Typical Locations Research Articles

Local flap guidance for scalp reconstruction following Mohs micrographic surgery.

Keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) are commonly located on the scalp and often treated with excision with peripheral and deep en face margin assessment (PDEMA), with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) being the most frequently used method. Resection of these malignancies results in wounds with a wide variety of sizes, ranging from small, sub-centimeter defects, to extensive, nearly complete scalp defects. MMS is often the preferred treatment for tumor resection and margin clearance, as it allows for maximal healthy tissue preservation and has the lowest recurrence rates. Multiple local flap reconstruction options exist, and the selection depends on the size and location of the defect. This review highlights the indications, typical locations, potential risks, and advantages of frequently used local flaps on the scalp, accompanied by artistic representations of each flap herein. An exhaustive list of the local scalp flaps discussed in this review includes single, bilateral, and triple rotation flaps, the pinwheel flap, the double hatchet flap, the triple rhomboid flap, both the unilateral and bilateral banner flaps with split thickness skin grafts, A to T flaps, H-plasty flaps, single and double bridge flaps, and the pacman flap. Inelasticity of the scalp inhibits tissue movement so flaps on the scalp must be designed to be much larger than flaps in most other facial locations. One of the greatest benefits of working with local flaps on the scalp is often the presence of hair-bearing skin which provides the reconstructive surgeon the ability to hide significant scars under hair-bearing scalp, and the ability to perform wound repair under local anesthetic immediately following tumor removal by MMS.

Ablation options for sub-epicardially located ventricular substrates responsible for ventricular tachycardia: where is it all headed?

Patients with nonischemic and ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM and ICM) exhibit re-entrant tachycardias related to scar tissue in subepicardial, in addition to typical subendocardial locations. Control of ventricular arrhythmias related to these targets has remained elusive despite advances in mapping and ablation technology. Percutaneous epicardial ablation is the standard after failed endocardial ventricular ablation, but recurrence rates are disappointing. Pulsed-field energy has been associated with coronary artery spasm and therefore may be less suitable for epicardial ablation. Commercially available energy sources, including pulsed-field, have limited depths of myocardial penetration when applied epicardially. Lateral volumetric thermal spreading of ablation injury is associated with decreasing depth of ablation and is difficult to control. A new cryoablation technology based on liquid helium and developed specifically for epicardial work may be able to overcome these limitations. Ablation strategies that can improve lesion formation in subepicardial ventricular myocardium may improve outcomes of ablation in nonsubendocardial NICM and ICM targets.

Breast Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Discovered by Lymph Node and Osteomedullary Metastasis: A Case Report

This case highlights a rare presentation of small cell mammary neuroendocrine carcinoma in a young woman, with metastatic spread to the spinal cord. Such a presentation is exceptionally uncommon, particularly in this demographic, and underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with neuroendocrine tumors outside typical locations. Reporting this case adds to the limited literature on mammary neuroendocrine carcinoma with spinal metastasis and may guide early identification in similar cases. We report A 20-year-old female patient 3 with persistent lower back pain over three months. Clinical examination revealed cervical lymphadenopathy and bilateral breast masses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a spinal tumor infiltration. A biopsy of the cervical lymph nodes, followed by immunohistochemical analysis, confirmed the diagnosis of small cell mammary neuroendocrine carcinoma. Chemotherapy was chosen as the primary therapeutic approach, given the tumor’s aggressiveness and advanced stage at diagnosis. This case underscores the importance of considering neuroendocrine carcinoma as a differential diagnosis for young patients presenting with atypical tumor localizations, such as bilateral breast masses and spinal metastasis. The case highlights the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing rare tumors and demonstrates the potential impact of prompt recognition and treatment to improve outcomes.

Charging Profile Modeling of Electric Trucks at Logistics Centers

The future charging requirements of electric trucks will lead to new demands on the power grid. In order not to slow the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric trucks, the power grid must be strengthened for this purpose. However, due to the limited penetration of electric trucks in fleets to date, grid planners lack information on their time- and location-dependent charging demand. The question arises as to how the charging demand of electric trucks can be realistically taken into account in power grid simulations. This paper therefore presents a methodology that makes it possible to quantify the charging demand of electric trucks at typical charging locations and derives initial parameters for power system planning with electric trucks. For location-based charging demand modeling, the arrival and departure behavior of trucks at representative logistics centers is combined with mobility data and vehicle parameters. This allows the determination of time series-based charging demand. A charging demand analysis at five different logistics center types shows that that energy demand, peak load, and temporal behavior vary greatly depending on the center type. It is therefore advisable to take these different charging location types into account when designing the electricity grids.

