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Introduction Cervical traction has long been used to relieve compression of nerve roots caused by intervertebral discs. Yet, there is lack of knowledge on comparing the effect of traction decompression with neck muscle stretching in patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR). This study investigated the effect of different angles of decompression on the flexor carpi radialis H-reflex, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and pain level (determined with the visual analogue scale) in patients with CR and compared the results with neck muscle stretching. Methods Overall, 58 patients with CR were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Group A received a stretching protocol to the cervical musculature. Group B was treated with traction therapy from neutral position with rope angle 0°. Group C underwent traction therapy from 30° lateral bending toward the side opposite to radiculopathy. Group D was managed with traction from 15° flexion with 30° lateral bending to the side opposite to radiculopathy and 15° rotation toward the side of radiculopathy. All participants were assessed before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results Mixed design MANOVA revealed that the H-reflex increased significantly ( p < 0.05) after treatment in groups A, B, and D. However, it increased non-significantly in patients within group C. NDI and pain scores decreased significantly after treatment in all tested groups. Conclusions Decompression traction from retracted neutral position with 0° rope angle and foraminal opening directions is as effective as stretching of ipsilateral neck muscles in enhancing nerve root decompression and reducing pain in patients with CR.

The transition from face-to-face classes to fully online learning (OL) during the spring semester of 2020 occurred almost globally because of the imposed COVID-19 lockdown. The present study investigated the perception and experiences of undergraduate students and faculty members of the Civil Engineering program at the United Arab Emirates University concerning switching to OL during COVID-19. Quantitative questionnaires were distributed to faculty members and students following the end of the spring semester of 2020. Students and faculty members identified student engagement and online exams as major areas that require improvement. Online exams were challenging for students and difficult to prepare, control, and administer for faculty. Providing technical support is critical for the successful streaming of online courses. Initially, half of the surveyed students began the transition with a positive attitude toward OL, and this percentage increased during the transition. The capacity to continue learning during the COVID-19 crisis and the availability of recorded materials were perceived by the students as the main advantages of OL while challenging online examinations and the lack of social interaction were the main disadvantages.

Abstract Background Risk stratification assessment of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) plays an important role in optimal management and defines the patient’s prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score (comprising of the components of the CHA2DS2-VASc score with a male instead of female sex category, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and family history of coronary artery disease respectively) to predict the severity and complexity of CAD and its efficacy in stratification for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with NSTE ACS without known atrial fibrillation. Methods This study included 200 patients (males 72.5%, mean age 55.8 ± 10.1 years) who were admitted with NSTE ACS. CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score was calculated on admission. Patients were classified into three groups according to their CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF score: low score group (

Abstract Background Vaccination against severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has gained recognition as a crucial strategy to prevent and reduce the risk of infection, including emerging variants, due to its proven safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the vaccination hesitancy (VH) among Egyptian parents towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, specifically focusing on parents with chronically ill children. Method A multicentered cross-sectional survey was conducted at outpatient clinics of El-Raml Pediatric Hospital, Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) in Alexandria, Alexandria Main University Hospital for Maternity and Children (AMUH), Al-Galaa Teaching Hospital, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI) Cairo, and Pediatric Department, Menoufia University Hospital from May 1st till December 15th, 2022. Parents of children with chronic diseases were recruited using a simple random sampling technique to respond to the validated Arabic version of parental attitudes about childhood vaccination (PACV). Results In this study, we enrolled 527 caregivers, 55.4% of them were aged 30–39 years old, 85.2% were females, and 46.9% had chronic diseases. Commonly mentioned information sources included television and radio (69.8%), and social media (35.3%). Among the parents studied, 59.6% refused vaccination. The predictors of the PACV score were governorate, Menoufia (β = 11.30, 95%CI [5.32, 17.27], p

