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Abstract Spastic paraplegia 47 (SPG47) is a neurological disorder caused by mutations in the adaptor protein complex 4 β1 subunit (AP4B1) gene leading to AP-4 complex deficiency. SPG47 is characterised by progressive spastic paraplegia, global developmental delay, intellectual disability and epilepsy. Gene therapy aimed at restoring functional AP4B1 protein levels is a rational therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the disease phenotype. Here we report that a single delivery of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 expressing hAP4B1 (AAV9/hAP4B1) into the cisterna magna leads to widespread gene transfer and restoration of various hallmarks of disease, including AP-4 cargo (ATG9A) mislocalisation, calbindin-positive spheroids in the deep cerebellar nuclei, anatomical brain defects and motor dysfunction, in an SPG47 mouse model. Furthermore, AAV9/hAP4B1-based gene therapy demonstrated a restoration of plasma neurofilament light (NfL) levels of treated mice. Encouraged by these preclinical proof-of-concept data, we conducted IND-enabling studies, including immunogenicity and GLP non-human primate (NHP) toxicology studies. Importantly, NHP safety and biodistribution study revealed no significant adverse events associated with the therapeutic intervention. These findings provide evidence of both therapeutic efficacy and safety, establishing a robust basis for the pursuit of an IND application for clinical trials targeting SPG47 patients.

Fortification of highly-consumed foods such as bread is an easy and cheap strategy to combat the iron deficiency anemia. However, there have sometimes been some side effects such as iron overload and digestive problems. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the amount of iron as well as its non-carcinogenic risks in commonly-used types of Iranian flour and breads (Barbary, Lavash, and Tafton) in Isfahan, Iran. Iron concentration of 100 samples of flour and breads were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic health risk of iron in fortified breads was estimated by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) in Monte Carlo Simulation technique. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), with a recovery level of 95%, were 1.8 × 10–5 and 5.9 × 10–5 mg/kg, respectively. The total mean concentration of iron in flour (53.48 ± 22.49 mg/kg) and bread (39.02 ± 22.63 mg/kg) samples was within the standard recommended range (40–85 mg/kg) in Iran. THQ for adults and children was equal to 0.53 and 2.48. respectively. Hence, non-carcinogenic risk of iron through bread consumption was acceptable for adults, while it was not acceptable for children as a sensitive group. Consequently, it is required to rescreen the flour and bread fortification program in Iran according to the comprehensive risk assessment studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most effective interventions to control coronary heart disease (CHD) and prevent negative outcomes involve behavioral modification. This study examined how such modification based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) might improve lifestyle and clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 120 people with CHD seeking help at a general hospital in Iran were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Information was collected using an HBM-specific questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle II (HPLP-II) scale. Clinical outcomes (blood pressure, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar) were also measured. The intervention group received a tailored education based on HBM principles plus routine care, while those in the control group received only routine care. Three months after the intervention, both groups were reassessed using Student's t test and analysis of covariance. Results: All HBM subscale scores indicated significant improvements in the intervention group, in contrast to the control group, where scores worsened or stayed the same. Perceived severity and susceptibility were the dimensions that changed most. Total score on the HPLP-II improved significantly in the intervention group (p < 0.001, F = 747.5); however, subscale scores on spiritual growth and interpersonal relationships did not demonstrate significant between-group differences at follow-up. After adjustment for baseline scores, significant improvements in lifestyle subscales were also accompanied by significant improvements in clinical measures. Conclusions: This HBM-based behavior modification program improved both lifestyle and clinical measures in patients with CHD. Utilizing this program in patients with other cardiovascular diseases may in the future demonstrate similar results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and analytical researches have shown that the use of the bottom air-deck blasting improves fragmentation and reduces toe problems. In this research modelling of bottom air-deck blasting in a single hole, using numerical methods was taken into account. Considering the advantages of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, this method was used for modelling. In order to reduce the runtime of the process, the SPH–FEM coupled method was applied, using LS-DYNA software. To validate the modelling, the results of an experimental modelling of a single blast hole, in Barre granite was used. The results have shown that at the start of detonation, as the first free face is the bottom air-deck, hence, the blasting shock wave and explosive products move toward the air-deck area at a speed of 2.5 km/s and pressure on the wall of the blast hole in the air-deck area is more than the one at the starting point of detonation. Also, in conventional blasting, initial induced pressures are more than ones induced by air-deck blasting, but regarding the high attenuation of waves in conventional blasting, the applying time of pressures is very small. In bottom air-deck blasting, although the level of initial pressures are low, however, multiple impacts of blast waves in the air-deck area can transform compressive stress to tensile stress and produce higher and longer duration waves. These phenomena can contribute to an increase in the creation of fractures and improve the fragmentation at the bottom of the blast hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain catastrophizing is an exaggerated focus on pain sensations. It may be an independent factor influencing pain and functional outcomes of knee arthroplasty. We aimed to evaluate the association between pre-operative pain catastrophizing with pain and function outcomes up to one year after knee arthroplasty. We used data from a cohort study of patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty (either total or unicompartmental arthroplasty) for knee osteoarthritis. Pain catastrophizing was assessed pre-operatively using the Pain Catastrophizing scale (PCS). Other baseline variables included demographics, body mass index, radiographic severity, anxiety, depression, and knee pain and function assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Index (WOMAC). Patients completed the WOMAC at 6- and 12-months after arthroplasty. WOMAC pain and function scores were converted to interval scale and the association of PCS and changes of WOMAC pain and function were evaluated in generalized linear regression models with adjustment with confounding variables. Of the 1136 patients who underwent arthroplasty (70% female, 84% Chinese, 92% total knee arthroplasty), 1102 and 1089 provided data at 6- and 12-months post-operatively. Mean (± SD) age of patients was 65.9 (± 7.0) years. PCS was associated with a change in WOMAC pain at both 6-months and 12-months (β = − 0.04, 95% confidence interval: − 0.06, − 0.02; P < 0.001) post-operatively after adjustment in multivariable models; as well as change in WOMAC function at 6-months and 12-months. In this large cohort study, pre-operative pain catastrophizing was associated with lower improvements in pain and function at 6-months and 12-months after arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the significant challenges in cementing operations is the ability to predict the rheological behavior of wellbore cement under bottom-hole conditions. Therefore, developing advanced fluid mechanics models is necessary to predict the rheological behavior of wellbore cement. This study focused on wellbore cement compositions in southern Iran's exploratory oilfields, considering time, temperature, pressure, and cement stability during drilling and production operations. The proper exploratory and development oil wells' cement formulation of the area shall be prepared according to the geological characteristics and static and circulation temperature at the beginning and end of the