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Item Manufacture and testing of ARGUS: A pole climbing surveillance robot(2024-10) De Ronde, Willis; Bosscha, Peter A; Marais, Stephen T; Pretorius, ASouth Africa needs rapidly deployable surveillance in situations such as public marches and periods of unrest. As these events can often last several hours, short-term solutions, such as multi-rotor drones, are generally not feasible. The proposed solution, the Automated Robotic Guardian for Urban Surveillance (ARGUS) platform, is a rapidly deployable pole-climbing robot for surveillance and situational awareness. This paper outlines the system's manufacture, testing, and analysis. The platform was tested under various laboratory and real-world conditions against predefined user specifications. Test results demonstrate that the system can ascend and descend multiple existing pole infrastructures and maintain a hold position without the motors consuming power while on the pole.Item Robotic waste sorting using deep learning(2024-12) Goorun, Yurisha; Marais, Stephen T; Nicolls, FThe ongoing waste crisis has highlighted the need to address the problem of waste collection and sorting. This paper presents an automated waste sorting system with Deep Learning using a stereoscopic camera and a robotic manipulator. The system can recognise and classify different types of waste and sort them into specific categories by using the robotic arm to improve the recycling process.Item Advances in yeast probiotic production and formulation for preventative health(2024-11) Moonsamy, Ghaneshree; Roets-Dlamini, Yrielle; Langa, Cebeni N; Ramchur, Santosh OThe use of probiotics has been gaining popularity in terms of inclusion into human diets over recent years. Based on properties exerted by these organisms, several benefits have been elucidated and conferred to the host. Bacteria have been more commonly used in probiotic preparations compared to yeast candidates; however, yeast exhibit several beneficial properties, such as the prevention and treatment of diarrhea, the production of antimicrobial agents, the prevention of pathogen adherence to intestinal sites, the maintenance of microbial balance, the modulation of the immune system, antibiotic resistance, amongst others. Saccharomyces boulardii is by far the most studied strain; however, the potential for the use of other yeast candidates, such as Kluyveromyces lactis and Debaryomyces hansenii, amongst others, have also been evaluated in this review. Furthermore, a special focus has been made regarding the production considerations for yeast-based probiotics and their formulation into different delivery formats. When drafting this review, evidence suggests that the use of yeasts, both wild-type and genetically modified candidates, can extend beyond gut health to support skin, the respiratory system, and overall immune health. Hence, this review explores the potential of yeast probiotics as a safe, effective strategy for preventative health in humans, highlighting their mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and production considerations.Item Inhibition of the complement pathway induces cellular proliferation and migration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(2024-02) Nsingwane, Z; Naicker, Previn; Omoshoro-Jones, J; Devar, J; Smith, M; Candy, G; Augustine, TN; Nweke, EEPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer with a growing incidence and mortality despite novel therapeutic strategies. Its aggressiveness and difficulty in treatment suggest the need for a better understanding of associated molecular mechanisms that could be targeted for treatment. The complement signalling pathway may play diverse roles in PDAC by eliciting an immune response, inducing inflammatory responses, and elevating pathways linked to chemoresistance. However, their role in the progression of PDAC is not fully understood. This study aimed to identify potential immune response-related targets in a group of patients. Thirty tissue samples (tumours and corresponding normal tissues) were obtained from 15 PDAC patients, 34 plasma samples from 25 PDAC patients, six patients with chronic pancreatitis, and three healthy control participants. Targeted pathway-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was conducted to determine the gene expression profiles of immune-response related genes. The circulating levels of complement proteins C3 and C5 were further investigated. Pharmacological inhibition of the complement pathway in MIAPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cell lines was performed, and the effect was assessed by cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell cycle assays. Finally, Sequential Window Acquisition