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In this study, we discussed the photothermal effect on a microelongated thermoelastic plate under the influence of acoustic pressure. This study is very important in many fields and has a wide application in industries. The problem is studied in the two-dimensional plane to obtain the thermoacoustic and mechanical waves behavior. Normal mode analysis is used to get the exact solution of the problem. Many comparisons between the physical quantities are made according to the different values of physical constants of many semiconductor materials. Graphical illustrations depict the numerical outcomes for the examined fields both with and without microelongation parameters.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rising number of vehicles used for transportation, which is attributed to the steady increase in population, is known to be a major contributor of air pollution, which, in turn, can have adverse effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the concentration of carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter in the air and their potential health risks and further examine the use of probabilistic methods to simulate the sensitivity of people living in communities and school children to these pollutants.METHODS: This study collected carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter samples from 32 stations near community houses and 14 sites near schools located along roads. Hazard quotient and target hazard quotient calculations were used to estimate the non-carcinogenic health risks associated with exposure to these substances for both community adults and school children. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations were applied to analyze the sensitivity and uncertainty risks. FINDINGS: As per the results, the highest level of carbon monoxide was recorded in station 22, with 6729 microgram per cubic meter, while the lowest was in station 24, with 1037 microgram per cubic meter. Station 10 had the highest concentration of fine particulate matter at 116 microgram per cubic meter, as opposed to station 2 with the lowest level at 10 microgram per cubic meter. In children, the hazard quotient value for carbon monoxide was found to be highest at 3.013, with the lowest at 0.614. Similarly, the highest level of target hazard quotient for carbon monoxide in children was 7.370, whereas the lowest was 1.522. For fine particulate matter, the highest risk level was 0.180. Additionally, the highest, and lowest levels of target hazard quotient for fine particulate matter were 0.311 and 0.037, respectively. Deterministic and probabilistic approaches were used to assess the risks these pollutants impose on adults and school children based on their daily inhalation rate. The results revealed that the 5th and 95th percentiles of cancer risk for carbon monoxide in adults were 2.85 and 6.11, respectively, indicating medium risks. However, for fine particulate matter, the 5th, and 95th percentiles were 0.09 and 0.19, respectively, signifying lower risks. For school children, the percentiles for carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter were 1.20 and 2.50, respectively, demonstrating higher risks.CONCLUSION: As per the results, it was determined that the hazard quotient risk for carbon monoxide in adults exceeded the standard, >1, thus posing a risk. Only three stations had hazard quotient values lower than 1, which is deemed of safe level. Most of the fine particulate matter risk assessment results had hazard quotient values lower than 1, indicating a safe level. However, all other 30 stations had exceeded the World Health Organization standard (>1), thus demonstrating risks. The likelihood of the inhabitants being at risk increased as the frequency of discrete exposure occurrences increased; this is evidenced by target hazard quotient calculation results for both carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter at the 32 monitored station areas. These results warrant that future research should focus on reducing carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter in the environment by fostering awareness among local and national stakeholders as well as the academe; this may allow South Tangerang to become a center of excellence for green schools in the area.

Abstract The study proposes a dynamic spatio‐temporal profile of the distribution of tuberculosis incidence and air pollution in Romania, where this infectious disease induces more than 8,000 new cases annually. The descriptive analysis for the years 2012–2021 assumes an identification of the structuring patterns of mycobacterium tuberculosis risk in the Romanian population, according to gender and age, exploiting spatial modeling techniques of time series data. Through spatial autocorrelation, the degree of similarity between the analyzed territorial systems was highlighted and the relationships that are built between the analysis units in spatial proximity were investigated. By modeling the geographical distribution of tuberculosis, the spatial correlation with particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution was revealed. The identification of clusters of infected persons is an indispensable step in the construction of efficient tuberculosis management systems. The results highlight the link between the distribution of tuberculosis, air pollution and socio‐economic development, which requires a detailed analysis of the epidemiological data obtained in the national tuberculosis surveillance and control program from the perspective of geographical distribution.

ABSTRACT Members of the order Trypanorhyncha are cestode parasites that are frequently found infecting the muscles of several marine fish species, affecting fish health, and resulting in consumers’ rejection of fish. Fifty-two specimens of marine fish were freshly caught throughout the year 2020 from boat landing sites at the Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, including the grey trigger fish Balistes carolinensis (F: Balistidae); the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra (F: Serranidae) and the common sole Solea vulgaris (F: Soleidae). Blastocysts were isolated and ruptured; the generated pleurocerci were described morphologically and morphometrically by light and scanning electron microscopy. Also, multiple-sequence alignment was performed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed following maximum likelihood analysis of the 18s and 28s ribosomal RNA sequences of the recovered worms. Thirty fish were infected; the infection was recorded as blastocysts embedded in fish flesh. Three different parasitic species were recovered and classified morphologically as Gymnorhynchus isuri, Pseudotobothrium dipsacum and Heteronybelinia estigmena. The taxonomic position of these parasites was justified by molecular analysis of their 18s and 28s rRNAs, which revealed high percentages of homology with species recovered from the GenBank. The accession numbers ON157059, ON139663 and ON139662 were respectively assigned to the recovered parasites after their deposition in GenBank. The results obtained from the molecular analyses confirmed the morphological records of the recovered parasites. Since metacestodes are found in the musculature of infected fish specimens, it is necessary to remove these areas in the commercialization of fish.

