Wolverhampton Intellectual Repository and E-Theses
WIRE is the open access repository for research publications and outputs by researchers based at the University of Wolverhampton.
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Recent Submissions
Item Enhancing user verification and data security scheme for fog computing using self sovereign identification(Elsevier, 2025-12-31)Due to the advancements in technology, the number of connected devices in a data processing and computing environment of edge and Internet of Things (IoT) has increased exponentially. Thus, proliferation of electronics by billions has raised serious security concerns. Therefore, designing effective coordination mechanisms and ensuring user verification and data security pose significant challenges in edge environments. Moreover, dispersed architecture of fog computing presents challenges related to privacy, secure authentication, and fog device security. Therefore, to address these drawbacks, in this paper, we propose an novel approach to enhance user verification and data security in edge environment. Our proposed scheme leverages the intrinsic properties of the Ethereum blockchain to develop a smart contract-based solution for registering and verifying digital identities securely to mitigate security and privacy concerns associated with traditional authentication techniques. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme via experiments and simulations conducted on the Ethereum blockchain environment. The results indicate that the proposed scheme outperform than other state-of-the-art techniques in terms of transaction gas and execution cost for both identity registration and verification.Item Aberrant expression of mir-133a alters the expression of key inflammatory genes in the endothelium(University of Wolverhampton, 2024-12)Introduction: Atherosclerosis is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, driven by vascular inflammation that begins with endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium, which lines blood vessels, plays a critical role in regulating vascular tone and immune cell interactions. In response to inflammatory stimuli, such as cytokines, endothelial cells become activated, promoting the recruitment and adhesion of leukocytes to the vessel wall. This process, involving a complex sequence of leukocyte capture, rolling, and transmigration, contributes to the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Recent research has identified microRNAs as key regulators of endothelialleukocyte interactions, with miR-133a emerging as a potential modulator of this inflammatory response. This thesis explores the role of miR-133a in endothelial activation and leukocyte adhesion, aiming to uncover new therapeutic strategies to target these pathways in atherosclerosis. Methodology: Human endothelial cells were cultured in Endothelial Cell Growth Medium under aseptic conditions. Cells were transfected with miR-133a-3p or miR-133a-5p mimics and stimulated with TNF-α to induce an inflammatory response. To assess changes in gene expression, total RNA was extracted, quantified, and reverse-transcribed into cDNA. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was then performed to measure the expression of key adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix proteins implicated in endothelial-leukocyte interactions. Statistical analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism, employing parametric and non-parametric tests depending on data distribution. Additionally, bioinformatics tools, including miRWalk, TargetScan, and miRDB, were used to predict potential miR-133a target genes and evaluate their binding sites within the 3'UTR regions. Results: Both miR-133a-3p and miR-133a-5p downregulated ITGβ3, impairing endothelial cell migration. miR-133a-5p significantly reduced MMP-2 expression by 50%, contributing to endothelial barrier stabilization, while miR-133a-3p upregulated TIMP-3, enhancing barrier integrity. miR-133a-5p suppressed COL3A1 and TSP-1 expression, limiting vascular permeability and leukocyte recruitment. Furthermore, miR-133a-3p promoted ADAMTS-1 expression under TNF-α stimulation, supporting ECM remodelling, while miR-133a-3p also induced ICAM-1 expression in response to TNF-α, enhancing leukocyte adhesion. Conclusion: miR-133a regulates endothelial responses during inflammation. The distinct effects of its 3p and 5p strands on adhesion, matrix stability, and inflammatory signalling underscore miR- 133a’s potential as a therapeutic target in vascular inflammation and related pathologies.Item Investigating the inhibitory effects of secreted proteins on macrophage in glioblastoma(University of Wolverhampton, 2024-05)Cancer is one of the major causes for the mortality in the whole world and among the cancers, glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of malignant brain tumours, especially in the adults. The complex tumour microenvironment of glioblastoma contributes to immune suppression and inhibition of T cell activity through secreted immuno-suppressive proteins and cytokines, dysfunction of immune cells and upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules. Macrophages are the most populous non neoplastic cells in