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Abstract Recent advancements in high-resolution imaging have significantly improved our understanding of microstructural changes in the skin and their relationship to the aging process. Line Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC-OCT) provides detailed 3D insights into various skin layers, including the papillary dermis and its fibrous network. In this study, a deep learning model utilizing a 3D ResNet-18 network was trained to predict chronological age from LC-OCT images of 100 healthy Caucasian female volunteers, aged 20 to 70 years. The AI-based protocol focused on regions of interest delineated between the segmented dermal-epidermal junction and the superficial dermis, exploiting complex patterns within the collagen network for age prediction. The model achieved a mean absolute error of 4.2 years and exhibited a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.937 with actual ages. Furthermore, there was a notable correlation (r = 0.87) between quantified clinical scoring, encompassing parameters such as firmness, elasticity, density, and wrinkle appearance, and the ages predicted by deep learning model. This strong correlation underscores how integrating emerging imaging technologies with deep learning can accelerate aging research and deepen our understanding of how alterations in skin microstructure are related to visible signs of aging.

Abstract Background Additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been proposed as solutions to waning immunity and decreased effectiveness of primary doses against infection with new SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, the effectiveness of additional vaccine doses relies on widespread population acceptance. We aimed to assess the acceptance of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses (third and annual doses) among Canadian adults and determine associated factors. Methods We conducted a national, cross-sectional online survey among Canadian adults from October 14 to November 12, 2021. Weighted multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with third and annual dose acceptance and indecision, compared to refusal. We also assessed influences on vaccine decision-making, and preferences for future vaccine delivery. Results Of 6010 respondents, 70% reported they would accept a third dose, while 15.2% were undecided. For annual doses, 64% reported acceptance, while 17.5% were undecided. Factors associated with third dose acceptance and indecision were similar to those associated with annual dose acceptance and indecision. Previous COVID-19 vaccine receipt, no history of COVID-19 disease, intention to receive an influenza vaccine, and increasing age were strongly associated with both acceptance and indecision. Chronic illness was associated with higher odds of acceptance, while self-reported disability was associated with higher odds of being undecided. Higher education attainment and higher income were associated with higher odds of accepting additional doses. Minority first language was associated with being undecided about additional doses, while visible minority identity was associated with being undecided about a third dose and refusing an annual dose. All respondents reported government recommendations were an important influence on their decision-making and identified pharmacy-based delivery and drop-in appointments as desirable. Co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines was viewed positively by 75.5% of the dose 3 acceptance group, 12.3% of the undecided group, and 8.4% of the refusal group. Conclusions To increase acceptance, targeted interventions among visible minority and minority language populations, and those with a disability, are required. Offering vaccination at pharmacies and through drop-in appointments are important to facilitate uptake, while offering COVID-19/influenza vaccine co-administration may have little benefit among those undecided about additional doses.

BackgroundVaccine coverage for 18-month-old children in Canada is often below the recommended level, which may be partially because of parental forgetfulness. SMS text message reminders have been shown to potentially improve childhood immunization uptake but have not been widely used in Alberta, Canada. In addition, it has been noted that language barriers may impede immunization service delivery but continue to remain unaddressed in many existing reminder and recall systems. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of using SMS text messages containing a link to web-based immunization information in different languages to remind parents of their child’s 18-month immunization appointment. MethodsThe Childhood Immunization Reminder Project was a pilot intervention at 2 public health centers, one each in Lethbridge and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Two SMS text message reminders were sent to parents: a booking reminder 3 months before their child turned 18 months old and an appointment reminder 3 days before their scheduled appointment. Booking reminders included a link to the study website hosting immunization information in 9 languages. To evaluate intervention effectiveness, we compared the absolute attendance no-show rates before the intervention and after the intervention. The acceptability of the intervention was evaluated through web-based surveys completed by parents and public health center staff. Google Analytics was used to determine how often web-based immunization information was accessed, from where, and in which languages. ResultsFollowing the intervention, the health center in Edmonton had a reduction of 6.4% (95% CI 3%-9.8%) in appointment no-shows, with no change at the Lethbridge Health Center (0.8%, 95% CI −1.4% to 3%). The acceptability surveys were completed by 222 parents (response rate: 23.9%) and 22 staff members. Almost all (>95%) respondents indicated that the reminders were helpful and provided useful suggestions for improvement. All surveyed parents (222/222, 100%) found it helpful to read web-based immunization information in their language of choice. Google Analytics data showed that immunization information was most often read in English (118/207, 57%), Punjabi (52/207, 25.1%), Arabic (13/207, 6.3%), Spanish (12/207, 5.8%), Italian (4/207, 1.9%), Chinese (4/207, 1.9%), French (2/207, 0.9%), Tagalog (1/207, 0.5%), and Vietnamese (1/207, 0.5%). ConclusionsThe study’s findings support the use of SMS text message reminders as a convenient and acceptable method to minimize parental forgetfulness and potentially reduce appointment no-shows. The diverse languages accessed in web-based immunization information suggest the need to provide appropriate translated immunization information. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of SMS text message reminders on childhood immunization coverage in different settings.

