Formaldehyde, sulfuric acid and salicylic acid were combined to create 3,3’-methylenebis[2-hydroxybenzoic acid] (MHB) ligand, which was subsequently permitted to bind with zinc ions. The ligand and its zinc (II) complex (Zn-MHB) have been described by a combination of elemental analyses, spectral (UV-Vis, IR, MS, NMR), XRD, TEM as well as TGA measurement. The ligand has been suggested to coordinate to the zinc center in tetradentate manner forming binuclear tetrahedral complex. An X-ray analysis indicated a considerable difference between MHB (crystalline) and Zn-MHB (amorphous). UV-Vis spectra were used to determine the optical properties such as bandgap, refractive index, optical conductivity and penetration depth. Possibility of employing the samples for optoelectronic applications was indicated from the band gap values which underlie the range of semiconductors. TEM revealed spherical shapes and mutation of ligand particles into nano-scale by complexation. The antimicrobial potential of the MHB towards gram-positive and negative bacterial growths has been investigated. The results suggested that it would be possible to employ MHB to stop bacterial development, particularly salmonella typhimurium. Cytotoxicity of the MHB was assessed against two types of mammalian cells: VERO (the kidney of an African green monkey) and HFB4 (human skin melanocytes). Lower sensitivity was observed in VERO cells.

This study aims to theoretically address the design and analysis of an efficient pressure sensor designed by using a polymer-based defective 1D annular photonic crystal (APC). The 1D APC comprises an alternate arrangement of Si and SiO2 in a cylindrical fashion, incorporating a central defect layer. The investigation of the reflectance characteristics of the proposed structure is conducted by separately considering the polystyrene (PS) and the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer materials as the defect layer. The pressure-sensitive refractive index of the polymers and the constituent materials of the APC plays a vital role in envisaging the pressure-sensing application. The cornerstone of this study is represented by the shift analysis in the wavelength of the defect mode inside the band gap using different applied pressures by employing the modified transfer matrix method (MTMM). Various geometrical parameters like the defect polymer layer’s thickness and the APC period were carefully optimized to achieve higher sensing performance. The proposed design demonstrated a remarkable pressure sensitivity and FoM of 51.29 nm/GPa and 301.7 GPa-1, respectively, which is considerably high in the current research scenario. It is believed that the proposed structure can be an apt candidate as an innovative high-performance pressure sensor, and it can play a key role in photonic integrated circuits.

There is now evidence that major depression is accompanied by lowered serum zinc, an immune-inflammatory biomarker. However, the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs as adjuvant to antidepressants on serum zinc and copper in relation to pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are not studied. The aim of the present work is to examine the effects of treatment with sertraline with and without ketoprofen on serum levels of zinc and copper in association with immune-inflammatory biomarkers in drug-naïve major depressed patients. We measured serum zinc and copper, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-18, interferon (IFN)-γ, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in 40 controls and 133 depressed patients. The clinical efficacy of the treatment was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and 8 weeks later. In drug-naïve major depressed patients we found significantly reduced baseline levels of serum zinc and copper in association with upregulation of all cytokines, indicating activation of the immune-inflammatory responses system (IRS) as well as the compensatory immune regulatory system (CIRS). Treatment with sertraline significantly increased zinc and decreased copper levels, while ketoprofen did not have a significant add-on effect on zinc but attenuated the suppressant effects of sertraline on copper levels. During treatment, there was a significant inverse association between serum zinc and activation of the IRS/CIRS. The improvement in the BDI-II during treatment was significantly associated with increments in serum zinc coupled with attenuation of the IRS/CIRS. In conclusion, lower serum zinc is a hallmark of depression, while increments in serum zinc and attenuation of the immune-inflammatory response during treatment appear to play a role in the clinical efficacy of sertraline. Intertwined changes in zinc levels and the immune response play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression and participate in the mechanisms underpinning the clinical efficacy of antidepressants.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with changes in the levels of the cations calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) as well as circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The immune-inflammatory nature of MDD has encouraged researchers to use anti-inflammatory drugs as an adjuvant treatment for MDD. However, the effect of this treatment on cation levels has not been studied. The present study examined a) differences in both cations between drug-naïve MDD patients and controls, and b) the effects of a combination of sertraline and ketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug, on Ca and Mg (both total and ionized). In the same patients we also examined the associations between both cations and IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-18, IFN-γ, TGF-β1, zinc and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Clinical improvement was estimated using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and after follow up for two months. Serum Ca and Mg (total and ionized) were significantly lower in MDD patients as compared with controls, while treatment significantly increased calcium but decreased magnesium levels. There were significant and inverse correlations between the BDI-II scores from baseline to endpoint and Ca (both total and ionized), but not Mg, levels. The effects of calcium on the BDI-II score remained significant after considering the effects of zinc, IDO and an immune activation z unit weighted composite score based on the sum of all cytokines. There was a significant and inverse association between this immune activation index and calcium levels from baseline to endpoint. In conclusion, reduced levels of both cations play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression. Increased calcium levels are coupled to the clinical efficacy of antidepressants and attenuation of immune activation. The suppressant effect of antidepressants on Mg levels may be a side effect of those drugs. New antidepressant treatments should be developed that increase the levels both Ca and Mg.

Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is accompanied by an immune response characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory and immune-regulatory cytokines and cytokine-induced stimulation of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). There is also some evidence that anti-inflammatory drugs may have a clinical efficacy in MDD.The aim of this study is to examine the clinical effects of an eight-week combinatorial treatment of ketoprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) combined or not with sertraline, on serum levels of IDO, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in association with changes in the Beck-Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The study included 140 MDD patients and 40 normal controls. The pre-treatment serum levels of IDO, IFN-γ, TGF-β1 and IL-4 were significantly higher in MDD patients compared with the control group. Treatment with sertraline with or without ketoprofen significantly reduced the increased baseline production of all 4 biomarkers to levels which were similar as those of normal controls. Ketoprofen add-on had a significantly greater effect on IDO and BDI-II as compared with placebo. The reductions in IDO, IL-4 and TGF-β1 during treatment were significantly associated with those in the BDI-II.In conclusion, the clinical efficacy of both sertraline + ketoprofen may be ascribed at least in part to attenuated IDO levels and immune-inflammatory responses in MDD. Moreover, add-on treatment with ketoprofen may augment the efficacy of sertraline by attenuating IDO. However, these treatments may also significantly reduce the more beneficial properties of T helper-2 and T regulatory (Treg) immune subsets. Future research should develop immune treatments that target the immune-inflammatory response in MDD, while enhancing the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS).

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a rare viral disease initially discovered in Africa in 1958. Since its first identification, several outbreaks have occurred in various African nations. Recently, the global community has witnessed a resurgence in the number of Mpox cases reported worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the ongoing multi-country outbreak a public health emergency in July 2022. This study reports on the first cases of Mpox detected in Khartoum State, Sudan, outlining the epidemiology, preparedness, and public health response to this new challenge. A total of 55 suspected cases were identified, with two confirmed cases. The clinical manifestations observed in these cases align with the classic skin rash typical of Mpox, presenting alongside symptoms like fever, headache, and joint pain. The findings underscore the need for heightened surveillance, early detection, and timely intervention to prevent the domestic spread of Mpox and its potential impact on public health. Continued global efforts are needed to support effective screening, diagnostic, and control measures, ultimately enhancing preparedness and response in the face of this emerging disease.

Background: diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a common cause for end stage renal disease. Autophagy has a defensive role against kidney damage caused by hyperglycemia. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes are currently considered as a new promising therapy in chronic renal injury. However, the renal protective mechanism of exosomes on DN has not been completely understood. We examined the potential role of MSCs derived exosomes in enhancement of autophagy activity and its effect on DN. In our study we used five groups of rats; control, DN, DN treated with exosomes, DN treated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine (inhibitors of autophagy) and DN treated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine and exosomes groups. We assessed renal functions, morphology and fibrosis. Moreover, autophagy markers; mTOR, Beclin-1, light chain-3 (LC3-II), and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio were detected. Additionally, electron microscopy was used for detection of autophagosomes. Results: Exosomes markedly improved the renal functions and showed histological restoration of renal tissues with significant increase in LC3 and Beclin-1 besides the significant decrease in mTOR and fibrotic markers expression in renal tissue. All previous effects were partially abolished by the autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine and 3-MA. Conclusions: we conclude that autophagy induction by exosomes could attenuate DN in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.

Blood perfusion quantification is important vital parameters in different diagnostic procedure, using infrared thermography imaging; it is reliable to use this technique as non-contact, non-invasive blood flow measurement method. Therefore, we developed a measurement protocol for blood flow over the arm's anterior surface. By using the superficial brachial and radial veins to be monitored under the impact of cold-excitation of (2 °C to 5 °C), the blood perfusion signal was detected using thermal imager of long-wave infrared spectral range (LWIR, 7μm - 14 μm). The simulation of Penne's bioheat transfer equation was performed to be compared with results obtained from the infrared thermography. Furthermore, the proposed blood flow monitoring using external adjusting of the excitation temperature, by using (cold-compress, or cold air-stream) applied to the region under testing. The signal detected resembles to the hemodynamic pulse of the superficial veins, in the definition of systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle. Moreover, statistical analysis applied to the BFIRT signals from 24 subjects to estimate the skin's mean temperature after recovery from the thermal excitation.

A crucial role is played by personal biomedical data when it comes to maintaining proficient access to health records by patients as well as health professionals. However, it is difficult to get a unified view pertaining to health data that have been scattered across various health center/hospital sections. To be specific, health records are distributed across many places and cannot be found integrated easily. In recent years, blockchain is regarded as a promising explanation that helps to achieve individual biomedical information sharing in a secured way along with privacy preservation, because of its benefit of immutability. This research work put forwards a blockchain-based managing scheme that helps to establish interpretation improvements pertaining to electronic biomedical systems. In this scheme, two blockchain were employed to construct the base of it, where the second blockchain algorithm is used to generate a secure sequence for the hash key that generated in first blockchain algorithm. The adaptively feature enable the algorithm to use multiple data types and combine between various biomedical images and text records as well. All the data, including keywords, digital records as well as the identity of patients are private key encrypted along with keyword searching capability so as to maintain data privacy preservation, access control and protected search. The obtained results which show the low latency (less than 750 ms) at 400 requests / second indicate the ability to use it within several health care units such as hospitals and clinics.

Mining can impact the environment, biodiversity and human health through direct and indirect practices. This study investigated the effects of gold mining on Gerbillus nanus, pointing to organ dysfunction and redox imbalance. Soil samples, Lycium shawii and G. nanus were collected from a site near a mining planet and a control site. Soil and L. shawii samples from the mining site showed a significant increase cadmium (Cd), cupper (Cu), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V). Hepatic, renal and pulmonary Cd, Pb, Hg, Zn, Cu, Fe, As and V concentrations were increased significantly in G. nanus at the mining site. Markers of liver and kidney function were elevated in serum, and several histological manifestations were demonstrated in liver, kidney and lung of G. nanus at the mining site. Malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were increased, and glutathione and antioxidant enzyme were declined in the liver and kidney of G. nanus. In conclusion, mining practices triggered tissue damage and oxidative stress in G. nanus living close to the mining site. These findings can represent the scientific basis for evaluating the environmental and health impact of mining in the on the nearby communities.

As prominent oil producers, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have played a significant role in the global energy market. However, as the world's attention increasingly shifts towards environmental sustainability, understanding the implications of the GCC's economic activities on CO2 emissions becomes indispensable. This research paper investigates the relationship between specific economic indicators and their impact on CO2 emissions in the GCC from 2001 to 2021. The study employs quantile regression, a powerful statistical method that estimates the conditional quantiles of a response variable given a set of predictor variables. The findings reveal several important insights: Financial institution efficiency is significant and negative at a 1% level at the lower (10th) -83537.3 and the higher quantile (90th) -549002.3. The relationship between GDP per capita and CO2 emissions varies across quantiles, highlighting the complexity of the growth-environment nexus. Total patents exhibit a positive and significant relationship with emissions, underscoring the importance of directing innovation towards environmentally sustainable solutions. Renewable energy consumption displays a nuanced relationship with CO2 emissions, with a stronger negative impact observed at higher consumption levels. This underscores the potential of renewable energy to mitigate emissions when integrated at scale. The study's outcomes hold crucial policy implications for the GCC countries as they seek to align economic growth with environmental sustainability. The findings emphasize the importance of fostering financial institution efficiency, promoting green innovation, and expanding renewable energy sources to reduce emissions

This study investigates how Electronic Livestock Health Recording Systems (ELHRs) facilitates the detection of disease burden and make cluster analysis by applying data analytics tools and techniques. A sample size of 18333 livestock disease cases reported from 2007-2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic of Ethiopia was used for data collection. The results showed that ELHRs are important as livestock disease data preservers, saving costs, and facilitating the extraction of up-to-date and complete information. Euclidean and Manhattan distance performed well at 98%, while cosine distance measurement metrics performed poorly. Finally, with the application of the selected clustering techniques, metrics, tools, and dataset, it has been attempted to successfully detect an optimal number of disease clusters and meet the objectives of the study.

