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Abstract The present study explores the potential benefits of increasing binder content in self-compacting concrete (SCC). Three concrete mixtures with varying binder content (550, 600, and 650 kg/m3) were investigated to evaluate their workability, compressive strength, and shrinkage. Findings indicate a significant enhancement in strength over the concrete's lifespan with higher binder content, accompanied by improved stability and cohesion. Additionally, the study examines the economic advantages of utilizing fly ash as a partial binder replacement, thereby reducing reliance on costly superplasticizers. However, existing prediction models for concrete shrinkage (IS 1343-2012, BS EN 1992-1-1-2004, and ACI 209 R-92) proved inadequate for high-binder SCC. To bridge this knowledge gap, a novel equation for predicting shrinkage in SCC with increased binder content was developed based on experimental data. This research contributes to the optimized design and cost-effective application of high-strength SCC in the construction industry.

In this paper, we investigate a sequential fractional boundary value problem that contains a combination of Erdélyi-Kober and Caputo fractional derivative operators subject to nonlocal, non-separated boundary conditions. We establish the uniqueness of the solution by using Banach's fixed point theorem, while via Krasnosel'skiĭ's fixed-point theorem and Leray-Schauder's nonlinear alternative, we prove the existence results. The obtained results are illustrated by constructed numerical examples.

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), is an important zoonotic disease of livestock that poses a threat to public safety. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Bacillus anthracis in sheep and cattle in endemic areas (Punjab and Balochistan provinces) of Pakistan by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cross-sectional survey was also done to assess the control measures of the farmers. Out of 401 serum samples from sheep and cattle, a total of 68 (16.9%) samples were seropositive for anti-PA antibodies; seroprevalence of B. anthracis in sheep and cattle was 22.11% (48/217) and 10.86% (20/184), respectively. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Baluchistan province (33.3%, 44/132) compared to Punjab province (8.92%, 24/269). Most farmers (65.90%, 29/44) were not disposing carcasses as recommended. Around 77.28%, 17/22 of the veterinary officials reported the non-availability of vaccine against anthrax and 63.63% (14/22) stated the lack of cold chain for the vaccine storage and transportation. We concluded that seroprevalence of B. anthracis in unvaccinated sheep and cattle is evidence that the pathogen is circulating in Baluchistan and Punjab provinces. So must applied an active surveillance and, strengthened veterinary practices vaccination programs to control anthrax outbreaks in endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac arrest remains a critical global health challenge, necessitating effective interventions to improve outcomes. Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression has emerged as a potential adjunct to conventional manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the association between Autopulse use and various outcomes following cardiac arrest. Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. Articles were evaluated for eligibility according to predefined criteria. The collected data was synthesized, and the findings were subsequently presented. Results: Sixteen studies were included in the study. A synthesis of diverse studies revealed nuanced perspectives on Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression. Enhanced CPR success and improved survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were demonstrated, while potential drawbacks were suggested, warranting scrutiny of device design and implementation strategies. Meta-analyses on ROSC favored Autopulse, indicating a statistically significant advantage over Manual CPR (relative risk 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.92). Complication analyses showed no significant difference (relative risk 1.11, 95% CI 0.93-1.33), emphasizing comparable safety profiles. Patient survival rates exhibited variations, with Autopulse demonstrating higher rates in some studies, but nuances were observed in 30-day survival and hospital discharge rates. Conclusion: Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression holds promise as a supplementary strategy in cardiac arrest resuscitation. However, complexities arose in longer-term outcomes, highlighting the need for contextual considerations. [SJEMed 2024; 5(1.000): 030-041]

