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Coke formation inside heterogeneous reactors is an important industrial problem that leads to reduced catalyst efficiency. However, this study aims to prove the benefits of coke build-up in improving catalyst performance. The formation and decomposition of coke on six different zeolite structures was studied. The dissociation kinetic model of the spent catalysts during the toluene alkylation with 1-heptene inside a stainless-steel autoclave reactor at different temperatures was carried out. Various techniques (XRD, XRF, TPO, CHNS and TGA-DTG) were used. It was found that the conversion and selectivity of the desired product were higher on the parent H-mordenite and the dealuminated H-beta catalysts with conversions of 85.3% and 84.67%, respectively, at a 360 min reaction time. This was attributed to the reduction of the ratio of hard:soft coke. It is confirmed that the decomposition activation energies of hard coke, 140.1–202.6 kJ/mol, are much higher energies than those of soft coke, 89.9–118.7 kJ/mol. It is also noted that the hypothesis of pore mouth catalysis is dominated by non-polyaromatic coke on the surface of the H-beta catalysts, while the hypothesis is dominated by polyaromatic coke on the surface of the H-mordenite catalysts.

Introduction: Angiocentric gliomas (AG) in brainstem location are exceedingly rare and might cause differential diagnostic problems and uncertainty regarding the best therapeutic approach. Hereby, we describe the clinicopathological findings in a brainstem AG presenting in a toddler child and review the literature.Case report: A 2-year-old boy presented with 5 weeks history of gait disturbances, frequent falls, left-sided torticollis and swallowing problems. MRI head showed a T2-hyperintense, partly exophytic mass lesion centred in the pontomedullary region, raising the possibility of diffuse midline glioma. The exophytic component was partially resected by suboccipital craniotomy, leaving intact the infiltrative component. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted due to postoperative hydrocephalus. Histological examination revealed a moderately cellular tumour consisted of bland glial cells infiltrating the brain parenchyma and radially arranged around the blood vessels. By immunohistochemistry, the tumour strongly expressed S100 and GFAP in addition to intense nestin positivity, while OLIG2 was negative in the perivascular tumour cells. DNA methylation array profiled the tumour as “methylation class diffuse astrocytoma, MYB or MYBL1-altered subtype B (infratentorial)” and an in-frame MYB::QKI fusion was identified by RNA sequencing, confirming the diagnosis of angiocentric glioma. The patient has been initially treated with angiogenesis inhibitor and mTOR inhibitor, and now he is receiving palliative vinblastine. He is clinically stable on 9 months follow-up.Conclusion: Brainstem AG may cause a diagnostic problem, and the surgical and oncological management is challenging due to unresectability and lack of response to conventional chemo-radiation. In the future, genetically-tailored therapies might improve the prognosis.

BackgroundGrowing evidence suggests a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and RAS. Hence, the present meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis sought to investigate the potential association between low serum vitamin D levels and RAS.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched on December 1st, 2022 to retrieve all relevant studies. The grey literature was also searched via ProQuest. All case-control studies on the association between vitamin D and RAS were considered. The quality appraisal of the included studies was done using Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RevMan 5.0 and trial sequential analysis (TSA) programs were used for analyses.ResultsA total of 14 case-control studies with 1468 subjects (721 RAS patients and 747 controls) were included. The pooled data revealed a significant association between low serum levels of vitamin D and the risk of RAS (mean difference = – 8.73, 95% CI: – 12.02 to – 5.44, I2 = 94%, P < 0.00001). Additionally, TSA findings indicated that the current studies surpassed the required information size, confirming that the differences were reliable.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests that Vitamin D deficiency may have a role in the pathogenesis of RAS. Therefore, evaluation of vitamin D should be considered in RAS patients. Additionally, the results support the possibility of using vitamin D supplements in the management of RAS patients with inadequate serum levels of vitamin D. Future interventional studies are required to evaluate the benefits of vitamin D replacement in prevention and treatment of RAS.

Accurate visualization of bubbles in multiphase flow is a crucial aspect of modeling heat transfer, mixing, and turbulence processes. It has many applications, including chemical processes, wastewater treatment, and aquaculture. A new software, Flow_Vis, based on experimental data visualization, has been developed to visualize the movement and size distribution of bubbles within multiphase flow. Images and videos recorded from an experimental rig designed to generate microbubbles were analyzed using the new software. The bubbles in the fluid were examined and found to move with different velocities due to their varying sizes. The software was used to measure bubble size distributions, and the obtained results were compared with experimental measurements, showing reasonable accuracy. The velocity measurements were also compared with literature values and found to be equally accurate.

Abstract We explored antibody response after first and second BNT162b2 vaccinations, to predict the need for subsequent injections in nursing home (NH) residents. 369 NH residents were tested for IgG against SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD-IgG) and nucleoprotein-IgG (SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant and SARS-CoV-2 IgG Alinity assays, Abbott Diagnostics). In NH residents with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, the first dose elicited high RBD-IgG levels (≥ 4160 AU/mL) in 99/129 cases (76.9%), with no additional antibody gain after the second dose in 74 cases (74.7%). However, a low RBD-IgG level (

