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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused many challenges to various clinicians, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Remote rehabilitation or telepractice was widely used during this period as a convenient solution by many therapists who had no experience in this field. This study aimed to survey the lived experience of telepractice by Iranian SLPs during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify the benefits and disadvantages of this method. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. Twenty SLPs participated in this study. They were selected using a purposive sampling method until data saturation was reached. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect information. Data were coded using MAXQDA software. After coding, the data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method, and the main themes were extracted. Finally, the trustworthiness of the data was measured based on Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Results: Five main themes were extracted, including “remote rehabilitation platforms”, “increasing efficiency”, “advantages”, “difficulties”, and “special opinions about telepractice”. Although telepractice had many difficulties, its advantages led to its widespread use during the pandemic. Conclusion: SLPs in Iran used telepractice as a remote rehabilitation method during the pandemic. This method can be used in future pandemics, although it requires removing existing problems and creating the necessary infrastructure.

This numerical study examines the thermal-hydraulic performance of helical coil heat exchangers (HCHEs) using twisted tubes versus conventional circular tubes. The effects of Reynolds number (Re = 10,000 to 100,000), pitch length (11, 7.2, 5.5, 3.6 mm), and twisted tube orientation (co-current, counter-current) on heat transfer efficiency and pressure drop were investigated. The results show that higher Reynolds numbers can reduce the Resistance factor by approximately 25 % and improve heat transfer by approximately 35 %. An optimal pitch length of 5.5 mm was found to balance enhanced heat transfer and manageable pumping costs. Twisted tubes demonstrate significant performance advantages at lower Re, with 20–33 % higher Performance Evaluation Criterion (PEC) values compared to circular tubes. However, the benefit diminishes at higher Re, with less than 10 % PEC increase. Implementing counter-current twisted tube configurations leads to approximately 13 % higher Nusselt number and 11 % higher Resistance factor, resulting in a 10 % overall PEC improvement. These findings highlight the superior thermal-hydraulic performance of twisted tubes in HCHE applications, especially at lower Reynolds numbers. Future work could explore different fluids, advanced optimization, energy analysis, cost assessment, and additional geometric parameters to further enhance twisted tube heat exchanger design and performance.

Abstract This study simulates the separation of stable Neon isotopes in a transient square cascade using the Crank–Nicolson method and the q-iteration method. The simulations show that each isotope has an optimal value in either the product or waste streams at a specific time, which affects the cost of separation. The results demonstrate that the optimal separation time for Ne-20 increases with the feed concentration and is influenced by the unit separation factor. Depending on the feed concentration and separation parameter, Ne-21 may be enriched in either the product or waste stream. The optimal separation time for Ne-22 is the maximum operation time and is not affected by changes in feed concentration or unit separation factor. Calculating the optimal separation time is crucial for obtaining target isotopes with specific purity at a designated time, depending on their intended applications.

Abstract In this paper, the removal efficiency of Cerium (Ce(ΙΙΙ)) and lanthanum (La(ΙΙΙ)) ions from aqueous solution using Amberlite XAD-7 resin impregnated with DEHPA(XAD7-DEHPA) was studied in the batch system. The adsorbent ( XAD7–DEHPA) was characterized by SEM–EDX, FTIR and BET analysis Techniques. The response surface methodology based on the central composite design was applied to model and optimize the removal process and evaluate operating parameters like adsorbent dose (0.05–0.065), initial pH (2–6) and temperature (15–55). Variance analysis showed that the adsorbent dose, pH and temperature were the most effective parameters in the adsorption of Ce(ΙIΙ)and La(IΙI) respectively. The results showed that the optimum adsorption condition was achieved at pH = 6, the optimum amount of absorbent and the equilibrium time equal to 0.6 gr and 180 min, respectively. According to the results, the adsorption percentage of Ce(ΙIΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions onto the aforementioned resin were 99.99% and 78.76% respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and sips isotherm models were applied to describe the equilibrium data. From the results, Langmuir isotherm (R2 (Ce) = 0.999, R2 (La) = 0.998) was found to better correlate the experimental rate data. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent ( XAD7–DEHPA) for both Ce(IΙI) and La(III) was found to be 8.28 and 5.52 mg g−1 respectively. The kinetic data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Intra particle diffusion models. Based on the results, the pseudo-first-order model and Intra particle diffusion model described the experimental data as well. In general, the results showed that ( XAD7–DEHPA) resin is an effective adsorbent for the removal of Ce(IΙI) and La(III) ions from aqueous solutions due to its high ability to selectively remove these metals as well as its reusability.

Abstract In the current research work, the flow behavior of a liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) process in a serpentine microchannel was analyzed. The simulation was performed using a 3D model and the results were found to be consistent with experimental data. The impact of the flow of chloroform and water on the flow model was also examined. The data indicate that once the aqua and organic phases flow rates are low and similar, a slug flow pattern is observed. However, as the overall flow rate raises, the slug flow transforms into parallel plug flow or droplet flow. An increment in the aqua flows while maintaining a constant organic phase flow rate results in a transition from slug flow to either droplet flow or plug flow. Finally, the patterns of flow rate in the serpentine micro-channel were characterized and depicted. The results of this study will provide valuable insights into the behavior of two-phase flow patterns in serpentine microfluidic devices. This information can be used to optimize the design of microfluidic devices for various applications. Furthermore, the study will demonstrate the applicability of CFD simulation in investigating the behavior of fluids in microfluidic devices, which can be a cost-effective and efficient alternative to experimental studies.

The widespread use of culverts has prompted researchers to focus on developing precise designs to prevent their failure caused by scouring at the culvert outlet. This study employed physical modelling to investigate alternation in culvert outlets under different conditions, including variations in culvert shape, blockage, and flow discharge during steady and unsteady flow conditions. Box and circular culverts were examined with 0%, 15%, and 30% blockage rates at the culvert inlet. For unsteady flow conditions, two hydrographs were generated, each with nine distinct flow discharges, while for steady flow conditions, flow rates of up to 14 l/s and 22 l/s were used. The sediment and flow conditions were carefully selected to ensure clear water throughout the experiments. According to the study results, the scour profile exhibited more growth in the circular culvert compared to the box culvert across all cases. Furthermore, an increase in flow rate led to an increase in the scour hole dimension, and the scouring increased with a rise in hydrograph stepwise. However, when the degree of blockage was increased, a strictly proportional increase in scour depth was not observed across all cases. The results and data presented in this research can be used by other researchers in addition to being used by hydraulic designers.

