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Optimal and cost-effective drilling operations in extended-reach horizontal wells depend on efficient solid cuttings removal from the borehole. Several solids-suspended multiphase processes such as crude petroleum transportation, separation, and processing of oil and gas streams also require the efficient removal of these solids. The terminal settling velocity (Vts) of the solid particle is a vital parameter that controls the removal efficiency of these solids. In a drilling scenario when there is a hold on fluid circulation such as connection time, the accurate estimation of Vs provides the driller with time available to prevent solid deposition. In severe conditions, this can result in a stuck pipe, especially for extended-reach horizontal wells. In this work, both spherical and non-spherical particle deposition were experimentally investigated in several fluid rheology and salinity. Two concentrations (0.1vol% and 0.05vol%.) of partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) were used as a drag-reducing additive for water-based drilling mud. The PHPA drag-reducing fluid (reduced pressure loss) acts as a turbulence inhibitor. The PHPA polymer chain suppresses any turbulence in the flow, reducing the turbulent eddy viscosity. The effects of salinity (3wt.%NaCl and 3wt.%CaCl2 contamination) on solid particle settling velocity (Vs) in drag-reducing fluids were also investigated. Terminal velocity was achieved for all experiments and seemed to increase with increased diameter/sphericity. However, cases when this trend was not consistent were observed and therefore a new parameter of Φ (sphericity index × diameter) was proposed. Vs increases with Φ value for all cases. During drilling, PHPA also aids in sealing the fracture in the formation. With and without salt in the fluid, how lowering drag affected the settling velocity of solid particles (drill cuttings) could be observed. The settling velocity tests will be improved in drag-reducing PHPA solutions with the knowledge from this study.

A pot experiment was conducted at the soil and water laboratory of Federal University Gashua Nigeria, to assess the reaction and primary nutrients – NPK, and Organic Carbon (OC) status of three white grub-produced Vermicompost using different ingredients (Municipal Waste – MW, Typha Grass – TP, and Municipal Waste + Typha Grass – MWT0). Laid on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), the number of live worms, worms' weight, Vermicompost weight, and worms' mortality percentage as production indices were recorded and statistically analyzed upon Vermicompost maturity. Matured Vermicompost Reaction (pH and EC) and Primary nutrients (NPK), and OC were determined in another laboratory upon taking the respective compost samples as Soil health Indices. The result of the analysis showed that MW has the highest Nitrogen (%) = 1.60, the highest available Phosphorus = 0.47 mgKg-1, and the highest Exchangeable Potassium = 720 mgKg-1, it also presented a mildly acidic reaction (pH=6.8), with the highest percentage of OC (2.80%) and the lowest basic salts EC = 0.35 dS/m. In terms of earlier determined live worm percentage, live worm weight, Vermicompost weight, and worm mortality rate, the highest findings are MW = 64.5 %, MW = 40 grams, MW = 301 grams, and TP = 66.9 % respectively. In conclusion, MW Vermicompost proves to be the best, taking into consideration its better indices. As the premier of its kind in the study area, among other recommendations, we encourage setting this study as a pilot, and the conduct of more studies on the efficiency of Vermicompost on soil health and crop production in the study area.

This study utilizes an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the effects of renewable energy, economic growth, and inflation rate on exchange rate fluctuations in Somalia from 1990 to 2019. The analysis shows that economic growth and RE positively influence the exchange rate in both the short and long run. In contrast, inflation negatively impacts the exchange rate in the short run, suggesting short-term currency appreciation, but leads to depreciation in the long term. Moreover, the study finds that a 1% increase in RE results in an 80% increase in the exchange rate, indicating significant currency depreciation. To mitigate currency depreciation, the research advocates for policies promoting local renewable energy use to reduce import dependency and stabilize the currency. This approach includes investments in renewable infrastructure, community education, and economic diversification. This study highlights the need for further research into renewable energy’s impact on exchange rates in Somalia, particularly in different economic contexts, to gain a more holistic understanding of these dynamics.

This bibliometric analysis investigates the evolving research landscape in renewable energy supply chains. The study uses VOSviewer software to examine influential articles, authors, countries, journals, and keywords from 2015 to 2023. Notably, 2019 marked a significant shift with a surge in publications and citations, suggesting a transition toward more impactful and higher-quality research. In subsequent years, they have witnessed fluctuations in citation counts, potentially reflecting changes in research focus and publication quality. Geographically, the United States and China stand out as leading contributors, with the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Iran also making substantial contributions. The analysis of journals and publishers reveals variations in research impact and influence, with Elsevier emerging as a significant publisher. The keyword analysis underscores the prevalence of "Supply chains," "renewable energy resources," and "biomass" as central themes. This study offers valuable insights into the research trends and dynamics in the renewable energy supply chain field.

Tunnelling activities in urban areas are always associated with surface and subsurface ground subsidence, which may affect the stability of nearby structures and utilities. During and after tunnel construction, the surrounding building is subjected to different.deformations and strains due to immediate settlement. The constructed buildings should be able to bear the effect of change in the total, differential settlement and bending moment of raft according to the tunneling activity. The soil settlement around the tunnel and the ground movement above the tunnel should be taken in consideration too. This study focuses on the settlement of raft foundation according to tunneling activity using single and double tunnels. 2D numerical model was conducted to simulate the excessive settlement of raft according to tunneling. The effect of tunnel depth, soil consistency and spacing between double tunnels is studied. By increasing the soil cover above the tunnel crown, the settlement and bending moment of raft increases regardless the relative density of surrounding soil.

