Browse Articles

Attentional negativity and emotional symptoms as serial mediators linking parental verbosity to non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese pre-adolescents

Evaluation of waste corn cob and copper slag for production of novel leakage-free composite phase change material with ımproved thermal energy storage

An innovative hybrid ANN inception model for detecting and preventing man-in-the-middle attacks in smart networks for shielding sensitive data

A multi-strategy enhanced RIME-based metaheuristic with adaptive strategy collaboration for global optimization and art image segmentation

Abstract Traditional Rime Optimization Algorithm (RIME) often encounters performance degradation when dealing with complex optimization landscapes, such as high dimensionality, strong multimodality, and application-driven image segmentation tasks. To overcome these limitations, this study develops a multi-strategy self-adaptive Rime Optimization approach, termed MSRIME, which enhances both search diversity and convergence stability through adaptive and collaborative mechanisms. Specifically, MSRIME introduces a dynamically adjusted differential mutation factor to regulate exploration and exploitation along the optimization process. In addition, a heterogeneous strategy pool composed of multiple update operators is constructed, enabling complementary search behaviors at different optimization stages. A probability-driven strategy selection scheme based on performance feedback is further employed to adaptively allocate search resources among strategies. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on the CEC2017 and CEC2022 benchmark suites and compared with several state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms. Experimental results show that MSRIME consistently achieves superior performance in terms of optimization accuracy and robustness. In the Friedman statistical test, MSRIME obtains the best mean rankings of 1.93 and 1.77 on CEC2017 (30D and 100D), and 1.67 and 2.17 on CEC2022 (10D and 20D), respectively, outperforming all competing algorithms. Furthermore, MSRIME is applied to multilevel threshold image segmentation using Otsu’s criterion. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves higher PSNR, SSIM, and FSIM values across different images and threshold levels, indicating its effectiveness in practical applications. Overall, the proposed MSRIME provides an effective and robust optimization framework, achieving significant performance improvements without increasing computational complexity.

Levofloxacin versus moxifloxacin in nitazoxanide-based quadruple therapy as a first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection: NILE, a randomized, comparative, multicenter study

Abstract Helicobacter pylori infection remains a major global health concern, with rising antibiotic resistance posing significant challenges to eradication efforts. The search for novel, effective regimens is particularly important in regions with high resistance rates to standard agents. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of nitazoxanide-based quadruple therapies incorporating either levofloxacin or moxifloxacin. In this randomized, multicenter trial, treatment-naïve patients with confirmed H. pylori infection received standard triple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole (ACL), levofloxacin–nitazoxanide–doxycycline–lansoprazole (LNDL) or moxifloxacin–nitazoxanide–doxycycline–lansoprazole (MNDL) for 14 days. Eradication was assessed by stool antigen testing. Rates were analyzed using intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) methods. ITT eradication rates were 82.3% for the LNDL regimen, 71.8% for the MNDL regimen, and only 59.2% for the ACL regimen. Eradication with LNDL was were significantly higher than with ACL. PP analysis showed eradication rates of 87.2% for LNDL and 81.6% for MNDL, both significantly higher than ACL (60.9%). All regimens were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. Fluoroquinolone-containing nitazoxanide-based quadruple regimens demonstrated superior eradication of H. pylori compared to clarithromycin-based triple therapy in treatment-naïve Egyptian patients. Although eradication rates did not reach the optimal threshold, these regimens represent practical alternatives when conventional regimens are not feasible. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05184491 registered on 11-01-2022.

A decision aid approach for sports performance evaluation and player activity tracking using fermatean fuzzy Z-information

Effect of cannabidiol, cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabivarin in managing inflammatory pain

Corrosion resistance behavior of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel in nuclear environments

Inspection of power line insulator using an enhanced faster region-convolutional neural network

Integrative evaluation of utilization the nanomaterials as a modifier to asphalt mixtures: traditional and Superpave tests

