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Ahmed AH Abdellatif,1,2,* Fatma Ahmed,3,* Ahmed M Mohammed,2 Mansour Alsharidah,4 Amal Al-Subaiyel,1 Waad A Samman,5 Aisha A Alhaddad,5 Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli,6 Mohammed A Amin,1,2 Hassan Barakat,7,8 Shaaban K Osman2,* 1Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, 51452, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt; 3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt; 4Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, 42353, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia; 8Food Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, 13736, Egypt*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shaaban K Osman, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt, Tel +2 01129059936, Fax +2-088-312191, Email Shaabanosman@azhar.edu.eg Ahmed AH Abdellatif, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, 51452, Saudi Arabia, Email a.abdellatif@qu.edu.saAbstract: The real problem in pharmaceutical preparation is drugs’ poor aqueous solubility, low permeability through biological membranes, and short biological t1/2. Conventional drug delivery systems are not able to overcome these problems. However, cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives can solve these challenges. This article aims to summarize and review the history, properties, and different applications of cyclodextrins, especially the ability of inclusion complex formation. It also refers to the effects of cyclodextrin on drug solubility, bioavailability, and stability. Moreover, it focuses on preparing and applying gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as novel drug delivery systems. It also studies the uses and effects of cyclodextrins in this field as novel drug carriers and targeting devices. The system formulated from AuNPs linked with CD molecules combines the advantages of both CD and AuNPs. Cyclodextrins benefit in increasing aqueous drug solubility, loading capacity, stability, and size control of gold NPs. Also, AuNPs are applied as diagnostic and therapeutic agents because of their unique chemical properties. Plus, AuNPs possess several advantages such as ease of detection, targeted and selective drug delivery, greater surface area, high loading efficiency, and higher stability than microparticles. In the present article, we tried to present the potential pharmaceutical applications of CD-derived AuNPs in biomedical applications including antibacterial, anticancer, gene-drug delivery, and various targeted drug delivery applications. Also, the article highlighted the role of CDs in the preparation and improvement of catalytic enzymes, the formation of self-assembling molecular print boards, the fabrication of supramolecular functionalized electrodes, and biosensors formation.Keywords: AuNPs, nanotechnology, drug delivery, drug targeting, inclusion complexes, cancer management

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a commonly used antifibrinolytic drug during surgical procedures to reduce blood loss. An Inadvertent intrathecal injection of TXA may lead to serious side effects including seizures and ventricular fibrillation with reported fatalities. We report a case of an inadvertentintrathecal injection of TXA which occurred as a result of similarities in appearance between TXA and heavy bupivacaine ampoules. The patient had subarachnoid lavage after experiencing back pain, systemic hypertension followed by generalized tonic clonic seizures.

Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari,1 Samya Al Abdulla,2 Maha Abdulla,1 Azza Mustafa Mohammed,1 Ahmad Haj Bakri,1 Fahad Shaikhan,3 Hanan Buhaddoud1 1Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 2Operations, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 3Preventative Health – Health Protection, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Azza Mustafa Mohammed Tel +974 40270065Email ammohammed@phcc.gov.qaObjective: This study is a part of the Primary Health Care Corporation’s (PHCC) Health Needs Assessment (HNA) Initiative. It focuses on identifying perceptions of Arabic speaking primary care clients regarding community’s major health issues, their experiences in utilizing health services, and the barriers that limit their access to health care in the State of Qatar.Study Setting and Design: A total of 10 focus groups sessions were conducted at different PHCC’s health centers between October of 2019 and March of 2020. Sessions were distributed to cover all PHCC’s three geographical regions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Participants: A total of 89 adult Arabic speaking individuals were recruited. Participants included were in the age groups (18– 69), native Arabic speaker, and registered at one of the PHCC’s health centers with a valid health card at time of recruitment.Results: Areas investigated included perceptions of the community’s health issues, needed health services, and perceived barriers to health care. Priority health issues identified were chronic non-communicable diseases, mental health, timely access to care, cultural competency of delivered services, and integration and coordination across health care settings and sectors. Participants were able to identify socioeconomic and environmental factors such as the need for health and wellness interventions at schools that affects the health of the individual and the community. The importance of raising the community’s awareness about health-related issues and availability of health services was highlighted by study participants.Conclusion: Collecting qualitative data provides an opportunity to examine people’s perceptions, and motivations and engage the whole community. This process is very important for strategic planning of health services. The study attempts to fill the knowledge gap and should be linked to health policy and the development of socially and culturally appropriate health programs.Keywords: primary care, qualitative research, PHCC, health needs assessment, Qatar

Manal Al-Zaidan,1 Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim,2 Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari,3 Azza Mustafa Mohammed,3 Mansoor Nawaz Mohammed,4 Samya Al Abdulla5 1Pharmacy Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 2College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 3Directorate of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 4Clinical Information Systems Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 5Directorate of Operations, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Manal Al-ZaidanDirector of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 26555, Doha, QatarTel + 974 40271103Email malzaidan@phcc.gov.qaAbstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care systems around the world. Pharmacists have made substantial contributions to the health care operations during the COVID-19 response. The Pharmacy Department at Qatar Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) acted proactively to ensure that all patients received their medications and their refilled prescriptions in time and without any disruption. The Medication Home Delivery Service was introduced and implemented for all Qatar residents to prevent unnecessary visits to health centers, minimize the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations, especially those with multiple comorbidities, and protect health care workers from exposure to the virus. Moreover, several other precautionary measures were taken by the PHCC to ensure uninterrupted access to health care, including moving to a virtual health care delivery model. As of September 2020, the service had served around 64,213 patients since its launch in March 2020. In total, 70,357 medications were delivered and 69,092 (98.2%) medication packages were delivered successfully to patients, with an average of 450.8 medication packages delivered per month. Despite various challenges, the PHCC is considering continuing the Medication Home Delivery Service in the long term to continue with a more effective and efficient service for patients during the coming months and years.Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, pharmacy service, medication home delivery, PHCC, Qatar

We demonstrate a versatile process for assembling micron-scale filament architectures by controlling where DNA tile nanotubes nucleate on DNA origami assemblies. "Nunchucks," potential mechanical magnifiers of nanoscale dynamics consisting of two nanotubes connected by a dsDNA linker, form at yields sufficient for application and consistent with models.

