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Background: Foot infections, a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus, are associated with heavy resource utilization, including antibiotic therapy and surgeries. However, the most common type of isolated pathogen in diabetic foot infections remains unknown. We aimed to identify the most common types of isolated pathogens in diabetic foot infections. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a specialized medical center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 96 patients diagnosed with diabetes and presented with a foot ulcer showing clinical signs of infection were included. Results: The mean age was 63.03 ± 10.88 years, and 67.7% were males. The mean duration of diabetes diagnosis was 21.86 ± 9.66 years, and the majority had foot ulcers for over six weeks. Bacteria were present in 65 patients (67.7%), Gram-negative organisms were observed in 37 patients (38.5%), and Gram-positive organisms were present in 28 patients (29.2%). In the 65 patients with bacterial culture, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated organism and was observed in 18 patients (27.7%), followed by Escherichia coli in 11 (16.9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 10 (15.4%). Binary regression analyses found that Gram-negative organisms were significantly more multidrug-resistant than Gram-positive organisms (P = 0.012, OR = 7.172, 95% CI = 1.542–33.352). Patient outcomes included healed ulcers (n = 10, 10.4%), minor amputation (n = 16, 16.7%), major amputation (n = 1, 1%), and debridement (n = 48, 50%). Conclusion: Gram-negative organisms were predominant in patients with diabetes and foot ulcers having clinical signs of infection. Treatment with an individualized antibiotic regimen is vital in ensuring optimal outcomes and preventing major amputations.

Ultrasound imaging, often known as sonography, employs high-frequency sound waves to generate images of inside structures of human body. Its non-aggressive nature and real-time capabilities make it commonly used in medical diagnostics. Ultrasound waves are projected into the body and their echoes are recorded to produce intricate images of organs, tissues, and fetuses in utero, among other things. An essential aspect of enhancing image quality and safety involves the examination of how sound waves interact with biological tissues, including the phenomena of propagation, reflection, and absorption of ultrasound. It is commonly employed to monitor the well-being and growth of the fetus throughout pregnancy. Various organs, such as liver, kidneys, heart, and blood arteries, are also examined to detect abnormalities, tumors, and other disorders. This work investigates the behavior of gas bubbles with a spherical shape in non-Newtonian fluid when subjected to an external sonic field. Artificial intelligence has greatly impacted fluid dynamics by enhancing mesh efficiency, reducing manual intervention, offering dependable predictions, aiding in data analytics, and allowing for machine automation. This research investigates the behavior of bubbles in the flow of a tangent hyperbolic fluid model (THFM) through the application of artificial intelligence methods. The system employs Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous inputs (NARX) networks trained with the Levenberg–Marquardt technique (LMT), known as NARX. The NARX-LMT model was applied to data produced using the Adams numerical approach for the THFM by systematically adjusting parameters such as Weber number, Weissenberg number, pressure affecting velocity, and bubble radius. The effectiveness of projected THFM is demonstrated comprehensively through mean square error generated iterative learning curves, error histogram plots, analysis of adaptive control factors, regression, and time series response metrics for different versions of nonlinear differential equations of THFM based on bubble dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foot infections, a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus, are associated with heavy resource utilization, including antibiotic therapy and surgeries. However, the most common type of isolated pathogen in diabetic foot infections remains unknown. We aimed to identify the most common types of isolated pathogens in diabetic foot infections. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a specialized medical center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 96 patients diagnosed with diabetes and presented with a foot ulcer showing clinical signs of infection were included. Results: The mean age was 63.03 ± 10.88 years, and 67.7% were males. The mean duration of diabetes diagnosis was 21.86 ± 9.66 years, and the majority had foot ulcers for over six weeks. Bacteria were present in 65 patients (67.7%), Gram-negative organisms were observed in 37 patients (38.5%), and Gram-positive organisms were present in 28 patients (29.2%). In the 65 patients with bacterial culture, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated organism and was observed in 18 patients (27.7%), followed by Escherichia coli in 11 (16.9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 10 (15.4%). Binary regression analyses found that Gram-negative organisms were significantly more multidrug-resistant than Gram-positive organisms (P = 0.012, OR = 7.172, 95% CI = 1.542-33.352). Patient outcomes included healed ulcers (n = 10, 10.4%), minor amputation (n = 16, 16.7%), major amputation (n = 1, 1%), and debridement (n = 48, 50%). Conclusion: Gram-negative organisms were predominant in patients with diabetes and foot ulcers having clinical signs of infection. Treatment with an individualized antibiotic regimen is vital in ensuring optimal outcomes and preventing major amputations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First principles calculations in the context of density functional theory (DFT) provides a platform to investigate the material's properties in a way to explain the physics of solids. Electronic, structural, and optical properties for pure and Cu-doped LaAl[O.sub.3] are investigated. The study reveals that the band structure of LaAl[O.sub.3] after the inclusion of Cu at the La site is affected significantly. Due to the substitution of Cu, there is a decrease in the band gap from 3.02 eV to 2.95 eV. Furthermore, the partial density of states of LaAl[O.sub.3] changes significantly after Cu doping, which has confirmed the doping effect on intrinsic LaAl[O.sub.3]. The p and d states play a vital role on top of the valence band. The range in which the top of a valence band lies is from 0 eV to -9 eV having a significant effect and it is because of Cu-d states. The optical properties of both pure and doped systems were analyzed. Redshift was observed as absorption edge shifted from 4.5 eV to 4.0 eV and even the refractive index reduces from 2.25 to 1.0, which means the Cu inclusion significantly play its role to tailor optical properties. Hence Cu-doping affects the properties of LaAl[O.sub.3] and makes it a suitable candidate for use in different optical devices. Key words: doping, density functional theory, and gap, density of states, optical properties, refractive index. Des calculs bases sur les principes premiers, dans le cadre de la theorie de la fonctionnelle de densite (TFD/DFT), nous fournissent une plateforme pour examiner les proprietes des materiaux en physique du solide. Nous analysons les proprietes electroniques, structurelles et optiques du LaAl[O.sub.3] pur et dope au Cu. L'etude revele que la structure de bande du LaAl[O.sub.3] est affectee de facon significative apres l'inclusion de Cu sur les sites de La. Suite a cette substitution, la bande interdite (gap) est diminuee de 3.02 eV a 2.95 eV. De plus, la densite partielle d'etats (DPE/PDOS) du LaAl[O.sub.3] change de facon marquee apres le dopage au Cu, ce qui confirme l'effet du dopage sur le LaAl[O.sub.3]. Les etats p et d jouent un role crucial sur le haut de la bande de valence. Le domaine dans lequel se trouve le haut de la bande de valence se situe entre 0 eV et -9 eV, un effet significatif cause par les etats d du Cu. Nous analysons les proprietes optiques des systemes purs et dopes. Un decalage vers le rouge est observe suite au deplacement du seuil d'absorption de 4.5 eV a 4.0 eV et meme l'indice de refraction est reduit de 2.25 a 1.0, ce qui signifie que l'inclusion du Cu joue son role pour ajuster les proprietes optiques. Par consequent, les effets du dopage par le Cu affectent les proprietes du LaAl[O.sub.3] et en font un bon candidat pour utilisation dans les dispositifs optiques. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : dopage, theorie de la fonctionnelle de densite, bande interdite, densite d'etats, proprietes optiques, indice de refraction., 1. Introduction The power and energy crises demand that humans establish new ideas and perceptions; therefore different theoretical and experimental methods in research have been developed in the materials field. [...]