Abstract Nanomaterials are increasingly used to improve asphalt binder and mixture performance. This research aims to evaluate the performance of asphalt binder and asphalt mixtures modified with Nano-metakaolin (NMK) using both conventional and Superpave testing methods. The experimental program conducted on the asphalt binder included penetration, softening point, flash point, and absolute viscosity tests. In addition, asphalt mixture performance was assessed through Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength, and rutting tests for both unmodified and NMK-modified mixtures. Furthermore, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests, as part of the Superpave system, were conducted to determine the dynamic shear modulus (G*) of both asphalt binder and mixtures. The results indicated that the incorporation of NMK reduced penetration values, increased the softening point, and enhanced viscosity, reflecting improved binder stiffness and temperature susceptibility. Moreover, NMK significantly increased the dynamic shear modulus, indicating better resistance to deformation under loading. At the mixture level, NMK modification improved key mechanical properties, including stiffness, resistance to permanent deformation (rutting), and fracture resistance. A dosage of 7% NMK by weight of asphalt showed notable improvement in mixture strength. However, based on Superpave evaluation, the optimal NMK content ranged between 5 and 7%, providing the best balance in resistance to rutting, fatigue, and cracking. Overall, the findings demonstrate that incorporating NMK into asphalt materials enhances mechanical performance, reduces structural deterioration, and offers potential environmental benefits, making it a promising additive for advanced asphalt pavement applications.

PGCFuse: a U-Net-based progressive gated convmixer network with global context aggregation for infrared-visible image fusion

Design and application of a magnetically recoverable citric acid-functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite for ultrasound-assisted green synthesis of naphthopyrimidines

Prediction method of blasting vibration velocity of high slope based on bayes

Construction of a multi-dimensional predictive model for college students’ academic performance based on deep learning

A two-tier coordination mechanism for pollution control under water quality differences: a case study of the Yangtze-to-Hanjiang River Water Diversion Project

Explore the interaction between industrial structure and ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau

Lactic acid bacteria priming of antioxidant defense systems mitigates oxidative damage and preserves postharvest quality in tomato under drought stress

Abstract This study investigated foliar-applied Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) as a biostimulant to enhance postharvest resilience and quality of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit under drought stress. A randomized greenhouse experiment was conducted with four treatments: optimal irrigation, drought stress, and LAB applications combined with both irrigation regimes. Upon reaching physiological maturity, harvested fruits were stored at 7°C for a 20-day period, with evaluations of physicochemical and biochemical markers at regular intervals. Results demonstrated LAB application as a biochemical primer, significantly mitigating drought-induced physiological deterioration by stabilizing fruit pH and attenuating tissue softening. Notably, LAB treatments elicited a robust systemic antioxidant response, increasing total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids. This was accompanied by upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Moreover, a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels indicated that LAB effectively preserves cellular membrane integrity by suppressing lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that foliar LAB intervention acts as a potent metabolic modulator, optimizing the antioxidant defense machinery and extending the postharvest shelf-life of tomatoes under environmental stress. This research provides a sustainable and ‘green’ framework for enhancing the economic value and nutritional longevity of horticultural crops amid escalating climate challenges.

A decompose-reshape-ensemble deep learning framework for multi-scale short-term photovoltaic power forecasting

Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles optimized by Taguchi method inhibit urease activity in antibiotic-resistant helicobacter pylori

Antipsychotic use among paediatric patients living with epilepsy in Uganda

Abstract Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder in childhood, often accompanied by behavioural and psychiatric challenges such as aggression, irritability, and hyperactivity. Management of these comorbidities may involve antipsychotic medications, yet data on their use in African settings remain scarce. To examine the prevalence and patterns of antipsychotic prescribing among children and adolescents with epilepsy in Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Mulago National Referral Hospital and Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital. Children (5–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) with epilepsy were consecutively recruited during routine visits. Data were obtained through caregiver interviews and review of medical records. Intellectual disability was evaluated with Raven’s Progressive Matrices. Antipsychotic and anti-seizure prescriptions were recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. A total of 305 participants were recruited, mostly male (62.6%) and adolescents (51.8%). Overall, 6.9% (n = 21, 95% CI: 4.5–10.3) were prescribed antipsychotics, with risperidone being the most common (47.6%). The most common combinations involved carbamazepine with risperidone (38.1%) and sodium valproate with risperidone (28.6%). A statistically significant site-related difference was observed: nearly all individuals receiving antipsychotics were recruited from Mulago National Referral Hospital (9.1%), compared to only 1.2% from Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital (p = 0.014). Antipsychotic use among children and adolescents with epilepsy in Uganda is relatively low but follows international trends, with risperidone being the predominant choice. Antipsychotic prescriptions often involve combinations with carbamazepine or valproate, raising concerns about drug interactions and metabolic risks. These findings underscore the need for locally adapted prescribing guidelines, systematic monitoring of safety outcomes, and strengthened psychosocial interventions to complement pharmacological care.