Search Results (1,714)

The Hybrid Smart Energy Community (HySEC) model is an integrated framework for optimizing hybrid renewable energy systems, unifying BIM, IoT, and data-driven modeling, as an innovative approach for the energy transition. A Revit—Twinmotion BIM model, enriched with topographic, CAD, and real-image data, enhances spatial accuracy and stakeholder communication, while a digital–physical architecture linking sensors, gateways, edge devices, and cloud platforms enables decentralized peer-to-peer communication and real-time monitoring. The framework is applied to a smart energy community composed of a hydropower–wind–solar PV system serving six buildings (48.8 MWh/year), supported by high-resolution hourly Open-Meteo data. A NARX neural network trained on 8760 hourly observations achieves an MSE of 2.346 at epoch 16, providing advanced predictive capability. Benchmarking against HOMER demonstrates clear advantages in grid exports (15,130 vs. 8274 kWh/year), battery cycling (445 vs. 9181 kWh/year), LCOE (€0.09 vs. €0.180/kWh), IRR (9% vs. 6%), payback (8.7 vs. 10.5 years), and CO₂ emissions (−9.4 vs. 101 tons). These results confirm HySEC as a conceptually flexible solution that strengthens energy autonomy, supports heritage site rehabilitation, and promotes sustainable rural development. Full article

The unchecked and uncontrolled global spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is a serious challenge to healthcare and modern medicine, and demands diagnostic approaches that are rapid, sensitive, multiplexed, and reliable in point-of-care (POC) settings. At the interface of nanomaterials and aptamer-based biosensing, significant advances have been reported. The convergence of portable electrochemical sensing technologies, smartphone-based readout systems, and artificial intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)-based data analysis is also playing a significant role in advancing this area. This perspective reflects on the most recent breakthroughs and translational developments in electrochemical nano-aptasensors for MDR bacterial detection, covering diagnostic targets and translation trends, nanomaterials advancements, aptamer engineering-integration, POC strategies and microfluidics platforms, and novel multimodal strategies that enhance accuracy, reliability, and efficiency in POC testing. Moreover, limitations and knowledge gaps in this area, as well as key considerations for sustainable development, large-scale manufacturing, and deployment of integrated electrochemical nano-aptasensors, are also highlighted. Electrochemical nano-aptasensors can pave the way for the transformation of MDR bacterial diagnosis, but need coordinated translational efforts for POC diagnostic advancements towards real-world applications. Full article

Located in northeastern Anatolia, Çıldır and Ardahan serve as a gateway to the Caucasus for political entities such as the state and mobile groups such as the tribe. Due to this geopolitical characteristic, the region has fallen under the dominion of numerous states and civilizations throughout history. With its fertile highlands, Lake Çıldır, and natural water resources like the Kura River, the area constitutes an attractive living space for hem settled agriculturalists and nomadic tribe groups subsisting on animal husbandry. These features have profoundly influenced the ethnic, demographic, socio-economic, and cultural fabric of the region. Following the establishment of Ottoman sovereignty in the 16th century, Çıldır and Ardahan assumed a vital role in the state’s Caucasian and Eastern policies. This research addresses the Turkmen tribe and other ethnic communities residing around the eyalet of Çıldır and the sanjak of Ardahan. It further examines the banditry activities carried out by these groups, the attitudes of central and local administrators toward such activities, migration and settlement patterns, and the economic and political pressures exerted by the Russian State upon these tribes. The political and economic pressures exerted by the Russian State on these tribes reflect a broader imperial strategy of frontier making, as discussed by Khodarkovsky in the context of Russia’s expansion into its southern borderlands. By positioning the region as a negotiated frontier, this study moves beyond a descriptive narrative to analyze how tribal mobility and settlement functioned as tools of sovereignty and resistance within the broader context of Ottoman state formation and trans-imperial rivalry. The methodology employed in this study is the Qualitative Research Method; accordingly, documents from the Presidential Ottoman Archives (BOA) were transcribed, and the relevant sections were interpreted and incorporated into the study. The archival findings are contextualized within recent historiographical debates concerning the shifting definition of the state versus nomadic agency during the transition from the 18th to the 19th century. While existing literature contains academic studies aiming to elucidate the archaeological, geographical, economic, and administrative structures of Çıldır and Ardahan, it has been determined that no academic research has been conducted to analyze the ethno-socio-demographic structure of the region specifically focusing on the 18th and 19th centuries in a historical sense. With this focus on the interplay between imperial frontiers and tribal identity, this study provides a critical analysis of how local dynamics shaped the grand strategies of the Ottoman and Russian Empires. Full article

