Search

According to the world health organization (WHO), stroke stands as a significant contributor to mortality and adult disability, causing motor function impairment, paralysis, and intense back pain. In aiding stroke patients' mobility recovery, physiotherapists employ diverse therapeutic techniques. This research introduces an automated method for identifying distinct therapeutic exercises performed by stroke patients during their rehabilitation process. For detecting rehabilitation exercises, leveraging pre-trained neural networks like GoogLeNet, InceptionV3, ResNet-101, DenseNet-201, Xception, InceptionResNetV2, and DarkNet-53, all potent models trained on extensive datasets. The proposed models were trained on a dataset of 2250 diverse RGB images to classify eight rehabilitation exercises: Elbow Extension, Knee Flexion, Neck Exercise, Planter Flexion of Foot, Trunk Extension, Trunk Flexion, Wrist Extension, and Wrist Flexion. The resulting average validation accuracies are as follows: InceptionV3 (97.4%), Xception (97.3%), ResNet101 (97.3%), DarkNet53 (96.7%), GoogLeNet (95.9%), DenseNet201 (94.3%), and InceptionResNetV2 (93.4%). Fuzzy EDAS is then employed to rank the models. This ranking suggests that the inception-v3 model has high rank for most of the classes and is highly recommended for physiotherapy exercises classification.

Water pumping systems are crucial for extracting water from deep wells. However, electricity shortages and high fuel prices significantly impact the efficiency and reliability of these systems. Therefore, renewable energy sources have gained more attention as alternatives to fossil fuels. Photovoltaic (PV) energy-based pumping systems, in particular, are becoming popular, especially in rural areas where grid connections are often unavailable. Several factors influence the performance of photovoltaic water pumping systems (PVWPS), including solar irradiance, temperature, system design, maintenance, and pumping load. To ensure optimal performance under these varying conditions, two controllers are crucial. The first controller is the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller, designed to maximize power extraction from the PV panels under varying environmental conditions (in particular, solar radiation and temperature). The second controller regulates the speed and torque of the induction motor (IM) which drives the pump responsible for water extraction. Therefore, to improve the performance of these controllers under different conditions. This review paper first examines widely used soft computing methods, providing a detailed description of each. These methods are then applied to both the MPPT and the IM controllers, offering valuable insights for researchers looking to develop advanced PVWPS control configurations for future applications.

Apples are a valuable source of health-promoting polyphenols. However, a considerable variation in the polyphenol contents and bioactivities may exist among different apples from different origins. As the apples derived from traditional agriculture in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains (above 2000 m of altitude) are less explored. This study aimed to investigate the polyphenol contents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts derived from five varieties of apples from the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco compared to two imported European varieties of apples. The content of phenol acids, flavonoids, tannins, and reducing sugars were spectrophotometrically measured. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in vitro. The anti-inflammatory activity was conducted using paw edema induced by sub-plantar injection of formalin (0.05 mL, 4%) in rats. The results showed that local apples, particularly the Imilchil extract, contained the highest content of polyphenols (9.11 ± 0.36 GAE mg/gE), flavonoids (7.59 ± 0.23 RE mg/gE), and tannins (2.94 ± 0.05 CE mg/gE) but lower content of reducing sugars. Among all the tested extracts, Imilchil also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl RSA (IC50= 1.12 ± 0.02 mg/mL), FRAP (110.55 ± 1.55 Fe2+E mMol/gE) and TAC (731.48 ± 3.02 AAE µg/gE) when compared with imported apples (Alpe and Golden), that have the lowest antioxidant activities in RSA (IC50 3.46 ± 0.12 and 3.92 ± 0.10 mg/ml), FRAP (18.30 ±.08 and 21.27 ± 0.99 Fe2+E mMol/gE) and TAC assays (133.22 ± 6.42 and 225.06 ± 2.88 AAE µg/gE), respectively. The administration of a single dose (500 mg/kg BW) of local apple extracts significantly inhibited about 54.77% of paw edema, while the imported apples produced about 30.60%. It is concluded that apples from the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains could be a rich source of natural polyphenols with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentialities.

