Search Results (109)

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) remains a global health challenge with a poor 5-year survival rate among patients with relapsed or advanced-stage disease. Immune checkpoint blockade therapies have emerged as a promising approach to improve outcomes; however, their effectiveness is limited, with response rates of only 15–20% because of immune evasion mechanisms. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation plays a key role in facilitating such immune evasion. In this study, we aim to identify specific miRNAs whose altered expression contributes to immune escape in HNC. Methods: We employed an integrated bioinformatics approach, incorporating differential expression analysis, survival analysis, target prediction, KEGG immune pathway analysis, a protein–protein interaction network, and the identification of hub genes using in silico tools. Results: Our analysis revealed that a high expression of miR-18a and miR-2355 was associated with reduced survival, with the median survival decreasing from 42.9 to 27.8 months, respectively, in advanced-stage patients. Conversely, a low expression of let-7c and miR-6510 was linked to poor prognosis, with survival decreasing from 40.1 to 19.2 months and from 50.1 to 26.8 months, respectively, across disease progression. Further pathway analysis revealed that these miRNAs are significantly involved in the regulation of key immune evasion signaling pathways, including T cell receptor, PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint, JAK-STAT, TGF-beta, NF-kappa B, and TNF signaling pathways. Hub gene analysis identified AKT1, STAT3, NFKB1, CD4, IL2RB, TLR4, and CTLA-4 as potential dysregulated miRNA targets, with enrichment in immune-related signaling pathways. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that targeting these miRNAs could modulate immune evasion mechanisms and potentially enhance the efficacy of ICB therapies in HNC. Full article

A nonlinear incremental time history analysis is performed on plan and vertical asymmetric reinforced concrete (RC) buildings under sequential events of the 2011 Great Japan earthquake and tsunami. The symmetric and plan asymmetric buildings with a unidirectional eccentricity of 6 m to 18 m with an interval of 6 m are considered. The vertical mass and stiffness asymmetric structures are also analyzed considering material nonlinearity. Maximum inundation depths of 6.0 m and 3.0 m are simulated to account for the near-shore and far-shore conditions. A total time duration of 58.69 min. is taken for the earthquake and tsunami, including a time gap of 30 min. between the earthquake and tsunami. The symmetric structure showed structural adequacy against earthquakes and tsunamis, with a maximum inundation depth of 3.0 m. The plan asymmetric structure with 6.0 m eccentricity has shown displacements below the yield displacement (i.e., the maximum lateral displacement before inelastic behavior) under the earthquake, but yielded under the tsunami a time of structural adequacy (the time duration during which the building remains within elastic limits under sequential loading) of up to 42.56 min. In comparison to the symmetric building, the buildings with higher eccentricities (12.0 m and 18.0 m) failed under seismic loading alone, exhibiting 94.12% and 45.94% greater displacements, respectively, both exceeding the yield threshold. Vertical stiffness asymmetric structures displaced more than yield displacement under the earthquake, whereas mass asymmetric structures with asymmetry at the first or second floors have been found resilient under the sequential earthquake and tsunami up to the inundation depth of 3.0 m. From this, it is concluded that vertical evacuation is limited to the first or second floors of the studied building. It is recommended to construct the RC buildings away from the seashore to ensure the safety of the occupants. The construction of the plan and stiffness of asymmetric structures shall be avoided in the seashore locations. Full article

Fresh groundwater is essential for sustaining life and socio-economic development, particularly in regions with limited safe drinking water alternatives. However, contamination from natural and anthropogenic sources poses severe health and environmental risks. This research examines the health risks linked to groundwater quality in the agroeconomic region of Boudh district, Odisha, India, where residents depend on untreated groundwater due to limited access to alternative sources. A total of 82 groundwater samples were analyzed during pre- and post-monsoon of the year 2023 using multivariate statistical methods (PCA, correlation analysis) to determine pollutant sources and regulatory factors, while XRD was employed to characterize fluoride-bearing minerals in associated rock samples. Fluoride concentrations range from 0.14 to 4.6 mg/L, with 49% of samples exceeding the WHO limit of 1.5 mg/L, which raises significant health concerns. Nitrate levels fluctuate between 1.57 and 203.51 mg/L, primarily due to agricultural fertilizers. A health risk assessment (hazard quotient and hazard index) indicates that 63% of samples fall into the low-risk category, 21% into moderate-risk, and 16% into high-risk. Children (HI = 29.23) and infants (HI = 19.51) are at the greatest health risk, surpassing that of adult males (HI = 12.2) and females (HI = 11.2). Findings provide scientific evidence for policymakers to implement groundwater protection and remediation strategies. Immediate interventions, including water quality monitoring, defluoridation measures, and community awareness programs, are essential for ensuring long-term water security and public health. Full article

