for research and development of ICEES was asthma, which is a common disease influenced by hundreds of genes and a plethora of environmental exposures, including exposures to airborne pollutants. We developed a pipeline for integrating clinical data on patients with asthma-like conditions with data on environmental exposures derived from multiple public data sources. The data were integrated at the patient and visit level and used to create de-identified, binned, “integrated feature tables,” which were then placed behind an OpenAPI.ResultsOur preliminary evaluation results demonstrate a relationship between exposure to high levels of particulate matter ≤2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and the frequency of emergency department or inpatient visits for respiratory issues. For example, 16.73% of patients with average daily exposure to PM2.5 >9.62 µg/m3 experienced 2 or more emergency department or inpatient visits for respiratory issues in year 2010 compared with 7.93% of patients with lower exposures (n = 23 093).DiscussionThe results validated our overall approach for openly exposing and sharing integrated clinical and environmental exposures data. We plan to iteratively refine and expand ICEES by including additional years of data, feature variables, and disease cohorts.ConclusionsWe believe that ICEES will serve as a regulatory-compliant model and approach for promoting open access to and sharing of integrated clinical and environmental exposures data.

Dr John Holden was known to many within the RCGP for his work on the quality agenda, GP training, clinical audit, Fellowship by Assessment, Membership by Assessment, past Council membership, Provost of Mersey Faculty, and as a recipient of the President’s Medal. John tragically passed away in a fall from a ridge between Steeple and Little Scoat Fell above Ennerdale in the closing stages of the Joss Naylor (fell running) Challenge on 15 July 2018. He was a keen climber, fell …

Aims Post-mortem examination of the heart in young sudden cardiac death (SCD) is vital as the underlying aetiology is often an inherited cardiac disease with implications for surviving relatives. Our aim is to demonstrate the improvement in diagnostic quality offered by a specialist cardiac pathology service established to investigate SCD with fast-track reporting on hearts sent by pathologists in cases of SCD. Methods and results A tertiary centre prospective observational study was conducted. Detailed histopathological examination was performed in a tertiary centre specialized in the investigation of cardiac pathology in SCD. Hearts from 720 consecutive cases of SCD referred by coroners and pathologists from 2007 to 2009 were included. A comparison was drawn with diagnoses from referring pathologists. Most SCDs occurred in males (66%), with the median age being 32 years. The majority (57%) of deaths occurred at home. The main diagnoses were a morphologically normal heart ( n = 321; 45%), cardiomyopathy ( n = 207, 29%), and coronary artery pathology ( n = 71; 10%). In 158 out of a sample of 200 consecutive cases, a cardiac examination was also performed by the referring pathologist with a disparity in diagnosis in 41% of the cases ( κ = 0.48). Referring pathologists were more inclined to diagnose cardiomyopathy than normality with only 50 out of 80 (63%) normal hearts being described correctly. Conclusion Expert cardiac pathology improves the accuracy of coronial post-mortem diagnoses in young SCD. This is important as the majority of cases may be due to inherited cardiac diseases and the autopsy guides the appropriate cardiological evaluation of blood relatives for their risk of sudden death.

Information analysis tasks are becoming increasingly complex as the growth in volume and variety of available data continues to outpace methods to automatically analyze it. The result is an increasing burden on knowledge workers. Industry and academia are currently lacking platforms and tools that can help provide enterprise-wide understanding of how humans analyze information. Through instrumentation of knowledge worker's activities during analysis tasks, we can enable research into techniques that address this need. Several research and design challenges need to be addressed, however, to develop scalable, robust and efficient instrumentation methods for collecting streaming data on relevant human-machine interactions. This data is typically high volume and multi-modal. We present an instrumentation platform to meet these and future challenges in better understanding and improving the craft of information analysis. Our platform provides an extensible framework to instrument analyst's workstations during information processing tasks, and includes a streaming data processing pipeline that supports real-time analysis of large volumes of event data. We have built the instrumentation platform using the latest open-source scalable and flexible web components and hardware infrastructure. Researchers from science, engineering, and humanities are using our platform to gain insight into tool usage, analytical workflows, and collaboration patterns. Several use cases from these groups are described. Our platform provides a unique, pragmatic and holistic foundation to understand the behavior of knowledge workers, and to support applications that assist with information analysis.

