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In this work, we studied the effect of bismuth oxide particle size and its attenuation capacity as a filler additive in epoxy resins. Six samples were prepared according to the amount of microparticles and nanoparticles in the sample and were coded as ERB-1, ERB-2, ERB-3, ERB-4, ERB-5, and ERB-6. One of the composite epoxies contained Bi 2 O 3 microparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-6) and was chosen as the control composite, and the number of microparticles (MPs) was gradually decreased and replaced by nanoparticles (NPs) to produce epoxy-containing Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-1). The morphological and thermal characteristics of the studied composites were tested. The attenuation capability of the prepared composites, which is determined by the Bi 2 O 3 particle size, was determined experimentally using a semiconductor detector, an HPGe-detector, and three different gamma-ray point sources (Am-241, Co-60, and Cs-137). The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of ERB-3, which contained 30% nanoparticles and 20% microparticles, had the highest value compared to the other composites at all the energies discussed, while the ERB-6 composite had the lowest value at all energies. The radiation-shielding efficiency (RSE) of the prepared samples was determined at all discussed energies; at 662 keV, the radiation-shielding efficiency values were 15.97%, 13.94%, and 12.55% for ERB-3, ERB-1, and ERB-6, respectively. The statistics also proved that the attenuation capacities of the samples containing a combination of nanoparticles and microparticles were much superior to those of the samples containing only microparticles or nanoparticles. A ranking of the samples based on their attenuation capacity is as follows: ERB-3 > ERB-4 > ERB-2 > ERB-1 > ERB-5 > ERB-6.

The current work discusses the radiation attenuation capability and different shielding characteristics of different mortar samples. The samples were prepared by replacing different percentages of fine aggregate with iron filling and replacing different percentages of hydrated lime with Bi 2 O 3 (0-50 wt.%). The prepared mortar samples are coded as CHBFX where X = 0, 10, 30, and 50 wt.%. The mass and linear attenuation coefficient was determined experimentally using a narrow beam technique, where a high purity germanium detector, and different point gamma-ray sources (such as Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60). The linear attenuation coefficient was also calculated using the Monte-Carlo simulation code and the online Phy-X/PSD software. The comparison of the three methods showed a good agreement in the results. The linear attenuation coefficient drops from 19.821 to 0.053 cm -1 for CHBF0, from 27.496 to 0.057 cm -1 for CHBF10, from 42.351 to 0.064 cm -1 for CHBF30, and from 55.068 to 0.071 cm -1 for CHBF50 at photon energy range from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The half-value layer thickness, tenth-value layer thickness, and mean free path of the prepared mortar composites were also calculated photon energy ranged from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The fast neutron removal cross-section of the prepared CHBFX mortar samples have values of 0.096 cm -1 , 0.098 cm -1 , 0.103 cm -1 , and 0.107 cm -1 for the mortar samples CHBF0, CHBF10, CHBF30, and CHBF50, respectively. The results showed that the mortar sample with the highest iron filing concentration, CHBF50, provides the best protection against gamma rays and fast neutrons which could be used in the nuclear and medical fields., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

With the use of multilayer materials such as concrete, mortar and ceramics that were fortified with PbO, WO 3 and Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles, our study's objective was to produce a an effective photon shielding system. Experimental evaluation of the radiation shielding efficiency of two sets of samples with various thicknesses was conducted. The elemental content and morphology of the samples were corroborated by SEM and EDX studies, with ceramic samples exhibiting superior particle distribution and fewer voids than concrete and mortar specimens. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) was studied both experimentally and numerically using the Phy-X program, and it was found that the two sets of values were in satisfactory agreement. The values of LAC were consistently greater for samples with 30% of the selected heavy metal oxides than for those with 10%. The LAC for Cer-1 was 5.003 cm -1 at 0.059 MeV, whereas the corresponding LAC for Cer-2 was 2.123 cm -1 . The LAC values were as follows: ceramics (5.003 cm -1 ), mortar (2.999 cm -1 ), concrete (2.733 cm -1 ), and the transmission factor (TF) examination of the multiple-layer specimens showed that the TF of the 3 cm thick multilayer sample was lower than that of the 2 cm thick sample and that both multilayer samples displayed better attenuation efficiency in comparison to single-layer specimens. The results show the possibility for employing multilayer structures with different densities, thicknesses, and sizes in suitable radiation shielding applications., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Gluten-free diets have gained popularity worldwide. However, little information is available regarding the knowledge of, and behaviors toward, this diet among adults in KSA. This study was aimed at addressing this knowledge gap., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 352 women at a health sciences university in KSA., Results: Eleven percent of participants had followed a gluten-free diet at least once, 70% of whom had voluntarily tried this diet without a confirmed medical diagnosis. The main source of information regarding this diet was the internet and social media. Additionally, followers of this diet had moderate knowledge of gluten and its products yet higher knowledge than that of non-followers (65% vs 56%, P = .0055). Following a GFD was associated with an age of 25 years or older, higher education, and being employed. Although 56% of participants reported following this diet 75% or more of the time, the average calculated adherence score was low. Although 95% of the followers indicated changes in their lifestyle and social life, 71% felt better after following this diet, and only 2.6% felt worse. This self-reported results were confirmed by a calculated average quality of life score of 1.3, indicating a good quality of life after following this diet., Conclusion: This study indicated moderate knowledge and low adherence to a gluten-free diet among followers. This finding may be attributable to the high percentage of followers without a confirmed medical condition, or to the social and lifestyle changes faced by followers of GFDs. Educational programs should be introduced to the public to increase awareness of gluten-free foods and diets., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Particulate matter (PM) pollution is a significant environmental and public health issue globally. Exposure to high levels of PM, especially fine particles, can have severe health consequences. These particles can come from a variety of sources, including natural events like dust storms and wildfires, as well as human activities such as industrial processes and transportation. Although an extensive development in air filtration techniques has been made in the past few years, fine particulate matter still poses a serios and dangerous threat to human health and to our environment. Conventional air filters are fabricated from non-biodegradable and non-ecofriendly materials which can cause further environmental pollution as a result of their excessive use. Nanostructured biopolymer aerogels have shown great promise in the field of particulate matter removal. Their unique properties, renewable nature, and potential for customization make them attractive materials for air pollution control. In the present review, we discuss the meaning, properties, and advantages of nanostructured aerogels and their potential in particulate matter removal. Particulate matter pollution, types and sources of particulate matter, health effect, environmental effect, and the challenges facing scientists in particulate matter removal are also discussed in the present review. Finally, we present the most recent advances in using nanostructured bioaerogels in the removal of different types of particulate matter and discuss the challenges that we face in these applications.

