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Abstract Bioassay-guided fractionation approach led to identification of two novel compounds; (4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methoxy-1H-pyrazol (1) and mycalene (2), alongside with four known metabolites; octadecane (3), hexatriacontane (4), 1-heneicosanol (5) and heptatriacontanoic acid (6) from the Red Sea marine sponge Hemimycale sp. The ethyl acetate fraction showed a noticeable cytotoxic activity against the lung cancer cell line (A549) with IC50 value of 75.54 µg/ mL. Structural elucidation was achieved using a combination of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). To elucidate the potential mechanism of action behind the cytotoxic effects against lung cancer, a multi-faceted approach combining in silico network pharmacology, experimental validation, and molecular docking studies were employed. Both compounds, designated as 1 and 2, demonstrated significant binding affinities to predicted target proteins, with docking scores of -4.789 and − 4.421 kcal/mol, respectively. These results lay the groundwork for further investigation into the therapeutic potential of these novel compounds from Hemimycale sp. as promising candidates for lung cancer treatment.

Abstract Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) regulate cell metabolism and various biological processes by delivering specific proteins and nucleic acids to surrounding cells. We aimed to investigate the effects of the cargo contained in EVs derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) on the porcine embryonic development. Methods ASCs were isolated from porcine adipose tissue and characterized using ASC-specific markers via flow cytometry. EVs were subsequently extracted from the conditioned media of the established ASCs. These EVs were added to the in vitro culture environment of porcine embryos to observe qualitative improvements in embryonic development. Furthermore, the proteins within the EVs were analyzed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results We observed a higher blastocyst development rate and increased mitochondrial activity in early stage embryos in the ASC-EVs-supplemented group than in the controls (24.8% ± 0.8% vs. 28.6% ± 1.1%, respectively). The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay of blastocysts also revealed significantly reduced apoptotic cells in the ASC-EVs-supplemented group. Furthermore, through proteomics, we detected the proteins in ASC-EVs and blastocysts from each treatment group. This analysis revealed a higher fraction of proteins in the ASC-EVs-supplemented group than in the controls (1,547 vs. 1,495, respectively). Gene analysis confirmed that ASC-EVs showed a high expression of tyrosine-protein kinase (SRC), whereas ASC-EVs supplemented blastocysts showed a higher expression of Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). SRC is postulated to activate protein kinase B (AKT), which inhibits the forkhead box O signaling pathway and activates CDK1. Subsequently, CDK1 activation influences the cell cycle, thereby affecting in vitro embryonic development. Conclusion ASC-EVs promote mitochondrial activity, which is crucial for the early development of blastocysts and vital in the downregulation of apoptosis. Additionally, ASC-EVs supply SRC to porcine blastocysts, thereby elongating the cell cycle.

Abstract Background Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) in the setting of acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) requires to be performed by highly-skilled surgeons to avoid complications. The purpose of this study is to identify preoperative factors that would predict difficult ELC among patients with ACC prior to proceeding with surgery. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who received ELC within 10 days from the onset of symptoms of ACC between August 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. They were divided into 2 groups according to the difficulty of surgery. Results 149 patients with ACC received ELC during the study period. ELC was considered difficult in 52 patients (35%). Five preoperative factors were identified as significant predictors of difficult ELC (DELC) on multivariate analysis: duration of acute attack ≥ 4 days from the onset of symptoms till surgery (OR 34.4, P 20 mm (OR 20.2, P = 0.029), ultrasound showing gallstone impaction in Hartmann’s pouch (OR 7.2, P = 0.017), history of prior episode(s) of acute attack (OR 6.8, P = 0.048), and diabetes mellitus (OR 5.8, P = 0.046). Conclusion Careful preoperative assessment of patients with ACC is crucial among junior surgeons with limited surgical expertise prior to proceeding with ELC to identify those at risk of DELC to potentially reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. If encountered, a management plan should be made, and surgery should proceed only upon confirming the availability of experienced surgeons in the field of biliary and laparoscopic surgery to supervise or assist in the procedure. Alternatively, such group of patients should rather be transferred to more advanced surgical centers which offer higher level of care to maintain patient safety and optimal surgical outcomes. More importantly, bail-out procedures should always be resorted to whenever DELC is encountered intraoperatively to prevent further surgical damage.

Abstract The sonication method was used to prepare a new set of CuO and CuO/Ag nanocomposites. The particle size was estimated using XRD and HR-TEM while the morphology of the nanoparticles was investigated with SEM. The average particle sizes of CuO and Ag falls in the 29.32–35.80 nm and 35.13–45.95 nm ranges, respectively. XRD declared that CuO has the space groups C 1 c 1 (9) and C 1 2/c 1 (15), while silver has space group F m -3 m (225). XPS analysis indicated the presence of Ag as Ag0 and Cu as Cu2+. Nano-oxide and nanocomposites were used to synthesis CuO and CuO/Ag doped lithium–zinc borosilicate glass. Physical parameters of the glass samples were calculated including density, $$\hbox {V}_{m}$$ V m , $$\hbox {V}_{o}$$ V o , $$\hbox {V}_{m}^{B}$$ V m B , OPD, $$\hbox {d}_{B-B}$$ d B - B , $$\hbox {n}_{b}$$ n b , and N, $$\hbox {R}_{p}$$ R p , and $$\hbox {R}_{i}$$ R i depending on Ag and CuO mole fractions. The physical properties of glass indicated an increase in density and an initial expansion in glass structural network with the addition of silver metal due to its larger size followed by a compression as its molar ratio increase due to its higher $$\hbox {C}_{no}$$ C no . XRD measurements were reported for the glass samples doped with nanoparticles, proving the amorphous phase. ESR measurements were determined for all glass samples to detect the nature of the doped nanoparticles when incorporated inside a glassy matrix where CuO was found as tetragonal in octahedral sites and silver can be transformed after melting inside the glass matrix into Ag+ to form more stable $$\hbox {Ag}^{x+}_{y}$$ Ag y x + clusters.The fabricated sample of CuAgB-4 with significant nano silver doping (7.32% mol) has the maximum LAc and effective atomic number. Nano silver content increases the $$\gamma$$ γ -RdSg in the lithium–zinc borosilicate glasses.

Abstract Lead borate glass is the best radiation shielding glass when lead is in high concentration. However, it has low transparency after radiation exposure. Radiation decreases transparency due to chemical and physical changes in the glass matrix, such as creating or healing defects in the glass network. The addition of rare earth elements like cerium and dysprosium oxides to lead borate glasses can improve their transparency and durability as radiation shielding barriers. The newly manufactured glasses’ optical absorption, structural, and radiation shielding properties were measured. The optical characteristics of the generated samples were examined to determine the effect of the cerium/dysprosium ratio on the structural alterations, specifically in the presence of bridging oxygen (BO) and non-bridging oxygen (NBO). Incorporating Ce3+ results in peaks at 195 nm for borate units, 225 nm for Ce3+, and a broadened peak at 393 nm due to overlapping peaks for Ce3+ and Ce4+ in the UV region. By adding Dy, multiple peaks are observed at 825, 902, 1095, 1275, and 1684 nm, corresponding to the transition from 6H15/2 ground state to 6F5/2, 6F7/2, 6F9/2, 6F11/2, and 6H11/2. The samples were also tested before and after exposure to gamma irradiation from a 60Co source at a dose of 75 kGy to assess their stability against radiation. The energy gap value during irradiation shows decreased non-bridging oxygen. The energy gap difference before and after irradiation for the M4 sample shows higher NBO to BO conversion, reducing radiation damage and improving structural stability. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was utilized to get insight into the coordination chemistry of the created glass samples. The half-value layer (HVL), radiation protection efficiency (RPE), neutron removal cross-section (FRNCS), mean free path (MFP), mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), and effective atomic numbers (Zef) of the glassy structure were calculated theoretically to assess its radiation shielding qualities. The linear attenuation coefficient order for the prepared samples was M1 > M2 > M3 > M4. The FRNCS values were 0.090, 0.083, 0.081, and 0.079 cm−1 for samples M1, M2, M3, and M4, respectively.

