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This paper introduces a coupled inductor (CI)‐based high step‐up DC‐DC converter. Cascaded or quadratic DC–DC converters are the most practical solution to achieve a wide conversion ratio and reduced current ripple. The proposed structure (P1) is achieved by a combination of a base structure of two‐stage boost converter with one active switch, a CI, and a voltage multiplier cell (VMC). The secondary side of the CI is placed at the output side, where it is combined with a VMC. In the proposed topology, a passive clamp consisting of a diode and a capacitor is added to minimize the voltage stress on the active switch. In addition, the passive clamp recycles the leakage energy of the CI and causes to increase the efficiency. The input source current ripple is low, and the input current is continuous, which are very suitable for renewable energy applications. Additionally, the voltage stresses on switches are less than some quadratic DC‐DC boost converters that have been presented. Also, an extended topology of P1 is proposed as the second proposed converter (P2), to enhance the operation of P1. Moreover, to show the feasibility and performance of the presented converter, a laboratory prototype circuit is examined. The results accredit the theoretical analysis and experimental outcomes of the presented converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During iron ore process, a substantial amount of iron ore tailings (IOT) are generated, which can be caused environmental challenges. To mitigate this issue, the stabilised IOT can be repurposed as road material. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) parameter is typically used to assess the quality control and mix designing of stabilised materials, which its measurement is time-consuming due to the required curing time (CT). Consequently, implementing machine learning techniques to determine and predict UCS values can significantly streamline the process and reduce mix design as well as quality control costs. This research aims to evaluate various machine learning models to predict the UCS of cement-stabilised IOT. Four input variables including cement percentage, CT, compaction moisture content (MC) and compaction energy were considered for UCS modelling. A comparison of the statistical results from the developed models revealed that the artificial neural network (ANN) method exhibited superior accuracy for both training and testing data, with R2 values of 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis of the ANN model demonstrated that cement percentage had the most significant impact on the UCS, while compaction MC had the least. Lastly, a parametric study was conducted to evaluate the influence of various variables on the UCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are four critical factors that affect air voids (VA) of asphalt concrete over time: traffic loads and repetitions, environmental regimes, compaction, and asphalt mix composition. Because of the high as-construct VA content of the material, it is expected that voids will reduce over time, causing rutting during initial traffic periods. Eventually, the material will undergo shear flow when it reaches its most dense state with optimum aggregate interlock or refusal VA content. Furthermore, to accurately model the performance of an asphalt mixture, the VA must be predicted over time. This study aims to implement two ensemble learning methods namely Cubist and gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT) hybridized with equilibrium optimizer algorithm (EOA) to predict the VA percentage of asphalt concrete during the service life of flexible pavements. For this purpose, 324 data records of VA were collected from the literature. The variables selected as inputs were original as-constructed air voids, VAorig (%); mean annual air temperature, MAAT (°F); original viscosity at 77°F (25°C) , ηorig,77 (Mega-Poises); and time (months). GBRT-EOA and Cubist-EOA were found to be superior to other classical single ML approaches [for instance, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and Gaussian process regression (GPR) and M5Tree] and existing nonlinear regression models. In the training phase, the GBRT-EOA had R2 , root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean of absolute percent error (MAPE) values of 99.8%, 0.136%, 0.093%, and 1.324%, respectively, while these values changed to 95.1%, 0.701%, 0.53%, and 7.825% in the testing phase. Also, only less than 5% of the records were predicted using this model with more than 20% deviation from the observed values. As determined by the sensitivity analysis, time (months) is the most significant of the four input variables, while MAAT (°F) is the least one. A parametric study showed that regardless of the MAAT, the ηorig,77 of 1.0 Mega-Poises, and the VAorig above 6% can be ideal for improving the pavement service life in terms of the VA of the asphalt concrete layer during service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nHIGHLIGHTSThe use of ensemble learning (EL) has grown due to its ability to enhance precision in predictions compared to typical machine learning (ML) algorithms. EL-based approaches are expected to be more accurate and efficient in simulating green engineering materials like sustainable concretes. In this study, three novel EL methods predict the compressive strength (CS) of concrete containing rice husk ash (CCRHA) using hybridizations of adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), gradient boosting regression trees (GBRT), random forests (RF), and teaching-learning-based optimisation algorithms (TLBO). Data for the CS of CCRHA (1212 instances) were collected from 42 published journal papers. Input variables included the amount of water, cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, rice husk ash, superplasticizer, and curing time. Generally, GBRT-TLBO outperformed other approaches in testing with R2, RMSE, and MAE values of 0.976, 3.299, and 2.419 MPa, respectively. GBRT-TLBO models had superior capabilities in the testing phase with interquartile ranges of absolute error boxes equal to 1.0 MPa. A comparison with literature models showed that GBRT-TLBO was correctly tuned. Sensitivity analysis indicated cement and age as the most significant variables, while RHA was the least significant. Surface plots from parametric studies identified the interaction of input variables with concrete CS.Using ensemble learning (EL), the compressive strength (CS) of concrete composed of rice husk ash (CCRHA) is modelled.Three novel hybrid ensemble learning methods including AdaBoost, GBRT, RF, and teaching-learning-based optimisation algorithm (TLBO) are employed.The contents of water, cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, rice husk ash, superplasticizer, and curing age were considered as inputs.Sensitivity analysis and parametric studies were performed to evaluate model feature importance and efficiency. For the same number of data records, the proposed models are superior to those developed via the research literature.Using ensemble learning (EL), the compressive strength (CS) of concrete composed of rice husk ash (CCRHA) is modelled.Three novel hybrid ensemble learning methods including AdaBoost, GBRT, RF, and teaching-learning-based optimisation algorithm (TLBO) are employed.The contents of water, cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, rice husk ash, superplasticizer, and curing age were considered as inputs.Sensitivity analysis and parametric studies were performed to evaluate model feature importance and efficiency. For the same number of data records, the proposed models are superior to those developed via the research literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the aggregate piers is one of the methods to improve and increase the bearing capacity of soft soils. The ultimate bearing capacity of these piers is affected by parameters such as the physical properties of the piers, structural conditions, the embedment depth and replacement ratio of piers, which complicates the estimation of bearing capacity. In this study, the Gene Expression Programming method was used for the prediction of the ultimate bearing capacity of clay soils reinforced with aggregate piers. For this purpose, two different models were developed, of which the first model (GEP2) utilized two input variables, the undrained shear strength of clay (Su) and replacement ratio (ar), while the second model (GEP4) used four input variables including the undrained shear strength of clay (Su), replacement ratio (ar), slenderness ratio (Sr), and embedment depth of piers (df). The coefficient of determination of the GEP2 model, and the GEP4 model is 0.921 and 0.942, respectively. Besides, comparing the GEP4 model of this research with the developed models of previous studies confirms the superior performance of the GEP4 model, considering both the accuracy and number of input parameters. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the undrained shear strength of clay (Su), replacement ratio (ar), slenderness ratio (Sr), and embedment depth of piers (df) have the highest impact on the prediction of bearing capacity, respectively. Furthermore, the parametric analysis demonstrated that increasing the Su, ar, Sr, and df would improve the bearing capacity of the aggregate piers reinforced clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid identification of herbicide-resistant weeds plays a crucial role in their management. Glyphosate resistance in Lolium perenne is a growing issue in New Zealand and can be conferred by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing amino acid substitutions at codon 106 in the 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene. High-throughput molecular (HTM) methodologies that can detect such SNPs include high-resolution melting and real-time quantitative PCR probe assays. Here, we compare the effectiveness of both assays with a more labour-intense derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) test for detecting SNPs at codon 106. The results showed that both HTM assays detected mutations at this codon, and their results were consistent with those of the dCAPS. Unlike dCAPS, however, the HTM assays over-estimated homozygosity for the glyphosate resistance allele. Nevertheless, cost-effective high-throughput detection of resistance is more important than the zygosity status when initiating an on-farm management response. In summary, both HTM assays successfully identified glyphosate resistance alleles at codon 106 in the EPSPS gene. Given that both assays are more cost-effective and can screen a larger number of samples in a timely manner compared to the dCAPS method, they can be used as quick tests for detecting glyphosate resistance in L. perenne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although New Zealand is developing an increasing number of herbicide-resistant weed populations, it has a much lower incidence of herbicide resistance than Australia. Understanding the reasons for these differences may help with future management of herbicide resistance in both countries. Australia is much larger than New Zealand so greater areas of weeds are exposed to herbicides annually in Australia. Another difference is the high frequency of Lolium rigidum in Australian agricultural systems, a species almost absent in New Zealand, and many of the cases of resistance in Australia involve this species. However, species closely related to L. rigidum are increasingly being found resistant to herbicides in New Zealand. Higher rainfall in most parts of New Zealand allows much more crop rotation than is possible in Australia, and greater crop yields give New Zealand farmers more flexibility to use higher application rates and more expensive herbicides in rotation than is feasible in Australia. Dry conditions result in more use of summer fallows in Australia using glyphosate which has caused some of the problems. Selection pressure for resistance still occurs in New Zealand, so herbicide and crop rotation may just be delaying the appearance of resistance in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to iodosulfuron, a herbicide targeting acetolactate synthase (ALS), was identified and characterised in a population of Lolium perenne L. from Canterbury, New Zealand. The resistant population was 264 times more resistant to iodosulfuron than a susceptible population, based on a ratio of the rate corresponding to a 50% reduction in resistant and susceptible plant survival (R/S LD50). The resistant population was also 14-times more resistant to nicosulfuron, another ALS-inhibitor of the same class. However, no resistance to imazapyr, an ALS-inhibitor from a different chemical class, was detected in the resistant population. Pre-treatment with an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 reduced the level of iodosulfuron resistance to 46-fold in the resistant population, suggesting enhanced herbicide metabolism, a non-target site mechanism, contributed to resistance of this herbicide. In addition, a proline to leucine substitution at codon 197 was detected, suggesting a target-site-based mechanism was also associated with resistance to iodosulfuron. This is the first report on the resistance mechanisms to ALS-inhibiting herbicides identified in Lolium perenne in New Zealand and highlights the importance of integrated weed management approaches to reduce the likelihood of ALS-inhibitor herbicide resistance becoming more widespread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser sintering (SLS) has drawn attention for the fabrication of three-dimensional oral dosage forms due to the plurality of drug formulations that can be processed. The aim of this work was to employ SLS with a CO2 laser for the manufacturing of carvedilol personalised dosage forms of various strengths. Carvedilol (CVD) and vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (Kollidon VA64) blends of various ratios were sintered to produce CVD tablets of 3.125, 6.25, and 12.5 mg. The tuning of the SLS processing laser intensity parameter improved printability and impacted the tablet hardness, friability, CVD dissolution rate, and the total amount of drug released. Physicochemical characterization showed the presence of CVD in the amorphous state. X-ray micro-CT analysis demonstrated that the applied CO2 intensity affected the total tablet porosity, which was reduced with increased laser intensity. The study demonstrated that SLS is a suitable technology for the development of personalised medicines that meet the required specifications and patient needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the issue of herbicide-resistant weeds in New Zealand's agricultural sectors. The number of cases of herbicide resistance has increased in New Zealand since the late 1970s, although the incidence is lower compared to other countries like Australia. The article highlights the importance of improved weed control and vegetation management to minimize future herbicide resistance. It also presents recent research on herbicide resistance and weed management, including the development of a machine-learning tool to assess the risk of herbicide resistance in different weed species. The article emphasizes the need for proper reporting and monitoring of herbicide resistance and explores alternative non-chemical approaches to weed management. Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the current focus of herbicide resistance research in New Zealand. [Extracted from the article]

Heat stress can hinder the growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) applied exogenously can increase heat stress tolerance in plants; however, the regulatory mechanisms involved in heat tolerance mediated by MeJA are poorly understood in perennial ryegrass. Here, the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of perennial ryegrass were assessed to elucidate the regulatory pathways associated with heat tolerance induced by MeJA. Plants were subjected to four treatments, namely, control (CK), MeJA pre-treatment (T), heat stress treatment (H), and MeJA pre-treatment + heat stress (TH). According to the results, 102 miRNAs were up-regulated in all treatments, with 20, 27, and 33 miRNAs being up-regulated in the T, H, and TH treatment groups, respectively. The co-expression network analysis between the deferentially expressed miRNAs and their corresponding target genes showed that 20 miRNAs modulated 51 potential target genes. Notably, the miRNAs that targeted genes related to with regards to heat tolerance were driven by MeJA, and they were involved in four pathways: novel-m0258-5p mediated signal transduction, novel-m0350-5p mediated protein homeostasis, miR397-z, miR5658-z, and novel-m0008-5p involved in cell wall component, and miR1144-z and miR5185-z dominated chlorophyll degradation. Overall, the findings of this research paved the way for more research into the heat tolerance mechanism in perennial ryegrass and provided a theoretical foundation for developing cultivars with enhanced heat tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional data are generally curves indexed over a time domain, and land-use regression (LUR) is a promising spatial technique for generating high-resolution spatial estimation of retrospective long-term air pollutants. We developed a methodology for the novel functional land-use regression (FLUR) model, which provides high-resolution spatial and temporal estimations of retrospective pollutants. Long-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the megacity of Tehran, Iran, was used as the practical example. The hourly measured PM2.5 concentrations were averaged for each hour and in each air monitoring station. Penalized smoothing was employed to construct the smooth PM2.5 diurnal curve using averaged hourly data in each of the 30 stations. Functional principal component analysis (FPCA) was used to extract FPCA scores from pollutant curves, and LUR models were fitted on FPCA scores. The mean of all PM2.5 diurnal curves had a maximum of 39.58 µg/m3 at 00:26 a.m. and a minimum of 29.27 µg/m3 at 3:57 p.m. The FPCA explained about 99.5% of variations in the observed diurnal curves across the city using just three components. The evaluation of spatially predicted long-term PM2.5 diurnal curves every 15 min provided a series of 96 high-resolution exposure maps. The presented methodology and results could benefit future environmental epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic hydrophilicity of metal compounds, such as copper ferrite (CuFe2O4), and organic compounds, including graphene oxide (GO) and triethylenetetramine (TETA), make them promising adsorbents for heavy metals removal. The presence of lone pairs in these compounds is observed in modified polyethersulfone membranes used for the separation of arsenic (As) and total dissolved solids (TDS), including mono and divalent salts from aqueous solutions. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of GO–TETA–CuFe2O4 membranes for wastewater treatment applications. The membranes were characterized for their optimal mechanical strength (tensile strength) and high negative charge (zeta potential) on the surface. Separation tests were conducted at different pressures and pH levels to evaluate the membrane's effectiveness in removing contaminants. In addition, the membranes were examined for their antibacterial properties. The modified membrane exhibited superior performance compared with the control membrane, with TDS removal rates of 93.8%, As3+ removal rates of 81.2%, and As5+ removal rates of 87.9%. The contact angle of the modified membrane was reduced, resulting in an increase in pure water flux from 13.11 to 27.87 L/m2.h. The modified membrane also demonstrated significantly higher resistance to fouling than the control membrane, with a resistance increase from 6.78 × 10+12 to 2.07 × 10+12 m−1. This contributed to the improved separation performance of As and TDS in a cross‐flow setup. The results suggest that the GO–TETA–CuFe2O4 modified membrane has great potential for use in water treatment applications. Practitioner Points: GO–TETA–CuFe2O4 was successfully used for modification of PES NF membrane structure.The efficiency of blended NF membranes with GO–TETA–CuFe2O4 significantly increased.The modified membranes exhibited significant water flux and antifouling properties.The GO–TETA–CuFe2O4/PES membranes showed high rejection of heavy metal ions and TDS than PES.The GO–TETA–CuFe2O4/PES membranes exhibited desirable antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of granular base materials plays a key role in the enhanced performance of inverted pavement systems (IPSs). Typically, premium-quality materials are required for the construction of IPS structures. This study investigates the feasibility of geocell reinforcement of lower quality materials to be used as an alternative when premium base materials are not available. To this end, 16 different pavement structures were studied using nonlinear finite element (NL-FEM) models in ABAQUS. The results are validated using those of a full-scale field project, which confirms the reliability of the developed FEM model. It was concluded that geocell reinforcement of granular base layer can increase the fatigue and rutting performances. In all the cases, lower quality aggregates with reinforcement exhibited better performance than the non-reinforced base materials with premium aggregate quality. The findings confirm that in the absence of premium-quality aggregates, good-performing inverted pavement structures can still be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leadership component has not been acknowledged in many of the models proposed for performance management in public sector organizations. In addition, the concept and scope of this component fall short of consistency with theoretical foundations of organizational behavior management. This situation is not favorable to render optimal performance management. Hence, three levels have been devised within this model. These levels are (1) performance management components with regards to the appropriate balance between behavioral and process aspects, (2) leadership component dimensions: leadership traits, leadership behaviors, and leadership context, and (3) leadership subcomponents for each of the above dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile techniques to fabricate the nanofiltration membranes with ideal molecular sieving is one of the most interesting subjects in membrane separation technology. In this study, the application of modified graphene oxide (GO) with triethylenetetramine (TETA), CuFe2O4, and acetic acid (AC) (supported GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC) as a supported protic ionic liquid (PIL) modifier for polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was evaluated to approve the improvement of anti‐fouling properties and wastewater rejection of the fabricated membranes. To enhance the key properties of graphene oxide, it was modified by hydrophilic nanomaterials (TETA‐CuFe2O4). High flux and promising flux recovery ratio (up to 95% compared to the unmodified membrane) can be observed in the modified membranes. The modified membranes by GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC were studied at optimum concentrations (0.5 wt.%) for salt rejection and different dyes. The obtained data indicated that the modified membranes by GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC indicated higher salt removal (up to 97% for BaCl2 than the unmodified membrane), which was related to the efficient modification. The obtained pure water flux (PWF) for bare and optimal modified membrane from 13.11 to 27.87 kg/m2·h, respectively. To exact evaluate the effect of membrane modification on performance examination, the modified membranes were evaluated for chlorine resistance testing. This study aimed to develop cost‐effective nanofiltration (NF) membranes with high anti‐fouling properties and to determine the maximum filtration capacity of in‐time dyes and salts in effluents. Practitioner Points: A GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4 mixed matrix membrane was prepared for removal of salts and dyes.The effect of GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4 enhanced the hydrophilicity and porosity.The membrane exhibited superior antifouling properties and ions rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of novel multifunctional Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO/L-Lysine Functionalized Graphene Oxide nanocomposite. • Synergetic dark catalytic & visible photocatalytic activities of nanocomposite for efficient organic pollutant degradation. • Proposed double Z-scheme mechanism for enhanced visible photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite. • Dark catalytic activity via ROS generated from ZnO oxygen vacancies & stored electrons inLys-rGO. • The nanocomposite effectively degrades the mixture of organic pollutants including MB, TC, CIP, & RhB. Developing multifunctional catalysts for efficient pollutant degradation in dark and visible light conditions represents a significant advancement in water remediation technology. This study reports the synthesis of a novel Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO/Lys-rGO nanocomposite via environmentally friendly methods that exhibit catalytic-photocatalytic activity for efficient degradation of organic pollutants. The synergistic effect of compositing Lys-rGO, a bio-organic component with a narrow band gap (1.08 eV), into the Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO inorganic composite induces a double Z-scheme mechanism by providing two pathways for effective charge separation in the visible photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite. Additionally, the stored electrons in the very conductive Lys-rGO layers offer active sites for the catalytic activity of the nanocomposite in the dark. Meanwhile, ZnO generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) through surface oxygen vacancies, further contributing to the nanocomposite's dark catalytic activity. The degradation of various organic pollutants (Methylene Blue, Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Rhodamine B, and their mixture), as well as Congo Red, with low catalyst dosage and visible light irradiation time, demonstrates the high performance and versatility of this nanocomposite. This research highlights the potential of Lys-rGO in compositing with semiconductors to design multifunctional catalysts for cost-effective sustainable water purification technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction and processing of iron ore produce significant amounts of mine tailings, causing environmental problems that require storage in reservoirs or dams. Using these materials in construction helps minimize their adverse impacts. This study analyzed the geotechnical properties of Magnetite and Hematite iron ore tailings (MIOT, HIOT) from the Golgohar mine in Sirjan, Iran. Two IOTs were compacted using the Standard Proctor technique after being treated with 5, 7, and 9 % Portland cement. Following curing time, treated samples were tested at different stress levels for resilient modulus. Based on the results, to meet strength and durability requirements, cement-treated MIOT needs 9 % cement. Contrastingly, only 5 % of the cement for cement-treated HIOT met the criterion. The resilient moduli of untreated MIOT and HIOT materials heavily rely on the confining pressure, resulting in a minimal decrease in modulus by increasing deviatoric stress. The effect of cement on resilient modulus is more pronounced in high confining stresses than in low confining stresses in MIOT and HIOT materials. A comparison of different non-linear models showed that 'Universal' model is the best fit for laboratory results of cement-treated MIOT and HIOT materials, as it accounts for hardening and softening behavior. • Physical and geotechnical characteristics of magnetite and hematite iron ore tailings were explored. • UCS, Durability, and resilient modulus of untreated and cement-treated iron ore tailing were measured. • Effect of compaction moisture, curing time and cement content on the USC was investigated. • Effect of stress state, curing time and cement content on the resilient modulus was investigated. • Different non-linear models were assessed for resilient behavior of treated and cement-treated iron ore tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The aim of the work was to introduce 3D