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Intelligent transfer of drugs to target cells is one of the important challenges in pharmaceuticals and disease treatment. Based on this, various investigations have been done on the interaction of drugs with different materials and compounds, among which nanomaterials have received more attention due to their wide active surface. In this context, the interaction of 5Fluorouracil (5FU) drug connected B12P12 and ScB11P12 nanocages with the adenine nucleobase is investigated. The results of this study could provide a new idea about the effect of nanocages on drug binding to nucleobase. The computational studied base on the density functional theory at the ωB97XD/6-31G (d, p) level of theory is fulfilled in presence of a static electric field (SEF) in the z-direction (z + 0.01, z + 0.02, z + 0.03, and z + 0.04 au). The outcomes of this study confirm that the interaction of 5FU&B12P12 and 5FU&ScB11P12 complexes with adenine is exothermic and favorable. The electron localized field (ELF) plots, quantum theory of atom in molecule (QTAIM) outputs, and reduced density gradient (RDG) scatter plots have been computed and results are analyzed. The output results demonstrated that the nature of bonding between 5FU&B12P12, and 5FU&ScB11P12 complexes with adenine is electrostatic type. The Eg of all studied complexes change in the range of 5.08 to 6.95 eV and the ∆Eg% is in the range of ‒5.84 to 12.51%. The results of this study recommended that the doping Sc atom and electrical field application increase the interaction of 5FU-drug&B12P12 nanocage with adenine and it is an efficient system for 5FU drug delivery toward target cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the present study is to systematically investigate the solubility data and thermodynamic properties associated with codeine phosphate within mixtures comprising ethylene glycol (EG) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under atmospheric pressure conditions within the temperature range of 293.2–313.2 K. The analysis reveals a discernible positive correlation with both temperature and the ratio of EG. Mathematical models are employed for the purpose of correlating the obtained data, and the reliability of these models is rigorously assessed through the computation of mean relative deviations for back-calculated values. Additionally, the density values of codeine phosphate saturated mixtures are meticulously measured and subsequently correlated utilising the Jouyban-Acree model. Furthermore, the apparent thermodynamic properties governing the solubilisation process of codeine phosphate, including standard enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy, are computed through the application of Gibbs and van’t Hoff equations, and the obtained results are comprehensively documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythium sensu stricto (s.s.) and Globisporangium species are important components of the soil microbial community and exhibit diverse lifestyles, including mycoparasitism. However, a comprehensive understanding of the species diversity of these mycoparasites in the West Azarbaijan province of Iran is lacking. In this study, a total of 114 mycoparasitic Pythium s.s. and Globisporangium isolates were obtained from agricultural soils collected from six regions in the province. Through DNA barcoding, all Globisporangium isolates were identified as G. nunn, while the barcode markers were insufficient to accurately resolve species boundaries in Pythium s.s. By combining morphological and multilocus sequence data, five species within the genus Pythium s.s. were identified: P. salmasense sp. nov., a potentially new species, and three known species, P. acanthicum, P. ornamentatum, and P. periplocum. Pythium ornamentatum was the most common species and found in all regions studied, followed by G. nunn and P. acanthicum, which were both isolated from four regions. While the isolates of G. nunn showed no mycoparasitic activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, all Pythium s.s. species were capable of infecting the hyphae of this pathogen. The existence of mycoparasitic species is promising for biological control of soil‐borne fungal pathogens in the province. The widespread occurrence of P. ornamentatum, G. nunn, and P. acanthicum may suggest their adaptation to local soil and environmental conditions, indicating their potentially superior effectiveness in controlling plant diseases across different regions if used as biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the extent and pattern of the influence of one of the most important decision-making tools in the context of social commerce. This study demonstrates how much customer testimonials (including verified purchases and ordinary users) can influence the sales rank of experience and search goods. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected by text mining and performing a content analysis on the XML documents of Web pages and processing them. For search goods, 22,311 opinions were recorded regarding 95 mobile phones. Additionally, for experience goods, 67,817 opinions were recorded regarding 162 books in the Amazon online store. The data were analyzed by functional regression method in longitudinal data analysis. Findings: In terms of importance, the opinions and recommendations of verified purchases had a 60% greater impact on the sales rank of experience goods than the opinions and recommendations of ordinary users. In search goods, the opinions of ordinary users had a greater impact than the opinions of verified purchases. The historical effect of the opinions of ordinary users at the end of the review period on sales rank was evident, while the historical effect of the verified purchase viewpoints during the review period had a nonlinear curve. The results showed that it was necessary to increase the volume of comments to increase their reliability in experience goods. Practical implications: Measuring the effect of customer testimonials helps the managers of retail websites design algorithms and online suggestion systems, thereby improving the sales of their products by providing information desired by customers. Social implications: Individuals can be a source of information and influence the buying decision process of others by sharing their experiences. This issue helps reduce the purchase risk and explains the importance of interaction and sharing the customer's experience. Originality/value: Analyzing the impact of customer testimonials by separating verified purchases and ordinary users is one of the advantages of this study. The quantitative estimation of the impact of recommendations and the provision of a model of their historical effect is one of the approaches not addressed in similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Micropolar continuum is used to homogenise porous guided bone regeneration meshes for dental application. • Parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effect of pore size and morphology on the mechanical properties. • To make GBR mechanical properties compatible with the adjacent bone texture the optimal configuration is proposed. • Pore geometries with compact patterns are a better choice for GBR meshes as they can provide a broader range of porosity. In the present work, a micropolar continuum model is adopted to homogenise a heterogeneous porous model of Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) meshes. GBR meshes are used in dentistry as mechanical barriers to isolate and protect the area of bone loss from the surrounding tissue while allowing new bone growth. The mechanical constants of the continuum are derived based on the strain energy equivalence of a periodic porous plate with its equivalent ortho-tetragonal micropolar model under prescribed boundary conditions. The effects of various architectural features such as pore shapes, patterns and sizes on the material parameters are investigated. The results show that the micropolar theory provides a better prediction of the response of the 2D porous geometries considered for the GBR mesh, compared to the classical Cauchy theory. The collected equivalent material parameters are further used for GBR mesh design, considering both mechanical and biomedical requirements. As an example, different materials and arrangements are analysed to find micropolar constitutive parameters that are comparable to bone parameters reported in the literature. This allows the GBR mesh to possess the mechanical performance that matches the adjacent bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo, as a common pigment defect in the skin, hair, and mucous membranes, results from the destruction of melanocytes. Recent investigations have shown that miRNA dysregulation contributes in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Therefore, in this research, our aim is to explore the relationship between miR-202 rs12355840, miR-211 rs8039189, and miR-1238 rs12973308 polymorphisms and susceptibility to vitiligo. A total number of 136 vitiligo patients and 129 healthy individuals as a control group were included in this research. The salting out approach was implemented to extraction genomic DNA. The genetic polymorphisms of miR-202 rs12355840, miR-211 rs8039189, and miR-1238 rs12973308 were determined using PCR–RFLP approach. The findings revealed that miR-202 rs12355840 polymorphism under codominant (CT and TT genotypes), dominant, recessive, overdominant, and also allelic models is correlated with increased risk of vitiligo. In addition, codominant, dominant, overdominant, as well as allelic models of miR-211 rs8039189 polymorphism decrease risk of vitiligo. No significant relationship was observed between the miR-1238 rs12973308 polymorphism and susceptibility to vitiligo. The miR-211 rs8039189 polymorphism may serve a protective effect on vitiligo development and miR-202 rs12355840 polymorphism may act as a risk factor for vitiligo susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A high‐precision fast‐settling low‐dropout (LDO) regulator has been presented in this paper. A novel frequency compensation scheme has been proposed to acquire wider bandwidth while sufficient stability is guaranteed for all loading conditions without using