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Performance of yellow and pink oyster mushroom dyes in dye sensitized solar cell
Get PDFA solar photovoltaic (PV) cell, is an electrical device that uses the PV effect to convert light energy into electricity. The application of oyster mushroom dyes in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a novel strategy to substitute the costly chemical production process with easily extractable, environmentally acceptable dyes. Both dyes of yellow and pink oyster mushrooms were extracted using the same process but dried into powder form using two techniques, warm drying and freeze drying. The characterization was carried out utilizing current-voltage (I-V) characterization for electrical properties, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer for optical properties, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for the structural properties. It was found that freeze-dried pink and yellow oyster mushroom had shown the good properties for DSSC application as it produced energy bandgap which lies within the range of efficient dye sensitizer; 1.7 eV and 2.2 eV, the most uniform distribution of pores and a nearly spherical form in FESEM analysis, and AFM result obtained with the highest root mean square (RMS) roughness value (26.922 and 34.033) with stereoscopic morphologies. The data proved that mushroom dyes can be incorporated in DSSC with the optimization of drying method in the extraction process, dilution of dye and the layer of deposition on the glass substrate. The current density-voltage (J–V) characteristics of fabricated DSSC was characterized using Newport Oriel Sol3A solar simulator under AM 1.5 Sun condition (100 mW/cm2, 25 oC). From the result obtained by solar simulator, the fabricated FTO/TiO2/Pleurotus djamor dye/Pt indicated the Voc of 0.499 V and Jsc of 0.397 mA/cm2
β-Cell keratin 8 maintains islet mechanical integrity, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and β-cell glucose transporter 2 plasma membrane targeting
Get PDFIslet β-cell dysfunction is an underlying factor for type I diabetes (T1D) development. Insulin sensing and secretion are tightly regulated in β-cells at multiple subcellular levels. The epithelial intermediate filament (IF) protein keratin (K) 8 is the main β-cell keratin, constituting the filament network with K18. To identify the cell-autonomous functions of K8 in β-cells, mice with targeted deletion of β-cell K8 (K8flox/flox; Ins-Cre) were analyzed for islet morphology, ultrastructure, and integrity, as well as blood glucose regulation and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes development. Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) localization was studied in β-cells in vivo and in MIN6 cells with intact or disrupted K8/K18 filaments. Loss of β-cell K8 leads to a major reduction in K18. Islets without β-cell K8 are more fragile, and these β-cells display disjointed plasma membrane organization with less membranous E-cadherin and smaller mitochondria with diffuse cristae. Lack of β-cell K8 also leads to a reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) response in vivo, despite undisturbed systemic blood glucose regulation. K8flox/flox, Ins-Cre mice have a decreased sensitivity to STZ compared with K8 wild-type mice, which is in line with decreased membranous GLUT2 expression observed in vivo, as GLUT2 is required for STZ uptake in β-cells. In vitro, MIN6 cell plasma membrane GLUT2 is rescued in cells overexpressing K8/K18 filaments but mistargeted in cells with disrupted K8/K18 filaments. β-Cell K8 is required for islet and β-cell structural integrity, normal mitochondrial morphology, and GLUT2 plasma membrane targeting, and has implications on STZ sensitivity as well as systemic insulin responses.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Keratin 8 is the main cytoskeletal protein in the cytoplasmic intermediate filament network in β-cells. Here for the first time, we assessed the β-cell autonomous mechanical and nonmechanical roles of keratin 8 in β-cell function. We demonstrated the importance of keratin 8 in islet and β-cell structural integrity, maintaining mitochondrial morphology and GLUT2 plasma membrane targeting
Public opinion on types of voice systems for older adults
Get PDFPublic opinion may influence the adoption of technologies for older adults, yet studies on different contexts of technology for older adults is limited. In an online YouGov survey (N = 500) with text-and-image vignettes, participants gave more positive ratings of social acceptability, trust, and perceived impact on eldercare when the voice assistant (“VA” system) shown in the vignette performed a functional task (medication adherence) versus when it performed a social task (companionship). The VA received more positive sentiment comments when it appeared to use a machine learning (ML)-based dialogue system compared to when it appeared to be using a rule-based dialogue system. These results may assist designers and stakeholders select what type of voice system to develop or use with older adults
A review on rheological approaches as a perfect tool to monitor thermal degradation of biodegradable polymers
Get PDFThis review provides an in-depth analysis of the thermal degradation of biodegradable polymers through rheological methods. Focusing on key techniques such as time sweep tests, frequency sweep tests, and nonlinear rheological analyses gained at higher shear tests, the review highlights how these approaches offer critical insights into polymer stability and degradation kinetics. It entails an understanding of how molecular weight reduction, a common degradation mechanism, significantly impacts the performance of biodegradable polymers, and how the use of appropriate fillers can enhance thermal stability by mitigating chain scission. The review also discusses the application of the Arrhenius equation in modelling thermal degradation, helping predict degradation rates and optimize processing conditions. Time sweep tests are particularly emphasized for their ability to monitor polymer stability under various environmental conditions, while frequency sweep tests provide insights into the effects of processing/thermal history on material degradation. Tests at higher shear rates, which simulate real-world processing conditions such as extrusion and injection moulding, are explored for their role in understanding how processing-induced shear forces accelerate polymer degradation. Various biodegradable polymers are considered in this review, with polylactic acid (PLA) being the dominant polymer studied across most research, providing a clear picture of its degradation behaviour and strategies for enhancing its thermal stability. Therefore, it is expected that this review will be a comprehensive guide for researchers and engineers looking to optimize the thermal stability and performance of biodegradable polymers in various industrial applications
Cost-effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) vs Moderate Intensity Steady-State (MISS) Training in UK Cardiac Rehabilitation
