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Abstract The current study aims at predicting the strength of the problematic clayey soils treated with combinations of pozzolan of natural sources and lime powder when added as soil additives at a nano scale. Multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural networks (ANN) and fuzzy logic (FL) tools were employed in the analytical study. The variables of the present study include the following: nano pozzoaln of natural source (NNP) content, nano lime content (NL), median particle size of NNP, active silica content of NNP (SiO2active), Initial liquid limit (ILL) and initial plastic limit (IPL) of the investigated soils. NNP was added at five percentages, i.e. 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%, while NL was added at five percentages, i.e. 0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9% and 1.2%. Three median particle sizes namely 50, 100 and 500 nm size were studied. Based on the different investigated soils and combinations, 120 soil mixtures were prepared and tested. California bearing ratio (CBR) and plasticity index (PI) were particularly examined. CBR tests were conducted at a soaked condition on specimens compacted to a maximum dry density (MDD) at the optimum moisture content (OMC). PI values were obtained following the Atterberg limits test. Based on the results of the performance criteria of the developed predictive models, it can be concluded that the CBR and PI of the expansive clayey soils can be effectively predicted using ANN and FL techniques. The results obtained by MLR were far from those obtained by both ANN & FL. In addition, ANN tool was slightly more accurate than FL as far as prediction of CBR and PI is concerned. The higher capability of ANN & FL models in predicting CBR & PI values, which generally obtained through time-consuming and expensive tests, could be useful for geotechnical engineers to assess or design a new pavement project. Further, it is recommended to do a re-evaluation of the current study in future, particularly when more data is available in the literature.

The aim of the current study is to estimate the graduation grade point average (GPA) at the Arab International University (AIU). The importance of this study is that it is the first of its kind in Syria, particularly under the conditions of the bitter war, which has not yet come to its end. The sample of the study consists of data collected from AIU registry system, which covers students of six faculties from both sexes over a period of 5 years, i.e., between 2014 and 2018. The variables of the study include the student's high school GPA, the source of the student's certificate, and the gender of the student (GR). MLR and ANN approaches were employed in the analytical study. The correlation coefficients and several statistical criteria were calculated to evaluate the developed models. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the male students were among the key factors affecting the output, i.e., GPA. In addition, ANN tool is more accurate when the estimation of GPA value is concerned. Further, re-evaluation of this study can be done in future particularly when the male student' trepidation disappears as stability and safety return to the country.

This study investigates the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and the cost of equity capital (CoEC). It also reveals the moderating role of managerial ability (MA) in the relationship between EPU and CoEC in Saudi Arabia. The study sample consists of listed non-financial firms in Tadawul from 2008 to 2019. We analyzed data using STATA, depending on Pearson correlation analysis, two independent sample t-tests, OLS regression, and OLS with robust standard errors clustered by firm. Our study shows a positive effect of EPU on the CoEC. In addition, the results confirm that MA mitigates the positive effect of EPU on the CoEC. This is the first research to investigate the influence of the relationship between EPU on CoEC in Saudi Arabia, one of the largest emerging economies in the Middle East and Gulf countries. Our findings motivate decision-makers to strengthen their MA and establish a safe and stable investment environment to ensure better financing and investment decisions during uncertain times. Lending agencies, investors, and other stakeholders should consider the MA of corporations when making investment decisions.

The enhancement of electrode materials' properties for improving mercantile supercapacitors' performances is a remarkable research area. Throughout recent years, a significant amount of research has been devoted to improving the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors via the improvement of novel electrode materials. The nanocomposite structure provides a greater specific surface area (SSA) and lower ion/electron diffusion tracks, consequently enhancing supercapacitors' energy density and specific capacitance. These significant properties offer a wide range of potential for the electrode materials to be applied in diverse applications. For instance, their applications are in portable electronic systems such as all-solid-state supercapacitors, flexible/transparent supercapacitors and hybrid supercapacitors. The authors of this paper introduced a multi-criteria model to assess the priority of nanostructured electrode materials (NEMs) for high-performance supercapacitors (HPSCs). This work combines Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) methods. Herein, the rough concept addresses the uncertainties resulting from the group decision-making process and the vague values of the properties of the NEMs. The modified R-AHP method was employed to find the criteria weights based on the multi-experts' opinions. The results reveal that specific capacitance (SC) and energy density (ED) are the most important criteria. R-AHP was integrated with R-EDAS and R-GRA models to evaluate the fourteen NEMs. The results of the R-EDAS method were compared with those provided by the R-GRA method. The results of the proposed integrated approach confirmed that it results in reliable and reputable ranks that will provide a framework for further applications and help physicists find optimal materials by evaluating various alternatives.

