Search

Background: Bacillus cereus is implicated in severe foodborne infection in humans. This study intended to assess the occurrence, groEL gene sequencing, biofilm production, and resistance profiles of emerged multidrug resistant (MDR) B. cereus in meat and meat product samples. Moreover, this work highlights the virulence and toxigenic genes (hblABCD complex, nheABC complex, cytK, ces, and pc-plc) and antimicrobial resistance genes (bla1, tetA, bla2, tetB, and ermA). Methods: Consequently, 200 samples (sausage, minced meat, luncheon, beef meat, and liver; n = 40 for each) were indiscriminately collected from commercial supermarkets in Port Said Province, Egypt, from March to May 2021. Subsequently, food samples were bacteriologically examined. The obtained isolates were tested for groEL gene sequence analysis, antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm production, and PCR screening of toxigenic and resistance genes. Results: The overall prevalence of B. cereus among the inspected food samples was 21%, where the highest predominance was detected in minced meat (42.5%), followed by beef meat (30%). The phylogenetic analysis of the groEL gene exposed that the examined B. cereus strain disclosed a notable genetic identity with other strains from the USA and China. Moreover, the obtained B. cereus strains revealed β-hemolytic activity, and 88.1% of the recovered strains tested positive for biofilm production. PCR evidenced that the obtained B. cereus strains usually inherited the nhe complex genes (nheA and nheC: 100%, and nheB: 83.3%), followed by cytK (76.2%), hbl complex (hblC and hblD: 59.5%, hblB: 16.6%, and hblA: 11.9%), ces (54.7%), and pc-plc (30.9%) virulence genes. Likewise, 42.9% of the examined B. cereus strains were MDR to six antimicrobial classes and encoded bla1, bla2, ermA, and tetA genes. Conclusion: In summary, this study highlights the presence of MDR B. cereus in meat and meat products, posing a significant public health risk. The contamination by B. cereus is common in minced meat and beef meat. The molecular assay is a reliable fundamental tool for screening emerging MDR B. cereus strains in meat and meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is considered one of the most prevalent infections that may lead to many renal complications. They account for almost 10% of all infections in Saudi Arabia, making them the second most common cause of emergency department admissions. Bacterial pathogens, primarily Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus spp., Proteus spp., and Staphylococcus spp. are the most causative agents of UTI. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogens in adult patients from Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using data collected from patients who visited King Fahad General Hospital in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Data included 16,803 urine bacterial cultures and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles collected between January 2019 and October 2021. Results: Among the 16,803 tested samples, 3937 (23.4%) showed positive results for urine bacterial cultures. UTI prevalence was slightly higher in women (52.1%) than men (47.9%). Escherichia coli (29.8%) was the most prevalent, followed by Klebsiella spp. (23.2%) and Pseudomonas spp. (8.4%). As for Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus spp. (10.8%) were most common, followed by Streptococcus spp. (8%) and Staphylococcus spp. (3.3%). Gram-negative bacteria exhibited high resistance rates toward aztreonam (> 83.3%), ampicillin (78.8%), and cephalexin (68.5%). Enterococcus spp. displayed elevated resistance rates (> 62.3%) against ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline. Conversely, Streptococcus spp. showed substantial resistance rates (> 76.6%) toward colistin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: To optimize therapy and minimize the risk of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic infections, physicians should consider the local epidemiological trends and antimicrobial resistance patterns of prevalent uropathogens prior to initiating any empirical antibacterial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series of ethylene/1‐alkene and ethylene‐propylene‐diene copolymers are separated with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) at 150°C using 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene as the mobile phase. Methyl (CH3–) and methylene (–CH2–) groups in the separated polymer samples are monitored at specific wavelengths via a filter‐based infrared detector (IR5). It is found that the ratio of CH3/CH2 may increase, be constant, decrease or change irregularly along the molar mass axis, depending on the sample under investigation. Because the CH3/CH2 profiles may be very different even for a given series of copolymers synthesized with the same catalyst, it is supposed that one or more experimental parameters, which are not strictly controlled throughout synthesis, are responsible for these substantial differences in the chemical composition along the molar mass axis. The correlation between the ratio of CH3– to –CH2– groups and the average chemical composition of the investigated series of polymer samples as well as the reproducibility of the measurements and the limit of detection of the SEC‐IR5 measurements are evaluated. Coupling of SEC with the advanced IR5‐detector enables the convenient and reliable characterization of the chemical composition of many polyolefin materials along their molar mass axis. The monitoring of the chemical composition may help to improve quality of synthesized copolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Magnetic intramedullary lengthening nails (MILNs) have gained popularity in recent years for the treatment of limb-lengthening discrepancies. We sought to catalog mechanical failures and their prevention and management in a large, single-institution series. We specifically assessed the rate of mechanical failures, the types of failures observed, and management strategies. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 377 patients (420 limbs) who underwent limb lengthening with early (P1) or later (P2) MILN iterations with ≥12-month follow-up. Mechanical failure was defined as mechanical breakage of the instrumentation or nail and/or failure of the internal lengthening mechanism. Failure assessment was arranged by lengthening phases and was sorted with a complication classification system. All lengthening and alignment parameters were assessed radiographically. Results: Mechanical failure was observed in 40 nails (9.5%), most of which (63%) were corrected with an additional surgical procedure. The mechanical failure rate was 11.3% in P1 nails and 9% in P2 nails. Two nails failed the intraoperative distraction test, and 1 nail was found to have a broken washer during the insertion phase. Sixteen nails had mechanical failures in the lengthening phase. Some nails (8 of 16) required nail replacement surgery. Thirteen nails failed during the consolidation phase; 7 of these cases were managed by replacement with either a functional MILN or a conventional intramedullary nail. Eight failures happened during the extraction phase and were managed intraoperatively. Conclusions: A 9.5% overall rate of mechanical failure of MILNs was observed in this large series. Resolution was achieved with an additional surgery in most cases. Nail distraction and weight-bearing compliance should be closely monitored during the lengthening and consolidation phases. Nail removal can be difficult and requires a careful study of radiographs for locking-screw bone overgrowth and backup removal equipment. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of ocular cancers presents a significant challenge: delivering sufficient doses to tumors while preserving the functions of the nearby critical organs-at-risk (OARs). This study investigates the efficacy of proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) combined with Bragg-peak FLASH (BP-FLASH) biological optimization (FBO) in ocular treatment. We hypothesize that BP-FLASH FBO can increase treatment dose while enhancing OAR protection. The BP-FLASH technique can provide similar tumor control as conventional PBS(CONV) treatment with additional normal-tissue sparing due to FLASH effect. However, the FLASH sparing effect has not been incorporated into the treatment planning system for plan optimization. In this study, FLASH-sparing factors for various normal tissues around the eyes were derived from literature to model the FLASH-sparing effect and incorporated into the FBO module of an in-house treatment planning system (TPS). Ten consecutive ocular patients previously treated with CONV-SBRT to 50Gy in 5 fractions were included in this study. Each case was replanned using the single-energy BP-FLASH technique with non-aperture PBS. Dose metrics of the CONV-SBRT and BP-FLASH plans were compared, including the CTV coverage, and the mean and maximal dose to surrounding OARs: cornea, eye, optic nerves, retina, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva. Dose escalation was also performed by increasing the prescription dose to 60Gy in 5 fractions for the BP-FLASH plans, and the plan quality was then evaluated to assess if all clinical constraints were met. All plans for both techniques met the clinical objectives for all OARs, although the clinical CONV-SBRT plans slightly outperformed the BP-FLASH plan for the regimen of 50Gy in 5 fractions. When planning using the FBO method, the maximum doses to the cornea, eye, optic nerves, retina, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva of BP-FLASH plans were, on average 11.2%, 15.8%, 30.1%, 20.1%, 14.4% and 17.6% lower, respectively, than those of CONV-SBRT plans. In comparison to the CONV-SBRT 50Gy plans, the BP-FLASH 60Gy plan using FBO had achieved reduced maximum doses to the eye, optic nerves, retina, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva by a mean of 16.1%, 28.9%, 22.3%, 15.0%, and 18.7%, respectively. BP-FLASH is capable of producing treatment plans comparable in quality to those of CONV-PBS for the existing 10 Gy x 5 SBRT protocol. Through FBO, BP-FLASH can increase the dose to 60 Gy in 5 fractions, without an expected increase in toxicity relative to CONV-SBRT treatments using 50Gy, demonstrating BP-FLASH's potential to reduce ORA doses for ocular treatment significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Patients are the main users of every hospital service particularly the emergency department. Hence, patients’ perception is one of the quality care measures. Thus, this study purposed to assess the patients’ perception of quality nursing care and services in emergency department in Jordan. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was adopted on a sample of patients who attended the emergency department (N = 427). Findings demonstrated that most of the health sectors in Jordan had a high level of patients’ perception of quality nursing care and related emergency department services (M = 3.93, SD = 0.72). Furthermore, the private sector had the highest mean score (M = 4.18, SD= 0.70), while the government sector had the lowest mean (M = 3.11, SD= 0.38). The level of perception had positive relationship with income (r = 0.097; p < 0.05) and qualifications (r p.b = 0.093; p < 0.05). The number of visits showed a significant negative correlation with patients’ perception level (r = − 0.095; p < 0.05). Thus, there is a need for improving the quality of nursing care and services in the emergency department at hospitals by strengthening the policy and enhancing the nursing services supporting system. Establishing plans to develop the infrastructures, equipment, physical environment, sanitation, and facilities in the emergency department to meet the patients’ needs to enhance the quality of care and services are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia officinalis is a medicinal plant used to treat some diseases, including microbial infections and diabetes. Different studies showed the biological and pharmacological properties of this species. The aim of this study was the determination of the chemical compounds of S. officinalis essential oils and the investigation of their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical compounds of S. officinalis were determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, ABTS, H2O2, and FRAP assays. The in vitro antidiabetic effect was evaluated by the inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activities, and the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the 5-lipoxygenase assay. Moreover, antibacterial activity was assessed against six bacterial strains using agar well diffusion assay and microdilution method. The main compounds in essential oils of S. officinalis at three phenological stages were naphthalenone, camphor, 1.8-cineole, and α-thujone. The full flowering stage essential oil showed the best antioxidant activity with different IC50 values according to the used tests. This oil also exhibited important inhibitory effects at the full flowering stage against α-amylase (IC50 = 69.23 ± 0.1 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 22.24 ± 0.07 μg/mL), and lipase (IC50 = 37.3 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory effect was the best at the full flowering stage (IC50 = 9.24 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The results of the antibacterial evaluation revealed that, at three seasonal periods, S. officinalis essential oil demonstrated strong antibacterial activity. Although the full flowering stage had the best antibacterial activity, there were no significant differences between the three stages. Additionally, the essential oils showed bactericidal effects on Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively. The findings of this work showed remarkably that S. officinalis synthesizes essential oils according to different developmental stages. Moreover, it has exhibited interesting biological and pharmacological properties justifying its medicinal effects and suggesting it as a very important source of natural drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus globulus is a plant widely used by the world population, including Morocco, in the treatment of several pathologies. The aim of this work is to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, dermatoprotective, and antimicrobial effects of essential oil and honey from E. globulus, as well as their combination. Chemical composition was determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three tests, namely, DPPH, reducing power, and the β-carotene/linoleic acid assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in vitro (5-lipoxygenase inhibition) and in vivo (carrageenan-induced paw edema model), while the dermatoprotective activity was tested in vitro (tyrosinase inhibition). Moreover, the antibacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and microdilution methods. The results showed that eucalyptol presents the main compound of the essential oil of E. globulus (90.14%). The mixture of essential oil with honey showed the best antioxidant effects for all the tests used (0.07 < IC50 < 0.19 mg/mL), while the essential oil was the most active against tyrosinase (IC50 = 38.21 ± 0.13 μg/mL) and 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 0.88 ± 0.01 μg/mL), which corroborated the in vivo test. Additionally, the essential oil showed the best bactericidal effects against all strains tested, with inhibition diameter values ranging from 12.8 to 21.6 mm. The findings of this work showed that the combination of the essential oil with honey showed important results in terms of biological activity, but the determination of the underlying mechanisms of action remains a major prospect to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the present emphasis on sustainability, it is critical to produce ecofriendly building materials aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cement manufacturing process. Bentonite is one of the most essential materials utilized in the construction of cementation structures because it acts as a binding