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Purpose – The paper proposes a framework for the successful deployment of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) principles in the aerospace industry, based on identified success factors. The paper challenges the perception of I4.0 being aligned with de-skilling and personnel reduction and instead promotes a route to successful deployment centred on upskilling and retaining personnel for future role requirements. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology involved a literature review and industrial data collection via questionnaires to develop and validate the framework. The questionnaire was sent to a purposive sample of 50 respondents working in operations, and a response rate of 90% was achieved. Content analysis was used to identify patterns, themes, or biases, and the data were tabulated based on specific common attributes. The proposed framework consists of a series of gates and criteria that must be met before progressing to the next gate. Findings – The proposed framework provides a feedback mechanism to review minimum standards for successful deployment, aligned with new developments in capability and technology, and ensures quality assessment at each gate. The paper highlights the potential benefits of I4.0 implementation in the aerospace industry, including reducing operational costs and improving competitiveness by eliminating variation in manufacturing processes. The identified success factors were used to define the framework, and the identified failure points were used to form mitigation actions or controls for inclusion in the framework. Originality/value – The paper provides a framework for the successful deployment of I4.0 principles in the aerospace industry, based on identified success factors. The framework challenges the perception of I4.0 as being aligned with de-skilling and personnel reduction and instead promotes a route to successful deployment centred on upskilling and retaining personnel for future role requirements. The framework can be used as a guideline for organizations to deploy I4.0 principles successfully and improve competitiveness.

Water scarcity remains the main obstacle to sustainable development in regions under arid and semiarid climate conditions. This study focuses on the assessment of groundwater potentiality in the Middle Moulouya and the higher part of Lower Moulouya, Morocco, by using remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) techniques. This is a multicriteria approach, based on the analysis of five principal factors controlling the existence of groundwater resources, namely fracturing, lithology, drainage, topography and rainfall, and their comparison with the hydrogeological data of 179 boreholes. The use of a dynamic parameter weighting algorithm allowed to obtain a Groundwater Potential Index model with considerable correlation coefficient (r= 0.73) between calculated values of GPI, from considered factors and observed water yields in boreholes.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the outcomes, complications, and potential advantages of using anatomical interlocking intramedullary nails (IMN) in the treatment of radius and ulnar shaft diaphyseal fractures in adults. Methods Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were searched between January 2000 and January 2023. Studies meeting criteria were observational or randomized controlled trials evaluating outcomes in IMN for adult diaphyseal forearm fractures. Standardized data extraction was performed and a quality assessment tool was used to evaluate individual study methodology. Descriptive statistics for interventions, functional outcomes, and complications were reported. Meta-analysis was performed for patient-reported outcome measures and operative time. Results A total of 29 studies involving 1268 patients were included with 764 (60%) undergoing IMN, 21% open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and 9% hybrid fixation. There was no significant difference between groups in DASH and Grace–Eversmann scores. Operative time was significantly shorter in IMN compared with ORIF. The DASH scores were: 13.1 ± 6.04 for IMN, 10.17 ± 3.98 for ORIF, and 15.5 ± 0.63 in hybrids. Mean operative time was 65.3 ± 28.7 in ORIF and 50.8 ± 17.7 in IMN. Complication rates were 16.7% in the IMN group, 14.9% in ORIF, and 6.3% in hybrid constructs. There were 11 cases of extensor pollicis rupture in the IMN group. Average IMN pronation and supination were 78.3° ± 7.9° and 73° ± 5.0°, respectively. Average ORIF pronation and supination was 82.15° ± 1.9° and 79.7° ± 4.5°, respectively. Conclusions Similar functional outcomes and complication rates along with shorter operative times can be achieved with IMN compared with ORIF. The use of IMN is promising, however, higher quality evidence is required to assess appropriate indications, subtle differences in range of motion, implant-related complications, and cost-effectiveness. Trail Registration PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) (ID: CRD42022362353). Level of evidence III.

Background Idiopathic polyhydramnios is associated with adverse neonatal outcome. The aim of this study was to examine the value of the middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI) in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies affected by idiopathic polyhydramnios.Methods A retrospective study was performed during 2013–2022 at a tertiary-care university affiliated hospital. The study included singleton pregnancies with idiopathic polyhydramnios. Obstetrical and perinatal outcomes were compared between women with MCA-PI

PURPOSEProstate cancer has emerged as a significant public health challenge in the Middle East, characterized by rising incidence rates and a concerning mortality-to-incidence ratio. Yet, despite these alarming trends, data regarding prostate cancer awareness in the region remain limited. To address this critical knowledge gap, this study investigates prostate cancer awareness within the Middle East.MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional survey was performed among 5,913 men age 40 years and older across 14 Middle Eastern countries between January 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023. Excluding those with a history of prostate cancer, a validated questionnaire assessed prostate cancer awareness. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, medians and ranges for continuous variables, and Pearson chi-square analysis for relationships between education levels and awareness of prostate cancer.RESULTSThe survey achieved a 74.9% response rate, with 4,431 male participants. Regarding prostate cancer awareness, 83.8% of participants had heard of the disease. However, only 31.0% correctly identified it as the most common malignancy in men, and 21.8% believed it affects both sex. Awareness of screening was limited, with just 19.1% recognizing the prostate-specific antigen test's role. Additionally, participants had a pessimistic view, with a mean perception that 75% of patients with prostate cancer die from the disease, rather than from other causes. Higher education levels were associated with significantly increased awareness of prostate cancer (P < .001).CONCLUSIONThis study reveals that while general awareness of the disease exists, crucial knowledge deficits regarding risk factors, screening, and prognosis are evident. Addressing these knowledge gaps through culturally tailored education may improve early detection rates, treatment outcomes, and ultimately reduce the burden of prostate cancer in the Middle East.

Lung cancer is the foremost diagnosed cancer in men and the second most common cancer worldwide, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies. In the current study, AgZnO bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with average size of 11 nm were successfully synthesized using Salvia officinalis (SO) extract. The as-synthesized AgZnO NPs were characterized by several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The distribution of AgZnO nanoparticle curve was ranged from 10 to 20 nm, and the average particle diameter size was approximately 15.6 ± 4.3 nm with zeta potential value of −31.1 ± 5.2 mV. Also, the EDX technique revealed that the weight percentage for Zn, O, and Ag was 5.9 %, 3.6 %, and 90.5 %, respectively. The cytotoxicity of AgZnO NPs was assessed against A549 lung cancer cells and human non-tumorigenic lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. The as-synthesized AgZnO NPs showed biocompatibility with heathy cells, while they showed high cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells. In addition, AgZnO NPs demonstrated higher cytotoxicity compared to AgNPs synthesized by SO extract, indicating the synergistic effect between Ag and ZnO in the structure of bimetallic nanoparticle. The percentage of apoptosis and necrosis for SO extract was 11.6 % (3.69 % early apoptosis and 8.07 % late apoptosis) and 2.79 %, respectively. On the other hand, the apoptosis and necrosis percentage for AgZnO NPs was 29.74 % (5.04 % early apoptosis and 24.7 % late apoptosis) and 9.09 %, respectively. The high cytotoxicity effect was found through apoptosis, owing to upregulation of proapoptotic genes (caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, P21, and BAX) and downregulation of antiapoptotic and migration genes (BCL2, cyclin E, cyclin D1, MMP-2, and MMP-9) in A549 cells. In addition, the A549 cells treated with AgZnO NPs illustrated lower migration ability compared to those treated with S. officinalis extract, indicating the role of AgZnO NP in cytotoxicity. Also, arrested cells during sub-G1 phase increased significantly after treatment with AgZnO NPs compared to SO extract (p

