16168 research outputs found
Sort by
Itaconate and its derivatives as anti-pathogenic agents /
No full textPathogenic microorganisms and viruses cause outbreaks and pandemics that affect millions of people worldwide. Despite recent advances in pharmacology and medicine, the ability of infectious diseases to spread in the modern era is accelerating due to various factors contributing to increased human-to-human and human–animal contacts. With the global rise of drug resistance among pathogens and frequently occurring viral outbreaks, alternative drugs and therapies that specifically inhibit microbial virulence or regulate immune responses are attracting growing interest. The present review focuses on itaconate and its derivatives as potential anti-pathogenic agents. It summarizes the current state of research on itaconate metabolism in bacteria, fungi and mammals. This is followed by a comprehensive review of recent advances studying itaconate and its derivatives as anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antimicrobial and antiviral compounds, along with their mechanisms of action. Finally, the review emphasises the existing challenges and future research directions for the application of itaconate and its derivatives as anti-pathogenic agents
Assessing geothermal energy production potential of devonian geothermal complexes in Lithuania /
No full textLithuania is a Baltic European country which shares borders with Poland, Belarus, Latvia, and Russia and has a geothermal anomaly in the southwestern region. It consists of two main geothermal complexed, i.e., Devonian and Cambrian with a temperature of up to 40 °C (at a depth of 1000 m) and 96 °C (at a depth of 2000 m), respectively. The Devonian complex is composed of an unconsolidated sandstone formation with porosity and permeability in the range of 4–31% and 200 mD–6000 mD, respectively, and these make it a favorable candidate for a low enthalpy geothermal complex because of the high water production rates. This study evaluates the geothermal potential in the Devonian complex of the selected sites for commercial development. The study utilizes the mechanistic modelling approach including uncertainty management to forecast the water production rates and estimate the power generation capacity. Lastly, the study reveals that it is feasible to produce 6 MW to 60 MW of power from the existing vertical wells for a period of 25 years. Furthermore, reactive transport modelling also proves that there is dissolution and precipitation of the minerals near and away from the wellbore, respectively, which impairs the reservoir quality and further concludes that there is an effect of time on re-injection which should be considered to enhance the reservoir quality for future operations. In addition to that, no effect of the re-injection temperature of the produced water is observed
Simulative modeling of psychologically acceptable architectural and urban environments combining biomimicry approach and concept of architectural/urban genotype as unifying theories /
No full textThis research explores the integration of biomimicry and architectural/urban genotype concepts to model psychologically acceptable environments. Drawing on foundational psychological theories—Gestalt, Attention Restoration, Prospect-Refuge, and Environmental Psychology—this study examines the private–public interface at the various urban resolutions, encompassing land plots, buildings, and urban structures. Biomimicry serves as a unifying framework, linking these theories with principles derived from natural systems to create sustainable and psychologically beneficial designs. The methodology incorporates simulative modeling, employing space syntax and isovist analysis to quantify key spatial features such as proximity, complexity, and refuge. This study evaluates traditional historical architectures from diverse cultural contexts, such as Islamic medina, Medieval European town, and modernist urbanism, to identify patterns of spatial organization that balance human psychological needs and ecological sustainability. Findings highlight the fractal and hierarchical nature of spatial structures and the importance of integrating human-scale, culturally relevant designs into modern urban planning. By establishing a replicable framework, this research aims to bridge theoretical and practical gaps in environmental psychology, biomimicry, and urban design, paving the way for resilient and adaptive environments that harmonize ecological and human well-being
Design and implementation of a fuzzy logic controlled water heater for laboratory-scale indoor swimming pools /
No full textIn recent times, the indoor swimming pool has emerged as a source of physical well-being and recreational enjoyment. Various endeavours have been undertaken to enhance the comfort of indoor swimming pools, including measures to decrease the evaporation of heated water. As a consequence, the humidity level in the indoor swimming pool rises. An indoor swimming pool must meet specific criteria to provide optimal comfort, including maintaining appropriate water temperature, air space, and relative humidity levels. Thus, this study created a laboratory-scale indoor swimming pool measuring 1 meter x 0.5 meters x 0.3 meters. The pool had a water heater controlled by a fuzzy logic technique control system. The water heater was installed within a water tank of 0.25 meters in length, 0.18 meters in width, and 0.3 meters in height. This water tank functions as a reservoir of heated water to be transported to an indoor swimming pool on a laboratory scale. The experimental findings demonstrate that implementing the fuzzy technique effectively regulates the water temperature at a constant level of 35 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the average duration required for heating the water to reach this temperature is 11.08 minutes, while the time taken to empty the water tank is 4.11 minutes. The duration needed to heat a laboratory-scale indoor swimming pool is precisely 5.14 minutes. Moreover, the findings of this study indicate that the application of these results is particularly relevant to indoor swimming pools, specifically those located in the Tokong Nanas Building at Telkom University
Layered double hydroxides reinforced epoxy composites: computational analysis of microstructure effect on strength /
No full textThis paper analyses the mechanical and damage behaviour of epoxy composites incorporating magnesium–aluminium layered double hydroxides (LDH), which have potential applications as corrosion protective coatings. The analysis of these composites was carried out by developing a computational model based on numerical homogenisation approach, employing the micromechanical finite element method. The influence of the elastic modulus, aspect ratio and weight fractions of the LDH particles on the mechanical and damage behaviour of epoxy/LDH composites was investigated. Damage modelling was performed, capturing both crack formation and evolution. Damage mechanisms such as crack pinning and crack deflection due to the LDH particles were observed. The modelling demonstrated that with an increase in the weight fraction of LDH, the composite became stiffer and more brittle. Adding up to 5 wt% LDH particles to epoxy increased the elastic modulus of the composite by nearly 20%. The strain at break was reduced to 2 %. The model was validated against experimental data, demonstrating its ability to predict the behaviour of epoxy/LDH composites. The findings indicate that epoxy/LDH composites exhibit enhanced stiffness, making them suitable for practical applications as corrosion-protective coatings
Strengthening of notched wooden beams at the support using plywood and wood screws.
