A surgical technique aimed at rerouting aqueous humor (AH) outflow from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space (SCS) without performing surgical cyclodialysis was developed to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. The surgical outcomes of the technique were retrospectively analyzed in fifty-eight patients. At 6, 12, and 24 months, the mean IOP decreased from 27.8±8.3 to 14.95.0 mmHg, median 15.0 (25th percentile (p25 )13.0; 75th percentile (p75) 18.0), and 15.23.3 mmHg; hypotensive medication use reduced from median (p25; p75) 3 (2; 3) to 0 (0; 2), 0 (0; 2), and 0 (0; 1.5), and complete success was achieved in 62.8%, 51.2%, and 32.5% cases, with partial success in 28.4%, 44.2%, and 62.5% cases, respectively. Eight cases (13.8%) presented unsatisfactory outcomes. Intra- and postoperative complications were few and manageable. No bleb formation was observed in any of the cases. In 50% of cases, conjunctival lymphatic vessels (CLVs) developed following surgery in superior quadrants. The technique is safe and effective in providing a long-term decrease in IOP and hypotensive medication use. It was hypothesized in this study that the IOP decrease occurred as a result of enhanced AH outflow from the SCS to CLVs through intrascleral microchannels connecting the SCS to CLVs.

In this paper we designed system for smart university building based on artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IOT). Our idea can be summarized in smart security system that has different sensors to detect the surrounding environment of the class room in campus which keep everyone and everything on campus safer. By using (IOT), (AI) technologies and applications and by using microcontroller programming we can make the university building safer, secure and more energy saves.

Sensors became integrated through the control condition arrangement, either for visual, mechanical, biological, or chemical applications. New stuff is designed for detection, as Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors (DMS), and are considered attractive candidates that consist of a traditional 111- V, II-VI, or group IV semiconductor. Manganese Mn-doped GaN (Mn.Gac.N) epitaxial velum has a unique magnetic, visual and chemical properties in order to control system intelligent for detector design. The subject area of the magnetic properties of MnxGal-xN is on a large scale available, there are only a few studies on the visual properties and electrochemical properties of MnxGal-xN epitaxial velums. Where MnGaN velums were used in spintronic and opto-electronic applications according to their magnetic characterization and constructed MnGaN electrode are drop fabric potential for potentiometric sensor applications since they have good performance as ion-selective electrodes. The electrical and magnetic properties that allow the control of electron spin as well as complaint period, makes the materials ideal for spintronic applications. Designing such spintronic and optoelectronic devices based on MnxGal-xN requires a broader agreement of physical, visual, electrical and chemical properties epitaxial velums that are still seldom in the literature. This bailiwick displays the potential use of MnGaN semiconductor as an all solid-state potentiometric sensor for measuring anions in solutions in the control engineering field.

One of the rapidly developing research areas in the power system is the integration of distributed generation (DG) with the distribution system. The size and location of DG sources had a considerable impact on power system networks. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can be used to address multidimensional problems relating to DG size and location in distribution systems. Heuristic optimization offers a reliable and effective method for solving complicated real-world problems. This work focuses on a hybrid approach that combines the two heuristic optimization methods i.e., Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the optimal siting and sizing of DG in distribution systems. This hybrid approach combines ideas from GA and PSO and generates individuals in a new generation using both PSO mechanisms and the procedures found in GA. An extensive performance analysis of the IEEE 14 busbar standard test system is conducted to demonstrate the viability of the suggested methodologies. In the designated locations, DG is placed, and the outcomes have been verified. The results indicated that the right placement of DG injection enhances the voltage profile and lowers the distributed system’s power losses. These techniques offer unique methods for determining the location of the DG unit, demonstrating the potential of such a computational techniques to reduce computing time and complexity while simultaneously reducing human errors associated with hit-and-trail methods.

Background: Although the link between environmental lead exposure and several patterns of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported, its association with silent myocardial infarc-tion (SMI) has not been explored. We aimed to assess the association between blood lead levels (BLL) and risk of SMI. Methods: This analysis included 7283 (mean age 56.1±2.52 years, 52.5% women) participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were free of clinical CVD. Ascertainment of BLL done using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. SMI defined as ECG evidence of MI without history of MI. Multivariable lo-gistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SMI and BLL. Results: SMI was detected in 120 participants corresponding to an unweighted prevalence of 1.65%. Par-ticipants with higher levels of BLL had higher prevalence of SMI (0.4%, 0.9%, and 2.4% across BLL tertiles; p-value

Acute kidney injury (AKI), especially if recurring represents a risk factor for future chronic kidney disease. In intensive care units, increased intraabdominal pressure is well-recognized as a significant contributor of AKI. However, the importance of transiently increased intra-abdominal pressures procedures is less commonly appreciated during laparoscopic surgery, the use of which has rapidly increased over the last few decades. Unlike the well-known autoregulation of the renal cortical circulation, medulla perfusion is modulated via partially independent regulatory mechanisms and strongly impacted by changes in venous and lymphatic pressures. In our review paper, we will provide a comprehensive overview of this evolving topic, covering a broad range from basic pathophysiology up to and including current clinical relevance. Key regulators of oxidative stress such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, the activation of inflammatory response and humoral changes interacting with procedural pneumoperitoneum formation and AKI risk will be recounted. Moreover, we present an in-depth review of the interaction of pneumoperitoneum formation with general anesthetic agents and animal models of congestive heart failure. A better understanding of the relationship between pneumoperitoneum formation and renal perfusion will support basic and clinical research, leading to improved clinical care and collaboration among specialists.

In this study, a novel porous geopolymer mortar (GP) was produced and tested experimentally. Industrial waste materials/by-products were used as constituents of the GP, along with dune sand. One sample was produced as a control sample for benchmarking. For the rest of the samples, 15%, 30%, and 45% by volume, the solid constituents were replaced with expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) beads. These mortar samples were heat cured to depolymerize the EPS to cause porosity inside the samples. Indoor experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of produced porous GP to high heat flux. The porous samples were able to reduce heat transmission across the opposite surfaces. Induced porosity resulted in a decrement in compressive strength from 77.2 MPa for the control sample to 15.8 MPa for 45% porous sample. However, the limit lies within the standards for partitioning walls in buildings and pavements in urban areas to absorb rainwater.

The solid-state technique was utilized to make a single phase of delafossite CuAlO2, along with 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% silver doped CuAlO2 samples in this study. The content of the samples was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) equipped with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The polycrystalline nature of all of the analyzed cases was confirmed by structural analyses utilizing an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a simple typical peak of CAO rhombohedral phase. Raman, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy were used to study the structural, and optical energy band gap (Eg) of Ag doped CuAlO2 nanoparticles. The Kubelka–Munk function was used to calculate the optical band gap of ACAO alloys using diffuse reflectance spectra, and it altered as the Ag ion concentration increased. A. c. impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the dielectric characteristics of Ag doped CuAlO2 nanoparticles.

This survey was conducted on 4 tribes (Ababda, Bisharia, Nubian and Rashayda) live in the south of the Nile and the Eastern Desert of Egypt with the aim to document and compare the traditional herbal medicines and assess the relationships among these tribes. A total of 180 interviews were conducted with the Bedouins and herb healers. Thirty-nine species belonged to 36 genera and 27 families were employed. Fabaceae and Poaceae and Rutaceae were the species-rich families. The used wild species comprised 43.6%, cultivated species (38.5%) and the imported from herbalist shops (17.9%). The leaves were the most used parts (31%), followed by stems and fruits with about 22% each. Distinct species included Acacia nilotica is used in the treatment of dental pain with use value 33.3%, Cymbopogon schoenanthus subsp. proximus in treatment of both cough or headache with use values 35 and 30.6% and a combination of Acacia nilotica with Lawsonia inermis in the treatment of sore throat with use value 22.2%. The highest similarity was recorded between Nubian and Rashayda tribes (55.3%), Ababda and Bisharia (46.8%). Diarrhea and headache were the most popular diseases with 7 different treatments, cough and dental pains with 6 treatments.

The prolonged exposure to nicotine and the development of nicotine dependence have significant implications for cancer risk. Tobacco use, driven by nicotine addiction, is a major contributing factor to the development of various types of cancer. Smoking tobacco, in particular, has been strongly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, as well as other malignancies. The harmful chemicals present in tobacco products, including carcinogens, can cause DNA damage and promote the initiation and progression of cancerous cells. This article presents a comprehensive literature review on the neurobiology of nicotine dependence and its implications for tobacco use treatment. Nicotine dependence is a complex phenomenon involving various neurobiological mechanisms. When nicotine enters the body, it binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain's reward circuitry, triggering the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Over time, repeated nicotine exposure leads to neuroadaptive changes in the brain, resulting in increased motivation to seek and use the drug. Understanding the neurobiology of nicotine dependence is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. Pharmacological interventions, such as nicotine replacement therapy and medications like bupropion and varenicline, can help individuals manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, behavioral therapies and counseling play a vital role in enhancing self-efficacy and providing support for smoking cessation efforts. By reviewing the existing literature, this article sheds light on the intricate neural pathways and processes involved in nicotine addiction. It emphasizes the importance of a multidimensional approach that combines pharmacological treatments and behavioral interventions to address the physiological and psychological aspects of nicotine dependence. This knowledge can inform the development of more targeted and personalized treatment approaches to help individuals overcome tobacco addiction and improve their chances of successful smoking cessation.

Climate change has become the greatest threat to the survival of world and its ecosystem. With the irreversible impact on the ecosystem, problems like rise in sea level, food-insecurity, natural resources scarcity, seasonal disorders have increased over the past few years. Among these problems, the issue of water scarcity due to the lack of water resources and global warming has plagued several nations. Owing to the rising concerns over water scarcity United Nations (UN) has acknowledged water as a primary resource to the development of societies under the ‘Water Goal’ of the sustainable development goals. As the changing climate and intermittent availability of water resources pose major challenges to forecast demand, especially in countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has one of the highest per capita residential water consumption rates in the world. Therefore, the aim of this study is to propose an accurate water demand forecasting technique that incorporates all significant factors to predict the future water demands of the UAE. The forecasting model used is the Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), with the factors considered are mean temperature, mean rainfall, relative humidity, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI) and population growth. The LSTM model predicts the water demand forecasting in the UAE showing that the future demand will decrease from 1821 million m3 in 2018 to 1809.9 million m3 in 2027.

The subject of the research is to Development of laser ablation method for Fabrication of surface acoustic wave sensors on quartz wafer, the target of the GQW – is to design Acoustic wave sensor by using laser ablation method. By using the surface acoustic wave theory to sense by the signal and using this physical phenomenon, We will design the sensor which transduce an input electrical signal into a mechanical wave which unlike an electrical signal, can be easily influenced by physical phenomena. The device then transducers this wave back into an electrical signal on the secondary terminal of the sensor. Changes in amplitude, phase, frequency, or time-delay between the input and output electrical signals can be used to measure the presence of the desired Our work in this part, especially the practical part like temperature, vibration ,etc. we design a combs on the waver of quartz to make like an electrode primary electrode & secondary electrode by putting coats of cuppers & vanadium on the waver and then using the fiber optic laser regime to design this combs to can able transfer the signal by ablation the most important here to use the regime of fiber optic laser then we using this sensor in any electronic circuit How we will select the suitable kind of laser to design, this is the most important part, and what it will be the diameter of that combs of secondary and primary , how much the value of the wave length to select the micro distant combs to avoid any inductance and interference for transferred signal , also take the benefit of using MEMS theory in our project.

Food safety in dairy shops has gained increasing attention. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate dairy handlers' knowledge of food safety practices, assess compliance with food safety codes regarding facility maintenance and personal hygiene, and understand retail dairy shops' capacity to implement food safety standards. This research involved surveys and interviews with 110 dairy retail workers to gauge their grasp of food safety principles, their recognition of its importance, and the obstacles they encounter in implementing proper food safety measures. Among the participants, 93% were males under 35 years old, with experience ranging from 1 to 8 years. The study revealed that while over 83% of participants were familiar with standard procedures ensuring dairy product safety, only 37% understood “HACCP” in relation to food safety. Additionally, 42% believed that freezing food at -18°C eliminates food bacteria, and 56% thought food contamination could be identified by taste, indicating misconceptions among respondents. Results showed that 90% of survey participants had a strong awareness of food safety, with 98% emphasizing the importance of regular inspection of production areas for cleanliness to ensure a safe dairy production environment. However, less than 45% had received formal training on dairy-specific food safety practices, and only 53.6% had a documented system for correctly labeling and providing production dates for dairy products. These findings have significant implications for public health and food safety policies in Jordan. Furthermore, the study provides valuable insights to enhance food safety practices among dairy retail vendors.