This study aims to investigate the impact of CeO 2 content and particle size on the radiation shielding abilities of polydimethylsiloxane, also known as silicon rubber (SR). We prepared different SR samples with 10, 30, and 50% of micro and nano CeO 2 and we measured the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) for these samples. We found that the LAC of the SR increases by increasing the CeO 2 and all prepared SR samples had higher LACs than the pure SR. We examined the effect of the size of the particles on the LAC and the results demonstrated that the LAC for nano CeO 2 is higher than that of micro CeO 2 . We investigated the half value layer (HVL) for the prepared SR samples and the results revealed that the SR with 10% micro CeO 2 had a greater HVL than the SR with 10% nano CeO 2 . The HVL results demonstrated that the SR containing nanoparticles had higher attenuation effectiveness than the SR with micro CeO 2 . We also prepared SR samples containing CeO 2 in both sizes (i.e., micro and nano) and we found that the HVL of the SR containing both sizes was lower than the HVL of the SR with nano CeO 2 . The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) at 0.059 MeV for the SR with 10% micro and nano CeO 2 was 94.2 and 95.6%, respectively, while the RPE of SR containing both sizes (5% micro CeO 2 + 5% micro CeO 2 ) was 96.1% at the same energy. The RPE results also indicated that the attenuation ability was improved when utilizing the micro and nano CeO 2 as opposed to the micro CeO 2 or nano CeO 2 at 0.662, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV.

We developed new composites for photons shielding applications. The composite were prepared with epoxy resin, red clay and bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi 2 O 3 NPs). In order to establish which ratio of red clay to Bi 2 O 3 NPs provides the best shielding capabilities, several different ratios of red clay to Bi 2 O 3 NPs were tested. The transmission factor (TF) was calculated for two different thicknesses of each sample. From the TF data, we found that epoxy resin materials have a high attenuation capacity at low energy. For ERB-10 sample (40%Epoxy + 50% Red clay + 10% Bi 2 O 3 NPs), the TF values are 52.3% and 14.3% for thicknesses of 0.5 and 1.5 cm (at 0.06 MeV). The composite which contains the maximum amount of Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles (40%Epoxy + 50% Red clay + 10% Bi 2 O 3 NPs, coded as ERB-30) has lower TF than the other composites. The TF data demonstrated that ERB-30 is capable of producing more effective attenuation from gamma rays. We also determined the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) for the prepared composites and we found that the LAC increases for a given energy in proportion to the Bi 2 O 3 NPs ratio. For the ERB-0 (free Bi 2 O 3 NPs), the LAC at 0.662 MeV is 0.143 cm -1 , and it increases to 0.805 cm -1 when 10% of Bi 2 O 3 NPs is added to the epoxy resin composite. The half value layer (HVL) results showed that the thickness necessary to shield that photons to its half intensity can be significantly lowered by increasing the weight fraction of the Bi 2 O 3 NPs in the epoxy resin composite from 0 to 30%. The HVL for ERB-20 and ERB-30 were compared with other materials such as (Epoxy as a matrix material and Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , MgO and ZrO 2 as filler oxides in the matrix at 0.662 MeV. The HVL values for ERB-20 and ERB-30 are 4.385 and 3.988 cm and this is lower than all the selected epoxy polymers., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses that affects all vertebrates. The drugs most commonly used against toxoplasmosis have many side effects, making the development of new antiparasitic drugs a big challenge. The present study evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of novel herbal treatments, including propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO), against acute toxoplasmosis. A total of 50 albino mice were divided into five groups: group 1 (G1) (non-infected and non-treated); group 2 (G2) (infected without treatment); group 3 (G3) (treated with propolis); group 4 (G4) (treated with WGO); group 5 (G5) (treated with a combination of propolis and WGO). The effects of the herbal substances on different organs, mainly liver, spleen, and lungs, were investigated using parasitological, molecular, and histopathological examinations. The results of parasitological examination demonstrated statistically significant ( p < 0.05) differences in the parasitic load between treated groups (G3, G4, and G5) compared to the control positive group (G2). These differences were represented by a significant reduction in the parasite load in stained tissue smears from the liver obtained from the animals treated with propolis (G3) compared to the parasite load in the positive control group. Similarly, animals (G4) treated with WGO exhibited a significant reduction in the parasite load versus the positive control group, while the lowest parasite load was found in G5, treated with propolis and WGO. Quantification of the parasite burden through molecular methods (PCR) revealed similar findings represented by reduction in the parasite burden in all treated groups with WGO and propolis as compared to the control group. Importantly, these previous parasitological and molecular findings were accompanied by a marked improvement in the histopathological picture of the liver, spleen, and lungs. In conclusion, propolis and WGO showed a good combination of therapeutic efficacy against acute toxoplasmosis.

