Search Results (337)

Background/Objectives: Genetic polymorphisms in the BRCA2 gene have been implicated in breast cancer susceptibility. While numerous studies have investigated this polymorphism, its precise role in breast cancer development remains unclear. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, no related studies have been conducted in Azerbaijan. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the BRCA2 Met1915Thr polymorphism (rs4987117) in the Azerbaijani population and to evaluate its potential association with breast cancer risk. Methods: A total of 144 breast cancer patients and 152 healthy controls were recruited from the Oncology Clinic of Azerbaijan Medical University between 2021 and 2024. The Met1915Thr polymorphism was genotyped using PCR-RFLP and visualized on a 2% agarose gel. Results: A statistically significant association with increased breast cancer susceptibility was observed for the heterozygous Met/Thr genotype (OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.08–3.11, p = 0.02), the Thr allele (OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.12–2.20, p = 0.008), and under the dominant inheritance model (OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.15–2.90, p = 0.01). Notably, this association was more evident among individuals aged over 58 years, in whom the Met/Thr genotype conferred a significantly elevated risk (OR = 2.35, 95%CI = 1.17–4.73, p = 0.02). Conclusions: The BRCA2 Met1915Thr polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the Azerbaijani population. These findings suggest a potential role of this polymorphism in breast cancer susceptibility and highlight the need for further studies in larger cohorts to validate these associations. Full article

The Paratethyan South Caspian and Mediterranean Levant basins relate to the significant hydrocarbon provinces of Eurasia. The giant hydrocarbon reserves of the SCB are well-known. Within the LB, so far, only a few commercial gas fields have been found. Both the LB and SCB contain some geological peculiarities. These basins are highly complex tectonically and structurally, requiring a careful, multi-component geological–geophysical analysis. These basins are primarily composed of oceanic crust. The oceanic crust of both the South Caspian and Levant basins formed within the complex Neotethys ocean structure. However, this crust is allochthonous in the Levant Basin (LB) and autochthonous in the South Caspian Basin (SCB). This study presents a comprehensive comparison of numerous tectonic, geodynamic, morphological, sedimentary, and geophysical aspects of these basins. The Levant Basin is located directly above the middle part of the massive, counterclockwise-rotating mantle structure and rotates accordingly in the same direction. To the north of this basin is located the critical latitude 35° of the Earth, with the vast Cyprus Bouguer gravity anomaly. The LB contains the most ancient block of oceanic crust on Earth, which is related to the Kiama paleomagnetic hyperzone. On the western boundary of the SCB, approximately 35% of the world’s mud volcanoes are located; the geological reasons for this are still unclear. The low heat flow values and thick sedimentary layers in both basins provide opportunities to discover commercial hydrocarbon deposits at great depths. The counterclockwise-rotating mantle structure creates an indirect geodynamic influence on the SCB. The lithospheric blocks situated above the eastern branch of the mantle structure trigger a north–northeastward movement of the western segment of the Iranian Plate, which exhibits a complex geometric configuration. Conversely, the movement of the Iranian Plate induced a clockwise rotation of the South Caspian Basin, which lies to the east of the plate. This geodynamic ensemble creates an unstable geodynamic situation in the region. Full article

This study proposes an interpretable hybrid deep learning framework for classifying attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using EEG signals recorded during cognitively demanding tasks. The core architecture integrates convolutional neural networks (CNNs), gated recurrent units (GRUs), and long short-term memory (LSTM) layers to jointly capture spatial and temporal dynamics. In addition to the final hybrid architecture, the CNN–GRU–LSTM model alone demonstrates excellent accuracy (99.63%) with minimal variance, making it a strong baseline for clinical applications. To evaluate the role of global attention mechanisms, transformer encoder models with two and three attention blocks, along with a spatiotemporal transformer employing 2D positional encoding, are benchmarked. A hybrid CNN–RNN–transformer model is introduced, combining convolutional, recurrent, and transformer-based modules into a unified architecture. To enhance interpretability, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) are employed to identify key EEG channels contributing to classification outcomes. Experimental evaluation using stratified five-fold cross-validation demonstrates that the proposed hybrid model achieves superior performance, with average accuracy exceeding 99.98%, F1-scores above 0.9999, and near-perfect AUC and Matthews correlation coefficients. In contrast, transformer-only models, despite high training accuracy, exhibit reduced generalization. SHAP-based analysis confirms the hybrid model’s clinical relevance. This work advances the development of transparent and reliable EEG-based tools for pediatric ADHD screening. Full article

