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Actinomyces odontolyticus is a strictly anaerobic species, a member of the Actinomyces genus and of the commensal flora, especially oral flora, which can trigger severe infections through breaches in healthy tissue or necrotic tissue that are often hard to diagnose clinically and microbiologically. Most infections with this species are pulmonary or pleural, which might hint at a connection with poor dental hygiene, but other locations have been documented. We present a case of a tubo-ovarian abscess with a difficult identification of the etiological agent in a woman with multiple admissions, no significant comorbidities, and a longstanding use of an IUD (intrauterine device). To our knowledge, no previous case of tubo-ovarian abscess with an accurate A. odontolyticus microbiological species identification has been reported so far. This case also highlights the importance of considering an anaerobic species as an etiologic agent in an infectious process concerning a previously damaged tissue and the importance of appropriate harvesting and culturing in the accurate diagnosis of such species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Influenza is a seasonal epidemic with a heavy negative impact both on population health, and healthcare system utilization; until now, there are only two burden of disease studies in the Romanian context. This study aims to quantify the burden of influenza for the Romanian population for the seasons 2014/15 to 2018/19, using health administrative databases. Methods Incidence, hospitalization and mortality rates attributable to influenza as well as total number of influenza cases and deaths were estimated, for each season in the analyzed period, by combining the new cases reported by General Practitioners, Emergency Department presentations, hospitalizations, number of deaths, positivity rate of influenza, and probability to be consulted by a physician. Years of life lost due to premature death attributable to influenza complications were also computed. Results On average, 591,151 cases/season attributable to influenza were estimated during the period 2014/15 - 2018/19. The highest rates for incidence, hospitalization and presentation to emergency department were found in the age groups 0-4 years and 65 years and above. Influenza mortality rate was estimated at 3 per 100,000 persons and the 65 and above age group had the highest rate. Conclusions About 3% of the total Romanian population is estimated to develop an influenza attributable disease in a non-pandemic season. An overall increasing trend of the mortality rate attributable to influenza may be also underlined. On average, a person loses 12 years due to premature death caused by complications of influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three-phase four-wire loads can be balanced by a Balancing Capacitive Compensator. • Variable load can be balanced by an Adaptive Balancing Capacitive Compensator-ABCC. • A Static Var Compensator type ABCC is a high efficiency solution. • This article presents and validates a new method of sizing an ABCC. Nowadays, there is an increasing development of equipment type Custom Power Devices (CPDs) designed to ensure a high level of electrical power quality at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC). Most of these devices are built as advanced power electronics applications, such as the Switching Power Converters (SPCs) category. However, for a wide range of applications in consumer installations and electricity distribution operators, such as power factor correction, load balancing, voltage regulation, or flicker mitigation, the reactive power compensators based on passive circuit elements, Reactive Power Compensators (RPCs) are successfully used. The most efficient RPCs are those built so that they may adapt to variable regimes, known as Static Var Compensators (SVCs). Two of the usual functions of a SVC, namely power factor improvement and load balancing in a three-phase distribution network, can be achieved simultaneously by using an unbalanced SVC built in the version of Adaptive Balancing Reactive Compensator (ABRC). The paper briefly–outlines the mathematical model and operation of a Balancing Reactive Compensator (BRC) for a three-phase four-wire network. Then, moves on to develop a direct method of sizing based on equations that directly link the susceptances' values of the compensator with the real and imaginary components of load sequence currents. The problem is to determine the weight of these components, meaning their degree of compensation, by requiring only capacitive or null susceptances and avoiding capacitive over-compensation of positive sequence currents. Thus, a particular case of BRC, i.e. a Balancing Capacitive Compensator (BCC) is obtained, which keeps the same functions, but has the advantage of reducing costs by eliminating high-power single-phase coils and by simplifying the compensation control system. The paper also presents the numerical results and the conclusions of a case study on the application of the method, performed using two computational and modeling software tools. Experimental laboratory determinations and modeling under nonsinusoidal conditions complete the analysis. The results demonstrate the correctness of the new method of solving the sizing problem and once again validate the unbalanced capacitive compensation as an efficient method of power factor improvement and load balancing at a PCC belonging to a three-phase four-wire distribution network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constructive asymmetry of the untransposed overhead lines of a high voltage alternating current is the cause of a great number of difficulties in their operation and modeling. In order to model the operating regimes of such lines, the symmetrical component method, based on constructive symmetry and thus the symmetry of the equivalent phase parameters, is inappropriate, which is why many research papers have been dedicated to either setting up improved modeling methods or to returning to phase coordinate modeling. This paper intends to justify a paradox found on some untransposed overhead lines of a