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Among the many impacts of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the most dramatic was the immediate closure of in-person schooling in March/April 2020 when parents were faced with much greater responsibility in supporting their children's learning. Despite this, few studies have examined parents' own perspectives of this experience. The aims of this preliminary study were to: (1) identify challenges, benefits, and useful strategies related to remote learning; and (2) examine differences in findings across two countries, between parents of youth with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and between parents of children and adolescents. To address these aims, parent responses to open-ended questions on the Home Adjustment to COVID-19 Scale (HACS; Becker, Breaux, et al., 2020) were examined across three studies conducted in the United States and Australia (N = 606, children: 68.5% male, ages 6-17 years). The challenges most frequently expressed by parents included the child's difficulty staying on task (23.8% of parents), lack of motivation (18.3%), remote learning factors (17.8%), and lack of social interaction (14.4%). The most frequently expressed strategy related to using routines and schedules (58.2%) and the biggest benefit was more family time (20.3%). Findings were largely consistent across countries, ADHD status, and age, with a few notable group differences. Given that the most common challenges involved child- (e.g., difficulties with staying on task and motivation), parent- (e.g., balancing remote learning with work responsibilities), and school- (e.g., remote instruction difficulties) related factors, there is a need for improved support across these systems going forward.

The induction switched reluctance machine (ISRM) is a novel electric machine that integrates the switched reluctance machine (SRM) with rotor inductive conductors to enhance performance in electric vehicle (EV) powertrain applications. In this topology, the rotor conductors act as a magnetic shield, diverting magnetic flux and preventing magnetic field lines from penetrating the rotor body. By engineering this design, short magnetic flux paths are created in both the stator and rotor of the electric machine. Since its recent introduction, the ISRM represents an emerging technology in the early stages of development. Similar to conventional SRMs, the ISRM can take on various topologies with different stator and rotor pole numbers. Minimizing rotor copper loss is a critical consideration in the ISRM design process. This paper examines two distinct ISRM topologies (12/10 and 12/8), and their characteristics are analyzed using the finite element method. Simulation results, including power density, torque density, efficiency, and copper loss, are presented and compared. Finally, the optimal ISRM topology is proposed for hybrid electric powertrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The interleaved approach has a long history of use in power electronics, particularly for high-power systems. The voltage and current stress in these applications exceed the tolerance limit of a power element. The present paper introduces an improved version of an interleaved boost converter, which uses voltage mode control. The objectives of this research are improvement in the interleaved boost converter's performance in terms of the temporal parameters associated with settling duration, rising time, and overshoot. Methods: An improved PI controller (proportional integral controller) is used for adjusting the proposed converter's output voltage. In the present work, the Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm with aggregation function definition (GWO_AF) is utilized to adjust the free coefficients of the PI controller. The closed-loop dynamic performance and stability can be improved by designing and implementing an optimized PI controller. Results: The improvement of the freedom degree in the interleaved boost converter resulted from the existence of a few power switches in a parallel channel in the proposed circuit. An additional advantage of the interleaved boost converter, compared to the conventional one, is that it produces a lower output voltage ripple. Conclusion: The usage of multi-objective optimization algorithms in designing a PI controller can significantly improve the performance parameters of an interleaved boost converter. Also, our findings indicated the excellent stability of the proposed converter when connected to the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical knowledge on what specific aspects of mental health are associated with spirituality is limited, and explanations for the mechanisms underlying this association is scarce. Furthermore, there is limited research on this association among individuals from non-Christian religious backgrounds and non-Western countries. The current study examined relations between spirituality and aspects of mental health in 1,544 adolescents from diverse religious backgrounds in two Eastern countries, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Additionally, we examined mediating and moderating factors. Adolescents (58% female) ages 11–15 years completed a questionnaire on aspects of their mental health, spirituality, and self-control abilities. Results showed that spirituality had a significant positive association with life satisfaction and a significant negative association with internalizing problems, but a non-significant relation with externalizing problems, controlling for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Self-control completely mediated the association between spirituality and life satisfaction, and this mediational relation was only present for adolescents from the UAE. Results support prior research suggesting positive associations between spirituality and adaptive mental health outcomes and extend these findings to adolescents from diverse religious backgrounds in non-Western countries. These findings have important clinical and policy implications for supporting the role of spirituality in an