Biofuels have many environmental and practical benefits as a transportation fuel. They are among the best alternatives to fossil fuels due to their capacity for negative carbon emissions, which is vital for archiving the global ambition of a Net-Zero Economy. However, conventional biofuel production takes place on inland sites and relies on freshwater and edible crops (or land suitable for edible crop production), which has led to the food vs fuel debate. It also suffers technical and economical barriers due to the energy balance and the cost of production compared to fossil fuels. Establishing a coastal integrated marine biorefinery (CIMB) system for the simultaneous production of biofuels, high-value chemicals, and other co-products could be the ultimate solution. The proposed system is based on coastal sites and relies on marine resources including seawater, marine biomass (seaweed) and marine microorganisms (marine yeasts and marine microalgae). The system will not require the use of arable land and freshwater in any part of the production chain and will be linked to offshore renewable energy sources to increase its economic and environmental value. This article aims to introduce the CIMB system as a potential vehicle for addressing global warming and speeding the global effort on climate change mitigation as well as increasing global water, food and energy security. I hope this perspective may serve to draw attention into research funding for this approach.

This study focuses on a new class of functions called sub-b-s-preinvex, that is a generalization of sub-b-s-convex and preinvex functions, and discusses some of their properties. A new sub-b-s-preinvex programming is introduced and the sufficient conditions of optimality under this type of function is established.

CO₂ emissions have been identified as the main driver for climate change, with devastating consequences for the global natural environment. The steel industry is responsible for ca. 8%-11% of global CO₂ emissions, due to high fossil-fuel and energy consumption. The onus is therefore on industry to remedy the environmental damage caused and to decarbonise production. This desk research report follows a two-tiered route: 1) exploring the Bio Steel Cycle; 2) proposing a seven-step strategy to overcome the challenges within the iron and steel industry. The true levels of CO₂ emissions in the steelmaking process, during the blast-furnace/basic-oxygen-furnace operation, will be detailed first, at 4.61t of CO₂ emissions/t of steel produced. The manuscript proposes a solution for reduced carbon emissions steelmaking with the Bio Steel Cycle components and detail on how to reach net-zero carbon emissions steel production. The 7-step-implementation-strategy as a potential solution to achieve net and true zero carbon emissions steel production in the short to medium-term. The findings of this are pointing towards the conclusion that CO₂ emissions seem to have been under-reported and under-estimated in the past, but the emission can be addressed if the correct scenarios for net-zero steel manufacturing are implemented by 2050.

People localization is a key building block in many applications. In this paper, we propose a deep learning based approach that significantly improves the localization accuracy and reduces the runtime of Wi-Fi based localization systems. Three variants of the deep learning approach are proposed, a sub-task architecture, an end-to-end architecture, and an architecture that incorporates prior knowledge. The performance of the three architectures under different conditions is evaluated and the significant improvement of the three architectures over existing approaches is demonstrated.

The scope of this work was part of our previous research on Pulsed Power Plasma Stimulation Technique. Electromagnetic fields generated during a pulsed power plasma discharge were simulated using a finite element method in the COMSOL RF module. The field distributions were calculated during and after the pulse. The current paper takes advantage of prior work measuring and modeling the current distribution in the plasma arc. Agreement with laboratory experimental measurements provides support for extension of the model to reservoir scale. The validated model was used to quantify the signal attenuation level in different medium environment.

Energy market price volatility and an upward trajectory of prices per unit of electricity have sent all industrial sectors and many economies to the brink of recession. Alongside the urgent need for decarbonisation of all industries, achieving a higher level of energy independence across all sectors seems imperative. A multi-disciplinary approach with a proposed system of CO₂ emissions reduction and capture technologies has the potential for short-term emissions reduction to near-zero in absolute terms. The findings of this research showed CO₂ emissions reduction of ~30% from 977t of CO_2e to 684t in one single blast furnace production cycle, by switching the energy provider generating energy exclusively from renewable sources. Replacing coal with biomass (BECCS), resulted in an additional reduction of ~30%, to CO_2e to 479t CO_2e. Installing solar PV panels for energy generation on site resulted in a further ~30% reduction, to 335 tonnes CO_2e. Finally, the installation of CO₂ filters reduced the CO₂ emissions to near-zero. Simultaneously, energy-saving and process improvement measures implementation (up to 60% efficiency increase), excess heat recovery (<30% of energy savings), and retrofitting renewable energy technology resulted in an energy independence of 88%. Short-term engineering solutions, partly subsidised in the UK, are readily available.

In this paper, we study the convergence of new implicit iterations dealing with n-tupled fixed point results for nonlinear contractive-like mappings on W-hyperbolic metric spaces. Herein, we demonstrate that our newly implicit iteration schemes have faster rate of convergence than implicit S-iteration process, implicit Ishikawa and Mann type iteration processes. Furthermore, a numerical simulation to improve our theoretical results is obtained.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is known for its high car ownership and usage as well its high GDP per capita. This is combined with low/ or no provision of public transportation (PT) systems, has been resulting in perceptual attitudes of full dependency on private car travel. The level of awareness of the benefits of reducing car use and increasing the travel by more sustainable options, has a great impact on social change and behaviour. The Kingdom is currently progressing towards a new phase of “national transfer” through implementation of strategic and sustainable measures and programs. The city of Riyadh is construction a massive metro-system in Riyadh, that is nearing completion and operation. The public is aware of the national agenda, aware of the newly constructed projects and aware of the needed social change to realize the new vision of the country. This paper aims to assess travel behaviour and attitudes towards public transportation of Saudi travellers’ who are witnessing the new transformation in the Kingdom and who are aware of the new sustainable projects. Depicted from the theory of random utility, a discrete choice model of the intent to use public transportation is calibrated as a function of social and attitudinal factors. An online survey was designed and carried out using social media means; a completed 399 questionnaires have been obtained and studied. The methodology includes examining attitudes and preferences of the participants towards using public transportation options against participants’ socio-economic data. The analysis was carried out using ordinal logistic regression analysis (OLR) which is an efficient technique that is derived from the theory of random utility. The results show a good support for PT; a higher support for public transportation modes, form participants who are young females, lower income groups and the university graduates were reported. The level of support seems higher with the higher level of awareness about the new PT system.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are being used extensively in modern industries that require high strength-to-weight ratio such as aerospace, automotive, motorsport, and sports equipment. However, although reinforcement with carbon fibers improves the mechanical properties of polymer, this comes on the expense of abrasive wear resistance. Therefore, to efficiently utilize CFRPs in dry sliding contacts, solid lubricant is used as a filler. Further, to facilitate fabrication of objects with complex geometries, selective laser sintering (SLS) can be employed. Accordingly, in the present work, graphite-filled carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 (CFR-PA12) specimens were prepared using SLS process to explore the dry sliding friction and wear characteristics of the composite. The test specimens were aligned along four different orientations in the build chamber of SLS machine to determine the orientation-dependent tribological properties. The experiments were conducted using pin-on-disc tribometer to measure the coefficient of friction (COF), interface temperature, friction-induced noise, and specific wear rate. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of tribo-surfaces was conducted to specify the dominant wear pattern. The results indicated that the steady state COF, contact temperature, and wear pattern of graphite-filled CFR-PA12 are orientation-independent, and that the contact temperature is likely to approach an asymptote far below the glass transition temperature of amorphous PA12 zones, thus eliminating the possibility of matrix softening. Additionally, the results showed that the Z-oriented specimen exhibits the lowest level of friction-induced noise along with the highest wear resistance. Moreover, SEM of tribo-surfaces determined that abrasive wear is the dominant wear pattern.

Abstract: The morphological characteristics of the tongue of the Rahmani sheep (Ovis aries) were described using gross inspection, morphometry analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Nine mature male sheep heads were slaughtered, and samples were taken right away. The tongue was dissected, and various samples were obtained for SEM. The tongue had two different types of lingual papillae: mechanical (filiform, conical, and lenticular papillae) and gustatory (fungiform and vallate papillae). The main papillae and several secondary and tertiary papillae combine to produce each filiform papilla. On the dorsal surface of the tongue, there were five different types of conical papillae dispersed throughout, as well as three huge conical papillae and various-sized flattening papillae in front of the frenulum linguae. Furthermore, on the torus linguae, two different types of lenticular papillae were found. The majority of fungiform papillae possessed prominent taste buds' pores and were button-shaped with a central depression region, particularly in the rostral section of the tongue. On either side of the torus linguae, there are two rows of round, elliptical, pyramidal, and oval circumvallate papillae. Each papilla is surrounded by flat, broad, undulating annular rods and papillary grooves. The lingual surface also included numerous lin-gual gland openings in a variety of forms, which increased in number at the root. Finally, variations in the form, size, and number of lingual papillae, as well as the distribution of lingual gland openings along the lingual surface, may provide efficiency to the Rahmani sheep's tongue when feeding hard forages and high fiber foods.

Background: High blood pressure (BP) has been implicated as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in several global populations, including in individuals of African ancestry. Despite the elevated burden of high BP-induced cardiovascular diseases in Africa and other global populations with African ancestry, limited genetic studies have been carried out to explore the genetic machinery driving this phenomenon. Methods: We performed univariate and multivariate analyses using Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and summary statistics data of 77,850 individuals of African ancestry for systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) traits. The six independent cohorts used included individuals derived from the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR), the UK Biobank, and the Million Veteran Program (MVP). Subsequently, we annotated, prioritized, visualized, and interpreted our meta-analyses results using FUMA, to gain further insight into the molecular mechanism(s) that contribute to the genetics of BP traits. Finally, loci attaining genome-wide significance, GWS (p<5x10-8) were also followed up with Bayesian fine-mapping to identify potential causal variants. Results: Our meta-analyses altogether identified 350 GWAS SNPs for SBP (166 SNPs) and DBP (184 SNPs, including two novel loci) whilst our multivariate GWAS method identified 166 SNPs (including three novel loci). Interestingly, in FUMA there was significant tissue enrichment of up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the sigmoid and transverse colon for SBP, as well as 10 significant gene sets from MAGMA gene set analyses, However, for DBP, no significant DEGs nor gene sets in MAGMA were found; instead, in DBP for gene property analysis for tissue specificity nine candidates were found to be significant and all nine were in different brain regions. Finally, Bayesian fine-mapping revealed that only 11 variants from the lead SNPs had >50% posterior probability (PP) of being causal and they included novel variant rs562545 (MOBP, PP = 77%) and 10 other previously published variants. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the importance of performing GWAS in large sample sizes of global populations of African ancestry, including continental Africans; which yield novel insights, from novel loci to novel pathways/tissue expression candidates. Large-scale genomic datasets are required to enhance further discovery and fine-mapping of high-risk loci/variants in highly susceptible groups for cardiovascular disease and other related traits. Our study highlights the need for diversity in genetic research and the importance of expanding large GWASs to include ancestrally diverse populations.

With the rapid expansion of intelligent resource-constrained devices and high-speed communication technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) has earned a wide recognition as the primary standard for low-power lossy networks (LLNs). Nevertheless, IoT infrastructures are vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to the constraints in computation, storage, and communication capacity of the endpoint devices. From one side, the majority of newly developed cyber-attacks are formed by slightly mutating formerly established cyber-attacks to produce a new attack tending to be treated as a normal traffic through the IoT network. From the other side, the influence of coupling the deep learning techniques with cybersecurity field has become a recent inclination of many security applications due to their impressive performance. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive development of a new intelligent and autonomous deep learning-based detection and classification system for cyber-attacks in IoT communication networks leveraging the power of convolutional neural networks, abbreviated as (IoT-IDCS-CNN). The proposed IoT-IDCS-CNN makes use of the high-performance computing employing the robust CUDA based Nvidia GPUs and the parallel processing employing the high-speed I9-Cores based Intel CPUs. In particular, the proposed system is composed of three subsystems: Feature Engineering subsystem, Feature Learning subsystem and Traffic classification subsystem. All subsystems are developed, verified, integrated, and validated in this research. To evaluate the developed system, we employed the NSL-KDD dataset which includes all the key attacks in the IoT computing. The simulation results demonstrated more than 99.3% and 98.2% of cyber-attacks’ classification accuracy for the binary-class classifier (normal vs anomaly) and the multi-class classifier (five categories) respectively. The proposed system was validated using k-fold cross validation method and was evaluated using the confusion matrix parameters (i.e., TN, TP, FN, FP) along with other classification performance metrics including precision, recall, F1-score, and false alarm rate. The test and evaluation results of the IoT-IDCS-CNN system outperformed many recent machine-learning based IDCS systems in the same area of study.

