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Drought is the most important abiotic stress in arid and semi-arid regions of the world and causes a decrease in the yield of agricultural plants. One of the ways to deal with drought is the use of hydrogels. Two pot experiments were conducted to study the effect of hydrogel polymer on the growth and the physiological traits of fenugreek and dill plants. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The experiment included two factors: hydrogel polymer rates (0, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 grams per kilogram of soil) and irrigation intervals (irrigation intervals of 3 and 6 days). Results showed that leaf, stem and seedling fresh and dry weight were increased by hydrogel polymer application in both plant species. Hydrogel polymer increased leaf relative water content but decreased chlorophyll content. Plants treated with the polymer applied at 0.08 g kg -1 produced the highest dry matter. The improvement was probably due to the increased leaf relative water content. The highest dry weight of the seedling was measured in plants treated with the polymer applied at 0.08 g kg-1 , whereas the lowest seedling dry weight was found in plants that were not treated with the polymer. The effect of irrigation interval on growth characteristics of both plant species was not significant. Overall, the use of hydrogel improves plant biomass in dill and fenugreek. Application of amounts higher than 0.08 g/kg of hydrogel on dill and fenugreek is recommended for further research.

This paper explores the role of Custom Generative Pretrained Transformers (Custom GPTs) in modern project management, focusing on automation, predictive analytics, and stakeholder engagement. As project environments become increasingly complex and remote, Custom GPTs enable task automation, optimize decision-making, and enhance tailored communication across diverse audiences. The study also addresses key challenges, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for governance frameworks to ensure ethical AI adoption. Using a technology foresight approach, this paper aligns AI capabilities with Agile and PMBOK methodologies, offering practical insights for future-ready project management. The findings suggest that organizations integrating AI responsibly can unlock operational efficiencies and foster strategic innovation in project delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the performance of plasma p‐tau181 with that of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in the identification of early biological Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: We included 533 cognitively impaired participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Participants underwent PET scans, biofluid collection, and cognitive tests. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of plasma p‐tau181 and [18F]FDG‐PET using clinical diagnosis and core AD biomarkers ([18F]florbetapir‐PET and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] p‐tau181) as reference standards. Differences in the diagnostic accuracy between plasma p‐tau181 and [18F]FDG‐PET were determined by bootstrap‐based tests. Correlations of [18F]FDG‐PET and plasma p‐tau181 with CSF p‐tau181, amyloid β (Aβ) PET, and cognitive performance were evaluated to compare associations between measurements. Results: We observed that both plasma p‐tau181 and [18F]FDG‐PET identified individuals with positive AD biomarkers in CSF or on Aβ‐PET. In the MCI group, plasma p‐tau181 outperformed [18F]FDG‐PET in identifying AD measured by CSF (p = 0.0007) and by Aβ‐PET (p = 0.001). We also observed that both plasma p‐tau181 and [18F]FDG‐PET metabolism were associated with core AD biomarkers. However, [18F]FDG‐PET uptake was more closely associated with cognitive outcomes (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mini‐Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes, and logical memory delayed recall, p < 0.001) than plasma p‐tau181. Conclusions: Overall, although both plasma p‐tau181 and [18F]FDG‐PET were associated with core AD biomarkers, plasma p‐tau181 outperformed [18F]FDG‐PET in identifying individuals with early AD pathophysiology. Taken together, our study suggests that plasma p‐tau181 may aid in detecting individuals with underlying early AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban spaces should serve as collective arenas that facilitate social and human interactions, which are fundamental to human life. This study explores space conviviality in a neighbourhood marked by planned layouts in Tehran, defined as environments that encourage spontaneous gatherings and meaningful connections among residents, thereby nurturing community and belonging. The research reveals a generally positive level of space conviviality, with higher social interaction linked to better conviviality. Key factors contributing to this include well-planned neighbourhoods with mixed-use zoning, walkability, and accessible public spaces, with walkability identified as the most significant factor enhancing both pedestrian movement and the neighbourhood’s vibrancy and safety. The findings emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to urban planning and urge planners and policymakers to integrate various elements that promote social interaction and conviviality to create more engaging urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundation scour has been a reason for several cases of river-bridge earthquake-induced failure during recent decades. However, practising engineers often do not consider its direct effect on the seismic design procedure of such structures. The cavity around a bridge foundation is a random phenomenon depending on several uncertain parameters. This study provides a probabilistic platform to investigate the effect of random scouring on the seismic performance of a particular bridge. The procedure is implemented on an existing multi-span reinforced concrete bridge. To this end, the Monte Carlo simulation technique is utilised to generate samples of the random variables of the scour model to develop the scour hazard curve. A common type of reinforced concrete multi-span bridge is considered as a model. The Latin hypercube sampling method is employed to generate random scouring scenarios in the finite-element model, including uniform and non-uniform scour. Then, fragility curves are developed utilising cloud dynamic analysis. The results reveal that the scouring pattern is one of the most crucial sources of uncertainty. In most circumstances, uniform scour scenarios are more effective than the average of non-uniform cases. However, in some specific patterns, the effect of non-uniform scouring is dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]