Search Results (1,337)

Recent advancements in the accuracy of deep learning (DL) hold significant promise for improving the classification of heart patients. Nevertheless, continued refinement is essential to achieve even greater levels of precision in DL techniques. This paper proposes three efficient DL models: Swin Transformer (Swin-T), Visual Geometry Group (VGG)-19, and Vision Transformer (ViT), which are implemented to classify different types of heart patients. The three DL models are learned on a balanced dataset comprising 600 electrocardiogram (ECG) samples. This dataset contains three classes: Arrhythmia Patient, Myocardic Patient, and Normal Patient. The DL models are applied using a PyTorch framework v2.10.0, with fine-tuning for the models’ hyperparameters to maximize the classification accuracy, and data augmentation techniques are implemented for the ECG samples. Additionally, a smart web application is designed for classifying heart patients into three different diagnostic categories. The performance of the three models is assessed by several metrics such as area under precision-recall (AUPR) curves and normalized confusion matrices (NCMs). The proposed three models achieve high testing accuracy for the classification of heart patients. Regarding testing loss (TL) rates for the Swin-T, VGG-19, and ViT achieve rates of 0.0707, 0.4138, and 0.0015, respectively. Also, the ViT achieves an F1-score, true positive rate (TPR), and AUPR curves of 100%. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive lung disease marked by scarring and inflammation, leading to impaired respiratory function. This study aimed to investigate the combined therapeutic effects of pirfenidone (PFD), metformin (MET), and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods: Forty-eight Western Albino rats were divided into six groups: normal control, BLM-positive control, and four treatment groups receiving PFD, MET, BM-MSCs, and their combination. Treatments were administered for four weeks starting on day 21 post-BLM instillation. Lung tissues were analyzed for oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic markers, and fibrogenic gene expression. Histopathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome staining. Results: The combination therapy significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers while enhancing antioxidant capacity. It decreased pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and increased anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels. Additionally, anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) was elevated, while tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) levels were markedly lowered. Gene expression analysis showed a significant downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and collagen type 1 alpha 1 (Col1α1). Histologically, the combination treatment group exhibited minimal fibrosis and inflammation, closely resembling normal lung tissue. Conclusions: The combination of PFD, MET, and BM-MSCs offered superior therapeutic efficacy in treating BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis compared to individual treatments. This multimodal approach effectively targets oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis, suggesting strong potential for future clinical application. Full article

In seismic imaging, the trace mixing process involves merging neighboring traces in seismic data to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and improve the continuity and spatial coherence of seismic data. In regions with complex subsurface structures, current trace mix filters are often ineffective as they introduce artifacts that reduce interpretability and obscure the signatures of important structures, such as faults and folds. We introduce the selective trace mix as a novel, data-dependent filter. This filter enhances amplitude consistency, spatial coherence, and the definition of reflections, while it preserves complex structures and maintains their clarity. Selective trace mix uses sequential steps of evaluation, referencing, exclusion, weighting, and normalization of all samples within the filter operator. As a result, selective trace mix is a temporally and spatially variable, data-dependent filter. The filter’s effectiveness is validated using both synthetic and real field seismic data. Synthetic data is a portion of the Marmousi seismic model, while real data include land and marine seismic datasets imaging complex subsurface fault/fold structures. When compared to three of the commonly used conventional filters, the selective trace mix yields far better results in terms of horizon integrity and fault clarity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer remains one of the most significant challenges in modern medicine, requiring the continuous development of novel molecular scaffolds with anticancer potential that act through multiple pathways. Heterocyclic compounds incorporating indole, triazole, oxadiazole, and thiadiazine motifs have attracted considerable attention due to their diverse pharmacological activities. This study aimed to design, synthesize, and evaluate new hybrid heterocyclic systems, including 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, and thiadiazine motifs, targeting liver and breast cancer. Methods: A series of indolyl-based heterocyclic compounds was synthesized using efficient and environmentally friendly protocols. Indolyl-triazol-thiadiazin-6-ol 5 was prepared via solvent-free fusion of esters 2 and 3 or the corresponding acid 4. Oxadiazole derivatives were produced by reacting hydrazide intermediates with carbon disulfide. Triazole derivatives were synthesized via cylization of thiosemicarbazide 9 in aqueous KOH (4.0 N). Structural characterization was performed using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR), ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and electron impact mass spectrometry (EIMS). Cytotoxic activity was evaluated against liver and breast cancer cell lines, and VEGFR-2 kinase inhibition was assessed for selected derivatives. Results: The synthesized compounds demonstrated notable cytotoxicity activity, with compounds 4, 5, and 9 exhibiting IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range. Enzymatic assays revealed that compounds 4 and 9 showed strong VEGFR-2 inhibition (97.9% and 96.4%, respectively), indicating apoptosis-inducing effects. Conclusions: The synthesized indolyl-based hybrid heterocycles represent a promising chemotype with in vitro cytotoxic activity and VEGFR-2 inhibitory effects, supporting further investigation, optimization, and mechanistic studies to evaluate their potential lead for anticancer drug development. Full article

