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Abstract We report an innovative and facile approach to fabricating an ultrasensitive plasmonic paper substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The approach exploits the self-assembling capability of poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) block copolymers to form a thin film at the air-liquid interface within the single microdroplet scale for the first time and the subsequent in situ growth of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The concentration of the block copolymer was found to play an essential role in stabilizing the droplets during the mass transfer phase and formation of silver nanoparticles, thus influencing the SERS signals. SEM analysis of the morphology of the plasmonic paper substrates revealed the formation of spherical AgNPs evenly distributed across the surface of the formed copolymer film with a size distribution of 47.5 nm. The resultant enhancement factor was calculated to be 1.2 × 107, and the detection limit of rhodamine 6G was as low as 48.9 pM. The nanohybridized plasmonic paper was successfully applied to detect two emerging pollutants—sildenafil and flibanserin—with LODs as low as 1.48 nM and 3.45 nM, respectively. Thus, this study offers new prospects for designing an affordable and readily available, yet highly sensitive, paper-based SERS substrate with the potential for development as a lab-on-a-chip device.

Mahmoud A Rageh,1 Shady Mahmoud Attia Ibrahim,1 Noha Abdallah,2 Abeer Attia Tawfik2 1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Department of Medical Applications of Laser, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University, Giza, EgyptCorrespondence: Mahmoud A Rageh, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Al-Darrasah, Cairo, 11633, Egypt, Email dr.mahmoudrageh@gmail.comBackground: Atrophic acne scarring is a widely prevalent condition and one of the most distressing complications of acne vulgaris. Numerous options with variable outcomes are available for the treatment of acne scarring. Laser is considered a first‐line therapy for acne scars, and recently there has been a growing interest in using stem cells and their derivatives for treating acne scars. In addition, combined therapeutic modalities often achieve more satisfactory results than a single treatment.Objective: We tried to evaluate the role of nanofat and fractional CO2 laser as a combined treatment approach for atrophic acne scarring.Methods: Twenty-five patients with atrophic acne scarring were enrolled. They received a single session of intradermal nanofat injection, at different points 1 cm apart, for acne scars. Two weeks later, they were treated with three sessions of fractional CO2 laser at monthly intervals. Patients were evaluated three months after the last session using the quantitative Goodman and Baron scoring system. Pain, side effects, and patients’ satisfaction were also evaluated.Results: There were two males and 23 females with a mean age of 25.96 years. Their skin type ranged between Fitzpatrick skin type III, IV, and V. Boxcar scars were the most common scar type in 13 patients (52%). After treatment, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the quantitative Goodman and Baron scores. The improvement was more evident in rolling scars. Seven patients reported significant improvement, and 12 reported marked improvement.Conclusion: This study showed that combining nanofat and fractional CO2 laser is a safe and effective treatment modality for atrophic acne scars.Keywords: acne scars, fractional laser, fat grafting, nanofat

Abstract Polyester manufacturing industries produce highly polluted effluents, containing organics, nutrients, trace metals, and 1,4-dioxane, requiring a high degree of treatment before being discharged into the water bodies. This study focused on removing complex pollutants from a diluted polyester industrial effluent (DPIE) via a cost-efficient anaerobic/aerobic combined system, with biogas recovery. The integrated pilot-scale system was composed of an up-flow anaerobic multi-staged reactor (UASR; V = 41 L) followed by an auto-aerated immobilized biomass (AIB; Vsponge = 9.54 L) unit and operated at a total organic loading rate (OLR) of 0.75 ± 0.16 g COD/L/d and pH of 7.14 ± 0.14 at 25 °C. The UASR achieved removal efficiencies of 17.82 ± 3.14% and 15.90 ± 3.08% for chemical oxygen demand (COD, total and soluble) and 15.83 ± 4.68% for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), with bio-CH4 yield of 263.24 ± 31.98 mL/g COD. Adding the AIB unit improved the overall CODtotal, CODsoluble, and TKN to 93.94 ± 2.39%, 94.84 ± 2.23%, and 75.81 ± 3.66%, respectively. The NH4-N removal efficiency was 85.66 ± 2.90% due to the oxic/nitrification condition on the sponge’s outer surface. The entire system also achieved 73.26 ± 2.68%, 77.48 ± 5.74%, and 81.26 ± 6.17% removals for Fe (3.93 ± 0.95 ppm), Zn (5.92 ± 2.32 ppm), and 1,4 dioxane (2.50 ± 0.61 ppm). Moreover, the UASR-AIB maintained removal efficiencies of 76.53 ± 8.47% and 77.51 ± 7.38% for total suspended solids (TSS: 335.95 ± 42.84 mg/L) and volatile suspended solids (VSS: 263.50 ± 36.94 mg/L). Regarding the DPIE toxicity level, the EC50 value increased from 12.9 to 39.4% after UASR/AIB application. The UASR’s microbial community at the genus level demonstrated that the synergistic cooperation of solubilization, hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis was responsible for the degradation of DPIE components.

Abstract Two new series of oxadiazole and pyrazoline derivatives were designed and synthesized as promising EGFR-TK inhibitors. The in vitro antiproliferative activity was studied against three human cancer cell lines; HCT116, HepG-2 and MCF7 using MTT assay. Compound 10c showed the most potent anticancer activity against all cancer cell lines, with IC50 range of 1.82 to 5.55 μM, while proving safe towards normal cells WI-38 (IC50 = 41.17 μM) compared to the reference drug doxorubicin (IC50 = 6.72 μM). The most active candidates 5a, 9b, 10a, 10b and 10c were further assessed for their EGFR-TK inhibition. The best of which, compounds 5a and 10b showed IC50 of 0.09 and 0.16 μM respectively compared to gefitinib (IC50 = 0.04 μM). Further investigation against other EGFR family members, showed that 5a displayed good activities against HER3 and HER4 with IC50 values 0.18 and 0.37 µM, respectively compared to gefitinib (IC50 = 0.35 and 0.58 µM, respectively). Furthermore, 5a was evaluated for cell cycle distribution and apoptotic induction on HepG-2 cells. It induced mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and increased accumulation of ROS. Molecular docking study came in agreement with the biological results. Compounds 5a and 10b showed promising drug-likeness with good physicochemical properties.

