Search Results (103)

Powder X-ray diffraction was used to validate the crystal structure of iron metal powder and to demonstrate a transparent workflow for extracting crystallographic and microstructural information from a simple laboratory dataset. The diffraction profile collected over the angular range of approximately 36° to 95° contains three dominant reflections located at 2θ = 44.850°, 65.218°, and 82.540°. Conversion of the peak positions into d-spacings using Bragg’s law gives values of approximately 2.020 Å, 1.430 Å, and 1.170 Å. The squared-sine ratios, when referenced to the first reflection, follow the sequence of 1:2:3, which is characteristic of the allowed reflections of a body-centered cubic lattice when multiplied by the first allowed value of N = h² + k² + l² = 2. Therefore, the peaks are assigned to the (110), (200), and (211) reflections of α-Fe. The extracted lattice constants are 2.853, 2.860, and 2.865 Å, yielding an average value of 2.859 Å, which is close to the accepted room-temperature value of approximately 2.866 Å for α-Fe. Peak-width calculations based on the observed, instrument-uncorrected FWHM values are included only as illustrative apparent line-broadening indicators. Because an external instrumental standard was not measured under identical conditions, no quantitative coherent-domain size or microstrain is claimed. The Williamson–Hall treatment is therefore used only to demonstrate the sensitivity of size-strain interpretation to peak breadth, profile selection, and the limited number of available reflections. The intensity hierarchy was analyzed using the body-centered cubic-structure factor, reflection multiplicity, Fe atomic form factor, and Lorentz polarization correction. The comparison between calculated and experimental intensities shows stronger disagreement than the lattice-parameter analysis, illustrating the greater sensitivity of intensity analysis to preferred orientation, specimen preparation, peak-profile selection, and background treatment. The work provides a publication-style reconstruction of an iron powder XRD experiment, connecting peak fitting, indexing, lattice-parameter determination, crystallite size estimation, size-strain analysis, and intensity interpretation in a single critical framework. Full article

We use perturbation theory to study kinks in nonlinear Klein–Gordon (${\varphi }^4$ and sine-Gordon) chains and in a discrete series-connected Josephson transmission line. The expansion parameter is the ratio of the lattice period to the kink width. The next-to-leading-order approximation modifies the kink profiles obtained previously in the leading-order approximation. Full article

The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), native to the Arabian Peninsula, is critically endangered and faces acute threats from habitat fragmentation, low population size, and genetic erosion. As a continuation of our previous study on the complete mitochondrial genome of this subspecies, we now report the first nuclear genome assembly of P. p. nimr, generated from the same wild-born male individual sampled in the Oman. Using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing, we produced 162.9 gigabases (Gb) of high-fidelity data and assembled a haplotype-aware draft genome with HiFiasm. The assembly spans approximately 2.43 Gb across 94 contigs, achieving a contig N50 of 62.4 Mb and zero gap content, with BUSCO completeness of 99.4%. Genome annotation predicted 23,459 protein-coding genes with annotation BUSCO completeness of 95.0%, and 84.1% of proteins were classified as consistent with the Panthera lineage by OMArk. Repetitive elements occupy 34.01% of the assembly, with retroelements dominating and L1/CIN4 LINEs (15.44%) and SINEs (9.61%) representing the two largest subclasses. Comparative simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis across six Panthera genomes confirmed a conserved repeat motif architecture, with no lineage-specific expansions detected in P. p. nimr. This nuclear genome complements the mitochondrial reference and provides a foundational resource for future studies on genetic diversity, demographic history, inbreeding load, and conservation planning for the Arabian leopard and other Panthera lineages. Full article

Although long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are typically passed down to descendants as part of the genome, the Bov-B LINE was likely horizontally transferred from a snake to the ancestor of ruminants. Plant RTE-clade LINEs and their associated SINEs possess a genomic insertion signature different from that of mammalian L1 LINEs. However, the reason for the increased frequency of horizontal transfer in RTE-clade LINEs such as Bov-B relative to that in L1-clade LINEs has not yet been clarified. In this study, we identified family members of the reptilian Bov-B LINE and associated Sauria SINE across various squamate species to determine the amplification timing of the LINE. The findings revealed that the LINE may be over 180 million years old. Moreover, profiling of target site duplications showed that a characteristic genomic insertion signature of the LINE and SINE closely resembled the signature of the plant RTE-clade LINEs. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of RTE-clade LINEs with characteristic genomic insertion signatures and estimated their divergence times. The findings suggest an ancient origin (over 411 MYA) of the retrotranspositional mechanism underlying this signature; however, a complex evolutionary trajectory of LINEs across species warrants further investigation. Full article

