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Recent developments in hybrid SPECT/CT systems and the use of cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors have improved the diagnostic accuracy of bone scintigraphy. These advancements have paved the way for novel quantitative approaches to accurate and reproducible treatment monitoring of bone metastases. PET/CT imaging using [18F]F-FDG and [18F]F-NaF have shown promising clinical utility in bone metastases assessment and monitoring response to therapy and prediction of treatment response in a broad range of malignancies. Additionally, specific tumor-targeting tracers like [99mTc]Tc-PSMA, [68Ga]Ga-PSMA, or [11C]C- or [18F]F-Choline revealed high diagnostic performance for early assessment and prognostication of bone metastases, particularly in prostate cancer. PET/MRI appears highly accurate imaging modality, but has associated limitations notably, limited availability, more complex logistics and high installation costs. Advances in artificial intelligence (Al) seem to improve the accuracy of imaging modalities and provide an assistant role in the evaluation of treatment response of bone metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern or mechanized agriculture, chemical spraying is employed to control weed and prevent pest damage. It is very important to spray the chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides) very carefully and correctly using suitable tools to control weed and pests while keeping the environmental and health risks at very low level. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to study the effects of different factors on the behavior and movement patterns of sprayed particles from the beginning of the spraying to the end when the particles reach the plant. Therefore, for this purpose, in this study, the effect of three levels of pressure 2, 3 and 4 on the distribution of volumetric volume of fluid particles after exiting from Tee jet nozzles 110-02, 110-03, 110-04 and one newly designed nozzle has been investigated. This was performed by experimental and numerical methods using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) method. The results revealed that the spraying pressure and nozzle type had significant effects on the particles volumetric distribution (p < 0.01). All the treatments differed significantly. The innovative nozzle had the highest spraying performance at all the three pressures compared to the other nozzles. Among the Tee jet nozzles, the nozzle 110-03 has the best distribution of particle frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects the lower extremities and frequently results in poor clinical outcomes, especially in the vessels below the knee. Understanding the biomechanical and structural characteristics of these arteries is important for improving treatment efficacy, but mechanical and structural data on tibial vessels remain limited. We compared the superficial femoral (SFA) and popliteal (PA) arteries that comprise the above-knee femoropopliteal (FPA) segment to the infrapopliteal (IPA) anterior tibial (AT), posterior tibial (PT), and fibular (FA) arteries from the same 15 human subjects (average age 52, range 42–67 years, 87 % male). Vessels were imaged using μCT, evaluated with biaxial mechanical testing and constitutive modeling, and assessed for elastin, collagen, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). IPAs were more often diseased or calcified compared to the FPAs. They were also twice smaller, 53 % thinner, and significantly stiffer than the FPA longitudinally, but not circumferentially. IPAs experienced 48 % higher physiologic longitudinal stresses (62 kPa) but 27 % lower circumferential stresses (24 kPa) and similar cardiac cycle stretch of <1.02 compared to the FPA. IPAs had lower longitudinal pre-stretch (1.12) than the FPAs (1.29), but there were no differences in the stored elastic energy during pulsation. The physiologic circumferential stiffness was similar in the above and below-knee arteries (718 kPa vs 754 kPa). Structurally, IPAs had less elastin, collagen, and GAGs than the FPA, but maintained similar SMC content. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of segment-specific human lower extremity artery biomechanics and may inform the development of better medical devices for PAD treatment. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in the lower extremity arteries exhibits distinct characteristics and results in different clinical outcomes when treating arteries above and below the knee. However, their mechanical, structural, and physiologic differences are poorly understood. Our study compared above- and below-knee arteries from the same middle-aged human subjects and demonstrated distinct differences in size, structure, and mechanical properties, leading to variations in their physiological behavior. These insights could pave the way for creating location-specific medical devices and treatments for PAD, offering a more effective approach to its management. Our findings provide new, important perspectives for clinicians, researchers, and medical device developers interested in treating PAD in both above- and below-knee locations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of malignancy among men, with bone metastasis being a significant source of morbidity and mortality in advanced cases. Detecting and treating bone metastasis at an early stage is crucial to improve the quality of life and survival of prostate cancer patients. This objective strongly relies on imaging studies. While CT and MRI have their specific utilities, they also possess certain drawbacks. Bone scintigraphy, although cost-effective and widely available, presents high false-positive rates. The emergence of PET/CT and PET/MRI, with their ability to overcome the limitations of standard imaging methods, offers promising alternatives for the detection of bone metastasis. Various radiotracers targeting cell division activity or cancer-specific membrane proteins, as well as bone seeking agents, have been developed and tested. The use of positron-emitting isotopes such as fluorine-18 and gallium-68 for labeling allows for a reduced radiation dose and unaffected biological properties. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics techniques in medical imaging has shown significant advancements in reducing interobserver variability, improving accuracy, and saving time. This article provides an overview of the advantages and limitations of bone scan using SPECT and SPECT/CT and PET imaging methods with different radiopharmaceuticals and highlights recent developments in hybrid scanners, AI, and radiomics for the identification of prostate cancer bone metastasis using molecular imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to perform a contemporaneous systematic review and meta-analysis of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) studies to resolve conflicting results in the literature about the prevalence and anatomical variations of maxillary sinus septa. