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Abstract Objectives Zygomatic implant surgery can be difficult due to the limited intraoperative visibility of the surgical field and the complex anatomy of the zygomatic bone, which could lead to serious complications. This study aims to assess the accuracy of zygomatic implants placement using computer-guided surgical templates. Materials and methods A total of 13 zygomatic implants were placed in four participants. Double-sleeve drill guides were used with the help of computer-guided surgical templates designed with a lateral window. The accuracy was evaluated by measuring the linear deviations regarding the implants’ platforms and apices’ positions in addition to the angular deviations. Moreover, deviations of both implants from three fixed planes of space were measured. Results The mean linear deviation at platforms was 2.44 mm ± 1.57 and at the apices 2.32 mm ± 1 while the mean angular deviation was 3.6˚ ± 1.92. Differences at the entry points were 0.43 ± 1.79 mm, 0.39 ± 1.12 mm, and − 0.54 ± 2.00 mm from the mid-sagittal, horizontal, and coronal planes respectively. Differences at the exit points were − 0.75 ± 1.25 mm, -0.06 ± 1.09 mm, and 0.63 ± 1.24 mm from the same planes respectively. Within all planes, there was no statistically significant difference. Conclusion Given the limitations of this study, the use of the computer-guided surgical templates augmented by the double sleeve drill guides allowed favorable control over the tip of the long surgical drill away from vital structures during the zygomatic implant osteotomy. It also allowed control over alveolar crest osteotomy and its placement in a favorable prosthetic position. Overall, this protocol should be considered for further research and improvement to allow more predictable surgical outcomes while preventing the occurrence of complications. Before conducting this study, the protocol was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethical Committee of Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University in meeting no. (105), on 15th of July 2020 with the application no.: (FDASU-RecD072029).

Abstract Wastewater from the food industry is considered harmful to human health and aquatic life, as well as polluting water and soil. This research is centered around finding an affordable and easy physicochemical method for dealing with waste generated by the food industry. To accomplish this goal, a new bio-based flocculant called 4-benzyl-4-(2-oleamidoethylamino-2-oxoethyl) morpholin-4-ium chloride was created using sustainable sources, specifically crude olive pomace oil. Its chemical structure was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, mass spectra, and 13C-NMR. This new bio-based cationic flocculant was combined with alum to act as a coagulant in the waste treatment process. Also, a study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for the coagulation-flocculation process parameters, namely, pH and alum dosage, on COD and removal efficiency. The results showed that the optimal conditions for flocculation were achieved at pH 5.8, with 680 mg/L alum and 10 mg/L of commercial flocculant dose compared to only 5 mg/L of a new bio-based cationic flocculant. A comparison was made between the new bio-cationic flocculant and a commercial CTAB one for treating wastewater in the food industry. The study found that the new bio-based cationic flocculant was more effective in reducing the chemical oxygen demand, achieving a reduction of 61.3% compared to 54.6% for using a commercial cationic flocculant. Furthermore, using a new bio-based cationic flocculant costs only 0.49 $/g, which is less than the present cationic flocculant, which costs 0.93 $/g. The adoption of this new flocculant provides a sustainable alternative to existing industrial wastewater treatment processes

Abstract Research projects, initiatives and conferences that include patients as partners rather than as participants are becoming more common. Including patients as partners (what we will call ‘patient partners’) is an approach called patient engagement or involvement in research, and we will call it patient engagement throughout this paper. Patient engagement moves traditional health research conferences and events to include a broader audience for their knowledge exchange and community building efforts, beyond academics and healthcare professionals. However, there are few examples of conferences where patients are given the opportunity to fully lead. Our conference went beyond patient engagement – it was patient-led. Patient partners conceived, planned, and decided on all aspects of a virtual conference. We present the work and processes we undertook throughout 2023 to create and produce a free conference called “PxP: For patients, by patients” or PxP for short, with a tagline of “Partnering to make research stronger.” PxP was patient-led and about patient engagement in research rather than a specific disease or condition. PxP was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis. The PxP website, known as the PxP Hub, now houses the conference recordings along with resources about patient engagement in research. These resources were recommended by the PxP Steering Committee members, speakers, and others who attended the 2023 conference. Here we lead you through how the idea for PxP was generated; how the international patient partner Steering Committee was convened and supported; how PxP was brought to life over nine months; the PxP 3-day event and feedback collected to improve future efforts; trade-offs, challenges and learnings; and resources required to support this type of event. We close with what the future holds for PxP in 2024 and beyond. It’s time to elevate patients into leadership roles for conferences and events, and we encourage you to adopt the PxP ethos by using or adapting our approach and resources to support your opportunity.

The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted many daily activities and services we depend on. Due to changes in waste quantity and types, solid waste management (SWM) services such as waste collection, transportation, and treatment/disposal suffered. Global rules and mandates were issued to address these changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. This mini review examines seven countries and summarises the pandemic’s effects on municipal solid waste (MSW) and medical waste (MW) generation in terms of amount and composition, the SWM sector’s challenges, and government or other SWM guidelines and management measures. The data are analysed to provide suggestions for stakeholders on SWM worker protection, waste segregation, and recycling. This article identified that extending MW incineration, separating infectious waste at the source, and discontinuing recycling for infection control are the best ways to manage solid waste. The waste management system’s readiness was crucial to the pandemic response. Thus, countries like China, which has a robust SWM system, were able to contain the crisis and restrict danger, while others with weaker systems struggled. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of revising waste management policies and developing crisis response strategies that integrate flexible, innovative solutions to adapt quickly to changing waste demands and ensure public health and environmental protection during global health crises.

В односвязных областях с гладкими границами рассматривается краевая задача типа задачи Пуанкаре для одного эллиптического дифференциального уравнения второго порядка, порождающего класс обобщенных гармонических функций. При достаточно общих предположениях относительно коэффициентов краевого условия рассматриваемой задачи устанавливается, что ее решение сводится к последовательному решению хорошо изученных интегро-дифференциальной краевой задачи Гильберта и дифференциальной краевой задачи Гильберта в классах аналитических функций комплексной переменной. Кроме того, определяются необходимые и достаточные условия разрешимости исследуемой задачи и доказывается ее нетеровость.

Abstract Background It is unknown whether the existence of severe bystander damage will affect left ventricular (LV) healing following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The aim of the present analysis was to follow LV recovery using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) in cases with single versus multiple vessel disease with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent PPCI and to assess major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) within 3 months. Patients and methods This work was conducted at Assiut University Heart Hospital. Of 1026 screened subjects with AMI needing PPCI and assessed for eligibility, only 89 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. They were classified into Group A: single vessel and Group B: multiple vessel (≥ 2 vessels) disease. Their data were obtained on admittance and after 90 days. Results In group A compared to group B, there was a statistically preferable value at baseline in the global longitudinal strain- Apical 2 chamber (GLS-A2C) (-12.05 ± 3.57 vs. -10.38 ± 3.92, P = 0.039). At follow-up, the improvement was in all 2-D STE variables, including GLS-long axis (GLS-LAX) (-13.09 ± 3.84 vs.-10.75 ± 3.96, P = 0.006), GLS- apical 4 chamber (GLS-A4C) (-13.23 ± 3.51 vs.-10.62 ± 4.08, P = 0.002), GLS-A2C (-13.85 ± 3.41 vs-10.93 ± 3.97, P

Abstract Chromium is a hazardous compound from industrial processes, known for its toxicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity. Chemical methods are efficient but cost-effective alternatives with reduced sludge are sought. Electro-coagulation, utilizing low-cost iron plate electrodes, was explored for factual tannery wastewater treatment in this manuscript. Operating parameters such as initial chromium concentration, voltage, electrode number, operating time, agitation speed and current density has been studied to evaluate the treatment effeciency. Under optimal conditions (15 V, 0.4 mA/cm2, 200 rpm, 330 ppm chromium, 8 iron electrodes with a total surface area of 0.1188 m2, 3 h), chromium elimination was 98.76%. Iron anode consumption, power use, and operating cost were 0.99 gm/L, 0.0143 kW-h/L, and 160 EGP/kg of chromium eliminated, respectively. Kinetics studies were pursued first-order reaction (97.99% correlation), and Langmuir isotherms exhibited strong conformity (Langmuir R2: 99.99%). A predictive correlation for chromium elimination (R2: 97.97%) was developed via statistical regression. At HARBY TANNERY factory in Egypt, industrial sewage treatment achieved a final chromium disposal rate of 98.8% under optimized conditions.

