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Abstract This pilot observational study examined the effectiveness of trauma-informed and culturally responsive behavior support practices on the academic outcomes of predominantly First Nations children in an Australian primary school. The research supports integrating culturally relevant ways of knowing, being and doing into prevalent pedagogical and behavior support practices. The cohort study found that the co-designed, multi-tier Trauma-informed Behaviour Support program improved students’ literacy and numeracy scores over 2 years. The findings highlight the complex relationship between behavioral difficulties and academic abilities. Changes in numeracy scores were significantly higher for students with improved teacher-reported rates of disruptive behaviors. In contrast, changes in literacy scores were equivalent between students with and without such improvements. The findings suggest that educators can improve academic outcomes by promoting cultural safety across the school and making the curriculum more flexible, engaging, and relevant. Further implications for educators, policymakers, and researchers working with First Nations students are discussed.

Residential communities, especially those in urban areas, face significant challenges due to rapid urban growth. Due to society's continual shift toward a personalized, anonymous, and mobile one, one of these challenges is the disappearance of close-knit communities of family and friends. Neighborhoods nowadays are therefore multipurpose systems for creating localized social ties and networks. In light of the significance of social ties, this study investigates the relationship between localized social ties and residential satisfaction via the mediation of a sense of place. This study therefore has three main objectives: 1) to determine the relationship between localized social ties (LST) and residential satisfaction (RS); 2) to examine the relationship between LST and sense of place (SOP); and 3) to investigate the mediating role of SOP between LST and RS. To collect data for the study, self-filling paper questionnaires were distributed by door-to-door visits. The collected data from Rezvan complex residents in Shiraz, Iran (n = 400) were used then for analysis using a causal model. The causal model adopted revealed appropriate goodness of fit. The sense of place and residential satisfaction were positively related to localized social ties. We also found that SOP mediates the relationship between localized social ties and residential satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a rapid urbanization trend observed in many countries. This trend poses sustainable development in the long run due to various urban problems. The Iranian government launched a project of affordable housing for low-income residents in response to this rapid urbanization. As different social issues arose after mass affordable housing was implemented in Iran, it is important to assess residents' place attachment to these projects and their impacts on residents' satisfaction. This study therefore served two distinct objectives. The study's first objective was to determine whether place attachment is related to residential satisfaction. In addition, this study examined the mediating role of social capital between place attachment and residential satisfaction. The study used data gathered from residents of Mehr affordable housing in Pardis, Tehran, to examine the relationship between place attachment and residential satisfaction through the mediation of social capital. This was achieved by surveying 370 residents of Mehr affordable housing in Pardis and then analyzing the collected data using structural equation modeling. Considering the data, the model demonstrated appropriate goodness of fit. Place attachment was found to have a relationship with residential satisfaction. Additionally, the research found that social capital mediates the relationship between these two variables. These findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize strategies to foster place attachment and social capital to ensure long-term satisfaction and sustainability of affordable housing projects. This can be achieved through creating attractive and accessible social spaces, promoting social interaction, and incorporation of necessary amenities within affordable housing projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are a group of pesticides that are most widely used in the agricultural sector, and farmers are exposed to these chemicals more than other members of society. In this work, an environmentally friendly, simple, and safe ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (USA–DLLME) method using alcohol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) was developed for the extraction and determination of OPPs in the blood of farmers studied in Ravansar cohort. DESs synthesized from thymol as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and aliphatic alcohols as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) have been used as extractants. Under optimal experimental conditions, the reproducibility of the method based on 7 replicate measurements of 10 µg L−1 of OPPs in blood samples was in the range of 1.4–3.8%. The method showed a linearity in the range of 0.01–150 µg L−1. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were between 0.003 and 0.02 µg L−1 and 0.01–0.05 µg L−1, respectively. The matrix effect and accuracy of the method were confirmed by spiking different amounts of OPPs in real blood samples and obtaining relative recoveries in the range of 91–112%. The results showed that the concentration of OPPs in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group, which is because the case group was exposed to OPPs during the spraying of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The global population is undergoing rapid aging, and the consequential decline in skeletal muscle mass with age presents substantial health risks, underscoring the importance of precise identification and gender-specific measurements. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low muscle mass among individuals aged > 60 years and identifying potential risk factors. Methods: This study, conducted within the framework of Phase VII of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), included 860 participants selected through meticulous inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on good health. Various demographic, anthropometric, and metabolic measurements were collected, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was employed for skeletal muscle mass assessment. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate associations between low muscle mass and various factors. Results: The prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass was 16.4% (CI: 14.06–19.03), with gender-based variations (20.24% (CI: 16.66–24.36) in males vs. 12.73% (CI: 9.92–16.19) in females). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed associations between low muscle mass and increasing age, male gender, smoking, low physical activity, and higher HDL levels (P < 0.05). Protective effects were observed with higher BMI, weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and serum triglyceride levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and related factors of low skeletal muscle mass among older adults. Addressing modifiable risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors are crucial steps in preventing and managing sarcopenia. Further longitudinal research is recommended to explore causal pathways and inform targeted interventions for optimizing muscle health across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In recent years, using the ketogenic diet (KD) as a potential intervention for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has gained attention. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the effects of KD on sexual hormones, glycemic and lipid parameters in women diagnosed with PCOS. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using online databases such as Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), Embase, and the Cochrane Library and clinical trials were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two investigators using appropriate tools. The effects of a KD on metabolic biomarkers and hormonal parameters were pooled using a random-effects model and were considered as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and the I-square test. Results: Ten studies including 408 women were analyzed in this analysis. Findings showed that KD significantly decreased triglycerides levels (WMD = -44.03 mg/dL; 95% CI, -56.29, -31.76), total cholesterol (-18.95 mg/dL; -29.06, -8.83), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (-18.11 mg/dL; -29.56, -6.67) compared to the control groups. KD also led to a notable reduction in fasting glucose (-10.30 mg/dL; -14.10, -6.50) and HOMA-IR (-1.93; -3.66, -0.19). Also, this diet led to a significant decrease in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (-3.75 mIU/mL; -3.84, -3.65) and total testosterone levels (-7.71 ng/dL); -12.08, -3.35), while follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased (0.43 mIU/mL; 0.29, 0.57). Conclusion: The KD demonstrated promising outcomes in improving metabolic and hormonal parameters in women diagnosed with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand of diagnostic tools with enhanced analytical characteristics in term of sensitivity, selectivity, and low response time has encouraged researches to conduct their research towards development of point-of-care (POC) biosensors. POC diagnostic devices are powerful tools for detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of diseases at its initial stage. The above characteristics encouraged us to conduct active multidisciplinary and collaborative research oriented towards the design and development of POC sensing systems. Here, we present a brief overview of our recent achievement in the field of biomedical POC devices implemented in paper based microfluidic and screen printing electrodes and discuss the critical limitations that need to be surmounted to facilitate their translation into clinical practice in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of speech perception by the Persian version of the University of Cincinnati Auditory Processing Inventory questionnaire (P-UCAPI), Persian words recognition score (P-WRS), Persian words in noise (P-WIN) and Persian competing words (P-CW) tests between middle-aged and young adults. We considered 100 adults admitted to the Audiology Department of the Rohani Hospital in the north of Iran. Descriptive analysis was performed to determine mean scores and standard deviations. Paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test, and One-way ANOVA were applied to compare our research variables. Significance level was considered at p <.05. The results of current study demonstrated that there was not a significant difference in total score of P-UCAPI in two age groups. The middle-ages group had lower scores in the P-WIN test compared to the young adults and the mean scores were significantly lower in the left ear. The findings of the current study reveal that middle-aged adults have more problems in speech perception than young adults in noisy listening situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazolium perchlorate task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) were used for in-situ oxidation esterification of benzaldehydes and benzylalcohols in reaction with alcohols. CO2H functional group containing TSIL show dual role as catalyst and reaction media toward oxidative esterifications. Excellent yields of esters could be obtained for a series of benzaldehydes and benzylalcohols via the reaction with alcohols. This reaction can be regarded as a new method for the efficient oxidation esterification of benzaldehydes and benzylalcohols under mild catalyst and solvent-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The one-dimensional structure preparation by electrospinning method is one of the most important especially since it can get fine diameters of fibers. Poly (vinyl alcohol) and (PVA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) were mixed to get the blend and doped with different ratios (0.001, 0.002, 0.003) wt.% of calcium fluoride (CaF2) to get nanocomposite were fabricated using the electrospinning method at RT and voltage of 23 kV. Structural and optical properties were studied and the antibacterial activity was examined. The result of SEM analysis showed that the polymer blend and doped samples produced a random distribution with fine fibers at an average diameter range before CaF2 addition to be 68.97 nm and after CaF2 addition for each sample to be 45.76, 68.71, and 98.45 nm with a smooth surface. XRD analysis confirmed the existence of semi-crystalline PVA and PEG aggregates, and the CaF2 cubic crystalline phase appears when an additive of CaF2 nanoparticles up to 0.003 g. Absorbance spectra were recorded in the wavelength range of (200–800) nm. Absorption increased by two times when doping of CaF2 increased to 0.003 wt.%. The optical energy gap of fabricated films decreased with increasing CaF2 nanoparticles from (3.6–3.3) eV, while the refractive index increased. Increasing the content of NPs for the (PVA-PEG:CaF2) nanofibers mixture leads to an increase in the diameter of the inhibition zone for Escherichia coli for antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is becoming a worldwide concern. Optimal diabetes control reduces diabetes complications. Objectives: We aimed to measure the principal diabetes care parameters to recognize the main deficits in care for patients with diabetes in the region. Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on the Khuzestan Comprehensive Health Study (KCHS) data. Of all participants, 4673 (15.3%) were identified to have diabetes. We invited the known cases of diabetes to complete a checklist about their diabetes through face-to-face interviews, and we obtained a blood sample to measure their HbA1c. Results: Of all participants of the KCHS study, 312 patients with diabetes who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Mean (± SD) HbA1c was 8.5% (± 1.8), and 225 (72.1%) of the participants had poor glycemic control. About 45.2% had blood pressure less than 130/80 mmHg, and 24% had FBS lower than 130 mg/dl. Nearly 37.8% of the participants had LDL < 100 mg/dl and 40% TG < 150 mg/dl. Of all participants, 38.5% had undergone retinal examination, 13.8% had their foot examined, and 39.4% had done urine micro-albumin /Cr test. HbA1c level had a statistically significant relationship with gender (P = 0.012), occupation (P = 0.007), nephropathy (P = 0.004) and retinopathy (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that less than half of the participants achieved the optimal ADA goals for diabetes care, therefore it is necessary to revise the basic protocols of diabetes care in the region to improve diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Circulating tumor DNAs (ctDNAs) are fragments of malignant tissue DNA that can simply signify the real time genetic change and epigenetic modification of a solid tumor tissue. Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and Paragangliomas (PGLs) are malinancy of adrenal gland tissue that have the possible diagnosis by ctDNAs. In this study the methylation quanifcation of three target genes RDBP, SDHB, and SDHC in the ctDNA of PCCs/PGLs patients were measured as a diagnostic biomarker. Methods: The biological samples include blood and fresh frozen tissue of twelve PCCs/PGLs patients and blood of 12 non tumoral patients as controls were recruited. Semi quantification methylation status of RDBP, SDHB, and SDHC (two CpG lslands of each gene named 1 and 2) was assesed between PCCs/PGLs patients and controls by Methylation specific-high resolution melting (MS-HRM) technique. Results: Between six candidate CpG island of RDBP, SDHB, and SDHC, promoter methylation quantification of SDHC1 and RDBP2 was expressively unsimilar in PCCs/PGLs compare to the controls. SDHC1 was hypermethylated in 49.93% of PCCs/PGLs cases vs. 8.33% of control samples, p-value: 0.026, area under curve AUC = 0.757, and RDBP2 in 74.9% of PCCs/PGLs cases vs. 25.0% of control samples, p-value: 0.032, AUC = 0.750. Conclusions: Our result shows that the ctDNA hypermethylation of SDHC1 and RDBP2 have role in tumorgenesis of adrenal gland and can consider for diagnosis of PCCs/PGLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a condition characterized by ventricular dysfunction in diabetic patients that is not caused by other cardiac ailments. It is associated with factors such as left ventricular hypertrophy, metabolic disturbances, and oxidative stress. Tight junctions, which form a barrier between cells, play a role in the vascular complications of diabetes. Proteins such as claudins and occludens are important for the structure and function of tight junctions. Zona occludens (ZO) proteins are also involved in tight junctions and their expression may be affected by diabetes. The review discusses the impact of diabetes on the tight junctions and the role of ZO proteins in diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, attention has been paid to the effects of global climate change on different species and ecosystems. Our aim was to predict the distribution range of Pistacia atlantica species under different climate change scenarios in the semi-arid forests of Zagros, Iran. Data related to environmental and climatic variables in three time periods under four atmospheric general circulation models (MRI-ESM2-0, BCC-CSM2-MR, HadGEM3-GC31-LL and ACCESS-CM2) in two different scenarios (SSP245-SSP585) It was used to predict the distribution range of Pistacia atlantica in the time periods of 2050 and 2070. The results showed that among the four distribution models, the MaxEnt model with excellent accuracy (AUC = 0.947) justifies the distribution range and for predicting time periods. In 2050 and 2070 under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios and MRI-ESM2-0 and HadGEM3-GC31-LL models showed higher accuracy. The effect of different predictive factors on the range of P. atlantica showed that in the optimistic (SSP245) and pessimistic (SSP585) scenarios for the periods of 2050 and 2070, respectively, factors such as altitude. Variables resulting from temperature (seasonal temperature changes, annual temperature); The variables resulting from precipitation (seasonal changes of precipitation, precipitation in the wettest season) had the greatest effect in predicting the distribution pattern of P. atlantica trees in the Zagros forest of Ilam province. Also, the results of the model in optimistic and pessimistic conditions showed that the area of excellent, good and poor classes will decrease in the future and the area of very good and average classes will increase in the future. Examining the change of the spatial distribution pattern of the species from SSP245 and SSP585 (from optimistic and pessimistic conditions) shows a decrease in the presence of P. atlantica in the region, especially in the high potential class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Specialized devices for fixation of the acetabulum quadrilateral plate (QP) fractures may not be readily available in resource-constrained settings. In this article, we aim to explore the use of a 3.5-mm locking calcaneal plate in fixation of QP fractures. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with QP fractures underwent surgery using the modified Stoppa approach. Follow-up at 12 months assessed fracture healing and functional outcomes using the Majeed pelvic outcome score. Descriptive statistics summarized patient demographics and fracture characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and exact logistic regression explored associations between factors (age, AO/OTA classification, gender, and time to surgery) and Majeed scores. Results: The mean age of patients was 42.71 years, with the majority being male (64.29%). All patients achieved bony union. Post-traumatic arthritis developed in three patients, while two patients experienced post-operative fracture redisplacement. Evaluation using the Majeed pelvic outcome score revealed generally favorable outcomes, with 32.14% achieving excellent, 39.29% good, 21.43% fair, and 7.14% poor outcome. Only an older age was associated with a worse outcome score (excellent/good versus fair/poor, odds ratio: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.77, 0.96). Conclusion: Surgical management of quadrilateral plate fractures using 3.5-mm locking calcaneal plates demonstrates promising outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained settings, where specialized devices may be lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women and a major risk to world health. Therefore, effective strategies are required for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Nowadays, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), have assumed a significant role in the prognosis and diagnosis of diseases, including cancer. In the present study, surveying the bioinformatic tools, including the lncRNADisease v2.0, OncoDB, InteractiVenn, GEPIA, RAID, COXPRESdb, DAVID v6.8, GEO2R, and LncSEA, we proposed the Maternally Expressed Gene (MEG3) as a potential biomarker in BC. This lncRNA significantly downregulates in BC and is associated with tumor size, metastasis, and pathological stage. MEG3 expression is downregulated in several types of primary human cancers and tumor cell lines, which raises the possibility that it could act as a tumor suppressor. The results suggest that MEG3 may play a crucial role in fundamental pathways, including apoptosis, and interact with essential genes and proteins such as P53. It may also be associated with the prognosis, proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Amazon patented fulfillment centers for drones on a large scale in densely populated areas. A network of such shared centers can be used for landing and launching drones as an alternative to the traditional private bases in near future. This paper studies how a user of such a shared delivery infrastructure can optimally determine the required bases among the existing bases to perform her delivery tasks. To this end, a location-routing problem is studied where the problem determines the drone launching centers and their routes to deliver parcels. A realistic energy function is used that incorporates the effect of load weight for calculating energy consumption in all flight phases including take-off, level flight, hovering, and landing. Although the energy consumption is nonlinear, the problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming model and strengthened by valid inequalities and a pre-processing algorithm that enables us to solve instances with up to 100 customers using off-the-shelf optimization solvers. Moreover, a heuristic method is presented to solve instances with up to 200 customers. Results indicate the importance of incorporating the load-dependent energy formula in contrast to using fixed flight duration constraints for drones. The value of allowing multiple visits on each trip versus only simple back-and-forth trips is also assessed. The advantage of using an integrated location-routing approach is shown over the sequential approach in which the locations of bases are decided first and the routes are constructed next. Moreover, to manage future demand uncertainty, the model is extended for the case that a number of demand scenarios are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently encounter systemic hypertension, yet the underlying cause remains elusive. Given the absence of prior investigations concerning the correlation between systemic hypertension and aortic thickness, we undertook this study to assess and juxtapose diverse vascular indices amidst preterm neonates with BPD, preterm neonates lacking BPD, and healthy neonates, utilizing abdominal aorta ultrasonography. This cross-sectional study encompassed 20 preterm neonates, 20 preterm neonates with BPD, and 20 healthy neonates, meticulously matched for sex and postnatal age. Comprehensive demographic, anthropometric, and clinical evaluation data were documented. The neonates underwent abdominal aortic ultrasonography for comparative evaluation of aortic wall thickness and vasomotor function across the three groups. The study revealed that neonates with BPD exhibited a notably higher average systolic blood pressure than preterm and term neonates (P < 0.05). Conversely, echocardiographic parameters such as input impedance, and arterial wall stiffness index displayed no substantial variance among the three groups (P > 0.05). The mean (SD) aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) for preterm neonates with BPD, preterm neonates, and term neonates were 814 (193.59) μm, 497.50 (172.19) μm, and 574.00 (113.20) μm, correspondingly (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean (SD) pulsatile diameter for preterm neonates with BPD, preterm neonates, and term neonates were 1.52 (0.81) mm, 0.91 (0.55) mm, and 1.34 (0.51) mm, respectively (P < 0.05). Following adjustment for birth weight, sex, and gestational age at birth, the study identified a noteworthy correlation between aIMT and BPD. The investigation concluded that the mean aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) was significantly elevated in preterm neonates with BPD, signifying a potential early indicator of atherosclerosis and predisposition to future heightened blood pressure and cardiovascular ailments. Consequently, the study postulates that aIMT could be a consistent and well-tolerated marker for identifying BPD patients at risk of developing these health complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen depletion in coastal waters is increasing globally due primarily to eutrophication and warming. Hypoxia responses to nutrient loading and climate change have been extensively studied in large systems like the Chesapeake Bay and the Baltic Sea, while fewer studies have investigated smaller, shallower hypoxic zones. Thus, an improved understanding of the interactions of eutrophication and warming on hypoxia expansion (or reduction) in the wide variety of different estuarine environments is needed. We examined interannual controls on oxygen depletion in the Patuxent River estuary, a eutrophic sub-estuary of Chesapeake Bay where seasonal hypoxia develops annually. We conducted a spatial and temporal analysis of dissolved oxygen (DO) trends, timing, and several metrics of depletion over a long-term record (1985–2021). We found an internally generated hypoxic zone that initiates in the middle estuary, spreading upstream and downstream as the summer progresses, and that hypoxic volume days (HVD) have been increasing (0.11 per year, p = 0.03) over the record despite reduced watershed nitrogen loads and stable phosphorus loads. River flow and temperature have been increasing and are major drivers of increased HVD, with river flow explaining 40% of the interannual variation in HVD (temperature has increased 0.03 and 0.06 °C per year in summer and fall, respectively). Apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) is increasing in bottom waters in the fall, consistent with increasing trends of both water temperature and stratification strength. HVD was negatively related (r2 = 0.34, slope = −0.59*HVD) to the biomass of benthic invertebrates in the middle region of the estuary, suggesting that benthic forage for higher trophic levels will be limited by sustained hypoxia. These results indicate that current and future climate variability plays an important role in regulating oxygen depletion in the Patuxent River estuary, which reinforces the need to factor climate change into strategies for the restoration and management of estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of death worldwide but there is a variation in its burden across some nations that seems to be related to dietary habits. Mediterranean populations have lower rates of morbidity and mortality from CVD. