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Background: Dengue fever has become a significant worldwide health concern, because of its high morbidity rate and the potential for an increase in mortality rates due to lack of adequate treatment. There is an immediate need for the development of effective medication for dengue fever. Methods: Homology modeling of dengue virus (DENV) non-structural 4B (NS4B) protein was performed by SWISS-MODEL to predict the 3D structure of the protein. Structure validation was conducted using PROSA, PROCHECK, Ramachandran plot, and VERIFY-3D. MOE software was used to find out the in-Silico inhibitory potential of the five triterpenoids against the DENV-NS4B protein. Results: The SWISS-MODEL was employed to predict the three-dimensional protein structure of the NS4B protein. Through molecular docking, it was found that the chosen triterpenoid NS4B protein had a high binding affinity interaction. It was observed that the NS4B protein binding energy for 15-oxoursolic acid, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, and 3-o-acetylursolic acid were − 7.18, − 7.02, − 5.71, − 6.67 and − 8.00 kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusions: NS4B protein could be a promising target which showed good interaction with tested triterpenoids which can be developed as a potential antiviral drug for controlling dengue virus pathogenesis by inhibiting viral replication. However, further investigations are necessary to validate and confirm their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In oral pathology, virtual clinical scenario illustrating dentist-patient interactions can be utilized by both students and health professionals to deliver/gain knowledge and make clinical diagnosis of oral lesions. Role play is also an educational technique which is designed to engage and motivate students in classrooms. This study aimed to compare usefulness of virtual clinical scenario and role play in learning oral pathology among second-year dental students. The students were randomly divided to one of the two groups: virtual clinical scenario group (n = 50) and role play group (n = 50). Virtual clinical scenario group was provided with virtual clinical cases of oral lesions through Google Forms whereas role play group was exposed to virtual clinical cases of oral lesions through role playing activity. Both groups underwent assessments before and after the intervention. Students' perceptions on usefulness of both techniques in terms of diagnosis, visual parameters and impact on learning were evaluated by feedback questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27.0. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre-test and post-test scores. Additionally, the scores and students' responses from both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. A P-value of < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. Students in both groups showed significantly higher post-test scores compared to their pre-test scores (P < 0.001). However, the role play group outperformed the virtual clinical scenario group, with a significantly higher post-test score (P = 0.04). Furthermore, feedback concerning role play was significantly higher than that for the virtual clinical scenario across multiple aspects (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that role play emerges as the preferred method, significantly enhancing dental students' learning experiences in oral pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is well known for related micro and macrovascular complications. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus leads to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, microvascular impairment, myocardial dysfunction, and skeletal muscle changes which affect multiple organ systems. This study was designed to take an extensive view of cardiorespiratory dynamics in patients with type 2 DM. Methods: One hundred healthy controls (HC) and 100 DM patients were enrolled. We measured and compared the breathing patterns (spirometry), VO2 max levels (heart rate ratio method) and self-reported fitness level (international fitness scale) of individuals with and without diabetes. Data was analyzed in SPSS v.22 and GraphPad Prism v8.0. Results: We observed restrictive spirometry patterns (FVC <80%) in 22% of DM as compared to 2% in HC (p = 0.021). There was low mean VO2 max in DM as compared to HC(32.03 ± 5.36 vs 41.91 ± 7.98 ml/kg/min; p value <0.001). When evaluating physical fitness on self-reported IFiS scale, 90% of the HC report average, good, or very good fitness levels. In contrast, only 45% of the DM shared this pattern, with a 53% proportion perceiving their fitness as poor or very poor (p = <0.05). Restrictive respiratory pattern, low VO2 max and fitness level were significantly associated with HbA1c and long-standing DM. Conclusion: This study shows decreased pulmonary functions, decreased cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max) and IFiS scale variables in diabetic population as compared to healthy controls which are also associated with glycemic levels and long-standing DM. Screening for pulmonary functions can aid optimum management in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent type of cancer among women. The neoadjuvant therapy was administered before surgery, and the adjuvant therapy was administered post-surgery. The goal of this systematic review is to study the effects of adjuvant and neoadjuvant BC therapy on patient outcomes and mortality. In July 2023, systematic searches were conducted through the Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. The search method focused on studies that included all patients with BC stages 1, 2, and 3 and excluded studies that included patients with metastatic and recurrent BC. The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias technique. Throughout our search, 27 relevant studies with 161,552 patients were discovered. Anti-human epidermal growth factor 2 therapy (trastuzumab, pertuzumab), chemotherapy (anthracycline), endocrine therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitor), and bisphosphonates were recommended treatments for BC patients. Choices for radiotherapy included whole breast, partial breast, tumor bed boost, regional nodes, and chest wall choices after breast-conserving surgery. We discover that while the majority of treatments reduced the mortality or recurrence rates of BC, anthracycline, chemotherapy, and radiation led to an overall rise in non- BC deaths. The systemic assessment discovered several variables that impact a patient's quality of life. Based on these advantages and disadvantages, various treatment options for patients and recommendations for groups of women are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High metastasis, resistance to common treatments, and high mortality rate, has made triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to be the most invasive type of breast cancer. High telomerase activity and mitochondrial biogenesis are involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis. The catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), plays a role in telomere lengthening and extra-biological functions such as gene expression, mitochondria function, and apoptosis. In this study, it has been aimed to evaluate intrinsic-, extrinsic-apoptosis and DNMT3a and TET2 expression following the inhibition of telomerase and mitochondria respiration in TNBC cell lines. Methods: TNBC cells were treated with IC50 levels of BIBR1532, tigecycline, and also their combination. Then, telomere length, and DNMT3a, TET2, and hTERT expression were evaluated. Finally, apoptosis rate, apoptosis-related proteins, and genes were analyzed. Results: The present results showed that IC50 level of telomerase and inhibition of mitochondria respiration induced apoptosis but did not leave any significant effect on telomere length. The results also indicated that telomerase inhibition induced extrinsic-apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and caused intrinsic- apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells. Furthermore, it was found that the expression of p53 decreased and was ineffective in cell apoptosis. The expressions of DNMT3a and TET2 increased in cells. In addition, combination treatment was better than BIBR1532 and tigecycline alone. Conclusion: The inhibition of telomerase and mitochondria respiration caused intrinsic- and extrinsic-apoptosis and increased DNMT3a and TET2 expression and it could be utilized in breast cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (AT) and saffron supplementation on hemostasis, inflammatory markers, and insulin resistance in obese women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A total of 44 women with T2D (mean age: 54.12 ± 5.63 years, mean BMI: 31.15 ± 1.50 kg/m2, HbA1c: 85 ± 4.2 mmol/mol) were included in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. We were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 11 per group): saffron + training (ST), placebo + training (PT), saffron supplement (SS), and placebo (P). The ST and PT groups completed 12 weeks of AT (three sessions per week of mild to moderate intensity). The ST and SS groups were administered a daily dose of 200 mg of saffron powder for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected 48 h before the first AT session and/or nutritional supplementation and 48 h after the last AT session and/or nutritional supplementation. Post‐evaluation, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance value (HOMA‐IR, p < 0.001) and serum levels of glucose (p < 0.001), fibrinogen (FIB, p < 0.001), homocysteine (HCY, p < 0.001), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6, p < 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα, p < 