Acute ischemic stroke is the most common cause of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain ischemia and tissue injury. Diabetes is a major risk factor of stroke, exacerbating disease management and prognosis. Therefore, discovering new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets is critical for stroke prevention and treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), with their distinctive properties, have emerged as promising candidates for biomarker discovery and therapeutic application. This case-control study utilized mass spectrometry-based proteomics to compare EVs from non-diabetic stroke (nDS = 14), diabetic stroke (DS = 13), and healthy control (HC = 12) subjects. Among 1288 identified proteins, 387 were statistically compared. Statistical comparisons using a general linear model (log2 foldchange ≥0.58 and FDR-p≤0.05) were performed for nDS vs HC, DS vs HC, and DS vs nDS. DS vs HC and DS vs nDS comparisons produced 123 and 149 differentially expressed proteins, respectively. Fibrinogen gamma chain (FIBG), Fibrinogen beta chain (FIBB), Tetratricopeptide repeat protein 16 (TTC16), Proline rich 14-like (PR14L), Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon (IKKE), Biorientation of chromosomes in cell division protein 1-like 1 (BD1L1), and protein PR14L exhibited significant differences in the DS group. The pathway analysis revealed that the complement system pathways were activated, and blood coagulation and neuroprotection were inhibited in the DS group (z-score ≥2; p ≤ 0.05). These findings underscore the potential of EVs proteomics in identifying biomarkers for stroke management and prevention, warranting further clinical investigation.

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are currently demonstrating tremendous potential in terms of straightforward processing, a plentiful supply of materials, and easy architectural integration, as well as high power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the elemental composition of the widely utilized organic–inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) contains the hazardous lead (Pb). The presence of Pb in the PSCs is problematic because of its toxicity which may slow down or even impede the pace of commercialization. As a backup option, the scientific community has been looking for non-toxic/less-toxic elements that can replace Pb in OIHPs. Despite not yet matching the impressive results of Pb-containing OIHPs, the community is paying close attention to Pb-free materials and has seen some encouraging findings. This review evaluates the Pb-replacement with suitable elements and scrutinizes the desirable optoelectronic features of such elements in OIHPs. The fundamental features of Pb-free OIHPs together with their photovoltaic performance in the PSCs are evaluated in details. Finally, we sum up the current challenges and potential opportunities for the Pb-free OIHPs and their devices.

Aim: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is marked by a recurring incapacity to achieve or uphold a satisfactory erection during sexual activities. The study aims to increase awareness about male reproductive health, dispel misconceptions about ED and encourage physician-patient discussions. Materials & methods: A live online poll was conducted during a 3-day webinar titled “Turning the Tide of Men’s Health” organized by Viatris™ in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine and attended by healthcare professionals (HCPs) from diverse specialties. The attendees voluntarily responded to nine poll questions on adherence to ED medication, use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) as cure versus management of ED and patients’ challenges. The responses to the poll questions were recorded and assessed to understand the perceptions of HCPs. Results: The poll garnered 10,423 responses from 5831 attendees on the second day of the webinar. The key findings included HCPs’ perceptions that PDE5is contribute to ED management not complete cure. The respondents acknowledged that adherence to ED medications might decline on days without planned sexual activity, and long-term adherence on a daily PDE5i is exhibited by a relatively modest percentage of ED patients. The consensus among respondents was that PDE5is do not enhance or generate sexual desire, and the daily schedule of ED treatment may be burdensome for some patients. Conclusion: The findings from this poll offer insights into the perspectives of HCPs regarding the usage of PDE5is to treat ED. Responders of the poll generally agreed that PDE5is can help manage ED without affecting desire, though adherence may be lower on days without planned sexual activity. Furthermore, most respondents acknowledged that adhering to a daily pill regimen posed a greater burden than waiting for the medication to take effect.

Purpose: The use of supplementary light in regions with low natural sunlight is necessary to fulfill the increasing consumer requests for fresh vegetables. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different combinations of red and blue LEDs on yield and quality of greenhouse-grown sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits during the growth period. Research method: The experiments were conducted in Rasht, Iran as split plots in the form of a completely randomized design in three repetitions (four plants per plot) on two cultivars of sweet pepper (Padra and Shadlin). With the appearance of the first flower buds, plants were exposed to different light treatments including: three combinations of red (R) and blue (B) LEDs (T1:R8B1, T2:R7B2, and T3:R6B3), with a same intensity of 200 μmolm-2s-1 as supplement light to the natural light, together with natural light as control treatment (CT). Sweet pepper fruits were harvested weekly over 27 weeks and fruit yield and quality were assessed. Findings: Supplemental light using LEDs significantly increased yield and fruit quality parameters (except titratable acidity and maturity index) compared to the control. Marketable yield was differed among the light treatments and plants exposed to T3 showed the highest marketable yield (14.58 kg/m2). The effect of supplemental light on total yield was more detectable when the average daily light integral was the lowest (for example, the difference between T3 and the control treatment in January was 1.27 kg/m2, while this difference was 0.68 kg/m2 in June). No significant difference was observed between cultivars and T3 was the best treatment in most parameters. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: In the northern regions of Iran, even in the months that do not seem to have light limitations, the use of supplementary light is recommended to increase the yield of sweet peppers in the greenhouse.

Quality prediction in additive manufacturing (AM) processes is crucial, particularly in high-risk manufacturing sectors like aerospace, biomedicals, and automotive. Acoustic sensors have emerged as valuable tools for detecting variations in print patterns by analyzing signatures and extracting distinctive features. This study focuses on the collection, preprocessing, and analysis of acoustic data streams from a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printed sample cube (10 mm × 10 mm × 5 mm). Time and frequency-domain features were extracted at 10-s intervals at varying layer thicknesses. The audio samples were preprocessed using the Harmonic–Percussive Source Separation (HPSS) method, and the analysis of time and frequency features was performed using the Librosa module. Feature importance analysis was conducted, and machine learning (ML) prediction was implemented using eight different classifier algorithms (K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), Decision Trees (DT), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)) for the classification of print quality based on the labeled datasets. Three-dimensional-printed samples with varying layer thicknesses, representing two print quality levels, were used to generate audio samples. The extracted spectral features from these audio samples served as input variables for the supervised ML algorithms to predict print quality. The investigation revealed that the mean of the spectral flatness, spectral centroid, power spectral density, and RMS energy were the most critical acoustic features. Prediction metrics, including accuracy scores, F-1 scores, recall, precision, and ROC/AUC, were utilized to evaluate the models. The extreme gradient boosting algorithm stood out as the top model, attaining a prediction accuracy of 91.3%, precision of 88.8%, recall of 92.9%, F-1 score of 90.8%, and AUC of 96.3%. This research lays the foundation for acoustic based quality prediction and control of 3D printed parts using Fused Deposition Modeling and can be extended to other additive manufacturing techniques.