adolescent's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating Emotions Like An eXpert (RELAX) is a group-based intervention that targets emotion dysregulation (ED) and interpersonal conflict among adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study is a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of RELAX across in-person and telehealth groups, examining differences in treatment outcomes and feedback based on format. Participants included 32 families (18 in-person, 14 telehealth) with adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, ages 11–16. Caregiver-, clinician- and adolescent-report of adolescent ED, adolescent communication, and caregiver-adolescent/family conflict, as well as caregiver self-report of ED and emotion socialization were collected pre- and post-RELAX; caregivers and adolescents completed a feedback survey post-RELAX. Attendance was higher for telehealth (95% vs. 87%), but homework completion was higher for in-person (85% vs. 70%). Caregiver and adolescent feedback indicated very high rates of satisfaction with RELAX, with no significant differences in caregiver satisfaction and minimal differences in adolescent satisfaction between the in-person and telehealth groups. Large improvements were found for caregiver and clinician ratings of adolescent ED (η2 =.18−.48) and family conflict (η2 =.26 and.43), moderate decreases in non-supportive emotion socialization were found (η2 =.11), and small improvements were found for caregiver ED (η2 =.03). Treatment outcomes were similar for in-person and telehealth groups, with some evidence for larger improvement of adolescent ED for telehealth, whereas larger improvement in family conflict emerged for in-person. RELAX was successfully adapted to be administered via telehealth with similar feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy to the in-person intervention. Efforts to continue disseminating and evaluating ED-focused interventions are warranted and imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research shows that children’s responses to rewards and punishments are essential for understanding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and callous-unemotional traits. The present study developed the Contingency Response Rating Scale (CRRS) to fulfill the need for a reliable and valid measure of children’s contingency response style that is brief, easy to use in applied settings, and provides additional information to existing clinical measures. We examined the psychometric properties of the CRRS in a sample of 196 children (ages 5–12), most of whom were referred to evaluate attention and behavior problems in an outpatient clinic. Using principal axis factoring, we identified five factors: (a) punishment ineffectiveness, (b) reward ineffectiveness, (c) punishment dysregulation, (d) reward dysregulation, and (e) contingency insensitivity. The subscales based on these factors showed acceptable test–retest and internal consistency reliability, and scale intercorrelations varied from low to moderate. The subscales also captured significant variance not explained by child or parent demographics and were associated with measures of psychopathology and impairment. The results provide preliminary evidence that the CRRS may be a helpful tool for assessing reward and punishment sensitivity in children with attention and behavior problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of rapid scientific advancement, gene therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking approach with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a myriad of diseases and medical conditions. The trend of current clinical trials suggests that there is growing interest and investment in exploring gene therapy as a viable treatment option. In 2023, a significant milestone was achieved with the approval of seven gene therapies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Projections indicate that between 10 and 20 gene therapies could receive annual FDA approval by 2025. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of registered clinical trials on Clinicaltrials.gov to determine the progression status of gene therapies. Upon extraction of the data, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 2809 included studies. This involved a systematic approach, commencing with an overview, followed by a detailed examination of gene therapy strategies employed in various malignant and non-malignant disorders. Additionally, the study will cover the types of vectors utilized in current trials. Lastly, a meticulous review of 105 phase III-IV clinical trials was conducted to identify potential therapies demonstrating promise. We trust that the comprehensive overview provided will serve as a solid foundation for forthcoming research and study designs, ultimately contributing to the progression of gene therapy and its practical application within healthcare settings. Also, we anticipate that such inquiries will bolster the formulation of practical policies and guidelines for pharmaceutical companies engaged in gene therapy research and development., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no affiliation or involvements that could potentially impact the research, authorship, or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Changes in executive function (EF) occur during adolescence with several factors (e.g., parenting styles, socioeconomic status) influencing the development of EF abilities. These changes are important as EF has been strongly linked with a range of outcomes including academic achievement, job performance, and social-emotional well-being. However, few studies have examined variability in EF trajectories during this critical developmental period, or trajectories in samples known to have specific impairments with EF, such as adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examined differential trajectories of three domains of parent-rated EF in 302 adolescents (167 males; Mage = 13.17 years) with and without ADHD (53.6% with ADHD) from grade 8 to 10. The study also explored whether adolescent ADHD, parent ADHD, and parents' own EF predicted EF trajectories in addition to the longitudinal relation between trajectories and academic outcomes. Findings suggest that adolescence is marked by significant variability in EF development due to factors such as ADHD status, parent ADHD, and parent EF ability. Additionally, adolescents who displayed poor EF abilities throughout middle and high school had significantly lower grade point averages and poorer parent-, teacher-, and self-reported academic outcomes. Implications for interventions targeting EF deficits among adolescents with and without ADHD are discussed.