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Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a growing treatment for aortic stenosis, but anatomical variations exist across populations. Asians tend to have smaller aortic annuli and higher bicuspid valve morphology compared to Westerners, potentially impacting TAVI valve selection and outcomes. This study analyzes aortic root parameters in Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI. Results We conducted a retrospective analysis of 78 patients who underwent TAVI at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology from January 2021 to March 2024. Pre-procedural CT scans were analyzed for aortic annulus diameters, area, and other relevant parameters. The mean age was 72.41 years (SD ± 11.99), and 61.5% were male. Aortic annulus diameters (minimum, mean, maximum) were 21.18 mm (SD ± 3.99), 24.21 mm (SD ± 3.93), and 27.49 mm (SD ± 4.43), respectively. Bicuspid aortic valves were present in 34.61% of patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI may have aortic root dimensions comparable to Western populations, with a substantial prevalence of bicuspid valves. However, coronary heights were similar to those reported in Asian populations with smaller annuli. Further studies are needed to assess TAVI outcomes in Pakistani patients and determine if tailored valve sizing strategies are required.

BackgroundThe Apoptosis-Stimulating Protein of P53 (ASPP) family contributes to apoptosis regulation and tumor suppression, with ASPP1 influencing processes like cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Its expression varies across cancer types, suggesting a potential role in oncogenesis.MethodsThis study investigates ASPP1’s role across various cancers using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach. Data were extracted from public resources, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GTEx, and the Human Protein Atlas, and analyzed via tools such as cBioPortal, GEPIA, and TIMER2. Statistical and network analyses were performed with R, Cytoscape, and Hiplot. ASPP1’s function in colorectal cancer was further explored through in vitro assays, including qRT-PCR, Western blotting, colony formation, Transwell, and wound healing.ResultsASPP1 expression exhibited significant variability across different cancer types, with marked associations with patient outcomes, particularly overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) across several cancer types. In-depth protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed ASPP1’s involvement in apoptosis and cancer progression networks. Functional enrichment analysis further linked ASPP1 to key apoptotic signaling pathways and transcriptional regulatory processes, underscoring its potential impact on tumor biology. Additionally, the expression of ASPP1 correlates with immune cell infiltration patterns, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and various immune markers, suggesting roles in immune response modulation. In vitro assays with colorectal cancer cell lines revealed significantly lower ASPP1 expression levels compared to normal colon cells (HCM460), and ASPP1 overexpression experiments showed a marked reduction in colorectal cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration abilities. These cellular findings align with the bioinformatics predictions, highlighting ASPP1’s role as a suppressor of metastatic traits in colorectal cancer.ConclusionThis study highlights ASPP1 as a forecasting biomarker in the colorectal cancers and potentially across other cancers. The findings support ASPP1’s involvement in tumor biology, particularly regarding cell proliferation and metastatic potential, establishing a foundation for further investigation into its therapeutic relevance.

This study assessed the salt stress response of seventy soybean genotypes by exposing seedlings to sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations of 0, 75, 100, and 125 mM. Salinity stress significantly reduced root length, shoot length, fresh and dry root/shoot weight, and root/shoot ratio. A total of 62 genotypes germinated at 125 mM, showing significant phenotypic variation in traits such as root length, shoot length, fresh shoot weight, and dry shoot weight. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between most morpho-physiological traits, suggesting their interdependence. Eight salinity tolerance indices i.e., Fresh Weight Stress Tolerance Index (FWSI), Dry Weight Stress Tolerance Index (DWSI), Root Length Salinity Index (RLSI), Shoot Length Salinity Index (SLSI), Salinity Tolerance Index (STI), Salinity Susceptibility Index (SSI), Tolerance Index (TI), and Percent Reduction (PR) were calculated to assess genotypes response. Na+ concentration and antioxidant activities significantly increased under salt stress compared to the control. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 and O2−, were markedly higher under salt stress compared to the control. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped genotypes into six clusters, with clusters V and VI comprising genotypes exhibiting higher salt tolerance based on high FWSI, DWSI, and STI values, and low PR, SSI, and TI values. Eight salinity tolerance indices, including Fresh Weight Stress Tolerance Index (FWSI), Dry Weight Stress Tolerance Index (DWSI), Root Length Salinity Index (RLSI), and Salinity Tolerance Index (STI), were used to evaluate the genotypes’ responses. The study revealed that the average FWSI value for all genotypes under treatments was 54.20 ± 12.93. The highest FWSI was recorded for the genotype Black (92.52), followed by NIBGE-224 (84.70) and NIBGE-183 (81.05). In contrast, Malakand-96 had the lowest FWSI (28.49), followed by SPS-10 (32.74) and SPS-08 (34.55). PGRA-91 had the highest STI (0.83), followed by SPS-9 (0.75) and NIBGE-115 (0.72), while NIBGE-335, SPS-24, and Malakand-96 had the lowest STI values. Positive correlations were observed between root length and shoot length (0.69**), shoot length and fresh shoot weight (0.63**), and other related traits. Overall, this study identified promising soybean genotypes with varying degrees of salt tolerance. These findings can be utilized in breeding programs to develop salt-tolerant soybean varieties for salinity-affected agricultural lands.