Background: We aimed to study the frequency, management, and outcomes of patients with blunt pancreatic trauma. Methods: We reviewed the medical records for all patients admitted with pancreatic injuries between 2011 and 2017 at the only level 1 trauma center in the country. Results: There were 71 patients admitted with pancreatic trauma (0.6% of trauma admissions and 3.4% of abdominal injury admissions) with a mean age of 31 years. Sixty-two patients had pancreatic injury grade I-II and 9 had grade III-IV. Thirty-eight percent had GCS <9 and 73% had ISS >16. The level of pancreatic enzymes was significantly proportional to the grade of injury. Over half of patients required a laparotomy, of them 12 patients had an intervention on the pancreas. Eight patients developed complications related to pancreatic injuries ranging from pancreatitis to pancreatico-cutaneous fistula while 35% developed hemorrhagic shock. Mortality was 31% and regardless of the grade of injury, the mortality was associated with high ISS, low GCS and presence of hemorrhagic shock. Conclusion: Pancreatic injuries following blunt trauma are rare and the injured subjects are usually young male. However, most injuries are of low-grade severity. This study shows that shock, higher ISS and lower GCS are associated with worse in-hospital out-comes. Non-operative management may suffice in patients with lower grade injuries, which may not be the case in patients with higher grade injuries unless carefully selected

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that progresses with increasing age and some of its major symptoms include tremor, postural and movement related difficulties. Till date, the treatment of PD remains a challenge because available drugs only treat the symptoms of the disease or possess serious side effects. In light of this, new treatment options are needed, hence this study investigates the neuroprotective effects of an organic Boophone haemanthoides extract (BHE) and its bioactive compounds using an in vitro model of PD involving the toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. A total of seven compounds were isolated from BHE viz: distichamine (1), 1α,3α-diacetylnerbowdine (2), hippadine (3), stigmast-4-ene-3, 6-dione (4), cholest-4-en-3-one (5), tyrosol (6), and 3-hydroxy-1-(4`-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanone (7). Six compounds (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) were investigated and five showed neuroprotection alongside the BHE. This study gives insight into the bioactivity of the non-alkaloidal constituents of Amaryllidaceae since the isolated compounds and the BHE showed improved cell viability, increased ATP generation in the cells as well as inhibition of MPP+-induced apoptosis. Together, these findings support the claim that the Amaryllidaceae plant family could be a potential reserve of bioactive compounds for the discovery of neuroprotective agents.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) commonly causes increase in the patients’ disability and reduce their function because it causes pain, limitation in knee range of motion and decrease in muscle power.AIM: This study investigated the effect of three different physical therapy programs on knee range of motion , pain level, muscle strength and functional condition in patients with knee OA. DESIGN: Randomized comparative study.SETTING: Outpatient Rehabilitation clinic of Tongji Hospital (Wuhan, China).POPULATION: Seventy-two patients of Knee OA (aged 40-70) enrolled and randomly allocated into three groups. Group A (n=24) received physical agents and isometric quadriceps exercises, group B (n=24) received same physical agents as group A in addition to open kinetic chain exercises and group C (n=24) received physical agents as group A in addition to closed kinetic chain exercises.METHODS: knee range of motion (by electro goniometer), knee pain level (by VAS), quadriceps muscle strength (by isokinetic dynamometer) and functional condition (by WOMAC) were assessed before and after 5 weeks of treatment.RESULTS: In between group analysis, there were significant differences (P<0.05) between the three groups for all outcome measure. In within-group analysis, group C was the only group that showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all the outcomes. Group A and B showed significant differences (P<0.05) in quadriceps muscle strength and knee pain and no significant differences (P>0.05) in knee ROM and functional condition.CONCLUSIONS: After the study, our solid conclusion is that in physical therapy programs or protocols, closed kinematic chain exercise is very effective, it improves knee ROM, and help in reducing knee pain, muscle strength, function and disability for patients with knee osteoarthritis.CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Comparison between different physical therapy programs provides the rehabilitation team with the best treatment intervention that is more effective in treating the problems associated with knee osteoarthritis.

The transition from undergraduate dental student to the actual practicing dentist is a crucial phase and ensuring the preparedness of graduates for the complexity and demands of contempo-rary dental practice is a challenging task. This study aimed to evaluate the self-perceived prepar-edness of undergraduate dental students and house officers in the dental colleges of Pakistan. Cross-sectional national study was planned to collect the information from dental students and new graduates in Pakistan. The pre-validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale (DU-PAS) was used. Purposive sampling technique was utilized to recruit house officers and undergraduate dental students from 27 dental schools in Pakistan. The data analysis was car-ried out using the R statistical environment for Windows (R Core Team, 2015). The total of 862 responses with 642 females and 219 males were analyzed in the study. Overall, clinical skills score was 30.56+9.08 and score for soft skills was 30.54+10.6. The mean age of the participants was 23.42+1.28. Deficiencies were reported in various soft skills and clinical skills attributes.The results highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of dental students and new graduates in Pakistani den-tal institutions. The findings may be used to further develop and strengthen teaching and training of dental students in Pakistan.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most dangerous metabolic diseases with high rate of mortality worldwide. It is well known that insulin resistance and deficiency in insulin production from pancreatic β-cells are the main characteristic of DM. Due to the detrimental side effects of the current treatment, there is a considerable need to develop new effective antidiabetic drugs, especially alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitors with lesser adverse effects. These inhibitors are known to be directly involved in the delay of carbohydrate digestion, resulting in a reduction of glucose absorption rate and consequently reduce the post-prandial raise of plasma glucose, which can reduce the risk of long-term diabetes complications. Hence, natural products are well-known sources for the discovery of new scaffold for drugs discovery, including new antidiabetic drugs. The phytochemical investigation of Salvia aurita collected from Hogobach pass, Eastern Cape, South Africa (SA), yielded four known abietane diterpenes namely carnosol (1), rosmanol (2), 7-methoxyrosmanol (3), 12-methoxycarnosic acid (4) and one flavonoid named 4,7-dimethylapigenin (5). Structural characterization of these isolated compounds was conducted using 1 and 2D NMR, in comparison with reported spectroscopic data. These compounds are reported for the first time from S. aurita. The biological evaluation of the isolated compound against alpha-glucosidase exhibited strong inhibitory activities for 3 and 2 with IC50 values of 4.2 ± 0.7 and 16.4 ± 1.1 µg/mL respectively, while 4 and 1 demonstrated strong alpha-amylase inhibitory activity amongst the isolated compounds with IC50 of 16.2 ± 0.3 and 19.8 ± 1.4 µg/mL. Molecular docking analysis confirms strong inhibitory activity of 3 against alpha-glucosidase. Additionally, excellent antioxidant capacities were displayed by 2, 1 and 3 respectively as ORAC (25789.9 ± 10.5; 23961.8 ± 14.1; 23939.3 ± 2.4) µM TE/g; 1 and 2 as FRAP (3917.8 ± 2.1; 1522.3 ± 0.9) µM AAE/g; 5 and 2 as TEAC (3190.4 ± 2.8; 2055.0 ± 2.6) µM TE/g. The methanolic extract of S. aurita is a rich source of abietane diterpenes with excellent antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities that can be useful to modulate oxidative stress, and might possibly be excellent candidates for the management of diabetes. This is the first scientific report on the phytochemical isolation and biological evaluation of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of Salvia aurita.

Elite camels often suffer from massive injuries. Thus, there is a pivotal need for a cheap and readily available regenerative medicine source. We isolated novel stem-like cells from camel skin and investigated their multipotency and resistance against various stresses. Skin samples were isolated from ears of five camels. Fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and spheroid progenitors were extracted. After separation of different cell lines by trypsinization, all cell lines were exposed to heat shock. Then, fibroblasts and dermal cyst-forming cells were examined under cryopreservation. Dermal cyst-forming cells were evaluated for resistance against osmotic pressure. The results revealed that resistance periods against trypsin were 1.5, 4, and 7 minutes for fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and spheroid progenitors, respectively. Furthermore, complete recovery of different cell lines after heat shock along with the differentiation of spheroid progenitors into neurons was observed. Fibroblasts and spheroid progenitors retained cell proliferation after cryopreservation. Dermal cyst-forming cells regained their normal structure after collapsing by osmotic pressure. The spheroid progenitors incubated in the adipogenic, osteogenic, and neurogenic media differentiated into the adipocytes, osteoblasts, and neurons, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, we isolated different unique cellular differons and stem-like cells from the camel skin and examined their multipotency for the first time.

Innovation is rapidly growing and affecting various industries, including hydrocarbon processing. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive and organized review of the literature on innovation ecosystems and their performance. It will examine existing definitions of innovation ecosystems and related concepts and identify metrics and indicators for measuring innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The term "innovation ecosystem" has gained considerable attention from scholars and practitioners over the past fifteen years. Despite the proliferation of research in this area, there are concerns about its fragmented knowledge base. While previous reviews have highlighted the theoretical connections between innovation ecosystems and related concepts, there is still a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of innovation ecosystem research. The study used a systematic literature review approach that combines bibliographic coupling and content analysis methods, drawing on over 100 studies to identify five streams of current innovation ecosystem research: technology innovation, platform innovation ecosystems, regional development, innovation ecosystem conceptualization and theorization, and entrepreneurship and innovation. The study's contribution lies in decoding the intellectual structure of current innovation ecosystem research and providing targeted recommendations for future research.

The concept of space time had been the subject of debate for so long, here another version will be discussed in the form of space and time fields where a new concept of energy constraining can explain the interactions between those fields. This model comes in three parts : energy constraining , where the evolution of the quanton and its different transitions are discussed, the second part , energy fields, their degrees of freedom and the third part electromagnetic waves as relativistic quantons and the generic form of Maxwell equations in terms of space and time fields. This work shows that the origin many of the physical phenomena can be traced back to the quanton based world .

A pivotal strategy in decarbonizing the transport sector is by transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs), especially if they are charged with renewable energy. To provide an incentive to the common populace to switch to EVs, cities should set up - or enable or even encourage the private sector to do so - electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) at multiple and suitably accessible locations. This paper aims to present a digitaltwin-enabled methodology study for selecting the most suitable possible locations to establish EVCS with consideration of the low voltage (LV) network operation in terms of power losses, active and reactive power in EV charging demand and the effect of the EVCS on the transformers, based on examples in Newcastle upon Tyne (England, UK). It also evaluates the most suitable type of charger that could be installed at these locations by studying the estimated traffic, cost and impact of the EVCS on the power grid, both at peak and off hours. This paper demonstrates how digitaltwin technologies, such as the web-based tool AutoDesign by Northern Powergrid and EA Technology and open source Pandapower can be used for identifying the most viable and cost-effective locations to connect EVCSs to a Distribution Network Operators (DNO)’s LV network. The results of the analysis indicate that with the installation of the most suitable type of EVCS in a particular location, the local power grid would not be significantly affected at any hour of the day.

Concrete being one of the most frequently used construction materials in the field of construction. The use of concrete has increased with the passage of time as the more and more construction activities are taking place around the globe. Different materials have been added in to the concrete mix to provide the concrete more strength and make it more durable and long lasting. This paper looks into a detailed comparison of concrete strength when casted with in the presence of carbon fibers, steel fibers and glass fibers. The compressive strength for cubes and cylinder with carbon fibers is the highest as compare to steel fibers as well as glass fibers. The compressive strength of concrete is measured on 3 day, 7 day, 14 day and 28 day strength. The compressive strength of cube on 28th day strength is 37.52 MPa for carbon fiber steel, for steel fiber it is 34.22 MPa and with glass fiber the strength is 29.335 MPa whereas the compressive strength of cylinder with carbon fibers the 34.88 MPa, with steel fiber it is 34.22 MPa and with glass fiber the strength is 27.447 MPa. For the cubes the maximum difference between different fibers inducted concrete sample is 28% approximately and for cylinder it is 27%, respectively. On the other hand, the tensile strength of concrete was also gained with the carbon fiber. It was determined that carbon fiber provided about 16% and 12.8% tensile strength higher than glass and steel fibers respectively.

Inorganic nanoparticles based on magnetite improve the mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties of microporous cryogel polymer composites. Here we report the synthesis of microporous cryogel based on the crosslinked sodium vinyl sulfonate (Na-VS) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (Na-AMPS). The magnetite nanoparticles were inserted into Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel either during its crosslinking polymerization or by in-situ technique after its crosslinking. The morphology, particle sizes, thermal stability and magnetite contents of Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel and its magnetite composites were investigated. The prepared Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel and its magnetite composites were used as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) cationic dye using optimum conditions. The magnetite Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel composite prepared by in-situ technique achieved the best adsorption MB removal capacity for 7 cycles among the other adsorbents via chemical adsorption mechanism at room temperature.

There is a growing demand and use of herbal cosmetics for skin purposes due to their perceived safety when applied to the skin. Three Cassipourea species commonly known as “ummemezi” are used interchangeable by women in rural areas of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to treat hypermelanosis as well as sun protection. We conducted a phytochemical comparison of three Cassipourea species; C. flanaganii, C. gummiflua and C. malosana by LC-MS/MS analysis in negative mode. The results obtained from the LC-MS/MS yielded a total number of twenty-four compounds of different chemical classes, including fatty acids, steroids, di- and tri-terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids were detected, and eighteen among them were tentatively identified. Despite the recent popularity of modern cosmetic products, it is clear that plants continue to play an important role in the local cosmetics industry in South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal community provinces. The findings of this study suggest that an alternative treatment for hyper-melanosis disorders should be developed further. The residual wild plant stocks are insufficient to meet commercial needs, thus, encouraging their sustainable use is a means of harnessing the conservation of these plants. Indigenous communities should be supported in the commercialization which could be linked to the rural economic development.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and survival rates of same session ab interno trabeculectomy with the trabectome and Ahmed glaucoma valve implant (AT) in comparison to the Ahmed glaucoma valve alone (A). Method: A total of 107 eyes undergoing primary glaucoma surgery were enrolled in this retrospective comparative case series, including 48 eyes which underwent AT and 59 eyes which received A alone. Participants were identified using the procedural terminology codes, and their medical records were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was surgical success, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) > 5 mmHg, ≤ 21 mmHg, and IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline at two consecutive visits after three months, no reoperation for glaucoma. Secondary outcome measures were IOP, the number of glaucoma medications, incidence of a hypertensive phase, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: The cumulative probability of success at one year was 70% in AT, and 65% in A (p=0.85). IOP decreased significantly from 26.6 ± 10.1 mmHg at baseline to 14.7 ± 3.3 mmHg at the final follow-up in AT (p= 0.001). The corresponding numbers for A were 28.8 ± 10.2 and 16.7 ± 4.9, respectively (p= 0.001). The final IOP was significantly lower in AT (p= 0.022). The number of medications at baseline was comparable in both groups (2.6 ± 1.2 in AT and 2.5 ± 1.3 in A, p=0.851). Corresponding number at 1 year visit was 1.2±2 in AT and 2.8±1.8 in A (p=0.001). The incidence of a hypertensive phase was 18.7% in AT and 35.5% in A (p=0.05). HP resolved in only 30% of eyes. The criteria for HP resolution were fulfilled in 9 eyes (30%). There was no difference in the rate of resolution of the hypertensive phase between AT and A (33.3% and 28.5%, respectively, p=0.67). Conclusion: Ahmed glaucoma valve implant with same session trabectome surgery significantly decreased the rate of the hypertensive phase and postoperative IOP as well as the number of glaucoma medications.

