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This work outlines conditions suitable for the heteroepitaxial growth of Cr2O3(0001) films (1.5–20 nm thick) on a Ru(0001)-terminated substrate. Optimized growth is achieved by sputter deposition of Cr within a 4 mTorr Ar/O2 20% ambient at Ru temperatures ranging from 450 to 600 °C. The Cr2O3 film adopts a 30° rotated honeycomb configuration with respect to the underlying Ru(0001) substrate and exhibits a hexagonal lattice parameter consistent with that for bulk Cr2O3(0001). Heating to 700 °C within the same environment during film preparation leads to Ru oxidation. Exposure to temperatures at or above 400 °C in a vacuum, Ar, or Ar/H2 3% leads to chromia film degradation characterized by increased Ru 3d XPS intensity coupled with concomitant Cr 2p and O 1s peak attenuations when compared to data collected from unannealed films. An ill-defined but hexagonally well-ordered RuxCryOz surface structure is noted after heating the film in this manner. Heating within a wet Ar/H2 3% environment preserves the Cr2O3(0001)/Ru(0001) heterolayer structure to temperatures of at least 950 °C. Heating an Ru–Cr2O3–Ru heterostacked film to 950 °C within this environment is shown by cross-sectional scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) to provide clear evidence of retained epitaxial bicrystalline oxide interlayer structure, interlayer immiscibility, and epitaxial registry between the top and bottom Ru layers. Subtle effects marked by O enrichment and O 1s and Cr 2p shifts to increased binding energies are noted by XPS in the near-Ru regions of Cr2O3(0001)/Ru(0001) and Ru(0001)/Cr2O3(0001)/Ru(0001) films after annealing to different temperatures in different sets of environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our objective was to develop and validate cutoff values in the systemic Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 10 (sJADAS10) that distinguish the states of inactive disease (ID), minimal disease activity (MDA), moderate disease activity (MoDA), and high disease activity (HDA) in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, based on subjective disease state assessment by the treating pediatric rheumatologist. Methods: The cutoff definition cohort was composed of 400 patients enrolled at 30 pediatric rheumatology centers in 11 countries. Using the subjective physician rating as an external criterion, six methods were applied to identify the cutoffs: mapping, calculation of percentiles of cumulative score distribution, the Youden index, 90% specificity, maximum agreement, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sixty percent of the patients were assigned to the definition cohort, and 40% were assigned to the validation cohort. Cutoff validation was conducted by assessing discriminative ability. Results: The sJADAS10 cutoffs that separated ID from MDA, MDA from MoDA, and MoDA from HDA were ≤2.9, ≤10, and >20.6, respectively. The cutoffs discriminated strongly among different levels of pain, between patients with and without morning stiffness, and among patients whose parents judged their disease status as remission or persistent activity or flare or were satisfied or not satisfied with current illness outcome. Conclusion: The sJADAS cutoffs revealed good metrologic properties in both definition and validation cohorts and are therefore suitable for use in clinical trials and routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellite alloys have good wear resistance and maintain their strength up to ~ 600°C, making them suitable for various industrial applications like cutting tools and combustion engine parts. This investigation was aimed at i) manufacturing new Stellite alloy blends using powder metallurgy and ii) mathematically mapping hardness, yield strength, ductility and impact energy of base and alloy blends. Linear, exponential, polynomial approximations and dimensional analyses were conducted in this semi-empirical mathematical modelling approach. Base alloy compositions similar to Stellite 1, 4, 6, 12, 20 and 190 were used in this investigation to form new alloys via blends. The microstructure was analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Mechanical performance of alloys was conducted using tensile, hardness and Charpy impact tests. MATLAB® coding was used for the development of property maps. This investigation indicates that hardness and yield strength can be linked to the wt.% composition of carbon and tungsten using linear approximation with a maximum variance of 5% and 20%, respectively. Elongation and carbide fraction showed a non-linear relationship with alloy composition. Impact energy was linked with elongation through polynomial approximation. A dimensional analysis was developed by interlinking carbide fraction, hardness, yield strength, and elongation to impact energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no documented electroanalytical methods for quantifying the anti-inflammatory drug bumadizone (BUM) in pharmaceutical or biological matrices. So, a new voltammetric method was developed to determine BUM at nano concentrations in pharmaceutical forms, in the presence of its alkaline degradant, and in biological fluids. Five electrodes were tested, including three nano-reduced graphene oxide (nRGO) electrodes (5%, 15%, and 20%), a carbon paste electrode (CPE), and a 10% nRGO-modified CPE. The 10% nRGO-modified electrode showed the best performance, offering high selectivity and low detection limits, with good linearity in the concentration range of 0.9 × 102 to 15 × 102 ng mL−1. Differential pulse voltammetry successfully applied this electrode for BUM determination in various samples, achieving excellent recovery without preliminary separation. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines and compared favorably to the reference method. Its environmental impact was assessed using AGREE and Eco-scale metrics in addition to the RGB algorithm, showing superior greenness and whiteness profiles due to safer solvents and lower energy consumption, along with high practical effectiveness using the BAGI metric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products received much attention as an environmentally beneficial solution for pest management. Therefore, the extracts of invasive silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) weeds using their berries parts (seeds, peels and mucilage) supported by bioassay-guided fractionation were tested against both the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) and Erwinia carotovora pv. carotovora causes of the blackleg of potatoes. The seeds and peels of S. elaeagnifolium were successively extracted by maceration using dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and ethanol (EtOH), respectively. While, its mucilage was extracted using EtOAc. The successive EtOH extract of the plant seeds had promising inhibition efficacy and the best minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 50 µg/ml against E. Carotovora amongst other extracts (DCM and EtOAc of the plant berries parts). Depending on dose response activity, EtOH extract had G. mellonella larval mortality and pupal duration rates (LC50; 198.30 and LC95; 1294.73 µg/ml), respectively. Additionally, this EtOH extract of seeds was fractionated using preparative TLC to three characteristic bands. The insecticidal and bacterial activities of these isolated bands (SEA, SEB, and SEC) were evaluated at a dose of 100 µg/ml, causing mortality by 48.48, 62.63 and 92.93% (G. mellonella larvae) and inhibition by 15.22, 0.00 and 31.66 mm (E. carotovora), respectively. Moreover, the separated major three bands were tentatively identified using LC-ESI-MS analysis revealing the presence of two phenolic acids; chlorogenic acid (SEA) and dicaffeoyl quinic acid (SEB) in addition to one steroidal