BodyBalance as an exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis in older women: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative condition among older women, frequently causing pain, decreased mobility, and reduced quality of life. As the global population ages, effective and accessible non-pharmacological interventions are urgently needed. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the clinical and statistical effects of a 12-week BodyBalance exercise program on symptoms and complications associated with OA in older women.

Modeling inflammation in allergic asthma: Exploring the role of mesenchymal stem cells in therapeutic strategies.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disorder with complex management challenges. Current treatments, such as corticosteroids and bronchodilators, primarily relieve symptoms but fail to resolve underlying inflammation, prompting research into alternative therapies like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which modulate immune responses and promote tissue repair. This study develops an agent-based model to simulate asthma inflammation dynamics, incorporating key variables like cytokines, immune cells, and extracellular matrix components, alongside MSC interactions.

Superior In Vitro Responses of a Native Rose Genotype to Driver Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) Medium in a Comparative Study Using Natural and Synthetic Plant Growth Regulators.

is one of the precious native rose rootstocks with a high reputation among plant producers, which has potential horticultural and pharmacological properties related to the cosmetic values and the production of secondary metabolites. Due to high horticultural consumption, applying the plant tissue culture technique as a major tool for healthy and massive-scale production of plants is not unexpected. However, the response of in vitro plantlets to various plant tissue culture ingredients is not well understood to tender an efficient applied protocol for qualitative and quantitative in vitro propagation.

Topological Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease from Functional Brain Network Analysis.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of cognitive functions. Early identification of functional brain changes is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective intervention. This study employs multiplex network analysis to examine alterations in brain connectivity topology associated with Alzheimer's Disease, to identify early biomarkers and uncover potential therapeutic targets.

Fixed-time anti-saturation and fault-tolerant control for quadrotor UAVs using event-trigger adaptive barrier sliding mode control.

This paper proposes an Adaptive Barrier Nonsingular Fixed-Time Sliding Mode Control (ABNFTSMC) scheme for quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The method explicitly addresses actuator faults, input saturation, and external disturbances. A Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) unit identifies failed rotors to maintain stability, while a Virtual Controller (VC) is used to handle instability introduced by actuator failure using inputs from functioning actuators.

Integrated gene network analysis and experimental validation identify key hub genes in potato response to Potato Virus Y infection.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a staple food crop that supports global food security, ranking as the world's third most important food crop after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, and it is threatened by Potato virus Y (PVY), which causes severe yield losses. This study integrates bioinformatics analysis and experimental approaches to elucidate molecular defense mechanisms against PVY infection. Using transcriptomic data from PVY-infected potato plants, we constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and identified hub genes central to defense responses.

Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation in a Copper(II) Complex: Structural and Spectroscopic Insights into Methanol Elimination and Hydrogen Bond Network Formation.

This study investigates the single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations of a copper(II) complex, [Cu(L1)(acac)]·2CHOH (1), with an octahedral coordination geometry. The complex is synthesized using L1 (6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-4,2-diamine; CHN) and copper acetylacetonate. In this structure, copper is coordinated to four oxygen atoms from two monoanionic acetylacetonate (acac) ligands and two nitrogen atoms from two neutral L1 ligands.

Confinement of charge carriers in gapped bilayer graphene within magnetic and electrostatic barriers.

We explore the transport behavior of charge carriers in gapped bilayer graphene under a perpendicular magnetic field and electrostatic barriers. Using the Hamiltonian of the four low-energy bands of bilayer graphene, we compute the transmission probability and the associated conductance via the transfer matrix method. Our investigation reveals that altering the gap parameter (Δ), the energy (E), the number of magnetic barriers (N) and the magnetic field strength (B) changes the range of incident angles, resulting in a wave-vector filtering effect.

Population structure and signature of selection for body size in some Iranian and exotic horse breeds.

Background: Iran is home to genetically distinct horse breeds shaped by geography and history. Breeds like the Kurdish, Caspian pony, and Turkmen reflect deep-rooted diversity and unique adaptive traits.

