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Abstract Background Alport syndrome (AS) is the second most prevalent genetic cause of kidney failure, behind autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, affecting at least one in 5000 individuals worldwide. AS is caused by COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 mutations. It is characterized as three distinct disorders of type IV collagen 3/4/5 based on a genetic evaluation: X-linked, autosomal, and digenic. About two-thirds of AS cases are X-linked (XLAS), 15% are autosomal recessive (ARAS), and 20% are autosomal dominant (ADAS). The spectrum of phenotypes associated with AS ranges from increasing renal disease with extrarenal abnormalities to isolated hematuria. Coinherited genetic mutations contribute significantly to clinical severity and variability. Methods In this study, an AS panel (COL4A3/COL4A4/COL4A5) and clinical exome sequencing (CES) were performed on 18 patients. Results Nineteen specific AS mutations, including 15 novel mutations, were found in these 18 cases, which included 17 Turkish families and 1 Syrian family. Digenic inheritance was observed in one patient, and eight coinherited genetic mutations were discovered. Conclusions This research reveals many novel AS mutations and shows robust genotype–phenotype heterogeneity in the disease. The results expand the clinical and molecular scope of AS and clarify the ADAS and digenic AS phenotypes, further enhancing our understanding of the complex nature of AS and its association with genetic modifiers. The data broaden the spectrum of AS-related gene mutations and provide new insights on genotype–phenotype correlations in AS.

Background/Objectives: To close the atrial septal defect (ASD) with the transcatheter method, correctly defining the defect and selecting the appropriate closure device size are the most critical steps for the procedure’s success. Although ASD can be successfully closed under the guidance of three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and two-dimensional (2D) TEE, measurement comparisons between different types of defects are still needed. Methods: Our study was designed retrospectively. Sixty-one patients who underwent transcatheter ASD closure with 2D TEE and 3D TEE between 2020 and 2024 were included. The patients were divided into three groups according to the defect shape: circular, oval, and complex; and the measurement results, perioperative process, and clinical outcomes were compared in each group. Results: The average age of the patients was 35.05 ± 13.87 years, and 41 (67.2%) were women. The average follow-up period of the patients was 15.3 ± 9.18 months. No statistical significance was observed in the comparison of measurements obtained with 3D TEE and 2D TEE in the circular and oval defect groups. The differences between the minimum defect diameters of complex defects measured by 2D TEE and 3D TEE (p: 0.037), IVC rims (p < 0.001), aortic rims (p: 0.012), and the differences between implanted device dimensions and the maximum defect diameters measured by both methods were compared; statistical significance was observed (p: 0.025). Conclusions: In circular and non-complex oval defects, it has been observed that the size of the closure device selected with 2D TEE or 3D TEE is optimal, and the procedure is practical and feasible. While the closure of complex ASDs with 3D TEE provides reliable and optimal results, using only 2D TEE in complex ASDs may lead to selecting a smaller-sized device.

Background/Objectives: The demographic shift towards an aging population necessitates a reevaluation of surgical interventions like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in octogenarians. This study aims to elucidate the outcomes of CABG in octogenarians with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), a group traditionally considered at high risk for such procedures. Methods: Conducted across four academic hospitals in Germany from 2017 to 2023, this retrospective multicenter study assessed 100 patients (50 octogenarians ≥80 years and 50 non-octogenarians Results: The study revealed no significant difference in the combined incidence of MACCEs between octogenarians and non-octogenarians (OR: 0.790, 95% CI: 0.174–3.576, p = 0.759). Mortality rates were similar across groups (7% each, p = 1.000), as were occurrences of postoperative myocardial infarction (2% each, p = 1.000) and stroke (3% total). Secondary outcomes like delirium (17% total, no significant age group difference, p = 0.755), acute kidney injury (18% total, p = 0.664), and the need for dialysis (14% total, p = 1.000) also showed no differences between age groups. Interestingly, non-octogenarians required more packed red blood cells during their stay (p = 0.008), while other postoperative care metrics, such as hospital and ICU length of stay and ventilation hours, were comparable across groups. Conclusion: This multicenter study highlights that CABG is a viable and safe surgical option for octogenarians with HFrEF, challenging prior assumptions about the elevated risks associated with performing this procedure in older patients. The absence of significant differences in the incidence of MACCEs and other postoperative complications across age groups emphasizes the importance of careful patient selection and perioperative management. These findings advocate for a more inclusive approach to surgical treatment for octogenarians with HFrEF, suggesting that age alone should not be a determinant for CABG eligibility. This study contributes critical insights into optimizing care for a high-risk demographic, indicating a need for tailored guidelines that accommodate the aging population with complex cardiac conditions.

BackgroundEntomological surveillance of lymphatic filariasis and malaria infections play an important role in the decision-making of national programs to control, or eliminate these both diseases. In areas where both diseases prevalence is low, a large number of mosquitoes need to be sampled to determine vectors infection rate. To do this, efficient mosquito collection methods must be used. This study is part in this framework, to assess appropriate mosquito collection methods for lymphatic filariasis xenomonitoring in a coexistence context with malaria in Burkina Faso.Methodology/principal findingsMosquito collections were performed between August and September 2018 in four villages (Koulpissi, Seiga, and Péribgan, Saptan), distributed in East and South-West health regions of Burkina Faso. Different collection methods were used: Human Landing Catches (HLC) executed indoor and outdoor, Window Exit-Trap, Double Net Trap (DNT) and Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSC). Molecular analyses were performed to identify Anopheles gambiae s.l. sibling species and to detect Wuchereria bancrofti and Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles mosquitoes. A total of 3 322 mosquitoes were collected among this, Anopheles gambiae s.l. was the vector caught in largest proportion (63.82%). An. gambiae s.l. sibling species molecular characterization showed that An. gambiae was the dominant specie in all villages. The Human Landing Catches (indoor and outdoor) collected the highest proportion of mosquitoes (between 61.5% and 82.79%). For the sampling vectors infected to W. bancrofti or P. falciparum, PSC, HLC and Window Exit-Trap were found the most effective collection methods.Conclusions/significanceThis study revealed that HLC indoor and outdoor remained the most effective collection method. Likewise, the results showed the probability to use Window Exit-Trap and PSC collection methods to sample Anopheles infected.

لقطاع الثروة الحيوانية دو ا رً حيوياً في تحقيق العديد من أهداف التنمية المستدامة، لما لها دور في دعم سبل العيش، والمساهمة في رفع الدخل الوطني، والمساهمة في النظم الغذائية الصحية، ويتأثر هذا القطاع بالعوامل الطبيعية والبشرية السائدة في مناطق تربيته وبشكل خاص عناصر المناخ المختلفة، التي يكون تأثيرها بشكل مباشر أو غير مباشر، وقد تم في هذا البحث د ا رسة عنصر المناخ المختلفة )اشعاع الشمسي، درجات الح ا ررة، الأمطار، الرطوبة النسبية، والرياح(، في محافظة حلب وتأثير هذه العناصر على تربية حيوانات الماشية، كما تناول البحث تطور أعداد حيوانات الماشية ) أغنام، ماعز وأبقار( بين عامي 2001 و 2021 (، , د ا رسة كثافتها وتوزعها على مناطق المحافظة، وتبين من ( خلال الد ا رسة أن تربية المواشي تنتشر في كل مناطق محافظة حلب ولكن بأعداد مختلفة تبعاً لاختلاف الظروف المناخية والبيئية في كل منطقة، ويوجد في المحافظة ما يقارب ) 2733011 ( أ رساً من الحيوان عام ) 2021 (، وقد بلغ عدد الأغنام 2356006 ( أ رساً عام ) 2021 ( أي ما يقارب )% 86.2 ( من إجمالي الثروة الحيوانية، ( وبلغ عدد الماعز ) 236652 ( أ رس بمعدل )% 8.6 (، أما الأبقار والعجول فهي تأتي بالمرتبة الثالثة.

