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Found 6515 publications
Wedelolactone Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Modulating NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling: An in-vitro Huh7 1.3-mer HBV Plasmid Model
Publication Name: Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a well-recognized cause of hepatic injury through prolonged viral replication, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Existing antiviral drugs limit viral replication but cannot eliminate viral transcription or even totally preclude liver injury, thus reemphasizing the significance of drugs with combined antiviral and hepatoprotective effects. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on HBV replication, gene expression, inflammation, and oxidative stress in an in-vitro model of HBV plasmid transfection with human hepatic cells. Methods: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh7) were transfected with a 1.3-mer plasmid and treated with wedelolactone (2.5 - 10 µM). Luciferase assays for HBV promoter activity, Northern blotting and Southern blotting for transcripts and replicative intermediates, qPCR for extracellular HBV DNA, and western blotting for viral antigens such as HBx were performed. Cell cytotoxicity was measured. NF-κB/IκB, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and antioxidant markers (Nrf2, HO-1, Keap1) were assessed to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative responses. Results: Wedelolactone significantly suppresses HBV promoter activity, RNAs, core particle formation, and extracellular HBV DNA. It reduced the expression of HBcAg and HBsAg. It inhibited NF-κB activation and cytokine release, while simultaneously enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, including induction of heme oxygenase-1 by lowering levels of Keap1. Conclusions: Wedelolactone exerts dual antiviral and hepatoprotective actions by inhibiting HBV replication and modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.5812/ijpr-168329
Stochastic Breather and Soliton Dynamics of a Third-Order Complex mKdV (Higher-Order NLS-Type) Equation
Publication Name: Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study presents a comprehensive investigation of optical solitary waves governed by a third-order complex modified Korteweg-de Vries (higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger-type, mKdV-NLS) equation incorporating stochastic effects. Initially, the methodology outlines the general procedure of this approach. Subsequently, by applying the traveling waves transformation to the given equation, it is reformulated into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (NLODEs). These NLODEs are then decomposed into their imaginary and real components. Furthermore, the proposed methodology is implemented to derive new solutions for optical solitary waves within the mKdV-NLS type model, encompassing stochastic breather-like waves, singular solitons, periodic waves, and various wave interactions. Additionally, numerical visualizations of the exact analytical solitary waves are provided, facilitating an examination of the stochastic term’s influence on wave dynamics. This study advances the understanding of optical wave behavior and clarifies the effects of stochastic contributions, offering valuable insights for both theoretical studies and practical applications in optics and related fields.
Open Access: Yes
Explaining the variation in sustainable development through the lens of key macroeconomic and environmental factors
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This paper investigates the role ofenvironmental and macroeconomic stabilityin achieving sustainable developmentin Pakistan from 1990 to 2022.The objective of this study is to investigate the contagion effects of both ecological and macroeconomic variables on Pakistan's sustainable development, employing the structural VAR methodology. The research addresses an important gap in the literature to jointly analyze macroeconomic stability and environmental sustainability within a unified framework for a developing economy like Pakistan. The need for this study arises from Pakistan’s dual challenges of persistent macroeconomic instability and rising environmental stress, which together threaten progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Positive energy shocks are strongerth annegative shocks arising from CO2 , external debt, and inflationin explicating variation inPakistan’s sustainable development. The study finds that renewable energy consumption has the most significant long-term impact on sustainable development, accounting for 33.83% of the forecast error variance. Overall, 55.50% of sustainable development is predicted by environmental factors,14.66% by macroeconomic variables, and 29.84% by its shock. Such results lead to accepting the hypothesis that ecological and macroeconomic stability significantly affect the sustainable development of Pakistan. In the long run, renewable energy consumption has a positive impact on sustainable development, promoting energy security, supporting economic growth, and maintaining environmental stability. The results of diagnostic tests suggest that the structural VAR approach is specified correctly. This study recommends that all economic policies be designed to highlight the need for comprehensive reforms that align economic stability with environmental resilience to achieve sustainable development. In the context of Pakistan, positive shocks arising from renewable energy consumption demonstrate a stronger influence on variations in sustainable development compared to negative shocks arising from CO₂ emissions, external debt, and inflation. This highlights the central role of energy transitions in achieving sustainability.
