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Eco-friendly pomegranate production: Balancing energy consumption and environmental impact
Pomegranate production in Siab (Lorestan), Iran, faces significant challenges related to high energy consumption and environmental degradation, particularly due to inefficient use of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, water and machinery. These inefficiencies contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions and higher production costs, making optimization efforts essential for sustainable development. This study investigated the optimization of energy consumption and the reduction of environmental impacts in pomegranate production using a combination of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Data were collected through interviews with farmers and agricultural experts in the region, supported by structured questionnaires. The research evaluated several energy indicators, including an energy ratio of 2.14, which indicates that every unit of energy input yields more than double in output—comparable to other fruit crops like apple or citrus, which typically range between 1.5 and 3.0. Energy productivity was found to be 1.12 kgMJ-1, meaning 1.12 kilograms of pomegranate are produced per megajoule of energy consumed, while specific energy was calculated at 0.89 MJkg ⁻ ¹, showing relatively efficient energy use compared to similar horticultural crops. Net energy gain was 17,142.33 MJha ⁻ ¹, with total energy consumption at 15,211.04 MJha ⁻ ¹ and an energy output of 32,353.38 MJha ⁻ ¹. Economic analysis revealed a gross value of 9,081.64 USDha ⁻ ¹, fixed costs of 204.44 USDha ⁻ ¹, and gross revenue of 8,059.42 USDha ⁻ ¹, resulting in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 0.83. LCA results showed that optimized practices significantly reduced environmental impacts across most of the 15 intermediate environmental indicators analyzed. For instance, global warming potential was reduced from 40.563 kg CO₂ eq per ton of pomegranate under conventional methods to 35.975 kg CO₂ eq with optimized practices. DEA under the Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) model revealed that 66.68% of the surveyed orchards operated at 100% technical efficiency. The average technical efficiency across all units was estimated at 98.96%. The remaining 33.32% of orchards were identified as technically inefficient. Scale efficiency averaged at 99.39%, suggesting that most farms operate near optimal size.
Ferri- and ferro-electric switching in spontaneously chiral polar liquid crystals
Abstract The recent discovery of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking has demonstrated the possibility of discovering the exotic textures of ferromagnetic systems in liquid crystalline fluid ferro-electrics. We show that the polar smectic mesophase exhibited by the first molecule discovered to exhibit a spontaneously chiral ferroelectric nematic phase is also helical has a strongly varied textural morphology depending in its thermal history and phase ordering. Electro-optic studies demonstrate that the two spontaneously chiral phases exhibit field-induced phase transitions. For the nematic variant, this process is threshold-less and has no hysteresis, while for the smectic it has a clear threshold and shows hysteresis meaning this phase exhibits pseudo-ferrielectric switching, the first of its kind for ferroelectric nematic like phases. We show that helix formation can be both 1st and 2nd order, but when it is 1st it is accompanied by pre-transitional helix formation extending from the phase boundary into the preceding ferroelectric nematic phase.
Unmet contraception need among married women in somalia: Findings from the first national health and demographic survey
Background Somalia has one of the highest rates of maternal and child mortality globally, accompanied by a significantly high total fertility rate. This indicates that women in Somalia face substantial challenges in accessing family planning and contraception, although evidence on this issue remains limited. This study aims to assess the current prevalence of unmet need for contraception in Somalia and identify the socio-demographic factors associated with it. Methods A total of 7,490 sexually active women of reproductive age with the ability to conceive were included in this study, based on pre-defined inclusion criteria, using data from the 2020 Somalia Health and Demographic Survey. The primary outcome variable was unmet need for contraception (yes/no), which included both unmet need for spacing and limiting births. A range of individual, household, and community-level variables were examined as explanatory factors. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between these factors and unmet need for contraception. Results The overall prevalence of unmet need for contraception was 37.2% (95% CI: 35.3–39.1), with significant variations across socio-demographic groups. Women who married at age 21 or older (aOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03–1.51), had five or more children (aOR: 2.41; 95% CI: 2.00–2.89), or lived in the central (aOR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.05–1.76) and southern regions (aOR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.00–2.54) were more likely to have an unmet need for contraception. In contrast, women aged 35 or older (aOR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43–0.79), and those residing in urban (aOR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52–0.98) and rural areas (aOR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.59–0.99) were less likely to have an unmet need. Conclusion The prevalence of unmet need for contraception in Somalia is alarmingly high by global standards. This reflects a heightened risk of short birth intervals and unintended pregnancies, contributing to increased maternal and child mortality. To address this, the government should prioritize strengthening healthcare infrastructure and implementing targeted awareness programs on family planning to reduce the unmet need for contraception in the country.
