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Background and Purpose: Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) could be considered for preventing stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis. This study aimed to determine the incidence and the risk factors of the early and mid‐term complications associated with CAS. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from March 2011 to March 2019. Patients at high risk and standard risk for carotid endarterectomy were included. The primary composite outcome was defined as stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and death in the first 30 days after CAS. All‐cause mortality, vascular mortality, and stroke were investigated during mid‐term follow‐up. Results: A total of 579 patients (618 CAS) were recruited (mean age: 71.52 years). Overall, 394 (68.40%), 211 (36.63%), 179 (31.07%), and 96 (16.72%) patients had hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or were cigarette smokers, respectively. Primary composite outcomes were observed in 2.59% of patients (1.55% stroke, 0.69% MI, and 1.72% death). Atrial fibrillation was a predictor of primary composite outcome in multivariate logistic regression (p =.048). The presence of total occlusion in the contralateral carotid artery was significantly associated with the risk of stroke in univariate logistic regression (p =.041). The patients were followed for a period ranging from 1 to 83 months. The overall survival rate for all‐cause mortality was 93.48% at 1 year, 77.24% at 5 years, and 52.92% at 8 years. All‐cause mortality was significantly higher among patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (p =.014). Conclusion: CAS provides acceptable short‐term and mid‐term outcomes in a unique population of high‐ and standard‐surgical‐risk, symptomatic and asymptomatic, octogenarian, and nonoctogenarian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most effective approach for wound healing improvement is entrapping and controlling the oxygen in a biocompatible polymer matrix through introducing hydrogen peroxide. In the research, the bacterial cellulose (BC) layers were oxygenated as a safe and excellent hydrogel to accelerate the wound healing process. Indeed, the hydrogel‐containing hydrogen peroxide was obtained using the treatment of dry BC with 3% hydrogen peroxide for 5 h. The morphology, thermal behavior, crystalline and chemical structures, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, degree of porosity, oxygen release, water holding capacity, and drying time of the treated layers were investigated. Furthermore, the calculated porosity showed about seven times more pore area. The dissolved oxygen results indicated the well‐trapped oxygen in BC with a prolonged‐release time of 20 days. Moreover, the 100% antibacterial and antifungal activities and excellent wound healing properties without cytotoxic effects specified the ability of BC to trap and release oxygen for efficient wound healing. Hence, the study introduces a functionalized naturally driven hydrogel layer with oxygen delivery, safe antimicrobial properties, and prolonged drying time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining genetic data with ecological niche models is an effective approach for exploring climatic and nonclimatic environmental variables affecting spatial patterns of intraspecific genetic variation. Here, we adopted this combined approach to evaluate genetic structure and ecological niche of the Indian gray mongoose (Urva edwardsii) in Iran, as the most western part of the species range. Using mtDNA, we confirmed the presence of two highly differentiated clades. Then, we incorporated ensemble of small models (ESMs) using climatic and nonclimatic variables with genetic data to assess whether genetic differentiation among clades was coupled with their ecological niche. Climate niche divergence was also examined based on a principal component analysis on climatic factors only. The relative habitat suitability values predicted by the ESMs for both clades revealed their niche separation. Between‐clade climate only niche comparison revealed that climate space occupied by clades is similar to some extent, but the niches that they utilize differ between the distribution ranges of clades. We found that in the absence of evidence for recent genetic exchanges, distribution models suggest the species occurs in different niches and that there are apparent areas of disconnection across the species range. The estimated divergence time between the two Iranian clades (4.9 Mya) coincides with the uplifting of the Zagros Mountains during the Early Pliocene. The Zagros mountain‐building event seems to have prevented the distribution of U. edwardsii populations between the western and eastern parts of the mountains as a result of vicariance events. Our findings indicated that the two U. edwardsii genetic clades in Iran can be considered as two conservation units and can be utilized to develop habitat‐specific and climate change‐integrated management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There are no guidelines regarding management of failed pediatric renal transplants. Materials & Methods: We performed a first of its kind multicenter study assessing prevalence of transplant nephrectomy, patient characteristics, and outcomes in pediatric renal transplant recipients with graft failure from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2016. Results: Fourteen centers contributed data on 186 pediatric recipients with failed transplants. The 76 recipients that underwent transplant nephrectomy were not significantly different from the 110 without nephrectomy in donor or recipient demographics. Fifty‐three percent of graft nephrectomies were within a year of transplant. Graft tenderness prompted transplant nephrectomy in 91% (P <.001). Patients that