Response Of System Research Articles

Sustaining progress towards universal health coverage amidst a full-scale war: learning from Ukraine.

In the aftermath of Russia's military response to the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, the government of Ukraine implemented a package of health financing reforms underpinned by universal health coverage (UHC) principles. By the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the new systems and institutions envisaged in the reforms were largely established. In this Commentary article, we explain how these attributes strengthened the Ukrainian health system's response to the impacts of the war. Ukraine's experience highlights the role that health financing arrangements, designed in accordance with UHC principles, can play in strengthening health system resilience.

Zinc-finger CCHC-type containing protein 8 promotes RNA virus replication by suppressing the type-I interferon responses.

Host cells have evolved an intricate regulatory network to fine tune the type-I interferon responses. However, the full picture of this regulatory network remains to be depicted. In this study, we found that knock out of zinc-finger CCHC-type containing protein 8 (ZCCHC8) impairs the replication of influenza A virus (IAV), Sendai virus (Sev), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Further investigation unveiled that ZCCHC8 suppresses the type-I interferon responses by targeting the interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling pathway. Mechanistically, ZCCHC8 associates with phosphorylated IRF3 and disrupts the interaction of IRF3 with the co-activator CREB-binding protein (CBP). Additionally, the direct binding of ZCCHC8 with the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) impairs the ISRE-binding of IRF3. Our study contributes to the comprehensive understanding for the negative regulatory network of the type-I interferon responses and provides valuable insights for the control of multiple viruses from a host-centric perspective.IMPORTANCEThe innate immune responses serve as the initial line of defense against invading pathogens and harmful substances. Negative regulation of the innate immune responses plays an essential role in avoiding auto-immune diseases and over-activated immune responses. Hence, the comprehensive understanding of the negative regulation network for innate immune responses could provide novel therapeutic insights for the control of viral infections and immune dysfunction. In this study, we report that ZCCHC8 negatively regulates the type-I interferon responses. We illustrate that ZCCHC8 impedes the IRF3-CBP association by interacting with phosphorylated IRF3 and competes with IRF3 for binding to ISRE. Our study demonstrates the role of ZCCHC8 in the replication of multiple RNA viruses and contributes to a deeper understanding of the negative regulation system for the type-I interferon responses.

Exploring healthcare professionals' perspectives on neglected tropical diseases in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study with a focus on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis, continue to impose a heavy burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, despite being preventable. Integration of NTD management into primary healthcare has been inadequate. While researchers have explored community perspectives, there is a notable gap in understanding the viewpoints of healthcare workers (HCW), which is crucial for effective NTD control strategies. This study explores HCW' perspectives in Eastern Uganda, highlighting challenges in schistosomiasis and STH prevention and management. In this qualitative descriptive study, we conducted semistructured interviews with 10 key informants who were HCW in Eastern Uganda with experience in managing STHs and schistosomiasis. Participants were selected purposively and interviewed through Zoom guided by a comprehensive interview guide. The data were transcribed, coded and analyzed thematically. We identified five key themes regarding the impact and management of NTDs: (i) the burden of NTDs, where schistosomiasis and STHs were notably prevalent among children and communities adjacent to water bodies; (ii) transmission of NTDs, emphasizing water bodies and poor sanitation as primary routes of disease spread; (iii) clinical manifestations of NTDs, detailing the symptomatic presentations that complicate diagnosis and management; (iv) challenges in managing and diagnosing NTDs, highlighting the shortages of essential medications and diagnostic tools, along with the under-prioritization of NTDs within healthcare systems; and (v) fatalities and complications arising from NTDs, reporting on the severe outcomes and under-reporting of deaths associated with NTDs due to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and traditional healing preferences. The interviewed Ugandan HCW demonstrated sufficient knowledge of schistosomiasis and STHs, but faced challenges due to inadequate diagnostic tools and medication shortages. The study underscores the need for NTD prioritization with direct funding and government involvement, alongside strategies that integrate continuous medical training, effective community outreach and an enhanced healthcare system response to reduce the burden of NTDs.

Programming of a Portable Digital Monitoring System-Integrated DNA Aptamer Reversely Regulated Oxidase-Like Nanozyme for Real-Time Dynamic Analysis of Atmospheric Perfluorooctanoic Acid.