BackgroundDue to cultural, economic, and societal factors, immigrants and refugees are pivotal groups in dealing with social vulnerability in disasters. Ignoring or inadequate attention to those groups in preparing for and responding to disasters and health emergencies could decrease the effectiveness of efforts. This article aims to identify the most basic social vulnerabilities among immigrants and refugees and provide effective solutions to alleviate or eliminate these vulnerabilities.MethodsThis systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The main keywords include Social Vulnerabilities, Immigrants, Refugees, and Disasters. All articles published up to February 2023 were reviewed regardless of language and location. A total of 575 articles were extracted from SCOPUS, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases, and finally, 14 articles were selected for full-text analysis. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) was used to evaluate the quality of the selected articles.ResultsFourteen articles including 4 qualitative and 10 quantitative articles were selected and analyzed in this review. The findings showed: 1. According to the consensus of the studies, the most vulnerable people who need urgent care during an epidemic due to their special conditions are immigrants and refugees; 2. In most countries, no database provides reliable, up-to-date, and accurate statistics about these people; 3. Refugees usually hesitate to express their vulnerability and receive services due to the fear of deportation; and 4. The main challenges faced by refugees are socio-economic problems such as language problems, lack of emotional and social support, and living in crowded places.ConclusionConsidering the prevalence of migration among countries, it is essential to identify the social problems and vulnerabilities of immigrants and provide effective solutions to cope with their challenges, especially during crises and emergencies.Systematic review registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier CRD42022371345.

Background The burden of common mental disorders in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is growing with little known about how to allocate limited resources to reach the greatest number of people undergoing instances of significant psychological distress. We present a study protocol for a multicentre, parallel-group, superiority, randomised controlled trial.Methods and analysis Adults with significant psychological distress (K10 score ≥20) will be randomised to receive a stepped care programme involving a self-guided course (Doing What Matters) followed by a more intensive group programme (Problem Management Plus) or the self-guided course alone, both of which will take place in addition to enhanced treatment as usual comprising of a follow-up referral session to available services within the community. We will include 800 participants. An intent-to-treat and completer analysis will explore the impact of the stepped model of care on anxiety and depression symptoms (as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist; HSCL-25) at 24 weeks from baseline. Secondary outcomes include positive psychological well-being, agency, changes in patient-identified problems, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Linear mixed models will be used to assess the differential impact of the conditions over time. Analyses will focus on the primary outcome (HSCL-25) and secondary outcomes (agency subscale, WHO Well-Being Index, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule V.2.0, EQ-5D, Psychological Outcomes Profiles Scale) for both conditions, with the main outcome time point being the 3-month follow-up, relative to baseline.Ethics and dissemination This will be the first randomised controlled trial to assess the benefits of a stepped model of care to addressing psychological distress in a LMIC setting. Results will provide important insights for managing limited resources to mental healthcare in these settings and will be accordingly disseminated to service providers and organisations via professional training and meetings, and via publication in relevant journals and conference presentations. We will also present these findings to the Jordanian Ministry of Health, where this institute will guide us on the most appropriate format for communication of findings, including written reports, verbal presentations and/or brochures. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Jordan School of Nursing Research Ethics Committee (number: PF.22.10).Trial registration number ACTRN12621000189820p; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.

This study estimates the long-term impact of Chinese RMB exchange rate movements on the trade balance between China and the Eastern African Belt and Road Initiative countries. The Pedroni cointegration analysis and the fully modified and dynamic OLS techniques are applied to the dataset from UNComtrade and China Statistical Yearbook 2019. Some specification novelties are the use of imports and exports as independent variables. By so doing, the paper proposes an alternative measure of the trade balance. We find that the RMB exchange rate movements are stable during the sample period and slightly affect the trade balance between China and the Eastern African BRI countries. Additionally, the study does not find evidence supporting the J-curve effect in China-East Africa trade balance. The empirical results suggest that the Eastern African BRI countries would gain much more trading collectively with China than individually. Therefore, the study strongly recommends that the East African Community accelerate its integration process and establish Export Quotas for trade outside the bloc.

Objective A trial of evidence-based health promotion home visits to pregnant women and their spouses in northern Nigeria found significant improvements in maternal and child health outcomes. This study tested the added value for these outcomes of including video edutainment in the visits. Methods In total, 19,718 households in three randomly allocated intervention wards (administrative areas) received home visits including short videos on android handsets to spark discussion about local risk factors for maternal and child health; 16,751 households in three control wards received visits with only verbal discussion about risk factors. We compared outcomes between wards with and without videos in the visits, calculating the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of differences, in bivariate and then multivariate analysis adjusting for socio-economic differences between the video and non-video wards. Results Pregnant women from video wards were more likely than those from non-video wards to have discussed pregnancy and childbirth often with their husbands (OR 2.22, 95%CI 1.07–4.59). Male spouses in video wards were more likely to know to give more fluids and continued feeding to a child with diarrhoea (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.21–2.13). For most outcomes there was no significant difference between video and non-video wards. The home visitors who shared videos considered they helped pregnant women and their spouses to appreciate the information about risk factors. Conclusion The lack of added value of the videos in the context of a research study may reflect the intensive training of home visitors and the effective evidence-based discussions included in all the visits. Further research could rollout routine home visits with and without videos and test the impact of video edutainment added to home visits carried out in a routine service context.

School is a key site for prevention and early intervention in public mental health, with sexual and gender minority students being a priority group for action. Context is important in understanding how school inclusion of sexual and gender minorities shapes mental health and well-being, with rapidly changing social and political forces necessitating ongoing research. This coproduced UK secondary school-based study aimed to understand (a) key components of mentally, socially and emotionally healthy school environments for LGBTQ+ students considerate of intersecting minoritised identities; (b) staff information, skills and capacity needs and (c) factors influencing uptake and implementation. Online interviews and focus groups were conducted with 63 participants (22 staff, 32 students (aged 13-19 years), and 9 training providers), diverse in relation to gender and sexual identity, ethnicity, religious and social context. Data were analysed thematically. One overarching theme captured the need for an intersectionality-informed, contextually adaptable, whole school approach which 'shifts the narrative' away from deficit thinking, challenging prevailing cis/heteronormative and White norms. This underpinned four themes: (1) 'Feeling safe, seen and celebrated: embedding intersectional signs, signals and symbols', (2) 'Everyone's business: the need for collaboration', (3) 'Embedding a culture of change', and (4) 'Re-locating the problem: challenging deficit thinking'. Contextually diverse research is needed which critically addresses ways in which social power enacted interpersonally and structurally serves to hinder schools from enacting LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Evidence to inform and develop implementation strategies for institutional changes and to advocate for wider socio-political support is also key to mitigate the potential for widening inequities linked to inequitable school environments.