Zaman Ashraf,1 Tariq Mahmood,1 Mubashir Hassan,2 Samina Afzal,3 Hummera Rafique4 Khurram Afzal,3 Jalifah Latip5 1Department of Chemistry, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 2Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakria University, Multan, Pakistan; 4Department of Chemistry, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan; 5Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences & Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Background: The amide derivatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been reported to possess antitumor activity. The present work describes the synthesis of dexibuprofen amide analogues (4a–j) as potential anticancer agents. Methods: The title amides (4a–j) were obtained by simple nucleophilic substitution reaction of dexibuprofen acid chloride with substituted amines in good yield and chemical structures were confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. Results: The brine shrimp lethality assay results showed that all of the synthesized compounds are non-toxic to shrimp larvae. The inhibitory effects on tumor growth were evaluated and it was observed that N-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionamide (4e) and N-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionamide (4g) exhibited excellent antitumor activity compared to all other derivatives. The compound 4e bearing 2,5-dichloro substituted phenyl ring and 4g possesses 2-chloro substituted phenyl ring exhibited 100% inhibition of the tumor growth. The anticancer activity was evaluated against breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and it was observed that derivative 4e exhibited excellent growth inhibition of cancer cells with IC50 value of 0.01±0.002 µm, which is better than the standard drugs. The docking studies against breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein BRCA1 (PDBID 3K0H) exhibited good binding affinities, which are in good agreement with the wet lab results. The compounds 4e and 4g showed the binding energy values of -6.39 and -6.34 Kcal/mol, respectively. The molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was also carried out to evaluate the residual flexibility of the best docking complexes of compounds 4e and 4g. The MD simulation analysis assured that the 4e formed a more stable complex with the target protein than the 4g. The synthesized amide derivatives exhibited were devoid of gastrointestinal side effects and no cytotoxic effects against human normal epithelial breast cell line (MCF-12A) were found. Conclusion: Based upon our wet lab and dry lab findings we propose that dexibuprofen ana­logue 4e may serve as a lead structure for the design of more potent anticancer drugs. Keywords: dexibuprofen analogues, preparation, computational studies, cytotoxicity, anti­cancer activity

