YUSHI YANG^1,#, CHUJIAO HU^2,#, SHAN LEI³, XIN BAO³, ZHIRUI ZENG^3,*, WENPENG CAO^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.12, pp. 1921-1934, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.046191 - 13 November 2024

Abstract Background: The heterogeneity of prognosis and treatment benefits among patients with gliomas is due to tumor microenvironment characteristics. However, biomarkers that reflect microenvironmental characteristics and predict the prognosis of gliomas are limited. Therefore, we aimed to develop a model that can effectively predict prognosis, differentiate microenvironment signatures, and optimize drug selection for patients with glioma. Materials and Methods: The CIBERSORT algorithm, bulk sequencing analysis, and single-cell RNA (scRNA) analysis were employed to identify significant cross-talk genes between M2 macrophages and cancer cells in glioma tissues. A predictive model was constructed based on cross-talk gene expression, and… More >

Wenxia Zhu^*, Baishu Chen, Lexin Wang, Chunxiang Wang

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.22, No.5, pp. 1559-1573, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2024.047351 - 30 October 2024

Abstract A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a substance into electrical energy through an oxidation-reduction mechanism. The electrochemical reaction of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generates heat, and this heat can be recovered and put to use in a waste heat recovery system. In addition to preheating the fuel and oxidant, producing steam for industrial use, and heating and cooling enclosed rooms, this waste heat can be used for many more productive uses. The large waste heat produced by SOFCs is a worry that must… More >

Zirui Chen^1,2, Jiale Liu^1,2, Haijun Sun^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.10, pp. 2557-2569, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.056868 - 30 October 2024

Abstract Clarifying the soil nutrient dynamics caused by forest type variations in the coastal region helps scientifically to apply fertilizer to forest plantations and enhance the carbon (C) sink capacity. Pure forests of Ligustrum and Metasequoia, as well as their mixed forests, in a coastal region of China were investigated by collecting 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil samples and analyzing their differences in bulk density, water content, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), ammonium (NH₄⁺–N), nitrate (NO₃^––N) and total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK), microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), and enzyme activity. The results… More >

Lilik Astari^1,2,*, Benoit Belleville¹, Kenji Umemura³, Alex Filkov⁴, Barbara Ozarska¹, Robert H. Crawford⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.10, pp. 1729-1756, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.054786 - 23 October 2024

Abstract The demand for particleboard is increasing along with economic and population growth. However, two major barriers to the manufacture of particleboard are a shortage of raw materials (woodchips) and the emission of formaldehyde from conventional adhesives. Agricultural by-products such as corn stalks contain an abundance of renewable lignocellulosic fiber. This study evaluates the effect of citric acid as a natural adhesive and fire retardant addition on the physical, mechanical, and fire retardancy properties of particleboards fabricated from corn stalks. A cost-effective and inorganic salt, calcium carbonate, was tested to enhance the fire retardancy. Ammonium dihydrogen… More > Graphic Abstract

Jianan Wang^1,*, Yikuan Fan², Weidong Duan³, Zhaopeng Song¹

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.11, pp. 3401-3415, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2024.055158 - 21 October 2024

Abstract Since pure tobacco stalk (TS) biomass pellet fuels tend to slag, five anti-slagging agents were added to the crushed TS to obtain a pellet fuel that could be used in biomass burners to provide heat for tobacco curing. The obtained results revealed that the main component of TS pellet fuel was K₂Si₂O₅. During fuel combustion process, additives generated higher melting point silicate compounds by Al–K, Ca–K, and Ca–K elemental structures to replace single K elemental structure of TS, enhancing the anti-slagging efficiency of the pellet fuel from 21.63% to 78.29% and promoting the precipitation of K, More >

Sayat Ibrayev¹, Batyrkhan Omarov^1,2,3,*, Arman Ibrayeva¹, Zeinel Momynkulov^1,2

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.81, No.1, pp. 229-249, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2024.053075 - 15 October 2024

Abstract This research paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the effectiveness of the DeepSurNet-NSGA II (Deep Surrogate Model-Assisted Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) for solving complex multi-objective optimization problems, with a particular focus on robotic leg-linkage design. The study introduces an innovative approach that integrates deep learning-based surrogate models with the robust Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II, aiming to enhance the efficiency and precision of the optimization process. Through a series of empirical experiments and algorithmic analyses, the paper demonstrates a high degree of correlation between solutions generated by the DeepSurNet-NSGA II and those obtained from… More >

VINíCIUS AUGUSTO SIMãO¹, LUIZ GUSTAVO DE ALMEIDA CHUFFA¹, LEóN FERDER², FELIPE INSERRA², WALTER MANUCHA^3,4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.10, pp. 1429-1442, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.053478 - 02 October 2024

Abstract The interplay between mitochondria, epigenetics, and the microbiota is intricately linked to both health and disease. Within our cells, a complex molecular dance occurs, where these components intertwine in a mesmerizing ballet that plays a decisive role in our health. Mitochondria, beyond being energy powerhouses, modulate nuclear gene expression through messengers like reactive oxidative stress (ROS) and calcium. Epigenetics, acting as the molecular conductor, regulates the expression of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes through modifications like DNA methylation. The intestinal microbiota itself produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that influence mitochondrial activity. SCFA-induced epigenetic modifications, like… More >

Mingxuan Chen¹, Jun Jia², Baoping Zhang¹, Leiyan Han³, Mengbo Ji^3,4, Zhangtao Yu¹, Dongfang Li¹, Wenyong Wang¹, Hongjing Jia¹, Huachi Xu^2,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.10, pp. 3055-3074, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2024.051524 - 11 September 2024

Abstract The rise in hydrogen production powered by renewable energy is driving the field toward the adoption of systems comprising multiple alkaline water electrolyzers. These setups present various operational modes: independent operation and multi-electrolyzer parallelization, each with distinct advantages and challenges. This study introduces an innovative configuration that incorporates a mutual lye mixer among electrolyzers, establishing a weakly coupled system that combines the advantages of two modes. This approach enables efficient heat utilization for faster hot-startup and maintains heat conservation post-lye interconnection, while preserving the option for independent operation after decoupling. A specialized thermal exchange model… More >

Patricia Luna^1,*, Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga¹, Alvaro Mariño²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.8, pp. 1399-1416, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.052669 - 06 September 2024

Abstract This study focuses on treating Guadua angustifolia bamboo fibers to enhance their properties for reinforcement applications in composite materials. Chemical (alkali) and physical (dry etching plasma) treatments were used separately to augment compatibility of Guadua angustifolia fibers with various composite matrices. The influence of these treatments on the fibers’ performance, chemical composition, and surface morphology were analyzed. Statistical analysis indicated that alkali treatments reduced the tensile modulus of elasticity and strength of fibers by up to 40% and 20%, respectively, whereas plasma treatments maintain the fibers’ mechanical performance. FTIR spectroscopy revealed significant alterations in chemical composition due More > Graphic Abstract

TINGTING LIU^#, DINGYOU GUO^#, JIANSHE WEI^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.8, pp. 1155-1179, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.051518 - 02 August 2024

Abstract In China, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) degenerative illness affecting middle-aged and older persons. Movement disorders including resting tremor, bradykinesia, myotonia, postural instability, and gait instability are the predominant clinical symptoms. The two main types of PD are sporadic and familial, with sporadic PD being the more prevalent of the two. The environment, genetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, protein aggregation and misfolding, loss of trophic factors, cell death, and gut microbiota may all have a role in the etiology of PD. PD is inversely connected with other More >