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Abstract In recent years, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into instructional settings has sparked important interest in how it can develop different aspects of language learning, principally in the realm of assessment. While traditional assessment methods have long been central to evaluating learners’ progress, the rise of AI tools presents an opportunity to revolutionize assessment practices by providing more personalized and adaptive feedback. This study explored the significance of portfolio assessment in AI-assisted environments, focusing on its impact on academic emotion regulation (AER), mindfulness, and attitudes toward language learning. A total of 69 students (38 in the experimental group (EG) and 31 in the control group (CG) from Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, aged 22–34 years, participated in this quasi-experimental study. The participants, enrolled in the final term of their Bachelor’s program in English Teaching, were randomly assigned to either the EG or CG. The EG engaged in a portfolio assessment approach where AI was employed by the course instructor to review the portfolios and provide continuous, individualized feedback. Conversely, the CG also followed a portfolio assessment approach but relied on traditional teacher-led feedback without AI integration. The study employed pretests and posttests to measure AER and mindfulness levels before and after the intervention. Additionally, an attitude questionnaire was administered to the EG to assess their perceptions of AI-based portfolio assessment. Data analysis included analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), independent sample t-test, and one-sample t-test to determine the effects of the intervention. The findings indicated the potential of AI-assisted portfolio assessment in enhancing AER and mindfulness while fostering positive attitudes toward language learning. By comparing AI-integrated and traditional approaches, this study provides valuable insights into the role of AI in promoting effective and engaging learning experiences in EFL contexts.

Abstract Background Because the process is cost-effective, microbial pectinase is used in juice clearing. The isolation, immobilization, and characterization of pectinase from Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) G. Winter (AUMC No. 7147) were therefore the focus of the current investigation. Results Ammonium sulphate (85%), DEAE-cellulose, and Sephadex G-200 were used to purify the enzyme. With a yield of 30.4%, the final specific activity was 400 units mg−1 protein and 125-fold purification. Using SDS-PAGE to validate the purification of the pectinase, a single band showing the homogeneity of the purified pectinase with a molecular weight of 50 kD was found. Chitosan and calcium alginate both effectively immobilized pectinase, with immobilization efficiencies of 85.7 and 69.4%, respectively. At 50, 55, 60, and 65 °C, the thermostability of both free and chitosan-immobilized pectinase was examined. The free and chitosan-immobilized enzymes had half-lives (t1/2) of 23.83 and 28.64 min at 65 °C, and their Kd values were 0.0291 and 0.0242 min−1, respectively. In addition, the Z values were 44.6 and 31.54 °C, while the D values were 79.2 and 95.1 min. Compared to the untreated one, the orange, mango, and pineapple juices treated with immobilized pure pectinase showed greater clarity. Following treatment with pure pectinase, the fruit juice’s 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2, 2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate scavenging activities increased. Following treatment with pure pectinase, the amounts of total phenolics and total flavonoids increased. Conclusion The procedure is deemed cost-effective in the food industry because the strong affinity of fungal pectinase for pectin. The investigated pectinase supported its usage in the food industry by being able to clear orange, mango, and pineapple juices.

Introduction: Gamification, the application of game-like elements in nongame settings, has shown promise for increasing motivation across various sectors. However, their application in healthcare volunteering, particularly in Saudi Arabia, remains limited and understudied. Healthcare volunteers play a crucial role in service delivery; however, sustaining their motivation can be challenging. Aims: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of gamification in enhancing motivation among healthcare volunteers in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, it examined the impact of gamification on situational motivation, distinguishing between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and assessed volunteers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of gamification. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used with a sample of 24 healthcare volunteers from a single organization in the Asir region. Participants completed pre- and postintervention surveys incorporating the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) and open-ended questions. The 4-week gamification intervention introduced elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards, to encourage engagement. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-tests to assess changes in motivation levels, while thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative responses. Results and Discussion: Preintervention data indicated generally high baseline motivation, with 54.2% of participants rating their motivation as highly motivated. The postintervention results revealed a statistically significant increase in intrinsic motivation (mean SIMS score: 6.53, standard deviation: 0.76), indicating that gamification positively influenced engagement. The thematic analysis highlighted core motivators, including skill development, community services, and personal growth. While participants appreciated gamification elements such as recognition and rewards, some raised concerns regarding fairness and the potential for competition to detract from the collaborative spirit. The findings suggest that gamification can effectively enhance both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among healthcare volunteers, particularly when designed to align with their values and motivations. The study highlights the need for thoughtful implementation, ensuring that gamification supports rather than undermines the community-focused values prevalent in volunteer settings. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of gamification as a viable tool for boosting motivation in healthcare volunteers, provided it is balanced by cultural and motivational factors. Healthcare organizations that consider gamification in volunteer management should prioritize fairness, transparency, and alignment with intrinsic values to foster sustainable engagement.

Introduction: Inflammatory conditions, including gingivitis and periodontitis, affect the supporting structures of teeth. The early detection of these diseases is critical for the prevention of systemic complications. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have introduced novel diagnostic methods that offer the potential for more accurate and personalized diagnostics. Aims: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a decision support system (DSS) based on selected classification algorithms, namely random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and logistic regression for the periodontal disease diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, A 300 patients were taken, split into a training set with 80% and a test set with 20%. The algorithms were used to analyze 19 demographic, clinical, and radiographic parameters. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were conducted and for these, a significance level of 0.05 was used. We calculated accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score, which we used to assess model performance. Results: The RF and ANN models exhibited very good performance, reaching almost perfect accuracy, precision, recall and F1 scores, showing strong potential as a diagnostic. Nevertheless, the SVM and decision tree models equally yielded robust results with a balanced generalizability across metrics. Results showed little effectiveness for the Naïve Bayes on grading periodontal disease. Discussion and Conclusion: DSS models show promise in enhancing periodontal disease diagnostics, particularly RF and ANN models. However, the risk of overfitting and limited performance of simpler models, such as naive Bayes, underscores the need for further research, including external validation, to ensure the reliability and generalizability of these models in clinical practice.

Background Chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) represents a complex process of inflammatory response, fibrosis, and tissue restoration, mediated by a myriad of proinflammatory cytokines, enzymes, and growth factors. NOD-like receptor protein3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is one of the NLR protein families. It drives proteolysis of proinflammatory caspases which induces maturation of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and pro-IL-18. The aim of this work is to study NLRP3 inflammasome activation in patients with renal transplantation in relation to allograft function, inflammation, and renal fibrosis.Methods Thirty renal transplant recipients (RTR): 15 patients with stable renal function (Group I), 15 patients with CAD (Group II), and 15 healthy subjects (Group III) were included. Serum and urinary NLRP3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was measured, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated. Renal function was evaluated by serum creatinine (S.Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Resistive index (RI) was calculated with Doppler ultrasonography. In patients with CAD, renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) was graded in renal biopsies.Results Serum NLRP3, caspase-1, serum and urinary IL-1β, and hs-CRP showed a statistically significant increase in RTR, particularly in those with CAD compared to the controls with a positive correlation with each other, their urinary level, S. Cr, hs-CRP, NLR, RI, and RIF (p

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of telerehabilitation services in Egypt and to investigate the concerns and barriers faced by Egyptian physiotherapists for implementation. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 306 Egyptian physiotherapists who were asked to complete an online survey including questions about the utilization of telerehabilitation services, awareness, perception, and attitude. Results: A total of 299 physiotherapists completed the online survey. Within the sample, 38.5% utilized telerehabilitation at work. Telerehabilitation was used frequently to deliver patient advice (17.6%), follow-up (16%), and exercise prescription (15.2%). Pain (16.2%) was the most common outcome assessed utilizing telerehabilitation. Additionally, 85.3% of physiotherapists agreed that the inclusion of telerehabilitation during the rehabilitation program is effective. The main barriers to implementing telerehabilitation in Egypt were lack of awareness (59.9%) and technical issues (58.2%). Conclusion: This study sheds light on the trends and challenges in utilizing telerehabilitation and may help in shaping the future of telerehabilitation in Egypt.