Scientific studies on the impact of wood species on solid fuel production, performance, and sustainability are grossly inadequate. The knowledge of this is imperative as users of solid fuels are increasing rapidly, especially in Africa. On this note, it becomes necessary to explore measures that will improve its efficiency and sustainability as an energy source. This study investigates some properties of selected wood species used as an energy source in Nigeria and their pelleting potential. Nine (9) samples were characterized and assessed for suitability of pelleting following four wood pellet quality standards. The findings revealed Anogeissus leiocarpus as the species with the best rating score in terms of fuel properties while Vitellaria paradoxa as the lowest. However, in terms of conformity with the four wood pellets standards, Khaya senegalensis, Parkia biglobosa and Anogeissus leiocarpus having presented density, calorific value, sulfur, arsenic, cadmium, and lead within the limits of the wood pellet quality standards were considered the best wood species in terms of fuel suitability and pelleting potential. The findings therefore suggest that not all wood species are suitable as fuel. Thus, for species that do not meet the standard wood pellet requirements, alternatives such as the use of biomass blends, additives, or process adjustments can be employed to adapt the quality to the standards or by using the fuels in improved cookstoves.

In the present work we study the properties of geodesic sub-$ (\alpha,b,s) $-preinvex functions on Hadamard manifolds and establish some basic properties in both general and differential cases. Further, we study sufficient conditions of optimality and proved some new inequalities under geodesic sub-($ \alpha,b,s $)-preinvexity.

Long-term health consequences are influenced by circumstances that occur during pregnancy. The confluence of the maternal and fetal circulations occurs at the placenta, which is the first or-gan to develop. Placental pathology can provide an accurate diagnosis of inflammation inside the amniotic sac. The pathological alterations of preterm placentas provide evidence for the causes of numerous perinatal pathologies, including spontaneous preterm births. This retrospec-tive study aimed to re-examine placentas regarded as normal by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in our institution so that grading and staging of any evident inflammatory response could be evaluated and associated with baby gender. Eighty-four full-term placentas were col-lected after delivery. Placentas that were considered normal and were not sent to the histo-pathology department were taken. Morphological examination of fresh placenta was conducted. Full thicknesses of placenta samples were taken from central and marginal regions of placental disc. Fetal and maternal inflammatory responses syndrome were assessed. Villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) and chronic deciduitis also were evaluated in the placenta. Immunohistochemis-try (IHC) was also performed to evaluate patterns of inflammation in the placenta using an-ti-CD8 and anti-CD68 antibodies. The correlation between the silent pathologies and clinical complications or involvement of developing fetal inflammatory response syndrome was meas-ured. In this study, seventeen (20%) maternal inflammatory samples and ten (12%) fetal inflam-matory samples showed inflammatory responses. The frequency of chronic deciduitis and villi-tis of unknown etiology was more remarkable among Saudi pregnant women than the previ-ously reported findings in the literature of placental pathology. The prevalence of fetal and ma-ternal inflammatory response was greater in the placentas of mothers of males than in placentas of female mothers. Grading placental inflammation usually predict the degree of maternal an-ti-fetal cellular rejection. Fetal inflammatory response syndrome usually goes unnoticed in Sau-di Arabia. There are differences in the inflammatory response in the placenta based on the sex of the newborn. Increasing the number of placental samples that must be sent for microscopic in-spection may be preferable due to their significance in identifying the causes of chronic disor-ders.

The excited-state lifetimes of the anticoagulant drug warfarin (W) in water and in the absence and presence of methyl-β-cyclodextrins (Me-β-CD) were recorded using time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Selective excitation of the open and cyclic protonated isomers of W were acquired with laser emitting diodes (LED) producing 320 and 280 nm excitation pulses, respectively. Formation of the inclusion complex was checked by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, and the values of binding constants (2.9 × 10³ M^–1 and 4.2 × 10² M^–1 for protonated and deprotonated forms, respectively) were extracted from the spectrophotometric data. Both absorption and time-resolved fluorescence results established that the interior of the macromolecular host binds preferentially the open protonated form, red shifts the maximum of its absorption of light at ~305 nm, extends its excited-state lifetime, and decreases its emission quantum yield (ФF). Collectively, sequestration of the open guest molecules decreases markedly their radiative rate constants (kr), likely due to formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes in both the ground and excited states. Due to lack of interactions, no change was observed in the excited-state lifetime of the cyclic form in the presence of Me-β-CD. The host also increases the excited-state lifetime and ФF of the drug deprotonated form (W¯). These later findings could be attributed to the increased rigidity inside the cavity of Me-β-CD. The pKa values extracted from the variations of the UV–visible absorption spectra of W versus the pH of aqueous solution showed that the open isomer is more acidic in both ground and excited states. The positive shifts in pKa values induced by three derivatives of cyclodextrins: HE-β-CD, Ac-β-CD, and Me-β-CD supported the preferential binding of these hosts to open isomers over cyclic.

The Bcl-2 family plays a crucial role in regulating cell apoptosis, making it an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this study, a series of indole-based compounds, U1-6, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anticancer activity against BCL-2-expressing cancer cell lines. The binding affinity, safety profile, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis effects of the compounds were tested. The designed compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity at sub-micromolar IC50 concentrations against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and A549 cell lines. Notably, U2 and U3 demonstrated the highest activity, particularly against MCF-7 cells. Respectively, both U2 and U3 showed potential Bcl-2 inhibition activity with IC50 values of 1.2 ± 0.02 and 11.10 ± 0.07 µM using an ELISA binding assay compared to 0.62 ± 0.01 µM for gossypol, employed as positive control. Molecular docking analysis suggested stable interactions of compound U2 at the Bcl-2 binding site through hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking, and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, U2 demonstrated significant induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase. Importantly, U2 displayed a favorable safety profile on HDF human dermal normal fibroblast cells at 10-fold greater IC50 compared to MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of compound U2 as a Bcl-2 inhibitor and provide insights into its molecular mechanisms of action.

This research aims to explore the complex interplay between supply chain resilience (SCR), digital supply chain (DSC), and sustainability, focusing on the moderating influence of supply chain dynamism. The goal is to understand how these elements interact within the framework of contemporary supply chain management and how they collectively contribute to enhancing sustainability outcomes. The sample size is 300 CEOs and managers. The study approach integrates quantitative research methods. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is utilized to quantitatively analyze the direct and indirect effects of SCR and DSC on sustainability. The numerous surveys we conduct among supply chain ecosystem stakeholders provide a rich picture of practical implications and contextual nuances. In sum, our early findings generally support a positive relationship between SCR and sustainability in and of itself decrying the need for more resilient supply networks for sustainability. We further find the beneficial impact of digital technologies in promoting sustainability via enhancing environmental control and controlling for efficiency in supply chains. We also offer evidence to show that supply chain dynamism compounds the positive logic between SCR and DSC and sustainability. As a final word, it must be noted that our work speaks to the burgeoning Supply Chain Dynamism as moderator literature by examining the direct and contingent effects of SCR and DSC on not only performance but sustainability. By shedding light on the moderating role of dynamism, the study provides fresh insights into the multifaceted nature of supply chain management and sustainability practices. The study's findings enhance theoretical understanding by elucidating the synergistic effects of SCR, DSC, and sustainability in dynamic supply chain settings. It augments existing theoretical frameworks by integrating concepts of resilience, digitalization, and sustainability into a comprehensive model. Practical and economical, the research offers actionable guidance for organizations aiming to improve sustainability performance through resilient and digitally advanced supply chains. By acknowledging the role of supply chain dynamism, managers can tailor strategies to manage disruptions effectively and leverage digital innovations. Economically, adopting sustainable practices can result in cost savings and competitive advantages. The research emphasizes the importance of aligning supply chain strategies with sustainability goals to drive long-term value and societal impact.

Rebar cages form the skeletal framework of reinforced concrete structural members. They comprise longitudinal and transverse reinforcing bars, usually connected by tie wires. Past studies have identified tie-wire connections as the "weak links" in large, prefabricated rebar cages, leading to their failure during site handling and construction stages. Recent research has explored the use of mechanical U-bolt connectors to bolster stability and safety of rebar cages while reducing their vulnerability and risk of failure. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation of a new type of mechanical connector, referred to as "Cage Clamp", to enhance rebar cage stability and safety. Component-level experimental tests are conducted to determine the force-displacement response of Cage Clamp connectors for crossbar connections in different degrees of freedom. The results highlight the remarkable strength and stiffness of Cage Clamp connectors, significantly outperforming traditional tie-wire connections. Furthermore, full-scale experimental tests are performed on a circular underground pile-shaft rebar cage with Cage Clamp connectors to assess its behavior under various site handling conditions. The data obtained from these experiments are used to construct and refine detailed 3D finite element models of the rebar cages, capable of capturing the complex behavior of rebar cages with Cage Clamp connectors. Using the numerical model, a sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the effect of the number of Cage Clamps on the deflection and stability of the rebar cage. The findings show that using cage clamps to connect pick-up rebar with lateral reinforcement at every 8 to 10 feet is sufficient to ensure the stability of the cage during typical site handling conditions. The results of this study serve as a basis for establishing analysis, design, fabrication, and handling guidelines for rebar cages, contributing to safe and efficient construction practices.

This paper aims to investigate impact of employees’ gender on OCB as per the employees’ perception in Jordanian governmental hospitals. A convenient sample of 126 employees working in the three main governmental hospitals in north of Jordan has been taken for the purpose of this study. The collected data includes linguistic terms that suffer from uncertainty which, in turn, cannot be dealt with traditional numerical values. The result prove that gender impact on OCB has shown statistically significant differences at (α=0.05) as far as altruism, courtesy, and civic virtue are concerned; and this variable stands in favor of males with the total score of 0.011%. Similarly, as far as the effect of age factor on OCB is concerned, there have been statistically significant differences at (α=0.05) in relation to courtesy, sportsmanship, and civic virtue with the total score of 0.27%. Finally, the results provide a baseline data for further studies which may contribute more significant in the field of OCB.

Inflation is a crucial macroeconomic indicator which measures changes in the general level of prices of goods and services. In recent years, a series of successive events affected the inflation rates. To fight this increase in inflation, governments start to take different actions through their monetary and fiscal policies. In this research 10 independent parameters were used to see their effect on inflation rates. Some are traditional like GDP, Population, and exchange rate while others are some new technology related parameters like E-money payments transactions and number of Institutions offering payment services/instruments. The dependent parameter is the consumer price index (CPI). All parameters were taken in 8 years period (2013-2020). Supervised machine learning is used to run a robust regression model. The results show that technology advancement in payments is not a catalyst for price inflation if it is used properly and under regulations and control monetary policies. The results direct regulators to have a good understanding of the situation and take the right action in their policies of adopting fintech businesses.

Livability is one of the paramount characteristics of the current era that architects striving to achieve. This situation becomes even more important on commercial streets, whose functional diversity and constant movement of people require special action. In Erbil, commercial streets suffer from neglect in terms of adopting places for livability. Although it has huge potential to form an attractive and entertaining environment other than shopping. Some countries have developed standards for the design of commercial streets. The basic requirements are the same, but details usually vary according to the diverse needs of people. The research aims to identify a comprehensive framework (A Checklist) for placemaking to form the basis for measuring livability in one of the vital streets in Erbil city. This Framework is considered the basis for assessing and designing at the same time, supporting designers to achieve two main pillars: develop existing streets and suggest basic principles for future street design. This article adopts a practical framework, a questionnaire, a field survey, and observation as research methods. The research concluded that altogether placemaking dimensions are essential in activating livability, and a sort of balance between the main dimensions appeared. The more applied strategies, the higher the street livability.

This paper presents a new adaptive and optimal algorithm for the trajectory tracking control of a quadrotor using iterative learning algorithm (ILA) and enumerative learning algorithm. Ordinarily the ILA, as an adaptive method, can perform well with PID control to improve the controller’s performance for a nonlinear system. Quadrotors are considered as non-linear and unstable systems which the use of an adaptive and optimal controller can increase its stability and decrease error level. In this method, a PID controller is proposed for the outer and inner control loops of a quadrotor and the ILA is used to adapt PID control gains. Subsequently, an enumerative learning algorithm is used to optimize the learning rates of the ILA. For this purpose, at first, the dynamic model of the quadrotor is acquired. After that, the structure of the inner and outer control loops is defined. In the end, the simulation results for the trajectory tracking control of a quadrotor are demonstrated. Through simulation, it is concluded that as time increases, the performance of the suggested control method in trajectory tracking control becomes better and better and error signals convergence to zero.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are characterized by dysregulated signaling pathways that are crucial for tumor formation and progression. The efficacy of traditional therapies is limited, particularly in treatment of PNETs at advanced stage. Epigenetic alterations profoundly impact the activity of signaling pathways in cancer development, offering potential opportunities for drug development. There is currently a lack of extensive research on epigenetic regulation in PNETs. To fill this gap, we first summarize major signaling events which are involved in PNET development. Then, we discuss the epigenetic regulation of these signaling pathways in the context of both PNET and commonly occurring, and therefore more extensively studied, malignancies. Finally, we will offer perspective on the future research direction of PNET epigenome and its potential applications in patient care.

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have garnered significant interest in the field of molecular magnetism due to their unique magnetic properties at the nanoscale. These molecular systems exhibit magnetisation behaviour reminiscent of conventional bulk magnets but with distinct advantages such as size-dependent properties and potential applications in quantum computing and high-density data storage. However, challenges remain in harnessing their properties for practical applications, including their susceptibility to degradation and limited control over their assembly and organisation.

