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Kazım Kıratlı,1 Murat Aysin,2 Mukhtar Abdullahi Ali,1 Ahmed Mohamed Ali,1 Hakan Zeybek,3 Şükran Köse4 1Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Balikesir University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Balikesir, Turkey; 3Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Mogadishu, Somalia; 4Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Izmir, TurkeyCorrespondence: Kazım Kıratlı, Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tel +252611522947, Email drkazimkiratli@gmail.comIntroduction: Historically, antimicrobials have been used to treat microbial illnesses in humans and animals. But throughout this time, antibiotics that had been successful against particular microorganisms started to lose their effectiveness due to rising inappropriate use brought on by ignorance, negligent attitudes, and improper methods. Our goal in conducting this study was to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of doctors with relation to the use of antibiotics in light of the growing global and Sub-Saharan African problem of antimicrobial resistance.Methods: In a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, a cross-sectional survey study was carried out to assess experts’ and research assistants’ knowledge, attitudes, behavior, awareness, and practices regarding the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. A questionnaire consisting of 2 sections and 22 questions was applied to the participants on a voluntary basis.Results: Among the 202 doctors that participated in the study, 49 (24.3%) were specialists, and 153 (75.7%) were assistants. Prescriptions for one to ten antibiotic boxes per week on average were reported by 146 respondents (72.3%). Of the physicians, just 27 (13.4%) did not require assistance when prescribing an antibiotic. The most often accessed sources of support were experts in infectious diseases (43.1%) and national/international antimicrobial guidelines (32.2%). The top three factors contributing to antibiotic resistance in Somalia include misuse of antibiotics (61.4%), unnecessary prescriptions written by doctors (44.6%), and an absence of infectious disease specialists in most institutions (44.1%).Conclusion: As an alarming level of antimicrobial resistance has been observed globally in recent years, the results of our survey will help educate our doctors by gauging their perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge about rational antibiotic use in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will provide better patient outcomes.Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, Sub-Saharan Africa, microorganism, prescription, Infectious disease, knowledge

Mahmoud Ahmed Ali,1 Moustafa Adam El Taieb,1 Eisa Mohamed Hegazy,2 Hassan M Ibrahim,2 Alshimaa Abbas Mohamed,1 Mohamed Amer Ahmed Abdellatif,1 Nour Mohammed Ahmed,3 Ali Mohamed Younis1 1Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt; 2Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 3Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, EgyptCorrespondence: Mahmoud Ahmed Ali, Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, 81528, Egypt, Tel +201002364902, Email dr.mahmoudali8051@gmail.comBackground: In the entire world, acne vulgaris (AV) is the most prevalent skin condition. Approximately 9.4% of people worldwide have acne vulgaris. This study compared the blood levels of chitinase 3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) in acne vulgaris patients before and after oral isotretinoin therapy.Patients and Methods: The design of the study was cross-sectional case-control. Forty patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris and twenty healthy participants participated in this study. Using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) score, patients with acne vulgaris were evaluated both before and after concluding their treatment. Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum levels of YKL-40 were measured before and after oral isotretinoin therapy in healthy controls and acne patients.Results: Patients with acne vulgaris had considerably greater serum levels of YKL-40 than healthy control subjects (p 0.001) did. After three months of oral isotretinoin medication, the GAGS score and blood levels of YKL-40 in acne vulgaris patients both significantly decreased.Conclusion: The conclusion of this study was that reducing the blood levels of YKL-40 and the GAGS score in patients with acne vulgaris who took oral isotretinoin for three months was a crucial strategy.Keywords: acne vulgaris, YKL-40, isotretinoin, GAGS

Reham Samir Hamida,1 Mohamed Abdelaal Ali,2 Fatima Tariq Sharif,3 Hana Sonbol,3 Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij3 1Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; 2Plant Production Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-CITY) New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt; 3Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Hana Sonbol, Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O.Box 84428, Email Hssonbol@pnu.edu.saPurpose: The biological synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has become a new methodology for the eco-friendly production of NPs with high scalability and biocompatibility. Cyanobacteria are one of the most widespread microorganisms on Earth and have been proven to be successful biofactories for synthesizing NPs. It is challenging to discover new microalgae with the potential to synthesize NPs of small size with high stability.Methods: Nostoc muscorum Lukesova 2/91 was isolated, purified, and identified morphologically and genetically using microscopy and DNA sequencing. Volatile biomolecules in aqueous algal extracts were assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).Results: Data showed that the main biomolecules were fatty acids and their esters, followed by secondary metabolites. Algal extract was used to convert silver nitrate (AgNO3) into silver NPs under various optimized parameters. 1 mM of AgNO3, 1:1 (V/V ratio of algal extract to AgNO3), 25 °C, under light illumination, for 24 h, at pH 7.4 were the optimum conditions for NP production (Nos@AgNPs). Nos@AgNPs were characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDx, mapping, and a Zetasizer. The wavelength of Nos@AgNPs was 401.4 nm and their shapes were cubic to oval, with an average diameter of 11.8 ± 0.5 nm. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that proteins/polysaccharides could be the main reductants, whereas these molecules and/or fatty acids could be stabilizers for NP synthesis. Nos@AgNPs (86.15%) was silver and had a hydrodynamic diameter of 10.7 nm with a potential charge of − 19.7 mV. Antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of Nos@AgNPs were evaluated. Nos@AgNPs exhibited significant inhibitory activity against lung, colon, and breast cancer cells and considerable biocidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusion: N. muscorum Lukesova 2/91 is an excellent source for the biofabrication of small and stable AgNPs with potent inhibitory effects against cancer and bacterial cells.Keywords: green synthesis, algae, Nostoc sp., antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial

Ahmed Mohamed Ali,1 Ahmet Doğan,2 Mukhtar Abdullahi Ali,3 Abdısalam Ibrahım Aden4 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Mogadishu-Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey; 3Department of İnfectious Diseases at Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia; 4Department of Dermatology at Mogadishu-Somalia TurkeyRecep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, SomaliaCorrespondence: Ahmed Mohamed Ali, Tel +252615462742, Email Ahmedorey22@gmail.comAbstract: An uncommon variation of lupus erythematosus is lupus panniculitis. İt can exist on its own or in conjunction with discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus. Persistent, sensitive, and hard nodules that are localized on the face, arms, shoulders, breast, and buttocks are its defining features. Scarring, lipoatrophy, and ulceration are occasionally associated with the healing of lesions. We are reporting the first case of lupus erythematosus panniculitis from Somalia. A 60-year-old male patient visited our polyclinic with an upper back nodule and a left upper ulcerated lesion that had been present for four months.Keywords: lupus erythematosus panniculitis, scar, nodules, fine needle aspiration

Ahmed Mohamed Alı,1 Ahmet Doğan,1 Mukhtar Abdullahi Ali,1 Battal Selçuk Çakmak2 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Somalia-Mogadishu- Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Department of Urology, Somalia- Mogadishu- Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, SomaliaCorrespondence: Ahmet Doğan, Tel +9 537 484 5047, Email uzdrahmetdogan@gmail.comAbstract: Tuberculosis is especially common in African countries where HIV is common. Although pulmonary tuberculosis is generally seen, testicular tuberculosis can rarely be seen in young men. Especially in African countries, it is not possible to study acid-resistant bacilli, polymerase-chain reaction and culture due to financial impossibility. For this reason, history, physical examination, scrotal ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy help in diagnosis in suspected cases of testicular tuberculosis. Cure is possible with six months of treatment.Keywords: testicular tuberculosis, rare case, caseifying necrotizing granuloma

Reham Samir Hamida,1 Mohamed Abdelaal Ali,2 Doaa A Goda,3 Mayasar Ibrahim Al-Zaban4 1Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 2Biotechnology Unit, Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Bioprocess Development Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria, Egypt; 4Department of Biology, College of Science Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohamed Abdelaal Ali Email mali3@ksu.edu.saMayasar Ibrahim Al-Zaban Email Mialzaban@pnu.edu.saBackground: Increasing antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens have led to the need to develop new therapeutic agents to tackle microbial infections. Nano-antibiotics are a novel generation of nanomaterials with significant antimicrobial activities that target bacterial defense systems including biofilm formation, membrane permeability, and virulence activity.Purpose: In addition to AgNO3, the current study aimed to explore for first time the antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized by Nostoc sp. Bahar_M (N-SNPs) and their killing mechanisms against Streptococcus mutans, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium.Methods: Potential mechanisms of action of both silver species against bacteria were systematically explored using agar well diffusion, enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ATPase) and antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase and catalase) assays, and morphological examinations. qRT-PCR and SDS-PAGE were employed to investigate the effect of both treatments on mfD, flu, and hly gene expression and protein patterns, respectively.Results: N-SNPs exhibited greater biocidal activity than AgNO3 against the four tested bacteria. E. coli treated with N-SNPs showed significant surges in LDH levels, imbalances in other antioxidant and enzyme activities, and marked morphological changes, including cell membrane disruption and cytoplasmic dissolution. N-SNPs caused more significant upregulation of mfD expression and downregulation of both flu and hly expression and increased protein denaturation compared with AgNO3.Conclusion: N-SNPs exhibited significant inhibitory potential against E. coli by direct interfering with bacterial cellular structures and/or enhancing oxidative stress, indicating their potential for use as an alternative antimicrobial agent. However, the potential of N-SNPs to be usable and biocompatible antibacterial drug will evaluate by their toxicity against normal cells.Keywords: biological synthesis, nanoparticles, pathogenic bacteria, Nostoc sp. Bahar_M, silver, antibacterial activity

Usharani Pingali, Mohammed Abid Ali, Srinivas Gundagani, Chandrasekhar Nutalapati Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana 500073, IndiaCorrespondence: Usharani Pingali Email ushapingali@yahoo.comPurpose: Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) offers different bioactives ranging from pesticides to therapeutic molecules, depending on which part of the plant is used and the extraction methodology and the solvent used. This study was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of a standardized aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica leaves and twigs (NEEM) on glycemic control, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study (RCT), 80 T2DM subjects, who have already been on standard metformin therapy, received either 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg of NEEM or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Postprandial blood sugar level (PPBS), fasting blood sugar level (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance (IR), endothelial function, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, IL-6 and TNF-α, platelet aggregation and lipid profile were assessed. Adverse drug reactions, if any, were noted. GraphPad Prism 8 was used to perform statistical analysis.Results: NEEM at the doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg BID significantly reduced PPBS (from 194.4± 14 to 173.1± 12.8mg/dL, 192.3± 17.1 to 161.8± 9.7mg/dL, and 205.9± 7.2 to 159.3± 7.1mg/dL, respectively), FBS (from 119.2± 5.0 to 109.2± 5.7mg/dL, 115.5± 4.4 to 103.7± 4.2mg/dL, and 120.7± 4.2 to 97.3± 3.7mg/dL, respectively), HbA1c (from 6.87 ± 0.4% to 6.64 ± 0.4%, 7.52 ± 0.4% to 6.86 ± 0.3%, and 7.78 ± 0.2% to 6.26 ± 0.4%, respectively), and IR (from 4.5 ± 1.2 to 3.4 ± 0.9, 3.8 ± 1.1 to 2.5 ± 0.6, and 4.6 ± 1.3 to 2.0 ± 0.6, respectively) compared to placebo. Also, NEEM significantly improved endothelial function, decreased oxidative stress and systemic inflammation compared to placebo. The efficacy was significant with all the doses, but no effect on platelet aggregation or lipid profile was observed.Conclusion: NEEM may significantly ameliorate hyperglycemia, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation, on top of what metformin could do, in subjects with T2DM.Keywords: Azadirachta indica, neem, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, metformin