Aims/objectives: This study aimed to identify genomic regions exhibiting signatures of selection and to detect candidate genes and biological pathways related to body size that may influence performance in various Iranian and exotic horse breeds.

Optical fiber sensor based on Lossy-mode resonance for tamoxifen detection and sensing applications.

In this study, we report a novel, eco-friendly optical fiber biosensor for tamoxifen (TAM) detection, featuring a single functional layer of cerium dioxide (CeO) nanoparticles integrated with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The CeO nanoparticles were synthesized via a green chemistry route using oak fruit extract, yielding nanomaterials with a high refractive index and excellent charge-transfer properties. These unique optical features of CeO significantly enhance the lossy mode resonance (LMR) phenomenon by strengthening the fiber's evanescent field, resulting in improved sensitivity and resonance stability.

Inoculation with Talaromyces trachyspermus and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alongside sulfonylurea herbicides alters Orobanche aegyptiaca and tomato growth.

The life cycle and unique biology of broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) have made the management of this root- parasitic plant one of the greatest challenges in agriculture. The objective of this investigation was to ascertain whether the efficacy of chemical weed control could be enhanced through the inoculation of tomato plants with mycorrhizal and Talaromyces trachyspermus fungus. The combined effect of utilizing these fungi with the sulfonylurea herbicides (rimsulfuron and sulfosulfuron) with two application methods (herbigation and foliar spraying) was investigated in greenhouse and field trials.

Comparative LCA of diesel and grid electricity for agricultural irrigation in Iran: why diesel outperforms in fossil-reliant grids.

This study presents a comparative environmental impact assessment of well water extraction systems employed for agricultural irrigation in Iran, focusing on two prevalent energy sources: diesel engines and grid-connected electricity. Utilizing life cycle assessment methodology, the research evaluates key environmental indicators, encompassing abiotic depletion, global warming potential (GWP), human toxicity, aquatic ecotoxicity, acidification, eutrophication, and photochemical oxidation. Data collected from 100 agricultural wells were analyzed to compare the environmental performance of each energy source.

Oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by CN nanosheet doped with a phosphorous atom: Insights from DFT calculations.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is among the most key processes in energy conversion and storage devices like fuel cells (FCs) and batteries. Nevertheless, the slow kinetics of the ORR at the cathode electrode remains as an important challenge. In the present study, phosphorus (P)-doped CN monolayer is proposed as an effective and platinum-free electrocatalyst for the ORR in an acidic medium using first-principles calculations.

Role of opioid tapering in rescuing anxiety and social novelty deficits in morphine-withdrawn male rats.

Abstinence from morphine in patients with opioid use disorder leads to both physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms. A common treatment strategy involves administering long-acting opioids to alleviate these symptoms while gradually reducing the dose, helping patients adapt to morphine-free conditions. This study examined how tapering regimens of methadone, buprenorphine, or morphine affect anxiety-like behaviors and social functioning in morphine-dependent rats.

Reconstructing miocene bird mating behavior from a fossil tracksite.

Ichnofossils are important in paleoecological studies, interpreted as fossilized behaviors. Vertebrate footprints, a type of ichnofossils, can reveal the movements of trackmakers. By examining fossil footprints in groups and comparing them to modern counterparts, we can gain insights into other animal behaviors, such as social interactions.

Non-collinear magnetism and topological electronic structure in the half-Heusler compounds PrNiBi and PrPtBi.

Magnetism plays a crucial role in advanced technologies and fundamental materials science. Among various magnetic materials, compounds incorporating rare earth elements with non-collinear magnetic orders have garnered significant attention. In this study, we investigate different magnetic orders in Pr(Ni, Pt)Bi compounds using density functional theory (DFT), incorporating the Hubbard on-site interaction for the Pr atom.

Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic trends for milk production traits in Murciano-Granadina goats.

Dairy goat production plays a vital role in meeting nutritional needs and supporting rural livelihoods. This study estimated variance components and genetic parameters for daily milk yield (DMY), daily milk fat yield (DMFY), and daily milk protein yield (DMPY) in Murciano-Granadina goats. The study used data collected from 2015 to 2021 in Ghaleh-Ganj dairy goat farm in Kerman province, Iran.

