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Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli presents a global challenge associated with nosocomial infections and increased mortality rates. Understanding resistance profiles is crucial for guiding treatment strategies and ensuring effective antibiotic use. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and in vitro resistance of E. coli to community-acquired and nosocomial infections. Various clinical samples from 700 patients were cultured on MacConkey’s medium and blood agar. The disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the E. coli isolates following the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Urine, pus, seminal fluid, vaginal swabs, and other body fluids were among the clinical samples analyzed. Of the 112 E. coli isolates, 48.2% were from inpatients and 51.8% were from outpatients, with the majority (66%) isolated from urine samples. Higher resistance levels were observed in the urinary isolates than that in the previously recorded data from the same institutions. Notably, isolates exhibited high resistance to penicillin (98.2%), ampicillin (97.3%), first-generation cephalosporins (90.2%), erythromycin (72.2%), and roxithromycin (95.4%), whereas lower resistance was noted against piperacillin-tazobactam (25.0%), nitrofurantoin (12.5%), and imipenem (9.8%). The overall multidrug resistance rate was 62.5%, with higher rates observed in nosocomial infections (70%) compared to community-acquired isolates (55.6%). However, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). This study underscores the prevalence of E. coli isolates (27.0%) and highlights the concerning level of resistance, particularly to older antibiotics. These findings emphasize the importance of judicious antibiotic use and ongoing surveillance.

Abstract Introduction Hormesis describes an inverse dose-response relationship, whereby a high dose of a toxic compound is inhibitory, and a low dose is stimulatory. This study explores the hormetic response of low concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Method Samples of P. aeruginosa, i.e. the reference strain, ATCC 27,853, together with six strains recovered from patients with cystic fibrosis, were exposed to ten decreasing ZnO NPs doses (0.78–400 µg/mL). The ZnO NPs were manufactured from Peganum harmala using a chemical green synthesis approach, and their properties were verified utilizing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A microtiter plate technique was employed to investigate the impact of ZnO NPs on the growth, biofilm formation and metabolic activity of P. aeruginosa. Real-time polymerase chain reactions were performed to determine the effect of ZnO NPs on the expression of seven biofilm-encoding genes. Result The ZnO NPs demonstrated concentration-dependent bactericidal and antibiofilm efficiency at concentrations of 100–400 µg/mL. However, growth was significantly stimulated at ZnO NPs concentration of 25 µg/mL (ATCC 27853, Pa 3 and Pa 4) and at 12.5 µg/mL and 6.25 µg/mL (ATCC 27853, Pa 2, Pa 4 and Pa 5). No significant positive growth was detected at dilutions

Background: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the main technique used to identify COVID-19 from respiratory samples. It has been suggested in several articles that chest CTs could offer a possible alternate diagnostic tool for COVID-19; however, no professional medical body recommends using chest CTs as an early COVID-19 detection modality. This literature review examines the use of CT scans as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19. Method: A comprehensive search of research works published in peer-reviewed journals was carried out utilizing precisely stated criteria. The search was limited to English-language publications, and studies of COVID-19-positive patients diagnosed using both chest CT scans and RT-PCR tests were sought. For this review, four databases were consulted: these were the Cochrane and ScienceDirect catalogs, and the CINAHL and Medline databases made available by EBSCOhost. Findings: In total, 285 possibly pertinent studies were found during an initial search. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, six studies remained for analysis. According to the included studies, chest CT scans were shown to have a 44 to 98% sensitivity and 25 to 96% specificity in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis. However, methodological limitations were identified in all studies included in this review. Conclusion: RT-PCR is still the suggested first-line diagnostic technique for COVID-19; while chest CT is adequate for use in symptomatic patients, it is not a sufficiently robust diagnostic tool for the primary screening of COVID-19.

Abstract Background Limb salvage by ortho-plastic teams is the standard protocol for treating open tibial fractures in high-income countries, but there’s limited research on this in conflict settings like the Gaza Strip. This study assessed the clinical impact of gunshot-related open tibial fractures, compared patient management by orthopedic and ortho-plastic teams, and identified the risk factors for bone non-union in this context. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was conducted on Gaza Strip patients with gunshot-induced-open tibial fractures from March 2018 to October 2020. Data included patient demographics, treatments, and outcomes, with at least one year of follow-up. Primary outcomes were union, non-union, infection, and amputation. Results The study included 244 injured individuals, predominantly young adult males (99.2%) with nearly half (48.9%) having Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB fractures and more than half (66.8%) with over 1 cm of bone loss. Most patients required surgery, including rotational flaps and bone grafts with a median of 3 admissions and 9 surgeries. Ortho-plastic teams managed more severe muscle and skin injuries, cases with bone loss > 1 cm, and performed less debridement compared to other groups, though these differences were not statistically significant. Non-union occurred in 53% of the cases, with the ortho-plastic team having the highest rate at 63.6%. Infection rates were high (92.5%), but no significant differences in bone or infection outcomes were observed among the different groups. Logistic regression analysis identified bone loss > 1 cm, vascular injury, and the use of a definitive fixator at the first application as predictors of non-union. Conclusions This study highlights the severity and complexity of such injuries, emphasizing their significant impact on patients and the healthcare system. Ortho-plastic teams appeared to play a crucial role in managing severe cases. However, further research is still needed to enhance our understanding of how to effectively manage these injuries.

