Search

This article studies the output feedback finite‐time boundary control for unstable heat systems with the spatially varying coefficient. First, a finite‐time observer with switched gains under a state‐dependent switching law is designed in order to estimate the states of the system in a finite‐time only exerting one displacement boundary measurement. Next, an observer‐based linear finite‐time control is planned. Namely, a linear switched control under a state‐dependent switching law is proposed to vanish every solution of an unstable heat partial differential equation with spatially varying coefficients in a finite time. We also present explicit forms for the proposed observer gains and output feedback finite‐time controller. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided to confirm the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite childhood experiences' significant role in the pro-environmental behaviour of adults, this issue has insufficiently been addressed within the tourism and recreation context. The current study investigates how childhood nature-based recreation experiences (CHNREs) affect adults' pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) in nature-based recreation through connectedness to nature, psychological ownership, and environmental knowledge. It also explores the mediating role of psychological ownership in the relationship between connectedness to nature and environmental knowledge with adults' PEBs in nature-based recreation. The study's population included young domestic Iranian visitors to natural sites, and 503 online questionnaires were analyzed employing structural equation modelling AMOS-SEM. The findings showed a significant positive influence of childhood experience on adult PEBs and supported the mediating role of the two variables: connectedness to nature and environmental knowledge. Despite the significant positive impact of environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature on psychological ownership, the mediating role of this variable in the relationship between environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature with PEBs was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) stands as the second-leading cause of female-specific cancer-related fatalities globally, necessitating comprehensive research to address its critical aspects. This study aimed to explore the time intervals between surgery and disease recurrence in BC patients and their survival utilizing various parametric and semi-parametric models. Methods: After the examination of data collected from 2010 to 2021 at a BC Center in Tehran, Iran, 171 cases met the criteria for analysis out of 2246 datasets. Model fitting, was assessed through the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and indicated the logistic distribution as the most fit one among concurrent and independent variable models. Results: The Cox proportional hazard regression model consistently demonstrated superior fitting, characterized by the lowest AIC values. The average age at diagnosis was 50.39 years, with a standard deviation of 11.13. Typical survival time was estimated 53.44 months, falling within a confidence interval of 51.41–55.48 months at a 95% confidence level. The 1-year survival rate was determined at 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.94). Notably, patient age while cancer diagnosis, progesterone receptor (PR), tumor grade, and tumor stage were found to be statistically significant (P <.05) risk factors for prediction of BC recurrence after surgery in Iran by Cox model. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of further exploration and consideration of the identified risk factors in BC research and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the seed dormancy profile (SDP) of plant communities may provide insight into species adaptive mechanisms, community structure, and dynamics. Golestan National Park (GNP) in Iran consists of different types of vegetation, namely deciduous temperate forest, matorral, and steppe in close proximity but with variability of environmental factors. Plant species, life forms, and kinds of seed dormancy were determined in the three vegetation types, and a SDP of types was generated and compared with corresponding ones in the world database. In all GNP vegetation types, 80%–82% and 2%–3% of the species had dormant (D), and nondormant (ND) seeds, respectively, but in 17% the class of dormancy was unknown. Physiological dormancy (PD) was the most abundant followed by physical dormancy (PY). The species percentage with ND seeds in GNP was significantly two or three times lower than that in the world database. The PD percentage in the matorral was significantly higher than that in the world database. The PY percentage was higher in the forests but lower in the matorral and steppe compared with the world database. The morphophysiological (MPD) dormancy percentage was significantly lower in the forests but higher in the matorral and steppe than in the global database. Seed dormancy profiles were not affected by the proximity of vegetation types in the GNP, but they differed from those of the world database for each vegetation type. The past climatic fluctuations associated with the present‐day seasonality of the region might be the selective pressure for the increased percentage of species with D seeds in the GNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's are some of the most common neurological disorders, which affect millions of people worldwide. Although there have been many treatments for these diseases, there are still no effective treatments to treat or completely stop these disorders. Perhaps the lack of proper treatment for these diseases can be related to various reasons, but the poor results related to recent clinical research also prompted doctors to look for new treatment approaches. In this regard, various researchers from all over the world have provided many new treatments, one of which is CRISPR/Cas9. Today, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is mostly used for genetic modifications in various species. In addition, by using the abilities available in the CRISPR/Cas9 system, researchers can either remove or modify DNA sequences, which in this way can establish a suitable and useful treatment method for the treatment of genetic diseases that have undergone mutations. We conducted a non-systematic review of articles and study results from various databases, including PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, in recent years. and have investigated new treatment methods in neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on Alzheimer's disease. Then, in the following sections, the treatment methods were classified into three groups: anti-tau, anti-amyloid, and anti-APOE regimens. Finally, we discussed various applications of the CRISPR/Cas-9 system in Alzheimer's disease. Today, using CRISPR/Cas-9 technology, scientists create Alzheimer's disease models that have a more realistic phenotype and reveal the processes of pathogenesis; following the screening of defective genes, they establish treatments for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most prevalent gynecological malignancy in more developed countries. Multiple researches have been done about the role of IL-27 in different cancers that suggest a dual role for this cytokine. In the present study, we evaluated the serum level of IL-27 in endometrial cancer patients. We also investigated the correlations between serum levels of IL-27 and the demographic and clinicopathologic features of the patients. Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 65 endometrial cancer patients and 58 sex-age-match healthy controls were investigated. Serum levels of IL-27 in both cases and the control group were assessed by a reliable and specific sandwich enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and results were analyzed with SPSS. Results: We observed that the serum level of IL-27 in EC patients was dramatically higher than in the control group (P=0.003). Additionally, Higher grades of EC (grade II and III) showed higher IL-27 serum levels compared to the control (P=0.006 and P=0.01 respectively). No significant correlations between serum levels of IL-27 and lymph node involvement, tumor stage, tumor size, and demographic features of the patients were detected. Conclusion: Our results showed that there is a statistically significant difference between serum levels of IL-27 in EC patients and controls. Therefore, the serum level of IL-27 may exert a role in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma, although further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida parapsilosis was introduced as the second most responsible for nail involvement. The colonization of biotic and abiotic surfaces by Candida spp. can result in the formation of biofilms, which possess a high level of resistance to typical antifungal agents. Since Candida spp. can produce biofilm mass on the surface of the nails, dermatologists should consider appropriate antifungals to eliminate both the planktonic and biofilm cells. The aim of this research was to determine the antifungal efficacy of itraconazole against C. parapsilosis sensu lato biofilm formations, in addition to its static effects. Ten C. parapsilosis sensu lato isolates were enrolled in this study. The use of itraconazole results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during treatment. In order to verify the correlation between ROS and itraconazole-induced cell death, the viability of cells was analyzed by administering the ROS scavenger Ascorbic acid. The apoptotic features of itraconazole were analyzed using the Annexin V-FITC method. Based on current data, it was found that the generation of intracellular stresses by itraconazole is not observed in cells upon ROS inhibition, emphasizing the importance of intracellular ROS in the apoptotic mechanism of itraconazole. Targeting the oxidative defense system is a powerful point to use ROS-inducing antifungals as a superior choice for more effective therapies in case of recalcitrant onychomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida parapsilosis was introduced as the second most responsible for nail involvement. The colonization of biotic and abiotic surfaces by Candida spp. can result in the formation of biofilms, which possess a high level of resistance to typical antifungal agents. Since Candida spp. can produce biofilm mass on the surface of the nails, dermatologists should consider appropriate antifungals to eliminate both the planktonic and biofilm cells. The aim of this research was to determine the antifungal efficacy of itraconazole against C. parapsilosis sensu lato biofilm formations, in addition to its static effects. Ten C. parapsilosis sensu lato isolates were enrolled in this study. The use of itraconazole results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during treatment. In order to verify the correlation between ROS and itraconazole-induced cell death, the viability of cells was analyzed by administering the ROS scavenger Ascorbic acid. The apoptotic features of itraconazole were analyzed using the Annexin V-FITC method. Based on current data, it was found that the generation of intracellular stresses by itraconazole is not observed in cells upon ROS inhibition, emphasizing the importance of intracellular ROS in the apoptotic mechanism of itraconazole. Targeting the oxidative defense system is a powerful point to use ROS-inducing antifungals as a superior choice for more effective therapies in case of recalcitrant onychomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing travel experience on social media has become an important element of many people's lifestyle, whether it be as a hobby, personal expression, economic rewards or other purposes. While previous studies have extensively investigated the significant role of social media in the sharing of travel experience and how it influences the travel decisions of others, very little research has examined on the travel-sharing behaviour of frequent travellers and how they select travel content and social media platforms on which share and how this sharing behaviour improves their personal ties. This study applied a qualitative research design focusing on 22 in-depth interviews with frequent travellers. The results revealed that frequent travellers have mindfully different sharing behaviour pre, during and post trips, and consider the needs and reactions of followers. Authenticity, uniqueness, relevancy, emotional connection, engagement, visual appeal and educational value of the experience are key factors in selecting what they share. Functionality, wide reach, visual appeal, engagement and the target audience were key in selecting effective social media platforms. Finally, sense of community, fostering empathy, communication with peers, memories together and documentation of their experiences were important in improving their personal ties. The results offer significant theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the authentic happiness theory, the aims of this article are three-fold: first, to propose a refined measurement scale for tourists' sense of well-being; second, to investigate the impact of four categories of tourist experience on tourists' sense of well-being; and third, to explore the effect of the sense of well-being on tourists' satisfaction and loyalty. Data were collected from tourists spending their holidays in the Algarve, Portugal. To address the lack of an integrated measurement scale for assessing tourists' sense of well-being, an exploratory factor analysis was initially conducted. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in WarpPLS 8.0. The findings reveal a three-dimensional scale for tourists' sense of well-being, consisting of meaningfulness, active pleasure, and release. The results also show a significant positive impact of the four realms of tourists' experiences on the sense of well-being. Finally, positive relationships between well-being, tourist satisfaction and loyalty are confirmed. The theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and potential directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In an uncontrolled study, we previously demonstrated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of our virtual diabetes-specific version (Diabetes Body Project) of the eating disorder (ED) prevention program the Body Project. The aim of the current study was to evaluate further this program for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by assessing within-subject changes in outcomes from pretest over 6-month follow-up. Methods: Young women with T1D aged 16–35 years were invited to participate in Diabetes Body Project groups. A total of 35 participants were allocated to five Diabetes Body Project groups (six meetings over 6 weeks). Primary outcome measures included ED risk factors and symptoms, and secondary outcomes included three T1D-specific constructs previously found to be associated with ED pathology: glycemic control as measured by HbA1c level, diabetes distress, and illness perceptions. Results: Within-subject reductions, with medium-to-large effect sizes, were observed for the primary (ED pathology, body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, and appearance ideals and pressures) and secondary outcomes (within-condition Cohen's ds ranged from.34 to 1.70). Conclusion: The virtual Diabetes Body Project appears to be a promising intervention worthy of more rigorous evaluation. A randomized controlled trial with at least a 1-year follow-up is warranted to determine its efficacy compared to a control condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this narrative review, we unravel the complex interplay between oncogenic viruses, cellular metabolism, and glucose transporter (GLUT) dysregulation in viral-induced malignancies. Methods: By explaining the diverse mechanisms through which seven major oncoviruses manipulate metabolic pathways and GLUT expression, particularly GLUT1, we provide novel insights into the critical role of metabolic reprogramming in viral replication and oncogenesis. Results: Our exploration of the molecular pathways targeted by viral oncoproteins reveals a similarity between the metabolic alterations induced by viral infections and those observed in neoplastic transformation. A key finding of our review is the overexpression of GLUTs, particularly GLUT1, as a hallmark of both viral infections and many cancers. Conclusions: By elucidating the complex interplay between viral oncoproteins, oncogene activation, tumor suppressor gene loss, and GLUT overexpression, we highlight the potential of GLUTs as novel targets for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of viral-induced malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is prevalent among postpartum women, with various physiotherapy treatments utilized. Despite the effectiveness of diverse DRA treatment methods and the importance of evaluating its levels and methods, limited attention has been given to this aspect. This study comprehensively investigates DRA, examining evaluation levels and methods, and assessing the efficacy of diverse physiotherapy interventions. Materials and Methods: Online search was conducted in Cochrane, ProQuest, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Magiran databases until the end of 2022, employing the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome framework (population = DRA, intervention = physiotherapy, comparison = control, and outcome = interrectus- distance [IRD]). The JBI checklist and Cochrane Collaboration RoB 2.0 tool evaluated critical appraisal and bias risk. