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The matter of death has been and is always one of the greatest and major questions of the man. “What is death and how we can escape from or even having philosopher's stone” have been always one of the important subjects in the literature. The matter of death had and has also certain position in philosophy. Hence, this philosophical issue has been emerged in different forms in literary and artistic works. Samuel Beckett as one of the founders of absurdism in theater literature has coped to this important philosophical matter in his works. This article tries to review Heidegger’s perusal of the death matter in the play of “Endgame” by Beckett. In this research, the content of anguish and its relation with the matter of death in the play of Endgame which is resulted to prolonged ennui and absurdity has been reviewed on the strength of Heidegger’s opinions. Whereas, in this article the point is Endgame play with the theme of death, we should say the Heidegger’s philosophy could make us clear the philosophical sights of Beckett about death in this play. This matter could not just help the audiences of Beckett theater to better understand his hidden philosophy in his theater works, but could be a clear practical example to understand the phenomenological meaning of death from the Heidegger’s opinion. This article has been written by citing to librarian resources and references.

Abstract Background To discover effective drugs for treating Influenza (a disease with high annual mortality), large amounts of recombinant neuraminidase (NA) with suitable catalytic activity are needed. However, the functional activity of the full-length form of this enzyme in the bacterial host (as producing cells with a low cost) in a soluble form is limited. Thus, in the present study, a truncated form of the neuraminidase (derived from California H1N1 influenza strain) was designed, then biosynthesized in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), Shuffle T7, and SILEX systems. E. coli BL21 (DE3) was selected as a best host for statistical optimization. Using central composite design methodology, neuraminidase expression level was measured at 20 different runs considering most effective factors including; concentration of isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), temperature, and induction time. Result The recombinant neuraminidase was purified using Ni-affinity chromatography in soluble form. The neuraminidase expression was confirmed by western blot technique with a molecular mass of 48 kDa. The optimum expression condition was at temperature (30°C), induction time (3 h), and concentration of IPTG (0.6 mM) resulting in maximum neuraminidase expression (7.6 µg/mL) with P

Abstract Background We sought to analyze, in well-defined clinical setting, the first 100 patients treated at the intraoperative MRI (iMRI) hybrid surgical theatre at our facility in a population-based setting to evaluate which pathologies are best approached with iMRI assisted surgeries, as this is not yet clearly defined. Methods Patients undergoing surgery in the 3T iMRI hybrid surgical theatre at our neurosurgical department between December 2017 to May 2021 were included after informed consent. Demographic, clinical, surgical, histological, radiological and outcome parameters, as well as variables related to iMRI, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were subdivided into adult and pediatric cohorts. Results Various neurosurgical procedures were performed; resection of tumors and epileptic foci, endoscopic skull base procedures including pituitary lesions, deep brain stimulation (DBS) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). In total, 41 patients were pediatric. An iMRI scan was carried out in 96% of cases and led to continuation of surgery in 50% of cases, mainly due to visualized remaining pathological tissue (95.2%). Median time to iMRI from intubation was 280 min and median total duration of surgery was 445 min. The majority of patients experienced no postoperative complications (70%), 13 patients suffered permanent postoperative deficits, predominantly visual. Conclusion Herein, we demonstrate the first 100 patients undergoing neurosurgery aided by iMRI at our facility since introduction. Indications for surgery differed between pediatric and adult patients. The iMRI was utilized for tumor surgeries, particularly adult low-grade gliomas and pediatric tumors, as well as for epilepsy surgery and DBS. In this heterogenous population, iMRI led to continuation of surgery in 50%. To establish the benefit in maximizing the extent of resection in these brain pathologies future studies are recommended. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Abstract Background Migraine affects one in ten individuals worldwide and is the second leading cause of disability. Studies have shown an association between migraine and the musculoskeletal system, and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) play an essential role. Additionally, those with myofascial pain have been proven to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety. Understanding the association between MTrPs and migraine is crucial for developing targeted treatment strategies. Additionally, recognizing the link between MTrPs and migraine-related depression and anxiety underscores the importance of a holistic approach to migraine management. By addressing both musculoskeletal and neurological factors, healthcare providers can provide more effective and personalized care for migraine patients. This study aims to determine the association between MTrPs with migraine-related disability, anxiety, depression, and migraine characteristics. Methods This cross-sectional study included 68 migraine patients from an outpatient neurology clinic. The number of MTrPs was determined through examination by an experienced neurologist during a migraine-free period using the recommended international criteria. We evaluated anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and disability with the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS). Results We enrolled 68 patients (22 males) with a mean age of 36.23 ± 9.63 years. The mean number of MTrPs was 2.75 ± 2.934. MTrPs were positively correlated with severity (CC: 0.576, P-value