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, and Cochrane library databases were searched (from inception to 31 October 2022) to identify studies that assessed prevalence and anatomical characteristics (location, orientation, and/or morphology) of maxillary sinus septa in the subjects undergoing CBCT imaging. The necessary data were extracted and pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. A total of 19 studies were eligible, compromising 6507 subjects and 12,536 maxillary sinuses. According to analysis, septa were observed in 34.7% (95% CI: 30.0–39.4) of the maxillary sinuses. Also, 22.9% (95% CI: 17.2–28.7) of patients showed septa in one maxillary sinus, while 17.7% (95% CI: 12.6–22.9) featured them bilaterally. Prevalence of maxillary sinus septa in men was 51.9% (95% CI: 42.0–61.8), which was higher than in women (47.0% [95% CI: 37.6–56.4). Septa were present in 34.8% (95% CI: 23.1–46.5) and 34.3% (95% CI: 26.7–41.9) of the left and right maxillary sinuses, respectively. Regarding location, most of the septa (54.0% [95% CI: 19.7–22.4]) were identified in the middle maxillary sinus region. The most frequent orientation of maxillary sinus septa was coronal (56.9% [95% CI: 54.2–59.5]). Finally, majority of the maxillary sinus septa were incomplete (68.8% [95% CI: 65.9–71.6]). Septa had a considerable prevalence in the maxillary sinuses. Also, significant variations were observed in the anatomical characteristics of the maxillary sinus septa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown a potential association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and some immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but this association has not been analyzed systematically. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain a pooled prevalence estimate of NAFLD among patients with RA to fill this gap in knowledge. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest, for observational studies published from inception to August 31, 2022, which reported prevalence of NAFLD in 100 or more adult (age, ≥18 y) patients with RA. To be included, NAFLD diagnosis was based on either imaging or histologic assessment. The results were presented as pooled prevalence, odds ratio, and 95% CI. The I 2 statistic was used to measure the heterogeneity between studies. This systematic review included 9 eligible studies derived from 4 continents comprising 2178 patients (78.8% women) with RA. The pooled prevalence of NAFLD was 35.3% (95% CI, 19.9–50.6; I 2 = 98.6%; P <.001) in patients with RA. All studies used ultrasound for the diagnosis of NAFLD, except for 1 study that used transient elastography. The pooled prevalence of NAFLD in men with RA was significantly higher than in women with RA (35.2%; 95% CI, 24.0–46.5 compared with 22.2%; 95% CI, 17.9–26.58; P for interaction =.048). Each 1-unit increase in body mass index was associated directly with a 24% increased risk of NAFLD in RA patients (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17–1.31; I 2 = 0.0%; P =.518). Based on this meta-analysis, 1 in 3 patients with RA had NAFLD, which appears comparable with its overall prevalence among the general population. Clinicians should actively screen for NAFLD in patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, fixed-time consensus and formation control for fractional-order multi-agent systems with a dynamic virtual leader in the presence of external disturbances is investigated. Consensus is achieved in fixed-time, i.e., with a finite settling time whose upper bound is independent of the initial conditions of the agents' states. A new distributed sliding-mode control with neighborhood-based error variable is proposed to track a virtual leader in order to achieve a desired consensus in the presence of disturbances. Furthermore, the fractional Lyapunov stability theorem has been employed to prove the fixed-time stability and to estimate the upper bound of convergence. The formation of agents has also been investigated for the agents of fractional-order. Finally, several numerical simulations are provided to determine the effectiveness of the design method. • A new fixed-time sliding mode formation control approach for disturbed fractional-order multi-agent systems is introduced. • The proposed fixed-time protocol guarantees exact formation achievement within a finite settling time. • The upper bound of the settling time is independent of initial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a combination of the interval type-2 fuzzy logic controller (IT2FLC) with the fractional-order proportional–integral–derivative (FOPID) controller, namely optimal interval type-2 fractional-order fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative controller (OIT2FOFPIDC), is developed for enhancing the seismic performance and robustness in seismic structural control applications. Based on the energy concepts, a decentralized framework of the OIT2FOFPIDC is proposed for easy and simple implementation in structures during earthquakes. For this purpose, a coot optimization algorithm (COA), as a powerful optimization algorithm, is also applied to adjust the membership functions (MFs), scaling factors, and the main controller parameters. Three controllers, namely optimal type-1 fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative controller (OT1FPIDC), optimal interval type-2 fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative controller (OIT2FPIDC), and optimal proportional–integral–derivative controller (OPIDC), are also proposed for comparison purposes. The seismic performances of the suggested controllers are examined with the evaluation of nine seismic performance indices and different ground accelerations in a 6-story smart structure equipped with two dampers. The robustness of the four controllers in the presence of the stiffness uncertainties is also compared in this study. On average, a reduction of 25.0%, 18.8%, and 18.5% in peak displacement, inter-story drift, and acceleration of stories is obtained for the OIT2FOFPIDC over the OT1FPIDC, respectively. Similarly, these reductions in comparison with the OIT2FPIDC are 16.3%, 13.3%, and 12.0%. Also, these reductions, in comparison with the OPIDC, are 33.3%, 27.8%, and 25.8%. Furthermore, simulation results show that the OIT2FOFPIDC is more robust than the other proposed controllers against uncertainties due to structural stiffness. • A new framework controller namely OIT2FOFPIDC is developed for implementation in seismic-excited structures. • Based on the energy concepts, a decentralized optimal design framework of the OIT2FOFPIDC is proposed. • A COA is utilized for optimal tuning of the MFs, scaling factors, and the order of the integral and derivative operators. • The OIT2FOFPIDC represents superior seismic performance and robustness over the proposed OPIDC, OT1FPIDC, and OIT2FPIDC. • The proposed optimal design procedure of the OIT2FOFPIDC can be implemented for a wide range of seismic-excited structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing cryptosystem based approaches for privacy-preserving consensus of networked systems are usually limited to those with undirected topologies. This paper proposes a new privacy-preserving algorithm for networked systems with directed topologies to reach confidential consensus. As a prerequisite for applying the algorithm, a structural consensus problem is formulated and the solvability conditions are discussed for an explicitly constructed controller. The controller is then implemented with encryption to achieve consensus while avoiding individual's information leakage to external eavesdroppers and/or malicious internal neighbors. • Sufficient conditions for structural consensus under a directed time-varying network. • A Paillier encryption based privacy-preserving consensus algorithm. • The first privacy-preserving result valid for a directed network. • Explicit design for both first order and second order systems. • Avoidance of information leakage to eavesdroppers and malicious neighbors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Noise levels at the center of small urban green parks (SUGPs) averaged 65.97 ± 17.76 dB. • Traffic volume was identified as the primary factor influencing noise levels in SUGPs. • The design and layout of SUGPs were ineffective in mitigating surrounding traffic noise. • Local factors play a critical role in shaping the acoustic environment