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Abstract In this paper, a novel hybrid sine-cosine and spotted Hyena-based chimp optimization algorithm (hybrid SSC) is adopted for the precise tuning of proportional-integral (PI) controllers in a microgrid system. The microgrid integrates multiple renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines, a fuel cell, and a battery storage system, all connected to a common DC bus. This DC bus interfaces with the main grid through a voltage source converter (VSC). The microgrid comprises a total of eight PI controllers distributed across various components: the boost converter in the wind system, the fuel cell system, the battery energy storage device, and the VSC controller. The hybrid SSC optimization algorithm effectively combines the exploration capabilities of the sine-cosine algorithm (SCA) with the exploitation strengths of the spotted Hyena optimizer (SHO) and Chimp optimization algorithm (ChOA), aiming to achieve optimal tuning of the PI controllers. This hybrid approach ensures an enhanced dynamic response and overall system performance by minimizing the integral of the time-weighted squared error (ITSE) for each controller. The simulation results, directed in a MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, demonstrate the efficacy of the hybrid SSC algorithm in improving the stability, response time and efficacy of the microgrid. The proposed technique significantly outperforms traditional tuning techniques, ensuring robust operation and seamless addition of renewable energy sources with the main grid. This study contributes to the advancement of intelligent control strategies for modern microgrids, emphasizing the importance of hybrid optimization algorithms in achieving optimal performance in complex energy systems.

FCM is a new approach to lesson delivery in most of the developing world, and neither the (higher education) system, nor the teachers and learners are prepared and well-equipped to handle the demands of the approach. The present study was conducted to document the challenges before teachers implementing FCM in EFL/ESL classrooms. The study was conducted as an end-of-term survey using questionnaires and interview techniques for data collection. The questionnaire was comprised of statements on methods, materials, mode of delivery, and feedback to learners, while the semi-unstructured interviews were meant to gather a narrative account of teachers' experiences in implementing FCM approach to language teaching. 50 university teachers from Saudi Arabia were surveyed for the study. The obtained results present a picture of difficulties before ESL teachers in implementing FCM. The majority of the participants (mean=49.8) opine that they face one or the other challenge when they use FCM approach in ESL classrooms. Roughly one third (mean=31.6) of the participants expressed that they do not face any challenges in implementing FCM. In the semi-structured interview sessions, the teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the approach, and said they are generally ill-equipped to deliver lessons and address feedback issues effectively.

Listening and speaking are active language skills and need special attention in English language pedagogy, especially in ESL/EFL contexts. English in India is taught as a second language in almost all the states, and the secondary education boards stipulate the teaching of all the four language skills as the objective of teaching English, yet the teaching and assessment system is only read-write intensive, and the active language skills, i.e., listening and speaking, are neglected in teaching as well as in assessment. The present paper is the result of a survey of the language teaching objectives, learning outcomes and assessment policies of two secondary education boards in India to investigate whether there exists any divergence between the stated objectives regarding teaching English language skills, and the testing pattern followed. The findings of the study suggest that there exists a divergence between the objectives stated by state level secondary education boards and their assessment patterns set for the English language. The study recommends that there should be a uniform standard of teaching and assessment of English in secondary schools in India, and there should be more research studies on the potential negative impact of the neglect of teaching and assessment of active language skills.

BackgroundSalt sensitivity of blood pressure is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The exact mechanism by which salt intake increases blood pressure and cardiovascular risk is unknown. We previously found that sodium entry into antigen-presenting cells (APCs) via the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel EnaC (epithelial sodium channel) leads to the formation of IsoLGs (isolevuglandins) and release of proinflammatory cytokines to activate T cells and modulate salt-sensitive hypertension. In the current study, we hypothesized that ENaC-dependent entry of sodium into APCs activates the NLRP3 (NOD [nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain]-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome via IsoLG formation leading to salt-sensitive hypertension.MethodsWe performed RNA sequencing on human monocytes treated with elevated sodium in vitro and Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by Sequencing analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from participants rigorously phenotyped for salt sensitivity of blood pressure using an established inpatient protocol. To determine mechanisms, we analyzed inflammasome activation in mouse models of deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced hypertension as well as salt-sensitive mice with ENaC inhibition or expression, IsoLG scavenging, and adoptive transfer of wild-type dendritic cells into NLRP3 deficient mice.ResultsWe found that high levels of salt exposure upregulates the NLRP3 inflammasome, pyroptotic and apoptotic caspases, and IL (interleukin)-1β transcription in human monocytes. Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by Sequencing revealed that components of the NLRP3 inflammasome and activation marker IL-1β dynamically vary with changes in salt loading/depletion. Mechanistically, we found that sodium-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is ENaC and IsoLG dependent. NLRP3 deficient mice develop a blunted hypertensive response to elevated sodium, and this is restored by the adoptive transfer of NLRP3 replete APCs.ConclusionsThese findings reveal a mechanistic link between ENaC, inflammation, and salt-sensitive hypertension involving NLRP3 inflammasome activation in APCs. APC activation via the NLRP3 inflammasome can serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for salt sensitivity of blood pressure.

