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Abstract This study investigates the influence of LDHs (Layered Double Hydroxides) microparticles and steel fibers on the mechanical properties of lightweight concrete. Through a combination of experimental analysis and finite element modeling, the effects of LDHs and steel fibers on flexural strength and crack resistance were evaluated. The experimental results demonstrate a significant increase in flexural strength and toughness with the incorporation of LDHs microparticles and steel fibers. The finite element model corroborates these findings, highlighting the synergistic enhancement of mechanical properties due to LDHs and steel fibers. Additionally, the study discusses the frontier applications of LDHs in improving fracture characteristics and highlights the potential of hybrid reinforcement strategies in lightweight concrete. The findings reveal that both the quantity of microparticles and steel fibers significantly impact the concrete's residual strength. In scenarios without steel fibers, an optimal weight fraction of approximately 1 wt.% LDHs demonstrate a 39% increase in bearing capacity. Notably, under comparable conditions, the influence of LDHs microparticles on enhancing concrete mechanical characteristics appears to surpass the effects induced by steel fibers. However, at 2 wt.% LDHs usage, a decrease in load capacity by 3.3% is observed compared to the 1 wt.% LDHs configuration. This research provides valuable insights into optimizing concrete properties through novel material combinations and paves the way for future advancements in structural engineering.

In this paper, we introduce the concepts of transformed functions and q-difference inverse transforms. Then, we apply them to solve some partial q-difference equations. Finally, we provide four examples to show how we can benefit from the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective The main objective of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitude of general dentists, senior dental students, and orthodontic residents toward obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Materials and Methods A questionnaire was designed and administered among 73 senior dental students, 84 general dentists, and 50 orthodontic residents. The questionnaire asked for demographic information of the participants and assessed their knowledge and attitude toward OSA. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed by experts. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal−Wallis and Bonferroni tests using SPSS (α = 0.05). Results The mean knowledge scores of general dentists and senior dental students were significantly lower than those of orthodontic residents (p

In this work, we study new asymptotic properties of positive solutions of the even-order neutral differential equation with the noncanonical operator. The new properties are iterative, which means they can be used several times. We also use these properties to obtain new criteria for oscillation of the studied equation.

Abstract Preventing energy waste in residential and office buildings has emerged as a critical issue in both developed and developing countries over recent decades. The growing demand for oil and energy reserves has amplified the urgency of this concern. The deployment of building energy management systems (BEMSs) can lead to timely responses to changes in environmental conditions, the prevention of energy wastage, a reduction in CO2 emissions, and an increase in the longevity of building equipment. Despite the undeniable benefits of BEMSs, their market size remains small, creating challenges for providers in reaching potential customers. This research seeks to identify and prioritize the marketing strategies for BEMSs. A case study was conducted, employing the “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats” analysis as a tool for identifying marketing strategies related to BEMSs. This method resulted in the identification of 18 distinct marketing strategies. These strategies were subsequently prioritized using a novel fuzzy multicriteria decision‐making technique, VIkor‐topSIS, considering six specific criteria. The findings of the study suggested a hierarchical influence of six criteria on the BEMS market, arranged in the following order of significance: effectiveness, cost, attainability, complexity, timing, and popularity. Furthermore, the top three marketing strategies for BEMSs were found to be internet advertising strategies, discounts to consumers, and online sales. The analysis of the results has also offered valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the studied BEMS provider, as well as the opportunities and threats present within the BEMS market.

Abstract Healthcare waste disposal center location (HCWDCL) impacts the environment and the health of living beings. Different and sometimes contradictory criteria in determining the appropriate site location for disposing of healthcare waste (HCW) complicate the decision-making process. This research presents a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, named PROMSIS, to determine the appropriate HCWDCL in a real case. The PROMSIS is the combination of two well-known MCDM methods, namely TOPSIS and PROMETHEE. Moreover, fuzzy theory is used to describe the uncertainties of the problem parameters. To provide a reliable decision on selecting the best HCWDCL, a comprehensive list of criteria is identified through a literature review and experts’ opinions obtained from the case study. In total, 40 criteria are identified and classified into five major criteria, namely economic, environmental, social, technical, and geological. The weight of the considered criteria is determined by the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Then, the score of the alternative HCWDCLs in each considered criterion is obtained. Finally, the candidate locations for disposing of HCWs are ranked by the proposed fuzzy PROMSIS method. The results show that the most important criteria in ranking the alternatives in the studied case are economic, environmental, and social, respectively. Moreover, the sub-criteria of operating cost, transportation cost, and pollution are identified as the most important sub-criteria, respectively.

Considering the role of inflammatory mediators in both orthodontic movements and the development of periodontal diseases and taking into accountthe role of Interleukin 17 as an important inflammatory mediator in orthodontic treatments and the impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as a new and appropriate adjuvant therapy, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of LLLT on IL-17 levels in gingival cervicular fluid (GCF) during orthodontic treatment.Materials & Methods:In this clinical trial study, 12 patients in need of orthodontic treatment were selected. In these patients, one side of the mouth was randomly selected for laser irradiation and the other side as a control. Diode LLL irradiation with a wavelength of 810 nm was performed throughout the gingival Cervicular on days 0, 2, 18, and 30 after orthodontic treatment. Sampling was performed on days 0, 2, 18, and 30 by placing paper points in distal, mesial, palatal, and buccal sulcus of the maxillary fifth molar on the both sidesfor 30 seconds. All samples were then transferred to the laboratory and IL-17 level was determined by ELISA reader. Data were analyzed using Paired t-test and One-way ANOVA.Results:Mean IL-17 levels at day zero (p value = 0.62) and day 2 after orthodontic treatment (p value = 0.19) were not significantly different betweenthe control and laser treated sides, howeverthey were significantly lower in the laser-treated group than the control group on days 18 and 30 after orthodontic treatment (p value < 0.001). The mean IL-17 levels decreased in both groups during the treatment period, but this decreasewas significant on day 18.Conclusion:The results of the present study indicate thetherapeutic role of diode LLL in reducing inflammation, and Il-17 levels in both sides of the mouth gradually decreased over time, and thisdecrease was more pronounced in the laser-treated side than in the control side

