Reserve Capacity Research Articles

Day-ahead and Reserve Prices in a Renewable-based Power System: Adapting Electricity-market Design for Energy Storage

Decarbonizing the power mix will require investments in storage and flexibility options to replace the current carbon-intensive supply of reserves. This paper questions whether reserve-capacity markets can serve as a capacity mechanism for flexible technologies. A fundamental model of the day-ahead and reserve markets is used to investigate the evolution of reserve prices with large shares of renewable energy and storage. The model represents the current market design in Continental Europe with a centralized supply and platforms for the exchange of reserves. By becoming the main suppliers of reserve capacity, batteries have a noticeable impact on reserve prices. Their flexibility implies zero opportunity cost most of the time, meaning that the flexibility is not rewarded by the market. These results suggest that reserve-capacity markets cannot provide additional remuneration for flexible technologies and, thus, do not solve the missing-money problem in the context of the energy transition. JEL Classification: Q41, Q47

Therapeutic strategies to ameliorate mitochondrial oxidative stress in ischaemia-reperfusion injury: A narrative review.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) play a crucial physiological role in intracellular signalling. However, high levels of ROS can overwhelm antioxidant defences and lead to detrimental modifications in protein, lipid and DNA structure and function. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury is a multifaceted pathological state characterised by excessive production of mROS. There is a significant clinical need for therapies mitigating mitochondrial oxidative stress. To date, a variety of strategies have been investigated, ranging from enhancing antioxidant reserve capacity to metabolism reduction. While success has been achieved in non-clinical models, no intervention has yet successfully transitioned into routine clinical practice. In this article, we explore the different strategies investigated and discuss the possible reasons for the lack of translation.

Internal Curing with Lightweight Aggregate: The Common Sense Contribution to Sustainable Concrete Pavements

Internal Curing (IC) has been used in concrete for more than 100 years in which the main usage of lightweight aggregate (LWA) was to decrease the density of the concrete. However, over the last decade, the research community has observed additional benefits of IC. This paper summarizes the main benefits obtained when using IC in normalweight concrete, with the final purpose of enhancing its durability by means of reducing shrinkage cracking and fluid transport properties while maintaining strength. At the same time it improves the aggregate-paste interface and the cement hydration, making more efficient use of the cement. More durable concrete infrastructures are expected, yielding more sustainable solutions. Lightweight aggregates are typically used for providing IC in concrete. Even though lightweight aggregates require energy to manufacture, when evaluated from a lifecycle perspective the overall economical and environmental impact of a pavement or structure is almost always lowered. The recent Auburn University and Purdue University research indicating reduced micro cracking and shrinkage, and increased ‘reserve capacity’ for temperature effects during construction will also be covered, with examples of how this research is being tested in real world concrete pavements and structures. Real projects will then be presented that show how internal curing improves concrete pavement performance.

Соотношение иммунокомпетентных клеток и индекса NLR у мужчин экстремальных профессий (гидрографов) в Арктическом регионе РФ

Rotational shift work in the Arctic region's northern seas has a substantial influence on the physiological condition of the human body and has a high risk of reducing reserve capacities, particularly the immune system. Assessing immune homeostasis by identifying immune balance, specifically the levels of expression of lymphoproliferation and lymphoapoptosis markers that determine the body's susceptibility to diseases, is important for maintaining public health in the Arctic region's extreme climatic and professional environments. The aim of this study is to assess the ratio of lymphocyte phenotypes CD10, CD71, CD95 and the NLR index in men working on rotating shifts in the Arctic. Materials and Methods. The study comprised 65 healthy adults aged 43,2±2,7 years: 45 males working rotating shifts of less than 3 months, 3 to 6 months, and more than 6 months, and 20 male residents (control). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocytes with the CD10 marker to CD95, and lymphocytes with the CD71 marker to CD95 were estimated. Results. The median neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) among rotating shift hydrographers is within the ideal normal range (1-2), regardless of shift duration, as in contrast to permanent residents, whose median NLR is stress-increased (2-3). In rotating shift workers, the CD10/CD95 ratio is balanced between 0.85 and 1.15, with evidence of a relative rise in CD10 expression levels with shift durations of more than 6 months. In 65% of Arctic inhabitants, CD10 expression levels are quite low. The CD71/CD95 ratio is balanced between 0.85 and 1.1, regardless of shift duration or permanent residence in the Arctic region. Conclusions. In the investigated hydrographers, fluctuations in the median NLR and the CD10/95 ratio are associated with the duration of the shift; the median CD71/95 ratio is least susceptible to fluctuations in both rotating shift workers and the control group; the CD71/95 ratio is stable, determines the immune balance of the surveyed, and can be used to assess the immune system's adaptability to Arctic conditions. Keywords: Arctic, Immune balance, Lymphoproliferation, Lymphopoptosis, Rotational shiftwork, Hydrographers