Background: Public health departments in Canada are currently facing the challenging task of planning and implementing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs. Objective: To collect and synthesize information regarding COVID-19 vaccination program planning in each province and territory of Canada, including logistic considerations, priority groups, and vaccine safety and effectiveness monitoring. Methods: Provincial/territorial public health leaders were interviewed via teleconference during the early planning stage of COVID-19 vaccination programs (August–October 2020) to collect information on the following topics: unique factors for COVID-19 vaccination, intention to adopt National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations, priority groups for early vaccination, and vaccine safety and effectiveness monitoring. Data were grouped according to common responses and descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Eighteen interviews occurred with 25 participants from 11 of 13 provinces/territories (P/Ts). Factors unique to COVID-19 vaccination included prioritizing groups for early vaccination (n=7), public perception of vaccines (n=6), and differing eligibility criteria (n=5). Almost all P/Ts (n=10) reported reliance on NACI recommendations. Long-term care residents (n=10) and healthcare workers (n=10) were most frequently prioritized for early vaccination, followed by people with chronic medical conditions (n=9) and seniors (n=8). Most P/Ts (n=9) are planning routine adverse event monitoring to assess vaccine safety. Evaluation of effectiveness was anticipated to occur within public health departments (n=3), by researchers (n=3), or based on national guidance (n=4). Conclusion: Plans for COVID-19 vaccination programs in the P/Ts exhibit some similarities and are largely consistent with NACI guidelines, with some discrepancies. Further research is needed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination programs once implemented.

Contexte : Les services de santé publique du Canada sont actuellement confrontés à la tâche difficile de planifier et de mettre en œuvre des programmes de vaccination contre la maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Objectif : Recueillir et synthétiser les informations concernant la planification du programme de vaccination contre la COVID-19 dans chaque province et territoire du Canada, y compris les considérations logistiques, les groupes prioritaires et la surveillance de l’innocuité et de l’efficacité du vaccin. Méthodes : Les responsables provinciaux et territoriaux de la santé publique ont été interrogés par téléconférence au cours de la phase initiale de planification des programmes de vaccination contre la COVID-19 (août à octobre 2020) afin de recueillir des informations sur les sujets suivants : facteurs uniques pour la vaccination contre la COVID-19, intention d’adopter les recommandations du Comité consultatif national de l’immunisation (CCNI), groupes prioritaires pour les premières phases de la vaccination et surveillance de l’innocuité et de l’efficacité du vaccin. Les données ont été regroupées en fonction des réponses communes et une analyse descriptive a été réalisée. Résultats : Dix-huit entretiens ont eu lieu avec 25 participants de 11 des 13 provinces et territoires. Les facteurs uniques de la vaccination contre la COVID-19 comprenaient la hiérarchisation des groupes pour les premières phases de la vaccination (n = 7), la perception des vaccins par le public (n = 6) et des critères d’éligibilité divergents (n = 5). Presque toutes les provinces et territoires (n = 10) ont déclaré s’appuyer sur les recommandations du CCNI. Les résidents des établissements de soins de longue durée (n = 10) et les travailleurs de la santé (n = 10) ont été le plus souvent prioritaires pour les premières phases de la vaccination, suivis des personnes souffrant de maladies chroniques (n = 9) et des personnes âgées (n = 8). La plupart des provinces et territoires (n = 9) prévoient une surveillance systématique des effets indésirables pour évaluer l’innocuité des vaccins. L’évaluation de l’efficacité devait se faire au sein des services de santé publique (n = 3), par des chercheurs (n = 3) ou sur la base de directives nationales (n = 4). Conclusion : La planification des programmes de vaccination contre la COVID-19 dans les provinces et territoires présente certaines similitudes et est largement conforme aux directives du CCNI, avec quelques divergences. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour évaluer les programmes de vaccination contre la COVID-19 une fois qu’ils auront été mis en œuvre.