Estimation of extreme wind speeds with different return periods in the Northwest Pacific

AbstractIt is vital to analyze extreme wind speed in marine engineering designs. However, due to the lack of observational data, it is impossible to establish the measured long‐term wind speed series. This study simulates the annual hourly wind field of every tropical cyclone (TC) with a resolution of 5 km in the Northwest Pacific (NWP) from 1981 to 2020. On this basis, combined with the sea surface wind speed data observed by the satellites and the ships, the 40‐year annual maximum wind speed series of NWP are established. The Gumbel, three‐parameter Weibull (Weibull‐3par), two‐parameter Weibull (Weibull‐2par), generalized extreme‐value (GEV) distribution, and the two parameter estimation methods are used to estimate the extreme wind speeds with different return periods (RPs) at four typical locations in the NWP. Meanwhile, the effects of different extreme‐value distributions and different parameter estimation methods on the estimation results are discussed. Subsequently, the best distribution and parameter estimation method for each grid in the NWP are determined by the goodness‐of‐fit test, and then the spatial distributions of extreme wind speeds with different RPs along with uncertainty estimates in the entire NWP are obtained. The results show that extreme wind speeds with RPs of 5, 25, 50, and 100 years in the east of Taiwan and Philippines can reach a maximum of 43.8, 60.8, 70.4, and 81.4 m s−1, respectively.

Primary abdominal pregnancy with a viable fetus: clinical case of successful management

Abdominal pregnancy, occurring outside typical intrauterine locations, poses substantial risks to maternal health due to the potential for severe bleeding from placental detachment. Despite its rarity, accounting for 1–1.5% of ectopic pregnancies, its mortality rates are significantly higher, with maternal mortality ranging from 2% to 30%.Case report. A 42-year-old woman, pregnant with her third pregnancy at 33 weeks, was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. All antenatal visits were performed without the use of ultrasound. Utilizing ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we diagnosed an abdominal pregnancy, revealing an extrauterine fetus and placenta, and clarified the location of the placenta, and the involvement of nearby structures. Prompt surgical intervention via laparotomy ensured successful delivery and maternal well-being. The male baby was born in good condition, and no congenital abnormalities were observed.Discussion: Ultrasound remains the primary diagnostic tool, complemented by MRI for precise evaluation. Early diagnosis is paramount, emphasizing the need for improved clinical understanding and vigilance, with MRI serving as a valuable adjunct in uncertain cases. Early surgical intervention, guided by diagnostic imaging, improves outcomes, underscoring the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of abdominal pregnancy.

Poroid Hidradenoma: A Rare Eccrine Tumor in an Unusual Location

Poroid hidradenoma (PH) is a rare benign neoplasm of eccrine origin, typically located within the dermis. It most commonly affects individuals in the sixth and seventh decades of life, though it can present at any age. The head, neck, and trunk are typical locations. This case report details a 26-year-old male with a large PH on the right hip, an atypical location. The lesion began as a small, painful nodule and progressively grew over 18 months. Initial treatment, suspected to be for an abscess, was unsuccessful. A dermatological evaluation revealed a 7 x 8 cm exophytic, ulcerated mass, and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PH. Histopathological analysis showed solid and cystic components, with poroid cells identified. Immunohistochemistry was positive for markers such as CEA, CK-7, and p63, which are consistent with this tumor type. Following the confirmed diagnosis, complete surgical excision was performed, and the patient remains asymptomatic with no signs of recurrence. Poroid hidradenoma is characterized by both poroid and cuticular cells, and although it is generally benign, malignant transformation has been reported in less than 1% of cases. Therefore, complete excision is recommended to reduce the risk of recurrence and malignancy. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management of PH, including long-term follow-up to ensure the absence of recurrence.