Timely and efficient analysis of the fluorinated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in an atmospheric environment is critical to environmental pollution traceability, early warnings, and governance. Here, a portable, reliable, and intelligent digital monitoring device for onsite real-time dynamic analysis of atmospheric perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is proposed. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the oxidase-like activity of PtCoNPs@g-C3N4 that is reversely regulated by the surface modification of a PFOA-recognizable DNA aptamer, engineering a PFOA-activated oxidase-like activity of nanozyme (Apt-PtCoNPs@g-C3N4) to combine the nonfluorescence o-phenylenediamine (OPD) as the dual-modality response system. The present PFOA interacts with its DNA aptamer and dissociates from the surface of Apt-PtCoNPs@g-C3N4, restoring the oxidase-like activity of PtCoNPs@g-C3N4 to oxidize OPD into yellow fluorescence 2,3-diphenylaniline (DAP), thereby observing a PFOA-triggered colorimetric as well as fluorescence dual-modality change. Then, a hydrogel kit-programmed Apt-PtCoNPs@g-C3N4 + OPD system is used as the sensitive element to incorporate into this homemade portable device, automatically gathering and processing the PFOA-triggered hydrogel colorimetric and fluorescence image gray values by our self-weaving software, ultimately realizing the onsite real-time dynamic analysis of atmospheric PFOA surrounding a fluorochemical production plant. This work provides a direction and theoretical foundation for designing portable onsite screening devices that cater to other atmospheric contaminants detection requirements.

Evaluating variability in rhythmic gymnastics

Recent research suggests that variability enhances motor control, learning, and adaptation by improving the system's response to environmental demands. It also develops the cognitive and executive functions of athletes. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the variability of the split leap in rhythmic gymnastics, performed with and without ribbon handling, analysing in which of the two techniques there is greater variability. The sample consists of six competitive gymnasts with an average age of 15.1 years (±0.94). The acquisitions were carried out with the BTS Bioengineering integrated multifactorial optoelectronic system, using fifteen passive markers, six BTS Smart-DX cameras, two cameras for video support and seven BTS-6000 force platforms. The results show that the coefficient of variation (CV%) in trials performed with ribbon is higher than those without the apparatus. Cohen's Effect Size revealed a small effect size between trials with ribbon and those without. Despite being minimal, this difference emphasizes the presence of variability in jumps executed with ribbon in comparison to free body trials. In conclusion, this study explored both intrinsic (CV%) and extrinsic (task complexity, technical experience) factors of jump performance, highlighting the utility of gold standard motion analysis systems for researching executive variability in rhythmic gymnastics jumps.

Hierarchical Bayesian modeling for calibration and uncertainty quantification of constitutive material models: Application to a uniaxial steel material model

Constitutive material models play an integral role in finite element (FE) modeling of structural components and systems and are governed by a set of parameters. The values of the material model parameters are important for the FE model to be able to predict the real structural behavior as closely as possible. Realistic cyclic material constitutive models well calibrated to experimental data are critical when predicting the nonlinear dynamic response of structural systems to extreme loads (e.g., earthquakes, high winds, blast). Hence, this study focuses on the inference and uncertainty quantification of material model parameters from an experimental dataset consisting of data from experiments on multiple specimens of the same kind, which is a topic of great interest to the structural modeling and simulation community. Traditionally, Bayesian inference is performed by pooling the data from all the specimens, or by considering the data from a single specimen, disregarding the inherent variability (aleatory uncertainty) among specimens of the same kind. Consequently, traditional approaches fail to capture the population distribution of material model parameters, which represents the aleatory specimen-to-specimen variability that is essential for conducting reliability analysis and uncertainty propagation studies. Moreover, these approaches cannot accurately simulate the response of new specimens. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a novel application of hierarchical Bayesian inference for calibrating material model parameters. By simultaneously considering experimental data from multiple specimens of the same kind, hierarchical Bayesian modeling quantifies both epistemic uncertainty and aleatory specimen-to-specimen variability. In this study, the parameters of the well-known Giuffré-Menegotto-Pinto (GMP) uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel are calibrated and validated based on a dataset of experimental cyclic tests conducted on thirty-six steel specimens, or coupons, originating from three different manufacturing mills, complying to two different manufacturing standards, and subjected to different strain histories. These strain histories are similar to those experienced during seismic events by reinforcing steel bars within reinforced concrete structures. The material model parameters are calibrated using both the traditional and the hierarchical Bayesian approach and the results are compared. Based on the experimental dataset employed in this study, a joint probability distribution of the GMP material model parameters that quantifies both epistemic (due to finite sample size) and aleatory (coupon-to-coupon) variability or uncertainty is provided which can be used for uncertainty propagation in reliability and risk analyses of nonlinear dynamic systems.