Inertia Support Capability Evaluation for Wind Turbine Generators Based on Symmetrical Operation

With the increasing integration of new energy into the grid, the level of system inertia has been significantly reduced, posing a severe challenge to frequency stability. Consequently, there is an urgent need for wind turbine generators (WTGs) to actively provide inertia support through virtual inertia control. Assessing the inertia support capability of WTGs reasonably and setting appropriate controller parameters based on this assessment is a topic worthy of discussion. As WTGs’ characteristics are mostly ignored in the evaluation of inertia support capability for WTGs, an evaluation method based on symmetrical operation is proposed. The proposed method considers the impact of real inertia and aerodynamic characteristics, thereby helping to determine reasonable virtual inertia coefficients and de-loading reserve capacity for WTGs. With the proposed method, it can be determined that large WTGs can provide inertia support capabilities close to those of synchronous generators to the grid without exceeding a 0.1% reduction in reserve capacity during de-loading operation.

Effects of Socioeconomic Status on the Health of Menopausal Mothers in Multicultural Families in Korea: A Test of the Reserve Capacity Model.

Based on the Reserve Capacity Model, this study examined the effect of SES(socioeconomic status) on health status on the health status of menopausal mothers of multicultural families, focusing on mediating effects of self-esteem, assimilation, integration, separation, marginalization, and daily life stress. This is a cross-sectional survey study with secondary analysis of national data on 683 perimenopausal mothers in multicultural families from the 9th Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study surveyed by the Korea Youth Policy Institute in 2019. The subjects were women aged 45-55years and foreign nationals by origin. For path analysis using observed variables, the Mplus 8.4 program was used. Self-esteem and integration were positively related to health status and negatively related to marginalization and daily life stress. Health status was higher when self-esteem and integration were high, and work-life stress and marginalization were low. To improve the perceived health status of menopausal women in multicultural families, rather than simply focusing on SES through support for employment status and income, it is necessary to improve self-esteem by resolving difficulties caused by SES and cultural adaptation to relieve stress in daily life and to provide multidimensional coping resources that can improve health by lowering risk.

Mobility as a Resource (MaaR) for Resilient Human-Centric Automation – A Vision Paper

With technological advances, mobility has been moving from a product (i.e., traditional modes and vehicles), to a service (i.e., Mobility as a Service, MaaS). However, as observed in other fields (e.g., cloud computing resource management) we argue that mobility will evolve from a service to a resource (i.e., “Mobility as a Resource”, MaaR). Further, due to increasing scarcity of shared-mobility spaces across traditional and emerging modes, the transition must be viewed within the critical need for ethical and equitable solutions for the traveling public (i.e., research is needed to avoid hyper-market driven outcomes for society). The evolution of mobility into a resource requires novel conceptual frameworks, technologies, processes and perspectives of analysis. A key component of the future MaaR system is the technological capacity to observe, allocate and manage (in real-time) the smallest envisionable units of mobility (i.e., atomic units of mobility capacity) while providing prioritized attention to human movement and ethical metrics related to access, consumption and impact. To facilitate research into the envisioned future system, this paper proposes initial frameworks which synthesize and advance methodologies relating to highly dynamic capacity reservation systems. Future research requires synthesis across transport network management, demand behavior, mixed-mode usage, and equitable mobility.