Surgery is the main efficacious treatment for many cases of cystic echinococcosis by removing Echi-nococcus granulosus cysts. However, to reduce risk of cyst spillage and insemination of the content, using a scolicidal agent is crucial. Considering side effects of available scolicidals, and growing nano-technological approaches in novel pharmaceuticals, the present study aimed to find out the scolicidal activity of geraniol (GL), geranium oil (GM), and their developed nanoemulsions (Nano-GL and Nano-GM) on the protoscoleces of E. granulosus. Nanoemulsions were developed by ultrasonication emulsification and characterised by dynamic light scattering method (DLS). The scolicidal effect of GL, GM, Nano-GL, and Nano-GM at different concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50 µg/mL were determined after 0.5, 1, and 2 hours of incubation. Mortality rates were measured by eosin exclusion test. The average droplet size for Nano-GM and Nano-GL were 124.8 and 88.59 nm, respectively. After one hour of exposure, all tested concentrations of GL and Nano-GL resulted in higher than 90% mortality rates, while GM and Nano-GM killed 70.66% and 90.33% of protoscoleces, respectively. Based on 50% lethal concentration, Nano-GL was significantly more potent than Nano-GM (LC50: 4.52 vs 102.95 μg/mL). Results of scanning electron microscopy revealed tegumental disruption in the treated protoscoleces. This study described an easily applicable and eco-friendly procedure of nano-formulating functional phytochemicals, showing promising scolicidal activity in vitro. The developed formulations, especially Nano-GL, showed the characteristics of an ideal scolicidal agent. Further studies are needed to assess in vivo efficacy and safety of this formulation.

Abstract Background and purpose The seroprevalence of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) was evaluated 17 years following a mass vaccination campaign in individuals aged 2 to 22 years who had received routine immunization but were not eligible for an extended immunization program. Methods Samples were acquired from Iran’s National Measles Laboratory (NML), with individuals showing positive IgM results excluded. Out of the samples collected in 2020, a random selection of 290 serum samples was chosen, representing individuals between the ages of 2 and 22 years from diverse regions in the country. These samples were subjected to analysis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify specific IgG antibodies against MMR. Results The seroprevalence rates of antibodies for measles, mumps, and rubella were determined to be 76.2%, 89.3%, and 76.9%, respectively. Younger age groups exhibited higher seropositivity rates for measles and mumps, whereas the 7- to 11-year-old group demonstrated the highest seropositivity rate for rubella. A reduction in antibody status was observed from younger to older age groups, particularly those aged 17–22. Conclusion The study unveiled suboptimal antibody levels for measles and rubella, highlighting the necessity for further investigation and potential adjustments to future vaccination strategies. Moreover, the decline in antibody status post-vaccination can accumulate in seronegative individuals over time, elevating the risk of outbreaks.

Background: To date, no specific exercises have been designed to selectively strengthen the vastus medialis muscle. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to provide a clear answer to the question: Is it truly impossible to strengthen the vastus medialis independently of the entire quadriceps muscle group? Methods: Thirty-three females with lateral patellar compression syndrome were randomly divided into 2 groups: one focused on selective strengthening of the vastus medialis (n = 16) and the other on general strengthening of the quadriceps (n = 17). The intervention lasted 8 weeks. Muscles cross-sectional area and electrical activity were assessed using ultrasound and electromyography, respectively. Data analysis was done using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: In the selective strengthening group, significant increases were observed in the activity and cross-sectional area of the vastus medialis, as well as in the ratios of vastus medialis/vastus lateralis activity and cross-section from pre-to post-intervention (P

