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We explore the charge regulation (CR) of spherical nanoparticles immersed in an asymmetric electrolyte of a specified pH. Using a recently developed reactive canonical Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method, titration isotherms are obtained for suspensions containing monovalent, divalent, and trivalent coions. A theory based on the modified Poisson–Boltzmann approximation, which incorporates the electrostatic ion solvation free energy and discrete surface charge effects, is used to compare with the simulation results. A remarkably good agreement is found without any fitting parameters, both for the ion distributions and titration curves, suggesting that ionic correlations between coions and hydronium ions at the nanoparticle surface play only a minor role in determining the association equilibrium between hydroniums and the functional sites on the nanoparticle surface. On the other hand, if suspension contains multivalent counterions, we observe a large deviation between theory and simulations, showing that the electrostatic correlations between counterions and hydronium ions at the nanoparticle surface are very significant and must be properly taken into account to correctly describe CR for such solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of exciton–polaritons through strong light–matter interactions represents an emerging platform for exploring quantum phenomena. A significant challenge in colloidal nanocrystal-based polaritonic systems is the ability to operate at room temperature with high fidelity. Here, we demonstrate the generation of room-temperature exciton–polaritons through the coupling of CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) with a Fabry–Pérot optical cavity, leading to a Rabi splitting of 74.6 meV. Quantum–classical calculations accurately predict the complex dynamics between the many dark state excitons and the optically allowed polariton states, including the experimentally observed lower polariton photoluminescence emission, and the concentration of photoluminescence intensities at higher in-plane momenta as the cavity becomes more negatively detuned. The Rabi splitting measured at 5 K is similar to that at 300 K, validating the feasibility of the temperature-independent operation of this polaritonic system. Overall, these results show that CdSe NPLs are an excellent material to facilitate the development of room-temperature quantum technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network virtualization refers to running multiple heterogeneous architectures simultaneously on a shared substrate. One major challenge in network virtualization is virtual network mapping to a substrate network. Effective management of substrate network resources during mapping is crucial for optimizing these resources. Software defined networking (SDN) is a novel technology that separates control logic from data, and is utilized in network virtualization to improve resource management. In this study, we leverage SDN for network virtualization, allowing for dynamic management of substrate resources to achieve optimal mapping. We use a fuzzy Markov model and time slots to optimize response time and improve service quality. The model predicts the appropriate size for sending packets in the next slot and ensures successful mapping, resulting in the most efficient use of network resources. This approach reduces costs and delays, increases acceptance rates, improves quality of service, and ultimately enhances productivity. We use NS2 and Mininet simulators with acceptance rate and latency as evaluation criteria to evaluate our approach. The results indicate a significant improvement over previous research regarding request acceptance rate and time. Specifically, the switch link-resources and acceptance rates show a 7.12% and 9.34% improvement rate, respectively, when compared to SDN-nSR and SDN-NV techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant element in the atmosphere, nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plant growth. Nitrate is the main form of nitrogen uptake by plants. Although nitrates are relatively low in toxicity, if they accumulate in vegetables can be converted to nitrite and nitrous acids in the human body. This study collected 83 tomato and 40 onion samples cultivated in Fars province; then nitrate concentration was determined by an HPLC, also cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentration by an atomic absorption instrument. The Cd and Pb in samples were below the detection limits (LOD) of the techniques used. However, the nitrate concentration in tomato and onion samples from Fars province varied from 0 to 154.40 mg/kg and 0 to 317.20 mg/kg, respectively. The mean chronic daily intake (CDI) for tomatoes in children, women and men was 0.1188, 0.0375, and 0.0366, and for onions, 0.1899, 0.0605, and 0.0447, respectively. On the other hand, the 95th percentile hazard index in the probabilistic method for nitrate for children, women, and men were 0.81, 0.26, and 0.21, respectively. Also, nitrate concentration in onion for children and tomatoes in both men and women was identified as the most considerable parameter in assessing the non-carcinogenic risk of nitrate. This study showed that the amount of nitrate in some samples of tomatoes and onions was not within the acceptable international standard limits. Therefore, monitoring the nitrate concentration in these high-consumption vegetables is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the screening of fetal abnormalities has optimized prenatal care and decreased the rate of invasive diagnostic tests. In this retrospective descriptive study, we began with 1874 singleton pregnancies. After exclusion of some cases, the study cohort ended up with 1674 cases. We analyzed the performance of NIPT based on the results of first trimester screening (FTS) using serum screening combined with NT. The cases were also compared to diagnostic testing/pregnancy outcomes. Notably, in the subgroup with FTS risk < 1000, NIPT was reported to be normal in all cases with no false negative results. In the risk group of 1/300-1/1000, NIPT could detect all trisomy 21 cases with one false positive result. Moreover, in the risk group of 1/11 − 1/300, NIPT could detect all cases of trisomy 21, 13 and 18 with low false positive rate. However, the false positive rate for sex chromosomal abnormalities was high. Taken together, the current study confirms the applicability of NIPT as a tool for detection of fetal trisomies with high sensitivity and specificity. Yet, the high rate of false positive results for sex chromosome abnormalities should be considered in the interpretation of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the screening of fetal abnormalities has optimized prenatal care and decreased the rate of invasive diagnostic tests. In this retrospective descriptive study, we began with 1874 singleton pregnancies. After exclusion of some cases, the study cohort ended up with 1674 cases. We analyzed the performance of NIPT based on the results of first trimester screening (FTS) using serum screening combined with NT. The cases were also compared to diagnostic testing/pregnancy outcomes. Notably, in the subgroup with FTS risk < 1000, NIPT was reported to be normal in all cases with no false negative results. In the risk group of 1/300-1/1000, NIPT could detect all trisomy 21 cases with one false positive result. Moreover, in the risk group of 1/11 − 1/300, NIPT could detect all cases of trisomy 21, 13 and 18 with low false positive rate. However, the false positive rate for sex chromosomal abnormalities was high. Taken together, the current study confirms the applicability of NIPT as a tool for detection of fetal trisomies with high sensitivity and specificity. Yet, the high rate of false positive results for sex chromosome abnormalities should be considered in the interpretation of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper examines the spatiotemporal inequality in electricity consumption at the subnational level of Bangladesh using nighttime light (NTL) data. The NTL data, sourced from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day/night band (DNB) for the period from 2013 to 2020, reveals persistent variability in electricity consumption among the districts. Notably, the gap between urban and non-urban areas has widened. While within district inequality (measured by NTL Gini) has declined over time, it remains high in several districts. Convergence analysis confirms that while lagging districts are showing a catching up effect, the sub-districts are diverging among themselves (in terms of mean NTL per capita). Interestingly, the rural sub-districts are converging among themselves despite urban sub-district divergence. The study also identifies regions with significant imbalance between NTL, population, and built-up area density values. These findings have implications for policymakers aiming to ensure electricity for all and reduce inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant pathogens present a significant obstacle in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, making the discovery of new antimicrobial agents from diverse sources essential. Actinobacteria, especially Streptomyces genus, are well-known for their prolific production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial capabilities. The geographical niches of Iraq are one of the least explored ones for Actinobacteria strains. Hence, this study aimed to isolate Actinobacteria species from the soil in the Garmian region of Iraq and evaluate their potential antimicrobial activity. A total of forty soil samples were collected and screened using various standard culture media to facilitate isolation, morphological