As the demand for energy-efficient homes continues to rise, the importance of advanced mechanical ventilation systems in maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ) has become increasingly evident. However, challenges related to energy balance, IAQ, and occupant thermal comfort persist. This review examines the performance of mechanical ventilation systems in regulating indoor climate, improving air quality, and minimising energy consumption. The findings indicate that demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) can enhance energy efficiency by up to 88% while maintaining CO₂ concentrations below 1000 ppm during 76% of the occupancy period. Heat recovery systems achieve efficiencies of nearly 90%, leading to a reduction in heating energy consumption by approximately 19%. Studies also show that employing mechanical rather than natural ventilation in schools lowers CO₂ levels by 20–30%. Nevertheless, occupant misuse or poorly designed systems can result in CO₂ concentrations exceeding 1600 ppm in residential environments. Hybrid ventilation systems have demonstrated improved thermal comfort, with predicted mean vote (PMV) values ranging from –0.41 to 0.37 when radiant heating is utilized. Despite ongoing technological advancements, issues such as system durability, user acceptance, and adaptability across climate zones remain. Smart, personalized ventilation strategies supported by modern control algorithms and continuous monitoring are essential for the development of resilient and health-promoting buildings. Future research should prioritize the integration of renewable energy sources and adaptive ventilation controls to further optimise system performance. Full article

The South Caspian Basin of Iran (SCBI), a vital ecosystem for unique and valuable fish species, is under severe threats due to anthropogenic activities that are rapidly deteriorating its fish biodiversity. The initial step to effectively combat or mitigate threats to biodiversity is to precisely identify these threats. While such threats are often categorized qualitatively, there is a lack of a comparative quantitative assessment of their severity. This means that although we may have a general understanding of the threats, we do not have a clear picture of how serious they are relative to one another. This study aimed to quantify and prioritize these threats using a modified quantitative “SWOT” (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. Twenty multidisciplinary experts identified and evaluated 26 threats, and we used multivariate cluster analysis to categorize them as “High”, “Medium”, and “Low” based on their quantitative contributions to overall threat. Invasive non-native species and global warming emerged as the most significant threats, followed by resource exploitation, habitat destruction, and pollution. We then used this information to develop a “Situation Model” and “Results Chains” to guide responses to the threats. According to the Situation Model, these threats are interconnected, driven by factors such as population growth, unsustainable resource use, and climate change. To address these challenges, we propose the Results Chains, including two strategies focused on scientific research, land-use planning, public awareness, and community engagement. Prioritizing these actions is crucial for conserving the Caspian Sea’s unique fish fauna and ensuring the region’s ecological and economic sustainability. Full article

Background: This study is the first to investigate the association between colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and the hMLH1 −93G>A and hMSH2 1032G>A polymorphisms of mismatch repair (MMR) genes in the Azerbaijani population. Methods: Peripheral blood samples containing EDTA were collected from the study subjects (134 patients and 137 controls), and genomic DNA was extracted using the non-enzymatic salting-out method. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and the results were visualized through agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Overall, no statistically significant correlation was observed between CRC risk and the hMLH1 −93G>A polymorphism in the heterozygous GA (OR = 0.760; 95% CI = 0.374–1.542; p = 0.446), the mutant AA (OR = 1.474; 95% CI = 0.738–2.945; p = 0.270), or the A allele (OR = 1.400; 95% CI = 0.984–1.995; p = 0.062). However, in contrast to the dominant model, a statistically significant association was found between the recessive model and an increased CRC risk, with an odds ratio of 1.788 (95% CI = 1.102–2.900; p = 0.018). The hMLH1 −93G>A polymorphism was identified at a significantly higher frequency across the TNM stages, with the distribution showing statistical significance (p < 0.05). Additionally, no statistically significant association was observed between the hMSH2 1032G>A polymorphism and CRC risk. Conclusions: Although no overall association was observed for hMLH1 −93G>A, our findings suggest a potential link with increased colorectal cancer risk under the recessive model in the Azerbaijani population. Further studies are warranted to confirm this model-specific association and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms. Full article

