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We evaluated associations between diet quality and migraine outcomes. The current work represented a cross-sectional study on 262 patients with migraine (20–50 y). Diet quality was assessed using the standard healthy eating index 2015 (HEI-2015) and alternative healthy eating index 2010 (AHEI-2010). A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Migraine outcomes included clinical factors (severity, duration, frequency, and disability related to migraine) and serum nitric oxide (NO). Associations between diet quality indices and migraine outcomes were evaluated using linear regressions, and β and 95% corresponding confidence interval (CI) were reported. HEI-2015 was inversely associated with migraine frequency (β = −4.75, 95% CI: −6.73, −2.76) in patients with the highest HEI scores (third tertile) vs. those with the lowest scores (first tertile) after adjusting for relevant confounders. AHEI-2010 was inversely associated with migraine frequency (β = −3.67, 95% CI: −5.65, −1.69) and migraine-related disability (β = −2.74, 95% CI: −4.79, −0.68) in adjusted models. Also, AHEI-2010 was inversely associated with migraine severity in patients in the second vs. first tertile (β = −0.56; 95% CI: −1.08, −0.05). We detected no associations between diet quality and NO levels (All P > 0.14). Improved diet quality may be associated with favorable migraine outcomes (lower headache frequency, severity, and migraine-related disability). Future studies are required to confirm and delineate the causal mechanisms of our observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve nonparametric estimates of lifetime distributions, we propose using the increasing odds rate (IOR) model as an alternative to other popular, but more restrictive, 'adverse ageing' models, such as the increasing hazard rate one. This extends the scope of applicability of some methods for statistical inference under order restrictions, since the IOR model is compatible with heavy-tailed and bathtub distributions. We study a strongly uniformly consistent estimator of the cumulative distribution function of interest under the IOR constraint. Numerical evidence shows that this estimator often outperforms the classic empirical distribution function when the underlying model does belong to the IOR family. We also study two different tests to detect deviations from the IOR property and establish their consistency. The performance of these tests is also evaluated through simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH) is a life-threatening condition with limited treatment options. Corticosteroids are currently recommended as the first-line therapy, but their effectiveness is controversial. Liver transplantation is an option for non-responders, but it is not widely available. A recent study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse suggests that the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in combination with pentoxifylline or corticosteroids may be associated with lower mortality rates in sAH. However, conflicting evidence and the need for larger trials indicate that further research is necessary to determine the potential benefits and risks of G-CSF in sAH treatment. In the meantime, supportive therapies, prevention of complications, and alcohol abstinence remain crucial in managing sAH. Public health policies to reduce alcohol use and detect alcohol-related health issues early could also help prevent sAH mortality. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractThe Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is a cognitive assessment suitable for diverse populations. However, the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Arabic version of RUDAS were not examined. This study aimed to examine these aspects. The Arabic RUDAS was administered twice to a sample of 37 older adults. The intraclass correlation coefficients and the Kappa coefficient examined the test-retest reliability. The internal consistency of the Arabic RUDAS was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. The RUDAS showed high internal consistency (α = 0.866) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.971), with substantial agreement between tests (Kappa = 0.78). The Arabic RUDAS is highly reliable with Palestinian older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, an immuno-modulatory effect of vitamin D supplementation have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for some inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. As previously reported, vitamin D deficiency was strongly linked to several diseases as Behçet's disease (BD). BD is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder with autoimmunity, genetic and environmental factors involvement. The aim of our current study is to set up a new therapeutic strategy in BD, combining conventional therapy and vitamin D supplementation. Blood samples were collected from active and inactive BD patients and healthy controls (HC) to evaluate 25(OH) vitamin D levels using an electrochemiluminescence method. All deficient and insufficient vitamin D BD patients' were supplemented with vitamin D3 (CHOLECALCIFEROL, 200 000 UI/1 ml). In this context, NO, IL-17A and IL-10 levels were evaluated in patients and HC in vivo and ex vivo using Griess and ELISA methods respectively. Before supplementation, we noted with interest that BD patients had vitamin D deficiency, associated with elevated in vivo and ex vivo NO and IL-17A levels compared to HC. Conversely, low IL-10 levels were observed in the same BD patients in comparison to HC. Interestingly, restored vitamin D status in supplemented BD patients was related to the decreased NO levels. In the same way, the IL-10/IL-17A ratio was improved. Collectively, our data suggest that vitamin D supplementation in combination with conventional treatments has a beneficial effect and could constitute a good therapeutic candidate for alleviating inflammatory responses during Behçet disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the proposed manuscript, we present a novel mathematical model for analysing the persistence of corruption in human communities, based on fractal-fractional concepts and the Mittag-Leffler kernel law. Corruption is considered analogous to a disease that can spread and influence others who are free from corruption. Our model evaluates the equilibrium points of corruption and tests their stability using the corruption reproduction number. We also apply the fixed point theory concept to check for the existence and uniqueness of a solution, in the context of a fractional fractal operator. Solution stability is verified using the perturbed