The self-healing characteristics of Al6061 reinforced with CuO have been examined experimentally. The solder alloys 60Pb40Sn and 99.3Sn0.7Cu with low melting points are incorporated to strengthen the Al6061 MMCs’; the self-healing properties have been investigated. Developed self-healing samples have undergone testing for hardness, tensile, and impact characteristics in accordance with ASTM standard test protocols. The findings demonstrate how the solder filling affects the mechanical characteristics of self-healed Al6061 alloy and its MMCs’. The results showed that the composites formed a decent bond between the solder and matrix, confirming successful fabrication. Pb-Sn filled samples demonstrated higher self-healing efficiency for tensile and impact of 90.02% and 90.30% with 6 wt.% of CuO, respectively, and Sn-Cu filled samples witnessed higher self-healing efficiency for tensile and impact of 91.81% and 91.09% with 6 wt.% of CuO respectively. However, the self-healed composite did not split in two when subjected to Charpy impact and tensile strength tests, and the healing efficiency of Sn-Cu-filled composites is higher than that of the Pb-Sn-filled composites. Full article

Several plant-associated microbes have the capability of ameliorating the adverse effects of salinity stress in plants. Such microbes produce metabolites, including proline, glycine betaine, and secondary compounds, like melatonin, traumatic acid, and β-estradiol, which have been found to have a role in reducing salinity-induced damage in plant cells. While the effects of these metabolites have been studied, their application-related aspects remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated the salinity-stress-alleviating potential of metabolites derived from the endophytic bacterium Bacillus safensis BTL5. The microbial metabolites were extracted using the hexane–chloroform fraction method and identified through LC-HRMS analysis. Four metabolites (traumatic acid, β-estradiol, arbutin, and α-mangostin), along with a fifth compound, melatonin, were initially screened for their salinity alleviation potential. Subsequently, two metabolites, i.e., arbutin and β-estradiol, were evaluated for their impact on growth parameters and enzymatic antioxidant activities under 200 mM salt stress. The results revealed that arbutin and β-estradiol significantly improved plant growth, chlorophyll content, and enzymatic activities while reducing oxidative damage. The dose-dependent effects highlighted optimal concentrations for maximum efficacy from these compounds under elevated salinity. This study signifies the potential of microbial metabolites in enhancing crop resilience to salinity, highlighting their role in sustainable agriculture. The outcomes of this study provide a baseline for the applied use of such microbial metabolites under field conditions. Full article

This study empirically examines the wealth effects of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the Indian capital market, focusing on cross-border M&As. This study considers a sample of 58 cross-border and 34 domestic M&As, comprising more than 50 percent of the shares acquired by the acquiring companies from 2004 to 2019. We analyzed the wealth effects of cross-border M&As by applying the event study methodology. The abnormal returns of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions for various window periods were compared using an independent t-test. The wealth effects of the acquiring firm have been further investigated with the inclusion of top advisor services and without the inclusion of advisor services in mergers and acquisitions transactions. This result suggests that cross-border M&As do not create a significant positive return for shareholders. There is no considerable wealth gain for shareholders of acquiring companies in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. We also find that including top advisor services in the M&A process does not influence the acquiring firm’s wealth. The price-to-book value ratio of the acquiring firm is a significant determinant of its returns. Full article

Advancements in intelligent vehicular networks and computing systems have created new possibilities for innovative approaches that enhance traffic safety, comfort, and transportation performance. Machine Learning (ML) has become widely employed for boosting conventional data-driven methodologies in various scientific study domains. The integration of a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) system with ML enables the acquisition of knowledge from multiple places, enhances the operator’s awareness, and predicts future crashes to prevent them. The information serves multiple functions, such as determining the most efficient route, increasing the driver’s knowledge, forecasting movement strategy to avoid risky circumstances, and eventually improving user convenience, security, and overall highway experiences. This article thoroughly examines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ML methods that are now investigated through different study endeavors in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Furthermore, it examines the benefits and drawbacks accompanying such intelligent methods in the context of the VANETs system and simulation tools. Ultimately, this study pinpoints prospective domains for vehicular network development that can utilize the capabilities of AI and ML. Full article