This paper aims to research a photovoltaic solar water pumping system (PVWPS) based on a three-phase induction motor (IM) with high performance, low cost, and without chemical energy storage. The proposed control for the PVWPS consists of two principal controllers. The first controller is used to control the system to reach its maximum using a robust MPPT control strategy that is based on the Kalman filter algorithm (KF-MPPT). While the second controller is based on 12-sectors Direct Torque Control (DTC). This technique is proposed to control the IM with the centrifugal pump through a three-level inverter with a neutral point clamped (NPC) structure. Furthermore, to increase the performance of the proposed control without affecting the system efficiency, the torque and flux hysteresis regulators level is increased to five and three levels, respectively. To see the behaviors of the PVWPS with the proposed control, the whole system was designed and simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. This work also includes a comparative analysis to show the performance of the proposed control compared to the conventional controls. This analysis is done first to compare the performance of the KF-MPPT, VSS-P&O-MPPT, and VSS-INC-MPPT using variable radiation, and then to compare the proposed KF-MPPT-PDTC and the conventional KF-MPPT-DTC under a daily climatic profile. The simulated results showed that PVWPS with KF-MPPT and PDTC provide a better performance in terms of reference tracking, response time, torque and flux ripple reduction, current quality, as well as water pumped.

Due to the increasing costs of components and the complexity of controlling the production of PV systems on the one hand, and the quality of the energy produced and the connection to the grid on the other. This work describes how the optimal operation and cost minimization of a grid-connected PV system via the single-stage structure (without a DC-DC converter) can be achieved. Through the development of control algorithms, the extraction of the maximum power from the solar panel has been achieved by fuzzy sliding mode control (FSMC). The main development of this proposed technique is to combine the advantages of fuzzy logic and sliding mode in an algorithm that directly controls the inverter to track the maximum power point and to keep good control of the voltage Vmp used as a reference voltage at the input of the inverter control (VOC) for maximum power point extraction and to properly control their switches. Therefore, the latter acts on the voltage and current shapes of the system and allows decreasing the harmonic distortion rate. These current and voltage shapes facilitate the design of a less complex filter, in order to obtain a well-controlled active and reactive power with reduced cost. The simulation results are obtained in the MATLAB-Simulink environment.

Intrusion detection is a promising area of research in the domain of security with the rapid development of internet in everyday life. Many intrusion detection systems (IDS) employ a sole classifier algorithm for classifying network traffic as normal or abnormal. Due to the large amount of data, these sole classifier models fail to achieve a high attack detection rate with reduced false alarm rate. However by applying dimensionality reduction, data can be efficiently reduced to an optimal set of attributes without loss of information and then classified accurately using a multi class modeling technique for identifying the different network attacks. In this paper, we propose an intrusion detection model using chi-square feature selection and multi class support vector machine (SVM). A parameter tuning technique is adopted for optimization of Radial Basis Function kernel parameter namely gamma represented by ‘ϒ’ and over fitting constant ‘C’. These are the two important parameters required for the SVM model. The main idea behind this model is to construct a multi class SVM which has not been adopted for IDS so far to decrease the training and testing time and increase the individual classification accuracy of the network attacks. The investigational results on NSL-KDD dataset which is an enhanced version of KDDCup 1999 dataset shows that our proposed approach results in a better detection rate and reduced false alarm rate. An experimentation on the computational time required for training and testing is also carried out for usage in time critical applications.

Trichobezoar are mass of hair in the digestive tract caused by ingestion of hairs (trichophagia) mostly as a result of psychiatric disorders. The management of Trichobezoar includes psychiatric treatment to stop trichophagia and removal of trichobezoar for the GIT.Several techniques have been used for removal of Trichobezoar from the gut including endoscopy, laparotomy and laparoscopy. Laparoscopic retrieval is associated with minimal trauma and early recovery. The conventional laparoscopic removal of whole mass of hairs using endobag is associated with contamination of abdominal cavity, larger scars and possible infection. We suggest a simple laparoscopic assisted technique of Trichobezoar removal. In this technique two ports are used one umbilical port and one right abdomen port. The stomach is visualized with the right port used as camera port. Using umbilical port stomach is grasped in an avascular area and pulled out through the umbilicus. The umbilical incision is about 1.5 cm. The stomach is opened along the greater curvature away from the marginal vessels and temporary sutured to umbilical wound. Two langenbeck retractors are used to open the wound A strong grasper is then used to remove the hairs from the stomach piecemeally undirect vision. Any residual hairs are removed by direct visualization of the stomach lumen by the laparoscope. It is possible to retrieve the whole mass by this technique leaving minimal scarring and early recovery.We are reporting this technique in two patient with excellent recovery and minimal scarring.

