Search Results (794)

To address the challenge of effective tracking of weather-induced power fluctuation trends in daytime PV power forecasting, this paper proposes a joint forecasting framework oriented to weather classification. For the weather classification module, a spectral clustering method incorporating multivariate feature fusion-based evaluation is introduced to address the limitation that conventional clustering models fail to effectively identify power fluctuations caused by dynamic weather variations. Simultaneously, to tackle non-stationary fluctuations and local abrupt changes in PV power forecasting, a non-stationary Transformer-BiLSTM model optimised using the Differentiated Creative Search (DCS) algorithm (DCS-NsT-BiLSTM)is proposed. This model enables the co-optimisation of global and local features under diverse weather patterns. The proposed method takes into consideration the climatic typology of PV power plants, thereby overcoming the insensitivity of traditional clustering models to high-dimensional non-stationary data. Furthermore, the approach utilises the novel intelligent optimisation algorithm DCS to update the key hyperparameters of the forecasting model, which in turn enhances the accuracy of day-ahead PV power generation forecasting. Applied to a photovoltaic power station in Jilin Province, China, this method reduced the mean root mean square error by 4.63% across various weather conditions, effectively validating the proposed methodology. Full article

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation triggers DNA damage and immune suppression, establishing conditions favorable for skin carcinogenesis. Previous studies have shown that a downstream adaptor for Toll-like receptors (TLRs), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), plays a role in UVB-induced DNA damage and immunosuppression. However, specific mechanisms for the effects on dendritic cells and T cells remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to determine the role of MyD88 and TIR-domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF), another key TLR downstream adaptor, in UVB-induced suppression of dendritic cell activity and T cell function. MyD88−/−, Trif−/−, and wild-type (WT) mice were evaluated for UVB-induced effects on dendritic cell, T cells, and contact hypersensitivity responses in skin. MyD88−/− mice exhibited significant resistance to UVB-induced immune suppression, compared to Trif−/− mice and wild-type controls. The MyD88 deficiency significantly reduced UVB-induced Treg cells that were CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ and produced interleukin (IL)-10. Moreover, it significantly inhibited the UVB-induced suppression of IL-12/IL-23 producing CD11c⁺ dendritic cells. Further experiments confirmed that MyD88 conditional knockout (MyD88fl/flXCD11c.Cre) mice were protected against UVB-induced immune suppression. Dendritic cells from MyD88 genomic or conditional knockout mice were resistant to UVB-induced reduction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens. These findings show that MyD88 plays a key role in UVB-induced immune suppression. The deficiency in the MyD88 gene inhibits UVB-induced suppression of CD11c+ dendritic cell (DC) activity and reduces UVB-induced development of Treg cells. Our studies demonstrate a new mechanism for MyD88-mediated regulation of UVB-induced immune suppression. Full article

This paper addresses a critical challenge in Modular Multilevel DC-link based T-type Converter (MMDTC) battery energy storage systems: the inherent power symmetry between upper and lower arms that prevents natural state-of-charge (SOC) balancing. A novel inter-arm SOC balancing control strategy is proposed that precisely modulates arm valley voltage characteristics—both amplitude and duration—to create controlled power differentials between arms. The theoretical analysis establishes a quantitative relationship between arm valley voltage width and inter-arm power difference, demonstrating that SOC balancing time is inversely proportional to arm valley voltage width. A key advantage of the proposed approach is its adaptive regulation capability: during steady-state operation, closed-loop feedback maintains arm valley voltage width within a narrow range through real-time SOC differential assessment, ensuring dynamic SOC equilibrium while minimizing impact on output power quality. The strategy works effectively in both charging and discharging modes, with comprehensive control logic for various operational scenarios. Finally, simulation and experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Full article

A class E inverter has presented wide application prospects in inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) systems due to its significant advantages such as high operation frequency, high power density, and low cost. However, its semiconductor power device is subjected to voltage stress several times higher than the input DC voltage, which inevitably increases the risk of overvoltage failure and limits the system power level. In this manuscript, an inductive WPT system with the pull–push class EF2 inverter is proposed to significantly decrease the voltage stress and ensure soft switching characteristic. The working principle and time-domain waveforms of the pull–push class EF2 inverter are analyzed. Moreover, the differential equations and mathematical model of the resonant parameters are investigated. Compared with the conventional class E inverter, the output power of the proposed inductive WPT system is doubled under the same input voltage. A 100 W system prototype is designed at the operating frequency of 6.78 MHz (according to the A4WP standard) and its experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the analysis. Full article