identification, and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Molecular identification and species confirmation were performed through amplification of the 16S rRNA gene via PCR, followed by sequence comparison with the NCBI database. The obtained two distinct strains of Streptomyces were identified, with one demonstrating significant antimicrobial activity against several pathogens, namely, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Both isolated strains were registered in NCBI under accession numbers OR564031 and OR564032, corresponding to isolates 26 and 29, respectively. Their sequences exhibited high similarity to Streptomyces rochei strain SCOS (Accession No. KX575853.1) with 99.04% identity, and Streptomyces sp. WAC06273 strain (Accession No. CP042278.1) with 98.81% respectively. These Streptomyces strains from Iraqi soils show promise as potential candidates for novel antibiotic discovery. Further exploration of Streptomyces in soils from Garmian region, along with identification and purification of the active metabolites identified in this study, is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most important common infectious diseases between humans and livestock. Cow's milk can be investigated as one of the transmission reservoirs of the disease. Our study was conducted to investigate the presence of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) DNA in cow's milk from different regions of Lorestan province using Touch-down PCR (TD-PCR) method. So, 100 milk samples from industrial and traditional cattle farms were collected and evaluated according to the animal breed, the average age of the animal and the region where the animal was kept. Seven (26.9%) out of the 26 cow's milk samples contaminated with Mycobacterium spp., were diagnosed as M. bovis positive. The cattle with an average age of more than 5 years were most infected with Mycobacterium. Also, the crossbred cattle with an average age of 3 to 5 years, which were kept and raised in tropical areas, showed the highest rate of M. bovis infection. Based on our knowledge, this is the first study regarding the presence of Mycobacterium in cow's milk in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the effect of using electroosmotic pumps on the cooling of electrical devices in micro scales. The mutual effects of the microchannel inclination (ranging from 0 ° to 75 °) and configuration of the electric field on the heat transfer have not been investigated. To this end, a numerical code based on the finite volume method (FVM) and Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations (SIMPLE) was developed in Fortran to model the two-dimensional flow dynamics and heat transfer. Two different arrangements were considered for the discrete heat sources and electroosmotic fields to examine their effects on fluid dynamics and heat transfer rate at Re = 10. In addition, the effects of electrical parameters, which directly affect the flow dynamics, were also considered. Results indicate that decreasing the heat transfer rate at higher angles is because of the velocity mitigation, whereas an increase in the Grashof number causes a reverse effect. Altering the layout of heaters and electric field from the condition in which heat sources are facing each other (Arrangement 1) to the condition in which heat sources are not facing each other (Arrangement 2), leads to the formation of swirling flow, increased flow rate, and decreased average Nusselt number. The optimum configuration for maximum cooling performance is found in Arrangement 1 with the Grashof number of 0 and inclination angle of 0 ° , in which the highest average Nusselt number of 5.815 is achieved. Despite the reduction in cooling efficiency at higher angles, Arrangement 1 outperforms Arrangement 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaciers, which form due to the accumulation of snow, play a crucial role in providing freshwater resources, supporting river systems, and maintaining ecosystem stability. Pakistan is habitat to over 5000 glaciers, primarily located in the Hindukash, Himalaya, and Karakoram mountain ranges. Understanding the microbial communities thriving in these extreme environments becomes of utmost importance. These glaciers offer a unique perspective on extremophile adaptation, as they harbor microorganisms that are capable of surviving and thriving under harsh conditions. Glacial melting poses a significant threat to ancient microbiomes, potentially leading to the resurgence of epidemics and exposure of life to paleomicrobiota. Mostly glacial microbiome is evenly distributed and shows similar diversity. With the threat of resurrection of ages old microbiome and its incorporation into the waters have raised a major concern for revival of epidemics and exposure of life with paleanmicrobiota again. This has led the scientist to deeply observe the bacterial flora embedded in the cryonite holes of glaciers. This study aims to investigate the bacterial diversity within various glaciers of Pakistan using metagenomic techniques. Kamri, Burzil, Siachin, Baltoro, Shigar Basin, Biafo and Panama Glaciers designated from G1 to G7 respectively were chosen from Pakistan. Through rigorous physicochemical analyses, distinct characteristics among glaciers are revealed, including variations in temperature, depth, electrical conductivity, pH levels, and nutrient concentrations. The exploration of alpha diversity, employing metrics such as Chao1, Shannon, Simpson, and Inverse Simpson indices, offers valuable insights into the richness, evenness, and dominance of species within different samples. Beta diversity was calculated by using R software. The vegan package was used for NMSD, cluster and PCoA analysis based on Bray–Curtis distance. PCA analysis was done by using prcomp package from R software. Based on OTU abundance and environmental factor data, DCA analysis was done to determine the linear model from the gradient value (RDA) and the unimodal model (CCA). results were compiled by drawing cluster dendrogram which predicts the patterns of similarity and dissimilarity between different samples. Notably, phyla Proteobacteria emerge as the dominant phylum, accompanied by Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The dendrogram shows five clusters, with close similarity between G1 and G4, glacier samples G3 and G8, and G2 and G7. Seasonal variations in glacier physicochemical properties were also observed, with summer samples having shallower depths, lower temperatures, and slightly acidic pH. In contrast, winter samples have higher electrical conductivity and sulfur content. Ultimately, this research provides a foundational framework for comprehending glacier ecosystems, their resident microbial communities, and their broader ecological significance. The study highlights the potential public health risks linked to the release of ancient microorganisms due to climate change, emphasizing the need for comprehensive monitoring and research to mitigate potential public health threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron clouds hinder the operation of particle accelerators. In the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the copper beam screens are located within close proximity to the beam path, resulting in beam-induced electron multipacting, which is the main source of electron cloud formation. Conditions for multipacting are encountered when such surfaces have a secondary electron yield (SEY) greater than unity. Roughening the surface through laser processing offers an effective solution for reducing secondary electrons. Laser ablation leaves behind a complex rough, multi-scale geometrical surface with an altered chemical composition. Current models often over-simplify the geometry, do not have sufficient experimental data to derive input parameters, and exclude SEY-reducing mechanisms such as the surface chemistry. Leading to electron-matter interactions which do not resemble that of a real surface. Here, this complex surface is studied on copper used in the LHC, and the influence of microgeometry, inhomogeneous nanostructure and complex surface chemistry on the SEY is investigated. A novel, improved model is proposed that characterises these sophisticated structures, enabling the efficient design of surfaces to reduce SEY. To validate the model, samples were made using a variety of laser parameters. Modelling insights revealed that secondary electron suppression is not only caused by the microgeometry but also the nanostructure and chemical modification play a role. Contrary to the conventional theory, high aspect ratio structures are not necessarily required for effective SEY reduction. Currently, the model is applicable to a variety of surface morphologies and could be employed for other materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Blacks (CBs) are primarily used in electrocatalysis as support materials for nanoparticulate electrocatalysts. In fuel cells, CBs, catalysts, and proton conductive polymers (ionomers) undergo a dispersion/homogenization process for electrode coating. The interactions between components in dispersion and the surface of CB particles are complex. The surface characteristics of CB particles impact slurry formulation, electrode coating, and the resulting electrode layer, affecting fuel cell and battery performance and durability. This study investigates commercially available CBs such as Vulcan XC72R, Ketjen Black EC‐300J, Ketjen Black EC‐600JD, and Super C65, focusing on application‐relevant key control characteristics (KCCs). The KCCs include physicochemical features like electrical conductivity (electron transport through the catalyst layer, CL), oxygen‐containing surface groups (hydrophilicity/phobicity of the CL, catalyst functionalization), surface basicity/acidity, ionomer