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ABSTRACTAspirations and expectations are conceptually and empirically different. Given their differential impact on various educational outcomes, it is expected that they, and consequently their convergence, would be affected by different factors. This study examines the factors leading to high aspirations, high expectations and to their alignment by using cross-sectional data on 7th and 8th grade students in Qatar. Results from our study demonstrate that aspirations are affected by attitudinal factors and student grades alone, while expectations are significantly influenced by demographic factors (ethnicity, gender, school type, parent occupation). Parental expectations are influential in shaping student expectations but not student aspirations. The alignment of high aspirations with high expectations were determined by parental expectations, student grades and attitudinal factors. It appears that parental expectations play a critical role in bringing together high aspirations and high expectations. These results, the implications of the research and suggestions for future research are discussed further.

The present study employed statistical methods to evaluate the possible radiological hazards linked to granitic rocks-bearing mineralization in the ELgarra region of Egypt. The geological structures influence the occurrence of uranium mineralization in this area and are primarily associated with altered granites. Gamma-ray spectrometry was utilized to examine the quantities of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in granitic rock samples. The recorded levels of radioisotope activity concentrations in the analyzed regions ranged from 374 to 1740 Bq.kg−1238U, with an average of 1018 Bq.kg−1. For 232Th, the range was between 71 and 163 Bq.kg−1, with an average of 119 Bq.kg−1. Lastly, for 40K, the range was 756–1789 Bq.kg−1, with an average of 1212 Bq.kg−1. The detected levels of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the examined rock samples were observed to exceed the permissible limits of 35, 45, and 412 Bq.kg−1, respectively. The primary radiological risks linked to these granitic rocks were attributed to the gamma rays released by the radioactive elements. Estimations of the radiological hazards in the granitic rocks were made, and statistical approaches were utilized to demonstrate the associations among radionuclides and radiological factors. The assessment confirmed that uranium, potassium, and their respective minerals in the granitic rocks were the key factors contributing to the radiological risks. As a result, the study determined that the granite rocks found in the study area needed precautions to be taken due to their high levels of radioactivity.

The radiological and environmental hazards of Wadi El Markh granitic rocks were investigated, and magnetic data were used to delineate the structural framework and determine the bedrock depth in the area. The result displayed that geological structures influence the occurrence of uranium mineralization in this area and are mainly associated with altered granitic formations. The activity concentrations of radioisotopes in the regions studied showed a range of values: 238U varied between 345 and 1729 Bq.kg−1, averaging 980 Bq.kg−1; 232Th ranged from 73 to 162 Bq.kg−1, with an average of 120 Bq.kg−1; and 40K varied from 829 to 1790 Bq.kg−1, average 1245 Bq.kg−1. The measured concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the analyzed granitic rocks samples exceeded the worldwide average of 35, 45, and 412 Bq.kg−1, respectively. The primary radiological risks related to these granitic rocks were associated with the gamma radiation emitted by the radioactive elements. The statistical assessment confirmed that the main contributors to the radiological risks were uranium, potassium, and associated minerals in the granitic rocks. The entire investigation region has been determined to exceed the permissible safe radiation dose rate limit of 1 mSv/year. As a result, the study determined that the granitic rocks in the surveyed area were deemed unsuitable for construction because of their elevated levels of radioactivity. The effects of pollution on the ecological system were evaluated using several ecological indices, including the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Contamination factor (CF), Degree of Contamination (Cd), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Potential ecological risk factor (Eri), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI). Based on Cd and PLI, 100 % of the samples were found to be very highly polluted to the ecological system and suggest deterioration if used. Regarding RI, the metals were arranged as Cd > As > Co > Cu > Pb > Cr > V > Zn, with considerable risk in all samples.