The state of insecurity occasioned by fraudulent practices in Africa has been of concern economically, both at home and abroad. In this paper, we propose ways to mitigate this problem, using Nigeria as a case study. Based on surveys in West Africa, the paper examines the security situation in the continent and its mutual impacts with computerisation, miniaturisation and Location-Based Authentication (LBA). It was discovered that computerisation and miniaturisation had negative effects on cyber-security, as these were being exploited by fraudsters, using advance fee fraud; called 419. As a countermeasure, the paper examines the possibility of using LBA and digitisation of the GSM Mobile country codes down to city/area codes along with GSM/GPS authentications. These could also be combined with the use of a web-based Secret Sharing Scheme for services with very high security demands. The challenges of roaming were also examined and considered to be of negligible impact.

Members of research ethics committees (RECs) face a number of ethical challenges when reviewing genomic research. These include issues regarding the content and type of consent, the return of individual research results, mechanisms of sharing specimens and health data, and appropriate community engagement efforts. This article presents the findings from a survey that sought to investigate the opinions and attitudes of REC members from four Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, and Jordan) toward these ethical issues. Our findings suggest that efforts are required to better familiarize REC members with the requirements for ethical biobank research. Additionally, we recommend that further research is undertaken with REC members regarding the main items that should be present in the Material Transfer Agreements/Data Transfer Agreements in their corresponding countries and the type of consent that should be used in genomic research.

Due to advancements in telecommunications, towers need special attention in terms of the analysis and design under wind loads. The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in 2005 released a standard “TIA-222-G” which has gained a widespread reference for the analysis and design of communication towers. In 2018, TIA released the latest standard TIA-222-H. The latest TIA-222-H standard has some additional features, e.g. limit states for analysis of mounting systems, enhanced climber safety requirements, construction-related loading, etc. To date, not many studies are available describing how much change in member axial forces occurs with the tower height while using the latest standard for analysis. This study’s main objective is to provide guidelines for wind load calculation on tower body, appurtenances, and other structures and compare the member axial forces induced by the wind loads on different tower heights (40, 60, and 80 m) as per TIA-222-G and TIA-222-H standards. The procedure presented in the paper about the design calculations of wind load is a useful guide for structural engineers involved in the analysis and design of communication towers. The analysis results showed that the member axial forces increased by 22% to 37%, which can assist the practitioner in more optimized design.

Burnt clay brick is one of the oldest and most widely used construction materials. The production of burnt clay bricks with various waste materials can help reduce the environmental hazards and improve brick performance at low manufacturing costs, thereby leading towards more sustainable construction. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of using waste marble powder (WMP) in varying percentages, i.e., 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15%, by weight of clay in an industrial brick kiln plant. A range of mechanical and durability tests was performed on the raw material, i.e., clay, WMP, and bricks, to quantify their performance. It was observed that incorporation of WMP resulted in a reduced unit weight of the bricks, making the structure lighter in weight. Moreover, compressive strength and freeze thaw test results for all the brick specimens and sulfate tests for the brick specimens with 12% WMP addition were within the Building Code of Pakistan, and ASTM C67 prescribed limits. Finally, it can be concluded that WMP up to 12% by weight of clay can be incorporated to prepare burnt clay bricks, which can reduce the environmental waste to achieve sustainability and economy for the brick industry.

Abstract Background Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers is a common occurrence worldwide, especially among young physicians and medical residents. This study aimed to explore the negative health impacts of WPV among medical residents in Egypt, and their perception regarding how safe it is to report violence. Purpose To investigate the prevalence of WPV among medical residents, its possible negative health impacts, specifically on sleep quality and mental health, and the perceived workplace safety climate. Methods This is a cross-sectional analytic study, using a convenience sample through an online questionnaire. An abuse index was calculated, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and sleep quality were collected from the reported outcomes. Results The study sample included 101 residents (86.1% females). The most common reported form of abuse was verbal abuse, with the most common reported perpetrators being senior staff members (59.4%). About 86% of participants were classified as poor sleepers, while 59.4% had GAD, and there were significant positive correlations between GAD and Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores with the abuse index. More than one third (35.6%) of residents reported a very high-risk Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) score, and 31.6% of them either strongly agreed or agreed that reporting a sexual harassment claim would be dangerous. Conclusion Workplace violence is common among Egyptian medical residents, with a significant negative impact on sleep quality and a rising risk of GAD. The promotion of a safe workplace environment is essential in protecting the health and wellbeing of medical residents.

Numerous existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings don’t fulfill current seismic code provisions as they haven’t been designed to satisfy these provisions. Also, due to many environmental factors, structural members such as columns, beams, and slabs are exposed to severe deterioration leading to high-risk levels. In this research, the performance of an existing seven-floor reinforced concrete building in Zagazig city, Egypt, constructed about 50 years ago, without considering the seismic requirements prescribed in the current Egyptian code (ECP-2012) is studied. The studied building suffers severe deterioration in its main structural elements, especially the basement floor slab. SAP2000 software is utilized to evaluate the structural behavior of the building under vertical loads (dead and live loads). The model failed to fulfill the ECP-2012 requirements under the applied loads. After building investigation, a retrofitting technique was proposed through providing the building with new grid beams at the basement floor level as well as replacing the existing basement floor slab with a new one. Moreover, RC jackets were provided to all basement floor columns. Through response spectrum analysis (RSA), the performance of the building with the newly proposed technique was assessed considering a peak ground acceleration equals 0.15 g (seismic zone 3). The model showed a significant enhancement in its response that fulfilled the ECP requirements concerning both strength and serviceability. Utilizing SeismoStruct software, the horizontal capacity of the model was inspected through the pushover analysis to check the efficiency of the proposed retrofitting technique. The model showed acceptable capacity in its two main directions.