Open Access: Yes
Hospital Admission Classification of Cardiac Patients Utilizing Metaheuristics-Optimized Two Tier Framework
Publication Name: International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Accurate evaluation of a cardiac patient’s risk at the point of hospital entry is critical for efficient triage and ensuring timely, suitable medical intervention. This study aims to forecast a range of clinical outcomes by leveraging admission data from a cardiac care unit, utilizing a refined and optimized machine learning approach. This research introduces a hybrid architecture that integrates convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with advanced machine learning classifiers, namely light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) and categorical boosting (CatBoost), further enhanced through metaheuristic optimization techniques to maximize their performance. The proposed two-tiered design organizes feature extraction and final decision modeling into a coherent pipeline tailored for multi-class hospital admission classification. A comprehensive evaluation using a real-world hospital admission dataset demonstrates the framework’s effectiveness on a real-world, publicly available hospital admission dataset, supporting its utility for multi-class cardiac outcome prediction. Three experiments were conducted using publicly available datasets, where the best-performing models achieved a peak classification accuracy of 99.79%. Furthermore, explainable AI techniques were employed to interpret model predictions, offering actionable insights that can guide future data acquisition and strengthen the accurate classification of cardiac patients.
Open Access: Yes
Regression and statistical analysis of heat transfer enhancement in water/ethylene glycol (40/60) base molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) MXene nanofluid using a transient fractional model
Publication Name: Discover Nano
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
To investigate the effects of fractional order (), nanoparticle volume fraction (), magnetic field strength (), and Brinkman permeability () on both flow and heat transfer characteristics, a detailed parametric and statistical analysis is conducted. The statistical regression analysis shows that the volume fraction of nanoparticles and temperature have a strong positive correlation (coefficient = 0.94, p = 0.021) indicating that Mo2 C MXene is an excellent heat absorption. On the other hand, the fractional parameter α has a strong negative effect on temperature field (coefficient = − 0.086, p < 0.001), which emphasizes its importance in describing the effects of thermal memory. The findings also indicate that, although MXene nanoparticles significantly increase thermal transport, an augmentation in magnetic field strength and Brinkman resistance cause a resistive Lorentz force and frictional drag, respectively, to prevent fluid flow. These results are physically informative about non-Fourier heat transfer in MXene-based nanofluids as well as offer invaluable information to developing high-performance thermal management systems and solar-energy applications.
Open Access: Yes
Mitigation of inductive coupling effects on buried pipelines using gradient control conductors of overhead line configuration and hippopotamus optimization algorithm
Publication Name: Scientific Reports
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
By electromagnetic perturbation effect, the extra-high voltage (EHV) overhead transmission lines can cause significant induced voltages and currents on buried metallic pipelines located in the immediate vicinity. These voltages can present a source of hazard both for the structural I ntegrity of the metallic pipeline and for the safety of personnel responsible for operation and maintenance. This paper proposes the quasi-static modeling of the electromagnetic interference to which a buried metallic pipeline will be subjected nearby an extra-high voltage (EHV) overhead transmission line, under steady-state operating conditions of the power electrical grid. Using the electrical network analysis method to evaluate the induced voltage levels and its effects on the buried pipeline; also, to propose a mitigation strategy if necessary. The results obtained show that the values of the AC induced voltage on the buried pipeline are significant and exceed the limits defined by the international NACE standard. They can cause a risk of electrocution for intervention personnel and accelerate the process of metal corrosion. Therefore, the gradient control mitigation technique of the conductors and their optimal geometric arrangement of EHV transmission line using Hippopotamus Optimization (HO) algorithm were proposed to reduce AC induced voltages within the permissible safety limits, according to the requirements of the NACE Standard. Finally, it should be noted that the implementation of these mitigation approaches have led to remarkable results in eliminating potential risks.