Abstract Background Cognitive decline is one of the aging health problems that strongly affects daily functioning and quality of life of older adults and threatens their independence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment (CI) among community-dwelling elderly in Egypt and the contribution of socioeconomic status to inequality in cognitive impairment. Methods A cross-sectional study involved 470 community-dwelling elderly aged 60 years or older living in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. Subjects were recruited from home visits, geriatric clubs, and outpatient clinics. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tools (MoCA & MoCA-B) were used to assess the prevalence of cognitive impairment, Hachinski ischemic score (HIS) to investigate the type of cognitive impairment, Ain Shams Cognitive Assessment (ASCA) tool to assess the pattern of specific cognitive domain affection, and an Egyptian socioeconomic status (SES) scale to classify the SES of the study participants. Results The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 50.2% distributed as 37.7% for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 12.5% for dementia. The most common type of cognitive impairment was the degenerative type (47.9%). Pattern of specific domain affection among cognitively impaired subjects ranged from 94% for visuospatial function to 12.7% for abstraction. Cognitive impairment was significantly higher with increasing age, female sex, marital status (single or widow), low education, higher number of comorbidities, and positive family history of cognitive impairment (p

Abstract This study evaluated the biocompatibility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine (BD) as root-end filling materials. Six mongrel dogs were divided into two equal groups according to the evaluation period; group A: one month and group B: three months. Three premolars of the same quadrant in each arch were used, summing up 36 teeth (6 teeth/dog). These teeth were randomly subdivided into three subgroups according to the root-end filling material used: MTA, BD and no root-end filling material (control). Endodontic access cavities were performed for induction of periapical pathosis. After the infection period, root canal instrumentation and obturation were accomplished. One day after root canal procedures, root-end surgery was performed. Surgical access was achieved and the root-end was resected approximately 3 mm above the apex. Root-end cavity was prepared ultrasonically and filled with the tested materials. All samples were evaluated by radiography and histopathology (Inflammation and new hard tissue formation). Data were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. In group A, MTA subgroup exhibited significant higher mean inflammatory score than BD subgroup (P 0.05). Regarding mean mineralization score, there was no significant difference between all subgroups in both groups A and B (P > 0.05). Biodentine exhibited favorable biocompatibility in the initial stage of healing than MTA and comparable biomineralization. Clinical relevance: Biodentine could be considered as an acceptable alternative to MTA in peri-radicular surgeries.

Abstract Background Tumor-like lesions of the trachea are rare and challenging in diagnosis and management. Inflammatory myofibroblastoma, also known as Inflammatory pseudo tumors (IPTs), as well as Rosai Dorfman Disease (RDD) are inflammatory lesions that may involve the central airways with variable non-specific clinical features mimicking tumors. Case presentation In this study 2 cases with tumor-like lesions are presented. One case with an inflammatory pseudotumor and the other one with Rosai–Dorfman disease affecting the upper trachea. Both cases were successfully managed with tracheal resection anastomosis. Conclusion Tracheal Inflammatory myofibroblastoma, and Rosai–Dorfman diseases are rare tumor like lesions that present with upper airway obstruction. Despite being benign, these lesions may have features suggestive of malignancy, requiring prompt management. Complete surgical excision by segmental resection and primary anastomosis (if feasible) is the treatment of choice with an optimum outcome.

Different degrees of natural radioactivity found in quartz can have negative consequences on health. Quartz vein along the investigated Abu Ramad area, Egypt, had its natural radioactivity assessed. The HPGe spectrometer was used to determine the role played by the radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the gamma radiation that was emitted, and the results showed that these concentrations are 484.64 ± 288.4, 36.8 ± 13.1 and 772.2 ± 134.6 Bq kg−1 were higher than the corresponding reported global limits of 33, 45, and 412 Bq kg−1 for each radionuclide (238U, 232Th, and 40K). Among the radiological hazard parameters, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) is estimated and it's mean value of ELCR (1.2) is higher than the permissible limit of 0.00029. The relationship between the radionuclides and the associated radiological hazard characteristics was investigated based on multivariate statistical methods including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). According to statistical research, the radioactive risk of quartz is primarily caused by the 238U, 232Thand 40K. Finally, applying quartz to building materials would pose a significant risk to the public.

3D reconstruction of hand-object manipulations is important for emulating human actions. Most methods dealing with challenging object manipulation scenarios focus on hands reconstruction in isolation, ignoring physical and kinematic constraints due to object contact. Some approaches produce more realistic results by jointly reconstructing 3D hand-object interactions. However, they focus on coarse pose estimation or rely upon known hand and object shapes. We propose an approach for realistic 3D hand-object shape and pose reconstruction from a single depth map. Unlike previous work, our voxel-based reconstruction network regresses the vertex coordinates of a hand and an object and reconstructs more realistic interaction. Our pipeline additionally predicts voxelized hand-object shapes, having a one-to-one mapping to the input voxelized depth. Thereafter, we exploit the graph nature of the hand and object shapes, by utilizing the recent GraFormer network with positional embedding to reconstruct shapes from template meshes. In addition, we show the impact of adding another GraFormer component that refines the reconstructed shapes based on the hand-object interactions and its ability to reconstruct more accurate object shapes. From those contributions, we name our system ShapeGraFormer. We perform an extensive evaluation on the HO-3D and DexYCB datasets and show that our method outperforms existing approaches in hand reconstruction and produces plausible reconstructions for the objects.