Viola odorata is a viola family flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. This is a small, hardy, herbaceous, perennial plant. It is also known as sweet violet and English violet. Numerous pharmacological properties of this flowering plant include anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antipyretic properties. Previous literature review of different parts of Viola odorata resulted in detection of different chemical constituents such as flavonoids (Quercetin, kaempferol), glycosides (Rutin) and terpenoids (stigma sterol). Stigmasterol was detected using TLC and GC-MS in this study. It was isolated from Viola odorata using preparative layer chromatography. HPLC and FTIR analysis confirmed the isolated Stigmasterol

Background: Standardising procedures is the best way to harmonise and strengthen the quality of laboratory-based antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Since 2018, Burkina Faso has developed and disseminated the national manual of procedures for performing antibiotic susceptibility tests in sentinel laboratories within its national antimicrobial resistance surveillance network. Objective: Our study aimed to assess these sentinel laboratories’ compliance with good practices for antibiotics susceptibility tests. Methods: Four teams evaluated the antimicrobial resistance sentinel sites laboratories throughout Burkina Faso from 19 to 28 September 2022. Eighteen out of 19 sentinel laboratories were evaluated. A four-member technical committee designed and validated the evaluation tool composed of three Microsoft Excel sheets. The evaluation emphasised quality controls for culture media, antibiotic discs and compliance with antimicrobial susceptibility testing procedures by the laboratories. Excel software was used for data recording and graphs and table design. The free R software version 4.2.0 was used for descriptive statistics. An overall score below 80% was considered noncompliance. Results: Most (83.33%) of the sentinel laboratories conducted at least one quality control activity for culture media, and 66.67% conducted at least one quality control activity for antibiotic discs. Over three-quarters (76.47%) of the laboratories were more than 80% compliant with the modified Kirby Bauer antimicrobial susceptibility testing method. Conclusion: The evaluation revealed the noncompliance of sentinel laboratories with the national procedure manual, particularly in the quality control component. What this study adds: This study has provided baseline data on the sentinel laboratories’ compliance with the national antimicrobial susceptibility testing procedures manual, particularly in areas performing quality control checks or meeting quality indicators for culture media and antibiotic discs.

هدف هذا البحث إلى اختبار أثر الرافعة المالية في الأداء المالي للمصارف التجاريّة الخاصة في سوريّة خلال الفترة 2010-2020، إضافةً لاختبار الدّور المعدّل للتدفقات النقدية الحرة على العلاقة بين الرافعة الماليّة والأداء المالي. تمّ قياس الأداء المالي باستخدام (معدل العائد على إجمالي الأصول)، كما تمّ قياس الرافعة المالية باستخدام (نسبة إجمالي الديون إلى إجمالي الأصول)، بينما تمّ قياس التدفقات النقدية الحرة باستخدام المعادلة (صافي الربح التشغيلي بعد الضرائب – التغير في الأصول الثابتة + التغير في رأس المال العامل) / إجمالي الأصول. لتحقيق هدف البحث، تمّ الاعتماد على نموذجين بالاستناد إلى بيانات ربعيّة من نوع Panel Data، وتمّ تقدير معلمات النماذج باستخدام نموذج الانحدار التجميعي، بعد إجراء اختبارات المفاضلة المتمثلة في (F test، Hausman test). أظهرت النتائج عدم وجود أثر للرافعة المالية في الأداء المالي مُقاساً بـ (معدل العائد على الأصول)، كما أظهرت النتائج غياب الدّور المعدّل للتدفقات النقدية الحرة في العلاقة بين الرافعة الماليّة والأداء المالي.

Key Clinical Message Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a rare lesion of the breast stromal tissue with unknown mechanism. Hormonal stimulation of mammary myofibroblasts is the most important theory due to stromal positivity of progesterone receptor (PR) or/and estrogen receptor (ER). We report a case of PASH with stromal PR/ER negativity.

In this research paper, we attempt to introduce a new algorithm for filtering a state-space model. The observations of this algorithm follow an exponential dispersion model. The paper focuses here on the inclusion of non-informative prior knowledge in parameter estimation on nonlinear state-space models using an improper uniform prior measure. Therefore, a new particle filter is introduced. A conventional particle filter (PF) produces an incorrect sample from a discrete approximation distribution. This new algorithm is a regularized continuous distribution method that is obtained with the exponential dispersion model. A necessary and sufficient condition for the existence and convergence of the non-informative Bayesian estimator of dispersion parameters is established. This methodology extends the classical PF implemented by this new estimation method for the exponential dispersion model framework using a non-informative Bayesian approach. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, a case study with simulations and microscopic image restoration is carried out. The results exhibit a great performance improvement from the proposed approach

Abstract The moiré superlattices of transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers have a pronounced effect on the optical properties of interlayer excitons (IXs) and have been intensively studied in recent years. However, the impact of moiré potentials on the temporal coherence of the IXs has not yet been investigated in detail. Here, we systematically investigate the coherence properties of both the ensemble of delocalized and the ensemble of localized IXs trapped in moiré potentials of the hexagonal boron nitride encapsulated WSe2-MoSe2 heterostructures. Our low-temperature first-order correlation measurements show that prolonged T 2 dephasing times with values up to 730 fs can be obtained from the ensemble of localized IXs under moderate pump powers. We observed up to almost a five-fold increase over the values we obtained from the delocalized IXs, while more than two-fold over the previously reported values of T 2 ~ 300 fs from the delocalized IXs. The prolonged values of T 2 dephasing times and narrow photoluminescence (PL) linewidths for the ensemble of moiré-trapped IXs compared to delocalized one indicate that dephasing mechanisms caused by exciton-low energy acoustic phonon and exciton-exciton scattering are significantly suppressed due to the presence of localization potentials. Our pump power-dependent T 2 results show that ultra-long dephasing times can be expected if the dephasing time measurements are performed with the narrow photoluminescence emission line of a single moiré-trapped IX at a low pump power regime. The prolonged values of IX dephasing times would be critical for the applications of quantum information science and the development of two-dimensional material-based nanolasers.

As a three-handed social process including pre-service teachers, teacher educators from academia, and mentor teachers from schools of practice, teaching practicum, with its reflective and collaborative notions, has recently gained more interest in the field of English language teaching (ELT). In this regard, this systematic review aimed to find out recent research based on teaching practicum in ELT. Regarding the PRISMA guidelines and clear eligibility criteria, the review included a total of 24 research articles based on the ELT teaching practicum. Of the articles, the majority were qualitative studies and mostly conducted in EFL (English as a foreign language) contexts such as Türkiye and Indonesia. MAXQDA (v.2020) software-based content analysis was conducted to analyze data, and the findings were demonstrated via tables including themes, categories, and codes. The study concluded that teaching practicum has several professional (e.g., theoretical and practical awareness, classroom management, and reflective practice) and personal gains (e.g., positive beliefs and attitudes toward ELT, reflectivity, more interaction and communication, and self-confidence) for pre-service ELT teachers. On the other hand, the selected studies also stressed negative professional aspects (e.g., the incompatibility between theory and practice, lack of feedback, and inefficient mentoring) and personal (e.g., lack of reflectivity, adaptation problems, and lack of social contact). The review lastly included implications revealed by these studies to shed light on the issue of ELT practicum for supporting further research.

Abstract Background Plastic greenhouse farming has become widespread worldwide because of its contributions to various agricultural production. However, it also generates plastic waste in large quantities and pollutes farmlands. Contrary to studies on microplastics, few studies have quantified macroplastic contamination in agricultural farmlands despite its contribution to the production of microplastics through fragmentation. Thus, there is a paucity of knowledge on the levels and characteristics of macroplastics in greenhouse environments. Thus, this study aimed to quantify and examine the macroplastic litter on soil surfaces under fallow greenhouse farmlands. Results The study was conducted at three sites in Southern Hungary, where the usage of plastic greenhouses is very common for cultivating vegetables. On the studied fallow plots, the overall mean abundance of macroplastics was 431 pieces/ha or 6 kg/ha. Most of the fragments had 0.5- to 5-cm sizes. The macroplastic fragmentation in the area was well detected and was an ongoing process. The dominant plastic types were polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in the form of films and fragments. The results showed that agricultural litter comprised 90% of the total contamination, whereas nonagricultural litter (10%) due to illegal littering also appeared on the plots. Conclusions Given that macroplastics were found in the studied greenhouse farmlands, we recommend the following: (1) careful cleaning and disposal of plastics on greenhouse farmlands and (2) prevention of greenhouse farmland contamination by external and nonagricultural contaminants. Besides, further research is needed to elucidate the duration of macroplastic fragmentation to microplastic contaminants in greenhouse environments.