Abstract Multiple neurotoxic proteinopathies co-exist within vulnerable neuronal populations in all major neurodegenerative diseases. Interactions between these pathologies may modulate disease progression, suggesting they may constitute targets for disease-modifying treatments aiming to slow or halt neurodegeneration. Pairwise interactions between superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and ubiquitin-binding protein 62/sequestosome 1 (p62) proteinopathies have been reported in multiple transgenic cellular and animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), however corresponding examination of these relationships in patient tissues is lacking. Further, the coalescence of all three proteinopathies has not been studied in vitro or in vivo to date. These data are essential to guide therapeutic development and enhance the translation of relevant therapies into the clinic. Our group recently profiled SOD1 proteinopathy in post-mortem spinal cord tissues from familial and sporadic ALS cases, demonstrating an abundance of structurally-disordered (dis)SOD1 conformers which become mislocalized within these vulnerable neurons compared with those of aged controls. To explore any relationships between this, and other, ALS-linked proteinopathies, we profiled TDP-43 and p62 within spinal cord motor neurons of the same post-mortem tissue cohort using multiplexed immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. We identified distinct patterns of SOD1, TDP43 and p62 co-deposition and subcellular mislocalization between motor neurons of familial and sporadic ALS cases, which we primarily attribute to SOD1 gene status. Our data demonstrate co-deposition of p62 with mutant and wild-type disSOD1 and phosphorylated TDP-43 in familial and sporadic ALS spinal cord motor neurons, consistent with attempts by p62 to mitigate SOD1 and TDP-43 deposition. Wild-type SOD1 and TDP-43 co-deposition was also frequently observed in ALS cases lacking SOD1 mutations. Finally, alterations to the subcellular localization of the three proteins were tightly correlated, suggesting close relationships between the regulatory mechanisms governing the subcellular compartmentalization of these proteins. Our study is the first to profile spatial relationships between SOD1, TDP-43 and p62 pathologies in post-mortem spinal cord motor neurons of ALS patients, previously only studied in vitro. Our findings suggest interactions between these three key ALS-linked proteins are likely to modulate the formation of their respective proteinopathies, and perhaps the rate of motor neuron degeneration, in ALS patients.

keeping pace with the development in the field of education, attention has been paid to the learner by sharing his ideas, recording his answers and sharing them with his peers with all the answers to reach the model answer and to exit the educational process towards better learning. Therefore, a new educational step must be taken in a teaching method that differs from the previous one, which is the ring method. The idea of this method is based on the student’s answer the question, situation or the problem, and it can be used to know and discover the tribal concepts of students. The teachers were interested in organizing educational activities that depend on the discussion among group members to reach to an organized participatory product that leads to the production of common answers and ideas so that education becomes more effective. The effect of communication between learners may appear, which increases their motivation to learn, especially in the field of physical education and learning volleyball skills, which leads to the generation of positive trends towards practicing skills and increases they desire to participate more in the lesson. Research aims to: The - Recognizing the effect of using the round robin in learn the art of performing some volleyball skills for middle school students. - Identifying the effect of using the round robin in learn the art of performing the trend towards physical education lesson for female students The researchers used the experimental method for its relevance and the nature of the research. The research sample consisted of students of the fourth preparatory stage. Two divisions were randomly selected. One of them is an experimental method that used the round robin in learn the art of performing basic volleyball skills, and the other is a control method that uses the method used by the subject school. Statistical means have been used to extract the results of the research. The researchers concluded that the experimental group that used the round robin was superior to the control group that used the method followed by the school in learning the skills of serving from the bottom, passing from the bottom and passing from the top with the volleyball. The researchers also recommended the use of the round robin in teaching the basic skills of volleyball in the physical education lesson and other sports activities.

This case study elucidates culture-based narrative texts based on the interpretation of Arabic, Chinese, and English native speakers. A maximum variation technique of purposeful sampling was used to capture the experience of the participants. The study employed a collective case study and adopted schema analysis, analyzing metaphors and interviewing participants. The study explored metaphors, including probing time, elaboration, content recall, and distortion generated by the participants while reading English text-based in a foreign context. The results revealed that culturally familiar texts stimulated readers’ cultural schemata and enhanced their reading interpretation. The distortion and confusion that occurred while reading the unfamiliar texts could hamper readers’ curiosity to instigate and build new cultural schemata. Furthermore, there was a reciprocal interweaving between cultural schema and linguistic competence, regardless of the nature of the cultural text and its familiarity or unfamiliarity. The study recommends further investigation about using English for cultural purposes.

The permeable pavement seems to be an established stormwater management solution that may be utilized in parking and low-traffic areas. These pavements can reduce the amount of runoff that reduces the environmental impact compared with a traditional drainage system. Traditional drainage systems, which carry stormwater runoff quickly to a stream by piped systems, cause increases in runoff volume, peak flow, and pollutants are taken to rivers. This paper tests permeable asphalt pavement in a purpose-designed laboratory apparatus. To understand the hydraulic flow conditions and the runoff performance that occurred within two layers of permeable and conventional pavement. The thickness of the permeable layer is 25, 37.5, and 50 mm, and the conventional layer is 80mm. An artificial rainfall covering an area of 1.5 ×1.0 m2 is constructed to study the relationship between surface runoff and subsurface runoff from a permeable pavement under different geometric design parameters of a roadway. Five slopes set at 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 % in a short direction, and four discharge as 20, 40,60 and 80 L/min are tested. The result demonstrated that 50 mm thickness is suitable for permeable asphalt pavement under the most slope, increasing subsurface runoff and decreasing surface runoff water.