Background: Although National Licensing Examinations (NLEs) may be a costly process, they can predict better performance for many following years. The current licensing requirements will not entail and new requirements will be requested. Therefore, this study suggests a framework for the development of the Medical Licensing Exam by exploring the opinions of Egyptian medical practitioners and educators regarding the exam format and criteria. Objective and methods: to describe the needed steps to develop the EMLE through a two-phase exploratory mixed-method study that had been conducted among the Egyptian medical sectors: medical practitioners and educators. Results: There were 50 clinical and academic educators shared in the online discussion about EMLE development. Then, a survey was carried out on 266 participants with various working places in which 198 of the participants were staff in the Higher Education Ministry and 68 physicians in the Ministry of Health. The input from both had contributed to the development of the following framework that is divided into two main sections; the Exam Logistics and the Exam Set up. The exam Logistics included the exam committee, prerequisites for the exam, the admission criteria and fees, and the validity of the license. While the Exam Set up included exam setting, structure, standard-setting, pass marks and reset policy. Conclusion: A Multidisciplinary team resources for the exam setting. Fairness and objectivity were highlighted through several factors; development of the exam blueprint, types of assessment methods, post-exam analysis, and standard-setting. Finally, the reset policy, fees, and validity of the license were recommended with a student-centered perspective that was suggested for the exam committee.

Automotive aerodynamics comprises of the study of aerodynamics of road vehicles. Its main goals are reducing drag, minimizing noise emission, improving fuel economy, preventing undesired lift forces and minimizing other causes of aerodynamic instability at high speeds. The Ahmed body has the form of a highly simplified car, consisting of a blunt nose with rounded edges fixed onto a box-like middle section and a rear end that has an upper slanted surface, the angle of which can be varied. It retains vital features of real vehicles in order to study the flow fields around it and the related turbulence models which characterizes the actual flow at elevated Reynolds number. In the present study, the aerodynamic behavior of this body is investigated numerically by the aid of commercial CFD tool: Ansys Fluent. The results of the simulation are validated with available experimental data and results of the simulations from other literatures. The numerical data were obtained for a fixed free stream velocity of 25 m/s at the inlet. The simulations were performed at a fixed slant angle of 25 degree and zero yaw angle. The present study focuses on how local refinement of mesh inside the concerned body and the outside, helps affect the results and for which grid dependency test is the primary objective of this paper. The present study also helps demonstrate how the drag of the body behaves, which is mainly the effect of pressure drag force generated at the rear portion of the body. The study also focuses on important properties like the velocity magnitude at different locations for different meshing cases, and to capture the flow pattern in the front or near the wake region. The study can be further helpful to future researchers in determining resistance, fuel efficiency etc. helping designers to optimize in specialized areas for better efficiency.

Recently, Shehata et al. [37] introduced the r+1Rs(B;C; z) matrix function and established some properties. The aim of this study established to devote and derive certain basic properties including analytic properties, recurrence matrix relations, dierential properties, new integral representations, k- Beta transform, Laplace transform, fractional k-Fourier transform, fractional integral properties, the k-Riemann{Liouville and k-Weyl fractional integral and derivative operators an extended version of r+1Rs;k matrix function. We establish its relationships with other well known special matrix functions which have some particular cases in the context of three parametric Mittag-Leer matrix function, k- Konhauser and k-Laguerre matrix polynomials. Finally, some special cases of the established formulas are also discussed.

The article introduces a new solution approach to grid-connected single-stage three-phase PV inverter whereby a dc-link voltage can successfully achieve the desired performance. As a single-stage, the variable output of perturb and observe maximum power point tracking (P&O based-MPPT) is fully utilized as dc-link voltage reference in inverter control scheme. As a result, it is challenging for the dc-link voltage to preserve energy balance by tracking its variable dc-link voltage reference under unpredictable environmental changes. To overcome this challenge, an adaptive reference proportional-integral (ARPI) controller, self-tuning, is designed and implemented to compel the dc-link voltage tracking its voltage reference to be equal as closely as possible; hence, the capability of the dc-link under abnormal events substantially guarantees the best energy balance and transient performance enhancement. To verify the validity of the method, simulation results for multiple events scenarios on 250 KW single-stage grid-connected PV systems show the effectiveness of the ARPI controller compared with PI controller.

The present paper discusses a study of a class of Charlier matrix polynomials and its generalized analogue. Certain generating matrix functions, recurrence matrix relations, matrix differential equation, summation formulas and many new results have been discussed for these matrix polynomials. Weisner's group theoretic method is used to obtain matrix generating relations for Charlier matrix polynomials and the details of this method were given in this paper. Finally, we will discuss only briefly the procedure followed.

Global health is significantly impacted by antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic misuse and overuse have resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, which makes ordinary infections more difficult to cure and accelerates the spread of disease. The World Health Organisation has declared that antimicrobial resistance could result in up to 10 million deaths yearly by 2050, making it a worldwide health emergency. One of the greatest challenges to global health, food security, and development today, according to the World Health Organisation is the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Even though antibiotic resistance can arise naturally, improper usage of these medications and many other factors are accelerating its global spread. Antimicrobial resistance is frequently referred to as the "Silent Pandemic" and is a problem that requires current action and should be managed more effectively rather than considered as a future situation. This paper address a number of antimicrobial classes, global health, Onehealth and how drug resistance affects human health, and related risk factors. This review will also provide background information on the causes and processes of antimicrobial resistance in brief by identifying these characteristics, targeted interventions can be developed to lower the risk of illnesses that are resistant to antibiotics. It will also offer insights into new and emerging solutions that are being studied and may be created in the future to address the advancement of antimicrobial resistance.

Due to the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases, the hydrologic cycle is being altered on the daily basis. This has affected the variations in relations of intensity, duration, and frequency of rainfall events. Intensity Duration Frequency (IDF) curves describe the relationship between rainfall intensity, rainfall duration and return period. IDF curves are one of the most often applied implements in water resource engineering, in areas such as for operating, planning and designing of water resource projects, or for numerous engineering projects aimed at controlling floods. In particular, IDF curves for precipitation answer problems of improper drainage systems or conditions and extreme characters of precipitation which are the main cause of floods in Nyabugogo catchment. This study aims to establish Rainfall IDF empirical equations, curves and hydrological discharge (predicted peak rate of runoff (Qlogy)) equations for eight Districts that will be used for designing an appropriate and sustainable hydraulic structures for controlling flood to reduce potential loss of human and aquatic life, degradation of water, air and soil quality and property damage and economic lessen caused by flood in Nyabugogo catchment. However Goodness of Fit tests revealed that Gumbel’s Extreme-Value Distribution method appears to have the most appropriate fit compared with Pearson type III distribution for validating the Intensity-Duration-Frequency curves and equations through the use of daily annual for each meteorological station. The findings of the study show that the intensity of rainfall increases with a decrease in rainfall duration. Additionally, a rainfall of every known duration will have a higher intensity if its return period is high, while the predicted peak rate of runoff (Qlogy) increases also with an increase in the intensity of rainfall.

Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) is an uncommon form of ectopic pregnancy. This review defines types of CSEP, discusses pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis and compares common treatment options and outcomes. The pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. One third of patient are asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain which is usually misdiagnosed as threatened or missed abortion. The main principles of treatment for CSEP are early diagnose, quick management, and maintain reproductive function as much as possible. Up to date; no consensus or guidelines for the treatment and management of CSEP. Management of CSEP depends on the clinical presentation and gestational age. Significant controversy exists regarding management, for this reason, several factors should be considered including age of the patient, myometrial thickness, clinical symptoms, hemodynamic status, fertility preservation.

Equality and incomparability multi-label ranking have not been introduced to learning before. This paper proposes new native ranker neural network to address the problem of multi-label ranking including incomparable preference orders using a new activation and error functions and new architecture. Preference Neural Network PNN solves the multi-label ranking problem, where labels may have indifference preference orders or subgroups which are equally ranked. PNN is a nondeep, multiple-value neuron, single middle layer and one or more output layers network. PNN uses a novel positive smooth staircase (PSS) or smooth staircase (SS) activation function and represents preference orders and Spearman ranking correlation as objective functions. It is introduced in two types, Type A is traditional NN architecture and Type B uses expanding architecture by introducing new type of hidden neuron has multiple activation function in middle layer and duplicated output layers to reinforce the ranking by increasing the number of weights. PNN accepts single data instance as inputs and output neurons represent the number of labels and output value represents the preference value. PNN is evaluated using a new preference mining data set that contains repeated label values which have not experimented on before. SS and PS speed-up the learning and PNN outperforms five previously proposed methods for strict label ranking in terms of accurate results with high computational efficiency.

Abstract: Educating healthcare workers (HCWs) to take action against monkeypox (mpox) is an important part of public health prevention efforts. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to vaccinate against mpox among HCWs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This study utilized an online cross-sectional survey that was disseminated via Google Forms between November, 1, 2022 and January, 15, 2023, employing a convenience sampling method. The researchers utilized logistic regression to ascertain the factors associated with knowledge, attitude and willingness to vaccinate. A total of 637 HCWs were included in the analysis (ages ranged between 21 and 51 years old). The mean overall score and standard deviation of the knowledge, attitude, and willingness assessment on mpox were 8.18±3.37 out of (0–16), 3.40±1.37 out of (0–5), 2.41±1.25 out of (0–5), respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCWs who heard about mpox before 2022 had a higher level of knowledge (AOR: 4.85; 95% CI: 2.81-8.36; p < 0.001). In addition, those who had less than 1 year of practice had a positive attitude about mpox (AOR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.20-0.59; p < 0.01). Finally, none of the variable groups had the capacity to predict willingness to be vaccinated against mpox. The research revealed that HCWs exhibit a relatively low level of knowledge and attitude towards mpox, as well as a low level of willingness to receive mpox vaccinations. Further, there is an urgent need to increase their knowledge and attitude, as the success of efforts to control the global epidemic depends on them.

Immobilization of enzymes is a good field of study to expand the life of enzyme in and lowering the cost of the chemical processes such as separation processes. Urease is an important enzyme with medical and industrial applications. The aim of the present study is to prepare an immobilized urease on a strong cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR120 -Na) and study of its activity and stability. We monitored the liberation of Na ions in the collected fractions and searching for protein in the fractions as an indicators of immobilization by ion exchange phenomenon. Sodium is measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy techniques, while protein tested by Bradford’s method. Immobilized urease activity was evaluated by salicylate-hypochlorite method. The results indicated a complete immobilization of urease enzyme on the resin surface with reserving 92% of the activity of free enzyme. The immobilized urease enzyme on resin showed good stability and it has a 62% of its activity after 154 days of storage at room temperature. It is concluded that a new immobilized urease enzyme system is prepared with good enzyme activity and stability.

Optical communications are described and analyzed by shaped beams; we challenge the ‎effects of parameters that impact the profile of a Flat Top Gaussian (FTG) beam. When ‎the laser beam propagates throughout the atmosphere, it can be influenced by different ‎optical phenomena including scattering, absorption, and turbulence due to changes in the ‎scintillation index and the forms of intensity that are displayed in the source and receiver ‎planes. In this project, the FTG laser beam that propagates through a weak turbulent ‎region is numerically investigated using open-source software. This simulation will be ‎performed according to a mathematical model based on the split-step beam propagation ‎method. Intensity distributions at the source plane and the received average intensity in ‎atmospheric turbulence are calculated, and additional contour is in the transducer plane. ‎The scintillation index, structure constant, source size, and other parameters, are applied ‎in the Rytov method to quantify the weak turbulent model. Moreover, these parameters ‎are analyzed in near-field propagation. Also, the effects of the beam’s scintillation and ‎beam wander are determined. All results simulated are discussed and compared with the ‎TEM00 Gaussian beam. Finally, these results are compared to measurements in the ‎experimental part of the work.

Background: Essential hypertension is a major public health associated with increase pressure on the vascular walls and red blood cells (RBCs). In the present work, osmotic fragility (OF) of RBCs was reexamined in the means of its correlation with two risk factor; iron status and lipid profile. Experimental: OF, iron status parameters, and lipid profile components were measured in 60 patients and compared with the results of 30 controls. Results: The results showed a significant increase in all iron indices of hypertensive patients in comparing with healthy control group except TIBC, UIBC, and transferrin concentrations, which decrease in these patients in comparing with control group. Serum TGs, total cholesterol, VLDLc, and LDLc were increased while there is no significant in serum HDLc in patients to comparing with control group. There is no significant change in OF between patients and controls where p=0.173. The iron status parameters and lipid profile components were dependent on sex and smoking state. Hemoglobin and PCV were correlated significantly with total cholesterol and LDLc. Transferrin saturation showed a positive correlation with cholesterol, LDLc, and TGs, but negatively correlated with HDL_c. No significant correlation between all the measured parameters and OF in HT patients. There is a significant correlation between serum ferritin and systolic BP and between Hb and systolic BP. Conclusion: No significant effect on the OF in HT patients. HT patients have elevated level of iron parameters in comparing with controls. OD has no correlation with iron status parameters or with lipid profile components.