Fetal subdural hematoma is an antenatal finding associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It can occur due to maternal or fetal risk factors, and its management varies based on the underlying cause and the anticipated long-term outcomes. We present a case of warfarin-associated fetal subdural hematoma resulting in a live birth and severe neurodevelopmental delay by 10 years of age. In conclusion, counseling regarding the risk of fetal intracranial hemorrhage and the potential neurodevelopmental delay is essential in women who require anticoagulation with warfarin. In addition, close antenatal follow-up with fetal sonography and strict INR monitoring are essential preventative measures.

Abstract Background Any disruption in continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions can lead to poor outcomes for the patients as well as great damage for the community and the health system. This study aims to determine the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Through a cross-sectional retrospective study, data registered in six health centers in Yazd, Iran were analyzed. Data included the number of patients with chronic conditions (hypertension and diabetes) and average daily admission during a year before COVID-19 pandemic and the similar period after COVID-19 outbreak. The experience of continuity of care was assessed applying a validated questionnaire from a sample of 198 patients. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, independent T-Test and Multivariable regression were used for analysis. Findings Results indicate that both visit load of the patients with chronic conditions (hypertension and diabetes) and their average daily admission were decreased significantly during a year after COVID-19 pandemic compared to the similar period before COVID-19 outbreak. The moderate average score of the patients` experience towards continuity of care during the pandemic was also reported. Regression analysis showed that age for the diabetes patients and insurance status for the hypertension patients affect the COC mean scores. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic causes serious decline in the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions. Such a deterioration not only can lead to make these patients` condition worse in a long-term period but also it can make irreparable damages to the whole community and the health system. To make the health systems resilient particularly in disasters, serious attention should be taken into consideration among them, developing the tele-health technologies, improving the primary health care capacity, designing the applied responsive models of continuity of care, making multilateral participations and inter-sectoral collaborations, allocating sustainable resources, and enabling the patients with selfcare skills are more highlighted.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential osteoarthritic alterations within the ankle using a surgically-induced chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) model. Twelve rats were assigned randomly to either the control (n = 4) or CLAI group (n = 8). Surgery was performed on the right ankle. Osteoarthritis was assessed through in-vivo micro-CT at 8 weeks and a clinical analysis. Macroscopic analysis, high-resolution ex-vivo micro-CT and histological examination were conducted after euthanasia at 12 weeks. Three subgroups (SG) were analyzed. SG1 comprised the operated ankles of the CLAI group (n = 8). SG2 consisted of the non-operated ankles of the CLAI group (n = 8). SG3 included both sides of the control group (n = 8). In-vivo micro-CT revealed no significant differences among the three subgroups when analyzed together (p = 0.42), and when comparing SG1 with SG2 (p = 0.23) and SG3 (p = 0.43) individually. No noticeable clinical differences were observed. After euthanasia, macroscopic analysis employing OARSI score, did not demonstrate significant differences, except between the medial tibia of SG1 and SG3 (p = 0.03), and in the total score comparison between these two subgroups (p = 0.015). Ex-vivo micro-CT did not reveal any differences between the three subgroups regarding bony irregularities and BV/TV measurements (SG1 vs. SG2 vs. SG3: p = 0.72; SG1 vs. SG2: p = 0.80; SG1 vs. SG3: p = 0.72). Finally, there was no difference between the three subgroups regarding OARSI histologic score (p = 0.27). These findings indicate that the current model failed to induce significant osteoarthritis. However, they lay the groundwork for improving the model’s effectiveness and expanding its use in CLAI research, aiming to enhance understanding of this pathology and reduce unnecessary animal sacrifice.

Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) has been extensively studied as a transparent analogue for investigating the solidification of metals due to its distinctive properties and the simplicity of the experimentation. Furthermore, NH4Cl exhibits a striking resemblance in solidification behavior to the majority of binary eutectic alloy systems, rendering it a valuable model for studying phase transition phenomena. Experiments conducted on ammonium chloride are frequently employed to validate numerical models for predicting grain structures, macrosegregation, and the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET). This latter phenomenon arises due to differences in the velocities of columnar dendrite tips and the liquidus isosurface. However, the kinetics of dendrite tip growth, as a function of supersaturation, remains poorly understood for this commonly used alloy. The objective of this study was to utilize the available experimental data in conjunction with Ivantsov correlations to shed light on the ambiguous kinetics. The results indicate that when considering the crystal–melt density ratio, the Ivantsov solution offers a good correlation. Furthermore, incorporating a moderate interfacial kinetic coefficient enhances the correlations further. This correlation can be implemented in numerical models, which will aid in the determination of the columnar front, the columnar-to-equiaxed transition, and the equiaxed growth velocities.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) imposes a significant healthcare burden globally, prompting the quest for innovative biomarkers to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the G-protein signaling modulator (GPSM) family across several cancers and presents a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of the GPSM2 gene across several gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Leveraging bioinformatics methodologies, we investigated GPSM2 expression patterns, protein interactions, functional enrichments, prognostic implications, genetic alterations, and immune infiltration associations. Furthermore, the expression of the GPSM2 gene was analyzed using real-time analysis. Our findings reveal a consistent upregulation of GPSM2 expression in all GI cancer datasets analyzed, suggesting its potential as a universal biomarker in GI cancers. Functional enrichment analysis underscores the involvement of GPSM2 in vital pathways, indicating its role in tumor progression. The prognostic assessment indicates that elevated GPSM2 expression correlates with adverse overall and disease-free survival outcomes across multiple GI cancer types. Genetic alteration analysis highlights the prevalence of mutations, particularly missense mutations, in GPSM2. Furthermore, significant correlations between GPSM2 expression and immune cell infiltration are observed, suggesting its involvement in tumor immune evasion mechanisms. Collectively, our study underscores the multifaceted role of GPSM2 in GI cancers, particularly in CRC, emphasizing its potential as a promising biomarker for prognosis and therapeutic targeting. Further functional investigations are warranted to elucidate its clinical utility and therapeutic implications in CRC management.

Ephedra is the most widely and largest widespread genus in the Gnetopsida, a subgroup of the gymnosperms. This research was done to find out how gamma radiation affected the in vitro growth of callus and suspension cultures. In addition, the effect of gamma rays (γ-rays) on the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine concentrations was evaluated through HPLC analysis. The cell suspension and callus cultures were formed on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium (MS) supplemented with 0.5 mg/l kinetin (Kn), and 3 mg/l of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and exposed to variable gamma radiation doses (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 Gray). Highly significant differences in both fresh and dry callus weights were recorded due to the effect of gamma rays (γ-rays). The findings demonstrated that in the cell suspension and callus cultures, 15 Gray achieved the highest fresh and dry weights when compared to the control. Similarly, the highest concentrations of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were found in suspension and callus cultures compared to control at 15 Gray.