Abstract Arsenic (As) is a heavy metal that is toxic to both plants and animals. Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) can alleviate the detrimental effects of heavy metals on plants, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The study aims to synthesize SiNPs and reveal how they promote plant health in Arsenic-polluted soil. 0 and 100% v/v SiNPs were applied to soil, and Arsenic 0 and 3.2 g/ml were applied twice. Maize growth was monitored until maturity. Small, irregular, spherical, smooth, and non-agglomerated SiNPs with a peak absorbance of 400 nm were synthesized from Pycreus polystachyos. The SiNPs (100%) assisted in the development of a deep, prolific root structure that aided hydraulic conductance and gave mechanical support to the maize plant under As stress. Thus, there was a 40–50% increase in growth, tripled yield weights, and accelerated flowering, fruiting, and senescence. SiNPs caused immobilization (As(III)=SiNPs) of As in the soil and induced root exudates Phytochelatins (PCs) (desGly-PC2 and Oxidized Glutathione) which may lead to formation of SiNPs=As(III)–PCs complexes and sequestration of As in the plant biomass. Moreover, SiNPs may alleviate Arsenic stress by serving as co-enzymes that activate the antioxidant-defensive mechanisms of the shoot and root. Thus, above 70%, most reactive ROS (OH) were scavenged, which was evident in the reduced MDA content that strengthened the plasma membrane to support selective ion absorption of SiNPs in place of Arsenic. We conclude that SiNPs can alleviate As stress through sequestration with PCs, improve root hydraulic conductance, antioxidant activity, and membrane stability in maize plants, and could be a potential tool to promote heavy metal stress resilience in the field.

Two Schiff bases, (E)-N-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)methanimine (S1) and (E)-4-(((4-bromophenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (S2) were synthesized and elucidated using basic spectroscopic methods such as Fourier-transform-infrared, Ultraviolet-visible as well as 1H & 13C-NMR while purity of the compounds was ascertained by the means of elemental analysis. The stability, chemical reactivities and electronic properties of S1 and S2 were evaluated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). Energy band gap (?E) of S1 and S2 are 2.81 eV and 3.02 eV respectively and this inferred that S1 is more reactive as well as less stable than S2. The Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) mapping evaluation showed that both S1 and S2 are having more of the yellow, green and red region than the blue region, signifying that these structures are prone to electrophilic attack. The compounds were screened against one Gram-negative (Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Psedomonas aeruginosa) to evaluate their antibacterial potential. S1 as well as S2 showed antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus and exhibited less of no activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. In silico studies of S1 and S2 against Staphylococcus aureus was carried out and the outcomes corroborate with experimental findings. Pharmacological evaluation of S1 and S2 showed that both compounds exhibited less violation of Lipinski’s rule of five (Ro5) which pose them to be less toxic and orally available.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and rifampicin resistance of tuberculosis among presumptive patients in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Methods: Patient data collected from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively computed from the register at the tuberculosis laboratory of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. A total of 91884 patient records were analyzed to determine tuberculosis prevalence, rifampicin resistance, and patients’ characteristics using Chi-squared test. Results: An overall prevalence of 8.0% was recorded among presumptive patients over the three-year period with a decreasing trend in prevalence from 10.0% (2019) to 6.5% (2021), though the number of samples progressively increased each year and more than doubled in 2021. Most of the patients tested for tuberculosis were females (52.6%) and were mostly older than 15 years (84.1%). Conversely, a higher resistance to rifampicin was observed among tuberculosis positive male patients (55.6%) than in females (44.4%). Similarly, tuberculosis positive patients older than 15 years (84.6%) showed greater resistance to rifampicin than those younger than 15 years (15.4%). Statistically, no relationship was established among age, sex, year of sampling and tuberculosis prevalence or rifampicin resistance rate. Conclusions: Despite the downward trends in tuberculosis prevalence and rifampicin resistance rate observed in this study, measures at maintaining the gains achieved in the fight against tuberculosis must remain paramount as the race towards reducing tuberculosis incidence and mortality by 2025 continues.

In recent times, the means and channels of visual communication have evolved significantly, resulting in new needs and requirements in visual design. A variety of factors have contributed to the evolution of visual design in recent years. Starting with the diversification of communication channels between print, digital, fixed and mobile, as well as digital technologies evolving between responsive designs, virtual reality technologies and augmented reality, and ending with the evolution of the way people interact and communicate with systems, products and people.The visual identity is the cornerstone on which many of the activities of an organization are built, starting from architecture and interior design, and ending with marketing, promotion and advertising. Therefore, it was important for the corporate identity to be characterized by its diversity and dynamism, with the ability to unify the general visual character.All of this led to the need to work on the visual identity in a dynamic manner that hears its transformation to suit new means and channels of communication and at the same time preserves the general impression of its visual appearance.During this paper - Within the framework of cooperation between academic institutions and the labor market - the researcher lays the foundations and rules required to achieve the unity of visual impression in many different communication channels, through an applied project on the Sary Academy. Sary Academy is an educational institution that receives 3 categories of children: toddlers - pre-school - after school. Sary Academy is located in Alexandria, Egypt. The biggest challenge was to develop a design vision characterized by dynamism to include all the activities and requirements of the institution, the researcher dealt with the development of the general strategy for visual identity and its various applications, starting with interior design and sign systems, through publications and print applications, and ending with screen designs such as designs for social sites, website and mobile applications.

Abstract Recently, and to cater for increased needs on health monitoring and data management for COVID-19 patients, there has been a growing interest on the market place as well as on the research community to develop low cost and real time COVID-19 health monitoring system for Sudanese Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, insufficient rooms in isolation centers and hospitals can cause huge risks on Corona patients. In addition, conventional monitoring techniques cannot provide adequate and accurate monitoring of the patients. Traditionally, health monitoring techniques relied on the direct manual approach to measure vital parameters and monitor patient’s health. However, this manual approach is impractical and costly in terms of time and effort. Moreover, the risk of contracting the disease for the medical staff will increase. Nowadays, Sudanese medical health companies and authorities are looking forward for an in-home Corona health monitoring system that enables good and quick recovery for Corona patients. The present paper seeks to address the performance evaluation for a real time system for monitoring the health status by reading the biomarkers (temperature, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and breathing rate) of corona patients remotely and at home using Internet of Things technologies. This work helps and supports COVID-19 patients to monitor their health at home and sending their report according to the system reading remotely with low cost and in real time environment. The obtained experimental data showed that the proposed system is capable of accurately, remotely and reliably monitoring the health monitoring continuously and in a real time with low cost.