In today’s interconnected world, with the changes caused by the technological revolution conflicts, politics, diseases and climate changes, along with the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI), the threat of manipulating data is on the rise. In the field of satellite imagery, data transfer security is especially crucial. One of the most important tools for safeguarding satellite images during storage and transmission is cryptography. It offers an imperceptible substitute to quick response codes. The literature focuses predominantly on software implementations of encryption techniques, despite scenarios where hardware cryptographic solutions are preferable or necessary due to increased requirements for speed, power, or data security. IP cores offer a versatile and widely applicable solution for hardware development, serving as the basic building blocks for constructing processors on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). This paper presents an innovative embedded chaotic algorithm designed to enhance the security of satellite images by integrating Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)-encoded encryption, Fisher-Yates shuffling and the Fractional order 4D Chen system. To achieve an optimal balance between encryption time and security, the original image undergoes strategic block division, with each block undergoing encryption via a series of steps including XOR operations, RNA dynamic encoding and decoding, RNA dynamic operation rules, and Fisher-Yates shuffle. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the efficiency and speed of the encryption process by presenting the realisation of a robust cryptographic scheme in the form of an IP core tailored which has been implemented on ZedBoard FPGA using the Vivado High-Level Synthesis (HLS) design suite. By utilising the hardware parallelism intrinsic to FPGA architectures, we attain significant enhancements in execution time compared to the software-based implementation (frequency of 160.01 MHz). Experimental and analytical results demonstrate the algorithm’s robust security, resilience to single-event upsets, large key space, and low time complexity.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles incorporated into the acrylic baseplates of the maxillary part of twin block appliances in orthodontic patients during the treatment period. Materials and methods Twenty-six patients were selected randomly and divided into two groups(n = 13). Test group patients used orthodontic functional appliances containing 1% titanium dioxide nanoparticles in acrylic baseplates. Control group patients used orthodontic functional appliances without titanium dioxide nanoparticles in acrylic baseplates. Swap samples were taken from the palatal gingiva facing the fitting surface of the acrylic component of the maxillary part of a twin block appliance for each patient at five-time intervals (baseline sample, after one, two, four, and six months) and then cultured in blood agar plates to calculate bacterial colony count. The Mann‒Whitney U test and the Friedman test were used to compare data. Bonferroni correction (p value ≤ 0.05) was applied to detect significant differences. The results showed a decrease in the bacterial colony count in the test group compared to the control group. Pairwise comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in samples after four- and six-month groups (p values = 0.002 and 0.011, respectively) vs. the one-month test group. A higher statistically significant difference was observed in the six-month group (p-value = 0.037) vs. the baseline group in the control group. Conclusion The addition of 1% titanium dioxide nanoparticles to acrylic baseplates of orthodontic functional appliances significantly reduced the bacterial colony count under the base plate after at least four months of application.

This study discusses the “Hamidiyah Hijazi Railway”, established by the Ottoman Empire to support Islamic politics worldwide. The importance of this study lies in its discussion, which focuses on a fragment of the glorious period of Islamic history that provided extraordinary services for Hajj pilgrims at that time. The Hijaz railway line was one of the most significant achievements of the Ottoman Empire and proved their intensive efforts in handling this matter as a religious matter. This study relies primarily on the Ottoman documents from 1908-1911, deposited in the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of State Archives in Istanbul. This article focuses on the steps taken by the Ottoman Empire in securing the Hijaz railway from attacks by Bedouin tribes and maintaining its religious reputation concerning the safe journey of Hajj pilgrims via the railway. The author argues that the measures the Ottoman Empire took were ineffective in preventing these attacks. The Ottoman Empire secured the railway line by entrusting it to the sheikhs of the local tribes and holding celebrations for the development of the line. With this celebration, the Ottoman Empire wanted to show the importance of developing the Hijaz railway to unite Muslims under their flag and strengthen the Ummah movement in the spirit of Islamic unity in the confrontation with Western countries. [Studi ini membahas “Jalur Kereta Api Hamidiyah Hijaz”, yang dibangun Kesultanan Turki Uthmani untuk mendukung perpolitikan Islam di dunia. Pentingnya studi ini terletak pada pembahasannya yang berfokus pada satu penggal periode kejayaan sejarah Islam, yang memberikan layanan luar biasa untuk para jamaah haji pada masa itu. Jalur kereta api Hijaz ini dipandang sebagai salah satu capaian Islam yang paling signifikan dan menjadi bukti adanya upaya intensif Kesultanan Uthmaniyah dalam menangani urusan keagamaan ini. keuntungan. Studi ini terutama mengandalkan dokumen resmi Pemerintah Turki dari tahun 1908-1911, yang disimpan di Direktorat Arsip Kepresidenan Turki di Istanbul. Tulisan ini mengambil fokus pada langkah-langkah yang diambil Kesultanan Uthmaniyah dalam mengamankan di jalur kereta api Hijaz dari serangan suku-suku Badui dan menjaga reputasi keagamaannya terkait dengan keselamatan perjalanan jamaah haji melalui jalur kereta api. Penulis berargumentasi bahwa langkah-langkah yang diambil oleh Kesultanan Uthmaniyah tidak efektif dalam mencegah serangan-serangan tersebut. Kesultanan Uthmaniyah mengamankan jalur kereta api dengan mempercayakannya kepada para syaikh dari suku-suku lokal dan menyelenggarakan perayaan-perayaan atas pembangunan jalur kereta. Dengan perayaan ini, Kesultanan Uthmaniyah ingin menunjukkan pentingnya pembangunan jalur kereta api Hijaz dalam menyatukan umat Islam di bawah benderanya dan memperkuat gerakan ummat di bawah semangat kesatuan Islam dalam menghadapi negara-negara Barat.]

Abstract Machine translation for low-resource languages poses significant challenges, primarily due to the limited availability of data. In recent years, unsupervised learning has emerged as a promising approach to overcome this issue by aiming to learn translations between languages without depending on parallel data. A wide range of methods have been proposed in the literature to address this complex problem. This paper presents an in-depth investigation of semi-supervised neural machine translation specifically focusing on translating Arabic dialects, particularly Egyptian, to Modern Standard Arabic. The study employs two distinct datasets: one parallel dataset containing aligned sentences in both dialects, and a monolingual dataset where the source dialect is not directly connected to the target language in the training data. Three different translation systems are explored in this study. The first is an attention-based sequence-to-sequence model that benefits from the shared vocabulary between the Egyptian dialect and Modern Arabic to learn word embeddings. The second is an unsupervised transformer model that depends solely on monolingual data, without any parallel data. The third system starts with the parallel dataset for an initial supervised learning phase and then incorporates the monolingual data during the training process.