of All Theoretical Mass Spectra (SWATH-MS) was performed to identify potential molecular mechanisms during inhibition. The results identified C3 as overly expressed in early PDAC compared to later stages in plasma (p = 0.047). Pharmacological inhibition of the complement pathway led to increased cell growth (p < 0.0001), proliferation (p = 0.001) and migration (p = 0.002) in vitro. Proteomic analysis implicated several proteins, such as the mitochondrial and histone proteins, that could play a role in inducing this phenotype. Complement C3 and C5 are elevated in PDAC samples compared to healthy ones. Furthermore, the inhibition of the complement pathway was shown in vitro to result in a more aggressive phenotype by stimulating cellular growth, proliferation, and migration, indicating the involvement of complement C3 and C5 in tumour progression. This study helps to delineate further the role of the complement pathway in PDAC progression.Item A review of weathering studies in plastics and biocomposites— Effects on mechanical properties and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)(2024-04) Nzimande, Monwabisi C; Mtibe, Asanda; Tichapondwa, S; Mathew, Maya JPolymeric materials undergo degradation when exposed to outdoor conditions due to the synergistic effects of sunlight, air, heat, and moisture. The degradation can lead to a decline in mechanical properties, fading, surface cracking, and haziness, attributed to the cleavage of the polymer chains and oxidation reactions. Accelerated weathering testing is a useful technique to evaluate the comparative photodegradation of materials within a reasonable timeframe. This review gives an overview of the different degradation mechanisms occurring in conventional plastics and bio-based materials. Case studies on accelerated weathering and its effect on the mechanical properties of conventional plastics and biocomposites are discussed. Different techniques for analysing volatile organic emissions (VOCs) have been summarized and studies highlighting the characterization of VOCs from aged plastics and biocomposites after aging have been cited.Item Effect of interlayer spacing on the electronic and optical properties of SnS2/graphene/SnS2 sandwich heterostructure: a density functional theory study(2024-07) Idisi, David O; Benecha, EM; Mwakikunga, Bonex; Asante, JKOThe formation of metal dichalcogenide heterostructures enables tailoring their properties for future optoelectronics and energy storage. The current paper focuses on the study of the effect of interlayer spacing on the electronic and optical properties of SnS2/graphene/SnS2 sandwich heterostructure, using density functional theory electronic structure calculations. We find low cohesive energies/ per atom ( 0.0506 → 0.0514 eV) for all the various interlayer spacing configurations (1–5 Å) considered in this study, implying the feasibility of experimental realization. The Mulliken charge transfer analysis suggests negative to positive net charge ( −0.12 → 0.18 ) transfer for 1–3 Å threshold interlayer spacing, which implies acceptor and donor charge transfer configurations. The density of states of SnS2/graphene/SnS2 retains unoccupied states for all the interlayer spacing configurations, which can be attributed to localized exciton states and strong electronic coupling between the electrons within the heterostructure layers. We further find a strong optical response and localized electronic transport, which can pave the way for optoelectronic applications of this material heterostructure.Item ML-Based Screening of miRNA Inhibitors and Intervention of lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA Axis in Oncogenic KRAS-Associated colorectal cancer(2024-11) Ramalingam, PS; Thimiri Govinda Raj, Deepak B; Subramanian, M; Arumugam, SMutant KRAS promotes proliferation and tumorigenesis in several cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate the microRNAs (miRNAs) that further result in the dysregulation of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in various mutant KRAS-associated cancers. Although the role and function of the lncRNA axis are not clearly understood, various studies have recently focussed on the evaluation of the lncRNA axis role in various cancers. The lncRNAs CRNDE and SNHG7 are highly expressed in KRASassociated colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), a major subtype of CRC, and further regulate the miRNA expression and thus indirectly regulate mRNA expression levels. In the present study, we have utilized various bioinformatics approaches such as differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, survival analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, prediction of RNA–RNA interaction, miRNA and mRNA