Optimization of Residential Load Consumption during Energy Peaks using Smart Metering

Abstract. Recently smart demand side management (DSM) is a very important tool that permits customers to take right decisions for their energy consumption and helps the energy utilities to decrease the over load demand and reshape the load curve. This paper proposes an optimized DSM technique based on smart metering uses different techniques such as load shifting and peak clipping to minimize domestic power consumption especially during load peaks. A new optimization technique (Bat Algorithm) is applied on proposed system and then compares results with other optimization techniques (Genetic Algorithm and Interior point Algorithm) to optimize the minimum consumption during peak hours according to load type. A control algorithm is applied to the proposed system to achieve the load shifting and load clipping according to the optimization results

Cognitive dysfunction among inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia : relationship to positive and negative symptoms

Background: Cognitive impairment is an established feature of schizophrenia and is a strong predictor of eventual social and functional outcome. Few studies have investigated cognitive impairment in hospital long-stay patients with schizophrenia. This study evaluates and compares cognitive function among a sample of patients with schizophrenia in both inpatient and outpatient departments in order to determine the relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical variables. A cross-sectional comparative study based on a semi-structured interview investigating 100 inpatients with schizophrenia recruited from El-Abassia Mental Health Hospital departments compared to 100 patients with schizophrenia selected from the outpatients’ clinic matched with cases. The assessment tools included SCID-I, the Adult Wechsler Intelligence Scale, the computerized version of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: Patients with schizophrenia showed significant deficits on cognitive function with no statistically significant difference between the inpatient and outpatient groups. Executive function was significantly correlated with verbal, non-verbal, and total IQ. Executive function was negatively correlated with the positive and general symptoms of PANSS and not correlated with its negative symptoms. In addition, we did not find any statistically significant relationship between cognitive functions and the duration of illness. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that institutionalization is not an influential factor on cognitive impairment patients with schizophrenia. However, the psychopathological aspects of the disorder are one of the crucial factors affecting the cognitive function in schizophrenia

A prospective dual-centre intra-individual controlled study for the treatment of burns comparing dermis graft with split-thickness skin auto-graft

Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).To investigate if donor and recipient site morbidity (healing time and cosmesis) could be reduced by a novel, modified split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) technique using a dermal component in the STSG procedure (DG). The STSG technique has been used for 150 years in surgery with limited improvements. Its drawbacks are well known and relate to donor site morbidity and recipient site cosmetic shortcomings (especially mesh patterns, wound contracture, and scarring). The Dermal graft technique (DG) has emerged as an interesting alternative, which reduces donor site morbidity, increases graft yield, and has the potential to avoid the mesh procedure in the STSG procedure due to its elastic properties. A prospective, dual-centre, intra-individual controlled comparison study. Twenty-one patients received both an unmeshed dermis graft and a regular 1:1.5 meshed STSG. Aesthetic and scar assessments were done using The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and a Cutometer Dual MPA 580 on both donor and recipient sites. These were also examined histologically for remodelling and scar formation. Dermal graft donor sites and the STSG donor sites healed in 8 and 14 days, respectively (p < 0.005). Patient-reported POSAS showed better values for colour for all three measurements, i.e., 3, 6, and 12 months, and the observers rated both vascularity and pigmentation better on these occasions (p < 0.01). At the recipient site, (n = 21) the mesh patterns were avoided as the DG covered the donor site due to its elastic properties and rendered the meshing procedure unnecessary. Scar formation was seen at the dermal donor and recipient sites after 6 months as in the standard scar healing process. The dermis graft technique, besides potentially rendering a larger graft yield, reduced donor site morbidity, as it healed faster than the standard STSG. Due to its elastic properties, the DG procedure eliminated the meshing requirement (when compared to a 1:1.5 meshed STSG). This promising outcome presented for the DG technique needs to be further explored, especially regarding the elasticity of the dermal graft and its ability to reduce mesh patterns. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT05189743) 12/01/2022.Peer reviewe

Biomaterials as a Vital Frontier for Stem Cell-Based Tissue Regeneration

Biomaterials and tissue regeneration represent two fields of intense research and rapid advancement. Their combination allowed the utilization of the different characteristics of biomaterials to enhance the expansion of stem cells or their differentiation into various lineages. Furthermore, the use of biomaterials in tissue regeneration would help in the creation of larger tissue constructs that can allow for significant clinical application. Several studies investigated the role of one or more biomaterial on stem cell characteristics or their differentiation potential into a certain target. In order to achieve real advancement in the field of stem cell-based tissue regeneration, a careful analysis of the currently published information is critically needed. This review describes the fundamental description of biomaterials as well as their classification according to their source, bioactivity and different biological effects. The effect of different biomaterials on stem cell expansion and differentiation into the primarily studied lineages was further discussed. In conclusion, biomaterials should be considered as an essential component of stem cell differentiation strategies. An intense investigation is still required. Establishing a consortium of stem cell biologists and biomaterial developers would help in a systematic development of this field

