FCH2RAIL insights: Demonstration of the Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack

In the EU project FCH2RAIL the project partners are developing and testing a new kind of power source for train applications: The Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack. This bi-mode hybrid powertrain system combines the electrical power supply from the overhead line with the emission-free hybrid power pack. It consists of fuel cells and batteries and it is designed that power and range can be scaled based on a modular principle: The number of fuel cell and batteries influences the drive power; the number of hydrogen tanks defines the range on non-electrified lines. For more than 18 exciting months the FCH2RAIL partners have been working intensively on the development of the Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack. Now the time has come to share the recent highlights related to testing of the innovative power pack and the demonstrator train

The EU Project FCH2RAIL - Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack for Rail Applications

The project FCH2RAIL aims to combine the advantages of electric traction with overhead catenary and fuel cell hybrid powertrain for non-electrified track in a Bi-mode multiple unit. The intention is to replace the polluting diesel powertrain currently used on non-electrified tracks by a Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack (FCHPP). This FCHPP is consisting of fuel cells and batteries; it will reduce emissions significantly and still have a highly-efficient catenary-electric powertrain in the same multiple unit. The main tasks and results of FCH2RAIL project are: 1. to develop, build, test and homologate a Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack (FCHPP). This scalable, modular and multi-purpose energy source shall be applicable for new vehicles in different rail applications (Multiple Unit, Mainline and Shunting Loco) and also suitable for retrofitting existing trains. 2. to demonstrate FCHPP in a Bi-mode Civia commuter multiple unit. This demonstrator will use external energy supply in catenary operation and the fuel cell hybrid system on non-electrified sections. 3. to identify and benchmark innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency in fuel cell trains. The competitiveness of fuel cell traction against existing diesel solutions shall be demonstrated, and the energy saving potentials of innovative HVAC systems will be analysed. 4. to propose a normative framework for hydrogen in railway vehicles, to identify Gaps in existing hydrogen and railway standards and to contribute to existing standardisation activities

Chlorophyll a fluorescence in transplants of Parmelia sulcata Taylor near a power station (La Robla, Leon, Spain)

Healthy thalli of Parmelia sulcata Taylor were transplanted to 8 localities in the surroundings of a power station (La Robla, Leon, Spain), the sole pollution source in the region. Changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence were monitored in the transplants 12 months, 18 months and 24 months after transplantation. Statistically significant differences were observed in the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence, non-photochemical fluorescence quenching and vitality index. The decrease in fluorescence parameters was higher in the localities of Cuadros and Rabanal de Fenar, which are situated a few kilometres away from the power station and in the same direction as the prevailing winds

Four-Dimensional Characterization of the Babesia divergens Asexual Life Cycle, from the Trophozoite to the Multiparasite Stage.

Babesia is an apicomplexan parasite of significance that causes the disease known as babesiosis in domestic and wild animals and in humans worldwide. Babesia infects vertebrate hosts and reproduces asexually by a form of binary fission within erythrocytes/red blood cells (RBCs), yielding a complex pleomorphic population of intraerythrocytic parasites. Seven of them, clearly visible in human RBCs infected with Babesia divergens, are considered the main forms and named single, double, and quadruple trophozoites, paired and double paired pyriforms, tetrad or Maltese Cross, and multiparasite stage. However, these main intraerythrocytic forms coexist with RBCs infected with transient parasite combinations of unclear origin and development. In fact, little is understood about how Babesia builds this complex population during its asexual life cycle. By combining cryo-soft X-ray tomography and video microscopy, main and transitory parasites were characterized in a native whole cellular context and at nanometric resolution. The architecture and kinetics of the parasite population was observed in detail and provide additional data to the previous B. divergens asexual life cycle model that was built on light microscopy. Importantly, the process of multiplication by binary fission, involving budding, was visualized in live parasites for the first time, revealing that fundamental changes in cell shape and continuous rounds of multiplication occur as the parasites go through their asexual multiplication cycle. A four-dimensional asexual life cycle model was built highlighting the origin of several transient morphological forms that, surprisingly, intersperse in a chronological order between one main stage and the next in the cycle.IMPORTANCE Babesiosis is a disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites, which possess many clinical features that are similar to those of malaria. This worldwide disease is increasing in frequency and geographical range and has a significant impact on human and animal health. Babesia divergens is one of the species responsible for human and cattle babesiosis causing death unless treated promptly. When B. divergens infects its vertebrate hosts, it reproduces asexually within red blood cells. During its asexual life cycle, B. divergens builds a population of numerous intraerythrocytic (IE) parasites of difficult interpretation. This complex population is largely unexplored, and we have therefore combined three- and four-dimensional imaging techniques to elucidate the origin, architecture, and kinetics of IE parasites. Unveiling the nature of these parasites has provided a vision of the B. divergens asexual cycle in unprecedented detail and is a key step to develop control strategies against babesiosis.This study was funded by grants from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad from Spain (AGL2010-21774, AGL2014-56193-R to E.M. and L.M.G., and BFU2013-43149-R to D.L.). Cryo-SXT experiments were funded by ALBA synchrotron from Barcelona, Spain (proposals 2016021614 and 2017022084) and performed at MISTRAL beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff. E.S. was awarded a research fellowship from Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación.S

Loss of Lipooligosaccharide Synthesis in Acinetobacter baumannii Produces Changes in Outer Membrane Vesicle Protein Content