Introduction The administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is anticipated to elevate an individual’s susceptibility to enteric infections as a result of altering the gut flora. The influence of PPIs on the clinical manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still uncertain. This study aims to investigate the impact of PPI usage on the clinical manifestation of COVID-19, namely its gastrointestinal symptoms.Methods This is a cross-sectional cohort study involving COVID-19 patients. Patients were interviewed using a predesigned questionnaire that asked about their demographics, clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection, and the extent and type of PPIs in use. PPI usage was confirmed by reviewing patients’ electronic medical records. The primary outcome was to establish any association between the use of PPI and the symptoms and clinical presentation of COVID-19.Results Out of a total of 254 participants, 69 (27.2%) were considered PPI users. Patients who were on PPI medications reported a significantly lower rate of myalgia (27.5% vs 51.9%; p = 0.0006) and heartburn (5.7% vs 15.6%; p = 0.03) but had a significantly higher rate of abdominal pain (27.5% vs 13.5%; p = 0.001) and diarrhoea (28.9% vs 14.5%, p = 0.02) when compared to those who were not using PPIs. Patients on PPIs were also shown to have significantly higher odds of developing diarrhoea (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.93, p = 0.02) and abdominal pain (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.22 to 3.93, p = 0.03), but a lower risk of developing myalgia (OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.9, p = 0.02) when compared to non-PPI users.Conclusion This study shows that the use of PPIs could impact COVID-19 clinical presentation toward more gastrointestinal manifestations. Further studies investigating the link between other acid suppression medications and COVID-19 manifestations and severity should be carried out.

Over the past century, anthropogenic activities have had a significant impact on low-lying deltas. In this article, we utilized Landsat satellite images and sea-level data from the past thirty years to analyze the effects of land use/land cover (LULC) change, vegetation cover, and terrain temperature distribution on the Sundarbans delta. Anticipated LULC change has been simulated using a cellular automata algorithm coupled with an artificial neural network for 50 years into the future, considering climate change and other ecological drivers. The results of our analysis show that the thick, dense mangrove coverage in the Sundarbans has decreased from 65% in 1970 to 59% in 2020. However, the intricate network of channels has increased in width, and their coverage increased from 33% to 43% between 1990 and 2015. The simulations for 2030–2050 show that the mangrove coverage is expected to decline from 63.5% to 56.7% (a decrease of 628 km2), while the total area of waterbodies will increase from 33.9% to 39.8%. By 2080, we predict that the mangrove coverage will decrease by about 269 km2, the waterbodies will increase by 159 km2, the built-up areas will increase by approximately 3.89 km2, and the barren areas or beaches will cover 371 km2 (3.9% of the total area). For the simulation of 2100, we predict that the mangroves will decrease by approximately 48% (4511 km2). The waterbodies will increase to 45%, while the built-up areas and barren beaches will reach up to 117 and 517 km2, respectively. There has been an increase in sea level in the Sundarbans by an average of +17.3, +9.6, + 6.1, +0.6, +1.6, and −4.01 mm/year at Khepupara, Charchanga, Hiron Point, Dladia, Diamond Harbor, and Sagar, respectively. The findings of this article can assist the Bangladesh and Indian governments and policymakers in developing optimal land use plans and implementing successful mangrove forest management and conservation plans in the future.

Background: /objectives: Risk assessment is very important to reduce the occurrence and spread of preventable accidents in hospitals because they have huge resources of funds related to the health of society, human, financial, physical, and equipment capital. This study was done in order to assess the occupational health and safety risks at Mehr and Razi Hospital in Ahvaz. Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, the HOSHRA method was used at Mehr Private and Razi University of Education Hospital in Ahvaz during 2022. Then, descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Results: Based on result of this study in Razi Hospital, the final score of risk is in order from the highest to the lowest related to biological risks > physical risks > chemical risks > ergonomic risks > psychological risks, and in Mehr Hospital, in order from the highest to the lowest related to biological risks > ergonomic risks > psychological risks > risks Physical and chemical hazards were obtained. The findings of the total HOSHRA index for different risks in the two selected hospitals showed that close to each other, but it was slightly higher in Razi Hospital in Ahvaz than in Mehr Hospital. Conclusion: According to the findings study the chemical, ergonomic, psychological, physical, and biological risk assessment results showed that the risk level at Razi Educational and Mehr Private Hospitals is unacceptable and requires fundamental and urgent changes.

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lung infection has represented a global challenge. Intriguingly, it has been shown that the alveolar lung epithelium expresses little Angiotensin Converting Enzyme receptor protein (ACE2), the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Upper airway establishment of infection and translocation to the lung is well documented but other anatomical niches may be relevant to potentially serious lung infection. ACE2 is heavily expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and gastrointestinal symptoms support a clinical diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This suggests a research question and the need to gather patient data exploring potential aerodigestive links in SARS-CoV-2 tranlocation and infection which may be relevant in the peripheral lung. This recognizes anatomical proximity and concepts of bi-directional movement between the Gastrointestinal and lung systems in normal physiology and disease. We have therefore explored the potential for gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) micro aspiration and aeorodigestive pathophysiology in a novel prospective investigation of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods This is a prospective descriptive cohort study of 210 patients who were hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The cohort was divided into three groups of patients based on symptom severity and radiological results. The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) was used to evaluate the presence and severity of GOR. An RSI greater than 13 is considered to be abnormal. Patients’ saliva samples were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the level of salivary pepsin among the cohort of patients. Results A total of 210 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in the study with 55.2% (116/210) classified as mildly ill, 31.9% (67/210) moderately ill and 12.9% (27/210) as severely ill. 34% (72/210) of the patients had an RSI score of over 13 and a median salivary pepsin value of 54 ± 29 ng/ml which suggested an incidence of extraesophageal reflux (EOR) in around a third of patients. The presence of respiratory comorbid conditions, an RSI score of over 13 and a salivary pepsin level of > 76ng/ml increased the risk of developing a more severe COVID-19 infection. Conclusion The study showed a high prevalence of EOR among the study cohort and provide the first prospective evidence suggesting the potential for aerodigestive pathophysiology including microaspiration in COVID-19 disease. We believe that the results of our study support the need for more extensive research.

