| 1. |
- Almas, Muhammad Shoaib, et al.
(author)
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A method exploiting direct communication between phasor measurement units for power system wide-area protection and control algorithms
- 2017
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 4, s. 346-359
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Synchrophasor measurements from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are the primary sensors used to deploy Wide-Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC) systems. PMUs stream out synchrophasor measurements through the IEEE C37.118.2 protocol using TCP/IP or UDP/IP. The proposed method establishes a direct communication between two PMUs, thus eliminating the requirement of an intermediate phasor data concentrator, data mediator and/or protocol parser and thereby ensuring minimum communication latency without considering communication link delays. This method allows utilizing synchrophasor measurements internally in a PMU to deploy custom protection and control algorithms. These algorithms are deployed using protection logic equations which are supported by all the PMU vendors. Moreover, this method reduces overall equipment cost as the algorithms execute internally in a PMU and therefore does not require any additional controller for their deployment. The proposed method can be utilized for fast prototyping of wide-area measurements based protection and control applications. The proposed method is tested by coupling commercial PMUs as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) with Opal-RT’s eMEGAsim Real-Time Simulator (RTS). As illustrative example, anti-islanding protection application is deployed using proposed method and its performance is assessed. The essential points in the method are:• Bypassing intermediate phasor data concentrator or protocol parsers as the synchrophasors are communicated directly between the PMUs (minimizes communication delays).• Wide Area Protection and Control Algorithm is deployed using logic equations in the client PMU, therefore eliminating the requirement for an external hardware controller (cost curtailment)• Effortless means to exploit PMU measurements in an environment familiar to protection engineers
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| 2. |
- Alvarado-Kristensson, Maria
(author)
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A simple and fast method for fixation of cultured cell lines that preserves cellular structures containing gamma-tubulin
- 2018
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier BV. - 2215-0161. ; 5, s. 227-233
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- When using fluorescence microscope techniques to study cells, it is essential that the cell structure and contents are preserved after preparation of the samples, and that the preparation method employed does not create artefacts that can be perceived as cellular structure/components. γ-Tubulin forms filaments that in some cases are immunostained with an anti-γ-tubulin antibody, but this immunostaining is not reproducible [1,2]. In addition, the C terminal region of γ-tubulin (green fluorescence protein tagged [GFP]-γ-tubulin334––449) forms cytosolic GFP-labeled structures, which can easily be imaged in live cells but are not preserved in fixed cells [1,3]. The purpose of this study was to identify a fixation technique that preserves cellular constituents containing γ-tubulin. • This protocol describes a method that preserves γ-tubulin-containing structures in fixed cells.• The technique entails two-step fixation. A pre-fixation step using paraformaldehyde is followed by a final fixation and permeabilization step performed at −80 °C.• In comparison with other methodology for fixation [4–6], the technique presented here uses a short pre-fixation step with a mixture of paraformaldehyde and sucrose followed by a short fixation/permeabilization step with a mixture of methanol and acetone at −80 °C.
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| 3. |
- Amini, Kasra, et al.
(author)
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Space-technological and architectural methodology and process towards design of long-term habitats for scientific human missions on mars
- 2023
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier BV. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Centered on the core idea of long duration habitat design for research crew on Mars, the Martian Habitat Units (MHUs) are designed as a cluster of 10 units each with the maximum capacity of 9 crew members to live and carry on with the local challenges of scientific and exploratory life, while enjoying their lives as intellectual, social individuals in the harsh environment of Mars for durations in the order of magnitude of several years. This approach to the concept of a living environment in sharp contradiction to that of a shelter with the minimal capabilities to meet the requirements of terrestrial life to the point of survival, has led the outcoming design to be a fulfilling environment for the inhabitants of the units to evolve and thrive culturally, while being on a years-long mission. This manuscript provides detailed insight on the lessons learned of the aforementioned comprehensive design attempt with, but not limited to, the following core concerns: • The initial stand-point of such a design procedure relies on an ever increasing and comprehensive list of concerns, be it classically discussed in the literature and predictable, or unforeseen on the face of it, but to be prevented anyhow. The manuscript discusses the most crucial ones of such criteria/concerns. • The infamous saying of “Whatever that can go wrong, will go wrong” demands a rather complex level of redundancies in all layers of the design and the thought procedure behind its all aspects. The manuscript addresses the adequate steps towards its realization. • Modularity in all layers of the design plays a key role in reducing construction, maintenance, and installation costs, as for any deep space mission the mentioned expenses are astronomically high themselves. The manuscript presents our solution for geometric modularity of the design.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Bednarska, Izabela, et al.
(author)
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Complete solubilization of mammalian cells in lysates
- 2024
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In: MethodsX. - 2215-0161. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In conventional cell lysate protocols, cell debris is typically discarded to obtain a cleaner lysate. However, this approach has limitations, as it may overlook vital cellular components. By discarding cell debris, researchers may inadvertently exclude crucial elements. Retaining all cellular components offers several advantages for studying molecular biology within various cellular compartments. Firstly, it provides a more accurate representation of the cellular environment. Secondly, it enables the study of complex cellular interactions, including those involving cellular structures and signaling pathways associated with debris. This shift in perspective highlights the importance of a holistic approach to lysate preparation. By obtaining lysates that include all cellular components, researchers can gain deeper insights into cellular processes, leading to more accurate data and a better understanding of cellular function and dysfunction. This study aimed to develop a protocol for the preparation of total cell lysates that retain all cellular components, including debris. Our method involves:•A three-step solubilization process using a combination of detergents, saccharides, and chelators, coupled with sonication, in contrast to the classical one-step approach using an all-detergent cocktail.•A comprehensive strategy ensuring the solubilization of all cellular components, providing a more complete lysate for analysis.