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan software. Results: The study included 16 articles with 650 postpartum women. The findings revealed no significant differences in various measurement methods (P=0.25) and levels (P=0.10). Combination therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness than exercise alone in reducing IRD (P=0.04), with tape being particularly impactful (P=0.009). Conclusion: Although sonography evaluation of IRD above the umbilicus is recommended, the study highlights the limitation of diverse measurement methods and levels in determining the optimal physiotherapy intervention. Despite the preference for combined interventions, especially tape alongside exercise for women with DRA, further research is essential due to limited evidence, aiming to provide greater insights into this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on how soil's inherent variability, driven by environmental changes, introduces substantial uncertainty into geotechnical considerations. Voids forming underground are a key source of this uncertainty, affecting subsoil structures like piles. Using a two-dimensional discrete-element method and considering both fundamental (micro) and engineering (macro) approaches, this study investigates the influence of voids in sandy soil on a pile's behavior, especially on the pile's bearing capacity and lateral pressure coefficient acting upon its shaft. The results reveal a critical zone around the pile where voids can dramatically reduce the pile's bearing capacity, with load reductions of up to 63% in the most extreme cases. Surprisingly, voids have a minimal impact on the lateral pressure coefficient along the pile wall. Thus, it is deduced that the primary cause of the pile's load reduction in the presence of the void is the decreased resistance at the pile's tip. In summary, this research underscores how voids in sandy soil significantly affect the bearing capacity of piles, emphasizing the importance of understanding these effects for safe and efficient subsoil structure design in geotechnical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recalcitrant dermatophytosis is an emerging phenomenon that occurs worldwide, and Trichophyton indotineae is currently the prominent cause. Materials and methods: Skin specimens from patients with tinea infection were obtained by scrubbing and then sectioned into three fragments. Two fragments were subjected to direct microscopic examination and culture, while the third portion was utilized in the PCR method. Results: Isolates were morphologically identified as Trichophyton mentagrophytes/interdigitale complex (n = 60 [83.33%]), Microsporum canis (n = 8 [11.11%]), Trichophyton rubrum (n = 3 [4.16%]), and Epidermophyton floccosum (n = 1 [1.38%]). Among 60 T. mentagrophytes complex isolates, 53 (88.33%) were classified as T. indotineae and seven as T. interdigitale genotype II. The disease duration was longer in the T. indotineae group (P = 0.035). Both Gradient PCR and skin‐sampling methods yield similar results in terms of positive and negative cases (P = 1.0000). The time patients stopped their medication did not impact the positive case numbers (P = 0.803). Gender had no effects on the frequency (P = 0.699). Familial contamination, dermatologic disorder, and other underlying conditions did not differ in the two group infections (P > 0.05). Steroid usage is strongly associated with the emergence of tinea infection (P < 0.04). The duration of antifungal administration had a substantial effect on the emergence of resistant organisms (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Steroid usage, T. indotineae involvement, and prolonged exposure to antifungals were the solid and influential factors in recalcitrant involvement. Regarding quick and suitable diagnosis and treatment, which is essential in preventing recalcitrant cases, we suggest that direct skin sample PCR can meet the demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Early cerebral and body iron dysregulation and accumulation interact with AD pathology, particularly in the precuneus, a crucial functional hub in cognitive functions. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), a novel post‐processing approach, provides insights into tissue iron levels and cerebral oxygen metabolism and reveals abnormal iron accumulation early in AD. Increased iron deposition in the precuneus can lead to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and accelerated neurodegeneration. Metabolic disorders (diabetes, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and obesity), genetic factors, and small vessel pathology contribute to abnormal iron accumulation in the precuneus. Therefore, in line with the growing body of literature in the precuneus region of patients with AD, QSM as a neuroimaging method could serve as a non‐invasive biomarker to track disease progression, complement other imaging modalities, and aid in early AD diagnosis and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The targeted therapy using breast cancer (BC)-associated biomarkers has significantly minimized the side-effects of BC treatment. This study aims to elucidate the role of Nectin2, NUF2, and Nectin4 gene expression in the pathogenesis of BC. Method: In this case-control study, the expression of Nectin2, Nectin4, and NUF2 genes was investigated through real-time polymerase chain reaction assay in 46 tumor tissues from BC patients and 46 adjacent non-tumorous tissues as a control group. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21 software, employing independent t-tests and oneway ANOVA. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of the NUF2 gene in tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P = 0.005, fold change = 3.7). No statistically significant difference was observed in the expression of Nectin2 and Nectin4 between the tumor and adjacent tissues. However, higher expression of Nectin2 was noted in the early stages of the disease, particularly in subtypes with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), progesterone receptor positive (PR+), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-). Furthermore, the expression of NUF2 and Nectin4 was elevated in advanced stages and triple-negative BC subtypes. Notably, the expression of these three genes was higher in patients aged ≤ 45 years. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the expression levels of NUF2, Nectin2, and Nectin4 genes may influence the initiation, progression, and pathogenesis of BC subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by significant global mortality and incidence rates. Annually, approximately 1 million cases of BC are diagnosed worldwide, with over 170,000 classified as triple-negative. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapeutic options, which contributes to poorer outcomes compared to other BC subtypes. The five-year survival rate for patients with TNBC is roughly 30% lower than that for patients with other subtypes. TNBC treatment options are limited to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. There is a critical need for the development of targeted therapies. Enhancing early detection through effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers can significantly improve survival rates. This review explores recent advancements in clinically relevant proteomic, genetic, and metabolomic biomarkers for TNBC, highlighting their potential roles as prognostic, diagnostic, and predictive markers that could facilitate personalized treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience to severe crises like COVID-19 is critical for small businesses. However, little empirical research has been conducted to examine the crisis resilience of small businesses to the pandemic from the perspective of business operators. This research note aims at exploring the resilience of small tourism businesses to the COVID-19 crisis in a world heritage city. In-depth interviews with 25 operators were conducted and the results showed that the operators considered the pandemic crisis as a flame to the previous political and economic crises. Different resilience strategies such as business closure, survival, adaption and innovation were applied by different business operators. The results also confirmed that integration and togetherness helped businesses find better resilience when they share pains. The study further found that despite negative impacts, the pandemic created positive social impacts such as cohesion and solidarity among small businesses. In addition, the government supportive policies were not healing, and their plans in dealing with the crisis were not transparent and professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel bi-objective routing model based on Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) principles. Our model not only aims to minimize vehicle transportation costs and prevent time window violations but also endeavors to mitigate environmental pollutants. This study addresses the complex challenge of optimizing routes for heterogeneous vehicle fleets usingAIoT technology. Analyzing the bi-objective model using AI tools (MOSCA and NSGA II), we unveil a fascinating trade-off: as energy consumption decreases, system costs increase. Employing robust optimization techniques, we validate the model's performance under pessimistic conditions characterized by rising uncertainty rates. Notably, heightened uncertainty correlates with increased objective function values. Through a series of diverse test cases, we observe that MOSCA demonstrates superior efficiency, notably outperforming in NP, MD, and T indices. Our findings offer valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in the domains of transportation optimization, AIoT, and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to make a unique contribution to the existing body of knowledge about rock strength and deformation parameters and crack stress thresholds through intelligent and statistical approaches applied to a database comprising various rock types (i.e., sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks). The database contains physical–mechanical and ultrasonic parameters. Six distinct machine learning (ML) algorithms— artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector regression (SVR), and bagging regressor (BR)— along with the conventional linear regression techniques, were employed to develop predictive models. These models estimate uniaxial compressive strength ( σ c ) and Tangent Young's modulus ( E t ) based on bulk density (ρ ) and P-wave ultrasonic velocity ( V p ). Furthermore, they predict crack stress thresholds (i.e., crack closure stress σ cc , crack initiation stress σ ci , and crack damage stress σ cd ) as a function of σ c , E t , ρ , V p , axial strain at failure ( ε 1 f ), and lateral strain at failure ( ε 3 f ). Various performance indices were utilized to evaluate and compare the performance of these models. The results indicated that the RF method outperformed other ML-based and linear regression-based approaches in predicting the output parameters. Additionally, the multiple parametric sensitivity analysis (MPSA) was carried out to determine the significance of input parameters in predicting the output variables. This analysis revealed that V p and ρ have the highest and lowest impact on predicting σ c and E t , respectively. On the other hand, σ c was identified as the most influential parameter in predicting σ ci and σ cd , while parameters ε 3 f and V p showed the least impact on the foregoing outputs, respectively. This is while ε 1 f and ρ were, respectively, found as the most important and least important factors in predicting σ cc . Finally, to facilitate easy access to the prediction results and enhance the practicality of the proposed RF model, a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed, which enables the practical application of the most performing developed prediction model. Highlights: A comprehensive database including different rock types was prepared to evaluate the rock strength parameters and crack stress thresholds. The used six robust machine learning algorithms effectively unveiled the latent complex nonlinear relationship between the parameters. The random forest algorithm outperformed the traditional regression and machine learning algorithms in predicting the output variables. P-wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, and axial strain at the failure point were identified as the most influential parameters in predicting outputs. The developed user-friendly graphical user interface brings the power of the random forest model to practitioners without the need for complex analyses and destructive laboratory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of mechanical activation on the characteristics of copper and synthesized silver-coated copper powders were investigated. The characterization was carried out using particle size analysis, XRD, BET, SEM, AAS, EDS-map analyses, and electrical resistivity measurements. The obtained results showed that d80 of copper powder changes from 60 to 200 µm as the milling time increases from 0 to 1 h. Meanwhile, by expanding the milling time to more than 2 h, the d80 of the powders decreased to about 50 µm. The specific surface area of copper powder increased from 0.04 to 0.21 m2/g for milling duration of 0.5–1 h. The specific surface area reached to a maximum value of 0.3 m2/g for the milling duration of 16 h. Morphological examination of the core–shell particles produced from 4 to 16 h ball-milled copper powder revealed that surface of the copper particles is completely covered with silver. Studies showed that the apparent density of the samples prepared from Cu–Ag core–shell powder and copper powder decreased from 7.2 to 5.8 g/cm3 and from 6.2 to 5.8 g/cm3, respectively, by increasing the ball milling time from 0 to 16 h. The electrical resistivity of the core–shell bulk samples is always constant (0.25 Ω-cm), but the resistivity of copper bulk samples increased (1–5 Ω-cm) with longer milling time (0–16 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important abnormality in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images is Hyper-Reflective Foci (HRF). This anomaly can be interpreted as a biomarker of serious retinal diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) or the progression of disease from an early stage to a late one. In this paper, a new method is proposed for the identification of HRFs. The new method divides the OCT B-scan into patches and separately verifies each patch to determine whether or not the patch contains an HRF. The procedure of patch verification contains a texture-based framework which assigns appropriate labels according to intensity changes to each column and row. Then, a feature vector is extracted for each patch based on the assigned labels. The feature vectors are utilized in the training step of well-known classifiers like Support Vector Machine (SVM). Then, the classifiers are used to produce the labels for the test OCT images. The new method is evaluated on a public dataset including HRF labels. The experimental results show that the new method is capable of providing outstanding results in terms of speed and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the low voltage level and high current in the distribution system, as well as the high ohmic resistance of the conductors, the majority of power system losses are attributed to the distribution system. As a result, it is necessary to address the issue of reducing distribution system losses. To reduce losses in distribution systems, a wide variety of methods and algorithms have been proposed and are still being developed. The allocation of capacitors in a distribution system is one of the earliest and most effective methods for reducing system losses. With the growth of distributed generations and the diversity of their productive power, the use of capacitors in distribution systems has decreased slightly. Distributed generation resource allocation has replaced this method. Conversely, the reconfiguration of distribution systems has proven to be one of the easiest and cheapest methods for reducing distribution system losses in the past half‐century. Distribution system reconfiguration has been the subject of many studies, each with different objectives. Many studies have also reconfigured