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of metformin in complication improvement of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial that involved 189 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Patients in the intervention group received metformin-500 mg twice daily. Patients who received metformin before admission were excluded from the control group. Patients who were discharged before taking at least 2000 mg of metformin were excluded from the study. Primary outcomes were vital signs, need for ICU admission, need for intubation, and mortality. Results: Data showed that patients with diabetes with previous metformin in their regimen had lower percentages of ICU admission and death in comparison with patients without diabetes (11.3% vs. 26.1% (P=0.014) and 4.9% vs. 23.9% (P≤0.001), respectively). Admission time characteristics were the same for both groups except for diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which were significantly different between the two groups. Observations of naproxen consumption on endpoints, duration of hospitalization, and the levels of spO2 did not show any significant differences between the intervention and the control group. The adjusted OR for intubation in the intervention group versus the control group was 0.21 [95% CI, 0.04-0.99 (P=0.047)]. Conclusion: In this trial, metformin consumption had no effect on mortality and ICU admission rates in non-diabetic patients. However, metformin improved COVID-19 complications in diabetic patients who had been receiving metformin prior to COVID-19 infection, and it significantly lowered the intubation rates.

This study aims to develop appropriate models for income distribution in Iran using the econophysics approach for the 2006–2018 period. For this purpose, the three improved distributions of the Pareto, Lognormal, and Gibbs-Boltzmann distributions are analyzed with the data extracted from the target household income expansion plan of the statistical centers in Iran. The research results indicate that the income distribution in Iran does not follow the Pareto and Lognormal distributions in most of the study years but follows the generalized Gibbs-Boltzmann distribution function in all study years. According to the results, the generalized Gibbs-Boltzmann distribution also properly fits the actual data distribution and could clearly explain the income distribution in Iran. The generalized Gibbs-Boltzmann distribution also fits the actual income data better than both Pareto and Lognormal distributions.

The effective distribution of relief goods is critical in mitigating the impact of natural disasters and preserving human life. This study addresses a relief goods distribution problem, assuming the existence of multiple relief orders that must be delivered to various disaster-stricken regions from a network of warehouses using a fleet of diverse vehicles. The objective is to identify the most suitable warehouse for each relief order, allocate relief orders to vehicles, batch the orders in the designated vehicles, and devise routing plans to minimize the total delivery time. A mixed-integer linear programming model is formulated to tackle this problem. Owing to the problem’s NP-hard nature, a metaheuristic algorithm, known as the Multiple League Championship Algorithm, is developed. Furthermore, two innovative variants of the MLCA , namely the League Base Multiple League Championship Algorithm (L- MLCA) and the Playoff Multiple League Championship Algorithm (P-MLCA), are introduced.Experimental results indicate that the P-MLCA outperforms the other two algorithms. The solutions derived from the P-MLCA are compared with the optimal solutions obtained by a commercial solver for small-scale problems. This comparative analysis demonstrates the promising performance of the P-MLCA in finding the optimal distribution of relief goods.

Abstract Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the world's most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, and current treatments do not meet patients' demands. This study aimed to investigate melatonin's therapeutic effects on IBS score, GI symptoms, quality of life, and sleep parameters in both groups of IBS patients with and without sleep disorders. Methods In this randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial study, 136 patients with a diagnosis of IBS based on ROME IV criteria were enrolled and then divided into two groups respecting having sleep disorders or not. Patients of each group were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive melatonin 6 mg daily (3 mg fasting and 3 mg at bedtime) for 2 months (8 weeks). Blocked randomization was used in this process. All patients were evaluated both at the beginning and the end of the trial regarding IBS score, GI symptoms, quality of life, and sleep parameters through valid questionnaires. Results In both groups of patients with and without sleep disorders, a significant improvement was observed in IBS score and GI symptoms, including the severity and the frequency of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal bloating, satisfaction with bowel habits, disease's impact on patient's life, and stool consistency; however, there was no significant improvement in the frequency of defecations per week. In patients with sleep disorders, significant improvement in sleep parameters, including subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction, was observed, while in patients without sleep disorders, there was no significant improvement in sleep parameters. In addition, quality-of-life improvement was observed in a significant number of melatonin recipients compared to placebo in both groups of patients. Conclusion Melatonin can be considered an effective treatment for improving IBS score, GI symptoms, and quality of life in IBS patients with and without sleep disorders. It is also effective to improve sleep parameters in IBS patients with sleep disorders. Trial registration This study has been registered to the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the approval number IRCT20220104053626N2 on the date of 13/02/2022.

Abstract This paper proposes a metamaterial‐based multilayer antenna for WiFi and WiMAX applications. The multilayer structure is beneficial for achieving a gain of more than 15 dB. The substrate is made of FR‐4, and the superstrate is Rogers RT/duroid 5880 with a dielectric constant of 2.2 and a loss tangent of 0.009. The desired metamaterial structure is realized using metallic square rings printed on the superstrate. The thickness of the substrate is 1.58 mm, and the overall area of the antenna is 105×72.5 mm2. Using an area‐efficient multilayer configuration for this microstrip antenna, its gain is cost‐effectively enhanced to more than 18 dB, and the shape of the radiation patterns is also appropriate. This antenna is fabricated and fully measured; the measurement and simulation results are in excellent agreement.