Embryo transfer plays a crucial role in enhancing the breeding value of livestock; it has been applied in Hanwoo cattle, which is a popular breed for beef production in Korea. Both in vivo-derived (IVD) and in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos are used for this purpose; however, IVP embryos have been preferred recently owing to advancements in ovum pick-up (OPU) technology and genomic selection. Despite technological advancements, comprehensive data on large-scale OPU/IVEP/embryo transfer in Hanwoo cows are lacking. In this study, 16 elite Hanwoo donor cows were selected on the basis of specific criteria. Oocytes were retrieved from 241 cows using OPU. The collected cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured, fertilized, and cultured in vitro to produce transferable embryos. Embryos were classified according to their developmental stage and then transferred to 675 recipient cows. A total of 3,317 COCs were collected, with an average of 13.76 COCs per cow. The number of transferable embryos produced per cow was 3.7. Hanwoo OPU-derived IVP embryos exhibited a higher production yield than the global average, indicating a stable IVEP environment. Both fresh and frozen IVP embryos yielded similar conception rates; hence, the use of vitrified-thawed embryos in transfer plans feasible. However, frozen-thawed embryos at Stage 7 had a lower conception rate than those at earlier stages. There was no significant difference between the conception rates of sexually mature heifers and postpartum cows used as recipients. The male-to-female offspring ratio increased as the developmental stage progressed. Seasonal effects on conception rates were not observed; however, higher abortion rates and a higher proportion of male offspring were observed during winter. This study provides valuable data for the Korean embryo transfer industry, enabling more strategic growth of the domestic Hanwoo embryo industry.

Abstract Background In the literature, obesity has been correlated with coronary artery diseases (CADs) and high health costs. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between obesity parameters and the health costs among patients with CADs undergoing cardiac catheterization. Method A secondary data analysis was done for an original study. The original study was conducted among 220 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization from two main hospitals located in the Middle and Northern regions of Jordan. Bivariate Pearson’s correlation and forward linear regression analysis were calculated in this study. Results The average health cost for the participants was 1,344 JOD (1,895.63 USD). A significant positive moderate correlation (r = 0.4) was found between hip circumference (HC) and health cost. There were significant positive weak correlations between low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and depression, and the health cost (correlation coefficient 0.17, 0.3, 0.29, 0.22 and 0.17, respectively. HC, waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body adiposity index (BAI) were significantly associated with health costs among male participants. In contrast, among females, none of the obesity parameters was significantly associated with health costs. The forward regression analysis illustrated that an increase of HC by 3.9 cm (β (0.292) * SD (13.4)) will increase the health cost by 1 JOD (0.71 USD). The same analysis revealed that HS-CRP increased by 0.4 mg/dl (β (0.258)*SD (1.43)), or triglycerides increased by 8.3 mg/dl (β (0.241)* SD (34.3)), or depression score increased by 0.32 score (β (0.137)* SD (2.3)), or total cholesterol increased by 4 mg/dl (β (0.163)* SD (24.7)), the health cost will increase by one JOD (0.71 USD). Conclusion Healthcare providers, including nurses, should significantly consider these factors to reduce the health costs for those at-risk patients by providing the appropriate healthcare on time.

In recent decades, reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls have been one of the best structural solutions to resist lateral load in high-rise buildings. Shear wall openings are essential for preparations and architectural requirements, which weaken the wall, reducing bearing capacity, energy absorption, and stiffness while also causing stress concentrations. This paper presents a comprehensive finite element (FE) investigation of the behavior and performance of RC shear walls with openings and subjected to lateral loads. The study aims to evaluate the influence of various parameters, such as opening location, size, wall aspect ratio, axial load, and concrete strength, which affect the performance of shear walls. FE models were developed to simulate the seismic response of RC shear walls under the combined effect of constant axial and lateral loads. The obtained results from the FE model showed a successful validation using the experimental data available in the literature. The FE analysis results demonstrate that the inclusion of lower openings leads to a 25% decrease in the bearing capacity of the wall when compared to the upper openings. Moreover, it was observed that augmenting the sizes of the openings and the aspect ratios of the wall resulted in declines in the strength, stiffness, and energy absorption capacity of the wall while simultaneously enhancing the ductility and displacement of the RC shear walls.

Abstract This study investigates the individual and combined effects of enhancing the radiation shielding properties of waste concrete using the optimal mix design of two waste material powders of different compositions. Marble (MD) and granite (GD) waste dust were individually utilized as partial replacements for cement at a replacement ratio of 6%. Furthermore, two additional mixes were prepared by incorporating 1% by cement weight of nano alumina (NA) to enhance the microstructure of the studied waste concrete. The MGA-concrete was analyzed using X-ray Fluorescence, Energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscope techniques. The radiation shielding assets of the examined Concrete samples, such as the linear attenuation coefficient (μ), half value layer (H1/2), tenth value layer (T1/10), and fast neutron removal cross-section were evaluated using the MCS5 Monte Carlo simulation algorithm and Phy-X software. The results showed that the linear attenuation for the GMN-concretes’ order is CO

Preservation of native Korean bats is crucial for maintaining ecological balance, as they play a vital role in insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal within their ecosystems. The present study details the establishment of bat induced pluripotent stem cells (BatiPSCs) from two Asian and Korean bats (Hypsugo alaschanicus and Pipistrellus abramus) using the Sendai Reprogramming Kit. Colonies of BatiPSCs, exhibiting distinctive features, were manually selected and expanded following successful transfection. Characterization of BatiPSCs revealed the expression of pluripotency markers, such as Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box 2 and Nanog, with notably increased Oct4 levels and reduced Myc proto-oncogene expression compared with those noted in other induced pluripotent stem cell sources. BatiPSCs displayed positive staining for alkaline phosphatase and demonstrated the ability to form embryoid bodies, while also inducing teratomas in non-immune nude mice. Additionally, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing BatiPSCs were generated and used for chimeric mouse production, with slight GFP signals detected in the neck region of the resulting mouse foetuses. These findings demonstrate the successful generation and characterization of BatiPSCs, emphasizing their potential applications in chimeric animal models, and the protection of endangered bat species.

