Natural Life Cycle Research Articles

The Presence of Pigment Incontinence in Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma.

Regression is an immunological phenomenon described in cutaneous melanoma whereby tumor is replaced with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, granulation tissue, and mature fibroblasts often accompanied by pigment incontinence (accumulation of melanin in the upper dermis). Pigment incontinence results in grossly pigmented lesions that may be mistaken for viable tumor and has not been described in sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM). This study investigates the presence of regression and pigment incontinence in patients with SNMM. A retrospective chart review was conducted on SNMM patients from 2007 to 2023. Pathology slides from surgical resection were examined by two pathologists blinded to treatment information for the presence and extent of pigment-laden macrophages and other histopathologic features of regression. Seventeen patients with SNMM were included in this study who underwent surgical resection. Three patients received neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. Regression was present in 94% of patients and pigment incontinence was present in 65% of patients and occurred in both neoadjuvant treated patients and treatment naïve patients. All three patients with neoadjuvant treatment had evidence of pigment incontinence. This study highlights that SNMM often displays characteristics of regression. This study is one of the first to describe the presence of pigment incontinence in patients with SNMM. Pigment incontinence can be a part of the natural tumor life cycle and grossly pigmented lesions could easily be confused for melanoma especially after neoadjuvant therapy. Developing an understanding of regression and pigment incontinence within SNMM is important for diagnosis and clinical management. IV Laryngoscope, 2024.

Do white-footed mice, the main reservoir of the Lyme disease pathogen in the United States, clinically respond to the borrelial tenancy?

As white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, are considered the primary animal reservoir of Borreliella burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb), the main agent of Lyme disease (LD) in the United States, these animals represent the most relevant model to study borrelial spirochetes in the context of their natural life cycle. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that although white-footed mice respond immunologically to the invasion of the Lyme pathogen, P. leucopus adults do not develop a clinically detectable disease. This tolerance, which is common for mammalian reservoirs of different pathogens, contrasts with detrimental anti-borrelial responses of C3H mice, a widely used animal model of LD, which always result in a clinical manifestation (e.g., arthritis). The current investigation is a follow-up of our recent study that already showed a relative quiescence of the spleen transcriptome for Bb-infected white-footed mice compared to the infected C3H mice. In an effort to identify the mechanism behind this tolerance, in this study, we have evaluated an extensive list of hematological and biochemical parameters measured in white-footed mice after their 70-day-long borrelial infection. Despite missing reference intervals for Peromyscus mice, our sex- and age-matched uninfected controls allowed us to assess the blood and serum parameters. In addition, for our assessment, we also utilized behavioral, immunological, and histological analyses. Collectively, by using the metrics reported herein, the present results have demonstrated clinical unresponsiveness of P. leucopus mice to the borrelial infection, presenting no restriction to a long-term host-pathogen co-existence.

Nomenclature for human and animal fungal pathogens and diseases: a proposal for standardized terminology.

Medically important pathogenic fungi invade vertebrate tissue and are considered primary when part of their nature life cycle is associated with an animal host and are usually able to infect immunocompetent hosts. Opportunistic fungal pathogens complete their life cycle in environmental habitats or occur as commensals within or on the vertebrate body, but under certain conditions can thrive upon infecting humans. The extent of host damage in opportunistic infections largely depends on the portal and modality of entry as well as on the host's immune and metabolic status. Diseases caused by primary pathogens and common opportunists, causing the top approximately 80% of fungal diseases [D. W. Denning, Lancet Infect Dis, 24:e428-e438, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00692-8], tend to follow a predictive pattern, while those by occasional opportunists are more variable. For this reason, it is recommended that diseases caused by primary pathogens and the common opportunists are named after the etiologic agent, for example, histoplasmosis and aspergillosis, while this should not be done for occasional opportunists that should be named as [causative fungus] [clinical syndrome], for example, Alternaria alternata cutaneous infection. The addition of a descriptor that identifies the location or clinical type of infection is required, as the general name alone may cover widely different clinical syndromes, for example, "rhinocerebral mucormycosis." A list of major recommended human and animal disease entities (nomenclature) is provided in alignment with their causative agents. Fungal disease names may encompass several genera of etiologic agents, consequently being less susceptible to taxonomic changes of the causative species, for example, mucormycosis covers numerous mucormycetous molds.

