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Background/Objectives: This study investigated the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of radiation-induced breast cancer from mammography screening in Dubai. It aimed to explore the relationship between breast thickness, patient age, and the associated radiation dose during mammographic examinations. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2601 patients aged 40 to 69 across five screening facilities in Dubai's healthcare system. Due to a low correlation between the mean glandular dose (MGD) and breast thickness, both glandular and non-glandular doses were included in calculations as the organ dose (OD). This comprehensive approach examined the impact of whole breast tissue on risk assessments. Key exposure parameters such as the kilovoltage peak (kVp), milliampere-seconds (mAs), and source-to-skin distance were extracted from the dose survey. Results: Our findings reveal that the organ dose increases with breast thickness, emphasizing the need for dose optimization in denser tissues. The LAR decreases with age across all thickness categories, but higher initial LAR values were seen in younger patients with thicker tissue. This study emphasizes the increased sensitivity of younger women, who usually have denser breast tissue, to radiation-induced cancer risks. Conclusions: Personalized screening protocols considering age and breast thickness are crucial for balancing early cancer detection benefits with radiation risks. Future research should improve mammography protocols, explore alternative methods, and consider generic testing for young high-risk patients to mitigate risks while maintaining diagnostic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study compares system-reported organ doses (ODs) to manually calculated mean glandular doses (MGDs) in mammography across multiple centers and manufacturers in Dubai. Methods: A retrospective study of 2754 anonymized mammograms from six clinics in Dubai were randomly retrieved from a central dose survey database. Organ doses were documented along with other dosimetry information like kVp, mAs, filter, target, compression force, and breast thickness. Mean glandular doses, MGDs, were calculated manually for all the patients using the Dance formula and inferential statistical analyses were run to compare the two figures and verify the factors affecting each. Results: Our study's analysis revealed that manually calculated mean glandular doses (MGDs) provide a more reliable indicator of radiation exposure than organ doses (ODs) reported by DICOM, particularly in multi-vendor scenarios. Manually calculated MGD values were consistently lower than system-reported ODs (MLO view: 0.96 ± 0.37 mGy vs. 1.38 ± 0.45 mGy; CC view: 0.81 ± 0.33 mGy vs. 1.22 ± 0.38 mGy). Significant differences in both system-reported ODs and manually calculated MGDs were observed across centers (p < 0.001). Strong correlations between system-reported ODs and manually calculated MGDs were found for Siemens equipment (r = 0.923, p < 0.001) but only moderate correlations for GE systems (r = 0.638, p < 0.001). Calculated MGD values were significantly higher for GE equipment compared to Siemens (1.49 ± 0.77 mGy vs. 0.93 ± 0.33 mGy, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study addresses concerns regarding mammography dosimetry accuracy by demonstrating the superiority of mean glandular doses over DICOM-generated organ doses. These findings empower practitioners to optimize dose levels, ensuring safer and more effective breast cancer screening protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine diabetes mellitus (Tele-DM) mobile health (mHealth) tool functionality, usefulness, and user feedback were examined in this study. Data from nine distinct users of type-2 diabetes (T2D) patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs), and administrators was analyzed to determine functionality. Data retrieval times increased with database user data amount, according to the study. A 3-month program with five T2D patients reduced weight (0.98 kg) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (0.34%). This shows that Tele-DM helps manage diabetes, but more participants are needed to confirm. Nine Tele-DM customers were satisfied with the app's reception, according to 14 online questionnaires. Overall, Tele-DM simplifies diabetic self-management in a novel way. This study shows its potential to transform diabetes management and address major healthcare issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: This study evaluates the mean glandular dose (MGD) in mammography screening for women aged 40–69 in Dubai, based on a retrospective analysis of a dose survey involving 2599 participants. Methods: MGD was calculated using the Dance formula. Results: The average MGD was 0.96 ± 0.39 mGy for mediolateral oblique (MLO) views and 0.81 ± 0.33 mGy for craniocaudal (CC) views. Weak inverse correlations were found between age and organ dose (OD) for both views, while a direct relationship was observed between breast thickness and entrance skin dose (ESD). In adjusted models, ESD was strongly associated with MGD (β = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.09), while OD showed a moderate association (β = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.49). Significant variations in ESD, OD, and MGD were noted across age groups and breast thicknesses. Conclusions: Lower MGD indicates reduced radiation exposure risk, while higher MGD in MLO views suggests improved imaging quality. Monitoring and optimizing MGD are essential for enhancing patient safety and screening efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by an intracellular parasite that is transmitted to humans by sandfly bites. It is prevalent throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Mediterranean area, where 147 million people are at risk of contracting the illness. The manifestation of heterotrophic illness relies on both Leishmania implicated and