This paper discusses the objectives, delivery and learning from the Electricity North West Limited (ENWL) Customer Load Active System Services (CLASS) project, funded via Ofgem's Low Carbon Networks (LCN) Fund. CLASS project identified the need to explore the ability of Great Britain (GB) distribution networks to deliver a suite of network services; in support of National Grid (NG)'s responsibility for system balancing as the GB's Transmission System Operator (GB TSO), as well as helping Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) defer or even prevent the need for network reinforcements. The CLASS project, trialled across ENWL's network sought to demonstrate the extent of increasing electricity networks' capability through the application of innovative and active voltage management methods. As discussed in this paper, the project demonstrated how a range of frequency response, demand response and voltage control services can be efficiently and economically provided to stabilize the network, keep the voltage within limits and rationalize demand (especially at peak periods) with the existing network assets, thereby allowing more Low carbon Technologies (LCT) to be deployed on the networks. The Autonomous Substation Controller (ASC), from Siemens, was used to deliver each of the following innovative and critical services which have proven to be instrumental towards achieving huge savings for customers: Frequency Management, Reactive Power Response, Demand Response, (Boost/Reduction).

John Duncan Holden had strong links to the Royal College of General Practitioners, having been a fellow, council member, provost of Mersey Faculty, and recipient of the president’s medal. He had led work on college fellowship by assessment, worked on the membership by assessment of performance (MAP) scheme, and was an “evangelist” for both locally. He achieved his MD when he was 50 and worked on numerous research projects. He was a trainer …

This paper examines the advantages relational depth offers the person-centered approach and, indeed, psychotherapy in general. Relational depth contemporizes and broadens our understanding of in-depth therapeutic relating by moving away from the limiting and divisive notion of “I” and focusing on the inclusive language and dynamics of “relationship.” I seek to explore the micro and macro effect of the concept in terms of: self-relationship, relationship with another, and societal relationship. The idea of relational depth does not move us away from the foundations of person-centered theory, but helps us to appreciate the essence of the approach more fully in our current context.

Fibrin sealant products are used in hemostasis and tissue sealing, and potentially as a cell delivery vehicle. In this study, fibrin sealant was evaluated as a delivery vehicle for human dermal fibroblasts. Fibroblast proliferation and migration were assessed in various dilutions of fibrin sealant by changing the fibrinogen and thrombin concentration. Fibroblasts proliferated well within three-dimensional (3-D) fibrin clots consisting of fibrinogen (5-17 mg/mL) and thrombin (1-167 U/mL). These fibroblasts also retained good morphology and growth characteristics after migrating out of the 3-D fibrin clots. Furthermore, using Western blot and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis, we found that the expression of growth factors and interleukins in the entire fibroblast-fibrin construct was dependent on the fibrin sealant formulation. For example, in a formulation in which fibroblasts showed modest proliferation and migration, interleukin 8 was secreted to a lesser extent than in a formulation that supported robust proliferation and migration. To our knowledge, this is the first time that it has been shown that modifying the concentration of fibrinogen and thrombin affects fibroblast behavior within formed 3-D fibrin clots. In addition, some of these formulations present an ideal delivery vehicle for fibroblasts that could be used for the treatment of chronic wounds.

THE HISTORY OF AL‐TABARI. VOL. III: THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. Translated by WILLIAM M. BRINNER. Albany, N.Y., SUNY Press, 1991. xii, 194 pp. $44.00 (hb), $14.95 (pb). THE HISTORY OF AL‐TABARI. VOL. XXXIII: STORM AND STRESS ALONG THE NORTHERN FRONTIERS OF THE ‘ABBASID CALIPHATE. Translated by C.E. BOSWORTH. Albany, N.Y., SUNY Press, 1991. xix, 239 pp. $57.50 (hb), $18.95 (pb). THE AWAKENING OF PERSIA: THE REIGN OF NASR AL‐DIN SHAH 1848–1896. By A.J. ABRAHAM. USA, Vande Vere Publishing, 1992. 64pp. $18.95. THE EMERGENCE OF KURDISH NATIONALISM AND THE SHAIKH SAID REBELLION, 1880–1925. By ROBERT OLSON. Austin, University of Texas Press, 1992. THE ARAB BUREAU: BRITISH POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1916–1920. By BRUCE WESTRATE. University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992. xvi, 240 pp. $35. DIE TURKEI UND AGYPTEN IN DER WELTWIRTSCHAFTSKRISE 1929–1933. By CAMILLA DAWLETSCHIN‐LINDER. (Studien zur modernen Geschichte, 40). Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 1989. xviii, 187 pp. 20 tables, 6 diagrams. DM...