Rheological behavior and solution pH response properties of nanoparticle-regulated low surface tension systems.

Regarding the rheological properties of fluids, certain nanoparticles can markedly modify the rheological behavior of low surface tension solutions by interacting with surfactant molecules. In this work, a low surface tension fluid with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride was prepared, and the silica nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed into it by ultrasonic dispersion. By adjusting the size, shape, and concentration of nanoparticles, the fluid behavior can be changed from Newtonian to non-Newtonian with finely tuned viscosity and characterized by a shear-thinning rheological behavior. In addition, this work explored how variations in environmental temperature and solution pH affect the rheological responses of the low surface tension suspension system. The experimental findings revealed that increasing the temperature substantially decreases the system's viscosity and induces a shear-thickening behavior. It is particularly significant that, under extreme pH conditions (either strongly acidic or alkaline), the viscosity of the nanoparticle suspensions was markedly enhanced at a particle concentration of 10 000 ppm. This interesting result coincided with a notable reduction in the zeta potential and an increase in the average particle size, suggesting an intensified aggregation of particles within the suspension system. A mechanism detailing the interaction between silica nanoparticles and surfactant micelles was proposed. This work indicates that the incorporation of nanoparticles into surfactant solutions offers a powerful approach to modulating fluid rheology across various conditions.

Extended Modified Bridge System (EMBS) method for decoupling seismic vehicle‐bridge interaction

AbstractSeismic vehicle‐bridge interaction (SVBI) is the study of vehicle‐bridge interaction (VBI) in the presence of earthquake excitation. SVBI is an interdisciplinary problem of increasing importance to the design and safety of railways. This study deploys a consistent methodology to decouple the vehicle‐bridge system and solve independently the bridge and vehicle subsystems, bypassing multiple challenges the seismic response analysis of a coupled vehicle‐bridge system entails. The proposed approach builds upon the previously established Extended Modified Bridge System (EMBS) method for decoupling vehicle‐bridge systems (in the absence of earthquake excitation). Its premise is to first characterize and then assess the relative importance of the VBI effect on the bridge and vehicle responses and replicate it by modifying the pertinent uncoupled equations of motion (EOMs). The formulation deployed accommodates multi‐degree of freedom models for both the vehicle and bridge and can thus tackle complex systems. The analysis examines the ability of the proposed decoupling approach to predict the response of a realistic system vehicle‐bridge system under a suit of historical earthquake records. The decoupled results are in excellent agreement with the coupled solutions for all earthquake records and scenarios (i.e., earthquake excitation solely in the transverse direction of the bridge, as well as in both the transverse and vertical directions simultaneously).

Corrections to Diffusion in Interacting Quantum Systems

The approach to equilibrium in interacting classical and quantum systems is a challenging problem of both theoretical and experimental interest. One useful organizing principle characterizing equilibration is the dissipative universality class, the most prevalent one being diffusion. In this paper, we use the effective field theory (EFT) of diffusion to systematically obtain universal power-law corrections to diffusion. We then employ large-scale simulations of classical and quantum systems to explore their validity. In particular, we find universal scaling functions for the corrections to the dynamical structure factor ⟨n(x,t)n⟩, in the presence of a single U(1) or SU(2) charge in systems with and without particle-hole symmetry, and present the framework to generalize the calculation to multiple charges. Classical simulations show remarkable agreement with EFT predictions for subleading corrections, pushing precision tests of effective theories for thermalizing systems to an unprecedented level. Moving to quantum systems, we perform large-scale tensor-network simulations in unitary and noisy 1D Floquet systems with conserved magnetization. We find a qualitative agreement with EFT, which becomes quantitative in the case of noisy systems. Additionally, we show how the knowledge of EFT corrections allows for fitting methods, which can improve the estimation of transport parameters at the intermediate times accessible by simulations and experiments. Finally, we explore nonlinear response in quantum systems and find that EFT provides an accurate prediction for its behavior. Our results provide a basis for a better understanding of the nonlinear phenomena present in thermalizing systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Chemerin affects the cytokine production and the expression of their receptors in the porcine endometrium during early pregnancy and the estrous cycle: an in vitro study.