Abstract This study aims at reducing energy consumption in supply chain networks by providing optimal integrated production and transportation scheduling. The considered supply chain consists of one main manufacturing center, multiple production units (i.e., suppliers), and multiple heterogeneous vehicles as the transportation fleet. To schedule this complex supply chain network in an energy‐efficient way, several decisions should be made concerning the assignment of orders to suppliers and determining their production sequence, splitting orders, assigning orders to vehicles, and assigning delivery priority to orders. To cope with the problem, a mixed‐integer linear programming model is presented. Due to the complexity of the problem, a novel development of the genetic algorithm named the Multiple Reference Group Genetic Algorithm (MRGGA) is also proposed. Four objectives are considered to be optimized to meet both suitability and energy‐efficiency aspects in the supply chain network. These optimization objectives are to minimize the total orders' delivery times to the manufacturing center, fuel consumption by the vehicles, energy consumption at supplies, and maximize orders' quality. To analyze the performance of the proposed algorithm, a real case and a set of generated instances are solved. The results obtained by the proposed algorithm are compared with an existing genetic algorithm in the literature. Moreover, the results are also compared with the optimal solutions obtained from the mathematical model for small‐size problems. The results of the comparisons show the efficiency of the proposed MRGGA in finding energy‐efficient solutions for the considered supply chain network.

This study aims to introduce a method to integrate and coordinate departments’ activities to enhance the service quality of organizations using Quality Function Deployment (QFD). To this purpose, the classical two-dimensional House Of Quality (HOQ) matrix is changed to a three-dimensional form (3D-HOQ). The 3D-HOQ is applied to the marketing and Human Resources (HR) departments of a bank to determine customers’ and employees’ demands, respectively. The 3D-HOQ is also employed to provide a unique list of technical requirements to satisfy the identified demands. Obtaining a unique list of technical requirements with the cooperation of both departments reduces the inconsistency between departments, saves cost and time by preventing reworks and parallel works, and increases the organization’s efficiency. Moreover, 3D-HOQ is combined with the SERVQUAL technique and fuzzy theory to determine the weight of obtained technical requirements. The study is conducted in four main steps: 1) identifying the customers’ and employees’ demands; 2) identifying the technical requirements for simultaneous satisfaction of both customers’ and employees’ demands; 3) determining the relationships between the technical requirements and the identified demands; and 4) prioritizing technical requirements. Applying the 3D-HOQ resulted in identifying 30 customers’ demands, 30 employees’ demands, and 50 technical requirements. The study results show that “using new banking technologies” has the highest weight among the customers’ demands, and “job security” has been found to have the highest weight among employees’ demands. Moreover, “Intra-organizational processes automation” has been identified as the technical requirement with the highest weight.

Abstract Herein, we reported the synthesis of nineteen novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives including 1,3-diphenyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) propan-1-ones (7a-e), 1-(1,3-diphenylpropan-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole (8a-c) and 1,4-diphenyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) butane-1,4-diones (10a-k). The structures of these derivatives were confirmed by spectroscopic techniques like IR, 1H-NMR, Mass spectroscopy and Elemental analysis. The cytotoxic activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against three human cancer cell lines including MCF-7, Hela and A549 using MTT assay. Compounds 7d, 7e, 10a and 10d showed a promising cytotoxic activity lower than 12 μM against Hela cell line. The safety of these compounds was also, evaluated on MRC-5 as a normal cell line and relieved that most of the synthesized compounds have proper selectivity against normal and cytotoxic cancerous cell lines. Finally, molecular docking studies were also, done to understand the mechanism and binding modes of these derivatives in the binding pocket of aromatase enzyme as a possible target.

Key Clinical Message In patients with acute symptoms such as pain, swelling, and erythema of the upper extremities shortly after receiving COVID‐19 vaccines, even inactivated virus vaccines, these symptoms may indicate thrombosis, which may be due to the vaccination. Abstract BBIBP‐CorV COVID‐19 vaccine (Sinopharm vaccine) is an inactivated whole virus vaccine to control the COVID‐19 pandemic. Studies concluded that inactivated COVID‐19 vaccines do not increase the risk of thrombosis. This report presents a 23‐year‐old man with the chief complaint of severe pain, swelling, and erythema of the right upper extremity following his second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Duplex ultrasound of the right upper extremity revealed upper extremity deep vein thrombosis, and treatment started with oral anticoagulation. It is probably the first upper extremity deep vein thrombosis case following inactivated COVID‐19 vaccines.

Background: Attention to the issue of intelligence and its promotion in children with cleft lip and cleft palate (CL and CP) is necessary to reduce their injuries in life. This study aimed to determine the intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) in children with CL and CP in comparison to healthy children. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 140 children, including 70 children with CL and CP, were selected from the Children treated in Craniofacial and Cleft Research Center, Spearman correlation, ANOVA and 70 healthy children were selected from the Pediatric Dentistry Department of Isfahan University, in the age range of 5–9 years. After obtaining the consent of the children's parents, the Raven IQ questionnaire and the Mayer and Salovey EQ questionnaire were given to the children. Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient tests (α =0.05). Results: EQ score in healthy children was significantly higher than in children with CL and CP (P < 0.001). The percentage of IQ cognitive intelligence in healthy children and children with CL and CP was not significantly different (P = 0.641). In healthy children, no significant relationship was observed between cognitive intelligence IQ and EQ (r = 0.018, P = 0.882). However, among children with CL and CP, there was a significant inverse relationship between cognitive intelligence IQ and EQ (P < 0.001, r = −0.526). Conclusion: CL and CP have no effect on IQ in children, but it does affect EQ.

Key Clinical Message Patients complaining of rectal bleeding, constipation, and a suspicious mass in colonoscopy should undergo biopsy. Histological features such as fibromuscular obliteration in the lamina propria favor SRUS, a benign disorder.