ABSTRACTBackground COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that was thought to be associated with microvascular endothelial injury. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of COVID-19 on markers of endothelial shedding and its effect on patient morbidity and mortality.Settings and design This was a prospective cohort study.Methods This study was conducted at the isolation hospital at Alexandria Main University hospitals on 40 adult patients infected with COVID-19. Patients were divided according to the severity of the presenting symptoms into two groups; moderate and severe. Serum levels of Syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate were measured at hospital admission and at the end of the first week. Clinical and demographic data along with laboratory investigations and outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results Our results indicated that patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19 had notably high levels of syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate compared to patients with moderate symptoms on day 1 and day 7. Further investigations revealed that D-dimer, CRP, and IL-6 levels in patients with severe symptoms were higher in patients with severe symptoms. Our results also indicated that IL-6 increased on day 4 and gradually decreased on day 7 in both groups. Furthermore, serum levels of Syndecan-1, Heparan sulfate, D-dimer, and CRP decreased gradually from day 1 to day 7 in both groups. There was an association between markers of endothelial shedding with thrombotic and cardiovascular complications. It seems that the serum Syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate might be good candidates to monitor COVID-19 activity.Conclusion Patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19 have high serum levels of syndecan 1 compared to patients with moderate symptoms and have higher mortality and more prolonged hospital stay due to more endothelial injury and inflammatory reaction. Syndecan-1 may be used to monitor disease progression and severity.

A historic urban district is a quarter built many years ago and contains valuable memories over a limited area with narrow streets for pedestrians, primitive transportation, and outdoor activities. Over the years, many districts have been growing randomly, and motorized transport has enlarged significantly and created severe problems. Improving the situation needs heritage protection and sustainable mobility development on its streets. The desired mobility focuses on managing travel demands, accessibility for all street users, and enhancing the environment. This research presents a proposed approach with an application framework for sustainable mobility development on historic roads according to its current conditions at the strategic level. It includes sequential phases to define desired goals, formulate and evaluate planning scenarios containing different action measures based on sustainability indicators and application of micro-simulation. In case of inappropriate evaluation results, approach phases allow the modification and re-evaluation of additional measures until deciding an acceptable solution. The application is limited to Ras El-Teen Palace Street, prominent in the ancient El Gomrok district, Alexandria and restricted to a Do-Nothing solution and a planning scenario. The application proves the approach's practicality and feasibility by improving traffic behaviour. Furthermore, the planning approach can indicate technical recommendations for further improvement.

Remote sensing techniques are currently used in different fields including irrigation and water management fields. One of the important fields is the calculation of water consumption (WC). Remote sensing techniques can be used to estimate actual evapotranspiration and it can also be used to estimate crop coefficients based on spectral reflectance of vegetation indices (VIs), and from a relation with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which is an indicator for the absorption and the reflection ratios by the green plant. The current study used remote sensing data to calculate WC for El-Bostan irrigation district. Crop coefficient values were calculated from NDVI and reference evapotranspiration values were calculated using CROPWAT program. The obtained results were verified by comparing them with field measurements. There was a strong linear correlation between the measured and calculated values with r2 of 0.90, while the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.68. The results were also verified by comparing irrigation efficiencies obtained from remote sensing and from field measurements. The results were very close to each other. The study illustrated the importance and the reliability of using remote sensing techniques in calculating WC values, and which could improve water management and water use efficiency. HIGHLIGHTS Proper irrigation management requires an accurate estimation of crop water requirements.; Calculating water consumption values based on traditional techniques is not valid.; Calculation of crop water consumption using remote sensing technique at the irrigation district level.; The study depended on comparing calculated and measured water consumption values.; Using remote sensing technology can improve water management.;