Solar irradiance is one of the most important parameters that need to be estimated and modeled before engaging in any solar energy project. This article describes a non-linear regression model based on genetic programming technique for estimating solar irradiance in a specific region in the United Arab Emirates. The genetic programming is an evolutionary computing technique that enables automatic search for complex solutions. The best nonlinear modeling function that can estimate the global solar radiation on horizontal will be developed taking into account measured meteorological data. A reference approach to model the solar radiation is first presented. An enhanced approach is then presented which consists of multi nonlinear functions of regression in a parallel structure where each function is designed to estimate the global solar irradiance in a specific seasonal period of the year. Statistical analysis measures have been used to evaluate the performance of the proposed approaches. The obtained results are comparable with the outcomes of models developed by other researchers in the field.

Increasingly, public health research standards call for engaging communities who live with health issues under investigation to help ensure that results translate into effective public health measures. Here, we share guiding principles for community-driven epidemiologic research developed over a decade conducting research sought and controlled by participating communities. These principles provide a roadmap for epidemiologic research that effectively addresses community priorities while meeting academic standards: research questions are developed collaboratively in community-university partnerships; knowledge takes shape from information donated by participants through methods that turn information into scientifically useful data and analysis that reveals data patterns that address research questions; thus, knowledge is generated collaboratively by academic researchers and community partners; academic researchers are bound by ethical, professional, scientific, contractual, and other legal standards to be responsible stewards of information donated by participants; community review protocols ensure that interpretation and presentation of research results reflect the voices of all partners; meaningful community review creates the trust needed for open access to research results as required of academic researchers; all partners share credit for achievements. Lacking models for operationalizing these principles, we developed specific guidelines for research project initiation, data use, authorship, acknowledgment, and data dissemination. Conventions in academia present formidable challenges to effective community engagement and are often at odds with calls from community organizations and funding agencies to conduct research driven by community priorities and values. We hope others can benefit from time and effort we have spent crafting solutions that bridge this divide.

Background: An outbreak of an unknown respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerged in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, China, in December 2019 and was referred to as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Soon after, it was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 mainly infects the respiratory tract with different outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe critical illness leading to death. Different SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging of which three have raised concerns worldwide due to their high transmissibility among populations. Objective: To study the prevalence of COVID-19 in the region of Nabatieh-South Lebanon during the past year and assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and their effect on the spread of infection during times of lockdown. Methods: In our study, 37,474 nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and analyzed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in suspected patients attending a tertiary health care center in South Lebanon during the period between 16 March 2020 and 21 February 2021. Results: The results demonstrated a variation in the prevalence rates ranging from less than 1% during full lockdown of the country to 8.4% upon easing lockdown restrictions and reaching 27.5% after the holidays and 2021 New Year celebrations. Interestingly, a new variant(s) appeared starting January 2021 with a significant positive association between the prevalence of positive tests and the percentage of the variant(s). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the lockdown implemented by the Lebanese officials was an effective intervention to contain COVID-19 spread. Our study also showed that lifting lockdown measures during the holidays, which allowed indoor crowded gatherings to occur, caused a surge in COVID-19 cases and rise in the mortality rates nationwide. More importantly, we confirmed the presence of a highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant(s) circulating in the Lebanese community from at least January 2021 onwards.