external compensation capacitors. Moreover, novel auxiliary circuits have been proposed to improve the slew rate and minimize the settling time. The new LDO has been designed in a standard 0.18‐μm CMOS process. Postlayout simulation results show that the LDO achieves 2.7‐ and 2.48‐MHz unity‐gain frequency for 100 and 0 mA of load current, respectively, while the minimum phase margin is 64°. The results also demonstrate that the worst‐case settling time is almost equal to 1.95 μs. It is shown that by using the new slew rate enhancement technique, the settling time has been reduced from 18 to 1.9 μs. The LDO consumes a quiescent current of 21.5 μA, and the power supply rejection is −46 dB at 10‐kHz offset, which makes the LDO capable of adequately suppressing input supply ripples. The large loop gain of the proposed circuit improves the accuracy of the LDO, and the load and line regulations are 0.1 mV/mA and 0.1 mV/V, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam construction has some qualitative and quantitative effects on groundwater resources. This effect may be in the form of an increasing groundwater table or a changing groundwater system. In this paper, the effect of the Rodbal dam construction on the Darab aquifer was investigated. For this paper water table levels from observation wells and precipitation data was used. The study aims to analyse the behaviour of the water table during precipitation by employing a combination of the standardisation process, Fuzzy Inference System (FIS), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculations. Fuzzy logic involves the fuzzification of input data, transforming precise values into fuzzy sets. The effectiveness of the FIS is highlighted, particularly in determining the number of membership functions for inputs. The performance of the results is assessed using indicators such as RMSE and Coefficient of Determination (R2). The FIS showed a high level of effectiveness in performance assessment, exhibiting a 70% similarity between the fuzzy and Mann–Kendall methods. Nonetheless, the Fuzzy Purpose Method corresponded more closely with the observed data, indicating a more accurate reflection of reality. The findings indicate that for P3, P7, and P8, the results from the Mann–Kendall method do not show a discernible trend. Conversely, the proposed Fuzzy method accounts for changes in the behaviour of these piezometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium aluminate (CaAl 4 O 7 or CA2) prepared by a surfactant assisted (PEG-PPG-PEG, MW:5800) co-precipitation method were employed as catalyst support for potassium modified (1–3% wt.%) 7 wt% nickel catalysts in reforming of methane with carbon dioxide. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption analysis, H 2 chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and oxidation (TPO) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to charactrize the fresh and spent catalysts. The catalytic activity results revealed relatively high conversions (CH 4 and CO 2) and stability for all the K 2 O modified catalysts. About 2–6% decrease of CH 4 conversion was observed after promotion of 7%Ni/CA2 with K 2 O. The decrease was attributed to increase in Ni particle size or decrease in Ni dispersity, which caused reduction of available active site for the DRM reaction. Among the promoted catalysts 7%Ni–1%K 2 O catalyst with 62% CH 4 conversion at 700 °C showed highest catalytic activity. K 2 O promoter increased CO 2 affinity, coke resistance and CO 2 coke gasification rates of catalysts. After 5 h on stream the TPO analysis of spent catalysts revealed lower carbon deposition with increase of K 2 O loading from 1 to 3%. 7%Ni–3% K 2 O showed 45 % decrease in carbon deposition compared to unmodified catalyst. TPO analysis detected atomic, fibrous and graphitic carbon deposition over spent catalysts, with filamentous type as the major type. SEM results only detected fibrous carbon for modified and unmodified spent catalysts. • Ni–K 2 O/CaAl 4 O 7 catalysts with different K 2 O amount were introduced for DRM. • The coke deposition decreased with addition of K 2 O promoter to Ni/CaAl 4 O 7. • 7%Ni–1%K 2 O revealed highest catalytic activity among the promoted catalysts. • 7%Ni–3%K 2 O showed lowest carbon deposition. • Promoted catalysts performed great stability after 5 h on stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCancer is ranked among the top causes of mortality throughout the world. Conventional therapies are associated with toxicity and undesirable side effects, rendering them unsuitable for prolonged use. Additionally, there is a high occurrence of resistance to anticancer drugs and recurrence in certain circumstances. Hence, it is essential to discover potent anticancer drugs that exhibit specificity and minimal unwanted effects. Curcumin, a polyphenol derivative, is present in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.) and has chemopreventive, anticancer, radio-, and chemo-sensitizing activities. Curcumin exerts its anti-tumor effects on cancer cells by modulating the disrupted cell cycle through p53-dependent, p53-independent, and cyclin-dependent mechanisms. This review provides a summary of the formulations of curcumin based on nanospheres, since there is increasing interest in its medicinal usage for treating malignancies and tumors. Nanospheres are composed of a dense polymeric matrix, and have a size ranging from 10 to 200 nm. Lactic acid polymers, glycolic acid polymers, or mixtures of them, together with poly (methyl methacrylate), are primarily used as matrices in nanospheres. Nanospheres are suitable for local, oral, and systemic delivery due to their minuscule particle size. The majority of nanospheres are created using polymers that are both biocompatible and biodegradable. Previous investigations have shown that the use of a nanosphere delivery method can enhance tumor targeting, therapeutic efficacy, and biocompatibility of different anticancer agents. Moreover, these nanospheres can be easily taken up by mammalian cells. This review discusses the many curcumin nanosphere formulations used in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender‐affirming care is treatment that recognizes and affirms the gender identity of transgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) individuals. Though not all TGD people choose to surgically transition, gender‐affirming surgeries (GAS) are an important part of many TGD people's transition. GAS can include a wide array of procedures aimed at aligning an individual's physical characteristics and gender identity. This review describes the most common procedures considered to be GAS, detailing important relevant considerations for each procedure. These include transfeminine procedures (i.e., breast augmentation, penile inversion vaginoplasty, orchiectomy, tracheal shave, and facial feminization); transmasculine procedures (i.e., chest masculinization, hysterectomy, phalloplasty, and metoidioplasty); and other procedures (i.e., fertility preservation and hair removal). Patient outcomes and the legal landscape for GAS are also discussed to contextualize these procedures within largest discourses surrounding gender‐affirming care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citrus canker caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri (Hasse 1915) is known as a dangerous disease that has serious economic impacts on citrus production in many tropical and subtropical countries. In Iran, Citrus canker disease has caused significant damage to various citrus fruits, particularly limes. Nowadays, employing antagonistic bacteria as an effective and environmentally friendly method for plant disease management has gained special importance. Results: Citrus leaf samples were collected from different regions of Iran, and after isolating epiphytic bacteria, ex planta and in planta investigations concerning antagonistic activities of the isolates against Xanthomonas citri pathotypes A and A* were performed. A total of 94 epiphytic bacterial isolates were isolated from citrus aerial parts. Based on biochemical, physiological, morphological, and genotypic tests, it was determined that these bacteria belong to the Bacillus and Staphylococcus genera. The highest inhibition activity against the pathogenic bacterium was related to isolates D4 and D5. Using the molecular method and the resulting dendrogram, it was found that these isolates were most similar to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The present findings demonstrated that pathogenicity test on key lime leaves infected with X. citri pathotypes A and A*, along with the application of the biocontrol strain B. amyloliquefaciens, resulted in a significant reduction in the number of canker lesions. Conclusion: The results strongly suggested that the identified antagonistic bacterial isolates hold promising potential as biocontrol agents for managing citrus bacterial canker disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental risk factors are significant contributors to cancer mortality, which are neglected. Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction of cancer mortality due to the environmental risk factors. Methods: Golestan cohort study is a population-base cohort on 50045 participants between 40–75 with about 18 years of follow up. We detected 2,196 cancer mortality and applied a multiple Cox model to compute the hazard ratio of environmental risk factor on all cancer and cancer-specific mortality. The population attributable fraction was calculated, accordingly. Results: Biomass fuels for cooking, as an indoor air pollution, increased the risk of colorectal, esophageal, gastric cancer, and all-cancer mortality by 84%, 66%, 37%, and 17% respectively. Using gas for cooking, particularly in rural areas, could save 6% [Population Attributable Fraction: 6.36(95%CI: 1.82, 10.70)] of esophageal cancer, 3% [Population Attributable Fraction: 3.43 (0, 7.33)] of gastric cancer, and 6% [Population Attributable Fraction: 6.25 (1.76, 13.63)] of colorectal cancer mortality. Using a healthy tap water source could save 5% [Population Attributable Fraction:5.50(0, 10.93)] of esophageal cancer mortality, particularly in rural areas. There was no significant association between indoor air pollution for heating purposes and animal contact with cancer mortality. Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, eliminating solid fuel for most daily usage, among the population with specific cancer types, is required to successfully reduce cancer related mortality. Adopting appropriate strategies and interventions by policymakers such as educating the population, allocating resources for improving the healthy environment of the community, and cancer screening policies among susceptible populations could reduce cancer related mortalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an experiment with four treatments and five replicates, the effects of adding monosodium glutamate (MSG) to the diet in late phase of egg production was studied on performance, and lipid metabolism in laying hens. Dietary treatments included the control basal diet without MSG and the other treatments adding 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2% MSG in the control diet respectively. The effect of supplementation of MSG on egg weight, egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg mass was insignificant (p < 0.05). Adding MSG to the diet significantly increased feed intake and blood polyunsaturated fatty acids concentration (p < 0.05). Intake of 0.8% and 1.2% MSG in the diet up regulated the mRNA expression of acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and lipoprotein lipase in the abdominal and liver tissues in comparison to the control group. Blood very low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol concentration were increased in treatment fed with a diet containing 0.8% MSG compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The effect of MSG on total egg yolk cholesterol concentration was not significant. In conclusion, the results of the present experiment indicated that adding MSG increased feed intake and blood polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive Cu2+ intake can cause neurological disorders (e.g. Wilson's disease) and adversely affect the gastrointestinal, liver, and kidney organs. The presence of Cu2+ is strongly linked to the emergence and progression of Wilson's disease (WD), and accurately measuring the amount of copper is a crucial step in diagnosing WD at an early stage in a clinical setting. In this work, CQDs were fabricated through a facile technique as a novel fluorescence-based sensing platform for detecting Cu(II) in aqueous solutions, and in the serum samples of healthy and affected individuals by WD. The CQDs interact with Cu(II) ions to produce Turn-on and Turn-off states at nano-molar and micro-molar levels, respectively, with LODs of 0.001 µM and 1 µM. In fact, the Cu2+ ions can act like a bridge between two CQDs by which the charge and electron transfer between the CQDs may increase, possibly can have significant effects on the spectroscopic features of the CQDs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported research that can detect Cu(II) at low levels using two different complexation states, with promising results in testing serum. The potential of the sensor to detect Cu(II) was tested on serum samples from healthy and affected individuals by WD, and compared to results obtained by ICP-OES. Astonishingly, the results showed an excellent correlation between the measured Cu(II) levels using the proposed technique and ICP-OES, indicating the high potential of the fluorimetric CQD-based probe for Cu(II) detection. The accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity, high precision, accuracy, and applicability of the probe toward Cu(II) ions make it a potential diagnostic tool for Wilson's disease in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to optimize the extraction process of proteins from pomegranate seeds and characterize their in vitro digestibility as well as their thermal and functional properties. For this purpose, the study screened five parameters (liquid/solid ratio, pH, temperature, NaCl concentration, and time) that could potentially influence the extraction process. This screening was conducted using a two‐level Placket–Burman design (PBD). The significant parameters (pH and NaCl concentration) were subsequently optimized using a three‐level face‐centered central composite design (FCCD) to determine the optimum extraction conditions. A maximum protein recovery of 83.8% was obtained at pH 11.0 and NaCl concentration of 0.0 M. Pomegranate seed protein isolate (PSPI) with a protein content of 92.4% (w/w) was obtained through the isoelectric precipitation of pomegranate seed protein extracted under the optimized conditions. An emulsifying activity index of 14.1 m2 g−1 was observed at the isoelectric pH, where the emulsion stability index was at 8.2%. PSPI also showed high water‐ and oil‐holding capacities (3.7 and 4.3 g g−1, respectively). The essential amino acid levels in PSPI (except for valine and isoleucine) exceeded the recommended amounts set by WHO/FAO/UNU for adults, highlighting its high nutritional value. Based on thermal analysis data, denaturation of PSPI could occur at 89.5°C. The in vitro digestibility of PSPI was found to be 74.3%. PSPI shows a potential as a novel ingredient for substituting animal‐based proteins in various food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: It is essential to consider non‐tuberculosis mycobacterium in HIV‐positive patients with fever, abdominal pain, weight loss, and splenomegaly. Mycobacterium genavense is an opportunistic slow‐growing nontuberculous mycobacterium in patients with immunocompromised backgrounds, especially HIV‐positive patients. In this study, we present two cases of Mycobacterium genovese infection in HIV‐positive patients with a good clinical response to accurate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Due to the increasing need for agricultural products, protection of products against pathogens and preventing them from being wasted is important. Studies on droplet charging systems result in the reduction of chemical usage and an increase in the deposition of droplets on the target. Conventional sprayers used in Iran have numerous disadvantages such as drift, environmental pollution, lack of complete and homogeneous coverage of the spraying surface, phytotoxicity, and crop losses. Therefore, evaluation of new spraying methods and using a variety of electrical sprayers as alternatives to conventional spraying is essential. This study aims to design, construct, and optimize the performance of the electrodynamic head of an atomizer motorized knapsack sprayer, and study the effects of the angle of the target position, spraying distance, and wind speed on the performance of the electrodynamic sprayer. Materials and Methods Experiments were performed in an agricultural machinery workshop at The Department of Biosystems Engineering, the University of Kurdistan, Iran, with an atomizer motorized knapsack sprayer equipped with an electrodynamic head. The effect of some factors including wind speed, spraying angle, and spraying distance on deposition, coverage percentage, and uniformity of spraying were investigated. These effects were investigated to determine the uniformity coefficient of total spraying. Design Expert 8.0.6 Trial software was used to design the experiments based on central composite design and to analyze the data. The investigated factors and levels were: the distance of nozzles from the target (at three levels of 2, 4, and 6 m), the angle of the target position (at three levels of 0, 45, and 90 degrees), and wind speed (at three levels of 2.5, 3, and 3.5 m s-1). Water-sensitive paper cards were used to evaluate the quality of the spraying. The cards were scanned and magnified with an Olympus SZX12 Stereo Microscope equipped with an objective lens of X1 and a total magnification of 7X. The characteristics of droplet size were determined using Mountains Map Trial and Deposit Scan software. Results and Discussion The maximum value of the total spraying uniformity coefficient was equal to 1.95 for the spraying angle of 0 degrees, the distance of 6 meters, and the speed of 3.5 meters per second. Meanwhile, the lowest value of the spray uniformity coefficient of 1.18 was obtained for the test conditions of 90 degrees, distance of 2 m, and speed of 2.5 m s-1, respectively. Based on analysis of variance for the two-factor interactions model (P-value less than 0.0001, explanation coefficient 0.9383, absolute explanation coefficient 0.910, standard deviation 0.0590, and coefficient of variation 3.790%). It can be stated that this model is highly accurate in predicting the uniformity of the total spraying, and the linear components of spraying angle and spraying distance, as well as the interaction of spraying angle x spraying distance and spraying distance x wind speed, significantly affect the uniformity of the total spraying (p<0.05). Nevertheless, the linear component of wind speed and the interaction between wind speed and spraying angle had no significant effect on the changes in the uniformity coefficient of the total spray. According to the variance analysis table (F-values), spraying distance has a far greater effect on the spraying uniformity coefficient than the spraying angle. It has been observed that the spraying uniformity coefficient will increase by increasing the spraying distance and decreasing the spraying angle. It can also be stated that the linear components of spraying angle and spraying distance, the interaction component of spraying angle x spraying distance, and the square power of the components of spraying distance and wind speed have a significant effect on surface coverage. The values of R², Adj-R², CV, and PRESS for the model adapted to the test data of leaf surface coverage percentage were obtained as 0.9929, 0.9865, 4.87%, and 188.61, respectively. Among the three input variables, the spraying distance has the greatest effect on the coverage of water-sensitive papers. At larger spraying angles, especially 90 degrees, the coverage decreased with the increasing distance. At spray angle of 90 degrees, by increasing the distance from 2 to 4 m, the spray uniformity coefficient increased from 1.18 at a wind speed of 2.5 m s-1 to 1.84 at a wind speed of 3.5 m s-1. However, at smaller spraying angles (for example zero-degree angle), at