the host's immunological response, ranging from asymptomatic to severe leishmaniasis with potentially lethal effects. Method: We reviewed the literature (published till 31st December 2023) on the worldwide situation of leishmaniasis, standard and novel detection techniques, and traditional and modern treatment strategies and endeavors to eliminate VL. Moreover, epidemiological data was collected from the World Health Organization's publicly available databases. GraphPad Prism Version 8 was used to analyze and produce figures based on the epidemiological data. Results: Diagnosis of parasites in tissues or serology is commonly employed. Diagnosis by identifying parasite DNA using molecular techniques is becoming more popular. Despite recent findings of L. donovani resistance to pentavalent antimoniate medications, it continues to be the cornerstone in the medical management of VL. Amphotericin B and its lipid formulations, injectable paromomycin, and oral miltefosine are among the new therapy options being researched. The number of reported VL cases has reduced remarkably over the last decade due to human interventions made to eliminate VL. Particularly countries from the South East Asian region have experienced momentous progress in reducing VL cases and eliminating this disease from this region. Owing to the robust elimination programs, countries such as Bangladesh has eliminated VL as a public health concern. India and Nepal are on the verge of its elimination. Conclusion: Rapid diagnosis, effective and inexpensive treatment, simple access to newly discovered medications, appropriate vector control, and a well-designed vaccine are all required for the elimination of this disease burden in impoverished areas of the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tannery industry produces one of the worst contaminants, and unsafe disposal in nearby waterbodies and landfills has become an imminent threat to public health, especially when the resulting multidrug-resistant bacteria and heavy metals enter community settings and animal food chains. In this study, we have collected 10 tannery wastewater (TWW) samples and 10 additional non-tannery wastewater (NTW) samples to compare the chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), chromium concentration, bacterial load, and antibiotic resistance profiles. While COD, pH, and chromium concentration data were previously published from our lab, this part of the study uncovers that TWW samples had a significantly higher bacterial load, compared to the non-tannery wastewater samples (5.89 × 104 and 9.38 × 103 cfu/mL, respectively), higher BOD and TDS values, and significantly lower DO values. The results showed that 53.4, 46.7, 40.0, and 40.0% of the TWW isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, and azithromycin, respectively. On the other hand, 20.0, 30.0, 50.0, and 40.0% of the NTW isolates were resistant to the same antibiotics, respectively. These findings suggest that the TWW isolates were more resistant to antibiotics than the NTW isolates. Moreover, the TWW isolates exhibited higher multidrug resistance than the NTW isolates, 33.33, and 20.00%, respectively. Furthermore, spearman correlation analysis depicts that there is a negative correlation between BOD and bacterial load up to a certain level (r = − 0.7749, p = 0.0085). In addition, there is also a consistent negative correlation between COD and bacterial load (r = − 0.7112, p = 0.0252) and TDS and bacterial load (r = − 0.7621, p = 0.0104). These findings suggest that TWW could pose a significant risk to public health and the environment and highlight the importance of proper wastewater treatment in tannery industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although molecular vibronic spectra generation is pivotal for chemical analysis, tackling such exponentially complex tasks on classical computers remains inefficient. Quantum simulation, though theoretically promising, faces technological challenges in experimentally extracting vibronic spectra for molecules with multiple modes. Here, we propose a nontrivial algorithm to generate the vibronic spectra using states with zero displacements (squeezed vacuum states) coupled to a linear optical network, offering ease of experimental implementation. We also fabricate an integrated quantum photonic microprocessor chip as a versatile simulation platform containing 16 modes of single-mode squeezed vacuum states and a fully programmable interferometer network. Molecular vibronic spectra of formic acid and thymine under the Condon approximation are simulated using the quantum microprocessor chip with high reconstructed fidelity (> 92%). Furthermore, vibronic spectra of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzene under the non-Condon approximation are also experimentally simulated. Such demonstrations could pave the way for solving complicated quantum chemistry problems involving vibronic spectra and computational tasks beyond the reach of classical computers. Proof-of-principle photonic quantum simulations of molecular vibronic spectra have been realised, but scalability to more complex systems is hindered by the difficulties in generating squeezed coherent states with multiple modes. Here, the authors demonstrate an alternative approach relying on vacuum-squeezed state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The dentate nuclei of the cerebellum are key sites of neuropathology in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). Reduced dentate nucleus volume and increased mean magnetic susceptibility, a proxy of iron concentration, have been reported by magnetic resonance imaging studies in people with FRDA. Here, we investigate whether these changes are regionally heterogeneous. Methods: Quantitative susceptibility mapping data were acquired from 49 people with FRDA and 46 healthy controls. The dentate nuclei were manually segmented and analyzed using three dimensional vertex‐based shape modeling and voxel‐based assessments to identify regional changes