Reserve allocation of high-penetration renewable energy grids considering frequency security

As the penetration rate of renewable energy in the power grid continues to rise, the reserve criteria for traditional power grids dominated by synchronous generators (SGs) have difficulty meeting system frequency security requirements. This study proposes a frequency security-constrained optimization approach for the allocation of reserve capacity in high-penetration renewable energy grids that utilize multitype reserve resources, including SGs and nonsynchronous units, to address the frequency security issue. First, strategies and models for expanding the sources of frequency regulation reserves are analyzed, including various types of renewable energy generation, such as wind turbine (WT) curtailment and the combination of photovoltaic (PV) cells and battery storage. A refined reserve criterion is then proposed that considers multidimensional evaluation indices from both operational economy and frequency security aspects. Finally, a bilevel optimization model for reserve capacity allocation on multiple timescales that considers frequency security is constructed. The rationality and effectiveness of the proposed reserve allocation scheme were verified using a practical power grid in Southwest China.

Speed of urban public transport as criterion of the justification of spatial and time-based prioritization

Prioritization of urban public transport is an urgent task in the urban transport system, which is congested with traffic in most cities. The constant growth in traffic volumes and the need for movement of urban residents poses many challenges for local governments, which are quite difficult to solve, especially in cities with formed built-up areas. Travel time constantly increases while the road network's capacity remains unchanged. In these circumstances, it is necessary to resort to various prioritization methods because it is impossible to satisfy all the needs of residents for travel by private car to any transport area of the city. Over the past decade, the share of people using micromobility vehicles (bicycles, electric scooters, etc.) has been increasing. Still, this method of transportation is not widespread and cannot provide large volumes of movement in cities, especially those with large sizes. For this reason, more and more attention is being paid to prioritizing urban public transport, which is capable of moving large numbers of people around the city and surrounding areas. Given that it is difficult to find additional capacity reserves, space and time have to be taken away from those users of the transport network who use private automobile transport to ensure priority for urban public transport. The traffic volumes, traffic flow composition, and average speed of urban public transport on sections of the road network were determined by research results. It became the initial data for simulation modeling of the state of traffic flow under different methods of prioritization of urban public transport. Simulation modeling has identified sections of the road network that differ in delay in the movement of urban public transport and general traffic flow depending on the application of spatial and/or time-based prioritization. As a result, using the example of the road network of Lviv city, where urban public transport routes are designed, six types of segments were identified, which differ in the peculiarities of traffic flow and planning characteristics. The study results make it possible to justify implementing various organizational and regulatory measures to manage the general traffic flow and urban public transport without changing the geometric parameters of the road network within the existing “red lines” defined by the General Development Plan. Unlike the existing regulatory requirements, in practice, it is possible to identify sections of the road network that require different types of prioritization of urban public transport, depending on its volumes, regularity of movement, volume of passenger flow, etc. Notably, these studies recommended measures that could reduce travel time based not on the number of vehicles but on the number of people inside them.

Analysis of the efficiency of suburban passenger transportation on the Lviv railway sections

A developed transport system ensures the population's needs in safe movement and guarantees stable functioning and development of the production sphere. Despite being consistently unprofitable, suburban transportation by railway remains attractive for many population categories. The developed railway network, the low cost of transportation, and the capacity reserve of most sections partially compensate for the existing shortcomings and contribute to further development and open new prospects for attracting additional users of transport services. The main problems of suburban passenger transport, which worsen the quality of the services provided and affect the competitiveness of railway suburban transport compared to other modes of transport, are examined in this article. During the analysis of the schedule of suburban trains departing and arriving at the Lviv station, irrational management decisions were found that left room for improvement. In addition, the load factor of rolling stock on the routes Lviv-Sambir-Sianky and Sianky-Sambir-Lviv was determined, and it dropped to 40% during the follow-up, which indicates inefficient use of rolling stock. The ratio of the time the train stays at the stops to the total duration of the route in suburban traffic is also calculated. The time on the road for the Sambir- Stryi route was 69%, and the technical speed was only 21.7 km/h. The results obtained in the article are also typical for many other monitoring areas, indicating this problem's repeatability. The positive experience of European countries in solving similar problems allows us to react correctly to the situation and take short-term measures to change the dynamics to a positive one without additional time losses. It is also worth noting that a set of measures to improve the services provided to passengers must be carried out according to the requirements of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability, which must be ensured upon joining the European Union. Further investigations should analyze the flow of passengers at all stations and stopping points to identify the main points of creating passenger flow on researching routes.