ABSTRACT Purpose Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is the primary cardiovascular risk factor, making it a global issue. Our objective was to assess the association between the age at menarche (AAM) and MetS and its components in different generations of women. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, 5500 eligible women aged ≥ 20 who participated in the Tehran lipid and glucose study in 2015–2017 were selected. Participants were divided into groups by birth cohorts (BC) (born ≤ 1959, 1960–1979, and ≥ 1980) and AAM (≤ 11, 12–15, and ≥ 16 years, early, normal, and late, respectively). The status of MetS and its components were compared amongst participants using logistic regression. Results Normal AAM (12–15 years) was considered the reference group. The adjusted model revealed that AAM ≤ 11 is associated with a higher risk of 34% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.71) in MetS, and the prevalence of MetS in the early menarche group was higher in BCI, and BCII (odds ratio (OR): 1.87; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.36 and OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.89, respectively). Those with late menarche demonstrated a lower risk (OR:0.72; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.91) of abdominal obesity, and early menarche showed a higher risk (OR: 1.45; CI: 1.14, 1.86). This higher risk in early menarche was observed in BCI and BCII (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.66 and OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.64, respectively). However, the protective effect of late menarche was observed in BC II and BC III (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.00 and OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.96, respectively). Conclusions The influential effect of AAM on metabolic disturbances varies amongst different generations.

Public transport services are often designed to meet travel demand under regular situations. However, severe weather conditions (e.g., heavy rainfall, snow, thunderstorms, etc.) can adversely impact the service operation, leading to problems such as in-vehicle overcrowding, delays, and trip cancellations. In this study, we propose a novel approach to address in-vehicle overcrowding issues during weather disruptions. In this approach, we dynamically reassign buses from low-demand trips to lines where the expected demand exceeds the capacity threshold of the in-service buses. This way, the existing capacity is utilized more efficiently without requiring additional vehicles or drivers. Considering the shortage of bus drivers in Europe, as well as in the Netherlands, this is a more efficient solution than other alternatives such as deploying additional buses from the depot. Experiments were conducted on a bus network in Enschede in the Netherlands. The results showed that in several disrupted situations, we can reassign bus trips to overcome overcrowding issues without significant negative impacts on the operation or passengers. However, the approach entails a trade-off between passengers of a canceled trip and an overcrowded trip. Some passengers must wait for the next bus or use other means of transport as a consequence of bus reassignment.

Background: Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) is a pathogen that may invade the human stomach. This bacterial strain is now causing widespread concern and considerable health issues worldwide. In contrast to antibiotic treatment, which may lead to drug resistance, vaccination therapy is emerging as a possible immunotherapy option for H. Pylori. DNA vaccines are a potential option to traditional vaccines among vaccine research methods. Furthermore, the multiepitope DNA vaccination may induce a broader immune response to suppress H. Pylori infection. Methods: Four target antigenic proteins (outer membrane beta-barrel, outer membrane beta, HofA, and hcp beta-lactamase-like protein) were used to identify epitopes. The best B and T cell epitopes were selected to induce humoral and cellular immune responses and were connected using the HEYGAEALERAG and GGGS linkers. The peptide's physicochemical characteristics, secondary and tertiary structures, antigenicity, and allergenicity were evaluated utilizing several bioinformatics tools. The multiepitope peptide was successfully inserted into the pcDNA3.1 expression vector. The immunological responses of both the vaccinated and control groups were evaluated by measuring cytokines and antibodies. Results: Based on the data, the multiepitope peptide consists of 278 amino acid residues and has an average molecular weight (MW) of 28643.61 Da. The peptide residues were mainly situated within the preferred and permitted areas of the Ramachandran plot, accounting for 92.86 % of the total. The VaxiJen server has calculated that the multiepitope peptide has an antigenicity score of 1.0067. BALB/c mice vaccinated with the DNA vaccine produced significantly higher levels of specific IgG antibodies (p

