Search

Abstract In the digital era, ensuring data integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality is critical amid growing interconnectivity and evolving security threats. This paper addresses key limitations of traditional steganographic methods, such as limited payload capacity, susceptibility to detection, and lack of robustness against attacks. A novel multi-layered steganographic framework is proposed, integrating Huffman coding, Least Significant Bit (LSB) embedding, and a deep learning-based encoder–decoder to enhance imperceptibility, robustness, and security. Huffman coding compresses data and obfuscates statistical patterns, enabling efficient embedding within cover images. At the same time, the deep learning encoder adds layer of protection by concealing an image within another. Extensive evaluations using benchmark datasets, including Tiny ImageNet, COCO, and CelebA, demonstrate the approach’s superior performance. Key contributions include achieving high visual fidelity with Structural Similarity Index Metrics (SSIM) consistently above 99%, robust data recovery with text recovery accuracy reaching 100% under standard conditions, and enhanced resistance to common attacks such as noise and compression. The proposed framework significantly improves robustness, security, and computational efficiency compared to traditional methods. By balancing imperceptibility and resilience, this paper advances secure communication and digital rights management, addressing modern challenges in data hiding through an innovative combination of compression, adaptive embedding, and deep learning techniques.

Sumac (Rhus coriaria) is a flowering plant that is widely consumed for its promoting health benefits and used in food preparations as a spice in the Mediterranean region. It is a high shrub or small tree with imparipinnate leaves, villus and red fruits with one-seeded drupe, and small greenish-white flowers. The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential of sumac makes it a remarkable functional food. In this review, the phytochemical and nutritional properties of sumac as an under valorized functional food have been discussed. Flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and organic acids have been reported as dominant phytochemicals in sumac, which are well known for their pharmacological properties that attract many consumers to commonly choose sumac in their diet as well as food preparations. The remarkable volatile compounds present in sumac give it a unique aroma that increases its acceptance by consumers and potential use in the food industry. Sumac has been evaluated for a broad range of nutritional and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-infertility, and neuroprotective potential. This review has also briefly outlined the safety concerns concerning the use of sumac in terms of toxicology and interactions.

The study aims to diagnose Cytauxzoon spp. in affected stray cats in Mosul. To achieve this goal, microscopic and conventional polymerase chain reaction technology was used, and the genetic analysis of Cytauxzoon spp. was verified. Blood samples were collected from 50 stray cats in various city areas. The infection rate of Cytauxzoon spp. among cats in Mosul city was 76% (38/50). Using single sequence analysis, a single Cytauxzoon felis sequence was discovered in Nineveh Governorate for the first time. One of these sequences was submitted to GenBank with the entry number LC775709.1. The results indicate that some of the tested samples contain DNA from the Cytauxzoon genus, based on the presence of bands at the expected 1600 bp size. The local genome sequence of Cytauxzoon felis Sesa LC775709.1 is highly similar to sequences found in geographically diverse regions such as Switzerland, Italy, France, and the USA. According to the study, the infection rate of cats with Cytauxzoon spp parasites in Mosulwas significant, reaching 76%. The results of genetic sequencing were presented for the first time. One novel isolate was discovered: the Cytauxzoon felis Sesa gene LC775709.1 for 18S rRNA. The phylogenetic tree was constructed, and it was discovered that the local sequence LC775709.1 is very closely related genetically to the sequences from Europe and the USA while showing some genetic differences with the sequences from Brazil and South Africa.

BackgroundThe quality and safety education for nurses (QSEN) competency program represents a valuable initiative in nursing practice and education, equipping nurses with the essential knowledge, attitude, and skills (KAS) required to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-centered care.PurposeThis study aims to determine the impact of QSEN competency on the KAS of nurses in Palestine.MethodA quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with two groups was used utilizing a questionnaire to collect data from 164 Junior nurses in two governmental hospitals within the period of 25th, January to the 10th February 2024. Patricia Benner's theory suggests that a strong educational foundation and diverse experiences enable nurses to enhance their patient care knowledge and abilities over time.ResultsThe findings indicate that nurses in Palestine can benefit from targeted interventions and QSEN educational programs aimed at improving their patient-centered care competence, as post-test scores show a significant rise over pre-test scores. Junior nurses who participated in the QSEN program experienced a 57% increase in knowledge, a 57% increase in skills, and a 64% increase in attitudes. The intervention significantly improved knowledge (77.02 vs. 49.19, p < 0.001), quality and safety skills (70.16 vs. 44.61, p < 0.001), and attitudes (75.47 vs. 46.16, p < 0.001) among participants post-procedure, indicating a substantial positive impact on these areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of the educational intervention.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that an educational intervention improves junior nurses' KSAs for six QSEN competencies, leading to higher average scores in quality and safety competence subscales, thereby enhancing staff satisfaction, and reducing medical errors, and patient safety.

In the fourth industrial revolution robots, voice control interfaces and 5G networks play significant role towards advanced real-time autonomous control systems in an industrial domain as well as a social domain. With Arduino-based robots controlled by voice commands for more natural human-machine communications and 5G enabling low latency, high-reliability connectivity as degradation due to typical interference does not matter. This article explores the efficiency and accuracy of voice-controlled interfaces to function robotic attributes via ultra-low latency associated with 5G network links intended for Arduino robots. Methods: An Arduino robot equipped with a voice-controlled interface that utilizes speech recognition and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand and carry out commands. This setup was trialed on a 5G network to guarantee connectivity and operational efficiency. Various scenarios and loads were examined in controlled experiments to evaluate response times, precision, and reliability. The 5G has lower latency response time, which led to better command execution. Accurate interpretation of voice commands and real-time adaption to robotic operations for continuous effective behavior across operating conditions and environmental scenarios are demonstrated to highlight the robustness of voice control interface. The combination of voice-activated Arduino robots and 5G networks has paved the way for industrial automation and smart applications, showcasing an innovative approach to human-robot interaction and collaborative robotics. Nevertheless, it is important to analyze the scalability, security, and ethical considerations of these technologies on a wider scale in different domains and applications to guarantee their safe, effective, and equitable implementation.

