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Abstract This study seeks to provide a contextualized and nuanced understanding of what constitutes internal enablers among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in support of their export activities in international markets. We unpacked a unique set of critical enablers that can be cultivated as the internal impetus for enhancing the export performance of SMEs in a less-researched emerging market, Qatar. The study employs a qualitative approach for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, which were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 SMEs managers from 11 manufacturing sub-sectors. A thematic analysis of our data reveals five key internal enablers needed for better export performance. These comprise employees with networking skills, effective supply chain management, product diversification, digitalization, and market intelligence capabilities. This research offers empirical insights into what enables non-hydrocarbon manufacturing SMEs to enhance their export performance.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cholinergic dysfunction, making the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) critical for improving cholinergic neurotransmission. However, the development of effective dual inhibitors remains challenging. Objective: This study aims to synthesize and evaluate novel pyridazine-containing compounds as potential dual inhibitors of AChE and BuChE for AD treatment. Methods: Ten novel pyridazine-containing compounds were synthesized and characterized using IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. The inhibitory activities against AChE and BuChE were assessed in vitro, and pharmacokinetic properties were explored through in silico ADME studies. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for the most active compound. Results: Compound 5 was the most potent inhibitor, with IC50 values of 0.26 µM for AChE and 0.19 µM for BuChE, outperforming rivastigmine and tacrine, and showing competitive results with donepezil. Docking studies revealed a binding affinity of −10.21 kcal/mol to AChE and −13.84 kcal/mol to BuChE, with stable interactions confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. In silico ADME studies identified favorable pharmacokinetic properties for compounds 5, 8, and 9, with Compound 5 showing the best activity. Conclusions: Compound 5 demonstrates strong potential as a dual cholinesterase inhibitor for Alzheimer’s disease, supported by both in vitro and in silico analyses. These findings provide a basis for further optimization and development of these novel inhibitors.

Albardine (Lygeum spartum L.) is one of the major native grass species of the semi-arid and arid regions of the Mediterranean basin. In Algeria, it is much more widespread on the high plateaus of southern Oranais. This species occupies an important place in the steppe region because it has many ecological, economic, and fodder interests. The present work aims to study the tolerance of L. spartum seeds to water and salt stress, two abiotic factors that affect the physiology of the plant during the germinal stage. The methodology adopted consists of using increasing concentrations under a controlled temperature (15°C) for 21 days of germination. The germination responses of the seeds to different degrees of salt stress induced by NaCl (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 g/l) and water stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG;−2, -4, -6, -8, −10 bar), showed that the salt and water stresses retarded the germination rate of L. spartum L. seeds and also decreased their percentage during the time of the experiment. However, seeds soaked in distilled water (control) recorded a maximum germination rate of 80%. The results of this study show that L. spartum seeds are moderately salt and drought tolerant with a depressive effect on germination rate at a salt concentration of 10g/l and an osmotic pressure of −10 bar.

Abstract Background Faba bean attacked by soil-borne pathogens causing root rot disease. This disease has serious damage to both plant stand and produced yield. The present study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of the bioagents; Trichoderma harzianum and some plant resistance inducers as fungicide alternatives against root rot disease incidence at both pre- and post-emergence growth stages. Results Under open greenhouse conditions, the incidence of faba bean root rot in pre- and post-emergence growth phases was considerably reduced by using six inorganic salts and five antioxidants individually or combining with each other or with the bio-stimulator T. harzianum that exceeded the used fungicide, Rhizolex-T. Application of enervit agitated the highest significant defensive impact during pre-emergence stage versus root rot incidence (5.0%), followed by calcium sulfate and [cysteine + T. harzianum] (6.7%). At post-emergence stage, majority of the treatments completely suppressed (100.0%) root rot incidence, except vitamax plus and the fungicide (Rizolex-T) which expressed by 91.7 and 18.8%, respectively. Duplicate irrigations of 23 treatments after faba bean dressing improved the synthesis of different protein contents with the 2nd of which enhanced higher protein contents than the 1st one, except [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus], [T. harzianum + vitamax plus] and cysteine. Disodium phosphate induced the highest catalase (CAT) activity (1820.8 and 1677.2 U/g FWt) after both irrigations. [T. harzianum + vitamax plus] and vitamin E induced the highest peroxidase (POD) activity 217.4 and 356.9 U/g FWt after 1st and 2nd irrigations, respectively. Disodium phosphate and [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus] induced the highest chitinase (CHIA) activity 52.8 and 54.4 U/g FWt after 1st and 2nd irrigations, respectively. Application of disodium phosphate, calcium sulfate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfate, cysteine, [cysteine + potash alum], enervit, vitamin E, [vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus], [T. harzianum + enervit], [T. harzianum + selenium], [T. harzianum + vitamin E], [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus] and vitamin C stimulated the formation of new protein bands on SDS-PAGE after the 2nd irrigation treatment. Conclusions Such treatments are considered good and environmentally safe alternatives against root diseases for getting rid of the negative effects of fungicides.

