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With the advancement of biotechnology in the marine industry, an increasing utilization of marine ingredients in skincare products has been observed in recent years. Encapsulating Artemia franciscana extract and its derivatives in a novel phospholipid vesicle called hyalurosome presents innovative strategies for drug delivery systems and anti-aging products. In this study, we developed nano hyalurosomes containing Artemia franciscana active components. Partially purification of proteins in the Artemia franciscana extract was performed using ion exchange chromatography, specifically targeting Hsp40 and Artemin. The physicochemical properties of the hyalurosomes were characterized, revealing nanoparticle sizes ranging from 100 to 130 nm, zeta potential between - 57 and - 41.2 mV. The biological compatibility of the fabricated hyalurosomes was tested in vitro on mice fibroblast cells. Results indicated that formulations containing hyalurosomes exhibited no cytotoxicity. In-vivo studies employing H&E and Mason's trichrome staining demonstrated an increase in the dermal layer of the skin on male mice and collagen production following treatment with different formulations containing hyalurosomes. Therefore, these formulations are considered promising candidates for anti-aging effects. Stability study at 4 °C for 60 days validated by FE-SEM imaging. In conclusion, hyalurosomes fabricated with Artemia franciscana extract and its diverse active molecules successfully achieved enhanced loading and penetration into the deeper layers of the skin, and it can be a suitable candidate for the treatment of skin aging and rejuvenation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: For the in-vivo assay, all experimental stages adhered to the standards outlined in the 8th edition of the ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,’ published by the National Academy of Sciences ( http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory animals.pdf). The study adhered to international institutional guidelines (IR.NIGEB.EC.1402.12.13.D) for the ethical treatment and use of animals. Consent for participate: In this study, human samples were not utilized. Consequently, as there was no involvement of human participants, consent from individuals is not required for the company’s participation. Consent to publish: As human subjects were not involved in this study, their data was not collected or published. Therefore, there are no concerns regarding the publication of data related to human participants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study utilizes the Breast Ultrasound Image (BUSI) dataset to present a deep learning technique for breast tumor segmentation based on a modified UNet architecture. To improve segmentation accuracy, the model integrates attention mechanisms, such as the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) and Non-Local Attention, with advanced encoder architectures, including ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet. These attention mechanisms enable the model to focus more effectively on relevant tumor areas, resulting in significant performance improvements. Models incorporating attention mechanisms outperformed those without, as reflected in superior evaluation metrics. The effects of Dice Loss and Binary Cross-Entropy (BCE) Loss on the model's performance were also analyzed. Dice Loss maximized the overlap between predicted and actual segmentation masks, leading to more precise boundary delineation, while BCE Loss achieved higher recall, improving the detection of tumor areas. Grad-CAM visualizations further demonstrated that attention-based models enhanced interpretability by accurately highlighting tumor areas. The findings denote that combining advanced encoder architectures, attention mechanisms, and the UNet framework can yield more reliable and accurate breast tumor segmentation. Future research will explore the use of multi-modal imaging, real-time deployment for clinical applications, and more advanced attention mechanisms to further improve segmentation performance., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicting or financial interests. Ethics approval: This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Informed consent: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, has been defined as the loss of pleasure or lack of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli. Considering the relevance of alpha asymmetry to MDD and anhedonia, we explored the effect of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation on frontal and posterior EEG alpha asymmetry (FAA and PAA, respectively), in this exploratory investigation. 61 participants randomly received sham (n = 11), bilateral (BS; n = 25), or unilateral stimulation (US; n = 25) of the DLPFC. The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) was administered. FAA and PAA were calculated by subtracting the natural log-transformed alpha power of the right (F8 or T6) from that of the left (F7 or T5) EEG channel. Furthermore, alpha peak was defined as the frequency where alpha power was at its maximum. BS and US both reduced anhedonia symptoms in the active compared to the sham group. Even non-responders in the BS group showed a decreased anhedonia. Interestingly in the BS group, only the patients who showed a right-lateralized FAA or PAA at baseline showed a reduction in anhedonia. However, in the US group, only patients with left-lateralized FAA or right-lateralized PAA showed a decrease in anhedonia. PAA at baseline predicted symptoms post treatment. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between baseline alpha peak values and SHAPS scores post treatment were found in the BS group. PAA was a better predictor of anhedonia and reduction of depressive symptoms in both groups. BS may produce larger effects with regard to anhedonia., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Active transportation, such as cycling, improves mobility and general health. However, statistics reveal that in low- and middle-income countries, male and female cycling participation rates differ significantly. Existing literature highlights that women's willingness to use bicycles is significantly influenced by their perception of security. This study employs virtual reality (VR) cycling simulation and electroencephalography (EEG) analysis to investigate factors influencing female cyclists' perceptions of security in Tehran. A total of 52 female participants took part in four scenarios within a VR bicycle simulator, which simulates various environmental settings. In this experiment, participants' brainwave signals are gathered through an EEG device, and a questionnaire with their stated preferences is filled out. The Gaussian mixture approach is used to cluster brainwave patterns based on security perception from EEG data. Subsequently, four supervised machine learning methods, random forest, support vector machine, logistic regression, and multilayer perceptron, are utilized to classify influential factors on security perception using clustered EEG data. Consequently, the support vector machine model, with an F1 score of 0.74, appears to be the most effective technique for the classification of environmental and surveillance factors. Furthermore, the SelectKBest algorithm determines that factors such as the presence of obstacles like kiosks, cycling routes passing through tunnels and underpasses, the level of incivility in the urban cycling environment, and the presence of informal surveillance have the biggest impact on female cyclists' security perception., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, new cinnamic acid linked to triazole acetamide derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for anti-Alzheimer and anti-melanogenesis activities. The structural elucidation of all analogs was performed using different analytical techniques, including 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, mass spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy. The synthesized compounds were assessed in vitro for their inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase enzymes. Among synthesize derivative compound 3-(4-((1-(2-((2,4-dichlorophenyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (10j) exhibited the highest activity against BChE with an IC 50 value of 11.99 ± 0.53 µM. Derivative 3-(3-methoxy-4-((1-(2-oxo-2-(p-tolylamino)ethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)acrylic acid (10d), bearing a 4-CH 3 group, was identified as the most potent AChE inhibitor. In terms of tyrosinase inhibition, 3-(3-methoxy-4-((1-(2-((2-methyl-4-nitrophenyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)acrylic acid (compound 10n), demonstrated 44.87% inhibition at a concentration of 40 µM. Additionally, a kinetic study of compound 10j which 2,4-dichlorophenyl substituents against BChE revealed a mixed-type inhibition pattern. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamic studies of compound 10j were conducted to thoroughly evaluate its mode of action within the BChE active site., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Accurate and continuous blood glucose monitoring is essential for effective diabetes management, yet traditional finger pricking methods are often inconvenient and painful. To address this issue, photoplethysmography (PPG) presents a promising non-invasive alternative for estimating blood glucose levels. In this study, we propose an innovative 1-second signal segmentation method and evaluate the performance of three advanced deep learning models using a novel dataset to estimate blood glucose levels from PPG signals. We also extend our testing to additional datasets to assess the robustness of our models against unseen distributions, thereby providing a comprehensive evaluation of the models' generalizability and specificity and accuracy. Initially, we analyzed 10-second PPG segments; however, our newly developed 1-second signal segmentation technique proved to significantly enhance accuracy and computational efficiency. The selected model, after being optimized and deployed on an embedded device, achieved immediate blood glucose estimation with a processing time of just 6.4 seconds, demonstrating the method's practical applicability. The method demonstrated strong generalizability across different populations. Training data was collected during surgery and anesthesia, and the method also performed successfully in normal states using a separate test dataset. The results showed an average root mean squared error (RMSE) of 19.7 mg/dL, with 76.6% accuracy within the A zone and 23.4% accuracy within the B zone of the Clarke Error Grid Analysis (CEGA), indicating a 100% clinical acceptance. These findings demonstrate that blood glucose estimation using 1-second PPG signal segments not only outperforms the traditional 10-second segments, but also provides a more convenient and accurate alternative to conventional monitoring methods. The study's results highlight the potential of this approach for non-invasive, accurate, and convenient diabetes management, ultimately offering improved health management., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Climate change is one of the most crucial issues in human society such that if it is not given sufficient attention, it can become a great threat to both humans and the Earth. Due to global warming, soil erosion is increasing in different regions. Therefore, this issue will require further investigation and the use of new tools. In this paper, a portable wind tunnel was designed and built for wind erosion studies using photogrammetry, which is a novel technique. This instrument consists of a working section, a fan, a portable voltage source inverter to control its angular speed, and a honeycomb to straighten the air flow in the working section. The eroded volume of soil is measured using photogrammetry by producing two 3D models and point clouds before and after the soil erosion test and calculating their volume changes. The results show that a 0.175 mm check distance precision is achievable under convergent imaging and with sufficient number of accurate control points which this value indicates the discrepancy between the anticipated and measured lengths of all the check distances. In addition, the features of this portable wind tunnel guarantee its easy portability, and its transparency enables the measurement of the threshold friction velocity. Additionally, this instrument, as an invention, has been registered at the Intellectual Property Center of Iran., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent to publish: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Anatomical Landmark detection in CT-Scan images is widely used in the identification of skeletal disorders. However, the traditional process of manually detecting anatomical landmarks, especially in three dimensions, is both time-consuming and prone to human errors. We propose a novel, deep-learning-based approach to automatic detection of 3D landmarks in CT images of the lower limb. We generate multiple view renderings of the scanned limb and then integrate them, using a pyramid-style convolutional neural network, to build a 3D model of the bone and to determine the spatial coordinates of the landmarks. Those landmarks are then used to calculate key anatomical indicators that would enable the reliable diagnosis of skeletal disorders. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach we compare its predicted landmark coordinates and resulting anatomical indicators (both 2D and 3D) with those determined by human experts. The average coordinate error (difference between automatically and manually determined coordinates) of the landmarks was 2.05 ± 1.36 mm on test data, whereas the average angular error (difference between automatically and manually calculated angles in three and two dimensions) on the same dataset was 0.53 ± 0.66° and 0.74 ± 0.87°, respectively. Our proposed deep-learning-based approach not only outperforms the traditional landmark detection and indicator assessment methods in terms of speed and accuracy but also improves the credibility of the ensuing diagnoses by avoiding manual landmarking errors., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Tehran University—Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehra, Tehran, Iran (Approval ID: IR.UT.SPORT.REC.1402.106). Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Urmia Lake Basin has been severely affected by the unbalanced exploitation of water resources. To better manage the use of integrated water resources, the coupled SWAT-MODFLOW-NWT was adopted for the Mahabad Plain in the Urmia Lake Basin, N.W. Iran. The results indicated that a multifunctional calibration of SWAT and MODFLOW-NWT hydrological models in a large-scale irrigated area was necessary, using parameters such as evapotranspiration and crop yield in addition to the usual surface runoff and water table measures. The coupled model was then used to evaluate several water allocation scenarios, such as alternate proportions of irrigation water allocation from conjunctive water resources. The ultimate objective of adopting these scenarios was to increase the residual share of the water supply in order to compensate for the deprived share of Urmia Lake. The results of this study demonstrated that that the coupled SWAT-MODFLOW-NWT model was able to satisfactorily simulate the surface and groundwater balance components at different spatial and temporal dimensions. The results indicate that the Mahabad aquifer is capable of supplying irrigation water needs in the central and northern regions, with some limitations around running rivers. Furthermore, groundwater sustainability indicators showed that even with an additional 30% of the water supply from groundwater, the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources was preserved Ultimately, the findings indicated that a reduction in water allocation from surface waters can lead to an increase in water release to the lake of 16 million cubic meters (21%) to 18 million cubic meters (25%) in different years. The outcomes of this study can serve as a guiding principle for the optimal and sustainable allocation of surface and groundwater resources in highly competitive and fragile basins such as Lake Urmia., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: All authors have seen and approved the manuscript and have contributed significantly to preparing the manuscript. Consent to participate: All authors have read and understood the provided information and have had the opportunity to ask questions. All authors share equal responsibility for errors of commission or omission. Consent to publish: All authors give their consent for the publication of the paper to be published in this Journal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The objective of this research was to examine the impact of feeding biologically treated rumen digesta (BTRD) to Holstein steer calves at levels of 0, 10, 20, and 30% (DM-based) on feed consumption, nutrient digestion, growth performance, rumen fermentation, and plasma metabolites. Sixteen Holstein steer calves with an initial BW of 113 ± 8 kg were randomly allocated in a randomized complete design. Dietary inclusion of BTRD in calves diet did not altered (P < 0.05) total intakes of DM, OM, and CP, when compared to those on the control diet over the experiment, but improved (P < 0.01) NDF and ADF consumption. Dietary inclusion of BTRD by 20% increased significantly DM and OM digestibility, average daily gain and feed efficiency (FE) (P < 0.05) and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 60 to 120 days. Plasma glucose, triglyceride, total protein, creatinine, or urea-N concentrations between treatments were not affected, but uric acid was reduced linearly (P = 0.02) in steers given BTRD supplements. Supplemented diets containing BTRD had the highest levels of plasma cholesterol and HDL, which increased with increasing BTRD inclusion levels. BTRD supplements were found to lower MDA levels in steers than control diets. This study found that dietary BTRD supplementation improved performance and health status of Holstein steer calves as well as their oxidative parameters., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Although the connection between muscular strength and flatfoot condition is well-established, the impact of corrective exercises on these muscles remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to assess the impact of intrinsic- versus extrinsic-first corrective exercise programs on muscle morphometry and navicular drop in boys with flexible flatfoot. Twenty-five boys aged 10-12 with flexible flatfoot participated, undergoing a 12-week corrective exercise program, with a shift in focus at six weeks. Ultrasound imaging measured muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA), and the navicular drop test assessed flatfoot severity. The results demonstrated a significant interaction between exercise type and sequencing on muscle morphometry. Initiating with intrinsic exercises led to sustained improvement, even after transitioning to extrinsic exercises, while extrinsic-first exercises caused deterioration in intrinsic muscle morphometry, which was recovered after transitioning to intrinsic exercises. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in muscle thickness and CSA over time, particularly when initiating intrinsic exercises first. The intrinsic-first group also exhibited a more pronounced reduction in navicular drop. In conclusion, initiating corrective exercises with intrinsic muscles proved more effective in improving foot muscle morphometry and reducing navicular drop in boys with flatfoot. Therefore, commencing correction with intrinsic muscle exercises is recommended before progressing to extrinsic muscle exercises., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The formation of a S-shaped filament was investigated to determine if and how magnetoacoustic waves in the solar corona can trigger filament excitation. The study investigated how magnetoacoustic waves interact with two magnetic null points in the solar corona. Since the solar corona has a complex magnetic field structure, it is expected that magnetic structures are predominantly responsible for the occurrence of coronal events. Simulation methods are required because of the complex nature of the reconnection problem and the way MHD waves behave. Because of notable progress in the production of supercomputers and the enhancement of techniques, it is now possible to analyze the behaviour of nonlinear plasma near the magnetic null point through numerical methods. This article aims to explore the idea of a 2.5D null point pair and investigate the motion and generation of plasma flow resulting from a solitary magnetoacoustic pulse passing through a particular magnetic structure that contains two null points. In this statement, the PLUTO code, which is a type of code called Godunov, is used to solve a set of equations known as resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations. It was depicted that when transitioning from X-point to O-point, twisted formations are formed, which play a significant role in developing S-shaped filaments. These formations also have a vital function right before the excitement of the filaments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Agaricus bisporus is globally a most extensively consumed species of edible mushrooms. Ethylene secreted by A. bisporus mycelium suppress the initiation of fructification. 