Soil salinity significantly limits crop productivity. This study explores the role of the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri) in enhancing the antioxidant system and pigment concentrations in almond plants (Prunus dulcis) under salinity stress, aiming to reduce salt-induced toxicity and offer potential solutions for saline agriculture. The experiment used almond seeds grown under varying salinity levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) and Ri inoculation. Parameters including root colonization percentage, growth parameters, plant pigment concentrations, and antioxidant enzyme activity were analyzed. Results revealed that salinity significantly impacted all parameters, with a notable reduction in both wet and dry weights of shoots and roots as salinity increased. Shoot dry weight decreased from 1.87 g to 0.58 g in Ri plants and from 1.39 g to 0.60 g in non-Ri plants as salinity increased from 0 to 100 mM NaCl. Additionally, root colonization by Ri showed a significant decrease from 47.12% under non-saline conditions to 8.23% under high salinity (100 mM NaCl). Ri treatment had a significant effect on several parameters except for carotenoid levels and catalase enzyme activity. For instance, Ri inoculation resulted in increased chlorophyll levels (from 3.57 mg g-1 to 4.78 mg g-1 in control plants and from 1.58 mg g-1 to 2.21 mg g-1 under high salinity) and flavonoid quantities (from 4.78 mg g-1 to 5.80 mg g-1 in control plants and from 6.46 mg g-1 to 6.68 mg g-1 under high salinity) compared to non-inoculated plants, irrespective of salinity conditions. The data also demonstrated that salinity was the primary determinant of catalase enzyme activity in both shoot and root tissues, with a corresponding increase in catalase activity as salinity increased. For instance, shoot catalase activity increased from 1.30 mg protein min-1 to 2.35 mg protein min-1 in Ri plants and from 1.16 mg protein min-1 to 2.24 mg protein min-1 in non-Ri plants with increasing salinity. In conclusion, Ri inoculation can potentially mitigate the adverse effects of salinity in almond plants by enhancing certain growth parameters and antioxidant activity, as indicated by the statistically significant interactions between salinity and Ri.

X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA) (MIM 300752) is the most common genetic form of sideroblastic anemia, a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by iron deposits in the mitochondria of erythroid precursors. It is due to mutations of the erythroid-specific enzyme ALAS2, the first enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Herein, we report a novel 11-bp deletion in exon 11 leading to a frameshift in the C-terminal region of the ALAS2 gene with a non-functional longer polypeptide of 614 amino acids leading to a loss-of-function mutation manifested as an X-linked sideroblastic anemia phenotype. The proband was a 29-year-old man with moderately severe microcytic hypochromic anemia with splenomegaly and increased ring sideroblasts in the bone marrow with considerable iron overload. Sanger sequencing documented a missense mutation leading to a frameshift with an elongated polypeptide of 614 AA instead of the normal 587 AA protein c.1743_1753 del (p.Gln581Hisfs*35). This mutation affected the interaction with cofactor pyridoxal 5′-phosphate since the patient’s hemoglobin improved with oral administration of pyridoxine tablets. His iron overload also responded to sustained oral iron chelation therapy with deferasirox. The screening of the entire family’s kindred revealed that two other male siblings were also hemizygous for the same mutation with hypochromic microcytic anemia and tissue iron overload, whereas, three female siblings and their mother were heterozygous for the mutant allele. They did not have anemia or iron overload.

Study region: Lower Arkansas River Basin (LARB) in Colorado, USA. Study focus: The process of implementing irrigation in large river basins often results in significant changes in hydrologic pathways and fluxes, such as canal seepage, runoff, recharge, pumping, and groundwater-river exchange. The objective of this study is to quantify the hydrologic fluxes in a highly irrigated river basin and investigate the controls on these fluxes, using the Lower Arkansas River Basin (LARB) (64,000 km2) in Colorado, USA as a demonstration case. We use the SWAT+ watershed model, enhanced with the new groundwater module gwflow, canal seepage, and irrigation application driven by daily canal diversions and groundwater pumping. The model is tested against streamflow and groundwater head, showing good performance along the Arkansas River and the alluvial corridor. New hydrological insights for the region: On average, precipitation in the basin is 380 mm/yr., of which 2 % (10 mm/yr.) becomes recharge and 2 % is irrigation (80 % surface water irrigation). Water yield is 18 mm/yr. (5 %), principally surface runoff and net groundwater discharge. Canal seepage is only 0.2 % of precipitation. Irrigation fluxes, canal and plant ET are highest in the downstream regions. Sensitivity analysis reveals the controlling watershed features on streamflow, groundwater head, and hydrologic fluxes for each region. Main parameters include streambed conductivity, plant uptake factors, snowmelt factors, aquifer properties, soil available water capacity, and soil percolation coefficient, with each parameter ranked by influence for each region within the basin. The calibrated models can be used to explore the impact of changes in climate, irrigation practices, and general water management schemes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives of all social groups around the world, including students who have had to face remote learning and isolation. Regardless of cultural, linguistic and religious differences, every young person is looking for the meaning of life and their place in the world. This process includes physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of these elements anew, especially in the face of threats to health and life. The study included two groups of students: 238 from Palestine and 293 from Poland. The question was asked: what factors have the greatest impact on students’ sense of happiness after the COVID-19 pandemic? The results showed interesting differences in their approach to life and happiness. Palestinian students perceive life more optimistically and attach importance to family ties, physical health and religion. Polish students attach importance to social activity, meetings with friends, traveling, listening to music and watching movies. For them, these forms of spending free time are important in the context of mental regeneration and escape from stress. They emphasize that a good financial situation gives them a sense of security and allows them to pursue their passions and interests. Both groups do not associate happiness with psychoactive substances. The results indicate a generally positive assessment of students’ life satisfaction after the pandemic. Research shows that there are universal values that give a sense of happiness and life satisfaction to young people around the world.

Abstract Background Influenza is a common cause of hospital admissions globally with regional variations in epidemiology and clinical profile. We evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza to King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2022. We compared patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission to those who did not and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the predictors of ICU admission and hospital mortality. Results During the study period, 675 adult patients were hospitalized with influenza (median age 68.0 years, females 53.8%, hypertension 59.9%, diabetes 55.1%, and chronic respiratory disease 31.1%). Most admissions (83.0%) were in the colder months (October to March) in Riyadh with inter-seasonal cases even in the summertime (June to August). Influenza A was responsible for 79.0% of cases, with H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes commonly circulating in the study period. Respiratory viral coinfection occurred in 12 patients (1.8%) and bacterial coinfection in 42 patients (17.4%). 151 patients (22.4%) required ICU admission, of which 62.3% received vasopressors and 48.0% mechanical ventilation. Risk factors for ICU admission were younger age, hypertension, bilateral lung infiltrates on chest X-ray, and Pneumonia Severity Index. The overall hospital mortality was 7.4% (22.5% for ICU patients, p 20%. Female sex, high Pneumonia Severity Index, ischemic heart disease, and immunosuppressed state were associated with increased mortality.

The Late Oligocene-Early Miocene including Anah and Bajwan formations have been studied in selected areas of Sulamaniyah (Aj-Dagh and Basara sections) and Kirkuk governorate within Bai Hassan Oilfield (BH-3 and BH-4), which is located within the Western Zagros Fold Thrust Belt, Northern, and Northeastern Iraq. The palaeontological investigations mainly depended on benthonic foraminifera of the studied sections of Aj-Dagh and Basara, as well as the studied wells of Bai Hassan OilField (BH-3, and BH-4) of Anah and Bajwan formations, twenty-four species belonging to fourteen genera recognized of benthonic foraminifera, with five index fossils determining the age of the formations as Late Oligocene-Early Miocene, which have been recognized through this study, especially benthonic foraminiferal, indicating four zones as Praerhapydionina delicata range zone, Austrotrillina howchini-Peneroplis evolutus zone, Concurrent range, and Miogypsinoides complanate-Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) sp. Concurrent zone.

