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Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This study aims to provide cancer incidence and mortality estimates in 2020 in the GCC countries alongside future projections for 2040 to shape cancer control policy in the region. Methods: The estimated numbers of new cancer cases and deaths were extracted from the GLOBOCAN database developed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; new cancer cases, cancer deaths, and corresponding age‐standardized incidence and mortality rates for the year 2020 are presented. Results: An estimated 42,475 new cancer cases and 19,895 deaths occurred in the GCC countries in 2020, with corresponding age‐standardized incidence and mortality rates of 96.5 and 52.3 per 100,000, respectively. Female breast (16%), colorectal (13%), and thyroid (9%) were the most common types of cancer in the GCC countries, accounting for almost 40% of all cancer incidence. Colorectal (14%) followed by breast cancer (9%) were the leading causes of cancer death, though the magnitude of rates of the major cancer types varied substantially across the GCC countries. Even if we assume rates in the region will remain unchanged over the next two decades, the cancer burden in the GCC will increase by 116% (Saudi Arabia) to 270% (Qatar), reaching nearly 104,000 cancer cases by the year 2040. Conclusion: The sharp increase in the estimated cancer incidence and mortality predicted over the next decades in the region requires workforce and financial planning for the healthcare systems in the constituent countries, alongside broader strengthening of national cancer prevention and control efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that play a regulatory role in various biological processes by acting as intracellular mediators. They hold great potential as therapeutic agents for targeting human disease pathways; however, there is still much to be uncovered about their mechanism of gene regulation. Alopecia areata (AA) is a commonly occurring inflammatory condition characterized by the infiltration of T cells that specifically target the anagen‐stage hair follicle. The limited understanding of its precise cellular mechanism may be the reason behind the scarcity of effective treatments for AA. Aim: The significance and function of hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p as a genetic marker for AA and its potential influence on the advancement of the disease. Subjects and methods: A case‐control study comprised 77 individuals diagnosed with AA who were matched with 75 healthy controls. In order to measure the expression of miR‐200c‐3p in both groups, the real‐time PCR technique was utilized. The prediction of suitable genes for hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p, as well as the identification of pathways and gene‐gene interactions, were carried out using bioinformatic tools. Results: The levels of hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p expression were notably elevated in AA patients in comparison to healthy controls. Our prediction suggests that the involvement of hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p in the development of AA is significant due to its influence on the inositol phosphorylation pathway and the Phosphatidylinositol signaling system, achieved through its direct impact on the IPPK gene. Conclusion: For the first time, our study demonstrates the significant over‐expression of a new miRNA, hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p, in the blood of AA patients compared to controls, and highlights its impact on the IPPK gene and the inositol phosphorylation and Phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for hsa‐miR‐193a‐5p in AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chin is an essential element of the facial unit and influences how people perceive facial aesthetic appeal. Hyaluronic acid (HA) gel injections are tried‐and‐true therapies for regenerative therapies with a record of success in efficacy and safety. Aims: To determine the best type of concentration of HA and way of injection for deep and superficial planes of chin. Materials and Methods: VYC‐20L and VYC‐25L (Juvederm Voluma XC® Juvéderm Volux®; Allergan plc) are 20‐ and 25‐mg/mL HA gels with lidocaine, respectively, were injected with cannulas and needles on the bone, respectively. Results: Chin reinforced respecting the measures with good contouring. No serious complications. Patient was satisfied with results. Discussion: We advise using VYC 20L superficially above the muscle or with a cannula for injection, and we recommend using VYC 25L in the supraperiosteal plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting the pilosebaceous unit, commonly presenting as comedones, papules, pustules, or nodules on the face, upper limbs, torso, and back, with comedones formation being the primary pathology leading to disfiguring inflammation, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and psychological impact. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of two genetic variants in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) gene and their association with insulin resistance (IR) in acne patients. To understand how these variants contribute to AV and its associated IR. Subjects and methods: An analytical cross‐sectional study with a case‐control design and research evaluation was carried out on 87 AV patients and 73 healthy volunteers. The medical histories of both groups were obtained, as well as the severity and duration of inflammation among acne sufferers, as well as demographic data. Biochemical analysis was performed on both sets of participants, including fasting blood glucose levels, insulin levels while fasting, IR, and serum TNF‐α. PCR‐RFLP analysis identified −863 G > A (rs1800630) and −308 G > A (rs1800629) variations, and real‐time PCR analysis evaluated TNF‐α gene expression in both patients and healthy people. Results: Acne patients exhibited significantly higher levels of IR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, serum TNF‐α, and TNF‐α folding change, when compared to healthy controls. The co‐dominant model for −863 G > A and −308 G > A variants exhibited significant variations between the two groups. Severe acne patients who had the A/A genotype for −308 variants exhibited higher levels of IR, serum TNF‐α, and TNF‐α folding change. Highly significant positive linear correlation between IR, serum TNF‐α, and TNF‐α folding change in severe AV. Conclusion: There is a correlation between AV, especially severe acne, and the −863 G > A and −308 G > A polymorphism, which influences TNF‐α gene expression and serum TNF‐α levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of evidence regarding optimal desensitization strategies for lung transplant candidates with preformed donor specific anti‐human leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSAs) has led to varying approaches among centers towards this patient group. Our institution's desensitization protocol for recipients with preformed DSAs and negative flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) consists of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as the sole therapy. The study aimed to determine outcomes using this approach. Methods: This retrospective study included adults who underwent lung‐only transplantation for the first time between January 2015 and March 2022 at a single center. We excluded patients with positive or missing FCXM results. Transplant recipients with any DSA ≥ 1000 MFI on latest testing within three months of transplant were considered DSA‐positive, while recipients with DSAs <1000 MFI and those without DSAs were assigned to the low‐level/negative group. Graft survival (time to death/retransplantation) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)‐free times were compared between groups using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Thirty‐six out of 167 eligible patients (22%) were DSA‐positive. At least 50% of preformed DSAs had documented clearance (decrease to <1000 MFI) within the first 6 months of transplant. Multivariable Cox regression analyses did not detect a significantly increased risk of graft failure (aHR 1.04 95%CI 0.55–1.97) or chronic lung allograft dysfunction (aHR 0.71 95%CI 0.34–1.52) in DSA‐positive patients compared to patients with low‐level/negative DSAs. Incidences of antibody‐mediated rejection (p = 1.00) and serious thromboembolic events (p = 0.63) did not differ between study groups. Conclusion: We describe a single‐center experience of administering IVIG alone to lung transplant recipients with preformed DSAs and negative FCXM. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this strategy against other protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current chemotherapeutic agents have several limitations, including lack of selectivity, the development of undesirable side effects, and chemoresistance. As a result, there is an unmet need for the development of novel small molecules with minimal side effects and the ability to specifically target tumor cells. A new series of 3‐phenoxybenzoic acid derivatives, including 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives (4a–d) and benzamides derivatives (5a–e) were synthesized; their chemical structures were confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, and mass spectra; and various physicochemical properties were determined. The antiproliferative activities of the new derivatives were evaluated by means of the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Three compounds (4b, 4c, and 4d) exhibited cytotoxicity against two of the three cell lines tested, five compounds (3, 4a, 5a, 5b, and 5e) were toxic to one cell line, while two compounds (5c and 5d) were not cytotoxic to any of the three cell lines tested in the current study. Based on docking scores, MTT assay findings, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR‐2) kinase activity data, Compound 4d was selected for further biological investigation. Flow cytometry was used to determine the mode of cell death (apoptosis vs. necrosis) and the effect on cell cycle progression. Compound 4d arrested HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells in the G2/M phase and activated both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. In conclusion, Compound 4d has shown promising results for future research as a potent VEGFR‐2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an evidence-based review of different bone grafting materials used in sinus floor elevation procedures, including autologous bone, bovine bone, and allografts. It discusses the clinical outcomes and recommendations based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The text emphasizes the importance of biomaterial selection and formulation for optimal outcomes in dental implant treatment. It also covers topics such as the use of platelet-rich fibrin and the impact of residual bone height on implant placement in the sinus area. This comprehensive review offers valuable insights for dental professionals and researchers in the field of oral implantology. [Extracted from the article]