Reham Samir Hamida,1 Mohamed Abdelaal Ali,2 Alya Redhwan,3 Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij4 1Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 2Biotechnology Unit, Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Health, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij; Reham Samir Hamida Tel +966 554477376; +20 1156298937Email mmbinmufayrij@pnu.edu.sa; reham.hussein@alexu.edu.egAbstract: Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is a global ecofriendly method to develop and produce nanomaterials with unique biological, physical, and chemical properties. Recently, attention has shifted toward biological synthesis, owing to the disadvantages of physical and chemical synthesis, which include toxic yields, time and energy consumption, and high cost. Many natural sources are used in green fabrication processes, including yeasts, plants, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, and cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are among the most beneficial natural candidates used in the biosynthesis of NPs, due to their ability to accumulate heavy metals from their environment. They also contain a variety of bioactive compounds, such as pigments and enzymes, that may act as reducing and stabilizing agents. Cyanobacteria-mediated NPs have potential antibacterial, antifungal, antialgal, anticancer, and photocatalytic activities. The present review paper highlights the characteristics and applications in various fields of NPs produced by cyanobacteria-mediated synthesis.Keywords: nanoparticles, nanomaterials, cyanobacteria, green synthesis, physicochemical properties

Mohsin Khurshid,1,2 Muhammad Hidayat Rasool,2 Usman Ali Ashfaq,3 Bilal Aslam,2 Muhammad Waseem,2 Muhammad Akhtar Ali,4 Ahmad Almatroudi,5 Farhan Rasheed,6 Muhammad Saeed,2 Qinglan Guo,1 Minggui Wang1 1Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Microbiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 4School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; 5Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; 6Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Lahore, PakistanCorrespondence: Mohsin KhurshidDepartment of Microbiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanTel +923334301513Email mohsinkhurshid@gcuf.edu.pkIntroduction: The aminoglycosides are widely used for the therapeutic management of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, including the Acinetobacter baumannii strains. However, the resistance to the members of the aminoglycoside family, such as amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin, is increasingly being common among the clinical isolates.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the presence of 16SrRNA methylases and aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) genes among aminoglycoside resistant A. baumannii isolates and to study the genetic diversity of the clinical population of A. baumannii in local hospitals.Material and Methods: The 143 A. baumannii clinical strains were analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibility, genetic screening for enzymes conferring aminoglycosides resistance followed by the multilocus sequence typing.Results: The 133/143 (93%) isolates were non-susceptible to at least one of the tested aminoglycosides, including amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin. The MIC distribution has shown that 87.486.7% strains were resistant to amikacin and gentamicin, respectively. The aphA 6, aadB, aacC 1, and aphA 1 were found in 74.1%, 59.4%, 16.1%, and 11.2% isolates, respectively, whereas the armA was found in 28% of the strains having a higher MIC value (MIC; ≥ 256μg/mL). The MLST data have shown that the ST589 and ST2 were the most common STs and corresponded to 51 (35.7%) and 38 (26.6%) isolates, respectively, and few of the isolates corresponding to these STs were found to harbor the armA gene with a variable genotypic profile for AMEs.Discussion: The study has reported the incidence of various enzymes conferring aminoglycoside resistance among the A. baumannii clones for the first time from Pakistan. The findings suggest the possibility of transmission of aminoglycoside resistance determinants through the lateral gene transfer as well as clonal dissemination.Keywords: aminoglycosides, armA, MLST, gentamicin, A. baumannii