This study explores the possibility of reusing quarry waste in the form of powdered sand to produce environmentally friendly sand concrete, with a focus on addressing environmental sustainability. The investigation comprised the preparation of five concrete mixtures with differing limestone sand ratios: 0%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%. To evaluate the impact of limestone sand incorporation, analysed physical and mechanical characteristics through tests such as density, compressive and flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, dynamic elastic modulus, and microstructure analysis. Findings indicate substantial enhancements in sand concrete properties due to the integration of limestone sand, with the 60% ratio emerging as the most productive. The study underscores limestone sand’s capability to not only improve sand concrete quality but also offer a sustainable method for quarry waste recycling. It demonstrates the beneficial impact of limestone sand used in sand concrete and advocates for its application as a sustainable quarry waste recycling strategy across the construction industry’s various sectors.

Heterogeneous wireless networks (HetNets), where networks are deployed with ultra-dense small cells (SCs), is one of the main enabling technologies for future wireless networks. In such networks, signals are vulnerable to severe blockage, interference, and intermittent connectivity. This can be largely overcome using the emerging Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) technology that can enhance HetNets performance by controlling the propagation environment. However, jointly optimizing the parameters of base stations’ (BSs’) active beamforming and RISs’ passive beamforming is a major challenge in RIS-empowered HetNets. In this paper, we investigate the issue of rate control in RIS-empowered multi-cell multiple-input single-output (MISO) HetNets via joint users’ equipment (UEs) rate fairness and SCs rate load balancing. We assume RIS-assisted SC BSs at mmWave underlying a RIS-assisted macrocell (MC) BS at sub-6GHz serving dual-connectivity UEs that can concurrently connect to the MC BS and a single SC BS. Then, we formulate an optimization problem whose objective is to jointly optimize the active transmit beamforming vectors of the MC and SCs BSs on the one hand and the passive beamforming vectors of the MC and SCs RISs on the other hand. Due to the high non-convexity and complexity of the formulated problem, we propose a novel distributed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG)-based multi-task deep reinforcement learning (MTDRL) scheme to solve the problem and learn network dynamics. Through deliberate definitions of MTDRL agent’s tasks and their corresponding main elements, we demonstrate via simulations that our proposed scheme guarantees a fair distribution of rates within UEs and SCs. In addition, we quantify the robustness of our proposed MTDRL scheme compared with some benchmarks in terms of convergence speed and utility values.

Salinity is one of the major environmental stressors that affect soil fertility and crop productivity worldwide. Consequently, searching for friendly environmental stress alleviators, such as biofertilizers, is one of the important strategies to mitigate salt stress hazards and thereby improve agricultural productivity. In the current work, the salinized soil was amended with Thidium gratumfern at two different concentrations (2 & 4%). Sorghum seedlings were grown in salinized soil amended with fern to boost the resilience of crops to salinity. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a & b and carotenoids), soluble sugars, free amino acids, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals (Na+, K+,and Ca++) were determined in treated and untreated sorghum seedlings exposed to salt stress. The expression levels of Na+/H+antiporter (NHX1 and SOS1), K+transporter (AKT1 and HKT1;4), plasma membrane H+-ATPase (PHA1), and pyrophosphate-energized vacuolar membrane proton pump 1 (VPPase) genes were quantified. Amendment of salt stressed-sorghum’s soil with Thidium gratummoss extracts enhanced growth of both shoots and roots, almost normalized levels of photosynthetic pigments, compatible solutes, MDA, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, reduced Na+uptake, elevated K+and Ca++uptake, decreased Na+/K+ratio, along with notably upregulated NHX1, SOS1, AKT1, HKT1;4, PHA1, and VPPase genes in sorghum tissues. The addition of Thidium gratum moss enhanced nutrition, osmolyte production, ameliorated Na+/K + ratio, and upregulated ion transport genes, as well as promoted shoot and root growth along with antioxidant reply totally contributed to improving sorghum tolerance to salt stress. Overall, the addition of Thidium gratummoss extracts could strikingly alleviate salt stress, thereby warranting further consideration as a salinity stress tolerance booster.

