Search Results (4)

Cancer is no longer considered as an isolated event. Rather, it occurs because of a complex biological drive orchestrating different cell types, growth factors, cytokines, and signaling pathways within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most populous stromal cells within the complex ecosystem of TME, with significant heterogeneity and plasticity in origin and functional phenotypes. Very enigmatic cells, CAFs determine the progress and outcomes of tumors through extensive reciprocal signaling with different tumors infiltrating immune cells in the TME. In their biological drive, CAFs release numerous chemical mediators and utilize various signaling pathways to recruit and modulate tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The CAF-induced secretome and exosomes render immune cells ineffective for their antitumor activities. Moreover, by upregulating immune inhibitory checkpoints, CAFs create an immunosuppressive TME that impedes the susceptibility of tumor cells to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Further, by depositing and remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM), CAFs reshape the TME, which enhances tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Understanding of CAF biology and its crosstalk with tumor-infiltrating immune cells is crucial not only to gain insight in tumorigenesis but to optimize the potential of novel targeted immunotherapies for cancers. The complex relationships between CAFs and tumor-infiltrating immune cells remain unclear and need further study. Herein, in this narrative review we have focused on updates of CAF biology and its interactions with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in generating immunosuppressive TME and resistance to cell death. Full article

In the current era, the skyrocketing demand for energy necessitates a powerful mechanism to mitigate the supply–demand gap in intelligent energy infrastructure, i.e., the smart grid. To handle this issue, an intelligent and secure energy management system (EMS) could benefit end-consumers participating in the Demand–Response (DR) program. Therefore, in this paper, we proposed a real-time and secure incentive-based EMS for smart grid, i.e., RI-EMS approach using Reinforcement Learning (RL) and blockchain technology. In the RI-EMS approach, we proposed a novel reward mechanism for better convergence of the RL-based model using a Q-learning approach based on the greedy policy that guides the RL-agent for faster convergence. Then, the proposed RI-EMS approach designed a real-time incentive mechanism to minimize energy consumption in peak hours and reduce end-consumers’ energy bills to provide incentives to the end-consumers. Experimental results show that the proposed RI-EMS approach induces end-consumer participation and increases customer profitabilities compared to existing approaches considering the different performance evaluation metrics such as energy consumption for end-consumers, energy consumption reduction, and total cost comparison to end-consumers. Furthermore, blockchain-based results are simulated and analyzed with the help of deployed smart contracts in a Remix Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with the parameters such as transaction efficiency and data storage cost. Full article

We reported an ecofriendly method for the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the pollen of double-petal China rose/Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The phytosynthesized AgNPs were preliminary characterized by their optical properties by UV–vis spectroscopy and showed their corresponding surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) at 405 nm. The distribution pattern and morphology of the synthesized AgNPs were confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy whereas X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy depicts their surface properties and crystalline nature. The phytosynthesized AgNPs were spherical, well dispersed, 10–50 nm in size, and crystalline. It also showed moderate photocatalytic activity for the degradation (>30%, 2.5 h) of Thioflavin T dye in direct sunlight. Thus, this work highlights the importance of China rose pollen in green nanoscience and supports the cleanliness of nature by naturally available materials. Full article

In this work, Andean sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) leaves were used to prepare monodispersed cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticles under heating. Visual color changes and UV-visible spectroscopy of colloidal nanoparticles showed λ_max at 255 nm, revealing the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis indicated that the prepared nanoparticles were spherical with an average size of 6–10 nm. The semi-crystalline nature and Cu₂O phase of as-prepared nanoparticles were examined by X-ray diffraction. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of polyphenols, alkaloids and sugar in the sacha inchi leaf, allowing the formation of Cu₂O nanoparticles from Cu²⁺. Additionally, as-synthesized Cu₂O nanoparticles exhibited good photocatalytic degradation activity against methylene blue (>78%, 150 min) with rate constant 0.0219106 min⁻¹. The results suggested that the adopted method is low-cost, simple, ecofriendly and highly selective for the synthesis of small Cu₂O nanoparticles and may be used as a nanocatalyst in the future in the efficient treatment of organic pollutants in water. Full article