This work discusses a waste heat recovery system (WHRS) applied to chimneys for heating water in residential buildings. A prototype illustrating the suggested system is implemented and tested. Different waste heat scenarios by varying the quantity of burned firewood (heat input) are experimented. The temperature at different parts of the WHRS and the gas flow rates of the exhaust pipes are measured. Measurements showed that the temperature of 95 L tank of water can be increased by 68 °C within one hour. Obtained results show that the convection and radiation exchanges at the bottom surface of the tank have a considerable impact on the total heat transfer rate of the water (as high as 70%).

This article presents an intelligent fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for controlling single-body heaving wave energy converter (WEC) or what is widely known as “Point Absorber”. The controller aims at maximizing the energy captured from the sea waves. The power take-off (PTO) limitations are addressed implicitly in the fuzzy inference system (FIS) framework. In order to enhance the WEC power capturing bandwidth and make it less susceptible to wave environment irregularities and the system parametric uncertainties, the controller is built to have a self-configurable capability. This also eliminates the need to repeatedly run in-situ tuning procedure of the fuzzy controller or switch between several controllers based on the operating conditions. The fuzzy membership functions (MFs) are optimally tuned using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. To alleviate the computational burden associated with performing on-line optimization, the fuzzy controller is tuned at a rate significantly lower than the system sampling time. The suggested PSO-FLC has shown promising results compared with the fixed structure fuzzy logic controller (FS-FLC) and other passive control strategies. Several computer simulations were carried out to evaluate the controller effectiveness by applying different sea-states and analyzing the resultant WEC dynamics.

This paper proposes a model that predicts the complexity of Boolean functions with only XOR/XNOR min-terms using back propagation neural networks (BPNNs) applied to Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs). The BPNN model (BPNNM) is developed through the training process of experimental data already obtained for XOR/XNOR-based Boolean functions. The outcome of this model is a unique matrix for the complexity estimation over a set of BDDs derived from Boolean expressions with a given number of variables and XOR/XNOR min-terms. The comparison results of the experimental and BPNNM underline the efficiency of this approach, which is capable of providing some useful clues about the complexity of the circuit to be implemented. It also proves the computational capabilities of NNs in providing reliable classification of the complexity of Boolean functions.

This paper thermo-physically characterizes salt hydrate, paraffin wax and milk fat as phase change materials (PCMs). The three PCMs are compared in terms of improving heat sink (HS) performance for cooling electronic packaging. An experimental study is carried out on commercially available finned HS with and without PCM under natural ventilation (NV) and forced ventilation (FV) at different heat loads (4 W to 10 W). The results indicate that integration of all of the PCMs into the HS improves its cooling performance; however, milk fat lags behind the other two PCMs in terms of cooling produced. A three-dimensional pressure-based conjugate heat transfer model has been developed and validated with experimental results. The model predicts the parametric influence of PCM melting range, thermal conductivity and density on HS thermal management performance. The HS cooling performance improves with increased density and conductivity while it deteriorates with the wider melting range of the PCMs.

