Search Results (7,648)

Urban transportation is a major source of air pollution. On urban highways, driver behavior significantly influences vehicle emissions, as tailpipe pollutants depend on driving patterns. Therefore, estimating the emission factors of key pollutants namely carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), and hydrocarbons (HC) is essential. This study investigates the impact of driver behavior on environmental pollutants and derives field-based emission factors on urban highways in Mashhad, Iran, during June 2022. A total of 150 drivers were classified using the K-means algorithm based on their aggressiveness scores from the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), maximum acceleration, frequency of maximum acceleration events, and the number of traffic accidents recorded over the past five years. The clustering quality was evaluated using the Silhouette score, leading to two categories: aggressive and non-aggressive drivers. Cochran’s formula was applied to select 10 drivers from each group, and emissions were measured using an onboard monitoring device. Results indicate that aggressive drivers exhibit higher speeds, more pronounced acceleration and deceleration (A/D) patterns, and elevated engine RPM compared with non-aggressive drivers. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a strong and significant relationship between engine RPM and tailpipe emissions in both driver groups, indicating increased emissions at higher RPMs. In contrast, A/D behavior showed no significant association with emissions, suggesting a minimal direct effect. Overall, emission factors for NO_X, CO₂, CO, and HC were 37.50%, 23.60%, 41.90%, and 53.13% higher, respectively, in aggressive drivers compared with non-aggressive drivers. Furthermore, the Mann–Whitney U test confirmed statistically significant differences in tailpipe emissions between the two groups. These findings demonstrate that distinct driving behaviors are closely linked to variations in vehicular emissions. Full article

Formaldehyde (FA) is commonly used for hatchery disinfection, where it reduces microbial growth, ensures successful egg hatch and enhances healthy production, but its specific effects on embryonic development remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and may mediate FA-induced transcriptional responses. Here, we investigated the impact of FA treatment on miRNA profiles in chicken embryo liver. Small RNA-seq libraries were constructed and sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq platform. Reads were trimmed and quantified using miRDeep2 version 2.0.0.3. Differential expression analysis was performed with DESeq2 (p-adjusted < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 1). Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were predicted with miRDB, and GO/KEGG/Reactome enrichment was conducted. Out of 662 total mature miRNAs detected, differential expression analysis identified 30 DEMs (11 up-regulated, 19 down-regulated). The highest fold increase was determined for gga-miR-3533 (log2FC = 4.45), and the most significant decrease was determined for gga-miR-133b (log2FC = −3.38). Pathway analysis revealed miRNAs affecting signaling pathways along with modules related to post-translational protein modification, immune system, and oxidative stress pathways. Our study demonstrates that FA treatment can affect critical biological processes by altering miRNA-mediated regulation in the developing embryonic liver and point to the need for functional validation of miRNA-target interactions to help determine mechanisms for FA benefits. Long term, these data may help serve as reference to identify new treatments with optimized response profiles. Full article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease marked by chronic neuroinflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS). Based on this ROS-driven mechanism, we tested whether PrC-210—a new aminothiol ROS scavenger—could lessen MS symptoms in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced MS. Our goals were to assess the role of ROS in MS and evaluate the potential benefits of PrC-210 for managing MS. Mice with EAE received varying doses of PrC-210 under preventive and therapeutic protocols. Disease progression was measured using clinical scores and spinal cord histology. Safety was assessed by comparing the gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity between PrC-210 and dimethyl fumarate (DMF, Tecfidera’s active agent). PrC-210 reduced MS severity by up to 62% in paralysis scores versus those in the controls (p = 0.0001), whether used preventively or at the onset of paralysis. The group with the greatest decrease also showed the best spinal cord preservation and least demyelination. DMF caused toxicity at a dose that was ineffective, while PrC-210 showed no toxicity at effective levels. These findings suggest that the systemic administration of PrC-210 may offer a safe, effective MS treatment when started at symptom onset. Full article

Ammonia is a gas primarily produced for use in agriculture, refrigeration systems, chemical manufacturing, and power generation. Despite its benefits, improper management of ammonia poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Consequently, monitoring ammonia is essential for enhancing industrial safety and preventing leaks that can lead to environmental contamination. Given the abundance and diversity of studies on Internet of Things (IoT) systems for gas detection, the main objective of this paper is to systematically review the literature to identify emerging research trends and opportunities. This review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, focusing on sensor technologies, microcontrollers, communication technologies, IoT platforms, and applications. The main findings indicate that most studies employed sensors from the MQ family (particularly the MQ-135 and MQ-137), microcontrollers based on the Xtensa architecture (ESP32 and ESP8266) and ARM Cortex-A processors (Raspberry Pi 3B+/4), with Wi-Fi as the predominant communication technology, and Blynk and ThingSpeak as the primary cloud-based IoT platforms. The most frequent applications were agriculture and environmental monitoring. These findings highlight the growing maturity of IoT technologies in ammonia sensing, while also addressing challenges like sensor reliability, energy efficiency, and development of integrated solutions with Artificial Intelligence. Full article