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive problem in adults particularly medical students, who are one of the most vulnerable groups. Many variables, including lifestyle changes and psychological stress, increase the prevalence of GERD among undergraduate medical students. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence, and risk factors of GERD, and its relationship with perceived stress among medical students in Egypt. Methods In November and December of 2022, a cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytical component was carried out among medical students from six different universities. An online self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire included data on sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, lifestyle, the Arabic version of GerdQ, and the Arabic version of Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results The questionnaire was filled out by 964 medical students, the majority of whom were female (64%). Overall, 17.1% of participants reported symptoms of GERD. Logistic regression showed that smoking, high perceived stress, and a family history of GERD were the independent predictors of having GERD symptoms, with odds ratios of 4.1, 3.9, and 2.2, respectively. Conclusion GERD is a frequent condition among Egyptian medical students, affecting around one-fifth of them. In the fight against GERD, university-based smoking cessation and stress management programs may be influential.

Abstract Background Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are considered significant challenges for children with IEIs, their families, and their medical providers. Infections are the most common complication of IEIs and children can acquire coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) even when protective measures are taken. Objectives To estimate the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children with IEIs and analyse the demographic parameters, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in children with IEIs with COVID-19 illness. Methods For this systematic review, we searched ProQuest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guideline for studies on the development of COVID-19 in children with IEIs, published from December 1, 2019 to February 28, 2023, with English language restriction. Results Of the 1095 papers that were identified, 116 articles were included in the systematic review (73 case report, 38 cohort 4 case-series and 1 case–control studies). Studies involving 710 children with IEIs with confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed. Among all 710 IEIs pediatric cases who acquired SARS-CoV-2, some children were documented to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 119, 16.8%), intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation (n = 87, 12.2%), suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 98, 13.8%) or died (n = 60, 8.4%). Overall, COVID-19 in children with different IEIs patents resulted in no or low severity of disease in more than 76% of all included cases (COVID-19 severity: asymptomatic = 105, mild = 351, or moderate = 88). The majority of children with IEIs received treatment for COVID-19 (n = 579, 81.5%). Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) due to COVID-19 in children with IEIs occurred in 103 (14.5%). Fatality in children with IEIs with COVID-19 was reported in any of the included IEIs categories for cellular and humoral immunodeficiencies (n = 19, 18.6%), immune dysregulatory diseases (n = 17, 17.9%), innate immunodeficiencies (n = 5, 10%), bone marrow failure (n = 1, 14.3%), complement deficiencies (n = 1, 9.1%), combined immunodeficiencies with associated or syndromic features (n = 7, 5.5%), phagocytic diseases (n = 3, 5.5%), autoinflammatory diseases (n = 2, 3%) and predominantly antibody deficiencies (n = 5, 2.5%). Mortality was COVID-19-related in a considerable number of children with IEIs (29/60, 48.3%). The highest ICU admission and fatality rates were observed in cases belonging to cellular and humoral immunodeficiencies (26.5% and 18.6%) and immune dysregulatory diseases (35.8% and 17.9%) groups, especially in children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who suffered severe combined immunodeficiency (28.6% and 23.8%), combined immunodeficiency (25% and 15%), familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (40% and 20%), X-linked lymphoproliferative diseases-1 (75% and 75%) and X-linked lymphoproliferative diseases-2 (50% and 50%) compared to the other IEIs cases. Conclusion Children with IEIs infected with SARS-CoV-2 may experience higher rates of ICU admission and mortality in comparison with the immunocompetent pediatric populations. Underlying immune defects does seem to be independent risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with IEIs, a number of children with SCID and CID were reported to have prolonged infections–though the number of patients is small–but especially immune dysregulation diseases (XLP1 and XLP2) and innate immunodeficiencies impairing type I interferon signalling (IFNAR1, IFNAR2 and TBK1).

The use of gate-sill combinations in recent years has been one of the new methods in increasing the hydraulic performance of gates, including the discharge coefficient (Cd). The present research aims to investigate the Cd of the gate with a sill in different dimensions in width and various positions relative to the gate using support vector machine (SVM) models, the K nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm, and the artificial neural network (ANN) method using Statistica software. Out of 345 experimental data, 70% (241) were used for training and 30% (104) for testing. The best results are obtained when all dimensionless parameters (Atotal/B2, H0/B, Z/B, ε/B, and X/B) are used. The results of different kernels showed that RBF kernel has better results in predicting Cd compared to Polynomial, Linear, and Sigmoid kernels. The results of the statistical indexes of R, KGE, RMSE, and Mean RE% for the RBF kernel in the test phase are 0.955, 0.90, 0.0192 and 1.82%, respectively. In the KNN model, Manhattan distance measure has favorable results compared to other Euclidean, Euclidean Squared, and Chebychev criteria. The results showed that the ANN method has the best performance compared to SVM and KNN models with values of 0.984, 0.976, 0.0098, and 1.15%, respectively.

Abstract Objectives This study was conducted in 2022 at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) to analyze the queuing theory approach at the Emergency Department (ED) to estimate patients’ wait times and predict the accuracy of the queuing theory approach. Methods According to the statistics, the peak months were July and August, with peak hours from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The study sample was a week in July 2022, during the peak days and hours. This study measured patients’ wait times at these three stations: the health informatics desk, triage room, and emergency bed area. Results The average number of patients in line at the health informatics desk was not more than 3, and the waiting time was between 1 and 4 min. Since patients were receiving the service immediately in the triage room, there was no waiting time or line because the nurse’s role ended after taking the vital signs and rating the patient’s disease acuity. Using equations of queuing theory and other relativistic equations in the emergency bed area gave different results. The queuing theory approach showed that the average residence time in the system was between 4 and 10 min. Conclusions Conversely, relativistic equations (ratios of served patients and departed patients and other related variables) demonstrated that the average residence time was between 21 and 36 min.

Centella asiatica, is well known to be a valuable medicinal plant for producing valuable compounds such as asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madcasoside and madcasic acid. The plant is believed to improve memory, lower blood pressure, be a strong antioxidant and anticancer. Therefore, it is important to optimize tissue culture methods in order to facilitate the extraction of medicinal compounds, gene transfer as well as improvement of medicinal properties of the plant. Calli prepared from various medicinal plants can be used to increase the amount of medicinal compounds in the cell suspension culture and gene transfer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of two hormones, BAP and NAA, on leaf explant for callus initiation, as one of the important sources of secondary metabolites production. For this purpose, leaf explants were treated with 6 different concentrations of BAP (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 mg/L) and 5 different concentrations of NAA (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mg/L). The results of this study showed that the best callus was obtained by the combination 1.5 mg/L of BAP and 0.5 mg/L of NAA, resulting in the leaf explants with callus induction of 100%, fresh weight of 1.457 gr and callus diameter of 1.459 cm. The results showed that two hormones of BAP and NAA have synergistic effects on the increase of the quality and quantity of the produced calli.