first, the spraying coverage increases with the increase of the spraying distance from 2 to 3 m and then sharply decreases afterward. According to the contours of spray coverage, in the spray distance range of 4 to 6 m and regardless of wind speed, the spray coverage does not vary with the increase of the spraying angle (p< 0.05). Meanwhile, in the spray distance range of 2 to 4 m, with the increase of the spraying angle, the spraying coverage increases significantly (p<0.05). Overall, increasing the distance between the sprayer and the target decreased the surface coverage on the target, and in electrodynamic spraying, the uniformity of particle deposition on the underside of the target was relatively the same as on the upper side. Conclusion To improve the performance of the atomizer motorized knapsack sprayer, an electrodynamic spraying head was designed and built, and its performance was optimized using the response surface method (RSM) with a central composite design. During the research process, the influence of the independent parameters such as the distance between the nozzle and the target, the angle of the target position, and the wind speed on the variables including spraying uniformity, the percentage of the spraying coverage, and the percentage of changes in the total spraying coefficient were discussed and investigated. The results of the research led to the determination of the 3.5 m s-1 wind speed, 2.5 m sprayer distance, and 90 degrees spraying angle with 0.792 desirability, which were considered as the optimal performance conditions of the electrodynamic spraying head. The results of laboratory validation for optimal conditions show that the uniformity of total spraying indicated by the total relative span factor (RSFT) and the percentage of spraying coverage (Cov) are equal to 1.65 and 28.27%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of folic acid (FA) on withdrawal following nicotine (Nic) administration in adolescent male rats. Aims and Methods Adolescent male rats were divided into two groups: (1) vehicle and (2) Nic (Nic-2 mg/kg), and were under treatment from 21 to 42 days of age. After that, they continued the experiment without treatment and returned to a regular diet, except for one of those who received Nic. The rats were divided into four groups where they were treated with different doses of FA (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) and bupropion (Bup) by oral gavage, and the final group included normal rats that received only FA (15 mg/kg) from 42 days of age for three weeks during which withdrawal occurred. Results Results showed that adolescent Nic exposure exacerbated the behavioral indices of anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, while FA attenuated the effects of Nic withdrawal on anxiety and depression as well as Bup. In support, the biochemical results demonstrated a balance between oxidant and antioxidant mediators in addition to the increase and decrease of serotonin and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in cortical tissue. TNF-α as an inflammatory agent was decreased, whereas IL-10 as an anti-inflammatory parameter was increased. Conclusions The present findings suggest anxiety and depression caused by Nic withdrawal were attenuated by FA more likely through the reduction activity of MAO, the important enzyme responsible for serotonin metabolism along with balance between oxidant/antioxidant and pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory mediators. However, various mechanisms might be involved, which requires further investigation. Implications Nic withdrawal-induced depression and anxiety like behavior in rats followed by neuro-oxidative damage and neuro-inflammation. FA supplementation as well as Bup improved cognitive disorders induced by Nic withdrawal by increasing neuro-inflammation and neuro-oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to propose an experimental procedure for determining the characteristic length of a strain gradient model. The identification problem is studied through a virtual pull-out test of a rigid bar along the symmetry axis of a cylindrical strain gradient elastic domain. To allow an accurate parameter identification based on measured data, we investigate the effect of the characteristic length on the mechanical fields for this problem. We see a significant sensitivity of the inflection point of the displacement profile evaluated on the cross section of the cylinder, with respect to the characteristic length. By adjusting the characteristic length of the strain gradient such that the theoretical models match best with experimental measurements of the surface displacement fields, the characteristic length of the strain gradient can be estimated. In order to allow for more efficient analysis and an almost real-time parameter identification, the initial three-dimensional (3D) problem is reduced to a one-dimensional (1D) problem by exploiting the cylindrical symmetry of the problem. As will be shown, an accurate 1D finite element method (FEM) strain gradient solution can be obtained for this simplified problem. Since the cylindrical symmetry is only true in an infinitely long cylinder, specific boundary conditions are constructed on a cylinder of finite length, which is then used for the comparison of the 1D and 3D problems. Results show, however, that the structural response at the inflection point is insensitive to whether the specific boundary conditions are considered or not, which is why the 1D model can be used for parameter identification. Since the proposed approach is methodological, it can be applied to any material. As a prototype problem in this paper, we consider the case of a bar embedded in Portland cement concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protective impacts of physical activity against inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions have been demonstrated. In this study, the impacts of moderate-intensity exercise on oxidative stress-associated factors and proinflammatory cytokines levels as well as the count of white blood cells (WBC) were assessed in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered model of inflammation. Wistar rats were randomized into these groups (8 rats in each): (1) control; (2) LPS; (3) moderate exercise (EX); and (4) moderate exercise + LPS (EX+LPS). Exercise groups were trained for 8 weeks (30 min, 6 days/week) at 15 m/min speed. During the final week of the experiment, 1 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal LPS was administered for 5 days. On day 56, from the rats' hearts, peripheral blood was taken for biochemical evaluation. LPS enhanced serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)- 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), metabolites of nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the counts of total WBC, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, but decreased serum levels of thiol as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity versus the control rats. Moderate exercise reduced the levels of thiol, CAT, and SOD, but increased TNF-α level, and total WBC, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes counts versus the control group. In the EX+LPS group, moderate exercise decreased cell counts and diminished MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and CRP levels, while increasing thiol level, CAT, and SOD versus the LPS group. In our study, exercise preconditioning reduced inflammation induced by LPS by ameliorating inflammatory cytokine levels, WBC counts, and oxidative damage, while improving antioxidant defenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake-induced pounding in bridges is a complex contact phenomenon in which the dynamic responses of structures, including collisions between deck and abutments, are strongly related to structural properties and earthquake excitation. The goal of this study is to develop and compare the seismic fragility curves of overall system and individual components of regular and irregular box-girder highway bridges in two cases: with pounding and without pounding. For this purpose, four levels of altitudinal irregularity, ranging from regular to highly irregular, are considered. To extend the results for all bridges in the same class, different sources of uncertainties related to earthquakes, structural geometries, and material properties are taken into account. The analytical fragility curves have been developed based on nonlinear time history analyses in OpenSees finite element software for the cases with and without pounding effects. The process has been repeated for each two-, three-, and four-span classes at four irregularity levels. The fragility function parameters for the two cases with and without pounding have been compared for all classes considered in this study. Using fragility functions, this paper clarifies the interactive roles of irregularity and pounding between deck and abutments for seismic vulnerability of multi-span box-birder highway bridges. The results indicate that collisions often show an adverse effect on all structural components. It has also been observed that the detrimental effect of pounding on seismic fragility is more apparent in irregular bridges when compared with regular ones. In addition, the study introduces a conversion coefficient to clarify the effects of pounding on the fragility of bridge components and the overall system. This coefficient can be applied in both conventional analytical methods like static or simplified analysis and technical earthquake models like HAZUS, adjusting fragility values for pounding and irregularity effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a rare immunodeficiency disorder characterized by impaired phagocytic function, leading to recurrent infections and granuloma formation. Genetic mutations in NADPH oxidase complex components, such as CYBB, NCF1, NCF2, and CYBA genes, contribute to the pathogenesis. This case report explores the possible ocular and hematologic complications associated with CGD. Case Presentation: A 6-year-old girl with a history of vitrectomy, membranotomy, and laser therapy due to congenital blindness (diagnosed with chorioretinopathy) was referred to the hospital with generalized ecchymosis and