In the aftermath of the Pacific War, Japan launched a national effort to rebuild war-damaged areas in over a hundred cities. One unique example is the reconstruction of Hiroshima after the atomic bombing and its revival as a peace memorial city despite the city-wide destruction. While Hiroshima was able to restore vitality to its once-razed city centre, more recent reconstruction cases, especially neoliberal ones, have failed to do so. Therefore, this study analyses planning and historical documents to clarify the roles of pre-war shop owners and local planning authorities which were involved in the reconstruction of Hiroshima Hondōri Commercial Street and highlights their contributions to the revival of the street’s vitality. The study utilised field and archival surveys to trace the post-transformation and rebuilding of shops in Hiroshima Hondōri Commercial Street after the atomic bombing. Based on that, the post-war planning maintained Hondōri’s function and structure, shop owners from pre-war time have contributed to the reconstruction by joining planning deliberation meetings and organising themselves to encourage the return of businesses and visitors. The findings of this study highlight the role of reconstruction planning and local citizens’ initiatives in restoring livelihood to war-torn areas.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p

Increased exploitation of minerals has led to pollution of confined environments as documented in Nigeria Niger Delta. Information on the effects on brain of such exposure is limited. Due to its exploratory activities, the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) (AGR) provides a unique model for neuroecotoxicological research to determine levels of animal and human exposure to different pollutants. This study aims to unravel neuropathological features of AGR sampled from three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Fifteen AGR were sampled according to previously determined data on heavy metal exposure: high vanadium, high lead, and low metals. Eighteen AGR were collected from low metal zone and divided into two groups. Control group received vehicle while SMV exposed group received 3 mg/kg sodium metavanadate (SMV) intraperitoneally for 14days. Brain immunohistochemical analyses were conducted, and ultrastructural changes were studied in experimentally exposed group. Results showed significant loss of tyrosin hydroxylase, parvalbumin, orexin-A and melanin concentration hormone containing neuronal populations in brains obtained from high vanadium and high lead zones and in experimentally intoxicated SMV groups. Similarly, significant decrease numbers of dendritic arborations; extracellular matrix density, perineuronal nets; astrocytes and microglia activations are documented in same groups. Ultrastructural studies revealed mass denudation, cilia loss, disintegration of ependymal layer and intense destructions of myelin sheaths in SMV exposed group. These are the first “neuroecotoxicological” findings in distinct neuronal cells. The implications of these findings are highly relevant for human population living in these areas, not only in Nigeria but also in similarly polluted areas elsewhere in the world.

