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OBJECTIVE: This study was done to determine UI prevalence among women in Saudi Arabia and identify the associated risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to September 2020 in Saudi women who came to the Urology Department at King Khalid Hospital, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia. In the age group of 20 to 50 years, Saudi women who are not seriously ill or pregnant or in the postnatal period or diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse were included as participants. A semi-structured questionnaire modified from the International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form was used to collect data on frequency, the severity, consequences, and impact of UI on quality of life. Data were analyzed by SPSS 23 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) with the calculation of mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables. Logistic regression analyses were applied to determine the predictors of UI. RESULTS: A total of 451 participants were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the study population was 42.52 years (SD 11.75). Among risk factors, 45 (10%) had diabetes, 56 (12.4%) had hypertension, 36 (8%) had asthma, 80 (17.7%) had UTI/STDs. Out of 451 participants, 188 (41.7%) had urinary incontinence (UI). Sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors like family income, urinary and genital infections (UTI/STDs), pelvic/uterine prolapse, any other disease, and cough were found to have a statistically significant association with urinary incontinence (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of UI was 41.7% among the study population. The various risk factors associated with UI are older age, parity, multiple vaginal deliveries, hypertension, history of asthma, and chronic cough. Poor health-seeking behavior was observed. Creating awareness and the need for early diagnosis with timely intervention is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web attackers aim to propagate malicious links using various techniques to deceive users. They attempt to control victims' devices or obtain their passwords remotely, thereby acquiring access to bank accounts, financial transactions, or private and sensitive information they trade via the Internet. QR codes are accessible, free, easy to use, and can be scanned through several free apps on smartphones. As there is no standard structure or authentication phase in QR code generation, such codes are vulnerable to suspicious online content embedding, i.e., phishing, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and malware. Many studies have highlighted the attacks that may be perpetrated using barcodes, and there are some security countermeasures. Several of these solutions are limited to malicious link detection methods or require knowledge of cryptographic techniques. This study's main objective is to detect malicious URLs embedded in QR codes. A dataset of 90 000 benign and malicious URLs was collected from various resources, and their lexical properties were extracted. Two computational intelligence models, fuzzy logic and multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN), were applied and compared. An MLP-ANN was identified as the best classifier for detecting malicious URLs, and a proactive, secure, real-time computational intelligence barcode scanner implementation (BarCI) against malicious QR code links was proposed based on this classifier. The results demonstrate that this approach enables efficient real-time attack detection with 82.9% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of several methods used to minimize reinforcement corrosion is the use of service-life prediction models to calculate mixture design and construction variables for the desired service life of a structure. Although several models are available for this purpose, very few incorporate the effect of environmental temperature on chloride diffusion. Moreover, most of the earlier studies were conducted under laboratory conditions and they are not based on actual field data. In the reported study, chloride diffusion in Type V and silica fume cement concretes was evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. Large-size concrete specimens were exposed in the tidal zone of a marine exposure site for 1, 2, 5, and 10 years while the laboratory specimens were exposed to a chloride solution maintained at 22, 35, 50, and 60°C (71.6, 95, 122, and 140°F) for 1 year. The coefficient of chloride diffusion (Da) for Type V cement concrete specimens placed in the field was noted to be much more than that of silica fume cement concrete specimens at all exposure periods. However, the Da for both Type V and silica fume cement concrete specimens decreased by 1.3 to 3 times with increasing period of exposure. The Da for the laboratory concrete specimens increased by 2.2 to 3.8 times as the exposure temperature was increased from 22 to 60°C (71.6 to 140°F). Furthermore, the Da for Type V cement concrete specimens was 2.9 to 5 times more than that of silica fume cement concrete specimens. Empirical models correlating the field and laboratory data were developed. These models could be useful for calculating the Da for field conditions from the laboratory data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are common chronic inflammatory conditions. Recent studies showed a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on the severity of active RA. This study was undertaken to further examine the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the signs and symptoms of RA in patients treated with or without anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) medications. The effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on periodontitis also was assessed. Methods: Forty participants diagnosed with moderate/severe RA (under treatment for RA) and severe periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive initial non-surgical periodontal therapy with scaling/root planing and oral hygiene instructions (n = 20) or no periodontal therapy (n = 20). To control RA, all participants had been using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and 20 had also been using anti-TNF-α before randomization. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), RA disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured at baseline and 6 weeks later. Linear mixed models were used to identify significant differences between subjects who received periodontal treatment and those who did not. Results: Patients receiving periodontal treatment showed a significant decrease in the mean DAS28, ESR (P<0.001), and serum TNF-α (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant decrease in these parameters in patients not receiving periodontal treatment. Anti-TNF-α therapy resulted in a significant improvement in CAL, PD, BOP, and GI. Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal therapy had a beneficial effect on the signs and symptoms of PA, regardless of the medications used to treat this condition. Anti-TNF-α therapy without periodontal treatment had no significant effect on the periodontal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study that offers magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of Silicon that trace the cement hydration process in both cement paste and mortar specimens made from Portland cement, when the cement content was replaced by high lime fly ash. The curing of the specimens were done by continuous immersion in potable water at 21 degree Celsius. A decrease in compressive strength with increasing content of high lime fly ash was observed.

