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Background:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been declared as a pandemic in 2019-2020. Most cases are usually self- limited; however, it may unpredictably progress to severe form with high mortality rate. Objectives: To highlight the role of measuring serum procalcitonin (PCT) and receiving early prophylactic antibiotic therapy in terms of their relation to the mortality rate in hospitalized critical COVID-19 patients. Methods: this study analyzed sixty COVID-19 critical patients admitted to Tanta University Isolation Hospital from June to November, 2020. Respiratory tract and blood samples were collected Results: Our results showed that the mean serum PCT levels were significantly higher in deceased patients (15%) than in those who could survive corona-virus infection. Patients who received early prophylactic antibiotic therapy showed significant better survival rate than those who didn’t. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that measuring PCT shows statically significant results with COVID-19 patients’ outcome more than other commonly used laboratory markers such as CRP. Moreover, early administration of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in COVID-19 patients, especially critical ones, is crucial even in those with negative PCT values.

The corrosion performance of the cast Cu45Mn25Al15Fe5Cr5Ni5 HEA was examined in HNO3 solutions of varying concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 5%, and 10%). The microstructure and elemental composition of the alloy were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Corrosion behavior was assessed through the weight-loss method at room temperature. To gain a thorough understanding of the corrosion parameters, both statistical analysis and interaction plots were utilized. Central composite design (CCD) was applied to investigate the primary and interaction effects of these parameters on the response. The optimal parameters for maximizing output were determined. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with conditions of 24 h, 5% HNO3 concentration, and a pH of 0.248 predicted a maximum fit of 81.64%. RSM also allows for more detailed analyses of the individual and interaction effects between the variables. The corrosion rate (CR) increased with higher HNO3 concentrations. When 0.5% HNO3was used, the inhibitor additions of Nano-TiO2, Nan-SiO2, or Nano-ZnO resulted in decreased CR values from 1.04 mm/y to 0.11, 0.12, or 0.22 mm/y, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced drought stress decreases crop productivity, but the application of β-sitosterol (BS) and biochar (BC) boosts crop growth and yield. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the alone and combined application of BS and BC on the growth and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris under drought stress. The synergistic application of BS and BC increased plant height (46.9 cm), shoot dry weight (6.9 g/pot), and root dry weight (2.5 g/pot) of P. vulgaris plants under drought stress. The trend of applied treatments for photosynthetic rate remained as BC (15%) < BS (28%) < BC + BS (32%), compared to drought-stressed control. Similarly, the trend of applied treatments for water use efficiency was BS < BC < BC + BS, compared to drought stress control. The levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide were reduced by the combined application of BS and BC under drought stress, measuring at 22.8 and 66.4 μmol/g fresh weight, respectively. The combined use of BS and BC significantly alleviated drought stress more than when applied individually. Thus, employing BS and BC together as key agents in drought-stressed common bean plants could promote resilience, fostering growth amid ongoing climate change. Co-applying β-sitosterol and biochar improved drought resilience in Phaseolus vulgaris. Nutrient uptake and biochemical metrics increased in P. vulgaris with the combined effect of β-sitosterol and biochar. This approach enhances growth parameters, suggesting resilience to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in the human population and economic development have led to a rise in waste production, which poses significant environmental risks and presents a pressing global issue in waste management. Among other countries, this situation affects the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the other hand, poor waste segregation practices can result in failed waste recycling efforts, leading to the excessive use of resources and worsening issues (such as energy consumption, global warming, and sustainable development). Waste segregation is a crucial step in waste management, which involves dividing waste according to its characteristics and type. By following this procedure, recycling effectiveness is increased, the environmental impact is decreased, and hazardous material disposal is ensured. Beneficial waste segregation reduces contamination, making it possible to recover valuable materials and thus use fewer landfills. Even though the failings in waste segregation are a severe issue, insufficient research has been carried out. This includes research on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of people living in the UAE regarding waste segregation, information which is crucial to developing a successful intervention to address this problem. The current study evaluated the KAP concerning waste segregation among UAE citizens and identified correlations between KAP variables, with the primary aim of filling a research gap, while analyzing the correlations between sociodemographic characteristics and KAP levels, which was the secondary aim. This was accomplished by a cross-sectional study conducted all over the UAE. Data were collected from 391 participants