Abstract The notion of discerning political affiliations from users’ social media behavior instills a sense of unease in many. Democracy necessitates that individuals’ political affiliations remain private, and social media challenges this foundational principle of democracy. This study uses BERT, a pre-trained language model to analyze X’s (formally Twitter) users and their political affiliations to understand that how much it is easy now to find the political affiliation of people. We collect posts in both English and Urdu languages from different political leaders and their followers, which are used to fine-tune the BERT model. The model classifies the users’ profiles into Pro, Neutral, or Anti-government classes. To assess the performance of the proposed method, experiments are conducted to evaluate its accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The findings of this study confirm the hypothesis that it is easy to detect the political affiliation of individuals using social media with high accuracy (69% for English and 94% for Urdu language) and it can undermine democracy.

Abstract This comprehensive review extensively explores the potential applications of MXenes as versatile materials in the realm of photocatalysis, with a specific focus on their efficacy in mitigating hazardous dyes and CO2 to less harmful and friendly by-products. The review systematically investigates the unique properties that render MXenes well-suited for photocatalytic purposes and provides a thorough examination of their current state of research. It meticulously summarizes the successes and breakthroughs achieved thus far, offering insights into the advancements that have propelled these materials into the spotlight of photocatalytic research. In addition to highlighting achievements, the review critically addresses the challenges and hurdles that impede the full realization of the potential inherent in MXenes. Here, we have also highlighted the stability problem of MXenes and how to overcome this problem for efficient photocatalysis. The mechanism of photocatalysis was also the main theme of this review article and how to overcome the recombination of photogenerated charges. By identifying these challenges, the review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, providing a roadmap for future endeavours to unlock the untapped capabilities of these materials. It serves as a beacon for environmental researchers, offering valuable insights into the pivotal role these materials can play in creating a more environmentally friendly and safe world. Ultimately, this review contributes significantly to the collective knowledge base and will prove instrumental for researchers and professionals dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable living. Graphical Abstract

This study aimed to examine the incidence of Brucella infection among hospitalized patients. This study was conducted during February to August 2022 in District Headquarters Teaching Hospital (DHQTH) district Bannu, Pakistan. A 2mL of venous blood was collected from those individuals who visited the hospital with the complaint of joint inflammation and high grade fever. The Brucella infection was detected by Standard Plate Agglutination Test (SPAT) and Serum Tube Agglutination Test (STAT). A total of 150 samples were examined in the present study, 100 (66.66%) of them were found to be negative and 50(33.33%) to be positive for various bacterial infections. Among male positive patients 17 (56.66%) reported to have B. melitensis and 13 (43.33%) had B. abortus while in female patients 9 (45.00%), 11(55.00%) were positive of B. melitensis and B. abortus respectively. The study showed that prevalence of the disease appears to be more common in males as compared to female and age group between 41 to 50 years were more prone to the infection. In Pakistan, brucellosis continues to be a persistent and posing public health risk. Individuals who are exposed to brucellosis at work are more likely to develop infection; therefore all the exposed persons should get themselves screened.

