Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science最新文献

{"title":"MALAT1 Knockdown Sensitizes Cisplatin-Resistant A549/DDP NSCLC Cells Through Regulation of the miR-20b-5p/STAT3/MDR Signaling Axis","authors":"Bai Linlin,&nbsp;Zhu Lihua,&nbsp;Guo Lifang,&nbsp;Wu Sai,&nbsp;Li Aimin","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02011-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02011-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cisplatin resistance remains a major limitation in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), particularly metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), have been implicated in tumor progression and drug resistance, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Expression of MALAT1 and miR-20b-5p was analyzed in NSCLC datasets from GEO and validated in parental A549 and cisplatin-resistant A549/DDP cells. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration, cell cycle distribution, and caspase-3/7 activity were evaluated after MALAT1 knockdown or miR-20b-5p overexpression/inhibition. Molecular interactions were examined using dual-luciferase reporter assays. STAT3 signaling and multidrug resistance proteins were assessed by western blotting, and STAT3 inhibition was performed using niclosamide. MALAT1 was significantly upregulated, whereas miR-20b-5p was downregulated, in NSCLC tissues and A549/DDP cells. Mechanistically, MALAT1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA that sponges miR-20b-5p, thereby enhancing STAT3 signaling. Silencing MALAT1 or restoring miR-20b-5p suppressed STAT3 activation and reduced MDR1 and MRP1 expression. Functionally, MALAT1 knockdown increased cisplatin sensitivity, promoted apoptosis, inhibited proliferation and migration, and induced G1 arrest in A549/DDP cells. These effects were largely reversed by miR-20b-5p inhibition. Pharmacological STAT3 inhibition reproduced the effects of MALAT1 silencing. The MALAT1/miR-20b-5p/STAT3 axis promotes cisplatin resistance in A549/DDP NSCLC. These findings identify the MALAT1/miR-20b-5p/STAT3 axis as a potential regulator of cisplatin resistance in A549/DDP NSCLC cells and provide a basis for future translational investigation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 6","pages":"2009 - 2019"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149176529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fractional Optimal Control Strategies for Combating Interspecies Transmission of Brucellosis Based on Real Data from Inner Mongolia","authors":"Dilara Yapışkan,&nbsp;Beyza Billur İskender Eroğlu","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02004-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02004-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>According to the World Health Organization, Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic infection that leads to significant health and economic problems worldwide. The novelty of this study lies in analyzing the fractional-order mathematical model with the Atangana-Baleanu derivative to understand the complex dynamics of brucellosis interspecies transmission in an endemic region and proposing a fractional optimal control problem (FOCP) to prevent interspecies transmission. The boundedness of the model’s solution in a biologically feasible region is demonstrated, the basic reproduction number is achieved depending on direct and indirect brucellosis transmission, sensitivity analysis is performed, and the local asymptotic stability conditions of bacteria-free and bacterial equilibrium are discussed. The model parameters and fractional derivative order are simultaneously estimated using a hybrid optimization approach combining global and local optimization methods, based on reported data of human brucellosis cases in Inner Mongolia, implemented in MATLAB. The FOCP is formulated based on sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation results, with the objective of reducing brucellosis in both sheep and humans while minimizing the health and economic cost associated with brucellosis through culling, environmental hygiene and sanitation, educational campaigns, and treatment control strategies, and is characterized by Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. Optimal solutions are obtained numerically by comparing single-control, double-control, triple-control, and combined four-control strategies using the Adams-type predictor-corrector algorithm in MATLAB. The numerical results reveal that the combined four-control strategy most effectively reduces interspecies brucellosis transmission. The cost-effectiveness analysis further validates the economic efficiency of each control strategy, both separately and in combination, confirming that the combined four-control strategy achieves superior performance in substantially reducing the burden caused by brucellosis while maintaining optimal cost-effectiveness.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1925 - 1946"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing Nitrogen Level and Light Spectrum for Enhanced Growth and Antioxidant Potential of Spirulina Platensis","authors":"Rasoul Azarmi,&nbsp;Aazam Nouruzizadeh Teymurluyi,&nbsp;Behrooz Esmaielpour,&nbsp;Rasoul Heydarnajad Giglou,&nbsp;Sharareh Asghari Nasrabadi","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02008-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02008-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Spirulina platensis</i> is cultivated as a complementary food in human and animal diets because of its high biomass in terms of minerals, antioxidants, proteins, essential amino acids, and unsaturated fats. This study investigated the effects of various nitrogen concentrations (0.211, 0.422 and 0.844 g l⁻¹) and different spectra of LED light (red, blue, purple and white) on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant activity of Spirulina platensis, specifically addressing the research question of which combination of nitrogen level and light spectrum maximizes biomass yield and pigment accumulation<i>.