21649 research outputs found
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Highly Sensitive Adaptive Protection for EV‐Integrated Distribution Networks
Full text linkIntegrating electric vehicle (EV)-charging infrastructure presents environmental advantages, particularly in curbing carbon emissions within the transport sector and promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the ascending adoption of EVs transforms the operational dynamics of low-voltage distribution networks by introducing bidirectional power flows that challenge conventional overcurrent protection schemes. Traditional protection systems cannot effectively manage the complexities of variable load conditions and bidirectional energy transfers, specifically Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operational modes. These scenarios require the development of advanced, dynamic, and real-time protection mechanisms that are robust against challenging, faulty scenarios and cybersecurity threats. This study introduces an adaptive protection scheme that utilises digital overcurrent relays, LoRa-enabled sensors, a battery management system (BMS) and a central protection unit (CPU). This integrated framework dynamically recalibrates relay settings based on real-time grid conditions, ensuring optimal protection coordination during both G2V and V2G operations by employing a new optimisation algorithm called the transit search algorithm (TSA) and comparing the result to the water cycle algorithm (WCA). To assess the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive approach, simulations were performed on a 33-bus IEEE benchmark network, investigating a variety of fault scenarios and operation grid scenarios. The results indicate that the proposed system significantly mitigates relay miscoordination and reduces fault clearance durations, thus enhancing reliable protection in distribution networks with high EV penetration
Factors associated with programme completion and physical activity adherence in a community-based cancer exercise programme.
Full text linkRegular physical activity improves quality of life in cancer patients, yet adherence to guidelines remains low. Community-based exercise programmes offer scalable solutions, but determinants of programme completion and engagement are underexplored. This study evaluated factors associated with completion of a 12-session community-based cancer exercise programme. It also examined factors related to achieving ≥ 150 min of weekly physical activity following programme completion, considering sociodemographic characteristics, cancer type, prior exercise history, and referral pathway. Data from 918 cancer patients enrolled in the programme were analysed. Associations between age, gender, ethnicity, education, housing status, referral location, referrer type, prior exercise history, and cancer type with programme completion and post-programme physical activity levels were examined using chi-squared tests and logistic regression. Participants from multiple ethnic backgrounds had higher odds of completing the 12-session programme compared with White participants (OR = 2.529, 95% CI 1.217-5.259, p = .013). Asian participants had lower odds of meeting physical activity guidelines of ≥ 150 min per week (OR = 0.532, 95% CI 0.294-0.965, p = .038). Achieving ≥ 150 min of weekly physical activity was positively associated with higher education (OR = 1.862, p < .001), homeownership (OR = 0.177, p < .001), self-referral (OR = 1.875, p = .035), referral from Barnet (OR = 2.410, p = .002) or Islington & Camden (OR = 2.425, p < .001), female gender (OR = 1.650, p = .004), and age ≥ 72 years (OR = 2.494, p = .002). Non-homeownership was the strongest negative factor associated with not reaching the ≥ 150-min physical activity guideline (p < .001). Ethnicity was the only factor significantly associated with programme completion. In contrast, multiple factors, particularly non-homeownership, strongly influenced achieving recommended activity levels post-programme. These findings suggest the potential importance of social and environmental factors in shaping engagement and sustained physical activity in community cancer exercise programmes. Addressing these factors may improve participation, inclusivity, and long-term health outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer. [Abstract copyright: © 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Journeys of grief: Understanding how people experience grief and how they navigate their loss
No full textThe research project title Journeys of Grief refers to how people experience and navigate their loss, in their own way, at various points of their process to answer the following questions:a) How do people experience their Journeys of Grief?b) What have bereaved people found helpful to navigate their grief at different points in their process?To answer these questions, the project focused on exploring two aspects:1) How do people narrate their experiences of mourning throughout their Journeys of Grief?2) What have they found helpful in their processing of loss throughout this period
Chemical Profiling and Vascular Effects of a Hydroalcoholic Extract of Calophyllum longifolium Willd: Role of Nitric Oxide and Potassium Channels