Aim Background Method Results Conclusion Implications for nursing and health policy This study aims to assess the relationship between workplace ostracism and the procrastination behavior of nurses, as well as examine the effect of organizational silence on this relationship.Controlling workplace ostracism and eradicating time wasters, especially procrastination behavior among nurses, are key strategies that add value to organizational effectiveness. In addition, remaining silent about significant issues facing nurses is a devastating approach to the success of both healthcare organizations and the nursing profession.A cross‐sectional descriptive correlational exploratory research design was used to conduct the study. Data were collected from 352 nurses recruited from three large university hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. Four instruments, namely, the Workplace Ostracism Questionnaire, the Organizational Silence Scale, the Active Procrastination Scale, and the Unintentional Procrastination Scale, were used. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables.The findings demonstrated a significant positive and moderate association between workplace ostracism and both active and passive procrastination behaviors among nurses. Moreover, there was a strong positive and significant correlation between organizational silence and workplace ostracism. The results of mediation revealed that the indirect effect of workplace ostracism on both active and passive procrastination behavior through organizational silence was statistically significant, suggesting that organizational silence partially mediated this relationship.The study highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by toxic workplace issues, such as organizational ostracism and silence, as significant factors contributing to nurses' procrastination behaviors. Not only do these factors directly impact nurses' productivity, but they also interact to exacerbate negative outcomes in nursing care. Addressing these toxic dynamics is critical to improving nurse performance and ensuring quality care in healthcare settings.This study offers new insights for navigating toxicity and upgrading nursing productivity in healthcare organizations through fostering a more inclusive and communicative work environment. Promoting team cohesion and ensuring that all staff members feel valued and included can reduce feelings of isolation that may lead to procrastination. Also, creating safe spaces for nurses to voice concerns without fear of reprisal could significantly diminish passive procrastination, which ultimately enhances overall patient care quality and organizational efficiency.  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since suppressor/enhancer of Lin‐12‐like (SEL1L) was cloned in 1997, various pieces of evidence from lower species suggest it plays a significant role in protein degradation via the ubiquitin‐proteasome system. The relevance of SEL1L in many aspects of malignant transformation and tumorigenic events has been the subject of research, which has shown compelling in vitro and in vivo findings relating its altered expression to changes in tumor aggressiveness. The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) in tumor cells is crucial for preserving cellular proteostasis by inducing the unfolded protein response (UPR), a stress response. A crucial component of the UPR is ER‐associated degradation (ERAD), which guards against ER stress‐induced apoptosis and the removal of unfolded or misfolded proteins by the ubiquitin‐proteasome system. As a protein stabilizer of HMG‐CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1), one of the main components of ERAD, SEL1L plays an important role in ER homeostasis. Notably, the expression levels of these two proteins fluctuate independently in various cancer types, yet changes in their expression affect the levels of other associated proteins during cancer pathogenesis. Recent studies have also outlined the function of SEL1L in cancer medication resistance. This review explores the value of targeting SEL1L as a novel treatment approach for cancer, focusing on the molecular processes of SEL1L and its involvement in cancer etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a retrospective study of paediatric and adolescent patients in Abu Dhabi, UAE, who experienced their first unprovoked seizure between March 2016 and March 2020, with a minimum one‐year follow‐up, we identified significant risk factors associated with seizure recurrence. Among 317 patients, 96.2% experienced seizure recurrence, with the majority (68.8%) occurring within the first 6‐month follow‐up period. Notable risk factors for recurrence included focal seizures, symptomatic seizure causes, abnormal initial electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging results, and the presence of neurological disorders. Interestingly, the type of epileptiform activity in the initial EEG did not predict recurrence risk. Over a 3‐year period, the overall recurrence risk was 98.4%, particularly higher in cases with symptomatic seizures compared to idiopathic (genetic) ones. These findings underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring, particularly in the early post‐seizure follow‐up period, and advocate for initial EEG assessments, especially in cases of remote symptomatic first unprovoked seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing demand for the development of catalytic reagents that are nontoxic due to the growing environmental concerns in the present organic transformation. Bismuth(III) compounds have significant potential as catalysts for a range of organic synthesis due to their low toxicity, strong Lewis acid catalytic activity, and great flexibility. In this research work, a series of various chemically and pharmacologically important six‐membered fused nitrogen‐/oxygen‐based heterocycle derivatives were efficiently prepared via a one‐pot multicomponent reaction starting from aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and barbituric acid in presence of green and reusable Lewis catalyst bismuth(III) triflate, that is, Bi(OTf)3 in EtOH/H2O (1:1) media. Bi(OTf)3 has the additional benefit of being reusable catalyst, ready availability, eco‐friendliness, and easy to handle to obtain corresponding products in excellent yields (83%–94%). Structure of all synthesized products was characterized on the basis of FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and ESI–MS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Previous research has identified loneliness as a significant social stressor among the older adult population, and highlights the scarcity of empirical research on the efficacy of group play therapy as a method for addressing loneliness in this demographic. This study aimed to explore the impact of group play therapy on reducing feelings of loneliness among older individuals. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried out in 2018 on 60 older adult participants from two governmental health centers in Mashhad, Iran. The intervention group received adult‐centered play therapy for 12 sessions over 6 weeks, with each session lasting 60 min. The therapy protocol combined traditional and modern games, structured into three stages: warm‐up, working and closing. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) scale was used to measure feelings of loneliness at baseline and after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Results: There was a significant decrease in feelings of loneliness in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant difference in feelings of loneliness was observed within the intervention group between baseline and follow up (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Group play therapy, involving a combination of traditional and modern games, can reduce feelings of loneliness among older adults. This method can promote healthy aging and improve mental health issues, such as loneliness, among older people. These findings can be utilized in healthcare centers and nursing homes for older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1067–1076. