REGIONALY IMPORTANT SINCRO.GRID SMART GRID PROJECT

Regional transmission and distribution challenges has evolved and changed a lot in recent years. Four contradictory influences increasingly affected the operations of Slovenian and Croatian electricity systems. Regional electricity systems experienced increasing support of RES integration to meet the EU targets, a lower electricity consumption due to the economic crisis, a growing lack of centralized electricity production for electric system support and the high interconnectivity between the neighboring control zones. TSOs and DSOs observed growing network overvoltage issues as well as a decrease in secondary reserve capacities. Such situation starts to impact national and regional renewable integration targets affecting the security of supply at European level. SINCRO.GRID joint investment project addressed the above-mentioned issues in a sustainable manner. Such cross-border systemic approach will bring synergetic benefits. It will enable an acceptable level of security of operation for at least the next ten years hosting levels of RES in line with the trends foreseen to reach the 2030 targets safely. The project is going to integrate new active elements in the transmission and distribution grids. It leans on the following main pillars: deployment of six compensation devices, deployment of advanced dynamic thermal rating (DTR) systems, deployment of electricity storage systems, integration of distributed renewable generation (DG) and deployment of a virtual cross-border control center (VCBCC). A key aspect of the SINCRO.GRID project lies in the synergy brought by the simultaneous innovative deployment of a portfolio of mature technology-based solutions bring high benefits and positive externalities for the region and European Union

Impact of \u3cem\u3eFADS\u3c/em\u3e Genotype on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Content in Human Milk Extracellular Vesicles: A Genetic Association Study

Background Extracellular vesicles in human milk are critical in supporting newborn growth and development. Bioavailability of dietary extracellular vesicles may depend on the composition of membrane lipids. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fatty acid desaturase gene cluster impact the content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk phospholipids. This study investigated the relation between variation in FADS1 and FADS2 with the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in extracellular vesicles from human milk. Methods Milk was obtained from a cohort of mothers (N = 70) at 2–4 weeks of lactation. SNPs in the FADS gene locus were determined using pyrosequencing for rs174546 in FADS1 and rs174575 in FADS2. Quantitative lipidomic analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk and extracellular vesicles from human milk was completed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results The rs174546 and rs174575 genotypes were independent predictors of the arachidonic acid content in extracellular vesicles. The rs174546 genotype also predicted eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in extracellular vesicles. The reduced content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in extracellular vesicles in human milk may be due to lower fatty acid desaturase activity in mothers who are carriers of the A allele in rs174546 or the G allele in rs174575. Conclusion The polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of milk extracellular vesicles is predicted by the FADS genotype. These findings yield novel insights regarding extracellular vesicle content and composition that can inform the design of future research to explore how lipid metabolites impact the bioavailability of human milk extracellular vesicles

Froude number scaling unifies impact trajectories into granular media across gravitational conditions

The interactions of solid objects with granular media is countered by a resistance force that stems from frictional forces between the grains and the media's resistance to inertia imposed by the intruder. Earlier theories of granular intrusion have suggested an additive contribution of these two families of forces and had tremendous success in predicting resistive forces on arbitrary shaped objects. However, it remains unclear how these forces are influenced by gravitational conditions. We examine the role of gravity on surface impact behavior into cohesionless granular media using hundreds of soft-sphere discrete element simulations, we demonstrate that the outcome of impacts remain qualitatively similar under varying gravitational conditions if initial velocities are scaled with the Froude number, suggesting an underlying law. Using theoretical arguments, we provide reasoning for the observed universality and show that there is a hidden dependency in resistive forces into granular media on Froude number. Following the theoretical framework, we show that Froude number scaling precisely collapses impact trajectories across gravitational conditions, setting the foundation for explorations in granular behavior beyond Earth

Scaling exponent and dispersity of polymers in solution by diffusion NMR.

Molecular mass distribution measurements by pulsed gradient spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance (PGSE NMR) spectroscopy currently require prior knowledge of scaling parameters to convert from polymer self-diffusion coefficient to molecular mass. Reversing the problem, we utilize the scaling relation as prior knowledge to uncover the scaling exponent from within the PGSE data. Thus, the scaling exponent-a measure of polymer conformation and solvent quality-and the dispersity (Mw/Mn) are obtainable from one simple PGSE experiment. The method utilizes constraints and parametric distribution models in a two-step fitting routine involving first the mass-weighted signal and second the number-weighted signal. The method is developed using lognormal and gamma distribution models and tested on experimental PGSE attenuation of the terminal methylene signal and on the sum of all methylene signals of polyethylene glycol in D2O. Scaling exponent and dispersity estimates agree with known values in the majority of instances, leading to the potential application of the method to polymers for which characterization is not possible with alternative techniques

