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Simple Summary: In real-life applications, lenvatinib has been found to have a better tumor response than sorafenib in patients with HBV-related HCC, showing that treatment with lenvatinib may be useful in individuals with HBV infections. However, in this study, we show that HBV confers resistance to lenvatinib at an even deeper level than its resistance to sorafenib. It is highly likely that the mechanisms of resistance to these two medications are distinct. Our findings may explain why lenvatinib and sorafenib have had equal effects on overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with HBV-related HCC, despite the apparent potential benefit of sorafenib. However, additional research is required to identify the processes that drive this resistance and to develop more effective therapies for HBV-associated HCC. These findings highlight the need for tailored therapeutic strategies to overcome HBV-induced resistance in HCC treatment. Background/Objectives: Sorafenib and lenvatinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. This study investigates how hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects their efficacy in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Methods: HepG2 and HBV-infected HepG2/2215 cells were treated with varying concentrations of both drugs. The cell viability, cell cycle gene expression, cycle progression, and phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT were analyzed. Results: The HBV-infected cells showed significant alterations in their cell cycle gene expressions, with an 80-fold increase in CCND2 expression and a higher proportion of cells in the G2/M phase, indicating enhanced proliferation. While both drugs decreased HepG2 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, HBV infection conferred resistance, as evidenced by the increased viable cells in the HepG2/2215 cultures. Sorafenib and lenvatinib decreased key cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase expressions in uninfected cells, with less effect on the HBV-infected cells. Both drugs lowered the pERK and pAKT levels in the HepG2 cells. In the HBV-infected cells, sorafenib reduced the pERK and pAKT levels to a lesser extent. However, treatment with lenvatinib elevated the levels of pERK and pAKT. Conclusions: In conclusion, HBV infection increases resistance to both sorafenib and lenvatinib in hepatoma cells by influencing the cell cycle regulatory genes and critical signaling pathways. However, the resistance mechanisms likely differ between the two medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adhesive capsulitis (AC), also referred to as frozen shoulder, represents a prevalent condition, characterized by discomfort and a gradual restriction of both active and passive shoulder movements. Aim of the work: This work aimed at assessing the efficacy and functional outcome of US-guided corticosteroid injection and US-guided hydro-dilatation among cases developing AC of the shoulder. Patients and methods: Our team conducted a randomized study that included 60 patients of both sexes, with AC of the shoulder. The selected participants underwent a random categorization equally into two groups. Group 1 administered intra-articular injections under ultrasound guidance with a single injection of 40 mg in 1ml of triamcinolone acetate mixed with 2 ml of 2% lignocaine under strict aseptic condition. Group 2 administered intra-articular injections of a mixture of 20 ml of normal saline with 5 ml of lignocaine guided by the US after all sterile precautions were secured. Results: A significant recovery was noted in both groups after 2 and 6 weeks follow up as regards VAS, SPADI score and both active and passive shoulder range of movements with more improvement in the hydro-dilatation group. Additionally, there was a significant difference according to ultrasound findings between before and after treatment in each group. Conclusions: Both methods could be safely utilized as a first-line of intervention for AC treatment focusing on both pain relief and restoring shoulder range of motion. Hydrodilatation can be employed as an efficacious alternative if corticosteroid is discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study exploited cheese whey supernatant (CWS) as a renewable resource for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) formation. Structure identification and investigating the influence of lipid membranes' chemistry on PHA structuration were detailed. Approximately 66 bacterial isolates from dairy products companies in Egypt were screened for PHA production, and the bacterial isolate AZU‐A5, identified as Bacillus licheniformis strain AZU‐A5, showed the highest production PHA 0.93 g L−1) using whey lactose. The highest PHA rate in the individual design was 1.59 g L−1 with a recovery yield of 33.08% (w w−1), while the production rate in the statistical design reached 1.75 g L−1 PHA and 51.60% PHA content. Structurally, the PHA was identified as polyhydroxy‐3R‐butyrate (R‐PH3B). The fibrous texture by SEM highlighted the self‐assembly of PHB. The CD analysis of the PHA films suggested favorable hydrophobic interactions between lipids and PHB. Higher lipid contents not only caused a decrement in the CD signal of PHB but also bathochromic effects occurred. The chain length of lipids exerted high impacts on interactions (CD) and structuration of PHB (Δλ). The unsaturation showed little influence on CD and negligible effect on Δλ, while the head group exerted no effect on CD with a considerable impact on Δλ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the presence of positive solutions for system of fractional q-differential inclusions involving sequential derivatives with respect to the p-Laplacian operator. By using fixed point technique we obtain a new solution for inclusion or boundary value problems with special integral and derivative conditions. At the end, we give an example to show the effect of the solution of this device. The conclusion is expressed to introduce future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nearly 30 years since its inception, the early warning scores (EWSs) remain pivotal, yet variations have emerged for hospital and prehospital use. Aggregated scores, reflecting multiple physiological parameters, outperform single‐parameter systems in assessing acute illness severity, though consensus on optimal approaches is lacking. Resource‐limited countries, including Angola, lack adapted EWSs, emphasizing the need for cost‐effective and adaptable solutions to enhance patient care. Objective: To explore the perspectives of Angolan experts to identify physiological parameters suitable for incorporation into existing EWSs, allowing the development of a new tool adjusted to the healthcare context in Angola. Methods: We conducted a three‐round Delphi survey, engaging a national expert panel comprising twenty‐five physicians and nurses with expertise in internal medicine, surgery, emergency rooms, intensive care units, and/or teachers at universities or at teaching courses in these fields. Participants were asked to rate items using a five‐point Likert scale. Consensus was achieved if the items received a rating ≥ 80% from the panel. Results: Consensus was evident for the inclusion of standard physiological parameters, such as systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, neurological status, and the presence or absence of supplemental oxygen. Furthermore, there was consensus for the consideration of specific items, namely, seizures, jaundice, cyanosis, capillary refill time, and pain—typically not included in the current EWSs. Consensus was reached regarding the exclusion of both oxygen saturation and temperature measurements in healthcare settings where oximeters and thermometers might not be readily available. Conclusion: Angolan experts were able to identify the physiological parameters suitable for incorporation into the basic EWSs. Further study must be conducted