Thermal performance of energy conversion systems is one of the most important goals to improve the system’s efficiency. Such thermal performance is strongly dependent on the thermophysical features of the applied fluids used in energy conversion systems. Thermal conductivity, specific heat in addition to dynamic viscosity are the properties that dramatically affect heat transfer characteristics. These features of hybrid nanofluids, as promising heat transfer fluids, are influenced by different constituents, including volume fraction, size of solid parts and temperature. In this article, the mentioned features of the nanofluids with hybrid nanostructures and the proposed models for these properties are reviewed. It is concluded that the increase in the volume fraction of solids causes improvement in thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity, while the trend of variations in the specific heat depends on the base fluid. In addition, the increase in temperature increases the thermal conductivity while it decreases the dynamic viscosity. Moreover, as stated by the reviewed works, different approaches have applicability for modeling these properties with high accuracy, while intelligent algorithms, including artificial neural networks, are able to reach a higher precision compared with the correlations. In addition to the used method, some other factors, such as the model architecture, influence the reliability and exactness of the proposed models.

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death pathway. Physiological cell death is important for maintaining homeostasis and optimal biological conditions by continuous elimination of undesired or superfluous cells. The BH3-only pro-apoptotic members are strong inducers of apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa activates multiple death pathways by inhibiting the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Mcl-1, and other protein members leading to Bax and Bak activation and MOMP. On the other hand, Puma is induced by p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptotic stimuli in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, this protein is involved in several physiological and pathological processes, such as immunity, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Future heat shock research could disclose the effect of hyperthermia on both Noxa and BH3-only proteins. This suggests post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling the translation of both Puma and Noxa mRNA in heat-shocked cells. This study was also the chance to recapitulate the different reactional mechanisms investigated for caspases.

The atypical cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is considered as a neuron-specific kinase that plays important roles in many cellular functions including cell motility and survival. The activation of CDK5 is dependent on interaction with its activator p35, p39, or p25. These activators share a CDK5-binding domain and form a tertiary structure similar to that of cyclins. Upon activation, CDK5/p35 complexes localize primarily in the plasma membrane, cytosol, and perinuclear region. Although other CDKs are activated by cyclins, binding of cyclin D and E showed no effect on CDK5 activation. However, it has been shown that CDK5 can be activated by cyclin I, which results in anti-apoptotic functions due to the increased expression of Bcl-2 family proteins. Treatment with the CDK5 inhibitor roscovitine sensitizes cells to heat-induced apoptosis and its phosphorylation, which results in prevention of the apoptotic protein functions. Here, we highlight the regulatory mechanisms of CDK5 and its roles in cellular processes such as gene regulation, cell survival, and apoptosis.

Squeezing flow is a flow where the material is squeezed out or disfigured within two parallel plates. Such flow is beneficial in various fields, for instance, in welding engineering and rheometry. The current study investigates the squeezing flow of a hybrid nanofluid (propylene glycol–water mixture combined with paraffin wax–sand) between two parallel plates with activation energy and entropy generation. The governing equations are converted into ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations. The shooting strategy (combined with Runge–Kutta fourth order method) is applied to solve these transformed equations. The results of the conducted parametric study are explained and revealed in graphs. This study uses a statistical tool (correlation coefficient) to illustrate the impact of the relevant parameters on the engineering parameters of interest, such as the surface friction factor at both plates. This study concludes that the squeezing number intensifies the velocity profiles, and the rotating parameter decreases the fluid velocity. In addition, the magnetic field, rotation parameter, and nanoparticle volumetric parameter have a strong negative relationship with the friction factor at the lower plate. Furthermore, heat source has a strong negative relationship with heat transfer rate near the lower plate, and a strong positive correlation with the same phenomena near the upper plate. In conclusion, the current study reveals that the entropy generation is increased with the Brinkman number and reduced with the squeezing parameter. Moreover, the results of the current study verify and show a decent agreement with the data from earlier published research outcomes.

The role of PVP in the selective formation of pentagonally twinned silver nanoparticle morphologies and the corresponding selective facet stabilization is elucidated. Both for decahedral and pentagonal rod nanoparticles, PVP does not promote specific facet selection but is instrumental in colloidal stabilization and facet preservation through steric protection.