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Copyright of Journal of Food & Dairy Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, the impact of small additions of indium (In), nickel (Ni), and Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in the microstructure and characterization of eutectic Sn–0.7 Cu (SC07)-based solder were investigated. The third element In, Ni, or TiO2 NPs were added in varying amounts 0.4 or 0.8 wt% to SC07 alloy by replacing an equal amount of Sn for each addition. Structural analysis of the investigated samples showed that the addition of Ni or In modified the eutectic composition, leading to the appearance of primary phases (Cu6Sn5) followed by the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 and Cu6(Sn, In)5. However, addition of TiO2 NPs did not lead to formation of any new IMCs but refine β-Sn dendrites grains with a decrease in the volume fraction of Cu6Sn5 IMC. The crystallite size, lattice strain, and dislocation density of the SC07 solder alloy were improved in terms of third addition. The results indicated that the smallest crystallite size for SC07–0.8In associated with largest lattice strain and highest dislocation density. Microhardness tests were performed for all samples at room temperature. The results illustrate the enhancement indentation creep resistance of SC07 reinforced solder, which inherently correlates to the microstructure refinement and the formation of intermetallic phases (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 and Cu6(Sn, In)5 with higher hardness values. The obtained stress exponent values are in the range 9.26–11.46 for all tested alloys which close to that creep mechanisms associated with dislocation movement such as dislocation creep are predominant. Thus, we conclude that the greatest value of stress exponent for SC07–0.8In (10.9–11.46) at different loads suggested to be more resistant to indentation creep which improves the mechanical strength compared to other solders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accepted by: Aris Syntetos Launched in a post pandemic world primed for technological solutions, Gen AI marked the beginning of a transformational period. Uses, norms, standards and values embedded in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are evolving at a dizzying pace and are in flux. The current period—termed 'the Inter-AI Period'—presents an opportunity for researchers in management mathematics to shape an AI-enabled future. This window of opportunity will be short, after which mathematical principles and decision processes embedded in AI algorithms will harden. Technological evolution will certainly continue thereafter. But the views, norms, practices and strategies would have been embedded in the technology. It is up to researchers to act now to shape an AI-enabled future—one that harnesses the powers of AI but with guardrails to protect users and humanity. This invited essay is based on research involving interviews of dozens of business leaders and scholars and is intended as a call to action for researchers to grasp the gravity of this period and act now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research reveals the continued and evolving role of the human factor in decision making in digitalized retail supply chains. We compare managerial roles in a pre‐ and post‐COVID era through conducting in‐depth interviews of 25 executives spanning the retail supply chain ecosystem. We use grounded theory to develop four main contributions. First, we find that the involvement of managerial judgment is found to be progressively greater moving up the retail supply chain, away from the customer and the demand signal. Second, integration of analytics and judgment is now the primary method of decision making, and we identify elements needed for success. Third, we develop an essential framework for a successful integration process. Fourth, we isolate the necessary components of a successful process for analytics/artificial intelligence (AI) implementation. Our paper offers important insights into how analytics and AI are—and should be used—in judgment and decision making and opportunities for researchers to understand the changing role of the human factor in digitalized retail supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study highlights the protective effects of montelukast on myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass during valve replacement surgery. Methods A total of 60 patients with valvular disease undergoing elective valve surgery were enrolled in this randomized single-blinded study. Participants were divided into two main groups: Montelukast-treated group consisted of 30 patients who were given 10 mg montelukast sodium (Singulair®, MSD, USA) tablet, once daily at bedtime for 3 days before valve surgery. Control group consisted of 30 patients who underwent valve surgery without taking montelukast tablets. Blood samples were collected at following times (T0; T1 before aortic cross clamp; T2 after aortic cross clamp; and T3 24 h after the surgery), for measuring several inflammatory markers. Ejection fraction (EF) was measured before surgery and three months after surgery. Pulmonary functions were measured before and after the surgery in both study groups. Results There were significant increase in the levels of TNF-a, IL-6, a2 macroglobulin/creatinine ratio and CTnI, in the control group compared to the montelukast-treated group among different study times, (P < 0.05). In addition, the EF was significantly higher in the montelukast-treated group after the valve surgery, (P < 0.05). Levels of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratio where significantly higher in the montelukast-treated group than the control group, (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study shows the benefits of using pre-surgical montelukast supplement in ameliorating the inflammatory process in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass during valve replacement surgery. Keywords montelukast, mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery, ischemia reperfusion injury, interleukin-6, cardiac troponin 1, tumor necrotic factor-alpha, alpha 2 macroglobulin/creatinine, ejection fraction, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio

In this paper is presented a theoretical-experimental analysis of the aluminum-copper joining by friction welding. Considering that such Al-Cu bimetal joints are widely applied in industrial practice, experimental analysis in this paper was performed on the concrete elements used in electronics. The fact that the joining is done of the two dissimilar materials points to complexity of the problem, since phenomena that appear in the joint zone extremely influence physical, mechanical and structural properties of the welded/base metals. Besides the theoretical analysis of the basic phases and mechanisms of the friction welding process, the research also included experimental analysis of the geometry changes due to the plastic deformation, the change of microstructure and hardness in the joint zone, as well as of the basic mechanical properties of the Al-Cu joint, such as tensile strength. This paper presents some significant results, which point to the possibility for realization of the reliable joints of the two dissimilar metals.