Electric vehicles (EV) have recently spread because of their benefits, such as reducing pollution, as they are environmentally friendly because they use clean energy instead of fossil fuels. The braking system in EV is considered one of the most important systems studied and under development in many researches. It has a significant impact on the stability of the performance of the electric vehicle, and a great benefit in increasing the battery life of the electric vehicle, by recharging it through regeneration braking, and maintaining a large state of charge relatively. This research presents a development of the regeneration braking system by developing a neural controller consisting of two layers and using it to drive the braking process instead of the proportional integrative (PI) controller with an auxiliary power system. The latter is stable and enables its engine to generate suitable torques at relatively high speeds, without a decrease in the speed of the vehicle from the required speed, and the improvement rate was more than 10%, where the state of battery drain when using the PI controller was about 87%, while when using the neural controller more than 97%

The aim of the research was for evaluation the morphological and chemical alterations that result from the Nd:YAG laser treatment of dental enamels using optical microscopy (OM) with Energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. Two human enamel samples were obtained, the samples were exposed to the Nd: YAG laser irradiation. The micrographs obtained by optical microscopy demonstrated morphological changes. The concentrations of carbon (C), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and oxygen (O) in crater sites and its environs were measured using EDX, as well as trace amounts of manganese, magnesium, and silicon. However, due to their low concentration, these trace elements were neglected. We obtained the maximum depth profile of carters on tooth enamel surface at 1200 µm with laser pulse of 532 nm with 500 mJ energy/pulse, while the minimum depth profile of carters at 200 µm with laser pulse of 1064 nm with 100 mJ energy/pulse. Dental tissue can be safely treated with a Nd: YAG laser with 200 mJ, 9 ns, and 1064 nm since this laser irradiation range did not induce any noticeable morphological changes. As a result, the Nd: YAG laser offers as an ideal option for clinical treatment.

In the present study, the antioxidant potential and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of cow's milk paneer supplemented with pastes (10 % of milk) from indigenous date varieties were monitored during storage. The prepared paneer was also evaluated for its physicochemical characteristics, microbiological and sensorial quality during storage period (0–12 days, 5 °C). It was observed that the ESFs of Ajwa paste showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher antioxidant potential and ACE-inhibition than other investigated date pastes. Moreover, all of the investigated paneer showed significantly (p < 0.05) increasing trend concerning sensory evaluation until 9 days of storage. The paneer supplemented with date pastes showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (3150.70–5776.00 μmol equivalent of Trolox (TE)/g of ethanol soluble fraction (ESF)) and DPPH (1634.70–1645.70 μmol TE/g ESF)/ABTS (83.26–102.43 mg TE /100 g ESF) radical scavenging activity than control paneer. Moreover, paneer (3 days of storage) supplemented with Ajwa paste showed significantly (p < 0.05) high ACE-inhibition (66 %) and lower inhibitory concentration (IC)50 (9 mg/mL) as compared to all other investigated samples. Hence, it may be concluded that the paneer supplemented with date pastes offers considerable antioxidant potential and ACE-inhibitory activity.

Choline kinase alpha (ChoKα) is a therapeutic target being developed for a variety of diseases, from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis and from parasites to bacterial infections. Nevertheless, the therapeutic potential of this drug target seems not exhausted and may end up as a possible solution for a larger variety of conditions. Here we present our working model for how ChoKα could play a role in obesity and for how drugs being developed as therapeutics for other diseases using ChoKα as a target, could be repurposed as prophylactic treatments for obesity. We also present preliminary observations in support of our model.

We investigated links between antimicrobial resistance in community-onset bacteremia and 1-year bacteremia recurrence by using the clinical data warehouse of Europe’s largest university hospital group in France. We included adult patients hospitalized with an incident community-onset Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Klebsiella spp. bacteremia during 2017–2019. We assessed risk factors of 1-year recurrence using Fine–Gray regression models. Of the 3,617 patients included, 291 (8.0%) had >1 recurrence episode. Third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistance was significantly associated with increased recurrence risk after incident Klebsiella spp. (hazard ratio 3.91 [95% CI 2.32–6.59]) or E. coli (hazard ratio 2.35 [95% CI 1.50–3.68]) bacteremia. Methicillin resistance in S. aureus bacteremia had no effect on recurrence risk. Although several underlying conditions and infection sources increased recurrence risk, 3GC-resistant Klebsiella spp. was associated with the greatest increase. These results demonstrate a new facet to illness induced by 3GC-resistant Klebsiella spp. and E. coli in the community setting.

Abstract Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major public health burden worldwide with increasing morbidity and mortality. The study evaluates the risk factors associated with mortality in SCD patients, between the years 2006 and 2020 at three hospitals in Oman. The analysis includes clinical manifestations, haematological, biochemical, and radiological parameters, use of antibiotics, and blood and exchange transfusions. Our cohort included 123 patients (82 males, 41 females), with a median age of 27 (Interquartile Range 21–35 years). SCD related complications included acute chest syndrome (ACS) in 52.8%, splenic sequestration in 21.1%, right upper quadrant syndrome in 19.5%, more than > 6 VOC/year in 17.9%, and stroke in 13.8%. At the terminal admission, patients had cough, reduced O2 saturation, crepitation and fever in 24.4%, 49.6%, 53.6% and 68.3% respectively. Abnormal chest X-ray and chest CT scan were seen in 57.7%, and 76.4% respectively. Laboratory parameters showed a significant drop in hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet counts from baseline, with a significant rise in WBC, LDH and CRP from baseline (p

Three subsurface sections Ba-1, Ba-4, and Ba-8, and sixty-five thin sections were examined to investigate the biostratigraphy of the Mauddud Formation (age Early Albian - Late Cenomanian) within the Balad Oil Field located in central Iraq. The formation is lithologically composed of dolomitic limestone, creamy oolitic limestone, and shale. Orbitolina qatarica, Orbitolina sefini, and Orbitolina concava range zones were distinguished as biozones, including the Late Albian (Orbitolina qatarica), Late Albian to Early Cenomanian (Orbitolina sefini), and Early-Cenomanian (Orbitolina concava) zones. The age of these biozones confirmed the extent throughout the early Cenomanian age. Fossils of twenty-seven species of Foraminifera, including Conicorbitolina conica, Miliolids, Neoiraqia convexa, Nezzazata, orbitolina sp., Spiroluculina sp., and Trocholina sp., and others like Coral, gastropods, and rudest were identified.