The majority of electrical power generation systems in Iraq are gas turbine stations that cause many economic and environmental problems since they are based on fossil fuel sources. Renewable energy, specifically wind, can be a solution (besides solar energy) to produce clean energy. Throughout this work, specific wind turbines can be suggested within certain dimensions and hub heights to satisfy viable rated power for available wind density. Many regions in Iraq, especially eastern and western regions, seem promising locations for installing wind turbines for electricity generation. The results showed that these locations have a power density between 700-1200 kWh/m2 annually at an elevation of 80 m as a critical height. The suggested horizontal axis turbine can offer rated power of up to 200 kW, reaching 350 kW in some locations, especially in Hay district and around. Other locations (southern and internal regions) can produce less power, and they are suitable for vertical axis turbines with rated power of 10-20 kW. However, some locations are not recommended for large-scale turbines due to the long time off-design period. Micro-turbines that produce 5 kW are suitable for the northern region of Iraq.

Teachers are responsible for their students' assessment; therefore, they need assessment knowledge and skills to professionally engage in an effective educational assessment. However, research showed that language teachers had insufficient assessment language assessment literacy (LAL). Thus, this study aimed to explore the components of the LAL construct in the Yemeni context and to assess Yemeni EFL teachers' LAL training needs. For this purpose, a self-report language assessment literacy questionnaire (LALQ), was developed based on Taylor's (2013) LAL theoretical framework and by adopting items from three questionnaires (Fulcher, 2012; Hasselgreen et al., 2004; Kremmel & Harding, 2020). The questionnaire was administered to 471 EFL teachers who taught grades 7, 8, and 9 (ISCED 2) in Yemeni schools. The findings suggested a ten-dimensional model for the LAL which was empirically distinct tailored to the Yemeni context. Teachers' needs analysis revealed that teachers needed training in Knowledge of assessment and Assessment administration and use. The study concludes with implications for teachers' LAL development and for further research in LAL.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are severe bloodstream infections caused by catheter use and are often associated with a longer hospital stay, increased healthcare costs, and a higher mortality rate. However, catheter-related bloodstream infections can be successfully treated. It is essential that healthcare workers are aware of central line (CL) insertion and maintenance bundles to reduce and prevent the incidence of CLABSI. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of implementing CL care bundles on hospital-wide CLABSI incidence rates. This is a prospective study conducted at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Saudi Arabia from January 2017 to December 2021. The research period was divided into two phases: the pre-intervention phase (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018) and the post-intervention phase (January, 2019 to December 31, 2020). During both phases, outcome variables, including CLABSI rate, were assessed. In the present study, the total number of CLABSIs is 439, of which 266 were in the pre-intervention phase and 173 were in the post-intervention phase. The overall CLABSI rate significantly decreased from 1.6±0.05 in the pre-intervention phase to 0.9±0.05 in the post-intervention phase. This decline in CLABSI was significant (p

In this study, a composite comprising a rare‐earth metal, samarium vanadate (SmVO4, SmV), anchored to halloysite nanotube (HNT) making SmV/HNT nanocomposite is synthesized for the sensitive electrochemical determination of furaltadone (FLD) through differential pulse voltammetry analysis based on the synergistic effect of SmV/HNT (the catalytic activity and chemical stability of SmV, which was further boosted by the improved surface area and conductance of HNT). Further, in the microscopic studies, it is revealed that SmV exhibits a tetragonal zircon‐type crystalline structure, with I41/amd (141) space group, whereas HNT comprises a multiphase kaolin composition as a gibbsite‐like octahedral sheet with multivalency, and the morphological irregularities of the individual constituents are rectified in the composite. The SmV/HNT composite is spray‐coated on polyethylene terephthalate sheet, which delivered a promising trace level limit of detection (0.009 μm) over a wide working range (0.05–194.4 μm) for FLD. Furthermore, real sample analysis is performed using human serum, and pharmaceutical tablet and the results reveal exceptional repeatability and sensitivity, indicating the real‐time application of SmV/HNT in the pharmaceutical domain.

Background: Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer in women worldwide. Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) is a forkhead family protein that is encoded by the FOXA1 gene. Recent studies suggest that during the development of cancers, FOXA1 may become an oncogene. Androgen receptor (AR) belongs to the steroid nuclear receptor-ligand-binding superfamily. Objectives: FOXA1 and AR immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in breast carcinoma showed potential as tumor-specific targets. Their correlation with different histopathological parameters and with each other were assessed. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective analytical study carried out at Qena University Hospital from April 2021 to December 2022. The study included 65 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from different breast lesions obtained from the Pathology Department at Qena University Hospital. Results: There were highly statistically significant associations between FOXA1 Score and ER, PR, and Molecular Subtype (Luminal B-like Her2-ve), while the differences between FOXA1 Score and Molecular Subtypes (Her-2-enriched and Triple Negative) were statistically significant. There were statistically significant differences between AR score and ER, PR, and type of operation. Our research showed that AR and FOXA1 are strongly associated. Conclusion: Our results suggest that in Breast Carcinoma, the expression of FOXA1 has a strong association with the expression of AR. These findings have important clinical significance in selecting a subset of AR+ tumors that are suitable for anti-AR therapies. However, this requires further examination in more extensive cohort studies.

Abstract Ketamine, a pharmacological agent that acts as an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, has garnered considerable interest because of its notable and expeditious antidepressant properties observed in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) who exhibit resistance to conventional therapeutic interventions. A comprehensive and rigorous systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of ketamine abuse undergoing ketamine treatment for depressive disorders. A comprehensive search was conducted across the electronic databases to identify pertinent studies published between 2021 and 2023. The present investigation incorporated a comprehensive range of studies encompassing the abuse or misuse of ketamine, including case reports, observational studies, and clinical trials. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted in accordance with predetermined criteria. The findings of this systematic review demonstrate the importance of monitoring and addressing ketamine abuse in patients receiving ketamine treatment for depressive disorders like MDD. The wide range of reported prevalence rates highlights the need for standardized criteria and measures for defining and assessing ketamine abuse. This study presents a significant contribution to the field by introducing a novel screening questionnaire and assessment algorithm designed to identify and evaluate ketamine misuse among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients undergoing ketamine treatment. This innovative tool holds the potential to enhance clinical practice by providing healthcare professionals with a standardized approach to promptly detect and address ketamine misuse. The integration of this screening tool into routine care protocols can facilitate more effective monitoring and management of ketamine misuse in this population, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and safety.

