Islamic Azad University Kerman

The evidence considering the potential protective impact of statins on the mortality rate caused by colorectal cancer (CRC) is controversial. This study aimed to systematically assess the effect of statins on the survival rate of CRC patients. A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to assess the relationship between statin consumption and cancer-specific mortality (CSM), all-cause mortality (ACM), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Subgroup analyses were performed to assess data stratified by country, study design, disease stage, time to use, CRC, and treatment type due to high heterogeneity. Thirty-two studies were included; the data of 24 articles composed the meta-analysis. Statins improved prognosis of CRC, particularly in lower ACM (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74-0.87) with I²=90%, P-value < 0.01, and lower CSM (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.67-0.82) with I²=88%, P-value < 0.01 when compared to non-users. Both pre- and post-diagnostic statin use were linked to lower ACM and CSM, though high heterogeneity was observed across studies. However, the results for statin use on RFS indicated an HR of 1.01 with 95% CI of 0.94 to 1.09 (I² = 0% and P-value = 0.93). Additionally, for DFS, the HR was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.85-1.01) with I² = 47%, suggesting no meaningful effect of statin use on DFS. No significant publication bias was found. Statin use was associated with a reduction in ACM and CSM in CRC patients. However, the variances in RFS and DFS were not statistically significant. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to substantial heterogeneity among some included studies.

This paper proposes a compact UHF microstrip divider with wideband harmonic suppression. A combined resonator, formed by a T-shaped resonator and a pair of coupled compact microstrip resonant cells (CCMRCs), is embedded into each divider branch to replace the conventional quarter-wavelength transmission lines. The divider is designed on an FR4 substrate (εr = 4.4, thickness = 60 mil) for a center frequency of 570 MHz. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations indicate equal power division at 570 MHz with return loss better than 39 dB and output-port isolation higher than 47 dB. Moreover, a wide stopband from 1.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz is obtained, yielding strong attenuation for the third-to-sixth harmonics. The proposed layout occupies 19.6 mm × 21.6 mm, which is about 76% smaller than a conventional 570 MHz divider (42.7 mm × 41 mm). The proposed design is suitable for modern wireless communication systems.

ABSTRACT In this study, the simulation of groundwater fluctuations in the Kermanshah Plain is carried out via three advanced machine learning algorithms, i.e., GMDH, weighted extreme learning machine (W‐ELM) and gene expression programming (GEP). The objective of this research is to evaluate and compare the accuracy of different machine learning models in simulating and predicting such fluctuations under different conditions. The data used in this study include the monthly groundwater level, precipitation, evaporation and temperature data from 2002 to 2020. To increase the accuracy of the models, the data are processed via the min–max normalisation approach. The results obtained from the evaluation of the models using different efficiency indices, such as the root mean square error (RMSE), R 2 and NSE, indicate that the W‐ELM model, which has the best performance in both the training and testing phases, is more exact than the GMDH and GEP models. In particular, the W‐ELM achieves R 2 = 0.999, NSE = 0.979, PBIAS = 0.012 and RMSE = 0.093 in the testing phase, which indicates its high accuracy and efficiency. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that all the models are highly sensitive to the groundwater level lag variable GWL₋₁.This research shows that machine learning models, especially the W‐ELM model, can be utilised as effective tools for predicting groundwater level variation and the optimal management of water resources in different regions.

Abstract This study investigated the properties of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) biosynthesized using the aqueous extract of moringa. The size and structure of the metal NPs derived from the moringa plant aqueous extract were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, proline, and fresh and dry weights of callus were measured. The study aimed to optimize callus production in chicory by first synthesizing Zn and CuNPs using moringa aqueous extract. The size and structure of the biosynthesized Zn and CuNPs were then examined using SEM and XRD. Subsequently, the effects of different concentrations of these biosynthesized Zn and CuNPs on chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, proline, and fresh and dry weights of callus were evaluated under in vitro culture conditions. Electron microscopy images confirmed the synthesis of Cu and ZnNPs, which were spherical with average particle sizes of 8 nm and 12 nm, respectively. The highest values for chlorophylls, fresh weight, and dry weight of callus were obtained with 100 mg/l CuNPs. The highest proline content was achieved with 150 mg/l CuNPs, while the highest carotenoid content was observed with 100 mg/l ZnNPs. Overall, the use of Cu and ZnNPs demonstrated that the strongest positive direct effects were on proline (0.708) and callus fresh weight (1.091), whereas the weakest direct effects, which were negative, were on chlorophyll b (− 0.218) and chlorophyll a (− 0.605).

Abstract Sustainable entrepreneurship is receiving growing scholarly attention as it shifts from traditional profit-maximizing models to holistic approaches that integrate economic, social, and environmental objectives. This paradigm responds to global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality by promoting value creation beyond financial outcomes. This study presents a systematic review of 95 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2023, retrieved from academic databases including Web of Science and Scopus, using predefined keywords and rigorous inclusion criteria. The analysis identifies key theoretical and practical contributions to the field, emphasizing frameworks such as the Triple Bottom Line, Creative Destruction, and the Capabilities Approach. Findings highlight the critical role of stakeholder engagement, ethical governance, digitalization, and educational infrastructure in shaping sustainable entrepreneurial practices. Moreover, the study explores the primary drivers of sustainable entrepreneurship and their societal and environmental impacts, including inclusive innovation, ecological preservation, and capacity building. By synthesizing current literature, this review offers valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to foster sustainability-driven entrepreneurship and address complex development challenges.

ABSTRACT With the progress of technology in the field of wireless communication, wireless body area networks (WBANs) have been introduced. WBANs consist of a number of intelligent biomedical sensor nodes and a special node called sink. Sensors are placed on the patient's body or under the skin, and their task is to check physiological parameters and report to the sink. The resources of these nodes are limited, and communication is subject to various issues. Maintaining the quality of communication due to the high importance of the transmitted data and severe limitations is one of the important issues in WBANs. The important challenge in this area is designing a framework for next‐hop node selection with covering the quality needs of the transmitted data. This paper proposes a Priority‐Based QoS Aware Routing Protocol for WBANs (PQARP). PQARP is a three‐step method. In the first step, the sensors are configured. In the second step, data is separated and marked. In the third step, the proposed PQARP routing is done and the most appropriate intermediate node is selected to send data. The simulation results using NS‐2 showed the remarkable capabilities of PQARP in covering quality requirements of different data sent and improving the metrics of end‐to‐end delay, successful delivery ratio, throughput and energy consumption compared to other similar methods.