Abstract Background Eating frequency may affect body weight and cardiometabolic health. Intervention trials and observational studies have both indicated that high- and low-frequency eating can be associated with better health outcomes. There are currently no guidelines to inform how to advise healthy adults about how frequently to consume food or beverages. Aim To establish whether restricted- (≤ three meals per day) frequency had a superior effect on markers of cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change) compared to unrestricted-eating (≥ four meals per day) frequency in adults. Methods We searched Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CAB Direct and Web of Science Core Collection electronic databases from inception to 7 June 2022 for clinical trials (randomised parallel or cross-over trials) reporting on the effect of high or low-frequency eating on cardiometabolic health (primary outcome: weight change). Trial interventions had to last for at least two weeks, and had to have been conducted in human adults. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all outcomes. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results Seventeen reports covering 16 trials were included in the systematic review. Data from five trials were excluded from meta-analysis due to insufficient reporting. 15 of 16 trials were at high risk of bias. There was very low certainty evidence of no difference between high- and low-frequency eating for weight-change (MD: -0.62 kg, CI95: -2.76 to 1.52 kg, p = 0.57). Conclusions There was no discernible advantage to eating in a high- or low-frequency dietary pattern for cardiometabolic health. We cannot advocate for either restricted- or unrestricted eating frequency to change markers of cardiometabolic health in healthy young to middle-aged adults. Protocol registration CRD42019137938.

Abstract Background Proper proximal contact in direct composite restorations is crucial for periodontal health. Over a one-year period, this study was conducted to assess successive biological changes in proximal contact tightness PCT in class II direct composite restorations and the adjacent teeth by applying sectional matrix system along with different contact forming instruments. Methods 72 direct compound class II composite restorations were performed in patients aged 18–40 years and divided into 4 groups: Group I (n = 18): proximal contact was restored with Palodent plus sectional matrix system, Group II (n = 18): Trimax as contact forming instrument, Group III (n = 18): Perform as contact forming instrument and Group IV (n = 18): Contact pro as contact forming instrument. All contact forming instruments were used along with Palodent plus matrix system. PCT was measured using a digital force gauge before (T0), immediate post operative (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 9 (T4), and 12 months (T5) after restorative treatment. Using One-Way ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc test, and Bonferroni correction, PCT values were compared between groups before and after the intervention restoration. Meanwhile, for comparisons within groups, a paired t-test was conducted (p ≤ 0.05). Results Contact forming instruments combined with Palodent plus sectional matrix system achieved better PCT. Trimax led to a statistically considerable tighter proximal contacts than the other groups (p

Abstract Background Endogenous estrogen is cardio-protective in healthy premenopausal women. Despite this favorable action of estrogen, animal models depict a detrimental effect of estradiol on vascular function in the presence of diabetes. The present study sought to determine the role of endogenous estradiol on endothelial function in women with type 1 diabetes. Method 32 women with type 1 diabetes (HbA1c = 8.6 ± 1.7%) and 25 apparently healthy women (HbA1c = 5.2 ± 0.3%) participated. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a bioassay of nitric-oxide bioavailability and endothelial function was performed during menses (M) and the late follicular (LF) phase of the menstrual cycle to represent low and high concentrations of estrogen, respectively. In addition, a venous blood sample was collected at each visit to determine circulating concentrations of estradiol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and nitrate/nitrite (NOx), biomarkers of oxidative stress and nitric oxide, respectively. Data were collected in (1) 9 additional women with type 1 diabetes using oral hormonal birth control (HBC) (HbA1c = 8.3 ± 2.1%) during the placebo pill week and second active pill week, and (2) a subgroup of 9 demographically matched women with type 1 diabetes not using HBC (HbA1c = 8.9 ± 2.1%). Results Overall, estradiol was significantly increased during the LF phase compared to M in both type 1 diabetes (Δestradiol = 75 ± 86 pg/mL) and controls (Δestradiol = 71 ± 76 pg/mL); however, an increase in TBARS was only observed in patients with type 1 diabetes (ΔTBARS = 3 ± 13 µM) compared to controls (ΔTBARS = 0 ± 4 µM). FMD was similar (p = 0.406) between groups at M. In addition, FMD increased significantly from M to the LF phase in controls (p = 0.024), whereas a decrease was observed in type 1 diabetes. FMD was greater (p = 0.015) in patients using HBC compared to those not on HBC, independent of menstrual cycle phase. Conclusion Endogenous estradiol increases oxidative stress and contributes to endothelial dysfunction in women with diabetes. Additionally, HBC use appears to be beneficial to endothelial function in type 1 diabetes.

Silicon plays a crucial role in enhancing plant tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses, including drought, salinity, heavy metals, and pathogen/pest attacks. Its application has shown promising results in improving stress tolerance and productivity in medicinal plants. This review synthesizes findings from numerous studies investigating the mechanisms by which silicon confers stress tolerance, including the regulation of antioxidant systems, water relations, nutrient homeostasis, phytohormone signaling, and stress-responsive gene expression. Additionally, it examines the effects of silicon supplementation on the production of valuable secondary metabolites and essential oils in medicinal plants. Silicon application can significantly mitigate stress-induced damage in plants, including medicinally important species such as borage, honeysuckle, licorice, Damask rose, savory, basil, and eucalyptus. The deposition of silicon in cell walls provides physical reinforcement and acts as a barrier against pathogen invasion and insect herbivory. Furthermore, silicon fertilization can enhance the production of valuable secondary metabolites in medicinal crops under stress conditions. The findings underscore the potential of silicon fertilization as a sustainable strategy for improving the productivity and quality of medicinal crops under changing environmental conditions, highlighting the need for further research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying silicon-mediated stress tolerance and practical applications in medicinal plant cultivation.

