Browse Articles

Innovative biomass cogeneration system for a zero energy school building

Exploring quantum control landscape and solution space complexity through optimization algorithms and dimensionality reduction

Abstract Understanding the quantum control landscape (QCL) is important for designing effective quantum control strategies. In this study, we analyze the QCL for a single two-level quantum system (qubit) using various control strategies. We employ Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to visualize and analyze the QCL for higher dimensional control parameters. Our results indicate that dimensionality reduction techniques such as PCA, can play an important role in understanding the complex nature of quantum control in higher dimensions. Evaluations of traditional control techniques and machine learning algorithms reveal that Genetic Algorithms (GA) outperform Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), while Q-learning (QL) shows great promise compared to Deep Q-Networks (DQN) and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO). Additionally, our experiments highlight the importance of reward function design in DQN and PPO demonstrating that using immediate reward results in improved performance rather than delayed rewards for systems with short time steps. A study of solution space complexity was conducted by using Cluster Density Index (CDI) as a key metric for analyzing the density of optimal solutions in the landscape. The CDI reflects cluster quality and helps determine whether a given algorithm generates regions of high fidelity or not. Our results provide insights into effective quantum control strategies, emphasizing the significance of parameter selection and algorithm optimization.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of bull X- and Y-spermatozoa

AI-based analysis of surgical outcomes in vitrectomy with and without cystotomy for refractory cystoid diabetic macular edema

Frailty, genetic predisposition, and incident chronic kidney disease

Crosstalk of lactate metabolism-related subtypes, establishment of a prognostic signature and immune infiltration characteristics in colon adenocarcinoma

Antibacterial and anti-virulence activity of eco-friendly resveratrol-loaded lipid nanocapsules against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

The effect of UVB radiation on the optical quality of rainbow trout eye-lenses

Amphistegina lessonii and Amphistegina lobifera shell microstructure, texture and twinning pattern reflect resilience to cadmium and lead

Abstract Biologically secreted carbonates are archives of environmental conditions, as shell and skeletal element minerals record chemical and physical signals of the ambient environment. We report the impact of Cd2+ and Pb2+ on foraminiferal shell crystal structural and organizational characteristics, such as microstructure, texture, crystal co-orientation strength and crystal twin formation for the rotaliid foraminifera Amphistegina lessonii and Amphistegina lobifera. The investigated species lived first in Cd2+- and Pb2+-free and, at a later growth stage, in Cd2+- and Pb2+-containing water. Enrichment in Cd2+ was increased 4 times relative to the ecological criteria maximum concentration (CMC) for both species. For Pb2+, it was increased 5 times for A. lobifera and 6 times for A. lessonii. Crystal organization was measured with Electron-Backscattered-Diffraction (EBSD), shell structure was imaged with FE-SEM. We detect that the Cd2+ and Pb2+ concentrations influence the degree of shell calcite twin formation. For A. lessonii the addition of Cd2+ to the water prevents crystal twin generation, Pb2+ induces decreased twinned calcite secretion. For A. lobifera, both Cd2+ and Pb2+ significantly decrease crystal twin formation. Our study indicates that crystal twin generation by Rotaliida can be developed as a structural indicator for environmental pollution with heavy toxic elements.

The association of HIF1A gene polymorphism and its expression with ischemic stroke

Application and development of artificial intelligence and computer technology in the field of intelligent robots

Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys

Numerical investigation on damage characteristics of surrounding rocks in the deep underground tunnel subjected to full-face smooth blasting

The effects of LED Spectra on synthesis of antiparasitic bioactive compound in Eurycoma longifolia hairy root culture against Blastocystis Sp

Toward based on concentrated multi-scale linear attention real-time UAV tracking using joint natural language specification

Metabolomic signatures of cognitive function in a type 2 Diabetes-Enriched cohort

A feasibility of computational drug screening for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

Abstract Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) remains a leading cause of corneal blindness globally, with corneal transplantation being the primary treatment. FECD is characterized by the formation of guttae, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposits beneath the corneal endothelium, and progressive endothelial cell loss. These pathological changes cause visual deterioration through light scattering by guttae and corneal edema due to endothelial cell loss. However, limitations such as donor shortage and graft failure necessitate alternative therapeutic approaches. We employed computational drug screening using three platforms (L1000FWD, L1000CDS2, and SigCom LINCS) to identify compounds capable of normalizing FECD-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Analysis of transcriptome data from FECD patients with TCF4trinucleotide repeat expansion identified 706 upregulated and 962 downregulated genes. The screening platforms identified 200, 35, and 76 compounds through L1000FWD, L1000CDS2, and SigCom LINCS, respectively, with five compounds commonly predicted across all platforms. Among these, LDN193189 and cercosporin were selected for further evaluation based on availability and lack of cytotoxicity. Both compounds significantly decreased the expression of ECM-related genes (FN1, MATN3, BGN, and LTBP2) in FECD cell models and suppressed TGF-β-induced fibronectin expression. Additionally, both compounds reduced aggresome formation to normal control levels, suggesting protection against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death. This study demonstrates the feasibility of computational drug screening for identifying therapeutic candidates for FECD, with LDN193189 and cercosporin showing promise in normalizing FECD-associated pathological changes.

Modulation of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance following hepatitis C virus clearance via direct-acting antivirals

A holocene n-alkane stable isotope record from Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa and its implications for the later stone age record

Abstract Sediment biomarkers are important archives of regional, and global climate signatures, particularly in regions which lack continuous terrestrial archives such as the semi-arid deserts of Africa. We measured carbon and hydrogen stable isotopes from plant wax n-alkanes recovered from the Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA) sedimentary sequence at Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa), that comprises several technocomplexes (Kuruman/Oakhurst, Wilton, Ceramic Wilton and Historic). The plant wax n-alkane results were integrated with published palaeoenvironment reconstructions from the cave based on faunal, botanical, geological and sedimentological proxies which provides a robust comparative framework. The findings match well with other proxy records from the same strata and indicate a semi-arid to semi-humid early Holocene, with a mix of woody C3 plants and C4 grasses. In contrast, the mid-late Holocene environment was increasingly arid, open and dominated by C4 grasses. A distinct humid period at 5300–6200 cal. BP is evident, associated with a high density of archaeological material and a change in cultural expression in the Wonderwerk record. This study provides a step forward in using stable isotopes from biomarkers to create terrestrial environmental records in semi-arid regions.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of non-stoichiometric WO3−x nanocrystals via near-infrared localized surface plasmon resonance