Hydrogen (H2) production using a biological pathway such as anaerobic digestion suffers limitations in the survival of microorganisms. Usually, microalgae are used as feedstock but the acidic pH of digestate ruptures the cell wall of microalgae resulting in dead cellular debris. Whereas some cyanobacteria (blue-green microalgae) are very resilient and tolerant to stressful environments such as hypersaline conditions. Therefore, in this study, a microbial consortium (co-culture) of cyanobacteria Phormidium keutzingianum and activated sludge bacteria (ASB) was established to generate H2 production from waste resources. Different co-culturing ratios 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 v/v (P. keutzingianum: ASB) were analyzed for H2 production with glucose, sorbitol, and mannitol as carbon substrates. In addition, the effect of different concentrations (0, 10, and 20 g/L) of salt (NaCl) on H2 production was also tested. Results indicated that the amount of cumulative H2 produced changed significantly by varying the carbon substrates. Glucose-supplemented co-culture produced the lowest amount of H2 at 278 mL/L as compared to 980 and 562 mL H2/L in sorbitol and mannitol-supplemented co-cultures, respectively. The addition of NaCl negatively affected H2 production by increasing the salinity level from 0 to 20 g/L, and the cumulative H2 reduced from 980 to 176.8 mL/L and 562 to 333 mL/L in sorbitol and mannitol-supplemented co-culture, respectively. Sorbitol showed cyanobacterial growth in terms of chlorophyll from 600 to 1200 μg/L and optical density from 1 to 12 at λ 620 nm. Total organic carbon (TOC) in sorbitol supplemented co-cultures also increased to the peak 5.7, 6.7, and 7.7 g/L in 2:1, 1:2, and 1:1 v/v ratios, respectively, indicating anaerobic growth. Hence, this study signifies that sorbitol appeared to be the significant carbon substrate that helped cyanobacteria grow under anaerobic conditions resulting in higher H2 production. Moreover, cyanobacteria are more tolerant to stressful environments such as hypersaline and acidic conditions compared to microalgae.

This review highlights the advantages of using micro–nano bubble (MNB) technology in various applications of wastewater treatment. Initially, the review examines key performance dissimilarities among different types of bubbles toward the treatment process. Specifically, a qualitative and quantitative meta-analysis of the effects of MNBs in the removal of target pollutants found in wastewater from different sources is conducted. A review on the MNBs characterization techniques to identify bubble size, size distribution, and accordingly bubble rising velocity as well as gas mass transfer rates, zeta potential, generation of free radicals, and bubble stability is also included. Moreover, the effect of bubble size on the efficiency of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment processes is evaluated. Finally, the applications of MNBs are investigated to explore their effectiveness in different wastewater treatment processes, such as ozonation, flotation/dissolved air flotation, aeration, and other processes. It is anticipated that the use MNBs could be a promising sustainable and low-cost wastewater treatment technology.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a primary environmental concern, threatening freshwater ecosystems and public health and causing economic damages in the billions of dollars annually. These blooms, predominantly driven by phytoplankton species like cyanobacteria, thrive in nutrient-rich, warm, and low-wind environments. Because of the adverse impacts of HABs, this review examines various control methods, focusing on biological strategies as sustainable solutions. While effective in disrupting algal populations, traditional chemical and physical interventions carry ecological risks and can be resource-intensive. Biological control methods, including biomanipulation and using algicidal microorganisms such as Streptococcus thermophiles, Myxobacteria, and Lopharia spadicea, emerge as eco-friendly alternatives offering long-term benefits. Additionally, barley and rice straw application has demonstrated efficacy in curbing HAB growth. These biological approaches work by inhibiting algal proliferation, disrupting cellular structures, and fostering algal cell aggregation. Despite their advantages over conventional methods, biological controls face challenges, including intricate ecological interactions. This article delves into the latest biological techniques aimed at eradicating HABs, intending to diminish their frequency and reduce toxin levels in aquatic environments. While most research to date has been confined to laboratory settings, scaling these methods to field applications presents hurdles due to the variability and complexity of natural ecosystems. The review underscores the need for further research and development in this critical area of environmental science.

Bioaerosol emission at various WWTP treatment units has drawn attention due to their potential negative impacts on human health. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of the global research on bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs from 1995 to 2022. The Scopus database was used to identify relevant articles and research trends, major contributors in the field, and recent developments. The study examined 122 articles in the field of bioaerosols in WWTPs. The analysis findings showed that publications and citations peaked in 2022, with values of 25 and 818, respectively. At the beginning of the study period, the USA, Poland, and Italy led the publications’ ranking, but with time, China emerged as the most influential country in the field. Recent advances in the field have revealed that spectral intensity bioaerosol sensors have contributed to the faster and more reliable identification and classification of bioaerosols. It was also observed that probabilistic techniques relying on mathematical models and assumptions to ascertain the risks associated with bioaerosols may result in false interpretations. Despite their high cost, epidemiological studies were best for assessing plant workers’ health risks. The outbreak has raised questions about accurately evaluating and modeling SARS-CoV-2 persistence, infectivity, and aerosolization over WWTP sites and environmental factors. Finally, the study highlighted the potential of three control treatment approaches: carbon absorption, UV irradiation, and ozone treatments, which proved efficient in reducing bioaerosol emissions.

