Community microgrids implemented in existing electricity grids can meet both development targets set out in the Paris agreement: 1. mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through increased implementation ...of renewable energy sources, and 2. to adapt to climate related disturbances and risk of catastrophes. Community microgrids are, however, complex to implement and institutional change is needed to reach their full potential. The purpose of this article is to review existing literature and analyze institutional developments influencing the growth of community microgrids. The literature describes a concentration of microgrid activities in specific regions: USA, EU, Asia and Australia. Varying reasons for implementing community microgrids were found in the different regions but similar institutional developments occurred, albeit with differing emphasis due to contextual specificities. Formal directions do however influence informal institutions even though their aims differ. Power utilities stand out as a critical actor and both formal and informal institutions put pressure on utilities to update their traditional business models. This article illustrates how informal and formal institutions play a significant role in the growth of community microgrids in existing electricity grids and provide interesting examples which can be utilized by policymakers. Microgrid development is still in a formative phase and further institutional change in the form of updated regulations is needed.
•Implementing community microgrids often require radical change in institutions.•Examples of institutional change are beginning to emerge.•Utilities are central for development of community microgrids.•Creating social capital in the community is critical for successful implementation.•Co-development of informal and formal institutions is essential for change.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical fluorinated phenyltriazolyl-thiodigalactoside derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of galectin-1 and galectin-3. Systematic tuning of the ...phenyltriazolyl-thiodigalactosides’ fluoro-interactions with galectin-3 led to the discovery of inhibitors with exceptional affinities (K d down to 1–2 nM) in symmetrically substituted thiodigalactosides as well as unsurpassed combination of high affinity (K d 7.5 nM) and selectivity (46-fold) over galectin-1 for asymmetrical thiodigalactosides by carrying one trifluorphenyltriazole and one coumaryl moiety. Studies of the inhibitor–galectin complexes with isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography revealed the importance of fluoro-amide interaction for affinity and for selectivity. Finally, the high affinity of the discovered inhibitors required two competitive titration assay tools to be developed: a new high affinity fluorescent probe for competitive fluorescent polarization and a competitive ligand optimal for analyzing high affinity galectin-3 inhibitors with competitive isothermal titration calorimetry.
Purpose
Intermittent catheterization (IC) is a proven effective long-term bladder management strategy for individuals who have lower urinary tract dysfunction. This study provides clinical evidence ...about multiple-reuse versus single-use catheterization techniques and if catheter choice can have an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Method
A prospective, multi-center, clinical trial studied patients who currently practiced catheter reuse, and who agreed to prospectively evaluate single-use hydrophilic-coated (HC) (i.e. LoFric) catheters for 4 weeks. A validated Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire (ISC-Q) was used to obtain HRQoL. Reused catheters were collected and studied with regard to microbial and debris contamination.
Results
The study included 39 patients who had practiced IC for a mean of 10 years, 6 times daily. At inclusion, all patients reused catheters for a mean of 21 days (SD = 48) per catheter. 36 patients completed the prospective test period and the mean ISC-Q score increased from 58.0 (SD = 22.6) to 67.2 (SD = 17.7) when patients switched to the single-use HC catheters (
p
= 0.0101). At the end of the study, 83% (95% CI 67–94%) preferred to continue using single-use HC catheters. All collected reused catheters (100%) were contaminated by debris and 74% (95% CI 58–87%) were contaminated by microorganisms, some with biofilm.
Conclusion
Single-use HC catheters improved HRQoL and were preferred over catheter reuse among people practicing IC. Catheter multiple-reuse may pose a potential safety concern due to colonization by microorganisms as well as having reduced acceptance compared to single use.
Trial registry number
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02129738.
Energy resilience is an important focus for energy policy and research, since the energy system is increasingly facing challenges such as power shortages, e.g. due to increased renewable energy ...production, and risks of power outages caused by extreme weathers. Typically, energy resilience in these contexts focuses on infrastructure and securing supply of electricity despite disturbances. This paper contributes a complementary perspective on resilience, which takes households as a starting point for investigating resilience. Building on understandings of resilience from several disciplines, we suggest a definition of household energy resilience that can be used to explore how households can ensure a good life in a future with variable availability of electricity. Furthermore, we draw on current ideas of future domestic energy use in energy affluent contexts (backup energy sources, energy efficiency, flexibility, and energy sufficiency) to create a framework for exploring household energy resilience. We find a potential for diversity within and between the different ideas, that is not always present in mainstream visions of future energy use. With the perspective of household energy resilience, we wish to challenge the perception of electricity demand as non-negotiable and to reveal opportunities for supporting households in becoming more resilient in an uncertain future.
•‘Household energy resilience’ is considered as a part of renewable energy transitions.•Expanding the focus from crises to briefer power cuts and caps on power use is needed.•A framework for exploring household energy resilience is presented.•Decoupling a good life from constant electricity supply is central.