Automotive and aircraft industries are advancing swiftly, creating a constant need for innovative and trustworthy materials. Aluminum composites (aluminum matrix composites [AMCs]) exhibit enhanced mechanical and tribological behaviors when contrasted to their conventional equivalents and as a result have superior potential to be widely accepted for automotive and aircraft engineering and other component applications. This study aims to provide a thorough and critical analysis of the most recent research initiatives concerning the processing, characteristics, and applications of AMCs. It covers the recent advancements in the aluminum-based composites reinforced with SiC, TiC, and graphene, fabrication methods, and mechanical properties of AMCs. Graphene nanoplatelets are many times stronger and yet lighter than steel and other metals, and thus a good contender for reinforcing them. However, the homogeneous distribution of graphene into the metal or aluminum is a challenging aspect for material researchers. The fabrication techniques for AMCs for achieving homogeneous distribution of graphene are critically reviewed. The mechanical properties, specifically microhardness, wear behavior, and tensile strength of aluminum-based composites, are reviewed and analyzed. Finally, a way forward for fostering further development in this area has been discussed.

BackgroundProstate cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer among men worldwide. This study presents estimates of PCa prevalence, incidence, death, years-of-life-lost (YLLs), years-lived-with-disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs), and the burden attributable to smoking during 1990-2019 in North Africa and Middle East using data of Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Study 2019.MethodsThis study is a part of GBD 2019. Using vital registration and cancer registry data, the estimates on PCa burden were modeled. Risk factor analysis was performed through the six-step conceptual framework of Comparative Risk Assessment.ResultsThe age-standardized rates (95% UI) of PCa incidence, prevalence, and death in 2019 were 23.7 (18.5-27.9), 161.1 (126.6-187.6), and 11.7 (9.4-13.9) per 100,000 population. While PCa incidence and prevalence increased by 77% and 144% during 1990-2019, respectively, the death rate stagnated. Of the 397% increase in PCa new cases, 234% was due to a rise in the age-specific incidence rate, 79% due to population growth, and 84% due to population aging. The YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs of PCa increased by 2% (-11.8-23.1), 108% (75.5-155.1), and 6% (-8.9-28.1). The death rate and DALYs rate attributable to smoking have decreased 12% and 10%, respectively. The DALYs rate attributable to smoking was 37.4 (15.9-67.8) in Lebanon and 5.9 (2.5-10.6) in Saudi Arabia, which were the highest and lowest in the region, respectively.ConclusionsThe PCa incidence and prevalence rates increased during 1990-2019; however, the death rate stagnated. The increase in the incidence was mostly due to the rise in the age-specific incidence rate, rather than population growth or aging. The burden of PCa attributable to smoking has decreased in the past 30 years.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and high-performance concrete (HPC) are widely used in construction engineering applications. The quality and economy of this type of concrete are the main challenges in real construction systems due to their expensive cost. In the present investigation, the performances of UHPC and HPC were improved using eco-friendly additives from natural sources or industrial wastes. Accordingly, different kinds of concrete mixtures were prepared with the addition of various eco-friendly materials, such as metakaolin (10, 15, and 20%), silica fume (2.5, 5, 10, and 15%), cement kiln dust (CKD) (0, 5, and 10%), and 1 vol.% of steel and polypropylene fibers. All of these materials were subjected to efficient treatment and purification processes. The results indicated that the prepared UHPC was characterized by high compression and flexural strengths. The prepared UHPC (sample CR-2) with metakaolin (10%), CKD (10%), and 1 vol.% of steel fibers provided the highest compressive strength of 135 MPa at 28 days. Moreover, the results showed that reducing the cement amounts to 750, 500, and 250 kg/m3 provided concrete with efficient structural requirements and specifications and can be characterized as UHPC and HPC. Also, the mixture (sample CM15) with a metakaolin addition of 15%, CKD of 100 kg/m3, and 1 vol.% of steel fibers showed the highest flexural strength of 19.14 MPa at 28 d. Moreover, the highest splitting tensile strength of the prepared UHPC cylinders was 9.6 MPa at 28 d for the MSS1000 sample, which consisted of 15% metakaolin, a cement content of 1000 kg/m3, silica fume of 10%, and steel fibers of 1% vol. The prepared UHPC mixtures will reduce the amount of consumed cement and the production cost, with a high performance in comparison to classical concrete. Finally, it was clear that the prepared UHPC and HPC concrete with green additions can serve efficiently in specific construction applications, with high performance, economic feasibility, and safe environmental impacts.

Objectives: We compared the effects of fluoride mouthwashes on surface topography of orthodontic wires, and static and kinetic frictional forces between stainless-steel (SS) orthodontic brackets and SS and nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires. Materials and Methods: This in vitro, experimental study evaluated 240 standard SS maxillary central incisor brackets and 0.018-, and 0.025×0.019-inch NiTi and SS archwires. Different combinations of wire diameters and wire types were exposed to artificial saliva (control), 0.05% sodium-fluoride (NaF) for 1 minute daily, or 0.2% NaF for 1 minute weekly (37°C) for 3 months. The wires were pulled in the bracket slots by 5mm in a universal testing machine (10mm/minute). The static and kinetic forces were measured. The surface topography of the wires was inspected under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis (P

Introduction: Identifying patients at risk for mortality and using appropriate treatment for each patient based on their situation could be an effective strategy in improving their outcome. This study aimed to evaluated the predictors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on all adult COVID-19 patients who were managed in Imam-Reza and Sina Hospitals, Tabriz, Iran, from November 2020 until December 2021. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of patients were evaluated and predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified using logistic regression model. Results: 1000 patients with the mean age of 56.34 ± 18.00 years were studied (65.7% male). There were significant associations between COVID-19 in-hospital mortality and hospitalization above five days (p = 0.001), white blood cell count (WBC) > 4000 Cells*103/mL (p < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) above 40 IU/L (p = 0.001), alanine transaminase (ALT) above 40 IU/L (p = 0.001), creatinine above 1.4 mg/dL (p = 0.007), urea above 100 mg/dL (p = 0.024), and SaO2 below 80% (p = 0.001). Hospital stay above five days (OR: 3.473; 95%CI: 1.272 - 9.479; p = 0.15), AST above 40 IU/L (OR: 0.269, 95%CI: 0.179 - 0.402; p = 0.001), creatinine above 1.4 mg/dL (OR: 0.529; 95%CI: 0.344 - 0.813; p = 0.004), urea above 100 mg/dL (OR: 0.327, 95%CI: 0.189 - 0.567; p = 0.001), and SaO2 below 80% (OR: 8.754, 95%CI: 5.413 - 14.156; p = 0.001) were among the independent predictors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: The mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 in our study was 29.9%. Hospitalization of more than five days, AST above 40 IU/L, creatinine above 1.4 mg/dL, urea above 100 mg/dL and SaO2 < 80% were independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19.