Water purification is crucial to ensure the availability of safe and clean water for protecting human health and helping in a sustainable environment. This review explicitly provides an overview of the major developments related to seawater desalination and wastewater treatments as a unit. Anticipating these traditional independent facilities will operate together in the future mainly for economic benefits. The advances in seawater desalination are primarily focused on the production of membranes using different types of nanoparticles (CeO2, UiO-66, CS-NPs) and carboxylated multi-walled CNTs into a polyamide that provides high salt rejection (as high as 90%) with excellent selectivity and permeability. Further, the use of nanoporous reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes provided 27.7–62.6% desalination rates and up to 96.8% salt rejection, along with protection against membrane fouling. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) showed excellent rejection of divalent ions during desalination. It is anticipated that the use of solar energy for membrane and thermal desalination may be promising since it reduces the reliance on fossil energy and significantly minimizes greenhouse gas emissions (up to 94%). Solar energy can integrate with the reverse osmosis (RO) process bearing the cost of energy-intensive compressors, making the RO economically attractive. HIGHLIGHTS High selectivity/permeability in membranes will be achieved using nanoparticles.; Reduced nanoporous graphene oxide protects against membrane fouling.; Solar energy may lower the desalination energy requirement.; Seawater desalination and wastewater will operate together for economic benefits.; Integrating desalination/wastewater improves efficiency, and lower footprint/investment cost.;

Abstract Background Food labeling is an important public health tool allowing consumers to make informed and healthy choices. Considering how important it is for consumers to be aware of food labels while choosing healthy foods, this study aims at assessing public awareness, attitude, and practice regarding food labeling in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Methods A cross sectional study using a predesigned interview questionnaire to collect data from 719 adult consumers from both sexes (28.2% males: 71.8% females), recruited from different branches of one of the largest supermarkets in Alexandria. Results More than half of the participants (55.6%) reported reading food labels. The most frequently read information was production/ expiry date (76.8%), product name (68.3%), and ingredients (38.0%) while the least frequently read was nutritional facts (29.9%). More than half of the study sample (50.9%) had low awareness about the content of food labels, nevertheless, having higher scores on awareness about food labels predicted reading practice. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents had average to good food label reading practice. Most respondents (81.8%) had a favorable attitude about food labeling in its present form, however, higher attitude scores did not seem to influence their use of food labels. Being older (β = 0.045, CI; 0.014–0.076, p = 0.005), being female (β = 1.162, CI; 0.541–1.784, p = 0.000), having secondary education or equivalent (β = 1.042,CI; 0.050–2.034, p = 0.040), having university education or beyond (β = 3.090, CI; 2.132–4.048, p = 0.000), and having higher scores on awareness about food labels (β = 1.407, CI; 1.324–1.490, p = 0.000) were significant predictors of reading food labels. Conclusions Most of the studied consumers had a positive attitude towards food labeling, however, more than half of them had low awareness of food labeling content. Nutritional facts were the least frequently read by consumers. Reading food labels was significantly predicted by having higher education, being older, being a female, and having better awareness.

Spur dikes are one the most important factors affecting the degree of activity of the erosion and deposition processes, particularly the vertical at the Nile streambed. In order to study the mutual relations between them, the study relies on the environmental systems approach using artificial intelligence techniques to produce 1D, 2D, 3D maps. The study’s inputs are classified into main ones such as characteristics of spur dikes, DEM, topographic maps, and satellite images; and secondary ones such as hydrological and mechanical characteristics of the Nile streambed sediments, through which it is possible to understand many of the ambiguities in the occurrence of geomorphological changes and try to reach the best suitable spur dikes to protect the banks from the erosion process.This is conducted by application to the Nile stream in the Abnub area, due to the spread of many spur dikes in their various shapes. In addition, they play a major role in the occurrence of vertical and horizontal geomorphological changes, and result in the spread of many phenomena including scour holes, sandbars, and swamps. Above all, spur dikes have proven effective in protecting the banks from the erosion process, and thus have achieved their intended aim.تعد الرؤوس الحجرية من أهم العوامل المؤثرة في درجة نشاط عمليتي النحت والإرساب وخاصةً الرأسي بقاع مجرى النيل. ولدراسة العلاقات المتبادلة بينهما اعتمدت الدراسة على منهج النظم البيئية باستخدام تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي في إنتاج خرائط أحادية وثنائية وثلاثية الأبعاد، وقد تم تصنيف مدخلات الدراسة إلى رئيسية، مثل: خصائص الرؤوس الحجرية وDEM وخرائط طبوغرافية ومرئيات فضائية، ومدخلات ثانوية، مثل: الخصائص الهيدرولوجية والميكانيكية لرواسب قاع مجرى النيل، والتي يمكن عن طريقها تفهم الكثير من الغموض في حدوث التغيرات الجيومورفولوجية ومحاولة الوصول إلى أفضل الرؤوس الحجرية ملائمة لحماية الضفاف من عملية النحت. وذلك بالتطبيق على مجرى النيل بمنطقة أبنوب، وذلك لانتشار العديد من الرؤوس الحجرية بأشكالها المختلفة، كما أن لها دورًا كبيرًا في حدوث التغيرات الجيومورفولوجية الرأسية والأفقية وانتشار العديد من الظاهرات الناتجة عنها، مثل: حفر انجراف، وحواجز رملية، ومستنقعات، كما أثبتت الرؤوس الحجرية فاعليتها في حماية الضفاف من عملية النحت، وبذلك فقد حققت الهدف المنوط بها.

In this paper, we introduce the notion of single-valued neutrosophic soft uniform spaces as a view point of the entourage approach. We investigate the relationship among single-valued neutrosophic soft uniformities, single-valued neutrosophic soft topologies and single-valued neutrosophic soft interior operators. Also, we study several single-valued neutrosophic soft topologies induced by a single-valued neutrosophic soft uniform space.