Background: There is now evidence that immune and opioid systems show functional reciprocal relationships and that both systems may participate in the pathophysiology of major depression (MDD). Objective: The present study was carried out to delineate differences between MDD patients and healthy controls in dynorphin and kappa opioid receptor (KORs) in association with levels of β-endorphins and mu opioid receptors (MORs), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10. Method: The present study recruited 60 drug-free male participants with MDD aged 24-70 year and 30 age-matched healthy males as control group and measured serum levels of dynorphin, KOR, β-endorphin, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10. Results: Serum dynorphin, KOR, β-endorphin and MOR are significantly increased in MDD as compared with controls. The increases in the dynorphin/KOR system and β-endorhin/MOR system are significantly intercorrelated and are both strongly associated with increased IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Dynorphin, β-endorphin, KOR and both cytokines showed a good diagnostic performance for MDD versus controls, whereby both opioid peptides and cytokines show a bootstrapped (n=2000) area under the receiver operating curve of 0.972. KOR and the dynorphin/KOR system are both significantly decreased in depressed subjects with comorbid nicotine dependence. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in MDD, immune activation is associated with a simultaneous activation of dynorphin/KOR and β-endorhin/MOR signaling and that these opioid systems may participate in the pathophysiology of depression by a) exerting immune regulatory activities attenuating the primary immune response; and b) modulating reward responses and mood as well as emotional and behavioral responses to stress.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), particularly Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is a life-threatening pathogen that causes a variety of infections in hospital and community settings. It poses a significant risk and challenge for global health that hinders our ability to control and treat bacterial infections. Recently, the emergence and spread of variant strains of bacteria, misuse of the limited available options of effective antibiotics, spread of fake drugs, and climate change that increased the contact between humans and animals’ populations carrying different bacterial has significantly increased the incidence of Multi-Drug Resistance strains (MDR). This in turn, has created a severe problem in the infection control treatment of S. aureus infected patients. Treatment options for MRSA infection are increasingly limited and complicated. Unfortunately, different strains of MRSA are showing tolerance and resistance toward vancomycin, which is the standard of care for complicated MRSA. Therefore, it is crucial now to invest developing new effective anti-biotics and synergies, develop and implement national action plans for the management of an-tibiotic resistance, as well as improving our understanding of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Here, in this review we explain the main mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in MRSA and describes different approaches to manipulate it in MRSA, providing a basis for de-signing effective drugs, and shedding some light on the evolution of S. aureus.

Background: Schizophrenia and treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) are associated with aberrations in immune-inflammatory pathways. Increased High Mobility Group Protein 1 (HMGB1), an inflammatory mediator, and Dickkopf-Related Protein (DKK1), a Wnt/β-catenin signaling antagonist, affect the blood-brain-barrier and induce neurotoxic effects and neurocognitive deficits.Aim of the study: The present study aims to examine HMGB1 and DDK1 in non-responders to treatments with antipsychotics (NRTT, n=60), partial RTT (PRTT, n=55) and healthy controls (n=43) in relation to established markers of schizophrenia including IL-6, IL-10 and CLL11 (eotaxin); and to delineate whether these proteins are associated with the schizophrenia symptom subdomains and neurocognitive impairments.Results: HMGB1, DKK1, IL-6 and CCL11 were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients than in controls. DKK1 and IL-6 were significantly higher in NRTT than in PRTT and controls while IL-10 was higher in NRTT than in controls. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that schizophrenia was best predicted by increased DDK1 and HMGB1 while NRTT (versus PRTT) was best predicted by increased IL-6 and CCL11 levels. A large part of the variance in psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism and negative (PHEMN) symptoms, and formal thought disorders was explained by HMGB1, IL-6, and CCL11 while most neurocognitive functions were predicted by HMGB1, DDK1 and CCL11. Conclusion: The neurotoxic effects of HMGB1, DKK1, IL-6 and CCL11 including effects on the blood-brain-barrier and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may cause impairments in executive functions, and working, episodic and semantic memory and explain, in part, PHEMN symptoms and a non-response to treatment with antipsychotic drugs.

Cities are small on earth’s surface but they are the most attractive places for people to live and work; cities are developing quickly, thus it’s important to keep it a better quality place to live as it has the major of the economic activities and more job opportunities and other social and economic advantages to be a more green and sustainable place. Seeking to achieve sustainable use of ecosystems and conserve natural resources in the city of Prague; integrating ecological sustainability goals, the political borders as a reflection of urban development in the city, and ecosystems edges in blue and green functions impact the city development, and present opportunities to create strategies for green and blue infrastructure and clarifying threats could slow down the process to achieve the sustainability and greenery application. Also checking possible urban areas for development like brownfields and clarifying their relationship with political borders and ecosystems to find possible areas to add for sustainable green use, which will create better places for people to live and raise the value of life as well.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), considered one of the most common metabolic disorders, has dramatically increased and resulted in higher rate of morbidity and mortality around the world, in the past decade. It is well known that insulin resistance in target tissues and a deficiency in insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells are the main characteristic of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was the bio-evaluation of compounds isolated from three selected plant species; namely, Salvia africana-lutea, Leonotis ocymifolia and Plectranthus madagascariensis, for their glucose uptake ability. Methanolic extracts were produced from the arterial part of each plant. Compounds were identified using different spectroscopic techniques. The glucose uptake ability of each compound was then evaluated in mammalian cells using 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate. The cytotoxicity of each compound was established via the MTT assay. Chromatographic purification of the three plant species yielded fifteen pure terpenoids. Compounds 1 (p = 0.0031), 8 (p = 0.0053), and 6 (p = 0.0086), showed a marked increase in glucose uptake, with p values of p=0.0031, p=0.0053 and p=0.0086, respectively. Additionally, 1, 4 and 6 exhibited cytotoxicity toward mammalian tissue with a decrease in cell viability of ~70%, ~68% and ~67%, respectively. The results suggested that several compounds demonstrated a marked increase in glucose uptake while two of the compounds exhibited signs of cytotoxicity. It may, therefore, be suggested that these compounds be considered as potential candidates for novel plant-derived alternative therapies in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Objective: About a third of schizophrenia patients are treatment-resistant to antipsychotic therapy. No studies established the fingerprints or pathway-phenotypes of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The present study aimed to delineate the pathway-phenotypes of non-responders (NRTT) and partial responders (PRTT) to treatment using machine learning. Methods: We recruited 115 schizophrenia patients and 43 healthy controls and measured schizophrenia symptom dimensions, neurocognitive tests, plasma CCL11, interleukin-(IL)-6, IL-10, Dickkopf protein 1 (DKK1), high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), κ- and µ-opioid receptors (KOR and MOR, respectively), endomorphin-2 (EM-2), and β-endorphin. Results: Machine learning showed that the NRTT group is a qualitatively distinct class and is significantly discriminated from PRTT with an accuracy of 100% using a neuro-immune-opioid-cognitive (NIOC) pathway-phenotype with as main determinants list learning, controlled word association, and Tower of London test scores, CCL11, IL-6, and EM2. The top-5 symptom domains separating NRTT from PRTT were in descending order: psychomotor retardation, negative symptoms, psychosis, depression, and mannerism. Moreover, a NIOC pathway also discriminated PRTT from healthy controls with an accuracy of 100% while all PRTT and controls were authenticated as belonging to their respective classes. Conclusion: A non-response to treatment with antipsychotics is determined by increased severity of specific symptom profiles coupled with deficits in executive functions, and episodic and semantic memory, and aberrations in neuro-immune and opioid pathways. No patients showed complete remission after treatment indicating that non-remitting in PRTT is attributable to increased HMGB1 and residual deficits in attention, executive functions, and semantic memory.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was conducted to delineate groundwater potential zones in villages located in the Galhareri district of the Galgaduud region, central Somalia. A total of four ERT profiles were examined using the gradient configuration, chosen for its practical advantages over other configurations. The study revealed that all profiles were situated within similar geological environments, characterized by comparable rock types. However, notable disparities were observed in lithological variations, particularly in the texture of rocks encountered at different locations and in the thicknesses of the encountered geo-electric layers. The two-dimensional inversion results derived from the electrical resistivity data unveiled the presence of four geo-electrical layers. The first layer was interpreted as sand dunes. The second layer exhibited relatively higher resistivity values, indicating the presence of compact limestone and sandstone. The resistivity of the third layer suggested the existence of a lower resistivity layer, interpreted as weathered limestone, while the fourth layer demonstrated very low apparent resistivity, interpreted as sandy clay with sandstone. The ERT models constructed for the survey area effectively delineated the aquifer zone, represented by layer 3, which likely consists of weathered limestone, sandy clay, and sandstone. The resistivity values obtained for the aquifer zone, specifically at depths ranging from 200 to 300 m, were relatively low, suggesting that the groundwater quality is brackish in nature

Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) show disorders in calcium metabolism. The α-klotho protein is predominantly expressed in tissues that are involved in calcium homeostasis, and lowered levels are associated with bone disease. Aim of the study. To study the associations between low α-klotho status and calcium metabolism in relation to iron status in children with TDT. Methods. α-klotho, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcyphosin, vitamin D3, phosphorous, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), as well as iron and erythron biomarkers were measured in 60 children with TDT and 30 healthy control children. Results. A meaningful part of TDT patients showed lowered α-klotho levels, and those children also showed low serum total and ionized calcium concentrations. TDT patients showed increased PTH, FGFR2, and calcyphosin and lowered vitamin D3 as compared with healthy children. The α-klotho levels were significantly correlated with total and ionized calcium (positively) and with iron overload biomarkers and the number of blood transfusions (inversely). Partial Least Squares path analysis showed that 40.1% of the variance in serum total calcium could be explained by the regression on α-klotho, vitamin D3 (both positively), and calcyphosin (inversely) and that the effects of the latter are mediated by iron overload and the number of blood transfusions. Conclusion. In TDT, iron overload and its consequences may induce lowered levels of α-klotho which in turn may lead to lower calcium thereby explaining at least in part the effects of TDT on bone metabolism including spontaneous pathological fractures, osteoporosis, osteopenia, and skeletal deformities.

Africa is a home to growing number of biosafety organisations that work to enhance public health in their nations by bringing attention to the significance of biosafety and biosecurity. Since many African countries are low-resource countries, they frequently confront a number of obstacles that seriously limit their ability to create or grow a sustainable capacity for managing biosafety and biosecurity. The goals of biosecurity and biosafety protocols are to reduce both intentional and unintentional biological risks that could have disastrous effects on a nation's health system, agriculture, security, political and economic stability. Regrettably, on a national, regional, and international level, biosecurity and biosafety are frequently given insufficient priority.Eventhough, Africa are home to a growing number of biosafety organisations that work to enhance public health in their nations by bringing attention to the significance of biosafety and biosecurity, Standard Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures to contain hazardous infections are missing across the African continent. In this paper the current state, challenges, and future prospects of biosafety and biosecurity status of African nations discussed.

Objectives: Human herpes viruses can cause life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised children, especially leukemic patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect the human herpes viruses (HHV1-7) and to investigate its clinical significance in Middle Eastern Pediatric Leukemia Patients by using 2 Independent PCR assays. Methods: Detection of human herpes virus DNA has been done in blood samples of 200 pediatric leukemia patients in addition to 90 blood donors as a control group using multiplex PCR assays. When a ‘‘positive’’ result was observed, real-time PCR was performed to measure the viral load. Results: The most frequent herpes virus infection in Middle Eastern Pediatric Leukemia cases was CMV, followed by EBV, then HHV6, VZV, HHV7, HSV1, and HSV2, where they were 92/200 (46%), 76/200 (38%), 72/200 (36%), 48/200 (24%), 12/200 (6%), 8/200 (4%), and 2/200 (1%) respectively. Also, there was a statistically significance difference between leukemic patients and their controls regarding CMV, EBV, HHV6, and VZV (P <0.05). Correlation between percentage of co-infection, and clinical parameters for the 7 herpes viruses has been studied, and there is an increase in absolute neutrophilic count (ANC), total leukocyte count (TLC) and duration of fever and neutropenia in age group 6-11 years for HHV6/CMV, then in age group 12-18 years especially for EBV/CMV and CMV/HHV6. Also, our results show that multiplex PCR assay is close to single PCR assay in relation to specificity and sensitivity which in turn prove its validity for early diagnosis of herpes viral infection. Conclusions: Adopting multiplex PCR technique is helpful in screening of virus infections. It will save time, effort, cost effective and will assist in rapid diagnosis. However, the clinical relevance of the virus infection needs to be evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR which in turn will help patient's management by using appropriate antiviral treatment.

Beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients are treated with repeated blood transfusions, which may cause iron overload (IO), which in turn may induce immune aberrations. Patients with β-TM have an increased risk of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aims of the present study are to examine whether repeated blood transfusions, IO and immune-inflammatory responses are associated with MDD in children (6-12 years) with β-TM. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), iron status (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, TS%) and serum levels of CCL11, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured in β-TM with (n=54) and without (n=57) MDD and in healthy children (n=55). The results show that MDD in β-TM is associated with a greater number of blood transfusions, increased IO and IL-1β levels. Partial Least Squares path analysis shows that 68.8% of the variance in the CDI score is explained by the number of blood transfusions, IO, and increased levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. The latter two cytokines partly mediate the effects of IO on the CDI score, while the effects of blood transfusions on the CDI score are partly mediated by IO and the path from IO to immune activation. IO is also associated with increased IL-10 and lower CCL11 levels but these alterations are not significantly associated with MDD. In conclusion, blood transfusions may be causally related to MDD in β-TM children and their effects are in part mediated by increased IO and the consequent immune-inflammatory response. The results suggest that not only IO and its consequences including inflammation and ferroptosis, but also other factors related to the number of transfusions may cause MDD including psychosocial stressors. Current treatment modalities with folic acid and vitamin C are insufficient to attenuate IO and immune-inflammatory responses and to prevent MDD is children with β-TM undergoing blood transfusions.

Beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) is a severe form of thalassemia caused by mutations in the β-globin gene, resulting in partial or complete deficiency of β-globin chains. This deficiency results in oxidative stress, dyserythropoiesis, and chronic anemia. Cytokine dependent hematopoietic cell linker (CLNK) belongs to the adaptor protein family and has the capacity to interact with multiple signaling proteins thereby modulating signal transduction. The aim of the present study was to examine CLNK in sera of β-TM patients and examine its association with iron overload biomarkers. Sixty β-TM patients, aged 3–12 years old and undergoing blood transfusions, and 30 healthy control children were recruited and CLNK, ferritin and iron status parameters were measured. The results showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in serum CLNK levels in β-TM patients as compared with normal controls. The increased levels of CLNK were significantly associated with increased ferritin levels. Increased CLNK levels in β-TM may be explained by reciprocal effects between immune signaling and immature erythrocytes, which, release soluble receptors and signaling molecules, including CLNK, in the blood.