Adham Aboul Fotouh,1 Mona Hamdy,2 Fatma Ali,2 Eman F Mohamed,3 Abdallah Allam,4 Waleed A Hassan,5 Ahmed Elsaman,6 Amany El-Najjar,7 Marwa A Amer,8 Doaa Mosad,9 Samar Tharwat,10 Samah A El Bakry,11 Hanan Saleh,12 Ahmed Zaghloul,13 Mostafa Mahmoud,14 Reem HA Mohammed,15 Hanan El-Saadany,4 Hanan M Fathi,16 Nevin Hammam,17 Hala A Raafat,15 Ashraf N Moharram,14 Tamer A Gheita15 On behalf of the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR) Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Study Group1Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt; 2Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 3Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, AlAzhar Girls, Cairo, Egypt; 4Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 5Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt; 6Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 7Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 8Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 9Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 10Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 11Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 12Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 13Interventional Pain Management and Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 14Orthopedic and Microsurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 15Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 16Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt; 17Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, EgyptCorrespondence: Tamer A Gheita, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +20 1004567975, Email gheitamer@hotmail.comAbstract: Imaging has long been taking its place in the diagnosis, monitor, and prognosis of rheumatic diseases. It plays a vital role in the appraisal of treatment. Key progress in the clinical practice of rheumatology is the innovation of advanced imaging modalities; such as musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These modalities introduced a promising noninvasive method for visualizing bone and soft tissues to enable an improved diagnosis. The use of MSUS in rheumatology is considered a landmark in the evolution of the specialty and its ease of use and many applications in rheumatic diseases make it a forerunner instrument in the practice. The use of MSUS among rheumatologists must parallel the development rate of the excellence revealed in the specialty. Moreover, innovative interventional imaging in rheumatology (III-R) is gaining fame and key roles in the near future for a comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases with precision. This review article throws light on the emergence of these robust innovations that may reshape the guidelines and practice in rheumatology, in particular, efforts to enhance best practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are endorsed.Keywords: interventional imaging, musculoskeletal ultrasound, rheumatology, COVID-19 pandemic

Fatma A El Sherif,1 Hala Abdel-Ghaffar,2 Ahmed Othman,1 Sahar Mohamed,1 Mervat Omran,3 Samia Shouman,4 Nivin Hassan,5 Ayat Allam,6– 8 Sahar Hassan9 1Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 2Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 3Cancer Biology Department (Pharmacology and Experimental Oncology), National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 5Cancer Biology Department (Pharmacology and Experimental Oncology), South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 6Pharmaceutics Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt; 7Pharmaceutics Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sphinx University, New Assiut City, Egypt; 8Assiut International Center of Nanomedicine, AL-Rajhy Liver Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt; 9Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, EgyptCorrespondence: Ahmed Othman Tel +20 1005098394Fax +20 88 2086609Email ahmadhothman@gmail.comBackground: Despite the growing interest in dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to truncal blocks, little is known about the systemic absorption of dexmedetomidine after these blocks and its role in analgesia and in hemodynamics.Objective: We investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing lower abdominal cancer surgery.Methods: Twenty-four adult patients were randomized to receive a bilateral single-injection TAP block before surgery with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (TAP group, n = 12) or combined with 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine (TAP-DEX group, n = 12) and diluted with saline to a volume of 40 mL (20 mL on each side). Plasma concentrations of dexmedetomidine and its pharmacokinetics were investigated using non-compartmental methods, postoperative analgesia, hemodynamics, and adverse events (nausea, vomiting, itching, hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression).Results: Dexmedetomidine was detected in the plasma of 11 patients in the TAP-DEX group. The mean dexmedetomidine peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 0.158 ± 0.085 (range, 0.045– 0.31) ng/mL. The median time to reach peak plasma concentration of dexmedetomidine (Tmax) was 15 (15– 45) min. From 2 to 8 h postoperatively, visual analog pain scale (VAS) scores at rest and during movement were significantly lower in the TAP-DEX group. Analgesia time was (11.3 ± 3.12 vs 9.0 ± 4.69 h; P = 0.213) and postoperative morphine consumption was (7.4 ± 3.24 vs 11.5 ± 4.46 mg; P = 0.033) in TAP-DEX and TAP groups, respectively. Lower mean heart rate and mean blood pressure were recorded in the TAP-DEX group intraoperatively and 2 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). Except for mild nausea and vomiting, no adverse events were recorded in either group.Conclusion: Systemic absorption of dexmedetomidine administered in a TAP block is common. Direct central effects on the locus coeruleus caused by this systemic absorption may play a role in the analgesia and hemodynamic effects produced by TAP-dexmedetomidine in addition to local mechanisms.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov (identifier: NCT03328299).Keywords: analgesia, transversus abdominis plane block, dexmedetomidine, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics

الهدف: تقييم النتائج الوظيفية والاندمال لكسور جدل الظنبوب عند الأطفال بالمقارنة بين العلاج بالجبس والجراحي باستخدام الأسياخ المرنة داخل النقي. الطرق: دراسة استرجاعية استقبالية شملت 43 مريض تراوحت أعمارهم 4-14 سنة. تم تقسيم المرضى إلى مجموعتين (المحافظ والجراحي). وتم حساب مشعر Flynn بعد سنة. مدة البحث ثلاثة أعوام من شباط 2019 إلى شباط 2022م. النتائج: لم يوجد فرق هام إحصائياً بين مجموعتي العلاج من حيث النتائج الإجمالية حسب مشعر فلاين وكانت النتائج ممتازة عند الغالبية العظمى للمرضى. وكانت النتائج الوظيفية الممتازة أفضل عند الذكور من الإناث بالرغم من عدم وجود فرق هام إحصائياً، وكانت نتائج الثلث القريب أفضل من المتوسط والبعيد، وكان الاندمال أفضل عند المجموعة العمرية الأصغر سناً وبالكسر المائل والحلزوني وأيضاً عند وجود كسر شظية مرافق. الخلاصة: بما أن حالات تأخر الاندمال والإنتان كانت أعلى في المرضى المعالجين جراحياً، نوصي باعتماد العلاج المحافظ كخط أول في علاج مرضى كسور جدل الظنبوب المغلقة المتبدلة عند الأطفال، ونوصي بعدم التأخر في اللجوء للجراحة في حالات فشل الرد المغلق، أو عند وجود استطباب للجراحة.

In the current study, new thienopyrimidine conjugates bearing 1,2,3-triazole core and different sugar moieties have been designed and synthesized by Cu(I)-catalysed click dipolar cycloaddition. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesised conjugates 2, 5, 7, and 13–18 was studied against HCT-116 and MCF-7 cell lines by the MTT assay. The triazole glycosides 16 and 18 provided significant cytotoxic activities against HCT-116 cell lines comparable to that of doxorubicin and other studied compounds. The cytotoxic behaviour against MCF-7 exhibited that all the investigated compounds were more potent than doxorubicin. Moreover, all screened targets were evaluated against mutant EGFR kinase type L858R and the results revealed that the acetylated 1,2,3-triazole glycosides 13–18 exhibited excellent EGFR inhibitory activity in comparison with gefitinib. Furthermore, molecular modelling studies were performed to investigate the binding affinity of the most active compounds to EGFR enzyme.

Afrasim Moin,1 Hosahalli V Gangadharappa,2 Mohd Adnan,3 Syed M Rizvi,1 Syed A Ashraf,4 Mitesh Patel,5 Amr S Abu Lila,1,6 Ahmed N Allam7 1Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India; 3Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; 5Bapalal Vaidya Botanical Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India; 6Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 7Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Ahmed N AllamDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, EgyptTel +20 100 5422491Email ph.a.allam@gmail.comPurpose: The present work aimed at challenging the efficacy of natural gums, karaya and locust bean gum, as matrix-forming polymers for the formulation of sustained-release tablets of diltiazem, a model drug.Methods: Central design composite was adopted for the formulation and optimization of tablet formulations. The two gums have been selected as independent variables. The dependent factors chosen were the amount of drug released in 1st hour (Y1), amount of drug released after 12 h (Y2), diffusion exponent (Y3), and time for half of the total drug released (T50%) (Y4). Wet granulation approach was used for the formulation of tablets. FT-IR, DSC, in vitro dissolution, swelling-erosion investigations, SEM, and stability studies were carried out.Results and Discussion: It was evident that the release pattern from the prepared formulations was significantly influenced by the quantity of gum(s) in the tablet. FT-IR and DSC results confirm drug–polymer compatibility. Polynomial equations were used for the prediction of quantitative impact of independent factors at different levels on response variables. After ANOVA analysis, the significant factors were considered for constrained optimization to get the optimized formula. The optimized formula generated by the response surface methodology was evaluated both for in vitro and in vivo properties. The optimized formula and a sustained-release marketed product were subjected to in vivo studies in rabbits and the results of the t-test demonstrated insignificant variation in pharmacokinetic parameters among the two formulations, confirming that the prepared tablet showed sustained-release profile.Conclusion: The results indicated that karaya and locust bean gum can be effectively used to formulate sustained-release tablets.Keywords: locust bean gum, karaya gum, diltiazem hydrochloride, response surface methodology, sustained release