From a GeneMatcher-enabled international collaboration, we identified ten individuals affected by intellectual disability, speech delay, ataxia, and facial dysmorphism and carrying a deleterious EBF3 variant detected by whole-exome sequencing. One 9-bp duplication and one splice-site, five missense, and two nonsense variants in EBF3 were found; the mutations occurred de novo in eight individuals, and the missense variant c.625C>T (p.Arg209Trp) was inherited by two affected siblings from their healthy mother, who is mosaic. EBF3 belongs to the early B cell factor family (also known as Olf, COE, or O/E) and is a transcription factor involved in neuronal differentiation and maturation. Structural assessment predicted that the five amino acid substitutions have damaging effects on DNA binding of EBF3. Transient expression of EBF3 mutant proteins in HEK293T cells revealed mislocalization of all but one mutant in the cytoplasm, as well as nuclear localization. By transactivation assays, all EBF3 mutants showed significantly reduced or no ability to activate transcription of the reporter gene CDKN1A, and in situ subcellular fractionation experiments demonstrated that EBF3 mutant proteins were less tightly associated with chromatin. Finally, in RNA-seq and ChIP-seq experiments, EBF3 acted as a transcriptional regulator, and mutant EBF3 had reduced genome-wide DNA binding and gene-regulatory activity. Our findings demonstrate that variants disrupting EBF3-mediated transcriptional regulation cause intellectual disability and developmental delay and are present in ∼0.1% of individuals with unexplained neurodevelopmental disorders.

Understanding the factors that influence student performance is crucial for improving educational outcomes. Thus, this study aims to examine the impact of socio-economic and psychological factors on student performance, less is known about how students' personal attitudes and behaviors across different departments and activities correlate with their academic success. This study employs exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify trends and relationships within the dataset. Machine learning techniques, such as K-means clustering and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, are utilized to model and predict student performance based on their reported behaviors and preferences. The dataset is reduced using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to enhance the clustering process. The findings suggest significant variations in academic performance based on departmental affiliation, gender, and engagement in certification courses. The LSTM model achieved an accuracy of 91% on the test set, demonstrating substantial predictive capability. However, the classification report reveals that while the model was highly effective in identifying the majority class (label 1), achieving a precision of 91% and a recall of 100%, it failed to correctly predict any instances of the minority class (label 0). The insights from this study could help educators tailor interventions to address the specific needs of students based on their behaviors and departmental affiliations, leading to more personalized education strategies and potentially improving academic outcomes. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-04-05 Full Text: PDF

Hydrogels have gained much focus as a gastro-retentive technology for drug delivery. The current study aimed to design an oral mucoadhesive sustained-release dosage form to lower peptic ulcer complications (PUC). Using the Box-Behnken statistical design, the preparation method was developed by incorporating pantoprazole sodium (PZS) into hydrogel microcapsules (HGMC). The PZS was incorporated into the HGMC via an ion gelation technique, with sodium alginate as the gelling agent, calcium chloride as the crosslinking agent, and chitosan as the agent for sustained release. The optimized formulation of PZS-HGMC showed a diameter of 2.506 mm, a swelling rate of 838.2%, and an encapsulation efficiency of 93.8%. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the microcapsules’ spherical shape. The in vitro release of the PZS from the HGMC after two hours in a simulated gastric fluid was 13.2%1±0.08%, compared with the apparent solubility of the pure PZS under the same conditions (95.24%±3.2%). After 24 hours, the percent of PZS released from the optimized formula was 69.84±2.4%, which indicates a sustained release pattern. The results from the in vivo study demonstrated improved healing of the induced ulcers in rats when treated with the PZS-HGMC formulation as compared to the standard PZS therapy; therefore, the obtained mucoadhesive HGMC was considered a potential drug delivery strategy for PUC therapy.

Abstract This study focuses on identifying the determinants of cluster farming participation decisions and the impact of cluster farming on smallholder wheat farmer’s productivity in the two districts of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. The study utilized cross-sectional data and a multistage sampling procedure to select a total of 381 respondents from the two districts of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. The endogenous switching regression model was employed to achieve the research objectives. The study result indicates that sex of the household head, education level, size of cultivated land, access to training, membership in a farmer's cooperative, access to information and social responsibility of the household head influenced cluster farming participation positively and significantly, while distance from the nearest market had a negative and significant effect on cluster farming participation. Furthermore, the study shows that, if participants had decided not to practice cluster farming, their wheat yield and net benefit would have decreased by 33.57 and 40.08%, respectively. Similarly, had non-participants decided to participate, their wheat yield and net benefit would have increased by 46.79 and 102.49%, respectively. The study recommends that policymakers and development organizations should consider cluster farming as a main strategy to increase smallholder farmer’s productivity. Moreover, the study calls for government and institutional assistance in the areas of education services, training, extension services, infrastructure (particularly access to markets), and cooperative development. Moreover, policy and development measures should address the issue of gender disparities in cluster farming participation.