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder that causes a significant reduction in peripheral blood platelet count. Fortunately, due to an increased understanding of ITP, there have been significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Over the past decade, there have been a variety of proven therapeutic options available for ITP patients, including intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), Rituximab, corticosteroids, and thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs). Although the effectiveness of current therapies in treating more than two-thirds of patients, still some patients do not respond well to conventional therapies or fail to achieve long-term remission. Recently, a significant advancement has been made in identifying various mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ITP, leading to the development of novel treatments targeting these pathways. It seems that new agents that target plasma cells, Bruton tyrosine kinase, FcRn, platelet desialylation, splenic tyrosine kinase, and classical complement pathways are opening new ways to treat ITP. In this study, we reviewed the pathophysiology of ITP and summarized updates in this population's management and treatment options. We also took a closer look at the 315 ongoing trials to investigate their progress status and compare the effectiveness of interventions. May our comprehensive view of ongoing clinical trials serve as a guiding beacon, illuminating the path towards future trials of different drugs in the treatment of ITP patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the Modern era, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been the cornerstone of success in the treatment of several malignancies. Despite remarkable therapeutic advances, complex matrix together with significant molecular and immunological differences have led to conflicting outcomes of ICI therapy in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. As far we are aware, to date, there has been no study to confirm the robustness of existing data, and this study is the first umbrella review to provide a more comprehensive picture about ICIs' efficacy and safety in GI malignancies. Systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library identified 14 meta-analyses. The pooled analysis revealed that ICIs application, especially programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors such as Camrelizumab and Sintilimab, could partially improve response rates in patients with GI cancers compared to conventional therapies. However, different GI cancer types did not experience the same efficacy; it seems that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and esophageal cancer (EC) patients are likely better candidates for ICI therapy than GC and CRC patients. Furthermore, application of ICIs in a combined-modal strategy are perceived opportunity in GI cancers. We also assessed the correlation of PD-L1 expression as well as microsatellite status with the extent of the response to ICIs; overall, high expression of PD-L1 in GI cancers is associated with better response to ICIs, however, additional studies are required to precisely elaborate ICI responses with respect to microsatellite status in different GI tumors. Despite encouraging ICI efficacy in some GI cancers, a greater number of serious and fatal adverse events have been observed; further highlighting the fact that ICI therapy in GI cancers is not without cost, and further studies are required to utmost optimization of this approach in GI cancers., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The use of nanomaterial-based radiosensitizers to improve the therapeutic ratio has gained attraction in radiotherapy. Increased radiotoxicity applied to the tumor region may result in adverse impact on the unexposed normal cells to the radiation, a phenomenon known as radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE)., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Bi 2 S 3 @BSA nanoparticles (NPs) as radiosensitizers on the enhancement of bystander response in non-irradiated cells., Materials and Methods: Lung carcinoma epithelial cells were exposed to 6 MV x-ray photons at different doses of 2 and 8 Gy, with and without Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs. The irradiated-cell's conditioned medium (ICCM) was collected and incubated with MCR-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts., Results: This study showed that ICCM collected from 2-Gy-irradiated A549 cells in the presence of Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs reduced the cell viability of MCR-5 bystander cells more than ICCM collected from irradiated cells without NPs ( P <0.05), whereas such a difference was not observed after 8-Gy radiation. The mRNA expression of the BAX and XPA genes, as well as the cell death rate in MCR-5 bystander cells, revealed that the Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs significantly improved bystander response at 2-Gy ( P <0.05), but the efficacy was not statistically significant after 8-Gy Irradiation., Conclusion: The results indicated that the presence of NPs did not affect bystander response enhancement at higher concentrations. These findings highlighted the potential use of radiation-enhancing agents and their benefits in radiotherapy techniques with high doses per fraction., Competing Interests: Nothing to declare., (Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s); Published by Iranian Journal of Biotechnology.)