Abstract Platinum-based catalysts that have long been used as the anodes for the formic acid electro-oxidation (FAO) in the direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) were susceptible to retrogradation in performance due to CO poisoning that impaired the technology transfer in industry. This work is designed to overcome this challenge by amending the Pt surface sequentially with nanosized cobalt (nano-CoOx, fibril texture of ca. 200 nm in particle size) and iron (nano-FeOx, nanorods of particle size and length of 80 and 253 nm, respectively) oxides. This enriched the Pt surface with oxygenated groups that boosted FAO and mitigated the CO poisoning. The unfilled d-orbitals of the transition metals and their tendency to vary their oxidations states presumed their participation in a faster mechanism of FAO. Engineering the Pt surface in this FeOx/CoOx/Pt hierarchy resulted in a remarkable activity toward FAO, that exceeded four times that of the Pt catalyst with up to ca. 2.5 times improvement in the catalytic tolerance against CO poisoning. This associated a ca. − 32 mV shift in the onset potential of FAO which increased to − 40 mV with a post-activation of the same catalyst at − 0.5 in 0.2 mol L–1 NaOH, displaying the catalyst's competitiveness in reducing overpotentials in DFAFCs. It also exhibited a favorable amelioration in the catalytic durability in long-termed chronoamperometric electrolysis. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the CO stripping voltammetry were employed to elucidate the origin of enhancement.

Due to the radiation released by commonly used isotopes, many nuclear, medical, and industrial facilities require proper radiation shielding. In this work, distinct copper borate glasses intercalated with varied aluminum and vanadium oxide (Al2O3 and V2O5) content have been synthesized and used against radiation (gamma rays and fast/thermal neutrons). The different percents were as follows: [60% B2O3 + 35% CuO + (5-x)% Al2O3 + xV2O5], where x = 0, 1, and 2.5 wt.%, which was coded as BCu(5-x)Al:xV. The synthesized glass samples were characterized using Fourier transforms, infrared, and X-Raydiffraction analysis. Experimentally, the radiation shielding possessions of the samples were established using an HPGe detector at the gamma energy lines 0.356 MeV, 0.661 MeV, 1.173 MeV, and 1.332 MeV. Also, the prepared glasses were investigated theoretically using the Monte Carlo code (MCNP5) at photon energies of 0.015–15 MeV. Also, the fast and thermal neutron macroscopic effective removal cross-sections were calculated using MRCsC and JANIS-4.1 software, respectively. The prepared sample BCu2.5Al:2.5V, which has a vanadium and aluminum content of 2.5%, has the highest linear attenuation coefficient as well as the highest removal cross-section for fast, and thermal neutrons.

Abstract Background Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a promising bio-agent in the Mediterranean region. It attacks a wide range of pest species. Two fundamental questions have been raised when C. negevi was a promising candidate for biological control applications in a hydroponic system. This study was carried out to answer the raised questions: (1) how long a predatory female takes to attack its prey in a non-choice biological control application? and (2) what do the predatory females prefer when offered a multiple choice (free-choice) of pest preys?, to understand the potentialities of C. negevi attacking behaviour. Results Two sets of experiments were conducted for 240 min under laboratory conditions of 27 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 18:6h L:D photoperiod. The tested prey species were Tetranychus urticae Koch, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas), and Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas). Non-choice experiments tested the time (min) needed to the 24 h starved female to attack its prey. The free-choice experiments tested the female’ choices and the time recorded for each female during the full experimental time. Significant differences were recorded in both sets at confidence level of 95%. The spider mite T. urticae recorded the shortest predatory female’s response in both non- and free-choice sets. On the contrary, the insect I. aegyptiaca had the least female’s choice in both sets of experiment. Conclusion The present study discussed the behavioural categories of C. negevi. The female responses showed a list of priorities to the tested herbivore species. Such behavioural simulation is considerable for the future pest control applications to predict the generalist predator’s preferences among a wide range of multiple herbivore species.

Abstract Various histopathological, clinical and imaging parameters have been evaluated to identify a subset of women diagnosed with lesions with uncertain malignant potential (B3 or BIRADS 3/4A lesions) who could safely be observed rather than being treated with surgical excision, with little impact on clinical practice. The primary reason for surgery is to rule out an upgrade to either ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer, which occurs in up to 30% of patients. We hypothesised that the stromal immune microenvironment could indicate the presence of carcinoma associated with a ductal B3 lesion and that this could be detected in biopsies by counting lymphocytes as a predictive biomarker for upgrade. A higher number of lymphocytes in the surrounding specialised stroma was observed in upgraded ductal and papillary B3 lesions than non-upgraded (p

Background: Porcine embryonic development is widely utilized in the medical industry. However, the blastocyst development rate in vitro is lower compared to in vivo. To address this issue, various supplements are employed. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play the role of communicators that carry many bioactive cargoes. Additionally, the contents of EVs can vary on the estrous cycle. Methods: We compared the effects of adding EVs derived from porcine uterine fluid (UF), categorized as non-EV (G1), EVs in estrus (G2) and EVs in diestrus (G3). After in vitro culture (IVC) was performed in three different groups, cleavage rate and blastocyst development rate were examined. In addition, glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured 2 days after activation to assess oxidative stress. Results: Using NTA and cryo-TEM, we confirmed the presence of EVs with sizes ranging from 30 nm to 200 nm, that the particles were suitable for analysis for analysis. In IVC data, the highest cleavage rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Similarly, the highest blastocyst development rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Conclusions: These results indicate that estrus derived EVs contain biofactors beneficial for early blastocyst development, including GSH which protects the blastocyst from oxidative stress. Additionally, although diestrus-derived EVs are expected to have some effect on blastocyst development, it appeared to be less effective than estrus-derived EVs.

We present a case of successful embolization of an anterior chest wall arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a 24-year-old male patient. This report aims to highlight the efficacy and safety of using the liquid embolic agent (onyx) as well as the combined approaches (trans-femoral and trans-radial) in managing rare complex chest wall AVMs.

Following the COVID-19 restrictions, there was a sharp decline in global air quality and related environmental metrics. Due to the limited availability of in situ atmospheric data in Bangladesh, this study collected data on various air pollutants (NO2, SO2, CO, and PM2.5), greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, and O3), as well as meteorological variables like Land Surface Temperature (LST), Relative Humidity (RH), Precipitation, surface albedo and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from different datasets by Google Earth Engine (GEE), the International Energy Agency (IEA), NASA Giovanni, and NASA Power Access Viewer, covering periods before (2019), during (2020), and after (2021–2023) the COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh. GIS-based assessment alongside Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been performed to explore the patterns, trends and correlations among the observed variables. Results showed in 2020 compared to 2019, NO2, SO2, CO, PM2.5, and CO2 concentrations decreases by 1.94, 16.67, 1.95, 2.08, and 6 %, respectively, while CH4 and O3 continued to rise. Meteorological variables exhibited a 0.16 °C decreases in LST, 6.4 % increases in RH, a 6 % reduction in AOD, and 6.36 % declines in surface albedo. Post-lockdown in 2021, air pollutants surged (NO2, SO2, CO, and PM2.5 increases by 17.3, 23.6, 0.6, and 8.3 %, respectively), with CO2, LST, and AOD rising by 8.5 %, 0.13 °C, and 8.3 %, and a slight 0.46 % decrease in RH compared to 2019 due to resuming more economic activities, transportation and industrial production works. The years 2022–2023 saw slight improvements in most variables except CH4, though concentrations did not revert to those of 2019. The findings of correlation coefficients revealed that pollutants and GHG are highly correlated with the meteorological variables specially with RH. This study underscores the substantial shifts in atmospheric variables from pre-to post-lockdown periods, offering valuable insights for more effective management of the greenhouse effect and air pollution control strategies.

