Search Results (196)

This paper is concerned with the investigation of a nonlocal sequential multistrip boundary-value problem for fractional differential inclusions, involving $(k_1,{\psi }_1)$-Hilfer and $(k_2,{\psi }_2)$-Caputo fractional derivative operators, and $(k_2,{\psi }_2)$- Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operators. The problem considered in the present study is of a more general nature as the $(k_1,{\psi }_1)$-Hilfer fractional derivative operator specializes to several other fractional derivative operators by fixing the values of the function ${\psi }_1$ and the parameter $\beta$. Also the $(k_2,{\psi }_2)$-Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator appearing in the multistrip boundary conditions is a generalized form of the ${\psi }_2$-Riemann–Liouville, $k_2$-Riemann–Liouville, and the usual Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operators (see the details in the paragraph after the formulation of the problem. Our study includes both convex and non-convex valued maps. In the upper semicontinuous case, we prove four existence results with the aid of the Leray–Schauder nonlinear alternative for multivalued maps, Mertelli’s fixed-point theorem, the nonlinear alternative for contractive maps, and Krasnoselskii’s multivalued fixed-point theorem when the multivalued map is convex-valued and $L^1$-Carathéodory. The lower semicontinuous case is discussed by making use of the nonlinear alternative of the Leray–Schauder type for single-valued maps together with Bressan and Colombo’s selection theorem for lower semicontinuous maps with decomposable values. Our final result for the Lipschitz case relies on the Covitz–Nadler fixed-point theorem for contractive multivalued maps. Examples are offered for illustrating the results presented in this study. Full article

The failure of a porcelain insulator on a transmission line is a crucial cause of power supply interruptions, leading to poor reliability and revenue loss. The insulator’s performance is adversely affected by environmental contaminants, and wettability intensifies this adverse effect by developing a conductive path along the insulator’s surface, leading to premature flashover and insulator failure. This work aims to analyze the response of the electric field distribution and current density using the finite element method (FEM) under different wettability conditions. Discrete water droplets were placed along the surface, and the contact angle was varied to represent different levels of surface hydrophobicity. Abrupt rises and spikes were observed on the plots for the electric field and current density distribution, indicating distortion; however, the distortion kept on decreasing with the increase in the contact angle. Overall, the average stress followed a declining pattern, where the values of the electric field were reduced from 2.588 to 2.412 kV/cm, and current the density was reduced from 0.187 to 0.068 nA/cm² for an increase in the contact angle from 60° to 140°. Simulation results advocate for hydrophobic insulator surfaces. Therefore, a proper coating is necessary to enrich hydrophobicity and mitigate the adversity of wettability. Polyurethane, due to its excellent hydrophobic and insulating properties, offers a potential coating. Flashover voltage tests have been performed for the coated insulator under dry and wet conditions, where the flashover voltage improved from 79.14 kV to 82.04 kV and 48.4 kV to 53.8 kV, respectively, which supports the simulations’ outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: With evolving guidelines favoring de-escalation in the management of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), options such as active surveillance and minimally invasive procedures are now considered for patients with low-risk disease. However, a subset of PTMCs—particularly non-incidental cases—may exhibit aggressive behavior. This study compares disease characteristics and outcomes between incidental and non-incidental PTMCs over a 10-year period. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective comparative analysis utilizing a prospectively collected database of patients referred for thyroid surgery. Results: Papillary thyroid carcinoma accounted for 86.7% of thyroid malignancies, with PTMC comprising 36.2% (137 patients). Incidental PTMC represented 109 out of 1012 patients undergoing surgery for benign thyroid disease (10.8%). Non-incidental PTMC (NIPTMC), diagnosed preoperatively and presenting clinically without coexisting thyroid disease, was identified in 28 patients (20.4%). NIPTMCs were more frequently associated with high-risk features (75% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.004), including extrathyroidal extension (21.43% vs. 7.3% p = 0.0015), positive central lymph nodes (21.43% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.0291), positive lateral lymph nodes (28.6% vs. 0% p = 0.012), and lymphovascular invasion (3.6% vs. 0%). Multifocal PTMC was seen in 37 patients (27%), of which 27 had bilobar disease. Multifocal tumors had a higher likelihood of high-risk features (48.6% vs. 14%, p = 0.007). NIPTMC was a significant predictor of multifocality (p = 0.0098). All patients underwent surgery, none opted for active surveillance. Conclusions: NIPTMC is more often associated with high-risk features and multifocality, necessitating more extensive surgery. These findings emphasize the need for careful preoperative risk stratification to guide individualized management. Full article