No full textThe aim of this final work is to evaluate, by theoretical calculations and experiments, the increase in shear strength of wooden beams notched at the support, when the beams are reinforced with plywood and wood screws. To compare theoretical and experimental values, to analyze the failure of reinforced and unreinforced beams. To check the reliability of calculation methodologies used in laws and scientific works
Concurrent ultrafast twisting and proton transfer photoreactions in new pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives /
No full textPyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives are a class of compounds exhibiting dual solvent-dependent fluorescence. This interesting and potentially useful optical property is attributed to the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). We have investigated excited state dynamics of these molecules in detail using femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. We found that when the compounds containing methoxy groups in a phenyl ring are dissolved in a polar protic solvent (methanol), they undergo excited state twisting that competes with the ESIPT reaction. Additionally, the dumping of the tautomer stimulated emission allowed us to populate a short-lived ground-state tautomer and track a ground-state proton transfer (GSIPT) back reaction. We found that the GSIPT decays on the sub-picosecond to picosecond time scale, and a fast process is more pronounced in less polar solvents
Research on increasing the building's energy efficiency by using the ground beneath it for thermo-accumulation /
No full textA whole series of factors influence the temperature of the soil surface and surface layers. The soil surface is heated by solar radiation during the day. It radiates some of the obtained heat at night. The heat exchange between the soil and the atmosphere depends on the air and soil temperatures and the speed of air movement. Precipitation may also affect surface soil layers, but this was not considered in this study. In the mentioned interaction, a specific temperature field of the surface layers of the soil is established. To increase the building’s energy efficiency, the aim is to optimize the operation of its heating and cooling systems and to reduce heat loss to the environment as much as possible. Heat loss through the floor of the building or the walls of the recessed part into the ground changes the established temperature field of the ground. The heat spreads in the soil and is given to the atmospheric air. During the research, to validate the numerical model, the heat flow density was analysed to determine how it changes while maintaining a constant temperature of the heating surface at a certain depth of the soil. It was found that the new thermodynamic equilibrium, depending on the seasonality, can be reached in a time interval of up to a week. The temperature change in the artificially limited volume of the ground under the building or next to it can be treated as the work of the ground thermo-accumulator: its charge or discharge by heat. This makes it possible to reduce the annual energy costs of the building by more than ten percent
Review: Natural fiber-based biocomposites for potential advanced automotive applications /
No full textThe search for novel materials for a variety of end-use applications has been encouraged by increased concern for the environment. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of biocomposites derived from natural resources, which have attracted considerable research interest. It focuses on key categories of biodegradable polymers and natural fibers, detailing their manufacturing processes, bonding mechanisms, and inherent properties. The paper emphasizes both physical and thermal features of different bio-based materials, particularly in automotive applications, and evaluates their compatibility with different matrix materials. Drawbacks and possibilities related to processing of biodegradable fiberreinforced materials are explored, alongside a performance comparison with traditional materials commonly used in the automotive sector. The review concludes by addressing the economic implications and prospects of biocomposites, highlighting their potential as a rapidly emerging field in polymer science with significant applications within the vehicle sector
Heart rate variability biofeedback in a global study of the most common coherence frequencies and the impact of emotional states /
No full textThis global study analyzed data from the largest dataset ever studied in the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback field, comprising 1.8 million user sessions collected from users of a mobile app during 2019 and 2020. We focused on HRV Coherence, which is linked to improved emotional stability and cognitive function. Positive emotions reported by users were associated with higher Coherence scores and more stable HRV frequencies. In contrast, negative emotions exhibited lower scores and more dispersed frequency distributions. The most common frequency associated with Coherence was identified at 0.10 Hz. However, many users with the highest levels of Coherence fell within a lower range from 0.04 to 0.10 Hz. Most users exhibited high stability (standard deviation < 0.012 Hz) in their coherence frequencies from session to session, and their stability within a given session increased with increasing Coherence. The insights gained from this extensive dataset suggest that by instructing users to breathe deeper and slower and find a rhythm that's comfortable, they naturally find their unique resonant frequency. The findings provide a strong foundation for future research and the development of targeted interventions aimed at enhancing emotional and physiological well-being through HRV biofeedback and coherence practices