Interactions between female metabolic status, immune response, and reproductive system functioning are complex and not fully understood. We hypothesized that chemerin, considered a hormonal link between the above-mentioned processes, influences endometrial functions, particularly cytokine secretion and signalling. Using porcine endometrial explants collected during early pregnancy and the estrous cycle, we investigated chemerin effects on the secretion of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), and protein abundances of their respective receptors. Our results demonstrate chemerin modulation of cytokine secretion and receptor expression, with effects dependent on the stage of pregnancy and dose of chemerin. Furthermore, chemerin influences the phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinase/Jun-amino-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κβ) in the endometrium. Chemerin multifaceted actions, such as involvement in immune response, cell proliferation, and tissue remodelling seem to be mediated by cytokines, at least in the endometrium. These findings underscore the potential crosstalk between chemerin and hormonal signalling pathways, providing insights into the complex mechanisms underlying early pregnancy establishment and maintenance.

Experimental, theoretical and optimization studies on multimode vibration reduction of floating raft system based on NES cells

Most of the studies on multimode vibration reduction of floating raft systems remain at the stage of theoretical analysis, while relevant experimental studies are rare. In this paper, an experimental setup for a scaled-down floating raft system is constructed. The vertical track nonlinear energy sink (TNES) cells are experimentally applied for the first time to suppress the multimode vibration of the floating raft system. To ensure the damping effect is not affected by additional mass, the TNES cells are always installed on the floating raft system. The TNES is able to achieve vibration suppression by allowing unrestricted movement of its vibrator. Two damping systems with different TNESs placement are proposed. Experimental modal analysis is performed on the floating raft structure to determine its response characteristics. Based on the results, different magnitudes of excitation force are applied to each order mode to effectively suppress the multimode vibration of the system. Meanwhile, the nonlinear system coupled with TNES cells is analyzed using the harmonic balance method (HBM) to obtain the approximate analytical solution. The system responses obtained from the analytical solution are compared with the experimental data results. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to obtain the optimal parameters of the TNESs for vibration suppression. The results show that the multimodal vibration of the floating raft structure is effectively suppressed by the TNES cells in both experimental and theoretical analyses. The vibration suppression effect for all modes is significantly improved by the PSO algorithm. In conclusion, the research content of this paper provides a practical and feasible vibration suppression solution for the design of floating raft systems.

AI-Driven Threat Detection and Response Systems for Secure National Infrastructure Networks: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: Due to the increased complexity and damage of cyberattacks in this digital age, the security of national infrastructure networks has become a vital concern. However, a possible approach to improve the cybersecurity of these crucial networks is to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into threat detection and response systems; to rapidly evaluate large data sets, identify anomalies, and automate countermeasures to lessen the effects of cyberattacks. The impact, implementation and approaches for anomaly detection and response automation of AI-powered solutions for safeguarding national infrastructure are examined in this paper. Understanding how AI technologies are used to automate threat detection and response, reviewing the operational usefulness of AI in enhancing cybersecurity measures and evaluating the deployment of these systems in critical infrastructure settings were also examined. The study revealed that the speed and accuracy of threat detection and response are greatly increased by AI-powered systems. The automation capacity of AI can potentially reduce the need for human analysts, while also providing faster threat mitigation. Additionally, the usefulness of AI across sectors indicates its practicality in situations and how it may adapt in response to new threats. In conclusion, AI-driven threat detection and response systems are an important development in national infrastructure network cybersecurity. Therefore, by improving the capacity to recognize and address cyber-attacks these technologies can ultimately increase the overall resilience of national infrastructures.

Embedded Hybrid-Dimensional Heterointerface for Filament Modulation in 2D Material-Based Artificial Nociceptor.

Nociceptors are key sensory receptors that transmit warning signals to the central nervous system in response to painful stimuli. This fundamental process is emulated in an electronic device by developing a novel artificial nociceptor with an ultrathin, nonstoichiometric gallium oxide (GaOx)-silicon oxide heterostructure. A large-area 2D-GaOx film is printed on a substrate through liquid metal printing to facilitate the production of conductive filaments. This nociceptive structure exhibits a unique short-term temporal response following stimulation, enabling a facile demonstration of threshold-switching physics. The developed heterointerface 2D-GaOx film enables the fabrication of fast-switching, low-energy, and compliance-free 2D-GaOx nociceptors, as confirmed through experiments. The accumulation and extrusion of Ag in the oxide matrix are significant for inducing plastic changes in artificial biological sensors. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy demonstrate that Ag clusters in the material dispersed under electrical bias and regrouped spontaneously when the bias is removed owing to interfacial energy minimization. Moreover, 2D nociceptors are stable; thus, heterointerface engineering can enable effective control of charge transfer in 2D heterostructural devices. Furthermore, the diffusive 2D-GaOx device and its Ag dynamics enable the direct emulation of biological nociceptors, marking an advancement in the hardware implementation of artificial human sensory systems.