Introduction:We aim to report the anatomical and functional outcomes of ruthenium-106 brachytherapy in the management of circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas (CCH). Methods:This is a single-center, retrospective case series including patients with unilateral symptomatic CCH treated with ruthenium-106 brachytherapy at the Cairo University Ocular Oncology Service. Patient records were analyzed for patients’ demographics, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), tumor dimensions (thickness and largest base diameter), foveal subretinal fluid, radiation-related complications, and recurrence. Results:Seven patients were included in the study (including 6 males) with a mean age of 39.3 ± 15.4 years; ruthenium-106 plaque was used to deliver 50 Gray to the tumor apex. After a mean follow-up duration of 12.5 months, all patients had significant improvement in BCVA after treatment, mean tumor height decreased significantly from 4.76 ± 1.76 mm to 1.70 ± 1.2 mm (pvalue 0.01). The largest tumor base diameter also decreased significantly from 9.13 ± 2.68 mm to 4.65 ± 3.75 mm (pvalue 0.05). Subretinal fluid and exudative retinal detachment resolved in all patients, and no significant radiation-related complications were observed in any patient. None of the patients needed any further treatment or experienced recurrence within the follow-up period. Conclusion:Ruthenium-106 brachytherapy is an effective tool in the management of symptomatic CCH with a good visual prognosis and safety profile.

Mycotoxin-producing molds which considered as common maize grains contaminants are the genera Fusarium, Aspergillusand Penicillium. There are natural and safe ways to protect grains from mold contamination as the use of essential oils and chemical treatments. A total number of 25 samples were used to study the natural frequency in five governorates in Egypt, Molecular identification indicated that the most frequent fungi wereFusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus niger, Talaromyces verruculosus, Aspergillus flavusand Aspergillus terreus.The in vitro studies have been done to determine mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition of the two A. flavus; isolated and reference isolates. Thyme and acetic acid were tested in direct contact assay to study their effects on mycelial growth. Treatments showed significant impact on mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition of both A. flavusisolates. In the postharvest application treatments: as vapour and carrier contact assay, Thyme and Acetic acid were tested to determine their influence on growth and aflatoxin production in A. flavusisolates by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS). Results indicated that both treatments were effective in inhibition of aflatoxin production in both vapour and carrier assays as they succeeded in reducing AFB1while they inhibited completely the production of AFB2. The extent of the inhibition of aflatoxin production was dependent on the concentration and storage duration of treatments applied.

Aim: Colorectal cancer is an extremely aggressive form of cancer that often leads to death. Lactoferrin shows potential for targeting and treating colorectal cancer; however, oral delivery faces hurdles hampering clinical applications. We engineered dual-responsive lactoferrin nanostructured microbeads to overcome delivery hurdles and enhance drug targeting. Methods: The hydrophobic drug mesalazine (MSZ) was coupled to lactoferrin to form amphiphilic conjugate nanoparticles, dispersed in water. The lipid-soluble polyphenolic drug resveratrol (RSV) was then encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of LF-MSZ nanoparticles. To impart thermoresponsive properties, the dual-payload NPs were coupled with a PNIPAAm shell; finally, to further endow the nanoparticles with gastrointestinal resistance and pH responsiveness, the nanoparticles were microencapsulated into ionically cross-linked pectin–alginate beads. Results: The nanoparticles showed enhanced internalization and cytotoxicity against HCT colon cancer cells via LF-receptor-mediated endocytosis. Thermal triggering and tuned release were conferred by the temperature-sensitive polymer. The coatings protected the drugs from degradation. Orally delivered microbeads significantly reduced tumor burden in a mouse colon cancer model, lowering carcinoembryonic antigen and elevating antioxidant enzymes. Apoptotic pathways were stimulated, indicated by heightened Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3/9 expression. Conclusion: Overall, we propose the innovative lactoferrin nanostructured microbeads as a paradigm shift in oral colorectal cancer therapeutics.

To analyze changes in demographic parameters and retreatment patterns over a 10-year period in a clinical routine setting of infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment documented in the German Retina.net ROP registry.