High-quality perovskite thin films are typically produced via solvent engineering, which results in efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the use of hazardous solvents like precursor solvents (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)) and antisolvents (chlorobenzene (CB), dibutyl ether (DEE), diethyl ether (Et2O), etc.) is crucial to the preparation of perovskite solutions and the control of perovskite thin film crystallization. The consumption of hazardous solvents poses an imminent threat to both the health of manufacturers and the environment. Consequently, before PSCs are commercialized, the current concerns about the toxicity of solvents must be addressed. In this study, we fabricated highly efficient planar PSCs using a novel, environmentally friendly method. Initially, we employed a greener solvent engineering approach that substituted the hazardous precursor solvents with an environmentally friendly solvent called triethyl phosphate (TEP). In the following stage, we fabricated perovskite thin films without the use of an antisolvent by employing a two-step procedure. Of all the greener techniques used to fabricate PSCs, the FTO/SnO2/MAFAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD planar device configuration yielded the highest PCE of 20.98%. Therefore, this work addresses the toxicity of the solvents used in the perovskite film fabrication procedure and provides a promising universal method for producing PSCs with high efficiency. The aforementioned environmentally friendly approach might allow for PSC fabrication on an industrial scale in the future under sustainable conditions.

Curcumin, an important natural component of turmeric, has been known for a long time for its antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to investigate the anti-biofilm action of the niosome-encapsulated curcumin and explore the involved anti-biofilm mechanism. In silico investigations of ADME-Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) were first performed to predict the suitability of curcumin for pharmaceutical application. Curcumin showed low toxicity but at the same time, low solubility and low stability, which, in turn, might reduce its antimicrobial activity. To overcome these intrinsic limitations, curcumin was encapsulated using a biocompatible niosome system, and an encapsulation efficiency of 97% was achieved. The synthesized curcumin-containing niosomes had a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 178 nm. The niosomal curcumin was capable of reducing multi-drug resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus biofilm 2–4-fold compared with the free curcumin. The encapsulated curcumin also demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity on the human foreskin fibroblasts. To understand the interaction between curcumin and S. aureus biofilm, several biofilm-related genes were analyzed for their expression. N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (IcaD), a protein involved in the production of polysaccharide intercellular adhesion and known to play a function in biofilm development, was found to be downregulated by niosomal curcumin and showed high binding affinity (-8.3 kcal/mol) with curcumin based on molecular docking analysis. Our study suggests that the niosome-encapsulated curcumin is a promising approach for the treatment of MDR S. aureus biofilm and can be extended to biofilms caused by other pathogens.

There has been a dramatic change in everyday life due to COVID-19 around the world. The lockdowns, closure of schools and universities, and the loss of jobs has placed a lot of pressure on the family, particularly women. One of the main outcomes of the pandemic in Jordan has been the increase in the workload of women outside and inside the home. Despite the efforts made to empower women throughout the years, they continue to struggle and gender inequality remains overlooked and even normalized in Jordanian society. The aim of the study is to unfold the way Covid- 19 has disrupted women's lives and made gender equality less achievable, and explore the challenges they have faced in terms of the added paid and unpaid work they have been forced to do during the pandemic and to this end, in-depth interviews were carried out with 20 working mothers who were selected using purposive sampling. The study is largely informed by feminist standpoint theory whose main concern is the female voice and making it a valuable instrument in the process of knowledge production. The findings show that most women suffered from traditionally prescribed gender roles imposed by society, pressure and discrimination at work, and a lack of understanding and empathy at home and the workplace. Very few shared responsibilities with their husbands and their burdens with coworkers and employers, and an even smaller number was able to use the pandemic to their advantage and found ways to regain female power and self-assertion. The findings indicate that serious changes in policies need to be made to protect women's rights at work and in the domestic world, and the institution of marriage reconstructed within the Jordanian imaginary, and gender roles redefined.

Abstract Background Mixed data exist regarding the association between hyperglycemia and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke when accounting for the impact of leptomeningeal collateral flow. We sought to determine whether collateral status modifies the association between treatment group and functional outcome in a subset of patients with large vessel occlusion enrolled in the Stroke Hyperglycemia Insulin Network Effort (SHINE) trial. Methods In this post-hoc analysis, we analyzed patients enrolled into the SHINE trial with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent imaging with CT angiography prior to glucose control treatment group assignment. The primary analysis assessed the degree to which collateral status modified the effect between treatment group and functional outcome as defined by the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score. Logistic regression was used to model the data, with adjustments made for thrombectomy status, age, post-perfusion thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use, and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Five SHINE trial centers contributed data for this analysis. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value

يقوم البحث على التأكيد أن لغة الكتابة, قائمة على الإبداع والخلق, من ثمّ ينظر لها من هذه الزاوية بوصفها إبداعاً, إنساني سواء صدر عن امرأة أو رجل, فالبحث عن موقع المرأة يجب أن يكون من داخل اللغة؛ لأن اللغة هي الكفيلة بإرشادنا إلى رؤية الإنسان للعالم, والخصوصيّة بين الرجل والمرأة قائمة على الرؤى والمضامين, لا على التقسيم والاختلاف, كونهما معاً يعتمدان مصدراً واحداً, هو اللغة, وكون الخطاب النسوي لا يقف عند حدود الأدب الذي تكتبه المرأة بل يتضمن ما يكتبه الرجل أو المرأة فيما يخص قضايا المرأة, ومعاناتها في المجتمع, ومشاكلها النفسية, وصراعاتها المستمرة مع ثقافة عملت على تبعيتها, وإلغاء حقوقها الإنسانيّة. وتم اختيارنا أدونيس بوصفه شاعراً ومفكراً معنياً بشكل أو بآخر بقضايا الإنسان, والمرأة على نحوٍ خاص, ولأن قضية المرأة (برأي أدونيس) من أهم القضايا التي يواجهها المجتمع, وعلى الفكر العربي أن يعالجها, فموضوع المرأة لم يعالج منذ عصر النهضة حتى اليوم إلا بشكل أقل جذرية وجرأة وعمقاً من المعالجات التي تمت في الماضي.

Wild relatives of fruit trees (WRFT) are highly valued for food and tradable products by rural communities, especially in low-income countries and as such are a vital resource for tree improvement. During periods of conflict, a lack of support and protection by national authorities may make WRFT vulnerable. In Syria, WRFT are at risk of extinction due to the ongoing crisis, which has limited efforts to conserve and propagate these unique genetic resources. We collected information about the current status and key threats to WRFT in northwest Syria from 50 agricultural experts using structured interviews. Our results show that many sites have experienced erosion, overgrazing and drought. To initiate in situ and ex situ conservation, the locations of WRFT exposed to deterioration were identified and mapped using GPS, and seeds from five genotypes per species were collected from each of ten species to be used for the establishment of an in situ and ex situ WRFT collection.

Carbon accounting is primarily a process for measuring, reporting, and allocating greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, thus enabling informed decision-making to mitigate climate change and foster responsible resource management. There is a noticeable upsurge in the academia regarding carbon accounting, which engenders complexity due to the heterogeneity of practices that fall under the purview of carbon accounting. Such plurality has given rise to a situation where diverse interpretations of carbon accounting coexist, often bereft of uniformity in definition and application. Consequently, organisations need a standardised, comprehensive, and sequentially delineated carbon accounting framework amenable to seamless integration into end-to-end manufacturing systems. This research commences with the progressive evolution of the conceptual definition of carbon accounting. Then, it delves into the current state of carbon accounting in manufacturing systems and supply chains, revealing gaps and implementation issues warranting future scholarly exploration.

