Enhancing reliability of energy absorbers in DC circuit breakers

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant No. 691714.Peer reviewedPostprin

Electronically controlled capacitive energy storage element for DC grids

The authors gratefully thank Mark Schneider from General Atomics for his contribution to the weight and cost analysis.Peer reviewedPostprin

Bidirectional Hybrid HVDC CB with a single HV Valve

Funding Information: This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant 691714. Paper no. TPWRD-01506-2018.Peer reviewedPostprin

Detailed electro-dynamic model of an ultra-fast disconnector including the failure mode

Acknowledgements This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant No. 691714. The authors are thankful to Mr R. Osborne from University of Aberdeen for help with the experimental studies.Peer reviewe

Backup Protection Algorithm for Failures in Modular DC Circuit Breakers

Funding: 10.13039/100010661-Horizon 2020 Framework ProgrammePeer reviewedPostprin

Generic and simplified HV DC circuit breaker models for grid-level studies

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant No. 691714.Postprin

Učinak gumene rešetkaste podne obloge na koncentraciju kortizola u pojedinačno držanih nazimica

It has been established that rubber mats improve lying comfort in stall-housed gilts at low ambient temperatures. The present study investigated whether rubber mats influence stress levels in gilts by improved lying comfort. The study was performed in a commercial pig farm service unit, during the 28-day breeding cycles in autumn and winter. During both cycles, the control and experimental groups of gilts (9 gilts each) were housed in gestation stalls with a concrete slatted floor; in the experimental groups, the floor was additionally coated with adjusted 2-cm thick rubber mat. Stress level was assessed by determination of cortisol concentrations in gilt serum on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 of each cycle, when the postural behaviour of gilts was observed. In both groups of gilts, serum cortisol was significantly lower (P<0.05) on day 28 as compared with day 1 in both breeding cycles. However, on day 28, significantly lower (P<0.05) serum cortisol was measured in the experimental group as compared with the control group. There was a negative correlation between cortisol concentrations and the time that experimental gilts spent lying in total, and lying laterally (r = -0.46 and r = -0.52, respectively, P<0.05) and a positive correlation between cortisol concentrations and time spent standing (r = 0.43, P<0.05). In the control group, there was no significant correlation between serum cortisol concentrations and the postures observed, except for sitting (r = 0.55, P<0.05), but a correlation was recorded between cortisol concentrations and posture changing (r = 0.33, P<0.05). In conclusion, the use of rubber mats proved to be an efficient management tool to reduce stress levels in gilts by improving their lying comfort.Kao što je prethodno utvrđeno, gumene podne obloge tijekom niskih okolišnih temperatura poboljšavaju udobnost pri ležanju pojedinačno držanih nazimica. U ovom radu istraživano je utječu li gumene podne obloge na stupanj stresa nazimica kroz poboljšanu udobnost pri ležanju. Istraživanje je provedeno u pripustilištu komercijalne svinjogojske farme tijekom 28-dnevnog proizvodnog ciklusa u jesen i zimi. Tijekom oba ciklusa kontrolna i pokusna skupina nazimica (9 nazimica svaka) bile su smještene u odjeljcima za pojedinačno držanje tijekom gravidnosti, s betonskim rešetkastim podom. U pokusnim skupinama pod je dodatno bio prekriven prilagođenom 2 cm debelom gumenom podnom oblogom. Stupanj stresa procjenjivao se određivanjem koncentracije kortizola u krvnom serumu nazimica 1., 8., 15. i 28. dana svakog ciklusa, kada je promatrano i posturalno ponašanje nazimica. Koncentracija kortizola u serumu nazimica obiju skupina bila je značajno manja (P<0,05) 28. u odnosu na 1. dan obaju proizvodnih ciklusa. Ipak, značajno manja vrijednost (P<0,05) utvrđena je 28. dana u pokusnoj skupini nazimica. Između koncentracije kortizola i vremena koje su nazimice pokusne skupine provele ukupno ležeći, odnosno ležeći na boku, ustanovljena je negativna povezanost (r=-0,46, odnosno r = -0,52; P<0,05), a vremena provedenog u stojećem položaju pozitivna povezanost (r = 0,43; P<0,05). U kontrolnoj skupini između koncentracije kortizola i promatranih položaja, izuzev sjedenja (r = 0,55; P<0,05), nije bilo značajne povezanosti, no bilo je između koncentracije kortizola i izmjena položaja (r = 0,33; P<0,05). Zaključno, uporaba gumene podne obloge pokazala se učinkovitim proizvodnim sredstvom za smanjenje stupnja stresa nazimica kroz njihovu poboljšanu udobnost pri ležanju

