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This article aims to: (1) explain the ethical politics and the origins of the Kweekschool establishment policy; (2) analyze the educational system and programs offered at Kweekschool; (3) examine the influence of Kweekschool on the social transformation of the native (bumiputra) community. This study employs a historical research method. The findings indicate that: (1) The ethical politics, formalized by Queen Wilhelmina in 1901, led to the implementation of the Kweekschoolplan in 1927, which facilitated the establishment of Kweekschool as a response to the need for local teachers; (2) Kweekschool offered various educational programs aimed at training different categories of teachers, including those for rural schools and for Vervolg schools; (3) The ethical politics contributed to a social transformation within the bumiputra community, as Kweekschool graduates, who formed the educated elite, played a significant role in the emergence of nationalist movements that contributed to Indonesia's struggle for independence.

Naturally colored cotton can be a highly sustainable alternative to conventional cotton which entails huge consumption of water, energy, and chemicals in scouring, bleaching and dyeing. The objective of this study was to investigate the yarn properties of one of the most commonly grown Gossypium hirsutum cotton and naturally colored Gossypium arboreum cotton grown in Pakistan. Eighteen different samples of ring-spun yarn were developed using the two cotton types, in three different yarn counts (Ne 16, Ne 20, Ne 24), each with three different twist multipliers (TM: 4.00, 4.25, 4.50). Different yarn properties of all yarn samples were investigated as per standard test methods. Result comparisons show that tenacity and elongation of conventional cotton yarns was about 42% and 10 % higher as compared to that of colored cotton respectively. Similarly, hairiness, CVm and total imperfections of colored cotton yarns were 11%, 25%and 320 % higher as compared to conventional cotton respectively. Comparative analysis reveals that although yarns made from Gossypium hirsutum cotton are superior in terms of strength, elongation and uniformity. However, the properties of naturally colored Gossypium arboreum cotton yarn are good enough for making different textile products which do not require too high mechanical strength and uniformity such as knitwear, woven casuals, and home textiles like bed linen and curtains. It seems that the natural color genes of cotton suppress its strength and fiber length properties which reduced yarn tenacity, and increased yarn unevenness, imperfections, and hairiness.

Understanding the preferences of startups for external financing through debt or equity can help entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers to offer startups the most appropriate financing options. Based on this degree of importance, in previous studies under the title of determining factors of capital structure, various variables affecting the method of external financing (debt or equity) of companies have been widely investigated. There are two major gaps in these studies. Firstly, in these studies, the variable of the company's strategy has not been paid attention to, and secondly, the studies have not paid much attention to start-up companies. In this study, the effect of entrepreneurial orientation of start-up managers as a set of characteristics including innovation, risk acceptance and leadership along with other variables related to the company and founders on the method of external capital financing has been investigated. The data of this research was collected using a questionnaire that was distributed among startups in Tehran and Tabriz in 2023 to 2024, and Tobit method and STATA software were used for data analysis. The findings of the research based on data collected from 110 start-up companies show that startups with entrepreneurial orientation are not more inclined to any of the external financing methods and the relationship of this variable with both debt financing and equity financing variables is negative. Also, the results show that with the increase of industry risk perceived by managers, the negative effect of entrepreneurial orientation on external financing ratios decreases.

Pakistan’s economic growth has been hindered by various internal and external factors since its independence in 1947. This study aims to identify the root causes of these issues and provide a comprehensive understanding of the country’s economic situation. Internally, inefficient bureaucracy, corruption, inadequate support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), labor market rigidity, tax evasion, and regional inequalities have impeded development. External factors such as political instability, terrorism, weak governance, foreign policy challenges, and insufficient infrastructure have discouraged investment and disrupted economic activities. Pakistan’s reliance on low-tech exports has also led to a loss of competitiveness in international trade. To revitalize the economy, the study suggests reforms in governance, bureaucracy, and infrastructure, with a focus on supporting SMEs, reducing corruption, and attracting investment. The adoption of circular economy (CE) practices, particularly through the use of recycled materials, is proposed as a viable pathway to enhance economic resilience and environmental sustainability. The study highlights the potential for integrating CE strategies, drawing from successful global practices, to address Pakistan’s economic and environmental challenges. However, the reliance on historical data and linear econometric models may not fully capture the evolving economic dynamics, necessitating further research incorporating real-time data and sector-specific approaches. Despite these limitations, the study provides actionable insights for policymakers, offering a framework for Pakistan and other developing economies to achieve sustainable growth.

Abstract Faba bean is an important legume crop with significant potential to contribute to sustainable agricultural systems and food security in Ethiopia. Despite its importance, the crop is prone to various biotic and abiotic constraints that can reduce seed yield and affect its stability and adaptability. To identify stable and adaptable genotypes, 10 faba bean genotypes were evaluated at three locations over two growing seasons using different stability parameters. Genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE biplot) and additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analyses are the statistical methods used to evaluate crop genotype performance across different environments to identify high-performing, stable, and adaptable genotypes and to highlight preferable environments for genotype differentiation. This study utilized cultivar superiority, regression coefficients, and deviations from regression parameters that provide valuable insights into genotype performance under varying environmental conditions. This approach helps to identify robust cultivars that can thrive across different agricultural settings and challenges, ultimately contributing to improved crop production and food security. The results revealed that G9, G8, and G7 are the three most stable and adaptable genotypes. These faba bean genotypes showed greater resilience to environmental changes and improved suitability for sustainable production, making them better options for local farmers. They also bolster resilience against climate variability and ultimately ensure agricultural sustainability. The AMMI model indicated that the genotype-environment interaction (GEI) significantly influences seed yield. These findings provide crucial insights into the genetic potential of faba bean genotypes that can help breeding programs to develop high-yielding, adaptable, and stable varieties for the region and other areas with similar agro-ecological conditions.

Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) poses a significant threat to cotton crops worldwide, resulting in economic losses surpassing sustainable levels for farmers since 2011. This study examines different approaches to controlling pink bollworm infestations, specifically silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), bio-formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and a commercial insecticide (Triazophos), in both laboratory and field environments. AgNPs were synthesized using neem plant leaf extract (Azadirachta indica). The formation of AgNPs was confirmed through UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and a zeta sizer analyzer. In the laboratory, the effectiveness of individual and combined applications of AgNPs, Bt, and Triazophos was tested against 2nd and 4th instar pink bollworm larvae. Mortality rates were measured at 1, 2, and 5 days after application. The results showed that the treatment combining AgNPs and Triazophos (40ppm + 50ppm) achieved a larval mortality rate of over 90%, surpassing the other treatments. In field conditions, the combination of Triazophos and AgNPs at 40ppm (100ml + 50ml) proved most effective in managing P. gossypiella populations. These findings underscore the potential of nanoparticles as efficient larvicidal agents for controlling P. gossypiella. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of reevaluating past management strategies for cotton crops given emerging alternatives to traditional insecticides. Future research directions may involve further optimizing nanoparticle formulations and investigating their broader ecological impacts on cotton ecosystems.