Abstract Background Analysis of free DNA molecules shed from tumour cells in plasma of patients referred as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) with reference to physiological circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is nowadays exploited as liquid biopsy and is considered a new emerging promising biomarker for diagnosis, selection of proper treatment, and prognosis of cancer. DNA integrity index (DII) is assessed by calculating the ratio between the concentration of long cfDNA strands released from tumour cells (ALU247) and the short strands released from normal cells (ALU115). The aim of the current study was to evaluate DII as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of NSCLC. Methods Our study included 48 NSCLC patients diagnosed as primary NSCLC before starting treatment, 30 COPD patients diagnosed clinically, radiologically, and subjected to chest high-resolution computerized tomography, and 40 healthy controls. cfDNA concentration and DII were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results ALU115, ALU247, and DII were significantly higher in NSCLC compared to COPD patients (p

A prominent heterocyclic system found in medications and natural goods is indoles. Due to the significance of this important ring system, a fresh batch of unique indole derivatives was created using indole carbohydrazide. The triazole moiety of indole derivative (3) is produced by reacting carbohydrazide with carbon disulfide in alkaline conditions, followed by hydrazine treatment. In addition to synthesizing additional derivatives, indole-bearing triazole (3) was condensed with aromatic aldehydes to create the indole derivatives (4a–c). Mass spectra, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and infrared spectroscopy were used to diagnose all produced derivatives. An MTT assay was employed to test the derivatives against MCF-7 cells. The findings demonstrated the inhibitory action of compounds 5a and 5b, with IC50 values of 42.6 ± 0.33 µM and 27.3 ± 0.28, respectively. Affinity energy and the interaction between the investigated chemicals and receptor (CDK4 ID: 2w96) were ascertained by studying molecular docking. The chemical structure-physicochemical-pharmacokinetic relationship provides useful insight for medicinal chemists to design indole-triazole derivatives with acceptable drug-like and pharmacokinetic properties.

Aspiration of scarf pins is a common problem in specific geographical locations where the Muslim population is high, especially in countries like Egypt, Bangladesh, Middle Eastern countries, and certain regions in India. This condition is also referred to as hijab-pin syndrome. We discuss the largest experience of flexible bronchoscopic extraction of aspirated scarf pins from the tracheobronchial tree. A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted on 146 patients from 4 different centers in Egypt, Bangladesh, India, and Germany. Flexible bronchoscopy was successful in the extraction of aspirated scarf pins in all 146/146 patients with a 100% success rate. 136/146 (93.15%) patients were females, with the most common age group between 12 and 18 years (34.24%). 132/146 (90.4%) remembered the aspiration event before coming to the hospital. Cough was the predominant presenting symptom. (71.22%). In all 146 cases, the foreign body was identified on a standard chest X-ray. The left main bronchus was the most common site of aspiration, 67/146 (45.89%), followed by the right main bronchus, 56/146 (38.35%). 14 patients (9.58%) had a history of unsuccessful attempts to remove by rigid bronchoscopy, and flexible bronchoscopy was successful in these 14 (100%) patients who had a prior unsuccessful attempt to remove. The current series is the largest in literature and demonstrated an excellent success rate in the removal of the aspirated scarf pin.

Biomass residues and industrial waste are of great interest for their potential to produce a wide range of bioenergy and value-added products. Crude glycerol can be valorized into value added products by several microorganisms through microbial fermentation. Thus, Significant efforts have been made to develop biological methods to convert crude glycerol into various valuable chemicals and fuels, including 1, 3-propanediol, hydrogen and ethanol. In this context, our work have use glycerol medium as source of carbon for investigate bioethanol and 1, 3-propandiol production, using a microbial consortium. All experiments was carried out in sealed bottles, the reaction medium is placed in the shaker incubator at 37°C with stirring at 130 rpm. . Nitrogen gas was injected to create anaerobic conditions. The highest concentration of ethanol and 1,3 – propanediol obtained were 3.47 (g/l) and 4.8 mg/l respectively . These results highlight promising avenues for the valorization of biomass residues and industrial wastes in sustainable bioenergy production.

Algeria produces 500,000 tons of dates a year, 53% are common varieties (Ould El Hadj 2012 ) (1).Production of bioethanol from two varieties of dates that are not widely marketed, Degla Beïda and Timjouhart. We analysed the physicochemical composition of the raw material: water content, acidity, °Brix degree, total sugars, reducing sugars, fat and proteins. The extracted date juice was then fermented for 72 hours and distilled to purify the ethanol. After fermentation and distillation, analyses were carried out by GCMS. The results showed that the juices extracted from the two varieties were rich in total sugars, 62.89% and 56% respectively for Degla Beïda and Timjouhart, but low in protein and fat. With regard to alcoholic fermentation, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae proved effective in producing ethanol, with yields of 86.79 g/l for Degla Beïda dates and 68.64 g/l for Timjouhart dates. With the application of processing and bioprocessing technologies, these date varieties could be exploited for further opportunities in various industries.

This study aims to prepare charge transfer complexes derived from organochalcogenide of arylamide derivatives with different quinones. A new charge-transfer complexes have been developed through a direct reaction between (PhNHCOCH2)2Se, (o-CH3PhNHCOCH2)2Se, and (PhCH2NHCOCH2)2E, where E = S, Se, and Te are electron donors and different quinones are electron acceptors. The quinones used in the reaction were 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinones (DDQ), 7,7’,8,8’-tetracyanoquinodimethane, and tetracyanoethane. The electron donors and electron acceptor mol were 1:1, and the reaction was conducted in acetonitrile. Infrared, 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data characterized all complexes. The complexes’ antioxidant activity was evaluated through α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl at 10–0.312 mg/mL. The results showed that all complexes exhibited promising antioxidant activities. Among them, (PhCH2NHCOCH2)2S·DDQ compound had the least IC50 value of 6.725 mg/mL, indicating a potent scavenging property compared to other compounds. The molecular structures of charge-transfer complexes were investigated using hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP) and basis set 3-21G. We obtained geometrical structures' highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) surfaces and energy gaps through geometric optimization. We also investigated the molecular shapes and contours of the prepared compounds through geometrical optimization and compared the HOMO energy of the CT compounds to investigate donor and acceptor properties.

Introduction Expiratory muscle weakness and dyspnoea are common in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and negatively affect their exercise capacity. We aimed to highlight the combined effect of Russian current and a threshold positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device on expiratory muscle strength, dyspnoea, and functional capacity in patients with COPD. Methods A total of 60 males with COPD were involved in this controlled randomised trial (age ranged 55–65 years and median body mass index [BMI] was 28.68–25.96) and randomly assigned into two equal groups (30 for each), to receive combined Russian current and PEP device (study group) or PEP device only (control group), for three sessions per week over a ten-week period. Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), dyspnoea (modified Borg scale – MBS), and functional capacity (6-minute walk test) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results There was statistically significant improvement in all measured variables (MEP, MBS, and 6-minute walk test) in either the study group or the control group according to Wilcoxon’s sign rank test (all were p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), however, the study group showed a more significant improvement compared to the control group according to the Mann–Whitney U -test ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Combined Russian current and PEP device had a superior beneficial effect on improving dyspnoea and functional capacity by boosting the expiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, which could be implemented in their management, although further studies are needed to evaluate its maintenance effect.