Abstract The high antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) makes it critical to develop alternative antimicrobial agents that are effective and affordable. One of the many applications of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is their use as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. The key purpose of this research was to assess the antibacterial and antibiofilm effectiveness of biosynthesized Ag NPs against six biofilm-forming clinically isolated strains of PA and one reference strain (ATCC 27853). Ag NPs were biosynthesized using a seed extract of Peganum harmala as a reducing agent. Ag NPs were characterized by Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The effect of Ag NPs on biofilm formation and eradication was examined through micro-titer plate assays, and the minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations determined. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were performed to examine the effects of Ag NPs on the expression of seven PA biofilm-encoding genes (LasR, LasI, LssB, rhIR, rhII, pqsA and pqsR). The biosynthesized Ag NPs were spherically-shaped with a mean diameter of 11 nm. The MIC for each PA strain was 15.6 µg/ml, while the MBC was 31.25 µg/ml. All PA strains exposed to Ag NPs at sub-inhibitory concentrations (0.22–7.5 µg/ml) showed significant inhibitory effects on growth and biofilm formation. Biomass and biofilm metabolism were reduced dependent on Ag NP concentration. The expression of the quorum-sensing genes of all strains were significantly reduced at an Ag NP concentration of 7.5 µg/ml. The results demonstrate the extensive in-vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm performance of Ag NPs and their potential in the treatment of PA infection. It is recommended that future studies examine the possible synergy between Ag NPs and antibiotics.

Surface water quality is degraded by the presence of numerous types of pollution produced by anthropogenic activities. Hence, surface water quality monitoring and assessment is essential. Conventional approaches of surface water quality monitoring are costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. On the other hand, remote sensing is an effective tool for monitoring surface water quality. Satellite images should be atmospherically corrected prior to using them in the estimation of surface water quality parameters (SWQPs). Therefore, The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outputs from several atmospheric correction methods, such as Dark Object Subtraction (DOS), Quick Atmospheric Correction (QUAC), Fast Line of sight Atmospheric Analysis of Hypercubes (FLAASH), and Atmospheric Correction for OLI lite (ACOLITE) in order to estimate total dissolved solids concentrations (TDS) over the study area of the whole province of New Brunswick, Canada. A TDS acquisition model was calibrated and validated in order to obtain TDS concentrations from atmospherically corrected Operational Land Imager (OLI) data. The results obtained from the TDS retrieval model demonstrated that the DOS method provided the most suitable remote sensing reflectance values for coastal blue, red, and shortwave infrared-2 spectral bands with a coefficient of determination (𝐑𝟐=0.76), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE=0.76 mg/l), and significant value (P-value

Abstract There is a limitation in the range of effectual antibiotics due to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection due to its innate antimicrobial resistance. Researchers have therefore been concentrating their efforts to discover advanced and cost effective antibacterial agents among the ever-increasing PA bacterial resistance strains. It has been discovered that various nanoparticles can be employed as antimicrobial agents. Here, we evaluated the antibacterial properties of the Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), which was biosynthesized, being examined on six hospital strains of PA alongside a reference strain (ATCC 27853). A chemical approach was applied to biosynthesize the ZnO NPs from Olea europaea was performed, and confirmed by using X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopes. The nanoparticles then applied their antibacterial properties to examine them against six clinically isolated PA strains alongside the reference strain. This process tested for the results of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The Growth, biofilm formation and eradication were analyzed. The influence of the differentiating degrees ZnO NPs in regard to Quorom sensing gene expression were further examined. The ZnO NPs exhibited a crystalline size and diameter (Dc) of 40–60 nm and both the MIC and MBC tests revealed positive outcomes of concentrations of 3 and 6 mg/ml for each PA strain, respectively. At sub inhibitory concentration, The ZnO NPs were found to significantly inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of all PA strains and decreases in the biomass and metabolic behavior of PA established biofilms; these decreases varied depending on the dosage. At ZnO NPs concentrations of 900 µg/ml, the expression of majority of quorum sensing genes of all strains were significantly reduced, at ZnO NPs concentrations of 300 µg/ml, few genes were significantly impacted. In conclusion, the treatment of PA and could be other antibiotic resistant bacteria can therefore be approached by using ZnO NPs as it has been uncovered that they withhold advanced antibacterial properties.

The present paper examines the potential hybridization for a dispatchable hybrid renewable energy system (HRES). The plant has been examined for existence in the city of Ras Ghareb, Egypt and follows the load profile of Egypt. The proposed plant configuration contains a wind plant, a solar photovoltaic plant, vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and a hydrogen system consisting of an electrolyzer, hydrogen tanks and fuel cells (FCs), the latter of which are for both daily and seasonal storage. Professional software tools have been used to model the wind and solar resources. Simulations for both the battery and hydrogen generation and electrolyzer operation are also considered. The output of these simulations is used to configure the HRES using MATLAB. The optimization objective function of the HRES is based on the least levelized cost of energy (LCOE) with constraints for a zero loss of power supply probability (LPSP) and curtailed energy. The optimization has been achieved by using artificial neural networks and a MATLAB program. The results show that the optimal system can handle 91.2% of the load directly from the renewable energy sources (wind and solar), while the rest of the demand comes from the storage system (FCs and VRFBs). The LCOE of the optimal system configuration is (USD) 9.3 %/kWh, with both the LPSP and curtailed energy at zero values. This cost can be reduced by 14.5% if the constraint of zero curtailed energy is relaxed by 10%. Despite the load being maximum in summer, the energy storage requirement is predicted to be maximum in winter due to the low wind profile and solar radiation in winter months. Energy storage system size is dependent on both seasonal and daily variations in wind and solar profiles. In addition, energy storage size is the main factor that determines the LCOE of the system.