In the present investigation a novel, environmentally affable and economical, modified gellan gum nanocomposite (MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT) was fabricated via free-radical polymerization for the liquid-phase mitigation of Methylene blue (MB) and Malachite green (MG) dyes. The innovation of this work is substantiated by the intentional combination of diverse materials, the strategic incorporation of polypyrrole for enhanced adsorption, and the thoughtful addition of MMT as a nanofiller to address mechanical strength and improve adsorption capacity. The physico-chemical facets of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT and its interaction with the dye molecules were elucidated using FT-IR, SEM-EDX, BET, TEM, and XRD techniques. The optimum conditions for the sorption of MB and MG were deemed to be dosage (1.2 g/L for both dyes), contact time (50 min for both dyes), initial MG/MB concentration (MB = 40 mg/L & MG = 30 mg/L), and pH (MB = 10 & MG = 7). The Freundlich isotherm was identified as the most suitable model, as evidenced by the highest R 2 value (∼0.999), indicating multilayer adsorption. The pseudo second-order model appraised the kinetic data. Thermodynamic findings revealed the adsorption process to be spontaneous, viable and exothermic which was ascertained by negative ∆H ⸰ values (-22.8 kJ/mol for MB and -18.3 kJ/mol for MG). The substantial Langmuir adsorption capacity (Q m : MG =185.185; MB = 344.827) can be ascribed to the reason for strong interactions between MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT and dyes. The high reliability of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT was determined by the regeneration studies that worked up to four cycles for both dyes. The real water (distilled water, tap water, and river water) samples spiked with MG/MB demonstrated a substantial uptake of dyes (>85 %) and the marginal influence of ionic strength on the adsorptive potential of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT validated its efficacy for the decontamination of real effluents. The forces of attraction between the dyes and MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT included van der Waals, electrostatic forces of attraction, and π-π interaction. This green, economical, and viable MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT will prove to be an efficient adsorbent for the decontamination process of sequestration of dyes to achieve a sustainable environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The mitigation of wastewater exploiting biopolymers/natural gums-based composites is an appealing research theme in today's scenario. The following review presents a comprehensive description of the polysaccharides derived from biopolymers (chitosan, collagen, cellulose, starch, pectin, lignin, and alginate) and natural gums (guar, gellan, carrageenan, karaya, moringa oliefera, tragacanth, and xanthan gum). These biopolymers/natural gums-based composites depicted excellent surface functionality, non-toxicity, economic and environmental viability, which corroborated them as potential candidates in the decontamination process. The presence of -OH, -COOH, and -NH functional groups in their backbone rendered them tailorable for modification/functionalization, and anchor an array of pollutants via electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and Van der Waals forces. Further, due to these functional moieties, these bio-based composites revealed an excellent adsorption capacity than conventional adsorbents. This review provides an overview of the classification of biopolymers/natural gums based on their origin, different ways of their modification, and the remediation of dye-contaminated aqueous environments employing diverse bio-based adsorbents. The isotherm, kinetic modelling along with thermodynamics of the adsorption process is discussed. Additionally, the reusable efficacy of these bio-adsorbents is reviewed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in cardiogenic shock (CS) is increasing. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of Impella use with extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) support in patients with CS. We searched the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases for observational studies comparing Impella to ECMO in patients with CS. Risk ratios (RRs) for categorical variables and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous variables were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Twelve retrospective studies and one prospective study (Impella n=6652, ECMO n=1232) were identified. Impella use was associated with lower incidence of in-hospital mortality (RR 0.88 [95% CI 0.80-0.94], P=0.0004), stroke (RR 0.30 [0.21-0.42], P<0.00001), access-site bleeding (RR 0.50 [0.37-0.69], P<0.0001), major bleeding (RR 0.56 [0.39-0.80], P=0.002), and limb ischemia (RR 0.42 [0.27-0.65], P=0.0001). Baseline lactate levels were significantly lower in the Impella group (SMD -0.52 [-0.73- -0.31], P<0.00001). There was no significant difference in mortality at 6-12 months, MCS duration, need for MCS escalation, bridge-to-LVAD or heart transplant, and renal replacement therapy use between Impella and ECMO groups. In patients with CS, Impella device use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, stroke, and device-related complications than ECMO. However, patients in the ECMO group had higher baseline lactate levels., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This work reports the successful functionalization of l-proline