ingredient which has a favorable impact on the characteristics of mortar. This is because bentonite has strong colloidal properties, and when in contact with water, its volume increases tremendously, producing a gelatinous and viscous fluid. The primary goal of this study is to determine the influence of partial cement replacement with dry bentonite (DBN) and colloidal bentonite (CBN) on specific hydro-mechanical mortar parameters. The cement replacement by weight percentages with bentonite were 0, 10, 15, and 20%. Different tests were performed at different curing ages including 7, 14, 28, 60, 91, and 120 days to assess the impact of bentonite on hydro mechanical properties of cement mortars. According to the findings of this study, when cement is partially replaced by bentonite with 15% bentonite substitution ratio, which is regarded the optimum ratio at 120 curing day age, both compressive and bending strengths are improved. Particularly, the compressive strength of colloidal and dry bentonite rose by around 21 and 16 %, respectively. While, the flexural strengths of colloidal and dry bentonite mixtures were 18 and 12 % greater, respectively, than the control mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a very rare fulminant post-infectious demyelinating disease of the CNS. We report an atypical presentation of AHLE involving unique brain areas 2 weeks following a viral upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI). Early diagnosis and proper management improve the prognosis of this disease, and AHLE can have a very poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Case Report: A 52-year-old male patient was referred for deteriorating consciousness 2 weeks after a viral URTI. An initial brain CT scan showed multiple patchy bilateral and diffuse hypodense areas including the cerebellar, occipital, parietal, and frontal lobes. The diagnostic workup also included CSF analysis and MRI of the brain, which revealed multiple areas of hemorrhagic involvement. Management included broad-spectrum antibiotics, acyclovir, mannitol, steroids, and plasmapheresis. On the fifth day of admission, brain CT showed severe diffuse edema and brain herniation. Unfortunately, despite prompt aggressive treatment measures, within 48 hours the patient died due to centrally-mediated hemodynamic instability. Conclusions: We report a rare case of AHLE with a unique presentation and extensive unusual involvement of regions of periventricular and subcortical white matter, cerebellum, and midbrain. Early diagnosis along with appropriate management measures and intensive care can help decrease morbidity and mortality; therefore, prompt referral and high-level care should be sought for all patients who present with acute deteriorating consciousness. We hope that this report can help future studies to better characterize this rare disease and provide further guidance regarding prognosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides a comprehensive description of the Scleractinian family Merulinidae (Verrill, 1865) of the Red Sea at species level based on skeletal structure for helping in evaluating and estimation of actual species diversity, as well as predicting their response to environmental changes. The present study is a first attempt to describe and illustrate the coral species of the family Merulinidae in the Farasan Islands (Saudi Arabian Coast). Moreover, coral reef terraces are investigated around El Quseir‐Marsa Alam area on the Egyptian Red Sea Coast. Overall, 42 scleractinian coral species from the family Merulinidae (Verrill, 1865) have been identified. They belong to 14 genera: Dipsastraea, Favites, Echinopora, Goniastrea, Coelastrea, Paragoniastrea, Paramontastraea, Astrea, Cyphastrea, Erythrastrea, Merulina, Platygyra, Leptoria, and Hydnophora. About 37 species are recorded for the first time from the Farasan Islands and 26 species from El Quseir‐Marsa Alam area, among them three species are recognized as new records. Two species are added to coral communities of the Red Sea (Goniastrea favulus and Paragoniastrea deformis), and six species were added to the fossil record of the Red Sea. The terminology, systematic classification, and the criteria of identification for all studied coral taxa are generally updated according to recent results. The known age and all recorded stratigraphic range of these species are illustrated and discussed. From the results, most of the corals are still living in the present Red Sea except for three species: Favites micropentagonus, Goniastrea favulus, and Paragoniastrea deformis. All species are extended down to the Pleistocene and a few to the Pliocene and Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and to identify risk factors associated with LBP among medical students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2021 medical students from four medical colleges in Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2019–2020. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted and included three sections: demographic data, risk factors of LBP, and prevalence of LBP (during lifetime, past 12 months, and past 7 days). Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 2021 medical students responded to our survey. The participants were 57.1% female and 42.9% male. Most of the students’ ages (76.3%) ranged from 20 to 24 years. Medical students younger than 20 and older than 24 were 21.8% and 1.9%, respectively. The prevalence of LBP was 80.7% at any time, 67.6% in the past 12 months, and 38.2% in the past 7 days. Females were found to have higher prevalence of LBP than males(P < 0.0001), 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.37, 2.04). History of physical trauma to the back was significantly associated with LBP (P < 0.0001), 95% CI (1.32, 2.40). A lack of daily exercise was also found to be associated with LBP (P = 0.015), 95% CI (1.05, 1.55). LBP affected the daily functions, such as walking and sleeping, of 30.1% of medical students. Around 11% of medical students sought medical care because of LBP. Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence of LBP is high among Saudi medical students. LBP seemed to be higher in females and associated with history of back trauma. Back care awareness should be emphasized among medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/purpose: Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OCLT) is defined as a defect on the articular surface of the talus with/without subchondral bone involvement. Several surgical techniques are described in literature to treat OCLT. Particulated Juvenile Cartilage Allograft Transplantation (PJCAT) is a new emerging technique that has the potential of restoring the native cartilage. However, available data on PJCAT in treating OCLT is confined to a small number of studies with heterogeneous population. The aim of this study is to systematically review the literature on clinical and radiological outcomes of PJCAT in treating OCLT.Methods: A systematic search of Medline database was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Number of patients and demographic data included age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were extracted. The level of evidence of each included study was identified. When feasible, mechanism of injury, lesion size and average follow up were recorded. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS), and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were obtained to assess the functional outcomes. Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score was selected to evaluate the radiological outcomes.Results: A total of 10 studies were eligible for this review involving 132 patients. Postoperative AOFAS scores were available for 44 patients who underwent PJCAT with an average of 86.14 at 25.5 months follow up. FAOS scores have been reported in 3 studies for 81 patients. The average preoperative score was 47.35 which has been improved to 62.88 at follow up of 23.6 months. MOCART was evaluated in 42 feet after the mean follow up of 18.2 months. The repair tissue was characterized by variable features; however, certain peculiarities were observed with higher frequency including infill hypertrophy, incomplete border zone integration, deep surface disruption, structure inhomogeneity, patches of hyperintense signals, damage of subchondral lamina and subchondral bone, adhesions and absence of effusion.Conclusion: PJCAT seems to be a promising modality of treatment for OLT in terms of functional outcomes. Fair attempts of defect filling can be confirmed with MRI. Nevertheless, heterogeneous picture of regenerate cartilaginous tissue and lack of repair in subchondral bone and subchondral lamina are not in favor with claims of full restoration of lost normal hyaline articular cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The privileged geographical position of Morocco as a Mediterranean country confers upon it a pivotal role in both regional and global food security. Leveraging its diverse geography and varying climate, the country contributes significantly to the worldwide supply chain by cultivating a wide array of crops. However, the extensive use of chemicals in the production process, particularly for pest management, has led to substantial degradation of environmental resources. Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity, causing considerable crop yield losses. With growing concerns about the environmental and human health impacts of nematicides, restrictions on their usage have prompted the exploration of alternative control strategies for effective safe PPNs management. Main body: The present review provides a comprehensive overview of research on plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in Morocco. It covers PPN taxa inventory, diversity, prevalence on different crops, and responses to environmental factors. The review also maps the distribution of the most dangerous genera, analyzes biological control methods for root knot nematodes Meloidogyne particularly, and identifies gaps and future research needs for sustainable PPN management. A total of 61 genera of PPNs were identified in Morocco, with Meloidogyne spp. being the most prevalent and dangerous genus, posing a serious threat to crop production in the country. The extensive distribution of PPNs, notably root knot, may be attributed to factors such as contaminated plant material and a lack of farmer awareness. Biological agents from Morocco's ecosystems, including plant extracts, nematophagous fungi, and entomopathogenic nematodes, showed great potential as control agents for root knot nematodes. This review significantly contributes to Mediterranean and global nematological knowledge by providing insights into the diversity and sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes. Conclusion: The biological richness of Moroccan ecosystems can provide valuable resources for researchers in developing commercial effective bionematicides for plant pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii is gram negative opportunistic coccobacilli,the most important agent in nosocomial infections with high mortality rate. This bacteria is characterized by (biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and vitek-2 system). The antibiotic susceptibility result of A. baumannii isolates were shown resistant to (Methicillin, Nitrofurantion), while sensitive to (colistin, Ciprofloxacin).This study was aimed to biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by using prodigiosin pigment produced from clinical isolate Serratia marcescens as reducing and stabilizing agent for Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and used as antibacterial agent for Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different clinical sources. TiO2 NPs synthesized by using titanium chloride TiCl4 (5 ml/50 ml) in deionized water with concentration of prodigiosin (10 mg/ml)and adjusted pH at 7 and the temperature at 50 ˚C. TiO2NPs synthesized was Characterized by various technique, such as (AFM, UV-VIS, FTIR, XRD and FE-SEM ). The result showed that wavelength(366)nm was optimum for TiO2NPs that have crystalline shape at average volume (47.52 nm). Green synthesized TiO2 NPs have shown several applications such as biomedical, anticancer, bio sensing, catalysis etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rare disease. Background: This case report describes rare disease entities with possible associations that include relapsing polychondritis, a rare disease with systemic manifestations characterized by bouts of inflammation in hyaline cartilage in multiple body sites, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), another potentially life-threatening condition that occurs due to erratic activation of the immune system accompanied by pancytopenia. Both diseases constitute a real challenge to diagnose and treat. These entities, their associations, and treatment protocols and prognosis for them are highlighted. Case Report: A 16-year-old female presented with features and complications of both relapsing polychondritis (RP) and HLH including costochondritis, fever, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. After admission to the intensive care unit, symptomatic management included paracetamol, intravenous fluids, prednisolone 60 mg orally, intravenous immune globlulin, and warfarin. Unfortunately, the patient developed acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB AML M5b) after a period of remission and died due to sepsis and multiorgan failure. Conclusions: HLH and RP are two rare diseases that can present together. Whether this malignant process (AML) is a cause or a result of these diseases is unknown. In the case presented here, the patient developed features of AML after a period of remission from RP and HLH. This case report may provide perspective on diagnosis and treatment for clinicians faced with similar patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following article, we consider the non-linear filtering problem in continuous time and in particular the solution to Zakai's equation or the normalizing constant. We develop a methodology to produce finite variance, almost surely unbiased estimators of the solution to Zakai's equation. That is, given access to only a first-order discretization of solution to the Zakai equation, we present a method which can remove this discretization bias. The approach, under assumptions, is proved to have finite variance and is numerically compared to using a particular multilevel Monte Carlo method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nubia sandstone has a high potential for water and hydrocarbons exploration in its subsurface extensions. The present work aims to study the Nubia sandstone at Gebel Duwi in the central Eastern Desert to characterize its lithostratigraphic setting, microfacies types, and its petrophysical properties. In addition, impacts of mineral composition and diagenetic history of the Nubia sandstone on its storage and deliverability capacities and on its hydraulic and electric pore fabrics will be estimated. The Nubia sandstone is subdivided into three informal members: a lower trough cross‐bedded, coarse‐grained with little mud braided fluvial member; a middle planar cross‐bedded sandstone with ferruginous siltstone intercalations of meandered fluvial member; and an upper gypsiferous coarsening upward clastic coastal to deltaic sediments. The microfacies analysis indicated that six microfacies are present: quartz arenite, subarkose, arkose, sublitharenite, ferruginous greywacke, and ferruginous siltstone microfacies. Several types of diagenetic processes affected the Nubia sandstone; cementation, compaction, and pressure solution are the main reservoir quality‐reducing factors, whereas fracturing, dissolution, and leaching out are the most important reservoir quality‐enhancing factors. For the present study, helium and water porosities, air permeability, and electric resistivities (for plugs drilled in three perpendicular directions for each block sample) were measured. Petrophysically, the studied Nubia sandstone can be summed up into three petrophysical facies: Facies‐1 (quartz arenite and subarkose), Facies‐2 (ferruginous subarkose to greywacke), and Facies‐3 (sublitharenite and arkose). The slight ferruginous and clay content of the second facies has slightly increased the grain density values and reduced its storage capacity and deliverability. Porosity (∅He) values which are measured by the helium injection for the first and third facies samples are good to excellent (14.6 ≤ ∅He ≤ 28.9%), whereas their permeability (k) values are good to excellent (106 ≤ k ≤ 2231 md). The second facies is characterized by relatively less petrophysical potential than the other two facies (av. ∅He = 19.2% and av. k = 557 md). The hydraulic pore anisotropy (λk) of the studied three petrophysical facies is isotropic to moderately anisotropic (1.02 ≤ λk ≤ 1.96), whereas the electric pore anisotropy (λE) is less intensive (1.11 ≤ λE ≤ 1.61). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is a highly contagious, neglected zoonotic disease of major importance worldwide. The disease is endemic in many countries, burdening healthcare systems and the livestock industry and representing a persistent public health concern in these countries. Brucellosis is considered an important occupational hazard for livestock workers. Limited studies have investigated human brucellosis in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis among employees of high-risk brucellosis professions, including veterinarians, animal herders, and abattoir workers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and to determine the associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, during the period of January-March 2023. Ninety blood samples were collected from individuals occupationally at risk of exposure to Brucella infections. Serum samples were examined for immunoglobulins (Ig)M and IgG antibodies against Brucella using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Before sample collection, a predesigned online questionnaire was used to collect the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and the probable risk factors for human brucellosis. A Chi-square test was used to compare the differences among groups; p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 90 participants among the high-risk individuals, Brucella IgM and IgG seropositivity were found in 8 (8.8%) and 11 (12.12%) cases, respectively. IgM mono antibody positivity was observed in 4 (4.44%) and 7 (7.77%) of the study population who tested positive for IgG only. Dual positivity for IgM and IgG antibodies was observed in 4 (4.44%) participants. No significant association was determined between seropositivity and age, urbanicity, education, occupation, and duration of exposure (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Brucellosis is a high-risk occupational disease among workers with close contact with livestock. This study demonstrates that the seroprevalence of brucellosis among occupationally high-risk individuals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, is relatively low compared to other countries in the region. Nevertheless, educational programs should be implemented to improve knowledge regarding brucellosis, particularly among high-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of substituted benzoylthiourea derivatives namely N -(4-methoxybenzoyl)- N '-(3-hydroxyphenyl)thiourea (1a), N -(3-methoxybenzoyl)- N' -(3-hydroxyphenyl) thiourea (2a), N -(3-nitrobenzoyl)- N' -(3-hydroxyphenyl)thiourea (3a) and N -(4-phenylbenzoyl)- N' -(3-hydroxy phenyl)thiourea (4a) bearing phenolic groups were efficiently synthesized from the condensation reaction of benzoylisothiocyanate with 3-aminophenol. The molecular structures of 1a-4a are elucidated by FT-IR, UV–Vis, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The four benzoylthiourea derivatives were obtained in crystalline forms by recrystallization in DMSO. X-ray chemical crystallographic study shows that 1a crystallizes in triclinic crystal system, while 2a - 4a crystalize in monoclinic crystal system. The synthesized benzoylthiourea molecules adopt trans-cis configuration with respect to the positions of carbonoylbenzoyl and 3-hydroxyphenyl groups respectively, against the thiono C=S bonds across their C–N bonds. The corresponding predicted z-matrix coordinates and spectral data of 1a - 4a were obtained using DFT and TD-DFT methods. The quantum chemical calculation have been carried out using three hybrid functionals B3LYP, B3P86 and PBE0 combined with 6–31++G(d,p) basis set. The solvent effects were taken into account implicitly using IEF-PCM model. The experimental Z-matrix coordinates and the spectral data of the tilted compounds are relatively well reproduced with good correlations coefficients. Image 1 • Synthesis of a new series of substituted benzoylthiourea derivatives. • X-ray crystallographic studies show that benzoylthiourea derivatives adopt trans-cis configurations. • The excited sites are relatively well reproduced using PBE0 hybrid functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of the Frank–Kamenetskii, mixed convection, buoyancy force parameter, Soret effect, and radial magnetic field on steady-state fully developed free convection flow of viscous reactive fluids in the annular region between concentric cylinder r = 1 and r = b in the presence of thermal diffusion and radial magnetic field. The nonlinear ordinary differential equation governing the flow are solved using the semi-analytical method (perturbation series method). The solution obtained is graphically represented and the effect of various controlling pertinent parameters such as λ, Gre, N, Sr, and M on the flow formation is discussed. The physical quantities such as skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also computed. It is interesting to observe that increasing the values of Frank–Kamenetskii (λ), mixed convection (Gre), and Soret (Sr) increases the velocity while increase in the radial magnetic field (M) decreases the velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of different bacterial species affecting ducks as well as demonstrating the antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular typing of the isolated strains. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 samples were randomly collected from different duck farms at Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. The collected samples were subjected to the bacteriological examination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied for amplification of Kmt1 gene of Pasteurella multocida and X region of protein-A (spA) gene of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains to ensure their virulence. The antibiotic sensitivity test was carried out. Results: The most common pathogens isolated from apparently healthy and diseased ducks were P. multocida (10.4% and 25.2%), Escherichia coli (3.6% and 22.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10% and 8.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2% and 10%), and Proteus vulgaris (0.8% and 10%), respectively. In addition, S. aureus and Salmonella spp. were isolated only from the diseased ducks with prevalence (12.2%) and (2.8%), respectively. Serotyping of the isolated E. coli strains revealed that 25 E. coli strains were belonged to five different serovars O1, O18, O111, O78, and O26, whereas three strains were untypable. Salmonella serotyping showed that all the isolated strains were Salmonella Typhimurium. PCR revealed that four tested P. multocida strains were positive for Kmt1 gene with specific amplicon size 460 bp, while three strains were negative. In addition, all the tested S. aureus strains were positive for spA gene with specific amplicon size 226 bp. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that most of the isolated strains were sensitive to enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: P. multocida is the most predominant microorganism isolated from apparently healthy and diseased ducks followed by E. coli and Staphylococci. The combination of both phenotypic and genotypic characterization is more reliable an epidemiological tool for identification of bacterial pathogens affecting ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Multifunction ternary %Ag/V 2 O 5 /g-C 3 N 4. • Catalytic, photocatalytic, and post-illumination mechanism. • Catalytic/photocatalytic reduction of p -nitrophenol and post-illumination reduction/oxidation of Cr+6 and MB. Abstract Multifunctional nanocatalyst that is efficient in removal of organic and inorganic contaminant under different light illumination is highly anticipated. Here, we report a ternary nanocatalyst that has catalytic, photocatalytic and a good photocatalytic memory for oxidation/reduction processes. The ternary nanocatalyst was prepared by the facile immobilization of Ag NPs on the V 2 O 5 /g-C 3 N 4 surface by photodeposition method. The morphology of the ternary nanostructure shows the uniform distribution of V 2 O 5 on the g-C 3 N 4 surface decorated with 20–30 nm average diameters of Ag NPs. The prepared catalyst exhibits unique catalytic, photocatalytic and post-oxidation/reduction ability for removal of organic, p -nitrophenol (NP), methylene blue (MB) and inorganic (Cr+6) water pollutants. The catalytic reduction conversion of NP was completed in 60 min was ascribed to the electron relay mechanism, while the photocatalytic hydrogenation of NP was achieved in only 8 min and assigned to the solid Z-scheme electron-hole pair generation facilitated by the good electron storage of Ag NPs. On the other hand, the electron storage memory of the photocatalyst was responsible for the post- oxidation/reduction of MB/Cr+6 respectively. Oxidation of MB increased by 27%, while the Reduction of Cr+6 to Cr+3 was enhanced by 28% after sunlight post-illumination. The proposed ternary nanocatalyst provide an efficient tool for the removal of water pollutants from different sources during the daytime: in presence of sunlight or after the sunset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 29-year-old male patient in a wheelchair presented for dermatological consultation for multiple painless skin lesions of 5 months duration. Gastrointestinal affection can lead to bowel perforation and, along with CNS involvement as cerebrovascular accident, represents the leading cause of mortality.4 Skin lesions classically demonstrate a wedge-shaped area of ischemic necrosis extending from the epidermis to the reticular dermis, rimmed by sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates and the overlying epidermis shows hyperkeratosis. Malignant and benign forms of atrophic papulosis (Kohlmeier-Degos disease): systemic involvement determines the prognosis. [Extracted from the article]

Polymer matrix composite structures can be exposed to a variety of severe corrosive environments during their service, which lead to degrade their structure and deteriorate their properties. The both influence of the alkaline and acid solutions on the mechanical properties of the hybrid polymer composite materials are illustrated in this paper. Hardness, tensile properties and impact strength of the nano-silica particles reinforced (glass/Kevlar) fabrics polyester hybrid composite before and after immersing in (HCl) and (NaOH) solutions studied. Regardless of the solution, hardness, tensile and impact strength decrease with increasing the exposure time. On the other hand, the alkaline solution led to high decreasing in these properties than the acid solution. In addition, the hybrid composite showed remark enhanced in the mentioned properties than the glass fiber polyester alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple efficient method for synthesis of some new 1,2,4-Triazole and Triazolidin derivatives namely, 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione ( 1a ), (2-chlorophenyl)(3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-5-thioxo-1,2,4-triazolidin-4-yl)methanone ( 1b ) and (2-iodophenyl)(3,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-5-thioxo-1,2,4-triazolidin-4-yl)methanone ( 1c ) have been synthesized in high yields from the reaction of carbonoyl isothiocyanate with phenyl hydrazine. The final products were characterized by FT-IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopic techniques. X-ray crystallographic studies showed that 1a crystallized in triclinic crystal system with space group Pī, while both 1b and 1c crystallized in orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pna 2 1 . The asymmetric unit of 1a consists two crystallographically independent molecules, while only one molecule in asymmetric unit for both 1b and 1c compounds. All molecules possess C H …. S intramolecular hydrogen bonds which formed a pseudo-six-membered ring. Experimental results have been confirmed by the state-of-art density functional theory (DFT) in gas and solvent phase by using five different hybrid functionals B3LYP, B3P86, CAM-B3LYP, M06-2X and PBE0 combined with 6–311++G(d, p) basis set. The experimental data are relatively well produced, and relatively good correlations are obtained between the predicted and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we consider the Burgers equation with some class of perturbations in one space dimension. Using various energy functionals in appropriate weighted Sobolev spaces rewritten in the variablesξ/√τ and log τ we prove that the large time behavior of solutions is given by the self-similar solutions of the associated Burgers equation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital upper limb differences are frequently associated with complex syndromes. Ultrasonography is considered as the first-line diagnostic modality, and fetal MRI can be useful to further evaluate ill-defined areas. Genetic and non-invasive prenatal testing help to identify the underlying genetic disorder. The diagnostic assessment is a multidisciplinary task that should involve early prenatal consultations with specialists involved in case management and treatment planning. Obstetricians, geneticists, radiologists, psychologists and dedicated surgeons are needed to provide good parental education, prenatal and postnatal care, and successful outcomes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the clinicopathologic background, current diagnostic and imaging procedures in affected fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

microRNA-155 (miR-155) is implicated in regulating B-cell activation and survival that is important in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. PU.1, a target for miR-155, is a crucial regulator of B-cell development and enhances Tumour-Necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression. TNF-α induces the expression of B-cell-activating-factor (BAFF). BAFF is reported to increase the expression of the autoimmunity marker; CD19. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of expression of PU.1 in pediatric-systemic-lupus-erythematosus (pSLE) patients by miR-155, and hence evaluate its impact on TNF-α/BAFF/CD19 signalling pathway. Screening revealed that PU.1 is upregulated in PBMCs and B-cells of pSLE patients. PU.1 expression directly correlated with systemic-lupus-erythematosus disease-activity-index-2 K SLEDAI-2K. Ectopic expression of miR-155 and knockdown of PU.1 suppressed PU.1, TNF-α and BAFF. Finally, miR-155 decreased the proportion of BAFF-expressing-B-cells and CD19 protein expression. These findings suggest that miR-155 suppresses autoimmunity through transcriptional repression of PU.1 and TNF-α, which in turn suppresses BAFF and CD19 protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Papilionoideae (Faboideae) is the largest subfamily in the family Leguminosae. The study occure on some trifoliate species belonging to this subfamily. The investigations include the morphological characters of the vesgetative organs(stems and leaves) beside the micromorphological features obtained from the examinations of the leaflets epidermis (cell walls shape, trichomes forms, stomatal types and the precense or absence of oxalate crystals). Also the study includes floral aspects and the type and shapes of fruits and seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hybrid process that integrates adsorption