This study focuses on developing and characterizing multifunctional composites based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy matrix. The aim is to enhance fire resistance and electrical conductivity properties for applications in various fields. To achieve this, aluminum tri-hydroxide (ATH) was incorporated as a flame retardant (FR) agent, while polyaniline (PANI) was added to impart electrical conductivity. The composites were categorized into three groups: the first containing flame retardant (FR), the second containing PANI for conductivity, and the third containing both PANI and FR for combined effects. E 60-FP emerged as the optimal multifunctional composite, exhibiting superior mechanical properties among the tested formulations. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results provided valuable insights into the thermal stability of E 60-FP, revealing that it retained 42% of its initial mass at a temperature of 600 °C. Additionally, the composite achieved a V-0 rating in the UL 94 test, confirming its excellent fire resistance. Notably, E 60-FP displayed impressive mechanical strength, with a tensile strength of 7.2 MPa and a tensile modulus of 1117.6 MPa. Its flexural strength and modulus were measured at 31.2 MPa and 2800.2 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the composite E 60-FP exhibited remarkable electrical conductivity, measuring 6.1 × 10 ^–6 S cm ^−1 . These findings highlight the potential of DGEBA epoxy composites containing PANI and ATH as promising materials for applications requiring fire resistance and electrical conductivity properties.

A glass composition using TeO2-K2TeO3-Nb2O5-BaF2 co-doped with Er2O3/Ho2O3 and Er2O3/Yb2O3 was successfully fabricated. Its thermal stability and physical parameters were studied, and luminescence spectroscopy of the fabricated glasses was conducted. The optical band gap, Eopt, decreased from 2.689 to 2.663 eV following the substitution of Ho2O3 with Yb2O3. The values of the refractive index, third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ(3)), and nonlinear refractive index (n2) of the fabricated glasses were estimated. Furthermore, the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ω t   (t = 2 , 4 , 6) , radiative properties such as transition probabilities (Aed), magnetic dipole-type transition probabilities (Amd), branching ratios (β), and radiative lifetime (τ) of the fabricated glasses were evaluated. The emission cross-section and FWHM of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition around 1.54 μm of the glass were reported, and the emission intensity of the visible signal was studied under 980 nm laser excitation. The material might be a useful candidate for solid lasers and nonlinear amplifier devices, especially in the communications bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and the cost of equity capital (CoEC). It also reveals the moderating role of managerial ability (MA) in the relationship between EPU and CoEC in Saudi Arabia. The study sample consists of listed non-financial firms in Tadawul from 2008 to 2019. We analyzed data using STATA, depending on Pearson correlation analysis, two independent sample t-tests, OLS regression, and OLS with robust standard errors clustered by firm. Our study shows a positive effect of EPU on the CoEC. In addition, the results confirm that MA mitigates the positive effect of EPU on the CoEC. This is the first research to investigate the influence of the relationship between EPU on CoEC in Saudi Arabia, one of the largest emerging economies in the Middle East and Gulf countries. Our findings motivate decision-makers to strengthen their MA and establish a safe and stable investment environment to ensure better financing and investment decisions during uncertain times. Lending agencies, investors, and other stakeholders should consider the MA of corporations when making investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SGG 5) concerned with gender equality, this study examines the relationship between Board Gender Diversity (BGD) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) performance. In addition, it investigates the moderating role of governmental ownership concerning this relation by focusing on an emerging market. A sample of 71 Egyptian-listed companies on EGX100 during 2014–2019 has been examined. Both univariate and multivariate analyses are conducted to examine the relationship between BGD and ESG performance and the effect of governmental ownership on this relationship using OLS, 2SLS, and Logistic regressions. The results revealed a positive relation between BGD and ESG performance. In addition, we found that governmental ownership has a moderating effect on the relationship between BGD and ESG