Background and Objectives: The investigation of oncogenic viruses and their potential association with breast cancer (BC) remains an intriguing area of study. The current work aims to assess evidence of three specific viruses, human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in BC samples and to explore their relationship with relevant clinicopathological variables. Materials and Methods: The analysis involved BC samples from 110 Jordanian female patients diagnosed with BC and breast tissue samples from 30 control patients with no evidence of breast malignancy, investigated using real-time PCR. The findings were then correlated with various clinico-pathological characteristics of BC. Results: HPV was detected in 27 (24.5%), CMV in 15 (13.6%), and EBV in 18 (16.4%) BC patients. None of the control samples was positive for HPV or CMV while EBV was detected in only one (3.3%) sample. While (HPV/EBV), (HPV/CMV), and (EBV/CMV) co-infections were reported in 1.8%, 2.7%, and 5.5%, respectively, coinfection with the three viruses (HPV/CMV/EBV) was not reported in our cohort. A statistically significant association was observed between HPV status and age (p = 0.047), and between clinical stage and CMV infection (p = 0.015). Conclusions: Our findings indicate the presence or co-presence of HPV, CMV, and EBV in the BC subpopulation, suggesting a potential role in its development and/or progression. Further investigation is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that account for the exact role of oncoviruses in breast carcinogenesis.

Abstract Background/objective Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a main manifestation of acute decompensation in liver cirrhosis. Recently, systemic inflammation was proposed as a key mechanism in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhotic patients. The urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) is considered a marker of systemic inflammation in a variety of clinical settings. Here, we aimed to evaluate the role of the urine albumin creatinine ratio in the early prediction of AKI in HE. Patients and methods Sixty-seven consecutive patients presented with cirrhotic HE, and 59 age- and sex-matched cirrhotic patients with no history of HE served as controls. HE was defined and graded by the West Haven criteria. The severity of liver cirrhosis was evaluated by the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. The incidence of AKI that developed during hospital admission and the in-hospital mortality rate was estimated among HE patients. In addition, predictors of AKI were analyzed. Results The mean age of HE patients was 58.09±12.26 years; 36 (53.7%) were males, and 31 (46.3%) were females. Among HE patients, 16 (23.9%) developed AKI during hospital admission. The in-hospital mortality rate among HE patients was 22 (32.8%), the in-hospital mortality among HE-AKI patients was 81.3% (n=13/16), and UACR levels > 91.5 mg/g identified HE-AKI with 81.25% sensitivity (AUC = 0.85, P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Patients with cirrhotic HE are at high risk of AKI. HE-AKI patients had a high rate of in-hospital mortality. Estimation of UACR at hospital admission is suggested for the early detection of patients with HE-AKI.

Introduction: Accurate duplication of casts is necessary to fabricate a proper prosthetic appliance with good adaptation. Alginate is an inexpensive impression material and is available in most dental offices. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the casts duplicated using alginate impression mold. Materials & Methods: In this in vitro study, at first, a metallic tray and condensational silicone impression material were used to prepare 60 master impressions of a maxillary dental model. The impressions were poured using stone gypsum, and their dimensions were measured via a digital Vernier caliper with accuracy of 0.01 mm. Then, the casts were fixed on the floor of a flask filled with alginate with two folds volume of cold water recommended by the manufacturer. The resulting impressions were immediately poured, and the measurements were repeated. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26 using MANOVA and ICC index (p

Aim: This study examines the changes in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptom frequency among patients with GERD throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed among 198 GERD patients. The questionnaire consisted of a demographic characteristic assessment, the GerdQ questionnaire, and a reflux symptom index (RSI) questionnaire. Result & conclusion: A statistically significant increase in GerdQ score was identified among participants during the COVID-19 pandemic (t = 7.055, df = 209, p

Aim: This study examined the various manifestations of COVID-19 in people's gastro-intestinal system and how gastro-intestinal involvement relates to the progression and outcome of the disease. Methodology: A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 561 COVID-19 patients between February 6 and 6 April 2022. Laboratory data and clinical outcomes were obtained from the patients' medical records. Results: 39.9% of patients presented gastro-intestinal symptoms, mainly loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Gastro-intestinal symptoms were not linked to poorer outcomes such as mortality, ICU admission or length of hospital stays. Conclusion: gastro-intestinal symptoms were common among patients and may manifest with respiratory symptoms. We recommended clinicians to watch out for gastro-intestinal symptoms as related to COVID-19 infection.

Propionibacterium acnes plays a critical role in the development of acne vulgaris. There has been a rise in the number of patients carrying P. acnes strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Thus, alternative anti-microbial agents are required. Zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) and silver (Ag-NPs) nanoparticles can be used against several antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The impact of Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs against two clinical strains of P. acnes, P1 and P2, and a reference strain, NCTC747, were investigated in this research. A chemical approach for the green synthesis of Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs from Peganum harmala was employed. The microtiter plate method was used to examine the effects of NPs on bacterial growth, biofilm development, and biofilm eradication. A broth microdilution process was performed in order to determine minimal inhibitory (MIC) concentrations. Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs had a spherical shape and average dimensions of 10 and 50 nm, respectively. MIC values for all P. acnes strains for Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs were 125 µg/mL and 250 µg/mL, respectively. Ag-NP and ZnO-NP concentrations of 3.9- 62.5 µg/mL and 15–62.5 µg/mL significantly inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of all P. acnes strains, respectively. ZnO-NP concentrations of 15–62.5 μg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of NCTC747 and P2 strains. The growth of P1 was impacted by concentrations of 31.25 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL. Biofilm formation in the NCTC747 strain was diminished by a ZnO-NP concentration of 15 μg/mL. The clinical strains of P. acnes were only affected by ZnO-NP titres of more than 31.25 μg/mL. Established P. acne biofilm biomass was significantly reduced in all strains at a Ag-NP and ZnO-NP concentration of 62.5 µg/mL. The findings demonstrated that Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs exert an anti-bacterial effect against P. acnes. Further research is required to determine their potential utility as a treatment option for acne.