Son dönemin önemli şair ve düşünürlerinden olan Sezai Karakoç, amentüdeki diriliş kavramını, dünyadaki dirilişe uyarlayarak bir mefkûre geliştirmiştir. Mefkûresini Hz. Peygamber’in (s.a.s.) sünnetini ihya etmek olarak gören Karakoç, davasını da O’nun davası olarak tanımlamıştır. Hadis ilmi ile doğrudan münasebeti olmayan ancak düşünce dünyasının merkezine Hz. Peygamber’i koyan Karakoç, bazı eserlerinde kimseye nispet etmeden bir “ölçü” ve “prensip” olarak veya “kutlu söz” diyerek tırnak içinde; hakikati arama, ilmin önemi, güzel ahlak, nefisle savaş, ölüme hazırlık ve zühd gibi başlıklar altında toplayabileceğimiz aktarımlarda bulunmuştur. Bu kabil aidiyeti belirsiz aktarımların hadis kaynaklarında ne derecede yer aldığı veya hadislerle ne derecede ilgisi olduğu merakımızı celbetmiştir. Karakoç’un kimseye nispet etmeden “kutlu söz” olarak veya bir kaide olarak kabul edip tırnak içinde zikrettiği bu tür aktarımların hadis kaynaklarındaki yerini ve hadis ilmi açısından değerini tespit etmeyi hedefledik. Bu çalışma kapsamında; rivayetlerin kaynaklarını, sıhhatini, bağlam ve yorumlarını ele almayı amaçladık.

Abstract Background The rate of open tibia fractures is rapidly increasing across the globe due to a recent rise in road traffic accidents, predominantly in low- and low-middle-income countries. These injuries are orthopedic emergencies associated with infection rates as high as 40% despite the use of systemic antibiotics and surgical debridement. The use of local antibiotics has shown some promise in reducing the burden of infection in these injuries due to increasing local tissue availability; however, no trial has yet been appropriately powered to evaluate for definitive evidence and the majority of current studies have taken place in a high-resource countries where resources and the bio-burden may be different. Methods This is a prospective randomized, masked, placebo-controlled superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of locally administered gentamicin versus placebo in the prevention of fracture-related infection in adults (age > 18 years) with primarily closeable Gustillo-Anderson class I, II, and IIIA open tibia fractures. Eight hundred ninety patients will be randomized to receive an injection of either gentamicin (treatment group) or saline (control group) at the site of their primarily closed open fracture. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of a fracture-related infection occurring during the course of the 12-month follow-up. Discussion This study will definitively assess the effectiveness of local gentamicin for the prevention of fracture-related infections in adults with open tibia fractures in Tanzania. The results of this study have the potential to demonstrate a low-cost, widely available intervention for the reduction of infection in open tibia fractures. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05157126. Registered on December 14, 2021.

Background: In patients with stable angina pectoris [SAP], conventional echocardiography at rest gives minimal information regarding coronary artery disease [CAD]. Even in patients with severe CAD, left ventricle [LV] wall motion at rest may be normal. As a result, it would be beneficial if another resting parameter could aid to distinguish patients with severe CAD from those with milder or no CAD. 2D strain echocardiography can anticipate the degree of coronary lesions.Aim of the work: The goal of this study was to study the relationship between LV systolic deformation and the severity of CAD in individuals with SAP using 2D STE.Patients and Methods: This study included [120] SAP patients, who were divided into three groups according to coronary angiography: Group [A] consists of [12] patients whose coronary angiography is normal Group [B]: [40] patients with low SS < 22. Group [C]: [48] patients with SS ≥ 22. All patients were undergoing Echocardiography [conventional and STE for assessment of global and circumferential strain.Results: There is a statistically significant correlation between the number of vessels affected and GLS and GCS. There is a significant correlation between SS and GLS [P=0.001] which is weak significant in group B and lost in group C. GLS can predict high SS with a cut-off value of ≤-15, with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 87.5%, also GCS can predict high SS with a cut-off value ≤-18, with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 83.3%.Conclusion: 2D STE using GLS can diagnose ischemia with a cut-off value of ≤-19 and predict lesion severity with a cut-off value of ≤-15; also, GCS can diagnose ischemia with a cut-off value ≤ -23 and predict lesion severity with cut-off value ≤-18.

This research aims to study the effect of adding nanosilica (NS) on the properties of sustainable high-strength concrete (SHSC). The SHSC was produced using recycled aggregates from concrete debris as a 100% alternative to coarse aggregate, and industrial waste was used as supplementary cementitious materials at 50% and 75% of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) weight. A total of 25 mixes, including control mix (The first mix was made as the reference by using only cement without replacement materals), binary mixes (OPC and fly ash (FA)), ternary mixes (OPC, FA and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)) and quaternary mixes (OPC, FA, GBFS and silica fume (SF)) were developed. The dosage of NS was 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% by binder ratio. The fresh properties of SHSC were evaluated by slump test, and the mechanical properties were assessed by testing the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. The transport properties were evaluated by water permeability, water sorptivity and chloride permeability tests. Results showed that compared with the reference mixture, the SHSC containing 75% of the quaternary blends with 3% NS achieved enhanced mechanical properties at 28 and 91 days, indicating that this mixture can achieve the highest sustainability performance. The SHSC mixture containing 3% NS and 50% quaternary mixtures achieved the highest performance of 80.7, 6.46 and 10.09 MPa for compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength, respectively, at 28 days. This SHSC mixture also achieved water permeability; chloride permeability was 2.54 × 10−11 (cm/sec) and 1370 coulombs at 28 days.

Abstract Background Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a recognized biomarker that keeps track of long-term blood sugar levels. Some studies revealed that even a modest elevation of blood glucose levels was linked to a higher chance of developing CAD. In this study we aim to test the impact of HbA1c level on perfusion and function metrics derived from myocardial perfusion gated SPECT (MPGS) imaging. Results Two hundred patients were recruited in this study (mean age 58.21 ± 11.53 years; 51% males), of whom 132 patients (66%) were diabetic. Diabetic patients had a higher mean HbA1c of 7.92 ± 1.99 versus 6.05 ± 0.99 in non-diabetics (p 6.5 compared to ≤ 6.5%, had lower LVEF% of 53.17 ± 14.55 vs. 57.8 ± 12.61 (p = 0.017), lower HDL of 1.046 ± 0.262 vs. 1.196 ± 0.295 (p 44 ml (38.2% vs. 20%; p = 0.005), and WMA (24.5% vs. 12.2%; p = 0.027), hypertension (77.3% vs. 54.4%; p = 0.001) and dyspnea (27.3% vs. 15.6%; p = 0.047), however, with less chest pain (70.9% vs. 83.3%; p = 0.039). Diabetic patients with HbA1c% > 7.5 had lower LVEF% (52.0 ± 14.59 vs. 57.6 ± 11.55; p = 0.018) and HDL (1.005 ± 0.239 vs 1.148 ± 0.273; p 44 ml (41.3% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.009), WMA (30.2% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.008), and EDV > 100 ml (34.9% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.037). No significant relation was found between HbA1c% and perfusion variables. Conclusions Elevated HbA1c% was associated with multiple abnormal MPGS function parameters including lower LVEF, greater ESV, and more WMA. The same was observed in the diabetic group, together with greater EDV. No significant relation was detected between HbA1c% and perfusion parameters. The effect of impaired glycemic control on cardiac function parameters, even in absence of significant effect on perfusion, could be an alarming sign, while interpreting MPGS studies, both in known diabetic patients and in those with probably insulin resistance but not known to be diabetic. Such findings may be calling for further investigations, to uncover the true mechanisms behind cardiac dysfunction and the possibility of associated microvascular disease.

