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The focus of this scope is on the single phase Cuk and SEPIC power factor correction converter that is attractive to electric bicycle applications. In order to guarantee improved performance, the proposed modified converter is designed to operate in discontinuous conduction mode, which is hidden by changes in supply and load voltage. For rated load, the investigational study achieves reduced input line total harmonic distortion and unity power factor. Line regulation, high efficiency, and load regulation are achieved by means of a closed loop PI control circuit that has a voltage sensor and current loop. The power supply is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink under various operating conditions, and the designed system is validated using a 250 W hardware prototype. The input current is observed to be perfectly sinusoidal, and the IEC 61000-3-2 class A standard is followed in recording the total harmonic distortion of the mains current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the transformative impact of three-dimensional printing, or additive manufacturing, in the development of bamboo-based 3D printing parts. Recently, there has been growing interest in incorporating natural fibers, such as bamboo, into polymers to enhance the structural integrity and strength of 3D-printed polymeric materials. This paper thoroughly examines the opportunities and obstacles associated with using additive manufacturing techniques to print bamboo fiber composites. This study includes an analysis of the mechanical properties, thermal properties, biodegradability, and environmental benefits of bamboo fiber composites. It also covers the processing methods and the printing parameters of bamboo fiber composites. This paper review focuses on the future prospects of bamboo fiber composites as a sustainable material in additive manufacturing based on the analysis of the existing literature and the recent research developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesocosm experiments have become increasingly popular in climate change research as they bridge the gap between small-scale, less realistic, microcosm experiments, and large-scale, more complex, natural systems. Characteristics of aquatic mesocosm designs (e.g., mesocosm volume, study duration, and replication) vary widely, potentially affecting the magnitude and direction of effect sizes measured in experiments. In this global systematic review we aim to identify the type, direction and strength of climate warming effects on aquatic species, communities and ecosystems in mesocosm experiments. Furthermore, we will investigate the context-dependency of the observed effects on several a priori determined effect moderators (ecological and methodological). Our conclusions will provide recommendations for aquatic scientists designing mesocosm experiments, as well as guidelines for interpretation of experimental results by scientists, policy-makers and the general public. Methods: We will conduct a systematic search using multiple online databases to gather evidence from the scientific literature on the effects of warming experimentally tested in aquatic mesocosms. Data from relevant studies will be extracted and used in a random effects meta-analysis to estimate the overall effect sizes of warming experiments on species performance, biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Experimental characteristics (e.g., mesocosm size and shape, replication-level, experimental duration and design, biogeographic region, community type, crossed manipulation) will be further analysed using subgroup analyses.

The principal methyl donor of the cell, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), is produced by the highly conserved family of methionine adenosyltranferases (MATs) via an ATP-driven process. These enzymes play an important role in the preservation of life, and their dysregulation has been tightly linked to liver and colon cancers. We present crystal structures of human MATα2 containing various bound ligands, providing a "structural movie" of the catalytic steps. High- to atomic-resolution structures reveal the structural elements of the enzyme involved in utilization of the substrates methionine and adenosine and in formation of the product SAMe. MAT enzymes are also able to produce S-adenosylethionine (SAE) from substrate ethionine. Ethionine, an S-ethyl analog of the amino acid methionine, is known to induce steatosis and pancreatitis. We show that SAE occupies the active site in a manner similar to SAMe, confirming that ethionine also uses the same catalytic site to form the product SAE.

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is the principal methyl donor of the cell and is synthesized via an ATP-driven process by methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) enzymes. It is tightly linked with cell proliferation in liver and colon cancer. In humans, there are three genes, mat1A, mat2A and mat2B, which encode MAT enzymes. mat2A and mat2B transcribe MATα2 and MATβ enzyme subunits, respectively, with catalytic and regulatory roles. The MATα2β complex is expressed in nearly all tissues and is thought to be essential in providing the necessary SAMe flux for methylation of DNA and various proteins including histones. In human hepatocellular carcinoma mat2A and mat2B genes are upregulated, highlighting the importance of the MATα2β complex in liver disease. The individual subunits have been structurally characterized but the nature of the complex has remained elusive despite its existence having been postulated for more than 20 years and the observation that MATβ is often co-localized with MATα2. Though SAMe can be produced by MAT(α2)4 alone, this paper shows that the V max of the MATα2β complex is three- to fourfold higher depending on the variants of MATβ that participate in complex formation. Using X-ray crystallography and solution X-ray scattering, the first structures are provided of this 258 kDa functional complex both in crystals and solution with an unexpected stoichiometry of 4α2 and 2βV2 subunits. It is demonstrated that the N-terminal regulates the activity of the complex and it is shown that complex formation takes place surprisingly via the C-terminal of MATβV2 that buries itself in a tunnel created at the interface of the MAT(α2)2. The structural data suggest a unique mechanism of regulation and provide a gateway for structure-based drug design in anticancer therapies.

A new coarse-grained model of the E. coli cytoplasm is developed by describing the proteins of the cytoplasm as flexible units consisting of one or more spheres that follow Brownian dynamics (BD), with hydrodynamic interactions (HI) accounted for by a mean

This work explores the influence of a pre-engineered notch on the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) parameters in NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) during tensile tests. The test data showed that the EMR signal fluctuated between oscillatory and exponential, signifying that the specimen's viscosity damping coefficient changes during strain hardening. The EMR parameters, maximum EMR amplitude, and average EMR energy release rate remained constant initially but rose sharply with the plastic zone radius with progressive loading. It was postulated that new Frank–Read sources permit dislocation multiplication and increase the number of edge dislocations participating in EMR emissions, leading to a rise in the value of EMR parameters. The study of the correlation between EMR emission parameters and the plastic zone radius before the crack tip is a vital crack growth monitoring tool. An analysis of the interrelationship of the EMR energy release rate at fracture with the elastic strain energy release rate would help develop an innovative approach to assess fracture toughness, a critical parameter for the design and safety of metals. The microstructural analysis of tensile fractures and the interrelation between deformation behaviours concerning the EMR parameters offers a novel and real-time approach to improve the extant understanding of the behaviour of metallic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes patient-provider interaction (PPI). More precisely, it deals with the form-function relationship in questions used in counselor-patient interaction. The study is based on naturally occurring primary data collected at the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JNMCH), located in Aligarh Muslim University, India. The data are composed of audio-visual recordings of Hindi-Urdu interaction between 8 counselors and 27 patients. We identified compliance and condescension as the two unique functions the counselors seeks to accomplish and/or fulfill through the use of questions in their interaction with the patients. We also found four other functions – information seeking, recall, greeting, and diagnosis, which are sought by the counselors through their use of questions. The findings also suggest that these functions maintain and promote what can be termed as a counselor-centered interaction, and thus reflect asymmetrical power relationship between counselors and their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]