Abstract Herein, we present a thorough photovoltaic investigation of four triphenylamine organic sensitizers with D–π–A configurations and compare their photovoltaic performances to the conventional ruthenium-based sensitizer N719. SFA-5–8 are synthesized and utilized as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. The effects of the donor unit (triphenylamine), π-conjugation bridge (thiophene ring), and various acceptors (phenylacetonitrile and 2-cyanoacetamide derivatives) were investigated. Moreover, this was asserted by profound calculations of HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy levels, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and natural bond orbital (NBO) that had been studied for the TPA-sensitizers. Theoretical density functional theory (DFT) was performed to study the distribution of electron density between donor and acceptor moieties. The sensitization by the absorption of sensitizers SFA-5–8 leads to an obvious enhancement in the visible light absorption (300–750 nm) as well as a higher photovoltaic efficiency in the range of (5.53–7.56%). Under optimized conditions, SFA-7 showed outstanding sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2, resulting in enhancing the visible light absorption and upgrading the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to approximately 7.56% over that reported for the N719 (7.29%). Remarkably, SFA-7 outperformed N719 by 4% in the total conversion efficiency. Significantly, the superior performance of SFA-7 could be mainly ascribed to the higher short-circuit photocurrents (Jsc) in parallel with larger open-circuit voltages (Voc) and more importantly, the presence of different anchoring moieties that could enhance the ability to fill the gaps on the surface of the TiO2 semiconductor. That could be largely reflected in the overall enhancement in the device efficiency. Moreover, the theoretical electronic and photovoltaic properties of all studied sensitizers have been compared with experimental results. All the 2-cyanoacrylamide derivative sensitizers demonstrated robust photovoltaic performance.

Abstract Accurate skull stripping facilitates following neuro-image analysis. For computer-aided methods, the presence of brain skull in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) impacts brain tissue identification, which could result in serious misjudgments, specifically for patients with brain tumors. Though there are several existing works on skull stripping in literature, most of them either focus on healthy brain MRIs or only apply for a single image modality. These methods may be not optimal for multiparametric MRI scans. In the paper, we propose an ensemble neural network (EnNet), a 3D convolutional neural network (3DCNN) based method, for brain extraction on multiparametric MRI scans (mpMRIs). We comprehensively investigate the skull stripping performance by using the proposed method on a total of 15 image modality combinations. The comparison shows that utilizing all modalities provides the best performance on skull stripping. We have collected a retrospective dataset of 815 cases with/without glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). The ground truths of the skull stripping are verified by at least one qualified radiologist. The quantitative evaluation gives an average dice score coefficient and Hausdorff distance at the 95th percentile, respectively. We also compare the performance to the state-of-the-art methods/tools. The proposed method offers the best performance. The contributions of the work have five folds: first, the proposed method is a fully automatic end-to-end for skull stripping using a 3D deep learning method. Second, it is applicable for mpMRIs and is also easy to customize for any MRI modality combination. Third, the proposed method not only works for healthy brain mpMRIs but also pre-/post-operative brain mpMRIs with GBM. Fourth, the proposed method handles multicenter data. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first group to quantitatively compare the skull stripping performance using different modalities. All code and pre-trained model are available at: https://github.com/plmoer/skull_stripping_code_SR .

One of the main issues for intermediate-level nuclear waste (ILW) is atmospheric corrosion in stainless steel. The impact of microstructure on the pit shapes on three orientations of the duplex stainless steel DSS 2205 plate and the relative humidity impact on the atmospheric corrosion pits of DSS beneath MgCl2 drops is determined through the use of four characterization tools: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy. The pits on the top surface (LT) appears layered like an attack and mostly hemispherical, while the long transverse (LS) and short transverse (ST) planes reveal elongated strings. The map scan of EDX indicates mixed oxide inclusions and MnS inclusion existing in the steel alloy and the XRD analyses present the existence of two-phase both austenite γ and ferrite α peaks. The pit shape and area were influenced by relative humidity (RH) change. At RH 35% the trend of pits in 1-week exposure revealed a larger area of pit mouth than in RH 45%. For the same exposure time and in both RHs, the area seemed to be greater at the droplet’s center than in the edge of the droplet.

ObjectiveThis single-blinded, randomized, parallel group superiority trial evaluates whether the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) program, a 10-session parental-group intervention, was more effective in reducing stress in parents of children aged 6–20 years and displaying severe tyrannical behavior (STB) compared to a treatment as usual (TAU) intervention that provided supportive counseling and psychoeducation.MethodsEighty two parents of youth aged 6–20 years with STB were enrolled by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at the University Hospital of Montpellier (France). A random block and stratified by age (6–12 and 13–20 years) randomization, was performed. All participants were interviewed by independent, blinded to group assignments, research assistants, and completed their assessments at baseline and treatment completion (4 months from baseline). Since this program has not been previously evaluated in this population, the study primarily evaluated the efficacy, using the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form (PSI-SF). The primary outcome was the change from baseline to treatment completion of the PSI-SF total score.ResultsSeventy three participants completed the study and were available for analysis (36 NVR and 37 TAU). At completion, between-groups comparison of the change (completion minus baseline) in the total score of PSI-SF was not significant (NVR: −4.3 (± 13.9); TAU: −7.6 (± 19.6); two-sample t-test p = 0.43; effect size of −0.19 [−0.67, 0.28]).ConclusionContrary to our expectation, NVR was not superior to TAU in reducing parental stress at completion for parents of children with STB. However, NVR showed positive outcomes in the follow-up, pointing to the importance to implement parental strategies and following this population over longer time periods in future projects.Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT05567276.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common types of healthcare-associated infections. In Saudi Arabian hospitals, there is a scarcity of data on the pathogens and factors that cause CAUTIs. Therefore, data on the specific regional patterns of pathogens and their resistance are needed to update clinical practices to treat infectious diseases. This multicenter study explored antimicrobial-resistant pathogens causing CAUTIs in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients in ICUs in three centers between January 2017 and December 2020. The list of pathogens that caused CAUTIs, resistant pathogens, and medications used for treating CAUTI were identified from patient records (n = 393). Results: A total of 162 of 393 (41.2%) patients from three hospitals were diagnosed with CAUTIs, of whom 55.5% were females and 67.7% were from Saudi Arabia. The patients had ages ranging from 47 to 73 years, with a median weight of 75.0 kg. Around 91.1% of them had a 2-way latex catheter, whereas only 8.9% had a silicone catheter. Twenty different pathogenic microorganisms have been found to cause CAUTI, including Candida albicans (18.4%), Escherichia coli (13.5%), yeast other than Candida (10.4%), and Klebsiella pneumonia (8.5%). Among the causative pathogens recorded by CAUTI, 19.67% were antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The most resistant isolates recorded from CAUTI in the ICUs were carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae K. pneumonia (n = 17), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase K. pneumonia and E. coli (n = 11 and 19, respectively). The incidence rate of antimicrobial resistance among the study participants was 62.0%. Three cases of untreated pan-drug-resistant pathogens were recorded. Resistance to ciprofloxacin (16.5%) and trimethoprim or sulfamethoxazole (16.1%) was the most frequently observed pathogen. Importantly, antimicrobial resistance was significantly different between males and females (χ2 = 4.65, P