adsorption, and particle dispersibility (catalyst ink stability). KCCs are determined by particle bulk electrical conductivity, Boehm titration (BT), isoelectric point (IEP), and Hansen solubility parameters (HSP). HSP, understood as similarity parameters for particles, indicate how nanoparticle surfaces interact with liquids during dispersion. The proposed KCCs serve as a starting point for characterizing CBs and guiding product design to obtain meaningful structure‐property relationships, essential for a successful energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have extended autoregressive (AR) time-series models to adequately fit and model time-series with triple seasonality. These AR extensions can be referred to as triple seasonal AR (TSAR) models. For these TSAR time-series models, only Bayesian estimation and identification have been introduced. Therefore, in this article, we aim to extend the existing work for presenting the Bayesian prediction for TSAR models using the Gibbs sampler algorithm. In this Bayesian prediction, we first assume the TSAR errors are identically normally distributed, and we employ normal-gamma and g priors for the TSAR parameters. Based on the normally distributed TSAR errors and the specified TSAR parameters' priors, we are able to derive the conditional predictive and posterior densities. Particularly, we show the conditional posterior densities of TSAR coefficients and variance are the multivariate normal and inverse-gamma, respectively. In addition, for the future TSAR observations, we show the conditional predictive density is the multivariate normal. Using these derived full conditional distributions, we propose the Gibbs sampler to efficiently approximate the joint predictive and posterior densities and to easily carry out multiple-step ahead predictions. We validate the accuracy of forecasting for the proposed Gibbs sampler by conducting a simulation study. Moreover, we apply the proposed Gibbs sampler to hourly electricity-load time-series datasets in some European countries, along with a comparison with the well-known long-short term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of green hydrogen economies in Western and Southern African regions, focusing on the ECOWAS and SADC countries. Utilizing a novel approach based on composite indicators, the research evaluates the potential, readiness, and overall feasibility of green hydrogen production and export across these regions. The study incorporates various factors, including the technical potential of renewable energy sources, water resource availability, energy security, and existing infrastructure for transport and export. Country-specific analyses reveal unique insights into the diverse potential of nations like South Africa, Lesotho, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, and Namibia, each with its unique strengths and challenges in the context of green hydrogen. The research findings underscore the complexity of developing green hydrogen economies, highlighting the need for nuanced, region-specific approaches that consider technical, socio-economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors. The paper concludes that cooperation and integration between countries in the regions may be crucial for the success of a future green hydrogen economy. • Composite indicators (CI) are utilized for green hydrogen feasibility assessment. • Developed CI incorporate energy framework and SDG policies as well. • Uncorrelated export and hydrogen production suggests common regional strategies. • Hydrogen economy feasibility varies widely across West and Southern Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the pediatric population's most frequent malignant intracranial lesions. Prognostication plays a crucial role in optimizing treatment strategy in the MB setting. Several studies have developed ML-based models to predict survival outcomes in individuals with MB. In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we aimed to evaluate the role of ML-based models in predicting survival in MB patients. Method: Literature records were retrieved on May 14th, 2024, using the relevant key terms without filters in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Records were screened according to the eligibility criteria, and the data from the included studies were extracted. The quality assessment was performed using the QUADAS-2 tool. The meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted using R software. Results: Six studies were included, with 2771 patients ranging from 46 to 1759 individuals. A total of 23 ML and DL models were developed, 20 of which were ML and three DL. Random forest (RF) was the most frequent classifier, as it was utilized in nine models, followed by support vector machine (SVM). Eight models were included in the meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed a pooled AUC of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.75–0.80). In addition, the radionics-based and genomics-based models had a pooled AUC of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76–079) and 0.76 (0.63–0.88), respectively (P = 0.77). Conclusion: Our results suggested that ML-based models, especially ML algorithms, could play a vital and efficient role in the prediction of survival of patients based on radiomics and genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study develops a finite element (FE) formulation based on the kinematics of thin-walled beam theory to determine the elastic lateral torsional buckling capacity of singly symmetric beams strengthened with cover plate(s) while under loading. The formulation captures the effects of prestrengthening load and prebuckling curvature. Comparative analyses with shell models revealed that the proposed solutions reliably predict the poststrengthening critical moments when cross-section distortion is suppressed. Practical recommendations for suppressing distortion are provided. The FE model developed is then used to develop a systematic parametric study to assess the effects of load height, magnitude of prestrengthening loads, flange dimensions, strengthening cover plate dimensions, beam unbraced length, loading patterns, and boundary conditions on the total elastic critical moment capacity. This study examines the loading conditions under which the magnitude of prestrengthening loads significantly influences the predicted total critical moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel fibers are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance the shear capacity of prestressed hollow core slabs. However, practical design procedures are necessary to quantify their effectiveness. This study introduces a novel design method that accounts for the interaction between concrete and fiber contributions, considering the failure mode. The methodology adapts shear design provisions from ACI 318-19 and EC2 standards and proposes a simplified approach based on the modified compression field theory (MCFT) for practical application. Moreover, the paper presents a method for estimating the postcracking shear strength of the concrete component. The efficacy and reliability of the proposed methods were assessed using a data set of 193 entries, analyzed through seven statistical metrics. The findings indicate improvements in safety and accuracy. Notably, reductions in demerit point classifications of up to 30% were measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation (PUMA) was introduced in the European Union to incentivise the development of off-patent medicines in children. However, there is limited data on the accessibility of PUMA products at the healthcare provider level. This study aimed to identify factors affecting real-world accessibility to PUMA products in the United Kingdom (UK). Inductive thematic analyses of the archives of the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacy Group (NPPG) online forum were conducted. A web-based survey was also distributed to NPPG members in September 2022 regarding the availability of PUMA products in their organisations. Thematic analysis generated five themes: authorisation, availability, affordability, appropriateness and acceptability. Restricted scope of the product’s marketing authorisation, market access variation, higher cost of PUMA products, product appropriateness and patient acceptability were reasons for continued off-label use and use of unlicensed products in clinical practice. Conclusion: Despite targeted legislative efforts to bring off-label uses in children into authorised use, this study provides evidence that authorisation alone does not equate to market availability, which in turn does not guarantee patient access. The study findings also suggest that cost pressure drives local procurement decisions and overshadows the long-standing problems associated with off-label use and manipulation of medicines in children. What is already known about this subject • The Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation (PUMA) was introduced in the European Union (applied to the UK at the time) to incentivise the development of off-patient medicines exclusively for use in the paediatric population. • It is widely acknowledged that the PUMA concept has not achieved its intended goal, as evidenced by the few products authorised through this route. What this study adds • This study shows inequalities in children's access to PUMA products in the UK. • Determinants impeding patient access to child-appropriate paediatric medicines can be categorised into five dimensions: authorisation, availability, affordability, appropriateness, and acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moral dissonance is the psychological discomfort associated with a mismatch between our moral values and potentially immoral actions. For instance, to