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impacts of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) enriched with olive oil on blood lipids, glycemic indices, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices. Methods: A comprehensive search of the Web of Science, PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Embase, and CINAHL databases until March 2024 was conducted to identify clinical trials studying the effects of MedDiet enriched with olive oil on the aforementioned parameters. Results: In total, 3303 records were retrieved. A total of 18 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria after records were screened for eligibility. According to the pooled analysis from the random-effects model, the MedDiet enriched with olive oil significantly reduced triglycerides (TG) compared with the control group (WMD = −2.40 mg/dl; 95%CI, −4.533 to −0.262; P = 0.027). Strong heterogeneity was observed. Sensitivity analysis did not change our results and no significant effect of any trial on the overall effect sizes of all variables were found. There was a concern about the reporting bias for some studies which reported some main outcomes. Conclusion: MedDiet enriched with olive oil showed no consistent effects on any of the reported markers of cardiovascular health except on TG. Systematic review registration: CRD42023424641 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevailing practices suitable for Iranian healthcare centers to address climate change and to rank them in terms of priority. This paper, a mixed-methods study conducted in 2023, comprised a scoping review and a thematic analysis covering the period from 2000 to 2023 as the first phase of the study. In this regard, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched. In the second phase, the authors engaged a group of experts to prioritize the most important practices suitable for Iranian healthcare centers to address climate change using the Grey MEREC-MABAC integrated approach. The scoping review resulted in 38 studies, and the thematic analysis revealed 11 primary categories of practices employed to address climate change. Subsequently, the Grey MEREC-MABAC approach indicated that the themes of 'Green Environment' (CC = 0.0929), 'Green Equipment, Waste, and Water Management' (CC = 0.0677), and 'Green Energy' (CC = 0.0653) were identified as having the highest priority among the practices deemed most important in the literature for addressing climate change within Iranian healthcare centers. The study proposed that practices or activities promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability, such as organic food farming and tree planting, should be considered paramount approaches in Iranian healthcare centers to combat climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular endurance and muscular fitness seem to impact specific cognitive components in older females. However, it remains uncertain whether these relate to executive functions or if these correlations are limited to specific physical fitness indicators. This study aimed to determine the association between specific physical fitness components and executive functions in community-dwelling older females. Thirty-five cognitively healthy community-dwelling older females (71.5 ± 5.7 years) underwent a series of physical fitness tests. These included the handgrip strength test (HGT), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), the 8-foot up-and-go test (8FUGT), and the chair stand test (CST). Participants also completed trail A and trail B of the cognitive trail making test. Results showed that trail B reaction time had a negative association with both HGT (r = − 0.502; p = 0.002) and 6MWT (r = − 0.543; p < 0.001). Together, the HGT and 6MWT results explained 39% of the variation in trail B reaction times: HGT accounted for 18% and 6MWT for 21%. Better scores on the 6MWT and HGT—but not on the 8FUGT and CST—correlated with enhanced executive function in cognitively healthy community-dwelling older females. The results of this study underscore the importance of specific physical assessments, like the 6MWT and HGT, as potential indicators of executive function, offering targeted strategies for maintaining cognitive health in aging females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collecting urine samples from cats is a significant challenge for veterinarians due to their instinctive behavior to bury waste. The introduction of superhydrophobic cat soil, which prevents urine absorption, offers an innovative solution. This not only simplifies the diagnostic process for veterinarians but also significantly reduces stress for pets and their owners. In this study, we synthesized a hydrophobic coating using zinc oxide/silica composite nanoparticles (ZnO/SiO2 CNPs) modified with perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS) compounds for various surfaces such as soil, sand, stone, and glass. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and zinc acetate dihydrate were used as precursors, while FDTS was employed for surface modification. The prepared ZnO/SiO2 composite sol was sprayed onto different coatings, and the resulting hydrophobicity was confirmed by water contact angles, with an average angle of 110.3° for cat soil. Structural and morphological features of the synthesized ZnO/SiO2 CNPs were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, EDX, and FESEM techniques. The chemical resistance of the coated stone was tested in acidic and neutral environments, showing better hydrophobicity in the neutral condition. The study highlights the potential of this composite to enhance agricultural practices in arid regions, facilitate pet urine collection in veterinary medicine, and offer various environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a collection of new composites constructed from aminoclays (MgAC and ZrAC) and MOFs are inserted into the PEBAX matrix for gas separation inspections. In fabricated UiO-66-(COOH)2@CuBDC@MgAC and MIL-121@CuBDC@MgAC composites series, amine groups of MgAC, unoccupied Cu ions of CuBDC and free carboxylic acid in the pores of UiO-66-(COOH)2 and MIL-121 are intensely involved in superior CO2 permeability of prepared MMMs from these composites. Besides, the nanosheet formation of CuBDC MOF induced by MgAC sheets develops the interphase regions (MOF-MOF and PEBAX-composites) which are also responsible for such obtained CO2 permeability against N2. Additionally, lower pore diameter of CuBDC in comparison with UiO-66-(COOH)2 and MIL-121 can exert sieving effect for crowded gas molecules which pass through the UiO-66-(COOH)2 and MIL-121 layers. In these series, PEBAX/Zr@Cu@Mg-4 demonstrates CO2 permeability of 320.15 barrer and CO2/N2 selectivity of 147.27. A new aminoclay based on zirconium is synthesized and added to the constructed composites as the outer layer. The provided ZrAC@UiO-66-(COOH)2@CuBDC@MgAC and ZrAC@MIL-121@CuBDC@MgAC composites are also examined as fillers in PEBAX matrix. Apparently, the interphases of MMMs are gotten close to their ideal states by ZrAC sheets existence in composites and gas behavior of all MMMs are ameliorated compared to the last MMMs series. In this regard, PEBAX/Zr@Zr@Cu@Mg-4 exhibits CO2 permeability of 407.77 barrer and CO2/N2 selectivity of 87.46. The fabricated composites and membranes are identified by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and HRTEM. The membranes are also characterized by TGA, surface contact angle and Stress-Strain analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Femoral shaft nonunion can be extremely vexing and result in significant morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with nonunion of the femoral shaft fracture undergoing double plating and bone grafts from the iliac crest and femoral canal. Methods This retrospective study included 44 patients with femoral shaft nonunion between March 2020 to March 2022. Patients underwent dual plating, bone grafting from the iliac crest, and the utilization of the femoral canal. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), the two surgical interventions interval, union time after the second surgery, hip range of motion (ROM), limb length discrepancy (LLD), infections, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were evaluated. Results Patients comprised 21 males (47.7%) and 23 females (52.3%), with a mean age of 42.3 ± 15.2 years. The mean BMI was 26.7 ± 3.77 kg/m2. The mean duration between the two surgical interventions for the patients was 17.07 ± 6.6 months. The patients were followed for ≥ 12 months. All patients achieved successful union and fracture healing, with an average time of 5 months. The mean hip flexion and extension were 112.84 ± 7.7˚ and 14.8 ± 5.2˚ degrees, respectively. Thirteen patients showed LLD after the first surgery, with a mean LLD of 7.15 ± 5.04 millimeters. LLDs were successfully rectified in all patients following the surgical intervention. No patients experienced postoperative infections or DVT. Conclusion According to our findings, the utilization of double-plate fixation in combination with iliac crest and femoral canal bone graft has proven to be a secure, productive, and straightforward surgical alternative for the management of femoral nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play a pivotal role in producing pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs), in the inflammation process. Mitragynine is a primary alkaloid contained in the kratom's leaves and has been reported to show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing COX-2 mRNA translation to lowering PGs synthesis. In this study, the Kratom's alkaloid extract containing ~ 46% mitragynine was found to exhibit dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes at concentrations below 25 ppm in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. At these levels, no cell toxicity was observed while the cells became death (e.g., 10–46% viability at 50–100 ppm) and only COX-2 inhibition activity was observed after exposed with more than 25 ppm of alkaloid extract. In contrast, the methanolic-crude extract of Kratom's leaf containing ~ 5% mitragynine showed no inhibition toward COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and did not toxic onto the cells, even after treated at 100 ppm. The alkaloid extract suppressed several antiinflammation parameters, including ROS (64% reduction at 25 ppm), NO (30% reduction at 25 ppm), TNF-α (~ 50% reduction at 25 ppm), and IL-6 production (60% reduction at 6.25 ppm). In silico molecular studies indicated strong binding affinity of Kratom alkaloids to COX-2 and 5-LOX active sites, supporting the Kratom's alkaloids to have great potential dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and to be developed as a safer NSAIDs with fewer side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, wind flow around a telecommunication tower (Milad Tower) model was numerically simulated. Several computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) models. Two cases resembling the tower head with different inlet turbulence intensity profiles were considered, and computational results for wind flow and pressure distributions on various sections around the tower head and structure were presented and compared with the available wind tunnel data. Good agreement of the simulated pressure coefficient distributions around the head section in the windward and leeward sides of the tower with the wind tunnel data was observed. The regions with positive and negative pressures on the tower surface were identified based on the pressure coefficient distributions. In addition, the airflow characteristics around a model of the entire Milad Tower were studied. The simulation results for the airflow and the drag and lift coefficients acting on the tower for the high and low-intensity winds were evaluated and discussed. It was demonstrated that the DDES model was preferred for the simulation of mean pressure coefficients over the tower; however, the RNG k–ε model results, which were obtained at lower computational costs, were also satisfactory. In addition, the DDES showed better performance in simulating the maximum and minimum pressure coefficients on different tower levels and predicting the mean aerodynamics drag and lift coefficients. The results of the DDES model illustrated the higher power spectral density of velocity fluctuations on the leeward side of the tower compared with the windward side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to examine the importance of an lncRNA, namely LINC00852, in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Materials and methods: In the current study, we used several online tools to examine the importance of LINC00852 in breast cancer. Then, we examined these findings in 50 pairs of breast cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous ones. We also re-evaluated the data of miR-145-5p signature from our recent study. Results: While in silico tools revealed down-regulation of LINC00852 in breast cancer samples, expression assays showed significant up-regulation of this lncRNAs in breast cancer samples compared with matching control samples from Iranian patients. miR-145-5p was under-expressed in breast cancer samples compared with non-cancerous samples. LINC00852 could separate breast cancer tissues from adjacent non-malignant tissues with an AUC value of 0.7218 (P value < 0.001). Conclusion: The current study potentiates LINC00852/miR-145-5p axis as a possible contributor to the pathogenesis of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of materials under high strain rates is pivotal to their deformation during machining processes. This research focuses on numerical modeling of the dynamic behavior of aluminum alloys (AA) 7075-T6 in dry turning operation. The Johnson–Cook (J-C) constitutive equation and coefficients derived from the split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and uniaxial tensile tests were used in numerical simulations based on finite element (FE). Numerical models were validated under different machining conditions. The numerical and experimental studies revealed the significant impact of the feed rate on the alloy's behavior, chip thickness, and chip morphology. The work confirmed that increasing the cutting speed and feed rate led to higher machining temperatures. The lowest amounts of built-up layer (BUL) and built-up edge (BUE) were observed at high cutting speed and feed rate levels. The minimum surface roughness was recorded at low feed rates and high cutting speeds. The experimental results adequately confirmed the accuracy of the FE simulations. This research indicates that strain rate hardening significantly affects AA 7075-T6 and substantially increases strength as the strain rate increases. The results of the machining simulation validated the appropriateness of the J-C damage parameters used for the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins, such as phycoerythrin (PE) and phycocyanin (PC), are colored potential bioactive proteins that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In this study, we formulated a new food prototype based on PE and PC-fortified low-fat yogurt and cream cheese. Four distinct low-fat yogurt and cream cheese products were manufactured, including a control group (No PE and PC), samples produced with phycoerythrin (+ PE), samples produced with phycocyanin (+ PC), and samples produced with both phycoerythrin and phycocyanin (PC + PE). Afterwards statistically compared the physicochemical composition, colorimetric properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and sensory profile of the fortified foods at 4 °C and 8 °C for 28 and 42 days. Additionally, we confirmed that PE and PC are not toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans at concentrations up to 1 mg/mL. The results showed that the MIC of PE and PC against E. coli was significantly higher than against S. aureus (3.12 ± 0.05 µg/mL vs. 1.56 ± 0.01 µg/mL, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, the maximum diameter of the inhibition zone of PE and PC against S. aureus was significantly higher than against E. coli (6.6 ± 0.011 mm vs. 11.66 ± 0.02 mm, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Results of color parameters showed that the control group had significantly higher L* values than the samples enriched with PE and PC. Moreover PE and PC significantly increased the a* and b* values respectively. The amount of ΔE in the control yogurts and cream cheese was higher than in the samples with PE and PC. Overall, the results showed that adding PE and PC had a significant effect on all measured factors (p < 0.01). Cream cheeses and low-fat yogurts enriched with either PE or PE + PC had the greatest antioxidant activity and the lowest number of psychrophilic bacteria and mold, and yeast counts at the end of the test period. Therefore, low-fat yogurt and cream cheese containing cyanobacterial PE and PC can be considered an innovative dairy product for the food industry. This study marks the initial effort to employ PE and PC derived from Nostoc sp. and Spirulina sp. as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) causes progressive and irreversible damage to lung tissue, a damage that may not fully resolve after treatment. Mycobacterial vesicles (MVs), which are poorly understood, may contribute to TB pathology. This study investigated the effects of stress, such as treatment with conventional TB antibiotics rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, or treatment with an antimycobacterial peptide (NZX), on mycobacterial vesiculation. Stress from minimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, or peptide all increased MV formation. Electron microscopy and lipid profiling revealed that these vesicles, about 40 nm in size, were released from the bacterial inner membrane and consisted of apolar lipids. Using mass spectrometry, the study identified key differences in MVs protein cargo dependent on the antibiotic used, especially with ethambutol-induced MVs that contained proteins from several mycobacterial pathways. Additionally, toxicology analysis using different concentrations of MVs on primary human macrophages and the monocytic cells indicated that MVs from the different treatments were not toxic to human cells, however induced specific inflammatory profiles. In conclusion, this study identified mycobacterial vesicles to be a potential contributor to tuberculosis pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nutrition has become increasingly important in treating and managing gestational diabetes mellitus. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a conceptual framework in health behavior research used in some medical research. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of glycemic index training based on the HBM on metabolic indicators and pregnant women's health-related quality of life. In this open-label, parallel-controlled randomized trial, 90 pregnant women from primary health centers in Iran were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group, using a block randomization method with a block size of six. The intervention group underwent 12 weeks of nutritional education on the glycemic index and load of foodstuff. The control group only received routine health care. Valid and reliable questionnaires included demographic and prenatal information, physical activity, three days of food records, quality of life (SF-12), and HBM constructs. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and end of the study, to assess fasting blood glucose (FBS), fasting insulin, hs-CRP, and lipids. Eighty-four pregnant women with an age mean of 30.12 ± 4.35 completed 12 weeks of intervention. At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in the HBM subscales (P > 0.05). However, within the intervention group, there was an increase in perceived susceptibilities (mean change 1.45 ± 4.21; P = 0.03) and cue to action (mean change: 1.22 ± 3.38; P = 0.02). In the adjusted model, the General Health subscale of Quality of Life showed a significant increase in the comparison between groups (mean change 13.69 ± 29.83 vs. 0.00 ± 29.58; P = 0.04). Additionally, the adjusted model revealed a notable difference between the groups in serum hs-CRP level, (mean change -0.877 ± 3.47 vs. -0.067 ± 3.40; P = 0.01) and triglyceride level (mean change − 55.24 ± 111.21 vs. 40.92 ± 142.01; P = 0.001). However, in the adjusted model, the total cholesterol levels increased between groups (mean change 22.75 ± 66.17 vs. 30.12 ± 61.33; P = 0.01) at the end of the study. There was no significant difference in glycemic indices (P > 0.05). Participation in a nutrition education program might positively impact nutritional beliefs, behaviors, and some biochemical indicators among pregnant women. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are warranted. Trial registration number: IRCTID: IRCT20190227042858N1. Registration date: 2019-07-18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizomania is the most destructive sugar beet disease in the world, and in recent years, it has widespread in most of the sugar beet growing areas in Iran. Since the control of this soil-borne disease is a difficult task, the use of resistant genotypes is known as the best measure against the disease. The ultimate goal of sugar beet breeders is to produce genotypes that can be used in both infected and non-infected fields without any reduction in terms of yield and quality. Twenty-one sugar beet genotypes along with four controls were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications in fields with natural infection to rhizomania in five research stations. Important sugar beet traits including root yield, sugar yield, sugar content, and white sugar yield were evaluated for two years (2021 and 2022). For all traits, location was the main source of variation that spanned 33 to 55% of the total sum of the square followed by the location×year×genotype accounted for 3–40% of the variation. Based on the results of analysis of variance, multivariate stability parameters were computed to evaluate the genotypes' stability. The first two principal components (IPCA1 and IPCA2) generated by GGE biplot contributed for 31.3 and 17.5% difference in genotype×environment interaction for root yield, respectively. According to the GGE biplot, genotypes RM-11 and RM-12 were identified as the winning genotypes across environments for both root yield and white sugar yield traits whereas AMMI model identified RM-14 and RM-9 (for root yield) and RM-1 (for white sugar yield) as best genotypes. Based on the ideal genotype ranking, RM-11 and RM-10 were the best performer with a high mean yield as well as stability in the studied environments. The biplot rendered using the weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) and root yield and white sugar yield identified RM-11 and RM-9 as superior genotypes in terms of yield and stability. The selected genotypes can be used in breeding programs to transfer the disease resistance and cultivar development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a non-invasive, powerful, and cost-effective imaging technique that has seen widespread adoption across various medical fields, particularly for blood flow imaging. While LSCI provides physicians with valuable insights into changes or occlusions in blood flow, the technique is susceptible to various factors and parameters that can impact measurement sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). These include the scattering of light, which can affect the quality and reliability of the LSCI data. The polarization of light holds significant promise to enhance the performance of LSCI. In this study, we employed polarization manipulation of light to investigate its impact on the performance of LSCI for measuring flow. Focusing on the application of LSCI in microcirculation within capillaries, we examined the effect of polarization control on the technique's flow measurement capabilities using a custom-designed phantom system. This phantom consisted of three tubes with inner diameters of 1.1 mm, 1.6 mm, and 2.8 mm, embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix with optical properties similar to biological tissue. By manipulating the polarization of both the incident and reflected light, alternating between parallel and perpendicular states, we compared the performance of our LSCI system in detecting flow for different tube diameters and depths within the phantom. Our study revealed that while depth is a critical parameter influencing flow detection using LSCI, employing perpendicular polarization (between incident and reflected light) resulted in the lowest measurement error and highest SNR compared to parallel polarization and the absence of polarization control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective feature vector generation approach is herein presented based on the cointegration concept and the signal processing methods in order to improve varying speed bearing troubleshooting. Initially, each vibration signal is decomposed into its intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) using ensemble empirical mode decomposition method. Then, the cointegration relations are extracted by applying the Johansen trace test method to the obtained components. In order to form the feature matrix, the cointegration relations are analyzed by wavelet packet transform and the time-domain features are calculated for the wavelet packet coefficients. Consequently, by using a hybrid feature selection approach based on compensation distance evaluation technique, support vector machine, and binary particle swarm optimization algorithm, the optimal hybrid features were identified. The experimental results show that the optimal features are composed of the first cointegration relation, the third level of wavelet packet coefficients, the third IMF, Teager–Kaiser energy, energy, and root mean square. Also, the number of optimal features obtained from the first cointegration relation was less than other relationships. The results reveal that when the optimal feature set is computed for the first cointegration relationship, the identification accuracy of the proposed approach increases considerably. The result analysis also shows the efficiency of the proposed technique in detecting the condition of the bearing in time-varying rotational speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria species (Deuteromycetes, Ascomycota) as ubiquitous fungi and prolific producers of a variety of toxic compounds are a part of microbiomes of plants, humans, and animals, mainly causing disease, allergic reactions, and toxicosis. However, some species have also been reported as endophytic microorganisms with highly bioactive metabolites. Our previous results indicate that potentially endophytic Alternaria species from Cupressaceae produce bioactive metabolites that possibly contribute to plant holobiont’s health. Here, a possible mechanism behind this bioactivity is elucidated. As some endophytic fungi are reported to produce cytotoxic taxane diterpenoids, eight potentially endophytic Alternaria isolates from our collection were analyzed for the presence of the key genes of the paclitaxel (Taxol) biosynthetic pathway, i.e., taxadin synthase (ts), 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyltransferase (dbat), and C-13-phenylpropanoid side-chain CoA acyltransferase (bapt). The presence of all genes, i.e., ts, dbat, and bapt, was detected by PCR in six isolates and dbat and bapt in two isolates. Chemical analyses of the fermentation broths by TLC and HPLC chromatography and IR spectroscopy indicated the synthesis of the final product, i.e., paclitaxel. So, we introduce the synthesis of taxane diterpenoids as a possible mechanism by which Alternaria occupies the plant niches and protects the plant holobiont in the presence of competing microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aims of this study were to (a) evaluate the lifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to sociodemographic characteristics, (b) determine sociodemographic factors associated with PTSD, (c) estimate the lifetime prevalence rates of comorbidities by age and gender, and (d) assess the proportion of traumatic events in the non-PTSD sample and the PTSD sample, according to gender. Methods: The data used for the present study were obtained from the IRCAP study which was a cross-sectional, community-based study on 29,250 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years from all provinces of Iran, which was done using multistage cluster sampling. Trained psychologists conducted diagnostic interviews with parents, children, and adolescents using the Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children—Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS—PL). Results: In this study, the prevalence of PTSD across the sample population was 0.6% (95% CI, 0.5-0.7%). Higher rates of PTSD were observed among girls (0.7%, CI 0.5-0.8%), adolescents aged 15–18 years (0.8%, CI 0.6-1.0%), and participants who had unemployed (1.5%, CI 0.8-2.8%), or farmer fathers (1.1%, CI 0.5-2.5%). Of the participants with PTSD, 65.1% met the criteria for at least one other psychiatric disorder. PTSD had a high rate of comorbidity with oppositional defiant disorder (22.9%, CI 17.5–29.4%), generalized anxiety disorder (20.8%, CI 15.7–27.1%), separation anxiety disorder (20.3%, CI 15.2–26.6%), and major depressive disorder (19.8%, CI 14.8–26.0%). We found 9.5% of non-PTSD sample experienced at least one traumatic event. Witness to domestic violence was the most common traumatic event experienced by 32.8% of PTSD sample. Conclusion: Our results in