Objectives: The primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to investigate perceived stress, perceived social support, satisfaction with online learning, and coping strategies among working mothers in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 204 working mothers participated in an online survey. Four instruments were employed to analyze the study variables. Those instruments were Perceived Stressors Scale (PSS), Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (B-COPE) Inventory, and Distance Learning Satisfaction Scale (DLSAT). We used descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and internal consistency for all variables in analyzing data for all variables. Results: The results revealed that working mothers reported a high level of perceived stress (M = 44.15, SD = 7.25), a low level of perceived social support (M = 29.78, SD = 9.41), a low level of satisfaction with online learning (M = 17.50, SD = 6.60), and a moderate level of effectively coping with their life circumstances (M = 60.56, SD = 11.07). Furthermore, the mothers’ perceived stressors, perceived social support, and satisfaction with children’s online learning were all significantly associated with the score of coping strategies. Conclusions: As working mothers are of the most vulnerable groups who was affected during the corona-virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the results in this study are significant in providing essential support and resources for them to cope with stress in the future and identify effective coping strategies for their well-being.

Abstract Background To evaluate the efficacy for symptomatic knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program versus usual care. Methods Randomized, physician-blind, clinical trial in a monocentric prospective pilot study. Adult participants with symptomatic knee or hip OA were randomized into either intervention or control groups. The intervention group completed the MBSR program for a two-and-a-half-hour weekly session for 8 weeks. Usual care management was similar in both groups. All patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. The primary objective was to evaluate the change in WOMAC pain score between baseline and 3 months in the MBSR group compared to usual care group. Secondary objectives were to evaluate changes in pain VAS, WOMAC scores, quality of life (SF-36), HAD scores between baseline and 3/6 months. Results Forty patients were enrolled in the study. No differences in the WOMAC pain score between the two groups were observed in the different time points. A similar pattern was found for the other assessment outcomes. However, a significant pain VAS reduction in favor of the MBSR group between baseline and 6 months (− 29.6 ± 26.6 vs − 9.3 ± 27.3; p = 0.03) has been reached. Conclusions Our pilot RCT found contrasting results with no benefit on WOMAC pain and function and a delayed but long-term efficacy in pain VAS following a MBSR program in symptomatic knee or hip OA patients. Future studies with larger sample size are mandatory to confirm these preliminary results. Trial registration The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03644615, 23/08/2018).

Sodium benzoate SB is a white powder, used as preservative and food additive. Biochemical, physiological and histopathological effects of SB been tested in adult male rats. Twenty-four adult albino male rats aged100 day and weighted 250-350 g were used. Animals were divided into 4 groups. The first group considered as control, which received normal saline orally, other groups treated with SB by 300, 400, 500 mg/Kg of body weight respectively for 30 days. At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected from retro orbital sinus. Heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain were obtained for weight recording. The results indicated a significant decrease of super oxide dismutase SOD activity and a significant increase of nitric oxide NO level of treated group 500 mg/Kg of body weight. Moreover, findings revealed that there are no significant changes in growth hormone GH activity and body weight. A significant reduction of heart weight of treated group 500 mg/Kg of body weight were observed. The histopathological changes ranged from mild to severe in the brain cortex, as focal gliosis, satellitosis, mild vacuolation and vasogenic edema in treated groups with SB by different doses. Also, some changes were observed in liver represented by congestion of portal vein, mild hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes, stenosis of sinusoids, steatosis and necrosis of hepatocytes in treated groups with SB compared to control group. It concluded that short-term exposure to high doses of SB may be considered an oxidant substance that caused oxidative stress. Furthermore, SB can harm various organs in the body.

Tau pathology drives neuronal dysfunction in 4- repeat tauopathies. Here, the authors combine tau-PET, resting-state fMRI and histopathology data, to show that brain connectivity is associated with tau deposition patterns in 4-repeat tauopathies.

This research aims to stabilize clayey soil utilizing fluid catalytic cracking with an unchangeable ordinary portland cement ratio of 3 percent. A soft clayey soil was blended with 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 percent of fluid catalytic cracking by the dry stabilized soil weight, the ordinary portland cement amount has been fixed at 3 percent. The adding of different FCC ratios impact cement stabilized soil evaluated based on the results of unconfined-compressive-strengths test that gained after curing for 7 and 28 days. It was noticeable from the results that the best combination is the combination of soil remedied with 3 percent of each cement and FCC in improving the compressive strengths from 249.80 to 806.20k Pa for the stabilized soil after curing for 28 days. The most highlighting soil binder combination was analyzed utilizing scanning electron microscopy. It was noticed from the scanning electron microscopy results; cementitious materials were produced after 7 days of curing and improved more after curing for eight days.