FedECA: federated external control arms for causal inference with time-to-event data in distributed settings
Attachment and epistemic trust in junior and senior university students: The mediating role of affect regulation and mentalizing. Who is at risk?
Research on emotional factors and mental health in higher education has gained traction. Much attention has focused on first-year students as a potentially at-risk group, though some studies suggest that all students might face similar risks. This study examines differences between junior and senior undergraduates in terms of mentalizing, emotion regulation (ER), and psychological mindedness, involving cognitive capacities significantly developed by late adolescence. These constructs relate to understanding one’s own and others’ mental states, potentially mediating the relationship between attachment and epistemic trust (ET). The current study includes 460 undergraduate students, most of whom are female (96%). Results show that senior students score higher on reappraisal, certainty, and interest/curiosity compared to junior students. However, these factors did not mediate the relationship between anxious attachment orientation and ET. Certainty and interest/curiosity mediated the relationship between avoidant attachment orientation and ET, suggesting similar mediation patterns for junior and senior students. On the other hand, suppression and uncertainty/confusion were critical mediators in the relationship between insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment orientations and epistemic trust. Findings suggest that universities should (a) foster environments that support psychological capacity and facilitate positive learning experiences, and (b) enhance epistemic trust through safe curiosity and develop protective and preventive interventions.
Fbxo42 promotes the degradation of Ataxin-2 granules to trigger terminal Xbp1 signaling
Association of oxidative stress biomarkers with primary congenital glaucoma
Purpose To explore the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Methods This case-control study included 40 PCG patients and 38 matched controls. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were measured, along with eye and body exams. Logistic regression analysis was performed for PCG risk factors and machine learning model biomarker diagnosis. Results In the PCG group, H2O2 and MDA levels were notably higher than in controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.020), while TAS levels were significantly lower (p = 0.043). Adjusting for age and gender, the serum TAS (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01–0.85, p = 0.037), H2O2 (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.09–1.35, p = 0.001) and MDA (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.00–1.34, p = 0.034) were determined to be independent risk/protective factors for PCG. Pearson analysis revealed significant negative correlations: SOD with anterior chamber depth (r = −0.445, p = 0.012) and H2O2 with mean deviation values for the visual field (r = −0.412, p = 0.041). Positive correlations were also significant: MDA with axial length (AL (r = 0.576, p = 0.002). The XGBoost or KNN model using TAS alone achieved the highest AUC (0.74) in five-fold cross-validation. Conclusion The decrease in TAS levels and the increase in H2O2 and MDA levels are found to be correlated with PCG, and the results indicate that oxidative stress plays a part in congenital glaucoma onset.
Unmet supportive care needs of young women with breast cancer in Chile during follow-up stage after treatment: A qualitative study
Background Breast cancer is a significant public health issue, with a rising incidence in young women who have more aggressive tumors and a poorer prognosis. In 2022, breast cancer accounted for 20.8% of all cancers in women in Chile, highlighting the urgent need for targeted research and support for young survivors. This study aims to explore the unmet supportive care needs of these young women during their follow-up period post-treatment, addressing gaps in existing literature and healthcare responses. Methods Qualitative case study using semi-structured online interviews with 20 women who had a cancer diagnosis under 45 years of age. A thematic content analysis was conducted. Study approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile. Results Three primary areas of concern and unmet supportive care needs were identified during follow-up period: access to information, rehabilitation and integration, and mental health. These areas are deeply interconnected, and the absence of validation of these young women’s needs leads to a lack of adequate and comprehensive support from health professionals, deepening women’s sense of abandonment by the health system. Discussion and conclusion The findings align with international literature, revealing that young women face unique challenges related to their life course. The lack of adequate support from healthcare professionals highlights the need for a multidisciplinary, person- and family-centred approach to care. It should address interlinked needs and advocate the involvement of patient organisations. This would enhance support and education regarding the needs of young women and their overall well-being during recovery process.