printing technology for the design and fabrication of drug-eluting contact lenses (DECL) for the treatment of glaucoma. The development of 3D printed lenses can effectively overcome drawbacks of existing approaches by using biocompatible medical grade polymers that provide sustained drug release of timolol maleate for extended periods. Methods Hot melt extrusion was coupled with fusion deposition modelling (FDM) to produce printable filaments of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer–polylactic acid blends at various ratios loaded with timolol maleate. Physicochemical and mechanical characterisation of the printed filaments was used to optimise the printing of the contact lenses Key findings 3D printed lenses with an aperture (opening) and specified dimensions could be printed using FDM technology. The lenses presented a smooth surface with good printing resolution while providing sustained release of timolol maleate over 3 days. The findings of this study can be used for the development of personalised DECL in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR) method has been employed to develop simple models with reasonable accuracy to predict the compressive strength and Young's modulus of the lime/cement stabilized clayey subgrade soil. For this purpose, the different specimens with the various cement and lime contents, at three moisture contents (dry side, wet side, and optimum moisture content) were fabricated and were cured for 7, 14, 21, 28, and, 60 days to conduct the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test. According to the test results, a dataset consisting of 75 records for each additive was prepared. Results of this study show that the R2 value of the developed model for predicting UCS of cement-stabilized clay soil is equal to 0.96 and 0.95 for training and testing sets, respectively. These two values for limestabilized soil are 0.91 and 0.87, respectively. Moreover, the R2 for predicting Young's modulus of cement-stabilized clay soil is equal to 0.90 and 0.89 for the training and testing set, respectively. These two values for predicting Young's modulus of lime-stabilized soil are 0.88 and 0.94, respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that for the Portland cement stabilized clayey subgrade, the percentage of the Portland cement and moisture content are the most significant parameters for predicting the UCS and Young's modulus, respectively. In contrast, for the lime-stabilized clayey subgrade soil, the most important parameters are the moisture content and the UCS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Green Hospital is a concept that protects the environment from destructive human actions. It has emerged to achieve the goals of sustainable development, following the world wars, the industrial revolution, and the increment of environmental destruction. Further, Hospitals have moved towards the implementation of green hospital criteria according to their social responsibilities. This study aimed to investigate the challenges of achieving green hospital indicators. Methods: The present study was conducted as a Mixed Method (quantitative and qualitative) in a military, educational, and selected reference hospital in Tehran in 2016. The first phase was quantitative which was performed based on collected information through translated checklists and initial hospital statistics. In the second phase, qualitative information was obtained by using semi-structured interviews with 10 hospital employees working in the fields related to the green hospital, Finally. the data were analyzed with EXCEL and ATLAS.ti software (Version 7) by utilizing central criteria (quantitative) and conventional content analysis (qualitative). Results: Based on quantitative findings of the checklist, the rate of compliance with the Green Hospital criteria was 56.8 percent. In the qualitative phase, the main challenges of the hospital were divided into two main categories (Internal and External factors) and 7 sub-categories, including the challenges of human resources, organizational and managerial, technical, financial, laws and foreign issues, cultural, and factors related to the organization's clients. Conclusion: Based on the identified challenges, hospitals should work with external collaboration on educating and cultivating the clients and staff, amending government laws, modifying management thinking against environmental issues, and prioritizing these issues to pave the way for achieving green hospital criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Establishing field hospitals is a critical task for governments to complete following disasters, with the first step being to identify suitable locations. Although field hospitals are similar to permanent hospitals and temporary shelters, no research in English has been conducted to extract the location selection criteria for field hospitals from those for hospitals and temporary shelters. Methods: A meta-synthetic approach was used to review all related qualitative, quantitative, and mixed studies published in English between January 2010 and June 2020 to identify new field hospital site selection criteria distinct from those used to select a permanent hospital and temporary sheltering sites. Results: From 4317 screened records, 24 articles were eventually identified as eligible studies, through which 151 open codes, 21 axial codes, and nine themes were identified. The top three axes included proximity to main roads, proximity/distance to permanent hospitals, and proximity/distance to other medical centers. Conclusion: By considering a field hospital as a facility with certain characteristics similar to permanent hospitals and temporary shelters, it is possible to identify specific new criteria and sub-criteria by extracting items common to permanent hospitals and temporary shelter site selection studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In lightning discharge, the grounding systems' transient behavior is influenced by frequency-dependent effects. These effects are related to complex phenomena arising from the fast rise time of the impulse current. In this paper, a new frequency-dependent (FD) model of grounding systems (GSs) is presented that can be deployed in time-domain analysis. The proposed wideband modeling considers the frequency dependence of the soil electrical parameters (conductivity and relative permittivity). This model is sufficiently accurate for single-port and multi-port GSs buried in uniform and non-uniform soil in the frequency range of lightning. The main innovation of the proposed model is that it can be implemented in the time domain without requiring the inversion of the GS impedance matrix. Hence, this method is less complex than conventional approaches. As one of its applications, the effect of FD modeling of GS is investigated on the lightning overvoltages of a wind farm. The simulation results show that the frequency dependence of soil has a huge impact on overvoltage magnitude and the energy absorption of surge arresters (SAs) in wind farms; this effect varies according to the type of the GS and the soil resistivity, so it is of great importance from technical and economical points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk for superadded infections, especially infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of MDR infections, including infections caused by MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), was very high in Iran. This study is aimed at assessing the genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance pattern, and biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae isolates obtained from patients with COVID-19 and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Iran. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, seventy K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from seventy patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU of Shahid Beheshti hospital, Kashan, Iran, from May to September, 2020. K. pneumoniae was detected through the ureD gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and biofilm was detected using the microtiter plate assay method. Genetic diversity was also analyzed through polymerase chain reaction based on enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-PCR). The BioNumerics software (v. 8.0, Applied Maths, Belgium) was used for analyzing the data and drawing dendrogram and minimum spanning tree. Findings. K. pneumoniae isolates had varying levels of resistance to antibiotics meropenem (80.4%), cefepime-aztreonam-piperacillin/tazobactam (70%), tobramycin (61.4%), ciprofloxacin (57.7%), gentamicin (55.7%), and imipenem (50%). Around 77.14% of isolates were MDR, and 42.8% of them formed biofilm. Genetic diversity analysis revealed 28 genotypes (E1–E28) and 74.28% of isolates were grouped into ten clusters (i.e., clusters A–J). Clusters were further categorized into three major clusters, i.e., clusters E, H, and J. Antimicrobial resistance to meropenem, tobramycin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin in cluster J was significantly higher than cluster H, denoting significant relationship between ERIC clusters and antimicrobial resistance. However, there was no significant difference among major clusters E, H, and J respecting biofilm formation. Conclusion. K. pneumoniae isolates obtained from patients with COVID-19 have high antimicrobial resistance, and 44.2% of them have genetic similarity and can be clustered in three major clusters. There is a significant difference among