IoT-Enabled Real-Time Management of Smart Grids with Demand Response Aggregators

Integration of widely distributed small-scale Renewable Energy Sources like rooftop Photovoltaic panels and emerging loads like plug-in Electric Vehicles would cause more volatility in total net demand of distribution networks. Utility-owned storage units and control devices like tap changers and capacitors may not be sufficient to manage the system in real-time. Exploitation of available flexibility in demand side through aggregators is a new measure that distribution system operators are interested in. In this paper, we present a developed real-time management schema based on Internet of Things solutions which facilitate interactions between system operators and aggregators for ancillary services like power balance at primary substation or voltage regulation at secondary substations. Two algorithms for power balance and voltage regulation are developed based on modified Optimal Power Flow and voltage sensitivity matrix, respectively. To demonstrate the applicability of the schema, we set-up a real-time simulation- based test bed and realised the performance of this approach in a real-like environment using real data of a network with residential buildings

Rapid Determination of Diuretics in Human Urine by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry Following Microwave Assisted Derivatization

This work presents a GC–MS–MS–MS method for the direct determination of clenbuterol in human urine. The method 3 comprises a pretreatment procedure and the instrumental analysis of the derivatives performed by GC–MS (ion trap) with 3 electron impact ionization. The GC–MS analysis allows isolation and characterization of specific fragments from the 1 original (MS ) molecular structure, and in particular, those fragments originating from the precursor ion cluster (m/z5335– 2 337) characteristic of clenbuterol. The MS product fragment m/z5300 is in turn used as a further precursor fragment 3 4 giving rise to a MS spectrum specific for clenbuterol. MS fragmentation spectra were also investigated. However, further 3 4 fragmentation of MS product ions does not lead to functional MS spectra nor to any significant increase in the 3 signal-to-noise ratio. The sensitivity limit of the MS technique is lower than 0.2 mg/ l, with a linear range between 0.5 and 5 mg/ l, thus matching the basic requirements for antidoping analysis according to the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee. Due to its overall analytical performance, the method is presently being evaluated as a confirmation protocol to be followed to detect illicit clenbuterol administration to the athletes, and compared with reference GC–MS and GC–MS–MS techniques

Curcumin-loaded polymeric and lipid nanocapsules: preparation, characterization and chemical stability evaluation

Polymeric and lipid nanocapsules suspensions of the natural compound curcumin were prepared in order to overcome limitations associated with its clinical applications, such as poor aqueous solubility and susceptibility to hydrolytic and photochemical degradation. Nanocapsule suspensions were prepared by nanoprecipitation and phase inversion methods, respectively. The curcumin formulations were investigated for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. The hydrolytic and photochemical degradation of the drug associated with the nanocarriers was also determined. For all formulations, the entrapment efficiency values were higher than 99 %. The aqueous colloidal suspensions of curcumin resulted in an increase in drug concentration by a factor of up to 46.103 times. Moreover, stability studies indicated that nanoencapsulation slows down the hydrolytic and photochemical degradations of curcumin. The strategy of nanoencapsulation into polymeric and lipid nanocapsules produced a formulation of curcumin with high drug loading and improved stability, representing a good strategy for the delivery of this drug.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Curcumin-loaded polymeric and lipid nanocapsules: preparation, characterization and chemical stability evaluation

Polymeric and lipid nanocapsules suspensions of the natural compound curcumin were prepared in order to overcome limitations associated with its clinical applications, such as poor aqueous solubility and susceptibility to hydrolytic and photochemical degradation. Nanocapsule suspensions were prepared by nanoprecipitation and phase inversion methods, respectively. The curcumin formulations were investigated for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. The hydrolytic and photochemical degradation of the drug associated with the nanocarriers was also determined. For all formulations, the entrapment efficiency values were higher than 99 %. The aqueous colloidal suspensions of curcumin resulted in an increase in drug concentration by a factor of up to 46.103 times. Moreover, stability studies indicated that nanoencapsulation slows down the hydrolytic and photochemical degradations of curcumin. The strategy of nanoencapsulation into polymeric and lipid nanocapsules produced a formulation of curcumin with high drug loading and improved stability, representing a good strategy for the delivery of this drug.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

High levels of osteopontin associated with polymorphisms in its gene are a risk factor for development of autoimmunity/lymphoproliferation