Ulam Hyers technique, and an approximate solution is obtained through the use of Lagrangian polynomials. To test the validity of our model, we simulate all compartments at different fractional orders and time durations, providing additional insights into the dynamics of corruption beyond natural orders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We regard high degree stop-loss transforms as iterated equilibrium distributions to establish comparison criteria with respect to star-shape and convex transform orders. As an application, we derive monotonicity properties for exceedance probabilities, providing information on how likely these distributions are to be far from the extreme values of their support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersion state of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) film at variant sonication time in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) has been studied in this work. The sonication was extended up to 120 min, and the CNF-CNTs-SDS suspension's viscosity was measured at different times. Overall, viscosity of CNF-CNTs-SDS suspension decreased continuously as sonication continued except for the period of 60–75 min, where an increase in the viscosity was observed. Based on morphological investigations, the partial dispersion of particles at the early stage of sonication (i.e. up to 60 min) was followed by coagulation or reagglomeration of the particles during 60–75 min and increasing sonication time by 120 min led to improved dispersion of CNTs in CNFs. Likewise, the electrical conductivity and tensile strength obeyed the same trend due to improved CNTs-CNFs film's network (30–60 and 75–120 min) and the corresponding reduction (60–75 min) caused by the partial agglomeration of CNT and CNF moieties. These findings highlight that sonication time is not a straightforward parameter and should be elaborated to reach the desired dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its notable advantages, Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) is considered to be employed for medium-voltage motor drives. In this paper, a high-performance sensorless vector control scheme inspired from the Model Reference Adaptive System (MRAS) approach is developed for an MMC-fed induction motor. Besides the well-known vector control scheme advantage, i.e. independent control of motor flux and torque, eliminating the speed sensor will notably improve the reliability of the proposed method. The motor flux components in the αβ frame are determined and used for estimating the speed value. As the errors of flux components calculated by the motor voltage and current models are continuously compensated by a MRAS-based loop, the estimation would be accurate for a wide range of speeds. Moreover, several modifications are considered to add the capability of voltage balancing for submodule capacitors, and also circulating current control to the proposed scheme. The two aforementioned features are necessary for efficient operation of MMC. Moreover, the circulating current control capability is mandatory for injection of different circulating current profiles, which is required for reducing the flying capacitors' voltage ripples at low speeds. Finally, different performance aspects of the proposed method are experimentally assessed and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an extended-horizon predictive torque control (PTC) method is proposed with computationally efficient implementation. Predictive control with extended horizon brings important advantages compared to single-horizon methods, such as better steady-state performance, reduced current THD, and lower ripples in torque and stator flux. However, the computational burden is a serious obstacle because the required calculations rise exponentially with the extension of the prediction horizon. This is due to a high number of candidate voltage vectors and also predicting the values of several machine variables for these vectors. Different approaches are employed in this work to make the control method computationally tractable. A voltage vector reduction technique is utilised that significantly decreases the total number of enumerated vectors. Moreover, the stator current prediction is eliminated in the proposed method, based on the inherent features of the PMSM. The proposed method is experimentally implemented and its good performance and advantages are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials based on metal oxide nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties have been studied as alternatives to silver, seeking a lower cost, toxicity, and inhibition or retarding of microorganism growth. In this context, the present work aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of copper oxide (CuONPs) and zinc oxide (ZnONPs) nanoparticles against silver in Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The ultrasound method was applied to obtain the nanoparticles in a single and quick step. Antimicrobial activity was verified by the agar diffusion disk test and flask agitation test. The nanoparticles obtained from CuONPs (15 ± 10 nm) and ZnONPs (11 ± 6 nm) showed more significant inhibition for S. aureus. Besides that, CuONPs showed superior antimicrobial activity than AgNPs and ZnONPs in significant concentrations. Thus, the results reinforce the antimicrobial efficiency of silver, but suggest alternatives with a lower cost material, such as CuO and ZnO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2019/20 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 37 countries. Six countries were from outside Europe, including, for the first time in this series of articles, New Zealand. The 30,491 beekeepers outside New Zealand reported 4.5% of colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 11.1% of colonies dead after winter and 2.6% lost through natural disaster. This gave an overall colony winter loss rate of 18.1%, higher than in the previous year. The winter loss rates varied greatly between countries, from 7.4% to 36.5%. 