Melasma is a common skin disorder of acquired hyperpigmentation that appears commonly on the face. Although asymptomatic, melasma causes psychosocial and emotional distress. This study aimed to assess melasma's severity on people with darker skin types, evaluate the effects of melasma on the Quality of Life (QoL), and establish QoL predictors in affected individuals. This was a cross-sectional analytic study that enrolled 150 patients who were diagnosed with melasma from three private dermatology clinics in Durban, South Africa. The severity of melasma and QoL were measured using a Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, and Melasma Quality of Life scale (MELASQoL), respectively. The factors associated with impaired QoL were also explored using the multivariate method and stepwise regression analysis. MASI score of Masi (β = 0.209, t = 2.628, p < .010), involvement of cheeks (β = -0.268, t = -3.405, p <.001), level of education (β = -0.159, t = -2.029, p =.044) and being menopausal (β = -0.161, t = -2.027, p =.045) were found to be predictors of QoL. A regression model to predict MELASQoL given these four predictors was developed. The significance of the equation can allow remote scoring of MELASQoL based on the four variables.

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs) deployed in smart agriculture systems, accurately determining the locations of sensor nodes is crucial for efficient monitoring and control. However, in many cases, the exact positions of certain sensor nodes may be unknown. To address this challenge, this paper presents a novel method for localizing unknown sensor nodes in WSN-based smart agriculture systems using range measurements. The proposed method utilizes the Levenberg-Marquardt optimization algorithm to solve a nonlinear least squares problem and minimize the error in estimating the unknown node locations. By leveraging the known positions of a subset of sensor nodes and the inexact distance measurements between pairs of nodes, the localization problem is transformed into a nonlinear optimization problem. To validate the effectiveness of the approach, extensive simulations and experiments were conducted. The results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves accurate localization of the unknown sensor nodes, effectively enhancing the overall performance of the WSN-based smart agriculture system. Furthermore, the method demonstrates robustness against measurement noise and scalability for large-scale networks. The practical implications of this research extend beyond smart agriculture systems, as the proposed method can be applied to various WSN applications where precise node localization is essential.

Synovial sarcomas are rare soft tissue tumors that infrequently occur in the ethmoid sinus, posing diagnostic challenges. Herein, we report a case of a 38-year-old male with a 7-month history of recurrent throbbing headaches, left eye pain, and facial nerve palsy, evolving into multiple stroke episodes. Radiological studies showed extension to the cavernous sinus, raising an initial suspicion of vasculitis. Histological findings of an endoscopic biopsy, however, confirmed a monophasic synovial sarcoma. Consequently, the patient was referred to a specialized center for comprehensive management. This case underscores the rarity of ethmoid sinus synovial sarcomas, their diverse clinical presentations, and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and tailored therapeutic strategies.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) produces a suite of virulence factors that are coordinated by Quorum Sensing (QS) contributing to its disease-causing ability in aquaculture. The present study is first of its kind to obtain information regarding the presence and distribution of five QS genes, three virulence genes viz: lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR, rhlAB, toxA, aprA and plcH and seven of the Extended-spectrum βlactamases (blaVEB, blaPER, blaTEM,, blaSHV, blaCTX-M1, blaCTX-M2 and blaCTX-M3) of Pseudomonas species isolated from fish meat by direct PCR. Bacterial identification was based mainly on conventional biochemical techniques using the Vitek 2, automated system. Phenotypic sensitivity of antibiotics was established by the agar disc diffusion technique through 16 various antimicrobial drugs. Quantification of their in vitro production of numerous virulence genes outside the cell that are QS dependent namely, pyocyanin, elastase, alkaline protease, biofilm and cytotoxicity of Vero cell was as well executed. Fifteen genes demonstrated an enormous variety in their association. The total number of Pseudomonas species isolates were 30/100 to be identified by the API 20NE system as P. aeruginosa 12/30 (40%), P. fluorescens 8/30 (27%), P. putida 6/30 (20%) and P. alkylphenolia 4/30 (13%). The outcomes of this study have great significance for the strategic designation of QS quenching.

Cathepsins (Caths) are lysosomal proteases that participate in various physiological and pathological processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that cathepsins play a multifaceted role in radiotherapy response. Firstly, cathepsins contribute to the remodelling of the tumor microenvironment by degrading extracellular matrix components, promoting angiogenesis, and facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. Their proteolytic activity influences the tumor's response to radiation by affecting oxygenation, nutrient availability, and immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, cathepsins have been implicated in DNA damage repair processes, including non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination. Cathepsin-mediated DNA repair mechanisms can promote radioresistance in cancer cells, limiting the efficacy of radiotherapy. Additionally, cathepsins have been associated with the activation of prosurvival signalling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt and NF-κB, which can confer resistance to radiation-induced cell death. Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of various malignancies. However, the effectiveness of radiotherapy can be limited by intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanisms in cancer cells. In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the role of cathepsins, a family of proteases, in modulating the response of tumor cells to radiotherapy. In this study, we shed light on the regulation and expression of cathepsin B in colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2) before and after exposure to radiation were investigated. Radiation-induced upregulation of cathepsin B in dose-independent manner. Proteolytic inhibition of cathepsin B by cathepsin B specific inhibitor CA074 has increased the cytotoxic effect of ionizing irradiation in caco-2 cells. Similar results were also obtained after cathepsin B knockout by CRISPR CAS9. These results showed that cathepsin B could contribute to ionizing radiation resistance and abolishing of cathepsin B either by inhibition its proteolytic activity or expression has increased in caco-2 cells susceptibility to ionizing irradiation.

In the post antimicrobial era, increasing attention is paid towards using bacteriophage (phage in short) therapy to control antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The first step in phage therapy applications is isolating highly efficient lytic phages or phage cocktails from various sources. When a double-layer- agar with around 0.7% agar in top agar is employed, it results in a low number of phage isolation with a poor resolution, and in many cases, you miss the phage. To address this problem, a low concentration of agar in top agar is examined for better phage isolation. Here, our results proved the efficiency of isolating phage upon formulating a double-layer agar with 0.3% agar in top agar. A sewage sample was collected then phages were isolated, purified, and spotted on a top layer agar with 0.3% agar. The results showed the possibility of isolating a higher number of phages on 0.3% top agar than 0.7%. The finding advocates using 0.3% top agar for the double-layer agar, as it will provide fast, better, and easy phage screening and isolation.

Objective: A previous study showed that schizophrenia is accompanied by lowered levels of trace/metal elements including cesium. There are no data whether changes in cesium, rubidium and rhenium are associated with activated immune-inflammatory pathways, cognitive impairments, and the symptomatology of schizophrenia. Methods: This study measured cesium, rubidium, and rhenium, cognitive impairments (using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) and the cytokines/chemokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and CCL11 (eotaxin) in 120 schizophrenia patients and 54 healthy controls. Severity of illness was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating (FF) Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Results: Serum cesium was significantly lower in schizophrenia patients as compared with controls. Serum cesium was significantly and inversely associated with CCL11 and TNF-α, but not IL-1β. Moreover, there were significant inverse associations between serum cesium levels and the BPRS, FF, HAM-D and SANS scores and positive correlations between cesium and neurocognitive probe results including the Tower of London, Symbol Coding, Controlled Word Association, Category Instances, Digit Sequencing Task, and List Learning tests. Conclusion: The results suggest that lowered serum cesium levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of SCZ, specific symptom domains including negative, depressive and fatigue symptoms, neurocognitive impairments (spatial working, episodic and semantic memory and executive functions) and neuro-immune pathways as well.

The conventional use of medicinal plants is in part based on the widespread belief that plant crude extracts are non-toxic. In South Africa, traditional preparations of Cassipourea flanaganii used to treat hypermelanosis have accordingly been regarded by many as non-toxic. Whether so, impacts on the potential of bark extracts to be developed as a commercial drug to treat melasma, given their documented capacity to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Our study investigated the acute and subacute toxicity of the methanol extract of C. flanaganii bark in rats. Wistar rats were randomly assigned into different treatment groups. The rats received daily oral gavage of crude extract for acute and sub-acute toxicity tests. Haematological, biomechanical, clinical and histopathology examinations were carried out to evaluate possible toxicity of C. flanaganii. Results were subjected to the Student’s t-test and ANOVA. For both acute and subacute toxicity, there was no statistical difference between groups. There were no clinical or behavioral signs of toxicity observed in the rats. No treatment-related gross pathology lesions as well as no histopathology was observed. The findings of this study demonstrate the absence of acute or subacute toxicity after oral treatment with C. flanaganii bark extracts in Wistar rats at the levels administered.

Background: Activation of the immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS) play a key role in SCZ and treatment resistant SCZ. There are only few data on immune and endogenous opioid system (EOS) interactions in SCZ and treatment resistant SCZ.Aim of the study: We examined serum β-endorphin, endomorphin-2 (EM2), mu-opioid (MOR) and kappa-opioid (KOR) receptors, and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in 60 non responders to treatment (NRTT), 55 partial RTT (PRTT) and 43 normal controls.Results: Serum EM2, KOR, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly increased in SCZ as compared with controls. β-endorphin, EM2, MOR and IL-6 were significantly higher in NRTT than in PRTT. There were significant correlations between IL-6, on the one hand, and β-endorphin, EM2, KOR, and MOR, on the other, while IL-10 was significantly correlated with MOR only. A large part of the variance in negative symptoms, psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism, psychomotor retardation and formal thought disorders was explained by the combined effects of EM2 and MOR with or without IL-6 while increased KOR was significantly associated with all symptom dimensions. Increased MOR, KOR, EM2 and IL-6 were also associated with neurocognitive impairments including in episodic, semantic and working memory and executive functions.Conclusion: The EOS contributes to SCZ symptomatology, neurocognitive impairments and a non-response to treatment. In SCZ, EOS peptides/receptors may exert CIRS functions, whereas increased KOR levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of SCZ and EM2 and KOR to a non-response to treatment.

Using LSMS-ISA panel data, we analyzed determinants of diversification into Rural Non-Farm Enterprises (RNFEs) and dynamics of the sector by studying the transition between farming and both low- and high-return RNFEs. We found that diversification into RNFE is determined by household characteristics mainly age and gender of the household head, whereas initial capital endowments such as assets, human capital, land and livestock significantly affect level of participation than entry into RNFE. Furthermore, analysing dynamics of RNFE separately for the youth and matured households, our study finds that continuous participation in RNFE is higher among the youth than among matured households. Similarly, initial capital endowments mainly educational level and access to credit are important factors for the youth to transit to high return RNFE, implying that entrepreneurial skills development and access to finance that enhance investments and gradual accumulation of capital are vital for the youth to benefit from RNFEs. Moreover, shocks that affect agricultural productivity are significant in increasing the probability of transition out of high-return RNFE signifying the need for social protection measures to ensure growth of RNFEs.

In Schizophrenia, pathway-genotypes may be constructed by combining interrelated immune biomarkers with changes in specific neurocognitive functions that represent aberrations in brain neuronal circuits. These constructs provide insight on the phenome of schizophrenia and show how pathway-phenotypes mediate the effects of genome X environmentome interactions on the symptomatology/phenomenology of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge how to construct pathway-phenotypes using Partial Least Squares (PLS) path modeling and Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA). This paper aims to provide a step-by-step utilization guide for the construction of pathway-phenotypes that reflect aberrations in the neuroimmune - brain circuit axis (NIBCA) in deficit schizophrenia. This NIBCA index is constructed using immune biomarkers (CCL-2, CCL-11, IL-1β, sIL-1RA, TNF-α, sTNFR1, sTNFR2) and neurocognitive tests (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) predicting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS) in 120 deficit SCZ and 54 healthy participants. Using SmartPLS path analysis, a latent vector is extracted from those biomarkers and cognitive tests, which shows a good construct reliability (Cronbach alpha and composite reliability) and replicability and which is reflectively measured through its NIBCA manifestations. This NIBCA pathway-phenotype explains 75.0% of the variance in PHEMN (psychotic, hostility, excitation, mannerism and negative) symptoms. Using SIMCA, we constructed a NIBCA pathway-class that defines deficit schizophrenia as a qualitatively distinct nosological entity and which allows patients with deficit schizophrenia to be authenticated as belonging to the deficit schizophrenia class. In conclusion, our nomothetic approach to develop a nomological network combining neuro-immune and neurocognitive phenome markers to predict OSOS and cross-validate a diagnostic class generated replicable models reflecting the key phenome of the illness, which may mediate the effects of genome X environmentome interactions on the final outcome phenome features, namely symptomatology and phenomenology.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique mechanical, physical, electrical and absorbability properties coupled with their nanometer dimensional scale that renders them extremely valuable for applications in many fields including nanotechnology and chromatographic separation. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview about the applications of CNTs in chiral and achiral separations of pharmaceuticals, biologics and chemicals. Chiral SWCNTs and MWCNTs have been directly applied for the enantioseparation of pharmaceuticals and biologicals by using them as stationary or pseudostationary phases in chromatographic separation techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and gas chromatography (GC). Achiral MWCNTs have been used for achiral separations as efficient sorbent objects in solid-phase extraction techniques of biochemicals and drugs. Achiral SWCNTs have been applied in achiral separation of biological samples. Achiral SWCNTs and MWCNTs have been also successfully used to separate achiral mixtures of pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Collectively, functionalized CNTs have been indirectly applied in separation science by enhancing the enantioseparation of different chiral selectors whereas, non-functionalized CNTs have shown efficient capabilities for chiral separations by using techniques such as encapsulation or immobilization in polymer monolithic columns.