Mental health issues can have significant impacts on individuals and communities and hence on social sustainability. There are several challenges facing mental health treatment, however, more important is to remove the root causes of mental illnesses because doing so can help prevent mental health problems from occurring or recurring. This requires a holistic approach to understanding mental health issues that are missing from the existing research. Mental health should be understood in the context of social and environmental factors. More research and awareness are needed, as well as interventions to address root causes. The effectiveness and risks of medications should also be studied. This paper proposes a big data and machine learning-based approach for the automatic discovery of parameters related to mental health from Twitter data. The parameters are discovered from three different perspectives, Drugs & Treatments, Causes & Effects, and Drug Abuse. We used Twitter to gather 1,048,575 tweets in Arabic about psychological health in Saudi Arabia. We built a big data machine learning software tool for this work. A total of 52 parameters were discovered for all three perspectives. We defined 6 macro-parameters (Diseases & Disorders, Individual Factors, Social & Economic Factors, Treatment Options, Treatment Limitations, and Drug Abuse) to aggregate related parameters. We provide a comprehensive account of mental health, causes, medicines and treatments, mental health and drug effects, and drug abuse, as seen on Twitter, discussed by the public and health professionals. Moreover, we identify their associations with different drugs. The work will open new directions for social media-based identification of drug use and abuse for mental health, as well as other micro and macro factors related to mental health. The methodology can be extended to other diseases and provides a potential for discovering evidence for forensics toxicology from social and digital media.

This study introduces and demonstrates a comprehensive, accurate, unbiased approach to robust quantitative comparison of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) appropriate for establishing substantial equivalence (or lack thereof) between tobacco products. The approach is demonstrated across a family of thirteen pen- and pod-style ENDS products. Methods employed consist of formulating a robust emissions surface regression model, quantifying the empirical accuracy of the model as applied to each product, evaluating relationships between product design characteristics and maximum emissions characteristics, and presenting results in formats useful to researchers, regulators, and consumers. Results provide a response surface to characterize emissions (total particulate matter and constituents thereof) from each ENDS appropriate for use in a computer model and for conducting quantitative exposure comparisons between products. Results demonstrate that emissions vary as a function of puff duration, flow rate, E-Liquid composition, and device operating power. Further, results indicate that regulating design characteristics of ENDS devices and consumables may not achieve desired public health outcomes; it is more effective to regulate maximum permissible emissions directly. Three emissions outcome measures (yield per puff, mass concentration and constituent mass ratio) are recommended for adoption as standard quantities for reporting by manufacturers and research laboratories. The approach provides a means of (a) quantifying and comparing maximal emissions from ENDS products spanning their entire operating envelope, (b) comparative evaluation of ENDS devices and consumable design characteristics, and (c) establishing comparative equivalence of maximal emissions from ENDS. A consumer-oriented product emissions dashboard is proposed for comparative evaluation of ENDS exposure potential. Maximum achievable power dissipated in the coil of ENDS is identified as a potentially effective regulatory parameter.

Due to its built-up chemoresistance after prolonged usage, the demand for replacing platinum in metal-based drugs (MBD) is rising. The first MBD approved by the FDA for cancer therapy was cisplatin in 1978. Even after nearly four and a half decades of trials, there has been no significant improvement in osteosarcoma (OS) therapy. In fact, many MBD have been developed, but the chemoresistance problem raised by platinum remains unresolved. This motivates us to elucidate the possibilities of the copper and zinc (CuZn) combination to replace platinum in MBD. Thus, the anti-chemoresistance properties of CuZn and their physiological functions for OS therapy are highlighted. Herein, we summarise their chelators, main organic solvents, and ligand functions in their structures that are involved in anti-chemoresistance properties. Through this review, it is rational to discuss their ligands’ roles as biosensors in drug delivery systems. Hereafter, an in-depth understanding of their redox and photoactive function relationships is provided. The disadvantage is that the other functions of biosensors cannot be elaborated on here. As a result, this review is being developed, which is expected to intensify OS drugs with higher cure rates. Nonetheless, this advancement intends to solve the major chemoresistance obstacle towards clinical efficacy.

Face milling is a well known commercial process highly used in heavy industries that consumes high amount of power. Besides power issue, modern manufacturing industries are aiming for per part cost reduction keeping the product quality unimpaired. Unexpectedly if the part is rejected in any stage of manufacturing, the cost of manufacturing dramatically increases. Major cause of part rejection is excessive tool wear that imparts poor surface profile or catastrophic tool failure that causes adherence of broken tool debris onto machined surface. Furthermore, the tool wear is associated with sliding distance (frictional distance) and the tool life quantifies the cost of tools. As such, from the perspective of manufacturing industries it is imperative to optimize the surface quality parameter, cost of part, power consumption, and material removal – this is exactly what is accomplished here. By this work, it is possible to conserve power consumption, produce parts with lower cost, manufacture with uncompromising surface quality and enhanced material removal rate. Moreover, as intermediate factors of interest, the influences of sliding distance, tool life and tool flank wear on the overall machining performance are evaluated. The multi-objective optimization by Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) revealed that for improved product performance and fast manufacturing (case 1) optimum results are: feed per tooth fz = 0.25 mm/tooth, cutting speed vc = 392.6 m/min and cutting length l = 0.5 mm; for resource conservation (case 2) the optimum results are: feed per tooth fz = 0.125 mm/tooth, cutting speed vc = 392.6 m/min, cutting length l = 0.5 mm.

The study titled "Molecular Choreography of DNA: Insights and Innovations" explores the intricate dance of DNA, shedding light on its structure, function, and regulation. This comprehensive review delves into the historical significance of DNA research, from Watson and Crick's double helix discovery to recent innovations in genomics and molecular biology. The review highlights DNA's roles in replication, repair, gene regulation, and chromatin dynamics, emphasizing the precision and complexity of its molecular choreography. Innovations like CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and advanced sequencing technologies have revolutionized our understanding of DNA, opening new avenues for scientific exploration. This study aims to provide readers with a deeper appreciation of DNA's central role in life's choreographed processes.

In this article, we are interested in a new generic class of nonlocal fractional impulsive differential inclusions with linear sectorial operator and Lipschitz multivalued function in the setting of finite dimensional Banach spaces. By modifying the definition of PC-mild solutions initiated by Shu, we succeeded to determine new conditions that sufficiently guarantee the existence of the solutions. The results are obtained by combining techniques of fractional calculus and fixed point theorem for contraction maps. We also characterize the topological structure of the set of solutions. Finally, we provide a demonstration to address the applicability of the theoretical results.

There has been no significant efficacy in treatment for osteosarcoma (OS) metastasis after nearly four decades of trials. This motivates us to elucidate OS therapies according to their four bidirectional mutation stages. To refresh the OS therapy status quo, the historical developments and clinical advancements are briefly described. However, the main issue of metastasis remains unresolved, accounting for 90% of pulmonary metastasis deaths. Thus, this metastasis problem is related to immune evasion and chemoresistance that are being induced after long-term treatment by the use of immunotherapy for tumorigenesis. Therefore, it is rationale to discuss the relationship cycles of mutation stages including tumorigenesis, metastasis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. Even though many combinational and targeted therapies have been developed to intensify these mutation treatments, successful clinical translations with higher cure rates are still rare. Through this review, an in-depth understanding of the bidirectional relationship between the four OS mutation stages and their respective therapies is provided. Herein, we summarise the medicines used to treat tumorigenesis, including COLGALT2 inhibitors, Tra2B, and AGAP1, miR-148a and miR-21-5p EVs, and the lncRNA LIFR-AS1. Following the medicines used to treat metastasis are AXL, miR-135a-5p, mRNA BCL6, TGFβ1, Tim-3, SOCS5, CASC15, KLF3-AS1, PDCD4, ATG5, and Rab22a-NeoF1. Then the medicines used to treat immune evasion are N-cadherin, anti-IL-9, USP12 inhibitor, IgG-4+ B-cells, LAP inhibitor, anti-Wnt2 mAb, anti-αvβ8 integrin, HK2-mediated IκBα, IDO inhibitor with NO, and TGF-βRII with anti-IgG1. Finally, the medicines used to treat chemoresistance are DHFR, FPGS, HSP-90AA1, XCT-790, ATKI, and IGF1. As a result, this contribution is expected to serve as a reference and guide for scientists and clinicians.

The study of different forms of preconditioners for solving a system of nonlinear equations, by using Newton’s method, is presented. The preconditioners provide numerical stability and rapid convergence with reasonable computation cost, whenever chosen accurately. Different families of iterative methods can be constructed by using a different kind of preconditioners. The multi-step iterative method consists of a base method and multi-step part. The convergence order of base method is quadratic and each multi-step add an additive factor of one in the previously achieved convergence order. Hence the convergence of order of an m-step iterative method is m + 1. Numerical simulations confirm the claimed convergence order by calculating the computational order of convergence. Finally, the numerical results clearly show the benefit of preconditioning for solving system of nonlinear equations.

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the popular pulse crops grown for traditional consumption, not only in Oman but also in Arabian Peninsula and other countries. In Oman, the famers living in and around high altitude mountain areas mostly grow it. This paper highlights features of variation in seed color and diversity in seed traits found in collected accessions from the joint collecting missions of 2008-2010 between the staff of College of Agriculture, Sultan Qaboos University and the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries throughout all the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. 41 seed samples/accessions were collected from 38 sites. Of these, the highest number of accessions was collected from Batinah South governorate (38) represented mostly by the mountains of Rustaq, followed by the mountains of Interior/Al-Dakhliyah (8), and Dhahira & Buraimi (4). Only one accession was collected from mountains of the Eastern/ Al-Sharqiyah governorates. The seed accessions were found diverse with respect to all seed characters studied, i.e. seed length (cm) and width (cm) and 1000-seed weight (g) besides seed color. The faba bean accessions were classified into 9 genetically diverse clusters based on the Principal Component Analysis, which indicated that the contribution of seed width and 100-seed weight to the total variation existing in indigenous germplasm collected from all the governorates of Oman. It was found from the critical analysis of seed colors that 38 accessions were homogenous (pure) with one color and three were heterogeneous with combinations of colors.

This article will briefly review the progress of h-BN based solid-state metal semiconductor metal (MSM) neutron detectors. In the last decade, several groups have been working on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) based solid-state neutron detectors. Recently, the detection efficiency of 59% has been reported. Efficient, low-cost neutron detectors made from readily available materials are essential for various applications. Neutron detectors are widely used to detect fissile materials and nuclear power plants for security applications. The most common and widely used neutron detectors are 3He based, which are sometimes bulky, difficult to transport, have high absorption length, need relatively high bias voltage (>1000 V), and have low Q-value (0.764 MeV). Also, 3He is not readily available material. Thus, there is a strong need to find an alternative detection material. 10B isotope has a high neutron absorption cross-section, and it has been tested as a coating on the semiconducting materials. Due to the two-step process, neutron capture through 10B, and then electron-hole pair generation in a typical semiconducting material, the efficiency of these devices is not up to the mark. The progress in h-BN based detectors requires a review to envision the further improvement in this technology.

This work investigated the effects of manufacturing variations including coil resistance, initial pod mass, and e-liquid color on coil lifetime and aerosol generation of Vuse ALTO pods. Random samples of pods were used until failure (where e-liquid was consumed, and coil resistance increased to high value indicating a coil break). Initial coil resistance, initial pod mass, and e-liquid net mass ranged between 0.89 to 1.14 [], 6.48 to 6.61 [g], and 1.88 to 2.00 [g] respectively. Coil lifetime with light color e-liquid was (mean) = 149, (standard deviation) = 10.7 puffs while pods with dark color e-liquid was = 185, = 22.7 puffs with a difference of ~36 puffs (p &lt;0.001). Total mass of e-liquid consumed until coil failure was = 1.93, = 0.035 [g]. TPM yield per puff of all test pods for the first session (brand new pods) was = 0.0123, = 0.0003 [g]. During usage, TPM yield per puff of pods with light color e-liquid was relatively steady while it was continuously decreasing for pods with dark e-liquid. Coil lifetime and TPM yield per puff were not correlated with either variation in initial coil resistance or variation in initial pod mass. The absence of e-liquid in the pod is an important factor in causing coil failure. Small bits of the degraded coil could be potentially introduced to the aerosol. There is a potential correlation of e-liquid color with both coil lifetime and TPM yield per puff. Change of e-liquid color might have been a result of oxidation which changed some nicotine into nicotyrine.