Khaled AbouAitah,1,2 Anna Swiderska-Sroda,1 Ahmed Kandeil,3 Asmaa MM Salman4,†, Jacek Wojnarowicz,1 Mohamed A Ali,3 Agnieszka Opalinska,1 Stanislaw Gierlotka,1 Tomasz Ciach,5 Witold Lojkowski1 1Laboratory of Nanostructures and Nanomedicine, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 2Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre (NRC), P.C.12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; 3Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Water Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre (NRC) P.C.12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; 4Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre (NRC), P.C. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; 5Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland†AMM Salman passed away on June 3, 2019Correspondence: Khaled AbouAitah; Witold Lojkowski Email k.abouaitah@labnano.pl; w.lojkowski@labnano.plBackground: Combating infectious diseases caused by influenza virus is a major challenge due to its resistance to available drugs and vaccines, side effects, and cost of treatment. Nanomedicines are being developed to allow targeted delivery of drugs to attack specific cells or viruses.Materials and Methods: In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) functionalized with amino groups and loaded with natural prodrugs of shikimic acid (SH), quercetin (QR) or both were explored as a novel antiviral nanoformulations targeting the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus. Also, the immunomodulatory effects were investigated in vitro tests and anti-inflammatory activity was determined in vivo using the acute carrageenan-induced paw edema rat model.Results: Prodrugs alone or the MSNs displayed weaker antiviral effects as evidenced by virus titers and plaque formation compared to nanoformulations. The MSNs-NH2-SH and MSNs-NH2-SH-QR2 nanoformulations displayed a strong virucidal by inactivating the H5N1 virus. They induced also strong immunomodulatory effects: they inhibited cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and nitric oxide production by approximately 50% for MSNs-NH2-SH-QR2 (containing both SH and QR). Remarkable anti-inflammatory effects were observed during in vivo tests in an acute carrageenan-induced rat model.Conclusion: Our preliminary findings show the potential of nanotechnology for the application of natural prodrug substances to produce a novel safe, effective, and affordable antiviral drug.Keywords: virucidal action, influenza H5N1 virus, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory, nanoformulations-drug delivery system, shikimic acid and quercetin natural prodrugs, mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Reham Samir Hamida, 1 Nabila Elsayed Abdelmeguid, 1 Mohamed Abdelaal Ali, 2 Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij, 3 Mahmoud Ibrahim Khalil 4 1Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 2Biotechnology Unit, Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Biology, College of Science Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonCorrespondence: Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij; Mahmoud Ibrahim Khalil Tel +961 81982014Email mmbinmufayrij@pnu.edu.sa; m.khalil@bau.edu.lbBackground: The emergence of multi drug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and cancer has necessitated the development and discovery of alternative eco-safe antibacterial and anticancer agents. Biogenic fabrication of metallic nanoparticles is an emerging discipline for production of nanoproducts that exert potent anticancer and antibacterial activity, and do not suffer from the limitations inherent in physiochemical synthesis methods.Methodology: In this study, we isolated, purified, and characterized a novel cyanobacteria extract (Desertifilum IPPAS B-1220) to utilize in biofabrication of silver nanoparticles (D-SNPs). D-SNPs were produced by adding Desertifilum extract to silver nitrate solution under controlled conditions. Biofabrication of D-SNPs was confirmed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The resultant D-SNPs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The toxicity of D-SNPs against five pathogenic bacteria and three cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, and Caco-2) was evaluated.Results: Formation of D-SNPs was indicated by a color change from pale yellow to dark brown. The peak of the surface plasmon resonance of the D-SNPs was at 421 nm. The XRD detected the crystallinity of D-SNPs. FTIR showed that polysaccharides and proteins may have contributed to the biofabrication of D-SNPs. Under SEM and TEM, the D-SNPs were spherical with diameter ranges from 4.5 to 26 nm. The D-SNPs significantly suppressed the growth of five pathogenic bacteria, and exerted cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, HepG2, and Caco-2 cancer cells with IC 50 values of 58, 32, and 90 μg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: These findings showed for the first time the potentiality of novel cyanobacteria strain Desertifilum IPPAS B-1220 to fabricate small SNPs that acted as potent anticancer and antibacterial material against different cancer cell lines and pathogenic bacterial strains. These findings encourage the researchers to focus on cyanobacteria in general and especially Desertifilum sp. IPPAS B-1220 for synthesizing different NPs that opening the window for new applications.Keywords: nanotechnology, eco-friendly, D-SNPs, physicochemical, cytotoxic activity

Mahmoud A Ali,1 Sahin Lacin,1 Reham Abdel-Wahab,1,2 Mark Uemura,1 Manal Hassan,1 Asif Rashid,3 Dan G Duda,4 Ahmed O Kaseb1 1Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 2Department of Clinical Oncology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 3Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Abstract: The epidemic of insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome has led to the emergence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as the most common cause of liver disease in the US. Patients with NASH are at an increased risk for hepatic disease-related morbidity and death, and chronic inflammation in NASH patients can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence of HCC is higher in males than in females, and genetic studies have identified androgen and androgen receptors (ARs) as partially responsible for the gender disparity in the development of liver disease and HCC. Although many factors are known to play important roles in the progression of inflammation in NASH patients, the role of androgen and AR in the progression of NASH to HCC has been understudied. This review summarizes the evidence for a potential role of androgen and the AR pathway in the development of NASH-related HCC and in the treatment of HCC. It has been proposed that AR plays a role in the progression of HCC: inhibitory roles in early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis and tumor-promoting roles in advanced stages. AR can be activated by several pathways, even in the absence of androgen. While AR has been explored as a potential therapeutic target in HCC, several clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a clinical benefit of antiandrogen drugs in HCC. This review discusses the potential reason for these observations and discuss the potential future trials design in this important setting. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, androgen receptor, flutamide, sorafenib