saponin (SEC) annotated as borassoside E or yamoscin. Finally, the plant seeds' successive EtOH extract as well as its active constituents, exhibited potential broad-spectrum activity and the ability to participate in future pest management initiatives. A field study is also recommended to validate its bio-efficacy against selected pests and to develop its formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It was proposed that camels are more effective than other livestock species in selecting plants for their nutritional value. They may self-regulate their voluntary feed intake to satisfy their nutritional needs. This study was designed to investigate camels' feeding selectivity and ability to cover nutritional requirements when grazing alfalfa (high in protein) and/ or barley (high in energy) in a desert climate. Methods: Eighteen lactating camels were equally divided into three feeding treatments. They grazed daily on alfalfa, barley, or a mixed pasture of both, for two periods of one month each. The concentrate supplement was individually administered at 40 g/kg BW0.75, divided into two equal parts, in the morning and in afternoon. Total energy expenditure (EE) was estimated by heart rate (HR) monitors for 48 h after being calibrated by oxygen consumption using an upgraded face mask open-circuit respiratory system. Results: During the first period, camels had a greater forage intake and digestibility when they grazed barley rather than alfalfa, while those grazing mixed pasture performed intermediately. In the second period, camels had a similar forage intake and digestibility among treatments due to a decline in barley intake and digestibility compared to the first period, which was expected since the preferred plant part gradually shifted from barley grains to predominantly straw as a function of time. Similar HR and EE were found across periods and treatments. As a result of greater gross and digestible energy intake in period 1, a better energy balance in period 1 was observed compared to period 2. Camels better utilize barley than alfalfa. Grazing on barley had a higher energy balance than grazing alfalfa alone or in combination with barley. However, camels grazing barley produced lower milk yield and energy than those grazing alfalfa alone or in combination with barley, with no interaction detected between period and treatment. Conclusions: Lactating camels are able to self-regulate their voluntary intake to cover their energy requirements when they are grazing barley and/or alfalfa supplemented with a concentrate supplement at 40 g/kg BW0.75. Grazing barley is better utilized by camels than alfalfa. The chemical and physical properties of plant species play an important role in the selectivity of foraging camels. It also impacts their intake and digestibility, which is negatively associated with the proportion of cell wall content consumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cirrhosis often leads to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) development, a condition with a poor prognosis warranting liver transplantation. This study aimed to identify SBP frequency among cirrhotic patients with ascites and to determine its risk factors and predictors for inadequate antibiotic response. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study involved 78 cirrhotic patients with ascites. Patients’ workup included: at-admission evaluation (clinical, laboratory, and imaging), treatment and follow-up for SBP patients, and re-evaluation after 48 hours of antibiotics with treatment modification according to response. Results: Ascitic fluid (AF) examination and microbiological cultures revealed that 24.4% of admitted cirrhotic patients with ascites had one of SBP variants with diabetes mellitus, high random blood sugar, and low AF albumin as independent risk factors for SBP development. 26.3% of SBP patients experienced inadequate antibiotic response. Inadequate response group showed delayed antibiotic initiation and history of prior SBP, lower AF albumin, higher C-reactive protein (CRP), and positive culture. After 48-hours, inadequate response patients experienced fever, disturbed conscious level, and abdominal tenderness in 20%, 60%, and 80%, respectively compared to 7.14%,0%, and 14.3% in those with adequate response. Nonetheless, 48-hour investigations revealed little decrease or even increase in total leucocyte count (TLC) in the blood, CRP, blood urea, and serum creatinine in patients with inadequate response. Conclusion: Delayed antibiotic initiation, positive culture, and clinical suspicion together with non-significant decrease or even increase in TLC in the blood, CRP, blood urea, and serum creatinine 48-hours of antibiotic initiation are potential predictors for inadequate response. This helps identify who would benefit from a second paracentesis and minimize unnecessary invasive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) considerably burden healthcare systems. This study aimed to identify predictors of developing SAP in acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the Stroke Unit at Manial Specialized Hospital factors with microbiological causality and impact on 30-day mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. All patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Stroke Unit at Manial Specialized Hospital (from February 2021 to August 2023) were divided into the SAP and non-SAP groups. Detailed clinical characteristics and microbiological results were recorded. Results: Five hundred twenty-two patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (mean age of 55 ± 10) were included. One hundred sixty-nine (32.4%) of stroke patients developed SAP; Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most commonly detected pathogen (40.2%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.7%). Bacteremia was identified in nine cases (5.3%). The number of deaths was 11, all of whom were diagnosed with SAP, whereas none from the non-SAP group died (P < 0.001). The binary logistic regression model identified three independent predictors of the occurrence of SAP: previous history of TIA/stroke (OR = 3.014, 95%CI = 1.281–7.092), mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.883, 95%CI = 1.544–15.436), and bulbar dysfunction (OR = 200.460, 95%CI = 80.831-497.143). Conclusions: Stroke-associated pneumonia was reported in one-third of patients with acute ischemic stroke, adversely affecting mortality outcomes. Findings showed that the main predictors of SAP were bulbar dysfunction, the use of mechanical ventilation and previous history of TIA/stroke. More attention to these vulnerable patients is necessary to reduce mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the conditions involving cartilaginous tissues are irreversible and involve degenerative processes. The aim of the present study was to fabricate a biocompatible fibrous and film scaffolds using electrospinning and casting techniques to induce chondrogenic differentiation for possible application in cartilaginous tissue regeneration. Polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds and PCL film were fabricated and incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Thereafter, coating of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on the fibrous and film structures was applied to promote chondrogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). First, the morphology, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectroscopic characterization, water contact angle measurements and tensile strength testing. Subsequently, the effects of the fabricated scaffolds on stimulating the proliferation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and inducing their chondrogenic differentiation were evaluated via electron microscopy, flow cytometry and RT‒PCR. The results of the study demonstrated