performance. This finding indicates that the effect of BGD on ESG performance in emerging markets is conditional on the governmental ownership, which provides a fertile environment for BGD to support ESG issues. The results add to the growing interest regarding the implications of BGD and governmental ownership for ESG performance in emerging economies. This study has significant implications for regulatory bodies, firms, and investors in emerging markets such as Egypt. It ensures that board gender diversity can enhance ESG performance in the case of governmental ownership. In addition, it highlighted the value of enforceable regulations on overseeing private firms' ESG performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal and optical properties of 60TeO2-20K2TeO3-10WO3-10Nb2O5 (in mol%) glasses doped with Ho2O3, Er2O3, and Tm2O3 were explored in the present work. The thermal stability, refractive index n, extinction coefficient k, absorption coefficient α, and optical band gap of the glasses were evaluated. The UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectra, the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameter, the spectroscopic quality factor, and the emission and absorption cross-sections were calculated to investigate the effects of Er3+ and Tm3+, respectively, on the band spectroscopic properties of Ho3+ ions. The results showed that the maximum emission cross-section was approximately 8 × 10 − 21   c m 2 , and the values of the full width at half maximum ( F W H M) , quality factor ( σ e × F W H M) , and gain coefficient of Ho3+: 5I7 → 5I8 were also reported. The value of the F W H M × σ e was 1200 × 10 − 28   c m 3 , which showed greater gain characteristics than earlier study results. For 2   μ m mid-infrared solid-state lasers, the glasses that were examined might be a good host material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), particularly at nano level, leads to several benefits, such as the reduced permeability of concrete matrix, which consequently leads to having more durable and sustainable concrete. The dataset presented in the current paper was collected from two series of experiments. The natural pozzolana used in making concrete mixtures is of volcanic origin; i.e. volcanic scoria. The first series was conducted to test nano natural pozzolana-based concrete specimens on water penetration, while the second one was carried out to investigate the chloride ion penetrability of the latter specimens. Concrete specimens were prepared using nano natural pozzolana of two sizes and six replacement levels. Concrete mixes of four water/binder ratios were prepared. All experiments were conducted after five curing times; namely 2, 7, 28, 90 and 180 days. The collected dataset would be beneficial for concrete mix designers, concrete properties analyzers, construction project managers and scientific researchers. An attempt to correlate water permeability with chloride ion penetrability was made.

Studying the effect of small chemical molecules on stem cell characteristics under normoxia and hypoxia conditions is crucial to discovering the best conditions for effective biomedical applications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Quercetin (QC; a flavonoid) in the presence of CoCl 2 as a mimicking hypoxia chemical on the biological features of human telomerase reverse transcription-immortalized mesenchymal stem cell (hTERT-MSC) lines. The effect of CoCl 2 , QC, and their combination on the viability, proliferation, and migration of hTERT-MSCs were evaluated by MTT, Trypan-blue staining and cell counting by hemocytometer, and in vitro wound healing assays, respectively. Moreover, the effect of treatments on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell cycle, and HIF1a, c-MET, H19, and CASP3 gene expression was assessed by NBT, PI-staining and flow-cytometry, and real-time PCR assays, respectively. We found that CoCl 2 and QC have different effects on the viability, proliferation, and migration of hTERT-MSCs in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CoCl 2 and QC affect ROS levels in cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. While CoCl 2 up-regulated HIF1a, QC and CoCl 2 down-regulated CASP3 and c-MET in hTERT-MSCs. Moreover, QC reduced HIF1a and lncRNA-H19 expression in cells. Furthermore, in the presence of CoCl 2 , QC at low concentrations reduced hTERT-MSC survival, proliferation, and migration at 48 h; however, at high concentrations, it induced cell survival and proliferation. The combination treatment also up-regulated ROS levels and down-regulated the investigated genes in cells. Altogether, we conclude that QC at high concentrations under CoCl 2 -mediated hypoxia and short exposure time induces hTERT-MSCs survival