formation. It requires conducting various tests, such as compressive strength, free water, and thickening time, in the studied formations. Optimal compaction should be produced according to the amount of allowed slurry and comparing the data obtained from the tests. The values obtained from different formations were compared with those obtained from Bingham's plastic and power fluids theories, and the very low deviation of the shear stress calculated at different radii of the rotary viscometer was compared. It was concluded that Bingham's plastic model is the appropriate rheological model that describes the slurry's rheological properties, such as plastic viscosity, shear stress, shear rate, and density. The novelty aspects of this work include a rheology modeling error range of 0.11 to 0.95% for wellbore cement compositions and the accurate representation of these cement's rheological behavior. If this model is used to predict the rheological behavior of wellbore cement compositions before casing cementing, it can save drilling operations costs and time. It will also cause a correct evaluation of the reservoir layers and increase the production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, numerous efforts have been made to find earthquake precursors. One of the factors that can predict the occurrence of future earthquakes is a decrease in the b-value parameter. In this study, for the metropolis of Tehran, with a population of over 8 million, located on or near many active faults, it is estimated that if the maximum seismic potential of these faults happened again, the greatest disaster in human history would occur. In this case, the analyses indicate a minimum of several hundred thousand casualties and sometimes more than a million. In the current study, various faults around Tehran were investigated, and given that the faults on Tehran have not had serious seismic activity for over a thousand years, this article focused exclusively on adjacent faults, particularly the Eshtehard faults. Therefore, in the current study, the seismicity and tectonics of western Tehran were investigated by analyzing seismic parameters using earthquake data collected from 2003 to 2023. In general, the investigation of the temporal changes in the study area showed that the b-value decreased before the December 20, 2017, earthquake and an increasing trend afterward. Observing anomalies in the b-value before and after the main movement in the area shows that changes in this parameter can be considered a precursor for estimating the time and location of earthquakes. Therefore, a useful step can be taken toward knowing the local seismic hazards by using earthquake data recorded by seismic networks and continuously monitoring the changes in the b-value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) have attracted significant attention in the field of structural engineering due to their unique mechanical properties. Objective: In this study, the free vibration of a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite sandwich nanoplate with an electrorheological fluid (ERF) layer as its core under a longitudinal magnetic field is examined using the nonlocal elasticity theory. Results: A comparison with some other item of existing literature is used to evaluate the established solution's accuracy and correctness. The obtained results demonstrate the dependency of the vibration behavior on the aforementioned factors. Specifically, the influences of electric field strength, boundary conditions, magnetic field intensity, volume fraction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), CNTs distribution, and nonlocal parameter are comprehensively analyzed through a parametric study. Methods: The governing equations are derived based on Hamilton's principle and solved using the Galerkin technique. While the continuity of physical quantities is required between all layers, the rule of mixing allows us to analyze the distribution of characteristics in this system's thickness direction. Changing the electric field also alters the ERF parameters in the pre-yield region. The developed mathematical model incorporates the nonlocal elasticity theory and the third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT) for different boundary conditions. Conclusion: The findings contribute to a better understanding of the dynamic response of such composite structures and can aid in their optimal design for various engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unbiased phenotypic screens in patient-relevant disease models offer the potential to detect therapeutic targets for rare diseases. In this study, we developed a high-throughput screening assay to identify molecules that correct aberrant protein trafficking in adapter protein complex 4 (AP-4) deficiency, a rare but prototypical form of childhood-onset hereditary spastic paraplegia characterized by mislocalization of the autophagy protein ATG9A. Using high-content microscopy and an automated image analysis pipeline, we screened a diversity library of 28,864 small molecules and identified a lead compound, BCH-HSP-C01, that restored ATG9A pathology in multiple disease models, including patient-derived fibroblasts and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We used multiparametric orthogonal strategies and integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to delineate potential mechanisms of action of BCH-HSP-C01. Our results define molecular regulators of intracellular ATG9A trafficking and characterize a lead compound for the treatment of AP-4 deficiency, providing important proof-of-concept data for future studies. Using an unbiased phenotypic cell-based high-throughput screen, the authors identify and characterize a small molecule, BCH-HSP-C01, that restores aberrant protein trafficking in neuronal models of adapter protein complex 4 deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer with high incidence rate in pediatrics and drug resistance is a major clinical concern for ALL treatment. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of exosomal miR-326 in diagnosis and treatment of children with B-ALL. Exosomes were isolated from plasma samples of 30 patients and B-ALL cell lines followed by characterization, using nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunoblotting assay and electron microscopy. qPCR showed significantly increased levels of miR-326 in patients exosomes compared with non-cancer controls (P < 0.05, AUC = 0.7500). Moreover, a comparison between the sensitive and drug resistant patients revealed a prognostic value for the exosomal miR326 (P < 0.05, AUC = 0.7755). Co-culture studies on drug resistant patient primary cells and B-ALL cell lines suggested that exosomes with high miR-326 level act as vehicles for reducing cells viability. B-ALL cell line transfection with naked miR-326 mimic confirmed the results, and fluorescence microscopy validated uptake and internalization of exosomes by target cells. The novel introduced features of the exosomal miR-326 address a non-invasive way of diagnosing primary drug resistance in pediatric ALL and advocates a novel therapeutic strategy for this cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The procedures currently used for hepatitis B (HB) detection are not suitable for screening, clinical diagnosis, and point-of-care testing (POCT). Therefore, we developed and tested a QCM-based immunosensor by surface modification with AuNP-PEIs to amplify the signal and provide an oriented-immobilization surface. The AuNP-PEIs were characterized by ICP-Mass, UV/Vis, DLS, FE-SEM, and ATR-FTIR. After coating AuNP-PEIs on the gold electrode surface, anti-HBsAg antibodies were immobilized using NHS/EDC chemistry based on response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. The efficiency of the immunosensor was assessed by human sera and data were compared to gold-standard ELISA using receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis. FE-SEM, AFM, EDS, and EDS mapping confirmed AuNP-PEIs are homogeneously distributed on the surface with a high density and purity. After antibody immobilization, the immunosensor exhibited good recognition of HBsAg with a calibration curve of ∆F = − 6.910e-7x + 10(R2 = 0.9905), a LOD of 1.49 ng/mL, and a LOQ of 4.52 ng/mL. The immunosensor yielded reliable and accurate results with a specificity of 100% (95% CI 47.8–100.0) and sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 96.2–100.0). In conclusion, the fabricated immunosensor has the potential as an analytic tool with high sensitivity and specificity. However, further investigations are needed to convert it to a tiny lab-on-chip for HB diagnosis in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude, distance from the epicenter, effective duration, fault mechanism, and soil conditions