This paper demonstrates an on-off keying (OOK) super-regenerative quenching transmitter operating in 402- 405MHz MICs band applications. To reduce power consumption, the transmitter is controlled by a novel digital quenching signal controller that generates a digital control signal to start transmitter operation when a baseband signal is input to the transmitter. The digital signal controller consists of an envelope detector, a comparator, and a quench timer designed using a state machine to synchronize the operation between the digital controller and the input baseband signal. The transmitter consists of a Colpitts oscillator operating in double operating frequency followed by a frequency divider by 2, this configuration reduces system area and improves phase noise and signal spectrum. The proposed transmitter is implemented using UMC 130nm CMOS technology, and a 1.2V supply. Simulation shows that the proposed transmitter can meet MICS band mask specifications with data rates up to 1Mbps and total power dissipation of 537uW.

In recent decades, widespread damage to structures due to destructive earthquakes has encouraged researchers to use seismic control systems. One of the most important structures is bridges, which should maintain their service after severe earthquakes. One of the ways to control the bridge is to isolation the deck from the substructure, which results in high displacements at different points in the bridge and the residual displacements within the separator itself, thus requiring repair and replacement of these systems after severe earthquakes. Therefore, the use of new seismic separation systems on bridges has always been important. The purpose of this project is to utilize a new memory-shaped seismic separator system to investigate the seismic performance of v-shaped column bridges , in which case the effect of earthquake orientation and its effects on responses the earthquake will also be assessed. Due to the ever-increasing advances in various intelligent materials, such as shape memory alloys, and their unique capacities, such as back-centering, and high fatigue and corrosion resistance, in this study, these materials have been used as a complementary component along with lead core separators. The shape memory alloy has been used as 4 vertical rods that connect two separating parts to each other and in this research the diameter and location of these rods will be calculated using optimization algorithm in Matlab software.

This paper evaluates the global sustainable competitiveness of three blocks of power (US, China and EU) based on OGT (Organic Growth Theory) structure. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of COVID-19 on three measures of global sustainable competitiveness, economy, environment and social is also presented. OGT is a well-thought-through and standard framework for evaluation of any type of organiza-tion in their pathway to experience truly sustainable growth. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is used as an economic measure; total carbon emissions equivalent is used as an environmental measure and HMI (Human Development Index) as a social measure. It is concluded that the pandemic has paused the evolution of countries to be truly world centric countries. However, the recovery plans seem to be highly aligned with the OGT scores and it is expected that the scores to improve dramatically.

Innovation and technology are important tools of minerals sector efficiency and productivity im-provement. The uptake of technologies has proven important levelrs to improve the productivity of mining sector. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of mine-level productivity by using a global data of copper, gold, and platinum from 1991-2020. Various drivers of proioductivity have been analysed to draw policy insights. Empirical findings reveal significant disparities in technical efficiency and productivity across mines and regions. A further decomposition of TFP into its different components suggest that the adoption of innovative practices and investment in technology adoption could improve the overall productivity of these commodities. The findings also suggest that an appropriate input mix and optimal scale of production could boost platinum mining productivity. Regional disparities in productivity in different commodities (e.g., South Africa vs. Zimbabwe) give policymakers with insights into how to support production scale and productivity through appropriate input mixtures.

The research aims to improve some of the physical and hydro-physical properties of some Vertisols in the southern region (part of the eastern Houran Plateau) in Sweda Governorate at the south of Syria. Using different quantities of volcanic ash, soil samples were collected from the Al-Thahallah village from a depth of (0-30) cm, The experiment was designed according to the complete random design with one factor that represents the ash quantity (1.25, 2.5, 5) %, with three replicates for each treatment in addition to the control treatment a0. The experiment was carried out within the plastic pots during agricultural season 2018/2019, in which the wheat of the Sham variety 3 were cultivated as a cover plant. The results showed that the addition of volcanic ash at the quantity of 5% led to a significant increase in the infiltration rate by (328.60) %,%, where the filtration rate increased from 0.42 cm/hr -1 to 1.80 cm.h-1, as well as for each of the air porosity by (89) % and the volume of infiltrate water by (40) %, compared with the control. The above-mentioned addition also resulted in a decrease in both dry bulk density, total soil porosity and volumetric swelling coefficient by (18.60, 5.80, 314) % Respectively, compared to the control. The addition also contributed to the reduce in the weighted moisture content when saturation and the field capacity, at the level of significance of 5%. The research recommends adding volcanic ash to the soil at a quantity of 5%, and adding enhancements with volcanic ash at various levels such as organic waste.

Machine Learning (ML) has brought about a transformative era in reactor operations, reshaping monitoring, control, and optimization strategies. This survey comprehensively explores the diverse spectrum of ML applications in industrial reactors. From real-time sensor analysis ensuring reactor functionality to adaptive control algorithms ensuring stability, ML's impact is profound and multifaceted. The benefits of ML are equally evident in optimization, encompassing performance trend prediction, proactive maintenance, and fine-tuning of operations for enhanced efficiency. This review identifies dominant ML techniques, operations stages receptive to ML integration, core data sources, and critical input-output parameters. Aimed at both academics and practitioners, this exploration enriches reactor technologies, unlocking their full potential through insights driven by ML.

The outbreak of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already taken on pandemic proportions and has affected more than 100 countries in recent weeks. It is imperative that global healthcare systems are prepared. Containment initiatives in Jordan, on the other hand, have decreased new cases by over 63%. The Jordanian national health system has been very pleased with its ability to adequately meet the needs of the patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, and includes intensive care. From 2 March to 14 April 2020, between 4% and 8% of active infected patients in Jordan registered daily in intensive care. The percentage is very low.

Understanding how the public perceives various risks and hazards associated with our well-being and health is crucial for government and policymakers. The present research aimed to assess the public's perception of various risks and hazards associated with their well-being and health. The study combined two well-known approaches to risk assessment, namely, the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and the psychometric paradigm. Seven risk attributes were chosen from the risk perception literature to evaluate 27 risks and hazard activities using a survey questionnaire developed based on the psychometric paradigm literature. The collected data was then analyzed using AHP to determine the priority weight for each risk attribute. The results showed that the most important risk attribute was voluntariness of risk, followed by chronic-catastrophic and newness of risk. Furthermore, the study found that natural hazards were ranked the highest, followed by refugee influx and fire hazards. In contrast, the mobile phone was perceived as the lowest type of risk. The findings can be used by policymakers to develop effective and sustainable risk communication strategies. Policymakers can use the research findings to create effective and sustainable risk communication strategies that help the government to inform and educate the public about potential risks, improve coordination among agencies and stakeholders, and enhance public trust in government decision-making.

Since the 1980s, a growing interest in goat milk was noticed due to the nutritional values and health benefits of this milk, which resulted in increasing goat populations and milk production worldwide. This comprehensive review elaborates on goat milk composition compared to other types of milk. It is also an overview of goat milk production, properties, nourishment-value, applications in dairy products, and potential health benefits. Goat milk composition and its characteristics are slightly different from other types of milk and can be utilized to manufacture many dairy products. Fresh goat milk and goat milk products (e.g., yogurt and kefir were found to provide various potential health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, prevent cardiovascular disease, anti-diabetic and antihypertensive, strengthen bones, boost immunity, and improve metabolism.

Valsartan (Val) is an important antihypertensive medication with side effects such as dizziness and angioedema. These constraints are due to the low oral bioavailability and relatively short half-life. The goal here is to incorporate Val into a mixed micelles system that can enhance transdermal delivery. Thin-film hydration and micro-phase separation were used to produce Val-loaded mixed micelle systems. A variety of factors, including surfactant type and drug-to-surfactant ratio, were optimized to produce micelles with low size and high Val entrapment efficiency (EE). The size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta-potential, and drug entrapment efficiency of the prepared micelles were all measured. The drug release profiles in vitro were assessed using dialysis bags, and the permeation through abdominal rat skin was assessed using a Franz diffusion cell. All formulations had high EE levels exceeding 90% and low particle charges. The micellar sizes ranged from 107.6 to 191.7nm, with average PDI values of 0.3. The in vitro release demonstrated a uniform slow rate that lasted one week with varying extents. F7 demonstrated a significant (P < 0.01) transdermal efflux of 68.84 ± 3.96 µg/cm2/h through rat skin when compared to the control. As a result, the enhancement factor was 16.57. Val-loaded mixed micelles were successfully prepared using two simple methods with high reproducibility, and extensive transdermal delivery was demonstrated in the absence of any aggressive skin modifying enhancers.

Nanofibres have gained increasing attention due to their advantages of having a high porous structure, narrow pore size and distribution, and a high specific surface area. One of the most efficient techniques for producing nanofibres is via electrospinning. Nanofibres are currently being used in various fields, including water filtration. Although nanofibres possess the ability to filter various components, the fibres generally have a low mechanical strength that can mitigate the performance over time. Therefore, in overcoming this issue, several studies have focused on improving the strength of the nanofibre membranes for a water filtration application. This review discusses the advantages and challenges of nanofibres for water filtration membranes and summarises the methods to increase the strength of the membranes, including solvent vapour, thermal treatment, and chemical crosslinking.

Carbon nanotubes are hybridized with metal crystals to impart multifunctionality into the nanohybrids (NHs). Simple but effective synthesis techniques are desired to form both zero-valent and oxides of different metal species on carbon nanotube surfaces. Sol-gel technique brings in significant advantages and is a viable technique for such synthesis. This study probes the efficacy of sol-gel process and aims to identify underlying mechanisms of crystal formation. Standard electron potential (SEP) is used as a guiding parameter to choose the metal species; i.e., highly negative SEP (e.g., Zn) with oxide crystal tendency, highly positive SEP (e.g., Ag) with zero-valent crystal-tendency, and intermediate range SEP (e.g., Cu) to probe the oxidation tendency in crystal formation are chosen. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to evaluate the synthesized NHs. Results indicate that SEP can be a reliable guide for the resulting crystalline phase of a certain metal species, particularly when the magnitude of this parameter is relatively high. However, for intermediate range SEP-metals, mix phase crystals can be expected. For example, Cu will form Cu₂O and zero-valent Cu crystals, unless the synthesis is performed in a reducing environment.

The epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation is essential for regulating gene expression and adaptation in plants, especially when exposed to various environmental stressors such as drought, heat, and nutrient availability. The impact of these stressors can lead to alterations in DNA methylation patterns and gene expression, which this study aims to investigate. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how DNA methylation plays a role in controlling the expression of stress-response genes, as well as genes involved in plant growth and development. To accomplish this, we are analyzing the changes in DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in response to different stressors like drought and heat. Our research findings suggest that DNA methylation is a vital regulator of plant adaptation to environmental stress, and we hope to gain further insight into these mechanisms by identifying genes that exhibit differential expression in response to stress and analyzing their DNA methylation status. This study offers valuable insights into the development of crops that can thrive under changing climate conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties of three CAD-CAM monolithic esthetic zirconia (Ceramill® Zolid FX Multilayer (ZF), IPS e.max® ZirCAD MT Multi (ZM), and KATANATM STML (KS)) with a CAD-CAM lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max® CAD LT (MC)) as control. 80 samples (20/group) were milled, sintered, and subjected to a three-point bending test (3-PBT) to measure flexural strength and elastic modulus; Vickers indentations were used to measure microhardness. The numerical outcomes were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with a statistical significance set at <0.05. Zirconia showed superior mechanical properties compared with lithium disilicate (P<0.05). ZM had the highest values of flexural strength (P<0.05), KS and ZM showed significantly higher elastic modulus values than ZF (P<0.05), and ZF and KS microhardness values were significantly higher than ZM (P<0.05). Monolithic multi-layered zirconia had enhanced mechanical properties when compared with lithium disilicate and can be a predictable replacement in clinical applications.

In Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), coil resistance is an important factor in the generation of heat energy used to change e-liquid into vapor. An accurate and unbiased method for testing coil resistance is vital for understanding its effect on emissions and reporting results that are comparable across different types and brands of ENDS and measured in different laboratories. This study proposes a robust, accurate and unbiased method for measuring coil resistance. An apparatus is used which mimics the geometric configuration and assembly of ENDS pods and power control units. The method is demonstrated on two commonly used ENDS devices, the ALTO by Vuse and JUUL. Analysis shows that the proposed method is stable and reliable. The two-wire configuration introduced a positive measurement bias of 0.086 [ohm], which is a significant error for sub-ohm coil designs. The four-wire configuration is far less prone to bias error. We observed a significant difference in coil resistance of 0.593 [ohm] (p<0.001) between the two products tested. The mean resistance and standard deviation of the pod coil assemblies was shown to be 1.031 (0.067) [ohm] for ALTO and 1.624 (0.033) [ohm] for JUUL. The variation in coil resistance between products and within products can have significant impacts on aerosol emissions.