This study investigates the anthropogenic transformation of small- and medium-sized river basins within the Caspian Sea catchment. The basins of seven rivers—Sunzha, Sulak, Ulluchay, Karachay, Atachay, Haraz, and Gorgan—were selected as key study areas. For both the broader Caspian region, particularly its southwestern sector, and the selected study sites, trends in land cover types were analyzed, natural resource use practices were assessed, and population density dynamics were examined. Furthermore, a range of indices were calculated to quantify the degree of anthropogenic transformation, including the coefficient of anthropogenic transformation, the land degradation index, the urbanity index, the degree of anthropogenic transformation, coefficients of absolute and relative tension of the ecological and economic balance, and the natural protection coefficient. The study was conducted using geoinformation research methods and sets of geodata databases—the global LandScan population density database, the GHS Population Grid database, the ESRI land cover type dynamics database, and OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. The analysis was performed using the geoinformation programs QGIS and ArcGIS, and a large amount of literary and statistical data was additionally analyzed. It is shown that within the studied region, there has been a decrease in the number and density of the population, as a result of which the territories of river basins are experiencing an increasing anthropogenic impact, the woody type of land cover is decreasing, and the agricultural type is increasing. The most anthropogenically transformed river basins are Karachay, Haraz, and Gorgan. Full article

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis despite initial responsiveness to chemotherapy. Platinum-based chemotherapy with etoposide has long been the standard first-line treatment, but recent advances in immunotherapy have improved outcomes. Phase III trials, including IMpower133 and CASPIAN, demonstrated that adding immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and durvalumab, to chemotherapy significantly enhances overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). This case report describes a 76-year-old former smoker diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) following the detection of a left lower lung mass. The patient underwent combination therapy with carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab, followed by maintenance atezolizumab. The patient demonstrated a sustained response to treatment, with significant tumor regression and no evidence of disease progression. Despite advanced age and comorbidities, treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe adverse events. Serial imaging over 24 months confirmed sustained disease stability, with regression of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and no new lesions. This case highlights the potential for prolonged disease control in select SCLC patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy. The absence of significant toxicities underscores the feasibility of immunotherapy even in elderly patients with comorbidities. These findings support the role of atezolizumab as a key component of ES-SCLC treatment and suggest the need for further research on predictors of durable response. Full article