This study investigates the influence of nanofluids on heat exchanger efficiency using 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The objective is to optimize the performance of twisted tubes by analyzing various pitch lengths (P = 180, 135, 90, 67.5, and 45 mm). The method's accuracy is validated by comparing experimental and numerical data from previous studies. The analysis focuses on key parameters such as heat transfer factors, outlet temperatures, and pressure drops, encompassing a wide range of flow rates (0.5 kg/s to 2 kg/s). The findings demonstrate that using nanofluids in twisted tubes significantly enhances heat transfer while slightly increasing pressure drop. Specifically, when compared to the smooth tube device with six baffles, employing 0.1 vol% Cu and 0.15 vol% Al2O3 nanoparticles in the twisted tube with a pitch length of 45 mm leads to heat transfer improvements of 1.04 and 1.12 times, respectively. Moreover, eliminating baffles favoring the optimized twisted tube configuration results in a notable reduction in pressure drop by approximately 1.55 times. These results highlight the potential of nanofluid implementation in enhancing heat exchanger efficiency and offer valuable insights for designing and optimizing heat transfer systems in various industrial applications.

Abstract In this research work the thorium uptake on immobilized protonated orange peel was studied in a batch system. The effects of effective parameters such as biosorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, and contact time on the biosorption of thorium were analyzed. The biosorption capacity of the immobilized orange peel for thorium at optimal conditions of initial pH 3.8, biosorbent dosage 8 g/L, and initial thorium concentration 170 mg/L was found to be 18.65 mg/g. According to the results of contact time, the biosorption process reached equilibrium after around 10 h of contact. Investigation of the kinetics showed that the biosorption of thorium onto immobilized orange peel follows the pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to model the experimental equilibrium data. The results showed better agreement by the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum absorption capacity of immobilized protonated orange peel for thorium adsorption was predicted by the Langmuir isotherm at 29.58 mg/g.

Abstract The goal of this paper is to investigate the ability of Amberlite XAD-7 (AXAD-7) resin impregnated with CYANEX-272 (di-2,4,4-trimethylpentyl phosphonic acid) to remove cerium (Ce(ΙΙΙ)) and lanthanum (La(ΙΙΙ)) ions from aqueous solutions in the batch scheme. The prepared adsorbent material was determined utilizing FTIR, SEM–EDX, and BET methods. The impact of three individual process variable factors involving feed solution pH (2–6), adsorbent dose (0.05–0.65), and process temperature (15–55 °C) on the simultaneous removal of Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions was evaluated via response surface methodology (RSM) according to the central composite design (CCD). The modeling of Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions adsorption was performed using the quadratic model and was evaluated using a coefficient of determination for both ions. The optimization data revealed that the adsorption amount of Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions removal under optimal conditions were 99.75% and 69.98%, respectively. Equilibrium and kinetic investigations were also conducted to define the removal performance of the calculated adsorbent for Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions removal. Various isotherms models such as Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Sips were examined at 25 °C to analyze the equilibrium isotherm data. The data revealed that the Sips approach is compatible with the experimental data. The highest adsorption capacity of the resin for Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions were 11.873 mg g−1 and 7.324 mg g−1, correspondingly. The kinetic study of the Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) adsorption process was conducted via pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models(IDMs). Based on the data obtained, kinetic data were fitted well to a pseudo-second-order rate correlation. According to the obtained results, the (AXAD-7) resin impregnated with CYANEX-272 performed well in removing both Ce(ΙΙΙ) and La(ΙΙΙ) ions from aqueous solutions with well stability during several adsorption–desorption cycles and well regeneration and excellent metallic ions recovery.

Abstract A batch system was employed to investigate the biosorption of strontium (II) on Sargassum sp. The biosorption of strontium on Sargassum sp was studied with response surface methodology to determine the combined effect of temperature, initial metal ion concentration, biomass treatment, biosorbent dosage and pH. Under optimal conditions, the algae's biosorption capacity for strontium (initial pH 7.2, initial strontium concentration 300 mg/l for Mg-treated biomass and biosorbent dosage 0.1 g in 100 mL metal solution) was measured at 103.95 mg/g. In our analysis, equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Results show that the best fit is provided by the Freundlich model. Biosorption dynamics analysis of the experimental data indicated that strontium (II) was absorbed into algal biomass in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model well.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic, as a new phenomenon, caused many problems for speech-language pathologists and faced them with various crises. The aim of this study was to review the experiences of speech-language pathologists with the problems and consequences of the pandemic and their effects on their clinical activities. Methods: A qualitative study of interpretive phenomenological analysis was conducted and 21 participants were selected non-randomly using maximum variation technique. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information. After collecting the data, coding was started using MAXQDA software. Then, the data were analyzed by thematic analysis method and main themes emerged. Finally, the scientific accuracy of the data was measured by the method of Lincoln and Guba. Results: Ten main themes, including infection, financial consequences, negative consequences of following health protocols, psychological consequences, consequences for clients, problems created in the workplace, problems created by clients, educational problems, lack of facilities, and opportunity creation were extracted, which represented therapists’ experiences with clinical work during the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic created many negative and sometimes positive consequences for speech-language pathologists as well as many other professions, which led to changes and new experiences in the former routine of these therapists.

Wind Drift and Evaporation Losses (WDEL) critically determine the application efficiency of sprinkler irrigation systems. In specific conditions, even half of the irrigation water can evaporate or drift out of the irrigated area. The purpose of this study was to develop a WDEL estimation equation based on dimensional analysis (Buckingham's π method), considering a wide set of independent variables. An equation was sought that could be used for various sprinkler technologies and meteorological conditions in semiarid areas. Our research used experimental data from the literature, obtained in northeastern Spain and northwestern Iran. The complete data set consisted of 153 WDEL observations obtained at different operating pressures, nozzle diameters, irrigation durations, day and night irrigations, elevations from the soil surface and meteorological conditions. The experiments involved solid-sets and moving laterals, impact sprinklers, gear driven sprinklers and rotating spray plate sprinklers. The equation developed in this research included four technical independent variables (main nozzle diameter, auxiliary nozzle diameter, operating pressure and nozzle elevation) and four meteorological independent variables (air temperature and relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation). The equation resulted in improved estimation respect to the equations previously derived from part of the experimental data set. The proposed equation was calibrated using 70% of the experimental data and validated using 30% of the experimental data. When the proposed equation was applied to the complete experimental data set, the determination coefficient was 0.81 and the root mean square error was 3.49%. The proposed equation represents a clear improvement respect to the equations reported in the literature in terms of the number and range of the independent variables and the predictive capacity.