Nanotechnology deals with the Nanoparticles having a size of 1-100 nm in one dimension used significantly concerning medical chemistry, atomic physics, and all other known fields. These particles can be prepared easily by different physical, chemical and biological approaches. But the biological approach is the most emerging approach of preparation because this method is easier than the other methods, eco-friendly and less time consuming. In this study green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of Ziziphus nummularia (ZN) was done using the magnetic stirrer method. These AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis Spectroscopy, FTIR and SEM technique and the optimization was done by varying the root extract volume, silver nitrate concentrations, pH and temperature. It was observed that ZN extract can reduce the silver ions in to AgNPs with in 30 min of reaction time. The surface plasmon resonance peak observed near 430 nm, confirmed the reduction of Ag+ to Ag0. Maximum absorbance peak 430 nm was observed with 2mM AgNO3 solution with standard condition of 9pH and 70°C temp. at magnetic stirrer followed by 42 hrs incubation during the optimization of stable AgNPs. SEM images clearly shows that synthesized AgNPs are in spherical shape with size range 20-50 nm. FTIR clearly indicating the presence of capping and reducing agents around the AgNPs synthesised from crude extract of ZN. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis (a Gram-positive bacterium), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (a gram negative bacterium) and Aspergillus niger (plant pathogenic fungal strain), Candida albicans (human pathogenic fungal strain). This novel approach of bionanotechnology can be taken up by the researcher in near future to develop the effective bionaomedicine, biopesticides, nanofood composites etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has become a significant environmental concern in recent years. Because of their slow rate of disposal, MPs are ubiquitous in the environment. As a consequence of indiscriminate use, landfill deposits, and inadequate recycling methods, MP production and environmental accumulation are expanding at an alarming rate, resulting in a range of economic, social, and environmental repercussions. Aquatic organisms, including fish and various crustaceans, consume MPs, which are ultimately consumed by humans at the tertiary level of the food chain. Blocking the digestive tracts, disrupting digestive behavior, and ultimately reducing the reproductive growth of entire living organisms are all consequences of this phenomenon. In order to assess the potential environmental impacts and the resources required for the life of a plastic product, the importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) and circularity is underscored. MPs-related ecosystem degradation has not yet been adequately incorporated into LCA, a tool for evaluating the environmental performance of product and technology life cycles. It is a technique that is designed to quantify the environmental effects of a product from its inception to its demise, and it is frequently employed in the context of plastics. The control of MPs is necessary due to the growing concern that MPs pose as a newly emergent potential threat. This is due to the consequences of their use. This paper provides a critical analysis of the formation, distribution, and methods used for detecting MPs. The effects of MPs on ecosystems and human health are also discussed, which posed a great challenge to conduct an LCA related to MPs. The socio-economic impacts of MPs and their management are also discussed. This paper paves the way for understanding the ecotoxicological impacts of the emerging MP threat and their associated issues to LCA and limits the environmental impact of plastic.

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the form of agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial wastes is globally generated in large volumes every year. The chemical components of LCB render them a substrate valuable for biofuel production. It is hard to dissolve LCB resources for biofuel production because the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose parts stick together rigidly. This makes the structure complex, hierarchical, and resistant. Owing to these restrictions, the junk production of LCB waste has recently become a significant worldwide environmental problem resulting from inefficient disposal techniques and increased persistence. In addition, burning LCB waste, such as paddy straws, is a widespread practice that causes considerable air pollution and endangers the environment and human existence. Besides environmental pollution from LCB waste, increasing industrialization has resulted in the production of billions of tons of dyeing wastewater from several industries, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, tanneries, and food processing units. The massive use of synthetic dyes in various industries can be detrimental to the environment due to the recalcitrant aromatic structure of synthetic dyes, similar to the polymeric phenol lignin in LCB structure, and their persistent color. Synthetic dyes have been described as possessing carcinogenic and toxic properties that could be harmful to public health. Environmental pollution emanating from LCB wastes and dyeing wastewater is of great concern and should be carefully handled to mitigate its catastrophic effects. An effective strategy to curtail these problems is to learn from analogous systems in nature, such as termites, where woody lignocellulose is digested by wood-feeding termites and humus-recalcitrant aromatic compounds are decomposed by soil-feeding termites. The termite gut system acts as a unique bioresource consisting of distinct bacterial species valued for the processing of lignocellulosic materials and the degradation of synthetic dyes, which can be integrated into modern biorefineries for processing LCB waste and bioremediation applications for the treatment of dyeing wastewaters to help resolve environmental issues arising from LCB waste and dyeing wastewaters. This review paper provides a new strategy for efficient management of recalcitrant pollutants by exploring the potential application of termite gut bacteria in biorefinery and bioremediation processing.

This study investigated the impact of wheat processing methods (wheat flour vs wheat pellets) on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and rumen microbiome composition in sheep. Results indicated that feeding of wheat flour resulted in significantly higher terminal weight and average daily gain (P < 0.05) and lower cholesterol and ALP04 levels (P < 0.05) in sheep compared to those fed wheat pellets. Analysis of 16s rDNA high-throughput sequencing data revealed significantly higher microbial richness (Chao1 index) in the rumen of sheep fed wheat flour (P < 0.05), even though the phylum-level composition dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria was similar in both groups of sheep. Notably, sheep fed wheat flour were found to have a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05). At the genus level, Succinivibrionaceae&#95;UCG-001 and Prevotella&#95;1 were significantly more abundant in the rumen of sheep fed wheat flour (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis identified that both terminal weight and average daily gain were positively correlated with ruminal abundance of Bacteroidetes and Prevotella&#95;1, while ALP04 was negatively correlated with the abundance of these taxa. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 indicated enrichment of pathways related to the ABC-type glycerol-3-phosphate transport system, and periplasmic components in both wheat flour and pellet fed sheep. Overall, these findings suggest that dietary wheat flour modulates rumen microbiota composition, and improves growth performance in sheep., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)