limit moral dissonance, surgeons must develop a rationale that the potential for benefit from performing surgery is meaningfully greater than the inherent harm of surgery. Moral dissonance can also occur when a patient or one's surgeon peers encourage surgery for a given problem, even when the evidence suggests limited or no benefit over other options. Clinicians may not realize the degree to which moral dissonance can be a source of diminished joy in practice. Uncovering potential sources of moral dissonance can help inform efforts to help clinicians enjoy their work. Questions/purposes: In a scenario-based experiment performed in an online survey format, we exposed musculoskeletal specialists to various types of patient and practice stressors to measure their association with moral dissonance and asked: (1) What factors are associated with the level of pressure surgeons feel to act contrary to the best evidence? (2) What factors are associated with the likelihood of offering surgery? Methods: We performed a scenario-based experiment by inviting members of the Science of Variation Group (SOVG; an international collaborative of musculoskeletal surgeons that studies variation in care) to complete an online survey with randomized elements. The use of experimental techniques such as randomization to measure factors associated with specific ratings makes participation rate less important than diversity of opinion within the sample. A total of 114 SOVG musculoskeletal surgeons participated, which represents the typical number of participants from a total of about 200 who tend to participate in at least one experiment per year. Among the 114 participants, 94% (107) were men, 49% (56) practiced in the United States, and 82% (94) supervised trainees. Participants viewed 12 scenarios of upper extremity fractures for which surgery is optional (discretionary) based on consensus and current best evidence. In addition to a representative age, the scenario included randomized patient and practice factors that we posit could be sources of moral distress based on author consensus. Patient factors included potential sources of pressure (such as "The patient is convinced they want a specific treatment and will go to a different surgeon if they don't get it") or experiences of collaboration (such as "The patient is collaborative and involved in decisions"). Practice factors included circumstances of financial or reputational pressure (such as "The practice is putting pressure on you to generate more revenue") and factors of limited pressure (such as "Your income is not tied to revenue"). For each scenario, the participant was asked to rate both of the following statements on a scale from 0 to 100 anchored with "I don't feel it at all" at 0, "I feel it moderately" at 50, and "I feel it strongly" at 100: (1) pressure to act contrary to best evidence and (2) likelihood of offering surgery. Additional explanatory variables included surgeon factors: gender, years in practice, region, subspecialty, supervision of trainees, and practice setting (academic/nonacademic). We sought factors associated with pressure to act contrary to evidence and likelihood of offering surgery, accounting for potential confounding variables in multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models. Results: Accounting for potential confounding variables, greater pressure to act contrary to best evidence was moderately associated with greater patient despair (regression coefficient [RC] 6 [95% confidence interval 2 to 9]; p = 0.001) and stronger patient preference (RC 4 [95% CI 0 to 8]; p = 0.03). Lower pressure to act contrary to evidence was moderately associated with surgeon income independent of revenue (RC -6 [95% CI -9 to -4]; p < 0.001) and no financial benefit to operative treatment (RC -6 [95% CI -8 to -3]; p < 0.001). Marketing concerns were the only factor associated with greater likelihood of offering surgery (RC 6 [95% CI 0 to 11]; p = 0.04). Conclusion: In this scenario-based survey experiment, patient distress and strong preferences and surgeon financial incentives were associated with greater surgeon feelings of moral dissonance when considering discretionary fracture surgery. Clinical Relevance: To support enjoyment of the practice of musculoskeletal surgery, we recommend that surgeons, surgery practices, and surgery professional associations be intentional in both anticipating and developing strategies to ameliorate potential sources of moral dissonance in daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic technology-aided instruction and interventions have been designed to support both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) interventions for children with ASD. However, to the best of our knowledge, this field has not been systematically reviewed. Thus, we aimed to systematically review the literature to determine whether ABA or PRT methods in a robotic therapeutic context yield better outcomes for individuals with ASD, specifically in terms of approaching and accepting robots. A comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar was conducted. Randomized control trials (RCT) and pre-post-test design investigations that assessed the impact of ABA vs. PRT approach via robot-mediated technology vs. human trainers on intervention outcomes of children with ASD were selected and included in this systematic review. Finally, 13 papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Two independent reviewers extracted the associated data from each selected study according to the standardized data extraction form. Two reviewers also assessed the quality of each study independently using the Cochrane Back Review Scale and JBI tool for quasi-experimental studies. We categorized two general classifications of findings including ABA vs. PRT as well as robotic technology vs. human. In conclusion, the existing investigations on the effect of robotic assistive technology using ABA or PRT approach are promising particularly in therapeutic contexts with a more natural context and social flavor. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Assistive robotic technology could teach social skills with both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) approach to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with an acceptable efficiency and efficacy as human delivered therapies. The use of robotic technology as a means of delivering ABA or PRT interventions could offer a valuable alternative approach to human trainers in the treatment of children with ASD, potentially enhancing their acceptance and engagement with therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of competition from informal or unregistered firms on the likelihood of research and development (R&D) activity by formal manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 90 developing and emerging countries is estimated. A positive impact is found with a one standard deviation increase in informal competition resulting in a 3.1–3.6 percentage point increase in the probability of R&D activity. Given that only 15.7% of SMEs are engaged in R&D activity, this is a large effect. Consistent with the "legalist" view of informality, the positive impact of informal competition on the likelihood of R&D activity is bigger in countries where the business environment is less favorable to formal versus informal firms due to factors such as weaker rule of law, a higher tax rate on commercial profits, and a greater regulatory burden on the formal firms. We provide several layers of defense against omitted variable bias, reverse causality, and measurement errors. As expected, informal competition has no statistically significant impact on the likelihood of large firms engaging in R&D activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic data analysis often faces the challenge of random noise contamination from various sources. To overcome this, innovative noise attenuation methods utilizing seismic signal properties are needed. This study focuses on efficiently suppressing random noise in the domain of time and frequency by accurately estimating instantaneous frequency using the single-valued group delay characteristic of seismic signals. The time-reassigned synchrosqueezing transform (TSST) and its second-order variant (TSST2) offer high-resolution time-frequency representations (TFRs) for noise suppression. Expanding on these advancements, we propose an efficient noise suppression method that integrates the adaptive thresholding model into the TSST2 framework and employs sparse representation of the TFR through low-rank estimation. This method effectively attenuates noise while preserving essential signal information. The proposed approach operates trace by trace on recorded data, initially transforming it into a sparse subspace using TSST2. The adaptive thresholding model then decomposes the resulting TFR into sparse and semi-low-rank components, achieving a high-resolution and sparse TFR for efficient separation of noise and signal. After noise suppression, the seismic data can be fully reconstructed by inversely transforming the semi-low-rank component data into the time domain. This method addresses previous limitations in noise attenuation techniques and provides a practical solution for enhancing seismic data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: The Relevance of Our Study to Mental Health Nursing: What is known on the subject?: The study's findings are crucial for mental health nursing, as they highlight the significant impact of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health in Egypt. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: By establishing a clear link between cyberbullying, family income, and mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression, the research underscores the need for targeted interventions and support systems. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health nurses can utilize this information to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, advocate for policy changes, and educate families and communities.Addressing cyberbullying and its effects can lead to improved mental health outcomes, demonstrating the critical role of mental health nursing in supporting affected adolescents. Summary Statement of Implications for Practice: What Does This Research Add to Existing Knowledge of Cyberbullying Among Adolescents?: This study brings attention to the widespread occurrence of cyberbullying among adolescents in Egypt and its substantial impact on their mental health. The research indicates that cyberbullying, along with family income, collectively explains more than 60% of the variation in mental health. These results underscore the importance of developing strategies to address cyberbullying and taking socioeconomic factors into account when addressing mental health issues in adolescents. What are the Implications of This New Knowledge for Nursing Care with Adolescents?: School nurses should be knowledgeable about the prevalence and effects of cyberbullying on the mental well‐being of teenagers. They need to be equipped to recognize signs of cyberbullying and associated mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress.Educating adolescents, parents, and school staff about the dangers of cyberbullying and prevention methods is a crucial role that school nurses can play. This may involve teaching safe internet usage, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour.When evaluating mental health needs and planning care for adolescents, school nurses should consider their economic status. They should advocate for resources and assistance for low‐income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. How Could the Findings Influence Policy, Practice, Research, or Education?: It is important to introduce policies that provide financial support to families with lower incomes, as the research has shown a strong connection between a family's monthly income and its members' mental well‐being.Educational institutions, including schools, should introduce programs to prevent bullying, with a specific focus on cyberbullying.It would be beneficial for researchers to explore the effectiveness of various interventions in reducing cyberbullying and improving mental health outcomes.It is crucial to integrate education on cyberbullying into school curricula in order to raise awareness about this issue and to teach students how to respond if they or someone they know becomes a victim of cyberbullying.Educating parents and teachers about the indicators of cyberbullying and its potential impact on mental health is important so that they can offer support to adolescents who are experiencing cyberbullying.Further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles. Background: Cyberbullying, a significant concern in today's digital age, has a profound impact on teenagers' mental health, leading to stress, depression, anxiety, low self‐esteem, and, in severe cases, suicidal ideation. This study aimed to explore the effects of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health. Methods: The study employed a cross‐sectional descriptive research design conducted at five public secondary schools in El‐Beheira governorate, Egypt. A total of 500 students were selected through a multistage sampling technique, yielding a response rate of 96%. The instruments used for data collection were the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21. Results: The findings revealed that 27.4% and 32.0% of respondents reported high levels of victimization and cyberaggression, respectively. Furthermore, 72.2%, 44%, and 52.6% of students exhibited severe to extremely severe levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, respectively. The study also found that cyberbullying and family monthly income accounted for 61.6% of the variance in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (adjusted R2 =.614). Conclusion: The study concludes that cyberbullying is a prevalent issue among adolescents in Egypt, with a majority of students experiencing moderate to high levels of cybervictimization and aggression. This leads to varying degrees of anxiety, stress, and depression. The study also established a significant relationship between cyberbullying and mental health issues among adolescents. Moreover, both cyberbullying and family monthly income were found to significantly influence mental health, with higher levels of cyberbullying and lower income associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. Implications for Nursing Practice: It is important for nurses working with adolescents to have an understanding of how common cyberbullying is and how it can affect mental health. They should receive training to be able to recognize signs of cyberbullying and mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Nurses can teach adolescents, parents, and school staff about its dangers and ways to prevent cyberbullying. This may involve educating adolescents on safe internet practices, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour. Lastly, considering the strong connection between income and mental health, nurses should also take into account the socioeconomic status of adolescents when assessing their mental health needs and planning care. They should work to secure resources and support for low‐income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. Additionally, further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper disposal of organic waste leads to greenhouse gases, pollution, and health risks. Anaerobic digestion offers a sustainable solution by converting this waste into biogas and digestates, which contain valuable nutrients and stimulatory organic compounds that can be recycled to improve plant growth and support food production. Here we review the transformation of liquid and solid digestates into biostimulants by microalgal cultivation, vermicomposting, and insect-based bioconversion. These processes yield phytohormones, polysaccharides, betaines, humic substances, chitin, protein hydrolysates, and growth-promoting microbes, that enhance plant growth and resilience against environmental stresses. Due to the variability in digestate composition, we emphasize the need for optimized formulations, a deep understanding of synergistic interactions among bioactive compounds, and standardized extraction techniques to support broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades there has been a significant surge in research interest aimed at developing novel composite materials derived from cellulose, catering to the diverse needs of industries such as paper, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. Aligned with this trend, our research project described here focused on leveraging cellulose to produce high-value-added products, particularly nanocomposite materials for reinforcement purposes. Our aim was to develop nanocomposite materials utilizing hydrolyzed cotton cellulose. To begin with we employed a straightforward, cost-effective and readily applicable process to extract nanocellulose from cotton fibers. The structural integrity of the resulting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was validated through various analytical methods such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the physicochemical properties of the CNCs, particularly investigating their dispersion behavior and solubility in both aqueous and selected organic solvents. In the final phase of our study, we explored the chemical modification of CNCs using maleic anhydride to produce cellulose maleate. The structural transformation was confirmed through infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global threat, with 10 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths each year. In multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), resistance is most commonly observed against isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), the two frontline drugs. Isoniazid resistance is predominantly linked to mutations in the InhA gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in mycolic acid synthesis, a vital component of the mycobacterial cell wall. Mutations in InhA reduce drug binding, rendering INH ineffective. These morbidity and mortality figures, along with the fact that the rise and global spread of drug-resistant TB, underscores the need for the discovery of novel therapeutics. In this direction, we have previously synthesized, characterized, and screened a library of diaryl ether dehydrozingerone derivatives against mycobacteria and identified two best hits, 7 and 14, based on bacteriostatic activities. The present study aimed to thoroughly investigate the antituberculosis potential of these compounds, particularly regarding drug-resistant TB. Our findings revealed that both compounds exhibited tuberculocidal activity against the standard laboratory strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) H37Rv, with minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of 4μg/ml for compound 7 and 8 μg/ml for compound 14. Next, concentration vs time-kill kinetics of both these compounds showed concentration-dependent bactericidal activities against M. tb and complete pathogen eradication from culture at just 16× MIC. Both compounds were found to be suitable for combination regimens as their interactions with isoniazid and rifampicin against M. tb were observed to be synergistic. Additionally, 7 and 14 exhibited minimal hemolysis against human RBCs and less cytotoxicity was observed against three human cell lines up to 1000 μM. Molecular docking revealed that these compounds bind more effectively to M. tb InhA, including its mutant forms where isoniazid binding is impaired, outperforming both isoniazid and triclosan in binding affinity. Importantly 7 and 14 showed potent activity against drug-susceptible clinical isolates and two isoniazid-resistant M. tb clinical isolates equivalent to that against M. tb H37Rv. The most interesting observation was that both compounds were found to be effective against three multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of M. tb, thereby depicting their potential against drug-resistant TB. An ex vivo assay on RAW 264 cells infected with M. tb demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial load at 8× MIC, revealing the fact that these compounds are highly effective against intracellular M. tb H37Rv. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports promising antimycobacterial potential of 7 and 14 against drug-susceptible, isoniazid-resistant, and MDR tuberculosis which warrants further exploration considering the need for new anti-TB medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility can harm a patient in physical, psychological, spiritual, and medical ways. This illness is unusual because it affects the patient's companion and the patient individually. Infertility is a multifactorial disease, and various etiological factors like infection are known to develop this disorder. Recently published studies reported that different bacteria, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma spp., Ureaplasma urealyticum, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can lead to infertility by immunopathological effects, oxidative stress, and adverse effects on sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA condensation. Among viruses, Human papillomavirus and Herpes simplex virus reduce sperm progressive motility and sperm concentration. The viruses can lead to the atrophy of the germinal epithelium and degenerative changes in the testes. Candida albicans also harm sperm quality, motility, and chromatin integrity and induce apoptosis in sperm cells. Finally, Trichomonas vaginalis leads to distorted heads, broken necks, and acrosomes exocytosis in sperms. This parasite decreases sperm viability and functional integrity. Noteworthy, oxidative stress could have a role in many pathological changes in the reproductive system. Recent findings show that microorganisms can increase reactive oxygen species concentration inside the host cells, leading to oxidative stress and sperm distress and dysfunction. Therefore, this article explores the potential significance of critical bacteria linked to infertility and their pathogenic mechanisms that can affect sperm function and the female reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited observational data and the challenge of obtaining direct measurements contribute to the prevalence of inverse problems in earth system modeling. Bayesian framework is an approach for making informed inferences in inverse problems. Solving high-dimensional Bayesian inverse problems poses challenges due to the curse of dimensionality, necessitating the development of effective methods for Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Due to the vast parameter space, traditional random walk methods suffer from poor convergence rates in such problems. In contrast, gradient-based approaches leverage the geometry of the target distribution to navigate from low to high-density regions. The availability of automatic differentiation further facilitates the widespread adoption of gradient-based methods. This study employs the No U-Turn sampler (NUTS) to sample from the posterior distribution of a high-dimensional geophysical inverse problem. NUTS offers a tuning-free solution to the step-size and integration time dilemma inherent in Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC). Augmented with online learning of the mass matrix, NUTS emerges as an effective tool for addressing high-dimensional sampling challenges. However, this enhancement comes with the cost of increased computational overhead compared to optimally tuned HMC. We demonstrate the effectiveness of NUTS for high-dimensional sampling with intercorrelated dimension problems through real-case field experiments in non-linear Bayesian seismic amplitude versus offset (AVO) inversion and synthetic benchmark problems. Our findings underscore the value of NUTS as a tuning-free approach for Bayesian inference in a complex model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the stability of measured dispersion in a process quality parameter is one of the critical steps in statistical process control (SPC) and is a paramount activity carried out by specialists. For this purpose, the current research presents a promising and computationally effective tool where the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic utilizes the quadratic sigmoid function by incorporating sample size leading to the Quadratic Sigmoid Exponential weighted Moving Average (QSEWMA) control chart. The adaptive sample size is a strategy that increases or decreases the sample size according to the conditions of the process and accordingly, increases the sensitivity and response of the control chart. The proposed strategy improves the detection of process dispersion changes, making it a more efficient and effective way of quality assurance. Our proposed control chart is superior to the EWMA‐S2 chart, HHW‐EWMA chart CUSUM‐S2chart, and parametric free adaptive EWMA (AEWMA) charts for dispersion through extensive Monte Carlo simulations. The proposed QSEWMA chart has better detection sensitivity and fewer false alarms, and is, in general, more effective comparatively. At last, a real data application test is done to measure the practicability and highest accuracy of the above chart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alumina-supported CoMo catalysts have been widely used for hydrodesulfurization of various kinds of feeds. In the current research, γ-Al2O3 was synthesized through the simultaneous formation of boehmite and ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide (AACH) precursors under controlled pH and temperature conditions. After optimization of the textural properties, γ-Al2O3 was utilized as catalyst support for the immobilization of catalytically active species and obtaining CoMo/γ-Al2O3-n (concentration of Al(NO3)3.9H2O solutions (n) = 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 g/L) catalysts via wet impregnation technique. Moreover, this preparation method was applied for the successful large-scale synthesis of CoMo/γ-Al2O3-n. The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis, inductively-coupled plasma (ICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The conversion of thiophene over CoMo/γ-Al2O3 was studied to assess the catalytic performance. The catalytic activity and stability of our reported catalyst were comparable with that of KATALCOJM 41-6 T commercial catalyst. Highlights Mixture of boehmite and AACH precursors was synthesized by co-precipitation method The precursors were thermally decomposed to extruded γ-Al2O3 as catalyst support The properties of γ-Al2O3 were tuned by various concentrations of Al solution CoMo/γ-Al2O3 was prepared by the impregnation of γ-Al2O3 in the Co and Mo solutions CoMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was sulfided and used for hydrodesulfurization of thiophene [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique features of trimetallic nanoalloys to be used in biomedical applications have taken more attention instead those of mono and bimetallic nanoparticles. Leaf aqueous extract of Nitraria retusa was utilized for the first time to synthesize trimetallic Se/ZnO/CuO (TSZC) nanoalloys. Data displayed the formation of crystallographic and spherical TSZC with an average size of 47.69 ± 1.95 nm by the action of active molecules in N. retusa extract. EDX analysis reveals the existing Se, Zn, and Cu peaks at specific bending energies with weight percentages of 17.03, 9.44, and 8.36% respectively. TSZC showed promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Penicillium glabrum, superior the activity of positive control. The clear zones ranging from 12.3 ± 0.6 to 32.7 ± 0.5 mm were attained due to TSZC treatment with MIC values of 12.5 µg mL–1 for E. coli, C. albicans, and P. glabrum, and 50 µg mL–1 for S. aureus. The maximum DPPH scavenging activity (90.1 ± 0.2%) was attained at 1000 µg mL–1 TSZC compared to ascorbic acid (98.3 ± 0.2%). The IC50 of TSZC nanoalloys against normal cell line (WI38) was 294.9 ± 4.4 µg mL–1 compared to IC50 against cancer cells (Caco-2 = 83.01 ± 1.1; Mcf7 = 91.7 ± 1.2 µg mL–1) Which indicates that the TSZC are targeted cancer cells at low concentrations. Finally, the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by TSZC with IC50 values of 23.2 ± 3.8 and 32.1 ± 2.6 µg mL–1 respectively compared to acarbose as a positive control (IC50 = 10.9 ± 1.5 and 15.9 ± 1.8 µg mL–1 for α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively) indicates the superior antidiabetic activity in-vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For patients considering bariatric surgery, it is essential to have clear answers to common questions to ensure the success of the procedure. Patients should understand that surgery is not a quick fix but a tool that must be complemented by lifestyle changes, including dietary adjustments and regular physical activity. The procedure carries potential risks that should be weighed against the potential benefits. Health authorities play a critical role in ensuring that bariatric surgery is performed under the highest standards of care. Recommendations are provided to determine who is an appropriate candidate for surgery, what preoperative evaluations are necessary, and how to monitor patients postoperatively to maximize outcomes and minimize risks. Additionally, authorities are responsible for ensuring access to follow-up care, including nutritional support and psychological counseling, which are vital for the long-term success of bariatric surgery. Understanding these aspects by both patients and decision-makers is critical before proceeding with bariatric surgery. The following questions guide patients and healthcare professionals in making informed decisions about the procedure and managing the expectations and outcomes associated with bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-Defined Networks (SDN) provides more control and network operation over a network infrastructure as an emerging and revolutionary paradigm in networking. Operating the many network applications and preserving the network services and functions, the SDN controller is regarded as the operating system of the SDN-based network architecture. The SDN has several security problems because of its intricate design, even with all its amazing features. Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks continuously impact users and Internet service providers (ISPs). Because of its centralized design, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on SDN are frequent and may have a widespread effect on the network, particularly at the control layer. We propose to implement both MLP (Multilayer Perceptron) and CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks) based on conventional methods to detect the Denial of Services (DDoS) attack. These models have got a complex optimizer installed on them to decrease the false positive or DDoS case detection efficiency. We use the SHAP feature selection technique to improve the detection procedure. By assisting in the identification of which features are most essential to spot the incidents, the approach aids in the process of enhancing precision and flammability. Fine-tuning the hyperparameters with the help of Bayesian optimization to obtain the best model performance is another important thing that we do in our model. Two datasets, InSDN and CICDDoS-2019, are utilized to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method, 99.95% for the true positive (TP) of the CICDDoS-2019 dataset and 99.98% for the InSDN dataset, the results show that the model is highly accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative damage has been implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including epilepsy. Selenium, in the form of selenoproteins is an integral part of the human antioxidant defense system. Though a relationship between the altered selenium levels and epilepsy has been reported, limited evidence is available about the expression pattern of selenoproteins in epileptic patients. Objective: This study aimed to determine the serum selenium levels in idiopathic epileptic and healthy individuals. Expression profiling of selenoproteins (GPx1, TRxR1 and SEPW1) both at mRNA and protein levels was also evaluated. Methods: Serum selenium levels of 30 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and their age and gender matched 30 healthy controls were measured. Protein levels of Serum Glutathione Peroxidase 1 (GPx1), Thioredoxin Reductase 1 (TRxR1) and Selenoprotein W (SEPW1) were estimated using ELISA. mRNA expression of GPx1, TRxR1 and SEPW1 were determined using qRT-PCR. Results: The mean values for serum selenium levels in cases and controls were 37.6 ± 2.0 µmol/ml and 38.9 ± 2.7 µmol/ml, respectively. Selenium levels in cases were significantly lower as compared to controls (p = 0.031). No statistically significant differences were observed between the serum levels of selenoproteins GPx1, TRxR1 and SEPW1 in epileptic patients and the healthy group. GPx1 and TRxR1 expression was found to be down regulated (0.34 and 0.13 folds respectively) whereas SEPW 1 was found to be 0.04 folds up regulated in epileptic patients compared to the healthy subjects. Conclusion: Selenium deficiency observed in epileptic patients suggests the association between serum selenium levels and epilepsy. This study provides the information about the selenium status in Pakistani population and helps in understanding the role of selenium in the prevention of epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historiography of falsafa in Persian as a genre of philosophical literature is a young phenomenon, rooted in the encounter of the Iranian philosophical community with modern European philosophy. European historiography of philosophy as a discipline is itself modern and was initiated in the eighteenth century and evolved thereafter with the historiography of falsafa as its by-product. Despite its relative youth, Persian historiography of falsafa has yielded considerable outcomes. This paper outlines the historical trajectory leading to the emergence of this new genre of philosophical literature in Iran. It then provides a classification of these works and highlights their salient features. This body of literature offers insights not only for philosophers but also for scholars of cultural studies, social sciences, and political sciences, given that Persian historiographies, like their European counterparts, have also been employed to endorse political or religious identities through the construction of nativist or non-nativist grand narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Depression and anxiety are the main disorders in patients suffering from hypothyroidism. These disorders can lead to increased patient suffering. Since hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent endocrine diseases, controlling the metabolic variables that increase the severity of anxiety and depression is important. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and to identify their associated factors, including metabolic variables, among people with hypothyroidism. Patients and methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 1,600 patients with hypothyroidism in Kerman, the southern part of Iran. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was estimated using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Anxiety questionnaires, respectively. First, univariate logistic regression was performed. Factors whose P-values were smaller than 0.2 in univariate logistic regression were included in multiple logistic regression for confounder adjustments. The analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Results: The rates of depression and anxiety were 59% (95% CI: 53.18–62.11) and 63% (95% CI: 58.42–67.22), respectively. Factors found to be independently associated with anxiety were high TSH, high LDL, high TG, high FBS, high TGAb, high TPoAb, high TC, and hypertension. For depression, high TSH, high LDL, high TG, high FBS, high TC, and hypertension were identified. High TGAb and high TPoAb were independently associated with anxiety but not with depression. Conclusions: Study findings revealed that a large proportion of patients with hypothyroidism suffer from depression and anxiety. This study also identified factors associated with these disorders. Controlling some metabolic variables may decrease the prevalence and severity of these disorders, help patients with better treatment, and improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a multi-stage stochastic production planning approach for a joint lot sizing and workforce scheduling problem under demand uncertainty. Scenario trees are used to model uncertainty in demand, and a multi-stage scenario-based stochastic linear program is developed. This model allows for both here-and-now and wait-and-see decisions providing flexibility for decision-makers to adjust production quantities according to the realized portion of demand and improve the overall effectiveness of production planning by better managing the number of active lines, workforce, and inventory levels. A matheuristic is developed for large-sized instances, which yields near-optimal solutions in practicable computation times. The proposed methods are demonstrated over a real data set taken from a Turkish home and professional appliances company, Vestel. The results show significant improvements in cost and CPU time performances for benchmark approaches, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, China has engaged in transferring military technology to Middle Eastern countries, a key element of its strategic competition with the United States. This article examines the goals and consequences of these transfers, focusing on their role in China’s rivalry with the U.S. It explores the historical evolution of China’s military technology strategy, shifting from ideological motives to economic profit and technology exchange. A turning point emerged when China began supplying military technology to traditional U.S. allies in the region, such as Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, signalling its intent to challenge U.S. dominance. However, the article argues that various challenges have limited the effectiveness of China’s military technology transfers compared to its more impactful non-military technologies, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and next-generation internet innovations. These non-military technologies have seen significant adoption in the Middle East, while reliance on Chinese military technology among U.S. allies remains limited. The findings suggest that while China’s influence in the region grows through non-military avenues, its military technology transfers are unlikely to significantly alter the strategic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preserving plant genetic resources is essential for tackling global food security challenges. Effectively meeting future agricultural demands requires comprehensive and efficient