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Living liver donation improves survival of end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) patients. Yet, it continues to represent a small proportion of United States (U.S.) liver transplantation with existing racial disparities. We investigated the interplay of donor–recipient relationship and donor race to understand donor subgroups with no significant increase. Methods: We studied 4407 living liver donors in the U.S. from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2022 (median age = 36 years, and 59% were biologically related to the recipient). We quantified the change in the number of donors per 3‐year increment using negative binomial regression (incidence rate ratio [IRR]), stratified by donor–recipient relationship and race/ethnicity. Results: Among biologically related donors, the observed annual number of White donors increased from 146 to 253, Hispanic donors from 18 to 53, and Black donors decreased from 11 to 10. Among unrelated donors, White donors increased from 65 to 221, Hispanic donors from 4 to 25, and Black donors from 3 to 11. For the IRR of biologically related donors aged <40 and ≥40 years, White donors increased by 18% and 22%; Hispanic donors increased by 25% and 54%; and Black donors did not change. Likewise, the IRR of unrelated donors aged <40 and ≥40 years, White donors increased by 48% and 55%; Hispanic donors increased by 52% and 65%; and Black donors did not change. Conclusions: While biologically related donors represent the majority of donors, unrelated donors have substantially risen in recent years, primarily driven by White donors. Although the rate of unrelated donations increased among Hispanic donors, the absolute number remains very small (≤25 donors/year). Interventions are needed to increase education among Hispanic and Black communities to grow unrelated living liver donations across race/ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants are efficient anticoccidial agents owing to their content of active chemicals. Drug‐resistant Eimeria species have emerged as a result of excessive drug use. The current work aimed to investigate the oocysticidal activity (Eimeria papillata) of Olea europaea stem extract (OESE) and leaf extract (OELE) in vitro. The results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis for OELE and OESE showed the presence of 12 and 9 phytochemical compounds, respectively. Also, chemical examination revealed that the plant extracts are rich in phenols, flavonoids and tannins. Additionally, the best radical scavenging activity of OESE and OELE was at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, reaching 92.04 ± 0.02 and 92.4 ± 0.2%, respectively. The in vitro study revealed that concentrations of 200 mg/ml from OESE and OELE caused significant inhibition (100%) of process sporulation for E. papillata oocysts, in contrast to the other commercial products, which displayed varying degrees of suppression sporulation. Our findings showed that OESE and OELE have anticoccidial activity, which motivates further the conduction of in vivo studies in the search for a less expensive and more efficient cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since its establishment in 1999, the journal of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research (CIDRR) has consistently disseminated notable clinical and translational research within the domain of oral implantology. As the journal approaches its milestone 25th anniversary, this study endeavors to systematically delineate the publication trends, level of evidence, and bibliometric indices characterizing the initial quarter‐century of CIDRR's scholarly activity. Notably, the investigation adopts a contemporary methodology by incorporating Altmetric analysis, thereby enriching the evaluation with an assessment of the broader societal and online impact of the published research. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in SCOPUS and PubMed to access the bibliographic data of all articles published in the journal from 1999 to 2024. Additionally, Altmetric database was used to obtain social media attention scores (AAS). Journal's overall performance via impact factor and quartile range was assessed. Most cited papers were identified and the most prolific authors, institutions and countries and the collaboration networks among those were assessed. The level of evidence of all articles was determined based on Oxford level of evidence scale. All articles were categorized based on their major topic in the field of implant dentistry. Results: Throughout its first 25 years of activity, CIDRR published 1912 articles with an annual growth rate of 2.67% and consistently being ranked at Q1 quartile in "Dentistry (miscellaneous)" and "Oral Surgery" journal categories. When clinical studies are considered, level I and II evidence constituted 22.82% and 11.82% of all articles, respectively. Sweden, the USA, and Italy as well as Göteborgs Universitet, Sahlgrenska Akademin. and Malmö Högskola were the most prolific countries and institutions respectively. "Implant system/design/characteristics," "Bone Augmentation," and "Implant Prosthesis" were the top most investigated topics. Conclusions: The examination of the journal's initial 25 years highlighted that CIDRR has surpassed similar dental research journals in publishing a greater number of high‐level evidence articles. It also showcased diverse country‐ and author‐collaboration networks. However, the journal's social media presence is still evolving. This article, presenting a comprehensive overview of the journal's scientometric and bibliographic activities, serves as a valuable reference for researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders, offering insights into both traditional and contemporary perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Antibiotic resistance is now deemed a worldwide problem that puts public health at risk. The potential of Murraya (Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. and Murraya paniculata (L.) Jacq.) leaves and stems as antibacterial agents against multidrug‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) was assessed in our study. First, screening was performed by disc diffusion assay, and minimum inhibitory concentration values were then determined as compared to tigecycline. A. baumnii mouse model of infection was established to substantiate the antibacterial activity of Murraya species. Results revealed high antimicrobial activity for stem of both plants where leaves showed moderate to weak activity. Phytochemical characterisation revealed the identification of 129 metabolites belonging to different classes of compounds viz. coumarins, carbazole alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and miscellaneous. In vivo data from the animal model supported the high efficiency of M. paniculata stems as promising extract for lead candidates against MDRAB pulmonary infections. Inhibition of its essential MurF (UDP‐N‐acetylmuramoyl‐tripeptide‐D‐alanyl‐d‐alanine ligase) protein has been reported as a potential target for broad‐spectrum drugs. In silico results after molecular docking to MurF from Acinetobacter baumannii (PDB ID: 4QF5) showed competitive binding mode to ATP ligand at the active site predicting antibacterial activity of the tested compounds. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, feruloyl agmatine, and mahanimbidine were detected as the key discriminatory metabolites correlated with antibacterial activity. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo anti‐MDRAB study for the investigated plant. Murraya plants have enormous possibility for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds which could combat against resistant microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2SNP's) were successfully produced by using fruit extracts of Phyllanthus emblica. UV–vis, FTIR, XRD with SEM and EDX techniques were used for the synthesis process and for characterization of the resulting nanostructures. According to the findings, the fabricated nanostructure had a monoclinic crystal structure, measuring 44 nm in grain size, and its strain was 1.82 × 10−3. As revealed by SEM analysis, the synthesized nanostructure consists of irregular spherical and triangular shapes. The presence of silver (Ag) and sulfur (S) was also confirmed through EDX spectra. Furthermore, Ag2S nanoparticles were tested for their ability to effectively inhibit gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacterial growth. As a result of this study, it was clearly demonstrated that Ag2S nanoparticles possess powerful antibacterial properties, particularly when it came to inhibiting Escherichia coli growth. Ag2S nanoparticles had high total H2O2 and flavonoid concentrations and the greatest overall antioxidant activity, according to the evaluation of antioxidant activity of the samples. The results obtained from the P. emblica fruit extract were followed by those obtained from Ag2S nanoparticles were reported in detail. Research Highlights: Innovative Ag2SNP synthesis using Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract.SEM with EDX revealed a monoclinic crystal structure with a grain size of 44 nm and a strain of 1.82 × 10−3.Many of these applications are demonstrated by the potential of Ag2SNPs to treat and combat bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli.A peak at 653 cm−1 indicates the presence of primary sulfide aliphatic C‐S extension vibrations.The abundant H2O2 and NO2 found in P. emblica nanocomposites make them potent antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The structure and biological diversities of [Zn(BPTMorph)(H2O)3](ClO4)2 (1), [Zn(BPTMorph)(NO3)2] (2), and [Cd(BPTMorph)(NO3)2] (3) complexes were described. In all complexes, the Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions are coordinated with one 4‐(4,6‐bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)morpholine (BPTMorph) molecule as a pincer NNN‐chelate. The rest of the coordination sphere was found to depend on the type of anion. In 1, there are three coordinated water molecules leading to a distorted octahedral geometry around Zn(II). In 2 and 3, there are two coordinated NO3− groups that differ in their coordination modes. The two NO3− groups are monodentate in 1 and bidentate in 3. Hence, the coordination numbers of Zn(II) and Cd(II) are 5 and 7, respectively. Supramolecular