Harmful gasoline and particulate objects that exist in the air and above the cut-off values are dangerous for human, animal, and plant health. Essentially, it leads to lung cancer, throat infection, heart attack, and other diseases. The early forecasting of these objects may help for precautions of safety. In this paper, it is proposed to use the regression-based model auto regression integrated moving average (AIRMA) and deep learning-based model long short-term memory (LSTM) for air quality prediction. The air quality forecasting performance also depends on the quality of the available dataset. In this study, real-time data is collected from 10 different locations based on an IoT system, which is developed locally for a funded project of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The main idea of this study is to validate the real-time collected dataset. Two objects, particulate PM2.5, and gasoline Ammonia are considered for four different locations for forecasting. Due to several issues such that electricity, Wi-Fi, sensor calibration, and collected data are not in their finest position. A number of prepossessing steps are applied to raw data to bring it into a usable form. Regardless of these issues, proposed models based on data collected by IoT system, outperform two air objects PM2.5 and Ammonia. For the case of Ammonia, an RMSE value of 0.562 is obtained which is very low to the mean value of 5.15 which indicates high performance. Similarly, very close values of 0.186 and 0.133 of RMSE and MAE were achieved respectively, and reflect the low variance in error. The LSTM-based experiment for Ammonia prediction, comparable to a very low RMSE value of 1.948 is achieved from the corresponding mean. A very small difference value of 0.287 between RMSE and MAE is obtained indicating a low variance in predicting error and high precision.

This study examined the macro and trace element contents as well as the cytotoxicity of Laurencia obtusa, Ulva lactuca, and Padina pavonica algae collected from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt (Alexandria coast). The results indicated that the seaweed samples contained high concentrations of Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na, P and Fe. The Cu and Zn contents of the algae were in the ranges of 0.39-0.95 mg/100 g dw and 0.11-0.49 mg/100 g dw respectively. Fresh red algae contained the highest level of Zn and Cu, whereas the iodine level was 1.52, 1.27 and 1.01 mg/100g in fresh each of Padina pavonica, Laurencia obtuse and Ulva lactuca respectively. Fresh red, fresh green, dry green, dry red, in addition to fresh and dried brown algae had maximum lead (Pb) levels of 0.16, 0.14, 0.13, 0.12, 0.04 and 0.02 g/100 g respectively. Fresh red algae contained the highest Cd and Mn levels, whereas dried brown algae exhibited the lowest Cd and Mn concentrations. Different extracts of fresh and dried brown algae exhibited significant larvicidal activity against brine shrimp. LC50 values indicated that dry samples were more cytotoxic than fresh samples.

The study was carried out to evaluate the pathogenicity of the bacteria, Bacillus thuringensis of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) at the rate of 1x106 spores/ml Laboratory results revealed that egg hatching percentage, at the age of 1-2 days were 0.0, 0.0 and 8.2 % 2 and 4 days after application respectively. While the hatching percentage of the 3-4 days old eggs was 6.8% at the age of 2-4 days after 2 days' treatment. The mortality rate of larval stages (2, 4, 6 instars) was 100% 14 days after application. When pupae were treated with the bacteria adult emergence percentage was 51.3 % 15 days after treatment compared to 100% emergence for the control treatment. The results in greenhouse show that the entomopathogenic bacteria also achieved mortality rate for 2, 4, 6 larval instars of the pest were 94.4, 91.8, 100, 88.4, 85.6 and 81.3 % for the soil and plant treatments respectively, 14 days after application.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. However, the Omani population shares the major burden as the most prevalent carcinoma. The disease is comparatively higher in males than females. Patients with pre-existing risk factors, including inflammatory bowel disease, are at increased risk of developing neoplasia. Among the various histopathological subtypes of adenocarcinoma in the rectum, signet ring cell carcinoma is the rarest and accounts for approximately 1% of the cases. Given the aggressive nature of this tumor, advanced presentation, stage, and poor prognosis, regular endoscopic surveillance is essential. Hereby, we report a rare case of signet ring cell carcinoma arising in the rectal stump in an already diagnosed and operated patient of Ulcerative colitis.

Background & Aims: More than 80% of people in the developing countries rely on phytomedicine for primary healthcare in both human and livestock. Traditionally, herbal medicinal practice and treatment of cognitive disorders or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other memory-related disorders have been achieved with numerous plant products. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticholinesterase properties of Ficus deltoidea leaf extract in 80% methanol on Javanese medaka. Materials & Methods: Ficus deltoidea leaf was extracted with 80% methanol. Crude extract was then evaluated for toxicity effect on adult Javanese medaka. The neuroprotective effect of the crude extract was also evaluated using anticholinesterase assay. Identification of phytochemical constituents were carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LCMS) techniques. Results: Results disclosed low toxicity effect of the crude extract with LC50 of 59.34 ± 0.1 (Sub-acute toxicity test) and 44.67 ± 0.7 (Chronic toxicity test). High anti-cholinesterase activities with significant differences at p

The economy and health of the world’s population have been recurrently affected by infectious diseases since records began in the early 1900s, including large epidemic events that involved diseases such as the ‘Spanish influenza’, West Nile fever, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, ‘Swine influenza’, Zika, HIV/AIDS, SARS-CoV-1, MERS, COVID-19, Monkeypox, to name but a few [...]

