Dual-Active-Bridge Model and Control for Supporting Fast Synthetic Inertial Action

This article proposes a dual-active-bridge control to support the fast synthetic inertial action in DC microgrids. First of all, the selection of the isolated DC/DC converter to link an energy storage system with the DC bus in a microgrid is analyzed and the advantages of the dual-active-bridge converter controlled by a single-phase shift modulation justify its selection. An active front-end can be then adapted to connect the DC bus with an AC grid. Secondly, this paper presents the design of a discrete PI controller for supporting fast synthetic inertial action. In particular, a discrete dual-active-bridge model based on the transferred power between both converter bridges, which overcomes the approximations of the output current linearization model, is proposed. Moreover, the article introduces a novel equation set to directly and dynamically tune discrete PI parameters to fulfill the design frequency specifications based on the inversion formulae method. In this way, during the voltage/power transients on the DC bus, the controller actively responds and recovers those transients within a grid fundamental cycle. Since the developed set of control equations is very simple, it can be easily implemented by a discrete control algorithm, avoiding the use of offline trial and error procedures which may lead to system instability under large load variations. Finally, the proposed control system is evaluated and validated in PLECS simulations and hardware-in-the-loop tests

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Pentavalent HIV-1 vaccine protects against simian-human immunodeficiency virus challenge

The RV144 Thai trial HIV-1 vaccine of recombinant poxvirus (ALVAC) and recombinant HIV-1 gp120 subtype B/subtype E (B/E) proteins demonstrated 31% vaccine efficacy. Here we design an ALVAC/Pentavalent B/E/E/E/E vaccine to increase the diversity of gp120 motifs in the immunogen to elicit a broader antibody response and enhance protection. We find that immunization of rhesus macaques with the pentavalent vaccine results in protection of 55% of pentavalent-vaccine-immunized macaques from simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) challenge. Systems serology of the antibody responses identifies plasma antibody binding to HIV-infected cells, peak ADCC antibody titres, NK cell-mediated ADCC and antibody-mediated activation of MIP-1β in NK cells as the four immunological parameters that best predict decreased infection risk that are improved by the pentavalent vaccine. Thus inclusion of additional gp120 immunogens to a pox-prime/protein boost regimen can augment antibody responses and enhance protection from a SHIV challenge in rhesus macaques

CAPE and its synthetic derivative VP961 restore BACH1/NRF2 axis in Down syndrome

The cells possess several mechanisms to counteract the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), including enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, an important sensor involved in the anti-oxidant response is KEAP1-NRF2-ARE signaling complex. Under oxidative stress (OS), the transcription factor NRF2 can dissociate from the KEAP1-complex in the cytosol and translocate into the nucleus to promote the transcriptional activation of anti-oxidant genes, such as heme oxygenase 1 and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase. Within this context, the activation of NRF2 response is further regulated by BACH1, a transcription repressor, that compete with the KEAP1-NRF2-ARE complex. In this work, we focused on the role of BACH1/NRF2 ratio in the regulation of the anti-oxidant response, proposing their antithetical relation as a valuable target for a therapeutic strategy to test drugs able to exert neuroprotective effects, notably in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Among these, Down syndrome (DS) is a complex genetic disorder characterized by BACH1 gene triplication that likely results in the impairment of NRF2 causing increased OS. Our results revealed that BACH1 overexpression alters the BACH1/NRF2 ratio in the nucleus and disturbs the induction of antioxidant response genes ultimately resulting in the accumulation of oxidative damage both in Ts2Cje mice (a mouse model of DS) and human DS lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Based on this evidence, we tested Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) and the synthetic analogue VP961, which have been proven to modulate NRF2 activity. We showed that CAPE and VP961 administration to DS LCLs was able to promote NRF2 nuclear translocation, which resulted in the amelioration of antioxidant response. Overall, our study supports the hypothesis that BACH1 triplication in DS subjects is implicated in the alteration of redox homeostasis and therapeutic strategies to overcome this effect are under investigation in our laboratory

New pyrimido[5,4-b]indoles and [1]benzothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines: High affinity ligands for the alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes

A number of new pyrimido[5,4-b]indole and [1]benzothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their binding and functional properties at a1-adrenergic receptor (alpha 1 AR) subtypes. They behaved as potent alpha 1-AR antagonists. In binding experiments, some of them (RC24 and RC23) showed very high affinity for the alpha 1D-AR subtype

3-arylpiperazinylethyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,7H)-dione derivatives as novel, high-affinity and selective alpha(1)-adrenoceptor ligands

The discovery of a new series of selective and high-affinity a1-adrenoceptor ( a1-AR) ligands, characterized by a 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,7H)-dione system, is described in this paper. Some synthesized compounds, including 20, 22, and 30, displayed affinity in the nanomolar range for a1-ARs and substantial selectivity with respect to 5-HT1A and dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors. Functional assays, performed on selected derivatives, showed antagonistic properties