AA and DHA are Decreased in Paediatric AD/HD and Inattention is Ameliorated by Increased Plasma DHA

The purpose of this study was to assess long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) status in relation to socio-behavioral outcomes in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). In a case-control design, plasma phospholipid fatty acid content was assessed in children aged 5–12 years with AD/HD and in typically functioning children. Dietary intakes of LCPUFAs arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n3) were quantified using a four-day food record, polymorphisms were determined in FADS1 and FADS2, and socio-behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Conners 3 Parent Rating Scales in a cross section of children with AD/HD. Compared to typically functioning children, plasma AA and DHA were 40% lower in children with AD/HD. Median intake of AA, but not DHA, was higher in children with AD/HD compared to typically functioning children. Polymorphisms in FADS1 (rs174546) and FADS2 (174575) were associated with higher plasma linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n6) level. Plasma DHA level was inversely associated with inattention score. Despite having an elevated intake of AA, children diagnosed with AD/HD have a reduction in plasma AA level which may be due in part to polymorphisms in the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene cluster or increased conversion to AA-derived metabolites. Increasing intake of DHA may ameliorate symptoms of inattention in AD/HD

Detecting spikes of wheat plants using neural networks with Laws texture energy

Background: The spike of a cereal plant is the grain-bearing organ whose physical characteristics are proxy measures of grain yield. The ability to detect and characterise spikes from 2D images of cereal plants, such as wheat, therefore provides vital information on tiller number and yield potential. Results: We have developed a novel spike detection method for wheat plants involving, firstly, an improved colour index method for plant segmentation and, secondly, a neural network-based method using Laws texture energy for spike detection. The spike detection step was further improved by removing noise using an area and height threshold. The evaluation results showed an accuracy of over 80% in identification of spikes. In the proposed method we also measure the area of individual spikes as well as all spikes of individual plants under different experimental conditions. The correlation between the final average grain yield and spike area is also discussed in this paper. Conclusions: Our highly accurate yield trait phenotyping method for spike number counting and spike area estimation, is useful and reliable not only for grain yield estimation but also for detecting and quantifying subtle phenotypic variations arising from genetic or environmental differences.Li Qiongyan, Jinhai Cai, Bettina Berger, Mamoru Okamoto and Stanley J. Miklavci

Brewing of filter coffee

We report progress on mathematical modelling of coffee grounds in a drip filter coffee machine. The report focuses on the evolution of the shape of the bed of coffee grounds during extraction with some work also carried out on the chemistry of extraction. This work was sponsored by Philips who are interested in understanding an observed correlation between the final shape of the coffee grounds and the quality of the coffee. We used experimental data gathered by Philips and ourselves to identify regimes in the coffee brewing process and relevant regions of parameter space. Our work makes it clear that a number of separate processes define the shape of the coffee bed depending on the values of the parameters involved e.g. the size of the grains and the speed of fluid flow during extraction. We began work on constructing mathematical models of the redistribution of the coffee grounds specialised to each region and on a model of extraction. A variety of analytic and numerical tools were used. Furthermore our research has progressed far enough to allow us to begin to exploit connections between this problem and other areas of science, in particular the areas of sedimentology and geomorphology, where the processes we have observed in coffee brewing have been studied

The Evolution and Future of Targeted Cancer Therapy: From Nanoparticles, Oncolytic Viruses, and Oncolytic Bacteria to the Treatment of Solid Tumors

While many classes of chemotherapeutic agents exist to treat solid tumors, few can generate a lasting response without substantial off-target toxicity despite significant scientific advancements and investments. In this review, the paths of development for nanoparticles, oncolytic viruses, and oncolytic bacteria over the last 20 years of research towards clinical translation and acceptance as novel cancer therapeutics are compared. Novel nanoparticle, oncolytic virus, and oncolytic bacteria therapies all start with a common goal of accomplishing therapeutic drug activity or delivery to a specific site while avoiding off-target effects, with overlapping methodology between all three modalities. Indeed, the degree of overlap is substantial enough that breakthroughs in one therapeutic could have considerable implications on the progression of the other two. Each oncotherapeutic modality has accomplished clinical translation, successfully overcoming the potential pitfalls promising therapeutics face. However, once studies enter clinical trials, the data all but disappears, leaving pre-clinical researchers largely in the dark. Overall, the creativity, flexibility, and innovation of these modalities for solid tumor treatments are greatly encouraging, and usher in a new age of pharmaceutical development