Pomegranate marc is a major, underutilized juice industry by-product rich in lipophilic polyunsaturated fatty acids—notably conjugated α-linolenic acids (CLnAs)—and hydrophilic polyphenols with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite its potential for nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications, this matrix remains largely unexploited. This study presents a novel, sequential in-line extraction strategy combining supercritical CO₂ (ScCO₂) and subcritical water (scW) to recover complementary bioactive fractions. Both extraction steps were optimized via Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Box–Behnken optimization of ScCO₂ (43 MPa, 76 °C, 6.4 L min⁻¹, 124 min) yielded 30 g kg⁻¹ dry weight (dw) of oleoresin, achieving a 68% recovery of total oil. Subsequent scW extraction was optimized at 149 °C, with a 40 L kg⁻¹ water-to-solute ratio and 73 min extraction time, yielding 47 g kg⁻¹ dw of total phenolics (58% recovery). Strong agreement between experimental and predicted values confirmed the robustness of the models. Comprehensive profiling revealed a diverse phytocomplex including fatty acids, tocopherols, flavonoids, soluble sugars, and polysaccharides. Antioxidant assays confirmed that both γ-tocopherol and polyphenols significantly contribute to the extracts’ bioactivity. To improve physical handling, the aqueous fractions were converted into solid dispersions via spray drying with maltodextrin. Preliminary in vitro biological assessments on HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) and MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cell lines suggested that the maltodextrin-based formulations may modulate the cytotoxic profile compared to the free extract, with exploratory results showing dosage-dependent variations in cell viability across the two lines. This work suggests a potentially scalable and sustainable biorefinery approach for the integral valorisation of pomegranate marc, offering a basis for a pathway to produce solvent-free bioactives. Full article

Maritime heterogeneous wireless networks are characterized by dynamic topology and significant heterogeneity in bandwidth, latency, and coverage across communication paradigms, rendering traditional terrestrial routing protocols inadequate. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a unified multi-radio access fusion infrastructure featuring a gateway that enables protocol conversion and collaborative resource management across heterogeneous systems. Building upon this infrastructure, we introduce CMPGNN-DQN, an intelligent routing algorithm that integrates Contrastive Message Passing Graph Neural Networks with Deep Reinforcement Learning. Specifically, the algorithm employs k-hop neighbor aggregation to expand the receptive field for routing decisions, and utilizes a dual-view contrastive learning mechanism—encompassing both homogeneous and heterogeneous perspectives—to enhance representation robustness against dynamic topology perturbations. By deeply fusing network topology features with real-time state information, including bandwidth, delay, and queue length, the agent makes hop-by-hop routing decisions via an ε-greedy policy within the DQN framework. Extensive simulations conducted across various scales of dynamic maritime communication scenarios demonstrate that CMPGNN-DQN outperforms state-of-the-art benchmark algorithms, including AODV, DQN, and GCN, across key metrics such as packet delivery ratio, transmission latency, and bandwidth utilization. Quantitatively, compared to the best-performing alternative (MPNN-DQN), our algorithm achieves throughput improvements of 2.06–5.04% under standard traffic loads and 6.6–27.1% under partial link failure conditions, while converging within merely 25 training episodes. Notably, under heavy network loads (40% load rate) or partial link failures, the algorithm maintains stable communication performance, demonstrating strong adaptability to complex dynamic environments. Full article