Background: Quantitative biomarkers of facial skin aging were investigated in 109 healthy Asian female volunteers, aged 20 to 70 years. Materials and Methods: In vivo 3D Line‐field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC‐OCT) imaging, enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐based quantification algorithms, was utilized to compute various metrics, including stratum corneum thickness (SC), viable epidermal (VE) thickness, and Dermal‐Epidermal Junction (DEJ) undulation along with cellular metrics for the temple, cheekbone, and mandible. Results: Comparison with data from a cohort of healthy Caucasian volunteers revealed similarities in the variations of stratum corneum and viable epidermis layers, as well as cellular shape and size with age in both ethnic groups. However, specific findings emerged, such as larger, more heterogeneous nuclei in both layers, demonstrated by an increase in nuclei volume and their standard deviation, and increased network atypia, all showing significant age‐related variations. Caucasian females exhibited a flatter and more homogeneous epidermis, evidenced by a decreased standard deviation of the number of layers, and a less dense cellular network with fewer cells per layer, indicated by a decrease in cell surface density. Conclusion: Ethnicity‐wise comparisons highlighted distinct biological features specific to each population. Asian individuals showed significantly higher DEJ undulation, higher compactness, and lower cell network atypia compared to their Caucasian counterparts across age groups. Differences in stratum corneum and viable epidermal thickness on the cheekbone were also significant. LC‐OCT 3D imaging provides valuable insights into the aging process in different populations and underscores inherent biological differences between Caucasian and Asian female volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone is the second organ of the human body that has the most transplants. The concept of bone repair has evolved over the past five decades and is known as the third generation of biomaterials. During the integration of nanotechnology with bioceramics, an emerging research field called nanobioceramics has been born within the third generation of biomaterials. Due to the chemical similarity with the mineral content of human bone, nanobioceramics are included in the definition of a new generation of biomaterials whose main purpose is to create a microenvironment to improve cellular responses leading to osteogenesis. Hydroxyapatite is a member of the calcium phosphate family. This substance, which is a bioactive and biocompatible compound, is considered the main mineral component of bone tissue. Due to the chemical and structural similarity of this compound with bone, it is widely used in the field of bone tissue repair and dental and orthopedic applications. Many of the basic properties of hydroxyapatite can be improved and improved by changing the scale of its particles to nanoparticles. Therefore, in recent years, various methods for the synthesis of nanohydroxyapatite have been reported. Using different characterization methods, the quality of synthesized nanostructures can be checked. In addition to bone-related fields, nanohydroxyapatite is also used as a carrier in the transfer of various materials, including drugs, vitamins, and proteins. In this article, in modern times, advances in the field of biomedical research focusing on the use of bioceramics in the treatment of various diseases, the function of vital organs, and tissue engineering have brought new hopes to regenerative medicine. Various methods are being investigated to synthesize bioceramic materials using natural and synthetic materials. There are several challenges to enable cost-effective material synthesis and minimize the rejection of bioceramics in biological systems. One of the major challenges in incorporating foreign materials into body systems is to improve their acceptance and reduce their rejection by humans and other organisms by studying their immune responses. When developing biocompatible ceramic materials, the mechanical and chemical properties of the ceramic material are one of the most important parameters for their acceptance in humans. The evaluation criteria of mechanical, chemical and biological properties of bioceramics using various existing approaches play a crucial role in validating the use of bioceramics. State-of-the-art techniques for synthesis and evaluation of bioceramic properties can improve their biomedical applications.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a severe condition resulting from the dengue virus, with four serotypes known as DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Genetic variations play a crucial role in influencing susceptibility to DHF. Therefore, this investigation conducted a meta-analysis to uncover genetic changes that might have remained undetected in individual studies due to small sample sizes or methodological differences. Among 2212 initially identified studies, 23 were deemed suitable for analysis based on PRISMA guidelines. Toll-like receptors (TLR) and CD209 showed significant association with DHF (odds ratios: TLR=0.56, CD209 =0.55), indicating protective effects. However, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) did not exhibit a statistically significant relationship with DHF. This study emphasizes the relevance of TLR and CD209 in DHF susceptibility and resistance across diverse geographical locations.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells and impaired maturation, leading to immature cell accumulation in the bone marrow and bloodstream, resulting in hematopoietic dysfunction. Chemoresistance, hyperactivity of survival pathways, and miRNA alteration are major factors contributing to treatment failure and poor outcomes in AML patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the pharmacological p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 on the chemoresistance potential of AML stem cell line KG1a to the therapeutic drug daunorubicin (DNR). KG1a and chemosensitive leukemic HL60 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of DNR. Cell Titer-Glo®, flow cytometry, phosphokinase and protein arrays, Western blot technology, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were employed for assessment of cell viability, half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) determination, apoptotic status detection, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis-related protein and gene expression monitoring. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize caspase and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activities. Exposed at various incubation times, higher DNR IC50 values were determined for KG1a cells than for HL60 cells, confirming KG1a cell chemoresistance potential. Exposed to DNR, late apoptosis induction in KG1a cells was enhanced after SB203580 pretreatment, defined as the combination treatment. This enhancement was confirmed by increased cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-9, caspase-3, and augmented caspase-3/-7 and mPTP activities in KG1a cells upon combination treatment, compared to DNR. Using phosphokinase and apoptosis protein arrays, the combination treatment decreased survival Akt phosphorylation and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression levels in KG1a cells while increasing the expression levels of the tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, compared to DNR. Cell cycle analysis revealed KG1a cell growth arrest in G2/M-phase caused by DNR, while combined treatment led to cell growth arrest in S-phase, mainly associated with cyclin B1 expression levels. Remarkably, the enhanced KG1a cell sensitivity to DNR after SB203580 pretreatment was associated with an increased upregulation of miR-328-3p and slight downregulation of miR-26b-5p, compared to DNR effect. Altogether, these findings could contribute to the development of a new therapeutic strategy by targeting the p38 MAPK pathway to improve treatment outcomes in patients with refractory or relapsed AML.