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of mortality due to liver cirrhosis globally. Despite the advances in recent therapeutic strategies, there is yet a high burden of HCV-related cirrhosis worldwide concerning low coverage of newly developed antiviral therapies, insufficient validity of the current diagnostic methods for cirrhosis, and incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis in this stage of liver disease. Hence we aimed to clarify the molecular events in HCV-related cirrhosis and identify a liver-specific gene signature to potentially improve diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.Through RNA-seq transcriptome profiling of liver samples of Iranian patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to functional annotation including biological process (BP) and molecular function (MF) analysis and also KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the validation of RNA-seq data was investigated for seven candidate genes using qRT-PCR. Moreover, the diagnostic and prognostic power of validated DEGs were analyzed in both forms of individual DEG and combined biomarkers through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Finally, we explored the pair-wise correlation of these six validated DEGs in a new approach.We identified 838 significant DEGs (padj ˂0.05) enriching 375 and 15 significant terms subjected to BP and MF, respectively (false discovery rate ˂ 0.01) and 46 significant pathways (p-value ˂ 0.05). Most of these biological processes and pathways were related to inflammation, immune responses, and cellular processes participating somewhat in the pathogenesis of liver disease. Interestingly, some neurological-associated genes and pathways were involved in HCV cirrhosis-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Out of seven candidate genes, six DEGs, including inflammation-related genes ISLR, LTB, ZAP70, KLRB1, and neuronal-related genes MOXD1 and Slitrk3 were significantly confirmed by qRT-PCR. There was a close agreement in the expression change results between RNA-seq and qRT-PCR for our candidate genes except for SAA2-SAA4 (P= 0.8). High validity and reproducibility of six novel DEGs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers were observed. We also found several pair-wise correlations between validated DEGs.Our findings indicate that the six genes LTB, ZAP70, KLRB1, ISLR, MOXD1, and Slitrk3 could stand as promising biomarkers for diagnosing of HCV-related cirrhosis. However, further studies are recommended to validate the diagnostic potential of these biomarkers and evaluate their capability as targets for the prevention and treatment of cirrhosis disease.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the most common causes of disability. Spasticity is a common clinical impairment that occurs after a stroke. This study investigates the effect of Nintendo Wii games on the outcomes of spasticity, functional mobility, and quality of life in patients with stroke. Materials and Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial study, 30 patients with stroke were randomly assigned to one of the experimental and control groups. Subjects of both groups received conventional physiotherapy. In addition, the experimental group also received Nintendo Wii games for 30 min, three times a week for a total of 12 sessions. The primary outcomes spasticity and functional mobility that respectively evaluated using the modified modified Ashworth scale (MMAS) and the timed up-and-go test before and after the treatment. The assessor was blind about group assignment. Meanwhile, the secondary outcome included quality of life. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software, version 20. Results: The intragroup results showed that in the experimental group, spasticity was significantly reduced (P=0.001), functional mobility improved (P=0.001), and the quality of life increased significantly (P0.05). Conclusion: Considering these results, the use of Nintendo Wii can be suggested as a treatment modality alongside the usual treatments to achieve more and faster effectiveness in patients with stroke.

Abstract Background and Aims Literature suggests that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the progression of diabetes. Since poor glycemic control enhances the formation of advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in individuals with diabetes, exploring the association between glycation and oxidative states in diabetes could also shed light on potential consequences. This study evaluated the effects of albuminuria on AGEs and AOPP levels and measured their relationship in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with or without albuminuria. Methods A cross‐sectional, matched case‐control study was designed, including 38 T2D subjects with albuminuria and 38 matched T2D subjects with normoalbuminuria. Patients were matched by their body mass index (BMI), age, and duration of diabetes. The unadjusted and adjusted correlation between AGEs and AOPP in the studied groups were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Using ggplot2, the ties between these two biochemical factors in cases and controls were plotted. Results This study elucidated a significant association between AGEs and AOPP in participants with normoalbuminuria (r = 0.331, p‐value

Abstract Background Limited studies have investigated the relationship between Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), yielding inconclusive results. This study aimed to examine the relationship between AMH levels and MetS and its components in women from a general population. Methods This prospective study recruited 769 women. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models analyzed longitudinal trends of MetS components. Cox proportional hazard models evaluated effect of age-specific AMH tertiles on MetS occurrence, adjusting for confounders. Results The GEE analysis indicated that women in the third tertile exhibited higher mean FPG compared to those in the first tertile of age-specific AMH (3 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.40, 5.60; P = 0.024); however, this association became non-significant after adjustment. Notably, the second tertile showed a significant decrease in FPG mean changes over time (-0.69 mg/dL; 95% CI: -1.31, -0.07; P Interaction = 0.030). Women in the second and third tertiles of age-specific AMH demonstrated lower mean HDL-C compared to the first tertile (-2.96 mg/dL; 95% CI: -4.67, -1.26; P