The high energy consumption in the building sector and the increasing impacts of climate change have necessitated the transition to net-zero-energy buildings (NZEBs), in which energy retrofit strategies play a key role. However, neglecting moisture transport and climatic design while improving energy efficiency often leads to reduced building performance, material deterioration, worse occupant health, and indoor environmental problems. This review examines in detail the basic mechanisms of moisture transport, including diffusion, capillary action, and airborne moisture transport, and illustrates how poor moisture control affects thermal performance and resident health. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the impact of retrofit strategies implemented in different climatic regions on energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, moisture-related failures and net-zero goals is conducted. At the same time, the need exists to incorporate awareness regarding the adverse effects on the health of occupants. This systematic review analyzed 120 peer-reviewed studies published from 1994 to 2026, covering different climatic regions (e.g., cold, temperate, warm–humid, etc.). The analysis found that the energy savings rates were reported to range from 18% to 45%, while the moisture-related failures in inappropriately retrofitted buildings were observed to increase by up to 32% in some cold regions. This research review provides a comprehensive advisory framework for domestic residents to take remedial steps until retrofit experts gain access in order to prevent health risks from mold and moisture ingress, which can contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a net-zero-energy building. Full article

This study presents AgroNova—a hybrid IoT architecture for autonomous monitoring and management of microclimate in greenhouse environments. The system combines a capillary wireless sensor network, gateway-level rule-based agents, a server agent, cloud services and an advisory component based on a large language model (LLM) that supports local decision-making by incorporating external contextual information from meteorological services. The proposed architecture was validated through a seven-month deployment in an unheated tomato greenhouse, during which more than 380,000 environmental measurements were collected from five sensor nodes. The system operated continuously under real agricultural conditions, including during temporary internet connectivity interruptions, due to the autonomous gateway-level control and deterministic fallback mechanisms. The analysis of the collected data includes 3110 environmental threshold exceedance events, in which recovery dynamics, reaction latency, and actuator activation frequency were evaluated. The results show that the architecture supports stable autonomous operation under limited actuation conditions, with an average local reaction latency of less than 1 s, while physical actuator operations occur in approximately 2.3% of all control decisions. This behavior reflects a conservative control strategy that limits unnecessary mechanical operations and contributes to stable system operation. The experimental integration of a consultative LLM module within the server-side agent demonstrates the potential for context-enriched decision support using external meteorological data, while final control decisions remain under the authority of the gateway-based deterministic control mechanism. The main contribution of this study is the demonstration of a hybrid IoT architecture that combines edge-level autonomy with context-assisted reasoning, validated through deployment in a real greenhouse environment. Full article

Background/Objectives: While the number and severity of comorbidities affecting survivors of craniopharyngioma (CP) are well documented, little is known about the perspectives of caregivers and survivors regarding treatment priorities. This study aimed to describe the views of caregivers and self-reported survivors on the comorbidities that most significantly impact CP survivors and to identify areas where new treatments are most needed. Methods: Completed surveys of 161 participants recruited in the hypothalamic–pituitary brain tumor patient registry were analyzed. Results: Participants represented 40% caregivers (mostly children) and 60% adult CP survivors, with notable differences in disease duration, age, CP onset, and living conditions. Seventeen health challenges were identified as most important by more than 50% of participants, including symptoms characteristic of hypothalamic dysfunction, neurological issues, and visual impairment. Notably, those differed from the most frequently experienced symptoms. No significant differences emerged between the two groups except for polydipsia, which had a greater impact on self-reported survivors. Most challenges primarily affected the survivors’ daily functioning; however, abnormal social behaviors equally impaired their ability to achieve long-term goals. Temperature dysregulation was the only symptom not deemed very or extremely important in prioritizing new treatment development. Both groups generally aligned on treatment priorities, though survivors placed a modest but significantly greater importance on fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness, while caregivers placed a modest but significantly greater importance on obesity. Conclusions: Real-world survivor and caregiver perspectives on priority symptoms and treatments can inform care management, strengthen support strategies, and guide patient-focused drug development meaningful to CP survivors. Full article