in morphometry and susceptibility, respectively. Results: Individuals with FRDA, relative to healthy controls, showed significant bilateral surface contraction most strongly at the rostral and caudal boundaries of the dentate nuclei. The magnitude of this surface contraction correlated with disease duration, and to a lesser extent, ataxia severity. Significantly greater susceptibility was also evident in the FRDA cohort relative to controls, but was instead localized to bilateral dorsomedial areas, and also correlated with disease duration and ataxia severity. Conclusions: Changes in the structure of the dentate nuclei in FRDA are not spatially uniform. Atrophy is greatest in areas with high gray matter density, whereas increases in susceptibility—reflecting iron concentration, demyelination, and/or gliosis—predominate in the medial white matter. These findings converge with established histological reports and indicate that regional measures of dentate nucleus substructure are more sensitive measures of disease expression than full‐structure averages. Biomarker development and therapeutic strategies that directly target the dentate nuclei, such as gene therapies, may be optimized by targeting these areas of maximal pathology. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the immediate effect of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating volatility transmission and dynamic correlation between stock (conventional and Islamic) markets, bitcoin and major commodities such as gold, oil and silver at different investment horizons before and after 161 trading days of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The MGARCH-DCC and maximum overlap discrete wavelet transform -based cross-correlation were used in the estimation of the volatility spillover and continuous wavelet transform in the estimation of the time-varying volatility and correlation between the assets at different investment horizons. Findings: The authors observed a sudden correlation breakdown following the COVID-19 shock. Oil (Bitcoin) was a major volatility transmitter before (during) COVID-19. Digital gold (Bitcoin), gold and silver became highly correlated during COVID-19. The highest co-movement between the assets was observed at medium and long-term investment horizons. Practical implications: The study findings have a financial implication for day traders, investors and policymakers in the understanding of volatility transmission and intercorrelation in a bid to actively manage stylized and well-diversified asset portfolios. Originality/value: This study is unique for its employment in estimating the time-varying conditional volatility of the investable assets and cross-correlations between them at different investment horizons, particularly before and after COVID-19 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. Suicide has a wide range of interrelated determinants including social, economic, psychological and religious factors. This study examine the key determinants contributing to suicidal attitude, highlighting the socio-economic role and mental health disorder such as isolation, familial relationships, unemployment, poverty, hopelessness, depression and anxiety. The qualitative study explores the determinants of suicide through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and observatory tools with suicide committers and family members of affected individuals in Muzaffargarh, Punjab. This study mainly focus on the life after suicide attempt, the role of community and people perceptions towards suicide. Society perceived differently the phenomenon of suicide and consider the committer as dead after attempt but study have second face of survival of committers. It needs to provide healthy and non-isolated environment to the stressed individuals and gaming activities should be helpful for strong mental health capabilities to cope up with social, economic stressing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased demand for lightweight structural materials in the transport sector has compelled researchers to develop materials with high strength and reduced structural weight, aiming to enhance vehicle performance, minimize fuel and oil consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. However, their structural weight and strength still need to be improved. Herein, an attempt has been made to fabricate aluminum-based composites reinforced with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN: 1,3,5,7 wt%) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs: 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 wt%) through powder processing method. The results revealed that the 3BN/Al composite disclosed better densification (96.8%) and hardness (49 ± 1.5) among all BN/Al composites. Furthermore, the addition of 0.5 wt% CNTs to BN/Al composite significantly improved the densification (97.7%), Vickers hardness (106%) and tensile strength (189%) over pure Al. This improvement was attributed to homogeneously distributed h-BN and CNTs in the Al matrix and the formation of hard aluminum carbide (Al4C3) phase. The results demonstrate that BN/CNTs/Al composite exhibits superior mechanical strength, making them promising structural and functional materials for aerospace and automobile industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ongoing global expansion of salt-affected land is a significant factor, limiting the growth and yield of crops, particularly rice (Oryza sativa L). This experiment explores the mitigation of salt-induced damage in rice (cv BRRI dhan100) following the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Methods: Rice seedlings, at five- and six-weeks post-transplanting, were subjected to salt stress treatments using 50 and 100 mM NaCl at seven-day intervals. Bacterial cultures consisting of endophytic PGPR (Bacillus subtilis and B. aryabhattai) and an epiphytic PGPR (B. aryabhattai) were administered at three critical stages: transplantation of 42-day-old seedlings, vegetative stage at five