A novel economic dispatch of energy-renewable multi-area power systems with group-based differential evolution

Spinning reserve capacity can handle the effects of load and renewable energy output forecasting errors. To ensure the safe and stable operation of the power systems and enhance economic benefits, it is meaningful to develop reasonable reserve capacity model for multi-area power systems. In this paper, a calculation method for reserve capacity, based on multi-area joint reserve capacity, is proposed to handle the uncertainty of renewable energy output. Multi-area interconnected economic dispatch with renewable energy, based on multi-area joint reserve capacity, can comprehensively consider the characteristics of power generation resources in each areas, and then reasonably allocate reserve capacity in each areas. Furthermore, to solve the multi-area interconnected economic dispatch with renewable energy, a sorted grouping-based adaptive multi-strategy differential evolution algorithm is designed, which divides the population into four groups according to the current convergence and balance, then adopts several new mutation strategies, and uses adaptive schemes for each group of populations separately. Notably, the sorted grouping-based adaptive multi-strategy differential evolution algorithm has advantages over several differential evolution variants and several well-known algorithms. Finally, the proposed method is compared with individual reserve capacity, which proves that the superiority of the proposed method in reserve capacity programming.

Progress of echocardiography in the evaluation of left atrial function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a narrative review.

About half of all heart failures are heart failures with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEFs). As the population ages and metabolic disorders become more common, the prevalence of HFpEF continues to increase annually. Patients with HFpEF typically show a decline in various reserve capacities after exercise. According to recent research, patients with HFpEF may have significant clinical symptoms due to left atrial (LA) dysfunction. Patients with HFpEF may benefit greatly from the early detection of LA myocardial damage using echocardiographic measurements, particularly LA strain. This article examined state-of-the-art echocardiography as it relates to the assessment of LA function in patients with HFpEF. Databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar were searched to retrieve the latest articles on research advances in the field from 1998 to 2024. The article searches were not limited by rigid language or publication date constraints. This article outlines LA strain measurements using echocardiography, and provides the current normal reference range for LA strain values. Further, the features of differences in LA strain during exercise and rest are outlined for HFpEF patients in varying stages of heart failure. Finally, the clinical significance of LA strain in HFpEF is highlighted, including its substantial advantages in diagnosing diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular filling pressures, as well as its diagnostic and prognostic utility and potential as a therapeutic target. When evaluating the structure and function of the left atrium in patients with HFpEF, echocardiography shows a great deal of clinical promise. Specifically, LA strain may provide additional useful information for the early identification of LA dysfunction in HFpEF patients. The measurement of LA size is currently the only clinical test available for evaluating the left atrium in individuals with HFpEF. This review will enable ultrasonographers and physicians to better understand the clinical utility of LA strain in patients with HFpEF, and also provides important resources for future LA strain-related scientific research and clinical practice.

Combined effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin and rising sea temperatures on the health of the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Exploring physiological, biochemical, and energetic balance dynamics.

Human activity exposes organisms in marine ecosystems to numerous stressors, including rising seawater temperatures and antibiotic contamination. The present study investigated the impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations of the fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR), specifically 5 and 500ng/L, in Mytilus galloprovincialis under ambient (20°C) and predicted warming (25°C) conditions after 14 days of exposure, followed by a 14-day recovery period in the absence of ENR. The chemical analyses revealed significant variability in bioaccumulation in mussel tissues. Physiological assessments showed decreased respiration and filtration rates post-exposure, with temperature-dependent recovery dynamics. Biochemical parameters indicated an increased metabolic capacity and energy reserves at higher temperatures, with a significant increase in energy expenditure. Notably, ENR induced significant DNA single-strand breaks in mussel gills and digestive glands, with temperature influencing DNA repair mechanisms. The combination of ENR and elevated temperatures exhibited additive or even synergistic effects on certain physiological and biochemical parameters, indicating a higher risk when these stressors act together. The Indipendent Action model (IA) results highlighted that the majority of observed effects in combined stressors were consistent with predicted values, with notable synergistic interactions in energy reserves and antagonistic responses in metabolic and physiological functions. These findings suggest that both stressors, acting alone and especially in combination, may pose a risk to marine bivalves such as mussels. Further research is needed to assess the impacts of FQs and ocean warming on ecosystem stability and non-target organisms.