Chaperonin 60 proteins plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as the response to abiotic stress. As part of the protein homeostasis system, molecular chaperones have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their involvement in the folding and assembly of key proteins in photosynthesis. However, little is known about the function of maize chaperonin 60 protein. In the study, a gene encoding the chaperonin 60 proteins was cloned from the maize inbred line B73, and named ZmCpn60-3. The gene was 1, 818 bp in length and encoded a protein consisting of 605 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ZmCpn60-3 had high similarity with OsCPN60-1, belonging to the β subunits of the chloroplast chaperonin 60 protein family, and it was predicted to be localized in chloroplasts. The ZmCpn60-3 was highly expressed in the stems and tassels of maize, and could be induced by exogenous plant hormones, mycotoxins, and pathogens; Overexpression of ZmCpn60-3 in Arabidopsis improved the resistance to Pst DC3000 by inducing the hypersensitive response and the expression of SA signaling-related genes, and the H₂O₂ and the SA contents of ZmCpn60-3-overexpressing Arabidopsis infected with Pst DC3000 accumulated significantly when compared to the wild-type controls. Experimental data demonstrate that flg22 treatment significantly upregulated transcriptional levels of the PR1 defense gene in ZmCpn60-3-transfected maize protoplasts. Notably, the enhanced resistance phenotype against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) in ZmCpn60-3-overexpressing transgenic lines was specifically abolished by pretreatment with ABT, a salicylic acid (SA) biosynthetic inhibitor. Our integrated findings reveal that this chaperonin protein orchestrates plant immune responses through a dual mechanism: triggering a reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst while simultaneously activating SA-mediated signaling cascades, thereby synergistically enhancing host disease resistance. Additionally, yeast two-hybrid assay preliminary data indicated that ZmCpn60-3 might bind to ZmbHLH118 and ZmBURP7, indicating ZmCpn60-3 might be involved in plant abiotic responses. The results provided a reference for comprehensively understanding the resistance mechanism of ZmCpn60-3 in plant responses to abiotic or biotic stress. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a globally important crop that plays a central role in maintaining food security. This scientific review examines the critical role of genetic disease resistance in protecting rice yields, dissecting at the molecular level how rice plants detect and respond to pathogen attacks while evaluating modern approaches to developing improved resistant varieties. The analysis covers single-gene-mediated and multi-gene resistance systems, detailing how on one hand specific resistance proteins, defense signaling components, and clustered loci work together to provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of pathogens and yet their production is severely impacted by pathogens such as Xanthomonas oryzae (bacterial blight) and Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast). The discussion extends to breakthrough breeding technologies currently revolutionizing rice improvement programs, including DNA marker-assisted selection for accelerating traditional breeding, gene conversion methods for introducing new resistance traits, and precision genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 for enabling targeted genetic modifications. By integrating advances in molecular biology and genomics, these approaches offer sustainable solutions to safeguard rice yields against evolving pathogens. Full article

This study examines the price dynamics of the UK Emission Trading Scheme (UK ETS) by integrating advanced computational methods, including deep learning and statistical modelling, to analyze and simulate carbon market behaviour. By analyzing long-memory effects and price volatility, it assesses whether UK carbon prices align with theoretical expectations from carbon pricing mechanisms and market efficiency theories. Findings indicate that UK carbon prices exhibit persistent long-memory effects, contradicting the Efficient Market Hypothesis, which assumes price movements are random and fully reflect available information. Furthermore, regulatory interventions exert significant downward pressure on prices, suggesting that policy uncertainty disrupts price equilibrium in cap-and-trade markets. Deep learning models, such as Time-series Generative Adversarial Networks (TGANs) and adjusted fractional Brownian motion, outperform traditional approaches in capturing price dependencies but are prone to overfitting, highlighting trade-offs in AI-based forecasting for carbon markets. These results underscore the need for predictable regulatory frameworks, hybrid pricing mechanisms, and data-driven approaches to enhance market efficiency. By integrating empirical findings with economic theory, this study contributes to the carbon finance literature and provides insights for policymakers on improving the stability and effectiveness of emissions trading systems. Full article

Cyanobacterial harmful blooms (CyanoHABs) in lakes, estuaries, and freshwater reser-voirs represent a significant risk to water authorities worldwide due to their cyanotoxins and economic impacts. The duration, spread, and severity of CyanoHABs have markedly increased over the past decades. The article addresses CyanoHABs, cyanotoxins, and monitoring methodologies in post-Soviet and Central Asian countries. This particular region was selected for the systematic review due to its relative lack of representation in global CyanoHABs reporting, particularly in Central Asia. The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze the primary literature available from 2010–2024 to examine the current situation of CyanoHAB detection, monitoring, and management in Central Asia and post-Soviet countries. Following a detailed database search in several selected data-bases (Google Scholar, Pubmed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, Elibrary, ENU, and KazNU) along with additional hand searching and citation searching, 121 primary articles reporting 214 local cyanobacterial bloom cases were selected for this review. Aquatic cyanotoxins were reported in water bodies of eight countries, including high concentrations of microcystins that often exceeded reference values established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Advancing monitoring efforts in Baltic countries, Belarus, and the Russian Federation differed from only a few Central Asian reports. However, Central Asian aquatic ecosystems are especially threatened by rising anthropogenic pressures (i.e., water use, intensive agriculture, and pollution), climate change, and the lack of adequate ecological surveillance. We hypothesize that recent Caspian seal mass mortality events have been caused by a combination of infection (viral or bacterial) and exposure to algal neurotoxins resulting from harmful algal blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia. We conclude that there is an urgent need to improve the assessment of cyanobacterial blooms in Central Asia and post-Soviet countries. Full article