Psoriasis (Pso) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a genetic predisposition and an assumed autoimmune pathomechanism. Autoantigens, dendritic cells (DCs), and the TNF/IL23/Il17 axis are seemingly the main drivers of this process. However, the difference to other DC-driven immune processes, like in eczematic skin, is insufficiently understood. Multi-antigen analysis (MAA) allows the staining of tissue with 100 antigens and more and provides a deeper insight into pathological processes, using advanced imaging analysis and quantification of topographical allocated processes. Here we used this technology to assess and compare the skin immune infiltrations in Pso, chronic eczema, and healthy controls. Tissue samples from both skin diseases (n = 30) were stained for 63 antigens, including 45 immune markers, and cells were analysed and quantified in both epidermis and dermis. The presence of different types of monocyte-derived DC in the epidermis was the most notable distinction between both skin diseases. While in Pso a monocyte-derived DC (CD14+CD1a+CD11c+) predominated, possibly a Langerhans cell (LC)-like DC, eczema displayed a marker combination of a seemingly more differentiated monocyte-derived DC (CD14+CD63+CD163+), potentially a DC3 cell type. Full article

Impatiens parviflora DC. occurs in various plant communities. Its occurrence has been confirmed in Poland across 13 natural habitats protected under the Habitats Directive. The aim of our work is to determine the differences between the plots with and without I. parviflora in terms of the species richness and ecological conditions of the 9180* habitat-type forest. Using data from 315 plots on which a phytosociological relevés was carried out, we analyzed the geographical variability, the Shannon-Winner index and the indicator species for old forests. Flora diversity was represented using the DCA, and the IndVal index was calculated to determine the species that best characterize the differentiated groups. The highest percentage of monitoring plots with I. parviflora is located in the Sudetes Mountains (67.7%) and the lowest in the Bieszczady Mountains (7.5%). Plots with I. parviflora were characterized by significantly lower tree cover, a higher number of tree species in the stand, a lower height of both the understory and herb layer and a lower number of old forest species. Impatiens parviflora does not affect the total number of species in the understorey but is associated with a lower proportion of species typical of old forests. The presence of I. parviflora also correlates with a higher proportion of young trees in the understorey, suggesting a link with successional processes and habitat disturbance. The spread of I. parviflora is limited by shade-loving trees such as Abies alba Mill. and Fagus sylvatica L. The diversity of the distribution of I. parviflora depends on local conditions, so conservation efforts should take into account the local ecological context. Full article

Excessive osteoclast activity in bone remodeling can lead to an imbalance between bone resorption and formation, a common occurrence in abnormal bone metabolic diseases. This research investigates the effect of Coptidis rhizoma water extract (CRW) on osteoclastogenesis provoked by RANKL in vitro and bone destruction mediated by ovariectomy (OVX) in vivo. CRW, prepared from dried Coptidis rhizoma (CR), was analyzed for its active compounds—coptisine and berberine—using HPLC analysis. CRW markedly decreased the size and number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (TRAP⁺ MNCs), suppressed F-actin ring formation, and diminished bone resorption in RANKL-treated cultures. In the early phase of differentiation, CRW suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPKs p38, JNK, and ERK, as well as NF-κB p65, Iκ-Bα, and Akt. CRW also down-regulated RANKL-mediated induction of c-Fos and NFATc1 and attenuated the activation of NFATc1- dependent genes, such as OSCAR, ATP6V0D2, ACP5 (TRAP), OC-STAMP, DC-STAMP, CTSK (cathepsin K), CALCR (calcitonin receptor), and MMP-9. In ovariectomized rats, micro-CT and histological analyses showed that CRW alleviated femoral bone destruction. These findings indicate that CRW restrains osteoclast differentiation and function and may have therapeutic potential for disorders driven by excessive osteoclast activity. Full article

We develop a rigorous algebraic–analytic framework for multidual complex numbers ${\mathbb{DC}}_n$ within the setting of Clifford analysis and establish a comprehensive theory of hyperholomorphic multidual complex-valued functions. Our main contributions are (i) a fully coupled multidual Cauchy–Riemann system derived from the Dirac operator, yielding precise differentiability criteria; (ii) generalized conjugation laws and the associated norms that clarify metric and geometric structure; and (iii) explicit operator and kernel constructions—including generalized Cauchy kernels and Borel–Pompeiu-type formulas—that produce new representation theorems and regularity results. We further provide matrix–exponential and functional calculus representations tailored to ${\mathbb{DC}}_n$, which unify algebraic and analytic viewpoints and facilitate computation. The theory is illustrated through a portfolio of examples (polynomials, rational maps on invertible sets, exponentials, and compositions) and a solvable multidual boundary value problem. Connections to applications are made explicit via higher-order automatic differentiation (using nilpotent infinitesimals) and links to kinematics and screw theory, highlighting how multidual analysis expands classical holomorphic paradigms to richer, nilpotent-augmented coordinate systems. Our results refine and extend prior work on dual/multidual numbers and situate multidual hyperholomorphicity within modern Clifford analysis. We close with a concise summary of notation and a set of concrete open problems to guide further development. Full article