BackgroundValvular heart disease (VHD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that poses a substantial health care and economic burden on health care systems. Administrative diagnostic codes for ascertaining VHD diagnosis are incomplete. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to identify patients with aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic valve stenosis and regurgitation from transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) reports within a large integrated health care system. MethodsWe used reports from echocardiograms performed in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health care system between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2022. Related terms/phrases of aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic stenosis and regurgitation and their severities were compiled from the literature and enriched with input from clinicians. An NLP algorithm was iteratively developed and fine-trained via multiple rounds of chart review, followed by adjudication. The developed algorithm was applied to 200 annotated echocardiography reports to assess its performance and then the study echocardiography reports. ResultsA total of 1,225,270 TTE reports were extracted from KPSC electronic health records during the study period. In these reports, valve lesions identified included 111,300 (9.08%) aortic stenosis, 20,246 (1.65%) mitral stenosis, 397 (0.03%) tricuspid stenosis, 2585 (0.21%) pulmonic stenosis, 345,115 (28.17%) aortic regurgitation, 802,103 (65.46%) mitral regurgitation, 903,965 (73.78%) tricuspid regurgitation, and 286,903 (23.42%) pulmonic regurgitation. Among the valves, 50,507 (4.12%), 22,656 (1.85%), 1685 (0.14%), and 1767 (0.14%) were identified as prosthetic aortic valves, mitral valves, tricuspid valves, and pulmonic valves, respectively. Mild and moderate were the most common severity levels of heart valve stenosis, while trace and mild were the most common severity levels of regurgitation. Males had a higher frequency of aortic stenosis and all 4 valvular regurgitations, while females had more mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic stenosis. Non-Hispanic Whites had the highest frequency of all 4 valvular stenosis and regurgitations. The distribution of valvular stenosis and regurgitation severity was similar across race/ethnicity groups. Frequencies of aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, and regurgitation of all 4 heart valves increased with age. In TTE reports with stenosis detected, younger patients were more likely to have mild aortic stenosis, while older patients were more likely to have severe aortic stenosis. However, mitral stenosis was opposite (milder in older patients and more severe in younger patients). In TTE reports with regurgitation detected, younger patients had a higher frequency of severe/very severe aortic regurgitation. In comparison, older patients had higher frequencies of mild aortic regurgitation and severe mitral/tricuspid regurgitation. Validation of the NLP algorithm against the 200 annotated TTE reports showed excellent precision, recall, and F1-scores. ConclusionsThe proposed computerized algorithm could effectively identify heart valve stenosis and regurgitation, as well as the severity of valvular involvement, with significant implications for pharmacoepidemiological studies and outcomes research.

This study aimed to identify and evaluate the genetic diversity of olive trees in Jordan, a country located in the eastern Mediterranean, where olive domestication originated. For this purpose, a total of 386 olive trees were analyzed, including 338 collected from two surveys (JOCC-1 and JOCC-2) across seven regions, and 48 selected accessions from the Olive Germplasm Bank of Jordan (JGBOC). These trees underwent comprehensive phenotypic and molecular characterization using different tools. Significant differences in morphological traits were detected among tested regions using the Chi-square test. Principal components analysis revealed that fruit color change and growth habit as the most discriminating traits, segregating the trees into two groups, with the first group including the Kanabisi cultivar and the second group including the Kfari Baladi cultivar. Utilizing Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR assay, two sets of informative SNPs were used for the genetic diversity analysis. Cladograms were constructed using the maximum likelihood method, revealing a consistent pattern where two clades containing identical genotypes were observed to cluster with the Kfari Baladi or Kanabisi. In addition, the SNP data was used to perform a comparative analysis with the Worldwide Olive Germplasm Bank of Córdoba, which revealed 73 unreported olive genotypes from Jordan. Genetic structure analyses using Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) identified four clusters with distinctive patterns of relatedness among 149 unique accessions, including 52 olive accessions from various Mediterranean countries (IOCC-3). ADMIXTURE analysis revealed four genetic clusters, consistent with the clustering observed in DAPC and cladogram analysis, indicating a high level of genetic admixture among Jordanian olive germplasm. In conclusion, the results show that olive trees in Jordan are highly diverse, providing valuable information for future conservation and management plans.

Irrigation practices and sources can have significant impacts on water resources and the hydrologic fluxes that control these resources. To better manage water resources and future water supply, the influence of irrigation practices and management on these hydrologic fluxes should be quantified in time and space at varying scales, under potential irrigation management practices. To fulfill this objective, a surface-subsurface modeling approach was applied to simulate watershed-scale hydrologic processes in the Cache la Poudre River Basin, Colorado, USA (4824 km2), in which both surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation are prevalent. The model chosen for this study is the watershed model SWAT+, using the spatially distributed, physically based groundwater module gwflow, in which unconfined groundwater storage, flows, and interaction with land surface features are simulated using a collection of grid cells that represent control volumes of the aquifer. Major groundwater inflows and outflows include pumping, recharge, groundwater-channel exchange, groundwater-lake exchange, and tile drainage outflow. To investigate the impact of irrigation practices, detailed surface and groundwater irrigation routines and canal-aquifer interactions were added to the SWAT+ source code, requiring information of irrigation sources and irrigation canal locations throughout the river basin. Model calibration and testing was performed using monthly stream discharge and groundwater head. The calibrated model is used to quantify the impact of surface water and groundwater irrigation scenarios on water availability and hydrologic fluxes within the river basin. A total of 22 scenarios were conducted and grouped into five main groups: irrigation source, irrigation amount, irrigation type, canal bed thickness, and partial or full sealing of earthen irrigation canals. Using groundwater as the only irrigation source decreases groundwater discharge to streams (by 14 %) due to lowering groundwater levels; converting flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation throughout the basin decreases surface runoff by 22 %; and sealing earthen canals leads to a lowering of groundwater levels, which decreases groundwater discharge to streams by 9 %, leading to an overall decrease in streamflow in the Cache la Poudre River and changes to temporal patterns in streamflow. Overall, irrigation amount and type and canal sealing have a small impact on total groundwater storage, compared to changes in the percent of fields irrigated by groundwater pumping. Results are helpful for informed decision-making in agriculture water management and can lead to sustainable, efficient, and equitable use of water resources, helping to address the challenges posed by water scarcity and environmental conservation.

This study aimed to investigate the physiochemical properties, techno-functional attributes, and proteolytic impacts of incorporating different hydrocolloids as fat substitutes in low-fat cheddar cheese. The effects of hydrocolloids (gums) and dietary fiber, both individually and in combination, were studied for the production of low-fat cheddar cheese with the same textural and functional attributes as full-fat cheese. Physicochemical, techno-functional attributes, organic acid, and proteolysis analyses were performed at 0 and 90-day storage intervals. The results of different combinations were compared with positive (4% fat) and negative (2% fat) controls, and it was observed that using fat replacers improved the textural and functional properties of low-fat cheddar cheese. A significant difference was observed in the meltability and flowability of low-fat cheese samples with different analytes. The proteolysis pattern in low-fat cheese also differed from that of its full-fat counterpart. Three treatments were considered the best: T2 (guar gum at 0.45%), T6 (guar gum, inulin, and resistant starch at 33%), and T7 (all analytes at equal concentrations). The findings revealed that hydrocolloids notably improved the texture, meltability, and sensory characteristics of low-fat cheddar cheese. Additionally, SEM images revealed that the microstructure variations can be attributed to changes in the hydrocolloids water retention and fat content. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed relationships between different functional properties, contributing to understanding how hydrocolloids as fat replacers impact the overall quality of low-fat cheddar cheese. This study offers useful information for the dairy sector to manufacture low-fat cheeses that have enhanced customer acceptance and provide nutritional advantages.