Get PDFObjective: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with moderate intensity steady-state (MISS) training in people with coronary artery disease (CAD) attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Design: Secondary cost-effectiveness analysis of a prospective, assessor-blind, parallel group, multi-center RCT. Setting: Six outpatient National Health Service cardiac rehabilitation centers in England and Wales, UK. Participants: 382 participants with CAD (N=382). Interventions: Participants were randomized to twice-weekly usual care (n=195) or HIIT (n=187) for 8 weeks. Usual care was moderate intensity continuous exercise (60%-80% maximum capacity, MISS), while HIIT consisted of 10 £ 1-minute intervals of vigorous exercise (>85% maximum capacity) interspersed with 1-minute periods of recovery. Main Outcome Measures: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of the HIIT or MISS UK trial. Health related quality of life was measured with the EQ-5D-5L to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs were estimated with health service resource use and intervention delivery costs. Cost-utility analysis measured the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Bootstrapping assessed the probability of HIIT being cost-effective according to the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) threshold value (£20,000 per QALY). Missing data were imputed. Uncertainty was estimated using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Assumptions were tested using univariate/1-way sensitivity analysis
Quality prescribing for antidepressants: guide for improvement 2024 to 2027
Get PDFThe prescribing of antidepressants continues to increase in Scotland, with many people receiving antidepressants for two years or more. This may be appropriate for some individuals, but it is important that ongoing treatment is reviewed regularly and that the risks and benefits of treatment are discussed. Treatment goals should be agreed with individuals, both at the time of initiation and when reviewing medication, and treatment plans should take a holistic approach to management and support. These should include discussions of non-pharmacological and wider community support options where these are available and indicated.This prescribing advice is primarily intended to support and encourage the appropriate use of antidepressants for mental health and physical conditions, as part of the wider treatment options available. It supports appropriate initiation of antidepressants, regular and proactive reviews, reduction and stopping of treatment where it is ineffective or where treatment courses have been completed. Regular person-centred reviews can optimise the care of those receiving antidepressants and minimise avoidable medicine-related harm. These reviews can also support and enable appropriate continuation of antidepressant treatment where this is required, using the 7-Steps person-centred review approach
Application of Randomness for Security and Privacy in Multi-Party Computation
Get PDFA secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) is one of the distributed computational methods, where it computes a function over the inputs given by more than one party jointly and keeps those inputs private from the parties involved in the process. Randomization in secret sharing leading to MPC is a requirement for privacy enhancements; however, most of the available MPC models use the trust assumptions of sharing and combining values. Thus, randomization in secret sharing and MPC modules is neglected. As a result, the available MPC models are prone to information leakage problems, where the models can reveal the partial values of the sharing secrets. In this paper, we propose the first model of utilizing a random function generator as an MPC primitive. More specifically, we analyze our previous development of the Symmetric Random Function Generator (SRFG) for information-theoretic security, where the system is considered to have unconditional security if it is secure against adversaries with unlimited computing resources and time. Further, we apply SRFG to eradicate the problem of information leakage in the general MPC model. Through a set of experiments, we show that SRFG is a function generator that can generate the combined functions (combination of logic GATEs) with n/2 -private to n -private norms. As the main goal of MPC is privacy preservation of the inputs, we analyze the applicability of SRFG properties in secret sharing and MPC and observe that SRFG is eligible to be a cryptographic primitive in MPC developments. We also measure the performance of our proposed SRFG-based MPC framework with the other randomness generation-based MPC frameworks and analyze the comparative attributes with the state-of-the-art models. We observe that our posed SRFG-based MPC is ≈ 30% better in terms of throughput and also shows 100% privacy attainment
Surveying Birds in Open Habitats near Proposed Woodland Creation Schemes: What is the Effect of Having Fewer Visits?
Get PDFIn relation to new woodland creation in England, the Forestry Commission (FC) may require breeding bird surveys of proposed sites to assess suitability for planting or natural colonisation. Previous protocols required six visits, but we wanted to test the impact of reducing the number of visits to save resources without substantial loss of information. To simulate the impact of reduced survey visits and specific timings as per new FC guidance, existing survey data from breeding bird reports at woodland creation sites in England fromb2021 and 2022 were analysed, using as metrics (1) species richness and (2) territory density of two wader species of conservation concern – curlew and lapwing – which are particularly susceptible to impacts of afforestation. Our results suggest that the proposed change in survey methods from six to four visits would have a relatively minor impact on species richness relative to the reduction in survey effort, but the change in breeding territory densities would be more substantial, though would not usually have implications for decision-making
A Change Severity Degree-based Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm with Adaptive Response Strategy
Get PDFMany real-world optimization problems are dynamic by nature, exhibiting temporal variations in objective functions, constraints, and parameters. These problems present significant challenges for algorithm convergence and diversity, as they require the ability to adapt appropriately to new environments. To address these challenges, a Dynamic Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm with an Adaptive Response Strategy (DMOPSO-ARS) is proposed in this paper. The DMOPSO-ARS possesses the capability to detect the degree of change and apply a suitable response strategy accordingly. Specifically, the change response strategy encompasses initialization-based prediction and elite-based learning methods, designed to speed up convergence speed and enhance algorithm diversity in the face of high/low severity environmental changes. To assess the effectiveness of the DMOPSO-ARS, we select the standard CEC 2018 benchmark, noisy test functions, and the recently released OL-DOP 2022 benchmark. Empirical studies indicate the robustness of the DMOPSO-ARS in tracking evolving solutions over time, showcasing its significant superiority compared to state-of-the-art methods
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