In this review, various aspects of pectins (from raw materials to process-structure-function-applications of this multifunctional biomacromolecule) are discussed taking into consideration the interests of scientists, producers, formulators, including customers and market constraints. Research on pectins has been a subject of interest among many researchers, consequently, numerous articles were published in the past decade. However, there are still some controversial ideas and related challenges associated with this multifunctional polymer which need further clarification. To settle on each of them, the review is structured into four parts: (i) what is already known, (ii) mechanisms describing the physicochemical phenomena involved in pectin techno-functional properties, (iii) current and future challenges from multiple angles, and (iv) related market trends. The information disclosed in this review could be particularly useful for pectin producers allowing them to boost sustainable innovation and also for those seeking in-depth knowledge on different aspects of this versatile biopolymer. Additionally, this review will provide the reader with the tools which allow obtaining fundamental and applied knowledge on pectins.

Functional materials are required to meet the needs of society, such as environmental protection, energy storage and conversion, integrated product production, biological and medical processing. bulk nanostructured materials are a research concept that combines nanotechnology with other research fields such as supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and life science to develop logically functional materials from nanodevices. In this review article, nanostructures are synthetized by different methods based on the types and nature of the nanomaterials. In a broad sense “top-down” and “bottom-up” are the two foremost methods to synthesize nanomaterials. In top-down method bulk materials have been reduced to nanomaterials, and in case of bottom-up method, the nanomaterials are synthesized from elementary level. The different methods which are being used to synthesize nanomaterials are chemical vapor deposition method, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal synthesis, solvothermal method, pulsed laser ablation, templating method, combustion method, microwave synthesis, gas phase method, and conventional Sol-Gel method. We also briefly discuss the various physical and chemical methods for producing nanomaterials. We then discuss the applications of functional materials in many areas such as energy storage, supercapacitors, sensors, wastewater treatment, and other biological applications such as drug delivery and drug nanocrystals. Finally, future challenges in materials nanoarchitecture and concepts for further development of functional nanomaterials are briefly discussed.

Abstract Basaltic lavas from Harrat Uwayrid, Saudi Arabia, record the evolving magmatic and tectonic context of the Arabian Peninsula from at least the mid‐Miocene to the present day. New 40Ar/39Ar ages spanning from the mid to late Miocene reveal that mid‐Miocene mafic volcanism formed a large, subalkaline volcanic plateau parallel to Red Sea rifts. Subsequent volumetrically subordinate late Miocene‐Quaternary alkaline volcanism erupted monogenetic cinder cones roughly orthogonal to the earlier volcanic field. The source region for all samples was affected by both fluid and silicate metasomatism; inferred mantle mineral assemblages include amphibole for mid‐Miocene lavas and phlogopite for late Miocene‐Quaternary samples. Calculated melting depths become shallower with time across the Miocene volcanic episode (∼20–15 Ma) but become deeper in the late Miocene to Quaternary (∼10–0 Ma), indicating melting pressures and temperatures significantly higher than those recorded in Miocene lavas despite progressive lithospheric thinning. We offer a two‐stage model for the formation of Harrat Uwayrid: (a) Early‐ and mid‐Miocene rifting associated with the Red Sea opening facilitated adiabatic melting of uppermost mantle lithosphere to form the early volcanic plateau and (b) Plate motion changes in the mid‐ and late‐Miocene initiated the Dead Sea Fault and destabilized a dense pyroxenitic lower lithosphere leading to foundering or lithospheric drip beneath Harrat Uwayrid that allowed deep lithospheric melting and formed the young volatile‐rich eruptives.