Abstract The manipulation of microscopic objects requires precise and controllable forces and torques. Recent advances have led to the use of critical Casimir forces as a powerful tool, which can be finely tuned through the temperature of the environment and the chemical properties of the involved objects. For example, these forces have been used to self-organize ensembles of particles and to counteract stiction caused by Casimir-Liftshitz forces. However, until now, the potential of critical Casimir torques has been largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that critical Casimir torques can efficiently control the alignment of microscopic objects on nanopatterned substrates. We show experimentally and corroborate with theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations that circular patterns on a substrate can stabilize the position and orientation of microscopic disks. By making the patterns elliptical, such microdisks can be subject to a torque which flips them upright while simultaneously allowing for more accurate control of the microdisk position. More complex patterns can selectively trap 2D-chiral particles and generate particle motion similar to non-equilibrium Brownian ratchets. These findings provide new opportunities for nanotechnological applications requiring precise positioning and orientation of microscopic objects.

Abstract This paper introduces a shape‐based inflow scenarios reduction framework applied in long‐term hydro‐thermal scheduling. This scheduling problem involves strategically managing the limited stored hydro energy in coordination with the electricity system. The scenario fan problem, selected as a long‐term hydro‐thermal scheduling approach, can effectively represent the individual hydropower plants and their short‐term flexibility within the long‐term scheduling process, making it well‐suited for capturing the disaggregated physical characteristics of hydro stations. However, the computational burden of scenario fan problem increases due to the complexity of the cascaded system and the large number of inflow scenarios. To tackle these challenges, a machine learning clustering method is developed for extracting shape‐based features to capture the energy and shape attributes of hydro inflows. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, comparing it with four established clustering methods. This evaluation was carried out on a hydro‐thermal test case, utilizing both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample data analysis. The findings demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms other methods in terms of computational time by 42.6% and optimal reservoir trajectories by 12.1% considering K‐means using Euclidean distance as the benchmark. Additionally, this study showcases the feasibility of performing long‐term hydro‐thermal scheduling at a granular level, with detailed topological information and a shorter time scale. This expanded approach opens up new possibilities for addressing the integration of renewable energy resources within the realm of long‐term hydro‐thermal scheduling.

Abstract Semiconductor heterojunctions are ubiquitous components of modern electronics. Their properties depend crucially on the band alignment at the interface, which may exhibit straddling gap (type-I), staggered gap (type-II) or broken gap (type-III). The distinct characteristics and applications associated with each alignment make it highly desirable to switch between them within a single material. Here we demonstrate an electrically tunable transition between type-I and type-II band alignments in MoSe2/WS2 heterobilayers by investigating their luminescence and photocurrent characteristics. In their intrinsic state, these heterobilayers exhibit a type-I band alignment, resulting in the dominant intralayer exciton luminescence from MoSe2. However, the application of a strong interlayer electric field induces a transition to a type-II band alignment, leading to pronounced interlayer exciton luminescence. Furthermore, the formation of the interlayer exciton state traps free carriers at the interface, leading to the suppression of interlayer photocurrent and highly nonlinear photocurrent-voltage characteristics. This breakthrough in electrical band alignment control, interlayer exciton manipulation, and carrier trapping heralds a new era of versatile optical and (opto)electronic devices composed of van der Waals heterostructures.

Abstract Background Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare and fatal opportunistic viral demyelinating infectious disease of the central nervous system (CNS). There are various clinical presenting symptoms for the disease. Case presentation This paper presents a clinical case of PML in a patient with B-Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), previously treated with Chlorambucil, later complicated later with COVID-19 and mucormycosis. Conclusion PML can develop in the setting of cellular immune dysfunction. Late diagnosis of this disease based on nonspecific symptoms is common, therefore when we face a neurological complication in a CLL or immunocompromised patient, we should consider PML infection. A remarkable feature of this case is the possible triggering effect of COVID-19 vaccination for emergence of PML as the disease can be asymptomatic or sub-clinical before diagnosis.