glioblastoma microenvironment, which is a part of the innate immune response and are involved in immune suppression, tumour growth, invasion, and metastasis. The glioblastoma secretions to the microenvironment were studied using conditioned media and the day 3 with higher protein concentration were considered for studying the phagocytic activity and antigen presentation marker expression. The proteins present in the conditioned medium which were derived from these glioblastoma cell lines exert an inhibitory effect on macrophage phagocytosis. The transition from monocyte to macrophages and analysed the antigen presentation markers on monocytes and macrophages and antigen presentation marker HLA-DR had downregulated and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86 got upregulated in the presence of conditioned media suggests secretions from glioblastoma have inhibitory effect on monocytes, macrophages and the LPS stimulated M1 macrophages. Previous studies using mass spectrometry had revealed that out of 59 glioblastoma samples, 58 showed Galectin-1 as commonly secreted protein and galectin-1 was accumulated near T cells which were present around the blood vessels in glioblastoma samples. The galectin-1 secretion was regulated by IFN-ϒ, which might be from activated T cells. Along with this, the PDL-1 and galectin-9, the immune checkpoint molecules expressed on human brain endothelial cells were studied in the presence of conditioned media and IFN-ϒ. The PDL-1 was upregulated on IFN-ϒ treated conditioned media, and galectin-9 upregulated upon IFN-ϒ and the conditioned media. The immune checkpoint molecules upregulation from IFN-ϒ and conditioned media gives insight to the immune suppression in glioblastoma.Item Microclimatic, physiological, and structural changes of tomato seedlings during wind-based overgrowth inhibition in vegetable nursery(Elsevier, 2025-04-22)Wind disturbance has emerged as a potential eco-friendly method for seedling cultivation. In this study, an electromechanical device was designed and built to investigate the effects of airflow on the micro-environment and physiological activities of tomato seedlings in seedbeds by controlled experiments. The results indicated that airflow could enhance CO2 concentration near the seedling canopy, accelerate water evaporation from the seedling substrate, and reduce fluctuations in the temperature and humidity in microclimate. The photosynthetic rates of leaves at the 4th, 7th, and 10th positions in seedlings subjected to airflow increased by 25.04%, 8.23%, and 8.47%, respectively, whereas the transpiration rates increased by 15.59%, 22.28%, and 13.26%, respectively when compared to the control group. Additionally, the strong seedling index of seedlings treated with airflow and exogenous iron element increased by 26.02% and 31.5%, respectively. Compared to seedlings treated with exogenous iron element, the geometric mean diameter of the pith tissue cells in the stems of seedlings subjected to airflow disturbance was reduced by approximately 18.66%, while the elastic modulus and bending strength of the stems increased by 10.01% and 5.89%, respectively. Similarly, the volume of root tissue cells decreased by 19.22%, but the elastic modulus of the roots increased by 6.46%. This study confirms that airflow significantly enhances seedling resilience to abiotic stress, yielding similar or better outcomes than exogenous iron application. It provides both theoretical and practical support for using airflow disturbance as a green technology for cultivating robust seedlings.Item Sustainable mining principles: optimizing its application to enhance small-scale gold mining in developing countries(CITC Global, 2025-02-28)The global gold mining industry has long faced environmental and social challenges, particularly in small-scale operations prevalent in developing countries. This study delves into the integration of sustainable principles within the context of small-scale gold mining, aiming to optimize practices for enhanced environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Focusing on developing countries, where small-scale mining plays a pivotal role in local economies, this research explores how the application of sustainable gold mining principles can be tailored to mitigate environmental impact, promote ethical labour practices, and contribute to community development. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach, using a partisan-systematic research methodology that incorporated geological, environmental, and socio-economic perspectives to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations. Consequently, by addressing some unique challenges faced by small-scale operations, this research aims to provide actionable insights and guidelines for policymakers, mining communities, and industry stakeholders to foster a more sustainable and responsible trajectory for small-scale gold mining in developing countries. Through the optimization of sustainable practices, the research envisions a future where gold mining contributes positively to both the environment and the well-being of local communities, aligning with global efforts towards responsible resource extraction.
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