Serological and cellular response to mRNA-SARS-CoV2 vaccine in patients with hematological lymphoid malignancies: Results of the study “Cervax”

messenger RNA (mRNA)-Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccines such as BNT162b2 became available in late 2020, but hematological malignancy patients (HM pts) were not evaluated in initial registration trials. We hereby report the results of a prospective, unicentric, observational study Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in hEmatological malignancies (CERVAX) developed to assess the postvaccine serological and T-cell-mediated response in a cohort of SARS-CoV2-negative HM pts vaccinated with BNT162b2. Patients with lymphomas [non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)], chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM); off-therapy for at least 3 months; in a watch-and-wait program; or in treatment with ibrutinib, venetoclax, and lenalidomide were included. Different time points were considered to assess the serological response to the vaccine: before the second dose (T1), at 3–6–12 months after the first dose (T2–3–4, respectively). Since March 2021, 39 pts have been enrolled: 15 (38%) NHL, 12 (31%) CLL, and 12 (31%) MM. There were 13 of the 39 pts (33%) seroconverted at T1; an increase of the serological response was registered after the second dose (T2) (22/39 pts, 56%) and maintained after 6 months (22/39 pts, 56%) and 12 months (24/39 pts, 61%) from the first dose (T3–T4, respectively). Non-serological responders at T4 were 7/39 (18%): 0/15 NHL, 1/12 MM (8%), and 6/12 CLL (50%). All of them were on therapy (one lenalidomide, three ibrutinib, and three venetoclax). SARS-CoV2-reactive T-cell analysis (interferon gamma release assays) was available since June 2022 and was evaluated at 12 months (T4) from the first dose of vaccine in 31/39 pts (79%). T-cell-mediated-responders were 17/31 (55%): most of them were NHL and MM (47%, 41% and 12% for NHL, MM, and CLL, respectively). Both serological and T-cell non-responders were represented by pts on active therapy (venetoclax/ibrutinib). During the period of observation, eight (20.5%) pts developed mild SARS-CoV2 infection; no coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-related deaths or hospitalizations were registered. In conclusion, in our cohort of lymphoproliferative pts receiving BNT162b2, CLL diagnosis and venetoclax/ibrutinib seem to be related with a lower humoral or T-mediated response. Nevertheless, the efficacy of mRNA vaccine in HM pts and the importance to continue the vaccine program even in non-responders after the first dose are supported in our study by demonstrating that a humoral and T-cell-mediated seroconversion should be observed even in the subsets of heavily immunocompromised pts

Lower dose rituximab is active in adults patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Rituximab 375 mg/m2weekly for four weeks has significant activity in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. We evaluated the activity of lower dose rituximab (100 mg iv weekly for 4 weeks) in 28 adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Overall (platelet count &gt; 50×109/L) and complete responses (platelet count &gt; 100×109/L) were achieved in 21/28 (75%) and 12/28 (43%) patients respectively. The median time to response and time to complete response were 31 and 44 days respectively. After a median follow-up of 11 months (range 3-18), 7/21 (33%) patients relapsed and 3 needed further treatments. In patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, lower dose rituximab seems to show similar activity to standard dose. ©2008 Ferrata Storti Foundation