clusters respecting antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide-resistant weeds are serious threats to agricultural production. Since a review published in 1996, the number of different examples of weed biotypes developing resistance to one or more herbicides in New Zealand has almost quadrupled. By 1996, six weed species had been shown to have developed resistant biotypes, mostly to either triazine or auxinic herbicides. Most of the herbicide-resistant weed species reported in 1996 were found in the pasture and arable sectors. Evolved herbicide resistance has now been confirmed for a further eight weed species, with resistance to nine herbicide sites of action (giving a total of 25 cases of resistance) now reported in different New Zealand agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. Developing an effective herbicide resistance management strategy requires a good understanding of both the extent of the problem, and also molecular and biochemical aspects of herbicide resistance, in order to develop innovative techniques to overcome herbicide resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of running freshwater systems depends to a large extent on flow rates, which can co‐vary with other environmental variables such as temperature. Water flow and temperature can influence oxidative status of individual animals, thereby impacting muscle function and locomotion. Consequently, ecologically important behaviours such as dispersal may be disrupted.Our aim was to determine whether the interactions between acclimation to flowing water (3 weeks at 0.06 m/s or still water), thermal acclimation (3 weeks at 18 and 28°C), and acute test temperatures (18–32°C) determine oxidative status, locomotor performance, and dispersal in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki).We show that swimming capacity was greater in fish living in flowing water compared to those in still water, and that this difference was greater in warm acclimated fish. However, dispersal was not dependent on maximal locomotor capacities. Fish initiated dispersal to a greater extent when acclimated to flowing water and cool temperature, although there were interactions with acute test temperature.Dispersal speed was not affected by flow acclimation, but it was greater at cool test temperatures in cool acclimated fish, and vice versa for warm acclimated fish. Also, fish acclimated to flowing and cool water made a greater number of dispersal decisions. Oxidative damage to membranes and proteins did not change with flow or temperature treatments, but antioxidant capacities were greater in animals acclimated to flow and cool temperatures.Trait‐specific approaches used to assess fish responses to altered flow regimes typically consider a range of morphological and life‐history traits to characterise species and predict the impact of environmental change. Physiological traits and responses such as those we describe here can be a useful addition to life‐history traits in predicting the impact of environmental change on movement. Consideration of the impacts of physiological traits on dispersal can increase the efficacy of management and restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soliva sessilis is a troublesome annual weed species in New Zealand turfgrass. This weed has been controlled selectively in New Zealand turfgrass for many years using pyridine herbicides such as clopyralid. However, in some golf courses, the continuous application of pyridine herbicides has resulted in the selection of S. sessilis populations that are resistant to these herbicides. This study focuses on a clopyralid-resistant population of S. sessilis collected from a golf course with a long history of clopyralid applications. The resistant phenotype of S. sessilis was highly resistant to clopyralid (over 225-fold). It was also cross-resistant to dicamba, MCPA and picloram but not mecoprop. The level of resistance to dicamba was high (7-14-fold) but much lower (2-3-fold) for both MCPA and picloram. The phenotype was morphologically distinct from its susceptible counterpart. Individuals of the clopyralid-resistant phenotype had fewer lobes on their leaves and were slightly larger compared to the susceptible phenotype. Resistant individuals also had a larger leaf area and greater root dry weight than the susceptible plants. An evaluation of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions confirmed that clopyralid-resistant phenotypes are conspecific with S. sessilis. In summary, the cross-resistance to several auxinic herbicides in this S. sessilis phenotype greatly reduces chemical options for controlling it; thus, other integrated management practices may be needed such as using turfgrass competition to reduce weed germination. However, the morphological differences between resistant and susceptible plants make it easy to see, which will help with its management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With continuous increasing of mining activities, some problems, such as environmental issues, occupy a lot of space, and the risks caused by the instability of mine waste depots are far occurred than ever. One possible way to reduce mentioned problems is to stabilize and reuse mine wastes as road construction materials. On the other hand, the most significant parameter for pavement design, either using empirical or mechanistic–empirical methods, is the resilient modulus (Mr) of road materials, which shows the influence of repetitive loading on the stress–strain behavior of materials. To obtain iron ores, it is required to remove the soil resting on the iron ore storage in deeper layers. This soil is typically in the form of alluvium and is known as mine overburdens (MOs). In this study, after identification of the geotechnical characteristics of two types of MO of the Golgohar mine in Sirjan, Iran, these materials were stabilized by using three different percentages of Portland cement (5, 7, and 9%) and were cured for 7 and 28 days, respectively and the resilient modulus were measured using repetitive triaxial loading equipment at different stress levels. Results show that cement stabilization does not enhance the Mr significantly when bulk stress or confining pressure is low. As the bulk stress or confining pressure increase, the Mr of cement-stabilized MOs increases significantly compared to raw MOs. Another justification is that the Mr of cement-stabilized MOs is a function of bulk stress, and deviatoric stress has a negligible effect on the Mr. The comparison between different nonlinear models revealed that the ‘Universal’ model has the best fit with the measured Mr values of raw and stabilized MOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-fractured horizontal wells have enabled commercial production from low-permeability ('tight') hydrocarbon reservoirs but recoveries remain exceedingly small (< 5–10%). As a result, operators have investigated the use of solvent (gas) injection schemes, such as huff-n-puff (HNP), to improve oil recovery. Previous HNP laboratory approaches, classified primary as 'flow-through-matrix' and 'flow-around-matrix' typically (1) are not fully representative of field conditions at near-fracture regions and (2) require long test times, even when performed on fractured cores. The objectives of this proof-of-concept study are to (1) design and implement a new experimental procedure that better reproduces HNP schemes in near-fracture regions and (2) use the results, simulated with a compositional lab-calibrated model, to explore the controls on enhanced hydrocarbon recovery in depleted tight oil plays. Performing multiple CO2 and (simplified) lean gas HNP cycles, the integrated experimental and simulation approach proposed herein achieves the ultimate recovery factors in a significantly shorter time frame (25–50%) compared to previous studies. The integrated experimental and computational approach proposed herein is valuable for core-based evaluation of cyclic solvent (CO2, CH4) injection in tight hydrocarbon reservoirs for (1) hydrocarbon recovery and (2) subsurface greenhouse (CO2, CH4) gas disposal/storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Smartphone is an important technology device in our lifestyle. It has an important part of our daily lives, but it also has a negative effect, such as cell phone dependency. This research aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of mobile phone abuse (MPA) in the Iranian population. Method: In this study, data were chosen from 1100 participants who were studying in Tehran universities. The principal version of the scale was translated into Persian using the back translation method. All attendees completed Demographic Questionnaire, MPA Questionnaire, and Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale (MPPUS). Eventually, a clinical interview (based on the fifth version of DSM) was done for all the participants. For data analysis, internal and external consistency, factor analysis, construct validity and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used. Statistically, less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: According to expert judgments, content validity index was satisfactory. Furthermore, the reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed with Cronbach's α of 0.90 and test-retest reliability of 0.56 after 3 weeks. The best cutoff point for this questionnaire (MPA) was 46. Also, 4 factors were extracted by principal components method and varimax rotation: "excessive use of cell phone," "addictive use of social