Extraction and processing of polyether polyols derived from petrochemicals, commonly used as surfactants during polyurethane foam (PUF) production, contribute to carbon emissions and raises the issue of long-term sustainability given that petrochemicals are non-renewable resources. Here, 5 mg and 4 mg of neem seed oil are employed to form flexible and rigid PUF, classified purposefully based on their divergent usage. To find an environmentally friendly replacement, flexible PUF whose mass, volume, density, compression, tensile strength, cream time, foam rise and rising time are 0.0047 kg m3, 16.52 kg/m3, 8.10%, 39.28 kN/m2, 60s, 10s and 60s is formed by mixing 1.25 kg polyol, 5mg silicon oil and 10g calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Likewise, by mixing 1.2 kg polyol, 4mg silicon oil and 8g CaCO3, a rigid PUF with 0.005kg, m3, 16.2 kg/m3, 8.15%, 40.72 kN/m2, 50s, 15 cm and 58s key, physical and mechanical property as respectively listed under the flexible PUF formulation is produced. Both foams were produced using equal amounts of toluene diisocyanate, water, stannous octoate and methylene chloride, resulting in PUF that can be used in insulation, cushioning and construction support applications based on their characteristic height, density, tensile strength and compressive strength. As the surfactant, neem seed oil's potential in the synthesis of PUF cannot be overemphasized. The study of the kinetics of PUF production is limited and should trigger the adoption of biobased surfactants for industrial applications in the future.

IntroductionIsaria cicadae, a historically valued edible and medicinal fungus in China, has been experiencing a critical decline in abundance due to ecological degradation and overexploitation. Understanding its potential distribution is essential for promoting sustainable harvesting practices.MethodsThis study utilizes the MaxEnt model, combined with known distribution records and 22 environmental variables, to predict the potential distribution of I. cicadae under three representative emission scenarios (CMIP6: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) for the 2050s and 2070s.ResultsThe analysis identifies seven key environmental variables influencing the habitat suitability of I. cicadae: the mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio09), the mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio08), precipitation in the wettest month (bio16), the mean diurnal range (bio02), isothermality (bio03), elevation, and slope. Currently, I. cicadae is mainly found in the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Fujian, Anhui, and Zhejiang, with Yunnan and Sichuan having the largest areas of high suitability at 25.79 × 104 km2 and 21.36 × 104 km2, respectively.DiscussionJiangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are identified as primary regions of high suitability. This study aims to further elucidate the impact of the environment on the distribution of I. cicadae from a geographical perspective and provide theoretical insights for the future cultivation and conservation strategies of this species.

BackgroundThere is indication that the fallopian tubes might be involved in ovarian cancer pathogenesis and their removal reduces cancer risk. Hence, bilateral salpingectomy during hysterectomy or sterilization, so called opportunistic salpingectomy (OS), is gaining wide acceptance as a preventive strategy. Recently, it was discussed whether implementation of OS at other gynecologic surgery, e.g., cesarean section, endometriosis excision or myomectomy and even at non-gynecologic abdominal surgery such as cholecystectomy or appendectomy for women with completed family could be feasible. This modeling analysis evaluated the clinical and economic potential of OS at gynecologic and abdominal surgeries.Methods and findingsA state transition model representing all relevant health states (healthy, healthy with hysterectomy or tubal ligation, healthy with other gynecologic or non-gynecologic abdominal surgery, healthy with hysterectomy and salpingectomy, healthy with salpingectomy, healthy with hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, ovarian cancer and death) was developed and informed with transition probabilities based on inpatient case numbers in Germany (2019). Outcomes for women aged 20-85 years were simulated over annual cycles with 1,200,000 million individuals. We compared four strategies: (I) OS at any suitable abdominal surgery, (II) OS only at any suitable gynecologic surgery, (III) OS only at hysterectomy or sterilization, and (IV) no implementation of OS. Primary outcome measures were prevented ovarian cancer cases and deaths as well as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Volume of eligible interventions in strategy I was 3.5 times greater than in strategy III (286,736 versus 82,319). With strategy IV as reference, ovarian cancer cases were reduced by 15.34% in strategy I, 9.78% in II, and 5.48% in III. Setting costs for OS to €216.19 (calculated from average OS duration and operating room minute costs), implementation of OS would lead to healthcare cost savings as indicated by an ICER of €-8,685.50 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for strategy I, €-8,270.55/QALY for II, and €-4,511.86/QALY for III. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated stable results over a wide range of input parameters with strategy I being the superior approach in the majority of simulations. However, the extent of cancer risk reduction after OS appeared as the critical factor for effectiveness. Preventable ovarian cancer cases dropped to 4.07% (I versus IV), 1.90% (II versus IV), and 0.37% (III versus IV) if risk reduction would be 0.73). ICER of strategies I and II was lower than the 2× gross domestic product per capita (GDP/C) (€94,366/QALY, Germany 2022) within the range of all tested parameters, but strategy III exceeded this threshold in case-risk reduction was 0.65). The study is limited to data from the inpatient sector and direct medical costs.ConclusionsBased on our model, interdisciplinary implementation of OS in any suitable abdominal surgeries could contribute to prevention of ovarian cancer and reduction of healthcare costs. The broader implementation approach demonstrated substantially better clinical and economic effectiveness and higher robustness with parameter variation. Based on a lifetime cost saving of €20.89 per capita if OS was performed at any suitable abdominal surgery, the estimated total healthcare cost savings in Germany could be more than €10 million annually.

Rapid urbanization worldwide is driving increased demand for petroleum products. Yet, crude oil reserves—finite, geographically concentrated resources—are insufficient to meet this rising need, especially in countries lacking substantial fossil fuel reserves. This situation underscores the urgency of shifting toward alternative energy sources before reserves are exhausted. This study conducted particulate matter emissions and endurance testing using diesel fuel mixed with aluminum oxide nanoparticles. The endurance test involved a single-cylinder, horizontal diesel engine, running for 60 hours without modifications. Two fuel samples were examined: D100 (pure diesel) as the baseline and D97Al?O? (97% diesel with 3% aluminum oxide nanoparticles). Engine performance metrics and sound pressure levels were recorded at a constant 1400 RPM, with variable loads from 0.0 to 1.6 Kg-m, incremented by 0.1 Kg-m. The load was set at 1.0 Kg-m for endurance testing with a constant 1400 RPM. Visual inspection of fuel injector tips helped analyze the deposition of aromatic compounds on injector surfaces for each fuel sample. Electron microscopy provided detailed insights into deposit formation, showing that carbon deposition was reduced by 22.22% when aluminum oxide was used as an additive further analysis of the particulate matter emissions the results shows that PM reduced by 12.08% in aluminum oxide compared to the diesel fuel. Because they aid in the creation of cleaner fuel technologies that can lessen reliance on traditional petroleum products and minimize pollution, the study's findings have wider energy and environmental ramifications.

This study identified the trends in monthly temperature, precipitation, & evaporation for Astore, Darosh, Gilgit, Gupis and Skardu and trends in inflow, outflow and reservoir level for Tarbela reservoir. Two non-parametric tests i.e. Man-Kendall and Sen’s Slope and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) were used to determine the trend. The first Mann-Kendall test with a significance level 5% was applied to 33-year data of five selected areas from 1990-2022. The results showed an increasing trend in temperature in March for all selected areas. No significant trend was observed in precipitation except negative trends for Darosh in March, May and December and positive trend for Gilgit in January and September. It has been observed that the trend direction given by ITA and Mann-Kendall is similar. Inflows to reservoir were found directly related to the temperature because of glacier melt in rising temperature, thus increasing the inflow, although the precipitation was found decreasing with increase in temperature. Altered snowmelt patterns can influence weather systems, potentially contributing to more extreme weather events.

AbstractContractors fail to meet project objectives for a variety of reasons. One of the major reasons for this has been attributed to the current criteria for awarding contract ineffectiveness in identifying contractors capable of meeting today’s demands and challenges. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative contract-awarding systems for public building construction projects. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop multiple contractor selection criteria and a selection model by integrating the Delphi and Fuzzy AHP methods. First, this study conducted an extensive literature review of related studies to determine the contractor selection criteria to select contractors for building projects. Thirty sub-criteria were finalized under six major criteria categories, such as Bid Price, Financial Capacity. Technical Capacity. Management Capacity, Experience and Reputation, and Health, Safety and Environment. Two rounds of the Delphi method were then employed to finalize and categorize the contractor selection criteria. Finally, the Fuzzy AHP method was employed to assign weights to the contractor selection criteria and then rank them according to their importance. The study revealed that among all sub-criteria, Bid Price, Projects completed on time and within budget; Experience on Similar types and sizes of projects; and Qualification, Number and Experience of Staff are the most important selection criteria. The last four sub-criteria in the row with slight weight differences are innovative methods, liquidity, credit rating, and organizational structure. The results of this study serve as a benchmark for the application of multiple contractor selection criteria procurement in Ethiopia, and as a basis for future research.