Background and Objectives: Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) is one of the new methods of clinical evaluation that gives feedback about students’ clinical skills. The design and psychometrics of the DOPS test tool for the clinical assessments of speech therapy students in the evaluation of speech organs have been discussed. Methods: In the current non-interventional descriptive study, 20 speech therapy students were selected from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences. The DOPS test related to the speech organs evaluation procedure and its evaluation checklist was prepared. After obtaining the consent and training, students and evaluators entered the study. The evaluators observed each student’s work with a real patient, and their judgments were recorded based on a structured checklist. Each of them was given feedback in the appropriate environment. Face validity, content, and inter-rater reliability were measured and reported. Results: Face validity, including importance, clarity, and simplicity, was investigated for each item. The items’ impact scores for favorable face validity of >1.5 were included in the questionnaire. The content validity index for each item was over 0.8, and the content validity ratio was >0.62. All students have chosen the option of slightly satisfied to completely satisfied, and 70% have chosen the option of high satisfaction and complete satisfaction. None of the evaluators chose the options of no satisfaction to slightly satisfied. For inter-rater reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated using the opinions of two evaluators, and the ICC value was 0.884 with a 95% confidence interval (0.708-0.954) (P

Background and Aim: Clinical education is a very important and effective part in speech therapy training, without that, it will be very difficult and impossible to train capable and qualified people. It is necessary to investigate the facilitators and deterrents to the quality and quantity of clinical education in the field of speech therapy to study educational problems and provide educational programs in the future. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. 62 undergraduate students and 41 speech therapy instructors (41 people) were included in the study. They completed the consent form and a 62-item questionnaire of facilitators and inhibitors for clinical education. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22. Findings: 62 students with a mean age of 22.53 ± 1.9 and 41 instructors with a mean age of 36.29 ± 9.9 were studied. According to both groups, the most important facilitating factors were the area of ​​"facilitating characteristics of coaches and instructors" and the most important deterrents were the area of ​​"student dissatisfaction with the way practical and theoretical courses are presented". Based on the results of the independent t-test, in some facilitating and inhibiting factors, there was a significant difference between the opinions of the instructor and the student (p≤0.001). Conclusion: The most important area of facilitating clinical education is the use of experienced and responsible instructors who have passed appropriate in-service courses in clinical education. The quality of education is necessary to make decisions. It is also necessary to equip the physical spaces of clinics and their facilities and to establish a suitable time interval for presenting practical and theoretical courses

Objectives: In the early stages, most Parkinson’s patients display some degrees of voice and speech disorders. Speech disorders can negatively affect individuals’ social interactions and life; thus, treatment plans for the disorders in the early stages might be further beneficial than the late stages. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention on Persian-speaking patients with early mild Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The intervention was the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT). Methods: This was an interventional study and included 23 patients with PD. The study participants were randomly assigned into one of two groups; 13 patients in the intervention group (PD-I), and 10 in No-Intervention (PD-NI) group. Normal Persons (NP) or the control group included 13 healthy participants who were neurologically normal and presented no speech and voice disorders. Besides, they were matched with the PD-I group concerning education, age, gender. Results: There was a significant impairment in Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), vocal loudness in vowel /a/, in reading, and during a monologue speech in the PD group, compared with the NP group (P≤0.001). The LSVT resulted in a significant improvement in all measures in the PD-I group (P≤0.001); however, no significant change was observed between the PD-I and PD-NI groups’ scores in first assessment (P≥0.201). In contrast, the PD-NI group’s results in all measurements of final assessment were significantly lower than those in the PD-I (P≤0.001) and NP (P≤0.001) groups. The MPT also exhibited a considerable improvement in the PD-I group, compared with the controls. Discussion: The LSVT, as a therapeutic technique based on the motor learning theory was beneficial in improving the vocal loudness of Persian-speaking patients with PD in the early stages of their disease.

Background: There is a wealth of research done in developed countries on the investigation of the working memory (WM) performance in people with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (IQ>70), with different reported findings. There is a dearth of similar studies in developing countries. In addition, the findings suggest that WM is possibly influenced by culture. The present study investigated WM performance and its relationship with the symptoms of ASD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional comparative study between two groups of participants with high-functioning ASD, aged 8-16 years (n=30) and typically developing (n=30). This study was conducted in 2016-2017 in Tehran (Iran). The Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVA) was used to compare the between-group differences on WM tasks. In addition, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the ASD and ADHD symptoms with WM performance. The data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16.Results: It was found that in general, WM was impaired in the people with ASD. Unexpectedly, in the present study, two subscales of Social interaction and Stereotyped Behaviors of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition showed a significant positive correlation respectively with a score of two WM tasks, i.e. Visual Digit Span and Digit Span Forward. Conclusion: These results showed that WM was impaired in individuals with ASD and that could have implications for intervention, but it is necessary that therapists be careful in choosing the appropriate tasks for intervention.

Floods control equipment in large dams is one of the most important requirements in hydraulic structures. Howell–Bunger valves and butterfly valves are two of these types of flow controls that are commonly used in bottom outlet dams. The optimal longitudinal distance (L) between the two Howell–Bunger and butterfly valves is such that the turbulence of the outlet flow from the butterfly valve should be dissipated before entering the outlet valve. Subsequently, the flow passing through the butterfly valves must have a fully developed flow state before reaching the Howell–Bunger valve. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimal longitudinal distance between the Howell–Bunger and butterfly valves. For this purpose, different longitudinal distances were investigated using the Flow-3D numerical model. The ideal longitudinal distance obtained from the numerical model in the physical model was considered and tested. Based on the numerical study, the parameters of flow patterns, velocity profiles and vectors, turbulence kinetic energy, and formation of flow vorticity were investigated as criteria to determine the appropriate longitudinal distance. In addition, the most appropriate distance between the butterfly valve and the Howell–Bunger valve was determined, and the physical model was evaluated based on the optimal distance extracted from the numerical simulation. A comparison of the results from the numerical and the laboratory models showed that the minimum distance required in Howell–Bunger valves and butterfly valves should be equal to four times the diameter of the pipe (L=4D) so as not to adversely affect the performance of the bottom outlet system.

Background: Voice is the unique means of human’s verbal expression, which is produced in the larynx. Laryngeal pathologies can coexist with vocal fatigue and a feeling of voice handicap. The aim of this study was to determine descriptive statistics of males and females and compare the related means. Meanwhile, it was attempted to determine the correlation between Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic study conducted on 110 patients with laryngeal pathologies. Fifty four participants were males with mean age of 43.7 years (SD=15.6), and 56 were females with mean age of 40.1 years (SD=11.1). Data was analyzed using SPSS 21 at a significance level of P

Behçet´s syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disease generally presented with the triad of uveitis, oral and genital ulcers. However, it may present with gastrointestinal, central nervous system, skin and vascular disease manifestations. Intracardiac thrombus is a rare but serious complication of Behçet´s disease. A 16-year-old man with Behçets syndrome was hospitalized into our department with a history of cough, fever, chest pain, hemoptysis, and weight loss. Transthoracic echocardiography and Chest scan revealed a right ventricular thrombus. After one month of treatment with cyclophosphamide, and corticosteroid the intracardiac thrombus has been resolved.

