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Orientation: Success is a common goal in both personal and professional life, and wise leadership is key to achieving it. Effective leadership guides and motivates teams, driving them toward success and excellence. Research purpose: This study examines wise leadership in Oman’s government sector, using Hassi and Storti’s theoretical frameworks. It explores dimensions such as Intellectual Shrewdness, Spurring Action, Moral Conduct, and Cultivating Humility to improve employee awareness and perception. Motivation for the study: To assess wise leadership qualities across different dimensions and demographic groups to identify strengths and areas for improvement in leadership practices. Research approach/design and method: A descriptive method was employed, and a questionnaire was used as a data gathering tool. The data were analysed by several techniques including T-tests, ANOVA and descriptive statistics. Data were anonymously collected from 300 respondents across the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Information and Taxation Authority, representing diverse demographic profiles and organisational ranks. Main findings: The findings highlight that practical wisdom is vital for organisational resilience, effective communication, and societal well-being in complex governance. While there is broad agreement on key leadership traits, minor discrepancies suggest challenges in applying theoretical ideals, especially concerning vulnerability and humility. Practical/managerial implications: Providing a detailed look at employees’ views on wise leadership and the impact of personal characteristics on these perceptions. Contribution/value-add: Provides a comprehensive view of employees’ perceptions of wise leadership and how personal characteristics influence these perceptions.

This paper presents a new homogenizer for Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP). Experiments were carried out using a two-stage radial-type pump with perforated vanes running at 3400 RPM. A test rig was designed to measure pressure and observe flow patterns. Results showed excellent performance for intake GVF ranging from 25 % to 89 %. Using the proposed homogenizer in the multistage ESP improves pump performance for gas-liquid mixtures. The study explored parameters to improve pump performance in high GVF conditions. The proposed homogenizer is more cost-effective and efficient by integrating into the existing pump stage and allowing customizable perforations. This design flexibility improves performance while avoiding the need for extra space or components. Moreover, numerical simulations with a helico-axial rotating multiphase pump and ANSYS-CFX software were conducted to prove the concept numerically. The focus was on gas-liquid two-phase flow and the effects of inlet GVFs. Modifications to the impeller blades, such as grooves, slits, or holes, were designed to enhance performance. The study found that CFD simulations accurately predict pump performance and that modified impellers improve performance in specific GVF ranges.

Multiple diseases are treated with carbohydrate-based medicinal products worldwide. Direct regioselective acylation of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (MDMP) derivatives 2-6 afforded from the 6-O-butyryl derivative. This isolated 6-O-derivative was converted to 2,3,4-tri-O-acyl derivatives, and the resulting compounds were analyzed using FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analysis. The acylated derivatives showed moderate to good antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity assessment indicated that compound 2 had the lowest toxicity. A SAR study demonstrated that lauroyl and myristoyl acyl chains combined with mannopyranose were particularly effective against bacteria. In this context, molecular docking analysis demonstrated crucial interactions involved in assessing the binding affinity of ligands 1-6 for the active sites of Escherichia coli (4XO8) and Aspergillus flavus (1R51). A 100-ns molecular dynamics simulation showed that all the compounds were stable at the active site of protein 1R51. In silico ADMET prediction revealed greater drug similarity for MDMP derivatives. The results of this investigation may help create MDMP derivative-based multidrug-resistant antimicrobial agents.Highlights Methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (MDMP) derivatives were designed, and synthesized, and their structures were ascertained via spectral analyses.MDMPs were assessed in vitro to identify potential antibacterial or antifungal potential antimicrobial candidate(s) against human and plant organisms.Molecular docking results revealed significant interactions between compounds 1-6 and the active sites of Escherichia coli (4XO8) and Aspergillus flavus (1R51).A 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation demonstrated that the docked ligand–receptor complex had better dynamic stability, as determined through the RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and Rg profiles.ADMET prediction revealed an improved drug-likeness profile for all MDMP derivatives.

Abstract Liquid jet pumps are widely used in various industrial applications for fluid mixing, circulation, and transport. The efficiency and performance of liquid jet pumps play a crucial role in determining their overall effectiveness and economic viability. The performance of liquid jet pumps is primarily affected by parameters such as motive fluid pressure, nozzle design, and entrainment ratio. Liquid jet pumps exhibit a notable drawback in terms of comparatively lower efficiency when compared to alternative pump types. The reduced overall efficiency of liquid jet pumps stems primarily from energy dissipation incurred during the entrainment process. To address this obstacle, a water-water loop system was implemented in conjunction with a liquid jet pump, followed by the introduction of drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) into the suction flow of the liquid jet pump using a specific configuration. This configuration led to a significant reduction in drag within the liquid jet pump, raising its efficiency in some cases from 13.8% to 26.7% with a drag reduction of 46%, subsequently improving its overall performance. The resulting enhancement was evaluated using various efficiency models documented in the existing literature to comprehensively assess the overall performance of the liquid jet pump. A new interpretation of jet pump efficiency has been shared, along with a comparison of the various efficiencies.

