This paper presents a methodology of optimizing power systems demand due to electric vehicle (EV) charging load. Following a brief introduction to the charging characteristics of EV batteries, a statistical model is presented for predicting the EV charging load. The optimization problem is then described, and the solution is provided based on the model. An example study is carried out with error and sensitivity analysis to validate the proposed method. Four scenarios of various combinations of EV penetration levels and charging modes are considered in the study. A series of numerical solutions to the optimization problem in these scenarios are obtained by serial quadratic programming. The results show that EV charging load has significant potential to improve the daily load profile of power systems if the charging loads are optimally distributed. It is demonstrated that flattened load profiles may be achieved at all EV penetration levels if the EVs are charged through a fast charging mode. In addition, the implementation of the proposed optimization is discussed with analyses on the impact of travel pattern and the willingness of customers.Index Terms-Electric vehicle (EV), load modeling, power demand, quadratic programming.

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Consumption of corn or corn-based products contaminated with Fusarium moniliforme/fumonisins has been associated with a variety of animal and human diseases and is a major food/feed safety issue. This study focused on the clinical toxicity and performance parameters in growing swing exposed to low to moderate levels of pure fumonisin B1 (FB.) for 8 weeks. Male (castrated) and female pigs were fed diets containing 0,0.1,1.0, and 10 mg FB1/kg diet (ppm). Weight gains and feed consumption were measured weekly. Blood samples were collected throughout the study, and various clinical and hematological parameters were measured. Because fumonisins are potent inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis, sphinganine and sphingosine concentrations were determined in the liver, lung, and kidney. Organ weights and carcass quality were measured at the end of the trial. In general, male pigs were more adversely affected by FB1 in the diet than females. The average daily gain for males decreased by 8% for pigs fed 1.0 ppm and by 11% at 10.0 ppm, when compared to the control (0 ppm). Males fed 0.1 ppm showed an erratic growth pattern during the first 5 weeks of the experiment. Feed consumption for the same animals was somewhat higher than that of the controls during each of the first 4 weeks but thereafter was 6-7% lower each week as compared to controls. Female pigs fed FB1-diets showed a general enhancement of feed consumption until week 4. Among clinical chemistry parameters, cholesterol increased in males for the 1.0 and 10.0 ppm diets as compared to controls after 2 weeks, while the levels in both sexes were elevated for the 1.0 ppm diet only by the end of the experiment. Serum liver enzyme concentrations were altered during week 2 only. Changes were observed in the weight of the pancreas and adrenals for male pigs fed FB1 diets as compared to controls. The free sphinganine to free sphingosine ratio (biomarker of exposure in FB1-consuming animals) increased in all three organs for the 10 ppm diet, regardless of sex. The study indicated that FB1 can cause different effects at each dose level, at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm (showing erratic growth) followed by a reduced growth and biochemical abnormalities in blood (1.0 ppm) and sphingolipid alterations in tissues (10.0 ppm). Some of these effects occurred below the exposure level that caused alteration in sphingolipid metabolism.

Body weight-supported treadmill (BWST) training has been shown to improve ambulatory capacity in persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the effect that BWST training has on skeletal muscle phenotype is unknown. We aimed to determine whether 6 months (three sessions/week) of BWST training in neurologically stable persons with a traumatic spinal cord injury (ASIA C) alters skeletal muscle phenotype, ambulatory capacity, and blood lipid profile. Externally supported body weight decreased, and walking velocity and duration of the training sessions increased (all P Ͻ 0.05) as a result of training. Muscle biopsies revealed increases in the mean muscle-fiber area of type I and IIa fibers. Training induced a reduction in type IIax/IIx fibers, as well as a decrease in IIX myosin heavy chain, and an increase in type IIa fibers. Maximal citrate synthase and 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity also increased following training. BWST training brought about reductions in plasma total (Ϫ11%) and low-density lipoprotein (Ϫ13%) cholesterol. We conclude that, in patients with a spinal cord injury, BWST training is able to induce an increase in muscle fiber size and bring about increases in muscle oxidative capacity. In addition, BWST training can bring about improvements in ambulatory capacity and antiatherogenic changes in blood lipid profile. Trauma to the spinal cord can cause motor and sensory dysfunction of varying degrees distal to the level of the lesion. The distal limb musculature below the level of trauma undergoes a pronounced atrophy 1,5,22,27 and a general "deconditioning" including a reduction in oxidative potential, 7,22 and a shift toward the fast, and specifically type IIx, fiber population. 1,7,14,23,28 These changes undoubtedly lead to a higher muscle fatigability. 12,15 Therapies aimed at improving the injury-induced deconditioning of skeletal muscle in persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are highly relevant due to the low quantity (due to atrophy) and oxidative capacity of the paralyzed skeletal muscle. 7,22 A number of studies have shown that, in persons with a complete SCI, functional electrical stimulation (FES) training is able to reverse the SCI-induced atrophy, increase muscle oxidative potential, and improve fatigue resistance. 7,12,15,18,23 Persons with an incomplete SCI frequently identify independent ambulation as one of their primary rehabilitation goals. 2,10 Although FES promotes important phenotypic changes in persons with SCI,7,12,15,18,23 there is no evidence that FES improves ambulatory capacity in persons with incomplete SCI. Body weight-sup-

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The peripheral nerves of the upper limb are affected by a number of entrapment and compression neuropathies. These discrete syndromes involve the brachial plexus as well as the musculocutaneous, axillary, suprascapular, ulnar, radial, and median nerves. Clinical examination and electrophysiologic studies are the traditional mainstay of diagnostic work-up; however, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging provide spatial information regarding the affected nerve and its surroundings, often assisting in narrowing the differential diagnosis and guiding treatment. Imaging is particularly valuable in complex cases with discrepant nerve function test results. Familiarity with the clinical features of various peripheral neuropathies of the upper extremity, the relevant anatomy, and the most common sites and causes of nerve entrapment assists in diagnosis and treatment.

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