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Abstract The World Health Organization declared a state of emergency in 2022 because of monkeypox. This disease has raised international concern as it has spread beyond Africa, where it is endemic. The global community has shown attention and solidarity in combating this disease as its daily increase becomes evident. Various skin symptoms appear in people infected with this disease, which can spread easily, especially in a polluted environment. It is difficult to diagnose monkeypox in its early stages because of its similarity with the symptoms of other diseases such as chicken pox and measles. Recently, computer-aided classification methods such as deep learning and machine learning within artificial intelligence have been employed to detect various diseases, including COVID-19, tumor cells, and Monkeypox, in a short period and with high accuracy. In this study, we propose the CanDark model, an end-to-end deep-learning model that incorporates cancelable biometrics for diagnosing Monkeypox. CanDark stands for cancelable DarkNet-53, which means that DarkNet-53 CNN is utilized for extracting deep features from Monkeypox skin images. Then a cancelable method is applied to these features to protect patient information. Various cancelable techniques have been evaluated, such as bio-hashing, multilayer perceptron (MLP) hashing, index-of-maximum Gaussian random projection-based hashing (IoM-GRP), and index-of-maximum uniformly random permutation-based hashing (IoM-URP). The proposed approach’s performance is evaluated using various assessment issues such as accuracy, specificity, precision, recall, and fscore. Using the IoM-URP, the CanDark model is superior to other state-of-the-art Monkeypox diagnostic techniques. The proposed framework achieved an accuracy of 98.81%, a specificity of 98.73%, a precision of 98.9%, a recall of 97.02%, and fscore of 97.95%.

The hot, arid climate of the Qassim region in Saudi Arabia poses significant challenges for energy-efficient building design, especially in terms of passive cooling strategies. Courtyards, a traditional architectural element, offer potential for improving thermal performance in such climates. However, the impact of courtyard plan aspect ratio and orientation on energy consumption in semi-detached houses remains understudied. This research addresses this gap by investigating the thermal behavior of U-shaped courtyards in arid climates through IES simulations. The study aims to assess the influence of different courtyard shapes (square and rectangular) and orientations (north, east, west, and south) on cooling loads in adjacent spaces. Two semi-detached house configurations, each featuring either a square or rectangular U-shaped courtyard, were modeled and analyzed. The findings indicate that square courtyards perform better than rectangular, reducing cooling loads during summer months. South-facing courtyards exhibited the highest energy consumption due to prolonged solar exposure, while west-facing courtyards had the lowest cooling loads. Furthermore, the results show that the internal zoning of rooms adjacent to the courtyard should be strategically planned based on thermal performance, as specific zones experienced varying cooling demands depending on courtyard shape and orientation. In conclusion, optimizing courtyard design, including plan aspect ratio and orientation, can significantly enhance energy efficiency and thermal comfort in arid climates. These insights provide architects with practical guidelines for designing more sustainable and energy-efficient courtyard houses. Future research could explore the integration of social and environmental aspects, as well as the impact of natural light on adjacent spaces

Abstract The major challenge for the construction industry is to design and produce sustainable construction materials that are efficient in their performance and can be affordable for construction projects. The objective of this study is to determine the viability of incorporating waste products such as sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) to produce concrete with polypropylene (PP) fibers. SCBA is an industry waste that has certain pozzolanic properties, however, it shows limited mechanical properties when used as a cement replacement. To improve the mechanical and durability performance, metakaolin (15%) and PP fiber (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were incorporated in the SCBA blend as a ternary additive. Some of the important characteristics explored include compressive strength, tensile strength, density, water absorption, acid resistance, and sorptivity. The study reveals that the incorporation of 15% metakaolin in the composite enhanced the compressive strength by 7%, 8.2%, and 9.1% for PP fiber additions of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, while the acid resistance enhanced by 4%, 6% and 8% relative to the control mix for the same value of pp fiber. Furthermore, cost evaluation confirms that the overall costs of concrete with 15% metakaolin and 5% SCBA were 12.2% less than the control concrete, thus making this option economically feasible. This research proves that the inclusion of SCBA, metakaolin, and PP fibers into the concrete mixture brings a sustainable approach that enhances mechanical properties and durability while assisting sugar manufacturing plants in the proper disposal of wastes.

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) infection represents a crucial health problem, especially among children and adolescents. The ledipasvir (LDV)/sofosbuvir (SOF) regimen has been approved to treat adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years old) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 4, 5, and 6 and then extended to include children above or equal to 3 years old. The current study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SOF/LDV combination in treating CHC-infected 12- to 17-year-old adolescents. Patients and methods This retrospective cohort study was performed on 147 Egyptian adolescents with CHC. The patients were treated with SOF 400 mg/LDV 90 mg combination once daily for 12 weeks. Possible side effects and laboratory data including HCV ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (RNA PCR), complete blood count (CBC), and liver tests were recorded at baseline and week 12 after the end of treatment (EOT). Results Sustained virological response 12 weeks (SVR12) after end of treatment (EOT) was observed in 146 out of 147 patients (99.3%). The treatment regimen was efficiently tolerated with no reported cases of discontinuation caused by intolerability. Moreover, the side effects were minimal; 71.4% of the patients did not report any side effects related to the treatment. However, the rest mentioned fatigue, headache, or both of them. Fatigue was the main side effect reported in 16.3% of the patients. Furthermore, ALT and AST levels were normalized after treatment. FIB-4 and APRI scores were statistically significantly decreased 2 years post-SVR, in comparison to their levels before treatment, from 0.34 and 0.36 to 0.25 and 0.17, respectively. Conclusion The LDV/SOF regimen is one of the safe regimens used to treat adolescent patients with CHC infection.

Abstract Motivated by certain results known from the literature, in this paper we give several new dynamic inequalities for B-monotone functions with respect to time scales nabla calculus. If the time scale represents the set of real numbers, our results reduce to integral inequalities known from the literature. On the other hand, in the setting of positive integers, we obtain new discrete inequalities for B-monotone sequences.

Abstract Ephedra alata Decne is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the management of bronchial asthma and cancer. Phytochemical analysis and biological activities, including antioxidant and anticancer effects, were investigated in the current work as new findings for the plant E. alata, a species growing wildly in the marsh and saline environments of the central area of Saudi Arabia. The Ultra Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled with Electron spray ionization-Quadropole-Time of flight (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF) system was used for the phytochemical analysis of the plant constituents. In addition, Polyphenolic profiling including the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of the plant extracts were measured. Phenolic acids were found at the highest relative percentages among all the identified compounds and were measured at 66.07 mg GAE (Gallic acid equivalent). The UPLC analysis of the E. alata extract indicated the presence of chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, rosmarinic acid, umbelliferone, isorhoifolin, and apigenin at the highest relative percentages. Mineral analysis indicated that the microelement content of E. alata was relatively low, except for magnesium (Mg). In vitro antioxidant assays revealed the ability of the plant to scavenge DPPH free radicals, reduced molybdenum ions, and ferrous at levels of 14.63, 19.97, and 27.78 mg Trolox equivalents, respectively. The extract induced transition metal chelation at 31.36 mg EDTA equivalents. The extract induced cytotoxic effects against MDA-231 and A549 cell lines at IC50 levels of 25.31 and 39.81 µg/mL, respectively. The plant extract inhibited the colonization and migration of cancer cells as part of its potential anticancer effects. In addition, major E. alata constituents like isorhoifolin, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid exhibited the lowest binding energy to the CAIX enzyme at − 8.41, − 6.64, − 6.32, and − 6.26 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to the binding energy (− 7.72 kcal/mol) of the co-crystallized ligand (Y0R). The docking results further supported the selection of the CAIX enzyme as a standard predictive therapeutic target, since it exhibited significant binding interactions with the major constituents of the plant.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Genetic variants in miRNA processing genes, DROSHA and DICER, have been implicated in cancer susceptibility and progression in various populations. However, their role in Egyptian patients with breast cancer (BC) remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the association of DROSHA rs10719 and DICER rs3742330 polymorphisms with BC risk and clinical outcomes. This case–control study included 209 BC patients and 106 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan assays in blood, tumor tissue, and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression and Fisher’s exact test. The DROSHA rs10719 AA genotype was associated with a 3.2-fold increased risk (95%CI = 1.23–9.36, p < 0.001), and the DICER rs3742330 GG genotype was associated with a 3.51-fold increased risk (95%CI = 1.5–8.25, p = 0.001) of BC. Minor allele frequencies were 0.42 for rs10719 A and 0.37 for rs3742330 G alleles. The risk alleles were significantly more prevalent in tumor tissue than adjacent normal tissue (rs10719 A: 40.8% vs. 0%; rs3742330 G: 42.7% vs. 0%; p < 0.001). However, no significant associations were observed with clinicopathological features or survival outcomes over a median follow-up of 17 months. In conclusion, DROSHA rs10719 and DICER rs3742330 polymorphisms are associated with increased BC risk and more prevalent in tumor tissue among our cohort, suggesting a potential role in miRNA dysregulation during breast tumorigenesis. These findings highlight the importance of miRNA processing gene variants in BC susceptibility and warrant further validation in larger cohorts and different ethnic populations.