structure investigations indicated the importance of O···H contacts in the molecular packing. The percentages of O···H contacts are 35.4%–36.1%, 44.8%, and 39.7% in complexes 1–3, respectively. The energy breakdown for the intermolecular interactions was performed using energy framework analysis to explore the forces that dominate these interactions. Anticancer activity of complexes 1–3 and BPTMorph against HepG‐2, MCF‐7, and A‐549 cancerous cells was presented. The best result is found for complex 3 against A‐549 where the IC50 is 2.77 ± 0.26 μg/mL and selectivity index is 12.5 although the corresponding values for BPTMorph are 32.39 ± 2.82 μg/mL and 2.7, respectively. In addition, 3 outperformed the anticancer drug cis‐platin against all cell lines. The antimicrobial activity of 3 is the best compared to 1, 2, and BPTMorph. Interestingly, 3 showed antibacterial efficiency comparable to gentamycin against Proteus vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N,S‐Doped highly ordered mesoporous carbon (N,S‐doped OMC) material was constructed by the nanocasting methodology using egg yolk with a high content of amino acids as a carbon precursor and SBA‐15 as a hard template, followed by carbonization at 500 °C under an N2 atmosphere, and then aqueous alkaline‐induced removal of the silica moiety of the SBA‐15 template. Prepared N,S‐doped OMC material efficiently catalyzed the formylation of various substituted anilines using DMF as a formylating agent in water, to afford N‐formylaniline derivatives in high to excellent yields. Also, as‐prepared N,S‐doped OMC was used to immobilize and stabilize the Pd nanoparticles in order to synthesize Pd@OMC material, which was used as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds to the corresponding aniline derivatives. Nitroaromatic compounds are considered to be highly toxic water contaminant compounds, and their removal from wastewater by the hydrogenation is an interesting method. Furthermore, Pd@OMC catalyzed one‐pot tandem hydrogenation of nitrobenzene/formylation reactions was investigated, which gave corresponding N‐formyl aniline in high yield. Synthesized OMC and Pd@OMC were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global impact of viral diseases specially Monkeypox (mpox) and Marburg virus, emphasizing the urgent need for effective drug interventions. Oxymatrine is an alkaloid which has been selected and modified using various functional groups to enhance its efficacy. The modifications were evaluated using various computatioanal analysis such as pass prediction, molecular docking, ADMET, and molecular dynamic simulation. Mpox and Marburg virus were chosen as target diseases based on their maximum pass prediction spectrum against viral disease. After that, molecular docking, dynamic simulation, DFT, calculation and ADMET prediction were determined. The main objective of this study was to enhance the efficacy of oxymatrine derivatives through functional group modifications and computational analyses to develop effective drug candidates against mpox and Marburg viruses. The calculated binding affinities indicated strong interactions against both mpox virus and Marburg virus. After that, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted at 100 ns, which confirmed the stability of the binding interactions between the modified oxymatrine derivatives and target proteins. Then, the modified oxymatrine derivatives conducted theoretical ADMET profiling, which demonstrated their potential for effective drug development. Moreover, HOMO‐LUMO calculation was performed to understand the chemical reactivity and physicochemical properties of compounds. This computational analysis indicated that modified oxymatrine derivatives for the treatment of mpox and Marburg virus suggested effective drug candidates based on their binding affinity, drug‐like properties, stability and chemical reactivity. However, further experimental validation is necessary to confirm their clinical value and efficacy as therapeutic candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered (2D) perovskites are an emerging attractive 2D system with enhanced stability to ambient conditions as opposed to their highly unstable three dimensional bulk counterpart. Their uniquely tuneable optical and electrical properties are underpinning a surge of interest in 2D‐photovoltaics. So far, the development of nano‐scale integrated opto‐electronic 2D perovskite devices remains nearly unexplored since they have generally been found to be incompatible with standard top‐down semiconductor nano‐fabrication technologies. Here, following the synthesis of solvent‐stable 2D‐fluorinated phenethylammonium lead iodide perovskite (F‐PEA)2PbI4 (F‐PEAI), planar photodetectors entirely fabricated in atmosphere is demonstrated, exhibiting figures of merit rivalling those of commercial silicon photodiodes. A record large room temperature detectivity (>5 × 1017 Jones), a fast time photoresponse (rise time 1.5 ns), an extraordinarily large linear dynamic range (228 dB), as well as a photo‐responsivity of ≈ 1100 AW−1 are demonstrated for devices on a range of substrates including flexible wearable media without the need for any planarization or any atomically thin dielectric, in stark contrast to other 2D semiconductors. Finally, the suitability of nano‐scale 2D F‐PEAI photodetector arrays with sub‐wavelength pixel size of just 100 nm of use for high definition imaging is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows that incorporating taro carbon (TC) into a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) significantly enhanced surface charge transfer characteristics and conductivity and successfully separated the hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CT). Moreover, TC on the GCE surface reduced the overpotential of HQ and CT oxidation. Using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), the surface morphology and elemental composition of TC was investigated. The enhanced electron transfer process at TC‐GCE was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) investigation. Scan rate analysis revealed that HQ and CT exhibited a higher oxidation affinity at TC‐GCE, with diffusion‐regulated anodic processes. Quantitative analysis showed a linear detection range of 5–200 μM for both HQ and CT, with LOD values of 0.47 μM for HQ and 0.51 μM for CT respectively. The modified electrode showed excellent selectivity, stability, and high recovery rates for detecting HQ and CT in tap water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain tumor segmentation is paramount in medical diagnostics. This study presents a multistage segmentation model consisting of two main steps. First, the fusion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities creates new and more effective tumor imaging modalities. Second, the semantic segmentation of the original and fused modalities, utilizing various modified architectures of the U‐Net model. In the first step, a residual network with multi‐scale backbone architecture (Res2Net) and guided filter are employed for pixel‐by‐pixel image fusion tasks without requiring any training or learning process. This method captures both detailed and base elements from the multimodal images to produce better and more informative fused images that significantly enhance the segmentation process. Many fusion scenarios were performed and analyzed, revealing that the best fusion results are attained when combining T2‐weighted (T2) with fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1‐weighted contrast‐enhanced (T1CE) with FLAIR modalities. In the second step, several models, including the U‐Net and its many modifications (adding attention layers, residual connections, and depthwise separable connections), are trained using both the original and fused modalities. Further, a "Model Selection‐based" fusion of these individual models is also considered for more enhancement. In the preprocessing step, the images are resized by cropping them to decrease the pixel count and minimize background interference. Experiments utilizing the brain tumor segmentation (BraTS) 2020 dataset were performed to verify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed methodology. The "Model Selection‐based" fusion model achieved an average Dice score of 88.4%, an individual score of 91.1% for the whole tumor (WT) class, an average sensitivity score of 86.26%, and a specificity score of 91.7%. These results prove the robustness and high performance of the proposed methodology compared to other state‐of‐the‐art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 18‐year‐old healthy male complained of a 7‐day history of fever, cough, and sore throat, along with a three‐day history of left facial swelling. The x‐rays revealed subcutaneous emphysema in the chest, neck, face, and mediastinum region (Pneumomediastinum). Furthermore, an area of infiltration was visible, indicating pneumonia. Therefore, we immediately started him on intravenous antibiotics. We then moved the patient to an isolation room, considering pulmonary tuberculosis as one of the differential diagnoses. However, the Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB), Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacteria‐Polymerase Chain Reaction (MTB PCR), and sputum for gram stain and culture were all negative. On the other hand, the test for parainfluenza virus 3 was positive. The patient was observed with a daily chest x‐ray to monitor the progress of pneumonia and subcutaneous emphysema. Fortunately, the subcutaneous emphysema was significantly reduced on a daily basis until it was completely resolved before discharge home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regenerative approaches performed in periodontics seems to be efficient in treating intrabony defects. There are, however, many factors that may affect the predictability of the regenerative procedures. The