A Systematic Review of Keratinocyte Secretions : A Regenerative Perspective

Cell regenerative therapy is a modern solution for difficult-to-heal wounds. Keratinocytes, the most common cell type in the skin, are difficult to obtain without the creation of another wound. Stem cell differentiation towards keratinocytes is a challenging process, and it is difficult to reproduce in chemically defined media. Nevertheless, a co-culture of keratinocytes with stem cells usually achieves efficient differentiation. This systematic review aims to identify the secretions of normal human keratinocytes reported in the literature and correlate them with the differentiation process. An online search revealed 338 references, of which 100 met the selection criteria. A total of 80 different keratinocyte secretions were reported, which can be grouped mainly into cytokines, growth factors, and antimicrobial peptides. The growth-factor group mostly affects stem cell differentiation into keratinocytes, especially epidermal growth factor and members of the transforming growth factor family. Nevertheless, the reported secretions reflected the nature of the involved studies, as most of them focused on keratinocyte interaction with inflammation. This review highlights the secretory function of keratinocytes, as well as the need for intense investigation to characterize these secretions and evaluate their regenerative capacities.Funding Agencies|Centre for Advanced Medical Products, Sweden; Hand and Plastic Surgery Department, Linkoping University Hospital, Region Ostergotland, Sweden</p

Glycan Modifications as Regulators of Stem Cell Fate

Glycosylation is a process where proteins or lipids are modified with glycans. The presence of glycans determines the structure, stability, and localization of glycoproteins, thereby impacting various biological processes, including embryogenesis, intercellular communication, and disease progression. Glycans can influence stem cell behavior by modulating signaling molecules that govern the critical aspects of self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, being located at the cell surface, glycans are utilized as markers for stem cell pluripotency and differentiation state determination. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature, focusing on the effect of glycans on stem cells with a reflection on the application of synthetic glycans in directing stem cell differentiation. Additionally, this review will serve as a primer for researchers seeking a deeper understanding of how synthetic glycans can be used to control stem cell differentiation, which may help establish new approaches to guide stem cell differentiation into specific lineages. Ultimately, this knowledge can facilitate the identification of efficient strategies for advancing stem cell-based therapeutic interventions

Two faces of the coin: Minireview for dissecting the role of reactive oxygen species in stem cell potency and lineage commitment

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as by-products of several intracellular metabolic pathways and are reduced to more stable molecules by several protective pathways. The presence of high levels of ROS can be associated with disturbance of cell function and could lead to apoptosis. The presence of ROS within the physiological range has many effects on several signalling pathways. In stem cells, this role can range between keeping the potency of the naive stem cells to differentiation towards a certain lineage. In addition, the level of certain ROS would change according to the differentiation stage. For example, the presence of ROS can be associated with increasing the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells, decreasing the potency of embryonic stem cells and adding to the genomic stability of induced pluripotent stem cells. ROS can enhance the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes, adipocytes, endothelial cells, keratinocytes and neurons. In the meantime, ROS inhibits osteogenesis and enhances the differentiation of cartilage to the hypertrophic stage, which is associated with chondrocyte death. Thus, ROS may form a link between naïve stem cells in the body and the environment. In addition, monitoring of ROS levels in vitro may help in tissue regeneration studies. Keywords: Stem cells, Reactive oxygen species, Differentiation, Osteogenesis, Potenc

Non-additive effect of the DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-Aza-dC, and glass as a culture surface on osteogenic differentiation

The clinical need for bone regenerative solutions is expanding with increasing life expectancy and escalating incidence of accidents. Several strategies are being investigated to enhance the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. We previously reported two different approaches for this purpose, in monolayer and three-dimensional cell culture. The first approach was based on pretreating cells with 5-Aza-dC, a DNA methylation inhibitor, before the applying the differentiation media. The second approach was based on culturing cells on a glass surface during differentiation. In this study, we investigated the potential effect of combining both methods. Our results sug-gested that both approaches were associated with decreasing global DNA methylation levels. Cells cultured as a monolayer on glass surface showed enhancement in alkaline phosphatase activity at day 10, while 5-Aza-dC pretreatment enhanced the activity at day 5, irrespective of the culture surface. In three-dimensional pellet cul-ture, 5-Aza-dC pretreatment enhanced osteogenesis through Runx-2 and TGF-beta 1 upregulation while the glass surface induced Osterix.Furthermore, pellets cultured on glass showed upregulation of a group of miRNAs, including pro-osteogenesis miR-20a and miR-148b and anti-osteogenesis miR-125b, miR-31, miR-138, and miR-133a. Interestingly, 5-Aza-dC was not associated with a change of miRNAs in cells cultured on tissue culture plastic but reverted the upregulated miRNAs on the glass to the basal level. This study confirms the two approaches for enhancing osteogenic differentiation and contradicts their combination.Funding Agencies|University of Sharjah; [180-1090-127P]</p