Artificial Optimizer Algorithm for Power System Stabilizer design problem and multidisciplinary engineering applications

The novelty of this research lies in presenting a fresh stochastic algorithm enthused via ‘Velociraptor’ social intelligence in wildlife (or nature), known as the Velociraptor Group Optimization algorithm (VROA). In this strategy, ‘Velociraptor’ co-operative natural life cycle is mathematically framed, and novel mechanisms are presented to perform search (or exploration) and hunting (or exploitation). This suggests that the proposed method reveals a noteworthy ability in both exploitation and exploration. Furthermore, it successfully stabilities exploration and exploitation, supporting the search process. In the direction of evaluating the VROA, we utilized it on 51 CEC'17, CEC'20, and CEC'22 standard benchmark suites and six multidisciplinary engineering optimization functions. Furthermore, well-known statistical methods like Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Friedman's test have been used to verify the strength of the proposed algorithm against various optimizers. The tabulated numerical and statistical solutions show that VROA performs better than recent optimizers on most standard test suites and has efficiently attained the most competent resolution while concurrently upholding adherence to the designated constraints. The results validate that VROA can offer efficient and accurate optimal solutions in evaluation with recent metaheuristics.

The Impact of Retrofitting Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants on Carbon Footprint: Converting from Open-Cycle Gas Turbine to Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine

Since retrofitting existing natural gas-fired (NGF) power plants is an essential strategy for enhancing their efficiency and controlling greenhouse gas emissions, this paper compares the carbon footprint of natural gas-fired power generation from an NGF power plant in Brazil (BR-NGF) with and without retrofitting. The former scenario entails retrofitting the BR-NGF power plant with combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology. In contrast, the latter involves continuing the BR-NGF power plant operation with open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) technology. Our analysis considers the BR-NGF power plant’s life cycle (construction, operation, and decommissioning) and the natural gas’ life cycle (natural gas extraction and processing, liquefaction, liquefied natural gas transportation, regasification, and combustion). Moreover, it is based on data from primary and secondary sources, mainly the Ecoinvent database and the ReCiPe 2016 method. For OCGT, the results showed that the BR-NGF power plant and the natural gas life cycles are responsible for 620.87 gCO2eq./kWh and 178.58 gCO2eq./kWh, respectively. For CCGT, these values are 450.04 gCO2eq./kWh and 129.30 gCO2eq./kWh. Our findings highlight the relevance of the natural gas’ life cycle, signaling additional opportunities for reducing the overall carbon footprint of natural gas-fired power generation.

CD26 Is Differentially Expressed throughout the Life Cycle of Infantile Hemangiomas and Characterizes the Proliferative Phase.

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are benign vascular neoplasms of childhood (prevalence 5-10%) due to the abnormal proliferation of endothelial cells. IHs are characterized by a peculiar natural life cycle enclosing three phases: proliferative (≤12 months), involuting (≥13 months), and involuted (up to 4-7 years). The mechanisms underlying this neoplastic disease still remain uncovered. Twenty-seven IH tissue specimens (15 proliferative and 12 involuting) were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and a panel of diagnostic markers by immunohistochemistry. WT1, nestin, CD133, and CD26 were also analyzed. Moreover, CD31pos/CD26pos proliferative hemangioma-derived endothelial cells (Hem-ECs) were freshly isolated, exposed to vildagliptin (a DPP-IV/CD26 inhibitor), and tested for cell survival and proliferation by MTT assay, FACS analysis, and Western blot assay. All IHs displayed positive CD31, GLUT1, WT1, and nestin immunostaining but were negative for D2-40. Increased endothelial cell proliferation in IH samples was documented by ki67 labeling. All endothelia of proliferative IHs were positive for CD26 (100%), while only 10 expressed CD133 (66.6%). Surprisingly, seven involuting IH samples (58.3%) exhibited coexisting proliferative and involuting aspects in the same hemangiomatous lesion. Importantly, proliferative areas were characterized by CD26 immunolabeling, at variance from involuting sites that were always CD26 negative. Finally, in vitro DPP-IV pharmacological inhibition by vildagliptin significantly reduced Hem-ECs proliferation through the modulation of ki67 and induced cell cycle arrest associated with the upregulation of p21 protein expression. Taken together, our findings suggest that CD26 might represent a reliable biomarker to detect proliferative sites and unveil non-regressive IHs after a 12-month life cycle.