weeks post-transplantation, and panicle initiation stage at seven weeks post-transplantation. Discussion: These findings highlight the potential of PGPR to bolster physiological and biochemical functionality in rice by serving as an effective buffer against salt stress-induced damage. B. subtilis showed the greatest benefits, while both the endophytic and epiphytic B. aryabhattai had commendable effects in mitigating salt stress-induced damage in rice plants. Results: Salt stress induced osmotic stress, ionic imbalances, and oxidative damage in rice plants, with consequent negative effects on growth, decrease in photosynthetic efficiency, and changes in hormonal regulation, along with increased methylglyoxal (MG) toxicity. PGPR treatment alleviated salinity effects by improving plant antioxidant defenses, restoring ionic equilibrium, enhancing water balance, increasing nutrient uptake, improving photosynthetic attributes, bolstering hormone synthesis, and enhancing MG detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal instrument fractures are rare events in dentistry, with limited literature available on their occurrence and management. This case report highlights an incident involving the fracture of a periodontal sickle scaler blade during manual instrumentation for the removal of calculus. The fracture occurred during instrumentation on the mesial surface of the maxillary right second molar, and the separated blade was subsequently pushed into the sulcus. A radiographic assessment was performed to verify the precise location of the fractured segment. Following confirmation, the broken blade was subsequently retrieved using curved artery forceps. The case report highlights factors contributing to instrument fractures, emphasizing the importance of instrument maintenance, sterilization cycles, and operator technique. Ethical considerations regarding patient disclosure, informed consent, and instrument retrieval methods are well discussed. This case underscores the importance of truthful communication, the proper use of instruments, equipment maintenance in dentistry, and the significance of ongoing professional development to enhance treatment safety, proficiency, and ethical standards in dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find out and explore how the of compensation and individual Islamic religious values influences employee performance at PT Bilindo Info Sistema. This study uses a quantitative method, using a questionnaire with a Likert scale, which will be distributed to PT Bilindo Info Sistema and an in-depth survey will be carried out. Partially based results have been obtained, where compensation affects employee performance because the calculated t value is greater than t table (2.108 > 1.734) and religiosity does not significantly affect employee performance because the calculated t value is smaller than t table (1.423 < 1.734). Meanwhile, based on simultaneous results, compensation and religiosity values affect employee performance because f count is greater than f table (2.798 > 0.985). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt particles are often used as fillers in magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) due to their potential advantages. This study aimed to assess the physical, morphological, magnetic, and optical properties of cobalt-based MRE (Co-MRE). To achieve this, several isotropic samples with different concentrations of cobalt and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were created. Finite Element Method Magnetics (FEMM) 2D simulation software and a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) were used to assess the magnetic properties. Morphological properties were observed with a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and physical properties were examined using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to study the optical properties. FEMM 2D showed that 7 wt% of Co-MRE had the highest magnetic flux density. VSM indicated that 7 wt% of Co-MRE had the strongest magnetic saturation. Morphological properties revealed that 7 wt% of Co-MRE had a rougher surface than 0–5 wt%. XRD showed that 7 wt% of Co-MRE had more cobalt elements. UV–Vis indicated that 5 wt% of Co-MRE had a precise result with some noise. PL spectroscopy showed that 7 wt% of Co-MRE had a higher emission peak and a broader shape at 475–525 nm excitation wavelength, while 0 wt% had a broader shape graph at 550–600 nm. While these properties are beneficial, it is important to balance the sensitivity and elasticity of MRE for stable applications in assistive sensor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature superconductor Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) was successfully prepared by modified thermal decomposition and thermal treatment method. Both samples in that methods sintered at 980 °C and were investigate by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and R-T measurement. From XRD analysis, it was confirmed that Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide, YBa2Cu3O7-ẟ (Y-123) acts as primary phase with orthorhombic crystal structure and Pmmm space group while Diyttrium Barium Copper Oxide, Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) and Barium Copper Oxide (BaCuO2) belong to the secondary phases. The microstructure analysis showed that the average grain size of modified thermal decomposition (TD) method (3.6559 μm) was bigger compared with thermal treatment (TT) method (1.7766 μm). The sample exhibited metallic behavior and the critical temperature, Tc-onset was increased as modified thermal decomposition (TD) method was applied. Based on the results obtained, the modified thermal decomposition (TD) method exhibited superior performance compared to the thermal treatment (TT) in terms of the physical properties which includes microstructure, phase formation and critical temperature Tc of Y-123. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decreased color intensity of Nemo is related to the amount of carotenoid concentration in the xanthophore of Nemo's skin. Therefore, efforts are needed to maintain stable carotenoid production. Tomato is one of the most abundant carotenoid producers. The utilization of carotenoids can maintain the morphological color of aquatic organisms. This study aimed to analyze the effect of carotenoid compounds on total carotenoid content, the size, and distribution of xanthophores on Nemo skin. A total of 60 Nemo with an average initial weight of 0.84±0.14 g and an average length of 2.95±0.08 cm. The research was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD), consisting of four carotenoid concentrations in addition to fish pellet, 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% with three replications. The results showed that the optimum dose of carotenoid compounds in increasing the total carotenoid content in nemo fish skin is 1.5%. Carotenoids added to the fish feed affected the distribution and maturity of xanthophore. However, it did not affect the size of the xanthophore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the worldwide energy requirements, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively used as electrode material. Ternary MOFs have been of prime importance because of their characteristic of a variety of oxidation states than mono‐ and bimetallic MOFs. Herein, a novel comparison and superiority of binder‐free MOF deposition known as in situ (IN) on the substrate have been investigated over the slurry deposition method involving the excellent properties of ternary MOFs. Confirmation of MOF formation using X‐ray diffraction and investigation of its morphological features have been explored using field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X‐ray area mapping has also been integrated for conformity of uniform elemental distribution. The electrochemical properties of NiCoMn‐MOF have been investigated and the results obtained for NiCoMn deposited using IN methodology are superior due to excellent penetration of MOF inside substrate that provides the basis of excellent electrochemical properties. A specific capacitance of 1000 C g−1 at 4 A g−1 in 3‐electrode assembly has been achieved accompanied by energy and power density of 55 Wh kg−1 and 2467 W kg−1 in 2‐electrode setup. An excellent cyclic stability of about 97% has been obtained after subjecting the asymmetric supercapacitor device to 5000 charge/discharge cycles at 20 A g−1. Diffusive nature dominancy over capacitive is also observed by manipulating Dunns' model. The superior and novel aspect of using IN deposition may pave the way for their efficient use in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks with complex geometry have garnered significant attention in technological fields due to their diverse properties. Multimetallic metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have potential to demonstrate superior conductivity and efficiency compared to pristines, but, they have not been explored to research on large scale. Herein, significant effect of binary (NiCo‐) and ternary (NiCoMn‐) MOFs is explored with a novel approach using an organic ligand hexamethylene tetra‐amine (HMT). The as‐synthesized MOFs with their distinctive structures are thoroughly examined to analyze their structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties. In a standard half‐cell setup, the electrochemical behaviors of both samples are investigated, as both electrodes exhibit specific capacities of 349 and 905 C g−1, at 3 mV s−1, individually. Due to promising electrochemical responses of NiCoMnMOF, a supercapattery device is constructed as NiCoMnMOF//AC. This hybridization leads to the remarkable specific energy (78 Wh kg−1) and specific power (3500 W kg−1) with stability rate of ≈96% and Coulombic efficiency of 99% after undergoing 5000 galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles, making it highly suitable for modern applications. To gain better insight of supercapattery device, a semiempirical approach is employed, using Dunn's modulation. Thus, the synergy of NiCoMnMOF//AC in the single hybrid device exhibiting battery‐like characteristics holds tremendous potential for driving innovations in energy storage technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic neural networks (PNNs) have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional electronic neural networks. However, the training of PNNs, especially the chip implementation of analytic gradient descent algorithms that are recognized as highly efficient in traditional practice, remains a major challenge because physical systems are not differentiable. Although training methods such as gradient‐free and numerical gradient methods are proposed, they suffer from excessive measurements and limited scalability. State‐of‐the‐art in situ training method is also cost‐challenged, requiring expensive in‐line monitors and frequent optical I/O switching. Here, a physics‐aware analytic‐gradient training (PAGT) method is proposed that calculates the analytic gradient in a divide‐and‐conquer strategy, overcoming the difficulty induced by chip non‐differentiability in the training of PNNs. Multiple training cases, especially a generative adversarial network, are implemented on‐chip, achieving a significant reduction in time consumption (from 31 h to 62 min) and a fourfold reduction in energy consumption, compared to the in situ method. The results provide low‐cost, practical, and accelerated solutions for training hybrid photonic‐digital electronic neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a model proposed by Baaquie (Phys A Stat Mech Appl 541:123367, 2020b) for which a corporate bond pays coupons that are stochastic—depending on the valuation of the issuer. It is shown that by considering bonds with stochastic coupons that are 'equivalent' to fixed coupon bonds (defined in the paper), the price of the fixed coupon bond can be accurately explained. The proposed model of stochastic coupons has a built-in hedge for the issuer—and