using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire that was developed from previous research and investigated sociodemographic characteristics, waste segregation practices (5), attitudes (5), and knowledge (5). UAE University's ethical committees approved this study (ERSC_2024_4360) for research, and the results were confirmed through statistical analyses and Cronbach's alpha testing. The inclusion criteria targeted residents of the UAE who were 18 years of age or above, and the survey was distributed via an online platform (Google Forms) with non-probability sampling. G*Power statistical power analysis estimated a minimum sample size of 385 participants. To identify correlations in the results, a structural equation model (SEM) and SPSS, such as Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation coefficients, were used to assess the associations between KAP variables. These tests were chosen for their robustness in handling categorical and continuous data, respectively. A notable majority (84.1%) of the participants were female, and 15.9% were male; the gender difference was highly significant, as revealed by the Chi-square test. Most participants (67.0%) fell into the 18–24 age group. The highest level of education reported was a bachelor's degree (47.3%). The parents' educational levels showed a relatively high level of education, with more than half having at least a high school degree or higher: father's education level (67.2%) and mother's education level (73.1%). Most participants were students (58.8%), but a significant portion of the sample was employed (25.1%). Unemployment was reported at 12.3%. The parents' employment statuses showed a higher percentage of unemployed mothers (49.4%) compared to fathers (6.9%). The average scores suggested a favorable inclination toward sustainability (mean ± standard deviation (SD) for knowledge, 3.59 ± 0.78; poor knowledge, 3.6%; and excellent knowledge, 16.9%), attitudes (3.73 ± 0.77; poor attitudes, 2.8%; and excellent attitudes, 22.5%), and practices (3.62 ± 0.76; poor practices, 2.3%; and excellent practices, 16.4%), with all the means surpassing the midpoint. In the correlation test, the current study demonstrated positive correlations between knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.666, p < 0.001) and between knowledge and practices (r = 0.682, p < 0.001). Also, a positive correlation (r = 0.159, p < 0.001) was found between general waste segregation KAP and sociodemographic variables, with a significant correlation (r = 0.110) between attitudes and gender. These findings emphasize the possibility of using focused educational and policy interventions to improve waste segregation behaviors. An additional investigation is advised to delve into the fundamental mechanisms behind these correlations and devise customized approaches to encourage sustainable waste management practices among various demographic groups in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their widespread misuse and inadequate waste management, single-use plastic bags represent the global plastic pollution crisis and ecosystem degradation. Comprehensive research on population knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding single-use plastic bags is lacking in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aims to fill this gap by assessing the KAP levels among the UAE population and determining the relationships between these variables. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire from previous studies was used in a cross-sectional study, and the questionnaire was distributed via Google Forms. The UAE University Research Ethics Committee approved the study (ERSC_2024_4377). Non-probability sampling and G*power statistical analysis version 3.1.9.6 determined 385 UAE residents aged 18 years and older. The findings were verified through face-to-face interviews and Cronbach's alpha tests. KAP variable associations were assessed using Chi-square tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and a structural equation model with SPSS version 29.0. This test was chosen for robust categorical and continuous data. The study included 84.7% female, and 15.3% male participants aged 18 to 65 years, primarily aged 18 to 25 years, with most holding bachelor's degrees (47.6%), and were students (51.4%), employed (33.1%), or unemployed (12.2%). The results indicated a favourable inclination towards sustainability, with mean ± standard deviation (SD) for seven knowledge questions (3.89 ± 0.7), seven attitude questions (3.99 ± 0.7), and five practice questions (3.42 ± 0.8) exceeding the midpoint. The correlation test showed that total knowledge was positively correlated with practice (r = 0.399; p < 0.001) indicating the increasing knowledge regarding single-use plastic bags associated with increasing sustainable practices and attitudes (r = 0.648; p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between the total attitude and practice (r = 0.487; p < 0.001). The findings suggest targeted educational and policy interventions to promote sustainable behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) can cause complications like hysterectomy or death due to massive pelvic bleeding. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of two different arterial ligation techniques in controlling postpartum haemorrhage and minimizing bleeding complications. We searched six databases. 11 studies were finally included into our review and analysis. We graded their quality using the Cochrane tool for randomized trials and the NIH tool for retrospective studies. Our analysis showed that internal iliac artery ligation has no significant effect on bleeding control (MD = −248.60 [−1045.55, 548.35] P = 0.54), while uterine artery ligation significantly reduced the amount of blood loss and preserved the uterus (MD = −260.75, 95% CI [−333.64, −187.86], P