Fractal antennas employ self-similar geometries to generate scaled multiple resonances within compact structures, thereby achieving broadband performance. However, many reported designs remain constrained by narrow impedance bandwidths or demonstrate only multiband characteristics. To address these limitations, we present a novel pentagonal fractal antenna with ultra-wideband performance suitable for C, X, Ku and K-band applications. The key innovation lies in a double-pentagonal fractal configuration, created by embedding a secondary pentagonal ring within the conventional pentagonal radiator. This design significantly enhances the impedance bandwidth and enables ultra-wideband operation. The proposed antenna was validated through both electromagnetic simulations and experimental measurements. Results show a measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 3.84–22.4 GHz, corresponding to a fractional bandwidth of 141.5%. The antenna dimensions are only 0.384 × 0.525 × 0.01λ₀³. A peak gain of 10.2 dBi was achieved, with the gain varying between 2.88 and 10.2 dBi across the operating frequency range. Owing to these characteristics, the proposed antenna is well-suited for diverse wireless communication systems, including Wi-Fi, ultra-wideband communication, 5G mid-band and emerging 6G technologies. Full article

Background and Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common chronic conditions in older men, significantly impairing quality of life (QoL) by causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), including finasteride and dutasteride, remain a cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for BPH; however, comparative real-world data remain limited. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of finasteride and dutasteride in patients with BPH. Materials and Methods: A total of 401 patients with BPH were retrospectively analyzed: 162 received finasteride and 239 received dutasteride. Clinical parameters, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QoL) index, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score; urodynamic outcomes, including maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qave), and post-void residual urine volume (PVR); and biochemical markers, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and serum creatinine levels, were evaluated at baseline and after at least 6 months of continuous therapy. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in LUTS severity and urodynamic outcomes (p < 0.001 for IPSS, Qmax, and QoL). Compared with finasteride, dutasteride achieved greater reductions in prostate volume (−26.3% vs. −18.1%, p = 0.008) and PSA levels (−43.7% vs. −32.5%, p = 0.014), as well as a slightly greater improvement in IPSS (−6.8 ± 3.9 vs. −5.9 ± 3.6, p = 0.042). Both drugs showed comparable effects on erectile function, as indicated by similar IIEF-5 score changes (Δ = −0.9 ± 2.8 vs. −0.7 ± 2.5, p = 0.51), confirming that neither agent demonstrated a clinically meaningful difference in sexual outcomes. Renal function parameters remained stable in both cohorts. Multivariate analysis identified higher BMI and older age as independent predictors of lower IIEF-5 scores in the finasteride group, while baseline prostate volume was the principal determinant of response in the dutasteride group. Conclusions: Both 5-ARIs effectively reduced LUTS severity and improved urodynamic parameters in men with BPH. Dutasteride demonstrated superior reductions in prostate volume and PSA, while both agents had comparable effects on sexual and renal function. These findings provide real-world evidence supporting the individualization of 5-ARI therapy according to patient-specific clinical characteristics. Full article

This study reports the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) using four newly isolated strains of lactic acid bacteria, molecularly identified as Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The synthesized Se-NPs were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis Spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The result revealed that their size ranged from 16 nm to 90 nm with favorable stability and purity. The Se-NPs exhibited significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against certain Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and Candida albicans, particularly those produced by isolate S4, which showed the lowest MIC values and highest biofilm inhibition. Furthermore, MTT assays revealed selective cytotoxicity against the A549 cancerous lung cell line, with minimal toxicity toward normal Wi38 cells. These findings suggest that biosynthesized Se-NPs are a promising, biocompatible candidate for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilm-associated infections. Full article

Objective: To implement a neonatal iron deficiency (ID) guideline as part of a neuroprotective strategy using reticulocyte hemoglobin content (RET-He) for neonates born <33 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates ≥33 weeks PMA, to achieve ≥80% screening rate by June 2024. Methods: An interdisciplinary team conducted a quality improvement initiative in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from April 2022 to August 2024. RET-He is a validated, sensitive marker of early iron deficiency reflecting recent iron supply for erythropoiesis and providing a more reliable measure than ferritin. The primary outcome was RET-He screening at 30 ± 7 days for neonates <33 weeks PMA or pre-discharge for SGA neonates ≥33 weeks PMA. Exclusion criteria were death or transfer before eligibility. Process measures included ID screening failure rate (RET-He level < 29 pg). Results: Of 345 eligible neonates, P-chart analysis showed screening rates for premature neonates <33 weeks PMA declined during PDSA 1–2, before improving to 85.9% in PDSA 3. ID screening failure was 12.6% at one month, increasing to 32.1% at two months. For SGA neonates ≥33 weeks PMA, screening rates remained low, peaking at 36% in PDSA 3, with a 2.2% failure rate. Conclusions: Implementation of a RET-He based ID guideline improved screening rates for premature neonates but was less effective for SGA neonates. Despite improved guideline adherence, ID prevalence remained high at NICU discharge, indicating a further need to improve nutritional prevention and treatment strategies. Full article