Background: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) has long been considered the treatment of choice for infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Levofloxacin has emerged as a potential option for treating these infections. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients who received TMP-SMX versus levofloxacin for treating S. maltophilia infections. Methods: A retrospective, cohort study was conducted in 4 tertiary centres and included patients who were treated with either TMP-SMX or levofloxacin for infections caused by S. maltophilia. The main study outcomes were overall in-hospital mortality, 30-d mortality, and clinical cure. Safety outcomes were also evaluated. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to control for the effect of the covariables. Results: We included 371 patients in this study, 316 received TMP-SMX and 55 patients received levofloxacin. A total of 70% were in the intensive care unit and 21% presented with bacteraemia. No statistically significant differences were observed in overall in-hospital mortality (52% vs. 40%; P = 0.113; odd ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89–2.86), 30-d mortality (28% vs. 25%; P = 0.712; OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.59–2.18), or clinical cure (55% vs. 64%; P = 0.237; OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.37–1.31). Rates of acute kidney injury were comparable between the two groups (11% vs. 7%; P = 0.413). Conclusion: Patients receiving levofloxacin for the treatment of infections caused by S. maltophilia demonstrated clinical outcomes similar to those receiving TMP-SMX. Our study suggests that levofloxacin can be a reasonable alternative to TMP-SMX to treat these infections.

Jaundice is a well-known condition that is commonly encountered during daily clinical practice. However, recurrent episodes of jaundice in which the unconjugated bilirubin is predominant without evidence of hemolysis have very restricted differential diagnoses, the most common of which is Gilbert’s syndrome (GS). Here, we reported a case of GS in a young adult in whom the recurrent attacks of jaundice were triggered by stressful situations. GS is a benign inherited condition that does not lead to liver cell injury; hence reassurance and avoidance of the triggering factors including a wide list of medications represent the cornerstones for the management of this condition.

Purpose A wide range of cytokines has been demonstrated to be involved in the etiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Gene polymorphisms may potentially contribute to a hereditary predisposition toward circulating cytokine levels as (high, intermediate, or low) since they can affect cytokine production or function. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of cytokine levels and the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within cytokine genes with T1DM in Saudi children. Methods Totals of 91 well-characterized T1DM patients and 91 T1DM-free control subjects were enrolled in this study. Results The levels of 3 circulating cytokines (transforming growth factor [TGF]-β1, interleukin [IL]-10, and IL-6) and 6 SNPs in 3 cytokine genes (TGF-β1 [rs1800470 and rs1800471], IL-10 [rs1800896, rs1800871, and rs1800872], and IL-6 [rs1800795]) that contribute to genetic susceptibility were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. Our fn dings show that TGF-β1 serum levels were signifcantly lower in the children with T1DM than in the control participants. The TGF-β1 genotypes with a high-production phenotype were signifcantly less frequent and those with a lowproduction phenotype were signifcantly more frequent in the children with T1DM compared to the control participants. respectively. Furthermore, the IL-6 genotype frequency with low level of IL-6 production were signifcantly increased in the T1DM group compared to the control group. Moreover, our data demonstrated no appreciable diferences in circulating serum level or genotype and phenotype of IL- 10 between the patients and controls. Conclusions This kind of measurement, which considers the prediction of T1DM, may be useful in assessing the severity of T1DM and susceptibility to T1DM among Saudi children.

Abstract In an attempt to create wastewater treatment “green” techniques that are both economically feasible and sustainable without using any dangerous chemicals, barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) water extract was used to phyto-synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag°). Barley grains served as a natural reductant and stabilizer at the same time. The role of different synthesis conditions and their effect on the efficiency of the green synthesis process were studied and confirmed with characterization using several techniques (UV–vis, SEM, EDX, sizing distribution, and FTIR). The Ag°9 formula catalytic reduction was inspected against p-nitrophenol (PNP) and methylene blue (MB) as a model of nitroaromatic components and dyes, respectively. The removal studies were conducted using the target pollutants in a single or mixed liquid state. Remarkably, the Ag°9 particle size was around 20 nm, and its final concentration in the current formula was 2.2 × 10−7 mol L−1. The adsorption mechanism of the PNP and MB was pseudo-second order. The good fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggests that chemisorption occurs in the sorption process. The formula catalytic activity to remove PNP and MB was 99 and 66% at levels 60 and 500 µL from the Ag°9 formula, respectively, within less than 5 min.

Abstract Introduction Efficient epidemiological monitoring of virus diseases is crucial in evaluating general public health, the prevalence of specific diseases, the pattern of spread, and implementing preventative and control strategies into action. Methods This study analyzed data obtained from the Field Epidemiology Program (FETP) which is part of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia, which contained reported cases of infectious diseases over four years, from January 2018 to December 2021, to investigate and highlight the significant trend and incidence rate for each viral infectious disease. Results Of the reported viral infectious diseases, hepatitis B and C, dengue fever (DF), influenza, chickenpox, and measles were the highest reported viral cases over four years. For the aforementioned diseases, males were often more susceptible to viral infections than females. Except for DF, this viral infection was more common in Saudi citizens. Viral illnesses like hand, foot, and mouth disease were less prevalent, while neurological viral disorders such as acute flaccid paralysis were rarely detected. There was an overall reduction in viral cases recorded during 2020–2021, which may be attributed to the implementation of preventive measures during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic or an underreporting of cases during the lockdown of that time. Conclusion The prevalence of these common viral infections in the Saudi population suggests that understanding the mechanisms influencing changes in these viruses, methods of transmission, and the burden of these diseases is a priority for health policy. This understanding is necessary to develop effective intervention and preventive strategies.

In this paper, we used the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and the Bayes methods to perform estimation procedures for the reliability of stress-strength $ R = P(Y < X) $ based on independent adaptive progressive censored samples that were taken from the Chen distribution. An approximate confidence interval of $ R $ was constructed using a variety of classical techniques, such as the normal approximation of the MLE, the normal approximation of the log-transformed MLE, and the percentile bootstrap (Boot-p) procedure. Additionally, the asymptotic distribution theory and delta approach were used to generate the approximate confidence interval. Further, the Bayesian estimation of $ R $ was obtained based on the balanced loss function, which came in two versions here, the symmetric balanced squared error (BSE) loss function and the asymmetric balanced linear exponential (BLINEX) loss function. When estimating $ R $ using the Bayesian approach, all the unknown parameters of the Chen distribution were assumed to be independently distributed and to have informative gamma priors. Additionally, a mixture of Gibbs sampling algorithm and Metropolis-Hastings algorithm was used to compute the Bayes estimate of $ R $ and the associated highest posterior density credible interval. In the end, simulation research was used to assess the general overall performance of the proposed estimators and a real dataset was provided to exemplify the theoretical results.