We developed a parallel computational model of a network of entorhinal and hippocampal cells influenced by synaptic plasticity to examine the stability of CA3 place fields under graded environmental perturbations. Place cells form single firing fields within an environment and are located in the CA1 and CA3 subregions of the hippocampus. They receive the majority of their spatial input from grid cells, which are located in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) and fire in hexagonal patterns within an environment [1]. We designed the model in the context of the “double rotation” experiment in which a rat circles a track with various local and distal cues that are rotated in opposite directions. In response to this rotation, some CA1 cells follow local cues, some follow distal cues, and some remap. In contrast, CA3 place fields are more coherently dominated by local cues [2]. This CA3 response is puzzling given that grid cells are more strongly controlled by distal cues [3]. Because local cues were rotated in a direction opposite to the rat’s movement, the backward shift of place fields [4] may affect the CA3 response. Cells in the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) show a slight tendency to follow local cues [3], and we used the model to investigate whether the backward shift couples with weak LEC input to cause CA3 cells to rotate with the local cues. In the model the MEC contains grid cells, and LEC cells are weakly tuned to local cues. CA1 and CA3 cells are governed by the integrate and fire model, which provides no bias for spiking at one location over another. Rate-based plasticity [5] applied to the connections from grid cells to hippocampal cells enables place fields to form, and spike-timing-dependent plasticity [6] applied to the connections among CA3 cells enables place fields to shift backward, as seen experimentally. We implemented the model in PETSc (Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation), a suite of data structures and routines for parallel computation. This implementation greatly increased both the number of tractable variables and the speed of computation. We simulated networks of up to 20,000 cells, and the computational time reduces by a factor of 15 as we move from one processor to 64 processors. Because the model is efficient, modular, and capable of simulating large networks, it is an efficient tool for examining the effect of synaptic plasticity on place field dynamics.

Aims: This study sought to confirm the efficacy of using resting 12-lead ECG alongside personal symptom and family history questionnaires and physical examination when screening for diseases with the potential to cause sudden cardiac death in the young. Methods and results: 1074 national and international junior athletes (mean age 15.8 (SD 0.7) years, range 10 to 27) and 1646 physically active schoolchildren (16.1 (SD 2.1) years, range 14 to 20) were screened using personal and family history questionnaires, physical examination and resting 12-lead ECG. Nine participants with a positive diagnosis of a disease associated with sudden cardiac death were identified. None of the participants diagnosed with a disease associated with sudden cardiac death were symptomatic or had a family history of note. Conclusion : Family history and personal symptom questionnaires alone are inadequate to identify people with diseases associated with sudden cardiac death. Use of the 12-lead ECG is essential when screening for cardiac pathology in the young.

Fibrin sealants have been used in hemostasis and tissue sealing for over 25 years and recent studies have shown them to be an ideal delivery vehicle for cells and bioactive substances. We examined the use of fibrin as a delivery vehicle for the macrophage activator lipoprotein peptide (MALP)-2. MALP-2, secreted by mycoplasma, plays an important role in an early influx of leukocytes and infiltration by monocytes and their subsequent activation into macrophages as detected by their secretion of cytokines and chemoattractants. We first showed that MALP-2 activated several monocytic cell lines by increasing the expression of cytokines and chemoattractants in these cells. Furthermore, using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction approach, we found that MALP-2 affected the gene expression of its own receptors: TLR2 and TLR4 in various cell types including fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells. Furthermore, the conditioned medium, containing secreted cytokines and chemoattractants, collected from monocytes treated with MALP-2 enhanced fibroblast migration using a standard wound culture assay. Next, we examined MALP-2's effect on the human monocyte cell line when it is mixed with fibrin. Monocytes seeded on three-dimensional fibrin containing MALP-2 secreted more cytokines such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and chemoattractants such as macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 when compared with monocytes seeded on three-dimensional fibrin in the absence of MALP-2. This study supports the use of fibrin to deliver MALP-2, and possibly other peptides, in an active form that might enhance wound healing.