3216 beekeepers from New Zealand managing 297,345 colonies reported 10.5% losses for their 2019 winter (six months earlier than for other, Northern Hemisphere, countries). We modelled the risk of loss as a dead/empty colony or from unresolvable queen problems, for all countries except New Zealand. Overall, larger beekeeping operations with more than 50 colonies experienced significantly lower losses (p < 0.001). Migration was also highly significant (p < 0.001), with lower loss rates for operations migrating their colonies in the previous season. A higher proportion of new queens reduced the risk of colony winter loss (p < 0.001), suggesting that more queen replacement is better. All three factors, operation size, migration and proportion of young queens, were also included in a multivariable main effects quasi-binomial GLM and all three remained highly significant (p < 0.001). Detailed results for each country and overall are given in a table, and a map shows relative risks of winter loss at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main route of fluoride uptake is drinking water. Fluoride absorption in the acceptable range (0.5–1.5 mg L−1) is suitable for the body, but its too much consumption can have irreversible health effects. To compare fluoride concentration with the WHO guidelines, 112 water samples were taken from groundwater aquifers in 22 villages of Garmsar County, the central part of Iran, during 2018 to 2019. Fluoride concentration was measured by the SPANDS method and its non-carcinogenic impacts were calculated using EDI and HQ. The statistical population was divided into four categories of infant, children, teenagers, and adults. Linear regression and Spearman rank correlation coefficient tests were used to investigate the relationships between the well's depth and fluoride concentration in the water samples. The annual mean concentrations of fluoride in 2018 and 2019 were 0.75 and 0.64 mg L−1and, the fluoride mean concentration in the samples classifying the cold and hot seasons of the studied years was 0.709 and 0.689 mg L−1, respectively. The amount of fluoride in 27% of the samples in both years was less than the acceptable minimum (0.5 mg L−1). Also, 11% of the samples in 2018 (6 samples) had fluoride levels higher than 1.5 mg L−1. The HQ showed that the children were vulnerable; teenagers and adults were in the next ranks, respectively. Statistical tests showed a reverse and significant correlation (R2 = – 0.02, β < 0.0001) between well depth and fluoride content. The border between the usefulness/harmfulness of fluoride is very narrow and requires extensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dinuclear Schiff-base complex, [Cu2L'2(μ-OAc)2], was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The symmetrical H2L ligand was synthesized from the reaction between 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline-5-one (or acylpyrazolone) with 1,3-propanediamine, but upon reaction with a metal salt, it gave the unsymmetrical HL'. The transition states and rates of interconversion between different tautomeric forms of HL' were studied by DFT computations. The imine-one (Z) in the gas phase and imine-ol (Z) in the solution were the most stable forms, most probably due to better hydrogen bonding. We also applied molecular docking modeling on the various tautomeric forms of the ligand as well as the complex with the main protease (6LU7) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Based on the obtained results, the complex had better interactions with the receptor. The order of the interactions was [Cu2L2(μ-OAc)2] > amine-one (Z) > imine-one (E) > imine-ol (Z) > amine-one (E) > imine-one (Z) > imine-ol (E). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of trapped non-thermal polarization force on low-frequency solitary waves (dust acoustic solitons) is addressed in a collisionless complex plasma. For this purpose, we have firstly redefined the three-dimensional Cairns–Gurevich distribution that describes, simultaneously, the evolution of the energetic ions and those trapped in the plasma potential well, and derived the associated both density and polarization force expressions. The polarization force effects are remarkably modified due to the presence of the trapped non-thermal ions. In particular, we have found that the polarization force magnitude decreases with the increase of ion non-thermality character. Next, the modifications arising in dust-acoustic (DA) solitons and its energy due to the presence of these trapped non-thermal density and polarization force are analyzed. In particular, we have found that the presence of the polarization force leads to an increase in the amplitude and width of DA solitary wave can be propagated in different complex plasma media. Finally, a complementary study on the polarization force effects on the DA energy, associated with both space and experimental dusty plasmas, is also carried out. Our numerical results have shown that more is strong the polarization force more is higher the energy transported by DA solitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to explore the association between adherence to Mediterranean dietary pattern and migraine headache features including frequency, duration, and severity, as well as patients' migraine-related disabilities among the Iranian population diagnosed with migraine. In the present cross-sectional study on 262 migraine patients aged 20-50 years old, a validated 168-item, food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intakes of participants. The Mediterranean diet score was calculated for each subject using nine pre-defined dietary components and ranged from 0-9. The headache severity, duration, frequency, migraine headache index score (MHIS), and headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) were measured using related questionnaires. After controlling for potential confounders, Mediterranean diet tended to be associated with lower headache frequency (β = −1.74, 95% CI: −3.53,0.03) and duration (β = −0.28, 95% CI: −0.59, −0.02) and was significantly associated with lower MHIS (β = −29.32, 95% CI: −51.22, −7.42), and HIT-6 score (β = −2.86, 95% CI: −5.40, −0.32) for those in the highest category of Mediterranean diet scores compared to the lowest category. A subgroup analysis of women also revealed a negative association between Mediterranean diet and headaches frequency (β = −2.30, 95% CI: −4.27, −0.32), duration (β = −0.42, 95% CI: −0.78, −0.07), scores of MHIS (β = −47.44, 95% CI: −71.90, −22.99), and HIT-6 (β = −3.45, 95% CI: −6.29, −0.61), after controlling for potential confounders. The present study suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower headache frequency, duration, MHIS, and HIT-6 score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferative capacity of mammalian cardiomyocytes diminishes shortly after birth. In contrast, adult zebrafish and neonatal mice can regenerate cardiac tissues, highlighting new potential therapeutic avenues. Different factors have been found to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation in zebrafish and neonatal mice; these include maintenance of mononuclear and diploid cardiomyocytes and upregulation of the proto-oncogene c-Myc. The growth factor NRG-1 controls cell proliferation and interacts with the Hippo–Yap pathway to