A TESTBED AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED POWER PLANT MODEL VALIDATION VIA PMU TERMINAL MEASUREMENTS

The power industry requires the validation and sharing of the models for generators and controlling equipment to other utilities within North America. Accurate simulation of the electric grid is essential when setting operation and control strategies during various conditions present on the grid. An industry accepted method for performing model validation involves using the voltage and frequency measurements during an event, typically recorded by a phasor measurement unit, to perform a dynamic simulation on the system. The output real and reactive powers from the dynamic simulation and the actual event are then compared to each other. If the real and reactive powers closely match, the overall model is considered validated. Otherwise, the process of model calibration is performed to make improvements to the model. Least-squares fitting is an industry recognized method used during model calibration. No measurement of uncertainty is provided for individual parameters when sharing models between generator owners, utilities, and regulatory bodies. This thesis proposes a methodology for finding a measurement of uncertainty for each model parameter in the form of the standard deviation of the parameter value by means adding measurement noise and least-squares fitting

Videos using different message strategies to promote the interruption of sedentary behavior in university students during online lectures – A pilot study

BackgroundSedentary behavior (SB) is highly prevalent among university students and has increased during COVID-19 pandemic. As SB is associated with negative health outcomes, appropriate prevention measures in the university setting are needed.ObjectiveThis pilot study aimed at investigating the effects of videos using different message strategies to interrupt SB in the collective of university students during online lectures.MethodsDuring online lectures, university students (N = 96) were shown one of three videos on the interruption of SB. The videos differed in their message strategies with regard to evidence type (statistical vs. narrative) and vividness (static vs. animated images). Demographics, health variables (SB intentions, SB attitudes) and selected media reception variables (identification, homophily, counterarguing) were examined as possible influence factors on the interruption of SB evoked by watching the video.ResultsApproximately half of the students interrupted sedentary behavior during watching the videos and students of the older age group (cut-off: median = 22 years) interrupted SB significantly more often (p = 0.046). The interruption of SB was predicted by SB intentions (p < 0.05). Identification with characters significantly predicted the intentions to reduce SB (p < 0.001), with a large effect of the overall regression model (R2corr = 0.47).ConclusionConsidering the increased digitalization in general and restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, videos seem to be a useful tool to interrupt SB among university students during online lectures. Narrative formats could facilitate the intention to reduce SB, which in turn could have a positive impact on the interruption of SB. However, further research on effective communication and message strategies is needed

Adjuvant-specific regulation of long-term antibody responses by ZBTB20

The duration of antibody production by long-lived plasma cells varies with the type of immunization, but the basis for these differences is unknown. We demonstrate that plasma cells formed in response to the same immunogen engage distinct survival programs depending on the adjuvant. After alum-adjuvanted immunization, antigen-specific bone marrow plasma cells deficient in the transcription factor ZBTB20 failed to accumulate over time, leading to a progressive loss of antibody production relative to wild-type controls. Fetal liver reconstitution experiments demonstrated that the requirement for ZBTB20 was B cell intrinsic. No defects were observed in germinal center numbers, affinity maturation, or plasma cell formation or proliferation in ZBTB20-deficient chimeras. However, ZBTB20-deficient plasma cells expressed reduced levels of MCL1 relative to wild-type controls, and transgenic expression of BCL2 increased serum antibody titers. These data indicate a role for ZBTB20 in promoting survival in plasma cells. Strikingly, adjuvants that activate TLR2 and TLR4 restored long-term antibody production in ZBTB20-deficient chimeras through the induction of compensatory survival programs in plasma cells. Thus, distinct lifespans are imprinted in plasma cells as they are formed, depending on the primary activation conditions. The durability of vaccines may accordingly be improved through the selection of appropriate adjuvants

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) – more than a century of research and control

This review summarises more than a century of research on onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, and its control. River blindness is an infection caused by the tissue filaria Onchocerca volvulus affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue and eyes and leading to blindness in a minority of infected persons. The parasite is transmitted by its intermediate hosts Simulium spp. which breed in rivers. Featured are history and milestones in onchocerciasis research and control, state-of-the-art data on the parasite, its endobacteria Wolbachia, on the vectors, previous and current prevalence of the infection, its diagnostics, the interaction between the parasite and its host, immune responses and the pathology of onchocerciasis. Detailed information is documented on the time course of control programmes in the afflicted countries in Africa and the Americas, a long road from previous programmes to current successes in control of the transmission of this infectious disease. By development, adjustment and optimization of the control measures, transmission by the vector has been interrupted in foci of countries in the Americas, in Uganda, in Sudan and elsewhere, followed by onchocerciasis eliminations. The current state and future perspectives for control, elimination and eradication within the next 20–30 years are described and discussed. This review contributes to a deeper comprehension of this disease by a tissue-dwelling filaria and it will be helpful in efforts to control and eliminate other filarial infections

Psychopathic traits in adult ADHD patients

Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is elevated in prison inmates and in forensic patients with psychopathic traits. However, it is not clear whether ADHD and psychopathy scores also correlate in adult non-incarcerated samples. Moreover, it has not been examined if this correlation is due to specific facets of psychopathy. We assessed psychopathy in 30 adult ADHD patients and in 41 healthy participants using the psychopathic personality inventory revised (PPI-R). Male ADHD patients had higher scores compared to healthy male and female participants on the subscales blame externalization, rebellious nonconformity, and carefree nonplanfulness. Irrespective of gender, ADHD patients had lower scores compared to healthy participants on stress immunity and coldheartedness. These data specify the previously documented correlation between ADHD and psychopathy, and suggest that only the behavioral features of psychopathy are affected in ADHD whereas, the emotional features are not