Chitosan Nanogel with Mixed Food Plants and Its Relation to Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic and Meta-Analysis Review of Observational Studies

This systematic review with metanalysis evaluated and analyzed the beneficial effects of certain plants food in type 2 diabetes (T2D) when consumed alone or in combination with chitosan. The main objective of the paper was to examine the relation of chitosan nanogel and mixed food plant (MFP) to control T2D. The databases included Medline, Scopus, PubMed, as well as Cochrane available between the month of January 1990 to January 2021. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies were case-controlled studies that included unripe plantain, bitter yam, okra, and chitosan either used-alone or in combination with non-specified food plants (NSFP). Two-fold autonomous critics retrieved the information required and evaluated the risk of bias of involved studies. Random-effect meta-analyses on blood glucose controls, were performed. Results of 18 studies included: seven that examined unripe plantains, one bitter yam, two okras, and eight chitosan, found regarding the decrease in blood glucose level. Meta-analysis of the results found a large proportion of I2 values for all studies (98%), meaning heterogeneity. As a consequence, the combined effect sizes were not useful. Instead, prediction interval (PI) was used (mean difference 4.4 mg/dL, 95% PI −6.65 to 15.50 and mean difference 3.4 mg/dL, 95% PI −23.65 to 30.50) rather than the estimate of its confidence interval (CI). These studies were at 50% high risk of bias and 50% low risk of bias and there was judged to be an unclear risk of bias due to the insufficient information from the included study protocol (moderately low). The intervention lasted between three and 84 days, indicating potency and effectiveness of the intervention at both short and long durations. Due to the moderately low quality of the studies, the findings were cautiously interpreted. In conclusion, the current evidence available from the study does support the relation of chitosan with mixed unripe plantain, bitter yam and okra for the management of T2D. Further high-quality case-controlled animal studies are required to substantiate if indeed chitosan nanogel should be cross-linked with the specified food plant (SFP) for the management T2D

Quantifying the effects of medium voltage–low voltage distribution network constraints and distributed energy resource reactive power capabilities on aggregators

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-08-25, rev-recd 2021-02-01, accepted 2021-02-10, pub-electronic 2021-03-01, pub-print 2021-07Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedAbstract: Distributed energy resources (DER), such as, photovoltaic systems and batteries, are becoming common among households. Although the main objective is reducing electricity imports (bills), they could also provide system‐level services via an aggregator. However, the more DER provide services, the more important is ensuring that the corresponding operation does not result in network issues. To help DER aggregators understand the implications of network constraints, an AC optimal power flow‐based methodology is proposed to quantify the effects that three‐phase low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) network constraints can have on the volume of services that can be provided for a given horizon, and the potential benefits from using DER reactive power capabilities. Using a convex multi‐period formulation that avoids binary variables for batteries and incorporates voltage‐dependent load models, the methodology maximizes DER exports (services) for service‐related periods and household self‐consumption for other periods (reducing bills). Different service periods are assessed to explore the extent of services throughout the day. Results using a realistic UK MV‐LV network with 2400+ households, show that aggregator services can be highly overestimated when neglecting MV‐LV network constraints, are influenced by voltage‐demand load characteristics, and that exploiting DER reactive power capabilities can significantly unlock further services

Mouse Stbd1 is N-myristoylated and affects ER–mitochondria association and mitochondrial morphology

Starch binding domain-containing protein 1 (Stbd1) is a carbohydrate-binding protein that has been proposed to be a selective autophagy receptor for glycogen. Here, we show that mouse Stbd1 is a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein with the capacity to induce the formation of organized ER structures in HeLa cells. In addition to bulk ER, Stbd1 was found to localize to mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), which represent regions of close apposition between the ER and mitochondria. We demonstrate that N-myristoylation and binding of Stbd1 to glycogen act as major determinants of its subcellular targeting. Moreover, overexpression of non-myristoylated Stbd1 enhanced the association between ER and mitochondria, and further induced prominent mitochondrial fragmentation and clustering. Conversely, shRNA-mediated Stbd1 silencing resulted in an increase in the spacing between ER and mitochondria, and an altered morphology of the mitochondrial network, suggesting elevated fusion and interconnectivity of mitochondria. Our data unravel the molecular mechanism underlying Stbd1 subcellular targeting, support and expand its proposed function as a selective autophagy receptor for glycogen and uncover a new role for the protein in the physical association between ER and mitochondria

Advanced management of residential battery energy storage in future distribution networks