Over the years, with the help of technology, it has become much easier to analyze data in general and, more specifically, personality. Behavioral analysis is a new trend, and discovering what people think and feel, among other things, helps boost many things, including recommendation systems, e-commerce, fraud detection, etc. This paper focuses on personality analysis using machine and deep learning with different datasets, focusing on computational approaches and setting aside psychological studies.

Background:. Nurtec, a versatile migraine medication, has gained popularity. However, the awareness of migraine surgery remains uncertain. Methods:. Following a descriptive approach, this cross-sectional study used Google Trends data as of December 1, 2023, to analyze internet search patterns. Approval from Vanderbilt University’s institutional review board and adherence to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were confirmed. Monthly relative search volume (RSV) data for “migraine surgery,” “Nurtec,” and “Rimegepant” were collected from January 1, 2004, to November 11, 2023, within the United States. Statistical analysis involved determining mean monthly RSV values and percentage changes for critical periods. Results:. For “Nurtec,” a significant surge in RSV occurred from March 2020 to April 2020 (344%). Additional peaks were observed from June 2020 to July 2020 (66%), October 2020 to December 2020 (169%), May 2021 to June 2021 (33%), and May 2023 to June 2023 (14%). “Migraine surgery” exhibited a notable 400% increase in RSV, from March 2005 to May 2005. However, post-2006, RSV for “migraine surgery” consistently remained low without noticeable peaks. Conclusions:. The analysis of RSV trends for “Nurtec” and “migraine surgery” from 2004 to 2023 reveals the impact of pivotal events and marketing strategies on public interest. The distinct peaks in “Nurtec” RSV align with Food & Drug Administration approvals and marketing campaigns, highlighting the medication’s accessibility. Conversely, the consistently low RSV for “migraine surgery” indicates limited awareness, emphasizing the need for enhanced promotion and education regarding surgical interventions.

Abstract Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is caused by multiple mutations which dysregulate growth and differentiation of myeloid cells. Cells adopt different gene regulatory networks specific to individual mutations, maintaining a rapidly proliferating blast cell population with fatal consequences for the patient if not treated. The most common treatment option is still chemotherapy which targets such cells. However, patients harbour a population of quiescent leukemic stem cells (LSCs) which can emerge from quiescence to trigger relapse after therapy. The processes that allow such cells to re-grow remain unknown. Here, we examine the well characterised t(8;21) AML sub-type as a model to address this question. Using four primary AML samples and a novel t(8;21) patient-derived xenograft model, we show that t(8;21) LSCs aberrantly activate the VEGF and IL-5 signalling pathways. Both pathways operate within a regulatory circuit consisting of the driver oncoprotein RUNX1::ETO and an AP-1/GATA2 axis allowing LSCs to re-enter the cell cycle while preserving self-renewal capacity.

In recent years, the development of probiotic-based fermented products with halal status has been a concern. The use of growth medium has relied on de Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) as a relatively expensive standard medium, and its halal status is still uncertain. Extensive research has been carried out to investigate the development of low-cost halal alternative media for the cultivation of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aimed to develop a probiotic halal and low-cost culture medium using a tofu whey-based medium. This study used three tofu whey-based media – A (tofu whey 100%), B (tofu whey 94.5%, molasses 3%, skim milk 2.5%), C (tofu whey 92.5%, molasses 3%, cheese whey 2.5%, tomato extract 2%), and MRS broth as a standard medium. Bacterial populations, total sugars utilized, total lactic acids produced, low pH (2.0) tolerance, and high bile salt concentration (oxgall 1.5%) were assayed. The highest bacterial population after 48 h of incubation was shown by medium B compared to medium MRS (12.34 ± 0.87 and 11.48 ± 0.3 log CFU/mL). Total sugars utilized by 48.28 ± 2.89, 38.89 ± 6.94, 39.14 ± 4.24, and 76.00 ± 1.41 %; on the other hand, total lactic acids produced by 0.16 ± 0.12, 0.03 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.03, and 2.25 ± 1.48 % in A, B, C, and MRS, respectively. Probiotic tolerance at low pH and the presence of bile salts of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D4 consistently showed a high survival rate in medium B compared to MRS. Based on these results, the components and proportions used in medium B were suitable for the growth of L. plantarum D4 as a halal probiotic starter candidate.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a multisystem disease, associated with increased risk for infection and thromboembolic disease, and pregnancy is a stressor for patients with SCA. In general, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in SCA is associated with a favorable outcome. Literature of pregnancy in SCA with COVID is scarce. We report a case series study of pregnant women with SCA, who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 from May 2020 to March 2021. These patients showed generally mild-to-moderate disease and presented predominantly with fever and painful crisis. They showed a significant drop in Hb from baseline, and they received low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis (LMWH) and blood transfusion. The outcome of pregnancy is satisfactory, although the mean birth weight was significantly lower than that reported from the same SCA population.

Abstract Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) can affect TF interactions with their cognate DNA-binding motifs. Whether and how TF mutations impact upon the binding to TF composite elements (CE) and the interaction with other TFs is unclear. Here, we report a distinct mechanism of TF alteration in human lymphomas with perturbed B cell identity, in particular classic Hodgkin lymphoma. It is caused by a recurrent somatic missense mutation c.295 T > C (p.Cys99Arg; p.C99R) targeting the center of the DNA-binding domain of Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4), a key TF in immune cells. IRF4-C99R fundamentally alters IRF4 DNA-binding, with loss-of-binding to canonical IRF motifs and neomorphic gain-of-binding to canonical and non-canonical IRF CEs. IRF4-C99R thoroughly modifies IRF4 function by blocking IRF4-dependent plasma cell induction, and up-regulates disease-specific genes in a non-canonical Activator Protein-1 (AP-1)-IRF-CE (AICE)-dependent manner. Our data explain how a single mutation causes a complex switch of TF specificity and gene regulation and open the perspective to specifically block the neomorphic DNA-binding activities of a mutant TF.

AbstractThe complete mitochondrial genome of the olive cultivar Mehras was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. It consisted of 710,808 base pairs and comprised 70 genes, including 44 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes, with a GC content of 44.7%. Significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) were detected throughout the mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using other genotypes, including five olive cultivars, three related species, and Olea exasperata as an out-group. The analysis revealed that the olive cultivar Mehras shares an ancient common ancestor with the Frantoio cultivar from Italy and the Manzanilla cultivar from Spain, which confirms previous findings based on plastome sequencing.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a widely abundant spice, known for its aroma and pungent flavor. It contains several bioactive compounds and offers a wide range of health benefits to humans, including those pertaining to nutrition, physiology, and medicine. Therefore, garlic is considered as one of the most effective disease-preventive diets. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have reported the sulfur-containing compounds, allicin and ajoene, for their effective anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immune-boosting, and cardioprotective properties. As a rich natural source of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, saponins, tannins, linalool, geraniol, phellandrene, β-phellandrene, ajoene, alliin, S-allyl-mercapto cysteine, and β-phellandrene, garlic has many therapeutic applications and may play a role in drug development against various human diseases. In the current review, garlic and its major bioactive components along with their biological function and mechanisms of action for their role in disease prevention and therapy are discussed.

