Characterisation of miRNA during drought stress in wheat plants

Climate change is one of the main global themes that impact human food security. Wheat is a staple food for more than two billion of the world's population, whose production will need to increase by 60% in the coming decades, under the backdrop of climate change. Drought has been the most important limiting factor for wheat productivity. Many studies on model plants have demonstrated that miRNAs play a major role in drought stress responses, however, very little is known about their function in wheat. To gain insights into the role of miRNAs in drought stress in wheat we used two wheat varieties (Pavon 76 and Yecora Rojo) with different responses to drought. Small RNA sequence data were obtained from 48 leaf and root samples for both varieties under well-watered and water deficit conditions. Principal Component Analysis clustering showed that miRNA expression in leaf samples was very different from root samples. Under drought stress, Pavon 76 and Yecora Rojo samples were clustered in two distinguished groups, while under well-watered conditions no clear separation was observed. As a result, a total of 44 different miRNA sequences were found differentially expressed that can be derived from 90 loci. The miRNA sequences were compared to all plant miRNAs deposited in miRbase (https://www.mirbase.org). We found that 27 of the differentially expressed miRNAs belong to 21 miRNA families and 8 of these are conserved (miR160, miR166, miR169, miR319, miR396, miR398, miR528 and miR9657) while the other 13 are non-conserved miRNA families. While, the family miR164 have 4 family members and the families miR172, miR390 and miR9772 have 3 members, each. The other 9 miRNA families (miR171, miR530, miR827, miR874, miR1120, miR5067, miR5070, miR9674 and miR9776) have less than three family members, each. In addition to the 27 (21 families) known miRNAs, the 44 differentially expressed miRNAs also included 17 miRNAs that could not be assigned to any of the known miRNA families. MiR319, miR528, and miR7714 were selected for further validation. Northern blot analysis showed fairly good signals for the three miRNAs, but the extent of the signal was different for each one, with clear changes in the expression pattern between well-watered and water deficit treatments confirming the results obtained from the sequencing analysis. Target genes of the selected miRNAs were predicted and their cleaved mRNA fragments were successfully amplified using 5’RACE. However, only the miR319 cleavage site was confirmed by sequencing. The current research has important implications for future studies to develop drought-resistant wheat that can cope with the unpredictable stresses associated with climate change and ensure food security for the future

Electric Boosting and Energy Recovery Systems for Engine Downsizing

Due to the increasing demand for better fuel economy and increasingly stringent emissions regulations, engine manufacturers have paid attention towards engine downsizing as the most suitable technology to meet these requirements. This study sheds light on the technology currently available or under development that enables engine downsizing in passenger cars. Pros and cons, and any recently published literature of these systems, will be considered. The study clearly shows that no certain boosting method is superior. Selection of the best boosting method depends largely on the application and complexity of the system

Electric Boosting and Energy Recovery Systems for Engine Downsizing

Due to the increasing demand for better fuel economy and increasingly stringent emissions regulations, engine manufacturers have paid attention towards engine downsizing as the most suitable technology to meet these requirements. This study sheds light on the technology currently available or under development that enables engine downsizing in passenger cars. Pros and cons, and any recently published literature of these systems, will be considered. The study clearly shows that no certain boosting method is superior. Selection of the best boosting method depends largely on the application and complexity of the system

Emergency Medical Services Core Competencie:A Scoping Review

Introduction: the emergency medical services (EMS) are an important part of the health care system as they are the first point of contact for medical emergencies. Moreover, the EMS educational system has seen a rapid transition from a post-employment training model into a pre-employment educational model. Despite this, there is a lack of clarity on what core competencies EMS students are expected to hold. Purpose: the objective of this scoping review was to identify the EMS student core competencies in the literature. Method: the scoping review considered journal articles and grey literature (peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed) and the following databases were utilized: CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and ERIC. Grey literature was also searched using www.greylit.org, Google Scholar and Trove, and expert consultation and EMS professional associations were also considered. Results: the search yielded 301 publications (CINAHL n=53; MEDLINE n=103; EMBASE n=84; Scopus n=6; ERIC n=42; miscellaneous grey literature n=13). After removal of duplicates, n=241 citations remained. Abstract and title screening produced n=35 publications, following which a full-text review was conducted. Consensus was reached on the inclusion of n=25 publications for review. In total, n=127 core competency statements were extracted which were then reviewed for clarity and removal of duplicates and clustered into a final list of n=33 core competencies. Discussion: the publications were discussed in a thematic approach. The review will provide insight into the scope of knowledge, abilities, skills and education that can be important to the conduct of paramedic students. Moreover, the review would be part of a greater project to develop a set of core competencies specifically designed for Bachelor EMS degrees in Saudi Arabia. This is the first scoping review that has attempted to systematically identify potential core competencies for paramedic students. Keywords: Attributes, Competence, EMS, Paramedic, Studen

Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Control of a Grid Connected Inverter With LCL-Filter for Renewable Solar Applications