This study analyses the life cycle assessment of anaerobic digestion process of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) produced by Algiers city. Some keys parameters of the processes are then modified to analyze the "hot spots" and perform a sensitivity analysis to identify their influence on the results. Data for the inventory came from actual city facilities, and background process information came from Eco invent version 3.1 of SimaPro 8.1 software. The analyzed process contribution indicates that the global warming potential is affected by the anaerobic digestion because of the NOx and CO emissions from the thermal processes of biogas burning and fuel oil combustion for digesters heating. Furthermore, plastics recycling is environmentally beneficial because of net savings. The energy valorization of biogas produces the least amount of environmental damage, eliminating 403.06 kg CO2 eq/ton of waste, saving 18.2 E+09 MJ/ton of fossil fuels, and producing 2.8 E+08 kWhel/year, or 6% of the city's annual electricity consumption.

Abstract Background Updates on the aetiopathogenesis of acne vulgaris, particularly the inflammatory process, are becoming more and more clear. The TNF superfamily includes tumor necrosis factor (TNF) related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). It plays a significant part in a variety of inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis, alopecia areata and many others. However, its role in acne vulgaris remains questionable. Objectives We aim in this research to evaluate the circulating levels of TWEAK in various severities of acne vulgaris patients and their blood levels before and after oral treatment with isotretinoin. Methods This study includes 100 acne vulgaris patients and 100 healthy controls in a case‐control design. All cases, ranging in severity, were treated for 3 months with oral isotretinoin. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure serum TWEAK before and after 3 months of isotretinoin treatment. Results The serum TWEAK levels were significantly higher in patients than the healthy volunteers (p

Thoracic endometriosis is a rare disease but its actual frequency may be underestimated. Optimal management remains controversial. A multidisciplinary management approach, including surgery and hormone therapy, seems to give the best results and reduces recurrence. We report a case of a patient presenting with recurrent haemopneumothorax caused by thoracic endometriosis and treated surgically by video thoracoscopy and hormonal treatment.

Frankincense trees (Boswellia spp.) worldwide are affected by a number of threats, including global warming and changing land management practices. On the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen), which harbours eleven endemic Boswellia species, grazing is generally assumed to be one of the main threats preventing natural regeneration. To test the impact of overgrazing on natural regeneration, we established an in situ experiment on four different Boswellia taxa in different areas of Socotra Island. Mortality and the height increment of seedlings were measured for a period of two/three years in five plots excluded from grazing (fenced) and in five paired control (unfenced) plots. Each plot was 50 m × 50 m in size and contained several adult trees as a source of viable seeds. Our results show that seedling mortality was significantly higher, and seedling height increment generally (4 out of 5 sites) lower in open compared to fenced plots. In the fenced plots, the number of seedlings for all species reached up to 772, with 560 surviving seedlings. In comparison, the control plots reached up to 296 seedlings, with 176 seedlings surviving after 2-3 years. The results of our experimental study indicate that grazing directly threatens the natural regeneration of the endemic Boswellia on Socotra Island. However, seedling mortality remained relatively high inside the exclosures as well, which indicates that even without the pressure of livestock grazing, other impacts remain a challenge for the future conservation of the archipelago's unique frankincense trees.

Abstract The study was structured to investigate the impact of technological factors on the effectiveness of enterprise resource planning (ERP) in Jordanian industrial firms, using a descriptive-analytical approach. This study also examines company size as a moderator variable, which has been measured using the logarithm of total assets extracted from each firm’s annual report. The study’s target population consisted of all Jordanian industrial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange, totaling 55 firms. Managers participated as respondents, with 220 questionnaires distributed electronically, averaging four questionnaires per company. After data collection, 92 valid questionnaires were used for statistical analysis. The findings indicate a significant and positive relationship between technological factors (such as ease of use, perceived usefulness, and digital proficiency) and ERP system effectiveness in Jordanian industrial firms. However, the study revealed that trust, as one of the technological factors, did not significantly impact ERP system efficiency. Additionally, it was found that the moderating role of company size moderates positively the relationship between two technological factors (i.e., perceived usefulness and digital proficiency), and ERP system efficiency. The research suggests that industrial firms in Jordan should take into account technological factors, including factors like ease of use, perceived usefulness, and digital proficiency, to remain current with advancements that can improve the efficiency of ERP systems. This is important due to the positive influence it can have on the operational effectiveness of Jordanian industrial companies, aiding them in their planning and decision-making processes.

Abstract Hypertensive patients are at an elevated risk of developing mental diseases such as depression, which can impair their quality of life. The purpose of this study is to measure the prevalence of self-reported depression among hypertensive patients treated at primary health care facilities in Marrakech. Between May 2021 and December 2022, a cross-sectional study of 1053 hypertensive patients attending primary health care facilities in Marrakech was conducted. A face-to-face questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data, as well as hypertension treatment characteristics and the care-patient-physician triad. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess self-reported depression. To identify self-reported depression risk factors, multivariate logistic regression was used. Depressive symptoms were reported by 56.1% of hypertensive patients. The patients' average age was 63.2 ± 9.5 years, and 508 (85.9%) were female. Female sex, stress, a low-salt diet, pain and physical discomfort, an urban living environment, a lack of self-monitoring of hypertension, an unsatisfactory relationship with the healthcare system, a family history of hypertension, and the perception of adverse effects of the antihypertensive drug were all associated with self-reported depression. Self-reported depression is prevalent among hypertensive patients in Marrakech. The mental health component should be emphasized while addressing hypertensive patients in primary health care facilities.