on sawdust and electrochemical oxidation on a boron doped diamond anode was investigated for the treatment of dilute solutions containing phenol. In such combined process the pollutant is adsorbed until saturation and electrochemical oxidation has been used for both the regeneration of adsorbant and the pollutant removal. Phenol is used as model of pollutant and the efficiency of the regeneration of loaded sawdust has been compared with that of activated carbon (AC), a widely used adsorbent due to its high adsorption capacity which results from its high porosity. The study highlights the effect of electrolysis in the increase of the phenol desorption during the treatment of adsorbents. The regeneration efficiency of AC after 1 cycle of adsorption and regeneration is only 59% due to the electropolymerisation of the strongly adsorbed phenol. By contrast, the electrochemical regeneration of sawdust led to increase the adsorption capacity multiple adsorption and electrochemical regeneration cycles led to an enhancement of adsorption capacity of the sawdust with a complete removal of phenol and the possible reuse of the electrolysis solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigates associations between cortical thickness and pain duration, and central sensitization as markers of pain progression in painful knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Whole brain cortical thickness and pressure pain thresholds were assessed in 70 participants; 40 patients with chronic painful knee osteoarthritis (age = 66.1± 8.5 years, 21 females, mean duration of pain = 8.5 years), and 30 healthy controls (age = 62.7± 7.4, 17 females). Results: Cortical thickness negatively correlated with pain duration mainly in fronto-temporal areas outside of classical pain processing areas (p<0.05, age-controlled, FDR corrected). Pain sensitivity was unrelated to cortical thickness. Patients showed lower cortical thickness in the right anterior insula (p<0.001, uncorrected) with no changes surviving multiple test correction. Conclusion: With increasing number of years of suffering from chronic arthritis pain we found increasing cortical thinning in extended cerebral cortical regions beyond recognised pain-processing areas. While the mechanisms of cortical thinning remain to be elucidated, we show that pain progression indexed by central sensitization does not play a major role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider in this paper a large class of perturbed semilinear wave equations with critical (in the conformal transform sense) power nonlinearity. We will show that the blow-up rate of any singular solution is given by the solution of the non-perturbed associated ODE. The result in the radial case has been proved in Math. Phys. Anal. Geom. 18(1) (2015), Art. 15. The same approach will be followed here, but the main difference is to construct a Lyapunov functional in similarity variables valid in the non-radial case, which is far from being trivial. That functional is obtained by combining some classical estimates and a new identity of the Pohozaev type obtained by multiplying Eq. (1.7) by y . Δω in a suitable weighted space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-4-acetamidophenylcalix[4]-2-methylresorcinarene was synthesized by condensation reaction of 2- methylresorcinol with 4-acetamidobenzaldehyde in the presence of concentrated HCl. The compound was characterized by infrared (IR), 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the molecule crystallized in a triclinic crystal system with space group of Pi and the unit cell dimensions are a = 8.929(1) Å, b = 13.804(2) Å, c = 14.471(2) Å, α = 76.766(4)°, β = 78.563(4)°, Y = 87.168(4)°, Z = 1, and V = 1702.0(4) Å3. The calix molecule is associated with four dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and two water molecules of crystallization that contribute to the stability of the solid via hydrogen bonding. The supramolecule adopts a chair (C2h) conformation with four phenyl linkage groups that are in rctt (cis-trans-trans) configuration isomer. The thermal gravimetric investigation showed three mass loss steps that occurred at about 100, 400, and 900 °C, respectively. The compound formed after the first loss is thermally stable in the range of 100-400 °C after which the calix moiety began to decompose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater genomic conservation between humans and non-human primates (NHP) enables target validation studies for developing of therapeutic strategies for human diseases. Together with predicting activity and potential adverse clinical signs, the inclusion of NHP testing bequeaths to efficacy models for dose titration and pharmacodynamic effects. We have used lipid nanoparticle encapsulated siRNA to silence ApoB in the liver and assessed the phenotypic effects on serum lipids with various levels of hepatic ApoB mRNA knockdown in healthy lean cynomolgus monkeys. ApoB siRNA dosed animals demonstrated significant reductions of hepatic ApoB mRNA and serum APOB protein, with a substantial lowering of plasma lipid levels without obvious signs of toxicity. Microarray based assessment of ApoB siRNA mediated effects revealed a number of differentially expressed genes which mapped onto biological pathways and processes related to lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Furthermore, we identified potential targets and cellular effects that could be studied for therapeutic benchmarking of APOB mediated effects. The network of ApoB regulated genes should be of significance for the understanding and development of novel hypercholesterolemia therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsteady/steady hydromagnetic natural convection and mass transfer flow characteristics of viscous reactive, incompressible, and electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a transverse magnetic field, thermal diffusion effect, diffusion-thermal effect, and temperature-dependent variable viscosity is investigated. The nonlinear governing equations are solved numerically usan ing unconditionally stable and convergent semi-implicit finite difference scheme. Numerical results are displayed and discussed graphically for various physical parameters embedded in the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isomers of thiourea derivatives, namely N -(4-chlorobutanoyl)- N ′ - (2-methylphenyl)-thiourea ( 1a ), N -(4-chlorobutanoyl)- N ′ - (3-methylphenyl)thiourea ( 1b ) and N -(4-chlorobutanoyl)- N ′ - (4-methylphenyl)thiourea ( 1c ) have been synthesized by refluxing mixture of equimolar amounts of 4-chlorobutanoylisothiocyanate with 2, 3 or 4-toluidine, respectively. The three isomers were characterized by spectroscopic (UV/vis, FT-IR and NMR) and X-ray crystallography techniques. To investigate the isomerization effect on spectroscopic data, DFT and TD-DFT calculations have been carried out using five hybrid functionals (B3LYP, B3P86, CAM-B3LYP, M06-2X and PBE0) to predict UV/vis absorption bands ( n → π ∗ and π → π ∗ ), 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts, FT-IR vibration modes and X-ray parameters (bonds, bond angles and torsion angles) for 1a , 1b and 1c isomers. The results showed that the isomerization effect is significant on λ MAX absorption bands, while for IR and NMR the effect is negligible. In accordance with previous studies, B3LYP, B3P86 and PBE0 gave the most reliable to predict the excitation energies of thiourea derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider in this paper a large class of perturbed semilinear wave equation with subconformal power nonlinearity. In particular, we allow log perturbations of the main source. We derive a Lyapunov functional in similarity variables and use it to derive the blow-up rate. Throughout this work, we use some techniques developped for the unperturbed case studied by Merle and Zaag (Int. Math. Res. Notices, 19(1):1127-1156, ) together with ideas introduced by Hamza and Zaag in (Nonlinearity, 25(9):2759-2773, ) for a class of perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the unsteady/steady