0.001) showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group (p < 0.05). In particular, the ST group showed a more significant reduction in all variables compared to the PT and SS groups (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that a 12‐week intervention with AT and saffron supplementation can independently improve markers related to hemostasis, inflammation, and insulin resistance. However, their combination showed the greatest effectiveness on the above markers. Highlights: Type 2 diabetes can disturb hemostasis and induce inflammation.12 weeks of aerobic training (AT) and saffron supplementation can independently improve hemostasis, inflammation, and insulin resistance.The combination of 12 weeks of AT and saffron supplementation showed the greatest effectiveness on hemostasis, inflammation, and insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is currently grappling with unprecedented levels of water pollution, largely attributed to the presence of detrimental chemicals and dyes posing substantial environmental hazards. This study endeavors to develop highly efficient materials capable of extracting anionic dyes from polluted water reservoirs. Utilizing the coprecipitation method, nickel-chrome and zinc-chrome layered double hydroxides (LDH) were synthesized and subsequently analyzed using advanced analytical techniques. The efficiency of both materials in removing anionic dyes Congo Red (CR) and Indigo Carmine (IC) was investigated by analyzing various parameters, including initial solution pH, adsorbent dose, dye concentration, time, and temperature effects. In binary solutions, ZnCr-LDH exhibited a higher adsorption capacity of 109.10 mg g-1 and 78.64 mg g-1 for IC and CR dyes, respectively. The competitive removal of a binary dye mixture is primarily influenced by electrostatic attraction. Isotherm models were employed for analysis, with the Freundlich model found to be the best fit for IC adsorption onto NiCr-LDH and the Sips model for IC adsorption onto ZnCr-LDH. In binary systems, the extended Freundlich and non-modified Redlich-Peterson models provided the best fit to the isotherm data. ZnCr-LDH demonstrated higher removal efficiency than NiCr-LDH. Furthermore, both LDH materials exhibited stability and maintained their activity over four successive cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most prevalent cancer in males, with a steadily increas)ing incidence in the Middle East (ME). The aim of this study was to capture real-world data on the characteristics, disease progression, and treatment patterns among PC patients in the ME. This was a retrospective, observational, multi-centre study conducted across ten hospitals/research centers in Lebanon, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. Data were abstracted from medical records of 615 male patients who were diagnosed with PC between January 2012 and the site initiation date (December 2018-May 2019) and received at least one PC treatment/intervention. The observation period ranged between 84 and 88 months. Data were collected on demographics, clinical characteristics, time to progression to the subsequent clinical state or therapy (progression from localised/ locally advanced PC to castration and to metastatic PC (metastatic castration-sensitive PC (mCSPC) or metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC)), progression from mCSPC to mCRPC, and mCRPC patients’ progression to first subsequent line of therapy), treatment patterns, and mortality. Most patients had localised/locally advanced PC (57.7%), fol)lowed by mCSPC (37.4%), and mCRPC (4.1%) at the time of inclusion in the study. Most patients were at tumours, nodes and metastases (TNM) stage IIIa (40.1%) or TNM stage IVb (27.8%) at study entry. Median time to metastatic disease, castration-resistance and next line therapy was 84 months (95% CI: 68–84), 41 months (95% CI: 30–56) and 7 months (95% CI: 0–41), respectively. The mortality rate was 3.6%. Disease progression was most common among patients with mCSPC (35.1%) or mCRPC (14.8%), and treatment discontinuation was most common among patients with mCRPC (36.6% treatments discontinued). The results show that most patients were at an advanced TNM stage at study entry, suggestive of a lack of awareness regarding PC. Disease progression was most common among patients with metastatic disease, reflecting the challenge of treating metastatic disease and highlighting the need for novel treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A S-scheme heterojunction of CuPc/DR-MoS 2 with abundant sulfur vacancies is proposed, enabling extended visible-light absorption, enhanced charge carrier separation/transfer, and improved efficiency of semiconductors. Additionally, sulfur vacancies play a significant role in enhancing CO 2 adsorption/activation on the photocatalyst surface during photocatalysis. [Display omitted] Constructing a heterojunction by combining two semiconductors with similar band structures is a successful approach to obtaining photocatalysts with high efficiency. Herein, a CuPc/DR-MoS 2 heterojunction involving copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and molybdenum disulfide with S-rich vacancies (13.66%) is successfully prepared by the facile hydrothermal method. Experimental results and theoretical calculations firmly demonstrated that photoelectrons exhibit an S-scheme charge transfer mechanism in the CuPc/DR-MoS 2 heterojunction. The S-scheme heterojunction system has proven significant advantages in promoting the charge separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, enhancing visible-light responsiveness, and achieving robust photoredox capability. As a result, the optimized 3CuPc/DR-MoS 2 S-scheme heterojunction exhibits photocatalytic yields of CO and CH 4 at 200 and 111.6 μmol g-1h−1, respectively. These values are four times and 4.5 times greater than the photocatalytic yields of pure DR-MoS 2. This study offers novel perspectives on the advancement of innovative and highly effective heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid rising global demand for sustainable energy, wind energy emerges as a crucial renewable resource, with the aerodynamic optimization of wind turbine blades playing a key role in enhancing energy efficiency. This systematic review scrutinizes recent advancements in blade aerodynamics, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge aerodynamic profiles, variable pitch and twist technologies, and innovative materials. It extensively explores the impact of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on blade design enhancements, illustrating their significant contributions to aerodynamic efficiency improvements. By reviewing research from the last decade, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of current trends, addresses ongoing challenges, and suggests potential future developments in wind turbine blade optimization. Aimed at researchers, engineers, and policymakers, this review serves as a crucial resource, guiding further innovations and aligning with global renewable energy objectives. Ultimately, this work seeks to facilitate technological advancements that enhance the efficiency and viability of wind energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades or so, a large number of image ciphers have been written. The majority of these ciphers encrypt only one image at a time. Few image ciphers were written which could encrypt multiple images in one session. The current era needs speedy multiple image ciphers to address its varied needs in different settings. Motivated by this dictation, the current study has ventured to write a multi-image cipher based on the fleet of pawns walking in the large hypothetical chessboard. This walk of pawns on the chessboard has been ingeniously linked with transferring the pixels from the plain image to the scrambled image. The confusion effects have been realized through the XOR operation between the scrambled image and the key image. The plaintext sensitivity has been incorporated by embedding the SHA-384 hash codes of the given large combined plain image. Moreover, the Henon map has been employed to spawn the streams of random numbers. Besides, Blum Blum Shub random number generator has been used to further cement the security of the proposed cipher. We got a computational time of 0.2278 seconds and an encryption throughput of 5.5782 MBit/seconds by using the four images with a size of 256×256. Apart from that, the information entropy gained is 7.9993. Lastly, the cipher has been subjected to an array of validation metrics to demonstrate its aversion to the myriad threats from the cryptanalysis savvy. We contend that the proposed work has great potential for some real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic osteomyelitis is a debilitating bone infection, characterized by a persistent infection over months to years, poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its insidious nature and potential for severe bone and soft tissue destruction. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the literature on the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in long bones and assess cure rates in single versus two-stage surgery. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021231237), this review included studies that reported on the management of chronic osteomyelitis in long bones using either a planned one-stage or two-stage surgical approach in adult patients. Databases searched included Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, HMIC, and AMED, using keywords related to osteomyelitis, long bones, and surgical management. Eligibility criteria focused on adults with chronic osteomyelitis in long bones, with outcomes reported after a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The meta-analysis utilized the random-effects model to pool cure rates. Results: The analysis included 42 studies with a total of 1605 patients. The overall pooled cure rate was 91% (CI 95%) with no significant difference observed between single-stage and two-stage surgeries (X2 = 0.76, P > 0.05). Complications were reported in 26.6% of cases in single-stage procedures and 27.6% in two-stage procedures, with prolonged wound drainage noted as a common issue. Dead space management techniques varied across studies, with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate beads used in 30.4% of cases. Conclusion: This meta-analysis reveals no significant difference in cure rates between single and two-stage surgical treatments for chronic osteomyelitis in long bones, supporting the efficacy of both approaches. The current treatment strategy should include a combination of debridement, dead space management using local and systematic antibiotics and soft tissue reconstruction if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has profoundly impacted residency and fellowship training and education. However, how and to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon compromised the daily involvement of trainees on the clinical and ethical levels is currently unknown, which this study will shed light on. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey (30 questions) targeting medical residents delivering healthcare services in Lebanon. Residents from different specialties were included in the study to assess the effect of the pandemic on their education and the ethical obstacles they faced when dealing with patients. RESULTS: A total of 221 postgraduate medical students participated in our study. Results showed that about half of the residents (52.1%) were only able to do a basic physical examination rather than a full examination as a mandatory requirement in the residency curriculum. The majority (60%) agreed that the doctor–patient relationship is contravened. In addition, almost all residents suffered from fear and emotional distress that affected their education (83.7%). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study identify the effect of COVID-19 on residents' training, which affects treatment outcomes and greatly impacts the mental well-being of both healthcare workers and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant amount of energy can be produced using renewable energy sources; however, storing massive amounts of energy poses a substantial obstacle to energy production. Economic crisis has led to rapid developments in electrochemical (EC) energy storage devices (EESDs), especially rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors (SCs), which are effective for energy storage systems. Researchers have lately suggested that among the various EESDs, the SC is an effective alternate for energy storage due to the presence of the following characteristics: SCs offer high-power density (PD), improvable energy density (ED), fast charging/discharging, and good cyclic stability. This review highlighted and analyzed the concepts of supercapacitors and types of supercapacitors on the basis of electrode materials, highlighted the several feasible synthesis processes for preparation of metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles, and discussed the morphological effects of MOs on the electrochemical performance of the devices. In this review, we primarily focus on pseudo-capacitors for SCs, which mainly contain MOs and their composite materials, and also highlight their future possibilities as a useful application of MO-based materials in supercapacitors. The novelty of MO's electrode materials is primarily due to the presence of synergistic effects in the hybrid materials, rich redox activity, excellent conductivity, and chemical stability, making them excellent for SC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: TB infection is one of the most challengeable epidemiological issues. Complex interactions between microbiota and TB infection have been demonstrated. Alteration in microbial population during TB infection may act as a useful biomarker. The present study examined the microbiota patterns of blood and sputum samples collected from Afghan immigrants and Iranian patients with active TB. Materials and Methods: Sixty active pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in the study. Blood and sputum samples were collected. To detect phylum bacterial composition in the blood and sputum samples, bacterial 16S rRNA quantification by Real-Time qPCR was performed. Results: A significant decrease in Bacteroidetes in Iranian sputum and blood samples of Afghan immigrants and Iranian TB active subjects were seen. While, sputum samples of Afghan immigrants showed no significant differences in Bacteroidetes abundance among TB active and control. Firmicutes were also presented no significant difference between sputum samples of the two races. Actinobacteria showed a significant increase in Iranian and Afghan sputum samples while this phylum showed no significant abundance in Iranian and Afghan TB positive blood samples. Proteobacteria also showed an increase in sputum and blood samples of the two races. Conclusion: An imbalance in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes abundance may cause an alteration in the microbiota composition, resulting in dysregulated immune responses and resulting in the augmentation of opportunistic pathogens during TB infection, notably Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Evaluation of human microbiota under different conditions of TB infection can be critical to a deeper understanding of the disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the association of functional outcome for flexor tendon repair for the surgery timings. Study Design: Case Series. Place and Duration of Study: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi Pakistan, from Apr to Sep 2021. Methodology: A total of 98 patients were equaly divided into the early duration of tendon repair and the delayed duration of tendon repair. Patients were assessed to evaluate the functional outcome of flexor tendon repair in terms of tendon power assessed by the MRC scale, active movement at joints and the incidence of rupture. Functional outcome was assessed as Excelent (75-100), Good (50-74), Fair (24-49) and Poor (0-24). Results: In early repair, tendon power on the second post-operative day was observed as 11(22%) patients had movement against gravity but were powerless than normal, and 39(78%) patients had maximum strength. In comparison, in delayed repair, 5(10%) patients had movement against gravity but not against resistance, and 45(90%) patients had movement against gravity but were more powerless than normal. The active motion on the second post-operative day in early repair cases, 47(94%) patients had excelent active motion, while 30(60%) patients had good active motion in delayed repair. The tendon rupture was found 4(8%) in early repair and 10(20%) in delayed repair. Conclusion: Early tendon repair had excelent active motion and a lower ratio of tendon rupture than delayed repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the frequency of anastomotic leakage in interrupted versus continuous, single layer extramucosal anastomotic techniques in jejunum. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Multan Pakistan, from Feb 2020 to Feb 2021. Methodology: Patients aged 15-60 years, from the indoor surgical department of the hospital who required jejunal anastomosis were selected. Patients were categorized as Group-A (interrupted single layer extra mucosal anastomosis) or Group-B (continuous single layer extra mucosal anastomosis). Results: The mean age was 43±9.5 years in Group-A and 41.6±10.1 years in Group-B. Eighteen patients (56.3%) in Group-A and 21(65.6%) in Group-B were male while 14 patients (43.67%) in Group-A and 11(34.4%) in Group-B were females. Frequency of anastomotic leakage was recorded as one patient (3.13%) in Group-A and 3(9.38%) in Group-B while rest of the patients in both groups had no anastomotic leakage (p=0.302). Chi square test was applied, which showed statisticaly insignificant difference between the two groups (p=0.32) Conclusion: Comparatively higher frequency of anastomotic leakage was recorded in patients treated with continuous as compared to interrupted suturing but the results were statisticaly insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secretory carcinoma, a triple-negative benign tumor, is one of the rarest malignancies of the breast which rarely metastasizes. Surgical excision via lumpectomy or mastectomy is the mainstay of treatment, but in young patients, mastopexy can be a better option cosmetically. A 26-year-old woman presented with a lump in her right breast that, on ultrasonography, was revealed to be a multi lobulated solid lesion measuring 25 × 16 mm2 in the retro areolar region at a 4 o'clock position. It turned out to be secretory carcinoma of the breast in a tru-cut biopsy. Vertical Mastopexy was opted for the removal and simultaneous reconstruction of the breast, which was followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Vertical mastopexy showed that the tumor was removed, and the breast was restored to its original form simultaneously. This procedure gave better results clinically and cosmetically. The patient had an uneventful recovery and is on a regular follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart grids integrate information technology, decision support systems, communication networks, and sensing technologies. All these components cooperate to facilitate dynamic power adjustments based on received client consumption reports. Although this brings forth energy efficiency, the transmission of sensitive data over the public internet exposes these networks to