stability prediction, and binding energy evaluation. Alongside, machine learning (ML)–based screening was also performed to identify potential miRNA inhibitors from natural source using RDKit. From our study, we have observed that CRNDE sponges hsa-miR-181a-5p and downregulates their expression, and the hsa-miR-181a-5p further regulates the expression of CTNNB1 and TCF4 in COAD. Also, in the lncRNA SNHG7 axis, it regulates the hsa-miR-216b-5p expression, and further, the GALNT1 was downregulated by the binding of hsa-miR-216b-5p. Additionally, ML-based screening revealed some potential inhibitors particularly based on anthraquinone, quinazoline, and sulfonamide scaffolds against hsa-miR-216b-5p and hsa-miR-216b-5p. Thus, we conclude that the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis of CRNDE/hsa-miR-181a-5p/(CTNNB1/TCF4) and SNHG7/hsa-miR-216b-5p/GALNT1 axes as the significant therapeutic target in the mutant KRAS-associated CRC, and natural compounds have to be studied more in detail and to be developed as miRNA inhibitors. However, our predictions were supported by the evidence of the interaction and regulation of the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis through bioinformatics approaches and ML-based miRNA inhibitor screening; it has to be studied further in in vitro and in vivo settings in the near future.Item Namib desert dust affects phytoplankton biomass in the Benguela upwelling region: Insights from first mesocosm study(2024-12) Belelie, MD; Burger, RP; Von Holdt, JRC; Garland, Rebecca M; Liswaniso, GM; Thomalla, Sandy J; Piketh, SJThe Benguela upwelling system (BUS) is frequently subject to dust deposition from southern Africa, which supplies macronutrients and trace metals to the ocean. The impact of these nutrients on chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in the BUS was investigated using the first-ever mesocosm study from 29 September to October 12, 2022. The study employed a single triplicate treatment where mesocosms were seeded with dust (DG) from the Kuiseb ephemeral riverbed, one of the leading dust sources in southern Africa and one unamended control (CM). All mesocosms were also seeded with equal amounts of Chaetoceros, Pavlova, and Tetraselmis, species of phytoplankton commonly found in the BUS. Temporal dynamics in Chl-a, iron (Fe), nitrate (NO 3 (PO 4 3 ), silicon (Si), orthophosphate ), and light intensity were measured. The data suggests that adding dust from the Namib desert elicited a positive response from the phytoplankton in the BUS, as evidenced by higher Chl-a concentrations in the DG compared to the CM. This study demonstrates the likely importance of southern African dust emission and deposition for phytoplankton productivity in the adjacent BUS.Item Current approaches on natural fiber reinforcement surface treatment for construction material application(2024-11) Mphahlele, IJ; Gbadeyan, OJ; Sithole, B; Chunilall, VirenThe conversion of waste into value-added products is critical to long-term sustainability as waste disposal costs, landfilling space, and climate change would be reduced. Research and production industries investigate the possible use of natural fibers as a substitute for fossil fuels. Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites’ physical and mechanical properties can be altered by natural fiber treatment, and the treatment choice relies on the desired properties and performance. In addition to cost-profitability, environmental effects, and required performance, composites can be designed based on the product conditions. Disadvantages such as incompatibility of the hydrophilic natural fiber reinforcements with the hydrophobic polymer matrix often result in the tendency of the composite to have high moisture absorption, poor thermal stability, crystallinity, and mechanical strength. These factors critically impair the performance of the natural fibers as reinforcements in polymer composites, hence resulting in less-favourable mechanical and physical properties. Physical, chemical, and biological treatments were examined to determine their effect on the durability and thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. It was observed that plasma treatment for bamboo fibers resulted in interfibral spaces and anchoring mechanisms between the resin and fibers, leading to increased load transfer. Chemical treatment at various concentrations improved the surface smoothness. The best mechanical, physical, thermal, and chemical properties for application as reinforcement in polymer composites were obtained at 6% for alkali treatments. Enzymatic treatment showed a significant impact on the impact and flexural strength of the composites. Factors such as duration, concentration, and extent of