to test and validate the impact of the newly suggested vital parameters on the discriminant and predictive capability of a new aggregated model specifically adjusted to the Angolan healthcare setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study a generalized Riemann–Liouville fractional differential equation and system with nonlocal boundary conditions. Firstly, some properties of the Green function are presented and then Lyapunov-type inequalities for a sequential ψ-Riemann–Liouville fractional boundary value problem are established. Also, the existence and uniqueness of solutions are proved by using Banach and Schauder fixed-point theorems. Furthermore, the existence and uniqueness of solutions to a sequential nonlinear differential system is established by means of Schauder's and Perov's fixed-point theorems. Examples are given to validate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There have been numerous studies that showed the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in breast cancer; nonetheless, there is ongoing debate regarding their association. Given few studies in Ethiopia, we aimed to investigate the magnitude of HPV infection in Ethiopian breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 120 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks were obtained, and basic demographic, clinical, and histological data were collected from medical records. DNA was extracted from archived FFPE breast tissue specimens using GeneRead DNA FFPE Kit. The AnyplexTM II HPV28 Detection Kit (Seegene, Korea) was used to detect HPV by following the manufacturer's instructions. The SPSS Version 25 was used to enter and analyze data. Results: Among the 120 study participants; HPV (both high-risk and low-risk) was detected in 20.6% of breast cancer and 29.6% of non-malignant breast tumors. The most common genotype was the high-risk HPV 16 genotype. The frequency of HPV was nearly 10-fold higher in estrogen receptor-positive than ER-negative breast cancer. The percentage of HPV in the luminal (luminal A and luminal B) breast cancer subtypes was also much higher than in the non-luminal subtypes (HER-2 enriched and triple-negative breast cancer). Conclusion: This study did not find a significant difference in HPV expression between breast cancer and non-malignant breast tumors; however, the higher percentage of HPV in ER-positive compared to ER-negative breast cancer warrants further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by applying fractional quantum calculus, we study a nonlinear Duffing-type equation with three sequential fractional q-derivatives. We prove the existence and uniqueness results by using standard fixed-point theorems (Banach and Schaefer fixed-point theorems). We also discuss the Ulam–Hyers and the Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stabilities of the mentioned Duffing problem. Finally, we present an illustrative example and nice application; a Duffing-type oscillator equation with regard to our outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pathophysiological role in cancer initiation and progression. Numerous studies have examined an association between MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-11 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer (BC); however, no research has been done on the MMP expression levels in BC cases from Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A total of 58 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples encompassing 16 benign breast tumors and 42 BC were collected. The RNA was extracted and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR was performed. GraphPad Prism version 8.0.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The MMP-11 expression levels were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than in benign breast tumors (P = 0.012). Additionally, BC cases with positive lymph nodes and ER-positive receptors had higher MMP-11, MMP-9, and MMP-2 expression than cases with negative lymph nodes and ER-negative, respectively. The MMP-11 and MMP-9 expressions were higher in grade III and luminal A-like tumors than in grade I-II and other subtypes, respectively. Conclusion: The MMP-11 expression was higher in BC than in benign breast tumors. Additionally, MMP-11, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were higher in BC with positive lymph nodes and estrogen receptors. Our findings suggest an important impact of MMPs in BC pathophysiology, particularly MMP-11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to design a novel direction–oriented approach for estimating shear wave velocity (VS) through geostatistical methods (GM) using density employing geophysical log data. The research area involves three hydrocarbon wells drilled in carbonate reservoirs that are comprised of oil and water. Firstly, VS was estimated using the four selected empirical rock physics relationships (ERR) in well A (target well), and then all results were evaluated by ten statistical benchmarks. All results show that the best ERR is Greenberg and Castagna, with R2 = 0.8104 and Correlation = 0.90, while Gardner's equation obtained the poorest results with R2 = 0.6766 and correlation = 0.82. Next, Gardner's method was improved through GM by employing Ordinary Kriging (OKr) in two directions in well A, and then Cross-Validation and Jack-knife methods (JKm and CVm, respectively) were used to assess OKr's performance and efficiency. Initially, CVm and JKm were employed to estimate Vs using the available density and its relationship with shear wave velocity, where the performance of CVm was better with R2 = 0.8865 and correlation = 0.94. In this step, some points from the original VS were used to train the data. Finally, Vs was estimated through JKm and using the relationship between the shear wave velocity of two wells near the target well, including wells B and C; however, in this step, the original shear wave velocity of the target well was completely ignored. Reading the results, JKm could show excellent performance with R2 = 0.8503 and Corr = 0.922. In contrast to previous studies that used only Correlation and R-squared (R2), this study further provides accurate results by employing a wide range of statistical benchmarks to investigate all results. In contrast to traditional empirical rock physics relationships, the developed direction-oriented technique demonstrated improved predicted accuracy and robustness in the investigated carbonate field. This work demonstrates that GM can effectively estimate Vs and has a significant potential to enhance VS estimation using density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we presented a new differential operator to solve singular initial value problems of higher order differential equations by utilizing Adomian decomposition method (ADM). The suggested approach is applicable to linear as well as non linear problems. Some exampls are used in testing and the obtained results demonstrate that the suggested strategy is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pathophysiological role in cancer initiation and progression. Numerous studies have examined an association between MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-11 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer (BC); however, no research has been done on the MMP expression levels in BC cases from Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A total of 58 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples encompassing 16 benign breast tumors and 42 BC were collected. The RNA was extracted and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR was performed. GraphPad Prism version 8.0.