In reply to a review of Math Bytes, Tim Chartier's book about everyday mathematics ("Mathematical doodling", April p43, http://ow.ly/LQ0mL).

Fibrin sealant products such as Tisseel (Baxter Healthcare Corporation) are used in hemostasis and tissue sealing. Tisseel consists of two components, a fibrinogen-containing component and thrombin, which when mixed together form a fibrin clot. There is an interest in delivering monocytes to the wound because they are known to play an important role in the wound-healing process. Therefore, we were interested in finding the best fibrin formulation for delivering monocytes by examining monocyte behavior on 3D-fibrin clots. Using standard adhesion and proliferation assays, we found that monocytes differentially adhere, proliferate, and cluster on and within the 3D-fibrin clots depending on the final fibrinogen and thrombin concentration. Moreover, using a Boyden chamber assay, we found that monocytes migrated through the 3D-fibrin clots in 1-2 days. Furthermore, the protein expression in monocytes seeded on 3D-fibrin clots for various time points varied depending on the fibrinogen and thrombin concentrations in the final 3D-fibrin clots. The above data suggest that various formulations of fibrin sealant Tisseel present a good surface for monocyte adhesion, proliferation and migration in vitro and potentially during the wound-healing process in vivo. Moreover, because the monocytes proliferated well and clustered in the 3D fibrin, Tisseel could be a good delivery vehicle for delivering monocytes into chronic wounds to overcome a healing deficiency.

Introduction Regular physical exercise results in structural and electrophysiological cardiac changes, referred to as ‘athletes’ heart9. Ethnicity is an important determinant of such adaptation in athletes; it has been demonstrated that Afro-Caribbean (AC) athletes exhibit a greater degree of cardiac adaptation compared to Caucasian athletes (CA). However, there is conspicuous lack of data on cardiac adaptation in Asian athletes, particularly those of South Asian (SA) origin. This study describes the ECG and echocardiographic characteristics in competitive athletes of SA descent. Methods Between 2011 and 2012, 100 male SA athletes (age 14–35) underwent pre-participation cardiovascular screening with ECG and echocardiography. These athletes participated in cricket (n=40), football (n=27), hockey (n=25) and racquet sports (n=8), and they trained on average 12±6.6 h every week. The ECG findings were classified as Group-1 (training-related) or Group-2 (training-unrelated); and data on cardiac chamber size and wall thickness was obtained using standard echocardiogram. Results were compared with 80 CA and 40 AC athletes, and with 30 South Asian controls. Results The group-1 and group-2 ECG changes were seen in 55% and 9% athletes respectively. Minor T-wave inversions were observed in only 3%, whereas none of the athletes had deep T-wave inversions. The mean LA and LV cavity dimensions were 33.2±4 mm (range 20–42) and 49.5±4.4 mm respectively. Only 2% athletes exhibited an LV dimension of ≥60 mm; an LA ≥40 mm was seen in 5% athletes. The mean LV wall thickness was 9.2±1 mm. None of the athletes had LV wall thickness of >12 mm. A cardiomyopathy was not identified in any athlete. The ECG abnormalities, particularly T-wave inversions were less prevalent in SA athletes compared to AC athletes (p Conclusions The South Asian male athletes demonstrate similar ECG changes to Caucasians, but fewer ECG anomalies compared to Afro-Caribbean athletes. However they exhibit a lesser degree of structural cardiac adaptation which may be influenced by body size and type of sport. The ESC criteria for interpretation of athletes9 ECG may be applicable to South Asian athletes, and upper limits of cardiac cavity dimensions and wall thickness do not differ from Caucasian population. Larger studies are required in this ethnic group.

(2013). Educational supervision for GP trainees: ‘feeding the beast’? Education for Primary Care: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 297.

A decade after Shipman's arrest1 and 4 years since the Shipman Inquiry report into death certification was published,2 the key proposals have been scarcely debated, let alone any having led to serious action. We believe this failure may be due to the tenor of the inquiry's proposals which saw death …

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