on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) synthesized via a simple, cost-effective hydrothermal method. Moreover, the chemical attachment of Cu 2+ /Cu 0 nanoparticles on the surface of SPION@l-proline was done by an in-situ deposition method. The developed nano-photocatalyst was characterized in detail by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX, BET, TGA, and VSM. XRD of SPION@l-proline-Cu reveals peaks of both SPION and copper nanoparticles which confirms the formation of nanophotocatalyst. TGA demonstrates a major weight loss between 250 and 310 °C due to l-proline which ensures the successful immobilization of SPION on the surface of l-proline. The band energy at 932 eV suggests a complete reduction of Cu 2+ ion to Cu 0 metal on the surface of SPION@l-proline nanocomposite as confirmed by the XPS technique. Under UV light irradiation, the photocatalytic reduction performance of the developed Cu 2+ metal ion-based and Cu 0 nanoparticle-based magnetic nano-photocatalysts was demonstrated and compared for the first time for the photocatalytic reduction of 4-NP, 4-NA, NB, MO, MB, and CR. The results show that Cu 0 -based magnetic nanophotocatalyst has slightly enhanced catalytic activity. Furthermore, solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of CR azo dye by synthesized nano-photocatalyst was also investigated, with a 95 % degradation efficiency in just 40 min. The developed magnetic nano-photocatalyst can easily be separated by using an external magnet due to the superparamagnetic nature of core material (SPION) at room temperature as confirmed from VSM and can be reused for multiple cycles without losing considerable catalytic activity. Because of its high photocatalytic efficiency, cost-effectiveness, good magnetic separation performance, non-toxicity, and strong thermal and chemical stabilities, Cu 2+ /Cu 0 -based magnetic nano-photocatalyst has potential application in wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We describe the consequences of a stroke in an adult mummy from ancient Egypt including the differential diagnosis. To our knowledge this is the oldest hemiparalysis to be published in the scientific literature., Methods: The mummy, from the 25th Dynasty (c. 747-656 b.c.), was found during excavation of the tomb chapel of Hery (TT 12) and Baqi, of the early 18th Dynasty (c. 1550-1292 b.c.). Seventeen mummified bodies were found in a small corridor connecting the 2 tombs. The mummy labeled Individual 6833 was studied macroscopically and radiologically and was unique in its positioning, the presence of a crutch, and the use of sticks as supports., Results: The body belonged to a woman, between 25 and 40 years of age. The type of mummification was of a high level, with excerebration and evisceration carefully performed., Conclusions: The woman suffered a stroke late in life, with left hemiparalysis after bone growth was completed, and she lived with the results for several years., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Trypsin (Try, EC. 3.4.21.4) was effectively immobilized on the surface of glutaraldehyde(GA)-activated ZnO/Chitosan nanocomposite through covalent attachment via Schiff-base linkages. Size, structure, surface morphology, & percentage elemental composition of the prepared ZnO nanoparticles and chitosan-coated ZnO nanocomposite were studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis (EDAX) techniques. Optimal immobilization conditions (incubation time (16 h), enzyme concentration (1.8 mg/ml), and pH (7.8)) were investigated to obtain the maximum expressed activity of the immobilized trypsin. Immobilized & solubilized trypsin exhibited the optimum catalytic activity at pH 8.5, 60 °C, and pH 7.8, 45 °C respectively. Kinetic parameters (K m , V max ) of immobilized (27.12 μM, 8.82 μM/min) & free trypsin (25.76 μM, 4.16 μM/min) were determined, indicating that efficiency of trypsin improves after immobilization. Immobilized trypsin preserved 67% of initial activity at 50 °C during 2 h of incubation & sustained nearly 50% of catalytic activity until the 9th repeated cycle of utilization. Moreover, immobilized trypsin retained 50% of enzymatic activity after 90 days of storage at 4 °C. Hence, the current findings suggest that ZnO/Chitosan-GA-Trypsin would be a promising biocatalyst for large-scale biotechnological applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review gives a proper dedicated understanding of the contamination level, sources, and biological dangers related with different classes of antibiotics in consumable water. The literature on the adsorption of antibiotics is relatively uncommon and developments are still under progression, especially for adsorbents other than activated carbon. Also, adsorption technique has already been applied vastly for water treatment. Notwithstanding significant progressions, designed natural wastewater treatment frameworks are just bearably effective (48-77%) in the expulsion of antibiotics. Hence, the compilation of available literature especially for antibiotic adsorption was much needed. Moreover, the conventional adsorbents have some limitations of their own. In this study, the main focus was laid on unconventional adsorbents such as Biochar, Biopolymers, Carbon Nanotubes, Clays, Metal-Organic Frameworks, Microalgae and some miscellaneous adsorbents. The mechanism of adsorption by the unconventional adsorbents includes electrostatic interactions, π-π bonding, weak Van der Waal forces, H-bonding and surface complexation, which was similar to that of conventional adsorbents and hence these