treatment need to be established for effective treatment, as prolonged treatments may damage the NFs’ properties. This review comprehensively highlights the potential utilization of current natural fiber treatment methods for the potential of natural fibers as value-added products for construction materials, considering their economical affordability, production of lightweight materials, sustainability, utilization of readily available waste material, and nature preservation. Furthermore, the three natural fiber treatment approaches for improving fiber-matrix adhesion are discussed. The physical and mechanical properties of composites are highlighted, which aids in evaluating suitability for construction materials.Item Early career recommendations for the equitable growth of a marine carbon dioxide removal sector(2024-11) Kitch, GD; Duke, PJ; Grabb, KC; Simancas-Giraldo, S; Adekunbi, FO; Addey, CI; Arbilla, LA; Carvalho, ACO; Chu, SN; Hamnca, SiyabulelaIn addition to steep carbon emission reductions, all modeled pathways to reach global climate goals require carbon removal. Marine carbon dioxide removal has the potential to play a large role in drawing down legacy anthropogenic emissions due to the scalability and durability of proposed methods. While this field is rapidly expanding, a number of issues remain, including efforts to grow the industry, align projects with equity and justice goals, and ensure development of trusted, unique, durable carbon credits. We, a group of early career ocean professionals (ECOPs), provide an overview of the scale of the field, the aforementioned issues, and then make recommendations to ensure global equity and expand early career capacity in the marine carbon dioxide removal sector. We argue that substantial investment is needed to reduce costs of marine carbon dioxide removal and spur innovation in monitoring, reporting, and verification, but also in the training and development of early career researchers. Careful co‐design of marine removal projects by experienced and emerging collaborators, including local communities, can help mitigate perpetuating existing global inequalities. Given the anticipated growth of the marine carbon dioxide removal workforce, ECOPs can contribute their existing interdisciplinary expertise, if they are supported within traditional structures. Those entering the field can leverage skill sets that intersect engineering, policy, community engagement, and business. We maintain that ECOPs will be key leaders in the field, if appropriately engaged, compensated, and empowered.Item Uncovering the ANPR performance gap: A commercial systems analysis(2024) Zandamela, Frank; Seletani, Rofhiwa; Malatjie, Patrick G; Kunene, Dumisani C; Nana, Muhammad A; Sekopa, Teboho LAutomatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems play a vital role in global security and crime prevention. However, despite their importance, there is a notable lack of research assessing commercial off-the-shelf ANPR systems. Given that ANPR systems are not universally applicable due to regional variations in number plates, performance varies per region. A recent two-year study of a commercial ANPR system revealed a concerning average accuracy of 70%. This falls significantly short of the global average of 90%, compromising the reliability of the ANPR results. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating factors that influence the performance of ANPR systems and comparing the effectiveness of commercial off-the-shelf solutions on South African vehicle plates. Four cloud-based ANPR solutions and an ANPRcamera were assessed with a custom dataset. The custom dataset contains vehicle plates from different provinces and a government department. The study revealed that the camera viewing angle significantly affected the accuracy of the deployed ANPR system. Cloud-based ANPR APIs outperformed the ANPR camera system by 6.67%. In addition, most ANPR systems have difficulty detecting and correctly recognising number plate characters when there are multiple vehicles in the image. These findings underscore the need for region-specific optimisation and more comprehensive evaluation frameworks to enhance the reliability and accuracy of commercial ANPR systems in diverse real-world scenarios.Item Exploring the effect of road network structure on inter-regional accessibility in a diverse road network(2024-10) Thiede, R; Fabris-Rotelli, I; Debba, Pravesh; Cleghorn, CAccessibility analyses quantify the level of access to certain areas or opportunities, such as employment and healthcare facilities. Since public data is often aggregated at the level of regions, such as administrative units, it is useful to quantify accessibility between regions. Many factors influence