La tuberculose naso-sinusienne primaire est une affection relativement rare voir exceptionnelle. La présentation clinique est polymorphe et non spécifique. Le diagnostic définitif repose sur l´examen anatomopathologique et l´examen mycobactériologique d´une pièce biopsique de la lésion. Son pronostic est favorable sous une antibiothérapie antituberculeuse classique et précoce. Cependant, notre observation rapporte une rechute de cette localisation rare chez une patiente immunocompétente malgré un traitement antituberculeux bien adaptée initialement et avec une bonne observance. La rechute a été attribuée à un sous dosage en rifampicine. Les auteurs insistent sur la démarche diagnostique, étiologique et sur la gestion thérapeutique de cette rechute. Notre expérience pourrait aider les cliniciens à mieux gérer cette situation inhabituelle.

Soil salinity is a major problem in arid and semi-arid regions, causing land degradation, desertification, and subsequently, food insecurity. Salt-affected soils and phosphorus (P) deficiency are the common problems in the sub-Sahara, including the Southern region of Morocco. Soil salinity limits plant growth by limiting water availability, causing a nutritional imbalance, and imparting osmotic stress in the plants. The objective of this study was to determine the positive effects of P on growth and productivity and understand the major leaf mineral nutrient content of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cv. “ICBA Q5” irrigated with saline water. A field experiment applying three salinity (Electrical Conductivity, EC) levels of irrigation water (ECw = 5, 12, and 17 dS·m−1) and three P fertilizer rates (0, 60, and 70 kg of P2O5 ha−1) were evaluated in a split-plot design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in Foum El Oued, South of Morocco on sandy loam soil during the period of March–July 2020. The results showed that irrigation with saline water significantly reduced the final dry biomass, seed yield, harvest index, and crop water productivity of quinoa; however, P application under saline conditions minimized the effect of salinity and improved the yield. The application of 60 and 70 kg of P2O5 ha−1 increased (p < 0.05) the seed yield by 29 and 51% at low salinity (5 dS·m−1), by 16 and 2% at medium salinity (12 dS·m−1), and by 13 and 8% at high salinity (17 dS·m−1), respectively. The leaf Na+ and K+ content and Na+/K+ ratio increased with irrigation water salinity. However, the leaf content of Mg, Ca, Zn, and Fe decreased under high salinity. It was also found that increasing P fertilization improved the essential nutrient content and nutrient uptake. Our finding suggests that P application minimizes the adverse effects of high soil salinity and can be adopted as a coping strategy under saline conditions.

Background and Objective: People with more lexical semantic abilities can be more achieved in communicating with others, and in understanding the spoken or written words or sentences of others. The aim of this study was determination and comparison of lexical semantic ability in hearing and hearing impaired adults from mild to profound levels of hearing loss. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive analytic and non-interventional study. Lexical semantic ability of 20 normal and 73 hearing impaired (16 mild, 17 moderate, 20 severe, and 20 profound hearing impaired) evaluated by the lexical semantic test. Normal adults were 7 males and 13 females, and hearing impaired adults were 23 males and 50 females. The participant’s age range was 18-58 years old. The lexical semantic test has 44 MCQs in its two alternate forms. Descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, U Mann Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for description and analysis of the data. Results: Statistical comparison of mean scores in two groups of hearing, and hearing impaired showed that mean scores of hearing group was significantly more. Scores of hearing, mild, moderate, and severe groups decreased respectively, but the scores of profound group was slightly more than severe group. The differences between scores of these groups were significant. Conclusion: According to the findings of this research, we can conclude that hearing impairment can have adverse effects on lexical semantic ability of adult persons. The other important finding of this study was that the more the hearing impairment, the more its adverse effect on lexical semantic ability.

Background and Objective: Vocal changes are one of the most common consequences of thyroid surgery. These changes can be due to neurological or other factors. With respect to vocal changes after surgery, and the need for determination of details of the vocal problems and related consequences in the patients’ life after thyroidectomy, the aim of this study was determination of some acoustic parameters of their voice after thyroidectomy and the status of subscales of Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive analytic and non-interventional. One voice of 32 thyroidectomized patients (23 women and 9 men) with 20-60 years of age analyzed acoustically and they completed VHI questionnaire. Results: Statistical comparison of mean scores of VHI in two groups of patients with and without vocal problem showed that mean score and standard deviation of total scores of VHI, and the scores of functional, emotional, and physical subscales in patients with voice problems are more than the other group, and the differences were significant (P=0.000). Comparison of acoustic parameters in the two groups of patients showed that F0, jitter, shimmer, and HNR were different, but the differences were not significant. According to our results, amplitude perturbations and harmonic to noise ratio was high in both groups of thyroidectomized patients. Conclusion: According to the findings of this research, we can conclude that F0, jitter, shimmer, and HNR of voice may be not enough for determination of voice problems, but other acoustic measures, self-perceptual, or self-reported evaluation tools such as VHI maybe more efficient in determination of thyroidectomized patients’ voice problems.

Recently, detection and analysis of gas mixtures have become significant for purifications and separation of the natural gas mixture. In the present work, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is applied to evaluate the performance of a new micro gas sensor (MIKRA) for mass analysis of three inert gases (Helium, Neon and Argon). This sensor applied the Knudsen force induced by temperature difference at the low-pressure condition to diagnose the main components of the mixture. Since this sensor works in low-pressure condition, Boltzmann equation is used to attain accurate outcomes. To solve these equations, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) approach is used as a robust method for the non-equilibrium flow field. This study performed comprehensive studies to disclose the primary process of force production and applied this for the analysis of the gas mixture. Hence, effects of the main parameter such as temperature gradient and the gap of arms are expansively examined in different ambient pressures. Furthermore, the influence of various mixtures of the (Helium, Neon and Argon) on force generation is also investigated. Our findings show that value of generating Knudsen force significantly varies when the component of the mixture is changed. According to obtained results, the Knudsen force declines as the molecular weight of the gas decreases. In addition, the induced force is highly proportional to the molecular weight rather than other characteristics. Therefore, the Knudsen force is a reliable method for the mass analysis of the mixtures. Keywords: Knudsen force, Mass analysis of gas mixture, DSMC, Low-pressure gas actuators, MEMS

Background and Objectives: One of the common disorders in Speech Language Pathology (SLP) is speech sound disorder. To increase students’ competence and objectively evaluate their clinical skills, we used the Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) test in a clinical setting and examined its validity and reliability Methods: This research is a non-interventional descriptive study. Twenty students who participated in this study were selected by the census method. Traditional treatment approach skill for speech sound disorder was selected. Then an evaluation checklist of DOPS was prepared. After obtaining the consent of students and professors, they entered the study. Two professors observed the work of all student during the procedure on a real patient. Results were recorded in a checklist, and feedback was given to the students about their strengths and weaknesses. Results: The content validity index of the DOPS test was more than 0.8, and its content validity ratio was more than 0.62. The correlation coefficients of questions indicate the optimal internal structure of the test and its structural validity. The results showed that the test questions were related to the predetermined subject. Results confirmed high face validity. The obtained Cronbach α coefficient (0.865) confirmed DOPS reliability. There was a significant inter-rater correlation coefficient (0.901) between evaluators (P

This research investigated the forced convection heat transfer by using the swirling impinging jets. This study focused on nozzles, which equipped with twisted tapes via a numerical approach. The computational domain created by utilizing the fully structured meshes, which had very high quality from the viewpoint of aspect ratio and skewness. The numerical simulations were performed at four different jet-to-plate distances (L/D) of 2, 4, 6 and 8, four Reynolds numbers of 4000, 8000, 12,000 and 16,000, and also four different twist ratios (y/w) of 3, 4, 5 and 6. The mesh-independent tests were conducted based upon the average Nusselt number. The obtained results revealed good agreement with the available experimental data from the open literature. It was observed that for jet-to-plate distances of L/D=6 and L/D=8, the heat transfer rate of swirling jets was more than regular jets, and heat transfer rate at higher Reynolds numbers increased due to the greater rate of momentum transfer. Besides, the calculation done for a pair of jets, and the results shown that using two jets, instead of one, could increase the rate of heat transfer in the same air flow rate.

