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Background: Caring for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly demanding task that can adversely affect the physical and psychological well-being of caregivers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the burden experienced by caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in Oman and explore the factors associated with this burden, including demographic and medical characteristics. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional was employed. Caregiver burden was assessed, and demographic and medical variables were examined among caregivers of HD patients. A total of 326 unpaid family caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview scale, demographics and some medical variables. Linear multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify factors linked to caregiver burden. Results: Of the caregivers, 62.9% reported a minimal burden, 21.8% experienced mild-to-moderate burden, 8.6% faced moderate-to-severe burden, and 6.7% encountered a severe burden. The final multiple regression model demonstrated statistical significance compared to the constant (F = 8.68, p < 0.001), with eight predictors explaining 18% of the variance, and caregivers' satisfaction with health emerged as the only significant predictor. Conclusion: A substantial portion of caregivers reported minimal burden. These findings suggest the need for further in-depth investigations into factors contributing to this favourable outcome. Furthermore, caregivers' satisfaction with health was the only significant predictor of their burden. Healthcare providers need to give special attention to this point and conduct periodic assessments of the primary caregivers' health. Implementing improvements in the healthcare system based on these findings could enhance the overall caregiving experience for HD patients and their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial accelerated life tests (PALTs) are employed when the results of accelerated life testing cannot be extended to usage circumstances. This work discusses the challenge of different estimating strategies in constant PALT with complete data. The lifetime distribution of the test item is assumed to follow the power half-logistic distribution. Several classical and Bayesian estimation techniques are presented to estimate the distribution parameters and the acceleration factor of the power half-logistic distribution. These techniques include Anderson–Darling, maximum likelihood, Cramér von-Mises, ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, maximum product of spacing and Bayesian. Additionally, the Bayesian credible intervals and approximate confidence intervals are constructed. A simulation study is provided to compare the outcomes of various estimation methods that have been provided based on mean squared error, absolute average bias, length of intervals, and coverage probabilities. This study shows that the maximum product of spacing estimation is the most effective strategy among the options in most circumstances when adopting the minimum values for MSE and average bias. In the majority of situations, Bayesian method outperforms other methods when taking into account both MSE and average bias values. When comparing approximation confidence intervals to Bayesian credible intervals, the latter have a higher coverage probability and smaller average length. Two authentic data sets are examined for illustrative purposes. Examining the two real data sets shows that the value methods are workable and applicable to certain engineering-related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports have shown that pre-treatment low muscle mass may lead to poorer outcomes for cancer patients. We explored the correlation between Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), and Muscle Mass (MM) as measured by CT scans, and overall survival (OS) following diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and CT scans of patients diagnosed with CRC between 2007 and 2018. Demographics, pathology, and clinical parameters were collected. Using Image-J software, we measured VAT, SAT, and MM. Survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and prognostic factors were assessed using multivariate Cox regression. Analysis included 408 patients with a mean age of 56.9 years and a median follow-up of 93.3 months. Colon and rectum/rectosigmoid colon cancers were equally distributed. The 5-year OS rate was 67.8%. There was no significant difference in OS rates based on SAT or VAT. However, higher MM was associated with a improved 5-year OS rate. Factors such as age, stage, grade, and surgery were also associated to OS rates. These findings suggest that higher muscle mass may lead to better outcomes for CRC patients, highlighting the potential impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article documents the work conducted in implementing the IAEA non-agreement TC regional RAS6088 project "Strengthening Education and Training Programmes for Medical Physics". Necessary information on the project was collected from the project counterparts via emails for a period of one month, starting from 21st September 2023, and verified at the Final Regional Coordination Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from 30th October 2023 to 3rd November 2023. Sixty-three participants were trained in 5 Regional Training Courses (RTCs), with 48%, 32% and 20% in radiation therapy, diagnostic radiology, and nuclear medicine, respectively. One RTC was successfully organised to introduce molecular biology as an academic module to participants. Three participating Member States, namely United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal and Afghanistan have initiated processes to start the postgraduate master medical physics education programmes by coursework, adopting the IAEA TCS56 Guidelines. UAE has succeeded in completing the process while Nepal and Afghanistan have yet to initiate the programme. The postgraduate master medical physics programmes by coursework were strengthened in Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, and Thailand, along with the national registration of medical physicists. In particular, Thailand has revised 6 postgraduate master medical physics programmes by coursework during the tenure of this project. Home Based Assignment and RTCs have resulted in two publications. In conclusion, the RAS6088 project was found to have achieved its planned outcomes despite challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is proposed that a follow up project be implemented to increase the number of Member States who are better prepared to improve medical physics education and training in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining accurate cardiac auscultation signals, including basic heart sounds (S1 and S2) and subtle signs of disease, is crucial for improving cardiac diagnoses and making the most of telehealth. This research paper introduces an innovative approach that utilizes a modified cosine transform (MCT) and a masking strategy based on long short-term memory (LSTM) to effectively distinguish heart sounds and murmurs from background noise and interfering sounds. The MCT is used to capture the repeated pattern of the heart sounds, while the LSTMs are trained to construct masking based on the repeated MCT spectrum. The proposed strategy's performance in maintaining the clinical relevance of heart sounds continues to demonstrate effectiveness, even in environments marked by increased noise and complex disruptions. The present work highlights the clinical significance and reliability of the suggested methodology through in-depth signal visualization and rigorous statistical performance evaluations. In comparative assessments, the proposed approach has demonstrated superior performance compared to recent algorithms, such as LU-Net and PC-DAE. Furthermore, the system's adaptability to various datasets enhances its reliability and practicality. The suggested method is a potential way to improve the accuracy of cardiovascular diagnostics in an era of rapid advancement in medical signal processing. The proposed approach showed an enhancement in the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by 9.6 dB at an input SNR of − 6 dB and by 3.3 dB at an input SNR of 10 dB. The average signal distortion ratio (SDR) achieved across a variety of input SNR values was 8.56 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the behavior of SiO2 under different external conditions, particularly pressure, is essential for advancing its applications. While existing literature primarily focuses on the impact of isotropic stress on SiO2, there remains a gap in exploring the effects of uniaxial and biaxial stresses on its properties. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the novel effects of uniaxial, biaxial, and isotropic pressures on the opto-electrical properties of SiO2 using first principles calculations. Our results reveal distinct structural adaptations of SiO2 under different pressure conditions, demonstrating its anisotropic behavior. For example, under isotropic pressure in the interval [0.0, 12.5] GPa, the lattice parameters 5.039 < a < 4.615 Å, and 5.529 < c < 5.239 Å, and the unit cell volume ranged from 121.57 to 96.65 Å3 show reductions in values, indicating structural compression in accordance with the experimentally found values. Additionally, we investigated the electrical properties, including the complex dielectric function and conductivity. At an isotropic pressure of 0 GPa, the real refractive index of SiO2 is approximately n = 2.04083, which increases to n = 2.20836 at 12.5 GPa, while applying uniaxial or biaxial pressure resulted in direction-dependent-refractive index highlighting the crystal's anisotropic to external pressure. Also, our study revealed that the maximum values of conductivity increased while wavelength shift decreased as a function of the applied stress on the crystal. These findings provide valuable insights into the behavior of SiO2 single crystal under directional stresses, facilitating the design of pressure-sensitive optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects on mechanical and γ-ray shielding competence of TiO2-based glasses of chemical composition: 30PbO⋅4MoO3⋅(66 − z)B2O3⋅zTiO2 (0.0 < z < 2.0 mol%) was calculated in this report. The glass density was found to increase in the range of 4.650–4.696 g/cm3 concurrent with a decline in the oxygen molar volume (OMV) from 10.633 to10.547 cm3/mol when [Ti4+] molar fraction is increased in the glass samples. The Gibbs free energy was found to be between 20.874 and 22.586 kJ/cm3 and was found to be influenced by TiO2 concentration in these glasses and on the valance states of Ti3+ and Mo5+. The affinity of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values (0.039 < MAC < 6.198 g/cm3) in the examined photon energy domain 0.015 < E < 15.0 MeV has the following chronological sorting: MACT0 < MACT2 < MACT4 < MACT6 < MACT8 < MACT10 < MACT15 < MACT20. The half-value-layer (HVL) trend of Mo-glasses was balanced against two standard RS-glass systems and discovered to possess a less γ-ray shielding competence as RS-(360, 520) or concrete. Also, we found that when the [Ti3+]/[Mo5+] ratio exceeds 0.8 mol%, then both ions participate in the studied properties via de-polymerization of the glass network. These outcomes revealed that the safety effectiveness against radiation and physic-mechano-properties can be synchronized for diverse purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation attenuation and absorption play a crucial role in various applications, such as nuclear power generation, medical imaging, and space exploration. Clay minerals, with their unique layered structure, offer potential as radiation shielding materials due to their exceptional properties and tunability. The systematic tuning of the tetrahedral-to-octahedral-layers ion content (T:O ratio) in muscovite, a variant of mica, by substitution of Al by Fe and investigation of its impact on radiation shielding is the primary goal of this study. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) were calculated for a range of photon energies for different clay minerals, revealing that the MAC values depend on the incident photon energy, crystalline form and chemical composition. The sequential order for the MAC values at E = 50 keV as follows: (Clay, MAC (cm2.g−1)): (mica, 0.357), (talc, 0.307), (kaolinite, 0.297), (montmorillonite, 0.286). The LAC values also demonstrated variations with the same order in relation to incoming radiation, where mica (with unit-cell volume 943.6 A˚3, crystal density 3.02 g.cm−3, atomic packing fraction 0.226) exhibited the highest values. Also, the results indicate that muscovite exhibits improving shielding properties as the ion content T:O ratio is increased from 20:0 to 20:10, corresponding to an increase in Fe3+ ions at the expense of Al3+ ions in the octahedral voids. Its MAC values at 0.015 MeV were increased from 7.146 to 10.403 cm2.g−1 as the T:O substitution ratio increased from 20:0 to 20:10 in the layered clay. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing the T:O substitution ratio in clay minerals for radiation-shielding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present work, the preparation of ternary MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid by a facile hydrothermal process for photocatalytic and photovoltaic performance is presented. The prepared nanomaterials were confirmed by physio-chemical characterization. The nanosphere morphology was confirmed by electron microscopy techniques for the MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid. The MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid demonstrated enhanced crystal violet (CV) dye photodegradation which increased from 50 to 95% at 80 min; The degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye increased from 56 to 93% at 100 min under UV–visible light irradiation. The trapping experiment was carried out using different solvents for active species and the Z-Scheme photocatalytic mechanism was discussed in detail. Additionally, a batch series of stability experiments were carried out to determine the photostability of materials, and the results suggest that the MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid is more stable even after four continuous cycles of photocatalytic activity. The MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid delivers photoconversion efficiency (4.92%) explored efficacy is 3.8 times higher than the bare MoS2 (1.27%). The overall results indicated that the MoS2–NiO–CuO nanohybrid nanostructure could be a potential candidate to be used to improve photocatalytic performance and DSSC solar cell applications as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel approach for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein combining a label free electrochemical impedimetric immunosensor with the use of purified chicken IgY antibodies. The sensor employs three electrodes and is functionalized with an anti-S IgY antibody, ELISA and immunoblot assays confirmed the positive response of chicken immunized with SARS-CoV2 S antigen. The developed immunosensor is effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal clinical samples from suspected cases. The key advantage of this biosensor is its remarkable sensitivity, and its capability of detecting very low concentrations of the target analyte, with a detection limit of 5.65 pg/mL. This attribute makes it highly suitable for practical point-of-care (POC) applications, particularly in low analyte count clinical scenarios, without requiring amplification. Furthermore, the biosensor has a wide dynamic range of detection, spanning from 11.56 to 740 ng/mL, which makes it applicable for sample analysis in a typical clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With cancer being a leading cause of death globally, there is an urgent need to improve therapeutic strategies and identify effective chemotherapeutics. This study aims to