of each park. • Tranquil SUGPs should be located in areas with minimal exposure to major roads. Noise pollution poses a significant environmental challenge in Iranian urban areas, particularly within Small Urban Green Parks (SUGPs). This study investigates the extent of noise pollution in SUGPs and identifies key contributors to elevated noise levels. A total of 94 SUGPs, with a mean area of 1.86 ± 0.99 hectares, were selected in Isfahan City, Central Iran, and subjected to 30-m Equivalent Sound Level (L q 30) measurements at their central locations. Explanatory variables were classified into two categories based on road density, traffic volume, proximity to roads, park vegetation, and physical characteristics. The relationship between noise levels and each explanatory variable was observed to be non-linear and polynomial (R 2 < 0.334) in certain instances. Our modeling results using the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)-Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model (R 2 = 0.936) indicate that average noise levels in these parks surpass international guidelines, averaging 65.97 ± 17.76 dB. Traffic volume and proximity to limited access roads were identified as primary factors influencing noise levels in SUGPs. It was observed that the design and layout of small urban parks may not effectively mitigate surrounding traffic noise, even with sufficient green barriers to absorb or block sound. Consequently, future efforts should prioritize strategic site selection for SUGPs to minimize exposure to major noise sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have long been interested in the transportation industry, recognizing its significant impact on human societies. Specifically, the automobile industry and its components have garnered special attention due to the evolving nature of transportation technologies. With this in mind, this study aims to explore the current and future technologies within the tire industry as a technological-based component of the automotive industry. Additionally, the research examines the key topics, leaders of technology, and strategies of technology-owning companies in these topics. To carry out this investigation, we employed a combination of methods including patent analysis and topic modeling. The selection of leading technology companies was based not only on the number of patents but also on the impact and quality of their patents, which was carefully evaluated. By leveraging these methods and results, tire companies and other industries can gain a competitive edge in technology, acquire insights into the current and future market share of leading companies, and develop effective roadmaps for their own advancement. • Patent based technology analysis on tire industry. • Latent dirichlet allocation application for topic identification. • R&D strategies derived from the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• To implement an effectual healthcare data prediction model with big data. • To develop a Hybrid Flower Pollination Bumblebees Optimization Algorithm (HFPBOA). • To optimize the parameters of NN, Fuzzy, KNN with the help of HFPBOA algorithm. • To adopt a designed HFPBOA algorithm to improve the accuracy and precision values. • To adopt an ensemble-based prediction model with the fusion of NN, fuzzy, and KNN. As a result of the availability of healthcare data in sheer size, big data analytics has to grow regularly in this industry to ensure new and effective opportunities. This is helpful in providing early prevention, prediction, and detection of disease, thus helping in the enhancement of the overall life quality of the individuals. Likewise, in this paper, a machine learning-based big data analytics model is developed for predicting multi-diseases to provide a better decision support system for various healthcare applications. This developed framework utilizes the MapReduce framework, where the map phase performs feature extraction and the reduce phase performs feature selection for the purpose of handling and processing big data. The required healthcare data is collected from external web sources. In the map phase, the statistical features and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) features are extracted. In the reduction phase, the optimal features are selected with the aid of the developed Hybrid Flower Pollination Bumblebees Optimization Algorithm (HFPBOA). Then, the Ensemble Learning (EL) model is developed to predict the multi-diseases. Moreover, the parameters present in the EL classifiers are optimized by using the same HFPBOA. The final prediction output is obtained by averaging the weight function between the outputs of the NN, KNN, and fuzzy classifier. Thus, the offered model attains 40.1%, 28.7%, 23.6%, and 10.5% improved than SSA-EL, DOA-EL, BOA-EL, and FA-EL respectively in terms of best value. The effectiveness computed for the developed multi-disease prediction framework is guaranteed by comparing the results among the recently developed prediction approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy (BTP) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that is, often challenging to diagnose preoperatively. We present a case of BTP in a 25-year-old primigravid woman with a history of infertility due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. She was receiving letrozole when she presented with severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Initial evaluation revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the right fallopian tube, prompting an emergency laparotomy. During surgery, a second intact ectopic mass was discovered in the left fallopian tube, highlighting the diagnostic complexity of BTP. Management involved a salpingectomy on the right side and salpingostomy on the left to preserve fertility. This case underscores the importance of considering BTP in the differential diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and the necessity for thorough preoperative imaging studies, namely ultrasonography and surgical exploration, to prevent missed diagnoses. BTP is a rare and challenging clinical entity that requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management. Early recognition, prompt intervention, and close surveillance are essential to mitigate the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. • Bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy (BTP) represents the rarest form of EP • BTP is underdiagnosed and on the rise with the increasing prevalence of ART. • The clinical presentation of BTP mirrors that of unilateral EP ectopic pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of assessing both fallopian tubes • Letrozole has been used for both ovulation induction and treatment of EP • Management of BTP depends on the extent of the damage to the fallopian tube and the desire for fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and its application to various clinical issues have proliferated across the world. Despite very active clusters of ACT research occurring worldwide, the science that is disseminated through the literature does not fully reflect this scope and diversity, with Iran serving as a prime example of this issue. To increase awareness of ACT research findings in Iran, we conducted a systematic review of 110 randomized trials and extracted data on key study features. RCTs were identified, suggesting the efficacy of ACT in Iran for a wide range of clinical areas, including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive related disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and psychological outcomes among patients diagnosed with medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, gastric