Abstract Background Wound management is a critical procedure in veterinary practice. A wound is an injury that requires the body’s cells’ alignment to break down due to external assault, such as trauma, burns, accidents, and diseases. Re-epithelization, extracellular matrix deposition, especially collagen, inflammatory cell infiltration, and development of new blood capillaries are the four features that are used to evaluate the healing process. Using a natural extract for wound management is preferred to avoid the side effects of synthetic drugs. The current study aimed to assess the effect of major pregnane glycoside arabincoside B (AR-B) isolated from Caralluma arabica (C. arabica) for the wound healing process. Method AR-B was loaded on a gel for wound application. Rats were randomly distributed into six groups: normal, positive control (PC), MEBO®, AR-B 0.5%, AR-B 1%, and AR-B 1.5%, to be 6 animals in each group. Wounds were initiated under anesthesia with a 1 cm diameter tissue needle, and treatments were applied daily for 14 days. The collected samples were tested for SOD, NO, and MDA. Gene expression of VEGF and Caspase-3. Histopathological evaluation was performed at two-time intervals (7 and 14 days), and immunohistochemistry was done to evaluate α -SMA, TGF-β, and TNF-α. Result It was found that AR-B treatment enhanced the wound healing process. AR-B treated groups showed reduced MDA and NO in tissue, and SOD activity was increased. Re-epithelization and extracellular matrix deposition were significantly improved, which was confirmed by the increase in TGF-β and α -SMA as well as increased collagen deposition. TNF-α was reduced, which indicated the subsiding of inflammation. VEGF and Caspase-3 expression were reduced. Conclusion Our findings confirmed the efficiency of AR-B in enhancing the process of wound healing and its potential use as a topical wound dressing in veterinary practice.

Abstract The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation launched in 2020 the national project to rehabilitate the canals network to rationalize the use of water resources to face the scarcity problems. The aim of study is to evaluate the impact of canal rehabilitation on the performance of irrigation water delivered laterally to Mesqa’s and longitudinally to the end of canal. Qaraqoul Canal et al.-Mallah Area, Alexandria, Egypt, was modeled using Hydrologic Engineering Center's-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) to simulate water levels in the canal before and after rehabilitation using four discharge scenarios: 1.82, 3.7, 2.2, 7.87 m3/s. The calibration before rehabilitation shows that HEC-RAS simulated water levels corresponding to a discharge of 2.2 m3/s were in a good agreement with the actual field measured water levels. HEC-RAS results demonstrated that rehabilitation hydraulically improved the efficiency and performance of water conveyed by the canal. On the other hand, second scenario can be considered as suitable to keep water to reach the canal downstream with minimum suitable discharge, providing the need of two emergency pumps at last two branch canals called Mesqa’s. An ideal cross-section is also simulated using HEC-RAS which produced an efficient alternative with 40% less cost than the constructed alternative.

Abstract Climate change has brought an alarming situation in the scarcity of fresh water for irrigation due to the present global water crisis, climate variability, drought, increasing demands of water from the industrial sectors, and contamination of water resources. Accurately evaluating the potential of future rice genotypes in large-scale, multi-environment experiments may be challenging. A key component of the accurate assessment is the examination of stability in growth contexts and genotype-environment interaction. Using a split-plot design with three replications, the study was carried out in nine locations with five genotypes under continuous flooding (CF) and alternate wet and dry (AWD) conditions. Utilizing the web-based warehouse inventory search tool (WIST), the water status was determined. To evaluate yield performance for stability and adaptability, AMMI and GGE biplots were used. The genotypes clearly reacted inversely to the various environments, and substantial interactions were identified. Out of all the environments, G3 (BRRI dhan29) had the greatest grain production, whereas G2 (Binadhan-8) had the lowest. The range between the greatest and lowest mean values of rice grain output (4.95 to 4.62 t ha-1) was consistent across five distinct rice genotypes. The genotype means varied from 5.03 to 4.73 t ha-1 depending on the environment. In AWD, all genotypes out performed in the CF system. With just a little interaction effect, the score was almost zero for several genotypes (E1, E2, E6, and E7 for the AWD technique, and E5, E6, E8, and E9 for the CF method) because they performed better in particular settings. The GGE biplot provided more evidence in support of the AMMI study results. The study's findings made it clear that the AMMI model provides a substantial amount of information when evaluating varietal performance across many environments. Out of the five accessions that were analyzed, one was found to be top-ranking by the multi-trait genotype ideotype distance index, meaning that it may be investigated for validation stability measures. The study's findings provide helpful information on the variety selection for the settings in which BRRI dhan47 and BRRI dhan29, respectively, performed effectively in AWD and CF systems. Plant breeders might use this knowledge to choose newer kinds and to design breeding initiatives. In conclusion, intermittent irrigation could be an effective adaptation technique for simultaneously saving water and mitigating GHG while maintaining high rice grain yields in rice cultivation systems.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) has emerged as an accelerated-incidence chronic condition. UC has been identified as a precancerous lesion for colorectal cancer. Up-to-date genomic research revealed the value of many noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in UC pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis. Aim: The present study was aimed at measuring both MALAT-1 and CCAT-1 in the sera of UC patients as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and correlating them with the Mayo score which is a novel predictive indicator of malignant transformation as well as with clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. Patients and methods: Sixty-six UC patients and 80 healthy individuals participated in this study, the serum fold changes of MALAT-1 and CCAT-1 were measured by using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: The current study findings include overexpressed lncRNAs MALAT-1 and CCAT-1 in the sera of ulcerative colitis patients [(median (IQR) = 2.290 (0.16–9.36), mean ± SD = 3.37 ± 3.904 for MALAT-1, and median (IQR) = 7.305 (0.57–16.96), mean ± SD = 6.81 ± 4.002 for CCAT-1 than controls, ROC curve analysis reported that these genes could predict UC. Both genes were positively correlated with each other which enforces their synergistic effects. Both genes are diagnostic for UC patients.We related studied genes to the severity of the disease. In addition to a significant positive correlation between each gene with ESR and Mayo score, we further classified the patients according to severity (according to Mayo score to remission, mild, moderate, and severe groups) with the following results; lower levels of MALAT-1 and CCAT-1 were significantly associated with mild disease and increased gradually with more severe forms of the disease (p

In this study we have adopted a new synthetic route for different substituted Schiff base derivatives (1–10) and examined their anti-diabetic potential. All these compounds exhibited a varied range against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with antidiabetic potential. Analog (6) with triflouro methyl substituent, present on the para position of the ring was emerged as most potent compound. Acarbose was used as reference drug with IC50 = 6.80 ± 0.40 μM and 7.20 ± 0.70 μM for α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Furthermore, antibacterial and antifungal activity of these compounds was also evaluated against E. coli and A. alternate in the presence of marketed drug Terbinafine and Streptomycin. Binding modalities of synthesized compounds with the receptor residues of target enzymes were explored by in silico docking. Additionally, ADME analysis and DFT were also conducted to assess the drug-like characteristics and electronic properties of the potent derivatives. The synthesized compounds were confirmed through spectroscopic techniques such as 13C NMR, 1H NMR and HREI-Mass spectrometry.