that the different forms of the fabricated PCL-MWCNTs scaffolds analyzed demonstrated biocompatibility. The nanofilm structures demonstrated a higher rate of cellular proliferation, while the nanofibrous architecture of the scaffolds supported the cellular attachment and differentiation capacity of hDPSCs and was further enhanced with CS addition. In conclusion, the results of the present investigation highlighted the significance of this combination of parameters on the viability, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation capacity of hDPSCs seeded on PCL-MWCNT scaffolds. This approach may be applied when designing PCL-based scaffolds for future cell-based therapeutic approaches developed for chondrogenic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aims to measure the leadership skills level among Saudi undergraduates. It addresses measuring four main skills as indicators for leadership competencies: communication and personal behavior, learning and reasoning, strategic planning and civic responsibility, and selfawareness and interpersonal interaction. The study endeavors to assess the leadership capabilities of first-year college students at a Saudi university through an examination of various skills. While also investigating two mediation effects of these skills and two moderating impacts of gender and academic discipline. We perform structural equation modeling on a dataset comprising 5,992 responses collected from surveyed students. The key findings indicate a high level of leadership skills among first-year Saudi undergraduate students. The study provides support for the mediating effects of personal attributes, such as communication, personal behavior, self-awareness, and interpersonal interaction, on other leadership skills. The moderating role of study type has been supported in the relationship between learning and reasoning skills and strategic planning and civic responsibility. However, the controlling role of gender has been rejected. Research emphasizes integrating leadership skills in undergraduate education, addressing demographic factors. Insights guide policymakers to support social studies students and low achievers through systematic educational methods and tailored programs for faculty-student engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-Dimensional Optimal Power Flow (MDOPF) is a fundamental task in power systems engineering aimed at optimizing the operation of electrical networks while considering various constraints such as power generation, transmission, and distribution. The mathematical model of MDOPF involves formulating it as a non-linear, non-convex optimization problem aimed at minimizing specific objective functions while adhering to equality and inequality constraints. The objective function typically includes terms representing the Fuel Cost (FC), Entire Network Losses (ENL), and Entire Emissions (EE), while the constraints encompass power balance equations, generator operating limits, and network constraints, such as line flow limits and voltage limits. This paper presents an innovative Improved Kepler Optimization Technique (IKOT) for solving MDOPF problems. The IKOT builds upon the traditional KOT and incorporates enhanced local escaping mechanisms to overcome local optima traps and improve convergence speed. The mathematical model of the IKOT algorithm involves defining a population of candidate solutions (individuals) represented as vectors in a high-dimensional search space. Each individual corresponds to a potential solution to the MDOPF problem, and the algorithm iteratively refines these solutions to converge towards the optimal solution. The key innovation of the IKOT lies in its enhanced local escaping mechanisms, which enable it to explore the search space more effectively and avoid premature convergence to suboptimal solutions. Experimental results on standard IEEE test systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed IKOT in solving MDOPF problems. The proposed IKOT obtained the FC, EE, and ENL of USD 41,666.963/h, 1.039 Ton/h, and 9.087 MW, respectively, in comparison with the KOT, which achieved USD 41,677.349/h, 1.048 Ton/h, 11.277 MW, respectively. In comparison to the base scenario, the IKOT achieved a reduction percentage of 18.85%, 58.89%, and 64.13%, respectively, for the three scenarios. The IKOT consistently outperformed the original KOT and other state-of-the-art metaheuristic optimization algorithms in terms of solution quality, convergence speed, and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, the demand for mobile automated navigation has grown significantly. Path planning has emerged as an important and exciting field of research in many disciplines, intending to create shorter and smoother paths through the use of several types of algorithms. This work presents a comparative analysis between the artificial potential field (APF) method and the hybrid approach that combines Q-learning with APF (QL-APF). Subsequently, these methodologies are juxtaposed with a proposed approach, modified Q-learning with APF (MQL-APF), which introduces modifications to QL-APF by incorporating a dynamic reward function with a static reward function. The proposed approach has been empirically proven effective, and it is capable of generating safe and efficient paths even in complex environments. The MQL-APF approach achieved improvements in terms of path length of approximately 67.25% when compared with the APF method. Furthermore, the average enhancement percentage is approximately 14.68% compared to the QL-APF method. Additionally, the MQL-APF method achieved an improvement of 50.15%, 7.21%, and 24.63% for QL, MQL, and QL-APF, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we determined the refractive index of the air at different pressures and temperatures using a home-built Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The pressure and temperature were controlled using a home-built gas flow system and a temperature controller. A He–Ne laser operating at wavelengths of 632.8 nm was used to illuminate the Mach–Zehnder interferometer to obtain interference fringes. The changes in the number of fringes that crosses the field of view were exploited to calculate the variation in the refractive index with temperature and pressure. Some refractive index-dependent physical constants such as the thermo-optical constant (refractive index temperature coefficient dn/dT), dielectric constant, molar refractivity, and molecular polarizability were calculated for the air at different temperatures and pressure. In the pressure (66–80 cmHg) and temperature (303–338 K) range, the refractive index, dielectric constant, molar refractivity, and molecular polarizability of the air were found to vary between 1.000189 ± 0.000006–1.000281 ± 0.000007, 1.000379 ± 0.000010–1.000562 ± 0.000014, 4.03396 ± 0.13693–4.42908 ± 0.10860 cm3/mol, and 2.01 ± 0.07 × 10–29–2.21 ± 0.05 × 10–29 m3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients living with obesity continue to experience body image dissatisfaction following bariatric metabolic surgery. The underlying reasons are poorly understood but may be due to unmet expectations. Negative body image perception following metabolic surgery leads to poorer psychological and clinical outcomes. This study aims to establish the acceptability and feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and virtual reality (VR) as a method of providing psychological support to bariatric patients to improve body image satisfaction and interventional outcomes. Methods: Seven participants were recruited from the Imperial Weight Centre. 