Replication is a fundamental aspect of cancer, and replication is about reproducing all the elements and structures that form a cell. Among them are DNA, RNA, enzymes, and coenzymes. All the DNA is doubled during each S (synthesis) cell cycle phase. This means that six billion nucleic acids must be synthesized in each cycle. Tumor growth, proliferation, and mutations all depend on this synthesis. Cancer cells require a constant supply of nucleotides and other macromolecules. For this reason, they must stimulate de novo nucleotide synthesis to support nucleic acid provision. When deregulated, de novo nucleic acid synthesis is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that enable increased synthesis and cell proliferation. Furthermore, cell duplication must be achieved swiftly (in a few hours) and in the midst of a nutrient-depleted and hypoxic environment. This also means that the enzymes participating in nucleic acid synthesis must work efficiently. pH is a critical factor in enzymatic efficiency and speed. This review will show that the enzymatic machinery working in nucleic acid synthesis requires a pH on the alkaline side in most cases. This coincides with many other pro-tumoral factors, such as the glycolytic phenotype, benefiting from an increased intracellular pH. An increased intracellular pH is a perfect milieu for high de novo nucleic acid production through optimal enzymatic performance.

Abstract Background Chronic back pain is a common health complaint among university students. A subset of chronic back pain patients suffer from increased pain sensitivity, a process termed central sensitization. Chronic pain is also associated with cognitive dysfunction, involving attention, memory, and learning. Those are key features of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study aimed to assess the associations between adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and central sensitization in students with chronic back pain. Results Two hundred twenty-seven students completed the survey, and 90 (39.6%) had back pain for more than 3 months. Students with back pain had significantly higher central sensitization (P

Abstract Background Triage system is a sorting system that categorizes patients on the basis of the severity of their condition and the availability of the resources in the emergency department. There has been little attention in the public literature to triage systems in Sudan. The aim of this study was to explore the triage system and identify the barriers in its application in hospitals in Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted at eight hospitals in Khartoum during December 2020. A multi-stage cluster sampling was applied. Data were obtained by interviewing emergency department staff using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences to find the association between various variables by chi-square test. Results Most of the respondents stated that the triage system was deficient. Most of the participants of this study agreed that the role played by the administration in taking legislative decisions is crucial in improving the triage system. Among the factors found to be significant to a well-functioning triage system were, the need for substantial capital expenditure, p-value: 0.026, prudent legislative decisions, p-value: 0.026, adequate training of staff on means of performing efficient triaging, p-value: 0.007 and raising the awareness of the staff on the correct application of triage guidelines, p-value: 0.017. Conclusion Currently there is no formal triage system in the State of Khartoum and has yet to be established. Policy making by administrators will play an important role in its implementation. It is suggested that prompt executive orders on improving the current triage system in Khartoum, should be carried out sooner than later, as the ripple effects of a well-functioning triage will decrease the average length of stay, mortality and morbidity rates and will eventually increase the patient’s satisfaction.

Abstract Background α-Galactosidase is widely distributed in plants, microorganisms, and animals, and it is produced by different fungal sources. Many studies have confirmed the valuable applications of α-galactosidase enzymes for various biotechnological purposes, like the processing of soymilk. Results Aspergillus niger NRC114 was exploited to produce the extracellular α-galactosidase. One factor per time (OFT) and central composite design (CCD) approaches were applied to determine the optimum parameters and enhance the enzyme production. The CCD model choices of pH 4.73, 1.25% mannose, 0.959% meat extract, and 6-day incubation period have succeeded in obtaining 25.22 U/mL of enzyme compared to the 6.4 U/mL produced using OFT studies. Treatment of soymilk by α-galactosidase caused an increase in total phenols and flavonoids by 27.3% and 19.9%, respectively. Antioxidant measurements revealed a significant increase in the enzyme-treated soymilk. Through HPLC analysis, the appearance of sucrose, fructose, and glucose in the enzyme-treated soymilk was detected due to the degradation of stachyose and raffinose. The main volatile compounds in raw soymilk were acids (45.04%) and aldehydes (34.25%), which showed a remarkable decrease of 7.82% and 20.03% after treatment by α-galactosidase. Conclusions To increase α-galactosidase production, the OFT and CCD approaches were used, and CCD was found to be four times more effective than OFT. The produced enzyme proved potent enough to improve the properties of soymilk, avoiding flatulence and undesirable tastes and odors. Graphical Abstract

Citrus greening, or huanglongbing, is a destructive disease threatening many citrus worldwide, and drastically altering the global dynamics of the citrus industry. The disease is caused by one of several unculturable bacterial species belonging to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’. The recent availability of complete genome sequences of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) has facilitated comprehensive assessments of genomic variability using a range of approaches, including short tandem repeat analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of CLas populations in Saudi Arabia based on tandem repeat number (TRN) within the CLIBASIA_01645 locus, predicted to encode the bacteriophage C1 repressor protein. Results indicated that the genotype richness of the Saudi Arabian CLas isolates was conserved by 27% based on the TRN locus. Four different genotypes TRN2, TRN3, TRN4, and TRN5 were identified. However, the TRN2 and TRN5 were the most dominant genotypes. All four of the TRN genotypes were associated with CLas-positive mandarin (Citrus reticulata) or sweet orange (C. sinensis) citrus trees. The diversity (H = 0.69) and evenness (H'=0.914) were overall relatively high, with the northern region of Saudi Arabia harboring the highest diversity (0.7) and evenness score (0.9–1.0). Phylogenetic analysis of the CLas-bacteriophage C1 repressor protein of the Saudi Arabian isolates indicated CLas was more closely related to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’ than to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’.