Abstract The aim of this study is to apply a water treatment technique (phyto-purification) in the Algerian Sahara, an arid region, to resolve the scarcity of irrigation, recycled wastewater and preserve Saharian ecosystems composed of sand and two species of aquatic plants: Typha latifolia and Imperata cylindrica. The choice of these plants was determined based on the natural vegetation, soil and climatic characteristics of the study area. To this end, we developed an experimental pilot composed of three tanks measuring 30 cm × 35 cm × 45 cm, arranged with a filter bed of sand and gravel. Two of these tanks are sown with the above-mentioned plants, while the third tank, serving as a control, is not. The values of the main wastewater pollution parameters, namely total nitrogen compounds, ammonium (NH4 +), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids measured at the outlet of the device, substantiate the performance of this treatment system. Indeed, the nitrogen reduction rate increased from 63% in the unplanted control filters to around 80% in the planted filters, and from 81 to 88% for NO3 −. Regarding chemical oxygen demand (COD), the reduction rate exceeds 88.37% for the three tanks. The study of the analytical approach to modeling the purification kinetics reveals that the kinetics of COD and NH4 + are well correlated with the first-order model, with an explained variance varying between 68.1 and 81.6% for COD and 83.5 and 92.3% for ammonium. The Riverside diagram highlights that all treated water samples fall into the low sodium risk and high salinity risk class. Build on the Na% values; all purified waters have characteristics suitable for water use for irrigation.

Abstract Climate change has clearly affected the desert city of Bechar, located in southern Algeria, and this miserable situation for the supply of drinking water prompted the authorities to provide capabilities and funds to bring groundwater located 250 km away and transfer it to the city of Bechar. The characterization of these underground waters presents a bicarbonate-magnesian facies according to the diagram of Schöeller and Berkaloff; the representation of the data on the triangular Piper diagram shows that Boussir ground water has the magnesium bicarbonate facies. The calculation of the quality index (GWQI) shows that all samples taken from the boreholes belong to the good quality category. The long distance of diversion of this underground water and the quality of the materials used in the project under a dry desert climate made us carry out the process of monitoring and tracking the quality of the water from the well until it reaches the consumer. The results revealed that all the levels of the physic-chemical parameters do not exceed the WHO portability standards, except that a variation of certain values was observed at the level of the storage tank, this variation due to the mode of filling and the mixing of water in tubular form, without eliminating the effect of water stagnation. If we technically know how to produce high-quality drinking water, we cannot always ensure a safe and sustainable water supply of the same quality in distribution networks and reservoirs; it is from this principle that our article is based in order to reinforce the monitoring role.

Heart disease is one of the most widespread global health issues, it is the reason behind around 32 % of deaths worldwide every year. The early prediction and diagnosis of heart diseases are critical for effective treatment and sickness management. Despite the efforts of healthcare professionals, cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists' misdiagnosis and misinterpretation of test results may happen every day. This study addresses the growing global health challenge raised by Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), which account for 32 % of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). With the progress of Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques as part of Artificial Intelligence (AI), these technologies have become crucial for predicting and diagnosing CVDs. This research aims to develop an ML system for the early prediction of cardiovascular diseases by choosing one of the powerful existing ML algorithms after a deep comparative analysis of several. To achieve this work, the Cleveland and Statlog heart datasets from international platforms are used in this study to evaluate and validate the system's performance. The Cleveland dataset is categorized and used to train various ML algorithms, including decision tree, random forest, support vector machine, logistic regression, adaptive boosting, and K-nearest neighbors. The performance of each algorithm is assessed based on accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and the Area Under the Curve metrics. Hyperparameter tuning approaches have been employed to find the best hyperparameters that reflect the optimal performance of the used algorithms based on different evaluation approaches including 10-fold cross-validation with a 95 % confidence interval. The study's findings highlight the potential of ML in improving the early prediction and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. By comparing and analyzing the performance of the applied algorithms on both the Cleveland and Statlog heart datasets, this research contributes to the advancement of ML techniques in the medical field. The developed ML system offers a valuable tool for healthcare professionals in the early prediction and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, with implications for the prediction and diagnosis of other diseases as well.

Background Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in women. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the CC elimination as a public health priority and has urged countries to achieve a 90% vaccine coverage rate of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among 15-year-old girls by 2030.Research design and methods Regression models were fitted to the WHO HPV vaccine coverage rate data to estimate when the 90% vaccine coverage rate target would be achieved in 22 European countries.Results The mean vaccine coverage rate of included countries was 62.2% (SD: 18.3). Nine countries (Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland) are expected to achieve a 90% vaccine coverage rate by 2030. Six countries (Estonia, Cyprus, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Italy) are expected to reach a 90% vaccine coverage rate between 2030 and 2040 whereas seven countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia) are not expected to achieve the 90% vaccine coverage rate target by 2040.Conclusion The majority of European countries are not on track to achieve 90% vaccine coverage rate by 2030. To achieve this, a significant increase in the annual vaccine coverage rate growth rate is required.

