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Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are essential tools for monitoring, protection and control of power systems. The optimal PMU placement (OPP) problem refers to the determination of the minimal number of PMUs and their corresponding locations in order to achieve full network observability. This paper introduces a recursive Tabu search (RTS) method to solve the OPP problem. More specifically, the traditional Tabu search (TS) metaheuristic algorithm is executed multiple times, while in the initialisation of each TS the best solution found from all previous executions is used. The proposed RTS is found to be the best among three alternative TS initialisation schemes, in regard to the impact on the success rate of the algorithm. A numerical method is proposed for checking network observability, unlike most existing metaheuristic OPP methods, which are based on topological observability methods. The proposed RTS method is tested on the IEEE 14, 30, 57 and 118-bus test systems, on the New England 39-bus test system and on the 2383-bus power system. The obtained results are compared with other reported PMU placement methods. The simulation results show that the proposed RTS method finds the minimum number of PMUs, unlike earlier methods which may find either the same or even higher number of PMUs.

In the past decades, industrial and scientific communities have developed a complex standardized system (e.g., OECD, ISO, CEN) to evaluate the biodegradability of chemical substances. This system includes for OECD three levels of testing (ready and inherent biodegradability tests, simulation tests). It was adopted by many countries and is completely integrated into European legislation (registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals, REACH). Nevertheless, the different tests have certain deficiencies, and the question arises of how accurately these tests display the situation in the real environment and how the results can be used for predictions. This review will focus on the technical advantages and weaknesses of current tests concerning the technical setup, the inoculum characterization, and its biodegradation potential as well as the use of adequate reference compounds. A special focus of the article will be on combined test systems offering enhanced possibilities to predict biodegradation. The properties of microbial inocula are critically discussed, and a new concept concerning the biodegradation adaptation potential (BAP) of inocula is proposed. Furthermore, a probability model and different in silico QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships) models to predict biodegradation from chemical structures are reviewed. Another focus lies on the biodegradation of difficult single compounds and mixtures of chemicals like UVCBs (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials) which will be an important challenge for the forthcoming decades.Key points• There are many technical points to be improved in OECD/ISO biodegradation tests• The proper characterization of inocula is a crucial point in biodegradation tests• Combined biodegradation test systems offer extended possibilities for biodegradation tests

The highly valued oil of Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae), widely used in high perfumery, cosmetics, and other spheres of human life, obliges us to know and study the safety profile of the product obtained from the water–steam distillation of fresh rose petals. The genotoxicity of the essential oil (EsO) has not been thoroughly studied despite its wide range of applications. That predetermined the object of this study—to evaluate, through classical cytogenetic methods, the possible cytotoxic/genotoxic activities of R. damascena Mill. EsO (EsORdm) in three different test systems: plant root meristem cells, mammalian bone marrow cells, and human lymphocyte cultures. The rose essential oil showed varying concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic and genotoxic effects depending on the test system used, and it was established that the oil showed moderate cytotoxicity in lymphocyte cultures and non-high cytotoxicity in ICR mice but none in barley. Both barley and human lymphocytes showed a genotoxic effect with a dose-dependent increase in chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and a substantial rise in micronucleus (MN) frequency, while no genotoxicity was observed in bone marrow cells at the applied concentrations. Human lymphocytes exhibited the highest susceptibility to cytotoxic and genotoxic actions of the EsO. As a valuable plant-derived aromatic product with versatile uses in human life, R. damascena Mill. essential oil should be used in an appropriate concentration range tailored to cellular sensitivity.

Evaluating driver proficiency remains a fundamental determinant of road safety, regulatory adherence, and public confidence in licensing systems. This paper presents the Smart Driving Test System (SDTS), a fully integrated, sensor-based, microcontroller-driven framework designed to automate and standardize the assessment of driving skills. A functional prototype demonstrates SDTS capability to replace subjective human judgment with objective, repeatable, and data-centric performance metrics. The work includes a comprehensive feasibility analysis encompassing technological maturity, economic viability, operational deployment, and legal compliance, further supported by a detailed cost estimation model and implementation strategy. A comparative assessment with established international smart driving evaluation platforms underscores SDTS’s distinctive contributions in communication architecture, modular hardware configuration, graphical user interface functionalities, and scalable system design. The paper also outlines prospective enhancements, including the incorporation of machine learning for predictive performance analysis, adoption of low-power wireless communication protocols such as ZigBee and LoRa to simplify installation, utilization of cloud-based analytics for centralized monitoring, and employment of multimodal sensor fusion to improve environmental perception. By bridging the gap between conventional manual testing procedures and next-generation automated evaluation, SDTS significantly enhances the transparency, consistency, and reliability of driver certification processes. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for the digital transformation of transportation licensing infrastructure and aligns with broader advancements toward intelligent transportation ecosystems, promoting safer roads, harmonized assessment standards, and strengthened public trust in driver qualification frameworks.