numerous attacks. To this end, numerous security solutions have been presented recently. Most of these techniques deploy conventional cryptographic systems such as public key infrastructure, blockchains, and physically unclonable functions that have either performance or security issues. In this paper, a fairly efficient authentication scheme is developed and analyzed. Its formal security analysis is carried out using the Burrows–Abadi–Needham (BAN) logic, which shows that the session key negotiated is provably secure. We also execute a semantic security analysis of this protocol to demonstrate that it can resist typical smart grid attacks such as privileged insider, guessing, eavesdropping, and ephemeral secret leakages. Moreover, it has the lowest amount of computation costs and relatively lower communication overheads as well as storage costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global prevalence of obesity presents a pressing challenge to public health and healthcare systems, necessitating accurate prediction and understanding for effective prevention and management strategies. This article addresses the need for improved obesity prediction models by conducting a comprehensive analysis of existing machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approaches. This study introduces a novel hybrid model, Attention-based Bi-LSTM (ABi-LSTM), which integrates attention mechanisms with bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) networks to enhance interpretability and performance in obesity prediction. Our study fills a crucial gap by bridging healthcare and urban planning domains, offering insights into data-driven approaches to promote healthier living within urban environments. The proposed ABi-LSTM model demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving a remarkable accuracy of 96.5% in predicting obesity levels. Comparative analysis showcases its superiority over conventional approaches, with superior precision, recall, and overall classification balance. This study highlights significant advancements in predictive accuracy and positions the ABi-LSTM model as a pioneering solution for accurate obesity prognosis. The implications extend beyond healthcare, offering a precise tool to address the global obesity epidemic and foster sustainable development in smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are becoming an innovative agent in biological and environmental applications due to its unique characteristics, biocompatibility, low cost and toxicity. In this study, the composite ZnO NPs using Rhododendron arboreum (R. arboreum) stem bark were synthesized and characterized for UV–visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The biomedical assessment of the synthesized nanoparticles showed zones of inhibition of 23 ± 0.09, 18 ± 0.1 and 16 ± 0.05 mm, against the Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, respectively. Likewise, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and E. coli were found to be 34 ± 0.21 and 72.71 ± 0.47, 47 ± 0.11 and 94.86 ± 0.84 and 94 ± 0.18 and 185.43 ± 0.16 µg/mL, respectively. The biosynthesized ZnO NPs resulted in significant eradication of the outer and inner membranes of the tested bacterial cells. In addition, the environmental application of the synthesized ZnO NPs also showed time-dependent photocatalytic degradation activity and revealed 65% methyl orange dye degradation with an irradiation period of 6 h. The findings of this study suggest the suitability of the novel R. arboreum stem bark-based ZnO NPs as an effective ameliorant against bactericidal activities and photocatalytic potential for the removal of potentially toxic substances from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Timely recognition of atypical Takayasu arteritis is crucial. Unusual presentations, such as pericardial effusion, can complicate diagnosis. CT angiogram aids in precise diagnosis, guiding targeted immunosuppressive therapy. Multidisciplinary collaboration is vital for comprehensive management, improving patient outcomes in this challenging condition. This case study highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by atypical presentations of Takayasu arteritis (TA), focusing on a 42‐year‐old male presenting with pericardial effusion. Despite inconclusive initial investigations, a CT angiogram revealed large vessel vasculitis, confirming TA. Management with immunosuppressive therapy led to clinical improvement. This case emphasize the importance of recognizing unusual manifestations of TA for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, emphasizing the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in optimizing patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic climate change is exerting immense pressure on water resources in Iran. This study investigates future precipitation and meteorological droughts across the country considering performances of 41 general circulation models (GCMs). The findings indicate a significant increase in long-term average annual precipitation (LAAP) across Iran with an overall north-to-south increasing gradient, particularly in areas prone to extreme events. However, focusing solely on LAAP is misleading. Projected precipitation reveals substantial inter-annual variability, impacting both the severity and duration of meteorological droughts. For instance, 100-year return period droughts are expected to intensify in severity (The Shared Socio-economic Pathway SSP1-2.6: 4–91%, SSP8-5.5: 46–204%) and duration (SSP1-2.6: 19–76%, SSP8-5.5: 40–127%) across most regions, except the Persian Gulf coastal zone, where droughts may become less severe (SSP1-2.6: 23%, SSP8-5.5: 23%) and shorter in duration (SSP1-2.6: 27%, SSP8-5.5: 10%). Additionally, bivariate frequency analysis suggests that major droughts could become significantly more frequent in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil is imperative and has been well investigated. However, the correlation between elastic wave velocity along the wetting and drying paths of SWCC is largely unknown due to the nonavailability of a standard experimental setup for such a purpose. An ordinary triaxial apparatus has been modified for laboratory assessment of SWCCs under different Ko stresses, along with the measurement of shear and compression wave velocities in due course. The main aim of the study is to draw SWCC, wave velocity characteristic curve (WVCC), and a Poisson's ratio characteristic curve (PRCC) and to establish the phenomenon that these curves possess hysteresis. The Poisson's ratio was obtained indirectly by measuring Vp and Vs. Three soil samples with relative densities of 85%, 56%, and 39% were prepared and placed in a modified triaxial test apparatus under wetting and drying cycles. The test results showed that the newly developed apparatus is accurately capable of measuring SWCC. Owing to the similarity in the shape of wave velocity and Poisson's ratio, response to SWCC, WVCC, and PRCC are drawn. The phenomenon of stress history and the effective stress of the soil affected the behavior during wetting and drying paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating local site effects into seismic hazard analysis, especially for deep soil sites, is crucial. This study describes probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) incorporating site effects for a deep soil site in Pakistan. Bedrock hazard is assessed in FRISK88M using a rigorous logic tree. Equivalent linear site response analysis (SRA) is performed in STRATA and captured the soil variability properties via Monte Carlo simulations. We proposed a hybrid approach in this study which utilizes the outcomes of Random Vibration Theory (RVT) and multiple Time Histories (TH) approach to assess the site-specific amplifications. Incorporating site amplifications transforms rock ground motion models into site-specific then we performed soil PSHA in FRISK88M. The analysis revealed that RVT overpredicts (3–17%) while TH underpredict (1–6%) hazard as compared to the hybrid approach at all return periods. The hybrid approach proposed in this study provides an innovative, effective and reliable estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous silicon structures are effective in trapping light due to the abundance of pores on their surface, finding widespread use in optical applications like photoelectric conversion, photon collection, and detection. We have successfully created micro-porous silicon with exceptionally high antireflection performance through electrochemical etching using different concentrations of silver catalysts. Results show that this germanium coated porous silicon structure has a smaller range of pore sizes, leading to a reduced reflectivity of 2.6 % under light radiation with wavelengths. To understand the antireflective mechanism further, we explored the surface reflectivity of porous silicon structures by coating the germanium metal on the porous structure. Importantly, germanium coated porous silicon structures with high surface quality and well-preserved pore integrity are identified as beneficial for achieving lower reflectivity in the incident light wavelength range of 300–1200 nm. These findings are significant for the design of porous silicon antireflective materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Neurologic and musculoskeletal diseases represent a considerable portion of the underlying etiologies responsible for the widely prevalent symptoms of pain, weakness, numbness, and paresthesia. Because of the subjective and often nonspecific nature of these symptoms, different diagnostic modalities have been explored and utilized. (2) Methods: Literature review. (3) Results: Nerve and muscle biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing many of the responsible neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. However, the need for invasive tissue sampling is diminishing as more investigations explore alternative diagnostic modalities. Because of this, it is important to explore the current role of neurosurgical intervention for nerve and muscle biopsies and its current relevance in the diagnostic landscape of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. With consideration of the role of nerve and muscle biopsy, it is also important to explore innovations and emerging techniques for conducting these procedures. This review explores the indications and emerging techniques for neurological intervention for nerve and muscle biopsies. (4) Conclusions: The role of neurosurgical intervention for nerve and muscle biopsy remains relevant in diagnosing many neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Biopsy is especially relevant as a supportive point of evidence for diagnosis in atypical cases. Additionally, emerging techniques have been explored to guide diagnostics and biopsy, conduct less invasive biopsies, and reduce risks of worsening neurologic function and other symptoms secondary to biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a complex and potentially fatal hypersensitivity condition. We present a unique case report and literature review focusing on DRESS syndrome-associated myocarditis resulting from reactivated viral infections in a 21-year-old female. 