present article aimed to propose a new risk assessment tool for treating periodontal intrabony defects by regenerative therapy. Methods: Different variables that could affect the success of a regenerative procedure were considered based on their impact on (i) the wound healing potential, promoting wound stability, cells, and angiogenesis, or (ii) the ability to clean the root surface and maintain an optimal plaque control or (iii) aesthetics (risk for gingival recession). Results: The risk assessment variables were divided into a patient, tooth, defect, and operator level. Patient‐related factors included medical conditions such as diabetes, smoking habit, plaque control, compliance with supportive care, and expectations. Tooth‐related factors included prognosis, traumatic occlusal forces or mobility, endodontic status, root surface topography, soft tissue anatomy, and gingival phenotype. Defect‐associated factors included local anatomy (number of residual bone walls, width, and depth), furcation involvement, cleansability, and number of sides of the root involved. Operator‐related factors should not be neglected and included the clinician's level of experience, the presence of environmental stress factors, and the use of checklists in the daily routine. Conclusions: Using a risk assessment comprised of patient‐, tooth‐, defect‐ and operator‐level factors can aid the clinician in identifying challenging characteristics and in the treatment decision process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all bladder tumors. Among these, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is an extremely uncommon subtype. We report on a histologically confirmed case of mixed both large and small cells neuroendocrine tumor of the bladder in a 64‐year‐old male with a history of bilharzial cystitis. The diagnosis was made after radical cystectomy with Immunohistochemical staining revealing positivity for synaptophysin, CD56, and AE1/3. While bilharzia is commonly linked to squamous cell carcinoma in the bladder, the potential relationship with neuroendocrine tumors is still relatively unexplored in this context. This case marks the first reported instance of the atypical coexistence of bilharzial cystitis and mixed large and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder. This unique case of coexisting highlights a rare phenomenon warranting further study. Similar associations have been documented in other organs, emphasizing the importance of exploring underlying mechanisms and clinical implications for improved patient care and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lichen planus is one of the common adverse reactions after COVID‐19 infection and vaccination. Despite it being reported in several case reports, the literature including a large sample of the studied population is lacking. The current study was performed to assess the risk of LP after COVID‐19 infection as well as COVID‐19 vaccination. Methods: The current study was designed as a retrospective cross‐sectional hospital‐based study of registered patients at the University of Florida (UF) health centers. The diagnoses of LP, COVID‐19 infection, and COVID‐19 vaccines were detected. The logistic regression model was used to assess the risk of developing LP after COVID‐19 infection and vaccination. Results: A total hospital patient of 684,110 attended UF Health centers were included in this study. 181 patients reported LP after COVID‐19 vaccination and 24 patients developed LP after COVID‐19 infection. The risk of developing LP after COVID‐19 vaccination was 1.573 while the risk of developing LP after COVID‐19 infection was 1.143. Conclusion: The odds of getting LP after COVID‐19 vaccination are significantly developed. The current study showed that COVID‐19 infection and vaccination are associated with LP. So, healthcare practitioners should be aware of this reaction for rapid recognition and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldhyde and 2‐hydrazino‐N‐phenyl‐2‐thioxo‐acetamide are combined to create a new Schiff base. The novel ligand and its six new binuclear complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II), Ag(I), Zn(II), Cd(II), and La(III) are characterized via spectroscopic and analytical techniques, such as ultraviolet‐visible (UV–vis), infrared (IR), 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The spectral analysis indicated that the novel Schiff base may coordinate with the two metal ions. Additionally, the results indicated a square planar geometry for NiL, CuL, and AgL complexes and an octahedral geometry for ZnL, CdL, and LaL complexes. In contrast to the Schiff base ligand, different complex crystallinities were displayed in the powder XRD patterns. Significant thermodynamic parameter values were computed using the Coats–Redfern method which revealed high thermal stabilities of the complexes in the TG analysis. In vitro antibacterial, DNA‐binding, and anti‐inflammatory techniques were used for the biological evaluation. Moreover, to visualize the anti‐inflammatory action of complexes employing the cyclooxygenase enzyme receptor (PDB ID: 6COX), in silico docking was used. The serial dilution method evaluated the new compounds' in vitro antibacterial efficacy against three bacterial and one fungal strain. The results showed that the novel complexes showed remarkable efficiency against the bacterial growth of gram (+ve) Staphylococcus aureus compared to the parent ligand and the control. On the other hand, the ZnL, CdL, and AgL complexes showed excellent bactericidal activity. The inhibition of protein denaturation followed the following sequence: Ibuprofen > ZnL ˃ NiL ˃ AgL ˃ CuL > CdL > LaL > H2L. UV–visible and gel electrophoresis methods were used to examine the metal complexes and their ligand's affinity for binding DNA. An intercalative binding mechanism was suggested by the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article explores the recent innovations in the field of antimicrobial and antiviral macromolecules. With the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance, as well as the overuse of antibiotics, there is a growing demand for efficient solutions to combat microbial and viral infections. The development of new effective antimicrobial and antiviral agents is highlighted. This review is designed to give a comprehensive view of the literature focusing on a few examples of combating microbial and viral infections in each section. A brief description of naturally occurring organic‐based materials that exhibit antimicrobial and/or antiviral activities is presented, focusing on polysaccharides, peptides, and proteins. Synthetic organic‐based materials are divided into subsections including polymers, dendrimers, and nanomaterials. The synthesis and applications of inorganic materials such as polyphosphazenes and polysiloxanes, as well as tin‐, germanium‐ and gallium‐based materials are emphasized in this review. Organometallic macromolecules are also described, and their antimicrobial and antiviral activities are examined. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the design of antimicrobial and antiviral macromolecules, offering valuable insights into their potential applications in biomedical research and combating drug‐resistant microorganisms and viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Both nurses' well‐being and quality of care are top priorities of the healthcare system. Yet, there is still a gap in understanding the extent and how authentic leadership influences them. This information is needed to inform the development of effective interventions, organizational practices, and policies. Thus, this study aimed to test the mechanism by which nurses' perception of their managers' authentic leadership impacts nurses' well‐being and perception of quality of care, given the role of the nursing practice environment and nurses' psychological capital. Design: A cross‐sectional design was used. Methods: This study recruited a random sample of 680 nurses from six hospitals in Saudi Arabia. A final sample of 415 completed the surveys, with a response rate of 61%. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the hypothesized model. Results: The study showed that nurses' perceptions of authentic leadership in their managers positively and directly affect their perceptions of quality of care but do not directly affect nurses' well‐being. Both the nursing practice environment and psychological capital fully mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and nurses' well‐being. However, the nursing practice environment partially mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and perceptions of quality of care. Conclusion: The findings contribute to understanding the crucial role of authentic leaders' style in nurses' well‐being and quality of care through its positive impact on the nursing practice environment and psychological capital. Clinical Relevance: Designing interventions and policies that specifically target nursing managers' authentic leadership style has implications for enhancing nurses' well‐being and the quality of patient care. Institutional measures are needed to help leaders practice an authentic leadership style to create a positive nursing practice environment and cultivate nurses' psychological capital, both of which contribute to nurses' well‐being and attaining a better quality of care. Further work is required to highlight the outcomes of implementing an authentic leadership style relevant to other leadership styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethical consumption is a domain of consumer research that focuses on individuals' ethical concerns when making consumption decisions. Owing to its enormous potential as a research domain, ethical consumption has gained increasing importance, especially in view of the impact of consumption choices on the environment and society as a whole. This study consolidates