underwent nephrectomy were more likely to have a prior diagnosis of rejection within 3 months (43% vs 29%; P =.04). Nephrectomy of allografts did not affect time to re‐listing, donor source at re‐transplant but significantly decreased time to (P =.009) and incidence (P =.0002) of complete cessation of immunosuppression post‐graft failure. Following transplant nephrectomy, recipients were significantly more likely to have rejection after re‐transplant (18% vs 7%; P =.03) and multiple rejections in first year after re‐transplant (7% vs 1%; P =.03). Conclusions: Practices pertaining to failed renal allografts are inconsistent—40% of failed pediatric renal allografts underwent nephrectomy. Graft tenderness frequently prompted transplant nephrectomy. There is no apparent benefit to graft nephrectomy related to sensitization; but timing / frequency of immunosuppression withdrawal is significantly different with slightly increased risk for rejection following re‐transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin (CUR) is an ancient therapeutic agent with remarkable antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory properties. The purpose of the current study was to synthesize and evaluate a curcumin‐based reparative endodontic material to reduce infection and inflammation besides the induction of mineralization during the healing of the dentin–pulp complex. Poly‐ɛ‐caprolactone (PCL)/gelatin (Gel)/CUR scaffold was synthesized and assessed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA). Agar diffusion test was performed against E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. faecalis, and S. mutans. Moreover, proliferative, antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, and calcification properties of these scaffolds on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) were evaluated. The results showed that PCL/Gel/CUR scaffold had antibacterial effects. Also, these CUR‐based scaffolds had significant inhibitory effects on the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and DCF from inflamed hDPSCs (p < 0.05). Moreover, the induction of mineralization in hDPSCs significantly increased after seeding on CUR‐based scaffolds (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, the investigated CUR‐loaded material was fabricated successfully and provided an appropriate structure for the attachment and proliferation of hDPSCs. It was found that these scaffolds had antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti‐inflammatory characteristics and could induce mineralization in hDPSCs, which is essential for healing and repairing the injured dentin–pulp complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an innovative in situ green strategy was applied to prepare bacterial cellulose/silver nanocomposites using green tea as a substrate for the fermentation of Acetobacter xylinum bacteria and a reducing agent for the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The samples were analyzed by different characterization tests including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and ATR. The results indicated the excellent antibacterial activities with 100% bacterial reduction percentage and inhibition zones of 2.6 and 2.8 cm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Moreover, water absorption percentage and vertical wicking measurements supported the hydrogel properties of the prepared bio‐cellulose/silver nanocomposites. Finding of this research suggested the potential of the proposed green route for preparing antibacterial BC which can be regarded as a candidate for future wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecific hybridization increasingly occurs in the course of anthropogenic actions, such as species translocations and introductions, and habitat modifications or occurs in sympatric species due to the shortage of conspecific mates. Compared with anthropogenically caused hybridization, natural hybridization is more difficult to prove, but both play an important role in conservation. In this study, we detected hybridization of two gazelle sister species, Gazella bennettii (adapted to dry areas) and Gazella subgutturosa (adapted to open plains), in five habitat areas, where G. bennettii naturally occur in central Iran. The hybrids have a nuclear genomic identity (based on two introns), habitat preference, and phenotype of G. bennettii, but the mitochondrial identity (based on cyt b) of G. subgutturosa. We suggest that natural hybridization of female G. subgutturosa and male G. bennettii happened twice in central Iran in prehistoric times, based on the haplotype pattern that we found. However, we found indications of recent hybridization between both species under special circumstances, for example, in breeding centers, due to translocations, or in areas of sympatry due to the shortage of conspecific mates. Therefore, these two species must be kept separately in the breeding centers, and introduction of one of them into the habitat of the other must be strictly avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goitered gazelles, Gazella subgutturosa, exist in arid and semiarid regions of Asia from the Middle to the Far East. Although large populations were present over a vast area until recently, a decline of the population as a result of hunting, poaching, and habitat loss led to the IUCN classification of G. subgutturosa as "vulnerable." We examined genetic diversity, structure, and phylogeny of G. subgutturosa using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from 18 geographically distant populations in Iran. The median‐joining network of cyt b haplotypes indicated that three clades of goitered gazelles can be distinguished: a Middle Eastern clade west of the Zagros Mountains (and connected to populations in Turkey and Iraq), a Central Iranian clade (with connection to Azerbaijan), and an