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen characterized by high fatality rates and pandemic potential, whereby there is an urgent need for developing safe and effective vaccines. However, the evaluation of NiV vaccine-induced immunity is hindered by the requirement of Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) containment. In this study, we developed a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based pseudovirus-expressing NiV fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins using a luciferase reporter gene for bioluminescence detection. This pseudovirus was optimized for production in BHK-21 (WI-2) cells, and simultaneous incorporation of NiV-F and NiV-G onto the surface of the pseudotyped virus was confirmed via immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. We evaluated our pseudovirus-based neutralization assay using NiV-F-immunized mouse sera and a commercial anti-NiV-G antibody, confirming robust neutralization by the latter. To establish a BSL-2-compatible model for evaluating in vivo protective efficacy, we performed in vivo imaging, which revealed a marked reduction in the luminescence signal in NiV-G-immunized mice compared to naïve controls, indicating vaccine-induced protection. Our study established an integrated in vitro and in vivo pseudovirus platform using rVSV that enables safe, quantitative, and BSL-2-compatible evaluation of NiV vaccine candidates. This model offers a valuable tool for preclinical screening of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody responses and protective efficacy. Full article

Studies in humans and livestock have demonstrated Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 to have probiotic potential, suggesting that it may alleviate gastrointestinal (GI) distress commonly associated with diet change in dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 on fecal scores, pH, dry matter (DM) percentage, and microbiota populations of dogs following an abrupt diet change. English Pointer dogs (n = 12; age = 5.9 ± 2.5 yr; body weight = 26.6 ± 6.1 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design and fed commercial diets containing no probiotics or prebiotics. The following treatments were administered orally in gelatin capsules before each daily feeding: (1) placebo control (250 mg maltodextrin/day); (2) B. coagulans [low dose; 5 × 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU)/day]; and (3) B. coagulans (high dose; 2.5 × 10⁹ CFU/day). An extruded kibble diet was fed for 28 days. Dogs were then abruptly switched to a canned diet and fed for 14 days, with fecal samples collected before and 2, 6, 10, and 14 days after diet change. All data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4, testing the effects of treatment, time, and treatment*time interactions. Treatment*time interactions were not observed, but the abrupt diet change reduced (p < 0.0001) fecal DM content, increased (p < 0.0001) fecal scores and pH, and reduced (p < 0.0001) fecal bacterial species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Diet change also increased (p < 0.001) fecal Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, and Proteobacteria, decreased (p < 0.001) fecal Firmicutes, and altered ~40 fecal bacterial genera relative abundances. Diet-induced changes were minimally impacted by B. coagulans, but fecal scores tended to be lower (i.e., firmer stools; p < 0.10), fecal E. coli and Faecalibacterium abundances were greater (p < 0.05), and fecal bacterial phylogenetic diversity was higher (p < 0.05) in dogs supplemented with the low dose than in controls. Our results demonstrate that abruptly transitioning dogs from a kibble to a canned diet negatively influences fecal characteristics and considerably shifts the composition of the fecal microbiota. Supplementation with B. coagulans did not mitigate the diet-induced shifts to fecal characteristics and most of the microbial taxa, although the low dose impacted some microbial taxa. Further investigation into optimal inclusion levels in pet foods is warranted. Full article

Integrating IoT devices into smart grids raises some hard problems related to safe data sharing, the ability to grow, and energy use. Blockchain provides a safe way to check identities without a central authority. Typical ways to confirm transactions, like Proof-of-Work (PoW), use a lot of power, making them bad for devices that cannot use much energy. This study introduces a safe authentication system using Blockchain, a Deep Neural Network (DNN), and a power-saving way to confirm transactions (EACM). The system picks validators based on how much power they have left and their trust scores to save power during confirmation. Using the IoT-Enabled Smart Grid Dataset, simulations showed a transaction speed of 372 TPS, which is 32% better than normal methods. The system correctly authenticates 98.69% of the time, with a confirmation delay of 5.9 milliseconds and an 18% drop in validator node energy use. Also, the system spots 98.4% of unauthorized access tries, with a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 1.7% and a false rejection rate (FRR) of 0.31%. These outcomes prove the system’s ability to offer safe, fast, and energy-saving authentication for big, real-time Smart Grid IoT setups. Full article