ABSTRACT: This work was designed to assess the impact of varying zeolite concentrations in diet and litter to enhance broiler's growth performance, immunity, and litter quality. A complete random arrangement was used for distributing 525 unsexed “Cobb 500” broiler chicks into seven treatments (75 chick / treatment), each treatment divided into 3 replicates (25 chicks / replicate). The 1st group (control one) received the recommended basal diet. Zeolite has been introduced to the basal diet (ZD) of the second, third, and fourth groups at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g/kg, respectively. The 5th, 6th and 7th groups used zeolite mixed with litter (ZL) at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg/m2 of litter, respectively. Due to the obtained results, adding zeolite with levels 15 g/kg of diet and 1.5 kg/1 m2 of litter, a significant improvement occurred in live body weight (LBW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European production efficiency factor (EPEF). Also, transaminase enzymes (ALT and AST), creatinine, white blood cells (WBCs) and different Immunoglobulins were significantly increased with different zeolite levels, except urea concentrations which showed reduced due to different zeolite treatments. In addition, spleen relative weight hasn't been affected by zeolite treatments, even though thymus and bursa relative weights had been affected significantly. Moreover, the antibodies' production to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Avian influenza virus (AIV) had increased significantly with adding zeolite with levels 10 g/kg of diet and 1.5 kg/1m2 of litter. Litter quality traits (NH3 concentration, pH values, and Moisture content) were improved with zeolite addition. So, zeolite could be employed in both feed and litter of broilers to maximize their production, immunity and improve farm's climate.

ABSTRACT: This study explored the ability of formic acid (FA) to replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets. It examined how FA affected the chickens' growth, carcass characteristics, blood chemistry, and gut bacteria. The experiment randomly assigned 300 one-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chicks to 5 groups, each divided into 6 replicates with 10 unsexed chicks. The following were the treatments: 1st group, negative control (NC): only received a basal diet; 2nd group, positive control (PC): received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 grams of Colistin antibiotic per kilogram of diet; 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups (FA2, FA4, and FA6) these groups received a basal diet along with formic acid added at increasing levels: 2, 4, and 6 Cm3 per kilogram of diet, respectively. Results found no significant differences in live body weight (LBW) or body weight gain (BWG) between treatment groups, except for LBW at one week and BWG at 0 to 1 and 4 to 5 wk of age. No significant variations were found in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the treatment groups, excluding FI and FCR at 1 to 2 wk of age. The treatments significantly impacted carcass traits, dressing percentage, breast meat, thigh meat, spleen, giblets, blood levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, and albumin, as well as the activity of enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in chicks fed different diets compared to control groups. The addition of FA to the diet significantly impacted antioxidant levels. Also, the FA2 group had the highest total bacterial count (TBC). However, the FA6 group was the opposite; it had the lowest levels of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Coliform. Supplementing broiler diets with formic acid improves blood parameters, antioxidant activity, and gut bacteria counts, with 4.0 cm³ formic acid/kg diet supplementation promoting optimal broiler health and product quality.

Summary: The present study aimed to determine the effects of adding Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to laying quail diets on performance, egg quality, and internal organ weights. We used 96 laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) at 12 wk of age. The birds were divided into 3 treatment groups (32 quails per group), each divided into 8 replicates (4 quails per replicate). The research was carried out in 3 periods of 28 d each. We used 3 diets; the 1st group served as a control group, receiving only a basal diet. The 2nd and 3rd experimental groups received 0.1% (1×109 CFU/g) B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens as an addition to the basal diet, respectively. Adding B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens did not influence the performance parameters statistically. Also, adding B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens significantly (p < 0.05) impacted the albumen index, Haugh unit, and egg yolk compared to the control group. In contrast, the applied Bacillus species did not affect other egg quality parameter values. The addition of B. megaterium and B. amyloliquefaciens did not significantly influence body weight, heart weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, small intestine length, and cecum length among the slaughter parameters examined. Adding 0.1% (1 × 109 CFU/g), of B. amyloliquefaciens to the laying quail diets can be used without causing a significant difference in performance, egg quality characteristics, and visceral weights compared to the control group.

In this paper an efficient, compact, and cheap power source design for an off-grid PV water pumping system is investigated. The proposed system consists of a PV array, battery, three-port converter (TPC), three-phase voltage source inverter, and induction motor pump. Power is extracted from PV sources during the daytime and used to charge batteries through the three-port converter, then used later to supply load during the nighttime. An intelligent MPPT method is used to obtain PV maximum power; a jellyfish optimization technique with different control algorithms is used to optimize and tune controllers’ parameters among the system. Different modes for the TPC are discussed depending on PV power availability. The proposed system is simulated to assess system performance under different conditions; also the system is efficient with reduced number of components than conventional converters. A complete unified power management over PV input port, battery port, and load port has occurred for all operation modes. At all operation modes, the system has been feeding load without any unmet loads. A real case study in Al-Kharijah oasis is studied and simulation results are listed; for the Dom case DC bus ripple factor voltage percentage equals 0.8%, in the Dim case equals 3%, and in the Siso mode equals 9%.

Abstract A novel analysis of the pulsatile nano-blood flow through a sinusoidal wavy channel, emphasizing the significance of diverse influences in the modelling, is investigated in this paper. This study examines the collective effects of slip boundary conditions, magnetic field, porosity, channel waviness, nanoparticle concentration, and heat source on nano-blood flow in a two-dimensional wavy channel. In contrast to prior research that assumed a constant pulsatile pressure gradient during channel waviness, this innovative study introduces a variable pressure gradient that significantly influences several associated parameters. The mathematical model characterising nano-blood flow in a horizontally wavy channel is solved using the perturbation technique. Analytical solutions for fundamental variables such as stream function, velocity, wall shear stress, pressure gradient, and temperature are visually depicted across different physical parameter values. The findings obtained for various parameter values in the given problem demonstrate a significant influence of the amplitude ratio parameter of channel waviness, Hartmann number of the magnetic field, permeability parameter of the porous medium, Knudsen number due to the slip boundary, volume fraction of nanoparticles, radiation parameter, Prandtl number, and heat source parameters on the flow dynamics. The simulations provide valuable insights into the decrease in velocity with increasing magnetic field and its increase with increasing permeability and slip parameters. Additionally, the temperature increases with increasing nanoparticle volume fraction and radiation parameter, while it decreases with increasing Prandtl number.

Abstract The current work discusses the radiation attenuation capability and different shielding characteristics of different mortar samples. The samples were prepared by replacing different percentages of fine aggregate with iron filling and replacing different percentages of hydrated lime with Bi2O3 (0–50 wt.%). The prepared mortar samples are coded as CHBFX where X = 0, 10, 30, and 50 wt.%. The mass and linear attenuation coefficient was determined experimentally using a narrow beam technique, where a high purity germanium detector, and different point gamma-ray sources (such as Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60). The linear attenuation coefficient was also calculated using the Monte-Carlo simulation code and the online Phy-X/PSD software. The comparison of the three methods showed a good agreement in the results. The linear attenuation coefficient drops from 19.821 to 0.053 cm−1 for CHBF0, from 27.496 to 0.057 cm−1 for CHBF10, from 42.351 to 0.064 cm−1 for CHBF30, and from 55.068 to 0.071 cm−1 for CHBF50 at photon energy range from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The half-value layer thickness, tenth-value layer thickness, and mean free path of the prepared mortar composites were also calculated photon energy ranged from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The fast neutron removal cross-section of the prepared CHBFX mortar samples have values of 0.096 cm−1, 0.098 cm−1, 0.103 cm−1, and 0.107 cm−1 for the mortar samples CHBF0, CHBF10, CHBF30, and CHBF50, respectively. The results showed that the mortar sample with the highest iron filing concentration, CHBF50, provides the best protection against gamma rays and fast neutrons which could be used in the nuclear and medical fields.