natural convection and mass transfer flow of viscous reactive, heat generating/absorbing fluid in the presence of thermal diffusion, diffusion-thermo and temperature dependent variable viscosity in a vertical channel formed by two infinite parallel plates. The motion of the fluid is induced due to natural convection caused by the reactive property as well as the heat generating/absorbing nature of the fluid. The nonlinear governing equations are solved numerically using unconditionally stable and convergent semi-implicit finite difference scheme. Results of the computations for velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction, rate of heat and mass transfer are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively for various controlling parameters embedded in the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The Cretaceous/Paleocene boundary is marked by a hiatus. [•] Zone CF3 was dominated by tapered calcareous benthic morphogroup, suggested eutrophic environment. [•] Zone P1c was characterized by mixed epifaunal/infaunal morphogroups suggested the food supply was less abundant than Zone CF3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present the results of the investigations for the evolution behavior of Cos-Gauss pulse by propagating it through a single mode optical fiber in the regime where fiber dispersion is dominant. We consider both un-chirped and chirped pulses. For this purpose, nonlinear Schrödinger equation of single mode optical fiber communication is implemented using split-step Fourier method. Results clearly show that, by controlling certain parameters of Cos-Gauss pulse, even the compression of the pulse can be achieved rather than its broadening. These results also show interesting behavior that for positive values of input chirp, cos-Gauss pulse only goes to broadening. While for negative values of input chirp, the pulse initially experiences compression after which it broadens. These explorations are quite helpful to have a deeper view and understanding about the optical fiber response to such types of pulses, and they can eventually lead to achieve higher performance of optical fiber communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical students' academic achievement is affected by many factors such as motivational beliefs and emotions. Although students with high intellectual capacity are selected to study medicine, their academic performance varies widely. Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the high achieving students' perceptions of factors contributing to academic achievement. Materials and methods: Focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out with 10 male and 9 female high achieving (scores more than 85% in all tests) students, from the second, third, fourth and fifth academic years. During the FGDs, the students were encouraged to reflect on their learning strategies and activities. The discussion was audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Results: Factors influencing high academic achievement include: attendance to lectures, early revision, prioritization of learning needs, deep learning, learning in small groups, mind mapping, learning in skills lab, learning with patients, learning from mistakes, time management, and family support. Internal motivation and expected examination results are important drivers of high academic performance. Management of non-academic issues like sleep deprivation, homesickness, language barriers, and stress is also important for academic success. Conclusion: Addressing these factors, which might be unique for a given student community, in a systematic manner would be helpful to improve students' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation is performed to study the effect of suction/injection on unsteady hydromagnetic natural convection flow of viscous reactive fluid between two vertical porous plates in the presence of thermal diffusion. The partial differential equations governing the flow have been solved numerically using semi-implicit finite-difference scheme. For steady case, analytical solutions have been derived using perturbation series method. Suction/injection is used to control the fluid flow in the channel, and an exothermic chemical reaction of Arrhenius kinetic is considered. Numerical results are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively with respect to various parameters embedded in the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the unsteady natural convection and mass transfer flow of viscous reactive, heat generating/absorbing fluid in a vertical channel formed by two infinite parallel porous plates having temperature dependent thermal conductivity. The motion of the fluid is induced due to natural convection caused by the reactive property as well as the heat generating/absorbing nature of the fluid. The solutions for unsteady state temperature, concentration, and velocity fields are obtained using semi-implicit finite difference schemes. Perturbation techniques are used to get steady state expressions of velocity, concentration, temperature, skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number. The effects of various flow parameters such as suction/injection (γ), heat source/sinks (S), Soret number (Sr), variable thermal conductivity (δ), Frank-Kamenetskii parameter (λ), Prandtl number (Pr), and nondimensional time (t) on the dynamics are analyzed. The skin friction, heat transfer coefficients, and Sherwood number are graphically presented for a range of values of the said parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenylcalix[4]-2-methylresorcinarene (I) was synthesized by cyclocondensation of 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-methylresorcinol in the presence of concentrated HCl. Compound I was characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. X-ray analysis showed that this compound crystallized in a triclinic system with space group of Pī, a = 15.9592(16)Å, b = 16.9417(17)Å, c = 17.0974(17)Å, α = 68.656(3)°, β = 85.689(3)°, γ = 81.631(3)°, Z = 2 and V = 4258.6(7)Å3. The molecule adopts a chair (C2h) conformation. The thermal properties and antioxidant activity were also investigated. It was strongly antiviral against HSV-1 and weakly antibacterial against Gram-positive bacteria. Cytotoxicity testing on Vero cells showed that it is non-toxic, with a CC50 of more than 0.4 mg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore Family Medicine Trainees views regarding the hospital component of their Family Medicine (FM) training program. Methodology: This is a qualitative focus group discussion based study. Thirteen trainees, eight from final year of FM training program and five from third year of the same program participated in the study. The structure for discussion included a previously distributed and completed questionnaire that included three sections. The first section was evaluation of the satisfaction of trainees with the different hospital specialties rotations. The second section related to reasons for rating the different rotations as excellent and very good. The third section related to deficiencies in training for those rotations which received a score of 3-5. The items in the questionnaire were utilized in the focus group discussion. Two facilitators who were investigators facilitated the discussion. The data was qualitatively analyzed to identify emergent themes and subthemes that described the trainees' views. Results: The trainees highlighted the following views: Teaching in the hospital component is not relevant to the needs of Family Medicine trainees. Duration of the hospital posts should be reviewed. Emphasis should be on out-patient clinics rather than in-patient. More emphasis must be given to procedural skills, minor surgery and teaching in clinical contexts. Conclusion: Hospital training component of the Family Medicine training program should be reviewed, as the structure and its implementation doesn't reflect the views of trainees regarding its relevance to their day to day practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]