Search results for "Stability"

2016

Raman spectroscopic data were obtained for (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 samples during compression to 57 GPa. Single crystals of San Carlos olivine compressed hydrostatically above 41 GPa showed appearance of a new “defect” peak in the 820–840 cm−1 region associated with SiOSi linkages appearing between adjacent Embedded Image tetrahedra to result in five- or sixfold-coordinated silicate species. Appearance of this feature is accompanied by a broad amorphous background. The changes occur at lower pressure than metastable crystalline transitions of end-member Mg2SiO4 forsterite (Fo-I) into Fo-II and Fo-III phases described recently. We complemented our experimental study using density functional theory (DFT…

Influence of PVP/VA copolymer composition on drug–polymer solubility

2015

In this study, the influence of copolymer composition on drug-polymer solubility was investigated. The solubility of the model drug celecoxib (CCX) in various polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (PVP/VA) copolymer compositions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50 and 30/70 w/w) and the pure homopolymers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) was predicted at 25 °C using a thermal analysis method based on the recrystallization of a supersaturated amorphous dispersion (recrystallization method). These solubilities were compared with a prediction based on the solubility of CCX in the liquid monomeric precursors of PVP/VA, N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and vinyl acetate (VA), using the Flory-Huggins …

A Deep Reinforcement Learning scheme for Battery Energy Management

2020

Deep reinforcement learning is considered promising for many energy cost optimization tasks in smart buildings. How-ever, agent learning, in this context, is sometimes unstable and unpredictable, especially when the environments are complex. In this paper, we examine deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms developed for game play applied to a battery control task with an energy cost optimization objective. We explore how agent behavior and hyperparameters can be analyzed in a simplified environment with the goal of modifying the algorithms for increased stability. Our modified Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) agent is able to perform consistently close to the optimum over multi…

Applications and numerical convergence of the partial inverse method

2006

In 1983, J.E. Spingarn introduced what he called the Partial Inverse Method in the framework of Mathematical Programming. Since his initial articles, numerous applications have been given in various fields including Lagrangian multipliers methods, location theory, convex feasibility problems, analysis of data, economic equilibrium problems. In a first part of this paper we give a survey of these applications. Then by means of optimization problems relevant to location theory such as single and multifacility minimisum or minimax location problems, we examine the main advantages of the algorithm and we point out its drawbacks mainly concerning the rate of convergence. We study how different p…

The transcriptional inhibitor thiolutin blocks mRNA degradation in yeast.

2007

Thiolutin is commonly used as a general inhibitor of transcription in yeast. It has been used to calculate mRNA decay rates by stopping the transcription and then determining the relative abundance of individual mRNAs at different times after inhibition. We report here that thiolutin is also an inhibitor of mRNA degradation, and thus its use can lead to miscalculations of mRNA half-lives. The inhibition of mRNA decay seems to affect the mRNA degradation pathway without impeding poly(A) shortening, given that the decay rate of total poly(A) amount is not reduced by thiolutin. Moreover, the thiolutin-dependent inhibition of mRNA degradation has variable effects on different functional groups …

Nonlinear relaxation in quantum and mesoscopic systems

2013

The nonlinear relaxation of three mesoscopic and quantum systems are investigated. Specifically we study the nonlinear relaxation in: (i) a long Josephson junction (LJJ) driven by a non-Gaussian Lévy noise current; (ii) a metastable quantum open system driven by an external periodical driving; and (iii) the electron spin relaxation process in n-type GaAs crystals driven by a fluctuating electric field. In the first system the LJJ phase evolution is described by the perturbed sine-Gordon equation. Two well known noise induced effects are found: the noise enhanced stability and resonant activation phenomena. We investigate the mean escape time as a function of the bias current frequency, nois…

Melt flow instability and vortex structures in Czochralski growth under steady magnetic fields

2002

Abstract The hydrodynamics of melt motion in the CZ-process of silicon single crystal growth in axial and axial–radial magnetic fields is studied using a physical model. The modeling liquid is eutectics InGaSn. Most attention is paid to the problem of flow stability. A multi-channel system gathering data is used to define the pattern and dynamics of velocity disturbances. Instant spatial distributions of the electric potential induced by motion in the melt are obtained. Temporal evolution of the instant distributions in vertical and horizontal planes of the working volume is under investigation.

Double cross-linked polyetheretherketone proton exchange membrane for fuel cell

2012

Abstract The proton exchange membrane based on polyetheretherketone was prepared via two steps of cross-linking. The properties of the double cross-linked membrane (water uptake, proton conductivity, methanol permeability and thermal stability) have been investigated for fuel cell applications. The prepared membrane exhibited relatively high proton conductivity, 3.2 × 10 −2  S cm −1 at room temperature and 5.8 × 10 −2  S cm −1 at 80 °C. The second cross-linking significantly decreased the water uptake of the membrane. The performance of direct methanol fuel cell was slightly improved as compared to Nafion ® 117 due to its low methanol permeability. The results indicated that the double cros…

Evaluation of the optimal renewable electricity mix for Lampedusa island: The adoption of a technical and economical methodology

2020

Abstract Worldwide, the majority of small islands not connected to the main grid is still dependent on fossil fuels. From an economic and environmental point of view, this condition is no more sustainable given the high costs for electricity generation and the high level of pollutant emissions. Furthermore, the dependence on fossil fuel represents a risk for the security of the supply of several small developing Countries since they are obliged to import those resources from foreign Countries. The introduction of renewable energy sources in small islands represents a valid solution to solve these problems. In this context, the paper investigates the case of Lampedusa, a small Italian island…

Grid Stability Improvement Using Synthetic Inertia by Battery Energy Storage Systems in Small Islands

2022

In this paper, the synthetic inertia need of the small island of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean Sea is assessed. Firstly, the optimal renewable energy mix able to minimize the Levelized Cost of Energy for the generation system of the island is evaluated, considering the yearly load demand and the characteristics of the local natural resources. The optimal energy mix introduces in the island a quota of power generation with static power converters interfaced to the grid that could jeopardize the security of the system if not suitably controlled. Therefore, the inherent inertial response of the diesel generators of the system is calculated hour by hour for each month of one year, considerin…