and proliferation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The current study evaluated the influence of the treatment with tea tree oil and cefepime on morpho- genetic, histo-immunohistochemical, and biochemical assessments in rats experimentally challenged with Escherichia coli ATCC 4157™. Thirty adult male rats were divided into control, E. coli infected positive group (1×108CFU/I/P/once), E. coli with cefepime-supplemented group (45 mg/kg bw/I/M/day), E. coli with tea tree oil treated group (1.5 ml/per os/day), and the E. coli-challenged group that received a combination of tea tree oil and cefepime. E. coli infection induced morphological changes in color and texture of both liver and kidney. The transcription levels of the PHLPP2 and Nrf2 genes were noticeably lowered in all treated groups related to the E. coli group. Regarding the TLR4 expression, it was clearly up-regulated in the E. coli group in comparison to other groups, while CD14 gene decreased clearly in all treated groups compared to the positive group. The findings revealed that RBC, HGB, and PCV were clearly higher in the positive group compared to all treated groups. AST, ALT, and ALP, total bilirubin and its fractions, urea, and creatinine maximized in the positive group and decreased by the treatment, especially in the E+CF+oil treated group. Regarding the redox balance, MDA levels of MDA were notably reduced in the E+CF+oil treated group compared to the positive and the other treated groups. GSH, SOD, and GPX were significantly induced in the E. coil-treated group and decreased significantly with treatment. Overall, cefepime is highly safe especially when dually supplied with tea tree oil for mitigating E. coli adverse impact., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There is no conflict of interest in the current research work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Amperometry is a commonly used electrochemical method for studying the process of exocytosis in real-time. Given the high precision of recording that amperometry procedures offer, the volume of data generated can span over several hundreds of megabytes to a few gigabytes and therefore necessitates systematic and reproducible methods for analysis. Though the spike characteristics of amperometry traces in the time domain hold information about the dynamics of exocytosis, these biochemical signals are, more often than not, characterized by time-varying signal properties. Such signals with time-variant properties may occur at different frequencies and therefore analyzing them in the frequency domain may provide statistical validation for observations already established in the time domain. This necessitates the use of time-variant, frequency-selective signal processing methods as well, which can adeptly quantify the dominant or mean frequencies in the signal. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a well-established computational tool that is commonly used to find the frequency components of a signal buried in noise. In this work, we outline a method for spike-based frequency analysis of amperometry traces using FFT that also provides statistical validation of observations on spike characteristics in the time domain. We demonstrate the method by utilizing simulated signals and by subsequently testing it on diverse amperometry datasets generated from different experiments with various chemical stimulations. To our knowledge, this is the first fully automated open-source tool available dedicated to the analysis of spikes extracted from amperometry signals in the frequency domain., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors, but it's uncommon in the pediatric and adolescent populations. Pediatric meningiomas differ from adult meningiomas by a higher rate of malignant change, atypical location, male predominance and a higher recurrence rate. The most common presenting symptoms in supratentorial pediatric meningiomas are the signs and symptoms of high intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting, and nausea) and seizures. The most common presenting symptoms in infratentorial pediatric meningiomas are signs of cranial nerve deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is the gold standard modality for diagnosis. The mainstay of management is surgical resection with the aim of gross total resection, as it is the strongest independent prognostic factor. In this report, we describe an extremely rare case of gradual onset, progressive motor developmental delay in a 21-month-old girl with a huge right frontotemporal meningioma that was treated with surgical resection that, to the best of our knowledge, is the youngest in the literature., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Hafiz et al.)