dysfunctions, pain, infertility, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis as well as improving multiple health-related biomarkers in medical samples. The majority of studies had a relatively high risk of potential bias due to methodological limitations. Several important cultural factors were identified related to how ACT has been delivered and evaluated in Iran. These included targets of treatment and ways that clinical research itself is conducted that differentiate this important body of work from ACT research conducted in Western cultural contexts. • Studies evaluating ACT in Iran are underrepresented in English-language publications. • We conducted a systematic review comprising 110 randomized ACT trials in Iran. • Findings revealed that ACT was efficacious across many physical and mental health areas. • A review of methodological quality indicated a relatively high risk of bias. • Our review revealed important cultural differences in how ACT is delivered in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive Barrett's esophagus (BE) screening efforts, most patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) present de novo. It is unclear how much of this problem is the result of insensitivity or poor applications of current screening guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of guidelines by determining the proportion of prevalent EAC cases that meet the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) or the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines for BE screening and determine whether changes to criteria would enhance detection. A retrospective single-center cohort from the United States (n = 663) and a prospective multicenter cohort from the United Kingdom (n = 645) were collected and analyzed independently. Screening eligibility was determined as patients with chronic reflux and at least 2 or more risk factors as defined by the guidelines. We calculated the proportion of screening-eligible patients and then compared BE/EAC risk factors between screening-eligible and screening-ineligible patients using the chi-squared or Student t test as appropriate. In the Mayo clinic cohort there were 54.9% EAC cases and in the UK cohort there were 38.9% EAC cases that were not identified by ACG or BSG screening criteria, respectively. Among patients who did not meet the screening criteria, lack of heartburn was observed in 86.5% in the Mayo clinic cohort and in 61.4% in the UK cohort. Other risk factors that were lacking included obesity (defined as a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2) and family history of EAC. Eliminating chronic reflux from the ACG/BSG criteria improved eligibility for screening from 45.1% to 81.3% (P <.001) in the Mayo Clinic cohort and from 61.1% (n = 394) to 81.5% (n = 526; P <.001) in the UK cohort. However, reflux may be difficult to ascertain from the history, and by including proton pump inhibitor use status in addition to the BSG criteria, screening eligibility improved by 10.0% in the UK cohort (n = 459; P <.001). ACG/BSG BE screening guidelines have limited our ability to detect prevalent EAC. An optimized approach to identifying the individuals most suitable for EAC screening needs to be implemented, particularly one that does not rely on chronic reflux symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Segmentation methods HIPS, volBrain and CAT were used successfully in the classification of HC, AD and MCI. • Segmentation method BrainSuite did not conform with the other three methods. • ADNI (n = 138) data was split into AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and HC. Automated segmentation methods are developed to help with the segmentation of different brain areas. However, their reliability has yet to be fully investigated. To have a more comprehensive understanding of the distribution of changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as investigating the reliability of different segmentation methods, in this study we compared volumes of cortical and subcortical brain segments, using HIPS, volBrain, CAT and BrainSuite automated segmentation methods between AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls (HC). A total of 182 MRI images were taken from the minimal interval resonance imaging in Alzheimer's disease (MIRIAD; 22 AD and 22 HC) and the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative database (ADNI; 43 AD, 50 MCI and 45 HC) datasets. Statistical methods were used to compare different groups as well as the correlation between different methods. The two methods of volBrain and CAT showed a strong correlation (p's < 0.035 Bonferroni corrected for multiple comparisons). The two methods, however, showed no significant correlation with BrainSuite (p 's > 0.820 Bonferroni corrected). Furthermore, BrainSuite did not follow the same trend as the other three methods and only HIPS, volBrain and CAT showed strong conformity with the past literature with strong correlation with mini mental state examination (MMSE) scores. Our results showed that automated segmentation methods HIPS, volBrain and CAT can be used in the classification of HC, AD and MCI. This is an indication that such methods can be used to inform researchers and clinicians of underlying mechanisms and progression of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iliac arteries play a crucial role in peripheral blood circulation. They are susceptible to various diseases, including aneurysms and atherosclerosis. Structure, material properties, and biomechanical forces acting on different regions of the iliac vasculature may contribute to the localization and progression of these pathologies. We examined 33 arterial specimens from common iliac (CI), external iliac (EI), and internal iliac (II) arteries obtained from 11 human donors (62 ± 12 years). We conducted morphometric, mechanical, and structural analyses using planar biaxial tests, constitutive modeling, and bi-directional histology on transverse and axial sections. The iliac arteries exhibited increased tortuosity and varying disease distribution with age. CI and II arteries displayed non-uniform age-related disease progression around their circumference, while EI remained healthy even in older individuals. Trends in load-free and stress-free thickness varied along the iliac vasculature. Longitudinally, EI exhibited the highest compliance compared to other iliac vessels. In contrast, CI was stiffest longitudinally, and EI was the stiffest circumferentially. Material parameters for all iliac vessels are reported for four common constitutive relations. Elastin near the internal elastic lamina displayed greater waviness in EI and II compared to CI. Also, EI had the least glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the highest elastin content. Our findings highlight variations in the morphological, mechanical, and structural properties of iliac arteries along their length. This data can inform vascular disease development and computational studies, and guide the development of biomimetic repair materials and devices tailored to specific iliac locations, improving vascular repair strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on gene expression, as well as the regulatory interactions governing it, has been considered one of the significant challenges in recent decades. The process of regulating gene expression determines which genes should be turned on and turned off at specific times. Microarray data provide a wealth of information regarding gene expression levels. Due to the large volume of such data, their analysis requires robust computational methods for identifying and analyzing gene regulation networks. However, scholars in this field encounter numerous challenges, including