Open Access: Yes
Assessing accessibility barriers at public transport stops for people with disabilities: Study in Hungary
Publication Name: European Transport Studies
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 3
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Public transport systems play an instrumental role in promoting mobility, independence and the equitable participation of all individuals in daily activities Despite accessibility having become a fundamental component within transport planning, a significant proportion of public transport systems continue to exhibit notable barriers, thus impeding the mobility of individuals with disabilities to a considerable extent. The present study employs a qualitative methodology to evaluate the accessibility of the public transport system in the city of Győr, Hungary. This evaluation is based on field study, photographic documentation, and a user survey, the latter of which was conducted to support the findings derived from the qualitative methods employed. The analysis identifies four main categories of accessibility barriers: pedestrian environment barriers, stop infrastructure barriers, transport-information barriers, and vehicle-boarding barriers. The findings indicate that inadequate pedestrian environments, poorly designed stops, insufficient tactile and auditory guidance, and difficulties in boarding vehicles significantly restrict accessibility for users with disabilities. This paper proposes practical recommendations and solutions that have the potential to enhance accessibility and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
Open Access: Yes
Decentralized finance and sustainability analysis of global research patterns and emerging themes
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is rapidly transforming financial systems, yet its environmental, social, and economic sustainability implications remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a structured review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2022 and 2025, drawing on 239 records retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science and screened through the PRISMA 2020 protocol in Covidence. The review combined bibliometric analysis, thematic mapping, and a systematic review to synthesize patterns, clusters, and critical insights. Bibliometric results show a sharp post-2023 rise in outputs, with China leading in publication volume and Switzerland achieving the highest citation impact, although collaboration networks remain fragmented and weakly connected. Thematic analysis reveals three dominant clusters: blockchain-driven financial innovation, AI and fintech applications for sustainability, and green economy transitions, highlighting DeFi’s dual role as a driver of transparency and inclusion but also a source of energy inefficiency and systemic risk. The systematic review further identifies regulatory gaps, particularly around Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), and emphasizes the need for energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, standardized ESG metrics for tokenized assets, and inclusive platform designs to bridge digital divides. By aligning DeFi’s disruptive potential with sustainability objectives, the study proposes hybrid governance models and interdisciplinary collaboration to foster a resilient, equitable, and low-carbon financial ecosystem, underscoring the urgency of balancing technological innovation with planetary boundaries to realize DeFi’s promise as a catalyst for sustainable development.
Open Access: Yes
Effect of Spirulina platensis on the content values of wheat bread
Publication Name: Scientific Reports
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Due to their nutritional composition, algae are promising ingredients in the development of new foods. The aim of our work was to prepare bread containing Spirulina platensis (new name Arthrospira platensis) in different percentages (0.5, 1.0, 2.5%) within the framework of the MSZ 6369/8-1988 standard, and to determine its content (dry matter, ash, fat, protein/nitrogen, fiber content, carbohydrate content, and polyoxide, color), as well as its texture and color. Furthermore, we assessed consumer opinions through a sensory evaluation. We found that increasing the width and shape fraction while decreasing the height. The results showed that the antioxidant and polyphenols properties of Spirulina-enriched breads increased. The protein, nitrogen, fibre content increased and carbohydrate, energy value properties of Spirulina-enriched breads decreased with increasing concentration of algae. Spirulina powder increased the greenness of the bread and decreased the lightness of the crumb. The hardness, cohesiveness and springiness increased with the addition of Spirulina to bread, while the gumminess and chewiness values became lower compared to the control. Consumer acceptability results showed that the addition of Spirulina at a concentration of 2.5% significantly reduced overall acceptance. Our results indicated that Spirulina cyanobacteria, can be a suitable raw material for making bread, also from the point of view of healthier and sustainable nutrition.
Open Access: Yes