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing bacteria decrease the content of ethylene by cleaving ACC produced by the A. bisporus hyphae to α-ketobutyrate and ammonia. This study evaluated the effect of various salts on the population of Bacillus velezensis UTB96 with ACC deaminase activity on button mushroom. The results indicated that CaCl 2 , MnSO 4 and MgSO 4 salts increased significantly the bacterial population compared by control, among which the medium supplemented with CaCl 2 showed the highest number of living cells in the culture. Evaluation of ACC deaminase gene expression indicated that the highest level belonged to bacteria grown in medium containing CaCl 2 in comparison with control as the expression level of ACC deaminase was 20.9-fold upregulated comparing to the control. The assessment of the effect of each salt lonely, UTB96 cultured in LB and LB containing salts of mushroom indicated that yield was increased 23% and 18% in plots treated with UTB96 cultured in media supplemented, respectively, with CaCl 2 and MnSO 4 , in comparison with control. Therefore, UTB96 grown in media supplemented with CaCl 2 has a potential use in mushroom production since the induction of ACC deaminase which results in decrease the level of ethylene and promote mushroom growth., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval and consent to participate: This research does not contain any studies with human participants or animals. We confirm that all the methods were carried out in accordance with relevant Institutional guidelines and regulations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this work, a novel series of quinoline-thiosemicarbazone-1,2,3-triazole-aceamide derivatives 10a-n as new potent α-glucosidase inhibitors was designed, synthesized, and evaluated. All the synthesized derivatives 10a-n were more potent than acarbose (positive control). Representatively, (E)-2-(4-(((3-((2-Carbamothioylhydrazineylidene)methyl)quinolin-2-yl)thio)methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-N-phenethylacetamide (10n), as the most potent entry, with IC 50  = 48.4 µM was 15.5-times more potent than acarbose. According to kinetic study, compound 10n was a competitive inhibitor against α-glucosidase. This compound formed the desired interactions with important residues of the binding pocket of α-glucosidase with favorable binding energy in the molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Compounds 10n, 10e, and 10 g as the most potent compounds among the synthesized compounds were evaluated in term of pharmacokinetics and toxicity via online servers. These evaluations predicted that compounds 10n, 10e, and 10 g had good pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity profile., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The cultivation of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in semi-arid regions is affected by drought. To explore potential alleviation strategies, we investigated the impact of inoculation with Bacillus velezensis, and the application of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) via foliage application (FA), which promote plant growth and enhance stress tolerance. A split-split-plot experiment with four replications was conducted, featuring two irrigation levels: full watering (FW, 100% of plant water requirements) and deficit watering (DW, 70% of plant water requirements) as a main plot, two ASA levels (No foliage application (NFA) 0 and 0.5 mM) as sub plot, and bacterial inoculation (BI) versus non-bacterial inoculation (NBI) as sub-sub plot. Results showed that the highest grain yield was achieved with the ASA + BI under FW (3270 kg ha - ¹), a 56% increase compared to the control (2094 kg ha - ¹). Under DW, the ASA + BI increased yield by approximately 30%. ASA significantly increased relative water content under deficit watering, achieving 84% with BI. Chlorophyll a content peaked at 3.11 mg g - 1 with full watering, and chlorophyll b content increased by up to 23.8% under deficit watering, indicating improved photosynthetic capacity. Malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels were reduced to 10.88 and 14.81 µmol g - ¹ fresh weight, respectively, in ASA + BI treatments, demonstrating reduced oxidative stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly elevated in treated plants under DW. This study demonstrates the potential of microbial and hormonal treatments in boosting drought tolerance in common beans, providing a viable approach for sustaining crop performance under stress conditions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All required permits have been received from University of Tehran. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Study Design: Descriptive study., Objectives: The National Spinal Cord/Column Injury Registry of Iran (NSCIR-IR) is a registry system to survey Traumatic Spinal Column/Spinal Cord Injuries (TSC/SCIs) patients and obtain the required data for quality-of-care assessment., Setting: Iran., Methods: In 2022, the pre-hospital, in-hospital, and post-hospital Quality of Care (QoC) of registered patients with TSC/SCIs in 8 referral hospitals in Iran were studied., Results: Based on the study reports, TSCI/SCIs and their complication management were highly influenced by the health system's performance. In particular, the health system structure and medical process were identified to affect patient outcomes. According to the QoC study reports, several recommendations, including goal setting by emergency medical service providers to transport patients with possible spinal injury to first care facilities in <1 h and to an equipped care facility in <8 h, the dedication of operating room available 24/7 for patients with TSC/SCIs in referral centers, the distinction between early vs late surgery in patients with TSC/SCIs by healthcare insurance to increase the propensity for early surgery, operating a specialized SCI care unit with trained physicians and personnel in the management of acute complications following SCI and early rehabilitation in referral hospitals were specified., Conclusion: This article provides a policy brief of this report. The role of the health system and medical process, as well as addressing TSC/SCIs health concerns by policymakers and stakeholders in the Ministry of Health and the parliament, to improve the QoC for patients with TSC/SCIs are discussed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of the National Institute for Medical Research Development Islamic Republic of Iran (NIMAD) approved the study. The reference number is IR-NIMAD-REC-1397.519. In addition, the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences approved the study [Reference number: IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1398.332] and the NSCIR-IR with approval ID of IR.TUMS.MEDICINE.REC.1401.133., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.)

The year 2020 was a landmark year for wheat. The wheat HB4 event harboring a drought-resistant gene from sunflowers, received regulatory approval and was grown commercially in Argentina, with approval for food and feed in other countries. This, indeed, is many years after the adoption of genetic modifications in other crops. The lack of consumer acceptance and resulting trade barriers halted the commercialization of the earliest events and had a chilling effect on, especially, private Research & Development (R&D) investments. As regulations for modern breeding technologies such as genome-edited cultivars are being discussed and/or adopted across the globe, we would like to propose a framework to ensure that wheat is not left behind a second time as the potential benefits far outweigh the perceived risks. In this paper, after a review of the technical challenges wheat faces with the generation of trans- and cis-genic wheat varieties, we discuss some of the factors that could help demystify the risk/reward equation and thereby the consumer's reluctance or acceptance of these techniques for future wheat improvement. The advent of next-generation sequencing is shedding light on natural gene transfer between species and the number of perturbations other accepted techniques like mutagenesis create. The transition from classic breeding techniques and embracing transgenic, cisgenic, and genome editing approaches feels inevitable for wheat improvement if we are to develop climate-resilient wheat varieties to feed a growing world population., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Monkeypox (Mpox) is a growing public health concern, with complex interactions within host systems contributing to its impact. This study employs multi-omics approaches to uncover therapeutic targets and potential drug repurposing opportunities to better understand Mpox's molecular pathogenesis. We developed an in silico host-pathogen interaction (HPI) network and applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to explore interactions between Mpox and host proteins. Subtype-specific host-pathogen protein-protein interaction networks were constructed, and key modules from the HPI and WGCNA were integrated to identify significant host proteins. To predict upstream signaling pathways and transcription factors, we used eXpression2Kinases and ChIP-X Enrichment Analysis. The multi-Steiner trees method was applied to compare our findings with those from FDA-approved antiviral drugs. Analysis of 55 differentially expressed genes in Mpox infection revealed 11 kinases and 15 transcription factors as key regulators. We identified 