thrombocytopenia. Diagnostic workup initially suggested chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Subsequent admissions revealed necrotic wounds, urinary tract infections, and recurrent thrombocytopenia. Suspecting immunodeficiency, tests for CGD, Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) were performed. She had a low DHR (6.7), and her NBT test was negative (0.0%). Her whole exome sequencing results confirmed autosomal recessive CGD with a homozygous NCF1 mutation. Conclusion: This case underscores the diverse clinical manifestations of CGD, including recurrent thrombocytopenia and possible early-onset ocular involvement. The diagnostic challenges highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving hematologists, immunologists, and ophthalmologists for accurate diagnosis and management. The rare coexistence of ITP in CGD emphasizes the intricate link between immunodeficiency and autoimmunity, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) aims to transfer knowledge across domains when there is no labeled data available in the target domain. In this way, UDA methods attempt to utilize pseudo-labeled target samples to align distribution across the source and target domains. To mitigate the negative impact of inaccurate pseudo-labeling on knowledge transfer, we propose a novel UDA method known as visual transductive learning via iterative label correction (VTL) that benefits from a novel label correction paradigm. Specifically, we learn a domain invariant and class discriminative latent feature representation for samples of both source and target domains. Simultaneously, VTL attempts to locally align the information of samples by learning the geometric structure of samples. Therefore, the novel label correction paradigm is utilized on embedded shared feature space to effectively maximize the reliability of pseudo labels by correcting inaccurate pseudo-labeled target samples, which significantly improves VTL classification performance. The experimental results on several object recognition tasks verified our proposed VTL superiority in comparison with other state-of-the-arts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional point cloud evaluation is used in photogrammetry to validate and assess the accuracy of data acquisition in order to generate various three-dimensional products. This paper determines the optimal accuracy and correctness of a 3D point cloud produced by a low-cost spherical camera in comparison to the 3D point cloud produced by laser scanner. The fisheye images were captured from a chessboard using a spherical camera, which was calibrated using the commercial Agisoft Metashape software (version 2.1). For this purpose, the results of different calibration methods are compared. In order to achieve data acquisition, multiple images were captured from the inside area of our case study structure (an underpass in Wiesbaden, Germany) in different configurations with the aim of optimal network design for camera location and orientation. The relative orientation was generated from multiple images obtained by removing the point cloud noise. For assessment purposes, the same scene was captured with a laser scanner to generate a metric comparison between the correspondence point cloud and the spherical one. The geometric features of both point clouds were analyzed for a complete geometric quality assessment. In conclusion, this study highlights the promising capabilities of low-cost spherical cameras for capturing and generating high-quality 3D point clouds by conducting a thorough analysis of the geometric features and accuracy assessments of the absolute and relative orientations of the generated clouds. This research demonstrated the applicability of spherical camera-based photogrammetry to challenging structures, such as underpasses with limited space for data acquisition, and achieved a 0.34 RMS re-projection error in the relative orientation step and a ground control point accuracy of nearly 1 mm. Compared to the laser scanner point cloud, the spherical point cloud reached an average distance of 0.05 m and acceptable geometric consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an easily-prepared binary metal supported on a magnetic nanocomposite of graphene oxide was synthesized with a particular focus on the sequence of metal introduction. Specifically, the Co/Ni/Fe 3 O 4 @GO, Ni/Co/Fe 3 O 4 @GO, and CoNi/Fe 3 O 4 @GO samples were synthesized, and subjected to a comprehensive characterization. Following the incorporation of nickel into the cobalt-based catalyst, the surface areas of the samples and the dispersion of the particles were notably enhanced. The positive effect of nickel introduction was found to be more pronounced in the CoNi/Fe 3 O 4 @GO nanocatalyst, which was synthesized via the simultaneous impregnation-reduction of cobalt and nickel nanoparticles. The prepared catalysts were found to be efficient catalysts in the sodium borohydride hydrolysis/methanolysis/ethanolysis process. Notably, the results revealed that the CoNi/Fe 3 O 4 @GO exhibited superior performance in the methanolysis reaction compared to the other catalysts. Impressively, this catalyst yielded a high hydrogen generation rate of 8200 mL/min.g cat. A thorough kinetic analysis of the catalyzed methanolysis reaction revealed a remarkably low activation energy of 21.45 kJ/mol. Furthermore, a thermodynamic study yielded an activation entropy (ΔS) of −97.75 J/K, which is indicative of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type mechanism for the methanolysis of sodium borohydride. [Display omitted] • Successful synthesis of CoNi/Fe 3 O 4 @GO was acheived by the impregnation-reduction method. • The simultaneous synthesis of CoNi/Fe 3 O 4 @GO displayed the best performance. • Addition of nickel nanoparticles in the Co/Fe 3 O 4 @GO structure improved the catalyst activity. • Low E a of 21.45 kJ/mol and high H 2 generation rate of 8200 mL/min.g cat were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is induced by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), resulting in elevated plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol. Therefore, inhibiting the interactions between PCSK9 and LDLR is a desirable therapeutic goal for managing hypercholesterolemia. Aptamers, which are RNA or single-stranded DNA sequences, can recognize their targets based on their secondary structure. Aptamers exhibit high selectivity and affinity for binding to target molecules. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), a combination of biological approaches, is used to screen most aptamers in vitro. Due to their unique advantages, aptamers have garnered significant interest since their discovery and have found extensive applications in various fields. Aptamers have been increasingly utilized in the development of biosensors for sensitive detection of pathogens, analytes, toxins, drug residues, and malignant cells. Furthermore, similar to monoclonal antibodies, aptamers can serve as therapeutic tools. Unlike certain protein therapeutics, aptamers do not elicit antibody responses, and their modified sugars at the 2'-positions generally prevent toll-like receptor-mediated innate immune responses. The focus of this review is on aptamer-based targeting of PCSK9 and the application of aptamers both as biosensors and therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that early identification of MetS might decrease CVD risk, it is imperative to establish a simple and cost-effective method to identify individuals at risk of MetS. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between several atherogenic indices (including AIP, TyG index, non-HDL-C, LDL-c/HDL-c, and TC/HDL-c) and MetS, and to assess the ability of these indices to predict MetS. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from 9809 participants of the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study (HCS). MetS was defined based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). To examine the discriminatory abilities of each atherogenic indices in the identification of MetS, a receiver-operating characteristic curve was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was also performed to evaluate the relationship between atherogenic indices and MetS. Results: All of the atherogenic indices including the TyG index, AIP, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c were significantly higher in participants with MetS than in those without MetS. According to the ROC curve analysis, the TyG index revealed the highest area under the curve (0.79 and 0.85 in men and women, respectively), followed by the AIP (0.76 and 0.83 in men and women, respectively). The best cutoff values for the TyG index and AIP were 8.96 and 0.16 for men and 8.84 and 0.05 for women, respectively. The TyG index and AIP were also strongly associated with MetS. Conclusion: Among the 5 atherogenic indices evaluated, the TyG index and AIP were strongly related to MetS. The TyG index also demonstrated superior discriminative ability compared to other atherogenic indices in predicting MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have performed a comparative study of different types of oscillating dark energy (DE) models using the Metropolis algorithm of Markov Chain Monte Carlo. Eight different oscillating parameterizations are examined herein that have demonstrated considerable ability to fit the overall cosmological observations, including the Pantheon sample of Type Ia supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, cosmic chronometer Hubble data, and distance priors of the Planck cosmic microwave background. In order to compare the consistency of these models with observations, we have used both the Akaike and deviance information criteria. Although the values of the Akaike information criterion for different models indicate that there is no support for oscillating DE models, the deviance information criterion showed that there is significant support for some of these models. Our results showed that these models are capable of solving the cosmic coincidence problem and alleviating the Hubble tension. Comparing the H 0 values obtained for different oscillating scenarios with that of ΛCDM, we observed that our oscillating models led to H 0 ¯ = 69.78 , which is 0.29 greater than H 0,Λ and thus reduces the Hubble tension. Among all of the models, model 1, with H 0 = 70.00 ± 0.71, is the most capable of alleviating the H 0 tension. Furthermore, we examined our models assuming H 0 = 73.0 ± 1.4 from SHoES measurements. We find that adding this data point to our data combination led to a Δ H 0 ¯ = 0.95 increase in the H 0 value for different models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present study, we investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cognitive behaviors in female rats with a high-fat diet + streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes. Methods: Twenty-four female rats were divided into four groups randomly (n = 6): control (C), control + exercise (Co + EX), diabetes mellitus (type 2) (T2D), and diabetes mellitus + exercise (T2D + EX). Diabetes was induced by a two-month high-fat diet and a single dose of STZ (35 mg/kg) in the T2D and T2D + EX groups. The Co + EX and T2D + EX groups performed HIIT for eight weeks (five sessions per week, running on a treadmill at 80–100% of VMax, 4–10 intervals). Elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT) were used for assessing anxiety-like behaviors, and passive avoidance test (PAT) and Morris water maze (MWM) were applied for evaluating learning and memory. The hippocampal levels of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and Tau were also assessed using Western blot. Results: An increase in fasting blood glucose (FBG), hippocampal level of Tau, and a decrease in the percentage of open arm time (%OAT) as an index of anxiety-like behavior were seen in the female diabetic rats which could be reversed by HIIT. In addition, T2D led to a significant decrease in rearing and grooming in the OFT. No significant difference among groups was seen for the latency time in the PAT and learning and memory in the MWM. Conclusions: HIIT could improve anxiety-like behavior at least in part through changes in hippocampal levels of Tau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pull-out test is one of the common experiments to determine the bond strength. When the problem is modeled in the context of linear elasticity for a cylindrical reinforced concrete block, the resulting simplified 1-D model yields so-called pull-out paradox Rezaei et al. (Mech Res Commun 126:104015, 2022) due to extreme concentration of energy near the bar. Since the standard linear elasticity is not able to consider this high values of energy, the problem was investigated by strain-gradient elasticity solution in the work of Rezaei et al. (Mech Res Commun 126:104015, 2022). In this study, to resolve the paradoxical solution, classical finite (i.e., St.-Venant–Kirchhoff model) and strain-gradient finite elasticity solutions are presented. Each mathematical model, assuming that the material is isotropic, is derived with the principle of minimum potential energy introducing appropriate strain energy. The numerical simulations are performed by the finite element method, and it is showed that numerical solution of each model converges well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common severe symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia can lead to tissue damage and inflammation due to mediators such as receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the G82S polymorphism of the RAGE gene and diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients. Methods. In this case-control study, 356 participants (158 men and 198 women) of Asian race, aged 45 to 65 years, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on their fasting plasma glucose levels were enrolled. DNA was isolated from the participants' blood samples and genotyped using TETRA -Primer ARMS-PCR. Serum protein concentration of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) was also determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Although we found differences in genotyping of participants between homozygous AA and GG and heterozygous GA in the studied groups, the differences were not significant (P = .568). In addition, we found no significant correlation between the G82S polymorphism of RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. Serum levels of sRAGE were only slightly decreased in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with diabetic patients (P > .05). Conclusion. The results of this study indicate no significant association between the G82S polymorphism in the gene RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. Serum levels of sRAGE were only slightly decreased in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to diabetic patients without nephropathy. Therefore, the study suggests that there is probably no association between the G82S polymorphism in the gene RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is little and heterogeneous knowledge on the links between the temperamental predispositions of psychopathology and the contemporary dimensional models of psychopathology, such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) classification system, which can be aligned with the five-factor model (FFM) of personality. This meta-analysis seeks to expand the temperamental theoretical basis of the HiTOP model by incorporating associations of temperament traits of two temperamental theories measured, respectively, by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) with (a) the FFM's personality domains and (b) HiTOP's five psychopathological spectra. Methods: A systematic search was done on Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar for all articles published in English from January 1990 to August 2020. Because of heterogeneity in the results of almost 70% of studies, pooled estimates of correlation coefficients were calculated using the random-effects method. Risk of bias (low-quality studies) and publication bias are reported. Results: The pooled correlations obtained from the analysis of 35 studies showed that the temperamental profile associated with each FFM domain and HiTOP spectra is distinct. Specifically, TCI-harm avoidance (HA) and all TEMPS temperaments were more strongly related to neuroticism/internalizing, extraversion/low detachment, and conscientiousness/disinhibition. In contrast, TCI-novelty seeking was more strongly related to both disinhibited/antagonistic externalizing and thought disorder. Conclusions: A large body of research supports maladaptive variants of all FFM domains and some psychopathological spectra of HiTOP related to the abnormal-range temperaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent decade, nanoparticles (NPs) have had enormous implications in cancer biomedicine, including research, diagnosis, and therapy. However, their broad application still faces obstacles due to some practical limitations and requires further development. Recently, there has been more interest in the coated class of nanoparticles to address those challenges. Chitosan‐coated NPs are simple to produce, biodegradable, biocompatible, exhibit antibacterial activity, and have less cytotoxicity. This study provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the application of chitosan‐coated NPs as a promising class of NPs in cancer biomedicine. Additionally, we discussed chitosan‐coated lipid, metal, and polymer‐based nanoparticles in biomedical applications. Furthermore, different coating methods and production/characterization procedures were reviewed. Moreover, the biological and physicochemical advantages of chitosan‐coated NPs, including facilitated controlled release, greater physicochemical stability, improved cell/tissue interaction, and enhanced bioavailability of medications, were highlighted. Finally, the prospects of chitosan‐coated NPs in cancer biomedicine were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study was performed to assess whether systemic inflammatory indices, including systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), systemic immune‑inflammation index (SII), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), can be considered as possible inflammatory markers in silica-exposed workers with no diagnosis of silicosis. We studied 371 non-silicotic workers exposed to respirable silica dust (RSD) and 1422 reference workers. The workers' exposure to RSD were assessed and the inflammatory indices were compared between subgroups of the exposed workers based on the severity and duration of exposure. Correlations between inflammatory indices and the pulmonary function parameters were investigated. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to determine the cut-off values of the SII, SIRI, and AISI. Significant dose–response relationships were observed between duration of exposure and all indices except monocytes and LMR. No significant interaction was observed between duration of exposure to RSD and smoking. Borderline significant correlations were observed between AISI and SIRI with forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. Higher AUCs were obtained for SII and AISI, respectively. The cut-off values for these biomarkers to be considered abnormal were > 348.48 for SII, > 183.78 for AISI, and > 0.768 for SIRI. Overall, the present study showed for the first time, that SII, AISI, and SIRI might be considered as available, easy-to-obtain, and non-expensive markers of inflammation in non-silicotic workers with a long duration of exposure to RSD who are at risk of developing silicosis in subsequent years. • First study investigating systemic inflammatory indices in non-silicotic workers. • Dose-response relationship exists between silica exposure and AISI. • SII, AISI, and SIRI may be considered as markers of inflammation in non-silicotic workers. • The cut-off values for SII, AISI, and SIRI are >348, >183, and >0.77, respectively. • No significant interaction exists between smoking and exposure duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell therapy is one of the promising approaches used against type 1 diabetes. Efficient generation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived pancreatic progenitors (PPs) is of great importance. Since signaling pathways underlying human pancreas development are not yet fully understood, various differentiation protocols are