Ragheb Esfahani Institute

Enterprise Architecture (EA) offers a systematic framework for integrating emerging technologies into organizational ecosystems, fostering scalability, resilience, and innovation. Among these technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) represents a transformative paradigm that enables seamless connectivity and intelligent interaction among devices, users, and infrastructures. Nevertheless, the integration of IoT within enterprise architectures presents persistent challenges related to interoperability, data privacy, energy efficiency, infrastructure robustness, and real-time data analytics. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have demonstrated significant potential in addressing these challenges by enabling data-driven decision-making, optimizing resource utilization, strengthening cybersecurity, and supporting adaptive and autonomous operations. This paper investigates the integration of AI-driven approaches—including machine learning, reinforcement learning, federated learning, and anomaly detection—within EA frameworks to enhance IoT performance and reliability. Additionally, it examines the synergistic role of AI and IoT in developing intelligent architectures for smart cities, industrial systems, and healthcare applications. Finally, the paper outlines open research directions toward sustainable, explainable, and ethically responsible AI–IoT integration within enterprise environments.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been investigated due to their natural biocompatibility and targeting capabilities. The specific approach of combining EVs with liposomes to create hybrid nanoparticles (ELNPs) for the delivery of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas9) system for deletion of the HGF gene in stem cells, but their effectiveness in encapsulating large nucleic acids is limited due to their small size. This study aimed to knock out the HGF gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 system by ELNPs, and it was expected that the efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system transfer would increase compared to the usual methods of using lipofectamine in stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs). In this study, gRNA suitable for the HGF gene is designed first, and after insertion into the CRISPR/Cas9 vector, it enters Lipofectamine 2000. In the next step, ELNPs are prepared after collecting EVs and hybridizing them with liposomes containing CRISPR/Cas9 vector. Then, these integrated nanoparticles were presented to SCAPs, and the removal of HGF gene expression was evaluated at the level of RNA and protein. This study showed that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be efficiently transferred to SCAP cells using ELNPs. Genomic DNA sequencing analyses of SCAP cells showed a unique pattern of mutation, highly likely mediated through EVs. Quantitative PCR and protein staining further showed a decrease in HGF gene expression in the knockout cells. Moreover, cell proliferation analysis showed a decrease in cell proliferation in KO-HGF adipose cells compared to the nonedited counterpart. In summary, this study highlights the supportive role of EVs in facilitating cell transfection and promoting a dominant DNA repair pattern, likely through an RNA-mediated mechanism, rather than the random insertions and deletions typically induced during CRISPR editing of the HGF gene in SCAPs.

Cervical cancer remains a major global health concern and ranks among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women. Although Vincristine Sulfate is a clinically established chemotherapeutic agent with potent anti-mitotic activity, its therapeutic utility is often restricted by dose-dependent toxicities and off-target effects. Recent evidence suggests that probiotics such as Lactobacillus fermentum may possess anti-tumor properties and could enhance the efficacy of conventional therapies. This study was designed to investigate whether co-administration of Lactobacillus fermentum could potentiate the anti-cancer effects of Vincristine Sulfate in HeLa cervical cancer cells, potentially allowing for a reduction in the effective chemotherapeutic dose. Lactobacillus fermentum was isolated from traditional dairy products and identified via molecular techniques. HeLa cells were treated with L. fermentum, Vincristine Sulfate, or a combination of both. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, while apoptosis was quantified through Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was employed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. To evaluate the safety of bacterial treatment, L. fermentum was also tested on normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using the MTT assay. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were established at OD600 = 0.5 (10 µL/mL) for L. fermentum and 10 µg/mL for Vincristine Sulfate in HeLa cells. Monotherapy with either agent led to a moderate reduction in cancer cell viability. However, the combination treatment (1 µg/mL Vincristine Sulfate + 10 µL/mL L. fermentum) significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, inducing a more profound decrease in cell viability and a marked increase in apoptotic cell populations. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes (PTEN, BAX, Caspase-3, -8, -9, Fas, IκB) and downregulation of survival-related genes (AKT, Bcl-2, mTOR) in the combination group compared to monotherapies. Importantly, L. fermentum had no significant cytotoxic effects on HUVECs, indicating selective targeting of cancer cells. Co-treatment with Lactobacillus fermentum and Vincristine Sulfate demonstrated a synergistic effect in HeLa cells, enhancing apoptosis and suppressing oncogenic signaling pathways, while enabling a tenfold reduction in Vincristine dosage. The lack of cytotoxicity in normal endothelial cells further underscores the therapeutic potential of this approach. These findings support the incorporation of probiotic-based adjuvants in cancer therapy to improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Future in vivo studies and clinical trials are warranted to validate the translational potential of this combinatorial strategy in cervical cancer management.

Sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized as both early indicators and potential contributors to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Disrupted sleep compromises glymphatic clearance and synaptic homeostasis, promoting the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins such as amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein. Concurrently, irregular sleep patterns and circadian rhythm disturbances activate neuroinflammatory pathways, including microglial activation, NF-κB signaling, and the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, thereby accelerating neuronal damage. Additional mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and imbalances in neurotransmitter systems including orexin and melatonin, further reinforce the bidirectional relationship between sleep impairment and neurodegeneration. Despite these insights, critical gaps remain, particularly the absence of reliable biomarkers for simultaneously assessing sleep quality, neuroinflammation, and disease progression, as well as limited research on disorders beyond Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Therapeutic strategies show promise, ranging from pharmacological interventions targeting inflammatory pathways to non-pharmacological approaches such as chronotherapy, light therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Emerging modalities, including RNA-based therapies targeting pathogenic proteins and artificial intelligence (AI) for early detection and personalized treatment of sleep abnormalities, offer novel opportunities for intervention. This narrative review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases, identifies critical gaps in current research, and discusses emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating sleep-related neurodegeneration.

Nosocomial infections result in a high rate of morbidity and mortality globally. The present study investigated patterns of bacterial contamination in the hospital environment and hospital-acquired infections in hospitalized burn patients.This cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 hospital environmental samples and 673 clinical samples of hospitalized burn patients in Velayat Hospital, Rasht, Iran, from 2018 to 2021. Demographical data and clinical characteristics of burn patients were recorded and analyzed. The data of reported infections were recorded to find the infection pattern. All data was performed using SPSS version 22, and the significant level was set at 0.05. Among 212 environmental samples, 94.8% were from hospital surfaces, with the ICU being the most sampled area (36.8%). Fungal infections were most prevalent (65.5%), followed by Staphylococcus spp. (19.8%). Analysis of 673 burn patients showed a predominantly male population (74.5%), with a mean age of 39.50 years and an average burn severity of 39.57%. Patients typically developed infections 3.91 days post-admission, with an average hospital stay of 12.07 days. The mortality rate was high at 50.3%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) was the most common pathogen in patients (34.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (12.3%), with 46.9% of isolates remaining unidentified. The study illustrated the urgent need for improved infection control strategies, enhanced environmental monitoring, and better diagnostic capabilities to reduce the high rates of nosocomial infections and improve patient outcomes in burn centers.

Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play a key role in male infertility etiology. This study aimed to explore the global DNA methylation status in testicular spermatogenic cells of varicocele-induced rats and consider their semen quality, with a focus on key epigenetic marks, namely 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), as well as the mRNA and proteins of ten-eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenases 1-3. In this experimental study, 24 mature male Wistar rats (8 in each group) were assigned amongst the control, sham, and varicocele groups. Sperm quality was assessed, and DNA methylation patterns of testicular spermatogenic cells were investigated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot, and immunofluorescence techniques. Sperm parameters, chromatin and DNA integrity were significantly lower, and sperm lipid peroxidation significantly increased in varicocele-induced rats in comparison with control rats. During spermatogenesis in rat testis, 5-mC and 5-hmC epigenetic marks, and TET1-3 mRNA and proteins were expressed. In contrast to the 5-mC fluorescent signal which was presented in all testicular cells, the 5-hmC fluorescent signal was presented exclusively in spermatogonia and a few spermatids. In varicocele-induced rats, the 5-mC signal decreased in all cells within the tubules, whereas a strong signal of 5-hmC was detected in seminiferous tubules compared to the control group. As well, the levels of TET2 mRNA and protein expression were significantly upregulated in varicocele-induced rats in comparison with the control group. Also, our results showed that the varicocele-induced animals exhibited strong fluorescent signals of TET1-3 in testicular cells, whereas weak fluorescent signals were identified in the seminiferous tubules of the control animals. Consequently, we showed TET2 upregulation and the 5-hmC gain at testicular levels are associated with varicocele and sperm quality decline, and therefore they can be exploited as potential biomarkers of spermatogenesis.

Objective: Marriage and marital satisfaction constitute a significant area of human life that requires adaptation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of life skills training on self-efficacy and marital satisfaction among women attending a community center in Sari. Methods and Materials: This was a quasi-experimental study utilizing a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The population consisted of all women attending the community center in Sari in the year 2023. A total of 40 individuals (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group) were selected through non-random voluntary sampling and randomly assigned to the two groups. To collect data, three standardized questionnaires were used: the Olson et al. (1990) Marital Satisfaction Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale by Sherer et al. (1982). The life skills training program was conducted over 10 sessions for the experimental group, while the control group received no training or intervention during this period. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted for both groups, and data analysis was performed using univariate analysis of variance with the SPSS-16 software. Findings: Data analysis revealed that life skills training significantly improved self-efficacy (p < .01) and marital satisfaction (p < .01) among the women. Conclusion: It can be concluded that life skills training is a suitable strategy for enhancing marital satisfaction and self-efficacy among women, and can be effectively used as a method to increase these outcomes in women.