assessments of genetic diversity in breeding programs and germplasm from gene banks. This research investigated the diversity of pheno-morphological traits, along with the fatty acid and tocopherol content and composition, in 135 double haploid lines of camelina. Results: The number of sub-branches, siliques number of main-branch and sub-branch, and seeds number in siliques of the main-branch displayed notable coefficients of variation with values of 33.19%, 30.32%, 29.23%, and 23.81% respectively. Within the current investigation, the measurements of height, sub-branch number, and thousand seed weight varied from 53.50 to 86.50 cm, 3.50 to 14, and 0.73 to 1.52 g, respectively. The analysis unveiled that the average content of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids in the examined lines was approximately 33%, 20%, and 17%, respectively. The total tocopherol content varied between 675 and 877 ppm, predominantly consisting of gamma-tocopherol, which accounted for over 95% of the total content. The fatty acid C18:2 displayed a markedly strong positive correlation with alpha-tocopherol (0.99**), while C18:3 exhibited positive correlations with gamma-tocopherol (0.98**) and total tocopherol (0.98**). Furthermore, a positive correlation was evident between C20:1 and delta-tocopherol (0.98**). The scrutinized lines, specifically lines 35, 72, 94, and 126 demonstrated notable attributes regarding yield and yield components. Conversely, in the realm of biochemical traits, lines 35, 66, 47, 30, 65, 135, 83, 27, 4, 77, 62, 81, and 93 stood out for their elevated potential. The gene expression analysis related to the tocopherol biosynthesis pathway revealed distinct expression patterns. Specifically, the VTE1 gene exhibited the highest level of expression. In contrast, the VTE3 gene displayed the lowest level of expression compared to other genes. Conclusions: The study's findings hold great potential for improving food security by enabling the selection of superior camelina parent plants based on specific traits. This approach can drive the development of high-yielding varieties with enhanced nutritional value and better-quality camelina oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of chronic poverty on tea plantation worker children’s education and occupational outcomes, drawing insights from the published work of experts on chronic poverty and employing a qualitative research approach. We collected data from two large tea plantations in northeast Bangladesh through in-depth interviews, case studies, focus group discussions, and direct observation. The data shows that tea workers’ poverty has a significant and negative impact on their children’s education and occupation. Their lack of affordable options and the high costs of transportation, uniforms, food, and other education-related expenses institutionalize and perpetuate poverty. The structural constraints and systematic regulations imposed by the tea estate owners on the workers lead to this outcome. Therefore, a cycle of poverty traps the families of tea workers, leading to low levels of education, limited occupational options, and perpetuating poverty across generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monkeypox has emerged as a global health concern, necessitating preventive measures and awareness among healthcare students. Understanding nursing students' fears, concerns, and preventive practices regarding Monkeypox can help improve preparedness and response strategies. Aim: This study aimed to assess the levels of fear, concerns, and preventive practices related to monkeypox among nursing students at Beni Suef University, Egypt, during the 2024–2025 academic year. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, involving 505 nursing students systematically randomized recruited. Data collection utilized three validated tools: the Monkeypox Fear Scale, Monkeypox Concern Scale, and Monkeypox Preventive Practices Scale. Reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.87 to 0.94. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression using SPSS Version 23. Results: Most (56.2%) students rarely worried about Monkeypox infection, though 49.2% reported anxiety influenced by media coverage. High preventive practices were noted, with 60.6% frequently practicing hygiene measures. A strong positive correlation between Monkeypox concern and fear (r = 0.646, p < 0.001) and a moderate positive correlation between Monkeypox concern and preventive practices (r = 0.229, p = 0.001). Fear was also significantly correlated with preventive practices (r = 0.432, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis (R² = 0.216, F = 22.633, p < 0.001) revealed that fear was a strong positive predictor of preventive practices, while Monkeypox concern had a positive but non-significant effect (B = 0.138, p = 0.156). Age was not a significant predictor (B = 0.251, p = 0.637), whereas family income showed a significant negative association (B = -1.885, p = 0.010). Conclusion: The study revealed moderate fear and concerns among nursing students, with generally high adherence to preventive practices. Implication: Findings suggest the need for targeted health education programs to address monkeypox-related concerns and enhance preventive measures, thus improving nursing students' readiness to respond to emerging health threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this article, a robust control algorithm is proposed for a nonlinear and time-varying continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with sediment formation in the cooling jacket. The existing control schemes may fail, as deposition measurement or estimation is a challenge in such a process. As a main contribution, the deposition phenomenon is modeled here as the system uncertainty. Then, an identification-based robust integral controller is constructed for the underlying CSTR. Applying the loop-shaping procedure here is also a novelty to satisfy the performance objectives in the frequency domain. In a comprehensive scenario, which includes the set-point tracking in the presence of system uncertainties and external disturbance, the performance of the proposed robust control system is evaluated and discussed from a comparison viewpoint. The numerical study shows that fouling control and robust performance are ensured by the developed H∞-based technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus, particularly Type 2 diabetes (T2D), represents a significant global health challenge, with its prevalence steadily rising over the past few decades. This study was conducted with the aim of estimating the economic burden of T2D in Iran. Methods: This study employed a prevalence-based approach to estimate the economic burden of T2D and its attributable complications in adults above 20 years old in Iran for 2022. Both direct medical costs and indirect costs were considered in our analysis. Direct medical costs included inpatient and outpatient costs attributable to T2D and its complications, while indirect costs encompassed absenteeism, presenteeism, inability to work, and premature mortality costs due to the disease. Results: The findings showed that a total of 5,702,547 people, equivalent to 14.2% of Iranian adults, had T2D. The estimated total direct medical cost of T2D and its attributable complications in Iran in 2022 was 1,879.2 million US dollars (US$-PPP 6,676.9 million). Chronic kidney disease accounted for the largest proportion, followed by ischemic heart disease (IHD), and T2D itself. The total economic burden of T2D and its attributable complications in Iran in 2022, was estimated to be $2,905.7 million US dollars (US$-PPP 10,324.2 million). The direct medical cost constituted the majority of the economic burden (64.7%), while the inability to work due to these health conditions also contributes significantly (28.6%). Absenteeism (2.9%), presenteeism (1.7%), and premature mortality (2.2%) make up smaller proportions of the overall economic impact of T2D and its complications in Iran during that year. Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant and diverse economic impact of T2D and its complications in Iran. This burden encompasses not only healthcare-related expenses but also negative impacts on society and productivity, as well as the occurrence of early death. To successfully address this burden, a comprehensive strategy is needed, which includes programs to prevent diabetes, better access to healthcare services, and increased social support for individuals with this long-term condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) has the potential to reveal cell structure down to atomic resolution. Nevertheless, cellular cryo-ET data is highly complex, requiring image segmentation for visualization and quantification of subcellular structures. Due to noise and anisotropic resolution in cryo-ET data, automatic segmentation based on classical computer vision approaches usually does not perform satisfactorily. Communication between neurons relies on neurotransmitter-filled synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis. Cryo-ET study of the spatial organization of SVs and their interconnections allows a better understanding of the mechanisms of exocytosis regulation. Accurate SV segmentation is a prerequisite to obtaining a faithful connectivity representation. Hundreds of SVs are present in a synapse, and their manual segmentation is a bottleneck. We addressed this by designing a workflow consisting of a convolutional network followed by post-processing steps. Alongside, we provide an interactive tool for accurately segmenting spherical vesicles. Our pipeline can in principle segment spherical vesicles in any cell type as well as extracellular and in vitro spherical vesicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]