modulate regeneration. Key components of the extracellular matrix such as Agrin are also crucial for cardiac regeneration. Novel therapies explored in this review, include intramyocardial injection of Agrin or zebrafish-ECM and NRG-1 administration. These therapies may induce regeneration in patients and should be further explored. The heart pumps blood across the body carrying nutrients and oxygen where they are needed. If the heart is damaged (e.g., after a heart attack), it may lose its ability to pump blood, and this can lead to heart failure, where the heart cannot meet the body's needs, leaving the affected person tired and breathless. This occurs because the human heart unfortunately has a limited ability to heal and regain function. Current therapies for heart injuries focus on minimizing the problems resulting from the injury but cannot recover damaged heart tissue. Scientists have found that in contrast to adult human hearts, the hearts of baby mice and zebrafish can repair themselves after injuries and recover normal function. This review highlights some important mechanisms that occur in the hearts of baby mice and zebrafish, which may help contribute to their regenerative abilities. These mechanisms involve small messenger chemicals that stimulate heart cells to replicate and reform normal heart tissues. Further research into these pathways may help develop new therapies for damaged human hearts and help them regain function. Unlike humans, adult zebrafish and neonatal mice can regenerate cardiac tissues. Key regenerative processes that occur in zebrafish and neonatal mice may help the development of future therapeutic avenues for many cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most trace metals (essential and toxic metals) in very low concentrations are needed for living organisms, especially humans, but if they exceed the recommended limit, they can lead to toxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determinate of concentration of 12 trace metals including; aluminium(Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), in 90 samples of sesame seeds from three varieties of black, yellow and white purchased from markets different cities of Iran (2019) using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. Also, Probabilistic risk assessment (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) was estimated by models include target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) in the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model. The recoveries estimated from 94% to 106%. The maximum mean value was obtained for Zn element (1707 ± 22 µg kg−1), while concentrations of Al and Hg were non-detected (ND). The concentration of five toxic metals Al, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb as average in sesame seed samples were reported as ND, 11.464 ± 1.71, 1.15 ± 0.04, ND and 16.14 ± 1.60 μg kg−1, respectively. Analyzes showed that no significant difference in the amount of trace metals between sesame varieties (black, brown and white). In most of the sesame seed samples, trace metals have been measured at lower levels than the standard limits. The results of MCS showed that the rank order of toxic metals based on 95% THQ index for both adults and children was As > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The uncertain analysis of human health risk (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks) indicated that there is no serious risk (THQ >1 and CR >1E-4) for adults and children by ingestion of sesame seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate specific risk factors and their impact on hospital readmission risk following delivery in pregnancies affected by the hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP). Methods: We performed a 10-year case-control study for patients who delivered at our institution and whose antenatal courses were complicated by HDP. The primary outcome was the identification of specific patient factors contributing to readmission. HDP pregnancies experiencing readmission for HDP signs and/or symptoms were used as the cases, with HDP pregnancies not experiencing readmission randomly selected as controls. Maternal age, gestational age at delivery, gravidity, parity, and mode of delivery (vaginal including operative, or cesarean) were recorded. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were calculated over the 24 h preceding discharge. The most recent laboratory values preceding discharge for serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and platelets were also recorded. The presence or absence of prescribed antihypertensive medication was recorded for initial hospitalization. Postpartum readmission was defined as within 30 days of delivery. Exclusion criteria involved readmission for non-HDP cause and maternal age less than 17 at delivery. Results: Within the study timeframe, 3601 patients with pregnancies complicated with HDP were identified. Of these, 34 patients were readmitted within 30 days postpartum for signs and/ or symptoms of HDP after exclusion criteria were applied A cohort of 50 controls were used for comparison for a total of 84 participants. A diagnosis of pre-eclampsia was significantly associated with readmission (p=.004) when compared to other HDP diagnoses. Demonstration of severe disease features also was associated significantly (p < 0.001) with readmission. Parity greater than or equal to three also was associated with readmission (p = 0.019). Notably, age, BMI, delivery mode, blood pressure preceding discharge, length of hospital stay, and being discharged with antihypertensive medication were not significantly associated with readmission. Conclusion: This study suggests that readmission overall for the hypertensive disease of pregnancy is rare, but that patient variables of increasing parity and presence of severe features were associated with postpartum readmission. Knowledge of these variables may assist physicians in the identification of HDP patients who are at higher risk for readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that respiratory dysfunction has a potential association with low back pain (LBP). Despite the role of the diaphragm for respiration and spinal stability, knowledge of the function of both sides of the diaphragm in subjects with LBP is still limited. This study aimed to compare the structural integrity and function of the right and left hemidiaphragm by ultrasonography (USG) in subjects with and without nonspecific chronic low back pain (NS-CLBP). A total of 37 subjects with NS-CLBP and 34 healthy subjects participated in this case-control study. The thickness, thickness change, and excursion of the right and left hemidiaphragm