A number of parameters, e.g. cement content, cement type, relative density, and grain size distribution, can influence the mechanical behaviors of cemented soils. In the present study, a series of conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted on a cemented poorly graded sand–gravel mixture containing 30% gravel and 70% sand in both consolidated drained and undrained conditions. Portland cement used as the cementing agent was added to the soil at 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (dry weight) of sand–gravel mixture. Samples were prepared at 70% relative density and tested at confining pressures of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, and 150 kPa. Comparison of the results with other studies on well graded gravely sands indicated more dilation or negative pore pressure in poorly graded samples. Undrained failure envelopes determined using zero Skempton's pore pressure coefficient (A¯=0) criterion were consistent with the drained ones. Energy absorption potential was higher in drained condition than undrained condition, suggesting that more energy was required to induce deformation in cemented soil under drained state. Energy absorption increased with increase in cement content under both drained and undrained conditions.

Introduction: Teachers comprise the largest group of professional voice users whose specific occupational circumstances makethem more susceptible to voice disorders than other professional groups. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the acoustic characteristics of female elementary-school teachers with and without voice complaint. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive- analytical study, eighty female teachers working at primary schools of Tehran, Iranwere divided into two groups of subjects with and without voice complaints. After collecting case history data through interviewing, each subject underwent acoustic assessment during which they were requested to prolong the vowel /a/ for three times. Mean fundamental frequency, jitter, harmony to noise ratio, and shimmer were calculated via Praat software (version 5.3.13), and the two groups were statistically compared. Results: There was no significant difference between teachers who had and had not voice complaintsregarding all above- mentioned variables (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that there was no necessarysignificant difference between acoustic measurementsof subjects who had any voice complaint and those who had not. In other words, acoustic characteristics cannot differentiate between these two groups implying a need for studying other acoustic assessment approaches and indices such as DSI. Keywords: Acoustic characteristics, Voice complaint, Female elementary, School teacher

Introduction: Teachers comprise the largest group of professional voice users. It seems that they are more susceptibleto voice disorders than other groups of users. The purpose of this study was to determine and comparethe maximum phonation times (MPTs) offemale elementary-school teachers with and without voice complaint. It was also aimed at determining the effect of age and teaching experience on the MPT in this population. Materials and Methods: Eighty female teachers, who participated in this cross-sectional descriptive- analytical study, were divided into two group’s ofsubjects with and without voice complaints. After takingeach subject’s historythrough interviewing, allparticipants were asked to take a deep breath and sustainthe vowel /a/ for as long aspossible. Theywere requested to repeatthis task three times with 1-minute restintervals between the trials.Thelongest durationwas considered as the maximum phonation time. Results: Themean of MPT in group with voice complaints (88.2 ± 88.12) was significantly differentfrom that of subjects without any voice complaints (17.3 ± 97.15) (P > 0.05). Moreover, age and teaching experience hada significant negative correlation with MPT in both groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that as the age and teaching experience increased, the mean of MPT reduced in all subjects regardless of having any voice complaint or not. Also, the mean of MPT was significantly lower in the group with a voice complaint than in the group without it. Keywords: Maximum phonation time (MPT), Voice complaint, Female teacher, Elementary school

Introduction: Vocal cord nodule is one of the most prevalent disorders of laryngeal mucosa which is commonly caused by the overuse of laryngeal vocal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of speech therapy on laryngeal stroboscopic features of patients with vocal cord nodules. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, five women with vocal cord nodules aged between 14 and 45 years participated in a speech therapy program. Their laryngeal stroboscopic features were assessed in the first and ninth sessions of therapy. Results: After speech therapy, glottal closure in 3 subjects reached to complete closure or near to it. Symmetry of phases in 3 cases reached to symmetrical condition and periodicity of phases in 1 patient reached to periodical state. After speech therapy, right mucosal wave in 4 subjects reached to normal condition. The left mucosal wave in 1 subject reached to normal and in 1 patient approached to normal form. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that speech therapy has a gradual influence on treatment of vocal cord nodule which can be evaluated by subjective methods such as therapist's assessment of patient's voice or objective methods such as stroboscopy.

Objective: Evaluation of nasalance is one of the important factors of instrumental evaluation of voice in persons susceptible to resonance disorder. There are different factors which can affect nasalance score. One of the most important factors is phonetic context of words and the other is sentences. We studied some effects of this important factor on nasalance score in normal Farsi speakers. Materials & Methods: This study is a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic study of nasalance scores of words in 62 male and 60 female normal and Farsi speakers aged 18-27 years old. Subjects were selected from students of rehabilitation college which hadn’t any auditory, articulatory, fluency, and resonance problem. They hadn’t cold, or any other disease which could affect their voice. Twelve printed words (6 words with and 6 words without nasal consonants) were read by each of subjects, and nasalance of them were calculated by Nasal View, and then, the gathered data were analysed. Results: Mean Nasalance scores of words without nasal consonants in ascending order are for words /dâd/, /bâl/, /dærd/, /bur/, /did/, and /bil/ SDs are nearly follow this order. Mean Nasalance scores of words with nasal consonants in ascending order are for words /mâl/, /nærd/, /dân/, /mur/, /mil/, and /din/ SDs are nearly follow this order. Maximum nasalance score in nasal words is for /din/, and minimum is for /mâl/. Maximum nasalance score in nonnasal words is for /bil/, and minimum is for /dâd/. Mean nasalance scores of males and females are compared with each other. Conclusion: Findings of this study prepared useful information about nasalance score in adult Farsi speakers wich can be a good start for access to standardized data for different aspects of voice. In addition, it shows that mean nasalance score of words can be significantly changed with these factors: different vowels, presence or absence of nasal consonants, and gender. This study shows the necessity of investigating about the effect of different phonetic contexts, manner and placement of articulation too.