A key challenge facing cities of today is the persistent and growing urban congestion that has significant adverse effects on economic productivity, emissions, driver frustration, and quality of life. The concept of smart cities, which can revolutionize the management of metropolitan transportation operations and infrastructure, shows great promise in mitigating this problem. Specifically, the automation and connectedness (A&C) of smart city entities such as its infrastructure, services, and vehicles, can be helpful. In this regard, this paper focuses on the potential of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and AV infrastructure, particularly during prospective transition era where there will be mixed streams of AVs and human driven vehicles (HDVs). The paper considers two aspects of this potential: connectivity-enabled travel demand management and travel infrastructure supply through lane management. To demonstrate the opportunity associated with this potential, this paper first presents an AV-enabled tradable credit scheme (TCS) to manage travel demand. Here, the transportation authority distributes travel credits to travelers directly and instantaneously using the AV's A&C features. Travelers use their A&C features to pay these credits for travel at specific locations or times-of-day according to their choices of lane types and links. With regard to supply, this paper considers that the road network consists of two lane types: AV-dedicated, and mixed traffic lanes, and develops a scheme for travel demand and lane management strategies in the AV transition era (TLMAV). Firstly, the paper models the expected travel choices based on user equilibrium concepts, at different levels of AV market penetration. Then, the existence of the optimal solution in terms of link flows and the prevailing travel credit price is demonstrated. Then the paper establishes the optimal TLMAV that minimizes total travel time subject to user equity constraints. The results demonstrate the extent to which HDV users will suffer an increase in travel cost if equity is not considered in the model. The results also show how the transportation agency can use TLMAV to keep HDV travel costs to acceptable levels, particularly during the early stages of the AV transition period. Further, the paper shows how TLMAV could be designed to gradually diminish inequity effects so that travelers, in the long term, are motivated to shift to AVs.

Taha Mahmood Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UKI greatly enjoyed reading the article “Are they ready? Organizational readiness for change among clinical teaching teams” by Bank et al.1 This explored whether organizational readiness for change (ORC) could facilitate curriculum change in postgraduate medical education (PGME). The study reported that clinical staff felt responsible for change, viewing “program directors” as their leaders, and as being part of a learning culture. However, the study reported difficulties in implementation due to insufficient managerial support and the absence of an implementation plan. This included the “absence of timelines”, as well as “insufficient re-evaluation cycles, training facilities and financial resources”.1 View the original paper by Bank and colleagues

The polarization of the received signals can be effectively matched regardless of the orientation of the receiving antenna using circularly polarized antennas. A compact printed monopole antenna with a circular ring patch is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna will be able to provide two polarization states: linear and circular. The employment of a modified Minkowski fractal with 1st iteration construction on an open circular ring supports a circularly polarized band having a center frequency of 1.812 GHz and fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 20.033%. The upper band is achieved with a linearly polarized wave having a center frequency of 3.386 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 11.399%. The proposed antenna is fed by an ungrounded co-planar waveguide (UCPW), enhanced with an impedance transformer to match at 50 Ohms with the characteristic impedance. The ground planes around the feed line are defected by ground structures to improve the antenna gain. The fabrication and measurement of the proposed antenna prototype are presented to validate the theoretical results. Measured results support the theoretical findings well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A special form of energy system that can be utilized to provide all the energy needed in the globe is the renewable hybrid system. In order to successfully use renewable energy and decrease the amount of energy drawn from the power grid, a micro-grid management technique based on renewable energy has been developed in this study. The utilization of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy from photovoltaic panels and wind energy (from wind turbines), may run loads more effectively while consuming less fuel. To regulate the electricity, an adaptive control system was also created. The performance of the suggested control method for managing power flow is demonstrated by simulation results acquired using MATLAB/Simulink in a variety of operating modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shazia Bano,1–3 Samina Nazir,2 Alia Nazir,1 Saeeda Munir,3 Tariq Mahmood,2 Muhammad Afzal,1 Farzana Latif Ansari,4 Kehkashan Mazhar3 1Department of Physics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2Nanosciences and Technology Department, National Centre for Physics, 3Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), 4Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan Abstract: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have the potential to be used as multimodal imaging and cancer therapy agents due to their excellent magnetism and ability to generate reactive oxygen species when exposed to light. We report the synthesis of highly biocompatible SPIONs through a facile green approach using fruit peel extracts as the biogenic reductant. This green synthesis protocol involves the stabilization of SPIONs through coordination of different phytochemicals. The SPIONs were functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 and succinic acid and were extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, diffused reflectance spectroscopy, fluorescence emission, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and magnetization analysis. The developed SPIONs were found to be stable, almost spherical with a size range of 17–25 nm. They exhibited excellent water dispersibility, colloidal stability, and relatively high R2 relaxivity (225 mM-1 s-1). Cell viability assay data revealed that PEGylation or carboxylation appears to significantly shield the surface of the particles but does not lead to improved cytocompatibility. A highly significant increase of reactive oxygen species in light-exposed samples was found to play an important role in the photokilling of human cervical epithelial malignant carcinoma (HeLa) cells. The bio-SPIONs developed are highly favorable for various biomedical applications without risking interference from potentially toxic reagents. Keywords: green approach, biocompatible, multifunctional, bio synthesis, surface modification, microwave incubation, MRI contrast agent, photosensitive SPIONs