Pakistan’s national COVID-19 response: lessons from an emergent response to the pandemic

IntroductionIn 2020, Pakistan faced the formidable challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic with an existing yet disjointed healthcare infrastructure, that included by over 18,000 public and an estimated 75,000 private health facilities and some elements of an epidemic surveillance and response system. This descriptive study examines how Pakistan developed a COVID-19 response, driven by establishing a central coordination and decision-making mechanism to overcome these systemic challenges.MethodsThe study is based on interviews and interactions of the many actors in the response by the authors, who also participated in nearly all proceedings of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and many of the National Coordination Committee (NCC). This information is supplemented by reviewing documents, reports, news items, media and social media, and journal articles.ResultsThe study highlights the critical role of political arrangement, where the NCC, comprising of ministers, bureaucrats, and military personnel, facilitated federal and provincial integration. The NCC found resources and set policy. Its direction was implemented by the NCOC, a top-down yet inclusive platform, integrated political, military, and civil society actors, to ensure cohesive decision-making and implementation. It provided technical guidance, harnessed data for strategic decisions and held implementers accountable. At its peak, the NCOC boasted nearly 300 personnel, including high-ranking military officers, a stark contrast to the limited staffing in most ministries. In addition, the response’s success is attributed to the perception of COVID-19 as an existential threat, leading to unprecedented collaboration and decisive actions that were enforced authoritatively.ConclusionPakistan’s experience offers valuable insights for proactive management of health emergencies in resource-limited settings. It underscores the necessity for inter-sectoral dialog and data-driven policy implementation, especially in the context of political economies where activity-driven governance often overshadows objective-driven policy execution. However, the lessons from the COVID-19 response, including a blueprint for future epidemic responses and lessons for use of data and evidence in developing country health systems, if not institutionalized, risk being lost in the post-pandemic era.

Ensuring quality higher education in Ukraine in times of war

This study focuses on exploring the issue of ensuring quality higher education in the conditions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It synthesizes and analyzes literature sources, legal documents, secondary data, original (survey) data, and the author’s experiences with enhancing the quality of higher education. Using analysis of the legal documents, such as the National Doctrine of the Development of Education, the Law of Ukraine ‘On education’, and the Law of Ukraine ‘On higher education’, I study the legal framework for Ukrainian higher education. Using secondary data obtained from online sources, I find irrefutable evidence of mass destruction from Russian military aggression on educational institutions of Ukraine and the educational process in general, and specific initiatives from the Ukrainian state, Ukrainian universities, and international institutions to support the Ukrainian higher education system in wartime conditions. Using original data collected through surveys, I present first-hand information on the processes of changes in higher education in Ukraine under the conditions of Russia’s ongoing military aggression and the issue of ensuring quality higher education through the prism of the experience of students at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Using the author’s personal teaching experience in the implementation of joint global classrooms, I analyze the possibilities of developed partnerships for motivating students and ensuring quality higher education in the conditions of war. Based on the analysis and synthesis of secondary data, I identify the main responses of the higher education system of Ukraine which enable it to maintain the quality of higher education as the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals during the war, namely (i) improvement and wider implementation of an online education system; (ii) organization of work of higher education institutions relocated from the occupied territories to territories controlled by Ukraine; (iii) support of international institutions; and (iv) partnership programmes with partner universities. The analysis of the results of the survey of students highlighted that the top priority of a Ukrainian university during wartime should be the safety of all participants in the educational and research process and high-quality education, and the most serious problems that create obstacles to ensuring the quality of education are the distressed psychological states of the participants in the educational process and organizational issues in the conditions of military aggression. By analyzing the experience of the implementation of joint global classrooms format, I also highlight that this format can be an effective additional measure in motivating students and ensuring the quality of higher education in the difficult conditions of war, and a developed partnership plays a crucial role in its implementation.

Dynamic characteristics of nonlinear vibration isolator for gas turbine

AbstractIn this study, a theoretical model of the vibration isolation system of the gas turbine is developed and numerically solved. A simplified finite element (FE) model was also established to determine the response under the shock load. The results of the FE model are used to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical model and the numerical solution. The influence of isolator stiffness, vibration isolator damping, and vibration isolator nonlinear stiffness coefficient on the shock response of the vibration isolation system is studied using the controlled‐variable method. These parameters (stiffness, damping, and nonlinear coefficient) enter into the shock resistance design of gas turbine vibration isolators.