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| 6. |
- Behboudian, Massoud, et al.
(author)
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Application of multi-agent decision-making methods in hydrological ecosystem services management
- 2023
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier BV. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper, a methodology is presented for managing hydrological ecosystem services by taking into account the hierarchy of stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. With this in mind, a water allocation model is first used for allocating water resources to demands. Then, several ecosystem services (ESs)-based criteria are defined to evaluate hydrological ESs of water resources management policies. A set of water and environmental resources management strategies (alternatives) are defined for decision-makers, and several drought management strategies are determined to decrease the area of key crops and water demands of agricultural nodes. To model a multi-agent multi-criteria decision-making problem for managing hydrological ESs, three main steps are considered as follows: • Different ES-based criteria (i.e., economic profit, NPP,1 and ecological index) are defined, and their grade-based values are estimated. • Several strategies are defined for stakeholders at different levels. • A recursive evidential reasoning (ER) approach, which considers a hierarchical structure for decision-makers and a leader-follower game, is used to select the best strategy for each decision-maker.The applicability and efficiency of the methodology are illustrated by applying it to a real-world case study. The methodology is general and can be easily applied to other study areas.
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| 7. |
- Bektas, Oguz, et al.
(author)
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A neural network framework for similarity-based prognostics
- 2019
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 6, s. 383-390
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Prognostic performance is associated with accurately estimating remaining useful life. Difficulty in accurate prognostic applications can be tackled by processing raw sensor readings into more meaningful and comprehensive health condition indicators that will then provide performance information for remaining useful life estimations. To that end, typically, multiple tasks on data pre-processing and predictions have to be carried out such that tasks can be assessed using different methodological aspects. However, incompatible methods may result in poor performance and consequently lead to undesirable error rates.The present research evaluates data training and prediction stages. A data-driven prognostic method based on a feed-forward neural network framework is first defined to calculate the performance of a complex system. Then, the health indicators are used in a similarity based remaining useful life estimation method. This framework presents a conceptual prognostic protocol that overcomes challenges presented by multi-regime condition monitoring data.
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| 8. |
- Bivehed, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Flash-comet assay
- 2020
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In: MethodsX. - : ELSEVIER. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the present paper, we present a substantially revised protocol of the widely used SCGE assay performed under alkaline conditions. In our updated version of the comet assay, which we call the Flash-comet, LiOH is used instead of NaOH during the unwinding and electrophoresis. This allows a higher voltage during the electrophoresis (5 V/cm instead of 0.7 V/cm), making it possible to reduce the unwinding time from 20 to 40 to 2.5 min, and the electrophoresis time from 10 to 20 to 1 min. Still, the Flash-comet was found to detect DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites with a higher degree of sensitivity than the conventional protocol in cells that had been exposed to H2O2 or ionizing radiation. In order to prevent alkaline hydrolysis of DNA, the wash and lysis solutions have been modified in the Flash-comet protocol. By using an alkaline LiOH-based medium, the Flash-comet allows for much shorter times for both unwinding and electrophoresis than the conventional comet assay without compromising the sensitivity. The reduced run-times of the unwinding and electrophoresis steps in the Flash-comet should also reduce the risk of laboratory-induced alkaline hydrolysis of DNA when evaluating the potential DNA-damaging effects of different types of xenobiotics.
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| 9. |
- Bravo, Andrea Garcia, et al.
(author)
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Cleaning and sampling protocol for analysis of mercury and dissolved organic matter in freshwater systems
- 2018
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In: MethodsX. - : Elsevier BV. - 1258-780X .- 2215-0161. ; 5, s. 1017-1026
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mercury (Hg), and in particular its methylated form (methylmercury, MeHg), is a hazardous substance with the potential to produce significant adverse neurological and other health effects. Enhanced anthropogenic emissions and long-range transport of atmospheric Hg have increased Hg concentrations above background levels in aquatic systems. In this context, the Minamata Convention, a global legally binding agreement that seeks to prevent human exposure to Hg, was signed and enforced by 128 countries, and today more than 90 Parties have ratified it. All these Parties have committed to develop Hg monitoring programs to report the effectiveness of the convention. For this purpose, we provide a standardized cleaning and water sampling protocol for the determination of total-Hg and MeHg in freshwaters at ambient levels. As Hg and organic matter are tightly bound, the protocol also describes sample collection for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition by fluorescence spectroscopy. This protocol is highly useful to non-experts without a prior background in Hg sampling and analysis, and can serve as a useful basis for national monitoring programs. Furthermore, this protocol should help increase quantitative inventories of DOC, inorganic-Hg (IHg) and MeHg concentrations and DOM composition in freshwater, which are severely lacking at a global scale. • Provides a standardized method to collect water samples for IHg, MeHg, DOC and DOM composition from freshwater ecosystems.
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| 10. |
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