Diabetes is considered a risk factor for arteriovenous fistula failure and increased perioperative complications; but this view is not proven for patients undergoing brachiobasilic transposition arteriovenous fistula (BBT-AVF). Fifty-one (68.9%) diabetic and 23 (31.08%) non-diabetic patients undergoing single-stage BBT-AVF were compared in terms of perioperative complications, access maturation and patency rates at The Aga Khan University Hospital from between January 2016 to December 2017. Diabetics were elder and more obese. The perioperative complications 19 (37.2%) vs. 8 (34.7%), and access maturation rates were compared (93.2% vs. 95.5%) between the two groups. At 6 months, access patency in diabetics was lower compared to non-diabetics (64.7% vs. 87.0%).  Similar trend was noted at 12 and 24 months in both groups. This study showed that the diabetic and non-diabetic were comparable in terms of perioperative complications and maturation rate. However, short term patency rate was lower in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Key Words: Brachiobasilic AVF, Complications, Diabetes mellitus, Patency.

Aim: This study was conducted to analyze the changes in blood profile of goats inoculated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and its immunogen mycolic acid (MA) extract., Materials and Methods: A total of 12 clinically healthy crossbred Boer female goats were divided into three groups; A, B and C (4 goats each per group). Group A was inoculated with 2 ml sterile phosphate buffered saline via intradermal route as the negative control group whilst Group B was inoculated with 2 ml of MA extract (1 g/ml) intradermally and Group C was then inoculated with 2 ml (1×10 9 ) colony forming unit of active C. pseudotuberculosis intradermally. Blood sample was collected aseptically from the jugular vein periodically for complete blood count (CBC) analysis throughout the experimental period (3 months)., Result: A significant decrease (p<0.05) was observed in red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular Hb concentration in Groups B and C as compared to the control while WBCs, neutrophil, lymphocyte and basophil showed a significant increase (p<0.05) as compared to the control., Conclusion: The inoculation of C. pseudotuberculosis and MA resulted in a significant change in the CBC, thereby, indicating that MA has a role in caseous lymphadenitis pathogenesis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of hybrid fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for surveillance and follow-up of thymoma patients to detect recurrent disease. A retrospective chart review was performed on 37 thymoma patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT-scans during postoperative follow-up. The following information was obtained: clinical indication for FDG-PET/CT, the results of the FDG-PET/CT, particularly with regard to the additional diagnostic imaging information, the localization of the disease and subsequent clinical patient management. A total of 51 CT-scans were performed on 37 patients providing sensitivity and specificity for thymoma recurrence of 71% and 85%, respectively. Forty-five FDG-PET/CT-scans were performed on the same group of patients with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 82% and 95%, respectively. Notably, FDG-PET/CT sensitivity when employed for diagnosis of thymoma recurrence in the anterior mediastinum has reached 100% (CT has shown only 55% sensitivity for the detection of anterior mediastinal thymoma recurrence). Our preliminary study demonstrates that during follow-up after thymoma excision, FDG-PET/CT is superior to computed tomography alone in the detection and localization of mediastinal recurrence. In particular, the combined structural and metabolic information of FDG-PET/CT enhances the diagnostic confidence in lesion characterization.

Objective: A simple, new and not previously reported method to improve the complete ablation of the pelvic lymph nodes in the surgical treatment of cervical cancer is briefly reported., Methods: Fourteen patients had been operated upon at Zahrawi Maternity Hospital, Damascus, Syria using radical Wertheim hysterectomy for surgical treatment. Five to 10 days prior to surgery, patients are given intramuscular iron injections that help easy visualization of the lymph nodes during operation., Results: In all the 14 cases treated with this simple pre-operative medication, pelvic lymph nodes were easily identified and completely removed., Conclusion: Pre-operative iron injections help in better identification of even the smallest pelvic lymph nodes and improve their complete removal.