Avoiding voltage collapse by fast active power rescheduling

Basic ideas for a method where the active power production is rescheduled in an automatic (fast) way to increase the loadability of the power system during a voltage instability are presented. Active power production is a parameter that is controllable during this instability phase and it may have a positive influence on the system vulnerability to collapse, especially when current limitations of the generators are involved. Depending on the strength of the system, two major objectives can be distinguished: to strengthen a local area from collapsing or to avoid an increase of the voltage depressed area.     

A Model for Explosive Reactive Armor Interaction with Shaped Charge Jet

Study of interaction of explosive reactive armor (ERA) with shaped charge jet is the basis for evaluation of the effectiveness of ERA. The physically based theoretical model of this interaction is given. It is incorporated in the NERA computer code. The influences of backward moving plate and forward moving plate thickness, explosive layer thickness, jet attack angle, and distance between ERA and main armor are investigated. The comprehensive analysis of a longitudinal point of impact effect on ERA efficiency, based on NERA code calculations, is presented. Computational results of NERA code are compared with experimental data. The computational and experimental results of penetration in the steel armour target are in good agreement. The developed code enables optimization of explosive reactive armor characteristics.     

Deciphering the Epigenetic Alphabet Involved in Transgenerational Stress Memory in Crops

Although epigenetic modifications have been intensely investigated over the last decade due to their role in crop adaptation to rapid climate change, it is unclear which epigenetic changes are heritable and therefore transmitted to their progeny. The identification of epigenetic marks that are transmitted to the next generations is of primary importance for their use in breeding and for the development of new cultivars with a broad-spectrum of tolerance/resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. In this review, we discuss general aspects of plant responses to environmental stresses and provide an overview of recent findings on the role of transgenerational epigenetic modifications in crops. In addition, we take the opportunity to describe the aims of EPI-CATCH, an international COST action consortium composed by researchers from 28 countries. The aim of this COST action launched in 2020 is: (1) to define standardized pipelines and methods used in the study of epigenetic mechanisms in plants, (2) update, share, and exchange findings in epigenetic responses to environmental stresses in plants, (3) develop new concepts and frontiers in plant epigenetics and epigenomics, (4) enhance dissemination, communication, and transfer of knowledge in plant epigenetics and epigenomics.     

The New Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease which is characterized by extremely complex pathogenetic mechanisms and multifactorial etiology. Some of the many pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of NAFLD include oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial metabolism, inflammation, gut microbiota, and interaction between the brain-liver-axis and the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. The new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of NAFLD are targeting some of these milestones along the pathophysiological pathway and include drugs like agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, sodium/glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists, probiotics, and symbiotics. Further efforts in biomedical sciences should focus on the investigation of the relationship between the microbiome, liver metabolism, and response to inflammation, systemic consequences of metabolic syndrome.     

Crystallization and rheological properties of soya milk chocolate produced in a ball mill

The aim of this paper is to define the optimal conditions for the pre-crystallization of chocolate produced in a ball mill, that contains 20% soya milk. Chocolate mass and soya milk are refined in a ball mill employing three refining times (30, 60 and 90 min) and pre-crystallization temperatures (26, 28 and 30 °C).