Search Results (119)

Double-suction centrifugal pumps are extensively employed in industrial applications owing to their high efficiency, low vibration, superior cavitation resistance, and operational durability. This study analyzes how impeller oblique cutting angles (0°, 6°, 9°, 12°) affect a double-suction pump at a fixed 4% trimming ratio and constant average post-trim diameter. Numerical simulations and tests reveal that under low-flow (0.7Q_d) and design-flow conditions, the flat-cut (0°) minimizes reflux ratio and maximizes efficiency by aligning blade outlet flow with the mainstream. Increasing oblique cutting angles disrupts this alignment, elevating reflux and reducing efficiency. Conversely, at high flow (1.3Q_d), the 12° bevel optimizes outlet flow, achieving peak efficiency. Pressure pulsation at the volute tongue (P11) peaks at the blade-passing frequency, with amplitudes significantly higher for 9°/12° bevels than for 0°/6°. The flat-cut suppresses wake vortices and static–rotor interaction, but oblique cutting angle choice critically influences shaft-frequency pulsation. Entropy analysis identifies the volute as the primary loss source. Larger oblique cutting angles intensify wall effects, increasing total entropy; pump chamber losses rise most sharply due to worsened outlet velocity non-uniformity and turbulent dissipation. The flat-cut yields minimal entropy at Q_d. These findings provide a basis for tailoring impeller trimming to specific operational requirements. Furthermore, the systematic analysis provides critical guidance for impeller trimming strategies in other double-suction pumps and pumps as turbines in micro hydropower plants. Full article

Background/Objetives: Sea lice (Caligus rogercresseyi) pose a major threat to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture by compromising fish health and reducing production efficiency. While genetic variation in parasite load has been reported, the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation remain unclear. Methods: two sea lice challenge trials were conducted, achieving high infestation rates (47.5% and 43.5%). A total of 85 fish, selected based on extreme phenotypes for lice burden (42 low, 43 high), were subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Differential gene expression was integrated with allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis to uncover cis-regulatory variation influencing host response. Results: Sixty genes showed significant ASE (p < 0.05), including 33 overexpressed and 27 underexpressed. Overexpressed ASE genes included Keratin 15, Collagen IV/V, TRIM16, and Angiopoietin-1-like, which are associated with epithelial integrity, immune response, and tissue remodeling. Underexpressed ASE genes such as SOCS3, CSF3R, and Neutrophil cytosolic factor suggest individual variation in cytokine signaling and oxidative stress pathways. Conclusions: several ASE genes co-localized with previously identified QTLs for sea lice resistance, indicating that cis-regulatory variants contribute to phenotypic differences in parasite susceptibility. These results highlight ASE analysis as a powerful tool to identify functional regulatory elements and provide valuable candidates for selective breeding and genomic improvement strategies in aquaculture. Full article

The imperative for building managers, in the face of high-density urban environments, is to drive existing chiller plants to greater operational efficiency through the application of advanced technological interventions. The case for applying Supervisory Control (SC) and a Building Automation System (SC+BAS) for optimizing chiller plants is the subject of investigation here, through the lens of a typical commercial shopping mall in the high-density infrastructure of Hong Kong. The application of SC+BAS falls into the realm of advanced Trim/Respond algorithms coupled with sophisticated sequencing algorithms that allow for refined optimization of the chiller operations in response to the dynamic demands of urban infrastructure. The SC+BAS features an array of optimizations specifically for the chiller plant. Incentive parameters such as cooling capacity, energy usage, and Coefficient of Performance (COP) were thoroughly studied through 12 months’ worth of data, before and after the implementation of the SC+BAS. Empirical observations indicate a statistically significant 17.6% energy usage decrease, coupled with a 15.3% decrease in the related energy expenditure costs. Furthermore, the environmental impact is calculated, with an estimated 61.1 tons reduction in the amount of CO₂ emissions, hence emphasizing the capacity for SC+BAS in offsetting the carbon footprint for commercial buildings. These data prove convincingly that the implementation of SC+BAS can increase the energy efficiency in chiller plants in commercial buildings, supporting the overall sustainability of the urban infrastructure. In turn, the authors suggest other areas for optimization through the advanced sequencing of chillers and demand-based cooling strategies. This highlights the ability of SC+BAS in creating more economical and green building operations regarding urban microclimates, occupant behavior patterns, and interactivity with the power grid, leading ultimately to the holistic optimization of chiller plant performance within the urban framework. Full article