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) is an essential enzyme in the polyamine biosynthesis pathway and plays a key role in the synthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine, polycationic alkylamines that are present in millimolar levels in mammalian cells. Polyamines are metabolic molecules that are involved in many fundamental processes, including regulation of protein and nucleic acid synthesis, stabilization of chromatin, differentiation, apoptosis, protection from oxidation, and regulation of ion channels. Multiple oncogenic pathways lead to dysregulation of polyamines, making polyamines a potential biomarker for cancer and polyamine biosynthesis a target for therapeutic intervention. This study uses multi-temperature crystallography to probe the structure and dynamics of AdoMetDC by collecting diffraction data at 100 K, 273 K, and 293 K. Differential loop behavior is observed across the collected datasets, with dramatic residue rearrangements. In the loop containing residues 20–28, the ambient temperature datasets show a large motion relative to the cryo structure. In a second loop containing residues 164–174, previous cryo structures do not report ordered positions. This loop is ordered in our 100 K structure, while assuming different conformations in the 273 K and 293 K data. These results further illustrate the usefulness of ambient data collection for understanding the structure and dynamics of proteins, especially in loop regions which are less restrained than protein cores. Full article

In order to meet the needs of grid integration of various renewable energy sources and promote long-distance power transmission, a hybrid multi-infeed DC system architecture consisting of a line-commutated converter (LCC) and a modular multilevel converter (MMC) is constructed. Focusing on the issue of traditional differential protection refusing to operate under high-resistance grounding faults and failing under symmetrical faults, a dual-criteria protection mechanism is proposed in this paper. By integrating current differential and voltage criterion, the accurate identification of various types of AC line faults can be realized. A hybrid DC system simulation model was built on MATLAB, the sampled data was decoupled, and the differential quantity was calculated to test the dual-criteria protection mechanism. The simulation results show that the proposed protection mechanism can effectively identify various faults within the hybrid DC multi-feed system area and faults outside the area and has robustness to complex working conditions such as high-resistance grounding and three-phase short circuits, which improves the sensitivity, selectivity, and adaptability of the protection. This method is designed for AC line protection under the disturbance of multi-infeed DC systems. It is not directly applicable to pure DC microgrids. The concept can be extended to AC/DC hybrid microgrids by adding DC-side protection criteria and re-calibrating thresholds. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition due to the risk of severe acute hemorrhage. Unlike AVMs in other anatomical locations, which are predominantly congenital, uterine AVMs are often acquired, typically developing after uterine procedures such as dilatation and curettage (D&C), cesarean section, or pregnancy-related events. Women commonly present with abnormal bleeding disorders. Case Presentation: We are presenting the case of a 41-year-old Caucasian woman with secondary amenorrhea three months after vacuum curettage in the 7th week of pregnancy. Based on her clinical history and the findings on transvaginal sonography (TVS), uterine AVM was highly suspected. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent successful embolization of the left uterine artery. Follow-up examinations demonstrated complete resolution of the vascular malformation, and regular menstrual cycles resumed during her recovery. With the increasing frequency of uterine surgical interventions, the incidence of uterine AVMs is also expected to rise. The clinical impact is significant when fertility preservation and family planning are still ongoing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which amenorrhea is the primary presenting symptom of a uterine AVM. Conclusions: Given the high risk of life-threatening hemorrhage associated with undetected or incorrectly treated AVMs, their presence must always be carefully ruled out in case of bleeding disorders after pregnancy or uterine surgery. Accurate diagnosis prior to any further intrauterine interventions, such as curettage, is crucial to prevent severe complications and ensure appropriate management. In order to avoid life-threatening complications, the possibility of uterine AVM should be considered in the differential diagnosis even in the presence of amenorrhea. The proposed diagnosis and treatment algorithm for uterine AVMs can help avoid misdiagnosis. Full article