In the future, there will be competition among natural gas, CO 2 , and hydrogen for suitable geological storage sites. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate all of the potential storage options. One promising option is the utilization of fractured carbonate rocks, which offer significant opportunities for gas sequestration in depleted reservoirs and saline aquifers. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of using carbonate matrix rocks in saline aquifers for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. Although carbonate reservoirs are currently not ranked highly for carbon storage due to the risk of CO 2 leakage, their matrix rock with reactive minerals like calcite and dolomite, along with the possibility of natural fractures, presents an interesting opportunity. This research proposes a reassessment of the role of fractures, which are typically viewed as a risk factor, within a novel and integrated context. It combines geochemical modeling with numerical models that incorporate two distinct density levels of natural fractures. The interactions between the carbonate matrix, the formation brine, and the injected CO 2 can lead to water vaporization and the deposition of evaporite minerals, known as the halite scale, within the porous medium. These minerals can be transported within highly conductive fractures that possess a permeability 100 times greater than the matrix. The study findings indicate that the fractures become filled, creating a natural seal that prevents CO 2 leakage through what was previously considered a potential pathway in both models and different initial pH values. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the formation of secondary minerals through the reaction of CO 2 and its aqueous counterparts with rock matrix minerals. These minerals, including Dawsonite, are then deposited within fracture apertures, compensating for the dissolution of calcite from the matrix and reducing the risk of enhanced fracture conductivity during CCS operations. The deposition of halite scales in initially acidic-brine saturated aquifers and/or Dawsonite scales in initially alkaline-brine saturated aquifers serves to partially counterbalance the permeability enhancement resulting from calcite dissolution. This phenomenon makes carbonate rocks a more secure option and highlights their potential suitability for CCS projects. The existence of these scales acts as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of increased permeability and enhancing the integrity of the storage reservoir., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates proliferation, survival and metabolism, and its dysregulation is one of the most frequent oncogenic events across human malignancies. Over the last two decades, there has been significant focus on the clinical development of PI3K pathway inhibitors. More than 40 different inhibitors of this axis have reached various stages of clinical trials, but only a few of them have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancer treatment. These clinical results, however, could be improved given the importance of PI3K signaling in cancer and its role in linking cancer growth with metabolism. In this systematic review, after a glance at PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its different inhibitors, we retrieved registered clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors on Clinicaltrials.gov. Following the extraction of the data, finally we analyzed 2250 included studies in multiple steps, beginning with an overview and moving on to the details about type of malignancies, inhibitors, and treatment strategies. We also took a closer look at more than 100 phase III-IV clinical trials to pinpoint promising therapies, hoping that presenting a comprehensive picture of current clinical trials casts a flash of light on what remains to be done in future clinical trials of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in human malignancies., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Although pioglitazone, a well-known anti-diabetic agent, has recently established itself as a pillar of cancer treatment, its therapeutic value could be attenuated by the aberrant activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway., Aim: To evaluate whether the PI3K/Akt suppression in leukemic cells could potentiate the anti-leukemic effects of pioglitazone., Methods: To assess the anti-leukemic effects of PI3K/Akt inhibitors on anti-leukemic effects of pioglitazone, we used MTT and trypan blue assays. Flow cytometric analysis and qRT-PCR were also applied to evaluate cell cycle and apoptosis., Result: The resulting data revealed that upon PPARγ stimulation in different leukemic cell lines using pioglitazone, the survival and the proliferative capacity of the cells were significantly halted. Then, we evaluated the impact of the PI3K/Akt axis on the effectiveness of the drug in the most sensitive leukemic cell line; NB4 cells. Our results showed that treatment of NB4 cells with the PI3K inhibitors increased the sensitivity of leukemic cells to pioglitazone to the degree that even lower concentrations of the agent succeeded to induce apoptotic as well as the anti-proliferative effects. Moreover, it seems that PI3K