Unpacking the role of school climate factors in fostering teacher enjoyment and self-efficacy in higher education
The enjoyment and self-efficacy of teachers warrant significant attention, particularly given the global prevalence of high attrition and turnover rates in the profession. This study investigates the interrelationships among school climate factors, teacher self-efficacy, and enjoyment in higher education settings. Specifically, it aims to (a) examine how teachers perceived school environment factors influence their self-efficacy and enjoyment and (b) determine whether teachers’ self-efficacy mediates the effect of perceived school climate factors on teacher enjoyment. In so doing, three instruments including Perceived School Climate Scale (R-SLEQ), Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES), and Teacher Enjoyment Scale (TES) were used. Employing snowball sampling, we recruited 791 college teachers from 24 provinces in China. Structural equation modeling revealed that specific school climate factors significantly contribute to both teachers’ enjoyment and self-efficacy. Notably, colleague collaboration, resource availability, participative decision-making, and instructional innovation demonstrated direct positive effects on teacher enjoyment. Instructional innovation and colleague collaboration further exerted indirect effects on enjoyment through the mediation of self-efficacy. Finally, the practical implications of these findings for teacher education are discussed.
A triple-layer authentication framework with elliptic curve cryptography for securing IoT-assisted wireless sensor networks
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are integral to the Internet of Things (IoT), yet they face significant security challenges, including vulnerabilities to various attacks like Man-in-the-Middle and insider threats. Traditional security mechanisms are often insufficient in providing the necessary level of security while accommodating the processing and energy limitations of resource-constrained devices. Hence the research proposes an innovative Elliptic Curve Cryptography and Triple-Layer Authentication Framework (ECC-TLAF) that enhances the security of WSNs while improving energy efficiency and reducing latency. The framework utilizes a lightweight authentication approach involving biometrics, smart cards, and passwords. The research results indicate that the ECC-TLAF model significantly enhances performance, achieving a 98.9% improvement in energy efficiency, a 95.6% increase in security, and a 96.7% attack detection rate. Moreover, it reduces processing time by 1.02 seconds and latency by 0.1 milliseconds compared to conventional frameworks. The ECC-TLAF framework effectively addresses the security challenges in WSNs, ensuring robust protection against cyber threats while optimizing resource utilization. This research contributes to the advancement of security protocols for IoT environments, paving the way for more secure and efficient WSN applications.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Methylation-induced suppression of BEX1 activates AKT/ERK/STAT3 signaling pathways regulating cell cycle and apoptosis in glioma
Suppressive effects of Momordica charantia MAP30 on the senescence, proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells mediated by CENPA
Abstract Bladder cancer (BC) is notably prevalent, particularly among men. Emerging evidence highlights that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has distinct anticancer properties. This study focuses on recombinant MAP30, a key active constituent of Momordica charantia extract, recognized for its antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antitumor effects. We discovered that MAP30 suppresses BC cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose-responsive manner. It also hinders cell migration, as evidenced by Transwell and wound healing assays. In nude mice, MAP30 injections adjacent to tumors significantly curtail tumor growth. Molecular analyses after MAP30 exposure show elevated SA-β-Gal activity and increased expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p16 in BC cells. Integrating TCGA BC data, MAP30 appears to correct dysregulated gene expression associated with the cell cycle, senescence, apoptosis, and key pathways such as FOXO, TNF, and MAPK. Proteomic analysis identifies CENPA as a central molecule inhibited by MAP30. Correlation studies reveal CENPA’s significant association with oncogenic and immune-modulatory gene expression and immune cell infiltration. CENPA knockdown diminishes BC cell growth and motility, while its overexpression in MAP30-treated cells reverses these effects, suggesting CENPA’s pivotal role in MAP30’s anticancer activity and its potential as a therapeutic target. In conclusion, recombinant MAP30 effectively hampers bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration via CENPA downregulation and induces apoptosis and senescence, offering therapeutic potential against bladder cancer.