The rocket sled, as a ground dynamic test system, combines the characteristics of the wind tunnel test and the flight test. However, some practical factors, such as shock wave interference, ground effect, and high-intensity aerodynamic noise will cause serious interference and even failure of the uniformly distributed sensors during horizontal sliding in a wide speed range. The AGARD HB-2 standard model is employed as the payload to simulate the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics during the variable acceleration period, aiming to optimize the test sensors layout. It is observed that in the high Mach number flow fields, strong coupling behaviors among complex waves will occur. The peak of wake vortex strength will appear at 1.5 s and gradually diminish over time. In addition, when the vortex between the load and the booster is monitored, its position shifts forward in the subsonic stage, then gradually moves backward and expands in the supersonic stage. Acoustic directivity is pronounced at subsonic and transonic speeds, pointing towards 75° and 135° relative to the sliding speed, respectively. These results can provide technical support for sensor layout and high-precision testing in rocket sled tests.

The pressure change rate (PCR) of the brake chamber is the key control parameter and evaluation index in the pneumatic braking system for intelligent braking. The PCR threshold value of commercial vehicle brake chambers for braking comfort is analyzed. The PCR measurement method based on a laminar flow resistance tube is proposed, and the PCR test system is designed. The simulation model of a PCR test system for commercial vehicle brake chambers is presented. By analyzing the simulation and experimental results, it is validated that the PCR test system of commercial vehicle brake chambers has the function of measuring PCR in real time. Finally, according to the MSA (Measurement System Analysis) evaluation method, the performance of the PCR test system for commercial vehicle brake chambers is analyzed, and the correctness and applicability of the test system are verified.

Visible light communications (VLC) technology is emerging as a candidate to meet the demand for interconnected devices’ communications. However, the costs of incorporating specific hardware into end-user devices slow down its market entry. Optical camera communication (OCC) technology paves the way by reusing cameras as receivers. These systems have generally been evaluated under static conditions, in which transmitting sources are recognized using computationally expensive discovery algorithms. In vehicle-to-vehicle networks and wearable devices, tracking algorithms, as proposed in this work, allow one to reduce the time required to locate a moving source and hence the latency of these systems, increasing the data rate by up to 2100%. The proposed receiver architecture combines discovery and tracking algorithms that analyze spatial features of a custom RGB LED transmitter matrix, highlighted in the scene by varying the cameras’ exposure time. By using an anchor LED and changing the intensity of the green LED, the receiver can track the light source with a slow temporal deterioration. Moreover, data bits sent over the red and blue channels do not significantly affect detection, hence transmission occurs uninterrupted. Finally, a novel experimental methodology to evaluate the evolution of the detection’s performance is proposed. With the analysis of the mean and standard deviation of novel K parameters, it is possible to evaluate the detected region-of-interest scale and centrality against the transmitter source’s ideal location.

This paper proposes a reliability and operational test system named XJTU-ROTS2017, characterized by large-scale renewable power integration and long-distance transmission. The test system has 38 nodes, 63 lines, 15 transformers and 20 generators in three areas, with peak load 10,421 MW and total installed capacity 16050 MW. Electricity primarily transmits from a resource-rich area to a load area, carrying wind/solar power generation. The determination of component parameters and grid topology is based on design manuals and typical practices. The test system can be conveniently applied to relia­bility evaluation and operation optimization of composite power systems integrating coal/hydro/solar/wind resources. Finally, the extended applications to AC/DC hybrid power systems and interconnected power systems are discussed.

Voltage stability improvement is a challenging issue in planning and security assessment of power systems. As modern systems are being operated under heavily stressed conditions with reduced stability margins, incorporation of voltage stability criteria in the operation of power systems began receiving great attention. This study presents a novel voltage stability constrained optimal power flow (VSC-OPF) approach based on static line voltage stability indices to simultaneously improve voltage stability and minimise power system losses under stressed and contingency conditions. The proposed methodology uses a voltage collapse proximity indicator (VCPI) to provide important information about the proximity of the system to voltage instability. The VCPI index is incorporated into the optimal power flow (OPF) formulation in two ways; first it can be added as a new voltage stability constraint in the OPF constraints, or used as a voltage stability objective function. The proposed approach has been evaluated on the standard IEEE 30-bus and 57-bus test systems under different cases and compared with two well proved VSC-OPF approaches based on the bus voltage indicator L-index and the minimum singular value. The simulation results are promising and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed VSC-OPF based on the line voltage stability index.

Security constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) is a key operation function for modern power systems. In this study, a new bi-level optimisation approach is proposed to solve this problem considering a comprehensive SCOPF model, including, for example, valve loading effect, multi-fuel option and prohibited operating zone constraints of thermal units as well as AC network modelling and AC security constraints. Economic dispatch is solved in the lower level of the proposed approach and using its results as the initial solution, SCOPF is solved in the upper level with high convergence rate. For the both levels, a new enhanced gravitational search algorithm is suggested as the optimisation tool. The proposed bi-level approach is tested on 9-bus, IEEE 57-bus, IEEE 118-bus, IEEE 300-bus and polish 2746-bus test systems. Obtained results from the proposed approach for the test cases are compared with the results of other SCOPF solution methods and published literature figures. These comparisons confirm the validity of the developed approach.