Matching between low-voltage high-current capacity battery/fuel cell with high-voltage low-current motors in electric vehicles (EVs) requires paralleling-connection multi-stage power electronic converter with accurate modeling and control system. For high-voltage low-current drives of EVs with high-boosting/bucking gain, single-stage single-arm DC/DC converters suffer from unstable output voltage and the impractical choice of charging/discharging elements. Therefore, a multi-stage multi-arm DC/DC converter is researched to solve the problems of high boosting/bucking gain and minimized the voltage and current ripples. This paper presents parametric sizing, dynamic modeling, and analysis of all logical operational modes for a new high-gain DC/DC converter suitable for deployment in EV applications. The proposed topology composes of three-stage interleaved-input composed of cascaded two stages and double float-output as a third stage with bidirectional current capability. In this study, parametric design, and sizing for the three stages are performed according to the prerequisite ratings. Then, an analysis is conducted on rules of operating the DC/DC converter along with a discussion on considerations taken into account for such a critical design. An investigation of the dynamic behavior of the suggested DC/DC converter is carried out through a state-space model with switches’ states. Furthermore, a simulation and measurement-based validation of the derived mathematical models are conducted. The theoretical based analysis, design, and boosting gains are confirmed through a constructed and tested prototype given data on power supply and load utilization. A discussion on the choice of semiconductor equipment and reactive elements is provided for the proposed DC/DC converter. The experimental results show that the three stages can be used in a separate mode or in a cascaded booster.

PURPOSEEarly-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is a rising health problem. The incidence of EOCRC has increased over the past 2 decades all over the world. Reports from Egypt since the 1990s have reported a higher incidence among young populations with no identifiable risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess EOCRC in Egypt regarding incidence, characteristics, treatment pattern, and survival compared with average age onset and elderly patients.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a retrospective, record-based, cohort study combining data from four different cancer centers in Egypt. We grouped patients according to age into three categories: the EOCRC group for patients age ≤45 years and the average age onset and elderly cancer group (for patients age ≥65 years).RESULTSThe study included 1,310 patients with histopathologically proven colorectal cancer, representing four different geographical areas in Egypt. Patients with EOCRC represented 42.4% of the study population. Female patients were 50.6% among the EOCRC group and 52.5% among the average age group. Rectal tumors were significantly higher in EOCRC (54.7% v 40.6%; P < .001). There was no significant difference between both groups regarding the tumor stage at presentation, obstruction, or presence of metastases at presentation. Patients with EOCRC had a significantly higher rate of peritoneum/adnexa metastases than the average age ones (12.3% in EOCRC v 6.9% in the average age group; P < .001). No statistically significant differences between EOCRC and average age groups in both disease-free survival and overall survival were reported.CONCLUSIONA comprehensive framework for the study of EOCRC is required in Egypt as well as a genomic analysis to identify possible underlying genetic alterations responsible for the high incidence of EOCRC.

The primary focus of this research is to create a precise, yet straightforward drift-flux model tailored for water-gas flow in variously angled pipes. This model is pivotal in estimating the volumetric flow rate of each phase in two-phase pipe flow scenarios. The proposed correlation is developed using twenty-two different (4367 data points) sources with a wide range of input data with different flow patterns. The drift-flux model created in this study underwent validation through the use of experimental data previously documented in the literature. Results indicate this model's stability and practicality, achieving 94.7 % accuracy within a margin of error of ±20 % for the chosen datasets. Furthermore, when compared against several drift-flux models, this newly proposed model consistently outperformed them across a liquid holdup range of 0.01–1. A comparative analysis with the state-of-the-art Unified Model underscores the accuracy of the proposed drift-flux model, highlighting its performance across diverse inclination angles and flow regimes. The proposed model demonstrates excellent predictive accuracy, particularly in vertical flow scenarios. Extending the scope of the study, further research could focus on the application of the developed drift-flux model to other fluid combinations and flow conditions, as well as its integration with mechanistic modeling and computational fluid dynamics simulations to provide more comprehensive insights into the behavior of two-phase flow in pipes with different inclination angles, enhancing the model predictive ability and operational range.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) contribute to significant morbidity and mortality among patients with haemato-oncological conditions, seriously ill hospitalised patients and those in intensive care (ICU). We surveyed for the World Health Organization-recommended essential diagnostic tests for IFIs in these risk groups in Africa. Methods: The Global Action For Fungal Infections (GAFFI) evaluated the different levels of access to both diagnostics for IFIs for populations in Africa, with the aim of building a comparative dataset and a publicly available interactive map. Data was collected through a validated questionnaire administered to a country leader in relevant topics (i.e., HIV, laboratory coordination) and/or Ministry of Health representatives and followed up with 2 rounds of validation by video calls, and later confirmation by email of findings. Results: Initial data was collected from 48 African countries covering 99.65 % of the population. Conventional diagnostics such as blood cultures, direct microscopy and histopathology were often used for diagnosis of IFIs in more than half of the facilities. Bronchoscopy was rarely done or not done in 20 countries (population 649 million). In over 40 African countries (population >850 million), Aspergillus antigen testing was never performed in either the public or private sectors. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is routinely used in 27 (56 %) of countries in the public sector and 21 44 %) in the private sector. However, magnetic resonance imaging remains relatively uncommon in most African countries. Conclusions: There are critical gaps in the availability of essential diagnostics for IFIs in Africa, particularly Aspergillus antigen testing and modern medical imaging modalities. Early diagnosis and commencement of targeted therapy of IFIs are critical for optimal outcomes from complex cancer therapies.