influence the structural consequences of earthquakes. Variations in these characteristics cause structures to behave differently during seismic events. This study investigated the influence of some of these parameters on the seismic performance of moment-resistant frames. This was accomplished by simulating various well-known structures while accounting for panel zone and nonlinear component behaviour. Following that, these structures were exposed to several classified earthquake records. The distance from the fault, the soil type, and the fault mechanism were considered while classifying earthquakes. The findings revealed that the median value of story drift in strike-slip fault mechanism holds a greater level of significance when compared to reverse fault mechanism specifically in the context of far-field records. Also applying the near-field records has a greater impact on drifts in taller frames on stiff soils, and increasing the height of the frame has less impact on the fault mechanism effect on structures built on soft soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is little information on BNT162b2 vaccine-induced variant-specific immunogenicity, safety data and dynamics of breakthrough infections in pediatric populations. We addressed these questions using a prospective two dose BNT162b2 (10 mcg) vaccination cohort study of healthy children 5–11 years in Singapore. Follow up included blood samples at scheduled visits, daily vaccination symptom diary and confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) and spike-specific T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants were performed. The mean age of 127 participants was 8.27 years (SD 1.95) and 51.2% were males. The median sVNT level against original variant after 1 dose and 2 dose vaccination was 61.4% and 95.1% respectively (p < 0.0001). Neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron variant was the lowest, median 22.4% (IQR 16.5–30.8). However, T cell IFN-γ cytokine response against Omicron variant was high and remained so about 4 months after vaccination. Fever rate increased significantly from 4% (dose 1) to 11.5% (dose 2). The risk of Omicron breakthrough infection decreased by 7.8% for every 1% increase in sVNT inhibition level measured after dose 2 vaccination. BNT162b2 vaccines were safe, induced good T cell responses but poor neutralizing antibodies against Omicron in children. Low neutralizing antibody levels post-vaccination was predictive of subsequent breakthrough infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Spiritual Coping Strategies Scale-Chinese version (SCSS-C) in Taiwanese adults. A convenience sample of 232 participants in Taiwan completed an online survey, and 45 of the 232 participants completed the SCSS-C again over a 2 week interval. The content validity index of the SCSS-C was 0.97. Parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis results revealed two factors (religious coping and non-religious coping). The internal consistency of the SCSS-C was satisfactory (α = 0.88 to 0.92). Test-retest reliability was satisfactory (r = 0.68 to 0.89). The psychometric properties of the SCSS-C were found to be acceptable for use in Taiwanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In HTLV-1-associated malignant disease, adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL), the interaction of virus and host was evaluated at the chemokines gene expression level. Also, IL-1β and Caspase-1 expressions were evaluated to investigate the importance of pyroptosis in disease development and progression. Methods and results: The expression of host CCR6 and CXCR-3 and the HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), Tax, and HBZ were assessed in 17 HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers (ACs) and 12 ATLL patients using the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), TaqMan method. Moreover, RT-qPCR, SYBR Green assay were performed to measure Caspase-1 and IL-1β expression. HTLV-1-Tax did not express in 91.5% of the ATLLs, while HBZ was expressed in all ATLLs. The expression of CXCR3 dramatically decreased in ATLLs compared to ACs (p = 0.001). The expression of CCR6 was lower in ATLLs than ACs (p = 0.04). The mean of PVL in ATLL patients was statistically higher than ACs (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the expression of the IL-1β between ATLLs and ACs was not statistically significant (p = 0.4). In contrast, there was a meaningful difference between Caspase-1 in ATLLs and ACs (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The present study indicated that in the first stage of ATLL malignancy toward acute lymphomatous, CXCR3 and its progression phase may target the pyroptosis process. Mainly, HBZ expression could be a novel therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the process of simulating the occurrence of an earthquake on the fault plane for the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan earthquake is investigated dynamically using finite element methods. The two-dimensional finite element method is used by concentrating friction at the finite points. The used element is the elastic element, whose properties are determined based on the shear wave velocity and longitudinal wave. In order to verify the proposed method, the acceleration and velocity response spectra, Fourier spectrum, and other main parameters of the record obtained from the simulation were compared with the Kik-net data. From the obtained results, the role of displacement and velocity of its application to the fault plate in PGA can be pointed out, so that with a faster displacement of the fault plane, a larger PGA is expected. Friction and shear stiffness between the two fault planes and the dependence of friction on velocity are the main and influential factors in the characteristics of the produced earthquake. In high-frequency earthquakes, friction is dependent on velocity, and when friction is not dependent on velocity, static plays a major role, and no drastic changes in the response spectrum are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a comprehensive investigation into the parameters affecting the sound transmission characteristics of a double-walled sandwich magneto-electro-elastic cross-ply layered plate resting on viscoelastic medium in thermal environment. To this end, the walls of this sandwich structure are modeled based on the assumptions of the first-order shear deformation theory. The governing equations are derived via a coupled set of equations targeting vibration and acoustic aspects of the problem after the application of Hamilton's principle. The obtained equations are then solved by the implementation of double Fourier series and the second velocity potential, giving an accurate estimation of sound transmission loss under initial magnetic and electric potentials, variations of temperature, ply angle, acoustic cavity depth, incident angle of sound waves, and viscoelastic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) has been shown to reduce phantom limb pain (PLP) and residual limb pain (RLP) in amputee patients, improving the quality of life. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the quality of data and determine the efficacy of TMR on pain reduction and functional outcomes in amputees. Methods: The protocol was registered and published a priori on PROSPERO (CRD42021285083). Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, Science Citation Index, and PsycINFO databases were searched until June 2022, retrieving 10 studies (n = 943). Selected outcomes were pain scores, improvement in limb function, complication rates, pain medication, and resubmission rates. Results: Ten studies (1 RCT and 9 observational studies) were included (n = 1099 limbs). The mean follow-up was 17.9 months (range 9.6–24.0). For NRS, the pooled mean difference was − 2.68 (95% CI: − 3.21, − 2.14; p < 0.0001) for RLP and − 2.17 (95% CI: − 2.70, − 1.63; p < 0.0001) for PLP, in favor of the TMR group, respectively. Pooled mean differences were significantly lower for all domains (all p < 0.0001) of the PROMIS score, in favor of the TMR group. Complication rates ranged from 0 to 16%. All studies showed a reduction in PLP and RLP following TMR. Three studies, assessing functional outcomes, showed an increase following TMR. The RCT was graded high quality and observational studies were moderate to very low quality. Conclusions: Despite varying study quality, pooled analysis shows a significant reduction in RLP and PLP across all PROMIS domains and significant reduction in NRS scores in the TMR group. Additionally, TMR demonstrated improved functional outcomes for amputees. Systematic review registration. PROSPERO CRD42021285083. Level of evidence: Not gradable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, hollow Poly(aniline-co-pyrrole) (HAP) nanoparticles were synthesized and utilized accompanied by chitosan (CH) to prepare the novel HAP-CH support for metal nanoparticles. ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated on HAP-CH support to enhance the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles in the novel Pt-ZFO/HAP-CH nanocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The prepared catalysts were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy images, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The electrocatalytic performance of Pt-ZFO/HAP-CH nanocatalyst was assessed towards methanol electro-oxidation by some electrochemical techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, and cyclic voltammetry, and compared with that of Pt/HAP-CH. Electrochemical results illustrated that Pt-ZFO/HAP-CH nanocatalyst has higher electrocatalytic activity and durability than that of the Pt/HAP-CH, which is owing to the higher electrochemically active surface area, higher mass activity, better durability, and lower charge transfers resistance. The superior catalytic performance of Pt-ZFO/HAP-CH nanocatalyst reveals that it can be a promising catalyst for developing direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an interpretable classifier for Parkinson's Disease (PD) diagnosis based on analyzing the gait cycle is presented. The proposed method utilizes clinical features extracted from the vertical Ground Reaction Force (vGRF) measured by wearable sensors. Therefore, experts can verify the decision made by the proposed method. Type-2 fuzzy logic is applied to increase the robustness against noisy sensor data. First, the initial fuzzy rules are extracted using a K-Nearest-Neighbor-based clustering approach. Next, a novel quasi-Levenberg-Marquardt (qLM) learning approach is proposed and applied to fine-tune the initial rules based on minimizing the cross-entropy loss function using a trust-region optimization method. Finally, complementary online learning is proposed to improve rules by encountering new labeled samples. The performance of the method is evaluated to classify patients and healthy subjects in different conditions, including the presence of noise or observing new samples. Moreover, the performance of the model is compared to some previous supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches. The final Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1 Score of the proposed method are 97.61%, 97.58%, 99.02%, and 98.30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant appears to cause milder infections, however, its capacity for immune evasion and high transmissibility despite vaccination remains a concern, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Herein, we investigate the incidence and risk factors for COVID-19 infection in vaccinated adult patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Aquaporin-4-antibody Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (AQP4-Ab NMOSD), and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-antibody associated disease (MOGAD) during the Omicron subvariant BA.1/2 wave in Singapore. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore. Only patients who had at least two doses of mRNA vaccines were included. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, COVID-19 infections and vaccinations, and immunotherapies were collected. SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies were measured at various time points after vaccination. Results: Two hundred and one patients were included; 47 had COVID-19 infection during the study period. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that receipt of a third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination (V3) was protective against COVID-19 infection. No particular immunotherapy group increased the risk of infection, however, Cox proportional-hazards regression showed that patients on anti-CD20s and sphingosine-1-phosphate modulators (S1PRMs) had a shorter time to infection after V3, compared to those on other immunotherapies or not on immunotherapy. Conclusions: The Omicron subvariant BA.1/2 is highly infectious in patients with central nervous system inflammatory diseases; three doses of mRNA vaccination improved protection. However, treatment with anti-CD20s and S1PRMs predisposed patients to earlier infection. Future studies are required to determine the protective efficacy of newer bivalent vaccines that target the Omicron (sub)variant, especially in immunocompromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella spp. is a commensal gram-negative bacterium and a member of the human microbiota. It is the leading cause of various hospital-acquired infections. The occurrence of multi-drug drug resistance and carbapenemase-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing weighty contaminations is growing, and Klebsiella oxytoca is an arising bacterium. Alternative approaches to tackle contaminations led by these microorganisms are necessary as strains enhance opposing to last-stage antibiotics in the way that Colistin. The lytic bacteriophages are viruses that infect and rapidly eradicate bacterial cells and are strain-specific to their hosts. They and their proteins are immediately deliberate as opportunities or adjuncts to antibiotic therapy. There are several reports in vitro and in vivo form that proved the potential use of lytic phages to combat superbug stains of K. pneumoniae. Various reports dedicated that the phage area can be returned to the elimination of multi-drug resistance and carbapenemase resistance isolates of K. pneumoniae. This review compiles our current information on phages of Klebsiella spp. and highlights technological and biological issues related to the evolution of phage-based therapies targeting these bacterial hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gums are polysaccharide biopolymers that have a high potential for food coating and packaging. The use of these polymers preferred to synthetic polymers due to several factors such as their availability, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and cheapness. Nowadays, demand for polysaccharide gums of natural origin for the development of innovative edible coatings has been intensified. Application of edible coating having plant essential oils is a novel technique to extend the normal shelf life of foodstuffs. In the current study, the effect of Zedo gum (ZG) containing Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (ZMEO) as an edible coating was investigated on the quality and shelf life of buffalo slices during 9 days storage at 4 °C. The results revealed that coated buffalo samples with ZMEO-loaded ZG edible coating had a substantial antimicrobial effect on the tested microorganisms, i.e. total viable and psychrotrophic counts, E. coli, coliforms, S. aureus and fungi count. Meat coating also inhibited the weight loss and pH change of meat slices (p < 0.05). At the end of 9-day refrigerated storage, pH of control and coated sample containing 1% ZMEO were 6.43 and 6.01 and the moisture contents were 60.21 and 67.23, respectively. Microbiological, physicochemical and sensorial results revealed that as the ZMEO concentration increased, the shelf life of coated buffalo meat samples significantly improved. In conclusion, ZMEO-rich ZG edible coating could slow meat deterioration and significantly extend the shelf life of fresh meat buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as the most prevalent hepatic disorder that affects a significant population worldwide. There are several genes/proteins, involving in the modulation of NAFLD pathogenesis; sirtuin1 (SIRT1), TP53-inducible regulator gene (TIGAR), and autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5) are considered a chief group of these modulators that principally act by regulating the hepatic lipid metabolism, as well as preventing the lipid accumulation. Surprisingly, bilirubin, especially in its unconjugated form, might be able to alleviate NAFLD progression by decreasing lipid accumulation and regulating the expression levels of the above-stated genes. Methods and results: Herein, the interactions between bilirubin and the corresponding genes' products were first analyzed by docking assessments. Afterwards, HepG2 cells were cultured under the optimum conditions, and then were incubated with high concentrations of glucose to induce NAFLD. After treating normal and fatty liver cells with particular bilirubin concentrations for 24- and 48-hour periods, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colorimetric method, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to assess cell viability status, intracellular triglycerides content, and mRNA expression levels of the genes, respectively. Intracellular lipid accumulation of HepG2 cells was significantly decreased after treating with bilirubin. Bilirubin also increased SIRT1 and Atg5 gene expression levels in fatty liver cells. TIGAR gene expression levels were variable upon the conditions and the cell type, suggesting a dual role for TIGAR during the NAFLD pathogenesis. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the potential of bilirubin in the prevention from or amelioration of NAFLD through influencing SIRT1-related deacetylation and the process of lipophagy, as well as decreasing the intrahepatic lipid content. In vitro model of NAFLD was treated with unconjugated bilirubin under the optimal conditions.Desirably, bilirubin moderated the accumulation of triglycerides within the cells possibly through modulation of the expression of SIRT1, Atg5, and TIGAR genes. In the context, bilirubin was shown to increase the expression levels of SIRT1 and Atg5, while the expression of TIGAR was demonstrated to be either increased or decreased, depending on the treatment conditions. Created with BioRender.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disorders of sexual development (DSD) are an abnormal congenital conditions associated with atypical development of the urogenital tract and external genital structures. The steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) gene, associated with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH), is included in the targeted gene panel for the DSD diagnosis. Therefore, the genetic alterations of the STAR gene and their molecular effect were examined in the CLAH patients affected with DSD. Ten different Iranian families including twelve male pseudo-hermaphroditism patients with CLAH phenotype were studied using genetic linkage screening and STAR gene sequencing in the linked families to the STAR locus. Furthermore, the structural, dynamical, and functional impacts of the variants on the STAR in silico were analyzed. Sanger sequencing showed the pathogenic variant p.A218V in STAR gene, as the first report in Iranian population. Moreover, modeling and simulation analysis were performed using tools such as radius of gyration, root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), and molecular docking showed that p.A218V variant affects the residues interaction in cholesterol-binding site and the proper folding of STAR through increasing H-bound and the amount of α-Helix, deceasing total flexibility and changing fluctuations in some residues, resulting in reduced steroidogenic activity of the STAR protein. The study characterized the structural and functional changes of STAR caused by pathogenic variant p.A218V. It leads to limited cholesterol-binding activity of STAR, ultimately leading to the CLAH disease. Molecular dynamics simulation of STAR variants could help explain different clinical manifestations of CLAH disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypseous soils are present in many parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. While effects of addition of various percentages of gypsum on the engineering properties of soils have been investigated previously by many researchers, effects of presence of naturally occurring gypsum crystals on soil properties have been less studied. Study of these effects is important since many civil engineering developments need to be carried out in or on soils containing naturally occurring gypsum crystals. These crystals consist of fragile particles that break easily, even during handling and laboratory testing, and their presence affects many properties of in situ soils. Moreover, estimation of the percentage of crystallized gypsum in such soils usually requires unconventional chemical or physical tests since visually estimated percentages are often misleading due to the transparent nature of the crystal grains, especially when mixed with fine-grained soils. The current study presents results of tests on a low-plasticity clayey soil containing gypsum crystals. Percentages of crystals present in the soil are determined using a simple procedure involving water content determination of the soil dried at 110 and 40 °C. Effects of crystalized gypsum content on the in situ and laboratory properties of the clayey soil are studied, and results are discussed in the context of pavement design. It is shown that in situ soil unit weight, field CBR, plasticity, grains specific gravity, maximum dry density and optimum moisture content decrease with the increase in the gypsum crystal content of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of traffic congestion and the environmental issues related to air pollution are among the essential problems of urban management that metropolitan cities are trying to mitigate. Given that the contribution of motor vehicles to air pollution is significant, both goals are achieved by managing urban transport. Among the various methods of travel demand management, congestion pricing is a very efficient measure. This study tried to simultaneously increase the efficiency of the transportation network and reduce the environmental effects by using a bi-level model for the multi-modal network. For this purpose, the upper-level model minimizes the objective function, i.e., pollution emission costs and overall commuting costs. The lower level also has a transportation network model that provides the condition of user equilibrium. The genetic and Frank-Wolfe algorithms have been used to solve the bi-level programming model. Two pricing schemes, cordon-based and link-based, are used to investigate and assist policymakers. The proposed algorithm is also applied to a real-world road network in Isfahan, Iran. The results of the proposed models for different pricing strategies were compared. According to the results, both pricing schemes mitigate traffic congestion and pollution, although the reduction in pollution outside the cordon is less than inside. Demand has also shifted from the private car mode to public transportation by an average of 15%. However, link-based pricing provides better performance than cordon-based pricing. This study indicated that a higher total collected toll in link-based pricing is accompanied by a sharper reduction in congestion and pollution mitigation, which can be spent on alternative facilities and infrastructure by the municipality, such as the development of public transportation and parking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent in those who use computers, and education using ergonomic principles may be helpful to prevent such conditions. The present study sought to identify how an educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) may be effective for adopting healthy ergonomic postures. Methods: A convenience sample of 162 computer users working in a hospital setting in Iran were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group (n = 81) received six weekly educational sessions based on TPB principles, whereas the control group received no intervention during the study period. Both groups were assessed at baseline and 3 months after the intervention using a TPB questionnaire, rapid office strain assessment (ROSA), and Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the independent/paired Student's t test, chi-square, and analysis of covariance. Results: All TPB constructs in the intervention group improved from baseline to follow-up, indicating considerable progress compared to the control group (p < 0.001). More than 60% of intervention and control groups were categorized as high risk at baseline in terms of ergonomic posture measured by ROSA. This percentage was reduced to 21% for intervention group and increased to 65% in the control group at follow-up. Symptom relief was obtained for wrist/hands, lower back, neck, shoulders and upper back in the intervention group (all p < 0.05). The number of affected areas also significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group three months after the intervention. Conclusion: Educational programs based on TPB principles may be helpful in correcting ergonomic postures among computer users. Such interventions are recommended for worksite health promotion in that they may prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders in staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the principal challenges facing today's society is the necessity to discover more environmentally friendly, futureproof energy sources. In this scope, natural gas, ensued by liquefied natural gas, is an ever more important cornerstone on the path towards a low-carbon economy. The present study evaluates the processes employed for small-scale liquefied natural gas (SSLNG) plants. Three processes, namely, dual expansion, pre-cooled PRICO, and nitrogen expansion, and thereof, conventional and advanced exergoeconomic analyses are applied to appraise the performance of the