Development of ISO Standard for Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Turkey-Derived Material

In this study, the specific fragment of turkey chromosome Z-DNA sequence was selected as the target sequence for turkey-derived material detection. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method was established, which had good interspecies specificity and interspecies consistency. The target sequence was cloned into the plasmid pUC57, and after being diluted to different concentrations, the plasmid was tested by real-time PCR. The absolute detection limit of this method was 5 copies/PCR reaction. An international collaborative validation trial was conducted to validate this method. The results showed that the false positive and negative rates of the proposed method were both 0%, and the absolute detection limit was 5 copies/PCR reaction. The results of qualitative analysis of the diluted plasmid showed that the inter-laboratory standard deviation was 0.30, less than the maximum permitted value of 1; at a detection probability of 95%, the absolute detection limit was 3.2 copies/PCR reaction, less than the maximum allowable value of 20 copies/PCR reaction. Based on voting results and reviewers’ comments, this method was approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an international standard method (ISO/TS 20224-8:2022)

NF-kappaB in Lung Tumorigenesis

The development of lung cancer in humans can be divided into three steps: initiation, promotion and progression. This process is driven by alterations in related signal transduction pathways. These pathways signal the aberrant activation of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes important for lung tumorigenesis. Our current knowledge about the role of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway in the development of lung cancer has been bolstered by animal models demonstrating the connection between K-ras and tobacco induced lung transformation with NF-kappaB. Activation of downstream genes leads to cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis

Security-constrained line loss minimization in distribution systems with high penetration of renewable energy using UPFC

Abstract Focused on the challenges raised by the large-scale integration of renewable energy resources and the urgent goal of energy saving, a novel control scheme for the unified power flow controller (UPFC) series converter is proposed to achieve line loss reduction and security enhancement in distribution systems with a high penetration of renewable energy. Firstly, the line loss minimum conditions of a general distribution system with loop configurations are deduced. Secondly, security constraints including the permissible voltage range, the line loading limits and the UPFC ratings are considered. System security enhancement with the least increase in line loss is tackled by solving a much reduced optimal power flow (OPF) problem. The computational task of the OPF problem is reduced by deducing the security-constrained line loss minimum conditions and removing the equality constraints. Thirdly, a hybrid control scheme is proposed. Line loss minimization is achieved through a dynamic controller, while an OPF calculator is integrated to generate corrective action for the dynamic controller when the security constraints are violated. The validity of the proposed control strategies is verified in a modified IEEE 33 bus test system

Mitigation of power system forced oscillations based on unified power flow controller

Abstract Forced oscillations (FOs), or low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) caused by periodic, continuous, small power disturbances, threaten the security and stability of power systems. Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices can effectively mitigate LFOs via stability control. We propose a novel method that mitigates FOs by shifting the resonant frequency. Based on the features of the linearized swing equation of a generator, a resonant frequency shift can be achieved by controlling the synchronous torque coefficient using a unified power flow controller (UPFC). Because of the resonance mechanism, the steady-state response of an FO can be effectively mitigated when the resonant frequency changes from the original one, which was close to the disturbance frequency. The principle is that a change in resonant frequency affects the resonance condition. Simulations are conducted in a single-machine infinite-bus (SMIB) system, and the simulation results verify that the method is straightforward to implement and can significantly mitigate FOs. The controller robustness when the resonant frequency is not accurately estimated is also analyzed in the simulations

P16-positive cystic squamous cell carcinoma in midline neck: metastasis from oropharynx or primary carcinoma arising from thyroglossal duct cyst?

Cystic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lateral neck is considered metastatic human papilloma-virus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal SCC (HPV-OPSCC) until proven otherwise. P16 immunohistochemistry is diffusely positive in those carcinomas and is used as a surrogate marker of active human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Thyroglossal duct cysts (TDC) are one of the differential diagnoses for cystic neck lesions. SCC arising from TDC is extremely rare. In this study, we report a p16-positive cystic SCC located in the midline neck. Radiologic features and the presence of thyroid tissue in the cyst wall indicated that it was a TDC. The morphologic features of the lesion raised the question: is the carcinoma metastatic HPV-OPSCC? The HPV confirmative test, high-risk HPV RNA in situ hybridization, was negative. We then studied p16 immunohistochemistry in the squamous epithelium of benign TDC and found that rare benign TDC can show diffuse and strong p16 positivity