highlight the potential of crocetin, a natural product derived from certain plants, as an anticancer agent. It was conducted an extensive review of the existing literature to gather and analyze the most recent data on the chemical properties of crocetin and its observed effects in various in vitro and in vivo studies. The study particularly focused on studies that examined crocetin's impact on cell cycle dynamics, apoptosis, caspases and antioxidant enzyme levels, tumor angiogenesis, inflammation, and overall tumor growth. Crocetin exhibited diverse anti-tumorigenic activities including inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis induction, angiogenesis suppression, and potentiation of chemotherapy. Multiple cellular and molecular pathways such as the PI3K/Akt, MAPK and NF-κB were modulated by it. Crocetin demonstrates promising anti-cancer properties and offers potential as an adjunctive or alternative therapy in oncology. More large-scale, rigorously designed clinical trials are needed to establish therapeutic protocols and ascertain the comprehensive benefits and safety profile of crocetin in diverse cancer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation, elastic-mechanic-characteristics of LMAS (Li2O-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2) glass systems influenced by the molar ratio [SiO2]/([P2O5] + [Al2O3]) additions were investigated. Within the incoming photon energies: 0.015 to 15.0 MeV spanned in this study, both XCOM and Phy-X/PSD codes were utilized. The outcomes demonstrate that substituting P2O5 with Al2O3 at the expense of SiO2 led to an increase in glass density from 3.021 to 3.26 g/cm3, which, in turn, decreased the LAC from 2.633 to 2.534 cm−1 at E = 400 keV. The MAC values were found to be 6.721 < MAC < 7.004 g/cm2 at low photon energy.The uppermost values of MAC were observed for the glass-system encoded as 0P-5AF with a direct relationship to energy. The highest effective-atomic-number (Zeff) was recorded at E = 20 keV, and ranged from 18.13 to 19.31 for the LMAS samples. Subsequently, Zeff declined rapidly to a value around 9.75 at E = 1.0 MeV, and slightly increased above E = 1.50 MeV. Furthermore, the tenth-value-layer (TVL) values bare that an decrease of [SiO2]/([P2O5] + [Al2O3]) mol% from 0.0 to 20.8% decreased the thickness required to stop or obstruct photons (e.g., 11.974 < TVL < 11.241 cm at E = 1.0 MeV). The 3P-5A sample exhibited the highest half-value-layer 0.033 < HVL < 10.666 cm, while the 2P-16A sample had the lowest HVL. The optimized ratio [SiO2]/([P2O5] + [Al2O3]) was found to be 6.8.The radiation shield hallmarks of the LMAS glass blocks developed as the ratio [SiO2]/([P2O5] + [Al2O3]) enhanced in the glass samples. The elastic moduli were found to depend on this ratio content molar concentration. Accordingly, the radiation shielding properties are also correlated in same manner. Also, the calculated elastic-mechanical intrinsic of these transparent blocks, include the molar volume (Vm), which increased from 18.157 to 19.92 cm3/mol, and the free-energy (G) from 71.895 to 83.313 kJ/cm3 were found to depend on the nominated mol%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops a new group acceptance sampling plans (GASP) based on truncated lifetimes when the item's lifetime follows gamma Lindley distribution (GLD). The model mean is considered as a quality parameter, then the minimum number of groups and acceptance number required for a specific group size are selected for a particular consumer's risk and test termination time. The values of the operation characteristic function are calculated for various quality levels, and the minimum ratios of true average life to stipulated life at a certain producer's risk are determined. Examples are provided to demonstrate the results and a real data set of fatigue fracture of Kevlar 373/epoxy subjected to constant pressure at 90 stress level until all had failed is fitted to the model and analyzed to illustrate the usefulness of the suggested GASP for the GLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the [Na2O]/[CuO] ratio in two glass groups with a chemical formula of (50 − y/2)Na2O–yCuO–(50 − y/2) P2O5 (y = 0.0–40 mol%) coded as Line I and (50 − y)Na2O–yCuO–50P2O5 (y = 0.0–50 mol%) coded as Line II on physical and gamma-ray attenuation properties have been deeply investigated. The density (ρ) varied from 2.471 to 3.262 g/cm3 and from 2.471 to 3.113 g/cm3 for Line I and Line II glasses, respectively. The molar volume (Vm) values varied from 41.280 to 28.526 cm3/mol and from 41.280 to 35.609 cm3/mol for Line I and Line II glasses, respectively. The oxygen molar volume (OMV) reduced from 13.761 to12.972 cm3/mol and from 13.761 to 11.873 cm3/mol, while the oxygen packing density (OPD) improved from 72.674 to 77.124 and from 72.674 to 84.253 g.atom/l for Line I and Line II glasses. The mass and linear attenuation coefficients (MAC and LAC) values corresponding to the Line II glass is slightly lower than their counterpart of the Line I. The effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron density (Neff) for glasses in Line I was lower than that for those in Line II. Exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) buildup factors have the same trend in both glass groups. The findings support the capability to utilize the examined glasses as radiation shielding materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desired target of the current report was to examine the efficiency of MnO-based glass systems against x- or g-rays, and mechanical properties with varying amounts of MnO incorporation. The focus was on evaluating their radiation shielding performance and determining their elasto-mechanic intrinsic characteristics. Various gamma and neutron shielding factors, including HVL (half-value layer), Zeff (Zeff: effective atomic number), Zeq (equivalent atomic number), EBF (exposure buildup factor), EABF (energy absorption buildup factor), ACS (atomic cross-section), ESC (electronic cross-section), and SAFE* (specific absorbed fraction of energy) were planned to assess the radio-protection capabilities of the probed glass systems. Exemplified at E = 15 keV, the MAC (mass attenuation coefficient) values are: 13.99 cm2/g, 14.03 cm2/g, 14.18 cm2/g, 14.36 cm2/g, and 14.55 cm2/g for the glass blocks encoded as LZBP, 0.1Mn:LZBP, 0.5Mn:LZBP, 1.0Mn:LZBP, and 1.5Mn:LZBP respectively, while the SAFE values vary between 31907 g−1 and 32013 g−1 as Mn2+ is increased from 0.0 mol% to 1.5 mol%. The outcomes indicate that as the manganese (II) oxide mol% increases, then the MAC, Zeff, Zeq, ACS, and ESC values also increase. Among the samples, 1.5Mn:LZBP exhibited the least HVL, EBF, EABF, and SAFE values. This glass, which contains 1.5 mol% of MnO and has the highest interconnecting bonding/volume, may be deemed as an advanced glass for ray protection in the different fields, providing valuable insights into their radiation shielding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attenuation of γ-rays in α-quartz homeotypes is influenced by various factors, including unit cell parameters, intertetrahedral bridging angle, and chemical composition. This study aims to investigate the correlation between these crystal parameters and the attenuation properties of γ-rays in α-quartz homeotypes. Thirteen different crystalline forms of α-quartz homeotypes with varying densities were chosen and analyzed for their shielding properties. Their mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) and linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) were calculated for a range of photons energies using XCOM online software. The results revealed distinct dependencies of MAC and LAC values on incident photon energies and α-quartz homeotypes. They follows the following sequential order in the low and high energy domains:MACGaAsO4 < MACGaO4 > MACBAsO4 > MACAlAsO4 > MACGaPO4 > MACAl0.33Ga0.67PO4 > MACFePO4 > MACPON > MACSi0.56P0.44O1.56N0.44 > MACAlPO4 > MACSiO2 > MACBPO4 > MACBeF2. The GaAsO4 homeotype exhibited the highest MAC values at low incoming photon