Razi University

The rising consumption of high-fat foods in contemporary society has been linked to the emergence of autism-like behaviors and increased insulin resistance. This study sought to examine the effects of metformin (MET) treatment and two forms of aerobic exercise—moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—on ameliorating autism-like behaviors and insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). Fifty male mice were divided into a normal diet (ND, n = 10) and HFD (n = 40) groups, with the latter subjected to an 8-week HFD regimen. The HFD group was subsequently divided into HFD + Veh, HFD + MET, HFD + MICT, and HFD + HIIT subgroups, receiving MET treatment and treadmill training for 8 weeks. Results revealed that HFD consumption led to increased anxiety-like behaviors (P < 0.05) and peripheral insulin resistance (P < 0.0001) compared to the ND group. In addition, there was a rise in autism-like behaviors in the HFD + Veh subgroup (P < 0.0001). MET and HIIT interventions demonstrated positive effects in reducing autism-like behaviors (P < 0.05), while both HIIT (P < 0.0001) and MICT (P < 0.05) effectively reduced anxiety levels. Furthermore, MET (P < 0.05), MICT (P < 0.05) and HIIT (P < 0.0001) interventions successfully lowered peripheral insulin resistance. This study highlights the negative impact of HFD consumption on social interactions and anxiety levels, with MET, MICT, and HIIT interventions exhibiting varying degrees of effectiveness in mitigating these adverse effects. Particularly, HIIT showed promise in addressing both HFD-induced behavioral and metabolic conditions. These findings offer crucial insights into potential therapeutic strategies for combating the harmful effects of HFD on behavior and metabolism.

Abiotic stresses, notably cold stress, significantly influence various aspects of plant development and reproduction. Various approaches have been proposed to counteract the adverse impacts of cold stress on plant productivity. The unique properties of nanoparticles contribute to an enhanced tolerance of plants to challenging conditions. This study explores the impact of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on cold-stress tolerance in fenugreek, as well as genes expression involved in the diosgenin biosynthesis pathway. Varied concentrations of TiO2 NPs (0, 2, 5, and 10 ppm) were sprayed on fenugreek plants subjected to cold stress at 10 °C during 6, 24, and 48 h. Our findings revealed that the utilization of 2 and 5 ppm of TiO2 NPs, positively influenced pigments biosynthesis and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. It also effectively reduced electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, mitigating the adverse effects of cold stress. The study also highlighted TiO2 NPs’ affirmative impact on defense signaling pathways, including abscisic acid, nitric oxide, and auxin, in fenugreek. Moreover, TiO2 NPs significantly influenced the expression of genes related to diosgenin biosynthesis. Simultaneous exposure to cold stress and TiO2 NPs led to a substantial increase in diosgenin content, with the upregulation of SEP, SQS, CAS, and SSR genes compared to control conditions. This research indicated that TiO2 NPs application could effectively stimulate fenugreek biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, consequently enhancing plant tolerance to cold stress. The study’s outcomes hold promise for potential applications in the metabolic engineering of diosgenin in fenugreek.

Drought stress significantly reduces wheat yields, making it a critical factor for agricultural productivity. To enhance crop improvement programs in the context of changing climate conditions, it is vital to simultaneously evaluate genetic and environmental factors. While conventional breeding methods are widely used, the limitations of these approaches have led breeders to adopt Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection to identify drought-tolerant varieties. In this study, we evaluated 31 wheat varieties over three cropping seasons under both rainfed and supplemented irrigation conditions, employing a randomized complete block design with three replications. We assessed drought tolerance indices and performed molecular analyses using 11 SSR primers to identify drought-tolerant wheat varieties. The combined analysis of variance indicated significant differences in grain yield among the varieties across the six environments studied. Cluster analysis based on drought tolerance indices classified the varieties into three distinct groups over the three cropping seasons. Notably, all SSR primers demonstrated 100% polymorphism. Among the marker indices such as polymorphism percentage, PIC, EMR, MI, and RP, the most informative primer was xbarc230. Furthermore, cluster analysis and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) using the Dice similarity coefficient organized the varieties into six and four groups, respectively. Based on the assessment of drought tolerance indicators and molecular data from SSR analysis, Alvand and Marvdasht were identified as semi-tolerant varieties, while Shahpasand and Sardari were classified as drought-sensitive. Parsi was recognized as a drought-tolerant variety with high yield potential. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights for breeders aiming to develop drought-tolerant wheat varieties.