Structural and functional effects of helix dipole moment in photoprotein Mnemiopsin 2.

Here, we designed and constructed a double mutant of photoprotein Mnemiopsin 2 by targeting two antiparallel helix fragments within the structure of photoprotein. In designing of the mutation, two helices were treated as electric dipoles, and their dipole character was manipulated by substituting neutral residues with charged ones at the helix termini. Activity measurements have revealed that mutant protein exhibits a higher initial luminescence intensity compared to the wild-type photoprotein.

Lignin-based nanoencapsulation for sustainable herbicide delivery: controlled release and bioactivity of 2,4-D and MCPA compared to commercial formulations.

Herbicides are the extensively used class of pesticides, which beside the active ingredient, in their formulation accompanying substances such as emulsifiers, surfactants and others is needed. The potential toxicity of these synthetic chemicals could pose serious risks to the human health, nontarget organism and environment. In this work we developed biodegradable lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as environmentally friendly and controlled release carriers of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 2,4-D and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid MCPA.

Hollow Fiber-Supported ZIF-8@GO Reinforced Sol-Gel for Preconcentration of Paraquat Before Determination by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry.

A novel, sensitive, and efficient method was developed for the determination of paraquat in soil samples, centered on solid-phase microextraction using hollow fiber-supported ZIF-8@GO reinforced sol-gel combined with UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 257 nm. Silica-based ZIF-8@GO was synthesized through sol-gel technology by reacting tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst. The resulting solution was injected into hollow polypropylene fiber segments for in situ gelation.

Relationship between death anxiety and spiritual intelligence: the potential mediating role of meaning of life and resilience in Iranian older people.

Introduction: The older people, as one of the vulnerable groups in society, face various challenges. Paying attention to their needs and issues during this period of life can improve their quality of life and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and spiritual intelligence with the potential mediating role of the search for meaning and resilience among Iranian older people.

Designing Self-Healing Hydrogels with Antibacterial Property Based on Host-Guest Interactions between Aminoazobenzene-Modified Gelatin and Polycyclodextrin for Prolonging the Shelf Life of Tyrosinase Enzyme.

Here, a self-healing hydrogel was designed and synthesized to immobilize tyrosinase enzyme (Tyr), addressing the need for improved enzyme performance. The self-healing properties of the hydrogel ensured structural integrity, while its enzyme immobilization capability significantly enhanced enzyme stability and activity. The hydrogel was synthesized via host-guest interactions between polycyclodextrin (PCD) and aminoazobenzene-modified gelatin (Gel-AZO), and chemically cross-linked in the presence of glycidyl methacrylate-modified gelatin (GM-Gelatin) and acryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride (DAC) to form a dual-network structure.

Indirect to direct band gap transition and excellent optical properties in novel MoSiN-BP bilayer and trilayer vdW heterostructures.

Multilayer van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, composed of different atomically thin films, exhibit a wide range of fascinating phenomena with diverse applications. Here, we propose the existence of bilayer (MoSiN/BP) and trilayer (BP/MoSiN/BP and MoSiN/BP/ MoSiN) vdW heterostructures of MoSiN and BP. We investigate structural, electronic, and optical properties of the structures using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT).

Integrating multi-omic data to identify key genes and pathways involved in rice bacterial leaf streak disease.

Bacterial leaf streak disease (BLS) is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which represents a significant threat to rice (Oryza sativa) crops. The objective of the present work is to identify the genetic regions and signaling pathways that contribute to the infection process caused by Xoc.

Biocompatible porous PAM/CNT nanocomposite hydrogel films for sustained drug delivery and cancer therapy.

This study presents a novel nanocomposite hydrogel film, composed of physically crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAM) and carbon nanotube (CNT) flakes, as a potential drug delivery system. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis elucidated the microstructure and interconnected pore network of the hydrogel, highlighting their direct influence on drug loading capacity and release profile. The hydrogel exhibited outstanding swelling behavior and structural stability under physiological conditions.