energies, while the BeF2 compound displayed the least MAC values. The LAC values also demonstrated variations among the homeotypes, with GeO2 (with a = 4.9845 Å, c = 5.6477 Å, ρ = 4.2700 g/cm3, APF = 0.408) exhibiting the highest values. The influence of the intertetrahedral bridging angle and tilt angle on LAC values was investigated, indicating that an increase in the intertetrahedral bridging angle (or a decrease in the tilt angle) led to a decrease in LAC. This study provides valuable insights into the structural-radiation absorption properties of α-quartz homeotypes and their potential applications in radiation shielding, paving the way for the development of novel materials with optimized radiation shielding efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we conduct a comprehensive theoretical investigation of magnetic perovskites PrAO3 using density functional theory, exploring their structural, elastic, mechanical, thermal, and electronic attributes under pressure conditions from 0 to 50 GPa. Our findings reveal the stability of the studied structures, meeting standard criteria such as energy optimizations, tolerance factor, mechanical stability, and enthalpy of formation. Notably, the structural parameters show excellent reliability, especially under ambient conditions, while the modulus of elasticity demonstrates enhanced structural stability with pressure linearly. We observe a decrease in anharmonicity and an increase in thermal conductivity under pressure. Additionally, the compounds exhibit a ductile nature with improved conducting properties. In the realm of electronic properties, the Moss–Burstein shift and a band gap transition from indirect to direct phase are observed, indicating potential applications in fast magneto-optical switches, electrochromic and spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-laparoscopic shoulder pain is very common after laparoscopy. One method to reduce postoperative shoulder pain is the pulmonary recruitment maneuver. It is used to reduce post-laparoscopic shoulder pain. This study utilizes a truly experimental, double-blinded, prospective randomized design to assess the effect of pulmonary recruitment maneuvers on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Sixty patients were allocated randomly into two groups. The intervention group received five manual pulmonary inflations for 5 s at a maximum pressure of 25 cm H2O. The control group included patients whose residual CO2 gas was evacuated from the abdominal cavity using passive exsufflation as the routine method at the end of surgery by abdominal massage. Gentle abdominal pressure was applied to facilitate CO2 gas removal. Results: When Ramsay's Sedation Score's results were compared between the two groups after the operation, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups during the first and (p value = 0.20) second (p value = 0.61) hours. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the pulmonary recruitment maneuver is significant (p-value 0.001) and had a high effect size (0.527) in reducing shoulder pain among laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients after controlling the effect of other covariate patient characteristics. Conclusion: Utilizing a pulmonary recruitment maneuver at the end of laparoscopic surgery reduces shoulder pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the stress distribution and risk of fracture of a non-vital immature maxillary central incisor subjected to various clinical procedures using finite element analysis (FEA). A three-dimensional model of an immature central incisor was developed, from which six main models were designed: untreated immature tooth (C), standard apical plug (AP), resin composite (RC), glass-fibre post (GFP), regeneration procedure (RET), and regeneration with induced root maturation (RRM). Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or Biodentine® were used as an apical or coronal plug. All models simulated masticatory forces in a quasi–static approach with an oblique force of 240 Newton at a 120° to the longitudinal tooth axis. The maximum principal stress, maximum shear stress, risk of fracture, and the strengthening percentage were evaluated. The mean maximum principal stress values were highest in model C [90.3 MPa (SD = 4.4)] and lowest in the GFP models treated with either MTA and Biodentine®; 64.1 (SD = 1.7) and 64.0 (SD = 1.6) MPa, respectively. Regarding the shear stress values, the dentine tooth structure in model C [14.4 MPa (SD = 0.8)] and GFP models [15.4 MPa (SD = 1.1)] reported significantly higher maximum shear stress values compared to other tested models (p < 0.001), while no significant differences were reported between the other models (p > 0.05). No significant differences between MTA and Biodentine® regarding maximum principal stress and maximum shear stress values for each tested model (p > 0.05). A maximum strain value of 4.07E−03 and maximum displacement magnitude of 0.128 mm was recorded in model C. In terms of strengthening percentage, the GFP models were associated with the highest increase (22%). The use of a GFP improved the biomechanical performance and resulted in a lower risk of fracture of a non-vital immature maxillary central incisor in a FEA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various organosulfur compounds, such as dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), display anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to examine the effects of DMTS on acute pancreatitis (AP) and its mechanism of action in both in vivo and in vitro studies. AP was induced in FVB/n mice or Wistar rats by caerulein, ethanol-palmitoleic acid, or L-ornithine-HCl. DMTS treatments were administered subcutaneously. AP severity was assessed by pancreatic histological scoring, pancreatic water content, and myeloperoxidase activity measurements. The behaviour of animals was followed. Pancreatic heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) expression, sulfide, and protein persulfidation were measured. In vitro acinar viability, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and reactive oxygen species production were determined. DMTS dose-dependently decreased the severity of AP. It declined the pancreatic infiltration of leukocytes and cellular damage in mice. DMTS upregulated the HSP72 expression during AP and elevated serum sulfide and low molecular weight persulfide levels. DMTS exhibited cytoprotection against hydrogen peroxide and AP-inducing agents. It has antioxidant properties and modulates physiological but not pathophysiological Ca2+ signalling. Generally, DMTS ameliorated AP severity and protected pancreatic acinar cells. Our findings indicate that DMTS is a sulfur donor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and organosulfur compounds require further investigation into this potentially lethal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the amount of extruded debris caused by different motions using a single-file system. Fifty mandibular first molar teeth were randomized into 5 groups (n = 10) according to the motion tested: Optimize Torque Reverse (OTR), TF Adaptive Motion (TFA), continuous rotation (CR), reciprocation motion (+ 150°, −30°) (REC), and Jeni motion (Jeni). One Curve single file 25/06 (Micro-Mega, Besançon, France) was used in all experimental groups. The root canals were irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl, and the extruded debris were collected at pre-weighted glass vials. The glass vials were kept inside an incubator for one week at 70 °C to dry out the irrigating solution. The extruded debris was quantified by subtracting the pre-instrumentation from the post-instrumentation weight of the glass vials. The time required for each instrumentation procedure was digitally recorded. All data were analyzed statistically with one way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test (P < 0.05). All the motions extruded apically debris with Jeni mode caused significantly less debris extrusion than TFA, REC, and CR (P < 0.05) while no significant difference emerged with OTR. Preparation time was not significantly different in all groups. Within the limits of the present study, all the kinematics produced apically debris extrusion, with Jeni reporting a similar amount of debris compared with OTR and significantly less than TFA, REC, and CR. Preparation time was similar among the tested kinematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 vaccination effectively decreased hospitalization and mortality during the surge of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. However, patients infected with the Omicron variant who did not receive a third COVID-19 vaccine booster often required critical care unit (CCU) admission. The CCU bed utilization of COVID-19 posed a worldwide burden. The decision to stop isolation of patients with COVID-19 in CCUs is challenging, given the variable viral shedding in heterogeneous patient populations. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) have been used in communities to determine patients' infectiousness and need for quarantine. However, the use of RADTs in the de-isolation of CCU patients had not been studied. Methods: Serial RADTs, RT-PCR and viral culturing were performed in a case series of three critically ill patients infected with Omicron variants. Results: The duration of infectious viral shedding was 13–46 days post symptom onset (PSO). Concordant negative results were observed between RADTs and viral cultures on D32 PSO in case 1; D13 and D15 PSO in case 2; and D46 and D48 PSO in case 3. In addition, concordant positive results were found between RADTs and viral cultures on D35 PSO in case 2. Significant agreement was observed between RADT and viral culture findings (kappa statistic = 1.0 and p-value = 0.014). Conclusion: Given their high positive predictive value with respect to positive viral cultures, RADTs may be a promising and practical tool for ending isolation of patients with COVID-19 and decreasing the burden of CCU bed utilization. Future studies are necessary to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objective: This study aims to assess nurses' level of knowledge of CIN and its association with socio-demographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Results: Participants had a mean age of 34.1 years (SD = 7.1 years) and were predominantly female (78%) and with a bachelor's degree in nursing (95.6%). The nurses had a moderate level of knowledge about neutropenia and its management (mean total score 16.3 out of 30, SD = 3.7). Those who had a post-graduate degree (P =.048), had received an oncology educational course (P =.011), had attended a course on neutropenia (P =.007), who were working in an oncology unit (P =.002), and had more oncology experience (P = 001) were more likely to have a higher level of knowledge of CIN and its management compared to their other counterparts. Conclusion: Based on the findings of a moderate level of knowledge of CIN among nurses, the findings call for the need for further education and training. As a long-term plan, this might be accomplished by encouraging nurses to pursue post-graduate education or oncology-specialized certification and supporting them with scholarship grants. However, deliberate plans for short courses, training and workshops on oncology or CIN are other choices with a more immediate impact on nurses' knowledge and clinical practice. Finally, integrating oncology nursing education within nursing curricula is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the synthesis of magnetic carbon gels by encapsulating iron nanoparticles in porous carbon gel matrix and studying its application in dye adsorption and catalytic reduction reaction. The effects of magnetic nanoparticles under the purview of this study were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area, Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution analysis, Raman spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The adsorption capability of the magnetic gels in removing methylene blue dye pollutant from water was examined using different initial dye concentration (10–30 mg/L). The effect of pH, adsorbent dosage on adsorption and the kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of the adsorption were investigated in detail. Spontaneous and favourable nature of the adsorption was confirmed with a maximum adsorption capacity of 67.75 mg/g. In addition, the catalytic properties of the gels were also probed using the model catalytic conversion of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol with NaBH4. The magnetic gels showed excellent activity towards the catalytic reduction of 60 ppm p-nitrophenol with a rate constant of 0.299 min−1, that is comparable with several previously reported catalysts. The response of the gel to external magnetic field made the catalyst easily recoverable. The immobilization of Fe nanoparticles in the graphitic carbon matrix prevented the aggregation as well as oxidation problem making it reusable without any significant loss in its catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of CuO on the linear/nonlinear optical, elastic, physical features, and radiation protection performance of CuO-based glasses in form (50-y/2)Na2O + (50-y/2)P2O5 + yCuO, (y = 0.0–40 mol%) has been studied in the current article. The density was increased from 2.47 to 3.26 g.cm−3 accomplished with a concurrent decrease in the oxygen molar volume from 13.76 to 12.97 cm3.mol−1 as the mol% of [Cu2+] enhanced in the tested glasses. Also, the Vickers hardness (Hv) was found to increase with increasing CuO content in the current glass systems. The notable tendency of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values in the investigated energetic photon range obeyed the sequential order: MACCuI-0 < MACCuI-10 < MACCuI-20 < MACCuI-25 < MACCuI-30 < MACCuI-33 < MACCuI-40. Also, we found that the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) increased, while the half-value-layer (HVL), and transmission coefficient (TF%) also decreased. The HVL values of the current samples were compared with standard glasses, and it was found to those CuO-based samples possessed a comparable photon protection capacity as RS-360 and RS-520. The linear (nlinear) and nonlinear ( n 2 optical ) refractive index increased from 3.914 to 3.983 and from 2.76 × 10–9 and 3.15 × 10–9. Results uncovered that the optical, radiation protection efficiency and elasto-mechanical characteristics might at the same time be adjusted for an in- or/and out-door scientific and medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcome of transplant recipients is variable depending on the study population, vaccination status and COVID-19 variants. Our aim was to study the impact of Omicron subvariants on the mortality of transplant recipients. We reviewed the results of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequence of random isolates collected from 29 December 2021 until 17 May 2022 in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research center, Jeddah (KFSHRC-J), Saudi Arabia performed as hospital genomic surveillance program for COVID-19 variants. We included 25 transplant patients infected with confirmed Omicron variants.17 (68%) and 8 (32%) patients had Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, respectively. 12 (68%) patients had renal transplants. Only 36% of patients received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 23 (92%) patients required hospitalization. 