Abstract Background Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic illness of immune origin that is typically treated with corticosteroids as a gold standard therapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) may represent an alternative remedy that has the potential to treat a variety of pathological conditions by alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue healing without the drawbacks of steroid therapies. Thus, the aim of the current study was to compare the effect of photobiomodulation to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide on erosive oral lichen planus. Methods This randomized controlled clinical trial involved 44 patients complaining of erosive oral lichen planus. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: control group (n = 22) received 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide three times daily with miconazole oral gel once daily for 4 weeks, and photobiomodulation group (n = 22) received laser therapy by 980 nm diode laser utilizing output power 300 mW twice weekly for 5 weeks (a total of 10 sessions). The evaluation of patients was performed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively in terms of pain, clinical scores, and biochemical evaluation of salivary malondialdehyde levels. All recorded data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney test to compare the two studied groups regarding pain, lesion size, and salivary levels of malondialdehyde. Friedman test, followed by post hoc test, was used for comparison of the data within the same group along the 3 periods at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results Both groups showed significant improvement in pain and clinical scores, with no statistical difference between them. Moreover, there was a significant improvement in salivary malondialdehyde levels for both groups, with no significant difference between them. Conclusions Photobiomodulation could be a promising therapeutic modality for management of erosive oral lichen planus without the side effects of steroid therapy. The salivary malondialdehyde level could be used as a biomarker to evaluate the disease severity and its response to the treatment. Trial registration The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05951361) (19/07/2023).

This research delves into the philosophical concept of compositional metaphor and its artistic application, particularly in the works of the ceramic artist Adrian Aurelio. It aims to illustrate how compositional metaphor serves as a conduit for conveying philosophical insights and profound meanings through art. The structure of the research comprises four chapters. The initial chapter (General Framework) addresses the research problem encapsulated in the question: "How was compositional metaphor activated to achieve ceramic output, and what visual elements did the ceramist employ in realizing these compound metaphors?" The research aims to identify compositional metaphor and its application mechanisms in the sculptural ceramics of Adrian Aurelio. The second chapter (Theoretical Framework) encompasses two sections. The first section examines the concept of metaphor and compositional metaphor, while the second section explores the artistic outputs of the ceramicist Adrian Aurelio. The third chapter (Research Procedures) delineates the research's scope, selecting four artistic works for analysis. The fourth chapter presents the results and conclusions. Among the key findings is the ceramist's adeptness in reaching a level of expressive semantic encoding through her sculptural ceramic discourse. She amalgamated fragments of the same gender (human parts) to create a human figure, rendering the pieces complementary to each other, inviting interpretative narrative readings that mirror reality with profound connotations. Compositional metaphor, therefore, emerges as a conscious construct, intertwining artistic vision with technology and culture. This fusion engenders aesthetic innovation and serves as a conduit for expressing her philosophy and societal concerns, amalgamating diverse components to formulate multi-layered messages pertaining to environmental, cultural, and social realms.

This paper presents the research findings on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) brief development in the United Arab Emirates. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess and rank the relative importance of the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) identified in PPP brief development in the UAE. A quantitative analysis was then conducted on the data gathered from the survey, and the results of the analysis are described. The processes of purifying and computing the measurement instruments are also explored using Cronbach’s alpha to assess the reliability of scale measurements. The statistical analysis focuses on the importance and ranking of the identified thirty-eight (38) CSFs and their Sub-Success Factors (SSFs). The overall assessment of these factors highlights their importance in a brief development process. Accordingly, these factors are grouped into seven categories, and the developed CSF framework is presented. The categories, listed in descending order, are Regulatory and Legal Factors; Finance and Economic Factors; Risk-Related Factors; Public Sector Capacity-Related Factors; Procurement-Related Factors; Stakeholder-Related Factors; and Social, Cultural, and Ethical Factors. The research findings offer a comprehensive framework of CSFs for brief development tailored to the unique PPP environment of the UAE to ensure project success.

Adversarial attacks pose a significant threat to deep learning models, specifically medical images, as they can mislead models into making inaccurate predictions by introducing subtle distortions to the input data that are often imperceptible to humans. Although adversarial training is a common technique used to mitigate these attacks on medical images, it lacks the flexibility to address new attack methods and effectively improve feature representation. This paper introduces a novel Model Ensemble Feature Fusion (MEFF) designed to combat adversarial attacks in medical image applications. The proposed model employs feature fusion by combining features extracted from different DL models and then trains Machine Learning classifiers using the fused features. It uses a concatenation method to merge the extracted features, forming a more comprehensive representation and enhancing the model's ability to classify classes accurately. Our experimental study has performed a comprehensive evaluation of MEFF, considering several challenging scenarios, including 2D and 3D images, greyscale and colour images, binary classification, and multi-label classification. The reported results demonstrate the robustness of using MEFF against different types of adversarial attacks across six distinct medical image applications. A key advantage of MEFF is its capability to incorporate a wide range of adversarial attacks without the need to train from scratch. Therefore, it contributes to developing a more diverse and robust defence strategy. More importantly, by leveraging feature fusion and ensemble modelling, MEFF enhances the resilience of DL models in the face of adversarial attacks, paving the way for improved robustness and reliability in medical image analysis.

One of the most frequently used transition conducting oxides (TCO) is indium tin oxide. Indium is very expensive because of the lack of availability. So Most of the researchers focused on cost-effective materials and they have developed Dielectric/Metal/Dielectric (DMD) structures for ITO-free applications. Examples of dielectric materials are AZO, MoO3, TiO2, and WO3. The dielectric material is sandwiched between metals such as Au, Ag, Pt, Cu, and Al. The efficacy of these DMD structures is purely based on the thickness of the dielectric and metal layers. Once the metal layer thickness is more than 15 nm, the transmittance is much less due to the thickness of the material and it will work as a reflector. Moreover, as WO3 is the most widely and frequently used material we focus on the fabrication of WO3/Ag/WO3 (WAW) for replacing TCO in the electrochromic device and making it indium-free. WAW structures are widely used in smart windows, gas sensors, solar cells, photodetectors, etc. For electrochromic applications, these WAW structures showed good transmittance, fast switching speed, best coloration efficiency, and best optical modulation in comparison to WO3/ITO structure and are also cost-effective.

Background: Hysteroscopy is one of the most significant examinations in females with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). It permits dependable visual evaluation of the cervical canal and uterine space and it taken into consideration as a gold standard for diagnosing intra-uterine pathology and has slight intra-operative and postoperative morbidities. Objectives: This work aimed to clarify the roles of Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in evaluation of endometrium after ICSI failure in females with un-explained Infertility. Patients and methods: This was a prospective cohort investigation carried out at outpatient infertility clinic of the Assisted Reproductive Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Qena University Hospital. Women attend to Assisted Reproductive unit planned for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Results: Based on histology as a reference standard, hysteroscopy identified the chronic endometritis pathology in 26 patients (true positives) that also found by histology. Our study revealed that Hysteroscopy had overall sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of 49.06%, 53.19% and 51% respectively in detecting the chronic endometritis in our patients with positive predictive value (PPV) was 54.17% while the negative predictive value (NPV) was 48.08%. Conclusion: Hysteroscopy is of a great value in the assessment and diagnosis of the endometrial pathology in patients with unexplained RIF. There is no consensus on the everyday use of hysteroscopy before ICSI; hence, the importance of hysteroscopy as a routine in the managing of non-fertile females still remains a subject of investigation.