Introduction: This analysis is conducted as a part of a quality improvement project aiming at identifying racial disparity in inpatient stroke quality of care. Methods: Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) database was used to identify all patients discharged with any stroke diagnosis between January and December 2021. Additional chart review was conducted to ensure the accuracy of racial/ethnic categorization. The sample was dichotomized to White vs non-White groups and compared with univariate analysis. Results: The study sample comprised 1,408 encounters (1,347 patients). Mean age 71±15 years, 51% women, 82% White patients, 15% non-White patients, 72% acute ischemic stroke (AIS); 15% transient ischemic attack (TIA), 9% intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), 3% subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and 1% stroke not otherwise specified. Non-White patients were younger, had fewer concomitant diagnoses, lower proportion of TIA and higher proportion of ICH (p=0.004). In AIS cohort, compared to White patients, non-White patients had less frequent ambulance (p=0.009), arrived to the hospital later than White patients (7.7 hours longer ; p<0.001), had more severe stroke, and had less frequent IV thrombolysis utilization (7% vs 13%; p=0.042). Similarly in the TIA cohort, non-White patients’ utilization of EMS was lower than White patients and their hospital arrival was delayed. In the ICH cohort, non-White patients were younger, had lower frequency of atrial fibrillation, and a non-significant trend towards higher disease severity. The SAH cohort had only 8 non-White patients, 6 of which were transferred to higher level of care hospital within a few hours of arrival, therefore. Importantly, the hospital-based quality metrics such as door-to-CT time, door-to-needle time, and the Joint Commission stroke quality metrics were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: There is a racial disparity in the pre-hospital phase of the stroke chain of survival of non-White patients impacting the IV thrombolysis utilization. The younger age and worse lipid profile and hemoglobin A1C of non-White patients suggest the need for better preventative care starting at young age.

Despite of being an exceptionally biodiversity rich country, the forest coverage of Bangladesh is declining at an alarming rate. Declaration and management of protected areas in this regard is one of the efforts from government side to tackle the loss of biodiversity. The limited numbers of forest-protected areas (FPA), established to conserve the dwindling forest biodiversity of the country with high pressure on them for timber, non-timber forest products, and fuelwood - makes their management challenging. Moreover, most of the FPAs of the country declared only in the recent decades with very limited infrastructure, manpower and policy support for monitoring and governance. Some people-centred approaches for the management of FPAs and alternative livelihood and income generation subsidies although made available through a few project interventions, their number are still inadequate and performance remains less than satisfactory. This chapter provides a critical review of the FPAs of Bangladesh looking at their role in biodiversity conservation, management challenges, and key lessons from previous management interventions with recommendations for the future. It has been revealed that the FPA system of Bangladesh still poorly represents the diverse forest ecosystems with relatively small forest size and lack of corridors for the movement of wildlife. There are ample opportunities to render co-management of FPAs an effective strategy to minimize the conflicts in FPAs management in the country. It is, however, important to ensure the access of local forest-dependent people to different alternative income generating options that may adequately support their livelihoods.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, the term coined for a subtype of nephritic syndrome, is characterized by a state of acute loss of renal function, along with those components of renal damage on urinalysis, over a relatively short period (a few weeks or months). It is the aftermath of an acute, severe glomerular injury. RPGN, famously known as Crescentic glomerulonephritis (cGN) is not a single disease entity but a pattern that can occur in a variety of glomerular diseases caused by different pathologic lesions leading to the development of necrosis in the glomerular capillaries seen in both, systemic and kidney-restricted diseases. While still little is known about the exact etiologic cause behind the primary injury to the capillary wall leading to the development of the condition, many mechanisms are put forth to describe the pathogenesis leading to the progression. Immunopathologic studies have demonstrated that rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis can result from glomerular antibody deposition, can be immune complex-mediated, or from some as yet undefined mechanism that doesn’t involve glomerular antibody deposition. The condition is often severe with poor prognosis as it develops so rapidly and with extensive glomerular involvement, the damage is almost irreversible. Many elements can be associated with the occurrence and progression of the disease but it often involves a disruptive immune response one way or the other. RPGN’s morphological hallmark, the extensive extra-capillary cellular proliferation into the bowman’s space, commonly known as crescent formation which is often observed by electron microscopic view of the tissue biopsy, is considered one of the great diagnostic approaches for the detection of the disease. Also, the severity of the disease is related to the nature and type of immunologic process causing the disease and (in part) to the degree of crescent formation, that can only be observed by histopathological studies. This activity attempts to explain the etiology and pathogenesis involved in the development leading to the rapid progression of the disease.

Inclusive education recognizes the diverse needs of students and ensures that each student is pro-vided with equal opportunities to learn and succeed. The Dubai government has implemented an inclusive education policy aimed at promoting equity and inclusivity in schools. This study aimed to investigate school leaders' understanding, implementation, and perspectives on the Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework (DIEPF). To gather data, a qualitative research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with ten school leaders from private schools located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The findings show that school leaders have a strong understanding of the policy and deem it to be significant. The study also found evidence of effective strategies implemented by school leaders to promote inclusive education. However, there are challenges in the UAE that resonate with those worldwide such as inadequate funding, high student-teacher ratios, shortage of specialized staff, and limited training opportunities for teachers. These findings emphasize the significance of ongoing professional development and training of educators who are involved in inclusive education. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are provided.

A three-phase multilevel inverter (MLI) synthesized with 31-levels in the output voltage is used to provide ac supply to a three-phase, squirrel-cage induction motor. The gating angles required for thirty power switches in MLI are optimized by both Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Gray Wolf Op-timization (GWO). In the optimization technique, the optimal angles are determined by solving the trigonometric equations from the Fourier analysis for targeting minimum total harmonic distortion (THD) at the MLI output. Simulation model and experimental prototype are developed for performance analysis and validation. The results obtained demonstrate that the MLI is effec-tively able to produce 31-levels of three-phase ac output voltages with THD not exceeding 5% when loaded with a resistive load and a three-phase induction motor. The voltages and currents are measured and recorded for different loads and operating conditions, including the amount of energy consumed by the loads, as well as frequency analysis, which shows the absence of most of the triple harmonics that have a negative impact on the efficiency of the inverter.

We construct a novel family of summation-integral type hybrid operators in terms of shape parameter $\alpha\in \lbrack 0,1]$ in this paper. Basic estimates, rate of convergence, and order of approximation are also studied using the Korovkin theorem and the modulus of smoothness. We investigate the local approximation findings for these sequences of positive linear operators utilising Peetre's K-functional, Lipschitz class, and second-order modulus of smoothness.

Background. COVID-19 patients suffer from hypercoagulation and activated immune-inflammatory pathways. This study was performed to assay serum complement C3 and C4, and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in association with chest CT scan anomalies (CCTAs) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) Methods. Serum levels of C3, C4, TxA2, and PGI2 were measured by ELISA and albumin, calcium, and magnesium by spectrophotometric method in 60 COVID-19 patients and 30 controls. Results. C3 and C4 are significantly decreased and TxA2 and PGI2 significantly increased in COVID-19 patients as compared with controls. Neural networks showed that a combination of C3, albumin, and TxA2 yielded a predictive accuracy of 100% in detecting COVID-19 patients. SpO2 was significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients and was inversely associated with TxA2 and PGI2, and positively with C3, C4, albumin, and calcium. CCTAs were accompanied by lower SpO2 and albumin, and increased PGI2 levels. Patients with positive IgG results show significantly higher SpO2, TxA2, PGI2, and C4 levels than IgG negative patients. Conclusion. Hypoalbuminemia, which is strongly associated with lung lesions and lowered peripheral oxygen saturation, is characterized by increased TxA2, suggesting that interactions between immune-inflammatory pathways and platelet hyperactivity participate in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and consequently may play a role in enhanced risk of hypercoagulability and venous thromboembolism. These mechanisms are aggravated by lowered calcium and magnesium levels.

Rats, including those of the Sprague Dawley strain, may kill mice. Because of this muridical behavior, it is standard practice in many research animal housing facilities to separate mice from rats (i.e., the predators) to minimize stress for the mice. We therefore tested the effect of cohousing on the stress levels of mice from either the C57BL/6J (BL6) or the CD1 strain and Sprague Dawley (SD rat) by determining their fecal corticosterone or cortisol metabolites (FCM) concentration and investigated how cohousing impacts a behavioral assay, i.e., conditioned place preference for intragenus (i.e., mouse-mouse or rat-rat) dyadic social interaction (DSI CPP) that had been shown be sensitive to social factors, especially to handling by humans. We found that the two delivery batches of BL6 mice or SD rats, respectively, had different stress levels at delivery that were statistically significant for the BL6 mice. Even so, the BL6 mice cohoused with rats had significantly increased FCM concentrations, indicative of higher stress levels, as compared to (1) BL6 mice housed alone or (2) BL6 mice at delivery. In contrast to their elevated stress levels, the attractiveness for contextual cues associated with mouse-mouse social interaction (DSI CPP) even increased in rat-cohoused BL6 mice, albeit nonsignificantly. Thus, cohousing BL6 mice and rats did not impair a behavioral assay in BL6 mice that had proved to be sensitive to handling stress by humans in our laboratory. SD rats cohoused with BL6- or CD1 mice and CD1 mice cohoused with SD rats showed DSI CPP that was not different from our previously published data on SD rats and BL6 mice of the Jackson- or NIH substrain obtained in the absence of cohousing. Our findings suggest that the effect of cohousing rats and mice under the conditions described above on their stress levels as opposed to their behavior might be less clearcut than generally assumed and might be overriden by conditions that cannot be controlled, i.e., different deliveries. Our findings can help to use research animal housing resources, which usually are limited, more efficiently.

Accuracy and computational cost are the main challenges of deep neural networks in image recognition. This paper proposes an efficient ranking reduction to binary classification approach using a new feed-forward network and feature selection based on ranking the image pixels. Preference net (PN) is a novel deep ranking learning approach based on Preference Neural Network (PNN), which uses new ranking objective function and positive smooth staircase (PSS) activation function to accelerate the image pixels’ ranking. PN has a new type of weighted kernel based on spearman ranking correlation instead of convolution to build the features matrix. The PN employs multiple kernels that have different sizes to partial rank image pixels’ in order to find the best features sequence. PN consists of multiple PNNs’ have shared output layer. Each ranker kernel has a separate PNN. The output results are converted to classification accuracy using the score function. PN has promising results comparing to the latest deep learning (DL) networks using the weighted average ensemble of each PN models for each kernel on CFAR-10 and Mnist-Fashion datasets in terms of accuracy and less computational cost.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy complication. It is associated with high maternal morbidity and mortality rates and intrauterine foetal growth restriction. This condition is characterised by high blood pressure and urinary protein levels. Apelin and galectin-3 (Gal- 3) are peptides involved in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis, inflammation and cardiovascular functions. This study aimed to determine the correlations amongst serum apelin and Gal-3 levels and insulin resistance (IR) in women with PE. Sixty patients with PE and 30 healthy controls participated in this study. The PE group had significantly lower apelin levels (p < 0.01) and higher Gal-3 levels (p < 0.05) than the control group. The PE group had higher serum glucose levels and β-cell functions than the control group. Moreover, patients with PE exhibited dyslipidaemia. Correlation analysis indicated that apelin and Gal-3 levels were not significantly correlated. Moreover, no correlation existed between the apelin levels and any measured parameters of the PE group. In conclusion, the elevations in serum Gal-3 levels with increments in IR-related parameters and lipid profiles reflect the possible contribution of Gal-3 to the harmful effects of IR and dyslipidemia levels on women with PE.

This study aims at investigating the catalytic performance of Pd, Pd/Pt, and Pd/Au nanocatalysts toward the 2-propanol electro-oxidation reaction (2POR) in an alkaline medium. The catalyst components (Pd, Pt, and Au) were sequentially electrodeposited onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface and further characterized using electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry (CV)) and materials (Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX)) characterization methods. The Pd/Au/GC catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity in terms of the highest oxidation current (0.386 mA) and the highest stability in terms of the highest obtained current after 1800 s of continuous electrolysis. This behaviour was attributed to the enhancement in the charge transfer kinetics where the Pd/Au/GC catalysts acquired the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct, 1.85 kΩ) during the 2POR.

Annually, more than 1.5 million preventable new hepatitis B (HBV) infections continue to occur, with an estimated global burden of 296 million individuals living with chronic hepatitis B infection. This substantial health challenge results in over 820,000 annual deaths attributed to complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV vaccination remains the cornerstone of public health policy to prevent chronic hepatitis B and its related complications. It serves as a crucial element in the global effort to eliminate HBV, as established by the World Health Organization (WHO), with an ambitious 90% vaccination target by 2030. However, reports on global birth dose coverage reveal substantial variability, with an overall coverage rate of only 46%. This comprehensive review thoroughly examines global trends in HBV vaccination coverage, investigating the profound impact of vaccination on HBV prevalence and its consequences across diverse populations, including both high-risk and general demographics. Additionally, the review addresses the formidable challenges and facilitating factors essential for achieving WHO's HBV vaccination coverage objectives and elimination strategies in the coming decade and beyond.