the existing body of information on ethical consumption through a systematic literature review (SLR) employing the SPAR‐4‐SLR methodology in conjunction with the ADO‐TCM framework. An extensive search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, carefully selecting 125 publications related to ethical consumption from 2002 to 2023. Next, a comprehensive descriptive analysis was conducted to identify the most substantial gaps in the literature and propose concrete directions for future research. Scholars across academic fields can utilize these findings and guidelines to inform their research, while practitioners can implement ethical consumption behavioral philosophies in their sustainable business practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the micro‐level structural details of Cichorieae pollen sources elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and explains their symmetry and morphometry. The in‐depth knowledge from the electron ultrastructure of Asteraceae pollen has provided insights into enhanced pollen morphology, and the antimicrobial significance of species under study presents novel avenues for their natural defense mechanisms in the development of antimicrobial agents. In this research, both quantitative and qualitative features of pollen were examined. The pollen grains are prolate‐spheroidal and oblate‐spheroidal in shape, characterized by a maximum polar diameter of 55.6–61.0 μm and a maximum equatorial distance of 68.3–74.4 μm. SEM reveals various configurations such as echinate perforate‐tectate, psilate, and echino‐lophate perforate. The Cichorieae species have significant antimicrobial efficacy and are promising sources for the development of novel antimicrobial drugs with potential implications in pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. SEM analysis of Cichorieae pollens has provided remarkable insights into their unique structures, revealing diverse shapes and surface ornamentations, which can be used for accurate Asteraceae species identification. Research Highlights: SEM provides unique pollen surface structures and patterns of Chicory pollen grains.Chemical composition of Chicory botanical sources provides valuable information on their potential as antimicrobial agents.SEM imaging reveals specialized fenestrate grain structures of taxonomic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional medicinal plants play an important role in primary health care worldwide. The phytochemical screening and activities of Geranium pusillum were investigated in this research. The dried plant leaves were extracted with ethanol, n‐hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, methanol, acetone, and aqueous solvents. These extracts were qualitatively analyzed, GC–MS, antimicrobial activities by using the disc diffusion method, antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl‐hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging, and cytotoxic activity was analyzed by the hemolytic activity of human red blood cells. The results showed phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and cardiac glycosides were detected in plant leaves. The ethanol extract at a concentration of 10 mg/mL showed a maximum inhibition zone 17.5 ± 0.09, 15.6 ± 0.11, 14.2 ± 0.17, 18.4 ± 0.11, 16.6 ± 0.15, 12.5 ± 0.13, 15.9 ± 0.10, and 13.1 ± 0.11 mm, and at 15 mg/mL showed 24.5 ± 0.09, 27.2 ± 0.12, 26.3 ± 0.17, 28.4 ± 0.10, 27.9 ± 0.16, 22.5 ± 0.13, 27.1 ± 0.10, and 24.1 ± 0.16 mm against Escherichia coli, Pasturella multocida (gram‐negative), Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilus (gram‐positive), Rhizopus solani, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Alternaria alternate (fungal strain), respectively, and dichloromethane showed a minimum inhibition zone as compared to other extracts against bacterial as well as fungal strains. Chloroform extract had maximum antioxidant activity (45.00 ± 0.08%) and minimum in dichloromethane (12.20 ± 0.04%). Cytotoxic activity was found maximum in acetone extract (19.83 ± 0.07%) and minimum in ethanol extract (4.72 ± 0.04%). It is concluded that phytochemicals like phenols, flavonoids, and others may be responsible for these activities, which is why this plant is used for traditional medicine. Research Highlights: Geranium pusillum has therapeutic properties that exhibit various biological activities beneficial for human health.G. pusillum has significant inhibitory effects against bacterial and fungal strains.Chloroform solvent extract indicates potential free radical scavenging abilities.Acetone extract exhibits notable effects on human red blood cells and demonstrates significant cytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantified the concentrations of trace and heavy elements, including Al, K, Ca, Mg, Zr, Ti, La, Ce, Mn, Cr, Zn, and Nd, in soil samples from Tukwikwi. It also assesses the potential human health risks posed by exposure to these metals through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption for both children and adults. The study area lies in Hadejia flood plain between latitudes 12°10′ N to 13°0′ N and longitudes 10°15′ E to 11°30′ E. The result showed that the mean concentrations of Al (47,140 mg/kg), K (23,110 mg/kg), Fe (18,020 mg/kg), Mg (7810 mg/kg), Zr (404 mg/kg), and La (64 mg/kg) exceeded the crustal values of Al (25,000 mg/kg), K (10,700 mg/kg), Fe (9800 mg/kg), Mg (7000 mg/kg), Zr (220 mg/kg), and La (30 mg/kg). By contrast, the concentrations of Ca, Cr, Ce, Mn, Ti, Zn, and Nd were lower than the crustal values. These crustal values were used, as there were no regional values that could be used for comparison. The result of the noncarcinogenic health risk assessment showed that Al exhibited the highest value ranging from 5.52×10−1$5.52 \times {{10}^{ - 1}}$ to 7.51×10−1$7.51 \times {{10}^{ - 1}}$ for children and 7.3×10−1$7.3 \times {{10}^{ - 1}}$ to 9.9×10−1$9.9 \times {{10}^{ - 1}}$ for adults. The results also revealed that adults have a higher potential risk than children. The results for the carcinogenic risk (CR) showed that the total CR (TCR) values for Cr ranged from 0 to 3.20×10−4$3.20 \times {{10}^{ - 4}}$ for children and 0 to 4.29×10−4$4.29 \times {{10}^{ - 4}}$ for adults, which are higher than the acceptable limit of 1×10−4$1 \times {{10}^{ - 4}}$. These suggest that there are health concerns for adults and children in the research area. This necessitates the need for monitoring the soil in the study area to reduce potential environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive concentration of heavy metals in our environment creates a harmful impact on living organisms, including microorganisms. Regardless of exploring the remediation potential of bacteria, their corresponding changes have not been extensively examined, which might be crucial before promoting bioremediation technology. The present study aimed to determine the effects of both essential (Cu) and nonessential (Pb) heavy metals on the bioactivity of a ubiquitous bacterium Bacillus sp., to gain knowledge about the adaptive mechanisms the strain has developed to withstand exposure to these metals. Bacterial adaptation is related to the formation of biofilm and the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) along with other tactics that assist in the survival of bacteria. When Bacillus sp. was cultured with Cu and Pb, changes in its bioactive characteristics were observed, such as a significant reduction in biofilm formation by 30.13% compared to the initial value. Moreover, the output of EPS by the bacterial strain in the presence of Pb increased to 0.782 mg/mL compared to the control condition, where no EPS was formed. In the presence of Cu, a low concentration of EPS (0.103 mg/mL) was detected. Moreover, the bacterial strain demonstrated adapted resistance to 6 out of 11 tested antibiotics, where the strain transformed from intermediate sensitivity to being susceptible to doxycycline, chloramphenicol, and gentamycin. Finally, the Cu‐ and Pb‐degrading capacity of the bacterium was scrutinized using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, where the bacterium exhibited significant degradation rates, breaking down 14.49% of Cu and 37.30% of Pb within 7 days. This research revealed the adaptability of the bacterial strain to survive in the presence of Cu and Pb while degrading them, by changing its bioactive properties, through the downregulation of biofilm formation, the productivity of EPS, and the heavy metal degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current knowledge‐intensive economy, a firm's intellectual capital refers to its idiosyncratic internal and external knowledge‐related assets. While technological knowledge is a major constituent of intellectual capital, past research has often equated it with technological capability. However, technological capability includes not only codified knowledge, but also tacit know‐how that is not captured by formal intellectual property. We argue that while a firm's patents might serve as a proxy for measuring its base of technological knowledge, they are not a good proxy for a firm's technological capabilities. Therefore, we offer a novel approach based on a machine learning technique to capture a biopharmaceutical firm's technological capabilities using the clinical trials that it carries out. Picturing a hypothetical journey where firms transform and exploit technological knowledge to move towards building technological capabilities, we address a research gap on the link between a firm's depth and breadth of technological knowledge on the one hand, and its technology diversity on the other. Analyzing a sample of 204 biopharma firms from 2006 to 2018, we find a positive relationship between the breadth of technological knowledge and technology diversity in a firm. In contrast, the relationship between the depth of technological knowledge and technology diversity is negative. We also find that in the presence of product/market diversification, the positive relationship between the breadth of technological knowledge and technology diversity is stronger. Implications for research and practice are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the development and analysis of electrochemical sensors utilizing graphitic carbon nitride copper‐tungsten nanoparticles (g‐C3N4 @Cu‐W Nps) capped with various cationic surfactants of differing chain lengths and counter ions. The fabricated nanoparticles underwent thorough characterization to assess their morphological, structural, and compositional attributes, revealing their uniformity, spherical morphology, and monoclinic crystal phases. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were employed in the fabrication of electrochemical sensors for hydrazine detection. A comprehensive comparison of the electrochemical responses, evaluated via cyclic voltammetry, was conducted between sensors utilizing bare nanoparticles and those capped with surfactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the mediating effect of environmental performance (EP) on the relationship among the board governance model (BGM, i.e., one‐ or two‐tier board), institutions (regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption), and financial performance (FP). Motivated by the theoretical disputes surrounding the effectiveness of BGM, this study draws upon the supremacy of shareholders versus stakeholder's perspective and the coercive pressure from institutional theory to explain corporate legitimacy practices. Thus far, only a few studies have explored the role of BGM and institutions in a firm's EP and FP. By analyzing 1112 listed firms in emerging markets from 2013 to 2020, this study shows that institutions positively affect EP and FP through a regulatory quality indicator. Specifically, the two‐tier board indicator improves EP at the expense of FP. Despite the increasing pressure to embrace sustainable practices in countries that adopt the one‐tier board model, the formalization of stakeholder supremacy within the two‐tier board structure is considered beneficial. EP does not act as a mediator in the relationship between BGM and FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating incidence of bacterial resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics underscores the urgent need for the rapid development of innovative antibacterial medications. Heterocyclic compounds, particularly nitrogen‐containing heterocycles like pyrazoles and thiazoles, have garnered attention for their diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial properties. Here, we present a green and efficient multicomponent synthesis method for fourteen novel benzothiazole‐tethered pyrazole derivatives. Utilizing the deep eutectic solvent glycerol/K2CO3 as a base‐catalytic reaction medium at 70 °C, this synthesis approach yielded promising compounds exhibiting substantial antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans. Among these, 4‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐3‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine emerged as the most promising candidate, showcasing significant inhibitory potentials with CZD values of 24 mm, 21 mm, and 26 mm for S. aureus, B. cereus, and C. albicans, respectively. Molecular docking studies further supported the experimental observations, revealing the high binding affinity of the compound to the nitroreductase enzyme with a binding score of −8.5 kcal/mol. These findings underscore the potential of these synthesized compounds as antimicrobial agents and suggest avenues for future research in exploring their structure‐activity relationships and therapeutic applications in combating bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To combat with energy crisis considering clean energy, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial to implement electrolytic hydrogen fuel production in real life. Here, straightforward chemical synthesis pathways are followed to prepare cobalt tetraoxide nanoparticles (Co3O4NPs) in an alkaline OER process using poly[(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (Co3O4NPs@PMTC) as support to prevent aggregation. In material characterization, the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirms the crystallinity of the synthesized Co3O4NPs@PMTC, and Raman spectroscopy indicates that the Co3O4NPs contain cubic close‐packed oxides. The morphological analysis reveals the wrinkle‐like disruption which is distributed evenly owing to the folded nanosheet arrays. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy indicates the presence of a significant number of cobalt atoms in the Co3O4NPs, and elemental mapping analysis demonstrates the composition of the NPs. At a current density of 10 mA cm−2, oxygen is emitted at 1.67 V delivering an overpotential of 440 mV. This unique structure of Co3O4NPs@PMTC provides beneficial functions that are responsible for a large number of active sites and the rapid release of oxygen gas with long‐term stability. Through kinetic study, we found a Tafel slope of 48.9 mV dec−1 which proves the catalytic behavior of Co3O4NPs@PMTC is promising toward the OER process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3), a cornerstone in the chemical industry, has historically been pivotal for producing various valuable products, notably fertilizers. Its significance is further underscored in the modern energy landscape, where NH3 is seen as a promising medium for hydrogen storage and transportation. However, the conventional Haber–Bosch process, which accounts for approximately 170 million ton of NH3 produced globally each year, is energy‐intensive and environmentally damaging. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) emerges as a sustainable alternative that operates in ambient conditions and uses renewable energy sources. Despite its potential, the NRR faces challenges, including the inherent stability of nitrogen and its competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction. Transition metals, especially ruthenium (Ru) and molybdenum (Mo), have demonstrated promise as catalysts, enhancing the efficiency of the NRR. Ru excels in catalytic activity, while Mo offers robustness. Strategies like heteroatom doping are being pursued to mitigate NRR challenges, especially the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. This review delves into the advancements of Ru and Mo‐based catalysts for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, elucidating the NRR mechanisms, and championing the transition towards a greener ammonia economy. It also seeks to elucidate the core principles underpinning the NRR mechanism. This shift aims not only to address challenges inherent to traditional production methods but also to align with the overarching goals of global sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four novel Pd (II), Cu (II), VO (II), and Ag(I) complexes were prepared from benzimidazole ligand through bidentate chelating mode. Alternative spectral and analytical tools were applied to elucidate their structural and molecular formulae. This study was extended to investigate stability and stoichiometry of complexes in solution, using standard methods. In addition, the best atomic distribution within structural forms was obtained via the density functional theory (DFT) method. This computational study fed us with significant physical characteristics for differentiation. Also, DFT/time‐dependent DFT computations were performed applying (B3LYP/6‐311++G[d,p]/aug‐cc‐pVTZ/aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐PP) level in order to investigate the electronic behavior of the compounds. These results demonstrated good agreement with the experimental data. Computational data discriminate Pd (II) complex by some physical features, which may be promising in the catalytic field. This complex was selected to play a catalytic function to synthesize 3‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐4,9‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine derivatives using microwave irradiation in a one‐pot reaction. The catalyst was selected for this application based on the history of Pd (II) complexes and the properties expected theoretically. A condensation reaction for 3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolone, aromatic aldehyde, and 5‐aminotetrazole was carried out under mild reaction conditions by microwave irradiation. All reaction conditions were optimized among those variable Lewis acid catalysts in comparison with our new complexes. DOBPAPd catalyst displayed superiority in overall trials with high yield, short time, and green conditions (solvent H2O/EtOH). Also, the recovery of hetero catalyst was succeeded and reused by the same efficiency up to five times after that the efficiency was reduced. The mechanism of action was proposed based on the ability of Pd (II) for adding extra‐bonds over z‐axis and supported by theoretical aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the significant pharmacophoric role of 1,4‐naphthoquinone moiety, which is found in numerous biologically active natural products and well‐known chemotherapeutic drugs, including doxorubicin, shikonin, and alkannin, a newly prepared ligand ((E)‐1‐((2‐mercaptophenyl)imino)naphthalen‐2(1H)‐one) can be obtained from the condensation of 2‐aminothiophenol with diketone (1,2‐naphthoquinone) to form Schiff base (HL), which has been characterized using elemental analyses, FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR, and mass spectra. The inner ((La(III), Er(III), and Yb(III)) and outer ((Fe(III), Co(II), and Zn(II)) transitionmetal complexes have been prepared in 1:2 ratio and identified by several spectroscopic instruments. Different characterization tools have been used as elemental analyses, 1H‐NMR, molar conductivity, 13C‐NMR, FT‐IR, thermal decomposition (TG and DTG), UV‐vis, X‐ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, solid reflectance, and magnetic moment. All of them are conjugated to confirm the proposed structures of the metal complexes and are complementary. Also, molecular docking studies for the ligand and its Zn(II) and Yb(III) complexes (using MOE program) have been performed to support the experimental biological activity. Molecular docking studies recommended that (Yb(HL)2)Cl3·6H2O complex is more potent against Aspergillus niger fungus when docked with 1Y43 (aspergilloglutamic peptidase enzyme from A. niger) receptor, while Zn(II) complex recorded the strongest binding energy among the docked compounds against 2W3Z(the crystal structure of a Streptococcus mutans CE4 esterase) and 7AB4 (the crystal structure of the Escherichia coli toxin‐antitoxin system HipBST [HipT S59A]) proteins receptors, respectively. Experimental applications of the free ligand and its metal chelates as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities have been carried out. The former occurred against two fungal species (Aspergillus niger [ATCC:16404] and Candida albicans [ATCC:10231]), two G‐positive bacterial species (S. mutans [ATCC:25175] and Staphylococcus aureus [ATCC:13565]) and two G‐negative bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumonia [ATCC:10031] and E. coli [ATCC:10536]). The DPPH scavenging method has been used to measure the antioxidant activity of the tested compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of crystal ice formation inside aircraft turbine engines is well‐documented, and poses a significant risk to safety. The problem is not only one of power loss in flight, but the very real possibility that a flame‐out event could occur due to ice accretion on compressor stators, with potentially catastrophic outcomes. Although many instrumentation systems have been developed for wing ice detection, incipient formation of crystal ice is somewhat more difficult to detect. This is compounded by the need for a noncontact sensor which is robust to in‐flight conditions. This paper proposes an approach to the detection of ice formation based on microwave transmission characteristics across the first and possibly the second stage of the compressor stator. It is shown that noncontact detection is feasible under realistic conditions. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, the microwave transmission approach is motivated using wind tunnel measurements, and appropriate frequency bands are determined. Next, a signal processing approach involving higher‐order analysis of time‐frequency distribution characteristics is then put forward. Experimental results are presented to support the hypothesis that multiband detection offers a workable approach to the incipient crystal‐ice detection problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measuring students' self‐regulation skills is essential to understand how they approach their learning tasks in order to identify areas where they might need additional support. Traditionally, self‐report questionnaires and think aloud protocols have been used to measure self‐regulated learning skills (SRL). However, these methods are based on students' interpretation, so they are prone to potential inaccuracy. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilizing learning analytics (LA) to capture students' self‐regulated learning (SRL) by extracting indicators from their online trace data. Objectives: This paper aims to identify the indicators and metrics employed by previous studies to measure SRL in higher education. Additionally, the study examined how these measurements were validated. Methods: Following the protocol of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA), this study conducted an analysis of 25 articles, published between 2015 and 2022, and sourced from major databases. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that previous research used a variety of indicators to capture learners' SRL. Most of these indicators are related to time management skills, such as indicators of engagement, regularity, and anti‐procrastination. Furthermore, the study found that the majority of the reviewed studies did not validate the proposed measurements based on any theoretical models. This highlights the importance of fostering closer collaboration between learning analytics and learning science to ensure the extracted indicators accurately represent students' learning processes. Moreover, this collaboration can enhance the validity and reliability of data‐driven approaches, ultimately leading to more meaningful and impactful educational interventions. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic?: Measuring students' self‐regulation skills is essential for understanding their learning approaches and identifying areas requiring further support.Traditionally, questionnaires and interviews have been used to measure learners' self‐regulation; however, these methods rely on students' own views, which can sometimes be unreliable.Recently, there has been more interest in using learning analytics to measure students' self‐regulation based on data extracted from their online activities. What this paper adds?: This paper systematically analyses how previous studies used learning analytics to measure students' self‐regulation in higher education.It examines how these measurements were validated. Implications for practise and/or policy: More collaboration is needed between researcher in learning science and learning analytics is essential to ensure that the metrics and methods developed are not only theoretically sound but also practically relevant. This collaboration ultimately contributes to the design of enhanced learning experiences and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background study: Computer‐assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) has emerged as an important resource for second language (L2) pronunciation learning. CAPT offers diverse opportunities for learners to master L2 pronunciation with the help of authentic learning activities in multiple contexts. Objectives: This study presents a comprehensive overview to examine the overall effect of using a computer in learning pronunciation in multiple settings and diverse educational levels with the assistance of different tools. Methods: The meta‐analysis consisted of 31 primary studies that reported results obtained from experimental vs. control group designs. These studies reported 42 effect sizes in the results. Results: The findings of the meta‐analysis indicated that using CAPT in learning pronunciation had an overall medium effect size. Similarly, the results showed that using CAPT inside the classrooms had a large effect size. The results also showed that CAPT had a large effect size when used in schools and other formal learning contexts, such as language institutes. CAPT had a medium effect when it was used in universities. The results also showed that using videos for learning pronunciation had a large effect size while other tools had a medium effect size. Conclusions: The study findings contribute to understanding the overall effect of CAPT and offer implications for educators and practitioners involved in designing effective instructional strategies for enhancing L2 pronunciation skills. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Computer‐Assisted Pronunciation Training has emerged as a valuable tool for L2 pronunciation learning.The variables that may affect the using of Computer‐Assisted Pronunciation Training include settings, educational level and CAPT tools. What this paper adds: The study drew on a meta‐analytic framework to examine the overall effect of using a computer in learning pronunciation in different settings and in different educational levels with the help of different tools.The meta‐analysis consisted of 31 primary studies reported results obtained from experimental vs. control group design. Implications for practice and/or policy: Language instructors are requested to incorporate CAPT in their teaching of L2 pronunciation.The integration of CAPT can be to any educational stage (i.e., schools, colleges, etc.).To optimize the benefits of CAPT, instructors should consider integrating videos, games, and other multimedia elements into their teaching practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of dementia. Understanding the mechanistic changes from healthy aging to MCI is critical for comprehending disease progression and enabling preventative intervention. METHODS: Patients with MCI and age‐matched controls (CN) were administered cognitive tasks during functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recording, and changes in plasma levels of extracellular vesicles (EVs) were assessed using small‐particle flow cytometry. RESULTS: Neurovascular coupling (NVC) and functional connectivity (FC) were decreased in MCI compared to CN, prominently in the left‐dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC). We observed an increased ratio of cerebrovascular endothelial EVs (CEEVs) to total endothelial EVs in patients with MCI compared to CN, correlating with structural MRI small vessel ischemic damage in MCI. LDLPFC NVC, CEEV ratio, and LDLPFC FC had the highest feature importance in the random Forest group classification. DISCUSSION: NVC, CEEVs, and FC predict MCI diagnosis, indicating their potential as markers for MCI cerebrovascular pathology. Highlights: Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is impaired in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Functional connectivity (FC) compensation mechanism is lost in MCI.Cerebrovascular endothelial extracellular vesicles (CEEVs) are increased in MCI.CEEV load strongly associates with cerebral small vessel ischemic lesions in MCI.NVC, CEEVs, and FC predict MCI diagnosis over demographic and comorbidity factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]