Tuberculosis of the heart is relatively rare and presents a significant diagnostic difficulty for physicians. It is the leading cause of death from infectious illness. It is one of the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide, with a disproportionate impact in low- and middle-income nations. The radiologist plays a pivotal role as CMR is a non-invasive radiological method that can aid in identifying potential overlap and differential diagnosis between tuberculosis, mass lesions, pericarditis, and myocarditis. Regardless of similarities or overlap in observations, the combination of clinical and certain particular radiological features, which are also detected by comparison to earlier and follow-up CMR scans, may aid in the differential diagnosis. CMR offers a significant advantage over echocardiography for detecting, characterizing, and assessing cardiovascular abnormalities. In conjunction with clinical presentation, knowledge of LGE, feature tracking, and parametric imaging in CMR may help in the early detection of tuberculous myopericarditis and serve as a surrogate for endomyocardial biopsy resulting in a quicker diagnosis and therapy. This article aims to explain the current state of cardiac tuberculosis, the diagnostic utility of CMR in tuberculosis (TB) patients, and offer an overview of the various imaging and laboratory procedures used to detect cardiac tuberculosis.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal pain is a serious public health issue affecting healthcare providers, particularly, sonographers. The lack of research into this issue, together with the limited knowledge of factors associated with pain among Saudi sonographers promoted the authors to perform this study. Aim: To explore the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal pain and potential factors related to this disorder among sonographers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 102 sonographers working in the Radiology Departments of hospitals located in the Makkah province from September 2019 to February 2020. The questionnaire comprised 27 questions- 11 questions related to demographic and psychosocial, nine on work scheduling and task factors (average time per scan and amount of job tasks), one on anatomical areas affected by pain over the last six months, six questions on work-related posture factors (position of the body during scanning). Bivariate analysis was considered to investigate the relationships between work-related musculoskeletal pain and potential factors affecting the musculoskeletal system of sonographers. Results: The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal pain among Saudi sonographers was 81 (98.78%), and the pain was located at a single or multiple body sites, with the highest being in shoulders (70, 86.4%), followed by lower back (61, 75.3%), hand and wrist (58, 71.6%). Mental stress was only associated with shoulder pain (p-value: 0.03), and demographic factors were related to lower back, hand and, wrist pain (p-value ≤0.003). Upper back pain was significantly related to work-related posture factors (p-value ≤0.008), and both work related posture factors, as well as task factors, have shown a significant relationship with lower back pain (p-value ≤0.04). Conclusion: Work-related musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among Saudi sonographers and the pain from different anatomical parts were found to be associated with different factors including psychological, demographic, task, and work-related posture factors.

Background: By explaining the reasons for non-compliance with the protocols of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, we can help respond better, make better decisions, and control the risks and outcomes of coronavirus in the future. This study aimed to explain the reasons for the public’s non-compliance with the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters measures from the perspective of academics. Materials and Methods: The present qualitative study uses a contractual content analysis approach. The study participants were 19 professors and experts of the University of Medical Sciences with the necessary and sufficient information and experience on the subject. A purposive sampling method with maximum diversity in characteristics such as age, gender, education, the field of study, and work experience was used to select the participants. The study data were obtained through semi-structured interviews until data saturation and analyzed simultaneously. Results: From the content analysis of the interviews, 5 main themes and 7 subthemes emerged: 1) normalization and simplification of coronavirus risk with 5 subthemes of learning weakness, inconsistency in received information, misperception of coronavirus, perceived harms due to the observance of protocols, and the impracticality of some policies and approvals of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, 2) weak communication, trust and low acceptance of the people by the procedures of the Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, 3) lack of sufficient motivation in people to comply with, 4) family-cultural conditions with two subthemes of the emotionality of Iranian families and the received cultural sediments, and 5) weakness in supervision and compassion in the use of force. Conclusion: The study results showed that from the point of view of academics, there are reasons for people not observing the recommendations of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, which leads to more ineffective control of coronavirus and consequently human, economic, and social damages to the country. Given the importance of coronavirus control in promoting community health and prevention of this disease and its dangers, further understanding of the reasons for non-compliance with the procedures and recommendations of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters to plan and carry out effective interventions seem necessary.

Medicinal plants are stores of active and valuable secondary metabolites that have been economically beneficial for pharmacy and medicine. However, it is challenging to start large-scale and commercial cultivation of these plants since most of the arable land is mainly used to produce strategically essential crops. Other uncultivable lands are often affected by various abiotic stresses, one of the most important of which is salinity. Germination of plants is one of the critical stages during their growth period that is often affected by environmental stresses, especially salinity. In the present study, the seeds of medicinal plants such as Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), and Scrophularia (Scrophularia striata) were subjected to salinity stress at 20, 25, and 30 °C to determine the germination characteristics of their seeds. At each temperature, to create salinity stress, five levels of salinity potential, including 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl were applied, prepared using sodium chloride salt with the required amounts. The results of this experiment generally showed that with increasing salinity concentration at different temperatures, all germination characteristics, including germination percentage, germination rate, shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight, dry root weight, and seed vigor index, decreased. Salinity stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses in areas with saline soil and water, which reduces the quality and yield of plants, especially medicinal plants, and weakens them against other environmental stresses. It seems that low salinity soil and water are needed to get the best yield for the commercial growth of plants.

The mechanical and thermal properties of nylon 6.6 on polypropylene (PP) blends were investigated. Five weight percentages of nylon 6.6, 1 wt%—5 wt%, were blended with PP by an injection molding process to produce PP/nylon 6.6 blends. The impact of the mixture on the mechanical properties was investigated by performing a three-point bend test to determine the flexural strength and hardness test using nanoindentation. Both differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the thermal properties of the mixture. Chemical and morphological testing was performed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope tests. Mechanical testing revealed improved strength, modulus, and hardness of the PP/nylon 6.6 blends. The 2 wt% blend showed elastic modulus, tensile, and yield stress enhancement. TGA showed variable results with improved thermal resistance for the 3 wt% and 4 wt% blends, whereas there was no effect for the 2 wt% blend and reduced thermal resistance for the 1 wt% and 5 wt% blends. DSC analysis revealed no influence on the melting temperature of the blends. SEM images showed a homogeneous mixture between PP and nylon 6.6, which substantiated the interfacial adhesion between PP and nylon 6.6 and was verified by FTIR.

Ameloblastic fibro-odontomas (AFOs), cemento-ossifying fibromas (COFs), and giant cell granulomas (GCGs) represent mixed radiolucent/radiopaque lesions found most often in the mandible [1,2,3,4,6,7]. Though there have been reported cases documenting associations of hybrid COFs and GCGs, there have been no reported cases documenting hybrid AFOs and cemento-ossifying fibromas. The following report presents a unique case of the development of an AFO in combination with a COF and a GCG in the mandible of an 8-year-old male. This combination has not yet been described in the literature, and the purpose of this case report is to highlight the presentation of and review the clinical features and treatment recommendations for this combined lesion.