3D photographs were captured and processed to produce two 3D reconstructed images with 15% and 25% total weight loss. Participants were shown their images using VR and participated in peer group workshops. Results: Six participants were retained until the end of the study. Five out of six participants agreed the images provided them with a more accurate representation of their body changes and overall appearance following bariatric metabolic surgery. All participants strongly agreed with the group setting and felt VR facilitated discussions on body image. Overall, all participants felt that the use of VR and 3D reconstruction is beneficial in supporting patients to adjust to changes in their body image after bariatric metabolic surgery. Conclusions: This is the first study to explore and demonstrate that 3D reconstruction and VR is an acceptable and feasible method providing patients with a realistic expectation of how their body will change following significant weight loss, potentially improving body image satisfaction after surgery, as well as psychological and interventional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the therapeutic benefits of para‐hydroxycinnamic acid in mice with bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis. Forty male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal, which received 0.9% normal saline; induced, which received a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) by oropharyngeal challenge; pirfenidone‐treated; and para‐hydroxycinnamic acid‐treated, which challenged with bleomycin and received a daily oral dose of 300 and 50 mg/kg, respectively, from day 7 to day 21. Tissue pro‐fibrotic and inflammatory cytokines, oxidative indicators, pulmonary histopathology, immunohistochemistry of fibrotic proteins and the assessment of gene expression by RT‐qPCR were evaluated on day 22 after euthanizing animals. Pirfenidone and para‐hydroxycinnamic acid managed to alleviate the fibrotic endpoints by statistically improving the weight index, histopathological score and reduced expression of fibrotic‐related proteins in immune‐stained lung sections, as well as fibrotic markers measured in serum samples. They also managed to alleviate tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory and pro‐fibrotic mediators. para‐Hydroxycinnamic acid enhanced the expression of crucial genes associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in vivo. para‐Hydroxycinnamic acid has demonstrated similar effectiveness to pirfenidone, suggesting it could be a promising treatment for fibrotic lung conditions by inhibiting the TGF‐β1/Smad3 pathway or through its anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-imprinting methodology was used to fabricate a new cobalt ion-imprinted polymer as a cross-linked copolymer consisting of fumaric acid and 4-vinylpyridine as monomers. Different techniques were used to investigate all of the chemical and morphological changes that occurred during the cobalt ion imprinting process. Furthermore, extraction experiments for cobalt ions using controlled and imprinted polymers were carried out to obtain the essential isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The controlled and imprinted resins had the best agreement with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, with maximum retention capacities of 14.7 ± 2 and 42.0 ± 0.5 mg/g, respectively. In comparison to non-imprinted polymer, the imprinted polymer showed greater affinity for cobalt ions in the presence of other metal ions like Cd2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, La3+, and Y3+. In addition, after the fifth adsorption-desorption cycle, resin regenerates with about 96% of its initial activity, demonstrating its high economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coconut oil, a natural component abundant in terpenoids, possesses various physiological functions. The global concern over the spread of viral infections and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and fungi has highlighted the need for novel treatments. Coconut oil, with its known antimicrobial properties, presents an attractive candidate for combating these pathogens. This study aims to investigate the potential of coconut oil-loaded silica nanoemulsion (ON@SiO2) as a novel therapeutic agent against viral, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and fungal pathogens. Results: The study synthesized coconut oil-loaded silica nanoemulsion (ON@SiO2) using an eco-friendly, cost-effective method with native coconut oil (CO). Characterization confirmed successful synthesis on the nanoscale with good distribution. Three nanoemulsion samples (ON-1@SiO2, ON-2@SiO2, and ON-3@SiO2) were prepared, with average particle sizes of 193 nm, 200 nm, and 325 nm, respectively. Evaluation of cytotoxicity on Vero-E6 cell lines indicated safety of ON-0@SiO2 and ON-3@SiO2, with CC50 values of 97.5 mg/ml and 89.1 mg/ml, respectively. ON-3@SiO2 demonstrated anti-Herpes I and II (HSV1 and HSV2) activity, with IC50 values of 1.9 mg/ml and 2.1 mg/ml, respectively. Additionally, ON-3@SiO2 exhibited promising antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and B. subtilis, with MIC values of 25 mg/ml, 12.5 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 3.12 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusions: ON-3@SiO2 showed potential antifungal activity against C. albicans, a unicellular fungus, with an MIC of 12.5 mg/ml. Overall, ON@SiO2 possesses antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatic cancer endures a major health scourge as the consequence of a high incidence of > 1 million cases by 2025. Plant-based products are typically effective in ameliorating health conditions. Pomegranate peel extract (PE) with its high polyphenolic content has anticancer effects against different types of cancer. Herein, we aimed to maximize the PE chemotherapeutic efficacy by loading it in a suitable delivery system to overcome the limitations of PE, to control its release and to achieve liver targeting. Method: A nanoprecipitation procedure was adopted to incorporate PE into biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymeric zein (ZN)-based nanoparticles (NPs) (PE-ZN NPs). A full factorial design (22 × 31) was developed to study the effects of the formulation variables, namely pH of dispersion, PE-to-ZN ratio and surfactant concentration. Results: The optimization revealed a surfactant-free stable PE-ZN NPs formula with a small particle size of 99.5 ± 6.43 nm, high PE encapsulation efficiency % of 99.31% ± 3.64 (w/w) and controlled release of PE over 24 h. Conclusion: Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the optimum formula against hepatic cancer HepG2 cell lines was assessed and attained about a 2.5-fold reduction in the inhibitory concentration (IC50) values compared to the free PE affording a promising green platform to combat hepatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increasing incidence of cancer diseases necessitates the urgent exploration of new bioactive compounds. One of the trends in drug discovery is marine sponges which is gaining significant support due to the abundant production of natural pharmaceutical compounds obtained from marine ecosystems. This study evaluates the anticancer properties of an organic extract from the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia siphonella (C. siphonella) on HepG-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Methods: C. siphonella was collected, freeze-dried, and extracted using a methanol-dichloromethane mixture. The extract was analyzed via Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Cytotoxic effects were assessed through cell viability assays, apoptosis detection, cell cycle analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential assays, scratch-wound healing assays, and 3D cell culture assays. Results: Fifteen compounds were identified in the C. siphonella extract. The extract showed moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HepG-2 cells, with IC50 values of 35.6 ± 6.9 