Abstract Background The rising demand for improved aesthetics has driven the utilization of recently introduced aesthetic materials for creating custom post and core restorations. However, information regarding the fracture resistance of these materials remains unclear, which limits their practical use as custom post and core restorations in clinical applications. Aim of the study This study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of three non-metallic esthetic post and core restorations and their modes of failure. Materials and methods Thirty-nine single-rooted human maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated. A standardized post space preparation of 9mm length was performed to all teeth to receive custom-made post and core restorations. The prepared teeth were randomly allocated to receive a post and core restoration made of one of the following materials (n=13): glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN). An intraoral scanner was used to scan all teeth including the post spaces. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) was used to fabricate post and core restorations. Post and core restorations were cemented using self-adhesive resin cement. All specimens were subjected to fracture resistance testing using a universal testing machine. Failure mode analysis was assessed using a stereomicroscope and SEM. The data was statistically analyzed using One-Way ANOVA test followed by multiple pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni adjusted significance level. Results Custom PEEK post and core restorations displayed the least fracture load values at 286.16 ± 67.09 N. In contrast, FRC exhibited the highest average fracture load at 452.60 ± 105.90 N, closely followed by PICN at 426.76 ± 77.99 N. In terms of failure modes, 46.2% of specimens with PICN were deemed non-restorable, while for PEEK and FRC, these percentages were 58.8% and 61.5%, respectively. Conclusions Within the limitation of this study, both FRC and PICN demonstrated good performance regarding fracture resistance, surpassing that of PEEK.

Abstract This research contributes to the comprehension of nanofluid behaviour through a wavy channel, emphasizing the significance of considering diverse influences in the modelling process. The study explores the collective influence of pressure gradient variation, magnetic field, porosity, channel waviness, nanoparticle concentration, and heat transfer on nano-blood flow in a two-dimensional wavy channel. In contrast to prior research assuming a constant pulsatile pressure gradient during channel waviness, this innovative study introduces a variable pressure gradient, significantly influencing several associated parameters. The mathematical model characterizing nano-blood flow in a horizontally wavy channel is solved using the perturbation technique. Analytical solutions for fundamental variables such as stream function, velocity, wall shear stress, pressure gradient, and temperature are visually depicted across different physical parameters values. The findings obtained for differing parameter values in the given problem demonstrate a significant influence of the amplitude ratio parameter of channel waviness, Hartmann number of the magnetic field, permeability parameter of the porous medium, volume fraction of nanoparticles, radiation parameter, Prandtl number, and the suction/injection parameter on the flow dynamics. The simulations provide valuable insights into the decrease in velocity with increasing magnetic field and its increase with higher permeability. Additionally, the temperature is observed to escalate with a rising nanoparticle volume fraction and radiation parameter, while it declines with increasing Prandtl number.

Abstract The indirect dumping of massive volumes of toxic dyes into water has seriously affected the ecosystem. Owing to the many applications of the designed nanomaterials in the manufacturing process, there is a lot of research interest in synthesizing nanomaterials using green processes. In this research, the byproduct of bee was employed to synthesize nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO, CuO, and biosynthesized ZnO/CuO (BZC) nanocomposite via utilizing a green and simple approach. To validate the effective fabrication of BZC nanocomposite, various characterization measurements were applied. FTIR analysis identified the functional groups in charge of producing nanoparticles and nanocomposites. Moreover, the existence of ZnO and CuO XRD peaks suggests that the nanocomposites were successfully biosynthesized. The high-resolution XPS spectrum of the BZC nanocomposite’s Zn2p3, Cu2p3, and O1s were observed. Our findings indicate the successful engineering of the prepared nanomaterials and BZC nanocomposite. Our findings indicate the successful engineering of the prepared nanomaterials and BZC nanocomposite. For Congo red (CR) fluorescent stain azo dye elimination in water, all adsorption parameters were examined at room temperature. Moreover, the adsorption experiments revealed the removal capacity for uptake CR dye using BZC nanocomposite (90.14 mg g−1). Our results show that the BZC nanocomposite exhibited high removal capability for the adsorption of CR dye. The nanosphere adsorbent offered a simple, low-cost, and green approach for water purification and industrial wastewater control.

In this paper, we first introduced the concept of $ r $-fuzzy soft $ \beta $-closed sets in fuzzy soft topological spaces based on the sense of Šostak and investigated some properties of them. Also, we defined the closure and interior operators with respect to the classes of $ r $-fuzzy soft $ \beta $-closed and $ r $-fuzzy soft $ \beta $-open sets and studied some of their properties. Moreover, the concept of $ r $-fuzzy soft $ \beta $-connected sets was introduced and characterized with the help of fuzzy soft $ \beta $-closure operators. Thereafter, some properties of a fuzzy soft $ \beta $-continuity were studied. Also, we introduced and studied the concepts of fuzzy soft almost (weakly) $ \beta $-continuous functions, which are weaker forms of a fuzzy soft $ \beta $-continuity. The relationships between these classes of functions were specified with the help of some illustrative examples. Finally, we explored new types of fuzzy soft functions called fuzzy soft $ \beta $-irresolute (strongly $ \beta $-irresolute, $ \beta $-irresolute open, $ \beta $-irresolute closed, and $ \beta $-irresolute homeomorphism) functions and discussed some properties of them. Also, we showed that fuzzy soft strongly $ \beta $-irresolute $ \Rightarrow $ fuzzy soft $ \beta $-irresolute $ \Rightarrow $ fuzzy soft $ \beta $-continuity, but the converse may not be true.

Abstract This paper presents a super wideband and high-gain log periodic dipole array (LPDA) antenna. The overall structure of the antenna was constructed using microwave studio computer simulation technology. The optimal sizes of the planned antenna are 39 × 10× 0.254 mm3. The engineered antenna arrangement is implemented on an RT5880 substrate as a dielectric medium. The LPDA is arranged in four arms that are equally spaced on both lines. The main 50Ω feeder line is partially grounded at the back of the substrate. A combination of circular director units is being studied and tuned in a regular pattern at a predefined distance from the antenna. An improvement in gain of 3 dBi is the response of the director units. The Conformist LPDA is adjusted to achieve a wide range of millimeter wave bands ranging from 40 to over 70 GHz. The antenna resonates at 60 GHz, where the maximum realized gain of 14.97 dBi is attained. The antenna was tested for utilization in the V-band involving wireless personal area network (WPAN) applications recommended by IEEE 802.11ad and IEEE 802.15.3c. The outcomes of the constructed antenna elements' tests and simulations agree fairly well. The proposed layout works better than previous efforts in this field.

Abstract Background The lateral intercostal artery perforator (LICAP) flap aims at replacing the excised breast lump with axillary tissue rich blood supply. The purpose of this study is to report the initial results of a modification LICAP flap technique in terms of intraoperative technical feasibility and short-term cosmetic outcomes in the early postoperative period. Methods Modified LICAP flap technique was performed on 36 female patients with pathologically proven BC located in the outer half of the breast in the period from June 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. Results The LICAP flap modification enabled performing the procedure with the patient in supine position without repositioning. The majority of the patients (90%) had satisfactory early cosmetic results as reported by the patients and oncoplastic independent surgeon. Conclusion Modified LICAP flap reconstruction is feasible to be performed with the patient in supine position without repositioning and it has satisfactory early cosmetic outcomes.