Objective: The present review article focuses on exploring the wide dimensions of barley including botanical description, nutritional composition, phytochemistry, experimental pharmacology, and clinical studies along with its traditional uses in Unani medicine. Background: Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) which is referred to as 'Jao' in the Unani system of medicine has a long history of utilization as a food and medicine. It belongs to family Poaceae and is considered as one of the founder crops of old-world agriculture. Methodology: A manual literature survey of classical Unani texts was conducted to collect the information available on 'Jao'. Besides, a comprehensive search of electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, was carried out to collect all the available information regarding its phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical studies. Result: In Unani medicine, barley is an important drug commonly used in many disorders of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, skin, etc. It is used to treat obesity, diabetes, headache, pain and inflammation of the throat, acute swelling of joints and gout, chronic swellings, diarrhoea, fever, skin eruptions, hyperpigmentation of the skin, etc. Recent studies revealed that barley constitutes beta-glucan and a myriad of bioactive compounds that play numerous biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anticancer, and wound healing activities. Conclusion: Barley is a potent drug that exhibits a wide range of health benefits, most of which have been confirmed via preclinical and clinical studies. This review may thus be helpful for the research community as well as common people to avail the benefits of this drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examine the effect of leadership and reward systems on employee engagement, focusing on the comparative context of organizational culture between public and private organizations in Zanzibar. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data was collected from employees across both sectors through surveys, interviews, and organizational documents. The study examines the relationship between leadership styles and reward systems and employee engagement levels. Additionally, it explores how organizational culture influences the effectiveness of these leadership and reward practices in fostering employee engagement. The findings shed light on the unique dynamics of public and private sector organizations in Zanzibar and provide insights into the mechanisms through which leadership styles and reward systems interact with organizational culture to impact employee engagement outcomes. The study offers implications for organizational leaders, policymakers, and future research directions in the field of employee engagement and organizational behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying acute changes in vascular endothelial cells in humans is challenging. We studied ten African American women and used the J‐wire technique to isolate vein endothelial cells before and after a four‐hour lipid and heparin infusion. Dynamic changes in lipid‐induced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured with fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. We used the surface markers CD31 and CD144 to identify human endothelial cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from blood were used as a negative control. The participants received galantamine (16 mg/day) for 3 months. We previously demonstrated that galantamine treatment effectively suppresses lipid‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, we infused lipids to evaluate its potential to increase the activation of endothelial cells, as assessed by the levels of CD54+ endothelial cells and expression of Growth arrest‐specific 6 compared to the baseline sample. Further, we aimed to investigate whether lipid infusion led to increased expression of the oxidative stress markers IsoLGs and nitrotyrosine in endothelial cells. This approach will expedite the in vivo identification of novel pathways linked with endothelial cell dysfunction induced by oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. This study describes an innovative method to harvest and study human endothelial cells and demonstrates the dynamic changes in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers release induced by lipid infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the oil industry, the processing of vacuum residue has an important economic and environmental benefit. This work aims to produce industrial petroleum coke with light fuel fractions (gasoline, kerosene , gas oil) as the main product and de asphalted oil (DAO) as a side production from treatment secondary product matter of vacuum residue. Vacuum residue was produced from the bottom of vacuum distillation unit of the crude oil. Experimentally, the study investigated the effect of the thermal conversion process on (vacuum residue) as a raw material at temperature reaches to 500 °C, pressure 20 atm. and residence time for about 3 hours. The first step of this treatment is constructing a carbon steel batch reactor its volume about 700 ml, occupied with auxiliary control devices, joined together with an atmospheric distillation unit. The amounts of light fuel fraction products are 2 vol. % for light gasoline, 4 vol. % for heavy gasoline 17 vol. % for kerosene and 24 vol. % for diesel oil. The second step was the treatment the residue matter from first step, in order to separate the petroleum coke matter from asphaltene matter by solvent deasphalting matter (propane) to prepare de asphalted oil (DAO). The amount of de asphalted oil is about 15 vol. %, leaving asphaltene with impurities to precipitate at the bottom of the reactor and these materials consist of the petroleum coke structure. The petroleum coke separate and calcined at approximately (1000 - 1100) °C, to eliminate the reminder of volatile matter from the industrial coke and reach to commercial property.