In this paper, we studied the existence of solutions for a coupled system of nonlinear sequential proportional $ \psi $-Hilfer fractional differential equations with multi-point boundary conditions. By using a Burton's version of the Krasnosel'ski$\breve{{\rm{i}}}$'s fixed-point theorem we established sufficient conditions for the existence result. An example illustrating our main result was also provided.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of peppermint essential oil (PEO) and an emulsifier called artifier on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed low-energy diets. A total of 240 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into five treatments: control, low-energy diet, low-energy diet + 150 ppm PEO, low-energy diet + 300 ppm artifier, and low-energy diet + 150 ppm PEO + 300 ppm artifier. Each treatment was replicated four times in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed these treatments during the starter, grower, and finisher periods for a total of 42 days. The results indicated that broiler chickens receiving the low-energy diet supplemented with PEO + artifier had similar body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and breast percentage, but exhibited significantly lower abdominal fat percentage compared to those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). Furthermore, birds receiving PEO and artifier in low-energy diets, either individually or in combination, demonstrated higher digestibility of dry matter and fat during the starter and grower periods in comparison to those receiving the low-energy diet without any additives (P < 0.05). Over the entire rearing period, the simultaneous inclusion of 150 ppm PEO and 300 ppm artifier in the low-energy diet resulted in comparable growth performance to the control diet. Additionally, the concurrent use of PEO and artifier in the low-energy diet for broiler chickens led to a decrease in abdominal fat, increased digestibility of fat and dry matter, and enhanced nutrient utilization compared to the control diet.

The effect of Cementation Exponent has been investigated on the calculated water and hydrocarbon saturations and the estimated oil initially in place. The Aptian Lower Qamchuqa (Shua'iba) Formation from the well BH-96, Bai Hassan Oilfield, is used as a case study. Four different values of Cementation Exponent were applied in calculating water saturation using the Archie equation. The static value of 2 commonly used for carbonate reservoirs was one of the cases used to calculate an average of 68% water saturation. In the second case, the value of 1.81 is used for m based on the average m values obtained through testing 22 core samples in the laboratory. The average of 60.5% Sw was calculated for the studied part of the Lower Qamchuqa Formation in this case. The Pickett plot method was used as a third case, and 1.65 was estimated as the m value through which the average of 54% Sw was calculated. In the fourth case, variable values of m were used for the different depth intervals from which core samples were tested in the laboratory. In this case, the calculated average water saturation was equal to 60%. The upper part of the studied section was generally of low porosity and high water saturation, whereas the middle and the lower parts contained hydrocarbons with different saturations. Using shale content, porosity, permeability, and water saturation cutoffs for the four different cases, the net to gross pay ratios were calculated. The ratios ranged between 56.5% in the case of using the 1.65 value of m and 47.6% in the case of using variable core tested m values, and accordingly, the difference of about 4 m in net thickness is expected to be underestimated or overestimated, respectively, when is calculated.

Aim: This meta-analysis and systematic review aims to investigate and compare the efficacy of mannitol and hypertonic saline in treating patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We reviewed publications from the Medline database, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to 13 October 2022 with only English-based literature. The risk of bias from included Randomized controlled trial (RCT) s was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Tool. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was employed to assess the included cohort's quality. The main outcomes of this review were treatment failure, mortality, intracranial pressure (ICP) reduction, and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) increment. All the statistical analyses were performed using the Review Manager 5.4.1. A random-effects model was used to pool the studies when heterogeneity was seen, and the results were reported in the odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: The results of the statistical study found that there was a significantly lower treatment failure rate [OR = 1.80 (1.26, 2.57); p = 0.001; I 2 = 74%], the lower mortality rate [OR = 2.17 (1.26, 3.73); p = 0.005; I 2 = 0%], a greater increase in CPP [MD = -1.28 (-2.50, -0.05); p = 0.04; I 2 = 0%] associated with hypertonic saline treatment as compared to mannitol treatment. However, concerning ICP decrease, there was no significant difference between the two treatment options [MD = 1.86 (-0.64, 4.36); p = 0.14; I 2 = 70%]. Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of trials and observational studies comparing the efficacy of hypertonic saline and mannitol demonstrates that hypertonic saline is a preferable treatment option with greater effectiveness and safety than mannitol in managing patients with TBI. [SJEMed 2023; 4(1.000): 051-059]