The supplier selection problem (SSP) is a significant issue in renewable supply chain management (RSCM). Selecting a strategic green supplier can not only discover the sustainable development of supply chains but also optimize the consumption rate of resources and decrease the negative environmental effects, which adopts to the green development context. As a multiple criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problem, choosing a strategic green supplier is important to renewable supply chains. However, how to choose a strategic green supplier for supply chains is a great effort. Hence, In the present work, evaluating a set of strategic suppliers is primarily based on green capabilities by using an integrated fuzzy Best Worst Method (FBWM) with the other two techniques, namely COPRAS (Complex Proportional Assessment of Alternatives) and WASPAS (Weighted Aggregated Sum-Product Assessment). Initially, nine strategic supplier selection criteria have been identified through literature review and a real-world case study of Iran's renewable energy supply chain is deliberated to exhibit the proposed framework's applicability. The applied methodology and its analysis will provide insight to decision-makers of strategic supplier selection. It may aid decision-makers and the procurement department in differentiating the significant strategic green supplier selection criteria and assess the strategic green supplier in the local and global market supply chain. Finally, the strengths and limitation of the framework are discussed by using comparative analysis with other methods.

Introduction: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an effective cytokine in angiogenesis and bone remodeling. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of locally injected bFGF on movement rate and root resorption during orthodontic force application in dogs. Materials and Methods: In this experimental animal study, four 10-12 months male dogs were selected and were randomly allocated into two groups. A week following insertion of closing coil spring between the canines and second premolars, 50μg of bFGF was injected to the case group and phosphate saline to the control group once per month. One month after second injection, the distance between the mentioned teeth were measured. Also, root resorption percentage were analyzed on the second premolars. Results: Average maxillary tooth movement rate in case and control groups were found 2.53 and 1.35mm/month respectively. The correspondent mandibular measures were 2.23mm and 1.15mm. These differences were statistically significant (P

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 20149 (COVID-19) may be associated with the elevated liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), in which the disease has been associated with more severity. Liver stiffness (LS) is associated with the increased liver enzymes. Liver elastography is a non-invasive technique that is used to evaluate LS. This study aimed to evaluate the functional status of liver and its relationship with liver elastography results in the patients with COVID-19. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 90 patients with COVID-19, whose diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, were included. Levels of liver enzymes were measured and the patients underwent liver elastography. Liver size and interquartile range-median (IQR/M) of LS were also measured. Six months later, the patients underwent another liver elastography and measurement of liver enzymes. Results: The frequency of fatty liver in the case group was significantly higher compared to the control group but no significant difference was observed in the frequency of liver fibrosis between two groups. In patients with COVID-19, the LS and IQR/M values at the beginning and six months after recovery were significantly higher in the group with the increased liver enzymes (case) compared to the group without the increased enzymes (control). P value was 0.001. Conclusion: The use of elastography to evaluate LS in the patients with COVID-19 can be significantly effective in assessing the status of liver damage and inflammation of liver tissue. Since elastography is an inexpensive and non-invasive available tool, it can be used mainly in most medical centers.

In this paper, we have considered that ranked set sampling is able to estimate the parameters of exponentiated Pareto distribution. The method with which the maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters of exponentiated Pareto distribution is studied is numerical since there is no presence or possibility of a closed-form at the hands of estimators or any other intellectual. The numerical approach is a well-suited one for this study as there has been struggles in achieving it with any other technique. In order to compare the different sampling methods, simulation studies are performed as the main technique. As for the illustrative purposes, analysis of a simulated dataset is desired for the objective of the presentation. The conclusion that we can reach based on these is that the estimators based on the ranked set sample have far better efficiency than the simple random sample at the same sample size.