Mohammed M Mehanna,1,2 Amina Tarek Mneimneh,2 Souraya Domiati,3 Ahmed N Allam4 1Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon; 3Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon; 4Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammed M MehannaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonTel +961 71708661Email mmhanna@bau.edu.lbBackground: Gastric ulcer is a prevalent disease with various etiologies, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol consumption. This study aimed to explore the dual gastric protection effect of tadalafil and limonene as a self-nanoemulsifying system (SNES)-based orodispersible tablets.Methods: Tadalafil-loaded limonene-based SNES was prepared, and the optimum formula was characterized in terms of particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP) then loaded on various porous carriers to formulate lyophilized orodispersible tablets (ODTs). The ODTs were evaluated via determining hardness, friability, content uniformity, wetting, and disintegration time. The selected ODT was examined for its gastric ulcer protective effect against alcohol-induced ulcers in rat model. Ulcer score and ulcer index were computed for rats stomachs that were inspected macroscopically and histopathologically.Results: The prepared SNES had droplet size of 104 nm, polydispersity index of 0.2, and zeta potential of − 15.4 mV. From the different ODTs formulated, the formula with superior wetting time: 23.67 s, outstanding disintegration time: 28 s, accepted hardness value: 3.11 kg/cm2 and friability: 0.6% was designated. A significant gastroprotective effect of the unloaded and tadalafil-loaded ODTs was recognized compared to the omeprazole pre-treated group. Moreover, the histopathological analysis displayed very mild inflammation in the limonene-based ODTs group and intact structure in the tadalafil-loaded pre-treated animals.Conclusion: Limonene gastroprotective effect functioned along with tadalafil in the form of SNES-incorporated ODTs could serve as a promising revenue for better efficacy in gastric ulcer prevention.Keywords: gastric ulcer, gastroprotection, limonene, orodispersible tablets, self-nanoemulsifying system, tadalafil

Emad HM Hassanein,1 Omnia AM Abd El-Ghafar,2 Marwa A Ahmed,3 Ahmed M Sayed,4 Wail M Gad-Elrab,5 Jamaan S Ajarem,6 Ahmed A Allam,7 Ayman M Mahmoud7,8 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt; 2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; 3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 4Biochemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 5Human Anatomy & Embryology Department Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt; 6Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Zoology Department Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; 8Biotechnology Department, Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptCorrespondence: Ayman M MahmoudPhysiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Salah Salim Street, Beni-Suef 62514, EgyptTel +20 1278355478Email ayman.mahmoud@science.bsu.edu.egJamaan S AjaremZoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaEmail jajarem@ksu.edu.saIntroduction: Cyclophosphamide (CP) causes redox imbalance and its use is associated with marked cardiotoxicity that limits its clinical applications. The present study investigated the protective effects of acetovanillone (AV) and edaravone (ED) against CP-induced oxidative stress and cardiac damage, emphasizing the role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2 signaling.Materials and Methods: Rats received either AV (100 mg/kg) or ED (20 mg/kg) orally for 10 days and CP (200 mg/kg) on day 7. At day 11, the rats were sacrificed, and samples were collected for analysis.Results: AV and ED ameliorated serum troponin I, CK-MB, LDH, AST and ALP, and prevented cardiac histological alterations in CP-intoxicated rats. Both treatments decreased cardiac lipid peroxidation and enhanced GSH, SOD and cytoglobin in CP-induced rats. AV and ED downregulated Keap1, whereas increased the expression of PI3K, Akt, mTOR and Nrf2 in the heart of rats received CP. Additionally, the binding modes of AV and ED to Keap1 were pinpointed in silico using molecular docking simulations.Conclusion: AV and ED prevent CP cardiotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress and tissue injury, and modulating cytoglobin, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling. Therefore, AV and ED may represent promising agents that can prevent cardiac injury in patients receiving CP.Keywords: chemotherapy, acetovanillone, edaravone, oxidative stress, cardiotoxicity, Nrf2, mTOR