The N,N′-Bis(salicylidene)-1,3-propanediamine Schiff base (Salpn) was synthesized, characterized, and assessed as a corrosion inhibitor for low-carbon steel (LCS) in a 0.5 mol L⁻¹ HCl solution. The study included chemical, electrochemical, and quantum mechanical methods to provide a comprehensive assessment. Experimental results revealed that the inhibition efficiency (IE) of Salpn increased with concentration, reaching a maximum of 69.1% at 300 ppm and 298 K, while a slight decrease to 64.3% was observed as the temperature increased. Tafel plot identified Salpn as a mixed-type inhibitor, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the double layer capacitance decreased while the charge-transfer resistance increased as the concentration of Salpn increased. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of Salpn on the LCS surface follows the Langmuir isotherm model. The calculated standard free energy of adsorption (ΔG^°_ads) values ranged from −27.53 to −30.17 kJ mol⁻¹, confirming that the inhibition process occurs via a mixed mechanism involving both physisorption and chemisorption. The presence of a protective film on the LCS surface was suggested by SEM observations, while EDX analysis showed an increase in C, O, and N signals, providing further indication of the inhibitor’s integration into the surface layer. Density functional tight-binding (DFTB+) calculations supported the high inhibitory performance by showing a low hardness value (0.091 eV). The compound’s high global softness (σ = 10.989 eV⁻¹) suggested that it is an effective corrosion inhibitor. The Monte Carlo (MC) simulations demonstrated a strong interaction with a highly negative adsorption energy of −654.145 kJ mol⁻¹. These findings collectively validate Salpn as an effective and strongly adsorbing corrosion inhibitor. Full article

Natural medicines with neuroprotective, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory characteristics may act as promising neuroprotective agents against neurodegenerative disorders. This study aims to determine the essential components of the methanolic extract of Cornulaca monacantha, and to explore their neuroprotection against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in Neuro-2a mouse neuroblastoma cells, and also to investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanism through tracing the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. LC-ESI-TOF-MS/MS was conducted for metabolomic profiling, together with the determination of bioactive compounds. The MTT assay was performed to select an appropriate cytoprotective dose for further analyses. Then, the cells were divided into three groups: control, LPS, and LPS + C. monacantha extract. Inflammatory cytokines, gene expression of Nrf2-related genes, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial adaptation were also detected. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis based on biological process were also performed. C. monacantha crude extract showed meaningful contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, together with other 49 additional hits detected by LC-ESI-TOF-MS/MS. It also showed a significant antioxidant capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The extract also exhibited a significant decline in the level of inflammatory biomarkers, along with modulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. C. monacantha showed beneficial phytochemical composition, which may be responsible for the neuroprotective effect that might be mediated through modulation of Nrf2 expression and related genes, together with the anti-inflammatory capability. Other molecular pathways were found to be interconnected with the Nrf2 pathway, as revealed by PPI and GO, which may act as further molecular targets in neuroinflammation. Full article