Abstract This study assessed the radioactivity levels and associated risks in the black sand-separated products obtained from the black sand separation plant in Delta, Egypt. A total of sixteen samples were taken from hot spots during and after the separation process. These include water samples and other samples that represent monazite, rutile, zircon, granite, ilmenite, and silica products. The hot spots included the area where the ore was stored. The activity concentrations of $$^{232}Th$$ 232 T h , $$^{226}Ra$$ 226 R a , and $$^{40}K$$ 40 K were determined in these samples using a p-type HPGe detector. Based on gamma spectrometric analysis, samples of rutile, zircon, and monazite had the highest amounts of radioactivity because they contained the highest NORM’s activity concentrations. In addition, it indicated that the radiological hazard indices of the collected samples were higher than the average world limits for sand texture. These findings suggest that the black sand separation process reveals potential risks to human health and the environment, and therefore, appropriate measures need to be taken to mitigate these risks, especially for the safety of the workers on-site. Reducing the risk associated with those sites should be controlled by implementing the recommendations declared for the series of International Basic Safety Standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (GSR) Part 3, as affirmed in Document No. 103 of 2007 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) as will be presented in the paper body.

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to ascertain the influence of thyme leaf powder (TLP) on growth rate, carcass features, and blood indicators in broiler diets as a natural antioxidant and antibiotic substitute. A fully randomized design experiment divided 264-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) into 4 experimental groups. Six replicates of each group, each containing 11 unsexed chicks, were created. The following were the therapies: control group without additive (basal diet); TLP1, TLP2 and TLP3: basal diet + 1, 2 and 3 g thyme leaves powder/kg diet, respectively. Results showed that TLP added at 2 or 3 g/kg of feed significantly enhanced body weight gain (except for the period from 16 to 30 d of life), feed intake (except for the period from 1 to 15 d of life), and feed conversion ratio throughout study period. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with different TLP levels, particularly at a 3 g TLP/kg diet. Compared with the control group, the birds' 2 g TLP/kg diet included the highest levels of albumin and total protein and A/G (albumin/globulin) ratio. Furthermore, the birds fed 1 g TLP/kg feed had the lowest concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC). Moreover, chicks fed all treatment diets containing TLP had higher IgY concentrations than the control group. Nevertheless, the group that was fed a diet including 2 g TLP/kg had the highest IgM levels. Additionally, the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) levels were highest in the birds fed a 1g TLP/kg diet and minimum in the birds fed the control diet. Notably, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were maximum in birds fed a control meal and lowest in birds with a diet containing 1 g of TLP/kg. We may conclude that using TLP in broiler diets increases the birds' immunity, productivity, and overall health, especially at level 2 g of TLP/kg diet.

The unbound usage of plastic products in modern society has brought convenience and poses significant environmental challenges. Recycling Shops (RS) are vital in mitigating plastic waste problems in urban waste management. During the recycling process, RS generates non-recyclable plastics that demand scientific solutions for its management. This study conducted material flow analysis (MFA) to estimate the yearly recycled plastic waste in the RSs of Khulna City. Subsequently, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to explore the suitable management facilities for non-recyclable plastics. The results highlighted the contribution of the informal plastic recycling sector to the city's waste management system by recycling 6324 tons of plastic waste per year. Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) were the most abundant polymers among the recycling plastics in RS. The LCA results revealed that among the five considered cases, Open Burning showed the maximum impact on the environment while Sanitary Landfill exhibited the lowest environmental impact across eighteen impact categories. The sanitary landfilling of non-recyclable plastics was identified as an environmentally friendly approach for managing non-recyclable plastics. This study addressed the urgency for appropriately managing non-recyclable plastics to protect the human and environment from plastic pollution in Bangladesh including recommendations for improving current practices.

Due to rapid urbanization and uncontrolled population growth, solid waste management has become a rising issue in developing nations like Bangladesh. Khulna ranks third among Bangladesh's metropolitan cities. The existing system of Khulna City for transporting municipal solid waste lacks route planning and depends exclusively on the driver's expertise. Hence, this study aims to minimize the length of the present travel paths and assess the advantages of using optimized routes. Secondary datasets like a list of vehicles, financial information, and a list of secondary transfer stations have been collected from the municipality. A field survey was conducted to capture the coordinates of secondary transfer stations. Multiple GPS devices have been installed for monitoring the current paths, stops, and travel time of 31 waste collector vehicles for 10 months. A network database has been prepared and modified by integrating driver's perceptions and field inspection. Network analysis of ArcGIS Pro has been used for finding the optimized routes. The optimized route minimizes the travel distance by 9.40%. By following the optimized routes, about 11.6% of fuel costs can be reduced. This research has the potential to make a significant contribution to the waste management of Khulna City and beyond.

ABSTRACT: This investigation aimed to evaluate the impact of immersion (IM) riboflavin treatment on the hatchability, production efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail eggs. A total of 260 eggs of Japanese quail birds were used for hatching and were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates (13 eggs/replicate) in a fully randomized design. Hatching eggs were immersed in riboflavin for 2 min before incubation. The experiment treatments were designed as follows: G1 control group with no treatment, G2 treated with 3 g/L vit. B2 (IM), G3 treated with 4 g/L vit. B2 (IM) and G4 were treated with 5 g/L vit. B2 (IM). After hatching, 128 Japanese quail chicks, aged 7 d, were randomly grouped into 4 treatment groups, with 32 birds in each group. When quails were given vitamin B2 via immersion, they demonstrated significant enhancements in live body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio at different stages compared to the control group. Compared to control and other groups, the carcass parameters of Japanese quails given a 4 g/L immersion solution showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05). Hatchability and fertility (%) were considerably raised by Vit.B2 treatments of 3, 4, and 5g; the group immersed in 5 g/L had the highest percentages compared to the other groups. Furthermore, treated chickens with all concentrations of vitamin B2 had significantly higher blood indices than the controls. During the exploratory phase (1–6 wk) of age, the highest returns were reported in G4 treated with 5g/L vit. B2 (IM). Treating Japanese quail eggs with different dosages of vitamin B2 by immersion may be recommended to improve their productive and reproductive performance, blood indices, carcass traits, and economic efficiency.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of different levels of zeolite in laying hen (Silver Montazah) diet and litter on productive performance, egg quality criteria, and economics during the second stage of production (40–56 wk of age). An experiment with a 3 × 4 factorial design was performed to study the effects of four levels of zeolite (0, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg feed) in the diet and three levels of zeolite (0, 1.5, and 2 kg/m2) in the litter. Adding zeolite to diet and litter significantly improved final BW and BW change, egg number, egg weight, egg mass, laying rate, feed consumption (FC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), as well as egg quality criteria when compared to the unsupplemented group. Additionally, adding zeolite at a level of 2 kg /m2 litter and 20 g/kg diet achieved the greatest enhancement in productive performance features. Therefore, it can be suggested that the greatest results were obtained in laying farms when zeolite was added as a litter addition and as a supplement to feed.