Background: Cervical carcinoma remains a widespread cancer worldwide, primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV types 16 and 18 account for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. Although prophylactic HPV vaccines are commercially available, their high cost and reliance on expensive expression platforms limit their accessibility in developing countries. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a cost-effective, plant-based HPV vaccine candidate by expressing capsomeric HPV-16 and HPV-18 L1 antigens in Brassica oleracea (broccoli). Methods: Modified L1 from HPV types 16 and 18 were designed to retain capsomeric assembly and fused with heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB). Immunoinformatics analyses were used to assess antigenicity, epitope distribution, and structural characteristics. Codon-optimized genes were cloned using Gateway^® technology and expressed in broccoli via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plants were validated by PCR and qRT-PCR. Protein accumulation was quantified, and immunogenicity was evaluated in mice. Results: PCR and qRT-PCR confirmed the stable integration of two copies of the LTB-L1 transgenes in broccoli plants. Western blotting detected L1 protein at ~56.5 kDa, indicating the cleavage of the LTB-L1 fusion protein. The correct folding of L1 capsomeres was verified by antigen-capture ELISA. The recombinant proteins accumulated to approximately 0.33% and 0.35% of total soluble protein for HPV-16 and HPV-18, respectively. The immunization of mice with transgenic L1 induced significant humoral immune responses, comparable to those elicited by purified VLPs. Conclusions: The results demonstrate broccoli as a promising platform for the expression of immunogenic HPV L1 capsomeres and highlight its potential for the development of affordable, plant-based HPV vaccines. Full article

We developed a Bluetooth Low Energy-based indoor asset-tracking system oriented toward elderly care and cultural heritage stewardship. The system stabilizes the noisy received signal strength indicator using a Kalman filter, adapts a logarithmic path loss model to local attenuation via dynamic calibration, and estimates positions with an inverse distance weighted centroid. Built on inexpensive beacons and commodity gateways, it supports real-time updates and map-based visualization while remaining easy to deploy and scale across rooms and facilities. We validate the pipeline in a laboratory grid and discuss applicability to workflows such as geofenced reminders, caregiver situational awareness, and collection movement oversight, offering an affordable, interoperable path to reliable indoor tracking for care institutions, museums, and smart buildings. Full article

Multi-hop networks’ performance strongly depends on relay node placement, which affects delay, throughput, and coverage. This work introduces a dual-layer protocol combining Slotted ALOHA for node-to-relay communication and TDMA for relay-to-gateway transmission. Using a Java-based simulator, we evaluate three relay placement strategies—random, square grid, and hexagonal grid—considering metrics such as delay, throughput, packet collisions, and coverage. Results show that the hexagonal grid offers superior performance, reducing collisions, minimizing delay, and expanding coverage. A fallback mechanism for out-of-range nodes and sensitivity analysis of different backoff values are also included. The study quantifies the benefits of structured relay placement for LoRaWAN and wireless sensor networks, while also identifying challenges for realistic deployments. These findings provide guidelines for designing scalable and reliable IoT networks and highlight directions for future work involving irregular placements and dynamic routing. The simulation results are intended to provide comparative, trend-based insights under conservative modeling assumptions, rather than absolute performance predictions. Full article