μg/mL and 64.4 ± 8 μg/mL, respectively, after 48 hours of treatment. It induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in MCF-7 cells and the S phase in HepG-2 cells. Apoptosis increased significantly in both cell lines, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. The extract inhibited cell migration, with notable reductions after 24 and 48 hours. In 3D cell cultures, the extract had IC50 values of 5.1 ± 2 μg/mL for MCF-7 and 166.4 ± 27 μg/mL for HepG-2 after 7 days of treatment, showing greater potency in MCF-7 spheres compared to HepG-2 spheres. Discussion and Conclusion: The anticancer activity is attributed to the bioactive compounds. The C. siphonella extract's ability to induce apoptosis, disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential, and arrest the cell cycle highlights its potential as a novel anticancer agent. Additional research is required to investigate the underlying mechanism by which this extract functions as a highly effective anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The high strength-to-weight ratio based on advanced polymer hybrid composites is a trend of technological progress. Moreover, these composites are fabricated with natural and synthetic fiber, lacking qualities including moderate tensile strength, lower hardness, and variations in flexural strength, and require additional processing to enrich the adhesive quality using natural fiber. Based on these criteria, the current investigation experiences advanced polymer composite fabrication through hand layup featured with hot compression during the polypropylene (PP) hybrid composite laminate structure formation with the combined action on natural roselle fiber (RF) processed by alkali solution and carbon fiber (CF) under varied stacking sequence. The combined (processing/natural/synthetic/stacking) actions on density, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, mechanical characteristics such as tensile/flexural strength, and fracture toughness of mono polypropylene and its hybrid composites are experimentally evaluated and compared. With the excellence of combined actions, the hybrid polypropylene composite formed with a PP/RF/CF stacking sequence is better than others. This composite's density, tensile/flexural strength, and fracture toughness are 1.33 ± 0.05 g/cc,128 ± 1/162 ± 2 MPa, and 1.51 ± 0.05 MPam0.5.Its XRD images provide better peaks of fiber dispersion along the polypropylene matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is the shunt-independent surgical treatment for hydrocephalus caused by late-onset idiopathic aqueductal stenosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the success rate and the clinical and radiological outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in late-onset idiopathic aqueductal stenosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 patients (9 males and 6 females) with hydrocephalus due to late-onset idiopathic aqueductal stenosis in whom endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed. Different clinical, radiological and operative factors affecting the outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve patients in our study had a chronic clinical history (class III), and 3 cases had subacute symptoms (class II). Success was obtained in 14 patients (93.3%) while failure was reported in one patient only (6.7%). Headache and gait disturbance improved in all patients, while 5 of the 8 patients with cognitive impairment and 4 of the 6 patients with urinary incontinence showed improvement. The postoperative images showed radiological improvement in 14 patients, with evident reduction in ventricular size in only 3 patients (20%). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a safe, effective, and highly successful procedure in the treatment of hydrocephalus due to idiopathic aqueductal stenosis, with more than 93.3% success rate. To enhance our findings, further carefully planned, prospective, multicentric studies on bigger samples should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the preferred method for diagnosing axillary nodal involvement in breast cancer. Touch imprint cytology (TIC) and frozen section (FS) are two intraoperative techniques used to assess SLNs. Both methods have their disadvantages, and the superior technique remains uncertain. Aim: To determine the accuracy of TIC compared to FS in identifying metastases in SLNs in preoperatively node-negative axilla. Methods: Forty-six females with breast cancer and clinically and radiologically negative axillary lymph nodes were included in the study. For TIC, SLNs were bisected, imprinted onto clean slides, stained, and evaluated. For FS, tissue slices of the same lymph nodes were embedded in an appropriate medium and frozen to -25°C. Tissue sections were prepared using a cryostat, stained, and evaluated. Results: The patients' ages ranged from 30 to 71 years. There was a strong agreement between TIC and FS results (κ=0.864; p<0.0001). Both TIC and FS findings strongly correlated with the final nodal evaluation of SLNs by paraffin section (κ=0.909; p<0.0001 and κ=0.955; p<0.0001, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of TIC for detecting axillary lymph node metastasis were 96.4%, 94.4%, 96.4%, and 94.4%, respectively. For FS, these values were 96.4%, 100%, 100%, and 94.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Touch imprint cytology is a feasible, quick, and cost-effective alternative to frozen section for intraoperative evaluation of SLNs in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of batch assays have been conducted to investigate the optimal factors that can be adopted to improve the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of Phragmites australis and increase biogas production. The assays were carried out using 125 mL microcosm reactors with a working volume of 80 mL and incubated at mesophilic conditions (37 ± 1ºC). The effect of particle size (10, 5, 2, and < 1 mm) and alkaline pre-treatment of P. australis using various concentrations of sodium hydroxide (0.5, 1, 2, and 4%) on biogas production was examined. Furthermore, the best pre-treatment incubation time (12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and the optimal inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR: 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4) were also assessed. The results revealed that the highest biogas production from P. australis was achieved at particle size < 1 mm (27.97 ± 0.07 and 16.67 ± 0.09 mL/g VS added, for pre-treated and untreated P. australis respectively); 2% and 4% NaOH concentration for pre-treatment (70.01 ± 3.75 and 76.14 ± 2.62 mL/g VS added, respectively); pre-treatment incubation time of 72, 96, and 120 h (71.18 ± 1.79, 72.46 ± 1.08, and 73.78 ± 1.87 mL/g VS added, respectively); and ISR of 1:2 for pre-treated P. australis (78.21 ± 0.36 mL/g VS added) and ISR 1:4 for untreated P. australis (28.93 ± 1.55 mL/g VS added). Determining optimal parameters in this work would guide further development of process configurations, such as continuous AD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on determining the effect of the inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) on biogas production efficiency from the anaerobic co-digestion of two substrates: synthetic food waste and common reeds (Phragmites australis) that were ground and pre-treated using sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 2% to increase access to their cellulose. It also studied the role of different mixing ratios of the two substrates in improving the stability of the digestion process and increasing biogas production. A series of batch tests were carried out under mesophilic conditions using three ratios of ISR: 1:4, 1:2, and 1:1, and five substrate mixing ratios (synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis): 