Abstract Frictional pressure drop has been grasping the attention of many industrial applications associated with multi-phase and academia. Alongside the United Nations, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for the exigency of giving attention to economic growth, a considerable reduction in power consumption is necessary to co-up with this vision and to adhere to energy-efficient practices. Thereinto, drag-reducing polymers (DRPs), which do not require additional infrastructure, are a much better option for increasing energy efficiency in a series of critical industrial applications. Therefore, this study evaluates the effects of two DRPs—polar water-soluble polyacrylamide (DRP-WS) and nonpolar oil-soluble polyisobutylene (DRP-OS)—on energy efficiency for single-phase water and oil flows, two-phase air–water and air-oil flows, and three-phase air–oil–water flow. The experiments were conducted using two different pipelines; horizontal polyvinyl chloride with an inner diameter of 22.5 mm and horizontal stainless steel with a 10.16 mm internal diameter. The energy-efficiency metrics are performed by investigating the head loss, percentage saving in energy consumption (both per unit pipe length), and throughput improvement percentage (%TI). The larger pipe diameter was used in experiments for both DRPs, and it was discovered that despite the type of flow or variations in liquid and air flow rates, there was a reduction in head loss, an increase in energy savings, and an increase in the throughput improvement percentage. In particular, DRP-WS is found to be more promising as an energy saver and the consequent savings in the infrastructure cost. Hence, equivalent experiments of DRP-WS in two-phase air–water flow using a smaller pipe diameter show that the head loss drastically increases. However, the percentage saving in power consumption and throughput improvement percentage is significantly compared with that found in the larger pipe. Thus, this study found that DRPs can improve energy efficiency in various industrial applications, with DRP-WS being particularly promising as an energy saver. However, the effectiveness of these polymers may vary depending on the flow type and pipe diameter.

Abstract Background Patients who develop severe illness due to COVID-19 are more likely to be admitted to hospital and acquire bacterial co-infections, therefore the WHO recommends empiric treatment with antibiotics. Few reports have addressed the impact of COVID-19 management on emergence of nosocomial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in resource constrained settings. This study aimed to ascertain whether being admitted to a COVID-19 ward (with COVID-19 infection) compared to a non-COVID-19 ward (as a COVID-19 negative patient) was associated with a change in the prevalence of bacterial hospital acquired infection (HAI) species or resistance patterns, and whether there were differences in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards. The study was conducted in Sudan and Zambia, two resource constrained settings with differing country-wide responses to COVID-19. Methods Patients suspected of having hospital acquired infections were recruited from COVID-19 wards and non-COVID-19 wards. Bacteria were isolated from clinical samples using culture and molecular methods and species identified. Phenotypic and genotypic resistance patterns were determined by antibiotic disc diffusion and whole genome sequencing. Infection prevention and control guidelines were analysed for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards to identify potential differences. Results 109 and 66 isolates were collected from Sudan and Zambia respectively. Phenotypic testing revealed significantly more multi-drug resistant isolates on COVID-19 wards in both countries (Sudan p = 0.0087, Zambia p = 0.0154). The total number of patients with hospital acquired infections (both susceptible and resistant) increased significantly on COVID-19 wards in Sudan, but the opposite was observed in Zambia (both p = ≤ 0.0001). Genotypic analysis showed significantly more β-lactam genes per isolate on COVID-19 wards (Sudan p = 0.0192, Zambia p = ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions Changes in hospital acquired infections and AMR patterns were seen in COVID-19 patients on COVID-19 wards compared to COVID-19 negative patients on non-COVID-19 wards in Sudan and Zambia. These are likely due to a potentially complex combination of causes, including patient factors, but differing emphases on infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship policies on COVID-19 wards were highlighted.