The high demand for drinking water has increased the by-products from treatment plants, notably during coagulation-flocculation, leading to substantial sludges' accumulation. This study aims to focus on the characterization of drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) batches from the three last years and statically studying it's uniformity, as exploring potential repurposing options. The samples were characterized using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Loss On Ignition (LOI), and Granulometric analysis. The results evinced that DWTS have a sandy nature, the organic fraction takes third of the DWTS’ chemical composition, the amount of Al2O3 + SiO2 + Fe2O3 is slightly different, with 55.84, 57.47, and 56.14 % for DWTS21, DWTS22, and DWTS23 respectively, as per ANOVA results, which exhibited the consistency sludge composition among the samples, providing valuable insights into repurposing DWTS, and contributing to sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the construction industry especially DWTS21, which presents higher content of CaO with 2.95 %.

Abstract Introduction - L’objectif de cette étude est de mettre en relief les différents profilsépidémiologiques, clinico-pronostiques et thérapeutiques des péritonites postopératoiresen fonction du contexte initial, d’urgence ou de chirurgie programmée, del’intervention initiale.Matériels et méthodes - Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective et prospective qui acolligé 127 patients opérés pour péritonite postopératoire au service des urgenceschirurgicales d’Oran. L’intervention première en contexte d’urgence avait concerné83 patients (65,4%) et 44 patients (34,6%) opérés initialement dans un cadre dechirurgie programmée.Résultats - L’âge moyen des patients opérés du groupe contexte d’urgence [GCU]était de 46,6 ans versus 49,9 ans pour les patients opérés en contexte de chirurgieprogrammée [GCP]. Une prédominance masculine de 59,0% était observée dans le[GCU] versus 52,2% dans le [GCP]. Le degré de septicité des interventions, selonla classification d’Altemeier ,avait montré que les interventions initiales (classesIII/contaminée et IV/sale) représentaient respectivement 90,2% et 100% pour le[GCU], et 9,7% et 0% pour le [GCP]. L’état de choc était retrouvé chez 26 patientsdont 17 avaient été opérés initialement en contexte d’urgence (65%). La mortalitéétait de 31,3% dans le [GCU] contre 27,2% dans le [GCP]. P = 0,635.Conclusion - Cette étude comparative a permis de mettre en évidence les différentescaractéristiques épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques distinguantles deux groupes de patients opérés selon le caractère d’urgence ou non del’intervention première.

Résumé Introduction - Le lymphome T hépato-splénique (LTHS) est un lymphome extra-ganglionnaire rare appartenant au groupe des lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens (LMNH). Ce lymphome, dont les manifestations cliniques sont systémiques, comporte des signes constitutionnels associés à une splénomégalie et/ou une hépatomégalie et se singularise par l’absence d’adénopathies associées. L’infiltration tumorale intra-sinusoïdale de la moëlle osseuse, de la rate et/ou du foie par des lymphocytes T atypiques à l’immunophénotypage caractéristique permet d’en confirmer le diagnostic. De pronostic péjoratif, il atteint généralement des sujets jeunes, plus souvent de sexe masculin. Il peut survenir de novo, ou dans un contexte d’immunodépression, d’hémopathies ou de maladie dysimmunitaire, en particulier de maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l’intestin dont la maladie de Crohn. Observation - Nous rapportons l’observation d’une patiente atteinte d’un LTHS dans un contexte de maladie de Crohn méconnue. Abstract Introduction - Hepato-splenic T-cell lymphoma is an extra-nodal lymphoma that belongs to the group of non Hodgkin lymphomas. The clinical presentation is usually systemic with constitutional symptoms, splenomegaly and/or hepatomegaly, in the absence of lymphadenopathy. The intra-sinusoidal infiltration of the bone marrow, the liver and/or the spleen by atypical T lymphocytes at immunophenotyping provides the diagnosis of hepato-splenic T-cell lymphoma. It arises in young people, more often in males, with a bad prognosis. It may occur in people without any previous known diseases, but also in immunocompromised patients, with hemopathies or dysimmunitary diseases as inflammatory bowel diseases. Observation - We report here the observation of a woman with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and misdiagnosed Crohn’s disease.

The main aim of this research was to explore how the digital proficiency of internal auditors impact the relationship between adopting cloud-based accounting and the digital efficiency of internal auditors in Jordanian-listed industrial firms. 98 questionnaires, gathered from internal audit managers in these companies, underwent analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using descriptive-analytical methods. Results indicated that adopting cloud-based accounting significantly influences the effectiveness of internal auditors in these Jordanian-listed industrial companies. Moreover, the study found that the digital proficiency of internal auditors positively affects how much cloud-based accounting adoption impacts their effectiveness. These findings hold importance for regulators and decision-makers, offering insights to shape potential new regulations aimed at enhancing the use of cloud-based accounting in internal audit departments within Jordan's industrial sector. This could ultimately help internal auditors in overseeing public funds. Given the extensive impact of cloud technology on modern business, it's crucial to understand how these innovations can improve the precision and benefits of internal audit functions. Exploring the factors that drive the implementation of cloud technologies in internal audit is also essential. Notably, this study represents the initial attempt to examine existing research on the role of cloud-based accounting in enhancing internal audit effectiveness concerning the digital proficiency of auditors within Jordan's industrial sector.