Compared with freshwater splitting, seawater electrolysis has more spaces to be explored, which is primarily attributed to the additional critical catalytic challenges of the competition between anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and chlorine chemistry, deep corrosion, and site blocking due to the presence of chloride ions and insoluble particulate in seawater. However, if direct seawater electrolysis can be realized, it would revolutionize the energy and environmental sectors. In this review, the current effective strategies are summarized, including electronic modulation, oxygen vacancies creation, amorphous and porous structure design, corrosion‐resistant passive layer decoration, and creating strong catalyst–support interactions. The review also provides insights for seawater electrolysis on rational design of the OER catalyst with high selectivity, activity, corrosion resistance, chemical, and mechanical durability. Beyond the progress made to date, a perspective in the fabrication of high‐performance anodes for direct seawater electrolysis is also proposed. Collectively, this review will shed light on the rational design of a viable anode for massive and sustainable hydrogen fuel production from immense seawater.

Abstract Background Bioactive principles from various natural resources including medicinal herbs have always played a crucial role in healthcare settings and increasingly became key players in drug discovery and development for many biopharmaceutical applications. Additionally, natural products (NPs) have immense arrangement of distinctive chemical structures with diverse functional groups that motivated numerous investigators including synthetic chemists to discover new therapeutic entities. Numerous pre-clinical investigations involving the animal models have evident the usefulness of these NPs against various human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs). Main text Ocimum basilicum Linn (O. basilicum L.), also known as sweet basil, is well practiced in traditional healthcare systems and has been used to treat various human illnesses, which include malaria, skin disease, diarrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, and insect bites and emphasize the significance of the ethno-botanical approach as a potential source of novel drug leads With the growing interest in advanced techniques, herbal medicine and medicinal plants explorations are still considered to be a novel resource for new pharmacotherapeutic discovery and development. O. basilicum L and its bioactive principles including apigenin, eugenol, myretenal, β-sitosterol, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, essential oil (EO)-rich phenolic compounds, and others like anthocyanins and flavones could be of therapeutic values in NDs by exhibiting their neuro-protective efficacy on various signaling pathways. The present comprehensive review collected various related information using the following searching engines such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. and focused mainly the English written documents. The search period comprised of last two decades until present. Conclusion Although these efficacious plant genera of prime importance and has potential medical and socioeconomic importance, yet the pivotal evidence for its neuroprotective potential in novel clinical trials remains lacking. However, with the available wealth of obtainable literature on this medicinal plant, which supports this review and concludes that O. basilicum L may function as a promising therapeutics for the treatment of NDs.

Breast plasmacytoma is relatively uncommon in which most of the recorded cases were related to disseminated multiple myeloma. However, many of these cases tend to be misdiagnosed with other breast lesions such as breast carcinoma. This article presents a case study on a Libyan female patient around the age of 55 who has a single breast lump, which was first diagnosed to be a malignant lesion. All the results of immunostaining for cytokeratins, GATA3, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, and E-cadherin were negative; hence, the possibility of a breast carcinoma was not considered. However, plasma cell tumors were indicated by the presence of CD138, MUM1, and kappa-light chain markers. In addition, the patient had multiple osteolytic bone lesions, plasma cell infiltration, a monoclonal gammopathy, and signs of renal failure, which considered to be an indication to an extra-medullary breast plasmacytoma secondary to advanced multiple myeloma. This case study emphasizes the necessity of complete histopathological and imaging evolution for proper diagnosis of breast plasmacytoma.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death; by the time it is diagnosed, the patient is usually in late-stage grade IV. Late-stage lung cancer is mainly associated with metastasis in the liver, brain, and lymphoid tissues; as a result, a localized lung cancer treatment remains meaningless. Early diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be curable or will improve the survival rate. Although with advanced developments to screen high-risk patients by LDCT scan, false-positive rates and limited resolution necessitated the development of advanced diagnostic techniques for NSCLC. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from cells freely circulate in the blood and contain various transmembrane proteins, and they may be a non-invasive biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Current studies predict that the CD91 marker in EVs may be a potential biomarker of NSCLC; however, the expression of CD91 in lung cancer tissues is not fully known. Here, this study determines the differential expression of CD91 in lung cancer cells and in circulating EVs in blood as a potential biomarker of NSCLC patients. Our results confirmed the expression of CD91 in NCI–H1975 cultured cells and NSCLC lung biopsy tissues. Furthermore, biophysical characterization of EVs from lung cancer cells determines the substantial expression of CD91, which the Transmission Electron Microscope confirms. Thus, this study suggests EVs containing CD91 could be an asset to studying the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in NSCLC disease.

Background The periventricular white matter is more sensitive to the systemic hemodynamic alterations than the deep white matter because of differences in its vascular structure and systemic circulation relationship. We hypothesize that periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PVWMH) volume shows greater association than deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) volume with vascular properties (VPs) reflecting arterial stiffness and cardiovascular remodeling, indicators of the systemic circulation. Methods and Results A total of 426 participants (age, 59.0±6.1 years; 57.5% women; and 39.7% Black race) in the Genetic Study of Atherosclerosis Risk who were aged ≥50 years and had brain magnetic resonance imaging were studied. VPs included pulse pressure, hypertensive response to exercise, diastolic brachial artery diameter, diastolic common carotid artery diameter, common carotid artery distensibility coefficient, and left ventricular function. The relative associations of VPs with PVWMH and DWMH as multiple measures within the same individual were determined using multilevel linear models. We also determined if age modified the differences in VPs associations with PVWMH and DWMH. Our findings indicated that, within the same subject, PVWMH volume had greater association than DWMH volume with pulse pressure (P=0.002), hypertensive response to exercise (P=0.04), diastolic brachial artery diameter (P=0.012), and diastolic common carotid artery diameter (P=0.04), independent of age and cardiovascular risk factors. The differences of PVWMH versus DWMH associations with VPs did not differ at any age threshold. Conclusions We show, for the first time, that PVWMH has greater association than DWMH, independent of age, with vascular measurements of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular remodeling suggesting that changes in the systemic circulation affect the PVWMH and DWMH differently.

Operational management of agricultural water based on an economic perspective was investigated as a sustainable approach in water shortage periods. Accordingly, an automatic water distribution system was coupled with the Positive Mathematical Programming economic model for a sustainable agricultural water operation in the Roodasht irrigation network, Iran. Operational management was carried out based on the economic value of water in each irrigated unit. According to the results, the existing operating system was able to supply 71 and 22% of farmers’ water requirements under normal and water shortage conditions, respectively. However, employing the proposed automated operational-economic approach reduced water consumption by 14.3%, while maintaining the cultivation area by 11% and increasing farmers’ net profit to 840,000 USD under water scarcity. The economic operation can reduce water losses, implement economic strategies in those districts without water marketing mechanisms, and provide sustainable management of limited water resources in hyper-arid regions. HIGHLIGHTS An operating system is proposed for districts with a lack of a market mechanism.; Surface water distribution is conducted based on the economic value of water.; The water conservation objective is fulfilled by employing an automatic control system.; An automatic operating system is developed to fulfill the economic objectives.;

Background: Since the advent of global COVID-19 vaccination, several studies reported cases of encephalitis with its various subtypes following COVID-19 vaccinations. In this regard, we conducted a systematic review to investigate and characterize the clinical settings of these reported cases to aid in physician awareness and proper care provision. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus and manually searched Google Scholar. Studies published until October 2022 were included. Demographic data, clinical features, vaccine data, treatment lines, and outcomes were extracted. Results: A total of 65 patients from 52 studies were included. The mean age of patients was 46.82 ± 19.25 years, 36 cases (55.4%) were males. AstraZeneca was the most-reported vaccine associated with encephalitis (38.5%) followed by Pfizer (33.8%), Moderna (16.9%), and others. Moat encephalitis cases occurred after the first dose of vaccination in 41/65 (66.1%). The mean time between vaccination and symptom onset was 9.97 ± 7.16 days. Corticosteroids (86.2 %) and immunosuppressants (81.5 %) were the most used lines of treatment. The majority of affected individuals experienced a full recovery. Conclusion: Our study summarizes the current evidence of reported post-vaccination encephalitis, regarding clinical presentation, symptoms onset, management, outcomes, and comorbid conditions; however, it fails to either acknowledge the incidence of occurrence or establish a causal relationship between various COVID-19 vaccines and encephalitis.