high voltage alternating current during the no-load operating conditions by performing phase coordinate modeling. In such a situation, the transmission or distribution operators measured significant negative values for the active powers on one or two phases at the beginning of the lines. Considering the case of a real untransposed overhead line operating under no-load conditions, the paper starts from presenting the recorded electrical values. Then, the paper moves on to outlining the Carson's simplified computing relations for calculating the series and shunt primitive equivalent parameters and Kron's transformation relationships for calculating the phase equivalent parameters. After applying them to the real line, the calculation of the power flow for the no-load operating conditions, which is applied to an equivalent scheme of the line consisting of nine identical octopoles, is performed. Both the untransposed line and its transposed variant are studied here. The values of the electrical amounts obtained by the calculation for the untransposed line are basically similar to those obtained by measuring on the real line, which gives a mathematical confirmation of the so-called paradox. Its occurrence represents the effect of the asymmetry of the equivalent phase capacities, which causes a redistribution of the active powers between the phases of the network to which the overhead line operating in no-load conditions is connected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the electrical power quality, in the last decades, an intense development in the last decades of high-performance equipment built as advanced power electronics applications, such as the compensators from Switching Power Converter category, has taken place. For all that, Reactive Power Compensators (RPC) based on passive circuit elements, such as Static var Compensators (SVCs), still occupy a wide range of applications in customer and installations of the distribution system installations. The functions of power factor (PF) improvement and load balancing in a three-phase distribution network can be achieved with an unbalanced SVC, known as the Adaptive Balancing Reactive Compensator (ABRC). Presenting first the mathematical model of the initial sizing and the working mechanism of a Balancing Reactive Compensator (BRC) for a three-phase four-wire network, this article develops a compensator resizing algorithm through an iterative change of the initial sizing to transform the compensator into a Balancing Capacitive Compensator (BCC), which keeps the same functions. By using two computational and modeling software tools, a case study on the application of the method was carried out, demonstrating the availability of the sizing problem solution and validating the unbalanced capacitive compensation as an efficient way to PF improving and load balancing in a PCC (Point of Common Coupling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, improving the power quality at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) between the consumers’ installations and the distribution system operators’ installations depends more and more on the use of specialized equipment, able to intervene in the network to eliminate or diminish the disturbances. The reactive power compensators remain valid solutions for applications in consumer and electricity distribution, in those situations when the criterion regarding the costs of installing and operating the equipment is more important than the ones related to the reaction speed or the control accuracy. This is also the case of the equipment for power factor improvement and load balancing in a three-phase distribution network. The two functions can be achieved simultaneously by using an unbalanced static var compensator, known as an adaptive balancing compensator, achieved by adjusting the equivalent parameters of circuits containing single-phase coils and capacitor banks. The paper presents the mathematical model for the sizing and operation of a balancing reactive compensator for a three-phase four-wire network and then presents some resizing methods to convert it into a balancing capacitive compensator, having the same functions. The mathematical model is then validated by a numerical application, modelling with a specialized software tool, and by experimental laboratory determinations. The paper contains strong arguments to support the idea that a balancing capacitive compensator becomes a very advantageous solution in many industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus species are known for their ability to form biofilms, which contributes to their survival in extreme environments and involvement in persistent bacterial infections, especially in the case of multi-drug-resistant strains. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation in clinically important species such as Enterococcus faecalis and the less studied but increasingly multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and explores potential strategies for their eradication. Biofilm formation in Enterococcus involves a complex interplay of genes and virulence factors, including gelatinase, cytolysin, Secreted antigen A, pili, microbial surface components that recognize adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), and DNA release. Quorum sensing, a process of intercellular communication, mediated by peptide pheromones such as Cob, Ccf, and Cpd, plays a crucial role in coordinating biofilm development by targeting gene expression and regulation. Additionally, the regulation of extracellular DNA (eDNA) release has emerged as a fundamental component in biofilm formation. In E. faecalis, the autolysin N-acetylglucosaminidase and proteases such as gelatinase and serin protease are key players in this process, influencing biofilm development and virulence. Targeting eDNA may offer a promising avenue for intervention in biofilm-producing E. faecalis infections. Overall, gaining insights into the intricate mechanisms of biofilm formation in Enterococcus may provide directions for anti-biofilm therapeutic research, with the purpose of reducing the burden of Enterococcus-associated infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]