Abstract Background T cell lymphoma of the upper aerodigestive tract is a rare entity usually presenting as midfacial ulcerative lesion. It is extremely rare to present as non-healing erosive lesion of the oropharynx. Case presentation A 29-year-old female patient presented with odynophagia and trismus for several months. An “inflammatory” oropharyngeal ulcer was diagnosed and she was treated with repeated courses of antibiotics and corticosteroids without response. Recently, she had some blood stained saliva and vomited fresh blood. When seen, she had extensive painful ulcer eroding the right side of the soft palate and right tonsillar area. The ulcer had a whitish floor and ragged border without any tendency to heal. A second biopsy was taken and proved the lesion to be extranodal natural killer T cell lymphoma (ENKTL). The patient was treated with a modified SMILE (steroid, methotrexate, ifosfamide, l-asparaginase, and etoposide) protocol. Conclusions Extranodal natural killer T cell lymphoma can manifest first in the oropharynx. If left untreated it may lead to deep erosive lesion and major oral bleeding. SMILE chemotherapy protocol was used in our patient with good early response.

Diclofenac was responsible for the decimation of Gyps vulture species on the Indian subcontinent during the 1980s and 1990s. Gyps vultures are extremely sensitive (the lethal dose 50 [LD50] ~ 0.1 mg/kg – 0.2 mg/kg), with toxicity appearing to be linked to metabolic deficiency, demonstrated by the long T1/2 (~12 h – 17 h). This is in striking comparison to the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), in which the LD50 is ~10 mg/kg and the T1/2 is ~1 h. The phase 1 cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C subfamily has been cited as a possible reason for metabolic deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine if CYP2C9 homolog pharmacogenomic differences amongst avian species is driving diclofenac toxicity in Gyps vultures. We exposed each of 10 CYP-inhibited test group chickens to a unique dose of diclofenac (as per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] toxicity testing guidelines) and compared the toxicity and pharmacokinetic results to control group birds that received no CYP inhibitor. Although no differences were noted in the LD50 values for each group (11.92 mg/kg in the CYP-inhibited test group and 11.58 mg/kg in the control group), the pharmacokinetic profile of the test group was suggestive of partial inhibition of CYP metabolism. Evaluation of the metabolite peaks produced also suggested partial metabolic inhibition in test group birds, as they produced lower amounts of metabolites for one of the three peaks demonstrated and had higher diclofenac exposure. This pilot study supports the hypothesis that CYP metabolism is varied amongst bird species and may explain the higher resilience to diclofenac in the chicken versus vultures.

District cooling (DC) systems are able to exploit locally available energy in order to supply cooling to local end-users through an integrated DC network. The present work aims at obtaining the critical decisions in the performance of a DC network at the operating level. End-users can be of different type (e.g., residential or commercial) with different demand profiles and an optimal strategy needs to be employed in order to satisfy the demand and minimise energy usage. In published literature the vast majority of the studies employ simplified mathematical models in order to describe the thermodynamic cycle used and only a handful of studies take into account the actual dynamics of the system transition from one state to the other as well as the time delay attributed to the cooling medium transfer through the network. The critical decisions involve the operating conditions and optimal allocation for the cooing of existing units in a suitable time interval, which form the basis for the satisfaction of requirements in cooling under demand variability. Although reduced order models of the process of ABR cycle are used, the time delay of the cooling medium transfer through the pipes is considered through the employment of validated first order plus time delay models. The proposed optimisation framework enables the identification of demand driven, highly performing solutions through the direct consideration of all interacting factors over a pre-defined time horizon. Optimal results include the definition of the optimal allocation of produced cooling effect in such way that cooling demand is always satisfied.

A district cooling system (DCS) is superior to conventional air conditioning as it helps to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The investigation of the actual/existing vapour compression refrigeration (VCR) system used in the DCS has not been well documented. In this context, energy, exergy, environmental and economic (4E) analysis of the VCR chiller, operated with R134a, used in heavy duty existing DC plant has been systematically performed and compared with the ecofreindly refrigerant R717. The impact of the evaporation temperature on the total equivalent warming impact (TEWI), coefficient of performance, exergy efficiency and cost rate is assessed. It is observed that the COP and exergy efficiency of the VCR with R717 is around 3 % higher compared to a VCR with R134a. This is attributed to the significantly higher latent heat of evaporation, which ultimately requires a lower mass flow rate of R717. It is observed that the total global warming impact and Combined cost of R717 are lower by 1.6 % compared to the R134a. Lower TEWI is attributed to the zero global warming potential, lower compressor power and higher COP of the VCR system with R717 in comparison to R134a. However, further detailed parametric analysis considering the capital cost is required to claim the superiority of R717.

This work presents a CAMD (computer-aided molecular design) approach for the design of working fluid mixtures used in ABR (absorption refrigeration) cycles. Compared to previous works, the proposed approach introduces two major improvements. It employs for the first time an ABR process model in the course of CAMD, hence enabling the evaluation of the generated mixtures considering process performance indicators. It enables for the first time the simultaneous generation and evaluation of molecular structures for both refrigerants and absorbents. The employed model and CAMD optimization problem formulation incorporates major ABR operational driving forces pertaining to efficient refrigeration, sufficient solubility of mixture components and ease of separation in the generator. The approach employs a multicriteria assessment methodology both during CAMD and for the evaluation of selected mixtures using a more rigorous ABR model at a second stage. The work identifies novel mixtures, with Acetaldehyde/2-Methoxyethyl acetate and Acetaldehyde/Methanediol exhibiting the highest performance. The latter exhibits 3% higher COP (coefficient of performance) and cooling output than the reference mixture NH3/H2O, whereas it operates at 87 and 89% lower high and low cycle pressures. The novel mixtures are also compared with novel mixtures previously identified through a heuristic approach by the authors. The latter mixtures indicate overall higher ABR performance but similar or worse performance in safety, health and environmental impact indices. Further performance improvements may be achieved by including into CAMD additional chemical groups to be able to simulate the complex absorbent structures available in published works.