Hatem A Sarhan,1 Omar H EL-Garhy,1 Mohamed A Ali,2 Nouran A Youssef1 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy of nebulized magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) alone and in combination with salbutamol in acute asthma.Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled study was conducted in Chest and Emergency Departments. Thirty patients of acute attack of bronchial asthma were randomized into three groups: MgSO4 nebulization (group A), salbutamol nebulization (group B), and their combination (group C). All patients were monitored before and after nebulization (each 20 minutes) for peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), blood pressure, pulsus paradoxus, oxygen saturation, clinical examination, and Fischl index.Results: A highly significant improvement in PEFR, PEFR percentage, and Fischl index and significant decrease in RR and HR was observed in all groups. A similar improvement in PEFR was observed in group A and group B (P=0.389). The difference in peak expiratory flow (PEF) improvement was insignificant between group B and group C (P=0.101), while there was a significant differ­ence between group A and group C (P=0.014) in favor of group C.Conclusion: Nebulized MgSO4 alone or combined with salbutamol has a clinically significant bronchodilator effect in acute asthma and leads to clinical improvement, increase in PEFR, reduction in HR, and reduction in RR. The response to nebulized MgSO4 alone (PEFR improvement 54±35.6 L/min, P=0.001) is comparable (P=0.389) to that of nebulized salbutamol (PEFR improvement 67.0±41.9 L/min, P=0.001) and is significantly less than (P=0.014) that of nebulized combination (PEFR improvement 92.0±26.9 L/min, P=0.000). Keywords: nebulized magnesium sulfate, salbutamol, acute asthma, peak expiratory flow rate, Fischl index

M Aamir Ali, Marie L Borum Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA Abstract: Up to 93% of patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience recurrent abdominal pain. Many of these patients, who often present to emergency departments, primary care physicians, general surgeons, or gastroenterologists, are misdiagnosed for years and undergo unnecessary testing and surgical procedures. Making the diagnosis of HAE can be challenging because symptoms and attack locations are often inconsistent from one episode to the next. Abdominal attacks are common and can occur without other attack locations. An early, accurate diagnosis is central to managing HAE. Unexplained abdominal pain, particularly when accompanied by swelling of the face and extremities, suggests the diagnosis of HAE. A family history and radiologic imaging demonstrating edematous bowel also support an HAE diagnosis. Once HAE is suspected, C4 and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) laboratory studies are usually diagnostic. Patients with HAE may benefit from recently approved specific treatments, including plasma-derived C1-INH or recombinant C1-INH, a bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist, or a kallikrein inhibitor as first-line therapy and solvent/detergent-treated or fresh frozen plasma as second-line therapy for acute episodes. Short-term or long-term prophylaxis with nanofiltered C1-INH or attenuated androgens will prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of episodes. Gastroenterologists can play a critical role in identifying and treating patients with HAE, and should have a high index of suspicion when encountering patients with recurrent, unexplained bouts of abdominal pain. Given the high rate of abdominal attacks in HAE, it is important for gastroenterologists to appropriately diagnose and promptly recognize and treat HAE, or refer patients with HAE to an allergist. Keywords: hereditary angioedema, abdominal pain, diagnosis

Negative air ions (NAIs) have been discovered for more than 100 years and are widely used for air cleaning. Here, we have carried out a comprehensive reviewing on the effects of NAIs on humans/animals, and microorganisms, and plant development. The presence of NAIs is credited for increasing psychological health, productivity, and overall well-being but without consistent or reliable evidence in therapeutic effects and with controversy in anti-microorganisms. Reports also showed that NAIs could help people in relieving symptoms of allergies to dust, mold spores, and other allergens. Particulate matter (PM) is a major air pollutant that affects human health. Experimental data showed that NAIs could be used to high-efficiently remove PM. Finally, we have reviewed the plant-based NAI release system under the pulsed electric field (PEF) stimulation. This is a new NAI generation system which releases a huge amount of NAIs under the PEF treatment. The system may be used to freshen indoor air and reduce PM concentration in addition to enriching oxygen content and indoor decoration at home, school, hospital, airport, and other indoor areas.

Background: The PMMA polymer denture base materials are low mechanical properties, adaptation of the denture base to underlying tissue is important for retention and stability of denture. The aim of the study was toevaluate the effect of mixtureZrO2-Al2O3 nanoparticles on impact strength, transverse strength, hardness, roughness, denture base adaptation of heat cured acrylic resin denture base material. Materials and methods: One hundred (100) specimens were prepared, the specimens were divided into five groups (20 specimens to each) according to the test type, each group was subdivided in to two subgroups (control and experimental) each subgroup consist of 10 specimens, the experimental group included mixture of 2% (ZrO2-Al2O3ratio2:1) by weight. Theimpact strength was measured by Charpy's impact testing machine, the transverse strength was measured by Instron testing machine while the hardness was measured byshore D durometer and roughness was measured by Profilometer. Denture base adaptation was measured by digital microscope and evaluated by computerized tomography (CT). Results: Highly significant increaseofimpact and transverse strength, non-significant increase ofhardness, significant increase ofroughness andreduction of denture base adaptation (measured at 3 point A, B and C) occurred in experimental groupwhen compared to control group. CT evaluation, gap between the denture base and master cast (control and experimental groups) increased from the anterior to posterior side of palate and from the alveolar ridge to the mid palatal line. Conclusion: The polymer nanocomposites had mechanical properties higher than neat PMMA at same time less denture base adaptation.

Abstract: This study aimed to highlight the aesthetics of syntactic deviation in the poetry collection "Wa Siraajan Muneeran" by Omar Jalaluddin Hazaa, one of the most prominent contemporary Arab poets associated with the Prophet's biography. Syntactic deviation is considered a significant stylistic phenomenon in modern criticism and has deep roots in Arabic rhetorical tradition. The study relied on analyzing poetic texts to reveal the primary role of deviation in engaging the audience and capturing their attention by creating surprises in the poetic context, encouraging readers to explore the dimensions of this phenomenon and reflect on its various impacts. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of deviation as an artistic tool that deepens the poetic experience and enriches interaction with the text. Keywords: Displacement, Poetic image, Prophetic biography, Arabic rhetoric, Arabic poetry, Compositional level.