IntroductionThe groundwater in arid countries such as Egypt represent the main water resources in the desert regions due to the long distance between these regions (oasis) and Nile River. Contamination of these limited water resources with toxic metals threaten the health of individuals in these regions.MethodsThe current study integrates isotopic tracers, hydrogeochemistry, geophysical logs, positive matrix factorization (PMF model), and Monte Carlo (MCS) simulation for pollution source apportionment and health risks associated with heavy metals in the Nubian Sandstone aquifer (NSSA).Results and DiscussionThe water resource used for drinking purposes (NSSA) is pale meteoric water (non-rechargeable aquifer). Silicate weathering, old trapped sea water, reverse ion exchange evaporation, and dissolution are the dominant mechanisms controlling water chemistry. PMF model showed that the major ions and heavy metals in groundwater of the NSSA originated from four significant sources (anthropogenic activities, dissolution of minerals, iron-bearing minerals, mixing with old trapped seawater, and hydrothermal water). The total risk (HI) oral values highlighted significant non-carcinogenic dangers for adults and children through the oral exposure. At the same time, dermal contact posed a no risk for adults and a high risk for children. Most samples had carcinogenic risk (CR) values higher than the allowed limits (1.0E-4) for metals like Cadmium, chromium, and lead, suggesting carcinogenic effects across all age groups. The Monte Carlo approach-based health concern evaluation model assessed the 5th % CR oral values (child) as 0.00012, 0.0036, and 0.0088 for Cd, Cr, and Pb, respectively, indicating more significant potential dangers to children. Urgent and comprehensive water treatment measures are imperative to mitigate the identified carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks in the study area.

Baby corn, characterized by its high water activity and elevated respiration rate, poses a formidable obstacle to prolonged storage under standard ambient conditions and necessitates specialized treatments for transportation to distant locations. One of the primary postharvest challenges associated with baby corn is the occurrence of brown pigment formation because of enzymatic browning at the apex of its immature ovules, cut surfaces, and silk attached to the young ears. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different blanching treatments on peroxidase inactivation, physicochemical properties, and functional properties of baby corn. The treatments applied were hot water blanching (HWB) at temperatures ranging from 70°C to 90 °C for 30–240 s, steam blanching (SB) for 30–240 s, and microwave blanching (MWB) at power levels of 360 W–900 W for 30–300 s. Results indicated that 90 % peroxidase enzyme inactivation occurred under different methods as 90 °C for 60 s for HWB, 100 °C for 60 s for SB, and 540 W for 30 s for MWB. These blanching methods have shown significant effects on the properties under investigation. MWB demonstrated the highest retention of ascorbic acid (94.15 %) and minimal color changes (ΔE = 5.72) in comparison to hot water and steam blanching. Similarly, the result for total flavonoid content for 540 W, 90 °C and 100 °C for 30, 60, and 60 s were found to be 3.01,1.99 and 2.10 mg QE/100g, phenols 48.98, 47.99 and 48.03 mg GAE/100g and DPPH (%) 42.55, 34.20 and 37.08 % respectively. The findings suggest that microwave blanching of baby corn at 540 W for 30 s holds promise to inactivate the peroxidase enzyme with better retention of physicochemical and functional properties.

Objective: Hepatic Ca2+ signaling has been identified as a crucial key factor in driving gluconeogenesis. The involvement of mitochondria in hormone-induced Ca2+ signaling and their contribution to metabolic activity remain, however, poorly understood. Moreover, the molecular mechanism governing the mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux signaling remains unresolved. This study investigates the role of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCLX, in modulating hepatic mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux, and examines its physiological significance in hormonal hepatic Ca2+ signaling, gluconeogenesis, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Methods: Primary mouse hepatocytes from both an AAV-mediated conditional hepatic-specific and a total mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCLX, knockout (KO) mouse models were employed for fluorescent monitoring of purinergic and glucagon/vasopressin-dependent mitochondrial and cytosolic hepatic Ca2+ responses in cultured hepatocytes. Isolated liver mitochondria and permeabilized primary hepatocytes were used to analyze the ion-dependence of Ca2+ efflux. Utilizing the conditional hepatic-specific NCLX KO model, the rate of gluconeogenesis was assessed by first monitoring glucose levels in fasted mice, and subsequently subjecting the mice to a pyruvate tolerance test while monitoring their blood glucose. Additionally, cultured primary hepatocytes from both genotypes were assessed in vitro for glucagon-dependent glucose production and cellular bioenergetics through glucose oxidase assay and Seahorse respirometry, respectively. Results: Analysis of Ca2+ responses in isolated liver mitochondria and cultured primary hepatocytes from NCLX KO versus WT mice showed that NCLX serves as the principal mechanism for mitochondrial calcium extrusion in hepatocytes. We then determined the role of NCLX in glucagon and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Consistent with previous studies, glucagon and vasopressin triggered Ca2+ oscillations in WT hepatocytes, however, the deletion of NCLX resulted in selective elimination of mitochondrial, but not cytosolic, Ca2+ oscillations, underscoring NCLX’s pivotal role in mitochondrial Ca2+ regulation. Subsequent in vivo investigation for hepatic NCLX role in gluconeogenesis revealed that, as opposed to WT mice which maintained normoglycemic blood glucose levels when fasted, conditional hepatic-specific NCLX KO mice exhibited a faster drop in glucose levels, becoming hypoglycemic. Furthermore, KO mice showed deficient conversion of pyruvate to glucose when challenged under fasting conditions. Concurrent in vitro assessments showed impaired glucagon-dependent glucose production and compromised bioenergetics in KO hepatocytes, thereby underscoring NCLX’s significant contribution to hepatic glucose metabolism. Conclusions: The study findings demonstrate that NCLX acts as the primary Ca2+ efflux mechanism in hepatocytes. NCLX is indispensable for regulating hormone-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ oscillations, mitochondrial metabolism, and sustenance of hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Abstract Background Efficacy of parasitic wasps from the genus Trichogramma to attack the eggs of numerous important pests in various agricultural crops makes them one of the most prevalent biocontrol agents. In Trichogramma, the pre-pupal stage can survive during the cold season in a dormant state (diapause or quiescence). The optimal conditions for the induction of this pause of development during mass rearing to store the parasitoid for a long time in good quality depend on the species. In the present study, four factors [the incubation periods (24 and 48 h), diapause induction temperatures (9 and 11 °C), durations of the diapause induction (from 0 to 6 weeks), and the periods of storage (from 0 to 6 months)], were experimented to force Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, reared on Sitotroga cerealella, to enter diapause or quiescence and estimating their impacts on the efficacy of stored parasitoid. Results Results confirmed that the life parameters of T. evanescens as the percentage of adult emergence, female percentage, rates of wing deformation of emerged adults, and fecundity of emerged females were significantly affected by all experimented factors. The pre-storage treatments made it possible to store the parasitoid for at least 2 months at 3 °C, with no much changes in their fitness, the emergence rate of adults reached more than 80%, and the egg-laying efficacy of females reached more than 42 eggs per emerged female, when diapause induction treatments were applied for 5 weeks at 11 °C after 24 h of incubation. Furthermore, there is the possibility of storage for 6 months with an acceptable level of parasitoid’s quality, when diapause induction treatments were applied for 5 weeks at 9 °C after 24 h of incubation, the emergence rate reached 70%, and the number of eggs per female was 52 eggs, while no emergence of adult insects was recorded after 3 months of cold storage without diapause induction treatments. Conclusion Two storage programs were reached for T. evanescens (depending on the adult emergence rate and fecundity of emerged females). There is a long-term storage (6 months), when diapause was induced at a low temperature (9 °C) after 24 h of incubation. Short-term storage (from 2 to 4 months), when quiescence was induced under a higher temperature of 11 °C after both 24 and 48 h of incubation.