Background: Hepatotoxicity caused by CCL4 is well known. Geraniol (GNL) has high antioxidant effect that can induces liver regeneration. However, the protective effect of GNL effect on CCL4-induced hepatorenal toxicity in pregnant mice has not yet been studied. Objective: To investigate whether GNL could protect against oxidative stress induced by CCL4 via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, which is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), and has been found to have protective effects on renal and hepatic tissues. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight female albino mice weighing 25–30 g were randomly allocated to 4 groups: Group I served as a control; Group II received a toxicity-inducing single dose of 15 μL of CCL4 on the 4th day after mating; Group III received 40 mg/kg GNL + CCL4 (with GNL from the 1st day of assimilation to delivery); and Group IV received GNL alone from the 1st day of assimilation to the end of the delivery period. GNL was evaluated for its protective effects on hepatotoxicity in CCL4-treated pregnant mice. Litter size, weight, survival rate, and resorption were recorded. In addition, H & E staining was done for liver and kidney pathology as well as biochemical markers and oxidative markers malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were analyzed. Results: CCL4 significantly reduced survival rate and increased resorption after exposure. Alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations in the serum, tissue MDA, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were increased after CCL4 exposure. GNL improved enzyme and antioxidant levels and prevented CCL4-induced hepatic injury in mice. Caspase-3 cleavage was decreased by GNL, which increased PI3K, phosphorylated AKT, Nrf2, and B-cell lymphoma 2. Conclusion: GNL demonstrates a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatorenal toxicity, mediated through the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the upregulation of Nrf2. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic implications of GNL in mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation in liver and kidney tissues.

Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy has been established as the preferred first-line therapy for treating metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) with programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1)-positive disease since its approval for that indication. However, the optimal sequencing of therapy remains an unanswered question for a subset of mTNBC patients who harbor germline breast cancer gene 1/2 (BRCA1/2; gBRCA1/2) mutation. This article aims to offer insights into the optimal therapy sequencing for mTNBC patients with gBRCA1/2 mutations and its impact on clinical decision-making. The perspective offered is based on the best currently available data and propose a practical algorithm to guide the management of this subgroup in the frontline setting.

Background: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the impact of adding checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, there is a lack of biomarkers that can help identify patients who would benefit from combination therapy. Our research identifies response predictors and assesses the effectiveness of adding immunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC patients. Methods: We identified eligible RCTs by searching PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and oncological meetings. For this meta-analysis, we obtained odds ratios using the standard random effects model. To assess the heterogeneity of the study outcomes, the I2 statistic was obtained. Potential bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the corresponding Egger’s test. Results: In total, 1637 patients with TNBC were included from five RCTs. Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy significantly improved pCR when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. In the subgroup analysis, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy showed higher pCR rates in both Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive and PD-L1-negative TNBC patients. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (PS) of 0 correlated with increased pCRs (OR = 1.9, p < 0.001) in neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy vs. neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but no benefit was observed for patients with ECOG PS 1. Nodal positivity was significantly associated with pCR (OR = 2.52, p < 0.001), while neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy did not benefit patients with negative lymph nodes. Conclusions: Checkpoint inhibition and neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly increased pCRs in TNBC patients, regardless of their PDL-1 status. Additional checkpoint inhibitors improved pCR rates, mainly for patients with ECOG PS 0 and lymph node-positive disease.

The aim of this study is to build a training program based on the P5BL learning model ‌in developing creative teaching skills for male and female Arabic language teachers. ‌The researcher decided to put in the following pages an initial vision for the training ‌program so that this vision includes:‌ First: The general framework of the training program. This framework covers:‌ Definition of the training program.‌ The general idea of the training program.‌ Justifications for the training program.‌ Foundations for building the training program.‌ General objectives of the training program.‌ Second: The program components include:‌ Behavioral objectives of the training program.‌ Content of the training program.‌ Training method in the training program.‌ Educational materials and methods that help implement the training program.‌ E- Methods of training evaluation in the training program.‌ Third: Planning training meetings in the training program, and each unit includes:‌ A- Objectives of the training unit.‌ B- Unit content.‌ C- Training activities.‌ Training time and implementation mechanisms.‌

In several applications, the accuracy and robust performance of the control method for the speed of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) is critical. Model uncertainties, caused by inaccurate model identification, decrease the accuracy of PMSM control. To solve this problem, this paper presents a super robust control structure for the speed control of PMSMs. In the proposed method, the model uncertainties with Lipschitz condition together with disturbances are considered during the PMSM modeling, and their effects are handled using a robust state feedback control. To be more specific, the Lyapunov stability proof is performed in such a way that the model uncertainty effects are eliminated. Before that, the Lyapunov stability criteria have been selected in such a way that the Hꝏ conditions are considered and guaranteed. This issue helps to eliminate the effects of the disturbances. In addition, this paper considers another option to make the whole control structure robust against sudden load changes. To solve this problem, a fuzzy adaptive sliding mode observer (FASMO) is presented to determine the load torque and use it in the control signal generation. In this observer, the switched gain of the sliding mode observer (SMO) is adapted using a fuzzy system to eliminate the chattering phenomena and increase the estimation accuracy. In fact, the proposed method is called super robust because it resists model uncertainties, disturbances, and sudden load changes during three stages by robust state feedback control, Hꝏ criterion, and load estimator, respectively. The performance of the proposed approach is validated through a set of laboratory tests, and its superiority is shown compared to other methods.

Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is a proinflammatory cytokine, mainly secreted by Type II helper T cells. It signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of IL-31 receptor α and oncostatin-M receptor β chain. The hallmark feature of IL-31, in its pathological role, is its ability to induce pruritus in mammals. Pruritus is a common symptom and major reason of morbidity in cancer patients, compromising their quality of life. Although, IL-31 is differentially expressed in different tumor types and could promote or inhibit cancer progression, high expression of IL-31 is a contributing factor to advanced stage tumor and severity of pruritus. The simultaneous existence of pruritus and cancer could either result from the aberrations in common proteins that co-exist in both cancer and pruritus or the therapeutic treatment of cancer could indirectly induce pruritus. Although the biology of IL-31 has predominantly been described in skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory diseases, the precise role of IL-31 in the tumor biology of different cancer types remains elusive. Herein, we summarize the current understanding on the role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of different cancers.