Abstract Background Morphometric study of the bony elements of the appendicular skeleton in the ostrich was fully described and identified. The appendicular skeleton included the bones of the pectoral girdle, the wing, the pelvic girdle and the pelvic limb. Results The shoulder girdle of the ostrich included the scapula and coracoid bones. The scapula appeared as a flattened spoon-like structure. The coracoid bone appeared quadrilateral in outline. The mean length of the scapula and coracoid (sternal wing) were 15.00 ± 0.23 and 10.00 ± 0.17 cm, respectively. The wing included the humerus, ulna, radius, radial carpal bone, ulnar carpal bone, carpometacarpus and phalanges of three digits. The mean length of the humerus, radius, and ulna were 33.00 ± 0.46, 10.50 ± 0.40 and 11.50 ± 0.29 cm respectively. The carpometacarpus was formed by the fusion of the distal row of carpal bones and three metacarpal bones. Digits of the wing were three in number; the alular, major and minor digits. Os coxae comprised the ilium, ischium and pubis. Their mean lengths were 36.00 ± 0.82 cm, 32.00 ± 0.20 and 55.00 ± 0.2.9 cm, respectively. The femur was a stout short bone, that appeared shorter than the tibiotarsus. The mean length of the femur, tibiotarsus, and tarsometatarsus were 30.00 ± 0.23, 52.00 ± 0.50 and 46.00 ± 0.28 cm. Tibiotarsus was the longest bone in the pelvic limb. The fibula was a long bone (44.00 ± 0.41 cm) lying along the lateral surface of the tibiotarsus. The tarsometatarsus was a strong long bone formed by the fusion of the metatarsal (II, III, IV) and the distal row of tarsal bones. It was worth mentioning that metatarsal II was externally absent in adults. Conclusions In the appendicular skeleton of ostrich, there were special characteristic features that were detected in our study; the clavicle was absent, the coracoid bone was composed of a sternal wing and scapular wing, the ulna was slightly longer in length than the radius. The coupled patellae i.e., the proximal and distal patella were observed; and the ostrich pedal digits were only two; viz., the third (III) and fourth (IV) digits.

AbstractBackground Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are at increased risk to develop post-contrast acute kidney injury (AKI). Diabetic patients under dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) experience a lower propensity to develop AKI. We speculated that linagliptin as a single agent or in combination with allopurinol may reduce the incidence of post-contrast AKI in stage 3–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with underlying DKD.Methods Out of 951 DKD patients eligible for this study, 800 accepted to sign informed consent. They were randomly allocated to 4 equal groups that received their prophylaxis for 2 days before and after radiocontrast. The first control group received N-acetyl cysteine and saline, the 2nd received allopurinol, the 3rd group received linagliptin, and the 4th received both allopurinol and linagliptin. Post-procedure follow-up for kidney functions was conducted for 2 weeks in all patients.Results 20, 19, 14, and 8 patients developed post-contrast AKI in groups 1 through 4, respectively. Neither linagliptin nor allopurinol was superior to N-acetyl cysteine and saline alone. However, the combination of the two agents provided statistically significant renal protection: post-contrast AKI in group 4 was significantly lower than in groups 1 and 2 (p

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a notifiable viral disease caused by Lumpy Skin Disease virus (LSDV). It is usually associated with high economic losses, including a loss of productivity, infertility, and death. LSDV shares genetic and antigenic similarities with Sheep pox virus (SPV) and Goat pox (GPV) virus. Hence, the LSDV traditional diagnostic tools faced many limitations regarding sensitivity, specificity, and cross-reactivity. Herein, we fabricated a paper-based turn-on fluorescent Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) sensor for the rapid detection of LSDV. The LSDV-MIPs sensor showed strong fluorescent intensity signal enhancement in response to the presence of the virus within minutes. Our sensor showed a limit of detection of 101 log10 TCID50/mL. Moreover, it showed significantly higher specificity to LSDV relative to other viruses, especially SPV. To our knowledge, this is the first record of a paper-based rapid detection test for LSDV depending on fluorescent turn-on behavior.

Therapeutic Area: Kidney Disease Background: In March 2022 China imposed strict lockdown measures to contain a COVID-19 outbreak which disrupted the global supply chains of iodine contrast media (ICM). Healthcare systems implemented contrast-saving strategies to maintain their remaining ICM supplies. This study sought to determine the impact of contrast shortage on the incidence of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). Methods: This was a retrospective study of 265 patients undergoing 278 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) during 4-month-periods prior to (9/1/2021 - 12/31/2021) and during (5/1/2022- 8/31/2022) contrast shortage at a single center. We excluded patients with same-day discharge, missing baseline or post-PCI creatinine, and patients on dialysis at the time of their PCI. The primary end point was the incidence of CA-AKI between the study periods. Results: A total of 148 and 130 PCIs were performed before and during contrast shortage, respectively. The incidence of CA-AKI significantly decreased from 11.5% in pre-contrast shortage to 4.6% during contrast shortage (p = 0.038). During the shortage, average contrast volume per PCI was significantly lower (122.8 mL ±62 vs. 88.2 mL ±45.6, p-value

Adherence to study registration and reporting best practices is vital to fostering evidence-based medicine. All registered clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov conducted in Canada as of 2009 and completed by 2019 were identified. A cross-sectional analysis of those trials assessed prospective registration, subsequent result reporting in the registry, and subsequent publication of study findings. The lead sponsor, phase of study, clinical trial site location, total patient enrollment, number of arms, type of masking, type of allocation, year of completion, and patient demographics were examined as potential effect modifiers to these best practices. A total of 6720 trials were identified. From 2009 to 2019, 59% (n = 3,967) of them were registered prospectively, and 32% (n = 2138) had neither their results reported nor their findings published. Of the 3763 trials conducted exclusively in Canada, 3% (n = 123) met all three criteria of prospective registration, reporting in the registry, and publishing findings. Overall, the odds of having adherence to all three practices concurrently in Canadian trials decrease by 95% when compared with international trials. Canadian clinical trials substantially lacked adherence to study registration and reporting best practices. Knowledge of this widespread non-compliance should motivate stakeholders in the Canadian clinical trial ecosystem to address and continue to monitor this problem.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) commenced a Quality Assurance Program in 2019 to monitor the quality of peer review in its Project Grant Competition Peer Review Committees. Our primary aim was to describe the performance of CIHR grant peer reviewers, based on the assessments made by CIHR peer review leaders during the first 3 years of the Research Quality Assurance Program. All Peer Review Committee Chairs and (or) Scientific Officers who led peer review for CIHR in 2019, 2020, and 2021 completed Reviewer Quality Feedback forms immediately following Peer Review Committee meetings. The form assessed Performance, Future potential, Review quality, Participation, and Responsiveness. We summarised and descriptively synthesised data from assessments conducted after each of the four grant competitions. The performance of peer reviewers on 4438 occasions was rated by Chairs and Scientific Officers. Approximately one in three peer reviewers submitted outstanding reviews or discussed additional applications and one in 10 demonstrated potential as a future Peer Review Committee leader. At most, one in 20 peer reviewers was considered to have not performed adequately with respect to review quality, participation, or responsiveness. There is a need for more research on the processes involved in allocating research grant funding.