The class spike is an important class of 3-connected matroids. For an integer [Formula: see text], each matroid that is obtained by relaxing one of the circuit-hyperplanes of an r-spike (spike with rank r) is isomorphic to another r-spike and repeating this procedure will produce other r-spikes. So it will be useful to characterize the collection of circuit-hyperplanes of a spike. In this paper, we first introduce a technique to characterize the only two ternary r-spikes in terms of their matrix representations, circuit-hyperplanes, and [Formula: see text]-circuits and then we generalize this technique to characterize the class of r-spikes that is representable over the field GF(p), for all primes p. Moreover, we pose a conjecture which would characterize the class of all r-spikes by using all GF(p)-representable r-spikes.

In recent years, there has been an increasing concern regarding the impact of pesticide exposure on pollinators, particularly honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). This concern arises from their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and global food production. Therefore, an extensive investigation has been conducted to explore the intricate relationship between pesticides and the biological development of honey bees in the Rahim Yar Khan region. This study assessed the impact of four pesticides (Emamectin benzoate, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid, and Acetamiprid) on honey bee eggs, larvae, and adult bees under controlled laboratory conditions. The pesticides were applied at concentrations of 10%, 30%, and 50%, as per regional agricultural recommendations. A zero-toxicity control was also included for comparison. Toxicity evaluations were conducted through contact exposure, and Probit and regression analyses were performed using SPSS software to comprehensively assess the toxicity profiles. The study revealed significant adverse effects on the immediate behavioral responses of A. mellifera following pesticide exposure. These effects included heightened agitation, narcotic-like symptoms, audible hovering, crawling, ceased food-sharing behavior, and reduced proboscis extension. Chlorpyrifos exhibited the highest toxicity against adult bees, while Emamectin Benzoate had the least toxicity. Regarding honey bee eggs, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid, and Acetamiprid were notably more toxic, whereas Emamectin Benzoate exhibited the least toxicity. The impact on larvae varied across developmental stages and pesticides, with Imidacloprid, Chlorpyrifos, and Acetamiprid causing significant mortality, while Emamectin Benzoate showed lower toxicity. The study highlights that Emamectin Benzoate demonstrates lower toxicity compared to other insecticides. This emphasizes the importance of balancing effective pest management with the preservation of pollinator health. The findings underscore the need for informed and sustainable approaches to pesticide use, taking into consideration the potential repercussions on honeybee development and behavior.

Abstract Fatty acid synthesis (FAS) has been shown to play a key role in the survival of brain-metastatic (BM) breast cancer. We demonstrate that the fatty acid synthase inhibitor TVB-2640 synergizes with the topoisomerase inhibitor SN-38 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) BM cell lines, upregulates FAS and downregulates cell cycle progression gene expression, and slows the motility of TNBC BM cell lines. The combination of SN-38 and TVB-2640 warrants further consideration as a potential therapeutic option in TNBC BMs.

Abstract Background Innovations in cancer treatment have contributed to the improved survival rate of cancer patients. The cancer survival rates have been growing and nearly two third of those survivors have been exposed to clinical radiation during their treatment. The study of long-term radiation effects, especially secondary cancer induction, has become increasingly important. An accurate assessment of out-of-field/peripheral dose (PDs) is necessary to estimate the risk of second cancer after radiotherapy and the damage to the organs at risk surrounding the planning target volume. This study was designed to measure the PDs as a function of dose, distances, and depths from Telecobalt-60 (Co-60) beam in water phantom using thermoluminescent dosimeter-100 (TLD-100). Methods The PDs were measured for Co-60 beam at specified depths of 0 cm (surface), 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm outside the radiation beam at distances of 5, 10, and 13 cm away from the radiation field edge using TLD-100 (G1 cards) as detectors. These calibrated cards were placed on the acrylic disc in circular tracks. The radiation dose of 2000 mGy of Co-60 beam was applied inside 10 × 10 cm2 field size at constant source to surface distance (SSD) of 80 cm. Results The results showed maximum and minimum PDs at surface and 5 cm depth respectively at all distances from the radiation field edge. Dose distributions out of the field edge with respect to distance were isotropic. The decrease in PDs at 5 cm depth was due to dominant forward scattering of Co-60 gamma rays. The increase in PDs beyond 5 cm depth was due to increase in the irradiated volume, increase in penumbra, increase in source to axis distance (SAD), and increase in field size due to inverse square factor. Conclusion It is concluded that the PDs depends upon depth and distance from the radiation field edge. All the measurements show PDs in the homogenous medium (water); therefore, it estimates absorbed dose to the organ at risk (OAR) adjacent to cancer tissues/planning target volume (PTV). It is suggested that PDs can be minimized by using the SAD technique, as this technique controls sources of scattered radiation like inverse square factor and effect of penumbra up-to some extent.

Extended Abstract Background: The increased demand for cereals that are consumed by humans and livestock can be met through the development of planting drought-tolerant genotypes. Due to the interaction of genotypes × environment, the best genotype in one environment may not be the best in other environments, and therefore, this interaction provides valuable information about the yield of each genotype in different environments and plays an important role in evaluating yield stability. Genetic modification of drought tolerance in crops is one of the most stable and cost-effective approaches to increase production and yield stability. Examining the compatibility and stability of grain yield based on various parametric and non-parametric stability statistics and evaluating tolerance to drought stress based on stress indices in promising barley genotypes of the country's temperate climate are among the goals of this research. Methods: To assess grain yield adaptation and stability and to select high-yielding barley genotypes suitable for terminal drought stress in the temperate climate of Iran, 16 barley genotypes were cultivated during two crop years 2021-2023 in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in three research stations including Varamin, Birjand, and Yazd under two none-stress and drought stress conditions at the end of the season (12 environments). After determining the grain yield, stress indices, including MP, GMP, TOL, HARM, STI, YI, YSI, RSI, and SSI, and the correlation of each with grain yield were calculated in this study. Stability statistics included Nassar and Huehn’s stability statistics (S(1-6)), Thennarasu’s stability statistics (NP(1-4)), deviation from regression (S²dᵢ), regression coefficient (b), Shukla’s stability variance (σ²ᵢ), environmental variation coefficient (CV), variance component (θᵢ), coefficient of variance (θ(i)), Wricke’s ecovalence (Wᵢ²), and Kang’s sum of ranks (KR). Their relationships were calculated based on Pearson’s correlation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), mean comparison, and simple correlation were calculated using the SAS-9.0 program, stability statistics were calculated using STABILITYSOFT and principal component analysis (PCA). Stress indices and the correlation of each of these indices with grain yield were calculated using iPASTIC. The three-dimensional distribution diagram of genotypes in the ranges of A, B, C, and D was drawn using Grapher software. Results: The results of the combined ANOVA indicated the significance of the genotype × environment interaction. According to S(1-2) statistics, G7, G10, G11, and G3, and according to S(3-6) statistics, G7, G3, and G9 were the most stable genotypes. Among the non-parametric Thennarasu’s stability statistics according to the NP(1) criterion of G9, G3, and G5, according to NP(2) G5, G3, and G8, and according to NP(3) and NP(4) criteria, G7, G3, and G9 were recognized as the most stable genotypes. Based on Wricke (W²) and Shukla (σ²) equivalency stability statistics, G3, G9, and G13 were the most stable genotypes. Based on Eberhart and Russell's regression method, G9, G7, and G3 genotypes, with high yields, had general compatibility and good yield stability. Based on Francis and Kannenberg (CVi), genotypes G1, G2, and G15 had the lowest coefficients of environmental variation. Based on the average rank of each genotype in all stress indices (AR), G2, G7, and G3 genotypes were the most tolerant, and G14, G11, and G10 were the most sensitive genotypes to drought stress at the end of seasons, respectively. In the drought stress conditions at the end of the season, grain yield had positive and significant correlations with YI, HM, GMP, STI, MP, YSI, and RSI indices and negative and significant correlations with the SSI index. In non-stress conditions, grain yield had positive and significant correlations with MP, GMP, STI, HM, and YI indices, but no significant correlations were observed between grain yield and SSI, TOL, YSI, and RSI indices. The PCA revealed that the first and the second principal components explained 69.71% and 30.27% of the variance of the main variables, respectively. The first main component had a positive and high correlation with yield in both stressed and non-stressed environments, as well as MP, STI, GMP, and HM indices. The second component showed a positive and high correlation with grain yield in the non-stressed environment and TOL and SSI indices; it also had negative and high correlations with RSI and YSI indices. Based on the biplot diagram, G3, G7, G8, G9, G12, and G13 presented higher grain yield potential and are more tolerant to drought stress. Conclusion: In this study, grain yield had negative and significant correlations with NP(3), KR, NP(2), NP(4), S(6), and S(1) statistics, respectively, therefore these statistics can be used for identifying stable genotypes. G3, G7, and G9 with averages of 6732.9, 6730.6, and 6608.1 kg/ha, respectively, not only produced the highest grain yield but also showed the highest grain yield stability and tolerance to terminal drought stress among the studied genotypes based on the total ranking of all studied stability statistics and stress indices. Therefore, they can be used as new cultivars in drought-affected regions in temperate climates or as desirable genetic materials in barley breeding programs for drought tolerance.