The TRIM CIV subfamily, distinguished by its C-terminal PRY-SPRY domains, constitutes nearly half of the human TRIM family and plays pivotal roles in cancer progression through ubiquitination. Identifying TRIM CIV substrates and interactors has emerged as a critical approach for elucidating tumorigenesis. Current protein–protein interaction (PPI) prediction models face challenges, including an inherent deficiency of negative datasets, biased feature integration, and the absence of a cancer-specific interaction context. To achieve the precise identification of TRIMCIV targets, we developed TRIMCIVtargeter with predictive models that systematically integrates multi-dimensional PPI features—expression differences and correlations in specific cancer, comparable protein-docking scores, and cancer-specific context. Learning from the functional and structural interaction features between 718 experimentally validated TRIM–target pairs, two types of SVM-based binary models were independently trained using proteomic and transcriptomic data. Our models achieved robust prediction performance in cancers utilizing a fair feature space and circumventing hypothetical non-interacting pairs. TRIMCIVtargeter not only provides a cancer-related resource for studying TRIMCIV-mediated regulatory mechanisms but also offers a new perspective for family-specific PPI prediction, holding significant implications for biomarker discovery and therapeutic targeting in oncology. The online platform of TRIMCIVtargeter is now available. Full article

The human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-based lentivirus has been widely used for genetic modification. However, the efficiency of lentiviral-based gene modification in Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells is considerably limited. In this study, we have shown that siRNA-mediated depletion of TRIM5α, a restriction factor in HIV-1 infection, can dramatically enhance HIV-1 infection in MDBK cells. Furthermore, we generated a doxycycline-inducible Cas9-overexpressing MDBK cell line (MDBK-iCas9) suitable for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing. On this basis, we created a TRIM5α knock-out MDBK-iCas9 cell line MDBK-iCas9^{TRIM5α−/−} without additional genome insertions by combining sgRNA transfection and single-cell cloning. We found that MDBK-iCas9^{TRIM5α−/−} displayed greater permissiveness to lentivirus infection compared with MDBK-WT cells. Notably, we found that treatment with the chemical compound cyclosporine A, which directly interacts with cell factor cyclophilin A (CypA), could markedly increase the infectivity of lentivirus in both MDBK-iCas9^{TRIM5α−/−} and MDBK-WT cell lines, suggesting that CypA functions independently with TRIM5α as an inhibitor of the lentivirus in bovine cells. Therefore, combining bovine TRIM5α and CypA targeting could remarkably enhance lentivirus infection. In conclusion, our findings highlight a promising gene engineering strategy for bovine cells that can surmount the significant barriers to investigating the interplay between bovine viruses and their host cells. Full article