processes. In the energy analysis, three parameters were assessed, namely, specific power consumption, the figure of merit, and the coefficient of performance. The precooled PRICO and the nitrogen expansion processes were the performant in the first two, and the third, respectively. The exergy efficiency in the three processes was 74%, 76%, and 75%, respectively. In all processes, the exogenous exergy destruction share was higher than endogenous, meaning that the internal irreversibility in other equipment substantially affects the exergy destruction in the equipment under analysis. The pre-cooled PRICO process had the highest exergoeconomic factor followed by the dual expansion process, both near 0.3. The highest avoidable endogenous exergy destruction costs in all processes were pertinent to the air coolers, gauged at 862.33, 308.23, and 71.67 $/h, respectively. Also, the highest avoidable endogenous investment cost rates were associated with C1, C2, and T1 equipment measured at 68.958, 49.42, and 3.38 $/h, respectively. The modified exergy efficiency was higher than the conventional exergy efficiency in all components of the three processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing researches reveal that displayed inventory and allocated shelf space affect the demand of some retail items. We study periodic inventory policy when demand is uncertain and its probability distribution function depends on inventory level and period length. Profit function including sale revenue, holding, shortage, and ordering costs is presented. To capture real world situation we propose natural properties for demand probability distribution. Considering those properties well fitted demand distributions are presented. Finally optimal policy is explored via numerical examples. Numerical study reveals that optimal value of decision variables is not monotonic with respect to demand sensitivity to the inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococci act as symbionts in human gastrointestinal tract. The present study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of fecal enterococci isolated from infants and adults, and to compare them to the known probiotic bacteria, including lactobacilli species and E. faecalis Symbioflor 1. In total, sporadic distribution of virulence genes was detected among the studied enterococci. Furthermore, the frequency of genes encoding for sex pheromones (ccf and cob), collagen adhesion (ace), cell wall adhesion (efaAfs), and gelatinase (gelE) was observed to be significantly higher in those isolates obtained from infants compared to those obtained from adults. Although the ability of biofilm formation was found in all isolates, the strong biofilm formation was observed in enterococci from infants and strong correlation was observed between the capacities to form biofilm and attachment to Caco-2 cells. Cell-free culture supernatant showed some inhibitory effects on indicator strains, which were related to the production of organic acids (against P. aeruginosa and enteropathogenic E. coli) or both organic acids and proteinaceous antimicrobial agents (against L. monocytogenes and E. faecalis). Approximately, 79% and 71% of the isolates showed strong inhibitory effects on P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes, respectively. Unlike lactobacilli, enterococcal cell-free supernatants had no toxicity on intestinal cells. In conclusion, this study shows that some enterococcal isolates obtained from fecal microbiota have characteristics, which are comparable with the known probiotic bacteria. Therefore, these isolates should be considered to find probiotic candidate. The proteinaceous identity of antimicrobial substances derived from these isolates highlighted the probable contribution of bacteriocins into this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidisciplinary nature of piezoelectric (PZ) structures necessitates precise and efficient methods to express their behavior under different conditions. This article extends the general usage of PZ materials by introducing acoustic and fluid loading effects in a way that an unfilled multilayer cylindrical nanoshell with a functionally graded (FG) material core and PZ layers is subjected to preliminary external electric load, acoustic waves and external flow motion. As the properties of a functionally graded material changes along the shell thickness, a power law model is assumed to be governing such variations of desired characteristics. Evidently, this system includes different types of couplings and a comprehensive approach is required to describe the structural response. To this aim, the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used to define different displacement components. Next, the coupled size-dependent vibroacoustic equations are derived based on in conjunction with nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) with the aid of Hamilton's variational principle and fluid/structure compatibility conditions. NSGT is complemented with hardening and softening material effects which can greatly enhance the precision of results. It is expected to use the findings of this paper in the optimization of similar systems by selecting suitable FG index, incident angle of sound waves, flow Mach number, nonlocal and strain gradient parameters, starting electric potential and geometric features. One of the important findings of this study is that increasing the electric voltage can obtain better sound insulation at small frequencies, specially prior to the ring frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite surface characteristics being perceived as a prominent factor in boiling, the effect of surface roughness has not been consistently understood. Evidence of this is the diverse representations of the surface characteristics in widely used correlations. The surface's microscopic profile is a determinant factor since the minuscule peaks and valleys serve as potential bubble generation sites. To understand the effect of finishing on surface characteristics and boiling, eight sample surfaces generated via two techniques, namely sandpapering and sandblasting, are investigated and later put under subcooled flow boiling tests of water in this study. The experiments are conducted in atmospheric pressure with flow rates ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 L/min and subcooling of 5.6 and 9.6 °C. The results obtained from profilometry show that cavities' geometry and distribution are characteristically different when comparing the two finishing techniques. Increasing the average roughness ( S a ) from 0.017 to 7.325 µm is shown to generally enhance subcooled flow boiling heat transfer coefficient up to 100%. However, the finishing technique affects this improvement. In spite of having almost equal S a , the boiling performance of surfaces prepared with sandblasting technique surpasses those roughened by sandpaper in terms of initiation of boiling as well as heat transfer coefficient. This discrepancy is justified by referring to the difference in surface microscopic characteristics, inherent to the finishing method, whereby the disperse and soft-edged cavities on sandpapered surfaces promote flooding phenomenon, while sharp-edged, densely packed peaks and valleys on sandblasted surfaces provide better entrapment of the bubble nuclei. This paper concludes by evaluating and modifying three common boiling correlations as representative of three methods of accounting for surface characteristics based on the experimental results. Relatively high prediction errors reveal the need for more accurate models for subcooled flow boiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Acute subdural haematoma (ASDH) is associated with severe traumatic brain injury and poor outcomes. Although guidelines exist for the decompression of ASDH, the question of adequate decompression remains unanswered. The authors examined the relationship of intracranial pressure (ICP) on closure with outcomes to determine its utility in the determination of adequate ASDH decompression. Methods: A multicentre retrospective review of 105 consecutive patients with ASDH who underwent decompressive surgery was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with internal validation was performed to determine an ICP threshold for the division of patients into the inadequate and good ICP groups. Multivariable analyses were performed for both inpatient and long-term outcomes. Results: An ICP threshold of 10 mmHg was identified with a 91.5% specificity, 45.7% sensitivity, and a positive and negative predictive value of 80.8% and 68.4%. There were 26 patients (24.8%) and 79 patients (75.2%) in the inadequate and good ICP groups, respectively. After adjustment, the inadequate ICP group was associated with increased postoperative usage of