were compared within and between the groups during quiet breathing (QB) and deep breathing (DB) through B-mode and M-mode ultrasound imaging. The LBP group had a significantly smaller degree of right hemidiaphragm thickness change (P =.001) compared with the healthy control group, with a strong effect size. Nevertheless, there was no significant change for diaphragm thickness and excursion between the two groups. The result showed that, in the healthy group, the right hemidiaphragm had a significantly smaller thickness at expiration and larger thickness change compared with the left hemidiaphragm, with a moderate effect size. Based on the multivariate prediction analysis, the right hemidiaphragm thickness change might significantly predict LBP. We found that participants with LBP had a smaller degree of right hemidiaphragm thickness change. Also, the right hemidiaphragm thickness change might significantly predict LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is defined within the context of the critical posthuman project of decentring humanist subjectivity. We argue that because agential realism, and the agency and performativity that go with it, do not enable non-human matter to be accountable, only human matter, in its intra-active becoming with non-human matter, can support an ethical project. Secondly, we map our understanding of Barad's agential realism, explaining the importance of agential cuts in phenomena-in-their-becoming that are the world worlding itself, and evaluate ethics, agency, and performativity in this material-discursive framework. Thirdly, understanding the material-discursive to underpin storied matter, we engage it via some clarification of narrative, and narrative agency. We conclude that much organic or inorganic nature as non-human matter is directional and responsive, so alive and generative and, in this sense, capable of worlding itself. However, it does not tell its own stories in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the introduction and application of pesticides in human life, they have always been along with health concerns both in acute poisoning and chronic toxicities. Neurotoxicity of pesticides in chronic exposures has been known as one of the most important human health problems, as most of these chemicals act through interacting with some elements of nervous system. Pesticide-induced neurotoxicity can be defined in different categories of neurological disorders including neurodegenerative (Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis), neurodevelopmental (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, and intellectual disability), neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric (depression/suicide attempt, anxiety/insomnia, and cognitive impairment) disorders some of which are among the most debilitating human health problems. In this review, neurotoxicity of pesticides in the mentioned categories and sub-categories of neurological diseases have been systematically presented in relation to different route of exposures including general, occupational, environmental, prenatal, postnatal, and paternal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and oxidative stress (OS) in patients diagnosed with migraine is unknown and remains to be examined. Hence, we conducted a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial to investigate this issue. Of the 102 women who met all the inclusion criteria, 51 individuals were randomized to the DASH diet group and 51 to the usual dietary advice group to receive allocated intervention for three months. In order to assess the compliance of participants to the DASH diet, dietary records, and serum vitamin C levels were examined. Parameters of OS status (e.g. nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidative stress index (OSI)) and clinical indices of migraine (e.g. migraine index (MI), headache dairy result (HDR), and migraine headache index score (MHIS)) were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study. There was a significant reduction in NO (–5.75 vs. + 4.18, P = 0.025) and TOS (–1.55 vs. + 0.71, P = 0.034), and a marginally significant reduction in OSI (-0.10 vs. + 0.14, P = 0.060) in the DASH group compared with the control. Compliance with the DASH diet resulted in a significant decrease in the score of MI (–31.33 vs. – 15.09), HDR (–5.04 vs. –2.51), and MHIS (–44.21 vs. –26.74). Moreover, no significant change was observed in TAC, MDA, and total thiol content. This type of dietary approach can be considered as a complementary treatment for migraine patients, also further investigations are needed to replicate our findings. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20121216011763N38. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme ecosystems such as hypersaline habitats are promising source of bacteria able to produce potent natural molecules. Halophilic and halotolerant bacteria associated with an unexplored dry salt lake in Algeria have been investigated. A total of 17 isolates were phenotypically characterized. Optima temperature, pH, and salt concentration for growth have been determined. Bacteria strains have been identified based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Enzymes production and antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi strains have been investigated. The results showed that isolates were assigned to three phylotypes, within eight isolates belonging to the genus Virgibacillus, eight isolates to Bacillus, and the genus Halomonas with one representative isolate. All phylotypes were able to thrive on large scales of salt, temperature and pH. In addition, the screening of extracellular enzymes showed that all the isolates were able to produce at least two enzymes. The gelatinase, and caseinase activities were the most produced. The screening of antimicrobial compounds production revealed that these strains exhibited significant activity against Gram-positive, Candida albicans, Fusarium, and Penicillium species. Finally, this biotechnological profiling and the PCA analysis have been shown that LMB3038, LMB3095, and LMB3082 were the most performant strains and present a promising source of important molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors aimed to investigate the clinical role of miR-21 and miR-181 among glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. Expression for both miRs were detected in blood samples from newly diagnosed twenty GBM patients before and after treatment along with 20 healthy individuals using QPCR technology. MiR-21 reported increase expression while miR-181 reported decreased expression in GBM patients. Expression of miR-21 was up-regulated in GBM patients older