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy, with significant racial/ethnic disparities in incidence and survival. Asians have the highest incidence, and recurrence, while African Americans experience the lowest survival rates, suggesting contributions from genetic, environmental, and healthcare-related factors. While socioeconomic disparities play a role, emerging evidence highlights genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying these differences. This study examines differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify potential molecular drivers of PTC disparities. Bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from 20 PTC tumors (5 White, 5 African American, 5 Hispanic, and 5 Asian) were analyzed using the UseGalaxy platform. Preprocessing included quality control, adapter trimming, and genome alignment. Differential expression analysis identified genes with p < 0.01 and fold change ≥ 2.5. Volcano plots visualized significant DEGs. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) via eVITTA identified enriched pathways. TCGA data analysis validated racial/ethnic differences in gene expression. Ethnic groups exhibited distinct gene expression profiles. GSEA revealed differences in cell proliferation, immune regulation, and thyroid hormone metabolism. African Americans showed immune suppression and reduced tumor suppressor activity, while Asians exhibited enriched cell cycle and DNA repair pathways. Significant differences were confirmed in some of the genes in TCGA data analysis. This study identifies genetic factors contributing to racial disparities in PTC, emphasizing the need for further validation in larger cohorts and functional studies. Understanding these molecular differences may inform personalized treatment strategies and improve PTC outcomes across diverse populations. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with disruptions in one-carbon metabolism and vitamin D pathways. Nutritional exposures—particularly vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, and homocysteine—may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, a comprehensive, lifespan-spanning synthesis of these modifiable nutritional biomarkers has not been conducted. This systematic review and stratified meta-analysis critically synthesized data on vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, and homocysteine to elucidate their relationships with ASD risk and symptomatology. Our central question was: How do levels of vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, and homocysteine—measured before and after birth—affect the risk, severity, and potential treatment outcomes for ASD? We conducted a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) compliant systematic review and stratified meta-analysis (2015–2025) of 35 studies (11 randomized controlled trials, 24 observational), examining prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal biomarker levels. Eligibility criteria were defined using the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study Design) framework to ensure scientific rigor and clinical relevance, including studies involving human participants aged 0–18 years with a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis or prenatal exposures potentially linked to later ASD onset, while excluding animal studies, adult-only ASD populations, and studies lacking ASD cohorts or biomarker data. The search strategy, developed according to PRISMA, and Cochrane best practices, encompassed five major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ProQuest) alongside manual searches of key references, grey literature, and clinical trial registries to ensure comprehensive retrieval of both published and unpublished studies. Study quality was assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs (RoB2) and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies; certainty of evidence was graded via GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Random-effects meta-analyses were stratified by biomarker and study design. Heterogeneity, small-study effects, and publication bias were evaluated using Cochran’s Q, I², Egger’s test, and trim-and-fill. Prenatal vitamin D deficiency was associated with approximately two-fold increased odds of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in offspring (pooled OR ≈ 2.0; p < 0.05), while excessively elevated maternal B₁₂ concentrations, often co-occurring with folate excess, were similarly linked to increased ASD risk. Meta-analytic comparisons revealed significantly lower circulating vitamin D (SMD ≈ −1.0; p < 0.001) and B₁₂ levels (SMD ≈ −0.7; p < 0.001), alongside elevated homocysteine (SMD ≈ 0.7; p < 0.001), in children with ASD versus neurotypical controls. Early-life vitamin D/B₁₂ insufficiency and elevated homocysteine are important, modifiable correlates of ASD risk and severity. Adequate maternal and child nutritional status could have risk-reducing and symptom-mitigating effects, although causality remains to be confirmed. This evidence supports tailored nutritional interventions as a component of ASD risk reduction and management strategies, within the bounds of overall developmental healthcare. The article processing charges (APC) were supported by “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania. No external funding was received for the execution of the research. The review was not prospectively registered in PROSPERO or any other systematic review registry. Full article

Traditional ant colony algorithms for mobile robot path planning often suffer from slow convergence, susceptibility to local optima, and low search efficiency, limiting their applicability in dynamic and complex environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an improved trimming ant colony optimization (ITACO) algorithm. The method introduces a dynamic weighting factor into the state transition probability formula to balance global exploration and local exploitation, effectively avoiding local optima. Additionally, the traditional heuristic function is replaced with an artificial potential field attraction function, dynamically adjusting the potential field strength to enhance search efficiency. A path-length-dependent pheromone increment mechanism is also proposed to accelerate convergence, while a triangular pruning strategy is employed to remove redundant path nodes and shorten the optimal path length. Simulation experiments show that the ITACO algorithm improves the path length by up to 62.86% compared to the classical ACO algorithm. The ITACO algorithm improves the path length by 6.68% compared to the latest related research results. These improvements highlight the ITACO algorithm as an efficient and reliable solution for mobile robot path planning in challenging scenarios. Full article