the distribution system on a daily and hourly basis. A novel method for dynamic distribution network reconfiguration is presented in this study, which utilizes capacitors and distributed generation resources simultaneously. This method divides 24 h into several periods instead of considering real‐time and hourly data. By reconfiguring and allocating capacitors and distributed generation resources during these periods, the voltage profile is improved and losses are reduced. An IEEE 33 bus network is used to test the simulations. A genetic algorithm was used to reduce losses and improve the voltage profile using MATLAB software. Based on the simulation results, this model provides better results than previous approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply or service networks are vulnerable to hazards that can stem from both unintentional and intentional human actions, as well as natural calamities. To ensure vital infrastructure resilience in these networks, address the interdiction facility location problem. Currently, diverse groups of attackers target supply and service systems to cause maximum disruption. Collaboration among attackers improves system vulnerability detection accuracy and realism. This research examines the challenges of interdiction location with different defense systems and heterogeneous attackers. To address this challenge, a mixed-integer non-linear bi-level programming model was considered. Heuristic optimization methods including variable neighborhood search, simulated annealing, and hybrid variable neighborhood search are used to efficiently solve the suggested model. The outcomes of our investigation suggest that implementing various protective methods leads to an escalation in system damage when attackers collaborate. Furthermore, the findings illustrate the efficacy of the suggested algorithms in resolving interdiction location issues within supply or service networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to design and implement a multimaterial system for printing multifunctional specimens suitable for various sectors, with a particular focus on biomedical applications such as addressing mandibular bone loss. Design/methodology/approach: To enhance both the mechanical and biological properties of scaffolds, an automatic multimaterial setup using vat photopolymerization was developed. This setup features a linear system with two resin vats and one ultrasonic cleaning tank, facilitating the integration of diverse materials and structures to optimize scaffold composition. Such versatility allows for the simultaneous achievement of various characteristics in scaffold design. Findings: The printed multimaterial scaffolds, featuring 20 Wt.% hydroxylapatite (HA) on the interior and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) with 1 Wt.% graphene oxide (GO) on the exterior, exhibited favorable mechanical and biological properties at the optimum postcuring and heat-treatment time. Using an edited triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structure further enhanced these properties. Various multimaterial specimens were successfully printed and evaluated, showcasing the capability of the setup to ensure functionality, cleanliness and adequate interface bonding. Additionally, a novel Gyroid TPMS scaffold with a nominal porosity of 50% was developed and experimentally validated. Originality/value: This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of multimaterial components with minimal contaminations and suitable mechanical and biological properties. By combining PLLA-HA and PLLA-GO, this innovative technique holds significant promise for enhancing the effectiveness of regenerative procedures, particularly in the realm of dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thalassemia is an inherited genetic disorder of hemoglobin that affects a large population worldwide, and it is estimated that between 50,000 and 60,000 infants with thalassemia are born each year. The most common treatment for thalassemia is blood transfusion, which leads to iron overload. This in itself is a serious clinical condition, and is commonly managed with iron chelation therapy. However, iron chelators can cause various skin complications, including hyperpigmentation, skin rash, itching, and photosensitivity. These skin side effects can impact patients' quality of life. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive overview of skin complications caused by iron chelators, along with a proposed comprehensive approach to their management in patients with beta-thalassemia. Key strategies include patient education, regular skin assessment, sun protection measures, symptomatic relief with topical corticosteroids and antihistamines, and consideration of treatment modification if severe complications occur. Collaboration between hematologists and dermatologists, along with psychological support and regular follow-up, is an essential component of this multidisciplinary approach. By implementing these strategies, healthcare providers can optimize skin care for patients with beta-thalassemia treated with iron chelators and improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health literacy is the ability of individuals to use basic health information and services to make well-informed decisions. Low health literacy among surgical patients has been associated with nonadherence to preoperative and/or discharge instructions as well as poor comprehension of surgery. It likely poses as a barrier to patients considering foregut surgery which requires an understanding of different treatment options and specific diet instructions. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the readability of online patient education materials (PEM) for foregut surgery. Methods: Using Google, the terms "anti-reflux surgery, "GERD surgery," and "foregut surgery" were searched and a total of 30 webpages from universities and national organizations were selected. The readability of the text was assessed with seven instruments: Flesch Reading Ease formula (FRE), Gunning Fog (GF), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Coleman Liau Index (CL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Automated Readability Index (ARI), and Linsear Write Formula (LWF). Mean readability scores were calculated with standard deviations. We performed a qualitative analysis gathering characteristics such as, type of information (preoperative or postoperative), organization, use of multimedia, inclusion of a version in another language. Results: The overall average readability of the top PEM for foregut surgery was 12th grade. There was only one resource at the recommended sixth grade reading level. Nearly half of PEM included some form of multimedia. Conclusions: The American Medical Association and National Institute of Health have recommended that PEMs to be written at the 5th–6th grade level. The majority of online PEM for foregut surgery is above the recommended reading level. This may be a barrier for patients seeking foregut surgery. Surgeons should be aware of the potential gaps in understanding of their patients to help them make informed decisions and improve overall health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by the cluster of risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Given the influential role of oxidative stress (OxS) in the pathogenesis of MetS and the antioxidant properties of melatonin, our study aims to investigate the impact of melatonin supplementation on OxS biomarkers and serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in patients diagnosed with MetS. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial involved male and female adult participants with MetS. Subjects in the melatonin and control groups were administered 6 mg/day of encapsulated powdered melatonin or placebo (wheat flour), respectively, over a 12-week period. We evaluated serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and ET-1 in MetS patients, both pre- and post-intervention. Results: Melatonin supplementation significantly decreased serum ET-1 level (1.55 ± 0.24 pg/ml vs. 0.808 ± 0.18 pg/ml; p = 0.04) and MDA (1.326 ± 0.05 μM vs. 1.134 ± 0.05 μM; p = 0.021) in the melatonin group relative to baseline values. Additionally, SOD activity displayed a significant increase (23.64 ± 2.77 U/ml vs. 41.35 ± 1.22 U/ml; p = 0.0001) in the melatonin group when compared to baseline. Conclusion: Our research indicates that 12 weeks of melatonin supplementation in MetS patients leads to a significant reduction in serum ET-1 and MDA levels, alongside an increase in SOD activity levels relative to baseline. However, further comprehensive and well-structured randomized controlled trials are essential for establishing the effects of melatonin supplementation on OxS biomarkers in diverse age demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political organization, as the process of dividing territory, is undertaken by the government with limited borders to control and administer the country through divisions. Governments require a political division of space to effectively manage the territory, facilitate service delivery, promote development, and achieve spatial justice within the country. Country divisions in Iran have historical roots. In recent years, driven by political motives and development needs, there has been an increase in demands for new country divisions, taking the form of promotion, annexation, and abstraction. Lorestan province, located in the western part of the country, is recognized as one of the less developed and less affluent provinces due to reasons such as the lack of coordinated distribution of facilities, services, and resources. Country divisions in this province in 1991 included 6 townships, 20 districts, and 80 villages, which increased to 11 townships, 31 districts, and 87 villages in 2016. A trend that indicates that over the past 25 years, the levels of country divisions in the province have shown a greater tendency to improve. The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method and an applied nature, employing the VIKOR technique within the framework of the Spatial Justice approach, aims to examine how political divisions of space impact spatial justice in Lorestan province. Accordingly, this article seeks to answer questions such as: What effect has country division in Lorestan province had on its spatial justice? Has the situation of townships in health, economic, and physical components improved with the creation of 5 new townships? Results obtained from descriptive data and VIKOR technique analysis show that the spatial justice status in 50% of the townships in the province in 1991 was much lower than the provincial average, and in 2016, this figure encompassed 63% of the townships in the province. Consequently, it can be stated that the increase in country divisions has not had a positive impact on improving the status of the spatial justice index and the equitable distribution of health, economic, and physical-infrastructure components in Lorestan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation focuses on a Bianchi type-V universe characterized by spatial homogeneity and anisotropy, wherein the cosmic medium consists of interacting dark matter and holographic dark energy. We obtain solutions to the field equations by considering the Hubble parameter , and constrain the model parameters. Employing Bayesian analysis and likelihood functions in conjunction with the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, we determine the following model parameters: , and . In this study, we constrain the model parameters by using the joint datasets (). We explain the physical and geometric aspects of the model. We also examine the behavior of the velocity of sound and different energy conditions to test the viability of our cosmological model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the progress in solidification processing of metal matrix composites (MMCs) during the last 60 years. The need for a combination of lightweight, improved mechanical and physical properties has driven interest in these materials for use in transportation-related applications. These composites, incorporating various reinforcements, including oxides, carbides, graphite, graphene, and hybrid composites in the matrix of Aluminum alloy, are discussed along with various solidification processing methods. Limited discussion on issues specific to solidification in composites, including the effect of reinforcements on nucleation, growth, fluidity, microsegregation, and interactions between reinforcements and growing solid–liquid interfaces, have been included. The current and potential future uses of metal matrix composites in transportation applications, including electric vehicles, are presented. Challenges for future growth of the use of metal matrix composites in transportation are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study aimed to develop a framework integrating play into preschool curriculum based on educators' lived experiences using play-based methods. Fifteen educators from 12 centers were interviewed using theoretical sampling. Data analysis revealed nine pathways linking play types, educator roles, and learning objectives. Results culminated in a comprehensive framework elucidating how educators actualize educational goals through play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is no consensus on the frequency and timing of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in tendon healing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of single versus multiple PRP injections in the healing of patellar tendon defects in the experimental model, through histological and biomechanical investigation. Methods: Forty-four male skeletally mature Dutch rabbits were randomly divided into the five study groups (A, B,C, D,E). After creating a longitudinal acute patellar tendon defect on both knees (One-third the width of the patella tendon), the right legs of the rabbits were used as the intervention group and the left legs as the control groups. Animals in groups A, B, and C were euthanized on days 7, 14, and 28, respectively, after the first PRP injection. Animals in group D received the second PRP injection on day 10 and was euthanized on day 14. Animals in group D received the second and third PRP injections on days 10 and 20, respectively, and were euthanized on day 28. The outcomes were evaluated histologically (modification of Movin's Grading) and biomechanically. Results: The inflammatory condition was exaggerated in groups D and E. Load at failure was higher in the non-injected side of groups D and E, while there was no significant difference between the right and left legs of the three groups A, B and C. In other word, groups with a single PRP injection were more resistant to the increasing load compared to the groups with multiple PRP injections. Conclusions: PRP improves tendon healing if injected early after injury, while its injection after the initial phase of injury hampers tendon healing. In addition, a single PRP injection seems to be more effective than multiple PRP injection. Therefore, in cases where PRP injection is indicated for tendon repair, such as acute tendon injury, we recommend using a single PRP injection during tendon repair surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, ultra-low cycle fatigue in retrofitted connections with R-RBS1 and R-RBS2 drilling patterns has been investigated using experimental and numerical methods. The connection was retrofitted with the RBS1 pattern, with a 1% increase in seismic capacity, which failed in the 6% drift angle cycle. While the connection was retrofitted with the R-RBS2 pattern failed in the 5% drift angle cycle. In both connections retrofitted with R-RBS1 and R-RBS2 patterns, the place of damage caused by ultra-low cycle fatigue was in the drilling area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most common types of cancer is Breast Cancer (BC). this meta-analysis study with the aim of Local Management of metastatic Breast Cancer will improve the overall survival. Methods: In this meta-analysis study based on PARISMA checklist and PICO criteria, the survival rate was compared in two methods Systemic Therapy (ST) and Local Therapy (LT) in cancer patients. CMA software and random statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Result: Result showed, 232 articles were found in the initial search, and finally 4 articles entered the meta-analysis stage. The studies conducted in two countries, USA and China, were published in the years 2017 to 2021. In the systemic therapy method, the survival rate varied from 22% to 49%, and in the local therapy method, from 43.56 to 52%. Overall Survival in ST methods was 31.8 (95% CI, 21.5 - 44.1) and Overall Survival in LT methods was 47.1 (95% CI, 41.0-53.3). Conclusion: Considering that the survival rate is higher in LT methods, therefore, this method is recommended for BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: B-cells can contribute to the suppression or progression of the tumor growth through the secretion of various cytokines. In this study, the relevance of B-cell cytokine production to the outcome variables in patients having squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck was studied. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six draining lymph nodes from untreated patients with tongue and larynx SCC were stimulated with CpG, recombinant CD40L and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate/ionomycin and analyzed by flow cytometry for the frequency of B-cell subsets based on interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) cytokine production. Results: It was indicated that patients with uninvolved lymph nodes and low stage of the disease had an increased percentage of TNF-α+ CD19+ B-cells (p=0.006 and p=0.041, respectively), whereas the frequency of IL-10+ CD19+ B-cells showed an increasing trend in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) of patients with grade 2+3 compared to grade 1 (p=0.054). Conclusion: Collectively, TNF-α-producing B-cells in TDLNs has been reported to be associated with good prognosticators in patients with SCC of head and neck that might have a positive role in immunity to SCC of head and neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The prevalence of carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacterales (CPE) continues to increase worldwide. Combination of β‐lactam and novel β‐lactamase inhibitors introduce a revolutionary treatment option for CPE. Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVB) has been recently developed for treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug‐resistant bacteria. We aimed to evaluate in vitro activity of CAZ/AVB on a collection of 85 ESBL‐producing‐carbapenemase negative and CPE from Iran. Methods: ESBL and carbapenemase production was phenotypically confirmed by combined disk test and modified carbapenem inactivation method respectively. The presence of clinically important carbapenemase encoding genes was examined using PCR. Susceptibility of all isolates to CAZ/AVB was determined using discs containing 30 μg ceftazidime +20 μg avibactam (AVB). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CAZ/AVB in 28 CPE (4 Escherichia coli and 24 Klebsiella pneumoniae) was determined by gradient diffusion method using MIC test strips (0.016−256 mg/L ceftazidime +4 mg/L AVB). Results: All phenotypically identified ESBL positive‐carbapenemase negative isolates were found to be susceptible to CAZ/AVB. Among the carbapenem resistant isolates, CAZ/AVB showed potent inhibitory activity against all OXA‐48‐like (MIC ranges 0.125/4−0.75/4 mg/L) and KPC positive isolates (MIC ranges <0.016/4−0.19/4 mg/L). However, AVB could not restore the activity of ceftazdime against isolates producing metallo‐β‐lactamases (MLBs) including VIM, NDM (MIC > 256/4 mg/L) and IMP (MIC > 8/4 mg/L). Conclusion: Our data highlighted the excellent in vitro performance of CAZ/AVB against ESBL‐producing and CPE suggesting that this combination can efficiently be used as therapeutic option for management of CPE infections particularly in regions with high prevalence of KPC and/or OXA‐48‐like positive but MBL‐negative Enterobacterales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important challenges of societies in the last few decades is the destructive and repeated human activities to destroy the environment. The ecological footprint is the latest index measuring the extent of individuals' influence and engagement in addressing the issue of climate change as well as their negative impact on the environment. The economic policies adopted by societies have a significant effect on the process of ecological footprint. Monetary and Fiscal Policies are among the most important policies that, in addition to affecting the productive and economic activities of society, also affect the environment. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of monetary and Fiscal policies on the ecological footprint in Iran during the period from 1980 to 2021 and using the structural vector autoregression method. "Liquidity and the government's final consumption expenditures have been employed as monetary and fiscal policy tools, while economic growth, urbanization, and foreign direct investment have been utilized as control variables." The results of this research show that foreign direct investment and urbanization have a negative and significant impact on the ecological footprint. Also, economic growth, monetary policy, Fiscal policy and the dependent variable itself have a positive and significant effect on the ecological footprint and lead to an increase in the ecological footprint during the mentioned time period. On the other hand, fiscal policy impulses in the long term have resulted in a rise in environmental degradation in Iran. The results of variance analysis in the 10th period show that monetary policy explains 6.70% and Fiscal policy 24.06% of changes in the dependent variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy market operates in a highly deregulated and competitive environment, where electricity price plays a crucial role. Forecasting electricity prices presents a significant challenge due to the influence of complex factors such as weather patterns, fuel costs, and the advancement of renewable energy technologies. This study focuses on monthly electricity prices in four neighboring European countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, and Romania, which share similar weather conditions and economic characteristics. The research investigates the efficacy of four forecasting methods: Grey Verhulst Model (GVM), Nonlinear Regression, Feedforward Neural Network, and Support Vector Regression (SVR). These methods are applied to both short-term (1 month-ahead) and long-term (up to 7 months) electricity price forecasting in the aforementioned countries. The findings reveal that GVM proves suitable for short-term predictions. However, when it comes to long-term forecasting, SVR accurately captures the trends and turning points in electricity prices, albeit with unsatisfactory error rates. To address this issue, a modified version of SVR, referred to as Modified SVR (MSVR), is proposed to mitigate the errors. The results demonstrate that MSVR is an effective approach for long-term electricity price prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to control the formation of heterogeneous flying robots and to cross obstacles. The robots in question are a quadrotor and two unmanned helicopters. Independent attitude and position of robots and formation flight are controlled by the sliding mode method. Improved Artificial Potential Fields has been used to avoid collision with dynamic and static obstacles. The results of the design of the attitude and position controller showed that the attitude and position of the robots were well stabilized and converged in less than 3 s, which is a favorable time. The results of the formation flight simulation were presented in the form of 4 missions. In the first mission, the quadrotor is considered the leader, and the helicopters are the followers. The flight formation is triangular and the flight path is spiral. The results showed that the followers follow the leader. In the second mission, the robot crosses dynamic and static obstacles and the leader tracks the fixed target. In the third mission, the number of followers increases to 5 and the flight formation is hexagonal. The obstacles in this mission are dynamic and the target is moving. The results showed that in these two missions, the leader tracks the target well and the robots maintain triangular and hexagonal flight formations after crossing the obstacles. The results of simulations of group crossing of obstacles showed that the simulation error is less than 4% according to the expected position of the robots, and show the efficiency of the applied methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response signals (RS) have emerged as a powerful interaction tool, but they have yet to be fully understood. The current study analyzes 16 h of daily conversations using discourse-pragmatic frameworks to discuss certain aspects of the most prevalent primary and secondary Persian RSs. An RS is identified as a brief interactive response to a prior speaker's statement, typically expressing (dis)confirmation, (un)acceptance, or backchannel (including assessment and continuer feedback). The research also differentiates and compares the functional and distributional