the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic factors associated with PTSD supported findings of previous studies that used a structured diagnostic interview. It is recommended to use purposive sampling and to investigate comorbidities of PTSD and type of traumatic events in a large clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise predicting of air temperature has a significant influence in many sectors such as agriculture, industry, modeling environmental processes. In this work, to predict the mean daily time series air temperature in Muğla city (ATm), Turkey, initially, five different layer structures of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) deep learning-based neural network models through the seq2seq regression forecast module are developed. Then, based on performance evaluation metrics, an optimal DL-based layer network structure designed is chosen to hybridize with the wavelet transform (WT) algorithm (i.e., WT-DNN model) to enhance the estimation capability. In this direction, among potential meteorological variables considered, the average daily sunshine duration (SSD) (hours), total global solar radiation (TGSR) (kw. hour/m2), and total global insolation intensity (TGSI) (watt/m2) from Jan 2014 to Dec 2019 are picked as the most effective input variables through correlation analysis to predict ATm. To thwart overfitting and underfitting problems, different algorithm tuning along with trial-and-error procedures through diverse types of hyper-parameters are performed. Consistent with the performance evaluation standards, comparison plots, and Total Learnable Parameters (TLP) value, the state-of-the-art and unique proposed hybrid WT-(LSTM × GRU) model (i.e., hybrid WT with the coupled version of LSTM and GRU models via Multiplication layer (× )) is confirmed as the best model developed. This hybrid model under the ideal hyper-parameters resulted in an R2 = 0.94, an RMSE = 0.56 (°C), an MBE = -0.5 (°C), AICc = -382.01, and a running time of 376 (s) in 2000 iterations. Nonetheless, the standard single LSTM layer network model as benchmark model resulted in an R2 = 0.63, an RMSE = 4.69 (°C), an MBE = -0.89 (°C), AICc = 1021.8, and a running time of 186 (s) in 2000 iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zabol City in eastern Iran has been recognized as one of the windiest, dustiest, and most unhealthy urban environments globally. This work examines the chemical speciation, environmental contamination, and human health risk associated with atmospheric dust in Zabol and surrounding areas, via analysis of 77 dust samples collected at 12 urban and rural sites from October 2018 to September 2020. On average, the concentrations of trace elements followed a decreasing order of Mn > Ba > Sr > Zn > Cr > V > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Mo > Cd, while abundant elements Al and Fe accounted for 5% and 2.9% of airborne dust, respectively. Significant enrichment factors were found for As and Cd and moderate for Mo. The ecological risk index indicated moderate pollution, with the highest contributions from Cd (68%) and As (25%). The intensive use of As-based fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural lands in the Sitan Basin is the most likely source for the high As levels, while Cd, Pb, and Mo in airborne dust can be partly attributed to traffic-related contamination. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that ingestion is the primary exposure source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for both children and adults, with deleterious health effects, followed by skin contact and inhalation. The Hazard index (HI) for selected PTEs decreased in the order of Cr > As > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cu > Zn for both children and adults, classified within safe limits (HI < 1). However, Cr and As posed cancer risks above the safety threshold (> 10− 4) through ingestion exposure. Current results indicate that Zabol is still experiencing significant environmental and ecological contamination, as well as important health risks due to dust contaminated PTEs, necessitating appropriate mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbon contamination is regarded as one of the most crucial soil pollution incidents, altering the geological features of soils. Oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, which gradually penetrates through the soil and spreads. Oil derivatives undergo physical and chemical changes in soil due to evaporation, absorption, and biodegradation by soil microorganisms, making this type of pollution one of the challenging topics in geotechnical engineering. While several studies have investigated the effect of various amounts of oil and its derivatives on the geotechnical properties of different soils, only a few studies have focused on the impact of hydrocarbon aging. On the other hand, the effect of clay content on aging of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils has not been fully studied before. To fill this gap and evaluate the importance of contaminated soil aging, compaction, triaxial test, unconfined compression strength, Water Holding Capacity, pH, and Scanning Electron Microscopy experiments are performed in this study on sand-kaolinite mixtures containing different clay to sand ratios, and contaminated with 6% used motor oil by dry weight of the soil. The experiments were carried out instantly, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after contamination. The results indicate that the compaction parameters change significantly for the soil with a high percentage of clay (50% clay), over the course of time. Moreover, cohesion and internal friction angle increase and compression strength changes due to the stiffening and variations of used motor oil. Aging is observed to be highly dependent on clay content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: CYP450 (CYP) phenotyping involves quantifying an individual's plasma clearance of CYP-specific probe drugs, as a proxy for in vivo CYP enzyme activity. It is increasingly applied to study alterations in CYP enzyme activity under various (patho)physiological conditions, such as inflammation, obesity, or pregnancy. The phenotyping approach assumes that changes in plasma clearance of probe drugs are driven by changes in CYP enzyme activity. However, plasma clearance is also influenced by protein binding, blood-to-plasma ratio, and hepatic blood flow, all of which may change under (patho)physiological conditions. Methods: Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) workflow, we aimed to evaluate whether the plasma clearance of commonly used CYP probe drugs is indeed directly proportional to alterations in CYP enzyme activity (sensitivity), and to what extent alterations in protein binding, blood-to-plasma ratio, and hepatic blood flow observed under (patho)physiological conditions impact plasma clearance (specificity). Results: Plasma clearance of CYP probe drugs is sensitive to alterations in CYP enzyme activity, since alterations in intrinsic clearance between − 90% and + 150% resulted in near-proportional changes in plasma clearance, except for midazolam in the case of > 50% CYP3A4 induction. However, plasma clearance also changed near-proportionally with alterations in the unbound drug fraction, diminishing probe specificity. This was particularly relevant for high protein-bound probe drugs, as alterations in plasma protein binding resulted in larger relative changes in the unbound drug fraction. Alterations in the blood-to-plasma ratio and hepatic blood flow of ± 50% resulted in plasma clearance changes of less than ± 16%, meaning they limitedly impacted plasma clearance of CYP probe drugs, except for midazolam. In order to correct for the impact of non-metabolic determinants on probe drug plasma clearance, an R script was developed to calculate how much the CYP enzyme activity is actually altered under (patho)physiological conditions, when alterations in the unbound drug fraction, blood-to-plasma ratio, and/or hepatic blood flow also impact probe drug plasma clearance. Conclusions: As plasma protein binding can change under (patho)physiological conditions, alterations in unbound drug fraction should be accounted for when using CYP probe drug plasma clearance as a proxy for CYP enzyme activity in patient populations. The tool developed in this study can support researchers in determining alterations in CYP enzyme activity in patients with (patho)physiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution, climate changes, and global warming are strongly correlated with burning huge amounts of petroleum fuels. Biodiesel has emerged as a promising alternative to alleviate these problems. Nonetheless, high density and viscosity, low energy content, and poor atomization of biodiesel restrict its widespread usage in diesel engines. The addition of nanoparticles (NPs) in biodiesel-based fuels has recently received considerable attention to modify the physicochemical properties of fuel as well as to improve the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines. Among the various NP additives, alumina (Al2O3) NPs are of high interest owing to their excellent chemical and thermal stability, nontoxicity, high catalytic activity, etc. Hence, the present paper attempts to review the available literature concerning biodiesel fuels containing Al2O3 NPs. In this regard, the preparation techniques and physiochemical properties of these fuels including density, kinematic viscosity, cetane number, flash point, and calorific value are first discussed. Furthermore, the impact of Al2O3 NPs on the spray atomization and evaporation features of as-used fuels is