Although ubiquitin ligases are known to control clock protein degradation, their other roles in clock neurons are unclear. Here the authors report that UBR4 promotes export of neuropeptides from the Golgi for axonal trafficking, which is important for circadian clock synchrony in mice and flies.

Simple and green preparation of ZnO blended with Parangtritis beach sand (BS) catalysts for oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (ODS-DBT) has been conducted. The ZnO-BS catalysts were prepared by blending ZnO with beach sand under a weight ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4, and then heated by microwave (MW) at 540 watts for 30 min, resulting in BS-MW, ZnO-MW, ZnO-BS-1-MW, ZnO-BS-2-MW, and ZnO-BS-4-MW, respectively. As a comparison, the ZnO-BS-1 was also heated by oven at 100 °C for 30 min produced ZnO-BS-1-OV. Each product was characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, acidity test by NH3 vapor adsorption, SAA, SEM-EDX, TEM, and magneticity test by an external magnetic field. Furthermore, each material was applied for ODS-DBT, and its product was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and FTIR. The results showed that ZnO-BS-1-OV had the highest acidity of 2.3486 mmol/g and produced the highest DBT removal efficiency through the ODS reaction of 81.59%. The use of catalysts in ODS-DBT does not affect the main structure of the treated fuel. Therefore, the combination of ZnO with BS can provide good performance in ODS activity and facilitate the separation of catalysts after the reaction due to its magnetic iron oxide content.

Abstract Background Mononeuritis multiplex is a rare autoimmune peripheral neuropathy that typically presents in the context of vasculitis, diabetes, infection, or as a paraneoplastic syndrome. Adverse immune-related neurological conditions have been increasingly reported with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and/or the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death ligand-1 axis. Mononeuritis multiplex has only been reported twice from treatment of cancers with immunotherapy. Case presentation Here we report a case of mononeuritis multiplex as a complication of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for melanoma. An 80-year-old non-Hispanic white female with recurrent melanoma was treated with combination ipilimumab and nivolumab and subsequently presented with progressive leg weakness, back pain, and difficulty ambulating. The diagnosis of mononeuritis multiplex was made, which was resistant to steroid pulses, chronic steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab. She developed progressive neurologic dysfunction and elected for hospice care. We found only two other cases reported in the literature. Conclusions Increased awareness, prompt recognition, and aggressive treatments are likely the best opportunity for improved outcomes in this severe side effect.

Background: Epidural is the most effective form of pain relief in labor with around 30% of laboring women in the UK and 60% in the USA receiving epidural analgesia. Objectives: To assess effect of regional analgesia on labor pain, duration, outcome of delivery and neonates. Materials and Methods: Case control study included 400 pregnant woman 200 of them delivered by painless labour and other 200 whose delivered without analgesia who attended to the babylon maternity and pediatric hospital,Al sadiq hospital and private hospitals in al hilla city which included private Teiba, Al Fayhaa hospitals from first of february 2022 to June 2022. Results: The duration of first stage of labor was significantly prolonged at control mothers 26%(52) in compare to 10%(20) of mothers with epidural anesthesia had prolonged labor. While second stage shown no significant association with epidural anesthesia (P = 0.47). Fetal heart rate abnormalities shown no significant association with epidural analgesia (P = 0.96). While back pain and headache was significantly higher in mothers with epidural analgesia (P < 0.001). Conclusions: EA was not associated with a higher instrumental delivery rate and higher rate of c/s, EA not cause significant maternal or neonatal complications in primi- and multiparas. Importantly, EA associated with short first stage of labor and not higher rate effect on duration of second stage of labour.

IntroductionChanges to federal legislation allowed nicotine-based e-cigarettes legal entry into the Canadian market in 2018. This included pod-type e-cigarettes (pods), such as JUUL, that were later found to be associated with steeply increasing prevalence and greater frequency of e-cigarette use among US and Canadian youth. Multiple studies of risk factors of JUUL use and use initiation have been conducted among various population groups in the US, but little evidence exists pointing to similar risk factors of pod use among Canadian youth and young adults. Understanding these risk factors can inform use prevention and intervention strategies in Canadian and other jurisdictions. MethodsA total of 668 Canadian youth and young adults recruited by the 2018-19 Youth and Young Adult Panel Study were provided a baseline survey 3 months before and a follow-up survey 9 months after the relaxation of federal nicotine e-cigarette regulations. We used multivariable logistic regression to understand and rank importance of baseline predictors of future pod use among respondents. ResultsPast-month cannabis use (OR [odds ratio] = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.66–4.21, p < 0.001), established cigarette use (OR = 3.42, 1.53–7.65, p < 0.01), past cigarette experimentation (OR = 2.40, 1.34–4.31, p < 0.01), having many friends who vaped (OR = 2.15, 1.37–3.34, p < 0.001), age below 18 compared to age over 22 (OR = 5.26, 2.63–10.00, p < 0.001) and male sex (OR = 1.69, 1.16–2.50, p < 0.01) were significant and the most influential predictors of future pod use. ConclusionSimilar factors drove pod use among Canadian and US youth and young adults. Appropriate preventive strategies can benefit from considering polysubstance use among high school–aged youth.