This study investigates the gross morphological and morphometric characteristics of thoracic and lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs) in guinea pigs, utilising micro‐CT imaging and anatomical dissection. The findings reveal 13 thoracic and six lumbar IVDs were identified, with thoracic discs transitioning from rounded forms at T1–T3 to triangular and heart‐shaped structures at T4–T13, while lumbar IVDs exhibited a consistently flattened heart shape. Morphometric analysis revealed statistically significant differences, with lumbar IVDs being larger in lateral and dorsoventral width, disc area, annulus fibrosus (AF) area and nucleus pulposus (NP) area, and ventral height compared to thoracic discs. Specifically, significant increases in lateral width and disc area were observed in lumbar segments L5 and L6, while thoracic IVDs demonstrated fluctuating alterations in some parameters, such as dorsal and ventral height. Histologically, both thoracic and lumbar IVDs feature a well‐organised NP, AF and endplates (EP). The EP was composed of cartilaginous materials, including hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and calcified cartilage, and bony materials, including extensive secondary ossification centres with many large vascular channels and bone trabeculae. In conclusion, this study indicates that although thoracic and lumbar IVDs conserve key histological properties, their distinct morphological and morphometric characteristics in guinea pigs reflect their adaptations to biomechanical demands. However, due to some fundamental differences between human and guinea pig, use of this species as a model for human IVD research and interpreting the extracted data should be cautious.

This study proposed a model for predicting the probabilistic sliding displacement of geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes. A numerical simulation was illustrated as an example to calculate the seismic displacement based on three types of Newmark analysis. A synthetic dataset including 972 numerical simulations was generated for statistical analysis by data derived from real-time strong-ground motions of 30 worldwide earthquakes. An investigation into the relationship between reinforced slope properties and motion characteristics was performed using a parametric analysis. It was concluded that coupled analysis calculated higher values for the earthquake-induced sliding displacement of geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes. In addition, the probabilistic assessment indicated that soil friction angle is more influential on sliding displacement than the other random variables. A cumulative distribution function was constructed for estimating probabilistic seismic displacement based on 5000 Latin-hypercube sampling. Graphical Abstract

This study presents a novel, eco-friendly method for removing methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) from wastewater, addressing its environmental impact and elevated chemical oxygen demand (COD) from gas refineries. We employed two wetland plants, Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia, utilizing a hydroponics approach to assess MDEA removal efficiency. Wastewater samples from the Ilam gas refinery in Iran were tested at varying initial concentrations (50 to 1600 ppm) over three consecutive 7-day periods, with a 1-day rest interval. Key factors influencing MDEA absorption—contact time, initial effluent concentration, and pH—were systematically analyzed. Results indicated a significant decrease in pH, COD, and MDEA concentration during the first four days. Kinetic modeling employed pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models, alongside adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dobinin–Radeshkovich, and Louis), to evaluate MDEA absorption capacity. The Langmuir isotherm best described the absorption characteristics of both plants. Maximum adsorption capacities were recorded for P. australis at 1.181, 2.018, and 3.77 mg/L across the experimental periods, while T. latifolia showed values of 0.779, 1.099, and 2.99 mg/L. Kinetic analysis favored the pseudo-second-order model for both species. Our findings suggest that P. australis is the more effective candidate for phytoremediation of MDEA in wastewater treatment applications.