Natural disturbances, such as forest fires, cause significant changes in the structure and functioning of semi-arid ecosystems. After such disturbances, the impact on the soil ecosystem in its entirety is misunderstood. In this study, two years after the last fire, changes in the physicochemical and biological properties of Aleppo pine forest soils in the semi-arid zone were observed. Among all physical properties analysed, only the soil moisture remained significantly lower in the burnt zone in contrast to control zone. Considering the chemical properties, the only negatively affected parameter is the rate of organic matter. In terms of biological properties, results showed that the fire caused a significant decrease in soil microorganisms by decreasing basal respiration and microbial biomass. Conversely, the metabolic quotient recorded higher values in the fire zone than in the control zone. These results indicate that microbial communities in semi-arid soils, already stressed by climatic hazards, are very sensitive to the passage of even low-intensity fires.

For a stream cipher to be secure, the keystreamgenerated by it should be uniformly random with parameter 1/2.Statistical tests check whether the given sequence follow a certainprobability distribution. In this paper, we perform a detailedstatistical analysis of various stream ciphers used in GSM 2G,3G, 4G and 5G communications. The sequences output by theseciphers are checked for randomness using the statistical testsdefined by the NIST Test Suite. It should also be not possibleto derive any information about secret key and the initial state ofthe cipher from the keystream. Therefore, additional statisticaltests based on properties like Correlation between Keystreamand Key, and Correlation between Keystream and IV are alsoperformed. Performance analysis of the ciphers also has beendone and the results tabulated. Almost all the ciphers pass thetests in the NIST test suite with 99% confidence level. For A5/3stream cipher, the correlation between the keystream and key ishigh and correlation between the keystream and IV is low whencompared to other ciphers in the A5 family.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the Eastern Mediterranean Region's food system's fragility posing severe challenges to maintaining healthy sustainable lifestyle. The aim of this cross-sectional study (N = 13,527 household's family members, mean age: 30.3 ±11.6, 80% women) is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption patterns and household's dietary diversity in 10 Eastern Mediterranean countries. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the consumption patterns along with the calculation of the Food Consumption Score (FCS), a proxy indicator of dietary diversity. Data collected on cooking attitudes, shopping and food stock explore the community mitigation measures. In the overall population, before and during the pandemic, most food groups were consumed less or equal to 4 times per week. As evident from our findings and considering that the pandemic may be better, but it's not over, small to moderate changes in food consumption patterns in relatively short time periods can become permanent and lead to substantial poor dietary diversity over time. While it is a priority to mitigate the immediate impact, one area of great concern is the long-term effects of this pandemic on dietary patterns and dietary diversity in Eastern Mediterranean households. To conclude, the COVID-19 crisis revealed the region's unpreparedness to deal with a pandemic. While the aggressive containment strategy was essential for most countries to help prevent the spread, it came at a high nutritional cost, driving poor dietary diversity.

A novel series of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines; pyrido[3,2-e][1,3,4]triazolo; and tetrazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines were synthesized via different chemical transformations starting from pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylcarbamimidic chloride 3b (prepared from the reaction of o-aminonitrile 1b and phosogen iminiumchloride). The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic data and elemental analyses. Designated compounds are subjected for molecular docking by using Auto Dock Vina software in order to evaluate the antiviral potency for the synthesized compounds against SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) main protease M pro. The antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 showed that tested compounds 7c, 7d, and 7e had the most promising antiviral activity with lower IC50 values compared to Lopinavir, “the commonly used protease inhibitor”. Both in silico and in vitro results are in agreement.

This study aims to assess the abilities of inclined barrier walls (BWs) to retard the migration of contaminants through porous media. Four cases of BW arrangements were considered, including a single inclined BW (BW1) and two adjacent BWs (BW1 and BW2) with different combinations of inclination ratios (i.e., I1 = θ1 /90° and I2 = θ2 /90°). Furthermore, the effect of the distance (L) between the contamination source and BW1 on the migration time (T) was evaluated. A numerical model (GeoStudio) containing two modules (SEEP/W and CTRAN/W) was used. The model proved its reliability to simulate contaminant migration through the porous media, where the normalized objective function values between the simulated and analytical results were 0.02 and 0.04 for the discharge of seepage and concentration of contamination, respectively. The results demonstrated that the migration time was strongly influenced by the inclination ratios of the BWs. Three-dimensional regression analysis was applied to demonstrate the combined effect of the inclination ratio, L and BW arrangements on T.