Abstract Background In the UK National Health Service (NHS), the patient’s vital signs are monitored and summarised into a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) score. A set of computer-aided risk scoring systems (CARSS) was developed and validated for predicting in-hospital mortality and sepsis in unplanned admission to hospital using NEWS and routine blood tests results. We sought to assess the accuracy of these models to predict the risk of COVID-19 in unplanned admissions during the first phase of the pandemic. Methods Adult ( > = 18 years) non-elective admissions discharged (alive/deceased) between 11-March-2020 to 13-June-2020 from two acute hospitals with an index NEWS electronically recorded within ± 24 h of admission. We identified COVID-19 admission based on ICD-10 code ‘U071’ which was determined by COVID-19 swab test results (hospital or community). We assessed the performance of CARSS (CARS_N, CARS_NB, CARM_N, CARM_NB) for predicting the risk of COVID-19 in terms of discrimination (c-statistic) and calibration (graphically). Results The risk of in-hospital mortality following emergency medical admission was 8.4% (500/6444) and 9.6% (620/6444) had a diagnosis of COVID-19. For predicting COVID-19 admissions, the CARS_N model had the highest discrimination 0.73 (0.71 to 0.75) and calibration slope 0.81 (0.72 to 0.89) compared to other CARSS models: CARM_N (discrimination:0.68 (0.66 to 0.70) and calibration slope 0.47 (0.41 to 0.54)), CARM_NB (discrimination:0.68 (0.65 to 0.70) and calibration slope 0.37 (0.31 to 0.43)), and CARS_NB (discrimination:0.68 (0.66 to 0.70) and calibration slope 0.56 (0.47 to 0.64)). Conclusions The CARS_N model is reasonably accurate for predicting the risk of COVID-19. It may be clinically useful as an early warning system at the time of admission especially to triage large numbers of unplanned admissions because it requires no additional data collection and is readily automated.

A comparative study of supercritical heat transfer in a regeneratively cooled rocket engine was conducted using three-dimensional numerical simulations for two channel geometries: rectangular and square. Various constant heat fluxes, flow velocities, and operating pressures were imposed to study their effect on heat transfer, pressure losses, and the conditions under which heat transfer deterioration HTD occurs. The results show that a rectangular channel is more efficient in terms of heat transfer than a square channel, with a more pronounced difference at high heat fluxes and low velocities, these conditions, in fact, favored the occurrence of heat transfer deterioration, particularly in the square channel. Increasing the flow velocities to reduce the wall temperature and prevent thermal deterioration was accompanied by a significant increase in pressure losses, these pressure losses are greater in the rectangular channel, despite its advantages in terms of heat transfer. Operating pressure also plays an important role in heat transfer, increasing the pressure results in a decrease in wall temperature.

The Devonian outcrops of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin are located in the eastern band of the Moroccan Central Massif. They are characterized by a high geodiversity since they show sedimentary, stratigraphic, paleontological, tectonic and geomorphological aspects. Those outcrops allow the understanding of the evolution and geodynamic of the area during the Devonian. This proves their relevant in term of scientific value. In addition, they also have educational and touristic interests. The objectives of this work are making the inventory and quantitative assessment as well as the mapping of nine Devonian geosites. To approach the topic, the method proposed by Brilha (2016) have been used which based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. The results show that the geosite Famennian zebra griottes limestones of Ziyar has the highest scientific value (345) while the others are characterized by scientific, educational and tourist values ranging from moderate to high. Regarding the degradation risk, the geosites have a low value. This work could be considered as the base of any geoconservation strategy and geotourism action plan in the area since it focused on the two first steps of it. This may help improve the sustainable development through the establishment of geopark consequently and enhance economical level of people living the Azrou-Khenifra area.

On the one hand, this study assesses the evolution of climatological parameters in the Zaër region between 1986 and 2021 and, on the other hand, it studies the effect of climatic variations on cereal and leguminous crop yields between 2000 and 2020, in order to further elucidate the consequences of their fluctuations on crop yields and to mitigate their regression process by making it possible to analyze favorable adaptation strategies for agricultural systems that can be envisaged for the coming decades. The methodology is based on the use of trend curves and statistics (averages and standard deviations) to analyze changes in climatic parameters and their effects on yields. The results show that the average temperature in the Zaër region is set to rise from 19°C in 1986 to 22°C in 2020. Higher temperatures mean lower yields of rainfed cereals and pulses, and average rainfall varies between 330 mm in 1986 and 570 mm in 2021, with rainfall increasing the likelihood of crop failure in the short term and reducing production in the long term. In addition, the rainy season is short (4 to 5 months per year). These characteristics make Zaër's agriculture very sensitive to climate-related threats. Studying seasonal climate forecasts before each rainy season can help farmers to minimize rainfall hazards and thus optimize their crop yields. Keywords: agriculture, climate change, semi-arid regions, crop yield, cultivated area.

Abstract Peripheral T cell lymphomas are typically aggressive with a poor prognosis. Unlike other hematologic malignancies, the lack of target antigens to discriminate healthy from malignant cells limits the efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches. The T cell receptor expresses one of two highly homologous chains [T cell receptor β-chain constant (TRBC) domains 1 and 2] in a mutually exclusive manner, making it a promising target. Here we demonstrate specificity redirection by rational design using structure-guided computational biology to generate a TRBC2-specific antibody (KFN), complementing the antibody previously described by our laboratory with unique TRBC1 specificity (Jovi-1) in targeting broader spectrum of T cell malignancies clonally expressing either of the two chains. This permits generation of paired reagents (chimeric antigen receptor-T cells) specific for TRBC1 and TRBC2, with preclinical evidence to support their efficacy in T cell malignancies.