conducted, each considering variable duration, timing, and concentrations of growth factors and small molecules. Therefore, we compared two PP differentiation protocols in static suspension culture. We tested modified protocols developed by Pagliuca et al. (protocol 1) and Royan researchers (protocol 2) until early PP stage. The morphological changes of hESC aggregates during differentiation, and also gene and protein expression after differentiation, were evaluated. Different morphological structures were formed in each protocol. Quantitative gene expression analysis, flow cytometry, and immunostaining revealed a high level of PDX1 expression on day 13 of Royan's differentiation protocol compared to protocol 1. Our data showed that using protocol 2, cells were further differentiated until day 16, showing higher efficiency of early PPs. Moreover, protocol 2 is able to produce hESCs-PPs in a static suspension culture. Since protocol 2 is inexpensive in terms of media, growth factors, and chemicals, it can be used for massive production of PPs using static and dynamic suspension cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): MicroRNAs, which are micro-coordinators of gene expression, have been recently investigated as a potential treatment for cancer. The study used computational techniques to identify microRNAs that could target a set of genes simultaneously. Due to their multi-target-directed nature, microRNAs have the potential to impact multiple key pathways and their pathogenic cross-talk. Materials and Methods: We identified microRNAs that target a prostate cancer-associated gene set using integrated bioinformatics analyses and experimental validation. The candidate gene set included genes targeted by clinically approved prostate cancer medications. We used STRING, GO, and KEGG web tools to confirm gene-gene interactions and their clinical significance. Then, we employed integrated predicted and validated bioinformatics approaches to retrieve hsa-miR-124-3p, 16-5p, and 27a-3p as the top three relevant microRNAs. KEGG and DIANA-miRPath showed the related pathways for the candidate genes and microRNAs Results: The Real-time PCR results showed that miR-16-5p simultaneously down-regulated all genes significantly except for PIK3CA/CB in LNCaP; miR-27a-3p simultaneously down-regulated all genes significantly, excluding MET in LNCaP and PIK3CA in PC-3; and miR-124-3p could not downregulate significantly PIK3CB, MET, and FGFR4 in LNCaP and FGFR4 in PC-3. Finally, we used a cell cycle assay to show significant G0/G1 arrest by transfecting miR-124-3p in LNCaP and miR-16-5p in both cell lines. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that this novel approach may have therapeutic benefits and these predicted microRNAs could effectively target the candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores an analysis via the Noether symmetry approach to investigate an extended teleparallel F (T , X , ϕ) gravity model in the context of a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker spacetime. The model incorporates the torsion scalar T, scalar field ϕ and the kinetic term X of the scalar field. This approach allows us to select physically interesting models by restricting arbitrariness in the F (T , X , ϕ) function. Thus we focus on two types of the function F (T , X , ϕ) , namely models involving the generalized teleparallel dark energy and the nonlinear function of the kinetic term and analyze the Noether symmetry properties and demonstrate the presence of non-vanishing Noether vectors. In the first model, by specifically considering the X 4 Noether symmetry, representing a scaling symmetry, we simplify the field equations and introduce a cyclic variable to enable a more workable formulation. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive graphical analysis, showcasing the time evolution of the scale factor and the scalar field by using the solutions obtained through these new variables. Additionally, we examine some fundamental cosmological parameters. For the second model, which includes the nonlinear form of the kinetic term, Noether symmetry results in obtaining simple power-law solutions for the dynamic variables. Our findings clearly show that the considered models represent an accelerating expansion of the Universe, which is consistent with observations. This study highlights the efficacy of the Noether symmetry approach in defining the functional form of F (T , X , ϕ) and obtaining precise cosmological solutions. The analytical solutions and graphical analysis offer valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of the models, contributing to understanding the evolving nature of the Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver performs a wide range of biological functions that are essential to body homeostasis. Damage to liver tissue can result in reduced organ function, and if chronic in nature can lead to organ scarring and progressive disease. Currently, donor liver transplantation is the only longterm treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, orthotopic organ transplantation suffers from several drawbacks that include organ scarcity and lifelong immunosuppression. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are required. One promising strategy is the engineering of implantable and vascularized liver tissue. This resource could also be used to build the next generation of liver tissue models to better understand human health, disease and aging in vitro. This article reviews recent progress in the field of liver tissue bioengineering, including microfluidic-based systems, bio-printed vascularized tissue, liver spheroids and organoid models, and the induction of angiogenesis in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we theoretically investigate the transmission properties of a structure composed of a topological one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D PhC) heterostructure and a conventional 1D PhC containing indium-antimonide (InSb) as a defect layer using the transfer matrix method. The phenomenon of Fano resonance can be achieved by coupling the defect mode with the topological edge state mode, which is supported by the topological PhC. The numerical results show that a narrow Fano resonance is observed in the transmission spectrum of the structure in the presence of the external magnetic field applied to the InSb defect layer. The optical properties of the InSb defect layer, and, therefore, the Fano resonance, can be dynamically controlled by changing the applied external magnetic field. The results obtained with the proposed structure reveal that the magnetic field has the greatest influence on controlling the optical properties of the Fano resonance. These findings could be beneficial for optical devices such as optical filters, sensors, and optical switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow over an oscillating cylinder has been the subject of various studies as well as its heat transfer characteristics due to the lock-in phenomenon which occurs as a result of multiple frequencies being present in the system. The motivation was to investigate the effect of superhydrophobicity on heat transfer and wake dynamics of partially superhydrophobic oscillating cylinder. Applying the slip condition causes the drag and root-mean-square lift coefficients to reduce by 46 and 75% in comparison to the no-slip case, respectively. It also augments the average Nusselt number by 55% accompanied by a 21% increase of the natural shedding frequency compared to the no-slip cylinder. Considering the reduction of force coefficients, it is shown that the application of slip over a 135° segment of the surface is an optimum case, resulting in 47% and 85% decrease of the drag and root-mean-square lift coefficients, respectively. Application of slip over the surface of the cylinder also causes the average Nusselt number to become nearly 6 times greater than the no-slip oscillating cylinder at the lock-in condition. Further analysis based on thermal performance index (TPI) proves that a high value of TPI = 6 can be reached for the superhydrophobic cylinder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-satellites, which are following the CubeSat standard have established for demanding industrial and scientific applications with critical requirements on reliability and radiation tolerance. The employment of commercial off-the-shelf components enables a state-of-the-art performance but requires extensive testing to avoid and mitigate malefunctions due to the space environment. The CubeSat mission CLIMB is representative for future missions with a complex payload, a high power budget and a harsh radiation exposure. For this reason, a comprehensive irradiation study of its on-board-computer was done. The total ionizing dose damage of 50 krad was evaluated at a 60 Co source. As a consequence of this test, specific components were exchanged before performing single event effect studies at the synchrotron accelerator MedAustron. A board-level test revealed that the majority of effects concern the central micro controller wherefore was followed by a component-level test. Those irradiation tests make use of a pencil beam to map the device under test, which provides additional information to localize effects - by the timestamp - at the expense of an increased irradiation time compared to a homogeneous exposure. In this paper, we summarize the major findings of the test campaign and mitigation means and present a procedure for single event effect studies at medical accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research is to synthesize ZnO vertical nanorods on a conductive substrate through a novel approach. In this method, ZnO nanorods are grown on kanthal wires using the direct heating (DH) technique. The study investigated the application of ZnO nanorods in photodegradation, specifically in removing Sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Through comprehensive analysis techniques, including XRD, FESEM, and TEM, the successful growth of ZnO nanorods on kanthal wires is confirmed. Their photocatalytic activity in SMX degradation is evaluated at varying concentrations (3 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm) under UV light. Notably, the ZnO