3 weeks after 5-day oral co-trimoxazole consumption due to acne, she developed symptoms consistent with DRESS syndrome, including a generalized maculopapular rash. Despite prednisolone treatment, the patient developed fatal fulminant myocarditis linked to HHV-6 and CMV reactivation. The patient's death highlights the importance of early recognition and careful management of DRESS syndrome, especially considering the potential viral reactivation that can lead to severe complications. Postmortem investigations revealed that viral reactivation caused myocarditis. Careful consideration must be given to corticosteroid usage in DRESS treatment, as inappropriate prescribing may promote viral reactivation and subsequent complications. While high-dose corticosteroids initiated within the first week effectively suppress HHV-6 reactivation. Conversely, low-dose or late-start high-dose corticosteroids prove ineffective in preventing HHV-6 viremia. Late- onset or low- dose corticosteroids may lead to fatal complications following the primary viral reactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions enhance photocatalyst efficiency but face electron transfer challenges at component interfaces due to large spacing and potential barriers. We introduce a novel wet chemistry approach to enhance the efficiency of photocatalysts by creating a functionalized graphene-modulated Z-scheme vdW heterojunction (xZnPc/yG-WO 3) to eliminate interfacial potential differences, enabling better electron transfer for improved photocatalytic reactions and molecular dispersion. [Display omitted] The construction of van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions is a key approach for efficient and stable photocatalysts, attracting marvellous attention due to their capacity to enhance interfacial charge separation/transfer and offer reactive sites. However, when a vdW heterojunction is made through an ex-situ assembly, electron transmission faces notable obstacles at the components interface due to the substantial spacing and potential barrier. Herein, we present a novel strategy to address this challenge via wet chemistry by synthesizing a functionalized graphene-modulated Z-scheme vdW heterojunction of zinc phthalocyanine/tungsten trioxide (xZnPc/yG-WO 3). The functionalized G-modulation forms an electron "bridge" across the ZnPc/WO 3 interface to improve electron transfer, get rid of barriers, and ultimately facilitating the optimal transfer of excited photoelectrons from WO 3 to ZnPc. The Zn2+ in ZnPc picks up these excited photoelectrons, turning CO 2 into CO/CH 4 (42/22 μmol.g−1.h−1) to deliver 17-times better efficiency than pure WO 3. Therefore, the introduction of a molecular "bridge" as a means to establish an electron transfer conduit represents an innovative approach to fabricate efficient photocatalysts designed for the conversion of CO 2 into valued yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral judgements about people based on their actions is a key component that guides social decision making. It is currently unknown how positive or negative moral judgments associated with a person's face are processed and stored in the brain for a long time. Here, we investigate the long-term memory of moral values associated with human faces using simultaneous EEG-fMRI data acquisition. Results show that only a few exposures to morally charged stories of people are enough to form long-term memories a day later for a relatively large number of new faces. Event related potentials (ERPs) showed a significant differentiation of remembered good vs bad faces over centerofrontal electrode sites (value ERP). EEG-informed fMRI analysis revealed a subcortical cluster centered on the left caudate tail (CDt) as a correlate of the face value ERP. Importantly neither this analysis nor a conventional whole-brain analysis revealed any significant coding of face values in cortical areas, in particular the fusiform face area (FFA). Conversely an fMRI-informed EEG source localization using accurate subject-specific EEG head models also revealed activation in the left caudate tail. Nevertheless, the detected caudate tail region was found to be functionally connected to the FFA, suggesting FFA to be the source of face-specific information to CDt. A further psycho-physiological interaction analysis also revealed task-dependent coupling between CDt and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), a region previously identified as retaining emotional working memories. These results identify CDt as a main site for encoding the long-term value memories of faces in humans suggesting that moral value of faces activates the same subcortical basal ganglia circuitry involved in processing reward value memory for objects in primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclosporine A (CyA) holds significant importance as a strategic immunosuppressive drug for organ transplant patients. In this study, we aimed to produce pure and cost-effective Cyclosporine A (CyA) by fermenting a culture medium containing dairy sludge, using Tolypocladium inflatum PTCC 5253. Following the fermentation stage, ethyl acetate extraction and fast protein liquid chromatography were employed for sample purification. The initial evaluation of the effectiveness of CyA obtained from these processes was performed through bioassay, wherein the antimicrobial clear zone diameter was found to be larger compared to the sample obtained from the fermentation culture. The concentration of CyA was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, yielding values of 334 mg/L, 456 mg/L, and 578 mg/L for the fermented, extracted, and purified samples, respectively. Further analysis utilizing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) confirmed a purity of 91.9% and proper agreement with the standard sample based on the ion intensity of Z/m 1205. To validate the structure of CyA, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy were employed. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses demonstrated that the purified CyA exhibited a crystal structure similar to the standard sample, characterized by two broad peaks at 2θ = 9° and 20°, and comparable glass transition temperatures (57–68 °C for the purified sample; 53–64 °C for the standard sample). Dynamic light scattering analysis confirmed a uniform particle size distribution in both the purified and standard samples. The zeta potentials of the purified and standard samples were determined to be − 25.8 ± 0.16 and − 23.63 ± 0.12 mV, respectively. Our results demonstrate that dairy sludge can serve as a suitable culture medium for the production of (CyA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel series of dihydropyrimidine/sulphonamide hybrids 3a-j with antiinflammatory properties have been developed and tested as dual mPGES-1/5- LOX inhibitors. In vitro assay, results showed that compounds 3c, 3e, 3h, and 3j were the most effective dual inhibitors of mPGES-1 and 5-LOX activities. Compound 3j was the most potent dual inhibitor with IC50 values of 0.92 ^M and 1.98 ^M, respectively. In vivo, anti-inflammatory studies demonstrated that compounds 3c, 3e, 3h, and 3e had considerable anti-inflammatory activity, with EI% ranging from 29% to 71%. Compounds 3e and 3j were equivalent to celecoxib after the first hour but exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory effects than celecoxib after the third and fifth hours. Moreover, compounds 3e and 3j significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (PGE2, TNF-a, and IL-6) with gastrointestinal safety profiles. Molecular docking simulations explored the most potent derivatives' binding affinities and interaction patterns within mPGES-1 and 5-LOX active sites. This study disclosed that compound 3j is a promising anti-inflammatory lead with dual mPGES-1/5-LOX inhibition that deserves further preclinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peripheral insulin resistance and compromised insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells are significant factors and pathogenic hallmarks of diabetes mellitus (DM). NF-κβ/TLR-4 and SERCA/Ca2+ pathways have been identified as potential pathways regulating insulin synthesis by preserving pancreatic β-cell functioning. The current study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) against DM in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model with