International audienceOuter membrane vesicles (OMVs) are nanostructures derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. We previously demonstrated that vaccination with endotoxin-free OMVs isolated from an Acinetobacter baumannii strain lacking lipooligosaccharide (LOS) biosynthesis, due to a mutation in lpxD, provides full protection in a murine sepsis model. The present study characterizes the protein content of highly-purified OMVs isolated from LOS-replete and LOS-deficient strains. Four purification methods were evaluated to obtain highly purified OMV preparations: ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), ultracentrifugation followed by SEC, and Optiprep (TM). OMVs from each method were characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis and electron microscopy. OMVs from LOS-deficient and LOS-replete strains purified using the Optiprep (TM) method were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to determine protein content. Significant differences in protein composition between OMVs from LOS-deficient and LOS-replete strains were found. Computational analyses using Bepipred 3.0 and SEMA 2.0 indicated that the lack of LOS led to the overexpression of immunogenic proteins found in LOS-containing OMVs and the presence of immune-stimulating proteins absent in LOS-replete OMVs. These findings have important implications for developing OMV-based vaccines against A. baumannii, using both LOS-containing and LOS-free OMVs preparations

IMPACT-2 D4.3 - Reviewed quantitative KPI model

The deliverable documents the methodology and results of the first integrated SPD assessment considering the majority of impacts of the Technical Demonstrators of Shift2Rail on the Key Performance Indicators Life-Cycle Cost, Capacity and Punctuality&Reliabilty. More complex topics have been integrated as well as further detailling of the KPI model. Acknowledgment: The results leading to this publication have received funding from the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant agreement No 777513 for the project “Indicator Monitoring for a new railway PAradigm in seamlessly integrated Cross modal Transport chains – Phase 2”, IMPACT-2. Disclaimer: The publication reflects only the author’s view. The JU is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contain

Characterization of 5-HT receptors on human pulmonary artery and vein: functional and binding studies

1. This study aimed to investigate the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors mediating contraction of ring preparations isolated from human pulmonary arteries and veins. In functional studies, the responses to 5-HT, sumatriptan, ergotamine, serotonin-O-carboxymethyl-glycyl-tyrosinamide (SCMGT), α-methyl 5-HT (α-Me) and 2-methyl 5-HT (2-Me) were studied with WAY100635, GR127935, ritanserin, zacopride and SB204070 as antagonists. 2. All agonists produced concentration-dependent contractions of human pulmonary artery and vein preparations. The order of potency (−log EC(50) values) was ergotamine (6.88)>5-HT (6.41)⩾SCMGT (6.20)=sumatriptan (6.19) ⩾α-Me (6.04) in the artery, and ergotamine (7.84)>5-HT (6.96)>sumatriptan (6.60)=α-Me (6.56)>SCMGT (6.09) in the vein. The potency of each agonist, except for SCMGT, was greater in vein than in artery preparations. Contractile responses to 5-HT were similar in intact and endothelium-denuded preparations but responses to sumatriptan were enhanced in artery rings without endothelium. 3. GR127935 (1 nM to 0.5 μM) produced an unsurmountable antagonism of the response to 5-HT, sumatriptan, ergotamine and SCMGT. Ritanserin (1 nM to 1 μM) also reduced the maximum contractile responses to 5-HT, ergotamine and α-Me in artery and vein preparations without affecting those to sumatriptan and SCMGT. In endothelium-denuded preparations, surmountable antagonism of sumatriptan by GR127935 (in the presence of ritanserin) and of α-Me by ritanserin (in the presence of GR127935) allowed for the calculation of the apparent pK(B) values of GR127935 (9.17±0.11 in artery and 9.11±0.05 in vein) and ritanserin (8.82±0.09 in artery and 8.98±0.12 in vein). 4. WAY100635 (1 nM to 1 μM), zacopride (1 nM to 1 μM), or SB204070 (1 nM) did not significantly alter the concentration-response curves for 5-HT, sumatriptan, ergotamine, SCMGT or 2-Me in human pulmonary artery or vein thus indicating that 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(3) and 5-HT(4) receptors are presumably not involved in the contractile response to these agonists. 5. Binding studies using selective radioligands for different 5-HT receptors could not detect the presence of 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in human pulmonary blood vessels whereas the 5-HT(1B/1D) radioligand [(3)H]-5-CT significantly labelled a population of specific binding sites in both vessel types. The presence of 5-HT(2A) receptors could also be inferred from the level of binding of [(3)H]-ketanserin to membranes obtained from human pulmonary vessels, although significance could not be reached for arteries. 5-HT(4) specific receptor binding was scarce in veins and absent in the case of arteries. 6. These findings indicate that the human pulmonary artery and vein have a mixed functional population of 5-HT(1B/1D) and 5-HT(2A) receptors mediating the contractile response to 5-HT which is consistent with results of the binding studies

Observation of WWWWWW Production in pppp Collisions at s\sqrt s =13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

International audienceThis Letter reports the observation of $WWW$ production and a measurement of its cross section using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with two same-sign leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets, as well as events with three charged leptons, are selected. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. Events from $WWW$ production are observed with a significance of 8.0 standard deviations, where the expectation is 5.4 standard deviations. The inclusive $WWW$ production cross section is measured to be $820 \pm 100\,\text{(stat)} \pm 80\,\text{(syst)}$ fb, approximately 2.6 standard deviations from the predicted cross section of $511 \pm 18$ fb calculated at next-to-leading-order QCD and leading-order electroweak accuracy

Observation of WWWWWW Production in pppp Collisions at s\sqrt s =13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

International audienceThis Letter reports the observation of $WWW$ production and a measurement of its cross section using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with two same-sign leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets, as well as events with three charged leptons, are selected. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. Events from $WWW$ production are observed with a significance of 8.0 standard deviations, where the expectation is 5.4 standard deviations. The inclusive $WWW$ production cross section is measured to be $820 \pm 100\,\text{(stat)} \pm 80\,\text{(syst)}$ fb, approximately 2.6 standard deviations from the predicted cross section of $511 \pm 18$ fb calculated at next-to-leading-order QCD and leading-order electroweak accuracy