</i> This research specifically aimed to address the question of which combination of nitrogen level and light spectrum maximizes biomass yield and pigment accumulation. The results revealed that the highest values for biomass production (2.19 g l⁻¹), optical density (1.61) and specific growth rate (0.82) were obtained at a nitrogen concentration of 0.844 g l⁻¹ and under white light. The highest content of chlorophyll a was recorded in algae fed 0.844 g l⁻¹ nitrogen and exposed to purple light, whereas the highest concentration of carotenoids was obtained at a nitrogen concentration of 0.211 g l⁻¹ under red light. As the nitrogen concentration increased from 0.211 to 0.844 g l⁻¹, the contents of phycobiliprotein, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin increased by 58, 79, 42 and 53%, respectively. In the blue light spectrum, the contents of phycobiliprotein, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin were higher by 158, 159, 133 and 202%, respectively, than those in white light. On the basis of the results of this experiment, the highest biomass, light density and specific growth intensity, chlorophyll <i>a</i>, and phycobiliprotein pigments were obtained by adding nitrogen at a concentration of 0.844 g l⁻¹. The optimum growth conditions for Spirulina algae were achieved under white light, whereas the best conditions for the production of phycobiliprotein pigments were achieved under blue light.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 6","pages":"1991 - 1997"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149176810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coefficient Problems of Starlike Functions Related to a Balloon-Shaped Domain","authors":"S. Sivaprasad Kumar,&nbsp;Arya Tripathi","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02005-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02005-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Recent advances in image and signal processing have drawn on geometric function theory, particularly coefficient estimate problems. Motivated by their significance, we introduce a class of starlike functions related to a balloon-shaped domain </p><div><div><span>$$mathcal {S}^{*}_{B}= left{ f in mathcal {A}: frac{z f'(z)}{f(z)} prec frac{1}{1-log (1+z)}:= B(z); ; z in mathbb {D} right} , $$</span></div></div><p>where <span>(B(z))</span> maps the unit disk <span>(mathbb {D})</span> onto a balloon-shaped domain. This work establishes bounds for the second order Hankel determinants and second order Toeplitz determinants involving the initial coefficients, the logarithmic coefficients and the logarithmic coefficients of the inverse function for <span>(f in mathcal {S}^{*}_{B}.)</span>    </p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1913 - 1924"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modified Adomian Method for Solving Boundary Value Problems of Higher-Order","authors":"Zainab A. AL-Rabahi,&nbsp;Yahya Q. Hasan","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02007-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02007-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper presents a robust modified Adomian decomposition method (MADM) for solving linear and nonlinear higher-order boundary value problems (BVPs), ranging from third-order to <i>n</i>-th order, with two-point or multi-point boundary conditions. The proposed method streamlines the solution process by eliminating the computational complexities inherent in traditional numerical approaches. A rigorous theoretical analysis is conducted to establish the uniform convergence and Lyapunov stability of the proposed scheme. The efficacy of the method is further validated through a series of numerical examples, encompassing diverse cases such as high-order nonlinear BVPs under various boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed methodology is highly accurate, computationally efficient, and exhibits rapid convergence; this establishes it as a superior alternative to more resource-intensive numerical methods.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1899 - 1911"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical, Genetic, and Bioinformatic Insights into a Novel LHB Variant in Isolated Luteinizing Hormone Deficiency: A Case Report","authors":"Sidra Shahid,&nbsp;Saba Irshad,&nbsp;Hafiz Muzzammil Rehman,&nbsp;Khaleeq ur Rehman,&nbsp;Hafiz Muhammad Hammad","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02006-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02006-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p> To describe a rare case of isolated luteinizing hormone (LH) deficiency in a young male and report the discovery of a novel LHB variant with clinical, genetic, and bioinformatic characterization. Case report. A 21-year-old male with absent puberty, infertility, and persistently undetectable serum LH despite normal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Hormonal evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging, Sanger sequencing of <i>LHB</i> exon 2, and in-silico modeling of wild and mutant protein structure and receptor binding campariosn. Identification of pathogenic <i>LHB</i> variants and their functional consequences on LH β-subunit conformation, heterodimerization, and receptor interaction. Sanger sequencing revealed a novel insertional variant within exon 2 of <i>LHB</i>, validated by chromatogram analysis and EMBOSS Needle alignment. Structural modeling demonstrated conformational distortion of the LH β-subunit, disrupted receptor-binding domains, and reduced docking stability with the LH receptor. Clinically, the patient responded to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) therapy with normalization of testosterone, spermatogenesis, and successful natural conception. This case report describes isolated luteinizing hormone deficiency associated with novel exon 2 variants in the LHB gene. Integration of clinical assessment, targeted genetic analysis, and bioinformatic modeling provided mechanistic insight and guided effective fertility-restoring therapy. While the findings strongly suggest a pathogenic role for the identified variants, functional studies are required to confirm their biological impact.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1721 - 1731"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Directional Semi-Regular Convexificator: Some Properties and the Optimality Conditions","authors":"Mohammad Golestani","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-01995-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-01995-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Exploring necessary optimality conditions is a crucial aspect of optimization. Various approaches exist to determine these conditions, including using subdifferentials rather than gradients. Recently, the concept of convexificators has emerged as a generalization of the subdifferential. A significant extension of this concept is the directional convexificator, which we further develop into the directional semi-regular convexificator. In our study, we investigate several calculus properties related to this new notion. We specifically apply it to examine the mean value theorem and characterize Lipschitz continuity through the lens of the directional semi-regular convexificator. Finally, we demonstrate the Fritz–John necessary optimality condition using this innovative concept.