Background: Chronic systemic anticoagulation use is prevalent for various thromboembolic conditions. Anticoagulation (usually through heparin products) is also recommended for the initial management of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)., Aims: To evaluate the in-hospital outcomes of patients with NSTEMI who have been on chronic anticoagulation., Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) years 2016-2020, NSTEMI patients and patients with chronic anticoagulation were identified using the appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 10th version (ICD-10) appropriate codes. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality while the secondary outcomes included major bleeding, ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA), early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (i.e., within 24 h of admission), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) during hospitalization, length of stay (LOS), and total charges. Multivariate logistic or linear regression analyses were performed after adjusting for patient-level and hospital-level factors., Results: Among 2,251,914 adult patients with NSTEMI, 190,540 (8.5%) were on chronic anticoagulation. Chronic anticoagulation use was associated with a lower incidence of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.73, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in major bleeding (aOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.88-1.0, p = 0.15) or ischemic CVA (aOR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03-1.69, p = 0.15). Chronic anticoagulation use was associated with a lower incidence of early PCI (aOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.76-0.80, p < 0.001) and CABG (aOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.41-0.45, p < 0.001). Chronic anticoagulation was also associated with decreased LOS and total charges (adjusted mean difference [aMD]: -0.8 days, 95% CI: -0.86 to -0.75, p < 0.001) and (aMD: $-19,340, 95% CI: -20,692 to -17,988, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Among patients admitted with NSTEMI, chronic anticoagulation use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, LOS, and total charges, with no difference in the incidence of major bleeding., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of intravitreal infliximab administered at the conclusion of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) associated with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)., Design: Randomized controlled phase II clinical trial., Subjects: Patients with primary RRD and grade C PVR, according to the updated Retina Society Classification., Methods: Sixty-six patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo PPV and silicone oil (SO) injection with or without intravitreal injection of 1 mg/0.05 mL of infliximab in the air-filled globe before SO injection at PPV conclusion. Surgeons were masked to treatment allocation until PPV conclusion., Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was anatomic success (defined as complete retinal reattachment without a tamponade at 6 months post SO removal). Secondary outcome measures were final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), single-operation success rate (SOSR), rate of recurrent detachment, central macular thickness (CMT) by macular OCT, macular function by multifocal electroretinogram, and macular vascular density (VD) by OCT angiography., Results: Sixty eyes of 60 patients, 30 eyes in each group, completed the study. At baseline, there were no differences regarding age, gender, history of trauma, lens status, duration of RRD, BCVA, intraocular pressure (IOP), intraocular inflammation (IOI), detachment extent in clock hours, number/size of breaks, presence of vitreous hemorrhage, axial length, or grade/extent of PVR between both groups. For the outcome measures, 30 eyes in the infliximab group achieved anatomic success vs. 29 eyes in the control group. The SOSR was higher in the infliximab group (26) vs. the control (23), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.317). Final logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA was better in the infliximab group (mean, 0.96; standard deviation [SD], 0.4; Snellen equivalent ≈ 20/180) vs. the control (mean, 1.14; SD, 0.4); Snellen equivalent ≈ 20/280; P = 0.044). There were no differences regarding IOP, IOI, time of SO removal, macular function, CMT, or VD., Conclusions: Pars plana vitrectomy with SO tamponade with or without intravitreal infliximab is effective in treating PVR-associated RRD. Infliximab may be associated with modest improvement in final visual outcomes but not anatomic outcomes., Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is naturally found in the western part of Asia, Southern Europe, and North Africa. It has been reportedly applied in pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine, cosmetics, spices, and food. Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus were utilized to seek out relevant content concerning the therapeutic potential of M. communis. Subsequently, we conducted a review to identity noteworthy updates pertaining to M. communis. Myrtle berries, leaves, seeds, and essential oils are natural sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds with marked health effects. The chemical analysis showed that M. communis contained oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, saponosides, tannins, quinines, and anthraquinones. A pharmacological investigation revealed that M. communis possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, dermatological, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal protective effects, among numerous other biological effects. This current review focused on the biochemical, pharmacological, therapeutic effects, and various biological activities of different parts of M. communis. It signifies that M. communis is a therapeutic plant with numerous applications in medicine and could be used as a drug isolate based on its safety and effectiveness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: As the impacts of diabetes-induced reproductive damage are now evident in young people, we are now in urgent need to devise new ways to protect and enhance the reproductive health of diabetic people. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and paricalcitol (a vitamin D analog), individually or in combination, on streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction in rats and to identify the possible mechanisms for this protection., Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats; 10 normal rats were allocated as a non-diabetic control group. A total of 40 rats developed diabetes after receiving a single dose of STZ; then, the diabetic rats were divided into four groups of equivalent numbers assigned as diabetic control, enalapril-treated, paricalcitol-treated, and combined enalapril-and-paricalcitol-treated groups. The effects of mono and combined therapy with paricalcitol and enalapril on testicular functions, sperm activity, glycemic state oxidative stress, and inflammatory parameters, as well as histopathological examinations, were assessed in comparison with the normal and diabetic control rats., Results: As a result of diabetes induction, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, serum levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as luteinizing hormone (LH), and the antioxidant enzyme activities, were significantly decreased, while abnormal sperm (%), insulin resistance, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased, along with severe distortion of the testicular structure. Interestingly, treatment with paricalcitol and enalapril, either alone or in combination, significantly improved the sperm parameters, increased antioxidant enzyme activities in addition to serum levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH, reduced insulin resistance, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and finally ameliorated the diabetes-induced testicular oxidative stress and histopathological damage, with somewhat superior effect for paricalcitol monotherapy and combined therapy with both drugs compared to monotherapy with enalapril alone., Conclusions: Monotherapy with paricalcitol and its combination therapy with enalapril has a somewhat superior effect in improving diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction (most probably as a result of their hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties) compared with monotherapy with enalapril alone in male rats, recommending a synergistic impact of both drugs.