Abstract Purpose This study explores the intricate interplay between internal brand management (IBM), leadership styles, and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in the dynamic Egyptian hospitality industry. The purpose is to investigate these relationships, considering the regional nuances of Southern and Northern Egypt. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive investigation was conducted to examine the influence of IBM on OCB and the varying effects of leadership styles in this context. The study also explores the moderating role of leadership styles in the IBM–OCB relationship. The research is based on meticulous data collection and rigorous analysis. Findings The results affirm the central role of IBM in enhancing OCB within the Egyptian hospitality sector, irrespective of the region. Additionally, transformational leadership consistently emerges as a potent catalyst for OCB, while the direct impact of transactional leadership remains inconclusive. Transformational leadership exerts a moderating influence, strengthening the positive relationship between IBM practices and OCB. Originality/value This research contributes novel insights to the field by examining IBM, leadership styles, and OCB in the unique context of the Egyptian hospitality industry. The findings provide valuable implications for hotel managers and practitioners to develop strategies for enhancing employee commitment, fostering OCB, and gaining a competitive advantage in this thriving sector. The study also underscores the importance of considering regional nuances and tailoring management practices to specific contextual characteristics within the hospitality industry. This research represents an essential contribution, highlighting the significance of aligning IBM, leadership styles, and OCB to promote organisational success in the Egyptian hospitality industry. Graphical Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are classed as diseases of aging, which are associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic lesion formation caused by such diseases and is considered as one of the leading causes of death globally, representing a severe health crisis affecting the heart and blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is described as a chronic condition that can lead to myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease and to date, most pharmacological therapies mainly aim to control risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease. Advances in transformative therapies and imaging diagnostics agents could shape the clinical applications of such approaches, including nanomedicine, biomaterials, immunotherapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy, which are emerging and likely to significantly impact CVD management in the coming decade. This review summarizes the current anti-atherosclerotic therapies’ major milestones, strengths, and limitations. It provides an overview of the recent discoveries and emerging technologies in nanomedicine, cell therapy, and gene and immune therapeutics that can revolutionize CVD clinical practice by steering it toward precision medicine. CVD-related clinical trials and promising pre-clinical strategies that would significantly impact patients with CVD are discussed. Here, we review these recent advances, highlighting key clinical opportunities in the rapidly emerging field of CVD medicine.

Firms in the Gulf region are predominantly governed by the entrepreneurial model where royal ownerships/management dominants. Using a Panel Regression Model in a sample of 202 firms across six countries in the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC), this paper assesses the direct effect of corporate cash holdings on firms’ financial objectives or performance, and also how managerial entrenchments directly affect corporate cash holdings in GCC. It further tests the moderation and interaction effects of managerial entrenchments on the relationship between cash-holdings and firms’ financial performance. The research concludes that the effect of corporate cash holdings on firms’ performance is negative, especially for absolute and relatively liquidity firms. This proofs the U-shape hypothesis of cash holdings. Also, the results show that different managerial entrenchment variables have different effects on corporate financial performance or objectives. Furthermore, the moderation and interaction effects of managerial entrenchment on the relationship between cash holding and firms’ financial performance (i.e. ROA and ROE) are inconsistent. These findings show randomness in how managerial entrenchment affects firms’ performance in the GCC region. However, the interaction between cash and leverage is consistently positive on shareholders wealth (i.e. ROE) for all liquidity thresholds. This highlights the benefits of debts in corporate financing.

In this paper, a new strategy is applied to synthesize a safe-to-use one-part (OP) alkali-activated binder via controlling the activation rate of blast furnace slag (BFS) and fly ash (FA). The proposed strategy involved creating a reactive powder with a high capacity to interact with water, similar to Portland cement (PC). This was achieved by partially activating BFS/FA in the presence of water, which makes the activated paste in a non-workable form, followed by immediate drying at 80°C for 24 hours and pulverizing to produce one-part (OP) alkali-activated powder. The impacts of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration and water/raw material powder (W/RMP) on the performance of the prepared OP-activated powder and the relevant hardened pastes are addressed. Different contents of hazardous lead glass sludge (LGS) include 5, 10, and 15 wt% were incorporated during the preparation process to evaluate the potential applicability of the synthesized OP-activated powders in the immobilization of hazardous lead (Pb). The obtained results revealed that, regardless of NaOH concentration and W/RMP ratio, all the synthesized OP-activated powders showed a high capability to interact with water, yielding hardened materials with appropriate mechanical properties. However, adjusting NaOH concentration at 10 wt% and W/RMP ratio of 0.1 during the synthesis process has resulted in the formation of OP-activated powders with the highest compressive strength values at all ages. Moreover, this mixture exhibited compressive strength comparable to those of the conventional two-part (TP) alkali-activated binder at the same NaOH concentrations. The proposed strategy presents a high affinity to restrict the free Pb inside the alkali-activated mixtures through its transformation from soluble to insoluble form.

AbstractWaste is considered a significant environmental issue in modern times thus the purpose of this paper is to compare the use of different waste materials in replacing aggregates in concrete. This study investigates the potential of incorporating plastic waste (PW), textile sludge (TS), and construction and demolition waste (CDW) into concrete as sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials, by evaluating its mechanical, durability characteristics as well as the cost related to different process of the project. The study focuses on the use of PW and TS as a replacement for fine aggregate, and CDW as replacements for coarse aggregate. Thus, four concrete mixes incorporating PW and TS were prepared, using 0% 10%, 25%, 40% replacement levels. The compressive strength of concrete with 10% plastic waste as fine aggregate was 32.49 N/mm2 showing higher results than that of TS. Furthermore, another four concrete mixes incorporating CDW were prepared, using 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% replacement levels. The compressive strength of concrete with 25% CDW was 30.90 N/mm2 indicating an increase of 2% than the control block. The study concluded that the best strategy is to incorporate construction and demolition waste as a replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete. This is because it resulted in an increase in compressive strength as well as a decrease in cost. Public Interest StatementThis article is discussing the validation of the usage of various waste materials in place of aggregates in concrete, as waste is now considered as a major environmental issue. This study examines the viability of using construction and demolition waste (CDW), textile sludge (TS), and plastic waste (PW) in concrete as sustainable substitutes for conventional building materials, which will be a milestone in reaching the concept of sustainable housing. This will be reached by assessing the material's durability and mechanical properties as well as the associated costs of various project processes. The study focuses on replacing the coarse aggregate which is the dolomite with construction and demolition and replacing fine aggregate which is the sand in this case, with Plastic waste and Textile Sludge.