20 (80%) patients survived and 6 (25%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Among ICU patients, 66.7% were more than 50 years, 50% had two to three comorbidities and 5 out of 6 (83%) died. The mortality of transplant patients infected with Omicron variants in our cohort was higher than other centers as a limited number of patients received booster vaccines. Optimizing booster vaccination is the most efficient method to improve the mortality of COVID-19 in transplant recipients recognizing the inefficacy of monoclonal antibodies in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants. We did not show a difference in mortality in transplant patients infected with Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 knowing the limitation of our sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Y-type hexaferrite falls under the spin-induced multiferroic materials category showing significant magnetoelectric coupling. The operating temperatures are reported to be tuned through proper substitution. Here in this study, Y-type hexaferrite Ba0.5Sr1.5Zn2−xNixFe12O22 (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5) is synthesized by a solid-state reaction technique, and the effect of substitution of Zn2+ ions with Ni2+ ions on the magnetic spin transition temperature is studied. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of the Y-type hexaferrite phase. The lattice contracts with an increase in the Ni-ion content. Hexagonal-shaped grains with particle size in the range of 2–8 μm are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Temperature-induced magnetic transitions are visible in all the compositions. The M–T measurements show that the ferrimagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature can be tuned from 510 to 750 K via Ni2+ ion substitution. Furthermore, magnetic field-induced spin phases are evident through the multistage hysteresis from the M–H loops of the sample for x = 0.5 and 1.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free multiferroic magnetoelectric mixed and core shell composites of BaTiO3 and NiFe2O4 were synthesised by a two-step process. The structural, morphological, electrical, magnetic and dielectric properties of the as prepared samples were investigated in detail. XRD—Rietveld refinement (using JANA 2006 program) confirms the co-existence of two phases in the composite. The dielectric, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties of the systems was studied. The enhanced remanent polarization of core shell composite compared to pure BaTiO3 is the direct evidence of formation of core shell structure. The decrease in saturation values of composites can be attributed to the presence of nonmagnetic BaTiO3. The magnetoelectric coupling studies on BaTiO3@NiFe2O4 core–shell system exhibits enhancement due to the well-defined interface between the two phases. The sensitivity of electric properties to the applied magnetic field enables the systems for possible applications in magnetoelectric sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the macroscopic limit for phase synchronization of cellular clocks in an artificial tissue created by a "big chamber" microfluidic device to be about 150,000 cells or less. The dimensions of the microfluidic chamber allowed us to calculate an upper limit on the radius of a hypothesized quorum sensing signal molecule of 13.05 nm using a diffusion approximation for signal travel within the device. The use of a second microwell microfluidic device allowed the refinement of the macroscopic limit to a cell density of 2166 cells per fixed area of the device for phase synchronization. The measurement of averages over single cell trajectories in the microwell device supported a deterministic quorum sensing model identified by ensemble methods for clock phase synchronization. A strong inference framework was used to test the communication mechanism in phase synchronization of quorum sensing versus cell-to-cell contact, suggesting support for quorum sensing. Further evidence came from showing phase synchronization was density-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests new estimators for cumulative distribution function (CDF) using L ranked set sampling (LRSS) and robust extreme ranked set sampling (RERSS) methods. The proposed estimators are deduced based on maximum likelihood estimation method and its asymptotic properties are theoretically investigated. Comparison study has been made to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed estimators. It is found that when the data contain outliers, the proposed estimators are less sensitive and have a satisfied behavior compared to their analog in ranked set sampling as the population CDF is far away from the boundaries. Motivated by this efficiency gain, we provided new estimators for system reliability R = P (Y > X) using LRSS and RERSS. Through a Monte Carlo simulation study, the performance of the introduced reliability estimators is also examined. A real data set is analyzed to illustrate the applicability of the proposed various estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the great benefits of plastics in different aspects of life and due to the increase in plastic production and use, plastic wastes are becoming a major environmental concern. It is well known that inappropriate use and disposal lead to the accumulation of plastic litter in different aquatic environments. Microbial biofilm is able to develop on the surface of plastics (plastisphere) in aquatic environments over time. The aim of this study was to describe the bacterial communities associated with plastics in freshwater. Thus, in our first test, a total of six self-designed plastic colonizers were submerged under the surface of the water in Vácszentlászló lake, located in central Hungary, for a period of 3 months. Two plastic colonizers were cultivated monthly. Associated microbial communities were then analyzed as follows: (a) bacterial communities were studied by amplicon sequencing and (b) culturable bacteria were isolated from plastic surfaces and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Coinciding with these analyses of plastic colonizing communities, surface water samples from the lake were also taken, and in a second test, other materials (eg. wood, glass) associated bacterial communities were also investigated with the same methods. Amplicon sequencing showed notable differences between the plastic and other materials colonizing, and lake waterborne microbial community composition. Using the LB agar, no novel species were found; however, several known pathogenic species were identified. The self-designed plastic colonizer was successfully used during the winter over a 3-month period, suggesting that it could be an appropriate method of choice to study microplastic-associated microbes for longer periods and in variable environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of incidentally discovered gas bubbles flowing within the inferior vena cava during a routine abdominal sonographic examination, that subsequently unmasked a previously undiagnosed emphysematous cystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infertility is a common sociomedical problem worldwide, affecting up to 15% of couples. Tubal obstruction is currently one of the most important causes of female infertility. This study was designed to determine the spontaneous pregnancy rate in patients undergoing unilateral transcervical fallopian tube recanalization, performed by an interventional radiologist, for proximal fallopian tube obstruction with a patent contralateral tube. The secondary objective was to analyze pregnancy rates in relation to the type and duration of infertility, patient age, and body mass index. Results: Thirty-eight patients with unilateral tube obstruction were included in this study. Transcervical fallopian tube recanalization was successfully performed in all cohorts. At the one-year follow-up; 13 women (34.2%) had become pregnant, nine (23.7%) delivered healthy babies, and four (10.5%) had miscarriages. The time interval between the application of the technique and spontaneous pregnancy was 1–12 months, with a mean of approximately 4 months. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher pregnancy rate in young (< 35 years), nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) females with a history of primary infertility for < 5 years. Minor complications were noted in 27 patients (71%). No major complications were noted. Conclusions: Our study showed that transcervical fallopian tube recanalization of proximal fallopian tube obstruction with a patent contralateral tube increased the spontaneous pregnancy rate in cases of tubal factor infertility. Moreover, transcervical fallopian tube recanalization is recommended as a first-line treatment for women with unilateral proximal fallopian tube obstruction and a patent contralateral tube owing to the low risks associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and anatomical features of C-Shaped Mandibular Second Molars (MSMs) are rarely studied in Jordanian sub-population. This study then took a part to evaluate the prevalence of C-shaped in MSMs using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the Jordanian sub-population. It used a cross-sectional design and three thousand scans collected over eight years between 2011 and 2019. The data were then reviewed for whether they were fully formed of MSMs. A total of 2037 cases that had 2845 MSMs were evaluated to identify C-shaped canals at coronal, middle, and apical sites. An oblique slicing module perpendicular to the long axis of MSMs was used to evaluate the teeth. The type and frequency of C-shaped canals, as well as the correlations between sex and side (right/left) and between sex and groove direction (buccal/lingual) were measured using the chi-square test on SPSS software at the significance level of 95%. A total of 342 teeth of 243 patients were C-shaped molars, which comprised 12% of the patient's teeth and 99 of them as a bilateral C-shaped canal with mean age of 40 years and sex ratio of 2:1 between female and male. With the limitations of this study, the lingual groove and type 3 were the most common properties of MSM. Besides, the Jordanian population mostly had C-shaped canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Energy and Carbon Footprints for Amman Urban Water Cycle (UWC) have been assessed using the Energy performance and Carbon Emission Assessment and Monitoring tool (ECAM 2.2). Amman UWC was divided into two main stages which are water supply and wastewater; the water supply stage included abstraction, treatment and distribution; the wastewater stage included collection, treatment and final disposal. The results showed that the Energy Footprint (EF) and the Carbon Footprint for the water supply stage are significantly higher than those for the wastewater stage. The high EF and CF for the water supply stage is mainly attributed to the high energy needed for abstraction and pumping of the raw untreated water to the water treatment plant or the distribution reservoir. The CF for the wastewater stage is attributed to methane and nitrous oxides emitted during wastewater treatment, in addition to fossil fuel combustion for electricity production. The CF for the water supply stage is solely attributed to the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel combustion for electricity production. Wastewater treatment contribution to the emissions from wastewater stage is highest followed by contribution of pit latrines. Furthermore, methane gas contribution to the wastewater stage is highest among other gases; carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Moreover, the energy and carbon footprints for Non-Revenue Water in Amman is considerably high; the CF associated with NRW for Amman water supply is equivalent to the annual CF of 70,000 typical passenger cars. Summary of GHGs emissions for the Amman Urban Water CycleArticle Highlights: Amman water supply carbon footprint is solely due to fuel burning for electricity. Amman water supply energy footprint is much higher than that for the wastewater. Wastewater carbon footprint is significantly higher than that for the water supply. Methane gas from treatment is the main greenhouse gas for the wastewater stage. High energy and carbon footprints are associated with Non-Revenue Water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the efect of using Pozzolan as an asphalt binder modifer and assess its potential physical and rheological improvements. This research also intends to initiate a comprehensive research on the efect of Pozzolan on the rheological characteristics of asphalt binder since only limited studies have used Pozzolan as an asphalt binder modifer. Pozzolan was added to a (60/70) penetration grade asphalt binder at six diferent percentages in addition to the control asphalt binder. Both traditional and rheological tests on modifed and control asphalt binders were performed. The traditional tests included penetration, softening point, fash and fre points, and ductility. The rheological tests, on the other hand, included rotational viscometer (RV) and Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests. The outcomes proved that adding Pozzolan to asphalt binder enhanced high-temperature performance. 15% Pozzolan content was found to be the optimum content at which most rheological characteristics of the asphalt binder were enhanced. The experimental outcomes were contrasted and analyzed statistically by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to discover any signifcant diference between the infuence of Pozzolan and test temperature. The outcomes of one-way ANOVA pointed out that Pozzolan had a signifcant infuence on the rotational viscosity and physical characteristics. Also, the change in Pozzolan content and temperature together showed a signifcant efect on the rutting parameter according to the two-way ANOVA outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the novel soliton solutions of the coupled fractional system of the resonant Davey-Stewartson equations, which is a notable and significant model in dynamics of fluids for characterizing the 3-dimensional wave packet evolution of finite depth on water within weak nonlinearity. The fractional derivatives are considered in terms of conformable sense. Accordingly, we utilize a complex traveling wave transformation to reduce the proposed system to an integer-order system of ordinary differential equations. The phase portrait and the equilibria of the obtained integer-order ordinary differential system will be studied. Using ansatz method, the new types of bright, singular, and dark soliton solutions are derived and established in view of the hyperbolic, trigonometric, and rational functions of the governing system. To achieve this, illustrative examples of the fractional Davey-Stewartson system are provided to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the procedure used in this study. The trajectory solutions of the traveling waves are shown explicitly and graphically. The effect of conformable derivatives on behavior of acquired solutions for different fractional orders is also discussed. By comparing the proposed method with the other existing methods, the results show that the execute of this method is concise, simple, and straightforward. The results are useful for obtaining and explaining some new soliton phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet of Things (IoT) networks are considered the great challenging by emerging technologies that try to solve the problems in modern life, while securing the information still vital in different systems in research. A simple, but yet efficient, steganography based on the pixels characteristics of the cover image in the spatial domain is proposed in this paper. The cover image pixels are classified into highly smooth (HS) and Less Smooth (LS) domains to select the extra eligible pixels that occur in the HS region. The proposed classification scheme, named IoTSteg, achieves an embedment process different from other traditional steganography that use the total number of pixels. The performance of the developed new steganography is evaluated using the measures such as the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Capacity-Distortion Trade-Off (CDTO) and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM). The results are compared with the schemes including the Statistical Features Maintained (SFM_A and SFM_B) and Difference Histogram Shifting (DHS). The secret test using 8000 bits and 4 cover images each size 512 × 512 produced a PSNR value of 66.61, CDTO, and SSIM of 0.9998. The competence