هَدف البحث إلى دراسة تطوّر المساحة المزروعة والإنتاج من محصول اليانسون في سورية خلال الفترة (2011-2021)، وتقييم العائد الاقتصادي لإنتاج المحصول في منطقة الغاب بناءً على دراسة مؤشرات الكفاءة الاقتصادية للدونم الواحد في العام (2022). اعتمد البحث المنهج الوصفي التحليلي في دراسة وتقدير معادلات الاتجاه العام لمتغيرات البحث، خلال الفترة المدروسة، كما اعتمد المنهج الكمي في تقدير العائد الاقتصادي للدونم الواحد باستخدام مؤشرات الكفاءة الاقتصادية كالتكاليف الإنتاجية، والربح الصافي، والهامش الإجمالي، ومعدل دوران الأصول المتغيرة. بيَّنت نتائج تحليل السلاسل الزمنية لمتغيرات البحث وجود اتجاه عام متناقص في المساحة المزروعة والإنتاج من المحصول على مستوى القطر خلال الفترة المدروسة. أظهرت نتائج تقييم العائد الاقتصادي أنّ التكاليف الإجمالية لإنتاج محصول اليانسون بلغت 2221789.155 ل.س/ دونم، الربح الصافي 2178210 ل.س/ دونم، زمن دوران الأصول المتغيرة 111.28 يوم، معامل الربحية بالقياس لتكاليف الإنتاج 162.70%، وهذا يعني أنّ كل ليرة مستثمرة كتكاليف إنتاج في زراعة المحصول تعطي ربحاً قدره 162.70ليرة وهو مؤشر جيد. كما أظهرت النتائج أن زراعة محصول اليانسون تتمتع بكفاءة إنتاجية واقتصادية جيدة حيث بلغ مؤشر الكفاءة الإنتاجية والاقتصادية للدونم الواحد 2.41، 1.98 على التوالي.

Background: Contribution of host factors in mediating susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis is not well understood. Objective: To examine the influence of patient sex on anatomical localization of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in Mali, West Africa. Hospital records of 1,304 suspected cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, available in TB Registry of a tertiary tuberculosis referral center from 2019 to 2021, were examined. Results: A total of 1,012 (77.6%) were confirmed to have extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a male to female ratio of 1.59:1. Four clinical forms of EPTB predominated, namely pleural (40.4%), osteoarticular (29.8%), lymph node (12.5%), and abdominal TB (10.3%). We found sex-based differences in anatomical localization of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, with males more likely than females to have pleural TB (OR: 1.51; 95% CI [1.16 to 1.98]). Conversely, being male was associated with 43% and 41% lower odds of having lymph node and abdominal TB, respectively (OR: 0.57 and 0.59). Conclusion: Anatomical sites of extrapulmonary tuberculosis differ by sex with pleural TB being associated with male sex while lymph node and abdominal TB are predominately associated with female sex. Future studies are warranted to understand the role of sex in mediating anatomical site preference of tuberculosis.

Today, recycling and the use of eco-friendly construction supplies are major concerns for the environment. Concrete is frequently utilized in the engineering and construction sectors. In the past several decades, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), characterized by very high mechanical qualities, has emerged as one of the most popular types of concrete. Huge quantities of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) are often utilized; this increases the price of UHPC, limits its widespread usage in structural applications, produces a substantial quantity of carbon dioxide, and uses a sizable amount of natural resources. It is recommended that other additives be used in lieu of OPC in concrete preparation and that recycled aggregates from a variety of sources be used in place of natural aggregates to make UHPC production more environmentally friendly and economically feasible. This study combines industrial and agricultural waste to create an affordable and sustainable UHPC. For example, glass particles (GP) as a manufacturing byproduct generated by glass waste (GW) are utilized as an alternative for fine aggregate ''sand (S)'' with substitution ratios of 0 %, 50 %, and 100 %, while wheat straw ash (WSA), as an agricultural byproduct, is utilized as an OPC substitute at varying substitution ratios 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %. We conducted and analyzed experiments with 12 mixtures divided into three groups. Several factors are studied, including slump flow, mechanical characteristics, drying shrinkage, high temperature, and microstructural features. Based on the obtained outcomes, boosting the percentage of GP utilized to substitute the S made it more workable. In addition, replacing 20 % of the OPC with WSA and 0 % of the S with GP yielded the best results in terms of mechanical characteristics. Increasing the WSA replacement rate while fixing GP to S substitution level significantly reduced drying shrinkage values. Lastly, the compressive strength (fc) findings of UHPC structural components exposed to elevated temperatures up to 200 °C were enhanced using GP as a replacement for S. In brief, the results of this experimental investigation can contribute well to illustrating the effect of utilizing GP and WSA to manufacture sustainable ultra-high-performance concrete.

Egypt produces more rice straw than any other nation, and this residue is currently discarded in untreated landfills and open fields, causing environmental damage in the country. Furthermore, eggshells, a waste product used in bakeries, restaurants, and poultry farms, were typically disposed of in landfills, posing health hazards. So, grinding eggshells into nanoparticles, known as nano eggshell powder (NEP), increases its activity. In addition, to its high calcium content, NEP may be used with pozzolanic substances like rice straw ash (RSA), which have a lower calcium concentration. This study examined the characteristics of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) produced using RSA and NEP eco-friendly components within partial cement substitution. The ratios of RSA to cement were 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %, while the NEP quantities were 2 %, 4 %, and 6 % of the total binder. The results indicate that combining NEP and RSA as pozzolanic materials can improve concrete characteristics while decreasing cement content and reducing environmental contamination. Using RSA and NEP as substitutes for cement has also improved the material's mechanical characteristics, durability, and dry shrinkage.

A significant quantity of cement is necessary for the production of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). However, some environmental issues are associated with cement production. The worldwide agricultural growth increases ash from agricultural waste (AW). Furthermore, industrial waste (IW) generated throughout the stone-cutting and processing has increased due to the growing demand for granite stone in construction. This research conducted a unique study that involved comparing the use of sugarcane leaf ash (SLA) as AW and granite dust (GD) as IW as partial substitutes for cement in the production of eco-friendly UHPC. The effect of employing SLA and GD with replacement ratios ranging from 20% to 50% on the mechanical and transport properties of UHPC was studied. In addition, this research investigated the effectiveness of partial replacement of natural fine aggregate (NFA) by recycled fine aggregate (RFA) with ratios ranging from 25% to 100% on the UHPC qualities. Moreover, the effect of elevated temperatures on the UHPC and the microstructural examination were investigated. Results demonstrated that the optimum replacement ratio of SLA or GD from cement was 20%, showing the best mechanical characteristics of the UHPC. For example, after 28 days of casting, the compressive strength increased by 12.16% and 8.44% when SLA and GD were added to the UHPC mix, respectively. Additionally, the 25% replacement ratio of RFA from NFA presented the best mechanical and transport properties of the UHPC. The mixes containing SLA positively affected the UHPC higher than those containing GD.