Abstract Background Cereals have historically played a crucial role in the human diet, serving as a significant natural source of energy and offering various health benefits. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been given significant attention in recent years due to its exceptional nutritional value, surpassing that of other cereals. The objective of this research is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts obtained from three different barley cultivars. Results The G.136 variety's acetone extract exhibited the highest level of antioxidant activity in both the DPPH assay, with an IC50 of 55.62 µg/ml, and the FRAP assay, with 447 μM trolox/mg extract. The dominant compounds identified before in the acetone fraction were subjected to an evaluation of their docking scores, along with an assessment of ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) and TOPKAT (Toxicity Prediction by Komputer Assisted Technology) studies. Notably, hordatine A1, prodelphinidin B3, hordatine B1, procyanidin B2, and isovitexin 7-O-glucoside were the major compounds with the highest LipDock scores compared to trolox the reference drug with polyphenol oxidase. Conclusions The findings indicate that the acetone extract from all three cultivars demonstrates noteworthy results, surpassing the efficacy of other solvent extracts against the antioxidant activity.

Abstract Background Olfactory and gustatory disorders are common problems encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic with a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life: The aim of this study was to assess the olfactory and gustatory functions in COVID-19 patients with correlation between them and clinical and laboratory markers. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 63 subjects recruited from the COVID-19 clinics at Police Authority and Menoufia University hospitals. The patients were assessed using history taking, anterior rhinoscopy, endoscopic examination, computed tomography, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Olfactory functions were assessed using the alcohol threshold test. Gustatory functions were assessed using the three-drop method. The olfactory and gustatory functions were correlated with age, gender, and laboratory parameters. Also, the recovery of smell and taste disorders was correlated with our assessed laboratory markers. Results The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction among study participants was 41 patients (65%) of the participants including 12 patients (19.1%) having mild hyposmia, 10 patients (15.8%) having moderate hyposmia, 9 patients (14.3%) having severe hyposmia, and 10 patients (15.8%) having complete anosmia. The prevalence of gustatory dysfunction among study participants was 24 patients (38.1%). Age, gender, and laboratory parameters did not show any statistically significant difference between those who experienced olfactory dysfunction or gustatory dysfunction and those who did not. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the total leucocytic count, serum level of CRP, and serum level of D-dimer and the degree of olfactory dysfunction (0.049, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively). There was a nonsignificant correlation between recovery of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction and laboratory markers. Conclusion Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are established clinical presentations among COVID-19-positive patients. The laboratory markers had no correlation with the incidence of these dysfunctions or their recovery. However, TLC, serum CRP, and serum D-dimer had a significant positive correlation with the severity of olfactory dysfunction.

Abstract This investigation considered the usability of ceramic waste powder (CWP) in altered quantities in reinforced concrete beams (RCBs). In this way, it was aimed to reduce the environmental impacts of concrete by using CWP as a raw material in RCBs. 12 small-scale shear RCBs with the dimensions of 100 × 150 × 1000 mm were tested in this study. The variations of stirrups spacing and CWP ratio were examined in these specimens. The percentages of CWP by weight utilized in RCBs were 10%, 20%, and 30%, and stirrups spacings were adopted as 270 mm, 200 mm, and 160 mm. At the end of the study, it was determined that more than 10% CWP additive negatively affected the RCBs' compressive strength. The load-carrying capacity reduced between 30.3% and 59.4% when CWP increased from 0% to 30% as compared to RCB with stirrups spacing of 270 mm without CWP. However, compared to RCB with stirrups spacings of 200 mm and 160 mm without CWP, there were decreases in the load-carrying capacity as 21.4%–54.3% and 18.6%–54.6%, respectively. While the CWP ratio increased, the specimens with 160 mm, 200 mm, and 270 mm stirrups spacings obtained a lower maximum load value. However, with the increase of the CWP ratio in the specimens with 160 mm stirrups spacing, RCBs reached the maximum load-carrying capacity at an earlier displacement value. When stirrups spacing was selected as 270 mm, it was observed that the maximum load-carrying capacity of RCBs reached at a similar displacement value as the CWP ratio increased. Besides, it was resulted that the bending stiffness of RCBs reduced as the quantity of CWP enhanced. The bending stiffness decreased by 29.1% to 66.4% in the specimens with 270 mm stirrups spacing, 36.3% to 20.2% with 200 mm stirrups spacing, and 10.3% to 36.9% with 160 mm stirrups spacing. As an implication of the experiments, the use of CWP up to 10% in RCBs was realized as an economical and environmental approach and is suggested. There is some evidence to report that making use of CWP may be considered to be ecologically benign. This is due to the fact that reusing CWP may significantly reduce CO2 emissions, save energy, and reduce total power consumption. Furthermore, the experimental results were compared to the analytical calculations.

Background: As of November 2023, twenty-four states, two territories, and DC have legalized marijuana for non-medical use, leading to concerns about its potential oral health effects. This study investigated the association between marijuana use and clinical dental outcomes among adults in the US. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2015 to 2018 using a cross-sectional survey of non-institutionalized US civilians. Marijuana use was assessed among 18–59-year-old adults and categorized as never, former, or current frequent use. The dental outcomes included the prevalence of untreated coronal caries, root caries, and missing teeth. We employed logistic and negative binomial regressions to assess the crude and adjusted associations between marijuana use, dental caries, and tooth loss. Results: Of the 6,424 participants, 13.85% of US adults aged 18–59 years were current frequent marijuana users (21.67 million), with the highest prevalence among 18–29-year-olds (21.31%), males (17.54%), and non-Hispanic Black individuals (21.31%). Frequent marijuana users showed the highest prevalence of untreated coronal caries (33.4%). Before adjusting for socioeconomic confounders, current frequent marijuana users had 1.76 times higher odds of having teeth with coronal caries, whereas former frequent users had 1.47 times higher odds. However, the associations between marijuana use and all dental outcomes were attenuated after adjusting for socioeconomic confounders, tobacco use, and access to dental care. Conclusion: Although marijuana use was associated with worse dental health, socioeconomic factors, tobacco use, and access to dental care were more significant contributors to the prevalence of untreated dental caries and missing teeth than marijuana use alone.

Abstract Introduction Bacterial infections have a significant impact on human health; they can cause severe morbidity and mortality, particularly in susceptible populations. Epidemiological surveillance is a critical tool for monitoring the population's health and facilitate the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. Knowing the burden of bacterial communicable diseases is an initial core step toward public health goals. Methods Saudi epidemiology surveillance data were utilized to depict the changing epidemiology of bacterial infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia from 2018 to 2021. The cumulative numbers of cases, demographics, and incidence rates were analyzed and visualized. Parametric tests were used to compare the difference in the mean values between categorical variables. Regression analysis was employed to estimate trends in disease rates over time. Statistical significance was set at p value ≤ 0.05. Results The results revealed that brucellosis, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis were the most frequently reported bacterial infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia. Males were more significantly affected by brucellosis and tuberculosis infections than females. Salmonellosis infections were more significant among Saudi citizens, while pulmonary tuberculosis was more significant in non-Saudis. Interestingly, there was a decline in the incidence rates of numerous bacterial infectious diseases during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions. Some bacterial infectious diseases were rarely reported in Saudi Arabia, including syphilis and diphtheria. Conclusions The future perspective of this research is to enhance disease surveillance reporting by including different variables, such as the source of infection, travel history, hospitalization, and mortality rates. The aim is to improve the sensitivity and specificity of surveillance data and focus on the mortality associated with bacterial pathogens to identify the most significant threats and set a public health priority.