This research paper presents a novel approach to current control in Grid-Connected Inverters (GCI) using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) based Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) method. The study focuses on addressing the limitations of traditional control techniques and state of the art techniques, particularly Proportional-Integral (PI) control and Model Predictive Control (MPC), by leveraging the adaptive and autonomous learning capabilities of DRL. The proposed novel modified TD3-based DRL method learns an optimal control policy directly from raw data, enabling the controller to adapt and improve its performance in real-time. The research includes a comprehensive analysis of the implementation and validation of the modified TD3-based DRL control in a grid-connected three phase three level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) inverter system with Inductor-Capacitor-Inductor (LCL) filter. Real-time validation experiments are conducted to evaluate the control performance, power transfer capability in grid compliance. Furthermore, a detailed comparison is presented with experimentation, highlighting the advantages of the TD3-based DRL control over PI and MPC control techniques. Robustness checking is performed under various operating conditions, including parameter variations and dynamic conditions in the grid. The results analysis demonstrates that the TD3-based DRL control outperforms traditional PI control techniques in terms of static, dynamic response, and robustness. Additionally, The DRL based grid connected inverter current control method is validated in Renewable Energy Source (RES) solar PV grid integration application

Enhancing Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency With Model Predictive Control-Based Sensor-Reduced Maximum Power Point Tracking in Modified SEPIC Converters

The objective of this paper is to propose a new technique for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic (PV) systems that utilizes fewer sensors, thereby reducing the hardware cost. The technique aims to achieve efficient MPPT under various environmental conditions by employing a modified SEPIC converter and a model predictive control (MPC)-based MPPT algorithm. To achieve the objective, the proposed technique utilizes only one voltage sensor and one current sensor, significantly reducing the hardware requirements compared to traditional MPPT techniques. The modified SEPIC converter is employed to regulate the voltage and current levels in the PV system. The MPC-based MPPT algorithm is implemented to dynamically adjust the operation of the converter and track the maximum power point. The algorithm incorporates a model predictive control approach, which utilizes a predictive model of the PV system to anticipate and optimize the power output. The algorithm predicts the behavior of the PV system based on the available sensor measurements, allowing for accurate MPPT. The algorithm operates in real-time, providing instantaneous adjustments to maximize power extraction. The study demonstrates that the proposed technique effectively tracks the maximum power point of the PV system using only one voltage sensor and one current sensor, thus reducing the overall hardware cost. The MPC-based MPPT algorithm, in combination with the modified SEPIC converter, achieves efficient power extraction under various operating conditions. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed technique outperforms traditional MPPT techniques in terms of cost-effectiveness and power extraction efficiency

A review of water electrolysis for green hydrogen generation considering PV/wind/hybrid/hydropower/geothermal/tidal and wave/biogas energy systems, economic analysis, and its application

Hydrogen provides the greatest performance in conditions of capacity and duration when related to other energy storage techniques. Renewable energy sources including solar, geothermal, wind, wave and tidal energy, and hydropower, are used to create green hydrogen. However, biogas is converted into renewable hydrogen via chemical procedures. A comparison of several water Electrolyzer types is provided by this research. All kinds of Electrolyzers have an impact on how well a green hydrogen production system works were discussed. This review gives a broad review of environmentally friendly hydrogen generation techniques based on renewable energy sources. These sources incorporate solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, tidal and wave energy, biogas systems, geothermal energy, and hybrid systems of these sources. The method used to obtain the hydrogen and its effects on the environment is the primary distinction between green hydrogen and other colors. Climate, control, management systems, and tracking systems. The innovations and difficulties that green hydrogen systems encounter are highlighted. In the final section, the costs associated with manufacturing hydrogen are explained through an economic study of the understudied production systems LCOE and LCOH. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of all electrolyzers are discussed

A Glance at the Development and Patent Literature of Tecovirimat: The First-in-Class Therapy for Emerging Monkeypox Outbreak

Monkeypox disease (MPX) is currently considered a global threat after COVID-19. European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Tecovirimat in capsule dosage form (200 mg) as the first treatment for MPX in January 2022. This article highlights Tecovirimat’s development and patent literature review and is believed to benefit the scientists working on developing MPX treatments. The literature for Tecovirimat was gathered from the website of SIGA Technologies (developer of Tecovirimat), regulatory agencies (EMA, United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), and Health Canada), PubMed, and freely accessible clinical/patent databases. Tecovirimat was first recognized as an anti-orthopoxvirus molecule in 2002 and developed by SIGA Technologies. The USFDA and Health Canada have also recently approved Tecovirimat to treat smallpox in 2018 and 2021, respectively. The efficacy of Tecovirimat was verified in infected non-human primates (monkeys) and rabbits under the USFDA’s Animal Rule. Most clinical studies have been done on Tecovirimat’s safety and pharmacokinetic parameters. The patent literature has revealed inventions related to the capsule, injection, suspension, crystalline forms, amorphous form, and drug combinations (Tecovirimat + cidofovir) and process for preparing Tecovirimat. The authors foresee the off-label use of Tecovirimat in the USA and Canada for MPX and other orthopoxvirus infections. The authors also trust that there is immense scope for developing new Tecovirimat-based treatments (new drug combinations with other antivirals) for orthopoxvirus and other viral diseases. Drug interaction studies and drug resistance studies on Tecovirimat are also recommended. Tecovirimat is believed to handle the current MPX outbreak and is a new hope of biosecurity against smallpox or orthopoxvirus-related bioterrorism attack