With environmental changes, sustaining watershed ecosystem services requires understanding community perceptions and preferences. Integrated approaches considering community perceptions, climate change, and land use cover change are crucial. We address a study gap by combining climate change and land use cover change data with an analysis of community perceptions to evaluate the watershed ecosystem services situation in Nepal’s Khageri Khola Watershed. Data from in-depth stakeholder interviews (n = 16), household perception surveys (n = 440), and participant observations (n = 5) were supplemented by meteorological and land use cover change data. Descriptive analysis, index value calculation, Spearman’s Rho correlation, and chi-square statistics were used to understand linkages between socio-demographics, climate change perceptions, watershed ecosystem services importance, and changes in watershed ecosystem services supply. The Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope calculation, and land use cover change analysis considered temperature, precipitation, and land use. Among watershed ecosystem services, communities prioritized drinking water as the most important and biodiversity support as the least important. Watershed ecosystem services exhibited decreasing trends, with soil fertility and productivity notably high (89%) and natural hazard control low (41%). Significant alignment existed between community perceptions and local climate indicators, unlike the incongruity found with land use cover changes, especially regarding water bodies. Socio-demographic factors influenced community perceptions. Policy recommendations include analyzing watershed-level community demand and preferences, integrating community perceptions with climate change and land use cover change data in decision making, engaging communities, equitable sharing of the benefits generated by watershed ecosystem services, and considering socio-demographic and topographic diversity in tailoring management strategies. Full article

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with Copper Oxide (CuO) and Aluminum (Al) 6061 (Al6061) alloys are being studied to determine their mechanical, physical, and dry sliding wear properties. The liquid metallurgical stir casting method with ultrasonication was employed for fabricating Al6061-CuO microparticle-reinforced composite specimens by incorporating 2–6 weight percent (wt.%) CuO particles into the matrix. Physical, mechanical, and dry sliding wear properties were investigated in Al6061-CuO MMCs, adopting ASTM standards. The experimental results show that adding CuO to an Al6061 alloy increases its density by 7.54%, hardness by 45.78%, and tensile strength by 35.02%, reducing percentage elongation by 40.03%. Dry wear measurements on a pin-on-disc apparatus show that Al6061-CuO MMCs outperform the Al6061 alloy in wear resistance. Al6061-CuO MMCs’ strength has been predicted using many strengthening mechanism models and its elastic modulus through several models. The strengthening of Al6061-CuO MMCs is predominantly influenced by thermal mismatch, more so than by Hall–Petch, Orowan strengthening, and load transfer mechanisms. As the CuO content in the composite increases, the strengthening effects due to dislocation interactions between the matrix and reinforcement particles, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) difference, grain refinement, and load transfer consistently improve. The Al6061-CuO MMCs were also examined using an optical microscope (OM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after fracture and wear tests. The investigation shows that an Al6061-CuO composite material with increased CuO reinforcement showed higher mechanical and tribological characteristics. Full article

Urban Canopy Parameters (UCPs) are crucial for urban microclimate modeling; however, the scarce availability of precise UCP data in developing regions limits their application for urban climates. This study investigated the use of multi-platform remote sensing data viz. very high-resolution satellite (VHRS) optical stereo and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) datasets for the computation of UCPs in high-density urban scenarios in India, with varied development characteristics. The results demonstrated high accuracy in terms of building height and footprint extraction from both datasets, key inputs for UCP computation. However, UCPs from UAV data have displayed relatively high accuracy for building footprints (86%), building height (RMSE ~ 0.05 m), and land use/land cover classification (90%). Performance evaluation of computed UCPs against a 3D reference geodatabase showed high prediction accuracy for most UCPs, with overall biases, mean absolute error, and root-mean-square error values significantly better than 1 m, with strong correlation (0.8–0.9). It was concluded that VHRS optical stereo and UAV datasets offer a secure, reliable, and accurate solution for UCP computation in urban areas, particularly in developing regions. These findings have significant implications for urban climate research and the sustainable development of rapidly urbanizing areas facing resource and policy constraints. Full article

Although the effects of invasive alien plants on natural ecosystems are well known, the effects of specific plant species can vary across habitat types and disturbance intensity. This study was carried out to analyze the effects of Lantana camara on associated vegetation and soil physico-chemical properties at invaded and non-invaded sites across three different habitat types (forest edge, fallow land, and roadside) in central Nepal. We sampled 50 pairs of 5 m × 5 m (for shrub species) and 1 m × 1 m (for herbs species) plots at invaded and non-invaded sites in each habitat and recorded community variables for each species within the sampling plots for both wet (monsoon) and dry (pre-monsoon) seasons. Further, we collected soil samples from each quadrat and determined the soil physico-chemical properties. We recorded 137 species of flowering plants (119 from non-invaded and 97 from invaded plots) and classified them in accordance with life form/habit. In invaded sites, we found a significant decline in species diversity as indicated by the Simpson and Shannon diversity indices. Specifically, L. camara reduced the species richness, Simpson index, and Shannon diversity index by 36.84%, 11.84%, and 40.21%, respectively. Soil nutrients such as total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus were significantly higher in invaded sites than non-invaded ones except for available potassium and soil pH. This study provided evidence that Lantana L. camara has a substantial impact on the understory plant community assemblage and the physico-chemical properties of soil. The results suggest that the protection of native plant community requires management of L. camara by implementing appropriate measures. Full article