the high number of genes to be considered, the limited number of samples, and the inherently noisy nature of the data. Accordingly, the main purpose of the present study is to propose a modeling approach for inferring gene regulatory networks using regression-based and rotation forest methods. In this method, after initial processing, the data are divided into different clusters using clustering approaches. This categorization is utilized in the next step to extract the knowledge matrix. Subsequently, regulatory interactions governing genes are identified using an improved version of rotation forest based on t-SNE. Furthermore, the proposed approach has been compared with some significant methods commonly used in this discipline to evaluate its efficiency. The analysis results demonstrate that, due to the incorporation of hidden biological knowledge within the dataset during the network modeling process, the proposed model excels in identifying regulatory mechanisms. It not only aligns with top methods in the discipline but can also, at times, outperform them in identifying gene regulatory networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine rupture is a rare condition that typically occurs in a scarred uterus and can happen during late pregnancy, labor, or the early postpartum period. Since most cases are seen in patients with a history of cesarean surgery, the anterior lower uterine segment is the most affected area. Most patients present with acute symptoms that compromise the fetus and the mother in a life-threatening manner. We present a case of uterine rupture with subacute symptoms occurring in the second trimester, which is extremely rare. The patient was a stable second-trimester multiparous woman with chronic abdominal pain, but without any signs of peritoneal bleeding or instability. No history of previous cesarean section was present, and she had recently undergone a non-complicated hysteroscopic polypectomy. Transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds were performed, revealing a significant full-thickness myometrial defect in the posterior uterine lower segment. This defect allowed the amniotic sac to protrude into the posterior cul-de-sac. No abdominopelvic hematoma was detected. These findings were confirmed in an urgent MRI, and the patient underwent a laparotomy during which a significant full-thickness defect was discovered at the posterior of the uterus. As it was impossible to continue the pregnancy, the fetus was surgically removed and then prepared using multiple layers. The difference between our case and the previously reported one is in the aspect of gradual stable presentation and lacks of vaginal bleeding. Previous hysteroscopy carries a risk for future pregnancy complications, such as uterine rupture. • Uterine rupture is a rare pregnancy complication. • Previous hysteroscopy carries a risk for uterine rupture during future pregnancy. • Prevent pregnancy in the first year from any hysteroscopic procedure, is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In standardized connected speech samples, cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and smoothed CPP (CPPS) have been described as accurate parameters to evaluate voice quality. Lack of normal auditory feedback in post-lingually deaf CI users might influence tuning the acoustic parameters in speech production. Based on shreds of evidence, normal hearing results in suitable vocal control through the sensory-motor linkage. The main aim of the present study was to compare the cepstral values between the Iranian cochlear implant group and normal peers. Persian CAPE-V sentences were recorded from 30 CI users and 30 healthy speakers (mean age=36.7 years, SD=13.5, range=18-60 years). Thirteen /a/vowels were extracted manually from syllables. Each subject phonated sustained /a/vowel for 5 seconds. PRAAT was used to calculate CPP and CPPS. To compare two age- and gender-matched groups, the independent sample t-test was applied. Then, ANCOVA was used to assess the impact of demographic factors on cepstral scores in CI participants. Significant differences between the CI group and normal peers were discovered based on CPP and CPPS in both tasks (reading sentences and sustained vowel) (P < 0.05). Overall, CI users showed higher cepstral values. The implanted ear and prosthesis model had no significant impact on both CPP and CPPS (P ≥ 0.8). Higher CPP and CPPS values in the CI users might be due to increased phonatory instability and spectral noise, with the possibility of decreased vocal control and its quality. The outcome suggests that CI group uses a different voice control strategy. These findings should be kept in mind for intervention methods, especially by assessing vocal characteristics and considering the voice quality in adult CI users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies raise concern for increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors used to treat immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs). We aimed to examine MACE risk with licensed biologics and small molecules used commonly between IMIDs: inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Data were obtained from systematic searches (from inception to May 31, 2022) in PubMed, Embase, Ovid Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies that assessed a predefined MACE (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, unstable angina, cardiovascular death, or heart failure) risk in those ≥18 years of age with IMIDs treated with anti-interleukin (IL)-23 antibodies, anti-IL-12/23, anti-tumor necrosis factor α antibodies (anti-TNF-α), or JAK inhibitors were included in a network meta-analysis using a random-effects model with pooled odds ratios (ORs) reported with 95% credible intervals (CrIs) by drug class and disease state. Among 3528 studies identified, 40 (36 randomized controlled trials and 4 cohort studies) were included in the systematic review, comprising 126,961 patients with IMIDs. Based on network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, regardless of disease state, anti-TNF-α (OR, 2.49; 95% CrI, 1.14–5.62), JAK inhibitors (OR, 2.64; 95% CrI, 1.26–5.99), and anti-IL-12/23 (OR, 3.15; 95% CrI, 1.01–13.35) were associated with increased MACE risk compared with placebo. There was no significant difference in the magnitude of the MACE risk between classes or based on IMID type. Anti-IL-12/23, JAK inhibitors, and anti-TNF-α were associated with higher risk of MACE compared with placebo. The magnitude of the increased MACE risk was not different by IMID type. These results require confirmation in larger prospective studies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for decreasing fossil fuel usage. That being said, we should move toward renewable and sustainable energy sources. Iron-based catalysts are usually employed in this route. In this work, an incipient impregnation process was used for preparing four γ-Al 2 O 3 supported iron-based catalysts with different weight percents including 20Fe/5Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 , 20Fe/5Cu/2K/γ-Al 2 O 3 , 20Fe/5Cu/3Zr/γ-Al 2 O 3 and 20Fe/5Cu/1.5Zr/1K/γ-Al 2 O 3 under the pressure of 20 atm, the temperature of 285 °C, H 2 to CO ratio of one, and a gas hourly space velocity of 2 NL/ (h. gCat). BET, FE-SEM, XRD, H 2 -TPR, ICP, and TEM techniques were used to determine the characteristics of the catalysts, while gas chromatography results were used to determine CO conversion and product selectivity. Due to the synergistic effect of the two promoters, the doubly-promoted catalyst exhibited a C 5 + selectivity of 64.2 %, surpassing both the Fe/Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst and the singly-promoted