The paper aims to explore the application of intelligent soft-computing techniques, including Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Ensemble Tree (LSBOOT, LES), and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) for the prediction of flexural strength (σf) of PC containing calcium carbide residue (CCR) and nano-silica (NS). CCR was incorporated into the concrete mixtures to partially replace some portion of cement at 0%, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5%, and 30% by weight. At the same time, NS was added to the mixtures at 0–4% (interval of 1%) by weight of cement. The experimental tests evaluated the basic mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and water absorption. The proposed models were trained on the datasets obtained from the experimental result of concrete mixtures cured for 7 and 28 days. The results indicate that the soft computing techniques GPR, SVR, LSBOOST, (LES) and MLR predict the σf with high accuracy (NSE > 0.75) with GPR having the highest accuracy (NSE=0.9999, nRMSE= 0.0001, MAE=0.0001, MAPE= 0.0236, RRMSE=0.0258) in the validation phase. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models have improved the linear model (MLR) performance by 8.06%, 6.20%, and 4.5%, respectively, in the validation stage for GPR, SVR, and LES.

Date palm fiber (DPF) has series of advantages when used as a natural fiber like availability, lower cost, and sustainability, and it is obtained as a waste from date tree. Due to its enormous advantages, DPF is applied in cement composites. However, the main disadvantage of DPF in cement composite is strength reduction and increased porosity. Therefore, for DPF to be effectively used as fiber in concrete, it should be used together with a material that can mitigate its adverse effect on the properties of the composites. Consequently, this work analyzed the effect of DPF on mechanical properties of the concrete where 0 %, 1 %, 2 % and 3 % DPF were added by weight of binder materials. Silica fume was utilized to partially replace cement at dosages of 0 %, 5 %, 10 % and 15 % to reduce the porosity and minimize the undesirable effect of the DPF on the strengths of the composite. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for developing mathematical models of predicting the densities, strengths and water absorption of the concrete and executing optimization to obtain the optimum combinations of the DPF and silica fume. The findings demonstrated that the fresh and hardened densities, compressive strength, water absorption of the concrete declined with increment in DPF, while the flexural and tensile strengths improved with addition of up to 2 % DPF. Silica fume enhanced the strengths and reduced the water absorption of the DPF reinforced concrete, where addition of up to 10 % silica fume mitigated the negative effect caused by the addition of up to 2 % DPF. The mathematical models developed for predicting the DPF reinforced concrete’s properties were very much significant with higher accuracy and errors less than 6% when validated experimentally. The optimum dosage of the variables was 1.16 % DPF and 7.7 % silica fume.

Coal fly ash (CFA) is a coal ignition buildup at thermal power plants, which has been viewed as a hazardous waste globally. The major problems with CFA are the large volume of land needed for its disposal and poisonous weighty metal sifted to groundwater. CFA has been considered a waste and water pollutant until recently; however, CFA is a helpful material and has shown its useful value, especially in the construction industry. This review paper aims to evaluate CFA properties and validate its utilization in the construction industry to save the planet from damages associated with its disposal. The current paper surveys the potential uses of CFA as a crude material in the construction industry in catalysis, soil stabilization and replacement, brick production, cement replacement highway embankment, bricks construction, material for soil replacement and stabilization, and dams, asphalt pavement, and road construction. This review was conducted through systematic consultation of mostly recent relevant literature with a few old publications to evaluate the efficiency of CFA utilization in the construction industry. Moreover, all the literature rated CFA as a suitable material for use in the construction industry. A major drawback of CFA usage in concrete is the slow early strength development. However, this can be taken care of by accelerating the admixtures in the concrete mix. Future research tends towards production of CFA with more improved features suitable for advanced construction technology as in 3D printing construction. Conclusively, CFA is recommended for use in the construction industry based on its performance success recorded from the research findings reviewed in this paper.

The durability of cement-based materials plays a significant role in controlling their life cycle. Bio-based polyurethane (Castor oil) was used to improve the durability and mechanical properties of two types of cement mortar, namely: Ordinary Portland cement (PCM-mortar) and rapid hardening Portland cement (RHPC-mortar). To investigate the effects of polyurethane (PU) binder; therefore, experimental tests, including flowability, rate of water absorption, early and dry restrained shrinkage properties, compressive strength, and flexural strength, were performed on the two mortar types. Moreover, the shrinkage properties were estimated using a restrained shrinkage eccentric ring device (RSERD) to improve cracks observation. The PU binder was added to the mortar mixture at 0 %, 15 %, and 25 % by cement weight. The result indicates that the optimum PU binder content (15 %) improves the flexural strength of PCM-mortar at 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d by 10.1 %, 0.93 %, and 10.62 %, respectively, and the flexural strength of RHPC-mortar at 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d was increased by 6.93 %, 1.78 %, and 1.74 %. However, a reduction in the compressive strength was observed. The workability of PU-cement mortar reduced with optimum PU binder content and increased with higher PU binder. The flow-ability percentage drop index revealed that PU-cement mortars containing 25 %PU from the PCM and RHPC- mortars showed lower FPI values of −3.57 % and −8.69 %, respectively. The RSERD mortar specimen controls the cracks propagation as expected crack occurred only on the eccentric side. None of the PU-cement mortar exhibited crack propagation for 182 d. The cracking time of PCM-PU0 and RHPC-PU0 are 104 h and 87.2 h, respectively. The water absorption capacity of PCM and RHPC-mortar was reduced by 67.97 % and 23.46 %, respectively. The PU could be regarded as a suitable candidate for improving cracking resistance and reducing the water absorption rate of cement-based composites.