On 11 March 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was defined by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the newly evolving human coronavirus infection, causing (COVID-19), first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread rapidly all over the world. COVID-19 is being increasingly investigated in virology, epidemiology, and clinical management strategies. There is currently no established consensus on the standard of care in the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 patients. However, certain medications suggested for other diseases tend to be potentially effective for treating this infection, although, so far, without clear evidence. Therapies include new agents which are currently tested in several clinical trials, in addition to other medications that have been repurposed as antiviral and immune-modulating therapies. Previous high-morbidity human coronavirus epidemics such as the 2003 SARS-CoV and the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) prompted the identification of compounds that could theoretically be active against the emerging coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the advances in molecular biology techniques and computational analysis allowed better recognition of the virus structure and quicker screening of chemical libraries to suggest potential therapies. This review aims to summarize rationalized pharmacotherapy considerations in COVID-19 patients, to serve as a tool for health care professionals at the forefront of clinical care during this pandemic. All the therapies reviewed require either additional drug development or randomized large-scale clinical trials to be justified for clinical use.

Background: In spinal cord injury, radical treatment is still a persistent hope for patients and clinicians. Our study aimed to determine the different histological changes in central, cranial and caudal sites of compressed spinal cord as a result of neuroectodermal stem cells (NESCs) transplantation in rats. Material and methods: For extraction of NESCs, future brains were extracted from mice embryos (10-days old) and cultured. Eighty, male rats were divided randomly into control, sham (20 rats each); while 40 rats were subjected to compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI). Seven days after spinal cord injury, rats were subdivided into 2 groups (20 rats each); an untreated and treated with NESCs injected cranial and caudal to the site of the spinal cord injury. Rats were sacrificed 4 weeks after transplantations of NESCs and specimens from the spinal cord at the central, cranial and caudal to site of spinal cord injury were proceeded to be stained with haematoxylin & eosin, osmic acid and Immunohistochemistry of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: Sections of CSCI revealed areas of hemorrhages, necrosis and cavitation limited by reactive astrocytosis, with upregulation of GFAP expression. Evidence of remyelination and mitigation of histopathological features, reactive astrocytosis in CSCI sections were more pronounced in cranial than in caudal region. Conclusions: NESCs transplantation ameliorated the pathological changes, promoted remyelination.

Current research in the field of antimicrobials is focused on the development of novel antibiotics and antimicrobial agents to counteract the huge dilemma that the human population is mainly facing in regards to the rise of bacterial resistance and biofilm infections. Host Defense peptides (HDPs) are a promising group of molecules for antimicrobial development as they share unique characteristics suitable for antimicrobial activity including their broad spectrum of activity and potency against bacteria. AamAP1 is a novel HDP that was identified through molecular cloning from the venom of the North African scorpion Androctonus amoeruxi. In vitro antimicrobial assays revealed that the peptide displays moderate activity against different strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the peptide proved to be highly hemolytic and displaying significantly high toxicity against mammalian cells. In our study, a novel synthetic peptide analogue named A3 was designed from the naturally occurring scorpion venom host defense peptide. The design strategy depended on modifying the amino acid sequence of the parent peptide in order to increase its net positive charge, percentage helicity and optimize other physico-chemical parameters involved theoretically in HDPs activity. Accordingly, A3 was evaluated for its in vitro antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity individually and in combination with four different types of conventional antibiotics against clinical isolates of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-positive bacteria. A3 was also evaluated for its cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. A3 displayed potent and selective in vitro antimicrobial activities against a wide range of MDR Gram-positive bacteria. Our results also showed that combining A3 with conventional antibiotics displayed a synergistic mode of action which resulted in decreasing the MIC value for A3 peptide as low as 0.125 µM. These effective concentrations were associated with negligible toxicities on mammalian cells. In conclusion, A3 exhibits enhanced activity and selectivity when compared with the parent natural scorpion venom peptide. The combination of A3 with conventional antibiotics may be pursued as a potential novel treatment strategy against MDR and biofilm forming bacteria.

A Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a network of wirelessly connected sensing and actuating devices. WBANs used for recording biometric information and administering medication are classified as part of a Cyber Physical System (CPS). Preserving user security and privacy is a fundamental concern of WBANs, which introduces the notion of using biometric readings as a mechanism for authentication. Extensive research has been conducted regarding the various methodologies (e.g. ECG, EEG, gait, head/arm motion, skin impedance). This paper seeks to analyze and evaluate the most prominent biometric authentication techniques based on accuracy, cost, and feasibility of implementation. We suggest several authentication schemes which incorporate multiple biometric properties.

Internet-led labour market has become so competitive forcing many organisations from different sectors to embrace e-recruitment. However, realising the value of the e-recruitment from a Requirements Engineering (RE) analysis perspective is challenging. This research is motivated by the results of a failed e-recruitment project conducted in military domain which is used as a case study in this research. After reviewing the various challenges faced in that project through a number of related research domains, this research focuses on two major problems which are the (1) difficulty of scoping, representing, and systematically transforming recruitment problem knowledge towards e-recruitment solution specification; and (2) the difficulty of documenting e-recruitment best practices for reuse purposes in an enterprise recruitment environment. In this paper, a Problem-Oriented Conceptual Model (POCM) with a complementary Ontology for Recruitment Problem Definition (Onto-RPD) is proposed to contextualise the various recruitment problem viewpoints from an enterprise perspective and to elaborate those problem viewpoints towards a comprehensive recruitment problem definition. The POCM and Onto-RPD are developed incrementally using action-research conducted on three real case studies: (1) Secureland Army Enlistment, (2) British Army Regular Enlistment, and (3) UK Undergraduate Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). They are later evaluated in a focus group study against a set of criteria. The study showed that the POCM and Onto-RPD provide a strong foundation for representing and understanding the e-recruitment problems from different perspectives.

Perovskite solar cells have shown significant progress, but their commercialization remains hindered by lead-based toxicity. Many nontoxic perovskite-based solar cells have demonstrated potential such as Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6, but their power-conversion efficiency is inadequate. To address this issue, some researchers are focusing on emerging acceptor-donor-acceptor'-donor-acceptor (A-DA'D-A) type non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) for Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6 to find effective electron transport layers for high-performance photovoltaic responses with low voltage drops. In this comparative study, four novel A-DA'D-A types NFAs such as BT-LIC, BT-BIC, BT-L4F, and were used as an electron transport layer (ETL) for the proposed devices, FTO/PEDOT: PSS/ Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6/ETL/Au. Comprehensive simulations were conducted to optimize the devices. The simulations showed that all optimized devices exhibit photovoltaic responses, with the BT-BIC device having the highest power conversion efficiency (13.2%) and the BT-LIC device having the lowest (6.8%). The BT-BIC as ETL provides fewer interfacial traps and better band alignment, enabling greater open-circuit voltage for efficient photovoltaic responses.

This paper investigates an innovative photovoltaic cell configuration, denoted as “Au/CuSCN/RbGeI3/CdTe/ZnO/TiO2/FTO", using SCAPS-1D simulation. The research focuses on optimizing device performance by analyzing key components, including ZnO as the electron transport layer (ETL), RbGeI3 as the perovskite absorber layer, CuSCN as the hole transport layer (HTL), and CdTe as the active buffer layer. A comparison is made with the standard “Au/CuSCN/CH3NH3SnI3/CdTe/ZnO/TiO2/FTO" configuration under dark and illuminated conditions. Through an in-depth investigation involving temperature effects, generation rate analysis, RbGeI3 absorber layer thickness, Nd level, and interface defect levels, an optimized design for a unit area is achieved. The proposed solar cell demonstrates outstanding performance metrics, including an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.94V, a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 34.52mA/cm2, a fill factor (FF) of 77.77%, and an energy conversion efficiency (η) of 25.40%. These values significantly outperform the reference models with energy conversion efficiencies of 10.11% and 21.09%. Real-world applicability is validated by implementing these optimized characteristics in a photovoltaic system for Pakistan’s geographical location using PVSyst software. The suggested solar cell achieves a remarkable performance ratio (PR) of 85.6%, surpassing the PR of the reference basic solar cell model at 83%. The findings of this research offer a promising and superior solar cell design, incorporating innovative materials and optimization techniques to achieve exceptional energy conversion efficiency and overall performance. This study’s outcomes have the potential to advance photovoltaic technology and contribute to sustainable energy solutions worldwide.

In recent years, the discharge of various emerging pollutants, chemicals and dyes in water and wastewater has represented one of the prominent human problems. Since water pollution is directly related to human health, highly resistant and emerging compounds in aquatic environments will pose many potential risks to the health of all living. Therefore, water pollution is a very acute problem that has constantly increased in recent years with the expansion of various industries. Consequently, choosing efficient and innovative wastewater treatment methods to remove contaminants is crucial. Among advanced oxidation processes, electrochemical oxidation (EO) is the most common and effective method for removing persistent pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater. However, there are still many gaps despite the great progress in using EO to treat real wastewater. This is due to the lack of comprehensive information on the operating parameters which affect the process and its operating costs. In this paper, among various scientific articles, the impact of operational parameters on the EO performances, a comparison between different electrochemical reactor configurations, and a report on general mechanisms of electrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants have been reported. Moreover, an evaluation of cost analysis and energy consumption requirements have also been discussed. Finally, the combination process between EO and another important advanced oxidation technology, PEC, called photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), has shortly been discussed and reviewed. This article showed that there is a direct relationship between important operating parameters with the amount of costs and the final removal efficiency of emerging pollutants. Optimal operating conditions can be achieved by paying special attention to reactor design, which can lead to higher efficiency and more efficient treatment. The rapid development of EO for removing emerging pollutants from impacted water and its combination with other green methods can result in more efficient approaches to face the pressing water pollution challenge.

Hillslope and mountain roads are often the source of erosion, which in turn can lead to larger landslides and other types of mass-movements. For this reason, low-cost repeat surveys that can be done by practitioners and not solely scientists and engineers is essential. To solve this issue the present contribution shows the testing and applicability of a mix of SfM-MVS and low-cost SLAM technology to provide erosion information. The low-cost SLAM generated between 300 ~ 900 points per square meter, while SfM-MVS created between ~11,000 to 900,000 points. The density is however a trade-off against a spatially varying error, although the variability at the road-cut scale only ranges from 2 cm vertically to 2.5 cm in x,y,z based on the C2C algorithm. Furthermore, this error tends to be more important in the higher section of the cutout (further away from the sensor and at a flatter angle). It is thus possible to measure small-scale roadside change, providing that the change is in the range of >5 cm (adding the maximum potential error twice) and providing that the road-cut is such that the sensors can be brought close to the surface (camera or sensor on a pole). The authors suggest that it can be a solution for state and agencies with limited funding and that cannot afford regular laser or for roadside that are difficult to access.

This case study explores communication challenges faced by Spotify users, focusing on messaging consistency, personalization, and user feedback mechanisms. Conducted with students at Umm Al Quwain University, the study reveals a disconnect between Spotify's communication and user expectations, impacting engagement and satisfaction. Key findings highlight the need for personalized messaging, improved communication channels, and active user feedback incorporation. By implementing these recommendations, Spotify can bridge the communication gap, enhance user experience, and solidify its position as a leader in user-centricity.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a global initiative towards transforming education for sustainability. The integration of SD into the education portfolio is considered to be an important approach that ensures strategic alignment of higher education with SDGs. A document review was used to identify and discuss the difference between transmissive and transformative education in relation to SDGs and in the context of Somali education. In this trajectory, it is expected that the concept of ‘‘transformative education is likely to become more common to meet the emerging social, economic and environmental issues, yet practical challenges remain in Somaliland HE sector. The roadmap towards addressing transformative education for sustainability is not included in the Somaliland national portfolios; particularly ESD has not been presented. In this regard, this paper proposed a generic framework that spotlights the integration of HEIs and the national development goals (NDGs) in Somaliland. Meanwhile, developed and developing countries are prioritizing structural transformation in their HEIs that are tailored to national and regional development programs. Consistent with the Rio + 20 outcomes, the authors analyzed the concept of the ‘‘sustainable university’’ and identified the fact that it is practically divided into three interrelated and complementary categories, namely social-, environmental-, and economic-oriented university in pursuit of actualizing SD. The paper recommends major reforms in the education sector including availing investment portfolios for R&D, renovation of education goals and transforming universities for sustainability

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization issued a practical approach and Global Action Plan to control the threatening emerging antibacterial resistance. One of the main basis of this plan is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASPs). This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ awareness and perception towards antimicrobial resistance and ASPs in Jordan. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with twenty community pharmacists. Convienience sampling was used in the study. Qualitative analysis of the data yielded four themes and eleven sub-themes. All the respondents showed good understanding about the causes of antimicrobial resistance. The most important causes reported by them was the non-restricted prescription of antimicrobials. Most of the pharmacists believed that they are competent to provide ASPs, however, they believed that there are several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Barriers demonstrated by the pharmacists, including organizational obstacles, resources obstacles, and personal obstacles. As a conclusion, this study revealed several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Incorporating ASPs in the community pharmacy settings requires proper pharmacist training, several academic disciplines team efforts, and good pharmacy practice of antimicrobial guidelines.