Numerical Simulation Investigation of Wind Field Characteristics and Acceleration Effects over V-Shaped Hills

Wind energy resources play an important role in sustainable development, and the accelerating effect of wind has been found in V-shaped hills, which informs the siting of wind turbines in this type of terrain. The wind field around the V-shaped hill was simulated using the CFD method. The impact of wind angle, hill pinch angle, and the distance between the hills on the wind field around the V-shaped hill was investigated. Wind acceleration effects at specific locations were studied and analyzed, and these findings were compared with established codes. It was observed that the wind speed at the hill’s top under each wind angle is significantly higher compared to other areas. Additionally, the acceleration ratio at the top generally exhibits a decreasing trend with increasing height. If the wind angle is 15° and the pinch angle is greater than or equal to 15°, or if the distance between the hills is less than or equal to 50 m, the wake zone will gradually transition from two to one. The distance between the hills minimally affects the acceleration ratio at the mid-height and top of the hill. Several codes exhibit inconsistency in specifying acceleration effects in hilly terrain. The findings in this paper align most closely with the American code at the base of the hill. At the hill’s top, the American code is the lowest above 100 m, while the Chinese code is the highest below 100 m. The findings in this paper fall between those of the Japanese and Australian codes. The formulas for the variation in wind speed acceleration ratio at typical locations with respect to height and the angle between the hills are provided.

Characteristics analysis and safety evaluation of vehicles turning over long distances

In order to explore the motion and safety characteristics of the U-turn vehicles at long-range U-turn intersections, based on the measured data of the U-turn vehicles at typical locations, we analyzed the characteristics of the U-turn vehicle's trajectories and traffic parameters with the help of probability theory and statistical knowledge, and established the U-turn trajectory model. We used Traffic Conflict Technology (TCT) and take Post Encroachment Time (PET) as the indicator to study the feature of vehicles security of - turn vehicles. Three conclusions are drawn from this study. First, there is a significant difference in the headway between long-range -turn vehicles and those at intersections without opening: the stability of the headway of long-range -turn vehicles is weak, and the release of vehicles is seriously disturbed by the turning flow; Secondly, when turning around at a long interval u-turn intersection, the starting position of vehicle turning is dispersed and the distribution of U-turn trajectories is quadratic distribution. Third, the setting of long interval turning lanes will increase the interference between traffic flows at intersections, thus increasing the number of conflicts with vehicles in the opposite direction. Cross-conflict accounts for the majority of conflicts in long interval U-turn intersections, and rear-end collision is the main conflict type in U-turn intersections without opening. The above research conclusions are helpful to improve the safety of long interval U-turn intersections.

Advancements in railway noise simulation: assessment of tools for virtual validation

In pursuit of more efficient and cost-effective measurement campaigns, the railway industry is embracing the prospect of virtual validation based on simulations. The primary obstacle lies in the need for noise simulation tools capable of accurately replicating complex sources, installation effects, noise propagation, ground reflection and, for some cases, the diffraction in the different train surfaces. This paper presents insights derived from European project Shift2Rail S2R-CFM-CCA-01-2019 Energy and Noise & Vibration WP6, concentrating on the validation and enhancement of two exterior noise simulation tools, tailored for railway applications. The paper covers four reference cases, simulating exterior noise at standstill with diverse noise sources and varying source locations and noise emission (i.e. electrical noise, cooling, etc.). A correlation with previously conducted measurements at typical receiver locations (7.5 meters from the track centerline) is carried out. The measurements were conducted in a "controlled" configuration, isolating as much as possible the analyzed noise source and gathering all the needed information about the ground and train geometry. The evaluation between measurements and simulations is done against a global and a 1/3rd octave band criteria with successful results. Finally, key features essential for achieving more accurate simulations are listed.

Insights into the demographics and spatial distribution of sperm whales at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, from passive acoustics

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are cosmopolitan cetaceans exhibiting sex-based differences in ecology and distribution. Sperm whales are present at Guadalupe Island (GI), Mexico, where tourism vessels employed ultrasonic antifouling (UA) devices through 2021. We investigated sperm whale presence and demographics near the island and examined their spatial distribution using signal amplitude distributions from a single-hydrophone system. Sperm whales were detected intermittently at GI between 2018 and 2022. We used inter-click intervals to determine demographic information. Male sperm whales were present year-round; social groups of females and young were generally scarce but increased in 2022. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we evaluated different spatial distributions of each demographic group to identify the typical locations that best explained observed click received levels at the recording station. On daily and weekly scales, no significant change in sperm whale acoustic presence was observed for periods with UA, contrary to findings for goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). However, because the predicted spatial distributions of sperm whale habitat indicated minimal overlap with the reach of UA, it appears that their distribution may limit their exposure. This study highlights GI as an important habitat for male sperm whales and, potentially, an emerging seasonal habitat for social groups.