Abstract Objective This meta-analysis was done to estimate the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATDs) in Turner Syndrome patients, and to determine the clinical status of thyroid autoimmune diseases that occur frequently in association with Turner Syndrome. Results A total of 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled overall prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases in Turner Syndrome patients was 38.6% (95% CI 29.7–47.6%), with 12.7% (95% CI 9.30–16.1%) of them had clinical hypothyroidism and 2.6% (95% CI 1.5–3.8%) had hyperthyroidism. I-squared test had a high result of heterogeneity. In subgroup analyses, the prevalence of ATDs was higher in the European region than Asian region. Autoimmune thyroid diseases are commonly associated with Turner Syndrome. Early detection of thyroid diseases by optimal screening among children with Turner Syndrome is required to ensure effective management.

Human movements are characterized by highly non-linear and multi-dimensional interactions within the motor system. Therefore, the future of human movement analysis requires procedures that enhance the classification of movement patterns into relevant groups and support practitioners in their decisions. In this regard, the use of data-driven techniques seems to be particularly suitable to generate classification models. Recently, an increasing emphasis on machine-learning applications has led to a significant contribution, e.g., in increasing the classification performance. In order to ensure the generalizability of the machine-learning models, different data preprocessing steps are usually carried out to process the measured raw data before the classifications. In the past, various methods have been used for each of these preprocessing steps. However, there are hardly any standard procedures or rather systematic comparisons of these different methods and their impact on the classification performance. Therefore, the aim of this analysis is to compare different combinations of commonly applied data preprocessing steps and test their effects on the classification performance of gait patterns. A publicly available dataset on intra-individual changes of gait patterns was used for this analysis. Forty-two healthy participants performed 6 sessions of 15 gait trials for 1 day. For each trial, two force plates recorded the three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRFs). The data was preprocessed with the following steps: GRF filtering, time derivative, time normalization, data reduction, weight normalization and data scaling. Subsequently, combinations of all methods from each preprocessing step were analyzed by comparing their prediction performance in a six-session classification using Support Vector Machines, Random Forest Classifiers, Multi-Layer Perceptrons, and Convolutional Neural Networks. The results indicate that filtering GRF data and a supervised data reduction (e.g., using Principal Components Analysis) lead to increased prediction performance of the machine-learning classifiers. Interestingly, the weight normalization and the number of data points (above a certain minimum) in the time normalization does not have a substantial effect. In conclusion, the present results provide first domain-specific recommendations for commonly applied data preprocessing methods and might help to build more comparable and more robust classification models based on machine learning that are suitable for a practical application.

Background. Pathophysiological changes leading to the death of nerve cells present in the brain and spinal cord are referred to as neurodegenerative diseases. Presently, treatment of these diseases is not effective and encounters many challenges due to the cost of drug and side effects. Thus, the search for the alternative agents to replace synthetic drugs is in high demand. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the anticholinesterase properties of Ginkgo biloba seed. Methods. The seed was extracted with 80% methanol. Toxicity studies and evaluation of anticholinesterase activities were carried out in adult Javanese medaka (Oryzias javanicus). Phytochemical study to identify the bioactive lead constituents of the crude extract was also carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results. The result shows activities with high significant differences at P

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving procedure developed for the care of patients with short-term respiratory and/or cardiac issues (MacLaren et al., 2011). ECMO patients must be monitored twenty-four hours a day by an ECMO-trained multidisciplinary team. The trained healthcare professional needs to watch over fifty variables and rapidly intervene to assess and resolve any given emergency. Hence hands on training is very important for ECMO professionals to develop rapid and correct actions upon different scenarios. Simulation based training (SBT) offers ECMO practitioners an opportunity to develop the skills needed for the initiation of the ECMO procedure and the care of ECMO patients without exposing patients to undue risks (Al Disi et al., 2018). For ECMO to work, cannulation is required to reroute the blood flow to the machine rather than the lung and/or heart. Cannulation is the insertion of a cannula through the blood vessels. In collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the main healthcare provider in Qatar, the aim of this project is to develop an effective, economical realistic, user-friendly, low-cost, and a multi-functional high-fidelity cannulation simulation mannequin. Keywords: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, ECMO, Medical training, Cannulation, Healthcare

Inadequate climate data stations often make hydrological modelling a rather challenging task in data-sparse regions. Gridded climate data can be used as an alternative; however, their accuracy in replicating the climatology of the region of interest with low levels of uncertainty is important to water resource planning. This study utilised several performance metrics and multi-criteria decision making to assess the performance of the widely used gridded precipitation and temperature data against quality-controlled observed station records in the Lake Chad basin. The study’s findings reveal that the products differ in their quality across the selected performance metrics, although they are especially promising with regards to temperature. However, there are some inherent weaknesses in replicating the observed station data. Princeton University Global Meteorological Forcing precipitation showed the worst performance, with Kling–Gupta efficiency of 0.13–0.50, a mean modified index of agreement of 0.68, and a similarity coefficient SU = 0.365, relative to other products with satisfactory performance across all stations. There were varying degrees of mismatch in unidirectional precipitation and temperature trends, although they were satisfactory in replicating the hydro-climatic information with a low level of uncertainty. Assessment based on multi-criteria decision making revealed that the Climate Research Unit, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre, and Climate Prediction Centre precipitation data and the Climate Research Unit and Princeton University Global Meteorological Forcing temperature data exhibit better performance in terms of similarity, and are recommended for application in hydrological impact studies—especially in the quantification of projected climate hazards and vulnerabilities for better water policy decision making in the Lake Chad basin.