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The MMP-11 expression levels were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than in benign breast tumors (P = 0.012). Additionally, BC cases with positive lymph nodes and ER-positive receptors had higher MMP-11, MMP-9, and MMP-2 expression than cases with negative lymph nodes and ER-negative, respectively. The MMP-11 and MMP-9 expressions were higher in grade III and luminal A-like tumors than in grade I-II and other subtypes, respectively. Conclusion: The MMP-11 expression was higher in BC than in benign breast tumors. Additionally, MMP-11, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were higher in BC with positive lymph nodes and estrogen receptors. Our findings suggest an important impact of MMPs in BC pathophysiology, particularly MMP-11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock physics templates (RPT) and modeling contribute significantly to accurately and fast characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study strives to characterize lithology and pore fluid saturation for a carbonate reservoir in southwest Iran using RPT by well-logging data in a zone with a thickness of almost 100 m. To discriminate lithology, Greenberg–Castagna and Gardner models were applied. Also, velocity ratio—Gamma-ray (GR) and density—GR templates were implemented to investigate more. Results show that the researched zone's lithology consists of a considerable amount of limestone, followed by dolomite, and a small amount of shale, without sandstone, which matches excellently with the lithology column and geophysical logs. For fluid discrimination, two different rock physical directions were impalement. Firstly, the rock physics model of the study area was built through Xu and Payne's model. Then, velocity ratio—acoustic impedance template (VP/VS–AI) was applied to modeled data scaled with resistivity and porosity and then successfully validated with oil and water saturation. Findings show that PRT organizes data concerning similar features (here, aspect ratio), causing easy, fast, and more accurate analysis, and fluid content in the study includes oil and water, which the figure for oil is much more. In different oil and water saturation, non-modeled data were investigated through VP/VS − VS, VS − VP, and shear impudence (SI)—AI template supported by pore-pressure (PP) information to further research fluid distribution and its effect in the second direction. Regarding the rock physical analysis, the main reason for the decrease in seismic velocities and impedances is high pore pressure due to high oil saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is a global public health problem. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the economy of developing countries, including Ethiopia.This study aimed to determine the hospitalisation costs of Covid-19 and the factors associated with the high cost of hospitalisation in South Central Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cost analysis of Covid-19 patients hospitalised between July 2020 and July 2021 at Bokoji Hospital Covid-19 Treatment Centre was conducted using both the micro-costing and top-down approaches from the health system perspective. This analysis used cost data obtained from administrative reports, the financial reports of the treatment centre, procurement invoices and the Covid-19 standard treatment guidelines. The Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to test the difference between sociodemographic and clinical factors when appropriate.To identify the determinants of cost drivers in the study population, a generalised linear model with gamma distribution and log link with a stepwise algorithm were used. Results: A total of 692 Covid-19 patients were included in the costing analysis. In this study, the mean cost of Covid-19–infected patients with no symptoms was US$1,073.86, with mild symptoms US$1,100.74, with moderate symptoms US$1,394.74 and in severe–critically ill condition US$1,708.05.The overall mean cost was US$1,382.50(95% CI: 1,360.60–1,404.40) per treated episode.The highest mean cost was observed for personnel, accounting for 64.0% of the overall cost. Older age, pre-existing diseases, advanced disease severity at admission, admission to the intensive care unit, prolonged stay on treatment and intranasal oxygen support were strongly associated with higher costs. Conclusions: This study found that the clinical management of Covid-19 patients incurred significant expenses to the health system. Factors such as older age, disease severity, presence of comorbidities, use of inhalation oxygen therapy and prolonged hospital stay were associated with higher hospitalisation costs.Therefore, the government should give priority to the elderly and those with comorbidities in the provision of vaccination to reduce the financial burden on health facilities and health systems in terms of resource utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a sudden failure of components below the maximum strength of the material when subjected to repeated loading. This paper studies the fatigue behavior of basalt, carbon, and glass fibers/epoxy hybrid composites under three‐point flexural loading and a saltwater environment. Five different composite panels were manufactured using the VARTM. The samples were then immersed in a saltwater solution for 60, 120, and 180 days before conducting the tests. Three‐point static and fatigue tests were conducted using UTM as per ASTM D7264‐07 and ASTM D7774‐12. The S‐N and stiffness degradation curves were plotted, and the morphology of the fatigue samples was investigated using SEM. In addition, the ion penetration in the solution was detected with ICP‐OES analysis. The result shows that bending fatigue properties of all composite samples show a degradation as the immersion period increases. This might be due to micro‐hole formation as the ions move from the sample to the saltwater solution. Highlights: Composite specimens were immersed in a saltwater solution for 2, 4, and 6 months.Three‐point bending fixture is used for fully reversed fatigue loading (T‐C).Percentage degradation of fatigue life and stiffness loss increases with the immersion periodSEM image shows delamination, fiber pullout, debonding, and fiber and matrix breakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study strives to analyze a poroelastic media, including water, oil, and gas, of a carbonate formation in southwest Iran. For this purpose, three data sets comprising geochemical, seismic, and geomechanical information from laboratory tests and well-logging operations were employed. In this research, seismic parameters, including P & S—wave velocity, velocity ratio (VP/VS), acoustic impedance (AI) and shear impedance (SI), were directly measured by well-logging data. Dynamic elastic moduli were calculated using the bulk density and seismic velocities. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) was calculated by empirical relationships and calibrated with a several laboratory tests. Initially, 41 un-contaminated core samples were tested for the Rock–Eval Pyrolysis (REP) chemical experiment. Simultaneous use of logs and chemical analysis identified three zones (A, B, C), including gas, water, and oil, for the evaluations, proving that hydrocarbon in zone C was migrated from other intervals. The results show that water saturation increases compressional wave velocity and decreases shear wave velocity through porous media. Elasticity is conjugately affected by both shear wave and compressional wave velocity. Accordingly, Young's modulus in the hydrocarbon zones increases while it experiences a decreasing trend in the water zone. On the other hand, the results exhibit a reduction in shear modulus in hydrocarbon zones compared with the water zone. In addition, in hydrocarbon zones, the shear impedance increases while the acoustic impedance decreases, in contrast to the water zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many chloroviruses replicate in Chlorella variabilis algal strains that are ex-endosymbionts isolated from the protozoan Paramecium bursaria, including the NC64A and Syngen 2-3 strains. We noticed that indigenous water samples produced a higher number of plaque-forming viruses on C. variabilis Syngen 2-3 lawns than on C. variabilis NC64A lawns. These observed differences