Background. Chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients often develop hypokalemia but less commonly hyperkalemia. Methods. We explored incidence and mechanisms of hyperkalemia in 779 serum samples from 33 patients on PD for 1 − 59 months. Normal serum potassium concentration was defined as 3.5 − 5.1 meq/l. Results. Mean monthly serum potassium concentrations were normal (except for 1 month), but we observed hypokalemia (5.1 meq/l) in 14% of 779 serum samples. Incidence of hyperkalemia did not change over time on PD: Year 1 (15%), Year 2 (11%), Year 3 (19%), Years 4–5 (22%). Hyperkalemia was mostly modest but occasionally extreme [5.2–5.4 meq/l (55%), 5.5–5.7 meq/l (21%), 5.8–6.0 meq/l (10%), >6.0 meq/l (14%)]. Of 31 patients (2 excluded due to brief PD time), 39% displayed hyperkalemia only, 23% displayed hypokalemia only, and the remainder (38%) displayed both or neither. Comparing hypokalemia-only with hyperkalemia-only patients, we found no difference in potassium chloride therapy, medications interrupting the renin-angiotensin system, small-molecule transport status, and renal urea clearance. We compared biochemical parameters from the hypokalemic and hyperkalemic serum samples and observed lower bicarbonate concentrations, higher creatinine concentrations, and higher urea nitrogen concentrations in the hyperkalemic samples (p

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to blood pressure (BP) regulation via its vasodilatory and anti‐inflammatory properties. We and others previously reported sex differences in BP in normotensive and hypertensive rat models where females have lower BP than age‐matched males. As females are known to have greater NO bioavailability than age‐matched males, the current study was designed to test the hypothesis that anesthetized female normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) are more responsive to acute NOS inhibition‐induced increases in BP compared to male WKY. Twelve‐week‐old male and female WKY were randomized to infusion of the nonspecific NOS inhibitor NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME, 1 mg/kg/min) or selective NOS1 inhibition with vinyl‐L‐NIO (VNIO, 0.5 mg/kg/min) for 60 min. Mean arterial BP, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine volume, and electrolyte excretion were assessed before, and during L‐NAME or VNIO infusion. L‐NAME and VNIO significantly increased BP in both sexes; however, the increase in BP with L‐NAME infusion was greater in females versus males compared to baseline BP values. Acute infusion of neither L‐NAME nor VNIO for 60 min altered GFR in either sex. However, urine volume, sodium, chloride and potassium excretion levels increased comparably in male and female WKY with L‐NAME and VNIO infusion. Our findings suggest sex differences in BP responses to acute non‐isoform‐specific NOS inhibition in WKY, with females being more responsive to L‐NAME‐induced elevations in BP relative to male WKY. However, sex differences in the BP response did not coincide with sex differences in renal hemodynamic responses to acute NOS inhibition.

Abstract Background Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and a range of drainage techniques for the infected pleural area, thoracic empyema continues to be a serious reason behind morbidity and mortality. Although chest ultrasonography has been found to be an efficient diagnostic tool for pleural effusion features, it is rarely utilized to predict the outcomes of pleural illnesses. Aim of the work To determine the impact of sonographic patterns in predicting the outcomes of thoracic empyema patients. Patients and methods In this retrospective study, patients were divided into four groups based on their sonographic patterns: (I) complex non-septated effusions (plankton sign), (II) complex fixed septated effusions, (III) complex mobile septated effusions, and (IV) homogenously echogenic effusions (hematocrit sign). These sonographic patterns were compared to the patients’ co-morbidities, length of stay in the hospital, chest tube drainage, and medicinal or surgical therapy effectiveness. Results In comparison with other sonographic pattern groups, patients in group I (70.6%) and group IV (45.5%) had effective thoracic tube drainage with a very high statistically significant difference (P value < 0.001). For patients in group II (75%) (P value < 0.001), open thoracotomy was a very highly significant effective therapy (P value 0.001). Conclusion The sonographic pattern of thoracic empyema is a useful tool for guiding treatment decisions in these patients.

Sewage pipelines are considered to be the invaluable asset in municipalities. Inspection process plays a vital role in operation and maintenance (O&M) strategies applied by the concerned municipalities. Fault inspection and regular maintenance of sewage pipelines undoubtedly ensure longer service life; however, it could be a costly process in many cases. The objectives of this study are: indicating the significance of sewer pipelines inspection, defining methods of inspection, discussing the economic factors that affect the selection of appropriate methods of sewer pipelines inspection, and optimizing the most suitable method of sewer pipelines inspection in terms of cost effectiveness. A questionnaire survey including a list of factors of inspection of sewer pipelines in Egypt (from previous researches) was used for information collection (this questionnaire targets civil engineers based on their experience). Then, the collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics, to catch on the factors and methods of inspection of sewer pipelines (first examine the survey response using sample size then graph the results of response). Accordingly, the need for cost optimization solutions for such challenges, which is rapidly increasing, with the purpose of prioritizing the maintenance needs and focusing the municipal engineers’ efforts has emerged. The solution requires a systematic approach to diagnose the fault in the network along with regular customized inspection for performance evaluation. This research presents an optimization model for inspection of deteriorated sewage pipelines. The optimization is focused on the overall cost of the inspection process by reaching the optimum approach to diagnose and maintain the sewage pipelines. In this research, Genetic Optimization Algorithm (GA) is applied to various methods of inspects with the intention of achieving the possible optimal cost. The methods of inspection were selected in line with the outcome of a questionnaire completed by field experts. The research revealed that the acoustic inspection method with the minimum work force is the most cost-friendly method.

SUMMARY: This study aimed to see how 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] supplementation affected the performance, immunity, and vitamin D status of broilers, with and without infectious bronchitis virus challenge. Day-old chicks (n = 1000) were divided into four dietary treatments. All experimental treatments were containing 5000 IU of D3 and supplemented with 0, 100, 300, or 500 g/tonne of Bio D containing 0, 13.94, 41.82, or 69.70 mg 25(OH)D, respectively. In unchallenged birds, the inclusion of 25(OH)D significantly improved survival rates and EPEF values, and no significant difference in LBW, BWG, FC, or FCR was observed. In infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)-challenged birds, the 25(OH)D treatment showed less deterioration in BWG, and FC compared with the control, especially 25(OH)D500 group. The lowest mortality was observed in the 25(OH)D500 group. The health status of chicks fed diets supplemented with 25(OH)D post-challenge had significantly better CD4, CD8, and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM) levels, H/L ratio, total leucocytic count (TLC) in peripheral blood and IBV titers, cytokine (including interleukin (IL) 10) and (IFN)-γ expression, and reduced IBV shedding. After IBV challenge, all 25(OH)D groups recorded higher levels of plasma vitamin D than the control. Furthermore, 25(OH)D groups showed significantly higher antibody titers than the control group. In general, dietary supplementation with different levels of 25(OH)D had a positive effect on inflammatory reaction and stimulated the systemic innate immune responses of chickens during IBV challenge. In turn, recovery in the challenged birds with 25(OH)D rapidly occurred compared with that in the control group.

Avian influenza viruses pose significant threats to both the poultry industry and public health worldwide. Among them, the H9N2 subtype has gained substantial attention due to its high prevalence, especially in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; its ability to reassort with other influenza viruses; and its potential to infect humans. This study presents a comprehensive phylogenetic and molecular analysis of H9N2 avian influenza viruses circulating in Morocco from 2021 to 2023. Through an active epidemiological survey, a total of 1140 samples (trachea and lungs) and oropharyngeal swabs pooled into 283 pools, collected from 205 farms located in 7 regions of Morocco known for having a high density of poultry farms, were analyzed. Various poultry farms were investigated (159 broiler farms, 24 layer farms, 10 breeder farms, and 12 turkey breeder farms). A total of 21 AI H9N2 strains were isolated, and in order to understand the molecular evolution of the H9N2 avian influenza virus, their genetic sequences were determined using the Sanger sequencing technique. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using a dataset comprising global H9N2 sequences to determine the genetic relatedness and evolutionary dynamics of the Moroccan strains. The results revealed the continued circulation and diversification of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in Morocco during the study period. Real-time RT-PCR showed a positivity rate of 35.6% (73/205), with cycle threshold values ranging from 19.2 to 34.9. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that all Moroccan strains belonged to a G1-like lineage and regrouped into two distinct clusters. Our newly detected isolates aggregated distinctly from the genotypes previously isolated in Morocco, North and West Africa, and the Middle East. This indicats the potential of virus evolution resulting from both national circulation and cross-border transmission. A high genetic diversity at both nucleotide and amino-acid levels was observed among all the strains isolated in this study, as compared to H9N2 strains isolated in Morocco since 2016, which suggests the co-circulation of genetically diverse H9N2 variants. Newly discovered mutations were detected in hemagglutinin positions 226, 227, and 193 (H3 numbering), which highlights the genetic evolution of the H9N2 AIVs. These findings contribute to our understanding of the evolution and epidemiology of H9N2 in the region and provide valuable insights for the development of effective prevention and control strategies against this emerging avian influenza subtype.