Background: Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are oncogenic drivers. Using the Auria Biobank in Finland, we aimed to identify and characterize patients with these gene fusions, and describe their clinical and tumor characteristics, treatments received, and outcomes. Material and methods: We evaluated pediatrics with any solid tumor type and adults with colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), sarcoma, or salivary gland cancer. We determined tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) protein expression by pan-TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of tumor samples from the Auria Biobank, scored by a certified pathologist. NTRK gene fusion was confirmed by next generation sequencing (NGS). All 2,059 patients were followed-up starting 1 year before their cancer diagnosis. Results: Frequency of NTRK gene fusion tumors was 3.1% (4/127) in pediatrics, 0.7% (8/1,151) for CRC, 0.3% (1/288) for NSCLC, 0.9% (1/114) for salivary gland cancer, and 0% (0/379) for sarcoma. Among pediatrics there was one case each of fibrosarcoma (TPM3::NTRK1), Ewing’s sarcoma (LPPR1::NTRK2), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (DAB2IP::NTRK2), and papillary thyroid carcinoma (RAD51B::NTRK3). Among CRC patients, six harbored tumors with NTRK1 fusions (three fused with TPM3), one harbored a NTRK3::GABRG1 fusion, and the other a NTRK2::FXN/LPPR1 fusion. Microsatellite instability was higher in CRC patients with NTRK gene fusion tumors versus wild-type tumors (50.0% vs. 4.4%). Other detected fusions were SGCZ::NTRK3 (NSCLC) and ETV6::NTRK3 (salivary gland cancer). Four patients (three CRC, one NSCLC) received chemotherapy; one patient (with CRC) received radiotherapy. Conclusion: NTRK gene fusions are rare in adult CRC, NSCLC, salivary tumors, sarcoma, and pediatric solid tumors.

Introduction: , renowned for its exceptional multidrug resistance and its role as a prevalent nosocomial pathogen, poses a formidable challenge to conventional antibiotic therapies. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of Secapin, an antimicrobial peptide, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) . Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying Secapin’s antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were elucidated.Methods: The antimicrobial and antibiofilm effectiveness of Secapin against MDR was assessed through a series of experiments. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Secapin were determined using established protocols. Time-kill kinetic analysis was performed to assess the concentration-dependent bactericidal effect of Secapin. Additionally, the capacity of Secapin to impede biofilm formation and eradicate biofilms was investigated. Hemolytic potential was evaluated using human red blood cells, while mammalian cell viability was examined at varying Secapin concentrations.Results: Secapin exhibited robust bactericidal activity at minimal concentrations, with an MIC of 5 µg/mL and an MBC of 10 µg/mL against MDR . The time-kill kinetic analysis confirmed the concentration-dependent efficacy of Secapin in diminishing bacterial viability. Moreover, Secapin demonstrated the ability to prevent biofilm formation and eliminate established biofilms. Notably, Secapin exhibited no hemolytic activity and preserved mammalian cell viability up to a concentration of 100 µg/mL.Conclusion: These findings underscore the substantial potential of apin as a potent agent against multidrug-resistant , showcasing its efficacy in both antibacterial and antibiofilm capacities. The favorable attributes of Secapin, characterized by its minimal hemolytic effects and high mammalian cell viability, position it as a promising contender in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence on the neurological sequelae of COVID-19 is a serious concern, with patients possibly being at risk of permanent debilitation if not managed appropriately. We aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of neurological manifestations and diagnostic and therapeutic findings among hospitalized COVID-19 patients consulted with the neurology service for neurological disorders. We conducted a retrospective, observational study at the Golestan Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran, between March 20, 2020, and March 19, 2021. Patients' demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic characteristics were extracted from medical records and then subjected to statistical analysis. Results Overall, 6.7% (157/2340) of COVID-19 patients at Golestan Hospital had a neurological disorder. Most of the patients (90/157) were men, and the mean age of patients was 62.91 ± 91 years. A total of 56.68% of patients (89/157) were SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive. The mean chest CT severity score was 8.26 ± 4.4, ranging from 1 to 19. The most common neurologic disorders were cerebrovascular disease (72.6%), encephalopathy (8.9%), and Guillain–Barre syndrome (6.4%). The CSF SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was positive in one patient with Guillain–Barre syndrome. The in-hospital mortality rate was 43.9%. Definite COVID-19, ICU admission, history of stroke and dementia, and comorbidities were associated with an increased mortality risk in these patients. Conclusions Patients with COVID-19 can present with serious neurological disorders such as cerebrovascular disease and impaired consciousness, even without typical COVID-19 symptoms. Close monitoring for neurological symptoms may help improve prognosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Statement of the Problem: Patients with leukemia are prone to infectious and often life-threatening complications. Evidence suggests that a specific oral microbiota may contribute to septicemia, which can delay antineoplastic treatment, compromise treatment efficacy, or even endanger patients' livesPurpose: This study investigated the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the saliva of patients with acute myeloid leukemia who were candidates for bone marrow transplantation.Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 in the Hematology-Oncology Department of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The study included 28 patients with acute myeloid leukemia eligible for bone marrow transplantation as the case group and age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as the control group. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected to determine the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18, the chi-square test, and the independent t-test.Results: In the patients with acute myeloid leukemia, 26 (86%) were positive for Staph-ylococcus aureus and 18 (60%) were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the healthy group, 11 (22.9%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus and 3 (6.2%) were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in the saliva samples of patients with acute myeloid leukemia was significantly higher than in the healthy control subjects (p value < 0.05). Chi-square test showed no significant association between age and the frequency of bacteria (p value= 0.27).Conclusion: In the current study, the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the saliva of patients with acute myeloid leukemia was higher than in the healthy control group.