unconventional adsorbents can easily replace the costlier conventional adsorbents with even better adsorption efficiency. This paper also briefly discussed the thermodynamics, adsorption equilibrium; isotherm and kinetics of adsorption. This review paper seizes the critical advances of adsorption phenomenon at various interfaces and lays the foundation for current scenario associated with further progress. Besides, this study would help in understanding the antibiotic adsorption, cost estimation and future goals that will attract the young the researchers of this field., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency that is frequently missed in non-alcoholic patients. Coma and cardiomyopathy are uncommon presentations of WE that have been rarely reported in the literature. We report the case of a 36-year-old male with a known history of schizophrenia who presented with coma and vasopressor refractory hypotension. Initial computed tomography (CT) of the head at admission was unremarkable. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed diffuse myocardial hypokinesia with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40-45%. Due to persistent encephalopathy, a repeat non-enhanced CT head was obtained on the second day of hospital admission followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain that showed findings suggestive of WE. The patient was immediately started on high-dose intravenous (IV) thiamine therapy. Although his hemodynamic parameters significantly improved following thiamine replacement, he did not show signs of neurological recovery and resulted in a dismal outcome. This case illustrates the importance of early recognition of thiamine deficiency in critically ill patients to prevent fatal outcomes. Immediate parenteral thiamine administration should be considered in all patients presenting with coma, cardiomyopathy, and refractory hypotension regardless of their body mass index, and alcohol use status., (Copyright © 2021 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Face shield are the unmistakable plastic gatekeepers secures eyes and face, simpler to wear and a group of specialists state face shields may supplant masks as an increasingly agreeable and progressively successful obstacle to COVID-19. Face shields are useful in stopping respiratory droplets from speading from the wearer to others. The droplets, which come into contact with the shield, are quickly spread over a large area, both transversely and vertically, over the shield, but with a shrinking concentration of droplets, as opposed to face masks, which appear to slide under the nose of the wearer or, worse, collapse entirely off the shield. Hence, a face- shield can be considered as personal protective equipment (PPE), which is a first line of resistance, utilized by the clinicians and forefront health workers for protection against the infectious body fluid and aerosols. Face-shields are mainly fabricated using polycarbonate material, because of their excellent optical transparency in UVA-visible-IR spectrum and mechanical properties. The goal of this article is to provide researchers working in the same area, as well as health and industrial staff, with a detailed analysis of the usage of face shields against bioaerosols and the need for personal security. The reviews main focus on the background of the face shield, provide assistance in the selection, its design and structure, applications, advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, people's view about the usage of face shield as it becomes an essential part of human beings like an accomplice during this current pandemic situation., Competing Interests: No conflicts of Interest., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Enzymes are the highly versatile bio-catalysts having the potential for being employed in biotechnological and industrial sectors to catalyze biosynthetic reactions over a commercial point of view. Immobilization of enzymes has improved catalytic properties, retention activities, thermal and storage stabilities as well as reusabilities of enzymes in synthetic environments that have enthralled significant attention over the past few years. Dreadful efforts have been emphasized on the renewable and synthetic supports/composite materials to reserve their inherent characteristics such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity, accessibility of numerous reactive sites for profitable immobilization of biological molecules that often serve diverse applications in the pharmaceutical, environmental, and energy sectors. Supports should be endowed with unique physicochemical properties including high specific surface area, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, enantioselectivities, multivalent functionalization which professed them as competent carriers for enzyme immobilization. Organic, inorganic, and nano-based platforms are more potent, stable, highly recovered even after used for continuous catalytic processes, broadly renders the enzymes to get efficiently immobilized to develop an inherent bio-catalytic system that displays higher activities as compared to free-counter parts. This review highlights the recent advances or developments on renewable and synthetic matrices that are utilized for the immobilization of enzymes to deliver emerging applications around the globe., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work, a simple method was developed for hydrogel preparation from 1,5-Diphenylcarbazide (DPC) and chitosan (CS) through Diazotization reaction of CS as a selective adsorbent (DPCCS) for