IntroductionLes modifications apportées à la législation fédérale ont permis la vente légale de cigarettes électroniques à base de nicotine sur le marché canadien en 2018. Parmi ces produits figurent les cigarettes électroniques à capsule, comme les dispositifs JUUL, qui ont par la suite été associées à une hausse marquée de la prévalence de l’utilisation des cigarettes électroniques et à un accroissement de la fréquence de leur utilisation chez les jeunes américains et canadiens. De nombreuses études ont été menées auprès de divers groupes de populations aux États-Unis sur les facteurs qui incitent à utiliser ou à commencer à utiliser les dispositifs JUUL, mais on dispose de peu de données probantes sur des facteurs de risque semblables liés à l’utilisation des cigarettes électroniques à capsule chez les jeunes et les jeunes adultes canadiens. La compréhension de ces facteurs de risque peut éclairer l’adoption de stratégies de prévention et d’intervention au Canada et dans d’autres pays. MéthodologieAu total, 668 jeunes et jeunes adultes canadiens ont été recrutés dans le cadre de l’Étude par panel auprès des jeunes et des jeunes adultes réalisée en 2018- 2019. Ils ont été invités à répondre à une enquête initiale ayant eu lieu 3 mois avant l’assouplissement de la réglementation fédérale sur les cigarettes électroniques à base de nicotine et une enquête de suivi 9 mois après la modification de la réglementation. Nous avons utilisé une régression logistique multivariée pour comprendre les prédicteurs de référence de l’utilisation future des cigarettes électroniques à capsule chez les répondants et pour les classer en fonction de leur importance. RésultatsAvoir consommé du cannabis au cours du dernier mois (rapport de cotes [RC] = 2,66; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % : 1,66 à 4,21, p < 0,001), fumer régulièrement la cigarette (RC = 3,42; 1,53 à 7,65, p < 0,01), avoir expérimenté antérieurement la cigarette (RC = 2,40, 1,34 à 4,31, p < 0,01), avoir de nombreux amis qui vapotent (RC = 2,15; 1,37 à 3,34, p < 0,001), avoir moins de 18 ans comparativement à avoir plus de 22 ans (RC = 5,26; 2,63 à 10,00, p < 0,001) et être de sexe masculin (RC = 1,69; 1,16 à 2,50, p < 0,01) se sont révélés des prédicteurs significatifs et les plus influents de l’utilisation future de cigarettes électroniques à capsule. ConclusionDes facteurs similaires ont incité les jeunes et les jeunes adultes canadiens et américains à utiliser des cigarettes électroniques à capsule. L’examen de la polyconsommation de substances chez les jeunes du secondaire peut être utile pour mettre en place des stratégies préventives appropriées.

Abstract Background Ear keloids are abnormal continuously growing healing process following cutaneous injury. Surgical excision is the standard treatment strategy; however, 50–80% of cases develop recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is commonly offered with a marked decrease in the recurrence rate. The variation in RT protocols used in different studies leads to a bias of results analysis. The aim is to present our experience of using surgical excision with postoperative radiotherapy for recurrent ear keloids. Also, studying different variables especially dose and keloid size that affects recurrence rate. Radiotherapy complications were reported and assessed. Patients and methods Keloids between 2006 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-five ear keloids out of 83 cases who received RT after surgical excision were included in the study. Different dose regimens including 13 Gy/1fx, 8 Gy/1fx, 10 Gy/2fx, 15 Gy/3fx, and other fractionated regimens were used. The Median follow-up period was 35 months. Recurrence-free rate (RFR), side effects, and prognostic factors were assessed. Results The overall 2-year RFR was 88 ± 5%. The 2-year RFR was 83 ± 8% for dose regimens with biological effective dose (BED) ≤ 40 and 92 ± 5% for regimens with BED > 40 Gy with an insignificant p value. The 2-year RFR was 74 ± 10% compared to 97 ± 3% for keloids > 2 cm and keloids ≤ 2 cm respectively (p value 0.02). The higher dose used for keloids with > 2 cm size significantly improved RFR. The orthovoltage therapy showed marginally better 2-year RFR compared to electron beam therapy; however, statistically insignificant (p value 0.09). The side effects were minimal with no reported second malignancy or serious G3-4 complications. Conclusion Excision followed by RT is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent ear keloids. Low and modest radiation doses are effective; however, a higher dose is recommended for keloids > 2 cm. We recommend a prospective larger-scale study to test the effect of dose and keloid size on the treatment results.

Introduction. Hashimoto thyroiditis is the most common cause of chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland. Ultrasound is the modality for detection, while fine needle aspiration is the gold standard method for diagnosis. Serologic markers, such as antithyroidal peroxidase antibody (TPO) and antithyroglobulin antibody (TG), are usually elevated. Aim. The main objective is to appraise the incidence of neoplasms on a background of Hashimoto thyroiditis. Our second objective is to recognize the different sonographic appearances of Hashimoto thyroiditis, to focus on its nodular and focal patterns, and to measure the sensitivity of the ACR TIRAD system (2017) when interpreted on patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis. Methods. A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study. We studied 137 cases diagnosed cytologically as Hashimoto thyroiditis from January 2013–December 2019. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS (26th edition), and ultrasounds were reviewed by a single board-certified radiologist. The ACR thyroid imaging and Data System 2017 (ACR TI-RADs 2017) and the Bethesda System for reporting thyroid cytology 2017 (BSRTC 2017) were used for reporting ultrasound and cytology, respectively. Results. The mean age was 44.66 years and the female : male was 9 : 1. Serologically, anti-Tg was high in 22 cases (38%), while anti-TPO was positive in all of the 60 cases studied. Histologically, 11 cases were diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (8%) and a single case with follicular adenoma (0.7%). Ultrasonographically, 50% of the cases showed diffuse pattern, in which 13% of them showed micronodules. 32.2% were macronodular, and 17.7% were a focal nodular pattern. 45 nodules were interpreted with the ACR TIRAD system (2017), in which 22.2% were TR2, 26.6% were TR3, 17.7% were TR4, and 33.3% were TR5. Conclusion. Hashimoto thyroiditis is a risk factor for developing thyroid neoplasms, which necessitate a proper assessment of the cytological material studied and a correlation with the clinical and radiological features. Recognizing the different types of Hashimoto thyroiditis and its variable appearances is significantly important in performing and interpreting thyroid ultrasound imaging. Microcalcification is the most sensitive parameter to discriminate between PTC and nodular type of Hashimoto thyroiditis. The TIRAD system (2017) is a useful tool for risk stratification; however, it might create unnecessary FNA studies in the setting of Hashimoto thyroiditis because of its variable appearances on ultrasound. A modified TIRAD system for patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis is important to alleviate this confusion. Finally, anti-TPO is a sensitive marker for detecting Hashimoto thyroiditis, which could be used for future referencing of newly diagnosed cases.