Insulated cross-arms for overhead transmission lines have become increasingly common in the past decade. The 3D finite element analysis (FEA) of the electric field distribution in insulated cross-arms is particularly intriguing due to the differences from conventional glass or ceramic insulators. The complex geometry of composite cross-arms, which feature four separate insulator strings and varying shed profiles, poses a challenge in modelling them using 3D FEA packages. The findings indicate that insulated cross-arms can operate within suitable parameters for traditional composite insulators. This paper presents and analyses the electric field distribution around an insulated cross-arm, which aims to replace existing high-voltage insulators and the steel cross-arms of transmission towers. The design of grading devices plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of these structures. The use of grading ring devices at both ends of the insulator has proven effective in relieving stress on the insulator string under normal and abnormal conditions, enabling the insulated cross-arm to function effectively with conventional composite insulators. Significant reductions in electric field strength were observed, amounting to approximately 35.93 % inside the core, 31.14 % on the core surface, 35.64 % through the shed, and 16.67 % above the shed for compression members. For tension members, reductions from the low-voltage end to both ends were around 33.82 % inside the core, 38.55 % on the core surface, and 17.48 % through the shed. However, an 8.43 % increase was observed above the shed, indicating a deviation from the decreasing trend observed in other areas. These research findings provide valuable insights for designing and managing high-voltage systems, ensuring effective insulation and enhanced safety. It benefits electrical utilities and transmission line manufacturers by improving reliability and safety for overhead transmission lines.

Insulated cross-arms (ICA) allow for the compaction or enhancement of transmission lines. This study presents a comprehensive approach to designing and evaluating insulated cross-arm (ICA) grading devices to control electric fields for insulated cross-arms on a 132 kV lattice tower. A ring-shaped grading device is designed for the low voltage (LV) end of the insulator. A novel grading device is designed for the high voltage (HV) end—a single piece that controls the field for all four ICA members. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations assess the electric field stress near the HV and LV ends of the ICAs, ensuring that it remains below the critical threshold of 18 kV/cm and effectively improves electric field stress at both ends of compression insulator by 70 % electric field stress at LV end and 80 % improved at HV end. The study outlines a thorough design methodology and provides valuable guidelines for utilising FEA in developing complex geometries. By adopting this approach, the researchers aim to enable the adequate compaction and upgrading of new and existing 132 kV overhead transmission lines, ultimately contributing to optimising power grid infrastructure. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of integrating comprehensive design strategies and advanced simulation techniques to enhance the reliability and performance of ICA.

PV systems are prone to external environmental conditions that affect PV system operations. Visual inspection of the impacts of faults on PV system is considered a better practice rather than onsite fault detection mechanisms. Faults such as hotspot, dark area, cracks, glass break, wavy lines, snail tracks, corrosion, discoloration, junction box failure and delamination faults have different visual symptoms. EL technology, infrared thermography, and photoluminescence approaches are used to extract and visualize the impact of faults on PV modules. DL based algorithms such as, CNN, ANN, RNN, AE, DBN, TL and hybrid algorithms have shown promising results in domain of visual PV fault detection. This article critically overviews working mechanism of DL algorithms in terms of their limitations, complexity, interpretability, training dataset requirements and capability to work with another DL algorithms. This research article also reviews, critically analyzes, and systematically presents different clustering algorithms based on their clustering mechanism, distance metrics, convergence criteria. Additionally, their performance is also evaluated in terms of DI, CHI, DBI, S-score, and homogeneity. Moreover, this research work explicitly identifies and explains the limitations and contributions of recent and older techniques employed for features extraction, data preprocessing, and decision making by performing SWOT analysis. This research work also recommends future research directions for industry and academia.