Cu(II) ions. CS was treated with sodium nitrate and subsequent crosslinking reaction with DPC for the preparation of DPCCS. Different techniques were used for characterization of DPCCS. Various parameters such as, temperature, pH, and concentration of Cu(II) were used for adsorption studies. Kinetics of Cu(II) ion on DPCCS follows the Pseudo second order and equilibrium of adsorption occurs in short time. The equilibrium data was best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity of DPCCS was 185.505 mg g -1 . Thermodynamic parameters ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° suggested that the adsorption of Cu(II) ion on the surfaces of DPCCS was spontaneous, endothermic and randomness of Cu(II) ion in the solution was enhanced respectively. Regeneration of DPCCS and Cu(II) ion recovery were studied up to five cycles without the lost of the adsorption capacity., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The prospective uses of natural gum polysaccharides in various aspects of food, water, energy, biotechnology, environment and medicine industries, have garnered a great deal of attention recently. Natural gums have gained widespread attention due to their availability, low cost, structural diversity and remarkable properties as 'green' bio-based renewable materials. Natural gums are obtainable as natural polysaccharides from various tree genera possessing exceptional properties, including their renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic nature and their ability to undergo easy chemical modifications. Hydrogels based on natural gums offer several valuable properties when equated to synthetic origin. The fundamental objective of this review is to compile different strategies for the preparation of hydrogels based on several important commercially available gums (arabic, guar, gellan, ghatti, karaya, kondagogu, konjac, locust bean tamarind, tragacanth, tara and xanthan) for the greener synthesis and stabilization of metal/metal oxide NPs, production of electrospun fibers, water purification, drug delivery, tissue engineering, agriculture and for antimicrobial and biomedical applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of adjunctive photodynamic therapy (PDT) as compared to scaling and root planing (SRP) alone in the treatment of chronic periodontitis among cigarette smokers., Methods: Electronic databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to January 2019. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with data on comparison between adjunctive PDT compared to SRP in each group were included. Primary outcomes included clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, while secondary outcomes was probing depth (PD) reduction. The weighted mean differences (WMD) of outcomes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each variable were calculated using random and fixed effect models., Results: A total of 5 RCTs were included. Two clinical trials were classified as having a low risk of bias and 3 clinical trials as high risk of bias. The overall effect for CAL gain (WMD= -0.088, 95% CI= -0.40 to 0.23, p = 0.58) and PD reduction (WMD= -0.35, 95% CI= -0.87 to -0.17, p = 0.18) was not statistically significant between PDT and SRP groups at follow-up, respectively., Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it remains debatable whether PDT as an adjunct to SRP is more effective in clinical attachment level gain as compared to SRP alone in cigarette smokers given that the available scientific evidence is weak., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Controversy exists in the literature regarding the differential expression of S100 protein members and their functional correlations in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to systematically review the expression of S100 protein family members among OSCC and healthy controls and to evaluate whether S100 protein members serve as diagnostic marker in OSCC., Methods: Indexed databases were searched up to and including October 2017. Case-control/cross-sectional studies in human diagnosed clinically and/or histologically with OSCC and evaluated the expression of S100 protein family among OSCC and healthy controls were included., Results: A total of 11 studies were included. Four studies were of good quality, 5 were of moderate and 2 were of poor quality. Five studies evaluated S100A2, A7 and A12 and showed overexpression of these protein levels in OSCC patients when compared to healthy controls. Three studies reported down-regulation of S100A1, A3, A6, A11, A13, A14, A16 and S100Z in OSCC patients as compared to healthy controls. Two studies reported overexpression of S100A9 and one study each reported overexpression of S100A4, A8, A10, and S100P in OSCCs as compared to healthy controls respectively., Conclusion: It remains debatable whether up-regulation or down-regulation of specific S100 protein members serves as a diagnostic marker in OSCC. With the findings of the present systematic review, the threshold for diagnostic levels of S100 proteins cannot be proposed. In addition, S100A7 protein could act as a potential OSCC marker. However, further case-control studies with larger sample size are required to obtain strong conclusion in this regard., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The polyfunctional chitosan can act as the biological macromolecule ligand not only for the adsorption and the recovery of metal ions from an aqueous media, but also for the fabrication of novel adsorbents which shows selectivity and better adsorption properties. The unmodified