We compute the thermodynamic properties and density of states of disordered kagome lattice doped with impurity atoms in the context of tight binding model Hamiltonian due to spin–orbit coupling. The effect of scattering by dilute charged impurities is discussed in terms of the self-consistent Born approximation. Green’s function approach has been implemented to find the behavior of density of states and thermodynamic properties of kagome lattice. Specially, temperature dependence of Pauli paramagnetic spin susceptibility and specific heat of kagome structure in the presence of impurity atoms has been analyzed. Also the effects of impurity concentration and scattering potential strength on behaviors of specific heat and paramagnetic susceptibility of kagome structure have been studied. Our numerical results show that specific heat reaches the Schottky anomaly peak. The height of this peak decreases with impurity concentration and scattering potential strength. The temperature dependence of paramagnetic susceptibility indicates a decreasing behavior at low temperatures. Additionally, throughout our study, we observed variations in the density of states curves, indicating the influenes of both impurity atoms and spin–orbit coupling.

In this work, we study the existence and nonexistence of solutions to fractional Dirichlet boundary value problems with ψ$\psi$‐Hilfer fractional derivatives, p p ‐Laplacian, and Hardy‐type singularity term using variational methods.

Background This study aims to compare Lung Ultrasound (LUS) findings with High-Resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) to detect the severity of lung involvement in patients with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) and Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 35 UIP and 30 NSIP patients at a referral hospital. All patients underwent LUS, HRCT, and PFT. LUS findings such as B-lines, pleural fragmentation, and pleural thickening were compared with HRCT-based lung involvement and PFT parameters. Results In UIP patients, B-lines > 18 and pleural fragmentation significantly differentiated between < 50% and > 50% HRCT involvement. A logistic regression model showed that B-lines > 18 (OR = 39, p = 0.04) and pleural fragmentation (OR = 22, p = 0.037) independently predicted > 50% HRCT involvement. ROC analysis of the model revealed 84.2% sensitivity and 84.5% specificity. Furthermore, the crude number of B-lines (OR = 1.2, p = 0.038) and > 50% HRCT involvement (OR = 9.5, p = 0.045) independently predicted severe DLCO impairment, with a sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 84.5%. Linear regression showed that each additional B-line was associated with a 0.4% decrease in DLCO (Beta = -0.377, p = 0.043), independent of patient diagnosis. In NSIP patients, no significant correlation was observed between LUS findings and > 50% HRCT involvement (p > 0.05), though B-line numbers and pleural thickening increased in cases with severe DLCO impairment (p < 0.05). Conclusions LUS shows promise as a sensitive, radiation-free alternative to HRCT in monitoring the severity of UIP. It is particularly valuable in predicting the extent of lung involvement and severe DLCO impairment in UIP patients but has limited application in NSIP.

Background Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is closely associated with the development of vascular damage in the heart. In this study, the researchers aimed to determine whether Aerobic Training (AT) and Vitamin D supplementation (Vit D) could alleviate heart complications and vascular damage caused by diabetes. The effects of an eight-week AT program and Vit D on the expression of miR-1, IGF-1 genes, and VEGF-B in the cardiomyocytes of rats with T2DM. Methods This study was an experimental investigation. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups Non-Diabetic Obese Control (NC; n = 10), and diabetic (n = 40). The rats were then randomly divided into four groups: AT plus Vit D (AT + Vit D; n-=10), AT (n = 10), Vit D (Vit D; n = 10), and Control Diabetic (C; n = 10). The exercise groups underwent treadmill training for 8 weeks at an aerobic intensity equal to 50–60% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), which corresponded to a speed of 15–25 m/min at a 0% incline, for 30–60 min per day, 5 days per week. The Vit D and AT + Vit D groups received 5,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D (combined with sesame oil) per week via a single-dose injection. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons among the groups. Paired data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Results The results showed that BW, BMI, and FI significantly decreased in the AT + Vit D (p = 0.001 for all variables), AT (p = 0.001 for all variables), and Vit D (p = 0.001 for all variables) groups compared to baseline. In contrast, BW, BMI, and FI increased in the C (p = 0.001, p = 0.006, p = 0.020, respectively) and NC (p = 0.001 for all variables) groups. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of visceral fat, insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR (p = 0.001 for all variables). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels varied significantly among the groups (p = 0.002). The AT + Vit D group showed significantly increased VEGF-B (p = 0.001 for both comparisons), upregulated IGF-1 (p = 0.001 for both comparisons), and downregulated miR-1 (p = 0.001 for both comparisons) compared to the AT and Vit D groups, respectively. Conclusions AT and Vit D increased the expression of IGF-1 and VEGF-B in the heart of T2DM rats while decreasing the expression of miR-1. These effects were more pronounced when AT and Vit D were combined. The study concludes that the combination of AT and Vit D has cardio-protective effects in T2DM rats, counteracting abnormal angiogenesis induced by diabetes. These effects are mediated, at least in part, by the upregulation of IGF-1 and VEGF-B, and the downregulation of miR-1.