AbstractEvery year millions of students travel to other countries to pursue their dreams of becoming skilled and knowledgeable professionals with expertise. However, they have to face some challenges and difficulties during studying abroad. The current study aimed to examine and identify the academic problems faced by foreign postgraduates while studying at Chinese universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Further, this study also aimed to identify various levels of academic problems and put forward possible recommendations and solutions that help international postgraduates cope with difficulties in their studies. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey from the 493 international postgraduates studying in six public sector universities located in different parts of Wuhan. Using the SPSS 24 version and Principle Component Factor Analysis method, the study found that foreign postgraduates encounter academic problems and difficulties, 30.25%, 12.04%, 8.21%, perceived scientific research writing, teaching & learning, and perceived student-supervisor interaction. Also, 5.07% and 4.47% of the perceived major courses and academic activities. The study finds that foreign postgraduates studying in Wuhan, China expressing their significant concerns, are scientific research writing issues, the teaching system, lack of student-supervisor interaction, language barrier, and fewer course selection options. Based on the result, the study suggested that focusing on scientific writing skills, increasing interaction with supervisors, offering more English programs, increasing English teaching faculty, and arranging academic seminars and workshops can effectively reduce students’ academic problems in Chinese universities. Possible solutions, limitations and future research directions have been discussed.

Introduction Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a poor prognosis and significant morbidity from local tumor progression. We investigated outcomes among oligometastatic PDAC patients treated with stereotactic magnetic resonance image-guided ablative radiotherapy (SMART) to primary disease. Methods We performed a retrospective multi-institutional analysis of oligometastatic PDAC at diagnosis or with metachronous oligoprogression during induction chemotherapy treated with primary tumor SMART. Outcomes of interest included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), freedom from locoregional failure (FFLRF), and freedom from distant failure (FFDF). Acute and late toxicity were reported and in exploratory analyses patients were stratified by the number of metastases, SMART indication, and addition of metastasis-directed therapy. Results From 2019 to 2021, 22 patients with oligometastatic PDAC (range: 1–6 metastases) received SMART to the primary tumor with a median follow-up of 11.2 months from SMART. Nineteen patients had de novo synchronous metastatic disease and three had metachronous oligoprogression. Metastasis location most commonly was liver only (40.9%), multiple organs (27.3%), lungs only (13.6%), or abdominal/pelvic nodes (13.6%). All patients received either FOLFIRINOX (64%) or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (36%) followed by SMART (median 50 Gy, 5 fractions) for local control (77%), pain control (14%), or local progression (9%). Additionally, 41% of patients received other metastasis-directed treatments. The median OS from diagnosis and SMART was 23.9 months and 11.6 months, respectively. Calculated from SMART, the median PFS was 2.4 months with 91% of patients having distant progression, and 1-year local control was 68. Two patients (9%) experienced grade 3 toxicities, gastric outlet obstruction, and gastrointestinal bleed without grade 4 or 5 toxicity. Conclusion There was minimal morbidity of local disease progression after SMART in this cohort of oligometastatic PDAC. As systemic therapy options improve, additional strategies to identify patients who may derive benefits from local consolidation or metastasis-directed therapy are needed.

“Giant” or core/thick‐shell quantum dots (gQDs) are an important class of solid‐state quantum emitter characterized by strongly suppressed blinking and photobleaching under ambient conditions, and reduced nonradiative Auger processes. Together, these qualities provide distinguishing and useful functionality as single‐ and ensemble‐photon sources. For many applications, operation at elevated temperatures and under intense photon flux is desired, but performance is strongly dependent on the synthetic method employed for thick‐shell growth. Here, a comprehensive analysis of gQD structural properties “from the inside out” as a function of shell‐growth method is reported: successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and high‐temperature continuous injection (HT‐CI), or sequential combinations of the two. Key correlations across synthesis methods, structural features (interfacial alloying, stacking‐fault density and surface‐ligand identity), and performance metrics (quantum yield, single‐gQD photoluminescence under thermal/photo stress, charging behavior and quantum‐optical properties) are identified. Surprisingly, it is found that interfacial alloying is the strongest indicator of gQD stability under stress, but this parameter is not the determining factor for Auger suppression. Furthermore, quantum yield is strongly influenced by surface chemistry and can approach unity even in the case of high shell‐defect density, while introduction of zinc‐blende stacking faults increases the likelihood that a gQD exhibits charged‐state emission.

Background: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most common cause of antenatal hydronephrosis. The incidence is around 1: 750–1500 live births. The standard treatment for (UPJO) is open pyeloplasty (OP) with a high success rate of 90%–95%. In the last 20 years, minimal invasive pyeloplasty (MIP) became an excellent alternative technique to OP which was historically the standard of care. Materials and Methods: The study participants were male and female patients aged 14 years old or less who had undergone open/minimally invasive pyeloplasty during 2015–2020 and who had at least 1-year follow-up after surgery. The data were collected retrospectively from patients’ charts. The patients were categorized into two cohort groups: OP and on the other arm minimally invasive pyeloplasty (robotic/laparoscopic) comparing the outcomes as a 1ry endpoint. 2ry endpoints were hospital stay, duration of surgery, and anteroposterior diameter of renal ultrasound. Results: A total of 133 patients were included in the study. Eighty-four underwent MIP while 49 patients underwent OP. 1ry endpoint was the success rate in both groups. The success rate was 94% (n: 79) and 98% (n: 48) in patients who underwent MIP and OP, respectively. P

The purpose of the study was to assess strategies for enhancing the integration of cultural practices into the teaching and learning of chemistry in secondary schools. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the population of the study comprised 19,920 respondents. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The instrument used for data collection was “Strategies Enhancing Integrating Cultural Practices Questionnaire (SEICPQ)” developed by the researchers. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 significance. The result revealed that incorporation of cultural practices into the chemistry curriculum content and adequate training of teachers on the integration of cultural practices in teaching chemistry and among others were identified as strategies that could enhance the integration of cultural practices. Non-incorporation of cultural practices into the chemistry curriculum content among others were identified as factors affecting the integration of cultural practices. The results also revealed that teachers and students do not significantly differ on their responses on strategies enhancing as well as the factors militating against the integration of cultural knowledge and practices into teaching of chemistry. Necessary conclusions were made.

Household violence poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of adolescent girls. In conflict-affected communities, increased stresses to safety, security, health, and livelihoods may heighten this risk. While it is widely evidenced that the caregiver-child relationship can increase or protect against girls’ risk of violence, less is known about the role of male siblings. Sibling Support for Adolescent Girls in Emergencies (SSAGE) used whole-family support programming to synchronously engage adolescent girls, their male siblings, and their caregivers in conflict-affected communities in Jordan and Niger, using gender-transformative approaches to explore the impacts of gender norms, power, and violence and encourage support and emotional connection. We conducted qualitative research activities, including focus group discussions, participatory group activities, and in-depth, paired, and key informant interviews with 469 SSAGE participants and program facilitators to explore SSAGE’s impact on the male-female sibling dyad in both settings. The multi-stakeholder team used a collaborative thematic analysis approach to identify emergent themes. Findings suggest that the inclusion of male siblings in family strengthening programs may have a positive impact on factors related to girls’ protection, with research participants discussing decreased perpetration of physical and verbal violence by male siblings, increased equity in household labor between siblings, and improved trust and mutual support among siblings. These changes were facilitated by improved communication and interrogation of positive gender identities. In humanitarian settings, interventions that support more gender-transformative, egalitarian, and emotionally effective relationships between male-female siblings can work towards improving girls’ protective assets. More research on the impact of this relationship on girls’ experience of immediate and long-term experience of violence is needed. In settings where gender power dynamics among male-female siblings are less salient, other relationship dyads should be explored.