chitosan itself, a single cationic polysaccharide, has hydroxyl and amine groups carrying complex properties with the metal ions. In addition, the selectivity of metal ions, the adsorption efficiency and adsorption capacity of the adsorbent can be modified chemically. This review covers the synthetic strategies of chitosan towards the synthesis of hetero-chitosan based adsorbents via chemical modifications in past two decades. It also includes how chemical modification influences the metal adsorption with N, O, S and P containing chitosan derivatives. Hope this review article provides an opportunity for researchers in the future to explore the potential of chitosan as an adsorbent for removal of metal ions from wastewater., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A modified biomacromolecule, chitosan-thiosemicarbazide framework (TSCS) as an adsorbent for Cu(II) was prepared from dialdehyde chitosan through condensation reaction with thiosemicarbazide, stabilized by the reduction reaction with sodium borohydride. TSCS was characterized by means of FT-IR and XPS. Surface morphologies were studied by FESEM and BET, which revealed the highly macro porous structure. The thermal analyses was done through TGA showing much stable chemical configuration at about ≥400°C. The experimental equilibrium data was evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The Langmuir adsorption model was best fitted with experimental value, suggests the existence of monolayer coverage of adsorbed molecules with a maxima of 142.85mgg -1 . The kinetic data was analyzed using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models and the pseudo-second-order kinetics were found for all the concentrations. The calculated thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG o , ΔH and ΔS were -2.33kJmol -1 , 570.40Jmol -1 and 9.75Jmol -1 K -1 respectively signifies the adsorption of Cu(II) onto TSCS is endothermic, spontaneous and a process of physisorption. The regeneration efficiency of the TSCS as an adsorbent was found to be ≥90-95% using 0.1M EDTA., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Irtieru is a male mummy enclosed in cartonnage, dating to the Third Intermediate Period in the Egyptian collection of the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia in Lisbon. The computed tomography scans of this mummy showed a small dense bean-shaped structure at the left lumbar region. Its anatomical location, morphologic and structural analysis support a diagnosis of end-stage renal tuberculosis. If this diagnosis is correct, this will be the oldest example of kidney tuberculosis, and the first one recorded in an intentionally mummified ancient Egyptian., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

King Tutankhamun is one of the most famous rulers of antiquity,thus it is not surprising that a plethora of scientific studies have put forth possible medical diagnoses and causes of his death. Diseases(autologous or infectious), metabolic disorders, trauma (possibly even murder-related), or tumorous conditions have been postulated, frequently only based on secondary data sources. The aim of this article is to critically review all these diagnoses. Since the initial examination of the mummy in the mid 1920s by Howard Carter and others, several dozens of medical diagnoses based on various levels of evidence have been proposed. While some studies did not support any sign of a major disease, others suggested diseases whose existence cannot be proven with the little tissue that is preserved for study. In the last c. five years new examinations of the mummy were performed by computed tomography and ancient DNA analyses,now allowing not only to exclude certain diagnoses that had been postulated earlier, but also to arrive at new theories with a higher degree of certainty concerning the state of health and the early death of this most famous ruler.

Background: c-kit-positive, lineage-negative cardiac stem cells (CSCs) improve post-infarction left ventricular (LV) dysfunction when administered to animals. We undertook a phase 1 trial (Stem Cell Infusion in Patients with Ischemic cardiOmyopathy [SCIPIO]) of autologous CSCs for the treatment of heart failure resulting from ischaemic heart disease., Methods: In stage A of the SCIPIO trial, patients with post-infarction LV dysfunction (ejection fraction [EF] ≤40%) before coronary artery bypass grafting were consecutively enrolled in the treatment and control groups. In stage B, patients were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group in a 2:3 ratio by use of a computer-generated block randomisation scheme. 1 million autologous CSCs were administered by intracoronary infusion at a mean of 113 days (SE 4) after surgery; controls were not given any treatment. Although the study was open label, the echocardiographic analyses were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint was short-term safety of CSCs and the secondary endpoint was efficacy. A per-protocol analysis was used. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00474461., Findings: This study is still in progress. 