Effective Congestion Management (CM) plays a vital role in ensuring reliable system operation and control. The primary objective of CM is to relieve transmission line overloads while satisfying all operational constraints at the minimum possible cost. This study introduces a hybrid Zebra Optimization Algorithm–Sine Cosine Algorithm (ZOA–SCA) for an efficient generation rescheduling strategy aimed at minimizing congestion-related expenses. The hybrid framework integrates key mechanisms of the SCA into the ZOA process to strengthen both its exploration and exploitation capabilities, thereby enabling robust global search performance and effective optimization of rescheduled generation levels. The effectiveness of the ZOA-SCA was tested on the 23 benchmark functions. The proposed approach was validated on IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus benchmark systems under congested system conditions. Its effectiveness was assessed through comparative analysis with several state-of-the-art optimization techniques. Simulation results indicate that the ZOA-SCA consistently achieves superior performance by avoiding premature convergence and exhibiting favorable convergence behavior. Full article

The Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS) onboard the FengYun-4B weather satellite provides critical upwelling atmospheric infrared radiance. To address the limitations of the previous sounder (FY-4A/GIIRS) in terms of spatial resolution and spectral coverage, FY-4B/GIIRS has increased the spatial resolution to 12 km and added more spectral channels in the long-wave band to enhance the observation details and information content of weather systems. To evaluate its baseline performance, a comprehensive preflight test campaign—encompassing spectral and radiometric assessments—was conducted in a thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber. Spectral characterization via laser measurements confirmed the instrument spectral response function (ISRF) is highly consistent with the theoretical cardinal sine function (sinc). Gas-cell tests demonstrated that, after correcting for off-axis effect, the spectral calibration errors are on average less than 5 ppm, validated against Line-By-Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM) simulations. The radiometric calibration employed temperature-variable blackbodies for noise performance and radiometric accuracy assessments. The radiometric sensitivity, characterized by Noise Equivalent differential Radiance (NEdR), is less than 0.5 and 0.1 mW/(m²·sr·cm⁻¹) in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) bands, respectively. To address the LWIR detector nonlinearity, an iterative polynomial fitting algorithm based on spectral responsivity invariance was implemented. This correction reduces the radiometric deviation from >1.0 K to ~0.2 K, meeting the 0.7 K accuracy requirement across a 180–315 K dynamic range. Conversely, the MWIR band exhibits high linearity but is limited by noise when observing low-temperature scenarios and can only meet the 0.7 K requirement within the range of 250 to 315 K. Full article

Existing research primarily focuses on ordinary straight roads or curves; however, there is a notable lack of recent research on continuous curves. This research employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) dynamic mesh technology to numerically simulate the external flow field during vehicle overtaking on a continuous curve resembling a sine wave. This study conducts a numerical simulation to analyze the external flow field of vehicles during overtaking on a continuous curve, similar to a sine curve, using CFD. Using different initial velocities, the study analyzes lateral force on the vehicle body during overtaking. It investigates how dynamic changes in the external flow field affect vehicle dynamics by employing tetrahedral meshes, the SST k-ω turbulence model, and UDF programming. To address emergency overtaking scenarios during medical vehicle rescues, a four-factor orthogonal experimental design was employed to identify the safest overtaking condition: overtaking a small vehicle (5 m × 1.8 m) at 22 m per second with 1.5 times the vehicle width and no crosswind. Regression lines were fitted to the data, yielding a nonlinear regression equation that can predict road conditions, thereby providing theoretical support for intelligent driving systems. Full article

Monitoring of stable isotopes in throughfall (δ¹⁸O, δ²H) and meteorological parameters is a valuable tool for researching forest hydrology, particularly during extreme events like droughts and floods. This study presents the first systematic analysis of air temperature and precipitation changes over the past 65 years in two Slovenian lowland forests: Murska šuma and Krakovski gozd, in combination with isotopic composition research of throughfall. The observed rising air temperatures and altered precipitation patterns are reflected in the isotopic composition of throughfall. Over the last 65 years, air temperature has increased by approximately 2.5 °C. Although total annual precipitation amounts have remained relatively stable, in the last 35 years there is a notable decrease in precipitation in growing season and an increase during the dormant season, influenced by air masses of Mediterranean origin. Extreme drought in 2022 and flood in 2023 are confirmed by the Standardized Precipitation Index and isotopic variations in throughfall due to fractionation processes. Annual variability appears as seasonal changes, with sine-curve amplitudes of 3.71‰ in Krakovski gozd and 3.61‰ in Murska šuma. Together with the Local Meteoric Water Lines, these patterns support estimates of groundwater mean residence time and the origin of water used by trees. Full article