Cyber ranges have become essential platforms for realistic cybersecurity training, research, and development. Existing taxonomies often describe the functional aspects of cyber ranges—scenario design, team configurations, and evaluation metrics— focusing less on the underlying technologies that enable modern training. In this paper, we highlight the current trends and persistent gaps in the existing literature and propose a taxonomy that decouples functional capabilities from the enabling infrastructure, adding a dedicated Technology dimension. We derived and refined this taxonomy through an iterative literature mapping process, culminating in a proposed taxonomy that highlights key emerging trends such as cyber–physical integration, federation across multiple sites, and AI-driven orchestration. Key findings include the identification of clear convergences and divergences in existing taxonomies and concrete recommendations for future research directions, such as integrating socio-technical considerations and conducting systematic empirical validation. Our framework aims to guide researchers, developers, and practitioners in designing, implementing, and comparing cyber range solutions. An online Taxonomy Mapping Toolkit is developed to allow the cyber ranges research community to take advantage of the proposed taxonomy and build upon it as new advancements emerge. Full article

Barriers to help-seeking behaviors in transgender populations in non-Western contexts are both understudied and poorly understood. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, this study examined the psychological help-seeking attitudes of 109 transgender persons from Pakistan in relation to their psychological distress and attitudes toward sexuality. This research further identified which components of distress (stress, anxiety, or depression) were stronger predictors and assessed the role of particular demographic/behavioral factors in help-seeking attitudes. Participants completed three validated assessment tools translated into Urdu: Beliefs about Psychological Services Scale, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Sexual Attitude Scale. The results indicated that psychological distress predicted expertness and intent but not stigma tolerance. Post hoc analysis using DASS-21 subscales revealed that stress and anxiety were the stronger predictors of attitudes related to expertness and intent. The Sexual Attitude Scale marginally predicted stigma tolerance directly and also moderated the relationship between psychological distress and help-seeking attitudes for stigma tolerance. Finally, a role for demographic/behavioral factors—possibly serving as a proxy for mental health literacy—was identified for stigma tolerance. These findings reiterate the importance of tailored mental health awareness initiatives within the transgender community in non-Western settings and highlight the need for qualitative research to further understand the dynamics of psychological distress along with other linked factors. Full article

In this survey, we have included the recent results on Lyapunov-type inequalities for differential equations of fractional order associated with Dirichlet, nonlocal, multi-point, anti-periodic, and discrete boundary conditions. Our results involve a variety of fractional derivatives such as Riemann–Liouville, Caputo, Hilfer–Hadamard, $\psi$-Riemann–Liouville, Atangana–Baleanu, tempered, half-linear, and discrete fractional derivatives. Full article

We discuss the existence criteria and Ulam–Hyers stability for solutions to a nonlocal integral boundary value problem of nonlinear coupled Hilfer–Hadamard-type fractional Langevin equations. Our results rely on the Leray–Schauder alternative and Banach’s fixed point theorem. Examples are included to illustrate the results obtained. Full article

Background: Immunization saves millions of lives, and globally, vaccines have significantly contributed to reducing mortality and morbidity due to more than 20 life-threatening illnesses. However, there are considerable disparities in vaccination coverage among countries and within populations. This study evaluates the reduction in disparities in vaccination coverage across various socio-economic groups by adopting an integrated community-engagement approach combined with maternal and child health services through mobile health camps. Methods: This secondary analysis is based on a community-based demonstration project conducted between 2014 and 2016 across 146 union councils in polio high-risk districts of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan in Pakistan. The intervention involved structured community engagement and mobile health camps providing routine immunization alongside maternal and child health services. Data were collected through cross-sectional independent surveys using the WHO two-stage cluster technique at the baseline and the endline, covering over 120,000 children under 5 years old. Four key outcome indicators were analyzed: fully vaccinated children, under-immunized children, unvaccinated children, and polio zero-dose children for equity in vaccine uptake. Results: The proportion of fully vaccinated children increased in the lowest wealth quintile from 28.5% (26.7%, 30.3%) at the baseline to 51.6% (49.5%, 53.8%) at the endline. In comparison, the increase in the richest quantities was 16.2% (14.0%, 18.4%) from the baseline 56.4% (54.6%, 58.2%) to the endline 72.7% (71.1%, 74.2%). Under-vaccination dropped by 10.2% (95% CI: −11.4%, −9.1%), with the poorest quintile showing an 11.8% reduction. The gap between the highest and lowest wealth quintiles in full immunization narrowed by 6.9%, from 27.9% to 21.0% at the baseline and the endline, respectively. The prevalence of zero-dose children significantly decreased across all quintiles, with the highest reduction observed in the lowest quintile of −11.3% (−13.6%, −9.1%). The difference between the highest and lowest wealth quintiles reduced from 6.2% to 3.8%. A significant reduction in polio zero-dose children was achieved, as 13.5% (95% CI: −14.8%, −12.2%), from 29.2% (95% CI: 28.0%, 30.3%) to 15.6% (14.8%, 16.5%). Conclusions: This study shows that integrating community engagement with maternal and child health services through health camps can significantly enhance immunization coverage and reduce wealth-based disparities in high-risk, hard-to-reach areas. The approach improved coverage for zero-dose and fully vaccinated children, suggesting a potential for scaling in regions with access issues, conflict, and vaccine hesitancy. Full article