investigated. Finally, the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of diesel-fueled engines with Al2O3 NP-added biodiesel fuels are assessed. In conclusion, it was found that the use of Al2O3 NPs in biodiesel fuels can lead to enhanced engine performance by increasing the brake thermal efficiency, decreasing brake-specific fuel consumption, and lowering the emission of various harmful pollutants. The performance of Al2O3 nanoadditives for biodiesel-fueled diesel engines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanocomposite hydrogel Co([CHITOSAN-AMPS-AA]/PEI-MBA) was synthesized using silica and graphene oxide nanoparticles by a free radical polymerization method. The hydrogel was used to adsorb tin and platinum from wastewater produced during production of a commercial dehydrogenation process. The adsorbed platinum could be selectively released from the adsorbing hydrogel platinum. Various tests including FTIR, XRD, TGA, and Rheology were conducted to identify the hydrogel's three-dimensional structure. The adsorption performance was evaluated using ICP, SEM, and EDS tests. The ability of hydrogel for multiple adsorptions was also assessed. The thermodynamical study and adsorption isotherms were investigated, and the possible structure of the synthesized adsorbing hydrogel was presented. The results showed that while the hydrogel could adsorb platinum physically in three consecutive cycles from wastewater, tin is chemically adsorbed during the process. The physically-adsorbed platinum could then be released selective. The adsorption isotherm of platinum and tin ions followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model while the adsorption rate represented a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The hydrogel had an adsorption capacity of 263.16 mg/g for platinum and 188.88 mg/g for tin with the Gibbs free energy of − 1710.86 J/mol and − 4521.08 J/mol, respectively. It was found that the hydrogel can be reused for practical and large-scale wastewater treatment as less than 10% decrease in the adsorption capacity was observed after three consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing nanomaterials in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations is suggested as an efficient way to modify fluid-rock (i.e., contact angle) and fluid-fluid (i.e., interfacial tension) interactions in porous media. In the current experimental study, a well-known CuO/Fe3O4/Xanthan nanocomposite (NCs) was combined with two naturally-origin nanoparticles, i.e., eucalyptus plant (EP-NCs) and walnut shell (WS-NCs). The main novelty of the current study is synthesizing new nanocomposites and obtaining their optimum concentrations in the base fluid based on the contact angle and zeta potential tests. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy diffraction X-rays, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller tests have been performed on the fabricated nanocomposites to investigate their surface morphology and chemical compositions. The results show that the synthesized nanocomposites have average diameters of NCs, EP-NCs, and WS-NCs of 31–59 nm, 15–101 nm, and 21–52 nm, respectively. Various tests, including wettability alteration, interfacial tension, zeta potential, and oil recovery, were conducted at 2000 psi and 70 °C to determine the best green nanocomposite and its optimum concentration for application in the carbonate porous media. The most stable nanofluids (i.e., the zeta potential of -23.88 to -33.65 mV) and the maximum decrease in contact angle (i.e., 76.10 ° to 43.98 °) have been achieved by the optimum concentration of the EP-NCs and WS-NCs in the base fluid (i.e., 30 ppm). Comparing the performance of the three investigated nanocomposites in reducing wettability and interfacial tension and increasing stability proves that the EP-NC performed better than the NCs and WS-NCs. In addition, the obtained displacement efficiency by 30 ppm of the NCs, WS-NCs, and EP-NCs in the base fluid at 70 °C and 2000 psi is 36.00%, 51.78%, and 60.61%., respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural hazards are considered one of the greatest challenges today. Preventing transformation processes that lead to risk and then, crisis need a structural-strategic approach. An approach that can identify the issues and challenges ahead in a systematic and comprehensive method by formulating an operational plan can provide resilience and reduce vulnerability of human settlements and urban infrastructures. The road networks as one of the most important urban elements having a crucial role in management of crisis during the occurrence of natural crises (such as earthquakes) aid in the transferring the injured and rescue forces. The main purpose of this study was to determine the vulnerability of urban road networks for earthquake risk with neural network and machines learning algorithms with a comparative and systematic approach. In order to identify the most accurate and efficient model, a comparative comparison between neural network model (ANN) and machine learning algorithms including ADTree and KNN was carried out. The results of the present study in evaluating the structural condition of the urban road network with Fractal Dimension on hazardous and vulnerable zones showed that these zones were of low fractal dimension, and the distribution and differentiation of roads were low, reducing the efficiency of the road network at times of crisis. Other results of the present research on the application of machine learning algorithms indicate that the accuracy of the ADTree algorithm was equal to 1. In addition, at the stage of measuring the efficiency of the model with the Classification metrics algorithm, the ADTree algorithm efficiency was equal to 1. However, the accuracy of the KNN algorithm (K-Nearest Neighbors) and the artificial neural network model in predicting the vulnerability of the internal road network was equal to 0.92% and 0.98%, respectively. Therefore, since the degree of accuracy of the ADTree algorithm was higher, it is the most accurate and efficient algorithm to predict the vulnerability of the road network at times of the occurrence of hazardous events, and it can be useful and effective in decision-making of policy makers and planners in pre-crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence and associated complications. Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders have been linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD), although the evidence is still inconsistent. To investigate the relationship between different obesity phenotypes and the risk of CKD, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases for all relevant studies up to February 2024, without imposing a specific start date, for observational studies assessing the relationship between obesity phenotypes and incident kidney dysfunction. We used fixed and random effects models for the meta-analysis, subgroup analyses were carried out to explore heterogeneity, and Egger's and Begg's tests were used to assess publication bias. Result: This meta-analysis included 13 eligible observational studies with 492,829 participants. Pooling the studies regardless of the effect measure showed that individuals with metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) (ES = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.43–1.76), metabolically healthy obese (MHO) (ES = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.06–1.34), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) (ES = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.63–2.20) phenotypes had a significantly increased risk for kidney dysfunction (KD) events. On the other hand, MUOW individuals did not significantly correlate with risk of CKD (ES = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.97–2.23) compared to the MHNW phenotype. Conclusion: Healthy overweight and obese individuals had higher risk for the incident KD events; refuting the notion that metabolically healthy overweight and obese phenotypes are benign conditions. Level of evidence: III Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or cross-sectional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is to optimize the extraction of white tea extract (WTE) containing the highest concentration of polyphenolic compounds (TPC) under ultrasound intensity, ultrasound time, and different solvents, and then to investigate the effect of nanoencapsulation using PLGA on the structural characteristics of the optimized extract. The results of the investigation showed the effect of the time and intensity of ultrasound as well as the type of solvent used on the extraction performance of the extract. Thus, the optimal conditions were obtained by using methanol solvent and applying 15 min of time and 70% ultrasound intensity to extract the extract with the highest antioxidant capacity and maximum TPC, respectively, at the rate of 77.65% and 68.38 mg/g. The preparation of white tea extract nanocapsules (WTE-NCs) using PLGA was based on solvent-emulsion evaporation and ultrasound. WTE-NCs were investigated in terms of efficiency and release of WTE micro-coating and structural properties through particle size determination, morphological analysis, and FT-IR. The micro-coating efficiency was 91.89% on the first day, which decreased to 76.16% after 22 days. The particle size analysis results showed that WTE-NCs with a particle size of 68.36 nm increased to 447.23 nm after six months. In terms of morphology, WTE-NCs had a spherical structure. The present study's findings showed that micro-coating using PLGA can effectively protect and cover WTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]