mannitol (OR 14.2, p < 0.001) and barbiturates (OR 150, p = 0.001). Inadequate ICP was also associated with increased inpatient mortality (OR 24.9, p < 0.001), and a lower rate of favourable MRS at 1 year (OR 0.08, p = 0.008). The complication rate was similar amongst the groups. Conclusions: Closure ICP is a novel, objective, and actionable intraoperative biomarker that correlates with inpatient and long-term outcomes in ASDH. Various surgical manoeuvres can be undertaken to achieve this target safely. Large-scale prospective studies should be performed to validate this ICP threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are proposed as the potential source of transmission of Staphylococcus aureus to hospitalized patients, especially in burn units. This study aimed to investigate S. aureus from burn wound infections and those from the nose of HCWs in terms of antibiotic resistance, the presence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin-encoding gene (pvl) and the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), and the ability for biofilm formation. Also, the genetic diversity of isolates was assessed using staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing. Overall, regarding the studied factors, significant differences were found neither between isolates from patients and HCWs nor between methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible isolates (except for multidrug resistance which was significantly higher in MRSA). The most frequent SCCmec types were type I and III. ACME-arcA was only detected in isolates from patients and similarly the presence of ACME-opp3 was the most prevalent in this group. The presence of common clonal complexes among patient isolates and more importantly between isolates from patients and HCWs is warning. The high prevalence of virulence factors, both in MRSA and MSSA, emphasizes the importance of MSSA in burn centers. Finding no significant difference in the presence of virulence-associated factors between isolates from patients and HCWs demonstrates the need to take HCWs into account as important reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A charged rotating black hole in f(R) gravity is characterized by mass, M, spin, a, electric charge, Q, and R 0 which is proportional to cosmological constant. We analyze the image of the black hole shadow in four types (1) at r → ∞ , (2) at r → r O in vacuum, (3) at r → ∞ and (4) at r → r O for an observer at the presence of plasma. Moreover, we investigate the effect of spin, charge, and modification of gravity on the shape of the shadow. In addition, we use two observable parameters, the radius R s and the distortion parameter δ s , characterizing the apparent shape. We show that the shadow becomes smaller with increasing electric charge for all cases. Also, by increasing the rotation parameters, the circular symmetry of the black hole's shadow image will change. Furthermore, in the presence of plasma, the plasma parameter also affects the size of the shadow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: MYCN onco-gene amplification in neuroblastoma confers patients to the high-risk disease category for which prognosis is poor and more aggressive multimodal treatment is indicated. This retrospective study leverages machine learning techniques to develop a computed tomography (CT)–based model incorporating semantic and non-semantic features for non-invasive prediction of MYCN amplification status in pediatric neuroblastoma. Methods: From 2009 to 2020, 54 pediatric patients treated for neuroblastoma at a specialized children's hospital with pre-treatment contrast-enhanced CT and MYCN status were identified (training cohort, n = 44; testing cohort, n = 10). Six morphologic features and 107 quantitative gray-level texture radiomics features extracted from manually drawn volume-of-interest were analyzed. Following feature selection and class balancing, the final predictive model was developed with eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. Accumulated local effects (ALE) plots were used to explore main effects of the predictive features. Tumor texture maps were also generated for visualization of radiomics features. Results: One morphologic and 2 radiomics features were selected for model building. The XGBoost model from the training cohort yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.930 (95% CI, 0.85–1.00), optimized F1-score of 0.878, and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.773. Evaluation on the testing cohort returned AUC-ROC of 0.880 (95% CI, 0.64–1.00), optimized F1-score of 0.933, and MCC of 0.764. ALE plots and texture maps showed higher "GreyLevelNonUniformity" values, lower "Strength" values, and higher number of image-defined risk factors contribute to higher predicted probability of MYCN amplification. Conclusion: The machine learning model reliably classified MYCN amplification in pediatric neuroblastoma and shows potential as a surrogate imaging biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) is used as a food-medicine or ornamental plant, and despite its importance, there are few reports associated with cadmium (Cd) stress. This study aimed to appraise the crosstalk between sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a source of nitric oxide (NO), and cadmium toxicity on growth and physiological traits in edible amaranth by using different multivariate statistical methods. The results showed that growth-related traits of A. tricolor were significantly reduced under Cd stress. Contrarily, Cd treatments increased lipid peroxidation and reduced total protein content. Delving on the results of SNP application showed the suitability of its medium level (100 µM) on increasing the growth-related traits and also plant tolerance to Cd stress via lowering the lipid peroxidation and radical molecules production due to the higher activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Increasing the amount of Cd in roots and shoots, as the result of Cd treatment, reduced the growth and production of A. tricolor plants by high rates (over 50% in 60 mg kg−1 Cd level), indicating its susceptibility to high Cd toxicity. Contrarily, treating plants with SNP showed no effect on shoot Cd content, while it significantly increased Cd allocation in the root, which might be attributable to the protective effect of NO on Cd toxicity by trapping Cd in the root. Subsequently, the application of a medium level of SNP (around 100 µM) is recommendable for A. tricolor plant to overcome the negative impacts of Cd toxicity. Moreover, according to the results of heatmap and biplot, under no application of Cd, the application of 100 µM SNP showed a great association with growth-related traits indicating the effectiveness of SNP on the productivity of this species even under no stress situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condensation is a phase-change process in which vapor condenses to liquid at constant pressure. Condensation occurs in the forms of dropwise and filmwise. Investigations on hybrid hydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces show their potential to improve condensation heat transfer characteristics in particular situations, comparing to complete dropwise condensation. In the present study, condensation on the microstructured hybrid tube has been examined, considering every thermal resistance on the heat flux. Two droplet morphologies, i.e., The Cassie state and the Wenzel state, have been considered. The influence of different parameters, including tube inclination angle, saturation vapor pressure, and dropwise/filmwise area ratio, has also been investigated. According to the results, droplet interaction with the surface significantly influences the heat transfer characteristics so that in most cases, the Wenzel state has a more considerable hybrid heat flux than the Cassie state. It has also been witnessed that the vertical tube has a higher heat flux comparing to tubes in other angles. A smaller liquid film thickness and a higher saturation vapor temperature were observed to have a higher heat flux. Finally, the increase in the dropwise region width decreases the droplet transition time from dropwise region to filmwise region and finally increases the hybrid heat flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the Bottom–Up Rise Strength Transfer (BURST) induced by massed vs. distributed-rehabilitative exercise training. Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to one of the 12 weeks massed (MRT) vs. distributed-(DRT) rehabilitative exercise training (performing lower limb proprioceptive, balance, agility, and resistance exercise) group or no-intervention group (Control). The upper and lower limb strength assessment was recorded at baseline (pre), 8 weeks (mid), and 12 weeks (post). Results: The net right hand MVC force increased after 12 weeks of DRT (58.3%). The net left hand MVC force increased after 12 weeks of both DRT and MRT (44.0% & 33.9% respectively). The BURST effect induced by DRT was significantly larger than MRT (in right hand: 45.1% & in left hand 33.4%). Conclusions: This is the first study investigating in a between-subject design the BURST effect of massed vs. distributed-rehabilitative training. The result showed middle-aged women can develop their upper limbs strength by performing both the DRT and MRT in their lower limbs. Lower body distributed resistance training, however, can provide a significantly greater stimulus for increasing the BURST in middle-aged women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 and its consequences has led to fears, worries, and anxiety among individuals worldwide. The present study developed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to complement the clinical efforts in preventing the spread and treating of COVID-19 cases. Methods: The sample comprised 717 Iranian participants. The items of the FCV-19S were constructed based on extensive review of existing scales on fears, expert evaluations, and participant interviews. Several psychometric tests were conducted to ascertain its reliability and validity properties. Results: After panel review and corrected item-total correlation testing, seven items with acceptable corrected item-total correlation (0.47 to 0.56) were retained and further confirmed by significant and strong factor loadings (0.66 to 0.74). Also, other properties evaluated using both classical test theory and Rasch model were satisfactory on the seven-item scale. More specifically, reliability values such as internal consistency (α =.82) and test–retest reliability (ICC =.72) were acceptable. Concurrent validity was supported by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (with depression, r = 0.425 and anxiety, r = 0.511) and the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale (with perceived infectability, r = 0.483 and germ aversion, r = 0.459). Conclusion: The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, a seven-item scale, has robust psychometric properties. It is reliable and valid in assessing fear of COVID-19 among the general population and will also be useful in allaying COVID-19 fears among individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemodialysis patients require spiritual care due to their spiritual distress. This study aimed to investigate the effect of spiritual care on spiritual experiences of hemodialysis patients. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2017 at hemodialysis departments of Baqiyatallah and Cham ran hospitals in Tehran. The volunteer patients were selected by available sampling according to the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Interventions were performed in the educational-supportive nursing system according to the patients' self-care ability. Eight individual counseling sessions, 15–45 min, face-to-face, during dialysis, once a week were implemented for intervention group. Developing the relationship with God, self, people and nature were the main goals of care. Daily spiritual experience questionnaire was completed by patients before and three months after the intervention. There was no significant difference in the spiritual experience score of the intervention (75.20 ± 9.14) and control group (76.63 ± 10.03), before the intervention (P = 0.523). There was a statistically significant difference between the intervention (82.93 ± 5.69) and the control group score (77.24 ± 12.09) three months after the intervention (P < 0.0001). Due to the need for holistic and community-oriented care and the positive effect of this study, the use of the Sound Heart Model is recommended for Muslim patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimp optimization algorithm (ChOA) is a robust nature-inspired technique, which was recently proposed for addressing real-world challenging engineering problems. Due to the novelty of the ChOA, there is room for its improvement. Recognition and classification of marine mammals using artificial neural networks (ANNs) are high-dimensional challenging problems. In order to address this problem, this paper proposed the using of ChOA as ANN's trainer. However, evolving ANNs using metaheuristic algorithms suffers from high complexity and processing time. In order to address this shortcoming, this paper proposes the fuzzy logic to adjust the ChOA's control parameters (Fuzzy-ChOA) for tuning the relationship between exploration and exploitation phases. In this regard, we collect underwater marine mammals sounds and then produce an experimental dataset. After pre-processing and feature extraction, the ANN is used as a classifier. Besides, for having a fair comparison, we used a benchmark audio database of marine mammals. The comparison algorithms include ChOA, coronavirus optimization algorithm, harris hawks optimization, black widow optimization algorithm, Kalman filter benchmark algorithms, and also comparative benchmarks include convergence speed, local optimal avoidance ability, classification rate, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The simulation results show that the proposed fuzzy model can tune the boundary between the exploration and extraction phases. The convergence curve and ROC confirm that the convergence rate and performance of the designed recognizer are better than benchmark algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional viscoelastic rheological models, such as the Kelvin Voigt Fractional Derivative model, have been proposed in the literature for modelling shear wave propagation in soft tissue. In this article, our previously developed wave propagation model for transluminal propagation based on a Kelvin Voigt Fractional Derivative wave equation is experimentally validated. The transluminal procedure uses the transmission and detection of shear waves through the luminal wall. The model was compared against high-speed camera observations in translucent elastography phantoms with similar viscoelastic properties to prostate tissue. An ad hoc cross-correlation procedure was used to reconstruct the angular displacement from the high-speed camera observations. Rheometry and shear wave elastography were used for characterising the shear wave velocity dispersion curve for the phantoms. Fractional viscoelastic properties were derived after fitting the dispersion curve to its analytical expression. Propagation features and amplitude spectra from simulations and high-speed camera observations were compared. The obtained results indicate that the model replicates the experimental observations with acceptable accuracy. The model presented here provides a useful tool to model transluminal procedures based on wave propagation and its interaction with the mechanical properties of the tissue outside the lumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distilled water pool boiling experiments are conducted to investigate the effect of deposing silver nanoparticles via boiling-induced deposition method on porous foam covers on pool boiling performance and bubbles dynamic behavior. Two copper foams, named foam No. 1 (with 85% porosity and pore density of 30 PPI) and No. 2 (with 90% porosity and pore density of 40 PPI), are welded on copper specimens (Conical frustum) and then coated by silver nanoparticles using DZ nano-coolant nanofluid with a concentration of 25 mg/L. All the experiments are carried out at atmospheric pressure on both uncoated and nano-coated foams. The findings reveal that compared to a polished plain copper surface, uncoated foams No. 1 and No. 2 improve average boiling heat transfer coefficient by 58% and 86% and reduce wall superheat at ONB by 4.7 °C and 5.3 °C, respectively. However, due to the generation of more bubbles with smaller sizes and lower release periods on coated foams compared to uncoated ones, deposing nanoparticles on foam No. 1 and No. 2 contributes to further enhancements in heat transfer coefficients by 18% and 9% (at the best performance), respectively, and 0.3 °C further reduction in wall superheat at ONB. To evaluate the effectiveness of nanoparticle deposition on foam covers as a hybrid enhancement technique, the experimental results are compared with the results attained for nano-coated polished copper surface and also copper foam covers enhanced further by manipulating their wettability and macro-scale structure. The comparison results indicate that the coated foams perform better than the coated polished plain surfaces, notably at low heat fluxes. Also, the nanoparticle deposition on foam covers is seen to be of superior performance compared to the aforementioned hybrid enhancement techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]