Decimal arithmetic gains its importance in different applications in the fields of finance and scientific applications. The approach of running decimal arithmetic over binary hardware requires conversions from decimal to binary and from binary to decimal. These conversions produce inexact results that impose financial losses for companies. Therefore, the need for decimal hardware is of high importance. This work proposes decimal addition circuits and presents their realization in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. LTSPICE SPICE simulator software is used to simulate and verify the functionality of the proposed circuits. The circuits are simulated using $45nm$ , $65nm$ , and $180nm$ technologies and compared against existing works in the literature. Due to the lack of existing work in literature and for purpose of comparison, this work also designed five different BCD adders using different existing binary adders in literature. The experimental results show that proposed decimal adder achieves better performance comparing to the other works. For example, for 3-digit operands, the proposed adder shows a power delay product (PDP), in femtojoule (fJ), of $13.88~fJ$ comparing to $25.38~fJ$ , $16.01~fJ$ , $15.24~fJ$ , $27.49~fJ$ , and $27.77~fJ$ PDP for other works.

Abstract This paper introduces the application of the variants of the Grey Wolf Optimisation algorithm for the sake of assessing unknown parameters of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells models. Three versions of Grey Wolf Optimisation algorithm are applied: Conventional Grey Wolf Optimisation, Improved Grey Wolf Optimisation based on dimension learning‐based hunting, and Selective Opposition‐based Grey Wolf Optimisation. Moreover, Optimisation algorithms of Ant Lion Optimiser, Atom search optimisation, Dragonfly algorithm, and Multi‐Verse Optimiser have been applied to estimate the parameters of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells models for the validation purpose. These algorithms are applied to three commercial Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells stacks: BCS 500W‐PEM, 500W‐SR‐12PEM and 250W‐stack. The analyses are executed considering several operational circumstances. Sum of square errors value of the results based on parameters estimation and those experimentally tested are calculated. The objective function is chosen as sum of square errors value. The results are compared with those obtained using well‐known methods in the literature to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. It is noticeable that the simulated I‐V curves momentously match the datasheet curves for all the studied cases. In addition, considering the accuracy of the solution and the convergence speed, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells model based on the Improved Grey Wolf Optimisation algorithm excels all other algorithms. Based on the simulation results, the Improved Grey Wolf Optimisation algorithm can improve the optimisation efficiency to 99.97 for the 250 W stack while the efficiency with Grey Wolf Optimisation and Selective Opposition‐based Grey Wolf Optimisation are 98.83 and 98.84, respectively, for the 250 W stack case study.

Researchers are paying attention to the current trend of electric vehicles (EVs), but there are not many places to charge them and serve as electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs). In order to prevent the lack of EVCS for battery EVs (BEVs) on any road with all modes of operation, this paper proposed the design of a novel configuration and control structures for the isolated charging station (ICS) based on the solar PV system for efficient energy utilization to charge battery EVs (BEVs) with flexible double function cascaded converter (MPPT and DC-link voltage regulation). This was done with the aid of a battery energy storage system (BESS) as a backup/auxiliary source. The PV system is reliant on solar radiation and the daily load profile. Therefore, the BESS is employed to provide continuous power to BEVs and overcome PV’s intermittent nature. The cascaded converter is used to achieve the MPP and to regulate the DC-link voltage to its reference value (100 V), while the buck-boost matching bidirectional DC-DC voltage converters (MBDVCs) are used for charging and discharging mode/buck and boost mode, respectively, of BEVs and BESSs. Additionally, the MBDVCs are used as an interface between the ICS sources with the load through the developed control systems. The outcomes of various operating modes show that the system functions effectively. To verify the system performance, the MATLAB/Simulink application builds the system setup.

