An event-based resource management framework for distributed decision-making in decentralized virtual power plants

The Smart Grid incorporates advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) in power systems, and is characterized by high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs). Whether it is the nation-wide power grid or a single residential building, the energy management involves different types of resources that often depend on and influence each other. The concept of virtual power plant (VPP) has been proposed to represent the aggregation of energy resources in the electricity market, and distributed decision-making (DDM) plays a vital role in VPP due to its complex nature. This paper proposes a framework for managing different resource types of relevance to energy management for decentralized VPP. The framework views VPP as a hierarchical structure and abstracts energy consumption/generation as contractual resources, i.e., contractual offerings to curtail load/supply energy, from third party VPP participants for DDM. The proposed resource models, event-based approach to decision making, multi-agent system and ontology implementation of the framework are presented in detail. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is then demonstrated through an application to a simulated campus VPP with real building energy data

Does influenza A infection increase oxidative damage?

Considerable data implicate oxidative damage in influenza pathogenesis. We examined temporal changes in oxidative damage using accurate biomarkers in an adult cohort with acute influenza infection and their relationships with clinical parameters. Clinical information and blood samples were collected during their acute illness and 3 months later. A fatigue questionnaire was administered 3 months following influenza infection. Thirty-five patients (mean age, 34 years) with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza A infection were included; all patients returned for follow-up assessments. Adjusted levels of plasma F2-isoprostanes, total hydroxyeicosatetraenoic products (HETEs), 7beta-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were increased during the acute illness compared with age-matched controls. Despite clinical recovery, levels of these biomarkers remained higher at month 3 compared with controls. A proportion of patients had persistent symptoms such as fatigue (23%), myalgia (14%), and arthralgia (11%) at month 3. Patients with significant fatigue had higher baseline levels of plasma F2-isoprostanes, F4-neuroprostanes, and total HETEs compared to those without fatigue. By contrast, patients with persistent arthralgia and myalgia had higher baseline levels of serum hsCRP compared to those without these symptoms. Our observations lead to the hypothesis that oxidative damage participates in the pathogenesis of influenza infection and postinfectious fatigue.published_or_final_versio

Augmentation of 5-lipoxygenase activity and expression during dengue serotype-2 infection

published_or_final_versio

Design and realization of a frequency reconfigurable multimode antenna for ism, 5g-ub-6-ghz, and s-band applications

This paper presents the design and realization of a compact size multimode frequency reconfigurable antenna. The antenna consists of a triangular-shaped monopole radiator, originally inspired from a rectangular monopole antenna. Slots were utilized to notch the desired frequency while the PIN diodes were utilized to achieve frequency reconfigurability. The antenna can operate in wideband, dual-band, or tri-band mode depending upon the state of the diodes. To validate the simulation results, a prototype was fabricated, and various performance parameters were measured and compared with simulated results. The strong agreement between simulated and measured results along with superior performance as compared to existing works in the literature makes the proposed antenna a strong candidate for ISM, 5G-sub-6 GHz, and S-band applications

Re‐defining the virtual reality dental simulator: Demonstrating concurrent validity of clinically relevant assessment and feedback

Introduction Virtual reality (VR) dental simulators are gaining momentum as a useful tool to educate dental students. To date, no VR dental simulator exercise has been designed which is capable of reliably providing validated, meaningful clinical feedback to dental students. This study aims to measure the concurrent validity of the assessment, and the provision of qualitative feedback, pertaining to cavity preparations by VR dental simulators. Methods A cavity preparation exercise was created on a VR dental simulator, and assessment criteria for cavity preparations were developed. The exercise was performed 10 times in order to demonstrate a range of performances and for each, the simulator feedback was recorded. The exercises were subsequently three‐dimensionally printed and 12 clinical teachers were asked to assess the preparations according to the same criteria. Inter‐rater reliability (IRR) between clinical teachers was measured using a free‐marginal multirater kappa value. Clinical teacher assessment responses were compared with the VR simulator responses and percentage agreements calculated. Results IRR values for each exercise ranged from 0.39‐0.77 (69.39‐88.48%). The assessment of smoothness (κfree0.58, 78.79%) and ability to follow the outline (κfree0.56, 77.88%) demonstrated highest agreement between clinical teachers, whilst the assessment of undercut (κfree0.15, 57.58%) and depth (κfree 0.28, 64.09%) had the lowest agreement. The modal percentage agreement between clinical teachers and the VR simulator was, on average, 78% across all exercises. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that it is possible to provide reliable and clinically relevant qualitative feedback via a VR dental simulator. Further research should look to employ this technique across a broader range of exercises that help to develop other complex operative dental skills

