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Abstract Amorphous alumina is hard but brittle like all ceramic type materials which affects durability under impact or scratch. Here we show that alumina layers below 100 nm thickness when stacked with aluminum interlayers exhibit exceptional performances including toughness equal to 300 J.m−2 determined by on chip nanomechanics. This is almost two orders of magnitude higher than bulk alumina and higher than any other thin hard coatings. In addition, a hardness above 8 GPa combines with a fracture strain above 5%. The origin of this superior set of properties is unravelled via in-situ TEM and mechanical models. The combination of constrained alumina layers with ductile behavior, strong “accommodating” interfaces, giant shear deformability of Al layers, and plasticity-controlled crack shielding cooperate to stabilize deformation, dissipate energy and arrest cracks. These performances unlock several options of applications of Al2O3 in which brittleness under contacts prevents benefiting from remarkable functional properties and chemical stability.

Abstract Hesperidin, a natural flavanone glycoside predominantly found in citrus fruits, has gained attention for its wide-ranging biological activities, including potential insecticidal properties. Culex pipiens, commonly known as the northern house mosquito, is a major vector of several human pathogens, such as the West Nile virus and filariasis, making it a key target in the fight against vector-borne diseases. In this study, we evaluated the larvicidal activity of Hesperidin against Culex pipiens larvae, assessing its potential as an alternative to chemical insecticides. Hesperidin demonstrated potent larvicidal effects, with a lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of 570.3 ± 0.04 µg/mL, outperforming the conventional insecticide Chlorpyrifos 588.3 ± 0.28 µg/mL in efficacy. Molecular docking simulations revealed a strong binding affinity between Hesperidin and crucial neuroreceptors in Culex pipiens, particularly acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme involved in nerve signal transmission. The interaction between Hesperidin’s hydroxyl groups and the AChE enzyme’s active site suggests that AChE inhibition is the primary mechanism driving Hesperidin’s insecticidal action. These findings position Hesperidin as a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. However, further research is needed to assess its toxicity to non-target organisms and optimize its formulation for broader application in mosquito control.

Abstract Space division multiplexing (SDM) with Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes, for instance, can significantly boost the transmission link capacity. However, SDM is not suitable in existing single mode fiber networks, and in long-distance wireless, microwave, THz or optical links, the far-field beam distribution may present a problem. Recently it has been demonstrated, that time domain HG modes can be employed to enhance the link capacity. However, implementing this method in wireless or fiber-based transmission systems is impractical due to the need for highly complex setups involving specialized lasers, wave shapers and other advanced devices. We propose a simple and fully electrical time-domain mode-division-multiplexing (TD-MDM) method based on the recursive generation of Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes. It utilizes Gaussian pulse sequences, sawtooth signals, RF multipliers, adders, amplifiers, and Mach–Zehnder modulators for efficient multiplexing and demultiplexing. We show the time and bandwidth performance of 4 multiplexed orthogonal modes in transmitting 8 Gbps communication data (4 × 2 Gbit/s), demonstrating the feasibility of the recursive generation and multiplexing technique for TD-MDM with HG modes. The data rates were restricted by our experimental capabilities. With state-of-the-art equipment the method can easily be scaled to the terabit per second range.

Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of black cumin seed oil (BCSO) and its nanoemulsion on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. Methods: LPS-induced acute liver injury mouse model was used to evaluate the effects of BCSO and its nanoemulsion formulation on liver function. Hepatic inflammatory markers including Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interleukin(IL)-1β, heme-oxygenase 1, BAX, and BCL-2 were assessed using real-time PCR. Additionally, protein levels of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 were measured using ELISA, and histological analysis was performed. Indomethacin was used as a standard positive control for comparison. Results: BCSO reduced LPS-induced liver injury and exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the expression of TLR4, IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and heme-oxygenase 1. Additionally, BCSO demonstrated antioxidant properties by increasing reduced glutathione protein levels and decreasing key apoptotic markers BAX and BCL-2 in hepatocytes. The nanoemulsion formulation further enhanced these anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects, and histological examination confirmed this effect. Combining BCSO with indomethacin at a lower dose improved efficacy, thereby reducing its potential side effects. Conclusions: The investigation reveals the anti-inflammatory impact of BCSO and its nanoemulsion formulation on LPS-induced liver oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Background/Objectives: Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive illness produced by a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII. This study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D in hemophilic pediatric patients and its correlation with joint health and quality of life. Methods: This case-control study was performed on ninety children under the age of 18 years old and separated into two groups: study group of 45 children with hemophilia A and control group of 45 healthy children at an outpatient pediatric hematology clinic at the Beni-Suef University hospitals. Results: Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in hemophilia A patients than in controls (p < 0.001). The level of serum vitamin D was deficient in 38 (84.4%), insufficient in 4 (8.8%) and sufficient in 3 (6.6%) in the study group while deficient in 8 (17.7%), insufficient in 16 (35.5%) and sufficient in 21 (46.6%) in the control group. Total hemophilia joint health score (HJHS) had a significant negative correlation with serum total calcium (R = −0.31, p = 0.038) and serum vitamin D level (R = −0.974, p < 0.001) while also positively correlated with alkaline phosphatase (R = 0.834, p < 0.001). A quality-of-life index that is specific to total hemophilia (Haemo-Qol/Haem-A-QoL) had a significant positive correlation with total hemophilia joint health score (HJHS) (R = 0.934, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with serum vitamin D level (R = −0.924, p-value lower than 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (R = 0.842, p < 0.001), and severity of hemophilia (R = 0.67, p < 0.001). Conclusions: patients with hemophilia A had lower vitamin D levels than healthy controls. The severity of vitamin D deficiency is related positively to (HJHS) hemophilia and quality of life hemophilia cases according to Haemo-QoL.

Le don, en tant qu’acte social, est empreint de complexités et de significations diverses. Cet article étudie la manifestation linguistique du don, en examinant ses interprétations sémantiques et sociolinguistiques. Nous nous appuierons sur les travaux de Marcel Mauss qui considère « le don comme un fait social total, engageant divers aspects de la vie sociale, économique et culturelle ». En complément, nous examinerons les perspectives contemporaines, telles que celles proposées par Godbout et Caillé, qui explorent la dynamique du don dans les sociétés modernes. En analysant les discours sur le don dans différents contextes sociaux et culturels, nous mettrons en lumière comment le langage du don révèle les attentes et les normes sociales en constante évolution. Notre méthodologie repose sur une analyse linguistique et sociologique des termes et expressions associés au don dans divers corpus textuels, permettant ainsi de dégager les représentations collectives et individuelles qui façonnent cet acte.

Hydatidosis is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus. Echinococcus Granulosus is the most common cause of hydatid disease in humans. Bone involvement is rare, accounting for only 0.9% to 2.5% of all cases. We report the case of an 8-year-old child admitted with right arm pain, revealing a hydatid cyst on the humerus. Lesion assessment revealed a hydatid cyst of the humerus with extension to the adjacent soft tissues. The surgical procedure involved the excision of the cyst along with drainage. In this case report, we review the epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical aspects of the disease, as well as the treatment modalities. Bone hydatid disease is infiltrative, diffuse, slow, and progressive, making diagnosis late, and compromising the quality of treatment.