than 60 years and frontal mass with tumor size > 5 cm while miR-181 expression was down-regulated among them. Worse PFS and OS reported increase in miR-21 expression and decrease in miR-181 expression. Detection of miR-21 and miR-181 expression levels may be a potential diagnostic and predictors for GBM prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To review the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists in managing post-TBI cognitive deficits. A search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane was conducted on Jan 12, 2021 without publication date or language restriction. Forty-seven studies were included, involving 20 (42.6%) randomized controlled trials. Four (8.5%) studies had a low risk of bias (RoB), while 34 (72.3%) had unclear and nine (19.2%) had high RoB. Six NMDAR antagonists had been investigated: amantadine (n = 32), memantine (n = 4), magnesium (n = 4), traxoprodil (n = 3), selfotel (n = 2), and dextromethorphan (n = 2). Although some benefits were observed, there are still some concerns regarding the efficacy and safety of NMDAR antagonists in improving post-TBI cognitive deficits. Further research is required to examine whether (i) these agents, notably amantadine, could accelerate cognitive improvement and shorten the hospital stay, (ii) these agents affect different cognitive domains/subdomains in the same direction, (iii) an optimal therapeutic time window exists, (iv) a member of this drug class can be proved to be effective without interfering in non-excitotoxic actions of glutamate, (v) they can be more effective as part of combination therapies or in particular subgroups of patients with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High order stop-loss transforms provide a risk measure that enables some flexibility on the weight given to high or low values of the risk. We interpret stop-loss transforms as iterated distributions and prove a recursive representation for risks expressed as convolutions. We apply this to the case of gamma distributions with integer shape parameter, the Erlang distributions, proving that high order stop-loss transforms are equivalent to the tails of the exponential distribution. The latter result is also extended to general gamma distributions. Furthermore, we prove that this equivalence to exponential tails does not hold in general, by proving that the stop-loss transform for a Weilbull distribution degenerates, unless, of course, in the exponential case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a combination of Zinc Oxide- (3-Glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane- Chitosan (ZnO-GPTMS-CS) nano-hybrid were fabricated by modifying the surface of ZnO-NPs and combining it with CS to investigate the influence of surface modification on the thermal stability and cell viability of the nanoparticles. The properties of the prepared samples including surface modification of ZnO-NPs (ZnO-GPTMS-NPs) and the ZnO-GPTMS-CS nano-hybrid were investigated by different techniques. The ZnO-GPTMS-CS nano-hybrid exhibited high thermal stability in comparison to CS and modified ZnO (ZnO-GPTMS). Moreover, the cytotoxicity assay showed that ZnO-GPTMS-CS nano-hybrid had excellent cell viability compared to ZnO-NPs and ZnO-GPTMS in different concentrations. Especially considered in regard to 50 μg/ml of nano-hybrid, cell survival remained more than 90% after 48 hours of incubation. Thus, the results indicated that ZnO-NPs reacted with GPTMS and CS has a great potential to be used in biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental research aims to evaluate the effect of the degree of saturation and relative density of the liquefaction resistance of Chlef sand. A series of undrained triaxial was carried out at an initial relative density of 12% and 75% corresponding to a loose and dense state, respectively, and under a confining pressure of 100 kPa for Skempton coefficients of 22%, 45% and 92%. The test results show that an increase of degree of saturation leads to a decrease of the shear strength of the sand. However, the maximum shear strength decreases linearly and the residual shear strength decreases logarithmically with the increase of the degree of saturation, while the excess pore pressure increases logarithmically with the increase of the degree of saturation (B). The internal friction angle decreases logarithmically with the increase of the degree of saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germ line mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 were correlated with a variety of cancer Authors aimed to use next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect BRCA1 and BRCA2 germ line mutations in glioblastoma multiform (GBM) Egyptian patients. Genomic DNA was extracted from six GBM cases, amplified using Ion AmpliSeq BRCA1 and BRCA2 panel. DNA libraries were pooled, barcoded and finally sequenced using Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine sequencer. BRCA1 the previously reported rs1799966, rs1799950, rs16941 were found in five cases and they are in a linkage disequilibrium forming two distinct haplotypes, which might support their role in cancer predisposition. Out of the 18 reported variants in BRCA2, three denovo mutations were detected which leads to frame shift. Further studies on large number of GBM patients and control cases to determine BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations and haplotypes; diagnostic and prognostic role are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting irisin as a myokine/adipokine is a new therapeutic approach in the improvement of insulin-resistance (IR) during type 2 diabetes (T2D). In present study we evaluated the effects of palmitate and chicoric acid (CA) on irisin production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with T2D. This study performed on 20 newly diagnosed patients with T2D and 20 healthy subjects. PBMCs treated with palmitate and CA. PPARGC1A and FNDC5 genes expression assessed using qRT-PCR. Irisin levels in cell culture medium measured by ELISA. Palmitate decreased PPARGC1A and FNDC5 genes expression, as well as irisin levels in PBMCs from T2D and healthy volunteers. CA significantly restored palmitate-induced decrease in PPARGC1A gene expression in PBMCs of healthy subjects. Although, FNDC5 gene expression and irisin levels were not induced significantly by CA. In conclusion, palmitate decreases irisin production through down-regulation of PPARGC1A and FNDC5 expressions. However, CA does not effect on irisin pathway. Palmitate reduced PPARGC1A and FNDC5 genes expression, as well as irisin secretion in PBMCs. Palmitate-induced decrease in PPARGC1A gene expression significantly