Teachers adapt their instructional strategies over time based on a variety of contextual constraints. In response to these challenges, teachers often have to make changes to their PBL approaches. While the literature has documented generally positive results of initial PBL implementations, less is known about the degree to which teachers adapt their usage of PBL over time. Some adaptations include a refined approach to teaching strategies, while others include significant diversions from the original PBL model. A better understanding of the changes teachers enact provides important insight as to fidelity and thus the expected learning outcomes of PBL. To address this gap, this research conducted semi-structured interviews with experienced K-12 educators who employed PBL over multiple years. In terms of preparing for PBL, themes that emerged from the interviews included more emphasis on reimagining the problem scope and design thinking. During classroom time, teachers described shifting perspectives in terms of the following: problem-solving skills over content knowledge, student control and teacher facilitation, and embracing failure. Relating to technology, teachers described more adoption trends towards collaborative tools, while also describing opportunities and challenges with digital literacy. Finally, teachers described strategic approaches to assessment in light of the ill-structured problems posed by PBL. Implications for practice and theory are discussed.

This design case describes the tensions and resolutions related to the iterative design of a virtual STEM peer mentoring program for White and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women in STEM study programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Stakeholder feedback, along with a conceptual framework, including Tinto's Institutional Departure Model and Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy, guided the design work. The second iteration featured eight self-paced, eLearning modules designed to be completed as one per week in conjunction with asynchronous and synchronous communications with program peers and faculty facilitators. The design goals focused on the self-paced modules and resolved content presentation, case videos, practice, and reflection issues. The case highlights the intersection of new design elements with Bandura's (1977) four sources of self-efficacy: social persuasion, vicarious experiences, performance accomplishments, and psychological response.

This design case details a data science summer learning experience designed by University of Memphis faculty for HBCU students (NSF #: 1918751) with recruiting assistance provided by LeMoyne-Owen College. The summer learning experience included elements of didactic and collaborative problem-solving during the first five weeks of the internship, followed by a three-week, team-based, problem-solving project using real-world data. While the course was originally designed as a face-to-face learning experience, the impact of COVID-19 necessitated a shift toward online digital spaces. The design case details the opportunities and challenges of STEM online learning and especially underscores the limitations of (a) existing data science technologies for instruction, (b) the shift toward instructional design of materials that supported more self-directed learning, and (c) collaborative problem-solving. Implications for design and practice are also considered.

Various theories and models discuss how instructional designers can develop systems that allow learners to engage in problem-solving. To date, many of these theories and models that guide design often describe how learners engage in meaning-making within a situated context; however, they do not address strategies instructional designers can use to coordinate contextual factors impacting the environment. While these perspectives provide a more authentic view of action, they often overlook the design decision-making processes to support learning that occur within these situated environments. This makes it challenging to design learning systems that support complex interactions. Although studies have begun to emerge focusing on instructional design decisions, there is a need for a framework to guide how instructional designers engage in decision-making while designing for situated, real-world experiences. We then offer a theoretical design framework to facilitate design decision-making by conjecturing within a bounded rationality, exploring through analogical reasoning, and designing-in-action.

Instructional strategies employing complex problem-solving examine how learners represent the problem space and argue for decisions. Unlike problems with few solutions (e.g., multiple choices), instructors struggle to evaluate solutions to ill-structured problems quickly and consistently across students. This prevents instructors to provide timely feedback to learners, who may continue to engage in erroneous thinking. Despite the availability of several software packages to assess the learners' works as maps, several barriers still prevent the wide-scale adoption of such assessment systems by instructors. We examine three open questions and identify opportunities from Artificial Intelligence to develop the next generation of assessment systems.

STEM Problem solving necessitates a substantial amount of specialized domain knowledge. An important element of problem-solving within the domain includes how knowledge is structured and organized in memory to facilitate efficient retrieval of relevant information and future problem solving. In previous studies, however, problem solving and knowledge structure have been studied in relative isolation, resulting in viewing them as a separate two-way process. To address this gap, this study aimed to track how individuals developed their knowledge structures before, during, and after collaborative problem solving in the contexts of STEM (physics, astronomy, and biology), with particular attention to understanding the different mechanism between success versus less successful problem-solvers. For that, we employed a relatively new and promising network approach to representing learners' knowledge structures as network graphs for analysis and comparison. Results visually demonstrated that successful problem-solvers tend to share a "solution-focused" knowledge and establish their "group knowledge-oriented" knowledge structure, whereas the less successful problem-solvers tend to share "problem-focused" knowledge and then establish their "prior knowledge-oriented" knowledge structure. Implications and discussion for the findings are provided.

Aims Lithium is clinically indicated for use in the UK for treatment and prophylaxis of mania, bipolar disorder, recurrent depressive disorder and aggressive of self-harming behaviour. In patients who are prescribed lithium, several physical health checks and blood tests must be completed on a regular basis to ensure lithium remains safe and appropriate to continue. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index and so close monitoring of serum lithium level is required. This audit aimed to establish whether Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s physical health check and blood test monitoring of patients prescribed lithium is in keeping with NICE guidelines and determine how the Trust’s performance compared with national performance as identified by the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH) lithium audit. Methods A total of 127 patients under the care of the Trust who were prescribed lithium were identified. The POMH lithium audit tool was used to capture data for each patient as Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust was participating in the POMH lithium audit. Each patient's electronic record was scrutinised to determine whether the following were measured every six months during maintenance treatment – Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs), serum calcium level, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and serum lithium level, and whether the patient had a weight/body mass index (BMI)/waist circumference within the last 12 months. Results Of the 127 lithium patients included in the audit, 64% had a serum calcium level done every six months, 78% had TFTs done every six months, 83% had an eGFR done every six months, and 87% had a serum lithium level done every six months. 71% of patients had a weight/BMI/waist circumference within the last 12 months. Conclusion Trust performance for TFT monitoring and weight/BMI/waist circumference was above the national compliance level reported in the POMH lithium audit; Trust performance for serum lithium level, eGFR and serum calcium level was below the national compliance level. There is a need to ensure that medical and nursing staff are aware of the physical health checks and blood test monitoring required for patients maintained on lithium. A Quality Performance Alert will be sent to medical and nursing staff in the Trust to raise awareness and lithium monitoring will be included in the junior doctor Trust induction. Future auditing of Trust performance on physical health check and blood test monitoring for patients maintained on lithium will be conducted.

