38332 research outputs found
Sort by
CFAP410 has a bimodular architecture with a conserved surface patch on its N-terminal leucine-rich repeat motif for binding interaction partners.
Get PDFCilia and flagella associated protein 410 (CFAP410) is a protein localized at the basal body of cilia/flagella and plays essential roles in ciliogenesis. Multiple single amino acid mutations in CFAP410 have been identified in patients. However, the molecular mechanism for how the mutations cause these disorders remains poorly understood due to a lack of high-resolution structures of the protein. Our studies demonstrate that CFAP410 adopts a bimodular architecture. We have previously reported our structural studies on the C-terminal domain (CTD) of CFAP410 from various organisms. Here we report a 1.0-Å resolution crystal structure of the N-terminal domain (NTD) of Trypanosoma brucei CFAP410. We further examined how the disease-causing mutations in this domain may affect the folding and structural stability of CFAP410. Our results suggest that the single-residue mutations in the CFAP410-NTD cause human diseases by destabilizing the structure that subsequently disrupts its interaction with other partners
THE EXAMINATION OF THE APPLICABILITY OF PASSIVHAUS PRINCIPLES FOR A CAFÉ BUILDING IN THAILAND: ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT
No full textThis study investigates the feasibility of adapting Passivhaus principles to café design in Thailand's hot-humid climate, addressing the critical knowledge gap in tropical commercial building applications. Through comparative analysis of a baseline café in Bangkok's Prawet district against a Passivhaus-adapted version, the research evaluates both energy performance and economic viability using PHPP modelling and Thai construction cost data.
The baseline café, representing typical Thai construction practices, demonstrates poor thermal performance with cooling and dehumidifying demand of 1,965 kWh/(m²a) and cooling load of 211 W/m², substantially exceeding Passivhaus alternative criteria by 421% and 391% respectively. Implementation of five tropical-adapted strategies—enhanced building envelope thermal performance, aperture optimisation, window-to-wall ratio reduction, external shading, and improved airtightness—yields dramatic improvements. The adapted model achieves 522 kWh/(m²a) cooling and dehumidifying demand and 51 W/m² cooling load, representing reductions of 73% and 76% respectively.
Single-parameter analysis reveals that envelope thermal improvement (roof, wall, and floor U-values) constitutes the most effective intervention, achieving 31% demand reduction independently. However, holistic integration of all strategies proves essential, as the combined approach yields performance benefits far exceeding the arithmetic sum of individual interventions (73% versus approximately 45%).
Economic analysis demonstrates exceptional viability despite a substantial 79% cost premium (362,110 THB). The improved café's annual energy reduction of 66,234 kWh generates electricity bill savings of 264,935 THB/year, resulting in a simple payback period of 1.37 years. This performance substantially outperforms international benchmarks of 5-12 years documented in mature European markets, reflecting Thailand's low baseline construction costs and high cooling energy demands.
The findings challenge prevailing assumptions about Passivhaus economic feasibility in emerging tropical markets, demonstrating that climate-appropriate adaptation can achieve both substantial environmental benefits and compelling financial returns. However, the 38% excess above Passivhaus cooling criteria reveals persistent challenges in tropical dehumidification requirements, whilst architectural trade-offs including reduced glazing ratios raise questions about balancing energy efficiency with experiential quality in hospitality spaces.
This research contributes critical evidence supporting the economic viability of high-performance building standards in Thailand's expanding café sector, whilst identifying priority areas for policy intervention including supply chain development, professional training, and adaptive comfort standard refinement for tropical contexts
Achieving the EnerPHit standard with uninsulated floor slab: Optimising below-slab wall insulation in an existing UK home
No full textAbstract
This study explores the challenge of achieving the EnerPHit standard in an older house with uninsulated solid concrete floor slabs. And this is, where demolition or slab replacement is not feasible due to high costs, significant disruption, or increased embodied carbon. The research investigates a practical alternative by optimising external insulation applied to the below-slab perimeter wall. It is targeting this junction as a critical thermal bridge through which substantial heat loss can occur. By addressing this specific area, the approach aims to enhance overall energy efficiency and assess the effects on both summer and winter.