Anomalous origin of vertebral arteries is a rare vascular anomaly and mostly discovered as incidental findings during computed tomography angiogram , magnetic resonance angiography or digital subtracted angiogram of the aortic arch and cerebral vessels. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of a 31-year-old female who presented with headache after emotional trauma. A conventional cerebral angiogram showed anomalous origin of the right vertebral artery. This finding was incidentally discovered, and it is of utmost importance for future head and neck endovascular interventions to avoid inadvertent arterial injury.

Objective: To evaluate the dental caries experience and clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (UDC) among primary school children of Al Jouf region, Saudi Arabia and to determine the correlation between dental caries experience and clinical consequences of UDC. Material and Methods: A 250 primary school children 6-7 years were recruited using systematic random sampling. The prevalence of dental caries in deciduous dentition was assessed by following WHO criteria using the dmft index and the clinical consequence of UDC was assessed with the pufa index. The pufa score was calculated cumulatively following the pufa diagnostic criteria. The Student’s t-test was used to equate the mean dmft and pufa scores between boys and girls. The correlation between the dmft and the pufa scores was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), and the p-value was set at 0.05 for statistical significance. Results: Out of which 154 (61.60%) boys and 94 (37.60%) were girls. The mean (SD) values of dmft for boys reported to be 5.37 (± 3.31) and for girls 6.35 (± 3.27), which was statistically significant with gender (p

Objective: To estimate caries spectrum in first permanent molars (FPMs) of 7- to 8-year-old children in Saudi Arabia using Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index, and examine the correlation between distributions of CAST codes among contralateral and opposite arches. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 7- to 8-year-old Saudi school children in Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia. A total of 385 children were examined. CAST codes were determined for FPMs, and their distribution was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was set as p

Linseed oil-based composite films were prepared with cinnamaldehyde (Cin) using a modified clay (organoclay) through in situ polymerization, which is the result of the interaction between Cin and organoclay. The incorporation of organoclay reduces the polymer chain’s mobility and, therefore, increases the thermal stability of the composite films. In some experimental conditions, the clay is located both inside and on the surface of the film, thus, affecting the mechanical and thermal properties as well as the surface properties of the composite films. The incorporation of organoclay decreases the water contact angle of the composite film by more than 15%, whatever the amount of cinnamaldehyde. However, the incorporation of cinnamaldehyde has the opposite effect on film surface properties. Indeed, for the water vapor permeability (WVP), the effect of cinnamaldehyde on the film barrier properties is much higher in the presence of organoclay. The incorporation of hydrophobic compounds into the polymer films reduces the water content, which acts as a plasticizer and, therefore, decreases the WVP by more than 17%. Linseed oil has a natural antioxidant activity (~97%) due to the higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, and this activity increased with the amount of organoclay and cinnamaldehyde.

Abstract Background Anomalies in primary teeth are comparatively fewer than in the permanent teeth. The presence of a primary canine with two roots is very rare. An unusual anomaly like this may lead to problems during extraction or exfoliation. Emphasis on the importance of anomalies is required for proper diagnosis and to facilitate a better treatment outcome. Case presentation The present case report describes a case of a bilateral bi-rooted primary maxillary canines diagnosed during a radiographic examination in a 9-year-old Saudi boy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of bi-rooted primary maxillary canine reported from the region of Saudi Arabia. Conclusion This case report aims to increase awareness of the morphological alterations in primary canines and to emphasize the importance of diagnosis and radiographic examination using different angles. Clinicians should consider all the possible tooth variations during routine intra-oral and radiographic examinations to facilitate a better treatment outcome and to avoid unwanted complications.