Political Economic Role in Natural Quality Management and its Impact on Plant Ecology: Why Arar-Juniper Plants Disappeared

Wadi-Arar is a unique region that has lost some of its most important natural features within 200 years, including plants, geographical lakes, and valleys. The study aimed to investigate the disappearance of the juniper plant, a vital species in Saudi Arabia, in recent decades. The research highlighted various factors influencing the quality of life for the juniper plant and its habitats. It sought to identify the primary factors causing changes in the natural conditions of the plant and those influencing its growth. The findings indicated a significant impact of the Suez Canal on the Arar region, the sole connection between Africa and Asia, and Europe. This influence extends beyond geopolitical factors in the surrounding area, as the existence of the Suez Canal disrupted the natural life cycle of many animal species over thousands of years of migrations and coexistence across Earth's continents. These animals previously provided natural organic fertilizer to the soil, supporting plant growth. However, due to low rainfall resulting in low natural nutrients and high salinity, the plants' viability has diminished, reflecting a history of administrative and geopolitical decisions.

Multifunctional silver nanoparticle embedded eri silk cocoon scaffolds against burn wounds-associated infection.

Antimicrobial wound dressings offer enhanced efficacy compared to conventional dressing platforms by limiting bacterial infections, expediting the healing process, and creating a barrier against additional wound contamination. The use of silk derived from silkworm cocoons in wound healing applications is attributed to its exceptional characteristics. Compared to mulberry silk, sericin from non-mulberry cocoons has higher water exchange mobility and moisture retention. Eri, a non-mulberry silkworm, is an unexplored source of silk with an eco-friendly nature of production where the natural life cycle of silkworms is not disrupted, and no moths are sacrificed. This work reports on an eri silk cocoon-based scaffold decorated with silver nanoparticles as a wound dressing material effective against burn-wound-associated multiple-drug-resistant bacteria. The UV-vis spectroscopy showed maximum absorbance at 448 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra exhibited the functional groups in the eri silk proteins accountable for the reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 in the scaffold. SEM-EDX analysis revealed the presence of elemental silver, and XRD analysis confirmed their particle size of 5.66-8.82 nm. The wound dressing platform showed excellent thermal stability and hydrophobicity, fulfilling the criteria of a standard waterproof dressing material, and anticipating the prevention of bacterial biofilm formation in chronic wounds. The scaffold was found to be effective against both Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 87) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688) multiple-drug-resistant pathogens. Electron microscopy revealed the bacterial cell damage, suggesting its bactericidal property. The results further revealed that the scaffold was both hemocompatible and cytocompatible, suggesting its potential application in chronic wounds such as burns. As an outcome, this study presents a straightforward, cost-effective, and sustainable way of developing a multifunctional wound dressing platform, suggesting its significant therapeutic potential in clinical and biomedical sectors and facile commercialization.

Mapping Topic Evolution across the 40-Year-Old Long-Term Ecological Research MareChiara Site in the Gulf of Naples, Italy

The forty-year-old Long-Term Ecological Research MareChiara (LTER-MC) program started on 26 January 1984, with fortnightly oceanographic sampling until 1991 and then, from 1995, with weekly sampling up to the present time. LTER-MC produced >150 publications that have been cited by thousands of other studies. In this scoping review, we analyzed this corpus using a semantic approach based on topic modeling, a machine-driven procedure to identify and map topics and their interactions. Understanding the causes behind the evolution of scientific topics, their emergence, splitting, hybridization, or merging within a scientific community is an important step in science policy in managing collaborative research and bringing it into the future. Across different topics, mainly represented by studies on Natural History, Biodiversity, Phenology, Life Cycles, and Community Ecology, the LTER-MC work expanded the knowledge on planktonic organisms, describing in detail their lifestyles and delineating their relationships with environmental conditions. In presenting these results, the potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats connected to the overall scientific dimension of LTER-MC are discussed. Finally, the upcoming effort is envisioned in reinforcing internal collaboration to integrate basic and applied research around scientific investigations suitable for establishing a stronger interaction between science and policy, as indicated by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Corporate credit mismatch, financial leverage and corporate investment efficiency

We empirically test the relationship between credit mismatch and corporate investment efficiency. The study analyzes the heterogeneity of mismatch direction, corporate nature, and corporate life cycle. Results reveal that corporate credit mismatch has a significant negative impact on corporate investment efficiency; corporate financial leverage fully mediates this impact, indicating that corporations may increase their financial leverage to bridge financing gaps in cases of credit mismatch. This practice, however, may bring about greater financial risk and affect corporate investment efficiency. This study provides an important reference for enterprises and financial institutions for optimizing the financing environment, ensuring the effective allocation of financing resources, promoting the sustainable development of enterprises, thereby enhancing overall economic efficiency. This study also provides new ideas and future directions for studying corporate financing and investment behavior.