This work deals with the production of light fuel cuts of (gasoline, kerosene and gas oil) by catalytic cracking treatment of secondary product mater (heavy vacuum gas oil) which was produced from the vacuum distillation unit in any petroleum refinery. The objective of this research was to study the effect of the catalyst -to- oil ratio parameter on catalytic cracking process of heavy vacuum gas oil feed at constant temperature (450 °C). The first step of this treatment was, catalytic cracking of this material by constructed batch reactor occupied with auxiliary control devices, at selective range of the catalyst –to- oil ratio parameter ( 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5) respectively. The conversion of heavy vacuum gas oil which was obtained, reaches to (50, 70, 75 and 80) % for (2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 catalysts -to- oil ratio parameter respectively. The second step for this study was distillation of this cracking heavy vacuum gas oil liquid by atmospheric distillation device for these several catalyst -to- oil ratio parameter, according to obtained light fuel cuts (gasoline, kerosene and gas oil). The percentage volume of light fractions at various COR are (7, 25 and 18) for COR 2, (10, 20 and 40) for COR 2.5, (10, 30 and 35) for COR 3 and (15, 30 and 35) for COR 3.5 which separates according to its boiling point. The light cuts were distilled by atmospheric distillation device in order to obtained distillation curve. The third step was study the major physical and chemical properties for feed (heavy vacuum gas oil) and catalytic cracking liquid of HVGO at various COR with its light fuel fractions, the results refers to acceptable properties compared with other commercial properties.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a crucial role in regulating cellular growth and survival, and its dysregulation is implicated in various cancers, making it a prime target for cancer therapy. Natural compounds known as catechins have garnered attention as promising anticancer agents. These compounds exert their anticancer effects through diverse mechanisms, primarily by inhibiting receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), a protein family that includes the notable member EGFR. Catechins, characterized by two chiral centers and stereoisomerism, demonstrate variations in chemical and physical properties due to differences in the spatial orientation of atoms. Although previous studies have explored the membrane fluidity effects and transport across cellular membranes, the stereo-selectivity of catechins concerning EGFR kinase inhibition remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the stereo-selectivity of catechins in inhibiting EGFR kinase, both in its wild-type and in the prevalent L858R mutant. Computational analyses indicated that all stereoisomers, including the extensively studied catechin (-)-EGCG, effectively bound within the ATPbinding site, potentially inhibiting EGFR kinase activity. Notably, gallated catechins emerged as superior EGFR inhibitors to their non-gallated counterparts, revealing intriguing binding trends. The top four stereoisomers exhibiting high dock scores and binding energies with wild-type EGFR comprise (-)-CG (-)-GCG (+)-CG, and (-)-EGCG. To assess dynamic behavior and stability, molecular dynamics simulations over 100 ns were conducted for the top-ranked catechin (-)-CG and the widely investigated catechin (-)-EGCG with EGFR kinase. This study enhances our understanding of how the stereoisomeric nature of a drug influences inhibitory potential, providing insights that could guide the selection of specific stereoisomers for improved efficacy inexisting drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is one of the most toxic elements in the soil environment. Understanding of the arsenic adsorption chemistry is essential for evolving the extent of soil and groundwater contaminations. This research was conducted to determine the variation in adsorption behaviour of arsenite and arsenate with depth in different lithology soils. We sampled two parent materials at genetic horizons, and within a parent material, we selected two soils. Besides basic soil characterizations, a laboratory batch experiments were carried out to study the adsorption of arsenate and arsenite. Freundlich adsorption approaches were employed to investigate the adsorption of arsenate and arsenite in the soils. Freundlich isotherms fit arsenate and arsenite sorption data well with r2 values of 0.88–0.98 in most soils. Arsenate and arsenite adsorption varied with the soil properties, especially in clay composition and in the oxides of iron and aluminum. Arsenic adsorption parameters also varied with depth in parent materials, and loess derived soils had greater adsorption capacity as compared to alluvial soils in most of the adsorption parameters. This research concludes that the loess soils had higher arsenic adsorption capacity than the alluvial soils.