has the feature of profit and loss sharing between investor and issuer making it a viable instrument for Islamic finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computing has grown extensively, especially in system design and development, and the current research focus has gradually evolved from validating quantum advantage to practical applications. In particular, nondeterministic‐polynomial‐time (NP)‐complete problems are central in numerous important application areas. Still, in practice, it is difficult to solved efficiently with conventional computers, limited by the exponential jump in hardness. Here, a quantum photonic microprocessor based on Gaussian boson sampling (GBS) that offers dynamic programmability to solve various graph‐related NP‐complete problems is demonstrated. The system with optical, electrical, and thermal packaging implements a GBS with 16 modes of single‐mode squeezed vacuum states, a universal programmable 16‐mode interferometer, and a single photon readout on all outputs with high accuracy, generality, and controllability. The developed system is applied to demonstrate applications in solving NP‐complete problems, manifesting the ability of photonic quantum computing to realize practical applications for conventionally intractable computations. The GBS‐based quantum photonic microprocessor is applied to solve task assignment, Boolean satisfiability, graph clique, max cut, and vertex cover. These demonstrations suggest an excellent benchmarking platform, paving the way toward large‐scale combinatorial optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-inspired hydrophobic coatings have caught great attention due to their repellency to corrosive mediums and less interaction between substrate and chemical species. Aluminum is considered one of the metals having superior properties against corrosion due to passive film formation. It can further be enhanced by the formation of a hierarchical structure through 2nd step anodization. In previous studies, carbon infiltrated in anodized alumina pores through CVD method (chemical vapor deposition) was quite an expensive and complex method. The fabrication of anti-corrosion coating with a simple and cost-effective method will broaden the aluminum alloy applications in the chemical, petrochemical, and aerospace industries, etc. In this research, pyrolytic carbon is infiltrated in porous alumina through pyrolysis at three different temperatures for 30 min under a controlled environment by using flaxseed oil as a source of carbon. The surface morphology along with chemical composition and wetting angle were studied through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), and Sessile drop method. It was found that both low surface energy and high roughness participate in increasing the wetting angle. Nanocomposite coating having maximum carbon content has a maximum wetting angle with inorganic liquid. Based on the electrochemical behavior determined by Tafel and EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) analysis, the hydrophobic coating containing 57.5% carbon content having a contact angle of 95° exhibits maximum corrosion resistance of around 28,000 kohm as compared to anodized aluminum having minimum corrosion resistance of around 4.26 kohm. The results and the cost-effective method could be beneficial in aircraft parts as well as in aeronautical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the total volume of mammograms in Dubai is increasing consistently, it is crucial to focus on the process of dose optimization by determining dose reference levels for such sensitive radiographic examinations as mammography. This work aimed to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for mammography procedures in Dubai at different ranges of breast thickness. A total of 2599 anonymized mammograms were randomly retrieved from a central dose survey database. Mammographic cases for screening women aged from 40 to 69 years were included, while cases of breast implants and breast thickness outside the range of 20–100 mm were excluded. Mean, median, and 75 percentiles were obtained for the mean glandular dose (MGD) distribution of each mammography projection for all compressed breast thickness (CBT) ranges. The local DRLs for mammography in Dubai were found to be between 0.80 mGy and 0.82 mGy for the craniocaudal (CC) projection and between 0.89 mGy and 0.971.8 mGy for the mediolateral oblique (MLO) projection. Local DRLs were proposed according to different breast thicknesses, starting from 20 to 100 mm. All groups of CBT showed a slight difference in MGD values, with higher values in MLO views rather than CC views. The local DRLs in this study were lower than some other Middle Eastern countries and lower than the standard reference levels reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at 3 mGy/view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution, mainly originating from textile waste containing synthetic dyes and stabilizers such as Fe, alum, and lime, poses serious risks to health and the environment. To overcome this problem, this research explores the use of activated carbon for heavy metal reduction. Empty palm oil fruit bunches (EFB) offer a promising source of activated carbon due to their high lignocellulose content and functional groups (-OH and -COOH) that enhance heavy metal adsorption. In addition, carbide waste, which is classified as hazardous and toxic waste, poses an ecological threat if disposed of incorrectly. This research focuses on the use of EFB waste and carbide to reduce Fe metal in Fe metal synthesis waste. Various adsorbent ratios (2:2.5, 2.5:2, and 2.5:2.5) and contact times ranging from 30 to 150 min were investigated, with an initial metal synthesis waste concentration of 40 mg/L. The findings showed that longer contact times resulted in the removal of large amounts of Fe(II) metal, with rates reaching 94.325%. The increase in the pH of the adsorbent mixture is caused by the alkaline nature of carbide waste in activated carbon. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit to the data, with a correlation Equation of y = 0.3882x + 1.4823 (R² = 0.995, RL = 0.556), which shows the effectiveness of the TKS-carbide waste mixture in reducing Fe(II) ions in the waste textile. The Freundlich isotherm model also showed a reasonable fit, with a correlation equation of y = -0.2804x - 0.0133 (R² = 0.95). In summary, EFB-carbide waste adsorbent is a successful, consistent, and environmentally friendly solution for the reduction of heavy metals in textile waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the fact that publications serve as an important criterion to evaluate the scientific accomplishments of an individual within respective fields in academia, there has been an increasing trend to publish scientific articles whereby multiple authors are defined as primary, co-, or corresponding authors according to the roles performed. This article analyzes the authorship pattern in 4,561 papers (including 60 single-authored papers) from 1990 till 2020 of 94 academics who hold a position as professors and are affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at three different research universities in Malaysia. Only 708 papers (15.5% of 4,561 papers) were authored by less than three authors. In 3,080 papers (67.5% of 4,561 papers), those academics appeared as coauthors. Using different years as cutoff periods, it was observed that the appearance as coauthor in the papers had steeply risen around the years: 2006, 2007, 2008 and onwards. The increased number of authors in the multi-author papers and the appearance of the selected academics as coauthors reflect the extent of boosting of collaborative research in that period which corresponds to the adoption of the "publish or perish policy" by the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biodiesel is a proactive measure that can be implemented to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other adverse environmental impacts. However, one of the major setbacks to biodiesel production is its relatively higher cost compared to petroleum diesel. The optimistic solution to this is valorization of biomasses like waste chicken fat (WCF) and clay for deriving non-edible oil and catalyst respectively. Herein, we report the synthesis of clay derived SiO2 catalyst impregnated with SrO, Bi2O3, CuO and CaO. The developed catalysts were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. XRD studies confirmed the successful impregnation of active metallic oxide on SiO2 support. Further, these catalysts were employed for biodiesel production from WCF, and SrO/SiO2 was found to be most effective and efficient catalyst for biodiesel production from WCF. Hence, SrO/SiO2 was adapted to optimize the different transesterification reaction parameters such as methanol to oil ratio, catalyst loading, reaction temperature and time. The optimized conditions for maximum biodiesel yield 98.9% were found to be 65 °C in 1 h with 12:1 methanol to oil ratio and 1 wt% catalyst loading. The biodiesel produced was also analyzed by GC-MS. The obtained biodiesel yield shows that clay can be a potential, and cost-effective, catalyst source to produce biodiesel from WCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Sargassum is a staple food of rabbitfish in nature; although its nutritional quality is relatively low if it is used as one of the feed ingredients first carried out in the fermentation process, the results of this fermentation are used as one of the raw feed materials. The study was conducted to look at the use of fermented sargassum flour in feed at the lowest dose of 7.5% to the highest dose of 30%. This study was designed using a completely randomized design (RAL). Using 15 units of floating net cage containers. The study duration was 120 days. During the study, the test fish were fed thrice daily, namely 08.00 am, 1:00 pm, and 03:00 pm. Feeding is carried out. To determine the severity of the treatment of the biological response of test fish, sampling is carried out every 30 days. From several parameters observed, such as weight gain, specific growth rate, and daily feed consumption rate, although statistically not different (P>0.05), the tendency to increase with the increase in sargassum dose by 30%. Similarly, the total digestibility of feed, digestibility of feed protein, and digestibility of feed energy statistically do not show a difference (P>0.05) but also the tendency to increase. Based on the results of this activity, it was concluded that sargassum flour that has been fermented with bacillus aerius bacteria can be used well by rabbitfish, with as much as 30% in the feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, Islamic civilization has witnessed several important events in economic progress. One of the problems faced by Islamic leaders in fostering the people was related to improving people's welfare. In the classical period, some Muslim figures became pioneers in economic policies. In a specific way, the paper tries to analyze economic policies promoted by prominent Muslim figures such as 'Umar bin Khattab, Umar bin' Abdul Aziz, Ghazan Khan, and Alauddin Khalji. By using descriptive analysis, this brief article discusses the economic policies applied by some of the mentioned figures through historical analysis. The data were gathered from books and journals. Throughout critical historical analysis, the paper concluded that some Muslim figures succeeded in bringing Muslims into economic advancement along with some of the policies they came up with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small zero-order resonant antenna based on the composite right-left-handed (CRLH) principle is designed and fabricated without metallic vias at 30 GHz to have patch-like radiation. The mirror images of two CRLH structures are connected to design the antenna without via holes. The equivalent circuit, parameter extraction, and dispersion diagram are studied to analyze the characteristics of the