inter-regional accessibility, most notably the accessibility metric used, and the way in which regions are chosen. This paper investigates the effects of road network structure on accessibility, using a previously developed inter-regional accessibility model that bases its accessibility metric on travel distance via the road network. This paper considers an area within the City of Tshwane municipality in South Africa. We investigate the effects of road structure in two ways. Firstly, regions are chosen based on the road network structure, which is done by extending a previously developed road network clustering algorithm for this novel use. Different spatial scales of regionalisation are considered, and the accessibility between these regions is compared to the accessibility between administrative units within the study area. Secondly, the effect of road network homogeneity on accessibility is investigated, where homogeneity corresponds to a uniform concentration of roads across a region. The results show that although road network homogeneity does not significantly correlate with accessibility, the way in which regions are chosen and their spatial scale has a strong effect on the results of the accessibility model. Our novel method of obtaining regions thus provides fresh insights into road-based accessibility within the City of Tshwane.Item A proposed bitcoin blockchain investigation methodology: Based on a case study approach(2025-01) Botha, Johannes G; Singh, Kreaan D; Leenen, LCriminal investigations involving cryptocurrencies are still premature with no standard investigative process to follow. This paper proposes a high-level methodology using open-source and analysed data to perform such investigations. It focuses on situations where Bitcoin is involved, but where other similar blockchains are concerned, the technical investigator should apply this methodology only after careful consideration. A case study approach is used to illustrate a cryptocurrency scamming platform, a giveaway scam, and divorce fraud. In all the cases, one needs to follow or trace the funds on the blockchain, referred to as on-chain analysis. The end goal of on-chain analysis is to find a destination address linked to identifiable information obtained from open-source data platforms—such as websites, social media, or a cryptocurrency exchange. Law enforcement can then be engaged to instruct the exchange to reveal all personal and transactional information linked to the address through a subpoena. A successful investigation will result in criminal prosecution and a potential recovery of funds. To maintain familiar investigation processes, the researchers looked at traditional (or non-technical) as well as technical investigation techniques.Item Numerical simulation and analysis of heat treatment processes on AISI 1025 steel produced by laser engineered net shaping(2024-11) Tum, E; Ndeda, R; Mutua, J; Prasad, R; Olakanmi, E; Pityana, Sisa LHeat treatment processes, such as annealing and quenching, are crucial in determining residual stress evolution, microstructural changes and mechanical properties of metallic materials, with residual stresses playing a greater role in the performance of components. This paper investigates the effect of heat treatment on residual stresses induced in AISI 1025, manufactured using LENS. Finite element model was developed and simulated to analyze residual stress development. AISI 1025 samples suitable for tool and die applications in Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) filament production, were fabricated using Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) process, followed by heat treatment where annealing and quenching processes were done. The material’s microstructure, residual stress and hardness of heat-treated samples under investigation, were compared against the as-built samples. The results indicated that after annealing, tensile residual stresses were reduced by 93%, resulting in a reduced crack growth rate, compared to the as-built sample, although the hardness was reduced significantly by 25%. On the other hand, high tensile residual stresses of 425 ± 14 MPa were recorded after quenching process with an improvement of hardness by 21%.Item The Tuberculosis Drug Candidate SQ109 and Its Analogs Have Multistage Activity against Plasmodium falciparum(2024-08) Watson, SJ; Van der Watt, ME; Theron, Anjo; Reader, J; Tshabalala, S; Erlank, E; Koekemoer, LL; Naude, M; Stampolaki, M; Adewole, FToward repositioning the antitubercular clinical candidate SQ109 as an antimalarial, analogs were investigated for structure–activity relationships for activity against asexual blood stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum pathogenic forms, as well