Background: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are among the most common causative pathogens for nosocomial infections worldwide. Moreover, strains of VRE have been isolated from several domestic livestock in Egypt., Methods: This study examined if healthy dogs are a potential source of VRE infection by isolating and characterizing Enterococcus faecium strains from stool samples on a morphological basis and biochemical activities. Subsequently, it was confirmed by genotypic characterization using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by the detection of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence determinants, and genes contributing to enterocin production by PCR. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships among vanB and tetL genes were analyzed., Results: All ten fecal samples were identified as E. faecium and confirmed by PCR. In addition, 90% of the isolates tested were positive for the virulence genes gelE and esp, and all the isolates tested were positive for the antibiotic resistance genes tetL and vanB. Only three of the five enterocin genes examined were detected. Ent As-48, bacteriocin 31, and Ent L50 were identified in 100%, 80%, and 60% of the samples, respectively., Conclusion: Dogs should be regarded as a reservoir of E. faecium that carries vancomycin resistance and virulence determinants that may affect public health in Egypt, considering a "One Health" task force approach to restrict their spread., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease in young and middle-aged adults, is one of the leading causes of non-traumatic disability in adults. Diet is known to have an important role in the modulating inflammatory processes and influencing molecular pathways., Purpose: This study aims to examine the association of the inflammatory capacity of diet measured by DII with MS in Jordan., Methods: This prevalent case-control study included participants of both sexes, aged between 20 and 60 years. The cases ( n = 541) had a confirmed diagnosis of prevalent Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the previous 3 years, and controls ( n = 607) were apparently healthy individuals matched on sex and age (42 ± 4 years). A validated Arabic food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was utilized to obtain estimated dietary intake. Dietary data from the FFQ were analyzed using ESHA's Food Processor ® nutrition analysis software, and the results were used to calculate the DII scores. Logistic regression analyses, controlling for covariates such as age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status, were used to measure the association between DII score and MS outcomes., Results: Cases represent a mixed sample of MS phenotypes and controls were comparable on age and sex. However, controls tended to be taller, lighter, had a lower BMI, and had a lower smoking rate. After controlling for age, BMI, sex, and smoking status, there was a consistent increase in MS risk according to DII score, with a 10-fold increase in odds in quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 [OR quartile 4vs1 = 10.17 (95% CI: 6.88; 15.04)]. For each point increase in DII score, there was nearly a doubling of odds [OR 1 = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.59; 1.92)]. Individual nutrients and food values aligned according to their contribution to the DII score calculations., Conclusion: The findings of this study, obtained in MS patients with varied illness duration over the previous 3 years, are consistent with an association between the overall inflammatory potential of diet and MS odds. Our findings among MS participants showed a significantly more pro-inflammatory DII scores than age- and sex-matched controls. Our results also suggest that MS group had a diet rich in pro-inflammatory foods and nutrients., Competing Interests: JH owns controlling interest in Connecting Health Innovations LLC (CHI), a company that has licensed the right to his invention of the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) from the University of South Carolina in order to develop computer and smart phone applications for patient counseling and dietary intervention in clinical settings. NS was employed by CHI. The subject matter of this manuscript will not have any direct bearing on that work, nor has that activity exerted any influence on this project. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Alhaj, Trabelsi, Younes, Shivappa, Bragazzi, Hebert and Jahrami.)

Aims: Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) are emerging as a new treatment for heart failure (HF) after demonstrating favorable clinical outcomes in several randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this meta-analysis, we assessed the safety of SGLT2i in the trials that prespecified heart failure in their inclusion criteria., Materials and Methods: We searched the databases for RCTs comparing SGLT2i to placebo in heart failure patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs). A sensitivity analysis according to the class of HF was also performed., Results: The incidence of SAEs was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.92; P, 0.0002) and SAEs remained significantly lower after performing the sensitivity analysis (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.89; P, <0.00001). Genital infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and hypotension were significantly higher in the SGLT2i group., Conclusions: SGLT2i remain a safe option for patients with HF with a lower incidence of SAEs. However, since they increase the risk of genital infection, UTIs and hypotension, the risks vs benefits in each patient should be weighed when making a prescribing decision., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To assess the level of infertility-related stress, associated socio-economic, and demographic factors among infertile couples living in Jordan and those living under the chronic Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a number of fertility and reproductive clinics in Jordan and occupied Palestinian territories over a period of 6 months. Trained clinical pharmacists interviewed the identified couples., Results: A total of 443 participants were interviewed. Three variables were significantly and independently associated with global stress scores. The need of parenthood appears higher in women than men among infertile couples in Jordan and Palestine ( p =0.005). The country of origin ( p <0.001) made the greatest contribution of unique variance followed by family type ( p =0.035). Additionally, a significant contribution to the model was carried out by the number of clinicians who followed up on the case ( p =0.013). The average total cost of treatment since the problem had been diagnosed was 2936±4529 Jordanian dinar, which may be of concern to both Jordanians and Palestinians given the limited resources available in developing nations., Conclusion: This study shows a significant degree of stress among infertile couples. The place of origin, family structure, and presence of medical insurance had a significant impact on the infertility global stress score. This study emphasizes the necessity for specific psychological therapies that are currently lacking in public healthcare practices in both Jordan and Palestine., (Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.)

Monogeneans Pricea multae naturally infested 42 of the 120 (35%) mackerel fish (Scomberomorus commerson) examined. For the first time, an infestation was discovered off the coast of Jubil in the Arabian Gulf of Saudi Arabia. Based on the structure clarified through light and electron microscopy of mounted specimens and molecular analysis of rDNA and measurements of this monogenean parasite was identified as P. multae. The tegumental surface of the parasite was characterized by tegumental ridges running transversally, generating folds in both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body at regular intervals. The study clarified the importance and function of the micro-structures, such as tegumental folds, perforations, sensory ganglia present on the parasite's surface, and the larger hamulus supported by a relatively unmodified internal spine. This monogenean parasite has adapted to its host infestation site uniquely.

Aims: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics of lamotrigine in Jordanian epileptic patients and to identify factors affecting therapeutic parameters., Patients and Methods: A population pharmacokinetics model for lamotrigine was established based on a prospectively collected data of 52 steady-state concentrations from 38 adult and pediatric patients with epilepsy. Lamotrigine concentrations were determined by a dried blood spot liquid chromatography method. Data were analyzed according to a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination using the nonlinear mixed effect modeling program. The covariates effect of total body weight, gender, age, and co-medication with topiramate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and valproic acid on lamotrigine clearance were investigated using a stepwise forward addition followed by a stepwise backward elimination., Results: The final population pharmacokinetics model for lamotrigine clearance was as follows: CL/F pop =θ 1 *exp (θ3*age) *exp (θ5*carbamazepine) *exp (θ6*valproic acid) , where θ 1 is the relative clearance (L/hr) estimated, and θ 3 , θ 5 , and θ 6 are the fixed parameters relating to age and co-medication with carbamazepine and valproic acid, respectively.The population mean value of lamotrigine total clearance generated in the final model (with covariates) was 2.12 L/hr. Inter-individual variability and residual unexplained variability expressed as the coefficient of variation was 37.1 and 26.1%, respectively., Conclusion: Lamotrigine total clearance in the Jordanian patients is comparable to that reported by others for Caucasian patients. Age and concomitant therapy with carbamazepine and valproic acid significantly affected lamotrigine clearance, and accounted for 48% of its inter-individual variability., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The genus Henneguya is the second largest within the class Myxosporea, which infects marine and freshwater fish. One hundred Clarias gariepinus specimens were collected alive from a branch of the Nile River in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Microscopic and molecular procedures were used to describe how Henneguya fusiformis infects the ovaries of C. gariepinus . The infected fish showed no pathogenic changes except for macroscopic creamy whitish nodules in their ovaries with the highest prevalence during the spring season. The mature spores are spindle-shaped. The total spore length, spore body length and width are 53.4 ± 0.8 (52.5-54.3) µm, 29.8 ± 0.5 (29.2-30.4) µm and 6.5 ± 0.3 (6.1-6.9) µm, respectively. The spore anterior end consisted of two equal polar capsules, located in a tandem position, each one measuring 4.2 × 2.1 µm. The polar filament formed a coil with 6-8 turns. The measurement of the spore end with two extended processes was 24.3 ± 0.4 (23.9-24.8) µm. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequence revealed that H. fusiformis are clustered together with other myxobolids that are histozoic in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , and Asian Redtail catfish, Hemibagrus nemurus " (Clariidae) in the United States and Malaysia, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of H. fusiformis in Egypt. Additionally, our study is the first record of H. fusiformis in the ovaries of C. gariepinus ., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors report no conflict of interest., (© Indian Society for Parasitology 2021.)