16 potential drug targets, categorized into 8 proviral genes (ESR2, ERK1, ERK2, P38, JNK1, CDK4, GSK3B, STAT3) designated for inhibition, and 8 antiviral genes (IKKA, HDAC1, HIPK2, TF65, CSK21, HIPK2, ESR2, GSK3B) designated for activation. Proviral genes are involved in the AKT, Wnt, and STAT3 pathways, while antiviral genes impact the AP-1, NF-κB, apoptosis, and IFN pathways. Promising FDA-approved candidates were identified, including kinase inhibitors, steroid hormone receptor agonists, STAT3 inhibitors, and notably Niclosamide. This study enhances our understanding of Mpox by identifying key therapeutic targets and potential repurposable drugs, providing a valuable framework for developing new treatments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The simultaneous effect of heat stress and air pollutants such as ozone can cause many health issues in cities. The situation exacerbates in the context of climate change and temperature rise. Furthermore, ground-level ozone, worsened by climate change, needs investigation for effective management. Therefore, this study projects heat stress and ozone levels in two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) climate scenarios, SSP245 and SSP585. Results indicate heightened heat stress with increased ozone levels, especially in severe climate scenarios like SSP585. Besides, the study shows that in the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, the seasonal shift of high Heat Index (HI) values as well as high ozone concentrations is happening toward the previous months of June-July-August (JJA). High values in the HI classification and the Maximum Daily 8-hour average (MDA8) ozone happen sooner in the March-April-May (MAM) months than the expected JJA months. Furthermore, in the SSP585 scenario, the HI classification above 105 (very hot equal to danger category) is 10% high in all months in comparison to the SSP245 scenario. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interactions between heat stress and ozone pollution for implementing effective adaptation and mitigation measures., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The research necessity stems from the need to understand and evaluate the performance of Two-Stage Concrete (TSC) under triaxial compression conditions, as prior studies have predominantly focused on uniaxial and biaxial testing of conventional concrete (CC). This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the triaxial compressive strength and related mechanical properties of TSC, addressing a critical gap in the existing body of literature. Three different mixtures were prepared, including one CC and two TSC variants with varying cement content. The results and behavior of these mixtures were compared to assess their performance. Findings reveal that TSC, particularly those types with finer aggregates, demonstrates superior shear strength, achieving up to 52.4 MPa under dry conditions, in contrast to the 48.38 MPa observed in CC. Furthermore, TSC exhibits remarkable stress tolerance, withstanding up to 82.04 MPa, significantly outperforming CC, which withstands only 69.61 MPa under similar conditions. This behavior can be attributed to the higher coarse aggregate content, the increased interaction and contact points between coarse aggregates, the improved bonding between them, and the inherent properties of the grout. TSC also maintains a higher modulus of elasticity and internal friction angles, indicating superior deformation behavior and shear resistance. Additionally, TSC shows greater resilience to moisture, suggesting its potential suitability for use in variable moisture environments. These properties highlight the strength of TSC for high-load applications and its suitability for infrastructure prone to environmental fluctuations., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nanotechnology offers a novel strategy for enhancing the susceptibility of pathogens resistant to traditional antibiotics. Another effective strategy is combination therapy, where multiple agents are used together to improve treatment efficacy. In this study, both nanoparticle-based formulation and combinatorial therapy were utilized to develop a potent antibacterial system targeting infectious bacteria. Lysozyme (Lys) and Vancomycin (Van) were co-loaded onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), forming Lys-Van-MSNs. The antimicrobial activity of these nanoparticles was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC values for Lys-Van-MSNs were 0.85 µg/ml for Van and 0.168 mg/ml for Lys, reflecting reductions of 86.4% and 93.7%, respectively, compared to the free forms. Additionally, cytotoxicity was tested using MTT, ROS, and hemolysis assays on human cell lines (breast, fibroblast, and AGS), showing over 80% cell viability, indicating minimal toxicity. The MSN-based formulation, with its synergistic antibacterial effects, reduced drug dosage, and high biocompatibility, offers a practical and effective solution for addressing bacterial infections., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent for publication: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Initially, SBA-Propyl-Isatin-Malononitrile (SBA-Pr-IS-MN) was prepared by the reaction of SBA-Pr-Cl with IS-MN, which was synthesized by the reaction of isatin and malononitrile. This organic and inorganic hybrid material can be functionalized by the sequential reaction with dimedone to obtain the target product SBA-Pr-Is-MN-DM, which was investigated as a chemosensor by fluorescence spectroscopy to detect trace amount of Ag + among several other cations in aqueous media., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent of publication: All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Ethical approval: It does not apply to this article., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to develop and characterize novel biocomposites incorporating tall oil fatty acid (TOFA)-modified lignin (TeL), citric acid-esterified polyvinyl alcohol (CeP), and unbleached fibers (UNB) to enhance thermal and mechanical properties while utilizing renewable resources. The research addressed the growing demand for sustainable high-performance materials in various industrial applications. Kraft lignin was modified through esterification with TOFA, while polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was crosslinked using citric acid. These modified components were combined with UNB to create biocomposites with varying compositions. The materials were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile strength testing. FTIR analysis confirmed successful esterification of lignin and PVA, evidenced by a strong ester carbonyl peak at 1730 cm⁻ 1 . DMA results revealed significant improvements in viscoelastic properties, with the highest glass transition temperature (T g ) of 179.47 °C observed in the sample containing maximum TeL and CeP content. TGA demonstrated enhanced thermal stability, with samples containing higher TeL and CeP content exhibiting increased char formation and residual masses up to 47% at 500 °C. Mechanical testing showed a strong correlation between composition and performance, with the optimal formulation (TeL12-CeP4-UNB4) achieving a tensile strength of 8.7 MPa and a tensile modulus of 59.3 MPa. Potential applications of these high-performance biocomposites include sustainable alternatives for packaging, automotive components, building materials or insulation, electronic devices and other industries where enhanced thermal and mechanical properties are required. These materials present a viable option for replacing conventional petroleum-based polymers, contributing to the advancement of eco-friendly industrial solutions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Biocide treatments are commonly employed to mitigate unwanted microbial activities in industrial water systems. This study illuminates the intriguing phenomenon wherein sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS), a frequently used biocide, stimulates the formation of biofilms by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, consequently intensifying the corrosion of carbon steel. Introducing 160 µg/ml THPS, constituting a sub-MIC level, into the culture medium resulted in a notable increase in biofilm thickness and corrosion rate, elevating them from 82 µm and 10 mpy to 97 µm and 18.7 mpy, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization and linear polarization resistance measurements substantiated the extent of corrosion. Furthermore, the treated biofilm exhibited a heightened presence of extracellular polymeric substances, improved adherence to the metal surface, enhanced structural integrity, and an extended dispersal phase. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images revealed a greater abundance of viable sessile cells within the inner layers of the treated biofilm. These findings underscore the role of sub-MIC levels of biocides as a potential driving force for developing more corrosive biofilms on industrial materials, emphasizing the critical importance of precise biocide dosing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Yaghooti grape, as the earliest grape variety in Iran, is considered as more resistant to heat, drought, and salinity than other cultivars. Cluster compactness is regarded as an inappropriate feature for the productivity of Yaghooti grape as a critical commercial and nutritional product. In plants, lncRNAs play a critical role in regulating biological processes related to growth and development. However, the potential role of lncRNAs was not assessed in cluster compactness. Totally, 1549 lncRNAs were identified by RNA-Seq data analysis in three steps of cluster formation, berry formation, and final cluster size after a thorough screening process. In addition, 229 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in the cluster development steps. Based on the functional analysis, lncRNAs are related to AG and MYB, bHLH, LBD, NAC, and WRKY TFs. Further, the target genes enrichment analysis revealed a relationship between lncRNAs with grape growth and development, as well as resistance to abiotic stresses such as heat and drought, plant defense against pathogens, and early grapes ripening. The study identified four lncRNAs as precursors of miRNAs, predicting that 112 other lncRNAs could potentially be targeted by 166 miRNAs. The results provide new insights into the regulatory functions of lncRNAs in Yaghooti grape to improve overall understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to grape compactness., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate The plant material selected was Sistan Yaghooti grape harvested from the vineyards of the University of Zabol (Agricultural Research Institute). Ethical guidelines provided by the ethics committee were followed when conducting the experiments. Consent for publication Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