networks," "mood modification," and "preoccupation" for both male and female students. Conclusion: MPA could be used in studies on the evaluation of mobile phone addiction. This can be a stepping stone towards the identification of problems and improvement of students' mobile phone abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence and degradation of two common herbicides, atrazine and bromacil in two organic media, wood pulp and sawdust were compared with two soils. The hypothesis tested was that herbicide degradation will be faster in high organic matter media compared to soil. Degradation of two herbicides was carried out in four different temperature regimes and in sterilised media. The degradation half-life (t½) was determined under above-mentioned conditions then compared to degradation in soil. The degradation as quantified by t½ of the herbicides was generally longer in both organic media. Although microbial degradation was an important factor in the mineralisation of these herbicides, overall, the pH of the media had a more profound effect on the desorption and subsequent degradation rate than the organic carbon content. The results of this study revealed that the hypothesis was only partially correct as organic matter content per se did not strongly relate to degradation rates which were mainly governed by pH and microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first step in managing herbicide-resistant weeds is to confirm their resistance status. It is, therefore, crucial to have a rapid, reliable and cost-effective technique to assess samples for herbicide resistance. We designed and evaluated three derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) markers for detecting glyphosate resistance in Lolium perenne. conferred by non-synonymous mutations at codon-106 in the enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene. The dCAPS markers involve amplification of the target region, digestion of the amplified products with restriction enzymes and gel-based visualisation of the digested products. The results showed that all three dCAPS markers could successfully detect mutations at codon-106 in the target enzyme. The dCAPS markers can also inform us of the zygosity state of the resistance allele and was confirmed by sequencing the target region of the EPSPS gene. The markers described here are effective quick tests for the monitoring and evaluation of the target-enzyme mechanism of glyphosate resistance in Lolium perenne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Internet addiction disorder has reportedly become an important cause of health and social problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for internet addiction symptoms, quality of life, and mental health of students with internet addiction. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest measures and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all students at Tehran universities in the academic year of 2018-19. The target group was selected through an internet addiction test and a clinical interview using a targeted sampling method and was divided into experimental and control groups by randomization. The experimental group participated in fifteen 90-minute cognitive-behavioral group therapy sessions. Before, immediately after, and 3 months after the treatment, the internet addiction symptoms of both groups were evaluated to assess mental health with the IAT, quality of life (QOL), and SCL-90-R questionnaires. Data were analyzed with ANCOVA analysis using SPSS Statistics 20 software. Results: After treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy groups showed reductions in internet addiction scores (p < 0.05). Results showed that the cognitive-behavioral group therapy was effective for improving quality of life (p < 0.05) and mental illnesses (p < 0.05) in students with internet addiction. Conclusions: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy can enhance awareness and mental health of students with internet addiction. Therefore, this intervention can be used as a beneficial treatment to reduce internet addiction symptoms and improve the condition of people with behavioral addictions such as internet dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current quantitative research was to design and validate a scale assessing the English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' motivation and employing the scale to investigate the association between teachers' motivation, job commitment, and work engagement. In order to design the scale, the collected data from a triangulated qualitative study by Pourtoussi et al. (Int J Instruct 11(4):175–190, 2018) were employed. The researchers designed the questionnaire based on five factors (teacher-related, administrative, student-related, non-human-related, and immediate environment) rated on a five-point Likert scale. The proposed model was tested via confirmatory factor analysis using the LISREL 8.50 statistical package. Afterwards, we probed the interrelationship between motivation, work engagement, and job commitment via structural equation modeling. The results demonstrated that EFL teachers' motivation positively and significantly predicted work engagement and job commitment. Work engagement positively influenced job commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors such as haloxyfop, pinoxaden and clethodim selectively control grass weed species in many types of crop. Here, we characterised two populations of Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass), R and RV, from South Canterbury and Central Otago respectively, that were suspected to be resistant to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides. Based on 50% reduction in biomass (GR50), in two dose–response experiments, both populations were highly resistant to haloxyfop with resistance factors (RF) >400 times, but resistance to pinoxaden was low (RF of 2). Furthermore, population R was found to be moderately resistant to clethodim (RF >4, based on 50% reduction in survival (LD50)), but population RV had RFs barely greater than 1, based on GR50. Gene sequencing showed that the same target site mutation (Ile-2041-Asn) was associated with resistance to the three herbicides in both populations. The zygosity of the resistance alleles in the plants tested could cause the differences in resistance to clethodim observed between the populations, even though they carried the same mutation. This is the first report of the mechanism of resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in Italian ryegrass from New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being reflective is one of the most paramount features that EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers need to be equipped with in the post-method era for their professional growth and development. The present study aimed to explore reflective teaching from a multi-dimensional perspective in terms of a) determinants that simulates teachers to reflect, b) consequences that teachers experience as a result of their reflective teaching, and c) obstacles that may arise and preclude teachers from reflective teaching. Qualitative data collection method was employed to gather data from 10 EFL teachers triangulating semi-structured interviews, diaries, journal, and observation. Data analysis via MAXQDA led to the emergence of three models for each dimension of the study. The results revealed that teachers not only reflect to respond to a problem, but also they reflect to diminish some negative factors like stress or anxiety on the part of both learners and themselves as well as improving, enhancing, or mending something in teaching or learning. The codes of determinants were also conceptualized into three broad categories of reflection-in-action, reflection-on-action, and reflection-for-action with the reflection-for-action used more frequently by the teachers. In the case of consequences, the codes were classified into two categories of internal and external consequences. It was also concluded that some of the consequences reinforce the reflective teaching and play the role of determinants motivating teachers to reflect again. Regarding the obstacles, after categorizing the codes into external and internal obstacles, it was observed that external factors are more robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenting an accurate and cost-effective solution to tackle static load encroachment issues in backup protection of transmission networks stand as a challenging task. Therefore, this study aims at devising a new backup protection scheme via GPS-based distance relays (GBDRs) against this issue. In this scheme, each GBDR calculates the vulnerability index locally, which helps to find out the vulnerable situation. When these indices exceeded their threshold, the protection centre is allowed for real-time monitoring in the corresponding area. In this regard, after calculating superimposed components, they are sent to the protection centre for discriminating faults from stressed conditions. Deployment of GPS-based relay in each bus brings higher costs and entails sharing large amounts of data. Therefore, a new techno-economic approach helps for the optimal deployment of these relays. To this end, zone-3 in some buses are eliminated, and the rest are equipped with GBDRs while each line at least is protected by two existing zones-3. By doing so, the network is divided into different areas that are protected with the minimum number of these relays. Whereby, coupled with the vulnerability