Estimating the mechanical properties of soil samples involves analysing properties such as shear strength, density, and moisture content. It is important to use consistent and standardized testing methods, as well as to normalize the data to the same volume or weight, when comparing soil mechanical properties. Evaluating multiple properties will provide a more complete understanding of the differences between soils. Additionally, it is crucial to consider factors such as soil composition, history, and location when comparing soil properties. The main purpose of this paper is to compare the two types of soil which are waste soil and clay soil. Waste soil tends to have weak structure due to the multiple content of waste while clay soil is weak because of water absorption of in the clay structure. These two properties will have implications in terms of its mechanical properties. The experimental works that was conducted in this research are direct shear stress, density, water content and compressive strength. Clay soils tend to be less dense due to their fine-grained nature and the small size of their particles. Waste soil, on the other hand, can vary in density and can often be less dense than natural soils due to the presence of large void spaces. The water content in clay soils can significantly affect its shear strength, as excessive water can weaken the cohesive forces between the clay particles. In waste soil, the moisture content can affect the density and compaction of the soil, which can impact its stability. The expected outcome from this research is the conclusion of the mechanical properties for both types of soil.

Abstract Studies of microbiota reveal inter-relationships between the microbiomes of the gut and lungs. This relationship may influence the progression of lung disease, particularly in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), who often experience extraoesophageal reflux (EOR). Despite identifying this relationship, it is not well characterised. Our hypothesis is that the gastric and lung microbiomes in CF are related, with the potential for aerodigestive pathophysiology. We evaluated gastric and sputum bacterial communities by culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing in 13 CF patients. Impacts of varying levels of bile acids, pepsin and pH on patient isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) were evaluated. Clonally related strains of Pa and NTM were identified in gastric and sputum samples from patients with symptoms of EOR. Bacterial diversity was more pronounced in sputa compared to gastric juice. Gastric and lung bile and pepsin levels were associated with Pa biofilm formation. Analysis of the aerodigestive microbiomes of CF patients with negative sputa indicates that the gut can be a reservoir of Pa and NTM. This combined with the CF patient’s symptoms of reflux and potential aspiration, highlights the possibility of communication between microorganisms of the gut and the lungs. This phenomenon merits further research.

The Safe System approach was adopted in Victoria in 2004. It has since been the cornerstone of every road safety strategy and action plan, most recently the Victoria Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Despite the absence of extensive and conclusive evidence, it is apparent that the limited integration of the Safe System approach into our road and transport management system has hindered its capacity to significantly reduce serious road trauma. In this project, five workshops were delivered by HA Consulting and Road Safety Victoria (RSV) to diagnose what implementation blockers exist and how road safety management systems and stakeholders could be enabled to implement the Safe System approach. Over 60 representatives attended the workshops from key road safety stakeholders and players. The anonymous workshop exercises identified a high personal alignment to the Safe System principles, a range of systemic practical day-to-day blockers, and suggestions for what could enable better Safe System aligned decision making. An improvement roadmap of concept-level projects was developed to address Safe System implementation blockers and implement the identified enabling measures.

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the winter months are associated with higher morbidity and mortality compared to other seasons of the year, with children below five, elderly, and immunocompromised patients being the most susceptible. Influenza A and B viruses, rhinovirus, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza viruses, are the most frequently identified causes of viral ARTIs. In addition, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 provided an additional viral cause of ARTIs. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the epidemiological status of upper respiratory infections, their main causative agents, and reported clinical presentation in the winter months of 2021, during two important surges of COVID-19 in Jordan. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 339 symptomatic patients during the period from December 2021 to March 2022, followed by nucleic acid isolation using a Viral RNA/DNA extraction Kit. The causative virus species associated with the patient's respiratory symptoms was determined utilizing a multiplex real-time PCR targeting 21 viruses, 11 bacteria, and a single fungus. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 39.2% of the patients (n = 133/339). A total of 15 different pathogens were also identified as co-infections among these 133 patients (n = 67/133). SARS-CoV-2-Bacterial coinfections (37.6%, n = 50/133) were the most frequent, with Bordetella species being the most common, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, and H.influenzae type B. Viral coinfection rate was 27.8% (n = 37/133), with Influenza B virus and Human bocavirus being the most common. In Conclusion, Both SARS-CoV-2, influenza B virus, and Bordetella accounted for the majority of infections in patients with URTI during the winter months of 2021-2022. Interestingly, more than 50% of the patients with symptoms of URTIs were confirmed to have a coinfection with two or more respiratory pathogens, with SARS-CoV-2 and Bordetella coinfection being most predominant.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been an extraordinarily stressful situation in recent years. Stress is a physiological reaction to negative stimuli that is regulated by different neuroendocrine pathways. The female reproductive function is maintained by the menstrual cycle, which is negatively affected by hyperstimulation of stress signals. Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak on menstrual function and mental health, exploring the relationship between them. Design: The current study uses a cross-sectional, survey-based design. Methods: During this cross-sectional study, an online self-completion questionnaire was conducted among a sample of 385 Jordanian female medical students during the pandemic. The survey compared menstrual characteristics, depression, anxiety, and stress 10 months after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic with 10 months prior. Paired t -test, McNemar’s test, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression model were employed to analyze data using SPSS software. Results: The mean age of female medical student respondents was 19.89 years. Data showed that the menstrual cycle length significantly increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic compared with 10 months prior (32.23 days versus 30.02 days, p = 0.019). The average number of heavy bleeding days also increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (2.82 days versus 2.42 days, p = 0.002). The proportion of females with heavy bleeding amount was more than doubled during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 compared with before (27.3% versus 10.4%, p = 0.000). Unpleasant menstrual signs such as nausea and/or vomiting, breast pain, and urinary urgency were significantly increased during the pandemic ( p = 0.000, p = 0.008, and p = 0.024, respectively). During coronavirus disease 2019, a positive association between total Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Questionnaire score and heavy bleeding was identified ( p