has been reversed by CA in PBMCs of healthy subjects. CA did not return palmitate-decreased in FNDC5 gene expression and irisin levels in PBMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental thorough study on geocell reinforced loose sand (Dr = 25%), focusing on the improvement of the shear strength in undrained conditions. The experimental program includes a series of undrained compressive tests (CU) performed on loose sand samples with and without reinforcement. The experimental tests are performed for various geocell height (Hg = 15, 25 and 35 mm) and at different level of effective confining pressure (σ'c = 50, 100 and 200 kPa). The obtained results show a significant effect of geocells height and initial confining pressure on the shear strength of the reinforced sand. The apparent cohesion of the reinforced soil increases linearly with the axial strain while the friction angle is rather constant and slightly dependent on the sample deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous demands to develop advanced radio-frequency transmission at higher frequencies have initiated glass-based materials as a substrate in radio-frequency micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) applications. Due to its superior electrical insulation characteristics, glass has lower substrate losses than silicon when an electrical signal is transmitted at higher frequencies. The optical transparent nature of glass substrate makes it an attractive choice for microfluidics and Bio-MEMS applications. Despite having superior properties, glass usage has remained limited mainly due to the lack of suitable micromachining processes. Due to its hard and brittle nature, creating microfeatures by conventional methods has been a challenge. To date, laser ablation and plasma etching have been employed to create micro-size through-holes in glass substrate; however, both have severe process limitations. Electrochemical discharge drilling (ECDD) is an emerging method that possesses similar capabilities as existing technologies at a low cost. Therefore, this manuscript is presented to describe the ECDD process's potential and their hybrid methods in the direction of fabricating micro-holes for MEMS applications. This manuscript includes the fundamental aspects of the ECDD process and a detailed description of components used to develop its various configurations. ECDD-based hybrid methods have also been presented along with their mechanisms and capabilities. The existing challenges and the possible research potentials have been derived based on previously reported capabilities to establish the correlation between the ECDD process and MEMS devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver is susceptible to oxidative stress and inflammation. The effect of metformin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated liver malfunction was investigated. Rats were grouped into (1) control, (2) LPS, (3–5) LPS as well as 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of metformin for 5 weeks. LPS increased liver enzymes, IL-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) whereas metformin reduced them (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). LPS decreased total protein, albumin, total thiol, SOD and CAT (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), and metformin attenuated the effect of LPS (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The protective effect of metformin is probably mediated via suppression of inflammation and improvement of oxidative stress status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically reviews the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-5 L in studies of T2DM. Relevant articles were retrieved by searching four databases, namely, the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library up to November 2020 with English language. All stages of the review conducted by two authors and disagreements were solved by consultation with a third reviewer. Of the 1614 identified studies, 46 were remained for review. The EQ-5D-5 L mean scores ranged from 0.314 (0.4) (n = 141) for diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis to 0.971 (0.082) (n = 56) for diabetic patient without retinopathy. Mean EQ-5D-5 L scores in men (0.847) were higher those in women (0.747). Construct validity and reliability was confirmed in the studies that reported the properties of the EQ-5D-5 L, and responsiveness reported in a study that was good. There were ceiling effects in seven studies. The overall utility value was higher in Japan (0.86, 95% CI: 0.80–0.92, p = 0.0001) thanCanada (0.79, 95% CI: 0.78–0.80, p = 0.81), and the United Kingdom (0.72, 95% CI: 0.64–0.79, p = 0.0001). Findings demonstrated validity, reliability of the EQ-5D-5 L in T2DM and the existence of ceiling effects. However, the assessment of responsiveness and sensitivity needs further observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of two different exercise training protocols on myocardial fibrosis and the expression of some growth factors in aged rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group, continuous exercise training (CET) group, and the control group. After 6 weeks of experiment, mRNA levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), adropin proteins, and myocardial fibrosis were assessed. HIIT and CET induced a significant increase in the FGF-2 and adropin and a decrease in the myocardial fibrosis in compared with the control group. HIIT induced a significant increase in the VEGF if compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between CET and control group. Six weeks of HIIT and CET attenuated age-related myocardial fibrosis thereby an increase in angiogenesis-related molecules in cardiac and endothelial tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an investigation study has been carried out to evaluate the photovoltaic module degradation, in a desert area of Algeria. In this view, a set of PV modules have been put into tests and assessment for more than 11 years. These modules were assembled into three PV generators composed of monocrystalline (mc-Si) and polycrystalline (pc-Si) PV modules. The I–V curve tracer, calibrated reference m-Si solar cell and Pt1000 temperature sensor tools were used to collect the data. Three degradation modes were examined namely: (i) the visual inspection characterized mainly by a discoloration of PV modules, (ii) I–V degradation characterized by an increase in the series resistance which corresponds to electrical losses in conductors and (iii) the degradation rate (DR) assessment. The main parameters affecting on PV system performance are the high temperatures and sandstorms that