Rabbit (RM) has become a valuable source of nutrients since the 1970s, helping to transform the European food industry into the largest RM producer in the world. However, the RM industry is experiencing a critical period of ethical imbalance. This trend, described as feed conversion ratio, impacts the environmental and financial performance of RM farms, which could lead to an increase production of industrial waste. In addition, the loss of corporate ethical responsibility and sustainable development by RM-oriented companies has further exacerbated the situation. Our objective was to summarize current trends in the RM industry and markets, highlighting possible strengths and weaknesses. This review shows current approaches in sustainable techniques in RM production processes, ethical issue, environmental and processing responsibility of RM producers, as well as social responsibilities and ethical practices of slaughterhouses and RM producers, sustainable environmental practices of slaughterhouses, technological aspects and safety of RM and social drivers in RM market. The analysis of reviewed literature revealed the potential strategies for sustainable RM production.

Mishrif Formation was deposited during The Cenomanian-Early Turonian, which has been studied in selected Tuba and Zubair OilFields, these wells (TU-5, TU-24, TU-40, ZB-41, ZB-42, and ZB-46) are located within Mesopotamian basin at southern Iraq and considered as a major carbonate reservoir in Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. The palaeontological investigations mainly depending on benthonic foraminifera of the studied wells of Tuba and Zubair Oilfields in Mishrif Formation, twenty-four species belonging to fourteen genera are recognized of benthonic foraminifera, which has been recognized through this study, especially benthonic foraminiferal, indicating four zones as follows:

Operators cannot ignore the radiation hazards arising from nuclear weapons. In this study, batch adsorption experiments were investigated to remove the radioactive isotope Cs-137 from the real radioactive wastewater. The attapulgite natural clay mineral was characterized and adopted as an adsorbent in a batch adsorption system. Equilibrium was reached after 2 h with a Cs-137 removal efficiency of 97% for attapulgite. The kinetics of Cs-137 adsorption on the attapulgite clay surface were evaluated. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model produced an excellent fit with the experimental kinetic data. HIGHLIGHTS Very cheap attapulgite clay was used in a batch adsorption system.; Iraqi attapulgite natural clay proved as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cs-137.; Natural clay was modified and manufactured from a locally available material.; The real samples of radioactive wastewater containing 137Cs have been treated.;

Abstract Background A strong understanding of infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures and comprehensive training among healthcare workers is essential for effective IPC programs. These elements play a crucial role in breaking the chain of nosocomial infections by preventing the transmission of resistant organisms to patients and staff members. This study mapped the components of IPC education and training across various member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) at national, academic, and healthcare institutional levels. Methods A self-administered structured online questionnaire based on the WHO “Core Component 3” of IPC programs at the national and acute healthcare facility levels (IPC education and training) was given to national IPC focal persons in each of the WHO’s EMR countries between February and March 2023. Results From 14 of the 22 countries,15 IPC persons participated in the survey. Most countries have scattered nonhomogeneous IPC education programs in human health undergraduate majors without considering it a standalone module. Academic institutions are rarely involved, and elaborate and predefined undergraduate IPC education programs provided by universities are present in 21.4% of the countries. In 71.4% of these countries, postgraduate training targeting IPC professionals is provided by national IPC teams, primarily based on national IPC guidelines developed with the aid of the WHO. Generally, healthcare worker training relies heavily on healthcare facilities in 92.9% of the countries, rather than on a national training program. In 42.9% of the countries, practicing IPC physicians are not necessarily specialists of infectious disease or medical microbiologists and IPC nurses are not required to specialize in IPC. However, nonspecialized IPC professionals are expected to undergo training upon employment and before beginning practice. Nongovernmental organizations such as the WHO play a significant role in IPC education and in supporting national IPC authorities in establishing national IPC guidelines, as it is the case in 78.6% of these countries. Conclusion Clear disparities exist in IPC education and training across different countries in the WHO’s EMR. Establishing a regional scientific network specializing in IPC would help bridge the existing gaps and standardize this education within individual countries and across countries in the region. This region needs to establish IPC certification standards and standardized education curricula.

The present study is concerned with Biostratigraphy of the Early-Middle Miocene outcrops of Jeribe Formation in the Zurbatiyah area, Wasit Governorate, Eastern Iraq. Forty-two Samples collected from Shur Sharin and AL-Hashima outcrop sections. The fossil content is rich in large and small benthic foraminifera; Twenty-one species and genus are identified in this study, in addition to coral, gastropoda, pelecypoda, ostracoda, alge, echinoid and shell fragments. According to the presence of benthic foraminifera, two Biozone have been identified in the Jeribe: Austrotrillina asmariensis-Dendritina rangi Concurrent Zone and Borelis melo curdica range zone.The age of the Formation determined as Early-Middle Miocene depending on these Biozones.

Abstract Background Dental education has placed continued emphasis on self-regulated learning (SRL) and its subprocess, self-assessment. This study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel workplace assessment method in developing trainees’ self-assessment of operative procedures. Methods A Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) form was modified for the use and measurement of self-assessment. Participants were trained on how to conduct self-assessment using the designed assessment form and its grading rubric. Feedback and feedforward sessions were given to address self-assessment and performance issues. A P-value less than 0.10 was considered significant and the confidence level was set at 90%. Results Thirty-two Year 5 dental students with an age mean of 22.45 (SD = 0.8) completed five self DOPS encounters during the clinical operative dentistry module in 2022. The aggregated total deviation (absolute difference) between self-assessment and teacher assessment decreased consistently in the five assessment encounters with a significant mean difference and a medium effect size (P = 0.064, partial Eta squared = 0.069). Participants’ self-assessment accuracy differed from one skill to another and their ability to identify areas of improvement as perceived by teachers improved significantly (P = 0.011, partial Eta squared = 0.099). Participants’ attitudes towards the assessment method were positive. Conclusions The findings suggest that the self DOPS method was effective in developing participants’ ability to self-assess. Future research should explore the effectiveness of this assessment method in a wider range of clinical procedures.

Accurate modelling of occupancy patterns is critical for reliable estimation of building stock energy demand, which is a key input for the design of district energy systems. Aiming to investigate the suitability of different occupancy-modelling approaches for the design of district energy systems, the present study examines a set of standard-based schedules (from the UK National Calculation Methodology), a widely used stochastic occupancy model, and a novel energy-data-driven occupancy model. To this end, a dynamic energy model of a higher education office building developed within a stock model of London’s Bloomsbury district serves as a testbed to implement the occupancy models, explore their implications for the estimation of annual and peak heating and cooling demand, and extrapolate the findings to the computationally demanding building stock stimulations. Furthermore, the simulations were conducted in two years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to examine the implications of hybrid working patterns after the pandemic. From the results, the energy-data-driven model demonstrated superior performance in annual heating demand estimations, with errors of ±2.5% compared to 14% and 7% for the standard-based and stochastic models. For peak heating demand, the models performed rather similarly, with the data-driven model showing 28% error compared to 29.5% for both the standard-based and stochastic models in 2019. In cooling demand estimations, the data-driven model yielded noticeably higher annual cooling demand and lower peak cooling demand estimations as compared with the standard-based and stochastic occupancy models. Given the adopted building-modelling approach, these findings can be extended to district-level investigations and inform the decision on the choice of occupancy models for building stock energy simulation.