© 2019 Kyriacos PetrouIn recent years, Australia and many other countries have seen a sharp rise in the number of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations. This trend has also driven the adoption of residential battery energy storage (BES) systems, as they allow households to use their excess PV generation at other times. However, as it currently stands, most commercially available residential BES systems are controlled for the sole benefit of their owner, i.e., to reduce grid imports. But given their controllability, there exists a large opportunity for these systems to a) help mitigate the well-established PV issues in electricity distribution networks (e.g., voltage and thermal issues), or b) be used in the provision of services to the whole power system (e.g., frequency or energy services). For a), this thesis first assesses the performance of off-the-shelf (OTS) BES systems and demonstrates their inability and limitations to provide support in mitigating PV impacts. While overcoming these limitations has been the focus of several studies over the past years, there is need for practical and scalable, yet effective BES control strategies that provides benefits to both the customers and the distribution network to be developed. In this context, a decentralised control of BES systems is proposed which dramatically reduces PV impacts on the distribution network with minimal effects on households. As for b), in this thesis, the impacts of the widespread provision of services from residential BES systems on distribution networks are assessed. It is demonstrated that if left unconstrained, it can lead to severe issues. In this context, a distribution system operator (DSO) framework is proposed, using a three-phase AC optimal power flow-based approach, to ensure network integrity and fairness. The results show that it is not only possible to achieve this for multiple service providers, but it also unlocks much larger volumes of services compared to those achieved with the currently adopted fixed export limits of 5kW per phase. To assess the network performance as realistically as possible, this thesis uses an integrated medium voltage (MV) – low voltage (LV) network to consider the interactions of multiple voltage levels and fully capture the effects of DER (and the resulting reverse power flows). More specifically, a 22kV (i.e., MV) real feeder is used from Victoria, Australia, whereas the 400V (i.e., LV) circuits are modelled based on regional network design principles. Furthermore, the analyses utilise real smart meter demand, generation, and pricing data from the same region. The power flow assessments consider high granularity time-series data using three-phase four-wire unbalanced power flows. Finally, a Monte Carlo approach is adopted in the assessments in this thesis to cater for the uncertainties related to demand, generation, and locational aspects of distribution networks

Defining customer export limits in pv-rich low voltage networks

The growing adoption of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems around the world is presenting distribution network operators (DNOs) with technical challenges, particularly on low voltage (LV) networks. The need to mitigate these issues with simple yet effective measures in countries with high PV penetrations is likely to drive the adoption of limits on the very exports that affect this infrastructure. Defining the most adequate limit, however, requires understanding the tradeoffs between the technical benefits and the effects on PV owners. This paper proposes two methodologies: an optimal power flow (OPF) based technique to define the export limit that solves technical problems with minimal curtailment, and a Monte Carlo based analysis to investigate the spectrum of such tradeoffs considering different PV penetrations and export limits. A real U.K. residential LV network with 180 customers is analyzed using realistic 1-min resolution daily load and PV generation profiles across seasons. Results demonstrate that, for DNOs, the OPF-based approach is effective in determining the most technically adequate export limit. However, for policy makers, the spectrum of tradeoffs provided by the Monte Carlo approach can help defining export limits that reduce curtailment at the expense of partially mitigating technical issues341879

Defining Customer Export Limits in PV-Rich Low Voltage Networks

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:24:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-07-18The growing adoption of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems around the world is presenting Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) with technical challenges, particularly on Low Voltage (LV) networks. The need to mitigate these issues with simple yet effective measures in countries with high PV penetrations is likely to drive the adoption of limits on the very exports that affect this infrastructure. Defining the most adequate limit, however, requires understanding the trade-offs between the technical benefits and the effects on PV owners. This work proposes two methodologies: an Optimal Power Flow (OPF)-based technique to define the export limit that solves technical problems with minimal curtailment, and a Monte Carlo-based analysis to investigate the spectrum of such trade-offs considering different PV penetrations and export limits. A real UK residential LV network with 180 customers is analyzed using realistic 1-min resolution daily load and PV generation profiles across seasons. Results demonstrate that, for DNOs, the OPF-based approach is effective in determining the most technically-adequate export limit. However, for policy makers, the spectrum of trade-offs provided by the Monte Carlo approach can help defining export limits that reduce curtailment at the expense of partially mitigating technical issues.Department of Systems and Energy, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP Brazil 13083852 (e-mail: [email protected])Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria Australia (e-mail: [email protected])School of Energy Engineering, UNESP - Rosana, Rosana, Säo Paulo Brazil 19274-000 (e-mail: [email protected])Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria Australia (e-mail: [email protected]

Chitosan Nanogel with Mixed Food Plants and Its Relation to Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic and Meta-Analysis Review of Observational Studies

This systematic review with metanalysis evaluated and analyzed the beneficial effects of certain plants food in type 2 diabetes (T2D) when consumed alone or in combination with chitosan. The main objective of the paper was to examine the relation of chitosan nanogel and mixed food plant (MFP) to control T2D. The databases included Medline, Scopus, PubMed, as well as Cochrane available between the month of January 1990 to January 2021. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies were case-controlled studies that included unripe plantain, bitter yam, okra, and chitosan either used-alone or in combination with non-specified food plants (NSFP). Two-fold autonomous critics retrieved the information required and evaluated the risk of bias of involved studies. Random-effect meta-analyses on blood glucose controls, were performed. Results of 18 studies included: seven that examined unripe plantains, one bitter yam, two okras, and eight chitosan, found regarding the decrease in blood glucose level. Meta-analysis of the results found a large proportion of I2 values for all studies (98%), meaning heterogeneity. As a consequence, the combined effect sizes were not useful. Instead, prediction interval (PI) was used (mean difference 4.4 mg/dL, 95% PI −6.65 to 15.50 and mean difference 3.4 mg/dL, 95% PI −23.65 to 30.50) rather than the estimate of its confidence interval (CI). These studies were at 50% high risk of bias and 50% low risk of bias and there was judged to be an unclear risk of bias due to the insufficient information from the included study protocol (moderately low). The intervention lasted between three and 84 days, indicating potency and effectiveness of the intervention at both short and long durations. Due to the moderately low quality of the studies, the findings were cautiously interpreted. In conclusion, the current evidence available from the study does support the relation of chitosan with mixed unripe plantain, bitter yam and okra for the management of T2D. Further high-quality case-controlled animal studies are required to substantiate if indeed chitosan nanogel should be cross-linked with the specified food plant (SFP) for the management T2D