This study examines the moderating effect of trained human capital on the associations of accounting information systems, generalized auditing software, and technology adoption with the performance of external auditors among Saudi listed companies. This study used a survey-based methodology. The final sample consisted of 136 responses with an 8% response rate. Using Smart-PL4 analysis, the results showed that there is a positive correlation between accounting information systems and external auditors. Conversely, a negative relationship between generalized auditing software and external auditors has been documented. In addition, this study reported a negative association between technology adoption and external auditors. However, the results highlight the positive relationship between trained human capital and external auditors. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for accounting and auditing policymakers on how external auditors’ performance is influenced by several factors in the Saudi audit market.

Lifestyle physical activity (PA) and nutrition are known to be effective interventions in preventing and managing obesity related comorbidities is adult populations, but less so in children and adolescents. We examined the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in children from minority ethnic populations in western high-income countries. Our systematic review included 53 studies involving 26045 children from minority ethnic populations within western countries, who followed lifestyle intervention programs lasting between 8 weeks and 5 years with an aim to prevent and/or manage childhood obesity and associated comorbidities, including adiposity and cardiometabolic risks. Studies were heterogenous in terms of lifestyle intervention components (nutrition, PA, behavioural counselling) and settings (community vs. schools and after schools). Our meta-analysis included 31 eligible studies and showed no significant effects of lifestyle interventions when they focused on body weight and body mass index (BMI) outcomes [pooled BMI mean change = -0.09 (95% CI -0.19, 0.01), p=0.09]. This was irrespective of the intervention program duration (< 6 months vs. ≥ 6 months), type (PA vs nutrition/combined intervention) and weight status (overweight or obese vs no normal weight), all showed no significant effects in the sensitivity analysis. Nonetheless, 19 of the 53 studies reported reduction in BMI, BMI z scores and body fat percentage. However, majority of lifestyle interventions adopting a quasi-design with a combined primary and secondary obesity measures (11 out of 15 studies), were effective in reducing obesity comorbidities of cardiometabolic risks including metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure in children with overweight and obesity. Preventing childhood obesity and associated comorbidities in children from high-risk ethnic minority groups is best achieved using a combined PA and nutrition intervention approach, which jointly target preventing obesity and cardiometabolic disease primary and secondary outcomes, especially measures of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Pre-diabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes puts one at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 384 patients aged 20-70 years old, attending the dental clinics to assess the risk for diabetes, using the FINDRISC questionnaire, HbA1c blood test and a periodontal examination. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.90±10.74. 32.3% were categorized as no risk, 46.6% low risk, while 19% and 2.1% moderate and high risk of developing diabetes respectively. Tests for serum HbA1c Level showed 46.1 % had normal HbA1c followed by 18.0% and 3.6 % were pre-diabetic and diabetic respectively. 19.3% of participants had periodontal pockets measuring more than 4mm and 15.9% measuring more than 6mm. Conclusion: The study has proven to be useful in identifying patients at high-risk of developing diabetes. Controlling and managing periodontal disease could be a new aspect to include in the standards for diabetes care. Dental settings could be a successful platform to carry out the screening and risk stratification of pre-diabetic patients.

Nowadays, brain signal processing is performed rapidly in various brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. Most researchers focus on developing new methods for the future or improving the basic implemented models to identify the optimum standalone feature set. Our research focuses on four ideas. One of them introduces future communication models, and the others are for improving old models or methods. These are: 1) new communication imagery model instead of speech imager using the mental task: Due to speech imagery is very difficult, and it is impossible to imagine sound for all of the characters in all of the languages. Our research introduces a new mental task model for all languages that call Lip-sync imagery. This model can use for all characters in all languages. This paper implemented two lip-sync for two sounds, characters or letters. 2) New combination Signals: Selecting an inopportune frequency domain can lead to inefficient feature extraction. Therefore, domain selection is so important for processing. This combination of limited frequency ranges proposes a preliminary for creating Fragmentary Continuous frequency. For the first model, two s intervals of 4 Hz as filter banks were examined and tested. The primary purpose is to identify the combination of filter banks with 4Hz (scale of each filter bank) from the 4Hz to 40Hz frequency domain as new combination signals (8Hz) to obtain well and efficient features using increasing distinctive patterns and decreasing similar patterns of brain activities.3) new supplement bond graph classifier for SVM classifier: When SVM linear uses in very noisy, the performance is decreased. But we introduce a new bond graph linear classifier to supplement SVM linear in noisy data. 4) a deep formula recognition model: it converts the data of the first layer into a formula model (formula extraction model). The main goal is to reduce the noise in the subsequent layers for the coefficients of the formulas. The output of the last layer is the coefficients selected by different functions in different layers. Finally, the classifier extracts the root interval of the formulas, and the diagnosis does based on the root interval. For all of the ideas achieved the results of implementing methods. The results are between 55% to 98%. Less result is 55% for the deep detection formula, and the highest result is 98% for new combination signals.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the impact of preconditioning adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) with the autophagy inducer rapamycin (Rapa) on Cisplatin (Cis) induced ovarian toxicity in a rat model. Methods: ADMSCs were pretreated with 50 nmol/L rapa for two h in vitro. Another in vivo study included 96 female Sprague-Dawley rats divided into four equal groups: control, Cis, Cis +ADMSCs, and Cis +ADMSCs + Rapa. Rats were sacrificed after 2 and 6 weeks. Each group was subdivided into two equal subgroups: 6 rats were sacrificed to study ovarian parameters, and six were left for mating to evaluate the fertility index. Results: Autophagy activation was detected in ADMSCs + Rapa by increasing autophagosomes, high autophagy-specific LC3-II gene and protein expression, and low expression of p62 and mTOR genes. Moreover, transplantation of ADMSCs + Rapa restored balance between E2, FSH, and LH, increased antioxidant activity, and improved follicular count and quality after 2 and 6 weeks of treatment. Fertility index analysis manifested restoring reproductive capacity in the ADMSCs+ Rapa group at both intervals. Conclusions: Autophagy induction could enhance the therapeutic capability of ADMSCs by deactivating the mTOR pathway, which in turn promotes the ovarian folliculogenesis process after exposure to Cis.

This paper aims to introduce the notions of various types of Qc-contractions for which we establish some fixed circle and fixed disc theorems in the setting of metric spaces. Some illustrative examples are also provided to support our results. Moreover, we present some fixed circle and fixed disc results of integral type contractive self-mappings.

The emergence of drug-resistant parasitic nematodes of both humans and livestock calls for development of alternative and cost-effective control strategies. For the economically important ruminant strongylid Haemonchus contortus, Barbervax® remains the only registered vaccine available. Here we compared the microbiome, genome-wide diversity and transcriptome of H. contortus adult male populations that survived vaccination with an experimental vaccine after inoculation in sheep. Our genome-wide SNP analysis revealed 16 putative candidate vaccine evasion genes. However, we did not identify any evidence for changes in microbial community profiling based of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results of vaccine surviving parasite populations. A total of 58 genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed with six being long non-coding (lnc) RNAs and no putative candidate SNP associated genes. The genes highly upregulated in surviving parasites from vaccinated animals were associated with GO terms belonging to predominantly molecular function and a few biological processes that may have facilitated evasion or potentially lessened the effect of the vaccine. These included five targets: astacin (ASTL), carbonate dehydratase (CA2), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), glutamine synthetase (GLUL) and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP3). We searched all five DEG targets against the proteomes of selected Nematoda (Clades III, V, IV, C, I) and Platyhelminthes (Clades Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda, Rhabditophora) to determine homologs within the H. contortus NZ_HCO_NP v1.0 genome and identified single-copy orthologous groups (OGs) in selected proteomes. All but one (FABP3) demonstrated high levels of duplication and wide-spread occurrence in closely related Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus, with complete absence of all five gene targets among other Clade III (Toxocara canis) and V (Ascaris suum, Ascaris lumbricoides and Parascaris univalens) nematodes, further supporting their vital biological functions in nematodes. Phylogenetic analyses inferred the presence of only ASTL and CA2 in almost all Nematoda, platyhelminthes and metazoans examined, with loss of GLULs observed among all outgroup vertebrate species and the presence of FABP3 in only three other species (Schmidtea mediterranea, Fasciola gigantica and F. hepatica). Our tertiary structure predictions and modelling analyses were used to perform in silico searches of all published and commercially available inhibitor molecules or substrate analogues with potential broad-spectrum efficacy against nematodes of human and veterinary importance.

This paper addresses the conceptual exploration of various issues that form an integral part of the ethical dimensions surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of marketing. We critically review some of the main ethical challenges AI poses to humanity: privacy, data security, bias, transparency, and accountability. Therefore, we will discuss the delicate balance between exploiting the transformation potential of AI for personally designed marketing strategies and ethical imperatives to safeguard the rights of consumers to retain trust. Then, the present regulatory landscape responding to these ethical challenges will be assessed by building on effective regulation, like the GDPR, existing proposed legislative frameworks, and industry guidelines. To underscore the role of an ongoing dialogue between marketers, technologists, ethicists, and regulators for developing a responsible AI ecosystem in marketing. Further, strategic recommendations for implementing company-based ethical AI marketing practices. The further strong guidelines provide enhancement transparency to consumers and investment in research to remove biases from algorithms. It also underscores principal scopes of further research and development, focusing on the need for new-age solutions to guide the ethical quagmires that AI-led marketing throws up. We suggest that integration should be done proactively and collaboratively. Thus, if attention is paid more to ethics and multidisciplinary dialogue, only such hyperbolic promises can be realized by AI-driven marketing. There are such promises through which AI-driven marketing will meet business goals and be huge at societies' values.

The concerning rise in emergence and prevalence of resistant strains to drugs of M. tuberculosis has ,the prompted researchers to look for new and effective treatments. With this motive, biscoumarins were identified as the lead molecules on a whole-cell-based screening of several less explored low molecular weight bioactive compounds against M. tuberculosis strains. Among the screened biscoumarins, the highest dock score derivatives were synthesized (a-h) using a programmable microwave synthesizer for better yields and reaction control. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated against H37Rv, H37Ra, M. smegmatis, an MDR surrogate model, and other bacterial strains for the structure-activity response. Assessment of the synthesized library against mycobacterial strains led to the identification of compounds (f and d) as lead anti-tuberculosis agents. Compounds (f and d) exhibited less toxicity against human cell lines. At the same time, it displayed enjoyable activity wherein MIC concentrations were observed to be 16- and 32 µg/mL against the susceptible H37Rv, and H37Ra strains of M. tuberculosis and MIC value of 128 µg/mL for M. smegmatis, respectively. For mechanistic insights and identification of drug binding targets, molecular docking and dynamic simulations were employed for a panel of 16 mycobacterial enzymes essential for mycobacterial growth and survival. These in silico studies revealed the DprE1 enzyme as a druggable target for the anti-tuberculosis activity of the selected biscoumarins derivatives. Further investigation is underway in our laboratory, leading to its development as an anti-tuberculosis drug (animal model studies).

In this work, a highly efficient, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based near infrared (NIR) heterojunction photodetector is fabricated on a Si substrate using a cost-effective and simple drop casting method. A non-stoichiometric and inhomogeneous MoS2 layer with a S/Mo ratio of 2.02 is detected using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscope analysis. Raman shifts are noticed at 382.42 cm-1 and 407.97 cm-1, validating MoS2 thin film growth with a direct bandgap of 2.01 eV. The fabricated n-MoS2/p-Si photodetector is illuminated with a 785 nm laser at different intensities, and demonstrate the ability of the photodetector to work in both regions, the forward biased and reverse biased from above 1.5 V and less than -1.0 V. The highest responsivity, R is calculated to be 0.52 A/W while the detectivity D* is 4.08 x 10^10 Jones for an incident light intensity of 9.57 mW/cm2. The minimum rise and fall times are calculated as 1.77 ms and 1.31 ms for an incident laser power of 9.57 mW/cm^2 and 6.99 mW/cm^2 respectively at a direct current bias voltage of 10 V. The demonstrated results are promising for the low-cost fabrication of a thin MoS2 film for photonics and optoelectronic device applications.

Image registration (IR) is a process that deforms images to align them with respect to a reference space, making it easier for medical practitioners to examine various medical images in a standardized reference frame, such as having the same rotation and scale. This document introduces image registration using a simple numeric example. It provides a definition of image registration along with a space-oriented symbolic representation. This review covers various aspects of image transformations, including affine, deformable, invertible, and bidirectional transformations, as well as medical image registration algorithms such as Voxelmorph, Demons, SyN, Iterative Closest Point, and SynthMorph. It also explores atlas-based registration and multistage image registration techniques, including coarse-fine and pyramid approaches. Furthermore, this survey paper discusses medical image registration taxonomies, datasets, evaluation measures, such as correlation-based metrics, segmentation-based metrics, processing time, and model size. It also explores applications in image-guided surgery, motion tracking, and tumor diagnosis. Finally, the document addresses future research directions, including the further development of transformers.