The management of neurological disorders heavily relies on neurotherapeutic drugs, but notable concerns exist regarding their possible negative effects on reproductive health. Traditional preclinical models often fail to accurately predict reprotoxicity, highlighting the need for more physiologically relevant systems. Organoid models represent a promising approach for concurrently studying neurotoxicity and reprotoxicity, providing insights into the complex interplay between neurotherapeutic drugs and reproductive systems. Herein, we have examined the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotherapeutic drug-induced reprotoxicity and discussed experimental findings from case studies. Additionally, we explore the utility of organoid models in elucidating the reproductive complications of neurodrug exposure. Have discussed the principles of organoid models, highlighting their ability to recapitulate neurodevelopmental processes and simulate drug-induced toxicity in a controlled environment. Challenges and future perspectives in the field have been addressed with a focus on advancing organoid technologies to improve reprotoxicity assessment and enhance drug safety screening. This review underscores the importance of organoid models in unraveling the complex relationship between neurotherapeutic drugs and reproductive health.

Abstract Designing an organic polymer photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution with visible and near-infrared (NIR) light activity is still a major challenge. Unlike the common behavior of gradually increasing the charge recombination while shrinking the bandgap, we present here a series of polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) based on ITIC and BTIC units with different π-linkers between the acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) repeated moieties of the polymer. These polymers act as an efficient single polymer photocatalyst for H2 evolution under both visible and NIR light, without combining or hybridizing with other materials. Importantly, the difluorothiophene (ThF) π-linker facilitates the charge transfer between acceptors of different repeated moieties (A-D-A-(π-Linker)-A-D-A), leading to the enhancement of charge separation between D and A. As a result, the PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit superior hydrogen evolution rates of 279 µmol/h and 20.5 µmol/h with visible (>420 nm) and NIR (>780 nm) light irradiation, respectively. Furthermore, PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit a promising apparent quantum yield (AQY) at 700 nm (4.76%).

Abstract This study advances the understanding of nanofluid behaviour within stenosed arteries, highlighting the importance of considering multifaceted effects in the modelling process. It investigates the combined impact of pressure gradient variation, heat transfer, chemical reactions, and magnetic field effects on nano-blood flow in stenosed arteries. Unlike previous studies that made the assumption that the pulsatile pressure gradient remains constant during channel narrowing, this novel investigation introduces a variable pressure gradient. This, in turn, significantly impacts several associated parameters. The mathematical model describing nano-blood flow in a horizontally stenosed artery is solved using perturbation techniques. Analytical solutions for key variables, including velocity, temperature, concentration, wall shear stress, flow rate, and pressure gradient, are visually presented for various physical parameter values.

A sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) planning approach for Khulna city must include innovative and pioneering technologies which will suffice the requirements towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG) enlisted in the Bangladesh delta plan (BDP), 2100. This study utilizes system dynamics (SD) model to not only understand the MSW management system of Khulna city with independently interconnected parameters but also investigates three policy scenarios to aid the decision makers. An unforeseen increase of the composite index to 57.1 by 2050 represents the deteriorating environmental quality due to inconsistent policy measures for the baseline scenario of waste management sector. The methane (CH4) emission potential from landfill at Rajbandh in Khulna city has been found to be 8.29 Gg in 2020, which increases enormously to 108 Gg by 2050. The electric energy generation potential from the emitted CH4 has been found to be 7.65 MW per day in 2020 which eventually increases to 99.5 MW per day by 2050. This quantity can potentially be supplied to meet 2.24% of the total electricity demand by 2050. The total electric energy generation potential from MSW in Khulna city has been found to be 36.311 thousand MW in 2050 from 2.80 thousand MW in 2020. It has been perceived that, existing MSW management policy of Khulna city has to be replaced by assumed “Policy 3”, involving improved recycling capacity, collection capacity, extensive composting, landfill CH4 recovery and waste to electricity generation measures. Finally, this sophisticatedly developed SD model can be used for policy simulation of different spatiotemporal region.

ABSTRACT: This experiment investigated the influence of different synbiotic processing methods on the intestinal bacterial count, morphology and histological status of developed male Mandarah chicks. Two hundred and ten male Mandarah line chicks aged 1 d were randomized to receive one of 7 chicks. The method and dose for 1-time synbiotics administration to the day-old chicks were as follows: G1: chicks on basal diet received no treatment (control); G2: 0.25 mL synbiotics sprayed; G3: 0.50 mL synbiotics sprayed; G4: 0.25 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G5: 0.50 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G6: 0.25 mL of synbiotics dripped into the mouth; and G7: 0.50 mL of synbiotics dripped into mouth drops. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were significantly increased (P

ABSTRACT: This study used 300 1-day-old, sexless, developing chicks of Japanese quail to estimate the ability of vitamin C and/or garlic to antagonize the venomous influence of cadmium (Cd) on the hematological, immunological, and performance characteristics of developing Japanese quail. The quail was separated into 5 similar groups of 60 chicks apiece, and 6 duplicates (10 each) were given to each sub-group. The control group received a basal diet without any supplements. The Cd group was nourished with a basal diet of + 80 mg cadmium chloride (CdCl2)/kg diet. The 3rd group was fed a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet and complemented with a 200 mg Vitamin C (Cd + C)/kg diet. The 4th group was nourished with a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet and complemented by a 500 mg dried garlic powder (Cd + G)/kg diet. The 5th group was fed a basal diet + 80 mg CdCl2/kg diet, complemented by a 200 mg vitamin C/kg diet + 500 mg dried garlic powder (Cd + CG)/kg diet. Results showed that in the 5th group in which cadmium was added together with Vit C + garlic, there was an improvement in both live weight gain (1–42 d) and feed consumption (1–21 and 1–42 d ) compared to the group in which Cd was added alone. The addition of Vit C alone and together with garlic seems to completely improve the cadmium-related increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels when compared to the control. Compared to cadmium-polluted diets, quail that got cadmium and feed additives significantly reduced cadmium residue. In addition, the cadmium group's serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) level decreased significantly. These data imply that dietary supplementation with (C) or (G) may be beneficial in retrogressing the drop in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM caused by Cd and minimizing Cd's deleterious influence on immunity.

Abstract Marine biofouling, undesirable growth of organisms on submerged surfaces, poses significant challenges in various industries and marine applications. The development of environmentally safe antifouling coatings employing nano-MnO2/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite with bisphenol A epoxy diacrylate/glycidyl methacrylate (BED/GMA) irradiated by electron beam (T1) has been achieved in the current work. The physico-chemical characteristics of the fabricated coatings have been studied using Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, water contact angle, and X-ray diffraction. The efficacy of T1 formulation and pure BED/GMA polymer (T2) in inhibiting biofouling formation was investigated in seawater of Alexandria Eastern Harbour by examining biofilm development morphologically and biochemically. In addition, regular analyses of seawater physicochemical parameters were conducted monthly throughout study. Results provide valuable information on coating performance as well as the complex interactions between coatings, biofilms, and environmental factors. The T1 formulation exhibited strong anti-fouling and anticorrosion properties over 2 months. However, after four months of immersion, all coated steel surfaces, including T1, T2, and T0, were heavily covered with macro-fouling, including tubeworms, barnacles, and algae. Biochemical analysis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) showed statistically significant variations in carbohydrates content between the coated surfaces. The T1 formulation showed decreased protein and carbohydrate content in EPS fractions after 14 days of immersion indicating less biofouling. Moreover, elemental analysis showed that carbon, oxygen, and iron were the predominant elements in the biofilm. Other elements such as sodium, silicon, chloride, and calcium were in lower concentrations. T2 and T0 surfaces revealed higher calcium levels and the appearance of sulphur peaks if compared with T1 surface. Diatoms and bacteria were detected on T1, T2, and T0 surfaces. The observed warming of seawater and nutrient-rich conditions were found to promote the growth of fouling organisms, emphasizing the importance of considering environmental factors in biofouling management strategies.