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the role of DNA methylation in regulating the transcription of mitochondrial genes, particularly in brain disorders characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we present a novel approach to interrogate the mitochondrial DNA methylome at single base resolution using targeted bisulfite sequencing. We applied this method to investigate mitochondrial DNA methylation patterns in post-mortem superior temporal gyrus and cerebellum brain tissue from seven human donors.ResultsWe show that mitochondrial DNA methylation patterns are relatively low but conserved, with peaks in DNA methylation at several sites, such as within the D-LOOP and the genes MT-ND2, MT-ATP6, MT-ND4, MT-ND5 and MT-ND6, predominantly in a non-CpG context. The elevated DNA methylation we observe in the D-LOOP we validate using pyrosequencing. We identify loci that show differential DNA methylation patterns associated with age, sex and brain region. Finally, we replicate previously reported differentially methylated regions between brain regions from a methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing study.ConclusionsWe have annotated patterns of DNA methylation at single base resolution across the mitochondrial genome in human brain samples. Looking to the future this approach could be utilized to investigate the role of mitochondrial epigenetic mechanisms in disorders that display mitochondrial dysfunction.

The problem of sulfur content in heavy oil is a challenge for researchers to meet the needs of environmentally friendly fuels. The catalyst preparation plays an important role in the desulfurization process. The synthesis of ZnO-activated carbon as a catalyst and its activity in oxidative desulfurization (ODS) reaction has been successfully carried out. In this work, the ZnO and activated carbon (AC) were blended by a solid-solid reaction. The ZnO, AC, and ZnO-AC were then characterized using acidity test with pyridine vapor adsorption, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), and Surface Area Analyzer (SAA). ODS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) reaction was performed by using H2O2 under variation of the reaction time (30, 60, 120, and 150 min) for the ZnO-AC catalyst. The efficiency of ODS-DBT was analyzed by a UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The XRD analysis result showed that ZnO-AC blended displays new crystal peaks of Zn in the AC diffractogram. The surface area (734.351 m2/g) and acidity (4.8780 mmol/g) of ZnO-AC were higher than ZnO and AC themselves. ZnO-AC produced the highest efficiency of ODS-DBT which was 93.83% in the reaction time of 120 min. Therefore, the simple procedure of this physical blending was proved effective to homogenize between ZnO and AC into ZnO-AC so that it has good physicochemical properties as an ODS-DBT catalyst. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Improving Offensive and Hate Speech (OHS) classifiers’ performances requires a large, confidently labeled textual training dataset. Our study devises a semi-supervised classification approach with self-training to leverage the abundant social media content and develop a robust OHS classifier. The classifier is self-trained iteratively using the most confidently predicted labels obtained from an unlabeled Twitter corpus of 5 million tweets. Hence, we produce the largest supervised Arabic OHS dataset. To this end, we first select the best classifier to conduct the semi-supervised learning by assessing multiple heterogeneous pairs of text vectorization algorithms (such as N-Grams, World2Vec Skip-Gram, AraBert and DistilBert) and machine learning algorithms (such as SVM, CNN and BiLSTM). Then, based on the best text classifier, we perform six groups of experiments to demonstrate our approach’s feasibility and efficacy based on several self-training iterations.

The effect of non-thermal discharge plasma (DBD) on the inhibition of both gram-positive and gram-negative biofilms bacteria was examined at different plasma exposure times and gas flow. This effect induces damage to aqueous plasmid DNA. It reveals inactivation in bacterial biofilms for both types of bacteria with an increase in time of direct exposure to plasma and an increase in gas flow. The presence of positive bacteria outweighs the negative bacteria in susceptibility to inhibition. The resulting fractions of the DNA indicate whole DNA double-strand breaks and were determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. The damage level induced in the plasmid DNA is also enhanced with increased plasma irradiation time.