inhibition could potentiate the anti-leukemic effect of pioglitazone through induction of p21-mediated sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and altering the balance between the pro-and anti-apoptotic genes., Conclusion: This study sheds light on the significance of the PI3K/Akt pathway in APL cell sensitivity to pioglitazone and proposed that the presence of the PI3K inhibitor in the therapeutic regimen containing pioglitazone could be promising in the treatment of this malignancy., (© 2022 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The shelf life of horticultural commodities depends on pre- and postharvest factors, such as soil fertilization and postharvest handling. The current study aimed to evaluate fresh-cut celery's postharvest quality as affected by the rate and type (organic and chemical) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and postharvest treatments. Celery ('Tall Utah') crop was grown in a field in Karaj, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications and seven preharvest (fertilizer), and five postharvest treatments. Organic fertilizers were vermicompost (VER) and bio-organic fertilizer [farmyard and livestock manure plus Trichoderma harzianum (COM)]. Chemical fertilizers were urea (46% N) at high rate [322 kg·ha 1  N (UREA&#95;HIGH)], optimal rate [196 kg·ha -1  N (UREA&#95;OPT)], and low rate [138 kg·ha -1  N (UREA&#95;LOW)]; ammonium nitrate [35% N (AN)] at 196 kg·ha -1  N; and treatment without fertilization was used as a control. Postharvest treatments included plastic packaging (PP), hydrocooling (HC), blanching (B), and edible coating of psyllium seed mucilage (EC). After postharvest treatments, celery petioles were stored (0-2°C, 85%-90% RH) for 4 weeks and evaluated weekly for quality attributes. Organic fertilizers and UREA&#95;LOW were the most effective treatments in reducing the changes in color, weight loss, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and total soluble solids (TSS) of fresh-cut celery. Organic fertilizers enhanced the vitamin C content, total phenols, and antioxidant activity in celeries. As postharvest treatments, hydrocooling, plastic packaging, and blanching maintained chroma and hue values. Blanching had the greatest effect on the L * value. Hydrocooling increased celery's TA, TSS, and vitamin C content and reduced weight loss and pH during storage. Thus, celery quality was improved when grown under low or adequate N fertilization. Hydrocooling was an effective postharvest treatment for preserving fresh-cut celery quality during storage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this study., (© 2022 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has shown a vast range of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic to life-threatening symptoms. To figure out the cause of this heterogeneity, studies demonstrated the trace of genetic diversities whether in the hosts or the virus itself. With this regard, this review provides a comprehensive overview of how host genetic such as those related to the entry of the virus, the immune-related genes, gender-related genes, disease-related genes, and also host epigenetic could influence the severity of COVID-19. Besides, the mutations in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 &#95;&#95; leading to emerging of new variants &#95;&#95; per se affect the affinity of the virus to the host cells and enhance the immune escape capacity. The current review discusses these variants and also the latest data about vaccination effectiveness facing the most important variants., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) disease seems to be higher in individuals with solid organ transplantation. Therefore, the purpose of the present research is to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 and laboratory data and epidemiologic factors in liver transplant recipients and the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the records of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and of recipients of a liver transplant. Demographic data, underlying disease, history of drug use and participants' outcomes were collected. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for all patients was confirmed using a nasopharyngeal swab specimen with real-time RT-PCR. During the study period, 172 patients were enrolled, among whom 85 patients (49.4%) were on the waiting list for liver transplantation, and 87 patients (50.6%) were recipients of a liver transplant. Out of them, 10 (5.8%) had a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 7.05% (6/85) and 4.6% (4/87) of patients on the waiting list and recipients of liver transplants were positive for SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Patients on the waiting list with COVID-19 infection had a higher median of albumin, ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, HDL and LDL value. In summary, the incidence of COVID-19 in liver transplant patients was slightly higher. The existence of underlying liver diseases should be well known as one of the poor predictive factors for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. So, comparative studies are recommended to identify risk factors for COVID-19 in patients with liver injury., (© 2021 The Author(s).)