Healthcare services (HCS) based on cloud computing and the Internet of Things are a great opportunity for the development of medical information technology. Task scheduling in cloud computing is one of the most critical problems facing health care services, as it affects the time required to fulfill user requests and the cost and quality of service delivery. The proposed HCS model structure consists of major components such as user devices, user requests, cloud broker, IoT endpoints, and HCS cloud. This paper proposes a new method to improve task scheduling in healthcare services based on cloud computing in the IoT environment (cloud-IoT). Specifically, A hybrid optimization algorithm HPSOSSA is proposed that combines the best existing swarm intelligence algorithms and integrates the advantages of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). The proposed model was implemented using the Cloudsim simulation package run on Eclipse with specific parameters. The proposed hybrid algorithm was compared to the most popular optimization algorithms that were previously used, such as Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), PSO, SSA, and hybrid PSO-GA. The experimental results showed that HPSOSSA in all cases outperforms the other existing algorithms in terms of makespan, waiting time, and resource utilization.

The detection rates of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rising, which has led to a better understanding of their histopathologic characteristics. We present a case of adrenal pheochromocytoma with an incidental finding of a concurrent ileocecal NET detected on early post-adrenalectomy imaging. A 59-year-old male was noted to have microscopic hematuria on a routine workup. Further imaging identified a right adrenal lesion suggestive of pheochromocytoma. He was reporting intermittent headaches, and his urinary normetanephrine and norepinephrine levels were elevated. He underwent a right retroperitoneal adrenalectomy, and pathology confirmed a pheochromocytoma with no malignancy. Postoperatively, he developed a hematoma at the surgical bed that was identified on CT scan. An incidental lesion at the level of the ileocecal valve was noted on the CT scan as well. This was further investigated by colonoscopy and biopsy that confirmed a carcinoid tumor. He had no gastrointestinal symptoms, chromogranin A was normal, and 24-h urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid levels were slightly elevated. He subsequently underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy 3 months from his initial adrenalectomy. Final pathology confirmed a grade 2 NET with metastatic involvement of 4 regional lymph nodes. We report an extremely rare case of simultaneous pheochromocytoma accompanied with an ileocecal NET. Genetic testing for multiple endocrine neoplasia was undertaken and was found negative for 9 tested genes.

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using the OKULIX ray-tracing software compared with third generation IOL power calculation formulas. Patients and methods The study included 80 consecutive eyes of 80 patients (26 males and 54 females, with a mean age of 58.8±15.1 years), for whom phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was performed following biometry using the OKULIX ray-tracing software and third-generation IOL power calculation formulas for IOL power calculation. Accuracy of IOL power calculation was investigated by subtracting the attempted and achieved spherical equivalent 1 month postoperatively and was recorded as the mean absolute error. Results OKULIX ray-tracing software calculated IOL power was 17.1±8.5 diopters (D), which was statistically significantly different from Sanders, Retzlaff, Kraff (SRK)-T, Hoffer Q, SRK II, and Holladay formulas (16.7±8.3, 16.6±8.7, 16.8±8, and 16.7±8.5 D, respectively, P

Projects usually need continuous coordination among the participants in terms of scope of work, quickness, and timing during the execution phase to be completed without delay. Sub-contracting is a common practice in civil engineering projects. Subcontractors carry out a large part of the work done in construction projects. Thus, selecting the right subcontractor basically contributes to the project’s success. In this study, it was targeted to explore the causes of the mainconflicts between the contractor and subcontractors and the responsibility distribution of these causes. The basic columns of any project are main contractor and subcontractor, so the relationship between them must be good and effective in achieving the project's goals on time. A questionnaire was surveyed among the projects' parties (including the owner, the main contractor, the sub-contractor, and the consultant). The survey covered how to determine the party responsible for factors leading to dispute, and factors contributing to effective interface between main contractors and sub-contractors. Statistical analysis was carried out on the observations of the respondents of the survey using SPSS software. The mean score of each factor, degree of importance, and ranking was determined and the p-value was deduced using the Kruskal-wallis test to compare between the projects' parties. Also, the significance of each factor used in the questionnaire was determined. The conclusions of the study revealed factors that enhance the relationships, such as contract progress payment done on time, the problems related to the main contractor such as delay in contract progress payment, the problems related to subcontractor such as work delay and the problems related to other sources such as price escalation of material and labor. The results showed good acceptable limits of homogeneity and reliability including communications, financial, workper formance, contract, and other sources. The study recommended a framework that can be implemented to improve such relationships such as compliance with the terms of the contract and choosing contractors specialized in the required works. The main contribution of the study is improving the relationship between main contractor and sub contractor, state the problems facing the relationship to set the methods that can be used to processed with and that helps to success in the projects and development the construction sector in Egypt. This study opens the way for continued development of model parameters that will aid in effectively treating this subject area.

Maize-soybean intercropping is practiced worldwide because of some of the anticipated advantages such as high crop yield and better utilization of resources (i.e., water, light, nutrients and land). However, the shade of the maize crop has a detrimental effect on the growth and yield of soybean under the maize-soybean intercropping system. Hence, this experiment was conducted to improve the shade tolerance of such soybean crops with optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization combined with foliar application of iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). The treatments comprised five (5) maize-soybean intercropping practices: without fertilizer application (F0), with N fertilizer application (F1), with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe (F2), with N fertilizer coupled with foliar application of Mo (F3) and with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe and Mo (F4). The findings of this study showed that maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment had significantly (p< 0.05) increased growth indices such as leaf area (cm2), plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), stem strength (g pot-1), and internode length (cm) and yield indices (i.e., No of pods plant-1, grain yield (g plant-1), 100-grain weight (g), and biomass dry matter (g plant-1)) of the soybean crop. Moreover, intercropping under F4 treatment enhanced the chlorophyll SPAD values by 26% and photosynthetic activities such as Pn by 30%, gs by 28%, and Tr by 28% of the soybean crops, but reduced its CO2 by 11%. Furthermore, maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment showed improved efficiency of leaf chlorophyll florescence parameters of soybean crops such as Fv/Fm (26%), qp (17%), ϕPSII (20%), and ETR (17%), but reduced NPQ (12%). In addition, the rubisco activity and soluble protein content of the soybean crop increased by 18% in maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment. Thus, this suggested that intercropping under optimal N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe and Mo can improve the shade tolerance of soybean crops by regulating their chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activities, and the associated enzymes, thereby enhancing their yield and yield traits.

The demand to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHGs) is a must to address the problem of climate change. This paper aims to help the decision makers locally and internationally to reduce the building's CO2 emissions in the project design phase. The paper studies the indoor CO2 emissions of green and conventional building. The assessment of embodied carbon of a green building material has been studied. It was found that the reinforced concrete has the significant negative impact, as it represents 78% of the total embodied carbon emissions. On the other hand, the insulation materials represent (2%) of the total emissions. Heavyweight cast concrete and the autoclaved aerated concrete have been proposed as alternatives, it was found that they achieved 23% & 50% reduction in the total embodied carbon emissions respectively. It is recommended to use autoclaved aerated concrete component as environmental alternative to reinforced concrete.