A quantitative, simulation-based methodology was applied to a 1980s masonry house in Oxford undergoing retrofit. Dynamic thermal simulations utilized DesignBuilder v7 and the Kiva ground heat transfer module to model complex heat flow through the soil and foundation. Systematic testing of insulation depths up to 1400 mm and varying thicknesses determined the optimal configuration.
The findings confirm that EnerPHit compliance is achievable via this targeted intervention. The optimal specification, with a 150 mm thickness at a 1300 mm depth, reduced the specific energy demand to 19.32 kWh/m² per year, placing it comfortably below the required benchmark of 25 kWh/m² per year. This represents a 13.7% reduction in energy demand compared to the uninsulated baseline.
Seasonal analysis revealed key benefits: retaining the uninsulated slab allowed the ground to function as a heat sink, delivering essential passive cooling and reducing overheating risk. In winter, the insulation enhanced localized comfort by raising slab surface temperatures and mitigating lateral heat loss. This approach cost about seven times less than the slab replacement and resulted in only one-tenth of the embodied carbon. The study validates this optimal perimeter insulation as a pragmatic, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for high-performance retrofits in similar housing stock
Curiosity can influence metacognitive processes
No full textPrior research suggests a link between curiosity and metacognition, but how curiosity is involved in two key metacognitive processes – metacognitive monitoring (i.e., assessing one’s cognitive states and performance) and metacognitive control (i.e., adjusting decisions and behaviors) – remains unclear. In three experiments (N = 264) participants first saw a general knowledge question and answer options on each trial. In Experiment 1, participants selected an answer and rated their curiosity and confidence. In Experiment 2, participants rated their curiosity and, instead of rating confidence, could either select an answer or opt out; at the end, they answered the previously skipped questions. Participants showed lower confidence (Experiment 1) and were more likely to opt out (Experiment 2) on trials where they provided incorrect rather than correct answers. In both experiments they reported greater curiosity on incorrect-answer trials. These findings suggest that curiosity signals metacognitive monitoring and drives control. Experiment 3A and 3B further examined the impact of curiosity on metacognitive control and showed that exposure to others’ curiosity influenced participants’ metacognitive control. Together, these results provide initial direct evidence that curiosity actively guides metacognitive processes. They also highlight that curiosity helps align individuals’ metacognitive experiences with those of others thereby further impacting their own metacognitive processe
Self-treatment of psychiatric conditions using ketamine : Patterns, characteristics, and retrospective insights
Get PDFBackground: While research on novel therapeutic applications of ketamine is expanding, particularly in controlled settings, there is limited exploration of its consumption related to self-treatment of psychiatric conditions. This study investigated the characteristics of people who use ketamine and psychedelics for self-treatment of psychiatric conditions, providing insight into patterns of use within this population.
Methods: Utilising the 2020 Global Drug Survey, the analysis incorporates data from 5,831 respondents who reported self- treating with unregulated drugs to treat diagnosed psychiatric conditions. We compare three groups: those self-treating with only ketamine (n=242), ketamine and other psychedelics (n=1,072), and non-ketamine psychedelic only substances (n=4,517). Negative binomial regression was conducted to assess the impact of self-treating psychiatric conditions with ketamine and other psychedelics on the volume of recreational ketamine use.
Results: A high proportion (>60%) had prior psychiatric diagnoses, with depression and anxiety being the most common. People who used both ketamine and other substances reported higher festival and clubbing attendance than the other two groups. People who used ketamine and combined it with other psychedelics used it more frequently (IRR: 0.729, 95% CI: 0.336-1.581), while those using non-ketamine psychedelics only showed a significant reduction in ketamine usage volume (IRR: 0.160, 95% CI: 0.079-0.322) compared to other groups. Almost half of respondents sought online advice before starting ketamine self-treatment.
Conclusion: This study extends knowledge about various populations using ketamine for self-treatment purposes, proposes areas for future research and suggests online platforms as the most effective place for harm reduction resources relating to ketamine use