This study examines the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on auditor choice and audit opinion for Egyptian-listed firms. We use univariate and multivariate analyses of 612 firm-year observations for a sample of 68 firms listed on EGX100 over 2014–2022 using binary logistic regression models. Consistent with the ethical perspective of corporate social responsibility, we found that firms listed in the ESG index are more likely to assign one of the Big4 auditors, and less likely to receive a qualified opinion. Through an additional analysis, we found that COVID-19 moderates the relationship between ESG performance, auditor choice, and audit opinion. Our results confirm the value of ESG performance for audit practices in emerging economies. This research indicates that ESG performance can enhance financial reporting quality. Further, it ensures that binding guidelines and regulations are crucial to oversee corporate ESG performance, especially during crisis times, and enhance investors' protection and firms' sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine cells in the fundic stomach of Clarias gariepinus were characterized in this work using transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and histochemistry. Performic acid mixed with alcian blue pH2.5 and silver stain were among the histochemical stains used for endocrine cells. Endocrine cells can be found in the epithelium, lamina propria, submucosa, muscular layer, serosa, and the area between the stomach glands. Endocrine cells with one or more nuclei were found. Endocrine cells were studied using CD3, CD21, and CD68 in an immunohistochemistry analysis. The expression of the lymphocyte marker CD3 by endocrine cells is remarkable. In addition, they had a strong immunological response to CD21 and CD68, which are characteristics of phagocytic cells. Granules of varied sizes and electron densities are packed densely into the cytoplasm of the cells, as seen by transmission electron microscopy. We propose that endocrine cells play a crucial role in immune defense. The role of endocrine cells in the gut's immune system is an area that needs further investigation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Programmed death-1 (PD1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) have a vital role in immune checkpoint pathways. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PD1 and CTLA4 have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases and cancers. The potential association between SNPs in these immune checkpoint genes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) still unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of PD1 and CTLA4 SNPs on the risk of developing ALL and the prognosis of the disease. The study was performed on 100 pediatric B-ALL patients and 100 controls. The PD1 and CTLA4 SNPs were examined by RFLP technique. The study revealed that CTLA4 (rs11571316) was associated with high risk of B-ALL developments OR 1.492 (CI: 1157 to 1924) ( P =0.002). PD1 (rs36084323) GA genotype was significantly associated with protective effect against nonremission ( P =0.007). PD1 (rs36084323) A allele were associated with protective effect against relapse ( P =0.008). CTLA4 and PD1 genotypes did not have significant impact on B-ALL patients outcome. The current study displayed for the first time that genetic variations of the CTLA-4, was associated with susceptibility to B-ALL and that PD1 (rs36084323) GA genotype was significantly associated with protective effect against nonremission, while PD1 (rs36084323) A allele was associated with protective effect against relapse., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hemangiomas are considered slow growing benign neoplasms. Primary thyroid hemangiomas are uncommon and may pose difficulty in diagnosis due to absence of distinctive imaging characteristics and related clinical symptoms. It is crucial to precisely identify these lesions to aid in implementing nonsurgical treatment plans rather than resorting to surgical procedures in certain cases. In this report we present a case of a 76-year-old female who presented with painless, rapid, and sudden notice of right-side neck swelling over a 1-day duration. Her radiological examinations raised the concern of a vascular lesion that was emoblized endovascularly. Then, it was surgically removed, which was eventually determined to be primary thyroid hemangioma. In addition, we present a literature review of previously published cases and discuss tumor pathophysiology, clinical presentations, radiology features, and differential diagnosis., Competing Interests: None declared., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2024.)

The goal of the current paper is to study the effect of natural pozzolana (NP) when ground to a micro and nano size on some concrete properties. Syria is rich in natural pozzolana with an estimated quantity of nearly 1 billion tonnes. Four properties, namely compressive strength, chloride permeability, chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion and acid attack on mortar, have been investigated. Six levels of micro-NP (from 0% to 50%), and nano-NP (from 0% to 5%) were added as cement replacement to produce the studied concrete/mortar mixtures. The results revealed that grinding NP to extremely fine particles has positive effects. The shortcoming related to the lower early compressive strength can be eliminated. Further, much lower chloride permeability and longer corrosion initiation times were clearly observed in the concrete containing nano-NP. The best results were obtained when NP was added at 30% or more at micro-scale and at 3–4% at nano scale. Furthermore, acid resistance particularly at the early ages of exposure was noticeably improved with such additives. SEM technique fitted with EDX analysis was employed in the current research to study the microstructure of the cement paste after being exposed to acid solutions. XRD and TGA techniques were used as well.