Abstract Background and aims NS5A inhibitors are an important option for treating chronic HCV-GT4 patients. Retreatments after NS5A-based DAAs failure are limited. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of SOF/VEL-containing regimens for HCV retreatment after NS5A-regimen failure. Methods Prospective cohort study assessing the efficacy and safety of retreatment with SOF/VEL in addition to either voxilaprevir or ribavirin in patients who had failed previous NS5A-based DAA treatment. The primary outcome was SVR12. Safety and tolerability data were collected. Results One hundred fifty patients were included. The mean age was 53 years, 64% were male, and 50% of included patients had liver cirrhosis, with a mean FIB-4 score of 3.12 (± 2.30) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7.27 (± 0.48), and failed previous SOF/DCV + RBV, they were assigned to 24 weeks of SOF/VEL + RBV. The remaining 50% of participants had no liver cirrhosis and failed previous SOF/DCV, they were assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with SOF/VEL/VOX. Overall, SVR12 was achieved by 96% (n = 144/150) of included patients; 97.33% for SOF/VEL/VOX and 94.67% for SOF/VEL/RBV. Thirty-one patients experienced mild AEs; the most commonly reported mild AE in the SOF/VEL + RBV group was hyperbilirubinemia (n = 9) whereas in the SOF/VEL/VOX group were headache (n = 4) and vertigo (n = 4). Only one patient in SOF/VEL + RBV reported moderate treatment-related AE in the form of anemia and no reported severe AE. Conclusion Retreatment of non-cirrhotic patients with 12 weeks SOF/VEL/VOX and treatment of cirrhotic patients with 24 weeks with SOF/VEL + RBV after the failure of first-line NS5A-based therapy was an effective and well-tolerated treatment option.

Herein, five Schiff’s base analogs (designated as AK1 to AK5) were synthesized and screened for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacies. All compounds exhibited analgesic activity at selected doses from 45.31 % to 75.75 %, while the standard drug diclofenac sodium produced result as 86.33 %. Compounds AK1, AK3, AK4 and AK5 were found significantly P

The current study described the synthesis of pyrazine-based novel molecules (1–15) using stepwise processes and their structures have been identified using various characterization techniques such as 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and HREI-MS. Furthermore, biological assessment of these scaffolds as anti-Alzheimer, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal activities were evaluated. Their inhibitory potentials were determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the presence of standard drugs donepezil (IC50 = 8.90 ± 0.20 µM), streptomycin (inhibition = 36.5 %), and Terbinafine (inhibition = 31.7 %) respectively. Among the screened molecules against acetylcholinesterase enzyme, the potent behavior was shown by scaffolds 1 (IC50 = 3.20 ± 0.40 µM), 2 (IC50 = 2.10 ± 0.20 µM), 4 (IC50 = 2.90 ± 0.10 µM), 5 (IC50 = 5.80 ± 0.30 µM), 6 (IC50 = 7.20 ± 0.20 µM), 8 (IC50 = 6.30 ± 0.30 µM), 9 (IC50 = 6.50 ± 0.20 µM), 10 (IC50 = 7.30 ± 0.20 µM) and 11 (IC50 = 7.10 ± 0.20 µM). Structure-activity relationship was carried out which mainly depends upon the substitution pattern around the phenyl ring. These compounds were further investigated by molecular docking studies which explore the binding interaction of ligands with active sites of enzymes. Moreover, ADMET prediction was also studied for potent scaffolds that displayed drug-like properties.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments on the shear bond strength (SBS) of clear aligner attachments bonded to Bis-acryl provisional crowns.Methods120 cylindrical bisacrylic composite material (ProTemp type) specimens were prepared and divided into six groups (n = 20) based on surface treatment, control: (no treatment); super coarse grit diamond bur, carbide bur, alumina-blasting, non-thermal plasma treatment, and Er:YAG laser treatment. The features of treated surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A flowable composite resin (Transbond XT; 3M Unitek) was bonded to the specimens forming the attachment. Half of specimens were subjected to thermal cycling (5,000 cycles). SBS was measured before and after thermal cycling. Each specimen was loaded at the attachment/resin interface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min until failure. The nature of the failure was analyzed using the composite remnants index (CRI). Two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD were used for data analysis α = 0.5. For CRI scores analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparison were used as post-hoc test.ResultsSEM analysis showed that all surface treatments altered surface properties and increase surface bonding area. The specimens treated with plasma, Er:YAG laser, and alumina-blasting had higher SBS values before and after thermal cycling. In comparison to control plasma, Er:YAG laser, and alumina-blasting showed a significant increase in SBS (P 0.05). Thermal cycling significantly decreased the SBS of control, carbide bur, diamond bur, and Er:YAG laser while no significant effect of alumina-blasting and plasma group. Er:YAG laser and plasma groups significantly exhibited more dominance for scores 2 and score 3 and the absence of score 0.ConclusionAlumina-blasting, Er:YAG laser, or non-thermal plasma surface treatments increased the shear bond strength between clear aligner attachments and resin-based restorations.

COVID-19 is currently considered the ninth-deadliest pandemic, spreading through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals. It has imposed a consistent strain on both the financial and healthcare resources of many countries. To address this challenge, there is a pressing need for the development of new potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of this disease. To identify potential antiviral agents as novel dual inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2, we retrieved 404 alkaloids from 12 selected medicinal antiviral plants and virtually screened them against the renowned catalytic sites and favorable interacting residues of two essential proteins of SARS-CoV-2, namely, the main protease and spike glycoprotein. Based on docking scores, 12 metabolites with dual inhibitory potential were subjected to drug-likeness, bioactivity scores, and drug-like ability analyses. These analyses included the ligand–receptor stability and interactions at the potential active sites of target proteins, which were analyzed and confirmed through molecular dynamic simulations of the three lead metabolites. We also conducted a detailed binding free energy analysis of pivotal SARS-CoV-2 protein inhibitors using molecular mechanics techniques to reveal their interaction dynamics and stability. Overall, our results demonstrated that 12 alkaloids, namely, adouetine Y, evodiamide C, ergosine, hayatinine, (+)-homoaromoline, isatithioetherin C, N,alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl vincosamide, pelosine, reserpine, toddalidimerine, toddayanis, and zanthocadinanine, are shortlisted as metabolites based on their interactions with target proteins. All 12 lead metabolites exhibited a higher unbound fraction and therefore greater distribution compared with the standards. Particularly, adouetine Y demonstrated high docking scores but exhibited a nonspontaneous binding profile. In contrast, ergosine and evodiamide C showed favorable binding interactions and superior stability in molecular dynamics simulations. Ergosine demonstrated exceptional performance in several key pharmaceutical metrics. Pharmacokinetic evaluations revealed that ergosine exhibited pronounced bioactivity, good absorption, and optimal bioavailability. Additionally, it was predicted not to cause skin sensitivity and was found to be non-hepatotoxic. Importantly, ergosine and evodiamide C emerged as superior drug candidates for dual inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 due to their strong binding affinity and drug-like ability, comparable to known inhibitors like N3 and molnupiravir. This study is limited by its in silico nature and demands the need for future in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm these findings.

Opisthorchis viverrini is the etiological agent of the disease opisthorchiasis and related cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). It infects fish-eating mammals and more than 10 million people in Southeast Asia suffered from opisthorchiasis with a high fatality rate. The only effective drug against this parasite is Praziquantel, which has significant side effects. Due to the lack of appropriate treatment options and the high death rate, there is a dire need to develop novel therapies against this pathogen. In this study, we designed a multi-epitope chimeric vaccine design against O. viverrini by using immunoinformatics approaches. Non-allergenic and immunogenic MHC-1, MHC-2, and B cell epitopes of three candidate proteins thioredoxin peroxidase (Ov-TPx-1), cathepsin F1 (Ov-CF-1) and calreticulin (Ov-CALR) of O. viverrini, were predicted to construct a potent multiepitope vaccine. The coverage of the HLA-alleles of these selected epitopes was determined globally. Four vaccine constructs made by different adjuvants and linkers were evaluated in the context of their physicochemical properties, antigenicity, and allergenicity. Protein-protein docking and MD simulation found that vaccines 3 was more stable and had a higher binding affinity for TLR2 and TLR4 immune receptors. In-silico restriction cloning of vaccine model led to the formation of plasmid constructs for expression in a suitable host. Finally, the immune simulation showed strong immunological reactions to the engineered vaccine. These findings suggest that the final vaccine construct has the potential to be validated by in vivo and in vitro experiments to confirm its efficacy against the CCA causing O. viverrini.