Abstract Background Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm of mesenchymal origin occurring most often in the visceral pleura, however, it has been described in almost every anatomic location of the human body. While most SFTs have a benign behavior, they can potentially be locally aggressive and demonstrate a malignant behavior. Case presentation A 63 year-old male patient presented with lower abdominal pain and nausea and was noted on CT to have a large, heterogeneous lower abdominal mass with no evidence of metastatic disease. A surgical resection was performed and the mass appeared to be connected to the greater omentum with a vascular pedicle. It was not invading any intra-abdominal or pelvic organs. Pathology revealed an SFT of omental origin. The mitotic count was less than 4 per 10 high-power fields and all pathologic characteristics did not meet the criteria for a malignant SFT. Conclusions We report an extremely rare case of SFT originating from the greater omentum. A multidisciplinary team approach was followed to plan the patient’s management strategy.

Abstract Green analytical chemistry is one of the newest trends in analytical chemistry nowadays targeting the concept of green laboratory practices on chemists and environment. In this text, green practices are proposed in this work for the determination of sofosbuvir (SF) and velpatasvir (VP) in their pharmaceutical formulation. The analysis of SF in a binary mixture with VP represents an analytical challenge due to the complete overlapping of the UV spectrum of SF by that of VP. Therefore, the direct absorbance and derivative measurements cannot resolve such interference and failed to determine SF. In this paper, three direct and simple methods were developed for the analysis of SF without any interference from VP without sample pre-treatment. The proposed methods include measuring the second derivative amplitude of the ratio spectrum of the mixture using VP as a divisor, measuring the absorbance difference of the mixture in NaOH solution against its HCl solution, and using the derivative compensation technique. On the other hand, VP was determined specifically in presence of SF by two methods. Firstly, by its reaction with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) where the reaction product was measured spectrophotometrically and spectrofluorometrically and secondly through the reaction of VP with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (MBTH). The calibration curves showed good correlation coefficient (r 2 > 0.999). The developed methods were highly precise with RSD% values less than 2%. The method greenness profile was compared with other published methods by applying the eco-scale protocol. Assessment results proved that our analytical procedure is greener than other reported methods. Moreover, upon comparison with other methods, the proposed methods showed better or comparable sensitivity in addition to being inexpensive and ecofriendly. Accordingly, these methods could be readily applied for quality control purposes as an eco-friendly, simple and efficient analytical tool.

The appropriate immunosuppressive regimen in kidney transplant recipients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) infection remains unclear. The impact of direct virus injury complicated by dysregulated hyperimmune response with overwhelming release of various cytokines in COVID-19 infected subjects contributes to the complexity of management. The largest concern of the practicing clinicians at current time is how to tailor maintenance immune-modulating therapy during active viral infection and the efficacy of the soon-to-be upcoming immunization for COVID-19. This targeted review aims to cover most of the current evidence on the effect of key maintenance immunosuppressive agents in COVID-19 infection and proposes a line of management to specific scenarios on this very rapidly evolving subject.

Background The incidence of subdural hematoma (SDH) in chronic maintenance hemodialysis (CMH) patients may change over time, along with the evolving characteristics of the underlying populations. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center study at Cairo University hospitals, assessing the incidence, associated risk factors, and outcomes of nontraumatic SDH in CMH patients between January 2006 and January 2019. Results Out of 1217 CMH patients, nontraumatic SDH was diagnosed in 41 (3.37%) during the study, increasing with the enrollees’ age but stable over the observation period and translating into an annual incidence rate of 28 per 1000 patients per year. SDH patients were likely to use central venous catheters, reported pruritis and history of bone fractures, and had higher phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and alkaline phosphatase values (p

COVID-19 is characterized by hyperactivation by inflammatory cytokines and recruitment of macrophages, neutrophils, and other immune cells, all hallmarks of a strong inflammatory response that can lead to severe complications and multi-organ damage. Mortality in COVID-19 patients is associated with a high prevalence of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and microthrombosis that are exacerbated by hyperglycemia, diabetes, and old age. SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans and non-human primates have revealed long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19, possibly concomitant with the formation of Lewy bodies in the brain and invasion of the nervous system via the olfactory bulb. In this paper, we review the relevance of the human cathelicidin LL-37 in SARS-CoV-2 infections. LL-37 is an immunomodulatory, host defense peptide with direct anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and pleiotropic effects on the inflammatory response, neovascularization, Lewy body formation, and pancreatic islet cell function. The bioactive form of vitamin D and a number of other compounds induce LL-37 expression and one might predict its upregulation, could reduce the prevalence of severe COVID-19. We hypothesize upregulation of LL-37 will act therapeutically, facilitating efficient NET clearance by macrophages, speeding endothelial repair after inflammatory tissue damage, preventing α-synuclein aggregation, and supporting blood-glucose level stabilization by facilitating insulin release and islet β-cell neogenesis. In addition, it has been postulated that LL-37 can directly bind the S1 domain of SARS-CoV-2, mask angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, and limit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Purposeful upregulation of LL-37 could also serve as a preventative and therapeutic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Abstract Background Stroke mimics account for up to one-third of acute stroke admissions and are a heterogeneous entity which pose diagnostic challenges. Diagnosing such patients is however crucial to avoid delays in treatment and potentially harmful medication prescription. We aimed at describing the magnitude, clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of stroke mimics in patients clinically diagnosed with a stroke. Methods This prospective study enrolled patients admitted with a World Health Organization clinical criteria for stroke at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. Baseline data was collected and the simplified version of the FABS scale was used to determine its usefulness in predicting stroke mimics. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale were used to assess for admission stroke severity and outcomes respectively. Results Among 363 patients with suspected stroke on admission, the final diagnosis was stroke mimics in 24 (6.6%) who had a mean age of 65.8 ± 15 years. Patients with stroke mimics were less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors for stroke including premorbid hypertension (7 (29.2%) vs 263 (77.6%), p

Abstract Background Fumaria officinalis (F. officinalis, FO) has been used in many inflammatory and painful-ailments. The main aim of this work is to perform an in-depth bio-guided phytochemical investigation of F. officinalis by identifying its main-active ingredients. Optimizing pharmacokinetics via niosomal-preparation will also be done to enhance their in vivo antineuropathic and anti-inflammatory potentials, and to explore their possible-mechanism of actions. Methods Bio-guided phytochemical-investigations including fractionation, isolation, chromatographic-standardization, and identification of the most active compound(s) were done. Optimized niosomal formulations of F. officinalis most active compound(s) were prepared and characterized. An in vivo biological-evaluation was done exploring acute, subchronic, and chronic alloxan-induced diabetes and diabetic-neuropathy, and carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory-pain and chronic-inflammatory edema. Results In-vivo bio-guided fractionation and chromatographic phytochemical-analysis showed that the alkaloid-rich fraction (ARF) is the most-active fraction. ARF contained two major alkaloids; Stylopine 48.3%, and Sanguinarine 51.6%. In-vitro optimization, analytical, and in vivo biological-investigations showed that the optimized-niosome, Nio-2, was the most optimized niosomal formulation. Nio-2 had particle size 96.56 ± 1.87 nm and worked by improving the pharmacokinetic-properties of ARF developing adequate entrapment-efficiency, rapid-degradation, and acceptable stability in simulated GI conditions. FO, ARF, and Nio 2 were the most potent antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory compounds. The reduction of the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and elevation the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 levels and amelioration of the in vivo oxidative-stress might be the main-mechanism responsible for their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusions Fumaria officinalis most-active fraction was identified as ARF. This study offers an efficient and novel practical oral formulation ameliorating various inflammatory conditions and diabetic complications especially neuropathic-pain.