In the present paper, we define and study a new family of holomorphic functions which involve the Bazilevič functions and the λ-pseudo-starlike functions. We establish coefficient estimates for the first four determinants of the symmetric Toeplitz matrices T2(2), T2(3), T3(1) and T3(2) for the functions in this family. Further, we investigate several special cases and consequences of our results.

A microwave technique was used to prepare a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) by grafting two hydrophilic monomers onto a polysaccharide substrate. The monomers used were acrylic acid (AA) or acrylamide (AM) and were grafted onto a pullulan (PUL) substrate to form PUL-g-AA (SAP1) and PUL-g-AM (SAP2), respectively. The monomers (AM/AA) were grafted together onto a PUL substrate to form PUL-g-(AM/AA) (SAP3). Grafting parameters such as grafting efficiency with the percentage, the conversion of monomer into polymer, gel content, water retention, water adsorption capacity, and swelling kinetics were determined. Additionally, the effect of environmental pH (2, 4, 7, 9, and 12) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant was evaluated, where 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM of SDBS was added to form SAP4 to SAP8. The FTIR results show that AM was grafted onto PUL through an aliphatic C-N bond, while AA grafting occurred through a single C-C bond. The grafting efficiency with AM was higher than with AA, as well as showing a superior gel content. Water absorbance capacity and water retention increased with the grafting of AA and AM together for SAP3. The highest absorbent capacity, water retention, gel content, and grafting parameters values were obtained with a 3 mM SDBS content and a pH of 7. The swelling kinetics showed that the increases in the theoretical and experimental swelling equilibriums were 72% and 82%, respectively, for SAP6 compared to the values of these parameters for SAP3. The water absorption capacity of the hydrogel increases upon increasing the pH to 7 and then gradually decreases. XRD demonstrated the improved crystallinity and crystalline size of the hydrogel after grafting polymerization of AM/AA onto PUL, in addition to enhanced thermal stability. On the contrary, FE-SEM demonstrated that SDBS improves the porosity and pore size of the hydrogel surface with SAP6.

The use of phenolic bioactive substances in beverages is introduced by novel techniques as a functional food product. Gel beads from jujube extract were prepared by extrusion method using encapsulation and coated by whey protein isolate and soy protein isolate and thus, a functional beverage was prepared from these beads. There were three types of beads, including Gellan, Gellan/whey protein isolate and Gellan/soy protein isolate. The pH, acidity, Brix, turbidity, viscosity and sensory properties were evaluated. Observing the increase in pH is the result of the release of small amounts of fruit extract, the effect of which can be seen in the inverse relationship of acidity next to pH. The results demonstrate that the highest viscosity is related to protein beverages, especially Gellan gum/SPI beads' beverage. Hence, the highest turbidity in Gellan gum/SPI beads' beverage was visible on the 14th day (66.6 NTU). Thereby, there is potential for these Gellan beads beverages with suitable sensory scores to be wholly utilized and developed with the aim of this study. Along with it, this new beverage can attract the opinion of a wide range of consumers. Therewith, the industrialization of such types of products helps to improve the consumer market.

Online food delivery applications (OFDAs) have seen a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 Pandemic, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to assess the use of OFDAs and the perception of food healthiness and safety among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in the UAE via snowball sampling (n = 1096). Sociodemographic characteristics, OFDAs usage, and perceptions toward food healthiness and safety were investigated. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association between categorical variables and healthy food choices. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to determine differences between different groups and perception statements. Over half (52%) of the students were frequent users of OFDAs with fast food being the most popular choice (88.4%). Older participants, those living in the university dorms, and those with higher allowances used the OFDAs more frequently (P < 0.05). Price (78.0%) and food appearance (65.7%) had the highest impact on food selection. Most subjects (69.3%) reported looking for healthy food but were worried about affordability (43.1%) and taste (27.1%). Most participants (57.8%) agreed that OFDAs increased their appetite and food intake. Participants believed that having a hygiene rating system in OFDAs would give them the chance to make informed decisions (82.3%). Unhealthy food options were popular among university students. The study highlights the need to provide more affordable and appealing healthy food options and suggests that improved nutrition information and hygiene standards could help to promote healthy food choices among university students.

The COVID-19 coronavirus illness is caused by a newly discovered species of coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Since COVID-19 has now expanded across many nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it a pandemic. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is often used to screen samples of patients showing signs of COVID-19; however, this method is more expensive and takes at least 24 hours to get a positive or negative response. Thus, an immediate and precise method of diagnosis is needed. In this paper, chest X-rays will be utilized through a deep neural network (DNN), based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), to detect COVID-19 infection. Based on their X-rays, those with COVID-19 indications may be categorized as clean, infected with COVID-19 or suffering from pneumonia, according to the suggested CNN network. Sample pieces from every group are used in experiments, and categorization is performed by a CNN. While experimenting, the CNN-derived features were able to generate the maximum training accuracy of 94.82% and validation accuracy of 94.87%. The F1-scores were 97%, 90% and 96%, in clearly categorizing patients afflicted by COVID-19, normal and having pneumonia, respectively. Meanwhile, the recalls are 95%, 91% and 96% for COVID-19, normal and pneumonia, respectively.

The Paleocene benthic foraminiferal zonation of the Umm Er Rhadhuma Formation from the borehole (K.H 12/7), South Anah City (Western Iraq), has been re-studied and re-analyzed precisely based on the large benthic foraminifera (LBF). They are represented by two biozone Rotorbinella hensoni Partial Range Zone, recorded from the Lower and middle parts of the Umm Er Rhadhuma Formation and Lockhartia praehaimei Partial Range Zone determined Uppermost of this unit, and dated to be the Selandian – Thanetian stage. Almost all the biogenic (micro and macro) and non-biogenic constituents, including large benthic foraminifera, Algae, Echinoderm, Bryozoans, Oyster, Gastropod fragments, and peloids, in addition to lithofacies types, indicate that this succession belongs to the Umm Er Rhadhuma Formation. Furthermore, the Paleocene shallowing upwards succession is recognized from seven identified microfacies (MF1 to MF7), which suggests three significant facies associations. A broad inner ramp represents them and is warm shallow open normal marine water (FA1). In contrast, the second facies association represents by the predominated bioclastic sand shoal facies association (FA2) and finally reaches the semi-restricted lagoon facies associations (FA3). The interaction between the local tectonic disturbance along Rutba high and eustatic sea level mainly controls the development of two sequence boundaries of Type-1 (SB1) that occurred respectively at the Cretaceous /Palaeogene K- Pg boundary and Paleocene /Eocene boundary. The Paleocene depositional system starts with major transgression during the Selandian above a sequence boundary of type one (SB.1), that separates the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) successions of the Tayarat Formation from the overlying Paleocene succession with a significant gap, covering the whole Danian age (That is the top of Tectonic Megasequence AP. 9). The predominance of retrogradation staking tract indicated the transgressive system tract during the late Selandian and early Thanetian as a result of an increase in the sea level rise and expanded accommodation space. The highstand system tracts show aggradational and then change to a progradational stacking pattern by the end of the Thanetian and mark significant sea level drawdown with a new sequence boundary of type one between them.