characterize desert regions. The results indicated that for monocrystalline and polycrystalline PV modules, the power degradation rates were 1.53% and 0.37% per year, respectively. This degradation rate was found to be 2.36% per year for modules with broken back-sheet and corroded junction box. The production situation of examined PV systems shown a decrease of about 9%, 13%, and 6.8% for PVG1, PVG2, and PVG3, respectively, throughout the operation period. In addition, cell discoloration was observed as the predominant mode of degradation mechanism in desert climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, we deal with a class of stochastic time-fractional integral equations in Hilbert space by studying their well-posedness and regularity. Precisely, we use the celebrity fixed point theorem to prove the well-posedness of the problem by imposing the global Lipschitz and the linear growth conditions. Further, we prove the spatial and temporal regularity by imposing only a regularity condition on the initial value. An important example is considered in order to confirm and support the validity of our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8 (ASES-8) is one of the most commonly used scales to measure patient-reported arthritis-specific self-efficacy. However, evidence about the validity and reliability of ASES-8 in an Arabic-speaking arthritis population is lacking. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and assess aspects of validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the ASES-8. The ASES-8 was translated into the Arabic language using the back-translation method, and administered to 67 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Construct validation methods used exploratory factor analysis and correlating the ASES-8 scores with disease-related variables expected to be related to the arthritis self-efficacy construct. An internal consistency test was conducted. Floor and ceiling effects were considered present if more than 15% of patients achieved high (=10) and low (=1) scores on the Arabic ASES-8 for both the scale and item scores. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution (factor loadings: 0.54–0.81). ASES-8 scores were correlated with all measures assessed (r = −0.24 to −0.57 and r = 0.06–0.66), demonstrating construct validity. Internal consistency was acceptable for measures of Cronbach's alpha (0.86–0.88). The scale did not exhibit ceiling or floor effects. The Arabic version of ASES-8 is valid and reliable for evaluating self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES-8) questionnaire was translated and adapted for use in Arabic language. This questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating self-efficacy among Arabic individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. This will support greater use of this tool worldwide in clinical and research practices that include Arabic people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of this paper is to study and to model the dielectric behavior of two ternary composites prepared from a mixture of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and one of the two materials (iron oxide (Fe304) or ferrite) in epoxy resin matrix which the volume fraction is fixed at 70%. The time domain spectroscopy (TDS) method is used to characterize the samples under test in the range from direct current (DC) to 12.5 GHz. The conductivity behavior study is performed at a low frequency of 250 MHz, throughout this work. The study has therefore been focused on the effect of adding iron oxide and ferrite to titanate included in an epoxy matrix. In this work, we present a new approach to model the permittivity behavior of a ternary composite by the introduction of the shape factor for different mixture laws in order to best fit the model to experimental data. Subsequently, a comparison is made with these modified laws to determine the most suitable one. To predict the dielectric permittivities of the ternary composites and their shape factor coefficients in a quantitative manner, we use a numerical optimization method for identification the parameters of the theoretical model. These composite materials find their interest in the miniaturization of electronic components used in microelectronic circuits and in the telecommunication applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a dynamic study of the rotating composite shaft vibratory behavior and the effects of different mechanical coupling. In fact, Modified ESLT is generalized from ESLT to consider not only the effects of fiber orientation, stacking sequences and shear-normal coupling but also the influences of different mechanical coupling on rotating composite shafts. The close agreement in the achieved results proves the efficiency of the developed finite element based on Modified ESLT. Furthermore, obtained results revealed that different mechanical coupling, fiber orientations and stacking sequences have an important influence on the rotating composite shaft dynamic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural polymeric biomaterial that is widely adopted for the preparation of drug delivery systems. Herein, we aimed to fabricate and characterize SF nanoparticles loaded with the selective estrogen receptor modulator; tamoxifen citrate (TC-SF-NPs) and to assess their in vitro efficacy against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). TC-loaded SF-NPs were characterized for particle size, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and release profile. In addition, we examined the in vitro cytotoxicity of TC-SF-NPs against human breast cancer cell lines and evaluated the anticancer potential of TC-SF-NPs through apoptosis assay and cell cycle analysis. Drug-loaded SF-NPs showed an average particle size of 186.1 ± 5.9nm and entrapment efficiency of 79.08%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the nanoparticles had a spherical morphology with smooth surface. Tamoxifen release from SF-NPs exhibited a biphasic release profile with an initial burst release within the first 6 h and sustained release for 48 h. TC-SF-NPs exerted a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cell lines. In addition, flow cytometry analysis revealed that cells accumulate in G0/G1 phase, with a concomitant reduction of S- and G2-M-phase cells upon treatment with TC-SF-NPs. Consequently, the potent anticancer activities of TC-SF-NPs against breast cancer cells were mainly attributed to the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our results indicate that SF nanoparticles may represent an attractive nontoxic nanocarrier for the delivery of anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]