This paper proposes a hierarchical control framework designed to enhance the path tracking accuracy of intelligent electric vehicles under diverse operating conditions. For lateral control, an improved model predictive control strategy is developed, utilizing a fuzzy inference system for parameter initialization and a Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient algorithm for online adaptive tuning. For longitudinal control, a proportional–integral–derivative controller is optimized via a hybrid genetic algorithm–particle swarm optimization method. Co-simulations conducted in CarSim/Simulink under straight-line, double-lane-change, and double-sine-wave maneuvers demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly reduces lateral deviation and heading error while ensuring smoother actuator response. Compared to conventional MPC and PID controllers, the proposed method reduces maximum lateral error by over 50% and settling time by 60%, confirming its effectiveness and robustness in complex tracking scenarios. Full article

An improved Sinh Cosh optimizer (ISCHO) is proposed to resolve load frequency control (LFC) tasks. The original Sinh Cosh optimizer (SCHO) employs a fixed iteration-based switching function to balance exploration and exploitation, which lacks awareness of search dynamics and leads to inefficient optimization. Therefore, this paper proposes a “first grabbing then washing” strategy to dynamically balance exploration and development. The proposed ISCHO technique is tested on 13 benchmark functions and compared with Particle Swarm Optimization, Sine Cosine Algorithm, and Grey Wolf Optimizer, demonstrating superior optimization performance. Furthermore, a new controller based on the two-degree-of freedom PID controller (2DOF-PID), the two-degree-of freedom with double integral feedback PID controller (2DOF-PIDF-II), is proposed. A two-area multi-source interconnected power system, incorporating thermal, hydraulic, wind, and solar generation units with nonlinearities (GRC and GDB), uncertainties, and load fluctuations, is employed to validate the proposed approach. Quantitative results under step load perturbation demonstrate that the ISCHO-optimized 2DOF-PIDF-II controller significantly outperforms other methods. For area 1 frequency deviation, ISCHO reduces the maximum overshoot by 38.37%, 19.09%, and 21.48% compared to PSO, SCA, and SCHO. For tie-line power deviation, maximum overshoot is reduced by 53.00% compared to PSO. These results confirm that the proposed ISCHO-tuned 2DOF-PIDF-II controller substantially enhances system frequency stability under various operating conditions. Full article

Transposable elements (TEs) are key regulators of immunity in both health and disease. It has been proven that the activity and transcriptional expression levels of TEs increase during viral infections, correlating with the antiviral response. This study investigates non-LTR TE (LINE, SINE, and SVA) transcriptomic signatures in human PBMCs during infections caused by influenza A virus, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2 (Delta/Omicron variants) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 98 patients. In the HIV and SARS-CoV-2 patient cohorts, unique cell-specific TE expression patterns were identified that allow for the differentiation of disease severity, prediction of disease progression, and assessment of the therapy’s efficacy. The expression of LINE elements was found to be more dependent on the nature and course of the disease than that of SINE elements. The most variable TE expression profile was observed in precursor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (T CD8+ Naive cells), which depended on the virus type and the severity of the viral disease. For this cell type, a bioinformatic analysis of the co-expression regulation of TE transcriptional networks and transcription factors during viral infections was performed. This analysis identified key players among those most involved in virus-specific responses, which could serve as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for treating diseases caused by influenza A virus, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2. This work confirms the involvement of non-LTR TEs in mediating antiviral responses. Further research into the mechanisms of TE participation in antiviral defense is necessary to recommend them as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, monitoring, and assessment of antiviral therapy, or as therapeutic targets for viral infections of various origins. Full article

Non-long terminal repeat (Non-LTR) retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that replicate through a “copy-and-paste” mechanism, enabling their expansion within the genome. Aberrant activation of these elements can induce genomic instability, elicit cellular stress responses, and activate inflammasome signaling, leading to tissue injury and disease. The central process of sterile inflammation involves the release and recognition of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), endogenous molecules that initiate inflammatory responses and form a common basis for many sterile inflammatory disorders. Recent studies have identified non-LTR retrotransposons as key endogenous triggers of DAMP-like signaling that drive sterile inflammation in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative and other chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding how non-LTR retrotransposons, particularly LINE and SINE elements, influence sterile inflammation and disease pathogenesis. We highlight how their mobilization reshapes genomic architecture and gene regulation, and how the resulting signaling cascades promote chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and tissue injury. We also discuss emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at suppressing retrotransposon activity or interrupting downstream inflammatory signaling for treating sterile inflammation-related diseases. Full article