In the past two decades, the world has witnessed devastating pandemics affecting the global healthcare infrastructure and disrupting society and the economy worldwide. Among all pathogens, viruses play a critical role that is associated with outbreaks due to their wide range of species, involvement of animal hosts, easily transmitted to humans, and increased rates of infectivity. Viral disease outbreaks threaten public health globally due to the challenges associated with controlling and eradicating them. Implementing effective viral disease control programs starts with ongoing surveillance data collection and analyses to detect infectious disease trends and patterns, which is critical for maintaining public health. Viral disease control strategies include improved hygiene and sanitation facilities, eliminating arthropod vectors, vaccinations, and quarantine. The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Public Health Authority (also known as Weqayah) in Saudi Arabia are responsible for public health surveillance to control and prevent infectious diseases. The notifiable viral diseases based on the Saudi MOH include hepatitis diseases, viral hemorrhagic fevers, respiratory viral diseases, exanthematous viral diseases, neurological viral diseases, and conjunctivitis. Monitoring trends and detecting changes in these viral diseases is essential to provide proper interventions, evaluate the established prevention programs, and develop better prevention strategies. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the epidemiological updates of the recently reported viral infections in Saudi Arabia and to provide insights into the recent clinical treatment and prevention strategies.

Traditionally concrete strength determination has been a costly and time-consuming process, relying on periodic laboratory testing using compression tests on concrete-filled cylinders. To address these challenges, an innovative framework has been developed using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology-based low-cost wireless sensors. These sensors have been programmed to integrate with a real-time data monitoring platform using the Firebase cloud computing application. This framework allows remote real-time concrete compressive strength monitoring while reducing the need for on-site laboratory testing. This aspect can ultimately add digital competencies to the construction industry. The IoT-based data is further integrated with the Building Information Modeling (BIM) model of the structure, developing its Digital Twin (DT), which enables the concerned authorities to remotely access the concrete compressive strength parameters, particularly in the early stages. The proposed system presents notable advantages compared to traditional methods by enabling remote real-time monitoring of concrete strength parameters in the BIM environment and facilitating informed decision-making to optimize the construction schedule utilizing the Active BIM system. It serves as a pioneering advancement in internet/remote applications designed to monitor early-age compressive strength. By assisting project managers in timely actions such as formwork removal, post-tensioning, curing termination, and reshores removal, it generates significant cost savings in terms of labor and expedites the completion of construction activities.

Fish represents an abundant and underutilized waste product from the fishing industry. This study investigated the effects of incorporating fish scale powder (FSP) at various dosages (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%) on the properties of asphalt binder and mixtures. Conventional tests, viscosity, storage stability, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and multiple stress creep recovery tests were conducted on the binder. Mix design, wheel tracking, indirect tensile strength, fatigue, and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were evaluated for the asphalt mixtures. The results showed that FSP increased the binder’s stiffness and reduced the temperature susceptibility but compromised the low-temperature performance and workability regardless of the dosages. The storage stability test results demonstrated the improved high-temperature storage stability. In the mixtures, the permanent deformation resistance enhanced with increasing the FSP content, decreasing the rut depth from 4.3 mm for the control sample to 2.9 mm at 12% FSP. The moisture damage resistance, indicated by the tensile strength ratio, increased from 90% for the control sample to 94.1% at 12% FSP. However, the fatigue life decreased from 14010 cycles for the control sample to 11190 cycles at 12% FSP. The dynamic and elastic modulus values before conditioning increased with higher FSP dosages, and this increasing trend was also observed after conditioning, signifying greater stiffness retention and moisture resistance of the asphalt mixtures containing higher amounts of FSP. Numerically, the 6–9% FSP range offered the optimum balance, improving the rutting resistance by 18% and the moisture resistance by 3.2% compared to those of the control sample, while limiting the fatigue life to 12% and maintaining the workability. Overall, FSP has potential for use as an asphalt biomodifier by transforming an environmental liability into a value-added sustainable paving material.

The current study integrates remote sensing, machine learning, and physicochemical parameters to detect hydrodynamic conditions and groundwater quality deterioration in non-rechargeable aquifer systems. Fifty-two water samples were collected from all water resources in Siwa Oasis and analyzed for physical (pH, T°C, EC, and TDS) chemical (SO42−, HCO3−, NO3−, Cl−, CO32−, SiO2, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, and K+), and trace metals (AL, Fe, Sr, Ba, B, and Mn). A digital elevation model supported by machine learning was used to predict the change in the land cover (surface lake area, soil salinity, and water logging) and its effect on water quality deterioration. The groundwater circulation and interaction between the deep aquifer (NSSA) and shallow aquifer (TCA) were detected from the pressure-depth profile of 27 production wells penetrating NSSA. The chemical facies evolution in the aquifer systems were (Ca–Mg–HCO3) in the first stage (freshwater of NSSA) and changed to (Na–Cl) type in the last stage (brackish water of TCA and springs). Support vector machine successfully predicted the rapid increase of the hypersaline lake area from 22.6 km2 to 60.6 km2 within 30 years, which deteriorated a large part of the cultivated land, reflecting the environmental risk of over-extraction of water for irrigation of agricultural land by flooding technique and lack of suitable drainage network. The waterlogging in the study was due to a reduction in the infiltration rate (low permeability) of the soil and quaternary aquifer. The cause of this issue could be a complete saturation of agricultural water with chrysotile, calcite, talc, dolomite, gibbsite, chlorite, Ca-montmorillonite, illite, hematite, kaolinite and K-mica (saturation index >1), giving the chance of these minerals to precipitate in the pore spaces of the soil and decrease the infiltration rate. The NSSA is appropriate for irrigation, whereas TCA is inappropriate due to potential salinity and magnesium risks. The best way to manage water resources in Siwa Oasis could be to use underground drip irrigation and combine water with TCA and NSSA.

This study aimed to present findings on a paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded polymeric micellar formulation based on polycaprolactone-vitamin E TPGS (PCL-TPGS) and evaluate its in vitro anticancer activity as well as its in vivo pharmacokinetic profile in healthy mice in comparison to a marketed formulation. Micelles were prepared by a co-solvent evaporation method. The micelle's average diameter and polydispersity were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. Drug encapsulation efficiency was assessed using an HPLC assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity was performed on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) using MTT assay. The in vivo pharmacokinetic profile was characterized following a single intravenous dose of 4 mg/kg to healthy mice. The mean diameters of the prepared micelles were ≤ 100 nm. Moreover, these micelles increased the aqueous solubility of PTX from ∼0.3 μg/mL to reach nearly 1 mg/mL. While the PTX-loaded micelles showed an in vitro cytotoxicity comparable to the marketed formulation (Ebetaxel), drug-free PCL-TPGS micelles did not show any cytotoxic effects on both types of breast cancer cells (∼100% viability). Pharmacokinetics of PTX as part of PCL-TPGS showed a significant increase in its volume of distribution compared to PTX conventional formulation, Ebetaxel, which is in line with what was reported for clinical nano formulations of PTX, i.e., Abraxane, Genexol-PM, or Apealea. The findings of our studies indicate a significant potential for PCL-TPGS micelles to act as an effective system for solubilization and delivery of PTX.

The traditional method of producing medicine using the “one-size fits all” model is becoming a major issue for pharmaceutical manufacturers due to its inability to produce customizable medicines for individuals’ needs. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a new disruptive technology that offers many benefits to the pharmaceutical industry by revolutionizing the way pharmaceuticals are developed and manufactured. 3D printing technology enables the on-demand production of personalized medicine with tailored dosage, shape and release characteristics. Despite the lack of clear regulatory guidance, there is substantial interest in adopting 3D printing technology in the large-scale manufacturing of medicine. This review aims to evaluate the research efforts of 3D printing technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical research and development. Our analysis indicates an upsurge in the overall research activity of 3D printing technology but there is limited progress in pharmaceuticals research and development. While the MENA region still lags, there is evidence of the regional interest in expanding the 3D printing technology applications in different sectors including pharmaceuticals. 3D printing holds great promise for pharmaceutical development within the MENA region and its advancement will require a strong collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners in parallel with drafting detailed guidelines from regulatory authorities.