Background: Feed additives that increase nutrient availability in feeds have gained a lot of interest. Aim: An experiment was conducted to determine whether amylase, protease and their combined supplementation affected broiler performance. Methods: Two hundred eighty (280) broiler chicks were selected and distributed randomly into 28 replicate pens with four treatment groups and seven replicates under Completely Randomized Design (CRD). A total of four diets were developed, having 0, 100g, 100g and 100+100g of control (AP0), amylase (A1), protease (P1) and amylase + protease (AP1)/ton of feed, respectively. Four replicates of each treatment were fed each diet. Each diet was randomly allotted to each group. Ad-libitum feeding was provided to the birds. The feeding program had starter and finisher diets. Upon completion of the experiment, three birds from each pen were slaughtered to analyze the carcass characteristics and organ weight. Results: Differences were insignificant between 100g/ton of amylase supplementation and FI, BWG, or FCR (P>0.05). Supplementation with 100g/ton of protease did not significantly affect FI, BWG, and FCR (P>0.05). Similarly, 100+100g/ton of amylase + protease addition had no significant effect on FI, BWG, and FCR (P>0.05). None of the treatments significantly affected carcass weight, abdominal fat percentage, dressing percentage, drumstick, wings, breast and thigh weights (P>0.05). In addition, there were no significant effects (P>0.05) on the weight of the heart, liver, gizzard, and spleen. Conclusion: In conclusion, amylase, protease, and their combined supplementation at a rate of 100g/ton of feed did not influence BWG, FI, FCR, carcass characteristics, or organ weight. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(11.000): 1425-1435]

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) grade is a well-established subjective prognostic indicator of tumour aggressiveness. Tumour heterogeneity and subjective assessment result in high degree of variability among observers in BC grading. Here we propose an objective Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) image-based prognostic marker for early-stage luminal/Her2-negative BReAst CancEr that we term as the BRACE marker. The proposed BRACE marker is derived from AI based assessment of heterogeneity in BC at a detailed level using the power of deep learning. The prognostic ability of the marker is validated in two well-annotated cohorts (Cohort-A/Nottingham: n = 2122 and Cohort-B/Coventry: n = 311) on early-stage luminal/HER2-negative BC patients treated with endocrine therapy and with long-term follow-up. The BRACE marker is able to stratify patients for both distant metastasis free survival (p = 0.001, C-index: 0.73) and BC specific survival (p

Abstract Guava tree (Psidium guajava L., Myrtaceae) is an economic grown worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Guavas encompass numerous cultivars (cvs.) that were discriminated in previous studies based on leaf morphological features and profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Nevertheless, fruit VOCs have also shown outstanding potential for discrimination of other plant taxa, which has not been utilized in guava. Hence, the current study investigates the various guava cvs. harvested from India and Egypt. A total of 5 samples were analyzed by solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results led to the detection of 42 VOCs belonging to aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, in addition to monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Butylated hydroxytoluene and β-caryophyllene were predominant reaching 77% and 41% in Egyptian and Indian guava, respectively. The impact of probiotic fermentation, i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum on aroma profile was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Multivariate data analyses were further applied for samples classification and markers determination, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). PCA score plot showed clear segregation of Egyptian from Indian specimens, whereas OPLS-DA revealed that β-caryophyllene was associated with white fruit versus 3-butenyl isothiocyanate and muurolol in red fruit type in the case of Indian guava. The richness of Egyptian guava in butylated hydroxytoluene in addition to the presence of vitamin C may potentiate its antioxidant activity, to be followed in subsequent studies regarding its health effects.

Abstract The current study assessed two concrete mixes prepared using dolomite and barite/limonite aggregates to shield against both energetic photons and neutrons. After that, a designed mix which comprised barite/goethite aggregates plus fine-powdered boron carbide additive, was proposed to improve the overall radiation shielding properties and in the same time, doesn’t compromise or even improve the physic-mechanical properties of the mature concrete. The assessment started first with intensive experimental investigations to investigate the prepared mixes’ shielding capabilities against both γ-rays and fast neutrons. Then, analytical computations were performed via number of reliable software programs such as; Phy-X, NXCom, MRCsC, JANIS-4, and MCNP5, in order to confirm the experimental results and to validate the created Monte-Carlo models. Finally, an intensive radiation shielding assessment for all concrete mixes understudy using, mainly, the validated MCNP models, was performed. The obtained results have revealed the superiority of barite mixes over the dolomite mix concerning attenuating photons moreover, the proposed designed mix has shown superiority over the other two prepared mixes considering shielding against; energetic photons, fast/thermal neutrons, and secondary emitted γ-rays, which nominates this mix to be a suitable universal shield that can be used even in mixed radiation fields.

Abstract Background Chylolymphatic cysts are benign pathology in lymphatic vessels due to obstruction in the lymphatic system. Their incidence is still unknown. However, they account for approximately 3 to 9% of all pediatric lymphangiomas. Most of these lesions are asymptomatic and are discovered accidentally. They can be presented with nonspecific abdominal pain, vomiting, and changes in bowel habits. Rarely, chylolymphatic cysts can as intestinal obstruction, volvulus or even torsion. Case presentation A 3-month-old male presented to our unit with manifestations of acute intestinal obstruction. Abdominal examination revealed signs of generalized peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Abdominal ultrasound revealed minimal turbid intraperitoneal collections and no motility of bowel loops. Plain erect abdominal radiograph revealed multiple small bowel air fluid levels. Abdominal exploration revealed a large chylolymphatic cyst causing acute intestinal obstruction. Excision of the cysts was done with preservation of adjacent bowel loop. The patient was discharged in good health on the 6th day postoperative. A chylolymphatic cyst with a diameter of 5 cm was identified by histological investigation. Conclusions Most chylolymphatic cysts in infants are asymptomatic, but they can cause fatal complications such as intestinal obstruction, volvulus, or even torsion.

A novel optimization algorithm, namely Harbor Seal Whiskers Optimization Algorithm (HSWOA) is proposed in this work. Harbor seals use their whiskers to find underwater disturbances which are in the form of oscillating spheres and track prey even though they lack lateral-line systems. HSWOA mimics the high-level sensing that seal whiskers possess. As such, HSWOA has an excellent exploration capability for the search space and a high exploitation capacity for exploiting the all-optimum solutions to reach the most optimum solution. To validate these abilities, the proposed HSWOA utilizes two sets of test functions: 33 benchmark functions and five IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC2019) benchmark functions. The results of HSWOA are compared with ten well-established optimization algorithms. The comparison results show that HSWOA offers superior performance indices to reach an optimum solution while requiring less control variables. The results also show that HSWOA is more efficient regarding computational demand and resolution accuracy. Finally, the HSWOA is employed to track Maximum Power Point (MPP) of Photovoltaic (PV) array with partial shading conditions (PSCs) for two case studies. The results show that HSWOA extracts maximum power in minimum tracking time and high average power capturing capability compared to other optimization techniques.