Introduction: Defective lipophagy is associated with metabolic disorders. This study investigated the effect of four weeks of aerobic exercise in a fasted state on hepatic unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in male rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods: In this experimental research, 30 male Wistar rats with an NAFLD model were randomly divided into control groups: fasting, 3-day training, 5-day training, fasting + 3-day training, and fasting + 5-day training. Unlike other rats that had 24-hour access to food, the fasting groups received the same amount of nutrition during 10 hours. Continuous running was done for four weeks with 3 and 5 sessions per week and in two conditions of feeding and fasting. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS software Version 26 using one-way variance analysis and Bonferroni test with a significance level of (P≤0.05).Results: A significant increase in the expression of the ULK1 gene was observed in the fasting, fasting + 3-day training, and fasting + 5-day training groups compared to the control and 3-day training groups (P

Background and Aim: Aging is associated with a gradual decline in cardiac function. Endurance training has been shown to positively impact heart health in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of endurance training on the levels of proteins associated with mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics in the left ventricle of aged rats. Methods: This experimental study involved 12 male rats, aged 20 months, with an average weight of 400 ± 30 grams. The rats were randomly assigned to either an endurance training group or a control group, with six rats in each group. The endurance training program consisted of sessions at 55-75% of maximum speed (m/min) each week. The maximum speed started at approximately 12 meters per minute in the first week and increased to about 33 meters per minute by the end of the eighth week. Following a 48-hour period after the last training session, the left ventricle was excised, and the levels of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and PARKIN were measured using the western blot method. Results: Eight weeks of endurance training resulted in a significant increase in PINK1 protein levels in the left ventricle of elderly rats (P = 0.005). However, PARKIN protein levels did not show a significant change after the eight-week training period (P = 0.227). Conclusion: The findings suggest that an eight-week endurance training program, conducted at an appropriate intensity, can enhance mitochondrial quality control in the left ventricle of aged rats. However, further research is warranted to explore this area more comprehensively.

We have investigated a weakly q-deformed algebra, which leads to non-Hermitian operators. It has been explicitly shown that the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian is quasi-Hermitian, and that the corresponding physical Hilbert-space metric Θ differs from that obtained in Ref. [1], by hermitizing the position operator. The reality of the Hamiltonian eigenvalues has been illustrated by analytically computing the first order correction to the energy spectrum of the harmonic oscillator (HO). Furthermore, we have shown that this q-deformation leads to a GUP with minimal uncertainties in both position and momentum measurements. Moreover, the physical implications of this q-deformation, have been investigated by studying the thermostatistics of a system of HOs and an ideal gas. For both systems, we computed the partition function, and then we derived some thermodynamic functions. In addition, for the ideal gas, a modified equation of state and a generalized Mayer's equation, consistent with the real behavior of gases, have been established. The obtained results show that the impact of this model would be significant at high temperatures. However, unlike earlier research, we observe that this q-deformation induced the similar corrections regardless of the system under study.

Background: Influenza represents a significant global health burden for individuals and society. This study assessed the burden of medically attended influenza at a tertiary medical center in Lebanon to describe the demographics, risk factors, and outcomes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who tested positive for the influenza virus during three seasons between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2019, at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Results: A total of 2049 patients who tested positive for influenza were analyzed. Influenza A accounted for 79.6 % of cases, and influenza B for 19.7 %, with influenza activity starting in October/November and peaking in December/January. Older age above 65 years (AOR=3.584), obesity (AOR=2.183), and chronic conditions such as chronic lung diseases (AOR=1.832), and bacterial co-infection (AOR= 2.834) were found to be independent risk factors for developing complications. Viral co-infection increased the likelihood of death tenfold. Vaccinated patients had a shorter mean hospital stay duration and a lower intensive care unit admission rate. Conclusion: The burden of medically attended influenza at our tertiary medical center in Lebanon prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Vaccination decreased the likelihood of complications leading to intensive care unit admission in patients at risk.

Introduction: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common, life-threatening pediatric emergency and was shown to be associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of chest computed tomography (CT) scan for identification of FBA in children. Methods: From inception to May 2024, a systematic search was carried out across multiple databases including Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, considering published papers in English language. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using seven domains of Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). Results: The systematic literature search yielded 7203 articles. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of chest CT scan for identification of FBA were 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio was 10.12 (95% CI: 4.59-22.20), and pooled negative likelihood ratio was 0.05 (95% CI: 0.02-0.1). Furthermore, the area under the summarized receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.98. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis revealed that despite high heterogeneity, in the diagnostic characteristics of chest CT scan among studies, it has high diagnostic value in identifying FBA in suspected pediatric cases.