Background: SARS-CoV-2 poses significant global health challenges, necessitating effective antiviral strategies. Ticagrelor, an FDA-approved antiplatelet drug, has shown potential against SARS-CoV-2 but suffers from low solubility and bioavailability. This study aims to develop and characterize ticagrelor-loaded hybrid nanocarriers using polyoxyethylene 40 stearate and soya lecithin to enhance drug solubility and antiviral efficacy. Methods: Ticagrelor-loaded hybrid nanocarriers were prepared using the thin-film hydration technique with varying molar ratios of polyoxyethylene 40 stearate and soya lecithin. Characterization included particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, in vitro release profiles, and cytotoxicity and antiviral assays against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-E6 cells. Results: The hybrid nanocarriers exhibited particle sizes ranging from 90 nm to 2459 nm and zeta potentials between −36.7 mV and −41.7 mV. Formulation F2.12 demonstrated the highest drug release (90% dissolution in 5 h) and the lowest cytotoxicity and antiviral concentration (CC₅₀ and IC₅₀ values), significantly surpassing the efficacy of ticagrelor in powder form. Conclusions: The developed ticagrelor-loaded hybrid nanocarriers significantly enhance the drug’s solubility and efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, providing a promising platform for improved antiviral therapies. These findings indicate potential clinical applications in addressing the limitations of conventional formulations in treating COVID-19 and similar viral infections. Further studies are warranted to explore their therapeutic potential. Full article

The taxonomic status of Arbutus pavarii Pamp., a rare and geographically restricted species endemic to northeastern Libya, has long been debated, with some treatments considering it a synonym of A. unedo. To resolve this uncertainty, we applied an integrative molecular framework that combined multilocus DNA barcoding, phylogenetic inference, and multivariate statistical analyses. Five barcode loci—nrITS, matK, rbcL, trnH–psbA, and rps16—were analyzed using barcode-gap diagnostics, TaxonDNA identification tests, and single-locus and concatenated phylogenetic analyses. Barcode-gap analyses based on Kimura 2-parameter distances revealed clear and reproducible separation between intra- and interspecific variation for A. pavarii, particularly for nrITS and the concatenated multilocus dataset, whereas conserved plastid loci showed limited discriminatory power when used individually. Phylogenetic reconstructions consistently recovered A. pavarii as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, distinct from A. unedo and other Mediterranean congeners, with congruent topologies across the nuclear, plastid, and combined datasets. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and heatmap clustering, further corroborate the genetic cohesion and distinctiveness of A. pavarii samples. Collectively, these results provide robust molecular evidence supporting the recognition of Arbutus pavarii as a distinct evolutionary lineage, rather than an intraspecific variant of A. unedo. This study established a reproducible multilocus framework for species delimitation in Arbutus and highlighted the importance of integrating nuclear and plastid markers to resolve complex taxonomic relationships. The clarified taxonomic status of A. pavarii has important implications for biodiversity assessment and conservation planning in the Mediterranean region, particularly in the Cyrenaican floristic province. Full article

This study addresses a critical gap in sustainable human resource management research by examining the psychological mechanisms through which Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) influences Sustainable Employee Performance in hospitality organizations. Data were collected through a two-wave time-lagged design from 392 hotel employees in Egypt’s hospitality sector. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test direct effects, parallel mediation, and sequential mediation pathways. The results reveal that GHRM significantly shapes both Moral Self and Moral Integrity, which in turn drive Sustainable Employee Performance. The sequential mediation pathway through which GHRM influences Moral Self, subsequently cultivating Moral Integrity and ultimately enhancing performance, was strongly supported, with approximately 81% of GHRM’s total effect operating through these moral identity mechanisms. Sustainable performance was found to be explained by over 61% of variance in the model, illustrating substantial predictive validity, thus confirming that moral identity is the central psychological conduit for the direct effect of the organizational sustainability system on employee behavior. Full article