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is among the most important measurement devices in modern power systems. It measures the voltage and current phasors which have both magnitude and phase angle using a common timing reference. These measurements are utilized in real time applications of electrical power systems. The main drawback of PMUs is its high cost so if PMUs are used to collect or send online real data from a system to a data centre or a decision maker, the used number of PMUs should be minimum with full observability of system measurements. This paper proposes a flower pollination algorithm (FPA) to find the optimal number and locations of PMUs in power systems. The optimization objectives of the work are the minimization of PMUs number, the achievement of complete observability of power system states, and the maximization of measurement redundancy. Existence of zero-injection buses in the system decreases the number of PMUs that is required to fulfil the complete observability of system states. Furthermore, additional constraints for remaining system full observable following failure of single PMU and single line outage are also included to increase the system reliability. The performance and efficiency of the proposed FPA is tested on IEEE standard networks such as 14-bus, 30-bus, 57-bus and 118-bus and new England 39-bus network. The obtained simulation results approve the ability of the proposed optimization method to find the optimal allocation of PMUs in different cases with fulfilling complete observability and reliability of electric power systems. The superiority of FPA is also verified by comparing its results of other optimization algorithms.

Abstract Background Eosinophils in kidney disease are poorly understood and are often incidental findings on kidney biopsy. Eosinophilia in blood and renal biopsy tissue is associated with a host of immune and non-immune kidney diseases. The significance of eosinophilia in renal diseases has not been well addressed. We evaluated the presence of peripheral eosinophilia (> 4% of blood leukocytes) with biopsy tissue eosinophilia and their association with end-stage-kidney-disease (ESKD). Methods A nested case-control (2:1) of patients who underwent kidney biopsies at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical University of South Carolina from 2004 to 2018 were included in the study. From the 616 eligible patients, 178 patients were identified through the registry of kidney biopsies as 18 years or older without missing biopsy reports or hematology results. Controls (n = 154) had no ESKD at the time of case (n = 24) designation and were assembled using incident density sampling and matched on age and sex. The association of peripheral eosinophilia (> 4% of peripheral blood leukocytes) with the risk of progression to ESKD was evaluated using conditional logistic model after adjusting for clinical demographics. Results Among 178 patients, 65 (37%) had peripheral eosinophilia and 113 (63%) had no eosinophilia. Compared to patients without eosinophilia, patients with peripheral eosinophilia were notably male and had a higher serum creatinine at the time of their biopsy. Peripheral eosinophilia was associated with higher risk of ESKD (OR 15.9 [1.9, 134.7]) adjusted for patient demographics including hypertension, proteinuria and eGFR at the time of kidney biopsy. Peripheral eosinophilia had a significant linear association with kidney tissue eosinophils, 22 (standard deviation [SD] 20) per high power field (hpf) in 4–10% peripheral eosinophilia, 19 (SD 18) per hpf in ≥10% eosinophilia and 3 (SD 7) per hpf in no eosinophilia (P

Background Allo-antigen-specific T-cytotoxic memory cells (TcM) which express CD40 ligand (CD154) in overnight lymphocyte co-culture are strongly associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR) seen in “for cause” biopsies for renal allograft dysfunction. Specifically, when the likelihood of rejection is increased, donor-specific allospecific TcM exceed those induced by HLA-non-identical third-party cell by 1.15-fold or greater. Methods The performance of allospecific TcM was evaluated retrospectively in primary renal transplant recipients (RTR) at routine clinical visits, cross-sectionally at presentation for biopsies, and serially. Performance metrics were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). Results Twenty-two primary RTR, median age 45 years (range 19–72) were tested with allospecific CD154 + TcM. Samples were obtained at the mean ± SD time interval of 806 ± 239 days after kidney transplantation. Six of 22 patients experienced biopsy proven T- Cell Mediated Rejection (TCMR). A seventh showed antibody mediated rejection (ABMR). Of these seven patients six demonstrated increased likelihood of rejection with allospecific TcM (sensitivity 83%). Ten of these 15 patients with no rejection had a negative test (specificity 67%). False positive tests were seen in five patients. Six out of 11 patients with positive tests had ACR/ABMR with a PPV of 54%, while 10 out of 11 patients with negative tests were non-rejecters with a NPV of 91%. Conclusion Allospecific T-cytotoxic memory cells distinguished primary RTR with quiescent allografts from those with dysfunction. With serial surveillance measures, this test system may facilitate decisions to manage immunosuppression in RTR.

Construction stakeholders aim at limiting the impact of the construction sector on the natural environment to assure sustainability. The construction industry forms a significant portion of the Egyptian GDP and employs millions of labor force and consumes most of the country's energy and its primary resources. Egypt faces dual pressure of maintaining economic growth and largely reducing carbon emissions. This study aims at exploring the effect of finance-growth-energy nexus on carbon emissions for Egypt over the 1990–2050 period. By employing the system dynamics approach, the study tries to capture the impact of some investment policies on the consumption of energy, financial development and economic growth in addition to linking them with the carbon emissions of Egypt in a simulation model using Vensim® PLE software. The model provides the policy makers with a simulating tool supporting their decisions. The findings reveal that both construction technology, represented in construction materials and construction machinery, and labor education are main keys of true sustainable development. Several policies are examined to study system behavior and revealed that it is not enough to capture the technology in order to achieve development, and suitable education and training courses should be provided to deliver labor force that can use and improve such technologies. The proposed methodology aids construction in Egypt which is considered a strong indicator of the country's economic strength. The construction industry forms a significant portion of the Egyptian GDP and employs millions of labor force and consumes most of the country's energy and its primary resources. To remain vital, the construction industry is demanding better, safer, energy-efficient and more affordable construction materials and technology.

Objective. Although the therapeutic effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) are well established, the clinical benefits of the additional use of periodontal endoscopy (PE) remain controversial. Therefore, this randomized controlled split-mouth pilot study evaluated the effect of NSPT using PE versus NSPT without nPE on bleeding on probing (BOP) in sites with probing depth (PD)≥4 mm (primary outcome), PD, clinical attachment level (CAL), number of hard deposits (HDs), and treatment time per tooth (TrT). Methods. Two calibrated operators performed NSPT in twenty periodontitis patients, randomized into two quadrants for PE or nPE treatment. BOP, PD, and CAL were recorded at the first visit for NSPT (T0) and during reevaluation (T1: mean (SD) 119.7 (24.6) days after T0). The average TrT and the number of sites with HDs were documented at T0. Results. For BOP, no significant differences were found at the patient’s level (10/10 (male/female); aged 54.3 (10.9) years) neither within or between the groups. At tooth surface level, a lower number of surfaces with BOP p=0.026 was observed in nPE. CAL and PD improved significantly during NSPT in both groups p≤0.001, with higher PD reduction p

Periodontitis is the sixth most common chronic inflammatory disease, destroying the tissues supporting the teeth. There are three distinct stages in periodontitis: infection, inflammation, and tissue destruction, where each stage has its own characteristics and hence its line of treatment. Illuminating the underlying mechanisms of alveolar bone loss is vital in the treatment of periodontitis to allow for subsequent reconstruction of the periodontium. Bone cells, including osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and bone marrow stromal cells, classically were thought to control bone destruction in periodontitis. Lately, osteocytes were found to assist in inflammation-related bone remodeling besides being able to initiate physiological bone remodeling. Furthermore, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) either transplanted or homed exhibit highly immunosuppressive properties, such as preventing monocytes/hematopoietic precursor differentiation and downregulating excessive release of inflammatory cytokines. In the early stages of bone regeneration, an acute inflammatory response is critical for the recruitment of MSCs, controlling their migration, and their differentiation. Later during bone remodeling, the interaction and balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines could regulate MSC properties, resulting in either bone formation or bone resorption. This narrative review elaborates on the important interactions between inflammatory stimuli during periodontal diseases, bone cells, MSCs, and subsequent bone regeneration or bone resorption. Understanding these concepts will open up new possibilities for promoting bone regeneration and hindering bone loss caused by periodontal diseases.