The global and domestic divisions of labor have had a great influence on the economy and environment in China during the last decade. With the refinement of production processes, national value chains (NVCs) coexist with global value chains (GVCs), enabling regions to participate in dual value chains (DVCs) simultaneously. This study calculates the NVCs and GVCs participation of manufacturing sectors in China’s provinces. On this basis, this research adopts a fixed effects model to analyze the impact of GVCs and NVCs participation and their interaction effect on manufacturing upgrades and green development. The results show, first, that significant regional differences in GVCs participation exist among provinces in China. In comparison, provincial NVCs participation demonstrates fewer regional differences. Second, there are significant sectoral differences of GVCs participation in China’s manufacturing industry—high-tech manufacturing is more embedded than other manufacturing industries. The sectoral differences in NVCs participation are relatively small. Third, GVCs and NVCs participation and their interaction effect have significantly promoted the upgrading and green development of manufacturing sectors in provinces of China, and this impact exhibits significant heterogeneity across regions, industries, and NVCs participation modes. The conclusions of this study provide empirical evidence and policy recommendations for the upgrading and green development of China’s manufacturing industry. Full article

This article discusses the current problem of industrial waste disposal and its use in the production of building materials, which corresponds to the global concept of sustainable development. Attention is mainly paid to the development of a gruntosilicate composite (concrete) based on a mineral slag binder using drilling sludge from the mining industry, ashes from thermal power plants and electrothermophosphoric slag. Physico-chemical studies of man-made raw materials have been carried out, including analysis of chemical and mineralogical composition, granulometric characteristics, radiation safety and other parameters. It has been established that drilling mud, thermal power plant ash and electrothermophosphoric slag meet the requirements for use in building materials and belong to non-hazardous waste. The optimal ratios of the components in the composition of gruntosilicate concrete have been experimentally determined. The highest compressive strength (3.0–3.5 MPa) is achieved with a drilling mud content of 15–23% and a mineral slag binder of 10–20%. It is shown that the introduction of these wastes improves the structure of the material, reduces shrinkage deformations and ensures compliance with the requirements of road surfaces of the II–III classes. The use of industrial waste in construction will reduce the cost of raw materials by approximately 10–30%, reduce the environmental burden and solve the problem of waste disposal. The results of the study demonstrate the prospects of creating a waste-processing industry capable of processing up to 40% of industrial waste into building materials. Full article

This paper provides deeper insights into the performance of diamond particulate reinforced refractory composites used for cutting tools in the oil and gas industries. In particular, 25C_diamond–70.5WC–4.5Co composites were enhanced with zirconia additives in proportions of 4 wt.% and 10 wt.% via the spark plasma sintering method. Wear tests were performed, and the analyses of elemental composition, morphology, and microstructure were completed. It was found that the addition of yttria-stabilized zirconia increased the plasticity of the matrix and thus introduced the ductile fracture mechanism, reducing the role of abrasive wear. As a result, the specific wear rate was reduced by 44% after the addition of 4 wt.% of zirconia and by 80% with 10 wt.% of ZrO₂. The presence of zirconia contributed to the increase in the retention force between the matrix and diamond grits, which further reduced the intensity of the abrasive mechanism. Full article