Our study proposed a promising anti-fungal therapy to control Saprolegnia spp. infection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A Moringa oleifera synthesized silver nanoparticles (MS-AgNPs) showed an in vitro anti-fungal activity against Saprolegnia spp. with an inhibition zone of 18 mm. A total of 220 O. niloticus (45 ± 0.56 g) were used in this study. A preliminary investigation was conducted by using 100 fish for determining the safe dose of MS-AgNPs which was found to be 0.6 mg/L. Another 120 fish were divided into four groups; the first (control) and second groups (G1 and G2) were non-infected and exposed to 0 and 0.6 mg/L MS-AgNPs, respectively. The third and fourth groups (G3 and G4) were infected with Saprolegnia spp. (1.5 × 104 spores/L) and exposed to 0 and 0.6 mg/L MS-AgNPs, respectively. The experiment lasted for 7 days. The infection with Saprolegnia spp. induced immunosuppression expressed by a marked decrease in immunoglobulin M, nitric oxide, complement 3, and lysozyme activity, with a 41 % survival rate. Additionally, a marked decline in the values of hepatic and branchial antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in addition to serum total antioxidant capacity and protein profile indices. In contrast, Saprolegnia spp. infection elevated hepatic and branchial malondialdehyde, hepatic function indicators, and stress biomarkers (cholesterol and triglyceride) with up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α), and the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β). Histopathological findings of the gills and musculature of infected fish showed severe hyperplasia of the epithelial lining with a fusion of secondary lamellae and necrotic myocytes admixed with edema. Interestingly, treatment of the challenged fish with MS-AgNPs at a dose of 0.6 mg/L could improve these variables by enhancing the histological architecture. According to these findings, MS-AgNPs have an ameliorative effect against the harmful effects of Saprolegnia spp. infection on immune-antioxidant status and hepatic functions indices. Consequently, MS-AgNPs at a dose of 0.6 mg/L is a promising option for use in the control of Saprolegnia spp. infection in aquaculture.

Abstract A consanguineous family of three siblings presented with different early onset pediatric cancers. Whole-exome sequencing of parents DNA revealed a deleterious frameshift mutation in hPMS1 the first to be reported in association to a CMMRD phenotype.

Digital Earth applications provide a common ground for visualizing, simulating, and modeling real-world situations. The potential of Digital Earth applications has increased significantly with the evolution of artificial intelligence systems and the capacity to collect and process complex amounts of geospatial data. Yet, the widespread techno-optimism at the root of Digital Earth must now confront concerns over high-risk artificial intelligence systems and power asymmetries of a datafied society. In this commentary, we claim that not only can current debates about data governance and ethical artificial intelligence inform development in the field of Digital Earth, but that the specificities of geospatial data, together with the expectations surrounding Digital Earth applications, offer a fruitful lens through which to examine current debates on data governance and artificial intelligence ethics. In particular, we argue that for the implementation of ethical artificial intelligence and inclusive approaches to data governance, Digital Earth initiatives need to involve stakeholders and communities at the local level and be sensitive to social, legal, cultural, and institutional contexts, including conflicts that might arise within those contexts.

COVID-19, occurring due to SARS-COV-2 infection, is the most recent pandemic disease that has led to three million deaths at the time of writing. A great deal of effort has been directed towards altering the virus trajectory and/or managing the interactions of the virus with its subsequent targets in the human body; these interactions can lead to a chain reaction-like state manifested by a cytokine storm and progress to multiple organ failure. During cytokine storms the ratio of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory mediators is generally increased, which contributes to the instigation of hyper-inflammation and confers advantages to the virus. Because cytokine expression patterns fluctuate from one person to another and even within the same person from one time to another, we suggest a road map of COVID-19 management using an individual approach instead of focusing on the blockbuster process (one treatment for most people, if not all). Here, we highlight the biology of the virus, study the interaction between the virus and humans, and present potential pharmacological and non-pharmacological modulators that might contribute to the global war against SARS-COV-2. We suggest an algorithmic roadmap to manage COVID-19.

Abstract Missing or erroneous information is a common problem in the analysis of pharmacokinetic (PK) data. This may present as missing or inaccurate dose level or dose time, drug concentrations below the analytical limit of quantification, missing sample times, or missing or incorrect covariate information. Several methods to handle problematic data have been evaluated, although no single, broad set of recommendations for commonly occurring errors has been published. In this tutorial, we review the existing literature and present the results of our simulation studies that evaluated common methods to handle known data errors to bridge the remaining gaps and expand on the existing knowledge. This tutorial is intended for any scientist analyzing a PK data set with missing or apparently erroneous data. The approaches described herein may also be useful for the analysis of nonclinical PK data.

Introduction. Biscuit is a mass-consumption product worldwide. As biscuit contains low amount of protein, it can be fortified with protein-containing raw materials. In the present work, we fortified biscuit with kishk, an Egyptian dairy product, and evaluated changes in its physicochemical properties and volatile compounds. Study objects and methods. We analyzed biscuit from wheat flour (control sample) and biscuit form wheat flour with 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of kishk (experimental samples). The experiments were carried out by using standard methods. Results and discussion. The fortified biscuit samples showed higher lightness (L*) values than control. The antioxidant activity in the biscuit increased with the increasing amount of kishk. Aldehydes were the main volatile compounds in all the biscuit samples, followed by sulfur-containing compounds and alcohols. The predominant aldehyde was benzldehyde. However, kishk in amounts more than 20% affected adversely the aroma, taste and texture, as well as volatile compounds of the biscuits. Both the control and fortified with kishk biscuits contained an increased amount of total phenolic compounds. Based on sensory evaluation and volatile analysis, the most acceptable amount of kishk for fortification of biscuit was 10%. Conclusion. Fortification of biscuit with Egyptian kishk enhanced its protein, fat and fiber, as well as antioxidant activity at all levels of fortification with no significant effect on appearance and color. Further studies are needed to evaluate storage conditions and shelf life of biscuits with kishk.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive tool used to diagnose various heart conditions. Arrhythmia is one of the primary causes of cardiac arrest. Early ECG beat classification plays a significant role in diagnosing life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. However, the ECG signal is very small, the anti-interference potential is low, and the noise is easily influenced. Thus, clinicians face challenges in diagnosing arrhythmias. Thus, a method to automatically identify and distinguish arrhythmias from the ECG signal is invaluable. In this paper, a hybrid approach based on marine predators algorithm (MPA) and convolutional neural network (CNN) called MPA-CNN is proposed to classify the non-ectopic, ventricular ectopic, supraventricular ectopic, and fusion ECG types of arrhythmia. The proposed approach is a combination of heavy feature extraction and classification techniques; hence, outperforms other existing classification approaches. Optimal characteristics were derived directly from the raw signal to decrease the time required for and complexity of the computation. Precision levels of 99.31%, 99.76%, and 99.47% were achieved by the proposed approach on the MIT-BIH,EDB, and INCART databases, respectively.