β-Ionone is the end-ring counterpart of β-carotenoids, which are widely found in fruits and vegetables. Recent studies have illustrated the antimetastatic, anti-proliferative, and apoptosis-inducing activities of β-ionone both in vitro and in vivo. We aimed to explore the anti-cancer potency of β-Ionone-derived ester, (E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl) but-3-en-2-ylpyrazine-2-carboxylate (4-TM.P). The cytotoxic effects of the compound on K562 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. The mechanisms of apoptosis induction were investigated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) double staining, cell cycle analysis, and Annexin V/PI staining. Furthermore, the 4-TM.P-DNA interactions have been thoroughly elucidated by various methods, such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence assays, viscosity measurements, molecular docking, and dynamic simulation. The MTT cytotoxicity assay revealed that the growth of K562 cells was inhibited by treatment with β-ionone-derived ester, with an IC50 of 25 ± 5.0 µM at 72 h. Morphological studies revealed the occurrence of apoptosis in treated cells, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest was observed after treatment of the cells with the IC50 value of the compound. Analyses of multi-spectroscopy and viscosity assays revealed that 4-TM.P binds to DNA in the minor groove mode, which was supported by molecular docking studies. The dynamic stability of the complex was also confirmed using molecular dynamic simulation analyses., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Face detection is a multidisciplinary research subject that employs fundamental computer algorithms, image processing, and patterning. Neural networks, on the other hand, have been widely developed to solve challenges in the domains of feature extraction, pattern detection, and the like in general. The presented study investigates the DNN (deep neural networks) use in the creation of facial detection operating systems. In this study, a novel optimized deep network has been presented to face detection. In this paper, after using some preprocessing stages for contrast enhancement and increasing the data number for the next deep tool, they fed to a bidirectional recurrent neural network (BRNN). The network is optimized via a novel enhanced version of Ebola optimization algorithm to provide far greater accuracy. The suggested procedure is examined on GTFD (Georgia Tech Face Database) and the results indicate that the proposed technique significantly outperforms other comparative methods, attaining an accuracy of 94.3%, a precision of 93.51%, a recall of 94.53%, and an F1-score of 92.47%. Furthermore, the method exhibits resilience against various challenges, achieving an accuracy of 95.6% under occlusions, 96.3% under lighting variations, 94.8% under pose variations, and 92.4% under low resolution conditions. Simulation results depict that the suggested technique gives far greater accuracy in comparison with the other comparative approaches., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Early detection and treatment of skin cancer are important for patient recovery and survival. Dermoscopy images can help clinicians for timely identification of cancer, but manual diagnosis is time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error. To conduct this, an innovative deep learning-based approach has been proposed for automatic melanoma detection. The proposed method involves preprocessing dermoscopy images to remove artifacts, enhance contrast, and cancel noise, followed by feeding them into an optimized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The CNN is trained using an innovative metaheuristic called the Improved Chameleon Swarm Algorithm (CSA) to optimize its performance. The approach has been validated using the SIIM-ISIC Melanoma dataset and the results have been confirmed through rigorous evaluation metrics. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method in accurately diagnosing melanoma from dermoscopy images by highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for clinicians in early cancer detection., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The increase in demand for natural rubber has led to the search for alternative sources. Lactuca serriola is emerging as a promising candidate, as the quality of the natural rubber it produces is comparable to that of the Pará Rubber Plant, Hevea brasiliensis. This study examines the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a known elicitor, on the expression of key rubber biosynthesis pathway genes (HMGR1, HMGS1, CPT2, and SRPP1) in the latex of L. serriola plants. The expression levels of these genes increased significantly after the foliar application of 200 and 400 µM MeJA. The highest relative expression level for HMGR1, HMGS1, CPT2 and SRPP1 was 3.74, 18.56, 11.91and 16.59 fold respectively. Furthermore, the rubber content in L. serriola showed a significant rise post-treatment compared to the control with increasing the level of MeJA (6.19%, 7.24% and 7.85% which correspond to 0, 200 and 400 µM). Gel permeation chromatography revealed an augmentation in the molecular weight of extracted natural rubber from treated plants. Samples treated with 400 µM of MeJA had the highest molecular weight (1570 kg mol -1 ) compared to control (1186 kg mol -1 ). This study has demonstrated that MeJA, through the regulation of rubber biosynthesis genes, is capable of enhancing the quality and quantity of natural rubber extracted from alternative sources, such as L. serriola., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Dealing with spinal cord injuries presents problematic due to multiple secondary mechanisms. Beyond primary concerns like paralysis and disability, complications including urinary, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and respiratory disorders, along with substantial economic burdens may occur. Limited research focuses on modeling and treating contusion and compression injuries. Tissue engineering emerges as an innovative treatment, targeting lesion pathophysiology. This study was evaluated implanting injectable biomaterials into injury-induced cavity before glial scar formation, avoiding tissue incisions and minimizing further damage. The efficacy of injectable alginate/thiolated chitosan hydrogel was investigated for acute spinal cord injury induced by Vanický method in Wistar rats. Three days post-injury, hydrogel was administrated through microinjection after laminectomy. After 60 days, the hydrogel group demonstrated notable motor function enhancement compared to the control by the BBB locomotor test (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in MRI assessment concerning lesion severity. Stereological and histopathological evaluations revealed a reduction in vacuole volume and the presence of axon profiles within the scaffold (P < 0.05), alongside reduced infiltration of inflammatory and Gitter cells in the hydrogel group, although the latter was not statistically significant compared to the control. Thiolated chitosan/ alginate hydrogel implantation may be regarded as a promising treatment to enhance motor function by restraining destructive processes post-acute spinal cord injury., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The increasing infertility rate has become a worrying global challenge in recent years. According to the report of the World Health Organization, the male factor is responsible for over half of infertility cases, which includes the lack of desirable characteristics in sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. In recent years, it has been shown that clinical methods including density gradient centrifugation cause damage to sperm DNA and besides being invasive, they are costly and time-consuming. In contrast, microfluidics has been used as a promising and non-invasive approach to manipulate biological cells. Here, by using the microvortices created by the oscillation of the bubbles caused by the bulk acoustic waves, we were able to trap sperms with less motility. In contrast, the highly motile sperms overcame the force of the microvortices and were guided to the outlet pool by following the channel boundaries. As a result, over 50% and 44% improvement in sperm progressive motility and viability, respectively, as well as 40% improvement in DNA integrity, were observed in the analysis of sperms retrieved from the output pool. In addition to being fast and non-invasive, the proposed device benefits from an easy method for sperms retrieval and does not require any preprocessing of the raw sperm sample., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, we examined the relatively unexplored realm of face perception, investigating the activities within human brain face-selective regions during the observation of faces at both subordinate and superordinate levels. We recorded intracranial EEG signals from the ventral temporal cortex in neurosurgical patients implanted with subdural electrodes during viewing of face subcategories (human, mammal, bird, and marine faces) as well as various non-face control stimuli. The results revealed a noteworthy correlation in response patterns across all face-selective areas in the ventral temporal cortex, not only within the same face category but also extending to different face categories. Intriguingly, we observed a systematic decrease in response correlation coupled with an increased response onset time from human face to mammalian face, bird face and marine faces. Our result aligns with the notion that distinctions at the basic level category (e.g., human face versus non-human face) emerges earlier than those at the superordinate level (e.g., animate versus inanimate). This indicates response gradient in the