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0, and 0:100. The results showed low biogas production at the ISR 1:4 (21.58±0.00–44.46±0.01 mL/g volatile solid (VS) added), and the reactors suffered from acidification at the different substrates mixing ratios, while the biogas production increased at an ISR of 1:2, where the reactors with the substrate mixing ratio of 25:75 presented the highest biogas production (82.17±0.62 mL/g VS added), and the digestion process was stable. However, the reactors with substrate mixing ratios of 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 suffered from acidification effects at this ISR. In contrast, at ISR of 1:1, the reactors did not expose to acidification inhibition at all the substrates mixing ratios, and the highest biogas production was found at synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis mixing ratios of 75:25 and 100:0 (76.15±1.85 and 82.47±1.85 mL/g VS added, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid industrial revolution significantly increased heavy metal pollution, becoming a major global environmental concern. This pollution is considered as one of the most harmful and toxic threats to all environmental components (air, soil, water, animals, and plants until reaching to human). Therefore, scientists try to find a promising and eco-friendly technique to solve this problem i.e., bacterial bioremediation. Various heavy metal resistance mechanisms were reported. Omics technologies can significantly improve our understanding of heavy metal resistant bacteria and their communities. They are a potent tool for investigating the adaptation processes of microbes in severe conditions. These omics methods provide unique benefits for investigating metabolic alterations, microbial diversity, and mechanisms of resistance of individual strains or communities to harsh conditions. Starting with genome sequencing which provides us with complete and comprehensive insight into the resistance mechanism of heavy metal resistant bacteria. Moreover, genome sequencing facilitates the opportunities to identify specific metal resistance genes, operons, and regulatory elements in the genomes of individual bacteria, understand the genetic mechanisms and variations responsible for heavy metal resistance within and between bacterial species in addition to the transcriptome, proteome that obtain the real expressed genes. Moreover, at the community level, metagenome, meta transcriptome and meta proteome participate in understanding the microbial interactive network potentially novel metabolic pathways, enzymes and gene species can all be found using these methods. This review presents the state of the art and anticipated developments in the use of omics technologies in the investigation of microbes used for heavy metal bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the potential use of the Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) coupled with the principle component analysis (PCA) for the discrimination/analysis of the precious gold alloy has been reported. It is very hard to discriminate between the Au-Alloys using conventional LIBS and it has been suggested that the use of multivariate methods assisted LIBS could solve the problem. Gold alloys of karats 18 K, 19 K, 20 K, 22 K, and 24 K with concentrations of 75, 79, 85, 93, and 99.9% have been tested and analyzed using LIBS. Plasma was generated on the surface of the target sample by focusing Nd: YAG laser under atmospheric pressure. Time-integrated emission spectra from plasma were collected in the range of 250–870 nm. The characteristic emission lines of constituents were identified using the NIST atomic spectra database. Normalized optical emission intensities of the detected elements were used as input data for principle component analysis (PCA). Five different three-dimensional clusters were observed, that belonged to five different karats of gold, suggesting the reliability of the model for the classification of precious alloy samples. The finding from this study showed that the LIBS coupled with PCA is an effective method for the classification of gold alloys with different percentages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to improve the quality of frozen--thawed Piedmontese bull semen by incorporating MitoTEMPO (MT) in extended semen before cryopreservation. Semen was collected from 4 fertile bulls, using an artificial vagina, once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. Semen samples were pooled, diluted with Bullxcell® extender, and supplemented with different concentrations of MT (0 as control, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 µM) before cooling, equilibration, and freezing procedures. The frozen--thawed semen was assessed for motility, vitality, acrosome intactness, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ROS level and in vitro fertilizing capability. The results showed that MT at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 µM improved the total, progressive, and rapid motility directly after thawing while, at the highest tested concentration (80 μM), it decreased the progressive and rapid motility after 1, 2, and 3 h of incubation. The sperm kinetics including STR and LIN were noticeably increased at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 µM directly after thawing (0 h), whereas the MT effect was variable on the other sperm kinetics during the different incubation periods. MitoTEMPO improved the sperm vitality at all tested concentrations, while the acrosomal and DNA integrity were improved at 20 µM and the mitochondrial membrane potentials was increased at 80 µM. The cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were significantly increased by using semen treated with 20 µM MT compared with controls. These findings suggest a potential use of MT mainly at a concentration of 20 µM as an additive in the cryopreservation media of bull semen to improve sperm quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the influence of pollution on the quality of sediments and the risks associated with El-Qusier and Safaga Cities, Red Sea, Egypt, during 2021, divided into four sectors, using multiple pollution indices. To achieve that, we evaluated the metal pollution index (MPI), contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), contamination security index (CSI), and anthropogenicity (Anp%). Moreover, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are used for human health hazards. Results indicated that Mn and Fe recorded the highest concentrations, whereas Cd had the lowest. El-Quseir City sediments were found the following metal ions: Fe > Mn > Ni > Zn > Cu > Co > Pb > Cd, where the order in the Safaga City was: Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd. MPI > 1, this is alarming in the study area due to heavy metal pollution. In addition, Cf < 1 in all metals except Cd with contamination degree CD ranged from low to considerable contamination in El-Qusier city. In contrast, contamination ranged from significant to very high in Safaga city. PLI < 1 is lower than the reference at all monitored stations. CSI values ranged from relatively low to moderate. Besides Cd, data reflect each element's low environmental danger (EriMe40). This study's risk index (RI) is low to moderate in Sector 1 and high to extremely high in Sector 2. HQ and HI index < 1 means it is safe for human health in order: HI ingestion > HI dermal. CSR for different pathways was recorded as dermal > ingestion, in which total CSR for all paths is considered harmful, and the cancer risk is troublesome and higher than the reference ranges of 1 × 10–6–1 × 10–4. In conclusion, the examined heavy metals provide environmental hazards across the assessed locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Qaroun, one of Egypt’s largest lakes, is a remnant of a much larger one; it is considered as a closed basin used as a general reservoir for agricultural wastewater drainage in El-Fayoum Province. Furthermore, the lake receives agricultural and partially treated sewage water from the El-Fayoum Governorate as well as fish farm drainage. The current study assessed the changes in physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels (Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu) in water and sediment, as well as the bioaccumulation of these heavy metals in Mugilcephalus fish samples obtained from Lake Qaroun. Thus, information on histopathological changes in the gills, liver, kidney, end of the alimentary canal, and muscles was provided. This research was conducted in three different locations along Lake Qaroun (Eastern, southeastern, and western). This study confirms an increased heavy metal pollution in the eastern and southeastern sectors of Lake Qaroun, facing the drain outlet, as a result of the discharge of drainage water effluents without prior treatment, which directly affects water quality and fish health, and subsequently human health. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the water exceeded the allowable limits. The gills are the target organ for Cd in Mugil cephalus, but Pb and Zn are preferentially collected in the kidneys, with the liver containing the highest concentrations of Cu ions. Histopathological changes with an evident damage were visible in the gills, liver, and kidneys of Mugil cephalus taken from the lake’s eastern and southeastern areas. In addition, blood parameters of Mugil cephalus collected from various study sites throughout Lake Qaroun were included in this study. A highly significant decrease was detected in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin content, and hematocrit values of fish collected from the lake's eastern and southeastern parts in comparison to fish collected from the western sector, indicating more or less normal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained inflammatory responses can badly affect several vital organs and lead to chronic inflammation-related disorders, such as atherosclerosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancers. Salvia multicaulis is one of the widely distributed plants that contains several biologically active phytochemicals and diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, finding alternative and safer natural plant-extracted compounds with good curative anti-inflammatory efficiencies is an urgent need for the clinical treatment of inflammation-related diseases. In the current study, S. multicaulis Vahl was used to extract and isolate two compounds identified as salvimulticanol and candesalvone B methyl ester to examine their effects against inflammation in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells that were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Accordingly, after culturing RAW264.7 cells and induction of inflammation by LPS (100 ng/ml), cells were exposed to different concentrations (9, 18, 37.5, 75, and 150 µM) of each compound. Then, Griess assay for detection of nitric oxide (NO) levels and western blotting for the determination of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were performed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism. Our obtained results validated that the level of NO was significantly decreased in the macrophage cell suspensions as a response to salvimulticanol treatment in a dose-dependent manner (IC50: 25.1 ± 1.2 µM) as compared to the methyl ester of candesalvone B which exerted a weaker inhibition (IC50: 69.2 ± 3.0 µM). This decline in NO percentage was comparable with a down-regulation of iNOS expression by western blotting. Salvimulticanol strongly interacted with both the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex and the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) to disrupt their inflammatory activation due to the significant hydrogen bonds and effective interactions with amino acid residues present in the target proteins’ active sites. S.multicaulis is a rich natural source of the aromatic abietane diterpenoid, salvimulticanol, which exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect through targeting iNOS and diminishing NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a mechanism that is dependent on the inhibition of TLR4-MD-2 and IKKβ as activators of the classical NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chronic abdominal pain after RYGB is a known issue. Identifying the potential patient-related and modifiable risk factors might contribute to diminish the risk for this undesirable outcome. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study with prospective data collection was conducted with inclusion of all patients who underwent RYGB surgery between 2015 and 2021. Data from the NBSR and medical records were used. Patients with chronic abdominal pain were defined when pain lasting or recurring for more than 3 to 6 months. Results: Six hundred sixty-four patients who underwent RYGB surgery were included with a median follow-up of 60.5 months. Forty-nine patients (7.3%) presented with chronic abdominal pain. Postoperative complications (OR 13.376, p = 0.020) and diagnosis of depression (OR 1.971, p = 0.037) were associated with developing abdominal pain. On the other hand, ex-smokers (OR 0.222, p = 0.040) and older age (0.959, p = 0.004) presented as protective factors. Conclusion: Postoperative complications and diagnosis of depression are risk factors for chronic pain after RYGB. The role of the bariatric MDT remains crucial to select these patients adequately beforehand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent optimization algorithm, the Rime Optimization Algorithm (RIME), was developed to efficiently utilize the physical phenomenon of rime-ice growth. It simulates the hard-rime and soft-rime processes, constructing the mechanisms of hard-rime puncture and soft-rime search. In this study, an enhanced version, termed Modified RIME (MRIME), is introduced, integrating a Polynomial Differential Learning Operator (PDLO). The incorporation of PDLO introduces non-linearities to the RIME algorithm, enhancing its adaptability, convergence speed, and global search capability compared to the conventional RIME approach. The proposed MRIME algorithm is designed to identify photovoltaic (PV) module characteristics by considering diverse equivalent circuits, including the One-Diode Model (ONE-DM) and Two-Diode Model TWO-DM, to determine the unspecified parameters of the PV. The MRIME approach is compared to the conventional RIME method using two commercial PV modules, namely the STM6-40/36 module and R.T.C. France cell. The simulation results are juxtaposed with those from contemporary algorithms based on published research. The outcomes related to recent algorithms are also compared with those of the MRIME algorithm in relation to various existing studies. The simulation results indicate that the MRIME algorithm demonstrates substantial improvement rates for the STM6-40/36 module and R.T.C. France cell, achieving 1.16% and 18.45% improvement for the ONE-DM, respectively. For the TWO-DM, it shows significant improvement rates for the two modules, reaching 1.14% and 50.42%, respectively. The MRIME algorithm, in comparison to previously published results, establishes substantial superiority and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The uterine cavity is a potential space with limited methods for evaluating its volume, limiting the evaluation of interventions' effectiveness in various uterine conditions. This study aims to objectively measure the uterine cavity volume using sonohysterography coupled with a Foley catheter to provide a normative model of age and parity-related uterine cavity volume. Methods: The