Abstract This paper describes a two-year high-fidelity dataset for an ultra-low energy office building and living laboratory called HouseZero ®. The building integrates multiple low-energy technologies, such as natural ventilation with automatic windows, ground source heat pump, and thermally activated building systems. The building’s performance is continuously monitored with an extensive sensor network. The dataset consists of breakdown energy end uses, photovoltaic (PV) production, zone-level indoor environment including indoor air temperature, CO2 concentration, and relative humidity, micro-climatical conditions, building façade temperature, and detailed system operations including zone-level BTU meter, valve status, slab temperature, window/skylight opening status, heat pump, and geothermal well operations. The data can be used to support data analytics of ultra-low-energy building operations, and data-driven modeling of low-energy building systems.

Background: A key challenge in steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems is to effectively recognize frequencies within a short time window. To address this challenge, the specific characteristics of the data are needed to select the frequency recognition method. These characteristics include factors, such as the number of stimulation targets and the presence of harmonic frequencies, resulting in optimizing the performance and accuracy of SSVEP-based BCI systems.Objective: The current study aimed to examine the effect of data characteristics on frequency recognition accuracy.Material and Methods: In this analytical study, five commonly used frequency recognition methods were examined, used to various datasets containing different numbers of frequencies, including sub-data with and without frequency harmonics.Results: The increase in the number of frequencies in the Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR) method has led to a decrease in frequency recognition accuracy by 9%. Additionally, the presence of harmonic frequencies resulted in an 8% decrease in accuracy for the MLR method. Conclusion: Frequency recognition using the MLR method reduces the effect of the number of different frequencies and harmonics of the stimulation frequencies on the frequency recognition accuracy.

Abstract The popularity of mixed reality (MR) technologies, including virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality, have advanced many training and skill development applications. If successful, these technologies could be valuable for high-impact professional training, like medical operations or sports, where the physical resources could be limited or inaccessible. Despite MR’s potential, it is still unclear whether repeatedly performing a task in MR would affect performance in the same or related tasks in the physical environment. To investigate this issue, participants executed a series of visually-guided manual pointing movements in the physical world before and after spending one hour in VR or AR performing similar movements. Results showed that, due to the MR headsets’ intrinsic perceptual geometry, movements executed in VR were shorter and movements executed in AR were longer than the veridical Euclidean distance. Crucially, the sensorimotor bias in MR conditions also manifested in the subsequent post-test pointing task; participants transferring from VR initially undershoot whereas those from AR overshoot the target in the physical environment. These findings call for careful consideration of MR-based training because the exposure to MR may perturb the sensorimotor processes in the physical environment and negatively impact performance accuracy and transfer of training from MR to UR.

Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) residing in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are characterized by their pivotal roles in tumor progression, antitumor immunity, and TME remodeling. However, a thorough comparative characterization of tumor-TAM crosstalk across IDH-defined categories of glioma remains elusive, likely contributing to mixed outcomes in clinical trials. We delineated the phenotypic heterogeneity of TAMs across IDH-stratified gliomas. Notably, two TAM subsets with a mesenchymal phenotype were enriched in IDH-WT glioblastoma (GBM) and correlated with poorer patient survival and reduced response to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). We proposed SLAMF9 receptor as a potential therapeutic target. Inference of gene regulatory networks identified PPARG, ELK1, and MXI1 as master transcription factors of mesenchymal BMD-TAMs. Our analyses of reciprocal tumor-TAM interactions revealed distinct crosstalk in IDH-WT tumors, including ANXA1-FPR1/3, FN1-ITGAVB1, VEGFA-NRP1, and TNFSF12-TNFRSF12A with known contribution to immunosuppression, tumor proliferation, invasion and TAM recruitment. Spatially resolved transcriptomics further elucidated the architectural organization of highlighted communications. Furthermore, we demonstrated significant upregulation of ANXA1, FN1, NRP1, and TNFRSF12A genes in IDH-WT tumors using bulk RNA-seq and RT-qPCR. Longitudinal expression analysis of candidate genes revealed no difference between primary and recurrent tumors indicating that the interactive network of malignant states with TAMs does not drastically change upon recurrence. Collectively, our study offers insights into the unique cellular composition and communication of TAMs in glioma TME, revealing novel vulnerabilities for therapeutic interventions in IDH-WT GBM.

A wide variety of materials having at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm make up the remarkable class of materials known as nanomaterials (NMs). By rationally designing nanoparticles, very large surface areas may be attained. It is possible to create NMs with exceptional mechanical, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties that differ significantly from their traditional materials. A brief history of NMs and how they have been used to spur advancements in nanotechnology development is covered in this overview. Throughout the review, the special properties of NMs are emphasized. There is a discussion of several techniques for synthesizing NMs, including top-down and bottom-up strategies. The characteristics, uses, and methods of manufacture of nanoparticles are succinctly and simply summarized in this study.