Development of a successful in vitro rearing protocol has been essential for pesticide safety assessment of immature honey bee workers under laboratory conditions. In contrast, pesticide safety testing of honey bee drones is limited, in part due to the lack of successful laboratory rearing protocols for this reproductive caste. Considering that healthy drones are essential for successful mating and reproduction of the honey bee queen, a standardized in vitro rearing protocol for honey bee drones is necessary to support reproductive safety studies, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of honey bee drone development. Using the established in vitro rearing protocol for honey bee workers, we modified the days of grafting and pupal transfer, as well as the diet volume, pupation plate orientation, and absorbent tissue in the pupal wells to successfully rear honey bee drones in vitro. In vitro-reared drones were evaluated for gross wing abnormalities, body weight, testes weight, and abdominal area, and compared with age-matched drones reared in field colonies. We found that honey bee drones reared in a vertically oriented pupation plate containing WypAll® absorbent tissue in each well had a mean survival to adulthood of 74 ± 3.5% (SEM) until adulthood. In contrast, drones reared in a horizontally oriented pupation plate containing Kimwipe® absorbent tissue in each well had significantly lower survival (5.5 ± 2.3%) and demonstrated gross wing abnormalities. All in vitro-reared drones had significantly lower body weight, testes weight and abdominal area relative to colony-reared control drones. Accordingly, we successfully developed an in vitro rearing protocol for honey bee drones which has the potential to improve future reproductive safety assessment of pesticides for honey bees., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist, (Copyright: © 2025 Bezerra da Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: An accurate, rapid, non-sputum-based triage test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) is needed., Methods: A prospective evaluation of the Cepheid GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis Host Response cartridge (Xpert-MTB-HR), a prototype blood-based host response mRNA signature assay, among individuals presenting with TB-like symptoms was performed in Pakistan and results were compared to 3 reference standards: Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, bacteriological confirmation (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and/or culture positivity), and composite clinical diagnosis (clinician diagnosis, treatment initiation, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, and/or culture positivity). Analyses were conducted both for the entire study cohort and separately in the adolescent and young adult cohort (aged 10-24 years)., Results: A total of 497 participants, aged 6-83 years, returned valid Xpert-MTB-HR results. When a diagnostic threshold was set for a sensitivity of >90%, specificity was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28%-37%) compared to Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, 29% (95% CI, 25%-34%) compared to a bacteriological confirmation, and 22% (95% CI, 18%-26%) compared to a composite clinical diagnosis. However, when evaluating only the adolescent and young adult cohort with a diagnostic threshold set for sensitivity of >90%, specificity was 82% (95% CI, 74%-89%) compared to Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, 84% (95% CI, 75%-90%) compared to a bacteriological confirmation, and 54% (95% CI, 44%-64%) compared to a composite clinical diagnosis., Conclusions: While the Xpert-MTB-HR does not meet World Health Organization minimum criteria in the general population, in our study it does meet the minimum sensitivity and specificity requirements for a non-sputum-based triage test among adolescents and young adults when compared to Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra or bacteriological confirmation., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: A large number of patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries are on long-term use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). The current guidelines regarding the continuation or discontinuation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAAS) inhibitors before noncardiac surgery are conflicting. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate whether continuing or withholding RAAS inhibitors before noncardiac surgery influences perioperative mortality and complications., Methods: A thorough literature search was performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from their inception up to August 30, 2024 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using a random-effects model to pool odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: The analysis included 16 studies with a total of 59,105 patients on RAAS inhibitors before noncardiac surgery. Withholding RAAS inhibitors was associated with a significantly lower incidence of intraoperative hypotension (OR = 0.49; 95 % CI = 0.29 to 0.83) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR = 0.88; 95 % CI = 0.82 to 0.95) than continuing the therapy. However, there was no statistically significant difference in reducing mortality (OR = 1.10; 95 % CI = 0.86 to 1.40), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (OR = 1.27; 95 % CI = 0.75 to 2.16), myocardial infarction (OR = 0.83; 95 % CI = 0.27 to 2.59) or stroke events (OR = 0.70; 95 % CI = 0.36 to 1.36) between the two groups., Conclusion: Withholding RAAS inhibitors before noncardiac surgery reduces intraoperative hypotension and AKI with nonsignificant effects on mortality and MACE., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This article discusses the growing burden of smog in Pakistan, tracing its origins to vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and agricultural practices. It highlights current national initiatives and advocates for enhanced government interventions to mitigate smog's adverse effects on ocular health. It also emphasizes the need for collective action to safeguard ocular health amid rising smog pollution in Pakistan., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.)

The prevalence of resistance to harmful human pathogens is steadily rising, emphasizing the urgent need to identify novel antimicrobial compounds. For this purpose, plants stand out as a significant source of bioactives worthy of exploration. Among these, alkaloids, a vast and structurally diverse category of plant secondary metabolites, have emerged as a foundation for crucial antibacterial medications such as metronidazole and the quinolones. In the current work, the crude methanol leaf extract of Psammogeton biternatum Edgew collected from District Bannu, Pakistan, was subjected to TLC (indirect) bioautography and X-ray crystallography for the isolation of potential antibacterial agents. From the crude extract, a novel quinoline alkaloid called quinoline dione ((3 R ,3a S ,5a R )-3,5a,9-trimethyl-3a,4,5,5a-tetrahydro-2 H -isoxazolo[2,3- a ] quinoline-2,8(3 H )-dione (C 14 H 17 NO 3 )) was isolated. The crystal information ( M = 247.296 g/mol) is as follows: orthorhombic, P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a = 7.7339(14) Å, b = 10.7254(19) Å, c = 15.730(2) Å, V = 1304.8(4) Å 3 , Z = 4, T = 296 K, μ(Mo Kα) = 0.088 mm -1 , ρ calc = 1.259 g/cm 3 , 13928 reflections measured (5.86° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 51.98°), 2478 unique ( R int = 0.1613, R σ = 0.1335). The final R 1 was 0.1098 ( I ≥ 2u( I )), and wR 2 was 0.2183. The antibacterial activity for both crude extract of leaves and quinoline dione was determined by a well diffusion method. The quinoline dione alkaloid demonstrated excellent inhibition zones against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm), Bacillus subtills (17 mm), Escherichia coli (20 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23 mm) compared to the crude extract. The antibiofilm potential was recorded against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the 96-well microtiter plate method. A dose-dependent biofilm inhibition response was recorded, which increased with the increase in concentration. Moreover, quinoline dione showed a greater antibiofilm effect as compared to the crude extract, which may be linked to the presence of a particular active functional group positioned on the compound isolated in its pure form. Through in silico studies, i.e., molecular docking, quinoline dione shows strong binding energies with the LasR transcriptional regulator (6MVN) at -9.3 and LasR transcriptional activator (3IX4) at -9.2 kcal/mol, as well as moderate affinities with other targets such as AHL synthase LasI (PDB ID 1RO5) and OprM channel (PDB ID 3D5K), indicating its potential as a quorum sensing inhibitor. Thus, the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of quinoline dione was confirmed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Perclose ProGlide (PPG) Suture-Mediated Closure System™ is safe and can reduce time to hemostasis following procedures requiring arterial access., Aims: We aimed to compare PPG to figure of 8 suture in patients who underwent interventional catheter procedures requiring large bore venous access (LBVA) (≥13 French)., Methods: In this physician-initiated, randomized, single-center study [clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04632641], single-stick venous access was obtained under ultrasound guidance. Eligible patients were randomized 1:1, and 100 subjects received allocated treatment to either PPG (n = 47) or figure of 8 suture (n = 53). No femoral arterial access was used in any patient. Primary outcomes were time to achieve hemostasis (TTH) and time to ambulation (TTA). Secondary outcomes were time to discharge (TTD) and vascular-related complications and mortality. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare TTH, TTA, and TTD., Results: TTH (minutes) was significantly lower in PPG versus figure of 8 suture [median, (Q1, Q3)] [7 (2,10) vs. 11 (10,15) respectively, p < 0.001]. TTA (minutes) was significantly lower in PPG compared to figure of 8 suture [322 (246,452) vs. 403 (353, 633) respectively, p = 0.005]. TTD (minutes) was not significantly different between the PPG and figure of 8 suture arms [1257 (1081, 1544) vs. 1338 (1171,1435), p = 0.650]. There was no difference in minor bleeding or access site hematomas between both arms. No other vascular complications or mortality were reported., Conclusion: PPG use had lower TTH and TTA than figure of 8 suture in a population of patients receiving LBVA procedures. This may encourage same-day discharge in these patients., (© 2024 The Author(s). Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Vasospastic angina usually presents with intermittent episodes of chest pain. It can rarely be associated with the perception of phantom odors., Case Summary: A 69-year-old woman presented for evaluation of intermittent shortness of breath and chest pain. She reported that she often experienced an abnormal smell sensation just prior to the event. The patient had abnormal smell sensation and shortness of breath at the initiation of exercise stress echocardiography with transient electrocardiographic changes and new regional wall motion abnormalities. Subsequent invasive coronary angiography showed no obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. The patient was started on calcium channel blocker therapy with resolution of symptoms., Conclusion: Phantom odor perception has been rarely reported as an angina-equivalent symptom. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion in patients presenting with atypical anginal symptoms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Zubair, Suma, Masood, Jan, Bajwa and Haddadian.)