Asiatic clade in northeastern Iran (with connection to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and other Asian countries as far as northeastern China and Mongolia). Based on our results, we argue that Iran is the center of diversification of goitered gazelles, due to the presence of large mountain ranges and deserts that lead to the separation of populations. In accordance with previous morphological studies, we identified the Asiatic clade as the subspecies G. s. yarkandensis, and the other two clades as the nominate form G. s. subgutturosa. The new genetic information for goitered gazelles in Iran provides the basis for future national conservation programs of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a communication system, security and reliability have an important impact on the quality of services. In this study, the authors investigate power and subcarrier allocation of a transmitter over the downlink of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access system with security considerations among users in the presence of a jammer. This study considers the interaction between the jammer and the transmitter as a zero-sum game where the objective function is the transmitter's secrecy sum-rate. To allocate the available resources, they solve the optimisation problem of each player to characterise its optimal strategies. Considering the intractability of the closed form Nash equilibrium for general power regime, they study a matrix game for obtaining maxmin and minmax solutions and demonstrate the validity of inequality maxmin ≥ minmax. Moreover, they show the existence of pure Nash equilibrium point for low total power regimes of the transmitter and the jammer and attain an expression for each regime. Finally, they examine the jamming power effect on the secrecy sum-rate and acquire lower and upper bounds of this rate using simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of EBV infection and PTLD is normally associated with a high EBV viral load in peripheral blood. Observations have previously identified existence of a CHL carrier state that demonstrated variable outcomes based upon the organ which was transplanted. Data defining the incidence and outcome of CHL in pediatric KTx are not well described. The charts of children undergoing isolated KTx at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh between January 2000 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. EBV loads in the peripheral blood were routinely measured as part of surveillance protocols at our center. CHL was defined as the presence of high load for >50% of samples for ≥6 months. PTLD was defined histologically using WHO definitions. Of 188 isolated KTx recipients, we identified a total of 16 (8%) children who developed CHL carrier state. No patient developed EBV‐driven late‐onset PTLD. Age at the time of KTx was significantly lower in the CHL group (median 3.9 years, interquartile range: IQR 2.9‐6.6, P = .0004). Children in the CHL group were more likely to be EBV‐seronegative prior to KTx (94%, 15/16), compared to the UVL and LVL groups (55% and 50%, respectively, P < .002). The median duration of CHL carrier state was 20 months (IQR 10.7‐35.8). Fifteen of the 16 CHL carriers experienced spontaneous resolution of CHL carrier state. Children in the CHL group were younger at the time of primary EBV infection (P = .023). Finally, antiviral medication was not effective in either preventing or decreasing the EBV viral load in blood (P = .84). Overall incidence of late‐onset PTLD is very low compared to heart and intestinal transplant, even though KTx recipients can develop CHL carrier state. The CHL carriers in KTx recipients were EBV‐seronegative prior to transplant and were younger both at the time of KTx and at the time of primary EBV infection compared to those in the UVL and HVL groups. Antivirals did not prevent EBV infection or decrease EBV viral loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the movement from a multi‐core to a many‐core era, cores count on the chip increases quickly thus interconnect plays a large role in achieving the desired performance. Network‐on‐chip (NoC) is the most widely used interconnect as a scalable alternative for traditional shared bus in many‐core chips. As the dimensions of mesh‐based NoC increase, routers and links serve as a major part to achieve the desired performance and low‐latency communication between cores. In this study, the authors propose an arbitration mechanism for NoC that leads to a reduction in congestion delay in routers as well as the network latency. The proposed mechanism is compatible with the bypass and baseline pipeline in routers. System simulations with Noxim demonstrate reduction in latencies and power consumption using different routing algorithms for 4×4,8×8 and 16×16 mesh topologies, as compared with a baseline router. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, a critically endangered large felid, has disappeared from vast tracks of its historical range across south-western Asia. It is currently confined to the arid ecosystems of central Iran for which little is known about its distribution and habitat linkages. We proposed the first evaluation of Asiatic cheetah's distribution and developed models of landscape suitability and connectivity to inform future conservation planning. Location Central Iran. Methods We analysed presence data of a 14-year-long cheetah monitoring programme according to environmental and anthropogenic factors, and generated an ensemble model of habitat suitability based on seven species distribution models ( SDMs). We then used the concept of circuit theory and landscape connectivity prioritization ( LCP) on resultant core habitats and landscape suitability to evaluate potential linkages between core areas. Results Core habitats, that is, the areas hosting the largest continuous