particular emphasis on pancreatic β-cell functioning. Methods: AGE was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate its physio-chemical characteristics followed by in-vitro anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential. This was followed by the induction of DM in laboratory animals for investigating the therapeutic action of AGE by evaluating the role of NF-κβ/TLR-4 and the SERCA/Ca2+ pathway. The parameters assessed in the present experimental setup encompassed antioxidant parameters, metabolic indicators, insulin concentration, intracellular calcium levels, apoptotic markers (CCK-8 and Caspase Glo-8), and protein expression (P-62 and APACHE-II). Results: AGE characterization by SEM, GC-MS, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the presence of phenylalanine, alliin, S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), tryptophan, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid as major bioactive constituents of AGE. Metabolic studies, including intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), revealed significantly lower blood glucose levels in the AGE group compared to the disease control group. In contrast, the intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (ITT) exhibited no significant difference in insulin sensitivity between the AGE supplementation group and the DM control group. Interestingly, AGE was found to have no significant effect on fasting glucose and serum insulin levels. In contrast, AGE supplementation was found to cause significant hypoglycaemia in postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels. Importantly, AGE causes restoration of intracellular Ca2+ levels by modulation of SERCA/Ca2 functioning and inhibition NF-κB/TLR-4 pathway. AGE was found to interact with and inhibit the DR-5/ caspase-8/3 apoptotic complex. Furthermore, microscopic studies revealed degeneration and apoptotic changes in pancreatic β-cells of the DM control group, while supplementation of AGE resulted in inhibition of apoptotic pathway and regeneration of pancreatic β-cells. Conclusion: The current study suggests that AGE enhance glucose homeostasis by exerting their effects on pancreatic β-cells, without ameliorating peripheral sensitivity. Moreover, AGEs promote an increase in β-cell mass by mitigating the apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells. These findings suggest that AGE could aid in developing a viable alternative therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron cluster sheets are two-dimensional boron atom-based formations called borophene. They are similar to the two-dimensional sheet known as graphene, which is composed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The unique electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of borophene make it a sought-after substance for a variety of uses, such as catalysis, energy storage, and electronics. There are two ways to manufacture borophene: chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy. Vertex-edge valency-based topological descriptors are a great example of a molecular descriptor that provides information on the connection of atoms in a molecule. These descriptions are based on the notion that a node's value in a molecular network is the sum of the valency of those atoms that are directly connected to that node. In this article, we discussed some novel vertex-edge (ve) and edge-vertex (ev) topological descriptors and found their formulations for the boron cluster or borophene sheets. Also, we show the numerical and graphical comparison of these descriptors in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are some discrepancies about the superiority of the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery over the conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump). The aim of this study was estimating risk ratio of mortality in the off-pump coronary bypass compared with the on-pump using a causal model known as collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation (C-TMLE). The data of the Tehran Heart Cohort study from 2007 to 2020 was used. A collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation and targeted maximum likelihood estimation, and propensity score (PS) adjustment methods were used to estimate causal risk ratio adjusting for the minimum sufficient set of confounders, and the results were compared. Among 24,883 participants (73.6% male), 5566 patients died during an average of 8.2 years of follow-up. The risk ratio estimates (95% confidence intervals) by unadjusted log-binomial regression model, PS adjustment, TMLE, and C-TMLE methods were 0.86 (0.78–0.95), 0.88 (0.80–0.97), 0.88 (0.80–0.97), and 0.87(0.85–0.89), respectively. This study provides evidence for a protective effect of off-pump surgery on mortality risk for up to 8 years in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying cancer risk groups by multi-omics has attracted researchers in their quest to find biomarkers from diverse risk-related omics. Stratifying the patients into cancer risk groups using genomics is essential for clinicians for pre-prevention treatment to improve the survival time for patients and identify the appropriate therapy strategies. This study proposes a multi-omics framework that can extract the features from various omics simultaneously. The framework employs autoencoders to learn the non-linear representation of the data and applies tensor analysis for feature learning. Further, the clustering method is used to stratify the patients into multiple cancer risk groups. Several omics were included in the experiments, namely methylation, somatic copy-number variation (SCNV), micro RNA (miRNA) and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) from two cancer types, including Glioma and Breast Invasive Carcinoma from the TCGA dataset. The results of this study are promising, as evidenced by the survival analysis and classification models, which outperformed the state-of-the-art. The patients can be significantly (p-value<0.05) divided into risk groups using extracted latent variables from the fused multi-omics data. The pipeline is open source to help researchers and clinicians identify the patients' risk groups using genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient low-cost adsorbent was prepared using raw and chemically modified cellulose isolated from sugarcane bagasse for decontamination of Cr(VI) from wastewater. First, cellulose pulp was isolated from sugarcane bagasse by subjecting it to acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis and bleaching with sodium chlorate (NaClO3). Then, the bleached cellulose pulp was chemically modified with acrylonitrile monomer in the presence Fenton's reagent (Fe+2/H2O2) to carry out grafting of acrylonitrile onto cellulose by atom transfer radical polymerization. The developed adsorbent (acrylonitrile grafted cellulose) was analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Both raw cellulose and acrylonitrile grafted cellulose were used for chromium removal from wastewater. The effects of metal ion concentration, pH, adsorbent dose and time were studied, and their values were optimized. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto raw and chemically modified cellulose were: metal ion concentration: 50 ppm, adsorbent dose: 1 g, pH: 6, and time: 60 min. The maximum efficiencies of 73% and 94% and adsorption capacities of 125.95 mg/g and 267.93 mg/g were achieved for raw and acrylonitrile grafted cellulose, respectively. High removal efficiency was achieved, owing to high surface area of 79.92 m2/g and functional active binding cites on grafted cellulose. Isotherm and kinetics studies show that the experimental data were fully fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo first-order model. The adsorbent (acrylonitrile grafted cellulose) was regenerated using three different types of regenerating reagents and reused thirty times, and there was negligible decrease (19%) in removal efficiency after using it for 30 times. Hence, it is anticipated that acrylonitrile could be utilized as potential candidate material for commercial scale Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive disease that early diagnostic attempts is of an utmost importance. A machine learning model that utilizes NCA and MRMR in this work is attempting to isolate pertinent dysregulated miRNA's for the different four cancer stages. This work compares the current clinical diagnostic approaches with the proposed ML model results. Determining the tumor origin in humans is vital in clinical applications of molecular diagnostics. Metastatic cancer is usually a very aggressive disease with limited diagnostic procedures, despite the fact that many protocols have been evaluated for their effectiveness in prognostication. Research has shown that dysregulation in miRNAs (a class of non-coding, regulatory RNAs) is remarkably involved in oncogenic conditions. This research paper aims to develop a machine learning model that processes an array of miRNAs in 1097 metastatic tissue samples from patients who suffered from various stages of breast cancer. The suggested machine learning model is fed with miRNA quantitative read count data taken from The Cancer Genome Atlas Data Repository. Two main feature-selection techniques have been used, mainly Neighborhood Component Analysis and Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance, to identify the most discriminant and relevant miRNAs for their up-regulated and down-regulated states. These miRNAs are then validated as biological identifiers for each of the four cancer stages in breast tumors. Both machine learning algorithms yield performance scores that are significantly higher than the traditional fold-change approach, particularly in earlier stages of cancer, with Neighborhood Component