A flexible AC distribution system device for a microgrid

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Smart distribution network device for microgrid applications

This paper focuses on the design of a smart distribution network device for improving the power quality and reliability of the overall power distribution system that the microgrid is connected to. The control design employs a newly developed Model Predictive Control algorithm which optimizes the steady-state and the transient control problems separately to achieve a faster computational time for large power systems. Kalman filters are also employed as state observers to identify the required signals needed for monitoring purposes as well as to extract the harmonic spectra of the grid voltage and the load currents. The design concept is verified through different test case scenarios to demonstrate the capability of the proposed device and the results obtained are discussed. © 2012 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Coordinated control and energy management of distributed generation inverters in a microgrid

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Haemobilia in a previously stented hilar cholangiocarcinoma: successful haemostasis after the insertion of fcSEMS

Haemobilia describes blood loss from the biliary tract and classically presents as Quincke's triad: upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. We discuss the case of a 70-year-old male with a previously stented Bismuth 1 hilar cholangiocarcinoma who presented with haematemesis. He had a similar presentation a month ago where a forward viewing gastroscope identified fresh and altered blood in the distal stomach but no clear source of bleeding. During this admission, a side-viewing duodenoscope identified bleeding from the periampullary region, which was managed by inserting a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (fcSEMS) within his pre-existing uncovered SEMS to tamponade the haemorrhage. This case highlights the importance of using a side-viewing duodenoscope for patients with UGIB on a background of a stented cholangiocarcinoma and inserting a fcSEMS within an uncovered SEMS is feasible and effective in managing these patients

Optical fibre-based environmental sensors utilizing wireless smart grid platform

With the advent and development of smart grid in recent years, traditional power grid is undergoing a profound revolution. By utilizing modern wireless technology and sensor, wireless smart grid (WSG) can effectively solve many hard and haunting issues in traditional grid, such as high maintenance costs, poor scalability, low efficiency and stability. In a WSG, data are collected by sensors at first and then transmitted to base station through wireless network. After receiving those data, corresponding actions are executed by control center. We present the integration of optical fibre-based sensor to WSG platform for real-time environmental monitoring. As a proof-of-concept, an optical fibre sensor for refractive index (RI) sensing of fresh water is adopted. The sensing mechanism relies on the reflectance at the fibre interface, where the intensity of the reflected spectra is registered corresponding to the change of the RI of the ambient environment. A sensitivity of 29.3 dB/RIU is achieved for the fabricated fibre sensor within the RI range of 1.33–1.46, and the acquired data is transmitted through wireless smart meters

An endophytic Taxol-producing fungus BT2 isolated from Taxus chinensis var. mairei

BT2, a newly isolated endophytic fungus from Taxus chinensis var. mairei, was observed to produce Taxol. Besides Taxol, a potent anticancer drug, BT2 could also yield taxane baccatin III, which was an important intermediate for Taxol and semi-synthesis of Taxol in industry. The isolation of such a fungusmay provide a promising alterative approach to produce Taxol, and BT2 can serve as a potential material for fungus engineering to improve Taxol productio

Salt content of instant noodles in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

Objective To determine the salt content in instant noodles sold in Malaysia. Study design A cross-sectional survey was done involving 707 different flavours and packaging of instant noodles sold in six hypermarkets and retailer chains in Malaysia and the corresponding brand's official websites in 2017. Methods The salt content (gram per serving and per 100 g) was collected from the product packaging and corresponding brand's official website. Results Of the 707 different packaging and flavours of instant noodles, only 62.1% (n=439) provided the salt content in their food label. The mean (±SD) salt per 100 g of instant noodles was 4.3±1.5 g and is nearly four times higher than the salt content of food classified in Malaysia as a high salt content (>1.2 g salt per 100 g). The salt content for instant noodle per packaging ranged from 0.7 to 8.5 g. 61.7% of the instant noodles exceeded the Pacific Salt Reduction Target, 11.8% exceeded the WHO recommended daily salt intake of <5.0 per day and 5.50% exceeded Malaysia Salt Action Target. 98% of instant noodles will be considered as high salt food according to the Malaysia Guidelines. The probability of the instant noodles without mixed flavour (n=324) exceeding the Pacific Salt Reduction Target was tested on univariate and multivariate analysis. Instant noodles with soup, Tom Yam flavour, pork flavour and other flavours were found to be predictors of instant noodles with the tendency to exceed Pacific Salt Reduction Target when compared with instant noodles without mixed flavours (p<0.05). Conclusion Only 62% of instant noodles displayed the salt content on their food label. Salt content in instant noodles is very high, with 90% exceeding the daily salt intake recommended by WHO. Prompt action from regulatory and health authorities is needed to reduce the salt content in instant noodles. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ

Novel phytoandrogens and lipidic augmenters from Eucommia ulmoides

BACKGROUND: Plants containing compounds such as the isoflavonoids, with female hormone-like effects that bind to human estrogen receptors, are known. But none has been previously shown to have corresponding male hormone-like effects that interact with the human androgen receptor. Here, we report that the tree bark (cortex) of the Gutta-Percha tree Eucommia ulmoides possesses bimodal phytoandrogenic and hormone potentiating effects by lipidic components. METHODS: The extracts of E. ulmoides were tested using in-vitro reporter gene bioassays and in-vivo animal studies. Key compounds responsible for the steroidogenic effects were isolated and identified using solid phase extraction (SPE), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), electron spray ionisation-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). RESULTS: The following bioactivities of E. ulmoides were found: (1) a phenomenal tripartite synergism exists between the sex steroid receptors (androgen and estrogen receptors), their cognate steroidal ligands and lipidic augmenters isolated from E. ulmoides, (2) phytoandrogenic activity of E. ulmoides was mediated by plant triterpenoids binding cognately to the androgen receptor (AR) ligand binding domain. CONCLUSION: In addition to well-known phytoestrogens, the existence of phytoandrogens is reported in this study. Furthermore, a form of tripartite synergism between sex steroid receptors, sex hormones and plant-derived lipids is described for the first time. This could have contrasting clinical applications for hypogonadal- and hyperlipidaemic-related disorders

Detection of NPM1 exon 12 mutations and FLT3 – internal tandem duplications by high resolution melting analysis in normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Molecular characterisation of normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) allows prognostic stratification and potentially can alter treatment choices and pathways. Approximately 45–60% of patients with NK-AML carry <it>NPM1 </it>gene mutations and are associated with a favourable clinical outcome when <it>FLT3</it>-internal tandem duplications (ITD) are absent. High resolution melting (HRM) is a novel screening method that enables rapid identification of mutation positive DNA samples.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed HRM assays to detect <it>NPM1 </it>mutations and <it>FLT3</it>-ITD and tested diagnostic samples from 44 NK-AML patients. Eight were <it>NPM1 </it>mutation positive only, 4 were both <it>NPM1 </it>mutation and <it>FLT3</it>-ITD positive and 4 were <it>FLT3</it>-ITD positive only. A novel point mutation Y572C (c.1715A>G) in exon 14 of <it>FLT3 </it>was also detected. In the group with <it>de novo </it>NK-AML, 40% (12/29) were <it>NPM1 </it>mutation positive whereas <it>NPM1 </it>mutations were observed in 20% (3/15) of secondary NK-AML cases. Sequencing was performed and demonstrated 100% concordance with the HRM results.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HRM is a rapid and efficient method of screening NK-AML samples for both novel and known <it>NPM1 </it>and <it>FLT3 </it>mutations. <it>NPM1 </it>mutations can be observed in both primary and secondary NK-AML cases.</p

Graphene-deposited photonic crystal fibers for continuous refractive index sensing applications

© 2015 Optical Society of America. We present a pilot demonstration of an optical fiber based refractive index (RI) sensor involving the deposition of graphene onto the surface of a segment of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in a fiber-based Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). The fabrication process is relatively simple and only involves the fusion splicing of a PCF between two single mode fibers. The deposition process relies only on the cold transfer of graphene onto the PCF segment, without the need for further physical or chemical treatment. The graphene overlay modified the sensing scheme of the MZI RI sensor, allowing the sensor to overcome limitations to its detectable RI range due to free spectral range issues. This modification also allows for continuous measurements to be obtained without the need for reference values for the range of RIs studied and brings to light the potential for simultaneous dual parameter sensing. The sensor was able to achieve a RI sensitivity of 9.4 dB/RIU for the RIs of 1.33-1.38 and a sensitivity of 17.5 dB/RIU for the RIs of 1.38-1.43. It also displayed good repeatability and the results obtained were consistent with the modeling