representation of facial images within human face-sensitive regions, transitioning progressively from human faces to non-face stimuli. Our findings provide insights into spatiotemporal dynamic of face representations which varies spatially and at different timescales depending on the face subcategory represented., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Caucasus and surrounding areas, with their rich metal resources, became a crucible of the Bronze Age 1 and the birthplace of the earliest steppe pastoralist societies 2 . Yet, despite this region having a large influence on the subsequent development of Europe and Asia, questions remain regarding its hunter-gatherer past and its formation of expansionist mobile steppe societies 3-5 . Here we present new genome-wide data for 131 individuals from 38 archaeological sites spanning 6,000 years. We find a strong genetic differentiation between populations north and south of the Caucasus mountains during the Mesolithic, with Eastern hunter-gatherer ancestry 4,6 in the north, and a distinct Caucasus hunter-gatherer ancestry 7 with increasing East Anatolian farmer admixture in the south. During the subsequent Eneolithic period, we observe the formation of the characteristic West Eurasian steppe ancestry and heightened interaction between the mountain and steppe regions, facilitated by technological developments of the Maykop cultural complex 8 . By contrast, the peak of pastoralist activities and territorial expansions during the Early and Middle Bronze Age is characterized by long-term genetic stability. The Late Bronze Age marks another period of gene flow from multiple distinct sources that coincides with a decline of steppe cultures, followed by a transformation and absorption of the steppe ancestry into highland populations., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite the scientific relevance of circular RNAs (circRNAs), the study of these RNAs in non-model organisms, especially in sheep, is still in its infancy. On the other hand, while some studies have focused on sheep circRNA identification in a limited number of tissues, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis that profile circRNA expression patterns across the tissues not yet investigated. In this study, 61 public RNA sequencing datasets from 12 different tissues were uniformly analyzed to identify circRNAs, profile their expression and investigate their various characteristics. We reported for the first time a circRNA expression landscape with functional annotation in sheep tissues not yet investigated including hippocampus, BonMarrowMacrophage, left-ventricle, thymus, ileum, reticulum and 23-day-embryo. A stringent computational pipeline was employed and 8919 exon-derived circRNAs with high confidence were identified, including 88 novel circRNAs. Tissue-specificity analysis revealed that 3059 circRNAs were tissue-specific, which were also more specific to the tissues than linear RNAs. The highest number of tissue-specific circRNAs was found in kidney, hippocampus and thymus, respectively. Co-expression analysis revealed that expression of circRNAs may not be affected by their host genes. While most of the host genes produced more than one isoform, only one isoform had dominant expression across the tissues. The host genes of the tissue-specific circRNAs were significantly enriched in biological/pathways terms linked to the important functions of their corresponding tissues, suggesting potential roles of circRNAs in modulating physiological activity of those tissues. Interestingly, functional terms related to the regulation and various signaling pathways were significantly enriched in all tissues, suggesting some common regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs to modulate the physiological functions of tissues. Finding of the present study provide a valuable resource for depicting the complexity of circRNAs expression across tissues of sheep, which can be useful for the field of sheep genomic and veterinary research., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The growth of the global economy is accompanied by significant energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions create various problems such as global warming and environmental degradation. To protect the environment, governments are seeking to reduce carbon emissions. Production systems that operate solely based on economic factors in the workshop only consider problems such as production speed, cost, and processing time. Two aspects can be effective in saving energy and reducing emissions at the production planning level: using routing to find the shortest path for collecting workpieces to the workshop, and turning off machines with long idle times and restarting them at the appropriate time. If the workshop production problem is combined with vehicle routing, a new problem arises. According to the research conducted so far, an integrated mathematical model for production routing has not been designed in a situation where the routing is before the production workshop. In this research, this bi-objective model is introduced, and it is solved using the augmented epsilon-constraint (AEC) method. The proposed mixed-integer linear programming model of this research includes three dimensions: environmental, social (customer satisfaction), and economic simultaneously. Given the high complexity of the mathematical model, MATLAB software and MOPSO and NSGA-II algorithms were used to solve it at higher dimensions. Seven evaluation criteria were used to compare the two proposed algorithms, and the results show that the MOPSO algorithm performs better. The findings suggest that minimizing pollution may involve sacrificing on-time delivery to customers. Consequently, decision-makers must carefully weigh the trade-off between reducing environmental impact and maintaining satisfactory delivery performance, ultimately deciding on an acceptable pollution level., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Numerous variables that regulate the metabolism of Sertoli cells and sperm have been identified, one of which is sex steroid hormones. These hormones play a vital role in maintaining energy homeostasis, influencing the overall metabolic balance of the human body. The proper functioning of the reproductive system is closely linked to energy status, as the reproductive axis responds to metabolic signals. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression patterns of metabolite interconversion enzymes in testicular cells (Sertoli cells and spermatogonia) of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients, as compared to normal controls, to understand the molecular mechanisms contributing to NOA. We used microarray and bioinformatics techniques to analyze 2912 genes encoding metabolite interconversion enzymes, including methyltransferase, monooxygenase, transmembrane reductase, and phosphohydrolase, in both testicular cells and normal samples. In sperm, the upregulation of MOXD1, ACAD10, PCYT1A, ARG1, METTL6, GPLD1, MAOA, and CYP46A1 was observed, while ENTPD2, CPT1C, ADC, and CYB5B were downregulated. Similarly, in the Sertoli cells of three NOA patients, RPIA, PIK3C3, LYPLA2, CA11, MBOAT7, and HDHD2 were upregulated, while NAA25, MAN2A1, CYB561, PNPLA5, RRM2, and other genes were downregulated. Using STRING and Cytoscape, we predicted the functional and molecular interactions of these proteins and identified key hub genes. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted significant roles for G1/S-specific transcription, pyruvate metabolism, and citric acid metabolism in sperm, and the p53 signaling pathway and folate metabolism in Sertoli cells. Additionally, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed to validate these findings, revealing significant alterations in gene expression and cellular distribution in NOA patients. Together, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying NOA and identify potential therapeutic targets., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Flash floods represent a significant threat, triggering severe natural disasters and leading to extensive damage to properties and infrastructure, which in turn results in the loss of lives and significant economic damages. In this study, a comprehensive statistical approach was applied to future flood predictions in the coastal basin of North Al-Abatinah, Oman. In this context, the initial step involves analyzing eighteen General Circulation Models (GCMs) to identify the most suitable one. Subsequently, we assessed four CMIP6 scenarios for future rainfall analysis. Next, different Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were employed through H2O-AutoML to identify the best model for downscaling future rainfall predictions. Forty distribution functions were then fitted to the future daily rainfall, and the best-fit model was selected to project future Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves. Finally, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was utilized with sub-daily time steps to make accurate flash flood predictions in the study area. The findings reveal that IITM-ESM is the most effective among GCM models. Additionally, the application of stacked ensemble ML model proved to be the most reliable in downscaling future rainfall. Furthermore, this study highlighted that floods entering urbanized areas could reach 20.33 and 20.70 m ³ /s under pessimistic scenarios during rainfall events with 100 and 200-year return periods, respectively. This hierarchical comprehensive approach provides reliable results by utilizing the most effective model at each step, offering in-depth insight into future flash flood prediction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, a comprehensive methodology combining machine learning and statistical analysis was employed to investigate alterations in the metabolite profiles, including lipids, of breast cancer tissues and their subtypes. By integrating biological and machine learning feature selection techniques, along with univariate and multivariate analyses, a notable lipid signature was identified in breast cancer tissues. The results revealed elevated levels of saturated and monounsaturated phospholipids in breast cancer tissues, consistent with external validation findings. Additionally, lipidomics analysis in both the original and validation datasets indicated