CRLH antenna. The antenna was fabricated and experimentally verified. The measured realized gain of the antenna is 5.35 dBi at 30 GHz. The designed antenna is free of spurious resonance over a band width of 10 GHz. A passive beamforming array is designed using the proposed CRLH antenna and the Butler matrix. A substrate integrated waveguide is used to implement the Butler matrix. The CRLH antennas are connected to four outputs of a 4 × 4 Butler matrix. The scanning angles are 12 ∘ , − 68 ∘ , 64 ∘ , and − 11 ∘ for excitations from port 1 to port 4 of the 4 × 4 Butler matrix feeding the CRLH antenna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of graphene addition on the phase formation and superconducting properties of (Bi1.6Pb0.4)Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 (Bi-2223) ceramics synthesized using the co-precipitation method were systematically investigated. Series samples of Bi-2223 were added with different weight percentages (x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%) of graphene nanoparticles. The samples' phase formations and crystal structures were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the superconducting critical temperatures, Tc, were investigated using alternating current susceptibility (ACS). The XRD showed that a high-Tc phase, Bi-2223, and a small low-Tc phase, Bi-2212, dominated the samples. The volume fraction of the Bi-2223 phase increased for the sample with x = 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.% of graphene and slightly reduced at x = 1.0 wt.%. The ACS showed that the onset critical temperature, Tc-onset, phase lock-in temperature, Tcj, and coupling peak temperature, TP, decreased when graphene was added to the samples. The susceptibility–temperature (χ′-T) and (χ″-T) curves of each sample, where χ′ and χ″ are the real and imaginary parts of the susceptibility, respectively, were obtained. The critical temperature of the pure sample was also measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is commonly used as a treatment for diabetes patients, although its effectiveness in improving cognitive functions such as learning, thinking, remembering, and decision making is not clear. Regular exercise can gradually improve metabolic abnormalities associated with pre-diabetes and assist patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D) in managing their pharmacological treatment. The usage of mobile health (mHealth) as a tool to help diabetes patients with their diabetes self-management have been demonstrated in previous studies and it can lead to reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Heart rate readings during physical activity is beneficial for healthcare professionals (HCP) to ensure appropriate intensity levels for their patients is achieved. Additionally, the list of the tailored physical activities is long, and it is quite challenging for the T2D patients to remember. Therefore, Tele-DM is proposed, consisting of a smartwatch and mobile application that enable remote physiotherapy sessions for T2D patients. The smartwatch transfers the heart rate data to Tele-DM through Google Fit database. The system provides tailored exercise programs to help patients reduce their weight and HbA1c levels. With the ability to facilitate two-way communication between HCP and T2D patients, the Tele-DM system is designed to enable an effective remote rehabilitation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach–potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is one of the most important pests of economic crops. It damages the plant directly by consuming nutrients and water and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses. This pest has the unenviable title of having resistance to more insecticides than any other herbivorous insect pest. Due to the development of its resistance to chemical pesticides, it is necessary to find other control options. Consequently, increased efforts worldwide have been undertaken to develop new management approaches for M. persicae. In this review, we highlight the problems associated with the peach–potato aphid, its economic importance, and current management approaches. This review also describes the challenges with current management approaches and their potential solutions, with special focus given to the evolution of insecticidal resistance and sustainable pest management strategies, such as biocontrol agents, entomopathogens, the use of natural plant-derived compounds, and cultural methods. Furthermore, this review provides some successful approaches from the above eco-friendly pest management strategies that show high efficacy against M. persicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the nanocomposites of binary transition metal phosphate [Ni0.75Zn0.25 (PO4)2] with PANI–CNTs were prepared through sonochemical-assisted synthesis approach and were characterized for their potential use in electrochemical energy storage applications. The morphology and hierarchical structure were seen by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDX mapping, whereas the chemical composition and functional group analysis were done by EDX, XRD, and FT-IR. At 0.7 Ag−1 current density, the best-performing electrode of Ni0.75Zn0.25 (PO4)2–60 mg PANI/CNTs (NZP60) showed specific capacity of 1143 Cg−1. A representative asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device of NZP60//AC showed an exceptional energy density of 89.2 Wh kg−1 at 630 W kg−1 power density. Additionally, the cyclic performance (99.86% after 5000 GCD cycles) and rate performance (25% increase after stability test) were excellent. The ASC device has dominant diffusive behavior (89.7%) due to its highest pseudocapacitive binary metal phosphate chemically grafted on conductive polyaniline and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Hence, Ni–Zn binary metal phosphate/PANI functionalized CNTs nanocomposites have good potential to be used in ASC-based energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]