In the current research, we developed a safe method using Iranian yarrow extract for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (IY-AgNPs) as reducing and stabilizing agents in different conditions. The prepared and stabilized IY-AgNPs under optimal conditions were characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, and UV-vis techniques. Also, the blood-clotting, hemolytic, antioxidant, bactericidal and, fungicidal properties, cytotoxicity effects and inhibition of protein denaturation efficiency of IY-AgNPs were assessed in vitro. The stabilized IY-AgNPs with spherical shape and an average particle size of 19. 25 ± 7.9 nm did not show any hemolytic potential below 1000 µg/mL. These hemo-compatible NPs showed good blood-clotting ability by reducing clotting time (6 min relative to the control). These particles excellently inhibited the denaturation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by 69.3–80.7% at concentrations ranging from 31.25 to 500 µg/mL compared to a reference drug. The outcomes showed that the IC50 values of IY-AgNPs were below 12.5 µg/mL against A375 cells and between 25 and 50 µg/mL against MCF-7 cancer cells. In addition, IY-AgNPs were bactericidal against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (especially), and were fungicidal against Candida albicans. Biosynthesized IY-AgNPs indicated a significant antioxidant activity (63.2%) at a concentration of 350 µg/mL. These attained results suggested that bio/hemo-compatible IY-AgNPs may be a promising candidate for applications in the medicinal fields (particularly for wound healing) as anti-bleeding, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) depict a class of solvents including some features of their ionic liquid cousins – relatively wide liquid range, low vapor pressure, and non-flammability. Nonetheless, since DESs are liquid and their transportation and separation are inconvenient, a new method is suggested that the immobilization of DESs on appropriate support could be a feasible solution. Herein, a DES-supported catalyst was prepared. Initially, metal–organic framework (MOF), NH2- MIL-101(Cr), was modified with D-( +)-ribonic γ-lactone (RL), as a class of carbohydrates (CHs), which prepares plenty of hydroxyl groups on the surface for stabilizing choline chloride (ChCl) via hydrogen bonding, based on DESs. NH2-MIL-101-RL@ChCl with appealing qualities like thermal and chemical stability and reusable catalyst is utilized for the one-pot synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a] benzimidazoles. Its great catalytic performance was related to a synergistic effect between active sites of NH2-MIL-101-RL and ChCl. The hot filtration test of the catalyst confirmed the heterogeneous nature and structural stability of the hybrid system. The porous NH2-MIL-101-RL@ChCl was characterized using FTIR, powder XRD, SEM, EDX elemental mapping, TGA, and BET techniques.

This study investigates the cyclic behavior of the X-Shape Damper (XSD). The parametric model was first calibrated using the experimental sample of XSD. Afterward, several parametric studies were carried out to investigate the effects of the width, height, and middle width of the XSD on various parameters, including effective and elastic stiffness, energy dissipation, and equivalent viscous damping ratio (EVDR). The purpose of these studies was to develop approximation formulas for computing these seismic damper parameters. In the second part of the study, the impact of axial force on the seismic parameters of XSD was also examined. Initially, the buckling load of the damper was calculated analytically, and an approximate equation was presented for easier estimation. The effect of axial force on XSD parameters such as elastic stiffness, ultimate strength, and ductility was then investigated. Parametric studies demonstrated that increasing the width and middle width while decreasing the height improved energy dissipation, effective stiffness, and EVDR. The approximate equations can estimate the seismic parameters of the damper with acceptable accuracy, making them useful for damper design. Furthermore, increasing axial force resulted in a decrease in elastic stiffness, yield strength, and ductility; the greatest effect of axial force was on ductility.