Software fault prediction (SFP) is a challenging process that any successful software should go through it to make sure that all software components are free of faults. In general, soft computing and machine learning methods are useful in tackling this problem. The size of fault data is usually huge since it is obtained from mining software historical repositories. This data consists of a large number of features (metrics). Determining the most valuable features (i.e., Feature Selection (FS) is an excellent solution to reduce data dimensionality. In this paper, we proposed an enhanced version of the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) by combining it with a single point crossover method. The proposed enhancement helps the WOA to escape from local optima by enhancing the exploration process. Five different selection methods are employed: Tournament, Roulette wheel, Linear rank, Stochastic universal sampling, and random-based. To evaluate the performance of the proposed enhancement, 17 available SFP datasets are adopted from the PROMISE repository. The deep analysis shows that the proposed approach outperformed the original WOA and the other six state-of-the-art methods, as well as enhanced the overall performance of the machine learning classifier.

The elasticity modules of the micro/Nanoparticles, especially biological particles are measured using different tools such as atomic force microscopy. The tip of the atomic force microscopy as an indenter has different shapes such as spherical, conical and pyramidal. In the contact of these tips and biological cells, avoiding the cell damage is a necessity. The goal of this paper is investigation and comparison of different tips’ geometries. Different tip’s geometries and their related theories were collected and proposed. To generalize theories’ application for any kind of particle (even non-biological particles) some of simplifying assumptions used in these theories, such as tip rigidity, were removed. Simulation of the force- indentation depth was done for gold nanoparticle and observed that if simplifying assumptions were not removed there would be big errors in calculating the elasticity module of some particles. Then, simulations were done for two yeast and mouse embryo cells. For both cells, in general, the geometry of the curve group, the geometry of the pyramidal group and finally the geometry of the conical group were positioned from the highest to the lowest places. For hyperbolic, conical and pyramidal tips, the important parameter was semi vertical angel. To observe its effect, different magnitudes of this parameter were simulated. According to observed results in three investigated geometries and for both cells, bigger semi vertical angel created higher curves and this means in bigger angels the possibility of cell damage is higher.

Syria lies at the heart of the Fertile Crescent – one of the centres of diversity of staple crops such as wheat, barley, chickpea and lentil. The country has historically been rich in agrobiodiversity, including crop landraces valued for their nutritional and culinary qualities, as well as for their resilience. With their cultivation already in decline before the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, this study was undertaken to assess the current status of crop landraces in northwest Syria, and to initiate an ex situ conservation programme. We found a significant decline in the number of landraces in cultivation, indicating a loss of locally adapted genetic diversity. Influencing factors include insufficient seed supply, competition with commercial hybrids, falling market demand and neglect by relevant government authorities. Despite not seeing conservation as their responsibility, the participating farmers were supportive of landrace conservation and willingly contributed seeds for ex situ conservation.

Background: CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that catabolizes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and is the main source for the age-dependent decrease in NAD+ levels. Increased CD38 enzymatic activity has been implicated in several neurological diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains unknown. We aimed to characterize CD38 expression and enzymatic activity in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHRSP), a genetic model for hypertension and human CSVD, in comparison to age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).Materials and Methods: Age-matched male 7- and 24-week-old WKY and SHRSP were studied. CD38 enzymatic activity was determined in the brain homogenate. Immunohistochemistry and Western Blotting (WB) were used to characterize CD38 expression and localize it in the different cell types within the brain. In addition, expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and the levels of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide, nicotinamide dinucleotide (phosphate) NAD(P)H were measured the brain of in WKY and SHRSP.Results: CD38 expression and enzymatic activity were increased in SHRSP brains compared to age matched WKY starting at 7 weeks of age. CD38 expression was localized to the endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia. We also identified increased CD38 expression using WB with age in SHRSP and WKY. CD38 enzymatic activity was also increased in 24-week SHRSP compared to 7-week SHRSP. In association, we identified evidence of oxidative stress, reduced NO level, reduced NAD(P)H level and endothelial NOS expression in SHRSP compared to age matched WKY. NAD(P)H also decreased with age in WKY and SHRSP. Additionally, activation of astrocytes and microglia were present in SHRSP compared to WKY.Conclusions: CD38 is overexpressed, and its enzymatic activity is increased in SHRSP, a genetic model for marked hypertension and human CSVD. Our results suggest a potential role for CD38 enzymatic activation in the pathogenesis of CSVD and points to the need for future mechanistic and pharmacological studies.

The oxidation of Au/Ag alloy thin films using radio-frequency oxygen plasma was studied in this work. It was demonstrated that there is a phase separation occurring between silver and gold. In addition, it was shown that the preferential oxidation of silver resulted in a solid-state diffusion of silver toward the surface where it oxidized and formed nanoporous microspheres. The gold phase remaining in the film exhibited nanoporosity due to the injected vacancies at the metal/silver oxide interface. Based on the scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis coupled with energy dispersive X-ray mapping a mechanism was proposed based on solid-state diffusion and the Kirkendall effect to explain the different steps occurring during the oxidation process.

Stroke research has traditionally focused on the cerebral processes following ischemic brain injury, where oxygen and glucose deprivation incite prolonged activation of excitatory neurotransmitter receptors, intracellular calcium accumulation, inflammation, reactive oxygen species proliferation, and ultimately neuronal death. A recent growing body of evidence, however, points to far-reaching pathophysiological consequences of acute ischemic stroke. Shortly after stroke onset, peripheral immunodepression in conjunction with hyperstimulation of autonomic and neuroendocrine pathways and motor pathway impairment result in dysfunction of the respiratory, urinary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems. These end organ abnormalities play a major role in the morbidity and mortality of acute ischemic stroke. Using a pathophysiology-based approach, this current review discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms following ischemic brain insult that result in end organ dysfunction. By characterizing stroke as a systemic disease, future research must consider bidirectional interactions between the brain and peripheral organs to inform treatment paradigms and develop effective, comprehensive therapeutics for acute ischemic stroke.