This paper investigates the problem of data routing in backhaul networks using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to relay data from Small Cells (SCs) to the core network. The objective is to maximize the total fulfilled demand of data to be routed, while ensuring technical requirements such as hop constraints and edge capacity. The problem is formulated using a compact mixed-integer programming model, which can solve small- and medium-sized topologies. In addition, a fast constructive heuristic based on a maximal tree is developed to solve large-scale topologies, resulting in a significant reduction in CPU time. The quality of the heuristic is evaluated by using column generation for solving the linear programming relaxation of an exponential formulation. The computational study shows the effectiveness and value of the proposed compact model and constructive heuristic for various topology sizes. Furthermore, experiments demonstrate that by keeping the network setup constant and updating the demand vector only, the computational time of the compact model can be drastically reduced for all topology sizes.

Safe anaesthesia and surgery are a public health imperative. There are few data describing outcomes for children undergoing anaesthesia and surgery in Africa. We aimed to get robust epidemiological data to describe patient care and outcomes for children undergoing anaesthesia and surgery in hospitals in Africa.

Introduction:We aim to explore the safety and efficacy of episcleral brachytherapy as a primary management option for eyes with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) adenoma. Methods:Retrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical, ancillary, and postoperative outcome data of patients with RPE adenoma in 2 tertiary referral centers. Tumor regression, final visual acuity, and complications were assessed. Results:Five patients (3 females and 2 males) were included. Four of the 5 eyes had peripheral and mid-peripheral lesions, while one tumor was juxtapapillary. Three eyes were treated with ruthenium-106 (100 Gray), and 2 received iodine-125 episcleral plaques (85 Gray). All eyes showed clinical and imaging-based evidence of regression. Four eyes had stable or improved visual acuity, while 1 eye exhibited one line loss of visual acuity due to radiation retinopathy. Local recurrence was not observed in any eye over a median follow-up of 24 (range 6–112) months. Conclusions:Episcleral brachytherapy is an effective management option for select cases of RPE adenoma that is capable of achieving tumor regression while maintaining favorable visual acuity. The initial safety profile of brachytherapy is good without significant vision-compromising complications.

Cybercrime is increasing, and attackers are more organized. Basic cybersecurity practices can significantly reduce a utility's chances of becoming a target.

Rice straw (RS), an agricultural residue rich in carbohydrates, has substantial potential for bioethanol production. However, the presence of lignin impedes access to these carbohydrates, hindering efficient carbohydrate-to-bioethanol conversion. Here, we expressed versatile peroxidase (VP), a lignin-degrading enzyme, in Pichia pastorisand used it to delignify RS at 30 °C using a membrane bioreactor that continuously discarded the degraded lignin. Klason lignin analysis revealed that VP-treatment led to 35% delignification of RS. We then investigated the delignified RS by SEC, FTIR, and SEM. The results revealed the changes of RS caused by VP-mediated delignification. Additionally, we compared the saccharification and fermentation yields between RSs treated with and without VP, VP-RS, and Ctrl-RS, respectively. This examination unveiled an improvement in glucose and bioethanol production, VP-RS exhibiting up to 1.5-fold and 1.4-fold production, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of VP for delignifying RS and enhancing bioethanol production through an eco-friendly approach.

A model for detecting donor cells in chimeric chickens, utilizing genetically determined allotypes, was presented. Results indicated that (1) donor cells functioned in their new milieu for at least. 13 months for leukocytes and 6 months for spleen cells (2) donor allotype, when found in recipient sera, occasionally reached levels comparable to those found in donor-type individuals; (3) cells found in the blood of a chimera 2 months after initial transfer of spleen cells were still capable of inducing tolerance and producing original donor allotype when retransferred to newly hatched chicks. Differences in persistence of tolerance because of number and type of cell used, temporary disappearance of donor allotype, and possible use of Fi cells to improve the performance of inbred animals were investigated and discussed.

The intensity of infestation of the epizoic stalked barnacle Octolasmison the blue crab was calculated for a total of 180 individuals collected around Jeddah, the western Red Sea Saudi coast. More than 90% of the crabs were found bearing the Octolasmisat a prevalence rate of 92% and mean intensity of 18.5±18.6 (0–127 epibiont per host). The intensity of infestation increased with host size in the range 90–135 mm. Generally, females were more infested (69%) than the males (31%). Octolasmis angulataoccurred mostly on the gills, and the lower side of the gill chambers was more infested (84%) than the upper side (16%) and the left side of gills was also more infested than the right side in both males and females. Further studies are still needed to examine the commensal relationship and its impact on the fishery market of the Red Sea blue crab populations.

