(Virtual) Agents for running electricity markets

This paper describes a multi-agent based simulation (MABS) framework to construct an artificial electric power market populated with learning agents. The artificial market, named TEMMAS (The Electricity Market Multi-Agent Simulator), explores the integration of two design constructs: (i) the specification of the environmental physical market properties and (ii) the specification of the decision-making (deliberative) and reactive agents. TEMMAS is materialized in an experimental setup involving distinct power generator companies that operate in the market and search for the trading strategies that best exploit their generating units' resources. The experimental results show a coherent market behavior that emerges from the overall simulated environment.

Wavelength Selective a-SiC:H p-i-n/p-i-n Heterostructure for Fluorescent Proteins Detection

In this paper we present results on the optimization of multilayered a-SiC:H heterostructures that can be used as optical transducers for fluorescent proteins detection using the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer approach. Double structures composed by pin based aSiC:H cells are analyzed. The color discrimination is achieved by ac photocurrent measurement under different externally applied bias. Experimental data on spectral response analysis, current-voltage characteristics and color and transmission rate discrimination are reported. An electrical model, supported by a numerical simulation gives insight into the device operation. Results show that the optimized a-SiC:H heterostructures act as voltage controlled optical filters in the visible spectrum. When the applied voltages are chosen appropriately those optical transducers can detect not only the selective excitation of specimen fluorophores, but also the subsequent weak acceptor fluorescent channel emission.

Commercial agents portfolio optimization in electricity markets

As it is well known, competitive electricity markets require new computing tools for power companies that operate in retail markets in order to enhance the management of its energy resources. During the last years there has been an increase of the renewable penetration into the micro-generation which begins to co-exist with the other existing power generation, giving rise to a new type of consumers. This paper develops a methodology to be applied to the management of the all the aggregators. The aggregator establishes bilateral contracts with its clients where the energy purchased and selling conditions are negotiated not only in terms of prices but also for other conditions that allow more flexibility in the way generation and consumption is addressed. The aggregator agent needs a tool to support the decision making in order to compose and select its customers' portfolio in an optimal way, for a given level of profitability and risk.

Nanofiltration of Cork Wastewaters and Their Possible Use in Leather Industry as Tanning Agents

Cork processing wastewater is a very complex mixture of vegetal extracts and has, among other natural compounds, a very high content of phenolic/tannic colloidal matter that is responsible for severe environmental problems. In the present work, the concentration of this wastewater by nanofiltration was investigated with the aim of producing a cork tannin concentrate to be utilized in tanning. Permeation results showed that the permeate fluxes are controlled by both osmotic pressure and fouling/gel layer phenomena, leading to a rapid decrease of permeate fluxes with the concentration factor. The rejection coefficients to organic matter were higher than 95%, indicating that nanofiltration has a very good ability to concentrate the tannins and produce a permeate stream depleted from organic matter. The cork tannin concentrate obtained by nanofiltration and evaporation had total solids concentration of 34.8 g/l. The skins tanned by this concentrate were effectively converted to leather with a shrinking temperature of 7 degrees C.

Molecular imaging agents for detection of β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease

The formation of amyloid structures is a neuropathological feature that characterizes several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s disease. Up to now, the definitive diagnosis of these diseases can only be accomplished by immunostaining of post mortem brain tissues with dyes such Thioflavin T and congo red. Aiming at early in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease (AD), several amyloid-avid radioprobes have been developed for b-amyloid imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of this paper is to present a perspective of the available amyloid imaging agents, special those that have been selected for clinical trials and are at the different stages of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approval.

A new fluorescent double-cavity calix[4]arene: synthesis and complexation studies toward nitroanilines

Agência Financiadora: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/MCTES (Portugal) - PEst-OE/EQB/UI0702/2012

Genotoxic assessment in different exposure groups working with antineoplastic agents

Antioneoplastic drugs are widely used in treatment of cancer, and several studies suggest acute and long-term effects associated to antineoplastic drug exposures, namely associating workplace exposure with health effects. Cytokinesis blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay is one promising short-term genotoxicity assays for human risk assessment and their combination is recommended to monitor populations chronically exposed to genotoxic agents. The aim of this investigation is the genotoxicity assessment in different professionals that handle cytostatics drugs. This research is case-control blinded study constituted by 46 non-exposed subjects and 44 workers that handle antineoplastic drugs, such as pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and nurses. It was found statistically significant increases in the genotoxicity biomarkers in exposed comparising with controls (p<0.05). The findings address the need for regular biomonitoring of personnel occupationally exposed to these drugs, confirming to an enhanced health risk assessment.

Substituted P-Phenylene Ethynylene trimers as fluorescent sensors for nitroaromatic explosives

New sensory materials based on p-phenylene ethynylene trimers integrating calix[4]arene receptors (CALIX-PET) and tert-butylphenol (TBP-PET) moieties have been synthesized and their sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) such as nitrobenzene (NB), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and picric acid (PA) investigated in fluid phase and solid-state. It was found that both fluorophores displayed high sensitivities toward NACs detection in solution as evaluated by the Stern-Volmer formalism. For all the tested explosives, the ratio of fluorescence intensities (F-0/F) is a linear function of the quencher concentration only after appropriate correction of fluorescence quenching data for inner-filter effects. The quenching efficiencies for CALIX-PET and TBP-PET follow the order PA >> TNT > DNT > NB, which correlate well with the quenchers electron affinities as evaluated from their LUMOs energies thereby suggesting a photoinduced electron transfer as the dominant mechanism of fluorescence quenching. The selectivity of these sensors was checked against exemplar interferents possessing differentiated electronic properties (benzoic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenol and benzoquinone) and reduced quenching activity was detected. The quenching efficiencies and response times of the two fluorophores in the solid-state toward NB, 2,4-DNT and TNT vapors were evaluated through steady-state fluorescence quenching experiments with the materials dispersed in polymeric matrices or as neat films. The most significant fluorescence quenching responses were achieved for drop-casted films of TBP-PET upon exposure to nitroaromatics.

Non-enzymatic assay for glucose by using immobilized whole-cells of E. coli containing glucose binding protein fused to fluorescent proteins

Glucose monitoring in vivo is a crucial issue for gaining new understanding of diabetes. Glucose binding protein (GBP) fused to two fluorescent indicator proteins (FLIP) was used in the present study such as FLIP-glu- 3.2 mM. Recombinant Escherichia coli whole-cells containing genetically encoded nanosensors as well as cell-free extracts were immobilized either on inner epidermis of onion bulb scale or on 96-well microtiter plates in the presence of glutaraldehyde. Glucose monitoring was carried out by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) analysis due the cyano and yellow fluorescent proteins (ECFP and EYFP) immobilized in both these supports. The recovery of these immobilized FLIP nanosensors compared with the free whole-cells and cell-free extract was in the range of 50–90%. Moreover, the data revealed that these FLIP nanosensors can be immobilized in such solid supports with retention of their biological activity. Glucose assay was devised by FRET analysis by using these nanosensors in real samples which detected glucose in the linear range of 0–24 mM with a limit of detection of 0.11 mM glucose. On the other hand, storage and operational stability studies revealed that they are very stable and can be re-used several times (i.e. at least 20 times) without any significant loss of FRET signal. To author's knowledge, this is the first report on the use of such immobilization supports for whole-cells and cell-free extract containing FLIP nanosensor for glucose assay. On the other hand, this is a novel and cheap high throughput method for glucose assay.