of the proposed scheme is determined under two embedding rates of 0.1 and 0.2 bit per pixel maintaining the high level of imperceptibility of the cover images. Detail analyses showed that the proposed steganography achieved excellent competence for the embedment procedure with two rates (HS and LS) to maintain the high level of the cover images imperceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been an increase in research conducted in the Middle East, with a corresponding increase in the challenges faced by members of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). This study compares the structures of Omani and Jordanian RECs and investigates the perceptions of the challenges affecting the work of the REC members in Oman and Jordan. A convenience sample of 34 Omani and 66 Jordanian participants from 21 universities was recruited in this cross-sectional study. Almost 70% disagreed that the members of RECs are unqualified, providing comments without justification; half believed that members have limited experience in research, and almost three-quarters that they have different opinions regarding some ethical issues. No significant differences were found between Omani and Jordanian REC members regarding their perception of the challenges, except for the perception that reviewing proposals is a time-consuming task (p = 0.048) and that multi-REC centres are less available (p = 0.026). The regression model showed that there were significantly more male members of Jordanian RECs, and that Jordanian members were less likely to receive formal training. In conclusion, the current structure of RECs and the challenges faced by members need to be re-evaluated by decision makers to improve the overall quality of research activities, and to ensure that current REC members' practices adhere to international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study two-point boundary value problems which play a vital role in constituting mathematical models for solving real-world problems in which uncertainty pervades. Based on Caputo–Fabrizio approach, we adopt non-singular kernel derivative of order β ∈ (1 , 2 ] . To solve fuzzy fractional boundary value problem, we convert it into four equivalent crisp systems in light of the generalized differentiability sense. Then, we solve each of the obtained systems using reproducing kernel functions to build orthonormal set of functions and then to obtain analytical and numerical solutions. A discussion about the accepted type of solution among the four systems is presented in summarized algorithm and carried out in numerical examples. This work proves the simplicity and efficiency of the proposed method, especially when adopting Caputo–Fabrizio derivative. Moreover, the applicability of the reproducing kernel method for solving different types of problems with distinct fractional operators is evident from the appearance of very small error of approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a potential and easy method to prepare nickel ferrite nanoparticles with improved dielectric and magnetic properties by doping with zinc. The structural studies and Rietveld refinement of the XRD pattern confirm the cubic spinel structure of the ferrite phase belonging to the Fd3m space group. Morphological and elemental composition analyses of the prepared samples are carried out using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX). The frequency variation of the dielectric constant and ac conductivity have been studied. The dependence of dielectric constant and ac conductivity on the frequency of the alternating applied electric field is explained by the Maxwell–Wagner model. The zinc doping in nickel ferrite nanoparticles is helpful in modifying the dielectric properties and thereby designing materials matching the application requirements. Magnetic measurements were carried out at 300 K and 5 K points toward an enhanced magnetic property in zinc-doped samples. The saturation magnetization value for zinc ferrite nanoparticles is around 23 emu/g at 300 K and 56 emu/g at 5 K which clearly indicates the superparamagnetic behavior of the samples. The maximum value for Ms is obtained for the Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 sample which is 74 emu/g and 101 emu/g at 300 and 5 K, respectively. The enhanced dielectric and magnetic properties inherited by Zn doping in nickel ferrite (NFO) nanoparticles suggest the improved potential of these superparamagnetic NZFO nanoparticles for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 spread and evolution through genome sequencing is essential in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we sequenced 892 SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected from patients in Saudi Arabia from March to August 2020. We show that two consecutive mutations (R203K/G204R) in the nucleocapsid (N) protein are associated with higher viral loads in COVID-19 patients. Our comparative biochemical analysis reveals that the mutant N protein displays enhanced viral RNA binding and differential interaction with key host proteins. We found increased interaction of GSK3A kinase simultaneously with hyper-phosphorylation of the adjacent serine site (S206) in the mutant N protein. Furthermore, the host cell transcriptome analysis suggests that the mutant N protein produces dysregulated interferon response genes. Here, we provide crucial information in linking the R203K/G204R mutations in the N protein to modulations of host-virus interactions and underline the potential of the nucleocapsid protein as a drug target during infection. In this study, the authors sequence 892 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Saudi Arabia and describe population dynamics and importations into the country. They identify a nucleocapsid protein mutation associated with increased viral load and host interactions and characterise its role through biochemical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A significant number of Syrian refugees are studying in Jordan's private universities. Syrian refugees are prone to many health problems, of which stress is one of the most common. Therefore, we aimed to compare the perceived stress between Syrian refugees and Jordanian university students. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was used. The study was conducted among four universities that were chosen by a stratified random sampling method according to each university's geographical area. A total of 1180 students participated in the study and completed questionnaires, including the Perceived Stress Scale 10-item questionnaire (PSS-10). Results: The PSS-10 revealed moderate levels of overall stress among university students. The mean level of the PSS-10 of Syrian refugees was significantly higher than for Jordanians. We also found significant differences between Syrian refugees and Jordanians in terms of their demographic characteristics, such as age. Conclusion: Syrian refugees who are studying in Jordan's universities should have access to healthcare facilities and should engage in more programmes to help them control and deal with their stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convection and diffusion are two harmonious physical processes that transfer particles and physical quantities. This paper deals with a new aspect of solving the convection–diffusion equation in fractional order using the finite volume method and the finite difference method. In this context, we present an alternative way for estimating the space fractional derivative by utilizing the fractional Grünwald formula. The proposed methods are conditionally stable with second-order accuracy in space and first-order accuracy in time. Many comparisons are performed to display reliability and capability of the proposed methods. Furthermore, several results and conclusions are provided to indicate appropriateness of the finite volume method in solving the space fractional convection–diffusion equation compared with the finite difference method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]