Intestinal Tuberculosis (TB) is a very rare presentation of TB, presenting with a nonspecific symptom that mimics Crohn's disease, making diagnosis challenging. We present a case of intestinal tuberculosis in a 37-year-old female who had long-term abdominal pain and diarrhea and showed all the signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during a thorough clinical, endoscopic, radiologic, and histologic examination. Seven months of right mid- and lower-abdominal discomfort brought a 37-year-old woman to our hospital with pain, diarrhea, bloating, and tiredness worsening after meals. A CT scan of the abdomen highly suggested inflammatory bowel disease. A colonoscopy revealed a patulous ileocecal valve with terminal ileum ulcerations, ileal stenosis, cecum, and valve ulcers, where biopsies findings suggesting also IBD. While planned to start mesalazine; PCR TB testing of biopsy material confirmed tuberculosis. She recovered well following conventional intestinal TB therapy. Intestinal TB is called the great mimicker because its symptoms resemble different illnesses. Misdiagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment, life-threatening complications, and mortality. This paper's radiology, macroscopy, and histopathology highly suggested Crohn's disease, however, intestinal TB was the diagnosis. TB quadrable treatment significantly benefited patients. Consider intestinal TB in this scenario, especially in patients coming from endemic TB areas is highly recommended. The importance of our case report is increasing the awareness that intestinal TB can mimic inflammatory bowel disease and other disorders such as chronic disease and malignancy, for which the treatment is completely different and could lead to fetal outcome; therefore, we should maintain a high level of suspicion when evaluating patients with nonspecific symptoms, particularly in endemic areas of the disease, to obtain a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Abstract Introduction Albumin is the most prevalent plasma protein and is involved in a variety of critical physiological processes. Low serum albumin levels have been linked to depression symptoms in people who had recent suicide attempts and those suffering from several mental diseases such as acute episodes of mania, and schizophrenia. However, there has been little investigation into the relationship between depression and serum albumin levels in community-dwelling persons. This research aimed to examine the relationship between serum albumin and depression in a population-based sample and whether it differs depending on other possible confounders. Methods Our data were derived from a national household population study conducted in 2017 with a sample size of 3,521 Jordanians aged > 17 years old. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, a self-administered scale, was used to screen for depression. Concentrations of serum albumin and other medical biomarkers were measured by blood tests. Using descriptive statistics for depression distribution and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the connection between albumin levels and depression was investigated. Results The odds ratios (ORs) for depression were significantly lower in the third and fourth quartiles of serum albumin concentration compared to the first quartile (OR = 0.64 and 0.66, respectively; P values =

In recent years, developing language assessment literacy (LAL) has become crucial for teachers in enhancing their teaching practices and improving students’ learning outcomes. Empirical research reported that there was a training need for formal education and professional development programs in assessment (Berry et al., 2017; Vogt & Tsagari, 2014). Therefore, this paper reports a systematic review of teachers’ language assessment literacy development: training needs, training effective factors, and language assessment practice constraints. The purpose of the review is to provide an updated overview of the empirical research on language assessment development. I utilized systematic review for social studies using the following steps: forming research questions, choosing the appropriate search terms and strategy, starting the literature search, developing inclusion criteria, determining relevant studies, and extracting data (Petticrew & Roberts, 2006). The search was limited to the 12 years’ publications because there was an increase attention on developing teacher’s language assessment literacy in these years. The selected studies were analyzed using the content analysis approach. The results suggested that teachers needed in-service training in different LAL content areas that varied according to the educational context needs in their countries. The results also revealed that teachers' experience and self-reflection needed to be considered in development programs and teachers should be involved in collaborative learning communities. The collaborative learning communities provided the needed professional support and give the chance for teachers to share their experience. Furthermore, the reality and constraints needed to be recognized as they influenced teachers' assessment practices. Finally, research implications and future research directions on teachers’ language assessment literacy are discussed.

This study aims at how to employ digital media for international public relations in ‌the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomatic body affiliated with the Iraqi ‌state, through the Facebook website, to identify the contents, methods and ‌strategies that were used by international public relations through digital media and ‌to ensure the employment of the communication messages that it embodies through ‌its contents on the page. . The researcher used the content analysis method, which ‌is one of the most important tools used in media research, after listing the materials ‌published on the Facebook page For the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its number was (160) published for the ‌period from 1/6/2022 to 31/8/2022‌‌.‌ The study reached a number of conclusions, the most important of which is the ‌strengthening of bilateral, regional and international relations In the work of international public relations on the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign ‌Affairs’ Facebook page, which aims to enhance cultural, economic, social and ‌educational diplomatic cooperation as an attempt to measure the effectiveness of ‌employing digital media technologies in international public relations

The composition of the phases and the microscopic structure of Ti-X% Cu (0, 0.5, 2.5, 5)% prepared alloys was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the antibacterial activity was assessed to investigate the effect of the Cu content on the antibacterial activity with or without coating with sliver nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets. The alloys were coated using pulse laser deposition. The alloys of Ti-X%Cu were prepared by the metallurgy process. Finally, the thermal conductivity was studied to determine the effect of increasing the copper content and the coating with nanoparticles. Electron microscopy (SEM) of the alloys before coating showed that the pure titanium is homogeneously distributed and the (Ti-0.5%Cu, Ti-2.5%Cu, and Ti-5%Cu) there are precipitates of (200–800) nm while in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the coated alloys the silver nanoparticles were distributed (20- 26) nm, and graphene oxide was found to be less than (100) nm. The rate of inhibition of bacterial growth increases with increasing concentration copper and with the presence of coatings, and the best inhibition ratio for the sample was (Ti-5%Cu with AgNPs/rGONPs). On the other hand, thermal conductivity of the alloys after coating is less than it was in the uncoated alloys.

In the present paper, pure polymeric blend film [PVA-PEO] and the polymeric blend films reinforced by MnCl2.4H2O salt with different weight ratios (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt %) have been prepared by using the solution casting method. The effects of weight ratio of salt on structural properties for all reinforced polymeric blends films were studied. FTIR spectra were used to establish the interaction between the polymer (PVA) and the polymer (PEO) reinforced by MnCl2.4H2O salt, which causes some changes in the vibration modes and the position of the bonds. All inrestigated samples exhibited broad bonds at around (3310 cm-1). The results showed the asymmetric vibration of O-H group in the polymers matrix. The peaks around (2880 cm-1) can be attributed to the presence of C- H stretching vibration group. The C=C stretching vibration appears in the bonds at (1955 cm-1). The peak at (1096 cm-1) for all reinforced films is attributed to the stretching mode of C-O-C stretching. There is a shift of out-of-plane rings C-H bending vibration from 961.2 to 955 cm-1. These indicate the chemical interactions of MnCl2.4H2O salt with the polymeric blend [PVA-PEO]. The two strong bonds observed around (1471 cm-1 and 844 cm-1) are assigned to the bending and stretching vibration of the CH2 group, respectively. The change in the spectral intensities of polymeric blend [PVA-PEO] involves a shift in some bonds due to the MnCl2.4H2O salt addition. The effects of weight ratio of salt on optical properties for all reinforced polymeric blends films were studied, as the transmittance and absorbance spectra were recorded within the range of wavelengths (190-1100) nm, and it was found that the energy gap value decreases with an increase of the added salt’s weight ratio. Results showed that the indirect electronic transitions are allowed. Effects of salt’s weight ratio on electrical (dielectrical) properties for all reinforced polymeric blends films were studied, and the practical results showed a decrease in the dielectric constant (ε΄) with an increase in frequency for all polymeric blends films, while the practical results also showed an increase in the alternating electrical conductivity (σa.c) with increasing frequency for all polymeric blends films, as well as an increase in both the dielectric constant and alternating electrical conductivity with an increase in the added salt’s weight ratio at same frequency.