Therapeutic pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) ligands are reaching clinical practice following their ability to skew the immune response in a specific direction. We investigated the effects of various therapeutic PRR ligands on bone cell differentiation and inflammation. Following stimulation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (Day 10), osteocalcin, osteonectin expression (Day 14), and calcium deposition (Day 21) were quantified in bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The osteoclastogenic response was determined by measuring tartrate-resistant acid phosphate (TRAP) activity in human monocytes. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 expressions were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as an indicator of the ligands’ inflammatory properties. We found that nucleic acid-based ligands Poly(I:C) and CpG ODN C increased early ALP activity in hMSCs by 4-fold without affecting osteoclast formation. These ligands did not enhance expression of the other, late osteogenic markers. MPLA, Curdlan, and Pam3CSK4 did not affect osteogenic differentiation, but inhibited TRAP activity in monocytes, which was associated with increased expression of all measured cytokines. Nucleic acid-based ligands are identified as the most promising osteo-immunomodulators, as they favor early osteogenic differentiation without inducing an exaggerated immune-cell mediated response or interfering in osteoclastogenesis and thus can be potentially harnessed for multifunctional coatings for bone biomaterials.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease of central nervous system characterized by inflammation, demyelination, as well as neuro-degeneration. The aim of the study is to detect factors affecting the degree of disability in multiple sclerosis patients for early identification and prognosis estimation. Methods: Ninety relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients (36 males and 54 females) were included in this retrospective cohort study in the period from February 2020 to October 2022 in Zagazig University hospital and outpatient MS clinic. Full general and neurological assessments were done to all patients. Severity was evaluated by expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Physical and psychological MS impact scales were also done. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain and spine were done with gadolinium enhancement; visual evoked potential was done for the patients. Results: Among 90 patients with RRMS, 52 (57.8 %) patients had EDSS ≤3 (group A), while 38 patients (42.2%) had EDSS >3 (group B). Multilogistic regression analysis showed that black holes, total cholesterol (TC) and disease modifying therapy (DMT) use were the independent factors affecting disability in RRMS patients. There was significant positive correlation between EDSS and Visual evoked potential (VEP) latency of RT eye and there was a negative correlation between EDSS and VEP amplitude of the RT eye. Conclusions: Black holes, TC and DMT use were independent factors affecting prognosis of RRMS that help early estimation and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Tuberculosis patients are rarely asymptomatic. Acute virus myocarditis presents with a wide range of symptoms, from mild dyspnea or chest pain to cardiogenic shock and death. Case Outline. A 26-year-old Caucasian man non-smoker presented with one-week history of lower extremities’ swelling. The patient’s medical history also revealed a two-day episode of subfebrile temperature with scanty hemoptysis three weeks prior to admission. The episode had not provoked him to seek medical care. Physical examination revealed generalized oedema, and laboratory analysis showed signs of acute renal insufficiency. Enlarged heart and hilar shadows, bilateral massive cavitary pulmonary opacities and pleural effusion were found at chest radiography. Sputum smears were Mycobacteria negative on direct microscopy. Electrocardiogram changes and echocardiography were suggestive of acute myocarditis with dilated cardiomyopathy. IgM titer to adenovirus was positive. Under diuretics, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, beta-blocker, antibiotics and bed rest, fast heart compensation and renal function repair were achieved. Radiographic pulmonary changes promptly regressed except for a cavity in the right upper lobe. Bronchial aspirate from the affected lobe was Mycobacteria positive on direct microscopy and culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Standard anti-tuberculosis drug regimen led to recovery. Conclusion. In the unusual common existence of two diseases whose presentation initially mimicked Wegener’s granulomatosis, acute dilated cardiomyopathy contributed to pulmonary tuberculosis detection. To prevent diagnostic delay in tuberculosis, further efforts in population education are necessary together with continual medical education. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175095]

Tritium (3H) present in the environment decreased in the last decades and nowadays it has low activity concentrations. Measurement of low-level tritium activities in natural waters, e. g. in precipitation, groundwater, and river water requires special techniques for water pretreatment and detection of low-level radioactivity. In order to increase the tritium concentration to an easily measurable level, electrolytic enrichment must be applied. This paper presents the enrichment method performed by electrolysis in a battery of 18 cells, giving an enrichment factor of 5.84 (calculated from 59 electrolyses). The calculated mean values of the separation factor and enrichment parameter were 4.10 and 0.84, respectively. Results for tritium activity in precipitation and surface water collected in Belgrade during 2008 and 2009 are presented. The Radiation and Environmental Protection Department of the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, participated in the IAEA TRIC2008 international intercomparison exercise. The participation in the intercomparisons for any laboratory doing low-level 3H measurements in the waters is very important and useful. It is considered the best way to check the entire procedure and methods of the measurements and the reliability of the standard used. The analysis of the reported 3H activity results showed that all results for five intercomparison samples, for which electrolytic enrichment were applied prior to the 3H measurement, are acceptable.

Two types of polyethylene, low density (LDPE) and high density (HDPE), as well as low density polyethylene containing an antioxidant were subjected to γ-irradiation in the presence of air and in water. The irradiated polymers were studied using IR spectrophotometric analysis. The radiation induced oxidative degradation was followed through the formation of oxygen containing groups by the development of bands in the 1850–1650 cm-1 region and double bonds formation by the development of bands in the 1050–850 cm-1 region. The crosslinking efficiency was determined by measuring the gel content by extraction with xylene. The radiation induced changes in the molecular structure, evolution of oxygen containing species and formation, of vinyl double bonds as well as of the crosslinking efficiency are discussed in terms of the properties of the polymers in an electric field of low strength.