Background/Objectives: In 2023, we reported that the tamarins (genus Saguinus) Saguinus imperator and Saguinus midas have had an extensive independent expansion of Platy-1 SINEs compared to previously characterized platyrrhine genomes among traditional cebids. This study investigates the amplification dynamics of Platy-1 insertions across thirteen diverse genomes representing each Platyrrhini family, including two from Pitheciidae and three from Atelidae. Methods: By comparing the distribution of Platy-1 subfamily content, total interspersed repeat content and the proximity of Platy-1 insertions to, or within, other repeats across evolutionary taxa, this study begins to identify genomic landscape features that are unique to family Callithrichidae that correlate with LINE (L1). Results: Platy-1 radiation in non-callithrichid taxa derives primarily from older subfamilies 1-4, 1-4a (as reported here for genus Alouatta) and 1-5, whereas callithrichids proliferate higher numbers of Platy-1 copies via independent bursts from much younger sources. Linage-specific Platy-1 activity was notable in two of the new genomes studied, Bolivian titi and mantled howler monkey, both with a relatively low copy number. Variable presence/absence patterns across evolutionary taxa support the traditional platyrrhine branching order Pitheciidae–Atelidae–Cebidae. Only one Platy-1-4a insertion polymorphism placed Aotidae between Atelidae and Cebidae, as opposed to between Cebidae and Callithrichidae. Conclusions: This study shows that callithrichids, and Saguinus tamarins in particular, are unique among platyrrhines with regard to their extensive rate of Platy-1 mobilization, a dynamic that appears to be correlated with LINE (L1) genomic content. Alouatta has two young lineage-specific Platy-1 subfamilies. With strong evidence of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and rapid radiation, the accurate placement of Aotus remains elusive. Full article

This paper presents an intelligent operational strategy that performs the coordinated dispatch of active and reactive power from PV distributed generators (PV DGs) and Distributed Static Compensators (D-STATCOMs) to support secure and economical operation of active distribution networks. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem that explicitly represents the P and Q control capabilities of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), encompassing small-scale generation and compensation units connected at the distribution level, such as PV generators and D-STATCOM devices, adjusting their reference power setpoints to minimize daily operating costs, including energy purchasing and DER maintenance, while satisfying device power limits and the voltage and current constraints of the grid. To solve this problem efficiently, a parallel version of the Population Continuous Genetic Algorithm (CGA) is implemented, enabling simultaneous evaluation of candidate solutions and significantly reducing computational time. The strategy is assessed on the 33- and 69-node benchmark systems under deterministic and uncertainty scenarios derived from real demand and solar-generation profiles from a Colombian region. In all cases, the proposed approach achieved the lowest operating cost, outperforming state-of-the-art metaheuristics such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), and Crow Search Algorithm (CSA), while maintaining power limits, voltages and line currents within secure ranges, exhibiting excellent repeatability with standard deviations close to 0.0090%, and reducing execution time by more than 68% compared with its sequential counterpart. The main contributions of this work are: a unified optimization model for joint P–Q control in PV and D–STATCOM units, a robust codification mechanism that ensures stable convergence under variability, and a parallel evolutionary framework that delivers optimal, repeatable, and computationally efficient energy management in distribution networks subject to realistic operating uncertainty. Full article

The widely used oximeter design was adopted and improved as the configuration mainframe in this study to acquire PPG signals. When users wear a finger probe and input their height, the device acquires PPG signals through the probe circuit, then filters and amplifies the signals to remove unnecessary noise, and uses an ARM-M4 to analyze the main peak, dicrotic wave, and wave valley of the PPG waveform to calculate related indexes for the final assessment. After 100 s, the HRV, sine wave ratio, and SI results are estimated, and a cardiovascular disease risk assessment is presented using a risk level from 0 to 5. This study uses the stiffness index (SI), sine wave ratio (SIN), and heart rate variability (HRV) to assess cardiovascular status. The SI is derived from PPG signal characteristics and reflects vascular stiffness based on blood flow rebound time. However, some PPG signals lack a dicrotic wave (sine waves), which is often caused by severe arterial stiffness. These waveforms lead to errors in SI calculation due to misidentification of the dicrotic wave. The appearance of a sine wave indicates that blood pulsation is abnormal; however, it will make the SI calculation algorithm produce a seemingly normal health performance. To address this, the auxiliary line method was introduced to identify sine waves, and the SIN ratio occurring in contiguous PPG waves was incorporated to calculate their proportion in PPG signals, aiding SI analysis and arterial stiffness evaluation. The total power (TP) value obtained via HRV frequency-domain analysis reflects autonomic nervous activity. As reduced autonomic function may relate to cardiovascular diseases, TP is included as an evaluation indicator. By analyzing PPG signals, calculating SI and SIN, and integrating the HRV indicator, this study evaluates arterial stiffness and cardiovascular health, helping participants understand their physical condition more quickly and conveniently, and potentially preventing cardiovascular diseases at an early stage. Full article