Abstract Background & aim The association between weight change and incident hypertension (HTN) in menopausal women has not been well characterized. This study aimed to determine whether weight changes after menopausal years make a difference in incidents of hypertension. Materials & methods This population-based study was performed using data collected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study cohort (1999–2018). Women who had natural and early menopause were followed up every 3 years. Data gathering was performed through the standard protocol of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis. We used the ‘survival’ package in the R software version 3.6.0 to fit survival models. Results A total of 487 menopausal women met the inclusion criteria; 62.6% had natural menopause and remained had early menopause. Among the participants, 65.5% experienced HTN. The highest proportion of participants had > 5% weight gain, while the lowest had 3–5% weight gain. Either losing body weight (lost > 5%: HR: 0.44; CI 95%, 0.32, 0.62; p 5% (HR: 0.69; CI 95%, 0.51, 0.91; p = 0.01), were associated with decreased risk of HTN after adjustment for confounders. In this study, weight loss and gain have a protective impact on the development of HTN in subjects. For incident HTN, age (HR: 1.04 (1.01, 1.08), p = 0.004), fasting blood glucose (HR: 1.01, CI 95%:1.00, 1.01; p

With the ongoing development of Indoor Location-Based Services, the location information of users in indoor environments has been a challenging issue in recent years. Due to the widespread use of WiFi networks, WiFi fingerprinting has become one of the most practical methods of locating mobile users. In addition to localization accuracy, some other critical factors such as latency, and users’ privacy should be considered in indoor localization systems. In this study, we propose a light Convolutional Neural Network-based method for edge devices (e.g. smartphones) to overcome the above issues by eliminating the need for a cloud/server in the localization system. The proposed method is evaluated for three different open datasets, i.e., UJIIndoorLoc, Tampere and UTSIndoorLoc, as well as for our collected dataset named SBUK-D to verify its scalability. We also evaluate performance efficiency of our localization method on an Android smartphone to demonstrate its applicability to edge devices. For UJIIndoorLoc dataset, our model obtains approximately 99% building accuracy, over 90% floor accuracy, and 9.5 m positioning mean error with the model size and inference time of 0.5 MB and $51~\mu $ s, respectively, which demonstrate high accuracy in range of state of the art works as well as amenability to the resource-constrained edge devices.

Facing above-knee amputation poses a significant hurdle due to its profound impact on walking ability. To overcome this challenge, a complex adaptation strategy is necessary at the neuromuscular level to facilitate safe movement with a prosthesis. Prior research conducted on lower-limb amputees has shown a comparable amount of intricacy exhibited by the neurological system, regardless of the level of amputation and state of walking. This research investigated the differences in muscle synergies among individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputations during walking at three different speeds of transient-state gait. Surface electromyography was recorded from eleven male transfemoral amputees’ intact limbs (TFA), and the concatenated non-negative matrix factorization technique was used to identify muscle synergy components, synergy vectors (S), and activation coefficient profiles (C). Results showed varying levels of correlation across paired-speed comparisons in TFA, categorized as poor (S1), moderate (S3 and S4), and strong (S2). Statistically significant differences were observed in all activation coefficients except C3, particularly during the stance phase. This study can assist therapists in understanding muscle coordination in TFA during unsteady gait, contributing to rehabilitation programs for balance and mobility improvement, and designing myoelectric prosthetic systems to enhance their responsiveness to trips or falls.