led to the discovery of viruses that replicate exclusively in Syngen 2-3 cells, named Only Syngen (OSy) viruses. Here, we demonstrate that OSy viruses initiate infection in the restricted host NC64A by synthesizing some early virus gene products and that approximately 20% of the cells produce a small number of empty virus capsids. However, the infected cells did not produce infectious viruses because the cells were unable to replicate the viral genome. This is interesting because all previous attempts to isolate host cells resistant to chlorovirus infection were due to changes in the host receptor for the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disease, distinguished by demyelination and oligodendropathy in the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment (CI) can impact patients at any stage of MS, including those with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Patients and methods. This is a prospective cross-sectional study which enrolled 60 patients with RRMS. They were subjected to cognitive scale assessment, routine brain MRI study and volumetric assessment of hippocampus. Results. This study found a significant positive correlation between duration of disease and Subjective memory complaints questionnaire (r=0.525, p=0.001). A significant negative correlation existed between disease duration and MMSE score (r=-0.404, p=0.001) and between disease duration and MoCA score (r=-0.310, p=0.016). No significant difference between both groups regarding the relative hippocampal volume. Mean relative right hippocampal volume is 0.0026 for cases versus 0.0027 among control group and mean relative left hippocampal volume is 0.0025 for cases versus 0.0026 among control group. Conclusion. Multiple sclerosis disease duration had an impact on cognitive state. However, hippocampal volume assessment did not predict the cognitive affection in patient with RRMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial pathogens and their virulence factors like biofilms are one of the major factors which influence the disease process and its outcomes. Biofilms are a complex microbial network that is produced by bacteria on any devices and/or biotic surfaces to escape harsh environmental conditions and antimicrobial effects. Due to the natural protective nature of biofilms and the associated multidrug resistance issues, researchers evaluated several natural anti-biofilm agents, including bacteriophages and their derivatives, honey, plant extracts, and surfactants for better destruction of biofilm and planktonic cells. This review discusses some of these natural agents that are being put into practice to prevent biofilm formation. In addition, we highlight bacterial biofilm formation and the mechanism of resistance to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present manuscript, by applying fractional quantum calculus, we study a nonlinear fractional pantograph q-difference equation with nonlocal boundary conditions. We prove the existence and uniqueness results by using the well-known fixed-point theorems of Schaefer and Banach. We also discuss the Ulam–Hyers stability of the mentioned pantograph q-difference problem. Lastly, the paper includes pertinent examples to support our theoretical analysis and justify the validity of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy in women with diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, obstetric complications and neonatal morbidity. The current study was aimed to assess the effect of different types of diabetes mellitus without vascular changes on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: This was a cross sectional study done at Zagazig university hospital and included 50 cases of gestational and pregestational diabetic pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy (28wks to 40wks) attending at Zagazig University hospitals in the period from March until September 2019. Patients divided into 2 groups: Group I: included 25 pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (Type 1and Type 2 DM) without vascular changes, Group II: included 25 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Fasting &2 h postprandial blood glucose level, HbA1c, Complete general and abdominal examination, Obstetric Ultrasonography was done for all patients. Results: There was no statistical significant difference in positive family history of diabetes and previous history of congenital fetal malformation, Intra Uterine Fetal Death and gestational diabetes mellitus between the studied groups. There was no statistical significant difference in gestational age at delivery and mode of delivery between the two groups. Conclusion: We concluded that either diabetes was gestational or pregestational there was no statistical difference between maternal and fetal outcomes. Optimal control of blood glucose resulted in lower neonatal and maternal complications. Further studies on large geographical scale and larger sample size are required to support our conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8-Aryl-7H-acenaphtho[1,2-d] imidazoles were produced by a catalytic process utilizing diethanolamine sulfate-functionalized graphene oxide. The process was implemented using acenaphthoquinone, ammonium acetate, and aromatic aldehydes via a one-pot reaction under solvent-free conditions. The applied catalyst smoothly catalyzed the reactions at high yields. The developed catalyst offered several advantages including carbon structure, eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and ease of handling and storage. The applied procedure also exhibited several priorities over reported ones such as high yield, short reaction time, no-byproducts, environmental compatibility, and simple work-up. Durability and stability of catalyst were also examined in five cycles which showed no significant reduction in the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of composites is critical for various industries, particularly marine. The paper examines the effect of saltwater conditions on the mechanical properties of basalt, carbon, and glass fibers/epoxy hybrid composites. The composite samples were manufactured using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) and then immersed in saltwater solution before tests. The tests were performed using Instron 8801 with 100 kilonewtons (kN) capacity. The environmental effects on the mechanical properties were supported by the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis of the water. The ICP-OES analysis result shows a transfer of ions from the fiber to the saltwater solution. As a result, the mass gain of all the samples increases with the conditioning period, while the tensile and flexural properties show degradation. Moreover, the hybrid composites show a gradual failure mode compared with non-hybrid composites. In addition, the failure modes and morphological analysis of the failed test samples were presented. Delamination, explosive failure, and fiber breakage characterize the tensile failure mode of basalt/epoxy (BE) and its hybrids. However, the glass/epoxy (GE) and carbon/epoxy (CE) show fractures in two or three sections. In addition, compressive failure, tensile failure, shear failures, delamination, and fiber breakage were detected in the flexural samples. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: T cell activation (HLA-DR, CD-38), proliferation (KI-67), and functional (IFN-γ, TNF-α) markers have recently been shown to be useful in predicting and monitoring anti-TB responses in smear positive TB, but previous research did not characterize the activation and proliferation profiles after therapy of smear negative TB. Methodology: In this study, we used polychromatic flow cytometry to assess selected PPD-specific T cell markers using fresh PBMC of smear negative and positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, recruited from health facilities in Addis Ababa. Result: Levels of activation (HLA-DR, CD38) and proliferation (Ki-67) among total unstimulated CD4 T cells decreased significantly after therapy, particularly at month 6. Similarly, levels of PPD-specific T cell activation markers (HLA-DR, CD-38) were significantly lower in smear positive PTB patients following treatment, whereas a consistent decline in these markers was less apparent among smear negative PTB patients at the sixth month. Conclusion: After six months of standard anti-TB therapy, persistent levels of activation of HLA-DR and CD-38 from PPD specific CD4+T cells in this study could indicate that those markers have little value in monitoring and predicting anti-TB treatment response in smear negative pulmonary TB patients in Ethiopian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for several applications. Thus, they have been intensively reported and commercialized by several international companies. However, little is known about the fate and risk of MOFs to living organisms. Here, the toxic effect of two Zinc (Zn)-based MOFs; zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) and leaf-like ZIF (ZIF-L), was tested to investigate the impact of the postmortem period of mice carrions and arthropods which found in decomposing carrions. The data analysis revealed an increase in zinc content over time. Toxicology in forensics studies biological materials for the presence of poisons, such as pharmaceuticals. The toxicology report can provide important details about the types of chemicals present in a person and whether the amount of those substances is in line with a therapeutic dose or exceeds a dangerous level. These findings conclude the possible fate and impact after mortality. This study presents the first study of the toxic effect of ZIFs materials using mice carrions and arthropods (Sarcophaga sp. Larvae) via morphological and microscopic studies compared with control, providing important biological information could aid in the environmental impact of the toxic level of MOF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The pathogenesis of migraine is thought to include activation of the trigeminovascular system. The blink reflex (BR) test is a well-known method of studying the trigeminal system. Objective To look into the differences in BR response in migraine patients using the standard approach and to compare the results with matched control subjects, looking for a possible difference in BR ictally and interictally, and clarify whether migraineurs with aura differ from those without aura. Methods A case-control study of 80 subjects; 40 patients were diagnosed with migraine, with or without aura, and 40 matched healthy volunteers. Disease duration ranges from 2 to 82 months. Both groups were submitted to medical history, clinical neurological examination, and binocular BR study of both eyes. Results BR data were not different between male and female patients. Right cR2 latency and left iR2 were prolonged in the migraineurs group patients. Right iR2 and cR2 latencies recorded interictally were longer than those obtained ictally. No difference was observed between those with and without aura. The pain location side is not associated with the stimulation side. Conclusion Patients suffering from episodic migraine may have altered interneuronal brainstem circuits. BR data would not change whether migraine was with or without aura. Interictal changes in BR suggest trigeminovascular dysfunction in migraineurs patients is not a transient phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent improvements in microbial detection, smear-negative TB remains a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we investigated the potential discriminatory role of polychromatic flow cytometry of M. tuberculosis antigen-specific T cells to discriminate smear-negative TB from health controls with or without latent TB infection, and non-TB respiratory illnesses in an endemic setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted on HIV negative, newly diagnosed smear-positive PTB (n = 34), smear-negative/GeneXpert negative PTB (n = 29) patients, non-TB patients with respiratory illness (n = 33) and apparently healthy latent TB infected (n = 30) or non-infected (n = 23) individuals. The expression of activation (HLA-DR, CD-38), proliferation (Ki-67), and functional (IFN-γ, TNF-α) T-cell markers using polychromatic flow cytometry was defined after stimulation with PPD antigens. Sputum samples were collected and processed from all patients for Mtb detection using a concentrated microscopy, LJ/MGIT culture, and RD9 typing by PCR. Our study showed CD4 T cells specific for PPD co-expressed activation/proliferation markers together with induced cytokines IFN-γ or TNF-α were present at substantially higher levels among patients with smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary TB than among healthy controls and to a lesser extent among patients with non-TB illness. Our study conclude that smear-negative TB can be distinguished from non-TB respiratory illness and healthy controls with a flow cytometric assay for PPD-specific T cells co-expressing activation/proliferation markers and cytokines. Substantially high level of activation markers was observed among smear positive pulmonary TB patients. Flow cytometry could be a potential tool to distinguish smear negative pulmonary TB from healthy control and non TB respiratory illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the inquiry about work, we explore a parametric set-valued optimization problem, where the objective as well as constraint maps are set-valued. A generalization of cone arcwise associated set-valued maps is presented named ρ-cone arcwise connectedness of set-valued maps. We set up adequate Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions for the problem beneath contingent epiderivative and ρ-cone arcwise connectedness presumptions. Assist, Mond–Weir, Wolfe, and blended sorts duality models are examined. We demonstrate the related theorems between the primal and the comparing dual problems beneath the presumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this paper is to develop an accurate combined spectral collocation approach to numerically solve the generalized nonlinear Benjamin–Bona–Mahony–Burgers equation. The first stage is devoted to discretization in time, which is carried out with the aid of the well-known Taylor series expansions. Then the spectral collocation procedure based on the Boubaker polynomials is applied for the resulting discretized spatial operator in each time step. A detailed error analysis of the presented technique is carried out with regard to the space variable. The advantages of the hybrid technique are shown via performing several simulations through four test examples. Comparisons between our numerical results and the outcomes of some existing schemes indicate that the proposed technique is not only simple and easy-to-implement, but also sufficiently accurate using a moderate number of bases and a large time step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy is widely acknowledged as one of the most well-known comorbidities. This study aimed to explore cognitive impairment and to determine the potential clinical, radiological, and quantitative electroencephalography markers for cognitive impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy patients versus extra-temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: Forty-five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and forty-five patients with extra-temporal lobe epilepsy were recruited for an administered digit span test, verbal fluency test, mini-mental state examination, digital symbol test, and Montreal cognitive assessment. Also, they were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging assessment for hippocampal atrophy and a quantitative electroencephalography assessment for electroencephalography markers (median frequency, peak frequency, and the alpha-to-theta ratio). Results: Patients with extra-temporal lobe epilepsy showed non-significant higher epilepsy durations and a higher frequency of seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy patients showed a more statistically significant family history of epilepsy (37.7%), more history of febrile convulsions (13.3%), higher hippocampal atrophy (17.8%), and lower cognitive scales, especially mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment; lower digital symbol test, verbal fluency test, and backward memory of digit span test. Also, temporal lobe epilepsy patients had a strong negative correlation with electroencephalography markers: median frequency, peak frequency, and the alpha-to-theta ratio (r = − 0.68, P < 0.005 and r = − 0.64, P < 0.005 and r = − 0.66, P < 0.005 respectively). Conclusion: Cognitive impairment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy was correlated with hippocampal atrophy and quantitative electroencephalography abnormalities, especially peak frequency, median frequency, and alpha-to-theta ratio that could be used alone for the identification of early cognitive impairment. Trial registration : Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04376671. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is reported in the early onset of HCV infection without hepatic cirrhosis or marked liver impairment. Methods currently available to identify the risk for early cognitive impairment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection do not combine enough sensitivity and specificity. The present study aimed to evaluate the P 300 components of event-related potential (ERP) abnormalities as valid biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of the cognitive impairment in newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus infection. This study is a case–control involved fifty patients newly diagnosed HCV and fifty age and sex-matched healthy controls. Assessments of cognitive functions were carried out by the Mini-mental State Examination, Wechsler Memory Scale Revised short form, and The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, in addition to estimation of the amplitude and the latency of the P300 by the event-related potentials. Results: Neuropsychological scales suggested the early incidence of cognitive impairment among hepatitis C virus patients. The electrophysiological study showed significant prolongation of P300 latency and decreased amplitude in HCV patients group compared with the control group. A binary logistic regression detected that P 300 latency ≥ 369 ms was significantly accompanied by a threefold increased risk of impaired cognition (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.59–5.72, P < 0.01), while P 300 amplitude ≤ 8.2 μv was significantly accompanied by a twofold increased risk of impaired cognition (OR 2.18, 95% 1.43–4.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion: This study concluded that the P300 event-related potentials components are valid biomarker as easy, noninvasive assessment and cost-effective method of early cognitive impairment in patients with uncomplicated newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus. Registration of Clinical Trial Research: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04389268. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04389268 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising technology for eco-friendly energy storage. However, the design principles for highly active, robust, and noble metal-free electrocatalysts for industrial-scale hydrogen production remain controversial. Oxygen-free compounds containing anionic species with a very high oxidation potential, such as fluorides, have emerged as high-performance targets for thermodynamically stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts. They can further be designed to fit the key criteria of high electrical conductivity and stability. Herein, we present a facile and scalable etching method for constructing fluoride doped metallic nickel-based anodes from industrial Ni foam sources with high application potential for large-scale hydrogen production setups. The fluoride-etched Ni-catalysts were investigated with a wide range of techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Optimized catalysts displayed a promising overpotential of 220 mV for the OER at a current density of 60 mA cm−2, which is competitive with noble metal-based reference catalysts, such as iridium oxide. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies demonstrated that etching of the electrode surface in fluoride medium leads to a drastic decrease of R ct. The corresponding decreased resistivity towards electrochemical OER on the electrode surface gives rise to the notably enhanced performance, with a minimum of synthetic effort. [Display omitted] • One-step hydrothermal etching process to prepare porous NiFOOH on Ni foam. • Fluorine-modified electrodes exhibit superior activity in OER. • Promising overpotential of 188 mV for the OER at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Levan is a promising safe, renewable, and environmentally friendly exocellular homopolysaccharides. It has recently gained increasing research interest because of its significant impact on biotechnology applications due to its biocompatibility and ability to biodegradability. Aim: The study aimed to determine some of the optimal cultural conditions for levan production by studying many parameters affecting production by local isolation Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis Strain AE77). Methods: B. subtilis Strain AE77 It was obtained from the Department of Food Science/College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences as a local levanproducing isolate isolated from rotten sweets. The Mineral Salts Broth (MSB) medium was approved to study the optimized conditions for levan production. Then precipitation of levan from the fermentation medium. Then the identification of levan with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technology by estimating the retention time of levan, compared with the standard model produced from the bacterial isolate Erwinia herbicola (E.herbicola). Besides, each of the standard solutions of sugars (fructose, glucose, and sucrose). Results: The study results proved that the polysaccharide produced from this isolate is pure and consists of fructose and is a homopolysaccharide with the HPLC technique. The best levan production was from B. subtilis Strain AE77 using a modified MSB medium of 20% sucrose in a 48 hours incubation period. An inoculum volume of 1x108 cell/ml at a concentration of 2% at an incubation temperature of 35 °C and pH = 7.0 and agitation speed of 150 rpm reached 4.80 g/100ml. Conclusion: HPLC was used to separate, identify and quantify both B.subtilis Strain AE77 and standard levan produced from the bacterial isolate E. herbicola, as well as standard fructose, glucose, and sucrose, respectively. The results showed that levan is a homopolysaccharide consisting of one type of monomer (the fructose sugar units). Conditions for levan production were determined by isolating B. subtilis Strain AE77 in a sucrose medium. The results showed that the optimal medium for production contained 20% sucrose without any nitrogen source, pH7.0, and inoculum volume 1x108 cell/ml at a concentration of 2% at a temperature of 35 °C agitation speed 150 rpm, and incubation period of 48 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to study the applications of bacteriophages as a biocontrol agent against certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing a chronic wound. Here, the chronic wound caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated and characterized biochemically using the automated VITEK® 2 system. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolated chronic wound bacteria was assessed against the selection of antibiotics. These bacteria exhibited resistance against most of the tested antibiotics. To overcome this problem, phage vB_PseM-EB-E44 was isolated, identified and applied to control the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Phage was identified morphologically using TEM and exhibited that VB_PseM-EB-E44 is related to Myoviridae, this phage showed high lytic activity, high stability and a narrow host range. P. aeruginosa phage vB_PseM-EB-E44 was thermostable at temperatures ranging from 10 to 60 °C, however, and the titer decreased significantly at 70°C, no viable phages were detected at 80°C for 60 min. Phage vB_PseM-EB-E44 stabled at pH range 3 to 9 for 1h, lost its activity at pH 2, 10, 11, 12. The onestep growth curve of the phage showed a burst size of (60) PFU/cell with a latent period of (15) minutes for P. aeruginosa phage. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of healthcare-associated infections, this review collects data of all the P. aeruginosa phage sequenced to date, this review further addresses in vitro and in vivo results obtained by using silver_nanparticles and phages to treat or prevent P. aeruginosa infections in addition to the major hurdles related with this therapy. This study indicates that the isolated bacteriophages are promising biocontrol agents that could challenge antibioticresistant chronic wound bacteria to announce new successful alternatives to an antibiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan and functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite was used as efficient, sustainable, and recyclable catalyst in the production of bis-coumarins using 4-hydroxycoumarin and aromatic aldehydes under solvent-free conditions. Chitosan was first functionalized using chloroacetyl chloride. Afterward, graphene oxide was modified by aliphatic amine and then with dithioglycolic acid, giving rise to thiol (SH)-functionalized graphene oxide after reduction. The nanocomposite was prepared from the reaction of 2-chloroacetyl-functionalized chitosan and thiol-modified graphene oxide, followed by oxidization of thiols to SO3H groups using hydrogen peroxide. The nanocomposite (catalyst) was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermogravimetry, FT-IR, and MAP analysis. The nanocomposite showed superior properties over previously reported ones, including nontoxicity, environmental compatibility, solvent-free condition, simple work-up, no by-products, thermal stability, and recoverability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess job satisfaction and burnout levels among Egyptian ophthalmologists in order to better understand their mental and physical well-being. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional observational analytic study among ophthalmologists. An online survey was sent out to ophthalmologists. All the participants answered a modified professional quality of life scale including 30 statements related to its three subscales: compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The responses were anonymized and analyzed. Results: A total of 264 ophthalmologists responded to the survey. The age and duration of work showed a significant positive correlation with compassion satisfaction level (r =0.268, P =0.007, r =0.277, P =<0.001), respectively, and a significant negative correlation with both secondary traumatic stress level and burnout level (r =−0.196 and −0.287, P =0.001 and P <0.001, respectively). Average working hours per day showed a significant positive correlation with compassion satisfaction (r =0.157, P =0.012) and a nonsignificant correlation with other scores (P =0.5, 0.221). There was no significant difference in compassion satisfaction between subspecialties (P =0.512). Both burnout rates and secondary traumatic stress were negatively correlated with age and duration of employment (P =0.001, P <0.001). Burnout rates were low for investigative specialists and high for oculoplasty and surgeons (P =0.428). Seventy two percent of participants reported average secondary traumatic stress level, which was highest among cornea and uveitis specialists and lowest among glaucoma specialists (P =0.027). Conclusion: A significant proportion of ophthalmologists exhibit average levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, while their compassion satisfaction tends to improve with accumulating years of practice. The findings highlight a critical need for proactive measures from policymakers, regulatory bodies, and healthcare administrators to identify and address specific risk factors contributing to occupational burnout among ophthalmologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteus mirabilis is one of the most frequent causes of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) owing to its capability to colonize and develop crystalline multidrug-resistant (MDR) biofilms. Here, we report the isolation and partial characterization of three novel bacteriophages, vB_PmiM-ES1a, vB_PmiM-ES1b, and vB_PmiM-ES1c, which were active against the planktonic form and biofilms of the MDR P. mirabilis strain ES01, isolated from CAUTIs in Egypt. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the P. mirabilis isolates showed resistance to most of the antibiotics tested. The isolated phages were identified morphologically using TEM, and each appeared to have myovirus-like morphology. The three phages displayed strong lytic activity and a narrow host range, and they were stable at different ranges of temperatures and pH values. One-step growth kinetics showed a lysis time of 180 min with a burst size of 99.6, 95, and 86 PFU/cell for phage vB_PmiM-ES1a, vB_PmiM-ES1b, and vB_PmiM-ES1c, respectively. The three phages exhibited different digestion patterns using different restriction enzymes. The genome size was estimated to be 59.39 kb, 62.19 kb, and 52.07 kb for phage vB_PmiM-ES1a, vB_PmiM-ES1b, and vB_PmiM-ES1c, respectively. A phage cocktail including the three phages showed a potential ability to reduce and eradicate a biofilm formed by the MDR Proteus mirabilis EG-ES1. Accordingly, a phage cocktail of vB_PmiM-ES1a, vB_PmiM-ES1b, and vB_PmiM-ES1c is considered a promising candidate for use as a biocontrol agent against MDR Proteus mirabilis bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To encourage the society to choose the public transportation system, it should comfort and satisfy people. Noise pollution in urban transportation systems is a risk that can endanger passenger health and affect their use of public transportation. Hence, this study investigates the effect of noise pollution on users' satisfaction of Tehran Metro line 7 using a sound level meter to measure noise pollution in four stations, namely Sanat Square, Tarbiat Modarres University, Shahid Navvab Safavi, and Rudaki. The data was analyzed using noise measurement, and noise pollution is compared at four stations with noise contour maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is conducted for studying some qualitative specifications of solution to a generalized fractional structure of the standard snap boundary problem. We first rewrite the mathematical model of the extended fractional snap problem by means of the G -operators. After finding its equivalent solution as a form of the integral equation, we establish the existence criterion of this reformulated model with respect to some known fixed point techniques. Then we analyze its stability and further investigate the inclusion version of the problem with the help of some special contractions. We present numerical simulations for solutions of several examples regarding the fractional G -snap system in different structures including the Caputo, Caputo–Hadamard, and Katugampola operators of different orders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose the conditions on which a class of boundary value problems, presented by fractional q-differential equations, is well-posed. First, under the suitable conditions, we will prove the existence and uniqueness of solution by means of the Schauder fixed point theorem. Then, the stability of solution will be discussed under the perturbations of boundary condition, a function existing in the problem, and the fractional order derivative. Examples