T. pallidum achieves immune evasion by blocking autophagic flux in microglia through hexokinase 2.

Increasing evidence suggests that immune cell clearance is closely linked to cellular metabolism. Neurosyphilis, a severe neurological disorder caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) infection, significantly impacts the brain. Microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system, play a critical role in neuroinflammation and immune surveillance. However, the inability of the nervous system to fully eliminate T. pallidum points to a compromised clearance function of microglia. This study investigates how T. pallidum alters the immune clearance ability of microglia and explores the underlying metabolic mechanisms. RNA sequencing (RNA seq), LC-MS metabolomics, and XFe96 Seahorse assays were employed to assess metabolic activity in microglial cells. Western blotting, qPCR, and immunofluorescence imaging were utilized to evaluate autophagy flux and extent of T. pallidum infections. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that T. pallidum alters the transcription expression of key glycolytic enzymes, including hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), leading to significant metabolic dysregulation. Specifically, metabolomic analysis showed reduced levels of phosphoenolpyruvate and citrate, while lactate production was notably increased. Functional assays confirmed that T. pallidum impairs glycolytic activity in microglial, as evidenced by decreased glycolytic flux, glycolytic reserve capacity, and maximum glycolytic capacity. Moreover, our results indicate that HK2, a crucial glycolytic enzyme, is closely associated with the autophagy. T. pallidum infection inhibits HK2 expression, which in turn suppresses autophagic flux by reducing the formation of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) and disrupting autophagosome-lysosome fusion. These findings suggest that T. pallidum hijacks microglial metabolic pathways, specifically glycolysis, to evade immune clearance. By inhibiting the glycolytic enzyme HK2, T. pallidum modulates autophagy and enhances immune evasion, providing a novel insight into the pathogenesis of neurosyphilis. This study paves the way for further investigations into the role of metabolic reprogramming in the immune escape mechanisms of T. pallidum.

Expert assessment of the reconstructed reinforced concrete building of the Tagmet JSC workshop

Introduction. It is the first analysis and presentation of the materials on surveys conducted in the pipe rolling workshops of the Tagmet JSC since 1995. The investigations were carried out after the collapse of four roof spans with a total area of 14 thousand square meters. Research Institute of Building Constructions named after V.A. Koucherenko was actively involved in clarifying the causes and eliminating the consequences of the accident for one year. After that the institute's specialists for a long time conducted inspections of the plant's workshop structures in order to issue conclusions on their industrial safety and recommendations for repairing and strengthening worn and damaged elements of building structures for their further safe operation. One of the objects to be surveyed in 2008 was the so-called "Crystal section", which was part of the buildings of pipe welding workshop No. 3 of the Tagmet JSC. Aim. To show one of the ways to possible strengthening of the structures of industrial buildings on the base of the results of a survey of mixed structures, calculations and analyses of their load-bearing capacity reserves. Materials and methods. Visual and instrumental inspections of the technical condition of building structures, analysis of drawings, photographs, plans, etc. Results. As a result of visual and instrumental surveys of the technical condition of building structures of buildings of the "Crystal section" TSC-3 during the inspections and examination of industrial safety of structures of buildings of the Tagmet JSC plant, defects and damages exceeding the values established by current regulatory documents and affecting the operational suitability of the building were revealed. Conclusions. Scientific and technical support for strengthening of the structures of the workshops of the Tagmet JSC, the recommendations of specialists made further safe operation and continuous increase in the commodity productivity of the plant possible.

Development of Porous Silicon Nanowires with Conductive Paths and Large Specific Surface Area for Application to Lithium-Ion Batteries