This article delves into the potential advantages and difficulties of using immersive Extended Reality (XR) technology in engineering education. It also examines the factors influencing the acceptance and intention to continue using XR in teaching practice from instructors' viewpoints. The study has identified five themes that affect the use of XR in teaching practice: contextual factors, individual factors, social support, XR features, and attitudes. According to the research, professional development, technical support, and infrastructure are crucial contextual factors that positively influence the use of XR in teaching practice. Social support and XR features, such as interactivity, visualization, and simulation, also play a significant role. The article emphasizes on the need for addressing technical and infrastructure difficulties and providing adequate professional development and social support to facilitate the use of XR in engineering education. The findings of this study can assist policymakers and decision-makers in education and help educators and instructional designers effectively integrate XR into their teaching practices.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic dysfunction of neurons in the brain leading to dementia. It is characterized by gradual mental failure, abnormal cognitive functioning, personality changes, diminished verbal fluency, and speech impairment. It is caused by neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal area of the brain. The number of individuals with AD is growing at a quick rate. The pathology behind AD is the progress of intraneuronal fibrillary tangles, accumulation of amyloid plaque, loss of cholinergic neurons, and decrease in choline acetyltransferase. Unfortunately, AD cannot be cured, but its progression can be delayed. Various FDA-approved inhibitors of cholinesterase enzyme such as rivastigmine, galantamine, donepezil, and NDMA receptor inhibitors (memantine), are available to manage the symptoms of AD. An exhaustive literature survey was carried out using SciFinder’s reports from Alzheimer’s Association, PubMed, and Clinical Trials.org. The literature was explored thoroughly to obtain information on the various available strategies to prevent AD. In the context of the present scenario, several strategies are being tried including the clinical trials for the treatment of AD. We have discussed pathophysiology, various targets, FDA-approved drugs, and various drugs in clinical trials against AD. The goal of this study is to shed light on current developments and treatment options, utilizing phytopharmaceuticals, nanomedicines, nutraceuticals, and gene therapy.

Context. The determination of accurate photometric redshifts (photo-zs) in large imaging galaxy surveys is key for cosmological studies. One of the most common approaches is machine learning techniques. These methods require a spectroscopic or reference sample to train the algorithms. Attention has to be paid to the quality and properties of these samples since they are key factors in the estimation of reliable photo-zs. Aims. The goal of this work is to calculate the photo-zs for the Year 3 (Y3) Dark Energy Survey (DES) Deep Fields catalogue using the Directional Neighborhood Fitting (DNF) machine learning algorithm. Moreover, we want to develop techniques to assess the incompleteness of the training sample and metrics to study how incompleteness affects the quality of photometric redshifts. Finally, we are interested in comparing the performance obtained by DNF on the Y3 DES Deep Fields catalogue with that of the EAzY template fitting approach. Methods. We emulated – at a brighter magnitude – the training incompleteness with a spectroscopic sample whose redshifts are known to have a measurable view of the problem. We used a principal component analysis to graphically assess the incompleteness and relate it with the performance parameters provided by DNF. Finally, we applied the results on the incompleteness to the photo-z computation on the Y3 DES Deep Fields with DNF and estimated its performance. Results. The photo-zs of the galaxies in the DES deep fields were computed with the DNF algorithm and added to the Y3 DES Deep Fields catalogue. We have developed some techniques to evaluate the performance in the absence of “true” redshift and to assess the completeness. We have studied the tradeoff in the training sample between the highest spectroscopic redshift quality versus completeness. We found some advantages in relaxing the highest-quality spectroscopic redshift requirements at fainter magnitudes in favour of completeness. The results achieved by DNF on the Y3 Deep Fields are competitive with the ones provided by EAzY, showing notable stability at high redshifts. It should be noted that the good results obtained by DNF in the estimation of photo-zs in deep field catalogues make DNF suitable for the future Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) and Euclid data, which will have similar depths to the Y3 DES Deep Fields.