The urgency for a shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy alternatives for power generation is underscored by the escalating demand for energy and the detrimental environmental impacts of conventional fossil fuels. In the case of automotive power, electric vehicles are being adopted in many applications, however, challenges remain such as extended charging periods and limited ranges between charges. Therefore, this research study conducts a techno-economic analysis of renewable energy technologies (including solar modules, wind turbines and piezoelectric materials) to augment the efficiency and sustainability of electric buses. The study examines the scope for these technologies to be adopted on double-decker electric buses in London in the United Kingdom. The solar modules are placed on the rooftop and sides of the bus generating 15.9 kWh/day and the wind turbine in the front bumper of the bus generates 8.3 kWh/day. However, the piezoelectric material generated only 22.6 Wh/day, rendering it an impractical inclusion in further analysis. Therefore, both the solar modules and wind turbines combined generate 24.2 kWh/day, which can increase the driving range by 16.3 km per day and this results in savings of 19.36 minutes for charging at the stations. Investing in such projects would have a positive return as the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) are 2.8% and £11,175 respectively. The annual revenue would be £6,712, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction would be two metric tons annually. Electricity exported to the grid, the electricity export rate, and the initial investment are identified as key factors influencing power outage in a sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this numerical modelling study paves the way for experimental validation towards implementation of renewable energy technologies on electric bus fleets.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms including increased depressive, anxiety and chronic fatigue-syndrome (CFS)-like physiosomatic (previously known as psychosomatic) symptoms.Aims: To delineate the associations between affective and CFS-like symptoms in COVID-19 and chest CT-scan anomalies (CCTAs), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), albumin, calcium, magnesium, soluble angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) and soluble advanced glycation products (sRAGEs).Method: The above biomarkers were assessed in 60 COVID-19 patients and 30 heathy controls who had measurements of the Hamilton Depression (HDRS) and Anxiety (HAM-A) and the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue (FF) Rating Scales. Results: Partial Least Squares-SEM analysis showed that reliable latent vectors could be extracted from a) key depressive and anxiety and physiosomatic symptoms (the physio-affective or PA-core), b) IL-6, IL-10, CRP, albumin, calcium, and sRAGEs (the immune response core); and c) different CCTAs (including ground glass opacities, consolidation, and crazy paving) and lowered SpO2% (lung lesions). PLS showed that 70.0% of the variance in the PA-core was explained by the regression on the immune response and lung lesions latent vectors. Moreover, one common “infection-immune-inflammatory (III) core” underpins pneumonia-associated CCTAs, lowered SpO2 and immune activation, and this III core explains 70% of the variance in the PA core, and a relevant part of the variance in melancholia, insomnia, and neurocognitive symptoms.Discussion: Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is accompanied by lung lesions and lowered SpO2 which both may cause activated immune-inflammatory pathways, which mediate the effects of the former on the PA-core and other neuropsychiatric symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membranous particles secreted by all cell types into the extracellular milieu. EVs carry, protect, and transport a wide array of bioactive cargoes to recipient/target cells. EVs regulate physiological and pathophysiological processes in recipient cells and are important in therapeutics/drug delivery. Despite these great attributes of EVs, an efficient protocol for EV separation from biofluids is lacking. Numerous techniques have been adapted for the separation of EVs with size exclusion chromatography (SEC)-based methods being the most promising. Here, we review the SEC protocols used for EV separation, and discuss opportunities for significant improvements, such as the development of novel particle purification liquid chromatography (PPLC) system capable of tandem purification and characterization of biological and synthetic particles with near-single vesicle resolution. Finally, we identify future perspectives and current issues to make PPLC a tool capable of providing a unified, automated, adaptable, yet simple and affordable particle separation resource.

Medicinal mushrooms have got much attention from biologists in the last decades. Leucocalocybe mongolica Imai remains one of the famous clinical and edible mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine and Mongolian medicine to treat various diseases. It also commonly consumes in Chinese and Mongolian daily dishes. Numerous biochemical components exist in L. mongolica, especially in the fruiting bodies include; polysaccharides, sterol, lectins, laccase, amino acids, terpenes, volatile compounds, and so on. These biomedical components possess a lot of medicinal properties and provide diverse therapeutical effects for human health, such as anti-tumor activity, antiproliferative activity, anti-diabetes properties, hypotensive effect, hepatoprotective effect, antioxidant activity, cardioprotective effect, and so on. However, this review's main objectives are to illustrate some basics about the bioactive components in L. mongolica and its pharmacological effects on the human body. In addition to giving forward some suggestions for future research on this medicinal mushroom.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chitosan (CS) and Alginate (Alg) polymers concentrations and CaCl2 concentration on metronidazole (MET) drug loading (LE), size particles and zeta potential. Nanocomposites were prepared by ionotropic pregelation method. A (21 *31 *21) *3= 36 full factorial design (FFD) was used to predict statistical equation and responses. The MET-CS-AlgNPs nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope and in vitro drug release studies. All data indicated the presence of drug into MET-CS-AlgNPs nanocomposites. The release profile of MET-CS-AlgNPs nanocomposites was found to be sustained

Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia symptoms frequently occur in major depressive disorder (MDD). The pathophysiology of these symptoms may in part, be ascribed to activated immune pathways, although it is unclear whether muscular factors play a role in their onset. The aim of the present study is to examine the role of muscle proteins in major depression in association with symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. We measured serum levels of agrin, talin-2, titin, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) as well as the FibroFatigue (FF), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in 60 MDD patients and 30 healthy controls. The results show a significant increase in agrin and talin-2 in MDD patients as compared with controls. There were highly significant correlations between agrin and HAM-D, BDI-II and FF scores. Agrin, but not talin or titin, was significantly and positively associated with all 12 items of the FF scale. We found that a large part of the variance in HAM-D (47.4%), BDI-II (43.4%) and FF (43.5%) scores was explained by the regression on agrin, smoking, female sex (positively associated) and education (inversely associated). CPK was significantly and inversely associated with the total FF score and with muscle and gastro-intestinal symptoms, fatigue, a flu-like malaise, headache and memory, autonomic and sleep disturbances. These results suggest that aberrations in neuromuscular (NMJs) and myotendinous junctions may play a role in MDD and that the aberrations in NMJs coupled with lowered CPK may play a role in symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia in MDD. Moreover, the increase of agrin in MDD probably functions as part of the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS).

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased atherogenicity and inflammatory responses, which may be related to increased levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). Objective: The role of HMGB1 and DKK1 in T2DM is examined in association with lipid and insulin profiles. Methods: Serum HMGB1 and DKK1 were measured in T2DM with and without hypertension and compared with controls. Results: HMGB1 and DKK1 are significantly higher in T2DM irrespective of hypertension. T2DM was also accompanied by increased atherogenicity indices. HMGB1 and DKK1 are significantly correlated with HbA1c, glucose, indices of insulin resistance, β-cell function, and glucose toxicity, and different atherogenic indices. A large part of the variance in the β-cell index (30.5%) and glucose toxicity (34.8%) was explained by the combined effects of HMGB1 and DKK1 and hypertension. We found that 18.3% of the variance of the atherogenic index of plasma was explained by HMGB1 and DKK1 levels and that 31.2% was explained by glucose toxicity, HMGB1 and body weight. Conclusion: The higher serum HMGB1 and DKK1 levels in T2DM patients and the associations with atherogenicity indicate that low grade inflammation and disorders in the Wnt pathways are associated with T2DM and that both HMGB1 and DKK1 may contribute to increased atherogenicity in T2DM. Moreover, both biomarkers may cause more deficits in β-cell function and increase glucose toxicity leading to the development of more inflammation and diabetic complications. HMGB1 and the Wnt pathways are new drug targets in the treatment of T2DM.

Schizophrenia comprises various symptom domains, including positive and negative symptoms. Machine learning showed that a) negative symptoms are significantly interrelated with PHEM (psychosis, hostility, excitation, and mannerism) symptoms, formal thought disorders (FTD) and psychomotor retardation (PMR); and b) stable phase schizophrenia comprises two distinct classes, namely Major Neuro-Cognitive Psychosis (MNP, largely overlapping with deficit schizophrenia) and Simple NP (SNP). In this study, we recruited 120 MNP patients and 54 healthy subjects and measured the above-mentioned symptom domains. In MNP, there were significant associations between negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR. A single latent trait, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies these key domains of schizophrenia and MNP and additionally shows excellent internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and predictive relevance. Confirmatory Tedrad Analysis indicates that this latent vector fits a reflective model. The lack of discriminant validity shows that PHEM and negative symptoms greatly overlap and probably measure the same construct. Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) shows that MNP (diagnosis based on negative symptoms) is better modeled using PHEM symptoms, FTD, and PMR than negative symptoms. In conclusion, in stable phase MNP, a restricted sample of the schizophrenia population, negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR belong to one underlying latent vector reflecting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). The bi-dimensional concept of “positive” and “negative” symptoms cannot be validated and, therefore, future research in stable phase schizophrenia should consider that the latent phenomenon OSOS as well as its 8 reflective manifestations are the key factors of schizophrenia phenomenology.

This study delves into the dynamic field of medical education research, emphasizing the integration of research training within medical curricula. It seeks to understand the impact of such integration on the competencies of future medical professionals. The primary aim is to systematically categorize and analyze the current trends and future directions in medical education research. This involves assessing the influence of research training on medical students' skills and the methodologies used in such research. Methods: The research employs an extensive bibliographic literature review across multiple databases. It classifies studies into categories like experiential or case studies, editorials, and original research articles. This classification is based on criteria such as geographical location, research objectives, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies. Results: Findings reveal a diverse landscape in medical education research, with a significant emphasis on research training. The research showcases varying methodologies and approaches used globally, highlighting the thematic focus and geographical distribution of these studies. Conclusion: Medical education research is a globally expansive and evolving field. It underscores the importance of continuous investigation, particularly focusing on integrating research elements at curricular levels and exploring innovative educational strategies. The study also points out potential gaps in research, especially in underrepresented regions, indicating directions for future research efforts.

In this work, PMMA(Poly methyl methacrylate) microfluidic system was used as a micro-reactor for urea hydrolysis by urease enzyme with use conductivity principle and utilize sound level meter(SLM) App in smartphone as a novel detector by considering the peak height in the App as an indicate for urea concentration. the advantage of use small volume and how the reaction carried on in the microfluidic system with simple and low cost are discussed, and the results were analyzed and statically determine. The linearity, detection limit (3×noise )and Correlation Coefficient, 62.5-500 ppm, 31.25 ppm and 0.992 respectively also, recovery studied were between(98.5-100.13%).

Background: Catalase is a vital antioxidant enzyme that dismutates H₂O₂ into water and molecular oxygen. Many protocols have been developed to measure catalase enzyme activity. Spectrophotometric methods are the most common assays that used to assess catalase enzyme activity. Methods: Because the rate-limiting step during catalase enzyme activity depends upon the dissociation of hydrogen peroxide, the developed assay measures the reaction between a hydroquinone/anilinium sulfate/ammonium molybdate reagent and Unreacted Hydrogen Peroxide, which results in the production of a purple, disubstituted quinone compound with a maximum absorbance value at 550 nm. Results: To clarify the precision of the developed method, the coefficients of variation were determined to be 2.6% and 4.7% for within run measurements and between run measurements, respectively. This method returned results that correlated well (r = 0.9982) with the results returned using the peroxovanadate method to assess catalase enzyme activity. Additionally, we examined the use of the newly developed hydroquinone assay to measure catalase enzyme activity in liver and bacterial homogenate samples. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that this assay can be used for scientific research and routine health applications because it is inexpensive, simple, accurate, and rapid. This method is suitable for use in clinical pathology laboratories because it is simple and produces precise and reproducible results.

Academic publishing appears to be the most important key of the academic functions (academic research, excellence in teaching and learning and community services). Selecting the right journal to publish research results is a challenge to academics. Yet, there is inadequate knowledge about a model specifically directed at the topic of the journal selection process with a mathematical certainty. The objectives of this research are: to identify the main factors that an author or researchers consider when selecting an academic journal for submitting a manuscript, and, to develop a mathematical algorithm of journal selection that provide the best journal choice with a mathematical certainty based on difficulty of each factor. Quantitative research through questionnaires has been applied as an appropriate instrument base to address the researcher’s identification of the factors that should be considered when selecting a journal. Questionnaire developed and emailed to academics in 31 public and private universities in the developing countries. Academics reported that the most important publication difficulty factors were publishing in reputable journals, and publishing in a journal that has an impact factor. However, the most least publication difficulty factors were found to be: number of issues per year and if the journal is an open access. The proposed mathematical algorithm of journal’s publication difficulty factors was developed and tested.

Ziziphus spina-christi commonly known as Christ’s thorn Jujube from the family (Rhamnaceae). The leaves are applied as Bandaged for wounds and are helpful in liver diseases, asthma and fever, it was found to have antimicrobial activity against different organisms. The aim of this study is to assess anti-microbial activity of leaves extract of Z. spina-christi and compare biological activity of the plant. spina-christi dry leave was extracted with 95% methanol and fractionated with Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate and aqueous extract. Antimicrobial activity of the plant extract was tested against E. coli, S. para typhi B and C. albicans. Literature of the antimicrobial activity of the plant were collected and analyzed.Antimicrobial activity of Z. spina-christi leaves extracts showed negative result on fungal species C. albicans. Negative results were observed with bacteria Salmonella para typhi B and aqueous extract formed slight inhibition zone with E. coli. Result obtained was in contrast with that reported in the literature this is might be due to the different environmental condition affecting plant material.Z.spina-christi was found to have anti-bacterial effect Further studies are needed to assess its clinical safety and biological effect in vivo inside animals and human.

Opportunistic networks, an evolution of mobile Ad Hoc networks (MANETs), offer decentralized communication without relying on preinstalled infrastructure, enabling nodes to route packets through different mobile nodes dynamically. However, due to the absence of complete paths and rapidly changing connectivity, routing in opportunistic networks presents unique challenges. This paper proposes a novel probabilistic routing model for opportunistic networks, leveraging nodes' meeting probabilities to route packets towards their destinations. The model dynamically builds routes based on the likelihood of encountering the destination node, considering factors such as last meeting time and acknowledgment tables to manage network overload. Additionally, an efficient message detection scheme is introduced to alleviate high overhead by selectively deleting messages from buffers during congestion. Furthermore, the proposed model incorporates cross-layer optimization techniques, integrating optimization strategies across multiple protocol layers to maximize energy efficiency, adaptability, and message delivery reliability. Through extensive simulations, the effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated, showing improved message delivery probability while maintaining reasonable overhead and latency. This research contributes to the advancement of opportunistic networks, particularly in enhancing connectivity and efficiency for Internet of Things (IoT) applications deployed in challenging environments.