The potential of silicon-based anodes, with their high specific capacity and abundant reserves, has sparked significant interest as a potential alternative to commercialized graphite anodes, paving the way for a promising future for energy materials. However, there are major challenges in the use of silicon. There are two main challenges with applying Si anodes: huge volume variations during lithiation and delithiation processes, and unstable surface electrolyte interphase (SEI) films, which cause pulverization and low cycling efficiency. The silicon nanostructure is a solution for preventing damage caused by large volume variations. However, a simple nanoparticle structure cannot obtain cycle characteristics that are conducive to practical use. Due to the volume change, the adhesion among the silicon nanoparticles, the binder, and the conductive material, and the cycle characteristics deteriorate. In contrast, porous silicon nanowires, with their unique structure and properties, offer a potential solution to these challenges, demonstrating their superiority over other materials.In this study, we introduced a groundbreaking innovation: porous silicon nanowires. These nanowires, created using the pioneering metal-assisted chemical etching method, possess a significant surface area and conductive path. This original development holds vast potential for energy materials and lithium-ion technology, stirring curiosity and anticipation in the scientific community.Silver nanoparticles were fabricated on silicon wafers by electroless plating. The silicon wafer was then immersed in an HF + H2O2 solution. The porous silicon nanowires detached automatically from the silicon wafer. Composite films of porous silicon nanowires and carbon nanotubes were fabricated without a binder or conductive material. We characterized the film removed from water and dried using an FE-SEM (JSM-7001F) and an optical microscope (VHX-7000). By contrast, the porous silicon nanowire's mean pore diameter and surface area were used to determine its porosity. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method (BELSORP-MINIX) was used to determine the surface area. Constant current charge/discharge cycling was carried out in a glove box.Our FE-SEM analysis revealed that the porous silicon nanowires were 70 nm in diameter and 10 μm in length, with pores in the range from 1 nm to 10 nm. These experiments achieved 480 m2/g of a groundbreaking specific surface area of silicon. By combining these porous silicon nanowires with carbon nanotubes, we formed a negative electrode without the need for a binder, as they were naturally intertwined. Our study demonstrated that the reversible capacity showed significantly higher stability during the first 100 cycles and remained at 1,966 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles. In combination with the higher silicon doping concentration, the larger number of pores may provide more stability for lithiation/delithiation. Because the charge/discharge characteristics did not alter the film structure, we concluded that porous silicon nanowires hold promise as negative electrodes in practical applications. Acknowledgment This work was supported by JST GTEX Program (Grant Number JPMJGX23S8 and JPMJGX23S5, Japan)

Dynamics of the main parameters of carbohydrate metabolism and possible causes of its disorders in the autumn and winter periods in modern residents of the North

To assess the reserve capacity of the body from a physiological point of view, it is important to study the specific “northern” hormone metabolic profile of the body during critical (autumn and winter) periods in apparently healthy individuals born and living in the North.The aim of the work. To study the main parameters of carbohydrate metabolism, as well as possible causes of its disorders in the dynamics of autumn and winter periods in men living in the North.Materials and methods. The autumn (October) and winter (December) stages of the study included 45 men (mean age 40.0 ± 0.8 years) permanently residing in the Magadan Region. We used chemiluminescent immunoassay, enzymatic method and immunochromatographic assay.Results of the study. It was found that the average values of carbohydrate metabolism parameters in the examined male northern residents are comparable with the standard ranges with a shift towards higher values relative to the established limits and do not meet the main criteria of the “polar metabolic type”. “Polar metabolic type” is characterized by hypoglycemia and hypoinsulinemia against the background of elevated serum cortisol values. It is shown that during the critical period of the year from October to December (temperature transition through zero) against the background of relative “hypercortisolism”, activation of the insular apparatus of the pancreas is observed, accompanied by an increase in the insulin level, as well as the development of insulin resistance in the absence of compensatory secretion of β-cells of the pancreas. At the same time, the presence of signs of insulin resistance in northern male residents in the winter period may be determined by an imbalance towards greater dominance of the sympathetic nervous system, formed as a response to the critical period of the year.Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the formation of a transformed “northern” hormone metabolic profile of the body of a modern resident of the North, which should be considered as a certain adaptive response to the modern modification of the socio-economic lifestyle of northern residents (hypodynamia, overeating, etc.).

Regulating and Concentrating Ion-Flux on Anode Materials for Next-Generation Batteries

To meet the rising demand of energy density and power density for energy storage technology, advanced rechargeable batteries are needed to satisfy the energy issues. From this perspective, active material-free (anodeless or anode-free) design is considered as one of the most promising candidates for anodes due to the low redox potential and high theoretical capacity, leading a high power and energy density of full-cells. However, inevitable dendritic growth and limited electrochemical properties on anode sides are remained as the hindrance of practical application. To overcome this nature of anodes, structure-based self-ion (Li+) concentrating electrode with high reserve capacity and uniform ion-flux is suggested. Recent advanced researches demonstrate structural properties can activate the self-ion concentration and principle of ion control process is stimulated by the structure of electrode. Structural perspectives and electro-kinetic principle in electrode materials are considerable to be important factors impacting device performances by the ion-flux control of Li metal growth on anodes. In terms of electro-kinetic phenomena with porous structured and defect-rich media, Li+ is confined by nano scaled space and regulated by evenly distributed ion-affinitive sites in electrodes with electric field, and electrochemical reaction of this ion can be facilitated. In this presentation, regulating ion distribution on artificial layers consisting ordered ion-affinitive sites and concentrating local ion flux in the space confinement effects in beyond micropores consisting narrow slit will be presented as the major approaches for reaction control in electrodes of anode-free configuration. We hope that the method and applications demonstrated here could offer an opportunity to discuss ideas for designing the materials for high performance batteries.