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1887 - 1897"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bubble-Catalyst Interface Engineering in Methane Cracking of Molten Metal: A Review of Process Strengthening and Carbon Material Regulation","authors":"Lu Wang,&nbsp;Qi Li,&nbsp;Junkun Hu,&nbsp;Yangdong He,&nbsp;Wenhan Wang,&nbsp;Shanhong Guo,&nbsp;Yongda Cao","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-02003-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-02003-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Approximately 50% of the hydrogen produced globally is derived from the steam reforming of methane (SMR), which is associated with significant environmental impacts amounting to 10.5 tons of CO₂ equivalent per ton of hydrogen produced, thus exacerbating the challenges of global warming. An alternative approach to producing clean hydrogen involves methane pyrolysis utilizing metals, and salts. The present review paper showed different aspects of methane cracking (pyrolysis) of molten metal via the bubble-catalyst technique. The direct cracking of methane utilizing supported nickel catalysts has emerged as a viable alternative pathway for hydrogen production from natural gas. Moreover, economic analyses indicate that this approach is financially advantageous, particularly when the solid carbon produced can be reclaimed and utilized. Techno-economic studies showed that methane pyrolysis yields a 14% cost decrease at 100 Nm³/h capacity vs. SMR with carbon capture and 25% against electrolysis. Also, selling carbon byproducts at $500/ton offsets 30–40% of manufacturing expenses, a capability lacking in blue/green hydrogen routes. A significant benefit of utilizing molten metal bubble columns lies in the ability to achieve continuous carbon separation, as the low-density solid carbon naturally rises to the surface of the molten liquid. Although problems with carbon markets and scalability still exist, the combination of interface engineering, computational design, and renewable integration sets molten metal pyrolysis as the pillar of turquoise hydrogen generation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1733 - 1750"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of Optimal Predictors Under Two Competing Constrained Linear Models","authors":"Bo Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-01993-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-01993-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In statistical theory and applications of parametric regression models, the unknown parameters in a given parametric model may satisfy certain pre-assumed restrictions, and thereby it is a common practice to add the restrictions in the estimation procedures of the unknown parameters. In this article, we assume that the unknown parameters in a general linear model satisfy two competing linear restriction equations, and reconsider a comparison problem in the analysis of covariance matrices of the best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) and the best linear unbiased estimators (BLUEs) under the two competing constrained linear models using some new mathematical analysis tools. We shall give analytic expressions of BLUPs and BLUEs of a joint vector of all unknown parameters in the two competing constrained linear models, present some of their algebraic and statistical properties, and establish a diverse of analytical formulas for calculating the ranks and inertias of the differences of the covariance matrices of the two kinds of predictors and estimators of all unknown parametric functions under two constrained linear models. We also derive necessary and sufficient conditions for a sequence of equalities and inequalities for the covariance matrices of BLUPs and BLUEs to hold under the two competing constrained linear models. Finally, an example based on an agricultural block-treatment design is used to illustrate the theoretical results.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1875 - 1885"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microwave-Assisted Carbon Dots Synthesis and Application Against Salinity Stress in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. CH","authors":"Sharareh Rismani,&nbsp;Mansour Shariati","doi":"10.1007/s40995-026-01998-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40995-026-01998-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nowadays, salt stress considered an important environmental challenge for the agriculture which is aggravated by global warming, thereby, markedly decreasing the biomass production and crop yield worldwide. Nanoparticles are widely applied to strengthen plants against environmental stresses. Carbon based nano-chemicals and especially carbon dots (CDs) are regarded as highly beneficial nanoparticles for applications in agriculture thanks to their properties. CDs generated from urea and citric acid in this research demonstrated great physico-chemical characteristics consisting of biocompatibility, strong fluorescence, solubility in water and functional groups on their surface. In this study, CDs were employed to improve the salt tolerance of tomato as a physiological model plant. Salt stress reduced the fresh biomass and total height of tomato seedlings. Further, proline and the total content of carbohydrates increased to adjust the osmotic potential of cytoplasm facing high NaCl levels. Salinity heavily declined seed germination indices as well. Contrary to salt-treated seedlings, incubation with CDs had positive effects on preliminary physiological parameters i.e. growth and total length in salt-stressed and non-stressed plants. Likewise, some osmotic balancing markers including proline and carbohydrates considerably increased in combined CDs- and NaCl-treated plants relative to salt-exposed ones. Further, the ameliorating influence of CDs on seed germination percentage and rate was noticed in salinity exposed seeds. Thus, CDs are appropriate candidates providing an efficient approach in developing modern and acclimatized agriculture and increasing crop yield.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":600,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science","volume":"50 5","pages":"1703 - 1720"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}