Overhead transmission lines produce significant Magnetic Fields (MF).MF impact is crucial for Overhead Transmission lines (OTL) design because of health concerns regarding radiation effects because they can induce electrical currents within the human body. This paper presents the MF measurement results underneath OTL in two different locations and periods in Malaysia. The first site consisted of two 132 kV double-circuit transmission lines, while the second site contained a 132 kV double-circuit line and a 132 kV quadruple-circuit system. The measurements are conducted in December 2023 and February 2024. The measured MF levels are presented via graphs to facilitate the localization of zones with high-intensity MF. The study found that areas beneath the transmission lines with the highest levels of MF intensities were identified by analyzing the measured results. In the first site, for both double and quadruple circuits, the maximum RMS magnetic flux density level is 2.81 μT, and in the second site, for double circuits is 3.5 μT. For validation of the measurement results, MF is simulated using ANSYS Electronics based on IEEE standards, CIGRE, and other researchers. The measurement outcomes closely matched the simulated MF with very few errors for both double-circuit and quadruple-circuit measurements, as well as for two double-circuit measurements. The simulated and measured MFs were compared with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) limit in occupational and general exposure values. The study found that the measurement outcome closely matched the simulated MF under the ICNIRP limit.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a salesperson’s techno-demands and techno-resources created by new sales-related information technology on salespersons’ attitudinal and behavioral outcomes such as job burnout, job satisfaction, turnover intention, and sales performance. In order to test the proposed framework, data were collected from 305 salespeople in Korea. The results of a partial least squared structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis showed that techno-demands have a significant positive effect on salespeople’s job burnout and techno-resources have a significant positive effect on salespeople’s job satisfaction. Salespeople’s job burnout has a significant positive effect on salespeople’s turnover intention, whereas salespeople’s job satisfaction has a significant positive effect on salespeople’s sales performance. Finally, salespeople’s job satisfaction has a negative effect on turnover intention. Theoretically, this study develops a new comprehensive framework of the techno demands–resources model and is empirically tested in the context of salespeople. Managerially, the findings offer important insights to practitioners to leverage techno-resources to accelerate the sales technologies for sales activities.

Objective: Doxorubicin is presently a leading antineoplastic drug with promising efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the histological effects of doxorubicin toxicity on rat kidneys and how much protection is provided by Nigella Sativa. Materials & Methods: A randomized controlled trial conducted on thirty adult male wistar rats divided randomly into three equal groups. Group A served as a control. Group B was injected with weekly intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin at a dose of 3mg/kg b.w. Group C rats received doxorubicin along with nigella sativa at a dose of 1000mg/kg b.w. orally daily. At the end of these interventions, animals were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for the purpose of histological staining. Renal glomerular and tubules related histopathological parameters were assessed qualitatively as mild, moderate & severe. Renal glomerular diameter was digitally measured by microscope. Ethical approval was taken from Ethical Committee, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. All the parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: Group B rats’ renal tissue was adversely affected by the drug showing marked necrosis of tubules and the glomeruli along with interstitial cells’ infiltration. Glomerular diameter was also significantly decreased in group B as compared to group A. These histological features in group C rats’ renal tissue were milder and glomerular diameter was close to that of group A. Conclusion: According to our study doxorubicin treatment proved noxious for the renal tissue, both tubules and glomeruli, while nigella sativa significantly competed against these pathological alterations.

This research delves into the primary cause of the ageing of insulated cross-arms in the field, which is attributed to the high electric stress experienced at the end fittings. To address this issue, a novel technique is introduced to meticulously analyse the influence of Grading rings on the electric field (E-field) stress, with the goal of regulating it within the prescribed limits on the surface of the insulated cross-arm. By employing advanced methodologies such as finite element analysis and design of experiment approaches, the impact of various geometrical characteristics of Grading rings on the E-field is comprehensively investigated. Through the application of the analysis of variance, the primary and interaction effects of these factors are carefully examined. Additionally, leveraging the power of the response surface technique, an optimal link between the E-field and the geometrical parameters is modelled and optimized. The results of this comprehensive study unequivocally reveal the profound influence of the geometrical parameters of Grading rings on the E-field. Furthermore, diligent efforts are made to estimate the Grading ring parameters that will effectively regulate the E-field within the suggested maximum threshold based on the derived model. The proposed technique not only significantly reduces the computational analysis time but also serves as an efficient and invaluable tool for investigating the intricate geometry of Grading rings without imposing any additional computing burden.According to the findings, the E-field is most impacted by the factors H, D, and T to optimise the shape of grading rings used in insulated cross-arms. The main objective was achieved by reducing the maximum E-field value by 65% compared to the E-field without a grading ring, which has been accomplished. The suggested technique provides a quick and easy way to analyse and improve the intricate geometry of grading rings. As a result, it lowers the cost and time related to computational analysis without needing an excessive amount of computing work to do this.