Bone metastasis is a devastating complication of advanced osteotropic malignancies, notably breast, prostate, lung carcinomas, and malignant melanoma, and remains a primary driver of mortality. Historical paradigms have conceptualized skeletal dissemination almost exclusively as a hematogenous process wherein circulating tumor cells colonize receptive bone marrow niches. However, this model fails to reconcile why lymph node metastasis consistently serves as a potent predictor of bone involvement even though therapeutic lymphadenectomy rarely prevents distant spread. This discordance suggests that lymph nodes function not merely as passive reservoirs but as active ‘evolutionary gateways’ that sculpt bone-tropic metastatic clones. In this review, we introduce the Lymphatic–Bone Axis, a framework integrating lymphatic biology into models of bone metastasis. We synthesize emerging evidence elucidating how the lymph node microenvironment primes tumor cells through CCR7-CXCR4 switching, induction of osteomimicry programs, and metabolic reprogramming that favors survival within the bone marrow. We also discuss preclinical data demonstrating direct intranodal intravasation via high endothelial venules (HEVs), providing a rapid route into the systemic circulation that bypasses the thoracic duct. Beyond consolidating current knowledge, we outline a research agenda for dissecting this axis, including longitudinal single-cell transcriptomic mapping and functional assessments of lymph node-derived tumor cells. Finally, we consider translational implications, highlighting why bone-targeted agents alone may prove insufficient once cells are conditioned within lymphatic niches. By mechanistically linking lymphatic priming to skeletal colonization, this review informs the rational design of multimodal therapeutic approaches that jointly target lymphatic transit and the bone microenvironment. Full article

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of magnetite nanoparticle (MNP) shape on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) xenograft tissues. T₂-weighted MRI scans using spherical shaped MNPs as contrast agents are compared to MRI scans done with nanorod-shaped MNPs as contrast agents. The MNPs were first coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and subsequently conjugated to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) to specifically target LHRH receptors, which are present at high levels on the surfaces of xenograft TNBC cells/tissues. After 3 weeks of tumor growth in nude immunocompromised mice, LHRH-conjugated (functionalized) and unconjugated (non-functionalized) MNPs were injected into the immunocompromised mice. Four types of MNPs were used: non-functionalized nanorod-shaped MNPs (BMNR); LHRH-conjugated nanorod-shaped MNPs (LCMNR); non-functionalized spherical-shaped MNPs (BSSMNP); and LHRH-conjugated spherical-shaped MNPs (LCSSMNP). T₂-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained from the mice before the injection of the MNPs and two hours after the injection of the MNPs. The results show that using nanorod-shaped LHRH-conjugate MNPs as contrast agents yielded higher-resolution T₂-weighted MRI scans of TNBC tumors compared to those from spherical-shaped MNPs. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to potential applications of functionalized MNPs in MRI for TNBC diagnosis. Full article

In modern industrial systems, including power system automation, it is important to ensure that new standards are able to communicate with the older ones. IEC 61850 standard has been gaining significant ground in power system automation due to it is object-oriented design. In line with its exponential growth, it is imperative to integrate IEC 61850 with other information exchange approaches. Modbus is a very robust communication protocol that uses registers. Since it can be deployed in a cost-effective way, it is widely used in older or lower-cost devices. Unlike IEC 61850, which supports real-time communication, Modbus envisions a trigger-based communication style. All of these fundamental differences make direct communication between these two protocols nontrivial. In order to address this need, IEC TR 61850-80-5 is developed to give a structured approach for mapping Modbus data into the IEC 61850 data model. This is conducted using a gateway and includes identifying relevant Modbus registers, converting the data format and embedding them into IEC 61850 logical nodes and data attributes. If completed, this allows legacy devices such as meters or sensors running on Modbus to be seamlessly integrated into modern smart-grid systems using IEC 61850. This paper shows how such integration can be performed between smart inverters and the sensors feeding information to them. Firstly, both protocols are introduced. Then, the IEC 618150 modeling of smart inverters is presented. Finally, data mapping is performed between Modbus registers of current- and voltage sensors and the said smart inverter model. A gateway is developed based on this mapping as well. By bridging two widely used protocols, this work supports interoperability, extends the life of existing assets and ensures a smooth transition towards digital power systems. Full article