Green synthesis and characterization of bioactive silver nanoparticles from Stachys tibetica
HOPX regulates the invasion and migration abilities of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting SNAIL
Hyperspectral magnetite grade based on characteristic band screening inversion study
Multimodal ensemble machine learning predicts neurological outcome within three hours after out of hospital cardiac arrest
Classifying AI-Powered prediction models for disability progression using the Tamir-Based complex fuzzy Aczel–Alsina WASPAS method
Abstract Tracking the development of disability conditions presents significant challenges due to uncertainty, imprecision, and dynamic health progression patterns. Traditional multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques often struggle with such complex and fuzzy medical data. To address this gap, we propose a novel classification framework based on Tamir’s complex fuzzy Aczel-Alsina weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) approach. This hybrid model incorporates complex fuzzy logic to handle multidimensional uncertainty and utilizes the Aczel-Alsina function for flexible aggregation. We apply this method to evaluate and classify AI-powered predictive models used for monitoring disability progression. The proposed framework not only improves classification accuracy but also enhances decision support in healthcare planning. A case study validates the robustness, sensitivity, and effectiveness of the proposed method in real-world disability tracking scenarios.
Influence of solar extreme ultraviolet radiations on artificial very-low-frequency waves in near-earth space
Abstract Ground-based very low frequency (VLF) transmitter waves (3 – 30 kHz) can cause the precipitation loss of high-energy electrons in Earth’s radiation belts. Although the propagation and attenuation of artificial VLF waves have been studied for more than half a century, it is not clear whether solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiations can modify the VLF wave intensity in inner radiation belt and slot region (L ~ 1.1 – 3RE). Here, by analyzing satellite observations and quantitative calculations, we find that the enhanced solar EUV radiations cause global attenuation of the artificial VLF waves radiated from low-latitude transmitters (λ < 44.2° or L < 1.8 RE), whereas those waves radiated from middle-latitude transmitters (λ > 44.2° or L > 1.8 RE) weaken slightly around noon. Under high solar EUV radiations, the large attenuation of artificial VLF waves in the low L region is due to enhanced collisional damping of ionospheric plasmas at low latitudes.
Genomic decoding of drug-resistant tuberculosis transmission in Thailand over three decades
Abstract Thailand has a high burden of tuberculosis, with control efforts hindered by drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The increasing use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Mtb offers valuable insights for clinical management and public health surveillance. WGS can be used to profile drug resistance, identify circulating sub-lineages, and trace transmission pathways or outbreaks. We analysed WGS data from 2,005 Mtb isolates collected across Thailand from 1994–2020, including 816 retrieved and 1,189 newly sequenced samples, with most isolates being multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB). Most isolates are lineage two strains (78·3%), primarily the Beijing sub-lineage (L2.2.1). Drug resistance profiling revealed substantial isoniazid and rifampicin resistance, and 67·3% classified as MDR-TB. Phenotypic and genotypic drug susceptibility testing showed high concordance (91·1%). Clustering analysis identified 206 transmission clades (maximum size 288), predominantly with MDR-TB, especially in Central and Northeastern regions. One cluster (n = 22) contains the ddn Gly81Ser mutation, linked to delamanid resistance, with some members pre-dating drug roll-out. In the largest cluster (n = 288), containing isolates spanning two decades, we applied transmission reconstruction methods to estimate a mutation rate of 1·1 × 10 –7 substitutions per site per year. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of WGS in uncovering TB transmission and drug resistance, offering key data to inform better control strategies in Thailand and elsewhere.