Abstract In arid climates, conventional water resources are severely limited and stressed in the face of rapid population growth and future climate change. So, it is necessary to find alternative non-conventional water resources for use in drought situations. Additionally, the non-conventional water resources in these areas are not sufficient to meet future water demand. Therefore, non-conventional water resources can be adopted as a strategic reserve to bridge the gap between water supply and demand in case of emergency and drought events. These resources might include rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater, and desalinated seawater. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can be applied to store these resources in the hydrogeological system using Geo information System—Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (GIS-MCDA) approach for determining the suitable MAR location for storage. North-west Kingdom of Saudi Arabia area was chosen for this study because it is extremely arid, has high potential for social and economic development, and it has newly constructed non-conventional water infrastructures distributed throughout the area including water desalination plants, Tertiary Sewage Effluent (TSE) waste water plants, and flash-flood storage dams. To identify the suitable MAR site location and structure, different data related to aquifer hydrogeology, surface hydrology, hydrometeorology, and water quality were applied. Then, GIS-MCDA holistic approach was applied with aid of ordered weighting average (OWA) technique. Finally, two maps were created to show the MAR location and structure type. Potential map indicates that ~ 18.85% of the area is suitable for MAR installations. About 0.17% of the total area exhibited very high potential, where infiltration ponds can be applied, 1.86% had high potential for construction of check dams with diversion channels, and 16.82% had moderate potential for installation of recharge wells. Additionally, 56 MAR structures were proposed and a map showing their locations has been created. Thus, results indicated that the study area is promising for MAR installation. These maps could aid the decision makers to propose a sustainable development plan for the future water resources of the area.

Introduction: Aggression in children and teenagers can lead to psychological and social harm to themselves and those around them. Given this, the present study aimed to examine the effect of child-centered mindfulness therapy on reducing social anxiety and bullying among aggressive male students.Methods: The research method employed in this study was quasi-experimental, with a pre-test, post-test, control group design, and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population comprised aggressive students aged 9-12 years from the second elementary school in Isfahan City during the academic year of 2022-2023. A total of 36 aggressive male students were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (18 students in each group). The experimental group underwent child-centered mindfulness therapy for ten weeks, with each session lasting 75 minutes. The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), Social Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ), and Bullying Questionnaire (BQ) were used in this research. The data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test via SPSS23 statistical software.Results: The results indicated that child-centered mindfulness therapy significantly affected social anxiety (F=54.37; eta=0.61; p

Abstract One of the important problems in the environment is heavy metal pollution, and fluorescence is one of the best methods for their detection due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and relatively rapid and easy operation. In this study, 1,8-diaminonaphthalene functionalized super-stable mesoporous silica (DAN-LUS-1) was synthesized and used as a fluorescence probe to identify Hg2+ and Fe3+ in food samples. The TGA and FT-IR spectra illustrated that 1,8-diaminonaphthalene was grafted into LUS-1. XRD patterns verified that the LUS-1 and functionalized mesoporous silica have a hexagonal symmetrical array of nano-channels. SEM images showed that the rod-like morphology of LUS-1 was preserved in DAN-LUS-1. Also, surface area and pore diameter decreased from 824 m2 g⁻1 and 3.61 nm for the pure LUS-1 to 748 m2 g⁻1 and 3.43 nm for the DAN-LUS-1, as determined by N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. This reduction demonstrated that 1,8-diaminonaphthalene immobilized into the pore of LUS-1. The DAN-LUS-1 fluorescence properties as a chemical sensor were studied with a 340/407 nm excitation/emission wavelength that was quenched by Hg2+ and Fe3+ ions. Hg2+ and Fe3+ were quantified using the fluorescence response in the working range 8.25–13.79 × 10–6 and 3.84–10.71 × 10–6 mol/L, with detection limits of 8.5 × 10–8 M and 1.3 × 10–7 M, respectively. Hg2+ and Fe3+ were measured in vetiver grass and spinach. Since the Fe3+ quenching can move in the opposite direction with sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as a hiding compound for Fe3+, consequently, the circuit logic system was established with Fe3+, Hg2+, and SHMP as inputs and the fluorescent quench as the output.

Alyaa S Abdel Halim,1 Mohamed AM Ali,2,1 Fawad Inam,3,4 Abdulrahman M Alhalwan,5 Walid M Daoush5,6 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt; 2Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Engineering and Computing, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London, London, UK; 4Executive Principal Office, Oxford Business College, Oxford, OX1 2EP, UK; 5Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 11623, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Production Technology, Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University, Cairo, 11281, EgyptCorrespondence: Walid M Daoush, Email wmdaoush@imamu.edu.saBackground: Prior studies on magnetite (Fe3O4) NPs and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) cytotoxic effects against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are inconclusive rather than definitive.Purpose: Investigation of the effects of Gum Arabic (GA)-stabilized/destabilized Fe3O4 NPs and CNTs, alone or in combination, on AML cell proliferation.Methods: Hybrid NPs were synthesized, characterized, and assessed for their cytotoxicity against Kasumi-1, HL-60, and THP-1 in comparison to normal primary bone marrow CD34+ cells. The molecular pathways of nanostructures’ cytotoxicity were also investigated.Results: The Fe3O4 NPs were effectively synthesized and attached to the surface of the CNTs, resulting in the formation of a novel hybrid through their interaction with the GA colloidal solution in an aqueous media. Although the evaluated nanostructured nanoparticles had significant growth suppression ability against the leukemia cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 42.437 to 189.842 μg/mL, they exhibited comparatively modest toxicity towards normal hematopoietic cells (IC50: 113.529‒162.656 μg/mL). The incorporation of Fe3O4 NPs with CNTs in a hybrid nanocomposite significantly improved their effectiveness against leukemia cells, with the extent of improvement varying depending on the specific cell type. The nanostructured particles were stabilized by GA, which enhances their ability to inhibit cell proliferation in a manner that depends on the specific cell type. Also, nanoparticles exhibit cytotoxicity due to their capacity to stimulate the production of intracellular ROS, halt the cell cycle at the G1 phase, and induce apoptosis. This is supported by the activation of p53, BAX, cytochrome C, and caspase-3, which are triggered by ROS. The nanostructures lead to an increase in the expression of genes encoding proteins related to oxidative stress (SIRT1, FOXO3, NFE2L2, and MAP3K5) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKN1A and CDKN1B) in response to ROS.Conclusion: We provide an effective Fe3O4 NPs/CNTs nano-hybrid composite that induces apoptosis and has strong anti-leukemic capabilities. This hybrid nanocomposite is promising for in vivo testing and validation. Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, anti-leukemic properties, carbon nanotubes, iron oxide nanoparticles, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species