The autoimmune/lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) displays defective function of Fas, autoimmunities, lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly, and expansion of CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) T cells. Dianzani autoimmune/lymphoproliferative disease (DALD) is an ALPS variant lacking DN cells. Both forms have been ascribed to inherited mutations hitting the Fas system but other factors may be involved. A pilot cDNA array analysis on a DALD patient detected overexpression of the cytokine osteopontin (OPN). This observation was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection of higher OPN serum levels in DALD patients (n = 25) than in controls (n = 50). Analysis of the OPN cDNA identified 4 polymorphisms forming 3 haplotypes (A, B, and C). Their overall distribution and genotypic combinations were different in patients (N = 26) and controls (N = 158) (P <.01). Subjects carrying haplotype B and/or C had an 8-fold higher risk of developing DALD than haplotype A homozygotes. Several data suggest that these haplotypes influence OPN levels: (1) in DALD families, high levels cosegregated with haplotype B or C; (2) in healthy controls, haplotype B or C carriers displayed higher levels than haplotype A homozygotes; and (3) in AB and AC heterozygotes, mRNA for haplotype B or C was more abundant than that for haplotype A. In vitro, exogenous OPN decreased activation-induced T-cell death, which suggests that high OPN levels are involved in the apoptosis defect

Curcumin-loaded polymeric and lipid nanocapsules: preparation, characterization and chemical stability evaluation

Polymeric and lipid nanocapsules suspensions of the natural compound curcumin were prepared in order to overcome limitations associated with its clinical applications, such as poor aqueous solubility and susceptibility to hydrolytic and photochemical degradation. Nanocapsule suspensions were prepared by nanoprecipitation and phase inversion methods, respectively. The curcumin formulations were investigated for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. The hydrolytic and photochemical degradation of the drug associated with the nanocarriers was also determined. For all formulations, the entrapment efficiency values were higher than 99 %. The aqueous colloidal suspensions of curcumin resulted in an increase in drug concentration by a factor of up to 46.103 times. Moreover, stability studies indicated that nanoencapsulation slows down the hydrolytic and photochemical degradations of curcumin. The strategy of nanoencapsulation into polymeric and lipid nanocapsules produced a formulation of curcumin with high drug loading and improved stability, representing a good strategy for the delivery of this drug.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Roles of the Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways in controlling growth and sensitivity to therapy-implications for cancer and aging

Dysregulated signaling through the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways is often the result of genetic alterations in critical components in these pathways or upstream activators. Unrestricted cellular proliferation and decreased sensitivity to apoptotic-inducing agents are typically associated with activation of these pro-survival pathways. This review discusses the functions these pathways have in normal and neoplastic tissue growth and how they contribute to resistance to apoptotic stimuli. Crosstalk and commonly identified mutations that occur within these pathways that contribute to abnormal activation and cancer growth will also be addressed. Finally the recently described roles of these pathways in cancer stem cells, cellular senescence and aging will be evaluated. Controlling the expression of these pathways could ameliorate human health

Advances in Targeting Signal Transduction Pathways

Over the past few years, significant advances have occurred in both our understanding of the complexity of signal transduction pathways as well as the isolation of specific inhibitors which target key components in those pathways. Furthermore critical information is being accrued regarding how genetic mutations can affect the sensitivity of various types of patients to targeted therapy. Finally, genetic mechanisms responsible for the development of resistance after targeted therapy are being discovered which may allow the creation of alternative therapies to overcome resistance. This review will discuss some of the highlights over the past few years on the roles of key signaling pathways in various diseases, the targeting of signal transduction pathways and the genetic mechanisms governing sensitivity and resistance to targeted therapies

Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptides presented by HLA-E molecules are targets for human CD8 T-cells with cytotoxic as well as regulatory activity

Tuberculosis (TB) is an escalating global health problem and improved vaccines against TB are urgently needed. HLA-E restricted responses may be of interest for vaccine development since HLA-E displays very limited polymorphism (only 2 coding variants exist), and is not down-regulated by HIV-infection. The peptides from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) potentially presented by HLA-E molecules, however, are unknown. Here we describe human T-cell responses to Mtb-derived peptides containing predicted HLA-E binding motifs and binding-affinity for HLA-E. We observed CD8(+) T-cell proliferation to the majority of the 69 peptides tested in Mtb responsive adults as well as in BCG-vaccinated infants. CD8(+) T-cells were cytotoxic against target-cells transfected with HLA-E only in the presence of specific peptide. These T cells were also able to lyse M. bovis BCG infected, but not control monocytes, suggesting recognition of antigens during mycobacterial infection. In addition, peptide induced CD8(+) T-cells also displayed regulatory activity, since they inhibited T-cell proliferation. This regulatory activity was cell contact-dependent, and at least partly dependent on membrane-bound TGF-beta. Our results significantly increase our understanding of the human immune response to Mtb by identification of CD8(+) T-cell responses to novel HLA-E binding peptides of Mtb, which have cytotoxic as well as immunoregulatory activity