Al-Musk Lake, an artificial waterbody of 2.9 km² formed by illegal dumping of 9.5 million cubic meters of raw sewage near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, remains a significant subsurface environmental hazard after drainage activities in 2010. The current research employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating geological mapping, aeromagnetic and electromagnetic surveys, Landsat imagery, and chemical analyses, to investigate contamination migration and accumulation. The objective is to delineate subsurface contamination pathways and assess their impact on soil and groundwater quality. Frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) surveys identified areas of high apparent conductivity (up to 200 mS/m at 2000 kHz), indicative of deep contamination saturation. Chemical analysis of water and soil samples revealed distressing levels of heavy metals, Na⁺ up to 2400 mg/L, Ca²⁺ up to 3648 mg/L, and Fe up to 4150 mg/L, far exceeding irrigation safe standards. Findings locate two at-risk areas several kilometers from the lake, where contaminants accumulate through basement depressions controlled by faults. These pose immediate risks to adjacent residential areas and expanding agricultural belts. In short, subsurface contamination continues to spread westward. Short-term remedies include halting agricultural activities, treating in-storage water, and paving infiltration zones. A larger-scale geophysical survey, along with denser geochemical sampling and analysis, is necessary to guide long-term remediation and to protect public health. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms. Several studies have reported varying prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) among individuals with PD. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of CTS in people with PD and explore any potential association between the two conditions. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A systematic search was performed across PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and EMBASE from inception to April 2024. Studies reporting CTS prevalence data in individuals with PD were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) quality assessment tool. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. Risk difference (RD) and risk ratio (RR) were calculated to assess the association between PD and CTS compared with control groups. Results: A total of 7 studies involving 411 participants (343 with PD and 68 controls) met the inclusion criteria, with 679 wrists assessed. The pooled prevalence of CTS in PD was estimated at 15% (95% CI: 0.07–0.28) with significant heterogeneity (p < 0.001, I² = 91%). The RD was 10% (95% CI: 0.04–0.16, p = 0.002), with low heterogeneity (p = 0.29, I² = 19%). The RR of CTS in PD compared with controls was 3.31 (95% CI: 0.60–18.42, p = 0.17), with moderate heterogeneity (p = 0.13, I² = 52%). Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides preliminary pooled estimates indicating a potentially increased prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in individuals with PD. Although the findings suggest a possible association, clinicians should maintain increased vigilance for CTS symptoms in patients with PD presenting with upper-limb sensory or motor complaints. From a biomechanical and functional perspective, these findings highlight the importance of routine upper-limb screening and the implementation of rehabilitation strategies targeting hand use, dexterity, and sensorimotor control within physiotherapy practice. Further high-quality studies with larger, well-characterised samples are required to confirm this relationship and clarify its clinical and functional implications. Full article