Analysis and Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance achieving accuracy scores of up to 0.983 and 0.931, respectively, compared to 0.920 for the FC method. This study underscores the potential of advanced feature-selection methods in enhancing the accuracy of cancer stage identification, paving the way for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of pistachio, one of the export products of Iran, will be decreased during storage as a result of mold spoilage, toxins production, and oil oxidation. This study aimed to investigate the capability of pistachio hull extract (PHE) loaded in fenugreek seed gum (FSG):whey protein isolate (WPI) nanoemulsion to control oil oxidation, and fungi growth in fresh pistachio nut during storage at 4°C. The total anthocyanin and total phenolic content of the PHE were 125.44 μg/g and 675.18 mg/g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of PHE at 100 ppm was higher than that of tert‐butylhydroquinon (TBHQ). In comparison with other concentrations, 50 ppm showed the strongest antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius. All nanoemulsions have a mean size lower than 265 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) of different nanoemulsions was lower than 0.3, and a negative zeta potential was observed. The encapsulation efficiency was higher than 67.0% and all nanoemulsions had spherical morphology. The pistachio nuts were coated with different coating solutions containing 0 and 100 ppm of PHE and stored at 4°C for 8 weeks. The results showed that the pistachio sample coated with a composite coating of WPI and FSG containing 100 ppm of PHE has a higher moisture content and lower changes in L*, a*, and b* indexes, oil oxidation, fungi development, and total mold and yeast count. This treatment exhibited higher overall acceptance than other samples at the end of storage time. The results of this study suggest the use of biodegradable coatings enriched with natural extracts that have high antioxidant and antifungal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the current environmental situation and human health, a green manufacturing system is very essential in the manufacturing world. Several researchers have developed various types of green manufacturing models by considering green products, green investments, carbon emission taxes, etc. Motivated by this topic, a green production model is formulated by considering selling price, time, warranty period and green level dependent demand with a carbon emission tax policy. Also, the production rate of the system is an unknown function of time. Per unit production cost of the products is taken as increasing function of production rate and green level of the products. In our proposed model, carbon emission rate is taken as linear function of time. Then, an optimization problem of the production model is constructed. To validate of our proposed model, a numerical example is considered and solved it by AHA. Further, other five metaheuristics algorithms (AEFA, FA, GWOA, WOA and EOA) are taken to compare the results obtained from AHA. Also, concavity of the average profit function and convergence graph of different metaheuristics algorithms are presented. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of different system parameters on our optimal policy and reach a fruitful conclusion from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of advanced multifunctional compounds has gained significant momentum in recent scientific endeavours. This study is dedicated to elucidating the synthesis, rigorous characterization, and multifaceted applications—encompassing anti-corrosion, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties—of Diethyl 4-(5-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate. The 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative was meticulously synthesized through a strategic reaction of ethyl acetoacetate, ammonium acetate, and 5-bromoindole-3-carboxaldehydein the ethanol medium at 60 C. Subsequent spectral validations were conducted using sophisticated techniques, namely FTIR, NMR, and Mass spectrometry, resulting in data that perfectly resonated with the hypothesized chemical structure of the compound. Its anti-corrosive potential was assessed on mild steel subjected to an aggressive acidic environment, employing comprehensive methodologies like gravimetric analysis, Tafel polarization, and EIS. Concurrently, its antimicrobial prowess was ascertained against a spectrum of bacterial and fungal pathogens viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Candida albicansandAspergillusniger, leveraging the disc diffusion method and using Gentamicin as a reference standard.The empirical results illustrated a substantial decrement in corrosion rates with ascending concentrations of the organic compound, achieving an apex of anti-corrosive efficacy at 81.89% for a concentration of 2 × 103 M. Furthermore, the compound outperformed Gentamicin in antimicrobial screenings, manifesting superior efficacy against all tested pathogens. The antioxidant potential, quantified using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay against ascorbic acid as a benchmark, was found to have an IC50 value of 113.964 ± 0.076 µg/ml.This comprehensive investigation accentuates the paramount potential of the synthesized dihydropyridine derivative in diverse domains—from industrial applications as a corrosion inhibitor to therapeutic avenues given its pronounced antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities. The compelling results obtained pave the way for expansive research and development initiatives cantered around this multifaceted compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Side effects associated with antimicrobial drugs, as well as their high cost, have prompted a search for low-cost herbal medicinal substances with fewer side effects. These substances can be used as supplements to medicine or to strengthen their effects. The current study investigated the effect of oleuropein on the inhibition of fungal and bacterial biofilm in-vitro and at the molecular level. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, antimicrobial properties were evaluated using microbroth dilution method. The effect of oleuropein on the formation and eradication of biofilm was assessed on 96-well flat bottom microtiter plates and their effects were observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its effect on key genes (Hwp1, Als3, Epa1, Epa6, LuxS, Pfs) involved in biofilm formation was investigated using the quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal/bactericidal concentration (MFC/MBC) for oleuropein were found to be 65 mg/ml and 130 mg/ml, respectively. Oleuropein significantly inhibited biofilm formation at MIC/2 (32.5 mg/ml), MIC/4 (16.25 mg/ml), MIC/8 (8.125 mg/ml) and MIC/16 (4.062 mg/ml) (p < 0.0001). The anti-biofilm effect of oleuropein was confirmed by SEM. RT-qPCR indicated significant down regulation of expression genes involved in biofilm formation in Candida albicans (Hwp1, Als3) and Candida glabrata (Epa1, Epa6) as well as Escherichia coli (LuxS, Pfs) genes after culture with a MIC/2 of oleuropein (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The results indicate that oleuropein has antifungal and antibacterial properties that enable it to inhibit or destroy the formation of fungal and bacterial biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence and associated complications. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been linked to CKD, but the evidence remains inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between MetS and kidney dysfunction. Method: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases until December 2022 for cohort studies assessing the association between MetS and incident kidney dysfunction. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed and random effects models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Result: A total of 24 eligible studies, involving 6,573,911 participants, were included in this meta-analysis. MetS was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing CKD (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28, 1.57), albuminuria or proteinuria (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10, 1.86), and rapid decline in kidney function (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07, 1.47). Subgroup analyses showed a stronger association as the number of MetS components increased. However, gender-specific subgroups demonstrated varying associations. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is a significant risk factor for kidney dysfunction, requiring close renal monitoring. Lifestyle changes and targeted interventions may help reduce CKD burden. Further research is needed to understand the connection fully and assess intervention efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an optical reflector is designed based on an all-dielectric metamaterial comprising silicon double bars with bent arms positioned on the surface of a silica layer. The proposed structure generates high-quality factor Fano resonance peaks within the visible spectrum, facilitated by the structural asymmetry introduced into the top layer of the metamaterial, i.e., the bar pairs. The use of dielectric materials instead of metal has resulted in lower plasmonic power loss and ultra-high quality factor peaks in the desired range. Simulation results show that the central wavelength, spectral width, and amplitude of the Fano resonance peaks can be adjusted by controlling the geometrical characteristics of the structure. Notably, an ultra-narrow Fano resonance peak of 0.26 nm at 682.78 nm wavelength has been achieved through the geometrical manipulation of the silicon bar pairs. Consequently, the proposed structure holds potential for applications in a variety of optical devices such as ultra-narrow band filters and high-resolution sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Tehran, Iran's most populous province, there has been a notable surge in livestock production in recent years, prompting a critical examination of water resource allocation through the water footprint indicator. This study uniquely concentrates on livestock productions at a provincial level, specifically within four key counties boasting the highest production rates in Tehran province. Employing the methodology introduced by Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2012), a comprehensive analysis of the water footprints (WFs) associated with various livestock productions is conducted. The results underscore that milk production holds the highest average water footprint at 13,007 cubic meters per ton, significantly surpassing other products. Conversely, lamb exhibits the lowest water footprint at 2,266.7 cubic meters per ton among livestock productions. Evaluation of fresh water sources in relation to animal water footprints highlights unsustainable conditions in southern counties, particularly Islamshahr, due to a pronounced disparity between their product water footprint and available water resources. In contrast, northern counties demonstrate lower water footprints, aligning with their abundant water resources. A scrutiny of water resources reveals vulnerability in Tehran's dams, approaching long-term minimum water volume despite the escalating levels of livestock production. While Varamin features a wastewater treatment unit contributing substantial volume (160 million cubic meters) and recycled water to the system, wells and Qanats play a role in water provision but prove inadequate. Given the substantial productions and water resource scarcity, a recommendation is made to discontinue all livestock production; however, if production persists, focusing solely on sheep meat (lamb) in northern counties is deemed a feasible strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the vehicle control process in emergency lane change (ELC). The control method is divided into two parts: before crossing the obstacle and after crossing it. The first part is done by a feed-forward controller inspired by the driver's behavior pattern in the ELC maneuver. This controller is compensated by a neural network system and two proportional-integral (PI) and proportional-derivative (PD) controllers, which correct the output of the feed-forward controller to follow the path more accurately. The second part consists of two PD controllers responsible for controlling and steering the vehicle in the main path after crossing the obstacle. The main novelty of the proposed method is that the computational burden is low because of using a feed-forward controller, which is the main source of the calculation's burden. So as a result, the controller system can cover the ELC maneuver in under 2 seconds in various lateral displacements to bypass the obstacle and prevent collisions. The co-simulations are performed in CarSim software and MATLAB/Simulink, which shows that the control system can appropriately steer the vehicle and follow the desired at different speeds, in the presence of road friction and parameter uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blastocystis sp. is a zoonotic protozoan parasite, and there is limited information about its molecular prevalence and subtypes (STs) distribution in camels globally, especially in Iran. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the prevalence, STs distribution, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in one‐humped and two‐humped camels in Ardabil province, northwestern Iran. Methods: A PCR‐sequencing tool using the SSU rRNA gene was employed to examine the occurrence and genetic variation of Blastocystis sp. in 150 faecal samples from Bactrian (Camelus bactrianus, 50 samples) and Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius, 100 samples) camels in Ardabil province. Results: The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in camels was determined to be 12% (18/150) through microscopy and PCR analyses. Phylogenetically, this study identified three distinct zoonotic STs: ST7, ST10, and ST14. ST10 was the most prevalent, comprising 50% (9/18) of the isolated STs from camels. ST14 closely followed with 38.9% (7/18), while ST7 made up 11.1% (2/18) of the total STs. In brief, ST10, ST14, and ST7 represented 50% (7/14), 35.7% (5/14), and 14.3% (2/14) of the Blastocystis‐positive cases in one‐humped camels, respectively. Further, each of the ST10 and ST14 accounted for 50% (2/4) of the Blastocystis‐positive samples in two‐humped camels. An analysis of the available data reveals that out of the 37–44 identified Blastocystis STs, 15 (ST1–ST7, ST10, ST14, ST15, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, and ST30) have been reported in camels. The predominant STs observed are ST10 and ST14. Furthermore, among the 15 zoonotic STs (ST1–ST10, ST12–ST14, ST16, and ST23) of Blastocystis reported thus far, nine zoonotic STs (ST1–ST7, ST10, and ST14) have been found in camels. Conclusions: These findings indicate that camels serve as a proper reservoir for a diverse array of Blastocystis STs and thereby can play a significant role in the transmission of this protozoan infection to humans, animals, and water reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Parry–Romberg syndrome is characterized by progressive dystrophy in one half of the face, which usually begins in childhood. Correct and timely diagnosis of this disease, as well as a multidisciplinary approach and timely surgical treatment to minimize the psychological effects and improve the patient's appearance are of particular importance. Parry–Romberg syndrome is characterized by progressive dystrophy or loss of subcutaneous tissue in one half of the face, which usually begins in childhood and continues with skin changes, and can also be associated with linear scleroderma. Although this disease has been known for more than 150 years, its exact cause and pathogenesis are not well understood. The clinical feature of Parry–Romberg syndrome that makes it possible to diagnose is unilateral idiopathic facial atrophy. The reported case is a 14‐year‐old boy who suffered from hemifacial atrophy of the frontal area since he was 7 years old was referred to a plastic and cosmetic surgery specialist and underwent surgery without systemic symptoms and in the inactive phase of the disease. Correct and timely diagnosis of this disease, as well as a multidisciplinary approach and timely and appropriate surgical treatment to minimize the psychological effects and improve the patient's appearance are of particular importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death, which accordingly increased by hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia therapy can include lifestyle changes and medications to control cholesterol levels. Statins are the medications of the first choice for dealing with lipid abnormalities. Rosuvastatin founds to control high lipid levels by hindering liver production of cholesterol and to achieve the targeted levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, another lipid lowering agents named ezetimibe may be used as an added therapy. Both rosuvastatin and ezetimibe have low bioavailability which will stand as barrier to decrease cholesterol levels, because of such depictions, formulations of this combined therapy in nanotechnology will be of a great assistance. Our study demonstrated preparations of nanoparticles of this combined therapy, showing their physical characterizations, and examined their behavior in laboratory conditions and vivo habitation. The mean particle size was uniform, polydispersity index and zeta potential of formulations were found to be in the ranges of (0.181-0.72) and (-13.4 to -6.24), respectively. Acceptable limits of entrapment efficiency were affirmed with appearance of spherical and uniform nanoparticles. In vitro testing showed a sustained release of drug exceeded 90% over 24 h. In vivo study revealed an enhanced dissolution and bioavailability from loaded nanoparticles, which was evidenced by calculated pharmacokinetic parameters using triton for hyperlipidemia induction. Stability studies were performed and assured that the formulations are kept the same up to one month. Therefore, nano formulations is a suitable transporter for combined therapy of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe with improvement in their dissolution and bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer incidences are rising each year. In 2020, approximately 20 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer‐related deaths were recorded. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2024 the incidence of cancer will increase to 30.2 million individuals annually. Considering the invasive characteristics of its diagnostic procedures and therapeutic methods side effects, scientists are searching for different solutions, including using plant‐derived bioactive compounds, that could reduce the probability of cancer occurrence and make its treatment more comfortable. In this regard, oridonin (ORI), an ent‐kaurane diterpenoid, naturally found in the leaves of Rabdosia rubescens species, has been found to have antitumor, antiangiogenesis, antiasthmatic, antiinflammatory, and apoptosis induction properties. Extensive research has been performed on ORI to find various mechanisms involved in its anticancer activities. This review article provides an overview of ORI's effectiveness on murine and human cancer populations from 1976 to 2022 and provides insight into the future application of ORI in different cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]