Abstract Background The mechanism of tumor immune escape and progression in colorectal cancer (CRC) is widely investigated in-vitro to help understand and identify agents that might play a crucial role in response to treatment and improve the overall survival of CRC patients. Several mechanisms of immune escape and tumor progression, including expression of stemness markers, inactivation of immunoregulatory genes by methylation, and epigenetic silencing, have been reported in CRC, indicating the potential of demethylating agents as anti-cancer drugs. Of these, a chemotherapeutic demethylating agent, Decitabine (DAC), has been reported to induce a dual effect on both DNA demethylation and histone changes leading to an increased expression of target biomarkers, thus making it an attractive anti-tumorigenic drug. Methods We compared the effect of DAC in primary 1076 Col and metastatic 1872 Col cell lines isolated and generated from patients’ tumor tissues. Both cell lines were treated with DAC, and the expression of the NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigen, the PD-L1 immunoinhibitory marker, and the CD44, Nanog, KLF-4, CD133, MSI-1 stemness markers were analyzed using different molecular and immunological assays. Results DAC treatment significantly upregulated stemness markers in both primary 1076 Col and meta-static 1872 Col cell lines, although a lower effect occurred on the latter: CD44 (7.85 fold; ***p = 0.0001 vs. (4.19 fold; *p = 0.0120), Nanog (4.1 fold; ***p

Abstract Background Incense burning such as scented candles are commonly used in Arabian Gulf regions as it is thought to produce relaxing effects on people’s mood. This study is conducted to examine the prevalence of scented candles’ usage, extent of exposure and its effects on individuals’ health based on symptoms prevalence in young university students. Material and method A cross-sectional study was conducted on university students from different regions in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected in March 2020 using an online questionnaire survey adapted from The European Community Respiratory Health Survey-II (ECRHS-II). Inclusion criterion for recruitment was students with non-smoking status. Descriptive statistics were used to report demographic data on the extent of exposure to scented candles (in terms of frequency and duration) and the presence of symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between scented candles exposure and respiratory and other health-related problems. Results The prevalence of scented candles usage was 65.7% (472/718) among the respondents. However, its pervasiveness was significantly higher in females than in male respondents (74.9% vs. 28.4%; p = 0.0001). Among the scented candle users, 34.8% of the respondents used the scented candles more than 4 times a month and 40.2% of the respondents lit the scented candles for 20–40 min. A total of 117 (24.8%) respondents reported health-related problem and the top three health problems were headache 72 (15.2%), shortness of breath 42 (8.9%) and cough 37 (7.8%). The scented candle usage 5–6 times a week showed significantly lower wheezing (OR = 0.10, 95%CI 0.02–0.54, p = 0.008). The duration of more than 60 min of scented candle exposure showed higher occurrence of headache 1.42 times (95% CI = 0.68–2.96), sneezing 1.29 times (95% CI = 0.42-4.00) and wheezing 1.23 times (95% CI = 0.48–3.13), though the association was not significant. Conclusion The results show that scented candle usage is more prevalent among female university students in Saudi Arabia. The common health-related problems associated with scented candle exposure were headache, shortness of breath and coughing.

Deep Learning models, based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture, have proven to be useful and effective in many image processing tasks, and have recently been shown to be effective for image Super-Resolution (SR). Common trends in SR improve the quality of the reconstructed image by increasing the depth and complexity of the CNN model. While this approach produces superior performance in objective image quality metrics (IQA), such as Peak-Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Structural Similarity (SSIM) index, having the number of parameters in the order of millions sacrifices the practicality of model deployment. This is especially true for applications that require real-time processing, such as online conferencing. In this paper, a CNN-based SR model architecture that integrates an attention mechanism while maintaining low complexity is proposed. The number of parameters of the model is reduced by adopting depthwise-separable convolution (DSC) throughout the model. Multiply-accumulate operations (MACs) are reduced by adopting a late upsampling scheme to operate only on low-dimensional features maps. Experimental results show that the proposed model architecture has better performance in terms of objective IQA metrics, such as PSNR and SSIM, and subjective IQA. This improved performance is achieved at a reduced complexity. We also showcase the scalability of the proposed CNN architecture by increasing the model complexity slightly to gain better desired performance.

Background: Urolithiasis can affect all parts of the urinary tract (kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, and even the prostate). The disease is usually symptomatic; however, a symptomatic disease can occur in some cases; vesical stones account for approximately 5% of urinary tract calculi. Objectives: In the present study, we try to compare two different techniques for endoscopic surgical treatment of vesical stone (transurethral versus percutaneous). Materials and Methods: This work involved 37 male patients with vesical stones; those patients split into two groups, the first treated by transurethral vesicolithotripsy while Group 2 (G2) treated by suprapubic vesicolithotripsy using pneumatic lithoclast system in both groups. Patients in both groups have been compared regarding operative time, stone clearance, postoperative hematuria, hospital stay, and some other parameters. Results: There was no clinical significance regarding the sizes and the number of vesical stones between the two groups of patients. The study showed the operative time was significantly shorter in G2 than in Group (G1); in addition to that postoperative hematuria was little in G2 than in G1. Stone clearance was also significantly higher in G2 than G1. Conclusion: We conclude that the suprapubic approach is better than transurethral approach for the treatment of vesical stones in male patients due to its higher efficacy and shorter operative time.

Significant amounts of information are rapidly increasing in bulk as a consequence of the rapid development of unconventional tight reservoirs. The geomechanical and petrophysical characteristics of the wellbore rocks influence the sweet and non-sweet areas of tight unconventional reservoirs. Using standard approaches, such as data from cores and commercial software, it is difficult and costly to locate productive zones. Furthermore, it is difficult to apply these techniques to wells that do not have cores. This study presents a less costly way for the systematic and objective detection of productive and non-productive zones via well-log data using clustering unsupervised and supervised machine learning algorithms. The method of cluster analysis has been used in order to classify the productive and non-productive reservoir rock groups in the tight reservoir. This was accomplished by assessing the variability of the reservoir characteristics data that are forecasted by looking at the dimensions of the well logs. The Support vector machine as a supervised machine learning algorithm is then used to evaluate the classification accuracy of the unsupervised algorithms based on the clustering labels. The application made use of approximately ten different variables of rock characteristics including zonal depth, effective porosity, permeability, shale volume, water saturation, total organic carbon, young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, brittleness index, and pore size. The findings show that both clustering techniques identified the sweet areas with high accuracy and were less time-consuming.