Objective: To identify the most frequently repeated mutations in the NS5 protein in DENV RNA isolated from dengue patients in the province Punjab of Pakistan. Methodology: The study was conducted at Aziz Fatimah Hospital and Allied Hospital Faisalabad during the 2022 dengue outbreak. The temporal sampling method was applied while selecting confirmed dengue patients from both hospitals, and written consent was taken. 120 blood samples were selected in total and after quantification only 23 samples were found fit for whole genome sequencing. Data was uploaded to Torrent Suite Server 4.10 for analysis. Epi Data Analysis, a WHO-developed software program, was used to calculate and summarize mutation frequencies. Excel analysis was used to check for flaws in the data. Results: There were a total of 199 mutations across the entire nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) sequence. NS5 mutations were found in 9 genomic isolates, with Sample (S) 17 having the highest number. Conclusion: The presence of large number of mutations in the structure of NS5 protein may be used in designing specific anti-viral against it, for better management of DENV infection in local settings in future.

Background: CCHFV is well recognized as a major public health threat and its prevalence and epidemiological distribution in Pakistan and specifically in KP province is not well documented. Methods: We used a gold-standard PCR-based diagnostic assay for confirmation of CCHFV among suspected patients. A total of 150 patients were enrolled from June 2022 to September 2022 and their blood samples were collected for PCR confirmation. Results: The overall positivity rate for CCHFV was 26.67 %, with the virus mostly prevalent in the middle-aged group (21–40 years). In the July of 2022, a significant spike in the prevalence of CCHFV was observed in provincial capital Peshawar with the highest burden (31.57 %). Conclusion: Our findings indicate the necessity of strengthening CCHFV monitoring programs and intensifying efforts to identify hotspot regions for effective surveillance and control of CCHFV. The months before the Eid-ul-Adha are crucial in the context of CCHFV control.

The influential roles of supervisor’s leadership in the context of a small store are not studied and it is unclear how it affects the attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of frontline service employees. Drawing on the social exchange theory, the purpose of this study is three folds. First, this study aims to examine the role of supervisors’ authentic leadership and supervisor ostracism on frontline service employees’ perceived supervisor trust. Second, this study investigates the effects of frontline service employees’ perceived supervisor trust on commitment to customer services and store affective commitment. Finally, the positive role of store affective commitment on frontline service employees’ commitment to customer services is examined. A survey-based was used to collect 203 responses from frontline service employees of coffee shops in Korea. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was conducted to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that a supervisor’s authentic leadership is positively whereas supervisor ostracism is negatively associated with supervisor trust. Similarly, supervisor trust has a significant positive effect on the frontline service employee’s commitment to customer services and store affective commitment. Finally, frontline service employees’ store affective commitment has a significant positive effect on the commitment to customer services. This research offers practical implications for managers of frontline service employees, particularly in the selection, training, promotion, and socialization process of supervisors of small stores in general and in coffee shops in particular. Practitioners interested to increase frontline service employees’ commitment to customer services and store affective commitment can leverage the findings of this study.

Shadowing is a pervasive and complex issue that negatively impacts the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems by causing a substantial reduction in output power and producing multiple power peaks in characteristic curves. These negative impacts are not merely proportional to the shaded area but are linked to configuration or reconfiguration of PV array and pattern of shadow. PV array reconfiguration has been proven to be effective in mitigating the negative impacts of shadowing. This research systematically evaluates sixty-seven established PV array reconfiguration techniques, with a focus on their ability to enhance profitability, optimize power extraction, and support smooth integration that offers easiness to the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) operations. Each technique is further analyzed for scalability to accommodate various PV array sizes and conditions, as well as for hardware complexity, which directly affects adaptability and implementation feasibility. This research work serves as an interesting reference for researchers, industry, and PV practitioners, offering comparisons in terms of the factors mentioned above that aid in the promising selection of PV array reconfiguration techniques under certain specific circumstances.

Abstract Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has emerged as an innovative networking method that offers effective management and remarkable flexibility. However, current SDN-based solutions primarily focus on static networks or concentrate on backbone networks, where network dynamics have minimal impact. The existing methods for placing flow entries in Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based Internet of Things (IoT) systems exhibit shortcomings in accurately predicting outcomes and efficiently reducing table misses and associated performance metrics. This research introduces a new approach, specifically the mobility-aware adaptive flow entry placement scheme for SDN-based Internet of Things (IoT) environments, to address the mobility aspect of networks. The proposed scheme utilizes the Q-learning algorithm to predict the next possible location of end devices, while the cost-sensitive AdaBoost algorithm is employed to select heavy and active flows. As a result, efficient flow rules for incoming flows can be dynamically implemented without controller intervention. Extensive computer simulations demonstrate that this approach significantly enhances match probability and prediction accuracy while concurrently reducing the number of table misses and resource expenditure compared to existing schemes.