In studying boundary value problems and coupled systems of fractional order in (1,2], involving Hilfer fractional derivative operators, a zero initial condition is necessary. The consequence of this fact is that boundary value problems and coupled systems of fractional order with non-zero initial conditions cannot be studied. For example, such boundary value problems and coupled systems of fractional order are those including separated, non-separated, or periodic boundary conditions. In this paper, we propose a method for studying a coupled system of fractional order in (1,2], involving fractional derivative operators of Hilfer and Caputo with non-separated boundary conditions. More precisely, a sequential coupled system of fractional differential equations including Hilfer and Caputo fractional derivative operators and non-separated boundary conditions is studied in the present paper. As explained in the concluding section, the opposite combination of Caputo and Hilfer fractional derivative operators requires zero initial conditions. By using Banach’s fixed point theorem, the uniqueness of the solution is established, while by applying the Leray–Schauder alternative, the existence of solution is obtained. Numerical examples are constructed illustrating the main results.

Inorganic salts of the vanadium have been found to mimic insulin in treating diabetic mellitus. In comparison to inorganic vanadium salts, complexes of vanadium with appropriate organic ligands can improve tissue absorption, efficacy, and reduce toxicity of the metal. An organic vanadyl derivative [bis(ethylmaltolato)oxovanadium(IV)] has been reported as a potential diabetes medication and is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials. The mechanism suggests that vanadium complexes inhibit the enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B(PTP-1B). Pharmacological, Biochemical and genetic evidences strongly suggest that inhibiting the PTP-1B enzyme could treat both diabetes and obesity, making PTP-1B an interesting target for drug development. Studies have also showed that the over expression of PTP-1B is involved in diabetic and obese patients and its inhibition may be an effective strategy in their treatment. Despite the fact that many natural PTP-1B inhibitors demonstrated promising clinical potential, there is no clinically used PTP-1B inhibitor, most likely due to low activity or a lack of selectivity. Search for more potent and selective PTP-1B inhibitors is still going on. As a result, inhibiting protein tyrosine 1B could be a new therapeutic option for patients at risk of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. Many vanadium compounds are available as of now, as experimental probes for examining the mechanism of altered insulin action. However more studies are needed to establish its clinical use. Hence it has been proposed to prepare and characterize novel vanadium metal complexes with different coordination environments around vanadyl ion and check their anti diabetes activity.

Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Bengkulu didorong untuk menyiapkan berbagai keperluan dokumen yang nantinya akan dievaluasi dalam proses akreditasi internasional tersebut. Adapun jumlah program studi yang diikutsertakan pada proses akreditasi ini berjumlah 11 dari 12 program studi yang ada di lingkungan Fakultas Pertanian baik program sarjana, magister, dan doktor, dengan satu program studi tidak diikutsertakan karena belum mencapai usia satu tahun sejak didirikan. Asesmen kinerja staf pengajar Fakultas Pertanian dalam hal publikasi hasil penelitian menjadi salah satu aspek yang dapat memberikan input bagi penilaian akreditasi tersebut. Produktivitas tenaga pengajar dalam publikasi ilmiah didorong oleh beberapa faktor, baik yang bersifat internal maupun eksternal, misalnya motivasi, keaktifan, beban kerja, insentif, dan alokasi pendanaan penelitian dan publikasi. Sehingga, upaya institusi dalam mendorong kinerja dosen untuk publikasi karya ilmiah menjadi aspek yang cukup vital. Berdasarkan uraian di atas, publikasi ilmiah dosen dan upaya institusi dalam mendorong produktivitasnya tersebut sangat penting dalam rangka menunjang persiapan akreditasi internasional bagi institusi perguruan tinggi. Sehingga, asesmen kinerja dosen dalam publikasi ilmiah dan upaya Fakultas Pertanian dalam mengoptimalkan publikasi penelitian staf pengajarnya ini sangat relevan dan penting untuk dilakukan.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 24.5 million people worldwide as of 2015. Modern medicine still eludes satisfactory cure for this problem. Therefore, world is looking forward for some traditional medicines in this direction. In the present work, therapeutic efficacy of a Unani compound drug Habb-e-Asgand has been evaluated at Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM), Aligarh, during 2016-2018. A total of 68 patients were selected from the lot of patients attending outpatient department (OPD). The drug Habb-e-Asgand was given 2 tablets for 84 days and results evaluated statistically by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dennett’s’ test. The results of the present study were evaluated on clinical, biochemical, and haematological parameters have amply demonstrated that the drug Habb-e-Asgand is therapeutically effective in the treatment of Waja ‘al-mafasil (rheumatoid arthritis). The study has also shown the drug nontoxic and safe. Further studies are suggested in large population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions to a nonlinear coupled systems of $ (k, \varphi) $-Hilfer fractional differential equations supplemented with nonlocal integro-multi-point boundary conditions. We make use of the Banach contraction mapping principle to obtain the uniqueness result, while the existence results are proved with the aid of Krasnosel'ski${\rm{\mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\smile$}} \over i} }} $'s fixed point theorem and Leray-Schauder alternative for the given problem. Examples demonstrating the application of the abstract results are also presented. Our results are of quite general nature and specialize in several new results for appropriate values of the parameters $ \beta_1, $ $ \beta_2, $ and the function $ \varphi $ involved in the problem at hand.