Abstract Background Unmet need for family planning is a proportion of women among reproductive age group who want to stop or delay childbearing but are not using any method of contraception. One in ten married women face unmet need for family planning world-wide whereas, one in five women in Africa. Thus, by understanding factors associated with unmet need specific to the study area; the study contributes to planning and intervention of programs, gives additional finding for controversies in earlier studies, and also helps as a baseline for other researchers conducting studies on similar topics. Methods A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from March 29-April 25, 2021 G.C on 462 currently married reproductive age women (154 cases and 308 controls) in Dewa Chefa District. Currently married reproductive-age women who were fecund, and wanted to limit or delay childbearing but were not using any contraceptive methods were taken as cases and currently married reproductive-age women who were using family planning or did not want to use were taken as controls. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 and exported to SPSS 23 for analysis. Binary Logistic regression was conducted and variables with p-value

Abstract Purpose This study investigated the levels of salivary proinflammatory cytokines in the saliva of patients living with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to those in healthy individuals three times: before tooth extraction and at 2 hours and 2 days after tooth extraction. Methods The study included 27 participants. Among them, 20 (n = 20; 74%) had type II DM, and seven (n = 7; 26%) were healthy control subjects. Saliva samples were collected at three time intervals: before tooth extraction and 2 hours and 2 days after tooth extraction. The salivary biomarkers were investigated using a Luminex multiplex assay. These salivary biomarkers included tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Results At baseline, patients with type II DM had significantly lower levels of IL-1β (P = 0.016). Moreover, 2 hours after extraction, patients with type II DM had significantly lower levels of IL-1β and TNF-α than did healthy control subjects (P = 0.046 and P = 0.020, respectively). In addition, 2 days after tooth extraction, the DM group had significantly greater IL-6 levels (P = 0.010) than the control group. Conclusions In patients with type II DM, salivary proinflammatory biomarker levels are generally comparable or lower than those in healthy control subjects. Proinflammatory cytokines manifest differently in patients with type II DM after tooth extraction than in normal healthy individuals. There is generally a delayed early response of salivary proinflammatory markers in patients living with type II DM who undergo tooth extraction.

Purpose: Monitoring progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) has become increasingly important, especially given the centrality of UHC in achieving the sustainable development goals. We sought to estimate the progress towards UHC in the 22 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Methods: Employing the Joint World Bank and World Health Organization Framework for Monitoring UHC, we estimated the UHC index for MENA countries using both service coverage and financial protection indicators. We also explored the correlation between the UHC index with government expenditure/investment in health. Results: The 2021 UHC index ranged from 48.2 (Somalia) to 90.3 (United Arab Emirates) with a mean, median, and standard deviation of 74.9, 77.4, and 11.1, respectively, with significant differences between low-income and high-income countries. Service coverage lags behind financial protection in most MENA countries. There is a significant positive relationship between UHC and government health spending/investments. Conclusion: The majority of MENA countries are yet to achieve UHC. There is a need to expand healthcare services, especially PHC services, and adopt strategies that address concerns related to financial protection.

This paper investigates the implications of human behaviour and government support for the quality of life of vulnerable populations during the Covid-19 pandemic. We sample 2,697 households and employ the COM-B model, theory of economic contagion, and information asymmetry to empirically respond to the following research questions: What is the level of vulnerability among informal settlements in Ghana? Did the support vulnerable populations receive during the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak in Ghana improve their state of being? What were the lifestyle changes during the pandemic? Our core finding is that the plight of the vulnerable population is ameliorated when government support brings about positive change in Covid-19 behaviour. Our analysis suggests that cash transfers, free utilities and credit schemes reduce income vulnerability. Moreover, government support for small businesses and tax exemption have the potential of reducing employment vulnerability. It is therefore recommended that policymakers should institutionalize emergency cash transfers, subsidize essential utilities, and establish accessible credit schemes to support vulnerable populations after the Covid-19 crisis.

This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of total polyphenols, flavonoid contents, and DPPH-IC50 from the stem part of Moroccan cannabis via a multidimensional approach. The response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design were used for the optimization based on sonication time, temperature, and ethanol concentration. Results showed that optimal response values were 125 mg GAE/g for TPC, 81 mg QEq/g for TFC, and 17 μg/mL for DPPH-IC50. This study presents new data on the quantity of chemicals in the stem of Cannabis depending on extraction conditions, which is very important in the valorization of this green material. The established conditions provide a foundational framework for real-world applications in the extraction of bioactive compounds from Cannabis stems and other vegetal materials. However, more investigations are needed to identify the molecules in the optimized extract.

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause severe and fatal complications; knowledge about these diseases is essential for promoting safe sex practices and modifying behaviours that are harmful to one’s health. This study investigates Syrian people’s understanding, attitudes, and behaviors towards HIV/AIDS and STIs, aiming to identify factors promoting safe sex practices and modifying harmful behaviors. Methods This online cross-sectional study was conducted in Syria between 3 September and 23 November 2022, involving all 18+ individuals. The questionnaire was adapted from a previous study containing 74 questions from five sections: socio-demographic information, knowledge and practice regarding STIs, knowledge and practice regarding HIV/AIDS, attitude towards HIV/AIDS, and attitude regarding STIs and analyzed using descriptive and multivariate logistic regression. Results The study involved 1073 participants mostly aged between 18–30, with 55.3% females. Over half had good awareness of STIs and HIV/AIDS, with 55% and 63% respectively. Specifically, the overall knowledge level of STI type, signs/symptoms, risks of transmission, preventive methods, and complications for untreated STIs were (45.7%), (52.9%), (58.1%), (66.1%), and (59.6%), respectively. Medical field respondents had higher knowledge of HIV (P-value < 0.05, OR = 2). Conclusion Our results show that Syrian people have a knowledge level of STIs and HIV was moderate. However, the attitude toward STIs was negative, as less than half of the participants had a good attitude. It is essential to solve these knowledge gaps, especially in low-income countries such as Syria.