Full text linkCalophyllum spp. infusions are used to treat varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and hypertension. However, the chemical composition and mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and vascular effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Calophyllum longifolium. Phytochemical profiling was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Extract effects on rat aortic rings and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were evaluated using wire myography and photometric measurement of intracellular Ca2+, respectively. UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS revealed the presence of coumarins, xanthones, flavonoids, triterpenes, and phenolic acids. Coumarin–resveratrol hybrids, such as gut-70 derivatives, were also abundant. In aortic rings from normotensive rats, C. longifolium induced a biphasic vascular response whereby low concentrations (1 μg/mL) produced significant vascular relaxation, whereas high concentrations (100 μg/mL) produced contraction. Blockade of ATP-sensitive (KATP) or voltage-gated (KV) potassium channels attenuated these effects. Furthermore, effects were not observed in preparations preincubated with L-NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or in endothelium-denuded rings. In aortic VSMCs, extracts (1 µg/mL) rapidly reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content. This study provides the first UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS chemical profile of C. longifolium, revealing diverse bioactive metabolites. It is also the first to demonstrate that C. longifolium exerts an endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide- and Ca2+-mediated biphasic effect on vascular function. Taken together, these findings highlight C. longifolium as a potential novel source of vasculotropic phytopharmaceuticals
Artificial Neural Network Modelling of Tangent Hyperbolic Ternary Fluid Flow with Radiation Effects
Full text linkThis study examines free convection boundary layer flow and heat transfer of a non-Newtonian tangent hyperbolic ternary nanofluid (−−/kerosene) from a cone, considering the effects of thermal radiation and magnetic forces. Rosseland's algebraic diffusion flux model is used to account for radiative effects, valid for optically thick nanofluids. The Keller Box method, a second-order implicit finite-difference technique, is employed to numerically solve the transformed conservation equations with realistic boundary conditions. The validity of the numerical code is verified by comparing its results with those from existing literature. Velocity and temperature profiles within the boundary layer are analyzed for the effects of the Weissenberg number, rheological power law index, surface temperature exponent, magnetic, and radiation parameters. The relative performance of ternary, binary, and unitary kerosene nanofluids is computed. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interactions between fluid dynamics, thermal gradients, and radiation effects in non-Newtonian fluids, with implications for enhancing industrial processes like metal casting, chemical reactions, and renewable energy systems. Moreover, a physics-guided artificial neural network trained using the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm is employed to predict the skin friction coefficient and heat transfer characteristics of the flow. The network is trained using numerical solutions of the governing equations, ensuring consistency with the underlying physical behavior. The ANN architecture is selected based on performance indicators such as rapid convergence, small gradient and Mu value and low prediction error on the Nusselt number. The close agreement between numerical and ANN results confirms the reliability and effectiveness of the LM-based physics-consistent neural network for heat transfer prediction
Automated and continuous estimation of FAPAR from distributed wireless PAR sensor networks
Full text linkAccurate estimation of the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR) is crucial for understanding plant productivity and ecosystem dynamics. A number of indirect measurement techniques are used for estimating FAPAR with hand-held instruments, but researchers have identified discrepancies among different techniques when using them to validate satellite land products. Many researchers have also utilised photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sensors to obtain quantitative measurements of PAR, but these lack robust measurement frameworks and protocols. Only very limited research has started on automated wireless PAR network systems to measure at finer temporal scales as well as to reduce human error and logistical costs. This study evaluates the performance of two flux (2f) and four flux (4f) FAPAR measurement systems and digital hemispherical photography (DHP) across multiple vegetation types (e.g., vineyard, broadleaf deciduous forest, savanna woodland) and different temporal scales (instantaneous and daily integrated). Results reveal strong agreement (R2 > 0.99, RMSE ≤ 0.04) between 2f- and 4f-FAPAR for all three study sites, with minimal overestimation (bias ≤ 0.04) by the 2f systems, suggesting that it can substitute, over similar environments, the more complex and costly 4f setup without substantially compromising accuracy. Daily integrated FAPAR exhibited greater stability and lower uncertainty compared to instantaneous FAPAR, underscoring its importance for long-term ecosystem monitoring. However, instantaneous FAPAR remains essential for satellite product validation due to its alignment with satellite overpass times. Additionally, 2f-FAPAR showed a good relationship with DHP-derived FAPAR. The findings highlight the potential of the 2f wireless PAR network as an automated, cost-effective, and reliable tool for canopy light absorption studies, offering substantial advantages for both ground-based ecosystem monitoring and remote sensing applications