COVID-19, a pandemic disease caused by a viral infection, is associated with a high mortality rate. Most of the signs and symptoms, e.g. cytokine storm, electrolytes imbalances, thromboembolism, etc., are related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, targeting mitochondrion will represent a more rational treatment of COVID-19. The current work outlines how COVID-19’s signs and symptoms are related to the mitochondrion. Proper understanding of the underlying causes might enhance the opportunity to treat COVID-19.

Abstract Effect of adding nanofillers on transformer oil breakdown voltage and its thermal performance finds a great interest from researchers and scientists. The impact of oil circulation considering oil forced cooling method on nanoparticles stability in transformer oil is investigated. The stability is considered from breakdown voltage and thermal performance points of view. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are chosen due to the safety of TiO2 nanomaterial as well as its good performance. First, the optimal concentration of nanosized TiO2 at which maximum breakdown voltage of nanofilled transformer oil is determined and chosen to study the effect of oil circulation on breakdown voltage as well as thermal performance of nanofilled oil. Two reduced experimental models are designed. The first model consists of a galvanized steel tank containing TiO2‐nanofilled transformer oil, at the pre‐determined optimal concentration. This tank is designed to simulate the natural oil cooled transformer. However, the second model that uses a similar tank is designed to simulate a forced cooled transformer. This model consists of a tank containing TiO2‐nanofilled transformer oil, at the pre‐determined optimal concentration, and an oil pump. Breakdown voltage and thermal performance considering the two adapted models are measured in a time period of 60 days.

Oil from neem and yellow oleander seeds were extracted using Soxhlet extractor with normal hexane as solvent and characterized using standard methods and their Physico chemical properties determined. The results revealed that the oil yields of neem and yellow oleander seeds are 38.80% and 49.69% respectively. Both oil samples contain high free fatty acid values, 8.77% for neem and 7.21% for yellow oleander. The characterization revealed the following results for neem seed oil; saponification value = 185.50 mg KOH/g, acid value = 17.54 mg KOH/g, iodine value = 58 mg I/100g, peroxide value = 7.95 mg/peroxide/kg, viscosity at 40 °C = 37.80 mm/s2, specific gravity = 0.87, and refractive index = 1.469 while saponification value = 196.30 mg KOH/g, acid value = 14.42 mg KOH/g, iodine value = 81 mg I/100g, peroxide value = 4.20 mg/peroxide/kg, viscosity at 40 °C = 31.40 mm/s2, specific gravity = 0.96, and refractive index = 1.467 for yellow oleander seed oil. The results of the experimental analyses carried out in this study indicate that neem and yellow oleander seeds are high-yielding and good sources of oil for commercial biodiesel production. Values obtained for physico chemical properties of the extracted oils fall within the acceptable limits for oils suitable for biodiesel production by international standards. High free fatty values obtained revealed that the oils must undergo acid esterification before transesterification to avoid the formation of soap.

The declared aim of “personalized”, “stratified” or “precision” approaches is to place individual variation, as ascertained through genomic and various other biomarkers, at the heart of Scientific Medicine using it to predict risk of disease or response to therapy and to tailor interventions and target therapies so as to maximize benefit and minimize risk for individual patients and efficiency for the health care system overall. It is often contrasted to current practices for which the scientific base is rooted in concepts of a “universal biology” and a “typical” or “average patient” and in which variation is ignored. Yet both approaches equally overlook the hierarchical nature of human variation and the critical importance of differences between populations. Impact of genetic heterogeneity has to be seen within that context to be meaningful and subsequently useful. In Africa such complexity is compounded by the high effective size of its populations, their diverse histories and the diversity of the environmental terrains they occupy, rendering analysis of gene environment interactions including the establishment of phenotype genotype correlations even more cumbersome. Henceforth “Individualized” methods and approaches can only magnify the shortcomings of universal approaches if adopted without due regard to these complexities. In the current perspective we review examples of potential hurdles that may confront biomedical scientists and analysts in genomic medicine in clinical and public health genomics in Africa citing specific examples from the current SARS-COV2 pandemic and the challenges of establishing reference biobanks and pharmacogenomics reference values.