High Thermal Conductive Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanofibers.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), consisting of polymer networks and liquid crystal mesogens, show a reversible phase change under thermal stimuli. However, the kinetic performance is limited by the inherently low thermal conductivity of the polymers. Transforming amorphous bulk into a fiber enhances thermal conductivity through the alignment of polymer chains. Challenges are present due to their rigid networks, while cross-links are crucial for deformation. Here, we employ hydrodynamic alignment to orient the LCE domains assisted by controlled in situ cross-linking and to remarkably reduce the diameter to submicrons. We report that the intrinsic thermal conductivity of LCE fibers at room temperature reaches 1.44 ± 0.32 W/m-K with the sub-100 nm diameter close to the upper limit determined in the quasi-1D regime. Combining the outstanding thermal conductivity and thin diameters, we anticipate these fibers to exhibit a rapid response and high force output in thermomechanical systems. The fabrication method is expected to apply to other cross-linked polymers.

Biodegradable silica gated poly (methylacrylate acid) core-shell microspheres for pH and glutathione dual responsive drug delivery

Tumor microenvironment responsive drug delivery system presents great potential in tumor-targeted drug delivery. In this study, a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated biodegradable core-shell microsphere PMAA@DOX-SiO2-PEG with a poly (methylacrylate acid) (PMAA) core and a biodegradable silica layer was prepared. Doxorubicin (DOX) was effectively loaded into the PMAA core and sealed by the silica layer with a drug loading efficiency of 15.3 %. The PEG-modified drug-loaded microspheres present high stability at simulated physiological media with minimized drug leakage (8 %, 56 h), while 80 % drug could be released within 10 h at simulated tumor environment due to the effective carrier degradation. In vitro cell experiments also confirm the good biocompatibility of the blank carrier and the effective tumor inhibition of the drug-loaded microspheres. The study is expected to further promote the development of tumor microenvironment-responsive drug delivery systems.

Comparison between Genetic Algorithms of Proportional–Integral–Derivative and Linear Quadratic Regulator Controllers, and Fuzzy Logic Controllers for Cruise Control System

One of the most significant and widely used features currently in autonomous vehicles is the cruise control system that not only deals with constant vehicle velocities but also aims to optimize the safety and comfortability of drivers and passengers. The accuracy and precision of system responses are responsible for cruise control system efficiency via control techniques and algorithms. This study presents the dynamic cruise control system model, then investigates a genetic algorithm of the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller with the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) based on four fitness functions, the mean squared error (MSE), the integral squared error (ISE), the integral time squared error (ITSE) and the integral time absolute error (ITAE). Then, the response of the two controllers, PID and LQR, with the genetic algorithm was compared to the response performance of the fuzzy and fuzzy integral (Fuzzy-I) controllers. The MATLAB 2024a program simulation was employed to represent the system time response of each proposed controller. The output simulation of these controllers shows that the type of system stability response was related to the type of controller implemented. The results show that the Fuzzy-I controller outperforms the other proposed controllers according to the least Jmin function, which represents the minimum summation of the overshoot, settling time, and steady-state error of the cruise control system. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of driving accuracy, safety, and comfortability during acceleration and deceleration due to the smoothness and stability of the Fuzzy-I controller with a settling time of 5.232 s and when converging the steady-state error to zero.

Educational paradigm shift: Long-term ramifications of COVID-19 in the Indian context

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a significant transformation in the global educational landscape, which has far-reaching implications for learning systems. This study focuses on the impact of the pandemic on India’s education sector, exploring its long-term consequences. The research delves into the enduring effects of COVID-19 and how it has reshaped traditional educational methods. The Indian education system has undergone a dynamic evolution, from the rapid integration of digital technologies to the redefinition of pedagogical approaches. The study employs surveys to comprehensively assess the multifaceted dimensions of adaptation. By synthesizing qualitative insights from 386 respondents, the research aims to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and long-term implications of COVID-19. The hypothesis results show a significant difference among genders for factors 2 (consequences of COVID-19 on teachers, students, and teaching), 3 (impact of COVID-19 on education), and 4 (education system responses to COVID-19). In contrast, factor 3 is significant for education. Likewise, awareness factors 1 and 3 show that factors 1 (policies and strategies on education during COVID-19) and 5 (possible solutions and implementation) are significant for an application. Finally, binary logistic regression demonstrates that for gender factors three, education factors four, and five, online participation is significant for awareness factors one, three, and four. However, all of the factors are insignificant for an application. These findings can guide policy decisions, inform educational practices, and lay a valuable foundation for future research endeavours to shape a resilient, equitable, and innovative educational future.