Generation of mature T cells from human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in artificial thymic organoids

Studies of human T cell development require robust model systems that recapitulate the full span of thymopoiesis, from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) through to mature T cells. Existing in vitro models induce T cell commitment from human HSPCs; however, differentiation into mature CD3^+TCR-αβ^+ single-positive CD8^+ or CD4^+ cells is limited. We describe here a serum-free, artificial thymic organoid (ATO) system that supports efficient and reproducible in vitro differentiation and positive selection of conventional human T cells from all sources of HSPCs. ATO-derived T cells exhibited mature naive phenotypes, a diverse T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and TCR-dependent function. ATOs initiated with TCR-engineered HSPCs produced T cells with antigen-specific cytotoxicity and near-complete lack of endogenous TCR Vβ expression, consistent with allelic exclusion of Vβ-encoding loci. ATOs provide a robust tool for studying human T cell differentiation and for the future development of stem-cell-based engineered T cell therapies

Current driven magnetic permeability interference sensor using NiFe/Cu composite wire with a signal pick-up LC circuit

A novel micro magnetic sensor called the Current Driven Magnetic Permeability Interference (CDMPI) sensor has been developed and the key parameters of the sensor have been studied. The sensor consists of a sensing element in a form of composite wire of a 20 µm copper core electrodeposited with a thin layer of soft magnetic material (Ni 80 Fe 20 ), an ac power source driving the permeability of the magnetic coating layer of the sensing element into a dynamic state, and a signal pickup LC circuit formed by a pickup coil and an capacitor. Experimental studies on the CDMPI sensor have been carried out to investigate the key parameteres in relation to the sensor sensitivity and resolution. The results showed that for high sensitivity and resolution, the frequency and magnitude of the ac driving current through the sensing element each has an optimum value, the resonance frequency of the signal pickup LC circuit should be equal to or twice as the driving frequency on the sensing element, and the anisotropy of the magnetic coating layer of the sensing wire element should be longitudinal

Markers of Oxidative Damage Are Not Elevated in Otherwise Healthy Individuals With the Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE- The role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is poorly understood. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- A detailed cross-sectional study was performed to assess the relationship between lipid oxidation products, γ-glutamyltransferase, highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and phospholipase activities with respect to the metabolic status in a cohort of otherwise healthy individuals. RESULTS- A total of 179 individuals (87 men and 92 women) aged 43 ± 14 years (mean ± SD) participated in this study. There were no differences in the levels of plasma F 2-isoprostanes, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, cholesterol oxidation products, and phospholipase activities in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome. In multivariate analyses, serum hs-CRP was a consistent independent predictor of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS- Minimal changes were observed in multiple markers of oxidative damage in a well-characterized cohort of individuals with features of metabolic syndrome. © 2010 by the American Diabetes Association.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

IND-Enabling Studies for a Clinical Trial to Genetically Program a Persistent Cancer-Targeted Immune System

PURPOSE: To improve persistence of adoptively transferred T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells and durable clinical responses, we designed a clinical trial to transplant genetically-modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) together with adoptive cell transfer of T cells both engineered to express an NY-ESO-1 TCR. Here, we report the preclinical studies performed to enable an investigational new drug (IND) application. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: HSCs transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing NY-ESO-1 TCR and the PET reporter/suicide gene HSV1-sr39TK and T cells transduced with a retroviral vector expressing NY-ESO-1 TCR were coadministered to myelodepleted HLA-A2/Kb mice within a formal Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant study to demonstrate safety, persistence, and HSC differentiation into all blood lineages. Non-GLP experiments included assessment of transgene immunogenicity and in vitro viral insertion safety studies. Furthermore, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant cell production qualification runs were performed to establish the manufacturing protocols for clinical use. RESULTS: TCR genetically modified and ex vivo-cultured HSCs differentiated into all blood subsets in vivo after HSC transplantation, and coadministration of TCR-transduced T cells did not result in increased toxicity. The expression of NY-ESO-1 TCR and sr39TK transgenes did not have a detrimental effect on gene-modified HSC's differentiation to all blood cell lineages. There was no evidence of genotoxicity induced by the lentiviral vector. GMP batches of clinical-grade transgenic cells produced during qualification runs had adequate stability and functionality. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of HSCs and T cells expressing an NY-ESO-1 TCR is safe in preclinical models. The results presented in this article led to the FDA approval of IND 17471