Simulation based work carried out in order to understand the thermohydraulic characteristics of fluid flow in helical microchannel, with circular cross-section, that is subjected to constant heat flux is detailed in this work. Water is used as the fluid in this study and the study is carried out for Reynolds number ranging from 50 to 500. The helical path of the fluid increases the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop for a specific Reynolds number in comparison with that in a straight microchannel. The increase in heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop associated with the helical microchannel manifests as increased Nusselt number and Poiseuille number. At Reynolds number of 50, the Nusselt number of the helical microchannel is 1.36 times higher than that of the straight microchannel while at Reynolds number of 500, this enhancement increases to 2.33. Regarding Poiseuille number of helical microchannel, it is higher than that of the Poiseuille number of straight microchannel by 1.02 and 1.72 at Reynolds number of 50 and 500, respectively. It is identified from this study that by shifting from straight microchannel to helical microchannel, the enhancement in Nusselt number is higher than the associated penalty, i.e. increase in Poiseuille number.

Mobility deficits are not uncommon in persons with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. This can have a negative impact in terms of morbidity, mortality, quality of life and activities of daily living (1). Conventionally, mobility and physical activity have been measured in a clinical and laboratory setting by a qualified health professional and is thus called supervised assessment (1). It is either a qualitative or quantitative one- time snapshot evaluation of physical activity, mobility or motion and is highly influenced by factors such as the Hawthorne effect, the time of day when the measurement was taken, white coat and reverse white coat effect (1). Moreover, supervised mobility assessment may have many limitations such as limited ecological validity, lack of patient-centered focus, inability to record real-world challenges, absence of real-time feedback, lack of ability to consider patient's environment, and an omission in observing the range of performance across the day or week (1). To tackle the above mentioned limitations, recently unsupervised mobility assessment of mobility and physical activity using mobile health technology has emerged as an alternative to conventional supervised assessment (1-3). Significant differences may be observed when comparing identical mobility outcomes measured under supervised and unsupervised conditions (1, 3). A systematic review revealed significant variations of 40-180% in identical mobility measures acquired from the same participants across different settings (1). The disparities between supervised and unsupervised measurements are notably greater than the effects observed in treatment interventions. Minor to moderate treatment effects may be overshadowed by these substantial differences in measurement modes (1). Unsupervised assessment holds the potential to address the limitations of supervised assessment as it is patient-centered, ecologically valid, capable of recording fluctuating and rare events, unaffected by the white coat and Hawthorne effects, provides real-time treatment feedback, records real-world challenges, is influenced by a person's mood and fatigue, considers the environment, and reports performance across the day or week (1). Moreover, unsupervised assessment does not require the presence of a trained professional, or the patient to report to a clinic or hospital, and thus can be of great value in rural environments and in tele-medicine/rehabilitation. Not only would this be cost effective, it will also decrease the load on the health care system and the need for health care human resource. ---Continue

Background: The tenth most prevalent cancer type in the world is bladder cancer. Males are four times more likely than females to have it. The most prevalent subtype is urothelial carcinoma. Development and progression of bladder cancer are influenced by estrogen receptors. Objectives: To examine the expression of estrogen receptor beta in bladder urothelial carcinoma and how it relates to other pathological factors of prognostic significance. Materials and method: Fifty formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of cases of urothelial carcinoma from transurethral resection and radical cystectomy specimens were examined histopathologically by routine H&E stain and immunohistochemically stained with Anti-ER-beta antibody. The immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor beta was assessed. Results: Of the 50 cases of urothelial carcinoma, mean age 60 ±8.7 range (41-85) years, 34 male and 16 female, estrogen receptor beta was expressed in 29 (58%) of the cases. The expression of ERβ was significantly elevated in high grade (p value 0.006). The ERβ expression was also significantly increased in advanced tumor stages (p value 0.03) and in muscle invasive tumor (p value 0.004). The presence of lymphovascular emboli was associated with higher ERβexpression. Conclusion: ERβ expression is significantly associated with high grade and with advanced stages of urothelial carcinoma.

Recently, oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) filled with nanofluid (NF) as the operating fluid has drawn researchers’ attention because of their improved thermal conductivity, and heat/mass transfer (HT/MT) characteristics. An OHP is an HT device based on a two-phase fluid flow that transfers heat between heat sources and heat sinks which is applicable in industries in terms of its highly effective thermal conductivity. According to previous research, in previous experimental and computational studies, the effect of adding metal oxide NPs into the operating fluid of an OHP was not studied. Therefore, adding Fe3O4 NPs to the operating fluid of the water flowing into an OHP with nano dimensions will be the research work ahead that can increase the efficiency of designed structures. The maximum density, velocity, temperature, and heat flux after 20 ns are examined to determine the effects of NP size and an external magnetic field (EMF). The numerical findings show that heat flux increased from 1561 to 1602 W/m2 when the NPs' size grew from 5 to 10. Therefore, the HT/MT of Fe3O4-H2O simulated NF showed enhanced thermal behavior as NP's radius increases. Furthermore, the results show that the presence of an EMF enhanced the thermal behavior of NF in the OHP. The heat flux increased from 1563 to 1586 W/m2 when the magnetic field magnitude increased from 1 to 5 T.

Abstract We represent the results of a study on as the chelators used in the environmentally friendly electroless deposition bath changed depending on the amounts of hydroxides were present. The baths were prepared using polyhydroxides, glycerol and sorbitol, as chelators with copper methanesulfonate as the metal ion. Dimethylamine borane (DMAB) was used as the reducing agent with N-methylthiourea and cytosine, as additives in both the glycerol and sorbitol contained baths. Potassium hydroxide was used as the pH adjuster, with glycerol and sorbitol baths maintained at a pH of 11.50 and 10.75 respectively at a room temperature of 28 ± 2 °C. XRD, SEM, AFM, cyclic voltammetry studies, Tafel and Impedance studies, as well as additional methods, were employed to monitor and record the surface, structural, and electrochemical characteristics of the deposits and bath. The reports of the study gave interesting results, which clearly the effect of chelators on additives in the nano deposition of copper in an electroless deposition bath.

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 can cause severe inflammation and damage to the lungs. Vitamins A and E are essential in the enhancement of immunity and they tend to decrease in cases with inflammation. Determination of serum levels of vitamins A and E in COVID-19 patients was the aim of the study. Methods This case–control study was carried out on 30 ICU–admitted SARS-CoV-2–infected individuals (group A), 30 ward–admitted SARS-CoV-2–infected individuals (group B) and 30 healthy controls (group C). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure vitamin A and E levels. Results Median levels of vitamin A in group A [0.16 (0.08–0.23) µg/ml] were significantly lower than those in group B [0.4 (0.15–0.65) µg/ml] and in group C [0.81 (0.70–1.16) µg/ml] with P value

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic progressive metabolic illness and that is greatly associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive deficits. Numerous previous studies have indicated that vitamin D has neuroprotective effects. However, the impact of vitamin D on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-associated hippocampal damage in the brain and its protective mechanism remains unclear. Objectives: We investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on diabetes-related apoptotic changes in the hippocampus of diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Our study is an experimental randomized control trial conducted between November 2020 to March 2021in the Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, South valley university. We constructed a T2DM rat model on 24 Male albino Sprague Dowely rats; diabetes was induced by a high- fat diet and a single low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (30mg/kg). Animals were divided into four groups; Normal control, Control receiving vitamin D (VD), Diabetic control, and Diabetic receiving vitamin D group. Results: Compared with the control, results showed decreased spontaneous alternation T maze cognitive test, declined neural survival and increased immunohistochemistry expression of Synaptophysin in the hippocampus in diabetic rats. Vitamin D supplementation for six weeks can ameliorate diabetes-associated cognitive impairments by increasing neural cell survival and reducing neural apoptosis in the hippocampus. Conclusion: The resulting data have the potential to provide vitamin D as a new type of adjuvant agent for anti-diabetic lines of treatment.