Impact of greenery and waterbody on the cooling of city’s environment: a case of Rajshahi City

ABSTRACT Both plants and bodies of water are crucial to the health of the urban landscape. The degree to which these factors contribute to cooling appears, however, to change depending on factors such as location, time of year, and the mix of land use and land cover. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of trees and water in Rajshahi City Corporation in reducing urban heat island effect. As a first step, satellite images are processed to generate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI). The second step is to produce maps of vegetation and water features by using a decision tree (DT) algorithm fed with threshold values from the indices. After that, thermal bands from the Landsat 8 OLI and MODIS Terra Earth observation data are used to create a map of the land surface temperature (LST). Finally, this study assessed the effect of vegetation and water coverage on global surface temperatures by analyzing their spatial distributions. Different kinds of land cover can be found in and around urban centers. Therefore, this study chose two types of water bodies (big and small) and two types of vegetation (sparse and attached/compact) for experiment. Water bodies produce cooler temperatures than other land cover types, as shown by the data. It has been found, however, that cooling rates differ across large and small bodies of water. The surface temperatures of large bodies of water are typically lower than those of smaller bodies of water. Accordingly, it appears that expansive areas significantly impact the cooling of metropolitan environments. The findings also demonstrate a difference in surface temperature between areas of dense and sparse vegetation. The cooling impact of the sparse vegetation is much less than that of the dense and widespread vegetation. There was a significant relationship between surface warming and vegetation cover in this study (R2 = 0.81). Contrarily, the presence of water and vegetation is strongly correlated (R2 = 0.88) with surface warming. The findings also show that surface warming differs depending on land use. According to a study of four typical RCC locations, business districts and industrial zones have a far greater impact on local surface temperatures than do residential developments. The experiment demonstrates that the residential area with a high proportion of vegetation had a lower average temperature by nearly 2°C. The study’s findings highlight the value of maintaining urban parks and water features.

QCT-based spatio-temporal aging atlas of the proximal femur BMD and cortical geometry

Aging is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures at the hip, resulting from a loss of bone mass. While this loss is typically reported as a decreased mean areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in the proximal femur or the femoral neck, its evolution is spatially inhomogeneous, which might also contribute to the increased risk of fractures. Yet, little is known about the evolution of BMD distribution and cortical thickness with age in the proximal femur. We propose a 3D spatio-temporal atlas of the proximal femur to identify regions with high BMD losses and cortical thinning. The atlas is based on 532 post-mortem QCT scans from donors aged 20 to 94, including 179 female subjects. A point cloud with anatomically corresponding positions was defined for each femur based on a personalized coordinate system. The evolution of BMD and cortical thickness was computed as a multiple linear regression with age and BMI, for female and male subjects separately. The average BMD decrease with age was significant in all subregions for both sexes but higher in females. High BMD losses were observed in the superior and middle neck regions, in the medial part of the head, and in the trochanteric trabecular bone. BMD was well preserved in the inferior neck and, for males, in cortical regions. In both sexes, the cortical thickness decreased significantly in the superior and posterior neck cortex and increased significantly in the inferior neck. Higher BMI was associated with increased BMD in the inferior neck and medial shaft cortex, as well as with increased cortical thickness in all neck and shaft regions for both sexes. The spatio-temporal atlas showed the evolution of BMD distribution and cortical thickness in the proximal femur, with high losses in typical fracture locations, such as the femoral neck and pertrochanteric regions.

Design of shaft- and rim-driven contra-rotating reversible pump-turbine to optimize novel low-head pumped hydro energy storages

According to the European-Green-Deal, the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity generation is increased by e.g. solar/wind. This requires the deployment of effective energy storage solutions to compensate the fluctuating network supply of RES. A well-developed storage technology is pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), but especially in lowland countries, e.g. Denmark, typical high-head plant locations are missing. Therefore, new developments in low-head hydraulic turbomachineries and smart operation schemes are needed to shape LH-PHES towards a viable future technology through maximizing performance and minimizing investment costs. Hence, this study demonstrates a novel design of contra-rotating, variable-speed, reversible pump-turbines (CR-VS-RPT) for low-head operation with a peak efficiency above 90 % in pump/turbine mode. The results comparing shaft-driven with rim-driven CR-VS-RPT show the influences of chosen RPT type on the reservoir size/investment. The study also proves that hydraulic losses due to the bulb for shaft-driven CR-VS-RPT have a decisive impact on the head range, and thus on the required dam material volume. Despite the slightly less efficient performance of rim-driven CR-VS-RPT, the absence of the bulb increases the efficiency during operation at low LATs. However, the LAT is the key factor for CR-VS-RPT type selection to minimize the investment for LH-PHES.