Global climate warming has led to changes in the suitable habitats for fungi. Colletotrichum acutatum, a common fungus causing anthracnose disease, is widely distributed in southern China. Currently, research on the relationship between C. acutatum and environmental warming was limited. In this study, MaxEnt and ArcGIS software were used to predict the suitable habitats of C. acutatum under current and future climate conditions based on its occurrence records and environmental factors. The optimal MaxEnt model parameters were set as feature combination (FC) = lp and regularization multiplier (RM) = 2.6. Bio15, Bio12, Bio09, and Bio19 were identified as the main environmental factors influencing the distribution of C. acutatum. Under current climate conditions, C. acutatum was distributed across all continents globally, except Antarctica. In China, C. acutatum was primarily distributed south of the Qinling-Huaihe Line, with a total suitable area of 259.52 × 104 km2. Under future climate conditions, the potential suitable habitat area for C. acutatum was expected to increase and spread towards inland China. The results of this study provided timely risk assessment for the distribution and spread of C. acutatum in China and offer scientific guidance for monitoring and timely controlled of its distribution areas.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of endurance training with garlic and stevia supplementation on AgRP and α-MSH in the brain tissue of obese Wistar rats. Methods: 36 obese male Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet (24 g fat, 24 g protein, and 41 g carbohydrate/100 g) were divided into six groups, including: 1) sham; 2) stevia supplementation; 3) garlic supplementation; 4) endurance training; 5) stevia supplementation plus endurance training, and 6) garlic supplementation plus endurance training. Moreover, 6 rats were included in the healthy control group to investigate the effects of obesity on the research variable. Training groups performed incremental endurance training for 15-50 minutes at a speed of 15-25 m/min, for eight weeks. Garlic and stevia supplements were added to the diet of the supplementation groups at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Results: Levels of AgRP in stevia supplementation group were significantly higher than endurance training (P=0.019) and endurance training plus stevia supplementation (P=0.018) groups. Levels of α-MSH in the garlic supplementation (P=0.001), endurance training (P=0.002), stevia supplementation plus endurance training (P=0.001), and garlic supplementation plus endurance training (P=0.001) groups were significantly higher than the sham group. In addition, in the endurance training plus stevia supplementation group, the levels were significantly higher than the stevia supplementation group (P=0.002). Conclusion: Endurance training plus garlic supplementation as well as endurance training plus stevia supplementation seem to play a synergistic role in appetite control protein; however, more studies on AgRP changes, following training and garlic and stevia supplementation are needed.

Introduction: During the demographic transition period, the population’s average age increases, leading to a rise in healthcare and treatment costs. Given the significant role of treatment costs in the economy and the management of government and household expenditures, this research investigates the impact of aging on healthcare costs globally. Methods: This research utilizes secondary data from 90 countries worldwide from 2010 to 2020, obtained from official international institutions, to investigate the effects of aging and other factors on treatment and healthcare costs. Panel data regression and classical hypothesis tests were employed to test the hypotheses.Results: The results show that government spending, literacy rate, and health insurance coverage are important factors in reducing out-of-pocket health expenses. Conversely, economic development and the proportion of the elderly population in the total population increase the mentioned costs. The key findings of the research are the expenditure of health insurance funds on health infrastructure, prevention, and promotion of health literacy, as well as increasing the coverage of health and social insurance.Conclusion: Countries in the early stages of demographic transition can utilize strategies such as: developing health insurance capital, investing in insurance capital and government expenditures in health infrastructure, implementing preventative programs for elderly diseases, promoting health, and increasing insurance coverage as forward-looking policies to prevent the heavy burden of health costs on households and by the government.

This research clarifies the meaning of the phrase post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the critical importance of understanding this psychological disorder that may result from exposure to a variety of painful and traumatic events, by analyzing the psychological and physical effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as this research sheds light There is a need for multiple treatment methods, including psychological and pharmacological treatment. In addition, the research highlights the importance of psychological and educational support in educational institutions to help individuals affected by the conditions they experienced after trauma, emphasizing the role of psychotherapy in achieving positive functional changes in the brain that help overcome symptoms.

This research aimed to increase the reproduction of dairy cows with artificial insemination (AI) in Filial Friesian Holstein cows using sexed semen. This research was conducted in Pandesari Village, Pujon District, Malang Regency, East Java. The 114 Filial Friesian Holstein cows were used in this research and divided into three Treatments: T1: 38 cows were inseminated using unsexed semen, T2: 38 cows were inseminated using albumin sedimentation sexed semen, and T3: 38 cows were inseminated using Percoll density gradient centrifugation (PDGC) sexed semen. The material was selected by purposive sampling with a minimum body condition score (BCS) specification of 2.5 (scale 1-5); the material had normal reproductive organs and showed signs of heat/estrus. The parameters of this study are the percentage of non-return rate (NRR) 1, NRR 2, and conception rate (CR). The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The differences in NRR and CR between the unsexed sperm, sexed sperm with albumin sedimentation, and sexed sperm with PDGC were analyzed with the chi-square test and were considered significant at p < 0.05. The chi-square test was carried out to compare the observed values with the expected values. The results showed that the success of artificial insemination was greater by using albumin-sedimented sexed semen compared to unsexed semen or PDGC-sexed semen, with NRR values of 1 (95%), NRR values of 2 (87%) and CR values of 63%. The conception rate of artificial insemination using albumin-sedimented sexed semen was 63% greater than that of artificial insemination using unsexed semen and PDGC-sexed semen, which obtained the same value of 47%.

Background: Despite the detrimental environmental and distributional effects of economic activity in Iran, these effects are not uniform across provinces. Environmental degradation and income inequality are increasing in some provinces of Iran. This study aimed to determine the causal relationship between environmental degradation and income inequality in provinces. It investigates whether environmental degradation is a cause or consequence of income inequality. Methods: Data were collected from official statistical publications in Iran. Then, two simultaneous regression models were estimated to investigate the causal relationship between environmental degradation and income inequality. Finally, Granger causality tests were performed to verify the results. Results: The results show a one-way causality from income inequality to environmental degradation, and environmental degradation is not the cause of income inequality. While income inequality leads to environmental degradation, other factors are at play in causing income inequality. Income inequality, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and industrial structure increase environmental degradation. Energy intensity, education, and environmental government budget reduce environmental degradation. Environmental degradation, education, and per capita GDP negatively impact income inequality, while the environmental protection budget and taxation worsen income inequality. Conclusion: To reduce environmental pollution and income inequality, policies should be adopted that aim to improve the level of education, increase per capita income, increase the budget for environmental protection, reduce polluting industrial structure, and reduce energy intensity. Also, attention should be paid to better management and improvement of the quality of life in different regions of the country to improve the compatibility of different parts of the society with the environment.

Accounting information plays a crucial role in the decision-making process of lenders. They pay special attention to the income statement and its quality when making decisions. Consequently, financial statements must meet the minimum required standards. Adopting a comprehensive risk management approach can enhance earnings quality, ensuring effective reporting and compliance with laws and regulations. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of external financing and the moderating role of risk management on earnings quality. The research hypotheses were analyzed and tested using a multivariate regression model with panel data. The study's statistical population consists of firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The findings demonstrate a positive and significant relationship between a firm's external financing and earnings quality. This suggests that risk management plays a moderating role in the relationship between external financing activity and earnings quality. External financing and risk management contribute to improving the quality of financial information. Investors can evaluate the reliability of a firm's accounting data based on the level of external financing and enterprise risk management components. Thus, these findings have implications for managers and regulators to enhance the quality of financial information and promote the use of a comprehensive risk management approach to build creditor trust.