With the increase of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), machine learning has taken a forceful twist in recent times. One of the most spectacular kinds of ANN design is the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a technology that mixes artificial neural networks and up to date deep learning strategies. In deep learning, Convolutional Neural Network is at the center of spectacular advances. This artificial neural network has been applied to several image recognition tasks for decades and attracted the eye of the researchers of the many countries in recent years as the CNN has shown promising performances in several computer vision and machine learning tasks. This paper describes the underlying architecture and various applications of Convolutional Neural Network.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of graft-free short tunnel small flap (STSF) technique with that of scleral patch graft (SPG) in Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Participants: Eighty-eyes of eighty patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma including 41 in STSF and 39 eyes in SPG. Methods: Patients were enrolled and assigned randomly to STSF or SPG. Main Outcome Measures: tube exposure, Intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), surgical complications, and success rate ( defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) >5 mmHg, ≤21 mmHg, and IOP reduction ≥20% from baseline at two consecutive visits after three months, no reoperation for glaucoma). Results: only one case in SPG developed tube exposure at 1-year follow-up. The cumulative probability of success during the first year of follow-up was 70% in the STSF and 65% in SPG (P = 0.36). IOP decreased significantly from 29.6 ± 8.6 mmHg at baseline to 16.4 ± 3.6 mmHg at the final follow-up in STSF (p = 0.001). The corresponding numbers for SPG were 30.9 ± 11.2 and 15.8 ± 4.7, respectively (p = 0.001). The final IOP was comparable between both groups (p = 0.65). Mean ± standard deviation of the number of glaucoma medications was 1.8 ± 0.9 in STSF and 1.6 ± 0.9 in SPG at final follow-up (P = 0.32). Postoperative complications developed in 8 patients (19%) in STSF and 9 patients (23%) in SPG (P = 0.81). Conclusions: STSF and SPG techniques had comparable complication rate at one-year follow-up. Both techniques were comparable in terms of success rate, postoperative IOP, and glaucoma medications.

Background. The characterization of new biomarkers of COVID-19 is extremely important. Few studies measured the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), calcium and magnesium in COVID-19. Aims: To measure sRAGE, ACE2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, CRP, calcium, magnesium, and albumin in COVID-19 patients in association with peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and chest CT scan abnormalities (CCTA) including ground glass opacities. Methods. This study measured sRAGE, ACE2, IL-6, IL-10, CRP using ELISA techniques, and calcium, magnesium, and albumin using a spectrophotometric method in 60 COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls.Results. COVID-19 is characterized by significantly increased IL-6, CRP, IL-10, sRAGE, ACE2, and lowered levels of SpO2, albumin, magnesium and calcium. Neural networks showed that a combination of calcium, IL-6, CRP, and sRAGE yielded an accuracy of 100% in detecting COVID-19 patients with calcium being the most important predictor followed by IL-6, and CRP. COVID-19 patients with CCTAs showed lower SpO₂ and albumin levels than those without CCTAs. SpO2 was significantly and inversely correlated with IL-6, IL-10, CRP, sRAGE, and ACE2, and positively with albumin, magnesium and calcium. Patients with positive IgG results showed a significant elevation in the serum level of IL-6, sRAGE, and ACE2 compared to the negatively IgG patient subgroup.Conclusion. The results show that immune-inflammatory and RAGE pathway biomarkers may be used as external validating criterion for the diagnosis COVID-19. Those pathways coupled with lowered SpO2, calcium and magnesium are drug targets that may help to reduce the consequences of COVID-19.

Cycle times at workstations in offsite construction factories fluctuate widely due to various influencing factors. Consequently, relying on average rates, such as length per unit of time, for estimating cycle times proves to be inaccurate, often leading to significant deviations between production schedules and actual operations. To address this issue, this study proposes an estimation system that leverages machine-learning-based prediction, statistical methods, 3D simulation, and computer vision to predict cycle times at the workstation level. Testing of the system on a semi-automated wood-wall framing workstation in a panelized construction factory shows that it reduces the mean absolute error and sum of errors by approximately 36% and 68%, respectively, compared to the fixed rate method. The results also highlight the efficacy of using computer vision data for training machine-learning models for cycle time estimation, the importance of identifying and understanding the factors influencing cycle times, and the impact of random delays on the accuracy of cycle time estimation systems.

COVID-19 has substantially influenced healthcare systems, requiring early prognosis for innovative therapies and optimal results, especially in individuals with comorbidities. Healthcare practitioners have used AI systems for investigating, anticipating, and predicting diseases, through means including medication development, clinical trial analysis, and pandemic forecasting. This study proposes the use of AI to predict disease severity in terms of hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted the approval from the Research Ethics Committee of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Saudi Arabia. The study used sequential sampling approaches to include 50 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients from KAU's coronavirus isolation wards. A pre-designed form was used to collect each patient's demographic information, including age and gender, signs and symptoms, illness severity (mild, moderate, severe), and laboratory findings. Furthermore, the length of the hospital stay and the result, whether the patient recovered or died, were reported. Results: The study involved 50 patients with varying degrees of disease severity, most of whom suffered from fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat, and diarrhoea. Laboratory analysis of COVID-19 patients showed increased white blood cell and platelet counts, with C-reactive protein levels above normal. Elevated LDH levels indicated possible tissue damage, while ferritin levels were elevated. Other enzymes were in the normal range, but bilirubin levels were slightly elevated. Overall, the patient's lab results indicated inflammation and possible blood clot formation. The study evaluated the predictive accuracy for outcomes and mortality of COVID-19 patients based on factors such as CRP, LDH, Ferritin, ALP, Bilirubin, D-dimers, and hospital stay (p-value ≤0.05). The predictive accuracy mortality of patients with COVID-19 using AI showed Hospital stay, D-Dimers ALP, Bilirubin, LDH, CRP, and Ferritin significantly affected hospital mortality. (p ≤ 0.0001). Conclusion: Artificial Intelligence is crucial for identifying early coronavirus infections and monitoring patient conditions. It improves treatment consistency and decision-making via the development of algorithms. AI can track the crisis at various scales, facilitate research, and aid in developing treatment regimens, prevention strategies, and drugs and vaccines. It also aids in monitoring health and facilitating research on the virus.

Establishment of protected areas (PAs) is one of the key global conservation strategies that currently cover approximately 15% of the earth’s land surface. Globally, PA networks are designed to curb the growing anthropogenic pressures in areas with high biological diversity. Despite the importance of PAs in conserving the vanishing biodiversity and unique habitats, many of them are in critical condition due to poor governance thus functioning below the expected level. Moreover, in many developing countries, the PA coverage is below the global standard. Recognizing their contemporary role in conservation, governments have recently agreed to expand the global PA coverage to 17% by the year 2020 (Aichi target 11). This book with eight chapters from different regions of the world provides an overview of the PAs governance, institutional mechanisms, conservation benefits, limitations and challenges associated with their respective policy discourse, integrated management, and functional attributes. Protected areas expect to to play an important role in the long rn in conservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems particularly in countries where population pressure and habitat loss are high. Regular intervention, political commitment, and effective governance are essential for the sustainability of PAs across the world. Here, we also attempted to shed some light on future development clues for the sustainable management and monitoring of PAs worldwide.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is frequently accompanied by affective disorders with a prevalence of comorbid depression of around 25%. Nevertheless, the biomarkers of affective symptoms including depression and anxiety due to T2DM are not well established.Aims: This study was conducted to delineate the serum biomarkers predicting affective symptoms due to T2DM above and beyond the effects of insulin resistance and atherogenicity. Methods: The present study delineated the effects of serum levels of copper, zinc, β-arrestin-1, FBXW7, lactosylceramide (LacCer), serotonin, albumin, calcium, magnesium, IR and atherogenicity on severity of depression and anxiety in 58 men with T2DM and 30 healthy male controls. Severity of affective symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety rating scales.Results: We found that 61.7% of the variance in affective symptoms was explained by the multivariate regression on copper, β-arrestin-1, calcium, and insulin resistance coupled with atherogenicity, while 44.4% of the variance in the latter was explained by copper, β-arrestin-1, LacCer (all positively) and calcium and FBXW7 (both negatively). Copper and LacCer (positive) and calcium and BXW7 (inverse) had significant specific indirect effects on affective symptoms which were mediated by insulin resistance and atherogenicity. Copper, β-arrestin-1, and calcium were associated with affective symptoms above and beyond the effects of insulin resistance and atherogenicity.Discussion: T2DM and affective symptoms share common pathways namely increased atherogenicity, insulin resistance, copper, and β-arrestin-1, and lowered calcium, whereas copper, β-arrestin-1, calcium, LacCer, and FBXW7 may modulate depression and anxiety symptoms by affecting T2DM.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with fatigue and physio-somatic symptoms. The aims of this study are to delineate the associations between severity of fatigue and physio-somatic symptoms and glomerular filtration rate, inflammatory biomarkers, and Wnt/catenin-pathway proteins. The Wnt-pathway related proteins β-catenin, Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), R-spondin-1, and sclerostin were measured by ELISA technique in 60 ESRD patients and 30 controls. The Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (FF) Rating Scale was used to assess severity of FF symptoms. ESRD is characterized by a significant increase in the total FF score, muscle tension, fatigue, sadness, sleep disorders, GI symptoms, and a flu-like malaise. The total FF score was significantly correlated with serum levels of urea, creatinine, phosphate, and copper (positively), and β-catenin, eGFR, hemoglobin, albumin, and zinc (inversely). The total FF score was associated with the number of total dialysis and weekly dialysis sessions, and these dialysis characteristics were more important in predicting FF scores than eGFR measurements. Partial Least Squares analysis showed that the FF score comprised two factors which are differently associated with biomarkers: a) 43.0% of the variance in fatigue, GI symptoms, muscle tension, sadness, and insomnia is explained by hemoglobin, albumin, zinc, β-catenin, and R-spondin-1; and b) 22.3% of the variance in irritability, concentration and memory impairments by increased copper and cations/chloride ratio, and male sex. ESRD patients show high levels of fatigue and physio-somatic symptoms which are associated with hemodialysis and mediated by dialysis-induced changes in inflammatory pathways, the Wnt/catenin pathway, and copper.

Cancer treatment with specific chemotherapeutic agents has been well documented to have an adverse impact on female fertility leading to premature ovarian failure (POF). The objective of this study was to investigate if chemotherapeutic induced POF can be reversed with an infusion of autologous nucleated peripheral blood cells (PBMC). To reach our goal, mice were treated with a single intraperitoneal injections of busulfan and cyclophosphamide to induce POF. This was followed by transfusion of PBMC. The ovarian morphology and functional parameters were monitored by radioimmunoassay, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry analysis. Our study showed that chemotherapy (CTX) protracted estrous cycle period and repressed E2 production. CTX decreased the expressions of steroidogenesis markers- CYP-17 synthesis, StAR and Connexin-43 protein expression from the ovarian follicles. We also observed reduced numbers and sizes of the primordial and primary follicles in CTX-treated mice compared to untreated controls (P < 0.05). When both CTX and untreated –control groups were stimulated with gonadotrophin, the control group produced ten times more ova than the CTX group. Finally, the treatment of premature ovarian failure induced by CTX with autologous PBMC transfusion resulted in over-expression and a statistically significant increase in several stem cell markers and restoration of fertility. Infusion with PBMC in CTX further decreased the estrous cycle length by 2.5 times (P < 0.01). We found that transfusion of autologous PBMC to mice with chemotherapy induced POF was very effective at restoring fertility. These results are similar to other studies using bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Measurements of copper and zinc in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) show contradictory results.Aim of the study: To examine serum levels of these minerals in TDT in relation to iron overload indices and erythron variables. Methods: This study recruited 60 children with TDT and 30 healthy children aged 3-12 years old.Results: Zinc was significantly higher in TDT children than in control children, whilst copper and the copper to zinc ratio were significantly lowered in TDT. Serum zinc was significantly associated with the number of blood transfusions and iron overload variables (including serum iron and TS%) and negatively with erythron variables (including hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin). Serum copper was significantly and negatively associated with the same iron overload and erythron variables. The copper to zinc ratio was significantly correlated with iron, TS%, ferritin, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Albumin levels were significantly higher in TDT children than in control children. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the increase in zinc in children with TDT may be explained by iron loading anemia and hemolysis and the consequent shedding of high amounts of intracellular zinc into the plasma. Increased albumin levels and treatment with Desferral may further contribute towards higher zinc levels in TDT. We suggest that the elevations in zinc in TDT are a compensatory mechanism protecting against infection, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Previous proposals for prophylactic use of zinc supplements in TDT may not be warranted.

The variability of ozone over Egypt has been studied in this work. Higher values of coefficient of variation (COV) at eight stations occur at winter while lowest values occur at summer. The COV is function of latitude in annual, winter and spring where it decreases gradually from the north to south of Egypt. The trend analysis of ozone over the eight stations indicates negative trends over northern stations for both annual and seasonal time series with the greatest one at winter. The horizontal distribution of ozone trend values is negative over all Egypt in winter while it positive over middle and south Egypt in the other seasons. The long-term variability of the behavior of the annual ozone shows positive trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1979- 1989 at the most stations. Negative trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1990- 2014 at all stations. The Mann–Kendall test confirms that there is an abrupt change towards decreasing of ozone occurs in 1981, 1984, 2012, 1999, 2000, 1998 and 2010, while a change towards increasing of ozone appears in 2006, 2014, 1993 and 1989.

This study delves into the intricate interplay of economic growth components, specifically focusing on Consumption and investment in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2022. Employing vector error correction models and cointegration techniques, we analyze the short- and long-term dynamics within the relationship of Consumption, investment, and economic growth. Granger causality analysis is also used to discern these pivotal variables' causal connections. Our empirical analysis reveals a persistent long-term cointegration relationship among the variables, underscoring the enduring nature of their interdependency. Furthermore, our findings highlight Consumption and investment's statistically significant positive impact on economic growth. Notably, the short-term analysis unveils a stable model characterized by an annual adjustment to equilibrium of 100%.Moreover, the Granger causality study demonstrates unidirectional causal linkages between Consumption, investment, and economic growth. These findings hold substantial implications for policy formulation in Saudi Arabia. Policymakers must grasp the ramifications of burgeoning prosperity and evolving private consumption patterns on future environmental outcomes. Achieving sustainable long-term results necessitates equal emphasis on bolstering private Consumption and fostering other facets of economic growth.