L-Arginine and Intermittent Hypoxia Are Stress-Limiting Factors in Male Wistar Rat Models.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of L-arginine, intermittent hypoxia training (IHT), and acute stress on oxygen-dependent processes in rats, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, microsomal oxidation, and the intensity of lipoperoxidation processes. In addition, our study investigated how the modulatory effect of the NO synthase mechanism on the concentration of catecholamines (CA), such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, and their biosynthetic precursors (DOPA, dopamine) varies depending on the cholinergic (acetylcholine, Ach-acetylcholinesterase, AChE) status in rats. This study investigated the protective stress-limiting effects of L-arginine impact and IHT in the blood and liver of rats. The results showed that L-arginine promoted the maintenance of NAD-dependent oxidation in mitochondria, which was detrimental compared to succinate oxidation, and was accompanied by depletion of respiratory activity reserves under stress induced by high concentrations of CA. The interdependence of SC-dependent oxidation and the functional role of NAD-dependent substrate oxidation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in stress conditions induced using inhibitors revealed the importance of the NO system. Administration of L-arginine during the IHT course prior to stress exposure increased the compensatory capacity of the organism. L-arginine increased the compensatory capacity of the sympathoadrenal system in stress-exposed rats. In the early stages of IHT, modulation of the CA concentration was observed with a concomitant increase in lipoperoxidation processes, and in the final stages of IHT, the CA concentrations increased, but there was also an inhibition of lipoperoxidation, which was particularly enhanced by the administration of L-arginine. The increase in blood concentrations of CA and ACh was accompanied by a decrease in AChE activity at different stages of adaptation to hypoxia induced by IHT (days 5, 10, and 14). Thus, the IHT method significantly mobilises the reserve capacity of oxygen-dependent processes through the system of CA, ACh-AChE mediated by nitric oxide.

Assessment of Safety Probability of Fastening Operations in Loading-unloading Work Process

One of the important strategic objectives in the target programs for economic and social development adopted by the Government of Georgia is to improve the coordination of all types of transport – sea, rail, road, air, and pipeline. The methods of organizing and managing the transport system at different levels greatly impact solving the problems faced by water transport. Therefore, research in the field of improving the organization and management of the transport hub (port), as an integral part of this system, plays an important role in increasing the traffic volume and service quality of all types of transport on the transport corridors of Georgia. Foreign and domestic experience shows that a large percentage of waiting times for cargo operations by ships and berths is mainly due to the lack of coordinated actions between the adjacent modes of transport and ports and the imperfection of the organization and management of loading and unloading processes in ports. In this regard, it is necessary to focus on identifying and eliminating "vegetables". First of all, this link of the transport system connects water and land transport routes. Transport communications have long been called the arteries of life. Without them, the economy's rise and the country's prosperity, even if it has huge natural resources, is impossible. Whoever controls the transportation system holds the levers of economic management, which means that he can decide the fate of the entire state. The development of transport communications of the global transport system puts new demands on the quality of functioning of the existing intermodal corridor through Georgia. In particular, the transport corridor created by the EU countries under the name ITC TRACECA creates new challenges for the existing transport system of Georgia to maintain the transit cargo flows between Europe and Asia in competition with the seaports of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and partly Ukraine and Russia. In this regard, all the main directions of improving the organization and management of the technological processes of seaports become relevant: (i) increasing the capacity of berths and transport complexes in the Black Sea ports of Georgia to the maximum limit by reducing costs; (ii) creating new methods for identifying capacity reserves, which will ensure the competitiveness of Georgian seaports in competition with these ports; (iii) speeding up the process of transit cargo transportation through seaports, as well as reducing the processing time of cargo going to export and import in Georgian ports. Keywords: Transport hub, organization of technological processes, ship unloading work.