Background: Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitors [SGLT2Is] are new antidiabetic group. Canagliflozin is the first member in this drug class approved for management of patient with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), that affects reabsorption of glucose from kidney, but its impact on kidney structure and function has not been clarified. Objectives: The target of this study is assessment of the canagliflozin effect on body weight, blood glucose, serum creatinine, urea and evaluation of the possibility of urinary tract infection (UTI) development in type 2 diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: The search was carried out on 24 male Wistar rats of weighting 160-300 g and ageing 2.5-3 months. They were splitted into 3 equal groups each of eight rats: negative control, positive control (diabetic) and Diabetic-canagliflozin treated groups. The positive control group was given a single dose intraperitoneal (IP) Streptzotocin (STZ) (35mg/kg diluted in 1ml of 0.1 M citrate buffer in 4.5 PH). The diabetic-canagliflozin treated group which received STZ was given canagliflozin (30 mg/kg/day, orally) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected and used for estimation of blood glucose, creatinine and urea levels. Urine samples were collected for urine analysis and urinary albumin creatinine ratio assessment. Kidney tissue samples were obtained for histopathological screening. Results: Diabetic-canagliflozin treated group had highly significantly decrease in body weight (287 ± 34.6) in comparison with positive control group (309.3 ± 21.1) at the end of the study as their weight were (234.2 ± 15.7 and 232.2 ± 11.01, respectively) at the srart. In addition to the highly significant decrease in blood glucose (255 ± 5.7) in Canagliflozin-treated group after treatment compared to (515.7 ± 49.2) before treatment. Also, there were a high significant decrease in urinary albumin (1.8 ± 0.2) and urinary albumine/creatinine ratio (1.1 ± 0.18) after treatment by canagliflozin. Adding to this, canagliflozin increase the level of urinary glucose excretion (875 ± 104) and development of UTIs (13.75 ± 3.5). However, no significant difference (p-value = 0.149) in serum creatinine or urea levels were detected (p-value = 0.112). Treatment with canagliflozin improved histological structure changes in the kidney. Conclusions: Canagliflozin has a renoprotective effect. It improves renal tissue damage and decreases blood glucose levels.

Female infertility (FI) is a global health issue. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of FI. The renalase gene (RNLS) is associated with FI and other human diseases. Based on the documented missense variants, rs6166 and rs2296545 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were not identified in Saudi women with FI and PCOS. This study aimed to investigate the molecular role of the two SNPs in Saudi women with FI and PCOS. In this cross-sectional study, 96 healthy controls, 96 women with FI, and 96 women with PCOS were recruited. DNA was isolated, and polymerase chain reactions and Sanger sequencing analysis were performed using rs6166 and rs2296545 SNPs. The data obtained from the three groups were used to perform statistical analyses based on genotype, allele frequencies, regression models, and ANOVA analysis. Both rs6166 and rs2296545 had no role in FI or PCOS in Saudi women. A predicted reason for non-association in Saudi women could be the role of elderly women in the controls compared with women with FI and PCOS. Moreover, age, weight, and body mass index were higher in the control group than the FI and PCOS groups. In conclusion, rs6166 and rs2296545 SNPs were not associated with FI or PCOS in Saudi women.

Volatile oils or essential oils (EOs) were extracted from three V. sebifera samples (labeled as A, B, and C) in September 2018 and February 2019; the extraction process involved hydrodistillation of the leaves. The chemical compositions of the EOs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The volatile components were identified by comparing their retention indices and mass spectra with standard substances documented in the literature (ADAMS). The antioxidant activity of the EOs was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), while their toxicity was assessed using Artemia salina Leach. Molecular docking was utilized to examine the interaction between the major constituents of V. sebifera EO and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a molecular target linked to toxicity in A. salina models. The EO obtained from specimen A, collected in September 2018, was characterized by being primarily composed of (E,E)-α-farnesene (47.57%), (E)-caryophyllene (12.26%), and α-pinene (6.93%). Conversely, the EO from specimen A, collected in February 2019, was predominantly composed of (E,E)-α-farnesene (42.82%), (E)-caryophyllene (16.02%), and bicyclogermacrene (8.85%), the EO from specimen B, collected in September 2018, primarily contained (E,E)-α-farnesene (47.65%), (E)-caryophyllene (19.67%), and α-pinene (11.95%), and the EO from the leaves collected in February 2019 was characterized by (E,E)-α-farnesene (23.57%), (E)-caryophyllene (19.34%), and germacrene D (7.33%). The EO from the leaves collected in September 2018 contained (E,E)-α-farnesene (26.65%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.7%), and germacrene D (7.72%), while the EO from the leaves collected in February 2019 was primarily characterized by (E,E)-α-farnesene (37.43%), (E)-caryophyllene (21.4%), and α-pinene (16.91%). Among these EOs, sample B collected in February 2019 demonstrated the highest potential for inhibiting free radicals, with an inhibition rate of 34.74%. Conversely, the EOs from specimen A exhibited the highest toxic potentials, with an lethal concentration 50 (LC50) value of 57.62 ± 1.53 µg/mL, while specimen B had an LC50 value of 74.72 ± 2.86 µg/mL. Molecular docking results suggested that hydrophobic interactions significantly contributed to the binding of the major compounds in the EO from sample B to the binding pocket of AChE.

Nitric acid is one of the most important products in the chemical industry, ranking third globally in terms of acid production. Although nitric acid has many industrial applications, its primary function is the production of ammonium nitrate, which is used in the fertilizer industry. In this report, we propose a plan for an Ostwald process plant that will produce 1000 metric tons of nitric acid per day. Based on an effective energy analysis, we have concluded that using a single pressure method provides optimal results. First, ammonia is vaporized using process heat at 1000 kPa and 35 °C before being superheated using steam to a temperature of 80 °C. Filtered air is compressed by an axial compressor to a discharge pressure of approximately 740 kPa and a temperature of 155 °C. After conducting a site evaluation, three existing manufacturing sites are being considered for the acid production plant: Ogun State (Nigeria), Gwadar Seaport (Pakistan), and Ras-Alkhair Seaport (Saudi Arabia). Based on the results of the site assessment, Ras-Alkhair has been selected as the most suitable location for the nitric acid plant. About 65 % of all nitric acid produced worldwide is used in the production of ammonium nitrate, which is in turn used in the fertilizer and explosives industries. The synthetic nitric acid that will be produced from this plant will be used in the production of fertilizers.

Research and development of affordable, sustainable, and low-carbon energy sources capable of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, contributing to social and economic development, and improving environmental and health skills have become a global priority. In recent decades, biodiesel produced from oilseeds has received significant attention as an alternative biofuel. However, the use of first-generation oilseed crops has sparked controversy, and the use of local non-edible feedstocks is considered a promising alternative. The motivation behind this review is to provide an alternative and enlightening perspective on the use of non-edible vegetable oils for biodiesel production, with a particular focus on the current state of biodiesel production in Algeria. The objective is to assess the conditions under which this production could be sustainable and environmentally friendly while maintaining a balance between energy needs, economic stability, and environmental impact.