This study presents an innovative heterogeneous nanocatalytic system designed through a multistep synthetic approach involving the surface functionalization of perlite nanoparticles (Perlite NPs/Met-Co(II)). Comprehensive characterization using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), elemental mapping, thermogravimetric analysis, and brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) analyses confirms the successful formation of a hierarchically structured catalyst. The catalyst enables efficient one-pot multicomponent synthesis of pyrazolopyranopyrimidines in water (100 °C, 5 mg loading), yielding 87-95% in 30-60 min. The presented method adhering to green principles and also recyclability (6 cycles) and synergistic performance provides an atom-economic platform for sustainable heterocycle synthesis.

Encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) ZGP-Lpl.19 in alginate-pectin-chitosan microcapsules significantly improved its survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and attenuated Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) growth and pathogenicity through downregulation of the mdoH and IcsA virulence genes. Microencapsulation was achieved via extrusion using a polysaccharide blend, yielding an encapsulation efficiency of 98.44%. Structural integrity of the microcapsules was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Encapsulation markedly enhanced probiotic survivability, with viable counts of 5.37 log CFU/mL after 60 min in gastric fluid and 120 min in intestinal fluid, compared with 2.25 log CFU/mL for free cells. Both encapsulated and free L. plantarum ZGP-Lpl.19 demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against S. flexneri ATCC 12022, with comparable antimicrobial metabolite production. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cell-free supernatants from both forms was 1/8 of the original concentration. Importantly, real-time PCR analysis confirmed that both encapsulated and free cells significantly downregulated mdoH and IcsA expression. Overall, these findings demonstrate that alginate-pectin-chitosan microencapsulation provides effective protection for L. plantarum and enhances its functional delivery, positioning encapsulated L. plantarum as a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate S. flexneri infections.

There is a paradigm in Iranian archeology that a mass migration of nomads from the steppe north of the Caspian Sea to the Central Iranian Plateau occurred around the beginning of the Iron Age, leading to the domination of a mobile pastoral economy in the region. Such a hypothesis was tested through strontium isotope analysis of recently excavated human remains from the cemetery of Estark-Joshaqan, dated from the Late Bronze to Early Iron Age (c. 1800-800 BCE). We measured the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in human dental enamel of 23 individuals from Estark and six individuals from nearby sites: Tepe Sialk (Parthian period) and Bidgol (Early Islamic period), all located near Kashan, Iran, and compared them to the local strontium isoscape based on 39 modern plant samples collected in the region. Available evidence does not support the hypothesis of permanent long-distance migration from a region with a different strontium isotope signature. Mobility was similarly low in the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age, although the local resource exploitation pattern may have shifted slightly between these periods. There is no clear indication of nomadism, and most likely, people from Estark were agropastoralists, using a relatively limited area for grazing their livestock. Our results open a new perspective in the research of the 'dark age' in the Central Iranian Plateau preceding the formation of the Median state.

Abstract We present a theoretically optimized metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) graphene–InP hybrid photodetector engineered for ultra-sensitive near-infrared (NIR) detection at the telecommunication wavelength of 1.55 μm. Building on the limitations of graphene–semiconductor Schottky devices—where high interface trap density degrades responsivity and elevates dark current—we introduce an ultrathin 3 nm atomic-layer-deposited Al 2 O 3 interfacial layer between monolayer graphene and p-type InP. This engineered barrier simultaneously passivates interface defects and enables efficient quantum tunneling of photocarriers, thereby enhancing carrier lifetime and suppressing thermionic emission. Comprehensive numerical simulations, combining drift–diffusion transport and WKB tunneling models, predict a responsivity of 2.3 A W −1 at 2 V reverse bias, dark current of ~10 −17 A, and specific detectivity exceeding 2 × 10 13 Jones, with a −3 dB bandwidth of 18 GHz for a 4 μm active length. By tuning oxide thickness and gate bias, the device exhibits spectral sensitivity control over the entire 1.3–1.6 μm NIR window. These findings establish a clear route toward practical, low-noise, and high-speed graphene photodetectors for next-generation optical communication.