differences and similarities between confirmation and backchannel signals. Following that, it takes a semasiological approach and discusses how the emergence, overlap, and markedness of certain functions for an item can be determined by the persistence of its original propositional meaning as well as the item's grammaticalization and cooptation. The paper thus reviews the markedness of the backchannel function for na 'no' compared to this function's development for ɂāre 'yes'. Last but not least, cross-linguistic phonological tendencies, such as the integration of the phoneme /ɂ/ or /h/ in positive RSs and click sounds in negative ones, are supported by Persian RSs and their variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater is an essential resource due to climate change, population growth, and groundwater contamination. The seas and oceans contain a lot of valuable saltwater. One of the economic ways to convert this expensive product from salt water is to use a stepped solar still. The low efficiency of the majority of solar stills has intrigued researchers to find ways to improve their performance. In this paper, using a neural network based on experimental data, the optimal conditions to reach maximum water production have been identified. The flow rate of desalinated water, the impact of sunlight radiation, the cover tilt angle regarding the horizon, the sodium metasilicate addition to the glass cover, the distance between the glass cover and the water surface, and finally the flow rate of the cooling stream over the glass cover were examined. The results have shown that to achieve more water at higher solar radiation levels, it is necessary to increase the cover tilt angle. Also, in the same conditions, using a low amount of sodium metasilicate compared to not using it increases efficiency by 34% on average. Also, decreasing the distance between the glass cover and the water surface increases the efficiency of this equipment. It was also observed that in low solar radiation, a low cooling flow rate is needed, and in high solar radiation, a high cooling flow rate is needed for more efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is one of the main causes of death in the world. Cigarette use is related with various components of metabolic syndrome (e.g., insulin resistance, raised blood pressure, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, inflammation state) and psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to determine the effect of crocin (Cro) supplementation on nicotine dependence, anxiety, depression, and metabolic indices in smokers. A total of 50 smokers were selected and randomly categorized into two groups (crocin and placebo). The intervention group received crocin (30 mg per day; n = 25) and placebo (containing Avicel; n = 25) once a day. The primary (nicotine dependence, depression, and anxiety inventory) and secondary (metabolic indices) outcomes were assessed at the start of the intervention and after the 3 months. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the treatment effects on the outcomes adjusting for confounding variables. The primary outcome results such as nicotine dependence, depression, and anxiety inventory did not have a significant difference among the intervention groups (P > 0.05). Also in the secondary outcomes, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels did indicate a significant difference by Cro intervention (β − 3.27 mg/dL; 95% CI, − 5.23, − 1.31; P = 0.002; β − 0.76 μIU/mL; 95% CI, − 1.38, − 0.15; P = 0.01; β − 0.18; 95% CI, − 0.29, − 0.07; P = 0.002), respectively. There were also significant reductions in serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β − 0.72 mg/L; 95% CI, − 1.37, − 0.07; P = 0.03), compared with the placebo. Cro intake may have favorable effects on the level of FPG, insulin, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP in smokers. However, due to the small sample size and limited scientific reports on smokers, further studies are necessary. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: IRCT20170420033551N11 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This research aimed to analyze cutting board surfaces in seafood markets to find Vibrio parahaemolyticus , assess the isolates' ability to form biofilms, generate and evaluate characteristics of plasma-activated water (PAW), and compare the effect of PAW on planktonic and biofilm cells of the isolated V. parahaemolyticus strains. Methods and results A total of 11 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from 8.87% of the examined cutting boards. Biofilm-forming ability was evaluated for these isolates at temperatures of 10°C, 20°C, and 30°C using crystal violet staining. Four strains with the highest biofilm potential were selected for further analysis. The pH of the PAW used in the study was 3.41 ± 0.04, and the initial concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, and nitrite were 108 ± 9.6, 742 ± 61, and 36.3 ± 2.9 µM, respectively. However, these concentrations decreased significantly within 3–4 days during storage at room temperature. PAW exhibited significant antimicrobial effects on V. parahaemolyticus planktonic cells, reducing viable bacteria up to 4.54 log CFU/ml within 20 min. PAW also reduced the number of biofilm cells on stainless steel (up to 3.55 log CFU/cm2) and high-density polyethylene (up to 3.06 log CFU/cm2) surfaces, although to a lesser extent than planktonic cells. Conclusions PAW exhibited significant antibacterial activity against V. parahaemolyticus cells, although its antibacterial properties diminished over time. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of PAW against biofilm cells of V. parahaemolyticus was less pronounced compared to the planktonic cells. Therefore, the actual effectiveness of PAW in seafood processing environments can be affected by biofilms that may form on various surfaces such as cutting boards if they are not cleaned properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early stages of breast cancer, malignancy is detected solely in the breast or, in the case of individuals with node-positive disease, the breast, and locoregional lymph nodes. All detected malignancies can be excised surgically. However, undetected deposits of malignancy may persist either locally or at distant sites that, if left untreated, could over the subsequent 5, 7, 10, or more years develop into a life-threatening clinical recurrence. The current systematic review was done based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observationally Studies in Epidemiology and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. The primary keywords were published in reliable databases such as Pubmed, Elsevier, SID, Wiley in English were searched until the end of 2022. Two authors independently examined the articles in terms of data extraction, inclusion criteria, and quality assessment of the articles. The age range from 496 samples was 57.3. Using the results of 5 published articles for MG and CESM, the overall specificity and sensitivity were 89% and 85%, respectively and for MRI, the overall specificity and sensitivity were 81% and 85%, respectively. In conclusion, the MRI method is the most sensitive tool for diagnosing BC in patients, but if a combination of new methods is used together, we will definitely achieve better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online instruction is now a common practice in higher education. Due to the great demand for online instruction, roles and competencies of online instructors have received significant attention to be determined. This study is a systematic review of 11 years of research (2010–2020) on the higher education context's online instructor roles and competencies. The study aims to classify the roles and competencies of higher education instructors in online teaching and learning environments. Forty-three articles were selected from 9 major academic databases using search strings and manual screening protocols. The literature analysis emphasized a total of thirteen roles and eight competency categories. Communication, development, and management have been identified as top online instructors' roles. While "planning, design, and organization", "interaction", and "assessment" have been found as top online instructors' competencies. Further, the time trend analysis showed that communication and developing were the most repetitive roles, and two approaches to identify competencies were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]