research included 35 women (group 1) with a total abdominal hysterectomy and 150 women (group 2) who underwent sonohysterography for various gynecologic indications. Saline infusion sonography was administered to all patients. The most common shape obtained after the saline infusion was taken to measure the uterine cavity's dimensions and volume. The uterine cavity volumes, as measured by sonohysterography, and the volumes of saline injected after the hysterectomy were compared. Results: A significant association exists between uterine cavity volumes measured by sonohysterography and true volumes measured immediately after hysterectomy (p = 0.001). The association between uterine cavity volume measured by sonohysterography and using only a Foley catheter balloon was statistically insignificant (p = 0.13). A statistically significant positive association was observed between the uterine cavity volume and the patient's age and parity (p ⩽ 0.05). Conclusion: Measuring the uterine cavity volume using a paediatric Foley catheter balloon coupled with sonohysterography offers an objective approach to measuring a normal (without gross pathologies) uterus volume. This technique would improve the diagnostic accuracy and the management of women with distinct uterine cavity morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-casting was used to create films of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite containing different concentrations of Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The co-precipitation technique was used to synthesize Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs. Fe3O4@SiO2 impact on the PVA structure was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscope, and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) techniques. XRD reveals the destruction of the PVA semi-crystallinity with the Fe3O4@SiO2 additive. FT-IR analysis supported hydrogen bond formation between PVA molecules and the Fe3O4@SiO2 surface. The UV–visible spectrophotometer was used to investigate the optical parameters. The optical bandgap decreased with increasing the Fe3O4@SiO2 concentration in the PVA matrix. Based on the optical bandgap, the theoretical linear refractive index (n) was deduced with theoretical models. The enhancement in the nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear optical susceptibility with the Fe3O4@SiO2 additive to the PVA matrix makes it a possible material for nonlinear optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient precision vaccines against several highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses are currently lacking. Proteolytic activation is instrumental for a number of these viruses to gain host-cell entry and develop infectivity. For SARS-CoV-2, this process is enhanced by the insertion of a furin cleavage site at the junction of the spike protein S1/S2 subunits upstream of the metalloprotease TMPRSS2 common proteolytic site. Here, we describe a new approach based on specific epitopes selection from the region involved in proteolytic activation and infectivity for the engineering of precision candidate vaccinating antigens. This approach was developed through its application to the design of SARS-CoV-2 cross-variant candidates vaccinating antigens. It includes an in silico structural analysis of the viral region involved in infectivity, the identification of conserved immunogenic epitopes and the selection of those eliciting specific immune responses in infected people. The following step consists of engineering vaccinating antigens that carry the selected epitopes and mimic their 3D native structure. Using this approach, we demonstrated through a Covid-19 patient-centered study of a 500 patients' cohort, that the epitopes selected from SARS-CoV-2 protein S1/S2 junction elicited a neutralizing antibody response significantly associated with mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 (p<0.001), which strongly suggests protective immunity. Engineered antigens containing the SARS-CoV-2 selected epitopes and mimicking the native epitopes 3D structure generated neutralizing antibody response in mice. Our data show the potential of this combined computational and experimental approach for designing precision vaccines against viruses whose pathogenicity is contingent upon proteolytic activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to determine whether well-fed nulliparous she-camels (NP, n= 8) aged 2:3 years could have the same pattern of fertility status similar to multiparous she-camels (MP, n= 13; aged 8 to 13 years). Ovarian follicular dynamics and associated hormones, ovarian measures and endometrial thickness, and pregnancy rates were recorded during the period of 90 days (December-March). Every two days, the ovaries and uterus were scanned by ultrasound, and blood samples were taken. Results showed that the right ovaries were more active than the left ovaries. Ovarian length and width and endometrial thickness increased with follicles growth, and NP had longer ovaries (P<0.05) than MP she-camels and the opposite was found in the ovarian width, whereas endometrial thickness was less in NP than MP. MP had a higher mean number of emerged follicles (17.21±0.41 follicles) than NP (10.42±0.41 follicles). The mature phase duration was longer (P<0.05) in MP (11.89 days) than in NP (9.94 days). The duration of regression for DF and oversized follicles were 19.38 and 15.13 days in NP compared to 23.31 and 17.27 days in MP. Progesterone concentrations remained at the basal level throughout the follicular waves, while E2 and FSH concentrations were associated with the follicular growth, and the peak levels were recorded in the mature phase (56.88 and 7.766 vs. 62.58 and 9.017 pg/mL and mIU/mL in NP and MP, respectively). In conclusion, well-fed NP demonstrated fertility status comparable to multiparous she-camel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying prognosticators/predictors of COVID-19 severity is the principal focus for early prediction and effective management of the disease in a time-bound and cost-effective manner. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19 severity-dependent alteration in inflammatory and coagulopathy biomarkers. Methods: A hospital-dependent retrospective observational study (total: n = 377; male, n = 213; and female, n = 164 participants) was undertaken. COVID-19 exposure was assessed by performing real-time PCR on nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for both continuous and categorical variables using Rstudio-version-4.0.2. Pearson correlation and regression were executed with a cut-off of p < 0.05 for evaluating significance. Data representation by R-packages and ggplot2. Results: A significant variation in the mean ± SD (highly-sever (HS)/moderately severe (MS)) of CRP (HS/MS: 102.4 ± 22.9/21.3 ± 6.9, p-value < 0.001), D-dimer (HS/MS: 661.1 ± 80.6/348.7 ± 42.9, p-value < 0.001), and ferritin (HS/MS: 875.8 ± 126.8/593.4 ± 67.3, p-value < 0.001) were observed. Thrombocytopenia, high PT, and PTT exhibited an association with the HS individuals (p < 0.001). CRP was correlated with neutrophil (r = 0.77), ferritin (r = 0.74), and WBC (r = 0.8). D-dimer correlated with platelets (r = −0.82), PT (r = 0.22), and PTT (r = 0.37). The adjusted odds ratios (Ad-OR) of CRP, ferritin, D-dimer, platelet, PT, and PTT for HS compared to MS were 1.30 (95% CI −1.137, 1.50; p < 0.001), 1.048 (95% CI −1.03, 1.066; p < 0.001), 1.3 (95% CI −1.24, 1.49, p > 0.05), −0.813 (95% CI −0.734, 0.899, p < 0.001), 1.347 (95% CI −1.15, 1.57, p < 0.001), and 1.234 (95% CI −1.16, 1.314, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 caused alterations in vital laboratory parameters and raised ferritin, CRP, and D-dimer presented an association with disease severity at a significant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]