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In the dispersed generation system, power electronic converters allow for coupling between energy sources and the power grid. The requirements of Transmission System Operators are difficult to meet when the share of distributed energy sources of the total energy balance increases. These requirements allow to increase penetration of distributed generation sources without compromising power system stability and reliability. Therefore, in addition to control of active or reactive power, as well as voltage and frequency stabilization, the modern power electronic converters should support power grid in dynamic states or in the presence of nonlinear distortions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

The research methodology used in this paper is based on three steps: Mathematical modelling and simulation studies, Experiments on laboratory test stand, Analyzing obtained results, evaluating them and formulating the conclusions.

The authors identified two algorithms, αβ-Filter and Voltage Controlled Oscillator, which are able to successfully cope with notch distortions. Other algorithms, used previously for voltage dips, operate improperly when the voltage grid has notching disturbances. This work evaluates six different synchronization algorithms with respect to the abilities to deal with notching.

The paper presents results of the synchronization algorithms in the presence of nonlinear notching interference. These studies were performed using the original hardware-software power grid emulator, real-time d’Space platform and power electronic converter. This methodology allowed us to exactly and accurately evaluate synchronization performance methods in the presence of complex nonlinear phenomena in power grid and power electronic converter. The results demonstrated that the best algorithms were αβ – Filtering and Voltage Controlled Oscilator.

In this paper, different synchronization algorithms have been tested. These included the classical Phase Locked Loop with Synchronous Reference Frame as well as modified algorithms developed by the authors, which displayed high robustness with respect to the notching interference. During the tests, the previously developed original test rig was used, allowing software-hardware emulation of grid phenomena.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemics, the demand for innovative and effective methods of bacterial inactivation has become a critical area of research, providing the impetus for this study. The purpose of this research is to analyze the AuNPs-mediated photothermal inactivation of E. coli. Gold nanoparticles irradiated by laser represent a promising technique for combating bacterial infection that combines high-tech and scientific progress. The intermediate aim of the work was to present the calibration of the model with respect to the gold nanorods experiment. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of initial concentration of E. coli bacteria, the design of the chamber and the laser power on heat transfer and inactivation of E. coli bacteria.

Using the CFD simulation, the work combines three main concepts. 1. The conversion of laser light to heat has been described by a combination of three distinctive approximations: a- Discrete particle integration to take into account every nanoparticle within the system, b- Rayleigh-Drude approximation to determine the scattering and extinction coefficients and c- Lambert–Beer–Bourger law to describe the decrease in laser intensity across the AuNPs. 2. The contribution of the presence of E. coli bacteria to the thermal and fluid-dynamic fields in the microdevice was modeled by single-phase approach by determining the effective thermophysical properties of the water-bacteria mixture. 3. An approach based on a temperature threshold attained at which bacteria will be inactivated, has been used to predict bacterial response to temperature increases.

The comparison of the thermal fields and temporal temperature changes obtained by the CFD simulation with those obtained experimentally confirms the accuracy of the light-heat conversion model derived from the aforementioned approximations. The results show a linear relationship between maximum temperature and variation in laser power over the range studied, which is in line with previous experimental results. It was also found that the temperature inside the microchamber can exceed 55 °C only when a laser power higher than 0.8 W is used, so bacterial inactivation begins.

The experimental data allows to determinate the concentration of nanoparticles. This parameter is introduced into the mathematical model obtaining the same number of AuNPs. However, this assumption introduces a certain simplification, as in the mathematical model the distribution of nanoparticles is uniform.

This work is directly connected to the use of gold nanoparticles for energy conversion, as well as the field of bacterial inactivation in microfluidic systems such as lab-on-a-chip. Presented mathematical and numerical models can be extended to the entire spectrum of wavelengths with particular use of white light in the inactivation of bacteria.

This work represents a significant advancement in the field, as to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to employ a single-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach specifically combined with the thermal inactivation of bacteria. Moreover, this research pioneers the use of a numerical simulation to analyze the temperature threshold of photothermal inactivation of E. coli mediated by gold nanorods (AuNRs). The integration of these methodologies offers a new perspective on optimizing bacterial inactivation techniques, making this study a valuable contribution to both computational modeling and biomedical applications.

Underpinning this research is an acknowledgement of the increasing attention paid to the social issues raised by young peoples' alcohol consumption. Although earlier research has identified a number of factors contributing to alcohol‐related problems in Poland, only a handful of studies attempted to better understand drinking patterns and their influence on alcohol consumption amongst Polish people. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the roles alcohol plays in the life of young people in Poland.

All the data are collected on a university campus in Poland in late autumn 2007 from a group of ten university students. The research is conducted in three phases, using two research methods: focus groups and diaries. Purposive sample is used to establish two focus groups (Phases 1 and 3) each of which meet on two occasions, three weeks apart. In the first two week period between each focus group, respondents are asked to keep private diary (Phase 2) recording every occurrence that is, in their opinion, related to alcohol consumption.

The findings are themed around three major factors: quantity of consumed alcohol, frequency of consumption and location of consumption. However, the strongest issue is the pressure experienced by students around the social consumption of alcohol.

At a time when young peoples' alcohol consumption is attracting increasing attention from legislators and regulators, a better understanding of young consumers' behaviour may help government and other non‐profit organisations create well‐informed regulations, policies or educational programmes.

Although there is significant amount of research into detrimental effects of excessive alcohol consumption on physical and psychological health of people in Poland, little research goes into wider social issues or beyond the most visible biological consequences of drinking as anti‐social behaviour.