IntroductionClans and traditional local divisions can lead to separations and social distancing within communities. In such cases, influential clan leaders may reinforce distinct local and cultural identities through rituals, genealogies, and historical narratives, which can intensify inter-clan competition. Mamasani Region, comprising Mamasani and Rostam counties in Fars Province, is home to 5 independent clans. As societies undergo political and social transformations, the relationships within Mamasani and Rostam counties can be analyzed through the lens of clan dynamics. Feelings of relative deprivation can contribute to the strengthening of ethnic and inter-ethnic divisions. Such perceptions of deprivation may reduce solidarity, cohesion, and social interaction among groups. In the multi-clan Mamasani region, it is important to investigate trends of divergence and convergence over time to inform policymaking and community management. Changes and developments in the economic, cultural, and social spheres of Mamasani and Rostam counties require a deeper understanding of the relationship between relative deprivation and clannish divergence. Given the lack of existing research on this topic, this study aimed to explore the connections between relative deprivation and the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of clannish divergence among the people living in the clans of Mamasani and Rostam counties. Materials & MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The target population was all individuals aged 20 years and above residing in Mamasani and Rostam counties, which comprised 5 distinct clans: Bekash, Javid, Domshanziari, Mahoor and Milati, and Rostam. A sample of 450 participants was selected using a random multi-stage cluster sampling approach. Data were collected through a self-administered, structured questionnaire containing closed-ended Likert scale items. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 26 software. Discussion of Results & ConclusionThe findings revealed that the average levels of clannish divergence and perceived relative deprivation among residents of Mamasani and Rostam counties were higher than expected. There was a significant positive correlation between feelings of relative deprivation and clannish divergence, including its social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions. Interestingly, age was not significantly associated with clannish divergence. However, education level showed a significant relationship, with individuals having middle school or undergraduate education reporting the highest levels of clannish divergence and those with postgraduate or doctoral degrees reporting the lowest. Additionally, activity status was found to be a significant factor with students and workers exhibiting the highest levels of clannish divergence and the unemployed reporting the lowest. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the independent variables explained 9.5% of the variance in the dependent variable of clannish divergence. Given the prominent role and importance of relative deprivation in the multi-clan Mamasani region, addressing this issue was crucial for promoting clannish convergence. Experts recommend evidence-based policy interventions focused on fostering distributive justice across political, social, economic, and cultural domains. Emphasizing meritocracy over particularism in the selection of managers and leaders and leveraging the natural and human capacities of different clans could be effective strategies for improving the sense of justice and social cohesion within the community of Mamasani Region.

Cybersecurity, complimenting authentication, has become the backbone of the Internet of Things. In the authentication process, the word authentication is of the utmost importance, as it is the door through which both Mr. Right Guy and Mr. Wrong Guy can pass. It is the key to opening the most important and secure accounts worldwide. When authentication is complete, surely there will be passwords. Passwords are a brain-confusing option for the user to choose when making an account during the registration/sign-up process. Providing reliable, effective, and privacy-preserving authentication for individuals in mobile networks is challenging due to user mobility, many attack vectors, and resource-constrained devices. This review paper explores the transformation and modern mobile authentication schemes, categorizing them into password, graphical, behavioral, keystroke, biometric, touchscreen, color, and gaze-based methodologies. It aims to examine the strengths and limitations focused on challenges like security and usability. Standard datasets and performance evaluation measures are also discussed. Finally, research gaps and future directions in this essential and emerging area of research are discussed.

In recent years, the growth of utilizing rural microgrids (RMGs) has been accompanied by various challenges. These necessitate the development of appropriate models for optimal generation in RMGs and RMGs’ coordination. In this paper, two distinct models for RMGs are presented. The first model includes an islanded rural microgrid (IRMG) and the second model consists of three RMGs that are interconnected with one another and linked to the distribution network. The proposed models take into account the uncertainty in load, photovoltaics (PVs), and wind turbines (WTs) with consideration of their correlation by using a scenario-based technique. Three objective functions are defined for optimization: minimizing operational costs including maintenance and fuel expenses, reducing voltage deviation to maintain power quality, and decreasing pollution emissions from fuel cells and microturbines. A new optimization method, namely the Improved Multi-Objective Crow Search Algorithm (IMOCSA), is proposed to solve the problem models. IMOCSA enhances the standard Crow Search Algorithm through three key improvements: an adaptive chaotic awareness probability to better balance exploration and exploitation, a mutation mechanism applied to the solution repository to prevent premature convergence, and a K-means clustering method to control repository size and increase algorithmic efficiency. Since the proposed problem is a multi-objective non-linear optimization problem with conflicting objectives, the idea of the Pareto front is used to find a group of optimal solutions. To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed models, they are implemented in two different case studies and the analysis and results are illustrated.

Due to the complexity of taxonomic classification based on the classical morphological characters of copepods, phylogenies have been ambiguous. In this study, we investigate the phylogeny of copepods, including four species from three orders, in the saltern of Sfax using the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (18S). In the studied area, copepods seemed to be a polyphyletic group, and the genetic structure of these crustaceans is complex and problematic. We have also used two mitochondrial markers, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene and the cytochrome b (Cytb) sequence data, in order to investigate the genetic diversity and differentiation in a total of 96 individuals from two sets of Paracartia grani, sampled from two ponds with different salinities (42 PSU and 61 PSU). All of the results presented here suggest a low genetic diversity among P. grani species and a weak genetic structure between the sets. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity of P. grani were extremely low, indicating the homogeneity of the two sets, which could be combined into one set living in different ranges of salinity. This small genetic diversity is possibly due to the confined natural distribution range and strong selective pressure in a saltern environment. These data also suggest that gene flow is the main factor shaping the genetic structure of the studied sets.

Abstract A four‐stage CMOS operational amplifier is proposed in this work. The designed amplifier is frequency compensated via two differential blocks and two Miller capacitors. Unlike well‐known frequency compensation methods, the proposed compensation leaves the output node while exploiting extremely smaller capacitors compared to conventional approaches. The presented approach is modeled symbolically and realized at the circuit level via the Hspice circuit simulator and 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Good agreements between two separate simulation paths verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed approach. Ample simulation results are reported to investigate the proposed amplifier regarding parameter mismatches. According to the simulation results, the proposed four‐stage amplifier is an excellent candidate to be used in larger systems such as data converters, modulators, and sensors while it shows more than 169 dB as DC‐gain, 10 MHz as unity gain frequency with power consumption less than 500 μW.

Abstract Background Selenium (Se) is a rare essential element that plays a vital role in the health and performance of animals. By interfering in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase and methionine sulfoxide, Se plays a role in reducing the effects of oxidative stress and animal performance. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxy‐selenomethionine (OH‐SeMet) in the diet of broiler breeder and old broiler breeder roosters on productive performance, reproduction and sperm quality parameters. Methods For this purpose, 260 broiler breeders of the Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications (13 hens and one rooster in each replication). Experimental treatments included: (1) a basal diet without OH‐SeMet (T1:control), (2) a broiler breeder diet without OH‐SeMet and a rooster diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T2), (3) broiler breeder diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet and rooster diet without OH‐SeMet (T3) and (4) broiler breeder and rooster diet contained 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T4). Results The results showed that T3 and T4 treatments improved egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment (p

This study explores the integration of sustainable practices in the textile industry through the use of naturally colored cotton, which offers significant environmental advantages by eliminating the need for chemical bleaching and dyeing, thereby conserving water, chemicals, and energy. We examined the impact of yarn count and twist multiplier (TM) on the quality parameters of knitted fabrics tailored for winter cotton sweaters, utilizing a flatbed knitting machine to create a rib-cum-interlock structure. Our analysis aimed at optimizing thermal resistance, pilling resistance, and bursting strength, while reducing air permeability and fabric shrinkage. The findings indicated that thermal resistance peaked at 2.33 × 10 −3 m 2 K/W for yarns with a 20/2 Ne count and a 4.5 TM. Furthermore, coarser yarns demonstrated enhanced bursting strength, with the highest at 276.8 kPa for a 16/2 Ne count and 4.25 TM, and an increase in yarn count improved pilling resistance. Air permeability was lowest at 103 mm/s for 16/2 Ne yarns. Interestingly, a rise in yarn count led to negative lengthwise shrinkage but positive widthwise shrinkage. The 20/2 Ne yarn count with a 4.50 twist multiplier emerged as optimal across considered properties, underscoring the potential of naturally colored cotton as a sustainable alternative in textile manufacturing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of naturally colored sustainable cotton as a viable alternative to conventional cotton in the textile industry.