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of adding thermally treated clay on some engineering properties of the untreated expansive clayey soil. Three expansive clayey soil samples obtained from three different sites in the south of Syria have been investigated. They were thermally treated up to three different levels (450°C, 650°C and 850°C) for 3 hours. Three replacement levels of thermally treated clay were used, i.e. 0%, 10% and 20%. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) technique has been used to detect the crystalline and glassy phase in the clayey samples before and after the thermal treatment. Pozzolanic activity of the thermally treated clayey soil has been studied using the modified Chapelle test and the mechanical strength test at each of the temperature levels. Atterberg limits, compaction, free swell, swelling pressure and linear shrinkage have particularly been investigated. Test results revealed the positive effect of thermally treated clay when added to the natural soil. Plasticity index (PI) was reduced by about 60% when 20% thermally treated clay was added to the natural soil. In addition, 6% lime was added to further investigate the combined effect of lime and calcined clay on the properties of the clayey expansive soil. All investigated properties were significantly improved when 20% thermally treated soil and 6% lime were added together. For instance, swelling pressure and linear shrinkage values were reduced to less than 15% or even much less when compared with those of the natural soil. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were employed as well.

Background: Dromedaries' normal heart architecture and size have not been adequately examined utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and topographic anatomy., Result: we aimed to investigate the regular appearance of the heart and its dimensions, using MRI and cross-sectional anatomy, in mature Arabian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). We also analyzed hematological and cardiac biochemical markers. MRI scans were conducted on twelve camel heart cadavers using a closed 1.5-Tesla magnet with fast spin echo (FSE) weighted sequences. Subsequently, the hearts were cross-sectionally sliced. Additionally, hematobiochemical studies were conducted on ten mature live camels. The study analyzed standard cardiac dimensions including HL, BW, RA, LA, RV, LV, IVS, LAD, RAD, RVD, AoD, TCVD, and MVD. The results showed a strong positive correlation between the cardiac dimensions obtained from both gross analysis and MR images, with no significant difference between them. On both gross and MRI images, the usual structures of the heart were identified and labeled. Along with the cardiac markers (creatine kinase and troponin), the average hematological values and standard biochemical parameters were also described., Conclusion: According to what we know, this investigation demonstrates, for the first time the typical heart structures and dimensions of the heart in dromedaries, and it could serve as a basis for diagnosing cardiac disorders in these animals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Deregulation of immune checkpoint is an important point in cancer evolution as well as patients outcome. T-cells is an important arm in immunity against cancer. This study aimed to assess CTLA4/LAG3 expression on different T-cell subsets and its effect on disease outcome., Methods: This study included 81 newly diagnosed Egyptian adult AML patients. For each one of the patients CTLA4/ LAG3 expression on T-cell subsets was identified by flowcytometry before start of induction chemotherapy., Results: Total CD3 count in AML patients was lower than control. LAG3 expression were significantly higher in total CD3, T-cell subsets (CD4, CD8) as compared to healthy control. Moreover, co-expression of LAG3/CTLA4 on T-cell subsets were significantly higher in AML as compared to healthy control . NPM-/ FLT3+ was significantly associated with high LAG3 expression in T-cells subsets as compared to other molecular subtypes. Shorter OS, DFS were significantly associated with higher expression of LAG3 on T-cells subsets as compared to patients harbor low expression. COX regression analysis revealed that high expression of CD3/LAG3, CD4/LAG3, CD8/LAG4, CD3/CTLA4/LAG3 were considered a poor prognostic risk factor., Conclusion: High LAG3/CTLA4 expression could predict AML Patients' outcome Conclusion: Our findings indicated that high expression of LAG3/CTL4 on T cells subsets identify a subgroup of AML patients with poor prognosis.