Background: Genomic characterization of the dengue virus (DENV) is useful for understanding its molecular evolution, transmission, pathogenicity and infectivity. The DENV genomic RNA encodes three structural proteins, capsid (C) envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins mediating viral entry and assembly during host infection. The current study aims to explore the DENV serotypes and mutations in the E and M proteins. Methods: Twenty-three samples of DENV-positive patients were processed and selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS) from the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Results: Among the 23 WGS, 19 samples showed numerous mutations (BioProject ID PRJNA943555). DENV1 and DENV2 are the most prevalent serotypes. A total of 179 mutations were detected in the E protein, in which K203E, T88A, I114L, and I293T are novel. The I270L, T272A, S273L, and T277A were found in the “kl” β-hairpin (aa 270–279). The M protein harbors 74 mutations, of which 24 were novel. Three prominent complementary regions in the prM and E protein complex formations include R6, E46, D47, D63, and D65 on ‘pr’ peptide, and E84, K64, and H244, K247 on E, remain conserved except R6C. To our knowledge, it is the first comprehensive study of mutations in structural proteins. Conclusion: Genomic epidemiology is critical for analyzing emerging mutations and designing new policies therapeutic efforts for future outbreaks.

This research work designs a high gain coupled inductor SEPIC (CI-SEPIC) based boost inverter. This topology presents low switching voltage stress, high output DC and AC voltage and highly efficient system, which makes it suitable for renewable energy applications. A seventh order system is obtained through dynamic modelling of the CI-SEPIC converter for which PID controller is designed to track the reference value. The extended sine-wave pulse width modulation (ESPWM) has maintained the high gain without compromising the efficiency and ensured low voltage stress on the switching devices. Simulation and experimental results validated that CI-SEPIC based boost inverter with ESPWM achieved high dc gain of 15.98, boost factor of 25, exceptional dc-ac coupling with minimum possible capacitance of 3.3uF, decreased device stress by 33% and smaller size of the complete system.

Autonomous vehicles are revolutionizing the future of intelligent transportation systems by integrating smart and intelligent onboard units (OBUs) that minimize human intervention. These vehicles can communicate with their environment and one another, sharing critical information such as emergency alerts or media content. However, this communication infrastructure is susceptible to cyber-attacks, necessitating robust mechanisms for detection and defense. Among these, the most critical threat is the denial-of-service (DoS) attack, which can target any entity within the system that communicates with autonomous vehicles, including roadside units (RSUs), or other autonomous vehicles. Such attacks can lead to devastating consequences, including the disruption or complete cessation of service provision by the infrastructure or the autonomous vehicle itself. In this paper, we propose a system capable of detecting DoS attacks in autonomous vehicles across two scenarios: an infrastructure-based scenario and an infrastructureless scenario, corresponding to vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X) Mode 3 and Mode 4, respectively. For Mode 3, we propose an ensemble learning (EL) approach, while for the Mode 4 environment, we introduce a gossip learning (GL)-based approach. The gossip and ensemble learning approaches demonstrate remarkable achievements in detecting DoS attacks on the UNSW-NB15 dataset, with efficiencies of 98.82% and 99.16%, respectively. Moreover, these methods exhibit superior performance compared to existing schemes.