(1) Background: Simulation-based training (SBT) is the practice of using hands-on training to immerse learners in a risk-free and high-fidelity environment. SBT is used in various fields due to its risk-free benefits from a safety and an economic perspective. In addition, SBT provides immersive training unmatched by traditional teaching the interactive visualization needed in particular scenarios. Medical SBT is a prevalent practice as it allows for a platform for learners to learn in a risk-free and cost-effective environment, especially in critical care, as mistakes could easily cause fatalities. An essential category of care is human circulatory system care (HCSC), which includes essential-to-simulate complications such as cardiac arrest. (2) Methods: In this paper, a deeper look onto existing human circulatory system medical SBT is presented to assess and highlight the important features that should be present with a focus on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation (ECMO) simulators and cardiac catheterization. (3) Results: A list of features is also suggested for an ideal simulator to bridge the gap between medical studies and simulator engineering, followed by a case study of an ECMO SBT system design. (4) Conclusions: a collection and discussion of existing work for HCSC SBT are portrayed as a guide for researchers and practitioners to compare existing SBT and recreating them effectively.

Speed humps are the most common type of traffic calming devices due to their low cost and easy installation. However, in many Egyptian roads, considerable number of these humps is randomly placed without proper engineering studies and justifications. Deterioration of pavement condition is observed near these humps. This paper presents a case study applied to collect and analyze visual inspection data for the reason of evaluating the impact of speed humps on pavement condition on intercity rural roads. The paper used 52 speed humps located in an intercity two-lane, two-way road that connects two cities, Tahta and Gerga, in Upper Egypt. The total length of this road is about 34 km. Pavement condition index (PCI), in road sections, near speed humps in the two directions of travel were calculated from the visual inspection measurements. The characteristics of each speed hump (width, height, and distance from preceding hump) were measured. Using statistical analyses, the correlations between the pavement conditions and hump characteristics were examined. Regression analysis models were developed to represent the relationships between pavement conditions and hump characteristics. Generally, the results proved that the pavement conditions are greatly influenced by the presence of speed humps and hump characteristics.

Background: Traumatic injuries are common dental problems in pediatric dentistry that may influence the children's quality of life. Aim: the aim of this study is to assess the impact of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Egyptian schoolchildren aged 11–14 years. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving a sample of 11700 schoolchildren from public and private schools of Mansoura city, Egypt. OHRQoL was assessed using Child Perceptions Questionnaire. Clinical examination included the presence and type of TDI, malocclusion status, and dental caries in anterior teeth (decayed, missing, and filled teeth). Results: The prevalence of TDI was 13.6%. Untreated TDI was more likely to have a negative impact on the children's daily living regarding pain, functional, emotional, and social aspect than treated injuries and control children. Pearson's correlation test indicated significant association between trauma and malocclusion and dental caries. Conclusion: Untreated dental injury has a negative impact on quality of life regarding social, functional, and emotional aspects. However, treated injured teeth appear to improve social and emotional aspects of the OHRQoL of school children, whereas functional limitations may continue because of the pulpal and periodontal effects of the injury.

A systematic sensitivity analysis approach is proposed to assess the robustness of thermodynamic model predictions employed in ABR processes. A sensitivity matrix is developed which incorporates the derivatives of multiple ABR performance indicators (e.g. coefficient of performance, generated cooling, mass flowrate of working fluid etc.) with respect to multiple thermodynamic property parameters propagated through different thermodynamic prediction models. The dominant eigenvector direction of the sensitivity matrix is identified and used to explore the ABR process behaviour as indicated by the change of ABR performance indicators under simultaneous, multiple and finite thermodynamic parameter variations. This enables the robust mapping of ABR performance toward the direction of maximum variability in the multiparametric space and hence the identification of a thermodynamic model which supports robust predictions regardless of variability. The approach is illustrated in a single effect ABR process system using the NH3/H2O mixture. Among various thermodynamic models we find that the Schwartzentruber-Renon with eNRTL are the most robust combination to parameter variability.

Actinomycosis is a subacute or chronic suppurative bacterial infection which caused because of filamentous gram-positive, anaerobic to microaerophilic nonacid fast bacilli primarily of the genus Actinomyces that normally colonize the mouth, colon, and vagina. Primary cutaneous actinomycosis is a rare entity and is generally associated with trauma. A 61- year-old Yemeni male firstly presented to the surgical department in King Fahd Central Hospital with multiple swelling, petted lesions and boring of sensation in the right foot. Local examination showed multiple erythematous nodules and plaques with discharge in the right leg, and active sinus was not determined.

The study identified the determinants of food insecurity among farming households in Katsina State, north western Nigeria. A cross sectional sample survey design was used to select a total of 150 small-holder farmers from 15 communities across 10 Local Government Areas of the state. A structured questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview were used for data collection. The coping strategy index was used to determine the food security status of the household and the ordered logit regression was used to identify the determinants of food insecurity among the households. The majority (73%) were found to be food insecure. In terms of food insecurity status, 44% of the respondents were less food insecure, while 17% and 12% were moderately food insecure and severely food insecure respectively. Eating the less preferred meal, purchasing food on credit and reducing the quantity of food consumed were the major coping strategies adopted by the food insecure households. The result of the ordered logit model shows that the total quantity of cereal saved, number of income sources and dependency ratio were significant for both the moderately and severely food insecure groups at p

Determining the technical efficiency of extension personnel especially at the village level is paramount if farm productivity is to be increased. The present study determined the technical efficiency of Village Extension Agents (VEAs) in North Central Nigeria. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire that was administered on 81 VEAs. The findings of the study indicated that 32.1% of the VEAs were aged between 38 and 45 years with a mean age of 41 years; while 50.6% were holders of national diploma certificates. The monthly income of a VEA ranged between N16,000 and N21,000. The average technical efficiency of VEAs was 42% with minimum and maximum values of 0.03 and 1 respectively. There was a positive significant association between the age (P