Alginate is a polysaccharide obtained from brown seaweed that is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications due to its versatility as a viscosifier and gelling agent. Here, we investigated the influence of the addition of glucose on the structure and mechanical properties of alginate solutions and calcium-alginate hydrogels produced by internal gelation through crosslinking with Ca2+. Using 1H low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS), we showed that alginate solutions at 1 wt % present structural heterogeneities at local scale whose size increases with glucose concentration (15–45 wt %). Remarkably, the molecular conformation of alginate in the gels obtained from internal gelation by Ca2+ crosslinking is similar to that found in solution. The mechanical properties of the gels evidence an increase in gel strength and elasticity upon the addition of glucose. The fitting of mechanical properties to a poroelastic model shows that structural changes within solutions prior to gelation and the increase in solvent viscosity contribute to the gel strength. The nanostructure of the gels (at local scale, i.e., up to few hundreds of Å) remains unaltered by the presence of glucose up to 30 wt %. At 45 wt %, the permeability obtained by the poroelastic model decreases, and the Young’s modulus increases. We suggest that macro (rather than micro) structural changes lead to this behavior due to the creation of a network of denser zones of chains at 45 wt % glucose. Our study paves the way for the design of calcium-alginate hydrogels with controlled structure for food and pharmaceutical applications in which interactions with glucose are of relevance.

The traditional method of enforcing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to create HNTs-TPU nanocomposite material has been modified aiming at producing better quality nanocomposite using compression injection techniques. This technique adds more options of using control parameters and much better estimation to the corresponding levels of these parameters. In this study, six controlled parameters of injection temperature, injection pressure, mould temperature, injection time, HNTs loading, and function HNTs at three levels were considered. Under such huge number of parameters and their corresponding levels, the number of required experiments is enormous; however, with the help of Taguchi method of orthogonal arrays, the number of experiments is reduced to only 27. These experiments are then used to examine the optimized conditions of modulus Young’s, compression strain, and compression extension (known as responses). In this study, Taguchi method is fortified by ANOVA since Taguchi method is not enough to provide a clear and full analysis. The responses of modulus Young, compression strain, and compression extension have shown maximum absolute variation based on the original and untreated material by 30%, 25%, and 37%, respectively. Further, the optimized modulus Young is optimized at 1 wt% HNTs, 4 bar of injection pressure, 28 °C of mould temperature, and 4 min of injection time. These results were confirmed statistically by ANOVA and experimentally by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images where the agglomeration of HNTs was seen as an important factor of the absolute variation of the responses. This study serves another purpose where Taguchi method was tested for reliability in a very big scale of such control parameters. Keywords: Nanocomposites, Design of experiment, Taguchi method, Compression properties

The present work aims to fabricate n-i-p forward perovskite solar cell (PSC) withئ structure (FTO/ compact TiO2/ compact TiO2/ MAPbI3 Perovskite/ hole transport layer/ Au). P3HT, CuI and Spiro-OMeTAD were used as hole transport layers. A nano film of 25 nm gold layer was deposited once between the electron transport layer and the perovskite layer, then between the hole transport layer and the perovskite layer. The performance of the forward-perovskite solar cell was studied. Also, the role of each electron transport layer and the hole transport layer in the perovskite solar cell was presented. The structural, morphological and electrical properties were studied with X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscope and current-voltage (J-V) characteristic curves, respectively. J-V curves revealed that the deposition of the Au layer between the electron transport layer (ETL) and Perovskite layer (PSK) reduced the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 3% to 0.08% when one layer of C. TiO2 is deposited in the PSC and to 0.11% with two layers of C. TiO2. Power conversion efficiency, with CuI as the hole transport layer (HTL), showed an increase from 0.5% to 2.7% when Au layer was deposited between PSK and CuI layers. Also, Isc increased from 6.8 mA to 17.4 mA and Voc from 0.3 V to 0.5V. With depositing Au layer between P3HT and PSK layers, the results showed an increase in the efficiency from 1% to 2.6% and an increase in Isc from 10.7 mA to 30.5 mA, while Voc decreased from 0.75 V to 0.5V