suitable habitats for Asiatic cheetahs, covered approximately 49,144 km2 ( c. 6.3% of the study area). Availability of prey species, avoidance of human-dominated areas and their infrastructures, and rough landscapes covered with sparse vegetation were the most predictive factors of the core habitats for the last cheetah population in Asia. Although relatively vast, the area of potential core habitats available to cheetahs appeared to be fragmented with limited connectivity between the northern and southern parts of this distribution. Main conclusions Our approach highlights the importance of distribution models to recognize, at a coarse-scale level, a spatial population structure and habitat suitability characteristics for a large carnivore surviving at very low density. We have identified specific areas of suitable habitat where developing new landscape protection and adaptive conservation management; and improving the safety of important linkages between core habitats are likely to promote the conservation of the last surviving population of cheetah in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors consider the robust adaptive attitude synchronisation problem for a network of rigid body agents using a modified version of the error function, which is recently introduced for constructing the attitude errors on SO (3). These attitude error vectors are particularly useful for networks with large initial attitude difference. They focus on devising an adaptive geometric approach to cope with situations where the inertia matrices are not available for measurement. The Frobenious norm is used as a measure for the difference between the actual values of moments of inertias and their estimated values, to construct the individual adaptive laws of agents. Compared to the previous methods for synchronisation on SO (3) such as those using quaternions, the authors' approach based on the introduced modified error function enables us to avoid any ambiguity for attitude representation. Finally, they study the robustness of the synchronisation task in the presence of external disturbances and unmodelled dynamics and propose a method to attenuate such effects. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The modified electrode exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of nitrite. Experimental parameters such as solution pH, scan rate, concentration of nitrite and nanotubes amount were studied. It was shown nitrite can be determined by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and hydrodynamic amperometry (HA) using the modified electrode. Under the optimized conditions the calibration plots are linear in the concentration ranges of 15-220 and 50-3000 μM with limit of detections of 4.74 and 35.8 μM for DPV and HA, respectively. The modified electrode was successfully applied for analysis of nitrite in spinach sample. The results were favorbly compared to those obtained by UV-Visible spectrophotometric method. The results of the analysis suggest that the proposed method has promise for the routine determination of nitrite in the examined products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A highly selective and simple chemiluminescence (CL) method for determination of penicillin G potassium (PGK) was developed. In the proposed method, CL was elicited from PGK upon its oxidation with H2O2. The light emission was enhanced in the presence of N-cetyl- N, N, N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB). An experimental design, central composite design (CCD), was used to realize the optimized variables, including pH, surfactant (CTMAB) and H2O2 concentrations. Under optimum condition, the calibration graph was linear in the range 3.3 × 10−3-3.3 × 10−1 mmol/L, with a detection limit of 8.8 × 10−4 mmol/L for PGK. The precision was calculated by analysing samples containing 1.6 × 10−1 mmol/L PGK ( n = 5) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.40%. The utility of this method was demonstrated by determining PGK in pharmaceutical formulations for injection. The proposed method was validated by a reference method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion This review aims to synthesise the literature on the efficacy, evolution, and challenges of implementing Clincian Decision Support Systems (CDSS) in the realm of mental health, addiction, and concurrent disorders.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta‐analysis were performed. Searches conducted in databases such as MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science through 25 May 2023, yielded 27,344 records. After necessary exclusions, 69 records were allocated for detailed synthesis. In the examination of patient outcomes with a focus on metrics such as therapeutic efficacy, patient satisfaction, and treatment acceptance, meta‐analytic techniques were employed to synthesise data from randomised controlled trials.A total of 69 studies were included, revealing a shift from knowledge‐based models pre‐2017 to a rise in data‐driven models post‐2017. The majority of models were found to be in Stage 2 or 4 of maturity. The meta‐analysis showed an effect size of −0.11 for addiction‐related outcomes and a stronger effect size of −0.50 for patient satisfaction and acceptance of CDSS.The results indicate a shift from knowledge‐based to data‐driven CDSS approaches, aligned with advances in machine learning and big data. Although the immediate impact on addiction outcomes is modest, higher patient satisfaction suggests promise for wider CDSS use. Identified challenges include alert fatigue and opaque AI models.CDSS shows promise in mental health and addiction treatment but requires a nuanced approach for effective and ethical implementation. The results emphasise the need for continued research to ensure optimised and equitable use in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]