Abstract Aim Sacubitril/valsartan is a first‐in‐class angiotensin receptor‐neprilysin inhibitor developed for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Its benefits are achieved through the inhibition of neprilysin (NEP) and the specific blockade of the angiotensin receptor AT1. The many peptides metabolized by NEP suggest multifaceted potential consequences of its inhibition. We sought to evaluate the short‐term changes in serum endorphin (EP) values and their relation with patients' physical functioning after initiation of sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Methods and results A total of 105 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, who were candidates for sacubitril/valsartan treatment, were included in this prospective, observational, multicentre, and international study. In a first visit, and in agreement with current guidelines, treatment with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker was replaced by sacubitril/valsartan because of clinical indication by the responsible physician. By protocol, patients were reevaluated at 30 days after the start of sacubitril/valsartan. Serum levels of α‐ (α‐EP), γ‐Endorphin (γ‐EP), and soluble NEP (sNEP) were measured using enzyme‐linked immunoassays. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was used as an indicator of patient's functional status. Baseline median levels of circulating α‐EP, γ‐EP, and sNEP were 582 (160–772), 101 (37–287), and 222 pg/mL (124–820), respectively. There was not a significant increase in α‐EP nor γ‐EP serum values after sacubitril/valsartan treatment (P value = 0.194 and 0.102, respectively). There were no significant differences in sNEP values between 30 days and baseline (P value = 0.103). Medians (IQR) of Δα‐EP, Δγ‐EP, and ΔsNEP between 30 days and baseline were 9.3 (−34 − 44), −3.0 (−46.0 − 18.9), and 0 units (−16.4 − 157.0), respectively. In a pre–post sacubitril/valsartan treatment comparison, there was a significant improvement in NYHA class, with 36 (34.3%) patients experiencing improvement by at least one NYHA class category. Δα‐EP and ΔsNEP showed to be significantly associated with NYHA class after 30 days of treatment (P = 0.014 and P < 0.001, respectively). Δα‐EP was linear and significantly associated with NYHA class improvement after 30 days of sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Conclusions These preliminary data suggest that beyond the haemodynamic benefits achieved with sacubitril/valsartan, the altered cleavage of endorphin peptides by NEP inhibition may participate in patients' symptoms improvement.

Background and Aim: The Watish sheep is a strain of desert sheep of smaller size compared to other desert sheep ecotypes, and there is anecdotal evidence that it is endowed with high litter size. The present study was designed for screening for polymorphisms in the known fecundity genes (bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B A

The present work evaluated the effect of flaxseed oil (FO) against toxicity induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in the mouse liver and kidney. Male Swiss albino mice were treated with CdCl2 (4.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) with or without FO at three concentrations (4, 8, 12 mL/kg, orally) for two consecutive weeks. To analyze the effects of FO, we used the following techniques: (1) histopathological examination; (2) comet assay; (3) RT-PCR gene expression analysis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and tumor suppressor protein (p53); and (4) immunohistochemical analysis of caspase-9 protein expression. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results showed that FO had a high content of unsaturated fatty acids including, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and linoleic acid. Oral supplementation with FO (12 mL/kg) resulted in a normal histological appearance without alteration in the DNA integrity and gene expression of TNF-α, p53, and caspase-9 in liver and kidney tissues. As expected, CdCl2 remarkably induced loss of histological integrity, increased DNA comet formation, increased TNF-α and p53 mRNA expression levels and increased the immunoreactivity of caspase-9 expression. When FO was given before administration of CdCl2, these histopathological defects were reversed; necrosis, degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage, Kupffer cells, and pyknotic cells were all reduced. These histological improvements induced by FO were accompanied by reduced DNA breakage, downregulated mRNA expression of TNF-α and p53, and downregulated immunohistochemical expression of caspase-9 protein. In conclusion, FO and its constituents may act as signaling molecules and modify the expression of genes involved in proinflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α), cell cycle arrest (p53), and apoptosis (caspase-9), thereby improving biological activities and health.

Creeping flashover (surface discharge) at oil-pressboard interface is considered a serious failure of the insulation system in power transformers. In this paper, creeping flashover voltage at oil-pressboard interface using the concept of nanofluids is experimentally evaluated. The creeping flashover test is carried out using a needle-plate electrode configuration considering 5 mm gap spacing. Three different types of nanofiller (CuO, MgO and ZnO) with different concentration levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 g/l) are used for enhancing oil-pressboard creeping flashover voltage. The effect of temperature on creeping flashover voltage is experimentally studied for all nanofiller types at the adopted concentration levels. The considered temperatures are room temperature (30°C), 50 °C, 80 °C and 120 °C. These temperatures are considered to study their effect on creeping flashover voltage taking into consideration a wide range of transformer loading. Average of ten creeping flashover voltages is investigated for all studied conditions. Also, Weibull distribution is used for analyzing the creeping flashover voltages at 10% and 50% probabilities for the studied conditions. Finally, interpretations of the obtained results are presented through a proposed mechanism.

In this research, a detailed 3-D finite element model is developed by ABAQUS package for an existing six-story reinforced concrete framed structure in Saudi Arabia to study its response under blast loads. The building is office building designed for dead, live, wind and seismic loads. The design wind speed is 161 km/h while the mapped maximum considered earthquake spectral response acceleration at a short period and at a period of 1-second are 0.12 g and 0.034 g, respectively. Concrete damage plasticity model was used to model the concrete elements. The ‘brittle cracking’ concrete model was used to represent column removal in front of the explosion. The metal plasticity model was used to represent the steel. The model is exposed to blast loading with a 1.0 ton (2204.623 lb) of TNT at a distance of 5 m from the building. Another scenario was considered if the blast load is 10 m from the building to investigate the effect of the standoff distance. The structural vulnerability is assessed and compared. Alternative uncommon structural design of external columns is considered using composite cross section, which uses steel casing around concrete section. This uncommon design gave better results in terms of mitigating blast load effects on structures. Keywords: Blast loading, Dynamic, Reinforced concrete, ABAQUS, 3-D finite element, Composite