The quadcopter persist as important roles across diverse applications, and the enhancement of their control efficacy has been the subject of extensive research. In this work, the authors proposed optimal Proportional Integral (PI) controller based Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) for the roll, pitch, altitude, and yaw motions of the quadcopter system. The proposed technique uses the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to tune the parameters of the FLC and enhance the quadcopter performance. The simulation results show that the proposed technique achieves smoothness of control and significant improvement over classical techniques, as the rise time and the settling time are reduced by 61 % and 66 %, respectively. These times are important for stabilizing the system's response speed and avoiding overshooting or oscillating. This indicates that the FLCPI-PSO can achieve the desired roll and altitude angles more rapidly and effectively.

Background: The high demand for building bricks underscores their essential role in the construction industry, which pushes researchers to continuously improve the characteristics of these products. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating oleic components (Margins) in fired bricks manufacturing of by substituting water with different percentages of margins. Methods: Fired bricks were produced at the laboratory using clays taking from the Tangier region in northern Morocco. During this process, water used in the bricks production was substituted with margins in increasing percentages ranging from 10 % up to 30 %. To validate the results obtained from the physicochemical analyses performed on the manufactured bricks, three types of vegetable samples from three different regions of Morocco were utilized. Result: The study results are very remarkable, demonstrating a significant enhancement in compressive strength. The strength increased from 15.16 MPa for conventional bricks to 33.77 MPa for bricks manufactured with a 30 % substitution. Furthermore, porosity decreased from 33 % to 19 %. Conclusion: By integrating oleic components into the manufacturing process, we were able to achieve three main objectives.1. We have improved the characteristics of the bricks, which tend towards the load-bearing wall standards.2. We reduced the water quantity used in the bricks manufacturing by 30 %.3. We minimized the processing cost of the waste resulting from olive oil production, as well as its harmful effects on the environment.

Abstract Drought is a major factor affecting coffee production, and different genotypes exhibit varying degrees of resistance to drought stress. We examined root traits and biomasses of drought‐resistant (74110, Angafa, Bultum, Chala, and Gawe) and drought‐sensitive (75227, Koti, Melko CH2, Menasibu, and Mokah) Coffea arabica varieties at seedling stage under contrasting watering regimes (water stressed and well watered) for 30 days followed by 15 days of recovery to identify the association between drought resistance and root traits and dry matter partitioning, and the impact of drought stress on growth performance of arabica coffee varieties. We used a split‐plot design with three blocks, where watering regime was the whole‐plot factor and variety was the subplot factor. During water‐stress and recovery periods, the interaction effect between watering regime and variety significantly affected root traits and dry matter partitioning, while the watering‐regime main effect affected biomass. We observed a higher (1) tap root diameter (0.34 cm), lateral root number (80.7), and root volume (4.7 cm−3) for 74110; (2) lateral root number (79.3), specific root length (24.8 cm g−1), and root‐mass ratio (0.41 g g−1) for Bultum; and (3) root length density (3.3–5.2 cm cm−3), root angle (42.6°–47.8°), root‐mass ratio (0.40–0.42 g g−1), and root‐shoot ratio (0.67–0.72 g g−1) for Angafa, Chala, and Gawe under water‐stressed condition. During both study periods, biomasses were much lower under water‐stressed than under well‐watered condition. The findings show the association between drought resistance and root traits and dry matter partitioning, and the impact of drought stress on growth performance of young arabica coffee.

Human exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM) has adverse health effects on individuals. A decision-support framework is proposed to help urban planners and policymakers implement measures to reduce walkway pedestrian exposure to traffic-related PM. The framework consisted of two parts: Part I determined urban walkway rankings based on priority needs for mitigation design solutions. This was achieved by weighting data on air quality monitoring, pedestrian flow, and pedestrian behaviour collected both manually and using handheld devices. Part II assessed the suitability of design solutions for each urban walkway by evaluating (on a three-point scale) the physical applicability, implementation cost, and environmental and social added values of six urban design mitigation solutions (S1–S6). The proposed framework was demonstrated using four urban walkways (W1–W4) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two data-collection sampling cycles (winter and summer) were conducted in the year 2023. The findings indicated that the framework was successful in ordering the walkways (from highest to lowest priority need): W4, W1, W3, and W2. Additionally, the framework was successful in ordering the mitigation solutions from highest to lowest suitability for W1–W4 (e.g., S2, S3, and S4, in order, were recommended for W3). The proposed framework provides a structured decision-making approach, enabling efficient resource allocation, strategic planning, risk mitigation, transparent decision-making, and optimised impact.

Many civilizations are aware of the medical benefits of Cannabis sativa. Due to its intricacy, several plant parts have historically been used in ethnomedicine. This paper reviewed the diversity and variability of chemical composition in Cannabis sativa under the effect of extraction conditions and genetic, geographical, and environmental factors. Equally, we summarized the most relevant environmental uses of Cannabis sativa and its derivatives in relationship to its ecological plasticity and diversity of chemical compounds. Analyzed papers showed that Cannabis sativa is rich in chemical compounds that vary depending on the used parts, genotypes, and geographical and environmental of growth areas.