catalysts. This result highlights the enhanced performance of the doubly-promoted catalyst. Compared to the other catalysts prepared, the doubly-promoted catalyst demonstrated a higher carbon monoxide (CO) conversion rate of 67.7 % and yield of 43.5 %. Moreover, The results demonstrate the significant impact of Zr and K promoters of the synthesized Fe-based catalysts on hydrocarbon product distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting of drought can be very useful in preparing to reduce its impacts, especially in the agricultural sector. Three machine learning models of MLP neural network, GRNN neural network, and Gaussian process regression were used to forecast the annual drought index (SPEI 12) in intervals of 1 to 3 months ahead in 79 Iranian synoptic stations. For test results, the accuracy of the models was assessed based on RMSE and R2. Synoptic stations were divided into 5 clusters (C1 to C5) based on the drought time series using the K-means algorithm. The findings showed that the accuracy of the models has declined in all three approaches, with the predictive period increasing from one to three months ahead. Across all three forecasting intervals and in all 5 clusters, the Gaussian process regression (GPR) model achieved the lowest RMSE and the highest R2 values. Compared with the other two models used in this analysis, the MLP model had worse results, and the GRNN model had a score between the other two models. The models as mentioned above had the best prediction in cluster 1 (southern and southeastern regions of Iran), and the lowest model accuracy was observed in cluster 5 (Caspian Sea Shores). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The analgesic, antidiarrheal, and neuro-pharmacological potentials of Medicago denticulata leaves extract were screened in animal models. Potential analgesic response was noted (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001) in formalin, acetic acid and heat-induced pain models in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum activity by means of writhing inhibition was documented for Medicago denticulata at 300 mg/kg that was found to be 71.79% (17.43 ± 1.31). In first phase, the Medicago denticulata at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg showed analgesic activity and reduced the pain by 54.18% (18.39 ± 1.67) and 62.90% (14.89 ± 1.56), respectively. In second phase, the Medicago denticulata at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg showed analgesic activity and reduced the pain by 69.48% (19.78 ± 1.44) and 70.89% (18.86 ± 1.58), respectively. In hot plate method, the Medicago denticulata at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg showed the maximum response of 61.16% (8.47 ± 1.23) and 67.39% (10.09 ± 1.04), respectively at 60 min. Scopolamine significantly reduces spontaneous alteration in Y-maze model for antiamnesic activity. Medicago denticulata significantly increased the discrimination index in a dose-dependent manner using novel object recognition test (NORT) model. Exploration time in sec for the novel object was increased significantly (P < 0.001) by donepezil decreased for familiar one with a discrimination index (DI) of 62.18%. Medicago denticulata significantly increased the discrimination index by 60.86% and 57.24% at 300 and 150 mg/kg b.w, respectively. The lowest DI of 53.80% at 75 mg/kg was observed in comparison to the amnesic group. The Medicago denticulata significant decreased the elevated levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and malondialdehyde (MDA and enhancing level of acetylcholine (ACh), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) acting as an antioxidant agent. Medicago denticulata reduced the total number of diarrheal feces to lesser extent at dose-dependent manner. From the study results, it is suggested that the Medicago denticulata extract possess good analgesic and antiamnesic activity however the antidiarrheal effects of plant were negligible. In the current study, the traditional use of the plant as a source of medicine has been validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteinuria is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) but its biologic correlates are poorly understood. We assessed the relationship between 49 plasma proteins and the urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR), among 365 Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial (TOPCAT) participants. Linear regression and network analysis was used to represent relationships between protein biomarkers and UPCR. UPCR was associated with older age, a greater proportion of female sex, lower prevalence of previous myocardial infarction, higher prevalence of diabetes, insulin use, smoking and statin use, as well as a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, hematocrit and diastolic blood pressure. Growth differentiation factor (GDF-15; β=0.15; P <0.0001), followed by NT-proANP (β=0.774; P <0.0001), adiponectin (β=0.0005; P <0.0001), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23; β=0.177; P <0.0001), and soluble TNF receptors I (β=0.002; P <0.0001) and II (β=0.093; P <0.0001) demonstrated the strongest associations with UPCR. Network analysis showed that UPCR is linked to various proteins primarily through FGF-23, which along with GDF-15, demonstrated node characteristics with strong connectivity, whereas UPCR did not. In a model that included FGF-23 and UPCR, the former was predictive of the risk of death or heart failure hospital admission (Standardized HR=1.83; 95%CI=1.49-2.26; P< 0.0001) and or all-cause death (Standardized HR=1.59; 95%CI=1.22-2.07; P =0.0005), whereas UPCR was not prognostic. Proteinuria in HFpEF exhibits distinct proteomic correlates, primarily through its association with FGF-23, a well-known prognostic marker in HFpEF. However, in contrast to FGF-23, UPCR does not hold independent prognostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are limited data describing the prevalence of mental health disorders (MHDOs) in patients with ventricular assist devices (VADs), or associations between MHDOs and resource use or outcomes. We used the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample administrative database to analyze 44,041 ED encounters for VAD-supported adults from 2010 to 2017, to assess the relationship between MHDOs and outcomes in this population. MHDO diagnoses were present for 23% of encounters, and were associated with higher charges and rates of admission, but lower mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Popular measures of psychological flexibility (PF), such as the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) and Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) have been criticized for questionable psychometric properties. The critiques include poor divergent validity with negative emotionality and disregarding PF's theoretical definition of flexible contact with the present moment while acting in the service of chosen values. Recently, the Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index (PPFI) has been proposed as an alternative self-report measure of PF that attempts to address these issues above. The current study sought to test the psychometric properties of the PPFI in a large sample of Iranians from the general population who completed a cross-sectional survey. Back translation and cognitive interviews were used to translate the PPFI into Persian. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the Persian version of the PPFI, like the English version, has a three-factor structure mapping onto the avoidance, acceptance, and harnessing subscales. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor solution, showed a good model fit, and good internal consistencies. Correlational analyses supported the construct validity of the Persian PPFI with relations to well-being, goal-directedness, and life orientations in expected directions. Furthermore, the Persian PPFI demonstrated excellent divergent validity from negative emotionality (r = −0.38). Test of incremental validity indicated the Persian PPFI explained more variance in 10 of 15 outcomes than the BEAQ or AAQ-II. The current findings provide psychometric evidence for use of the PPFI in Persian-speaking populations as well as further support for evaluating PF ideographically and in line with theoretical definitions. • Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the three-factor of the Persian PPFI. • It has satisfactory reliability and validity for predicting well-being, goal-directed, and life orientation constructs. • The Persian PPFI has incremental validity above and beyond the BEAQ and AAQ-II. • The Persian PPFI has divergent validity from negative emotionality. • The Persian PPFI allows researchers to test hypotheses about psychological flexibility in Persian-speaking populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study focuses on ameliorative potential of Typha elephantina leave's aqueous (TE.AQ) extract against Paracetamol (PCM) induced toxicity in rabbits. We fed the male rabbits with 300 mg PCM in alone and in combination with TE.AQ at different doses i.e. (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) or silymarin (100 mg/kg) daily for 21 days. PCM in alone significantly (P < 0.5) increased serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin and blood urea nitrogen. Serum sodium, potassium and magnesium level were high. The glutathione, radical scavenging activity and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly reduced. Treatment with TE.AQ at dose rate 300 mg/kg body weight and Silymarin significantly ameliorated all the parameters when compared with PCM administered group. The 100 and 200 mg of TE.AQ showed no significant effects. The histopathological examination confirmed the therapeutic potential of TE.AQ. These results established the presence of natural antioxidants in Typha elephantina leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the possible association of neck circumference with cardiometabolic risk factors, and to find out the possible cutoff points of neck circumference for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome among the Iranian population.Method: This is a cross-sectional study in 1619 participants who were selected through clustered random sampling, as a part of a health cohort in Amol, Iran. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was based on the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III). Associations of neck circumference with Mets and its components were studied using logistic regression. The optimal cutoff point of neck circumference for MetS diagnosis was calculated based on the Youden index.Results: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 433 (26.7%) of patients. Neck circumference was shown to be significantly associated with central obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, impaired fasting glucose, and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, as well as MetS. The optimal cutoff points of neck circumference in the diagnosis of MetS are 36 cm and 42 cm for women and men, respectively. Sensitivity of the optimal cut-off point of NC for diagnosing patients with MetS was higher in women compared to men (70.6% compared to 55.9%).Conclusion: A significant association was observed between neck circumference and the presence of MetS among the Iranian population and neck circumference can be offered as a new index in screening and diagnosis for MetS and assessing cardiometabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin supplementation & endurance training on glycemic indexes in middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes. 40 middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into four groups (control, curcumin, training & curcumin + training). Endurance training protocol included running on treadmill for eight weeks, three sessions per week and each session for 45–60 min, with a maximum intensity of 50–70% of MHR. The experimental groups received a supplementation of curcumin as a daily dose of 80 mg curcumin soft gel for 8 weeks while the control group was subjected to no supplementation or exercise during this period. One day before and one day after the eight-week experimental period, blood samples were taken from the subjects to measure the glycemic indexes, including fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum insulin levels. T-test and two-way covariance analysis tests were used for analyzing the findings at a significant level of less than 0.05. Eight weeks of curcumin supplementation and endurance training, whether done separately or simultaneously, significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and serum insulin levels (P < 0.05). The combination of curcumin supplementation and endurance training compared to the other two interventions caused a significant further decrease in these glycemic indexes (P < 0.05). The findings of this study showed that eight weeks of curcumin supplementation and endurance training helped each other in improving the glycemic indexes of women with type 2 diabetes. - Long-term endurance training can improve blood glycemic index in patients with type 2 diabetes. - The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin can be effective in managing of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• - Proposing an evolutionary crow search algorithm (ECSA) to optimize the MLP hyperparameters. • - ECSA introduces an evolutionary search strategy and the self-adaptive flight length. • - Defining an interactive memory mechanism to improve the ECSA searchability. • - Experiments prove that ECSA is very competitive in solving global optimization problems. • - ECSA can boost MLP classifier for disease diagnosis compared to competitor algorithms. Artificial neural network (ANN) is an information processing paradigm that loosely models the thinking patterns of the human brain with specifications such as real-time learning, self-adaption, and self-organization. The learning process of ANNs is complex and tackles shortcomings such as a slow convergence rate, learning time-consuming, and local minimum trapping, especially when using gradient-based optimization techniques. Although many metaheuristics have been proposed to arm ANN and solve these weaknesses, ANN learning still needs solution quality. Therefore, this study proposes an evolutionary crow search algorithm (ECSA) to optimize the hyperparameters of ANNs for diagnosing chronic diseases. ECSA introduces an evolutionary search strategy, self-adaptive adaptive flight length, and an interactive memory mechanism to alleviate the canonical crow search algorithm's shortcomings. The evolutionary search strategy and self-adaptive flight length provide a meaningful search strategy in which crows effectively explore and exploit problem spaces by maintaining population diversity. During the search process, the interactive memory mechanism records the best solution obtained during optimization. The performance of ECSA was evaluated and compared with well-known metaheuristic algorithms in terms of local and global search abilities, local optima avoidance, and convergence speed towards the promising area. Then, the results were statistically analyzed. Ultimately, the effectiveness of an adaptation of ECSA named ECSA-MLP for optimizing hyperparameters of the multilayer perceptron network for diagnosing diseases including coronavirus, breast cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, cervical cancer, Parkinson's, mammography, and acute inflammation was compared with state-of-the-art competitor algorithms. The experimental results indicated the superiority of ECSA over competitor algorithms in optimizing the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish cartilage is known as a valuable source of natural biomaterials due to its unique composition and properties. It contains a variety of bioactive components that contribute to its potential applications in different domains such as tissue engineering. The present work aimed to consider the properties of backbone cartilage from fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, including elasmobranch (reticulate whipray: Himantura uarnak and milk shark: Rhizoprionodon acutus) and sturgeon (beluga: Huso huso). The histomorphometric findings showed that the number of chondrocytes was significantly higher in reticulate whipray and milk shark compared to beluga (p < 0.05). The highest GAGs content was recorded in reticulate whipray cartilage compared to the other two species (p < 0.05). The cartilage from reticulate whipray and beluga showed higher collagen content than milk shark cartilage (p < 0.05), and the immunohistochemical assay for type II collagen (Col II) showed higher amounts of this component in reticulate whipray compared to the other two species. Young's modulus of the cartilage from reticulate whipray was significantly higher than that of milk shark and beluga (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was recorded between Young's modulus of the cartilage from milk shark and beluga. The gene expression of ACAN, Col II, and Sox9 showed that the cartilage-ECM from three species was able to induce chondrocyte differentiation from human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs). From these results, it can be concluded that the cartilage from three species, especially reticulate whipray, enjoys the appropriate biological properties and provides a basis for promoting its applications in the field of cartilage tissue engineering. • The number of chondrocytes was notably higher in the cartilage of milk shark and reticulate whipray compared to beluga. • The highest GAGs content and Young's modulus were recorded in reticulate whipray cartilage. • The higher collagen content was measured in the cartilage of beluga and reticulate whipray. • Type II collagen (Col II) showed a higher amount of this component in reticulate whipray compared to milk shark and beluga. • ECM-derived scaffolds from three fish species induced the chondrocyte differentiation from hASCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a compositional scheme for the construction of control barrier certificates for interconnected discrete-time stochastic systems. The main objective is to synthesize switching controllers against ω -regular properties that can be described by accepting languages of deterministic Streett automata (DSA) along with providing probabilistic guarantees for the satisfaction of such specifications. The proposed framework leverages the interconnection topology and a notion of so-called control sub-barrier certificates of subsystems, which are used to compositionally construct control barrier certificates of interconnected systems by imposing some dissipativity-type compositionality conditions. We propose a systematic approach to decompose high-level ω -regular specifications into simpler tasks by utilizing the automata corresponding to the specifications. In addition, we formulate an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) optimization problem in order to obtain suitable control sub-barrier certificates of subsystems while satisfying compositionality conditions. For systems with polynomial dynamics, we provide a sum-of-squares (SOS) optimization problem for the computation of control sub-barrier certificates and local controllers of subsystems. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approaches by applying them to a physical case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Capabilities of T2WELL-ECO2M, a coupled wellbore-reservoir numerical simulator for CO 2 storage in saline aquifer is assessed. • The code properly modelled thermal phenomena including Joule-Thomson effect. • It highlights the importance of proper modeling of CO 2 flow in wellbore. • Thermal propagation rate lags significantly behind the CO 2 saturation front. • Dry-out region occurs as a near wellbore region phenomenon. In order to understand the details of thermal and hydrologic processes attending CO 2 injection into a deep aquifer in the context of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), we have carried out coupled well-reservoir simulations of CO 2 injection using the simulator T2WELL-ECO2M. We focus on the injection of cold, dry CO 2 into a warm aquifer and analyze in detail the thermal and hydraulic processes of the coupled well-reservoir system. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of T2WELL in accurately modeling non-isothermal, multiphase flow, phase changes, and identifying dry-out regions in porous media. We simulated heat exchange with the ambient environment, friction effects, convection, exothermic dissolution in brine, and cooling due to both Joule-Thomson effect and water vaporization. The temperature profile within the wellbore deviated from the geothermal profile, impacting CO 2 properties at the bottomhole. The simulation revealed the presence of three fronts in the formation: the CO 2 saturation, thermal, and evaporation fronts. The thermal and evaporation fronts were located farther behind the saturation front, indicating limited dry-out and thermal effects near the wellbore. This simulation capability and insights gained in this study form a foundation for ongoing work such as sensitivity analyses, injection optimization, performance assessment, and operational decision support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic diseases, such as aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and dissections, demonstrate a preferential development and progression around the aortic circumference, resulting in a highly heterogeneous disease state around the circumference. Differences in the aorta's structural composition and mechanical properties may be partly responsible for this phenomenon. Our goal in this study was to analyze the mechanical and structural properties of the human aorta at its lateral, anterior, posterior, and medial quadrants in two regions prone to circumferentially inhomogeneous diseases, descending Thoracic Aorta (TA) and Infrarenal Aorta (IFR). Human aortas were obtained from 10 donors (64 ± 11 years) and dissected from their loose surrounding tissue. Mechanical properties were determined in all four quadrants of TA and IFR using planar biaxial testing and fitted to three common constitutive models. The structure of tissues was assessed using Movat Pentachrome stained histology slides. We observed that the anterior quadrant exhibited the greatest thickness, followed by the lateral region, in both the TA and IFR. In TA, the posterior wall appeared as the stiffest location in most samples, while in IFR, the anterior wall was the stiffest. We observed a higher glycosaminoglycans content in the lateral and posterior regions of the IFR. We found elastin density to be similar in TA lateral, anterior, and posterior quadrants, while in IFR, the anterior region demonstrated the highest elastin density. Despite significant variations between subjects, this study highlights the distinct morphometrical, mechanical, and structural properties between the quadrants of both TA and IFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]