A new series of orally available α-d-galactopyranosides with high affinity and specificity toward galectin-1 have been discovered. High affinity and specificity were achieved by changing six-membered ...aryl-triazolyl substituents in a series of recently published galectin-3-selective α-d-thiogalactosides (e.g., GB1107 K d galectin-1/3 3.7/0.037 μM) for five-membered heterocycles such as thiazoles. The in vitro pharmacokinetic properties were optimized, resulting in several galectin-1 inhibitors with favorable properties. One compound, GB1490 (K d galectin-1/3 0.4/2.7 μM), was selected for further characterization toward a panel of galectins showing a selectivity of 6- to 320-fold dependent on galectin. The X-ray structure of GB1490 bound to galectin-1 reveals the compound bound in a single conformation in the carbohydrate binding site. GB1490 was shown to reverse galectin-1-induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells at low μM concentrations. No cell cytotoxicity was observed for GB1490 up to 90 μM in the A549 cells. In pharmacokinetic studies in mice, GB1490 showed high oral bioavailability (F% > 99%).
The design of small and high‐affinity lectin inhibitors remains a major challenge because the natural ligand binding sites of lectin are often shallow and have polar character. Herein we report that ...derivatizing galactose with un‐natural structural elements that form multiple non‐natural lectin–ligand interactions (orthogonal multipolar fluorine–amide, phenyl–arginine, sulfur–π, and halogen bond) can provide inhibitors with extraordinary affinity (low nanomolar) for the model lectin, galectin‐3, which is more than five orders of magnitude higher than the parent galactose; moreover, is selective over other galectins.
Specific interactions working in concert! Derivatizing a low‐affinity monosaccharide with functionalities that form a combination of orthogonal multipolar fluorine–amide, phenyl–arginine, sulfur–π, and halogen bond interactions results in lectin ligands with affinities that far surpass those of common natural ligand fragments. These compounds are the smallest high‐affinity galectin‐3 inhibitors described and thus constitute a new class of promising drug lead structures.
Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are key components of many carbohydrate-modifying enzymes. CBMs affect the activity of these enzymes by modulating bonding and catalysis. To further characterize ...and study CBM–ligand binding interactions, neutron crystallographic studies of an engineered family 4-type CBM in complex with a branched xyloglucan ligand were conducted. The first neutron crystal structure of a CBM–ligand complex reported here shows numerous atomic details of hydrogen bonding and water-mediated interactions and reveals the charged state of key binding cleft amino acid side chains.
This study examines institutional conditions for local governance and environmental integration. Four eco-city cases in Sweden and China are analyzed. The theoretical framework is based on theories ...of Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) and sustainable urban planning. Three categories of institutional conditions guide the analysis: Political will and commitment, Understanding, knowledge and experience, and Inter-organizational coordination. Despite strong local political will and commitment, considerable obstacles to environmental integration still exist, including political instability, lack of understanding, knowledge and experience, and insufficient cross-sector coordination. The current administrative organization based on sector-specific responsibility appears to impede cross-sector coordination for integrating environmental concerns in urban development. The establishment of temporary local administrative organizations may be an effective solution to break cross-sector barriers and generate integrated solutions to realize environmental objectives.
•Strong local political will and commitment promotes environmental integration.•Obstacles of political instability exist to a considerable degree.•A lack of understanding, knowledge and experience hinders the process.•Sector-specific responsibility in administration impedes cross-sector coordination.•An effective solution of organization formulation to break cross-sector barriers.
This article presents findings from a qualitative in-depth analysis of a four-year Swedish national policy initiative where six public agencies were commissioned to produce a strategic plan for a ...transition towards a fossil-free transport sector. The aim of the article is to provide empirically grounded insights on principles and practices of importance for building transformative capacity in strategic, long-term transport planning. In the analysis, the concepts stewarding, unlocking, transforming and orchestrating are applied to explore and discuss transformative features of the policy initiative. Altogether, several elements of transformative capacity were developed through the process. Of specific importance was the establishment of an open and explorative approach to carrying out the commission, and ways in which the organizations involved started to challenge dominant perspectives and analytical practices in conventional transport planning. Shared principles and practices for analysis and assessment were developed, which allowed for a broadened consideration of climate mitigation measures. However, due to a lack of coordination with formalized planning settings and a lack of political decisions to sustain the commission, there are yet no signs of the work influencing conventional transport planning. Even so, gained experience and insights from this case can inform future change-oriented initiatives.
We have previously described a new series of selective and orally available galectin-1 inhibitors resulting in the thiazole-containing glycomimetic GB1490. Here, we show that the introduction of ...polar substituents to the thiazole ring results in galectin-1-specific compounds with low nM affinities. X-ray structural analysis of a new ligand-galectin-1 complex shows changes in the binding mode and ligand-protein hydrogen bond interactions compared to the GB1490-galectin-1 complex. These new high affinity ligands were further optimized with respect to affinity and ADME properties resulting in the galectin-1-selective GB1908 (K d galectin-1/3 0.057/6.0 μM). In vitro GB1908 inhibited galectin-1-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells (IC50 = 850 nM). Pharmacokinetic experiments in mice revealed that a dose of 30 mg/kg b.i.d. results in free levels of GB1908 in plasma over galectin-1 K d for 24 h. GB1908 dosed with this regimen reduced the growth of primary lung tumor LL/2 in a syngeneic mouse model.
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