Nowadays, speed up development and use of digital devices such as smartphones have put people at risk of internet crimes. The evidence of present crimes in a computer file can be easily unreachable by changing the prefix of a file or other algorithms. In more complex cases, either file divided into different parts or the parts of a file that has information about the file type are deleted, where the file fragment recognition issue is discussed. The known files are divided into different fragments, and different classification algorithms to solve the problems of file fragment recognition. A confusion matrix measures the accuracy of type recognition. In the present study, first, the file is divided into different fragments. Then, the file fragment features, which are obtained from Binary Frequency Distribution (BFD), are reduced by 2 feature reduction algorithms; Sequential Forward Selection algorithm (SFS) as well as Sequential Floating Forward Selection algorithm (SFFS) to delete sparse features that result in increased accuracy and speed. Finally, the reduced features are given to 3 classifier algorithms, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) for classification and comparison of the results. In this paper, we proposed the algorithm of file type recognition that can recognize 6 types of useful files ( pdf, txt, jpg, doc, html, exe), which may distinguish a type of file fragments with higher accuracy than the similar works done.

Use of rhizosphere microorganisms provides an alternative or supplement to conventional plant breeding to improve water deficit tolerance of tomato plants. Experiment was carried out to explore the effect of two microbial species, AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis) and Bacillus subtilis, in single and co-application, on growth, colonization, and molecular aspects of tomato plants under drought stress. Co-inoculated plants showed less reduction in growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, colonization rate, and increased compatible solutes like proline which help in sustaining relative water content than non-inoculated plants. Inoculation considerably enhanced proline dehydrogenase activity, and significantly reduced both Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase activity causing lower proline accumulation in inoculated plants under drought stress. Co-inoculated plants showed obvious upregulation of antioxidant system, thus facilitating amelioration of oxidative stress through exclusion of reactive oxygen species. No inoculation under drought stress upregulated abscisic acid related genes expression but have no effect in plants inoculated either sole or mixed inoculation. Expression of aquaporin genes was upregulated in plants co-inoculated and with AMF alone under normal condition. However the expression of aquaporin genes were decreased or unaffected in plants inoculated with Bacillus subtilis but increased in non-inoculated plants. Co-applied AMF and bacillus subtilis substantially increase drought tolerance by upregulating proline metabolism, antioxidant enzymes and aquaporin genes. Therefore our results suggest that co-inoculation mediated drought tolerance is linked with increased proline accumulation, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and differential regulation of ABA biosynthetic and aquaporin genes, which is vital for osmotic adjustment of host plant.

The modulation of Nrf2 activity has been reported to be implicated in the pathology of various neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Previous studies have demonstrated that Nrf2 is activated in the post-status epilepticus rat model, however, the spatio-temporal, as well as cell type-specific expression of Nrf2 following brief epileptic seizures remains unclear. Here, we evaluated how an acute epileptic seizure affected the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes in the cortex and the hippocampus up to 1-week following the induced seizure. We found that after a pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure, Nrf2 significantly increased at 24 h at the mRNA level and 3 to 6 h at the protein level in the cortex. In the hippocampus, the Nrf2 mRNA level peaked at 3 h after the seizure, and no significant changes were observed in the protein level. Interestingly, the mRNA level of Nrf2 downstream genes peaked at 3-6 h after seizure in both the cortex and the hippocampus. A significant increase in the expression of Nrf2 was observed in the neuronal population of CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, as well as in the cortex. Moreover, we observed no change in the co-localization of Nrf2 with astrocytes neither in the cortex nor in CA1 and CA3. Our results revealed that following a brief acute epileptic seizure, the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes is transiently increased and peaked at early timepoints after seizure predominantly in the hippocampus, and this expression is restricted to the neuronal population.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the emissary behind the worst global pandemic of the 21st century, is primarily a respiratory disease-causing virus called SARS-CoV-2 which is responsible for millions of new cases (incidence) and deaths (mortalities), worldwide. Many factors have played a role in the differential morbidity and mortality experienced by nations and ethnicities against SARS-CoV-2, such as the quality of primary medical health facilities or enabling economies. Nevertheless, the most important variable, i.e., the subsequent ability of individuals to be immunologically sensitive or resistant to the infection, was not properly discussed before. Therefore, an astounding issue arose when some developed countries experienced higher morbidity and mortality, compared with their relatively underdeveloped counterparts, despite having excellent medical health facilities. Hence this investigative review attempts to analyze the issue from an angle of previously undiscussed genetic, epigenetic, and molecular immune resistance mechanisms in correlation with the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and varied ethnicity-based immunological responses against it. The biological factors discussed here include the overall landscape of human microbiota, endogenous retroviral genes spliced into the human genome, copy number variation, and how they could modulate the innate and adaptive immune systems, which put a particular ethnic genetic architecture at a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection than others. Considering an array of these factors in their entirety may help explain the geographic disparity of disease incidence, severity, and subsequent mortality associated with the disease while at the same time encouraging scientists to design new experimental approaches to investigation.

The Saudi government has undertaken rapid and swift actions, such as suspending Omrah and holding international flights. Such affirmative actions enhanced citizens and residents’ confidence in the government officials’ ability to fight the pandemic. However, there are more than 361,178 reported cases of Covid-19 with 6131 deaths as of December 22, 202. As nurses are the largest component of the health care workforce in Saudi Arabia, it is important that they are trained and have the skills and resources to adapt, whether on the frontline of a crisis or in a clinical environment. Nurses play a key function in fulfilling the needs of medical treatment by being the most important part of the health care delivery system.

The copper deposition on the platinum and palladium nanoelectrode has been studied using cyclic voltammetry. The use of nanoelectrode platinum and palladium are defined in the study of heavy metals. The noble nanoelectrode of metal has a typical silicone processing structure. In comparison to the nanoelectrodes, the geometry of the electrode series is complex and balanced. Nanoelectrodes of platinum are found effective in detecting heavy metal. There was regular analysis of the use of the sensors. The identification constraints down to the ng /L level was accomplished by refined electrode geometry and the stripping procedures. The process was used for the study of water sample determination. Another heavy metal ion attack voltammetric reaction was studied. The SEM picture clearly observed and characterized the nanoparticle electrode by X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry.

Polyaniline or PANI is a conductive polymer (CPs) with flexibility in turning into conducting properties. The drawback is mainly in terms of limited mechanical properties improvement which attracted the interest in fabrication of PANI with other polymeric materials. PANI-PVL composites film was synthesized and fabricated in this work with chronological steps according to the objectives aligned in two different phases. The first phase determines the optimum parameters to synthesize nanosized PANI. The ideal initial molar ratio, r was 1, stirring speed of 600 rpm, purified by filtration, synthesis temperature of 25 oC, washed by dopant acid, acetone and distilled water. The usage of non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-100 (TX100) with 0.1 % concentration favours the formation of smaller particle size of PANI and good dispersibility compared to the usage of anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The synthesis of PANI in nanosized dimension has the potential to be applied for antimicrobial applications such as gloves and antimicrobial coating of frequent contact points in the near future.

The Kashmir valley is prone to flooding due to its peculiar geomorphic setup compounded by the rapid anthropogenic land system changes and climate change. The study assesses the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) changes between 1980 and 2020 and extreme rainfall on peak discharge and sediment yield in the Upper Jhelum Basin (UJB), Kashmir Himalaya, India using KINEROS2 model. Analysis of LULC change revealed a notable shift from natural LULC to more intensive human-modified LULC, including a decrease in vegetative cover, deforestation, urbanization, and improper farming practices. The findings revealed a strong influence of the LULC changes on peak discharge, and sediment yield relative to the 2014 timeframe, which coincided with the catastrophic September 2014 flood event. The model predicted a peak discharge of 115101 cubic feet per second (cfs) and a sediment yield of 56.59 tons/ha during the September 2014 flooding, which is very close to the observed peak discharge of 115218 cfs indicating that the model is reliable for discharge prediction. The model predicted a peak discharge of 98965 cfs and a sediment yield of 49.11 tons/ha in 1980, which increased to 118366 cfs and, 58.92 tons/ha respectively in 2020, showing an increase in basin’s flood risk over time. In the future, it is anticipated that the ongoing LULC changes will make flood vulnerability worse, which could lead to another major flooding in the event of an extreme rainfall as predicted under climate change and, in turn compromise achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG). Therefore, regulating LULC in order to modulate various hydrological and land surface processes would ensure stability of runoff and reduction in sediment yield in the UJB, which is critical for achieving many SDGs.

The four solvent extractives obtained from aerial parts of Leucophyllum frutescens were evaluated for their Total Antioxidant Activity (TAA) by ammonium molybdate method, scavenging potential by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Trolox-Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays, metal-reducing potential by Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) and their biological activities. The study concluded that BULE exhibited total antioxidant activity (226.235±1.222 mg AA.Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D) by molybdate method, CHLE exhibited more scavenging potential (DPPH 209.589±8.500 mg trolox Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D and TEAC 210.166±7.954 mg trolox Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D) and reducing potential (CUPRAC 646.889±16.889 mg trolox Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D & FRAP 472.981±15.625 mg trolox Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D). Phytochemical quantification concluded high TPC by BULE (189.369±1.393 mg GA.Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D) and high TFC by CHLE (232.458±1.589 mg Qu.Eq.gm-1 DE±S.D). Strong inhibition of α-glucosidase and urease enzymes was observed by HELE (IC50 0.3321±0.007 mg.ml-1±SD) and BULE (IC50 4.09±0.357 mg.ml-1±SD) extractives, respectively. The hemolytic effect shown by hexane extract (HELE) was higher with HA50 25.545±0.927 ug.ml-1±SD whereas methanol (MELE), chloroform (CHLE), and butanol (BULE) exhibited hemolytic effects at higher concentration with HA50 400.067±1.364, 321.394±1.332, and 332.957±0.465 µg.ml-1±SD, respectively. GC-MS profiling of HELE of L. frutescens was performed for qualitative analysis. The principal phytochemicals tentatively identified by GC-MS analysis of HELE accounts for fatty acids (60.221%), lignans (17.687%), ketones (3.358%), phenols (2.584%), sesquiterpenes (1.265%), and aldehydes (0.345%).

The objective of this study is to examine different types of bias present in assessment tools and techniques, identify and eliminate any forms of favoritism, and suggest effective approaches for advancing equity and objectivity in assessment procedures. The research utilizes a qualitative methodology, incorporating surveys and focus group discussions with educators and students to collect data. Thematic analysis is a method employed for the purpose of analyzing qualitative data. The results suggest that students hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds perceive partiality in the language and cultural context of evaluations, leading to diminished scores. According to academic professionals, standardized tests are subject to bias, and offering accommodations that cater to linguistic and cultural diversity may improve the academic achievement of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The findings of this research are of great importance to professionals in the domains of education, policy development, and academia who seek to improve assessment practices and promote equitable educational opportunities for all learners.

In this article, the concept of fuzzy $(\sigma,\mathcal{Z})$-contractive mapping has been introduced in fuzzy metric spaces which is an improvement over the corresponding concept recently introduced by Shukla et al. [Fuzzy Sets and system. 350 (2018) 85--94]. Thereafter, we utilized our newly introduced concept to prove some existence and uniqueness theorems in $\mathcal{M}$-complete fuzzy metric spaces. Our results extend and generalize the corresponding results of Shukla et al.. Moreover, an example is adopted to exhibit the utility of newly obtained results.

This paper describes how to construct a low-cost magnetic levitation system (MagLev). The MagLev has been intensively used in the engineering education, allowing instructors and students to learn through hands-on experiments essential concepts, such as electronics, electromagnetism, and control systems. Built from scratch, the proposed MagLev depends only on simple, low-cost components readily available on the market. In addition to showing how to construct the MagLev, this paper presents a semi-active control strategy which seems novel when applied in the MagLev. Experiments performed in the laboratory have compared the proposed control scheme with the classical PID control. The corresponding real-time experiments illustrate both the effectiveness of the approach and the potential of the MagLev for education.

Wireless Body Area Networks are composed of sensor nodes that may be implanted in the body or worn on it. A node is composed of a sensing unit, a processor and a radio unit. One of the nodes, the sink, acts as a gateway between the body area network and other networks such as the Internet. We propose a routing protocol that constructs paths between nodes such that the final network topology is a tree rooted at the sink. The protocol's aim is to increase network lifetime and reliability, and to adapt to network conditions dynamically. Moreover, the protocol enables communications between nodes and sink both in the upstream direction, from nodes to sink, and in the downstream direction from sink to nodes. When the network tree is constructed, a node chooses its parent, i.e., next hop to sink, by using one of various criteria. Namely, these are the number of hops between parent and sink, energy level of parent, received signal strength from parent, number of current parent's children, and a fuzzy logic function that combines multiple criteria. Moreover, as time progresses the tree structure may dynamically change to adapt to conditions such as the near-depletion of a routing node's energy. Simulation results show improvements in network lifetime and energy consumption over the older version of the protocol.