Assessment of the effect of thermal barrier coating blockage on film cooling effectiveness: An experimental study of full-coverage turbine vane

The improved performance of turbine blades leads to increased temperature loads, thereby necessitating higher design standards for heat protection. Thermal barrier coating (TBCs) and film cooling are the predominant technologies employed for blade cooling. However, the application of thermal barrier coatings through spraying inevitably modifies the structure of film holes, resulting in deviations from the original design in film cooling. In this study, numerical calculations are used to examine the impact of TBCs blockage on coolant mixing and flow mechanisms in the film holes at typical locations on the vane surface. Additionally, models with actual engine vane dimensions were developed, and the full-coverage film cooling effectiveness (.) vanes with and without TBCs were measured using Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). The results indicate that the impact of TBCs blockage on the cooling characteristics of cylindrical holes is more pronounced than that of laid-back fan-shaped holes. The TBCs blockage leads to a redistribution of coolant, causing a greater tendency for the coolant to flow out from the hole rows on the suction surface in the tested vane. This results in higher η on the suction surface for the vane with TBCs compared to the vane without TBCs, with a maximum increase of approximately 16.7%. For the other regions of the vane, TBCs spraying significantly reduced η at the leading edge of the vane (with a maximum reduction of approximately 52%) and slightly reduced η at the pressure surface for other regions of the vane (with a maximum reduction of approximately 7%). The application of TBCs reduces the uniformity of film coverage on vane surfaces, with a maximum reduction of approximately 22.5%.

Energy-saving benefits of thermal insulation and glazing in code-compliant office building in cooling-dominated climates

Thermal insulation of wall and roof and high-performance glazing have potential to save energy in cooling-dominated climates. However, lack of careful selection of these options based on the climatic location can adversely affect their energy performance. The local building codes need to be revisited to ensure that the thermal insulation and glazing options fulfil their intended purpose in a given climate. In this context, this study was aimed at assessing the energy performance of thermal insulation (polystyrene) and glazing for different climatic locations. A multistory office building was simulated by using Ecotect software for typical climatic locations of Saudi Arabia. Considering uninsulated wall and roof with single-glazed windows as the baseline, three different cases were studied: insulated wall and roof with single-glazed windows, uninsulated wall and roof with double-glazed windows, and insulated wall and roof with double-glazed windows. In general, the energy-saving benefit of glazing was significantly higher than that of thermal insulation. Also, the collective application of double-glazing and thermal insulation according to the local building code could significantly save the cooling energy demand (ranging from 18 % to 28 %). Conversely, this code-compliance caused an increase of cooling energy demand by 55 % in Abha and by 20 % in Khamis Mushait. However, a sensitivity analysis of these two regions showed that the energy-saving benefit could be positive by proper choice of the heating and cooling setpoints. Besides research interest, the findings of this study will guide for necessary amendments in the building code, eventually contributing to substantial savings in cost and energy and reduction in CO2 emission.

Are Hungarian Grey Cattle or Hungarian Racka Sheep the Best Choice for the Conservation of Wood-Pasture Habitats in the Pannonian Region?

Wood pastures have been characteristic farming types in the Pannonian biogeographical region over the centuries. In the present work, we studied wood-pastures of typical geographical locations in the North Hungarian Mountain Range of Hungary characterized by similar environmental conditions but grazed by different livestock. The sample area of Cserépfalu was grazed by Hungarian Grey Cattle, while the Erdőbénye was grazed by Hungarian Racka Sheep. Coenological records of the sites were collected from 2012 to 2021 in the main vegetation period according to the Braun-Blanquet method with the application of 2 × 2 m sampling quadrats, where the coverage estimated by percentage for each present species was also recorded. To evaluate the state of vegetation, ’ecological ordering’ distribution, diversity, and grassland management values were used. Between the two areas, the grazing pressure of the two studied livestock produced different results. Based on the diversity values, woody–shrubby–grassland mosaic diversity values were high (Shannon diversity: 2.21–2.87). Cattle grazing resulted in a variable and mosaic-like shrubby area with high cover values. Based on our results, grazing by cattle provides an adequate solution for forming and conserving wood-pasture habitats in the studied areas of Hungary. However, if the purpose is to also form valuable grassland with high grassland management values, partly sheep grazing should be suggested.