The flexible DC transmission project of renewable energy has become an inevitable development trend for large-scale renewable energy grid connection. A two-terminal weak feed (TTWF) AC system is often composed of 100% power electronic equipment. The traditional fault control strategy adopted after a fault in the converter at both terminals of the line limits the fault current and controls the phase, resulting in a decrease in the time-domain distance protection performance. This paper first analyzes the adaptability challenges of time-domain distance protection in TTWF. Based on detailed fault characteristic studies, two improvement approaches are proposed: (1) accounting for phase control effects by equivalently modeling the fault impedance as a series combination of fault resistance and inductance; and (2) incorporating distributed capacitance effects through fault differential equation derivation based on π-type line equivalent models. A novel time-domain distance protection method is subsequently developed, comprehensively considering control strategy impacts and distributed capacitive currents. Simulation tests verify that the proposed method maintains reliable operation under severe conditions, including 300 Ω fault resistance and 30 dB white noise interference, demonstrating significantly improved resistance to fault impedance and noise compared to conventional solutions. Full article

Mitogen-activated protein kinases 3 and 6 (MPK3/MPK6) are central to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in Arabidopsis, yet the involvement of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs, >200 nt) in these pathways is poorly understood. Here, transcriptomic analyses were performed to compare lncRNA and protein-coding gene (PCG) expression profiles in wild-type (WT) and MPK3/MPK6-deficient (MPK6SR) Arabidopsis plants. These plants were inoculated with either Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000, which elicits both PTI and ETI, or its type III secretion-deficient mutant, Pst DC3000 hrcC⁻, which induces only PTI. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of 18 samples identified 1388 known and 70 novel lncRNAs, among which differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) involved in disease resistance were further identified. Using integrative analyses, including weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), prediction of lncRNA cis-regulatory targets for PCGs, and validation via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), three core lncRNA-mediated regulatory modules were identified: (i) MPK3/MPK6-dependent PTI and ETI, where lncRNAs amplify signals; (ii) MPK3/MPK6-dependent PTI, where lncRNAs fine-tune basal immunity; and (iii) MPK3/MPK6-independent PTI and ETI, where lncRNAs serve as a backup regulatory network. These modules form a multi-layered immune regulatory network via cis- and trans-regulation and further enable the identification of lncRNA-PCG pairs involved in both regulatory modes. This work enhances the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant innate immunity. Full article

Choosing the most sustainable and ecologically stable soil tillage techniques requires dependence on long-term field trials, which are essential for successful interventions and evidence-based decision-making. This research evaluated several factors, including soil biological activity (CO₂ emission), soil chemical properties (pH (KCl), soil organic matter (SOM)), plant growth physiological indicators (Leaf Area Index (LAI), Soil and Plant Analysis Development (SPAD)), crop yield, and grain quality (Zeleny index, protein %, oil %, and gluten % content), under six soil cultivation methods that represent varying degrees of soil disturbance in a long-term (23 years) tillage experiment. Conventional tillage (ploughing (P)) and conservational tillage techniques (loosening (L), deep cultivation (DC), shallow cultivation (SC), disking (D), and no-till (NT)) were examined for three years (2022, 2023, and 2024) in a winter barley–soybean–winter wheat cropping system. Results indicate that tillage intensity has a differential influence on soil biological parameters, with minor variations in SPAD values across treatments. The findings show significant variations in CO₂ emissions, LAI values, and grain quality in certain years, likely due to the influence of P and L tillage treatments. The novelty of this study lies in determining that, although the short-term effects of soil tillage on crop physiological parameters and grain yield may be minimal under fluctuating climatic conditions, long-term tillage practices significantly influence existing disparities, underscoring the necessity for site-specific and climate-resilient tillage strategies in sustainable crop production. Full article

Retinoic acid (RA) plays a key role in mucosal immune regulation and tolerance, with implications for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, its effects have not been extensively studied in humanized in vitro models that recapitulate epithelial–immune interactions. We established a 3D in vitro small intestinal model composed of three epithelial cell types, naïve CD4⁺ T cells, and monocyte/dendritic cell (M/DC) precursors derived from CD34⁺ umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. The epithelial microenvironment strongly suppressed monocyte/DC differentiation and T cell activation, indicating a regulatory role of epithelial-derived signals. Retinoic acid (RA) priming of M/DC precursors induced CD103⁺CD11b⁺Sirp1α⁻ regulatory DCs and promoted a shift from naive to memory-type T cells. Upon addition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β), the model mimicked an inflamed intestinal state, resulting in CD14⁺CD16⁺ inflammatory monocytes and increased T cell activation (CD25⁺CD69⁺). RA-primed DCs modestly counterbalanced T cell activation and IBD-like responses, even under inflammatory conditions. Flow cytometry and clustering analysis revealed distinct immune cell phenotypes depending on RA exposure and cytokine context. This model provides a reproducible and physiologically relevant human system to study RA-mediated immune programming in the intestinal mucosa and may support the development of novel therapeutic strategies for IBD and related inflammatory conditions. Statistical differences were evaluated using ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test (n = 4; p < 0.05). Full article