In the UK people living in disadvantaged communities are less likely than those with higher socio-economic status to have a healthy diet. To address this inequality, it is crucial scientists, practitioners and policy makers understand the factors that hinder and assist healthy food choice in these individuals. In this scoping review, we aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among disadvantaged individuals living in the UK. Additionally, we used the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to synthesise results and provide a guide for the development of theory-informed behaviour change interventions. Five databases were searched, (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for articles assessing healthy dietary intake of disadvantaged adults living in the UK. A total of 50 papers (34 quantitative; 16 qualitative) were included in this review. Across all studies we identified 78 barriers and 49 facilitators found to either impede and/or encourage healthy eating. Both barriers and facilitators were more commonly classified under the Environmental, Context and Resources TDF domain, with 74% of studies assessing at least one factor pertaining to this domain. Results thus indicate that context related factors such as high cost and accessibility of healthy food, rather than personal factors, such as lack of efficiency in healthy lifestyle drive unhealthy eating in disadvantaged individuals in the UK. We discuss how such factors are largely overlooked in current interventions and propose that more effort should be directed towards implementing interventions that specifically target infrastructures rather than individuals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a potent anticancer drug. However, PTX exhibits extremely poor solubility in aqueous solution along with severe side effects. Therefore, in this study, an inclusion complex was prepared between PTX and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) by solvent evaporation to enhance the drug's solubility. The HPβCD-PTX inclusion complex was then encapsulated in poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) to fabricate drug-loaded nanoparticles (HPβCD-PTX/PHB NPs) by nanoprecipitation. The HPβCD-PTX/PHB NPs depicted a higher release of PTX at pH 5.5 thus demonstrating a pH-dependent release profile. The cytotoxic properties of HPβCD-PTX/PHB NPs were tested against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SW-620 cell lines. The cytotoxic potential of HPβCD-PTX/PHB NPs was 2.59-fold improved in MCF-7 cells in comparison to free PTX. Additionally, the HPβCD-PTX/PHB NPs improved the antimitotic (1.68-fold) and apoptotic (8.45-fold) effects of PTX in MCF-7 cells in comparison to PTX alone. In summary, these pH-responsive nanoparticles could be prospective carriers for enhancing the cytotoxic properties of PTX for the treatment of breast cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Animal models have been essential for advancing research of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in humans, but few animal species effectively replicate the behavioural and clinical signs of FASD. The honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) is a previously unexplored research model for FASD that offers the distinct benefit of highly social behaviour. In this study, we chronically exposed honey bee larvae to incremental concentrations of 0, 3, 6, and 10% ethanol in the larval diet using an in vitro rearing protocol and measured developmental time and survival to adult eclosion, as well as body weight and motor activity of newly emerged adult bees. Larvae reared on 6 and 10% dietary ethanol demonstrated significant, dose-responsive delays to pupation and decreased survival and adult body weight. All ethanol-reared adults showed significantly decreased motor activity. These results suggest that honey bees may be a suitable social animal model for future FASD research.

(1) Background: Microsporidiosis (nosemosis) is an intestinal disorder of adult honey bees caused by the microsporidian pathogens Vairimorpha apis and Vairimorpha ceranae. In Canada, fumagillin is an approved antibiotic used to treat this disease. However, the recommended dosage is based on efficacy studies for V. apis , the native pathogen in European honey bees. Since the detection of V. ceranae in Apis mellifera , V. ceranae became more prevalent in managed European honey bees and seems to have replaced V. apis due to yet unknown reasons. (2) Methods: This colony study investigated the efficacy of fumagillin administered in the fall to colonies infected with both V. apis and V. ceranae and its effects on the Vairimorpha species' prevalence overwinter. Spore loads in control and fumagillin-treated colonies were analysed by microscopy; Vairimorpha species prevalence was determined molecularly and infection and treatment effects on colony productivity were assessed. (3) Results: Fall fumagillin treatment was associated with a temporary reduction in spore load, but there was no difference in spore loads between treated and control colonies the following spring. Interestingly, fumagillin-treated colonies had a significantly greater prevalence of V. ceranae relative to V. apis the following spring, suggesting fumagillin is less effective in controlling V. ceranae .