This study employed stable isotopes of δ18O and δ2H in conjunction with other hydrological parameters to understand the origin, inferred residence time, and seasonal effect of groundwater in the shallow aquifers of the eastern Dahomey Basin. A total of 230 groundwater samples (97 in the wet season and 133 in the dry season) were collected from the borehole and shallow aquifer between May 2017 and April 2018. Groundwater analysis included major ions and δ18O and δ2H, isotopes data in precipitation from three selected Global Network of Isotope in Precipitation (GNIP) stations across West Africa, Douala in Cameroon, Cotonou in Republic of Benin, and Kano in Nigeria were used in comparative analysis. Results of the hydrochemical model revealed Ca-HCO3 and Na-Cl as dominant water types with other mixing water types such as Ca–SO4, Ca–Cl, Na–SO4, and K–Mg–HCO3, which characterised early stage of groundwater transformation as it infiltrates through vadose zone into the aquifer. δ18O and δ2H precipitation data from the three stations plotted along with the groundwater samples indicate recent meteoric water origin, with little effect of evaporation during the dry season. The plot of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) against δ18O showed clustering of the water samples between the recharge and the evaporation zone with dry season samples trending towards increased TDS, which is an indication of the subtle effect of evaporation during this period. Tracing groundwater types along the flow paths within the basin is problematic and attributed to the heterogeneity of the aquifer with anthropogenic influences. Moreover, a comparison of the δ18O and δ2H isotopic compositions of groundwater and precipitation in the three selected stations, with their respective deuterium excess (D-excess) values established low evapotranspiration induced isotope enrichment, which could be due to higher precipitation and humidity in the region resulting in low isotope fractionation; hence, little effect of seasonal variations. The study, therefore, suggested groundwater recharge in the shallow aquifer in the eastern Dahomey Basin is of meteoric origin with a short residence time of water flows from soils through the vadose zone to the aquifers.

Meeting long-term rural community water supply needs requires diligent geohydrological conceptualisation. Study of Malawi’s Lake Chilwa Basin, including sampling of 330 water points in Phalombe District, enabled assessment of groundwater quality influence upon supply. The control of larger Lake Chilwa paleo-environments on current Basin groundwater quality is demonstrated. Lacustrine sediment deposition forming high-level deposits under open lake conditions and terrace deposits under open and closed lake conditions significantly control the groundwater major-ion quality and salinity now observed. Paleo-lake extent marks the transition between low-TDS (total dissolved solids) groundwater suitable for water supply at higher elevations and high-TDS brackish groundwater in areas overlain by lacustrine deposits closer to the current lake level. Low-TDS groundwater is limited to mid-to-low reach influent leakage of rivers incising terraces. Permeable fluvial deposits within the deeper paleo-river channel may possibly provide low-TDS water. The conceptual model, whereby paleo-lake controls groundwater salinity, provides science-based evidence to address policy to manage the significant water point functionality concerns quantified at the district and river basin scales. Targeting of the low-TDS groundwater alongside improved use of upland low-TDS stream/river sources with fewer, but larger capacity, and better maintained gravity-fed supply schemes are recommended. This study hence shows the value of paleo-geohydrology interpretation of the lake–groundwater system conceptualisation to inform Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6.5.1)—integrated water resources management policy for rural water supply.

Predicting the results of soccer competitions and the contributions of match attributes, in particular, has gained popularity in recent years. Big data processing obtained from different sensors, cameras and analysis systems needs modern tools that can provide a deep understanding of the relationship between this huge amount of data produced by sensors and cameras, both linear and non-linear data. Using data mining tools does not appear sufficient to provide a deep understanding of the relationship between the match attributes and results and how to predict or optimize the results based upon performance variables. This study aimed to suggest a different approach to predict wins, losses and attributes’ sensitivities which enables the prediction of match results based on the most sensitive attributes that affect it as a second step. A radial basis function neural network model has successfully weighted the effectiveness of all match attributes and classified the team results into the target groups as a win or loss. The neural network model’s output demonstrated a correct percentage of win and loss of 83.3% and 72.7% respectively, with a low Root Mean Square training error of 2.9% and testing error of 0.37%. Out of 75 match attributes, 19 were identified as powerful predictors of success. The most powerful respectively were: the Total Team Medium Pass Attempted (MBA) 100%; the Distance Covered Team Average in zone 3 (15–20 km/h; Zone3_TA) 99%; the Team Average ball delivery into the attacking third of the field (TA_DAT) 80.9%; the Total Team Covered Distance without Ball Possession (Not in_Poss_TT) 76.8%; and the Average Distance Covered by Team (Game TA) 75.1%. Therefore, the novel radial based function neural network model can be employed by sports scientists to adapt training, tactics and opposition analysis to improve performance.

The Niger Delta is the most climate-vulnerable region in Nigeria. Flooding events are recorded annually in settlements along the River Niger and its tributaries, inundating many towns and displacing people from their homes. In this study, climate change impacts from extreme meteorological events over the period 2010−2099 are predicted and analyzed. Four coupled model intercomparison project phase 5 (CMIP5) global climate models (GCMs) under respectively concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) emission scenarios were used for climate change predictions. Standardized precipitation indices (SPI) of 1-month and 12-month time steps were used for extreme event assessment. Results from the climate change scenarios predict an increase in rainfall across all future periods and under both emission scenarios, with the highest projected increase during the last three decades of the century. Under the RCP8.5 emission scenario, the rainfall at Port Harcourt and Yenagoa Stations is predicted to increase by about 2.47% and 2.62% while the rainfall at Warri Station is predicted to increase by about 1.39% toward the end of the century. The 12-month SPI under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios predict an exceedance in the extreme wet threshold (i.e., SPI > 2) during all future periods and across all study locations. These findings suggest an increasing risk of flooding within the projected periods. The finding can be useful to policymakers for the formulation and planning of flood mitigation and adaptation measures.