This study explores the spatial patterns of particulate matter (PM) in the megacity of Delhi. A GRIMM aerosol spectrometer is used to analyze different aerodynamic diameters (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, PM_1.0), inhalable, thoracic, and alveolic particles, and black carbon (BC) at six prominent locations in Delhi during summer and winter. Additionally, metals (Pb, Fe, Ca, Al, Zn), along with silicon and sulfur, are analyzed using an ED-XRF spectrometer over the sampling locations during the summer season. The sampling site data are interpolated using the Kriging method to generate spatial maps to explore the air pollution problem in Delhi. East Delhi is observed to be the most polluted site, while Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) is the least polluted site. We further observe a high correlation between Al-Fe, Al-Ca, Zn-Pb, Ca-Fe, and S-Zn, indicating their common source of emission. Aerosols are also found to be highly enriched with metals like Al, S, Fe, Zn, and Pb, suggesting strong anthropogenic sources of these metals. Construction activities, resuspended dust, an increased number of vehicles, faulty agricultural practices, and soil could be recognized as major sources of the particulate concentration in an urban area like Delhi. Full article

Natural and sustainable plant-based antioxidants and antimicrobials are highly desirable for improving food quality and safety. The present investigation assessed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of active components from Alkanna tinctoria L. (herb) roots, also known as Ratanjot root. Two methods were used to extract active components: microwave-assisted hot water (MAHW) and ethanolic extraction. MAHW extract yielded 6.29%, while the ethanol extract yielded 18.27%, suggesting superior Ratanjot root extract powder (RRP) solubility in ethanol over water. The ethanol extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than the MAHW extract. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed three major phenolic compounds: butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-; arnebin 7, and diisooctyl pthalate. The color attributes (L*, a*, b*, H°ab, C*_ab) for the ethanolic and MAHW extracts revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in all the above parameters for both types of extracts, except for yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*_ab) values. The ethanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 14 foodborne bacteria, with a significantly higher inhibitory effect against Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) than the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were both 25 mg/mL for the Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC and MBC concentrations varied for Gram-positive bacteria (0.049–0.098 mg/mL and 0.098–0.195 mg/mL) and the antimicrobial effect was bactericidal. The antimicrobial activities of RRP extract remained stable under broad temperature (37–100 °C) and pH (2–6) conditions, as well as during refrigerated storage for 30 days. Application of RRP at 1% (10 mg/g) and 2.5% (25 mg/g) levels in a cooked chicken meatball model system prevented lipid oxidation and improved sensory attributes and retarded microbial growth during refrigerated (4 °C) storage for 20 days. Furthermore, the RRP extract was non-toxic when tested with sheep erythrocytes and did not inhibit the growth of probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In conclusion, the study suggests that RRP possesses excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, thus making it suitable for food preservation. Full article

New forms of interaction made possible by developments in special educational technologies can now help students with dyscalculia. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool in recent decades, particularly between 2001 and 2010, offering avenues to enhance the quality of education for individuals with dyscalculia. Therefore, the implementation of AI becomes crucial in addressing the needs of students with dyscalculia. Content analysis techniques were used to examine the literature covering the influence of AI on dyscalculia and its potential to assist instructors in promoting education for individuals with dyscalculia. The study sought to create a foundation for a more inclusive dyscalculia education in the future through in-depth studies. AI integration has had a big impact on educational institutions as well as people who struggle with dyscalculia. This paper highlights the importance of AI in improving the educational outcomes of students affected by dyscalculia. Full article

In this work, an Ag@Cu/TiO₂ ternary nanocomposite was synthesized by a simple chemical methodology and subsequently studied for the photocatalytic degradation of rose bengal (RB) dye under visible light as well as its hydrogen production. The shape, size and topographical analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that all the constituents are well intercalated and are in the nano range. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the Ag@Cu/TiO₂ showed the presence of Ti, O, Cu and Ag and the absence of any other impurities, while the mapping analysis showed their uniform distribution. The X-ray photon spectroscopy also showed successful interaction between the components. Furthermore, the changes in the chemical state of Ti2p were examined. The band gap of Ag@Cu/TiO₂ using the Tauc plot relations was found to be the lowest at 2.86 eV in comparison to pure TiO₂ (3.28 eV), binary Ag/TiO₂ (3.13 eV) and Cu/TiO₂ (3.00 eV). The Ag@Cu/TiO₂ displayed the lowest photoluminescence intensity, suggesting the highest degradation efficiency and lowest recombination rate. The application of Ag@Cu/TiO₂ toward the photocatalytic degradation of RB dye exhibited a degradation rate of ~81.07%, which exceeds the efficiency of pure TiO₂ by 3.31 times. Apart from this, the hydrogen production of Ag@Cu/TiO₂ was found to be 17.1 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, suggesting that copper and silver synergistically contributed, thereby resulting in the increased hydrogen production of pure TiO₂. Full article