indices, minimising the number of GBDRs alleviates the exchanged data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenting an accurate and cost‐effective solution to tackle static load encroachment issues in backup protection of transmission networks stand as a challenging task. Therefore, this study aims at devising a new backup protection scheme via GPS‐based distance relays (GBDRs) against this issue. In this scheme, each GBDR calculates the vulnerability index locally, which helps to find out the vulnerable situation. When these indices exceeded their threshold, the protection centre is allowed for real‐time monitoring in the corresponding area. In this regard, after calculating superimposed components, they are sent to the protection centre for discriminating faults from stressed conditions. Deployment of GPS‐based relay in each bus brings higher costs and entails sharing large amounts of data. Therefore, a new techno‐economic approach helps for the optimal deployment of these relays. To this end, zone‐3 in some buses are eliminated, and the rest are equipped with GBDRs while each line at least is protected by two existing zones‐3. By doing so, the network is divided into different areas that are protected with the minimum number of these relays. Whereby, coupled with the vulnerability indices, minimising the number of GBDRs alleviates the exchanged data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zidovudine (ZDV) is an antiviral drug against HIV that was approved by the FDA on March, 1987. It is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor. This type of drug stops the reproduction of DNA and decreases the amount of the virus in the patients' blood. Due to the ability of forming various molecular bonds, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used for the detection of large range of agents, including drugs. In this study, we synthesized AgNP-modified β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) using green synthesis for the sensitive and selective zidovudine (ZDV) determination. Characterization of nanoparticles was done using different methods including infrared (IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The AgNP λ-max peak was at approximately 405 nm. In the presence of ZDV, yellow solution was turned to red color, and surface plasmon absorption band was dramatically centered at 560 nm. ZDV was determined in the range of 50–500 μM, and the detection limit value was obtained as 42 μM. The sensor was used to determine ZDV in tablets with good recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this research work was to theoretically calculate the pKa value of boric acid in aqueous solution by theoretical methods at T=298.15 K. Materials and Methods: Boric acid has antifungal and antiviral properties. It is used in various prescription pharmaceutical products. The ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods were used in this research work. Results: To explain the determined acidic dissociation constant, the various molecular conformations and solute-solvent interactions of the species of boric acid were considered. The basis set at the B3LYP/6-31+G (d) level of theory was selected for DFT calculations. We analyzed the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between several species of boric acid and water molecules through Tomasi's method. Conclusion: The result showed that there was comparable agreement between the experimentally and theoretically determined pKa values for boric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the awareness of smartphone addiction, low findings and lack of validated standards have led to insufficient information in this area. This study aimed to examine the relationship between mobile phone dependency and mental disorders in students in Iran, while controlling for the impact of gender, age, educational levels, and marital status. Method: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 1400 university students (445 males and 955 females) aged 18-35 years were selected from 3 cities of Tehran, Isfahan and Karaj. The participants filled out a set of questionnaires: Cell Phone Dependency Questionnaire (CPDQ), Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory, and participated in interviews. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression method via SPSS-22 software. Results: In terms of controlling the demographic variables, the results revealed that bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, somatization, dependent personality disorder, and compulsive personality disorder could increase the possibility of mobile phone addiction by 4.2, 4.2, 1.2, 2.8, 3.1, and 3.2 folds, respectively (P < 0.05). However, other disorders and demographic characteristics did not have any significant effects on the equation. Conclusion: The results can help better understand the relationship between psychological syndromes and smartphone addiction and can also facilitate further studies in this field. In addition, those students with smartphone addiction should be provided with different preventative strategies. Moreover, a growing range of stimulating applications may trigger the risk of addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying characteristics of invasive species or growth forms that facilitate their range expansion is critical for management. Clematis vitalba L. (old man's beard) is an invasive temperate liana in many areas of its introduction, yet its seedlings do not thrive in circumstances where resources are limited. Although some lianas in both tropical and temperate climates have been shown to spread by clonal stems along the ground, the bulk of previous research on C. vitalba reproduction has focused largely on aspects of seed ecology. The vegetative growth of the species is poorly understood. The first objective of our study was to evaluate the use of vegetative spread by C. vitalba as a means of local dispersal and population growth. We excavated ten 1‐m2 plots in infested riparian zones and found an extensive, branching network of creeping stems, both above and below ground. Our second objective was to test the ability of C. vitalba stem fragments to act as vegetative propagules. After 4 months, ~50% of two‐node fragments had regenerated, from both creeping and climbing stems. These studies help explain how a temperate liana forms populations and dominate ecological communities. The findings provide good evidence that C. vitalba may rely quite heavily on asexual reproduction. In addition, the results document liana stem phenotypic plasticity; fragmented climbing stems are just as likely as fragmented creeping stems to reprogram shoot tissue systems, generate roots and regrow as independent plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution by heavy metals is a serious environmental concern globally. Hexavalent (VI) chromium (Cr) is one of the main pollutants causing groundwater and soil heavy metal pollution. Miscanthus sinensis is a C4 perennial grass species with a high level of heavy metal tolerance. This species can effectively remove Cr from soils and maintain desirable biomass production under Cr stress. This research aimed to characterize and compare Cr accumulation in 58 genotypes of M. sinensis and to develop Expressed Sequence Tag–Simple Sequence Repeat (EST-SSR) markers associated with Cr tolerance. The results show that the pattern of translocation of Cr in plants differed among the 58 M. sinensis genotypes following treatment of 200 mg/L of Cr6+; however, in most genotypes, the Cr was primarily accumulated in roots. A total of 43,367 EST-SSRs were identified, and 88 EST-SSR primer pairs corresponding to candidate genes involved in Cr accumulation in M. sinensis were selected for validation. Subsequently, 170 polymorphic loci generated from 24 validated EST-SSRs were used for the population structure and marker–trait association analysis. Based on a general linear model (GLM), a total of 46 associations were identified (p < 0.05), with 14 EST-SSRs markers associated with target traits. Among them, four genes related to ABC transporters, wall-associated receptor kinases, as well as two high-affinity sulfate transporters (ST), were identified under Cr stress (p < 0.05). The results of this study help to accelerate the screening across M. sinensis genotypes for desirable traits under Cr stress and provide a platform for M. sinensis genetic improvement and molecular-marker-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepiolite is a fibrous clay mineral, which is mostly associated with a semi-arid to arid climate, with characteristics intermediate between kaolinite and montmorillonite minerals. An experimental study was conducted, with the goal of creating a substantial database of physical, microstructural, and geotechnical characteristics of sepiolite to develop its applications as a natural resource that is explored as the main deposit of Iran. It has been found that sepiolite soils were lightweight, porous, and cohesive with negligible settlement and swelling properties and almost high UCS values. Various analysis were performed to characterise the macroscopic behaviour (Atterberg limit, physical, and compressibility tests), microstructural, chemical, and mineralogical characterisations by chemical analysis, X-Ray diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. At first glance, sepiolite soils showed high liquid limits with medium to high plastic indices which can result in problems including creation of up and down movements in foundations. After mixing with silt