On fifth-generation wireless networks, a potential massive MIMO system is used to meet the ever-increasing request for high-traffic data rates, high-resolution streaming media, and cognitive communication. In order to boost the trade-off between energy efficiency (EE), spectral efficiency (SE), and throughput in wireless 5G networks, massive MIMO systems are essential. This paper proposes a strategy for EE 5G optimization utilizing massive MIMO technology. The massive MIMO system architecture would enhance the trade-off between throughput and EE at the optimum number of working antennas. Moreover, the EE-SE tradeoff is adjusted for downlink and uplink massive MIMO systems employing linear precoding techniques such as Multiple -Minimum Mean Square Error (M-MMSE), Regularized Zero Forcing (RZF), Zero Forcing (ZF), and Maximum Ratio (MR). Throughput is increased by adding more antennas at the optimum EE, according to the analysis of simulation findings. Next, utilizing M MMSE instead of RZF and ZF, the suggested trading strategy is enhanced and optimized. The results indicate that M-MMSE provides the best tradeoff between EE and throughput at the determined optimal ratio between active antennas and active users equipment’s (UE).

Agricultural countries suffer from growth problems of agricultural waste ash (AWA). This research paper studies the use of AWA as a partial substitute for cement to produce ultra-high-strength concrete (UHSC). This paper also investigates the effect of using sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) and corn stalk ash (CSA) on the properties of UHSC. Residues from the combustion process of agricultural wastes are utilized as a pozzolanic material inserted as a partial substitute for cement for UHSC production. The replacement rates of cement by the SBA were 10%, 20%, and 30% of the mass, whilst those of cement by the CSA were 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of the mass. The effects of SBA and CSA on workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity on UHSC properties were investigated. In addition, the effects of SBA and CSA on resistance to chloride ion penetration and water sorptivity and permeability in UHSC were investigated. The investigations showed impressive results. That is, producing UHSC with respective compressive and flexural strengths of more than 205 and 27 MPa is possible when 24% of cement mass replacement by AWA (SBA 20% + CSA 4%) is conducted at the test age of 28 days. The lowest permeability is achieved with 38% of cement mass replacement by AWA (SBA 30% + CSA 8%) of 140 coulombs and 0.95 (cm/sec) for chloride and water permeability, respectively.

Abstract Background An issue of particular concern is the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCOV) on the people coinfected with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and/or tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, this interaction has not been well explored in African despite the large proportion of these risk populations living with HIV and/or patients and/or tuberculosis (TB) in the African region. This study aims to design a research protocol for assessment of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on these risk populations in response to COVID-19 strategic plans in Burkina Faso by generating serological, epidemiological, virological, clinical and socio-anthropological evidence-based data. Methods A multidisciplinary research will be conducted in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso using mixed methods. Data will be collected from a cohort of people living with HIV and/or TB patients in the city (i) to determine the proportion of people with specific antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using retrospective data ; (ii) to determine the proportion of people infected with Covid-19 and the dynamics of viral loads and antibodies in these people based on prospective data; (iii) to identify circulating SARS-COV-2 variants and novel biomarkers using prospective data ; (iv) to analyze perceptions, community experiences and response strategies during the public health emergencies imposed by COVID-19 through a qualitative study. Discussion This study will generate factual and comprehensive data that will contribute in improving response strategies to COVID-19 and the other possible emerging diseases with keen interest on the risk populations living with HIV and/or TB infected patients.

Abstract Researchers are focused on the global issue of plastic contamination in agricultural soils because of the known effects of plastics on the soil ecosystem. Previous reviews did not pay attention to plastic sources, standardized extraction methods, soil characterization, and the abundance of plastics in agricultural soils. This study aims to review up-to-the-minute knowledge about plastic contamination studies, suggest the best method for microplastic studies, and propose future research areas. The research about plastic contamination in agricultural soils published from January 2018 to March 2022 was reviewed for this review article. Studies focusing on microplastics in soils other than agricultural soils were not considered in the present review. The data were acquired from several databases, namely Web of Science and Google Scholar. The keywords used to search these databases were "microplastics AND agricultural soils" and "macroplastics AND agricultural soils". Other literature sources were obtained from the reference lists of downloaded articles, and other pieces of literature that directly dealt with macroplastic and microplastic contamination in agricultural soils were obtained from relevant journals and books. Overall, 120 sources of literature, including 102 original research articles, 13 review articles, and five books, were selected, reviewed, and synthesized. As expected, agricultural soils, including arable lands, paddy lands, uplands, irrigation, and greenhouse soils, receive plastic contaminants. The contaminants of different sizes and forms are distributed spatially and temporally in the surface, subsurface, and profiles of the agricultural soils. Unlike previous studies that reported many studies on sewage sludge, the significant sources of plastic contamination in the agricultural soils included mulching, sludge and compost placement, and greenhouses abandonment. The distribution of plastic contamination studies in the agricultural lands is Asia: 60%; Europe: 29%; Africa: 4%; North America: 4%; Latin America: 3%; and Australia: 0%. After careful analysis of the methods used for the plastics contamination studies, the study concluded that floatations with low-density solutions such as distilled water and NaCl are efficient in separating light-density microplastics. In contrast, ZnCl and NaI are incredibly efficient in separating the heavy-density microplastics. Moreover, this review provides insight for future research in the field.

Abstract Background Three of entomopathogenic fungi, identified as Isaria javanica (Cjc-03 and Cjw-01) and Purpureocillium lilacinum (TS-01) were found naturally infecting the whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on chili and tomato plants. All the isolates were identified by morphological characterization and molecular identification (ITS region amplification). The virulence of the three isolates was evaluated against nymphs of B. tabaci at three different concentrations (1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 conidia/ml) under laboratory conditions and on adults of B. tabaci at one conidia concentration (1 × 107 conidia/ml) under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Results Isaria javanica showed the highest virulence against B. tabaci nymphs and adults in both laboratory and glasshouse conditions. I. javanica exhibited the highest mortality in the laboratory against B. tabaci, nymphs at the highest concentration (1 × 108 conidia/ml) 8 days post-inoculation. Likewise, in the laboratory bioassay, B. tabaci, adults, Cjc-03 isolate exhibited maximum mortality (80.0%), followed by Cjw-01 isolate (77.5%), and TS-01 isolate (65.0%) at the concentration of 1 × 107 conidia/ml at 7 days post-inoculation. The highest mortality rate (63.45%) was recorded by the Cjc-03 isolate and TS-01 (54.22%) isolate at 3 days post-inoculation in glasshouse bioassay using the concentration of 1 × 107 conidia/ml of each of the 2 isolates (Cjc-03 and TS-01) against B. tabaci adults. Conclusion Overall, the findings showed that both isolates of I. javanica and P. lilacinum reduced the number of eggs, nymphs, and adults’ emergence of B. tabaci, following the application of 1 × 107 conidia/ml on tomato leaves in the glasshouse. The newly isolated strains could be developed as a potential commercial biopesticide for managing B. tabaci.

Like other members of the viola family, Viola odorata may be found naturally occurring in Europe and Asia. This little plant is tough and perennially herbaceous. It's also known as sweet violet and English violet. There are several medicinal uses for this flowering plant, including its ability to fight cancer, bacteria, and inflammation., antioxidant activity, and antipyretic activity. The phytochemical studies of different parts of Viola odorata resulted in the isolation of different chemical constituents such as Coumarins, caffeic acid, methyl salicylate, flavonoids (Quercetin, kaempferol), glycosides (Rutin), and terpenoids (stigma sterol). Coumarins are important natural phenolic compounds of the family of benzopyrone. Coumarin's basic structure consists of a pyrone ring fused with a benzene ring. Umbelliferone and esculetin are the most common simple coumarins in nature. Coumarins become an attractive backbone drug with innovative impacts on illnesses and reduced side effects on healthy cells. Anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and other biological properties are among those attributed to coumarins derivatives. In this study, Umbelliferone and esculetin of Viola odorata were identified by TLC, and HPTLC.