involving algorithms and illustrated graphs are presented to demonstrate the validity of our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for the production of biodegradable plastics has significantly increased. Bioplastics have become an essential alternative to the threats of the daily consumable plastics, sourced from fossil fuels, to the environment. Polyhydroxyalkonates (PHAs) are a ubiquitous group of bioderived and biodegradable plastics, however their production is limited by the costs associated mainly with the carbon sources. Herein, this study aims to reduce the PHAs production cost by using a by-product from the dairy industry, i.e. , cheese whey (CW), as a sole carbon source. The developed process recruits an aquatic isolate, Bacillus flexus Azu-A2, and is optimized via studying various parameters using the shaking flasks technique. The results showed that the maximum PHA production (0.95 g L-1) and PHA content (20.96%, w/w), were obtained after incubation period 72 h at 45 °C, 100 rpm agitation rate, 50% CWS concentration, pH 8.5, and 1.0 g L-1 ammonium chloride. Physiochemically, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques, emphasized the type of the extracted PHA as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The thermal properties of PHB were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), recording melting transition temperature (Tm) at 170.96 °C. Furthermore, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) visualized a homogenous microporous structure for the thin PHB biofilm. In essence, this study highlights the ability of Bacillus flexus Azu-A2 to produce a good yield of highly purified PHB at reduced production cost from dairy CW. Consequently, the current study paves the way for an improved whey management strategy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exceptionally productive and sustainable procedure is described in this paper to fabricate 1-(benzothiazolylamino) methyl-2-naphthols using a novel green nanocomposite of chitosan and diethylenetriamine-modified graphene oxide, supported methanesulfonic acid (Ch@GO-DETA.MSA.). For the synthesis of the nanocomposite, maleic anhydride was first attached to chitosan, and then, graphene oxide was modified by diethylenetriamine (GO@DETA). Subsequently, nanocomposite was prepared from the reaction of chitosan-g-maleic anhydride and GO@DETA. Finally, methane sulfonic acid was added to the nanocomposite to afford Ch@GO-DETA.MSA. Structural properties of the nanocomposite were explored through various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). 1-(Benzothiazolylamino) methyl-2-naphthols were efficiently prepared in high to excellent yields through a multicomponent reaction of 2-aminobenzothiazole, aryl aldehydes, and 2-naphthol using Ch@GO-DETA.MSA. nanocomposite under solvent-free conditions. The proposed protocol exhibited superiority over several published protocols due to its nontoxicity and eco-friendly, catalytic ability, short reaction times, generality, efficiency, solvent-free condition, and simple workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable and acceptable biomarkers are needed to anticipate the outcome and cognitive impairment following ischemic stroke. The goal of this research is to examine the association of ASPECTS with cognitive decline, biomarkers of stroke, and acute ischemic stroke outcomes. This study included 120 patients with ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery region. The initial NIHSS, non-contrast CT brain assessed by ASPECTS, and the biomarkers of cognitive decline such as ESR, CRP, S100B, MMP9, and glutamate were investigated. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment and modified Rankin scale (mRS) were evaluated after 3 months. Correlations between ASPECTS, MoCA, biomarkers of cognitive impairment, and mRS were done by Spearman correlation. Results: The incidence of cognitive impairment in our patients was 25.8%. Stroke biomarkers (ESR, CRP, S100B, MMP9, and glutamate) were significantly increased in cognitively disabled individuals with significantly lower mean MoCA scores than in cognitively intact patients. There was a strong direct correlation linking the initial ASPECTS and total MoCA test score after 3 months follow-up. Cases with unfavorable outcomes were older, more incidence of hypertension, and had higher average initial NIHSS (P < 0.05). While the average ASPECTS scores for the favorable outcome group of patients were significantly higher and there was a significant negative correlation between the initial ASPECTS and modified Rankin Scale score. Conclusions: ASPECTS is a reliable scale to identify the extent of acute ischemic injury and could participate in assessing the outcome. ASPECTS and particular neurocognitive stroke biomarkers will enable the early detection of post-stroke cognitive impairment. Trial registration Registration of Clinical Trial Research: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04235920 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study a q-differential inclusion with doubled integral boundary conditions under the Caputo derivative. To achieve the desired result, we use the endpoint property introduced by Amini-Harandi and quantum calculus. Integral boundary conditions were considered on time scale T t 0 = { t 0 , t 0 q , t 0 q 2 , ... } ∪ { 0 } . To better evaluate the validity of our results, we provided an example, some graphs, and tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the construction of an educational booklet for family caregivers about home care for dependent elderly in the Amazon context. Methods: This is a methodological study, carried out from September 2019 to August 2021. Technological production followed four stages: Bibliographic survey; Textual construction of the booklet; Research and definition of images and Layout and diagramming of the booklet. Results: The booklet addresses the care related to the difficulties and needs of home caregivers - body hygiene, showering, bathing in bed, intimate hygiene, mouth hygiene, changing diapers, preventing falls, mobilization and transfer, care with food, care with medications, care to prevent falls, care regarding the use of hammocks and care regarding the use of home remedies. Conclusion: The booklet provides guidance on the main care activities that the caregiver performs on a daily basis in caring for the dependent elderly person, being divided into topics. Each activity follows the necessary care guidelines so that the caregiver provides safer care and the difficulties experienced in practice are minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to isolate and characterize bacteriophages, as an alternative solution against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-S-MH bacteria causing an outbreak in hospital environments and intensive care units (ICUs). Here, biochemically; isolating and characterizing Acinetobacter baumannii-S-MH by the automated Vitek 2 system. Isolated Acinetobacter baumannii -S-MH bacteria was tested against a collection of Antibiotics by Antibiotic sensitivity test. Acinetobacter baumannii showed resistance to most of the antibiotics tested. To overcome this problem, Acinetobacter baumannii's phage (VB_AciM-AM-M) was isolated, identified, and applied to control the growth of this opportunistic pathogen. Morphologically, phage was identified by TEM; showed that (VB_AciMAM- M) phage is shaped Myoviridae morphotype. The one-step growth curve of the phage showed burst sizes of 290 PFU/cell with a latent period of 20 minutes for (VB_AciM-AM-M) phage. Complete inhibition of bacterial growth was achieved using phage with MOIs of 1, 3 and 5 after 1, 3, and 24 h. of incubation at 37°C. Hence, this study indicates that the isolated bacteriophages are promising biocontrol agents that could challenge antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-S-MH bacteria to announce new successful alternatives to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]