lower levels of most triacylglycerols compared to non-cancerous tissues, suggesting potential alterations in lipid storage and metabolism within cancer cells. Analysis of cancer subtypes revealed that levels of PC 30:0 were relatively reduced in HER2(-) samples that were ER(+) and PR(+) compared to those that were ER(-) and PR(-). Conversely, HER2(+) tumors, which were ER(-) and PR(-), exhibited increased concentrations of PC 30:0. This increase could potentially be linked to the role of Stearoyl-CoA-Desaturase 1 in breast cancer. Comprehensive metabolomic analyses of breast cancer can offer crucial insights into cancer development, aiding in early detection and treatment evaluation of this devastating disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Soil moisture (SM) is a critical variable influencing various environmental processes, but traditional microwave sensors often lack the spatial resolution needed for local-scale studies. This study develops a novel stacking ensemble learning framework to enhance the spatial resolution of satellite-derived SM data to 1 km in the Urmia basin, a region facing significant water scarcity. We integrated in-situ SM measurements (obtained using time-domain reflectometry [TDR]), Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) SM products, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature and vegetation indices, precipitation records, and topography data. Ten base machine-learning models were evaluated using the Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) method, and the top-performing models were selected as base learners for the stacking ensemble. The ensemble model, incorporating Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and XGBoost, significantly improved SM estimation accuracy and resolution compared to individual models. The XGBoost and Gradient Boosting meta-models achieved the highest accuracy, with an unbiased root mean square error (ubRMSE) of 1.23% m 3 /m 3 and a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.97 during testing, demonstrating the exceptional predictive capabilities of our approach. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis revealed the influence of each base model on the ensemble's predictions, highlighting the synergistic benefits of combining diverse models. This study establishes new benchmarks for soil moisture monitoring by showcasing the potential of ensemble learning to improve the spatial resolution and accuracy of satellite-derived SM data, providing crucial insights for environmental science and agricultural planning, particularly in water-stressed regions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (here just gasoline vapor) by activated carbon- modified UIO-66 was investigated. First, activated carbon prepared from mesquite grain (ACPMG) and then UIO/ACPMG nanohybrid was synthesized by the solvothermal method. In following, the effect of main key parameters which effect on the surface and adsorption capacity such as the ratio of ACPMG to UIO-66 was studied. Physiochemical changes of as- synthesized samples were investigated by TGA, HR-TEM, PSD, SEM, EDX/MAP, BET, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS. It was found the UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid had the highest adsorption capacity (391.304 mg/g) for VOCs compared with the other samples, while the adsorption capacity of UIO-66, UIO/ACPMG10% nanohybrid, and UIO/ACPMG30% nanohybrid was 298.871, 309.523, and 320 mg/g respectively. UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid desorbed 285.71 mg/g of the adsorbed gasoline, which is an excellent result in desorption. So, the sample of UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid was selected as the optimum nano-adsorbent. In other hand, all the nano-adsorbent showed a rapid kinetic behavior for gasoline vapor adsorption and the maximum time for reaching a high adsorption capacity approximately was obtained in 20 min. Density functional theory calculations also performed to understand the adsorption characteristics of gasoline vapor on activated carbon-modified UIO-66., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Over 50% of the original oil in place (OOIP) is immobile or trapped in the reservoir. Therefore, today, more efficient methods have been introduced in the tertiary oil recovery sector as a scheme of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Due to the decline of conventional hydrocarbon reserves, polymers are increasingly used in EOR methods, such as surfactant-polymer (SP) and alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding. SP flooding has a complex formulation and design, leading to undesirable phase separation if improperly mixed. Polymeric surfactants are a promising alternative to SP flooding. They consist of hydrophobic groups attached to hydrophilic polymers, which help to improve the mobility ratio and reduce interfacial tension (IFT). This paper examines the rheological and synthesis properties of a new polymeric surfactant produced through bond co-polymerization reaction using different hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) ratios and a zwitterion hydrophobic group. The synthesized hydrophobically modified zwitterionic polyacrylamide (HMZPAM) was characterized by FTIR and HMNR analysis. HMZPAM performed better than other substances in IFT, viscosity, wettability, oil recovery, and resistance to different one and two-valence cations. The results indicate that HPAM reduced the IFT to 13.65, while HMZPAM reduced it to 0.441 mN/m. Wettability change evaluated on a rock carbonate/crude oil/HMZPAM system that changed the water-wet state of the primary oil-wet rock carbonate to strongly water-wet state as wettability change measurements showed a decrease in contact angle from 62.76 to 21.23 degree. Comparative studies on the effectiveness of HPAM and HMZPAM were also conducted according to the measurement of viscosity and shear rate in the presence of salt, which indicates the higher shear rate and viscosity of HMZPAM. Core flooding tests revealed that HMZPAM resulted in better additional recovery due to microscopic displacement, resulting in a total oil recovery of 84%, compared to 48% of residual oil saturation for HPAM. Also, salts decreased oil recovery in HPAM injection but increased oil recovery in HMZPAM injection., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The main objective of this work was to use hydroxyl-functionalized graphene as a compatibilizer for an immiscible blend. A neat polyoxymethylene/styrene-butadiene-styrene binary blend was prepared at a constant ratio (80/20) and then was compounded with different loading amounts of hydroxyl-functionalized graphene (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt%). The formation of droplet-matrix morphology during blending was observed in microscopy images. A deep understanding of the compatibility was inspected through studying the mechanical, rheological, and microstructural properties. By inspecting the localization of nanoparticles, triple functions of hydroxyl-functionalized graphene as a compatibilizing/reinforcing/lubricating agent were elucidated. The mechanical properties showed that the best compatibility with the ultimate performance was related to the nanocomposite containing 0.25 wt%. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the prepared nanocomposites was investigated. Thermodynamic/kinetic studies showed the tendency of hydroxyl-functionalized graphene to disperse droplets, however as the loading value increases, the probability of its presence in the matrix also increases, creating conductive pathways for conductive purposes. The lowest resistance and highest volume of electrical conductivity (8.4 × 10 -6 S.cm -1 ) were shown by 1 wt% FG., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Evolutionary studies of plant groups which are distributed in vast geographical regions and face different ecological and environmental conditions are important as they through light on different mechanisms of local adaptation and species divergence through time. The genus Avicennia is one of these plant groups which inspire of few species show interesting geographical distribution with some degree of species-specific geographical isolations. In general, very limited molecular phylogenetic investigations have been carried out in the genus Avicennia, and therefore we conducted the present study with the following aims: 1. To estimate the species divergence time based on different nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions, separately. This will illustrate how different genetic regions evolved in this genus, 2. To identify the sequences with potential adaptive value against geographical variable by latent factor mixed models (LFMM) analysis, 3. To illustrate the phylogenetic signal of these DNA regions and their role in speciation within the genus and, 4. To introducing a new computational strategy for estimating adaptive time for the sequences. The results showed that different genetic regions may produce different species divergent time, both the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and chloroplast DNA sequences, contained potentially adaptive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).We could present a suggestive time for these adaptive sequences for the first time. In conclusion both local adaptation and independent mutations seem to have played role in Avicennia speciation and evolution., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study examines the effects of a 5-week program of neurofeedback combined with somatosensory exercises on balance and physical performance in older adults, with the goal of addressing age-related declines in sensory processing and motor function. Sixty older adult men with balance disorders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: neurofeedback combined with somatosensory training, somatosensory training alone, or a control group. The interventions were administered over 5 weeks, with participants attending three sessions per week. Assessments were conducted both before and after the intervention period, including measurements of static balance using the Stork test, dynamic balance using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and physical performance using the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance-10 (CS-PFP-10) test. The