BackgroundThere is a need to establish the effectiveness of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in reducing COVID-19-related hopitalization of patients in Jordan. As the vaccination program accelerates, it is important to determine whether the vaccines' effectiveness (VE) has successfully reduced the number of acute cases admitted to hospital.MethodsTo determine the efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines among Jordanian patients admitted to Prince Hamza hospital, a single center case-control study was performed. The study analyzed the hospitalization rates of vaccinated (n = 536) and unvaccinated (n = 585) individuals across the 2-month period from February 6 to April 6, 2022. The cases were patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (“case-patients”), whilst the control group were hospital patients who did not test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (“control-patients”).ResultsThis study found that among 1,121 total participants (561 cases and 560 control), the overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) among the participants was 84% (95% Cl 79–88%). VE was higher in females (88%, 95% Cl 84–93%) than in males (77%, 95% Cl 67–84%) (p < 0.001), and it was highest in those between the ages of 18 and 28-years-old (95%, 95% CI 86–98%). For patients with pre-existing conditions, including chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, VE was higher compared to patients with no comorbidities, though the difference was not statistically significant. Finally, in comparing all vaccinated participants, VE was higher for those who received the Pfizer vaccine (VE = 92%, 95% CI 88–94%) (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.06–0.12) than for those who received the Sinopharm vaccine (VE = 67%, 95% CI 52–78%) (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22–0.48); (p = 0.011).ConclusionOverall, Pfizer and Sinopharm vaccines were found to be effective in limiting hospitalizations for acute cases of coronavirus among Jordanian adult's patient's cohort between February 6 and April 6, 2022, especially among patients with comorbidities.

Recently, ridesharing has been noticed as an effective and sustainable mode of transport. In which, each passenger carries out a journey that benefits travelers and society greatly, such as reducing travel costs, reducing journey times, relieving road traffic congestions, preserving fuel and reducing air pollution. While the importance and efficiency of ridesharing, ridesharing among travelers has not been commonly utilized. This paper introduces an upgraded disaggregated utility model for a mode choice step in the four-step traffic demand model for transport of passengers in Tanta city - Gharbiya governorate. For the first time, the analysis in this paper includes ridesharing mode in addition to other three common modes; private vehicle, bus, and taxi . The aim of this research is to involve the ridesharing mode and new parameters in the mode choice analysis of the case study. This is done by including additional parameters such as travel cost and comfortable in addition to travel time. Based on surveys, the developed Multinomial logit utility models have been assessed using the McFadden pseudo R2 values. The values demonstrated high compatibility of results with real data as pseudo R2 values ranges between 0.2 and 0.4. In addition, all utility models developed for modes are found to have P-values less than 0.05 indicating the significance of the considered utility characteristics.

Faris Alhejaili,1 Afnan Hafez,2 Siraj Wali,1 Ranya Alshumrani,1 Ahmed M Alzehairi,3 Mansour Balkhyour,4 Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal5 1Sleep Medicine Research Group, Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Pulmonary Medicine Consultant, Sleep Medicine Specialist, Researcher at Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Somnogen Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario, M6H 1C5, CanadaCorrespondence: Faris AlhejailiCollege of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Consultant in Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Deputy Director, Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, PO BOX 21589, Jeddah, 80215, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 2 6408258Fax +966 2 6408315Email falhejaili@kau.edu.saPurpose: To evaluate the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), using home sleep testing in pilots and first officers in Saudi-based airlines. This will allow for proper diagnosis and management of OSA in that group which can help in minimizing any possible aviation accidents related to sleep disturbances secondary to OSA.Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted through Saudi-based aviation among pilots and first officers who were in service, active, and flying short- to medium-haul flights. Forty-one participants met the inclusion criteria. However, 39 out of 41 completed the study questionnaires (Berlin questionnaire, Epworth sleepiness scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Fatigue severity scale (FSS), Visual analog fatigue scale (VAFS), and Patient health questionnaire (PHQ9), along with home sleep testing.Results: Sixty-nine percent of the study population had OSA by home sleep testing. Majority of which had mild OSA (64%) and 5% had moderate and severe OSA (2.5% each). Results of different questionnaires showed one-third of the participants had insomnia, 33.3% of the participants had severe fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness was found in 23.1% of the participants, and 10.3% had moderate depression, while 25.6% were classified as having mild depression symptoms.Conclusion: Sleep apnea is prevalent among the studied Saudi-based airline pilots and first officers. Screening for workers of this high-risk occupation needs to be considered. Fatigue, depression, and insomnia can be secondary consequences of sleep apnea and should be assessed and treated early.Keywords: sleep apnea, insomnia, fatigue, depression, pilots, aviation

The increased penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources and random loads has caused many uncertainties in the power system. It is essential to analyze the effect of these uncertain factors on the behavior of the power system. This study presents a new powerful approach called probability-boxes (p-boxes) to consider these uncertainties by combining interval and probability simultaneously. The proposed method is appropriate for problems with insufficient information. In this paper, the uncertainty in distribution functions is modeled according to the influence of natural factors such as light intensity and wind speed. First, the p-boxes load flow problem is studied using an appropriate point estimation method to calculate statistical moments of probabilistic load flow (PLF) outputs. Then, the Cornish–Fisher expansion series is used to obtain the probability bounds. The proposed approach is analyzed on the IEEE 14-bus, and IEEE 118-bus test systems consist of loads, solar farms, and wind farms as p-boxes input variables. The obtained results are compared with the double-loop sampling (DLS) approach to show the proposed method’s precision and efficiency.