Genome size is one of the fundamental cytogenetic features of a species, which is critical for the design and initiation of any genome sequencing projects and can provide essential insights in studying taxonomy, cytogenetics, phylogenesis, and evolutionary studies. However, this key cytogenetic information is almost lacking in the endemic species Reseda pentagyna and the locally rare species Reseda lutea in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, genome size was analyzed by propidium iodide PI flow cytometry and compared to k-mer analysis methods. The standard method for genome size measures (flow cytometry) estimated the genome size of R. lutea and R. pentagyna with nuclei isolation MB01 buffer were found to be 1.91 ± 0.02 and 2.09 ± 0.03 pg/2 °C, respectively, which corresponded approximately to a haploid genome size of 934 and 1.022 Mbp, respectively. For validation, K-mer analysis was performed on both species’ Illumina paired-end sequencing data from both species. Five k-mer analysis approaches were examined for biocomputational estimation of genome size: A general formula and four well-known programs (CovEST, Kmergenie, FindGSE, and GenomeScope). The parameter preferences had a significant impact on GenomeScope and Kmergenie estimates. While the general formula estimations did not differ considerably, with an average genome size of 867.7 and 896. Mbp. The differences across flow cytometry and biocomputational predictions may be due to the high repeat content, particularly long repetitive regions in both genomes, 71% and 57%, which interfered with k-mer analysis. GenomeScope allowed quantification of high heterozygosity levels (1.04 and 1.37%) of R. lutea and R. pentagyna genomes, respectively. Based on our observations, R. lutea may have a tetraploid genome or higher. Our results revealed fundamental cytogenetic information for R. lutea and R. pentagyna, which should be used in future taxonomic studies and whole-genome sequencing.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of volcanic scoria (VS) when added at micro or nano level on some concrete properties. Syria is rich in volcanic scoria with estimated reserves of nearly 1 billion tonnes. Three concrete properties, namely compressive strength, porosity and sulfate resistance, have been examined. Six percentages of micro-VS ranging from 0% to 50%, and nano-VS ranging from 0% to 5% have been used in making the investigated concretes. Test results revealed that the low early compressive strength of micro-VS-based concretes could be overcome by grinding VS to a nano size. In addition, significantly improved durability properties were obtained when VS was used either at micro or nano level. Much lower porosity and expansion values were clearly noted in the VS-based concretes. The efficiency factor (k) using the Bolomey equation and the durability indicator were evaluated to compare the behaviour of the VS-containing concrete with the reference concrete. The efficiency factor decreased with the increase of micro-VS/binder ratio and increased with the increase of nano-VS/binder. The calculated durability indicators showed that micro-VS content of 30% and nano-VS contents of 3 and 4% had approximately the highest indicator values. The replacement level of 30% at micro level and (3 & 4)% at nano level met k value of about 0.44 and 6, respectively, which would be useful for the designers of concrete mix. Based on the analyzed data, some relationships among the investigated properties were extracted. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique and thermal gravity analysis (TGA) were employed in the current study to observe the resulting modifications in the microstructure of some VS-containing pastes. Large crystals of ettringite were observed in the pastes containing VS0 versus much smaller ones in the 3% nano-VS containing paste, after 52 weeks of exposure to 5% Na2SO4. Keywords: Volcanic scoria, Nanopozzolan, Compressive strength, Concrete durability, Sulfate attack, Efficiency factor

The role of social media as a marketing platform has become increasingly important as the number of retailers targeting young adults through social networking sites (snss) has grown, making these platforms central to their marketing strategies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted utilizing a self-administered questionnaire for testing the hypothesized research model. The sample group for the research comprised of 370 undergraduate and graduate students selected from four malaysian universities through cluster sampling. The results revealed that consumer intention was positively affected by utilitarian motivation, hedonic motivation, habit, and trust in snss. Multi-group analysis on the effect of usage habit as a moderating variable on the relationships between selected factors and the intention to purchase through snss revealed moderating effects of usage habit impacting relationships between utilitarian motivation and purchase intention (low habit usage β = .265) as compared to high habit usage of (β = .052). The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are offered, suggesting that marketing and online advertising strategists should be aware of the behaviour of online shoppers when planning online marketing campaigns for snss.