and fine sand to decrease high liquid limit and optimum moisture amounts, sepiolite is suitable candidate for engineering applications (including clay liners, clay cores, etc.) due to its compressibility and strength characteristics. In conclusion, sepiolite soils are strongly recommended for geo-environmental structures due to their adsorption capacity, low permeability coefficient, and suitable strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Exosomes are naturally derived information carriers that present interest as drug delivery systems. However, their vague cargo and isolation difficulties hinder their use in clinical practice. To overcome these limitations, we developed exosome-like nanoparticles, consisted of the main lipids of exosomes, using two distinct methods: thin-film hydration and 3D-printed microfluidics. Our novel microfluidic device, fabricated through digital light processing printing, demonstrated a favorable architecture to produce exosome-like nanoparticles. We compared these two techniques by analyzing the physicochemical characteristics (size, size distribution, and ζ-potential) of both unloaded and genistein-loaded exosome-like nanoparticles, using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. Our findings revealed that the presence of small lipophilic molecules, cholesterol and/or genistein, influenced the characteristics of the final formulations differently based on the development approach. Regardless of the initial differences of the formulations, all exosome-like nanoparticles, whether loaded with genistein or not, exhibited remarkable colloidal stability over time. Furthermore, an encapsulation efficiency of over 87% for genistein was achieved in all cases. Additionally, thermal analysis uncovered the presence of metastable phases within the membranes, which could impact the drug delivery efficiency. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive comparison between conventional and innovative methods for producing complex liposomal nanosystems, exemplified by exosome-like nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired gill function is a critical issue in aquaculture due to factors such as poor water quality, disease, and farm management practices which can greatly compromise gill integrity and ultimately fish growth and survival. Regeneration of damaged gill tissue has been reported for some fish species, however, little is known about Atlantic salmon, which is one of the most economically important salmonid species. This study investigated the regenerative capability of gill tissue following resection in post-smolt Atlantic salmon reared in fresh water. Fish were subjected to two levels of resection severity: 30% or 50% of filament length. Changes in filament length and the cytological and functional capacity of regenerated tissue were studied at several time points post-resection (PR). On average, 38% ± 3.89 of the resected filament length regenerated in both resected groups at week-20 PR. However, absolute regeneration (mm) in 50% resected filaments was greater as compared to the 30% resected filaments. In both groups, regeneration percentage was significantly different among individuals, but was not correlated with initial body size, condition factor, or overall fish growth rate. Immunohistochemistry showed an increase in cell proliferation at the filament tip shortly after resection followed by the appearance of ionocytes, chemoreceptive neuroepithelial cells (NECs), and nerve fibres at week-4 PR. In both resected groups >50% and 90% of NECs were innervated by week-12 and -20 PR, respectively. Gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity in regenerated tissue was not significantly different from that of internal control and non-resected control fish. Our results demonstrate significant regeneration and apparent functional recovery of resected gill filaments in Atlantic salmon which has important implications for recovery from gill damage and developing best practices for maintenance of gill health of farmed salmon. • On average, 38% of the resected filament length had regrown in 20 weeks. • Filaments with higher level of resection showed a higher degree of regeneration. • The degree of regeneration showed significant inter- and intra-individual variation. • Neither fish size nor growth rate influenced gill tissue regeneration. • Regenerated tissue consisted of differentiated cells that appeared functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fractures in low-permeability reservoir dominates the hydrocarbon transport. • Produced lean gas is successfully applied in the cyclic solvent injection process. • The fracture properties control the cyclic solvent injection performance therein. • The induced fractures result in an enhanced oil recovery by 18.5% in the research. Recovery factors associated with primary recovery (pressure depletion) schemes are often small (<5–10%) for low-permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs. As a result, cyclic solvent injection (CSI) schemes, using CO 2 and produced gas, are currently being considered for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery (EOR). Fracture networks, generated during hydraulic fracturing stimulation, affect both primary and enhanced recovery by increasing the surface area contacted with the low-permeability reservoir matrix. However, experimental studies of the impact of induced (hydraulic) fractures on CSI performance are sparse, particularly those that provide a realistic representation of the fracturing process by inducing fractures under stress to better represent fracture conditions (e.g., fracture surface area, fracture surface roughness). Therefore, the primary objective of this work is to develop a laboratory-based workflow for evaluating the effectiveness of fracture system in tight oil reservoirs to enhance the oil recovery during a typical CSI cycle using a combination of core-scale techniques. An in-house core-flooding methodology, that combines 'in situ' fracturing and cyclic gas injection, was applied. The experimental procedure includes: 1) performing multiple cycles of lean gas (i.e., 80% C 1 + 20% C 2) injection into an oil-saturated 'intact' core plug until maximum oil recovery (5%) is reached, 2) artificially fracturing the core plug under stress, 3) repeating multiple cycles of lean gas injection into the artificially-fractured core plug, under similar experimental conditions as those used for the intact core, until maximum oil recovery (23%) is reached, and 4) measuring the fractured-core liquid permeability. A well-characterized tight siltstone core plug sample obtained from the Canadian Montney Formation was analyzed as an example. The experimental results indicate that 1) fracturing under stress results in an increase in surface area and permeability, and 2) the recovery factor is enhanced by ∼ 18% after fracturing (e.g., from ∼ 5% for intact core plug to ∼ 23% for artificially-fractured core plug). This study provides a proof-of-concept experimental approach for evaluating the impact of induced fractures on CSI recovery using an identical core plug sample (intact and fractured). The proposed experimental methodology could serve as a workflow for laboratory-scale evaluation of the impact of induced fractures on CSI performance in tight hydrocarbon reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) can promote photosynthesis. • Tomato plants treated with 0.5 g L−1 of TiO 2 NPs had a better canopy structure. • Tomato plants treated with 0.5 g L−1 of TiO 2 NPs developed a better root system. • TiO 2 NPs treatment also promoted photosynthesis pathways in tomato plants. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are photocatalysts that can boost crop photosynthesis. However, the effects of TiO 2 NPs on photosynthesis performance in tomato plants as well as the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this research, the effects of synthesized TiO 2 NPs on growth, photosynthetic performance and the mechanism underlying enhanced photosynthesis performance were assessed in tomato plants. The results showed that the positive effect of TiO 2 NPs on growth is concentration-dependent, with 0.5 g L−1 of TiO 2 NPs stimulated the maximum growth in tomato plants. However, TiO 2 NPs negatively influenced the growth of tomato plants when it was applied at ≥1 g L−1. At 0.5 g L−1 of TiO 2 NPs, agronomic traits such as plant height, stem diameter and root system were significantly promoted in the treated plants compared to the other concentrations. In addition, the photosynthetic performance of tomato plants was significantly promoted when they were treated with 0.5 g L−1 of TiO 2 NPs. Further investigation revealed that TiO 2 NPs significantly increased the net photosynthetic efficiency, the activity of Rubisco and chloroplast F1F0-ATP synthase, and the content of NADPH in the chloroplast. The results also showed that this photocatalyst positively improved stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency in the treated plants when applied at 0.5 g L−1. In addition, TiO 2 NPs significantly increased the electron transport rate, actual quantum yield, and photochemical quenching coefficient, while it reduced the non-photochemical quenching parameter and non-photochemical quenching coefficient when applied at 0.5 g L−1. Taken together, the results of this study revealed that TiO 2 NPs can improve the growth of tomato plants by enhancing photosynthesis rate and improving photosynthetic parameters. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]