as transmissible, sexual stage gametocytes. We show that equipotent activity (IC50) in the 100–300 nM range could be attained for both asexual and sexual stages, with the activity of most compounds retained against a multidrug-resistant strain. The multistage activity profile relies on high lipophilicity ascribed to the adamantane headgroup, and antiplasmodial activity is critically dependent on the diamine linker. Frontrunner compounds showed conserved activity against genetically diverse southern African clinical isolates. We additionally validated that this series could block transmission to mosquitoes, marking these compounds as novel chemotypes with multistage antiplasmodial activity.Item The role of silicon in drug discovery: A review(2024-10) Panayides, Jenny-Lee; Riley, DL; Hasenmaile, F; Van Otterlo, WALThis review aims to highlight the role of silicon in drug discovery. Silicon and carbon are often regarded as being similar with silicon located directly beneath carbon in the same group in the periodic table. That being noted, in many instances a clear dichotomy also exists between silicon and carbon, and these differences often lead to vastly different physiochemical and biological properties. As a result, the utility of silicon in drug discovery has attracted significant attention and has grown rapidly over the past decade. This review showcases some recent advances in synthetic organosilicon chemistry and examples of the ways in which silicon has been employed in the drug-discovery field.Item Plant-derived natural products and their nano transformation: A sustainable option towards desert locust infestations(2024-11) Mangundu, P; Makaudi, R; Paumo, HK; Ramalapa, Bathabile E; Tshweu, Lesego L; Raleie, N; Katata-Seru, LThe desert locust has been recognized as the most devastating migratory pest in the world. Swarms of this pest have been threatening vast regions of pastures and crops in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia. The biological management of expanding swarms has become a strategy of particular interest due to environmental awareness and economic issues associated with chemical pesticides. The present review aims to explore the latest updates and information about pesticidal plants that are distributed across Africa. Searches on Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases from 2013–2024 revealed a total of 22 plant species probed for insecticidal activities against desert locusts. The formulation, active ingredients, and biological effects of essential oils and other extracts from these plants are presented. Despite the promising antiwww.chemistryopen.org [a] [a] Bathabile Ramalapa, [b] insecticidal effects of the plant extracts and compounds, issues related to their solubility and instability under environmental conditions have been observed. To address such major quality defects, methods for the encapsulation of plant natural products within nanostructures are detailed. Given the presence of bioactive compounds with nucleophiles bearing functional groups, the reported plant extracts have been exploited to fabricate metal nanoparticles with inherent insecticidal activities. In this paper, a holistic overview of prepared phytochemical-coated metal nanopesticides is also presented. In summary, this study offers insights into the integration of nanoformulated natural resources as a more sustainable option to control desert locust invasions.Item Enterobacter spp. isolates from an underground coal mine reveal ligninolytic activity(2024-10) Rammala, BJ; Ramchuran, Santosh O; Chunilall, Viren; Zhou, NLignin, the second most abundant renewable carbon source on earth, holds significant potential for producing biobased specialty chemicals. However, its complex, highly branched structure, consisting of phenylpropanoic units and strong carbon-carbon and ether bonds, makes it highly resistant to depolymerisation. This recalcitrancy highlights the need to search for robust lignin-degrading microorganisms with potential for use as industrial strains. Bioprospecting for microorganisms from lignin-rich niches is an attractive approach among others. Here, we explored the ligninolytic potential of bacteria isolated from a lignin-rich underground coalmine, the Morupule Coal Mine, in Botswana. Using a culture-dependent approach, we screened for the presence of bacteria that could grow on 2.5% kraft lignin-supplemented media and identified them using 16 S rRNA sequencing. The potential ligninolytic isolates were evaluated for their ability to tolerate industry-associated stressors. We report the isolation of twelve isolates with ligninolytic abilities. Of these, 25% (3) isolates exhibited varying robust ligninolytic ability and tolerance to various industrial stressors. The molecular identification revealed that the isolates belonged to the Enterobacter genus. Two of three isolates had a 16 S rRNA sequence lower than the identity threshold indicating potentially novel species pending further taxonomic review. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the ligninolytic properties of the isolates by demonstrating structural alterations in lignin, indicating potential KL degradation, while Py-GC/ MS identified the resulting biochemicals. These isolates produced chemicals of diverse functional groups and monomers as revealed by both methods. The use of coalmine-associated ligninolytic bacteria in biorefineries has potential.Item Proteomic analysis identifies dysregulated proteins in albuminuria: A South African pilot study(2024-08) Khoza, S; George, JA; Naicker, Previn; Stoychev , SH; Fabian, J; Govender, Ireshyn SAlbuminuria may precede decreases in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and both tests are insensitive predictors of early stages of kidney disease. Our aim was to characterise the urinary proteome in black African individuals with albuminuria and well-preserved GFR from South Africa. This case-controlled study compared the urinary proteomes of 52 normoalbuminuric (urine albumin: creatinine ratio (uACR) < 3 mg/mmol) and 56 albuminuric (uACR ≥ 3 mg/mmol) adults of black African ethnicity. Urine proteins were precipitated, reduced, alkylated, digested, and analysed using an Evosep One LC (Evosep Biosystems, Odense, Denmark) coupled to a Sciex 5600 Triple-TOF (Sciex, Framingham, MA, USA) in data-independent acquisition mode. The data were searched on SpectronautTM 15. Differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were filtered to include those with a ≥2.25-fold change and a false discovery rate ≤ 1%. Receiver–operating characteristic curves were used to assess the discriminating abilities of proteins of interest. Pathway analysis was performed using Enrichr software. As expected, the albuminuric group had higher uACR (7.9 vs. 0.55 mg/mmol, p < 0.001). The median eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) showed no difference between the groups (111 vs. 114, p = 0.707). We identified 80 DAPs in the albuminuria group compared to the normoalbuminuria group, of which 59 proteins were increased while 21 proteins were decreased in abundance. We found 12 urinary proteins with an AUC > 0.8 and a p < 0.001 in the multivariate analysis. Furthermore, an 80-protein model was developed that showed a high AUC ˃ 0.907 and a predictive accuracy of 91.3% between the two groups. Pathway analysis found that the DAPs were involved in insulin growth factor (IGF) functions, innate immunity, platelet degranulation, and extracellular matrix organization. In albuminuric individuals with a well-preserved eGFR, pathways involved in preventing the release and uptake of IGF by insulin growth factor binding protein were significantly enriched. These proteins are indicative of a homeostatic imbalance in a variety of cellular processes underlying renal dysfunction and are implicated in chronic kidney disease.Item Comparative evaluation of the power-to-methanol process configurations and assessment of process flexibility(2024-07) Mbatha, Siphesihle; Cui, X; Panah, PG; Thomas, S; Parkhomenko, K; Roger, A-C; Louis, B; Everson, R; Debiagi, P; Musyoka, N; Langmi, HThis paper compares different power-to-methanol process configurations encompassing the electrolyser, adiabatic reactor(s) and methanol purification configurations. Twelve different power-to-methanol configurations based on direct CO2 hydrogenation with H2 derived from H2O-electrolysis were modelled, compared, and analysed. A high temperature solid oxide electrolyser is used for hydrogen production. A fixed bed reactor is used for methanol synthesis. The aim of the paper is to give detailed comparison of the process layouts under similar conditions and select the best performing process configuration considering the overall methanol production, carbon conversion, flexibility, and energy efficiency. ASPEN PLUS® V11 is used for flowsheet modelling and the system architectures considered are the open loop systems where methanol is produced at 100 kton per annum and sold to commercial wholesale market as the final purified commodity. Further optimization requirements are established as targets for future work. Three options of power-to-methanol configuration with methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation are proposed and further evaluated considering process flexibility. From the evaluation, the series–series based configuration with three adiabatic reactors in series performed better in most parameters including the flexible load dependent energy efficiency.