Software fault prediction (SFP) is a complex problem that meets developers in the software development life cycle. Collecting data from real software projects, either while the development life cycle or after lunch the product, is not a simple task, and the collected data may suffer from imbalance data distribution problem. In this research, we proposed an Enhanced Binary Moth Flame Optimization (EBMFO) with Adaptive synthetic sampling (ADASYN) to predict software faults. BMFO is employed as a wrapper feature selection, while ADASYN enhances the input dataset and address the imbalanced dataset. Converting MFO algorithm from a continues version to the binary version using transfer functions (TFs) from two different groups (S-shape and V-shape) is investigated in this work and proposed an EBFMFO version. Fifteen real projects data obtained from PROMISE repository are employed in this work. Three different classifiers are used: the k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), Decision Trees (DT), and Linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The reported results demonstrate that the proposed EBMFO enhances the overall performance of classifiers and outperforms the results in the literature and show the importance of TF for feature selection algorithms.

This study aims to examine the problem of sampling interval selection for the precision agriculture using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The Wireless Sensor Networks is introduced for limited energy sensor nodes and deployed in an agricultural farm, which is divided into a number of heterogeneous agricultural areas. A Variable Sampling Interval Precision Agriculture (VSI-PA) system is proposed to measure and monitor the agricultural parameters for appropriate agricultural activities e.g. water irrigation. At every time step, the sensor nodes are selected for each area to sense the soil moisture and temperature. After that, a variable sampling interval is calculated independently for each individual area, according to the soil temperature of the area. Analysis of simulation results show that, compared with other fixed sampling interval schemes, the proposed VSI-PA system provides a significant improvement in energy consumption while maintaining a small variation of the soil moisture regardless of the values of soil temperature. Therefore, the crop yields have been enhanced. Keywords: Variable sampling interval, Energy-efficient, Irrigation system, Precision agriculture, Wireless sensor networks

Soft tissue myofibromas of the head and neck are relatively common lesions diagnosed within the first two decades of life; however, these myofibromas are rarely found to affect the jaw bones. Myofibromas that do develop within the bone are referred to as intraosseous myofibromas (IM). A thorough search and review of the literature has found only five cases of IM impacting the mandible of an adult patient. The current case report describes a myofibroma impacting the right posterior mandible in a 44-year-old male patient with no previous history of pathology or surgery within the affected area. Histologic examination of the incisional biopsy specimen revealed a proliferation of spindle cells, and the spindle cells showed positivity for SMA on immunohistochemical staining supporting the diagnosis of myofibroma. The final pathology results of the subsequent composite resection of the lesion yielded a 1.5cm myofibroma that was < 1mm from the nearest bone/soft tissue edge; the resection margin was uninvolved by tumor. The purpose of this case report is to present the sixth case of IM of the mandible of an adult patient and to review the pertinent radiographic and clinical features, and necessary methods for diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity.

Secretory carcinoma (SC), formerly known as mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), is a rare salivary gland tumor that was first described by Skalova et al., in 2010 [1]. Thirty-two cases of SC involving the lips have been reported in the literature. The current report describes a case of SC discovered in the upper lip of a 20-year-old-female. The lesion was excised, and the pathology report returned as SC with positive margins. One month later, the patient was treated with radical excision of the lesion with 1cm margins, and the pathology report described SC of the inner aspect of the right side of the upper lip that was unifocal, 0.3cm in size with a 3mm depth of invasion. The margins were uninvolved by the invasive tumor, and the distance from the closest margin was at least 5mm to the deep margin. No lymphovascular invasion or perineural invasion was identified. The tumor cells were positive for mammaglobin, S100, and GATA-3. The purpose of this report is to highlight the presentation and review the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of SC. Our aim is to add to the existing body of literature and present an extremely rare case of SC of the upper lip.

Objective: Following the launch of the TKI's (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) for the treatment of CML, establishing its significant control over the disease, other dimensions have emerged in regard to the safety of treatment, particularly the effect on Male fertility and fatherhood. This study was conducted to review the real-life data on the effect of TKI on the fertility of male patients in the National Center of cancer care and research (NCCCR) in Qatar. Case report: Inclusion Criteria: Male patient diagnosed with CML, in Chronic or accelerated phase; 18 years of age or older and actively receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors including (Imatinib, dasatinib,nilotinib) with the following: -Patients with no known issues with regards to fertility, (fertility is intact) Patients who developed fertility issues after the diagnosis of CML and starting TKI's. has been evaluated by an andrologist, and his evaluation concluded its TKI related. Methodology: A single-center study conducted a mixed-design study by phone interviews with CML male patients in the Chronic or accelerated phase, being followed up in NCCCR (national center for cancer care and research), evaluating the effect of Imatinib, Dasatinib, nilotinib, on their fertility whether they are taking it as first, a second, or third line of treatment. Results: 150 patients were interviewed to be included in the study, 22 patients had concerns related to medications safety and possible transmission of the disease, 33 patients had their families completed by the time of diagnosis. 26 patients have met the inclusion criteria, offspring's total number was 43, 97.6% were full-term, had a normal delivery, and normal average weight at delivery. No stillbirths, fetal demise, or congenital anomaly were reported. All offspring had normal development and growth. Conclusion: Around 98% of male CML patients taking imatinib, Dasatinib, Nilotinib had their offspring born normally with no delivery complications noted, all had no congenital anomaly had normal growth and development, and no CML-related cancers were diagnosed. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to shed light on the TKI outcome on fatherhood in CML patients.

Objective: The evidence guiding VTE management in SCD, specifically in terms of anticoagulant choice, is scarce. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review that evaluates the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in SCD with VTE. Methodology: We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched the English literature (PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar) for randomized controlled trials, observational studies, reviews, case series, and case reports for patients with SCD treated with DOAC for thromboembolic disease. Results: The current data demonstrated that the use of DOACs for VTE in SCD has similar effectiveness in the prevention of VTE recurrence in comparison to other anticoagulants, including VKAs and injectable anticoagulants with a better safety profile. However, given the absence of clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of VTE among patients with SCD, the clinical practice guidelines recommendations for VTE treatment can be applied to patients with SCD. Conclusion: In view of the current evidence and based on the results observed; using DOACs was associated with lesser bleeding incidence and fewer complications comparing to VKAs. We think it is rational to use DOACs for VTE treatment among patients with SCD rather than use VKAs.

Objective: Radioactive iodine (RAI) with I131 has an established role in managing differentiated thyroid carcinoma, namely papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma. However, concerns have been raised about its possible carcinogenic effects. Papers of t-CML following I131 are increasingly reported, and thus this review is dedicated to highlighting it. Methodology: All reports from the 1960s to date related to CML following RAI therapy were searched on Google Scholar and PubMed. Different search terms with Boolean function to search for the relevant articles. Results: We identified ten articles reporting 12 cases, as presented in table 1. We found that most of the reports were for men (8/12) under the age of 60 years (10/12), and the primary tumor was of PTC characteristics (5/12 were PTC, and 3/12 were mixed papillary-follicular carcinoma). The dose of I131 ranged between 30 millicuries (mCi) to 850 mCi; the mean dose was 331 mCi. Also, t-CML developed within the first ten years (9/12), mainly between 4-7 years post-exposure. Conclusion: A few reports found a statistically significant increased risk of leukemia following RAI therapy; some suggested a relative risk of 2.5 for I131 vs. no I131. Observed findings from these studies include a linear relationship between the cumulative dose of I131 and the risk of leukemia, doses higher than 100 mCi were associated with a greater risk of developing secondary leukemia, and most of the leukemias developed within the initial ten years of exposure.