The rising volume of sludge production poses significant environmental threats. Sludge has a high moisture content (MC), which increases its disposal and transport expenses. On the other hand, sludge has low dewaterability due to its high concentration of soluble organic compounds. To reduce sludge production, understanding and improving preconditioning and mechanical dewatering are crucial for breakthroughs in advanced sludge dewatering. The sludge samples used in this analysis were obtained from the Sarabium municipal wastewater treatment plant, with a moisture content of 97% and a specific filtration resistance (SRF) of 9.15463 × 10¹⁵ m/kg. Sludge dewatering was enhanced by treating the samples chemically with ferric chloride, aluminum sulfate, Moringa olifera, and cationic polyacrylamide CPAM and physically with wood chips, slag, rice husk, and wheat straw. The experiments examined the sludge’s initial characterization (specific resistance to filtration (SRF) and time to filtrate (TTF)). To verify the structural characteristics (density), elemental composition, and the presence of various functional groups, a characterization investigation was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that chemical conditioning with ferric chloride is better than aluminum sulfate and Moringa. Wood chips also provide better results for physical conditioning than rice husk, wheat straw, and slag. The reaction occurred at the carbonyl group, where FTIR showed more activated sites during SEM analysis, as evidenced by the FTIR results. Still, when CPAM was added to conditioned sludge, there was no difference in sludge dewatering performance, and the activated sites remained unchanged. Hence, this research found that mechanical sludge dewatering was improved by conditioning with ferric chloride (pH of 6 and dose of 0.12 g/g of dry solid) and wood chips (dose of 1.5 g/g of dry solid), which reduced sludge volume after dewatering by 82.5% under low pressure, which in turn minimizes transportation, energy, and handling costs. This study supports SDG 3 and SDG 6 by improving sludge dewatering efficiency and promoting sustainable wastewater management using natural wood chips. Full article

This study examines how psychological safety (PS) relates to employees’ innovation commitment (IC) in private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Egypt by specifying a learning-based mechanism and two enabling boundary conditions. Drawing on organizational learning theory and commitment research, we surveyed 405 academic and administrative staff (faculty members, teaching assistants, and administrators) across six private universities using validated multi-item measures and analyzed the proposed moderated-mediation model using PLS-SEM (SmartPLS 4), alongside procedural checks to mitigate common method bias. Results indicate that psychological safety is positively associated with knowledge sharing (KS) and innovation commitment, and that knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between psychological safety and innovation commitment. The findings further show that transformational leadership (TL) strengthens the positive association between psychological safety and knowledge sharing, while digital readiness (DR) strengthens the positive association between knowledge sharing and innovation commitment. The study contributes by clarifying when psychologically safe climates are most likely to be linked to innovation commitment through day-to-day exchange behaviors and by identifying leadership and digital capability conditions that amplify these relationships in private HEIs. Practically, the results underscore the value of institutionalizing psychologically safe dialog, developing transformational leadership behaviors, and investing in digital infrastructure and skills to make knowledge flows more actionable for innovation-related persistence. Full article

A two-factor experiment was conducted using the cultivar ‘Xin you No. 2’ (Citrullus lanatus) to identify an efficient and green production model for drip-irrigated watermelon under plastic mulch in Southern Xinjiang. A basal organic fertilizer was applied at 2250 kg·ha⁻¹. The experimental design comprised three irrigation levels, maintaining soil moisture at 60–70% (W1), 70–80% (W2), and 80–90% (W3) of field capacity, and three nitrogen application rates: 180 (N1), 240 (N2), and 300 (N3) kg·ha⁻¹. This study systematically investigated the effects of water–nitrogen coupling on watermelon yield, quality, water use efficiency, and nitrogen partial factor productivity. The W2N2 treatment achieved the highest yield of 64,617.59 kg·ha⁻¹. Vine length, stem diameter, and dry matter accumulation increased with increasing nitrogen application under the W1 and W2 irrigation levels, but exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease under the W3 condition. Water restriction combined with increased nitrogen application significantly enhanced the central sugar content, with the W1N3 treatment increasing it by 15.69% compared to CK. Conversely, the W1N1 treatment was most conducive to vitamin C accumulation, showing a 49.88% increase over CK. The total water consumption across the different treatments ranged from 362.12 to 493.92 mm. Both water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency reached their maximum values under the W1N3 treatment, at 21.94 kg·m⁻³ and 35.05 kg·m⁻³, respectively. In contrast, the highest partial factor productivity of nitrogen (NPFP) was observed under W3N1, reaching 239.33 kg·kg⁻¹. A comprehensive multi-index evaluation using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method indicated that the W1N3 treatment achieved the highest relative closeness (0.669), identifying it as the optimal water–nitrogen combination. Full article