16 patients were assigned to the treatment group and seven to the control group; no CSC-related adverse effects were reported. In 14 CSC-treated patients who were analysed, LVEF increased from 30·3% (SE 1·9) before CSC infusion to 38·5% (2·8) at 4 months after infusion (p=0·001). By contrast, in seven control patients, during the corresponding time interval, LVEF did not change (30·1% [2·4] at 4 months after CABG vs 30·2% [2·5] at 8 months after CABG). Importantly, the salubrious effects of CSCs were even more pronounced at 1 year in eight patients (eg, LVEF increased by 12·3 ejection fraction units [2·1] vs baseline, p=0·0007). In the seven treated patients in whom cardiac MRI could be done, infarct size decreased from 32·6 g (6·3) by 7·8 g (1·7; 24%) at 4 months (p=0·004) and 9·8 g (3·5; 30%) at 1 year (p=0·04)., Interpretation: These initial results in patients are very encouraging. They suggest that intracoronary infusion of autologous CSCs is effective in improving LV systolic function and reducing infarct size in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction, and warrant further, larger, phase 2 studies., Funding: University of Louisville Research Foundation and National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is great interest in the history and occurrence of human cancer in antiquity and particularly in ancient Egyptian populations. Despite the number of Egyptian mummies and skeletons studied through various means, evidence of primary or metastatic cancer lesions is rare. The Digital Radiography and Multi Detector Computerized Tomography (MDCT) scans of a male Ptolemaic Egyptian mummy, from the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (MNA) in Lisbon displayed several focal dense bone lesions located mainly on the spine, pelvis and proximal extremities. The exceptional detail of the MDCT images allowed the proposed diagnosis of osteoblastic metastatic disease, with the prostate being the main hypothesis of origin. These radiologic findings in a wrapped mummy, to the best of our knowledge, have never previously been documented, and could be one of the oldest evidence of this disease, as well as being the cause of death., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Early surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect has improved early mortality rate. Mortality remains high in patients presenting within 1 week of infarction, or when rupture has occurred in the inferior part of the septum., Methods: We describe a surgical technique for repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect that involves no infarctectomy: continuous suturing of a bovine pericardial patch to healthy myocardium around the infarcted area and use of gelatin-resorcin-formol biological glue as a sealant between the patch and the interventricular septum., Results: We have used this technique successfully in 3 consecutive patients in whom repair was performed within 1 week of myocardial infarction. The rupture of the interventricular septum was located anteriorly in 2 patients and inferiorly in the other. They all made an uneventful recovery, and at follow-up there was no evidence of residual shunt., Conclusions: This technique can be a useful adjunct to the surgical management of this difficult group of patients.

Deciding whether a patient with sub-optimal mitral valve anatomy will benefit from percutaneous mitral valvotomy remains a demanding clinical problem. We assessed the ability of an established echo score applied to transoesophageal images to predict absolute increases in mitral valve area and improvement in exercise capacity. Twenty five consecutive patients undergoing routine percutaneous mitral valvotomy were studied. Changes in exercise tolerance were measured by serial cardiorespiratory treadmill exercise testing. Before the procedure, exercise duration was directly related to mitral valve area (rs = 0.44, P < 0.05). Following percutaneous mitral valvotomy there was an increase in valve area (0.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.4 +/- 0.3 cm2, P < 0.0001) and repeat exercise testing demonstrated increases in exercise duration (470 +/- 220 to 610 +/- 240 s, P < 0.001) and peak VO2 (12.6 +/- 4.2 to 15.1 +/- 4.5 ml/kg/min, P < 0.01). There was an inverse correlation between the echo score and the increase in valve area (rs = -0.52, P < 0.05) but no relationship between the echo score and the increase in exercise duration or peak minute oxygen consumption (VO2). These data demonstrate that a score applied to transoesophageal images echocardiographic images can predict changes in mitral valve area but that the score fails to predict functional improvement for an individual patient. This suggests, therefore, that patients without contraindications to valvotomy whose valves have a high echo score should still be considered for valvotomy as they may benefit considerably from the procedure.

Cross-sectional and M-mode echocardiography were used to review 33 patients 6-28 months (mean 19 months) after open heart surgery. Eleven patients had had echocardiographic signs of pericardial effusion during the first week after open heart surgery (Group A), and 22 had not (Group B). At review, pericardial effusion was found in 73% of subjects in Group A compared with 18% of those in Group B (P < 0.01). On average, posterior effusions were small (mean dimension in systole 0.9 cm) but they were detected reproducibly (interobserver agreement 97%). Anterior echo-free spaces (< 0.5 cm) were found frequently, but interobserver variation in their detection was high (agreement in 68%). Symptoms did not correlate with the presence of a late post-operative effusion but the groups were not matched for rhythm or ventricular function. Five patients in Group A had developed atrial fibrillation in association with their early post-operative effusion, and four of these had persisting atrial fibrillation at this review. These results suggest that echo-free spaces around the heart, suggestive of small pericardial effusions, may persist for many months after open heart surgery.