This study investigates (EIG) in a nanohybrid configuration involving a semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) and a core-shell bimetallic nanoparticle coated with graphene. The goal is to optimize interactions between plasmons and excitons. This is achieved by utilizing nanoparticles covered with graphene, which enhances control over surface plasmons. These interactions decrease light absorption by quantum dots. At the same time, they enhance the presence of coherent states and quantum interference. The innovative aspect of this model lies in its ability to produce a two-dimensional asymmetric diffraction grating. This is accomplished by modulating the phase within a closed-loop structure and utilizing the nonlinear multi-wave mixing phenomenon, without needing to adjust other system parameters. More specifically, altering the phase of the incident fields produces an asymmetric diffraction grating with an efficiency exceeding $50{\% }$ . Similarly, varying the frequency of the probing field results in an asymmetric diffraction grating with efficiencies exceeding $40{\% }$ . This technology has the potential to enhance optical systems, such as all-optical switches in communications, by simplifying the alteration of laser beam phases and probe field frequencies.

Effective wound management and treatment are crucial in clinical practice, yet existing strategies often fall short in fully addressing the complexities of skin wound healing. Recent advancements in tissue engineering have introduced innovative approaches, particularly through the use of nanobiomaterials, to enhance the healing process. In this context, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have garnered attention due to their excellent biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, these nanoparticles can be modified to enhance their therapeutic benefits. Scaffolds and dressings containing TiO2 NPs have demonstrated promising outcomes in accelerating wound healing and enhancing tissue regeneration. This review paper covers the wound healing process, the biological properties of TiO2 NPs that make them suitable for promoting wound healing, methods for synthesizing TiO2 NPs, the use of scaffolds and dressings containing TiO2 NPs in wound healing, the application of modified TiO2 NPs in wound healing, and the potential toxicity of TiO2 NPs.

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of internal and external attention focus on learning a throwing skill in children with autism, as well as the relationship between working memory and learning rate. Twenty-four children aged 6–8 years with autism were assigned to internal and external attention groups. Participants performed a throwing task while their working memory was assessed using Cornoldi’s working memory test. The data was analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures involving two attention instructions and five blocks during the acquisition stage. An independent t-test was conducted during the retention phase. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation test was utilized to explore any potential relationship between working memory and performance in both the acquisition and retention stages. Data analysis revealed no significant difference between the internal and external attention groups during the acquisition phase (p>0.05), but a significant difference was found in the retention phase (p<0.05). There was no correlation between working memory and learning outcomes (p>0.05). The results suggest that internal attention may enhance motor learning in children with autism, and reducing working memory load does not necessarily favor external attention.

Purpose Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent disorder among women. Exercise training has been known as an effective treatment for this disorder; however, there is small amount of evidence examining the optimal exercise programs. We evaluated the function of combined (COM) training on metabolic, hormonal parameters, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in PCOS patients. Methods This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 30 women with PCOS divided (age: 23.8 ± 5.3 years, height:162.8 ± 4.9 cm, weight: 82.4 ± 9.7 kg, body mass index: 30.3 ± 3.9 kg/m²) into two groups to receive COM training intervention (n = 15) or control group (n = 15) for eight weeks. At the baseline and end-of-intervention, metabolic profiles including fasting plasma glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), lipid profiles, testosterone, free androgen index (FAI), sex hormone binding globulin, anti-Müllerian hormone, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, and high Sensitive-C reactive protein were evaluated. Results After eight-week intervention in training group, insulin (P < 0.001), HOMA-IR (P < 0.001), total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001), total testosterone (P < 0.001), AMH ( P = 0.02),MDA (P = 0.04) and FAI (P < 0.001) were significantly decreased, while QUICKI (P = 0.002) was remarkably increased compared with the control group. Moreover, findings showed that there are no significant differences in other variables in the training group compared to the control group. Conclusions We concluded that combined training is an effective training protocol (50%-70% 1RM for strength training and 60%-70 THR for endurance training) for treatment of PCOS, although further studies are needed to reach comprehensive data regarding the design of exercise protocols with different intensity and volume for PCOS patients. Trial registration Registered retrospectively in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20130812014333N143) on March 22, 2020. Access at https://en.irct.ir/trial/46295.