Nanocomposite biomaterials combine a biopolymeric matrix structure with nanoscale fillers. These bioactive and easily resorbable nanocomposites have been broadly divided into three groups, namely natural, synthetic or composite, based on the polymeric origin. Preparing such nanocomposite structures in the form of hydrogels can create a three-dimensional natural hydrophilic atmosphere pivotal for cell survival and new tissue formation. Thus, hydrogel-based cell distribution and drug administration have evolved as possible options for bone tissue engineering and regeneration. In this context, nanogels or nanohydrogels, created by cross-linking three-dimensional polymer networks, either physically or chemically, with high biocompatibility and mechanical properties were introduced as promising drug delivery systems. The present review highlights the potential of hydrogels and nanopolymers in the field of craniofacial tissue engineering and bone regeneration.

The advent of the nanotechnology era offers a unique opportunity for sustainable agriculture, and the contribution of nanoparticles (NPs) to ameliorate abiotic stresses became the new area of interest for researchers due to their special physiochemical characteristics in the biological system. Salinity is a key devastating abiotic factor that hinders the development and yield of rapeseed. On the flip side, the impact of nanoparticles on plant hormones upon salt stress during seed imbibition and germination has been poorly understood. Hence, we aimed to study the influence of nanopriming on plant hormones and germination processes using selenium and zinc oxide nanoparticles (SeNPs and ZnONPs) during seed imbibition and the early seedling stage upon salinity stress. Nanopriming showed a positive effect on final germination percentage, germination rate, seed microstructure, and antioxidant enzyme activity of two rapeseed cultivars under salt stress. Moreover, nano-treatment decreased the expression of abscisic acid related genes BnCYP707A1, 3, and 4 during the priming time and after sowing, where the levels of BnCYP707A1, and 3 genes showed a slightly significant difference between the nanopriming and hydropriming, which gave an evidence that the nanopriming influenced the ABA levels then elevated the seed germination with SeNPs and ZnONPs. Likewise, nanoparticles significantly elevated the expression levels of BnGA20ox, BnGA3ox and BnCPS genes during the germination stage, especially at 24 h after being sown in salt stress. That confirms the positive role of SeNPs and ZnONPs in regulating gibberellic acid level, which increases the germination in primed seeds as compared to unprimed seeds and hydroprimed seeds. Additionally, our results demonstrated that nanopriming regulated the expression level of BnCAM and BnPER during priming time and after sowing, along with the various levels of expression remarkably in BnEXP4 and BnRAB28, especially at 24 h of being sown under salt stress, which promoted seed germination and early seedling growth. Overall, this work provides new insights into mechanisms underlying the interactions of SeNPs and ZnONPs with plant hormones during the seed imbibition and early seedling stage, consequently enhanced plant growth and development. Additionally, these findings portrayed that the application of SeNPs and ZnONPs could be a new strategy and useful approach to enhance tolerance against salinity in rapeseed plants.

This article provides a comparative environmental assessment for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) learning from Itaipu dam experience. The article gives a full insight about the potential political and technical concerns that may affect the downstream countries as a result of the construction of GERD and proposed a solution and way forward for the negotiation based on joint collaboration perspective. Based on the analytical comparison conducted between GERD and Itaipu, the results showed that the total annual carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions expected to be released from the GERD during the operation is 3,927 tCO 2 eq, while other secondary emissions were estimated to be 16.17 tons, mainly of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Also, the ratio of power generation to reservoir capacity of the GERD was questionable, since Ethiopia has announced that the dam is built only for power generation and that there is no intention to utilize water from the dam reservoir. On the other side, the water quality - represented in turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) - behind the GERD is expected to deteriorate dramatically. Also, an increase in total nitrogen (TN) is expected to occur depending on human activities. Accordingly, the article discussed thoughtfully the potential adverse impacts of the GERD on downstream countries and the possible mitigation options. The article also extended to discuss proposals for practical solutions that pave the road for joint collaboration between the three countries to achieve a transparent resolution and a fair resources utilization.

Table grape berries are classified as a perishable crop that deteriorates quickly after harvest. The application of melatonin after harvest was found to be effective for retarding senescence and slowing ripening. In the current study, we tested the influence of two melatonin concentrations (50 and 100 µmol) as a postharvest application on quality, bioactive compounds, and enzyme activities of grape berries cv “Crimson” stored at 0 ± 1 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 35 days. Our results indicated that melatonin application extends the shelf-life of berries by reducing weight loss and maintaining total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), berry adherence strength, and firmness. Melatonin treatment also reduced pectin methyl esterase (PME) and polygalactouranase (PG) enzyme activities compared to the control. Moreover, O2•− and H2O2 rates in berries were reduced by high melatonin concentration. Moreover, peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities were increased by melatonin application. Our findings suggested using melatonin postharvest to increase shelf life and maintain quality attributes during refrigerated storage, which could be advantageous on a large scale.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia albomaculata (Hook.) Baill.) is an herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial grown from rhizomes. It is commonly named “Spotted Arum”. Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are found in all known organisms and are known for being functionally equivalent in all of them. A completely new in vitro culture protocol was applied to Z. albomaculata with two hormones, 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin, to obtain full growth and multiplication. Due to their highly conserved sequences, the analysis of small-subunit rRNAs (16S–18S rRNAs) can provide precise statistical evaluation of a wide variety of phylogenetic connections. As a result, the plant’s 18S rRNA gene allowed for identification and partial sequencing. Also, the traditional floral method and the novel application technique for identification were applied to Z. albomaculata. In this paper we systemically describe the structural strategies of the plant’s adaptation to the surroundings at the morphological, physiological, and anatomical scale. Most the essential oils and fatty acids found in Z. albomaculata are omega fatty acids, octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid. All these fatty acids have industrial, medicinal, and pharmaceutical applications. The significant findings are the spadix sheathing leaves, and the precipitation of raphides calcium oxalate. The mitotic index showing the division activity was recorded, and it was 17.4%. The antimicrobial activity of Z. albomaculata ethanol extract was performed via the well diffusion method. This extract has shown high activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, compared to its lower activity against Bacillus cereus. By defining these characteristics and in vitro culture conditions, we will be able to acclimatize the plant in greenhouses, and then transfer it to the open field. The findings of this work identified the general characteristics of Zantedeschia albomaculata as an ornamental and medicinal plant in order to acclimatize this plant for cultivation in the Mediterranean climate.