IntroductionBrain tumor symptoms may affect the patients’ caregivers. This study aimed to explore the mediation roles of hope and social support in the relationship between fatigue and burden in brain tumor caregivers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on 280 caregivers of brain tumor patients. Adult Hope Scale, Zarit Burden Interview, Personal Resources questionnaire 85, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory were used. The mediator model by the SPSS Macro PROCESS (Model 4, and 6) was used.ResultsOver half of caregivers reported moderate fatigue and social support, with half experiencing moderate to severe caregiving burden. Moreover, 60.4% were moderately to highly hopeful. Significant relationships were found between fatigue and hope (r=-0.57, p < 0.001), social support (r=-0.65, p < 0.001), and burden (r = 0.63, p < 0.001), as well as between hope and social support (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). Fatigue, social support, and hope predicted the caregivers’ burden. The indirect effect of fatigue on burden by hope was significant (Effect = 0.16, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.30). The indirect effect of fatigue on burden by social support was also significant (Effect = 0.38, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.57). The indirect effect of fatigue on burden by hope and social support was significant (Effect = 0.12, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.21).ConclusionThe results of this study showed that hope and social support should be improved in the caregivers of brain tumor patients. By conducting interventions in this field, it is possible that the burden of caregivers is decreased in situations with high fatigue.

Introduction: Microbial infections remain a major global health threat, with antibiotic resistance exacerbating the problem. Gentamicin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, faces resistance chal-lenges. Nanotechnology, particularly dendrimers, offers a solution by enhancing drug delivery and efficacy. Materials and Methods: First- (G1) and second-generation (G2) PEG-citric acid dendrimers were synthesized, characterized via FT-IR and Zetasizer, and conjugated with gentamicin. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using MIC and MBC assays. Results: The gentamicin-dendrimer conjugate showed a 16% drug loading efficiency and particle sizes of 70–184 nm. FT-IR confirmed successful conjugation. The conjugate exhibited 2–8 times greater antimicrobial efficacy than free gentamicin, particularly against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Discussion: Enhanced efficacy was attributed to improved solubility, electrostatic interactions, and bacterial membrane penetration. Dendrimer conjugation presents a promising strategy to combat re-sistance. Conclusion: Gentamicin-conjugated dendrimers significantly improve antibiotic performance, offer-ing a potential solution to antimicrobial resistance. Further toxicity and in vivo studies are warranted.

Background:Physical inactivity is related to the development of functional dyspepsia (FD); however, the available evidence about association between physical activity (PA) levels with risk of FD is scarce and indecisive. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate this association in enormous number of Iranian adult people.Methods:This study was conducted on 4763 general public adults in Isfahan, Iran. The data of the present study are collected from SEPAHAN study of Isfahan city. The PA levels were estimated using general practice physical activity questionnaire (GPPAQ). The presence of FD was explored using a modified Persian version of the ROME III questionnaire. In addition, the association of PA and FD according to diagnostic symptoms including postprandial fullness, early satiation, and epigastric pain separately was analyzed.Results:Totally, 22.2% (n = 748) of study participants had FD. Participants were classified to two groups based on their daily physical activity: 1. moderately inactive and inactive and 2. moderately active and active. Participants those have lower levels of physical activity were more likely to have functional dyspepsia compared with those who had higher level of activity (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.09-1.53, P value: 0.004). Low-level physical activity tended to be associated with an increased prevalence of FD in women (OR = 1.23; 95%, CI: 0.98-1.54, P value: 0.06). After controlling for all confounders, we found that subjects with low PA were 16% more likely to have epigastric pain (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00-1.34, P value: 0.03) and early satiation (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.47, P value: 0.005) compared with those who had high-level PA.Conclusions:Conclusively, in fully adjusted models, there was marginally significant association between PA level and FD.