هدفت الدراسة إلى معرفة أثر الابتكار الاجتماعي في العلاقة بين التوجه الاستراتيجي والكفاءة في القطاع الصناعي بولاية الخرطوم، إلا إن قلة الدراسات التي تناولت محددات الابتكار الاجتماعي خاصة في الدول النامية. تم بناء نموذج الدراسة وفرضياتها بناء على دراسات سابقة في تطوير مقاييس الدراسة تم الاعتماد على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي وعلى العينة غير الاحتمالية /ميسرة وذلك لأنه تم توزيعها على فئة المديرين بمختلف مستوياتهم الوظيفية وتم تصميم اداة لجمع البيانات الاولية (الاستبانة)، وكان العدد الكلى الموزع (384) استبانة، حيث تم توزيعها على عدد (96) مؤسسة صناعية سودانية عاملة بولاية الخرطوم بنسبة استرداد بلغت (87%) وتم استخدام برنامج الحزم الاحصائية (SPSS) و(اموس23) لتحليل البيانات. تم استخدام أسلوب تحليل المسار ونمذجة المعادلة البنائية لاختبار فرضياتها، وقد توصلت الدراسة إلى استنتاجات أهمها الابتكار الاجتماعي لا يتوسط العلاقة الايجابية بين التوجه التكنولوجي والكفاءة بينما يوجد أثر إيجابي الابتكار الاجتماعي على الكفاءة واختتم البحث بمجموعة من التوصيات كان اهمها ضرورة الاهتمام في الابداع والسلوك الاجتماعي والفاعلية لما لها من أهمية في تحسين أداء المؤسسة المبحوثة، وبناء على نتائج الدراسة تمت مناقشة نتائج الدراسة وكذلك التأثير النظري والتطبيقي وأيضا تم تقديم توصيات واقتراح بحوث مستقبلية.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of rheological models of shear-thinning fluids and their estimated parameters on the predictions of laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow. The investigation was carried out through experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies in horizontal pipes (diameters of 19.1 mm and 76.2 mm). Six turbulent models using Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations in CFD_ANSYS Fluent 19.0 were examined in a 3D simulation followed by comparison studies between numerical and experimental results. Regarding results of laminar regions in power-law rheology models, Metzner and Reed presented the best fit for the pressure loss and transitional velocity. For the turbulent region, correlations observed by Wilson and Thomas as well as Dodge and Matzner had good agreement with the experimental results. For Herschel–Bulkley fluids, pressure losses and transitional regions based on a yielded region were examined and compared to the experimental results and the modified Slatter Reynolds number, where the results provided good estimation. For both pipe diameters, the Slatter model was the best fit for pressure losses of Herschel–Bulkley fluids in the turbulent regime. Furthermore, when comparing k-omega and k-epsilon turbulence models to the power-law behaviour, numerical studies delivered the most accurate results with fluids that have a higher behaviour index. However, the error percentage significantly increased at a higher shear rate in the Herschel–Bulkley fluids with a greater yield stress effect. Moreover, the modified Herschel–Bulkley viscosity function by Papanastasiou was implemented in the current CFD study. This function was numerically stabilized, devoid of discontinuity at a low strain rate, and more effective in transitional regions.

The bidirectional power flow through the interlinking converter (IC), in ac/dc hybrid microgrids (HMGs) consisting of distributed generators (DGs) with droop controllers, plays an important role on the stability of such systems during islanding. This paper investigates the impact of the power flow direction on the small-signal stability of islanded droop-based HMGs. Firstly, a linearized state-space model of an HMG is developed. Secondly, eigenvalue analysis is carried out to realize the dominant modes, which are the rightmost eigenvalues. Thirdly, participation factor analysis is performed to identify the system and control parameters that effect stability the most. Lastly, sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the critical droop gains and stability margin. It is observed from the eigenvalue and sensitivity analysis that the dominant modes of HMGs become more stable as more power flows from dc to ac subgrid. On the contrary, an increase in the power flow from ac to dc subgrid degrades the HMG stability. Additionally, the sensitivity of the dominant modes to changes in ac and dc droop gains is studied under bidirectional power flow through the IC to ascertain their impact on the stability margins. Finally, time-domain simulations, in MATLAB/Simulink, suggest that more generation on the dc subgrid would enhance the overall HMG stability margin during islanding.

Model predictive control (MPC), manly based on a direct use of an explicit and identifiable model, has been widely used in controller design in different applications both by academia and industry. The reason for such popularity is due to its strong ability for providing high performance electric drive systems, as highly recognized as the most reliable control approach compared with field-oriented control (FOC) and direct torque control (DTC). In general, the MPC has numerous features and advantages, such as direct switching states to the converter without any modulation, online optimization with multivariable control, low current total harmonic distortion, low switching loss, etc. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review for major development and achievements of the recent progress on the MPC for electrical machines and drives. This review begins with the innovative topologies and operating principles of fundamental MPC, and ends to summary on different advanced MPC algorithms. Typical MPC techniques have been fully adopted to enhance the drive performance of the electrical drives, mainly including finite-set model predictive control (FS-MPC) based on tuning weighting factors, without weighting factors, maximum torque per ampere, low number of switching vectors, and multi voltage vectors in one sample period. Finally, great attention has been paid to the discussion of the new trends and future research topics.

Purpose: Breast cancer in men accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancers. Breast cancer trials have routinely excluded men. The aim of this analysis was to determine the effect of different treatment factors, in particular, postoperative radiation therapy (RT) on long-term outcomes. Methods and Materials: Seventy-one patients with male breast cancer treated in 5 closely cooperating institutions between 2003 and 2019 were analyzed. Results: Almost all patients (95%) underwent surgical resection. Forty-two patients (59%) received chemotherapy, and 59 (83%) received adjuvant hormonal therapy. Of the 71 patients, 52 (73%) were treated with RT. The rate of recurrence was 20% in the whole cohort, with a locoregional recurrence rate of 3%. In the entire group, the 5-year local control (LC) was 95%, whereas 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 62% and 96%, respectively. There was a lower rate of relapses after adjuvant RT (19% vs 32%, P = .05) without in-field relapse after postoperative RT (0%) versus 10% in patients without RT (P = .02). In the multivariate analysis performed, hormonal therapy administration was found to have a possible significant effect on LC and PFS. Administration of adjuvant RT and stage affect PFS. In patients who received RT, there were no grade 3 or 4 acute toxicities. Conclusions: Adjuvant RT is an effective and safe treatment for male breast cancer patients with no infield relapses and better PFS. Hormonal therapy administration was found to have a possible effect on LC and PFS.