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric primary liver tumor. About 20% of affected children have pulmonary metastasis at presentation. Survival rates for these children are dismal, not exceeding 25%. To study this subset of patients, we sequenced a metastatic HB cell line, HLM_2, and identified downregulation of the Liver X Receptor (LXR)/Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) pathway. LXR/RXRs function as transcriptional regulators that influence genes implicated in HB development, including the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We assessed the effects of a novel LXR/RXR agonist, UAB116, on metastatic HB, hypothesizing that this compound would affect genes governing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, decreasing the metastatic phenotype of HLM_2 metastatic HB cells. We evaluated its effects on viability, proliferation, stemness, clonogenicity, and motility, and performed RNA sequencing to study differential gene regulation. Treatment with UAB116 for 72 h decreased HLM_2 proliferation, stemness, clonogenicity, and invasion. RNA sequencing identified an eight-fold increase in TRIM29, a gene known to inhibit β-catenin, in cells treated with UAB116. Administration of the LXR/RXR agonist, UAB116, reduces proliferation, stemness, and invasiveness of metastatic HB cells, potentially by upregulation of TRIM29, a known modulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, providing support for further exploration of LXR/RXR agonism as a therapeutic strategy for metastatic HB. Full article

This study investigates the impact of etching trimming parameters on the multiple harmonics of the mass distribution in hemispherical resonators and proposes a novel 1st harmonic trimming scheme. As mass balancing technology advances, the extension of identification and trimming from frequency split to multiple harmonics remains a challenge. Initially, a multi-harmonic identification scheme based on spurious mode detection was established, considering the influence of the first three harmonics of the mass distribution on the dynamic characteristics of hemispherical resonators. Finite element method modeling and analysis revealed that common structural geometric errors significantly introduce the 1st harmonic. By integrating a rectangular pulse function into the mass distribution function to simulate etching grooves, spectral analysis revealed that groove depth and width determine the amplitude and gradient of introduced harmonics. This research introduces an innovative discrete trimming scheme aimed at addressing the frequency split and mode mismatch issues associated with traditional single-point trimming of the 1st harmonic. By decomposing the trimming task into primary and auxiliary etching grooves, the 4th harmonic introduced by the primary etching is compensated by the secondary 4th harmonic introduced by the auxiliary etching, achieving decoupling of the 1st harmonic from frequency split during the trimming process. The scheme was verified through finite element simulations and experimental testing. Results demonstrate that, for a similar reduction in the 1st harmonic, the variation in frequency split during the discrete trimming process is only 11% of that observed in single-point trimming, facilitating efficient and low-damage trimming of the 1st harmonic. Full article

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins comprise an important class of E3 ubiquitin ligases that regulate numerous biological processes including protein expression, cellular signaling pathways, and innate immunity. This ubiquitous participation in fundamental aspects of biology has made TRIM proteins a focus of study in many fields and has illuminated the negative impact they exert when functioning improperly. Disruption of TRIM function has been linked to the success of various pathogens and separately to the occurrence and development of several neurodegenerative diseases, making TRIM proteins an appealing candidate to study for novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we review the current findings on TRIM proteins that demonstrate their analogous properties in the distinct fields of viral infection and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. We also examine recent advancements in drug development and targeted protein degradation as potential strategies for TRIM-mediated therapeutic treatments and discuss the implications these technologies have on future research directions. Full article

Federated learning offers a powerful approach for training models across decentralized datasets, enabling the creation of machine learning models that respect data privacy. However, federated learning faces significant challenges due to its vulnerability to adversarial attacks, especially when clients have diverse and potentially malicious data distributions. These challenges can lead to severe degradation in the global model’s performance and generalization. In this paper, we present a novel federated image adversarial training framework that combines client-specific adversarial example generation with a robust trimmed aggregation technique. By creating adversarial examples tailored to each client’s local data, our method strengthens individual model defenses against adversarial attacks. Meanwhile, the trimmed aggregation strategy ensures the global model’s robustness by mitigating the impact of harmful or low-quality updates during the model aggregation process. This framework effectively addresses both the issue of data heterogeneity and adversarial threats in federated learning settings. Our experimental results on standard image classification datasets show that the proposed approach significantly enhances model robustness, surpassing existing methods in defending against various adversarial attacks while maintaining high classification accuracy. This framework holds strong promise for real-world applications, particularly in privacy-sensitive domains where both security and model reliability are essential. Full article

