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Recently, global healthcare has made great progress with the use of Internet of Things technology. However, for there to be excellent patient care, there must be a high degree of safety for the IoT health system. There has been a massive increase in hacking systems and the theft of sensitive and highly confidential information from large health centers and hospitals. That is why establishing a highly secure and reliable healthcare system has become a top priority. In this paper, a security scheme for the IoT-enabled healthcare environment, LBSS, is proposed. This security scheme comprises three security mechanisms. The first mechanism is based on the blockchain technology and is used for transaction integrity. The second mechanism is used to store the healthcare system data in a secure manner through the distribution of its data records among multiple servers. The third mechanism is used to access the healthcare data after applying a proposed authorization test. To minimize the security overhead, the healthcare data is prioritized in regard to its importance. Therefore, each security mechanism has specific steps for each level of data importance. Finally, the NS3 package is used to construct a simulation environment for IoT-enabled healthcare systems to measure the proposed security scheme performance. The simulation results proved that the proposed healthcare security scheme outperformed the traditional models in regard to the performance metrics.

The need for biodegradable and biocompatible polymers is growing quickly, particularly in the biomedical and environmental industries. Cellulose acetate, a natural polysaccharide, can be taken from plants and modified with polycaprolactone to improve its characteristics for a number of uses, including biomedical applications and food packaging. Cellulose acetate-g-polycaprolactone was prepared by a three-step reaction: First, polymerization of ε-caprolactone via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) reaction using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and functionalization of polycaprolactone(PCL) by introducing NCO on the hydroxyl end of the HEMA-PCL using hexamethyl lenediisocyanate(HDI) were carried out. Then, the NCO–HEMA-PCL was grafted onto cellulose acetate (using the “grafting to” method). The polycaprolactone grafted cellulose acetate was confirmed by FTIR, the thermal characteristics of the copolymers were investigated by DSC and TGA, and the hydrophobicity was analyzed via water CA measurement. Introducing NCO-PCL to cellulose acetate increased the thermal stability. The contact angle of the unreacted PCL was higher than that of cellulose acetate-g-PCL, and it increased when the chain length increased. The CA-g-PCL50, CA-g-PCL100, and CA-g-PCL200 showed very high inhibition zones for all three bacteria tested (E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa).

Purpose. To assess the visual, ocular, extraocular, and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) outcomes of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among medical students. Methods. This study was designed as a cross-sectional case-control study that included 733 medical students. All students completed a specially designed and validated CVS questionnaire survey (CVS-F3). Students from the control (No-CVS) and CVS groups underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including the mfERG examinations. Our main outcome measures included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA, resp.) measurements, subjective and cycloplegic refractions, slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, pupillary reflexes tests, ocular movements’ tests, dry eye disease tests, and fundus and mfERG examinations. Results. The CVS-F3 identified that 87.9% of students had complaints that might be related to CVS. We documented a 76% prevalence rate in students undergoing an ophthalmologic exam. The most common ocular and extraocular complaints included visual blur and headache (40.9% and 46.8%, resp.). Statistical logistic and linear regression analyses showed that refractive errors, prolonged screen-hours, close eye-screen distance, improper gaze angle, poor screen-resolution, and screen-glare were risk factors for developing CVS and influencing its severity. In the mfERG subgroup, 42.5% demonstrated reduced amplitudes of mfERG rings and quadrants, indicating reduced foveal responses. Conclusion. Surveys cannot yield an accurate CVS prevalence. However, they help to identify subjects at risk who should be comprehensively assessed to confirm or exclude CVS diagnosis. Smartphone misuse primarily caused CVS among users. Our mfERG findings might be a sign of potential CVS visual sequelae; however, future studies are warranted. Clinicians need to understand these sequelae to appropriately identify and treat CVS.

Individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) experience impaired wound healing, where the healing process is often compromised by a complex, hostile microenvironment characterized by persistent inflammation, high oxidative stress, and dysfunctional angiogenesis. The hyperglycemic environment damages the blood vessels and disturbs the normal hypoxia-induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factors, causes poor vascularization and insufficient production of new blood vessels, and leads to impaired perfusion and thickened and dysfunctional capillary basement membranes, which reduce blood flow to the wound, leading to delayed wound healing. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are the main effectors of intercellular communication and have emerged as a potent cell-free strategy for the acceleration of tissue repair. MSC-EVs can be isolated from various adult tissues, but increasing evidence suggests that placental MSC-derived EVs (PMSC-EVs) possess distinct clinical and biological advantages for enhancing diabetic wound healing. Placentas are unique cell sources for PMSCs, which can be easily acquired non-invasively from a discarded placenta and is ethically acceptable, and have superior proliferative capacity. The cargo of PMSC-derived EVs contains macromolecules such as proteins, mRNA, miRNA, and lipids, which may be tailored for fetomaternal tolerance and translates to unmatched immunomodulatory potential for resolving chronic diabetic inflammation. The PMSC-derived EVs also aid in enhancing multiple pathways, including modulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, and epithelial proliferation, that lead to increased wound healing. This article will highlight the unique advantages, specific mechanisms, and limitations of PMSC-derived EVs as an innovative non-cellular therapeutic modality in restoring vital repair processes and enhancing diabetic wound healing.

Nowadays, with the advancement of smart technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) emerged as a booming technology that can provide better quality and facilities for the residents of smart cities. Smart cities can offer several services and have several applications in healthcare, transportation, education etc. Despite such a potential vision, the privacy of users on these IoT devices is a major concern. Most authentication schemes do not provide privacy and anonymity to legitimate users. to tackle this problem, we propose an efficient Zero Knowledge-based authentication scheme in the paper that authenticates devices on the network without knowing the information about user identity or revealing any other data entered by users. To explain our system framework at the micro-level, we apply our privacy-preserving scheme to IoT based healthcare applications, but it can easily be extended to the more general use cases where privacy-preserving authentication is required. This paper’s second major contribution is designing the data encryption algorithm ZKNimble that is mainly suitable for lightweight devices. Once the user is authenticated using Zero Knowledge Proof, the ZKNimble cipher can be used for legitimate users’ encryption and decryption processes.

There is increasing evidence that the lack of access to digital information and technologies is not widely considered in the educational sectors when focusing on the perceived experience, tutor quality and students’ satisfaction. In this paper, we report on an evaluation of a project aiming to bridge the use of digital information in the educational sector by proposing an integrated model that measures teachers’ quality, uncertainty avoidance effects and students’ satisfaction concerning TAM constructs and the perceived experience of digital information in education (DIE). The model and hypotheses were validated using data collected from a survey of 553 students at a college level. The results revealed that users may perceive the importance of DIE based on several external factors that enhance their learning and teaching experiences. The personal characteristics of the user including his/her readiness to use technology are crucial in correlation with the perceived ease of use. In addition, the high quality of the tutor in some cultures may enhance the perceived usefulness of the technology. Other factors such as flow of information, uncertain avoidance and satisfaction may strongly assess the continuous intention to use the technology.

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and hemolytic properties of ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil, with a focus on its potential therapeutic applications for dermatological diseases and the importance of transforming such bioactive properties into a stable, safe, and effective formulation. Methods/Rsults: Essential oils were extracted from flowers harvested in northern Grande Comore using hydro distillation at three different distillation times to examine the impact on yield and quality. Gas chromatographic analysis identified a complex mixture of compounds, including linalool, geranyl acetate, and benzyl benzoate. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, FRAP, TAC, and beta-carotene bleaching inhibition assays, revealing significant radical scavenging capabilities, with DPPH IC50 varying between 1.57 and 3.5 mg/mL. Antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showing promising inhibition zones and minimum inhibitory concentrations. Hemolytic tests indicated varying degrees of red blood cell damage, emphasizing the need for careful concentration management in therapeutic applications. Molecular docking studies highlighted potential therapeutic targets for dermatological conditions, identifying high binding affinities for specific compounds against proteins involved in acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis underscores the potential of ylang-ylang essential oil (YEOs) as a natural alternative for antimicrobial treatments and dermatological applications, with its success dependent on optimized extraction methods and precise formulation to reduce cytotoxic effects. A formulation approach is crucial to ensure controlled release, improve bioavailability, and minimize skin irritation.