Background: Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. typhi) continues to pose a significant risk to public health in developing countries, including Pakistan. This study investigated the epidemiological factors linked to suspected and confirmed S. typhi infections in Peshawar’s hospital population. Methodology: A total of 5735 blood samples of patients with suspected enteric fever were collected from September 2022 to November 2023. S. typhi infection was confirmed using microbiological culture of blood samples, biochemical-based tests, and DNA-sequencing methods. Drug sensitivity testing on cultures was conducted as per the CLSI guidelines. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of 5735 samples stratified by S. typhi infection status, and risk factors were assessed by applying logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs). Results: The number of confirmed typhoid fever cases in this hospital-based study population was 691 (/5735, 12.0%), more prevalent in males (447/3235 13.8%) and children (0–11 years) (429/2747, 15.6%). Compared to children, the risk of S. typhi infection was lower in adolescence (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.42–0.66), adulthood (19–59 years; aOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.25–0.38), and older adulthood (aOR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04–0.18) (p < 0.001). Compared to males, the risk of S. typhi infection was lower in females (aOR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.56–0.80; p = 0.002). Living in a rural residence (compared to urban) was associated with a higher risk of infection (aOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16–1.63; p = 0.001), while access to a groundwater source (compared to municipal water supply) led to a lower risk (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.43–0.73; p = 0.002). Vaccination demonstrated a robust protective effect (aOR = 0.069; 95% CI = 0.04–0.11, p = 0.002). For those with typhoid infections, clinical biomarker analysis revealed the presence of leucopenia (65/691, 9.4%), thrombocytopenia (130/691, 18.8%), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (402/691, 58.2%) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (690/691, 99.9%) levels. Worryingly, among the positive S. typhi isolates, there was a high prevalence of drug resistance (653/691), including multidrug-resistant (MDR 82/691, 11.9%) and extensively drug-resistant types (XDR, 571/691, 82.6%). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of age, sex, locality, water source, and vaccination status in shaping the epidemiological landscape of S. typhi in the Peshawar district. It implies that expanding vaccination coverage to the broader population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in the district of Peshawar, would be beneficial.

The treatment adherence level of tuberculosis patients is critically related to their awareness level about tuberculosis and anti-tuberculosis therapy. Tuberculosis is always spreading if the community has low level of awareness. In this article a mathematical model describing the impact of treatment adherence and difference in awareness level on tuberculosis transmission dynamics is investigated. It is assumed that the detected infectious individuals with low level of awareness after treatment may enter either the recovered compartment due to treatment adherence or the latent compartment due to lack of adherence. We compute the epidemic threshold parameter, Rb, to study its role on the dynamics and stability of the proposed model. Mathematical analyses of this model reveal that treatment nonadherence of individuals with active tuberculosis may lead to relapse. Analysis of the epidemic threshold parameter shows that increase in awareness level, treatment and adherence to medication has a positive effect on tuberculosis control. Whereas, decrease in effective contact rate and endogenous reactivation rate help to reduce tuberculosis infection. The numerical simulations of the model illustrate the feasibility of our analytical conclusions.

Virtual network embedding plays a vital role in network virtualization, as it determines the deployment and connection of virtual networks to the physical network in the 5G and beyond. An efficient virtual network embedding algorithm is essential to ensure that virtual networks are embedded in a way that meets the performance, security, and resource requirements of the virtual networks and their users. The integration of reinforcement learning with virtual network embedding can lead to more intelligent and efficient network management, which can enhance the performance of large-scale networked systems. Reinforcement learning has the potential to improve and overcome some limitations of traditional algorithms, such as the need for prior knowledge of network conditions and the difficulty in dealing with non-linear and dynamic network environments. Therefore, we conducted this survey to provide a comprehensive overview and examine potential future directions for the optimal reinforcement learning-based virtual network embedding solutions. However, applying reinforcement learning directly to virtual network embedding is a challenging task that requires further research and study. Additionally, it encourages researchers to examine the potential of reinforcement learning in virtual network embedding, identify the challenges for its application, and cover various factors related to the reinforcement learning application in virtual network embedding, including motivations, performance metrics, and challenges.

Abstract Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria found within many arthropods, including insects. A variety of benefits are provided by these bacteria to human and insect hosts, including protection from viruses and parasites and the ability to kill males. In this study, Wolbachia was identified in Aedes aegypti present in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A population of mosquitoes was collected from eight different areas, processed, and tested for Wolbachia using 16 S rRNA specific to Wolbachia bacteria and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) under optimized PCR conditions. In five ecologically diverse sites to determine Wolbachia prevalence, we identified eleven diverse novel resident Wolbachia strains within Ae. Aegypti for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Future studies to evaluate the possible use of Wolbachia as a control agent in Aedes sp. in Saudi Arabia are necessary. Wolbachia prevalence rates and strain characterization through Sanger sequencing with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analysis revealed significant diversity. In developing biocontrol strategies, it is beneficial to consider the implications of resident Wolbachia strains.