This paper proposes a standard applications of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to manage vehicles at electronic toll gate system without compromising the vehicle speed. The existing electronic toll gate system has low latency as each car needs to wait in a queue for passing the gate. Installation of reader antenna at each lane makes the system expensive. We propose a two-ray ground model for using minimal reader antenna to define required antenna height and downtilt angle to cover the total gate area. We estimate that reader antenna at a height of 15 m and 45.4° downtilit angle are required for optimal signal reception from the car at a distance of 35–38 m. Modified Pulse Protocol algorithm is suggested for mitigating reader collision and increase throughput and utilization of the system by 14.71% and 15.2% respectively. The probability distribution function of the contention window is modified to triangular function. The M-ary Trimming Q-tree protocol is suggested to resolve the tag collision by trimming the idle nodes from the query tree, which reduces identification time. The total time slot decreases with higher elements, and the total throughput also increases to 98%. The “no-lane” strategy established a fast, efficient and cost effective vehicle toll collection system. Full article

The success of double cropping in Vitis vinifera L. cultivated in temperate climates relies on bud forcing efficiency, which requires the prompt unlocking of apical dormant buds with sufficient fruitfulness. Chemical dormancy-breaking strategies need to be tested to enhance dormant bud forcing in summer pruning, as hydrogen cyanamide, the most used agent, could damage green organs. This study tested whether foliar applications of cytokinins and auxins could modulate dormancy release, potentially affecting bud forcing dynamics and shoot fruitfulness. The forcing treatments involved trimming primary shoots at the eighth node, removing lateral shoots, and retaining the main leaves and inflorescences. Five treatments were investigated: unforced control, control + 6-Benzyladenine application, forcing (FR), forcing + 6-Benzyladenine application (FBA), and forcing + Naphthaleneacetic acid application (FNAA). Phenological evolution, vegetative and productive parameters, and physiological characteristics have been assessed. Results showed that among the forcing treatments, FBA showed the highest forced/primary shoots ratio (106%), followed by FR (94%) and FNAA (21%). Primary yields were similar across treatments (2.74 kg), but total yield was highest in FBA (4.78 kg, including 2.02 kg from forced grapes), followed by FR (3.62 kg, with 1.09 kg forced). FNAA yielded no forced crop. During forced grapes maturation, photosynthesis rates were higher in forced leaves (11.1 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, as FR and FBA average) than primary leaves (−32%). Forced grapes ripened 47 days later and achieved higher sugar content (21.7 °Brix) and titratable acidity (10.6 g/L) than primary grapes. The findings suggest cytokinins application enhances bud forcing, supporting the feasibility of double cropping, while auxins limited it. Full article

Background: Tumor metastasis and poor drug efficacy are two of the most common causes of therapeutic failure in cancer patients. The underlying molecular mechanism requires further exploration, and novel effective curative strategies are urgently needed. Nature is a rich source of novel drugs, and Lycorine hydrochloride (Lyc.HCL) is a natural alkaloid with tremendous therapeutic potential. However, the molecular mechanisms of its antitumor activity are still unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of Lyc.HCL against esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs), which pose serious threats to human life. Methods: An MTS assay and a clone formation assay were used to assess the viability of ESCC cell lines after Lyc.HCL treatment in vitro. Apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were analyzed using flow cytometry. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to analyze cell migration, while invasion was analyzed using the Matrigel Transwell assay. We detected the expression of tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) through immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. A docking experiment was performed to explore the targets of Lyc.HCL. The expression levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathway components were detected through Western blotting. A rescue experiment was performed to determine the potential role of TRIM22. In addition, we explored the in vivo anti-ESCC effects and mechanism of Lyc.HCL by using it to treat tumor-bearing mice. Results: The Lyc.HCL treatment was found to inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo by blocking the cell cycle at the G2 phase, inhibiting cell migration and invasion. We found that the TRIM22 protein was highly expressed in ESCCs but not in normal esophageal tissue. Lyc.HCL directly targeted TRIM22, decreasing the expression of TRIM22 and the JAK2/STAT3 and Erk signaling pathways, both in vitro and in vivo. Using animal experiments, we observed that the depletion of TRIM22 delayed tumor growth, but this effect was significantly reversed upon TRIM22 overexpression. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Lyc.HCL can effectively suppress ESCC both in vitro and in vivo by targeting TRIM22 and regulating the JAK2/STAT3 and Erk pathways. These results suggest that Lyc.HCL may serve as a potential novel therapeutic for ESCC, with TRIM22 emerging as a promising target for treatment. Full article