Purpose: The study aims to enhance the original theoretical framework of tourism planning by examining how event quality (ETQ), attitude (ATT), subjective norms (SNs), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and satisfaction (SAT) influence tourists’ revisit intention (RI). In addition, it aims to explore the connections between ETQ, tourists’ SAT and revisit intenion, addressing a critical gap in the literature.Design/methodology/approach: The authors gathered data from 491 domestic tourists who attended the inaugural Guizhou ‘Beautiful Countryside’ Basketball League in Guizhou, China, in 2023. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to assess both the measurement and structural models in the study.Findings/results: The results revealed significant positive direct effects of ATT, ETQ, SAT, PBC and SN on RI. Furthermore, ETQ indirectly influences RI through SAT, highlighting SAT as a key mediator in this relationship. The extended theory of planned behaviour (ETPB), which included ETQ and SAT as newly integrated variables, provided a stronger framework for understanding the heightened influence of ETQ on RI.Practical implications: This study enhances the theory of planned behaviour model by integrating ETQ and SAT, offering valuable insights for extending the ETPB theory. While this contribution is significant, it also presents certain limitations.Originality/value: This article addresses a crucial gap by exploring how enhancing ETQ can directly improve tourist SAT and boost RI. It provides fresh insights into optimising event experiences, which is essential for sustainable tourism development and repeat visitor engagement.

Premature newborns are at a higher risk for the development of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), acute lung injury (ALI) associated with lung inflammation, disruption of alveolar structure, impaired alveolar growth, lung fibrosis, impaired lung angiogenesis, and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with severe long-term developmental adverse effects. The current therapy for BPD is limited to supportive care including high-oxygen therapy and pharmacotherapy. Recognizing more feasible treatment options to improve lung health and reduce complications associated with BPD is essential for improving the overall quality of life of premature infants. There is a reduction in the resident stem cells in lungs of premature infants with BPD, which strongly suggests a critical role of stem cells in BPD pathogenesis; this warrants the exploration of the potential therapeutic use of stem-cell therapy. Stem-cell-based therapies have shown promise for the treatment of many pathological conditions including acute lung injury and BPD. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes are promising and effective therapeutic modalities for the treatment of BPD. Treatment with MSCs and EVs may help to reduce lung inflammation, improve pulmonary architecture, attenuate pulmonary fibrosis, and increase the survival rate.

To examine the clinical association between thyroid gland dysfunction and keratoconus. This was a cross-sectional case-control study conducted between May 2018 and July 2019. After performing Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) examination, flat, steep, and maximum simulated keratometric readings were recorded for each patient. Serum concentrations of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were measured. Further examinations by an endocrinologist were indicated for patients with positive laboratory results to confirm thyroid gland dysfunction. One hundred eighty-seven patients with bilateral keratoconus and 187 sex- and age-matched healthy controls without keratoconus were analyzed. Mean age was 26.4 ± 8.2 years for the patients with keratoconus and 27.1 ± 9.4 years for the control patients, with no significant difference. The results showed that thyroid gland dysfunction prevalence was 10 of 187 patients with keratoconus (5.3%) and 2 of 187 control patients (1.1%), and the difference was statistically significant (P = .036). For the patients with keratoconus and thyroid gland dysfunction, 8 were women and 2 were men. Additionally, 6 patients (2 men and 4 women) had hyperthyrosis and 4 women had hypothyrosis. For controls, the two patients had hypothyrosis. This study showed that there is a possible association between keratoconus and thyroid gland dysfunction, but more studies are needed to build upon these results. [J Refract Surg. 2020;36(4):253-257.].