Background & Objective(s): Blackberry (BB) ranks highly among fruits with strong antioxidant activities. It contains appreciable levels of phenolic compounds, mainly gallic acid and anthocyanin that have been related to antioxidant activity in these fruits. Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical with a very wide range of uses in industry. It has been detected in a widely consumed food item and accounts as one of the major health concern. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of BB juice as a natural source of antioxidant with either anthocyanin or gallic acid on the acrylamide harmful effect on kidneys in rats. Methods: A total of 50 adult male Albino rats equally allocated in five groups were used in this study. Rats in group 1 served as untreated control, group 2 rats were given ACR at dose of 50mg/kg BW, group 3 rats were given anthocyanin at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW + 50 mg/kg BW ACR, group 4 rats were given 3μg/kg gallic acid + 50 mg/kg ACR and group 5 rats were treated with 50 mg/kg BW ACR + 1.6 g/kg BW of BB juice. Rats were administered their respective doses on daily basis for eight weeks. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in body weight gain between experimental groups. It was noticed that ACR caused a significant decrease in some hematological parameters [red blood cell (RBC) count (2.2×106/L), hemoglobin level (9.0 g/dI) and platelet count (206×106/L)] and some antioxidants mean levels [glutathione (GSH) (6.1 μmol/ml), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (302.4 μmol/ml) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (1.3 μmol/ml)] compared to the control group. On the contrary, ACR caused a significant increase in white blood cell (WBC) count, kidney functions [uric acid (5.1 mg/dI), creatinine (1.5 mg/dI) and urea (76.4 mg/dI)], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor markers [Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (209.3 pg/ml), tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TFN-α) (120.5 pg/ml), and tumor suppressor gene (p53) (25.5 pg/ml)] than in the control group. On the other hand, we found that polyphenols caused a significant increase in RBC, hemoglobin, platelets and the best effect was observed with BB juice. The latter significantly increased the levels of GSH, SOD, and TAC, while polyphenols decrease WBC, uric acid, creatinine, urea, TBARS, NO, p53, TFN and IL6 levels compared to the ACR group. Histological examination for kidney tissue showed that ACR can damage the kidney structure but presence of polyphenols especially BB Juice may save kidney from damage. Conclusion: the result of this study suggested that BB Juice as a natural source of antioxidants is more protective than either anthocyanin or gallic acid alone against ACR toxicity on rat’s kidneys.

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation concerning the effect of drag reducing polymers (DRP) on enhancing the throughput and reducing the pressure drop for a horizontal pipe carrying two-phase flow of air and water mixture. Moreover, the ability of these polymer entanglements to damp turbulence waves and changing the flow regime has been tested at various conditions, and a clear observation showed that the maximum drag reduction always occurs when the highly fluctuated waves were reduced effectively by DRP (and that, accordingly, phase transition (flow regime changed) appeared. This may also help in improving the separation process and enhancing the separator performance. The present experimental set-up has been constructed using a test section of 1.016-cm ID; an acrylic tube section was used to enable visual observations of the flow patterns. A new injection technique has been utilized and, with the use of different injection rates of DRP, the results have shown that the reduction in pressure drop occurred in all flow configurations. Furthermore, different empirical correlations have been developed which improve the ability to predict the pressure drop after the addition of DRP. The correlations showed low discrepancy for a wide range of water and air flow rates.

The present study aimed to investigate the neurotoxicity of iron oxide and silver NPs solely or combined. At the molecular level, the exposure to both NPs induced marked DNA fragmentation, downregulation of mtTFA, and upregulation of PGC-1α expression. Both NPs caused decline in acetylcholine esterase, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and antioxidants enzymes, while causing an increase in lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, tumour suppressor gene p53, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. NPs exposure was associated with severe histologic changes in brain architecture. The effect of the combined exposure to both NPs was more pronounced than each one alone. This study showed that the mechanism of neurotoxicity may involve different pathways including changes in gene expression of mTFA and PGC-1α, induced DNA fragmentation, deregulated neurotransmitters, oxidative stress and disturbed cytokine production and tumour suppressor protein p53.