Background: Several studies have been conducted over the years to find an effective and safe therapeutic agent to treat hypercholesterolemia. Inclisiran is a novel drug being studied for its efficacy and safety in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. No previous study was done to review the trials for the serious adverse events of this drug. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the incidence of serious adverse events of this drug., Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials is performed., Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from their inception till July 3, 2023, was performed for ORION trials, studying the efficacy and safety of inclisiran. The random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis to provide a pooled proportion of serious adverse events. The risk of bias in each study was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool., Results: From 319 studies searched from the databases, only 8 relevant articles remained after a detailed evaluation. These studies, having a total of 4981 patients, were involved in the analysis, with a pooled estimate showing a nonsignificant incidence of serious adverse events. Each adverse event was studied individually, and product issues and endocrine disorders had the highest odds ratio among them. All included studies were classified as moderate quality., Conclusion: Following systematic review and meta-analysis, we found no significant differences in any serious adverse events following the administration of inclisiran. However, larger ongoing trials will provide additional data to evaluate the safety profile of this agent., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The microsporidian pathogens Vairimorpha apis and V. ceranae are known to cause intestinal infection in honey bees and are associated with decreased colony productivity and colony loss. The widely accepted method for determining Vairimorpha colony infection level for risk assessment and antibiotic treatment is based on spore counts of 60 pooled worker bees using light microscopy. Given that honey bee colonies consist of as many as 1,000 times more individuals, the number of bees collected for Vairimorpha detection may significantly impact the estimated colony infection level, especially in the case of uneven distribution of high- and low-infected individuals within a hive. Hence, we compared the frequency and severity of Vairimorpha infection in individual bees to pooled samples of 60, 120, and 180 bees, as well as compared the Vairimorpha spp. prevalence in pooled samples of 60 and 180 bees. Overall, we did not find significant differences in spore counts in pooled samples containing incremental numbers of bees, although we observed that, in less-infected colonies, a low frequency of highly infected individuals influenced the estimated colony infection level. Moreover, Vairimorpha spp. prevalence did not differ significantly among the pooled bee samples tested. Increasing the number of pooled bees from the recommended 60 bees to 180 bees did not yield a more accurate representation of colony infection level for highly infected colonies, but the clinical importance of a low frequency of highly infected individuals in less-infected colonies needs to be addressed in future studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

American foulbrood (AFB) is an infectious disease of honey bee brood caused by the endospore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. P. larvae spores are resilient in the environment, thus colonies with clinical signs of AFB are often destroyed by burning to eradicate the causative agent. To prevent outbreaks of AFB, oxytetracycline metaphylaxis is widely used in North America, resulting in sustained selective pressure for oxytetracycline resistance in P. larvae . To determine if antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is present among P. larvae isolates from commercial beekeeping operations in Saskatchewan, Canada, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 718 P. larvae samples cultured from pooled, extracted honey collected from 52 beekeepers over a 2-y period, 2019 and 2020. We found that 65 of 718 (9%) P. larvae samples collected from 8 beekeepers were resistant to oxytetracycline with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 64-256 µg/mL. Eight of 718 (1%) samples from 4 beekeepers had intermediate resistance to oxytetracycline (MIC: 4-8 µg/mL). Susceptibility testing for tylosin and lincomycin indicated that P. larvae in Saskatchewan continue to be susceptible to these antimicrobials (tylosin MIC: <1 µg/mL, lincomycin MIC: ≤2 µg/mL). Most oxytetracycline-resistant P. larvae samples were identified in northeastern Saskatchewan. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified the P. larvae -specific plasmid pMA67 with tetracycline-resistance gene tet (L) in 9 of 11 oxytetracycline-resistant P. larvae isolates sequenced. Our results highlight the advantage of using pooled, extracted honey as a surveillance tool for monitoring AMR in P. larvae ., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Smart agricultural systems have received a great deal of interest in recent years because of their potential for improving the efficiency and productivity of farming practices. These systems gather and analyze environmental data such as temperature, soil moisture, humidity, etc., using sensor networks and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This information can then be utilized to improve crop growth, identify plant illnesses, and minimize water usage. However, dealing with data complexity and dynamism can be difficult when using traditional processing methods. As a solution to this, we offer a novel framework that combines Machine Learning (ML) with a Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithm to optimize traffic routing inside Software-Defined Networks (SDN) through traffic classifications. ML models such as Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), k-nearest Neighbours (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Naive Bayes (NB), and Decision Trees (DT) are used to categorize data traffic into emergency, normal, and on-demand. The basic version of RL, i.e., the Q-learning (QL) algorithm, is utilized alongside the SDN paradigm to optimize routing based on traffic classes. It is worth mentioning that RF and DT outperform the other ML models in terms of accuracy. Our results illustrate the importance of the suggested technique in optimizing traffic routing in SDN environments. Integrating ML-based data classification with the QL method improves resource allocation, reduces latency, and improves the delivery of emergency traffic. The versatility of SDN facilitates the adaption of routing algorithms depending on real-time changes in network circumstances and traffic characteristics.

Radiology has been a pioneer in the healthcare industry's digital transformation, incorporating digital imaging systems like picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and teleradiology over the past thirty years. This shift has reshaped radiology services, positioning the field at a crucial junction for potential evolution into an integrated diagnostic service through artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies offer advanced tools for radiology's transformation. The radiology community has advanced computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools using machine learning techniques, notably deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for medical image pattern recognition. However, the integration of CAD tools into clinical practice has been hindered by challenges in workflow integration, unclear business models, and limited clinical benefits, despite development dating back to the 1990s. This comprehensive review focuses on detecting chest-related diseases through techniques like chest X-rays (CXRs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and computed tomography (CT) scans. It examines the utilization of computer-aided programs by researchers for disease detection, addressing key areas: the role of computer-aided programs in disease detection advancement, recent developments in MRI, CXR, radioactive tracers, and CT scans for chest disease identification, research gaps for more effective development, and the incorporation of machine learning programs into diagnostic tools., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Arslan et al.)