This study examined access to water, food, and nutrition programs among marginalized communities in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, and their effects on nutrition. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used in this study. We held two focus group discussions (one with 10 males and one with 10 females) and conducted in-depth interviews with 15 key stakeholders, including 20 mothers and 10 healthcare providers. A survey of 235 households was carried out to evaluate water and food insecurity, with the data analyzed using Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test, t-test, and Pearson’s chi-square test. The results revealed that 90% of households experienced moderate-to-severe water insecurity, and 73% faced moderate-to-severe food insecurity. Household water and food insecurity were positively correlated with each other (correlation coefficient = 0.205; p = 0.004). Greater household water (p = 0.028) and food insecurity (p < 0.001) were both associated with higher perceived stress. Furthermore, lower socioeconomic status was strongly related to higher levels of water (p < 0.001) and food insecurity (p < 0.001). Qualitative findings highlight the impact of colonial and post-colonial policies, which have resulted in water injustice, supply issues, and corruption in water administration. Women face significant challenges in fetching water, including stigma, harassment, and gender vulnerabilities, leading to conflicts and injuries. Water scarcity and poor quality adversely affect sanitation, hygiene, and breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers. Structural adjustment policies have exacerbated inflation and reduced purchasing power. Respondents reported a widespread lack of dietary diversity and food quality. Nutrition programs face obstacles such as the exclusion of people with low social and cultural capital, underfunding, weak monitoring, health sector corruption, and the influence of formula milk companies allied with the medical community and bureaucracy. This study concludes that addressing the macro-political and economic causes of undernutrition should be prioritized to improve nutrition security in Pakistan. Full article

Withanolides are naturally occurring steroidal lactones found in certain species of the Withania genus, especially Withania somnifera (commonly known as Ashwagandha). These compounds have gained considerable attention due to their wide range of therapeutic properties and potential applications in modern medicine. To meet the rapidly growing demand for withanolides, innovative approaches such as in vitro culture techniques and synthetic biology offer promising solutions. In recent years, synthetic biology has enabled the production of engineered withanolides using heterologous systems, such as yeast and bacteria. Additionally, in vitro methods like cell suspension culture and hairy root culture have been employed to enhance withanolide production. Nevertheless, one of the primary obstacles to increasing the production of withanolides using these techniques has been the intricacy of the biosynthetic pathways for withanolides. The present article examines new developments in withanolide production through in vitro culture. A comprehensive summary of viable traditional methods for producing withanolide is also provided. The development of withanolide production in heterologous systems is examined and emphasized. The use of machine learning as a potent tool to model and improve the bioprocesses involved in the generation of withanolide is then discussed. In addition, the control and modification of the withanolide biosynthesis pathway by metabolic engineering mediated by CRISPR are discussed. Full article

The development of new technologies has significantly enhanced the monitoring and analysis of network traffic. Modern solutions like the Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) demonstrate a clear advancement over traditional techniques, allowing for more customized and efficient filtering. These technologies are crucial for influencing system performance as they operate at the lowest layer of the operating system, such as the kernel. Network-based Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDPS), including Snort, Suricata, and Bro, passively monitor network traffic from terminal access points. However, most IDPS are signature-based and face challenges on large networks, where the drop rate increases due to limitations in capturing and processing packets. High throughput leads to overheads, causing IDPS buffers to drop packets, which can pose serious threats to network security. Typically, IDPS are targeted by volumetric and multi-vector attacks that overload the network beyond the reception and processing capacity of IDPS, resulting in packet loss due to buffer overflows. To address this issue, the proposed solution, iKern, utilizes eBPF and Virtual Network Functions (VNF) to examine and filter packets at the kernel level before forwarding them to user space. Packet stream inspection is performed within the iKern Engine at the kernel level to detect and mitigate volumetric floods and multi-vector attacks. The iKern detection engine, operating within the Linux kernel, is powered by eBPF bytecode injected from user space. This system effectively handles volumetric Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Real-time implementation of this scheme has been tested on a 1Gbps network and shows significant detection and reduction capabilities against volumetric and multi-vector floods. Full article