The mangroves' aboveground biomass significantly contributes to the global carbon cycle or economic and ecological values. This makes knowledge about the spatial extent of the mangroves indispensable for policymakers. The sequence of mangroves’ condition range also requires remote sensing data to update the geographical information and synthesize carbon stock in Bengkulu. Therefore, this study aims to create a spatial distrribution of mangroves and evaluate their carbon stock in Bengkulu City using Sentinel-2 imagery. The semi-empirical method uses Sentinel-2 imagery through NDVI to appraise and picture the mangroves' aboveground carbon stock. An allometric equation was used to compute the mangroves' aboveground carbon stock from field measurements. Non-linear regression was used to establish a connection between the NDVI calculated from the Sentinel-2 imagery and the mangroves' aboveground biomass measured in the field, which was subsequently used for aboveground carbon estimation. The results showed that mangroves mapping could derive overall accuracy of 89.09%, where the high-density class existed in 135.12 Ha of total area. It was also discovered that Sentinel-2 imagery could estimate mangroves carbon stock up to 61%. The carbon stock estimation based on the imagery has a value of 16.3992 – 115.134 t C/ha, while that of field survey data ranges from 19.69 to 326.06 t C/ha. These results showed that Sentinel-2B spectral data is functional and has a good chance of being able to predict carbon stock.

In this paper, a new class of coupled hybrid systems of proportional sequential ψ-Hilfer fractional differential equations, subjected to nonlocal boundary conditions were investigated. Based on a generalization of the Krasnosel’skii˘’s fixed point theorem due to Burton, sufficient conditions were established for the existence of solutions. A numerical example was constructed illustrating the main theoretical result. For special cases of the parameters involved in the system many new results were covered. The obtained result is new and significantly contributes to existing results in the literature on coupled systems of proportional sequential ψ-Hilfer fractional differential equations.

This paper deals with a nonlocal fractional coupled system of (k,ψ)-Hilfer fractional differential equations, which involve, in boundary conditions, (k,ψ)-Hilfer fractional derivatives and (k,ψ)-Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals. The existence and uniqueness of solutions are established for the considered coupled system by using standard tools from fixed point theory. More precisely, Banach and Krasnosel’skiĭ’s fixed-point theorems are used, along with Leray–Schauder alternative. The obtained results are illustrated by constructed numerical examples.

In this paper, we investigate a sequential fractional boundary value problem which contains a combination of Hilfer and Caputo fractional derivative operators and non-separated boundary conditions. We establish the existence of a unique solution via Banach’s fixed point theorem, while by applying Leray–Schauder’s nonlinear alternative, we prove an existence result. Finally, examples are provided to demonstrate the results obtained.

This paper is concerned with the existence of solutions for a new boundary value problem of nonlinear coupled (k,ψ)–Hilfer fractional differential equations subject to coupled (k,ψ)–Riemann–Liouville fractional integral boundary conditions. We prove two existence results by applying the Leray–Schauder alternative, and Krasnosel’skiĭ’s fixed-point theorem under different criteria, while the third result, concerning the uniqueness of solutions for the given problem, relies on the Banach’s contraction mapping principle. Examples are included for illustrating the abstract results.