Aims Lithium is clinically indicated for use in the UK for treatment and prophylaxis of mania, treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder, treatment and prophylaxis of recurrent depressive disorder and treatment and prophylaxis of aggressive or self-harming behaviour. Prior to commencing lithium, there is a need for several physical health checks and blood tests to be completed to ensure that lithium remains appropriate to prescribe. This audit aimed to establish whether Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s prescribing practices of lithium are in keeping with national guidance prior to initiation and how the Trust’s performance compared with national performance as identified by the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH) lithium audit. Methods A total of 127 patients under the care of the Trust who were prescribed lithium (lithium carbonate and lithium citrate, tablet and liquid formulations) were identified using the Trust's electronic record system and electronic prescription chart system. The POMH lithium audit tool was used to capture data for each lithium patient as Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust was participating in the national POMH lithium audit. Each patient's electronic record was scrutinised to determine whether the following were measured prior to lithium being initiated – weight/body mass index (BMI)/waist circumference, Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs), serum calcium level and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). Results Of the sample of lithium patients included in the audit, 78% of patients had a weight/BMI/waist circumference done prior to initiation of lithium; 80% of patients had a serum calcium level; 93% had TFTs done; and 100% of patients had an eGFR completed prior to initiation of lithium. Conclusion The results of this audit indicate that the Trust is performing well with the required physical health monitoring prior to initiation of lithium. Trust performance for all four parameters that were included and assessed in this audit were above the national compliance level reported in the POMH lithium audit. There is clearly a need, however, to improve performance and to ensure that both medical and nursing staff across the Trust are aware of the physical health monitoring required before initiating any patient on lithium. A Quality Performance Alert will be sent to all medical and nursing staff to raise awareness and lithium monitoring will be included in the induction for junior doctors working in the Trust. Future auditing of Trust performance on required physical health monitoring prior to commencing lithium will be conducted.

ABSTRACT Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 and Clostridium perfringens type A cause infections in rabbit. Vaccines are considered an effective strategy for fighting these infections. Nowadays, the demand for using a nanoparticle adjuvant as (Montanide™ IMS) is increased due to its ability for enhancing both humoral and cell mediated immunity and, in addition, it can be administrated through different routes. An inactivated vaccine against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 and Clostridium perfringens type A which adjuvanted by Montanide™ IMS 1313 N VG PR (IMS 1313) was developed. The prepared vaccine was evaluated in rabbits for sterility, safety and potency via two different routes of vaccination. Oral administration of inactivated vaccine was evaluated as an alternative route to subcutaneous vaccination. The results revealed that rabbits vaccinated by subcutaneous route exhibited satisfactory antibody and antitoxin titer against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 and Clostridium perfringens type A, respectively, from 2nd week post vaccination and reached the peak at 3th week post vaccination. On the other hand, antibody and antitoxin titer of orally vaccinated rabbits didn't reach the satisfactory level. Rabbits vaccinated orally were not protected against virulent rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, with 30% protection, while rabbits vaccinated subcutaneously showed satisfactory protection (90%). Serum nitric oxide and lysozyme activity had significant differences between vaccinated and control rabbits. The level of nitric oxide and lysozyme in sera of subcutaneously vaccinated rabbits was higher than that of orally vaccinated rabbits. Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-ɑ were determined in the spleen of vaccinated rabbits, significant differences were obtained between subcutaneously and orally vaccinated rabbits. It was concluded that the combined vaccine is potent when inoculated by subcutaneous route in contrast to the oral route. The Montanide™ IMS 1313 adjuvant is a product that can be used for rabbit vaccine preparation.

In questo lavoro ci proponiamo di analizzare alcune tipologie di errori lessicali commessi da studenti egiziani di italiano LS evidenziando le strategie da essi adottate per colmare le lacune lessicali. Questo studio si basa sull’analisi di composizioni scritte di 60 studenti egiziani iscritti al secondo anno del corso di laurea in italiano presso la Facoltà di Al Alsun. L’analisi ha rivelato che gli errori lessicali sono il tipo di errore più grave e frequente comprovando che se un messaggio presenta molti errori lessicali ha una scarsa efficacia comunicativa, poiché tali errori sono noti elementi di disturbo della comunicazione. L’analisi degli errori lessicali ha rivelato che tra le strategie messe in atto dagli apprendenti nella costruzione dello spazio lessicale-semantico sono i genericismi, l’estensione semantica, l’uso improprio di termini, le perifrasi, i prestiti lessicali e i calchi. Analysis of the Most Frequent lexical Errors in the Italian of Egyptian Students In this paper, we aim to analyse some types of lexical errors committed by Egyptian Italian LS students by highlighting the strategies they adopted to fill the lexical gaps. This study is based on the analysis of written compositions of 60 Egyptian students enrolled in the second year of the Italian degree course at Al Alsun Faculty. The analysis revealed that lexical errors are the most serious and frequent type of error, proving that if a message has many lexical errors, it has poor communicative effectiveness, as such errors are known communication disruptors. The analysis of lexical errors revealed that among the strategies implemented by learners in the construction of the lexical-semantic space are genericisms, semantic extension, misuse of terms, periphrases, lexical borrowings and casts.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare. The cardiac sarcomas are the most common malignant cardiac tumors. These tumors have a dismal prognosis with an overall median survival of 25 months. Clinical features include dyspnea, arrhythmias, pericardial effusions, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis is often challenging. Therefore, the cardiac imaging workup plays a central role in addition to a high clinical suspicion in the setting of atypical presentations that do not respond to standard therapies. The echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac MRI are crucial in clinching the diagnosis. Multimodal treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has been shown to improve outcomes, as opposed to using either of these modalities alone. We describe the case of a 30-year-old gentleman with COVID-19 infection who developed recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusions refractory to standard treatment and was eventually diagnosed as a case of pericardial angiosarcoma after his biopsy revealed the diagnosis and staging was performed using PET–CT–FDG scan. Our case re-emphasizes the importance of considering a malignant etiology early in the course of the disease presentation, especially in recurrent hemorrhagic effusions despite an inflammatory cytologic diagnosis of fluid. It also highlights the place for cardiac CT and MRI to ascertain the location and spread and to plan the further course of treatment. If diagnosed early, the estimated survival time can be prolonged by instituting a multimodal approach.