findings revealed significant improvements in balance and physical performance among participants who received either neurofeedback combined with somatosensory training or somatosensory training alone. Specifically, the Stork test (with both open and closed eyes) showed significant increases in duration, while the TUG test indicated reductions in completion times for both intervention groups (p = 0.001), suggesting enhanced balance and mobility. Additionally, the CS-PFP-10 test results demonstrated a significant difference following the interventions (p = 0.001). These findings suggest that incorporating neurofeedback training into somatosensory exercises may provide additional benefits for older adults in improving balance and mobility., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study explores methods to isolate high-pure monocytes and optimize the best growth factor concentration to generate monocytes-derived dendritic cells (mo-DCs), subset DC1, which is crucial in immune responses. Three protocols for monocyte isolation from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated: three-hour incubation on FBS-coated flasks; an overnight incubation on FBS-coated flasks; and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS). Additionally, five different concentrations of human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hrGM-CSF) and human recombinant interleukin-4 (hrIL-4) were compared. We used Flow cytometry to assess the isolation, purification, and generation of pure monocytes characterized as CD14 + , and expression of mo-DC classical markers (HLA-DR, CD80, CD83, and CD86). The obtained results show that monocytes isolated with the second method (overnight incubation) had the highest purity (P < 0.0001) but the lowest yield (P > 0.05), balancing purity and cost-effectiveness. A combination of hrGM-CSF and hrIL-4 at 400 U/mL produced the most favorable outcomes, leading to the highest rate of mo-DC generation (P < 0.05). Notably, this concentration resulted in increasing expression of HLA-DR, CD80, and CD86 surface markers in the generated DCs (P < 0.0001), with no changes in CD83 expression levels. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights into selecting the optimal approach for monocyte isolation and mo-DC generation in various research contexts, providing a foundation for more effective immunological studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by reduced levels of specific immunoglobulins, resulting in frequent infections, autoimmune disorders, increased cancer risk, and diminished antibody production despite an adequate B cell count. With its clinical manifestations being highly variable, the classification of CVID, including the widely recognized Freiburg classification, is primarily based on clinical symptoms and genetic variations. Our study aims to refine the classification of CVID by analyzing transcriptomics data to identify distinct disease subtypes. We utilized the GSE51405 dataset, examining transcriptomic profiles from 30 CVID patients without complications. Employing a combination of clustering techniques-KMeans, hierarchical agglomerative clustering, spectral clustering, and Gaussian Mixture models-and differential gene expression analysis with R's limma package, we integrated molecular findings with demographic data (age and gender) through correlation analysis and identified common genes among clusters. Three distinct clusters of CVID patients were identified using KMeans, Agglomerative Clustering, and Gaussian Mixture Models, highlighting the disease's heterogeneity. Differential expression analysis unveiled 31 genes with variable expression levels across these clusters. Notably, nine genes (EIF5A, RPL21, ANP32A, DTX3L, NCF2, CDC42EP3, CHP1, FOLR3, and DEFA4) exhibited consistent differential expression across all clusters, independent of demographic factors. The study recommends categorizing patients based on the four genes, NCF2, CHP1, FOLR3, and DEFA4-as they may assist in prognostic prediction. Transcriptomic analysis of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients identified three distinct clusters based on gene expression, independent of age and gender. Nine differentially expressed genes were identified across these clusters, suggesting potential biomarkers for CVID subtype classification. These findings highlight the genetic heterogeneity of CVID and provide novel insights into disease classification and potential personalized treatment approaches., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In the field of Brain Machine Interface (BMI), the process of translating motor intention into a machine command is denoted as decoding. However, despite recent advancements, decoding remains a formidable challenge within BMI. The utilization of current decoding algorithms in the field of BMI often involves computational complexity and requires the use of computers. This is primarily due to the reliance on mathematical models to address the decoding issue and perform subsequent output calculations. Unfortunately, computers are not feasible for implantable BMI systems due to their size and power consumption. To address this predicament, this study proposes a pioneering approach inspired by hyperdimensional computing. This approach first involves identifying the pattern of each stimulus by considering the normal firing rate distribution of each neuron. Subsequently, the newly observed firing pattern for each input is compared with the patterns detected at each moment for each neuron. The algorithm, which shares similarities with hyperdimensional computing, identifies the most similar pattern as the final output. This approach reduces the dependence on mathematical models. The efficacy of this method is assessed through the utilization of an authentic dataset acquired from the Frontal Eye Field (FEF) of two male rhesus monkeys. The output space encompasses eight possible angles. The results demonstrate an accuracy rate of 51.5% while exhibiting significantly low computational complexity, involving a mere 2050 adder operators. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and as an ASIC designe in a standard CMOS 180 nm technology, underscoring its suitability for real-time implantable BMI applications. The implementation required only 2.3 Kbytes of RAM, occupied an area of 2.2 mm 2 , and consumed 9.32 µW at a 1.8 V power supply. Consequently, the proposed solution represents an accurate, low computational complexity, hardware-friendly, and real-time approach., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Corneal ulcers, whether melting or indolent, are common in humans and companion animals. Treatment involves local administration of antibiotic eye drops and corneal healing drugs. Compared to traditional treatments for ulcerative keratitis, herbal medicines offer unique advantages, such as potent anti-inflammatory effects and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. Curcumin, extracted from the Curcuma Longa plant, possesses extensive pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties, and is used in various medicines. In this study, we developed a novel ophthalmic drop hydrogel using a formulation of Curcumin NPs encapsulated with β-cyclodextrin and hyaluronic acid, to accelerate corneal healing and improve the quality of healed structures. The formation of Curcumin NPs into Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels was characterized by zeta, FTIR, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses. A total of 25 healthy male New Zealand Albino rabbits were experimentally induced with ulcerative keratitis and treated individually with topical medication. Rabbits were divided into five groups. Fluorescein dye staining, corneal clarity score, Schirmer tear test, proinflammatory cytokine measurement, and pathologic factors assessments were used to evaluate the optimised Curcumin NPs with β-cyclodextrin in Hyaluronic acid hydrogel. Our results demonstrated that the optimized Curcumin NPs with β-cyclodextrin in hyaluronic acid hydrogel significantly reduced the frequency of medication administration compared to conventional therapies, enhancing the quality of healed structures and effectively treating ulcerative keratitis. All findings in this study provide new insight into designing and fabricating novel ophthalmic medicine for ulcerative keratitis for topical usage., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pediatric Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea (SAH) presents a significant health challenge, particularly in diagnostic contexts, where conventional Polysomnography (PSG) testing, although effective, can be distressing for children. Addressing this, our research proposes a less invasive method to assess pediatric SAH severity by analyzing blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) signals. We adopted two advanced deep learning architectures, namely ResNet-based and attention-augmented hybrid CNN-BiGRU models, to process SpO2 signals in a one-dimensional (1D) format for Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) estimation in pediatric subjects. Employing the CHAT dataset, which includes 844 SpO2 signals, the data was partitioned into training (60%), testing (30%), and validation (10%) sets. A predefined validation subset was randomly selected to ensure the models' robustness via a threefold cross-validation approach. Comparative analysis revealed that while the ResNet model attained an average accuracy of 72.9% across four SAH severity categories with a kappa score of 0.57, the CNN-BiGRU-Attention model demonstrated superior performance, achieving an average accuracy of 75.95% and a kappa score of 0.63. This distinction underscores our method's efficacy in both estimating AHI and categorizing SAH severity levels with notable precision. Further, to evaluate diagnostic capabilities, the models were benchmarked against common AHI thresholds (1, 5, and 10 events/hour) in each test fold, affirming their effectiveness in identifying pediatric SAH. This study marks a significant advance in the field, offering a non-invasive, child-friendly alternative for pediatric SAH diagnosis. Although challenges persist in accurately estimating AHI, particularly in severe cases, our findings represent a critical stride towards improving diagnostic processes in pediatric SAH., (© 2024. The Author(s).)