An amplicon-based sequencing approach for Usutu virus characterization

Usutu virus (USUV), an arbovirus from the Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus, has recently gained increasing attention because of its potential for emergence. After his discovery in South Africa, USUV spread to other African countries, then emerged in Europe where it was responsible for epizootics. The virus has recently been found in Asia. USUV infection in humans is considered to be most often asymptomatic or to cause mild clinical signs. However, a few cases of neurological complications such as encephalitis or meningo-encephalitis have been reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. USUV natural life cycle involves Culex mosquitoes as its main vector, and multiple bird species as natural viral reservoirs or amplifying hosts, humans and horses can be incidental hosts. Phylogenetic studies carried out showed eight lineages, showing an increasing genetic diversity for USUV. This work describes the development and validation of a novel whole-genome amplicon-based sequencing approach to Usutu virus. This study was carried out on different strains from Senegal and Italy. The new approach showed good coverage using samples derived from several vertebrate hosts and may be valuable for Usutu virus genomic surveillance to better understand the dynamics of evolution and transmission of the virus.

Political Economic Role in Natural Quality Management and its Impact on Plant Ecology: Why Arar-Juniper Plants Disappeared

Wadi-Arar is a unique region that has lost some of its most important natural features within 200 years, including plants, geographical lakes, and valleys. The study aimed to investigate the disappearance of the juniper plant, a vital species in Saudi Arabia, in recent decades. The research highlighted various factors influencing the quality of life for the juniper plant and its habitats. It sought to identify the primary factors causing changes in the natural conditions of the plant and those influencing its growth. The findings indicated a significant impact of the Suez Canal on the Arar region, the sole connection between Africa and Asia, and Europe. This influence extends beyond geopolitical factors in the surrounding area, as the existence of the Suez Canal disrupted the natural life cycle of many animal species over thousands of years of migrations and coexistence across Earth's continents. These animals previously provided natural organic fertilizer to the soil, supporting plant growth. However, due to low rainfall resulting in low natural nutrients and high salinity, the plants' viability has diminished, reflecting a history of administrative and geopolitical decisions.

Wild yeast isolation by middle school students reveals features of North American oak populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces lactis.

Features of the natural life cycle of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were crucial to its domestication as a laboratory experimental model, especially the ability to maintain stable haploid clones and cross them at will to combine alleles via meiosis. Stable haploidy results from mutations in HO, which encodes an endonuclease required for haploid-specific mating-type switching. Previous studies found an unexpected diversity of HO alleles among natural isolates within a small geographic area. We developed a hands-on field and laboratory activity for middle school students in Denver, Colorado, USA to isolate wild yeast from oak bark, identify species via DNA sequencing, and sequence HO from S. cerevisiae isolates. We find limited HO diversity in North American oak isolates, pointing to efficient, continuous dispersal across the continent. By contrast, we isolated the "dairy yeast", Kluyveromyces lactis, from a tree <10 m away and found that it represents a new population distinct from an oak population in an adjacent state, pointing to high genetic diversity. The outreach activity partnered middle school, high school, and university students in making scientific discoveries and can be adapted to other locations and natural yeast habitats. Indeed, a pilot sampling activity in southeast Texas yielded S. cerevisiae oak isolates with a new allele of HO and, from a nearby prickly pear cactus, a heat-tolerant isolate of Saccharomyces paradoxus.

Analysis of potential lobster artificial reef sites in Gerupuk Bay waters of Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract Lobster is one of the fisheries products which has become the most searched in international trade because of its high price. Therefore, the highest number of lobsters is from the natural fishing effort. The increasing market has an impact on decreasing habitat. Uncontrollable degradation impact requires an alternative to save the stability of lobster production in nature. This study aims to analyse the suitability of candidate locations for the placement of Lobster Artificial Reefs. The selection site uses the Stationary Visual Census method, while oceanography parameters use Water Quality Checker. Data collection was done in August and October 2021. The analyse suitability site was based on the bio-ecological parameters from some research stations. The research recommended all stations from 2014 to 2016 and FGD in July 2021. Recommendation site was found around Tiung Stone station. It is expected to be a protected area from predators, and it can be a feeding area to provide natural food during lobsters’ life cycle in nature. These results still need to ensure the effectiveness of the artificial habitat function for lobster breeding. Further analysis is required to see the effectiveness value of the location and lobster artificial reef before being implemented in other locations.