Post-glacial colonisation, latitude, isolation-by-distance, and local fragmentation have shaped the genetic diversity of common toads ( bufo bufo ) across britain
No full textThe evolutionary history of many species found in Britain has been shaped by a combination of postglacial colonisation dynamics and more recent anthropogenic activity. Documenting genetic diversity is important for informing the overall conservation status of given species, and to aid in developing suitable conservation management strategies. In this study we present the first island-wide population genetic study of the toad Bufo bufo in Britain, using two mitochondrial and eight nuclear microsatellite markers which generated data for 823 animals. We found low genetic diversity and low levels of geographic structuring, and possible evidence of a two wave-colonisation to Britain from mainland Europe in the mitochondrial loci. Our microsatellite data recovered moderate genetic structuring, with evidence of recent admixture in most sampled sites. Assigned genetic clusters were only loosely associated with geography, suggesting that genetic differentiation is primarily driven by the observed isolation-by-distance rather than discrete barriers to gene flow. Levels of allelic richness decreased significantly with higher latitude and correlated positively with census size based on counts. Other genetic diversity indices and estimates of genetic effective population sizes did not correlate with population census size proxies. Our study identified sites with high genetic distinctiveness or signs of genetic erosion, and will inform the future conservation management of B. bufo across the UK
A predictive model of joint dynamics and ground reaction force using only leg length, body mass, and walking cadence
Full text linkReconstructing premorbid gait patterns is critical for developing personalized rehabilitation strategies and assistive devices for patients with movement disorders. To achieve this aim, a predictive model is developed to estimate the walking dynamic features with individual parameters without requiring complex gait tests. First, an empirical kinematic model predicting the joint angle on the basis of leg length and walking cadence is derived. Consequently, dynamic models for the single support phase and double support phase are established, and a linear transformation strategy is proposed in the double support phase for optimization. Using inverse dynamic approaches, the model can ultimately predict the joint angle, joint moment, and ground reaction force across the entire gait cycle using only leg length, body mass, and walking cadence. The dynamic parameters predicted with the model are compared with experimental data for validation, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model
Toxicity Testing of Anti-trypanosomatids Using the Model Organism C. elegans
Full text linkTrypanosomes are single-cell protozoan parasites that infect mammals and are transmitted through tsetse fly bites, mainly affecting regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Infections in humans results in the disease known as sleeping sickness which can be fatal if left untreated and is categorised as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organization. In animals, infections cause diseases such as nagana resulting in fevers, wasting and death. The development of new drugs to treat trypanosomes is needed due to adverse side effects and difficulty in administration associated with existing treatments.Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode capable of rapidly generating a culture via self-fertilisation and is reported to show good correlation of toxicity data with mammals due to well-conserved genes and signalling pathways. The aim of this project is to use C. elegans as a 3R-compliant model organism to assess the toxicity of molecules that could potentially be used for the treatment of trypanosomes. All of the 44 molecules were tested against the wild-type T. brucei strain S427WT with the more effective molecules being tested against the B48 multidrug resistant strain. From this the molecules found to be more effective than the existing drug diminazene against the resistant strain were then tested against C. elegans at their EC50. While only one molecule showed a significant increase in lethality in these tests, there were indications of exposure significantly reducing the fecundity of the nematodes. The results from the neurotoxicity assays were inconclusive so would require further testing to determine whether there is an adverse effect on the nervous system
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