Introduction. The rapid spread of African swine fever in the Kaliningrad region makes it necessary to use the methods of molecular epidemiology to determine the dynamics and direction of ASF spread in this region of Russia. The aim of the study was to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms within molecular markers K145R, O174L and MGF 505-5R of ASFVs isolated in Kaliningrad region and to study the circulating of the pathogen in European countries by subgenotyping and spatio-temporal clustering analysis. Materials and methods. Blood samples from living domestic pigs and organs from dead domestic pigs and wild boars, collected in the Kaliningrad region between 2017 and 2022 were used. Virus isolation was carried out in porcine bone-marrow primary cell culture. Amplicons of genome markers were amplified by PCR with electrophoretic detection and subsequent extraction of fragments from agarose gel. Sequencing was performed using the Sanger method. Results. The circulation of two genetic clusters of ASFV isolates on the territory of the Kaliningrad has been established: epidemic (K145R-III, MGF 505-5R-II, O174L-I – 94.3% of the studied isolates) and sporadic (K145R-II, MGF 505-5R-II, O174L-I – 5.7%). Conclusion. The broaden molecular genetic surveillance of ASFV isolates based on sequencing of genome markers is necessary in the countries of the Eurasian continent to perform a more detailed analysis of ASF spread between countries and within regions.

Purpose: Road traffic accidents pose a global challenge with substantial human and economic costs. Iran experiences a high incidence of road traffic injuries, leading to a significant burden on society. This study aims to predict the future burden of road traffic injuries in Iran until 2030, providing valuable insights for policy-making and interventions to improve road safety and reduce the associated human and economic costs. Methods: This analytical study utilized time series models, specifically autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs), to predict the burden of road traffic accidents by analyzing past data to identify patterns and trends in Iran until 2030. The required data related to prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates were collected from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation database and analyzed using R software and relevant modeling and statistical analysis packages. Results: Both prediction models, ARIMA and ANNs indicate that the prevalence rates (per 100,000) of all road traffic injuries, except for motorcyclist road injuries which have an almost flat trend, remaining at around 430, increase by 2030. Based on estimations of both models, the rates of death and DALYs due to motor vehicle and pedestrian road traffic injuries decrease. For motor vehicle road injuries, estimated trends decrease to approximately 520 DALYs and 10 deaths. Also, for pedestrian road injuries these rates reached approximately 300 DALYs and 6 deaths, according to the models. For cyclists and other road traffic injuries, the predicted DALY rates by the ANN model increase to almost 50 and 8, while predictions conducted by the ARIMA model show a static trend, remaining at 40 and approximately 6.5. Moreover, these rates for the prediction of death rate by the ANN model increased to 0.6 and 0.1, while predictions conducted by the ARIMA model show a static trend, remaining at 0.43 and 0.07. According to the ANN model, the predicted rates of DALY and death for motorcyclists decrease to 100 and approximately 2.7, respectively. On the other hand, predictions made by the ARIMA model show a static trend, with rates remaining at 200 and approximately 3.2, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of road traffic injuries is predicted to increase, while the death and DALY rates of road traffic injuries show different patterns. Effective intervention programs and safety measures are necessary to prevent and reduce road traffic accidents. Different interventions should be designed and implemented specifically for different groups of pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and motor vehicle drivers.

With the continuous increase of rapid urbanization and population growth, sustainable urban land-use planning is becoming a more complex and challenging task for urban planners and decision-makers. Multi-objective land-use allocation can be regarded as a complex spatial optimization problem that aims to achieve the possible trade-offs among multiple and conflicting objectives. This paper proposes an improved Non-dominated Sorting Biogeography-Based Optimization (NSBBO) algorithm for solving the multi-objective land-use allocation problem, in which maximum accessibility, maximum compactness, and maximum spatial integration were formulated as spatial objectives; and space syntax analysis was used to analyze the potential movement patterns in the new urban planning area of the city of Kigali, Rwanda. Efficient Non-dominated Sorting (ENS) algorithm and crossover operator were integrated into classical NSBBO to improve the quality of non-dominated solutions, and local search ability, and to accelerate the convergence speed of the algorithm. The results showed that the proposed NSBBO exhibited good optimal solutions with a high hypervolume index compared to the classical NSBBO. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm could generate optimal land use scenarios according to the preferred objectives, thus having the potential to support the decision-making of urban planners and stockholders in revising and updating the existing detailed master plan of land use.