BackgroundSeasonal influenza vaccine can reduce the risk of influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths among children. Given that parents are the primary decision makers, this study examined the parental attitude toward childhood influenza vaccine and identified determinants of vaccine hesitancy (VH) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online survey in 14 EMR countries. Parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years were included. The Parent Attitude about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) was used to assess VH. Chi square test and independent t-test were used to test for association of qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. A structural equations model (SEM) was used to identify direct and indirect determinants of parental VH.ResultsAlmost half of the parents were hesitant about vaccinating their children against influenza (50.8%). Parental VH was significantly higher among older mothers (37.06 ± 8.8 years, p = 0.006), rural residents (53.6%, p

This study aimed at assessing the training programs for Mathematics teachers at elementary stage on developed Curricula and attitudes toward teaching at Najran educational administration in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this objective, two instruments were developed, one of them measures the opinions of Mathematics teachers about the training programs and the other one measures their attitudes toward teaching the developed Curricula, which were distributed to (72) male and female Mathematics teachers at elementary stage. The results showed that training programs for Mathematics teachers are highly efficient in covering the theoretical background of the project of Mathematics development, content, methods of teaching, activities and educational aids, evaluation, and quality of training. The results also showed Math teachers have positive attitudes towards teaching the developed Curricula, and further concluded that there are no statistically significant differences due to teacher's experience, while there are statistically significant differences attributed to gender in favor of female teachers.

Dyes are the most carcinogenic organic compounds that are discarded by most of the textile industries without any prior treatment, which is harmful for the environment. This study aims to develop a bentonite-clay/carbon-nanotube (CNT)-based adsorbent to treat textile wastewater for water sustainability. The preliminary and post-characterization of adsorbent involves scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis to determine the changes in surface morphology, functional group, and surface area of the adsorbent. Linear and nonlinear isotherms and kinetic studies were performed to explore the sorption mechanism. The results show that the nonlinear form of the Langmuir isotherm best fits adsorption with a qmax of 550 mg/g. The adsorption followed the nonlinear pseudo-first-order kinetics, favoring chemisorption with R2 ≈ 1 and X2 = 0.22. Maximum dye removal (89.9%) was achieved under the optimum conditions of pH 3, an adsorbent dose of 100 mg, and a contact time of 120 min, with an initial COD concentration of 1140 mgL−1. This study has demonstrated the successful application of a bentonite-clay/CNT-based adsorbent on textile wastewater treatment.

The biodesalination performance of the cyanophycean Phormidium keutzingianum concentrated using two methods (centrifugation and immobilization) was evaluated for the first time at NaCl concentrations of 10, 30, 50, and 70 g/L. In addition, the osmoregulation ability of P. keutzingianum was assessed at high salinities (50, 70, 85, and 100 g/L) over a relatively short time period. The pH, electrical conductivity, and chloride, nitrate, and phycocyanin concentrations were measured during all experiments. The immobilization method of concentration resulted in a chloride removal rate of up to 44 % during the osmoregulation experiment at a salinity of 100 g/L. For the centrifugation method, the chloride removal rate was 26 % on the 20th day of observation for 10 g/L. Thus, the immobilization method resulted in faster chloride ion removal than the centrifugation method. The findings demonstrate that biodesalination efficiency can be enhanced by the use of different P. keutzingianum preparation methods.