Abstract Activated carbons are currently one of the most widely used materials for water and wastewater treatment because of their high specific surface area and moderate cost. This study is about the comparison of different activation methods on the pollution removal efficiency of date seed activated carbon using response surface methodology (RSM). The date seeds were carbonized in a muffle furnace at 300 °C for 1 h to produce carbon. Then, the chemical activation was carried out using 1 N solution of H3PO4, HNO3, H2SO4 separately for 24 h. Activated carbons were ground in a grinder to convert it to powder form, and after that, it was sieved using 75 microns sieve. Physical properties like pore size and surface area were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pollution removal studies were carried using the Jar test, and the experiments were designed using RSM. The results show that the maximum COD reduction of 98.58% was obtained when H2SO4 was used as an activation agent. The results show that the carbon activated by H2SO4 shows the highest removal than its counterparts. The optimum dose was optimized using RSM and found to be 300 mg/l, and the optimum reaction time was 10 min. By this set of conditions, 96.3% of COD removal could be achieved. The results are confirmed by SEM studies, which show a high surface area, more pores, and the presence of a high amount of carbon in the AC prepared using H2SO4.

Background The Brugada pattern is identified on the EKG by a coved ST-segment elevation accompanied by a negative T wave in the early precordial leads in the absence of a cardiac structural abnormality. Brugada pattern and Brugada syndrome should be differentiated, as the latter is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Methods The literature was searched using multiple databases to identify all the articles on Brugada pattern. Data were screened and analyzed by independent authors. Results Sixty articles, comprising 71 patients, were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 42.6 years, with a higher prevalence of Brugada pattern in men (83%) than women (17%). The most frequent findings associated with Brugada pattern was fever (83%). Other less common presentations included cough (21%), sore throat (10%), syncope (18%), abdominal pain (8%), and chest pain (7%). Comorbidities included pneumonia (30%), upper respiratory tract infections (14%) and smoking (14%). Among treatment modalities, 39% of patients had ICD placement performed, 44% received antibiotics, while 14% had supportive care. Adenosine was given to 3% of patients, while other antiarrhythmics like milrinone, amiodarone, sotalol, procainamide, flecainide, and nitroglycerin were given to 1% of patients. Most patients with Brugada syndrome had a satisfactory outcome, with only 4% mortality rate(WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 11%?). Out of the 71 patients, 3% had persistent Brugada patterns, while 86% of patients recovered completely. There was no significant effect of ICD on mortality or Brugada pattern resolution (p 0.37). Conclusion Our study shows that fever is the main reason for unmasking the Brugada pattern in patients with this channelopathy. ICD placement in such patients is not recommended as it has no mortality benefits.

Abstract In the present study, organic waste materials, like coconut shell, orange peels, and banana peels were used to produce activated carbon. Chemical activation was carried out using phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The activation temperatures were selected at the range of 200–300 °C. Surface morphology of the different activated carbon derived from the different waste materials was investigated using scanning electron microscope. Pollution removal efficiency of different activated carbons was carried out by Jar test. The jar test was carried out at 120 rpm, at 20 °C temperature for 1 h. Three different sizes; 75 μm, 150 μm and 425 μm, and three concentration; 100 mg/l, 200 mg/l and 500 mg/l of the activated carbon were selected for the pollution removal experiments. Water quality parameters like pH, TSS, and COD were analyzed using standard AWWA/APHA methods to know the pollution removal efficiency. COD removal varies from 48 to 99% in different activated carbon at different size and concentration. TSS removal varies from 43 to 100% by different activated carbon. The highest adsorption was observed by 75 µm activated carbon. Among all the experimented materials activated carbon made from orange peels performed better than others possibly due to the formation of more C–O and C=O functional groups due to the presence of more carbon and oxygen elements than others. This study opens a new way of wastewater treatment in Oman by using low-cost activated carbon made from locally available organic waste and at the same time, it shall help in managing organic waste.

Background: The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid increase in demand for healthcare services over a prolonged period, and the hospital emergency preparedness system has been essential. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Jordanian hospitals’ response to emergency situations and examine the underlying role and effect of accreditation programs as a “Quality and Patient Safety” tool to deal with emergency situations during the pandemic. Methods: An online survey for a cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan between 1 March and 30 May 2022, to examine the opinions of hospitals’ top, senior, and middle managers using a validated questionnaire. Results: A total of 200 healthcare providers from 30 hospitals participated in the study. From the areas within accreditation standards that were investigated, capacity building on emergency preparedness and communication abilities received the least scores (2.46 and 2.48, respectively). Additionally, hospitals with mature quality and patient safety culture (>3 accreditation cycles) demonstrated a statistically significant difference in score in two domains–emergency preparedness (p = 0.027) and infection prevention and control (p = 0.024). Conclusions: During outbreaks, hospitals that are required to comply with accreditation standards that address all emergency preparedness aspects will fare better in quality performance.

Statement of the Problem: Due to growing concerns on complications of chemical drugs, the use of herbal extracts has been considered as denture cleaning solutions. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-vitro effects of Nigella sativa on the cleansing of the formation of Candida albicans plaque on the acrylic resin pieces. Materials and Method: In this experimental study, 30 pieces of acrylic resin were contaminated by Candida albicans suspension. Then, the acrylic pieces were randomly divided into six groups and treated with 0.2, 0.4, 20, and 200 mg/ml of Nigella sativa, 100,000 units of nystatin (positive control), and distilled water (negative control) for 8 hours. At the end of the exposure period of the drugs, the rinse solution from acrylic pieces was cultured in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and the average of the colonies from each group was compared. Results: The average number of colonies obtained at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 20, and 200 mg/ml of Nigella sativa were 122.6, 117.8, 73.4, and 14.4 colonies, respectively, as compared to distilled water (141.6) and nystatin (0) that had a significant difference (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Nigella sativa extract at definite concentration is capable of clearing dental prosthesis, but compared to nystatin, it is weaker. However, due to the indirect immune-regulatory effects of Nigella sativa, it is suggested that other studies be conducted to investigate the therapeutic properties of Nigella sativa from the aspects of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and oral ulcer healing in candida oral lesions.