Residential and commercial buildings consume over a third of the world's total energy. The residential sector accounts for most energy use in the Gaza Strip, necessitating the development of feasible energy-saving techniques. Herein, a simulation-based study has been prepared to examine the integration of some practical passive design strategies into a generic residence. The study aims to optimize thermal performance by minimizing the building's cooling loads. A detailed examination is conducted for the literature on similar research and passive design techniques to investigate a city's state and climate. Three passive parameters, namely, shading devices, natural ventilation, and thermal insulation, were investigated using Climate Consultant and IESve as assessment software. Accordingly, their impacts on the building's indoor temperature and cooling load were evaluated. The findings suggest that the implementation of such passive design parameters can reduce energy consumption by 9.89 kW, representing 59% of the total energy consumption of the building. Such integration in residential buildings could be significant in cities with limited natural resources and would guide architects, designers, engineers towards the potential of passive measures in building design.

الملخص: يصف هذا التقرير حالة مثيرة للاهتمام ومهددة لحياة المصاب؛ ناتجة عن الإصابة بطلق ناري أدى إلى نزيف شديد في منطقة البطن والصدر. حيث خضعت لانصمام شرياني انتقائي لوقف النزيف بعد عمليتين جراحتين لم يتمكنا من السيطرة على النزيف في الحجاب الحاجز وما تحت الحجاب الحاجز، مع نزيف شديد في الكبد وتجمع لورم دموي تحت الحجاب الحاجز. عرضنا صور الأشعة المقطعية التي توضح مكان حدوث النزيف وصور الشرايين المغذية للكبد التي تظهر النزيف النشط قبل الانصمام وتوقف النزيف بعد الانصمام بواسطة تصوير الأوعية الدموية بالطرح الرقمي. تم شرح التاريخ المرضي وتقدم حالة المريض وكتابة مناقشة الحالة والاستنتاج. Abstract: We report an interesting life-threating case of post-traumatic severe bleeding in the thoraco-abdominal region. The patient was initially treated by open surgery, which failed to control bleeding in the intrahepatic and sub-diaphragmatic regions of the liver with associated haematoma collection. As bleeding continued, on the 2nd post-operative day, the patient underwent super-selective embolisation of the bleeding vessels to cease serious bleeding. The pre-embolisation arterial feeders with active bleeding and post-embolisation images by computed tomography subtraction angiography showed complete cessation of haemorrhage. Torrential haemorrhage in the thoraco-abdominal regions can be successfully managed by trained interventional radiologists in highly specialised centres. الكلمات المفتاحية: الإصابة بطلق ناري, نزيف كبدي, تصوير الأوعية الدموية, الانصمام الشرياني, البطن, Keywords: Abdomen, Angiography, Embolisation, Hepatic bleeding, Traumatic-gunshot

Nanoparticle-induced cardiovascular diseases have attracted much attention. Upon entering the blood circulation system, these particles have the potency to induce cardiomyocytes, leading to cardiac failure or myocardial ischemia, and the molecular mechanism remains to be completely clarified. In this study, the cardiac toxicity of rats orally exposed to hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAPNPs) has been observed through an increase in myocardial infarction serum markers including CK-MB and alterations in routine blood factors, expression of apoptosis-related protein P53, and increased levels of serum inflammatory markers represented by the tumor necrosis factor alpha and Interleukin-6, as well as a decline in heart antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione level, while an induction in lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide has been observed, as well as notable histological and histochemical alterations in the heart of these animals. mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were elevated in the myocardium. However, the coadministration of chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) and/or curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs) successfully modulated these alterations and induced activation in antioxidant parameters. The present data suggest that HAPNPs-induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway may play a crucial role in cardiac tissue damage and the early treatment with CsNPs and CurNPs may protect the heart from infarction induced by HAPNPs toxic effect.

Summary: Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and piezoelectric generators (PGs) are generally considered the two most common approaches for harvesting ambient mechanical energy that is ubiquitous in our everyday life. The main difference between the two generators lies in their respective working frequency range. Despite the remarkable progress, there has been no quantitative studies on the operating frequency band of the two generators at frequency values below 4 Hz, typical of human motion. Here, the two generators are systematically compared based on their energy harvesting capabilities below 4 Hz. Unlike PGs, the TENG demonstrates higher power performance and is almost independent of the operating frequency, making it highly efficient for multi-frequency operation. In addition, PGs were shown to be inapplicable for charging capacitors when a rectifier was attached to the system. The results of this work reveal the tremendous potential of flexible TENGs for harvesting energy at low frequency.