First responders operate in high-stakes environments, demanding rapid, accurate decision-making. Recent research has provided recommendations on how Augmented Reality (AR) could be utilized to support their efforts. Building off of these studies, this paper presents EasyVizAR, an AR system designed to enhance situational awareness and operational efficiency in challenging indoor scenarios. Leveraging edge computing and advanced computer vision techniques, EasyVizAR addresses critical challenges, such as object detection, localization, and information sharing. This research details the system’s architecture, including its use of ParaDrop-based edge computing, and explores its application in rescue and active-shooter scenarios. We present our work in developing key features, including real-time object saliency cues, improved object detection, person identification, multi-user 3D map generation and visualization, and multimodal AR navigation cues. Full article

Anopheles stephensi is an invasive and deadly malaria vector with the ability to use artificial containers as larval habitats. This ability is unique for malaria vectors in Africa and requires distinct surveillance strategies for early detection and rapid response. In this study, we trained a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) image recognition algorithms, using thousands of smartphone photos of laboratory-authenticated An. stephensi and seven endemic mosquito species, to develop a citizen science-friendly tool for An. stephensi detection. In Antananarivo, Madagascar, citizen science observations of >132 Anopheles spp. larvae from multiple artificial containers—including one closeup photo of a larva, from a tire—were submitted via NASA’s GLOBE Observer app in March 2020 and discovered years later. Given that genetic testing was no longer possible, this photo was used as a proof-of-concept to determine whether the AI species identification could be used on citizen science-generated images. The tire larva was classified as An. stephensi by all 11 species models, which yielded high accuracy and confidence (up to 99.34%) and included a false positive rate of <1%. Furthermore, explainable AI (XAI) heat maps led to the discovery of dark spots in abdominal segment VI corresponding to testes, corroborating a separate classification of the tire larva as male by the sex model. All available evidence suggests that AI image identification would have flagged this larva as a suspect An. stephensi, which could have been submitted to a molecular laboratory for further confirmation. Results demonstrate the power of integrating citizen science and AI—for which we provide free online tools—as a low-cost signal for malaria programs to confirm and respond to, and as complementary surveillance to fill the critical knowledge gaps in the distribution of invasive An. stephensi across Africa and beyond. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate a biparametric MRI (bpMRI)-based radiomics model for the noninvasive prediction of tumor–stroma ratio (TSR) in prostate cancer (PCa). Additionally, we sought to explore lesion distribution patterns in the peripheral zone (PZ) and transition zone (TZ) to provide deeper insights into the biological behavior of PCa. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 223 pathologically confirmed PCa patients, with 146 for training and 39 for internal validation at Center 1, and 38 for external testing at Center 2. All patients underwent preoperative bpMRI (T2WI, DWI acquired with a b-value of 1400 s/mm², and ADC maps), with TSR histopathologically quantified. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually segmented on bpMRI images using ITK-SNAP software (version 4.0.1), followed by high-throughput radiomic feature extraction. Redundant features were eliminated via Spearman correlation analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Five machine learning (ML) classifiers—Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), BernoulliNBBayes, Ridge, and Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD)—were trained and optimized. Model performance was rigorously evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The Ridge demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, achieving AUCs of 0.846, 0.789, and 0.745 in the training, validation, and test cohorts, respectively. Lesion distribution analysis revealed no significant differences between High-TSR and Low-TSR groups (p = 0.867), suggesting that TSR may not be strongly associated with zonal localization. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that a bpMRI-based radiomic model holds promise for noninvasive TSR estimation in prostate cancer and may provide complementary insights into tumor aggressiveness beyond conventional pathology. Full article

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors, driving metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion. In lung cancer, hypoxia-induced activation of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) promotes lactate accumulation and extracellular acidification, fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Analysis of public datasets revealed that patients with high CAIX expression exhibited significantly reduced median survival (p < 0.001). Moreover, CAIX correlated with HIF-1α, PD-L1, and immunosuppressant molecules, linking hypoxia-driven metabolic alterations with immune dysfunction. Here, we evaluated the capacity of 4-methylumbelliferone (4Mu) to counteract these effects and enhance antitumor immunity. In vitro, hypoxia increased CAIX and monocarboxylate transporter -4 (MCT4) expression in lung carcinoma cells, elevated lactate release, and reduced extracellular pH while promoting an M2-like macrophage profile and impairing antigen-specific splenocyte proliferation (p < 0.01). Treatment with 4Mu downregulated CAIX expression, restored extracellular pH, decreased lactate secretion, and rescued lymphocyte proliferation (p < 0.01). In vivo, 4Mu reduced CAIX expression, shifted macrophage polarization toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration. 4Mu was safe and well tolerated, and notably, combined with anti-PD-1 therapy, it synergistically inhibited tumor growth and increased both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. These findings support 4Mu as a metabolic modulator capable of mitigating CAIX-driven acidosis and improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer. Full article