Selection of a suitable general circulation model (GCM) ensemble is crucial for effective water resource management and reliable climate studies in developing countries with constraint in human and computational resources. A careful selection of a GCM subset by excluding those with limited similarity to the observed climate from the existing pool of GCMs developed by different modeling centers at various resolutions can ease the task and minimize uncertainties. In this study, a feature selection method known as symmetrical uncertainty (SU) was employed to assess the performance of 26 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) GCM outputs under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. The selection was made according to their capability to simulate observed daily precipitation (prcp), maximum and minimum temperature (Tmax and Tmin) over the historical period 1980−2005 in the Niger Delta region, which is highly vulnerable to extreme climate events. The ensemble of the four top-ranked GCMs, namely ACCESS1.3, MIROC-ESM, MIROC-ESM-CHM, and NorESM1-M, were selected for the spatio-temporal projection of prcp, Tmax, and Tmin over the study area. Results from the chosen ensemble predicted an increase in the mean annual prcp between the range of 0.26% to 3.57% under RCP4.5, and 0.7% to 4.94% under RCP 8.5 by the end of the century when compared to the base period. The study also revealed an increase in Tmax in the range of 0 to 0.4 °C under RCP4.5 and 1.25−1.79 °C under RCP8.5 during the periods 2070−2099. Tmin also revealed a significant increase of 0 to 0.52 °C under RCP4.5 and between 1.38−2.02 °C under RCP8.5, which shows that extreme events might threaten the Niger Delta due to climate change. Water resource managers in the region can use these findings for effective water resource planning, management, and adaptation measures.

This study employed electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in characterising the shallow groundwater aquifers of Eastern Dahomey basin in southwestern Nigeria to assess the possible occurrence and distribution of saltwater within the aquifers. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarization (IP) and borehole logging were carried in locations with relatively enhanced electrical conductivity (EC) within the coastal zone of the basin through 97 groundwater samples from shallow wells and boreholes; 500 m-length ERT and IP sections were carried out along three traverses A−B, C−D and E−F in directions perpendicular and parallel to the coastline. Three geoelectrical layers were identified along traverse line A−B which comprises cross-sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 located around Ugbonla, Aboto and Igbokoda with layers’ resistivity and chargeability values ranging from (1−1000, 33−200 and 1−1700 Ωm), and (−50−200 Ωm, −30−200 Ωm and −50−120 Ωm, respectively, from the top to the bottom layer. These values indicated unconsolidated sand/lateritic silty clay, underlain by a sandy/silty clay layer with underlying fine-grained sand with disseminated clay lenses. The average thickness of the first two layers was 16 and 53 m while that of the third layer was undetermined. Resistivity and chargeability results from ERT and IP cross-sections along profile C−D exhibited characteristics similar to that of profile A−B with unconsolidated sands which were underlain by intercalation of sandy/silty clay and fine-grained sands with suspected clay lenses saturated with saline water. Profile E−F revealed a geoelectrical layer with low resistivity which ranged from 1−30 Ωm with the corresponding chargeability between −150−400 ms. This indicated a saline water-saturated layer of fine-grained sand and silty clay which is overlaid by the unconsolidated unconfined freshwater aquifer. Correlation of selected ERT results with borehole logs further affirmed the suspected lithology from the sections. Two scenarios of saltwater intrusions into coastal freshwater aquifer were suggested which include the presence of trapped salt-saturated clay lenses within aquifer lithology and seawater incursion induced by over-drafting of groundwater in this basin.Therefore, it identified the need for further investigation which will involve a combination of hydrochemical and isotopes to further understand the paleowater hypothesis.

Despite the increasing interest in climate change and water security, research linking climate change and groundwater quality is still at an early stage. This study explores the seasonal effect of the change in biogeochemical process for the redox-sensitive ions and metals Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42−, and NO3− to assess the groundwater quality of the shallow coastal aquifer of Eastern Dahomey Basin in southwestern Nigeria. Field physicochemical measurement of EC, pH TDS, Eh, salinity, temperature, and the static water level (SWL) was carried out on 250 shallow wells; 230 water samples were collected for analysis between June 2017 and April 2018. A spatial distribution map of these ions and metals showed an increasing concentration in the dry season water samples compared to those of the wet season. This higher concentration could be attributed to change in the intensity of hydrochemical processes such as evaporation, redox, and mineral precipitation. Results of linear regression modelling established significant relationships between SWL, SO42−, NO3−, Fe, and Eh for both wet and dry seasons with the p-value falling between 75% and 95%, which can also be seen in the plots of Eh/ORP against Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42−, and NO3−. These results revealed the influence of the redox process for both seasons, while also having a higher impact in the dry season while variation of concentration revealed decrease with increase in depth, which could be attributed to a decrease in well hydraulic properties and aeration. An Eh-pH geochemical diagram revealed NO3− as the controlling biogeochemical process over Fe in most of the sample wells. Concentrations of NO3−, Fe, and Mn are above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard for drinking water in most water samples. This study has established the link between climate change and groundwater quality in shallow coastal aquifers and suggested the need for strategic groundwater management policy and planning to ameliorate groundwater quality deterioration.

This paper aimed at developing advanced Logit discrete choice models with several individual and mode attributes affecting the prediction of individual choice. The models have been applied to Port-Said (PS) city and have been used to investigate innovative transport systems such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a hypothetical mode situation beside the regular modes of transport (car and taxi). The methodology provides data collection of PS transportation mode system and develops Multinomial Logit Model (MNL), Nested Logit Model (NL), and Mixed Logit Model (MXL) using Visual-tm Software. The survey was formed by the Stated Preference (SP) technique conducted for individuals from all PS zones and the predictable travel mode choice behavior was analyzed. The findings showed that in PS, income is the most important attribute affecting the mode choice behavior model. The high values and positive signs of income parameters indicate that the higher income earners are more likely to use private car than taxi or bus. Contrary to most cases in developed countries, out-of-vehicle time that represents the accessibility shows higher impacts than the in-vehicle time as a result of poor access facilities in developing countries.