IntroductionAnthracnose is a significant fungal disease that affects tree growth and development, with Colletotrichum spp. exhibiting host non-specificity and targeting various organs, making disease control challenging.MethodsThis study aimed to identify the pathogenic species causing anthracnose in Ilex macrocarpa in Nanchong, Sichuan Province, and screen effective fungicides, particularly biological ones. The pathogen was identified as Colletotrichum fioriniae through morphological observation, pathogenicity assays, and molecular biological methods. Three biological and five chemical fungicides were evaluated for their effects on the mycelial growth and spore germination rate of the pathogen.ResultsThe results indicated that prochloraz was the most effective chemical fungicide, while the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Bacillus velezensis had the most significant inhibitory effect among the biological fungicides. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the CFS of B. velezensis significantly reduced the expression of genes associated with ribosomes, genetic information processing, membrane lipid metabolism, and sphingolipid biosynthesis in C. fioriniae. Additionally, the glutathione pathway’s expression of various genes, including key genes such as GST, GFA, Grx, TRR, and POD, was induced. Furthermore, the expression of 17 MFS transporters and 9 ABC transporters was increased. Autophagy-related ATGs were also affected by the B. velezensis CFS.DiscussionThese findings suggest that the B. velezensis CFS may inhibit C. fioriniae through interference with ribosomes, genetic information processing, cell membrane metabolism, and energy metabolism. These results provide potential target genes for the B. velezensis CFS and insights into the antifungal mechanism by which B. velezensis inhibits C. fioriniae.

Drought stress poses a significant threat to Brassica napus (L.), impacting its growth, yield, and profitability. This study investigates the effects of foliar application of individual and interactive pharmaceutical (Paracetamol; 0 and 250 mg L−1) and amino acid (0 and 4 ml/L) on the growth, physiology, and yield of B. napus under drought stress. Seedlings were subjected to varying levels of drought stress (100% field capacity (FC; control) and 50% FC). Sole amino acid application significantly improved chlorophyll content, proline content, and relative water contents, as well as the activities of antioxidative enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase and catalase) while potentially decreased malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents under drought stress conditions. Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between these parameters and seed yield (R2 = 0.8–1), indicating their potential to enhance seed yield. On the contrary, sole application of paracetamol exhibited toxic effects on seedling growth and physiological aspects of B. napus. Furthermore, the combined application of paracetamol and amino acids disrupted physio-biochemical functions, leading to reduced yield. Overall, sole application of amino acids proves to be more effective in ameliorating the negative effects of drought on B. napus.

Potato farming is a vital component of food security and the economic stability especially in the under developing countries but it faces many challenges in production, blackleg disease caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pa) is one of the main reason for damaging crop yield of the potato. Effective management strategies are essential to control these losses and to get sustainable potato crop yield. This study was focused on characterizing the Pa and the investigating new chemical options for its management. The research was involved a systematic survey across the three district of Punjab, Pakistan (Khanewal, Okara, and Multan) to collect samples exhibiting the black leg symptoms. These samples were analyzed in the laboratory where gram-negative bacteria were isolated and identified through biochemical and pathogenicity tests for Pa. DNA sequencing further confirmed these isolates of Pa strains. Six different chemicals were tested to control blackleg problem in both vitro and vivo at different concentrations. In vitro experiment, Cordate demonstrated the highest efficacy with a maximum inhibition zones of 17.139 mm, followed by Air One (13.778 mm), Profiler (10.167 mm), Blue Copper (7.7778 mm), Spot Fix (7.6689 mm), and Strider (7.0667 mm). In vivo, Cordate maintained its effectiveness with the lowest disease incidence of 14.76%, followed by Blue Copper (17.49%), Air One (16.98%), Spot Fix (20.67%), Profiler (21.45%), Strider (24.99%), and the control group (43.00%). The results highlight Cordate’s potential as a most effective chemical against Pa, offering promising role for managing blackleg disease in potato and to improve overall productivity.

In this work, it was attempted to explore the bond behavior of rebars in high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (HPFRCC) consisting of hybrid fibers with 1 and 2% by weight of binder for steel and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4% by weight of binder for polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers along with the compressive and tensile strengths after exposure to high temperature. From 19 mix designs, four superior ones which experienced lower reduction in compressive strength at 400 and 600 oC was selected in order to investigate the bond behavior of rebar in HPFRCC specimens using direct pullout and RILEM beam tests. The experimental results revealed that the HPFRCC specimens with 1% steel fiber combined with 0.2% PP fiber and 0.3% PVA fiber, separately, had the minimum compressive strength loss at 400 and 600 °C. For the HPFRCC with 2% steel fiber, the higher compressive strength at the given temperatures was observed for those with 0.3% PP and 0.2% PVA fiber, separately. The specimens with higher compressive strength at the given temperatures were those that had 2% steel fibers, 0.3% PP, and 0.2% PVA fibers. The specimen with 1% steel fibers and 0.3% polypropylene fibers had a greater tensile strength with a value of 14.2 MPa compared to other specimens. Furthermore, the bond capacity of rebar in HPFRCC continues to decline with temperature rise up to 600 °C to the point where this reduction for the chosen specimens is approximately 62% of the bond strength of the specimens at the room temperature (i.e., 23 °C). The maximum pull-out force has a significant relationship with the type and proportion of fibers, as demonstrated by the RILEM beam's results. Compared to specimens containing PP fibers, those with PVA fibers at high temperatures were able to tolerate higher bond strength.

Background/Aim: Functional dyspepsia, erosive and non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present a major health burden, adversely effecting quality of life. A range of factors are hypothesised to have a positive and negative influence on these diseases. This study aimed to explore the risk factors of functional dyspepsia, gastrointestinal reflux disease and non-erosive reflux disease and its subgroups. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Lahore, Pakistan, from January to June 2024. Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included and interviewed to fill a tri-section questionnaire comprising a self-designed comprehensive health survey, food frequency questionnaire, gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q), Rome IV criteria and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Results: Participants consisted of 70 controls, 38 GERD, 24 non-erosive reflux disease, 56 functional dyspepsia and 24 overlap reflux-dyspepsia syndrome patients. Subgroups included symptomatic and asymptomatic erosive oesophagitis, epigastric pain syndrome, postprandial distress syndrome and overlap syndrome. Older age, higher body mass index (BMI), male gender, low vegetable and yogurt intake, smoking, frequent red meat, high tea/caffeine intake, no postprandial exercise and a short dinner sleep interval were risk factors for GERD and symptomatic erosive esophagitis. Low BMI, female gender and anxiety were strongly associated with functional dyspepsia and non-erosive reflux disease. Conclusion: Age, BMI, gender, tobacco, anxiety, depression, dietary habits and food frequencies are significant risk factors of dyspepsia and reflux disease.

Abstract Cyberbullying is a major public health problem among adolescents worldwide. Research shows that there is a link between cyberbullying and mental health problems. Adolescent victims of cyberbullying suffer from diverse negative effects such as stress, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, isolation, and suicidal ideation. Schools have attempted to address this by introducing measures, including raising awareness of cyberbullying among adolescents, launching Internet safety campaigns, and enacting regulations to stop cyberbullying. However, salient effects have not been reported to date. Research reports that self-compassion training is effective in reducing mental health problems and beneficial for adolescents. This narrative review aims to review the literature on cyberbullying in adolescence and propose effective measures to stop it. Self-compassion training is proposed as an effective intervention to stop cyberbullying among adolescents. This review further discusses how schools can implement self-compassion training to stop cyberbullying in adolescents. Findings will help policymakers and stakeholders of schools, colleges, and universities to incorporate self-compassion training into school curricula to help support victims of cyberbullying.