Abstract Background Atopic eczema is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin condition with considerable heterogeneity. South Asian people living in the UK frequently have low serum vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), and those with atopic disease can present with severe eczema. The association between vitamin D deficiency and eczema severity, and the role of vitamin D supplementation in atopic eczema is inconsistent, and under‐researched in people with Asian ancestry. Objectives This cross‐sectional study investigates the association between serum 25(OH)D3 and eczema severity in a cohort of South Asian children and young adults living in London. Methods Eligible participants were Bangladeshi children and young adults aged 0–30 years with eczema, living in London and participating in the Tower Hamlets Eczema Assessment study. Data was collected via parent/patient self‐reporting, clinical history and examination, and hospital databases. 25(OH)D3 levels were documented retrospectively, if available, from hospital databases. Eczema severity was classified by Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score less than or greater than 10 (clear‐mild vs. moderate‐severe). Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. Results 681 participants were included in analyses. 25(OH)D3 results were available for 49.6% (338/681), 84.3% of which had deficient or insufficient lowest 25(OH)D3. Lowest 25(OH)D3 was inversely correlated with EASI score (Spearman's rank R2 = −0.24, p 10 and a lower median lowest and nearest 25(OH)D3. After adjustment for confounding EASI > 10 was significantly associated with a lowest 25(OH)D3

The traditional method of producing medicine using the “one-size fits all” model is becoming a major issue for pharmaceutical manufacturers due to its inability to produce customizable medicines for individuals’ needs. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a new disruptive technology that offers many benefits to the pharmaceutical industry by revolutionizing the way pharmaceuticals are developed and manufactured. 3D printing technology enables the on-demand production of personalized medicine with tailored dosage, shape and release characteristics. Despite the lack of clear regulatory guidance, there is substantial interest in adopting 3D printing technology in the large-scale manufacturing of medicine. This review aims to evaluate the research efforts of 3D printing technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical research and development. Our analysis indicates an upsurge in the overall research activity of 3D printing technology but there is limited progress in pharmaceuticals research and development. While the MENA region still lags, there is evidence of the regional interest in expanding the 3D printing technology applications in different sectors including pharmaceuticals. 3D printing holds great promise for pharmaceutical development within the MENA region and its advancement will require a strong collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners in parallel with drafting detailed guidelines from regulatory authorities.

Background: COVID-19 is primarily known as a respiratory illness; however, many patients present to hospital without respiratory symptoms. The association between non-respiratory presentations of COVID-19 and outcomes remains unclear. We investigated risk factors and clinical outcomes in patients with no respiratory symptoms (NRS) and respiratory symptoms (RS) at hospital admission. Methods: This study describes clinical features, physiological parameters, and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, stratified by the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms at hospital admission. RS patients had one or more of: cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or wheezing; while NRS patients did not. Results: Of 178,640 patients in the study, 86.4 % presented with RS, while 13.6 % had NRS. NRS patients were older (median age: NRS: 74 vs RS: 65) and less likely to be admitted to the ICU (NRS: 36.7 % vs RS: 37.5 %). NRS patients had a higher crude in-hospital case-fatality ratio (NRS 41.1 % vs. RS 32.0 %), but a lower risk of death after adjusting for confounders (HR 0.88 [0.83–0.93]). Conclusion: Approximately one in seven COVID-19 patients presented at hospital admission without respiratory symptoms. These patients were older, had lower ICU admission rates, and had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality after adjusting for confounders.

In the realm of nanotechnology, the use of algae to produce nanoparticles is an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and economically viable strategy. In the present study, the brown macroalgae Sargassum subrepandum was utilized to effectively produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Through various characterization techniques, the AgNPs’ structural integrity was confirmed. AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Fusarium equiseti. AgNPs showed cytotoxic effects on the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line with an IC50 of 12.5 µg/ml. Treatment with AgNPs resulted in a marked reduction in cell viability, alongside evident apoptotic and necrotic morphological changes in the cancer cells. Through molecular docking studies, a deeper understanding of the interaction between AgNPs and crucial proteins related to cancer has been achieved, AgNPs showed a promising molluscicidal action on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, a Schistosoma mansoni intermediate host. The half-lethal dose (LC50) of AgNPs was determined to be 0.84 mg/L. The potential consequences of its administration include potential disruptions to the glycolysis profile, as well as potential impacts on the steroidal hormone’s estrogen and testosterone and certain kidney function tests. This study highlights the diverse uses of algae-synthesized AgNPs, ranging from healthcare to environmental management, demonstrating their importance in advancing nano-biotechnological solutions.

Background: Skin is regarded as an essential first line of defense against harmful pathogens and it hosts an ecosystem of microorganisms that create a widely diverse skin microbiome. In chronic wounds, alterations in the host-microbe interactions occur forming polymicrobial biofilms that hinder the process of wound healing. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, possesses antimicrobial activity, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, which are known as the main opportunistic pathogens in chronic wounds. Rationale: In this study, electrospun nanofiber systems loaded with ribavirin were developed as a potential wound dressing for topical application in chronic wounds. Ribavirin was chosen in this study owing to the emerging cases of antimicrobial (antibiotics and antifungal) resistance and the low attempts to discover new antimicrobial agents, which encouraged the repurposing use of current medication as an alternative solution in case of resistance to the available agents. Additionally, the unique mechanism of action of ribavirin, i.e., perturbing the bacterial virulence system without killing or stopping their growth and rendering the pathogens disarmed, might be a promising choice to prevent drug resistance. Cyclodextrin (CD) was utilized to formulate ribavirin as an electrospun nanofibers delivery system to enhance the absorption and accelerate the release of ribavirin for topical use. Results: The results demonstrated a successful ribavirin nanofibers fabrication that lacked beads and pores on the nanofibrous surfaces. Ribavirin underwent a physical transformation from crystalline to amorphous form, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. This change occurred due to the molecular dispersion after the electrospinning process. Additionally, the CD enhanced the encapsulation efficiency of ribavirin in the nanofibers as observed from the drug-loading results. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and CD increased ribavirin released into the solution and the disintegration of fibrous mats which shrank and eventually dissolved into a gel-like substance as the ribavirin-loaded fibers began to break down from their border toward the midpoint. Cytotoxicity of ribavirin and CD was evaluated against human dermal fibroblasts (HFF-1) and the results showed a relatively safe profile of ribavirin upon 24-hour cell exposure, while CD was safe within 24- and 48-hour. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the potential application of our nanofibrous system for treating chronic wounds; however, further antimicrobial and in-vivo studies are required to confirm its safety and effectiveness.