Targeting low-resolution imagery is crucial in democratising computer vision technologies, facilitating applicability in resource-limited environments where high-resolution data is often unreachable. Scene graphs have proven to be a powerful representation for capturing the hierarchical relationships between objects in an input image, providing a structured visual scene understanding. Nevertheless, all scene graph generation models focus on high-resolution images, neglecting the challenges posed by low-resolution images. This paper presents a novel approach called SwinRelTR for generating scene graphs designed specifically for low-resolution images. The proposed model addresses the limitations associated with low-resolution images by utilising the Swin transformer as a backbone instead of the convolution neural network in the original RelTR model. The Visual Genome dataset is utilised to compare the SwinRelTR results with the state-of-the-art approaches. It has been proven that this approach outperforms several state-of-the-art approaches as well as the original RelTR model on low-resolution images.

This research delves into the consequences of neglecting modal coupling in non-classically damped systems, particularly within Rayleigh's lightly non-classical damping assumption. Damping devices are introduced into multi-degree-of-freedom frame systems to assess the impact of modal coupling on energy transfer in linear dynamic non-classical damping systems. Three distinct approaches for decoupling non-classically damped systems are introduced: the state-space approach for exact solutions, the lightly non-classical method for addressing the undamped complex eigenvalue problem, and the formulation of the quadratic eigenvalue problem to tackle the original eigenvalue problem. Modal coupling is evaluated using the modal assurance criterion. The study identifies instances of modal coupling in non-classically damped systems by analysing two scenarios. The proposed methodologies establish a robust foundation for exploring modal characteristics and advancing engineering solutions in various applications.

AbstractA new class of tamoxifen analogues, using McMurry reaction conditions, is described. The scheme involved the conversion of ketoprofen (6) into amide derivatives 7and 8, by coupling with N1,N1-substituted propan-1,3-diamine derivatives in the presence DIC and HOB. Treatment of 7and 8with various ketones under McMurry reaction conditions afforded the tamoxifen analogues 9–16. All the analogues were screened in vitrofor their aromatase inhibitory and antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Compounds 10, 11and 12showed a potent activity against MCF-7 cell lines breast cancer with IC50values of 0.070, 0.042 and 0.077 µM of selectivity index (SI) 3.0, 2.5 and 2.6, respectively. Further, 12exhibited potent activity against estrogen receptor (14.7 ± 2.4 nM), while compound 10was the most active analogues against aromatase with IC50 of (0.070 nM). Furthermore, all new compounds were docked into human placental aromatase enzyme and estrogen receptor and showed very good correlations with experimental IC50. Therefore, we can consider these designed compounds as starting scaffold to design an efficient drug against estrogen receptor and aromatase.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

CubeSats have been gaining significant interest as a cost-effective solution that can be built with low power requirements for different mission types. The most critical subsystem in CubeSats is the electrical power subsystem (EPS), which provides the required power to operate the remaining subsystems. This article presents an approach for optimizing load management and scheduling in CubeSat applications to ensure optimal coordination between the load demand, power generation, and energy storage while maintaining communication's quality of service requirements, namely the data rate and bit error rate (BER). The loads are divided into four types based on their priority. The load types are time-modulated, magnitude-modulated, time-and-magnitude-modulated, and fixed. An optimization problem is formulated with data rate and BER in the cost function while maintaining energy and power constraints. Multiple cases are investigated with different mission requirements. The solution obtained shows that the proposed scheduling algorithm meets the communication system's requirements while conserving power and energy resources.