Agricultural water productivity is crucial for sustainability amidst the escalating demand for food. Cereals are pivotal in providing nutritious food at affordable prices. This study was based on Ghanaian data spanning from 1992 to 2021 to evaluate water usage in the cultivation of major cereals. It also examined the virtual water losses or gains in cereal trade alongside influencing factors. The analysis utilized secondary data encompassing the virtual water content, production quantity, export and import quantities, distance, GDP per capita, population, and land per capita of Ghana and its 75 trade partners. In the last 5 years, crop water use (CWU) reached an average of 7.08 billion m³/yr for maize, 3.48 billion m³/yr for rice, 1.08 billion m³/yr for sorghum, and 0.63 billion m³/yr for millet production. Ghana’s major partners for exported virtual water (EVW) were Niger, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Togo. Major partners for imported virtual water (IVW) were Argentina, South Africa, Ukraine, Togo, Russia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Senegal, Nigeria, Portugal, UK, Niger, and the USA. The Panel Least Squares Method of regression was used to apply the Gravity Model principle in assessing influencing factors. The findings indicate that Ghana is a net importer of virtual water in the cereal trade, with significant influences from geographical distance, GDP per capita, population, land per capita, and cereal water use. Full article

Background: Plant-derived products or extracts are widely used in folk/traditional medicine to treat several infections, ailments, or disorders. A well-known medicinal herb, Myrtus communis is an evergreen fragrant plant native to the Mediterranean region that has been used for ages in traditional medicine around the world. Materials and methods: The microplate alamarBlue assay and the well diffusion method were used to evaluate the zone of inhibition and MIC, respectively. The double-disc diffusion method was used to investigate the synergy between antibiotics and the extract. The crystal violet method was used to investigate biofilm development. The SulphoRhodamine-B assay and DNA flow cytometry were used to investigate the proliferation and subsequent distribution of cells among different phases of the cell cycle. The apoptotic and necrotic phases of the cancer cells were examined using flow cytometry in conjunction with Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling. Using the IBM SPSS statistical program, a one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test was employed for statistical analysis. Results: The ethanolic leaf extract of M. communis showed a strong growth inhibition effect (zone of inhibition: 20.3 ± 1.1–26.3 ± 2.5 mm, MIC: 4.88–312.5 µg/mL, and MBC: 39.07–1250 μg/mL) against several rapidly growing and slow-growing mycobacterial strains in a dose-dependent manner. Damage to the cell wall of bacterial cells was determined to be the cause of the antimycobacterial action. The extract inhibited biofilm formation (MBIC of 9.7 µg/mL) and eradicated already-formed mature and ultra-mature biofilms of M. smegmatis, with MBEC values of 78 µg/mL and 156 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the extract exhibited potent anticancer effects against diverse cancer cell lines of the breast (MCF-7), liver (HepG2), cervix (HeLa), and colon (HCT116) (IC₅₀ for HCT116: 83 ± 2.5, HepG2: 53.3 ± 0.6, MCF-7: 41.5 ± 0.6, and HeLa: 33.3 ± 3.6) by apoptosis after arresting the cells in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. Conclusions: These results suggest that M. communis leaf extract is a potential source of secondary metabolites that could be further developed as potential anticancer and antimycobacterial agents to treat diverse types of cancers and mycobacterial infections. Full article

In developing countries like Pakistan, the preservation of the environment, as well as people’s economies, agriculture, and way of life, are believed to be hampered by climate change. Understanding how people perceive climate change and its signs is essential for creating a variety of adaptation solutions. In this study, we aim to bridge the gap in current research within this area, which predominantly relies on satellite data, by integrating qualitative assessments of people’s perceptions of climate change, thereby providing valuable ground-based observations of climate variability and its impacts on local communities. Field-based data were collected at different altitudes (upstream (US), midstream (MS), and downstream (DS)) of the Upper Indus Basin using both quantitative and qualitative assessments in 2017. The result shows that these altitudes are highly variable in many contexts: socioeconomic indicators of education, agriculture, income, women empowerment, health, access to basic resources, and livelihood diversifications are highly variable in the Indus Basin. The inhabitants of the Indus Basin perceive the climate changing around them and report impacts of this change as increase in overall temperatures (US 96.9%, MS 97%, DS 93.6%) and erratic rainfall patterns (US 44.1%, MS 73.3%, DS 51.0%) resulting in increased water availability for crops (US 38.6%, MS 39.7%, DS 54.8%) but also increasing number of dry days (US 56.7%, MS 85.5%, DS 67.1%). Communities at these altitudes said that agriculture was their primary source of income, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the dangers that go along with it. The insights are useful for determining what information and actions are required to support local climate-related hazard management in subtropical climate regions. Moreover, it is vital to launch a campaign to raise awareness of potential hazards, as well as to provide training and an early warning system. Full article