This study investigates the impact of cell dynamics on mixing efficiency within a microfluidic droplet, emphasizing the relationship between cell motion, deformability, and resultant asymmetry in velocity and concentration fields. Simulations were conducted for droplets containing encapsulated cells at varying Peclet numbers ( = 100-800) and coupling constants ( = 0.0025, 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain aging is the leading risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases and has been linked with high rates of neuron loss. Thus, identifying molecular mechanisms underlying neuron loss and pharmacological modulation may be of great importance for slowing or preventing age-related diseases. Herein, we investigated the roles of miR-92a, Akt, mTOR, and NF-κB in age-associated apoptosis in the hippocampus (a critical structure involved in brain aging) of male rats alone and in combination with prazosin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present investigation seeks to customize the optical, magnetic, and structural characteristics of nickel oxide (NiO) nanopowders through chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doping to enhance optoelectronic applications. In this regard, the preparation of pristine NiO and Ni × O (X = Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) powders was successfully achieved through the co-precipitation method. The X-ray powder diffraction was employed to examine the prepared powders' phase formation and crystal structure characteristics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition of high prevalence worldwide associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The predictive value of novel indices of combined anthropometric and serum lipid parameters as predictors of MetS is, to our knowledge, unexplored. We aimed to assess the 10-year predictive value of three indices of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) for incidence of MetS in Southeastern Iran.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this multi-center sinonasal malignancies (SNM) cohort, the Sino-nasal Outcome Test has a correlation with the University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQOL) for assessing QOL. The use of both instruments remains recommended to provide complete and complementary information. Future design of an easy-to-use tool specific to SNM is needed to encompass all aspects of QOL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The present study explores the effect of sociodemographics and comorbidities on the calculated minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores in patients with medically treated chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The importance of delineating a threshold to indicate clinically meaningful changes perceived by a patient is well acknowledged, yet the influence of patient-specific factors on MCID has not been fully elucidated.
Methods: Patients with CRS (n = 221) presenting to a tertiary care practice reported their change in disease burden with anchor questions following CRS-directed medical treatment.
A magnetic nano-composite coagulant has been designed, originally applied in a specific industrial waste-water treatment, and statistically investigated using Central Composite Design (CCD). The generated polynomial models were utilized to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the impact of each ingredient of PolyAluminum Chloride (PAC), PolyAcrylAmide (PAM), and Iron (III) oxide magnetic nano particles (MNP) regarding optimum limits and conditions. The concentration of each of those components has been considered as the main effective factors, which are found to be significantly correlated, affecting the Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) removal (%), the Total Suspended Solid (TSS) removal (%), and the Turbidity Reduction Rate (TRR) NTU/min.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis review explores the tribological properties of biosourced lubricants (biolubricants) enhanced by graphene (Gr) and its derivatives and hybrids. Friction and wear at mechanical interfaces are the primary causes of energy loss and machinery degradation, necessitating effective lubrication strategies. Traditional lubricants derived from mineral oils present environmental challenges, leading to an increased interest in biolubricants derived from plant oils and animal fats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInspired by the emerging potential of photoluminescent hydrogels, this work unlocks new avenues for advanced biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery applications. Carbon quantum dots (CDs) are deemed particularly promising among various optical dyes, for enhancing polymeric networks with superior physical and chemical properties. This study presents the synthesis of CDs derived from Prunella vulgaris, a natural plant resource, through a single-step hydrothermal process, followed by their uniform integration into hydrogel matrices via an in situ free radical graft polymerization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This prospective study tested the hypothesis that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and tumor volume (TV) measured in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) before, during, and after the treatment are quantitative imaging markers to assess tumor response in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
Methods: Multi-parametric MRI was prospectively done for MIBC patients at 3 time points. Pre-treatment ADC value, pre-treatment TV, as well as, percent of changes (ΔADC%, and ΔTV%) in these parameters at mid- and post-treatment relative to baseline were calculated and compared between the patients with and without clinical complete response (CR).
The population has increased in recent decades, and as a result, the increase in urban wastewater has led to many environmental problems. In this study, the environmental impacts of the Southern Tehran treatment plant were assessed via life cycle assessment (LCA) (SimaPro 9.4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSkeletal muscle has an important role in whole body energy metabolism and various proteases are involved in skeletal muscle functions. We have previously identified the cysteine protease legumain in cultured human skeletal muscle cells. However, the potential role of legumain in regulation of energy metabolism remains unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To protect patients during anesthesia, difficult airway management is a serious issue that needs to be carefully planned for and carried out. Machine learning prediction tools have recently become increasingly common in medicine, frequently surpassing more established techniques. This study aims to utilize machine learning techniques on predictive parameters for challenging airway management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAflatoxins in food and feed with prominent toxic effects have jeopardized public health for decades. This investigation intends to explore synthesized SDS-modified chitosan as new generation of binder for removal of aflatoxin using a straightforward ionic cross-linking approach. The primary objective of this technique was to enhance affinity and adsorption capability of SDSCS towards aflatoxins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral nerve damage continues to be a significant challenge in the field of medicine, with no currently available effective treatment. Currently, we investigated the beneficial effects of human placenta mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs)- derived exosomes along with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a sciatic nerve injury model. Seventy-five male mature Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into five equal groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToday, plastic plays a pervasive role in everyday life. Their improper disposal can create ongoing environmental challenges. Polyurethane (PU) is a polymer with elastomeric properties that exhibits significant adhesion and durability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Depression is a common mental illness. Depression stigma can reduce individuals' desire to seek mental health services. No study has investigated depression self-stigma and its relationship with demographic factors in the general population of Gonabad city in Iran.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between β-blocker use and neuropsychiatric adverse events, specifically focusing on short-term outcomes.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified studies reporting neuropsychiatric outcomes in patients using β-blockers, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for outcomes such as dizziness, insomnia, nightmares, drowsiness and delirium.
Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella bacteria, poses significant risks to human, livestock, and wildlife health, alongside economic losses from livestock morbidity and mortality. This study improves Human Brucellosis Susceptibility Mapping (HBSM) by integrating the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) with meta-heuristic algorithms, including Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Boruta-XGBoost identified key covariates, while VIF and tolerance tests addressed collinearity, and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values enhanced model interpretability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: People with hypertension are more susceptible to developing cardiometabolic risk factors including overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aim to determine the trends in the prevalence of these risk factors among Iranian adults with hypertension from 2007 to 2021.
Methods: We utilized data for adults from 25 to 64 years old from four rounds of the STEPwise approach to non-communicable diseases risk factor surveillance (STEPS) study conducted in Iran in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2021.
Employing safe and inexpensive methods for the synthesis of biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) can be very challenging. Green synthesis refers to the process of synthesizing nanoparticles without using toxic and dangerous chemicals. One of the applications of nanoparticles is increasing production from oil reservoirs, known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
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