Browse Articles

Research on the relationship between perceived social support and positive coping style of fire rescue personnel with the mediating effects of positive emotions and meaning in life

Calcium levels modulate platelet function, platelet-cancer cell interaction, and cancer cell invasion

Treg derived Amphiregulin protects from murine lupus nephritis via tissue reparative effects

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. Among the most severe manifestations of SLE is lupus nephritis (LN), which causes particularly high morbidity. Recently, we identified amphiregulin (AREG), an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand, as a key mediator of LN via downregulation of pathogenic CD4 + T-cell responses. In human LN, AREG is mainly produced by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and monocytes/macrophages (M/M). Since AREG´s functions have been shown to vary considerably depending on the source, we aimed to clarify the cell-type-specific roles of AREG using the pristane model of LN. Conditional knockout mice lacking Treg- but not M/M-derived AREG showed worse LN outcome at 12 and 15 months with increased glomerular cell proliferation, apoptosis and renal tissue fibrosis. Interestingly, immune responses were not relevantly affected by the lack of AREG from either leukocyte source, indicating a different mechanism. In this respect, in vitro studies demonstrated improved wound healing of murine mesangium and tubulus cells and enhanced regeneration and sprouting of human glomerular endothelial cells after incubation with recombinant AREG. These findings underscore the importance of Treg-derived AREG in tissue regeneration and protection from fibrosis in LN, highlighting AREG as a potential therapeutic target.

A multi objective optimization framework for smart parking using digital twin pareto front MDP and PSO for smart cities

Abstract Smart cities are designed to improve the quality of life by efficiently using resources and smart parking is an important part of this puzzle to help alleviate traffic congestion and efficiently address energy consumption and search time for parking spaces. However, existing parking management systems have issues with resource management, system scalability, and real-time dynamic changes. In response to these challenges, this paper proposes a Multi-Objective Optimization Framework for Smart Parking incorporating Digital Twin Technology, Pareto Front Optimization, Markov Decision Process (MDP), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Hence, the proposed framework utilizes Digital Twin whereby there is a generation of a virtual model of the existing parking infrastructure that can give a real-time prospective estimation of the entire system. The Pareto Front is then used for multi-objective optimization of the search domain, where the goal is to minimize the search time, use of energy, and traffic disruption, and maximize the availability of parking spaces. The MDP splits the resource allocation problem into a value function which can then model the real-time parking requests. Further, PSO refines the solutions found from the Pareto front for a globally superior distribution. The framework is evaluated using extensive simulations across multiple metrics: search time, energy, congestion level, scalability, and utilization. Evaluation outcomes also show that the proposed algorithm is better than Round Robin, Random Allocation, and Threshold Based algorithms in terms of 25% improvement in the search time, 18% better energy usage, and 30% less traffic congestion. This work has shown the prospects of combining hybrid optimization and real-time decision-making in the enhancement of parking management in smart cities for better efficiency in urban mobility.

Neighboring and polarization effects on line shape of the modulation transfer spectroscopy in lower ground hyperfine state of Rb atoms

New insights of cerium oxide nanoparticles in head and neck cancer treatment

Novel method for predicting the cracks of oxide scales during high temperature oxidation of metals and alloys by using machine learning

Optimal energy management for multi-energy microgrids using hybrid solutions to address renewable energy source uncertainty

Reducing soft tissue artefacts through projection of markers and microwave imaging: An exploratory study

Abstract Soft tissue artefacts (STA) are widely considered the most critical source of error in skin-mounted marker-based biomechanics, negatively impacting the clinical usability of skin-mounted marker-based data. Amongst the numerous solutions proposed to ameliorate STA, incorporating true bone movement—acquired using adaptive constraints, projection of markers, or various imaging modalities—has been reported to improve kinematic accuracy. However, efficacy of these proposed solutions reduces for different investigated motions and participants. In this study, we propose two novel marker projection schemes, wherein a cluster of markers are projected onto the bone surface during motion. Additionally, we investigate the feasibility of applying a novel, safe and cost-effective imaging modality—microwave imaging—to detect the location of the bone from the skin surface. Our results indicate that the novel marker projection schemes reduce kinematic errors significantly (by 50%) and improve the quality of computed kinematics (95% correlation to true bone movement). In addition, our results show that microwave imaging was able to detect the bone from the skin surface in both male and female anatomical models of varying body mass index scores and poses. We believe our findings underscore the generalisability and applicability of our proposed solution to reduce STA.