Background: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine expressed by inflammatory and endothelial cells. It has a crucial role in initiating, regulating, and mobilizing monocytes to active sites of periodontal inflammation. Its expression is also elevated in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli and tissue injury, both of which are linked to atherosclerotic lesions. Aim of the study: To determine the serum level of MCP-1 in patients with periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in comparison to healthy control and evaluate the biomarker's correlations with periodontal parameters. methods: This study enrolled 88 subjects, both males and females, ranging in age from 36-66 years old, and divided into four groups: 1ST group with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) without periodontal disease (25 patients), 2nd group with periodontitis and systemically healthy, (25 patients),3rdgroup having both ASCVD and periodontitis (25 patients), and the 4th is the control group without any systemic disease and with good oral hygiene (13 subjects). The clinical periodontal parameters plaque index (PL I), Bleeding on probing (BOP), Probing Pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were used to evaluate periodontal health status. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients were chosen after clinical examination by specialists and diagnoses confirmed with catheterization. Following clinical assessment, 5ml of venous blood was drawn from each participant MCP-1 levels in the blood were then measured using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: According to the findings of this study, the mean values of PLI and BOP were higher in periodontitis group and athero+periodontitis group than in athero group and control group, PPD and CAL mean values were greater in athero+periodontitis group than in periodontitis group. The serum level of MCP-1 was higher in athero+periodontitis group than in athero, periodontitis and control groups. Regarding the correlations between MCP-1 and clinical periodontal parameters. In periodontitis group there was a positive correlation with PPD and CAL and there was a positive correlation with CAL in athero+periodontitis. Conclusion: This study revealed that periodontitis with higher MCP-1 level may be linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ experiences, abilities, and willingness to care for patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among 12 nurses working with patients with COVID-19. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from two national hospitals in Jordan. Semi-structured interviews (45–90 minutes each) with open-ended questions were held via Zoom to collect data. Four major themes emerged from the data analysis. The first theme, uncertainty, consisted of two subthemes: new experience and lack of training. The second theme was related to social stigma by society and other staff members. The third theme of front-line fighters consisted of two subthemes: empowering the main health caregiver and community acknowledgment. The fourth theme was related to challenges and consisted of two subthemes: physical and psychological challenges. At the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19, the nurses had experienced a lack of certainty, physical and psychological challenges, and social stigmatization, which had negatively affected their willingness and ability to fight the outbreak. However, the nurses reported growing professionally and psychologically with time and becoming more knowledgeable, skillful, powerful, and confident care providers during the pandemic. Being able to fulfill their responsibilities and being acknowledged by others gave the nurses a sense of achievement. Early education and training about COVID-19, clear infection control protocols and guidelines, psychological counseling, and adequate social support are essential steps for enhancing nurses’ mental well-being and willingness and ability to fight COVID-19.

تضمنت مقدمة البحث الحديث عن التدريس وعمليات اكتساب المعلومات والقدرات والمهارات وتطويرها و من اهم مهام طرائق التدريس واحدة من اساسيات العمليات التطبيقية للدروس والتي شهدت تطورا كبيرا باستخدام التطبيق العلمي الصحيح وخاصة في عملية التعلم وإجادة المتعلمات لطرائق التدريس يرتبط بالتحصيل المعرفي لديهن ويعد العامل المهم لتحقيق النجاح لتلك الدروس, وبرزت مشكلة البحث من خلال التساؤل ماهي العلاقة بين درجة التحصيل المعرفي مع الذكاء ثلاثي الابعاد لدى طالبات كليات التربية البدنية وعلوم الرياضة المرحلة الثالثة واستخدمت الباحثتان المنهج الوصفي بأسلوب العلاقات المتبادلة وحالتها الارتباطية، استخدمتا مقياس (صفا عبد الكريم ) ومقياس ( جنان غازي صكر) لهذا الغرض. وبتطبيق المقياسين على عينة من مجتمع البحث بالطريقة العشوائية عينة البحث مكونة من (42) طالبة من المرحلة الثالثة في كلية التربية البدنية وعلوم الرياضة للبنات -جامعة بغداد وقد عولجت النتائج بالوسائل الإحصائية (الحقيبة الإحصائية SPSS) وقد تم عرض النتائج ضمن جداول ونقاط ومناقشتها. وتوصلت الدراسة إلى ان هناك علاقة ارتباط معنوية بين الذكاء ثلاثي الابعاد بالتحصيل المعرفي في مادة طرائق

Introduction: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome is a rare and life-threatening complication; it's also known as a Cast Syndrome. It can occur as a result of mechanical compression of the duodenum third part between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. The Aorto-mesenteric angle usually gets reduced in procedures resulting in vertebral lengthening like scoliosis correction, especially in patients with low body mass index (BMI). Presentation of the case: The reported case is for a 15 years old underweight male who was diagnosed as a case of progressive idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis. He underwent spine correction with posterior instrumented fusion. Five days following the surgery he started having abdominal pain with bilious vomiting and electrolytes imbalance that resulted in a rapid weight loss. Clinical and radiological findings were suggestive of Superior mesenteric artery syndrome. The patient was managed conservatively with high caloric parenteral nutritional support and gradual oral intake, which improved his condition. Conclusion: Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare potentially fatal condition and difficult to diagnose, hence it needs high index of suspicion especially in under-weighted patients undergoing surgical correction of adolescent scoliosis. Identification of pre and post-operative risk factors can prevent morbidities and mortalities associated with this condition.

The study aimed to determine the effect of spatial variability on the erodibility factor (K-factor) for alluvial soils located at Tigris river bank using two empirical models ,KEPIC and modified KEPIC( Kr).The studied alluvial soils were extended along the adjacent area of Tigris river including three sites (Mosul Dam , Al-Rashidia and Al-Busaif).The results indicated that there is a wide variations between the two models in estimating the soil erodibility. It showed that use of the Kr model (modified KEPIC) would be considerably lead to under - estimation prediction than KEPIC model. The lowest values of Kr model in comparison with KEPIC for three sites is related to that the Kr -model take into account the gravel fraction in their formula while the KEPIC is not. These finding indicate that the computing method of soil erodibility based on the Kr-model is reasonable and most suitable for estimation soil erodibility for scientific and detailed studies of alluvial soils (as in our soil study) or in soils that have a considerable amounts of gravels separate in comparison to KEPIC which can be used to determine the initial values of soil erodibility by water erosion.