In the design of cold-formed steel (CFS) buildings, sheathings are used to provide lateral resistance to seismic or wind load. Many researchers have thoroughly studied the basic behavior of different sheathing (including walls sheathed with plywood, oriented strand board, gypsum wallboard, gypsum sheathing board, steel sheet sheathing, and fiberboard) with different thicknesses. However, despite many studies, the examination of existing experimental studies demonstrates that the lateral bracing and stiffness provided by the sheathing are generally ignored, and sheathing is provided as a non-structural component. This study aims at that neglected aspect. In this study, cold-formed steel shear wall (CFSSW) response has been investigated with varied thickness of hardboard sheathing used as a structural element. The main aim was to determine the contribution of sheathing in resisting lateral forces. For this purpose, three full-scale specimens (i) frame without sheathing, (ii) frame sheathed with 4 mm thick hardboard, (iii) frame sheathed with 10 mm thick hardboard were tested using a uni-directional shake table. The sheathing was screw-fastened to the cold-formed studs and tracked for the development of shear stiffness and strength in the wall system. The test results revealed that in addition to increasing the lateral stiffness of the structure, the hardboard sheathing also acts as an efficient bracing system. However, some minor but recoverable damages were also noticed. In addition, stud local buckling failure mode was observed, and it could be caused by the low anchor stiffness of using cleats instead of hold-downs. It is also important to mention that the number of tests performed in the current study was limited, and further similar research needs to be carried out before generalizing the results.

Due to the expansion of cities through megaprojects and the increase in populations in large cities, many buildings are constructed beside train tracks. Trains passing nearby buildings cause ground vibrations that may affect the structures and their foundations. In this research, a detailed 3-D finite element analysis is conducted on a ten-story reinforced concrete framed structure resting on a raft foundation using ABAQUS. The soil profile consists of silty clay for 10 m followed by dense sand for 40 m. The soil block considered in the analysis has plan dimensions of 100m × 100m. The train loads are modeled using moving point loads. The train track is considered at different distances from the building. The effect of the train speed and its track distance from the building on the response of the structure with its foundations are investigated. Mitigation techniques including open trenches and in-filled foam trenches are considered in order to mitigate the effect of vibrations induced by trains on the adjacent building. The results showed that these techniques are efficient in reducing the train-induced vibrations transmitted to the soil and the adjacent building. The average reduction percentage in acceleration was 61.29 % and 57.39 % when using in-filled foam trench and open trench mitigation techniques, respectively.

Fatigue and rapid exhaustion are common complaints among construction workers, as a result of high-effort levels, physical overexertion, weather and long physically demanding work hours. This study aimed to fortify cloudy apple juice with riboflavin (vitamin B2) to evaluate changes in chemical composition, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds in the fortified juice and to study its effect on the volunteer construction workers complaining of fatigue resulting from demanding physical duties. Analysis of volatile compounds in the fortified cloudy apple juice using Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry identified thirty-four volatile compounds including esters, alcohols, aldehydes and acids. The most predominant volatile compounds were alcohols followed by esters in both the control and fortified samples. We studied the effect of the supplementation of riboflavin-fortified cloudy apple juice versus conventional cloudy apple juice on the anthropometric parameters, the scores of two fatigue questionnaires (Checklist Individual Strength and Fatigue Severity Scale) and antioxidants biomarkers among young Egyptian male construction workers. This study revealed that consumption of 1.3 mg of riboflavin-fortified cloudy apple juice per day for twenty-eight days significantly improved their metabolism, with a decrease in mean body fat percentage and an increase in body muscle mass without statistically significant differences, the fortified juice significantly improved the fatigue questionnaires' scores. Moreover, the fortified supplement had a substantial change in antioxidant activity; there was significant increase in the plasma total antioxidant capacity (+74.19 %change) and catalase enzyme (+54.65 %change) with a significant decrease in the serum malondialdehyde level (−53.78 %change). When compared to the administration of conventional cloudy apple juice, although there was a significant decrease in serum malondialdehyde level (−4.63 %change) at the end of the study, only the subjective fatigue subscale of the CIS fatigue score significantly decreased among the construction workers (−24.61 %change). It could be concluded that vitamin B2 fortified-cloudy apple juice was effective in the reduction of fatigue and exhaustion in the study's subjects.

The ever increasing applications of bioinformatics in providing effective interpretation of large and complex biological data require expertise in the use of sophisticated computational tools and advanced statistical tests, skills that are mostly lacking in the Sudanese research community. This can be attributed to paucity in the development and promotion of bioinformatics, lack of senior bioinformaticians, and the general status quo of inadequate research funding in Sudan. In this paper, we describe the challenges that have encountered the development of bioinformatics as a discipline in Sudan. Additionally, we highlight on specific actions that may help develop and promote its education and training. The paper takes the National University Biomedical Research Institute (NUBRI) as an example of an institute that has tackled many of these challenges and strives to drive powerful efforts in the development of bioinformatics in the country. Author summary Bioinformatics is gaining recognition globally and in Sudan as an important subdiscipline of biological sciences, one that enables researchers to efficiently interpret complex biological data. A limited number of Sudanese academic institutions have acknowledged this field despite its increasingly recognized importance. The development of bioinformatics in the country requires interdisciplinary collaborations involving experts in life sciences, research methodology, healthcare, computer, and data sciences. This can be achieved through designing educational programs and workshops alongside proposing and establishing effective collaborative research projects. In this context, we comprehensively discussed the present state of bioinformatics in Sudan, the challenges faced, as well as the efforts exerted by academic institutions including NUBRI, to upgrade infrastructure and establish local and international collaborations.

Background Racial and ethnic disparities contribute to differences in access and outcomes for patients undergoing heart transplantation. We evaluated contemporary outcomes for heart transplantation stratified by race and ethnicity as well as the new 2018 allocation system. Methods and Results Adult heart recipients from 2011 to 2020 were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing database and stratified into 3 groups: Black, Hispanic, and White. We analyzed recipient and donor characteristics, and outcomes. Among 32 353 patients (25% Black, 9% Hispanic, 66% White), Black and Hispanic patients were younger, more likely to be women and have diabetes mellitus or renal disease (all, P