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of contagious mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalctiae (S. agalactiae) in cattle from households and small-scale dairy farms in Egypt. Molecular characterization of S.agalactiae isolates was described including the genetic determinants of virulence to assess the genetic variation in isolated strains of S. agalactiae., Methodology: Three hundred and sixty milk samples were collected from 90 apparently healthy dairy cows randomly selected from household and small-scale dairy farms were examined by Somatic Cell Count (SCC) as an indicator for subclinical mastitis. S.agalactiae isolates were bacteriologically and molecularly identified followed by identification of virulence genes using PCR., Results: A total of 172 milk samples (47.77%) were positive with SCC > 200×103/ml. Bacteriological examination of the positive SCC milk samples revealed that 28 (16.28%) of the isolates were S.agalactiae. Molecular examination using PCR confirmed only 22 isolates of S. agalactiae (12.8%). Moreover, we used the pattern of virulence genes to address the genetic variation of S. agalactiae strains isolated from cases of contagious mastitis in cattle in Egypt. Virulence genes hylB, cylE, iagA, and bac were determined in 100%, 68.2%, 13.6% and 100% of isolates respectively., Conclusions: The use of molecular methods for the identification of the causative agent in mastitis confirmed that, in Egypt, Streptococcus agalactiae is considered as one of the predominant infectious agents among contagious mastitis causing pathogens. The pattern of virulence genes presented the genetic diversity of highly virulent S. agalactiae strains isolated from cases of contagious mastitis in cattle in Egypt., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2021 Khaled Abd EL-Hamid Abd El-Razik, Amany A Arafa, Ehab A Fouad, Abdelgayed M Younes, Abdulaziz M Almuzaini, Amr M Abdou.)

There may be hesitancy in prescribing GLP-1RA in older adults. On pooling results from the CVOTs comparing GLP-1RA to placebo, there was a significantly lower incidence of MACE favoring GLP-1RA in both younger and older adults. GLP-1RA should be considered in high risk patients regardless of age., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: BMM has served on the Advisory Board Panel for AstraZeneca and the consulting fees from AstraZeneca paid to the East Carolina University and received research grant support from Novo-Nordisk Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company. DMC has received research grant support from Novo-Nordisk Pharmaceuticals. AMY and JRP report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cyclophosphamide, a common chemotherapeutic and immune suppressor agent, is regularly used in research to weaken the immune system in laboratory animal models. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a widely used experimental fish model for immune-modulatory research; with the lack of knowledge about the immune-compromised tilapia model, an urgent need is to develop and optimise such a model. Sixty healthy Oreochromis niloticus fish, average weight 50 ± 10 g, were divided into four experimental groups. Fish in group I, negative control group, were injected with phosphate-buffered saline only, and fish in groups II, III and IV were injected with cyclophosphamide (CP) at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, via the intraperitoneal route. Different immune-related parameters were investigated 3 weeks after CP injection. The results have revealed a significant decrease in total red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and thrombocyte counts and reduced haemoglobin and haematocrit values in CP-treated fish, especially those injected with 200 mg/kg BW compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Also, significantly lower levels of serum proteins (total protein, albumin, α1- and γ-globulins) were observed in CP-treated fish, especially those injected with 200 mg/kg BW in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CP-treated fish showed a reduction in the expression of immune-related genes (interleukin-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α in spleen and tumour necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor β-1 in head-kidney), especially those injected with 200 mg/kg BW compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the Oreochromis niloticus immune-suppressed model can be induced by intraperitoneal CP injection at 200 mg/kg BW.

In recent decades, several mass mortalities were recorded in riverine ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) in Tokyo Metropolis, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan; in these outbreaks, microbiological and pathological examinations revealed Edwardsiella ictaluri as the causative agent. In this study, histopathological findings and immunohistochemical localization of the bacteria following experimental infection of ayu were discussed. Infection experiments were performed using 44 healthy cultured ayu fingerlings using E. ictaluri isolate (H90). The fish were injected with the isolate intraperitoneally with a dose of 5.1 × 10 5 cfu/fish, while the control fish were injected with sterile phosphate buffered saline. The fish were observed for clinical signs, with daily collection of dead fish, and isolation of bacteria from the posterior kidney was performed and confirmed to be E. ictaluri by slide agglutination using anti-PH0744 serum. Daily collection of five moribund fish for necropsy and tissue specimens collection from hepatopancreas, spleen, posterior kidney, gills, brain, heart, and intestine for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Post-mortem lesions were recorded as exophthalmia, bloody ascitis, hemorrhagic kidney and distended gallbladder, meningio-encephalitis, hemorrhagic vent, and petechial hemorrhages on viscera. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse severe congestion in blood vessels and several degenerative and necrotic changes inconcurrent with positive antigenic staining by immunohistochemistry., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The antimicrobial activity of tilapia piscidin 3 (TP3) was determined in vitro against a locally isolated Aeromonas hydrophila. A 388 bp fragment was amplified from the TP3 cDNA and sequenced. The coding sequence (CDS) of TP3 was estimated to be 231 bp codes for 76 amino acids long and stop codon. In silico analysis was performed to detect both the signal peptide and the prodomain cleavage sites to follow the amino acids number 22 and 70, respectively. Based on this, a peptide 23 amino acids long with a remarkably high computed antimicrobial probability was synthesized and used in the subsequent experiments. The antimicrobial activity of TP3 was determined with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minim um bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. TP3 exhibited relatively weak antimicrobial activities against the tested bacteria. A challenge experiment was then performed in Nile tilapia with low and high doses of A. hydrophila, followed by timely recognition; after 3, 6, 24 h, and 7 days of the specific TP3 gene expression, immunohistochemical localization was also performed. Histopathological examination revealed provoked inflammatory responses and congestion in the same organs of TP3 expression. Immunohistochemical localization showed that A. hydrophila induced tilapia fish to express TP3 after 24 h within the gills, intestine, hepatopancreas, spleen, and posterior kidney. In quantitative real time (RT)-polymerase chain reaction analysis, the high dose showed higher mRNA expression levels than the low dose, and its expression levels increased in the A. hydrophila-infected fish. It was therefore concluded that TP3 plays an essential role in fish immunity., (© 2020 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)