ABSTRACTHousing dispersal in emerging cities should be investigated as it occurs to achieve a better understanding of future housing dispersal. In this study, housing preferences are analyzed in Doha Metropolitan Area based on Gordon’s theory. Machine learning (especially the generalized adversarial network) is utilized to predict the future urban growth of the city. The housing dispersal of expatriates is visualized in the predicted urban growth map of Doha city based on an investigation of housing supply trends, household income levels, government vision, and census data. The study proves the feasibility of this approach for managing urban growth in emerging cities worldwide. It is a robust solution to the increasing imbalance in the urban morphology of metropolitan cities. The conclusions drawn from the broad-spectrum housing dispersal findings of this study will inform policymakers and planners regarding the realities of spatial patterns and future urban growth.

In this work, fatty alcohol ethoxylation surfactant PALMEROL 1214 (lauryl myristyl alcohol C12–C14) designated as LMA-EO-30 and novel surface-active monomer (surfethoxymers) such as Hemi Ester Lauryl Myristyl Alcohol Malate designated as HELMEM, HELMEI (itaconate) and HELMES (succinate) have been synthesized. These types of non-ionic surfactant have been characterized for their structures using spectroscopic measurements. In addition, their surface-active properties like surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC), HLB, the cloud point and foaming properties were investigated. The results indicated that the novel surfethoxymers HELMEM, HELMEI and HELMES exhibit an excellent surface activity and a high performance in the mentioned industrial applications.

AbstractBioactive compounds found in plants also have pharmacological antiviral effects. Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid found naturally in plants, is one of the phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities, including antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. In this study, we firstly aimed to predict pIC50 values for selcted compounds and then extract the binding patterns of berberine and its derivatives in the Sars Cov-2 Master Protease structure via employing molecular docking approache. Our results showed that berberine and its derivatives have good binding affinities towared Sars Cov2 main protease protein. Based on docking results the pharamaccokinetic studies for berberine, berberrubine, demethylen-berberine, jatrorrhizin, and thalifendine, were conducted and showed a good pharamacokinetic properties as an oral drugs. For deep inspection, we utiilized molecular dynmaics simulation to examine the Sars Cov2 main protease-ligand stabilities. The molecular dynamics simulation and PCA investigations revealed that thalifendine have a strong willing to act as good bindinder to SARS-CoV-2 protease. Further, the network based pharamacology showed that these drugs mediate different pathways such as human T-cell leukemia virus 1 infection, viral carcinogenesis, human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection, kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection and epstein-Barr virus infection.The findings of this study have an important recomendation for thalifendine for more in vivo and in vitro studies to work.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Background: Blind ophthalmic anaesthetic techniques may have serious complications.Aim: To assess the safety of ultrasound as a guide in ophthalmic blocks.Methods: Fifty adult patients undergoing cataract surgery under peribulbar block anaesthesia were randomly assigned to ultrasound-guided and conventional block groups. In the ultrasound-guided block group, a large amount of the standard ultrasound gel was applied to the closed eyelids. The globes were scanned in both sagittal and transverse planes. The patients were asked to look straight ahead with closed eyes without clenching the eyelids. The depth and gain were adjusted before performing the block. The primary outcome was the rate of complications. Secondary outcomes included the volume of injected anaesthetics and surgeon and patients’ satisfaction.Results: The local anaesthetic volume used was not significantly different between the two groups (7.08 ± 1.66 and 6.72 ± 1.97ml). The block onset, time and quality were comparable in both groups. No complications were reported, and there were no significant differences regarding surgeons’ or patients’ satisfaction with either procedure.Conclusion: The ultrasound-guided local ophthalmic block is as safe as the conventional method. Although its use was not superior to the conventional procedure, direct visualisation with ultrasound may be important to avoid vulnerable structures such as staphylomas.