The enhancement of electrode materials' properties for improving mercantile supercapacitors' performances is a remarkable research area. Throughout recent years, a significant amount of research has been devoted to improving the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors via the improvement of novel electrode materials. The nanocomposite structure provides a greater specific surface area (SSA) and lower ion/electron diffusion tracks, consequently enhancing supercapacitors' energy density and specific capacitance. These significant properties offer a wide range of potential for the electrode materials to be applied in diverse applications. For instance, their applications are in portable electronic systems such as all-solid-state supercapacitors, flexible/transparent supercapacitors and hybrid supercapacitors. The authors of this paper introduced a multi-criteria model to assess the priority of nanostructured electrode materials (NEMs) for high-performance supercapacitors (HPSCs). This work combines Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) methods. Herein, the rough concept addresses the uncertainties resulting from the group decision-making process and the vague values of the properties of the NEMs. The modified R-AHP method was employed to find the criteria weights based on the multi-experts' opinions. The results reveal that specific capacitance (SC) and energy density (ED) are the most important criteria. R-AHP was integrated with R-EDAS and R-GRA models to evaluate the fourteen NEMs. The results of the R-EDAS method were compared with those provided by the R-GRA method. The results of the proposed integrated approach confirmed that it results in reliable and reputable ranks that will provide a framework for further applications and help physicists find optimal materials by evaluating various alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of using natural pozzolan as cement replacement are often associated with shortcomings such as the need to moist-curing for longer time and a reduction of strength at early ages. The objective of the study is to investigate the influence of binder fineness on the mechanical strength development of scoria-based binder mortars. In the study, mortar specimens have been produced with four types of binder: one plain Portland cement (control) and three scoria-based binders with three replacement levels: 25%, 30% and 35%, respectively. All scoria-based binders have been inter-ground into four different Blaine fineness: 2400, 3200, 4200 and 5100 cm2/g. The development of the compressive and flexural tensile strength of all mortar specimens with curing time has been investigated. The effects of the Blaine fineness of the scoria-based blended cement on the compressive and flexural strengths of mortar have been evaluated at curing ages of 2, 7, 28 and 90 days, respectively. Particle size distribution measured by a laser diffractometer has been considered in the study. Test results revealed that there is a decrease in strength with increasing amounts of scoria. In addition, there was found an increase in strength with increasing the Blaine fineness values. No direct relationship between Blaine and particle size distribution was observed. Effects of Blaine fineness on some physical properties of blended cements such as water demand, setting times and soundness have also been investigated. Further, an estimation equation for strength development incorporating the effects of fineness measured either by Blaine or by particle size distribution has been derived by the authors.

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a recurrent middle ear inflammatory condition. It may be complicated by acquired hearing loss and speech impairment especially in children. Accordingly, the current study aimed to assess the role of cytokines and the imbalance of Th17/Tregs in the pathogenesis of OME. Additionally, the protective effect of astaxanthin and its mechanisms related to Notch1/ Hes1/mTORC1/S6K1 signalling were investigated., Methods: Forty-eight children were grouped as follow: G1: control healthy group G2: acute otitis media (AOM) group, G3: OME group. In the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced OME rat model, 15 rats were randomised into: G1: normal control group, G2: LPS group, and G3: astaxanthin treated group., Results: Biochemical analysis of the children's peripheral blood samples showed that IL1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23 were significantly elevated, while TGF-β was significantly decreased in AOM and OME patients (group 2 and 3). In the LPS- induced OME rat model, astaxanthin treatment resulted in suppression of IL-17, IL-6, TNF-α, Muc5A, TFF3, NICD, Hes1, mTORC1, and S6K1 in rat middle ear mucosa. Furthermore, astaxanthin significantly downregulated RORγ while upregulating FoxP3 and restored the balance between Th17/Tregs. Moreover, astaxanthin improved the histopathological picture of the inflamed middle ear mucosa., Conclusions: Proinflammatory cytokines as well as Th17/Tregs imbalance play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AOM and OME. Additionally, astaxanthin alleviated LPS- induced OME in rats through suppression of Notch1/ Hes1/mTORC1/S6K1 pathway, and regulation of Th17/Tregs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)