sample produced under 80 W power and 120 min emerges as the most promising, exhibiting a high surface area of 36 m2g-1, larger length of 755 nm, and lower diameter of 12 nm, as well as superior SMX photodegradation percentages of 87.64 % (3 ppm), 77.86 % (5 ppm), and 51.84 % (10 ppm) after 60 min. These findings highlight the potential of synthesizing ZnO nanorods via DH technique as an efficient and sustainable solution for removing pharmaceutical contamination in water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main causes of infertility in women. This study was conducted to uncover the effects of lupeol as an anti-androgenic triterpene on experimentally-induced PCOS in mice. Materials and Methods: Eighty immature female mice were divided into 4 groups: Control (C), PCOS (P), Lupeol (L), and Flutamide (F). PCOS was induced in test groups by injection of Dehydroepiandrosterone (60 mg/kg/day, IP) for twenty days. Following the PCOS induction, the two groups of L and F were treated with lupeol (40 mg/kg/day) and/or flutamide (10 mg/kg/day) respectively and the two groups of C and P received sesame oil (0.1 ml/mouse/day) for 15 days. After the treatment period, ten animals in each group were selected for collecting blood and ovary samples. In vitro fertilization assessment was carried out on 10 remaining mice in each group. The hormonal assays and oxidative stress biomarker determination were performed on serum and tissue samples. Moreover, histopathological analyses were conducted on the ovaries. Results: PCOS-elevated concentration of LH and Testosterone was significantly (P<0.05) lowered in lupeol and flutamide-received animals. Lupeol and flutamide both reduced PCOS-induced fibrosis and the number of atretic follicles. Both compounds declined the PCOS-increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in serum and the ovaries. Lupeol increased the PCOS-reduced fertility rate and decreased the number of arrested embryos by 12%. Conclusion: These findings indicate that lupeol could be a novel compound in the treatment of PCOS as it reduced PCOS-induced structural and also functional disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric loss is one of the challenging issues in muscle tissue structure that causes functio laesa. Tissue engineering of muscle tissue using suitable hydrogels is an alternative to restoring the physiological properties of the injured area. Here, myogenic properties of type I collagen (0.5%) and keratin (0.5%) were investigated in a mouse model of biceps femoris injury. Using FTIR, gelation time, and rheological analysis, the physicochemical properties of the collagen (Col)/Keratin scaffold were analyzed. Mouse C2C12 myoblast-laden Col/Keratin hydrogels were injected into the injury site and histological examination plus western blotting were performed to measure myogenic potential after 15 days. FTIR indicated an appropriate interaction between keratin and collagen. The blend of Col/Keratin delayed gelation time when compared to the collagen alone group. Rheological analysis revealed decreased stiffening in blended Col/Keratin hydrogel which is favorable for the extrudability of the hydrogel. Transplantation of C2C12 myoblast-laden Col/Keratin hydrogel to injured muscle tissues led to the formation of newly generated myofibers compared to cell-free hydrogel and collagen groups (p < 0.05). In the C2C12 myoblast-laden Col/Keratin group, a low number of CD31+ cells with minimum inflammatory cells was evident. Western blotting indicated the promotion of MyoD in mice that received cell-laden Col/Keratin hydrogel compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Despite the increase of the myosin cell-laden Col/Keratin hydrogel group, no significant differences were obtained related to other groups (p > 0.05). The blend of Col/Keratin loaded with myoblasts provides a suitable myogenic platform for the alleviation of injured muscle tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of cobalt-based spinel ferrites catalysts, including nickel, cobalt, zinc, and copper ferrites, were synthesized using the sol–gel auto-combustion method followed by a chemical reduction process. These catalysts were employed for accelerating hydrogen generation via the sodium borohydride hydrolysis process. A continuous stirred tank reactor was used to perform catalytic reactor tests. All samples were subjected to analysis using XRD, FESEM, EDX, FTIR, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The results revealed that the cobalt-based copper ferrite sample, Co/Cu-Ferrite, exhibited superior particle distribution, and porosity characteristics, as it achieved a high hydrogen generation rate of 2937 mL/min.gcat. In addition, the higher electrical donating property of Cu-Ferrite which leads to the increase in the electron density of the cobalt active sites can account for its superior performance towards hydrolysis of NaBH4. Using the Arrhenius equation and the zero-order reaction calculation, activation energy for the sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction on the Co/Cu-Ferrite catalyst was determined to be 18.12 kJ/mol. This low activation energy compared to other cobalt-based spinel ferrite catalysts confirms the catalyst's superior performance as well. Additionally, the outcomes from the recycling experiments revealed a gradual decline in the catalyst's performance after each cycle during 4 repetitive cycles. The aforementioned properties render the Co/Cu-Ferrite catalyst an efficient catalyst for hydrogen generation through NaBH4 hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of N-sulfopyridin-1-ium monozinc(II) trichloride ([NSPy]ZnCl3) as a catalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines through the A3 coupling reaction. Propargylamines are important compounds with various biological and pharmaceutical applications. The [NSPy]ZnCl3 catalyst was found to be effective in promoting the reaction under mild conditions, resulting in high yields of propargylamines. The structure of the catalyst was confirmed through spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis. The article provides detailed information on the optimization of reaction conditions and the synthesis of propargylamines using different aldehydes and amines. [Extracted from the article]

The tomography results reveal not only distinct velocity structures in different tectonic zones but can also provide valuable insights into the geological features of the area. This study presents the results of 2D Rayleigh wave tomographic maps obtained in NE Iran. For this purpose, we used the recorded waveforms of more than 500 earthquakes with M > 4 that occurred between January 2000 and October 2020 at 165 stations. The calculated tomographic maps cover a period range of 3 to 36 s, providing the 3D VS model to analyze crustal structure at depths ranging from 2 to 30 km. At shorter periods, the tomographic maps are primarily influenced by sediment thickness, with the presence of thick sediment layers (~ 10 km) responsible for the observed low VS anomalies (< 3.1 km/s) in the study area. At longer periods, the tomographic maps highlight the structural characteristics of the middle-lower crustal layers and, somewhere, the depth variations of the Moho discontinuity. The VS model also confirms the correlation between tectonic fractures and known faults in the study area as boundaries of seismotectonic provinces. Moreover, a distinct area was observed beneath the Binalud foreland, which we interpreted as a suture zone, as suggested by previous studies. The reliability of the resolved anomalies was supported through a series of tests, including checkerboard and earthquake location uncertainties. These tests demonstrated the robustness of the results and provided confidence in the accuracy of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper and systematic management of food industry failures can improve the quality of products and save a lot on the costs of organizations and people's health. One of the conventional methods for risk assessment is the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) which is often performed in a phase or stage. Compared to the combined methods, this method is less accurate due to similar priorities of failure in the evaluation and the lack of consideration of the interaction between risks. The current research has applied an integrated approach based on two techniques, FMEA and Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM), in a multi-stage manner to increase assessment accuracy and ranking of failures. By considering the risks of an industry in an uncertain environment and the causal relationships between failures, this approach can evaluate the industry's risks better than conventional methods. In the research method, the initial prioritization of failures by the FMEA method is used as the input of the multi-stage FCM. The cause-and-effect relationship between the failures is determined by experts and the functional records of the processes, and the FCM is prepared. Since no research evaluates the risks of the malting industry step by step and considers the causal relationships between the risks, the present study has improved risk evaluation in the malting industry by using a multi-stage FCM. The ranking results with the proposed hybrid approach and its comparison with the conventional methods showed that the rating became more accurate, and the multiple priorities were improved. Managers of the malt beverage industry can make effective investment decisions to reduce or better control the risks of this industry by using the results of applying the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, the solubility of amlodipine besylate (ADB) was studied in the ethylene glycol + ethanol at different temperatures (293.2-313.2 K). The experimental solubility data obtained herein were correlated with some well-known cosolvency models and the accuracy of these models was investigated with the mean relative deviations of the back calculated data. The apparent thermodynamic parameters (Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy) of ADB in the non-aqueous saturated mixtures were also calculated with the van't Hoff and Gibbs equations at Thm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]