The transition from face-to-face classes to fully online learning (OL) during the spring semester of 2020 occurred almost globally because of the imposed COVID-19 lockdown. The present study investigated the perception and experiences of undergraduate students and faculty members of the Civil Engineering program at the United Arab Emirates University concerning switching to OL during COVID-19. Quantitative questionnaires were distributed to faculty members and students following the end of the spring semester of 2020. Students and faculty members identified student engagement and online exams as major areas that require improvement. Online exams were challenging for students and difficult to prepare, control, and administer for faculty. Providing technical support is critical for the successful streaming of online courses. Initially, half of the surveyed students began the transition with a positive attitude toward OL, and this percentage increased during the transition. The capacity to continue learning during the COVID-19 crisis and the availability of recorded materials were perceived by the students as the main advantages of OL while challenging online examinations and the lack of social interaction were the main disadvantages.

Water pollution is a globally recognized serious problem that is hindering human development and societal progress. One of the most feasible methods to eliminate this problem is wastewater treatment and reuse. Emerging micropollutants, such as pesticides, are notorious for not being removed using traditional treatment methods. Therefore, novel techniques such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been proposed, among which photocatalytic ozonation is arguably the best option. Sulfoxaflor belongs to a relatively newer class of compounds known as sulfoximines and has not been studied for degradation using photocatalytic ozonation. In this work, we explore the degradation of sulfoxaflor, specifically a Dow product containing sulfoxaflor as an active ingredient using various AOPs, particularly photocatalytic ozonation. Photocatalytic ozonation has shown a synergy of 2.23 times compared to photocatalysis and ozonation alone. Fe-zeolite can improve the treatment time as an ozonation catalyst, reducing the removal time from 22 min to 18 min while reducing the electrical energy per order and electrical energy per order (EEO) from 69.5 to 42.92 kWh m−3 order−1. Catalysts have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy and point of zero charge. The effects of the initial concentration, UV intensity, catalyst dose, and catalyst reuse have been studied. Moreover, the rate constants have been determined using curve fitting, and the mechanism is proposed.

There has been a widespread call for improvement in undergraduate STEM education, leading to what are known as evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs). However, EBIP usage in STEM is a more recent phenomenon in the United Arab Emirates, which is historically known for its passive teaching practices but is now taking strides to transform its educational system. This study sought to assess (i) STEM faculty EBIP awareness, adoption, and ease-of-implementation perceptions from STEM faculty at a leading university in the United Arab Emirates and the demographic factors correlated with faculty responses, and (ii) the contextual factors that influence faculty EBIP adoption. Data was compared to that of STEM faculty at a top-tier research and teaching university in the United States of America. Finally, this study sought to provide a snapshot of current STEM faculty teaching practices when both a leader (United States of America) and a newcomer (United Arab Emirates) in STEM EBIPs were considered. A survey containing 16 teaching practices—3 traditional, 13 EBIPs—along with 20 contextual factors was developed and completed by faculty. EBIP awareness and usage were positively affected by time spent on teaching, teaching experience, and teaching workshop participation, and negatively affected by more class time spent lecturing. Significant contextual factors point to potential factors for consideration in efforts to improve EBIP adoption.

Introduction. Cervical traction has long been used to relieve compression of nerve roots caused by intervertebral discs. Yet, there is lack of knowledge on comparing the effect of traction decompression with neck muscle stretching in patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR). This study investigated the effect of different angles of decompression on the flexor carpi radialis H-reflex, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and pain level (determined with the visual analogue scale) in patients with CR and compared the results with neck muscle stretching. Methods. Overall, 58 patients with CR were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Group A received a stretching protocol to the cervical musculature. Group B was treated with traction therapy from neutral position with rope angle 0°. Group C underwent traction therapy from 30° lateral bending toward the side opposite to radiculopathy. Group D was managed with traction from 15° flexion with 30° lateral bending to the side opposite to radiculopathy and 15° rotation toward the side of radiculopathy. All participants were assessed before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results. Mixed design MANOVA revealed that the H-reflex increased significantly (p < 0.05) after treatment in groups A, B, and D. However, it increased non-significantly in patients within group C. NDI and pain scores decreased significantly after treatment in all tested groups. Conclusions. Decompression traction from retracted neutral position with 0° rope angle and foraminal opening directions is as effective as stretching of ipsilateral neck muscles in enhancing nerve root decompression and reducing pain in patients with CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]