Hydrogen energy is a clean source for liveliness betterthan fossil fuel that has hazardous effects on the environmentand atmosphere. Food wastes and organics in the sewage sludgeare a promising sustainable and renewable source for hydrogenproduction where amalgamation of waste treatment and energyproduction would be more than one benefit expressed intreatment of organic pollutants and energy generation.Discovering biohydrogen production from industrialwastewater by dark and photo fermentation was the main aimof this paper. The biogas produced was composed of H2 andCO2, and the maximum H2 content was 25.94%. This ratio wasachieved at batch configuration system and initial pH 6.2 withstarch concentration 15 g/l. Cause of using dark fermentationeffluent (DFE) was used as substrate for A Rhodobactercapsulatus strain and a clostridium culture were cultivated toproduce hydrogen under different light-dark cycles. Acetic andbutyric acids decreased due to first and second photo stages by21.9% and 4.1 % respectively. Maximum hydrogen yield was470.9 ml H2/mol VFAs.

Fenton reaction has been concerned by many researchersdue to easy operation and effective degradation of bioresistantorganics. This study aims to investigate the effect ofthe operational conditions on the effectiveness of Fenton’sprocess for the decolorization of methylene blue.The influenceof methylene blue, pH, dose of H2O2 , ferrous sulfateconcentration from the wastewater were studied. Experimentshave shown that highly affect by the value of pH, Laboratoryexperiment conducted in the lab proved that pH should bebetween 3 - 4 to give the best results, It also proved that theincreasing of the dose of both hydrogen peroxide and ferroussulfate enhanced the removal efficiency of MB.

Background: Hospitals are the most important element of the health system. Hospitals play a key role in providing health services and have a major impact on the health system's performance. The success of organizations depends on their managers’ performance. Organizations with qualified and experienced managers will be more successful in achieving their goals and can reach optimal efficiency. Methods: This is a phenomenological qualitative study in which content analysis was used to achieve study objectives. The study population included the hospitals managers and senior experts of the vice chancellor for treatment of a provincial department of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran. Participants were selected by purposive and heterogeneous methods and data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data were collected by semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Results: From our data, seven main themes were drawn, consisting of monitoring and control, planning, organizing, leadership and motivational factors, management of resources and information, communication and interdepartmental coordination and patient orientation Conclusion: Hospital managers play a key role in improving hospital function. Assessing hospital managers' performance, determining their strengths and weaknesses and taking corrective actions are beneficial to the improvement of hospitals’ performance.

Introduction: Western lifestyle characterized by increased consumption of red meat, fat, processed food, smoking, alcohol drinking, lower consumption of vegetables and physical inactivity has been associated with a higher gastrointestinal cancer risk. Digestive system cancers are diagnosed at late stages when they show poor response to treatment and are associated with a high mortality rate. Colorectal, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers are among the most common cancers worldwide. Studies show that more than 50% of gastrointestinal cancers develop as a result of inappropriate lifestyle. An inverse association between physical activity and many chronic diseases has been proved so far. However, the association between physical activity and some gastrointestinal cancers is still controversial. This study was aimed to determine the association between physical activity and gastrointestinal cancers risk.

Background Identification of children and adolescents mental health problems need to investigate of psychiatric disorders. Objective We aimed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in central areas of Qazvin Province children and adolescent ages 6 to 18 years and their comorbidities. Methods This is a national project that will be implemented in central areas of Qazvin Province. This project will be focused on 1025 children and adolescents ages 6 to 18 years from central area of Qazvin province by cluster sampling method with Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime version questionnaire (K-SADS-PL). The interview was conducted by 8 clinical psychologists Findings The prevalence of total psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents was 28.19% (95% CI=21.81-22.82) that was among boys 31.5% and among girls 25% and by comparing 95% of confidence interval of prevalence of psychiatric disorders in both genders. We saw a significant difference in total psychiatric disorder (P≤0.02) and results also showed that odds ratio (95% CI) for psychiatric disorders in the total population in terms of sex was 0.7 (for female). In addition, anxiety disorders had the most highlighted prevalence among all (13.2%) and; specific phobias disorders (4.7%) was the most common disorders .The results showed that the comorbidity of anxiety disorders and behavioral disorders is more than any others (22.2%). Free job mothers were valuable (P≤0.006). Conclusion This study showed the child and adolescents are significantly different in term of sex in central areas of Qazvin Province. Anxiety disorders are most common psychiatric disorders.

A nickel bromide complex supported by a non-innocent ferrocene-chelating heteroscorpionate ligand, [(fc(PPh2)(BH(3,5-Me2pz)2)NiBr)] ((fcP,B)NiBr, fc = 1,1′-ferrocenediyl, pz = pyrazole), was synthesized and characterized.

GeoEye satellite has provided the world with high spatial resolution 0.50 meter panchromatic images. Not only the high spatial resolution, but also the high spectral, radiometric and temporal resolutions of GeoEye imagery make it ideally suited for mapping applications. Currently, the empirical sensor models are traditionally employed, instead of the physical models, to establish the mathematical relationships between the image space and the ground space. In this study, the geometric accuracy of pan GeoEye images was determined using three dimensional (3D) polynomial model. The obtained planimetric accuracy was compared to that obtained using the rational function model (RFM). The implementation of the 3D polynomial model (PM) experiments was performed using only the new standalone software EMAN, since the 3D PMs are not available in other software packages such as ERDAS imagine or PCI from Geomatica. However, both EMAN and PCI software were used to carry out the experiments for the RFMs. A GeoEye panchromatic image covering the city of Tanta, El Gharbiya, Egypt was used in this study. The results revealed that the 3D polynomial models have the capability for geometrically correcting GeoEye images since it provides competitive geometric accuracies, compared to those obtained using 3D RFMs.