Developing a smart green supplier risk assessment system integrating natural language processing and life cycle assessment based on AHP framework: An empirical study

Global carbon reduction drives the transformations of corporations, emphasizing carbon and environmental impact within supply chains. A critical challenge in risk management is converting unstructured data into quantifiable information, and ruining the conversion often leads to ineffective risk assessments. While artificial intelligence is increasingly used in supply chain risk management, previous studies seldom integrate text analysis for risk extraction and lack accurate risk assessment methods. This study pioneers an intelligent green supplier risk assessment system integrating natural language processing (NLP) and life cycle assessment (LCA) based on an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) framework. The proposed approach utilizes NLP keyword extraction to identify and assess risk and uses LCA to uncover environmental risks, minimizing negative impacts. The text classification model attains 81.7 % accuracy, ensuring a trustworthy risk assessment system. The proposed method could significantly improve risk analysis efficiency, foster sustainable procurement, and elevate enterprise competitiveness in sustainable business practices.

Straw from Different Crop Species Recruits Different Communities of Lignocellulose-Degrading Microorganisms in Black Soil.

The biological degradation of plant residues in the soil or on the soil surface is an integral part of the natural life cycle of annual plants and does not have adverse effects on the environment. Crop straw is characterized by a complex structure and exhibits stability and resistance to rapid microbial decomposition. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment to investigate the dynamic succession of the soil microbial community and the functional characteristics associated with lignocellulose-degrading pathways. Additionally, we aimed to identify lignocellulose-degrading microorganisms from the straw of three crop species prevalent in Northeast China: soybean (Glycine max Merr.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), and maize (Zea mays L.). Our findings revealed that both the type of straw and the degradation time influenced the bacterial and fungal community structure and composition. Metagenome sequencing results demonstrated that during degradation, different straw types assembled carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and KEGG pathways in distinct manners, contributing to lignocellulose and hemicellulose degradation. Furthermore, isolation of lignocellulose-degrading microbes yielded 59 bacterial and 14 fungal strains contributing to straw degradation, with fungi generally exhibiting superior lignocellulose-degrading enzyme production compared to bacteria. Experiments were conducted to assess the potential synergistic effects of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) comprising both fungi and bacteria. These SynComs resulted in a straw weight loss of 42% at 15 days post-inoculation, representing a 22% increase compared to conditions without any SynComs. In summary, our study provides novel ecological insights into crop straw degradation by microbes.

The ornamentation steps of the Bull Rotunda of the Lascaux cave give new insights into the Upper Palaeolithic natural life cycle

AbstractAlthough the ornamentation of the Lascaux cave seems relatively homogeneous in style, the analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy of 32 microsamples from the figures of the Hall of the Bulls (Bull Rotunda) and one desquamated sample from the soil highlighted different paint pots. The black and red paint matters with their associated mineralogical phases were extensively characterized. Considering previous stylistic and superimposition studies, we were eventually able to confirm five creation steps of monothematic figures (‘assemblages’) based on the chemical and mineralogical characteristics. Further interpretations in terms of the rhythm and temporal framework of the Hall of the Bulls (Bull Rotunda) of the Lascaux cave could be reinforced. Some particular representations such as the black cave bear and one of the cross‐shaped signs were shown to be likely added at later moments by different hands because their paint pots were different from those of the Bull Rotunda and similar to that of other representations in deeper rooms of the Lascaux cave. We also found that the paint matter of the Bull Rotunda was different than those of other Palaeolithic cave sites on a more regional scale indicating a very local sourcing.