Abstract Since their debut in 2012, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attained high performance in terms of both energy density and instantaneous conversion, reaching up to 500 W m−2 and 85%, respectively, synchronous with multiple energy sources and hybridized designs. Here, a comprehensive review of the design guidelines of TENGs, their performance, and their designs in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) applications is presented. The development stages of TENGs in large‐scale self‐powered systems and technological applications enabled by harvesting energy from water waves or wind energy sources are also reviewed. This self‐powered capability is essential considering that IoT applications should be capable of operation anywhere and anytime, supported by a network of energy harvesting systems in arbitrary environments. In addition, this review paper investigates the development of self‐charging power units (SCPUs), which can be realized by pairing TENGs with energy storage devices, such as batteries and capacitors. Consequently, different designs of power management circuits, supercapacitors, and batteries that can be integrated with TENG devices are also reviewed. Finally, the significant factors that need to be addressed when designing and optimizing TENG‐based systems for energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing applications are discussed.

Atlantic horse mackerel is one of the most popular fish for North African consumers. Mackerel constitutes a common host for the Anisakis species of infective larvae (L3). A. pegreffii and A. pegreffii × A. simplex (s.s.) hybrid genotype were identified using PCR-RFLP and entire ITS-DNA sequencing protocol. This research investigated the prevalence and mean intensity of A. pegreffii and its hybrid form in randomly collected mackerel samples throughout spring to summer seasons from the Libyan western coast. Briefly, 55 out of 240 (22.9%) fish samples were confirmed to be infected and the prevalence of A. pegreffii reached 22.08% with mean intensity of infection 29.13 ± 2.43 parasite/fish, while the prevalence of A. pegreffii × A. simplex (s.s.) hybrid genotype was 0.8% with mean intensity of infection 22 ± 0.85 parasite/fish. The prevalence of infection noticeably elevated during the summer season to reach 30.8%. Additionally, female fish samples were heavily infected as the mean intensity of infection was 34.75 ± 1.27 parasite/fish. Furthermore, results indicated that the highest intensity of infection was recorded in older and female mackerel. To sum up, the current study has provided substantial information about the impacts, diversity and epidemiology of A. pegreffii and its hybrid form in North African waters. Keywords: Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis hybrid genotype, PCR-RFLP, Atlantic horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, Libya

Abstract The dynamic motion of a water droplet on an inclined hydrophobic surface is analyzed with and without environmental dust particles on the surface. Solution crystallization of a polycarbonate surface is carried out to generate a hydrophobic surface with hierarchical texture composed of micro/nanosize spheroids and fibrils. Functionalized nanosize silica particles are deposited on the textured surface to reduce contact angle hysteresis. Environmental dust particles are collected and characterized using analytical tools prior to the experiments. The droplet motion on the hydrophobic surface is assessed using high-speed camera data, and then, the motion characteristics are compared with the corresponding analytical results. The influence of dust particles on the water droplet motion and the amount of dust particles picked up from the hydrophobic surface by the moving droplet is evaluated experimentally. A 40 μL droplet was observed to roll on the hydrophobic surface with and without dust particles, and the droplet slip velocity was lower than the rotational velocity. The rolling droplet removes almost all dust particles from the surface, and the mechanism for the removal of dust particles from the surface was determined to be water cloaking of the dust particles.

Abstract Bio-inspired technologies have remarkable potential for energy harvesting from clean and sustainable energy sources. Inspired by the hummingbird-wing structure, we propose a shape-adaptive, lightweight triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) designed to exploit the unique flutter mechanics of the hummingbird for small-scale wind energy harvesting. The flutter is confined between two surfaces for contact electrification upon oscillation. We investigate the flutter mechanics on multiple contact surfaces with several free-standing and lightweight electrification designs. The flutter driven-TENGs are deposited on simplified wing designs to match the electrical performance with variations in wind speed. The hummingbird TENG (H-TENG) device weighed 10 g, making it one of the lightest TENG harvesters in the literature. With a six TENG network, the hybrid design attained a 1.5 W m−2 peak electrical output at 7.5 m/s wind speed with an approximately linear increase in charge rate with the increased number of TENG harvesters. We demonstrate the ability of the H-TENG networks to operate Internet of Things (IoT) devices from sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Understanding the behaviour of gas–liquid flows in upward and downward pipe configurations in chemical, petroleum, and nuclear industries is vital when optimal design, operation, production, and safety are of paramount concern. Unfortunately, the information concerning the behaviour of such flows in large pipe diameters is rare. This article aims to bridge that gap by reporting air–water upward and downward flows in 127 mm internal diameter pipes using advanced conductance ring probes located at two measurement locations. The liquid and gas flow rates are 0.021 to 0.33 m/s and 3.52 to 16.1 m/s, correspondingly, covering churn and annular flows. To achieve the desired objectives, several parameters, probability density function (PDF), power spectral density (PSD), Slippage Number (SN), drift velocity (Ugd), and distribution coefficient (C0) were employed. The flow regimes encountered in the two pipe configurations were distinguished employing a flow regime map available in the literature and statistical analysis. The obtained results were supported by visual inspection. The comparison between the present study against reported studies reveals the same tendency for the measured experimental data. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) method within 4% was utilized in recommending the best void fraction prediction correlation for the downward and upward flows.