Non-invasive in vivo study of morphology and mechanical properties of the median nerve.

The current literature studied the median nerve (MN) at specific locations during joint motions. As only a few particular parts of the nerve are depicted, the relevant information available is limited. This experiment investigated the morphological and biomechanical properties of the MN. The effects of the shoulder and wrist motions on MN were explored as well. Eight young healthy female individuals were tested with two-dimensional ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE). The morphological and biomechanical properties were examined in limb position 1, with the wrist at the neutral position, the elbow extended at 180°, and the shoulder abducted at 60°. In addition, the experiment assessed the differences among the wrist, forearm, elbow, and upper arm with Friedman's test and Bonferroni post hoc analysis. Two groups of limb positions were designed to explore the effects of shoulder movements (shoulder abducted at 90° and 120°) and wrist movements (wrist extended at 45° and flexed at 45°) on the thickness and Young's modulus. Differences among the distributions of five limb positions were tested as well. The ICC3, 1 values for thickness and Young's modulus were 0.976 and 0.996, respectively. There were differences among the MN thicknesses of four arm locations in limb position 1, while Young's modulus was higher at the elbow and wrist than at the forearm and upper arm. Compared to limb position 1, only limb position 4 had an effect on MN thickness at the wrist. Both shoulder and wrist motions affected MN Young's modulus, and the stiffness variations at typical locations all showed a downward trend proximally in all. The distributions of MN thickness and Young's modulus showed fold line patterns but differed at the wrist and the pronator teres. The MN in the wrist is more susceptible to limb positions, and Young's modulus is sensitive to nerve changes and is more promising for the early diagnosis of neuropathy.

Optimizing irrigation schedules of greenhouse tomato based on a comprehensive evaluation model

In the context of climate change, water availability has emerged as a pressing concern in agriculture, indicating the urgency to enhance irrigation management. Nevertheless, accurately quantifying irrigation schedules in diverse climates and soil textures remains a complex challenge. Here, a three-year irrigation experiment (2020–2022) of greenhouse tomato was conducted at three typical locations (Yulin, Yangling and Hanzhong) in northwest China. The irrigation schedules were determined by the cumulative evaporation (CE) measured from a 20 cm pan. A total nine treatments were set by combining three irrigation frequencies (IF) with three single doses (ID). Twenty indices related to tomato growth, photosynthesis, yield and water use, fruit quality, and environmental benefit were evaluated comprehensively by using TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) and GRA (grey relational analysis) methods of combining weights based on game theory. The results showed that the indicator with highest weight was yield, followed by crop water productivity and vitamin C. The optimal ranges of irrigation frequency (irrigation dose) were determined as follows: 10.00–11.08 mm (0.81–0.90 CE) in Yulin, 13.12–15.68 mm (0.77–0.89 CE) in Yangling, and 11.44–16.40 mm (0.67–0.77 CE) in Hanzhong, respectively. This study introduces a method applied to prioritize the key indicators for irrigation scheduling, providing a reference for optimizing irrigation practices in greenhouse tomato production and improving water management in agriculture.

From Local Energy Communities towards National Energy System: A Grid-Aware Techno-Economic Analysis

Energy communities are key actors in the energy transition since they optimally interconnect renewable energy capacities with the consumers. Despite versatile objectives, they usually aim at improving the self-consumption of renewable electricity within low-voltage grids to maximize revenues. In addition, energy communities are an excellent opportunity to supply renewable electricity to regional and national energy systems. However, effective price signals have to be designed to coordinate the needs of the energy infrastructure with the interests of these local stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the integration of energy communities at the national level with a bottom–up approach. District energy systems with a building scale resolution are modeled in a mixed-integer linear programming problem. The Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition is applied to reduce the computational time. The methodology lies within the framework of a renewable energy hub, characterized by a high share of photovoltaic capacities. Both investments into equipment and its operation are considered. The model is applied on a set of five typical districts and weather locations representative of the Swiss building stock. The extrapolation to the national scale reveals a heterogeneous photovoltaic potential throughout the country. Present electricity tariffs promote a maximal investment into photovoltaic panels in every region, reaching an installed capacity of 67.2 GW and generating 80 TWh per year. Placed in perspective with the optimal PV capacity forecast at 15.4 GW peak at the national level, coordinated investment between local and national actors is needed to prevent dispensable expenses. An uncoordinated design is expected to increase the total costs for residential energy systems from 12% to 83% and curtails 48% of local renewable electricity.