Optimizing tick artificial membrane feeding for Ixodes scapularis

Artificial membrane feeding (AMF) is a powerful and versatile technique with a wide range of applications in the study of disease vectors species. Since its first description, AMF has been under constant optimization and standardization for different tick species and life stages. In the USA, Ixodes scapularis is the main vector of tick-borne zoonoses including the pathogens causing Lyme disease in humans and animals. Seeking to improve the overall fitness of I. scapularis adult females fed artificially, here, we have optimized the AMF technique, considerably enhancing attachment rate, engorgement success, egg laying, and egg hatching compared to those described in previous studies. Parameters such as the membrane thickness and the light/dark cycle to which the ticks were exposed were refined to more closely reflect the tick’s natural behavior and life cycle. Additionally, ticks were fed on blood only, blood + ATP or blood + ATP + gentamicin. The artificial feeding of ticks on blood only was successful and generated a progeny capable of feeding naturally on a host, i.e., mice. Adding ATP as a feeding stimulant did not improve tick attachment or engorgement. Notably, the administration of gentamicin, an antibiotic commonly used in tick AMF to prevent microbial contamination, negatively impacted Rickettsia buchneri endosymbiont levels in the progeny of artificially fed ticks. In addition, gentamicin-fed ticks showed a reduction in oviposition success compared to ticks artificially fed on blood only, discouraging the use of antibiotics in AMF. Overall, our data suggest that the AMF of adult females on blood only, in association with the natural feeding of their progeny on mice, might be used as an integrated approach in tick rearing, eliminating the use of protected species under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Of note, although optimized for I. scapularis adult ticks, I. scapularis nymphs, other tick species, and sand flies could also be fed using the membrane described in this study, indicating that it might be a suitable alternative for the artificial feeding of a variety of hematophagous species.

Novel intelligent Bayesian computing networks for predictive solutions of nonlinear multi-delayed tumor oncolytic virotherapy systems

Oncolytic viral immunotherapy is gaining considerable prominence in the realm of chronic diseases treatment and rehabilitation. Oncolytic viral therapy is an intriguing therapeutic approach due to its low toxicity and dual function of immune stimulations. This work aims to design a soft computing approach using stupendous knacks of neural networks (NNs) optimized with Bayesian regularization (BR), i.e. NNs-BR, procedure. The constructed NNs-BR technique is exploited in order to determine the approximate numerical treatment of the nonlinear multi-delayed tumor virotherapy (TVT) models in terms of the dynamic interactions between the tumor cells free of viruses, tumor cells infected by viruses, viruses, and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). The strength of state-of-the-art numerical approach is incorporated to develop the reference dataset for the variation in the infection rate for tumor cells, virus-free tumor cell clearance rate by CTLs, CTLs clearance rate for infectious tumor cells, the natural lifecycle of infectious tumor cells, the natural lifecycle of viral cell, the natural lifecycle of CTLs cells, tumor cells free of viruses’ maximum proliferation rate, production of tumor cells with an infection, CTLs simulated ratio for infectious tumor cells, CTLs simulated ratios for virus-free cells and delay in time. The dataset is randomly chosen/segmented for training-testing-validation samples to construct the NNs models optimized with backpropagated BR representing the approximate numerical solutions of the dynamic interactions in the TVT model. The performance of the designed NNs-BR technique is accessed/evaluated and outcomes are found in good agreement with the reference solutions having the range of accuracy from 10[Formula: see text] to 10[Formula: see text]. The efficacy of NNs-BR paradigm is further substantiated after rigorous analysis on regression metrics, learning curves on MSE, and error histograms for the dynamics of TVT model.

The ‘Z-Free’ Home: A Circular Thinking and Eco-Cycle Design Practice

In recent years, the need for affordable sustainable housing has increased. At the same time, there has been a gradual rising interest in compact living. With the mounting impacts of climate change, a new way of thinking is needed to develop more resilient and climate responsive ways of living that are compact, affordable, and climate-conscious. In response to this need, the idea of a ‘Z-Free Home’ was born. The ‘Z-Free Home’ is a tiny mobile house equipped with essential passive and eco-cycle systems that achieves nine zero targets. The main design and construction concept is based on circular design and a return to nature life cycle principles. In this paper, the architectural design concept, building energy modelling, and simulation for the Z-Free Home design proposal is discussed. This paper describes the concept design and design development phases together with building modelling and simulation. A focus was made on the use of virtual reality in design development assessment as a new method for evaluating passive and eco-cycle systems. The results show that it’s possible to achieve nine different zero goals while the analysis illustrates the challenges in achieving them. The paper also described the next steps planned for the proof of concept, i.e., the 1:1 house model. The project is ongoing, and it aims at a full-scale physical prototype as a proof of concept for the zero targets. The ‘Z-Free Home’ is designed for the cold Swedish climate but could be more widely applicable in other mild climates as well as hot climates.