Alteration in Golgi apparatus fragmentation related genes in human dilated cardiomyopathy

Author Correction: Optimizing hardware configuration for solar powered energy management in battery ultracapacitor hybrid electric vehicles

The impact of biodegradable plastics on methane and carbon dioxide emissions in soil ecosystems: a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy approach

An array of two JPAs in a quantum two-mode squeezed radar

Evaluating suturing skill improvement for pediatric minimally invasive esophageal anastomosis model: an observational cohort study based on simulator training

Heat treatment control technology of high-strength steel gears based on support vector machine

Thermal and environmental analysis of Cucumis sativus drying in a mixed mode solar dryer with combined sensible and latent heat energy storage

Abstract This study presents a thermodynamic analysis of a mixed-mode solar dryer incorporating both sensible and latent heat energy storage materials. Black pebbles were utilized for sensible heat storage, while Lauric acid was selected for latent heat storage. The integration of these energy storage materials significantly enhanced the thermodynamic performance of the dryer, achieving a peak energy efficiency of 14.2% and a 53% increase in average energy efficiency. Additionally, the inclusion of latent heat storage in the collector resulted in the highest recorded collector energy efficiency of 84.6%. Exergy analysis indicated a maximum exergy efficiency of 51.3%, with an average exergy efficiency of 34.3% for the dryer. The implementation of combined thermal energy storage led to a 50% reduction in drying time. Sustainability assessments demonstrated that integrating both sensible and latent heat storage improved energy utilization while minimizing losses, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and productivity of the solar dryer.The environmental analysis estimated a CO₂ mitigation potential of 83.97 tonnes per year, with a corresponding carbon credit value of $419.85. The system exhibited a remarkably low energy payback period of 1.82 years when operated with both thermal energy storage materials. This research underscores the potential benefits of combining latent and sensible heat storage in solar drying applications, highlighting its contribution to sustainability and the environmental advantages of solar thermal systems.

Population panmixia of the pelagic shrimp Lucensosergia lucens between Japanese and Taiwanese waters in the western North Pacific

Economic burden of atopic dermatitis in Portugal: a cross-sectional study

piRNAs and circRNAs acting as diagnostic biomarkers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Synthesis methods impact silver nanoparticle properties and phenolic compound production in grapevine cell cultures

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of nanoparticles with promising applications in various fields due to their unique characteristics. This study was carried out to determine the effects of AgNPs obtained by different green syntheses procedures on their characteristic properties and the accumulation of phenolic compounds in cell suspension cultures of Kalecik Karası grape cultivar. AgNPs were obtained by 24 different green synthesis methods including modifications in extraction method, reaction pH and conditions. When the results of the analyses conducted to determine the structural properties of AgNPs are evaluated, it was observed that more spherical and smaller nanoparticles were synthesized under alkaline conditions. The smallest NP size was detected as 8.9 nm in NP11, while the largest NP size (59.6 nm) was found in NP19. AgNPs obtained at room conditions for 4 h and pH 7 significantly increased the total phenolic, trans-resveratrol, catechin and epicatechin contents, while water or methanol extracts used in the synthesis had no significant effect. As a result of the study, it was determined that not only the characteristic properties of AgNPs but also their effectiveness on the secondary metabolite production varied significantly depending on the extraction method, pH and conditions of the reaction solution during synthesis.