In the emerging and well-rooted field of Vehicular Adhoc-Networks (VANETs), the imperative of secure content exchange via Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication for better safety emphasizes the importance of strong communication protocols. Implementing Information-Centric Networking (ICN) in VANETs allows for more efficient resource utilization via name-based content requests and delivery techniques. However, the dynamic and open nature of VANETs creates major security risks, necessitating rigorous defence against malicious attacks. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel trust-aware VANET framework that integrates ICN and Blockchain for content security. Our method uses authenticated vehicle data to ensure content integrity across the network, resulting in effective and efficient security measures. Through precise simulation, our technique exhibits resilience against malicious assaults by improving bandwidth utilization, throughput transactions, network content utilization, and content delivery in the face of hostile scenarios. The experimental results confirm the efficacy and feasibility of our proposed technique, highlighting its potential to improve VANET content security in real-world applications.

In recent years, the sukuk market has grown significantly. The sukuk market, as a financial instrument, plays a positive and important role in the country's economic growth by stimulating capital accumulation and promoting the efficient allocation of resources. Macroeconomic factors are one of the most important factors affecting on the sukuk market development. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of macroeconomic factors on the sukuk market development with an emphasis on the role of financial risk in 11 selected Islamic countries for the period of 2013-2021 and using the panel ordinary least squares method. The results show that in the studied countries, the impact of financial risk, interest rate fluctuations and institutional quality on the sukuk market development is negative and significant, while, the stock market development, inflation and exports have a positive and significant impact on the sukuk market development. Moreover, the results did not show a significant impact of the banking sector development on the sukuk market development. An increase in financial risk causes an increase in uncertainty and instability and a decrease in the confidence of investors, and as a result, investors prefer to make less risky investments. Therefore, financial risk has a negative and significant impact on the sukuk market development. The findings of this study are significant for policy makers, governments and regulators in formulating policies to improve the current situation of the sukuk market.

Abstract This work reports the synthesis of poly (aniline-co-4-nitroaniline) deposited on a three-dimensional nanostructured nickel (3D-Ni) film, where both layers were fabricated via potentiostatic electrodeposition. The obtained electrocatalyst exhibited excellent electrochemical activity for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) with small overpotentials of − 195 and − 325 mV at − 10 and − 100 mAcm−2, respectively, and a low Tafel slope of 53.3 mV dec−1 in seawater. Additionally, the electrocatalyst exhibited good stability after 72 h operation under a constant potential of − 1.9 V vs. RHE. The efficient HER performance of the as-prepared catalyst was found to originate from the synergy between the conducting polymer and three-dimensional nickel nanoparticles with a large electrochemical active surface area. Moreover, the results obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements revealed that the presence of 3D-Ni layer improved the kinetics of HER by reducing the charge transfer resistance for the electrocatalyst.

Abstract In the current industrial scenario, cadmium (Cd) as a metal is of great importance but poses a major threat to the ecosystem. However, the role of micronutrient − amino chelates such as iron − lysine (Fe − lys) in reducing Cr toxicity in crop plants was recently introduced. In the current experiment, the exogenous applications of Fe − lys i.e., 0 and10 mg L − 1, were examined, using an in vivo approach that involved plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant response, sugar and osmolytes under the soil contaminated with varying levels of Cd i.e., 0, 50 and 100 µM using two different varieties of canola i.e., Sarbaz and Pea − 09. Results revealed that the increasing levels of Cd in the soil decreased plant growth and growth-related attributes and photosynthetic apparatus and also the soluble protein and soluble sugar. In contrast, the addition of different levels of Cd in the soil significantly increased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which induced oxidative damage in both varieties of canola i.e., Sarbaz and Pea − 09. However, canola plants increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and non-enzymatic compounds such as phenolic, flavonoid, proline, and anthocyanin, which scavenge the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cd toxicity can be overcome by the supplementation of Fe − lys, which significantly increased plant growth and biomass, improved photosynthetic machinery and sugar contents, and increased the activities of different antioxidative enzymes, even in the plants grown under different levels of Cd in the soil. Research findings, therefore, suggested that the Fe − lys application can ameliorate Cd toxicity in canola and result in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress.

A common practice of improving the performance of parts manufactured by material extrusion is annealing. In this work, ULTEM 9085 parts were subjected to three different annealing methods to compare their effectiveness in terms of dimensional stability, hardness, surface roughness, tensile strength, microstructure and flexural strength. The annealing methods involved heating ULTEM 9085 parts inside an oven in three different ways: direct oven annealing by placing the parts on a tray, fluidized bed annealing with sharp sand surrounding the parts and sandwiching the parts between metal plates. Annealing for all three methods was conducted at temperatures of 180 °C, 190 °C and 200 °C with time intervals of 1 h, 2 h and 3 h. The results showed that direct oven annealing provides consistent results under all scenarios. Better dimensional accuracies were observed with fluidized bed annealing, and metal plate annealing is better suited to ensuring an improved surface finish and higher hardness values. For the tensile test, direct oven annealing yielded the most consistent and optimal results with an increase of up to 28.1% in tensile strength, whereas the other two methods performed better at lower temperatures. Direct oven annealing also led to improved ductility and higher elongation at break. Moreover, microstructural analysis of the fracture surfaces indicated enhanced coalescence for direct oven annealing. In terms of flexural testing, metal plate annealing proved to be more effective, with an increase of up to 13.9% in flexural strength. The other two methods demonstrated consistent results, with direct oven annealing showing slightly higher values compared with unannealed ULTEM 9085 samples. This work provides a useful comparison among different annealing methods that can be used to enhance the performance of ULTEM 9085 parts for different engineering applications.

Tomatoes are a crucial global crop, impacting economies and livelihoods worldwide. However, pests like the tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) significantly reduce their yield potential. Nanoparticles come as a solution to this context, promising innovative strategies for the protection of plants from pest infestation and management. Nanoparticles have shown great potential to improve tomato plant resistance against pests and diseases because of their unique properties. They enhance plant physiological processes like photosynthesis and nutrient uptake while activating defense-related molecular pathways. Nanoparticles also directly impact the life cycle and behavioral patterns of pests such as the tomato leafminer, reducing their destructive nature. The dual benefits of nanoparticles for enhancing plants’ health and managing pests effectively provide a two-way innovative approach in agriculture. Gains made with such technology not only include increasing crop productivity and reducing crop losses but also reducing the heavy dependence on chemical pesticides, many of which have been attributed to environmental hazards. The current study illustrates the broader implications of nanoparticle use in agriculture, which is a sustainable pathway to increase crop resilience and productivity while reducing the impact of pests. Such novel approaches underline the need for continued interdisciplinary research to exploit the potential of nanotechnology in sustainable agricultural practices fully.

Electrical power systems are the lifeblood of modern civilization, providing the essential energy infrastructure that powers our homes, industries, and technologies. As our world increasingly relies on electricity, and modern power systems incorporate renewable energy sources, the challenges have become more complex, necessitating advanced forecasting and optimization to ensure effective operation and sustainability. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of electrical power systems and delves into the crucial roles that forecasting and optimization play in ensuring future sustainability. The paper examines various forecasting methodologies from traditional statistical approaches to advanced machine learning techniques, and it explores the challenges and importance of renewable energy forecasting. Additionally, the paper offers an in-depth look at various optimization problems in power systems including economic dispatch, unit commitment, optimal power flow, and network reconfiguration. Classical optimization methods and newer approaches such as meta-heuristic algorithms and artificial intelligence-based techniques are discussed. Furthermore, the review paper examines the integration of forecasting and optimization, demonstrating how accurate forecasts can enhance the effectiveness of optimization algorithms. This review serves as a reference for electrical engineers developing sophisticated forecasting and optimization techniques, leading to changing consumer behaviors, addressing environmental concerns, and ensuring a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy future.