We propose a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)-based millimeter wave (mmWave) backhaul architecture that is offered as a cost effective and easy to deploy solution, to connect a disaster or remote area to the nearest core network. First, we fully characterize the single relay fixed-wing UAV-based communication system by taking into account the effects of realistic physical parameters, such as the UAV’s circular path, critical points of the flight path, heights and positions of obstacles, flight altitude, tracking error, the severity of UAV’s vibrations, the real 3D antenna pattern, mmWave atmospheric channel loss, temperature and air pressure. Second, we derive the distribution of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) metric, which is based on the sum of a series of Dirac delta functions. Using the SNR distribution, we derive analytical expressions for the outage probability and the ergodic capacity of the considered system as a function of all system parameters. To provide an acceptable quality of service for longer link lengths, we extend the analytical expressions to a multi-relay system. The accuracy of the analytical expressions are verified by Monte-Carlo simulations. Finally, by providing sufficient simulation results, we investigate the effects of key channel parameters such as antenna pattern gain and flight path on the performance of the considered system; and we carefully analyze the relationships between those parameters in order to maximize the average channel capacity.

Two-Way Relaying (TWR) has been widely investigated in the literature as an efficient relaying scheme for dual-hop cooperative transmissions. In TWR, two nodes exchange data through an intermediate relay, where both nodes simultaneously send signals towards the relay in the first time slot. The relay, in turn, combines both received signals into one signal and sends it back to both nodes on the second time slot. In this paper, the spectral efficiency is further enhanced in TWR scheme by adopting Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) technique. Specifically, the transmitted signals from the nodes in the first time slot are composed based on NOMA transmission and intended to multiple intermediate relay-nodes. Consequently, each relay will extract its own symbols, combine them and send them in the second time slot. The improvement of the spectral efficiency in our system, as compared to the Conventional TWR, is linearly proportional to the number of relay-nodes that can be installed. The performance of the proposed scheme is mathematically analyzed in terms of the spectral efficiency and error performance, shown significant gain when compared to the conventional TWR scheme.

Wood adhesives play a vital role in the adhesive industry, but in the past, many wood composites were manufactured with significant amounts of toxic components and volatile organic compounds, most of which are petroleum derivatives. The use of renewable, protein-rich elements in adhesive production has been discussed significantly as a promising alternative compared to petroleum-based adhesives in the wood industry. Natural proteins are attracting attention as sustainably sourced and formaldehyde-free adhesives due to their minimal environmental footprint. The present review details the current assessment of formaldehyde-free adhesive systems for particulate composites. Of the viable options for protein feedstocks, agricultural proteins, animal byproduct proteins, algae proteins, and biosolid proteins are some of the many sustainable alternatives for the growing adhesive industry. Improved knowledge of protein properties of a multitude of possible feedstocks for adhesive production is needed to relate the adhesive performance before and after wood bondage. The goal of this review is to present possibilities of applying multiple protein alternatives for adhesive production and to determine the effectiveness in terms of strength, water resistivity, and need for cross-linking.

Abstract: Astaxanthin (AXT) is a red fat-soluble pigment found naturally in aquatic animals, plants, and various microorganisms and can be manufactured artificially using chemical catalysis. AXT is a xanthophyll carotenoid with a high potential for scavenging free radicals. Several studies have investigated AXT efficacy against diseases such as neurodegenerative, ocular, skin, and cardiovascular hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and immuno-protective functions. However, its poor solubility, low stability to light and oxygen, and limited bioavailability are major obstacles hindering its wide applications as a therapeutic agent or nutritional supplement. Incorporating AXT with nanocarriers holds great promise in enhancing its physiochemical properties. Nanocarriers are delivery systems with several benefits, including surface modification, bioactivity, and targeted medication delivery and release. Many approaches have been applied to enhance AXT’s medicinal effect, including solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and polymeric nanospheres. AXT nano-formulations have demonstrated a high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, significantly affecting cancer in different organs. This review summarizes the most recent data on AXT production, characterization, biological activity, and therapeutic usage, focusing on its uses in the nanotechnology era. Graphical abstract:

AbstractIn this article, we describe a set of subsequent five-steps chemical reactions to synthesize a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10). Structural characterization of 10and its intermediate products was also performed and reported to attest to their formation. A molecular docking study was performed to propose the novel synthesized ferrocene derivative (10) as a potential antitumor candidate targeting the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1. The computed docking score of (10) at −9.50 kcal/mol compared to the native anticancer staurosporine at −8.72 kcal/mol postulated a promising anticancer activity. Also, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for 500 ns followed by MM-GBSA-binding free energy calculations for both the docked complexes of ferrocene and staurosporine to give more deep insights into their dynamic behavior in physiological conditions. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to unravel some of the physiochemical characteristics of the ferrocene derivative (10). The quantum mechanics calculations shed the light on some of the structural and electrochemical configurations of (10) which would open the horizon for further investigation.HighlightsThe synthesis of a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10) was described.Structural characterizations of ferrocene derivative (10) and its intermediate products were also performed.DFT calculations, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and MM-GBSA calculations were carried out.Computational studies revealed the antitumor potential of ferrocene derivative (10) through targeting and inhibiting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

AbstractThe current global epidemic of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been labeled a global public health emergency since it is causing substantial morbidity and mortality on daily basis. We need to identify an effective medication against SARS-CoV-2 because of its fast dissemination and re-emergence. This research is being carried out as part of a larger strategy to identify the most promising therapeutic targets using protein-protein interactions analysis. Mpro has been identified as one of the most important therapeutic targets. In this study, we did in-silico investigations to identify the target and further molecular docking, ADME, and toxicity prediction were done to assess the potential phyto-active antiviral compounds from Justicia adhatodaas powerful inhibitors of the Mpro of SARS-COV-2. We also investigated the capacity of these molecules to create stable interactions with the Mpro using 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation. The highest scoring compounds (taraxerol, friedelanol, anisotine, and adhatodine) were also found to exhibit excellent solubility and pharmacodynamic characteristics. We employed MMPBSA simulations to assess the stability of docked molecules in the Mpro binding site, revealing that the above compounds form the most stable complex with the Mpro. Network-based Pharmacology suggested that the selected compounds have various modes of action against SARS-CoV-2 that include immunoreaction enrichment, inflammatory reaction suppression, and more. These findings point to a promising class of drugs that should be investigated further in biochemical and cell-based studies to see their effectiveness against nCOVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

One of the popular techniques in forensic anthropology, known as "facial approximation" or "craniofacial reconstruction," models the appearance of the face from the skeletal remains. The average facial soft tissue thicknesses (FSTTs) with regard to sex and population affinity are necessary for a successful craniofacial reconstruction. The focus of this study is on the existence of sex-related changes in facial soft tissue composition. It offers the first data on FSTTs for the living Egyptian population utilizing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and also enriches the published FSTTs data for the Egyptian population, which could offer more accurate cranial reconstruction. Sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) were considered. From the repository, 10 adult males and 10 adult females were chosen from the repository according to a careful selection criteria.

ABSTRACT In recent years, 'smart structures' experienced significant popularity in civil engineering. Such structures, referred to as intelligent structures, are built with combination of smart and conventional materials and have [...]

Despite current progress in the development of targeted therapies for cancer treatment, there is a lack in convenient therapeutics for colorectal cancer (CRC). Lactoferrin nanoparticles (Lf NPs) are a promising drug delivery system in cancer therapy. However, numerous obstacles impede their oral delivery, including instability against stomach enzymes and premature uptake during passage through the small intestine. Microencapsulation of Lf NPs offer a great solution for these obstacles. It can protect Lf NPs and their drug payloads from degradation in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), reduce burst drug release, and improve the release profile of the encapsulated NPs triggered by stimuli in the colon. Here, we developed nanoparticle-in-microparticle delivery systems (NIMDs) for the oral delivery of docetaxel (DTX) and atorvastatin (ATR). The NPs were obtained by dual conjugation of DTX and ATR into the Lf backbone, which was further microencapsulated into calcium-crosslinked microparticles using polysaccharide–protein hybrid copolymers. The NIMDs showed no detectable drug release in the upper GIT compared to NPs. Furthermore, sustained release of the NPs from the NIMDs in rat cecal content was observed. Moreover, the in vivo study demonstrated the superiority of the NIMDs over NPs in CRC treatment by suppressing p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, and NF-κB. This study provides the proof of concept for using NIMDs to enhance the effect of protein NPs in CRC treatment.