Saudi Arabia implemented precautionary measures earlier before the first COVID-19 case had been confirmed. In March 02, 2020, the first COVID-19 was confirmed in Saudi Arabia which resulted in tightening precautionary measures. Turaif’s location and population structure present a challenge for pandemic management. Multidisciplinary approach is essential to ensure efficiency of coordinated effortsbetween local authority and health officials.

Abstract Jatropha variegata and Jatropha spinosa (family: Euphorbiaceae) are utilized in Yemeni traditional medicine to treat respiratory tract infection and in different skin conditions such as wound healing, as antibacterial and hemostatic. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and the antiviral activities of the methanolic J. variegata (leaves: Ext-1, stems: Ext-2, and roots: Ext-3), and J. spinosa extracts (aerial parts: Ext-4 and roots: Ext-5), in addition to their methylene chloride fractions of roots extracts (F-6 and F-7, respectively). All samples were tested against three human cancer cell lines in vitro (MCF-7, HepG2, and A549) and two viruses (HSV-2 and H1N1). Both plants showed significant cytotoxicity, among them, the methylene chloride fractions of roots of J. variegata ( F-6 ) and J. spinosa roots (F-7) showed the highest activity on MCF-7 (IC50 = 1.4 and 1 μg/mL), HepG2 (IC50 = 0.64 and 0.24 μg/mL), and A549 (IC50 = 0.7 and 0.5 μg/mL), respectively, whereas the IC50 values of the standard doxorubicin were (3.83, 4.73, and 4.57 μg/mL) against MCF-7, HepG2, and A549, respectively. These results revealed that the roots of both plants are potential targets for cytotoxic activities. The in vitro results revealed potential antiviral activity for each of Ext-3, Ext-5, F-6, and F-7 against HVS-2 with IC50 of 101.23, 68.83, 4.88, 3.24 μg/mL and against H1N1 with IC50 of 51.29, 27.92, 4.24, and 3.06 μg/mL respectively, whereas the IC50 value of the standard acyclovir against HVS-2 was 83.19 μg/mL and IC50 value of the standard ribavirin against H1N1 was 52.40 μg/mL .The methanol extracts of the roots (Ext-3 and Ext-5) of both plants were characterized using UPLC/MS. A total of 73 metabolites were annotated, including fourteen diterpenoids, eleven flavonoids, ten phenolic acid conjugates, twelve fatty acids and their conjugates, five triterpenes and steroids, two sesquiterpenes, and six coumarins. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activities determined in the present work are explained by the existence of flavonoids, coumarins and diterpenes with commonly known cytotoxicity and antiviral activities.

Abstract Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a high incidence of spread. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization proclaimed a public health emergency of worldwide concern. More than 6.9 million deaths and more than 768 million confirmed cases had been reported worldwide as of June 18, 2023. This study included 51 patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The present study aimed to identify the expression levels of lncRNA CASC2 and miRNA-21-5p (also known as miRNA-21) in COVID-19 patients and their relation to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. The expression levels of noncoding RNAs were measured by RT-PCR technique. Results detected that CASC2 was significantly downregulated while miRNA-21-5p was significantly upregulated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. A significant negative correlation was found between CASC2 and miRNA-21-5p. ROC curve analysis used to distinguish COVID-19 patients from controls. MiRNA-21-p serum expression level had a significant positive association with temperature and PO2 (p = 0.04 for each). These findings indicate that CASC2 and miRNA-21-p might be used as potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in COVID-19.

Background: Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a chemical substance used to enhance taste, add color, and keep food products fit for consumption for a longer time. NaNO2 gives rise to a negative adverse effect on male reproductive function. Odontonema cuspidatum (OC) is a natural plant that possesses antioxidant capacity. Aim: Our research evaluates the potential beneficial effect of Odontonema cuspidatum extract on the harmful effects caused by NaNO2 on the testicular tissue and sperm characteristics of male rats. Methods: Four groups with a total of forty rats: the control, the NaNO2-received group, the OC-administered group, and the fourth group received both NaNO2 and OC. All groups were administered daily for two months. Sperm characteristics, testicular antioxidant status and histopathological changes were evaluated. Results: Coadministration of NaNO2 and OC, in comparison with NaNO2 alone, contributed to a notable enhancement in acrosomal integrity, decreasing sperm abnormalities and restoring serum testosterone levels. Moreover, such coadministration reduced the oxidative stress marker, MDA, and increased SOD in testicular tissue, lowering TNF-α gene expression, and increasing the expression of P450scc and StAR genes. Additionally, the NaNO2 and OC combination decreased the testicular histopathological changes and the Caspase-3 and PCNA immunoexpression in seminiferous tubules compared with the NaNO2 group. Conclusion: The extract of Odontonema cuspidatum exhibited the ability to decrease oxidative stress and ameliorate the detrimental effects caused by NaNO2. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(1.000): 304-315]

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) into electric power systems has been widely explored and adopted to address the problems associated with the depletion of fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gases. PV panels convert sunlight into electricity, minimizing the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental pollution. It is crucial to optimally utilize the PV power in the system; hence maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms have been developed to ensure optimal performance of grid-connected PV systems at the maximum power point (MPP) despite changes in weather conditions. Moreover, deep reinforcement learning (DRL) developments provide a promising approach for optimizing grid-connected PV systems, replacing the conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. However, there is limited research evaluating the efficiency of these systems using DRL techniques. This paper proposes a new dandelion optimizer (DO)-based DRL for MPPT of grid-connected photovoltaic systems and evaluates the proposed method for a 100-MW PV plant connected to a 33-kV distribution system. The proposed DRL technique uses proximal policy optimization (PPO) and deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithms for continuous states and discrete or continuous action spaces to adjust the PV-measured voltage based on a reference one produced via DO-PPO and DO-DDPG methods. To test the effectiveness and practicality of the introduced methods, simulations were conducted using actual input data of a 100 MW PV plant connected to a 33-kV distribution system for typical days in summer and winter seasons using MATLAB/Simulink software. The proposed implemented methods were evaluated by comparing their simulation results with other techniques: DO-PID, particle swarm optimization (PSO), and incremental conductance (InC-PI). The findings revealed that the efficiencies of the DC-DC boost and the voltage source converters using the introduced methods were 84.25%- 85.90%, and 78.33%- 81.10% on a summer day while they were 92.77%- 95% and 86.70%- 89.50% on a winter day, respectively, which proves that these methods were efficient and effective, indicating their promising potential for future applications.

The efficiency of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems can be improved using a suitable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control. Many MPPT techniques have been developed. However, when atmospheric conditions change rapidly, the PV modules respond nonlinearly and the performance of these methods especially the conventional ones is significantly reduced. Therefore, to successfully pursue the maximum power point (MPP) in PV systems, a robust MPPT integrated with sliding mode control (SMC) is employed. This paper proposes a circle search algorithm based super twisting SMC (CSA-STSMC) for tracking the MPP for 100-kW of different commercial grid-connected PV modules coupled with an energy storage system that used to smooth their output fluctuations. Moreover, the STSMC and PI controllers’ gains are optimized using the CSA and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) methods and the performance of proposed method is demonstrated through comparisons with CSA based Proportional-Integral controller (CSA-PI), GWO-STSMC, and Incremental Conductance based PI controller (InC-PI) methods. The optimization and simulation analysis are executed in A MATLAB/Simulink environment. It is observed that the proposed method outperforms the considered methods in terms of robustness, tracking speed, best convergence to the minimum error’s value and better tracking efficiency in the maximizing the extracted power from the introduced PV systems.